RTHK: First US Capitol riot criminal trial gets under way The first criminal trial of a person accused of taking part in the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol by Donald Trump's supporters opened on Monday, with a judge screening potential jurors for bias. The defendant, Guy Reffitt of Texas, is one of about 750 people charged with taking part in the riot, which attempted to stop Congress from formally certifying Democratic President Joe Biden's election. A guilty verdict for Reffitt could motivate other defendants who face felony charges to accept plea deals offered by prosecutors. More than 200 people have pleaded guilty to criminal charges relating to the Capitol riot. The riot was fuelled by Trump's false claims that his election loss was the result of fraud. Reffitt faces charges of entering the Capitol grounds with a firearm as well as an obstruction charge because he allegedly threatened his teenage children with harm if they turned him in to authorities. Reffitt's estranged son, now 19, turned him into the FBI. The son, Jackson, is expected to testify against his father at trial, prosecutors have said. US District Judge Dabney Friedrich asked several questions of a group of about 50 prospective jurors to determine whether they could be fair and impartial. The jury selection process is expected to take all of Monday and possibly into Tuesday, and the trial could take more than a week. Jurors were asked if they followed news coverage about the January 6 attack and whether they have such strong feelings that they cannot be fair. Friedrich said she would not strike prospective jurors who have read about the January 6 attack, so long as they say they can be fair. "They'll just have to show their opinion isn't fixed," the judge said, adding: "Nobody comes into this court with a completely clean slate about January 6 because it was so widely reported." One prospective juror, who identified himself as a programme analyst for the US Department of Defence, said he had sought out a range of perspectives about the January 6 riots by listening to both CNN and Fox News and believed he could be fair. Friedrich blocked some potential jurors who said they have such strongly negative feelings about the January 6 attack that it would be difficult to remain neutral, including one man who said he lives 3.2 kilometres from the Capitol and was afraid to leave his house during and after the attack. If convicted of the most serious charges against him, Reffitt faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, though defendants rarely get the maximum sentence. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2022-03-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. UNDP, Australia to help Vietnam reduce poverty by 50 per cent A memorandum of understanding for a poverty reduction programme between the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), UNDP and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia (DFAT) was signed on Monday. Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam and To uc, Head of the National Office of Poverty Reduction, shook hands after the MoU signing ceremony. The "UNDP-MOLISA-DFAT programme development and policy advising on multidimensional and sustainable poverty reduction 2021-2023" project has provided technical support and advice to MOLISA on developing the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction (NTPSPR) 2021-2025. The advice helps the NTPSPR have a more innovative and timely approach and allows the government and local people to innovate and strengthen community power. The programme will also apply successful ideas in quick and sustainable poverty reduction and projects that improve livelihoods and connect businesses with people to assist in developing the value chain. As the NTPSPR is more people-centric and focuses on improving poor people's capacity than in 2016-2020, methods must be used to solve the core problems of poverty. "The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs always welcome bilateral and multilateral cooperation with international partners," said Le Van Thanh, Deputy Minister of MOLISA. "We want to reach the goal of eradicating poverty in all aspects, for everyone, anywhere, at any time." During the pandemic, research and recommendations from the project regarding poverty thresholds helped many people in need. The project will recommend digitalisation solutions in managing the NTPSPR, enabling the timely update and sharing of information and results. "Through today's memorandum of understanding, UNDP and GREAT/DFAT will continue to advise on policy and technical support for MOLISA to expand the scale of successful innovations to reach the program goal," said Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam. "We aim to cut the number of households in poverty by 50 per cent by 2025." The project is directly funded by DFAT and the National Office of Poverty Reduction, with the initial funding from 2021-2022 of US$180,000. Funding for the project will be increased from 2023-to 2025. The National Office of Poverty Reduction will also fund VN 2 billion (US$87,000). "We are committed to helping sustainable development in Vietnam," said Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie. "The partnership between UNDP and MOLISA unveiled today is part of Australia's commitment." "This is a partnership that we hold in high regard since we can recommend Vietnam in research and development of innovations and ideas that will reduce poverty." Some of the project's recommendations aim to raise the role of women, especially women in ethnic minorities, and reduce domestic violence. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan joined the international exhibition held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia from February 22-26, the Agency for Small and Medium Business Development has reported. The exhibition, organized by the Mecca Chamber of Commerce, featured products from more than 20 countries, including Azerbaijan. Such products of local companies as saffron, honey products, dried fruits, jams, teas, lavender, kelaghayi, etc., were presented at the fair, with the support of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency. The exhibition also provided information about the support and services provided by the agency to local and foreign businessmen. Since the beginning of 2022, Azerbaijan participated in a number of international exhibitions, among which are the international food exhibition Gulfood 2022, and Dubai Expo, held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, international products exhibition Prodexpo 2022, held in Moscow, Russia, and 28th International Trade Food and Beverage Exhibition, held in Turkeys Antalya. According to the National Export Strategy, Azerbaijan's non-oil exports are planned to be doubled and reach $3.7 billion by 2025 compared to 2020. 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. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a lawsuit Monday against 15 manufacturers of a firefighting foam that contains toxic chemicals and contaminated water throughout the state, Weiser's office announced in a news release. The complaint alleges that companies including E.I. du Pont De Nemours and Company, DowDuPont, Inc., and Dupont De Nemours, Inc., among others, manufactured, distributed, marketed and sold firefighting foam that contained PFAS or "forever chemicals," knowing, or should have known, that PFAS chemicals harm the environment and human health, according to the release. PFAS chemicals build up in living organisms, and high levels of PFAS chemicals are associated with serious diseases and increased risk of cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Forever chemicals grabbed headlines in El Paso County in 2016 when Gazette reporting showed the Air Force continued to use firefighting foam despite research, going back decades, that it could be harmful. The firefighting foam contaminated groundwater used by Widefield, Security and Fountain water providers that have since taken steps to ensure drinking water is safe. In June 2020, Gov. Jared Polis signed two bills he said would help protect Coloradans from the effects of a toxic foam used in firefighting. One bill required agencies using PFAS chemicals to register with the state within six months of obtaining the chemicals. It also set standards for the capture and disposal of the chemicals, as well as penalties for failing to register and/or capture and dispose. The attorney general's lawsuit seeks to require manufacturers of the chemicals to pay for "all costs to investigate, clean up, restore and monitor contamination at all sites in the state where PFAS-containing (aqueous film forming foam) was used, released, spilled, stored or disposed of." "In 2019, DuPont de Nemours was established as a new multi-industrial specialty products company," said Daniel Turner, head of the company's media relations. "DuPont de Nemours has never manufactured or sold (aqueous film forming foam). We believe this complaint is without merit, and is the latest example of DuPont being improperly named in litigation. We fully expect this suit will be transferred to the South Carolina MDL, where we look forward to vigorously defending our record of safety, health and environmental stewardship. This is first lawsuit brought by the attorney general during this ongoing investigation, and there may be more legal action to come, the release said. SPECIAL REPORT - TOXIC LEGACY: Air Force studies dating back decades show danger of foam that contaminated local water Beginning Monday evening, Colorado Springs showed its solidarity with the people of Ukraine by lighting up the Pioneers Museum's clock tower in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The city joins Denver and other cities in their visual support of the European country, which is currently involved in a conflict with invading Russian forces. The Colorado Capitol building and the Denver City and County Building are also showing blue and yellow lights at night. Here in Colorado Springs we recognize and celebrate the freedom and independence we all enjoy, and we regularly celebrate the men and women of our military who protect that freedom, Mayor John Suthers said in a news release. We know that right now, there are Ukrainian soldiers and civilians alike sacrificing their own safety to protect their country and their way of life, and we honor their bravery and commitment with this display. No end date has been set for the nightly Pioneers Museum display, according to the release. I know I am joined by many of our residents in praying for the people of Ukraine and hoping for a ceasefire and the end of the Russian invasion to come very soon, Suthers said. Click or tap here for the latest on Ukraine-Russia. In a vote almost entirely along party lines, the state House of Representatives passed a bill Monday to ban colleges and universities from withholding diplomas or transcripts because of a student's unpaid debt. The House advanced House Bill 1049 in a 40-24 vote, sending it to the state Senate for approval. All representatives who voted in support of the bill were Democrats, and all but one who voted in opposition were Republicans. Rep. Dylan Roberts of Eagle was the only Democrat who balked at the measure. "Holding the credits a student earned for ransom prohibits talented graduates from enlisting in the military, enrolling in nursing courses or applying for their dream job," said bill sponsor Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver. "This legislation will prepare our students for success and ensure Colorados workforce is stronger and more talented than ever." If enacted, the bill would prohibit all higher education institutions from refusing to provide transcripts or diplomas to students who have unpaid fees, parking tickets or other minor costs. If a student owes tuition, financial aid or room and board fees, institutions couldnt withhold transcripts or diplomas if the student needs them to apply for a job, credit transfer, financial aid or post-secondary opportunities, such as joining the military. Mondays vote came after representatives debated the bill for nearly two hours Thursday, with opponents arguing it would result in students never paying off their debts. "I just think thats the wrong message to be sending," said Rep. Mark Baisley, R-Roxborough Park. "This not only encourages inappropriate behavior and not being disciplined with your finances, but also going forward, if this bill were to pass and get signed into law, then students going into college and universities would know in advance that they can blow off these expenses forever." Other opponents said the bill could result in colleges and universities relying more on debt collectors or raising tuition in order to make up for the funds lost by not being able to withhold diplomas and transcripts. During the 2019-20 school year, higher education institutions in Colorado recouped approximately $242 million in student debt through transcript withholding, according to the Colorado Department of Higher Education. "We risk increasing tuition costs across all of our students at a time when student debt is already through the roof," said Rep. Tim Geitner, R-Falcon. "I dont think thats appropriate for the state of Colorado and I certainly dont think its appropriate for students looking to advance their careers and open up job opportunities." Supporters of the bill said the relief would allow students the ability to earn the money needed to pay back their debt. Nationally, 6.6 million students owe approximately $15 billion in unpaid debt, according to the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield, called it "profoundly illogical" to withhold students' means to earn money and expect them to be able to pay their debt. "This argument that were having right now is so incredibly impractical," Gray said. "Lets deny somebody their college diploma or their transcript the thing thats going to get them a good job until they pay the money, even though thats how theyre going to get the money? ... Until you get the money, were going to take away the thing that you need to get the job to get the money. It doesnt make any sense in the world to me." If enacted, the bill would also prohibit institutions from charging a higher fee or providing less favorable treatment to a transcript or diploma request because a student owes debt. Students from outside of the United States would be exempt from the prohibition. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan's State Statistics Committee Chairman Tahir Budagov and Serbian ambassador Dragan Vladisavljevic have discussed opportunities for bilateral cooperation in statistics. During the February 28 meeting, the parties emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation in all areas, particularly statistics. They also discussed other issues of mutual interest and exchanged perspectives on potential areas and opportunities for collaboration. Azerbaijan and Serbia collaborate in a variety of economic sectors. The Azerbaijan-Serbia Declaration on Strategic Partnership, signed in 2013, and the Joint Action Plan on Strategic Partnership, signed in 2018, laid the groundwork for the development of relations. Last year, Azerbaijan and Serbia have signed an agreement on the mutual abolition of visa requirements for persons holding general civil passports. The agreement between Azerbaijan and Serbia on the mutual abolition of visa requirements for holders of general civil passports was signed during a meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers, Jeyhun Bayramov and Nikola Selakovic, on the sidelines of the high-level meeting commemorating the Non-Aligned Movement's 60th anniversary in Belgrade on October 11, 2021. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Serbia amounted to $9.2 million in 2021. In addition, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $758,650 in January 2022. Angel stands on a path of brush that she built up to her tent to help keep mud and debris from being tracked in after she and friend Sleepy, not pictured, collected debris between thier site and a neighboring site on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, near I-225 and East Mississippi Avenue in Aurora, Colo. Angel has also built up a wall of debris around the tent to help insulate it from wind. (Timothy Hurst/The Denver Gazette) Deputy Chief Adrian Vasquez will serve as interim chief of police for the Colorado Springs Police Department when Vince Niski retires later this week, the city of Colorado Springs announced Monday in a news release. "I am humbled and find it a privilege to serve in this capacity as the City of Colorado Springs searches for its next Chief of Police," Vasquez said in a written statement sent Tuesday. "I fully support the City in their search and trust that they will choose the best candidate to serve the department and the community." Vasquez joined Colorado Springs Police Department in 1995 after serving in the United States Air Force for 9 years, according to the release. He was named deputy chief in 2019, one month after Niski was appointed chief of police. Niski, The Gazette previously reported, was former Chief Pete Carey's deputy chief of seven years. Deputy Chief Vasquez is a highly respected and experienced officer with deep connections within the Colorado Springs community," Mayor John Suthers said in the Monday release. "He has served in a number of roles within law enforcement and as a long-time resident, he has a strong understanding of the challenges facing Colorado Springs. I look forward to his leadership and am confident in his ability to maintain CSPDs high standards as we conduct the search for a new chief of police. Niski is scheduled to retire Friday. According to the release, Vasquez has served in the Sand Creek Division, the Metro, Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence (Metro VNI) Division, and on the DEA Task Force. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2011, where he served in patrol before transferring to the Violent Crimes Section where he oversaw the Homicide, Assault, Robbery and Victim Advocacy units. Vasquez was promoted to the rank of commander in 2016, when he was assigned to the Stetson Hills Division. In 2017, he was transferred to the Specialized Enforcement Division where he oversaw the Tactical Operations Section, Patrol Support Section and Protective Security Section. He's had oversight over the department's Patrol Operations Bureau after being promoted to deputy chief in 2019. Vasquez holds a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Colorado State University and a masters degree in criminal justice from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He is a graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership and the FBI National Academy. The city of Colorado Springs has started a national search process for its next chief of police, officials wrote in the release, adding they currently had no timetable for when that search would be complete. By Trend The State Service for Antimonopoly Supervision and Consumer Market Control under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan will continue to develop digitalization in 2022. The head of the State Service for Antimonopoly Supervision and Consumer Market Control Mammad Abbasbayli said at a press conference on the results of activities in 2021 on Tuesday, Trend reports. The start of these works was given in 2021, he added. "This is also affected in the strategic program of our state service. It is planned to strengthen the compliance of analysis and monitoring with international standards within its framework," Abbasbeyli said. The civil service carefully analyzes all incoming applications, he also said. By Trend The winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year competition, which is held by EY Azerbaijan in partnership with the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, will be announced on March 10, Trend reports. Nine companies from Azerbaijan, namely, ATL Tech, ELAD, Fortune Trade, IDEA, JL Tech, Your Decor and Events, ZIRA Natural & Gourmet, Portmanat and YIGIM payment system, are participants in the competition this year. One of the mentioned companies will be declared the winner and will have the opportunity to represent Azerbaijan at the Entrepreneur of the Year international competition. For the third consecutive year, this competition, which is organized in partnership with the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has been sponsored by ABB. Ekvita company and Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) are also partners of the competition. The Entrepreneur of the Year competition established by EY has been held since 1986. This is one of the most prestigious awards in the world of business. The "Entrepreneur of the Year" competition, which aims to demonstrate the success of promising businessmen, is organized in more than 60 countries, besides Azerbaijan. The goal of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year program is to encourage the activity of high-potential businessmen and inspire others upon their example. The information about the companies participating in the competition are as follows: ATL Tech ATL Tech is one of the biggest software development companies in Azerbaijan both in terms of the number of employees and income. The company provides customers with call center solutions and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software. ATL Tech's goal is to make companies efficient and accessible. Every day, 30,000-40,000 telephone calls are processed and managed through ATL software. ATL has an artificial intelligence laboratory that allows recognizing speech in the Azerbaijani language and converting it into text. ATL is expanding its activity outside of Azerbaijan and presently, serves clients in Georgia, the UK and the US. ATL Tech plans to become a regional leader in software development. ELAD ELAD is a transport company having over 16 year-experience in the automotive industry. ELAD has been recognized as a responsible and reliable partner in the market of automotive services. The company renders such services as passenger transportation services (shuttle bus service), transfer services from and to the airport, such services as meeting and transporting guests around the city and around the country, car rent with a driver, car evacuation, office relocation, etc. Moreover, the company also renders cargo transportation services. Presently, ELAD has a wide range of cars that allow customers to solve any problem related to the transport services. Fortune Trade Fortune Trade is a supplier and official distributor of several world brands of lubricating oils, filters, various fluids and AdBlue products in Azerbaijan. The company meets the demand of both corporate and individual customers by offering a wide range of industrial, motor, transmission fluid, brake fluids, antifreeze and filters. Moreover, the company is the founder of www.oilmarket.az , the first platform created for the online sale of these products. "Fortune Trade" plans to start the production of lubricants in Azerbaijan in the coming years and export the products of the Azerbaijani brand to the world market. The company plans to further expand its client portfolio abroad. IDEA IDEA company has been operating since 2003 and it is engaged in the production of small architectural forms made of wood and metal for public spaces and uses them in construction projects. Among the small architectural forms are benches, poles, pavilions, pergolas and other elements which are used in open spaces. Presently, the company's portfolio includes more than 500 types of products. The products are of high quality and long-term warranty and are exported to Qatar, UAE, Russia, the UK, as well as to other countries. IDEA is the only company in the CIS and the Middle East offering such a wide range of products. The goal of IDEA is to become the world famous brand in its industry and represent Azerbaijan. JL Tech JL Tech company works in the field of data-technologies. The customers can process data easily and use it more efficiently through JL Tech. The company is the biggest supplier of Oracle in the region and has its Gold Partner and Partner of the Year status. Along with Azerbaijan, JL Tech has representative offices in Georgia and Ukraine. Moreover, the company has a representative office in Turkey since January 2021, where it plans to expand its activity. Portmanat "Portmanat" is the first e-wallet system in Azerbaijan. The company offers B2B and B2C solutions for clients. "Portmanat" is the first platform that allows integration of the payment system into websites in a very short period of time (about two hours). "Portmanat" provides clients with short-term loans. The employees of various companies can receive a certain part of their salary ahead of schedule through another product - "Portmanat Avans". Portmanat plans to become a digital bank and issue its own payment cards. YIGIM Payment System YIGIM payment system founded in 2017 offers the high-tech payment solutions to the companies. The system allows businessmen to collect payments in a short period of time through a range of payment channels (cash terminals, Mobile Banking apps, e-wallets). The brand also acts as a processing service. The system offers a wide range of functional solutions to the companies for accepting payments via bank cards on their websites and via mobile applications. YIGIM payment system has "PCI DSS Level 1" certificate, which allows to store and process card information. The software is wholly owned by the YIGIM brand. More than 200 companies use YIGIM payment system for cash and non-cash payments thanks to the exclusive solutions, flexibility and professional approach. Among them are such international companies as Wolt, Bolt, Maxim, such famous brands as Absheron Group, PMD Hospitality hotels, 189, Optimal Electronics, Music Gallery. The services can be considered unique not only in Azerbaijan, but also in other countries. For this reason, the company's current customers offered the YIGIM system to cooperate in Georgia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia to use these services. The company plans to render the services at least in two foreign countries in 2022. Your Decor and Events Your Decor and Events company was founded in 2018. The company offers its clients various services for organizing and holding events, advertising, branded products, VIP gifts, etc. Your Decor and Events is known not only in Azerbaijan, but also in Canada, the US and the European countries. The company has been involved in organizing a number of national and international events. Your Decor and Events helps clients to organize events correctly and realize the ideas they want to bring to life. ZIRA Natural & Gourmet ZIRA Natural & Gourmet, representing the premium and luxury segments of the market, is a national brand that produces preserves, jams, sauces, and vegetable snacks. The main concept of the ZIRA company is the production of high-quality products, demonstrating the rich agricultural and gastronomic traditions of the country and the promotion of Azerbaijan on the world stage in the field of premium food products. The main requirement for products is the natural cultivation of fruits, vegetables. That is why local farmers who do not use chemicals supply all ingredients in small volumes. The company exports its products to foreign countries, mainly, to Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukraine, as well as to the non-traditional markets for the Azerbaijani products, such as Japan and the US. A Whataburger enthusiast waits in the long line of vehicles queued up to go through the drive-thru of the new Whataburger. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Many readers head to libraries looking for a peaceful respite in a pleasant atmosphere, a vision of tranquility seen in sharp contrast to the WOODLAND PARK In the race to become Woodland Park's next mayor, unofficial voting results in Tuesday's municipal election showed incumbent H The race for sheriff stacked up in February with four Republican candidates and one Democratic candidate. Republicans Joe Roybal, Steve Noblitt, Greg Maxwell and Todd Watkins along with Democrat John Foley have registered with the Colorado Secretary of States Office to succeed El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder. Elder cannot run for re-election in 2022 due to term limits. The winner of the election faces a reported understaffed office, an agency that has been riddled by lawsuits and a time of shifting public opinion about law enforcement. The agency must deal with 114 empty positions, 80 of which are sworn and 34 of which are unsworn. Deborah Mynatt, the agency's spokeswoman, said staffing could improve if 19 graduating deputies successfully complete the agency's training academy along with 34 who started the academy this month. One of the foremost lawsuits against the Sheriff's Office in recent years involved a $65,000 settlement in a federal class-action from the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado on behalf of six El Paso County jail inmates who alleged Elders disordered, mismanaged policies led to a COVID-19 outbreak that sickened more than 1,000 inmates and was the largest outbreak among Colorado jails and prisons. Here's a look at the five candidates ahead of the June 28 primary election who believe they can tackle these issues. Joe Roybal Roybal served with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for over 26 years in a variety of capacities from tactical teams and jail assignments to his latest position with department as undersheriff. He touted his experience managing the department's budget, collaborating with outside partners and working in the department's internal affairs office holding the agency accountable. Roybal noted that his top priority is to build a safer community, including for inmates and deputies. When asked about the May 2021 class-action settlement, Roybal emphasized the jail made the changes set out in the lawsuit that the Sheriff's Office takes COVID-19 "seriously." As for staffing shortages within the sheriff's office, Roybal plans to make deputies feel more valued. "I think we solve this with retention," Roybal said. "Retention is the key." Roybal wants to find more incoming deputies with prior experience because those positions offer deputies larger pay incentives, which he believes could help retention. He also wants to work with deputies to get time-off approved as best as possible. Plus, give commanders more responsibility to track their own budgets in an effort to engage commanders and help them stay invested with their units and keep "more eyes" on the budget. Roybal has raised more than any other candidate with $33,328 and took out a $1,000 loan. Steve Noblitt As a member of the Colorado Springs Police Department for nearly 25 years, Noblitt moved around the ranks of the department serving in community relations, the domestic violence and sexual assault unit, and most recently in the Specialized Enforcement Division overseeing areas like the Colorado Springs Airport and municipal courthouse. Noblitt also served in the Marine Corps prior to his police work. Noblitt said "legislation that came down kind of solidified that we don't fully trust our law enforcement," referring also to the protests of 2020 and calls for defunding police. Noblitt's said he hopes to "restore public trust" by creating a "good vison" for the Sheriff's Office by engaging with those who serve there. By investing and engaging with deputies and listening to them, Noblitt believes he can improve retention, and by holding the Sheriff's Office "accountable" from within he hopes to elicit more public trust. He also said he wants to expand the county's mental health resources such as the Behavioral Health Connect Program (BHCON), the sheriff department's mental health unit. Noblitt's took out $3,500 in loans for the election and raised $3,500 in campaign financing. Greg Maxwell Maxwell works as the director of security at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and serves the Sheriffs Office as a reserve lieutenant. He said he began his service with the department as a volunteer chaplain and completed the El Paso County Sheriffs Office Reserve Academy in 2005, when he worked in the Crime Reduction Unit and as a K-9 handler, among other assignments and has since been fully POST certified, the state certification for peace officers. "The 30 years in the private sector, I think has given me just a leg up on everybody else," Maxwell said. "My business background, the ability to find creative solutions, established and trusted relationships that I have, throughout, not just here, but on a national level, to try to find things that we could do that maybe our agency isn't doing." Maxwell intends to prioritize recruitment by boosting morale, improve collaboration within the agency by listening to staff's needs and foster support for deputies with strong leadership, he said. As for managing the jail and solving issues that arise, Maxwell believes consulting outside resources and relying on outside partnerships would benefit the Sheriff's Office. "Getting the knowledge of what people are doing well, and relying on that instead of working in a silo" is important, Maxwell said. He raised the second most in campaign financing with $10,964. Todd Watkins Watkins, an Army veteran, served with U.S. Border Patrol for 24 years before retiring in May 2021. Watkins moved to Colorado in in 2015, when he split time working locally and in Washington D.C. during his last position with Border Patrol as the agency's Emergency Manager, he said. Throughout his career Watkins served in a variety of capacities with the Border Patrol, including being a Border Protection Liaison Officer to the U.S. Special Operations Command North. Watkins believes his experience running "large and complex law enforcement operations" qualifies him for the sheriff's position. "I think I bring a very new and fresh perspective on the circumstances and the situations which confront policing organizations," Watkins said. Part of Watkin's perspective also includes disapproval of the government and distrust in elections. "We have corrupt officials who appoint and hire corrupt bureaucrats to impose their political ideologies upon us," Watkins campaign website states. "We cannot trust them. We cant even trust our elections." When it comes to tackling the jail and understaffing, Watkins plans to focus on listening to suggestions of those already apart of the organization and focusing on retention by boosting moral with better monetary incentives such as merit-based promotions and benefits packages. Watkins' campaign raised $903. John Foley Foley, who considers himself a conservative Democrat, spent his career in the military where he served in the Marine Corps as an infantryman. He also worked in military intelligence, oversaw counter drug operations, and during the Iraq War served as an advisor with the Iraqi Army overseeing training and prisoner programs. He retired from the military in 2015 after more than 20 years of service. Foley joined the race for sheriff after some of his veteran friends encouraged him to run. "The key thing I bring to the table is leadership," Foley said. "I mean, the whole focus of an Army officer's career is leadership and about enforcing standards and improving morale wherever you go." Foley saw his background translating well into the sheriff's position to provide ethical and effective management of the agency. Particularly, his experience hiring and managing prison detainees. "As far as the jail and other aspects, that's where the ability of just operating and following human rights and just proper procedures and not doing stuff, either illegal or unethical, that's important," Foley said. No financial information was available for Foley's campaign. Karl Dent, a Republican running for sheriff, dropped out several days prior March caucuses and assemblies over concerns of his felony trespassing conviction form this past fall. Esteban Candelaria contributed to this report. By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Thirty Azerbaijanis have been evacuated from the most dangerous districts of Kharkiv to the Ukrainian-Polish border, Azerbaijan's honorary consulate in Kharkiv has reported. The staff of the honorary consulate continues to work as usual and reveal and register compatriots in the Kharkiv region. Over the past 24 hours, more than 300 of our compatriots have been registered and instructed in terms of security, the report added. Communication has been established between the honorary consulate and the operational headquarters of the Kharkiv regional administration. They added that the process of evacuating compatriots will continue depending on the situation. The situation in the Kharkiv region remains tense. Therefore, we urge our compatriots not to leave their places of residence. The employees of the honorary consulate rapidly consider the appeals of our compatriots in the Kharkiv region and constantly get in touch with them, the Meanwhile, the head of the public relations and marketing department of the Azerbaijan International Road Carriers Association (ABADA), Ruslan Eldaroghlu, stated that the evacuation of Azerbaijani drivers carrying out international cargo transportation in Ukraine has begun. Six trucks were allowed to pass from Odessa to Moldova on February 27, he said. To date, the same number of trucks is expected to leave in this direction. The fuel problem of drivers has been resolved. We are currently negotiating with the relevant bodies on the evacuation of drivers in the Kharkiv and Kyiv regions. Three Azerbaijani drivers were injured as a result of a shooting yesterday [February 27] in Kharkiv. One of them has already been discharged after outpatient treatment. Two other drivers were taken to the Kharkiv regional clinical hospital. Every effort is being made for their recovery and return to the homeland," Eldaroghlu said. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the Emergencies Ministry and the State Committee on Work with Diaspora constantly follow this process. On February 24, Baku urged Azerbaijani citizens permanently and temporarily residing in Ukraine to avoid military concentration zones. In light of the situation in Ukraine, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry advised citizens not to travel to areas of military concentration (border areas in Ukraine's eastern region) and to avoid military facilities in the country. On February 25, the Foreign Ministry said that due to the closure of Ukraine's airspace, Azerbaijani citizens are currently unable to leave the country by air. In this regard, it recommended Azerbaijani citizens, who are in serious danger in Ukraine, to leave the country in the direction of Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that in response to the appeal of the leaders of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Lugansk People's Republic" decided to conduct a special military operation in Eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities introduced martial law throughout the entire territory. Ukrainian media report explosions in a number of cities. The Colorado Supreme Court has clarified the circumstances under which prosecutors may face professional sanctions for failing to disclose information that they know, or should know, would cast doubt on the guilt of the criminally accused. David is a Senior Investigative Reporter at The Gazette and has worked in Colorado for more than two decades. His work has been recognized by, among others, Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Society of Business Editors and Writers, the National Association of Real Estate Editors, at the National Headliner Awards. He has worked at publications in New York City, St. Louis, Detroit and Denver over a journalism career that began in 1982. Republican candidates and El Paso County GOP volunteers say the county party's leadership has taken steps to favor four far-right candidates ahead of Tuesday's precinct caucuses. While GOP rules prohibit party officers from taking sides in primaries, critics say county Republican Chairwoman Vickie Tonkins and her allies haven't remained neutral even though they're responsible for organizing the caucus and assembly nominating process that gives candidates a pathway onto the primary ballot. Tonkins denies the charges and maintains that the nomination process is fair and open to all Republicans. The candidates Todd Watkins, who is running for El Paso County sheriff; Peter Lupia, a county clerk and recorder candidate; State Rep. Dave Williams, challenging Republican Congressman Doug Lamborn; and Ron Hanks, running to challenge Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. have appeared together at events other candidates running for the same offices have not been invited to attend. Tonkins appeared alongside them at some of those events. All four candidates are looking to the caucus and assembly process to make the primary ballot. "Its clear to me by the amount of events they are hosting who they are aligned with. If you go to an event, it will be these four candidates all the time," said Rebecca Keltie, one of four Republicans challenging eight-term Lamborn. The slate of the candidates lean to the far right. Watkins promises to be a constitutional sheriff that will "stand in the gap" against federal overreach. Lupia says he will campaign at the state level for an end to mail-in voting. Williams aims to follow in the footsteps of U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Silt, known for her avid support of former President Donald Trump. Similarly, Hanks described himself as a pro-Trump warrior. In addition to events, endorsement fliers for the candidates are going out to all the precincts as part of caucus packets featuring organizations that do not have websites, Facebook pages or listings on the secretary of state's website. Residents who Keltie recruited to participate in the caucuses have also been turned away, she said. "Its very strategic. They are not just letting anyone become precinct leaders and delegates. They are stacking the caucuses," Keltie said. During the caucuses, residents begin the process of selecting delegates who then go on to place candidates on the primary ballot at the county, district and state assemblies. Candidates can also submit petitions to earn spots on the primary ballot. She said she believes in the caucus process but doesn't think it will be run fairly this year. "My complaint is with the GOP," she said. Tonkins disputed claims the party has turned away residents interested in participating in the caucus or that she has favored any candidates despite appearances at recent events featuring them. She appeared at those events despite a letter sent by the state GOP's executive committee in January chastising her for giving the "improper" impression at a January party meeting that she supported some Republican legislators and opposed others. On Friday Tonkins appeared as a moderator at a townhall in Peyton featuring just the four candidates that drew a crowd of about 40. Moderators typically run debates between opponents. In this case, the candidates answered questions submitted by the crowd. When asked if they believed the election was stolen, all said yes. Hanks described attending the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol as a badge of honor. The county partys vice chairman, Karl Schneider, said he was alarmed at how brazenly Tonkins has been tilting the scales toward her preferred candidates. Noting that GOP rules prohibit party officers from taking sides in primaries, Schneider said the Peyton forum Tonkins moderated was "100% incongruous with neutrality." "Had she had three different candidates for a state House district, three for the Senate, it wouldve been one thing," he said. "But she had a clean slate, one for each office. It was absolutely incongruous with the role of a party chair." "We should be careful and should pay close attention to what happens at the local level," added Schneider, who called on Tonkins to resign last fall amid a controversy over the county partys involvement in school board elections. "When we continue to support leaders who do not follow the bylaws, we lose our integrity, we lose our republic, we lose ourselves." Tonkins told the crowd at the Peyton event, attended by a Gazette reporter, she would host similar town halls for other Republican candidates if she was asked and if she was available. "This is for you to get to know the candidates better," she said. Tonkins was also a featured speaker earlier in February at a townhall hosted by FEC United, a conservative nonprofit group with a chapter in El Paso County, that featured Watkins, Hanks and Tina Peters, the Mesa County clerk who is running for secretary of state. Federal and state authorities are investigating Peters for a data security breach of the county's election equipment. The event made headlines when a speaker called for the current secretary of state to be hanged over unproven election crimes, 9News reported. Joe Oltmann, a former tech CEO and Denver-area resident, has said he founded the group following his frustration with COVID-19 lockdown rules. The group's acronym stands for faith, education and commerce. Oltmann has since gained fame for statements he made on his podcast, an endeavor separate from the nonprofit. Oltmann made statewide news in December when he talked about building gallows for treasonous politicians on his podcast. He also garnered attention Thursday for backing Russia's invasion of Ukraine because he believes Ukraine has played a role in stealing elections around the world, repeating a piece of disinformation advanced by Russian interests. Tonkins has relied on FEC members to fill vacant party officer and precinct leader positions ahead of the upcoming caucuses. At a live-streamed FEC United event at Fervent Church in Colorado Springs on Feb. 22, billed as an event to share the truth about the Republican establishment, Watkins, Lupia and Williams all spoke. Williams also solicited donations from the crowd. "We have the peoples sheriff," Garrett Graupner said of Watkins. Graupner is Fervent Church's pastor, who said multiple times he was not speaking as the pastor. He is also the faith pillar leader for the local chapter of FEC United. In an email he said FEC United has not endorsed candidates. Speakers at the event called other candidates running for some of the same offices, such as Lamborn, RINOs, a derisive acronym that stands for "Republican in Name Only," or transrepublicans. "The theme tonight is RINO hunting," Watkins said. Oltmann also appeared at the Fervent Church event, where he encouraged the audience to get involved in campaigns. "I am telling you to get involved. I am not asking anymore," he said. A precinct leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, wrote in an email he appreciated FEC's work to get residents involved but he disagreed with the group's influence within the local party and selective support of candidates, even though he agreed with most, but not all, of their endorsements. "My main consternation is how FEC has become a dominant influence within the (El Paso) GOP in their support of Vickie, whose leadership has been called into question. While theyve helped to initially fill numerous precinct vacancies, I see that the EPGOP has lost its neutrality as it relates to not endorsing specific candidates. That should never happen per our state GOP bylaws," the precinct leader wrote. "That significantly compromises one of the core commitments and responsibilities of our party leadership and as a result has become internally divisive." The lists of precinct leaders routinely distributed by the local GOP in previous years have also not been available to those who are not aligned with Tonkins but are helping run the caucuses, a party member said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the risk of retaliation. "I think the majority of the conservatives would not agree with the tactics," the volunteer said. The two who spoke anonymously were among many who voiced concerns about the group to The Gazette but did not want to be quoted for fear of retaliation. Amid the ongoing internal strife, local party members have taken their concerns about Tonkins and some of her actions to the state party, seeking redress. Last week, Keltie informed Colorado Republican Party Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown the multiple fliers endorsing the same slate of Republican candidates who appeared at the Peyton forum were being distributed to every precinct caucus location by the county party. In her email, which was obtained by The Gazette, Keltie said her campaign believes "GOP volunteers and resources were used in this effort giving preferential treatment to these certain preferred candidates," including by making it more difficult for some candidates to submit material for the caucus packets. "At what point does this biased, unethical behavior and actions from the El Paso County GOP office end?" Keltie wrote. "At what point does the state or national GOP get involved? This is the most corrupt, unethical behavior I have ever seen. Something must be done. We yell from the mountains about 'election integrity,' yet the election in El Paso County is the furthest from that." Added Keltie: "Please help. We have amazing candidates running for office down here and they all deserve a fair chance." Keltie said Monday she hadnt received a response from the state party. After this story published, the state GOP issued a statement from Burton Brown via a spokesman. We believe that ALL Republican candidates should be treated equally by all party officers," she said in a text message. Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a comment from Colorado Republican Party Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown. Gazette reporters Ernest Luning and Breeanna Jent contributed to this report. By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov and Presidential Administration Head Samir Nuriyev have paid a visit to territories liberated from Armenian occupation during the 44-day war in 2020, Azertag reported on March 1. Members of the delegation led by Asadov and Nuriyev aim to familiarize themselves with the implementation of tasks set by President Ilham Aliyev. As part of their visit, they will review the progress of large-scale infrastructure projects, as well as the restoration, construction, and improvement work done by various government agencies. Fuzuli International Airport, the Fuzuli substation, the construction site of the Horadiz-Aghband highways and railways, demining operations, the Industrial Park of the Araz Valley Economic Zone, the construction of Zangilan International Airport, the Aghali village in Zangilan region, and other locations will be inspected during the visit. A meeting with the heads of relevant government agencies is scheduled to take place in Shusha at the conclusion of the visit. Azerbaijan's historic victory brought an end to six weeks of fighting with Armenia in Karabakh. The country liberated Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Gubadli, Shusha, five settlements, about 300 villages, strategic heights, as well as Aghdam, Kalbajar and Lachin In all, 2,908 Azerbaijani soldiers got martyred in the war and six servicemen are still missing. Currently, the work is underway to restore Azerbaijan's liberated lands. Azerbaijan will rebuild its recently liberated areas in four stages. The initial stage includes the solution of the issues of governance and security, infrastructure, while the subsequent stages include the solution of the issues of social services activities, reconstruction, and development of the economy. In 2021, Azerbaijan allocated $1.5 billion for the reconstruction of liberated territories, followed by AZN 2.2 billion ($1.2 billion) in 2022. These funds will be used primarily to restore infrastructure (electricity, gas, water, communications, roads, education, health, and so on) as well as cultural and historical monuments. Assistant Majority Leader Waylon Brown, R-District 26, has announced his reelection bid in Iowa Senate District 30. In the last six years, I have proudly supported important legislative priorities, advocating for common-sense licensing reform, pro-agriculture legislation, high-quality schools and historic tax reform, Brown said in a press release. I look forward to continuing my work in the Iowa Senate and serving rural Iowa. Weve made a lot of progress in the Iowa Senate since 2016, but our job isnt done yet. I plan to continue reforming the regulatory burden on small businesses, reducing the tax burden and implementing policies to get Iowans back to work. Brown was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2016. Currently, he serves as the chair of the Transportation Standing Committee and the Administrative Rules Review Statutory Committee. He also sits on the Commerce, Rules and Administration, State Government, and Ways and Means committees. After the passage of the new redistricting maps for the 2022 election cycle, Senate District 30 will include Mitchell, Worth and Cerro Gordo counties, as well as part of Floyd County. Brown states in the press release that he understands the importance of sustainable and reliable spending. He knows that for hard-working Iowan families, every dollar they earn matters. Brown said he had been a leader in delivering historic tax cuts to the state of Iowa, advocating for a flatter and fairer tax code and reforming Iowas licensing laws, easing the pathway for professionals to work. Brown has served as a former member of the Mitchell County Farm Bureau Board, and the St. Ansgar Planning and Zoning Board, according to the press release. A St. Ansgar High School graduate, he owns a construction company and farms in Worth and Mitchell counties. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 EDITOR'S NOTE: Nathan Penfold is a native of Mitchell County. He has lived in the eastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol for the past 12 years, where he worked as an English teacher. Last week, Mariupol was bombed by the Russian Federation and Penfold was forced to flee the country. Currently in Poland, Penfold plans to return to Osage. Mariupol sits between Crimea, which Russia took by force from Ukraine in 2014, and the eastern section of the country occupied by pro-Russian rebels. The following is Penfold's unedited account of escaping the Russian invasion, as relayed by email to Mitchell County Press Editor Jason Selby. Some readers may find the details of this disturbing. Wednesday was a usual day in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The sun was shining, people were walking in the streets, there was a general optimism among everyone that war, real full-out war, would not come after all. I really believed that everything would be solved diplomatically. I'm an American but over the last 12 years Mariupol has become my home. I came there originally as a volunteer English teacher, and fell in love with the generosity of its people. Over the years that city has become my world, a place where I'm surrounded by old friends and memories. It's population numbers around a half million people, but at times feels like a big village where everybody knows each other. We had been living next to conflict for eight years, so when on Saturday morning we were woken by the rumbling of shellfire outside the city, it frightened us, though we had heard such shelling years before. A few quiet days passed and just when people started to feel safe again, the world ended. I was woken on Thursday morning by the sound of loud explosions. I looked at my computer and there was a message from a student in the city of Dnipro who I give lessons to. "What is going on there? We can hear the shooting all the way over here!" Dnipro is halfway across the country, I thought to myself that it couldn't be possible he heard the shelling from our region. I called my friend Ira and asked what the hell was going on. She said, "They're bombing the whole country, Mariupol, Dnipro, Kiev, Harkiv, and even in the west, everywhere! You'd better come up to our house." I live near the beach in an area that could be dangerous if we were attacked from the sea, so I threw my documents and some clothes in a travel bag and started walking up the hill toward the city center where Ira lives. As I walked I could hear explosions that seemed to come from right over our heads, it was like watching a film, so strange and different from reality. I just kept going and praying all the time. I met Ira and her friend Ivan near the center. All I could think about was getting to cover but Ira said, "No, we need to get to the market now and buy two sacks of potatoes." She and Ivan wanted to buy more groceries, but all the cash machines were empty. I gave them some money I had so we could finish buying supplies. As soon as we got home she told us we needed to start filling bottles with water. After we were prepared we sat with tea in front of the television to watch the news, and from time to time we could hear explosions that shook the house. Ivan, who just finished a tour in the Ukrainian army, got very excited every time they told that Russian tanks or planes had been hit, but still, the news was enough of a mix of good and bad to leave us feeling quite nervous about our situation. Then we heard there would be an emergency evacuation train leaving the city in 15 minutes. I had actually wanted to leave the city for some time since the shelling the Saturday before but had been sick with the flu and not well enough to travel earlier. I decided to try. So we quickly drove to the train station, and just as the train was about to pull out I jumped on without a ticket or anything. Two lady conductors told me I was welcome, but there was no free place and I would have to stand. They were making the sign of the cross over themselves as we left. "My God, where are we taking these people?" the one exclaimed. "Into Hell, straight into Hell where all the worst fighting is happening," the other replied. The train passed through the town of Volnovaha about 50 miles north of Mariupol, which is right near the front. We learned later that 30 minutes after we passed through there the town had been shelled, and the next day it was hit again very hard. Our train slowly snaked its way all across the country from east to west, stopping at times while routes were changed to avoid some dangerous areas. All the time we heard rumors about formations of Russian tanks crossing the border and cities being attacked. We prayed we wouldn't meet any of them out there on the dark plains. I was grateful when later the conductors found me a place in a different carriage. I rode in a compartment with a very nice woman who was trying to return to Italy where she lived with her husband. She had come back to Ukraine to visit family. I called my mother in America who was by then sick with worry, partly to let her know I was alright, and, in the back of my mind, to hear her voice just one more time in case anything would happen. We finally got to Lviv, the most western large city in Ukraine, at about nine p.m. after 30 hours of travelling. I asked the taxi and bus drivers about the situation at the border, and they said they could drop people off there, but the line of people waiting to cross into Poland was 12 miles long. They stand all night in the cold, sometimes waiting more than a day to get through. Later, I learned there was a free train that would come at midnight to take people across into Poland. I waited on the platform with a huge crowd of mostly women and children. Ukrainian men who are between 18 and 55 years of age are prohibited from leaving the country at present. There were however some old men and foreign men like myself waiting. A railway worker walked through the crowd shouting, "Men stand back! Women and children first!" I remembered the Titanic. And just as I'm sure it was back then, when people were trying to get into the lifeboats, there was a mad rush as soon as that train pulled in and the doors opened. People pushed to get in the train and there were screams of hundreds of frightened children. Even though I had moved aside for the women and children I still was able to get into a carriage with no problem. However after the initial rush, more people continued to run up the platform and before long the train was packed with standing room only. People were standing everywhere in the central aisle, children were sitting on the floor between the benches. I had a seat on one of those hard wooden benches in the old carriage, which wouldn't have been so bad, except for the fact that we would be stuck in that train for 14 hours while we waited for the Ukrainian border authorities to check everyone's documents. There were so many people packed in that car that a person could barely move. After travelling about 20 miles we stopped in a field, in the dark with no lights on in the train. I think now we were simply waiting until the driver got permission to pull into the customs checkpoint, but at the time the people were frantic with panic. There were rumors that they had turned off the lights so Russian planes could not see us moving. I don't know if that was true or not, but just the idea was enough to frighten people, and every time someone's telephone screen lit up others would shout to switch it off. So we sat in the dark and waited for about two hours, then moved into the checkpoint. The poor Ukrainian border authorities were completely overwhelmed. An officer shoved her way through the carriage, filling a plastic shopping bag with hundreds of passports as she went. We waited for hours there, and finally when we were worried that we would never see our documents again, the officers started to bring them out of the building. Somehow they managed in that mess to return each person his document. We still had to wait until the train received permission to go on, and by then most of the children had been more than 13 hours without anything to eat, so the border authorities brought in large boxes of cookies and began to distribute them. After another hour or so we moved into Poland. It took a while more to unload all the cars so while we were waiting for the doors to open, the Polish border authorities passed us bottles of water through the windows. Finally when we were able to leave the train we moved into the processing terminal, near which stood crowds of people and reporters. As soon as we got through passport control we were met by some women who spoke English and asked if we needed assistance or a place to stay. Outside the building there were more people who held up signs advertising free places to stay, free rides or free food. After visiting a welcome center that had been set up for Americans I went to the train station where I was surprised to find more volunteers distributing food and toiletries to the refugees. When I went to buy a ticket I spoke to the cashier in Ukrainian, as I don't know Polish. Because these are both Slavic languages I could understand her more or less, and she asked me several times if I were Ukrainian. I said no, that I have American citizenship, and she explained that in Poland they are giving railway tickets for free to citizens of Ukraine now. I reached my friend's home in Krakow after an exhausting ordeal. In one day, my life and the lives of millions of Ukrainians were turned upside down. We woke up to a nightmare. In this time of terror we have seen the worst people are capable of and the best. I have the utmost gratitude for the citizens of Poland who have so generously opened their country, and their hearts, to traumatized citizens forced to flee their own homes to save their lives. I am certain that Ukraine will prevail, and that I will meet my dear friends there again one day. My heart is filled with hope, and at the same time with great sorrow, that such great tragedy which has caused so much pain, never had to happen in the first place. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 5 Angry 0 DES MOINES In a symbolic gesture of support for the Ukrainian people who are under Russian attack, Gov. Kim Reynolds has directed the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division to remove any Russian-produced alcoholic liquor products from its wholesale purchase list. Although Iowans bought 2,024,662 gallons of vodka through the ABD in 2021, its unclear how much of that was produced in Russia. In the top 10 brands by gallons sold, there are five brands of vodka Titos, Hawkeye, McCormick, Smirnoff and Five OClock. Whiskey, led by Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey, is the top choice of Iowans based on gallons sold 2,117,237 in 2021. In addition to the United States-distilled vodka products, few brands imported to the United States still are produced in Russia. Smirnoff vodka, for example, traces its roots to Moscow, but is distilled in the U.S. Stoli, which basically translates into capital city because it originated in Moscow, is distilled in Latvia and has its headquarters in Luxembourg, a NATO country. Iowa is one of 17 states that control the sale of alcoholic liquor at the wholesale level. Under Iowa law, ABD has the authority to determine the brands of alcoholic liquor products available for sale to retailers. Alcoholic liquor is sold by ABD to off-premises retailers, who then sell the products directly to consumers or to on-premises retailers, such as bars and restaurants. In issuing the order, Reynolds joins governors of Utah, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania in making the symbolic gesture of support for Ukraine. Reynolds has also called for Iowa Sister States to end its relationship with Stavropol Krai, Russia, and provide recommendations for enhancing its sister state relationship with Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine. More information on the delisting of Russian products will be available at the ABD website on or before March 1. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Cerro Gordo County Supervisor Chris Watts announced on Monday that he would be seeking re-election in 2022, despite being just two years into his four-year term. "I'd like to make sure I finished what I started," Watts said. "I want to continue to improve county infrastructure, which was a priority goal of mine... and continue to save money for residents of the county." Watts has found himself in the unusual position of having to seek re-election halfway through his term. This abnormality has come as a result of redistricting in the county, meaning Watts now has to seek re-election to complete his term. "I'm upset the state intervened, re-did the districts and put me in a district with no rural representation," Watts said. "I promised the tax payers two terms, three at the most and I'm trying to live up to that." The Cerro Gordo Board of Supervisors earlier in February voted to approve the proposed county districts from the Iowa Legislative Services Agency (LSA). Currently, district one and three both cover parts of Mason City district one, the western portion, and three, the eastern portion. District one also contains Bath Township and small portions of the Lime Creek and Lake townships, while district three contains the Portland, Owen and Dougherty townships. District two contains the remaining 11 townships, as well as the entirety of Clear Lake. The revised districts are a significant change from the current districts. District one will be an entirely urban district covering the southern, western and southeastern portions of Mason City, while district three will cover the northern and northeastern portions of Mason City, as well as the Lime Creek and Falls townships. District two will cover the remaining townships and Clear Lake. Watts has been forced into a re-election campaign as he is no longer eligible to serve in district three, as the redistricting moved him into district one with supervisor Tim Latham, who is currently the county's supervisor for that district. When the supervisors reviewed the proposed districts in February, Watts casted the singular vote against the new districts. "The state plan, while considering equal population in the district passes over proper representation of these rural areas, in my opinion," Watts said at the meeting in early February. "My vote won't matter much to them (the LSA), but I'll sleep better knowing I casted my vote for Cerro Gordo." Cerro Gordo supervisors approve new voting districts New Cerro Gordo districts were approved on a 2-1 vote on Tuesday. The district one term will be a two-year term, according to Watts, reverting back to four-year terms in 2024. Watts is currently the only candidate who has announced an intention to run for the supervisor seat. Latham has yet to announce if he intends to seek re-election. Current district two supervisor Casey Callanan announced his intention to seek re-election of his supervisor seat, and Mason City Council member Paul Adams recently announced his intention to run for the open district three seat. Mason City council member Paul Adams to seek election as CG County Supervisor Mason City mayor pro tem and at-large city council member Paul Adams announced he would be s The county supervisor primaries will be held on Tuesday, June 7. The following general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Zachary Dupont covers local government and business development for the Globe Gazette. You can reach him at 641-421-0533 or zachary.dupont@globegazette.com. Follow Zachary on Twitter at @ZachNDupont Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 enigma123 wrote: If \(x^3\) x = n and x is a positive integer greater than 1, is n divisible by 8? (1) When 3x is divided by 2, there is a remainder. (2) x = 4y + 1, where y is an integer. I will really appreciate if you can tell me whether I am right or wrong. I have gone for D as an answer. Let's simply the question stem a bit: \(x^3\) - x = n which will give x (\(x^2\)-1) = n which will give (x-1), x and (x+1) = n. Therefore n is a product of 3 consecutive integers. Now moving on to the statements Statement 1 implies that x is ODD. Because ODD/EVEN will always end with some remainder. X is ODD which means that the product will always be divisible by 2 three times and therefore will be divisible by 8. Statement 2 implies that when x is divided by 4 it leaves a remainder 1 i.e. x is ODD. which is same as above and therefore sufficient. Therefore for me both statements alone are sufficient to answer this question. If x^3 - x = n and x is a positive integer greater than 1, is n divisible by 8? Yes, your reasoning is correct.x^3-x=x(x^2-1)=(x-1)x(x+1), notice that we have the product of three consecutive integers. Now, if x=odd, then (x-1) and (x+1) are consecutive even integers, thus one of them will also be divisible by 4, which will make (x-1)(x+1) divisible by 2*4=8 (basically if x=odd then (x-1)x(x+1) will be divisible by 8*3=24).(1) When 3x is divided by 2, there is a remainder --> 3x=odd --> x=odd --> (x-1)x(x+1) is divisible by 8. Sufficient.(2) x = 4y + 1, where y is an integer --> x=even+odd=odd --> (x-1)x(x+1) is divisible by 8. Sufficient.Answer: D.Hope it helps._________________ Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1) For SC butler Questions Click Here so that they act as a guardian to the children under their care Originally derived from British common law, the legal notion of in loco parentis, holds that schools and other educational institutions take on some of the responsibilities and functions of a parent,A) so that they act as a guardian to the children under their careB) so that they act like a guardian for the children under their careC) acting as a guardian to the children under their careD) and acting as a guardian for the children under its careE) so acting like a guardian of the children under their care_________________ House Republicans on Monday killed legislation intended to kick start the legal sale of recreational marijuana in Virginia, arguing that there is not enough time to perfect the complex legislation, while promising to address it next year. Virginia last year became the first state in the South to legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, an effort led by Democrats, who then had sweeping power. Lawmakers in 2021 punted the creation of a new legal market to the current session in an effort that appeared to fail on Monday. Republicans, who took control of the House this year, had shown reluctance to move decisively on the issue and did not pass a measure of their own. Senate Bill 391 from Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, would have launched sales by medical providers and hemp processors in September; it was the only viable bill on the topic. Mondays move means that possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and sharing among adults will remain legal in Virginia, but selling the drug outside of the medical context will still be prohibited. Ebbin and other Democratic lawmakers argued that delaying the creation of a legal market will encourage the illicit market to grow beyond the point that it can be reined in down the line. We are basically providing a year for the growth and strengthening of the illicit market, said Del. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond. Before watching his bill die, Ebbin said the question before the committee was whether Virginias cannabis environment would be a regulated, confined marketplace for adults or a foreign-import, crime-subsidization program proliferating in school yards and gas stations. Democratic leaders in the House chided GOP leaders, arguing that failing to launch a regulated market would leave Virginians vulnerable to an unregulated product. House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said Democrats left Republicans with a great big mess when they legalized marijuana without developing policy to erect the legal market. Last year, Democrats in the House and Senate could not come to an agreement on how to structure the legal market and deferred the work for this year. They faced an unexpected turn of events when the GOP took control of the House in the November elections. We are left having to clean up their mess and we will not make it worse by rushing to fix it, Gilbert said. During Mondays hearing, Del. Jeff Campbell, R-Smyth, questioned whether Ebbins proposal was the correct vehicle for creating a legal market in Virginia, if in fact its what we wish to do. Republicans, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, made clear they did not intend to roll back marijuana legalization in Virginia during the current legislative session, but it remains unclear what they see as the future for marijuana policy in Virginia. I think this is a bigger issue than we can correct in two weeks time, Campbell said. The imperative is that we continue to study this over the year trying to get this right. Del. Emily Brewer, R-Suffolk, said there are still a lot of cross-wires on this issue. The subcommittee she chairs voted 5-3 along party lines to punt Ebbins bill to 2023. Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter reiterated that the governor does not want to overturn legalization of marijuana but has serious concerns about the original legislation. The House and Senate have been unable to make progress on these issues, Porter said. The Virginia chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which supported the bill, called it an incredible disappointment. The only benefit with the failure of this legislation was to the illicit market, said JM Pedini, the executive director of Virginia NORML. Pedini noted that in 2020, Virginia had the fourth-largest illicit market in the nation, encompassing about $1.8 billion in sales, or 3% of the estimated $60 billion national market, according to New Frontier Datas U.S. Cannabis Report. Undoubtedly, that will only grow as we continue to exist in this no mans land between legalization and retail sales. Gracie Burger of the Last Prisoner Project, a criminal justice reform advocacy group, said Ebbins bill would have also addressed concerns around the racially disparate enforcement of marijuana laws. The bill would have downgraded some misdemeanors to civil penalties, ended some marijuana-related mandatory minimum sentences and created a path for resentencing people serving sentences for marijuana-related crimes. Meanwhile, Marijuana Justice, a group that has been advocating for marijuana legalization in Virginia on Monday expressed support for Republicans decision. The group had expressed concerns that the legislation Senate Democrats were considering would allow medical processors an advantage in the new market over social justice licensees businesses founded by people impacted by the prohibition of marijuana and the racially disparate enforcement. They also opposed the creation of new criminal penalties for possession of amounts between an ounce and a pound. We saved Black residents of Virginia from being targeted by new possession crimes in Virginia, said Marijuana Justices Chelsea Higgs Wise said. Resentencing House Republicans on Monday declined to kill a separate bill that would let people serving sentences for marijuana-related crimes to request that those terms be recalibrated. Sens. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, and Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, introduced Senate Bill 745. In a hearing Monday afternoon, a House panel moved the bill forward suggesting room for compromise. Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, who chairs the House courts panel, said the committee was prepared to kill the bill Monday. But, he said, the bill is part of broader politicking between House Republicans and Senate Democrats, and would be discussed further before Friday, when the House courts panel will finish its work. Before moving it forward, the committee substituted Surovells proposed language for resentencing with language that instead called for a government study on the issue. Bell said it was essentially placeholder text. In North Carolina, the worries about climate change often focus on more frequent storms with heavier rainfall, but a new federal report points to an equally potent danger the seeping effect of sea level rise. A report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as part of a multi-agency project shows that sea levels along U.S. coastlines will rise, on average, by as much as a foot over the next 30 years equal to the rise measured over the last century. Rick Luettich, who heads the Center for Natural Hazards Resilience, said the projection for 2050 isnt radically different than it was 10 years ago, but there is a lot of clarity to these numbers now. That means sea level change isnt a case of scientists speculating on what might happen given various scenarios. The change is here and accelerating. This new report says this is real now and its going to be significant much earlier than 2100, Luettich said. The most noticeable effect will be more coastal flooding, even without storms. NOAA said in a summary of the reports findings: Sea level rise will create a profound shift in coastal flooding over the next 30 years by causing tide and storm surge heights to increase and reach further inland. By 2050, moderate (typically damaging) flooding is expected to occur, on average, more than 10 times as often as it does today, and can be intensified by local factors. Flooding related to sea level rise will be more extensive in North Carolina because of its low coastal plain. As seawater seeps further inland, it will render land unusable for agriculture, impair fresh water sources and disrupt the effectiveness of septic systems. Salt water intrusion is a major concern for the viability of coastal areas for agriculture and septic function is much less viable if the water table rises, Luettich said. Thats the hidden consequence. Todd Miller, founder and executive director of the nonprofit North Carolina Coastal Federation, said the NOAA report offers a chilling view of the not too distant future. If this report is accurate, the current challenges we have with ongoing sea level rise along the coast will grow exponentially more difficult to handle, Miller said. This is not simply an issue of where the sea meets the land. A foot rise in sea level in 30 years means parts of our barrier islands will be severely eroded or disappear, Pamlico Sound and other barrier island protected sounds and estuaries will be transformed into unprotected bays, and estuarine shorelines and salt marshes along our mainland areas will erode dramatically and move inland. The rise of sea levels is a global problem with a global cause: growing emissions of greenhouse gases. While little can be done about the next few decades, a drop in emissions could lessen the long-term swamping of the coasts. The NOAA report projects that under current conditions, sea level could rise by 2 feet by the end of this century. But if emissions are not checked, the increase could be as much as 7 feet. Orrin Pilkey, a Duke expert on coastal geology, has approached the threat of rising sea levels by calling for development to retreat from the beach and barrier islands. But thats unlikely in North Carolina, given the large role of beach tourism and coastal real estate in the states economy. An alternative to retreating is stronger control over coastal development and more investment in infrastructure to limit flooding and protect freshwater supplies and wastewater systems. Luettich said sea level change can be mitigated by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, but bringing that about involves an unknown thats harder to predict. We understand the natural systems better than what people are going to do. North Carolinas extensive history in the Vietnam War is explored in a new documentary, The Wall That Heals. The 30-minute film will premiere Saturday, March 12, at the NC Museum of History at 2 p.m. This is the 50-year commemoration of the war in Southeast Asia, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will celebrate its 30th anniversary this fall. In addition, The Wall That Heals, a traveling three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, will be exhibited in Garner in March and at Charlotte in October. For those of us that lived during the 1960s, it is hard to believe that the war was 50 years ago, said Tim Stevens, a retired Raleigh News & Observer newspaper reporter who produced the documentary. But the parents of many of todays high school students were not born during the Vietnam conflict. Many of todays students know almost nothing about one of the most defining periods in our countrys history. North Carolina had 1,611 men and one woman to die in the Vietnam War. More than 200,000 North Carolinians served in the conflict. Many of the survivors still suffer from the effects of the war with post-traumatic stress, cancer, Parkinsons disease, or other physical problems caused by exposure to Agent Orange, an herbicide used in the war, or other pollutants. For some of our folks, the war never ended, Stevens commented. They still are fighting it. To tell the story of Vietnam from a North Carolina perspective, the documentary focuses on six service members who lost their lives in the war and another whose life was changed drastically. Marine Dan Bullock of Goldsboro was the youngest US service member to die in the war. Soldier Freddie Martin of New Bern had a family history of service. US Air Force pilot William Willis of Coats died rescuing orphans. Army nurse Annie Ruth Graham of Efland was one of eight US women service members who perished. Air Force pilot Glenn Cook of Charlotte remains missing in action. Marine Harold Till of Garner deliberately sacrificed his life to save others. US Navy corpsman Butch Davenport survived the war, but his life was destroyed. We focused on individuals to tell the bigger story, remarked Chuck Fishbein, who directed and edited the documentary. We wanted to show the sacrifices and the tragedy but also the heroism and the dedication. And the lasting effects. Joe Marm of Fremont, a Medal of Honor recipient, says the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and The Wall That Heals mean something special to Vietnam veterans. They call it The Wall That Heals for a reason, Marm noted. The slogan of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is to never forget, and one of the goals of the documentary is to teach people who may not know. Stevens won a statewide award for a play he wrote about the men from his hometown who died in Vietnam and worked for more than three years on the documentary. The project is narrated by some nationally prominent voice talent, including country music star Scotty McCreery, TV and film star Sharon Lawrence, Tony Award winner Beth Leavel, and multiple Emmy Award winner John Tesh. All have North Carolina ties. Joe Mantegna, the co-host of the annual Memorial Day National Concert, is the documentarys host. Showings are scheduled for March 12 at the Museum of History, March 20 at Aversboro Road Baptist Church in Garner, and March 27 at the US Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville. Access garnerwall.com for details of the showings and the Garner visit of The Wall That Heals on March 31 through April 3. GREENSBORO For three days in March 1922, community volunteers went house to house, collecting money for agencies ranging from the N.C. Childrens Home Society to The Salvation Army. They had set up a nonprofit that would act as an umbrella agency to fund community service groups and efforts. They believe that they are working on behalf of a good cause and they expect the public to meet them halfway, read one article in the Greensboro Daily Record on March 3, 1922. And for 100 years, the community has been banking on that. The history of the United Way of Greater Greensboro is the story of hard work on many fronts and, of course, people. Volunteers and donors. Employees and the board of directors, which is made up of a cross-section of the community. One hundred years. Thats a long time for any organization to exist. I know the energy and intent and excitement is still there, said president and CEO Khari Garvin, who was hired about six months ago. As part of the 100-year celebration that starts this week, the agency has a range of events planned. But more important, Garvin said, is staying focused on the work ahead. We are responsible for this organizations future impact, he said. **** The original idea behind the United Way of Greater Greensboro was that there were local groups providing important services to the area. They just needed money to do it. So the Community Chest the precursor of the United Way launched with a three-day fundraising goal of $68,000. That was 100 years ago. A lot has changed for the agency along the way. The United Ways story is full of recognizable names, extraordinary events and the spirit of ordinary people unique to Greensboro. Some of the citys most known faces mayors, chancellors, company presidents, philanthropists have chaired campaigns that took place in local workplaces. Over the past century, the local branch of the United Way has raised over $450 million thats been largely reinvested in the community. That hasnt been lost on residents. Take the agencys current home on Yanceyville Street. It was a gift from Sidney and Kay Stern in 1992. For 35 years before that, the agency was located in a cramped building on North Elm Street. It is such a selfless, tremendous gift, David Nesbit, chairman of the United Ways board of directors, said at the time. I think an important part of it was that it was completely unsolicited. **** Since the beginning, a string of visionaries have shaped the agency. In 1927, the Community Chests president wrote a letter to the Rev. R.T. Weatherby of St. Matthew Methodist Episcopal church asking his assistance in helping reach the African American community, according to the agencys research. A division was added with Weatherby as general chairman a novel idea for the times. In fact, many well-known African-American community leaders volunteered for the Community Chest in the 1920s, like Dr. George Simkins, whose legacy would inspire his son to lead the desegregation of health care. The agencys first female president, Ruth Shiffman, retired in 1955 after nearly 17 years of leadership and is recognized for many accomplishments. Also in 1955, according to United Way research, T. Spencer Meyer started as the new executive director of the local branch, and led the adoption of a new red feather campaign. Local citizens who supported the Community Chest were given that red feather to pin to their coats or insert into their hats as a symbol of support. The Red Feather campaign would be extremely successful, and the symbol was eventually adopted by similar organizations across the country. Johnnetta Cole, the former Bennett College president, established the local African American Leadership group of donors, and would become the first African American to chair the national United Way of Americas board of directors. Grammy Award-winning music producer Andreao "Fanatic" Heard brought together local musicians, community leaders and activists to record the album "Artists United to End Poverty." Proceeds go to the United way. While undercover as homeless men looking for help, United Way of Greater Greensboros Frank McCain, vice president of community investment, and Michael Cottingham, vice president of marketing and communications brought attention to the gaps in services for the homeless and poor. Their resulting report, "GSO Unseen" captured moments of hope and shattered stereotypes. Neil Belenky, who took over as president of what was now known as the United Way in 1981, remembers being skeptical, even cautious, with Bonnie McElveen-Hunters suggestion of a womens version of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society for big donors. Belenky years earlier had suggested something similar, but womens initiatives hadnt been successful across the country. McElveen-Hunter spent five months approaching businesswomen, community activists and husbands who might want to honor their wives by making contributions in their names as the agency took on issues ranging from poverty to supporting schools. The nonprofits exploration of the power of womens giving in Greensboro caught on in local communities across the country. It resulted in more than a billion dollars raised by women and fundamentally changed philanthropy. **** Still, the years havent been without controversy. The local United Way began funding the grassroots Triad Health Project, which provided support for people with AIDS/HIV and their loved ones at a time when even talking about the disease was taboo. That didnt come without a price, Belenky recalled. There were threats of boycotts against us, but it was the right thing to do. It was early in Belenkys 17-year tenure when the scandal-plagued leader of the United Way of America, which connected thousands of agencies across the country, was forced to resign. It was alleged that he spent millions of dollars that came from local chapters across the country. Greensboro was one of a handful of chapters that pulled out of the network of agencies. People were divided, Belenky explained. People thought, You stay in and fix it. We said our loyalty is not to the institution but to our donors. I always viewed United Way as the peoples charity. Still, Greensboro ended up being one of the few chapters that largely continued to grow despite the scandal. Back then, we didnt know what the consequence was, Belenky said. Fast forward in time. Chapters across the country were struggling after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks unfolded. Belenky retired in 2008. Keith Barsuhn arrived as a global financial crisis threatened to sink nonprofits. Barsuhn, just months into the job, got a call from a concerned employer who suggested the nonprofit lead an urgent one-time public appeal for cash to offset the increased burden on emergency-assistance agencies. The shelters were overwhelmed after an early start to brutally cold weather and the near-collapse of the banking and housing markets, which tipped the balance for people who were barely making it. Some of those people, emergency assistance workers found, just needed help with the power bill to stay in their homes. The reputation of the United Way, some thought, could make a difference. And it did. From the first phone call to rolling it out was a total of 10 days, Barsuhn said at the time. Operation Greensboro Cares ended up raising $400,000 in three weeks. It also helped establish winter emergency shelters in local houses of worship, where the homeless continue to get not only a respite when its cold but help getting back on their feet. For Barsuhn, it was an on-the-job introduction to the community and a sign of what was to come both the good and challenging. Some people in the community said all youve got to do is ask Greensboros that kind of place, Barsuhn said. Not that it was easy, but the case was made. **** In 2013, the Michelle Gethers-Clark era essentially blew up the model the agency had been using since 1922. For nearly a century the United Way had been an umbrella agency raising money for various groups and initiatives in the community. While some groups still received money from the annual campaign, the agency turned its focus and funding on the systemic roots of poverty. If we focus and we put the tools in place and tear down barriers, we can change lives forever and generationally, Gethers-Clark said at the time. An effort that brought agencies together to fight poverty drew the attention of billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who included the United Way in a list of 384 recipients to share in a $4.1 billion pot, with the agency receiving $10 million over three years to further its work. By 2020, the United Way became the citys lead partner behind the distribution of donations to nonprofits supporting local children and families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, Gethers-Clark left to become Visas chief diversity officer and head of corporate responsibility. She said at the time that the agency wouldnt lose stride in helping the community solve its issues. One of the things thats important for the public to know, Gethers-Clark said, is that one person doesnt run anything. After a national search for her replacement, the board offered the job to Garvin, who has worked with established organizations such as Save the Children, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and Head Start. As part of looking forward, the agency is focused on what it calls the Bold Goal of helping 3,000 households in Guilford County leave generational poverty by 2030. Fewer people living in poverty creates a shared prosperity that impacts everyone, Garvin said. Im hoping that whoever is having this conversation 100 years from now, he said, will be nothing about poverty. Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 336-373-7049 and follow @nmclaughlinNR on Twitter. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has evacuated 176 Azerbaijanis from neighboring countries to Baku on a charter plane due to the situation in Ukraine, Trend reported on March 1. A plane carrying Azerbaijani citizens from Romania landed at Baku's Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the report added. The first scheduled flight from Romania has already taken place, with the Turkish Tailwind company transporting 168 people to Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated on February 28 that due to the situation in Ukraine, Azerbaijani citizens are still being transferred from this country to neighboring Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. The ministry underlined that, in line with the agreement reached with the aforementioned countries, visa requirements for Azerbaijani citizens transiting through these countries have been temporarily lifted, and a COVID-19 passport and a negative PCR test are no longer required. Citizens are only required to present their passports. The ministry emphasized that since the start of military operations, 950 Azerbaijani citizens have entered Moldova, 447 Poland, 17 Hungary, 200 Romania, and 13 Slovakia. Due to the situation in Ukraine, we advise our citizens to stay away from military facilities, stay at home or in a safe place, and refrain from traveling, the ministry said. It was noted that in connection with special cases, Azerbaijani citizens can contact the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv by phone: (+380 73) 5050000 and by e-mail: [email protected], the Honorary Consulate in Kharkiv by phone: (+38057) 7000531 and by email: [email protected] Depending on the development of the situation, additional information will be provided to the citizens, the ministry added. Meanwhile, the State Committee on Work with Diaspora stated that nine Azerbaijani students had departed Kyiv after being stuck in the basement of a residential complex for many days. The committee added that one more Azerbaijani student joined them, and they left the Ukrainian capital by train to a safer place. The committee keeps in touch with students and advises their families and friends not to be concerned. It added that the students would be taken to one of Ukraine's neighboring countries as soon as possible and evacuated to Azerbaijan. The State Committee on Work with Diaspora, in collaboration with other state bodies, is continuing to work on the evacuation of Azerbaijanis from Ukraine to Baku. The committee also stated that the evacuation of Azerbaijani drivers in Ukraine is currently in progress. It was noted that six trucks from Odessa were the first to be transported to Moldova. The trucks have now arrived at the Romanian border, and the drivers are awaiting the completion of the necessary paperwork. The Azerbaijani diplomatic corps in Moldova is in charge of the evacuation. Drivers stationed at the Odessa port's region are expected to relocate to Moldova as a result of agreements between the Digital Development and Transport Ministry, the State Road Transport Service, and the Azerbaijan International Road Carriers Association (ABADA) and the necessary agencies. Drivers are being evacuated from Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other parts of Ukraine, and communication is being kept with them on a daily basis, the committee said. House Republicans on Monday killed legislation intended to kick start the legal sale of recreational marijuana in Virginia, arguing that there is not enough time to perfect the complex legislation, while promising to address it next year. Virginia last year became the first state in the South to legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, an effort led by Democrats, who then had sweeping power. Lawmakers in 2021 punted the creation of a new legal market to the current session in an effort that appeared to fail on Monday. Republicans, who took control of the House this year, had shown reluctance to move decisively on the issue and did not pass a measure of their own. Senate Bill 391 from Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, would have launched sales by medical providers and hemp processors in September; it was the only viable bill on the topic. Mondays move means that possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and sharing among adults will remain legal in Virginia, but selling the drug outside of the medical context will still be prohibited. Ebbin and other Democratic lawmakers argued that delaying the creation of a legal market will encourage the illicit market to grow beyond the point that it can be reined in down the line. We are basically providing a year for the growth and strengthening of the illicit market, said Del. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond. Before watching his bill die, Ebbin said the question before the committee was whether Virginias cannabis environment would be a regulated, confined marketplace for adults or a foreign-import, crime-subsidization program proliferating in school yards and gas stations. Democratic leaders in the House chided GOP leaders, arguing that failing to launch a regulated market would leave Virginians vulnerable to an unregulated product. House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said Democrats left Republicans with a great big mess when they legalized marijuana without developing policy to erect the legal market. Last year, Democrats in the House and Senate could not come to an agreement on how to structure the legal market and deferred the work for this year. They faced an unexpected turn of events when the GOP took control of the House in the November elections. We are left having to clean up their mess and we will not make it worse by rushing to fix it, Gilbert said. During Mondays hearing, Del. Jeff Campbell, R-Smyth, questioned whether Ebbins proposal was the correct vehicle for creating a legal market in Virginia, if in fact its what we wish to do. Republicans, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, made clear they did not intend to roll back marijuana legalization in Virginia during the current legislative session, but it remains unclear what they see as the future for marijuana policy in Virginia. I think this is a bigger issue than we can correct in two weeks time, Campbell said. The imperative is that we continue to study this over the year trying to get this right. Del. Emily Brewer, R-Suffolk, said there are still a lot of cross-wires on this issue. The subcommittee she chairs voted 5-3 along party lines to punt Ebbins bill to 2023. Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter reiterated that the governor does not want to overturn legalization of marijuana but has serious concerns about the original legislation. The House and Senate have been unable to make progress on these issues, Porter said. The Virginia chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which supported the bill, called it an incredible disappointment. The only benefit with the failure of this legislation was to the illicit market, said JM Pedini, the executive director of Virginia NORML. Pedini noted that in 2020, Virginia had the fourth-largest illicit market in the nation, encompassing about $1.8 billion in sales, or 3% of the estimated $60 billion national market, according to New Frontier Datas U.S. Cannabis Report. Undoubtedly, that will only grow as we continue to exist in this no mans land between legalization and retail sales. Gracie Burger of the Last Prisoner Project, a criminal justice reform advocacy group, said Ebbins bill would have also addressed concerns around the racially disparate enforcement of marijuana laws. The bill would have downgraded some misdemeanors to civil penalties, ended some marijuana-related mandatory minimum sentences and created a path for resentencing people serving sentences for marijuana-related crimes. Meanwhile, Marijuana Justice, a group that has been advocating for marijuana legalization in Virginia on Monday expressed support for Republicans decision. The group had expressed concerns that the legislation Senate Democrats were considering would allow medical processors an advantage in the new market over social justice licensees businesses founded by people impacted by the prohibition of marijuana and the racially disparate enforcement. They also opposed the creation of new criminal penalties for possession of amounts between an ounce and a pound. We saved Black residents of Virginia from being targeted by new possession crimes in Virginia, said Marijuana Justices Chelsea Higgs Wise said. Resentencing House Republicans on Monday declined to kill a separate bill that would let people serving sentences for marijuana-related crimes to request that those terms be recalibrated. Sens. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, and Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, introduced Senate Bill 745. In a hearing Monday afternoon, a House panel moved the bill forward suggesting room for compromise. Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, who chairs the House courts panel, said the committee was prepared to kill the bill Monday. But, he said, the bill is part of broader politicking between House Republicans and Senate Democrats, and would be discussed further before Friday, when the House courts panel will finish its work. Before moving it forward, the committee substituted Surovells proposed language for resentencing with language that instead called for a government study on the issue. Bell said it was essentially placeholder text. RALEIGH North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn refiled candidacy papers on Monday and will now run for reelection in a district that largely follows the boundaries of the area that the first-term Republican currently represents. Cawthorn, 26, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, voted against certifying Joe Bidens presidential victory and has voiced false claims of election fraud. He also spoke at the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, an act that some critics have argued should disqualify him from running again for Congress. In December, Cawthorn had filed to run for an open seat further east that had been created by the state legislature in November for the once-a-decade redistricting process. It was considered a more pro-GOP district than the one covering where he lives in Henderson County. But after the states redistricting map was retooled twice due to litigation, that district stretching from part of Charlotte west to the foothills essentially no longer existed. At the same time, the redistricting also eliminated a challenge by some voters in the new district who had asked the State Board of Elections to reject Cawthorns candidacy because of his actions preceding the Jan. 6 insurrection. The latest 11th District hell now try to represent, however, leans Republican and contains all or portions of 15 out of the 17 far-western counties that were in the 11th District from which he was elected in 2020. Western North Carolinians want a fighter in Congress. With their support, I look forward to returning to Washington as a sophomore member and helping enact major change with a historic Republican majority, Cawthorn said in a news release. He filed his candidacy paperwork, which included withdrawing from the previous district race, with the State Board of Elections on Monday afternoon. Cawthorn will face some challengers in the May 17 Republican primary, including state Sen. Chuck Edwards of Henderson County, who had been running before in the states far-western district. Edwards said he refiled on Monday for the 11th District. The tributes that rolled in when North Carolina lawyer Walter Dellinger died Feb. 16 were testimony that he was one of the nations great lawyers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He was 80. In an Associated Press article, North Carolina native Jonathan Drew wrote that Dellingers career marked him as one of the legal giants of our era. Many remembered and justly celebrated him as a brilliant and prolific scholar, a titan of the Supreme Court bar, an inspiring teacher and mentor to generations of bright proteges now in elected office, federal and state government, and on the bench. He was also a government lawyer whose advice was important to both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Key officials in the Biden White House sought his advice almost literally until the day he died. His son, Hampton, recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate as an assistant attorney general in the Biden administrations Justice Department, gave this tribute to his dad, Walter lived a wonderful and extraordinary life. He had many loves, first among them his wife Anne but also the State and University of North Carolina, the law and the rule of law, and American democracy. Several years ago I talked to Dellinger for a short North Carolina Bookwatch program recorded at Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill, where he was living. He was working on a chapter of a memoir to be titled Balcony Reserved for White Spectators. He explained his early awareness of the unfairness of the social system in his hometown Charlotte. In the late 1950s he was working on a construction site where only whites could be carpenters and the Black men were all laborers paid $1 an hour. As I was a temporary kid, I was assigned as a laborer. I was like the token white laborer on this crew. What was interesting and dramatic for me was that the best carpenter by far was one of the African American men who was a laborer. He got paid as a laborer no matter what he was doing. So whenever there was a very difficult challenge to the carpentry, the on-site supervisor would ask David to take on the challenge. But if anybody from company headquarters arrived on the scene, I was sometimes a lookout, David had to put down his carpentry tools. He could be an expert but couldnt be caught breaking the rigid rules. That gives you a sense of how rigid the system was. Dellinger remembered his love of Black music and listening to WGIV, the Black radio station in Charlotte. I listened to the gospel hour faithfully. They had a contest to see who could first identify a gospel song, and I knew immediately from the first three bars it was Ride on King Jesus. The prize was a one-year subscription to Ebony magazine, which in the segregated South was a whole different world, particularly the advertisements where no people of color were ever in mainstream media. Dellingers love of music led him to try to attend the Black concerts and dances at Park Center in downtown Charlotte. There he encountered the sign. He explained, In Charlotte dances that were for African Americans had a balcony reserved for white spectators, so its sort of both literal and metaphorical the notion that I was only a spectator from the balcony on what was happening with race in the South, watching what was happening in the Black community. After four years at UNC-Chapel Hill, three years at Yale Law School, and two years teaching at the University of Mississippi Law School, Dellinger was never only a spectator again. He lived and died in the middle of our countrys struggle to eliminate the unfairness the carpenter David experienced and the legacy of the customs that put Dellinger in the balcony at Park Center dances. Note: Walter Dellingers Bookwatch interview is available at www.pbs.org/video/nc-bookwatch-walter-dellinger. D.G. Martin hosted North Carolina Bookwatch on PBS NC for more than 20 years. A letter that solicits support from members of Congress including our own Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis will, we hope, make a difference. Its cause is compassionate and just. The letter, signed by more than 70 evangelical pastors, leaders and church members who comprise the Evangelical Immigration Table, urges Congress to provide permanent legal status to Afghans who are already resettled across the U.S. after fleeing from the nightmare of Afghanistans final days as a fragile democracy in August 2021. These are the people who assisted the U.S. military and other Americans during our long and, at the end, tragic foray in Afghanistan, only to have to abandon their homes and rush to safety here after civilized allies left and the Taliban resurged. More than 70,000 Afghans evacuated Kabul approximately 1,600 of them live in North Carolina. But while theyve been granted temporary humanitarian parole, their path to permanent legal status is not yet clear. Theyre existing in a sort of limbo, temporarily shielded from deportation and allowed to work, but without the assurance of permanent legal status. Their parole could end up being part of a perpetual temporary status, requiring periodic renewal at significant cost. Thats not good for any family. The evangelical leaders have suggested support for the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow Afghan parolees to be processed in a similar way to those resettled through traditional refugee resettlement programs. They would be allowed to apply for Lawful Permanent Resident status after one year. But there may be other options. The important thing is to provide permanent status to these refugees that would allow them to make long-range plans for their future. Providing permanent status would give them the kind of reassurance and security that most of us take for granted. For the evangelical leaders who are advocating for the Afghan refugees, the motivation comes mostly from what they believe. My faith compels me to lead with love and I believe that wise discernment need not give way to fear, Graham Aitkin, a pastor from Boone, wrote in a news release. At its best, this nation serves as a beacon of hope for those who have faced the unimaginable and yet found a way to endure. May we always be willing to come alongside them and welcome them home. At World Relief Durham, weve been overwhelmed by the response from local churches and the broader community to welcoming the Afghans being resettled here in North Carolina, wrote Adam Clark, the director of that agency. As churches and volunteers step up to ensure that these new neighbors are able to integrate into our community, the Congress must do its part, as well, ensuring that Afghans are able to apply for permanent legal status, while also extending that permanence to others stuck in perpetual temporary status such as Dreamers, whose ability to work and live lawfully in our community is once again in legal jeopardy. We love working in our community, because Winston-Salem is a very welcoming community, Rob Cassell, executive director of World Relief Triad, told the Winston-Salem Journal last year while discussing the Afghan refugees who are living in the Triad. A lot of what we do is connect these new arrivals with wonderful volunteers who get to be that first circle of support, those first friends in a community. That perception speaks well of us. The Evangelical Immigration Table is just as supportive of DACA beneficiaries and other Dreamers and, in its letter, asks Congress to take action on their status, too a view that is shared by a majority of Americans. It is both in these immigrant neighbors interest and in the interest of our society as a whole for our nation to formally affirm what we, as Christians, are eager to convey to these neighbors: that they are welcome here, that they belong and that the United States is now their home, just as it is ours, the letter reads. The Afghans who have resettled here also sacrificed greatly to help our nation when we needed them. They risked torture and death once the Afghan government collapsed, and it was both an act of mercy and a moral obligation to bring them here. But the job isnt done yet. Now they should be allowed to stay. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Letters to the Editor: Michael Sherman should know; What does law have to do with it?; Parents should stop Pans vaccine bill A Helena man was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. Kenneth Lyle Kreiger Jr. entered a guilty plea in November. He was later sentenced by Judge Kathy Seeley to 10 years imprisonment with five years suspended for this crime. Judge Seeley also ordered the defendant to undergo sexual offender treatment prior to his release and to pay all court surcharges. The defendant received credit for time served from March 18, 2021, through the time of sentencing. According to court documents, Kreiger was found to be in possession of pornography involving four 8-year-old girls after a tip from Google was received. The files had been downloaded and were stored on a Google account owned by a "Ken Kreiger Jr." In December of 2020, police raided and seized materials from Kreiger's home on a search warrant. Krieger gave consent to search devices that contained more than 100 sexually explicit images of children. The defendant also had information related to cannibalism on his computer. While not illegal, multiple saved articles about butchering humans, how to eat humans, how to be a cannibal and what eating human flesh does to a person's body were found on his computer. At that time, investigators determined that Kreiger might pose a risk of violence. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 14 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov A missile attack on Ukraines Kharkiv city has struck the vicinity of Azerbaijans Honorary Consulate building, Trend reported on March 1, citing the consulate. The building of the Honorary Consulate suffered no damages as a result of the missile attack. At the moment, the Honorary Consulate of Azerbaijan in Kharkiv continues to work as usual and another group of our compatriots will be evacuated in the coming hours. The detailed information about the evacuation will be provided soon, the consulate said. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated on February 28 that due to the situation in Ukraine, Azerbaijani citizens are still being transferred from this country to neighboring Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. The ministry underlined that, in line with the agreement reached with the aforementioned countries, visa requirements for Azerbaijani citizens transiting through these countries have been temporarily lifted, and a COVID-19 passport and a negative PCR test are no longer required. Citizens are only required to present their passports. The ministry emphasized that since the start of military operations, 950 Azerbaijani citizens have entered Moldova, 447 Poland, 17 Hungary, 200 Romania, and 13 Slovakia. Due to the situation in Ukraine, we advise our citizens to stay away from military facilities, stay at home or in a safe place, and refrain from traveling, the ministry said. On March 1, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) evacuated 176 Azerbaijanis from neighboring countries to Baku on a charter plane due to the situation in Ukraine. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that in response to the appeal of the leaders of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Lugansk People's Republic" decided to conduct a special military operation in Eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities introduced martial law throughout the entire territory. Ukrainian media report explosions in a number of cities. Applications to float Montanas Smith River were down this year after a record high in 2021, but still ranked the second highest on record. This year, 13,824 applicants threw their names in the hat for one of the coveted permits. That is more than 1,300 below last years record high of 15,160, a dip of about 9%. This years applications are still well above the decade-long average of about 10,200. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks spokesperson Dave Hagengruber said officials are not sure why applications were down, but pointed out that while applications have trended upward over time, a year-to-year dip is not unprecedented. There has been some speculation internally that after last years float season was cut short by low flows, some floaters may be waiting to see how snowpack and runoff shapes up before trying for cancelation permits. Cancelation permits are awarded first-come, first-serve with the hotline opening March 7 and open each day from 8 a.m.-noon at (406) 454-5861. The Smith, known for its picturesque limestone canyons, is Montanas only river that requires a permit to float. In recent years interest has skyrocketed with about 6,700 applicants in 2013, a number that more than doubled by 2022. Later this week, the Montana State Parks and Recreation Board will tackle proposed updates to the Smith Rivers management plan. Draft proposals, which would be released for a round of public comment, include prohibiting camping at the launch site at Camp Baker and mandating pack-out of human waste. The board will also take up a proposal to raise application fees from $10 to $15. The meeting takes place March 3 at 1 p.m. in room 317 of the Capitol. Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. His coverage focuses on outdoors, recreation and natural resources. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Rep. Matt Rosendale recently stated that the U.S. has no legal or moral obligation to support Ukraine in defending itself from Russian aggression. It appears that Rosendales idea of morality includes subverting the results of a free and fair election, suppressing the right to vote, and misrepresenting the events of the Jan. 6 insurrection. While Ukrainians have shown the world the true meaning of courage in defending their democracy, Rosendale has done all that he can to subvert our democracy from within. While moral midgets like Rosendale may grovel at the feet of the authoritarian Trumps and Putins of the world I am encouraged that the democratic nations of the world may finally be obtaining the backbone to fight back against autocracy. Vladimir Putins invasion of the Ukraine is a long way from Central Illinois geographically, but very close economically. As we all watch with curiosity as we try to comprehend the reason for the conflict, every moment can be measured in financial terms that will be either positive or negative for U.S. agriculture. Coincidentally, the invasion of the Ukraine occurred at the same time reports came out of South America about La Ninas damage to soybean production. Commodity futures in Chicago wildly reacted setting a high that may not be revisited for years to come. Cash soybean prices at Paranagua, Brazil were $17.88 in terms of U.S. dollars and bushels, and approaching that at the Board of Trade. But with the prospect of war looming in one of the worlds most productive agricultural regions, the reins were yanked and the markets horsepower was thrown in reverse. March soybean futures that were above $17.50 per bushel fell under $16 the following day and are reflecting historic volatility. Because the region of fighting produces 30% of the worlds wheat, and there is uncertainty how much might be harvested this year, Tuesday morning futures for Kansas City hard wheat surpassed $10. Granddad would ask if that was for a truckload, assuming his hearing was faulty. With the markets roiling, it makes it difficult for farmers to manage their price risk, and extraordinarily expensive for grain elevators to do so, because of their needs for cash in hedging accounts. The challenges for the Ukrainian farmers are whether they will be able to plant spring crops, many of which would ordinarily find their way to export markets. Those include corn, small grains, sunflowers, and even some soybeans. On a related front, the expected 4 million refugees from the Ukraine who are fleeing into neighboring European countries will have one of the biggest impacts for food aid relief unseen in many years. Food is likely available, but logistically it is not where it will be needed. And small children cannot wait for a ship to be unloaded several hundred miles away. And since those victims of war are not the only ones needing food around the world, more issues arise. Former USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber said last week, Redirecting the current consumption of food crops (maize, wheat, oilseeds) to non-food uses around the world, from the EU to Indonesia, is already generating significant tensions in food and fertilizer markets. A holistic approach regarding food and energy security is critical in ensuring that food and nutrition outcomes remain a priority. And his mention of fertilizer raises the specter of future food shortages. Unfortunately, the world has looked to Russia and neighboring Belarus for their vast supplies, which may be scorned by international trade from reaching fields where they are needed. While U.S. farmers get the itch this week to head to the field for early soybean planting, they will be thinking about their counterparts in Ukraine who instead are having to defend their fields instead of planting them and hope Vladimir Putin soon makes his trip across the river Styx. 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. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR To mask or unmask, that is still the question in Central Illinois, even after Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday finally lifted his controversial mandate requiring face coverings be worn in most indoor public places to combat the spread of COVID. A snap sampling of public opinion by the Herald & Review revealed a cross-section of views representing both the masked and unmasked. Some plan to just keep right on wearing them, and others have clearly been counting the days until they could officially rip them off and forget em. Kristin Rogers, taking a work break in downtown Decatur, is most definitely not in the discard and forget camp. She has a job dealing with the public and plans to keep her mask firmly in place. Where I work, we care about the people we come into contact with, said Rogers, who did not want to name her employer. So if I get infected with something, I don't want to give it to somebody else. And Id like it to be that way vice-versa. We just want to stay safe. Shikeva West, out walking in Decaturs West End, took a similar point of view. Yeah, I plan to keep on wearing it; I feel safer with it, she said. Karen Majors, enjoying what felt like the first day of spring in Decaturs Fairview Park was more than happy to bid an unfond farewell to her mask. She said she believes mask-wearing did help slow the spread of COVID and its variants, but weve moved beyond that now. Yes, it's about time the masks went away, added Majors, 64. Cindy Joseph, exercising in the park in the warm sunshine, also believed the need for mandated mask wearing is over, but the issue should remain one of individual choice. I think there are still going to be people who are leery and they are going to wear masks and thats OK, she said. There should not be any issues about that. Joseph, 59, said there are still some places where even she would feel more comfortable wearing a mask, such as the confines of an aircraft. As for COVID generally, she believes the worst is over and now it's time to just get used to living with it. Just like we live with the flu and the common cold, she added. I think were stuck with it. Since the start of the pandemic, Macon County Health Department figures show that 321 county residents have lost their lives, with the latest fatalities being two males aged in their 60s. As of Monday, there were 10 COVID-related hospitalizations, and none of those patients were described as being up-to-date with their vaccinations. Meanwhile Pritzker, facing an election year, appears keen for the state to get back to an unmasked sense of normalcy. His order requiring people aged 2 and older to wear masks in public was first imposed on May 1, 2020, when the state was grappling with 59,000 COVID cases and more than 2,400 deaths. Rules had been relaxed after things appeared to be getting better in June of 2021, only to see cases worsen again with the arrival of COVID variants delta and omicron. Now, in the wake of vaccinations and booster shots, analysis by the Chicago Tribune shows the Illinois hospitalization rate from COVID is sitting at the lowest among the five neighboring states. That works out at 883 patients per 100,000 residents admitted to hospital with the virus. The death rate in Illinois per 100,000 residents came in at close to 79, also the lowest seen in the five comparison states. Across the state, Illinoisans are taking their masks off today knowing that most eligible adults are boosted, and our hospitals have much more capacity to save lives, said the governor in a statement. Im proud that Illinoisans have done the hard work that has made our state a leader in the Midwest, with more of our residents vaccinated than any other state in the region. The business community has welcomed the lifting of the mask mandate and Mirinda Rothrock, president of the Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce, said her members were looking forward to getting back to business as usual. She said after months and months of COVID-related restrictions and difficulties, the end of the mask mandate signaled a return to normalcy. I think businesses are definitely ready to put the pandemic behind them, she said. With this mask mandate taken away, it puts a lot of ownership back into the business itself and they can make their own rules in regards to workplace safety. All thats needed now, said the Chamber president, is for the customers of those businesses to get back to normal, too. And we can all help out our businesses by shopping and dining locally, she added. Some returns to normalcy are going to have to wait a bit longer, however. Decaturs annual St. Patricks Day Parade is scheduled for March 12 and, for this year, it will remain with COVID safety restrictions in place. That means vehicles only, no walkers, and no direct contact between participants and the watching crowd. Organizer Jim Wrigley said there isnt time and it's too much of a logistical headache to go and try and change things in the wake of the mask mandate going away. And he said safety and traffic concerns were a major worry if he suddenly tried to rejig the prearranged parade rules for this year. As for 2023, barring some unforeseen COVID variant resurgence, the parade should be back as it usually is with marchers pounding the street. And, however its organized, Wrigley counts on the luck of the Irish to make sure a good time is had by all. Everybody is still looking forward to this years parade, he said. And us older guys, and Im an older guy, we would rather ride anyway, he added with a laugh. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Todays Highlight in History: On March 1, 1974, seven people, including former Nixon White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman, former Attorney General John Mitchell and former assistant Attorney General Robert Mardian, were indicted on charges of conspiring to obstruct justice in connection with the Watergate break-in. (These four defendants were convicted in January 1975, although Mardians conviction was later reversed.) On March 1: In 1815, Napoleon, having escaped exile in Elba, arrived in Cannes, France, and headed for Paris to begin his Hundred Days rule. In 1867, Nebraska became the 37th state as President Andrew Johnson signed a proclamation. In 1893, inventor Nikola Tesla first publicly demonstrated radio during a meeting of the National Electric Light Association in St. Louis by transmitting electromagnetic energy without wires. In 1932, Charles A. Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh, was kidnapped from the family home near Hopewell, New Jersey. (Remains identified as those of the child were found the following May.) In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, back from the Yalta Conference, proclaimed the meeting a success as he addressed a joint session of Congress. In 1954, four Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire from the spectators gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives, wounding five members of Congress. In 1966, the Soviet space probe Venera 3 impacted the surface of Venus, becoming the first spacecraft to reach another planet; however, Venera was unable to transmit any data, its communications system having failed. In 1971, a bomb went off inside a mens room at the U.S. Capitol; the radical group Weather Underground claimed responsibility for the pre-dawn blast. In 2005, Dennis Rader, the churchgoing family man accused of leading a double life as the BTK serial killer, was charged in Wichita, Kansas, with 10 counts of first-degree murder. (Rader later pleaded guilty and received multiple life sentences.) A closely divided Supreme Court outlawed the death penalty for juvenile criminals. In 2010, Jay Leno returned as host of NBCs The Tonight Show. In 2012, Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley signed a measure legalizing same-sex marriage in his state, effective January 2013. Online publisher and conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart died in Los Angeles at age 43. In 2015, tens of thousands marched through Moscow in honor of slain Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who had been shot to death on Feb. 27. In 2017, former Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke was sworn in as secretary of the Interior Department by Vice President Mike Pence, hours after being confirmed by the Senate. In 2020, state officials said New York City had its first confirmed case of the coronavirus, a woman in her late 30s who had contracted the virus while traveling in Iran. Health officials in Washington state, announcing what was believed at the time to be the second U.S. death from the coronavirus, said the virus may have been circulating for weeks undetected in the Seattle area. In 2021, Vernon Jordan, who rose from humble beginnings in the segregated South to become a champion of civil rights before reinventing himself as a Washington insider, died at 85. Pennsylvanias Republican Party expressed its disapproval of U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey over his vote to convict Donald Trump during Trumps second impeachment trial, but stopped short of issuing a more serious censure. Twitter said it had begun labeling tweets that included misleading information about COVID-19 vaccines, and that it would use a strike system to remove accounts that repeatedly violate its rules. An American father and son wanted by Japan for helping former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn escape from the country in a box while facing financial misconduct charges were handed over to Japanese custody. (Michael Taylor would be sentenced to two years in prison; his son Peter was sentenced to one year and eight months.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR When Dennis Cooper was in fifth grade, his teacher told him, Dennis, you'll never be anything. Cooper took that as a challenge, and the next year, his grades went from Ds to As. He took his report card to that fifth-grade teacher to show her that she'd been wrong about him. You never know when someone can change your life, Cooper said at Stepping Up for DPS, a luncheon held on Monday to thank the community leaders who volunteered to be Principal for a Day at Decatur's schools. That teacher changed his life, he said, by giving him the impetus to go make something of himself. One of the reasons Cooper wanted to participate, he said, is that so many of the students in Decatur schools lack a male role model, particularly a Black male role model. They need that exposure (to Black men), said Cooper, who worked for 32 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, mostly with juveniles. Principal for a Day was the brainchild of Rida Ellis, assistant principal at American Dreamer STEM Academy, who suggested to Jeff Dase, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, that bringing members of the community into schools would not only highlight the positive things that happen in schools, but possibly inspire them to become regular volunteers and build relationships. Dase said he hopes the event becomes an annual one, and that the volunteers will recruit friends and family to get involved, too. Primarily it's two goals, Dase said. It's awareness and highlights of the good things that are going on in our schools to sort of combat some of the negative press that DPS has, and also to expose our kids to more diverse backgrounds and more diverse people. That's one of the reasons we did it during Black History Month, to have some of the Black community leaders to come in and talk to our kids. A lot of our kids don't necessarily see that during their career in DPS. Of 588 teachers in the district, Dase said, only 32 are Black. Chief of Police Shane Brandel said the youngsters he met at South Shores School had a chance to get to know a police officer in a positive way. I need to capitalize on that and build on the fact that the kids didn't see me in a negative light, Brandel said. Caring Black Men founder Jeffrey Perkins already spends a lot of time in Decatur's schools with his group, who visit to provide boys with positive, plain-talking Black male role models. He was principal for a day at Parsons School, where his own children attended. I participated in a Black History program in one of the classrooms, Perkins said. I also read a book in one of the classrooms and gave them a little talk. It's kind of deja vu for me because for 15 years I've been in the schools every day with Caring Black Men. Some of the young men I remembered and had in other schools. His wife, Sherri Perkins, served on the school board for eight years. I want (the community) to see all the positives going on in the school district, Sherri Perkins said. There's a lot of positives going on in this district and it's an excellent place to go get an education. I promote Decatur Public Schools. Our kids graduated from Decatur Public Schools. It was refreshing to see the interaction with the kids. They were so excited and they love school. Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Alan Blumhorst begins his tours at Rainbow Ranch with the story of Johann and Maria Mangenalker, a German couple who established the farm in 1850 in Washington County. The immigrants could never have imagined that Blumhorst, their great-great-grandson, would someday be fighting with an international telecommunications company over placement of a cell tower. They didn't even have electricity or running water. The 100-acre farm now operates as a petting zoo, exotic animal sanctuary and occasional wedding venue, about eight miles west of Nashville. In recent months, Blumhorst has made it his mission to oppose construction of the 350-foot tower, which would be built across Illinois 15 from his pasture and used by AT&T, according to plans unveiled last fall. He wants to see it moved to a less-visible location. "It's going to be an eyesore for the thousands of people who come here to see Americana," he said. Blumhorst said the tower would negatively affect the rural landscape and therefore his business which he calls the "No. 1 tourist attraction in Washington County" on the heels of two difficult years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The steel tower with antennae, receivers and other equipment would be about half as tall as the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis, with flashing lights to alert aircraft from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah and Washington County Hospital in Nashville. Blumhorst said anyone living in a rural area could face a similar situation due to state and federal laws pushed by telecommunications lobbies that allow companies to build giant towers with little input or scrutiny from local residents or county governments. Improving cell service The cell tower in Washington County would be built by New York-based Tillman Infrastructure and leased by AT&T. The purpose is to improve cellphone and other wireless services for customers throughout the region, according to Chris Hillabrant, Tillman's chief operating officer. The tower also could be used by other carriers. It would help fill current gaps in coverage, Hillabrant said, decreasing the number of dropped calls, allowing for higher-speed internet and assisting police and other first responders with communication. "It's a public safety issue," he said. "Cellphones are our lifelines these days." Telecommunications companies must consider many factors when deciding where to put cell towers, Hillabrant said. One involves finding private property owners willing to rent land and honoring their wishes on specific locations. Complaints are common when final decisions on tower placements are made public, based on media reports. "Often times there's that 'not-in-my-backyard' type of phenomenon that occurs," Hillabrant said. "People all want to use cellular service. They're using the apps and the phones that are part of the critical infrastructure of the country. But nobody wants the towers or antennae next to them, and without that, honestly, you have no network." Hillabrant said Tillman's work is governed by a host of local, state and federal ordinances, laws and regulations, and that the company is committed to following all of them. AT&T declined to make a company representative available to answer questions about the cell tower near Nashville. Lead Public Relations Manager Lesley Roberts emailed the following statement: "This site is part of our ongoing investment to improve service and coverage for our Washington County customers. When selecting a new cell site, we work with city officials to find a location that balances the needs of our business and those of the community." Losing county control The Washington County Board is now updating its policies related to placement and construction of cell towers. Its Zoning Board of Appeals was scheduled to vote on ordinance changes Thursday night but canceled the meeting due to weather. The changes are considered necessary because officials recently learned that state law specifically a provision in the Illinois Counties Code supersedes a county ordinance that would have required Tillman Infrastructure to obtain a special-use permit and go through a public-hearing process to build its tower. As a result, the county can't do much to stop the tower from being built on private property in the location next to Rainbow Ranch, according to Zoning Administrator Matt Bierman. "The way we had it kept the voice of the people, and that's what we want," he said. "Unfortunately (the state law) takes that voice away from them, and I understand their concern. But our hands are tied." There are other locations in the vicinity where the tower could be built, Bierman said, but county officials can't force Tillman, AT&T or the property owners to consider them. The land is owned by farmers Bill and Annette Eade. Blumhorst said he was friends with the neighbors until they arranged for the tower to be built away from their house and next to his place instead, then failed to inform him. The Eades couldn't be reached for comment this week. Recovering from COVID Residents of Rainbow Ranch include horses, miniature horses, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens, alpacas, llamas, donkeys, peacocks, geese, swans, Scottish Highland cattle and fallow deer. There's a zebra named Ziggy, a camel named Candy and a kangaroo named Captain. Blumhorst takes some of the animals to fairs, festivals, nursing homes and children's birthday parties throughout the region at least he did before COVID-19. "2020 was my worst year ever," he said. "2021 was OK, but I'm still bouncing back. I'm not getting school groups because they're not taking field trips. I'm not traveling to nursing homes and, as far as big parties, I did about a fourth of what I used to do. Fairs and festivals are down. "I can't afford to take any more cuts in revenue," he said. Tillman Infrastructure applied to Washington County in August for a special-use permit to build the cell tower along Illinois 15. That was required by the county's telecommunications tower ordinance because it was taller than 200 feet. Blumhorst learned about the proposal when a neighbor received notice of a public hearing. He and his partner, Marty Stanberry, drummed up opposition with Facebook posts, press releases, letters to the editor, an online petition and interview with a St. Louis TV station. Tillman withdrew its special-use permit application in October. The company reached out to State's Attorney Daniel Bronke, notifying him that state law allows companies to build cell towers up to 350 feet with "no questions asked" if they're farther than a mile and a half from municipalities with more than 25,000 people, according to Bierman. "Well, we don't have a city or village in the county with 25,000 people," he said. "We don't even have that many people in the county." Bringing history to bear In January, Bierman presented the Washington County zoning board with information about how other counties are dealing with the issue of cell-tower placement. Board members voted to table the matter until February. At a rescheduled meeting next Thursday, the board is expected to vote on telecommunications tower ordinance revisions that sync with state law and create a new application process for non-special-use tower permits, which are similar to building permits. They're issued by the zoning administrator. If the full county board approves the revisions on March 8, companies seeking tower permits will be required to submit additional materials from their Federal Communications Commission license applications. "They have to do (research) to get an FCC license in the first place, so that includes an environmental study, a historical study and an aviation study," Bierman said. "All I'm wanting is for them to produce that to me at the time of application." Blumhorst supports such requirements because, he said, they could keep permit approvals from being rushed through by applicants or local governments and help farmers and other residents understand the impact of cell towers in their areas. In recent months, Blumhorst and Stanberry have sought to bolster their case for changing the Nashville tower's location by applying to get a 172-year-old barn at Rainbow Ranch, complete with hand-hewn beams, added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Washington County Historical Society designated the "Mangenalker-Blumhorst Barn" a historic site in October. "From our research, we believe this barn to be the oldest standing barn in the county," according to the society's Facebook announcement. "It is unique in that it is a very large drive through barn. It is still utilized in the day-to-day operations of the farm, but most importantly, houses many animals living on the farm." Questioning health effects Beyond the visual impact of the cell tower, Blumhorst wonders about the health effects on area residents and his roughly 250 animals. The American Cancer Society broadly addresses this question on its website, noting that despite concerns by some people that radiofrequency (RF) radiation waves from cell towers could cause cancer there is no strong evidence of noticeable health effects. "This does not mean that the RF waves from cell phone towers have been proven to be absolutely safe," it states. "Most expert organizations agree that more research is needed to help clarify this, especially for any possible long-term effects." More than 11,000 people follow the Rainbow Ranch Facebook page. Many have posted comments in recent months, voicing support for Blumhorst, who has lived on the farm all his life. He's the fifth generation in his family to operate it. The petting zoo was founded 20 years ago. Some friends have warned Blumhorst that he can't win a "David vs. Goliath" battle with a giant corporation such as AT&T, particularly when state law is largely on its side. But that hasn't changed his mind. "I've worked 20 years on this place," he said, "so I'm not going to let it go down without a fight." The next meeting of the Washington County Zoning Board of Appeals will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the county board room at the Washington County Courthouse in Nashville. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 One of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoots top City Council allies said she will absolutely not support her campaign for reelection and criticized the mayor for being divisive, comments that reflect broader discontent with Lightfoots leadership style as she prepares to seek a second term. Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza, who Lightfoot tapped to lead the City Council Workforce Development Committee that often handles union contract issues, made the comments in an interview on the Ben Joravsky Show podcast after being asked if she would support a second term for the mayor. Im tired of being ignored. Im tired of not getting phone calls returned. Im tired of letting the inmates run the asylum. Yeah, no. Absolutely not, Garza said on the podcast, published over the weekend. I have never met anybody who has managed to piss off every single person they come in contact with police, fire, teachers, aldermen, businesses, manufacturing, and thats it. I said it. Thats it. I dont care. The comments offer a window into the behind-the-scenes complaints aldermen share about Lightfoot, including people who were once friendly with the mayor. Garza was a key ally early in the Lightfoot administration, helping the mayor pass labor legislation like the fair workweek ordinance requiring large Chicago employers to give workers at least two weeks advance notice of their schedules and compensate them for last-minute changes. At a celebratory news conference after that City Council meeting, Garza gave Lightfoot a bottle of Hienies hot sauce, a Southeast Side staple. The two have exchanged friendly texts, including one where Garza vented about environmentalists in the 10th Ward she represents. Lightfoot responded, I am riding with you til the end! according to text messages previously published by the Tribune. But in recent months, Garza has been critical of the administration with colleagues in comments that echo her public remarks on the Joravsky show, sources said. Lightfoot has not formally announced her reelection campaign but is widely expected to seek a second term. Her political team has recently started hiring for key positions and she has been raising money, though she has also burned through more campaign cash than shes collected since shortly after winning office two and a half years ago. Lightfoots tenure as mayor has served as a crash course in crisis management, from the COVID-19 pandemic and destructive civil unrest to a teachers strike and skyrocketing violent crime. Her relationship with aldermen has also been rocky, dating back to her very first day as mayor. While delivering her inaugural address, Lightfoot invoked Chicagos history of corruption and turned to face aldermen on the rostrum behind her, which some interpreted as an attack on their integrity. Asked about Garzas criticism, Lightfoots office did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Garza could not immediately be reached for comment. Lightfoot has often dismissed criticism of her temperament and leadership style, saying much of it is driven by racism and sexism and arguing that she was elected to shake up the status quo. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. During the podcast interview, Garza also criticized the Lightfoot administration for blocking a permit sought by a clout-heavy scrap shredder seeking to operate on the Southeast Side. Garza said she received a call from public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady telling her theyd be denying the permit. I asked, On what grounds? You told me you were going to follow the science. Im not understanding the decision, Garza said, recounting the conversation. Arwady said the firm was out of compliance, according to Garza, who criticized the city for denying the permit and the jobs it would bring. I literally said, this is a political decision. I am not stupid. I am not stupid and I hope you can sleep at night knowing that youre putting all these people out of work, Garza said. When she announced the permits denial, Arwady cited the long history of pollution problems at the General Iron scrap shredder RMG purchased and later closed on the citys North Side, and at related operations on the companys Southeast Side property. Garzas criticism of Lightfoots communication mirrors an ongoing concern frequently raised by aldermen, who say she sometimes does not return messages. In November, for instance, South Side Ald. Gregory Mitchell texted Lightfoot a series of topics he wanted to discuss, including quality-of-life issues and economic development. Lightfoot did not text back, according to a copy of the exchange released by her office in response to a public records request. Early the next evening, Mitchell texted Lightfoot and said he was in the building and wondered if she had time to talk before he left. The morning after, Mitchell texted again. Mayor, when are we going to talk? I have called, sent text and came up to the 5th floor, Mitchell texted. I hate to think that the only time I can talk to you is when you are trying to pass a budget. She did not text back to that message, according to the documents released by Lightfoots office. Mitchell told the Tribune on Monday that the mayor still had not called him back about these issues. To this day, I havent talked to her, Mitchell said. Im still frustrated. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Cloudy and windy this evening with scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 73F. SSE winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy and windy this evening with scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 73F. SSE winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Azerbaijans Honorary Consulate in Kharkiv has evacuated 500 Azerbaijani citizens due to the tense situation in the city, Azertag reported on March 1, citing the consulate. The citizens will be aided to cross the Ukrainian-Polish border from Lviv, the report added. It was noted that places for daily evacuation of Azerbaijani citizens were allocated as a result of negotiations between Azerbaijani Honorary Consul in Kharkiv Afgan Salmanov, the Kharkiv Southern Railway Department and the Kharkiv Railway Station. Citizens of Azerbaijan who wish to leave Kharkiv should contact the duty station of the Railway Station and the Azerbaijani Honorary Consulate in Kharkiv. Consular officers simultaneously monitor Azerbaijani media and social media, responding quickly to appeals posted there. The consulate requests that they demonstrate solidarity in this matter and direct Azerbaijani citizens to them. Citizens with special cases can contact the Honorary Consulate in Kharkiv by phone: (+38057) 7000531, (+380) 63 047 05 50, or by e-mail: [email protected] Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the hotlines of the ministry and relevant diplomatic missions regarding the situation in Ukraine. The ministry urged Azerbaijani citizens living in Ukraine, both permanently and temporarily, to avoid areas where military forces are concentrated and military facilities are located. Our citizens are advised to stay at home or in safe places and avoid travel if they do not need it, the ministry said. It added that Azerbaijani citizens who face serious threats may leave Ukraine for Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. Citizens can also travel through Romania and Bulgaria to Turkey, and then to Azerbaijan. To obtain the necessary information on the issues raised, the ministry advised to get in contact via the following channels: Hotlines of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, phone: +994505748595, +994506725868, +994125969422, +994125969301, e-mail: m[email protected] At the same time, Azerbaijan's relevant diplomatic missions in other countries can be reached via the following channels: Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Ukraine (Kyiv), phone: +380 73 5050000, Email: [email protected] Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Moldova, phone: +373 781 81 361, +373 789 91 849, +373 222 32 277, e-mail: [email protected] Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Poland, phone: +48 576 900 183, +48 22 718 30 70, e-mail: [email protected] Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Hungary, phone: +36300901033 (for phone calls), +994552999012 (for calls via WhatsApp), e-mail: [email protected] Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan accredited in Slovakia, phone: +43 676 844 509 733, e-mail: [email protected] Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Romania, phone: +407 487 77744, +407 409 90079, e-mail: [email protected] Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria, phone: +359895002732, e-mail: [email protected] Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Turkey (Ankara), phone: +905550310007, e-mail: [email protected] Consulate General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Istanbul, Turkey, phone: +905441040111, e-mail: [email protected] KINGSPORT, Tenn. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee was in Kingsport Monday for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the old Sullivan High School, which has been transformed into the new Building Construction Technology Institute (BCTI). Before cutting the ribbon, Lee spoke about how BCTI will help East Tennessee lure additional investments from companies and what this focus on construction technology education (CTE) means for students in Tennessee. This is incredibly important to me, because it's incredibly important to the future of our state and to new students. It is changing the way we do high school. It's changing the way we do post-secondary. It is enhancing what we're doing in our four-year colleges, Lee said. This is important, not only because you students are the future of our state, but because our state is one of the most exciting, fast-growing states in America. We have an obligation to get prepared for them to make sure that any company that wants to come here knows that we're going to have the workforce they need. The Elizabethton Tennessee College of Applied Technology (ETCAT) is already hosting its building construction technology course at the new BCTI building, located at 2533 N John B Dennis Highway in Kingsport. The first group of students began classes January 4. Students who sign up for ETCATs building construction technology course receive hands-on residential construction education. They experience and learn everything from industry best practices and safety regulations, to how to construct and repair a home from the foundation up. Jamel Foster, the instructor of the course explained once students finish the course, they will have become at minimum a certified craft level-one carpenter. Foster said the program is truly geared towards anyone who wants to go into residential construction work. It's going to be geared to suit any trade you want to go to, and so our basic curriculum is to become a craft level one carpenter, and then from that you can build on your HVAC, plumbing and electrical journeyman level certificate, he said. Brandy Maney, who alongside her four children is a member of the first cohort of students taking the ETCAT building construction technology course, spoke about what it has been like to learn as a family from someone with first-hand experience, and why she will require all her future employees to take ETCATs building technology course. None of us actually like school, but coming here, we love it, she said. We show up every day, and we actually look forward to coming to class. It's not like, Hey, you have to be there, they just love it, Maney said. I'm hoping that anybody that I hire going forward will come from this class. That way, theyll be competent to be able to work. Foster, whose family has been in the construction business for at least three generations, spoke about why he switched lanes from working in construction to becoming an instructor. I felt more of a calling coming into a career like this, he said. It allows me to impact more lives in a positive way. The way I look at it is, let's say I want to build you know 1,000 to 10,000 homes in my lifetime. Well, if I educate 1,000 people they go out and build one home each thats 1,000 homes I have vicariously built. You can build up a community. You can start up a bunch of spec houses, but what happens in 15 years? What happens in 20 years? Those houses deteriorate, and so teaching people how to come in and remodel and ultimately continue to make that neighborhood great is what's really going to separate this community from the rest of them. Lee said he was proud of how the different public and private sectors of Kingsport came together to solve an issue that has challenged East Tennessee. This community has come together to solve a problem, and the problem is that there are not enough workers to fill the required opportunities that are out there, Lee said. I commend the folks in this community that have come together, including the businesses, the nonprofits, the private sector, to make this happen. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BRISTOL, Va. Two local partners in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol and the director of the United Way of Southwest Virginia were named among Virginias Top 50 Heavy Hitters by Virginia Business magazine. The publication included both Jim McGlothlin, chairman and CEO of The United Company and Clyde Stacy, president of Par Ventures, LLC, on its list after the pair helped establish casino gaming in Virginia, with the states first casino expected to operate in the former Bristol Mall. They are the only executives from any Virginia casino included on the list. McGlothlin was a founding partner and then sole owner of the United Coal Co., now The United Co., which sold its coal mine holdings in 2009. He is perhaps best known now as a co-developer, along with Par Ventures LLC President Clyde Stacy, of the $400 million Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, which will be in the former Bristol Mall, according to the magazine,. McGlothlin and Stacy were instrumental in changing state gambling laws to allow casinos in select Virginia cities. McGlothlin and his wife, Frances Gibson McGlothlin, have been major donors to their alma mater, William & Mary, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, according to the publication. Stacy is a former coal mining magnate who headed Rapoca Energy Co. In 2018, he bought the former Bristol Mall for $2.6 million and approached his friend Jim McGlothlin, about building a casino there. The two were instrumental in getting the state General Assembly to legalize commercial casinos in economically challenged Virginia cities. In July 2021, the licensed medical cannabis processor that Stacy had invested in, Dharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, sold to Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries for $80 million, according to the publication. Dharma relocated from the mall to a site in Washington County, Virginia. Construction is under way for the temporary casino quarters at Bristol Mall, expected to open in the former Belk womens store by midyear, pending approval of its license by the Virginia Lottery Board, the publication noted. Travis Staton, president and CEO, United Way of Southwest Virginia in Abingdon was recognized for leading the organization since 2005. He has guided it through eight mergers and acquisitions into a key player in the regions economic and workforce development. He oversees the organizations work to improve the health, education and financial stability of Virginians across 17 counties and four cities nearly 20% of the state and its poorest region, according to the magazine. Staton led the creation of the Ignite Program, designed to build a talent pipeline from schools to the workforce. In 2018, Charity Navigator named the innovative Southwest chapter one of the 10 best United Way chapters out of more than 1,200 nationwide. In December 2021, the United Way of Southwest Virginia launched Ready SWVA, an initiative to expand access to affordable child care and increase the number of credentialed teachers, according to the publication. Andrew White, a former student at Virginia Commonwealth University student and fraternity member, was sentenced to no time in jail Tuesday after the hazing death of his "little brother" last year. White, 23, had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor hazing and serving alcohol to a minor following the death of Adam Oakes, a 19-year-old VCU freshman. Oakes died of alcohol intoxication after a "big-little" event for the Delta Chi fraternity in Feb. 2021. That night, White became Oakes' big brother in the fraternity. Judge Claire Cardwell sentenced White to 100 hours of community service, probation, speaking at five hazing prevention events and a requirement to participate in a new restorative justice program in which he will meet with the Oakes family. "I want you to know I'm deeply sorry," White said in Richmond Circuit Court. "I think about him every day." More important than putting kids in jail is educating them about the dangers of hazing, said Courtney White, cousin to Adam Oakes. In many hazing cases, defendants don't receive sufficiently harsh sentences. This was a more effective solution, she said. Authorities charged 11 former members of the fraternity in connection to Oakes' death, and Andrew White's case is the first to be resolved. He declined to comment after the hearing. Hazing and providing alcohol to a minor are Class 1 misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in prison. This story will be updated. " " Old wagon tracks wind through Scottsbluff, Nebraska, on the Oregon Trail. Thousands and thousands followed the trail to get to the West. Library of Congress On May 1, 1839, 17 men left the courthouse square in Peoria, Illinois. Their goal was to travel beyond the Rocky Mountains and settle the Oregon Country, a disputed territory that encompassed present-day Oregon, Idaho, Washington state and British Columbia. Led by an attorney named Thomas J. Farnham, this little party carried a flag that read "Oregon or the grave." Death was a distinct possibility. During the 18th century, American pioneers flocked to the Pacific Northwest. Untold thousands of lives were lost along the way. Most of these migrants took the same general course: A 2,170-mile (3,490-kilometer) route that extended from western Missouri to the Willamette Valley in what's now Oregon state. This highway for mules, covered wagons and ambitious souls became known as the Oregon Trail. And a gap in the Rocky Mountains made its existence possible. Advertisement A Continent, Divided The Rocky Mountains begin in New Mexico and continue northward into the upper recesses of British Columbia. But the mountain range doesn't go uninterrupted. One notable gap occurs in southern Wyoming, where the Rockies are punctuated by a flat, grass-covered prairie that's aptly called the South Pass. For thousands of years, its existence was known only to indigenous people. Then in 1812, the fur trader Robert Stuart caught wind of the pass and ventured through it with six companions and the aid of a Native American guide. David Wolf is the executive director of the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering, Nebraska. He says the 1812 "discovery" of the South Pass would go on to inform the trajectory of the Oregon Trail. "The Rocky Mountains are very difficult to traverse on horseback," Wolf says via email. "Once the South Pass was discovered in Wyoming, it made the trek a lot easier. The South Pass is a very flat, very wide cut through the mountains." This, he explains, is why Oregon-bound pioneers overwhelmingly preferred to travel through southern Wyoming by way of the Nebraska panhandle (where Gering now resides). " " This map shows the route emigrants followed from St. Louis to Oregon Country. Wikimedia Commons Advertisement Treaties, Trappers and Missionaries A few years after Stuart crossed the South Pass, representatives from Great Britain and the United States met to discuss the fate of the Pacific Northwest. Much of the current U.S.-Canadian border was established with the signing of the historic Treaty of 1818. The document declared that all the land from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains that fell below the 49th parallel belonged to Uncle Sam. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Oregon Country would be jointly controlled by Brits and Americans for a period of 10 years. In 1827, the shared occupation policy was extended, but some big changes were on the horizon. It was against this backdrop that the Oregon Trail as we now know it first became popular. Early on, the cross-country route was predominantly used by fur-trappers seeking northwestern beaver pelts. But they weren't the only demographic to take advantage of the trail. During the 1830s, the Oregon Trail became a magnet for Christian missionaries like Jason Lee who were looking to proselytize to Native Americans while they also spread their faith in the Pacific Northwest. Other emigrants simply wanted to procure a better life for themselves and snag some open farmland. Advertisement Free Land ... For Some The exact number of travelers who took the Oregon Trail has been lost to the sands of time. However, according to Wolf, it's been estimated that "around 400,000 people" made the trip. By the early 1840s, there were enough American settlers in Oregon to establish a provisional government. On July 5, 1843, the Oregon provisional government passed an act that allowed single white men to claim 320 acres (129.4 hectares) of land in the region. By extension, married couples were eligible to claim up to 640 acres (259 hectares). Unfortunately, the same body also enacted measures specifically designed to keep African-American out of Oregon. To this day, the state grapples with the aftermath of those racist policies. As intended, the provisional government's actions triggered a westward exodus of white families into the Oregon Country. Available farmland, after all, was hard to come by in eastern states. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management reports that in 1843 alone, "almost 900 people" trekked across the Oregon Trail, with plenty of cattle in tow. " " Devil's Gate, a fissure in the mountains of what is now Natrona County, Wyoming, was a noted landmark along the Oregon Trail. Library of Congress Advertisement Settling Matters Three years later, Great Britain and the United States reached an agreement about the Pacific Northwest's political future. Under the Oregon Treaty of 1846, nearly all of the disputed lands below the 49th parallel were handed over to the U.S. (Notably, British Canada retained all of Vancouver Island.) An act of Congress in 1850 recognized most of the land claims that were made under Oregon's provisional government. The policy of doling out free land to northwestern migrants continued until 1854, when a fee of $1.25 per acre was imposed and a cap of 320 total acres (i.e.: 129.4 hectares) per new claim was enforced. Those terms were attractive enough to keep the hopeful settlers streaming in. Their preferred mode of transportation was a covered wagon. Pulled by mules, horses or oxen, these consisted of rectangular, box-shaped "beds" with removable canvas covers. A typical wagon in those days could carry loads of 1,600 to 2,000 pounds (725 to 907 kilograms). "People packed various things, but what they arrived with was a different matter," Wolf says. Littering was rampant along the Oregon Trail: Travelers left everything from old furniture to dinnerware scattered across the American countryside. "With limited space on the wagons, they had to have some food, repair tools, spare parts and maybe some family heirlooms," Wolf explains. "With very [few] settlements/forts along the way, they had make sure they had enough supplies." Most families traveled in wagon trains, organized caravans that sometimes contained more than 1,000 individual settlers. Mind you, these didn't always follow the exact same course. On their way through Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming and other states, wagon train pathways covered vast expanses of land. "The trail got very wide," notes Wolf. And it was full of graves. Conservatively, about 4 to 6 percent of all the emigrants who took the Oregon Trail died along the way. Many a wagon train was devastated by cholera, dysentery and other diseases. "You also had death from fording dangerous rivers, snake bites [and] accidents... like getting run over," Wolf says. Following the completion of America's first Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, the Oregon Trail's heyday came to an end though some families were still using it in the 1890s. Although its golden age is long past, there's no denying that this beautiful but punishing route changed America forever. NOW THAT'S INTERESTING In 2010, brothers Rinker and Nick Buck re-traced as much of the historic Oregon Trail as they could in a replica wagon pulled by a team of mules. Altogether, it took the pair around four months to get from Kansas City, Missouri, to Portland, Oregon. " " Colonial settler Capt. John Smith was supposedly saved from execution by Native American Pocahontas in the mid 1610s. But was he really? Kean Collection/Getty Images While plenty of people older than age of 8 know that the Pocahontas and John Smith love story is just a myth, and kind of a gross one considering he was 27 when he encountered the 10- or 11-year old girl, Smith's real-life story hasn't gotten much attention outside of academic circles. But the genuine Capt. John Smith had more effect on the trajectory of history than any two-dimensional animated version could ever hope to. "He was one of the very most important people in early English colonization," says Karen Ordahl Kupperman, Silver professor of history emerita at New York University and editor of "Captain John Smith, A Select Edition of His Writings." "His image has endured for all the wrong reasons." Popular culture seized on the event with Pocahontas, but his interactions with her were the least important among his accomplishments. Advertisement Who Was John Smith? Born in 1580 in Lincolnshire, England, Smith was the son of yeoman farmers (non-slaveholding, small landowning farmers), according to his autobiography, explains Kupperman. After his father died, Smith left home and his life of adventure began. According to the Jamestown Rediscovery Project, Smith helped the French fight for Dutch independence from Spain and then became a sailor on a merchant ship. By 1600, he had linked up with the Hapsburgs to fight the Ottomans in Hungary. He was captured, sold into slavery and given to a young woman in Istanbul. Although she is reported (by Smith) to have fallen in love with Smith, she sent him to her brother, who treated him badly. Smith wound up killing the brother to escape and traveled throughout North Africa and Europe before returning to England, where he arrived just at the time the Virginia Company was making plans to establish a colony in North America. This might all sound like a tall tale, but scholars have shown that Smith's places, battles and dates line up with accepted records, while his astonishing version of the events places him within literary genres of the time, according to Kupperman. " " John Smith landed in Virginia in April 1607 where the Jamestown settlement would be founded. MPI/Getty Images Advertisement The Adventurer in Virginia The next stop for Smith was colonial Virginia. The Virginia Company voyage set off for the "New World" Dec. 20, 1606, with Smith aboard. While sailing to North America, he was accused of a mutiny, and when the ships docked in the Chesapeake Bay in April 1607, where the Jamestown settlement would be founded, he was a prisoner. Once the colony leaders realized that the Company had intended Smith to be part of the governing council, they released him. Smith spent his time in Virginia exploring the area and bartering with local peoples. He was in Virginia for slightly less than two years, but his role there was important. "[H]e was the only person on the leadership who had actual experience dealing with other cultures," says Kupperman, who contrasts Smith's behavior with that of Capt. Christopher Newport's. When Newport visited the local Algonquin leader Chief Powhatan, for instance, he met him with soldiers, trumpets and flags, what Kupperman calls "a ridiculous display." Smith, on the other hand, visited Powhatan accompanied only by four men. "He understood a lot more about how you can get people to be interested in helping you in these situations," says Kupperman. "And swagger is not really it." Smith's contributions at Jamestown went beyond his cross-cultural awareness. The English had not yet explored the Chesapeake Bay when they arrived in 1607, according to Paul P. Musselwhite, assistant professor of history at Dartmouth. An earlier attempt at settlement in the region, the lost colony of Roanoke, had not ended well. But within five years, Smith's work helped the English develop a map and knowledge of the geography and peoples of the area. " " John Smith's 1606 map of Virginia shows the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, other geographic features, as well as a vignette of the Native leader, Powhatan, in council. Library of Congress Advertisement The Misconceptions About Pocahontas Smith did a lot during his short time in Virginia, but what he didn't do was fall in love with Pocahontas or vice versa. "The most critical misconception is the one about his relationship with Pocahontas," says Musselwhite. In reality, it would have been practically impossible for him to have had any kind of important relationship with her because he was a nearly 30-year-old soldier and she was a tween girl. Smith played up their connection later when Pocahontas visited England and had become the center of attention at the court. During his first year in Virginia, Smith was captured by some of Powhatan's men. According to the legend, Pocahontas intervened in Smith's near-execution by throwing herself across his body, thereby saving his life. It seems clear that it was an initiation ceremony and Pocahontas' role was scripted, explains Kupperman. Smith was going through a symbolic death and being reborn as a member of the Algonquin community. Afterward, Powhatan said that he would call him "son." Pocahontas and other Indigenous children did spend time at James Fort, according to Musselwhite. Sending children was a way to create cultural connections, and Pocahontas and Smith probably spent some time together. Whether he would have distinguished her from other children at the fort at the time is hard to know. " " The most critical misconception about John Smith is the love connection between himself and Pocahontas. Library of Congress Advertisement The Colonizer of New England By September 1608, Smith had become the president of the council for the Virginia Colony, encouraging discipline and farming. "Smith's strong leadership helped the colony survive and grow but also made him enemies within the fort. As he slept in a boat in the river one night, Smith was badly injured by a mysterious gunpowder explosion," according to the Jamestown Rediscovery Project. His injuries were severe enough that he was forced to return to England. But that only meant he turned his focus elsewhere, and Smith became one of the principal theorists of early English colonization, Kupperman says. "That's his real importance," she says. "He had this vision for what the English colonies could be." It was centered on settlers from the "middling group" of English society who had independence and were willing to work hard for themselves. In 1614, Smith returned to America from London and spent just five weeks mapping New England, he saw the way forward. Until that time, colonization had been financed by rich, elite men, who expected to get a good return on investment. Smith asserted that the only way to build a real community was for individuals settlers to work for themselves. And that became the American colonization model. In fact, Smith developed the name and concept of New England. It was Smith who determined how English people geographically defined the limits of New England, according to Musselwhite. Like his 1612 map of Virginia, the New England map he published in 1616 has been shown by modern scholars to be surprisingly accurate. And Smith's efforts writing about New England and promoting it to anyone who would listen led to its being the place that settlers like the pilgrims decided to go, says Musselwhite. That is "perhaps an underappreciated contribution." Advertisement Smith the Writer and Publicist Following nearly two decades of 17th-century travel, Smith entered a new phase of his life. He ceased adventuring and turned his attention more fully to writing and self-promotion. While other soldiers and adventurers may have gone on to India or become pirates, Smith realized he could make a career as a writer, says Musselwhite. Although Smith is almost entirely famous in popular culture because he was a fighter and a practical man, his recognition has endured because he was able to pivot and worked to win patronage at court. He was certainly not a gruff, egalitarian, according to Musselwhite. After leaving New England, he spent the rest of his life in London. Kupperman explains that Smith knew all of the contemporary writers and was part of that group. He hung out with a more quill and parchment crowd, many of whom wrote forwards and introductions for his books. "His circle really was this community of writers in early 17th-century London," says Kupperman. And as far as his books, he has often been described by historians as a liar because he repeatedly wrote about the same material, changing and embroidering it. A main accusation against Smith is that he was constantly aggrandizing himself; the Pocahontas story offers a good example. Kupperman says that is true, but he was also communicating in the style of the day. If his later writings and general history are used as important sources for understanding the world of colonial promotion, they are not a source of "objective, factual detail," Musselwhite says. But Smith represents the most powerful example of what colonial promotion had become by the 1620s. All of the personal stories were woven into grandiose claims in an attempt to develop a patronage network and colonial schemes. In 1624, Smith, who died in 1631, compiled all of his writings about the colonies into "The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles." "The reason his image has endured is 90 percent because of his own creation," says Musselwhite. "You would really describe him as a pragmatic and tireless soldier and as a tireless self-promoter and publicist." Today, we might call him an influencer. Now That's Interesting John Smith was a reportedly short man, about 5 feet, 4 inches tall (1.6 meters) with dark hair and a beard a far cry from Disney's depiction of John Smith as tall, blonde and clean-shaven. Why Disney, why? " " Conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot were sentenced to being hanged, drawn and quartered, though historians say the practice of tying limbs to four horses and spurring them to run in four different directions was never done in England. Instead, bodies were quartered after death. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Let's say you're the king of England in the 13th century. You enjoy absolute power and authority, but only if you can keep your grip on the throne, and there are all sorts of plotting pretenders and rebellious radicals keen on toppling your reign and seeing you dead. So, what can you do to scare them off? You can't post a bunch of threatening Tweets (heck, the printing press is still a few centuries away). But maybe, just maybe, you can devise a form of punishment so twisted and sadistic that only a lunatic would even entertain the thought of committing high treason. That's how historians believe medieval monarchs came up with the wildly violent execution method known as hanging, drawing and quartering. If you've seen the film "Braveheart," then you've had a (nauseating) taste of just how torturous and cruel the practice was. The Scottish rebel William Wallace was hanged, drawn and quartered in 1305 (accused of being a traitor to King Edward I) and in the movie we see him disemboweled his abdomen cut open and his intestines removed while still very much alive. And that was only one part of the ordeal! " " William Wallace (immortalized in the movie "Braveheart") is dragged (or "drawn") to his execution at Smithfield where he will be hanged, disemboweled and quartered, in 1305. Culture Club/Getty Images From the 13th century all the way until the 19th century, hundreds of Englishmen convicted of high treason were sentenced to die by this very public and grisly display of absolute power, including rebels like Wallace, political terrorists like Guy Fawkes and Catholic martyrs who refused to recognize the authority of the Church of England. Advertisement Drawing First, Then Hanging and Quartering Richard Clark is the creator of the excellent history website Capital Punishment U.K. and the author of "Capital Punishment in Britain." He says that hanging, drawing and quartering was the "ultimate" punishment, but that the name creates some confusion. Here's the actual text of the English law (on the books until 1870) outlining the death sentence for anyone convicted of high treason: "That you be drawn on a hurdle to the place of execution where you shall be hanged by the neck and being alive cut down, your privy members shall be cut off and your bowels taken out and burned before you, your head severed from your body and your body divided into four quarters to be disposed of at the King's pleasure." The "drawing" part actually comes first, and it involves the convict being tied to a type of sled that's "drawn" or dragged behind a horse all the way from the prison to the gallows. For many centuries, that journey was a full 3 miles from Newgate Prison in London to Tyburn, a remote locale outside of the city whose name became inextricably linked with public executions. "It was probably a good three-hour drag," says Clark, and the streets would have been packed with riotous crowds jeering and throwing garbage at the poor sap as he prepared to meet his maker in the worst manner possible. Advertisement Hanged Until 'Mostly Dead,' Then Comes the Really Bad Part Fans of "The Princess Bride" know that there's a big difference between being "all dead" and "mostly dead," and so did medieval executioners. After being dragged to Tyburn, the condemned man was hung from a rope (from a gallows or just a tall ladder), but not dropped the necessary distance to snap his neck. After a few terrifying minutes of near-asphyxiation, the man was cut down while only mostly dead. Boy, did he wish he was all dead! Because what came next was absolute madness. As the law dictated, his "privy members" were cut off first that means (ahem) his penis and testicles and tossed in a roaring fire. Next, his abdomen was slit open from groin to sternum and his intestines were pulled out. "At what point people lost consciousness and died, exactly, we'll never know," says Clark, but if the "de-privying" and disemboweling didn't do the trick, the next part certainly did the man's heart was cut from his chest and also burned. Advertisement Quartering as a Publicity Stunt In England, the final step of hanging, drawing and quartering was to cut off the condemned man's head and then "quarter" his remaining corpse by carving it into four pieces. According to graphic medieval drawings, that basically meant cutting off the legs and arms. Clark says that the severed limbs were parboiled in a blend of spices designed to preserve the flesh for as long as possible. That's because the dead man's body parts would next be taken on a "publicity tour" of sorts to let everyone know what happens to people who challenge the authority of the king. "One of the main points of doing all of this was to demonstrate the absolute power of the monarchy," says Clark. "Because there was no media or newspapers back then, the quartering could distribute the body parts to the surrounding towns as a warning." " " On June 19, 1535, monks of the London Charterhouse were executed at Tyburn. They were drawn, hanged and quartered for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church. The Print Collector/Getty Images The severed head was the sternest warning sign of all. The heads of prominent traitors like Wallace and Fawkes were placed on spikes on London Bridge or the Tower of London. What about the practice of quartering a victim's body by tying his limbs to four horses and spurring them to run in four different directions? Clark says that was never done in England, but there's evidence that the French indulged, at least as torture. In 1610, King Henry IV of France was assassinated and the perpetrator, a man named Francois Ravaillac, was publicly tortured to reveal his accomplices. In addition to being scourged with hot pincers and molten lead, he was "torn to pieces by four horses," according to a report. Advertisement A Contemporary Account of a 1782 Execution The very first person to be sentenced to hanging, drawing and quartering in England was a pirate named William Maurice in 1241, but there are scant details about his crimes or his execution. Even the famous executions of Wallace and Fawkes lack much information beyond a few surviving illustrations. But in 1782, a naval clerk named David Tyrie was convicted of high treason for selling information to the French, and this time there were newspapers around to record the event for posterity. Tyrie's execution is believed to be the last time that the three-part death sentence was carried out in full, and it drew a blood-thirsty crowd of 100,000 to the British coastal town of Portsmouth. The Hampshire Chronicle reported Aug. 31, 1782: "After hanging exactly twenty-two minutes, he was lowered upon the sledge, and the sentence literally put in execution. His head was severed from his body, his heart taken out and burnt, his privities cut off, and his body quartered. He was then put into a coffin and buried among the pebbles by the sea-side; but no sooner had the officers retired, but the sailors dug up the coffin, took out the body, and cut it in a thousand pieces, every one carrying away a piece of his body to shew their messmates on board. A more dreadful, affecting execution was perhaps never seen." Advertisement Why The Ugly Practice Ended Over time, Clark says, "the more gruesome parts of the punishment were omitted," as with the executions of the five men convicted in the Cato Street Conspiracy in 1820. Although the men were sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered in the traditional grisly fashion, the sheriff of London didn't want to tie up traffic with a long procession and the executioners devised a more efficient way of choreographing the killings, says Clark. The five were hung for 30 minutes to ensure they were completely dead. Then they were laid one by one in coffins conveniently placed atop the gallows. At the head of each coffin was a raised block upon which each man's head was removed by a trained surgeon or butcher. In this more "civilized" version of the execution, the severed head was raised to the crowd along with the pronouncement, "This is the head of a traitor," but the rest of the body was left intact. By the mid-19th century, there just weren't as many acts of rebellion, says Clark, plus Victorian-era Londoners started taking a "not in my backyard" stance on public executions. "The gentrification of places like Tyburn and Newgate had taken place by then and people didn't want that kind of thing happening in their neighborhood," says Clark. "They no longer found these kinds of horrific punishments something they wanted to see." In 1870, the sentence of hanging, drawing and quartering was officially removed from English law as part of the Forfeiture Act of 1870. Now That's Not Much Better "For the sake of decency," says Clark, women convicted of high treason were spared a death by hanging, drawing and quartering. They were burned at the stake instead. If there was an MVP (most valuable player) award given for farm machinery, I would wager a guess that most dairy farmers would probably give the same reply: the skid steer. On nearly all dairy farms of any size, a skid steer is a tool that is utilized each and every day for a wide variety of tasks. It is common for a farm has more than one of these versatile machines that can move anything from feed to manure. Frequent use can take a toll on machinery, though, and skid steers may wear out sooner than other pieces of machinery due to their repeated use and because of the jobs they are asked to do. During an I-29 Moo University Podcast hosted by dairy extension educators in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, skid steer maintenance and trade-in values were discussed. This episode featured guest speakers from Farmers Implement and Irrigation, with locations in Brookings and Watertown, S.D. They all agreed that regular maintenance is a key component of skid steer longevity. Maintenance will determine how long a machine will last, shared one of the experts. This includes regular service appointments, oil changes, and greasing. Keep up on daily and weekly maintenance, plus hour increments, said another expert. A lot of people overlook skid steers when it comes to maintenance. It is the first machine to get used but the last to get looked at. The group noted that dairy farm work is particularly hard on skid steers. One option is to add machines so that they can rotate between different applications. For instance, perhaps a skid steer could be used by the feed pile for a while, then move to scraping manure in the barn. By rotating between different jobs, one may be able to stretch out the useful life of the machine. They also recommended daily washes for machines that get dirty. This prevents harsh materials like manure from eating through the paint and steel. If you are looking to trade-in a skid steer, keeping the machine clean and well maintained will help hold its value longer. The team acknowledged that this takes extra time, but people who keep skid steers in top condition can collect a trade in value considerably better than average. They recommended 2,000 to 2,500 hours as a good time to consider trading in a skid steer. While the machine will still have a lot of life left, in their experience, the trade-in value goes down considerably after 3,000 hours of use. The group noted that they have serviced skid steers that are still working well at 8,000 and 9,000 hours, but in these cases, maintenance is on schedule and the machine has been well taken care of its entire life. If buying a used skid steer, they offered a few tips. For starters, find out where it came from and what it was used for. Have a dealer go through the maintenance checkpoints, such as evaluating the hydraulics and looking for leaks. The also encouraged potential buyers to climb in and operate the machine to be sure it runs as it should. Its not that complicated, one of them remarked. You can usually tell if the machine has been well maintained or not. Whether a skid steer is pushing feed, dirt, snow, or manure, much like farmers, they are almost always on the go. Taking time to maintain this MVP of farm equipment will go a long way in extending its useful life and protecting its trade-in value. Abby Bauer The author is the senior associate editor and covers animal health, dairy housing and equipment, and nutrient management. She grew up on a dairy farm near Plymouth, Wis., and previously served as a University of Wisconsin agricultural extension agent. She received a masters degree from North Carolina State University and a bachelors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. By Trend Turkmenistan and Turkey have discussed expanding trade and textile industry partnership, Trend reports via Turkmen media. This was discussed during a phone conversation between Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Deputy Chairman of the Turkmen Cabinet of Ministers and Mehmet Mus, Turkish Trade Minister. Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in the transportation sector, specifically the efficient use of transit corridors and air routes to improve bilateral trade relations. Mus, for his part, stressed the importance of organizing regular meetings between representatives from relevant ministries and departments to facilitate practical joint work. The cooperation between Turkmenistan and Turkey is successfully developing in different directions. If the volume of trade between Turkmenistan and Turkey was 47.5 million in 1992, it would have increased 226 times by 2021 to $1.7 billion. Back in November 2021, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking at the 15th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization in Ashgabat, said that Turkey and Turkmenistan aim to increase mutual trade to $5 billion. Turkish construction companies-contractors have implemented 1,061 projects worth $50 billion in Turkmenistan so far. The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman. Rick Adamski of Seymour was elected as the new president of Wisconsin Farmers Union during the family farm organizations annual board of directors reorganization meeting February 9th. Westby dairy farmer Darin Von Ruden, who had served as president since 2010, was re-elected to serve as District 5 Director but has shifted to the role of vice president. Adamski has served on the WFU board since 2016. He and his wife, Valerie, own Full Circle Farm near Seymour in Shawano County. They raise grass-fed beef, fresh vegetables, pastured hogs, and laying hens on the 290-acre farm, which has been in the Adamskis family since 1900. Adamski holds degrees in Soil Science and Resource Management from UW-Stevens Point. "I'm truly honored to represent this organization because of its history, what it stands for, its members, and its future, Adamski said. It's a huge responsibility and yet one I'm eager to take on, leading so many like-minded souls who are all working to improve life in rural Wisconsin through our shared values. For our members, I would like to have this be a seamless transition, with no noticeable changes in terms of the operation of the organization. As much as possible, I want it to be a new beginning where need be but also a continuation of the good work already happening at the grassroots, staff, and board levels." Adamski said addressing monopoly power in agriculture will be a major focus for him in the year ahead. He notes, "The history of National Farmers Union has been steeped in fighting concentration in agriculture. We will continue to align ourselves with that dedicated effort to confront monopoly power, and I will fight for farmers to be able to have a seat at the table in the making of decisions." Adamski also expressed appreciation to previous WFU presidents, particularly Von Ruden. "I will be tapping into Darin's experience regularly and appreciate his continued presence on the board." Continuing in their officer roles are Secretary Linda Ceylor, Catawba, and Treasurer Ed Gorell, Eleva. Election Results WFUs 91st Annual Convention was held virtually January 29th, with convention delegates voting on policy priorities and candidates by mail-in ballot. Results were tallied this week at the family farm organizations state headquarters in Chippewa Falls. Several district director seats were up for election this year. Ed Gorell of Eleva, Darin Von Ruden of Westby, and Rick Adamski of Seymour were re-elected, respectively, to District 3 (Chippewa, Clark, and Eau Claire counties), District 5 (Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Rock, Green, Lafayette, Richland, and Vernon counties), and District 8 (Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Forest, Florence, Kewaunee, Langlade, Marinette, Manitowoc, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Shawano, Sheboygan, Washington, Waukesha, and Winnebago Counties. A new face joining the board is Rachel Bouressa, who will serve as the At-Large representative. Bouressa grew up on a 5th generation dairy farm in central Wisconsin. She received degrees in Agronomy and Environmental Science at UW-Madison and took part in the Agroecology Masters Program. She raises grass-fed beef cattle at Bouressa Family Farm in New London. Bouressa serves as vice president of GrassWorks and a co-coordinator for the Central Wisconsin Graziers' Network. She is also a farmer mentor with the Wisconsin Women in Conservation initiative and serves on her county FSA committee. " " Many cultures have a tradition of cleaning the house in the spring. Carol Yepes/Getty Images It feels almost like a biological imperative. The sun takes a little longer in its descent below the horizon and the chill of winter begins to leave the bones. Without much thought on your part, the couch is moved from its place so you can sweep beneath it and the drapes are suddenly in the washing machine. Disinfectant sprays suddenly attract a new level of interest and you decide your sponges must all be replaced. You've awakened from the long winter quasi-hibernation that kept you glued to the television. Now it's time to thoroughly rid your home of the dirt and dust and dog hair that have accumulated over the long, dark season. You've been gripped by the urge to spring clean. You're certainly not alone in this strange desire to clean your house. Spring cleaning has become nearly ritualized in the West. Makers of cleaning products ramp up advertising late in the winter. Internet sites and magazines become awash in spring cleaning tips. Public service campaigns for everything from properly disposing of outdated pharmaceuticals in America to removing litter from the Irish countryside are attached to spring cleaning each year. It's kind of an unconscious, collective movement. Advertisement Spring cleaning isn't for everyone, though. Using fMRI scans, researchers have determined that when confronted with a decision to throw out possessions -- even junk mail -- people who've been diagnosed as compulsive hoarders show activity in the same region of the brain that's responsible for processing damaging and unpleasant experiences [source: New England Hoarding Consortium]. An estimated one to two percent of the population in the United States are compulsive hoarders, who accumulate and refuse to throw out large collections of everything from newspapers to paper clips. For people who don't have a hoarding compulsion, spring cleaning seems almost compulsive in itself. The sense of cleanliness and accomplishment that comes from scouring the house also brings something like a neurological reward from the brain. There isn't any documented medical evidence that spring cleaning is a compulsion; rather, it seems to be rooted in tradition more than anything else. Exactly why do we traditionally clean our homes at the beginning of spring? Those of us in the West may be surprised to find that it's possibly rooted in customs found in the East. Learn about these possible origins to spring cleaning today on the next page. Labor was critical of the government's tech regulation. Image: Good Thanks Photography Australias regulatory approach to digital technology is a dogs breakfast that is off-putting for international workers and investors, a Labor MP has warned. Speaking on a panel at last weeks ACS Reimagination Thought Leaders Summit, Shadow Cyber security Minister Tim Watts took aim about what he called an un-coordinated government approach to technology regulation. We have been doing a lot of job creation for compliance managers and regulatory affairs managers in the technology space, he said with a wry smile. Over the last three years there have been 18 substantive policy consultation processes and substantive regulatory obligations imposed on digital platforms. There are nine processes currently underway. If you look at an area like age verification and identity verification there are five parallel policy development processes in Australia at the moment. If were trying to attract international talent, attract international capital, make our case as a place for a thriving technology sector, we need a bit of co-ordination and rationality in the way were approaching these regulatory issues. At the moment weve got this dogs breakfast approach. Legislation like the Critical Infrastructure Bill which passed last November was criticised for the extra red-tape it heaped on organisations. Industry has also hit-out at the governments decision to begin reforming Australias electronic surveillance framework after passing legislation that gives law enforcement the power to compel IT professionals to provide technical assistance. Following the ACCC's 2019 Digital Platforms Inquiry, the government prioritised the News Media Bargaining Code which was designed to force Facebook and Google to pay local news outlets for content over its overhaul of the Privacy Act which was also recommended by the ACCC and is still in its early stages. More regulation, new policies At the Reimagination panel, Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg leapt to the governments defense, saying regulation was a necessary step in mitigating the effects of Silicon Valley giants. The big tech companies have got more power than any other group of companies since the Gilded Age, he said. The trend is going to be for more regulation in the tech space, not less, while were in parliament. One of Senator Braggs particular areas of concern has been cryptocurrency and digital assets. He told the Reimagination audience that, if the aim is to attract international talent and international capital a theme among speakers at this years summit then the government is taking the right steps through its policy shift around cryptocurrency. Weve always been in competition for the best brains and for foreign capital, he said. One of the things that has fallen out of the pandemic is that the Reserve Bank [of Australia] (RBA) and some other regulators, frankly, were doing far too much around payments, the technology there, and on cryptocurrency and digital assets. So, last year the government announced a new policy that we would effectively bring back into the Treasury Department the purview of digital assets and cryptocurrency and payments policy. If you look at Singapore and the UK, both jurisdictions were competing with in this space, theyre both way ahead of us in terms of policies on digital assets. In an environment where capital is so mobile, and highly skilled people can go anywhere, why wouldnt you want to go somewhere that didnt have a decent [cryptocurrency] policy? ACS launched its 2022 Election Platform at the Reimagination Thought Leaders Summit last week, calling on the next government to renew its focus on boosting Australias digital economy. The tributes that rolled in when North Carolina lawyer Walter Dellinger died Feb. 16 were testimony that he was one of the nations great lawyers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He was 80. In an Associated Press article, North Carolina native Jonathan Drew wrote that Dellingers career marked him as one of the legal giants of our era. Many remembered--and justly celebrated--him as a brilliant and prolific scholar, a titan of the Supreme Court bar, an inspiring teacher and mentor to generations of bright proteges now in elected office, federal and state government, and on the bench. He was also a government lawyer whose advice was important to both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Key officials in the Biden White House sought his advice almost literally until the day he died. His son, Hampton, recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate as an assistant attorney general in the Biden administrations Justice Department, gave this tribute to his dad, Walter lived a wonderful and extraordinary life. He had many loves, first among them his wife Anne but also the State and University of North Carolina, the law and the rule of law, and American democracy. Several years ago I talked to Dellinger for a short North Carolina Bookwatch program recorded at Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill, where he was living. He was working on a chapter of a memoir to be titled Balcony Reserved for White Spectators. He explained his early awareness of the unfairness of the social system in his hometown Charlotte. In the late 1950s he was working on a construction site where only whites could be carpenters and the black men were all laborers paid $1 an hour. As I was a temporary kid, I was assigned as a laborer. I was like the token white labor on this crew. What was interesting and dramatic for me was that the best carpenter by far was one of the African American men who was a laborer. He got paid as a laborer no matter what he was doing. So whenever there was a very difficult challenge to the carpentry, the on-site supervisor would ask David to take on the challenge. But if anybody from company headquarters arrived on the scene, I was sometimes a lookout, David had to put down his carpentry tools. He could be an expert but couldn't be caught breaking the rigid rules. That gives you a sense of how rigid the system was. Dellinger remembered his love of Black music and listening to WGIV, the Black radio station in Charlotte. I listened to the gospel hour faithfully. They had a contest to see who could first identify a gospel song, and I knew immediately from the first three bars it was Ride on King Jesus. The prize was a one-year subscription to Ebony magazine, which in the segregated South was a whole different world, particularly the advertisements where no people of color were ever in mainstream media. Dellingers love of music led him to try to attend the Black concerts and dances at Park Center in downtown Charlotte. There he encountered the sign. He explained, In Charlotte dances that were for African Americans had a balcony reserved for white spectators, so it's sort of both literal and metaphorical the notion that I was only a spectator from the balcony on what was happening with race in the South, watching what was happening in the Black community. After four years at UNC-Chapel Hill, three years at Yale Law School, and two years teaching at the University of Mississippi Law School, Dellinger was never only a spectator again. He lived and died in the middle of our countrys struggle to eliminate the unfairness the carpenter David experienced and the legacy of the customs that put Dellinger in the balcony at Park Center dances. Note: Walter Dellingers Bookwatch interview is available at https://www.pbs.org/video/nc-bookwatch-walter-dellinger/ D.G. Martin hosted North Carolina Bookwatch, for more than 20 years. To view prior programs: https://video.pbsnc.org/show/nc-bookwatch/episodes/ Hungary supports Ukraine's membership in the European Union, said Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, index.hu reports. "Yesterday, the presidents of eight EU member states (the three Baltic countries, Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Slovakia) put forward a joint initiative to promote the European integration of Ukraine. They write that Ukraine should be granted EU status as soon as possible and start negotiations on introduction. I would like to announce Hungary's support for this initiative. We call on Brussels to put this on the agenda as soon as possible and have informed our Polish and Lithuanian colleagues. Let's not forget: Hungary is interested in peace, we will provide Ukraine with all the assistance that will help it," - Szijjarto's said, according to the index.hu website. The English students of Sabrina Kile were conducting research for papers on a variety of subjects. The students took a tour of the library and were given a demonstration on finding resources both on the bookshelves and through the librarys online databases. SPRINGFIELD The need for face coverings in most indoor spaces in Illinois was ending Monday as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic eases. Gov. J.B. Pritzker earlier announced that he would lift the mandate for masks to slow the spread of the deadly virus as the numbers of new cases and hospitalizations fall. He intended that the requirement remain in effect for schools, where students and staff are more closely congregated, but other government action has invalidated that order. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said last week that the city would also lift its mask mandate Monday, along with a requirement that people show proof of vaccination at places such as restaurants. An appellate court last week declined to render a decision on a lower-court ruling that invalidated Pritzker's order that public schools require masks. The 4th District Appellate Court decided the issue was moot after a legislative committee nixed an extension of the emergency rule the governor imposed on schools last summer. The Democratic governor appealed the ruling to the Illinois Supreme Court. Masks will remain the rule on the state House floor, where they've been challenged by Republicans. The Legislature has planned an abbreviated spring session that's scheduled to end in early April. Democratic House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch told members he doesn't want to risk an outbreak which would derail work or worse, jeopardize family members of lawmakers who are immunocompromised or too young to be vaccinated. The requirement has led to the regular removal from the floor of up to eight Republicans for refusing to comply, including Rep. Blaine Wilhour, of Beecher City, who filed a lawsuit against Welch. State Senate officials are evaluating options. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD Gov. J.B. Pritzker has asked Illinois employee pension systems to review potential divestment in Russian assets after Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The Democrat wrote to the Illinois State Board of Investments, the Teachers' Retirement System and the State Universities' Retirement System asking them to explore the potential of divesting state pension assets from Russian-based companies and Russian assets. Pritzker's action follows similar overtures in other states to protest Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade its neighbor last week. The state of Illinois stands with the people of Ukraine and nations around the world supporting peace in the country, Pritzker wrote. Divestment of Russian-related interests from the state's $100 billion portfolio likely wouldn't have the impact that economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and much of the West. But it has precedent. State law prohibits investing in Iran, Sudan and companies that boycott Israel. The flag of Ukraine was also raised over the Illinois Statehouse in Springfield. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Forsyth County and North Carolina continued to see decreasing COVID-19 numbers, although the county reported one additional death over the weekend. Mondays update from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 157 new cases in Forsyth since Fridays report, including 23 reported Monday Meanwhile, DHHS reported 909 new cases statewide Monday the lowest since July 20, which was before both the delta and omicron variant surges. There also were 2,122 cases reported Sunday and 3,082 Saturday. Forsyth has had 68 COVID-related deaths in February, the second-highest monthly total since tracking began in mid-March 2020. The county ended January with 73 COVID-related deaths. There have been 760 deaths in Forsyth since the pandemic began. DHHS lists COVID-19 cases and deaths on the day they are confirmed by medical providers and public health officials so people could have been infected or may have died days or weeks before their cases were counted. Forsyth health director Joshua Swift said Thursday he remains confident the number of COVID-related deaths will decline, as have numbers of new cases and hospitalizations over the past two weeks. Swift said some of the recent deaths in Forsyth are coming from individuals who had been battling COVID-19 for weeks, if not more than a month. Statewide, 70 additional COVID-related deaths were recorded over the weekend, bringing North Carolinas total COVID-related deaths to 22,570. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of December, the risk of dying from COVID-19 was 14 times higher for unvaccinated adults than fully vaccinated adults. Forsyth case counts The 23 new cases reported among Forsyth residents marked the lowest daily case count since the omicron variant surge began in mid-to late-December. Forsyth has recorded a total of 91,251 cases since the pandemic began. As of Friday, Forsyths positive test rate over the past 14 days was 8.9%. The statewide rate was 6.9% on Friday, the lowest since Dec. 8. Fridays update had Forsyth averaging 21 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. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools indoor mask mandate expired Monday. Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines is ending a citywide mask mandate on Tuesday. Gov. Roy Cooper has recommended schools and local governments end their mask mandates March 7. Local public-health officials say it may be several weeks before communities learn what effect ending mask mandates will have. 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 encourages people to be fully vaccinated and boosted when eligible. Statewide update North Carolina has recorded more than 2.5 million cases during the pandemic, according to DHHS. The record-high daily case count stands at 35,759, reported Jan. 14. COVID-19 hospitalizations remain on a downward trend with 1,618 patients statewide on Sunday. Statewide, COVID-19 hospitalizations had dropped for 31 consecutive days before a seven-patient increase from Saturday to Sunday. Hospitals in the 17-county Triad region had a combined 299 COVID-19 patients Sunday, down 95 from Thursday. Statewide, 194 patients are on ventilators, including 36 in the Triad region. There were 32 children hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, including six in the Triad region. Determining COVID deaths In response to questions about how medical professionals determine whether a death is COVID-related, the state had this explanation: Those deaths include people who have had a positive molecular or antigen test for COVID-19, who died without fully recovering from COVID-19, and who had no alternative cause of death identified. Deaths are reported by hospitals and clinicians directly to the local and state health departments. Once reported, DHHS or local/county health departments staff manually enter the death by date of death into the N.C. COVID system. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Q: On Feb. 25, I went to the COVID testing center at Hanes Mall, only to learn that Novant no longer operates that location even though it was still on both the Novant and Novant MyChart websites as being a Novant testing facility. Who does run that site? D.I. Answer: The site is still a Novant Health Inc. site, but its being staffed by another company, allowing Novant workers to go back to their worksites. The Hanes Mall testing site is now being staffed by Ottendorf Laboratories, the Journal reported in early February. It does remain on our website as we are getting the support of Ottendorf for staffing, a spokesperson told SAM. In a press release, Novant said it is partnering with Ottendorf Laboratories, an independent lab provider, to increase access to COVID-19 testing at its primary testing sites in Charlotte and Winston-Salem. With this partnership, staffing will transition from Novant Health to Ottendorf Laboratories, which will also conduct the tests of samples. Ottendorf Laboratories support of Novant Healths testing operations is made possible by funding from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Rapid tests are not be available at the site. The hours for sites are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The site is at 190 Hanes Mall Circle. Appointments are not required. For more information or concerns, call Ottendorf Laboratories customer service at 919-390-2550. Q: I have previously appreciated editorial cartoons by Charlotte Observer cartoonist Kevin Siers, but I havent seen one of his in a long time. Will we see any of his cartoons in the future? F.C. Answer: Mick Scott, the editorial writer for the Winston-Salem Journal, said that Siers will be back. Here in the editorial department, were fans of Siers artistic style. Every day we have a variety of cartoons from which to choose. We tend to look for the one we feel is most relevant or most striking for the next days Journal (or the next two days or three days, depending on deadlines and workload). We also try to present a variety of topics. Those considerations tend to supersede selecting a particular artist, he said. Scott also said that feedback from readers is important and that knowing readers like Siers work will help in selecting editorial cartoons. Mark your calendarsWinston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities has announced dates for its annual free leaf mulch pickup. The mulch will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 15, 16, 23, 30, and May 7 at the Forum 52 Yard Waste Facility, 180 Northstar Drive in the Forum 52 Business Park off Forum Parkway in Rural Hall. All loads must be fully covered before leaving the site. If you do not bring a tarp or cover, your vehicle will not be loaded, said the division. The mulch is only for homeowners in cars and pickup trucks with or without trailers. Large vehicles over one ton will not be allowed to receive mulch under any circumstances. All loads must be fully covered before leaving the site. If you do not bring a tarp or cover, your vehicle will not be loaded. Email: AskSAM@wsjournal.com Write: Ask SAM, 418 N. Marshall St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Hanoi zoo to receive nine tigers rescued from Nghe An farms Nine tigers that were rescued from two families in the central province of Nghe An will be moved to Hanoi Zoo. Nghe An Police rescue 17 tigers at two farms in the area in August 2021 A representative from the Nghe An Provincial Forest Rangers Department told Dantri/Dtinews on February 28 that Hanoi People's Committee has agreed to receive the nine to keep at Thu Le Zoo. "Hanoi may have to spend VND5 billion (USD 217,391) a year to raise the tigers," the department said. "Were now keeping them at the Muong Thanh Dien Lam Safari Land and preparing for them to be transferred to Hanoi." The department said that they have spent over VND2 million to raise the tigers since they were taken from the two local farms last August. Due to the province's financial difficulties, they have sought support from various localities to raise the tigers." The nine belonged to a group of 17 tigers which were found being kept illegally in the basements of two families in Yen Thanh District on August 4, 2021. All 17 tigers are adults, some weigh about 200kg. According to the families, the tigers were brought to Vietnam from Laos as cubs. The tigers were rescued by the local police and given anesthesia while being carried out to a nature reserve in Dien Chau District for health check-ups. However, eight of them died during transportation. By Trend Ukraine is "one of us and we want them in the European Union", Ursula von der Leyen has told Euronews, Trend reports. She told Euronews: "We have a process with Ukraine that is, for example, integrating the Ukrainian market into the single market. "We have very close cooperation on the energy grid, for example. "So many topics where we work very closely together and indeed over time, they belong to us. They are one of us and we want them in." A group of students at Mount Tabor High School walked out of class after first period Monday to protest what they say is the administrations failure to protect them from a student. The students allege that an older student asked a younger student for sexual images and that when notified, the administration failed to act. Disciplinary actions are confidential under federal policy laws. The protest was planned, prompting the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office to send extra deputies to the school. The protest remained peaceful. Though a large group of students gathered outside the front of the school around 10:30 a.m., by 1:30 p.m., the number had dropped to about 20. Extra deputies remained on the scene. In a call to parents, Principal Ed Weiss said school administrators are listening to students concerns. In this situation, students are concerned over a perceived lack of a disciplinary consequence involving another student. While federal privacy laws do not allow us to discuss any student disciplinary action, we hope all students and parents know we value student voices and will celebrate the sharing of peaceful and respectful student opinion but cannot allow demonstrations to be a disruption to the school day, Weiss said. The extra deputies were called to the school out of an abundance of caution, Weiss said. The incident Monday comes after a student was shot and killed at the school earlier this school year. William Chavis Renard Miller Jr., 15, died in a classroom on Sept. 1. Maurice Evans, also 15, is charged with murder in Millers killing and will be tried as an adult. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New filings on Monday have set up both Democratic and Republican primaries for the three at-large seats on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education, along with a primary in the Democratic Party to see who will contest N.C. House District 74 in western Forsyth County. Kimberly Stone became the fourth Democrat seeking one of the three party nominations for at-large seats on the school, board. Democrats Sabrina Coone-Godfrey, Richard Watts and incumbent Deanna Kaplan had previously filed to run. Michael Hardman and Millie Williams both filed to run as Republicans for their partys three at-large nominations, joining candidates Sarah Absher and Tabitha Hackett in the contest. And the Democratic primary for two nominations for District 1 on the school board got more crowded with the filing on Monday of Chenita Barber Johnson. Johnson, who has run unsuccessfully for the position before, joins Tarsha Shore, Trevonia Brown-Gaither and incumbent Alex Bohannon in the contest. Meanwhile, Sean Lew set up a Democratic primary for N.C. House 74 on Monday, joining Carla Catalan Day in the contest for the nomination. Incumbent Republican Jeff Zenger so far has no opposition for the nomination. Reginald Reid became the first Republican to file for a District A seat on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on Monday. George Ware became the first Republican to file for N.C. Senate 32, where Democratic incumbent Paul Lowe is so far unopposed. Elsewhere, Davie Countys Ted Budd, representative for the 13th Congressional District filed to run in the GOP primary for the partys nomination for U.S. Senate. Budd had previously said he would run. Leonard Bryant of Fayetteville also filed to run in the crowded GOP field, which now has nine candidates. On the Democratic side, Tobias LaGrone of Greensboro filed for Senate. Republicans Michael Ackerman of Boone and incumbent U.S. Rep. Virginia Fox filed Monday to run in the Fifth Congressional District, which includes part of Forsyth County. In the Sixth Congressional District, Gerry Austin of Greensboro filed to run in the GOP primary, where Bill Schuch and Laura Pichardo are already running. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The first notice arrived sometime in late autumn or early winter. Given the subject matter, an alleged lapse of insurance on a car that had been traded/sold to a Nissan dealer in sunny Orlando, and the fact that the relevant, supporting paperwork regarding said sale had been mailed in August, the notice looked to be an oversight a clerical error most likely so it went straight into the circular file. Also, it must be confessed, the source of the notice was factored into the decision to toss: the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, an agency that, if were completely honest, has never been associated with quality customer service. A subsequent notice, received in early January, carried more bite. It claimed a $50 fine, a $5 late fee and 42-cents interest and threatened a referral to a collection agency. The total $55.42 levy amounted to a mosquito bite a drop of lost blood but no hemorrhage. Still, a fine? For doing the right thing? Well see about that. Just a few questions The closing sentence of the January notice seemed an invitation to reason and perhaps right a wrong. But with the benefit of hindsight, it amounted to an express pass to a 10th circle of Dantes Inferno. If you have already mailed the full amount due and feel this letter is in error, do not hesitate to contact the Division at 919-715-7000 if you have any questions. Questions? Just a few. Calling DMV HQ, much like visiting a local office in person, is time lost forever. Lines at a license-plate agency are nothing compared to the hold time in a phone queue. Better bring a book and a phone charger. So we went with Option 3, sending email to an address provided online by the DMV. Note the response time weeks, not hours or even days. This vehicle was sold/traded to a dealership in Orlando, Florida IN AUGUST. I mailed via US Postal Service paperwork to the NC DMV as requested, I wrote in a Jan. 4 email. And yet I am still receiving letters about a $50 civil penalty, late fee and interest now, as well as a threat to refer to NC DOJ. What else needs to be done? What gives? An answer came back Jan. 27: Thank you for providing the documents. As of today they have not been processed. Please give it a few more days. Thank You. I freely admit that neither patience nor tact is a virtue. OK but the documents were mailed IN AUGUST. Glaciers move faster than the DMV. One more slow-mo exchange provided more of the same. But at least it included additional intrigue with the introduction of a second likely suspect: the U.S. Postal Service. Needless to say, no documents arrived. So I tried uploading early last month a copy of the one document from the August sale that could be found. It was a bad mistake to send via U.S. mail to the state DMV. Never did get a response to that; the result was an electronic standoff at the DMV corral. Over $55.42. Patience, perseverance pays off The basic problem when attempting to fight (or reason with) with the government is the government generally holds trump cards. To wit, the ability of the DMV to hold up other transactions such as re-upping another registration on a different vehicle. So it was when it came time to renew the registration on another older car by Feb. 28, Monday. The usually seamless online renewal/property tax process thanks Treasurer Dale Folwell, who spearheaded that move to modernization as a member of the General Assembly flashed a warning. We cant renew this registration. Contact the DMV. Losing an entire morning (or more) on hold waiting for a bureaucrat, a bot or both could not be avoided. At least it wasnt the Department of Revenue. A funny and completely unexpected thing happened after 40 minutes on hold, however. Competency, patience and a glimmer of hope broke through the static. A polite, affable DMV employee named Corey got on the line. Hed received training in how to deal with curmudgeons and it showed. You have every right to be upset, he said. He also had an explanation and an easy fix. The actual license plate should have been mailed to North Carolina either by the dealership or the first-time new car buyer, a near grown-up with my same last name. Send a copy of the bill of sale happily provided by the dealer that shows the plate was turned in before the insurance was terminated. Upload a completed form MVR-18A lost or stolen tags and that should do the trick. Corey also glided over my comment about not paying $55.42 now or ever. I wouldnt have a job if not for ... how do I put it? he said before opting for a word I helpfully provided. Slackers. Well, slackers and dealerships. The (tag) might be on somebodys desk. Maybe somebody just forgot to mail it. Maybe it got lost. It is Florida so maybe they didnt know North Carolina requires the plate to be turned in. Either way, a problem finally met a solution. And if not for some bonehead (me) not writing down correctly the 17-character vehicle-identification number on the MVR-18A, it would have been done in time to renew by the deadline. That $15 renewal late fee Ill eat; the $55.42 apparently got waived, the work of young Corey. Perhaps its time to rethink some of the (bad) stereotypes affixed to the DMV. Competence and professionalism exist; it just takes time and patience to locate. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Look. We just want elections to be fair. We want voters to vote and we want the candidates who get the most votes to win their offices and get to work for the people. We suspect that most North Carolinians want that, too. Is that too much to ask? It is when youre a Republican legislator who is more concerned about party and power than representing the will of the people in your state. Because of a few who are determined to fight their cause gerrymandered maps that retain an unjust electoral advantage to the bitter end, the U.S. Supreme Court will now have to weigh in. Unfortunately, that still leaves our state at risk. To recap briefly: After the N.C. Supreme Court last month declared the Republican-led legislatures maps for U.S. House and General Assembly districts to be unconstitutionally gerrymandered evidence presented at a trial showed the congressional district map was a result of intentional, pro-Republican partisan redistricting Republicans were ordered to redraw and resubmit them, which they did. Though they left much to be desired, the court still accepted the General Assembly map. But the court rejected the congressional district map, which it then redrew, relying on the recommendations of special, nonpartisan masters whose only job was to be fair. The redrawn congressional district map reduced the expected Republican advantage from 10 out of 14 seats to a more likely seven out of 14 with six likely to be won by Democrats and the 14th a toss-up. That seems about right for a state in which Democrats, Republicans and independent voters are roughly equal in number. Of course, partisans on both the left and the right still groused; either the redrawn map went too far or didnt go far enough. Nevertheless, the court had ruled, which finally cleared the way for potential candidates to file or not file and begin making their cases to the voters. All seemed settled until late Friday, when Republican legislators filed an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the court to restore its previous gerrymandered congressional district map. So even while candidates file for their parties primaries in May, they do so knowing that the table could be upturned once again. These Republican legislators, incidentally, make no pretense that their map was fair were far beyond that. They say, rather, that the state constitution allows them to be unfair. Their stated objection in their filing to the Supreme Court is to the process to their maps going from their greedy hands to the courts. If a redistricting process more violative of the U.S. Constitution exists, it is hard to imagine it, they wrote in their appeal to the Supreme Court. On its surface, their appeal seems too desperate to even try. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that state courts should be the presiding authority when it comes to partisan gerrymandering cases and federal courts should stay out. North Carolina legislators are essentially asking the court to override its own decision. We are confident this specious attempt to undermine our judiciary will be rejected, Allison Riggs, a lawyer representing Common Cause in the litigation, said in a news release. Unfortunately, the current U.S. Supreme Court, with three Trump appointees, has also exhibited a lack of what we might call judicial restraint. It has overruled long-standing constitutional precedent in several prominent cases. And early in February, the court overruled an Alabama state court that tried to block a gerrymandered map that reduces Black representation. We cant help feeling a little trepidation for a court that is so unpredictable and inconsistent. We hope were wrong even to consider the possibility of an unjust ruling. All of this could be avoided if our state utilized the type of independent redistricting commissions that other states use. No system is perfect, but surely putting these decisions in nonpartisan hands would be a vast improvement over allowing legislators, Democrat or Republican, to choose their own voters. Only eight states currently use independent redistricting for congressional seats; 14 for their state legislatures. Other states use hybrid systems. In Michigan, which placed redistricting in the hands of a citizen-led, independent commission in 2018, surveys show a majority of voters approve of the results. Its simply absurd to allow players to referee their own games, especially with such high stakes and with players who have such sharp disagreements over the rules of the game. We need real referees. However the matter is settled this year, we can expect disputes following the next round of redistricting and the one after that and the one after that. Until we finally wise up. Lincoln's newest big-box retailer is now open, although it's a bit different than your typical shopping experience. Camping World announced Sunday on its Facebook page that its store at 6340 Arbor Road has opened its doors. Company officials have not made an official announcement, and they did not respond to requests for comment, so no details about the store are available. Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis told the Journal Star in an interview in November 2020 that the Lincoln store would be roughly 30,000 square feet and include sales of recreational vehicles and accessories and also provide service for RVs. The store is the first in Nebraska for the company, which is the largest RV retailer in the U.S., although it does have one in Council Bluffs. One interesting feature of the store is its giant flagpole and American flag, which is a hallmark of the company. Camping World received approval from the city in January for a height waiver to allow its flagpole to be 130 feet tall. The store is open for retail sales and RV service 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. It's open for retail sales only on Sundays from noon-5 p.m. Camping World had also announced plans in 2020 for a location in Sidney but then put those plans on hold a year ago. It has since announced plans for a store in Cheyenne, Wyoming, which is 100 miles from Sidney, so it's unclear whether a Sidney store is still planned. Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Former Sen. Danielle Conrad resigned Tuesday as executive director of ACLU of Nebraska and filed as a candidate to return to a seat in the Legislature. Conrad served in the Legislature from 2007 to 2015, when she was term-limited out of office. Lincoln City Councilman James Michael Bowers earlier filed as a candidate in northeast Lincoln's District 46. James Herrold is also a candidate for that seat. When Tuesday's filing deadline passed, only two senators Myron Dorn of Adams, who has Lincoln constituents in District 30, and Tom Brandt of Plymouth, who represents District 32 including parts of Lancaster County will enter the 2022 election unopposed. The primary is May 10. Former Lincoln City Councilman Roy Christensen filed earlier as a candidate for the Legislature, setting up a contest with City Councilwoman Jane Raybould for the District 28 seat. Christensen, a Republican, served two terms on the council before losing a reelection bid last year. Raybould is a former Lancaster County commissioner and was the Democratic nominee for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2018. The legislative seat is currently held by Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives now held by Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry. Four legislative candidates filed in Lincoln's District 26: George Dungan, Bob Van Valkenburg, Russ Barger and Larry Weixelman. All three Lincoln senators who will be term-limited out of office Pansing Brooks, Adam Morfeld (District 26) and Matt Hansen (District 46) are Democrats. Meanwhile, Janet Chung, a Lincoln marketing and management professional, filed as a candidate for the District 2 seat in the Legislature now occupied by Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood. The daughter of immigrants, Chung is a graduate of Lincoln Southeast High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Chung is former chairwoman of the Lancaster County Democratic Party. Clements is a Republican who was originally appointed to the Legislature by Gov. Pete Ricketts, then elected to a four-year term in 2018. Sarah Slattery of Plattsmouth is also a candidate for the seat. District 2 was redistricted by the Legislature last year to include new portions of Lincoln and Lancaster County. Seven candidates, including five Republicans, filed for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives now held by Fortenberry. The Lincoln congressman is under federal indictment for allegedly lying to federal agents about illegal foreign contributions to his 2016 reelection campaign. He has held the eastern Nebraska House seat since 2005. Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, one of his Republican opponents, has been endorsed by Gov. Pete Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman. A dozen candidates, including front-runners Charles Herbster, Jim Pillen and state Sen. Brett Lindstrom and six fellow Republicans, have filed for governor, a contest that already has been underway for months. Sen. Carol Blood is the only Democrat in the race. No Democrats filed for secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, state auditor or for seats on the Public Service Commission. Mike Groene, who had been a candidate for a seat on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, was not on the list. Groene asked to be removed after he resigned from the Legislature last month after it was revealed that he took photos of a female staffer without her permission. In the race for State Board of Education, Helen Raikes of Ashland will face Kirk Penner of Aurora in a district that includes portions of Lancaster County. Penner was appointed to the seat by Ricketts. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 27-year-old Lincoln man is accused of walking into three grocery stores, two office supply outlets, a book store, a hardware store and a coffee shop with counterfeit money and walking out with real cash received as change. Austin Barrett has been charged with nine felony counts of first-degree forgery after he allegedly passed fake bills at eight businesses across Lincoln from Feb. 13 to Feb. 23, Lincoln Police Investigator Michael Wambold wrote in the affidavit for Barrett's arrest. "Barrett primarily used counterfeit money to purchase Visa gift cards and low-dollar items where he would receive genuine currency as change," Wambold wrote. Over the 11 days, Barrett passed more than $1,700 in fake bills, police said. Police reviewed video footage and linked Barrett to the string of forgeries at three local HyVee stores, a Westlake Ace Hardware and at Staples, among other locations, according to the affidavit. He was arrested Friday and taken to the Lancaster County Jail. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Trend Turkey warned all countries about the inadmissibility of the passage of warships through the Bosporus and Dardanelles, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavushoglu said, Trend reports citing Turkish media. "Turkey has warned all coastal and non-coastal countries against the passage of warships through the straits," he said. Cavushoglu noted that since the beginning of Russia's operation in Ukraine, there have been no requests for the passage of military ships through the straits. The diplomat stressed that Ankara will continue to strictly follow the provisions of the Montreux Convention. Police are investigating after a pistol-wielding man robbed three Lincoln convenience stores late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, making off with cash at all three locations. As part of the investigation, authorities are looking into any connection to a string of robberies in the Omaha area, including two Tuesday morning. Lincoln Police Capt. Todd Kocian said the robber, an unidentified male, entered the Kwik Shop near 44th Street and Cornhusker Highway at 11:50 p.m. Monday. The man, whose face was covered, brandished a pistol and demanded money from the store clerk before leaving with an undisclosed amount of cash, Kocian said. Six minutes later, a man matching the same description entered the Casey's near 48th and Fremont streets, where he struck an employee in the face with his pistol and fired a shot inside the store, Kocian said. The suspect gathered money and left, according to police. Officers responded to a third convenience store at 1 a.m. Tuesday after a man matching the suspect's description entered the Kwik Shop near 27th and W streets, where he demanded money from the store's clerk and a patron using the store's ATM, Kocian said. The man left with cash from the register and the patron. Lincoln police noted that a similar incident played out just after 3 a.m. in Omaha, where a masked, armed man robbed the QuikTrip at 5005 S. 108th St. before fleeing. Omaha police attempted to stop a vehicle sought in connected to the robbery and reported shots fired at officers. A pursuit extended into Sarpy County, where three people were arrested. Omaha police later arrested a fourth person, with each linked to as many as eight robberies in the Omaha area. Lincoln police said Tuesday afternoon that no arrests have been made in connection with the Lincoln robberies. Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 43-year-old Tekamah woman has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison and will face deportation to Mexico for kidnapping her grandchildren in 2020. U.S. District Judge Brian Buescher sentenced Nora Guevara-Tirana last week to eight years and four months in prison, plus three years of supervised release. A jury in Omaha found Guevara-Tirana guilty in August after a five-day trial. U.S. Attorney Jan Sharp said on April 20, 2020, Guevara-Tirana asked Tanner Leichleiter to take her two grandchildren, ages 4 and 7, without car seats or shoes to Kansas to "teach their mother a lesson." It prompted an Amber Alert. Leichleiter was found not guilty of kidnapping, but pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of firearms. The case was investigated by the FBI, and the Tekamah Police Department, Sedgwick County (Kansas) Sheriff and Wichita Police Department. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As Lincoln emerges from one of its driest winters in decades, there are some short-term chances for moisture, but the longer-term trend does not look favorable. The citys official precipitation total for February was just 0.03 inches, making it the third-driest February on record. Combined with the 0.28 inches of precipitation that fell in January, it marks the driest start to a year since 1923. That continues what has been an extremely dry period going back to November. Since then, Lincoln has recorded just 1.05 inches of precipitation, which is about 3 inches below normal. It's the least amount of precipitation for those four months since the winter of 1976-1977. The 3.8 inches of snow so far this winter is the lowest ever recorded by the end of February in records going back to 1948. The precipitation deficit over the past few months has been widespread across much of Nebraska, leading to increasingly dry conditions. As of Thursday, all but a tiny corner of Southeast Nebraska was considered abnormally dry, and 91% of the state was in at least a moderate drought. Those dry conditions, combined with warm temperatures this week, are raising the fire danger. Lincoln reached the upper 60s on Friday and the forecast calls for 70s Tuesday and Wednesday, 50s Thursday, and the 60s again Friday. The National Weather Service said in a bulletin that those conditions mean theres a high risk of grass fires in eastern Nebraska, especially through Wednesday. Lancaster County's Emergency Management Agency said Monday afternoon on Twitter that crews were battling a number of grass and wildfires throughout the county. Nebraska State Climatologist Martha Shulski said the combination of warm weather, dry conditions and lack of snow are a perfect mix for increasing the fire danger. They're also causing lower water levels in many ponds and streams. However, Shulski said Southeast Nebraska still remains in pretty good shape when it comes to moisture in the ground. "Luckily for this part of the state, we are not too bad when it comes to deeper soil moisture levels (8 inches down to 40 inches)," she said in an email. "Deeper root systems can tap into this moisture." That doesn't mean your lawn and trees and shrubs can't benefit from some early watering, though. In a recent column in the Journal Star, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator Sarah Browning wrote that the dry conditions and lack of soil freezing "could easily result in plant damage by spring both in woody plants, perennials and turf." Browning recommended watering as long as soils aren't frozen and the temperature is above 40 degrees. She wrote that one deep watering per month is sufficient for trees and woody plants, while turf grass needs two waterings per month, with half an inch of water each time. The good news is that there will be chances for precipitation in the coming days. A cold front will move through Friday night, dropping the temperature and bringing chances for thunderstorms Saturday and the possibility of snow Sunday, when high temperatures are forecast to reach only the low 40s. The weather service also said the forecast for the next two weeks trends toward above-average precipitation. Long-term forecasts are not as favorable for alleviating the dry conditions, however. The weather services three-month forecast for March, April and May shows below-normal precipitation chances for the western two-thirds of Nebraska and equal chances for above- or below-normal precipitation in the eastern third. The three-month temperature outlook gives the entire state a slightly-better-than-average chance of above-normal temperatures. Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Public schools in Nebraska would have to teach lessons about the Holocaust and other episodes of genocide under a bill advanced by lawmakers Tuesday. Senators gave the measure initial approval on a 44-0 vote, despite some questions about which specific moments in history could be defined as genocide. Sen. Jen Day of Omaha said she introduced the bill (LB888) to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten. Day said it's particularly important now as more people who experienced the atrocities firsthand die. The bill would require the State Board of Education to develop measurable academic content standards" about the Holocaust and other incidents of genocide as part of the state's social studies standards. Two more legislative votes are required before the bill goes to Gov. Pete Ricketts. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Lincoln City Council ordinance that extends discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender expression is likely headed to the ballot box. The Nebraska Family Alliance announced Tuesday it gathered more than four times the number of signatures needed to require the City Council to either put the so-called fairness ordinance to a public vote or rescind it. A crowd of supporters holding Let US Vote signs gathered at Nebraska Family Alliances office at 11th and E streets for a news conference where leaders of the group announced theyd gathered 18,501 signatures. Thats well more than the 4,137 signatures 4% of city voters in the previous gubernatorial election required to stop the ordinance from taking effect, and well beyond the 10,000 signatures supporters collected a decade ago after the City Council passed an initial ordinance to extend discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender expression. Today is about due process, to give a voice to Lincoln residents who love their city and love their neighbors, said Nebraska Family Alliance Executive Director Karen Bowling. Moms, dads and grandparents walked their neighborhoods with their kids to give them firsthand experience of grassroots mobilization because they believe that the government shouldn't pick and choose who is allowed to think and speak freely. Bowling said the group circulated 1,365 petitions, an effort that included 339 volunteers and 72 churches. After the successful referendum petition in 2012, the council didnt rescind the ordinance or put it to a vote, and it was in limbo until the current council passed a broader revision of the municipal code last month. In addition to extending protections to include sexual orientation and gender expression, the ordinance adds active military and veterans as a protected class. It also updates definitions of marriage, race and natural origin, strengthens definitions and updates disability protections and reorganizes the section to clarify the process of the city's Human Rights Commission. Tuesday afternoon, at least four council members said they supported putting the ordinance to a vote, which could happen in a special election or the general election in November. Lancaster County Election Commissioner Dave Shively said state law prohibits holding a special election too close to a regularly scheduled election, which means a special election could be held only in July or August this year. Before any of that happens, the city clerk must turn the petition signatures over to the election commissioner for verification. A decade ago, that took a week to 10 days. Once that happens, Shively will report the verification to the city clerk, then the issue goes back to the City Council, which will either rescind the ordinance or pass a resolution to put it on the ballot. If it does the latter, City Attorney Yohance Christie said, the council will spell out when that will happen. Councilwoman Sandra Washington, who introduced the ordinance, said she supports putting it to a vote something she said petition circulators seem to want to happen as quickly as possible. She said shes filed paperwork with the Accountability and Disclosure Commission for a campaign committee supporting passage of the ordinance. Im not surprised they (ordinance opponents) were able to get the signatures, given the fact that the message they were putting out was untrue, she said. They were playing to peoples emotions and fears and they werent telling the truth." The work of supporters, she said, will be to tell the truth: that the ordinance puts into local code protections in the Civil Rights Act, which the U.S. Supreme Court spelled out in a 2020 decision. Council members Tammy Ward, Jane Raybould and Richard Meginnis also said they supported taking the issue to a vote. Bennie Shobe said he wanted to confer with his fellow council members before commenting. Tom Beckius and James Michael Bowers could not be reached for comment. At the news conference, Nate Grasz, Nebraska Family Alliance policy director, said the ordinance is overly broad and poorly written. Redefining sex opens up bathrooms and locker rooms to those who identify as transgender, he said, and a broad definition of sexual harassment means people could be held liable for expressing Biblical views. Our City Council chose politics over people and advanced an ordinance that punishes free speech and violates the safety and privacy of women and girls in Lincoln, he said. Let's be clear. No one here today opposes fairness. A police officer stood by during Tuesday's announcement and one of two opponents in the crowd loudly disrupted the news conference, though after it was over he and several petition supporters shared a conversation. Both ACLU of Nebraska and OutNebraska, a statewide advocacy organization, issued statements supporting the ordinance and pledging to help educate and mobilize voters. OutNebraska Executive Director Abbi Swatsworth said a vote shouldnt be needed for peoples basic civil rights to be recognized. Now that this petition has been submitted, every person who cares about protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination should not only prepare to vote, but prepare to talk to their friends and neighbors and to respond to lies and misinformation about transgender people. This work must start today and it has to involve all of us." Reach the writer at 402-473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSreist Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Even some of the most ardent supporters of Covid-19 precautions are ditching mask mandates as health officials release new guidelines and hospitalizations plummet. Across the country, more governors are letting go of mask rules -- including in states that have long held on to school mask mandates. California, Oregon and Washington state will shift from mask requirements to mask recommendations in schools starting at 11:59 p.m. March 11, according to a statement from the governors Monday. California is also dropping its requirement for unvaccinated people to wear masks in most indoor settings starting Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said. But masks will still be strongly recommended for everyone in most indoor settings. And face masks will still be required for everyone in high transmission settings such as public transit, emergency shelters, health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and long-term care facilities in California, the statement said. Illinois lifted its mask mandate for restaurants, bars, gyms and stores on Monday. And Chicago ended its proof-of-vaccination requirement. But that doesn't mean everyone should get rid of their masks. For example, masks are still required on most public transportation nationwide. "I would still recommend that if you are in indoor spaces, especially those that are crowded, that you put on a mask," said Dr. Rachel Rubin of the Cook County Department of Health. In Massachusetts, a statewide mask mandate for K-12 schools ends Monday. A similar mandate in Connecticut also ends Monday, and local school districts will be able to decide whether to require masks. Starting Tuesday, Washington, DC will no longer require masks indoors. But Mayor Muriel Bowser said individual businesses still have the option of requiring masks or mandating vaccinations. And New York state will no longer require students to wear masks in schools starting Wednesday. But Gov. Kathy Hochul said counties and cities with higher transmission rates can still require masks in schools, and students can still wear masks if their families choose. The news followed steep declines in statewide Covid-19 hospitalizations and new guidance Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating healthy Americans in many counties don't need to wear masks indoors anymore. "If we see no unforeseen spikes and our numbers continue to show a low level of risk, New York City will remove the indoor mask mandate for public school children, effective next Monday, March 7," Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement Sunday. The mayor said he also plans to lift the city's proof-of-vaccination requirement for indoor venues starting March 7, barring an unexpected spike in Covid-19 numbers this week. "But even as some jurisdictions lift masking requirements, we must grapple with the fact that millions of people in the U.S. are immunocompromised, more susceptible to severe COVID outcomes, or still too young to be eligible for the vaccine," said Dr. Gerald Harmon, president of the American Medical Association. "In light of those facts, I personally will continue to wear a mask in most indoor public settings, and I urge all Americans to consider doing the same, especially in places like pharmacies, grocery stores, on public transportation -- locations all of us, regardless of vaccination status or risk factors, must visit regularly." What the new CDC guidelines say The CDC released new metrics Friday to help determine whether Americans should wear face masks indoors. Previously, indoor masking was recommended for those living in areas with "high" or "substantial" transmission of Covid-19 cases. That meant most Americans lived in counties where indoor masking was recommended. But the new guidance includes two new metrics: hospital admissions and hospital capacity. As of Friday, most Americans lived in areas where healthy adults didn't have to wear masks anymore. Of the 10 most populous counties, Los Angeles County and San Diego County were the only two where indoor masking is still recommended for everyone. Six states had no residents living in a county where the CDC still recommends universal indoor masking: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. But several states had more than 75% of residents living in a county considered to have a "high" community level: Kentucky, West Virginia, Maine and Montana. Transportation mandate is still up in the air The Transportation Security Administration's mask mandate for airports, commercial airplanes, public buses and passenger trains is set to expire March 18. It's not clear what will happen after that. Masks are not required on school buses, the CDC said Friday. But school systems "may choose to require that people wear masks on buses or vans." While mask mandates disappear in more states, that doesn't mean Americans can ditch masks entirely, the president of the American Medical Association said. "Although masks may no longer be required indoors in many parts of the U.S., we know that wearing a well-fitted mask is an effective way to protect ourselves and our communities, including the most vulnerable, from COVID-19 particularly in indoor settings when physical distancing is not possible," Harmon said. The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. CNN's Virginia Langmaid, Deidre McPhillips, Elizabeth Cohen and Jacqueline Howard contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 U.S. Sen. Ben Sasses personal Twitter biography turned profane over the weekend in support of Ukrainian resistance to Russian incursion. As of Monday, the Nebraska Republican's biography statement was written in Russian and translated to Russian warship, go f - - - yourself. A spokesperson said the change was made Saturday and that its origins are a viral story out of Ukraine. Last week, many U.S. news outlets reported that border guards on Ukraine's Snake Island responded with that phrase when a Russian warship approached and asked the guards to surrender or else face bombing. The Washington Post reported that Ukrainian news outlet Ukrayinska Pravda published a copy of the audio recording and confirmed its authenticity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced 13 guards were killed after the exchange, according to initial reports. But Russian state TV later showed what it claimed was footage of the soldiers alive in custody, leading to more-recent reports that those soldiers may still be alive. Tatyana Novkov, professor emerita in Russian at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, confirmed to the Omaha World-Herald that the phrase in Sasses bio is originally in Russian and that the translation is correct. The free world should know about Ukraines heroes, and while the United States isnt going to put boots on the ground Americans should arm them so that they can keep fighting Russian invaders, Sasse said in an emailed statement Monday. Sasse has been actively weighing in on the Russian invasion of Ukraine in recent days on national TV and via his personal Twitter account. All five members of Nebraska's congressional delegation have condemned Russia's actions. Sasse, who is on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has called for stronger sanctions, saying incremental measures have not gone far enough, and has advocated for getting intelligence and weapons to Ukrainians. "The U.S. and Europe are still holding back," he said in a statement over the weekend. "Cut off all Russian banks immediately, because sanctions do matter, but we need more and faster. While politicians endlessly haggle over rubles and euros, Ukrainian freedom-fighters need life-and-death, real-time intelligence to kill Russian invaders, not more half-ass bureaucratic measures. This report includes material from the Associated Press. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The truism that the first casualty of war is truth is certainly applicable to the situation in Europe regarding Ukraine. All wars and conflicts are rooted in histories that are complex, and unintended consequences are seldom considered. Nebraskans for Peace has opposed all the conflicts that the United States waged since Vietnam. The potential war in Ukraine is no different. There is blame on all sides of this conflict, and all sides need to listen and respect each other if the needless devastation of war is to be avoided. There is no question that the authoritarian president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is responsible for the current crises in Ukraine. The brutal war in 2014 with the annexing of Crimea and occupying the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine by Russian troops contributed to the current tensions. Ukrainians also remember the mass famine and starvation that Soviet Russians caused in the early 1930s. If NATO nations want to avoid this needless war, then they must listen to the complaints of our adversaries, and the mistakes of broken promises need to be acknowledged and rectified. After the disintegration of the Soviet Unions federation of states in 1989 and most of them declaring their independence, western Europe and the U.S. stated assurances to then Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev that the NATO alliance would not expand in exchange for the reunification of Germany. With changed leadership in all countries, an expansion of NATO began with the inclusion of some of the former Soviet republics. Russia began to feel threatened, especially after Putin came to power. In hindsight, when the Warsaw Pact dissolved it would have been best if NATO had dissolved also. Perhaps at that point there would have been a genuine peace dividend. Unfortunately, the United States, which today has a $780 billion war-making budget which is more than the next nine nations combined, bears much of the responsibility for this conflict. The Pentagon and the military industrial complex did not want a peace dividend with the end of the Cold War in 1989. The war industry needed to justify and enrich themselves by creating perceived threats against nations and people who were no threat at all. Remember no more Vietnams and Mission Accomplished that were based on one lie after another lie. Spending $6 trillion on the recent Middle Eastern wars has weakened and divided our nation to the point where democracy is threatened, and elements of our population admire strongmen like Putin. The real threat to our world is the increased use of carbon-based fossil fuels that will contribute to more severe weather catastrophes and will create more refugees, displacement and hunger. Military weapons of war are one of the largest contributors of carbon emissions. The global community needs to work together to avoid an unlivable planet. Only when we seek truth and acknowledge our egocentric failures will we ever experience being set free. Ron Todd-Meyer is board president for Nebraskans for Peace and a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam. Love 3 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 KENOSHA Amir Hussain will visit Carthage College on Thursday, March 3, as the 2022 Kenosha Interfaith Scholar in Residence. The free event will take place at 7 p.m. in the A.F. Siebert Chapel, 2001 Alford Park Drive. Hussain will discuss anti-racism and teaching about American Muslims. Following the event, he will hold a book signing for his book Muslims and the Making of America. A small number of copies will be available for purchase at the signing. Hussain is chair and professor of theological studies at Loyola Marymount University, the Jesuit university in Los Angeles. He teaches courses on Islam and comparative religion. Hussain was the editor of the Journal of the American Academy of Religion from 2011-2015 and he is currently the vice president of the American Academy of Religion. He was an advisor for the television series The Story of God with Morgan Freeman and has appeared on other shows like Ancient Aliens and The UnXplained with William Shatner. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 KENOSHA One of four men charged in the 2018 shooting death of Joseph Riley in rural Wheatland reached a plea agreement Monday in Kenosha County Circuit Court. Demarco Hudson, 22, of Racine pleaded guilty to a felony charge of murder while committing an armed robbery and to a felony charge of first-degree reckless injury. As part of the plea agreement, felony charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, two felony counts of first-degree reckless injury with the use of a dangerous weapon and armed burglary with the use of a dangerous weapon were dismissed. Hudson, who has been in custody in the Kenosha County Jail on a $1 million bond since November 2018, faces a maximum prison sentence of 76.5 years when hes sentenced May 6 at 10:30 a.m. by Judge Jason Rossell. Kenosha County District Attorney Mike Graveley said Tuesday the plea agreement acknowledges that Hudson wasnt a main player in Rileys murder, but it also guarantees a lengthy prison sentence. Demarco Hudson was situated as an individual who did not come to both of the robbery attempts, Graveley said. He only came to one of the two robbery attempts, and he never fired his weapon nor attempted to discharge his weapon. Thats why hes situated differently than some of the other individuals. The agreement allows the state to make an argument for a very substantial amount of (prison) time based on his conduct. Graveley said not having to put the victims family through a third trial also was a consideration in reaching the agreement. Thats always a factor, he said. The primary factor was sort of trying to slot in what his role had been in the incident. Two others convicted Two other defendants, Anthony Harris, 26, and Markeith Wilson, 23, both of Racine, have already been convicted for their roles in the murder of Riley, 26. Both were convicted for first-degree intentional homicide, felony attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting of Eva Lofton, felony conspiracy to commit armed robbery and felony burglary. Wilson was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole and is currently incarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun. Harris was convicted by a jury last month and will be sentenced by Rossell on April 7. Augustine Sanchez, 23, also of Racine, faces the same four charges as Harris and Wilson, along with two felony charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety. Sanchez, in custody on a $1 million cash bond, has a status hearing April 25 at 1:30 p.m. Court records show that during an adjourned hearing on Feb. 22, both the state and Sanchezs defense attorney were trying to reach a resolution in his case. Sanchez testified for the state in Harriss jury trial. A fifth person tied to the case, Christina May, 44, of Lake Geneva, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robbery and is serving a nine-year prison sentence. According to the criminal complaint, May, who was friends with Riley, was behind in rent and in need of money when she contacted Sanchez and told him the deceased would be a soft target and would be in possession of marijuana and cash. A potential robbery was set up for Nov. 14, 2018, but it didnt go as planned. The following night, all four men came to the house and kicked in the door, then Riley, Wilson and Harris exchanged gunfire. Riley was killed and Lofton suffered extensive injuries. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Trend Georgia eased a number of COVID-19 restrictions, Trend reports via the press service of the Georgian Government Administration. The Head of the Operational Headquarters of the Interdepartmental Council Giorgi Gibradze announced on February 22 that the order will come into force from March 1, 2022. Thus, starting today, Georgia allows entering the country for the citizens of 67 states. However, the COVID-19 vaccination certificate, or a negative PCR test, will still be required. Although, visitors are exempt from the obligation to do a PCR test on the third day of their stay in the country. Georgian citizens can also enter the country on the basis of a test or confirmation of a vaccination course, and if they do not have either, they can undergo self-isolation on arrival within five days. As for the catering facilities, the number of people sitting at the table is increased from 6 to 10 indoors, and from 10 to 15 people - outdoors. Citizens will be also allowed to hold social events, such as weddings, birthdays, commemorations. Furthermore, hotels will be allowed to serve guests through a buffet. Meanwhile, wearing masks in public places is still required. RACINE A Racine teenager has been accused of firing a gun at a man who had told him to stop cutting through his backyard, and later stealing a car. Rayshawn Campbell, 17, of the 1600 block of Winslow Street, was charged with felony counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and operating a motor vehicle without owners consent in addition to misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer and possession of marijuana. According to a criminal complaint: On Feb. 10, an officer was sent to the 1700 block of Maple Street for a shots-fired call. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a man who said he heard three men arguing in his backyard. He recognized one of them as Campbell. The man had previously told Campbell to stop cutting through his backyard, and then Campbell flashed a gun. One of the other men said something to the effective of give me the (expletive), and he heard three gunshots. Campbell was the one in possession of the gun, and after shots were fired all three of the men left. An officer arrived and spoke to a neighbor who confirmed hearing gunshots. Another neighbor saw suspects running through the alley. At 7:16 p.m. on Friday, an officer was sent to Neighborhood Pantry at 1511 W. Sixth St. for a car theft. A black Lincoln MKX was stolen while the driver was in the store. Officers later located the car in the 1600 block of Winslow Street and approached it with the emergency lights activated. Officers then saw a man flee from the car on foot and began chasing him. He was identified as Campbell and taken into custody. Officers found 2.6 grams of marijuana on him. He admitted to taking the vehicle. Campbell was given a $2,500 signature bond and a $750 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday. Campbell has two preliminary hearings set for March 16 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Another calendar will turn before Mark Jensen has a new trial date. And even before then, theres plenty of activity from both sides that has to happen. Jensen, convicted in 2007 for murdering his wife, Julie, at their Pleasant Prairie home in December 1998, is expected to stand trial for a second time starting Jan. 9, 2023, this time before Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Anthony Milisauskas. The door opened for a new trial last week when the United States Supreme Court refused to hear the case after an appeal of a Wisconsin State Supreme Court ruling last year that Jensen should receive a new trial. Jensen, 62, who has been in custody in the Kenosha County Jail on a $1.5 million bond since April 12, 2021, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder, who presided over the original trial, that was moved to Walworth County. Jensen had been incarcerated at the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun since his sentencing in 2008. After a series of state and federal appellate court rulings, Jensens original conviction was overturned when it was ruled that Schroeder erred in allowing Julie Jensens so-called letter from the grave and voicemails about her suspicions that her husband was trying to harm her to be presented to the jury. Prosecutors have argued that Mark Jensen, who has always maintained his innocence, poisoned his then-40-year-old wife with antifreeze, then smothered her at their Pleasant Prairie home. At the original trial, the defense suggested that Julie Jensen, who had sought treatment for depression, had committed suicide. Mountain of motions Attorneys on both sides spent most of the hearing Monday talking about a myriad of motions that still need to be dealt with. Former Kenosha County District Attorney Robert Jambois, now an assistant district attorney in Portage County, who oversaw the original case, again will lead the states case as a special prosecutor. Jambois said there still are 16 outstanding defense motions, and asked Milisauskas for clarification about which ones still needed a response. Defense attorney Bridget Krause, one of five attorneys representing Jensen, told the judge the state also has filed motions and asked that a hearing be held to deal with all of them. And thats what will happen, Milisauskas said. Well treat everybody equally, he said. Simultaneously, each party will give the court which motions (they want to pursue). Krause said her side doesnt intend to file any additional motions. Both parties have until March 28 at 5 p.m. to determine which motions still need to be handled, and until May 27 at 5 p.m. to file a response. A motion hearing date will be held Nov. 21 and 22, followed by a final pre-trial Dec. 16, at 8:30 a.m. Another delay Jambois said he expects the second trial to last five weeks, and added there is little space in his current trial calendar in Portage County, which forced the move to early next year. I cant see starting this kind of trial (before the holidays), when in December, at the end of the month, theres a week of vacation, he said. Milisauskas told Jambois his calendar is packed as well, to the tune of 1,498 pending cases. I have people who have been in custody a long time, too, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RACINE Firefighters and members of the community gathered Sunday to honor slain firefighter Christopher Lalor. Fire Chief Steve Hansen described Lalor as a beloved member of the department ... He was always there for us when we needed him, and we want to be here for him as he departs this world for the next. Lalor, 50, was found dead in his home Feb. 20 but likely died two days earlier. He was found by his mother, who went to his home on Pinehurst Avenue after she became concerned because she had not heard from him. The only suspect in the case, Peter James Lui, 51, was reportedly found dead from suicide on Feb. 23. The two men were described as longtime friends and former roommates. No possible motive for the homicide has been publicly stated by authorities. Hansen called for the community to ban together and figure out a way to end the violence in our community and throughout the world. Assistant Fire Chief Brian Wolf remembered Lalor as an amazing, amazing person. He added, I hope we can find a way to remember Chris and how great he was. According to Lalors obituary, During one bus trip at the age of 8, he helped save his first life, telling the bus driver to pull over to help one of his fellow passengers who was in distress. Helping people was always in his blood. The vigil outside Lalors home was organized by the Racine Interfaith Coalition, an organization of 28 churches working together in Racine for 30 years. Tamerin Hayward, the co-president, described RIC as doing peace and justice work in the Racine community for 30 years and for 25 years they have organized a vigil at the site of every violent death. Its basically to say we as a community say no more, that violent deaths should not happen whatever the cause, whatever the reason. Theres no excuse for a violent death and taking another human beings life, Hayward said. She described Lalor as a person who was willing to risk his life to save other people and added its just unthinkable that someone could take such a life. To the gathered members of the RFD she said, I grieve for all of you who are grieving a dear friend and colleague. Father Yeprem Kelegian, of Saint Mesrob Armenian Church, said in Armenian the word God translates to the one who brought us here. We believe in a God who is here, who is near, and He works with us, he explained. So you came here tonight. God brought you here, and hell bring you to the next state, too. We all have to figure out what were going to do about the violence and the insanity, the moral insanity, that happens around us like this because God brings us around for some reason, Kelegian continued. Were going to mourn Christopher but God wants us to do a lot more. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RACINE COUNTY Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States causing billions of dollars in damage each year. Floods are not just isolated to river flooding. Heavy rain can bring dangerous flash floods. The Racine County Office of Emergency Management offers tips on how a people can protect themselves and their property during Flood Safety Awareness Week, Feb. 28-March 4. This years week comes as officials in Racine County and southeastern Wisconsin monitor water conditions in rivers and streams throughout the region as the winter thaw begins. I have seen first-hand how destructive heavy rainfalls can be, said Jay Kerner, Racine County Emergency Management director. The heavy rainstorm that swept through Racine in August 2020 only lasted minutes but caused thousands of dollars of water damage. After this storm, I decided to prepare my own home by installing a backup battery on our sump pump, purchasing a generator and having a licensed electrician make modifications so the generator can run the most important items in our home to prevent damage and loss of property. The cost of being prepared for potential flooding may not be what people would like to spend money on, but it is much less than the costs associated with water damage due to being unprepared. Peace of mind is the most valuable part of being prepared. Every homeowner and business should plan ahead to mitigate the damaging effect of floods. They should identify an evacuation route and have a place to go if they must leave their home or business, put together an emergency supplies kit to take with them, focus on the needs of pets, and obtain extra batteries and charging devices for phones and other critical equipment. Here are more tips: Keep important documents in a waterproof/fireproof container and create password-protected digital copies. Move valuables to higher levels and consider raising up appliances, water heaters and furnaces. Remove debris from drains and gutters. Install check valves and consider a sump pump with a battery. Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult, while 12 inches can carry away a small car. Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, stay inside and call for help. Having adequate insurance goes a long way in helping to recover from a flood. It only takes an inch of water in a home to cause thousands of dollars in damage, which many homeowners and renters insurance policies will not cover. People can purchase or renew a flood insurance policy; it typically takes up to 30 days for a policy to go into effect. For more information about flood insurance, go to floodsmart.gov. For more tips on emergency preparedness, go to readyracineco.com. People can also follow ReadyRacineCo on Facebook. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Claiming some nursing home residents cast ballots without knowing what they were doing, and repeating complaints about grants from a liberal organization to help administer the 2020 election, the former state Supreme Court justice leading a GOP review of the 2020 election said Tuesday the Legislature "ought to take a very hard look" at decertifying the state's presidential election something experts say is a legal and constitutional impossibility. In a sweeping critique of current election rules, Gableman also called for the "elimination and dismantling" of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission after it instructed clerks in 2020 that they did not need to send poll workers into nursing homes to assist with absentee voting after many were turned away due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "At best, WEC is hopelessly derelict of duty," Gableman told the Assembly elections committee in a three-hour presentation of his 136-page "interim report" from his ongoing one-party review, which reiterates past GOP criticisms of the state's presidential election, including that millions of dollars of private grants allocated to cities to help administer the election amid the pandemic constituted bribery. Courts have rejected that claim. Gableman also indicated that his review for which Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has allocated $676,000 in taxpayer money is far from complete. The eight-month review has been plagued by legal challenges against multiple subpoenas issued by the former state Supreme Court justice. "This is an important topic, and there is a lot left to do and I will be back," Gableman said. A recount and court decisions have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election but made several recommendations for improvements. Gableman's lengthy, meandering and at times openly partisan attacks on elections commission staff and Democratic appointees underscored the one-sided nature of the investigation. This circus has long surpassed being a mere embarrassment for our state," Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement. "From the beginning, it has never been a serious or functioning effort, it has lacked public accountability and transparency, and it has been a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars." "Any mere condemnation of this effort rings hollow it has to end," Evers added. "Enough is enough. Republicans in the Legislature have always had the ability to end this effort, and I call on them to do so today. Added Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, Michael Gablemans intention to continue with his so-called 'election investigation' is not in the interest of the people of Wisconsin and is undemocratic." In a statement, Vos said Id like to thank the Office of Special Counsel for their tireless efforts in finding the truth. Theyve done a good job at showing there were issues in 2020, and the report is intended to help correct these processes for future elections. Unfortunately, were experiencing obstruction by ligation, and must first get through the nine separate lawsuits that have been filed to allow us to complete the review. Several elections officials and local elected leaders, including Racine Mayor Cory Mason, have refused to sit for private depositions. Mason is among those who have said he is willing to be deposed only if it's done in public. Mason responded in a lengthy statement, saying: Do not be fooled: Gableman and the GOP's intention with this absurd 'investigation is to undermine our democracy. These baseless and unsubstantiated claims of election illegalities do a profound disservice to Wisconsin's municipal election clerks and election officials, who all worked tirelessly and creatively to ensure citizens' ability to vote in the midst of a pandemic. Even more concerning, Gableman's recommendations lay bare an agenda that aims to make it harder for Wisconsin residents, particularly residents of color, to vote. Gablemans insistence on continuing this charade of an 'investigation,' with closed door interviews and threats of jail time for mayors and election officials, has no place in our democracy. "We should all be embarrassed and frightened of what it will mean for our state if Republicans won't come to their senses, finally acknowledge that Joe Biden won Wisconsin in 2020, and apologize for the damage they have done to our democratic principles and institutions," Mason continued. "While we wait for the GOP to stop allowing these unfounded and outrageous attacks on our secure and fair elections, I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that all of Racine's citizens can exercise their right to vote, safely, and without harassment or delay. Regarding Gableman's claim that Wisconsin's electoral votes could possibly be recalled, Neubauer said that "numerous nonpartisan attorneys have said is not possible." She continued: "It shows his (Gableman's) inability to contend with facts. Wisconsins elections are safe, secure and accurate." Gableman's report notes that its purpose is not to challenge the state's presidential certification process, but an appendix does "sketch how that might be done." Republican lawmakers and legislative attorneys have repeatedly said overturning the election after it's been certified by the state and Congress would be illegal and impossible. "It is clear that the Wisconsin Legislature could lawfully take steps to decertify electors in any Presidential election, for example in light of violations of state election law that did or likely could have affected the outcome of the election," according to the report, which also notes that such an action would not have any legal consequence or impact on the presidential election. "It would not, for example, change who the current President is," according to the report. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, a Republican who has repeatedly rejected efforts to overturn the 2020 election, tweeted that he "will not be part of any effort, and will do everything possible to stop any effort, to put politicians in charge of deciding who wins or loses elections." Steineke, who is not seeking another term this fall, added: In a world where partisan divides are deep & seemingly anything can be justified as long as it results in retaining power, handing authority to partisan politicians to determine if election fraud exists would be the end of our republic as we know it." University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor and elections administration expert Kenneth Mayer likewise likewise disagreed with Gableman. Even if the legislature did pass some sort of decertification now it would have no legal effect, he said. Once the electors have cast their ballots, and they have been counted in Congress, thats the end of it. Gableman and his supporters who have called for the election to be overturned have only moved to have the presidential election overturned, not all elections down the ballot, despite their claims of potential widespread fraud. Voting deputies Gableman took special aim at the elections commission's decision to exempt clerks from the requirement that they send poll workers, known as special voting deputies, into care facilities in 2020, showing several videos of attorney Erick Kaardal questioning nursing homes residents who evidently voted but seemed to have trouble understanding questions he was asking them about the election. The commission's guidance was issued in March 2020 to help prevent infection. The directive remained in place for the November 2020 presidential election and the February 2021 primary before being reverted back to its original form. Rick Abrams, CEO of the Wisconsin Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes, said the commissions decision to excuse sending the poll workers into the facilities at the height of the pandemic was prudent to protect the health of residents and the deputies. Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling whose department's investigation, headed by Lt. Michael Luell, informed much of Gableman's claims about nursing homes had repeatedly said it would be "obnoxious" and "insulting" to even attempt to interview those in nursing homes suffering from severe mental illness because of their health struggles. Kaardal unsuccessfully attempted to have Trump's election loss overturned in five states, including Wisconsin, and a federal judge referred him for discipline last year over his "baseless" lawsuits. Gableman said Kaardal produced "very substantial and very wonderful work." The videos Gableman showed of Kaardal speaking with individuals appeared to call into question whether the people interviewed, in some cases appearing confused or uninformed, should have been allowed to vote. But under election law, only a judge not an elections clerk, nor a special voting deputy, nor a family member can reject a persons right to register to vote after being found incompetent. "People in nursing homes are not required to complete push-polls to exercise their constitutional right to vote," Ann Jacobs, Democratic chair of the elections commission, tweeted. "These interrogations by Kardaal are completely irrelevant to whether people have a right to vote. You are allowed to vote for a candidate for any reason you choose." Using seniors as political props just as makes me really uncomfortable, Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell said after watching the hearing Tuesday. And honestly, some of them sounded like they understood what was going on. McDonell added that families concerned a relative may be incompetent should have a judge make that finding. You wouldn't want special voting deputies to be determining that on their own, he said. Fond Du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg objected to showing the nursing home interviews, saying they stood in contrast with Gablemans unsuccessful efforts to conduct private interviews with city leaders. We can show something like this publicly, but if you want to interview the mayor of Green Bay or (Elections Commission administrator) Meagan Wolfe or anything, why wouldn't that be public? she said. Private grants Gableman also contends that the private grants by the Mark Zuckerberg-funded Center for Tech and Civic Life, which were distributed around the state but went primarily to the state's five most populous cities, were aimed at boosting turnout in areas more likely to go for Biden. In taking the money, Gableman said, Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Kenosha and Green Bay engaged in what he called "election bribery," defined in state law as accepting anything of value, such as money, to induce any elector to go to or refrain from going to the polls or vote or refrain from voting. His report also points to provisions in CTCL and the cities Wisconsin Safe Voting Plan, which among other things, encourage the use of ballot drop boxes and reaching out to historically disenfranchised voters such as racial minorities and the poor, which not-coincidentally, matched that of the Biden-voter profile. A Lee Newspapers review of the CTCL grants found that the five cities received from two to four times more money, per capita, than smaller cities. At the same time, no community that asked for money from the group was denied, with communities in 39 of the state's 72 counties receiving grants, including ones won by Trump. A state Legislative Audit Bureau survey also found that drop boxes were common across Wisconsin, appearing in 24 to 54 municipalities in each of seven different regions of the state, including in the northeast and northwest where Trump won the vast majority of counties. The states anti-election bribery law also specifies other things that also cost money that are aimed at helping people vote but dont constitute bribery, such as political nominating conventions, giving employees paid time off to vote, and driving people to the polls. Others respond U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said in a statement Tuesday that Gableman's findings "need to be taken seriously" in order "to restore confidence in our election system." He said that the WEC's opposition, in addition to opposition from "some local election officials," to Gableman's investigation is "not only troubling, but their obstruction of his investigation raises other issues." U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. said in a tweet: "Mike Gableman has undermined faith in our elections promoting Trump's Big Lie, fleecing taxpayers, and suggesting the 2020 election should be overturned. He can't handle the truth Biden won a free, fair and secure election. Trump simply lost. This circus should leave town now." Stated state Rep. Tip McGuire, a Kenosha Democrat whose district includes part of Racine: "Today, the Speakers handpicked investigator into the 2020 election delivered his report, which pushed the Legislature to decertify the presidential election. After months of hearings and subpoenas and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars wasted, the work product that the people of Wisconsin were delivered by Michael Gableman was nothing but a restatement of the wild fantasies that the Speaker insisted that he did not believe and were not mainstream in his caucus. This comes one week after the Assembly passed a slew of election-related bills, many of which wrestled power away from the nonpartisan Elections Commission in favor of GOP-controlled committees. These bills were not just bad policy; they were a deliberate attempt to subvert democracy in Wisconsin by making our election process ripe for partisan corruption. Despite months of claiming to be different than those who explicitly sought to overturn the 2020 election, Wisconsin Republicans have proven through their legislation and their half-baked investigation that they too have contempt for the will of the people and any election system that isnt rigged in their favor. Lee Newspapers reporters Alexander Shur, Chris Rickert and David Wahlberg contributed to this report, as did Adam Rogan of The Journal Times. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 When opportunity knocks, you must open the door. So goes the old adage. And the City of Franklins rejection of a meat-processing plant could become an opportunity for Racine and Kenosha counties. At a packed Feb. 18 meeting of the Franklin Plan Commission, it was announced that Strauss Brands was withdrawing its request for approvals for a $73 million, 152,035-square-foot meat processing plant for a site along West Loomis Road (Highway 36). The announcement may not have floored people as the plan had drawn widespread opposition from residents and even litigation. Indeed, there had been speculation for several months that Strauss would not pursue the plans. In a Nov. 1 email obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, an executive with Insight Equity, which acquired Strauss in 2019, told a representative of the animal advocacy nonprofit Free from Harm that Insight Equitys strategy for expansion has changed. Were not planning to build a slaughterhouse there (Franklin) or anywhere else for that matter, CEO Ted Beneski said in the email. The newspaper reported that Beneski had walked back his statement a bit saying that by there he specifically meant Franklin. In fact, the company also received opposition when it earlier proposed a plant for a location on the economically challenged north side of Milwaukee. Franklin residents voiced concerns, almost predictably, that the plant in their view would lower property values and threaten water and air quality. At an Oct. 20, 2020 Franklin City Council meeting, just three people spoke in support of the plant while dozens voiced objections, WITI-TV reported. Franklin Mayor Steve Olson had lobbied for the development, saying it would bring more jobs (160 was a number floated at one time) to the city, which borders Racine Countys Village of Raymond. Naturally, the prospect of a slaughterhouse is probably not going to be the first thing that pops into residents minds when asked what type of business would you like to see come to your city? Questions and concerns extend beyond those of animal rights backers, many of whom would not advocate or tolerate such an operation on any count. But even if one does not have objections to meat production, they may still have very legitimate questions and concerns about what happens to waste disposal, potential odors and truck traffic from such an operation. Meat and poultry operations have run in Racine and Kenosha counties for years. Maple Leaf Farms has had duck and downy operations in western Racine County. And meat processing plants operate in the City of Kenosha and the Town of Paris in Kenosha County. And Echo Lake Foods operates a very large egg products plant in Burlington and a smaller operation in Yorkville. While occasionally having issues like an odor problem at Echo Lake Foods a few years back, the operations have largely been good neighbors and good providers of jobs for the area. Thats why we think it would behoove the Racine County Economic Development Corp. and the Kenosha Area Business Alliance to make overtures to Strauss Brands. We know there are sites in the counties that could accommodate the plant and, to avoid or reduce a possible not-in-my-back-yard response by residents, here are a couple of low-impact site suggestions to consider: Wisconn Valley: The development of the Mount Pleasant site that is home to Foxconn has infrastructure in place, has excellent access to the Interstate and most residences for a mile or more in any direction have been removed. The Dairyland Greyhound Park site: After Gov. Scott Walker vetoed plans for a tribal casino development there (despite overwhelming support for one from Kenosha city and county residents), plans changed to developing the site for industrial purposes. The site also provides excellent access to the Interstate and is largely buffered on three sides from residences by the interstate to the west, existing industrial and corporate development on the east and Kenosha Regional Airport on the north. There are, however, residences on the south side of Dairyland. While many questions would still need to be answered in regard to the possibility of such a plant coming to our area, it definitely does provide some food for thought for Strauss company brass and local leaders. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Killeen, TX (76540) Today Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. 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. Vote View Results By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli The construction of about 500 private houses for families of martyrs and disabled veterans in 41 cities and regions of Azerbaijan is nearing completion, the Labor and Social Security Ministry has reported. Labor and Social Security Minister Sahil Babayev said that the houses will be commissioned in the near future. The minister stressed that the number of apartments provided to citizens in the aforementioned categories increased fivefold from 2018 to 2020, reaching 3,000 in 2021. To date, over 12,300 apartments and private houses have been provided to these citizens. The reform package for 2022, which provides for a significant increase in salaries, pensions, and other social benefits, has covered 3.4 million people. An additional $1.2 billion (2.1 billion AZN) will be allocated annually for these purposes, the minister added. The board also noted that the five DOST centers created earlier had provided services to more than 700,000 citizens during their functioning. In 2022, it is planned to open DOST Center No 5 in Baku and the DOST Center in Barda as the first regional center of the DOST Agency. The ministry's State Agency for Medical and Social Expertise and Rehabilitation announced the launch of mobile and rehabilitation services, as well as the implementation of an individual rehabilitation program. During the meeting, it was announced that Shamkir region's Children's Rehabilitation Center would be completed this year. Furthermore, it was stated that 12 regional social service centers and specialized social service centers will be established on the basis of the Ministry's Social Services Agency branches. The meeting also discussed efforts to broaden the use of digital technologies in the social sphere. It was stated that a DOST branch with special status will be established in Shusha as part of the East Zangazur and Karabakh DOST Agency's program. As part of the smart village project, a smart DOST service point will be established in liberated Zangilan region's Aghali village this year. The DOST Agency, which was established in 2018 on First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva's initiative and by President Ilham Aliyev's decree, provides state social services in a timely, transparent, modern, and innovative manner. Currently, there are five DOST centers. In 2021, these centers served 410,575 citizens, up from 651,155 in the previous year. KEARNEY Its Saturday, and the chilly Nebraska wind is carrying the aroma of one of Central Americas favorite foods pupusas. Delmy Uribe, her husband, Hector Lopez, and daughter, Jazmin Lopez, are wrapped in winter coats and hats as they work hard to keep pace with carryout orders. The door to the kitchen is open wide enough to keep Delmy and her family cool while they cook. Slap, slap, slap. Delmys hands form soft masa dough into the shape of a shallow bowl. She then adds fillings of refried beans, pork rinds and grated cheese, curls everything into a ball and then flattens the ball into a saucer shape. Theres a dozen or so pupusas (pooh-POOH-sus) sizzling on the griddle as Delmy flips them. In a few minutes theyll be ready to serve. Customers get a whiff of Delmys pupusas as they enter the kitchen. Some customers are sitting at a table enjoying their food. This is the only way to eat pupusas, said Oscar Ramirez, a Salvadoran who just gobbled down four steaming hot pupusas. For Ramirez and many of the others arriving at Delmys little pupusaria, enjoying the tasty griddle cakes is like vacationing to their homeland. Delmy sells the pupusas to help her church and family, or to boost her income. Her pupusas are popular because theyre larger than most. On this Saturday shes filling the pupusas with an assortment of popular ingredients. Slap, slap, slap. Another pupusa lands on the griddle and Delmy begins forming a handful of dough to receive the fillings. Pupusas are a treat for the senses. Theres the aroma while they fry. Their golden brown color catches the eye as theyre flipped to fry on the second side, and then theres the slap, slap, slap while Delmy molds the masa into different shapes. Theres a lot of laughter while Dely cooks. Almost everyone in the pupusaria is smiling and happy. Delmy said cooking pupusas is a three-day task. Most of that time she spends preparing the ingredients, including the colorful shredded cabbage served on the side, along with some salsa for a hint of heat. The salad mixture includes finely chopped cabbage, onion, carrots, vinegar, oregano, salt and enough diced beets to turn the white cabbage pink. The salsa has tomato, garlic, onion and cilantro. Delmy sends plastic silverware home with takeout orders, but the diners who stay for a sit-down lunch ignore the plastic utensils. Some tear bits of their pupusas into small grabbers to get some cabbage and salsa with each bite. Others try different approaches all without a fork or knife. Theres no wrong way to eat a pupusa, said one of them. While we may read the news, understanding international matters requires an exploration of the history and politics between countries. Gary Locke, a former diplomat, cabinet member and governor, will explore what is happening in U.S. foreign policy, including U.S.-China and U.S.-Russia relations, in the challenging present-day context. The lecture, sponsored by The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership, will be at noon Thursday, March 10, at Hesprich Auditorium, in UW-La Crosses Graff Main Hall. It will be followed by a Q&A. The lecture is free and open to the public. The event will be available for simultaneous livestream viewing between noon and 1:30 p.m. at https://wisconsin-edu.zoom.us/j/91608718464 Locke was the first Chinese-American to be elected governor in U.S. history. He served as governor of the state of Washington (1997-2005), U.S. ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China (2011-2014) and U.S. Secretary of Commerce (2009-2011). Event parking will be free of charge on levels 1-3 of the parking ramp (Farwell and 17th streets); additional handicap spaces will be available in the C-12 lot and on East Avenue by the Cartwright Center circle. UW-Ls Political Science and Public Administration Department is hosting the event. About Gary LockeGary Locke has been a leader in the areas of education, employment, trade, health care, human rights, privacy and the environment. As Washingtons 21st governor, in the nations most trade-dependent state, Locke increased exports of Washington State products and services by leading trade missions to Mexico, Europe, and Asia. He more than doubled the states exports to China. During his tenure, he achieved bipartisan welfare reform and oversaw the gain of 280,000 private-sector jobs, despite two national recessions. Locke also had the most diverse cabinet in state history. More than half his judicial appointments were women and 25% were people of color. His management skills and innovations in government efficiency have won him acclaim by nationally-recognized authors and organizations, including Harvards Kennedy School of Government. During his tenure, Washington was ranked one of Americas four best-managed states. As Secretary of Commerce, Locke led President Obamas National Export Initiative to double American exports; assumed a troubled 2010 census process, which under his active supervision, ended on time and $2 billion under budget; and achieved the most significant reduction in patent application processing in the agencys history: from 40 months down to one year. Locke is chairman of Locke Global Strategies, providing strategic advice and consulting services to businesses in the U.S. and China across a spectrum of issues including international trade. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, said Tuesday there is absolutely no daylight between the U.S. and its European allies in their response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Kind returned to Washington after spending last week in London as chair of the British American Parliamentary Group. He spoke with British leaders on how to coordinate sanctions against Russia, whose military crossed into Ukraine Feb. 24. He said the world is united against Russian president Vladimir Putin. I was extremely pleased to see the amount of unity that we have from our NATO, our UK and our European allies, Kind said. Americas vital national security interests are implicated by what is happening in Ukraine and the surrounding area. Kind was also encouraged by Ukrainian resistance that has been more effective than most analysts anticipated. He said Putin miscalculated the response by Ukraine and other countries. I think (Putin) was expecting a divided Ukraine, a divided Europe, a divided NATO and a divided United States, Kind said. Instead, hes getting just the opposite an unprecedented show of unity to stand up to the worst military aggression the world has seen since the Second World War. Kind said economic sanctions are already starting to impact the Russian economy. He said Russian currency has suffered a drastic decline and that the Russian stock market has crashed by 40 percent. Kind said more sanctions are on the table. He said the House Ways and Means Committee is putting together a resolution to remove Russias most-favored nation trade status and revoke Russias membership in the World Trade Organization. These are organizations that were set up after the Second World War to maintain global peace, Kind said. We feel that Russias membership in these institutions should be revoked until (Putin) stands down. Were thinking creatively on how we can bring this fight to his doorstep internally. Kind said President Joe Biden has been instrumental in uniting Americas allies to take action. I give a lot of the credit to President Biden, Kind said. He knows these world leaders by name. He has a relationship with them. President Biden has taken a very strong leadership role in establishing this global sanctions regime. He has united the free world. Kind acknowledged that the war will cause energy prices to spike. Russia is the worlds second-leading crude oil producer, and he said gas prices will rise at home even though the United States imports only a very small amount of Russian oil. He said the crisis should motivate countries to develop renewable sources of energy that are less impacted by global events. It speaks to the necessity of pivoting from fossil fuels, Kind said. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Wisconsins Conservation Congress will hold its annual spring meetings online for a third straight year, giving residents an opportunity to weigh in on dozens of natural resources issues, including deer hunting and regulation of toxic chemicals. Conservation Congress chair Tony Blattler said the decision to forgo in-person meetings was in keeping with the Department of Natural Resources policy. The DNR has still got everything locked up, he said. We had to make this call already the first week of January. Created in 1934, the Conservation Congress is an independent citizen organization that advises the Natural Resources Board. The congress turned to online surveys in 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, abandoning the traditional spring hearings for the first time in its history but drawing record participation of nearly 65,000 people. Participation fell to just over 12,600 last year, only slightly above pre-pandemic levels. The COVID thing was so new and a lot of people were home, Blattner said. Last year a lot of people were back to work. Blattler said the biggest challenge has been electing new delegates, which was traditionally done at the spring meetings. The congress will again extend the terms of current delegates, though people interested in filling vacancies can apply through March 11. Thats really hurting us. We have quite a few vacancies, Blattler said. We could not come up with a secure way unless we came up with money we dont have. There are 16 advisory questions from the DNR related to Fisheries and Wildlife Management. There are also two advisory questions from the NRB and 45 advisory questions from the WCC. Residents can also recommend changes to natural resource issues by submitting citizen resolutions online. Citizen resolutions are due by March 11. Among the topics covered in this years questions are deer management strategies, deer farms and shooting preserves, stricter PFAS pollution standards, fish bag limits, a proposal to limit the states wolf population and another to ban the use of dogs for hunting wolves. Many of the changes would require new legislation. All questions are available to preview on the 2022 spring hearing webpage. The survey will go live at 7 p.m. on April 11 and remain open for 72 hours. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A conservative law firm on Monday sent a letter to Tony Evers questioning the Democratic governors allocation of more than $2 million in federal COVID-19 funds to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin claiming the grants were unlawful for failing to abide by state laws prohibiting funding for abortions. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty sent the letter on behalf of anti-abortion groups Wisconsin Family Action, Wisconsin Right to Life and Pro-Life Wisconsin and seeks additional information on the roughly $2.4 million in federal stimulus funds allocated to Planned Parenthood through two grants in late 2020 and early 2022. Officials with WILL claim in the letter that the grant programs should have been created with statutory oversight and promulgated rules, but also that they violate state prohibitions on funding abortion and related services. We want to know exactly what legal authority Governor Evers thinks he has to create grant programs and ignore the rulemaking process, WILL deputy counsel Lucas Vebber said in a statement. Additionally, we want to know why he thinks he can ignore clear and explicit state law prohibitions on funding entities, like Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, that provide abortions and related services. Wisconsin has received more than $4.5 billion total in federal coronavirus stimulus funds over the course of the pandemic. As governor, Evers has sole discretion over the use of federal funds, but WILL has challenged that Evers cannot create new grant programs without approval from the Legislature. Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback in an email pointed to the many federal allocations Evers made over the last two years, including toward businesses, farmers and broadband expansion. Cudaback also took aim at Republicans who control the Legislature and did not meet for almost nine months in the early stretch of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Its no surprise Republicans and their allies are continuing to play politics while failing to support our states economic recovery and trying to obstruct efforts to get resources to folks across our state, Cudaback said. The latest challenge by WILL follows previous efforts by the group to prevent the state from allocating federal coronavirus funds based on factors such as race. The group in January challenged the administrations mortgage assistance program announced last year, claiming the programs intention to steer federal funds toward people of color was discriminatory. The Wisconsin Help for Homeowners program was announced in August and is set to provide about $92.7 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to eligible homeowners across the state. The program is intended to help mitigate financial hardships associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by preventing mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures and loss of utilities and energy services. The federal government directs states to provide the grants to homeowners with incomes equal to or less than 100% of the area median income for their household size. However, states can extend eligibility to those earning 150% of the area median income if they are socially disadvantaged individuals defined by the federal government as Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Whats more, a handful of business owners last year successfully challenged the U.S. Small Business Administrations prioritization of businesses owned by women, veterans and socially disadvantaged individuals when allocating $28.6 billion in Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants. The business owners alleged in the lawsuits, one of which was filed by WILL, that the policy pushed white men to the back of the line for aid. A federal appeals court ultimately ruled in favor of WILL, issuing a 2-1 opinion that said the government cannot allocate limited coronavirus relief funds based on race and sex. As a result, SBA notified 2,965 business owners who had originally been approved for grants that those funds would now be denied and the application process shifted to a first-come, first-served basis. Another lawsuit brought forward last year by WILL on behalf of a handful of residents in several states including Wisconsin challenged President Joe Bidens plans to allocate $4 billion to more than 20,000 Wisconsin farmers. The lawsuit alleged the Biden administration was engaging in unconstitutional race discrimination through a provision in the American Rescue Plan to provide debt relief to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. A temporary restraining order was granted last June. Former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gablemans GOP-ordered review of the 2020 election is set to be made public Tuesday, according to Gablemans team. Gablemans eight-month review of the 2020 election has been marred by a slew of legal challenges to multiple subpoenas issued by the former justice, who previously declared without evidence that the election had been stolen. The review, for which Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has allocated $676,000 in taxpayer money, was originally planned to be completed last fall but failed to meet several deadlines, which Republican leaders attributed to ongoing court battles. Gableman staffer Zak Niemierowicz told The Associated Press that the final report will be provided to Vos and the state Assemblys elections committee on Tuesday. A staffer for Rep. Janel Brandtjen, chairperson of the Assembly committee, said the report is expected to be released to the public. Vos office did not respond to requests for comment Monday. Vos spokesperson Angela Joyce told The Associated Press that Gableman, not Vos, would release the report. The Assemblys GOP-led Committee on Campaigns and Elections is scheduled to hear testimony from Gableman on Tuesday. The committee will also hear from Erick Kaardal, a Republican attorney for the conservative Thomas More Society who has challenged the use of private election grants provided to the states five largest cities to help administer last years election during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of Gablemans review has focused on election grants provided to Wisconsin cities by the Chicago-based Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to help administer the 2020 election. Republicans, including Gableman, have targeted CTCL funds as unfairly increasing 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 solidly won by Trump. Nor did CTCL turn down grant requests from any of the Wisconsin municipalities that made them. Legislative action The Republican-controlled Legislature last week sent a package of election bills to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is all but certain to veto most, if not all, of them. The proposals would give the Legislature more control over guidance issued by the Wisconsin Elections Commission, limit which absentee voters could claim indefinitely confined status and allow lawmakers to cut funding for the state Elections Commission when its deemed not to have complied with state election laws. Another bill added late in the Assemblys final session would allow election officials to begin counting absentee ballots on the Monday before an election, but Democratic lawmakers ultimately opposed the measure because it also shortened the window that clerks have to send out absentee ballots for federal races. 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. Democratic legislators, Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul have lambasted the Gableman review as a waste of taxpayer dollars and an attempt to undermine faith in state elections. Republican scrutiny of the 2020 election continues to grow as part of a nationwide GOP effort to make changes to election procedures following baseless claims by some Republicans, including Trump, of widespread fraud in the presidential election. Vos had planned to use Gablemans report to craft election-related legislation leading up to the 2022 midterms, but the Assembly held its final session of the year last week. Vos said future bills will be drafted but that obstruction had slowed the election reviews progress. Subpoenas, lawsuits Gableman has previously demanded documents, interviews or both with the mayors of Wisconsins five largest cities, the states top elections official, the chair of the state Elections Commission and members of Evers administration, as well as two companies that make vote-counting systems, Election Systems & Software and Dominion Voting Systems. Attorneys for Nebraska-based Election Systems & Software told Gableman in January the organization would not comply with the subpoena, which they called a quintessential fishing expedition. In mid-February, Gableman withdrew his subpoena seeking emails and financial documents from immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera Action. He also called for several officials, including Racine Mayor Cory Mason and Wisconsin Elections Commission chair Ann Jacobs, to be jailed for refusing to sit for the behind-closed-doors interviews for which they have been subpoenaed. In December, Gableman demanded that Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway be jailed. He later rescinded the demand, only to reinstate the demand last week. There are also three pending lawsuits related to liberal watchdog group American Oversights public records requests to Vos and Gableman for documents related to the election review. Vos last week asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to take up one of the cases. Gableman made a baseless claim at a pro-Donald Trump rally in 2020 that the election in Wisconsin had been stolen by bureaucrats, and he has met with and hired people for his investigation who formerly worked for Trump and espoused conspiracy theories about the election. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 A Lancaster city man abused a dog for months last year, abandoning it in appalling conditions to the point that it was starving to death, according to city police. Cesar Emilio Zamot, 27, left the dog starving inside his residence in the 200 block of Coral Street, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The dog, named Princess, had been in Zamots care since July or August 2021, during which time he failed to feed and groom her and did not provide her medical care or adequate shelter, police said. Veterinary reports showed Princess had several conditions including multiple breast tumors and possibly tapeworms that, having been left untreated, caused her to suffer severe bodily injury. Zamot told police he was aware Princess was in need of immediate medical care, including tumors and the smell of infection when she urinated, but had failed to take action, according to the affidavit. Officers inspected Zamots residence in October after receiving reports of suspected animal abuse, finding the conditions inside appalling, police said. Animal feces and urine were present on every floor, and trash and food were scattered everywhere. The residences floors and ceilings had water damage that included holes large enough to see through, and the smell, which included animal waste, mold and rotten food was overpowering. The residence was also infested with fleas and other insects and pests. Princess was found in a severely emaciated state, appearing to be starving to death with her ribs, spine and hip bones clearly showing, police said. She also walked with a limp, had infections in both of her eyes and was covered in fleas. Police and the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seized Princess to provide her emergency medical care. The affidavit did not provide information about her current status. Zamot was charged Friday with one felony and two misdemeanor animal cruelty-related offenses. He had not been arrested as of Monday afternoon, court records show. Court documents did not list an attorney for Zamot. A preliminary hearing has not been scheduled. By Trend It was proposed to provide women with the opportunity to study at higher military schools In Azerbaijan, Trend reports. This issue is reflected in the report of the human rights ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2021. It is proposed to provide them with the opportunity to enter specialized higher military schools in order to ensure equality and the right of women to education, the document says. The report also proposes to involve professional specialists and military medical commissions operating in the local structures of the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription for Military Service of Azerbaijan Republic, in order to effectively protect the rights of conscripts and ensure the health of the personnel of the Armed Forces, also strengthening control over the activities of these commissions. The shuttering of two Chester County hospitals has cost some lives, a fire chief told Parkesburg Borough Council at its Feb. 21 meeting. Fire Chief Brian Gathercole said Keystone Valley Fire Departments emergency medical services unit has seen adverse effects from the recent closures of Brandywine and Jennersville hospitals in Chester County. Within weeks, we lost some lives. Unfortunately, its going to continue, Gathercole said. Brandywine Hospital in Caln Township was the closest hospital to the borough a 20-minute commute. Since the closures transport distances have increased, the fire chief said. Last month, Keystone Valley ambulances went to Chester County Hospital in West Chester 38 times, Penn Medicines Lancaster General Hospital 34 times, plus 19 trips to Paoli Hospital in Willistown Township. Basically, our reality is we dont have a local hospital, Gathercole said. He said residents who have non-life-threatening problems should visit their nearest urgent care center. Borough Council President Sharon Wolf asked the chief how the borough can share information with the residents about medical services. Gathercole responded that information is all over the place, including social media, newspapers and Chester County resources. Gathercole said he has been in talks with Mayor John Hagan II about holding a future town hall meeting for residents addressing the closures. We are working on the dates for the town hall meeting, Gathercole said after council met. Although Tower Health closed the two hospitals, Tower Direct, which provides Advanced Life Support, will continue this service in western Chester County. Gathercole said after the meeting Tower Direct is connected to Tower Health, though it is its own entity. Stuart Dixon, Tower Direct assistant chief, told Parkesburg officials, he is hoping someone moves into Brandywine and Jennersville hospitals. We are going to be here, Dixon said. The latest wrinkle in this situation is that a Chester County judge on Feb. 14 ordered Tower Health to restart the process of selling the shuttered Jennersville and Brandywine hospitals to Canyon Atlantic Partners LLC. Council will hold its next in-person meeting on at 7 p.m. March 21 at 315 W. First Ave., Parkesburg. To paraphrase Sir Winston Churchill, an iron curtain is descending across the continent. But this time, all the capitals of the ancient states of central Europe and Eastern Europe do not lie on the Russian side of the divide. Thanks to NATO, Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia are not under Russian influence. Because of NATO expansion, the Baltics states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are not subject to control from Moscow. But in Russian President Vladimir Putins cold war on truth, NATO broke its promise to Russia that it would not expand after the Cold War. This narrative is largely the cornerstone of his grievance against the West. In fact, no such agreement was ever made. NATO has had an open door policy since it was established in 1949. According to its founding treaty, any other European State in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic can apply to be a member of the organization. The United States, Europe and Russia did not sign any treaty that included provisions on NATO membership. Any decision to expand NATO is made by consensus among all member countries. The Warsaw Pact was still deeply entrenched in 1989, so the idea of expanding NATO beyond a united Germany was certainly not on the table. Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev made this clear in a 2014 interview when he said, The topic of NATO expansion was not discussed at all, and it wasnt brought up in those years. ... Not a single Eastern European country raised the issue, not even after the Warsaw Pact ceased to exist in 1991. Western leaders didnt bring it up, either. When Boris Yeltsin, then Russias president, raised the issue in 1997, declassified White House transcripts show that President Bill Clinton adamantly opposed any gentlemens agreement that prevented former Soviet republics from joining NATO, stating: I cant make commitments on behalf of NATO, and Im not going to be in the position myself of vetoing NATO expansion with respect to any country, much less letting you or anyone else do so ... NATO operates by consensus. Since then, the question of NATO expansion has been a hotly disputed topic among scholars and political pundits alike. On one side of the debate is the view that expanding NATO eastward would create a backlash in Moscow and undermine the balance of power. On the other side is the argument that a power vacuum would develop in Eastern Europe following the collapse of the Soviet Union, so NATO expansion is a necessary force for stability. I clearly remember class discussions during seminars on international politics as a graduate student in Cambridge about whether NATO should include the former Soviet republics. The general consensus was Russia is tired; its been a long century, and thus expanding NATO would be unnecessary provocation. With the benefit of hindsight it is becoming clear that had NATO not expanded, Russia would cast a shadow not only over Kyiv but all the capitals of Eastern Europe. Weve seen this movie before, so you may be familiar with the plot. After the Bolshevik Revolution, Russia lost nearly all of Ukraine and the Baltic republics were ceded to Germany when it signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918, ending its participation in the World War I. It briefly regained control of these territories under the Nazi-Soviet pact in 1939. With the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, Russian troops were on the march again, establishing satellite states throughout the region. The West rose to the challenge after Churchill sounded the alarm in his famous Iron Curtain speech in Fulton, Missouri, in 1946. Europe was then divided into two armed camps, with NATO in the West and Warsaw Pact in the East. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATOs expansion to the East included former Warsaw Pact countries and the Baltic republics. Now that Russia is back on its feet once again, Ukraine and the surrounding nations outside of NATO are in danger of being absorbed into Russias sphere of influence, as Churchills clarion call to arms resonates with a new generation. Ricardo Richards has a bachelors degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in international relations from Cambridge University. He teaches sociology, American government and international relations at Miami Dade College and Maryville University. He is a part-time Lancaster County resident. THE ISSUE At a Dec. 21 meeting of the Elizabethtown Area school board, first-term board member Danielle Lindemuth expressed concern about the districts COVID-19 quarantine protocols for unvaccinated students, according to LNP | LancasterOnline correspondent Diane M. Bitting. The language Lindemuth used was condemned by citizen speakers at subsequent meetings. Board President Terry Seiders offered a general apology at the start of the Jan. 11 board meeting, Bitting reported. But at a Feb. 22 school board meeting, three people noted that it had been 63 days since Lindemuths comment, and she has not yet apologized, Bitting noted. Lindemuth is a Republican who won election in November with the backing of the local Republican Party. This is what Danielle Lindemuth said at a December school board meeting that some Elizabethtown residents found appalling: We are discriminating against students who cant get a vaccine or students who ethically will not take the vaccine, and we are putting a little star on their chest. No wonder they were appalled. That language is despicable and shockingly ignorant. Heres a pro tip for elected officials and for everyone, really. Here is what the Holocaust and slavery can be compared to: absolutely nothing. Not mask requirements. Not vaccination mandates. Not any modern-day American law or government measure. The Holocaust and slavery were singularly horrific atrocities. Nothing in contemporary American life compares to them. Heres another pro tip: If youre in charge of deciding how history should be taught in a school district, you should actually know history. And if youre seeking to bestow victim status on someone or some group such as students who arent vaccinated against COVID-19 knowing history is essential. Because then youd understand just why the Holocaust, and the terrifying and inhumane lead-up to it, were so uniquely abominable. If you understood history, you also might know that polio was eliminated in the United States by vaccination, and vaccines often were administered in American schools, a convenience most parents appreciated. In fact, as Education Week noted in October, In fights against diphtheria and polio in the 1920s and 1950s, respectively, schools played a central role. They hosted information sessions, coordinated with local civic groups and the media, and commanded trust in their communities. Experts saw the influence of teachers, principals, superintendents, and other educators not just as helpful, but crucial. Commanding trust seems to us to be a critical part of leadership. You know how to quickly lose peoples trust? Make outrageous statements comparing commonsense school quarantine protocols to the Nazi practice of forcing Jews to wear stars on their chests. Lets review the history of those particular stars. According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Reinhard Heydrich a key Nazi German official who helped to plan and carry out the mass murder of Jews decreed Sept. 1, 1941, that all Jews over age 6 in Germany, Alsace, Bohemia-Moravia and the Germanannexed territory of western Poland were to wear the yellow Star of David on their outer clothing in public at all times. The word Jew was to be inscribed inside the star in either German or the local language. During the Nazi era, German authorities reintroduced the Jewish badge as a key element of their larger plan to persecute and eventually to annihilate the Jewish population of Europe, the museums website notes. They used the badge not only to stigmatize and humiliate Jews but also to segregate them, to watch and control their movements, and to prepare for deportation. We know, of course, what happened when Jews wearing those stars were deported to Nazi killing centers. Six million Jews were massacred. The Nazis targeted all Jews for death, but the mortality rate for children was especially high, notes the museums website. Only 6 to 11% of Europes prewar Jewish population of children survived as compared with 33% of the adults. Words fail to convey the heinous cruelty of the Holocaust. By extremely stark contrast, a school districts quarantine protocols are meant to keep children healthy. See? Nowhere near the same. Wed urge Danielle Lindemuth to visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. While in Washington, D.C., she also could take in the slavery and freedom exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture so she can learn why slavery shouldnt be invoked as a metaphor, either. Just in case. In the meantime, Lindemuth must apologize. As Elizabeth Lewis of Elizabethtown points out in a letter to the editor published today, Lindemuths comment comparing events of the Holocaust with the contact tracing and quarantining of students in Elizabethtown Area School District continues to harm the community, trivialize the horrors of the Holocaust and perpetuate antisemitism. Lewis notes that others such as Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who used similar language have apologized. Sadly, Lewis notes, Lindemuth has not. The first-term school board member shouldnt be allowed to wave away the gravity of her offense. As Lewis writes, such remarks perpetuate antisemitism, and this is how: They diminish the Jewish experience and the scale of the loss that Jews in Europe suffered. And they downplay the dangers of anti-Jewish rhetoric by seeking to make such rhetoric acceptable in public spaces such as school board meetings. When the horrors of the Holocaust are trivialized, those who enabled those horrors are excused from their moral obligation to make amends, and those who want to imitate the perpetrators are given the green light to do so. Knowing history is how we prevent this from happening. This is why teachers need to be permitted to teach history, and why school librarians must be permitted to put books on their library shelves that tell history honestly. We imagine there are books on the Elizabethtown Area School District library shelves that could educate Lindemuth on this subject. She should read them. At the Elizabethtown Area school board meeting on Dec. 21, 2021, there was discussion about contact tracing and the potential for the spread of COVID-19 in relation to differences in viral load between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. During the discussion, recently elected board member Danielle Lindemuth seemed to compare those who are subject to pandemic measures to Holocaust victims. Lindemuth said, We are discriminating against students who cant get a vaccine or students who ethically will not take the vaccine, and we are putting a little star on their chest. Like many others in the community, I was shocked and saddened by this board members insensitive reference to history. In public comments at subsequent school board meetings, various community members expressed offense regarding Lindemuths remarks. In the months preceding this offensive comment, certain well-known persons, including Washington state Rep. Jim Walsh, Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and lawyer/author Robert F. Kennedy Jr. compared COVID-19 restrictions to actions imposed on Jewish people during the Holocaust. All three have apologized for their remarks or actions. Sadly, Lindemuth has not. In my view, Lindemuths seemingly intentional decision to compare events of the Holocaust with the contact tracing and quarantining of students in Elizabethtown Area School District continues to harm the community, trivialize the horrors of the Holocaust and perpetuate antisemitism. Elizabeth Lewis Elizabethtown Providence Mayor Forms Reparations Commission Providences mayor announced a city commission on reparations Monday as he and community leaders laid out their plans for the next phase in the Rhode Island capital citys efforts to atone for its role in Black slavery, systemic racism and the mistreatment of Native Americans. The executive order signed by Democratic Mayor Jorge Elorza at the citys Bethel AME Church creates the Providence Municipal Reparations Commission. The 13-member panel is charged with examining reparation work being done in other cities, conducting community outreach and creating recommendations for ways the city can begin repairing harms. NAACP Providence President Jim Vincent is among those already tapped to serve on the board, Elorza said. While we know the city alone cannot repair the full scope of harm, todays action brings us another step closer to addressing the disparities our African heritage and Indigenous residents continue to face, the mayor said in a written statement. ADVERTISEMENT Elorza also released a framework for the citys reconciliation discussions that was developed following several months of surveys, community events and other outreach by experts at Roger Williams University in Bristol and local advocacy groups. Organizers say they hope to focus the citys reconciliation effort on the experiences and perspectives of Black and Indigenous residents, particularly those with ties to the Providence neighborhoods of Fox Point, Lippitt Hill, Upper South Providence and West Elmwood, which they say were most harmed by urban redevelopment projects in recent decades. The framework also features some proposed concepts for the next step in the citys effort, including the creation of a multimedia website featuring documentary-style interviews with residents, map visualizations and a way for residents to record and upload their own testimonials of racial harm. Reconciliation represents the second phase of the citys Truth-Telling, Reconciliation and Reparations process, which Elorza launched in July 2020, also through an executive order. Last March, the city completed the first truth-telling phrase with the release of the nearly 200-page A Matter of Truth report, which details more than four centuries of cultural, political, and economic harm against people of color in Providence, from the 1600s to present. Providence joins other cities and towns pursing reparations. ADVERTISEMENT Bostons city council is weighing a proposal to form its own reparations commission, while the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, became the first U.S. city to make reparations available to Black residents last year. Kuwaiti officials recently canceled a yoga trip for women advertised by a teacher of the exercise form. Lawmakers and Muslim leaders were upset over the danger of women doing yoga exercises. The incident this month was the latest cultural dispute over what women can do in the Arab nation. Some observers say the power of tribes and Islamists in Kuwait is growing. They say politicians are opposing a growing feminist movement. These politicians, some rights activists say, consider womens issues destructive to traditional values. At the same time, the government is struggling to deal with difficult economic issues. Our state is backsliding and regressing at a rate that we havent seen before, said feminist activist Najeeba Hayat to The Associated Press. She spoke recently during a womens protest in front of the Kuwaiti parliament. The activists were calling for freedoms they say officials have limited. The country was once considered progressive compared to its Arab neighbors. In recent years, however, women have made gains in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula. In Saudi Arabia, women have won greater freedoms under leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The movement against women in Kuwait was always insidious and invisible but now its risen to the surface, said Alanoud Alsharekh. She is a womens rights activist who helped start Abolish 153. It is a group that aims to end a law, called Article 153, which provides for weak punishments for so-called honor killings of women. Just in the past few months, Kuwaiti officials shut down a popular center for belly dance classes. Clerics then demanded police arrest the organizers of a women's event called The Divine Feminine." A court in Kuwait will soon hear a case seeking to ban Netflix after the service produced an Arabic-language movie that some people found offensive. Conservative Islamist Hamdan al-Azmi has led the fight against yoga. He says yoga damages Arab culture. If defending the daughters of Kuwait is backward, I am honored to be called it, he said. These incidents have angered many Kuwaiti women at a time when there are no women in the elected parliament. There have also been several recent cases of violent honor killings. In one case last year, a Kuwaiti woman named Farah Akbar was taken from her car and stabbed to death by a man. He was later released on bail and told to appear later in court. The anger over Akbars killing caused parliament to write a bill that would withdraw Article 153. The law says that a man who catches his wife committing adultery or his female relative in illicit sex and kills her faces, at most, three years in prison. Kuwaits parliamentary committee, however, did not vote on the issue. It asked the states Islamic clerics for a fatwa, or religious ruling, about the law. The clerics ruled last month that the law be upheld. Most of these members of parliament come from a system in which honor killings are normal, said Sundus Hussein. She is another founding member of the Abolish 153 group. After Kuwait's 2020 elections, there was a large increase in the influence of conservative Islamists and tribal members, Hussein added. Officials also called on clerics to decide whether women should be permitted to join the military. The Defense Ministry had declared they could join last fall. But clerics added requirements. Last month, they decided women may only join in non-combat groups if they wear Islamic head coverings and get permission from a male guardian. The decision upset many Kuwaitis who are used to government not making rules on head coverings. Issues affecting women appear to be the only issue on which social conservatives can agree. Kuwaits ruler-appointed cabinet and its elected parliament cannot agree on the economy. A divided parliament has failed to fix the countrys record high deficit or pass economic reforms. Two years ago, parliament passed a domestic violence protection law. But there are no government womens shelters or services for victims. Observers say violence against women has only increased during restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Activist Hayat has little hope the government will change anything for Kuwait's women. But she said that is no reason to give up. If theres a protest, Im going to show up. If theres someone who needs convincing, Im going to try, she said. Im Dan Novak. And I'm Jill Robbins. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story yoga n. a system of exercises for mental and physical health regress v. to return to an earlier and usually worse or less developed condition or state insidious adj. causing harm in a way that is gradual or not easily noticed invisible adj. impossible to see; not visible bail n. an amount of money given to a court to allow a prisoner to leave jail and return later for a trial adultery n. sex between a married person and someone who is not that person's wife or husband domestic adj. relating to or involving someone's home or family convince v. to cause (someone) to believe that something is true; to persuade Researchers are looking into the biological causes of stuttering. Stuttering is a speech problem that causes the speaker to repeat the beginning sound of some words. For centuries, people have feared being judged for stuttering. It is a condition often misunderstood as a psychological problem caused by things like bad parenting or emotional trauma. But research presented at a recent science conference explores its biological causes: genetics and brain differences. Stuttering affects 70 million people around the world, including U.S. President Joe Biden. Biden has spoken publicly about being bullied by classmates for his speech problem. He has said that overcoming his stutter was one of the hardest things he ever did. After a campaign event in 2020, he met a New Hampshire teenager who also stuttered, Brayden Harrington. They ended up talking for an hour. Living with a stutter has not been easy, Brayden told The Associated Press. I want to carry on what Joe Biden said to me, he said. That this does not define you and that you can be much more than you see yourself as. Why do people stutter? Stuttering has been recorded as far back as ancient China, Greece and Rome. But no one really knew what caused it until modern genetic science and brain imaging helped provide some answers. Researchers identified the first genes strongly linked to stuttering more than a decade ago. Imaging studies looked at brains of adults and older children. And in the last few years, University of Delaware researcher Ho Ming Chow started looking at 3- to 5-year-olds. That is around the age many kids begin stuttering, with about 80 percent outgrowing it. Chow said the imaging shows small brain differences in young children who keep stuttering, compared with those who recover or those who never stuttered. He discussed his research earlier this month at a conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. For example, Chow and his team found that genetic mutations related to stuttering are linked to structural problems in the corpus callosum and thalamus areas of the brain. The corpus callosum is an area that connects the two sides of the brain and helps them communicate. The thalamus sends sensory information to other parts of the brain. Past research has also linked stuttering to the basal ganglia, a group of brain structures involved in body movements. Though several genes may be involved and the exact genetic causes may vary by child, they probably affect the brain in a similar way, Chow said. Still, many people incorrectly believe that people stutter because they are nervous or suffered childhood trauma. Some also think stutterers could stop if they just tried harder. We have a long way to go to change such beliefs, said University of Maryland researcher Nan Bernstein Ratner. Moving ahead Speech therapy is currently the main way to treat stuttering. But the medications now being tested could be approved for stuttering in the next few years. Studies have suggested that stuttering may be related to high levels of a chemical in the brain called dopamine. Some medicines reduce dopamine activity or block its action. Holly Nover is a speech pathologist and member of the National Stuttering Association. She grew up trying to hide her stutter. Her 10-year-old son, Colton, also has a speech problem. She said many people will surely be interested in trying stuttering medications. But not her. She is happy with her life as it is and says she has accepted her stuttering. If Colton were struggling and wanted to try medication as a teenager, however, she would be open to the idea. Brayden, who is now 14, does not plan to try medication. Taking medicine is "just taking away a part of youtaking away part of your personality, he said. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this for VOA Learning English from reporting by The Associated Press. Quiz- Researchers Look for Biological Reasons Behind Stuttering Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story psychological n. of or relating to the mind trauma n. a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time bully n. someone who frightens, hurts, or threatens smaller or weaker people mutation n. a change in the genes of a plant or animal that causes physical characteristics that are different from what is normal The Russian attack on Ukraine has brought attention to another place that could face aggression from a much larger neighbor Taiwan. Some political experts are comparing Russias moves against Ukraine to China's threats to take control of self-ruled Taiwan. Like Ukraine, Taiwan is a democracy that has resisted a more powerful government. However, many on the island feel the differences are important. For them, the war in Ukraine, and war in general, feel far away. Ethan Lin is a 40-year-old who works in the service industry. He said, "I think our situation is not very similar to Ukraine's, whether it's political or in terms of connections. China has many exchanges with Taiwan in several areas, so I don't think it's that dangerous." Taiwans government, the Republic of China, governs the island of 23 million people about 160 kilometers off China's eastern coast. The Peoples Republic of China claims the island should become part of its political system. The issue has grown more intense since Tsai Ing-wen became president of Taiwan in 2016. In recent months, China has increased military pressure on the island by sending ships into nearby waters and flying fighter jets in airspace claimed by Taiwan. Military exercises by China Last week, the Chinese army reported it had carried out military landing exercises in the East China Sea. The important question for Taiwan is whether the United States would intervene if China invaded. U.S. President Joe Biden has said America will not send troops to defend Ukraine. The U.S. has no current official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but did in the past. The U.S. cut formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1979 to recognize mainland China. Last August, the U.S. approved the sale of $750 million dollars in weapons to Taiwan. The U.S. is also bound by its own law to make sure that Taiwan can defend itself. Kao-Cheng Wang is a professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan. He said, "Taiwan's economy and technology is important to the U.S., and perhaps the U.S. will value Taiwan more, but we have to see how the conflict plays out. Peaceful reunification Taiwan announced Friday it would join international restrictions against Russia. Wang Ting-yu, a lawmaker from Tsai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, wrote on social media, "We can't sit on the sidelines while a big power bullies a small neighbor." China's President Xi Jinping has said that "peaceful reunification" of China and Taiwan is in the best interests of both sides. However, China has said it would use force if necessary to reach reunification. At present, military action seems unlikely. Li Minjiang is a Chinese international relations expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. He said outside events like the Russian invasion would not influence Chinas actions. He added that China would continue to use information campaigns and peaceful ways to influence public opinion on Taiwan. Wang, the Tamkang University professor, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is different from Xi because he has used force against other countries before, against neighboring Georgia and Ukraine. "Xi Jinping is rather strong, but he increased military activity, rather than starting a war," Wang added. Peter Chiang is a salesperson in Taiwans capital city, Taipei. He doubted China would attack. "I think even internally, they aren't that stable right now," he said. Government criticizes creation of fear Taiwans cabinet spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng said in a statement on Monday that people should not create fears by comparing Taiwan and Ukraine. He said: "In all areas, the two cannot be compared." Lo added that those who took this chance to talk about "'today's Ukraine, tomorrow's Taiwan' were wrongly linking Ukraine's situation with Taiwan's, disturbing people's morale. This is inadvisable." Taiwan has a natural barrier of the Taiwan Strait separating it from China. It also is an important producer of semiconductors, or computer chips, that are used in smartphones, cars and many electronic devices. Matsu is a group of Taiwanese islands that stretch to within 10 kilometers of mainland China. A Taiwanese politician there, Wen Lii, is concerned about a possible invasion. But he rejected simple comparisons to Ukraine. Wen is director of the Matsu office of the Democratic Progressive Party. He wrote in an email, "People in Matsu always remain alert, but discussions about Chinese threats are usually based on concrete observation instead of a foreign crisis," he said. He added that there is no military buildup for now. Im Jill Robbins. Huizhong Wu reported this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. ________________________________________________ Words in This Story bully v. a person who does or says things to hurt or frighten others internally adv. existing inside something; taking place inside a group and not in public stable adj. not likely to change or come to an end suddenly concrete adj. definite and specific disturb v. to worry or upset morale n. the amount of confidence and cheerfulness that a group of people have What do you think of Taiwans reaction to the invasion of Ukraine? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Metito Holding Limited (MHL), a leading global provider of water and alternative energy management solutions, has secured a $120 million sustainability-linked loan in co-ordination with HSBC Bank Middle East. The transaction was also supported by UAE branch of Kuwait-based Ahli Bank and Commercial Bank of Dubai. HSBC Bank Middle East acted as the co-ordinator, initial mandated lead arranger, and bookrunner for the loan issued to MHL to further help the company support its mission of developing sustainable water management solutions and a cleaner environment. This transaction was also supported by the UAE branch of Kuwait-based Ahli Bank ($40 million) and also Commercial Bank of Dubai ($20 million). As the Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) co-ordinator, HSBC is helping Metito in linking four of its ambitious sustainability performance targets that are fully aligned with the companys vision and its sustainability agenda which aims at playing an active role in securing a smart and sustainable water ecosystem. The targets are: *Water Consumption: Increase the usage of recycled wastewater for district cooling plants in the UAE, *Water Source: Reuse of more recycled sewage water, *Wastewater Treatment: Boost the capacity of treated wastewater in the coming years, *Social Sustainability Target: Achieve a lower lost time to injury frequency rate (LTIFR). On the key loan, Chief Investment Officer Talal Ghandour said: "Metito is a pioneer in the water treatment industry, and we are proud to be supported by HSBC and the wider consortium through this sustainability linked loan which we believe will strengthen our ability to grow across our target markets." "Metitos vision to be the worlds leading provider of intelligent water management solutions across emerging markets is supported by the companys three founding principles - Impact, Sustainability, Innovation," stated Ghandour. According to him, this loan underscores one of Metito's key attributes of providing sustainable infrastructure to its municipal and industrial clients. "We pride ourself on having direct and tangible impact on the governments, industries and communities that we serve, and we believe real ownership can only be achieved if sustainability is fully integrated into our business model," added Ghandour. Those who played a key role in the transaction include Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, UAE (Borrowers Legal Advisor); Linklaters UAE (Lenders Legal Advisor) in addition to other joint local legal counsels - Babbe Legal-Guernsey; Sultan Abdullah & Partner (Qatar); Z & Co (Saudi Arabia) and Rizkana & Partners (Egypt).-TradeArabia News Service A United Nations report warns that the effects of climate change are likely to intensify unless urgent measures are taken to protect humanity and the planet. The report was released Monday by the U.N.s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC. It deals with the ways nature and the worlds societies are currently suffering from human activities linked to climate conditions. The report states that extreme heat, dry conditions and floods are already threatening the survival of some plants and animals. The IPCC said the changes are appearing much faster and are far more serious and widespread than expected 20 years ago. In a speech Monday, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the world needs to invest in new ways to adapt to intensifying climate change. Adaptation saves lives, he said. But Guterres said world leaders had failed to take effective steps to limit one of the main causes of climate change heat-trapping carbon gasses. Large investments in programs and technology will be needed to limit such pollution, which he said especially harms the worlds most vulnerable populations. The facts are undeniable. This abdication of leadership is criminal, Guterres added. Mohamed Adow is director of the climate policy organization Power Shift Africa. He said in a statement that he considers the U.N. report a serious wake-up call to all areas of the world. The rich, polluting, global north has changed the planet through fossil fuel burning and is now refusing to help those suffering the effects, Adow said. The report is considered important because the U.N. expects world leaders to use it to form new policies. Its release comes three months after world leaders met at a U.N. climate meeting in Glasgow, Scotland. The U.N.s climate goals The U.N.s 2015 Paris Agreement aims to contain worldwide warming to within 1.5 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels. The U.N. report describes pre-industrial as a time before modern industry and uses a 50-year period ending in 1900 to measure it. Experts say the world is already 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times and heat-trapping carbon gasses continue to increase. Climate experts say this could push temperatures above the U.N.s target of 1.5 degrees Celsius by the 2030s. The new report warns that if that limit is crossed, then many human and natural systems will face additional severe risks... some will be irreversible, even if global warming is reduced." The IPCC noted that millions of people are already facing severe food and water insecurity. They live in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and on small islands and in the Arctic. One of the areas predicted to be the hardest hit by climate change is Africa. Its population is likely to grow faster than any other place during the 21st century, with many people living in coastal areas. The report said that by 2060, more than 190 million Africans will be vulnerable to higher sea levels. Worldwide, 1 billion people will face coastal flooding risks from rising seas, the report said. And more people will be forced out of their homes from weather disasters. The most likely are flooding, sea level rise and large atmospheric storms called tropical cyclones. If world temperatures continue to rise, up to 183 million people are estimated to face food insecurity in low-income countries by 2050, the report said. Overall, the picture is stark for food systems. No one is left unaffected by climate change, Adelle Thomas told reporters. Thomas was one of the reports lead writers. She is a professor at the University of the Bahamas. Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is President Joe Bidens Special Envoy for Climate. He called the report a dire picture of the effects of climate change if we continue to ignore science. Kerry said he thinks it is no longer a question of whether the world can avoid a crisis, but whether we can avoid the worst consequences. Im Bryan Lynn. Reuters, The Associated Press and VOA News reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story adapt v. to change something to fit different conditions or uses abdication n. a decision not to be responsible for something anymore vulnerable adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally fossil fuel n. fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas formed in the earth from dead plants or animals irreversible adj. not being able to change something to the way it was before stark adj. unpleasantly clear and obvious dire adj. very serious or bad consequences n. things produced by a cause or following from a condition We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. LEXINGTON The Two Rivers Public Health Departments COVID-19 risk dial was lowered last week as cases continued to decline across the seven county district. There were 86 new cases of COVID-19 reported by Two Rivers between Feb. 16 and Feb. 22. In keeping with the trend over the past five weeks, positive cases have declined by 50 percent from the previous week. According to Two Rivers, COVID-19 test positivity rates have declined in all test settings. Positivity rates in hospital and clinic tests have dropped to 10 percent, a first since July 22, 2021. Per the Nebraska Public Health Atlas, in the past two weeks there have been around six cases in Dawson County and two in Gosper County. As of Feb. 22, 51.4 percent of the total population of the Two Rivers district has received the minimum prescribed dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination rates have shown little change in the past month. The risk of hospitalization or serious illness following infection is significantly higher for unvaccinated persons, according to Two Rivers. Two Rivers strongly urges all unvaccinated vaccine-eligible residents to avail of the COVID vaccination through their healthcare provider, pharmacy or Two Rivers. For schedule of vaccination clinics, see https://www.trphd.org/covid-19/event-calendar.html As of Wednesday, Feb. 23, there were 14 out of 32 ICU beds available across the district, 32 percent of medical and surgical beds are available across the district. COVID-19 patients account for over half the ventilators currently in use across the district. However, less than 13 percent of all vents in the district are being used for patient support, Two Rivers stated. Two Rivers continues to offer COVID-19 testing at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. 11 a.m. Those interested in testing need to register at https://login.registermytime.com/tw/2rphd for scheduling. For these reasons, the risk dial is lowered from last week in the elevated (orange) zone. The dial reflects the steep decrease in new COVID cases and test positivity rates, consistent ICU bed availability and improvements in ventilator utilization trends, according to Two Rivers. Active COVID-19 hospitalization numbers across Nebraska continue to fall, but not as rapidly as past weeks. As of Thursday, Feb. 24, there were 305 COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The number of patients reached 767 in late January, but has been falling since that period, but this has slowed down as the numbers reached the 300s. To date, 67 percent of Nebraskas total population over the age of five has been fully vaccinated and 6.4 percent have been partially vaccinated, according to DHHS. Nebraska has seen a total of 453,569 reported cases and 3,247 deaths. Taking a look the United States, The national outlook continues to improve rapidly, with new cases, hospitalizations and deaths all continuing to fall, the New York Times stated, Daily case reports have fallen more than 90 percent from their January peak. Case numbers are as low as they have been since November, before the Omicron variant took hold. About 60,000 people with the coronavirus are hospitalized nationally, down from about 160,000 in January. The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care units has fallen more than 40 percent in the last two weeks, states the New York Times, For the first time in more than a month, the country is averaging fewer than 2,000 newly reported deaths a day. Despite the steep decline, thousands of Covid-19 deaths continue to be announced each week. Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of 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Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe If not for Jane Does courage, former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, R-Lewiston, a man who stands convicted of raping her and now faces spending the rest of his life in prison would no doubt be on his way toward securing a second term representing this area in the Legislature. UK-based Turner & Townsend, a global consultancy business serving clients in the real estate, infrastructure and natural resources sectors, has appointed Mark Dyson as the new head of infrastructure for Saudi Arabia. An industry veteran, he has over 15 years of experience delivering large infrastructure projects in the Middle East and the United Kingdom. In his new role, Dyson will be responsible for delivering existing KSA major infrastructure projects and driving infrastructure portfolio growth in the kingdom by ensuring that clients receive the best of the firms technical expertise and innovation. He has been with the business for the past nine years and has been fundamental in Turner & Townsends successful pursuit and delivery of several major public sector infrastructure programmes in the region. Dyson has also actively been involved in the firms strategic positioning and key client development within Saudi and Qatar markets. Regional Infrastructure and Programme Advisory Lead Gary Haldane said: "Marks appointment reflects our dedication to strengthening our infrastructure capability in KSA. He has been instrumental in successfully delivering large-scale infrastructure programmes in the region." "The growth of our regional infrastructure presence is a testament to our approach in helping the Kingdom with economic diversification. As a business, we are fully committed to supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. A key focus for us will be to deliver better outcomes on Kingdom infrastructure programmes by transforming performance, incorporating more sustainability principles, and driving inclusivity in the industry," he added. On his new role, Dyson said the KSA market will see an influx of major infrastructure projects requirements over the next few years as the construction sector powers forward with the delivery of Vision 2030 Giga Schemes and the establishment of the National Infrastructure Fund. "The demand for infrastructure to support KSAs 2030 vision will be huge over the next 10 years. As a business, we are very excited about the opportunity this demand presents us with, to support our existing and future clients on the challenges they will face in delivering, what will no doubt be, complex major infrastructure programmes," he noted. "Our global and local experience in delivering these programmes provides us with a perfect platform to do deliver service excellence to our clients in this space," he added.-TradeArabia News Service 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 WAUSAU A man accused of fatally shooting one person and wounding two others at a Wausau cemetery in 2019 has agreed to a plea deal and will avoid a jury trial. Henry West, 67, pleaded no contest Monday to five of 17 charges he faced. He was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of arson , WSAW-TV reported. The 12 other counts were dismissed, but will be read in at sentencing. Investigators say West was still upset about being fired from the cemetery several years prior and fatally shot 52-year-old Patricia Grimm, who was an employee at Pine Grove Cemetery, on Oct. 3, 2019. A 60-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman were injured. West who was being evicted from his apartment in Schofield was convicted setting fire to the garage on the same day as the shootings. He was also accused of tampering with a gas line and laid makeshift explosives that police said could have been a deadly. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A conviction for first-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence in Wisconsin. Only his parole eligibility would be considered. Thomas Jefferson Middle School will be the next Madison public school considered for a name change due to its namesakes history of owning slaves. Jefferson Middle School principal Sue Abplanalp formally asked the board and the superintendent to launch the renaming process during the boards regular Monday meeting. District spokesperson Tim LeMonds said the request is based on community feedback on the topic, and that Superintendent Carlton Jenkins will request the development of an ad hoc committee to begin to explore the potential name change per board policy. Jefferson Middle School was named after the third U.S. president. Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, a key adviser on the drafting of the U.S. Constitution and a slave owner. I think its important. I think we have to change the way we remember history. We have to be real but also thoughtful about the reality of enslavement in this country, board vice president Savion Castro said. Staff members at Jefferson Middle School and parents of students at the school requested the name to be changed through a number of different submissions to Jenkins, through emails, letters and community outreach, Castro said. Each member of the board will select two citizens to serve on the 12-person ad hoc committee, along with a staff liaison. Two of those citizens selected by the seven-person school board will be designated as alternates in case an ad hoc committee member steps down. The board plans to appoint the ad hoc committee during a special meeting scheduled for March 13. Members of the ad hoc committee will meet over a period of three months to receive community feedback and deliberate on the name change before bringing their recommendation to the board for final approval. The request comes after the board voted unanimously to rename James Madison Memorial High School to Vel Phillips Memorial High School, in honor of the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School, win a seat on the Milwaukee City Council, become a judge in Wisconsin and get elected to statewide office. She died in 2018 at the age of 95. A committee of community members charged with the task of renaming the high school brought its suggestion before the boards Operations Work Group in November after a five-month deliberation process. The committee whittled a list of 26 names to four, and finally settled on Phillips in a 10-1 vote in October. The high schools name change is the latest decision spurred by Black students pushing for a racial reckoning in Madison. Former Memorial student Mya Berry called on the board to rename the school in August 2020 because James Madison, the fourth U.S. president and the citys namesake, was a slave owner. In December 2020 a Madison School Board ad hoc committee, formed to rename Falk Elementary School, voted unanimously to recommend the building be named after Milele Chikasa Anana, a prominent civil rights activist and the first African American to be voted onto a public school board in Wisconsin. The Falk renaming committee was formed in August 2020 after a group of school staff, parents and community members submitted a letter in July of that year asking that the Southwest Side elementary school be renamed, after a discovery in 2018 by UW-Madison researchers that Philip Falk, the buildings namesake and a former Madison school superintendent, was part of a UW-Madison student group that shared a name with the Ku Klux Klan. The university has removed the names of other famous alumni, including Academy Award-winning actor Frederic March, who were associated with the same KKK group. The NAACP has asked that Marchs name be restored after further research revealed he had been an advocate for civil rights throughout his career. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Claiming some nursing home residents cast ballots without knowing what they were doing, and repeating complaints about grants from a liberal organization to help administer the 2020 election, the former state Supreme Court justice leading a GOP review of the 2020 election said Tuesday the Legislature ought to take a very hard look at decertifying the states presidential election something experts say is a legal and constitutional impossibility. In a sweeping critique of current election rules, Michael Gableman also called for the elimination and dismantling of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission after it instructed clerks in 2020 that they did not need to send poll workers into nursing homes to assist with absentee voting after many were turned away due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At best, WEC is hopelessly derelict of duty, Gableman told the Assembly elections committee in a three-hour presentation of his 136-page interim report from his ongoing one-party review. The report reiterates past GOP criticisms of the states presidential election, including that millions of dollars of private grants allocated to cities to help administer the election amid the pandemic constituted bribery a claim courts have rejected. The commissions nonpartisan administrator, Meagan Wolfe, denounced the report, saying it was based on mischaracterizations and that almost every item flagged by the review has already been litigated or addressed. The opinions in the Special Counsels latest interim report were fixated on topics that have been thoroughly addressed, Wolfe said. The integrity of the November 2020 election, and of the WEC, has been shown time and time again through court cases and previous investigations. A recount and court decisions have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Reviews by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau and the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty found no evidence of widespread fraud. Multiple court rulings have also found no evidence of irregularities. Further, the results of the 2020 election have been confirmed by county canvassing boards, recounts in Dane and Milwaukee counties, post-election audits by local and state election authorities and a voting equipment audit by the elections commission. Gableman indicated that his review, for which Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has allocated $676,000 in taxpayer money, is far from complete. He said he continues to speak with Vos about extending the contract, which expired at the end of December. The eight-month review has been plagued by legal challenges against multiple subpoenas issued by Gableman. The former justices lengthy, meandering and at times openly partisan attacks on elections commission staff and Democratic appointees underscored to critics the one-sided nature of the investigation. This circus has long surpassed being a mere embarrassment for our state, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement. From the beginning, it has never been a serious or functioning effort, it has lacked public accountability and transparency, and it has been a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars. Decertification Republican lawmakers and legislative attorneys have repeatedly said overturning the election after it was certified by the state and Congress would be illegal and impossible. And in his report, Gableman makes clear that his purpose is not to challenge the states certification. But an appendix does sketch how that might be done, he said. It is clear that the Wisconsin Legislature could lawfully take steps to decertify electors in any presidential election, for example in light of violations of state election law that did or likely could have affected the outcome of the election, according to the report. UW-Madison political science professor and elections administration expert Kenneth Mayer said the claim is meaningless. Even if the Legislature did pass some sort of decertification now it would have no legal effect, he said. Once the electors have cast their ballots, and they have been counted in Congress, thats the end of it. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, has repeatedly rejected efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In a world where partisan divides are deep & seemingly anything can be justified as long as it results in retaining power, handing authority to partisan politicians to determine if election fraud exists would be the end of our republic as we know it, Steineke tweeted. Following the hearing, committee chair Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, and member Rep. David Murphy, R-Greenville, did not rule out the possibility of pursuing decertification, though Murphy said that bar needs to be extremely high. To undo an election would be extremely detrimental to our republic. This is a very destabilizing act, Murphy said. On the other hand, elections that are stolen, thats also destabilizing for the republic so we have to look at this with an open mind from both directions. Gablemans report comes weeks after Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, launched a campaign for governor focused largely on claims of widespread fraud and a desire to take back the states 10 electoral college votes already certified for Biden. Other Republicans in the race former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and anti-establishment candidate Kevin Nicholson have also lobbed criticism at the 2020 elections administration, but have not openly called for decertifying the results. Voting deputies Gableman took special aim at the elections commissions decision to exempt clerks from the requirement that they send poll workers, known as special voting deputies, into care facilities in 2020, showing several videos of attorney Erick Kaardal questioning nursing homes residents who evidently voted but seemed to have trouble understanding questions he was asking them about the election. The commissions guidance was issued in March 2020 shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. The directive remained in place for the November 2020 presidential election and the February 2021 primary. John Sauer, CEO of LeadingAge Wisconsin, which represents nursing homes, said there are instances in the report that, if true, would certainly warrant further investigation. But, he said, even if a few of the examples cited turn out to be factual, we have to remember this was a very unusual circumstance, where the pandemic forced a suspension of the use of special voting deputies. Sauer noted the Gableman report said investigators vetted 24 nursing homes in Dane County, but the county has only 18, according to the state Department of Health Services. The videos Gableman showed appeared to call into question whether the people interviewed, in some cases appearing confused or uninformed, should have been allowed to vote. But under election law, only a judge not an elections clerk or a special voting deputy can reject a persons right to register to vote after finding the person is incompetent. Here are 26 ways Michael Gableman is seeking to change Wisconsin's election laws Recommendations former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman makes in his "interim investigative report" for changing Wisconsin election laws. Simply being forgetful or appearing to be confused doesnt mean that person cant formulate their opinion on who they choose to vote for, Sauer said. If theres not a determination, then the assumption is that person is competent and able to cast a ballot. Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell criticized the videos, which he described as using seniors as political props, adding that families concerned a relative may be incompetent should have a judge make that finding. You wouldnt want special voting deputies to be determining that on their own, he said. Private grants Gableman also contends that the private grants by the Mark Zuckerberg-funded Center for Tech and Civic Life, which were distributed around the state but went primarily to the states five largest cities, were aimed at boosting turnout in areas more likely to go for Biden. In taking the money, Gableman said, Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Kenosha and Green Bay engaged in what he called election bribery, defined in state law as accepting anything of value, such as money, to induce any elector to go to or refrain from going to the polls or vote or refrain from voting. His report also points to provisions in the CTCL and the cities Wisconsin Safe Voting Plan that, among other things, encourage the use of ballot drop boxes and reaching out to historically disenfranchised voters such as racial minorities and the poor, which not-coincidentally, matched that of the Biden-voter profile. A Wisconsin State Journal review of the CTCL grants found that the money was spread around to about 214 municipalities, while the five largest cities received two to four times more money, per capita, than smaller cities. At the same time, no community that asked for money from the group was denied, with communities in 39 of the states 72 counties receiving grants, including ones won by Trump. A state Legislative Audit Bureau survey also found that drop boxes were common across Wisconsin, appearing in 24 to 54 municipalities in each of seven different regions of the state, including in the northeast and northwest where Trump won the vast majority of counties. The 2020 election is over. Heres what happened (and what didnt) The 2020 election was the most secure in American history, according to the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructu The states anti-election bribery law also specifies other things that also cost money that are aimed at helping people vote but dont constitute bribery, such as giving employees paid time off to vote, and driving people to the polls. The conservative Thomas More Society on Tuesday released its own private review of the 2020 election, which also alleges the CTCL grants constitute bribery and raises questions surrounding special voting deputies at nursing homes. The separate review was conducted on behalf of the Wisconsin Voter Alliance, one of a handful of groups that unsuccessfully sued to overturn the results of the states 2020 presidential election. The organization shares office space in Brookfield with Gableman, according to lease documents, and the groups president, Ron Heuer, as well as Kaardal, are members of Gablemans team. State Journal reporters Chris Rickert, Alexander Shur and David Wahlberg contributed to this report. Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a correction. A previous version misstated the reason why Skaalen Retirement Services in Stoughton shredded four absentee ballots in the 2020 election. It was because the residents decided they didnt want to vote. None of the residents at the nursing home at the time had been found by a judge to be incompetent. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Gableman's eight-month review of the 2020 election has been plagued by legal challenges against multiple subpoenas issued by the former state Supreme Court justice. OMAHA, Neb. A judge has cleared the way for newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises to use a voting system that will ensure two longtime directors are reelected at its upcoming annual meeting despite the objections of a hedge fund that is trying to buy the company. The Davenport, Iowa-based publisher said the Delaware judge rejected Alden Global Capital's motion for an injunction in Alden's latest lawsuit Friday. Earlier in February, a judge also blocked Alden's effort to nominate its own directors at Lee's March 10 annual meeting. "This is now the second court ruling in less than two weeks rejecting Alden's desperate efforts to destabilize Lee and push its grossly undervalued proposal to purchase the company," Lee said in a statement. Alden didn't immediately comment on the ruling. The publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Buffalo News, Lincoln Journal Star and dozens of other newspapers rejected Alden's $141 million takeover offer in December. The New York-based hedge fund is already one of the nation's largest newspaper owners, but it has a reputation for imposing severe cuts and layoffs at the publications it owns. Alden objected to Lee's decision to use a plurality standard for the director vote because it will essentially guarantee the reelection of Lee's chairman and its lead independent director. As long as the directors get at least one "yes" vote, that is more than any other candidate could get because they are running unopposed. Alden wanted the directors to have to win the majority of the votes cast to keep their seats. Alden, which owns 6.3% of Lee's stock, says change is needed because the company has delivered disappointing results since buying all of Berkshire Hathaway's newspapers in 2020. But Lee has said it is making good progress in growing online ad revenue and digital subscriptions. Lee's board has received support from two other hedge funds that hold stakes in the publisher because they have said Lee is worth significantly more than the $24 per share Alden has offered. This story was first published on Feb. 27, 2022. It was updated on March 1, 2022, to correct that the judge rejected Alden Global Capital's motion for an injunction but didn't throw out the lawsuit. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Ready to dip your toes back into travel but feeling overwhelmed by all the different airline rewards programs? Confused about how to make the most of points and miles especially in the waning months of a global pandemic? Not to worry: You dont need to be a seasoned traveler to start racking up points and cashing them in for free flights, upgrades and other perks. Whether your job sends you on a cross-country flight every other week or you only hop on a plane for the occasional family vacation, theres a frequent flier program for you. Below, youll find the best airline rewards programs for every type of traveler. Looking forward to that next trip? Make sure you have Travel Insurance. When you're away from home, it's good to feel protected. That's where Travel Insurance comes in. Click on your state now for more information. The Best Airline Rewards Programs Best Overall: American Airlines AAdvantage Pros Earn and spend points with dozens of partner hotels, including 500 miles for each Hyatt stay and 2 miles per dollar with Marriott Bonvoy Massive coverage area Easy-to-use rewards map Starting this year, the program is simplifying its points structure Cons Some cheaper rewards flights have limited availability Points expire after 18 months of inactivity (policy paused through March 2022), but can be reactivated for a fee Highlight: Members can use points to purchase an Admirals Club membership and get access to more than 100 airport lounges across the globe and elite members get cheaper membership rates. The American Airlines AAdvantage program is our top pick for the average traveler. With hub cities in Dallas, Charlotte, Chicago, Miami, New York and more, youre likely to find options with American wherever youd like to fly. You can start redeeming benefits at just 7,500 points thats about $1,500 spent with American Airlines for regular customers. Citi AAdvantage card holders earn exclusive benefits and rack up points faster. Runner up: Delta Skymiles Pros No blackout dates Miles don't expire Highly rated customer service Cons Can't earn miles or points toward elite status on basic economy fares Doesn't publish an awards chart, and rates for points flights vary widely Highlight: Earn points with unique partners including Lyft, Airbnb and Instacart Runner up: United Mileage Plus Pros Earn and spend points with more than 35 partner airlines including Singapore Airlines and Air Canada Claims to have the most rewards destinations of any U.S. global airline Miles don't expire Doesn't add fuel surcharges to awards travel Cons Doesn't publish an awards chart Highlight: Members get discounts on the Clear service to save time at the airport Delta Skymiles and United Mileage Plus are also great choices for conventional travelers. Each of these programs share many of the same perks as Americans AAdvantage program, like free checked baggage for members with higher tiers of status. Both serve major hub cities across all regions of the United States. The points earning structure is similar at both airlines, and both allow customers to book flights with a combination of cash and points (though United has an edge when it comes to partner airlines and awards destinations). And as is the case with nearly every airline rewards program, airline credit card holders get exclusive perks and earn points much faster than general members. While all three of the top three loyalty programs have lots of benefits, American Airlines AAdvantage has the edge thanks to its easy-to-use points structure and extensive network of partners. Best for spring breakers: JetBlue TrueBlue Pros Points don't expire No blackout dates Partnership with American Airlines expands East Coast flight options for JetBlue customers Can pool points with other people Cons Smaller footprint than other airlines Highlight: Members get 300 extra points for bringing a pet along for the ride With plenty of flights from all over the U.S. to warm-weather destinations like Orlando, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, JetBlues TrueBlue program is ideal for vacationers. And because the program lets you pool your points with up to six other people, its a great choice for larger groups traveling together. JetBlues partnership with IGH Hotels and Resorts (which includes the Kimpton, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Crowne Plaza brands) means you can keep earning points once you arrive at your beach getaway. Youll earn top-tier Mosaic status after 15,000 points, which can be accrued relatively quickly (in some cases by spending less than $2,500 with the airline in a year). JetBlue credit card holders earn more points per dollar and get bonus points for opening their accounts. Best for Long Haul Travelers: Alaska Air Mileage Plan Pros Calculates points based on distance traveled, not dollars spent Easy-to-use online route map for awards travel Cons Direct routes are more limited, especially on the East Coast Points can expire after two years of inactivity Highlight: Club 49, a program within Mileage Plan specifically for people who live in Alaska, offers two free checked bags on every flight to or from Alaska as well as two 30% discounts per year on flights to, from or within the state. For transcontinental travelers or those traveling up and down the West Coast frequently, Alaska Airs Mileage Plan is a great choice. Alaska calculates rewards points based on miles flown, not dollars spent, which the airline says nets members 30% more miles on average than they would on other airlines. Alaska has 24 partner airlines including American Airlines, Emirates and British Airways, and while you may earn fewer points on those partner routes depending on what type of fare you purchase, you can still rack up points on non-West Coast flights. Best for Couples: Southwest Rapid Rewards Pros Partnerships with Marriott and Hyatt Hotels No blackout dates Free in-flight wifi for top membership tier Points don't expire Cons Limited international destinations Can't combine cash and points to book flights Highlight: The programs best perk is the ability to earn a companion pass that lets you bring someone with you when you fly for free. Southwest is famous for its low fares, making it popular among younger, budget-minded travelers. The airline has no assigned seating, which makes it easier for travelers to sit in their preferred seats without paying extra fees on their reservation. It has fewer fees than its competitors and also offers two free checked bags on every flight. The Rapid Rewards program only allows you to earn points on flights with Southwest (or on purchases with the airlines retail partners), and youll reach A-List status after taking 25 flights in a year or earning 35,000 points. A-List status unlocks priority boarding, priority check-in and security line access and same-day standby benefits. One of the best perks of the Rapid Rewards program as a whole is the Companion Pass, which can be earned after taking 100 flights or earning 125,000 points in a year. The pass allows you to bring a guest with you every time you fly for free (though youll both have to pay the taxes and fees on the ticket). Best for Families: Frontier Miles Pros Low fares Certain membership tiers have family points pooling and free family seating Straightforward point system: earn one point per mile flown Cons Charges fees for amenities that are free on other major carriers Can't use points on other airlines Points expire after six months of inactivity, but can be reinstated for a fee Highlight: One child under 15 can fly free with a Discount Den membership of just $60 per year an expense that pays for itself after just one flight. Budget airline Frontier, based in Denver, is a great choice for families flying within the United States. Members earn one point for every mile flown, and reaching the first tier of elite status requires just 20,000 points. That tier of status gets you a free carry-on bag, priority boarding and the ability to pool points within your family. Frontier also offers a special program called Discount Den, which gets you access to discounted fares and lets one child under age 15 fly for free on certain qualifying flights. The Discount Den membership is half price once you reach the second tier of membership status and its free at the top tier. If you need to be protected while away on a trip, Travel Insurance has you covered. Travel is full of unexpected events. Stay safe with a Travel Insurance policy. Click below to find out more today. Best Airline Rewards Program Guide What are airline rewards programs? Airline rewards programs are specialty frequent flier programs offered by every major airline. They are generally free to join, and allow you to earn points or miles on purchased airfare that you can then exchange for a bunch of different perks. Generally, the programs have multiple tiers of membership that offer better rewards as you accumulate more points. How do airline rewards programs work? Airline rewards programs allow you to earn rewards based on how much you spend or how far you fly with a certain airline or group of airlines. Usually, these reward programs track your progress through points. Once youve accumulated enough points by spending money on flights and other eligible expenses, you can redeem them for perks and rewards with the airline or its partners. Those perks might include free flights, free upgrades to first or business class, free checked bags and access to exclusive airport lounges just to name a few. Many programs also let you redeem points through partnerships with hotels, rental car agencies, cruise lines, retailers and more. Each airline structures its rewards program a little differently, which is why its so important to do some research before deciding which one makes the most sense for you. Best airline rewards programs FAQs Are airline rewards programs worth it? Even if you don't travel frequently, airline rewards programs offer serious benefits. They are generally free, and accumulating points now can lead to some great perks and savings down the road. Of course, the right program for you depends on a lot of factors. Our best pick for the average traveler is American Airlines AAdvantage, but the program that's right for you might vary depending on where you travel, how often you travel and who you travel with. Is it worth it to stick to one airline? You'll earn rewards faster if you stick to one major rewards program, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're stuck flying with the same airline forever. The biggest U.S. airlines (United, Delta and American) are all part of airline alliances that include an extensive network of partner airlines, many of which are international. Generally, points and benefits transfer between airlines in the same alliance. Budget airlines like Frontier, Spirit and Allegiant are not members of any airline alliances, meaning that rewards points earned through their programs can only be used on one airline. It's always a good idea to keep your options open to make sure you get the best deal. Who has the best airline rewards program? Our top pick is the American AAdvantage program, but again, the best rewards program for you might be different. You should consider which airlines fly out of your local airport and which serve your most frequented destinations. Consider whether you travel alone or with family and friends most of the time, and if any membership perks--like free checked bags or lounge access--are especially important to you. Who has the best airline rewards programs for international travel? The best airline rewards program for international travel will depend on your preferences and the destinations you most frequently visit. If you're looking for the frequent flier program with the most international options, United's MileagePlus rewards program lets you transfer points to other airlines in the Star Alliance, a network of airlines that, together, serve thousands of destinations in 195 countries. How we evaluated the best airline rewards programs To determine the best rewards programs for different types of travelers, Money evaluated the exclusive features, destinations served, network partners (including hotels and other airlines) and ease of earning and spending points for ten popular airline rewards programs. We used this information to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each program, highlighting the features that differentiate the winners while keeping in mind that there isnt a one-size-fits-all program that works for every traveler. We only considered rewards programs from airlines based in the United States. Most airlines offer branded credit cards to accompany their rewards programs. Weve chosen to focus on the program itself, not the perks of the credit card, in our analysis. That said, these cards can offer significant benefits and savings and can help you earn points at a faster rate. Learn more about the best travel credit cards here. If you need to be protected while away on a trip, Travel Insurance has you covered. Travel is full of unexpected events. Stay safe with a Travel Insurance policy. Click below to find out more today. Summary of Moneys best airline program reviews Best overall: American Airlines AAdvantage Best for spring breakers: JetBlue TrueBlue Best for long haul travelers: Alaska Air Mileage Plan Best for couples: Southwest Rapid Rewards Best for Families: Frontier Miles Copyright 2021 Ad Practitioners, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Moneys full disclaimer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Larry Lee Adams, 75, of Kimberly, passed away February 25 at St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls. No services will be held. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Rosenau Funeral Home & Crematory. Stanley Collins, 68, of Twin Falls, died on February 26 at a local hospital. Arrangements in the care of Parkes Magic Valley Funeral Home. Betty May Evans, 101, of Twin Falls, passed away February 26, 2022, at Bridgeview Estates. Funeral arrangements are under the care of White-Reynolds Funeral Chapel in Twin Falls. Vic Graybeal, 98, of Twin Falls, died February 26, 2022, in his home. Arrangements in the care of Parkes Magic Valley Funeral Home. Richard Hunt, 81, of Twin Falls, passed away February 27, 2022. Arrangements are pending under the care of Parkes Magic Valley Funeral Home. Kathleen Jensen Mesenbrink, 78, of Burley, passed away Sunday, February 27, 2022. The funeral is pending and will be announced by Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home of Burley. Mildred Alleen Munri, 93, of Twin Falls and formerly of Stidham, Oklahoma, passed away in the evening at her home, surrounded by family on February 25 in Twin Falls. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Rosenau Funeral Home & Crematory. Herman Pope, 86, of Nampa, died Tuesday, December 28, 2021. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Zeyer Funeral Chapel, zeyerfuneralchapel.com. Frank David Butch Sartain, 63, of Kimberly, passed away Friday, February 25, 2022, at home. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5, 2022, at River Christian Fellowship Hall, 4002 North 3300 East, Twin Falls. Arrangements are under the care of Serenity Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services of Idaho, 502 Second Ave. N., Twin Falls. For tributes and condolences go to serenityfuneralchapel.com. Tracy Sears, 52, of Twin Falls, died in her home February 27, 2022. Arrangements are pending under the direction of Parkes Magic Valley Funeral Home. Connie Newman Sparks, 74, of Buhl, died Saturday, February 26, 2022, at a Salt Lake City hospital. Services are under the care of Farmer Funeral Chapel, Buhl. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Leading Egyptian developer Administrative Capital For Urban Development (ACUD) will be outlining its roadmap for Egypt's growth and the lucrative investment opportunities in the real estate market there at the International Property Show (IPS 2022), which kicks off in Dubai on March 24. Acud is the owner and developer of the New Administrative capital in Egypt, a transformative project and extension of Cairo, as one of the worlds largest urban developments at 700 sq km with an expected population of 6.5 million on completion. It is being designed as a super smart and sustainable city of the future, that will house a new presidential district, government district, diplomatic district, headquarters of the House of Representatives, and 20 residential areas. Egypt is witnessing a boisterous growth in its real estate investment and purchasing, with $231.1 million Net Foreign Investment being used for purchase of real estate properties in Egypt in 2021, said a top official of Acud. "The new capital is developed with the strategic vision for a smart city integrating its smart infrastructure to provide many services to citizens. Our participation at IPS is an effort to highlight Egypts undiscovered beauty, as well as tap high net worth individuals and serious buyers interested in investing in Egypt," remarked Ahmed Zaki Abdeen, the Acud Chairperson. "Egypts real estate sector has grown by 8% since the beginning of the year, and IPS is a true melting pot that gives ACUD the opportunity to tap a large group of real estate investors, he added. IPS 2022 is set to attract more than 20,000 visitors from over 40 countries and 100+ international exhibitors. With Dubai Expo 2020 underway, it will get an additional boost as more visitors are expected to drop in. The IPS 2022 will provide a stupendous platform bringing all key stakeholders and decision-makers in the real estate industry under one roof for the best returns on investments, said the event organisers. "Egypt is certainly a promising market for real estate investment and purchasing. We are glad to have Acud on board with us," stated Dawood Al Shezawi, President of Strategic Exhibition and Conference and Head of Organizing Committee of IPS. "Their presence and display of the new capital will be a stellar offering at the show. We are confident that for real estate developers in Egypt, exhibiting in IPS is a golden chance to reach global buyers," he added.-TradeArabia News Service BOISE A man who allegedly preyed on Christians, using biblical quotes to entice them to invest in Arizona real estate, is accused of operating a Ponzi scheme and scamming investors out of more than $82 million. Bradley R. Heinrichs, 41, of Boise, was indicted in Arizona on four counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, illegal control of an enterprise, theft and conspiracy, all felonies. He has pleaded not guilty. Out of respect for the legal process, we are not going to comment on the allegations against Mr. Heinrichs, except to say that he denies them, Phoenix lawyer Anne Chapman said by email. There are multiple sides to every story, and Mr. Heinrichs is allowing the legal process to take its course. Heinrichs is listed as manager of Anthology real estate, 421 S. 8th St. in Boise, according to records from the Idaho secretary of states office. If convicted, Heinrichs could face a sentence of 4.5 years to 69 years in prison. The indictment was announced in March 2021 nearly six years after the crimes were alleged to have taken place. A trial date is scheduled to be set April 14. A settlement conference between a deputy Arizona attorney general and Chapman was held earlier this month, but a resolution was not reached. A spokesperson for the attorney generals office did not reply to a telephone call and email. A records request submitted to the Idaho attorney generals office did not reveal any investigations into Heinrichs conduct in Idaho. The Arizona attorney generals office, which reviewed more than 75,000 pages of documents, said Heinrichs and a co-defendant, Stephen J. Hatch, operated a racketeering enterprise involving the sale of Arizona real estate between January 2005 and December 2014. The pair promised double-digit returns to more than 110 investors, including many from Idaho, prosecutors said. Business partner spent five years in prison Hatch, now 72, pleaded guilty in 2017 to one felony count of fraud and was sentenced to five years in prison. In exchange for Hatchs guilty pleas, prosecutors agreed not to charge his children, who were paid lavish salaries and were allegedly involved in the scam. Hatch, who was ordered to pay $1 million in restitution, was released from prison in September and remains under community supervision, according to Arizona Department of Corrections records. In a Ponzi scheme, money from later investors is used to pay off earlier investors to make it appear there are profits. When incoming cash dries up, the scheme falls apart. Heinrichs told investors that his company wanted to give an opportunity to Christian families to invest, how God was using their company to support missions and that they wanted to pass the blessing along to the little guy who normally wouldnt have an opportunity like this, according to a court filing from a group that formed to seek restitution for the victims from Heinrichs and Hatch. The group said Heinrichs falsely told investors that Hatch was worth between $15 million and $20 million and didnt need money. Henrichs told investors Hatch had been in the real estate business for many years and came out of retirement to help other people, mainly his children, learn the business, the group said. The group, the Hatch/Heinrichs Victims Recovery Fund, said Heinrichs promised some investors annual returns as high as 25%. Heinrichs is accused of lying to investors about missing payments. Prosecutors say he regularly sent investors statements showing increasing interest earnings without telling them there was not enough money to make earnings payments. Heinrich and Hatch created more than 30 business entities and managed 17 sets of books to buy 13 properties. Hatch was responsible for locating, acquiring, development and rezoning properties, while Heinrichs was responsible for recruiting investors, a letter from the attorney generals office said. Boise physician among Ponzi scheme victims Dr. Richard Blickenstaff, a Boise dermatologist, initially invested $227,800 with Heinrichs, according to a letter to a judge from the Arizona attorney generals office. He added $100,000 more in June 2014. Blickenstaff, who supplied the Idaho Statesman with documents from the case, lived in the same Idaho subdivision as Heinrichs parents, and they attended the same church. Heinrichs sister was a friend of Blickenstaffs son, so Richard Blickenstaff also knew Heinrichs. Through this relationship, Heinrichs solicited investments, the letter said. He told Blickenstaff that Hatch was a Christian, a man of impeccable character, had a long history of successful real estate ventures and had delivered promised return to investors in all of his previous projects. Five months after Blickenstaff provided Heinrichs with the $100,000, Heinrichs told Blickenstaff that Hatch had misappropriated money from the investments. When Blickenstaff asked him how he could have taken another $100,000 from him knowing there were improprieties and red flags with regard to fraud and mismanagement, he said that is something I am struggling with, the letter said. A second victim from Boise, who lost an undisclosed amount of money, declined to comment when contacted by the Statesman. The allegations are similar to those in Idahos largest Ponzi scheme, in which executives of Diversified Business Services and Investments, known as DBSI, defrauded 8,500 investors and suppliers out of $102 billion. CEO Doug Swenson, convicted in 2014 of 44 counts of securities fraud and 34 counts of wire fraud, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Three other executives, including Swensons two sons, were sentenced to three to five years in prison. DBSI operated legitimately for many years before aggressively buying up office buildings and offering investors shares in the buildings. Cash flow problems eventually led the executives to pay investors with money supplied by new investors as profits soured. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 JEROME A nightclub in town is closed while the aftermath of an apartment fire in the back of the building is cleaned up, the fire chief said. Firefighters responded at about 8 p.m. Monday to a blaze in the residential unit behind El Parallito Salon, Jerome Fire Chief Mike Harrison said Tuesday morning. The owners of the nightclub live in the apartment at 421 W. Main St. in Jerome, Harrison said. We are still investigating, but nothing looks suspicious, he said. We are looking at a few things to find out exactly what the cause was, but right now we think it was electrical. Damage was extensive in the apartment, he said. But there is little to no damage to the nightclub. The entire building was engulfed in smoke when firefighters arrived. We got to it quickly, Harrison said. The owners of the building were home when the fire started, he said. No one was injured in the fire. The business is registered to Emelia Gomez at the same address, according to the Idaho Secretary of States office. The Jerome Rural Fire Department, Magic Valley Paramedics, Jerome Police Department and Idaho Power Co. also responded. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Upset about last weeks invasion of Ukraine? Want to take it out on Russia? How about starting with a boycott of Russian vodka? Maybe youll consider avoiding Titos Handmade Vodka, Idahos favorite liquor with sales of $11.5 million in 2021. But its not made in Russia, comrade. Its from deep in the heart of Texas. Austin, to be exact. How about Smirnoff, then, No. 7 in Idaho with sales of $5.2 million? Thats a Russian name and a company founded by Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov in Moscow (not the Idaho city) in 1864. But the company hasnt been there for more than a century. Smirnovs family fled Russia during the October Revolution of 1917 and relocated to Constantinople, todays Istanbul. In 1924, the family moved to Poland, a town thats now Lviv, Ukraine. Since the late 1980s, after a series of sales, the brand has been a part of Diageo, based in London. Its vodka is made in the United States. Of the 104 brands of vodka available through Idaho State Liquor Division stores and bars throughout the state, only two Russian Standard and Beluga are actually produced by Russian companies. The vast majority come from other countries or are manufactured in the U.S. On Monday, the Idaho Liquor Division removed those two brands from sale, agency Director Jeffrey Anderson said. Russian Standard, which recorded sales of 3,300 of the 750-milliliter bottles and 3,200 of the 1.75-milliliter bottles in the past 12 months, was pulled from store shelves. The state liquor store on Grove Street in Boise also removed some $100 bottles of Beluga Gold Line Vodka. Belugas vodkas, Anderson said, were mostly available by special order and not typically carried in stores. We just feel that given whats occurred in Ukraine that were going to ask people to enjoy something else, Anderson said. A third brand, Zyr, which is made in Russia but based in the United States, appears in the Liquor Divisions monthly price list but hasnt been stocked since the middle of last year, he said. Bottles of Russian Standard will be held in storage for now, Anderson said. Sales of Russian Standard fall below a benchmark the agency uses to decide whether to keep a particular brand in stock, Anderson said. But it hadnt been delisted before Mondays move. We do an annual examination of each category, and we have a criteria we use in order to determine whether something stays in the price book or should be delisted, he said. Im not saying were going to delist the product, but its not setting the world on fire. In comparison, the agency sold 101,092 of the 750-milliliter bottles of Titos, 175,528 one-liter bottles and 149,517 of the 1.75-liter bottles. Idahos action came two days after Utah Gov. Spencer Cox ordered all Russian vodkas removed from the shelves of Utahs state-run liquor stores. He issued an executive order is response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Russias ruthless attack on a sovereign nation is an egregious violation of human rights, Cox said in a statement. Utah stands in solidarity with Ukraine and will not support Russian enterprises, no matter how small the exchange. Oregon, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania issued similar orders affecting retail outlets. Russian Standard is owned by Roustam Tariko, a Russian oligarch. Beluga, Russias largest alcohol company, is led by Alexander Mechetin. Zyr is made outside Moscow, but the company is based in Miami, founded and headed by American David Katz. Kamchatka vodka is bottled by Beam Suntory in Kentucky. The same state is also home to Stroika Vodka, manufactured by House of Harris. Stolichnaya, or Stoli, is another brand with a Russian name that began in Moscow. Almost all of Stoli sold in the West is made in Latvia, a former Soviet republic that is a member of NATO. The company is based in Luxembourg and is controlled by Yuri Shefler, a Russian-born billionaire who left Russia after a dispute with the government. On its website, Stoli says it stands for peace in Europe and in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Stoli Group has had a long history of fighting oppression from the Russian regime. We unequivocally condemn the military action in Ukraine and stand in support of the Ukrainian people. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 TWIN FALLS Could a wind project affect 911 communications? State and local agencies have expressed concerns that the Lava Ridge Wind Project could interfere with emergency communications. An up to 400-turbine operation on 73,000 acres of public land in south-central Idaho, the Lava Ridge Wind Project is moving through the Environmental Impact Statement process. Required by U.S. environmental law, the first step is public scoping, the period when agencies, organizations and individuals can submit comments about the project. More than 1,400 comments were submitted regarding the Lava Ridge Wind Project. Of those comments, 96% were from individuals, 3% from organizations, and 1% from agencies. Southern Idaho Regional Communications CenterSIRCOMMand Project Mutual Telephone both expressed concerns that the project could interfere with their operations. I spent 32 years in law enforcement. Sometimes you only have one chance to key a mic and ask for assistance on a situation, you might not get another opportunity to do that, said Twin Falls County Commissioner Jack Johnson, who serves on the SIRCOMM Joint Powers Board. If that one chance you have is blocked or interfered with, that could be a life threatening situation. The Idaho Military Division, which contains the Idaho Office of Emergency Management, also submitted a public comment regarding microwave radio transmission paths. The services carried on these paths are vital as they service statewide emergency services, law enforcement, federal/state/county agency customers, the division wrote. Any interruption or degradation of signal would be detrimental and will not be allowed to happen. SIRCOMM dispatches emergency services for 41 different agencies across four counties. The center also works with Idaho State Police, public works departments, street and highway departments, county disaster services and more. The center wrote that compromised coverage discovered during the construction phase could prove disastrous. Once compromise has been realized, efforts to repair the compromise may not be swift enough to avoid the disruption of emergency services to that region, which could impact human life and safety, SIRCOMM wrote. Johnson said there have been previous communications issues in the general area of the project proposal. Geography and atmospheric conditions can impact transmission. Its already hard for emergency services to communicate in that area, he said. Magic Valley Energy hired a third party to complete a land mobile emergency services report. In May, SIRCOMM received the report, which included a list of recommendations. Johnson said some of the options included adding a new repeater site or optimizing a base station, which might not be financially feasible. Repeater towers allow stations that are not within line-of-sight range to communicate. It may therefore be appropriate to begin consideration and discussion about whether these potential costs should be part of overall project expense, SIRCOMM wrote in its public comment. Public scoping comments Idaho Transportation Department "The District recommends that the routes used to deliver and construct the wind turbines be identified, and a plausible prediction of heavy construction and delivery vehicles be provided. Once these routes and predicted, analysis should be accomplished to predict distress on the State, Federal, and LRI routes. If deemed necessary, preventative maintenance measures should be accomplished on routes indicating significant premature failure. American Bird Conservancy "The sheer scale of the amount of grouse habitat that would be lost if the Lava Ridge Wind project is constructed as proposed demands that risk to this imperiled species be thoroughly evaluated and addressed." "Clean energy projects on public lands should not contribute to the continuing decline of our nations birds." Shoshone-Bannock Tribes "The Tribes have significant concerns with the development of public lands in the pursuit of profit at the expense of Treaty rights, cultural resources, local communities, and a myriad of wildlife species and their habitats. For these reasons, the Tribes must oppose the Proposed Action and request that the BLM deny the proponents request to construct this enormous wind energy project, in the heart of the Tribes homelands and Idaho's sage grouse habitat." Magic Valley ATV Riders "To restrict and eliminate our right to recreate on public lands is a disservice to the recreation community and citizens of Idaho." Idaho Chapter of Safari Club International "Wildlife habitat is disappearing at an accelerating rate and we prefer that BLM not add to the problem." "This project can only have a detrimental effect on migrating pronghorn, not to mention other important species including sage grouse and pygmy rabbits." Twin Falls County Historic Preservation Commission "The enormity of the proposed wind farm with the hundreds of massive wind turbines, sprawling corridors, miles of transmission lines, seven substations, and hundreds of miles of roads and pathways poses a huge threat to cultural resources and historical sites within Twin Falls County, within the proposed project area itself, and beyond the perimeters of the planned energy project." Individual "Many of us have lived in the immediate area for many decades. We have observed, with the exception of Elk, a general decrease in the amount of wildlife in the area. This project with its 380 miles of roads will simply finish them all off." Individual "I'm currently a sophomore out at The College of Southern Idaho studying Renewable Energy System Technologies and one of the big focuses in out class is wind turbines. Having a huge wind farm right at our backdoor would not only benefit us as a community but it would also help benefit our program with a bunch of hands on experience involving mechanical drives, hydraulics, climbing, and rigging." Individual "I am all for the wind project. There is a lot of miss information being spread about wind power that is simply not true." Individual "I dont think you will find to many areas in the lower 48 that would be better choices for renewable energy production." Protect Mutual Telephone, based in Rupert, recently acquired wireless frequencies in Minidoka County. The licenses for these frequencies were purchased through subsidies from the Federal Communications Commission. The company could face penalties if they dont meet certain requirements. Scott Draper, the director of construction and engineering for Project Mutual Telephone, said Magic Valley Energy, the group proposing the wind project, has made adjustments to the project location to avoid interference. The original proposal was in that general vicinity that would cause a problem, Draper said. Wind turbines can block signals by either physically blocking the path, reflecting the signal in other directions, or chopping the signal if it passes through the rotor. Codie Martin, Bureau of Land Management Shoshone field manager, said Magic Valley Energy indicated it would be easy to resolve communication issues in advance. That is a great example of why we do scoping, Martin said. Theres been quite a few issues that maybe everybody didnt think of. Johnson said SIRCOMM is waiting to see what the next steps are and will evaluate any recommendations from Magic Valley Energy. As this moves forward we will have to continually evaluate and work with all the partners to mitigate any foreseeable problems, he said. The public can view the public scoping report by visiting eplanning.blm.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Accountant Cordelia Faye Holland has seen a lot of change in the Fayette Street area since she opened her business in 1992 and for the better. It is amazing to watch the transformation that is on Fayette at this point, Holland said during a ceremony celebrating new banners on lightposts along Fayette Street. The hanging of the banners was a partnership between the Harvest Foundation and Martinsville Uptown Partnership. The block in front of her business used to be an empty field. Once the home of Dr. Dana Baldwins businesses which were the heartbeat of a thriving Black community, it now is the site of New College Institute. People used to say of Fayette that its not the safest street and all that, Holland said. And to see all the investments that are being made on Fayette Street lately is just very refreshing. When we got the lights finally because weve always had to struggle for inclusiveness on Fayette Street to me now the entities that be come see us and they want to include us, and that is such an interesting phenomenon, and we really appreciate it. Thank you so much to the City of Martinsville to finally recognize where Fayette Streets place is within the city, that we are uptown Martinsville; were not just Fayette Street. She said it is a blessing that the city recently has been including Fayette Street in all the little things that you do, such as hanging Christmas wreaths there during the holiday. We never had them for a very long time, because we were not included. Now to see the banners and the lights and everything else that goes on with the rest of the city Its a little thing, but its really amazing for us. Martinsville City Manager Leon Towarnicki said the uptown improvement projects, starting with curbs and gutters, began in the late 1970s in the Commercial Business District (CBD) in the area of Church and Main streets between Clay and Moss streets. Other improvements included moving utilities underground, installing lighting, widening the streets and putting pockets of parking, he said. Fayette Street was not included initially in those improvements, he said, and that later was added due to factors including growth of business in the Fayette corridor and the recognition of the importance to the Fayette corridor to the uptown Martinsville area. Fayette certainly is now an integral part and a viable component of uptown Martinsville, he said, and future developments such as new apartments further solidify and cement the importance of the Fayette Street corridor in uptown. Mayor Kathy Lawson listed businesses that used to be on Fayette Street. Of those that were present when she was young, only the hotel and Prillamans Market remain. Natalie Hodge, immediate past president of the board of directors of UP, said, Todays ceremony to celebrate the raising of uptown banners on Fayette Street, our historically Black business district, provides us with an incredible opportunity to honor the contributions of African-Americans to uptown and the local economy while creating space for future growth, success and collaboration. The Harvest Foundation is excited to share in this occasion with the Fayette community, with Uptown Partnership and with the City of Martinsville, said India Brown. We are honored to partner with Uptown Partnership to invest in the brackets to hang the banners that you now see along Fayette Street which symbolize the Fayette communitys inclusion into uptown Martinsville. Other speakers included UP Executive Director Kathy Deacon, St. Paul High Street Baptist Church Pastor Matthew Brown and First Baptist East Martinsville Pastor Charles Whitfield. Holly Kozelsky writes for the Martinsville Bulletin. She can be reached at holly.kozelsky@martinsvillebulletin.com or 638-8801 ext. 2430. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. People2.0, the worlds largest independent global employer of record (EOR) and agent of record (AOR) services platform, has joined forces with Abu Dhabi-based Back of The House (Both). With in-country establishments in more than 45 countries, People2.0 offers talent providers capabilities to put anyone to work anywhere, on demand, for any length of time, using one global master agreement. Meanwhile, the Both Group, a major provider of EOR/AOR services in the largely untapped Middle East and North Africa (Mena) market, has provided EOR and AOR services to a broad spectrum of Middle East and global clients and partners since 2009, meaning the new partnership inaugurates People2.0s presence in the region at the same time expands Boths global capabilities. We have identified the Middle East as a strategically important market in our global coverage. The region counts many thriving economies with very sophisticated, international workforces, said Erik Vonk, People2.0s Executive Chairman. The opportunity to partner with Botha well-established EOR/AOR services provider with in-country operations in throughout the Gulf Cooperation Councilallows us to further our mission to be on the frontlines of the workforce revolution. We can meet highly prevalent needs for instant, on-demand international deployment arrangements in an environment known to attract large quantities of professionals from around the globe. Anna Heystek, Co-founder and Managing Director of Both, believes the merger will massively boost its international client offering: Many of our clients operate globally and stand to benefit tremendously from People2.0s worldwide platform and capabilities. Boths region-based clients are now able to offer work arrangements in all major economic centres. People2.0s EOR services are designed for the deployment of employees, while AOR services are designed for the deployment of independent contractors. As the one-stop EOR/AOR provider, People2.0 assumes a wide range of responsibilities on behalf of their clients including onboarding workers, managing employment risks, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing payroll, and administering worker benefits in geographies around the world. Heystek confirmed Boths leadership team will be assuming key roles in the new entity, ensuring relational continuity and enabling them to guide clients in making best use of People2.0s global resources. Going forward, Both will operate under the People2.0 name and brand. Further details of the deal have not been disclosed.-- TradeArabia News Service The transition period before a return to constitutional order in Burkina Faso, where a coup detat took place on January 24, was set at three years on Tuesday by a national meeting that brought together the countrys living forces. A constitutional charter of the transition was signed to cheers by the head of the junta, Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, at the end of several hours of work at the meeting. The duration of the transition is set at 36 months from the date of the investiture of the president of the transition, said the charter he signed on Monday night. Mr. Damiba, who was already sworn in on February 16 before the Constitutional Council, will be invested on Wednesday by the assizes that involved the junta, parties, unions, civil society organizations, youth, women and people displaced by the jihadist attacks that have hit Burkina Faso since 2015. The charter also stipulates that the president of the transition is not eligible for the presidential, legislative and municipal elections that will be organized to end the transition. This provision also applies to the 25 members of the transitional government, of which the Prime Minister is a civilian figure. In addition to the president and the government, the transitional bodies include a Transitional Orientation and Monitoring Council, which sets the broad guidelines of state policy, and a Transitional Legislative Assembly composed of 75 members, the charter says. It states that two of the transitions main missions will be to fight terrorism, restore the integrity of the national territory and ensure its security, and provide an effective and urgent response to the humanitarian crisis and the socio-economic and community dramas caused by insecurity. It should also strengthen governance and the fight against corruption. The final charter increased several provisions contained in a report by a commission created by the junta in early February and in the draft charter discussed by the assembly: a 36-month transition instead of 30 months, a 25-member government instead of 20, a 75-member legislature instead of 51. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have the capacity to both self-renew and differentiate into all mature blood cell types, making them promising treatments for a variety of diseases. However, the mechanisms involved in engraftmentwhen the cells start to grow and make healthy blood cells after being transplanted into a patientare poorly understood. A recent study led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Boston University School of Medicine has revealed the unique signature of genes expressed by HSCs capable of undergoing this process. The findings, which are published in Nature Communications, could enable scientists to expand these cells outside of the body or to convert other types of stem cells into cells that can repopulate the blood system. In adults, HSCs are found in the bone marrow and bloodstream, but before birth, they can be found to a greater extent in the liver, where they multiply, or proliferate, into additional HSCs at a very high rate. Moreover, research in animals has shown that HSCs in the fetal liver are more capable of engraftment than HSCs from bone marrow. To understand what allows fetal liver HSCs to have these superior proliferation and engraftment characteristics, investigators examined the gene expression patterns that are unique to these highly potent stem cells. They combined this examination with a variety of experimental methods to characterize the protein expression and functionality of those same cells. "This in-depth analysis revealed that these stem cells express a protein on their surface called CD201 that correlates very closely with this engraftment potential and can be used to isolate functional stem cells away from other cell types," says cosenior author Alejandro B. Balazs, Ph.D., a principal investigator at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard. "This will help us improve the process of bone marrow and stem cell transplantation by allowing us to purify these cells." The enhanced understanding of the genes involved will also help scientists propagate HSCs with high engraftment potential in the lab and manipulate them to more efficiently fight blood cell-related diseases such as sickle cell anemia, HIV and certain types of cancer. "Altogether, this work has resulted in a detailed blueprint of the most potent blood stem cells and will lead to a better understanding of why these cells have such an extraordinary regenerative capacity. Such insights will allow us to create safer and more efficient therapies for patients suffering from blood disorders," says lead author Kim Vanuytsel, Ph.D., a research assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. Cosenior author George J. Murphy, Ph.D., an associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and co-founder of the BU and BMC Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM), adds that the team's openly shared resource, which has been made available in an interactive format at https://engraftable-hsc.cells.ucsc.edu, will enable new biological insights into engraftment potential and stimulate a broad range of future studies. "This important work would not have been possible without the potent, collegial collaborations that took place between Boston area institutions. This project is also a shining example of 'open source biology' at work where the freely shared information and insights can be harnessed by all for future discovery," he says. Co-authors include Carlos Villacorta-Martin, Jonathan Lindstrom-Vautrin, Zhe Wang, Wilfredo F. Garcia-Beltran, Vladimir Vrbanac, Dylan Parsons, Evan C. Lam, Taylor M. Matte, Todd W. Dowrey, Sara S. Kumar, Mengze Li, Feiya Wang, Anthony K. Yeung, Gustavo Mostoslavsky, Ruben Dries, Joshua D. Campbell, and Anna C. Belkina. Explore further Super-potent blood stem cells discovered in human embryos More information: Kim Vanuytsel et al, Multi-modal profiling of human fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells reveals the molecular signature of engraftment, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Kim Vanuytsel et al, Multi-modal profiling of human fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells reveals the molecular signature of engraftment,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28616-x SARS-CoV-2 virus particles are visible inside a heavily infected nasal cell. Credit: NIAID A new study using serum from human blood samples suggests neutralizing antibody levels produced by two-dose mRNA vaccines against the original and early variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus wane substantially over time, and offer essentially no protection against the Omicron variant. The same Ohio State University lab found in a previous study, posted on the preprint server bioRxiv, that a third COVID-19 mRNA vaccine booster shot did produce effective levels of neutralizing antibodies against Omicron. This study has not yet been peer-reviewed. "Our new work shows that two doses of mRNA vaccine do not offer protection against Omicron, and even having a breakthrough infection on top of vaccine does not help much. But our earlier study showed that the booster can really rescue the shortcomings of the two doses," said Shan-Lu Liu, the senior author of both studies and a virology professor in the Department of Veterinary Biosciences at Ohio State. The new research is published online as a First Release paper in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The researchers examined antibodies in serum samples from 48 health care professionals with experimental versions of the parent virus and the alpha, beta, delta and Omicron variants. Serum samples were collected pre-vaccination, three to four weeks after a first vaccine dose, three to four weeks after a second vaccine dose and six months after the second vaccine. "There was a substantial increase in neutralizing antibodies after the second dose against every variant except the Omicron variant," said first study author John Evans, a Ph.D. student in Ohio State's Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program who works in Liu's lab. "From the second dose to six months later, there was an at least five-fold drop in immunity, even against the parent virus." Neutralizing antibodies that block viral particles' entry into host cells are considered the gold standard of protection against COVID-19 infection. Twelve of the samples came from people suspected to have had a COVID-19 infectionat time points ranging from before vaccination to after two vaccine dosesbased on a different kind of antibody testing. And though the findings suggested a breakthrough COVID-19 infection on top of vaccination increased immunity against most versions of the virus, antibodies from only one individual with previous infection reached levels that could put up a reasonable fight against Omicron. "Overall, nobody in this study had good immunity against Omicron," said Liu, also an investigator in the university's Center for Retrovirus Research and a program co-director of the Viruses and Emerging Pathogens Program in Ohio State's Infectious Diseases Institute. The experimental viruses were what are called pseudovirusesa non-infectious viral core decorated with different SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins on the surface structured to match known mutations in the variants studied. The researchers used a special method to detect neutralizing antibodies in the health professionals' blood samples to account for the varying levels of antibodies produced by individuals. "Individuals did respond very differently to the first dose, and the same was true for the second dose," Liu said. Results also showed that people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine produced about two-fold lower levels of neutralizing antibodies than those who received the Moderna vaccine. Men also had significantly higher antibody levels compared to women against all variants over the post-vaccination time points. Liu said the dramatic reduction in immunity six months after two vaccine doses and the earlier paper's finding that a booster protects against Omicron highlight how important a third shot is to avoiding infection. "After the second vaccine dose, the neutralizing antibodies effective against Omicron dropped 23-fold, but with a booster shot, immunity dropped only three- to four-foldwhich is comparable to booster effectiveness previously reported against the delta variant," he said. "Similar observations have been made by other labs." Explore further Pfizer booster more than 50% protective against omicron More information: John P. Evans et al, Neutralizing antibody responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination wane over time and are boosted by breakthrough infection, Science Translational Medicine (2022). Journal information: Science Translational Medicine John P. Evans et al, Neutralizing antibody responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination wane over time and are boosted by breakthrough infection,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn8057 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Past research has shown that people drink more frequently and drink higher amounts of alcohol when they have more bars and restaurants in the neighborhoods where they live. But a new study, focusing on parents of young children, suggests it isn't just where people live that's importantit also matters where they spend their time. Findings showed alcohol use was related to how many bars and restaurants were near where parents shopped, where they worked and where their children went to school. "What we found suggests that parents may choose where they shop based on opportunities to engage in other activities, including drinking. They may also be cued to drink when they go out shopping or when they finish work by the convenience of nearby bars and restaurants," said Bridget Freisthler, co-author of the study and professor of social work at The Ohio State University. "If you have a tough day at work, you may stop at the nearby bar for a drink before going home. If you're out shopping with your kids, you might stop for dinner at the chain restaurant next door that serves alcohol." Freisthler conducted the study with Uwe Wernekinck, a doctoral student in social work at Ohio State. Their results were published online recently in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. The study involved 1,599 people in 30 cities in California, who participated in a telephone or web-based survey. All participants were parents or guardians with at least one child aged 10 years or younger who lived with them at least half the time. Participants answered questions that allowed researchers to calculate how frequently they drank alcohol (number of days over a year) and the total volume of alcohol they drank over a year. Data was collected before COVID-19, in 2015. All participants listed where they lived, grocery stores where they most often shopped, another store where they often shopped (such as a big box or drug store), the child's school or preschool and the parent's place of employment. The researchers then calculated the density of alcohol outletsbars and restaurants where alcohol was consumed on sitenear these sites where people spent time. (The researchers called these sites "destination nodes.") The findings confirmed other studies that suggested parents living in neighborhoods with higher bar and restaurant densities drank on more days and drank more alcohol during the past year than those living in areas with fewer such outlets. Parents who visited destination nodes with higher densities of bars and restaurants that served alcohol did not drink more frequently than others, but they did report drinking more total alcohol over the course of a year than did others. "We can't tell how they spread out their drinking over the course of the year, but it is concerning that parents who frequent these areas with bars and restaurants are indeed consuming more alcohol," Freisthler said. Freisthler said the data doesn't show if parents had children with them when they drank alcohol. "But that's something to pay attention to," she said. "Based on where parents reported going, these were places where they could bundle a lot of errands together at one time and could likely have their kids with them. They could go shopping and then go to a chain restaurant that serves alcohol, but is still appropriate to bring children, unlike a bar or pub. It gives parents opportunities to drink." The issue is not that parents may have an occasional beer or wine at a restaurant with their children present, Freisthler said. But studies, including this one, show that people drink more alcohol when there are more places that serve alcohol nearby. "Are there additional risks in terms of how people parent their kids, such as drinking and driving? That's what we should be worried about," she said. Explore further Frequent drinkers are more likely to neglect supervising their children More information: Bridget Freisthler et al, Examining how the geographic availability of alcohol within residential neighborhoods, activity spaces, and destination nodes is related to alcohol use by parents of young children, Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2022). Journal information: Drug and Alcohol Dependence Bridget Freisthler et al, Examining how the geographic availability of alcohol within residential neighborhoods, activity spaces, and destination nodes is related to alcohol use by parents of young children,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109352 Credit: Christine M. Gall Neuroscience research suggests that adult male rodents and humans perform better than females on spatial tasks. These are tasks that involve the ability to understand and remember the spatial relationships between different objects in space. Past findings also suggest that males have a lower threshold for the long-term potentiation (LTP) of synapses in the CA3 and CA1 regions of hippocampus, which are known to be associated with learning and memory. While these findings agree with several past studies, knowledge of the cellular mechanisms of LTP and learning have come from studies of male rodents, instead of comparing mechanisms of males with those of females at different stages of development. Researchers at University of California, Irvine have recently carried out a study investigating sex differences in LTP and memory that might emerge during adolescence. Interestingly, their findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggest that hippocampal spatial learning is in fact better in prepubescent female rodents, yet this trend is reversed in adulthood. The recent study was primarily conducted by Aliza A. Le, a graduate student at UC Irvine, under the supervision of Christine M. Gall and Gary Lynch. "My colleague Gary Lynch and I have been studying mechanisms of LTP and hippocampus based learning, for some time now," Christine M. Gall, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told MedicalXpress. "In 2018, we published a paper reporting sex differences in the specific mechanisms of potentiation in hippocampal CA1, which is the area we study in this particular paper." CA1 is one of the primary brain regions examined when investigating the neural mechanisms of learning. The first reason for this is that it is a simply organized structure, thus it is easy to image and study. The second is that it is known to be associated with spatial learning and episodic memory (i.e., personal memories of everyday events). "Gabrielle Rune in Germany was the first to report that LTP depended on estrogen in females and not in males," Gall explained. "Based on these findings, my research team and I worked out some of the chemical signaling pathways at the synapse that underlie this sex difference between males and females and also showed that in females they had a higher LTP threshold." In their previous work, Gall, Lynch and their colleagues found that it was harder to induce LTP in female rodents than in males. As LTP is thought to be a primary cellular mechanism behind learning, their findings suggested that females learn spatial tasks at a different or slower pace than males. "LTP is the change that occurs in your brain with at least some forms of learning," Gall said. "Our findings suggested there would be a different learning threshold in females and our findings showed that this was the case." The researchers observed that when learning to complete spatial tasks, which are known to be associated with activity in the hippocampal CA1 region, females required a bit more training than males. Given that one of the key differences between the sexes is estrogen, a hormone that plays a key role in the reproductive development of females, Gall and her colleagues decided to take a closer look at LTP and hippocampal learning in females before and after puberty, which is when estrogen levels increase in females. "Originally, we thought there would be no sex differences before puberty, but that was not the case," Gall explained. "We found that there was a very robust sex difference, but we were really surprised to find that females had a lower threshold for both LTP and learning than did males. So, before puberty they learned more readily and with less training than males and it took less electrical stimulation to elicit LTP in the females than males." The researchers then tried to block the major estrogen receptor that mediated synaptic plasticity in the female rodents' brain. They found that hippocampal learning was influenced by the same estrogen receptor both before and after puberty. "In our recent study, we took a step back from what had observed in adult rodents, to see if the LTP threshold was different and found that this functional plasticity was more readily induced in females," Gall said. "First, we firmly documented this statistically and then we started testing hypotheses as to what the difference we observed might be." When conducting their experiments, the researchers relied on the expertise of Lynch, who has been conducting electrophysiology-based experiments focusing on the CA1 and CA3 hippocampal regions for a long time. Based on the findings he gathered in his previous studies, Lynch hypothesized that changes in inhibition might be at the root of the changes in LTP and learning observed in females. "When you stimulate brain regions over time, normally a few things happen," Gall explained. "If you apply four short pulses, normally there's an increase in response and then it declines. That's because the first response also activates inhibitory interneurons, which suppress later responses in a short train. That suppression was not evident prior to puberty." Essentially, the researchers observed that before puberty, female rodents did not exhibit this inhibition (i.e., a period during which neuronal responses are suppressed). This observation inspired them to further examine specific responses that could be associated with the activity of an excitatory receptor, known as the NMDA receptor. "We were getting greater activation of the NMDA receptors in the females," Gall said. "This would be consistent with changes in inhibition occurring in females during puberty." In their experiments, the team also used a technique for looking at proteins at synapses, developed by their lab. While there are other existing methods for examining proteins at a high resolution, most of these are slow and do not evaluate large numbers of synapses. On the other hand, the analytical technique created by Gall and her colleagues can be used to simply take images of tens of thousands of synapses within a shorter time frame and to measure proteins at those synapses using automated systems. This approach can be used to quantify GABA receptors and NMDA receptors, as well as inhibitory synapses, in a rodent's brain at different points in time. "We found that there wasn't a change in the number of inhibitory synapses with age, but the protein composition of those synapses changed," Gall said. "We made a list of GABA receptor proteins that we wanted to to look at, but prioritized some, because certain inhibitory synaptic receptors are known to be more prevalent in dendrites, as opposed to cell bodies. We focused on these, as well as on ones that past studies suggested were regulated by steroids." These studies identified a specific protein that changes at inhibitory synapses with age, and then using a drug that blocks the action of this protein, that learning in adult females could be enhanced to levels observed in prepubescent animals. The findings gathered by this team of researchers could have numerous important implications. Firstly, they provide new insight about possible sex differences in learning, showing that females might simply learn differently than males. "Frequently, when exploring an environment, even if they're just looking at a picture, females tend to explore it more thoroughly compared to males, instead of only looking at the cues within that environment," Gall explained. "So, they really seem to be using a different learning strategy and in some tests that require participants to look at something and quickly get the answer, the female strategy is not going to be optimal." Remarkably, when they compared the performance of female rodents to that of male rodents on a nonspatial task, namely a task that involved identifying objects, they found that they were matched, with neither sex outperforming the other. On the two spatial tasks they employed, on the other hand, females performed better than males before puberty and worse than males after puberty. "One thought that we've had is that the higher threshold in females might have advantages in situations where people don't need to encode everything they encounter," Gall said. "Females may have a better filter for environmental noise and will be somewhat more specific about the things that they remember, whereas in the males the filter is set a little bit lower and there's going to be more encoding including non-salient cues." In their future studies, Gall and her colleagues would like to test out their hypothesis, to determine whether the learning strategy used by females might be more advantageous when completing some tasks than others. To do this, however, they would first need to come up with new tasks that might favor the different learning strategies they hypothesized. So far, most studies exploring learning mechanisms in the brain were conducted on male rodents, male primates, or other male animals. As a result, neuroscientists have a good understanding of learning mechanisms, encoding and synaptic plasticity in the male brain, yet they are unsure about the extent to which they match those in the female brain. "Our study highlights the fact that we've been walking right past a system that's got some fundamental mechanistic differences; even though we have a lot of neuropsychiatric disorders that are more prevalent in females, the vast majority of our studies focus on males," Gall said. "For example, more females have greater incidence of depression and anxiety, which often arise with the onset of puberty, so to better understand these disorders we need more studies on females." The recent work by Gall and her colleagues outlines the possible reasons why the threshold for synaptic plasticity changes in females during puberty. However, it does not explain why hippocampal learning in males improves in males after puberty. "It's not just the females that are changing, the males are also changing, but we don't really know why," Gall said. "As we did not see a change in inhibition in males over that age frame, which is a major phenomenon in the females, we're now looking at the signaling activities of neurotransmitter receptors in males, to try to understand why their encoding mechanism is also changing during adolescence." Neuroscience studies have found that LTP learning is associated with a change in the shape of synapses in the brain. In the past, Gall's team and other neuroscientists have been trying to better understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie this shape change. In their next studies, the researchers at UC Irvine also plan to investigate the possible reasons why these molecular processes are more readily triggered in males as they enter adult life. "Concurrently, we would also like to try to unveil the consequences of the sex differences we identified, to understand if there are instances where having a higher threshold for encoding is actually adaptive or beneficial," Gall said. Previously, Gall and Lynch also conducted studies on male rodents evaluating the potential of spaced training. Spaced training essentially entails trying to teach rodents where objects are in a maze. The team found that intermittently removing them from the maze so that they could process what they learned led to more efficient learning. These findings suggest that spaced training is very beneficial for training male rodents. In their future works, they would like to try to determine whether it is also advantageous for female rodents. "Aliza Le, the graduate student who led the study, was thrilled to find that the females were doing better than the males before puberty and now plans to explore this finding further," Gall added. "I think we all want to see where this can go and understand the impact of these differences on learning, as well as on other domains, such as psychological disorders." Explore further Study reveals neurobiological processes occurring during puberty that trigger sex differences in learning and memory More information: Prepubescent female rodents have enhanced hippocampal LTP and learning relative to males, reversing in adulthood as inhibition increases. Nature Neuroscience(2022). Journal information: Nature Neuroscience Prepubescent female rodents have enhanced hippocampal LTP and learning relative to males, reversing in adulthood as inhibition increases.(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-021-01001-5 2022 Science X Network Human intestinal organoids used in this study to model the impact of BMP signaling on differentiation. Credit: Joep Beumer, Jens Puschhof and Fjodor Yousef Yengej, Copyright Hubrecht Institute. Intestinal cells can change specializations during their lives. The BMP signaling pathwayan important communication mechanism between cellsappears to be the driver of these changes. That is what scientists from the groups of Hans Clevers (Hubrecht Instituut) and Ye-Guang Chen (Tshinghua University, Beijing) have concluded after research with organoids and mice. The study will be published in Cell Reports on 1 March 2022 and offers new insights into potential targets for the treatment of metabolic diseases. The intestinal wall is made up of different types of cells. Some are for instance responsible for the uptake of nutrients, while others produce hormones. It was long thought that after their formation, intestinal cells specialize in one function that they continuously perform until they die. However, recent studies show that these cells can change specializations. Researchers from the groups of Hans Clevers and Ye-Guang Chen (Tsinghua University, Beijing) now discovered that these changes are driven by the BMP signaling pathway. Driver of change The BMP signaling pathway is one of many signaling pathways in the body. Such pathways form lines of communications between cells: with the production of a protein by one cell, it gives a signal to the next cell, which in turn produces proteins. Eventually, this whole cascade of protein production triggers certain processesfor example processes that are important during embryonic development. Joep Beumer, one of the researchers on the project, explains: "We knew that BMP signaling plays an important role in the initial specialization of intestinal cells. What we now discovered, is that it is also the driver of changes in the specializations of these cells over their lifetimes. Migration Intestinal cells arise from stem cells that lie in indentations (i.e. the crypts) of the intestinal wall. These intestinal cells then migrate up the intestinal villi. During their migration, they perform a certain function, for example the absorption of nutrients or the production of hormones. Once they reach the top of the villi, they die. "The function of intestinal cells changes during their migration along the villi. They for example produce antimicrobial components in the lower parts of the villi (at the start), while they are involved in absorbing fats later on in their journey," says Beumer. This gradual change in the function of the cells is called zonation. "At the same time, the BMP signaling pathway is not very active in the crypts and in the lower parts of the villi, while it becomes more and more active higher up in the villi. Zonated markers (Reg3g, red; Apoc3, green; Pmp22, purple) are enriched in different parts of the intestinal villus (left panel). Loss of BMP signaling (right panel) disturbs zonated gene expression: bottom villus markers increase at the expense of top villus markers. Markers are stained using fluorescent in situ hybridization. Credit: Joep Beumer, Jens Puschhof and Fjodor Yousef Yengej, Copyright Hubrecht Institute Human organoids The scientists at the Clevers lab used intestinal organoids for their research. These are tiny 3D structures that can be grown in the lab and that mimic the function of the gut. In these miniature guts, the researchers were able to mimic conditions of low or high BMP signaling, similar to the altering environment along the intestinal villi. Using "Single cell RNA sequencing," a technique that makes it possible to see which genes are active and which ones are not, they made a surprising discovery. Jens Puschhof explains: "When BMP was active in the organoids, the cells in these miniature guts were identical to the cells located in the top of the villi, while inactivation of BMP made the cells in the organoids resemble the cells located in the lower parts of the villi. In other words, zonation turned out to be dependent on the BMP signaling pathway." Mouse model The results found in organoids had to be confirmed in living organisms. Colleagues from the group of Ye-Guang Chen used a mouse model in which BMP signaling could be turned off in the gut. In mice with an inactive BMP signaling pathway in the gut, intestinal cells no longer changed specializations during their migration from the crypts to the villi. "That confirmed our conclusion: BMP signaling is the driver behind zonation of intestinal cells," says Beumer. Methodological implications The study, to be published in Cell Reports, has important implications for the use of organoids for research. "Normally, researchers inhibit BMP signaling in organoids," says Fjodor Yousef Yengej. "Although this proved beneficial for growth, not all functions of the gut are represented in these cultures." Activation of BMP signaling may be required for research into certain topics, such as fat absorption. Treatment of metabolic diseases In addition to providing these new fundamental insights into the functions of intestinal cells during their lives, the study may ultimately contribute to the development of new treatments for metabolic diseases. "In certain metabolic diseases, there is an accumulation of fat in parts of the body such as the liver, or an imbalance in gut hormones. We now know that active BMP signaling stimulates fat absorption, so if we can inhibit signaling in these patients, we can also influence fat absorption," Beumer concludes. BMP inhibitors targeting the gut are yet to be developed, but would have broad beneficial effects on metabolism. Explore further Mini-guts reveal crucial forces that shape the intestinal lining More information: Hans Clevers, A BMP gradient along the intestinal villus axis controls zonated enterocyte and goblet cell states, Cell Reports (2022). www.cell.com/cell-reports/full 2211-1247(22)00165-6 Journal information: Cell Reports Hans Clevers, A BMP gradient along the intestinal villus axis controls zonated enterocyte and goblet cell states,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110438 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An international research team from universities including Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, the University of Padua and the University of Udine in Italy, and the University of Vienna, Austria, has developed a new theoretical model to better assess the risks of spreading viruses such as COVID-19with and without a face mask. The results show how the standard 'safe' distance of two meters does not always apply but varies greatly depending on a range of environmental factors, and that face masks can indeed play a crucial role. The current recommendations and understanding around the transmission of respiratory infectious diseases are often based on a diagram developed by the American scientist William Firth Wells in 1934. But this model is very simplified and does not account for the true complexity of transmission. Now, in the new study "Modelling the direct virus exposure risk associated with respiratory events," the researchers developed a more advanced model to show that it is possible to more efficiently calculate the direct risk of spreading COVID infection by including a number of factors, such as interpersonal distance, temperature, humidity levels, viral load and type of exhalation. They also managed to demonstrate how these risks change with and without a face mask. The study revealed, for example, that a person talking without a face mask can spread infected droplets one meter away. Should the same person cough, the drops can be spread up to three meters and if the person sneezes, the spread distance can be up to seven meters. But using a face mask, the risk of spreading the infection decreases significantly. "If you wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask, the risk of infection is reduced to such an extent that it is practically negligibleeven if you're only standing one meter away from an infected person," explains Gaetano Sardina, Associate Professor of Fluid Mechanics at the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences at Chalmers University of Technology, who is one of the researchers behind the study. In the study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, the researchers tested the new model using data from recent numerical experiments on droplet emissions. This allowed them to take several factors into account and quantify the risk of infection, with and without a face mask. Size a factor in droplet behavior Viruses, such as SARS-COV-2, are spread from an infected individual to other susceptible individuals through virus-filled droplets that are released when talking, coughing, or sneezing. Droplets emitted from the salivary glands are sprayed out through the exhaled air. Once out of the mouth, these drops can either evaporate, settle or remain floating. Larger and heavier droplets tend to fall in a ballistic motion before evaporating, while smaller droplets behave like aerosols that spray and remain airborne. The results show that a surgical face mask and, to an even greater extent, an FFP2 mask provide excellent protection that significantly reduces the risk of infection. Provided that the face mask is worn correctly, the risk of infection is negligible even at distances as short as one meter, regardless of environmental conditions and if the person is talking, coughing or sneezing. Next step: A study on airborne spread With this study complete, the research team is now already working on a new study aiming to explore the airborne spread of the disease. "The published study addresses direct droplet transmission of COVIDanother important transmission path is the indirect and airborne route in poorly ventilated rooms. We are currently working on this aspect and our preliminary results show the effectiveness of face masks inalso preventing the airborne spread of the disease," says Gaetano Sardina. The study, "Modelling the direct virus exposure risk associated with respiratory events," is published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. Explore further New study identifies most effective face-mask practices to reduce spread of infection More information: Jietuo Wang et al, Modelling the direct virus exposure risk associated with respiratory events, Journal of The Royal Society Interface (2022). Journal information: Journal of the Royal Society Interface Jietuo Wang et al, Modelling the direct virus exposure risk associated with respiratory events,(2022). DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0819 A study led by Mark Garofoli with West Virginia University's School of Pharmacy, revealed the public's knowledge and perceptions of over-the-counter pain medications is lacking. In a survey of 1,174 people, 85% answered two-thirds of questions about OTC pain meds incorrectly. Credit: WVU Photo/Jennifer Shephard Drug misuse is not exclusive to the opioid epidemic, according to a recent West Virginia Universitystudy. Every year, about 50,000 people in the United States are admitted to the emergency room due to misuse of a common over-the-counter pain medicationacetaminophen. With that in mind, Mark Garofoli, director of experiential learning at the WVU School of Pharmacy, spearheaded research that revealed that the public's knowledge and perceptions of OTC pain meds is lacking. In a survey of 1,174 West Virginians, 85% of respondents answered two-thirds of questions about OTC pain meds incorrectly. "Society needs more education on over-the-counter pain medications," said Garofoli, a clinical assistant professor. "The real issue is figuring out how, where and when to provide the information. As with most issues, it isn't viewed as important until it's staring one in the face while on a gurney in an ER." Garofoli and his team posed questions to participants on how they perceived OTC medication, followed by nine fact-based questions about acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Only two of the 1,174 respondents answered all nine questions correctly. One question included, "What is the largest amount of OTC acetaminophen 500 mg tablets anyone can swallow in one day before contacting a healthcare professional?" The answer is six. That question reminds Garofoli of his time working at a beach town pharmacy, where a tall man in a cowboy hat asked him what he recommended for back pain. "I asked, 'Well, what have you tried?' The gentleman replied, 'I tried Tylenol and that ain't worth anything.'" Garofoli then asked him how much he took, to which the customer responded, "Well, 57 yesterday and 23 today (as of 10 a.m. that day)." "We then continued the conversation to discuss just how important it was for him to receive urgent medical care because if he did not," Garofoli said, "within a day or so he would be turning yellow, and in another day, he wouldn't be able to seek said care anymore." Side effects of OTC pain medication, Garofoli noted, can include upset stomach, liver damage (from acetaminophen) and blood thinning and stomach bleeding (from aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen). Another concerning finding revealed itself when participants were asked, "Whom do you ask questions regarding OTC pain medication?" 46% said "family members." "Although healthcare professionals are viewed as organic sources of this information, concern can arise when people rely upon mere family members for this healthcare information," Garofoli said. OTC use of pain medication has likely exacerbated since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the lockdown of healthcare systems, staffing shortages and longer wait times, Garofoli theorized. Because of this, he believes education and awareness are more vital than ever. "Over-the-counter pain medications are the needle in the haystack of an opioid crisis fueled primarily by needles full of more provocative substances," he said. "Just because over-the-counter pain medications are sold at dollar stores, grocery stores and flea markets everywhere, universal safety is not implied." As for the beach town pharmacy cowboy, Garofoli urged him to check into the nearest hospital. A few days later, the man came back to the pharmacy. "He came up to the counter saying, 'Hey doc, I was told to shake your hand. Apparently, you saved my life,'" Garofoli recalled. "After exchanging pleasantries, I said, 'Well, now let's talk about that back pain of yours.'" The encounter would also set the stage for Garofoli to partner with West Virginia high school students interested in science on this research. After sharing the story of the beach town cowboy with Health Sciences colleagues Shafic Sraj and Ahmad Hanif, they agreed they needed to compose a plan to prevent those occurrences from happening. Garofoli got inspiration from a weekly Teaching Scholars session when Cathy Morton, director of the Health Sciences and Technology Academy, spoke about providing opportunities for high school students in the realm of science and technology. Garofoli and his team collaborated with HSTA students, who screened the lay public for knowledge regarding OTC pain medications. "COVID hit but our high schoolers persevered by pivoting to electronic means of research involving numerous community members," Garofoli said. The research was presented at PAINWeek 2021, a conference for frontline practitioners treating acute and chronic pain. "We, as healthcare professionals, need to educate the public on the safe utilization of over-the-counter pain medications," Garofoli said. "Legality and access mean nothing to a chemical that is already in a human body. Regardless of whether a substance (medication) is illegal or legal, requires a prescription or is available at a dollar store, the substance can cause incredible relief or tragic devastation." Explore further Can antidepressant medication alleviate pain in patients with osteoarthritis? Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, has analyzed, for the first time, the relationship between exposure to different green spaces and oxidative stress in children. The study concluded that greater exposure to vegetation is associated with lower levels of oxidative stress and that this association is observed regardless of the children's physical activity. Oxygen is essential for numerous biochemical reactions that keep us alive, but its oxidation process generates harmful reactive substances that the body cannot always neutralize quickly or which cause damage that the body is unable to repair. This results in what is known as oxidative stress, which causes aging or even illness. To date, various studies have shown that having green spaces in the vicinity of one's home has a positive effect on health, especially because greenness improves mental health and encourages physical exercise, thereby reducing the risk of overweight or obesity. But less attention has been paid to the direct effects of vegetation on biological processes, such as inflammation and oxidative stress. This is particularly important for understanding the role that green spaces can play in respiratory and allergic diseases. Study Analyzed Over 300 Italian Children In order to determine whether green spaces might be associated with lower levels of oxidative stress in children, and also whether physical activity plays a role in this possible association, the researchers analyzed 323 healthy children aged 8-11 years from five primary schools in Asti, a small city in north-western Italy. Parents completed a questionnaire on how often their children engaged in physical activity. Oxidative stress was quantified in urine by measuring the concentration of the compound isoprostane. Residential and school greenness were defined according to the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and vegetated portion was also estimated. Multisite exposures were obtained accounting for NDVI around the children's homes and schools, weighted for the time spent in each location. Possible Explanations Several biological mechanisms could explain this direct link between green space and oxidative stress in children. Firstly, "increased exposure to these areas may contribute to children's immune development by bringing them into contact with organisms that tend to colonize natural environments," commented last author Judith Garcia-Aymerich, researcher and head of the Non-Communicable Diseases and Environment Programme at ISGlobal. Secondly, contact with green spaces can increase vitamin D synthesis due to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight. Vitamin D acts as an antioxidant that prevents the negative effects of oxidative stress and inflammation. Finally, vegetation improves air quality in urban areas. No Effect Found for Physical Activity Although proximity to green space has been associated with increased physical activity, which in turn affects oxidative stress, the study found no evidence that exercise was involved in the association between green space and oxidative stress. Garcia-Aymerich concluded that "the short- and long-term health effects of excess oxidative stress are unknown, so we need to conduct further research and support city and public-health strategies that favor greenness." The research was published in Environmental Research. Explore further Children with higher exposure to air pollution and lower exposure to green space have 62% increased risk of ADHD More information: Giulia Squillacioti et al, Multisite greenness exposure and oxidative stress in children. The potential mediating role of physical activity, Environmental Research (2022). Journal information: Environmental Research Giulia Squillacioti et al, Multisite greenness exposure and oxidative stress in children. The potential mediating role of physical activity,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112857 HUman thyroid gland anatomy illustration. Credit: purple carrot nutrition/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Thyroid cancer is the most common type of endocrine cancer in children. Because it is bilateralaffecting both sides (lobes) of the thyroidin more than one third of pediatric patients, initial treatment typically involves a total thyroidectomy, the surgical removal of the entire thyroid gland. However, removal of only the affected lobea lobectomyhas come to be recognized as adequate treatment for most low-risk thyroid cancers in adults. This is an advantage because a lobectomy has fewer risks than a total thyroidectomy and usually does not result in a lifelong need for thyroid medication. Now, findings from a recent study by researchers at Boston Children's Thyroid Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital suggest that lobectomy could also be an option for some children and teens with less aggressive thyroid cancer. Rethinking thyroidectomy The research team reviewed the medical records of 115 children and adolescents who underwent a total thyroidectomy at Boston Children's or Brigham and Women's between 1998 and 2020. Ninety percent had papillary carcinoma, the most common type of thyroid cancer. After analyzing the data, the team found that only multifocalityhaving more than one tumorin the primary cancerous lobe was independently associated with bilateral disease. This is consistent with the intuitive idea that tumors that have spread through one lobe of the thyroid are more likely to have spread also to the other lobe, says the Thyroid Center's medical director Ari Wassner, MD, who led the study. The study also arrived at another key finding. Children who had papillary carcinoma tumors with only a single focus in the primary lobeand no signs that cancer had spread to the lymph nodeswere far less likely to have thyroid cancer in the other thyroid lobe. For patients such as these, a lobectomy might suffice, allowing clinicians to spare part of the thyroid and limit possible complications. More research could further change the field Although more research is needed, the studypublished last year in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolismaims to build the body of evidence to help optimize the care of children with thyroid cancer, Wassner says. Perhaps, he says, endocrinologists and surgeons will approach treatment of less-aggressive thyroid cancers with the thinking that decisions about the extent of thyroid surgery don't have to be guided solely by the concern for bilateral disease. Explore further Consumer Health: Understanding thyroid cancer risk Luxembourg-headquartered Orion Engineered Carbons, a specialty chemical company, has begun commercial sales in Italy from the first new reactor for carbon black production to be commissioned in the European Union in over 40 years. The new 25-kilotonne line at the facility in Ravenna, in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, produces both specialty and technical rubber carbon blacks, primarily for the European market. The new line offers customers seeking long-term solutions a unique strategic opportunity to align with a dependable plant that has been operating for more than 60 years in Europe, Orion CEO Corning Painter said. Additional investments at the plant include a new co-generation facility to convert waste heat into electricity, generating up to 120 MWh of electricity per year. Seventy percent of the electricity is supplied to the national grid, serving about 30,000 households. Orion is a net exporter of electricity in Europe and worldwide. Orion Engineered Carbons is a leading global supplier of carbon black.-- TradeArabia News Service FIG. 1. Plasma neutralizing titers against variants of concern wane over time in samples from an outpatient COVID-19 infection cohort.(A) Study participants were enrolled (day 0) within three days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (+PCR). Longitudinal plasma samples from day 28 (n=23), day 210 (n=23) and day 300 (n=8) were assessed against D614, Delta, Beta and Omicron. (B) The kinetics of half-maximal SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus neutralizing titers (pNT50) over time are shown. Dotted lines indicate baseline mean pNT50 obtained from seronegative subjects. Solid lines connect samples from the same participant. (C) Mean pNT50 values are shown across study time-points of all 4 pseudovirus variants. Values that were significantly different from D614 at each time point are marked with a star. (D) Ratios of pNT50 values of the indicated variants of concern over D614 pNT50 at each study time point are shown. Horizontal bars indicate median values. p values in (B to D) were calculated using mixed effects analysis with Geisser-Greenhouse correction and Tukey's multiple comparisons test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Credit: DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn7842 Virologists thought they had seen the worst of SARS-CoV-2's variants when delta emerged in the spring of 2021, but by fall a new one was in circulation with a slew of spike protein mutations that took the scientific community off guard. "The omicron variant harbors a striking 59 amino acid substitutions throughout its genome relative to the ancestral Wuhan-hu-1 SARS-CoV-2 virus," said Dr. Gene S. Tan, assistant professor at the J. Craig Venter Institute, reporting in Science Translational Medicine. Working with a team of Venter Institute scientists in La Jolla, California and Rockville, Maryland, Tan and colleagues conducted a series of elegant laboratory experiments to better understand how omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variantsespecially the one known as betaelude neutralizing antibodies. They found that the secret to antibody evasion is tucked away in the multiple mutations that pervade each of the viruses. Unlike its cousin variants, omicron is chock-full of mutations, more than any other SARS-CoV-2 variant that has so far caused waves of infection in the pandemic. Among the 59 mutations that characterize omicron, the majority are concentrated in the business end of the virusthe spike, the protein that unlocks human cells to initiate infection. "Thirty-seven of these mutations are within the spike protein'", said Tan, referring to omicron. And the spikes are the targets of neutralizing antibodies. If the antibodies can't bind to the spikes, they are unable to easily neutralize the virus. "This degree of mutational change raises questions about the effectiveness of neutralizing antibodies that were elicited by infection with SARS-CoV-2 or by current mRNA vaccines," Tan and his colleagues concluded. The Venter Institute research arrives as scientists worldwide attempt to peel away much of the mystery surrounding SARS-C-oV-2 variantsespecially omicron. Also known as BA.1, omicron is a variant that emerged in the southern region of Africa in late 2021, and it has rocked the world with renewed waves of infection. Even though its surges have already peaked in many parts of the globe, it is still wreaking havoc, forcing healthcare systems to the brink of collapse. In Hong Kong, so many people have been infected in recent weeks, doctors and nurses are treating patients in parking lots, driveways and sidewalks because they've run out of space in hospitals. In addition to its multiple mutations, omicron also has sub-variant siblings, such as BA.1.1 and BA.2 that are subjects of new rounds of scientific investigation. As with any infectious virus, omicron has a multitude of tricks: shape-shifting is one, a maneuver that makes it difficult for antibodies to bind to a spike protein's altered conformation. A lavish swathing in glycans (sugar-based polymers) is another. The glycans act as an invisibility coat, obscuring spike proteins from antibodies on the hunt for viruses. The Venter team, which included lead author Benjamin L. Sievers, collaborated with researchers at Stanford University and the University of Maryland to better understand which SARS-CoV-2 variants were most adept at escaping antibodies. They found that omicron and another variant of concern, beta, were most adept at dodging antibodies. The findings coincide with discoveries from other researchers globally who've found that escaping antibodies is an evolutionary goal of SARS-CoV-2, and that omicron has proved to be most masterful at antibody escape. Its high degree of contagion, scientists say, has been based largely on its ability to evade the immune system. To define how efficiently omicron and other variants escape neutralizing antibodies, Tan and colleagues used serum and plasma samples from patients to simulate in the laboratory some of the types of human populations that encounter the virus: people who are vaccinated, those who are vaccinated and boosted, and people who have had a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. They also took samples from pregnant women because that population is one of the most vulnerable when it comes to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pregnant women included in the research had previously received two mRNA shots. Samples for this part of the study were drawn from individuals participating in a longitudinal cohort project and were diagnosed as having had mild SARS-CoV-2 infections. All patients were enrolled in an outpatient study at Stanford Hospital Center. This study was a trial evaluating the efficacy of interferon lambda in mild COVID-19, but only participants from the placebo arm were studied in the Venter Institute investigation. Omicron wasn't examined in isolation but in comparison to a range of other SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the original Wuhan-hu1-virus, the strain that initiated the worldwide pandemic. Tan and colleagues refer to the Wuhan variant in their paper as D614. "We evaluated the magnitude and breadth of the antibody response against the D614 virus along with three variants of concern: beta, delta and omicron," Tan wrote. "Understanding these neutralizing antibody responses will enable us to assess the state of pre-existing immunity elicited by the [Wuhan] virus and can inform the design of the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines." To compare the antibody responseand escape capacityamong SARS-CoV-2 variants, the scientists used a pseudovirus that was coaxed to express the spike proteins and mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant. Pseudoviruses were likewise coaxed to express the spike proteins of other SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the original wildtypeor Wuhan-hu1 variantand the beta and delta variants. These viruses were tested in serum or plasma samples from the groups of individuals to evaluate antibody responses. "Using vesicular stomatitis virus, VSV, pseudoparticles expressing the spike protein of several SARS-CoV-2 variants, we evaluated the magnitude and breadth of the neutralizing antibody response over time in individuals after infection and in mRNA-vaccinated individuals," Tan wrote in Science Translational Medicine, noting that booster doses increased the magnitude of the antibody response to the Wuhan, beta, delta and omicron variants. However, neutralizing antibody activity remained lowest against omicron, even involving samples from people who were boosted. "We observed that boosting increases the magnitude of the antibody response to wildtype, beta, delta, and omicron variants. However, the omicron variant was the most resistant to [antibody] neutralization," Tan concluded, based on the research results. The antibody response was low when beta and omicron variants were tested against samples from people with prior SARS-CoV-2 infections, especially when compared with the delta and Wuhan variants. The findings arrive as the World Health Organization consideredbut declinedgiving omicron's sub-variant, BA.2, its own Greek letter. There is no need to parse omicron into different viruses with their own names, WHO's experts in pandemic viruses concluded. "Omicron is a variant of concern that is dominant worldwide, and we know this from sequencing around the world," said Dr. Maria Van Kerhove, who leads the agency's emerging and zoonotic diseases unit. "Omicron is less severe than delta, but it is not a mild virus. This is a dangerous virus and there are still some countries that are seeing an overwhelmed hospital system," Van Kerkhove said. The Venter Institute team, meanwhile, noted findings from their study raised special concerns about pregnant women. There was a lower antibody response in samples obtained during pregnancy, even though the women had received two doses of an mRNA vaccine. Pregnancy, they underscored, is a risk factor for severe COVID-19. Results from their newly completed research suggest that ways should be sought to increase vaccination among pregnant women, an understudied and vulnerable population. Explore further Efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against omicron studied More information: Benjamin L. Sievers et al, Antibodies elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection or mRNA vaccines have reduced neutralizing activity against Beta and Omicron pseudoviruses, Science Translational Medicine (2022). Journal information: Science Translational Medicine Benjamin L. Sievers et al, Antibodies elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection or mRNA vaccines have reduced neutralizing activity against Beta and Omicron pseudoviruses,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn7842 2022 Science X Network Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain French-Austrian biotech firm Valneva on Tuesday said its COVID-19 vaccine received emergency authorisation for use in Bahrain, the first approval for its jab. Valneva committed to supplying the Gulf kingdom with one million doses in an advance purchase agreement last year and plans to deliver the first batches at the end of March. The jab, which uses the traditional technology of inactivated virus, "will offer an alternative vaccine to the Bahraini population and medical community", said Valneva president Thomas Lingelbach. Bahrain has reported more than 1,400 COVID-related deaths and cases exceed 500,000. More than 70 percent of the population has received at least one vaccine dose. Valneva says it remains "determined" to gain further authorisation for the VLA2001 jab. It hopes to receive conditional approval for use in the European Union by the end of March. The company has agreed with the European Commission to supply the bloc with up to 60 million doses by 2023. Explore further Franco-Austrian firm Valneva wins EU COVID jab deal 2022 AFP TUESDAY, March 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Wanderlust has become a strong incentive for Americans to get COVID-19 vaccines, a new study finds. The bucket list beckons, and "many people consider travel an essential part of their lifestyle and a contributor to their sense of well-being," said study lead author Dogan Gursoy, a professor in hospitality business management at Washington State University. "They'll weigh the value of travel experiences they might miss by not being vaccinated against the vaccines possible risks, Gursoy said in a university news release. The study included more than 1,000 U.S. residents who were asked to rate their travel desire on a 5-point scale. Those with a strong travel desire were less likely to say they were concerned about potential vaccine side effects or long-term complications and were more likely to say they would get vaccinated. Even among the 266 respondents who previously said they would not get vaccinated, their vaccine hesitancy weakened when a strong urge to travel was combined with messages about COVID vaccine safety and the potential consequences -- including spreading the coronavirus to loved ones -- of not getting vaccinated. The findings about travel desire and vaccination intention were true even for people who didn't have upcoming vacation plans or business trips, according to the study. The results appear in the journal Tourism Management. Since early 2020, Gursoy has led efforts to track the pandemic's effect on the hospitality and tourism industries. About 5,000 people have answered questions about vaccines in the past surveys, and about 30% consistently say they wont get the COVID-19 vaccine. These new findings could help guide the travel and tourism industry's recovery from the pandemic, according to the researchers. "Appealing to people's longing for a vacation getaway could help overcome their vaccine hesitancy, resulting in higher vaccination rates and reductions in COVID-related travel restrictions and advisories," Gursoy said. More information For more on COVID-19 and travel, go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SOURCE: Washington State University, news release, Feb. 25, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Missoula County added nine new cases of COVID on Monday, bringing the county to 320 active reports. Residents between the ages of 20-29 account for just under 22% of all active cases in the county, the most of any age demographic. They are followed by residents aged 30-39 who make up 20.4% of active cases. The latest surge caused by the highly contagious omicron variant peaked in Missoula County on Feb. 6, when there were 3,647 active reports. Active cases in the county have declined by over 90% since the latest peak. Just as the number of new cases has fallen, so has the countys seven-day positivity rate as well as its incident rate, which is the seven-day average of new COVID cases per 100,000 residents. The incident rate for the county is at 20, which is the lowest it's been since Dec. 28. The county is still considered to be experiencing accelerated spread as the incident rate is between 10-24 cases. Missoula Countys seven-day positivity rate sits at 13.19%. There are eight residents and seven non-residents hospitalized with COVID, according to county data. No new deaths were reported among residents in the last week. There have been a total 201 deaths due to COVID-related illness. The countys COVID vaccination rate is holding steady with 72.91% of eligible residents that have received at least one dose. Those 5 years old and over are eligible to receive a vaccine at this time. At this point, 63.53% of all county residents are vaccinated against COVID. COVID in schools As the latest wave of cases caused by the omicron variant wanes, both Missoula County Public Schools and the University of Montana have relaxed their mask policies. Last Thursday, the university announced that masks would no longer be required in all non-classroom environments. Face coverings will be required to be worn in classrooms and teaching labs until Thursday, March 3. There were no new cases of COVID reported among campus students and staff on Monday. This is the fourth week in a row that no new cases were reported over the weekend. There are 13 active cases associated with the university, down from 81 last Monday, according to county data. Masks are also no longer required at MCPS following new guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that was announced late last week. The district announced the change to its mask policy on Friday evening. Based on the new recommendations, those living and attending schools in areas with low or medium community spread of COVID no longer need to wear masks. The CDC determines community levels of spread by considering incident rate, as well as other indicators such as percentage of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients. Missoula County is considered by the CDC to be experiencing medium spread. Nearly 70% of the U.S. population resides in counties that do not have what is considered high community spread. Last week, the district reported 19 new cases of COVID among students and staff, which is the lowest number of new weekly cases reported by MCPS so far this semester. The most cases reported among students and staff in individual buildings were Franklin, Russell and Big Sky High School, which each reported three new cases. There were no new cases reported at any MCPS middle schools. Those within the district identified as close contacts have also been declining over the last few weeks. Last week there were 57 close contacts, four of which were staff members. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Missoula man is in custody for allegedly physically abusing and strangling an 18-year-old woman. Rafford Tucker, 60, is charged with one felony count of strangulation and one misdemeanor assault offense. Missoula police officers responded to a Missoula home Friday to do a welfare check, according to charging documents. The caller reported Tucker had a history of violence toward two young women, both 18. When officers made contact with Tucker, they observed what looked like defensive wounds inflicted by a victim on his face. When police asked him about these marks, Tucker did not reply he smirked and raised his eyebrows. The alleged victim, looking very timid and shy, said yes when officers asked if Tucker had hit her. They observed significant bruising on her. She described an incident from two days before when Tucker threw a backpack at her, pinned her against a wall and then threw her on a bed and pinned her there for about 10 minutes. She said she could not breathe during the assault when she communicated this to Tucker, he reportedly said, I dont care. She said Tucker has restricted her ability to breathe in the past, and once threw her to the ground so violently she lost consciousness. Officers verified multiple reports had been made to law enforcement about these incidents. They also made contact with a friend of the survivor, who corroborated that she had told him Tucker threw her down and placed his knee on her head. Tucker is ordered to have no contact with the two women if he is released from custody. Missoula County Justice of the Peace Landee Holloway set bail at $25,000. His arraignment was set for March 14 in Missoula County District Court. There are many resources available in Missoula for domestic violence survivors. The Missoula YWCA provides 24-hour crisis counseling, emergency shelter, transitional housing, mental health counseling, legal support and support groups for victims of crime. Their phone number is 406-542-1944. The Missoula City-County Crime Victim Advocate Program provides legal advocacy for victims of crimes. Advocates can help you obtain a restraining order, report a crime to police or navigate options available to you through the justice system. They can be reached at 406-258-3830. UM's Student Advocacy Resource Center also provides support for survivors of violence and harassment. They offer free and confidential counseling, advocacy and a 24-hour support line at 406-243-6559. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 17 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Students and staff at Sentinel High School were among the first in Missoula to sample the new, homegrown marinara sauce coming to schools across the state. The sauce, referred to as Montana Marinara, features squash, carrots, onions and more, grown in the state, for a truly tasty product. Its honestly really good, said Eli Brother, a freshman at Sentinel. Its just nice to know that everythings being sourced from an actual good source Its just so nice that its honestly homegrown by people that love growing stuff, he continued later. They really put their love into it. Brother was eating lunch with Zane Goicovich, a sophomore, who had packed a lunch from home that day, but said in the future hed probably opt for the school lunch option knowing that the ingredients were locally sourced. The sauce was featured in two different entree options at lunch on Friday. Ed Christensen, an assistant supervisor for the districts food and nutrition program, also provided samples of the sauce with breadsticks for others to try. Montana Marinara was a resounding hit with students at the cafeteria. Eventually, they ran out of samples. Some students didnt even notice the wide variety of vegetables used in the recipe. It tasted really good, said Zander Pinoon, an 11th-grader. With all of those ingredients, I was really surprised. The process of incorporating more locally sourced ingredients in school kitchens across the state has been a passion of Christensens over the last decade. My idea was originally, if the USDA could deliver commodities to a local processor and then they in turn incorporate local products to bring a value-added product that would work for all of us school districts, you know, who wouldnt do it? Christensen said. In an effort to connect more of Montanas schools with locally crafted menu items, the Office of Public Instruction partnered with the Northwest Food Hub Network to bring the Montana Marinara'' to school kitchens. The Northwest Food Hub Network is a collective of farmer-owned cooperatives in Montana and Washington with the mission of connecting organizations like school districts, hospitals and colleges with local, sustainable food products. Montana Marinara is a win-win-win product it supports small Montana farmers, it brings delicious, sustainable, locally sourced food to students across the state, and it celebrates our states history of supporting agriculture, said Kaylee Thornley, coordinator of the Northwest Food Hub Network. All of the ingredients used in the recipe are sourced through the Northwest Food Hub Network from farms through the Western Montana Growers Cooperative. The sauce is designed to be affordable and accessible to all K-12 school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program. The National School Lunch Program, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, serves 80,000 students every school day in Montana and nearly half of those meals are served for free or at a reduced price, according to the OPI. Due to the COVID pandemic, the USDA began offering school lunches at no cost to all public school students by expanding the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option. The meal service flexibility has been extended through the end of June 2022. Christensen hopes that in the future they will be able to add more Montana-grown options to menus at school cafeterias. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. March may arrive like a feral lamb as an atmospheric river of precipitation drenches western Montana, producing avalanche warnings for mountains in the Rattlesnake, Seeley Lake and the Bitterroot Range. Very dangerous avalanche conditions are developing throughout the forecast area, West Central Montana Avalanche Center analyst Jeff Carty wrote in his Monday morning bulletin for the Rattlesnake. The Flathead Avalanche Center had similar warnings for mountains in the Whitefish, Swan and Glacier National Park areas. Heavy snowfall and strong winds are rapidly loading the snowpack," Carty wrote. "Temperature and freezing levels will rise throughout the day with rain possible to 7,000 feet, further destabilizing the snowpack. Widespread avalanches are very likely. The centers danger scale was high for upper and middle elevations, and considerable for lower elevations in all three regions. In the wider picture, National Weather Service forecasters observed a major system moving into the Northern Rocky Mountains on Sunday evening and Monday morning. What started as snow on Monday morning switched to rain across much of western Montana by afternoon as temperatures climbed into the low 40s. That sets up the potential for flash freezing on still-frozen ground Tuesday morning. Commuters should prepare for black ice in shaded areas. Small creek and stream flooding is possible in the system, according to NWS forecasts, along with significant rise in mainstem rivers along the Montana-Idaho border. The rainfall will be fairly steady and intense through Tuesday for north central Idaho up into northwest Montana, the NWS alert stated. Many locations will receive 1 to 3 inches of rain during this event with higher amounts in the mountains. The snowpack should be able to absorb the most of the rain, but minor flooding of small streams and creeks will be possible. Mainstem rivers near the Montana/Idaho border will see a significant rise by mid week. Rain should stay steady with temperatures in the 40s for most of the week around Missoula. However, a possible whiff of arctic air might mix in by Friday, returning snow to the mountain passes and restoring freezing temperatures for the weekend. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. President Biden is no John F. Kennedy; former President Trump is no Ronald Reagan. The United States and the world are the losers in the absence of leadership shown by Kennedy and Reagan and Mitt Romney. The United States and the world lost out when we ignored presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who warned us that Russia is without question, our number one geopolitical foe," in 2012. "They fight every cause for the worlds worst actors. The idea that (President Barack Obama) has some more flexibility in mind for Russia is very, very troubling, indeed. Both President Obama and Trump were horribly wrong concerning Putin. We are going to suffer economically and possibly physically, as the world tilts toward a full-blown war in Europe. While President George Bush was fixated on Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as an axis of evil, Russia and China were flying freely under his administration radar. While America exhausted its military for two decades under Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump, Russia and China maintained and built up their military and economy. Americas leadership of both Democrats and Republicans was united under eight presidents in opposing both Russia (Soviet Union) and China in the 20th century. The policy of containment was articulated by diplomat George F. Kennan during the post-World War II term of Harry S. Truman. This policy was subsequently adhered to by every president, Republican and Democrat, until the Soviet Unions collapse in 1991. It is noted that Communist China, North Korea, and Cuba never were defeated or broken up. While the Soviet Union was broken up, the heart of communist Russia remains intact. Under Putins leadership and advocacy for the last two decades, he is resurrecting the old Soviet Union. Additionally, he is driving a wedge between Americans. President Kennedys nerves of steel during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and President Reagans clear-eyed understanding of the evil empire were clarion. When one contrasts such with Presidents Trump and Biden, it is clear that leadership is lacking. Perhaps President Biden will develop both a backbone and knowledge to counter Russia, China, Cuba and North Korea. Until then, Americans are adrift and split. Instead of being united in response to our historical adversaries and yes, evil enemies, we are divided. Former President Trump is more enamored and supportive of President Putin than he is of President Biden. One bright area is the majority of Republican and Democrat congressional leaders are united in opposing the true Axis of Evil Russia, China, Cuba and North Korea. They are showing much-needed leadership during a trying and difficult period for Europe and the world. As Americans, it it time to revisit what we did to counter the worlds drift towards authoritarian and communism the last half of the 20th century. Both our military and diplomatic corps need an infusion of people and funding. Presidents Kennedy and Reagan both rebuilt the military, with an emphasis on the Navy and its ability to project military might. Both presidents were aware of military quagmires and did an admirable job of avoiding such while still projecting Americas military advantage. Militarily, we need to rebuild the Navy considerably as well as all other branches. As Americans we need to maintain our distrust of our historical enemies and be more supportive of our fellow Americans. The future of our country and the world is in the balance. Tom Muri is a retired military lawyer who writes from Montana, Arizona and Hawaii. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Vietnamese airlines rushing to recruit pilots Some airlines in Vietnam are flocking to recruit pilots with attractive salary levels after resuming their services. Bamboo Airways is looking for candidates for different positions from ground service staff to pilots. The firm has offered maxim salaries of USD13,300 and USD8,000 per month for a captain and co-pilot of long-haul B787 aircraft. Meanwhile, the salary for Airbus and Embraer captain and co-pilot is USD10,450 and USD6,300 per month respectively. Vietnamese airlines are rushing to recruit pilots Before Covid-19, Bamboo Airways highest salary for a long-haul B787 aircraft captain was VND250 million (USD10.775). Bamboo Airways is offering a monthly salary of USD 3,000 for a chief flight attendant. Budget airline Vietjet Air has announced the recruitment of captains and co-pilots for Airbus A320Fs and A330s. Vietravel Airlines is looking for Airbus A320 pilots and flight attendants. The carrier, however, has not disclosed salary levels. This is part of its strategy to expand its fleet to six planes to serve new air routes to Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. Since regular commercial international air routes were reopened to Vietnam, the country has received 153,000 passengers. The full reopening of the local tourism sector from March 15 will boost the aviation sector development. Bui Minh Dang, Deputy Head of Air Transport Department under the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said this year, the Vietnamese aviation industry is expected to serve 42-43 million passengers, including eight million from abroad. Emirates First Group, a Dubai-based business set-up and investment advisory, has launched an installment payment scheme that will help investors and businessmen reduce the cost of trade licence issuance and renewals. Investors and business owners can now pay for the trade licence issuance and renewals as well as all related government services with a cost up to AED15,000 ($4,084) in four installments, instead of a one-time payment, which will ease the financial burden on them. The initiative covers all government and company fees for company formation, visa assistance and other government-related activities. The total number of business licences in the UAE totalled 652,885 in June 2020, a rise of 4,201 compared to May 2020, according to statistics from the National Economic Registry of the Ministry of Economy. With an average cost of trade licence issuance and renewal of AED15,000, the total investment amounts to AED9.8 billion ($2.67 billion) per annum. We are pleased to announce this wonderful initiative that is aimed at supporting the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), that represents more than 85% of the UAE economy, Jamad Usman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, of Emirates First Group, says. This initiative is in line with the UAE Governments latest series of economic reforms measures that include reducing government fees in business licensing procedures to help the investors. As an investment advisory and business setup specialist, we felt the need to support fellow investors in trying to reduce the burden of licensing costs. Hence we came up with this package that helps the investors and entrepreneurs to carry on with their business activities under these challenging times. Emirates First Group, which provides end-to-end business setup services including investment and business advisory, legal consultancy, financial consultancy, labour permits, visa and residency permits, accounting, auditing and tax advisory as well as bank opening services, has so far helped set up more than 5,000 businesses in the UAE, mostly in Dubai, in the last five years. With an average investment of AED100,000 in business setup, office rent, employee recruitment, training, per company, this translates to a total investment of AED500 million in five years. These companies have had an economic impact worth more than AED5 billion on the UAE economy through employing professionals and their business activities. The immigration and business reforms namely allowing foreigners to own a 100% stake in a mainland licence without a local partner and the ten-year Golden Visa in addition to the effective handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has encouraged a large number of wealthy people either to relocate to the UAE, relocate their business to the UAE or expand their businesses to the UAE. The number of registered licences in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah reached 530,165, accounting for 81.2 percent of the total licences in the UAE. In detail, the number of active businesses in Dubai totalled 300,000 at the end of June 2020, representing around 46% of the total number of businesses in the UAE. In Abu Dhabi, the licences registered in June 2020 totalled 145,660, accounting for 22.3% of the total while in Sharjah, the number of businesses reached 84,505, accounting for 13%. The rest of the licences were distributed between Umm Al Qaiwain, Ajman, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah. The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) issued 55,194 new business licences during the first 10 months of 2021. The figure marks a 69 per cent increase over the same period in 2020 when 32,626 licences were issued. According to a DET report, 59 percent of the new business licences issued were professional, and 41 per cent were commercial. Emirates First Group currently offers advisory services for 10-year UAE Gold Card Visa services as well. We believe in long term relationships with our clients. Therefore, we offer end-to-end services, including sometimes to source good office space and negotiate rents for them so that they get the best services from us, Usman says. In many cases, we offer them ready office space with all facilities built-in on a monthly rental basis. This helps them focus on business development rather than to worry about rents and payables. Dubai has added 98 new economic activities to vital sector last year, bringing the total number of economic activities to more than 2,200. This is an increase of 88% compared to 2020, when 52 new economic activities were added, according to reports. According to the DET, the new activities cover specialised business sectors in Dubai and include green hydrogen production, artificial intelligence developing services, gaming localisation services, industrial consultancies, 3D printing building construction contracting, space consultancies, plant-based dairy manufacturing, early childhood centre and gaming production service providers. Emirates First Group has recently launched e-First Global, its premium business set-up and investment advisory services at the Opus within Business Bay to serve its growing number of premium customers and large foreign investors in the UAE economy. The company, which is growing its operations in Dubai, is adding several branches to serve a growing number of clientele from across the world. Emirates First Group currently operates through six branches, including two branches of e-First Global a new premium services brand.-- TradeArabia News Service CONNELLY SPRINGS A man died in a Monday night fire south of Morganton. Jose Luis Rolon, 84, of 7480 Virginia Ridge, died in a fire that was called in around 9:24 p.m. at his home, according to a press release from the Burke County Fire Marshals Office. A local first responder and family friend saw the fire from Rhoney Road and called 911, the release said. The responder went to the home and tried to get inside before firefighters arrived on scene, but the heat and smoke were too intense. Firefighters from George Hildebran Fire Department were dispatched to the scene and immediately started search and rescue efforts alongside fire suppression tactics, the release said. They found Rolon dead inside the home, and George Hildebran firefighters along with assistance from South Mountain, Icard, Enola, Salem and Cooksville fire departments got the fire under control in about 20 minutes, the release said. Burke County Fire Marshal Mike Willis said the fire started near the back of the house around the porch, kitchen and laundry room, but it wasnt clear yet what caused it. His office along with the Burke County Sheriffs Office and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation still are investigating the fire. Sarah Buchanan, Rolons daughter, teared up talking to reporters about her dad Tuesday. He was a good, happy man, Buchanan said. He was a wise man. He was kind to everyone, and he just had a beautiful soul. He was fun to be around, and once you got to know him, he loved you forever. She said they had a special bond. He was a great father, Buchanan said. I never thought I was a daddys girl but I know I am. More information will be published if it becomes available. Chrissy Murphy is a staff writer and can be reached at cmurphy@morganton.com or at 828-432-8941. Follow @cmurphyMNH on Twitter. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ASHEVILLE Two Patton High School visual art students were recently honored at the 2022 Western North Carolina Regional Scholastic Art Awards here. Graycie Carswell won five honorable mentions for drawings and a ceramics piece, and Catheryn Stahl won an honorable mention for her digital artwork. Since 1923, the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers Inc. has conducted the National Scholastic Art Awards to encourage and recognize student achievements in the visual arts. This years contest, sponsored by the Asheville Art Museum, received over 500 entries from students in 33 schools across western North Carolina. From those entries, works were chosen by the judges for gold key, silver key or honorable mention awards. The winners chosen best exemplify the alliances core values: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision. Works receiving regional gold key awards will be sent to compete in the National Scholastic Art Awards program. Since its founding, the alliance has identified the early promise of some of the nations more exceptional visionaries. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards continues to be the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the U.S. and a major source of scholarships for young artists and writers. The 2022 Scholastic Art Awards were held virtually Jan. 29 in Asheville. Mayors home looted The home of Valdese Mayor C.C. Long at 401 Italy St. in Valdese was burglarized between noon Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday, according to Oscar Pascal, Valdese police chief. Articles missing from the home include a 38-caliber pistol, a 22-caliber rifle, an assortment of jewelry and a bedspread. The items were stolen while Long and his wife were visiting his elderly mother in Tennessee. The burglary was discovered Saturday morning when Sgt. J.W. Jones came to the house to deliver a message to the mayor. Jones said he found the front door half open, and when he looked inside, he saw that things had been strewn everywhere. The case is still under investigation by the Valdese Police Department. Dance deemed a rousing success People of all ages from Hildebran and Icard kicked up their heels at the Young Peoples Dance held Saturday night in the lunchroom at the Hildebran Primary School. Music was provided by a local band called the Satin Asses. The dance, sponsored by the Hildebran-Icard Community Development Council, was the second of its kind with a twofold purpose: to provide an evening of pleasure for the young people of eastern Burke County and raise funds for the proposed community center to be built in Hildebran. The event, which drew approximately 200 people, raised $183 for the center, according to Irving Eggers, council treasurer, and Buck Little, president. Woman falls victim to flim-flam Ida Tomlinson of Route 1 in Connelly Springs was the victim of a flim-flam on Friday, according to the Burke County Sheriffs Office. Tomlinson said a light blue car stopped in front of her house at approximately 11 a.m., and a nice young woman 25-30 years old and a man, 40-45 years old, asked to show her a carpet. When she let them in the kitchen, she believes a third party went into her bedroom while she was preoccupied with the visitors and stole her wallet, containing $41. A purse belonging to a friend of Tomlinson was also taken. The purse contained $4. The man, who answered to George, was described as being short and heavy-set with black, thinning hair and a round face. The woman, answering to Caldwell, was described having average height with short, wavy black hair, brown eyes and pretty teeth. She was wearing brown corduroy pants and a light coat. An investigation of the incident is in progress. Rotary names Man of the Year The Rotary Club of Morganton named Burand McGinnis, a merchant who has been a civic leader in the community since 1940, as its Man of the Year for 1971. McGinnis is founder of Burands store in Morganton. He has served as chair of the board of trustees for the South Mountain Institute and is former president of the Morganton Lions Club, the Burke County Chamber of Commerce, the Morganton Merchants Association and Credit Bureau, the Mimosa Golf Club and many other groups. He was a key player in consolidating fundraising efforts for the Burke County United Fund. McGinnis will be honored at a banquet at the Morganton Community House planned for March. Fire damages motorcycle shop The Icard Township Fire Department joined in a combined firefighting effort when a motorcycle shop building in eastern Burke County received heavy damage from fire. The shop, located on US 70 SW next to Lowmans Motor Court, is owned by Vernon Duckett and operated by Ellis Lowman. The fire was apparently caused by an explosion in the parts area, which blew out a back wall and allowed the blaze to spread throughout the building, according to Burke County Fire Marshal Marvin Sawyer. A number of motorcycles were in the shop. The Longview and Fairbrook fire departments helped to battle the blaze, which is still under investigation. This article is sponsored by the History Museum of Burke County, where the archives of The News Herald are stored. Here's some of your COVID-19 news for Feb. 27. Many Americans, including parents of school children, have been clamoring for an end to masking while others remain wary that the pandemic could throw a new curveball. Now, states, cities and school districts are assessing Friday's guidance to determine whether its safe to stop mask-wearing long after others threw out such mandates and many Americans ignored them. Under the new guidance, the CDC says people can stop wearing masks if they live in counties where the coronavirus poses a low or medium threat to hospitals accounting for more than 70% of the U.S. population. Two preprint studies posted Saturday offer further evidence that the coronavirus originated in animals and spread to humans in late 2019 at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China. One of the studies -- neither of which has been peer-reviewed or published in a professional journal -- used spatial analysis to show that the earliest known Covid-19 cases, diagnosed in December 2019, were centered on the market. The researchers also report that environmental samples that tested positive for the virus, SARS-CoV-2, were strongly associated with live-animal vendors. Nearly half of the 500 million free COVID-19 tests the Biden administration recently made available to the public still have not been claimed as virus cases plummet and people feel less urgency to test. Wild demand swings have been a subplot in the pandemic, from vaccines to hand sanitizer, along with tests. On the first day of the White House test giveaway in January, COVIDtests.gov received over 45 million orders. Now officials say fewer than 100,000 orders a day are coming in for the packages of four free rapid tests per household, delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. The US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday revised the emergency use authorization for Evusheld, a monoclonal antibody against Covid-19 for immunocompromised people and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, to double the initial dose. People who've already received the drug should go back for an additional dose as soon as possible, the agency said. "Based on the most recent information and data available, Evusheld may be less active against certain Omicron subvariants. The dosing regimen was revised because available data indicate that a higher dose of Evusheld may be more likely to prevent infection by the COVID-19 Omicron subvariants BA.1 and BA.1.1 than the originally authorized Evusheld dose," the FDA said in a news release. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday that a dramatic drop in coronavirus infections could lead to the lifting of vaccine mandates on restaurants, bars and theaters as soon as March 7. His announcement came shortly after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced her own plans Sunday to lift the states mask mandate on schools, effective Wednesday. Adams said the city would also lift the mask mandate on about 1 million of the citys schoolchildren in the countrys largest school system. A Butte-Silver Bow police officer accused of choking a female relative in early January pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a felony charge of strangling a partner or family member. But Benjamin Rauchs arraignment before District Court Judge Luke Berger took longer than usual after a prosecutor suggested that a no-contact order in the case had been breached. Prosecutor Selene Koepke said another female relative may have been telling the alleged victim she could drop the charge, and if Rauch was encouraging that, the state will be filing additional charges against him. Rauchs attorney, Frank Joseph, said his client had not contacted either relative about the case. Berger said if that was true, it needed to stay that way and the other relative shouldnt be talking to the alleged victim about the case either. Agents with the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation arrested Rauch, a 16-year veteran with Butte police, while he was off-duty at the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Center on Jan. 4. Police were called to a residence on Jan. 3 to investigate a report from a woman who said she had been assaulted at a different location. Butte police did a preliminary investigation then asked the Montana Attorney Generals Office for assistance. According to newly filed charging documents, a state investigator met with the alleged victim and documented injuries to her leg, foot and neck. She said Rauch had strangled her and during the assault, she told him she couldnt breathe. Rauch told agents they were having a verbal argument until something happened and he grabbed the female and put her on a bed. When Rauch was confronted with the injuries (to her), he stated that the marks could have been left by him but he did not choke her, the charging document states. Rauch was released after posting a $50,000 bond but was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. He is on administrative leave with pay at the police department and said Tuesday he is currently working for Jay Fortune Construction. The felony charge carries a maximum five-year prison term and fine up to $50,000. The charge was filed in Butte-Silver Bow but its two District Court judges, Kurt Krueger and Robert Whelan, declined to take the case and asked that another judge preside. Koepke and another assistant AG are prosecuting the case. Berger handles cases in Beaverhead, Madison and Jefferson counties and conducted the arraignment via Zoom on Tuesday from the bench in Dillon. He said Rauch and the other female relative should have no contact with the alleged victim and if that occurs, he will weigh in. If there is no contact whatsoever, there is nothing to investigate, he said. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 5 Sad 5 Angry 22 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Big plans loom for Congregation Bnai Israel this summer, including tours, lectures and other events. Coming on the heels of a feasibility study done through a collaboration that included Helena non-profit Preserve Montana, the Butte Archives and Congregation Bnai Israel, the tentatively titled Bnai Israel Cultural Center has been a passion for Aubrey Jaap and Ellen Crain of the Butte Archives and congregation members Janet Cornish, David Canty and Glen Rafish. All five people are on the board of Community Culture and Heritage Inc., a Montana non-profit established in 1995 by Cornish and others, which will facilitate the transfer of ownership of the building from the congregation to an entity not yet identified. The building is in great shape because the congregation has been working to keep it that way, Rafish said. We're trying so hard to preserve it on our own, but we see down in the future that we won't be able to. He added that the temple recently purchased and installed a $35,000 furnace in the building. The temple is important not only to the Jewish community, but to the larger community of Butte, Crain said. Jewish people were very involved in Buttes early life, Crain said, including the establishment of its government and school systems. They also established many of the first businesses of Butte. Cornish, member of Congregation Bnai for about 40 years, added that the first mayor of Butte, Henry Jacobs, was Jewish. The Butte Archives began looking at a future use for the temple as a result of a project launched in 2017 called the All Nations Exhibit, in which 17 different ethnic groups were featured in different panels. Upon realizing some groups, such as the Jewish, German and Hispanic communities were underrepresented, the Archives partnered with Preserve Montana to focus on these groups and create collections featuring family stories and artifacts from members of each community. Out of that project with the Jewish community specifically, came out that there was a need to look for a future use for the temple, Jaap said. Because of this, the All Nations Exhibit is planned to be the first event the temple holds this summer, Crain said. The 17 panels will be on display at the temple all summer, Jaap said. There are also talks of musical events and presentations that havent been confirmed. Jaap applied last year for a grant up to $15,000 from the Urban Revitalization Agency to cover half the cost of a feasibility study to best figure out how to forge ahead while preserving both the building and its history. Although Jewish heritage is an important piece of the project, Cornish emphasized that this undertaking is really about the diversity of the community. The cultural center has captured both local and national attention, which Cornish, Canty and Rafish attribute to the Archives. Butte historic preservation architect Lesley Gilmore donated her time to do a thorough building condition report for the feasibility study, including plans for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance so the temple can serve as a public space. Aaron Rosen, a rabbi and director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., offered a national context to the local Butte community for the study. Middle Tennessee State University will send two interns this summer and one each year for the next four, paid by the university. The interns are coming under the guidance of Carroll Van West, the director of the universitys Center for Historic Preservation and will assist with development of interpretation of the history of the building as well as event planning. Crain said its important for the community to know that because of all the generous donations the project has gotten from MTSU and people like Gilmore and Rosen, there is no tangible cost to the community at this time. Its not going to cost the people of Butte anything, its not going to cost the government anything, she said. Congregation Bnai has been standing proudly on West Galena Street in Butte since 1903. Steeped in history, its difficult to find a wall in the building that is unadorned with some sort of reminder of the past, whether it be pictures, memoriam boards, or a signed piece of paper commemorating the temples 70th anniversary. In the basement, there are pictures of Cantys confirmation class, alongside pictures of Rafishs father, and his own father leading services. Near the entrance of the basement, theres a table that holds postcards illustrated with a painting of Congregation B'nai done by late congregation member Sonia Berman Ehrlich. Membership in the congregation has fallen dramatically since its height, when there was an estimated 75 families. There is now just a handful who belong to the congregation. Canty and Rafish, who grew up together at the temple, remember when they were kids and attended services with 35 or 40 other families. In the ritual observation of Judaism, to gather to pray, you have to have a quorum, which is called a minyan, and there has to be enough, there has to be at least 10 people, Cornish said. And that doesnt mean you cant pray individually, but the whole notion of a congregation has to be made up of at least 10. Currently, there are not enough members of the temple to make up a minyan, Cornish said. Canty said theres a running joke between the members of the temple that back when he was a child, if a person wanted to pray, they just had to knock on the three businesses next door to make up a minyan, something that isnt possible now. Butte is not unique in this trend. The number of Jewish families in smaller communities has been decreasing for decades, as has the number of families that are members of a temple. There are myriad reasons for this, not the least of which is that the number of people who attend temple, church or mosque has gone down in the past several years. A survey done by the Pew Research Center in 2021 found 29% of U.S. adults said they had no religious affiliation, a 6% increase from 2016. Although the building will mostly be used for the project, Cornish said that the project has not closed the door on larger religious events, such as weddings and life cycle ceremonies. [The temple] has been a gift to us, and we feel very strongly about making sure that the community and all parties continue to cherish and protect it. Its our legacy. Love 8 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A group of Butte-Silver Bow residents that includes two former commissioners wants to buck tradition by moving Buttes annual July 3 fireworks show from the M on Big Butte to the Bell Diamond Mineyard. Theyve formally asked commissioners to consider the change, saying the fireworks extravaganza at the headframe site to the east would be visible to all of Butte, pay homage to Buttes mining past and pose fewer fire dangers. In the forty-plus years that our city has enjoyed fireworks off the M, plants, trees and grasses have made a great comeback on the hill, former five-term Commissioner Mike Sheehy wrote in a letter to council. As such, many residents have growing concerns about the fire danger associated with the fireworks. The letter is signed by Sheehy, former Commissioner Ristine Hall and six other residents and is to be considered for the first time when the council meets Wednesday night. Council Chairwoman Cindi Shaw is recommending the request be set aside, so at the next meeting commissioners can learn more details and ask questions before deciding any next steps. But if a majority wants to kill it outright Wednesday night, they could. J.P. Gallagher, Butte-Silver Bows chief executive, said hes heard suggestions over the years that a new location be found. But the show has been staged from the M since at least the early 1970s and changing that tradition, he said, is a big hill to climb. I dont think we ever take anything off the table but I think there has to be consensus among all parties that it would be the best move for us, he said. Butte-Silver Bow Fire Chief Zach Osborne said fire concerns are inherent with major fireworks shows no matter where you have them, and the Big Butte near Montana Tech is no exception. We do have multiple fires every year on that hillside during the show, he said. That hillside gets little spot fires, but luckily, weve been able to put those fires out fairly fast before they spread. If it happened to be a windy night, it would be basically a different story. Under an agreement between fire officials and the company that sets off the fireworks, the show would be canceled if its too windy, Osborne said. But there are challenges regardless of winds. The vegetation up on the hill we are getting a few more trees, the grass is getting a little longer, and that doesnt make it easier to put a fire out, he said. Osborne said the department always has a truck and firefighters at the launch site farther below, and they also drive through the Uptown area checking for any fires. They have managed well over the years, he said, but, There may be other locations that would allow for a safer fireworks show. Sheehy acknowledged the power of tradition in Butte but said, If people really look at it, they will see that danger outweighs tradition. Sheehy was a maintenance engineer for years at Kennedy Elementary School, which is just below the M, and he has seen the increase in trees and vegetation on the hill. Every year they have several fires after the fireworks and my fear is that we could have a forest fire on the 'M' that could be catastrophic, Sheehy said. The Bell Diamond has a wider view shed, really, and pretty much everything around the Bell Diamond is dirt. And there are no homes for quite a distance. The mineyard is just south of the Granite Mountain Memorial in the Walkerville area and is closed off to the public by fencing and a gate. It does offer a great view of most of Butte, as does the Big Butte. Were also in the Mining City so this kind of pays tribute to the people who died in the fire up there, he said, referring to the Granite Mountain-Speculator Mine disaster in 1917 that killed 168 people. It pays tribute to the workers. Gallagher said the show from the M provides a spectacular view of the fireworks and the pyrotechnic technicians and firefighters prepare for any contingencies. But he said the growth in vegetation on the hill does present challenges. Shaw, the council chair, said she is taking a neutral position on the request for now but wants a lot more information on the proposed change. Commissioners already made one change to fireworks tradition this year when they reduced a 12-day window for selling and lighting fireworks around the Fourth of July to eight days. Love 16 Funny 2 Wow 3 Sad 1 Angry 40 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Just before Mariia Dzholos went to sleep last Wednesday, she texted her mother in Kyiv a simple message: Mom, I love you a lot. By the time Dzholos woke up Thursday morning the Russians had invaded Ukraine. Her phone was filled with messages about the news from friends. She was finally able to connect with her parents. Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, both in the Donbas area, as independent peoples republics and ordered so-called peacekeeping troops into those areas. The first talks aimed at stopping the fighting between Ukraine and Russia ended Monday with no agreement except to keep talking, the Associated Press reported. Dzholos said her mother and father have been dividing their time between a bomb shelter and their apartment that is on the 19th floor, which Dzholos describes as unsafe. Any time there is a siren or warning they immediately go downstairs, she said. They have sent pictures that Dzholos says shows their fear and exhaustion. Her parents, Oleh and Tetiana, trade off sleeping; one sleeps at night the other during the day. Everyone is scared, but it is scarier at the front line, she said. We just hope it will end soon. I look at my parents and look into their eyes, it is heartbreaking for me, Dzholos said. Dzholos said on Monday they were able to go to the store to get some food. She said there was no meat and bread, but they got some greens, vegetables and some fruits. The 20-year-old sophomore who is studying economics at Middlebury College in Vermont is familiar with Helena. She spent several months here during the pandemic of 2020-2021, when Middlebury closed because of the pandemic. She stayed at the home of her friend and fellow student Lea Hohenlohe. Leas mother, Andrea Rankin, said Dzholos spoke daily to her parents while staying in Helena. My heart just breaks for her because she is not there, Rankin said, noting that Dzholos has a lovely soul. Dzholos said it was unfortunate that she could not interact with Montanans much because of the pandemic. I think its a beautiful state, she said. Lea Hohenlohe said she has been supporting Dzholos. "Its been really tough," she said, adding she spoke with Dzholos' parents during the pandemic. "I try to help in any way that I can." "I feel so insignificant in the grand scheme of things," Hohenlohe said. "It breaks my heart." She said Dzholos has done much at the Middlebury campus to get students organized and set up events in the town of Middlebury as well. Dzholos said she is now focused on educating people about what is going on in Ukraine, share resources and inform people about the crisis. I feel if I do not talk about it the world will not know what is happening, she said, saying she wanted to help people in bomb shelters who cannot speak as much as they would like. I am trying to do what I can from here, Dzholos said, adding she was telling people how they can advocate for Ukraine by writing to their elected officials in Congress. Montana's congressional delegation has criticized Putin for invading Ukraine. GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale, Montana's sole member of the House, has said the United States should not get involved in the invasion and focus instead on securing the U.S. border with Mexico. "The United States has no legal or moral obligation to come to the aid of either side in this conflict," he said Feb. 24, adding that Montanans are more concerned with stopping the "invasion taking place in our country by millions of illegal aliens than they are the invasion of an Eastern European country halfway across the world. It is our obligation to secure our nation and put the American people first, not send our sons and daughters to die overseas in a conflict that does not serve our national interests." Dzholos said the threat from Putin to the United States is much greater than the threat from Mexico. "Putin is threatening what the United States stands for: freedom and human rights," she said. "It's important to stand with Ukraine and keep up with the sanctions." She said the United States defined itself as a world leader after World War II, and defined its national interest beyond the borders. "As a global superpower you can't think in terms of only your borders," Dzholos said. Dzholos' Facebook page has a Feb. 26 post featuring a photo of an apartment building hit by some kind of weaponry. This is Kyiv. 10 minutes away from my house, she says. Spread this. Tell Russians that their army is killing civilians. Push your politicians to make a stand. Praying for the bravest army in the world. Only victory! Dzholos said her father is ineligible to be among the armed fighters because of health, but offers to help at a hospital. She also has an 89-year-old grandmother who lives in Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine. She had high praise for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his leadership, noting he is taking an active role in the fighting. I think he is doing great, Dzholos said. I think I have the best president He is a president who is not hiding, but who took up arms and fought hand in hand with our solders. I am proud of my president. Her plan is to return to Ukraine after she graduates and use her degree. I feel like economics is a powerful (tool), she said. Its important for me to get back to my country. Dzholos encourages people to support by making donations to organizations such as Unicef at unicefusa.org. People can also donate to Nova Ukraine at https://novaukraine.org/ and RedCrossUA at https://www.icrc.org/en/where-we-work/europe-central-asia/ukraine. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ARCHIVED - Spain complains to UK about maritime incidents off coast of Gibraltar The Spanish government reported five incidents of concern to London in 2021 The alliance between Spain and the United Kingdom over the governance of the waters surrounding Gibraltar has ever been an uneasy one, and matters came to a head in 2021 when the Spanish government issued five complaints to the UK over incidents involving vessels from both countries. The Foreign Ministry explained that on each occasion, it considered that certain actions by the British authorities either prevented Spain from carrying out the tasks entrusted to them normally or endangered the safety of their navigation. You might also like: Sanchez pushes for agreement between the UK and EU over Gibraltar Both Spain and the UK are vying for rights to the water surrounding the Rock, but Spanish authorities insist that their country only ceded the city and the castle of Gibraltar, together with its port, defences and fortresses. According to the Treaty of Utrecht, Spain only recognises the waters located within the port as having UK jurisdiction, and not the adjoining waters, where the majority of recent fracases have taken place. The sixth round of negotiations between the UK and the EU about the future relationship of Gibraltar with the Union is taking place in London this week. The Gibraltar Government says it remains firmly committed to securing a positive agreement based on the New Years Eve political framework. Despite the ongoing disagreement between Spain and Gibraltar, the Foreign Ministry acknowledged that whenever Spain raises an issue which it considers to affect maritime security, the ensuing complaint is considered and valued by the corresponding ministries. In any case, the Spanish government fully intends to continue using state vessels to monitor the water adjacent to the Rock of Gibraltar. Further reading: UK accuses EU of undermining its sovereignty in reference to Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar border Image: Archive Israeli and UAE companies have held 200 bilateral business meetings at the Dubai-Israel: Future Horizons Mission forum at the headquarters of Dubai Chamber of Commerce. The event was the focus of a high-level trade mission which was joined by 50 businessmen representing 25 Israeli companies listed on Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The event aimed to highlight the vast untapped potential that businesses in Israel and the UAE, as well as existing synergies in key sectors of mutual interest and new business opportunities emerging in both markets. In addition, the forum familiarised Israeli businessmen with Dubais economy and business environment. The forum was organised by Dubai International Chamber, the UAE Embassy in Israel and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, as part of The Executive Series, a new flagship series of VIP business missions. The visiting Israeli delegation was headed by Ittai Ben-Zeev, CEO of Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) and joined by Altshuler Shaham, Amos Luzon Dev.& Energy, Beeio Honey, Bezeq, Delek Drilling, Energix, Enlight Enregy, Epitomee, Feat Inv., Glassbox, Group 11, Israel Aerospace, Menara Ventures, Nayax, Nova, Perion Network, Pomvom, Sofwave Medical, Strauss Group, The Phoenix, The Zarasai Group, and Userway. Addressing participants, Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers said the event and trade mission supports Dubai Chambers efforts to build and expand Dubais trade and investment ties with Israel, which he described as a market of strategic importance to the emirate. Israeli companies can offer specialised expertise to UAE companies in the areas of food security, information technology and financial services, said Buamim, who stressed the importance of the Israeli delegation visit, the first trade mission to be organised by Dubai International Chamber under The Executive Series. He noted that the delegation visit and forum come at a time when Dubai is elevating its position as a global business hub and boosting its value proposition to foreign investors and top companies from around the world as it works towards a new vision for the next 50 years. In addition, Buamim revealed that Dubai's non-oil trade with Israel reached nearly AED2 billion ($540 million) in the first half of 2021, which he says reflects the huge potential between the two business communities. He added that the trade mission would open new doors of opportunity for Israeli companies in Dubai and take economic cooperation to the next level. Mohammed Al Khaja, UAE Ambassador to Israel, said: "I am excited to see Emiratis and Israelis show the world what can be accomplished through the joint efforts of our business sectors. Towards that end we must link our financial institutions, ease financial transactions, the flow of capital and investments to realize the true potential of the two markets working together in unison. By partnering we can increase the competitiveness of companies in both countries and better compete in the international arena." "Israeli companies are warmly invited to take advantage of opportunities to pilot, grow and build mega-scale projects in and with the help of the UAEs business sector. As firm believers that peace leads to prosperity, we will help Israel companies open new markets and reach global scale, Al Khaja added. Ben-Zeev said: The unique connection between the Dubai International Chamber, the Embassy of the UAE in Israel and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange contributes greatly to the realization of the Abraham Accords and the strengthening of the economic and business ties between the countries. TASEs mission is to expose leading Israeli public companies to a broad range of investors, and now is the time to also reach out to investors from the Globes Eastern hemisphere. The UAE is known for its long-term planning and perspective and I am confident that the combination of Israels innovation and advanced industry with the UAEs far-reaching perspective and vision, will be a great strategic contribution to both countries." The forum featured workshops and panel discussions covering several high-potential sectors and fields, namely technology and innovation, and financial services and investment, which saw the participation of Mohammed Shael Al Saadi, CEO Strategic Affairs, Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); Faisal Belhoul, Chairman of Ithmar Capital Partners and Founder of Amanat Holdings PJSC; Souad Al Hosani, Director of Investor Care, Abu Dhabi Investment Office; Omar Khan, Director International Offices, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Shimon Eckhouse, Co-Founder and Chairman, Epitomee and Software; Ahmed Al Qassim, Senior Executive Vice President, Group Head, Corporate and Institutional Banking - Emirates NBD; and David Alexander, Deputy CEO for Corporate Holdings and Development at Phoenix Holdings. Dubai International Chamber offers support to foreign investors who are keen to explore the Dubai market, as part of its efforts to increase the emirates foreign trade, attract multinational companies and help leading companies list on the Dubai Financial Market.-- TradeArabia News Service MUSCATINE The pre-trial and trial of a Muscatine woman accused of sexually molesting an 8-year-old child and selling the video across state lines has been set in Muscatine County Court. According to court records, the final pre-trial for Jessica Rochelle Peters, 33, will be held at 10:20 a.m. July 8, with the trial scheduled to begin July 18. She is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class C felony, and purchase or possession of the depiction of a minor in a sex act, an aggravated misdemeanor, was dismissed at the request of the state to allow federal charges to be brought. Peters was arrested after Henry Winchip, 76, of Valparaiso, Ind., was arrested for allegedly paying Peters for photos and videos of the act. He faces felony charges of child exploitation and possession of child pornography. According to the Indiana filings, on Aug. 12, the child's father told Muscatine police he believed Peters had been sexually abusing the child. The father alleged Peters approached him with Winchip's request for the illicit video, and he told her he would not participate. He then found the videos on the phone he shared with Peters. Text messages show Peters sent the videos and photos to Winchip in exchange for money on July 23. Peters has denied the child is related to her. According to court documents, the child said the videos were shot at an apartment and a hotel where they lived in Muscatine. The child told investigators their father forced them to do the videos and Peters "fake child molested" them. The child said their father would sometimes hold the phone to record the videos, and other times Peters would record the videos when they were alone. Porter County Sheriff's Office in Indiana and the FBI served a search warrant on Winchip, who later told police he has known Peters for about 15 years, police said. Winchip was aware she was in police custody in Iowa and admitted to having paid her for sex videos for years, police said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Two residents of a Davenport home were injured late Sunday when a semitractor-trailer crashed into a house on Rockingham Road in Davenport. The German National Tourist Office is preparing several exciting new ways for travelers to interact with and learn more about Germany, one of which is a microsite dedicated to educating travelers on barrier-free accommodations and attractions in Germany. The U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated four Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and ISIS-Mozambique (ISIS-M) financial facilitators based in South Africa. When individuals are designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, their assets are blocked, and U.S. persons are prohibited from dealing with them. OFAC said ISIS members and associates in South Africa play an increasingly central role in facilitating funds transfers from the top of the ISIS hierarchy to branches across Africa. ISIS has recently attempted to expand its influence in Africa through large-scale operations in areas where government control is limited. ISIS branches in Africa rely on local fundraising schemes such as theft, extortion of local populations, and kidnapping for ransom, as well as financial support from the ISIS hierarchy. The South Africa-based ISIS members have supported the transfers or served as leaders of ISIS cells in South Africa. Treasury is taking this action to disrupt and expose key ISIS supporters who exploit South Africas financial system to facilitate funding for ISIS branches and networks across Africa, said Under Secretary of the Treasury Brian E. Nelson. The United States is working with our African partners, including South Africa, to dismantle ISIS financial support networks on the continent. OFAC named the four South African-based ISIS members Farhad Hoomer, Siraaj Miller, Abdella Hussein Abadigga, and Peter Charles Mbaga. Between 2017 and 2018, Farhad Hoomer helped organize and begin the operations of a Durban, South Africa-based ISIS cell. Hoomer, the leader of the Durban-based ISIS cell, has provided some of his known residential properties and vehicles registered in his name to sponsor the cells meetings and operational activities. In his role, Hoomer claimed to have recruited and trained cell members and was in contact with members of ISIS-Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC) and ISIS supporters throughout South Africa. Hoomer raised funds through kidnap-for-ransom operations and extortion of major businesses, which provided more than R1 million in revenue for his cell. In 2018, South African authorities arrested Hoomer and his associates for their involvement in a plan to deploy improvised incendiary devices near a mosque and commercial and retail buildings. Siraaj Miller, who leads a Cape Town-based group of ISIS supporters, has provided financial assistance to ISIS by training members to conduct robberies to raise funds for ISIS. In 2018, Miller also aided in acquiring temporary safe houses for ISIS. Abdella Hussein Abadigga has recruited young men in South Africa and sent them to a weapons training camp. Abadigga, who controlled two mosques in South Africa, used his position to extort money from members of the mosques. Abadigga sent these funds via a hawala to ISIS supporters elsewhere in Africa. Bilal al-Sudani, a U.S.-designated ISIS leader in Somalia, considered Abadigga a trusted supporter who could help the ISIS supporters in South Africa become better organized and recruit new members. Peter Charles Mbaga facilitated funds transfers from South Africa. Mbaga sought to support ISIS-M by helping the group procure equipment from South Africa. Mbaga also sought to procure weapons from Mozambique. All property and interests in property of [the people listed] that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, must be blocked and reported to OFAC, the treasury department stated. The sanctions further prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods, or services to or for the benefit of those persons. Now read: FBI arrests notorious Internet scammers in Cape Town The natural beauty of Californias wine country is a big part of the draw for millions of wine tourists who make the pilgrimage every year. For those who stay and put down stakes, prefabricated luxury homes by Stillwater Dwellings increasingly are the design of choice. Expansive window walls and indoor-outdoor living rooms take full advantage of the stunning landscapes in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. With more than a dozen Stillwater homes dotting the hills and valleys and more under construction, Stillwater has become a wine country signature style. Manufactured homes, once thought of only as among the lowest of the low-end housing options have gone upscale. Stillwater Dwellings, a 14-year-old Seattle-based company, is one of the leaders in high-design and luxury in the space. Long popular throughout the Pacific Northwest, Stillwater Dwellings is making a name for itself and taking orders from homebuyers from Colorado to Hawaii and states in between. Stillwater pre-fabricates major components of its homes in its climate-controlled manufacturing facility in Reno, Nevada, and shipped sections flat to the home site for assembly by trained general contractors. Total project costs average $475 to $650 per square foot without landscaping. The price tag - vastly greater than the cost of the traditional rectangular metal box in a mobile home park is a relative steal in the luxury market. Stillwater estimates the bill for one of its homes comes in 20-40% less than a custom-designed stick-built home of the same caliber. Bill Jenkins and Kathy Dennett, owners of Wing Canyon Vineyard on Mt. Veeder Road in Napa, are among many homeowners who chose a Stillwater design to replace a home destroyed by wildfire. Dennett liked Stillwaters eco-friendly pre-fabrication method, which was less taxing on the environment and on her psyche as she worked to re-establish her winery. Stillwater was able to package the factory-made pieces of her home into smaller than usual parcels to fit up her narrow mountainside road for assembly on site. Something I found important is you get to pick a plan and then you get to change the plan and make it your own. It made me feel I was designing a house, Dennett said. The winery building is attached to the home and is part of the Stillwater plan. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Dennett and Jenkins chose to add enough solar panels to power their home and winery so they can live and work off the grid. The Stillwater design the window walls and skylights means artificial lighting is rarely needed. The climate is perfect for living inside and outside. Its the perfect house for Napa, Dennett said. Charlie and Dan Grant also lost their 1970s two-story home in Glen Ellen to the 2017 wildfires that destroyed many of their neighbors homes. The Sonoma couple previously was aware of and interested in prefabricated homes which appealed to their commitment to the environment. Having already researched the major prefab companies, they immediately reached out to Stillwater Dwellings. We wanted only a prefab home because its quicker and my husband is really interested in cutting down on waste and conservation, Charlie Grant said. Stillwater is dedicated to sustainable, healthy and environmentally sound construction. The company says its methods reduce waste up to 50% compared to traditional on-site home construction, and its engineered timber helps protect old-growth trees. Soon, five of their neighbors chose to rebuild with Stillwater Dwellings, too. Charlie Grant said she can see three Stillwater homes from her property. Stillwater Dwellings just ticks all the boxes, Charlie said. Especially in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. I think its the views. The homes, the windows, make the most of the views, making sure to put the house in the right place, Charlie said. Like Dennett and the Grants, Colin Petheram and Karteek Patel were lovers of architecture with an interest in modern prefab homes. After stumbling upon Stillwater Dwellings, the couple who were not burned out in the wildfires made the decision to raze their old East Napa ranch-style home which was squandering their luscious Napa views. Their 2019 Stillwater home showcases both the natural landscape and their personal art collection from years of world travel. Its been fantastic, said Patel. He would recommend a Stillwater prefab home to others in the market for such a project. It is an easier build process, its more cost-effective and more efficient. Whether a homebuyer comes to Stillwater Dwellings traumatized by wildfire and needing a quick return to normalcy or is rebuilding by choice, Charlie Grant said, They make it very easy to get a beautiful home. You can reach reporter Jennifer Huffman at 256-2218 or jhuffman@napanews.com The St. Helena Cooperative's fifth annual Ol' School Dance Party will be held on Saturday, March 12, at the Native Sons Hall in St. Helena. The event features music by The Monophonics. Their sound meets at the intersection of classic soul, heavy funk, psychedelic rock, and classic American songwriting. Food and drink are included and will fuel guests for a night of dancing and good ol' fashioned fun. Tickets for those 21 and older are $65 each and are available at sthelenaccoop.org. Tuesday, Feb. 22 1015 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near College/Pope. 1052 Non-injury lift assist on Del Campo Court. 1314 Report of two suspicious men in full ski masks driving around Park Street in a Mustang. 1419 Following a traffic stop on Pratt Avenue, an officer cited someone who was refusing to stay in their vehicle. 1737 Report of a drunk man walking on Hunt Avenue. Police arrested the 41-year-old St. Helena man on suspicion of public intoxication. 1859 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Saint Andrews. Wednesday, Feb. 23 0500 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Hunt. 0529 An officer warned a driver about speeding near Allison/Brown. 0704 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on Pratt Avenue. 1050 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Stralla/Pope. 1113 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near College/Pope. 1246 Report of a pickup parked on Hillview Place for over a week. Police marked it and sent a letter to its owner. 1514 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on Pratt Avenue. 2233 Medical aid on Voorhees Circle. 2234 Following a traffic stop near Main/Adams, police arrested a 23-year-old Napa woman on suspicion of driving without a license. Thursday, Feb. 24 0523 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/El Bonita. 0542 Medical aid on Peppertree Circle. 0807 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Railroad/Hunt. 1233 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Charter Oak/Allison. 1249 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop on McCorkle Avenue. 1644 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Vidovich/Main. 1832 An officer warned a driver whod parked in a red zone in front of a fire hydrant on Main Street. 1947 An officer warned a driver about speeding near Main/Charter Oak. 2000 An officer warned a driver about a taillight violation on Main Street. 2024 An officer warned a driver about speeding near Main/Adams. Friday, Feb. 25 0124 Report of a dryer overheating on Crinella Drive, possibly stemming from a gas or electrical problem. 0731 Report of a leaf blower running for the last 10 minutes on Hunt Avenue. 1110 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop at Main/El Bonita. 1412 A man said he was being harassed by an ex-employer for switching jobs. 1622 Lift assist on Peppertree Circle. 1649 Report of a loose dog on Grayson Avenue. It was returned to its owner. 1722 Medical aid for a person with a possible broken leg near Main Street. 1905 Report of loud construction work near Tainter Street. 2130 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Crinella. 2142 A caller from a Main Street business said an employee had stolen $30,000 within the last two months. Police took a report. 2347 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Main/Mills. Saturday, Feb. 26 0908 Report of a homeless person sleeping in a tent in a Pope Street parking lot. Police checked the area and didnt find anyone. 1411 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop near Mills/Main. 1452 A woman asked police to contact her daughter, who hadnt been returning calls. Police verified the daughter was OK and didnt want to talk to her mother. 1707 A backflow preventer was spilling on a Madrona Avenue property. Public Works was notified. 1711 Police were told to be on the lookout for a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run in Calistoga. 1801 An officer assisted a driver whod run out of gas on Main Street. 1822 Police cited a vehicle parked in a red zone near Main/Spring. 1846 Lift assist on Peppertree Circle. 1849 A woman reported fraudulent charges on her card. Sunday, Feb. 27 0018 Report of a valet acting aggressively on Main Street. 0216 A car ran off the road near Silverado/Pope. Nobody was hurt. 1031 Report of an angry guest making threatening statements to a hotel manager on Main Street. 1146 Report of chainsaw noise as a tree was being cut down on Main Street. 1430 A railroad crossing arm on Charter Oak Avenue was stuck down. The Wine Train was notified. 1653 Report of a possible drunk driver near Highway 29 and Deer Park Road. 1848 Non-injury hit-and-run involving a parked car on Charter Oak Avenue. Monday, Feb. 28 0526 A box truck reportedly knocked over a lamp post in front of the post office and then left the scene. Police took a report on the hit-and-run. 0828 Police took a report on a problem involving a juvenile on Grayson Avenue. 0937 A man asked to talk to an officer about strange text messages hed received about his brother, whom he hadnt been able to contact lately. He wasnt sure if he should file a missing person report. 1416 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop at Main/Pratt. 1435 Report of two suspicious men checking out a muscle car parked on Madrona Avenue. 1446 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop at Main/Madrona. 1619 Non-injury accident at Mitchell/Main. 1634 Report of a car fire on Kearney Street. 1646 Someone threw a few bags of garbage over a fence on a Pope Street property. The bags contained identifying information. 1717 Non-injury lift assist on Del Campo Court. 2312 An officer cited someone during a traffic stop at Main/Pratt. People entering Napa County through American Canyon might see a large tourist-orientated sign saying Where Your Napa Valley Experience Begins with a Pacific, Gas & Electric substation as a backdrop. The sign depicts a vineyard and farmland, with mountains in the distance. Behind the sign and its bucolic depiction, though, is the tangle of metal structures and wires that make up the substation. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: Subscribe for $5.99 per mo The American Canyon Planning Commission wants a more welcoming environment for the city's welcome sign. On Thursday, it approved PG&E's landscaping plan for this northwest corner of Highway 29 and American Canyon Road. PG&E will add 12,087 square feet of landscaping at the substation. Thirteen trees six Deodar Cedar trees, three California pepper trees, four crape myrtles are to help shield the substation view from the highway. Shrubs include ceanothus. The cedar trees when grown are to be about 60 feet tall. Its going to be a very nice enhancement," Commissioner Tyrone Navarro said. Commissioners looked at the placement of the trees. Some wanted more trees in different areas to better shield the view of the substation from the highway, such as an additional tree between sign and substation. The sign is the entry to the city," Commissioner Eric Altman said. PG&E officials were open to commission requests. But one for more trees on the southern edge of the property is unworkable, given underground electrical equipment in this spot, they said. Metal towers carrying PG&E lines pass by the substation. Resident Beth Marcus posed a question during public comments on that front. In light of all the recent fires caused by PG&E lines, is there any concern about these trees being so close to the power lines? she asked. Landscaping plans were made working with PG&E transmission officials and appropriate guidelines were followed, said Boris Letuchy of the utility. The landscaping will be irrigated with an estimated 114,551 gallons annually of recycled water. Recycled water is a key in American Canyon, where water supplies are a concern even when the state isn't faced with a deep drought. PG&E didn't simply decide to add more landscaping around its substation. Rather, the move is tied to landscaping requirements for a different project. The Planning Commission on Sept. 30, 2021 approved a PG&E regional service center three miles away in the city's industrial area. City policies called for a certain amount of landscaping there. But constraints at the industrial park site posed a challenge. The solution: transfer some of those landscaping requirements across town to the substation. "It's a better use of the landscaping if we can bring it to the middle of the city," city Associate Planner William He said at the time. The Planning Commission agreed. It also decided it wanted to see the substation landscaping plan before the city issued a certificate of occupancy for the regional service center. It's uncertain how soon the substation landscaping will come. PG&E officials said planting could happen this spring, though that depends on city permits. American Canyon has two identical welcome signs. The other is amid landscaping at the corner of American Canyon Road and Flosden Road, near a residential neighborhood. The signs originally said Gateway to the Napa Valley. The city changed the motto to Where Your Napa Valley Experience Begins in 2010, reasoning that this better reflects the city as a destination and not simply a place to pass through. You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A restaurant that uses the motto Where Flavor Gets its Wings would like to land in Napa. Wingstop franchisee Waleed Mansour recently filed an application with the city to remodel a building at 110 Soscol Ave. The plans call for an additional 785 square feet for the Wingstop and a second eatery (to be announced). More parking would also be created. We are excited to be in Napa, said Mansour. A company that Mansour represents, Napaland LLC, bought the parcel in September for $1.35 million. Both Mansour and Napaland use the same Inglewood, Calif. address. This wouldn't be his first Wingstop franchise. Other companies affiliated with Mansour include additional Wingstop eateries (as well as pizza brands and a bakery) throughout California, said Mones Abdelwahab, director of operations for Napaland. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Abdelwahab said the company chose this site in Napa because it is convenient to shoppers, nearby hotels and college students. We have loyal customers in other parts of the Bay Area and wanted to bring our wings, to Napa, said Abdelwahab. It is about time to bring Wingstop to the area. Abdelwahab said a coffee shop or ice creamery might be a good tenant for the second space on the parcel, but we have not finalized our decision yet. A Mighty Quinn smoke shop was the most recent tenant at the future Wingstop space. Before that, it was a gas station. Businesses on either side include Vals Liquors and the Best Western Inn. According to the application, the Wingstop will operate as a fast-food take out restaurant. The remodel will include removal of an existing canopy, installation of new front landscaping and a water feature, new trash enclosure, new parking lot, and path of travel. An estimated 20 employees could work at the site. The Wingstop would be open 11 a.m. to midnight, said the application. Construction would take approximately six months. Maps of the renovation show the addition would be built on the north side of the existing building. Seating for indoor dining is not depicted in the drawings. A new trash enclosure would be located on the south end of the property. Wingstop would not be the newest tenant on the block. Another chain, Huckleberrys, plans to open at 1000 Imola Ave., in the former Dennys location in the Best Western Inn. The closest other Napa County Wingstop is in American Canyon at 5075 Main St., Suite 124 B. Other nearby Wingstop eateries can be found in Fairfield and Vallejo. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Wingstop Inc. operates and franchises more than 1,500 locations worldwide, said a news release. Wingstop offers classic wings, boneless wings and tenders, cooked to order and hand-sauced-and-tossed in 11 flavors. Wingstops menu also features signature sides including seasoned fries and freshly-made ranch and bleu cheese dips. For its fourth fiscal quarter in 2021, Wingstop reported 58 net new openings. Domestic same-store sales increased 7.5%. Total revenue increased 13.8% to $72.0 million. You can reach reporter Jennifer Huffman at 256-2218 or jhuffman@napanews.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Richard Blum, a San Francisco businessman, philanthropist and the husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, died late Sunday, the senators office announced Monday morning. My heart is broken today, Feinstein said in a statement. My husband was my partner and best friend for more than 40 years. He was by my side for the good times and for the challenges. I am going to miss him terribly. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Blum died at the family home after a long battle with cancer, the senators office said. He was 86. Blum was chairman of equity investment management firm Blum Capital Partners. He also dedicated much of his life to the people of the Himalayas, founding the American Himalayan Foundation in 1981 something Feinstein described as one of his proudest achievements. As a role model, Dick was second to none, and I think his compassion and devotion to the people of the Himalayan region may prove to be his most enduring legacy, she said. Feinstein has represented California in the U.S. Senate since 1992. She and Blum married in 1980 when she was mayor of San Francisco. Dick was incredibly devoted to his family, particularly his daughters and his grandchildren, and my heart is with them and everyone who Dick encountered, Feinstein said. He was the type of man who really replaced his divot in life, who left things better than he found them. His enormous generosity is an inspiration for so many of us. A longtime friend of the Dalai Lama, Blum was an honorary consul of Nepal, the senators office said. He also founded the Blum Center for Developing Economies at UC Berkeley, which is focused on addressing global poverty. He served as a member of the University of California Board of Regents and was chairman emeritus of the board. Blum also served as co-chairman of the World Conference on Religion and Peace and was a founding member of National Geographics International Council of Advisors. He was a trustee of the executive committee of the Carter Center and sat on several boards including the World Wildlife Fund, the Wilderness Society, the Brookings Institution, the California Academy of Sciences and the Glide Foundation, Feinsteins office said. We have a hole in our hearts that will never be filled, she said. Dick, we love you, well miss you and well continue to celebrate everything you accomplished during an amazing life. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Ajman Department of Tourism Development has organised an Innovation Lab at the Expo 2020 Dubai as part of the UAE Innovates 2022 initiatives. Entitled "Re-engineering the Ajman Visitors' Experience", the lab was held in the presence of Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director-General of the Ajman Tourism, reported Emirates News Agency WAM. It was moderated and conducted by the Ajman Tourism advisor, Rita E Haddad, a Subject-matter expert in the tourism industry. The lab was attended by the leadership team of Ajman Tourism and major senior representatives from the government entities in Ajman, the tourism and hospitality sector, the private agencies, and stakeholders from the hotel establishments, the restaurants, the academics, and the event management agencies. The participants discussed the challenges facing the tourism sector in general and the experience and the potential innovative solutions that aim to develop and re-engineer the visitor experience in the emirate of Ajman. The "Innovation Lab" has successfully gathered all the challenges, opportunities, requirements and generated advanced ideas and innovations in unique content. Ajman Tourism is keen on raising awareness among individuals about the importance of innovation and its impact on the tourism future and developing a creative mindset that relies on ideation, experiences and testing ideas. This will contribute to exploring innovative and sustainable solutions to tackle the challenges facing the tourism industry in the city and creating a better future for the new generations of visitors. During the lab, Al Geziry emphasised the importance of Innovation in the tourism industry, saying, "The tourism industry is revolving at an unprecedented pace, and we are all required to keep up with all changes and foresee the sector's future. We need to adopt agile strategies and invest in adapting the new trends to meet the visitors' expectations and needs. The voice of our stakeholders needs to be constantly heard, and the Innovation Lab is one of the platforms needed to ideate then prototype topics." Even in a time of budget surplus, California takes money from child support meant for low-income families and keeps it in state coffers. The state generally requires families enrolled in CalWORKs, the state's public assistance program, to open a child support case so that the government can later "recover" the cost from the noncustodial parent usually the father as a sort of reimbursement to itself for that cash aid. Now, Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to chip away at the policy, shaped by a 1975 federal law that created a child support enforcement program with a focus on "welfare cost recovery." But the governor's plans stop short of giving families on public assistance full access to their child support payments without state intervention. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Public assistance and child support are all but inextricable. The programs are so intertwined that when a child's primary caretaker, who is typically the mother, seeks to enroll in CalWORKs, she's often forced to open a child support case in order to ensure the government is reimbursed even if she doesn't want to. One mother in San Diego County, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said she was resistant to pursue child support for her 4-year-old because she has a restraining order against his father, but it was the only way she could receive cash aid and services from CalWORKs. "If you don't have [a child support case] open, they automatically pursue it for you. It's non-negotiable, and the logic is: We'll help you, but somebody's got to pay us back," she said. "So many people that I know don't pursue getting help because of that requirement." States can give more money to low-income families than the federal government generally allows as long as they're willing to pay for it. In order to give those families full child support payments, the state would have to find a way to make up for the revenue that child support collections bring in, plus send the federal government a check for its portion, totaling at least $150 million, according to the California Department of Child Support Services. The state's budget for the 2022-23 year is $286.4 billion. At least 175,000 low-income families in California are eligible for only a portion of child support because they also receive public assistance. The rest goes to the state, counties and the federal government. Up to 620,000 additional families could receive access to their full child support amount under a proposal in Newsom's budget unveiled last month. The proposal would direct child support to parents who previously received public assistance many of whom no longer qualify though they maintain low incomes. When a parent leaves the CalWORKs program, the state can no longer keep some of their child support payments. But if the noncustodial parent failed to keep up with the required payments, the state continues to take a portion of the money to cover the cost of the earlier assistance. Parents who currently or previously received government assistance constitute more than 75% of the child support caseload in California, according to the state Department of Finance. "When the parent who is no longer living with the children makes a payment, which we all want them to do, the children don't get the money," said Mike Herald, director of policy advocacy for the Western Center on Law & Poverty. "The public doesn't understand this. People think that the reason we have a harsh child support system is so we can get money to kids, but actually it's to get money to the government." A custodial parent who has never received CalWORKs aid gets to keep the full amount of child support. Dana Maciel, a student at the West Hills Community College District in Coalinga who has four children ages 1 to 12, called the policy "emotionally draining." Maciel, a CalWORKs recipient, said that she feels punished for being poor. The system pushes parents to work their way out of needing public assistance only to continue to take from them when they no longer need it, she said. "You worked so hard for nothing. The state still takes it away. It's pointless," she said. "It comes to a point where you end up being back in the system. They say they want to help you but it doesn't really feel like that." In 2020, Newsom moved to increase the amount that families enrolled in CalWORKs receive in child support from $50 to $100 for one child and $200 for two or more children the maximum amount the federal government is willing to pass through to families without requiring the state to backfill the financial loss. Other states, including Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania, offer that same maximum amount to families. In the San Diego County mother's case, her child's father pays about $350 a month in child support, based on his income, but she is only eligible to receive up to $100. Before Newsom's policy kicked in last month, she received just $50 per month. Colorado gives 100% of child support to families on assistance, and to make up for it, dedicates a portion of its state budget each year to cover the federal requirement. The Colorado Department of Human Services reported that in the first two years of implementation, families received $11.7 million more than they had before and child support payments increased as paying parents were more inclined to pay when they knew the money went directly to families and not the government. Half of all states don't pass on any child support to families on assistance, and some states provide less than California, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Newsom's budget proposes that the California Department of Child Support Services waive its share of "recoupment" for families that formerly received CalWORKs assistance, which would result in a revenue loss of $52.3 million for the state in the coming fiscal year and more than $104 million in ongoing funds by redirecting the money to the intended families instead of keeping it in state coffers. "Providing these funds directly to families may help low-income families reduce the burden of high-cost debt and stabilize their financial position," Newsom wrote in his budget. But families currently enrolled in CalWORKs would still have a portion of their child support payments intercepted by the state. The Newsom administration has pointed to federal rules as a hindrance to doing more, but parent and anti-poverty advocates are pushing the state, which is now flush with cash, to follow Colorado's lead. Newsom's focus on families formerly on assistance, instead of those currently on assistance, allows the state to avoid having to pay the federal government a multimillion-dollar bill each year. However, directing more money to those currently on CalWORKs makes more sense, according to a report released by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office this month. The average former CalWORKs recipient who would benefit from Newsom's proposal is a low-income 52-year-old parent with adult children, according to the report. An estimated 75% of former CalWORKs cases no longer have an active child support order, probably because the child has reached adulthood, according to the report. Despite the federal rules, the state has discretion over how much child support it gives to families, and Newsom's proposal "does not identify a clear reason" to have different policies for different families, the report states. Giving more money to both current and former CalWORKs families is "not mutually exclusive," according to the report. At a legislative hearing about Newsom's proposal on Wednesday, David Kilgore, director of the California Department of Child Support Services, said the state has had extensive conversations with Colorado officials about their more expansive policy. Kilgore said that "there's a lot of merits to the idea" and that "we would like to be there at some point in time," but reiterated the state would "have to make the federal government whole" by doing so. Greg Wilson, executive director of the California Child Support Directors Assn., called Newsom's proposals "really strong family-centered policy," but said the tendency to blame the federal government for not doing more is "a bit of mythology." A bill that would have absolved states of having to pay the federal government and given low-income parents 100% of child support payments failed in Congress in 2020. "The state could decide to pass it all through to families, it just comes with a price tag," Wilson said. "That's the double-edged sword for California. If Congress ever changed that to make it a better option for states, I believe that California would jump on the chance, absolutely." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. 2022 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. YEREVAN. On the margins of the session of the high-level segment of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on Monday held a meeting with the Director-General of the United Nations at Geneva, Tatiana Valovaya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informs. The sides commended the effective cooperation between Armenia and the UN Office at Geneva. Ararat Mirzoyan highlighted the activities of the UN Human Rights Council, emphasizing Armenia's commitment as a member state to protect and promote human rights, fundamental freedoms, as well as the strengthening of democratic values. FM Mirzoyan touched upon the humanitarian issues resulting from the 44-day war in the fall of 2020 in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the steps undertaken to solve them. In this context, the Foreign Minister emphasized the provision of international assistance and necessary conditions for the full realization of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people in Nagorno-Karabakh. Also, the Foreign Minister stressed the need for unimpeded access of international specialized organizations, including relevant UN agencies in Artsakh, as well as the implementation of humanitarian missions. French President Emmanuel Macron is in constant contact with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Macron announced this on Facebook. I am in constant communication with President Zelenskyy. I would like to commend his great sense of responsibility. At the latters request and given the humanitarian situation, I called [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin. To President Putin, I reiterated the international communitys demand to end the Russian offensive against Ukraine and insisted on the need to immediately establish a ceasefire. With discussions starting between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, I asked him to stop all strikes and attacks on civilians and residential areas, preserve all civilian infrastructure and secure main roads. He confirmed his willingness to commit to these points. I demanded compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of civilian populations, such as aid delivery. In this respect, France submitted a resolution to the United Nations Security Council. To prevent the situation from worsening, I suggested to President Putin that we stay in contact over the coming days. We will continue our discussions, the French President wrote on Facebook. Denmark, Finland support European Commission proposal on Russian oil sanctions Bulgaria to seek exemption from EU proposed Russian oil embargo Biden says he is ready for additional sanctions against Russia Switzerland braces for serious power shortage Uruguay freezes ambassador appointment to Ankara after Cavusoglu's gesture Czech Republic to seek exemption from proposed EU embargo on Russian oil imports Charles Michel on the likelihood of Moldova's EU membership Resistance Movement actions to resume tomorrow early morning Elon Musk is invited to UK Parliament for buying Twitter Disobedience march reaches France Square, rally starts US crude oil shipments to Europe hit highest level in April NEWS.am digest: Large-scale protests being held in Armenia to demand PMs resignation Armenia Defense Minister meets with Georgian PM UK bans imposes sanctions on 63 individuals and organizations in Russia EU plan to completely ban Russian crude oil threatens Hungary's energy security EU interested in expanding energy cooperation with Azerbaijan Germany: Gradual EU ban on Russian oil imports could lead to 'supply disruptions' Opposition demonstration reaches government residences Aliyev insists so-called Zangezur corridor 'is already a reality' Slovakia seeks exemption from EU oil embargo for three years Defense Ministers of Armenia and Georgia sign cooperation program for 2022 Romanian President approves entry of Stryker Brigade and US fighter squadron into country Dollar goes up, euro also rises in Armenia EU studying possibility of providing military assistance to Moldova Public demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation Opposition supporters move toward Armenian parliament building EU envoys can not agree on Russian oil Armenia Security Council chief briefs Georgia PM on Karabakh conflict settlement process Armenia deputy police chief says law enforcement has right detain MPs Large-scale opposition rally starts in central Yerevan Many teenagers in New Zealand are illiterate AFP: EU proposes to impose sanctions on Patriarch Kirill Arestovich says Israel could supply Ukraine with weapons Azerbaijan used in Karabakh war Parliament speaker threatens Armenian opposition, clergy Armenia opposition MP: Ex-President Serzh Sargsyan will not hold office in new government Beijing closes over 60 subway stations due to COVID-19 outbreak Bayramov, Roquefeuil discuss Azerbaijan-Armenia relations normalization process Armenia FM meets with US National Democratic Institute president Armenia ruling force MP: Opposition will not achieve its goal Armenia 2nd president Robert Kocharyans son blocking road with citizens in Yerevan Oklahoma bans almost all abortions Number of children in Japan falls to record low Karabakh President meets with of Free Homeland-UCA parliamentary faction members Armenian judge waves Artsakh flag at Ironman Triathlon (PHOTOS) There is still lot to do in 'October 27' case, says Armenia Prosecutor General Ambassador Wiktorin to finance minister: EU ready to continue providing assistance to Armenia government Armenia Prosecutor General admits there are difficulties in investigation of 'March 1' criminal case Copper price is stable 3 COVID-19 new cases confirmed in Armenia American Armenian youth hold protest rally outside Armenia embassy in Washington Japan protests against North Korean missile Gold is getting cheaper U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue issues joint statement Newspaper: Armenia Patrol Guard Service head to be summoned to Investigative Committee to give explanation Armenia parliament regular sittings continue Newspaper: Armenia opposition members falling into National Security Service trap by opening links Civil disobedience protests resume in Yerevan Earthquake shakes Armenia-Georgia border zone Microsoft urges to abandon Internet Explorer Mark Milley: Potential for significant international conflict between great powers is increasing 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 White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in Mondays press briefing that, The United States is the largest provider of assistance to Ukraine, and President Biden has committed more security assistance to Ukraine over the past year than the United States has provided at any other time in history. She added that the US is working to expedite deliveries from the latest package the President approved. We expect equipment to start arriving within the next couple of days from this package. That brought the total security assistance weve approved for Ukraine to $1 billion over the past year, Psaki said. According to a White House spokesperson, the US has not yet imposed sanctions on the Russian energy market, but such a possibility is being considered. We have not taken some steps on energy sanctions, in part because we weigh that. That doesnt mean that theyre off the table. That remainthey remain on the table. But Europeans, for example, are very concerned about further price spikes on gas, in particular. Their prices have gone up 335 percent over the last threeyes, over the last year and 26 percent over the last five days. () we have to weigh all of the factors as we weigh whether to take additional steps, Psaki said. Also, the White House press secretary stated that the US has no plans to declare Ukrainian airspace a no-fly zone. (...) the [US] President has been very clear that he is not intending to send U.S. troops to fight a war with Russia. And I think whats important to note here is that is essentially what this would be a step toward, because a no-fly zone would require implementation. It would require deploying U.S. military to enforce, which would be a direct conflictpotentially a direct conflict and potentially war with Russia, which is something we are not planning to be a part of, Jen Psaki said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine commented on the first round of talks between his country and Russia, UNIAN reports. "Today, on the initiative of the Russian side, the first round of talks between Ukraine and Russia took place. The negotiations were taking place amid the bombing and shelling of our territory, our cities. The synchronization of the shelling with the negotiation process was visible. I believe Russia is attempting to put pressure in such a simple way. Dont waste time! We do not accept such a tactic. There can be fair talks in the case when one side does not hit the other with rocket-propelled artillery at the time of the talks," the Ukrainian president said in a message Monday evening. According to him, Ukraine does not have the result it would like to get yet from the aforesaid talks. "Russia has stated its position. Response points were heard from us to end the war. We received some signals. When the [Ukrainian] delegation returns to Kyiv, we will analyze what we have heard and decide how to proceed to the second round of talks," Zelenskyy said. Muslim women received significantly more abuse when compared to women from other religions. They received 55.5% more problematic or abusive content. Suchitra | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles NEW DELHI In February last year, 17-year-old Asra Hamid Rashid woke up to hundreds of messages on her Instagram abusing her, sending her rape and death threats. They broke me, not just on social media, but in my personal life. I do not know how somebody can have so much hate to sustain a hate-filled campaign against a 17-year-old young girl for two straight weeks, Asra told TwoCircles.net. Asra, a Muslim queer woman, is a law student in West Bengal and has been vocal against the ruling party, and the growing Hindu extremism. Her experiences are not different from other Muslim women online. Muslim women have been experiencing extreme social media harassment ranging from abuses, slurs to active death and rape threats. Amnesty Indias findings in 2020 saw that 1 in 5 of their analyzed tweets was misogynistic abuse. Muslim Women received significantly more abuse when compared to women from other religions. They received 55.5% more problematic or abusive content. 26.4% of the problematic or abusive content experienced by them contained ethnic/religious slurs. Women from marginalized castes receive 59% more caste-based abuse than women from general castes. Mariya Salim is a researcher and gender rights activist. worked with Amnesty, Inter Press Service among others. Online violence can often translate into real-life violence, and that threat, that fear is difficult to navigate. Especially for Muslim, Dalit and queer women, the violence then becomes all the more intersectional. The kind of words that are used specifically for women from Muslim communities is intended to silence them, with an added layer of humiliation with religious, ethnic slurs. If they see you are outspoken, in cases of online harassment by the right-wing, as soon as they see that its a woman the nature of the abuse changes, Asra said. Mariya interviewed women who are public figures and often face vicious online harassment while she worked for Amnesty India. Imagine writing about this online harassment so many times and then waking up to being auctioned by the right-wing, and on New Years Eve of all days, Mariya said, referring to the Github Bulli Bai app. Online violence is scary for women because of the very real danger it brings, and the intention is always to silence, as I have found from my work and my personal experiences. Online abuse has the power to belittle, demean, intimidate and eventually silence women, she said. Around two-thirds of women who experienced abuse or harassment on social media platforms said to Amnesty International in a study from 2017, that they felt a sense of powerlessness after experiencing online abuse. Dr Aqsa is a trans woman who is the first Transgender Nodal officer at a Delhi Covid Vaccination Centre and teaches Community Medicine at Jamia Hamdard. She is constantly at the receiving end of online vitriol from both the right-wing and the transphobes. I was afraid earlier, of doxxing, harassment and these fears are very real. I was quiet during the anti-CAA agitation because I was scared for my family. Many women complain that they feel disappointed with the lack of solidarity from the men of their community. Because of your identity as a Muslim woman, many times you see men from your community just not supporting you. I have been asked various times why I dont wear the Hijab, for instance, Mariya said. A famous Muslim handle recently trolled me for speaking out against their casteism, denying my struggles as a person from a marginalised-caste, Asra said. Many end up feeling disappointed with other spaces of solidarities, such as the queer community, which doesnt extend their support against majoritarian violence. Many of these community members unfollow me because of both the assertion of her trans identity and her Muslim identity. A lot of abuse is for me as a Muslim person from the queer community, and a lot of abuse has also been directed at me as a transperson, by the Muslim community. I feel like we need to form solidarities, to fight the common threat of majoritarianism, said Dr Aqsa. Dr Aqsa said that if one is queer and anti-caste, the support is not the same as intersectionality comes into play. I often speak against this intersectionality with a lot of caution because I dont want an upper-caste, non-Muslim or a non-queer person to use my words against people who are marginalised by these intersectional identities, Asra said. For Dr Aqsa, one of the challenges is when credentials are questioned based on gender identity. I do feel that a lot of opportunities that were due to me were not given to me. But it is worse when they also exclude you for your politics of anti-Islamophobia or anti-transphobia, she said. Twitter has admitted that it has created an unsafe space for women by perpetuating harassment and abuse, but it has not worked with organizations aiming to make social media spaces safer. Even though Twitter has guidelines in place to identify abuse and hate, and has improved its policies and reporting process over the years, Twitter policies are not sufficient to address the toxicity that women face online. We have asked them multiple times to collate a slur-list so we can update it, but they have not accepted this demand of ours, Mariya added. Suchitra is an independent journalist working on social justice, focusing primarily on gender justice. She tweets at @Suchitrawrites Hakob Arshakyan, deputy speaker and currently acting speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, on Monday received the Special Envoy of Canada to the European Union (EU) and Europe, Ambassador to Germany, Stephane Dion, the press service of the NA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. Arshakyan underlined that this year is significant for Armenia and Canada: the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In the Armenian-Canadian bilateral relations, the NA Vice President stressed the role of the inter-parliamentary cooperation, particularly the Parliamentary Friendship Groups. Also, he opined that the close and effective cooperation with the European Union is of special importance for Armenia, and added that the opportunities of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement shall be fully used. That is a firm basis in terms of the development of mutually beneficial relations with the EU and the EU member states, the NA Vice President documented. Hakob Arshakyan highly evaluated the fact that from the first days of the second Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war in the fall of 2020 Canada had actively tried to make efforts for ceasefire. In this aspect he valued the decision of the Government of Canada for stopping the supply of the Canadian armament to Turkey. Touching upon the post-war still non-overcome problems, Arshakyan highlighted the realization of all provisions of the trilateral statement, considering of priority the issue of the immediate repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and the civilians being held in Azerbaijan. The NA Vice President reminded that the return of the abovementioned persons is postponed with fake criminal cases in Azerbaijan. We hope that the international counterparts will decently respond to the fact and we will be able to advance in the region with the committed peace agenda, he stressed. In this context, the importance of the demarcation and delimitation process and the complete withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces from Armenias sovereign territory were touched upon. With regards to the establishment of peace in the region it was underscored that the special representatives of Armenia and Turkey actively negotiate in registering progress in the Armenian-Turkish relations. During the meeting, the sides referred also to the efficiency and continuity of the development program of the staff being implemented with the cooperation between the National Assembly Staff and the Parliamentary Centre of Canada. With respect to the development of parliamentary diplomacy, Hakob Arshakyan emphasized the implementation of such strategic programs. The efficiency of the implementation of the exchange programs was underlined. Stephane Dion, in his turn, highlighted the continuous development of the Armenian-Canadian relations and the deepening of the relationship. In this context, he stressed the role of friendship groups. Alen Simonyan, acting President and speaker of the National Assembly Armenia, on Tuesday received a delegation led by Stephane Dion, Special Envoy of Canada to the European Union (EU) and Europe, who has arrived in Armenia on a mission to outline the ways to assist in the democratic development of the country. During the meeting, the Canadian special envoy provided Simonyan with some details about his meetings in the state agencies of Armenia during the past two days. Referring to the purpose of his visit to Armenia, Dion said that he will study, within the framework of his respective mandate, the avenues for Canada's assistance in democracy in Armenia. The guest added that the role and participation of about 66,000 Armenians living in Canada in the latter's foreign policy and socioeconomic issues is considerable. YEREVAN. The Yerevan court hearing on the criminal case against second President Robert Kocharyan and former deputy prime minister Armen Gevorgyanwho is now an MP of the opposition Armenia Faction in the National Assembly of Armeniawill reconvene Tuesday. At the last session, Kocharyan's defense lawyer Hayk Alumyan had motioned to petition to the Constitutional Courtand due to the ambiguity of the accusation. He had argued that the reason for petitioning to the Constitutional Court was the legislative gap in the Criminal Code of Armenia. According to him, the Code does not enable the court to explain the accusation when it is not clearly stated, but it does not impose an obligation on the prosecution to explain it. Along the lines of the aforesaid criminal case, Robert Kocharyan and Armen Gevorgyan are accused of taking bribesand based on the respective testimony of businesswoman Silva Hambardzumyan. The parliamentary majority of Armeniathe MPs of the ruling "Civil Contract" Faction of the National Assembly (NA)on Tuesday refused to put on the NA agenda the draft statement condemning the ratification of the "Shushi Declaration" by the legislatures of Azerbaijan and Turkey. The draft statement was prepared and tabled by the opposition "Armenia" Faction. The respective position of the Armenian authorities was presented by MP Gurgen Arsenyan of the "Civil Contract" Faction. He, in particular, stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia had already given an assessment to the "Shushi Declaration." The proposal to put the aforesaid draft statement on the agenda of the current four-day sessions of the NA was approved by only 26 lawmakers. One MP voted against it, and 57 others abstained. The head of the French Ministry of Finance said that the European Union will wage an all-out economic and financial war against Russia, RIA Novosti reports. Western countries announced new sanctions against Moscow after the start of a military special operation in Ukraine. The European Union decided to ban operations related to the management of reserves and assets of the Bank of Russia. The restrictions also affected large financial institutions. For some companies, it is now difficult to raise capital from abroad. Germany has stopped the process of certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The European Union has banned flights over the territory of the Union countries, companies will stop supplying aircraft or parts used in them to Russia. Moscow said they were ready for sanctions and would support business. A recess was announced at the Yerevan court hearing Tuesday on the criminal case against second President Robert Kocharyan and former deputy prime minister Armen Gevorgyanwho is now an MP of the opposition Armenia Faction in the National Assembly of Armeniato ensure Gevorgyan's arrival in the courtroom. The court session continued after the recess. Gevorgyan arrived, but presiding Judge Anna Danibekyan announced that she considered his absence from the courtroom "disrespectful." Armen Gevorgyan responded that he needs to return to todays National Assembly sitting, adding that attending this sitting was his constitutional duty. The court, however, announced the possibility of apprehending him. Defense attorney Lusine Sahakyan, in turn, reminded the judge that according to the Constitution, the court cannot apprehend an MP. The judge stopped discussing this matter, and moved on to the agenda and the consideration of the previously submitted motions. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Many Armenians living in Ukraine are leaving their places of residence due to the present-day situation in the country, and are mainly going to Europe. Hamlet Hovhannisyan, Assistant to the Honorary Consul of Armenia in Kharkiv, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the situation remains tense. "At this moment, every family is in its hiding place. And there are some families in the basement of the [local] Armenian church. There is no evacuation at the moment, each family decides for itself whether it can go or not. They are going primarily to European countries. People are trying to get out, risking their lives," he said. Vahagn Matevosyan, the head of the Union of Armenians of the Donetsk Region, told us that the situation is critical, especially in Mariupol. "As of today, the electricity grid in the city of Mariupol has been damaged, there will be no electricity, therefore, there will be no heating either in the apartments. A serious problem has arisen with bread. We are working to solve that issue. We have managed to get flour, we need to bake, distribute lavash [bread]. There is panic, the [local] Armenians have consolidated, they maintain contact with each other. Many Armenians have left the citybut at great risk. They mainly go towards Moldova, the roads from the other sides are closed. Compared to these cities, the situation is calmer in Odessa where people stay in their homes when air raid sirens blare out. Anna Gevorgyan, the head of the Armenian community in Odessa, told us that the local Armenian community is now ready with everything. "If there is a need to assemble, we assemble in our cultural center. We are in touch with all the Armenians here. There is evacuation, mainly among children and women, but we do not have mass evacuation as such," she added. STEPANAKERT. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Arayik Harutyunyan on Tuesday convened an extended working consultation on the implementation of the state financial assistance program aimed at the fulfillment of the loan obligations of individuals and legal entities experiencing difficulties in the aftermath of the hostilities unleashed against Artsakh on September 27, 2020. The Minister of Finance, the heads of the Artsakh Investment Fund and Support Fund of Village and Agriculture made reports, presenting the program implementation process, and recorded the respective successes and difficulties, the Office of the Artsakh President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. After the discussion, the President noted that it is necessary to continue working with the officials in charge of the banking system on the established agenda to ensure the proper fulfillment of the respective obligations undertaken by the state. Also, President Harutyunyan gave a number of instructions on further relevant activities. The tragedy of Ukraine is the result of the connivance of Western patrons to the criminal regime formed in Kyiv, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday, speaking at a conference on disarmament in the format of a video message, TASS reports. "The tragedy of Ukraine is the result of the connivance of Western patrons to the criminal regime that was formed there after the bloody anti-constitutional coup in February 2014, carried out contrary to the guarantees of Germany, Poland and France under an agreement on the settlement of the intra-Ukrainian crisis," Lavrov said. Achieving legally binding security guarantees from NATO countries is of fundamental importance for the Russian Federation, the Foreign Minister said. Western colleagues have not yet demonstrated their readiness to provide legally binding long-term security guarantees to Russia. For us, achieving these goals is of fundamental importance. It is unacceptable for the Russian Federation that American nuclear weapons are located on the territory of a number of European countries, it is high time to return them to the United States. EU countries are trying to get away from an honest dialogue face to face, choosing the path of sanctions. The Russian Federation hopes that the conference on the NPT will still take place. The Russian Federation is deeply concerned about the situation in the OPCW that has become a consequence of Western policy, Lavrov noted. Armenia has already expressed its position on the situation on Ukraineand it was done at the level of the Prime Minister of the republic, Nikol Pashinyan. Eduard Aghajanyan, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia and an MP from the ruling Civil Contract Party, stated this at Tuesdays press conferenceat the NAof the members of the Armenian delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assemblyand when asked how long Armenia will not express its position on the aforementioned situation. According to the lawmaker, the events on Ukraine are being closely followed in Yerevan. "Armenia is deeply concerned about the current situation. As a people that have felt on themselves all the horrors of war, we [i.e., Armenians], naturally, express our sympathy in connection with the situation. Armenia supports the settlement of conflicts through peace and negotiations. The current processes, naturally, cause concern, and our country, being a member of the international community, supports the very position I have voiced earlier," Aghajanyan said. The MP added that Armenia is concerned about these processes impact on the South Caucasus. According to Aghajanyan, Armenia must be ready for the consequences in case of any outcome. "The most desirable scenario for the Armenian side is the immediate cessation of the military operations [in Ukraine]. But these are issues on which Armenia cannot affect in any way," said the chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the NA. YEREVAN. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan of Armenia on Tuesday met with Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. Referring to the ICRC's activities as a non-political and humanitarian organization, Mirzoyan stressed the importance of this organization's activities towards resolving humanitarian issues in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). In this context, Ararat Mirzoyan drew Peter Maurer's attention to the urgency of returning 38 Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan, as well as revealing the cases of forcible disappearances and the fate of missing persons. Also, the Armenian FM stressed the need for ensuring the unimpeded access of international organizations to Nagorno-Karabakh and their active engagement on the ground. The interlocutors agreed to continue the cooperation for the resolution of humanitarian issues. Italy will be able to survive a complete cut-off of gas supplies from Russia in the short term, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said, adding that such a scenario would make next winters more difficult, Reuters reported. The Italian government was also ready to provide additional support to families and businesses as Russias invasion of Ukraine and ensuing disruption to trade ties drove up energy prices further, Draghi told parliament. Italy is keen to reduce its dependence on Russia, which supplies more than 40 percent of its imported gas. Our forecast is that we will be able to absorb any peaks in demand from what we have in storage or other import sources, Draghi said, referring to the current situation, with the crunch eased by milder spring temperatures. He said Italy was also working to increase supplies from other countries, such as Algeria and Azerbaijan, and to expand the use of liquefied natural gas terminals. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said he would visit Algeria on Monday with a view to increase gas supplies from the country. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to end the war in Ukraine and withdraw all its forces. He noted that the Alliance will not send troops or combat aircraft to support Kyiv, because it does not want to become part of the conflict, Reuters reported. The Russian attack is completely unacceptable, and it is supported by Belarus, Stoltenberg said after meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda. NATO is a defensive alliance, we do not want conflict with Russia. Russia must immediately stop the war, withdraw all its forces from Ukraine and engage in diplomatic efforts in good faith, he added. Hungary supports the initiative of eight leaders of the European Union member states to start membership talks with Ukraine, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said, Reuters reports. "Hungary backs this initiative and we urge Brussels to put the issue on the agenda," Szijjarto said, referring to a proposal by the presidents of three Baltic states, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Slovenia The presidents of eight Central and Eastern European countries called on the EU member states to immediately grant Ukraine the status of an EU candidate country and start membership negotiations. "The Hungarian people did not want this war, Hungarians want peace and we are doing all we can to ensure that peace is restored as soon as possible," Szijjarto said, urging talks between Russia and Ukraine to resolve the standoff. Szijjarto expressed solidarity with Ukraine, saying that Hungary supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The Hungarian police said that 62,736 refugees had arrived in Hungary from Ukraine since the invasion began. Most of them plan to move to Western Europe. Greece supports EU sanctions against Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine and is ready to accept Ukrainian refugees, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, Reuters reported. "Greece was always on the right side of history and we are doing the same today. For Greece there are no dilemmas, we are on the side of Ukraine, freedom and democracy." He said that Russia's invasion has awakened old nightmares of war as Russia attempts to dismember Ukraine. "The European Union was born out of the ashes of World War Two. It responded with the largest package of sanctions it has ever launched. The EU's actions awaken the world's public opinion, they are the intangible force of democracy," he said. Mitsotakis said the EU must also support countries and businesses against further energy price hikes. "We cannot rule out attempts by Russia to blackmail. We all realize this...will disrupt global supplies and probably trigger a further rise in (energy) prices," said Mitsotakis. "But we all agree it is the one-off price European people will pay for defending the values which are the foundations of our continent." Greece has spent more than 2 billion on subsidizing energy bills for households, businesses and farmers since September to cushion the impact of record gas prices. Mitsotakis said government aid would continue until the energy crisis was over. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected calls for NATO to introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine after an emotional appeal from a Ukrainian journalist, writes the Huffing Post. The journalist, Daria Kaleniuk held back tears as she told the prime minister the West was afraid to act. Ukrainian women and Ukrainian children are in deep fear because of bombs and missiles which are going from the sky, she told Johnson during a press conference in Poland. Ukrainian people are desperately asking for the rights to protect our sky, we are asking for a no-fly zone. Whats the alternative for the no-fly zone? Nato is not willing to defend because Nato is afraid of World War Three but its already started and its Ukrainian children who are there taking the hit. Johnson said the UK would not risk a direct confrontation with Russia. Im acutely conscious that there is not enough that we can do, as the UK government, to help in the way that you want and Ive got to be honest about that. When you talk about the no-fly zone, as I said to Volodymyr Zelensky a couple of times, unfortunately the implication of that is the UK would be engaged in shooting down Russian planes, it would be engaged in direct combat with Russia. Thats not something that we can do or that weve envisaged. The consequences of that would be truly very, very difficult to control. French presidential candidate Valerie Pecresse is against Turkey's accession to the European Union. In an interview with Kathimerini, she stated that if elected, she would also stop the financial assistance provided to Ankara before joining. I am unimpressed by the intimidation of the Turkish government. I will oppose Turkeys accession to the EU, the process of which has only been suspended, she said. And current pre-accession assistance should be called into question. With me as president, France will be at the forefront of the fight against Islamism and the protection of womens rights. Pecresse, the leader of the right-wing Republicans, also said she was inspired by Greece's migration policy. Greece is currently pursuing a courageous policy that inspires me: The asylum centers opened by the government on the islands of Samos, Kos and Leros reconcile immigration control and human dignity. We must implement such good practices in France, she said. Regarding the war in Ukraine, she accused President Emmanuel Macron of conducting arrogant and lonely diplomacy, arguing that if we are truly allies, we must have a real voice on Russia. The first round of the presidential elections in France will take place on 10 April. If none of the candidates wins an absolute majority, the second round will take place on 24 April. The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency extends the ban on flights to 11 airports in the central part and south of the Russian Federation until March 8, the agency said in a statement, Interfax reports. The regime of temporary restriction of flights to Russian airports in the south and central part of Russia has been extended until March 8, 2022, 03:45 Moscow time, the agency said. Flights are thus still limited to the following airports: Anapa, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Gelendzhik, Krasnodar, Kursk, Lipetsk, Rostov-on-Don, Simferopol, Elista. The rest of Russia's airports, including international ones, are operating normally, the Federal Air Transport Agency notes. In order to organize the transportation of passengers to closed airports, Russian airlines are recommended to organize the transportation of passengers along alternative routes using the airports of Sochi, Volgograd, Mineralnye Vody, Stavropol and Moscow, the agency added. SWIFT announced that it expects a list of Russian banks to be disconnected from the global system as sanctions against Russia are imposed, Reuters reported. The European Union, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Britain agreed Saturday to exclude individual Russian banks from SWIFT. "We will always comply with applicable sanctions laws," SWIFT said in a statement. "We are engaging with these authorities to understand which entities will be subject to these new measures and will disconnect them once we receive legal instruction to do so." The global financial system is severing ties with Russia and its banks to prevent Russian companies from raising money in foreign markets. Market sources said Bloomberg flagged Russian sovereign bonds, as well as securities linked to Russian banks VTB and Sberbank, with a warning tag that "sanctions apply to this security," though trading continued. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on the margins of the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, MFA press service informed NEWS.am. The sides praised Armenia's close cooperation with the UN, particularly with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Ararat Mirzoyan said this year is symbolic, as it marks the 30th anniversary of Armenia's membership in the UN. In this regard, the Minister stressed that Armenia has established itself as a responsible and reliable partner of the international community and consistently contributes to the promotion of multilateralism, protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the world. Presenting the situation resulting from the 44-day war unleashed by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces against Artsakh, Mirzoyan stressed the importance of unimpeded participation of international organizations in the processes on the ground, for the full resolution of humanitarian issues in Nagorno-Karabakh, including the implementation of humanitarian missions by the UN High Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs. He noted that Azerbaijan's aggression against Artsakh and its people was accompanied by gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, which have been documented in detail and submitted to international law enforcement structures. Mirzoyan stressed that Armenian prisoners of war and civilians are still illegally detained in Azerbaijan, and official Baku refuses to release and return them, grossly violating the international law. Attention was also drawn to pre-planned acts of vandalism and destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in the territories taken under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces as a result of the war against Nagorno-Karabakh. The sides also exchanged views on the ongoing reforms in Armenia and the achievements made in them, particularly in the fields of strengthening democracy, promoting human rights and the rule of law, as well as the judicial system and the fight against corruption. The interlocutors highly appreciated the coordinated interaction in this process with the international structures. In her turn, the UN Commissioner for Human Rights stressed the importance of Armenia's leadership in advancing the agenda of prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity. Romania should increase its defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product from 2% at present, President Klaus Iohannis said, Reuters reported. According to him, the decision to increase defense spending requires the approval of the government and parliament, but the strategic goal is to increase spending. Romania, a member of the European Union and NATO, has a 650 km border with Ukraine. Some 90,000 Ukrainians crossed the Romanian border in the first five days of the invasion. The current security crisis shows us that it is necessary to increase the defense capability of the Romanian state, Iohannis said, adding that Bucharest would create a hub on its territory for receiving and transporting international humanitarian aid to Ukraine. More than 3,000 NATO troops are currently stationed in Romania, mostly American, but also a group of 500 soldiers from France, who will lead the NATO inter-army task force in Romania. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of killing Ukrainian civilians, telling the UN Human Rights Council that the Russian Armed Forces are " hitting schools, hospitals and residential buildings." "They are destroying critical infrastructure, which provides millions of people across Ukraine with drinking water, gas to keep them from freezing to death, and electricity," Blinken said. "Civilian buses, cars, and even ambulances have been shelled. Russia is doing this every day across Ukraine," Blinken added. He said that Russian "crimes" in Ukraine are "growing by the hour". Blinken said the urgent debate on Ukraine scheduled for Thursday, where a resolution presented by Kyiv and allies would lead to an international investigation into the violations, was an important step towards ensuring documentation and accountability. War has returned to Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament. This is a moment of truth for Europe. This is a clash between the rule of law and the rule of the gun; between democracies and autocracies; between a rules-based order and a world of naked aggression. How we respond today to what Russia is doing will determine the future of the international system. The destiny of Ukraine is at stake, but our own fate also lies in the balance, she said. At the speed of light, the European Union has adopted three waves of heavy sanctions against Russia's financial system, its high-tech industries and its corrupt elite. I am well aware that these sanctions will come at a cost for our economy, too, she admitted. We have endured two years of pandemic. And we all wished that we could focus on our economic and social recovery. But I believe that the people of Europe understand very well that we must stand up against this cruel aggression, Von der Leyen said. She also spoke directly to the citizens of Russia. Russia has reached a crossroads, she said, because " the actions of the Kremlin are severely damaging the long-term interests of Russia and its people. More and more Russians understand this as well. They are marching for peace and freedom. And how does the Kremlin respond to this? By arresting thousands of them. But ultimately, the longing for peace and freedom cannot be silenced. There is another Russia besides Putin's tanks. And we extend our hand of friendship to this other Russia. According to her, " President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people are a true inspiration." She said that today the EU and Ukraine are closer than ever. But there is still a long way to go. Russia must stop bombing Ukrainian cities before meaningful negotiations on a ceasefire can begin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Reuters. During an interview in a heavily guarded government compound, Zelenskyy urged NATO members to impose a no fly zone to stop the Russian air force, saying this would be a preventative measure and not meant to drag the alliance into war with Russia. Zelenskyy also said Ukraine would demand legally binding security guarantees if NATO shuts the door on Ukraine's membership prospects. Our partners, if they are not ready to take Ukraine into NATO ... because Russia does not want Ukraine to be in NATO, should work out common security guarantees for Ukraine, Zelenskyy said. The European Parliament backed a resolution on granting Ukraine the status of a candidate country for accession to the European Union. According to UNIAN, the results of the vote for the corresponding resolution were announced by the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. In particular, 637 EP deputies voted for, 13 MEPs voted against and 26 abstained. The resolution is now transmitted to the EU's decision-making institutions and all member states. The resolution condemns in the strongest possible terms Russias illegal, unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against and invasion of Ukraine, as well as the involvement of Belarus in this aggression. It calls on Russia to terminate all military activities in Ukraine, unconditionally withdraw all military and paramilitary forces and military equipment from the entire internationally recognised territory of Ukraine, and fully respect Ukraines territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders. At the same time, the European Parliament in the resolution invited Russia and Ukraine to continue diplomatic efforts and also called on Russia to return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. European Union countries are considering banning Russian ships from entering EU ports in a bid to tighten maritime restrictions following the suspension of air traffic, Reuters reported. Britain has already decided to deny entry to British ports to all ships owned, operated, controlled, chartered, registered or sailing under the Russian flag. The Danish Foreign Ministry said EU foreign ministers had discussed closing European ports to Russian ships on Sunday. "Denmark is actively working to ensure that the EU takes a general decision to close its ports to Russian vessels," the foreign ministry said in a statement. We have already decided to close the Danish airspace to Russian aircraft. At the same time, we are open to looking at new initiatives in collaboration with our European partners. A French government spokesman told Reuters that the EU was working on new sanctions and possible port closures for Russian ships, but added that any additional steps should affect Russia "proportionally much more than our own economies. A Greek government official said Athens will implement any decision the European Commission takes on this issue. A European Commission spokesperson said there was no such ban in force at the moment. But we continue working on further sanctions, which will be announced in due course, the spokesperson added. The European Parliament will on Tuesday vote on a non-binding resolution calling for EU ports to be closed to Russian ships and ships coming to or from Russia, except for necessary justified humanitarian reasons, which could add political pressure for the bloc to act. In the background of the events in Ukraine, the Georgian opposition has made a number of political demands to the authorities of the country, the main of which is the resignation of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Novosti-Gruziya reported. The conditions were announced at a protest rally in central Tbilisi, which was joined by thousands of people who consider the position of official Tbilisi on the Ukrainian crisis unacceptable. "First, Irakli Garibashvili must leave... Second, we must move to concrete and effective steps to help Ukraine... Our third demand is that Georgia applies for EU membership immediately after they leave," Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the opposition party Droa, said at the rally. She stressed that these demands have been agreed upon by "all social groups and all parties," and they will seek their fulfillment together. After Khoshtaria's address the rally participants started chanting "Go away" to PM Garibashvili. The rally is currently going on. Traffic on Rustaveli Avenue is paralyzed. Rallies in support of Ukraine have been taking place in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities since 24 February, but they have never been political. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the withdrawal of the Ambassador from Georgia. He cited the obstruction of volunteers who wish to help Ukraine and the position of the Georgian government in refraining from joining sanctions against Russia. The ruling party described the decision as "unjustified and very sad," and blamed the opposition for the situation. President Joe Biden has personally told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the US or NATO will not establish a "no-fly zone" over Ukraine. In interviews with Reuters and CNN, the Ukrainian president repeated his request for NATO countries to establish a "no-fly zone", which would allow the alliance to control the skies over Ukraine and deny Russia the ability to use its superior aircraft against Ukraine. Zelenskyy also asked NATO to speed up its application for Ukraine's inclusion into the alliance. Our partners, if they are not ready to take Ukraine into NATO ... because Russia does not want Ukraine to be in NATO, should work out common security guarantees for Ukraine, Zelenskyy said. But the United States and other NATO countries have repeatedly ruled out the introduction of a "no-fly zone," which would require NATO aircraft to monitor airspace and intercept violators with the ability to shoot them down if they don't back down. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the previous day that this would be equivalent to declaring war on Russia, which possesses a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have fled their country for the safety of their neighbors to the west, with many more behind them. While Ukrainian refugees have been welcomed with open arms so far, the larger question is how people in these countries could react if these numbers swell into the millions and if Ukrainians end up staying. Many of Ukraine's western neighbors, including Hungary and Slovakia, have consistently ranked among the least accepting in the world for migrants, and almost all (except Moldova) did not vote for the UN migration pact in 2018. (However, all neighbors except Hungary voted in favor of the UN compact on refugees that same year.) Moldova, Poland and Romania Previously Most Welcoming to Migrants As of Monday, more than 500,000 refugees have fled Ukraine since Thursday, many of them crossing into Poland, Moldova and Romania. Of Ukraine's western neighbors, these three countries were the most welcoming of migrants in 2019, which notably predates the Belarus border crisis in 2021 that led Poland to build a wall to keep migrants out. Half of Moldovans (50%) and more than four in 10 Poles (42%) surveyed said migrants living in their countries was a "good thing," while roughly 30% in each country viewed it as a "bad thing." Thirty-nine percent of Romanians also said migrants living in their county was a good thing, while 29% said it was a bad thing. Attitudes Toward Migrants Among Ukraine's Western Neighbors Now, I would like to ask you some questions about foreign immigrants - people who have come to live and work in this country from another country. Please tell me whether you, personally, think each of the following is a good thing or a bad thing? How about immigrants living in your country? Good thing Bad thing Depends (Volunteered response) Don't know/Refused % % % % Moldova 50 26 15 9 Poland 42 30 19 9 Romania 39 29 16 17 Slovakia 18 50 27 5 Hungary 8 56 29 7 Gallup, 2019 Thousands of Ukrainians are also making their way to neighbors in Hungary and Slovakia, where residents have been far less welcoming to migrants compared with their neighbors. In 2019, a majority of Hungarians (56%) and half of Slovakians (50%) said migrants living in their country was a bad thing, and far fewer saw it as a good thing. These numbers are not surprising given that both countries ranked among the least accepting of migrants on Gallup's Migrant Acceptance Index scale in 2016 and again in 2019. Hungary was one of several European countries that erected border fences during the European migrant crisis in 2015. Who Migrants Are Matters in All Countries Who migrants are factors into people's attitudes in all five countries, which may give Ukrainians an edge in the current crisis -- given that several countries share their Slavic ancestry and adherence to the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic faiths. Large percentages in each of these countries volunteered that whether migrants living in their country was a good thing or bad thing "depends." Implications A crush of Ukrainian refugees fleeing a Russian invasion was likely the farthest thing from people's minds when they were asked about migrants in 2019. More than likely, they were still thinking about the then-recent migrant crisis that saw millions of migrants flee war-torn Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries and seek safety in Europe. Unlike that crisis, instead of building more walls, Poland and Hungary's governments are taking a welcoming stance toward Ukrainian refugees and migrants, with Hungary even offering protection to all arriving citizens and legal third-country nationals arriving from Ukraine. Still, if the situation in Ukraine escalates, as many as 5 million could stream across the borders, which could test the hospitality to migrants in countries where this is already in somewhat short supply. Read more about Gallup's research on international migration. For complete methodology and specific survey dates, please review Gallup's Country Data Set details. Learn more about how the Gallup World Poll works. It was a meeting in Addis Ababa five years ago that laid the foundation. A group of scientists assembled by the United Nations had gathered in the capital of Ethiopia to draft the outline of a landmark report that would assess the state of the worlds climate. That initial forum of the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) informed three different working groups, each charged with authoring a section of the IPCCs Sixth Assessment Report. And by August of 2021, Working Group I had completed and released its chapter on the physical science of climate change, warning that humans have altered the environment at unprecedented levels and that the window to prevent the most catastrophic effects of greenhouse gas emissions is rapidly closing. Now, Working Group II, which includes a University of Miami researcher in environmental science and policy, has issued its contribution to the nearly 4,000-page report. In their assessment, unveiled Feb. 28 during a virtual press conference, the authors not only reaffirm that climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying, they also address its impacts, the efforts to adapt to it, and the groups of people who are most vulnerable to its effects. If we were to jump back decades to when these reports started, climate change was mostly a hypotheticalsomething that we, as a global community, could avoid, said Katharine Mach, associate professor at the Universitys Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and a lead author for the IPCCs Working Group II. But then as we moved forward, the evolution was that warming is unambiguously occurring, she said. And certainly, when the Fifth Assessment Report came out in 2014, it was at that point we could detect and attribute impacts of climate change on every single continent, not just in terms of the change in climate, but also how its affecting agriculture and livelihoods and health. The Earths changing climate has led to sea level rise, drought, an increase in tropical cyclone activity, and more heatwaves, adversely affecting ecosystems, food security, water resources, human health, and infrastructure, the chapter penned by Working Group II reports. Indigenous peoples and communities in low-lying coastal areas are often hardest hit by the impacts of climate change, the authors noted. Most underserved communities bear the brunt of the impacts that do occur. And that plays out within and across countries. So, thats a key component of the complexity of understanding the full distribution of impacts and responses, Mach said. And then, the next part of the complexity thats a big step forward is recognizing that the responses that we take at this point are an unambiguous part of the climate issue. We are trying to actively reduce emissions. Were trying to figure out how to keep people safe. And these actions that were taking constitute the new space of learning how to do this well. While efforts aimed at adapting to climate change have ramped up significantly during the past eight years, the world is not adapting fast enough, and significant gaps exist between policies that are being implemented and what is needed, according to the assessment. Closing those gaps will require governments, business, civil society, and individuals to act at a much faster rate than the current pace. The huge step forward is at this point, we can document globally the degree to which theres recognition and action happening to address climate impacts, Mach explained. At the same time, we are making some progress with grappling with emission reductions. But the big question is, Is it enough? Disaster-proofing energy plants and other critical infrastructure, improving health systems to reduce the impacts of climate-related risks, protecting and restoring natural forests, and safeguarding ecosystems are just some of the adaptation measures that can be taken, the assessment suggests. The number of people worldwide who consider climate action a priority is growing, notes the first chapter, citing a survey that revealed almost two thirds of the people across 50 countries view climate change as an emergency, with the highest level of support for climate action coming from small developing states. Machs own Rosenstiel School research, which assesses climate change risks and response options to address increased flooding, extreme heat, wildfire, and other hazards, is closely related to the IPCC Sixth Assessment chapter on which she served as a lead author. For Mach, working on the IPCC chapter to inform various groups of the current state of the worlds climate was one of the more rewarding aspects of her work. She added that, because of the pandemic, her group mostly met virtually during the past two years. Mach said that she believes several audiences will benefit from this latest IPCC report, from the media to world governments. But its important to recognize that the U.S. and other high-income countries, in addition to having access to the IPCC report, also have national to local assessment processes working for them, she explained. By contrast, for lower-income countries, there isnt necessarily a national, much less a local, climate assessment. So, in that regard, these IPCC reports are invaluable. Surrounded by the sounds of Junkanoo drums, University of Miami President Julio Frenk was joined by Provost Jeffrey Duerk; Donald Spivey, distinguished professor of history and special advisor to the president on racial justice; and a host of others in a ceremony on Monday to inaugurate the Center for Global Black Studies. Donette Francis and Jafari Allen, co-directors of the center, were also present at Cesarano Plaza. The event, hosted during Black Awareness Month, officially opened the facility, which has offices on the third floor of the Solomon G. Merrick Building. Change depends on deep commitment translated into specific plans and subject to accountability, Frenk said. Todays milestone, which has been championed at the highest levels of both the administration and our Board of Trustees, puts our shared values into practice and our words into action. We remain committed to creating a more just society and the launch of our Center for Global Black Studies exemplifies our efforts. Duerk, who is also executive vice president for academic affairs, said that the center will help the University continue to chart a path forward. The administration became more attuned to the needs of an area where students and scholars interested in Black studies could meet to collaborate and engage in thoughtful discourse, pursue collaborative interdisciplinary studies of important topics of the experience of the global Black diaspora, and come together to assist in finding solutions, he said. An audience of deans, faculty members, students, and other members of the University community joined the celebration. This is a great way to conclude Black History Month, with the birth of the Center for Global Black Studies, Spivey said. We are laser focused on what we consider to be the number one challenge here at UM, which is to continue to improve the racial climate at the U. H.T. Smith, University alumnus and member of the Board of Trustees, shared that the calling of this center should be a consistent commitment to excellence. The opening of this center represents a transformational moment in the 97-year history of this great research university, Smith said. It is a critical, important step on our racial justice journey. Catalyzed by a planning grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and support from University leadership, the center will serve as a unifying platform to assist in the coordination of initiatives that address structural racism and structural inequalities, both at the University and across society, said Francis. The center is a key initiative in a plan unveiled by Frenk detailing the Universitys pursuit of racial justice. I see it as both a crossroad and an incubator, said Allen, associate professor of anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences. This is a place at the crossroad between the U.S. south and the global southincluding the Caribbean and Latin Americaand in the city of Miami, which is a place where all the Black cultures and ideas meet, he added. It is an incubator because it is a place where new ideas that impact all of those areas are born and nurtured and where we can discuss them. Francis, an associate professor of English, said one of the centers main goals is to highlight the research being conducted by Black faculty members and foster interdisciplinary collaborations. It will also invite faculty members from other universities working on projects that address the complexities of Black lives across the globe. The facility will house a community of scholars who can use the venue as both a platform to unveil their research and a networking tool, she pointed out. We knew from our disciplines the vast disparities that existed [in society] and we could see them, she said. We wanted to talk about this collectively so that we could learn from each other and develop interdisciplinary language. Through Africana Studies, a course titled Black Miami Studies was developed to complement the centers vision. Taught last semester, the course highlighted Miamis significance in the Americas and its longstanding ethnic and national diversity, which makes it a perfect model to study, Francis said. Among the lecturers in the class were Laura Kohn Wood, dean of the School of Education and Human Development, who spoke about the inequities in education both nationally and locally, and Germane Barnes, assistant professor in the School of Architecture, who spoke on inequities in housing. One of the centers main goals is to think about blackness in the city and beyond, noted Francis. We are interested in thinking about what Black lives look like throughout the globe, she said. What are the everyday lives of Black folks wherever we find them? We will learn from our similarities and our differences. To that end, upcoming events for the center will include a lecture by Savannah Shange, assistant professor of social sciences at the University of California at Santa Cruz, who will speak about her book Progressive Dystopia: Abolition, Anti-blackness, and Schooling in San Francisco. The book explores issues of gentrification and schooling disparities told through a Black feminist and abolitionist lens. Allen is excited to hear the discussions that the talk will elicit from University faculty members, who are also doing scholarship on schooling and Black feminism. People who study different cities are important models and points of comparisons for scholars, he said. Events in the fall semester will include a lecture and visit by Mercy Romero, whose book Toward Camden focuses on the Black and Puerto Rican community in Camden, New Jersey. The center will also strive to become a highly visible public-facing link between the University and Black communities, both locally and globally, making it integral to the intellectual and cultural life of the University. As part of this initiative, the center has appointed Nadege Green as its first scholar-in-residence. Green, a former Miami Herald reporter who is now director of community research and storytelling at the Community Justice Project, has been a storyteller of Miamis Black communities. Green, who has given several lectures on campus during the past year, has said she believes in the power of teaching community storytelling as a way to educate, solve problems, and heal. Nadege joining us as a colleague and discussion partner signals our serious intention to be an active part of the Black Miami community, said Allen. Allen and Francis both encourage students to visit the center, where they can study or engage in conversations with faculty and staff members, or to apply to undergraduate research fellowships supervised by faculty members. In the future, both co-directors hope to be able to offer student internships, as well as study abroad and other opportunities. Oklahoma State University celebrates grand opening of Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center Media Contact: Jennifer Kinnard | OSU Foundation | jkinnard@osugiving.com | 405-385-5185 Oklahoma State University celebrated an aviation milestone Saturday with the grand opening of the state-of-the-art Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center. The 11,600 square-foot building replaces OSU Aviations outdated facilities and more than doubles the space available to students and flight instructors. Building highlights include 35 workstations for flight instructors, debriefing rooms where student pilots will receive feedback, a student lounge and locker room, an academic suite and flight simulation rooms. The facility is located southwest of Stillwater Regional Airport along North Airport Road. With this new flight center, we now have a home that matches the energy, passion and success of our students and faculty, said Jon Pedersen, dean of OSUs College of Education and Human Sciences. He added that enrollment in the aviation program has grown by 40 percent in recent years and that the college has added five new Cirrus SR20 planes to its fleet. The Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center puts our program in a position to continue to grow as we attract and retain high-caliber students, Pedersen said. With common areas, space for individual flight debriefings and more, this incredible building will truly enhance our flight operation and serve our students well. Oklahoma State University is one of fewer than 20 universities in the U.S. to offer graduate aviation degrees and has become a pipeline for trained professionals to start careers in an industry with a dwindling workforce. In addition to training students to become pilots, OSU Aviation prepares students for careers in aviation management, aerospace security and technical service. Tara Serocki, a December 2021 graduate with a degree in aerospace administration and operations, speaks at the grand opening event about the importance of the new Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center. Staying true to our land-grant mission, Oklahoma State University will help fill the demand for trained and skilled professionals in the aviation industry, Pedersen said. The facility was named in recognition of a 2019 gift from Linda Booker and her late husband, Ray, who graduated from OSU A&M in 1957 with a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering. Both held private pilot licenses, were passionate about aviation and wanted to increase the number of OSU-trained pilots around the world. We met students and we could see that they are just as enthusiastic and passionate about flying and aviation as Ray was when he started out, Linda Booker said. This flight center is going to expand the number of students this program can take. And the demand is there. Including the Bookers, a total of 17 families and organizations named spaces inside the facility through private donations. Pedersen said he hopes the Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center will grow to become an aviation complex that will eventually include aircraft storage to protect the universitys fleet of aircraft and a new maintenance hangar. Oklahoma State University is proud of our aviation program, and this new center positions us well for future growth, said Kyle Wray, senior vice president of executive affairs, who spoke on behalf of President Kayse Shrums office. It will also provide the best educational experience to our students wanting to work in the aviation field. There are many like Ray and Linda Booker who gave generously to this project, and we are incredibly thankful for their contributions. To learn more about how to get involved, visit OSUgiving.com/AviationComplex. Nord Stream 2 builder may file for insolvency The US sanctioned Nord Stream 2 AG last week. Photo: AFP The Swiss-based company which built the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany is considering filing for insolvency, two sources familiar with the situation said, as it attempts to settle claims ahead of a US sanction deadline for other entities to stop dealings with it. The United States sanctioned Nord Stream 2 AG last week after Russia recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine prior to its attack on the country, which has prompted a wave of economic sanctions by the West. Nord Stream 2 AG, which is registered in Switzerland and owned by Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom, last year completed the US$11 billion project which was designed to double the capacity to pump gas from Russia to Germany. The two sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks about a potential insolvency are confidential, said that Nord Stream 2 AG has been working with a financial adviser on clearing some of its liabilities and could formally begin insolvency proceedings in a Swiss court as soon as this week. Nord Stream 2 AG did not comment on possible insolvency. Gazprom declined to comment. The 1,230 km (767 mile) pipeline had not begun commercial operations because it was pending certification in Germany, which last week put this process on hold as a result of the escalating Ukraine crisis. The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued an executive order on February 23 authorising "the wind down of transactions involving Nord Stream 2 AG" or "any entity in which Nord Stream 2 AG owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest" by March 2. Gazprom paid half the cost of building Nord Stream 2, with the remainder of the US$11 billion pipeline project financed by British oil and gas major Shell, Austria's OMV , France's Engie and Germany's Uniper and Wintershall DEA. Shell, Engie, and Wintershall DEA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. OMV declined to comment. A spokesperson for Uniper said the company does not currently have any such information when asked about a possible insolvency filing by Nord Stream 2 AG. It was unclear if all entities related to Nord Stream 2 AG would be shut down or how Gazprom plans to proceed with the pipeline maintenance. Switzerland's Economy Minister Guy Parmelin said in an interview with Swiss radio service RTS on Monday that all Nord Stream staff, more than 140 employees, who worked for the company in the Swiss city of Zug had been fired. Job cuts were confirmed on Tuesday by Nord Stream 2 AG, which said in a statement: "Following the recent geopolitical developments leading to the imposition of US sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG, the company had to terminate contracts with employees. We very much regret this development". Germany, which gets half its gas from Russia, had backed Nord Stream 2 to diversify energy supplies for Europe, but the project faced opposition within the European Union and from the United States for increasing the region's gas dependence on Russia and allowing Moscow to reduce volumes through Ukraine, for which it has to pay a transit fee. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week, several large companies, including oil majors, said they would exit their Russian operations, including Shell, which said it will no longer be involved in Nord Stream 2 among other investments. (Reuters) Scores of diplomats boycott speech by Lavrov to UN Ambassadors and diplomats leave the room while Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (on screen) delivers his pre-recorded video message. Photo: AP More than 100 diplomats from some 40 Western countries and allies including Japan walked out of a speech by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the top UN human rights forum on Tuesday in protest over Russia's attack on Ukraine. The boycott by envoys from the European Union, the United States, Britain and others left only a few diplomats in the room including Russia's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, who is a former deputy to Lavrov. Envoys from Syria, China and Venezuela were among delegations that stayed. Lavrov was addressing the UN Human Rights Council remotely, after cancelling his visit due to what the Russian mission said on Monday were EU states blocking his flight path. Neutral Switzerland also imposed financial sanctions on Lavrov on Monday, a measure of the international revulsion over an offensive Russia describes as a "special military operation" aimed at dislodging "neo-Nazis" ruling Ukraine. In his speech, Lavrov accused the EU of engaging in a "Russophobic frenzy" by supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine during Moscow's military campaign that began last Thursday. A Russian armoured column bore down on Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Tuesday and its forces fired rocket barrages into the centre of Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, on the sixth day of Russia's assault on its neighbour. Among the diplomats who walked out, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod joined Ukraine's ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko behind a large Ukrainian blue and yellow flag. "It is a remarkable show of support for Ukrainians who are fighting for their independence," Filipenko told reporters. Filipenko said there had been "massive destruction to civilian infrastructure" in Kharkiv, adding: "The maternity wards are being attacked, civilian residential buildings are being bombed." Russia denies targeting any civilian sites. Canada's Joly said: "Minister Lavrov was giving his version, which is false, about what is happening in Ukraine and so that's why we wanted to show a very strong stance together." Later on Tuesday Canada will petition the International Criminal Court over what Joly said were Russia's "crimes against humanity and war crimes". She was referring to the Hague-based court where the office of the ICC prosecutor on Monday said it would seek court approval to open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine. The US envoy to the Human Rights Council, Michele Taylor, said in a statement: "This Russian war of aggression will have profound implications for human rights in Ukraine and Russia, and the leaders of Russia will be held accountable." (Reuters) SpiceJet, IndiGo and Air India Express will operate these special flights to bring back stranded Indians, who manage to find their way out of the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. Romania and Hungary share land borders with Ukraine, and many Indian nationals, including students, have made their way to these countries. Till now, Tata Group-led Air India has been operating flights to Bucharest (Romania) and Budapest (Hungary). Earlier, Air India operated direct special flights to Kiev but it had to stop these operations due to a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued over the closure of Ukrainian airspace. One of Air India's flight bound for Kiev from New Delhi returned to the national capital's IGI Airport after NOTAM was announced at Kiev airport last Thursday. Last Tuesday, the airline had carried out the first of its special flight operations ferrying Indian citizens from Ukraine. --IANS rv/arm ( 180 Words) 2022-02-28-22:54:03 (IANS) The Finance Minister had announced this major e-governance initiative in the Union Budget 2022-23 presented in Parliament on February 1. "A Budget 2022-23 announcement, the e- Bill system will be implemented across all Central Ministries and Departments. This will be a further step to enhance transparency, efficiency, and a faceless- paperless payment system. Suppliers and contractors will now be able to submit their claim online which will be trackable on a real-time basis," the Finance Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The electronic bill processing system launch will be a part of the 46th Civil Accounts Day celebration in the national capital. The event will be organised at Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. (ANI) Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], March 1 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Things have been moving at godspeed at Svitch HQ as Svitch Bikes extended another olive branch towards diversification after acquiring the Electric Cycles market. Svitch has launched Svitch NXE, the first non-electric bike to their exclusive portfolio of E-bikes. The pre-bookings started from February 10, 2022. It comes in 5 colours in total namely: Scarlet Red, Midnight Sapphire & Yankee Yellow. 2 colours are special edition colours namely Goblin Green & Berlin Grey. All the credit for this goes to Rajkumar Patel & Chintan Khatri whose vision has put the Svitch Brand on a global map. The brand new non-electric Svitch NXE comes with these new-gen specs: - Foldable Handle Bar making it flexible as anything! - Aluminium 6061 makes it featherweight & firm at the same time! - Foldable Paddles makes it convenient to carry them anywhere! - 20" x 3" Fat Tyres make it suitable for any & every terrain! - 7 Speed Shimano Gears make it possible to ride uphill & downhill smoothly! - Dual Suspensions absorb the meanest, nastiest jerks & shocks! - Comfortable Saddle makes it possible to ride the bike comfortably for long hours. - 160 mm Mechanical Disc Brake to prevent any calamities & uncertainties! Not just stopping at Electric & Non-electric cycles, Rajkumar Patel is all ready to roll out the new-gen EV motorbike CSR 762 in the second quarter of 2022. The internal testing is done & the designs have been finalized as the e-bike is in the certification stages. Svitch Energy Pvt. Ltd., headed by Rajkumar Patel, welcomed the decision of the government of the Battery Swapping Policy passed in the budget session 2022. The dynamic Owner, MD of Svitch Bike, Rajkumar Patel is looking forward to the government's decision to subside the battery swappable infrastructure that comes with the new generation of EV vehicles as it expands further India's operation & vision for EVs. When people dreamt of riding exquisite bikes in their childhood, Mr Raj dreamt of making one. Hence, the new-gen CSR 762 was born which comes with a similar battery swapping model where one could swap their bike's batteries once the juice runs out which will save the usually long hours of EV charging time. This new development in the EV industry comes as a breath of fresh air as this will reduce the range anxiety among new users of EV vehicles as this will simplify the process down to going to a gas station for a refill. Even with the brand new Svitch NXE, people are accepting EVs & cycles as a serious means of commute along with adding them to their workout regime. Svitch Energy Pvt. Ltd., headquartered at Stellar, Sindhu Bhavan Road, Ahmedabad, is more than accommodating when it comes to catering to the needs of the people in every way possible. The coming considerable changes in the EV sector especially in India seems to be more than just welcomed in terms of subsidization of EVs first and then the battery swapping policy, carving out a path for a new generation of Electric Vehicles all set to revolutionize the face of Indian Automobiles with Svitch Energy Pvt Ltd as a huge contributor. With the onset of the non-electric Svitch NXE, Svitch Energy Pvt. Ltd., aims to equip the whole of Indian and global demographic to align them towards EVs and hence, a sustainable future. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) New Delhi/Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): Home&Soul (a subsidiary of Investors Clinic) today announced that the company will receive fund infusion under SWAMIH Investment Fund I from SBICAP Ventures to complete its project - f-Premiere on the Yamuna Expressway. The Central Government has announced category II alternative investment fund (AIF) in 2019. SWAMIH Investment Fund I has been formed to complete construction of stalled, brownfield, RERA registered residential developments that are in the affordable housing/mid-income category and are also networth positive, requiring last-mile funding to complete construction. F Premiere by H&S is one of the few projects hand-picked by the Fund to qualify for the financial support. f-Premiere from Home&Soul is a residential hub overlooking F1 motor racing track on Yamuna Expressway. The project features the signature 'Diamond' right at the entrance, alluring double-height lobbies, designer elevators, an exclusive sky lounge and a fully-loaded clubhouse with a grand swimming pool. Sakshee Katiyal, CEO, Home&Soul said, "As a developer, we are really grateful to the Government of India that something revolutionary and encouraging like this scheme has been announced for the stressed real-estate industry. We have our firm commitment to our buyers, and with this infusion through SBICAP ventures, we will be able to deliver on our promises. SWAMIH investment fund has been a boon to lots of developers and in the recent trying times and the fund has exited lots of projects, giving confidence to the industry." Home&Soul has five projects under its belt at present - both commercial and residential. The company has already delivered value to more than 600 proud house owners. Most of the company developed projects are in the prestigious NCR belt. Home&Soul, a real estate development organization boasts of a top-notch team of professionals that has come together to create 'A world of progressive blue'. Home&Soul, is passionate about the creation of aspirational yet functional homes; contemporary yet soulful homes. The company is engaged in managing and developing residential and commercial landmarks such as f-Premiere, Boulevard Walk, Page 3 and Beetle Lap. The emphasis on world-class architecture showcases a modern lifestyle that is driven by client expectations and the intent of realizing their dreams. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Surat (Gujarat) [India], March 1 (ANI/PNN): The Nagar Prathmik Shikshan Samiti (NPSS) run Khushaldas Vanmalibhai Palwala school would be Surat's first green government school. Thanks to renowned environmentalist and textile industrialist Viral Desai, a.k.a. 'Green Man,' for adopting the government school with the sole purpose of transforming it into the city's model green school. In the presence of Deputy Conservator of Forest Puneet Nayyar and Councillor Nilesh Patel, Viral Desai gifted about 46 benches, specifically designed for environmental conservation, to the kids Khushaldas Vanmalibhai Palwala primary school in Pal on Saturday. Desai announced that he is adopting the school to transform it into a model green school during the bench distribution event. The benches donated to the NPSS school in Pal were recycled from old worn-out benches discarded in the scrapyard. Desai brought these benches to his location and refurbished them with a spanky style on the topic of environment, where unique pictures of nature conservation and pictures portraying love for the environment have been developed to educate the children about environmental preservation. Viral Desai said, "This school has a huge campus where hundreds of trees could be planted, and the children will be trained on how to nurture them. We will be placing over 500 flower pots allowing the children to water them every day. Wall paintings on the theme of ecosystem restoration and climate action." After the bench distribution programme, Viral Desai and DCF, Puneet Nayyar interacted with the students on climate action and ecosystem restoration, in which the students participated enthusiastically. Prakashbhai Parmar, the school's principal, stated, "As a teacher and principal, I am pleased that our school will become a model green school, and the children have been rewarded with unique seats on the theme of environmental preservation." This will go a long way toward educating young minds about environmental conservation." Puneet Nayyar, DCF said, "The idea of these benches designed to make students aware of forest and environmental protection is to be applauded. It is commendable that Viral Desai has worked in this direction." It must be noted that green man Viral Desai has been credited for developing India's first model green railway station at Udhna. The Udhna railway station has been developed on the theme of climate action and ecosystem restoration. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], March 1 (ANI/PNN): Indore's Member of Parliament (MP), Shankar Lalwani, Padma Shri Janak Palta, and Mala Thakur flagged off the 'Anemia Rath' to launch the anaemia awareness campaign in the city on the part of the World Aplastic Anemia Day. The Anemia awareness campaign has been launched by Advanced Ayush Balance Centre and Advanced Homeopathic Medical Research and Welfare Foundation in Indore. Speaking on the flagging off ceremony of Anemia Rath, Indore MMP, Shankar Lalwani said Indore has attained the first position as the cleanest city of India. Similarly, it will become the number one city as far as health is concerned under the able leadership of Dr AK Dwivedi. "Dr. Dwivedi's efforts in the direction of improving the health sector in Indore will prove to be a huge milestone," said Lalwani. Padma Shri, Janak Palta said, "Through the rath (chariot), the young generation in Indore will be given vital information about the valuable food items available in their homes. It is a very commendable effort by Dr AK Dwivedi." Dr AK Dwivedi, chairman of Advanced Ayush Balance Centre and Advanced Homeopathic Medical Research and Welfare Foundation, informed that the Anemia rath would move around in the entire city of Indore, and the efforts will be to check the haemoglobin levels of healthy-looking women to know whether they have the prescribed or normal amount of haemoglobin or not. "The very purpose of flagging off the Anemia Rath is to reach out to as many people as possible. Together, we have made Indore city clean; now, we will make it healthy too. It is important that people have to be saved from anaemia and malnutrition," said Dr. Dwivedi. MP Shankar Lalwani and Padmashree Janak Palta got their blood tested for anaemia. The flagging off ceremony was attended by Dr Bhupendr Gautam, Dr Rishabh Jain, Dr Vivek Sharma, Dr Jitendra Puri, and a large number of students from AYUSH Medicine. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): The 35th International VLSI & Embedded Systems Conference, 2022 was officially inaugurated today, 28th Feb, 2022 at a virtual event with a clutch of top Semiconductor leaders and Govt. dignitaries. The inaugural ceremony of the prestigious symposium witnessed a remarkable number of 5000 plus registrants, 14 key notes, 16 Tutorials, 53 papers, 3 expert panels, 10 user design sessions, 30 exhibits, 14 industry forum sessions, 45 design contest entries and over 40 sponsors. The ceremony was addressed by Chief Guest Sh. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hon'ble (Minister of State for Electronics, IT, Skill & Entrepreneurship), Guest of Honour, Dr. Ashwath Narayan CN, Hon'ble Minister of Electronics, IT, Bio-tech, Science & Technology). Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hon'ble MoS, Electronics & IT and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India started his speech by acknowledging the remarkable launch of latest semiconductor policy by honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he believes had been a huge confidence booster for the industry and laid out the vision for Indian technology and innovation eco system. He reiterated that PM's vision about next 10 years being the most important decade for Indian technology sector, resonates how impactful technology can be in changing the lives of all the citizens. Investment of the government capital in building talent, entrepreneurship, design ecosystem and technologies like RISC-V will help further strengthen our focus on building a technology nation. Partnership between Industry, academia and government is critical to make these efforts successful. I have never felt more confident in my last 3 decades in technology sector about realizing the potential of this important sector. Market demand, depth of innovation and government policies will be catalyst in creating sustainable leadership for India in Semiconductor and VLSI Design. He envisioned that this varied mix of critical policies and able leadership should be a good starting point for an unprecedented growth and expansion in semiconductor technology domain. He shared that as govt. their key ambition is to narrow down their focus on building India's own design and development capabilities. He emphasised that the partnership between Industry, Academia and Govt. will be defining the semiconductor and VLSI eco system in India and outside. Dr Ashwath Narayan C N, Hon'ble Minister of Higher Education, IT & BT, Science & Technology, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, Govt. of Karnataka said In Karnataka, we have completely revamped/revived from ITI to Polytechnic, Engineering, Degree education in all levels. From school to higher education, we have upgraded ourselves to industry 4.0 and our facility and infrastructure is at international standards. We want to have complete utilization of all available resources, have the entire industry be a part of the academia and design the organization structure in such a way that it becomes much better than the model institutions like IIT and IIM. Our ultimate aim is to be able to cater to the manpower requirement of the entire world. Dr Satya Gupta, President, VLSI Society of India, Advisor, IESA, noted that A Semiconductor Chip is used in all technology products we use continuously in our day to day life, be it a Washing Machine, Smart Watch, Oximeter or anything else. Semiconductor technology has seen astronomical growth over the last 50 years. In 1971, when Intel announced the 4004 processor, it had approximately 2300 tied transistor devices powering the microprocessor. Today, there are more than 60 billion transistors in a tiny chip which is slightly bigger than 1.1 inch - this is, by any standard, mind boggling growth of technology in this area. Because of the power of chips, they are at the heart of every industry vertical and semiconductor technology has become the most important technology for economic, information, infrastructure and strategic security. The latest emphasis on the semiconductor ecosystem in India and world over, has created need for more than 2 Lakh VLSI Design engineers and more than 10,000 skilled technicians for designing the chips and manufacturing in the semiconductor fab. Anil Kempanna, General Chair, VLSID 2022, Vice President - IOTG, Intel welcomed all participants referring to the event as not only a platform but a confluence of all the stakeholders in the ecosystem. He noted that VLSID Committee is immensely proud to have built a robust technical program consisting of key note speeches including both global and domestic experts, tutorials, papers and posters and they are hopeful that the conference will not only meet but surpass all expectations this year. An elated Kempanna also mentioned that this year's conference marked the highest ever number of technical paper submission. He extended his gratitude to both Central and State Govt. dignitaries for fostering semiconductor VLSI industry in India. He noted that the committee is highly motivated by the visionaries and leaders who brought India's semiconductor dream to reality with the launch of the latest semiconductor policy. The team is optimistic that this will prove to be a remarkable and inspirational milestone for realising India's semiconductor dream and potentials. He reiterated that a "Technology Convergence" is the word of future and collaborative effort is need of the hour to build unmatched capabilities, path breaking competencies, tactical strategies and propel investments both within and outside the country. Some of the other eminent dignitaries and guests that attended today's inaugural ceremony were Nick McKeown, (SVP/GM, Intel Corporation, Prof. Stanford University), Prof. Vishwani Agrawal, (Professor Emeritus, Auburn University), Dr. Satya Gupta, (President, VLSI Society of India), Sambit Sahu, (V.P. & G.M. IoTG, Intel Corporation, Executive Chair, VLSID 2022), Balajee S. (Corporate V.P. & MD, Semiconductor Electronics R&D Centre, Executive Chair, VLSID 2022 ). The event is supported by some of the leading brands including Intel, Samsung, Siemens, Cadence, Qualcomm and Synopsys. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): On the occasion of National Science Day, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, India announced Dhivakar Kumararaja Malarvizhi, a 4th year Student of Electronics Engineering at The National Institute of Technology, Trichy as the national winner of the prestigious IET India National Scholarship Awards, 2021. He will receive a cash prize of Rs. 120,000 for his winning presentation, which proposed a unique solution to avert a potential marine disaster that non-biodegradable wastes from the pandemic could contribute to. His solutioning also featured a working prototype which impressed the jury. Amrita Kesh, from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science & Technology, Shibpur was declared First runner-up with a scholarship prize money of Rs. 80,000 and Akshata Patil, from Fr. C. Rodrigues Institute of Technology was declared Second runner-up with a cash prize of Rs. 60,000 Shekhar Sanyal, Country Head and Director, IET India, said, "The National Science Day pays tribute to the scientific genius and curiosity spirit of Sir C V Raman. The IET has always encouraged engineers to be creative, to ask the difficult questions challenging our society, and to solve them in unique ways. A big round of applause to Dhivakar Kumararaja Malarvizhi who outshone 16,000 applicants to become the ultimate winner in the country and attempted to solve a pressing challenge brought about by the pandemic. Aside from the prestige of coming on top in such a tough competition, I hope that the scholarship money that the winner, as well as the regional winners, are receiving, helps them in their journey towards excellence. It is a great feat to have risen to the top at such a competitive level." The National Finalists competed against 1400+ students in a rigorous, 4-phase online assessment that tested their STEM fundamentals. Shortlisted candidates were asked to present innovative engineering solutions to key societal challenges outlined by the Scholarship Advisory Committee during the regional round. This year's topics included "Use of futuristic technologies to address waste generated by the COVID-19 pandemic", "Development of safe and dependable public transportation for a post-pandemic world" and "Use of technology to combat the fake news infodemic", among others. "The winner has displayed technical expertise, leadership potential as well as presented his ideas in a convincing manner to the expert jury. We congratulate him on this victory. It is an exemplary achievement and to be able to present his idea to a high-profile national jury is a success in itself," said Ujani Ghosh, who heads the Scholarship programme for India. The IET India Scholarship Awards accolades undergraduate engineering students for their creativity, innovation, leadership, and excellence. To commemorate the IET's 150th anniversary, the Scholarship Awards was relaunched this year in a digital format - and the 2021 edition proved to be the most successful one, drawing over 16,000 applications from engineering students across the country. The previous four editions of the IET India Scholarship Awards drew an overwhelming response from the engineering community, with over 20,000 combined entries from students across India from 2013 to 2016, and a total of Rs. 32,00,000 presented as scholarships. Speaking on the vision behind the IET India Scholarship Award, Dr. Gopichand Katragadda, Vice President, IET Board of Directors said, "India is a hub for engineering talent. We are a large contributor of graduates to the world of engineering. Still, there are many deserving candidates who do not pursue their engineering dreams for lack of role models and financial support. It is the IET's goal to nurture and reward deserving young engineering talent from across the country and partner in helping them achieve their dreams." The IET India Scholarship Award Advisory Committee includes Professor Abhijit Chakrabarti (Professor, Electrical Engineering, IIEST, Kolkata Chairman - IET India Scholarship Award 2021), Manish Bahl (Associate Vice President, Center for the Future of Work - Asia Pacific and the Middle East, Cognizant), Dr. Nandini Gupta, (Professor Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur), Professor Santosh Kumar Vora (Professor and Head of Department-Electrical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Nirma University), Professor Samarjit Sengupta (Department of Applied Physics, University of Calcutta) and Dr. Shobha G (Department Of Computer Science & Engineering, R V College of Engineering). The IET is one of the world's largest engineering institutions with over 168,000 members in 150 countries. It is also the most multidisciplinary - to reflect the increasingly diverse nature of engineering in the 21st century. The IET is working to engineer a better world by inspiring, informing and influencing our members, engineers and technicians and all those who are touched by or touch the work of engineers. Institution of Engineering and Technology - India The IET office started operations in India in 2006, in Bangalore. Today, it has over 13,000 members and has the largest membership base for the IET outside of the UK. Given the increasing global importance of India as an engineering hub their aim is to make an impact that has relevance both locally and internationally. The strategy is to make a meaningful impact on the overall competency and skill levels within the Indian engineering community and play an influencing role with industry in relation to technology innovation and solving problems of public importance. IET does this by working in partnership with industry, academia and government, focusing on the application of practical skills within both learning & career lifecycles, driving innovation and thought leadership through high impact sectors. For more details, please visit www.theiet.in. For details on the IET India Scholarship Awards, please visit www.scholarships.theiet.in. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Vipul Organics Limited, a leading specialty chemicals company in the pigments and dyes segment, said on Tuesday its board has recommended a bonus issue of shares in the ratio of 1:4. The record date for the bonus issue is set on April 9, 2022. As per the board recommendation, the company will issue 1 new fully paid-up equity share for every 4 fully paid-up equity shares held. A total of 25,62,375 new equity shares will be issued. "Over the past five decades, the Company has grown to become one of the largest manufacturers of pigment and dyes in India. This was made possible due to the unequivocal support of all its shareholders," said Vipul Shah, Managing Director, Vipul Organics Limited, said in a statement. The company's board also approved and recommended Vipul Organics Limited - Employee Stock Options Scheme 2022 ("VOL - ESOS 2022") and issuance of up to 2,00,000 options to the eligible employees. "The issue of bonus equity shares and ESOS's is a token of appreciation for the continued support of its shareholders and employees respectively," Shah said. The board also allotted 3,34,000 equity shares at an issue price Rs 111 each (including premium of Rs 101 per share) upon conversion of 3,34,000 warrants issued on preferential basis, as approved by the members of the Company in their Extra Ordinary General Meeting held on 30th January 2021 to the promoter and promoter group of the Company. Upon conversion of the Warrants, the promoters' stake in the company has increased from 65.08 per cent to 66.22 per cent. After the above allotment, the paid-up share capital of the company stands increased to Rs 10,24,95,000 divided into 1,02,49,500 equity shares of Rs 10 each. (ANI) BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover resigned as Managing Director and Board Director, minutes after receiving the agenda for the upcoming board meeting that included submission of the Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) report regarding his conduct and considering actions based on it. The Board reserves the right to take action based on the report's findings, the company said. A source close to the developments said that Grover's 8.5 per cent stake in the company might be clawed back as it is on the board's agenda to deliberate on the issue in the meeting in the evening today. Sources told ANI that Grover mailed his resignation to the board at midnight 12:05 pm, 15 minutes after receiving the agenda of the board meeting which is scheduled on Tuesday late evening. He received the agenda in the mail around 11:50 pm on Monday. In his resignation addressed to the Board of Directors, Grover said that while they will not find a single act of impropriety against him, "I will not be participating in your charade". "Since you clearly believe you can run this Company better without me -- I am leaving you with this challenge. Build incrementally even half of the value I created so far -- I am leaving you with three times the funds I've utilised till date," said Grover. "I hereby resign as the Managing Director of BharatPe, effective immediately. I also resign as a Director of the Board. I will continue as the single largest individual shareholder of the Company," he added. His resignation comes close on the heels of Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) rejecting Grover's petition against the company for initiating an investigation against him and BharatPe sacking his wife Madhuri Jain Grover, Head of Controls at the company, over allegations of misappropriation of funds. Meanwhile, BharatPe issued a statement on Tuesday which says, "the Board reserves the right to take action based on the report's findings." It seems Grover resigned as the board meeting is going to discuss alleged irregularities by the Grover couple. BharatPe board has roped in professional services firm Alvarez and Marshal (A and M) and PwC to investigate the alleged irregularities by Grover's. PwC has completed its investigation and prepared its report which will be discussed in the board meeting. People aware of the development said that the company has found certain financial irregularities against Madhuri Jain Grover, wife of Ashneer Grover who was sacked by the company last week. The company has strong proof of the funds being used for her personal purchases at the start-up. Her stock options have also been cancelled. On the allegation that she was named in a preliminary investigation by professional services firm Alvarez and Marshal (A and M) that linked her to alleged financial irregularities at the startup, Madhuri said, "Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and A and M never presented a single document to me when I was called. They did not present any proofs for me to address. Where is the concept of natural justice? I have learned of allegations from the media. A and M has not till date been able to explain how their report leaked." A Spokesperson of the company told ANI that Jain has been terminated in accordance with the terms of her employment agreement. (ANI) New Delhi [India], March 1 (ANI/Oswaal Books): With the students getting a clue about the board exams dates, they are still wondering when the dates for JEE Mains 2022 will be announced. National Testing Agency (NTA) has not yet announced the proper exam schedule for the JEE Mains exams. But, it is being speculated that the application form will be released by March 1, 2022. And the exam will be most probably conducted in May. As soon as the dates for the JEE Mains exam are out, students can visit the official website to check the details. Students still have many questions regarding the number of attempts this year and what are some of the key questions that they can prepare for the JEE Mains exams. JEE Mains has a vast syllabus, but still, there are some key areas from which the questions are likely asked. Students can find the latest updates and important questions for JEE Mains 2022 by going further. JEE Mains 2022 Exam Schedule JEE Mains 2022 exam details and registration schedule will be released in the brochure on the official website for JEE Main. In 2021, students were given 4 attempts for JEE Mains due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. But, for JEE Main 2022, there will be only two attempts i.e. in April and May. This news is not confirmed yet, but it comes from reliable sources that vow for its reliability. JEE Mains 2022 will be conducted in the online mode across 300 cities in the country. There will be overall two papers for JEE Mains exam in which students can appear. Most of the students are also worried about the 75% criteria for appearing in JEE Main 2022. There is no such announcement regarding the same. But, there are chances that it can be waived off for this year also just like the previous year. JEE Mains Important Questions to Boost Rank By preparing some of the core areas around which questions can be framed, students boost up their chances to score higher ranks. Below are some of the important question types that can be asked in JEE Main 2022. Students can practice these sorts of questions: 1. Select the unit vector which is perpendicular to both the following vectors: 2i^+2j^-k^ and 6i^-3j^+2k^ i^-10j^+18k^/5[?]17 2. The sum of the magnitude of two forces acting at a point is 18 and the magnitude of their resultant is 12. If the resultant is at 90 degrees with a force of smaller magnitude, then what is the magnitude of forces? 5, 13 3. The density of Nitrogen is maximum at: 273K and 2atm 4. The correct relationship between the boiling points of very dilute solutions of AlCl3 (T1) and CaCl2 (T2) having the same molar concentration is: T1>T2 5. If Z1, Z2 are two complex numbers such that |Z1|=1, |Z2|=1, then the maximum value of |Z1+Z2|+|Z1-Z2| is: 2[?]2 6. The value of a for which one root of the quadratic equation (a2-5a+3)x2+(3a-1)x+2=0 is twice as large as: 2/3 7. Sum of all the five digits natural numbers formed using all the digits {0, 1, 2, 3, 4} are: 2599980 8. Distance of P(p) from the plane r.n=0 is: |p.n|/|n| 9. The smallest positive value of x (in degrees) for which tan (x+1000) = tan(x-500) 300 10. A block of mass 0.1 Kg is held against a wall by applying a horizontal force of 5N on the block. If the coefficient of friction between the block and the wall is 0.5, the magnitude of frictional force acting on the block is: 0.98N 11. The atomic weight of iodine is 127. A standing wave in a tube filled with iodine gas at 400K has nodes that are 6.77cm apart when the frequency is 1000vib/sec. Iodine is: Diatomic 12. If 25% of length of wire is stretched by 25%, then %age change in resistance of wire will be about: 14% 13. The number of revolutions per second made by an electron in the first Bohr orbit of hydrogen atom is of the order of 3_ 1015 14. The stability of the dispersed phase in a lyophobic colloid is due to: Formation of electrical layer between two phases 15. The number of p-p bonds in P4O10 is: 0 For more important questions, you can also refer Oswaal JEE (Main) Mock Test Sample Question Paper Physics Chemistry Mathematics for Exam 2022. Students will get ease of chapter-wise preparation and learning tactics: * Latest JEE (Main) Four Question Paper 2021- Fully solved * Previous Years' (2019-2020) Exam Questions to facilitate focused study * Mind Map: A single page snapshot of the entire chapter for longer retention * 15 Sample Question Papers based on the latest pattern with detailed explanations * Oswaal QR Codes: Easy to scan QR codes for online concept-based content * Trend Analysis: Chapter-wise Here is the recommended link for JEE (Main) Mock Test Sample Question Paper Physics Chemistry Mathematics for Exam 2022, Click here https://bit.ly/3C1jHiB Conclusion Preparing the questions around the above concepts will help the students to score high. In addition to the above areas, students need to have a grip on core concepts for the JEE Mains 2022. Students can practice from the mock tests to books up their rank in JEE Mains. The schedule will soon be released on the official website, For further updates, stay tuned and keep on checking the official website. All the Best!! This story is provided by Oswaal Books. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Oswaal Books) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): The Thunderbird School of Global Management (Thunderbird) at Arizona State University, home of the world's No. 1 ranked Master's in Management and ranked No.1 for innovation in the U.S., rolled out in Mumbai today its transformative new global initiative to educate and empower 100 million learners by 2030. Launched in Phoenix on January 20, 2022, the Global Initiative will be rolled out across continents beginning with today's event in Mumbai. The announcement coincides with the opening of Thunderbird's Center of Excellence in Mumbai, part of a global network of offices expanding the school's engagement and impact worldwide. Thanks to a historic USD 25 million donation from the Francis and Dionne Najafi Global Initiative, Thunderbird will offer an online Global Management and Entrepreneurship Certificate, consisting of five world-class courses in 40 different languages. The certificate will be covered by full scholarships and thus will be made available at no cost to learners due to the philanthropic support undergirding the initiative. The Francis and Dionne Najafi Global Initiative has been made possible through a generous initial gift of USD 25 million from prominent Phoenix businessman and Thunderbird alumni F. Francis Najafi '77 and his wife Dionne Najafi '06. "Our lives were transformed by access to quality education at Thunderbird and we wanted to extend that same transformative experience to people around the world who lack access to quality education," said the Najafis. "We are excited and deeply humbled to be part of such a bold initiative." "My ancestors come from Porbandar, the home of Gandhi. My grandfather only completed 6th standard but went on to be a successful entrepreneur. My grandmother didn't get to go to school at all. My father came to India for technical school, but my mother never got to college. I was blessed because of their sacrifices with a world-class education that transformed my life including allowing me to do graduate research in 22 states across India. I want millions in India to have access to that world-class education, at no cost, in multiple Indian languages to transform their lives," said Thunderbird Director General and Dean, Dr Sanjeev Khagram. "In order to reach scale, we are building long-term collaborations with great partners committed to educational access in India, such as Leap Scholar, Samta Foundation, OrangeSlates, KK Modi University, among many others and especially with our amazing Thunderbird alumni across India," added Dean Khagram. Vaibhav Singh, Co-founder of Leap Scholar shared, "Leap Scholar is committed to enabling and empowering students by democratizing access to global education and careers. We are ready to partner with Thunderbird School of Global Management, ASU, which is ranked #1 for Global Management, in implementing the 100 Million Learners initiative in India which will further boost the vision of bringing the best global opportunities to aspiring students." Learners in the Francis and Dionne Najafi Global Initiative will receive a badge for each course they complete and a Thunderbird executive education certificate upon successful completion of all five courses. They will gain 21st century skill sets to catapult their professional careers. Learners will also have an almost limitless number of lifelong learning options and alternative educational pathways through Thunderbird and ASU, and may even apply for an accredited 15-unit certificate from ASU Thunderbird upon completion. "Access to higher education and the need for equity and inclusion is one of a global scale. One of the reasons Arizona State University is so pleased to have Thunderbird as part of our enterprise is because it is a school that has been focused on sustained prosperity worldwide for decades," said ASU President Michael Crow. "The commitment made to the school by Francis and Dionne Najafi will impact communities around the world and be a force that brings all of us closer together. We are grateful for their commitment to a borderless expansion of the opportunities that come with higher education." Educating 100 million learners by 2030 will require a strategic, phased approach. In year one, the Global Initiative aims to reach learners in India, Colombia, Iran, Kenya, Mexico, Indonesia, Egypt, Senegal, Brazil, and Vietnam in ten languages. By year two, the program will be expanded across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America to at least 25 languages. By year four or earlier, the Global Initiative will have expanded to Europe and Central Asia and 40 total languages - thus available for learners worldwide. Eventually, the initiative will be available for all learners around the world, reaching our goal of 100 million learners. "We are ready to partner with the Thunderbird School of Global Management in order to reach and empower millions of individuals across India with the transformative Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative. This is an initiative much needed in India and it will help drive entrepreneurship and innovation across our society. Thunderbird changed my life when I was a student there - making its courses accessible to all will be transformative," said Chancellor Charu Modi of KK Modi University. Richa Agrawal, Managing Trustee, Samta Foundation shared, "Samta Foundation is ready to partner with Thunderbird School of Global Management, to ensure that the tribal and rural areas, along with institutions of Maharashtra benefit from the 100 Million Learners initiative." Meanwhile Sindu Evan, COO, OrangeSlates commented, "The initiative is a great opportunity for OrangeSlates to bring futuristic courses from the best universities to educators globally." The United Nations estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic has erased 20 years' worth of educational gains and digital online education has accelerated and expanded dramatically to fill the gap. In addition, the uncertainty and disruption that has come to characterize this era of rapid technological change have displaced many workers and professionals all over the world, increasing the need for upskilling and reskilling in order to seize the immense opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Francis and Dionne Najafi Global Initiative will provide millions of people with the global management and entrepreneurship skill sets that are not only imperative to accelerate personal success and economic prosperity but also to address the persistent poverty and increase inequality worldwide. Interested individuals can request additional information and pre-register at: thunderbird.asu.edu. F. Francis Najafi is the American Dream come to life. He came to America from Iran to get an education and earned four degrees from three universities. In 1982 he founded Pivotal Group, a real estate opportunity fund with uncanny market timing and wisdom. Later he broadened Pivotal Group's mandate by successfully investing in private equity and growth venture opportunities. As his success grew, so did his philanthropy: Mr. Najafi has given millions of his own money to an incredibly wide range of causes, headlined by his recent USD 25 million donations to Arizona State University. Thunderbird School of Global Management is a unit of the Arizona State University Enterprise. For more than 75 years, Thunderbird has been the vanguard of global management and leadership education, creating inclusive and sustainable prosperity worldwide by educating global leaders capable of tackling the world's greatest challenges. Thunderbird's Master of Global Management was ranked No. 1 in the world for 2019 by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. To learn more visit thunderbird.asu.edu. Arizona State University, ranked No. 1 "Most Innovative" university in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes responsibility for the economic, social and cultural health of the communities it serves. To learn more, please visit ASU.edu. Founded in 2019, Leap Scholar is South Asia's largest overseas study abroad platform with products & services in overseas education. Leap Scholar has pioneered the 'platform way' of end-to-end services for students pursuing international education and careers and has a thriving community of 1 million+ students. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California with offices in Bengaluru and Mumbai, India. Being one of the fastest growing startups in overseas education, the company has raised over USD 75 MN in venture capital from marquee investors including Sequoia Capital India, Owl Ventures, Jungle Ventures and Harvard Management Company among others. The company is co-founded by IIT Kharagpur alumni, Vaibhav Singh and Arnav Kumar. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited and the holding company of all retail companies within the group, on Tuesday said it has bought a majority stake in designer brand Abraham & Thakore Exports Private Limited. Through this deal, RRVL seeks to leverage its subsidiary Reliance Brands Limited's (RBL) deep understanding of the affluent Indian customer and their heft across digital, retail operations, marketing, and supply chain platforms, to build brand Abraham & Thakore's global appeal in the fashion and lifestyle category, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited said in a statement. Launched in 1992 by David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore, they were soon joined by Kevin Nigli who famously became the "&" in Abraham & Thakore (A&T). A&T unlocked the potential and power of Indian handlooms by approaching them "with modernity and meaning through weaving and design intervention in unconventional, even non-conformist ways". "Abraham & Thakore's interesting use of material and fresh take on traditional textile techniques have crafted a highly distinctive design signature for the brand," Isha Ambani, Director, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, said. "With Indian luxury customers undergoing a generational consumption shift, there is heightened appreciation of Abraham & Thakore's timeless design, and we are excited to partner with the brand to bring its unique expression of Indian craftsmanship to consumers globally," she added. A&T's interpretation of Indian textiles started with loungewear and home collections that were first sold at The Conran Shop in London and later in global stores of repute such as Liberty, Browns, Harrods, and Selfridges. For almost 15 years, the brand mostly retailed predominantly in international stores before coming to India with their first fashion show presentation. The brand is strongly rooted in the philosophy of understanding the cultural construct of fashion, the statement said. Not only is an Abraham & Thakore Ikat sari a part of the permanent collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, but in 2015 the brand's creations were chosen for Fabric of India, V&A's first major exhibition that explored the rich, multi-faceted and dynamic world of Indian handmade fabrics. "Each collection continues the exploration of developing a quiet and modern design voice while simultaneously drawing on the rich traditional vocabulary of Indian design and craft. Its strong cultural language gives it a unique resonance in different mindsets and markets," the statement said. "Abraham & Thakore is excited to partner with RRVL, the company responsible for redefining India's luxury landscape. Through this partnership we will be extending the presence of the brand and bring together both fashion and lifestyle collections which will include home furnishings and loungewear," said David Abraham. The design trio, David Abraham, Rakesh Thakore and Kevin Nigli will continue to lead the creative direction of the brand. (ANI) As India's automobile industry displayed robust sales figures broadly for the month of February in the results declared on Tuesday demonstrating some recovery from the difficulties triggered by semi-conductor shortages, fresh concerns have arisen over the Russian-Ukraine conflict which may worsen the global chip shortage. Both Ukraine and Russia play a key role in the global semiconductor supply chain. Russia is probably the largest producer and key supplier of rare metals like palladium which is essential for memory and sensor chips along with several other rare-earth metals, explains Hemal Thakkar, Director, CRISIL Research. Ukraine, on the other hand, is a leading producer and exporter of Neon gas that is used for several processes in the manufacturing of semiconductors like etching circuit designs into silicon wafers to create chips. The automotive industry, according to Thakkar, has a large dependence on semiconductors as a key component largely in the passenger vehicles and pick-ups segment. "While there are several consumer durables items, including consumer electronics, which rely on chips -- also known as semiconductors -- the last 12 months have seen huge shortages in auto-grade semiconductors due to COVID related supply chain issues," Thakkar told ANI. As per the preliminary assessment, as pointed out by Thakkar, Ukraine supplies a large part of the US's semiconductor-grade neon gas which is integral in the chip-making process while Russia supplies about a third of the US's palladium supply, a rare metal that can be used to create semiconductors. China would be the next largest supplier for neon gas, and with so much geopolitical tension, there are supply concerns. "If the geopolitical tensions continue for long, they could have probable ramifications on the semiconductors industry which was already struggling to find ground," Thakkar said. The apprehension also finds resonance in a Moody's Analytics report which notes that the crisis has the potential to extend the stress in the supply chain of semiconductors which are key to manufacturing autos and other electronic equipment in the Asia-Pacific region. The report titled, 'Limited Trade Between Ukraine and APAC' highlights that Ukrainian companies like Cryoin are a major part of the semiconductor supply chain, producing speciality gases like neon, helium, xenon, krypton and their isotopes which are then used by the powerful lasers that semiconductor fab units use to etch the microfine engravings in the silicon wafers. Indian automakers which posted encouraging sales data for the month of February 2022 riding on a demand surge, are cautiously optimistic that as they enter into the new fiscal, the semi-conductor availability will improve and they will be able to cater to the customer demand in full measure. Suzuki Motorcycle India registered overall 72,200 unit sales in February 2022, selling 58,603 units in the domestic market and exporting 13,597 units. Satoshi Uchida, Managing Director pointed out that despite the ongoing semiconductor availability constraints, the company continued to keep growth momentum in February. "We are experiencing a strong demand both from the domestic and the export market," he said. Mahindra Auto too clocked overall volumes for the month at 54,455 units, registering a growth of 89 per cent and its highest-ever SUVs volume in February 2022 with the sale of 27551 vehicles. The passenger vehicles segment (which includes utility vehicles, cars and vans) saw 27,663 vehicles sold in February 2022. Exports for the month were at 2,814 vehicles. In the commercial vehicles segment, Mahindra sold 20,166 vehicles in February 2022 with a growth of 119 per cent. Veejay Nakra, Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Division, M and M said he expects demand to continue to remain strong as the COVID-19 situation eases further. "We continue to closely monitor the semi-conductor related parts supply and take corrective action as appropriate," said Nakra. The crisis of semi-conductor shortage looms over the industry was evident in the monthly figures of Hyundai Motor India which reported a 14 per cent decline in total sales at 53,159 units in February. The company had sold 61,800 units in the same month last year. "Domestic sales were down 14.6 per cent to 44,050 units last month as against 51,600 units in February 2021. Exports declined by 10.7 per cent to 9,109 units last month as compared to 10,200 units in the year-ago period," the auto major said. "As the industry continues to grapple with the semiconductor shortage situation, the company along with its partners is continuously exploring alternatives to ensure customers can take delivery of their most loved Hyundai cars at the earliest," it added. Similarly, TVS Motor Company registered sales of 2,81,714 units in February 2022 as against sales of 2,97,747 units in the month of February 2021. Total two-wheelers registered sales of 2,67,625 units in February 2022 as against sales of 2,84,581 units in February 2021. Domestic two-wheeler registered sales of 1,73,198 units in February 2022 as against sales of 1,95,145 units in February 2021. "The shortage in supply of semiconductors has impacted the production and sales of premium two-wheelers. We are cautiously optimistic that the supply of semiconductors will improve in the coming months," the company said. The country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki reported a marginal drop in total wholesales at 1,64,056 units in February 2022, which includes domestic sales of 1,37,607 units, sales to other OEM of 2,428 units and its highest ever monthly exports of 24,021 units. The company had sold 1,64,469 units in February 2021. According to Maruti Suzuki, the shortage of electronic components had a minor impact on the production of vehicles that are primarily sold in the domestic market. "The company took all possible measures to minimise the impact," MSI said. Tata Motors registered total sales of 77,733 in the domestic and international market for February 2022, compared to 61,258 units during February 2021, showing a growth of 27 per cent over last year. Toyota Kirloskar Motor sold a total of 8,745 units in February 2022, registering a growth of 19 per cent when compared to sales in January 2022, on the back of a good response to the new Camry Hybrid. Atul Sood, Associate Vice President, Sales and Strategic Marketing of TKM indicated that the overall sentiment in the market continues to remain positive with a steady surge in demand trends. (ANI) Microchip shortages, along with high acquisition cost, subdued sales of key automobile players in February 2022. On Tuesday, auto major Maruti Suzuki India reported that its total sales last month inched lower on a year-on-year basis to 1,64,056 units from 1,64,469 units sold during the same period of the corresponding year. Domestic sales were at 1,37,607 units, and sales to other original equipment manufacturers stood at 2,428 units. The automaker reported its highest ever monthly exports of 24,021 units. "The shortage of electronic components had a minor impact on the production of vehicles which are primarily sold in domestic market," it said. "The company took all possible measures to minimise the impact." The shortage has impacted production of vehicles, consequently, elongating waiting periods and escalating cost. Similarly, Hyundai Motor India reported lower cumulative sales on YoY basis. The cumulative sales last month fell to 53,159 units down from February 2021 off-take of 61,800 units. The company's domestic sales declined to 44,050 units from 51,600 units sold during the corresponding period of last year. "As the industry continues to grapple with semiconductor shortage situation, Hyundai along with its partners is continuously exploring alternatives to ensure customers can take delivery of their most loved Hyundai cars at the earliest," Hyundai Motor India said. On the other hand, Tata Motors reported a 27 per cent rise in its overall domestic sales for February on a year-on-year basis to 73,875 vehicles sold, compared to an off-take of 58,366 units during the corresponding period of last year. The company's passenger vehicle domestic sales rose by 47 per cent to 39,981 units from 27,225 units off-take in February 2021. In terms of commercial vehicles, the domestic sales were higher by 11 per cent, at 37,552 units from 33,859 units off-take in February 2021. Another auto giant, Mahindra and Mahindra reported a rise in its overall sales during last month. The company reported a rise of 89 per cent growth in its vehicle sales to 54,455 vehicles on a year-on-year basis. "With an overall sale of 54,455 vehicles, we have achieved a growth of 89 per cent in February 2022. All segments showed robust growth including SUVs at 79 per cent, which registered the highest ever monthly volume," said Veejay Nakra, Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Division, M&M. "We expect demand to continue to remain strong as the Covid situation eases further. We continue to closely monitor the semi-conductor related parts supply and take corrective action as appropriate." In terms of two-wheeler sales, rural distress as well as inventory correction efforts continued to dent sales. Two-wheeler major Hero MotoCorp sold a total of 358,254 units of motorcycles and scooters in February 2022, lower than 505,467 units off-take during the corresponding month of 2021. Additionally, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India reported total sales of 312,621 units in February 2022 down from 442,740 units sold during the corresponding period last year. Honda's exports for the month stood at 26,944 exports. "Passenger vehicle sales are showing some signs of recovery as semiconductor issues ease out but one will have to look at geo political tensions very closely as a prolonged issue on the geopolitical side could pose challenges to the supply chain especially looking at the importance of Russia and Ukraine in the semiconductor manufacturing process value chain," said Hemal Thakkar, Director, Crisil Research. "Two wheelers the current inventory levels are still high and the OEMs are in correction mode which is why we are seeing a sequential correction in inventory every month since October or November 2021." Shamsher Dewan, Vice President & Group Head - Corporate Ratings, ICRA, said: "Semiconductor shortage was easing gradually. However, recent geopolitical developments are likely to derail the industry again as both Russia and Ukraine are suppliers of key inputs." --IANS rv/vd ( 638 Words) 2022-03-01-21:38:02 (IANS) "I want to mention my sister who we lost last year. She would have loved this. She was unbelievably loyal, supportive, and she would have loved the glitz and the oddness and the glamour. She would have just been laughing nonstop all the way through, and probably crying," he said. Benedict's sister passed away last year due to cancer, Variety reported. Remembering her on his special day, he further said, "I hope somewhere up there, where the real stars shine, you're looking down on this moment now. I'm sure you are. We miss you so much. You remain such a good and wonderful person to have had in our lives." Benedict received his Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Monday in the presence of his wife Sophie Hunter. (ANI) The shooting of the second season of HBO's 'The White Lotus', starring Jennifer Coolidge, has commenced in Sicily, Italy. The news regarding the show's filming was shared on its official Instagram account. The caption read, "Our next White Lotus property is under way. We look forward to welcoming guests in Sicily soon. #TheWhiteLotus." Apart from sharing a glimpse from the first day of filming, Coolidge's return to the series was also confirmed on Monday. "A world-class VIP. Jennifer Coolidge has joined the second installment of #TheWhiteLotus," HBO shared. However, details on Coolidge's role were not announced. Coolidge's return was expected, although until now HBO had declined comment on initial reports that she would be back. In season 1, the 60-year-old actor played Tanya McQuoid, one of the guests at the ritzy White Lotus resort in Hawaii, who was trying to find herself again after the death of her mother. Coolidge's hilarious-yet-devastating work as Tanya made her a fan favourite on the hit HBO show, reported People magazine. The 'Legally Blonde' star previously told People magazine that she almost turned down the role over concerns about her weight. In November, Coolidge recalled how creator Mike White contacted her, saying that "he'd written a part for me," but, at the time, she felt uncomfortable in her body after gaining weight during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I tried to get out of it because I was too fat. During COVID, I just let everything go. I let everything go most of my life but I really let everything go during COVID," she said. Luckily, Coolidge said, "I had a smart girlfriend who talked me off the ledge," and she agreed to take on the role anyway. Coolidge received nominations for a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role. In season 1, she starred alongside Sydney Sweeney, Alexandria Daddario, Connie Britton, Natasha Rothwell, Jake Lacy and Steve Zahn. Mike White, who wrote, directed and co-executive produced the first season, had initially intended for 'The White Lotus' to be a limited series with one six-episode season. But after the show became a hit, HBO signed on for a second season which the network previously said will follow "a different group of vacationers as they jet to another White Lotus property and settle in temporarily amongst its inhabitants." In January, Michael Imperioli was cast in a leading role for the second season. The 'Sopranos' alum will play Dominic Di Grasso, a dad who isn't travelling alone. F. Murray Abraham, Adam DiMarco, Meghann Fahy, Tom Hollander, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, Haley Lu Richardson, Will Sharpe, and Leo Woodall will also star in the second season. Season 2 of the satire will consist of seven episodes and follow the exploits of various guests and employees at an exclusive Italian resort over the span of a week -- similar to the format of the first season. (ANI) Washington [US], March 1 (ANI) American radio and TV personality Howard Stern, during Monday's episode of his SiriusXM radio show, launched an attack against Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Variety, Stern condemned members of the Republican Party for supporting Putin amid Russia's military operation on Ukraine, most notably Donald Trump. While, at CPAC over the weekend, Trump had said that Russia's attack on Ukraine is "appalling," he was quoted last week calling Putin a "genius" for how he started the military operation. Stern said, "I hate the Soviet Union. I hate the communist regime. I always hated communism because it always turns into an autocratic situation like in China where they cut off your freedoms." "I used to love the Republicans. And their stance is firmly anti-communist, pro-capitalist, anti-communist and certainly a staunch defender of free people and free elections. I voted for many Republicans. I don't see how I'll ever get back to that," he added. Stern further continued, "They've just totally disappointed me and their support of Vladimir Putin, the praise they heap on him. Trump's praise of Vladimir Putin. This guy's a fucking animal. I wish he was dead like I wish Hitler was dead." He then called Putin a "scumbag" who "has more money than anybody, who has more power than anybody, who enslaves an entire country, who will kill you if you're a journalist, will kill you if you speak out against him, who's got everything a man could want if you're truly a megalomaniac and he didn't have enough." Stern stated that Putin's actions are a result of him "not being loved as a child." "He is a little boy who says, 'Everything in this world is for me, and I'm going to gobble it all up for myself'. That's all that's going on here. That's what's happening. We have a guy who feels like he's never full. He wants more and more," Stern concluded, as per Variety. (ANI) Vietnam approves Covid-19 vaccines for 5-11s The Ministry of Health has just officially approved giving the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to children aged between 5-11. According to a decision issued by the ministry on March 1, children aged between 5 and 11 in Vietnam will be administered with Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine with a dosage of 0.2ml. Those aged from 12 will receive 0.3ml of Pfizer each dose. The government has recently agreed to purchase 21.9 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5-11. A survey from the ministry indicated that about 50 percent of parents in the country agreed to let their children in the 5-11 age group receive the vaccines. There is also no information yet available on the rollout plan of the vaccines, but it has been suggested that children in this age group would only be recommended to get the shots, no mandate will be enforced. Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long last month told local media that administration to this age group would be more difficult than the rollout for adults and teenagers aged 12-17 that the country had been doing, and it has accepted the likelihood that there will be some amount of doses going unused. Vietnam has so far administered 194.97 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines including 16.25 million doses of Pfizer vaccines given to children aged 12-17 years. Pfizer shots so far are the only to have been recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for use in children this young, with a lower dosage compared to the adult shots. Paramount Pictures has become the newest Hollywood studio to halt the theatrical release of its upcoming films in Russia following the country's military operation in Ukraine last week. According to Variety, a spokesperson for the studio, in a statement, said, "As we witness the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine, we have decided to pause the theatrical release of our upcoming films in Russia, including 'The Lost City,' and 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2.'" They added, "We stand by all those impacted by the humanitarian crisis across Ukraine, Russia, and our international markets and will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds." Similarly, earlier this week, Disney, Sony and Warner Bros had announced they will not allow new movies, such as 'Turning Red', 'Morbius', and 'The Batman', to play in Russian movie theatres "in light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine." For now, several Hollywood movies that have already been released in Russia, including Sony's video game adaptation 'Uncharted' and Disney's murder mystery 'Death on the Nile', will continue to play there. Also on Monday, Netflix said it will not carry the 20 Russian free-to-air propaganda channels that the streamer could be required to host under Russian law. Like Paramount, which said it "will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds," other studios have shared intentions to keep a watchful eye on "the evolving situation," as per Variety (ANI) The food safety commissioner of Tamil Nadu has warned the bottled drinking water companies in the state to provide safe drinking water to consumers. He said that of the 1640 packaged drinking water companies in the state, the products of only a third are suitable for safe drinking. The authorities said that nearly a quarter of the water is of poor quality. According to sources in the department of the food and safety commissioner, several complaints have been received against the packaged drinking water companies. Following the complaints, 1640 samples from various companies were collected and sent for testing. The report showed that 694 samples tested were of high quality, 527 were unsafe for drinking while 419 were of poor quality. The department of food safety has filed 173 cases in court and a fine of Rs 39.69 lakh has been imposed on these companies and their sales points. The food safety commissioner directed the companies to get a proper license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and mandatorily follow all the guidelines under the Food Safety Act. The department also directed the companies to wash the 20-litre water bottles every time before they are filled with water and stated that the name of the manufacturer and the quality should be displayed on the bottles. A senior official told IANS, "It was shocking to note that around one third of the packaged drinking water that is in use in the state is either of poor quality or unsafe. We will take stringent action against the companies that failed to maintain the minimum standards set by the BIS. There will be periodical inspections and random checks on these packaged drinking water companies." --IANS aal/bg ( 296 Words) 2022-03-01-19:28:01 (IANS) Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari kicked up a major row with his statements on the Maratha warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the saint-poet Swami Samarth Ramdas with politicians, cutting across party lines, slamming him and demanding an apology. At an event in Aurangabad on Sunday, Koshyari referred to Swami Samarth Ramdas as the 'guru' of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj while talking on how 'gurus' are important in Indian culture. The development came a few days ahead of the Budget Session of the Legislature, starting here on Thursday, and charged up the political atmosphere. Leaders from across the political spectrum - including the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and its Rajya Sabha MP Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale of Satara - a direct descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - attacked the Governor for his lack of knowledge and history. Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut asked the BJP to take a stand and clarify on the issue immediately. "There is huge resentment in Maharashtra over the Governor's statements. The BJP should clarify or take a stand," Raut demanded. Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule - daughter of NCP President Sharad Pawar - said there is no historical evidence to prove that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Swami Samarth Ramdas had a 'guru-shishya' relationship. She cited a judgement of Bombay High Court's Aurangabad Bench of July 2018, when the then state government had submitted that "no record was available to show that Shivaji Maharaj had occasion to meet Swami Samarth Ramdas" or that he treated the latter as his 'guru'. She referred to a speech of Pawar wherein he had stated that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's 'guru' was never Swami Samarth Ramdas, but his own mother, Rajmata Jijabai. State Congress President Nana Patole said that Governor Koshyari has insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the people of Maharashtra and should immediately tender an apology for his remarks, and wondered why the BJP "is silent". "The people of Maharashtra will not tolerate this slur by Koshyari and his trying to contort history. He has lost the moral right to continue as Governor and the Centre should recall him," he demanded. The Governor, while speaking on the significance of 'gurus', mentioned how the great political strategist Chanakya had a big influence on the life of the legendary Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, the founder-ruler of one of the biggest empires in the subcontinent, and asked "who would have spoken about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had there been no Samarth (Ramdas)". NCP MLA Rohit Pawar said if the Governor's statement was intended to push an "agenda" with false history without understanding the true version, that it must be condemned and the Governor should tender an apology. "RashtraMata Jijabai was the actual 'guru' of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja Sant Ramdas was never his 'guru', that is the real history. Yet, Governor Koshyari has cited incorrect history in this regard," said Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale. When contacted by media for his reactions, BJP state President Chandrakant Patil diplomatically stated: "No comments." --IANS qn/vd ( 501 Words) 2022-02-28-20:40:02 (IANS) Congress's Goa state executive committee on Monday passed a resolution to challenge last week's order by the Bombay High Court bench in Goa, which last week dismissed a petition challenging Speaker Rajesh Patnekar's order in 2021 upholding the merger of 10 Congress MLAs into the BJP. "We have taken a resolution during the meeting to challenge the High Court's order... Former Advocate General and Chairman of our legal cell Carlos Ferreira moved a resolution that this needs to be challenged in the Supreme Court and the resolution has been unanimously passed," state unit chief Girish Chodankar said, after a meeting of the state executive committee. "The Pradesh Congress Committee had previously taken a resolution to file a disqualification against the 10 defectors. We briefed the PCC about the verdict of the High Court and all the members were of the opinion that if the order is allowed to stand then it will be dangerous for democracy and for the election process and questions the very existence of political parties," he said. Chodankar had filed a disqualification petition with the Goa Speaker's office in 2019 and argued the split by the 10 Congress MLAs (in the same year) and their subsequent merger into the BJP was illegal and violative of the provisions of Schedule 10 of the Indian Constitution. The Goa Speaker in his order in April last year had upheld the merger of the breakaway Congress unit into the BJP. --IANS maya/vd ( 255 Words) 2022-02-28-20:42:06 (IANS) The Russian Embassy in India in a tweet stated: "With regard to the crisis in Ukraine, the Indian media is requested to be accurate so that Indian public receives objective information." It pointed out Indian media reports about negotiation with Ukraine, nuclear sites in Ukraine are said to be unsafe. The Embassy said that "Russia repeatedly initiated and indicated its readiness for dialogue and negotiations." Russia also stated that nuclear sites in Ukraine are safe and secured as confirmed by the IAEA. India media had purportedly reported attacks on radioactive waste-disposal site in Kyiv, and Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Even IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi commented over this, saying such incidents highlight the very real risk that facilities with radioactive material will suffer damage during the conflict, with potentially severe consequences for human health and the environment. Russia said such reports are "biased and misleading". In the meantime, Russia has so far not allowed any media organisation to visit the country to cover the ongoing conflict which started on February 24 when Russian troops started entering Ukrainian territory. --IANS sk/vd ( 221 Words) 2022-02-28-20:48:05 (IANS) The paddy has been procured from states/UTs of Chandigarh, Gujarat, Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Tripura, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, a Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Ministry statement said. Till now, about 96.41 lakh farmers have been benefitted with an MSP value of Rs 1,38,619.58 crore, the release said. Punjab, with 1,86,85,532 MT, leads the list of states from where maximum procurement has been done followed by Chhattisgarh (92,01,000) and Telangana (70,22,000 MT). --IANS niv/vd ( 157 Words) 2022-02-28-20:52:01 (IANS) The ban on Chinese apps by the Indian government might appear out of sync with increasing bilateral trade ties. But India has its own reasons to do so. No country would remain indifferent when it suspects breach of national security and citizen's data privacy. The Chinese companies are globally seen with suspicion in this regard. In view of safeguarding national security and concerns related to data privacy of Indian citizens, the government of India under Section 69-A of the Information Technology Act 2000 recently banned operations of 54 Chinese apps in the country. The banned apps include Dual Space, Badlanders, Wink, and even the popular Free Fire game. Citing the reasons, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) noted that these apps belong to large Chinese tech firms such as Tencent, Alibaba and NetEase, and are re-branded versions of apps already banned by India in 2020. Further, there were complaints that these apps were 'stealing and surreptitiously transmitting user data' in an unauthorised manner to servers located outside India and that the compilation of this data, it's mining and profiling 'by elements hostile to the national security and defence of India' ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India. Meanwhile, trade ties between India and China remain robust with China becoming India's second largest trading partner in 2020-21, right behind the United States, and is the largest exporter to India, especially in pharma, electronics and IT hardware. Indian tech startups, telecom infrastructure and manufacturing businesses have attracted significant Chinese investment over the past few years. Earlier, in November 2020, the Indian government blocked access to 43 mobile apps based on the inputs that these apps were engaged in activities that were prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state and public order. The Indian government's move is to ensure security, sovereignty and safety of the Indian cyberspace and needs to be seen in the perspective of India's vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' aimed at reducing the country's dependence on imports for products that it could indigenously manufacture. The present ban on Chinese apps also fits in with Indian governments focus on development of indigenous entrepreneurship and promotion of startup culture in the country. Further, Indians can develop their own applications that will not only generate domestic revenue, but will also create employment for local techies. India has emerged as the third largest startup ecosystem after the US and China and ahead of the UK (32) and Germany (18). It could be well imagined that with the improving startup environment in India, the country would attract more investments in India's startups as seen in 2021. In 2021, there were 90 unicorns in India and 4 decacorns which attracted $42 billion of investment. As India further pursues its Startup India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat programmes, many of the production lines in both goods and services sectors will be created within the country. Howsoever inconvenient this is for the foreign suppliers, India is well within its right to safeguard its national security and privacy of its citizens, besides developing its own brands. --IANS arm/ ( 530 Words) 2022-02-28-21:14:04 (IANS) Environment ministers and other representatives from over 150 nations gathered here on Monday to launch the three-day hybrid (in-person and online) resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2). Amid concern over intensifying hostilities in Ukraine and a call by the UN Secretary-General for an immediate ceasefire, the Assembly kicked off with high hopes to advance a global agreement on plastic pollution, among a series of draft resolutions on biodiversity and health, green economy, and circularity. "Our Assembly gathers at a moment of severe geopolitical turmoil. More than ever, we must demonstrate that multilateral diplomacy can deliver," said President of UNEA-5 and Norway's Minister for Climate and Environment, Espen Barth Eide. "Plastic pollution has grown into an epidemic of its own. Paradoxically, plastics are among the most long-lasting products we humans have made -- and frequently, we still just throw it away. Plastic is a product that can be used again, and then over and over again, if we move it into a circular economy. I am convinced that the time has come for a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution," Eide added. Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said: "Over the last week, we have seen tremendous progress on negotiations towards an internationally legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. I have complete faith that once endorsed by the Assembly, we will have something truly historic on our hands." "Ambitious action to beat plastic pollution should track the lifespan of plastic products -- from source to sea -- should be legally binding, accompanied by support to developing countries, backed by financing mechanisms, tracked by strong monitoring mechanisms, and incentivizing all stakeholders -- including the private sector," Andersen added. The resolution on plastic pollution, as well as the other pressing environmental issues, will be formally decided by the member states in the closing plenary meeting of the Assembly on March 2. The UN Environment Assembly meets biennially to set priorities for global environmental policies and develop international environmental law; decisions and resolutions taken by the member states at the Assembly also define the work of UNEP. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the member states agreed on a two-step approach to UNEA-5: An online session (February 22 and 23) and an in-person meeting, which is taking place between February 28 and March 2. Attended by over 3,400 in-person and 1,500 online participants from 175 UN Member States, 79 ministers and 17 high-level officials, the theme for UNEA-5 is "Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals". This highlights the pivotal role nature plays in our lives and in social, economic and environmental sustainable development. The Assembly will be followed by 'UNEP@50', a two-day special session of the Assembly marking UNEP's 50th anniversary where member states are expected to address how to build a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic world. The 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, was the first-ever UN conference with the word "environment" in its title. The creation of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was one of the most visible outcomes of this conference of many firsts. UNEP was created as the environmental conscience of the UN and the world. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) --IANS vg/arm ( 555 Words) 2022-02-28-22:20:02 (IANS) Many localities, during the crackdown on Monday, were raided by teams of Srinagar district administration and the police - led by DC Aijaz Assad and SSP Rakesh Balwal. "These localities are where drug peddling activities are being reported by many vigilant citizens. These raids led to arrest of many accused and recovery of large quantity of narcotics and proceeds of drugs," police said. In a statement, the district administration and the police have assured "all citizens of Srinagar that action against narcotics and drugs will continue till this menace is completely eradicated from Srinagar". A dedicated narcotics related control room has been started in the DC office with representatives of district administration, police, social welfare, health and medical department with telephone number 01942483651. "This control room will also have social media handles for better public interface and will be functional from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday," officials said. "Srinagar police has already activated a narcotic helpline number 9596770550, which is operational 24x7." --IANS zi/shs ( 211 Words) 2022-02-28-22:20:03 (IANS) Amid stray incidents of violence, Manipur on Monday recorded 78.03 per cent voter turnout in the first phase of Assembly elections in which 38 out of the 60 Assembly seats are being contested, election officials said. Of the five districts where the first phase of elections were held, highest turnout of 82.19 per cent was recorded in Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts, followed by 76.64 per cent in Imphal East, 74.45 per cent in Churachandpur and 73.44 per cent in Bishnupur district. The police said that at least one person was injured in a clash between the workers of two rival parties in Churachandpur district. Clashes were also reported from different parts of Imphal East, Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts, but the security personnel tackled the situation by mobilising additional forces. Manipur Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Agrawal said that the final polling percentage would be available after the return of all the polling parties. He said that incidents of damaging EVMs by unknown miscreants were reported from seven polling stations under five Assembly constituencies -- Saikul, Saitu, Singhat, Henglep and Thanlon. FIRs were registered in all these cases and voting in these polling stations was completed with new sets of EVMs, the CEO said, adding that preventive firing (in the air) by security personnel was reported from some polling stations under Saitu, Henglep and Singhat Assembly constituencies. The other officials said that there was an incident of firing at Phunal Maring polling station. However, details of the incident are still awaited. Election officials said that a Manipur police havildar, Naorem Ibochouba Singh, died due to suspected accidental firing from his service weapon in Kakching district. Meanwhile, Congress and BJP candidates and leaders made allegations and counter-allegations of intimidation and vandalisation of polling booths. Amid favourable weather, men and women, including young voters, queued up in front of the polling stations in large numbers much before the scheduled voting time of 7 a.m. Polling continued till 4 p.m. without any break and in a few polling stations, voters were seen in queues even as the official hours ended. Manipur Governor La Ganesan, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar, Speaker Y. Khemchand, state Congress President N. Loken were among those who cast their votes in the early hours of polling. Singh, who is contesting from the Heingang Assembly constituency against Congress nominee Pangeijam Saratchandra Singh, said that the BJP would secure 30-plus seats in the first phase of elections. Monday's first phase of polling will decide the fate of 173 candidates, including 15 women contestants. The aspirants include Chief Minister Singh, his cabinet colleague Thongam Biswajit Singh, NPP candidate and Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh, senior BJP leader Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, Congress' Ratankumar Singh, Lokeshwar Singh, Saratchandra Singh, and sitting party MLA Akoijam Mirabai Devi, among others. Firebrand woman leader and Janata Dal (United) candidate Thounaojam Brinda, who was the Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), is also contesting from the Yaiskul constituency. A senior Election Commission official said that there were 10,041 physically challenged electorate (PwD) and 251 centenarian voters in these 38 Assembly constituencies. The official said that 381 polling stations were fully managed by women polling staff. The second phase of polling will be held in 22 seats on March 5. Votes will be counted on March 10. --IANS sc/arm ( 566 Words) 2022-02-28-22:32:04 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while chairing the third high-level meeting on the Ukraine situation on Monday evening, pointed out that the visit of four senior ministers as the government's special envoys to various nations will energise the evacuation efforts. The move is reflective of the priority the government attaches to this matter, Modi said. Also, guided by India's motto of the world being one family, the Prime Minister said that India will help people from neighbouring countries and developing nations who are stranded in Ukraine, seeking assistance. Chairing the high-level meeting, his second of the day, to review the ongoing efforts under 'Operation Ganga' to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine, Modi said that the entire government machinery has been working round-the-clock to ensure that all Indian nationals are safe and secure in Ukraine. The Prime Minister further noted that the first consignment of relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian crisis there would be despatched on Tuesday. This was the third review meeting in the last 24 hours on the situation in Ukraine. The Prime Minister was briefed that around 1,400 Indian nationals have arrived from Ukraine so far by six flights from Budapest (Hungary) and Bucharest (Romania), while 182 more will reach Mumbai early on Tuesday morning. Modi was also briefed that a new route to exit through Moldova has been identified and to facilitate the entry of the Indians into this country, proper arrangements are being made by the Indian Embassy staff in Romania. Modi directed the MEA officials to make proper arrangements for the students who are moving to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania till they depart for India. Union Ministers S. Jaishankar, Hardeep Singh Puri, General (Retd) V.K. Singh, Kiren Rijiju, Piyush Goyal, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P.K. Mishra, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other officials were present in the meeting. On Monday morning, Modi chaired a high-level meeting where he was updated about the progress of the evacuation mission under 'Operation Ganga', wherein it was decided that four Union ministers will go as special envoys to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to oversee the evacuation process. According to the officials, Jyotiraditya Scindia will be going to Romania and Moldova, Kiren Rijiju to Slovakia, Hardeep Singh Puri to Hungary and V.K. Singh will be going to Poland. --IANS ams/arm ( 412 Words) 2022-02-28-23:10:02 (IANS) India's GDP per capita is already 16 per cent lower than it would have been without human-caused warming since 1991, according to a new report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). "India is the country that is economically harmed the most by climate change, with every tonne of carbon dioxide emitted globally costing the country around $86," according to a study cited by the IPCC report. To put it in context, in 2021, the world emitted 36.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. Continued warming will further damage India's economy, particularly if emissions are not rapidly eliminated, the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) Working Group II (WRG II) report - titled IPCC AR6 WGII aClimate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability - pointed out. It mentions, among other things, the range of impacts India is vulnerable to heat stress, which can increase beyond the threshold of human survivability, impacts on food production due to climate change, which includes food crops, fisheries, compounding disasters, and disasters elsewhere that will impact international supply chains, markets, trade, and result in economic shocks. Heat will reduce labour capacity, particularly in agriculture, states a study cited by the IPCC report, which projects that agricultural labour capacity in India will fall 17 per cent if warming continues to 3 degrees Celsius - only a little more than current planned emissions would lead to - or 11 per cent if emission cuts are accelerated. The emission cuts are promised by world governments to restrict overall global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial era. "The overall effect of continued high emissions could be to reduce average global incomes 23 per cent, with average incomes in India 92 per cent lower in 2100 than they would have been without climate change," the IPCC report said. Dr Manu Gupta, Co-Founder, Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS) said: "The IPCC WG2 report has made the socio-economic impacts of the climate crisis abundantly clear. While it calls for collaborative action at a macro-level in mitigating future risks, there's an increasing need for working with affected communities to help them adapt to the harsh realities of the present." In August 2021, the IPCC had released the report of the Working Group I while the Working Group III will be brought out in April this year, followed by the Synthesis Report further in September 2022. --IANS niv/vd ( 408 Words) 2022-02-28-23:16:01 (IANS) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s report on Monday said that globally, high temperatures and extreme weather events, such as droughts, extreme rainfall events, heatwaves and floods, are damaging crops and will increasingly limit crop production if temperatures continue to rise. These factors, along with saltwater intrusion from sea-level rise, will harm agriculture in India, which is considered by the report as the most vulnerable country in terms of crop production. Rice, wheat, pulses, and coarse cereal yields could fall almost 9 per cent by 2050 while in south India, maize production could decrease 17 per cent if emissions are high (meaning, the global temperature rise continues at higher rate). "These disruptions to crop production are expected to cause price spikes in India, threatening food affordability, food security and economic growth," the report said. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) Working Group II (WRG II) report - titled IPCC AR6 WGII 'Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability' - has pointed out the range of impacts India is vulnerable to: heat stress, which can increase beyond the threshold of human survivability, impacts on food production due to climate change, which includes food crops, fisheries, compounding disasters, and disasters elsewhere that will impact international supply chains, markets, trade, and result in economic shocks, among others. Continued climate change will also cause declines in India's fisheries as key commercial species, such as hilsa, shad and Bombay duck, are projected to decline dramatically if temperatures continue to rise. The energy harnessed by marine plants and algae - crucial for strong fisheries - in the western Indian Ocean has already declined 20 per cent in the last 60 years due to climate change reducing the nutrient mixing between ocean levels. Sandeep Chachra, Executive Director, ActionAid Association said: "We need a pro-poor and inclusive approach to climate change action. More than just social imagery of sustainable life, we need a participatory, decentralised, futuristic and technology-enabled action on planning, building, and managing rural and urban life." "With India's immense cultural, ecological and landscape diversity, this constitutes the way forward. Ignoring the science as represented, albeit in an understated manner by the IPCC reports, would be akin to choosing extinction over survival. Let us not choose extinction," he warned. --IANS niv/vd ( 391 Words) 2022-02-28-23:18:03 (IANS) A Coimbatore couple, who had posted an advertisement for renting out their house, lost Rs 5.8 lakh to a fraudster. S. Kalaiselvi from Madukkarai, Coimbatore, said in a complaint to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) that she had posted an advertisement to rent out their home in an online portal in January. On January 22, a person contacted her husband Selvaraj, saying that he was an officer with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and that he wanted to take the house on rent and move in as early as possible. Selvaraj informed him that they would take six months' rent amount as security deposit following which the caller sent a link, claiming that it was the link to transfer the money. When Selvaraj clicked the link and entered his bank account details, he lost Rs 99,500. The family was shocked and Kalaisevli immediately called the person, who said that it must have been a technical error and sent another link, stating that he would send six months' rent as well as the money 'accidentally' transferred to Selvaraj's account. The woman in the complaint stated that the caller asked them to install an app and then enter an OTP and when the couple did so, they lost Rs 4.99 lakh from Selvaraj's account in several installments. After that, the caller disappeared. The police are investigating the matter after registering a case under Section 420 of IPC and 66D of the IT Act. The police also appealed to the people not to share their bank account details, PIN number, or OTP with anyone to prevent such frauds. --IANS aal/arm ( 282 Words) 2022-02-28-23:18:05 (IANS) Congress candidate in Manipur's Saitu Assembly constituency candidate Dr Lamtinthang Haokip was arrested "without any reason", party leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Monday night. The FIR was filed in the New Keithelmanbi Polling Station in Kangpokpi district against the Congress candidate who was charged with assault of a public servant from discharge of his duty. Taking on Twitter Ramesh wrote : "INC Candidate from 51-Saitu Dr Lamtinthang Hk was arrested unjustly when he went to New Keithelmanbi Polling stn to ensure free and fair elections, to stop BJP from malpractices. We demand his unconditional and immediate release ! This is murder of democracy by Union Home Minister and CM." However, election officials and the police refused to make any comments saying that the probe is on. Haokip's chief agent Andrew Gangmei in a letter to Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Agrawal said that the BJP candidate (Ngamthang Haokip), along with his henchmen, were indulging in booth capturing and proxy voting in front of the presiding officer and the returning officer at New Keithelmanbi Polling Station. The Congress candidate, on hearing of the malpractices, immediately rushed to the spot. "During a scuffle somebody smashed the Electronic Voting Machine. The polling officials instead of trying to control the situation aggravated it by instigating some of the BJP supporters that led to a melee. The polling officials were found to be biased for reasons best known to them, in favour of the BJP candidate which is unbecoming of a polling official. That, the polling officials at the behest of the BJP Candidate filed an FIR against our Candidate," Gangmei said in his letter and demanded release of Haokip. --IANS sc/vd ( 290 Words) 2022-02-28-23:20:03 (IANS) He particularly appreciated Romania's gesture in allowing Indian citizens to enter Romania without visas, and for permitting special evacuation flights from India. The Prime Minister also informed Ciuca about the deployment of Indian Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia as his special envoy to oversee the evacuation efforts of Indian citizens over the next few days in coordination with the local authorities. He also expressed his anguish at the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and reiterated India's consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue. He also stressed upon the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. --IANS miz/vd ( 154 Words) 2022-02-28-23:26:04 (IANS) The Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra on Monday busted a human trafficking racket by arresting four persons in which Bangladeshi nationals were brought to India through the India-Bangladesh border. According to the ATS, the modus operandi was to bring Bangladeshi nationals to India by crossing the border on foot either by cutting border-fence or by walking in through the open border to immediately obtain Aadhar Cards in their names from a UIDAI Centre in Bangaon, North 24 Parganas in West Bengal on the basis of forged Indian documents and send them to various cities in India including Mumbai armed with fraudulently obtained Aadhar Cards. On reaching various cities, these illegal immigrants obtained other forged Indian documents like birth certificates and school leaving certificates, using which they further obtained IndianPassports. ATS has so far arrested three Bangladeshi nationals, including a minor girl of 17 years. Out of these three, the accused Kajal Shaikh (28) had succeeded in getting an Indian Passport onthe basis of forged Indian documents, whereas the other two were in the process of obtainingthe same. ATS said a local person in Mumbai named Santosh Varne (52), the fourth arrested accusedin the case helped them in getting Indian passports. He supplied forged BMC documents like birth certificates and school leaving certificates to the accused and helped them get Indian passports. ATS seized a booklet of around 100 blank school leaving certificates that are generic and do not mention any school name. As per the modus operandi of the racket, the name of the school used to be stamped on the certificates after filling in the details of the illegal immigrants. These blank school leaving certificates are in old format when the name of Mumbai was Bombay. This was done to make the verification difficult, said the ATS statement. According to ATS, One Sardar Shaikh alias Monjil Mondal, a resident of Sindhrani village in thejurisdiction of Bagdah Police Station, Bangaon, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, is thethe kingpin of this human trafficking racket, who brought to India the three arrested accusedand other Bangladeshi nationals by crossing the border. Shaikh is a criminal on record of Bagdah Police Station, West Bengal. He has had four cases registered against him in the recent past, including three under section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and relevant sections of IPC and other laws, wherein he has been accused of cutting border fence and committing human trafficking across the border. He is the prime accused in the case and efforts are on to arrest him. An ATS team visited West Bengal and gathered evidence in the case with cooperation from West Bengal Police. Further investigation into the case is in progress. (ANI) According to Jammu and Kashmir Police, the incident took place at Batamaloo area of Srinagar where terrorists opened fire at police inspector Sheikh Firdous while he was returning from a mosque after offering prayers. He was shifted to the hospital where his condition is stated to be stable. Meanwhile, security forces cordoned off the area after the incident. Further details awaited. (ANI) Devotees across India thronged temples of Lord Shiva on Tuesday to offer prayers on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. Considered one of the most auspicious festivals of Hindus, Maha Shivaratri, the literal translation of which is 'the great night of Shiva', was celebrated with great fervour at Shambhu Mahadev temple in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. Devotees were also seen participating in the celebrations of Maha Shivaratri at Mahakaleshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain. The national capital too witnessed a sea of devotees offering prayers on the occasion. Other than prayers as means to celebrate the occasion, sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik used over 23,000 Rudrakshas to make an idol of Lord Shiva on a beach in Odisha's Puri. It's believed that while there is a Shivaratri every lunisolar month of the Hindu calendar, the Maha Shivaratri happens only once every year, in February/March, when winter comes to an end and spring and summer begin. Out of the 12 Shivaratris observed in any given year, Maha Shivaratri is considered especially auspicious, as it is supposed to be the night of convergence of Shiva and Shakti, which in essence means the male and feminine energies, that keeps the world in balance. Shiva and Shakti are revered as the embodiment of love, energy, and unity. There are different legends on the significance of Maha Shivaratri. One of them claims that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati tied the knot on this day. Purusha (mindfulness) is embodied by Lord Shiva, whilst Prakriti (nature) is embodied by Maa Parvati. With the union of both consciousness and energy, it facilitates creation. Another story says, during Samudra Manthan, a pot emerged from the ocean which consisted of poison. All the Gods and demons were terrified that this will destroy the entire world and so, Gods went to Lord Shiva for help. To protect the entire world from the evil effects, Lord Shiva drank the entire poison and held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. Due to this, his throat became blue and hence he came to be known as Neelakantha. Maha Shivaratri is observed in several states of India like Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar. On this auspicious day, followers and devotees of Lord Shiva observe fast and special pujas are performed in several temples across the world. They offer milk to the Shivalinga and pray for Moksha. Several devotees pray the whole night, chant mantras in praise of Lord Shiva. Besides the celebrations of the marriage of Shiva and Shakti, unmarried women pray and observe fasts on the day to wish for a partner as compassionate as Lord Shiva. On this day, fairs and cultural programmes are also organised in various temples. It is believed that those people who perform puja, fast, and offer prayers to Lord Shiva are blessed with good luck. Many people also think that Maha Shivaratri fast reminds devotees that pride, ego and falsehood lead to downfall only. All in all, this is a day when positivity wins over negativity. (ANI) Since its inception during the freedom struggle in 1923, Gita Press in Gorakhpur, the largest publisher of Hindu religious literature, which has upgraded itself with German and Japanese machines currently publishes over 50,000 copies of more than 1,800 books in 16 languages every day. The most ubiquitous books found in Hindu households are the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita and Ramcharitmanas, often side by side with the booklet of Hanuman Chalisa. A majority of these originate at the Gita Press. "In 1923, there was a period of subjugation and most of the spiritual books had disappeared from the country. At that time a copy of the Gita could not be found even if people tried... Then, Jaya Dayal Goyandka set up the Gita Press in Gorakhpur. We started in a simple way and today we are adopting upgraded and sophisticated technologies," Devi Dayal Agrawal, a trustee of the Gita Press, told ANI. Afterwards, Agarwal said the Press started to also print the Ramayana, the Mahabharta, the Puranas among other Hindu religious books. "We are currently publishing over 1,800 books in 15 languages. Currently, we are printing nearly 50,000 to 55,000 books every day but the demand is much more. We are trying our best to fulfil the demands of people," said Agarwal. He also said that the focus of the firm is to provide pure religious books people at a minimum price. "Since its inception, the focus of Gita Press has been to make available low price books to people, and not make a profit. People are surprised to see how Gita Press is able to provide books at such low rates," said Agarwal. According to the trustee the press was able to maintain its low prices because it does not buy raw material directly from industries. "The main reason behind it is that we don't add infrastructure cost. Secondly, we purchase raw material directly from industries. And the last point is that our purpose is not to make a profit," he said. He also clarified that Gita Press "does not receive any kind of donation and it uses only its own resources." Due to the nominal prices of its books and their impeccable content with easy-to-grasp language, nicely laid-out text and top-quality printing, Gita Press has been able to reach almost every home across India through its books and was able to sell over 71.77 crore copies, including Shrimad Bhagwat Gita (1,558 lakh); Sri Ramcharitmanas (1,139 lakh); Puran, Upanishad and Aadi Granth (261 lakh); books beneficial for women and children (261 lakh); Bhakti Charitra and Bhajan Mala (1,740 lakh); and other publications (1,373 lakh). The printing press presently publishes 1,830 books, among which 765 are printed in Sanskrit and Hindi language, and the remaining are published in Malayalam, Telugu, Gujarati, Tamil, Marathi, Odiya, Kannada, Urdu, Assamese, Bangla, Punjabi, English as well as Urdu. Gita Press also publishes Ram Charitmanas, an epic poem in the Awadhi language composed by the 16th-century Indian bhakti poet Tulsidas, in the Nepali language in its printing press which was founded by Jaya Dayal Goyandka on April 29, 1923, to propagate and protect Sanatana Dharma. It was a time when religious conversions were peaking and India was in the gripof the British regime in 1923 when Goyandka, Ghanshyam Das Jalan and HanumanPrasad Poddar joined hands to establish Gita Press for spiritual reawakening and moral righteousness. During its first four years, Gita Press printed only ancient scriptures. The canvas and spectrum widened in 1927 when Poddar started the magazine Kalyan. This gave a new face to Gita Press. Next year, Gita Press will turn 100 but the company, which employed over 400 workers, continues to plod on unassumingly, without making noise about its huge body of work and incredible achievements. Besides, its other books, Kalyan, the most popular Hindi periodical of the Gita Press, has a subscriber base of over 2,45,000, and its English version, Kalyana-Kalpataru, has over 100,000 subscribers. Visiting the press campus, one marvels at the architectural brilliance of its famed entrance gateway, which depicts the country's popular temple styles. The entrance pillars are designed after the pillars of the Ellora Cave Temple. The circular hollow in the middle portion, behind the chariot of Sri Krishna and Arjuna, is carved like the mouth of the Ajanta cave temple. A replica of Meenakshi Temple's architecture adorns the entry peak. Designs and graphics overhead portray Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram, 2021-- India's four major pilgrimage destinations. Satyamvad dharamamchar ("Speak truth and practice dharma") is engraved on the door. Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India and a great scholar, inaugurated this grand structure on April 29, 1955. Gita Press functions on a sprawling 32 acre (13-hectare) lot. As with any press, has four main departments: pre-press, printing, binding and distribution. Apart from manual works, Gita Press has been taking the help of German and Japanese machines for better, quicker, more efficient printing, binding sewing and pasting which helps cut production expenses as well as completes to fulfil the demands of copies printed in the firm. (ANI) With the installation of CNG on all the boats in Varanasi, boatmen say their incomes have risen by almost 10 times in the last few years. Sonu Nishad, a boatman said, "My forefathers used to sail boats at Assi Ghat. Almost 1.5 lakh family members are dependent on this profession. Earlier, it was really difficult to make ends meet, but now over the last few years our incomes have risen by almost 10 times. Due to regular cleaning at all the ghats in Varanasi and renovation of temples, several tourists are visiting the temple town." Chandan Sahni, another boatman, said, "I have been working as a boatman for the past 10 years. Since the BJP government came to power in UP and at the Centre, there has been a lot changes in Varanasi. The number of boats with each person has increased from two to four. With the installation of CNG, it has benefitted us and helped us in increasing our income." He further added, "We will vote for Yogi Adityanath because we are happy with the government." Nishad said, "Earlier, the cleaning at all the ghats used to happen once in a day. Now it is happening four times a day. All the 84 ghats are equipped with CNG boats." (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday arrested one terrorist associate from the Santnagar area of Srinagar. Ten magazines of AK-47 rifle and other ammunition have been recovered from him. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) Malik in his plea says his arrest was illegal and has sought to be released immediately. The ED has also summoned Faraz Malik, son of Nawab Malik in the case. Earlier, Malik's brother Kaptan Malik was also been summoned by the agency. Malik has been remanded to ED custody till March 3. He was sent to ED custody for seven days by a court in Mumbai in connection with the money laundering case. Earlier in February, the ED conducted raids at the residence of Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar in Mumbai in connection with the money laundering case. Searches were carried out by the ED at several places linked to people associated with the underworld in Mumbai, informed sources said. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party had demanded the resignation of the State Minister but the Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA-- comprising Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP) government has rejected the demand for Nawab Malik's resignation. (ANI) As per Mashable, Zain, who had been born with cerebral palsy, died on Monday at the age of 26. The unfortunate news was shared by Microsoft in an email, asking the executives to hold the grieving family in their thoughts and prayers. After learning about Zain's demise, netizens paid their heartfelt condolences to the family. Mourning the loss, Telugu Desam Party President, N Chandrababu Naidu, tweeted, "Deeply pained to learn of the passing away of young Zain Nadella. Condolences to Anupama Ji, Satya Nadella and family. May god give them strength through this difficult time. Om Shanthi." Reportedly, last year, the Children's Hospital, where Zain received much of his treatment, teamed up with the Nadellas to establish the Zain Nadella Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurosciences, as part of Seattle Children's Center for Integrative Brain Research. (ANI) Omar Khayyam penned some memorable lines that talk of a 'Loaf of Bread, a Flask of Wine' in the company of the beloved magically transforming wilderness into a paradise. And, there is Nazir Akbarabadi the 18th-century people's poet from Agra whose poem 'Rotiyan' celebrating bread is considered a classic. Countless phrases in many languages recognise the importance of bread. Man may not live by bread alone but can't live without it. Shortage of bread has triggered revolutions and royal heads like Marie Antoinette's have rolled on the Guillotine for tactless remarks about it. Bread is talked of as the 'Stave of Life' and one 'breaks bread' with someone to forge close ties --roti beti ka naata. Do joon ki roti in Hindi translates as basic subsistence. Many restaurants have ritualised serving assorted breads on a platter to save the diners from deciding to choose between tawa or tandoori, naan or paratha. The roadside kebab stall makes to with the roomali. Not many are acquainted with the fascinating array of Indian breads-sweet and savoury, crisp and soft each devised to pair with a specific delicacy with or without gravy. Some are enjoyed all by themselves- absolutely delightful. In recent months, we have come across much-talked-about artisanal breads. But like with all things phoren in the poor developing world the attention is drawn mostly to Rye, Sourdough, Baguette, and shades of brown. It's heartening to note that the Empire has begun to push back. There is a strong revival of interest in our own breads and some considered extinct are reappearing. A rebirth of sorts. Khamiri (livened) and roghani (enriched by extra ghee) are popular in Muslim eateries in Delhi, Bhopal and other parts of northern India. Lucknow has a whole range of exotic breads- sheermal (delicate, mildly sweet saffron tinted bread prepared with flour kneeded in milk) and flakey kulcha not to be confused with the tandoori stuffed paratha like preparation in Amritsar. More rarely encountered are the gavdeeda (literally Bulls Eye) and gavjuban (resembling a bovine tongue in shape). Interestingly, sheermal and kulcha are claimed by the Kashmiris as their own but despite the similarity in the name they share nothing in common with the Awadhi-Lucknowi breads. They are harder, biscuity and must have cereals for breakfast. They are relished with pink salty nun chai or cardamom saffron laced kehwa. Girda is among the most popular bread among predominantly rice-eating Kashmiris. Punjabis are partial to tandoori roti prepared with wholewheat four and naan made with plain flour. In winters makke ki (cornflour) roti plays its delicious duet with sarson da saag (green mustard leaves). In the hill villages of Uttarakhand dark-complexioned madua (finger millets) was traditionally used by the poor. Other drought-prone regions and arid zones also rely on millets like bajra (pearl millets) and jowar (giant millet /sorghum) to prepare robust roti on tawa. This is hardy peasant's fare and at a pinch can form a complete meal with just a large dollop hot chutney or salsa like thecha. Rice flour is used in pathiri in Tamil Nadu and gassi in Karnataka. Pancake like chilada roti (aka tsot) are prepared in many provinces with a rice flour batter. Bengali's claim Bakarkhani as their own. It's a rich tasty bread that commemorates the love affair of Bakar Miyan a district governor with a beautiful dancing girl Khani who was coveted by a vicious Kotwal (police officer). Khani became a victim of their rivalry. Bakar Miyan created the bread token alive the memory of that love. Bakharkhani bread is prepared at many places far away from Bengal and equally colourful backstories claim a geographical indicator for the local bake. There is even one Indian bread that found a place on the flag of the largest princely state in India. Legend has it that the newly appointed Nizam of the Deccan province went to seek the blessings of the famous Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin. He was given a kulcha as he sat at his mentor's feet. He ate five bites before replacing the kulcha on the plate. The mystic laughed and told him your family will rule for five generations in Hyderabad. Uncannily this is just what came to pass. The Nizam happy with the prophecy accorded the pride of place to the kulcha on his pennant. Some Indian breads are cooked in a clay tandoor, others in an iron oven. Most are unleavened but there are quite a few that use yeast. Some rendered extra sweet with jaggery thick roats are offered to the deities. There is an Indian bread for every season and for each reason! Disclaimer: The views expressed in the above article are that of the writer and do not reflect that of ANI. (ANI) The suspects were part of a conspiracy to kill gangster Sunil also known as Tillu Tajpuria and a constable, police said. As many as 22 rounds of bullets fired from both sides, police said. Two pistols, four live rounds and eight empty rounds, and a stolen bike have been seized. Further details are awaited. (ANI) While speaking to ANI, a priest at the Shankaracharya temple said, "On the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri or 'Herath' today, we began the day by offering 'Puja' to Lord Shiva and praying for the well-being of the Indian students stuck in Ukraine amidst the ongoing crisis." He added, "The biggest gathering is expected today at Shankaracharya temple, which overlooks the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar. Special 'Langar' stalls have been installed so that devotees are given refreshments." Maha Shivaratri, which translates to the greatest night of Shiva, is one of the most splendidly celebrated festivals across the country. It celebrates the grand marriage of Lord Shiva - with the goddess of fertility, love, and beauty - Parvati, who is also known as Shakti. On this auspicious day, followers and devotees of Lord Shiva observe fast and special puja is performed in several temples across the world. They offer milk to the Shivalinga and pray for Moksha. Several devotees pray the whole night, chant mantras in praise of Lord Shiva. Besides the celebrations of the marriage of Shiva and Shakti, unmarried women pray and observe fasts on the day to wish for a partner as compassionate as Lord Shiva. On this day, fairs and cultural programmes are also organised in various temples. (ANI) The Kerala government tweeted on Tuesday, "Kerala students update: Among 36 students arrived from Ukraine to Delhi yesterday evening, 25 left for kochi by Vistara UK 883 at 5.35 (arrival 8.45) and 11 left for Trivandrum by Vistara UK 895 at 8.10 (arrival 11.25)." These students were brought back under 'Operation Ganga'. The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday advised its nationals to leave the capital city Kyiv "urgently today" amid the deteriorating security situation due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict. "Advisory to Indians in Kyiv: All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," the Indian embassy in Ukraine tweeted. A special evacuation flight will depart from New Delhi to Kosice, Slovakia today to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju will be on-board the flight, travelling as a special envoy of the Indian Government to oversee the evacuation. The SpiceJet flight is scheduled to depart at 3:30 PM from New Delhi and is scheduled to arrive in Kosice, Slovakia at 7:50 PM IST. (ANI) A special POCSO court in Maharashtra sentenced a man to death for raping and killing a two-and-a-half-year-old girl in 2021. The accused, Sanjay Katkar (38), was charged under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual offences act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In the order, Principal District Judge (special judge for POCSO cases) Sanjay Deshmukh wrote, "The accused, Sanjay Baban Katkar, is held guilty for the offences punishable under Sections 363 of Indian Penal Code and under Section 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. 235(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and he is sentenced to death for the offence punishable under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and he shall be hanged to death as contemplated under Section 354(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure subject to confirmation of the Hon'ble High Court, Bombay, under Section 366 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Katkar is further sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for five years for the offence punishable under Section 363 of the IPC. He was further imprisonment for 20 years for the offence punishable under Section 4 sentenced to suffer of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012." Special public prosecutor Vilas Pathare said, "The minor girl was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and strangled to death by the accused in Panshet area of Pune district on February, 15 2021. The whole case was based on circumstantial evidence and witness during the trial a total of 17 witnesses were examined and detailed medical examination helped to reach the conviction. Expressing his feeling about the judgement Special PP also added that, "It's a welcome and a good judgement on the point of social impact, in such cases normally court gives capital punishment as life imprisonment till natural death, the basic purpose of such punishment is to create terror in the society that one should not dare to commit such crimes." (ANI) According to the police, the explosive substances were found in the bathroom of the house and were concealed inside a six-seven feet pit. According to the information received, the house belongs to a chartered accountant from Delhi, but no one has been living there for the last two to three years. A team of Gurugram Police reached Delhi to speak with the landlord. "Police has launched a search operation after receiving information about the presence of explosives and ammunition in an unoccupied house," said Virender Vij, DCP Gurugram (East). Further details are awaited. (ANI) One Indian student has lost his life in Kharkiv this morning because of shelling in the area, said MEA in a statement. Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Commissioner Dr Manoj Rajan identified the deceased as Naveen Shekharappa from Chalageri village of Haveri district in Karnataka. Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi shared the information and expressed condolences to the family. "With profound sorrow, we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family," he wrote in the tweet. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a high-level meeting on Monday evening over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all Indians there are safe and secure, informed Bagchi. This was the second high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister during the day over the prevailing situation in Ukraine. MEA on Monday said that the 'Special Envoys' including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, and Gen (Retd) VK Singh will travel to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations. On February 24, the Prime Minister chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting in New Delhi on the Ukraine crisis. The union government has launched Operation Ganga to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine.(ANI) Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Commissioner Dr Manoj Rajan on Tuesday said that the Indian student, who lost his life in Kharkiv this morning because of shelling in the area, has been identified as Naveen Shekharappa from Chalageri village of Haveri district in Karnataka. "We have confirmed from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) the unfortunate demise of Naveen Shekharappa in Ukraine. He was from Chalageri, Haveri. He had left for a nearby store to buy something. Later his friend got a call from a local official that he (Naveen) has died," said Karnataka SDMA. Earlier today, MEA in a statement said that one Indian student has lost his life in Kharkiv this morning because of shelling in the area. Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi shared the information and expressed condolences to the family. "With profound sorrow, we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family," he wrote in the tweet. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a high-level meeting on Monday evening over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all Indians there are safe and secure, said Bagchi. Government sources on Monday said that the 'Special Envoys' including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, and Gen (Retd) VK Singh will travel to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations. On February 24, the Prime Minister chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting in New Delhi on the Ukraine crisis. The union government has launched "Operation Ganga" to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. (ANI) Union Minister RK Singh on Tuesday welcomed stranded Indian students at Delhi Airport and said that the Government is committed to bring back every Indian stranded in Ukraine. "Government is committed to bringing back every Indian stranded there. Four ministers were deputed just to organise this. There are help desks of states, help desk of Ministry of Power, officers of the Ministry. Students will be provided whatever assistance they need," said Singh. A flight carrying Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine arrives in Delhi from Hungary. The passengers were waving tricolours and chanted patriotic slogans. Speaking to ANI, Vindhya Doshi, an Indian student after landing at Delhi airport said thanked the Government of India and the Indian Embassy who supported the students. "I am very happy and relaxed now because the situation on the borders around Ukraine was terrible. I thank the Government of India and the Indian Embassy who supported the students. We are relaxed now," said Vindhya. The ninth flight carrying 218 stranded Indian nationals has departed from the Romanian capital Bucharest for New Delhi under Operation Ganga, informed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday. The government of India has expedited its evacuation efforts under Operation Ganga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked the Indian Air Force to join the evacuation efforts, said sources. The sources said that leveraging the capacities of the Air Force will ensure that more people can be evacuated in a shorter time frame. It will also help to deliver humanitarian aid more efficiently, sources added. Indian Air Force is likely to deploy several C-17 aircrafts as part of 'Operation Ganga' from today. Meanwhile, at the high-level meeting on Monday evening over the Ukraine crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all Indians there are safe and secure, informed Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. This was the second high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister during the day over the prevailing situation in Ukraine. Government sources on Monday said that the 'Special Envoys' including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and Gen (Retd) VK Singh will travel to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. (ANI) The Supreme Court has granted bail to one accused observing that his appeal is pending before the Allahabad High Court since 2012 and he has already undergone 14 years and 3 months of custody. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana granted bail to one Ritu Pal after "taking into consideration the fact that the petitioner has already undergone 14 years and 3 months of actual custody and about 17 years of total custody with remission." The Court also noted that the co-accused have already been released on bail and the bail application of the petitioner is pending consideration before the High Court since 2012 and said, "We deem it to be fit case to grant him bail. The petitioner is, accordingly, directed to be enlarged on bail on such terms and conditions as the trial court may deem appropriate to impose upon him." Accused Ritu Pal was represented by advocate Rishi Malhotra. The petitioner lawyer Rishi Malhotra said that the petition demonstrate "a very glaring fact and very sorry state of affairs" in the Allahabad High Court wherein the petitioner though stand convicted by the Trial Court under section 302 read with section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on January 14, 2008 for an incident which had occurred in 2004, his application seeking suspension of sentence (bail) before the Allahabad High Court remains pending to be decided since 2012. Advocate Malhotra said that the petitioner continues to remain in judicial custody till date and has already undergone 14 years and 3 months of actual custody and 17 years and 3 months of total custody with remissions as on November 11, 2021. Moreover, the co-accused persons have been released on bail pending his appeal before the High Court vide its order dated March 28, 2014 whereas the second bail application of the petitioner remains pending before the High Court since 2012. Ritu Pal was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Baghpat Court in Uttar Pradesh on January 14 2008. He was facing charges under murder for killing a man in February 2014 in Baghpat district. He had filed an appeal in Allahabad High Court challenging the trial Court order. (ANI) Karnataka Minister for Higher Education Dr CN Ashwathnarayan on Tuesday condoled the demise of an Indian student, who lost his life in Kharkiv this morning because of shelling in the area while urging families of citizens stranded in Ukraine to stay calm. Naveen Shekharappa hailed from Haveri in Karnataka and was a fourth-year MBBS student in Ukraine. "Deeply saddened to learn about the sad demise of Naveen Shekharappa, 4th Year MBBS student from Haveri, Karnataka in the crisis zone at Kharkiv, Ukraine. May God give his family, friends and well-wishers strength to bear this irreparable loss. Om Shanti," the state minister tweeted. Amid rising tensions in Ukraine following Russian military operations, the minister has urged families of the Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine to not panic and stay calm as the government is ramping up its efforts to evacuate Indian nationals. "I request all the families of those Indians who are stuck in the crisis zone to remain calm. Authorities from the Government of India are in constant touch with students, Indians and Ambassadors for the safe passage of Indians from the crisis zone," Ashwathnarayan said. Commissioner of Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Manoj Rajan told ANI: "We have confirmed from MEA the unfortunate demise of Naveen Shekharappa in Ukraine. He was from Chalageri, Haveri; had left for a nearby store to buy something. Later his friend got a call from a local official that he (Naveen) has died." Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai spoke to the father of the deceased student. "All efforts will be made to bring back Naveen's body to India. The CM said that the matter is being negotiated with foreign ministry officials," Karnataka Chief Minister's Office said in a statement. The Union Government has launched 'Operation Ganga' to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri left for Budapest to aid the evacuation of Indian citizens stranded in war-hit Ukraine. Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju also left for Slovakia on Tuesday. Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia will be going to Romania and Gen VK Singh to Poland, informed the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday. (ANI) Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya welcomed the stranded Indians at Delhi Airport on Tuesday and said that the government's efforts to repatriate stranded students will continue till all of them are brought back. "Many of your friends are still stuck in Ukraine, tell them efforts are being made to bring them back home. Efforts to continue till all of them are brought back", said Mansukh Mandaviya. The Union Minister received the eighth flight carrying 216 Indian students, who were stranded in Delhi. He said that the government is making all efforts under Operation Ganga to bring back the stranded students. "We are speaking to the respective officials to evacuate the students from Ukraine", added Mandaviya. Meanwhile, MEA on Tuesday said that an Indian student lost his life in Kharkiv his morning because of shelling. India has been ramping up its efforts to evacuate Indian nationals stuck in Ukraine. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri left for Budapest to aid the evacuation of Indian citizens stranded in war-hit Ukraine. Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju also left for Slovakia on Tuesday. The government has deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals."Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia will be going to Romania, Kiren Rijiju to Slovak Republic, Hardeep Puri to Hungary, VK Singh to Poland... to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Monday. (ANI) Tripura Chief Secretary Kumar Alok in a series of tweets on Tuesday informed the parents anxiously waiting for their children stuck in conflict-ridden Ukraine that a total of 32 students from the state have already been identified and the safe evacuation process by the part of the Indian government is underway. So far, four students have already reached India while a total of 15 students have crossed the borders and are now in countries like Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and Romania etc. He assured that all the students who have been given safe passage would reach home soon. Exuding confidence on the issue, he said that there are no reasons to worry as the government of India is making arrangements to bring them back. "We received a list of 32 students from Tripura studying in Ukraine. Their families are being contacted by the respective District Administrations to brief them about the elaborate arrangements made by the government of India to bring them back. There is no need to worry about their safety", his first tweet reads. The Chief Secretary also said that one of the eight students who hail from the South Tripura district has already reached Tripura. The total number of students of South Tripura who are now left in Ukraine stands at seven now. "Out of eight students from South Tripura District, one has reached Tripura and the other seven have crossed the Ukraine border and are on their way to India. All of them are safe. District Administration officers have met family members of each student," he said. Another student from Tripura's Gomati district has also returned safely while the other has been given safe passage to Hungary. The only student from Tripura's Unakoti district also reached home recently, he added. "Two students from Dhalai district were in Ukraine. Both of them have crossed the border and are in Romania. They will be reaching home soon. The only student from the Khowai district was in Ukraine and has reached Romania and is likely to reach India soon. Out of three students from Sepahijala district, one has reached Slovakia, another has reached Italy and one is still in Ukraine but safe," his tweets read. Of the four students of North Tripura district, he said, "Four students from North District were in Ukraine. One has already reached upto Silchar, another is in Romania and the remaining two have taken shelter in a metro station in Kyiv and are safe." (ANI) In a scathing attack at the Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Tuesday said that both Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) closed 29 sugar mills in the state and sold 11 sugar mills at a very low price while the BJP government opened several new sugar mills. Addressing a public rally in Kushinagar, the BJP chief said, "SP and BSP together closed 29 sugar mills of UP and sold 11 sugar mills at a very low price. Yogi's government has gave a payment of Rs 1.41 lakh crore to sugarcane growers. Along with this, the pending dues of the Akhilesh government of Rs 11,000 crore have also been paid by BJP government. New sugar mills have been started in Uttar Pradesh under the BJP government." Nadda slammed the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for withdrawing cases against the terrorists. "On May 22, a bomb exploded in Gorakhpur. The terrorist organization took responsibility for the blast. Two persons hailing from Azamgarh and Mau were caught. Akhilesh Yadav tried to withdraw the case of such notorious criminals on 26 April 2012. The court did not allow the case to be withdrawn. The court sentenced both to life imprisonment. How can you make such a person a chief minister? Terrorists attacked the CRPF camp in Rampur. UP Police and NIA together caught Shahabuddin, a resident of Bihar. Akhilesh also helped him in getting out of jail," said BJP chief. He further said that Akhilesh takes an oath that he will protect terrorists and will shoot the people of Uttar Pradesh. "The verdict of Ahmedabad bomb blast came, in which there is a terrorist whose picture is with Akhilesh," he added. Nadda further said that the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have strengthened and empowered poor, exploited, deprived, victims, Dalits, mothers, sisters, youth and farmers. "Do you remember that Akhilesh had said don't get vaccinated? He had said the vaccine would cause problems. Then he silently went for vaccination. He used to call it 'Modi tika' and 'BJP ka tika'. On March 3 give him a final dose," said BJP chief, "There was a time when former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi used to say that if Rs 100 were sent, 15 paise would reach to the people and the rest 85 paise goes to middlemen. PM Modi has opened the Jan Dhan account of the poor, without any broker and middle man, Rs 100 directly reach to the account of the poor," said Nadda. He said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 2.63 crore houses have been built across the country, of these, about 35 lakh houses have been built here in Uttar Pradesh. "Under Kisan Samman Nidhi farmers are getting Rs 6,000 in three installments of Rs 2,000 every year," added BJP chief. "In this year's budget, 60 lakh people will get jobs within a year. 25 thousand km of road will be built in a year on which Rs 20,000 crore will be spent. Clean water will be provided to 3.80 crore houses through taps, in which Rs 60,000 crore will be spent," said Nadda. "60 lakh pucca houses will be built at a cost of Rs 48,000 crores. Five years ago the economy of Uttar Pradesh was at the seventh position in the country and today it stands at the second number economy. Form the government again this time, Uttar Pradesh will stand at number one," he added while urging the people to vote for the BJP. The BJP chief said that the party has decided to set up Anti-Terrorist Commando Centers in Deoband, Meerut, Rampur, Azamgarh, Kanpur and Bahraich. In the sixth phase, polling will be held in 57 assembly seats in 10 districts on March 3. The 2022 Assembly elections are being held in Uttar Pradesh from February 10 to March 7 in seven phases to elect 403 members of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The votes will be counted and the results will be declared on March 10, 2022. (ANI) MBBS student Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar was a resident of the state's Haveri district. Earlier Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai spoke to Naveen's family. "It is a big blow. May the Almighty bestow eternal peace on Naveen. You must be brave to bear the tragic happening," Bommai told the family while expressing grief. The 21-year-old Indian, a student of Kharkiv National Medical University, was reportedly standing in a queue to buy food when he was killed in Russian shelling in Ukraine's Kharkiv earlier today. "With profound sorrow, we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family," tweeted the External Affairs Ministry, confirming Gyanagoudar's death. Efforts are now on to bring his mortal remains to India. "PM Narendra Modi had spoken to the family. We will try our best to recover the body and bring it back to India. I have requested PMO and MEA to help us to recover mortal remains," said Bommai. (ANI) Kazi, who worked closely with Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze, was posted in the Crime Intelligence Unit of the Mumbai Crime Branch. Waze is the prime accused of placing an explosives-laden vehicle near Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani's house Antilia in Mumbai on February 25, 2021. Waze was also accused of the murder of Mansukh Hiren, the owner of the vehicle that was found containing explosives materials outside Antilia. Hiren was found dead on March 5 in Thane. He was dismissed from service in May 2021. (ANI) The special staff of the Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested a man in Mehrauli on charges of murdering his girlfriend in a hotel in the national capital. Police found the body of the girl lying in a hotel room, police informed. The boy was absconding since February 27. During the investigation, police found that the accused who have been identified as Shivam Chouhan was in a relationship with the deceased for the past four years. "They both came to the hotel in Delhi on February 25. We got a call about the incident on February 27 and found that the boy was missing. The Special Staff team got his mobile number but it was switched off. The team collected his whereabouts but could not get his address," police added. Following the human efforts and technical surveillance, the team apprehended the accused in Mehrauli, police said. During interrogation, the accused confessed his crime and disclosed his relationship with the girl. He said that the girl was lying to him which led to a fight between them and he later banged her head on the floor due to which she died, police added. (ANI) In its crusade against smuggling activities, Lunglei Battalion of Headquarter 23 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (East) on February 27 had recovered a large stash of explosives and warlike stores and apprehended two persons in Siaha district. In an official statement, Assam Rifles stated that troops of Assam Rifles had recovered 124.2 kg of BELOX -10 Explosive, 121.5 kg of Granular Explosive, 49.9 kg of Gun Powder Explosive, 3950 numbers of Detonators, 120 Lellier and Belliot 30-06 (Bullet), 100 Lellier and Belliot .22 Hornet (Bullet), 100 Mini Mag .22 Bullet, 12,000 meters of Codex, 106 Tac Shotgun Ammunition Belts, One Tata Sumo, One Bolero."The operation was carried out by COB Siaha of Lunglei Battalion. The party established a Mobile check post near India-Myanmar border based on specific information," read the Assam Rifles statement. Ongoing smuggling of weapon and warlike store is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram, especially along the India-Myanmar border. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh government created a Guinness record in Ujjain city by lighting 21 lakh lamps as a part of Maha Shivratri celebrations on Tuesday. Maha Shivratri, which essentially translates to 'the great night of Shiva', is considered one of the most auspicious festivals of the country. It is celebrated annually with much fervour and excitement across India. The state government hosted a grant event in Ujjain which is commonly known as the city of Mahadev as Mahakaleshwar temple is a popular shrine that comprises one of the twelve major Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Attending the event in Ujjain today, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "The successful execution of this event is a fine example of the principle of 'Sarva Dharma Sambhaav,' which was espoused by Swami Vivekanand and Mahatma Gandhi. It is my earnest wish and prayer that Lord Shiva will bestow his blessings on all the citizens of the state and will continue to guide us to achieve the dream of Atmanirbhar Madhya Pradesh." This Mahashivratri, along with organising the Mahadev Utsav for the worship of Lord Shiva, the district administration has registered its name in the Guinness Book by lighting 21 lakh earthen lamps, CMO said. In order to create this world record, the lamps were lit in temples and homes all around Ujjain city, including the banks of the Shipra river, and the courtyard of the Devasthali Mahakal temple. The event saw participation from over 17,000 volunteers, who had registered for this massive event. These volunteers represented various voluntary organizations, students, sportspersons, professionals and social organizations, religious institutions, including the saints of all akhadas. This was a one-of-a-kind event as the city administration took special care to ensure that the event was eco-friendly and achieved the 'zero waste' goal, and adhered to the principle of 3R - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The eco-friendly steps taken by the administration included volunteer identity cards made from recycled paper, usage of paper matchboxes to light the lamps and candles, usage of biodegradable cutlery and plates for food and drink. Following the culmination of the event, the earthen lamps will be reused to make idols, pots, kulhads, in-home composting, among other things. Also, the oil bottles will be recycled responsibly. Informing about the progress of development being carried out in Ujjain, the religious capital of Madhya Pradesh, CM Chouhan added, "Recently, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone of 11 road projects worth Rs 5,722 crore for the development of entire Malwa held in Ujjain. This will certainly speed up the rate of development in Ujjain and put Ujjain on the world map as the religious tourism capital of India." "Our government is committed to introducing world-class facilities to the devotees of Lord Shiva, including the launching of a cable car service from the railway station to the Mahakaleshwar temple," he added. On this occasion, Chouhan also inspected the ongoing works in the first phase of Shri Mahakal Vikas Vistar Yojana costing Rs 750 crore. In addition, he examined the plan for the second phase of the campus expansion at Triveni Museum, which was presented by Ujjain Collector Ashish Singh, IAS. It's believed that while there is a Shivratri every lunisolar month of the Hindu calendar, the Maha Shivratri, happens only once every year, in February or March, when winter comes to an end and spring and summer begin. Out of the 12 Shivratris observed in any given year, Maha Shivratri is considered especially auspicious, as it is supposed to be the night of convergence of Shiva and Shakti, which in essence means the male and feminine energies that keep the world in balance. Shiva and Shakti are revered as the embodiment of love, power, and oneness. On this auspicious day, followers and devotees of Shiva observe fast and special pujas are performed in several temples of Shiva across the world. They offer milk to the Shivaling and pray for moksha. It is believed that those people who perform puja, fast, and offer prayers to Lord Shiva are blessed with good luck. Many people also think that Maha Shivratri fast reminds devotees that pride, ego and falsehood lead to downfall only. (ANI) Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, the deceased student, was a resident of Karnataka's Haveri district. The 21-year-old Indian, a student of Kharkiv National Medical University, was reportedly standing in a queue to buy food when he was killed in Russian shelling in Ukraine's Kharkiv earlier today. "My deepest condolences to the family of our Indian student Naveen Shekharappa who lost his life in a shelling attack in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Thousands of our students are still stranded in harsh weather conditions & without any food in Ukraine", tweeted Pawar. In another Tweet, he said, "I request the Central Government and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to understand the gravity of the situation, the desperate plight and anxiety of these students and their families." According to him, the Government of India must speed up the rescue efforts to evacuate the stranded students at the earliest. The Union government has launched Operation Ganga to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Over the last few days, Indian nationals are being evacuated on flights from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania-- countries that share borders with Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India, SpiceJet and Indigo as part of the massive rescue mission. The seventh flight carrying 182 Indian nationals reached Mumbai from Romania's Bucharest. After special flights reach Mumbai and New Delhi, the evacuees are facilitated to reach their respective states, where local administration helps them to reach their homes. (ANI) A man was stabbed to death on Tuesday after a fight broke out between two groups inside a gym in Central Delhi's Paharganj area, police said. The Paharganj Police Station received information from Lady Hardinge Hospital about some people injured in a fight at a Gym in the Chuna Mandi of Paharganj. The police rushed to the Lady Hardinge Hospital where they found two persons from one group and four persons from another group injured. The dead man has been identified as Manoj Manchanda, a resident of Motia Khan in Paharganj. "There was an incident of a fight inside a gym between two boys, who also called their families into the fight. The fight got aggravated and one party attacked the other with a knife killing one. An FIR has been registered in this case", said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shweta Chahan. The police registered a case on charges of murder, attempt to murder following a statement of Vicky Manchanda, the brother of the dead, the DCP said. Vicky Manchanda stated, "Mayank Manchanda, son of deceased Manoj Manchanda called his father at about 10 am on Tuesday from Fitness Hub Gym and informed him that Saurav Sharma, Joginder Sharma, Manjeet Sharma alias Babla and Rahul Sharma, all residents of Ghee Mandi, Paharganj are fighting with him at the gym. Both Vicky Manchanda and Manoj Manchanda also reached the gym. It later on turned into a fight with knives and sharp objects. Both parties scuffled with each other wherein they received serious injuries." As per the preliminary investigation, the fight broke out between two groups over playing loud music inside the gym. Police said an investigation is underway and two accused have been caught. (ANI) Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday said that he is constantly in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and so far 24 students of Uttarakhand have been evacuated from Ukraine. "We are constantly in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs. So far 24 students of Uttarakhand have been evacuated from Ukraine. We are trying to bring all Indian students back to India I have also met parents of many students in my area," said Dhami during his visit to Delhi. He further said that the stranded students of Uttarakhand are more than 200 in Ukraine. "I have come to Delhi only in relation to these students that they should be brought back safely. I will contact all the officials and ministers I need to meet in this regard," he said. The Chief Minister said that he had have talked with students in Ukraine, "They are reaching neighbouring countries and we are doing arrangements to bring them from there," he added. Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the eighth flight carrying 216 stranded Indian nationals has departed from Hungary's capital Budapest for New Delhi while the ninth flight carrying 218 Indians took off from the Romanian capital Bucharest for New Delhi as part of Operation Ganga. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while presiding over a high-level meeting over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all stranded Indians in Ukraine are safe and secure, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. This was the second high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister during the day over the prevailing situation in Ukraine. Government sources on Monday said that the 'Special Envoys' including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and Gen (Retd) VK Singh will be travelling to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. The union government has launched Operation Ganga to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India as part of the mission. (ANI) As the Russia-Ukraine conflict rages, Bihar-origin Russian legislator Abhay Singh claimed that the government and people of Ukraine are not behaving correctly with Indians in the country, especially with students. "The Ukrainian authorities and common citizens are not treating Indian students and Indian people in the right manner. It is a kind of racial approach towards them. They are not allowing many students to board the trains and buses from their big cities like Kiev and Kharkiv," Singh, who is a member of the ruling Yedinaya Rossiya (United Russia) party, told IANS over phone. Reacting to the death of an Indian student in Kharkiv, he said: "It is extremely unfortunate that a student from Karnataka died in shelling. I pay condolences to his family." Asked about the nature of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Singh, who hails from Boring Canal road in Patna near the Panchmukhi temple, pointed out that he is a very calm and determined person. "He makes pin point policy on every front, including ongoing special military operations against Ukraine as well as the previous operations. He worked as a spy in the KGB before entering politics and becoming the President of the country. Past experiences always help a person take decisions in the interest of the country," Singh said. Singh, who is currently staying just 40 km away from the Ukrainian border in Russia's Kursk province, said: "Our defence system is well-placed inside the country. Our armed forces have installed anti-missile systems and radar systems in almost all the places, especially in the borders with Ukraine to minimise threats of missiles if launched by Ukraine or any other country of the west, including the US. We are ready to face any military action from the west and retaliate against them accordingly." On economic sanctions imposed by the Western powers, he said: "Before the Russian special military operation started against Ukraine, our strategic and economic policy makers were well-aware of the consequences. The Russian economy is one of the biggest in the world. "The economic sanctions of the US and Western countries would not hamper our internal financial operations and special military action against Ukraine. There is no panic among Russian people to take out cash from the banks. This is absolute rumour. Everything is normal here." Reacting to the US advisory for its people living in Russia to leave the country, he said that he has not seen the statement of President Joe Biden about the same. "If any such advisory came from the west, it is attributed to create propaganda against Russia and nothing else," he said. --IANS ajk/vd/arm ( 443 Words) 2022-03-01-19:20:06 (IANS) "All the advocates, litigants, staff members, police and CRPF personnel of this court are once again directed to strictly refrain from feeding the stray animals like monkeys and dogs within the court complex," read the circular issued by the Deputy Registrar Javed Khan. The circular comes after the court observed that some of the advocates, litigants, staff, police, and CRPF personnel were still feeding stray animals despite earlier directions. --IANS jw/vd ( 111 Words) 2022-03-01-19:26:04 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said students of the state stuck in Ukraine would be brought back safely. For this, the Ministry of External Affairs and the government of Haryana are making dedicated efforts, he said. So far, the Haryana government has contacted 700 students and 90 students have returned safely. The Chief Minister told the media in Karnal that in view of the crisis in Ukraine, the state government had already set up a control room. A helpdesk has been set up at thre Delhi airport. Also, some students of Haryana have reached Mumbai by plane and to help them, a control room is also being set up there. All possible help will be given to bring the students safely back to Delhi and Haryana, he said. Khattar also said that the Deputy Commissioners have been contacting the families of those who are stuck in Ukraine. About the budget session that kis beginning on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said it would be beneficial for all sections. On the lines of the Centre, this time more emphasis would be given on mission infrastructure. Also, special attention would be given as to how to ensure the reach of various welfare schemes of the government to the eligible persons, he said. Responding to a question, the Chief Minister said the state government has held talks with auto unions in Gurugram to discontinue the 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol autos. For now, this rule is not applicable to any other district. --IANS vg/vd ( 267 Words) 2022-03-01-20:18:04 (IANS) Ten students reached Delhi by flight 6E-9451 from Bucharest. Another student returned by flight 6E-8386. With this, the number of students and others from Telangana who have returned home from Ukraine rose to 67. They were evacuated along with other Indian citizens from countries neighbouring Ukraine. They reached by nine flights from Bucharest since February 26. Two of these flights had landed in Mumbai while the remaining landed in Delhi. The Telangana government made arrangements to receive all returnees at Delhi and Mumbai airports. The state government also booked air tickets for them from Delhi and Mumbai to Hyderabad. The government shall continue to liaise with the government of India to bring back Telangana residents from Ukraine safely, said an official statement. --IANS ms/vd ( 150 Words) 2022-03-01-20:22:02 (IANS) Over 100 terrorists and Over Ground Workers (OWGs) are on the radar of the security forces which will soon launch an operation against them in Jammu and Kashmir, sources in the security grid said on Tuesday. According to sources, these ultras are hiding in the villages and forest areas in South Kashmir and only come out to execute an attack on the security forces or targeted civilians. The recce is mostly done by the OGWs, they added. The security officials deployed in Kashmir Valley further said that despite the fact that a large number of ultras were killed in the operation last year, Pakistan supported terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Al-Badr and Hizbul Mujahideen have been sending more terrorists in the Valley. "To prevent local youths from joining terror groups is also a major challenge for the security forces," the officials said. They also said that last year, the security grid in Kashmir Valley made robust counter attack and drones were used to oversee the areas, but to identify terrorists in forest is still a challenge for them. The intelligence agencies have identified 'some locations' near Srinagar and Baramulla districts and a coordinated operation against these terrorists are being planned at the earliest. The J&K Police's Special Operation Group will be leading the operation along with central security forces. According to the messages intercepted by the intelligence agencies, Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) officials are annoyed with the terrorists in J&K for not doing 'something big' and forcing them to execute a major terror attack. Recently, Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered a cache of weapons possibly dropped from a drone along the International Border in RS Pura sector after which a massive search operation was launched by the SOG of J&K Police. Two magazines, 70 cartridges, one pistol, three detonators, three remotely controlled IEDs, three bottles of explosives, a bundle of cortex wire, two timer IEDs and six grenades were recovered from Treva village in Arnia sector. This indicates the vicious plan of the ISI to disrupt the peace and developmental works in the Union Territory of J&K, the officials in the security forces said. --IANS ams/skp/ ( 374 Words) 2022-03-01-20:52:03 (IANS) A judicial magistrate in Tamil Nadu's Salem was stabbed, and seriously injured, in his chamber at the district court complex by his assistant on Tuesday, police said. M. Muthupandi was admitted to Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital (SGMKMCH), where doctors said that he received three stab injuries, including a deep one close to the heart and lungs. The incident happened when the judicial magistrate was in his chamber and colleagues suddenly heard a cry of alarm. When policemen and advocates present in the court complex rushed to the chamber, they found the judicial magistrate profusely bleeding and with his assistant Prakash standing there with a knife. Police said that Prakash was recently transferred from Omalur court to Salem court and he joined duty on Monday. He requested the Judicial Magistrate to transfer him back to Omalur but the magistrate asked him to approach the principal District Judge, and irked by this, Prakash attacked Muthupandi, police said. Hasthampatty police registered a case and arrested Prakash. --IANS aal/vd ( 178 Words) 2022-03-01-20:54:05 (IANS) A medical student returned home in Bihar's Saharsa district on Tuesday after borrowing $50 from her friends in Ukraine. Akta Khurshid returned home through Hungary border. While sharing her plight, she said it was extremely difficult for students to reach Ukraine's border with Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Romania. "My university was in western part of Ukraine. So, I did not see any explosion or missile attack, though, I saw some aircraft flying in the air. Living in a war zone was extremely tough for us as everything has become so expensive there. The transport vehicles are not available too," Khurshid said. "As I ran out of money, I borrowed $50 from a senior student of my university to pay my bus fare. I travelled standing in a packed bus to reach Hungary border," she said. She further pointed out that those students who are in the western part of Ukraine managed to reach the borders of Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, but those living in the central or eastern parts of Ukraine like Kiev and Kharkiv are in grave danger. At least 8 students of Saharsa are still trapped in Ukraine. "After reaching Hungary border, I struggled for hours to enter into the country. I am thankful to the Indian government which facilitated a flight from Budapest. They did not charge air fare to Delhi," Khurshid said. Khurshid was welcomed in Saharsa by District Magistrate Anand Sharma and SP Lipi Singh. Sharma said the government has made arrangement to airlift all students from Ukraine. --IANS ajk/skp/ ( 269 Words) 2022-03-01-21:16:05 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of evacuation of stranded Indian nationals from war-hit Ukraine under 'Operation Ganga'. It was the third meeting held on the matter in the last 24 hours, and the fourth since Sunday evening. The meeting began with the participants expressing grief over the sad demise of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, a medical student from Karnataka who died in Russian shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday. According to sources, Modi was briefed about the evacuation status and was informed that over 1,750 Indian students have returned to the country so far. He was also informed that Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Kiren Rijiju and General (Retd) V.K. Singh have flown to Budapest (Hungary), Warsaw (Poland) and Bratislava (Slovakia), respectively, as the government's special envoys to oversee the evacuation efforts, while Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia left for Bucharest (Romania) by an Air India flight on Tuesday evening. It has been learnt that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishakar briefed the Prime Minister about the ramped up efforts of the government for evacuation works in the last 24 hours, while Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla updated Modi about the arrangements made by the Indian Embassies in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Poland, all bordering Ukraine. Modi had asked the MEA officials to make proper arrangements in the adjoining border points with Ukraine for the students coming to these countries from the war-hit nation. The sources also said that Modi discussed what could be the possible ways to rescue the Indians stuck in Kharkiv, another important town after the capital city of Kiev. As of now, thousands of Indians, including students, are still stuck in Kharkiv and the Russian army has scaled up attacks on both Kiev and Kharkiv. Modi was also informed that a new route to exit through Moldova has been identified, and to facilitate the entry of the Indians into this country, proper arrangements have been made by the Indian Embassy staff in Romania. The Prime Minister is personally monitoring the evacuation efforts of the government, taking updates from the MEA at regular intervals. After the death of the medical student from Karnataka in Kharkiv on Tuesday, the Prime Minister got a call from the President of European Council, Charles Michel, who extended condolences over the tragic incident and assured support for the evacuation mission. Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Principal Secretary to PM, P.K. Mishra, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs were present at the meeting. --IANS ams/arm ( 446 Words) 2022-03-01-22:02:02 (IANS) Ramping up the government's efforts to evacuate Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine, an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 transport aircraft left for Romania in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The aircraft has taken off from the Hindan airbase at around 4 am. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the efforts to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine and asked the Indian Air Force to join the evacuation efforts under Operation Ganga. The sources said that leveraging the capacities of the Air Force will ensure that more people can be evacuated in a shorter time frame and it will also help to deliver humanitarian aid more efficiently. After Russia's forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, the Government of India launched 'Operation Ganga' to bring back stranded Indian nationals from the conflict-torn Ukraine. As part of the 'Operation Ganga' mission, special flights are being operated free of cost. The first such evacuation flight carrying 219 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine landed in Mumbai on February 26. Several such flights have landed in the country so far. 24x7 control centres have been set up to assist in the evacuation of Indian nationals through the border crossing points with Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. A new route has been opened through Moldova and an MEA team is also now in place there and is operational. The team will assist in the evacuation of Indians through Romania. A dedicated Twitter Account (@opganga) has been set up to assist Operation Ganga. The Indian Embassy in Kyiv has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. In a bid to energize the evacuation efforts, the Government of India appointed four special envoys who will oversee evacuation operations of stranded Indians in Ukraine's neighbouring countries. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri will oversee evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Gen (retd) VK Singh in Poland while Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will be going to Romania and will also go to Moldova. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held several meetings so far to review the ongoing efforts under Operation Ganga to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. He has also said that India will help people from neighbouring countries and developing countries who are stranded in Ukraine and may seek assistance. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla informed on Tuesday that all Indian nationals have left Kyiv and nearly 60 per cent of Indians in Ukraine have left the country so far. He said out of an estimated 20,000 Indian citizens in Ukraine, 60 per cent have left the country since the first advisory was issued by the government. "Of the remaining 40 per cent, roughly half remain in the conflict zone in Kharkiv and the other half have either reached the western border of Ukraine or are heading towards the western border. They are generally out of conflict areas," Shringla said. Briefing the media about the evacuation of Indians including students from Ukraine in the wake of Russian military operations, Shringla informed that over the next three days, 26 flights have been scheduled to bring out Indian citizens. "Apart from Bucharest and Budapest, airports in Poland and the Slovak Republic will also be used," he said. An Indian student, Naveen Shekharappa died in Ukraine's Kharkiv following shelling in the area on Tuesday. He hailed from the Haveri district in Karnataka. PM Modi has spoken to the father of Naveen Shekharappa to express his condolences. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow. These countries have also promised Ukraine to help with military aid to fight Russia. The US, Canada and European allies agreed to remove key Russian banks from the interbank messaging system, SWIFT which means Russian banks won't be able to communicate securely with banks beyond Russia's borders. President Putin has also signed a decree on special economic measures against the US and its allies. Fighting in Ukraine has so far pushed more than 500,000 people across the country's borders, according to the UN refugee agency. Speaking at an emergency session of the UN General Assembly on February 28, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, had said that Russia has no plans to occupy Ukraine. On February 28, negotiations between delegations of Russia and Ukraine were held in the Gomel Region of Belarus and another round of talks is scheduled for March 2. (ANI) The father of Naveen Shekharappa, an Indian student who was killed in conflict-torn Ukraine on Tuesday expressed his anguish over the medical education system in India. Naveen Shekharappa hailed from Chalageri village of Haveri district in Karnataka. "Despite scoring 97 per cent in pre-University course (PUC), my son could not secure a medical seat in the State. To get a medical seat one has to give crores of rupees and students are getting the same education abroad spending less money," Shekharappa's father told mediapersons. Naveen Shekharappa, a 21-year-old student studying at Kharkiv National Medical University, Ukraine died in shelling in Kharkiv on Tuesday. Shekharappa was reportedly standing in a queue to buy food when he was killed in Russian shelling in Ukraine's Kharkiv. "With profound sorrow, we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family," tweeted the External Affairs Ministry. Efforts are now on to bring his mortal remains to India. News of the student's death came within an hour of the Indian embassy in Ukraine asking its citizens to urgently leave the capital Kyiv on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the demise of the Indian student in Ukraine. He spoke to Naveen Shekharappa's father. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also spoke to the family. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow. These countries have also promised Ukraine to help with military aid to fight Russia. Fighting in Ukraine has so far pushed more than 500,000 people across the country's borders, according to the UN refugee agency. (ANI) Amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis, India will provide humanitarian assistance including medicines to Ukraine, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press briefing on Monday. MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in the press briefing on Monday said, "India will provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine including medicines. However, no more details are yet available." Talking about the evacuation of stranded Indian Nationals in Ukraine, Bagchi assured that new flights will be added as needed. "Some people are panicking. Please do not worry. Once you cross the Ukrainian borders we will make sure that there are enough flights to bring you back whether it takes a day or two more," he said. He emphasized that India is continually augmenting the presence of the MEA teams for necessary arrangements at the borders points in Slovakia, Romania, Poland, Hungary and Moldova. "Contact details of teams have been shared. We are increasing the size of the MEA teams. We are also augmenting the strength of our embassies in countries bordering Ukraine. Every day we are authorizing more officials from nearby countries as well as from Delhi, " he added. He asked the Indian Nationals to try to go to the western part of Ukraine and contact teams, contact control rooms.. Share the location information so that they can get them registered and see when can they be brought out because the borders are very crowded. Replying to the question of whether the students are paying exorbitant prices for the airfare, he assured that no one is paying anything and everything is going from the Government of India. Bagchi also confirmed that Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia will be overseeing evacuation operations of stranded Indians in Romania and Moldova, while Minister of Law Kiren Rijiju will be visiting Slovakia.Furthermore, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri will be overlooking operations in Hungary, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport Gen (Retd) VK Singh will manage evacuations in Poland. Bagchi, while answering a question of whether the Indian Airforce will be used like it was done during the Afghanistan crisis for evacuation of stranded Indian Nationals, he said that the airforce is ready and if required India will use this. He confirmed that right now only the commercial aircraft are working. Replying to a question on Indian Nationals not getting a response on the helpline provided, Bagchi said that control rooms have been expanded and several channels like Watsapp, Twitter among others are functional to expand the capacity to respond. Moreover, the MEA spokesperson also confirmed that many of the Indian Nationals have moved to western parts of Ukraine. (ANI) Twelve members of Russia's diplomatic mission to the UN have been expelled by the United States by March 7, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia told reporters on Monday (local time). Speaking at a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Nebenzia said "the US authorities have undertaken another hostile action against the Russian Mission to the United Nations, grossly violating their commitments on the Host Country Agreement that they undertook, telling us that they're announcing 12 people from the personnel of the Russian Mission and demanding that they will live by March 7." He said that he is not aware of the names yet, but the number is 12. Nebenzia termed this action by the US as "sad news". Nebenzia said this is sad news and another demonstration of gross disrespect of the course Country Agreement to their commitments, adding that it is within the framework of their obligations on the UN Charter, the host country agreement, and Vienna Conventions. Meanwhile, in a statement, US Mission to the United Nations Spokesperson Olivia Dalton said, the United States has informed the United Nations and the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations that the US is beginning the process of expelling twelve intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have "abused their privileges" of residency in the United States by engaging in "espionage activities" that are adverse to our national security. "We are taking this action in accordance with the UN Headquarters Agreement. This action has been in development for several months," the statement said. Notably, tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated when on February 24 Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of Ukraine's breakaway region following which Western Nations have toughened sanctions against the country. Earlier, negotiations between delegations of Russia and Ukraine in the Gomel Region of Belarus ended and the second round of talks will be held on the Belarusian-Polish border in a few days. (ANI) Head of the Kharkiv Region Military Administration, Oleg Synehubov said, "What is happening in Kharkiv is an utter war crime! It's genocide of the Ukrainian people," Ukrainska Pravda reported. He added, "Tens of peaceful civilians are dying. This is happening during daytime, when people have gone outside to get medication, food, drinking water. It's a crime. Russia is using heavy artillery weapons." According to the Regional Military Administration, the Russian invaders are shelling residential areas of Kharkiv, where there is no strategic or military infrastructure that could be targeted by armed forces. Shelling is currently ongoing in the neighbourhoods. As a result, local authorities are unable to provide emergency services and eliminate the consequences of shelling on time, the report said. According to Synehubov, 11 civilians have been killed and tens wounded. Dozens of victims have been reported in Kharkiv after mass fire from Grad multiple rocket launchers on Monday, said the Advisor to Minister of Internal Affairs, Anton Gerashchenko. Gerashchenko said, ""Kharkiv has just been shelled by Grads. Dozens were killed, and hundreds were injured." The exact number of dead and injured is currently unknown, according to the Ukrainska Pravda. --IANS san/arm ( 222 Words) 2022-02-28-21:02:05 (IANS) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday said that Russia putting nuclear forces on high alert is a "chilling development" amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "Nothing can justify the use of nuclear weapons," he said at the emergency session of the General Assembly on Ukraine. "Yesterday, Russian nuclear forces were put on high alert. This is a chilling development. The mere idea of a nuclear conflict is simply inconceivable." The Assembly met in its 11th emergency session following a Security Council resolution on Sunday to refer the Ukraine crisis to it after the Council was deadlocked on the issue because of the Russian veto. India had abstained on the resolution, along with the other two Asian countries on the Council, China and the United Arab Emirates. General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid said: "The convening of this 11th Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly, rooted in the Charter and mandated in resolution 377 A (V) entitled 'Uniting for peace', is a new opportunity to ensure that the leadership of the United Nations is up to the expectation of the people we serve on matters related to peace and security." The "United for Peace" resolution was adopted by the Assembly in 1950 in response to the Soviet Union's vetoes of resolutions on the Korean crisis and it forms the basis for the Assembly to act when the Council is deadlocked, although its resolutions are not binding. Calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy, Shahid said: "The military offensive by the Russian Federation is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and is inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations." Shahid also said the session should not become a forum for war rhetoric. "The strength of this Assembly is rooted in its moral authority. Let's demonstrate that moral courage and use today's debate not to whip up war rhetoric, but to give peace a chance. Let's ignite the fire of love, humanity and compassion," he said. The Council resolution that Russia vetoed on which India had also abstained sought to condemn Russia's invasion and demand an immedate ceasefire. "Enough is enough," Guterres declared, "the fighting in Ukraine must stop". He said that the UN has "credible accounts of residential buildings, critical civilian infrastructure and other non-military targets sustaining heavy damage. This escalating violence -- which is resulting in civilian deaths, including children is totally unacceptable". Ukraine's Permanent Representative Sergiy Kyslytsya made a direct appeal to Russian soldiers and their families, while making a plea to the international community for saving his country. He also questioned the legitimacy of Russia as a successor state to the Soviet Union to be able to exercise the veto power. Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenza asserted that the resolution in the Council was one-sided and did not take into account the Ukrainian action against its minorities. A resolution similar to the one vetoed by Russia in Council is expected to be taken up by the Assembly. Later on Monday, the Council is scheduled to meet at the request of France's President Emmanuel Macron to consider a resolution calling for unfettered access for humanitarian and relief activities in Ukraine. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis) --IANS al/vd ( 556 Words) 2022-02-28-22:30:05 (IANS) The Harford County Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to make masks optional for students and staff effective Tuesday. It has been a long two years. We are all tired, but it is time. We need to move on, board member Dr. Roy Philips said. Advertisement The General Assemblys Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review rescinded the current mask mandate last week, as recommended by the Maryland State Board of Education. Advertisement With Harford County at whats considered a low community level for COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control recommends residents stay up to date with their vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms. The community level metric is a new CDC tool to help areas decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium or high, and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. In these communities, wearing masks is optional, but people with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19 are advised to wear a mask. With the boards ruling on school masks reversed, face coverings are now optional at schools in Harford, Anne Arundel, Carroll and Frederick counties. Nearly half of the global population is now highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. That includes everything from rising sea levels, drought and more frequent and more intense weather events that threaten lives, livelihoods, and homes. "Crucially, we must now recognise the worsening symptoms of our warming, faltering planet -- and react immediately by helping countries to adapt to the increasingly devastating effects of climate change," said United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Achim Steiner on Monday. "This need for rapid action is amongst the key conclusions of a landmark new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations (UN) body for assessing the science related to climate change." The IPCC report, entitled 'Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability', argues that continuing to ignore the science will put people and planet in peril like never before. Yet it also offers solutions. Climate adaptation -- measures to protect lives and livelihoods, and biodiversity -- must be elevated and placed at the very core of global climate action efforts. The commitment at COP26 in Glasgow to double adaptation finance -- from $20 billion to at least $40 billion per year -- is an urgent priority and a good first step, but more concerted efforts will be needed. In particular, UN Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres has been "pushing to get to 50 per cent of all climate finance for adaptation". Investment in climate resilient development is needed more than ever and at a greater scale. "UNDP is committed to continue using the IPCC findings as the scientific basis for our climate action. Our programmes will carefully build on the data provided by the report so that our support to countries on adaptation can evolve, shift and grow as needed," Steiner said in a statement. "Over 96 per cent of the 120 developing countries that UNDP has supported with its Climate Promise have enhanced their adaptation ambitions in their Paris Agreement pledges. The Climate Promise is part of wide-ranging efforts by the organisation to provide more support to vulnerable communities who are living on the frontlines of climate change. "Over the past two decades, UNDP has supported developing countries, including Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, to implement their adaptation priorities -- from enhancing food security to increasing the protection of ecosystems to rolling-out vital early warning systems," he said. "I echo the call by the UN Secretary General that every country must honour the Glasgow pledge to increase their climate ambition to align with the objectives set by the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels," Steiner added. The "Africa COP" in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in November will be a key moment to accelerate climate action. "However, we cannot wait that long to instigate the level of change necessary. We need governments, particularly in developed countries, to rapidly curb their emissions and scale up support for climate adaptation; and for citizens to demand climate action now from their governments. We also need the international community to equitably deliver the level of climate finance that has been agreed upon but not yet fulfilled," he added. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) --IANS vg/vd ( 544 Words) 2022-02-28-23:14:02 (IANS) Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya on Monday (local time) said the Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed that all peaceful citizens of Kyiv can leave without hindrance via Kyiv-Vasilkov road which is open and safe. Speaking at the UNSC meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Nebenzya said that people are trying to blame the Russian military for the casualties of civilians in Ukraine which is being done by Ukraine itself. "Over 5 days of operation, there hasn't been a single documented case of targetted destruction or evidence of the death of civilians caused by the Russian military, people are trying to blame us for what's being done by Ukraine itself," he said. "Ukrainian authorities issued an order to distribute arms to anyone who wants it, including criminals let out of prisons for that specific purpose, resulting in mass incidences of robberies, killings, and lootings," Nebenzya said. He also said that Russia did not start the "war" as it was started by Ukraine in 2014. "Ukrainian radicals are placing their attack weaponry in residential areas, which is a direct violation of international humanitarian law... Russia did not start the war, it's trying to end it. Ukraine started it in 2014," he said. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Ambassador to UN Sergiy Kyslytsya termed the Russian invasion in Ukraine as the "most horrible" and "large-scale invasion" since World War II. "It's the most horrible & large-scale invasion since World War II... Russia keeps attacking kindergartens, orphanages, hospitals, mobile medical aid brigades & ambulances, with shellfire. This is an action of a state determined to kill civilians," Kyslytsya said. He also welcomed the appointment of Amin Awad as the Assistant Secretary-General to serve as United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine. "Ukrainian govt welcomes the appointment of Amin Awad as the Assistant Secretary-General to serve as United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine. He has arrived in Geneva and resumed his duties," he said. "More checkpoints on the border with Poland have been opened, including 2 additional pedestrian crossings, for all who want to go to the neighboring safe country. An electronic resource platform will be launched tomorrow," Kyslytsya said. "All information on the electronic platform will be systemized for effective communication & distribution of essential goods... Do not listen to the Russian lies, listen to Ukraine's cries. We need your help," he added. (ANI) Underlining that not everyone can or will choose to flee Ukraine, US Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Richard Mills said that those who remain in Ukraine must be ensured "unobstructed protection and assistance". Mills made these remarks at a UN Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the region. He noted that now half a million people have fled Ukraine in response to Russia's invasion. "...Behind each of these numbers are real people caught in a humanitarian nightmare unfolding before our eyes. And the truth is, no one knows where it will end, how many people will flee their homes, how many will need humanitarian assistance, how many will die. That is because we don't know when President Putin will end his war of choice against Ukraine," Mills said. He noted that the World Food Program warns us that the food security impact of Russia's invasion will be felt far beyond Ukraine's borders. Vulnerable people from Asia to Africa and the Middle East will face greater levels of food insecurity as supplies are disrupted, as we are already seeing, he said. "An estimated 283 million people in over 80 countries are acutely food insecure or are at high risk, and this conflict in Ukraine will only exacerbate situations already on the brink of starvation. This is yet another reason why hostilities must end now." He highlighted that the United States is already providing nearly USD 54 million in additional humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. He continued saying that USAID has been airlifting and positioning relief supplies - especially needed to help older people, people with disabilities, and people displaced from their homes - to face the winter weather. Meanwhile, UK Ambassador to UN Barbara Woodward highlighted that UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson announced USD 54 million in aid to help the Ukrainian people. "Yesterday, UK PM Boris Johnson announced USD 54mn in aid to help our Ukrainian friends, bringing the total amount pledged to Ukraine this year, to USD 190 million. The UK would also guarantee up to USD 500mn loans via multilateral development banks," Woodward said during the UNSC meeting. "The UK will also participate in tomorrow's UN appeal. UK govt experts have also deployed to the region to provide humanitarian support to those fleeing violence in Ukraine. We call on President Putin to stop this war and withdraw his forces from Ukraine," Woodward added. (ANI) "...In light of the extraordinary urgency of the situation, Ukraine respectfully asks the Court to hold a hearing on Ukraine's Request during the week of 28 February 2022," Kuleba said in a statement. "...Ukraine requests the President of the Court to call upon the Russian Federation to immediately halt all military actions in Ukraine to enable any order the Court may make on the request for provisional measures to have its appropriated effects," read the statement. Notably, tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated when on February 24 Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of Ukraine's breakaway region following which western nations toughened sanctions against the country. Earlier, negotiations between delegations of Russia and Ukraine in the Gomel Region of Belarus ended and the second round of talks will be held on the Belarusian-Polish border in a few days. (ANI) "In our call, @SecBlinken affirmed that the U.S. support for Ukraine remains unfaltering. I underscored that Ukraine craves for peace, but as long as we are under Russia's assault, we need more sanctions and weapons. Secretary assured me of both. We coordinated further steps," Kuleba tweeted. He also held talks with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Russia's latest war crimes in Ukraine. "Call with @JosepBorrellF on Russia's latest war crimes in Ukraine, including brutal indiscriminate shelling of civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv which led to multiple civilian casualties. HR/VP updated me on the EU's resolute steps to further elevate sanctions against Russia," Kuleba wrote in a tweet. Taking to Twitter, Kuleba informed that he had a call with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio. Ukrainian Foreign Minister also held talks with Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis and Singapore counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan. "Call with my Lithuanian friend @GLandsbergis. Lithuania stands by Ukraine resolutely. More military and humanitarian support is on its way to Ukraine. We both agree that the EU must adopt the most painful sanctions against Russia to stop Putin's war against the Ukrainian people," Kuleba tweeted. "Call with Singapore's FM @VivianBala. Singapore stands in solidarity with Ukraine as we defend ourselves from the ongoing Russian invasion. Grateful for Singapore's humanitarian assistance and urge Singapore to join the global economic pressure on Russia to stop Putin's war," he wrote in a tweet. (ANI) The Indian delegation of the Indus Water Commission reached Pakistan via the Wagah border crossing on Monday. The three-day talks on water disputes will be held from March 1 to March 3, ARY News reported Monday. The Indian delegation is headed by Indian Water Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena. According to Pakistan media, the Indian water experts team will proceed to Islamabad for talks over water disputes between the two countries in their three-day visit to Pakistan. The last meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was held on March 23-24, 2021 in New Delhi. Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, the two Commissioners are required to meet at least once every year, alternately in India and Pakistan. The meeting could not be held in 2020 due to restrictions imposed on account of the Covid 19 pandemic situation. Last year, discussions continued on designs of two Indian projects, namely, Pakal Dul (1000 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW). Indian side held that these projects are fully compliant with the provisions of the Treaty and provided technical data in support of its position. Pakistan side had requested India for sharing information on the design of other Indian hydropower projects being planned to be developed. Indian side assured that the information will be supplied as and when required under the provisions of the Treaty. (ANI) The nationwide ceasefire agreement was initiated in October 2015, Xinhua news agency reported. The military extended the ceasefire to boost the peace process in the country and to enable effective efforts to combat COVID-19 nationwide, the statement released by the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services on Monday. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council, had earlier announced the decision during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen in Nay Pyi Taw in January, the statement said. The military had announced extending the suspension of military operations 20 times from December 21, 2018, till February 28 this year, it said. Last week, the UN independent expert said that weapons exports to the military rulers in Myanmar by the UN Member States must stop. In a report to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews insisted that these arms had been used against civilians. He also called for the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session to vote on a resolution to ban this trade. "It should be incontrovertible that weapons used to kill civilians should no longer be transferred to Myanmar. These transfers truly shock the conscience," Andrews said in a statement. (ANI) The opposition parties in Pakistan have decided to table a resolution in Parliament, seeking to repeal the "black law" against the media, local media reported. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that the joint opposition has resolved to seek repeal of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) amendment ordinance under Rule 145, The News International reported. If a resolution is tabled in a joint sitting of parliament to repeal an ordinance, after approval by the House, the ordinance can be repealed, the media outlet reported citing the regulation. Terming the media law an exhibition of "authoritarian, fascist and undemocratic" thinking of the Imran Khan government, Sharif supported the decision of the media joint action committee to challenge the Peca amendment ordinance in the court. The media was a mirror in which the rulers could see their faces, so they should correct their facial features instead of removing the mirror, the publication quoted Sharif who added that the Imran Khan government is trying to force punishments, imprisonment and fines through the black law violating the constitutional freedom of access to information. The PMLN president further said that the law being passed through the back door in the shape of an ordinance shows malicious intentions of the Imran Khan government. Meanwhile, media persons across Pakistan observed a black day against the Peca ordinance to protest against the draconian law trying to stifle the voice of dissent, according to the Pakistani newspaper. Under the PECA Ordinance 2022, online defamation has been made a non-bailable, cognizable offence and the jail term for it has also been increased from three years to five years. The amendment has also broadened the ambit of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as it gives it powers to arrest anyone and put them in jail till the conclusion of the trial. (ANI) In an apparent murder-suicide shooting at a church in the Arden-Arcade neighbourhood, a man opened fire on three of his children, aged under 15, before shooting himself dead, CNN reported quoting Sgt. Rod Grassman with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office at a press conference. The fifth deceased has been identified as the wife of the gunman, the media outlet reported citing Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Capt. Parker Wilbourn. Wilbourn informed that other people were also present in the church during the incident but none of them was involved. Most of the others were employees or congregates and nobody else at the scene required medical assistance, he added. The matter is being investigated by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom condoled the death of the victims and described the incident as "another senseless act of gun violence in America". "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and their communities," he tweeted. (ANI) Washington [US], March 1 (ANI/Sputnik): The West is preparing further restrictive measures against Moscow, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, US Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said after a classified briefing from US President Joe Biden's top national security officials on the Ukraine situation. "The U.S. and allies are coordinating to not only freeze the assets of Putin and his oligarch allies, but to seize those assets as well. This is likely a further step than Putin's inner circle anticipated," Murphy said on Twitter on Monday. He claimed that "Russians have fallen behind their timeline" in what concerns the special military operation in Ukraine and were preparing to "cut off Kiev in the next several weeks." The White House has asked Congress to allocate $6.4 billion to assist Kiev in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The funds could be attached to a broader government spending package expected to pass next week. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter that he told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call that Kiev needs more weapons amid Russia's ongoing military operation in Ukraine and is also insisting on further restrictions against Moscow. On Sunday, G7 foreign ministers discussed with Kuleba further steps to support Kiev, including in cybersecurity and the fight against disinformation, and expressed their commitment to increasing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The ministers once again condemned Russia's operation in Ukraine and demanded the withdrawal of all troops. Western nations have increased sanctions pressure on Russia after it launched a military operation in Ukraine following requests for help from the people's republics in Donbas. The Russian Defense Ministry has said that the operation is targeting the military infrastructure of Ukraine only and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine and that the purpose of its operation is to save the civilian population from genocide and liberate the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), including through the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. On Sunday, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to supply 450 million euros ($500 million) worth of arms to the Kiev forces. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters after a virtual EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting late on Sunday that the aid would also include 50 million euros for non-lethal supplies, such as fuel and protective equipment, and the EU was also going to provide fighter jets to Kiev. The US, Canada and Australia have also approved lethal defensive assistance to Ukraine. On Friday, the Biden administration unlocked a $350 million package of military assistance to Kiev, including more Javelin anti-tank missiles. (ANI/Sputnik) Police arrested a Baltimore man on murder charges after reviewing a surveillance video that showed three shooters opening fire on a teenage victim in the parking lot of a Northeast Baltimore apartment, according to charging documents. Advertisement Around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, Baltimore police found Damond Price, 19, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 4800 block of Lorelly Avenue in the citys Frankford neighborhood. He was transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center for treatment but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving, officials said. On Feb. 18, police arrested Devon Young, 21, in connection to the killing. Court records show a warrant for his arrest was issued three days earlier. Advertisement Young is charged with first-degree and second-degree murder. He is currently being held without bail, police said. The public defenders office declined to comment so early in the case. Breaking News Alerts As it happens Be informed of breaking news as it happens and notified about other don't-miss content with our free news alerts. > Surveillance footage from the night of the shootings shows a car pull into the parking lot of the Sinclair Gate Apartments and Price walking up to it, according to court documents. Someone gets out of the back of the car to greet Price when the drivers side passenger gets out and starts shooting Price. The person from the back seat pulls out two handguns and also starts shooting, according to court documents. The driver of the car got out with a rifle and started shooting Price, according to court documents. Police recovered 21 shell casings from the scene. Police found an iPhone near the shooting and detectives originally thought it belonged to Price, according to court documents. Detectives got a search warrant for the phone and determined it belonged to Young, police said. Police said a car registered in Youngs name matched the car scene in the surveillance footage of the shooting and on Feb. 6, officers pulled Young over, seized a handgun and arrested him on several gun charges, according to court records. Its not clear if police have identified the other two shooters. At this time only Mr. Young is listed as a suspect in this case, Baltimore Police Det. Vernon Davis said. Bhutto congratulated the people for the reduction in fuel prices, adding, "Imran Khan's legs are trembling now," Geo News quoted him as saying. Other opposition leaders in the country also credited their pressure tactics for the relief measures announced by Imran Khan in his address to the nation on Monday. Miftah Ismail, former Finance Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader said that those who advised not to worry now looked worried because of the no-trust move against the PM. The main opposition parties of Pakistan, PPP and PMLN, are reportedly planning to bring a no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government this week. Sherry Rehman, a senator and member of the PPP said that the relief measures were a result of Bhutto's long march, which kickstarted on the same day from Karachi in the Sindh Province. "We have just started a long march, more relief measures will be announced before PPP reaches Islamabad," Rehman said. Imran Khan on Monday announced a number of economic relief measures in an address to the nation amid the ongoing economic crisis in the country. The prices of petrol and diesel were slashed by Rs 10, and the electricity tariff was dropped by Rs 5. (ANI) The Washington-based Sindhi Foundation held a live panel discussion on the importance of the Sindhi language, its linguistic and cultural diversities, last week. The Sindhi Foundation organized the event on February 22, along with the Canadian Sindhi Association (CANSA). "International Mother Language Day is a day to commemorate all mother languages. That includes first languages, immigrant languages, braille, and sign language too," said Mohammad Aminul Islam, president of The Mother Language Lovers of the World Society. Saleem Raza Noor, explained the history behind International Mother Language Day, "Bengali people shed a light in 1952 on the issue that caused a bit of uproar and that was the first step to the conception of creating our own country, Bangladesh." Shabbir Ahmed agreed on the importance of the Bengali Language Movement. "From a Bangladeshi perspective, we wanted Bengali to be recognized as one of the state languages." Another Sindhi scholar, Mohan Gehani, mentioned in the panel, "Linguistic regions are defined by nature and geography of the land. People residing in that region are bound by and share the common culture and traditions. At the same time, it is a fact that the political boundaries and regions have frequently changed with the presence of time." The theme for this year's International Mother Language Day was 'Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities'. Apps and online learning platforms play a crucial role in mastering a language. As Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur said, "When you are deprived of your language, you are not able to learn and progress in a language which is not your own." The panel discussion reached over 1.000 people. Speakers from all over the world were able to participate in the virtual meeting to acknowledge the importance of the mother language. The panel concluded with Jamal Hassan's words. "If you take away language from a nation, people lose their identity forever." The Sindhi Foundation is a non-profit that strives for social change and promotes freedom of thought and expression among Sindhi people. CANSA, The Canadian Sindhi Association, supports the preservation and growth of Indus valley civilization including the language, culture, music, literature, heritage, and the legitimate rights of the Sindhi people. (ANI) The shipment that announced the import of yarn, contained high duty foreign cigarettes, as per the customs officials. The consignment that arrived at Chittagong port from China was suspected to have contained goods with a false declaration, local media reported citing Custom House sources. As many as 1,08,30,000 sticks of cigarettes were found in eight cartons in the container. (ANI) A provincial court in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Monday admitted a petition that challenged the controversial ordinance amending the country's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016. These pleas were filed by the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) and Balochistan Bar Council weeks after the Pakistani government passed an ordinance amending the PECA to make online "defamation" of authorities, including the military and judiciary, a criminal offence with harsh penalties. "PECA has been used to silence freedom of expression on the pretext of combating 'fake news,' cybercrime, and misinformation," said Nadia Rahman, acting deputy regional director for South Asia at Amnesty International. "This amendment not only violates the Pakistan Constitution, but also puts anyone who questions the government or other state institutions at further risk. It particularly endangers journalists, human rights defenders, and political opponents who run the risk of prosecution for merely doing their jobs." Advocate Rahib Buledi, the Balochistan Bar Council inter-provincial chairman, said, "It is malicious on the part of the government to cruelly amend Peca through a presidential ordinance." Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday defended the amendments to Peca, dismissing the criticism that it was being used to curb media freedom, the Dawn newspaper reported. "The Peca law was made in 2016. We are only amending to curb the filth on social media." According to the HRW statement, the amendment makes defamation a non-bailable offence, and increases the maximum prison term, if convicted, from three to five years. It also expands the definition of those who can initiate criminal proceedings for defamation, allowing any person or institution to register the complaint. Pakistan has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects the right to freedom of expression. Article 19 of the ICCPR allows for restrictions on freedom of expression to protect the reputations of others, but such restrictions must be necessary and narrowly drawn. In a statement, Amnesty International and HRW opposed all criminal defamation laws as a disproportionate and unnecessary response to the need to protect reputations that chills freedom of expression. Expanding PECA's already overbroad criminal defamation provisions to online statements about government institutions violates Pakistan's international obligations, they added. (ANI) Iran will recognize an inclusive government in Afghanistan that represents all factions of the country, said a media report. Iran Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian has said that they will recognize an all-inclusive government established by the Taliban, reported Khaama Press. The development came during the recent Iran visit of a Taliban delegation where Abdollahian reminded the Taliban's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Motaqi that the establishment of the inclusive government in Afghanistan is key and that all factions in the country must see themselves in the government, the news agency quoted Abdollahian during his interview with Iran's Press TV. Calling the US withdrawal from Afghanistan "embarrassing", Abdollahian said that the US' 20 years of presence in Afghanistan was a failure. He added that Afghan people have been Iran's close neighbours and have resisted the US presence in Afghanistan in the past two decades as they did in the past decades against the Soviet Union. Earlier, the Iranian Ambassador Bahadur Aminian had said that Tehran might persuade other countries to recognize the Afghan government if the Islamic Emirate brings reforms to its governance structure, reported Tolo News. "If a group comes (to power) and the group is (comprised) of a single ethnic group and all other ethnic groups are not included in the government, we don't accept it, and, therefore, we benevolently call on the Taliban rulers to form an inclusive government," he said. The Taliban's swift ascension to power in Afghanistan occurred in mid-August, triggering economic disarray and a dire humanitarian crisis in the country. The group, which is desperate to seek international recognition, has time and again been reminded that respect for women and human rights, establishing inclusive government, not allowing Afghanistan to become a safe haven of terrorism are the preconditions for the recognition set by the international community. (ANI) "Advisory to Indians in Kyiv: All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," the Indian embassy in Ukraine tweeted. The Union government has launched Operation Ganga to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from conflict-torn Ukraine. This advisory comes as satellite images have emerged showing a long convoy of Russian military vehicles snaking along roadways northwest of Kyiv, CNN reported. Hundreds of tanks, towed artillery, armored and logistical vehicles can be seen in the image released by a US-based space technology company. About 8000 Indian nationals have left since the initial advisories were issued by the country, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. "Evacuation efforts on Ukraine situation on the ground continue to be complex and fluid, some of them quite concerning, but we've been able to accelerate evacuation process. Over 8000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine since we issued the initial advisories," the MEA spokesperson said during a media briefing. He also informed that the six evacuation flight have landed in India bringing back over 1400 citizens under Operation Ganga. "The six evacuation flights have landed in India bringing back around 1400 (1396) citizens. The four flights were from Bucharest (Romania), while the other two were from Budapest (Hungary), he said. The MEA also informed that the government will send four Union Ministers as special envoys to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. (ANI) A special evacuation flight will depart from New Delhi to Kosice, Slovakia today to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju will be on-board the flight, travelling as a special envoy of the Indian Government to oversee the evacuation. The SpiceJet flight is scheduled to depart at 3:30 PM from New Delhi and is scheduled to arrive in Kosice, Slovakia at 7:50 PM IST. The airline will use its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for the special flight. The aircraft will fly directly to Kosice from Delhi and will return via a technical halt at Kutaisi in Georgia. The aircraft is scheduled to return by 7:40 AM on March 3. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday deputed four Union Ministers to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. Other ministers deputed to manage evacuations include Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania and Molodova, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri in Hungary and Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport Gen (Retd) VK Singh in Poland. This is the second evacuation flight being operated by SpiceJet under 'operation Ganga' after a special flight left yesterday night for Budapest, Hungary from New Delhi. The airline is in discussion with the concerned authorities to operate more evacuation flights in the coming days. The Union government has launched 'Operation Ganga' to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India and other airlines as part of the 'Operation Ganga' mission. Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India has evacuated over 8,000 nationals since the initial advisories were issued by the country. (ANI) "All set to bring back our young students back home safely... enroute to Budapest with a refuelling stop in Istanbul with the ever efficient 6E boys and girls," tweeted Puri. The minister was on-board an Indigo flight, pressed in the evacuation service. This comes as government sources on Monday informed that the 'Special Envoys' including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and Gen (Retd) VK Singh will travel to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the seventh flight carrying 182 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine reached Mumbai from Romania's Bucharest as part of 'Operation Ganga' on Tuesday. Union Minister Narayan Rane received the evacuated Indian nationals at the Mumbai airport. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while presiding over a high-level meeting on Monday evening over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all stranded Indians in Ukraine are safe and secure, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. The union government has launched 'Operation Ganga' to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India as part of the 'Operation Ganga' mission. In another development, the Indian embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday advised its nationals to leave the capital city Kyiv "urgently today" amid the deteriorating security situation due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict. (ANI) The Russian advance on Kyiv has made little progress over the past 24 hours, said UK Defence Ministry on Tuesday as the war continues to rage in Ukraine. Russian military invasion which started last week turned into in large conflict with casualties running into thousands. Fighting in Ukraine has so far pushed more than 500,000 people across the country's borders, according to the UN refugee agency. "The Russian advance on Kyiv has made little progress over the past 24 hours probably as a result of continuing logistical difficulties," the UK Ministry of Defence said. According to the UK defense assessment, Russian forces have increased their use of artillery north of Kyiv and in the vicinities of Kharkiv and Chernihiv. "The use of heavy artillery in densely populated urban areas greatly increases the risk of civilian casualties." It also said that Russia has failed to gain control of the airspace over Ukraine prompting a shift to night operations in an attempt to reduce their losses. This assessment comes as satellite images have emerged showing a long convoy of Russian military vehicles snaking along roadways northwest of Kyiv, CNN reported. Hundreds of tanks, towed artillery, armored and logistical vehicles can be seen in the image released by a US-based space technology company. Russia continues to maintain that the operation of their Armed Forces in Ukraine has no goal of inflicting harm to the local population, TASS news agency reported. "We address Kiev residents held by radicals in the city as the human shield. The Russian Defense Ministry confirms that all non-combatants in Kiev can freely leave the Ukrainian capital over the Kiev-Vasilkov route," Russian envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said. "We reiterate: the special operation of the Russian Armed Forces does not have occupation of Ukraine or inflicting harm to local population as its objective," the Russian envoy said. (ANI) As many as seven flights will land in Delhi tomorrow carrying stranded Indians from Ukraine under Operation Ganga, the government sources told ANI on Tuesday. A total of nine flights have already brought back stranded Indian nationals from Ukraine. The sources told ANI that the first flight of Indigo Airlines is taking off from Hungary's capital Budapest on Tuesday evening and will land at Delhi Airport at tomorrow 7:20 am. The Indigo flight has the capacity to carry 216 passengers. According to sources, flights will take off throughout the day from Budapest, Rzeszow, and Bucharest and will be landing at Delhi Airport tomorrow by late evening. The union government has deployed around 20 flights from Air India, Air India Express, Indigo, and Spice Jet. Apart from these airlines, the Airforce has also been asked to evacuate Indians from the neighbouring countries of Ukraine. Air India flights have the capacity of carrying 250 passengers, Air India Express flights 180, while IndiGo planes can carry 216 passengers on board. Meanwhile, at a high-level meeting on Monday evening over the Ukraine crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all Indians there are safe and secure, informed Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. This was the second high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister during the day over the prevailing situation in Ukraine. Government sources on Monday said that the 'Special Envoys' including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, and Gen (Retd) VK Singh will travel to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations. On February 24, the Prime Minister chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting in New Delhi on the Ukraine crisis. The union government has launched "Operation Ganga" to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India under "Operation Ganga". External Affairs Ministry on Monday informed that over 8,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine since the initial advisories were issued by the country. The Ministry also said that the six evacuation flight have landed in India bringing back around 1,400 citizens. (ANI) The dead person found Friday at Perry Halls Honeygo Run Landfill has been identified by Baltimore County Police as Gary Fickling, 71. Police said Tuesday that the identification was made Monday through the mans fingerprints. The circumstances of his death are still under investigation, a police news release said. Advertisement Spokesman Trae Corbin said Friday that officers found his body at the 10000 block of Philadelphia Road after being dispatched for a suspicious circumstance around 1:25 p.m. The Honeygo Run Landfill is located at 10710 Philadelphia Road. Its website says it handles 1,000 tons of waste per day and 250,000 tons annually. Advertisement The company said in an emailed statement it was cooperating with Baltimore County Police and the departments investigation. It declined further comment and directed questions to law enforcement. The abject human rights condition, poor performance in the education area and violation of labour rights might be a roadblock in Pakistan's path to getting an extension of its Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status, according to a media report. The European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, who recently wrapped up his visit to Islamabad, noted that there are still three areas where the Imran Khan government needs to focus, reported The News International. This comes at a time when the European Union (EU) will decide about extending Pakistan's GSP+ status for 2024 post reviewing the country's two-year performance report on exports for the years 2020 and 2021. Pointing to the labour rights in Pakistan, Gilmore said that women earn less than minimum wage in the textiles industry, a sector benefitting from the GSP+ programme, according to the EU office in Islamabad. Gilmore added that women earn less than the child and bonded labour and the issue should be addressed immediately, reported the publication. Noting the country's poor performance in the education area, Gilmore said that "a large number of children are out-of-school and are being placed in a cycle of disadvantage while the society misses the untapped potential of skilled and engaged citizens". Gilmore noted that the criteria for compliance with GSP+ conventions span across human rights, labour rights, environment and good governance. "Human rights don't belong to any state but to people everywhere in each country," the Pakistani newspaper quoted Gilmore who highlighted the centrality of human rights in EU foreign policy. The GSP+, an established trade and development policy instrument, is in place since 1971. Under this status, set to expire for Pakistan on December 31, 2023, there is zero per cent duty on several products. Islamabad had managed to get GSP+ status in the EU due to political patronage by the UK. Post-Brexit, Pakistan has lost the support of 73 former British MEPs who used to vote for the country and promote its cause. In the absence of political patronage from the UK, it would be increasingly hard for Pakistan to retain GSP+, especially if it fails to take measures for full compliance with the requisite criteria of the EU. (ANI) A delegation of former US defense and security officials will arrive in Taiwan on Tuesday for a two-day visit, which is likely to evoke a strong reaction from China. The Taiwan Presidential Office said this delegation, which is being sent by US President Joe Biden, is a sign that ties between two sides remain rock-solid, Taiwan Focus reported. Xavier Chang, the spokesperson for Taiwan Presidential Office, said the visit comes less than one year after Biden sent a delegation led by Senator Christopher Dodd in April. "The visit will even more clearly highlight the rock-solid relations between Taiwan and the United States, especially at a time of the Ukraine crisis," Chang said. The delegation will be led by former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen. It also includes Meghan O'Sullivan, a former deputy national security advisor and Michele Flournoy. The delegation also consists of two former National Security Council senior directors for Asia. According to Chang, they are scheduled to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday. He said both sides are expected to exchange views on issues concerning various areas of bilateral cooperation, and regional peace and stability. Bonnie Glaser, a China expert at the German Marshall Fund said it is a good idea to give Taiwan reassurance at this time, The Financial Times reported. "Sending a group of former senior officials now outside government is a good way to do that. It sends the right message in an unprovocative way," said Glaser. (ANI) Over the last few days, Indian nationals are being evacuated on flights from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, countries which share borders with Ukraine. The students are being facilitated to reach their homes from the airports by the respective state governments The Union government has launched 'Operation Ganga' to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India, SpiceJet and Indigo as part of the 'Operation Ganga' mission. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presiding over a high-level meeting over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all stranded Indians in Ukraine are safe and secure. Four Union Ministers were also deputed to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. On Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India has evacuated over 8,000 nationals since the initial advisories were issued by the country. Earlier today, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya received Indian nationals who arrived by a special Indigo evacuation flight from Hungary. "Many of your friends are still stuck in Ukraine, tell them that efforts are being made to bring them back home. Efforts will continue till all of them are brought back," he said. (ANI) "The US has informed the Russian Mission that we are beginning the process of expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have abused their privileges of residency in the US by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security," said Olivia Dalton, spokeswoman for the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The diplomats have been given time until March 7 to leave the US. Russia's United Nations (UN) ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, reportedly said that Russia could reply to the expulsions with a "tit for tat" move, the New York Times reported. "It's not our choice," he added. "We didn't initiate it." The development comes after Russia expelled the US's Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) earlier this month ahead of the conflict in Ukraine. Earlier in December, Russia had ordered all US Embassy staff that had been in the country for more than three years to leave after the US removed privileges for 27 Russian diplomats and their families after imposing a three-year timeline for diplomats, The Hill reported. The expulsions of diplomats from both sides come amidst the high tensions between Russia and the Western countries, over Russia's actions in Ukraine. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is presently holding a special session on the conflict in Ukraine. (ANI) Wellington [New Zealand], March 1 (ANI/Sputnik): New Zealand is hoping to amend the national legislation on foreign investment next week to amplify sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its actions in Ukraine, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday. Currently, New Zealand draws on the targeted sanction on Russia's export and travel restrictions. However, the government intends to tighten its reaction on deployment of Russian troops in Ukraine taking a cue from other countries. According to Ardern, amendments to the Overseas Investment Act as well as adoption of a new Russia-targeted legislation will enable New Zealand to ensure a "much more comprehensive response" to Moscow's actions. "We are pursuing new measures to target Russian investment, including measures to target financial institutions in New Zealand, including separate, but Russian targeted, specific legislation," Ardern was quoted as saying by RNZ radio. In a speech to New Zealand parliament, Ardern stressed that the government continues to "engage with international partners over the collective action we can all take," adding that Russia will face "a significant cost" for its actions. Russia's special operation in Ukraine was initiated on Thursday in response to calls for help from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics against the intensifying aggression of Ukrainian troops. In return, the US and its European allies have introduced sanctions targeting several major Russian banks and high-rank Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, as well as ousting Russia from the SWIFT financial system. The sanctions have been joined by various other countries, including Japan and Australia which imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans, and are mulling new targeted penalties to freeze assets and restrict travel against Russia's most influential political and military officials. (ANI/Sputnik) Students evacuated from war-hit Ukraine are being welcomed by local officials of their respective states at the airports and they are facilitating returnees to reach their homes safely. The state governments, including Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, have set up help desks at various airports to assist the evacuees. During a recent high-level meeting on the Ukraine crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed the Chief Secretaries of the states to contact the family members of all the students who are in Ukraine and inform them about the arrangements being made by the government. As part of 'Operation Ganga' on Tuesday, the seventh flight carrying 182 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine reached Mumbai from Romania's Bucharest. After the special flights reached Mumbai and New Delhi, the evacuees are being facilitated to reach their respective states, where local administration is helping them to reach their homes. An official at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad informed that the evacuees belonging to Kadapa and Valmikipuram are being provided with special vehicles to reach their homes. Officials in Goa are even visiting families of stranded students to communicate and assure them about safe evacuation from war-hit Ukraine. They assured the families of full help and support in bringing the children back at the earliest under `Operation Ganga'. Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the eighth flight carrying 216 stranded Indian nationals has departed from Hungary's capital Budapest for New Delhi while the ninth flight carrying 218 Indians took off from the Romanian capital Bucharest for New Delhi as part of 'Operation Ganga'. Meanwhile, PM Modi while presiding over a high-level meeting on Monday evening over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all stranded Indians in Ukraine are safe and secure, said the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. Meanwhile, four union ministers have been deputed to countries bordering the war-hit nation to oversee the rescue efforts. The government has also decided to send Union ministers Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, and General (retd) V K Singh to Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Moldova to oversee the evacuation of Indians. India is using the land routes to evacuate its citizens as Ukraine has closed its airspace for civilian aircraft following the Russian attack. (ANI) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey has warned all coastal and non-coastal countries it would not allow warships through its straits Bosporus and the Dardanelles as a part of the Montreux Convention adopted in 1936. "We warned all riparian and non-riparian countries not to let warships go through the straits," Cavusoglu told reporters, as quoted by the Anadolu agency. "To date, there has been no request for passage through the straits." The Montreux Convention was adopted in 1936. It ensures the freedom of passage through the straits for merchant ships both in times of peace and war, but regulations may differ by country, reported Sputnik. The document also limits the period of stay in the Black Sea of warships of non-Black Sea states to three weeks. In emergency situations, Turkey has the right to prohibit or restrict the passage of military ships through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. This comes at a time when tensions have escalated between Russia and Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of the independence of two Ukraine breakaway regions. (ANI) A Khaama Press report said the Taliban and other Islamist leaders have misled the citizens about polio immunization. They have been saying that the polio vaccine is a Western conspiracy aimed at sterilizing Muslim children, the report added. Local media reports said the health workers and aid agencies have been facing severe threats from terrorist organizations. According to Khaama, Afghanistan has failed to save its citizens, health workers, former government officials, and other professionals from attacks. Incidents of attack, harassment, arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment, and killings are being reported regularly, the report added. The UN last week had condemned the killing of eight polio vaccination workers in northern Afghanistan, the first such attacks since immunization campaigns resumed in November last year. A member of the vaccination transit team was killed in Taloqan district in Takhar province, while four members of house-to-house teams were murdered in two separate incidents in Kunduz city, according to a statement from the UN Country Team. Two vaccinators and a social mobilizer were killed in the Kunduz province's Emamsaheb district. Ramiz Alakbarov, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, condemned these killings. Alakbarov said the attacks and assassinations were a violation of international humanitarian law. World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Ghebreyeus also expressed his profound shock. "We extend our deepest condolences to their families and colleagues," he wrote, adding that health workers should not be targeted. Last year, nine polio workers were killed during national polio vaccination campaigns. (ANI) The main suspect in the murder case of Pakistani journalist Athar Mateen has been killed in a raid, police said on Tuesday. Karachi West police along with the Qamar-Shahdadkot police party conducted a raid in the area to arrest the culprit. The raid was conducted on receiving a tip-off for his presence in the area. As the suspect saw the police, he opened fire at them. Upon retaliation from the police side, the suspect was killed. Notably, till now police have taken two suspects involved in the murder of Athar Mateen in custody. The provincial government in Pakistan's Balochistan on Wednesday claimed to have arrested the alleged killer of journalist Athar Mateen from the Khuzdar district. The Pakistani journalist was shot dead last Friday in an armed attack on his car in Karachi's North Nazimabad area. Balochistan's Parliamentary Secretary Bushra Rind said that the alleged killer of Athar Mateen was arrested in a joint operation launched by Sindh and Balochistan police, The News International newspaper reported. The Parliamentary Secretary maintained that the alleged killer of the journalist is being shifted to Karachi from Khuzdar. While speaking on the rising crimes in Karachi on ARY News transmission, Athar's brother last week had said that people in Karachi fear that their belongings will be looted and thus they have to hide their cash and phones. He criticized the Pakistani government saying, "The government functionaries only had to issue a condemnation after every such incident without taking concrete steps to deal with it." Furthermore, while grieving he said that the police station was less than a kilometre away from where his brother was shot. (ANI) Thick plume of smoke fills the air, floating across the Bagmati River that flows through Kathmandu, as the devotees of Lord Shiva throng the Pashupatinath temple. Marijuana has religious significance among the followers of Lord Shiva. The air near the Pashupatinath temple smells of heavy smokes exhaled by the followers who have thronged the top religious attraction of Kathmandu to celebrate Maha Shivaratri. Marijuana is consumed as "Prasad" of Lord Shiva, the revered god in Hindu mythology. "I usually come here at Pashupatinath temple around Maha Shivaratri to blow weeds that are brought by Babaji (Sadhus). I don't consume it frequently but getting high on cannabis gives a different feeling," Kumar Pandey, a devotee who thronged the temple on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, told ANI. Once considered safe haven for cannabis and a favourite destination for hippies, the festival of Maha Shivaratri brings thousands to the premises of Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. Sadhus, the seers who have devoted their lives to Lord Shiva, throng the temple every year and bring cannabis for their own consumption which is sometimes distributed to fellow devotees in limited amounts. "The air here is very purple. The air is very purple here, the smoke has covered most of the area here (Pashupatinath temple). Baba Jee (Sadhus) are having marijuana as well as some of the devotees lighting up the fire. The smoke is mixed here and it's visible in the sky as well," Topendra Bahadur Singh, one of the devotees on the trip over cannabis told ANI. Nepal has banned personal consumption and sales of marijuana since 1976 and a person consuming the banned substances can face a jail term of one month or a decade depending on the seized quantity. But the festival of Maha Shivaratri has become an exception for people to come out and get "high" on the plant-based drug which sooner will be legalized in Nepal for medicinal purposes. Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs is working on standard operating procedures to let people consume the drug under certain terms and conditions. "The ministry's policy, planning, monitoring and evaluation division is working on it to define provisions for regulation of marijuana cultivation. We know it was being used for medicinal purposes for ages, but now it will be brought under the ambit of the law. But the process is still in the stage of infancy," Phadindra Mani Pokharel, spokesperson at the Ministry told ANI over the phone. Nepal's chairing Health Minister Birodh Khatiwada also has been raising his voice in support of the legalization proposal which has been laid on the table of Parliament by another fellow Parliamentarian. Though the legalization of cannabis seems still far away, the herb which has been proved to have medicinal values in curing various diseases has a high demand in Nepal. "Most of the Nepali citizens are also in favour of legalization of Marijuana in the country. That's because it is said to cure cancer," Singh said. (ANI) Ukainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the press in the town of Bucha, northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on April 4, 2022. (Ronaldo Schemidt/Getty-AFP) KYIV, Ukraine Russian forces escalated their attacks on crowded urban areas Tuesday in what Ukraines leader called a blatant campaign of terror, while U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to make his Russian counterpart pay a price for the invasion. Nobody will forgive. Nobody will forget, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed after the bloodshed on the central square in Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city, and the deadly bombing of a TV tower in the capital. Advertisement Biden used his first State of the Union address to highlight the resolve of a reinvigorated Western alliance that has worked to rearm the Ukrainian military and adopt tough sanctions, which he said have left Russian President Vladimir Putin isolated in the world more than he has ever been. Throughout our history weve learned this lesson when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos, Biden said. They keep moving. And the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising. Advertisement People look at the gutted remains of Russian military vehicles on a road in the town of Bucha, close to the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (serhii nuzhnenko/AP) Biden devoted the first 12 minutes of his Tuesday evening address to Ukraine, with lawmakers of both parties repeatedly rising to their feet and applauding as he praised the bravery of Ukraines people and condemned Putins assault. As Biden spoke, a 40-mile convoy of hundreds of Russian tanks and other vehicles advanced slowly on Kyiv, the capital city of nearly 3 million people, in what the West feared was a bid by Putin to topple the government and install a Kremlin-friendly regime. The invading forces also pressed their assault on other towns and cities, including the strategic ports of Odesa and Mariupol in the south. Day 6 of the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II found Russia increasingly isolated, beset by the sanctions that have thrown its economy into turmoil and left the country practically friendless, apart from a few nations like China, Belarus and North Korea. As the fighting in Ukraine raged, the death toll remained unclear. One senior Western intelligence official estimated that more than 5,000 Russian soldiers had been captured or killed. Ukraine gave no overall estimate of troop losses. The U.N. human rights office said it has recorded 136 civilian deaths. The real toll is believed to be far higher. Britains Defense Ministry said it had seen an increase in Russian air and artillery strikes on populated urban areas over the past two days. It also said three cities Kharkiv, Kherson and Mariupol were encircled by Russian forces. Many military experts worry that Russia may be shifting tactics. Moscows strategy in Chechnya and Syria was to use artillery and air bombardments to pulverize cities and crush fighters resolve. Advertisement Ukrainian authorities said five people were killed in the attack on the TV tower, which is near central Kyiv and a short walk from numerous apartment buildings. A TV control room and power substation were hit, and at least some Ukrainian channels briefly stopped broadcasting, officials said. The bombing came after Russia announced it would target transmission facilities used by Ukraines intelligence agency. It urged people living near such places to leave their homes. Zelenskyys office also reported a missile attack on the site of the Babi Yar Holocaust memorial, near the tower. A spokesman for the memorial said a Jewish cemetery at the site, where Nazi occupiers killed more than 33,000 Jews over two days in 1941, was damaged, but the extent would not be clear until daylight. In Kharkiv, with a population of about 1.5 million, at least six people were killed when the regions Soviet-era administrative building on Freedom Square was hit with what was believed to be a missile. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry said its consulate in Kharkiv, located in another large building on the square, was destroyed in the attack. The attack on Freedom Square Ukraines largest plaza, and the nucleus of public life in the city was seen by many Ukrainians as brazen evidence that the Russian invasion wasnt just about hitting military targets but also about breaking their spirit. Advertisement The bombardment blew out windows and walls of buildings that ring the massive square, which was piled high with debris and dust. Inside one building, chunks of plaster were scattered, and doors, ripped from their hinges, lay across hallways. People are under the ruins. We have pulled out bodies, said Yevhen Vasylenko, an emergency official. Zelenskyy pronounced the attack on the square frank, undisguised terror and a war crime. This is state terrorism of the Russian Federation, he said. In an emotional appeal to the European Parliament later, Zelenskyy said: We are fighting also to be equal members of Europe. I believe that today we are showing everybody that is what we are. Another Russian airstrike hit a residential area in the city of Zhytomyr, the towns mayor said. Ukraines emergency services said Tuesdays strike killed at least two people, set three homes on fire and broke the windows in a nearby hospital. About 85 miles (140 kilometers) west of Kyiv, Zhytomyr is the home of the elite 95th Air Assault Brigade, which may have been the intended target. Zelenskyy said 16 children had been killed around Ukraine on Monday, and he mocked Russias claim that it is going after only military targets. Advertisement Where are the children? What kind of military factories do they work at? What tanks are they going at? Zelenskyy said. Human Rights Watch said it documented a cluster bomb attack outside a hospital in Ukraines east in recent days. Residents also reported the use of such weapons in Kharkiv and Kiyanka village. The Kremlin denied using cluster bombs. Cluster bombs shoot smaller bomblets over a large area, many of which fail to explode until long after theyve been dropped. If their use is confirmed, that would represent a new level of brutality in the war and could lead to further isolation of Russia. The first talks between Russia and Ukraine since the invasion were held Monday, but ended with only an agreement to talk again. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Russia should stop bombing first. As for dialogue, I think yes, but stop bombarding people first and start negotiating afterwards, he told CNN. In his speech, Biden announced that the U.S. was joining several other countries in closing its airspace to Russian planes. He also warned the countrys oligarchs that the Department of Justice was assembling a task force to investigate any crimes they committed. Advertisement We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets, he said. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains. Biden trumpeted the toll global measures had taken on the Russian economy already, including a stock market plunge and currency devaluation. Moscow made new threats of escalation, days after raising the specter of nuclear war. A top Kremlin official warned that the Wests economic war against Russia could turn into a real one. Inside Russia, a top radio station critical of the Kremlin was taken off the air after authorities threatened to shut it down over its coverage of the invasion. Among other things, the Kremlin is not allowing the fighting to be referred to as an invasion or war. Roughly 660,000 people have fled Ukraine, and countless others have taken shelter underground. Bomb damage has left hundreds of thousands of families without drinking water, U.N. humanitarian coordinator Martin Griffiths said. Breaking News Alerts As it happens Be informed of breaking news as it happens and notified about other don't-miss content with our free news alerts. > It is a nightmare, and it seizes you from the inside very strongly. This cannot be explained with words, said Kharkiv resident Ekaterina Babenko, taking shelter in a basement with neighbors for a fifth straight day. We have small children, elderly people, and frankly speaking it is very frightening. Advertisement A Ukrainian military official said Belarusian troops joined the war Tuesday in the Chernihiv region in the north, without providing details. But just before that, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said his country had no plans to join the fight. A senior U.S. defense official said that Russias military progress including by the massive convoy has slowed, plagued by logistical and supply problems. Some Russian military columns have run out of gas and food, the official said, and morale has suffered as a result. Overall, the Russian military has been stalled by fierce resistance on the ground and a surprising inability to completely dominate Ukraines airspace. The immense convoy, with vehicles packed together along narrow roads, would seemingly be a big fat target for Ukrainian forces, the senior Western intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. But it also shows you that the Russians feel pretty comfortable being out in the open in these concentrations because they feel that theyre not going to come under air attack or rocket or missile attack, the official said. Isachenkov and Litvinova reported from Moscow. Mstyslav Chernov in Mariupol, Ukraine; Sergei Grits in Odesa, Ukraine; Robert Burns, Zeke Miller and Eric Tucker in Washington; Francesca Ebel, Josef Federman and Andrew Drake in Kyiv; Lorne Cook in Brussels; and other AP journalists from around the world contributed to this report. Rome [Italy], March 1 (ANI/Sputnik): Italy proposes to take new restrictive measures against Russian oligarchs with assets of more than 10 million euros (USD 11.2 million) by creating an international registry to include all of them, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Tuesday. "Italy is ready for further restrictive measures [against Russia] if they are required. In particular, I suggested taking further targeted measures against the oligarchs. The idea is to create a public international registry of those whose assets exceed 10 million euros," Draghi said in an address. The Italian government is also considering measures to reduce the country's dependence on Russia, primarily in the field of gas supplies, he added. (ANI/Sputnik) Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju has left for Slovakia on Tuesday as a special envoy to oversee the evacuation efforts of stranded Indian students in Ukraine. Speaking before his departure Rijiju said, "As an envoy of our Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi we will give his message to the Prime Minister Of Slovakia because without the help of their government we cannot conduct this operation." He further said, "We will do the overall coordination for the evacuation operation. Our Indian citizens will come from Ukraine so they will face the issue of visa and all paper works, so we need the support of the Slovakia government to help our citizens." He added, "Our main aim is to provide safe passage to our Indian citizens." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to his Slovakian counterpart Eduard Heger and thanked him for the assistance provided by the Slovak Republic in the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine and for permitting special evacuation flights from India. In a phone call, PM Modi requested for Slovak Republic's continued assistance in the next few days as well as India undertook to evacuate other citizens from conflict zones. "Prime Minister thanked Eduard Heger for the assistance provided by the Slovak Republic in the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine, and for permitting special evacuation flights from India. He requested for Slovak Republic's continued assistance in the next few days as India undertook to evacuate other citizens from conflict zones," the Prime Minister's office said in a statement. PM Modi also informed Heger about the deployment of Kiren Rijiju, as his special envoy to oversee the evacuation efforts of Indian citizens. He expressed his anguish at the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and reiterated India's consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue, the statement said adding further that PM Modi also stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. (ANI) Strategic analysts and security experts have urged trapped Indians in Ukraine to be cautious and advised them to take refuge in " bomb shelters" after an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv city on Tuesday. Talking about the incident, defense expert, Maj Gen (Retd) BK Sharma termed the incident as unfortunate and condoled the death of the Indian student. "This is very unfortunate, but in war situations, people do lose their life, this is what happened in Ukraine in the Kharkiv area. All I want to say is that it has no strategic dimension except that it has a huge humanitarian cost. One can only condole and lament this death," said the defense expert. Naveen Shekharappa, a medical student from Karnataka's Haveri died when Russian soldiers blew up a government building in Kharkiv this morning. Naveen was standing outside a grocery store when he was hit. "The war has broken out and no one anticipated that President Putin will launch this offensive and war has broken out, people will die," said Sharma. He further advised Indian nationals to take refuge in "bomb shelters" till the government aid reaches them. News of the student's death came within an hour of the Indian embassy in Ukraine asking its citizens to urgently leave the capital Kyiv. "Advisory to Indians in Kyiv- All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," a statement from the embassy read. Russian and Ukrainian troops continued to engage in fighting in Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv on the sixth day since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military operations. The Ukrainian presidential advisor said Russian troops are trying to lay siege to the capital Kyiv and Kharkiv. There were reports of a 40-mile convoy of tanks and other vehicles threatening the capital -- tactics Ukraine's embattled president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said were designed to force him into concessions in Europe's largest ground war in generations. Meanwhile, the Indian government launched Operation Ganga to rescue Indian citizens, mostly students, from Ukraine. (ANI) More than 20 people have been injured in an explosion in Ukraine's second-biggest city Kharkiv, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service on Tuesday. In a video posted on its official Facebook account, the service member said that a state administration building and adjacent building were damaged in the attack, CNN reported. "As a result of artillery shelling, a state administration building and adjacent building were damaged. People are trapped under the rubble. The head of rescue operations has learned that over 20 people have been wounded," the service member quoted by CNN said. "There are eight emergency rescue squads on-site working, with 80 staff and volunteers sorting the debris, dragging it away to find the injured and the dead. Work is underway," he added. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov today denied the reports of attacking infrastructure, residential areas in Ukraine. "During the course of the special operation, Russian troops do not carry out any strikes on civilian infrastructure facilities and on a residential complex. This is out of the question. We are talking only about the demilitarization of Ukraine and military facilities. We must not forget that in a large number of cases, we are talking about the fire of nationalist groups that use living objects as a shield," Peskov said, according to Sputnik. (ANI) Nepal Army has been observing the Mahashivaratri as the Army Day since 1991. President Bhandari who is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Nepal Army laid a wreath at the Army Memorial there as well as received a guard of honour presented by the Nepali Army. An Army helicopter showered flower petals on the occasion as well as displaying a banner with "Sena Diwas-2078 (Army Day- 2022)" written on it. On this occasion, the army displayed various skills and weapons. The Nepali Army soldiers opened celebratory rifle and artillery fire as part of the function. This also included the opening of volley and individual rifle celebratory fire. Floats displaying the traditional army costumes, and music and dance ensembles were also paraded. Banner display and helicopter display by the Army Aviation Directorate and band display by the Army Band were the other highlights of the celebration. Also, put on display were the various vehicles, equipment and arms used by the Nepali Army. A contingent of the British Gurkha Brigade presented a band display on the occasion. Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Acting Chief Justice Deepak Kumar Karki, Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota and National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina were among the dignitaries present on the occasion. (ANI) Warsaw [Poland], March 1 (ANI/Sputnik): Poland is not going to send fighter jets to Ukraine, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Tuesday. On Sunday, EU foreign ministers agreed to supply 450 million euros ($500 million) worth of arms, including fighter jets to the Kiev forces amid the Russian military operation in Ukraine. "We are not sending any jets to Ukraine because that would open a military interference in the Ukrainian conflict. We are not joining this conflict. NATO is not a party to this conflict. We are supporting Ukraine with humanitarian aid, however we are not sending any jets to the Ukrainian airspace," Duda said at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (ANI/Sputnik) Brussels [Belgium], March 1 (ANI: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Ukrainians received a standing ovation after he addressed the European Parliament as the Russian military operation entered its sixth day, where he said that Ukrainians are fighting for their land. Speaking at an extraordinary session virtually of the European Parliament on Tuesday, he informed that all the major cities of Ukraine are blocked at present time. "We're fighting for our land and our freedom despite the fact that all our cities are now blocked. Nobody is going to break us, we are strong, we are Ukrainians," he said. Russian military operation which started last week turned into in large conflict with casualties running into thousands. Fighting in Ukraine has so far pushed more than 500,000 people across the country's borders, according to the UN refugee agency. Reports say that more than 20 people have been injured in an explosion in Ukraine's second-biggest city Kharkiv on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire on the fifth day of tensions between the two countries, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continued to evolve rapidly. Raising concern over the ongoing situation in Ukraine due to the military operation by Russia, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that escalating violence in Kyiv is resulting in the death of civilians. Asserting that "enough is enough", the Secretary-General during the 11th Emergency Special Session on Ukraine said that the soldiers need to move back to barracks and civilians must be protected in Ukraine. Earlier on Monday, negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine to resolve the ongoing conflict between the two countries had begun in the Gomel region of Belarus. (ANI) Defence Expert, Praful Bakshi on Tuesday urged Indian Nationals stranded in Ukraine to remain cautious against the associated crimes against women, children in a conflict-ridden country. He said "In Ukraine, there could be full-fledged armed forces, could be local militias..nobody can assure that .. there could be a lot of other crimes, associated crimes including crime against women, children, other holdings of people, theft etc.. these aspects are dangerous. we have 18-20 thousand students out there. it is a huge number to be evacuated." "Some steps have to be taken. Our ministers have gone there. They will all coordinate with their respective governments and Indian aircrafts will be positioned there and with Ukrainian help, our students will be evacuated," he added. Naveen Shekharappa, a medical student from Karnataka's Haveri died when Russian soldiers blew up a government building in Kharkiv this morning. Naveen was standing outside a grocery store when he was hit. "This student went to mall to buy something, and the mall was attacked resulting in his death. It was unfortunate, all Indians felt bad for it," said the defense expert. News of the student's death came within an hour of the Indian embassy in Ukraine asking its citizens to urgently leave the capital Kyiv. "Advisory to Indians in Kyiv- All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," a statement from the embassy read. Bakshi emphasized, "In the meanwhile, Ukraine must be told by the world bodies that please activate your Red Cross and other bodies etc properly along with their civil defence to protect the civilians including foreigners. No discrimination should take place on the basis of nationality. If there is a violation in that, the International Court of Justice must come into play if this war crimes happen." He further stressed that all countries must all join together and work together to evacuate people collectively without discriminating and with coordination with the Ukraine government. Furthermore, KB Fabian, a former diplomat, said that the Ministry of External Affairs has been prudent in the evacuation process of stranded Indian students. "Russia military and Ukraine military plus Ukrainian civilians are coming to blows and we don't want our people to get caught so MEA has advised the Indian Nationals to remain at their places and do not proceed ...get out of the country unless proper arrangements have been made." (ANI) Tallinn [Estonia], March 1 (ANI/Sputnik): NATO allies will double their military presence in Estonia within the next two to three months to ensure "deterrence" on the eastern flank, Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet said on Tuesday. "Within the next two-three months, NATO allies will double their military presence in Estonia to maintain deterrence on the alliance's eastern flank," Laanet told the Estonian parliament in a briefing on the security situation in Ukraine. The United Kingdom has already made the decision to send about 900 troops to Estonia and the first groups have already arrived, Laanet said. "France and Denmark will also provide additional contingents of 300 and 250 troops," he added. Last Thursday, Russia launched a special operation to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine, responding to calls for help from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics in countering the aggression of Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. In 2016, NATO decided to deploy multinational battalions on a rotational basis to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland at their request. A NATO combat battalion group of about 1,200 troops has been deployed in the Estonian military town of Tapa since April 2017. The NATO International Battalion is led by the United Kingdom, with the participation of military units from France and Denmark on a rotational basis. (ANI/Sputnik) "We urge the Brussels institutions to put this request of the eight presidents on the agenda, which Hungary also supports," Szijjarto said in a video posted on his Facebook page. "We expect Brussels to take this initiative very seriously," he added. On Monday, eight European countries said in a joint declaration that they would support Ukraine's immediate accession to the EU. "Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia strongly believe that Ukraine deserves receiving an immediate EU accession perspective," the declaration said. Romania also expressed support to the initiative on Tuesday, increasing the number of EU countries supporting Ukraine's appeal to 10. The declaration was published after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday signed an official appeal for Ukraine to join the EU, urging the bloc to grant Ukraine immediate accession via a new special procedure. The issue has to be agreed by all of the bloc's 27 member countries, which failed to reach an agreement in the past over the issue of EU enlargement. Asked about Ukraine's membership prospects before Zelensky's latest appeal, European Council President Charles Michel said there were "different opinions and sensitivities within the EU on enlargement." (ANI/Xinhua) Room remains for Vietnams coffee exports to Algeria There is large room for Vietnam to promote coffee exports to Algeria, said the Vietnam Trade Office in the African country. A farmer in Dak Lak province is harvesting coffee cherries. (Photo: VNA) According to the office, Algeria has to import completely coffee to serve its domestic demand. The country spends 300 million USD on importing about 130,000 tonnes of coffee beans every year. Vietnam is one of the main coffee suppliers for Algeria, along with Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Brazil, Italy and Uganda. Last year, Vietnam shipped over 56,000 tonnes of coffee worth nearly 99.7 million USD to Algeria, down 6.8 percent in volume but up 6.3 percent in value year-on-year. Coffee still remains Vietnam's main exports to Algeria, marking up 65 percent of the total export value to the market. The office said Vietnamese exporters can promote the export of processed and instant coffee with higher added value to Algeria beside coffee beans. The Indian embassy in Romania on Tuesday said that no visa is required for Indian students sheltered here to exit Bucharest by special flights. Taking to Twitter, the embassy has said that it has getting queries from the students evacuated from Ukraine that they may not be able to leave after some days due to visa requirements. "We have received queries from Indian students evacuated from Ukraine and presently in shelters in Romania that they may not be able to leave after some days due to visa requirements. We want to assure that no visa is required to exit Romania by special flights," the embassy said on Twitter. Meanwhile, the seventh flight carrying 182 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine reached Mumbai from Romania's Bucharest as part of Operation Ganga on Tuesday. Union Minister Narayan Rane received the evacuated Indian nationals at the Mumbai airport. Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the eighth flight carrying 216 stranded Indian nationals has departed from Hungary's capital Budapest for New Delhi while the ninth flight carrying 218 Indians took off from the Romanian capital Bucharest for New Delhi as part of Operation Ganga. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while presiding over a high-level meeting on Monday evening over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all stranded Indians in Ukraine are safe and secure, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. This was the second high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister during the day over the prevailing situation in Ukraine. Government sources on Monday said that the 'Special Envoys' including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and Gen (Retd) VK Singh will be travelling to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. The union government has launched Operation Ganga to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India as part of the mission. (ANI) "In a phone call, President Vladimir #Putin and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces @MohamedBinZayed praised the level of #RussiaUAE interaction in the political, trade, economic and other fields," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said in a tweet. Earlier when Russia on Friday (local time) vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution on Ukraine, UAE abstained from the vote. As the Russia-Ukraine conflict continued to evolve rapidly, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) called for an immediate ceasefire on the fifth day of tensions between the two countries. Raising concern over the ongoing situation in Ukraine due to the military operation by Russia, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said that escalating violence in Kyiv is resulting in the death of civilians. Notably, on February 24 tension between Russia and Ukraine escalated when Russia recognized the independence of Ukraine's breakaway regions following which the western countries have imposed tough sanctions on Russia. (ANI) "I expressed my condolences to @PMOIndia for the loss of life of an Indian student in #Kharkiv today due to indiscriminate Russian attacks against innocent civilians. European countries are wholeheartedly helping Indian citizens to evacuate from #Ukraine," tweeted Michel. Naveen Shekharappa, a medical student from Karnataka's Haveri died when Russian soldiers blew up a government building in Kharkiv this morning. Naveen was standing outside a grocery store when he was hit. "The Indian student who was killed (in Ukraine) was absolutely innocent. The killing of innocent people should be stopped and talks should be resumed. People should be living, enjoying life & not to be killed," tweeted Masarik. News of the student's death came within an hour of the Indian embassy in Ukraine asking its citizens to urgently leave the capital Kyiv. "Advisory to Indians in Kyiv- All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," a statement from the embassy read. (ANI) "Today, the dangers that (Ukrainian President) Zelenskyy's regime poses for neighbouring countries and international security in general, have increased substantially after the authorities set up in Kyiv have embarked upon dangerous games related to plans to acquire their own nuclear weapons," Lavrov said while speaking at a meeting in Geneva, according to the media outlet. "Ukraine still has Soviet nuclear technologies and the means of delivery of such weapons. We cannot fail to respond to this real danger," Lavrov who was quoted by the UK media added, The Hill reported. Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister said that Moscow is always open to an equal dialogue on any issues and stands ready to find a fair balance of interests. "Russia is always open to an equal, mutually respectful discussion on any issue, ready to find a fair balance of interests," Lavrov said at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council. (ANI) The United States on Tuesday called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to publish its report on the situation concerning human rights of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and said that the Chinese government continues to commit 'genocide' in the region. "In China, the government continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other minority groups. We urge the High Commissioner to release without delay her report on the situation there," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. Blinken was addressing the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is the largest province in China with a population of 25 million people from various ethnic groups, but about 43% of them are Uyghurs, most of whom are Muslim. The region, bordering seven countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been considered an epicenter of terrorism and extremism for many years, reported Sputnik. At the end of August 2018, experts from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reported that up to 1 million ethnic Uyghurs could be in so-called "re-education camps" in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Beijing has denied the existence of "re-education camps" on numerous occasions, insisting that the country is fully complying with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. (ANI) Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday said out of an estimated 20,000 Indian citizens in Ukraine, 60 per cent have left the country since the first advisory was issued by the government. Briefing the media about the evacuation of Indians including students from Ukraine in the wake of Russian military operations, he said India remains very concerned about the situation in Kharkiv and other areas which are currently in the conflict zone. "We had an estimated 20,000 Indian nationals in Ukraine at the time we issued our first advisory. Approximately 12,000 have left Ukraine so far, which means 60 per cent of the people have left the country. Of the remaining 40 per cent, roughly half remain in the conflict zone in Kharkiv and the other half have either reached the western border of Ukraine or are heading towards the western border. They are generally out of conflict areas," Shringla said. He said high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held on the Ukraine situation today. "The meeting began with the expression of deep regret and condolence of the tragic death of India student Naveen Shekharappa who was studying in Ukraine. We remain very concerned about the situation in Kharkiv and other areas which are currently in the conflict zone," he said. The Foreign Secretary he had called the Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine and reiterated strongly India's demand for urgent safe passage for all Indian nationals. "We have sent a team of our officers in our mission in Moscow to the border region of Russia adjoining. This team is currently in Belgorod which is not far from Kharkiv. The function of the team is to examine all the options in terms of the route out the accommodation for our people, the transportation option. Essentially the team is in place and ready to see whatever we can do to extract our students and citizen from the Kharkiv, Sumi area," he said. "Evacuation of Kharkiv is now our top priority," Shringla added. He said over the next three days, 26 flights have been scheduled to bring out Indian citizens apart from Bucharest and Budapest. "Airports in Poland and Slovak Republic will also be used," Shringla said. The seventh flight carrying 182 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine reached Mumbai from Romania's Bucharest as part of Operation Ganga on Tuesday. (ANI) India on Tuesday sent the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine through Poland, informed Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The consignment comprised medicines, medical equipment and other relief material. Mentioning humanitarian assistance to Ukraine at the request of the Ukrainian Government, Shringla said, "A flight left this morning having the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine through Poland. The consignment comprised of medicines, medical equipment and other relief materials." "Another flight tomorrow will carry the second consignment also through Poland and besides medicines, a number of other items are also there for humanitarian use in Ukraine," he said in a special briefing on 'Operation Ganga' to bring back Indian citizens from the conflict zone of Ukraine by the Ministry of External Affairs. As per MEA sources, two tonnes of humanitarian aid including tents, blankets, surgical gloves, protective eye gear, water storage tanks, sleeping mats, tarpaulin and medicines have been sent to Ukraine today. The meeting began with an expression of deep regret and condolences on the tragic death of Naveen Shekharappa, an Indian student who was studying at Kharkiv National Medical University "Earlier this afternoon I separately called in the Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine. I reiterated strongly our demand for urgent safe passage for all Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and other cities in the conflict area," said Shringla. He also informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yesterday spoken to his counterparts from the Slovak Republic and Romania to seek their assistance in continued support to our evacuation efforts. "Yesterday PM Modi talked to the Slovak Republic Prime Minister Eduard Heger and Romanian counterpart Nicolae Ciuca and also spoke to the President of Poland Andrzej Duda to seek their assistance in the evacuation of Indians from the conflict zones," said Shringla. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the efforts to bring back stranded Indians in Ukraine. The meeting is being attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and senior officials. "PM Modi has also received calls. This happened as we were at the meeting, from the President of France Emmanuel Macron and the President of the European Union Commission, Charles Michel. We are certainly reaching out diplomatically to all concerned to ensure the safety, security and protection of our citizens in Ukraine," said the Foreign Secretary. Detailing about the evacuation process, Shringla said that the ministry has examined every possible option for safe passage, adding that he had emphasized to both Russian and Ukrainian officials the importance of providing a corridor to enable Indian citizens to get out of the conflict zone. "Earlier this afternoon I separately called in the Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine. I reiterated strongly our demand for urgent safe passage for all Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and other cities in the conflict area," said Shringla. (ANI) In a joint conference in Berlin on Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to "immediately stop all combat operations, withdraw all Russian troops and return to dialogue." "The bloodshed has to come to an end. Vladimir Putin is offending the Ukrainian people," Scholz added. "These will be very dramatic times. The pictures with the many dead and injured, the destroyed buildings and infrastructure that we have had to bemoan are only a beginning of what is likely to come." Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel echoed similar sentiments, he said, "It is our damned duty to stand for the Ukrainian people." "You are not forgotten. You are not alone," Bettel added. "We must continue our diplomatic efforts. We must achieve a ceasefire, and without talks, this will not be possible." This is the sixth day of conflict and the fighting has accelerated in the capital city Kyiv as well as in the second largest city Kharkiv which is also under attack. (ANI) Talking to Twitter, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ann Linde, said, "Sweden announces another 500 million SEK (47 million euro) in humanitarian support to #Ukraine. This is on top of the 120 million SEK last week. In total, Sweden has contributed over 1 billion SEK in humanitarian aid and 2,3 billion SEK in reform support to Ukraine since 2014." Sweden also proposed several new EU measures in light of the ongoing crisis, targeting Russian leadership and oligarchs. "Sweden proposes several new EU measures in light of the ongoing Russian invasion, targeting Russian leadership and oligarchs, and strengthening support to #Ukraine. The sale of "golden passports" in the EU must stop now," it added. Furthermore, Ann Linde also virtually met with Nordic-Baltic Foreign Ministers and discussed ways to increase support for Ukraine. "Meeting today with #NB8 Nordic-Baltic FM colleagues. Strong support for #Ukraine and its people. Discussions on how to increase support. Briefed about Swedish proposals. Russia's war in Ukraine calls for extraordinary actions," added Linde in her tweet. (ANI) He said that graves in Pakistan are taken out on the basis of caste in Pakistan. In an Interview with Journalist S M Irfan Tahir, he said that there are many incidents of ethnic cleansing in Pakistan and the country is destabilized. "Traps of Fascism, extremism have clutched us. Democracy solves a lot of problems," he added. Moreover, he explained that there is a need for free access to the judiciary in the country. He also slammed the Taliban and said, "It is going on for a very long time. Taliban can not tackle the issues of the Afghan people." "It is not clear if the peace in Afghanistan will be achieved." When asked about his perspective on Russia and Ukraine crisis and its effect on the South Asia region, he said, "World is a global village .. the repercussion could be visible." (ANI) NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Tapa Military Base in Estonia to meet the soldiers that are defending Estonia and the alliance. "These soldiers are keeping our nations safe and free. And we owe them a debt of gratitude. Thank you to Estonia for hosting our battlegroup so well. And being such a staunch NATO ally," said NATO chief. Talking of the NATO deterrence, he emphasized, "Allies are imposing severe costs on Russia through sanctions. We are increasing NATO presence across the Alliance, to deter and defend. And we are stepping up our support to help Ukraine defend itself." He thanked Boris Johnson for doubling UK's contribution over the last few weeks, with more British troops sent to Estonia. "NATO Allies are sending Ukraine anti-tank weapons, air-defence missiles, and ammunition. Allies are also providing millions of euros worth of financial help and humanitarian aid. I commend Estonia and the United Kingdom for the assistance you are providing to Ukraine," he added. Stoltenberg condemned Russia saying, "The people of Ukraine are fighting bravely against a brutal and unprovoked Russian invasion. We utterly condemn the Kremlin's war." Talking of the increased NATO defensive presence he said, "In the air, on land, and at sea. With over 100 jets at high alert operating from 30 different locations. And over 120 ships from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean." Reiterating NATO's commitment to Article 5 Stoltenberg said, "The UK, the US, and other Allies are deploying thousands more troops to the eastern part of the Alliance. For the first time in our history, we are deploying the NATO Response Force. Because there must be no doubt, no room for miscalculation or misunderstanding. Our commitment to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is iron-clad. We will protect and defend every inch of NATO territory. Credible deterrence prevents conflict and preserves peace." He stressed that NATO is a defensive force saying, "NATO is a defensive Alliance. We do not seek conflict with Russia. Our message to President Putin is: stop the war, pull out all your forces from Ukraine, and engage in good faith in diplomatic efforts. The world stands with Ukraine in calling for peace." Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas talked of Ukraine's will to fight against Russia and said, "I think we underestimate the Ukrainians' motivation and will to protect their cities. Of course, we also know that the forces are not really equal. So one is to really conquer the cities and the other one is to keep those cities under control. So I think there is going to be a lot of resistance from Ukrainians." "I think what we have seen is that all Ukrainians have really surprised everybody by their motivation to fight for their country, to fight for freedom," she added. Echoing the same sentiments, UK PM Boris Johnson said, "With every day that goes by, as they watch the heroism of the Ukrainian resistance and they see what is happening in Ukraine, and they see episodes like the shedding, like the missile in Kharkiv and the destruction of civilian populations. I think peoples' stomachs are being turned by what is happening and they are seeing that it is necessary to stand up against Russian aggression to support the Ukrainians and to endorse our strategy, which is that President Putin must not be allowed to succeed, he must fail in Ukraine." (ANI) Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft will leave for Romania at 4 am on Wednesday to bring back Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the Indian Air Force to join the evacuation efforts under Operation Ganga earlier today. The sources said that leveraging the capacities of the Air Force will ensure that more people can be evacuated in a shorter time frame and it will also help to deliver humanitarian aid more efficiently. The Union government has launched 'Operation Ganga' to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India, SpiceJet and Indigo as part of the 'Operation Ganga' mission. All Indian nationals have left Kyiv and nearly 60 per cent of Indians in Ukraine have left the country so far, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday. Shringla said at a media briefing that enquiries reveal that all Indian citizens have come out of Ukraine's capital. "All of our nationals have left Kyiv. The information with us is that we have no more nationals left in Kyiv, nobody has contacted us from Kyiv since. All our enquiries reveal that each and every one of our nationals have come out of Kyiv," Shringla said at a media briefing on the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine in the wake of Russia's military operations. He said out of an estimated 20,000 Indian citizens in Ukraine, 60 per cent have left the country since the first advisory was issued by the government. "We had an estimated 20,000 Indian nationals in Ukraine at the time we issued our first advisory. Approximately 12,000 have left Ukraine so far, which means 60 per cent of the people have left the country. Of the remaining 40 per cent, roughly half remain in the conflict zone in Kharkiv and the other half have either reached the western border of Ukraine or are heading towards the western border. They are generally out of conflict areas," Shringla said.He said a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held on the Ukraine situation today. "The meeting began with the expression of deep regret and condolence of the tragic death of India student Naveen Shekharappa who was studying in Ukraine. We remain very concerned about the situation in Kharkiv and other areas which are currently in the conflict zone," he said.The Foreign Secretary said he had called the Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine and reiterated strongly India's demand for urgent safe passage for all Indian nationals. "Evacuation of Kharkiv is now our top priority," Shringla said. The seventh flight carrying 182 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine reached Mumbai from Romania's Bucharest as part of Operation Ganga on Tuesday. (ANI) Russia on Tuesday intensified the shelling on the sixth day of its military operations in Ukraine by targeting the capital city Kyiv as well as the second-largest city Kharkiv with France providing Ukraine with USD 111 million financial and humanitarian aid and Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserting that "Nobody can break Ukrainians". Eight people have died and 35 injured in a rocket attack on a housing block in the second-largest city of Kharkiv in Ukraine. Notably, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier in the day denied the reports of attacking infrastructure, residential areas in Ukraine. "During the course of the special operation, Russian troops do not carry out any strikes on civilian infrastructure facilities and on a residential complex. This is out of the question. We are talking only about the demilitarization of Ukraine and military facilities. We must not forget that in a large number of cases, we are talking about the fire of nationalist groups that use living objects as a shield," Peskov said as quoting` according to Sputnik. Despite that claim, Russia is striking cities and building up its forces near the capital Kyiv, vowing not to stop until "set goals are achieved". Russian Defence Ministry that it was planning to launch a strike in Kyiv and asked its residents to leave. "We call on...Kiev residents living near relay nodes to leave their homes," Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, reported by TRT World. "In order to suppress information attacks on Russia, the technological infrastructure of the SBU (Ukraine's Security Service) and the 72nd main PSO (Psychological Operations Unit) centre in Kyiv will be hit with high-precision weapons," the spokesperson added. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba informed that Kyiv TV tower which was situated on the territory of Babyn Yar has been hit by a missile. "Kyiv TV tower, which has just been hit by a Russian missile, is situated on the territory of Babyn Yar. On September 29-30, 1941, Nazis killed over 33 thousand Jews here. 80 years later, Russian Nazis strike this same land to exterminate Ukrainians. Evil and barbaric," he said in a Tweet. According to Ukrainian authorities, more than 70 Ukrainian servicemen were killed by a rocket attack and dozens of civilians have died in the shelling. Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Kyiv, in an advisory issued Tuesday, asked Indians asked to leave Kyiv urgently through "any means available". Meanwhile, an embattled Ukraine moved to solidify its ties to the West by applying to join the European Union, a largely symbolic move for now. Google announced that it is blocking the YouTube channels linked to Russia's RT broadcaster. (ANI) Justifying India's stand at UN General Assembly, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that it was based on "on certain careful considerations" and taken "in the best interests" of the country. "In United Nations, we take positions that are based on certain careful considerations and certainly, we do regard the merits of each and every case that comes before us...take decisions in our best interest," Shringla said while replying to India's decision to abstain from voting on a resolution to call for a special emergency session of the UN General Assembly on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. India on Sunday (local time) abstained from voting on a resolution to call for a special emergency session of the UN General Assembly on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This came two days after India abstained from voting on the UNSC resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, along with China and the UAE. In a special briefing on Operation Ganga to bring back Indian citizens from the conflict zone of Ukraine by the Ministry of External Affairs, Shringla said, "Over the next 3 days, 26 flights have been scheduled to bring out Indian citizens apart from Bucharest and Budapest." Meanwhile, talking about the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, "Over the next 3 days, 26 flights have been scheduled to bring out Indian citizens apart from Bucharest and Budapest. Airports in Poland and the Slovak Republic will also be used." He also advised Indian nationals in Kyiv to head to western parts and exit from there whenever they can. "Had advised all our nationals in Kyiv to head to western parts and exit from there whenever they can. They can go towards Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Poland, and Moldova. 7700 nationals have exited through these routes, 2000 have returned and 4000-5000 waiting for aircraft," said Shringla. "PM spoke to his counterparts from the Slovak Republic and Romania to seek assistance in continued support to our evacuation efforts. He has just now spoken to the President of Poland in a similar endeavor. He also received calls from Presidents of France and EU Commission,"he said. (ANI) According to a release by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), both the leaders also shared their concerns over continuing hostilities and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine. PM Modi reiterated India's consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy. He stressed India's belief that respect for international law, the UN Charter and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states underpin the contemporary world order, said the release. PM Modi welcomed the talks between the two parties and stressed upon the importance of ensuring free and uninterrupted humanitarian access and smooth movement of all people. Prime Minister Modi also briefed Macron about India's efforts to evacuate its citizens from the conflict areas and to send urgent relief supplies, including medicines for the affected populations, the release added. Earlier, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla reveal that all Indian nationals have left Kyiv and nearly 60 per cent of Indians in Ukraine have left the country so far. The seventh flight carrying 182 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine reached Mumbai from Romania's Bucharest as part of Operation Ganga on Tuesday. (ANI) During the talks, PM Modi reiterated India's appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue, according to PMO release. PM Modi also spoke about efforts being made by India to send urgent relief supplies, including medicines, to the affected areas. The Prime Minister stressed that the contemporary global order was anchored on international law, UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, the release said. The Prime Minister welcomed the talks between the two parties and stressed upon the importance of ensuring free and uninterrupted humanitarian access and smooth movement of all people, the release added. Earlier, European Council President condoled the death of an Indian student in Ukraine's Kharkiv in the shelling. Naveen Shekharappa, a medical student from Karnataka's Haveri died when Russian soldiers blew up a government building in Kharkiv on Tuesday. News of the student's death came within an hour of the Indian embassy in Ukraine asking its citizens to urgently leave the capital Kyiv. (ANI) "I just spoke with President Zelenskyy to discuss our continued support for Ukraine -- including security assistance and humanitarian aid -- as it defends itself against Russian aggression. We will hold Russia accountable, and our sanctions are already having a devastating impact," Biden tweeted. Taking to Twitter, Zelenskyy said "Just had a conversation with @POTUS. The American leadership on anti-Russian sanctions and defense assistance to Ukraine was discussed. We must stop the aggressor as soon as possible. Thank you for your support!" On Tuesday, Russia intensified the shelling on the sixth day of its military operations in Ukraine by targeting the capital city Kyiv as well as the second-largest city Kharkiv. Eight people have died and 35 injured in a rocket attack on a housing block in the second-largest city of Kharkiv in Ukraine. Last month, during the talks with Zelenskyy, Biden strongly condemned Russian President Putin's decision to recognize the "independence" of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the United States and its allies announced to remove Russian banks from the SWIFT messaging system in response to Moscow's military operation in Ukraine. (ANI) The fourth evacuation flight carrying 222 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine departed from Hungary's capital Budapest under Operation Ganga, informed Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday (local time). Puri, one of the four 'special envoys' deployed by the Government of India to oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals in Ukraine's neighbouring countries, reached Budapest on Tuesday. He further informed that the fifth flight from Budapest with 200 Indian students will leave for Delhi shortly. Taking to Twitter, the Union Minister said, "Even as we were being received by Amb Kumar Tuhin Operation Ganga Incharge in Budapest 18.35 local time, the fourth evacuation flight was taxiing for takeoff with 222 Indian students. The IndiGo 6Eflight which brought us will take the fifth batch of about 200 students back to Delhi shortly." Puri interacted with Indian students at the Budapest airport ahead of their boarding. "Delighted to interact with this undaunted bunch of youngsters from all parts of India who held their nerves even in the most difficult circumstances and will shortly board the flight back home. I am happy for them and their parents. The smiles on their faces tell the story. Happy to be with this group of resilient and bright Indian students in Budapest who will soon be homeward bound," said the Union Minister. Hardeep Singh Puri reached Budapest on Tuesday to facilitate the evacuation of Indian citizens stranded in crisis-stricken Ukraine. The Union Government has been ramping up its efforts to evacuate Indians from Ukraine. The government has deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri will oversee evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania while Gen VK Singh in Poland. The Indian government has launched Operation Ganga for the return of Indians from Ukraine amid military operations by Russia. Meanwhile, the seventh flight carrying 182 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine reached Mumbai from Romania's Bucharest as part of 'Operation Ganga' on Tuesday. Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the efforts to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. The meeting is being attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and senior officials. The Prime Minister had on Monday chaired two meetings to review the ongoing efforts under Operation Ganga for the return of Indians from Ukraine amid military operations by Russia. Another meeting was held on Sunday. The Cabinet Committee on Security had met on February 24 in the wake of Russian military actions in Ukraine. (ANI) This comes as Russia intensified the shelling on the sixth day of its military operations in Ukraine by targeting the capital city Kyiv as well as the second-largest city Kharkiv. During the conversation, Blinken also emphasised working closely on economic development and regional challenges. "Good call today with Nepal's Prime Minister @SherBDeuba to discuss Russia's unprovoked attack and our support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will continue to work closely together on economic development and regional challenges," Blinken tweeted. Earlier, the United States welcomed Nepal ratifying the USD 500 million-dollar Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant, provided by the US Government foreign aid agency, which was cleared after a prolonged political tussle. The US Government's MCC signed the pact with the Government of Nepal in September 2017 aimed at maintaining road quality, increasing the availability and reliability of electricity, and facilitating cross-border electricity trade between Nepal and India--helping to spur investments, accelerate economic growth, and reduce poverty. (ANI) Russian forces' movement towards the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv is currently "stalled," a senior US defense official said on Tuesday morning (local time). Russia's advance on Kyiv is "where it was yesterday," the official told reporters, citing a variety of factors, including lack of food for Russian troops. Russians are not only facing "fuel and sustainment" problems but are showing signs that they are running out of food, the official claimed, adding that the Ukrainian "resistance" also could be a possible reason for the stall. The official noted that Russia's current lack of progress may not be only due to problems arising from resistance or their own logistics and they are "possibly regrouping, rethinking, reevaluating" before carrying on again. "They (Russia) will regroup, they will adjust, they will change their tactics," the official said, adding that the Russian defence ministry openly admitted it would target civilian areas in Kyiv. According to the official, Russia has committed more than 80 per cent of its pre-staged combat power in Ukraine. Russia has launched more than 400 missiles at Ukrainian targets so far. The official also noted that the Russian military appears to be "risk averse" when it comes to its own troops. "There has been in the last six days evidence of a certain risk averse behavior by the Russian military," the official said. "You have seen it on the ground, where units are surrendering, sometimes without a fight. And they have got, a lot of these soldiers are conscripts, never been in combat before, some of whom we believe were not even told they were going to be in combat. So we're just seeing evidence of a bit of risk aversion." Despite Russia's vastly larger armed forces, Ukraine's airspace remains contested, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's country currently mounting a viable defense, the senior defense official said. As in the first days of the war, Russia's military appears to be having more success in southern Ukraine, the official said. Russia continues to concentrate attacks on the large cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow. These countries have also promised Ukraine to help with military aid to fight Russia. The US, Canada and European allies agreed to remove key Russian banks from the interbank messaging system, SWIFT which means Russian banks won't be able to communicate securely with banks beyond Russia's borders. President Putin has also signed a decree on special economic measures against the US and its allies. Fighting in Ukraine has so far pushed more than 500,000 people across the country's borders, according to the UN refugee agency. Speaking at an emergency session of the UN General Assembly on February 28, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, had said that Russia has no plans to occupy Ukraine. On February 28, negotiations between delegations of Russia and Ukraine were held in the Gomel Region of Belarus and another round of talks is scheduled for March 2. (ANI) American tech giant Apple on Tuesday (local time) paused all product sales in Russia and has limited Apple Pay and other services in the country due to the military operation in Ukraine. "We have paused all product sales in Russia," the Russian News Agency Sputnik reported citing Apple's statement. "Last week, we stopped all exports into our sales channel in the country. Apple Pay and other services have been limited. RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download from the App Store outside Russia," read the statement. Earlier, Meta, Google, TikTok and YouTube have blocked Russian state-owned media outlets RT and Sputnik in Europe, Euronews reported. This comes as Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow. These countries have also promised Ukraine to help with military aid to fight Russia. The US, Canada and European allies agreed to remove key Russian banks from the interbank messaging system, SWIFT which means Russian banks won't be able to communicate securely with banks beyond Russia's borders. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also signed a decree on special economic measures against the US and its allies. Fighting in Ukraine has so far pushed more than 500,000 people across the country's borders, according to the UN refugee agency. Speaking at an emergency session of the UN General Assembly on February 28, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, had said that Russia has no plans to occupy Ukraine. On February 28, negotiations between delegations of Russia and Ukraine were held in the Gomel Region of Belarus and another round of talks is scheduled for March 2. (ANI) A cheerful contingent of kindergartners queued up outside Patton Elementary School in Arlington Heights Monday morning, blissfully unaware that Feb. 28 marked a dramatic milestone in their nearly two-year trek through the COVID-19 pandemic. For students in kindergarten through first grade, who have never experienced a typical, prepandemic school year, COVID-19 masks have become as ubiquitous as crayons, glue and scissors, and masked or unmasked, the youngsters greeted their arriving classmates with spirited squeals. It does feel like were turning a corner, but for our students, masks have been a nonissue, Patton Principal Eric Larson said as the kindergartners headed to their classroom on the first day of the halting of Gov. J.B. Pritzkers school mask mandate. The kids have done a really good job treating each other with mutual respect, kindness and empathy, and their teachers have done a great job helping them understand that people make different choices about masking for different reasons, Larson said. Despite months of fervent parent protests, a flurry of lawsuits, and increasingly polarized communities where grievances have erupted between even the closest of neighbors, the Illinois school mask mandate ended Monday without fanfare. Coinciding with the governors lifting of the mask mandate for the general public, and prompted by the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, federal rules also were relaxed for student transportation, with children no longer required to wear face masks while aboard a school bus. While universal masking will still be enforced at Chicago Public Schools as part of a COVID-19 safety agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union, the vast majority of the roughly 850 Illinois school districts had shifted to mask-optional policies weeks before the Friday release of the CDC recommendations. At Barrington 220 School District, where frustrated parents have packed school board meetings in recent months, demanding an end to the mask mandate, Superintendent Robert Hunt said in a letter to parents that even with the new CDC guidance, anyone who wishes to continue wearing a mask is welcome to do so. Story continues As I have stated in the past, this is an individual choice and we must respect one anothers decisions, Hunt said. The pandemic is constantly evolving and guidance may change in the future. It is possible that we will have to add mitigations if there are significant increases in transmission rates in our schools. However, these latest changes indicate a positive step forward in this process, Hunt said. At the Washington-based National Education Association, union officials said although they are encouraged by the new guidance, local governments must bring educators to the table with our in-school experience when determining how to keep school communities safe including those with disabilities who are more vulnerable to the exposure and effects of COVID-19. School districts should act cautiously in response to todays announcement, with the health and safety of students, educators and their families always in mind, NEA President Becky Pringle said in a statement. Attorney Tom DeVore, who represents hundreds of Illinois parents who filed a lawsuit against the governor and the Illinois Department of Public Health, arguing that the school mask mandate was authorized illegally, said the governor didnt lift anything, because there was nothing for him to lift. State lawmakers failed to renew IDPH rules on masking in mid-February, prompting an appellate court to dismiss the governors appeal over a Springfield judges Feb. 4 restraining order as moot. In an order late Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court refused to take the case, and found that since the appeal had been dismissed as moot, the restraining order should also be tossed. DeVore said with the vast majority of school districts statewide were already mask-optional, even before the new CDC guidance, CPS remains the sole district requiring universal masking. DeVore said he plans to ask a judge for an order halting masking at city schools later this week. Officials at Northbrook School District 28 said the district will continue its existing mitigation strategies, including the exclusion of positive COVID-19 cases and individuals with symptoms, SHIELD saliva testing, increased fresh air intake and hand sanitizing. In addition, remote instruction will continue to be available for students excluded from school for COVID-related reasons, District 28 Superintendent Larry Hewitt said in a letter to parents. Anyone who wishes to continue or discontinue wearing a mask in school is free to do so, and we respect and support each familys decision to act in the best interest of their children, Hewitt said. In Arlington Heights, engineer and mother of two Tina Fries waved goodbye to her kindergartner Monday morning, saying that while she appreciates the value of the CDCs recent change of guidance, her children will remain masked in the classroom, at least for now. If I continue to see the trajectory of the data moving in the right direction during the next two weeks, Ill start to feel a little better, Fries said. Arlington Heights District 25 Superintendent Lori Bein expressed cautious optimism at last weeks school board meeting, pointing to virus data moving steadily in a positive direction in recent weeks. The pandemic came in like a lion, and hopefully is going out like a lamb, Bein said. Were definitely in a much calmer place than we have been for the past two years. kcullotta@chicagotribune.com CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines (AP) Philippine troops backed by fighter jets attacked a remote camp of Muslim militants linked to the Islamic State group on Tuesday in a predawn assault in the countrys south that left two insurgents and a soldier dead, military officials said. Two soldiers were wounded in the assault on the camp of about 50 Dawlah Islamiya group fighters near the town of Maguing in Lanao del Sur province. Air force fighter jets dropped a dozen bombs as army troops launched a ground attack, said regional military commander Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr. The gunmen fled after the airstrikes and were being pursued, Rosario and other military officials said. The assault was staged far from rural communities to prevent civilians from being caught in the crossfire, they said. Military officials said troops were continuing to clash sporadically with fleeing militants led by a militant commander they identified as Abu Zacharia. Members of Dawlah Islamiya were involved in a 2017 siege of southern Marawi city, where hundreds of militants waving Islamic State group-style black flags occupied commercial buildings and villages and took hostages. Filipino troops, backed by U.S. and Australian surveillance aircraft, quelled the five-month siege, which left about 1,200 people dead, mostly militants. The military has been launching offensives against small armed groups allied with the militants who laid siege on Marawi, including the Abu Sayyaf, which has been blacklisted by the U.S. and the Philippines for past bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into eastern Ukraine on Monday. Alexei Nikolsky/Associated Press Dissent against Vladimir Putin by members of Russia's parliament is rare. But three members have spoken out against the Ukraine invasion, The New York Times reported. They voted to recognize two Ukrainian separatist regions but said they didn't expect the invasion. Three members of Russia's parliament have criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, The New York Times reported Monday. The three members Vyacheslav Markhaev, Oleg Smolin, and Mikhail Matveyev are all members of the country's Communist Party. They're part of the State Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly. The Communist Party typically opposes the governing United Russia party but remains loyal to Putin, per The Times. The three members previously voted in favor of a resolution recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk, the two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, as independent states. But in a social-media post Friday, translated by The Times, Smolin said he was "shocked" by the invasion. "As a Russian intellectual, I am convinced that military force should be used in politics only as a last resort," Smolin wrote. In a statement posted to Facebook on Sunday, Markhaev said the lower house of Parliament wasn't informed there would be a full-scale invasion, The Times reported. And in now-deleted comments on Twitter, Matveyev called for the invasions to be stopped immediately, The Times reported. "I voted for peace, not for war," Matveyev said on Twitter and Telegram, according to The Times. "For Russia to become a shield, so that Donbas is not bombed, and not for Kyiv to be bombed." On Sunday, Matveyev said on Twitter that he deleted the posts because they were being cited all over the world, mostly anonymously to "incite mutual hatred." Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted protests across the world, including in Russia. Politicians and public figures alike have spoken out against Putin's aggression. Western nations including the US have levied sanctions and other restrictive financial measures against Russia, including barring some banks from the SWIFT global banking system. Read the original article on Business Insider KYIV, Ukraine A 40-mile convoy of Russian tanks and other vehicles threatened Ukraines capital Tuesday as an intense shelling attack targeted the countrys second-largest city, and both sides looked to resume talks in the coming days aimed at stopping the fighting. The countrys embattled president said he believed the stepped-up shelling was designed to force him into concessions. I believe Russia is trying to put pressure (on Ukraine) with this simple method, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Monday in a video address. He did not offer details of hourslong talks that took place Monday, but he said Kyiv was not prepared to make concessions when one side is hitting another with rocket artillery. The developments came as Russia finds itself increasingly isolated as a result of international condemnation and potentially backbreaking economic sanctions. Five days into the invasion, the Russian militarys movements have been stalled by fierce resistance on the ground and a surprising inability to dominate the airspace. The Kremlin has twice in as many days raised the specter of nuclear war and put on high alert an arsenal including intercontinental ballistic missiles and long-range bombers. Stepping up his rhetoric, President Vladimir Putin denounced the U.S. and its allies as an empire of lies. Meanwhile, an embattled Ukraine moved to solidify its ties to the West by applying to join the European Union a largely symbolic move for now, but one that is unlikely to sit well with Putin, who has long accused the U.S. of trying to pull Ukraine out of Moscows orbit. A top Putin aide and head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that the first talks held between the two sides since the invasion lasted nearly five hours and that the envoys found certain points on which common positions could be foreseen. He said they agreed to continue the discussions in the days ahead. As the talks along the Belarusian border wrapped up, several blasts could be heard in Kyiv, and Russian troops advanced on the city of nearly 3 million. The vast convoy of armored vehicles, tanks, artillery and support vehicles was 17 miles (25 kilometers) from the center of the city and stretched for about 40 miles, according to satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies. Story continues People in Kyiv lined up for groceries after the end of a weekend curfew, standing beneath a building with a gaping hole blown in its side. Kyiv remained a key goal for the Russians, Zelenskyy said, noting that it was hit by three missile strikes on Monday and that hundreds of saboteurs were roaming the city. They want to break our nationhood, thats why the capital is constantly under threat, Zelenskyy said. Messages aimed at the advancing Russian soldiers popped up on billboards, bus stops and electronic traffic signs across the capital. Some used profanity to encourage Russians to leave. Others appealed to their humanity. Russian soldier Stop! Remember your family. Go home with a clean conscience, one read. Video from Kharkiv, Ukraines second-biggest city, with a population of about 1.5 million, showed residential areas being shelled, with apartment buildings shaken by repeated, powerful blasts. Authorities in Kharkiv said at least seven people had been killed and dozens injured. They warned that casualties could be far higher. They wanted to have a blitzkrieg, but it failed, so they act this way, said 83-year-old Valentin Petrovich, who watched the shelling from his downtown apartment. He gave just his first name and his patronymic, a middle name derived from his fathers name, out of fear for his safety. The Russian military has denied targeting residential areas despite abundant evidence of shelling of homes, schools and hospitals. Fighting raged in other towns and cities across the country. The strategic port city of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, is hanging on, said Zelenskyy adviser Oleksiy Arestovich. An oil depot was reported bombed in the eastern city of Sumy. Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kyiv, and more than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, the head of the region wrote on Telegram. Dmytro Zhyvytskyy posted photographs of the charred shell of a four-story building and rescuers searching rubble. In a later Facebook post, he said many Russian soldiers and some local residents also were killed during the fighting on Sunday. The report could not immediately be confirmed. Despite its vast military strength, Russia still lacked control of Ukrainian airspace, a surprise that may help explain how Ukraine has so far prevented a rout. In the seaside resort town of Berdyansk, dozens of protesters chanted angrily in the main square against Russian occupiers, yelling at them to go home and singing the Ukrainian national anthem. They described the soldiers as exhausted young conscripts. Frightened kids, frightened looks. They want to eat, Konstantin Maloletka, who runs a small shop, said by telephone. He said the soldiers went into a supermarket and grabbed canned meat, vodka and cigarettes. They ate right in the store, he said. It looked like they havent been fed in recent days. Across Ukraine, terrified families huddled overnight in shelters, basements or corridors. I sit and pray for these negotiations to end successfully, so that they reach an agreement to end the slaughter, said Alexandra Mikhailova, weeping as she clutched her cat in a shelter in Mariupol. Around her, parents tried to console children and keep them warm. (Bloomberg) -- Drivers for Singapores food delivery and ride-hailing companies are often working almost 60 hours a week, a survey found, underscoring the lack of protections for gig workers in the city-state. Most Read from Bloomberg About 29% of drivers work more than 59 hours a week, according to a survey of nearly 1,000 workers by the National University of Singapores Institute of Policy Studies. About one-quarter of the drivers surveyed worked exclusively for Gojek. The rest said they also drove for other companies, including Grab Holdings Ltd. Singapore, along with governments around the world, is considering legislative changes to protect gig-economy workers. Ride-hailing and food-delivery companies like Gojek, Grab, Delivery Hero SEs Foodpanda and Deliveroo Plc. have flourished during the pandemic but also exacerbated social inequities. Many who lost jobs during downturns have taken jobs delivering food or driving passengers but now find it difficult to exit the industry. Labor laws in Singapore limit the work week to 44 hours for employees, but because gig workers are not considered full-time staff, these protections do not apply to them. People working for ride-hailing and food-delivery apps are often under pressure to hit targets in order to earn a meaningful wage, the report said. Effectively, those incentives require drivers to work non-stop for 14 to 16 hours a day, said Harris, 55, a driver that was interviewed by the institute. Its dangerous. Companies encourage or penalize riders to nudge them toward certain behaviors, the institute found. Canceling jobs assigned would have an impact on their ranking and future earnings, in turn limiting the freedom workers have. Story continues Around half of drivers surveyed said that they would leave the ride-sharing industry if there were job opportunities. However, only 31% said that they could easily get a job similar to their previous role or related to their education. Nearly 60 hours a week behind the wheel takes time away from building skills to develop a career, and those who are more educated may find theyve fallen behind their professional peers, the institute said in its study. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Civil rights groups, a clinical psychologist and the family of a Texas child protection worker sued Gov. Greg Abbott and the state on Tuesday, challenging the Republican governors order to investigate the use of gender-affirming procedures on children. According to a complaint filed in a state district court, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services launched an investigation into one of its employees who is also the parent of a 16-year-old transgender girl days after state officials declared gender-affirming medical care can constitute "child abuse" under state law. Now that unnamed worker and their family are moving to stop the state from following through on election-season orders from Abbott that were backed by a legal opinion penned by conservative state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Plaintiffs Jane Doe, John Doe, and Mary Doe are terrified for Marys health and wellbeing, and for their family, according to the lawsuit, which is backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas and Lambda Legal organization. The state child protection agency said it was aware of the lawsuit, but declined to comment. A spokesperson for Abbott did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The background: Abbotts order and Paxtons opinion drew condemnation from an array of organizations including a group of Texas prosecutors, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the head of the American Psychological Association and the White House. In February, the AAP said in a statement that "for young people who identify as transgender, studies show that gender-affirming care can reduce emotional distress, improve their sense of well-being and reduce the risk of suicide." Texas lawmakers have so far failed to pass legislation to outlaw gender-affirming care for adolescents with gender dysphoria. But a Feb. 18 legal opinion from Paxton asserted such medical care qualifies as child abuse. Abbott followed up with a Feb. 22 directive to DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters that ordered the youth protection agency to investigate the use of gender-affirming procedures on children and called for inquiries into parents and medical providers who allegedly violate the law. Story continues The lawsuit, which also names Masters and his agency as defendants, alleges the child protection worker was soon placed on leave and informed that her family would be investigated." An investigator later interviewed the family, according to the suit, and disclosed the sole allegation against the parents was that they had a transgender daughter who may have been provided with gender-affirming health care. The Defendants have, without Constitutional or statutory authority, acted to create a new definition of child abuse that singles out a subset of loving parents for scrutiny, investigation, and potential family separation, the lawsuit alleges. Their actions caused terror and anxiety among transgender youth and their families across the Lone Star State and singled out transgender youth and their families. A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket boosted the third of four advanced GOES weather satellites into orbit Tuesday to monitor conditions across the Pacific Ocean, Alaska, Hawaii and the western United States, part of an ongoing $11 billion upgrade to the nation's forecasting infrastructure. "The GOES series has revolutionized severe event monitoring for us," said Steve Volz, a senior manager with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "With regard to storms and other environmental hazards such as wildfires, which are always a threat to many of our western states, the cutting edge technology aboard GOES-T, once operational, will allow us to see the bigger picture across the entire hemisphere while still reading the fine print of the dozens of weather stories that are happening simultaneously around the earth and around the U.S." A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket thunders away from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying the GOES-T weather satellite, bound for a high orbit above the Pacific Ocean to cover Hawaii, Alaska, Central America and the western United States. / Credit: NASA/Spaceflight Now The Atlas 5's Russian-built RD-180 first stage engine roared to life at 4:38 p.m. EST, followed an instant later by ignition of four strap-on solid fuel boosters. With a combined 2.3 million pounds of thrust, the 20-story tall rocket majestically climbed away from pad 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station atop a brilliant jet of fiery exhaust. Twelve minutes later, the Atlas 5's Centaur second stage completed the first of three engine firings needed to deliver the GOES-T satellite to its intended elliptical "transfer" orbit. Deployment was expected three-and-a-half hours after launch. Over the next several weeks, an on-board thruster will be used to raise the low point of the ellipse, putting GOES-T into a circular 22,300-mile-high orbit over the equator. At that altitude, the satellite will complete one orbit every 24 hours, rotating in lockstep with the planet below to continuously observe from the same vantage point. Once checked out and on station, GOES-T will be renamed GOES-18, replacing the GOES-17 satellite currently providing coverage of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Central America and the western United States. The new satellite will work in concert with GOES-16 over the Atlantic Ocean while GOES-17 serves as an operational spare. Story continues An artist's impression of the GOES-T satellite in orbit. Once checked out and on station, the satellite will be known as GOES-18. / Credit: NOAA Built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, GOES-T tips the scales at 11,508 pounds loaded with the propellant needed to operate for at least 10 years. The latest generation features an advanced camera providing HDTV-quality data, a sensitive magnetometer, an ultraviolet X-ray sensor to measure how solar radiation affects the upper atmosphere, an ultraviolet imager to constantly monitor the sun and sensors to measure charged particles from the sun that can affect communications and navigation. The satellite also is equipped with a lightning mapper that will image lightning fields in the western hemisphere about 200 times a second to give meteorologists a better sense of where significant storms are brewing. "NOAA's geostationary satellites provide the only continuous coverage of weather and hazardous environmental conditions in the Western Hemisphere, protecting the lives and property of the one billion people who live and work in the Americas," said Pam Sullivan, the GOES program director at NOAA. "These observations are even more critical now in a time when the U.S. is experiencing a record number of billion-dollar disasters. ... NOAA's western satellite is extremely important because most of the weather that affects the U.S. travels in a west-to-east direction. And so the western satellite gives us a great upstream view of what is coming." GOES-T also will monitor weather affecting air and sea traffic between Asia and the United States and provide accurate weather monitoring before, during and after disasters. The satellites bring "advanced new capabilities to help forecasters better monitor and predict dangerous environmental conditions like hurricanes, thunderstorms, floods and fires," Sullivan said. "Compared to the previous generation, the (new) satellites deliver 60 times more imagery and they have a new Lightning camera to track severe storms that spawn tornadoes and damaging winds." Charities, aid groups help families fleeing war-torn Ukraine Strike out: MLB cancels games after sides fail to reach deal Child care costs keeping many women out of the workforce Earlier this month, Amazon announced that vaccinated warehouse workers (but not unvaccinated ones) were no longer required to wear masks. Now, the company is making face masks optional at its operations facilities across the US regardless of vaccination status starting today, according to a notice sent to workers seen by CNBC. "[This] is an exciting step in our path to normal operations," the letter states. Workers will still have to mask up in states that mandate mask usage at work regardless of vaccination status, including Hawaii, Illinois, Oregon and Washington. Other states like California only require unvaccinated individuals to wear masks. The move comes amid a steep drop in Omicron COVID-19 infections across the US. Amazon confirmed that the notice was real, but told CNBC it still strongly recommends that unvaccinated employees continue to wear masks. Amazon had previously dropped mask restrictions toward the end of the COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak, but was forced to revive them in December as Omicron began to surge. Unlike Google and other tech companies, Amazon never required vaccinations for workers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidance last week allowing around 70 percent of Americans to remove face coverings in areas where COVID-19 hospitalizations were low. However, some medical professionals are still concerned about protection for the elderly, immunocompromised and other vulnerable individuals. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Americans' approval of U.S. President Joe Biden's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine rose over the past week, with 43% saying they approve in a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Tuesday, up from 34% last week. However, Biden's overall approval numbers remained virtually unchanged, with 43% of Americans supporting the way the president has handled his job, in a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Tuesday. More than half - 54% - said they disapproved of Biden's performance, with 61% of respondents saying the country was on the wrong track. A strong majority - 71% - of respondents to the poll on Ukraine said they believed the United States should provide it with weapons to respond to attacks that have seen Russians bomb urban areas as a six-day assault on its neighbor stalls. Some 77% said the United States should impose additional sanctions on Russia as a result. Support was bipartisan, with majorities of Democrats, Republicans and independents backing those moves. A majority of respondents, 58%, said paying more for fuel and gas because of the crisis was worthwhile to defend another democratic country. That was up from 49% who agreed with that statement in a poll taken on Feb. 23 and 24. Democrats were more likely to agree strongly or somewhat with that stance than Republicans and independents. Some 75% of respondents said they believed that doing nothing in Ukraine would embolden Russia to take further military action elsewhere in Europe, up from 71% a week earlier. Among Democrats, 77% said they believed that, as well as 78% of Republicans, while 68% of independents agreed with that belief. However, some 47% disapproved of Biden's response to the crisis, more than the 43% who approved of it. Biden's overall popularity has held near the low point of his presidency in recent weeks. He will have another chance to reach out to Americans on Tuesday night, when he gives his State of the Union address. Biden intends to use the annual speech both to stress the importance of countering Russian President Vladimir Putin and to push his domestic economic agenda, administration officials said. The poll on Ukraine was conducted online and in English throughout the United States. It gathered responses from 1,005 adults and has a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of 3.8 percentage points. (Reporting by Scott Malone and Makini Brice; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) By Andrew Hay and Rod Nickel (Reuters) - A Texas software developer and a cook in British Columbia are among dozens of Americans and Canadians answering Ukraine's call for foreign volunteers to fight Russia's invasion. With their governments refusing to send troops to Ukraine out of fear of sparking a world war, Americans and Canadians told Reuters they were inspired by Ukrainians' fierce resistance. Many believe their democratic rights at home may ultimately be jeopardized if they do nothing to defend Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Sunday for the formation of an "international legion." Some young volunteers traveled straight to Ukraine to enlist. Others were applying at Ukrainian embassies and consulates before quitting jobs or dropping out of university. The mobilization was taking place as Russian artillery bombarded Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, on Monday, the fifth day of conflict. "I feel guilty to not go," said Dax, 26, a veteran of the elite U.S. Army 82nd Airborne infantry division, who planned to deploy with other former U.S. military personnel. Like many volunteers, the Alabama native declined to give his full name amid discussion on social media of the need to keep their identities and movements secret for security reasons. Canadian Bryson Woolsey quit his job as a cook on Sunday after seeing Zelensky's appeal. He has no military training and plans to buy a plane ticket to Poland, cross into Ukraine and volunteer for combat. "I felt like I had to do something," said Woolsey, 33, of Powell River, British Columbia, who became restless as he watched images of wounded women and children in Ukraine. Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Sunday told reporters it was up to individual Canadians to decide whether they wanted to join Ukraine's international brigade. A U.S. State Department spokesperson, in an email to Reuters, said U.S. citizens are urged not to travel to Ukraine. Story continues Not all volunteers want to fight. In Quebec, 35-year-old physician Julien Auger was preparing to leave his young family to become a medic with Ukraine's health ministry and provide "neutral" humanitarian aid. "Global opinion and support is the key right now to solving the conflict," said Auger, a father of two who provides palliative care at a hospital in Saint-Jerome. In online groups, military veterans warned volunteers who lacked combat training they were heading into a conflict where inexperience could be a liability for themselves and others. That did not stop those like Tai B., 23, who studied journalism in New York. "I'm not looking to be a hero, or a martyr, I just want to finally do something right," said Tai, who can cook, do basic mechanics and knows how to handle a firearm. He said he has contacted Ukraine's U.S. Embassy staff about enlisting in Zelenskiy's "international legion." Hyde, a 28-year-old from the U.S. Midwest, said he was already in Kyiv and expected to start military training on Tuesday. "I cannot bear the thought of Europe once again being plunged into warfare," said Hyde, who described himself as a gun enthusiast and avid survivalist with no combat experience. He expects to be given a helmet, body armor, knee pads and eventually a rifle. In Austin, Texas, a software developer said he would draw on his experience as a U.S. Army cadet to fight for Ukraine. "If they're willing to defend democracy then I think those that benefit from a democratic society are duty-bound to support them," said the 25-year-old, who asked that his name not be used. "I'm not telling my parents until I head to the airport." (Reporting by Andrew Hay in New Mexico and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg; Additional reporting by Barbara Goldberg in New York; Editing by Sandra Maler and Stephen Coates) In addition to sending fighter jets and other aircraft to Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) for months, China also flew weather balloons to the islands airspace in mid-February. Taiwans Air Force confirmed the news on Sunday, saying that the balloons, which were operated by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), passed over shortly after the Lunar New Year holiday, according to Taipei Times. Radar reportedly detected the balloons, which were seen flying in four groups, at an altitude of 2,743-3,048 meters (9,000-10,000 feet) above the cities of Keelung, Taoyuan and Hsinchu. A long-range rocket unit of an artillery brigade of the PLAs 72nd Group reportedly released the balloons. They have since caused security concerns, especially in light of President Tsai Ing-wen putting the islands military on high alert against foreign forces intending to manipulate the situation in Ukraine and affect the morale of Taiwanese society. Since Thursday the day Russia began invading Ukraine China has sent a total of 30 warplanes to Taiwans ADIZ, according to the islands Ministry of National Defense (MND). Beijing has rejected comparisons between Taiwan and Ukraine while refusing to call Moscows action an invasion. According to Institute for National Defense and Security Research analyst Su Tzu-yun, however, the balloons do not pose an immediate security threat, reported the Taipei Times. The Air Force has full grasp of the movements (of the balloons). It is believed they are being used for meteorological observations, spokesman Shih Shun-wen said on Sunday, as per Focus Taiwan. Lu Lishi, a former instructor in the Military Discipline Department of Taiwans Naval Academy, suggested that while the balloons could indeed be for weather research, their true purpose is to help China develop a software called Advanced Refractive Effects Prediction System (AREPS), United Daily News reported. Using the balloons, the PLA can compare and correct sounding data and input meteorological environmental parameters,Lu said. Ultimately, they would be able to harness meteorological data to improve long-distance communication and radar detection performance. Meanwhile, the MND released a video on Sunday that assured the public of its strengthened capabilities and preparedness to deter China if Beijing decides to take advantage of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The military has continued to step up surveillance, remains alert 24/7 and is closely observing military activities across the Taiwan Strait. We are determined and capable of defending the country, the MND said. Featured Image via UDN Story continues Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Chinese American Hero Feeds Over 100 Homeless Daily Since New Years in SF Chicago Man Fatally Shot While on 911 Call to Report Carjacking Asian restaurant owners targeted in wave of home break-ins in Cincinnati Tri-State area 'I Accept Apologies': Margaret Cho Says She's Forgiven Jay Leno for His Anti-Asian Jokes By James Pearson and Raphael Satter LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Warnings that pro-Russian ransomware gangs would snarl networks in Ukraine and its allies have so far failed to materialise amid disarray among the criminal underworld often behind such attacks and fears insurers would not pay out. Conti, one of the most notorious Russia-based cybercrime groups known for using ransomware to extort millions of dollars from U.S. and European companies, announced its "full support" for the government of President Vladimir Putin last week - a position it later walked back as they themselves became victims of a leak. "We do not ally with any government and we condemn the ongoing war," the group said in a later statement on its website. Hours later, a Twitter account called "ContiLeaks" appeared, and published what it said was internal chat records from the criminal group. The secret chats were leaked by a Ukrainian cybersecurity researcher, according to Vitali Kremez, the chief executive of Florida-based cybersecurity firm AdvIntel, and Alex Holden, the founder of Wisconsin-based Hold Security. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the material. Kremez and Holden said they were both in touch with the researcher but that he did not wish to speak to the media because he was still in Ukraine. According to Kremez, the researcher had access to the logs for some time but the trigger for going public was Conti's decision to swear allegiance to Moscow as Russian forces invaded Ukraine. "He was offended by what they said," he told Reuters. In the months leading up to Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Western intelligence agencies warned of chaos caused by a destructive "spillover" of any potential Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine's national infrastructure. Last month, the Conti group was involved in high-profile attacks against KP Snacks, a maker of popular British savoury snacks, and at least one oil storage company that caused delays in some European oil shipments. Story continues INSURANCE WOES To be sure, U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner said top Russian hacking groups identified by the United States - the A Team as he called it - had not been used in a major cyberattack since the invasion. "It does not appear that they've been activated," he told Reuters on Monday. On Sunday, a second notorious ransomware gang called Lockbit, also believed by cybersecurity experts to have members in Russia, released a statement declaring their neutrality in the conflict with Ukraine. "For us it is just business and we are all apolitical. We are only interested in money for our harmless and useful work," the group said on its website. "We will never, under any circumstances, take part in cyber-attacks on critical infrastructures of any country in the world or engage in any international conflicts." One reason for that could be a loophole in cybersecurity insurance policies. Experts and industry-watchers say the more sophisticated digital extortion gangs tend to focus on insured organisations because the victims already have a policy to make the payoff, making them less likely to bargain for a lower ransom or refuse to pay. But insurance policies typically have exclusions for what is described as a "force majeure event" such as an act of war. The legal precedent around what exactly that means is still developing, but a cyberattack claimed by a gang aligned with a belligerent power like Russia could easily fall into that category, said Holden of Hold Security. "In ransomware attacks, most companies call their ransomware insurer," he said. "You can imagine that insurers would say, 'force majeure' or 'this is a case of warfare we won't cover it'." There are other reasons too. Many gangs are laser-focused on making money and even if their membership is not interested in leaving Russia they are wary of attracting the negative attention that comes with openly allying with a hostile state. "Our government would start designating them as enemy combatants or terrorists," Holden said. (Reporting by James Pearson in London and Raphael Satter in Washington; Additional reporting by Jonathan Landay and Christoper Bing in Washington; Editing by Chris Sanders and Matthew Lewis) Apple is doing more in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine beyond cutting off services. As BuzzFeed News' John Paczkowski notes, the tech firm has halted "all product sales" in Russia after cutting off exports last week. Visit the company's Russian online store and every product is listed as unavailable. In a statement, Apple made clear this was in response to the invasion the iPhone maker "stand[s] with all of the people" hurt by the incursion, and is joining those "calling for peace." The company stressed that it had taken multiple actions beyond the sales freeze. It limited Apple Pay, and pulled the apps for the state-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik from the App Store. Apple also mirrored Google's decision to disable traffic data for Maps users in Ukraine (including live incidents) to avoid revealing info that could put Ukraine residents in danger. Ukraine Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov had called on Apple to stop sales and block the entire App Store. Google, Meta and other tech companies have restricted or withdrawn services in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began on February 24th. However, Apple is notable for pulling hardware from the market it's willing to give up its physical stake, at least for now. This is a notable sacrifice, if a limited one. Estimates put Apple's yearly revenue from Russia at roughly $2.5 billion in 2020. That's a large number for most companies, even if it represents just 0.9 percent of Apple's total sales from that year. As it stands, Apple wouldn't have gained much by sticking around. The invasion and ensuing international sanctions tanked the value of the ruble, making Apple's products that much harder to buy in the country. The halt will definitely affect Apple's bottom line it just won't deal as much damage as some might expect. JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli forces and armed Palestinians exchanged fire during an Israeli arrest raid in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank early Tuesday, leaving two Palestinians dead, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. One of those killed in the Jenin camp was identified as a 22-year-old member of the militant Islamic Jihad group; he had been shot in the head. The other was an 18-year-old. In the arrest raid, Israeli troops from the paramilitary border police surrounded the home of the wanted man who eventually turned himself in. An police statement said Palestinians opened fire from multiple directions twice during the raid, and that Israeli forces returned fire. As the Israeli forces left Jenin, dozens of people threw firebombs and a home-made grenade, drawing more Israeli fire, police said. The Jenin camp has been a stronghold of armed men from the pro-Iran Islamic Jihad and the larger militant Hamas group. Islamic Jihad's top political leaders are based in Syria and Lebanon, with some prominent members in Gaza, where it is the second largest militant group after the ruling Hamas. The Jenin camp is part of the roughly 40% of the West Bank that is under Palestinian administration, but Israeli troops routinely enter those areas for arrest raids. The killed 22-year-old Islamic Jihad member, Abdullah al-Hossari, had served 26 months in an Israeli prison before being released last August. Media reported that the other killed man, 18-year-old Shadi Najem, was unarmed. The man arrested in the raid was identified as Amad Abu al-Hija, who had previously been imprisoned by Israel. His father had been the head of the Hamas military wing in Jenin until his own arrest two decades ago. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) A man shot and killed his three daughters, their chaperone and himself during a supervised visit with the girls Monday at a church in Sacramento, California, authorities said. Deputies responding to reports of gunfire around 5 p.m. found five people dead, including the shooter, at the church in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood, said Sgt. Rod Grassmann with the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office. The victims included three girls ages 9, 10 and 13, Grassmann said. The shooter was estranged from his daughters' mother, who had a restraining order against him, Sheriff Scott Jones said. Investigators believe the shooting happened during a supervised visit with the children and that the fourth victim was their chaperone, Jones said. The shooter's name wasn't immediately released, but officials said he was 39 years old. An employee of The Church In Sacramento heard the gunshots and called 911, Grassmann said. Sheriff's officials are investigating it as a domestic violence incident, he said. Officials didn't know if the family members belonged to the the church, which sits on a mostly residential block near a commercial area east of downtown Sacramento. The Church In Sacramento caters to English, Chinese and Spanish worshippers, according to its website. No events for Monday were listed on its online calendar. Gov. Gavin Newsom said his office was working with local law enforcement. Another senseless act of gun violence in America this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating," Newsom said on Twitter. ___ Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press reporter Stefanie Dazio also contributed from LA. The BBC argues that the story is in the public interest - Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images An alleged MI5 agent is "dangerous enough to kill a woman" and should be identified publicly "to prevent future harm" to women, the High Court has heard as the government tried to gag the BBC. The broadcaster is attempting to publish a story about a dangerous extremist and misogynist" which it says raised serious questions" about the "attitude of MI5 toward the safety of women. The Attorney General has applied for an injunction against the BBC to ban them from publishing the identity of the man named in court only as X on the grounds that it would harm national security and put his life at risk. During today's hearing the judge was told that the X used his status to terrorise his partner, given the pseudonym Beth, who he is alleged to have abused physically, sexually and psychologically. Though the evidence surrounding the identity of the man is shrouded in secrecy and documents have been blacked out by the lawyers, parts of Beths statement were shown to the court. She wrote: His position was used to terrorise me, because it meant that I couldn't speak out about any of his behaviour towards me, because he had [REDACTED] who always had his back, who would intervene and who would kill me, if I spoke out. Lord Pannick said that she alleged that X said he was above the law and could do whatever he wanted because he worked for the security services and he felt empowered by his work with MI5. Suella Braverman - Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images Though little is known about his identity, documents suggest that he had been actively involved in groups he had been an informant against, and the extremist groups which may want revenge against him were described as fragmentary, dispersed and immobilised. The BBC argue the story is in the public interest as MI5 should have known X is a dangerous extremist and misogynist" and that it was wrong to use X as an agent. X is also alleged to have abused a second partner named only as Ruth who has appealed for the judge to name him on the basis that he is a danger to women, and she fears he may kill. Story continues Ruth said in a statement: I consider that he is dangerous enough to kill a woman and I fear that he will do so if he is not challenged and exposed. I think it is crucial that other women know his identity and what he looks like, so that he cannot trick and harm them. Documents handed to the court reveal that the broadcasters alleges that the story raises questions about the extent to which [M15] enabled, and turned a blind eye to, the dangerous extremism, violence and abusive behaviour of X. They say it also raises issues over the "scrutiny" of what the intelligence agency is doing to root out misogyny and protect women from harm. Lawyers representing Ms Braverman said that she "neither confirms or denies" the BBC's claim that X is an agent, or covert human intelligence source (Chis), but is conducting the hearing on the "hypothetical assumption" that he is or was. Open and closed judgments when ruling is made Sir James Eadie QC, representing the Government, added that the "most serious" allegations against X have been investigated by police and no further action was "considered appropriate to be taken". But the court was also reminded that MI5 operations target extremists and terrorists, its agents and informants must necessarily be drawn from the same spheres and some are involved in criminality. The recruitment pool is complicated, chaotic, volatile and fragile and those in it have backgrounds, lifestyles, opinions and motivations which are very far removed from the world of those involved in this litigation. But Lord Pannick argued that MI5 had been reckless in employing X and it is a matter of genuine contemporary concern on how state institutions address violence against women. The BBC say that the story adds to the current debate over misogyny in Scotland Yard by demonstrating that allegations of misogyny and abuse extend beyond the police into security services. Lord Pannick also argued that the human rights and safety of women who might in the future date or have a liaison with X were at risk if he was not identified. He argued it is difficult to see how police can protect women unless X is named. Mr Justice Chamberlain, clarifying the BBCs arguments, said: It is the rights, or if not the rights at least the interest, of other women who do not know about X but who might be considering entering into some form of relationship with him. But Sir James argued the public interest in not identifying X overrode the concerns as the secrecy and maintenance of confidentiality is an essential precondition to the efficiency and effectiveness to the protection of the public provided by the security and intelligence agencies. He said if X's identity were revealed other people would not come forward as informants. The rest of the two day hearing will be held behind closed doors when special advocates - security-cleared lawyers - will represent the BBC's interests. The judgement is expected at a date to be set. In this article: MOSCOW (Reuters) - Belarus has no plans to join Russia's military operation in Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was quoted as saying on Tuesday. Lukashenko denied Kyiv's allegations that Russian troops were attacking Ukraine from Belarus' territory, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported. (Reporting by Moscow bureau; Editing by Edmund Blair) Russian President Vladimir Putin with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, on February 18. Sergei Guneyev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) The Belarusian president may have shared on live TV Russia's plan of attack for Ukraine. Alexander Lukashenko showed "what looks like an actual invasion map," a reporter tweeted. The map also showed Ukraine divided into four sections. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko may have accidentally shared Russia's invasion plans for Ukraine on live television. A short video shared by the Belarusian journalist Tadeusz Giczan on Twitter showed Lukashenko pointing to a map of Ukraine that shows it segmented into four parts. Giczan called it "what looks like an actual invasion map." Lukashenko is an authoritarian and longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I thank these guys," Lukashenko said, though it was unclear who he was referring to. "They warned us, and literally, six hours before the launch of the missiles, we discovered this." Russia's Iskander tactical missile system was "located here, right?" he added. At that point, someone off-screen says, "In the Mazyr area," referring to a Belarusian city. "In the Mazyr area," Lukashenko said. "We hit these rockets, these positions. And we haven't seen them afterward. During the offensive of the Russians in Ukraine, we already did not see them from the position. That's why I'm saying, yes, we have made launches from the territory of Belarus, and I told, frankly, which positions we targeted. Sit down." Lukashenko's map shows red arrows from Belarus and Russian that point deep into Ukraine, with a pincer over Kyiv (the country's beseiged capital) and others that reach from the east all the way to the Dnieper river in the country's heart. The video appeared to be published by a Belarusian pro-state Telegram channel. Ukraine's parliament said on Tuesday that Belarusian troops had entered the Chernihiv region in northern Ukraine, near the country's border with Belarus. Story continues It said the information was confirmed by Vitaliy Kyrylov, spokesperson for the North Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine. The development came hours after Lukashenko told state news media that his country's troops were not joining Russia in its attack on Ukraine. A US defense official told reporters on Tuesday there was "no confirmation that the Belarusians are entering Ukraine, we've seen no indication of that," according to Politico. Tuesday marked the sixth day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which prompted protests around the world, including in Russia. Western nations have since levied heavy sanctions and other restrictive financial measures against Russia, in moves strongly condemned by the Kremlin. Lukashenko, often referred to as "Europe's last dictator," is an authoritarian who has been in power since 1994. He is widely considered to be a puppet of Putin and relies heavily on the Kremlin's support to stay in power. There were mass protests against Lukashenko in Belarus in 2020 after he won a sixth term in an election widely regarded as rigged. The Belarusian leader faced global condemnation last year for grounding a Ryanair flight (which was escorted into Minsk, Belarus' capital, with a fighter jet), citing a security threat, to arrest a prominent dissident. Experts said Lukashenko would not have engaged in such a brazen move without Putin's permission. Lukashenko is now Putin's closest ally in Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Read the original article on Business Insider President Joe Biden calls on reporters for questions while speaking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine President Biden will outline a plan to tackle the mental health crisis during his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, which will focus heavily on holding social media companies accountable for their role in it. The Biden administration argues that the mental health crisis among young people is "accentuated by large social media platforms, which for years have been conducting a national experiment on our children and using their data to keep them clicking-with enormous consequences," according to senior administration officials. In the address, Biden will call on Congress to strengthen privacy protections, ban targeted advertising to children, and demand that technology companies stop collecting personal data on children. "The evidence is mounting that social media plays a systemic role in worsening the mental health of countless young people," senior administration officials said. The strategy to address the mental health crisis is part of an overall "unity agenda" that the president will outline in the State of the Union. Officials noted staggering statistics around mental health, including that students are about five months behind in math and four months behind in reading, compared with students prior to the pandemic and emergency department visits for attempted suicide have risen 51 percent among adolescent girls. Biden will call on Congress to ban excessive data collection and targeted advertising online for children and young people and include at least $5 million in his fiscal 2023 budget for advancing research on social media's harms, as well as the clinical and societal interventions to deploy to address them. "The president believes tech companies should be held accountable for the harms they cause and believes we need action here," officials said. Officials added that some pieces of this require legislation but there are also pieces that they believe we do administratively, particularly around research and understanding harms. Story continues The efforts to support Americans by creating health environments is the third pillar in an approach that Biden will lay out to address the mental health crisis, which also involves strengthening system capacity and connecting Americans to care. The president will include a $700 million investment in programs around training and supporting clinicians in his budget in an effort to expand the pipeline of behavioral health providers. This funding is intended to build on the $103 million from last year's American Rescue Plan to address burnout and strengthen resiliency among health care workers. The administration will launch a crisis hotline in July, so that every American in crisis can dial '988' to be connected to support. The president will include nearly $700 million to staff up the crisis centers, which will build on the $180 million in the American Rescue Plan to support local capacity to answer crisis calls. To increase access to care, Biden's budget will propose that all health plans cover behavioral health services with an adequate network of providers, including three behavioral health visits each year without cost-sharing. Biden will also call for expanding access to telehealth and access to mental health support in schools, colleges, and universities. A 2008 law signed by President George W. Bush required that when employers offer mental health and substance use disorder services as part of their health plans, they are prevented from imposing less favorable benefit limitations on those benefits than on medical and surgical benefits. "That standard is too often ignored, and this administration is taking important steps to enforce the law," officials said. Bob Baffert wants the courts to allow his horses to run in this year's Kentucky Derby despite his two-year suspension. (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press) In an expected move that will heighten the uncertainty about who can run in this years Kentucky Derby, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert filed suit in federal court against Churchill Downs Inc., chief executive Bill Carstanjen and board chair Alex Rankin, to allow him to run horses in the worlds most famous thoroughbred race. The complaint, filed Tuesday in the Western District of Kentucky, alleges that Bafferts constitutional right to due process was violated when Churchill Downs suspended him for two years after the positive drug test for last years winner Medina Spirit. The notion that Churchill Downs could unilaterally ban a trainer by an edict coupled in a press release without having the facts or any semblance of due process should arouse outrage in any fair-minded person, said Clark Brewster, who is representing Baffert in this matter. Bafferts long-time attorney, Craig Robertson, has excluded himself from this situation because his firm also has Churchill Downs as a client. Churchill Downs was swift with its rebuttal. The lawsuit filed by Bob Baffert is disappointing but certainly not surprising, CDI said in a statement. His claims are meritless and consistent with his pattern of failed drug tests, denials, excuses and attempts to blame others and identify loopholes in order to avoid taking responsibility for his actions. These actions have harmed the reputations of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs and the entire thoroughbred racing industry. Churchill Downs will fight this baseless lawsuit and defend our companys rights. Whats at stake here is the integrity of our races, the safety of horses and the trust of the millions of fans and bettors who join us every year on the first Saturday in May. The one thing that has been certain the last year is that the winner of last years Kentucky Derby would be decided in the courts. After more than eight months, Medina Spirit was disqualified last week by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission after testing positive for betamethasone, a legal anti-inflammatory medication that is banned for use on race day. Mandaloun, the second-place finisher, was named the winner. Story continues In a highly unusual ruling, the KHRC did not stay Bafferts 90-day suspension, which is scheduled to begin March 8. If it is enforced, Bafferts penalty would be in effect throughout the country and Baffert would have to vacate his barn at Santa Anita. Bafferts attorneys have filed suit to stop the suspension and have precedent on their side as stays are almost always granted upon appeal. Bafferts attorneys have argued that the rule against betamethasone only applies when it is injected into the joints or other parts of a horse, not when applied through an ointment to treat a rash. The KHRC disagreed. The facts are clear and Churchill Downs knows them but refuses to acknowledge them, Brewster said. Churchill Downs knows the post-race test report occurred as a result of the use of a harmless ointment known as Otomax. They know it was prescribed by Medina Spirits treating veterinarian and properly and timely reported to the data bank the day it was dispensed. They know no rule was violated and the ointment could never have enhanced Medina Spirits performance. Experts previously contacted by The Times doubt that the amount found in Medina Spirits system would have had any effect on his performances. The biggest obstacle is public perception, that a rule is a rule, regardless of its consequences. This case and the events of the last eight months are about more than just me and ability to do the work I love, Baffert said. If powerful forces can block me from competing, they can do this to anyone. This is a fight for the integrity of our great sport, and we have the facts, the law and truth on our side. Medina Spirit died on Dec. 6 following a workout at Santa Anita. A necropsy did not determine an exact cause of death; though it contained several factors that were consistent with a cardiac event, it could not exclude other explanations. No drugs, other than legal ones reported to the state, were found in his system. This weekend is among the first series of win-and-youre-in races for the Kentucky Derby. Baffert is currently not allowed to accumulate points, meaning if his owners want in the Kentucky Derby they will have to hire another trainer. But few have defected, and Baffert has two horses in Saturdays San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. Now it will be up to the courts to help determine the starting field for this years Kentucky Derby. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A Burr Ridge businessman pleaded guilty Tuesday to swindling as much as $2.6 million from hospitals seeking coveted protective gear in the traumatic early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, then blowing much of it on credit cards, two Maseratis and a Range Rover. Dennis Haggerty, 46, pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering during a hearing before U.S. District Judge John Kness. Preliminary sentencing guidelines call for up to about four years in prison, and prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of about $2.57 million in allegedly ill-gotten gains. According to Haggertys plea agreement with prosecutors, the scheme began in March 2020, when Haggerty and two business partners formed At Diagnostics and contracted with two hospitals to provide as many as 1 million N95 face masks in exchange for $5 million. One of the hospitals, identified only as Hospital A, was located in Chicago. The other, Hospital B, was previously identified by the Tribune as the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. According to the plea agreement, on March 31, 2020, the Chicago hospital deposited $2.5 million into a bank account that was supposedly the companys but was controlled only by Haggerty. Beginning the next day, Haggerty withdrew and spent the funds for his personal use, including nearly $150,000 in cash that he took out in increments under $10,000 to avoid federal currency reporting requirements, according to the plea. Haggerty also used more than $132,000 in hospital funds to buy a 2013 Maserati GranTurismo, a 2015 Range Rover, and a 2017 Maserati Ghibli, paid $20,000 to a friend, and made about $190,000 in credit card payments, according to the plea. In April, after At Diagnostics had failed to deliver a single mask, Hospital A demanded a refund. In response, Haggerty falsely stated that his bank had no record of the hospitals wire transfer and that the bank was in the process of trying to get to the bottom of the issue, according to the plea. Story continues Confronted by his two business partners about the missing funds, Haggerty altered a bank statement to make it appear the money was never received, the plea stated. Meanwhile, in June 2020, after the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics entered into a contract with At Diagnostics for 500,000 N95 masks, the hospitals payment system inadvertently released $933,825 to Haggerty before any masks had been received, the plea stated. Instead of returning the money, Haggerty used some of it to repay what hed taken from Hospital A and spent another portion on himself, according to the plea. No masks were ever shipped to Hospital B, and as of this month, Haggerty had not paid back any of that money. The charges against Haggerty represented the single biggest case of fraud to arise in the Chicago area out of the pandemic. Among the others: An Elgin restaurant owner accused of obtaining a PPP loan even though shed closed the restaurant and terminated all of her employees; the owner of an Evanston-based technology company accused of falsifying paperwork seeking a $441,000 PPP loan; a south suburban businessman who allegedly was given more than $420,000 even though his company had no employees or ongoing operations; and a North Shore businessman accused of illegally price gouging customers seeking to buy protective masks. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com STORY: During the press conference, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said NATO must improve its defenses of the Baltic nations, the most vulnerable part of the military alliance. "This includes, on land, establishing a permanent, increased forward presence. In air, establishing a credible defense posture. And a sense of urgency in developing NATO's upgraded defense plan," said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg reinforced that NATO is a defensive alliance and called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull his forces from Ukraine and engage in good faith in diplomatic efforts." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said British troops would not fight Russian forces in Ukraine, and that recent reinforcements were firmly within the borders of NATO members. STORY: Canadian Bryson Woolsey, 33, quit his job as a cook on Sunday (February 27) after seeing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's appeal for the formation of an "international legion." He has no military training and plans to buy a plane ticket to Poland, cross into Ukraine and volunteer for combat. "I felt like I had to do something," said Woolsey, 33, of Powell River, British Columbia, who became restless as he watched images of wounded women and children in Ukraine. He added that his family is not happy about his decision. "I wanted to leave sooner, but I need to spend a couple of days with them to help them in this process, too. So, it's a big step. They're scared, right? As anyone should be." What began as an independent study project for college student Brandon Harris turned into a successful effort to help his close childhood friend be released from prison 12 years before his sentence was over. Sura Sohna, 23, had been serving a 14-year prison sentence when he received a letter from Harris. The two grew up playing video games and eating lunch together in elementary school and middle school. But Sohnas and Harris lives began to diverge when they went to separate high schools. Eventually Harris landed a scholarship to Davidson College, where he is now a senior, while Sohna had a few brushes with the law until he was sentenced to prison for first-degree burglary. The two reconnected when Harris, 22, found himself back at home when the pandemic shut down his campus two years ago. When he learned that Sohna was incarcerated, he reached out. Meanwhile, Harris had taken on an independent study project called Telling Stories of the Ignored and Forgotten in which he aimed to interview six different people. But the project pivoted and he focused his work on telling Sohnas story and the elements that led to his incarceration. Sohnas was the tale of a boy who grew up in poverty, experienced housing instability and hunger, wore the same clothes to school for days and often lived without electricity. While the childrens homes were 2 miles apart in Annapolis, Maryland, they lived in different worlds. Harris used to invite Sohna over to spend the night at his house in a middle-class neighborhood, where they would eat pizza, and watch television. When Sohna would visit Harris house, Sohna left behind a housing project where, even as a child, he said he remembers watching a man die after being shot and beaten. I remember when we went to Suras place, there would be a lot of police around and a lot of people out, Harris said. My neighborhood was quiet. When Harris went to a private high school, the two remained friends but their lives were changing. Harris started a nonprofit mentoring group, he was a varsity athlete and he became deeply involved with student government. When Harris tried to get Sohna involved in his nonprofit group, he attended a few meetings, but I was 17 and already too deep in the streets, Sohna said. Story continues Shortly after that, he was incarcerated for the first time. I had pretty much given up, Sohna said. I lived for the moment. I didnt think about the future. When Harris returned home from college during the pandemic, he learned where Sohna was. He decided to write that first letter to Sohna. It was good to hear that someone cared for me who I am and not what I did, Sohna said. Its crazy how communication can change people. They kept writing to each other. Because the pandemic prevented in-person visits, Patuxent Institution, where Sohna was serving time, allowed Skype calls. Sohna describes the first such call with Harris as joyful. He showed me his college, Sohna said. I talked to all his roommates, his friends. He showed me his room. I was just happy for him. He was in a great situation and I was in a bad one, but it made me feel like one day it was possible for me to go to school too. Sohna also introduced Harris to his friends in the institution. I remember they were looking and saying, Wow, hes in college, Harris said. It was foreign to them to have contact with someone in college. A pivotal experience was when a correctional officer told Sohna his time on the call was up. Sura asked, Can I say goodbye? Harris recalled. I remember the CO reaching and hitting the button to end the call. Harris called the officers actions inhumane. Around then, Harris was considering changing the theme of his independent study project. That moment, he said, became one factor that pushed him toward focusing on telling his friend's story. His research involved reaching out to Sohnas victims, arresting officers and the prosecutor. When it was time for Harris to present his final project via Zoom, 450 people from around the world attended the presentation in April 2021. A couple of Sohnas former teachers attended and another childhood friend chimed in during the call to say, I love you, Sura. It was shocking to see so many people there, Sohna said. When I went to the Zoom, they were encouraging me. It showed me how much love was there and how secluded I was from the world. The support also prompted Sohnas attorney, Keith Showstack, who had already filed a motion to have his sentence reconsidered, to ask the judge for that hearing. On Feb. 8, 12 years before his sentence was up, Harris was defending his friend in court before a judge. I talked about our connection and the growth I witnessed in Sura and what I think is possible, our project and the support network Sura has gained, our goals. The judge kept using the metaphor, You can take a horse to the water, but you cant make him drink. I told the judge, Sura is ready to drink if given the chance. Sohna wasnt there, but he was on the speakerphone. After the judge went through some legal jargon about convictions and days served, he finally asked, Mr. Sohna, do you know what this means? No, Sohna replied. You are being released, the judge responded. I was so shocked, Sohna recalls. I couldnt believe it. Harris thought the moment was surreal. We faced so many obstacles and they all popped into my head, he said. Within hours, Sohna walked out of Patuxent Institution in Jessup, Maryland. Harris was waiting for him outside. Just four days after his release, Sohna turned 23. Sohna has since been living at his mothers house in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He is studying to take the GED test. He wants to intern with a friend who is a professional photographer and then plans to attend college. Meanwhile Harris, who was planning to go to medical school, has switched his dreams to law school this fall. He graduates from Davidson in May. Showstack, Sohnas lawyer, said he knows Harris project influenced the judge but that the decision is dependent on other circumstances, as well. What is most important to Showstack is the transformation he witnessed in Sohna. I think Brandon more than anyone or anything else in his life opened Suras eyes and Sura finally realized he could be the person he wanted to be. Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. TAIPEI, Taiwan As Russian forces push ahead with their assault on Ukraine, leaders in both China and Taiwan are closely watching the situation and how Western governments respond. Russias invasion of Ukraine has generated enormous sympathy in Taiwan, a self-ruling island that Beijing claims as its territory. Chinese President Xi Jinping has not ruled out the use of force in a reunification with Taiwan that his Communist Party government insists is inevitable. On Friday, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said it strongly condemns Russias invasion of Ukraine and will join international economic sanctions. But Taiwan also has an eye on its own security, with President Tsai Ing-wen saying last week that the military must heighten surveillance. Taiwan has not reported any unusual maneuvers by the Chinese military in recent days. But in the last two years Beijing has ramped up what Taiwan has condemned as military aggression, regularly sending warplanes close to the island to deter what China perceives as a growing campaign for Taiwan independence. Last Thursday, as Russia began invading Ukraine, Taiwan was approached by nine Chinese aircraft, the defense ministry said. Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow? some headlines in Taiwanese media asked on Friday. Enoch Wu, a member of Taiwans governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), declined to speculate on the likelihood of a Chinese invasion, but said Taiwan and Ukraine faced the same threat: a revisionist power claiming another sovereign country as its own. I think this serves as a very good wake-up call that war is a modern possibility, he told NBC News on Thursday after the invasion began. People have talked a lot about the future of warfare being all about cognitive warfare, only about misinformation, but when push comes to shove tanks will roll. Taiwan Military Drill For Preparedness Enhancement Amid Chinese Threats (Ceng Shou / NurPhoto via Getty Images) But fears of imminent Chinese invasion are unfounded for a number of reasons, experts and Taiwanese officials say. One is geography: While Ukraine and Russia share a 1,200-mile land border, Taiwan is an island separated from mainland China by 100 miles of water. Story continues That means any Chinese invasion would be a large-scale, complex operation that the world could see coming well beforehand, said Wen Lii, a DPP member on Matsu, a Taiwanese island about 10 miles off the coast of mainland China. An amphibious assault of this size would require a massive, time-consuming buildup of Chinese troops along the coast, with many indicators noticeable several months in advance through satellite imagery, Lii said last week through a messaging app. Taiwan, a major exporter of electronics and semiconductors, also plays a much bigger role in the global economy. While Taiwan is Washingtons ninth-largest trading partner, Ukraine ranks 67th, according to the U.S. Trade Representative. Washington is highly focused on the security of Taiwan, said Ryan Hass, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. The Biden administrations Indo-Pacific strategy, released in February, said the U.S. would work to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, drawing criticism from China. The U.S. is also required to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons under the Taiwan Relations Act. Hass said that as a thriving liberal democracy in a region where autocracy is on the rise, Taiwan also has greater symbolic resonance for Americans than Ukraine, where democracy is less solidified. China also sees Taiwan as different from Ukraine, but for a different reason: It is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and not a sovereign nation, government officials say. They have accused Tsai of exploiting the Ukraine crisis to gain international support for the island, where Chinas Nationalists fled and established a rival government in 1949 after being defeated by the Communist forces of Mao Zedong. Inauguration of the All-out Defense Mobilization Agency Taiwan (Walid Berrazeg / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Since 1979, the U.S. has recognized the government in Beijing as Chinas only legitimate government. But its position on Taiwan is ambiguous, neither recognizing Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan, nor recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign nation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed last year that there had been no change to Washingtons one China policy. Chinas growing ties with Russia have also raised fears for Taiwan. In a joint statement Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed in Beijing in February, Russia reiterated its opposition to Taiwan independence in any form. But Western leaders should not overestimate the strength of the China-Russia relationship, said Kadri Liik, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations who studies Russia. Like the United States, she said, Russia has security concerns about Chinese technology and has been a target of its aggressive wolf warrior diplomacy. It also chafes under Chinas power to set the economic terms of their relationship. They have managed to desecuritize the relationship so that neither expects danger from the other, but they keep it in a very flexible framework so there are no formal alliance obligations, Liik said in an interview last week after the invasion began. But with Russias relations with the West immeasurably damaged, Liik said that Moscow could end up more dependent on China, and that it would be unlikely to oppose Chinese military action against Taiwan given its own actions in Ukraine. Wu the founder of Forward Alliance, a Taiwanese organization promoting civilian readiness for conflict and emergency situations said that with the world focused on Ukraine, Taiwan should avoid escalating tensions with Beijing and better prepare for possible aggression. The lesson [from Ukraine] is every country needs to own the responsibility of defending itself, he said. Hass said he hoped Taiwans leaders would find ways to instill confidence in the Taiwan people in the future of Taiwan in other words, not succumb to fear or anxiety. He advised leaders in Washington, where some are calling for more explicit commitments to defend Taiwan, to remember Theodore Roosevelts philosophy of speak softly and carry a big stick. My hope is that American policymakers will take a steady, principled, disciplined approach to finding ways to bolster Taiwans security within the parameters of our longstanding policy, rather than heightening tensions, Hass said. A man walks in front of a destroyed building after a Russian missile attack in the town of Vasylkiv, near Kyiv, on Feb. 27, 2022. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP - Getty Images) Meanwhile, most people in Taiwan see the threat from China as largely unchanged. In a survey conducted Feb. 14-15 by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation, more than 60 percent of respondents said they did not believe Beijing would invade Taiwan in the event of Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Discussions about Chinese threats are usually based on concrete intelligence instead of a foreign crisis, Lii said. Tina Chang, a 30-year-old resident of Taipei, the Taiwanese capital, said she saw a parallel with Taiwan in the sense of calm that seemed to pervade Ukraine right up until the Russian military assault. Most people in Taiwan, we dont think that China will invade us whatsoever, she said last week, adding that the crisis in Ukraine shows that anything can happen, and we need to prepare for what will happen in the future as well. Li Yayuanlun, the 31-year-old Chinese man who previously claimed he had been kidnapped as a blood-slave in Cambodia, reportedly fabricated his story, according to the Chinese embassy. Li had allegedly been lured into a false job advertisement by a gang before he was abducted and sold into another gang running an online fraud company who had used him as a blood slave for months, according to previous news reports. He then had supposedly managed to escape while in a poor physical state and was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 12. The Chinese Embassy requested Cambodian police conduct an investigation after the case caused a stir on Chinese social media. They concluded on Monday that Lis story was a fabrication. The Cambodian police informed the embassy that Li had been smuggled into Cambodia before he contracted a serious liver disease, which led him to ask for assistance from a local social organization, according to the Sixth Tone. While no names were publicized, the police have detained three people who reportedly assisted Li in fabricating his story to hide his illegal entry into Cambodia. The case will be transferred to the Cambodian judicial authorities, according to the Global Times. The Chinese embassy remains highly concerned about the case and will continue to follow up on it to protect the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties under the legal framework of China and Cambodia, according to The Star. The embassy has also called on Chinese people residing in Cambodia to abide by the laws of both countries, urging them not to engage in deception. Featured Images via Sina Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Arizona Boy Dies in Watercraft Accident at Utah State Park Elderly Chinese Man Collecting Cans in SF Assaulted by Group in Heartbreaking Viral Video Austin Police Officer 'Indefinitely Suspended' for Racist Texts, Memes About Asian Man Woman Loses Job After Harassing Asian Students With Racist Messages Iranetta Wright was announced as the 28th superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Iranetta Wright, current deputy superintendent of Detroit Public Schools, was announced as the 28th superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools at the districts Monday evening board of education meeting. More : Outgoing CPS superintendent Laura Mitchell is next CEO of Beech Acres Parenting Center Wright has never been a superintendent before but has worked in education for nearly 30 years, including in leadership roles as chief of schools and assistant superintendent at Duval County Public Schools in Florida, according to her resume. Beginning this year, Wright will lead the third-largest school system in Ohio, which employs about 6,000 staff members and serves approximately 36,000 students in 65 schools. "I'm looking forward to leading this district," Wright said in a Monday press release. "We're going to hit the ground running to learn, grow and develop together. Let's get to work." Board president Ben Lindy said the specifics of Wright's contract are still being negotiated, but anticipates Wright will begin in her new role in May. Wright is expected to start in her new role as @IamCPS superintendent sometime around May 1. Heres her resume and cover letter for the role cont in thread @Enquirer pic.twitter.com/o1DxVxNpAu mad mitch (@maddiemitch_) February 28, 2022 Wright was one of three finalists for the superintendent position, along with Middletown City Schools superintendent Marlon Styles and the current interim superintendent of CPS, Tianay Amat. The Enquirer obtained the candidates' resumes and cover letters through an open records request. Click here to see the three finalists' applications. Story continues The board hired Alma Advisory Group of Chicago in September to help facilitate the search, which district officials said garnered more than 50 applicants. The three finalists were interviewed in mid-February by district students, employees, community members and the board of education. During a student panel with the three finalists, Wright said that she thinks it is important to follow COVID-19 guidance from local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She also addressed her desire to move to Cincinnati, stating shes looking for a final place in her career and in life. I think I have 15-20 more years in me (before retirement), honestly, Wright said. But after that time, I want to stay in the community. Since those interviews the week of Feb. 9, the board of education met in executive session again on Feb. 24 to discuss "employment of a public employee or official," according to the CPS website. "We are incredibly excited to begin this new chapter at Cincinnati Public Schools," Lindy said in a Monday press release. "Choosing a new superintendent is one of the most important roles of a board of education(...) We believe we have chosen the best candidate, one who is committed to transformative, positive change for our students, community and staff." Tianay Amat, CPS interim superintendent, looks on during a CPS board meeting where Iranetta Wright was voted Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent at the Mary A. Ronan Education Center in Cincinnati, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Iranetta Wright served as the Deputy Superintendent of Schools in Detroit Public Schools Community District before accepting the job as CPS Superintendent. Amat will continue working for the district in her role as deputy superintendent, officials confirmed. "I am grateful for the opportunity to lead our incredible district for the last eight months," Amat said in the news release. "I welcome Ms. Wright to CPS and look forward to ensuring a smooth transition." More about the new superintendent Wright has served as a teacher, principal and principal leader within Detroit Public Schools, where she has worked as deputy superintendent for the 53,000-student district since 2017. Like Cincinnati, the majority of Detroit's students are Black. On her resume, Wright identified educational outcomes she has worked toward in her current role, including a focus on restorative practices (the district reduced suspensions by 63%), addressing chronic absenteeism and increasing access to arts programming. Before becoming deputy superintendent, Wright served as a teacher in middle and high school math, science and special education as well as an assistant principal, vice principal, principal, assistant superintendent and chief of schools at Duval County Public Schools in Florida. That district is the 20th largest in the country, serving 117,000 students with 163 schools and 13,000 employees. In her cover letter, Wright shared that she is a first-generation college graduate and grew up sharing a home with her grandparents. "The sense of urgency has never been greater," Wright wrote in her application. "As school systems work to rebound from the throes of the pandemic, the need to move efficiently and effectively to recapture and re-engage with our students and families will be one of the keys to sustained positive impact." She wrote she is "excited by all that Cincinnati has to offer" and sees "many parallels" between her experiences leading in Detroit and Duval and the "needs of the Cincinnati community." She is committed to providing social and emotional supports, transparency and equity. "Cincinnati Public Schools is poised to serve as a national model in sustainable transformation," she wrote. "I would be honored and humbled to serve as your next leader." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Iranetta Wright announced as new CPS superintendent Cindy Crawford, 56, hits the catwalk for the Off-White Womenswear Autumn/Winter 2022-2023 collection during Paris Fashion Week. (Getty Images) Cindy Crawfords 20-year-old daughter Kaia Gerber has clearly inherited her supermodel mums genes. When the pair hit the catwalk for the Off-White Autumn/Winter show as part of Paris Fashion Week, they made a striking double act. They were joined by a roll call of famous faces from the fashion world including Naomi Campbell, 51, who became a mum last May, reportedly through some form of fertility treatment, after she revealed her daughter was "not adopted". Read more: Bella Hadid announces charity auction of items she's secretly made in lockdown Campbell appears on the cover of this months British Vogue and was joined on the Paris catwalk by stunning supermodel sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid. Naomi Campbell walks the runway during the Off-White Womenswear Autumn/Winter 2022-2023 show during Paris Fashion Week. (WireImage) Campbell turned heads in blue velvet flares and a dramatic floor-length velvet coat, emblazoned with the word, Respectfully on the back. The look was topped off with a bold hat and eye-catching layers of clear-coloured, elaborate necklaces adorned her body. Outfits worn by Crawford and Gerber were similarly dramatic, as youd expect for Paris Fashion Week. The 56-year-old sported a fairytale, floor-length dress with a tulle, tiered skirt, holding electric blue sunglasses in one hand and a clutch bag in the other. Watch: Naomi Campbell has a WhatsApp group chat with her fellow 90s supermodels Kaia Gerber's father is the businessman Rande Gerber and she's been following in her supermodel mum's footsteps for the past few years. Gerber made her grand debut at Fashion Week back in 2017 and has already hit the catwalk for prestigious brands such as Fendi, Prada, Max Mara and Moschino. But it's more than just her modelling talents that she's inherited from her mother, she's also ventured into the acting world, starring as Ruby in the major TV series American Horror Story. She appeared in a stylish short film last year as part of her Calvin Klein #My Calvins campaign too. With her perfect bone structure, beautiful brunette locks and olive skin, Gerber has inherited all her mother's celebrated traits and thanks to her family ties, is one of the best connected young models on the fashion scene. Story continues Kaia Gerber, Crawford's 20-year-old lookalike daughter, hits the catwalk for the Off-White show entitled Spaceship Earth: An "Imaginary Experience" during Paris Fashion Week. (Getty Images) At Paris Fashion Week in February Gerber wowed in an edgy mini dress with a textured puffball skirt, a small train and a yellow tee. Gerbers electric blue nails matched her mums shades and she clutched a white pair of her own in one hand and an iPhone in the other. Gigi Hadid models at the Off-White Womenswear Autumn/Winter show during Paris Fashion Week. (WireImage) The Off-White catwalk spectacle was an emotional landmark too, being the brands first runway show since its founder Virgil Abloh passed away last November, aged 41, after a long battle with cancer. Abloh was deemed one of the most influential designers of his generation. Last year British Vogue editor Edward Enninful wrote a powerful tribute on Instagram expressing how the late Abloh had changed the fashion industry. He added, His achievements wont just live on. They will continue to evolve, because we are only seeing the beginning of his impact on the creative industries and surrounding world. HAZLET, NJ - Contact tracing in Hazlet schools will remain after the statewide mask mandate in schools is lifted on March 7, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Ridley said in a video announcement to parents. In the video dated March 1, Ridley noted that close contacts of COVID-19 positive individuals in the district will continue to be identified. However, quarantining of students will no longer be required after March 7, as long as identified close contacts report no symptoms. Hazlet students and staff can continue to wear masks and choose to quarantine if exposed. Other districts such as Howell Public Schools elected to nix contact tracing efforts last month, according to a letter penned to parents from Howell superintendent Joseph Isola. Read more: Howell Schools Are No Longer Contact Tracing COVID-19 Cases Masks are no longer required in Hazlet schools as of March 7, per Gov. Phil Murphys announcement last month. Yet, although the governors spokesperson says that districts should require masking on school transportation through March 7, Ridley noted that the district is recommending not requiring masks to be worn through Friday, March 4, in accordance with CDC guidelines updated Friday. "School districts should continue to require masking on buses until March 7, when the state's in-school mandate ends. We are pleased that the federal government has taken action that will align bus protocol with the mask requirement for New Jersey schools," Murphy spokeswoman Alyana Alfaro told Patch. Related: School Bus Mask Mandate Dropped: What Does It Mean For NJ Kids? Ridley also noted that the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the district has plummeted from over 100 across eight schools in early January to just 6 cases last week. Additionally, the central Jersey area, which spent nearly two months in the highly-dangerous red zone of the COVID-19 activity level report, has been downgraded to the moderate yellow zone: a significant reduction in terms of activity. Story continues The full protocol can be found in the districts safe return to in-person learning plan. It hasnt been easy, and it certainly hasnt been quick, Ridley said. Though, as the weather turns warmer, it does appear that we are heading in a good direction during the days and weeks ahead. View the full video announcement below: This article originally appeared on the Holmdel-Hazlet Patch When a protester heckled Massachusetts voting rights activist Beth Huang last month thinking she was Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, it was already Huangs third or fourth run-in with someone who had mistaken her for Wu, the citys first nonwhite mayor. People confuse me and lots of other Asian women for Michelle Wu, said Huang, the executive director of the Massachusetts Voter Table. Theyve confused a state rep of Vietnamese descent to be Michelle Wu. Theyve confused a state rep of Korean descent to be Michelle Wu. They must think that Michelle Wu is literally all over the place all the time. For Huang and other Asian Americans around the country, such incidents tend to crop up quietly in daily life. This one happened to make headlines, she said, because it occurred so publicly at a news conference. An ABC World News Tonight broadcast last month misidentified New York City community organizer Grace Lee as Michelle Go, an Asian American woman who was pushed in front of a subway train in January, in its coverage of a vigil for Christina Yuna Lee, another Asian American woman who was killed in her apartment. An ABC spokesperson said the network realized the mistake immediately and corrected it before the show aired anywhere else. In a statement to the Asian American Journalists Association, it said the misidentification was an unfortunate technical error, not one born from insensitivity. During its coverage of this years Super Bowl, NBC also misidentified the country singer Mickey Guyton as the R&B singer Jhene Aiko during a preshow performance. NBC Sports apologized on Twitter and didnt respond to requests for further comment. NBCUniversal is the parent company of NBC News, NBC Asian America and NBC Sports. Every time that happens, its not intentional. Or I assume its not intentional, Huang said of her misidentification experiences. But it does make me think that, often, we are not perceived to be as valuable as individual leaders. Story continues Simple errors like those usually occur without malice, experts say. But Asian Americans are familiar with a painful history of exclusion in the U.S. that has repeatedly stripped them of their individuality, and many see a pattern in the ignorance that enables such mistakes to occur so frequently today. Although Asian communities have populated the country since the 1800s, public hostility pushed them, as well as other non-Asian ethnic groups, to form cultural enclaves like Chinatowns. Legislation throughout the latter half of the 19th century, such as the Page Act and the Chinese Exclusion Act, further stereotyped Chinese people into a single category. Asian immigrants initially were portrayed as cheap, dispensable labor. As more arrived in the country, caricatures associated with the Yellow Peril depicted them as a threat to the West. The inability to separate Asian people from their races and perceived nationalities then grew starker as the U.S. entered wars against Asian countries. From the incarceration of Japanese Americans without trial during World War II to the lumping together of various Asian ethnicities during the Korean and Vietnam wars, experts said, such conflicts contributed to the homogenization of Asian Americans. Americans were able to separate Nazis from Germans, whereas many Americans werent able were able to separate Vietnamese communists from the Vietnamese in general, said Scott Wong, a professor of Asian American history at Williams College. Or they couldnt make the distinction between soldiers in Japan and Japanese Americans. You had to almost show an allegiance to Hitler or Mussolini for you to be interned during the Second World War if youre German or Italian. While that phenomenon might sometimes be attributed to the cross-race effect the tendency for people of all races to more easily recognize faces of their own race Wong said its prevalence when applied to Asian Americans is rooted in that perpetual foreignization throughout U.S. history. Many Americans, for the longest time, did not grow up seeing Asian people, Wong said. Its not an excuse now, because theres a lot of Asians in the country, but its a legacy of exclusion and then segregation. People today probably arent conscious of that context when they mistake one Asian person for another, Wong said. While theres nothing malicious about such incidents now, he said, they are a product of habitual American negligence in learning to distinguish between different Asian people and groups. Ever since the civil rights activist Mia Ives-Rublee gained national prominence for her work in disability justice, she began seeing herself tagged on social media as one of several other Asian American women in the field. The same happens to them in return, she said. Mia Ives-Rublee. (Courtesy Mia Ives-Rublee) Such mistakes occur so frequently that when someone requested her for a speaking engagement, Ives-Rublee wasnt sure whether theyd reached out to the right person. She said the constant instances of mistaken identity have made her feel almost like a fraud. Its just been a frustrating experience, particularly when we hit a certain milestone and get mistaken for somebody else, she said. It just takes some of the joy out of the hard work that we put in. Like, is my work making the impact that I think it is if people cant even tell the difference between me and other people? DongWon Song, a literary agent based in New York City, said they get mistaken for one of a handful of prominent Asian American literary agents at least once during every professional conference they attend, even though they often are of other nationalities and have distinctly different physical traits. DongWon Song. (Courtesy DongWon Song) It just felt very racially charged as a result, said Song, who uses they/them pronouns. I think people misunderstand the term microaggression in a lot of ways, because the micro doesnt apply to the impact. Regardless of intent, they said, instances like those can feel just as dehumanizing as more overtly racist aggressions: It becomes clear that the perpetrator is upholding an internal projection of who they are rather than engaging with them as an individual. Its going to sound like a big leap, but all those tiny little moments are what make it possible for someone to push someone on the subway tracks without thinking of them as a person or to attack a lady in the street, Song said. Until people realize they are complicit in that exact same system, whether its making fun of my name or getting my pronouns wrong or thinking Im literally another person, all those things are designed to remove my humanity and agency in a way that enables violence. Such honest mistakes are part of a longstanding pattern of violence against Asian Americans. When two men murdered Vincent Chin in Michigan in 1982, they were looking to take out their anger against the Japanese car industry. Chin, a Chinese American man, became the target of a hate crime against an ethnic group he didnt belong to. Lok Siu, an associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who specializes in Asian diaspora studies, said racist characterizations have repeatedly linked Asian Americans through similar stereotypes and that people view and understand Asian Americans only through those lenses when they dont make efforts to familiarize themselves with other ethnic groups. So you have these different moments of mistaken identities for particular targeted groups that were really just mistakes, Siu said. But theyre mistakes that they dont care about, because its not about the people theyre attacking. Its really about expressing their rage against a group or against somebody. Just as health officials in the late 1800s falsely linked Chinatowns to the spread of disease by blaming Chinese Americans for smallpox and cholera outbreaks, Chinese Americans in 2020 once again became scapegoats for the Covid-19 pandemic. And against the background of tense U.S. relations with China, Siu said, recent government targeting of Chinese scientists is another modern-day manifestation of fear born from the inability to recognize the individuality of Asian Americans. When all members of a diverse race of people are viewed as one, one ethnic groups being targeted can mean any ethnic groups being targeted. The violence against Asian Americans, particularly East Asians, as a result of recent anti-China discourse isnt surprising, Siu said, because its a product of the same phenomenon that has plagued those communities for nearly two centuries. Its not a one-off. Its not anomalous. Its part of a historical process, Siu said. And you see this emerging again in this moment, but you see the same thing. Dave Chappelles Pilot Boy Productions is investing in the subscription podcast platform Luminary behind his podcast The Midnight Miracle amid an executive shake-up that will see Rishi Malhotra take over as Luminarys CEO. Malhotra will succeed Simon Sutton, the former HBO president who has served as Luminarys CEO since 2019. Sutton had informed the Luminary board that he was leaving his position at the end of 2021, according to an announcement from the company on Tuesday, but he will remain on the board. More from The Hollywood Reporter Terms of Chappelles investment in Luminary were not disclosed, but the comedians production company will have a seat on Luminarys board of directors as part of the deal. Ben Jealous, a civil rights leader who was formerly the CEO and president of the NAACP, will represent Pilot Boy Productions on Luminarys board. I chose Luminary because they value artists and share my vision for reimagining audio content, Chappelle said Tuesday. The Midnight Miracle and our unique format is changing the podcast experience. Malhotra was most recently the co-founder and CEO of JioSaavn, an Indian music streaming service. From 2003 to 2008, he was vp multiplatform program marketing at HBO, managing promotion for HBO programming across platforms and helping build HBO On Demand. We are going beyond subscriptions to deliver products that connect fans more uniquely to creators. Im honored to work with the exceptional team and talent partners at the company, Malhotra said in a statement. We are at a crossroads of shaping new media that entertains, educates and elevates us. Click here to read the full article. Mario Tama The National Park Service approved a permit late Monday evening for a right-wing protest slated to occur in Washington, D.C. midday Tuesday ahead of President Joe Bidens State of the Union address, according to documents reviewed by The Daily Beast. In the permit applicationfirst filed back on February 18 for the Stage of Freedom event with the National Park Service and later obtained by The Daily BeastKyle Sefcik, the rally organizer, touted that upwards of 3,000 individuals might hopefully attend the event. However, the now-issued park permit has since revised the initial 3,000 attendee prediction downward, with the number now fewer than 500 participants who will gather besides the Washington Monument at the Sylvan Theater. Permittee has amended his application to reduce the expected maximum crowd size to less than 500 attendees, the approved and edited permit now states. Banned Militias Are Sneaking Back on Facebook to Grift Off the DC Trucker Convoy As for what activities are on the agenda, the organizer listed on the permit that rally-goers during the eight-hour-long gathering will partake in Peaceful Demonstration/Assembly! Christian Music/Speakers against mandates. Support of Convoys in Canada. Lifting mandates in DC/USA. Furthermore, on the original application, Sefcik took the unusual route of responding to questions on the government form with his own questions in extremely messy handwriting. To one of the questions on the application about what tasks volunteers might perform, the organizer responded, Do we need them? As for responding to questions with more questions, Sefcik told The Daily Beast late Monday that he didnt see the problem. Ya, I wanted to see if we needed certain people, he said while claiming that he has done events my whole life, huge ones. Sefcikwho is an MMA fighter and Maryland gubernatorial hopefulwent on to dodge the question about the number of people who will be attending his gathering ahead of additional trucker convoys slated to arrive in the city later this week. Story continues D.C. Truck Convoy Organizers Plan Sputters Like a Busted Engine Brother, all I can say is that we both know that it was seen by a lot of people in the United States, and Im not talking numbers, but lets just say I know that people will be there, he said. Lets just say, I know there will be people there, he added while proudly claiming his event was making authorities in Washington nervous. Update on Protest in DC and Convoys pic.twitter.com/ekd6mUSIWx Kyle Sefcik (@KyleSefcikForMD) February 28, 2022 I have never had to work that hard on a permit before, he continued. No, I am serious, man. I spent like 20 hours just in the last two weeks alone having meetings with them [The National Park Service] and every kind of government agency because I was number one on their list. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. NEW YORK Even before the Nets first superstar got injured and their second superstar forced a trade, home games in Barclays Center were a civic embarrassment. Rowdy local teenagers rained M-V-P chants on Steph Curry in November; a half-full arena worshipped LeBron James every move when the Lakers visited in January. As a resident of one of the neighborhoods surrounding the Barclays Center, I can attest that, in an area largely bereft of conspicuous basketball fandom, whatever faint NBA team spirit does exist around these parts comes in the form of Julius Randle or LeBron jerseys. And it only got worse from there. Kevin Durant got hurt and James Harden forced his way out of town, and home games went from cringeworthy to noncompetitive disgrace. The Raptors cruised to a 36-point blowout at Barclays on Monday night, barely raising eyebrows because getting torched by the likes of Scottie Barnes is a regular occurrence in Brooklyn now. The loss dropped the Nets to 13-17 at home. Without the unvaccinated Kyrie Irving to shoulder any of the load, theyve won a single home game in the last six weeks. As a title contender collapses, everyone has strapped on the hot dog suit as they scour the the barren Earth for the culprit. Mayor Eric Adams says its his predecessors fault that Irving cant play at home. Hes implied that Bill de Blasios Boston roots led him to create the tortured vaccine mandates that allow unvaccinated players from visiting teams but not New York ones. I think the rule is unfair, Adams said last month. We are saying to out-of-town athletes that they can come in and not be vaccinated, yet New York athletes, you have to be vaccinated ... Im not sure if a Boston fan created this rule, I dont know. The degree to which Adams is joking becomes less clear as he keeps bringing it up, harping on it on the same day that he announced his pending repeal of the rule in question. Makes no sense, and I dont know who thought about putting such a ridiculous rule in place, he said, of away teams can come and play when our teams from New York (cant), but these are the rules, and I have to I have to follow the rules. Story continues But the Key2NYC is gone as of next week, and Adams doesnt have to follow the rules; he makes them. And anyway, there are perhaps a small handful of unvaccinated NBA players remaining, and none of them are remotely as consequential to their teams as Irving. In reality, there is no competitive advantage for road teams able to bring in unvaccinated players, unless youre really jealous that the other team gets to use Justin Holiday while Irving sits. The other Nets players say they can carry the load without Irving and passive-aggressively blame Harden, blaming his toxic disinterest for the teams losing ways. After winning their first home game with Seth Curry and Andre Drummond, who came north in the Harden trade, the players Irving has hung out to dry threw an ostentatious celebration for the medias benefit, then proclaimed everything was better. The locker room is just a great vibe in there right now, Bruce Brown said after the Feb. 14 win over the Kings at Barclays. I dont know what it is. Everything just shifted after the trade deadline. Everybody likes everybody, its just great. That was the first home win for the Nets in a month; it would be their last for at least three weeks, as they havent won in Brooklyn since. Harden has looked tremendous as a 76er since pouting his way out of Brooklyn, and hes been mocked for the hamstring tightness and strength deficit that appeared miraculously healed once he was paired with Joel Embiid. But this was no normal NBA divorce. Irving explicitly told the world that whatever value he sees in remaining unvaccinated was more important than winning a ring with Harden. Im not bringing science into basketball, he said in his latest testy exchange with a reporter about the issue. Im just saying to everybody: Im human, I have decisions to make. I have a family to take care of. There are things that are just as important to me as being great at the game of basketball or leaving a legacy. Fine, but who can blame Harden for not wanting Irvings other priorities to get in the way of his title chase, especially when those priorities are complete nonsense? Irving himself is the king of the blame game, muddling the situation more than anyone else has. Hes blamed the league and players union for giving him false assurances that they could find a loophole for his unprickable skin. The NBA and the NBPA made it very clear that there would be things that I would be able to do to work around this, he said last month. And thats off the table. He called an ESPN reporter a puppeteer for having the audacity to ask if injuries to Durant and Harden increased his urgency to get vaccinated. And he blamed Adams and de Blasio. Im the only player that has to deal with this in New York City because I play there. We have Eric Adams, we have the New York mandate, we have things going on that are real-life circumstances that are not just affecting me, bro. No. Irving is the only player that has to deal with this because hes the only player in New York who wont get vaccinated. Amid the finger-pointing festival in Brooklyn, its not more complicated than that. The desperate search for the perfect person to blame or the perfect loophole for Irving have obscured his agency here. The Nets are a disaster because Irving is only partially available, and Irving is only partially available because he refuses to take a vaccine. This started with one mans decision to refuse a shot, and it could end in the time it takes a needle to enter an arm. DirecTV FEDERICO PARRA/AFP via Getty Images DirecTV is officially taking the Russian-backed network RT off the air. Amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the company said Tuesday it will no longer offer the channel RT America. "In line with our previous agreement with RT America, we are accelerating this year's contract expiration timeline and will no longer offer their programming effective immediately," the company said, per Axios. It was a "major blow to the network's reach in" the United States, CNN noted, as DirecTV was one of only two major U.S. carriers that offered RT. The other is DISH, which hasn't said whether it may also drop RT, but a company spokesperson told CNN that it's "closely monitoring the situation." Earlier on Tuesday, Google announced it would block YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe effective immediately. "Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action," Google Europe said. Meta also announced it was blocking the Russian-backed channels across the European Union "given the exceptional nature of the current situation," and the National Association of Broadcasters on Tuesday called on broadcasters to drop any Russian state-sponsored programing. "We believe that our nation must stand fully united against misinformation and for freedom and democracy across the globe," the group said. In the U.K, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced last week that the media regulator Ofcom was reviewing RT's broadcast license. Opposition leader Keir Starmer argued it should not be allowed on television, saying, "Russia Today is [Vladimir Putin's] personal propaganda tool. I can see no reason why it should be allowed to continue to broadcast in this country." On Monday, Ofcom said it had opened "15 new investigations into the due impartiality of" RT, with Ofcom Chief Executive Dame Melanie Dawes saying, "Given the scale and gravity of the crisis in Ukraine, audiences expect to be able to trust and rely on duly impartial broadcast news." Story continues You may also like U.S. official: Belarus is preparing to join Russian invasion of Ukraine 17-mile-long Russian convoy reaches outskirts of Kyiv 'Mama, this is so hard': Read the final messages between a fallen Russian soldier and his mother A day after Gov. J.B. Pritzker lifted the mask mandate at Illinois schools, a downstate attorney asked an Illinois judge to halt the COVID-19 masking requirement at Chicago Public Schools one of only a handful of districts in the state still enforcing the practice. Tom DeVore, who recently launched a bid for the states Republican nomination for attorney general, filed a motion Tuesday with Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow requesting a temporary restraining order, arguing the children of Chicago parents who filed a lawsuit against the governor and the Illinois Department of Public Health are suffering continuing harm. Each is being subjected to wearing a mask as a type of quarantine without being provided their rights of due process, DeVore said in the motion. While new federal COVID-19 guidance prompted Pritzker to halt the school mask mandate, CPS officials said universal masking still will be enforced as part of a COVID-19 safety agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union. DeVores latest effort to halt the CPS mask mandate also arrives after the Illinois Supreme Court last week declined to hear the case, vacating a prior temporary restraining order and sending the lawsuit challenging the mandate back to Grischow. On Tuesday, DeVore said the high court vacated the prior order halting the mask mandate because it wasnt needed anymore, after a bipartisan panel of lawmakers last month refused to renew the IDPH guidance, and an appellate court rendered the issue moot. While some of the CPS students whose parents filed the lawsuit were allowed in their classrooms without a mask last month, DeVore said his clients alerted him yesterday that has changed, and CPS has now forced their children to wear masks. CPS is still continuing to push the envelope on masks as long they can, said DeVore, who will take his case before Grischow at a March 10 hearing. CPS and CTU officials were not immediately available for comment Tuesday. Story continues But earlier this week, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez reminded families in a letter that universal masking is still required in all of its schools and offices for now. CPS is working with our labor and public health partners on how to preserve a safe, healthy learning environment for all as we transition into this new phase of the pandemic, Martinez said. Officials with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, one of the states largest teachers unions, which includes the CTU, said in a Tuesday statement that educators are grateful for Governor Pritzkers leadership throughout the pandemic ensuring that science, not politics, has informed guidance. It has been a long two years, but there is finally light at the end of the COVID tunnel, IFT President Dan Montgomery said, adding no one should be pressured into unmasking. These last two years have taught us that we must protect each other and that we all have a duty to protect our most vulnerable populations. By far the largest school district in Illinois, CPS enrolls nearly 340,000 students at 626 schools, with roughly 80% of students from low-income families, according to the Illinois Report Card for the 2020-2021 school year. Chicago Tribune reporter Tracy Swartz contributed. kcullotta@chicagotribune.com Maks Chmerkovskiy Michael Loccisano/Getty Maksim Chmerkovskiy Dancing With the Stars alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy has made it out of his native Ukraine on a train amid Russia's ongoing invasion of the European country. Chmerkovskiy shared he was "hopefully" en route to Warsaw, the capital of Poland, in an Instagram Story on Monday, noting he was in an overcrowded train cabin with four other adults and seven children. "Train to Lviv was not an option," the dance pro wrote. "The situation at the train station is insane. At first it feels manageable, but it gets A LOT worse when it comes time to actually board the train. Long story but all I can say now is that I'm a big man with nothing but a backpack it's TRAUMATIZING." Chmerkovskiy added that his cabin, carrying 12 people total, himself included, is intended for a maximum of three, writing, "There's usually up to 30 people in this particular wagon. We were told we have to fit 135. Walkways are packed. People everywhere. It's sweaty and claustrophobic." Maks Chmerkovskiy maksimc/Instagram Maksim Chmerkovskiy shares an update on Instagram Story Chmerkovskiy recently returned to Ukraine to host the country's iteration of World of Dance. When Russian President Vladimir Putin's troops stormed into the capital city of Kyiv on Feb. 24, Chmerkovskiy documented much of the disorder on Instagram, sharing videos of siren sounds and most recently, a video of unarmed Ukrainian civilians confronting Russian tanks. "I will never be the same," Chmerkovskiy captioned one of his earlier videos. "This is stressful and I'm getting old feelings back, like I've done this before. This does feel like the way it was when and why we left in the '90s. Like my old PTSD I've finally fixed is coming back." Putin has spent the last few months moving his troops toward the border of Ukraine, but Chmerkovskiy said it was difficult to fathom that the president would actually invade, noting, "Not that no one saw this coming, but that we hoped the finality of this situation would be averted, that there would not be these kind of aggressive measures. Story continues In another video, Chmerkovskiy reflected on the privilege of his particular situation, noting that he has a passport and a "way out" when other Ukrainians could not say the same. "I'm very scared and don't know what words to use, but I do know that at the very least I have a chance," he said. "I have a passport and a way out. A lot of people do not, and it's f---ing nonsense. I love Ukraine, it's an incredible pleasure to spend six months now on the ground. I fell back in love. I know now who these people are, what this country is, and what it stands for. It is totally not what is being portrayed to the Russian people in order to justify this invasion." Related content: STORY: Audience members watched the show in awe, with many children attending the circus for the first time in their lives. "The show is wonderful, and the children are very happy, said one audience member. The Gamal al-Helo circus first performed in Baghdad in 1997, but hasnt been back since due to the successive wars and conflicts that overtook the country. But director of the show, Kamila al-Helo, said they were eager to return to the Iraqi audience. The Egyptian troupe is set to perform for over a month in Iraq. Authorities have arrested an Emmetsburg man and charged him with murder for the 2020 death of a man whose body was pulled from a northwestern Iowa lake. Brice Patrick Colling, 22, was arrested Monday night on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Rollin Bontrager, of Washington, the Palo Alto County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. Bontrager's body was pulled from Virgin Lake near Ruthven, on July 22, 2020. An autopsy showed he had been severely beaten. Colling is the second person charged in the case. In August 2020, authorities arrested Allan Michael Schwidder, who pleaded guilty last March to second-degree murder in Bontragers death. Schwidder was sentenced to up to 50 years in prison. As part of his sentencing, Schwidder said he and Bontrager had been fishing when the two began fighting. Schwidder said that during the fight, Colling hit Bontrager in the head with a bolt cutter. Bontrager fell to the ground, and Schwidder and another man continued to hit and kick Bontrager, Schwidder said. While Bontrager was unresponsive on the ground, Colling hit him a second time with the bolt cutter, Schwidder said. Schwidder said he then checked for a pulse. When he found none, he and the others threw Bontrager into the water, he said. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Second man arrested in 2020 killing of 27-year-old Rollin Bontrager Cynthia Jo Heath, 47, was found dead Thursday, Feb. 24, in her home at 701 W. Bucyrus St., Crestline. CRESTLINE Police have arrested a second man wanted as part of their investigation into a Crestline woman's homicide last week. Eugene "Jimmy" Flinders, Jr., 33, of Mansfield, was arrested Tuesday morning as he was walking along Clink Boulevard in Crestline, said Jeffrey Shook, chief of the Crestline Police Department. Flinders already had a warrant out for his arrest in an unrelated case. "He's being detained and we're trying to figure out our next steps with him," Shook said Tuesday morning. He said Flinders is not considered a suspect in the death of Cynthia Jo Heath, 47, 701 W. Bucyrus St., Crestline. Where did Eugene "Jimmy" Flinders, Jr. live? Flinders' last known address is 244 E. Arch Street, Mansfield. Police believe Flinders once lived with family members at 711 W. Bucyrus Street in Crestline. Robert Pinyerd, 40, who had been living with the victim, was sought by police after Heath's body was found in her home Thursday evening. Pinyerd was arrested in Mansfield on Friday, according to police. Police initially said Heath died of "unnatural causes" and have since characterized her death as a homicide. Crestline: Man sought in connection with Crestline woman's death arrested in Mansfield When were police officers called? Officers were called to Heath's home at 9:08 p.m. Thursday when family members entering the home found her body, according to the news release. Police had been asked to check the home earlier in the day, but "couldn't see anything out of the ordinary," Crestline Police Chief Jeffrey Shook said. News Journal subscribers make this coverage possible. Support our work and get a special offer of 6 months for just $1 ($9.99 a month after) at offers.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/specialoffer. "They thought that something was going on and they were concerned about her well-being," he said of family members. "They decided to check in on her because our victim wasn't there to get her daughter off of the bus." Story continues ODNR: Lotteries open through March for special ODNR hunting and fishing opportunities statewide Anyone who has any information surrounding Heath's death is asked to contact Det. Jason Kitzmiller at 419-683-2222 or 419-295-3075. Tipsters also can email Kitzmiller at jkitzmiller@crestlineoh.com or the chief at jshook@crestlineoh.com. ztuggle@gannett.com 419-564-3508 Twitter: @zachtuggle This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield man arrested in Crestline; death investigation continues Lupita Nyong'o. Samir Hussein / Getty Images Lupita Nyong'o has been in 12 feature films 10 have a score above 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. In honor of Nyongo's 39th birthday on March 1, we've ranked all her movies, according to critics. Perhaps unsurprisingly, "Black Panther" takes the top spot. The lowest-rated film of Nyong'o's career is 2022's spy thriller "The 355." "The 355." Universal Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 24% Nyong'o plays a British MI6 agent named Khadijah Adiyeme in "The 355," a film about four international female spies teaming up to take down an evil villain played by Jason Flemyng. As Mashable's Kristy Puchko wrote, "If you've ever seen a mediocre action movie with a surprisingly stacked cast, then you've basically seen this." Next up is 2019's "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," in which she reprises her role as Maz Kanata. "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 52% In "Rise of Skywalker," the much-maligned conclusion of the Skywalker Saga and one of two "rotten" films in her career, Nyong'o plays Maz once again, in a larger role than "Last Jedi," but not as big as "The Force Awakens." "Even as 'The Rise of Skywalker's' characters claim their ultimate triumph, the film feels clumsy, hurried, and above all, like an admission of creative defeat," wrote Polygon's Tasha Robinson. A few weeks before she'd win an Oscar, the 2014 thriller "Non-Stop" premiered, featuring Nyong'o in a small role as a flight attendant. "Non-Stop." Universal Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 62% In "Non-Stop," Liam Neeson plays Bill Marks, an alcoholic US air marshal, who is blackmailed by a would-be suicide bomber aboard the plane. Nyong'o has a small role as a flight attendant named Gwen. "The filmmaking is playful without feeling jokey, the narrative stuffed with fun complications," wrote Ben Sachs of the Chicago Reader. Nyong'o plays a kindergarten teacher dealing with a zombie apocalypse in 2019's "Little Monsters." Story continues "Little Monsters." Neon; Hulu Rotten Tomatoes score: 79% In "Little Monsters," Nyong'o stars as Miss Caroline, a lovely kindergarten teacher, opposite Alexander England as Dave, a washed-up musician who is forced to live with his sister and nephew, and Josh Gad as Teddy McGiggle, a popular children's musician. The three adults are left to fend for themselves and Miss Caroline's class when a zombie outbreak runs rampant across the US. "The reason to see this is Nyong'o. A kind of zombie-killing version of Julie Andrews in a sunny yellow dress, the US star proves you can defeat anything with a positive attitude and some 'Tay Tay on your uke-y,'" wrote Metro's Larushka Ivan-Zadeh. She narrated the 2021 documentary "Who are You, Charlie Brown?" "Who Are You, Charlie Brown?" Apple TV+ Rotten Tomatoes score: 88% "Who Are You, Charlie Brown?" is an Apple TV+ documentary, which was released in June 2021. It focuses on the "Charlie Brown" creator Charles "Sparky" Schulz. Nyong'o narrated the film, directed by Michael Bonfiglio. "'Who Are You, Charlie Brown?' is a love letter to not just [Schulz], but to the very particular kind of humanity that his cast of children embodied, none more so than the long-suffering but always hopeful Charlie Brown himself," said Alexandra Heller-Nicholas of ABC Radio. In 2017, Nyong'o once again played Maz Kanata in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 91% Maz's appearance in "The Last Jedi" is essentially a glorified cameo when main characters Finn and Rose are looking for someone to help them disable the villainous First Order's tracking device, they call up Maz, and she directs them to a casino in the city Canto Bight, setting up their plot in the film. "Rian Johnson's middle chapter in the current 'Star Wars' trilogy is the epic you've been looking for. Capped by Mark Hamill in the performance of his career, it points the way ahead to a next generation of skywalkers and, thrillingly, to a new hope," wrote Peter Travers for Rolling Stone. But her first appearance as the character was in 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 93% In "The Force Awakens," Maz is presented as the owner and operator of a tavern on the planet Takodana. She's established as an ancient being, a former pirate and smuggler, close friend of Han Solo and Chewbacca, and supporter of the Resistance. "'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' honors the series and takes it in exciting new directions. Both The Millennium Falcon and millennials, it would seem, are in good hands," wrote Baltimore Magazine's Max Weiss. Many thought Nyong'o's double performance in 2019's "Us" deserved an Oscar. "Us." Universal Rotten Tomatoes score: 93% In Jordan Peele's chilling follow-up to "Get Out," Nyong'o pulls double duty as the seemingly normal Adelaide Wilson, who, along with her family, are targeted by doppelganger versions of themselves. Adelaide's doppelganger (called a "tethered" in the film) is named Red. But all is not what it seems in Adelaide's history. "The real genius at work in 'Us' is Nyong'o, who anchors the story with underlying rage as well as the protective qualities usually reserved for male leads," wrote critic Jourdain Searles. She played the mother of a chess prodigy in the 2016 film "Queen of Katwe." "Queen of Katwe." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% "Queen of Katwe" follows 10-year-old Phiona living in Uganda with her mother, Nakku. When her family can't afford to send her to school anymore, Phiona meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) at a missionary program. He begins to teach her chess, and before long, Phiona is competing at an international level. "Oyelowo and Nyong'o's performances temper the film with heart-wrenching emotion. And Mira Nair's touching portrait of Katwe's inspiring young queen with a dream is one to remember," wrote Candice Frederick of Reel Talk Online. The actress lent her voice talents to the 2016 live-action "Jungle Book" remake as Raksha, Mowgli's adopted mom. "The Jungle Book." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% Nyong'o's version of Raksha, the wolf who adopts Mowgli, a human, after he's left behind in the jungle, plays a larger role in the 2016 remake than she does in the original 1967 animated film. In the remake, she's seen throughout as a mother figure to Mowgli as he deals with the various issues of being a "man-cub" in a jungle surrounded by foes. Slashfilm's Angie Han put it simply: "A must-see spectacle." Nyong'o won her first Oscar for her breakout role in 2013's "12 Years a Slave." "12 Years a Slave." Fox Searchlight Pictures Rotten Tomatoes score: 95% In "12 Years a Slave," Nyong'o plays Patsey, a slave who bonds with the film's protagonist Solomon (also called Platt), while he is held as a slave at a Georgian plantation. Patsey is subjected to many horrors throughout the film, including rape, mental abuse, and brutal punishment. "'12 Years a Slave' isn't simply a masterpiece, it's a milestone. This, at last, really is history written with lightning," wrote the Daily Telegraph's Robbie Collin. The best-reviewed film of her career thus far is 2018's groundbreaking superhero film "Black Panther," in which she played the spy Nakia. Nakia and T'Challa's sister Shuri in Black Panther. Marvel Rotten Tomatoes score: 96% While "Black Panther" is mainly the story of T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and his struggles with how to rightfully lead his country, Wakanda, Nyong'o's Nakia is an essential part of the film. Nakia, T'Challa's ex, is a hero in her own way she works as a spy, supports T'Challa and his family, and is one of the few who pushes him to open up Wakanda to the rest of the world. Expect her to play a big role in "Black Panther 2." "'Black Panther' lived up to the hype," wrote Lawrence Ware of The New York Times. Read the original article on Insider The Palm House hotel building at 160 Royal Palm Way in Palm Beach was photographed a few years ago when it was shuttered and mired in bankruptcy proceedings and other legal entanglements. A new owner has the hotel under renovation. Longtime attorney and former Palm Beach resident Leslie R. Evans has been given a pathway to avoid a criminal fraud trial in Connecticut and, potentially, to have all charges against him dropped in his long-simmering criminal case related to the former owner of the Palm House hotel property in Palm Beach, a federal judge has ruled. The case, filed nearly four years ago, involved the fraudulent transfer of money between accounts in Florida and Connecticut, according to prosecutors in the U.S. Attorneys office for the District of Connecticut. In April 2018, Evans pleaded not guilty in a Bridgeport courtroom to multiple charges that included wire fraud, bank fraud, illegal monetary transactions and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. Mr. Evans is tremendously pleased with the resolution (and) that all charges will be dismissed, said a brief statement emailed Monday to the Palm Beach Daily News by Miami attorney Samuel A. Stern, who is representing Evans. Former Palm Beach resident Leslie R. Evans enters a pretrial diversion program Jury selection in Evans trial had been scheduled to begin April 4, but Connecticut District Judge Victor A. Bolden canceled it via an order recorded last week. The coronavirus pandemic already had delayed the trial for nearly two years because Connecticut federal courts suspended in-person jury trials in response to the health crisis. Attorney Leslie R. Evans, a former Palm Beach resident, is pursuing a court-sanctioned program through which all charges related to his Palm House criminal fraud case could be dropped. The judge instead agreed to allow Evans to enter a pretrial diversion program through a joint agreement between Evans; one of his attorneys; New Haven-based U.S. Attorney Leonard C. Boyle; and Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont Jr. Under such programs, defendants who abide by certain provisions during a specified time period can have their charges dismissed. The specific provisions of the program that Evans would participate in were still being worked out, according to the most recent court filings. If officials cannot create a satisfactory program for Evans or if he doesnt agree to the conditions of the program or fails to meet its requirements judicial proceedings will once again commence against him, court documents show. Story continues I fully understand the requirements of the Program as well as the advantages resulting to me from my successful completion of the Program, Evans said in a waiver he signed and filed with the court on Feb. 22. It was co-signed by Coral Gables attorney Neil G. Taylor, who also is representing Evans. The document was dated Feb. 11. Taylor declined to discuss the case, and Stern said he had nothing to add to his emailed statement. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys office in Connecticut also would not comment about the proposed agreement. Hotel property sold: Long-dormant Palm House hotel property sells for nearly $40 million in Palm Beach Other defendants have pleaded guilty to charges Other defendants have pleaded guilty to various charges in the fraud case, including former de facto Palm House owner and developer Robert V. Matthews; his brother, Gerry Matthews; and Palm House construction executive Nicholas Laudano. Robert Matthews also pleaded guilty to one count of felony tax evasion, as did Maria Mia Sneden Matthews. It was the sole charge against her brought by prosecutors. The Palm Beach Daily News could not determine if the couple is still married. None of those who pleaded guilty has been sentenced and all are free on bail. Evans also has been free on bond since his arrest in March 2018. Evans at one point was Robert Matthews real estate attorney and represented him in transactions related to the Palm House property at 160 Royal Palm Way, court records show. Construction on a multi-year renovation project at the property halted abruptly in October 2014, and the project later ended up in bankruptcy court amid a tangle of other legal actions. Pleading in Connecticut: Palm House developer Robert V. Matthews pleads guilty in fraud case Former Palm House developer Robert V. Matthews in 2019 pleaded guilt to felony fraud, money-laudering and tax evasion charges in a U.S. district court in Connecticut. He is awaiting sentencing. In March 2019, a bankruptcy judge in West Palm Beach approved a $39.6 million sale of the Palm House property to a company affiliated with London + Regional Properties, which has the hotel under renovation. In March 2018, Evans and Robert Matthews were taken into custody at their Palm Beach homes. Both of those houses have since been sold. Shortly after the two men were arrested, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Connecticut released a statement about the case that referred to funds collected from foreign investors through a federal program known as EB-5 and earmarked for the renovation of the Palm House project. Under the program, immigration officials expedited permanent immigration visas commonly known as green cards for qualified foreigners who invested in construction projects that created U.S. jobs. Robert Matthews and others used EB-5 funding for purposes not related to the (Palm House) project, including for Robert Matthews personal gain, the U.S. Attorneys Office statement said about the charges alleged in a grand jury indictment. Big plans: Exec says new owner will turn Palm Beachs Palm House into spectacular destination hotel Under new ownership: Palm House hotel reopening in the works, Palm Beach officials told A long time coming: Palm Beach board OKs architecture for re-do of Palm House hotel A portion of the indictment described a 2014 real estate transaction involving a house in Washington Depot, Connecticut. Robert Matthews along with conspirators, agents and others illegally purchased the Washington Depot house in foreclosure using EB-5 money, the indictment said. The purchase of the property in Washington Depot was made through a straw company, NJL Development Group LLC, under Laudanos control, according to the indictment. As part of last weeks filings, Evans signed a statement of agreed facts that outlined how Robert Matthews, Laudano and others worked to purchase the property in Washington Depot for Matthews benefit. Evans statement said that at some point he learned that Matthews had lost the house to foreclosure and that Laudano had planned to purchase the residence as a straw buyer for Matthews. The statement continued: To help effectuate this sale, Mr. Evans signed and sent (an emailed) letter dated February 3, 2014, to a company, Auction.com, who was working to sell the property on behalf of the bank that had foreclosed on the property, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. Evans emailed letter in 2014 stated our firm is in receipt of cleared funds for $2.75 million from Nick Laudano/NJL Development Group, LLC, according to the the statement filed last week. As part of the transaction, Evans quoted email said, we will be wiring $136,237.50 to counsel representing the bank. The grand jury indictment said $136,237.50 was the amount intended for the down payment of the property in Washington Depot. Evans acknowledged in his statement filed last week that he has never represented Laudano or NJL Development Group LLC nor did his firm receive cleared funds for $2.75 million from Laudano or NJL Development Group LLC. Mr. Evans did not form any corporation or act as a signatory for any corporation on Laudanos behalf related to the Lower Church Hill Road property, nor did he receive any payment related to the property, the statement filed last week said. But Evans did wire $136,237.50 to the attorney for the bank, the same statement said. At the time of his arrest in 2018, Evans was represented by attorney Stanley A. Twardy Jr. of Stamford, Connecticut. We believe that the government has misconstrued Mr. Evans' role in the Palm House, and he looks forward to his day in court to vindicate himself, Twardy told the the Daily News shortly after Evans entered his not-guilty plea. * Darrell Hofheinz is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his weekly Beyond the Hedges column. He welcomes tips about real estate news on the island. Email dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com, call (561) 820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Will lawyer in Palm Beach hotel fraud case see his charges dismissed? The attorney representing the family of Tristan Vereen, whom a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper fatally shot last year, disagrees with a report that says the officer acted lawfully. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division determined S.C. Highway Patrol Master Trooper W.B. Benton was acting in self-defense when he shot Vereen, leading Horry County Solicitor Jimmy Richardson to announce Monday that Benton will not face criminal charges. Following a traffic stop that led to a struggle, Vereen grabbed Bentons taser, used it on him and bit the officer before Benton shot Vereen, according to SLEDs investigative report on the shooting. But civil rights attorney Harry Daniels, who represents Vereens family, questions the legality of Benton stopping Vereen in the first place. SLEDs investigative report, provided in summary by Richardsons office, confirms that Benton initiated the stop Sept. 11, 2021, in the Longs area due to visible cracks in Vereens car windshield. Daniels has repeatedly argued that a cracked windshield is not a traffic violation, so the stop itself was illegal. Tristan had a right to resist the arrest, Daniels said at a September demonstration in Conway following the shooting. The solicitors report cites two South Carolina statutes regarding the operation of unsafe vehicles in support of Bentons decision to stop Vereen. But a criminal justice expert previously told The Sun News that there is confusion in state laws regarding whether those statutes would specifically apply to a cracked windshield. Daniels told The Sun News Monday that he and the family stand by their position about the stop being unlawful. They plan on asking the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene in light of the solicitors announcement. He also noted that the family hasnt had an opportunity to review all of SLEDs evidence, including statements from Benton about the shooting. The chase and shooting After Benton attempted to initiate the traffic stop, Vereen fled, shouting, I cant go to jail! I cant go back man! at the officer, according to the solicitors report. Story continues The car chase turned into a pursuit on foot, when Vereen left his vehicle in a vacant lot near a residence, and Benton discharged his taser and attempted to handcuff Vereen. After Vereen took Bentons taser, Benton drew his pistol and fired a single round into Vereens chest, the investigative report states. Vereen, 33, was pronounced dead at Grand Strand Medical Center. Here the evidence you uncovered shows Trooper Benton had ample probable cause to believe Vereen committed felony assault on a police officer while resisting arrest and posed an immediate threat of death or serious bodily harm to Benton, Richardson wrote in his summary. Protests Dozens of protesters gathered in Conway last September to demand justice for Vereen, and more demonstrations could be on the way following Mondays announcement. Ashlyn Preaux, co-founder of Grand Strand Action Together, said she would follow the lead of Vereens family as far as future demonstrations. She said she wasnt surprised by the solicitors decision, arguing that its further proof of a broken system, where officers rarely face accountability for their actions. Preaux pointed to the disturbing dashcam footage that appeared to show Vereen running away when Benton discharged his taser. She noted proper deescalation training should have prevented such an incident. If theyre running away, dont shoot them in the back, Preux said. Seems like a pretty cut-and-dry case of police misconduct. The Daily Beast ReutersTroops sent into Ukraine to back up Russian forces say they had no choice but to leave because Russian military was in shambles and they deceived us at every step.Soldiers from the breakaway state of South Ossetiaspeaking to South Ossetian leader Anatoly Bibilov at a meeting publicized by the independent news outlet MediaZonarattled off a list of complaints about faulty equipment, lack of leadership and intel, and brainless tactics.South Ossetia, which relies heavily on military and f Georgia may keep in place for the coming election newly drawn districts that favor Republicans, a federal judge ruled late Monday. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Steve Jones rejected claims from civil rights groups and other litigants that the maps inhibit Black voters' ability to elect the candidate of their choice. The decision is expected to allow Republicans to pick up a north Atlanta metro seat currently held by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) who is now running against Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-Ga.) in a neighboring district. The Republican-led legislature redrew the boundaries to include more of conservative-leaning rural Georgia, likely allowing the GOP to solidify control over a state where they already hold eight out of 14 congressional seats. "The court finds that the public interest of the state of Georgia would be significantly undermined by altering the election calendar and unwinding the electoral process at this point," Jones ruled. "Elections are complex and election calendars are finely calibrated processes, and significant upheaval and voter confusion can result if changes are made late in the process." The 238-page decision mirrors a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which declined to strike down an Alabama map also redrawn following the decennial census that a lower court found to violate Voting Rights Act protections for minority voters. "When an election is close at hand, the rules of the road must be clear and settled. Late judicial tinkering with election laws can lead to disruption and to unanticipated and unfair consequences for candidates, political parties, and voters, among others," Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote. "It is one thing for a state on its own to toy with its election laws close to a State's elections. But it is quite another thing for a federal court to swoop in and re-do a State's election laws in the period close to an election." Georgia's primary elections for the midterms are scheduled for May 24 with early voting starting May 2. Georgia has faced a number of lawsuits against its new districts as well as a law passed last year imposing a number of new restrictions on voting following President Biden's victory in the state. VERNON, CT Day 1 of mask choice went on in Vernon's schools Monday basically without a hitch, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said. Monday marked the final day of the universal education mask policy adopted via an executive order put in place by Gov. Ned Lamont. Local school officials decided to leave it up the parents and students to decide. Macary said he made two "very unscientific" observations in visits to schools Monday. At Rockville High School, it was about a 50-50 ratio between masks on and masks off throughout the building, he said. At Vernon Center Middle School , about 80 percent of the teachers had no masks and about 80 percent of the students had one on, he said. Patch noticed a 50-50 ratio at RHS during the morning drop off and an overwhelming majority of students seemed to be wearing masks while exiting toward the pick-up area and student lot. "There was nothing definitive," Macary said. "But it's a decision parents and students can now make on their own and we're OK with that. Macary said, that, as of an hour after the final school dismissed in town, he had received no parental complaints. No statistics were compiled for students on buses. On Feb. 7, Lamont announced that he was endorsing a plan developed in consultation with Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani and Connecticut State Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker to eliminate the statewide requirement that was in effect as part of Connecticut's coronavirus safety protocols for masks to be worn in all schools and childcare centers effective Monday. The plan allows the determination on whether to require masks in these locations to be made at the local level. "Connecticut is seeing a dramatic decline in cases caused by the Omicron variant, and children over the age of 5 have had the ability to get vaccinated for more than three months now," Lamont said "With this in mind, I think we are in a good position to phase out the requirement that masks be worn in all schools statewide and shift the determination on whether to require this to the local level." This article originally appeared on the Vernon Patch An officer stands behind police tape blocking a street near the scene of a shooting at the Church in Sacramento on Monday evening. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) A man killed four people, including three of his children, before turning the gun on himself inside a church in the Sacramento suburbs on Monday evening, authorities said. The explosion of gunfire took place in the sanctuary at the Church in Sacramento, on Wyda Way east of the city, shortly after 5 p.m., said Sgt. Rodney Grassmann, a spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. The shooter, a 39-year-old man, took his own life, according to Grassmann, who said the children who were killed were girls ages 9, 10 and 13. In a televised interview, Sheriff Scott Jones said the killings took place during a supervised visit between the father and his children inside the church. The fifth person who was killed was a man supervising the visit, Grassmann said, but it was not immediately clear what that person's relationship was to the church or family. It was also not clear whether the man and his children were members of the church or using the building as a neutral meeting location. Grassmann said it was likely a court-ordered visitation. The children's mother is alive and has been in contact with authorities, according to Jones, who said she had a restraining order against the gunman. She was not believed to be in town at the time of the shooting and was notified by a law enforcement chaplain, Grassmann said. "The mom I don't know how you process it," he said. Police were called to the scene after a church worker heard gunfire, fled the building and dialed 911 at 5:07 p.m., Grassmann said. "I could see that it has an affect on some of them," Grassmann said of the officers who responded. "You could not go into a scene like that and not be affected." Neither Grassmann nor a coroner's office spokeswoman could immediately identify the victims or the shooter. All were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators were expected to be at the scene throughout the night collecting evidence, speaking to witnesses and looking for surveillance video. Story continues Michael Baginski, who was described as a district leader on the church's website, suggested the shooter was mentally ill and said the man shot his three daughters. Baginski was not at the scene and said the church was not holding services at the time of the shooting. He referred additional questions to another church leader, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As of 6:30 p.m., police said there was no longer an active threat in the area. As officers began to take down yellow emergency tape near the scene, neighbors flooded the area to try to find out what happened. Some feared the dead might have been acquaintances. It hurts to hear that a father shot his own three kids, said Alicia Harmon, 16, who lives nearby and said she hoped the victims weren't anyone she knew. Harmon said many of her friends live close to the church, and she came down after her mother told her she might know some of those involved. Lawmakers in Sacramento reacted to the shooting on social media. "Another senseless act of gun violence in America this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating," Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted. "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and their communities." Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento), whose district includes the church, tweeted: "Tonights senseless shooting is a tragedy beyond words. My prayers are with the victims family, loved ones and the entire Sacramento community. "In memory of all those we have lost, we must renew our resolve to build a world free from gun violence." Queally and Winton reported from Los Angeles and Garrison from Sacramento. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Research News Repowering coal plants to fight climate crisis By PETER MURPHY If we can repower 2TWe of coal plants in the next 20 years, we will have a fighting chance of achieving Paris 2050 climate targets. SUNY Distinguished Professor Andrew Whittaker is part of a cohort led by TerraPraxis, a non-profit focused on action for climate and prosperity, that is developing a digital platform to repower coal plants using advanced nuclear energy. The project team, which includes the UK-based architectural and engineering consultancy Bryden Wood, MIT, Microsoft and KPMG, among others, aims to retrofit retired and operating coal-fired power plants with modular nuclear reactors while retaining the balance of the plant. The goal of the project is to repower 2 terawatts (TWe) of global coal capacity, starting with 250 gigawatts (GWe) of coal plants in the U.S., says Whittaker, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering. If we can repower 2TWe of coal plants in the next 20 years, we will have a fighting chance of achieving Paris 2050 climate targets. Representatives from Bryden Wood discussed the project during the 2021 COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow. The event at COP26, convened by TerraPraxis, brought together political leaders, industry specialists and investors to discuss ways to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 C by 2050. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to meet the global temperature increase limit, human-generated CO2 emissions must reach net zero by 2050. This project will help achieve these goals. Getting to net-zero emissions by 2050 requires aggressive initiatives in several areas, including clean energy. Renewable, hydro, nuclear energy and thermal storage are all considered part of the clean energy mix, but for this to work, nuclear energy must become commercially viable. UBs role in the project will address cost and other critical factors associated with the project. UB will provide input on the use of seismic isolation for advanced reactors; strategies for standardizing, or commodifying, plants to reduce capital cost and time to deploy, from 15 years to 4 years, cost drivers for nuclear; pathways to de-scope the required engineering of advanced reactors and simplify regulatory review and licensing; and engagement with stakeholders, customers, power utilities, advanced heat source developers and regulators in the U.S. and abroad, Whittaker says. Whittaker and the multidisciplinary TerraPraxis team, which includes civil, mechanical and nuclear engineers and designers, are adapting proven seismic isolation and damping technologies to standardize equipment, drive down cost and accelerate construction. Researchers are targeting a five-fold reduction in capital cost. The United Nations's climate science panel issued a report on Monday detailing both the impacts of climate change and potential adaptation measures society can take to mitigate the damage. The report warned of dire impacts from global warming that will only get worse, from heat waves to food and water disruptions to damage to infrastructure. Here are five major takeaways from the newest report. Climate change's impacts are worse than scientists expected - and some are irreversible The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicated that climate change's impacts are worse than expected, a message that was echoed by its authors. The report itself said that the "extent and magnitude of climate change impacts are larger than estimated in previous assessments," citing issues including "widespread deterioration" of ecosystems. "We're seeing adverse impacts being much more widespread and being much more negative than expected in prior reports than expected at the current 1.09 degrees that we have," Camille Parmesan, one of the report's authors, told reporters on Sunday, referring to the current level of warming compared to pre-industrial levels. Parmesan said that the world is seeing "diseases emerging into new areas" and "the first extinctions of species due to climate change" - effects not expected from the current level of warming. The report itself also warned that some of the impacts already being seen are irreversible. Other impacts, like water changes from glacier retreats and changes in mountain and Arctic ecosystems linked to melting permafrost are "approaching irreversibility," the report said. Climate change is already harming human health - and even killing people The report warned of health risks from climate change, including from heat exposure, disease and mental health issues. It said that globally, extreme heat events have already resulted in deaths. And it said that since the last time the IPCC issued a report in 2014, there have been more extreme events, including "heat-related human mortality," that have been attributed to human-caused climate change. Story continues It said that there would be more risks in the decades to come, particularly between 2040 and 2100. "Climate change and related extreme events will significantly increase ill health and premature deaths from the near- to long-term," said a summary of the panel's findings. It mentioned continued heat waves, as well as food-borne and water-borne disease risks and disease from pests like mosquitoes. It particularly warned of increases in the risk of diseases from a certain type of mosquito, "potentially putting additional billions of people at risk by the end of the century." And it warned of increased mental health issues such as anxiety and stress. Report author Sherilee Harper, when specifically asked about health events in North America, pointed to three ways it can impact mental health. "One is direct impacts of people that are having to be evacuated from wildfires or flooded areas that obviously is associated with increased impacts on things like post-traumatic stress," Harper said. She said that it can also indirectly impact people's mental health through stresses like food insecurity, and that they can experience climate change "vicariously" by seeing impacts to other people on the news. The report warned of impacts from increased exposure to wildfire smoke, which can cause heart and lung problems. And it noted that health services have been disrupted because of extreme weather like floods. Climate change is disrupting food, water and infrastructure systems Climate change is already forcing changes to the food we eat, the water we drink and the infrastructure we build our lives around. The report noted that climate change can worsen food and water insecurity. It gave several examples, noting impacts like ocean warming and acidification weakening fishing and shellfish harvests. It also said that increasing extreme weather due to climate change has caused millions of people to face food insecurity and reduced water security. Instances of acute food insecurity and malnutrition have increased in Africa, Central America and South America. It found that risks to physical water availability will increase in the mid- to long- term in every region it assessed, and these changes will be exacerbated by worsened warming. The report particularly pointed to impacts on cities, saying that climate change has already negatively affected people, particularly already disadvantaged groups. It cited heat waves and the impacts of extreme events on transportation, water, sanitation and energy infrastructure. Going forward, the report warned that cities, especially in coastal areas, could face even greater risks, and that globally about a billion people will be at risk from coastal climate hazards in the mid-term. A wide variety of solutions can help us adapt to climate change The report called on the world to take a broad range of adaptation measures to lessen the impacts of climate change. It called for forest conservation, including diversifying tree composition to resist impacts from pests and wildfires. For agriculture, it said farms and landscapes should be diversified, and that urban agriculture should be encouraged. Because of sea level rise, the report called for protection, and even planned relocation in low-lying coastal cities. For energy systems, it called for increased resilience, reliability, storage and efficiency as well as diversification, including through small-scale renewable energy. Other measures it endorsed include plans for extreme heat warnings and responses, improved access to potable water in order to combat food- and water-borne disease, and warning systems and vaccine development for diseases from pests. It said that some of the mental health impacts can be mitigated through better access to care. The climate impacts will be worse without action The report highlighted the need to lessen climate-warming emissions, noting that impacts will be worse with greater temperature increases. It gave a number of examples where climate change would deliver worse outcomes with higher levels of warming, including flooding and food insecurity. Specifically, it said that if global warming becomes two degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels in the mid-term, food insecurity risks will become worse, "leading to malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies" in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central and South America and small islands. "This report reinforces the main findings that are actually emerging from all of our reports this cycle, and that is that every fraction of a degree of warming matters, and every action helps," Ko Barrett, IPCC vice-chair, said in an interview. "We're in a race with the risks that are increasing as the planet warms and this report is really clear in saying that the ultimate solution lies in stopping the warming," Barrett added. The full Ukraine team will travel to Beijing for the forthcoming Paralympic Games (Chris Radburn/PA) (PA Archive) The full Ukrainian team will be travelling to China to compete in the Winter Paralympic Games despite the invasion of the country by Russia. The International Paralympic Committee tweeted on Tuesday that Ukraines team, made up of 20 athletes and nine guides, would be heading to Beijing. The IPC tweet linked to a Ukrainian media article about the team, which mentioned athletes would travel to China from different locations in Ukraine. The athletes will compete in two sports biathlon and cross-country skiing the article stated. The National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine communicates that their full team of 20 athletes and nine guides will be travelling to China for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. https://t.co/ANT4TBU6n9 Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) March 1, 2022 The IPC is meeting on Wednesday to discuss the participation of Russian athletes in the Games, which officially open on Friday. The International Olympic Committees executive board recommended on Monday that international sports federations should exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes, teams and officials from international competitions wherever possible. Russian athletes were already set to compete in Beijing under the Russian Paralympic Committee banner as part of earlier sanctions against the country for state-sponsored doping. Should the IPC opt to exclude Russian athletes, it will be a further step towards isolating the country from the international sports community over the actions of its government. A British Paralympic Association Statement - Beijing 2022 ParalympicsGB (@ParalympicsGB) February 28, 2022 The British Paralympic Association issued a statement on Monday saying it could not see how allowing Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete in Beijing was compatible with the objectives of the Paralympic movement. Story continues FIFA and UEFA have banned Russian teams and clubs from all their competitions until further notice, ruling them out of the mens World Cup in Qatar later this year and the Womens European Championships in England this summer. Russian club Spartak Moscow have also been expelled from the Europa League, while UEFA has terminated its sponsorship deal with energy firm Gazprom. FIFA and UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions. Full statement: UEFA (@UEFA) February 28, 2022 Economic sanctions could also have an impact on sport. Alisher Usmanov, who has sponsorship links to Everton, has had his assets frozen as part of measures taken by the European Union. The Uzbek-born billionaires USM Holdings sponsors the Toffees training ground, with an initial five-year deal announced in 2017, and has an option on naming rights for their new stadium a deal worth 30million to the Merseyside club. Players unions and national associations joined the queue to condemn Russia and call for sporting sanctions ahead of the joint FIFA-UEFA statement, with the Scottish, Irish, Northern Irish, Welsh and English FAs all vowing to refuse to face Russia in any fixture. The British Olympic Association also issued a statement calling for the removal of Russia and Belarus from all top sporting competitions. The full Ukraine team will travel to Beijing for the forthcoming Paralympic Games (Chris Radburn/PA) (PA Archive) The full Ukrainian team will be travelling to China to compete in the Winter Paralympic Games despite the invasion of the country by Russia. The International Paralympic Committee tweeted on Tuesday that Ukraines team, made up of 20 athletes and nine guides, would be heading to Beijing. The IPC tweet linked to a Ukrainian media article about the team, which mentioned athletes would travel to China from different locations in Ukraine. The athletes will compete in two sports biathlon and cross-country skiing the article stated. The IPC is meeting on Wednesday to discuss the participation of Russian athletes in the Games, which officially open on Friday. The International Olympic Committees executive board recommended on Monday that international sports federations should exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes, teams and officials from international competitions wherever possible. Russian athletes were already set to compete in Beijing under the Russian Paralympic Committee banner as part of earlier sanctions against the country for state-sponsored doping. Should the IPC opt to exclude Russian athletes, it will be a further step towards isolating the country from the international sports community over the actions of its government. The British Paralympic Association issued a statement on Monday saying it could not see how allowing Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete in Beijing was compatible with the objectives of the Paralympic movement. Ukrainian athletes wrote an open letter to the IOC and the IPC on Sunday calling for Russia and Belarus to be banned from international sport. Fifa and Uefa have banned Russian teams and clubs from all their competitions until further notice, ruling them out of the mens World Cup in Qatar later this year and the Womens European Championships in England this summer. Russian club Spartak Moscow have also been expelled from the Europa League, while Uefa has terminated its sponsorship deal with energy firm Gazprom. Story continues Economic sanctions could also have an impact on sport. Alisher Usmanov, who has sponsorship links to Everton, has had his assets frozen as part of measures taken by the European Union. The Uzbek-born billionaires USM Holdings sponsors the Toffees training ground, with an initial five-year deal announced in 2017, and has an option on naming rights for their new stadium a deal worth 30million to the Merseyside club. Players unions and national associations joined the queue to condemn Russia and call for sporting sanctions ahead of the joint Fifa-Uefa statement, with the Scottish, Irish, Northern Irish, Welsh and English FAs all vowing to refuse to face Russia in any fixture. The British Olympic Association also issued a statement calling for the removal of Russia and Belarus from all top sporting competitions. JAKARTA (Reuters) - Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is negotiating the terms its aircraft deals with manufacturers Airbus SE and Boeing, with cancellation of the orders among the options, its chief executive officer told Reuters on Tuesday. The step was taken based on consideration of the airline's short-term demand, CEO Irfan Setiaputra said. Garuda's earnings have been hard hit by the pandemic, which forced the company to launch a major restructuring seeking to slash its debt to $3.7 billion from $9.8 billion. "Hopefully we can get a win-win solution," Irfan said of the negotiations with the manufacturers. Garuda is undergoing debt restructuring proceedings, known locally as PKPU, after a vendor petitioned a Jakarta court over unpaid liabilities. Garuda has proposed converting part of its debt to equity, offering a debt haircut and a new coupon debt. With Airbus, Garuda has outstanding orders for nine A330-900 jets and four A330-800s. Garuda has previously said it would cancel the remaining orders of Boeing 737 Max 8 following fatal crashes of the aircraft in Ethiopia and Indonesia. Garuda ordered 50 of the aircraft in 2014, valued $4.9 billion at that time, and had only received one unit, in 2017. The airline has said it would return more planes as it seeks to scale down its fleet to 66 from 142 before the pandemic. (Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman; Editing by Fransiska Nangoy, Martin Petty) Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker speaks at a rally featuring former President Donald Trump in Perry, Ga., on September 25, 2021. Sean Rayford/Getty Images Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker backed out of an event featuring Greene, per the AJC. Walker's campaign said he wouldn't attend an upcoming rally in Rome, Georgia. The move comes as GOP leaders reject any ties between party members and white nationalist figures. Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker on Tuesday backed out of an upcoming event organized by conservative Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in the aftermath of her appearance at a white nationalist rally where attendees cheered Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Walker the frontrunner for the GOP nomination for Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock's seat was slated to speak at the congresswoman's "Second Amendment and Freedom Rally" in Rome on Saturday. Other planned guests include Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, former Georgia senator and current gubernatorial candidate David Perdue, and other individuals with ties to far-right organizations, The AJC reported. However, Walker's campaign told the newspaper that he wouldn't attend the rally, which will focus on access to guns throughout the state. Walker's move come as other Republicans across the country, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, have rejected the influence of white supremacist organizations within the party. "There's no place in the Republican Party for white supremacists or anti-Semitism," McConnell said in a statement on Monday after being asked by a reporter about the appearances. But the Republican leader who endorsed Walker's Senate bid last year did not mention any lawmakers by name. McCarthy, who has been criticized by many for failing to rein in Greene following earlier controversies over her comparison of mask mandates to the Holocaust, said that it was "unacceptable" for Greene and Rep. Paul Gosar to speak at the America First Political Action Conference in Florida this past weekend. Story continues One of the event's organizers was Nick Fuentes, who has a history of making racist and antisemitic remarks. Last year, Gosar was also a speaker at the America First conference, where Fuentes spoke of a desire to shield "the white demographic core." And this year, Fuentes called on attendees to give a "round of applause for Russia" as Putin escalates his invasion of Ukraine. The House Republican leader who is angling to become House Speaker after the midterm elections reiterated that white nationalist ideology is unwelcome in the party. "For me it was appalling and wrong. And there's no place in our party for any of this," said McCarthy. "The party should not be associated any time any place with somebody who is anti-Semitic." Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the Republican presidential nominee in 2012, on Sunday criticized both Greene and Gosar. "Morons. I have morons on my team," he said of the two lawmakers. "And I have to think anybody that would sit down with white nationalists and speak at their conference was certainly missing a few IQ points." In Georgia, where Greene represents a congressional district anchored in the northwest corner of the state, her appearance at the pro-Putin event was slammed by several GOP leaders including one of Walker's opponents. Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who has spoken out against the influence of former President Donald Trump within the party, on Monday rejected any praise of Putin. "Vladimir Putin is a selfish, brutal dictator and anybody who would tell you otherwise is lying," he said in the chamber of the Georgia Senate at the state Capitol in Atlanta. "I call on this country, I call on this state, I call on this chamber to stand in support of the Ukrainian country as they fight for freedom." And state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, who's facing off against Walker in the Senate race, called Greene's worldview "poison." "Her ideas, her associations and her utter lack of wisdom and judgment are a poison in the bloodstream of our party," he told the Journal-Constitution. "I believe this behavior is a distraction and an embarrassment." Read the original article on Business Insider BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will provide a further $1.5 billion to a global initiative for better access to coronavirus vaccines for poorer countries, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Tuesday. "The global COVID-19 pandemic has not been overcome," Lindner told reporters after a virtual meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven leading economies. Germany would also provide an additional 224 million euros for logistics on the ground, or "in-country delivery costs", Lindner said. (Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Zuzanna Szymanska) It's a great place to visit or shop The new street is nice but shops have disappeared I have no reason to go there Vote View Results In this file photo, the work of Ukrainian folk art painter Maria Primachenko is displayed in Mystetsky Arsenal art gallery in Kyiv, Ukraine. About 50 miles to the north, 25 Primachenko canvases were reportedly destroyed as advancing Russian troops burned down the Ivankiv Museum, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) As Ukrainian civilians face the terror of a Russian military barrage advancing on Kyiv, art scholars have begun decrying fallout of another kind: the destruction of the country's cultural heritage, including the apparent burning of the Ivankiv Museum about 50 miles north of the capital. The J. Paul Getty Trust in Los Angeles on Monday added its voice to the censure, condemning Russian for the "deliberate" burning of sites linked to the history of arts and culture in Ukraine. "News reports indicate that among the many atrocities being committed in Ukraine over the past few days of Putins War, Russian forces have begun destroying Ukrainian cultural heritage," read the statement from Getty President and Chief Executive James Cuno. Cuno said the Ivankiv Museum "housed precious Ukrainian folk art," and quoted Ukrainian scholars who called the Russian invasion "an unfolding cultural catastrophe. According to a tweet from Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the museum's treasures included 25 works by the beloved late folk artist Maria Primachenko, who began exhibiting her work in the 1930s and was admired by Pablo Picasso. Unconfirmed video on social media sites showed a single story building identified as the Ivankiv Museum engulfed in flames. According to the museum's website, the institution was founded in 1981 and kept as the pride of its collection "an exhibition of paintings of the first magnitude by Maria Ovksentiyivna Primachenko." It lists her many honorifics: "People's Artist of Ukraine, Honored Artist of Ukraine, member of the Union of Artists of Ukraine. Laureate of the Taras Shevchenko State Prize of Ukraine." The Getty's statement acknowledged that as war in the region escalates, much more is at stake. "At risk in Ukraine are millions of artworks and monuments, including monuments representing centuries of history from the Byzantine to the Baroque periods, as well as UNESCO World Heritage sites," Cuno said, concluding: "The material cultural legacy of the world is our common heritage, the identity and inspiration for all humanity. Cultural heritage has the power to unite us and is critical for achieving peace. It is also too often the target of war, another way to destroy and overtake a society by erasing its memory." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Feb. 28CONCORD Warning it could lead to "extreme requirements," Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed legislation to require out-of-state students at two- and four-year colleges to pass a civics test before graduating. In a brief veto message, Sununu said he was glad to have signed into law a 2021 bill (HB 320) that imposed the civics test mandate as a requirement for graduating from New Hampshire high schools. "That requirement goes into effect in 2023 and will help continue the Granite State tradition of a citizenry actively engaged in self-government," Sununu said. But Sununu said the bill he vetoed (HB 319) would impose the first-ever curriculum mandate on college students. "I am concerned that this would create a precedent for future legislatures to mandate extreme requirements," Sununu said. "There is no lesson more important than understanding our individual responsibility to uphold democracy," he said. "Nevertheless, I believe the legislature's passage of House Bill 320 already addresses the important concerns of an engaged citizenry and an understanding of the fundamentals of democracy without some of the challenges House Bill 319 may unintentionally create." The latest bipartisan legislation spent two years winding through the process. The House of Representatives passed the measure in April 2021 by a single vote, 188-187, and the state Senate last spring sent the bill back to its education committee for more review over the summer and fall. Last month, the Senate education panel recommended, 5-0, that the bill be killed. But Sen. Bob Giuida, R-Warren, challenged that recommendation on the floor of the Senate, and he got all his GOP colleagues to go with him. The Senate's 14-10 vote sent the bill to Sununu's desk. All Senate Democrats opposed it. During Senate debate, Giuda said only 18% of college students take a civics course. "We have a widespread ignorance of our founding documents," Guida said. Story continues Sen. Jay Kahn, D-Keene, a former Keene State College administrator, said the bill is not needed and would set a bad precedent. Sen. David Watters, D-Durham, a past University of New Hampshire professor, said it would amount to an unfunded mandate on colleges, whose administrators already face declining enrollments, higher costs and other disruptions from the pandemic. "Isn't it time to let those systems deal with those challenges rather than give more to them?" Watters said. The Senate and House votes make it very likely Sununu will win this veto fight. The bill will first go back to the House for its review. klandrigan@unionleader.com The Greece police officer who raised concerns about how the town, department and Greece officials handled the October crash that led to the resignation of former Greece Police Chief Andrew Forsythe, intends to file a lawsuit. Casey Voelkl, an 18-year-veteran of the Greece Police Department, has filed a notice of claim against the department, town and others, including town supervisor Bill Reilich, claiming he was punished by town officials after he contacted an outside agency to investigate the Oct. 21 crash. Voelkl, who was promoted to the rank of deputy chief in 2015, was demoted to the rank of officer after the town completed an internal investigation on the crash and how the department handled the investigation and its aftermath. According to the unredacted report of the investigation led by Joseph Morabito, a retired deputy chief of the Rochester Police Department, although Voelkl was not physically at the scene early that morning, he appeared to be influenced in how he reacted because the incident involved the department's chief. Morabito, in his report, says that Voelkl bears the brunt of the responsibility for botching the investigation, telling others to "do what they saw fit" in how they handled the case. At the time of the crash, Voelkl was one of the department's two deputy chiefs. Casey Voelkl In the court filing, Voelkl alleges that the sole purpose of Morabito's report was to "destroy the unblemished career of an 18-year-member of the police department for whistleblowing to an outside agency." Forsythe in mid-December pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired, admitting that he was intoxicated when he crashed early into a guardrail on the northbound lanes of Route 390 around 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 21. Forsythe initially told responding officers that he had swerved to avoid a deer and was trying to return to the nearest precinct station. That was a lie, District Attorney Sandra Doorley later determined. Story continues Shortly after Forsythe pleaded guilty in December, Doorley said that the DA's Office "had to play catch up and put together a case that was basically not investigated one iota by the Greece Police Department. Their actions that early morning hampered the investigation." Voelkl was asleep at his Brighton home when Forsythe crashed his department-issued sport utility vehicle. Deputy Chief Jason Helfer, according to both reports, drove by the crash site before police were officially informed of the accident, saw the damaged fleet vehicle and Forsythe, but did not stop or speak with anyone at the scene. Voelkl said he was awakened about an hour after the crash and was told by the responding officers that an unimpaired motorist had crashed and was not injured. Voelkl said that, in the middle of the night, he had no suspicions about the crash or how the responding officers handled the investigation. In the document, Voelkl says his suspension and demotion appeared to be retribution after he contacted the Monroe County District Attorney's Office roughly 2.5 days after the collision, with concerns about how the town, supervisor's office and police department were handling the investigation. Voelkl, in the filing, noted that after viewing the damaged SUV roughly 2.5 hours after the crash and speaking with Forsythe later that day, he felt that the chief was minimizing what had happened early on Mon. Oct. 21. The paperwork stated that in the hours after the accident, Voelkl and Deputy Chief Jason Helfer became "increasingly concerned about Forsythe's conduct after the incident, including his efforts to secure information about officers who had access to the impound lot, where the chief's damaged fleet vehicle was being held." Both Voelkl and Helfer who were the department's two deputy chiefs at the time, were also concerned whether an upcoming contested election "was having an impact on the lack of direction with respect to any follow-up investigation." "In sum, Officer Voelkl came to believe that politicians had taken control of the situation and instead of transparency and disclosure there would be subterfuge and cover-up" due to an upcoming contested election, the notice of claim read. In his eight-page report, Morabito recounted numerous instances where responding and supervising officers either failed in their basic investigatory duties for instance, not asking Forsythe whether he'd been drinking alcohol or had taken steps to cover the chief's tracks. Voelkl specifically told two subordinate officers at the scene not to take photos of the scene of the crash site, according to the town-issued report. He also failed to immediately contact an outside agency to investigate the crash and that Voelkl felt Forsythe remained in charge. He "failed to understand that in this type of situation, the chief is not in charge of the investigation involving himself," the town report read. Helfer was also criticized in the report, including how he drove by the crash site early on Oct. 21 and did not stop or notify anyone of the crash. He was later suspended for two days, but had already retired from the department in January before his suspension was issued the following month. In the notice, Voelkl also alleges that although he was qualified and in line to be promoted to chief in December 2020, when former chief Patrick Phelan retired, and in late October 2021, when Helfer became the department's acting chief, he was passed over. Both times, there was no lengthy vetting or selection process to determine the next chief. Contact Victoria Freile at vfreile@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @vfreile and Instagram @vfreile. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Greece police officer threatens to sue town over Forsythe report Fridays for Future, the global youth movement launched by Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg, is launching a series of events to protest Russias invasion of Ukraine. The group plans to kick off a series of rallies on Thursday in more than 40 cities, with the list growing rapidly since the effort was announced Monday evening. All across the world, people are taking to the streets, Dominika Lasota, a 20-year-old student at the University of Warsaw in Poland and a climate justice activist with Fridays for Future, told Yahoo News. Its quite surreal to see it all unfolding, because it has felt like such a dark time but still, Fridays for Future rises up to that. Climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks at George Square in Glasgow, Scotland, during the U.N. Climate Change Conference in November. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images) The group is known for its trademark youth strikes in which students walk out of classes to call for action against climate change. In this case, the activists will interrupt their daily lives to protest against war. We are running a demonstration at 12 p.m., in the middle of the day, because the lives of the Ukrainian people have been stopped, not by their choice, Lasota said. We also want to stop our lives in solidarity with them. Activists chose Thursday because it marks one week since the unprovoked invasion. Warsaw is one of seven cities in Poland where protests are planned. Cities in Germany, Portugal, Italy and Nigeria, among other countries, also plan to hold demonstrations over the events in Ukraine. Poland shares a border with Ukraine and, in addition to having a long-established Ukrainian community, has already received an influx of more than a half million refugees fleeing Russias brutal military invasion. Warsaw currently is a base of tens and tens of thousands of refugees coming over from Ukraine, Lasota noted. Every day, I walk around the city now, and I see many, many people being lost, arriving at the train station, and trying to find their way in a completely new place. And we also have had a tremendously strong Ukrainian community for many years now. On Thursday, we are hosting the strike in solidarity and close collaboration with the Ukrainian community here. Ukrainian voices, refugee voices, will be leading that demonstration, and we as Fridays will be just the host, providing logistics to make it happen. Story continues Displaced people from Ukraine at a Warsaw train station on Monday. (Bartek Sadowski/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Although the regional conflict might seem distinct from climate change, the young activists see the two issues as stemming from the same problem: the worlds thirst for fossil fuels. The group argues that the European Union has not been able to counteract Russia with full-fledged economic sanctions because of the trading blocs dependence on Russian oil and gas. Political leaders can take the side of people or of money, greed and the fossil fuel industry, a call to action released by Fridays for Future stated. We call on global leaders to stop financing Putin's whims, and end the import of oil, coal and gas from Russia. We also call for the end of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline once and for all. The organization is currently in discussions about shifting the focus of an already planned global day of protest on March 25 from climate change to the war. Lasota said that Thunberg has been in touch with Ukrainian activists from the group and is in support of the antiwar protests. Our narrative, people over profit, that we planned to center the 25th of March mobilization around ... still holds, whether we apply it to the climate crisis and the fact that fossil fuels are still leading the way and not climate action and safety of the people, or whether you apply it to the war in Ukraine, where on one side we have a man who is just in search of more power and more profits, Lasota said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. And he does everything against the people: his people, but the people of Ukraine most of all. Thousands of people protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine in front of the Greek Parliament in Athens on Tuesday. (Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Fridays for Future anticipates holding more demonstrations around the world in addition to Thursdays youth strike and the one on March 25. Well be continuing to take it to the streets, said Lasota. Theres a potential mobilization happening in Russia, actually, but this is to be confirmed. Global temperatures are on the rise and have been for decades. Step inside the data and see the magnitude of climate change. Watch: Russian forces tighten grip on 2 largest cities By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, U.S. intelligence had predicted a blistering assault by Moscow that would quickly mobilize the vast Russian air power that its military assembled in order to dominate Ukraine's skies. But the first six days have confounded those expectations and instead seen Moscow act far more delicately with its air power, so much so that U.S. officials can't exactly explain what's driving Russia's apparent risk-averse behavior. "They're not necessarily willing to take high risks with their own aircraft and their own pilots," a senior U.S. defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Vastly outmatched by Russia's military, in terms of raw numbers and firepower, Ukraine's own air force is still flying and its air defenses are still deemed to be viable - a fact that is baffling military experts. After the opening salvos of the war on Feb. 24, analysts expected the Russian military to try to immediately destroy Ukraine's air force and air defenses. That would have been "the logical and widely anticipated next step, as seen in almost every military conflict since 1938," wrote the RUSI think-tank in London, in an article called "The Mysterious Case of the Missing Russian Air Force." Instead, Ukrainian air force fighter jets are still carrying out low-level, defensive counter-air and ground-attack sorties. Russia is still flying through contested airspace. Ukrainian troops with surface-to-air rockets are able to threaten Russian aircraft and create risk to Russian pilots trying to support ground forces. "There's a lot of stuff they're doing that's perplexing," said Rob Lee, a Russian military specialist at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He thought the beginning of the war would be "maximum use of force." Story continues "Because every day it goes on there's a cost and the risk goes up. And they're not doing that and it just is really hard to explain for any realistic reason." The confusion over how Russia has used its air force comes as President Joe Biden's administration rejects calls by Kyiv for a no-fly zone that could draw the United States directly into a conflict with Russia, whose plans for its air force are unclear. Military experts have seen evidence of a lack of Russian air force coordination with ground troop formations, with multiple Russian columns of troops sent forward beyond the reach of their own air defense cover. That leaves Russian soldiers vulnerable to attack from Ukrainian forces, including those newly equipped with Turkish drones and U.S. and British anti-tank missiles. David Deptula, a retired U.S. Air Force three-star general who once commanded the no-fly zone over northern Iraq, said he was surprised that Russia didn't work harder to establish air dominance from the start. "The Russians are discovering that coordinating multi-domain operations is not easy," Deptula told Reuters. "And that they are not as good as they presumed they were." While the Russians have been under-performing, Ukraine's military has been exceeding expectations so far. Ukraine's experience from the last eight years of fighting with Russian-backed separatist forces in the east was dominated by static World War One-style trench warfare. By contrast Russia's forces got combat experience in Syria, where they intervened on the side of President Bashar al-Assad, and demonstrated some ability to synchronize ground maneuvers with air and drone attacks. Watch: Ukraine says 5 killed in Russian attack on Kyiv TV tower Ukraine's ability to keep flying air force jets is a visible demonstration of the country's resilience in the face of attack and has been a morale booster, both to its own military and Ukraine's people, experts say. It has also led to mythologizing of the Ukrainian air force, including a tale about a Ukrainian jet fighter that purportedly single-handedly downed six Russian aircrafts, dubbed online as "The Ghost of Kyiv." A Reuters Fact Check showed how a clip https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-animation-ukrainianjet/fact-check-animation-miscaptioned-as-if-to-show-video-of-ukrainian-fighter-jet-shooting-down-russian-plane-idUSL1N2V035G from the videogame Digital Combat Simulator was miscaptioned online to claim it was an actual Ukrainian fighter jet shooting down a Russian plane. Biden led a standing ovation in support of Ukrainians in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, praising their determination and mocking Putin for thinking he could just "roll into Ukraine" unopposed. "Instead he met a wall of strength he never imagined. He met the Ukrainian people," Biden said. The United States estimates that Russia is using just over 75 aircraft in its Ukraine invasion, the senior U.S. official said. Ahead of the invasion, officials had estimated that Russia had potentially readied hundreds of the thousands of aircraft in its air force for a Ukraine mission. However, the senior U.S. official on Tuesday declined to estimate how many Russian combat aircraft, including attack helicopters, might still be available and outside Ukraine. Both sides are taking losses. "We do have indications that they've lost some (aircraft), but so have the Ukrainians," the official said. "The airspace is actively contested every day." (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Mary Milliken, Lincoln Feast and Sandra Maler) PORTSMOUTH HCA New Hampshire hospitals will host a hiring event for RNs on Thursday, March 3, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Holy Grail Restaurant, 64 Main St., in Epping. HCA New Hampshire hospitals will host a hiring event for RNs on Thursday, March 3, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Holy Grail Restaurant, 64 Main St., in Epping. Portsmouth Regional Hospital will be one of the three hospitals with nursing directors and staff available to speak to. Join HCA NH hospitals for hot chocolate and career conversations with leaders from various specialty areas. Visitors will have the opportunity to speak one-one-one with nursing directors and staff from Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Parkland Medical Center and Portsmouth Regional Hospital and explore nurse residency opportunities. On-the-spot job offers and up to $15K sign-on bonuses for some specialties and positions will be available. Who should attend? Experienced RNs, new grad RNs, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Licensed Nursing Assistants. Benefits of working with HCA include: HCA nurse residency, Galen School of Nursing free online BSN, tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, extended family leave, 401K matching, comprehensive benefit package, and more. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: HCA New Hampshire hospitals host RN hiring event WASHINGTON (AP) Congressional Democrats and Republicans showed signs of support Tuesday for providing $6.4 billion or more in aid to Ukraine and its European neighbors as Russian forces intensified their attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Lawmakers were hoping Congress could approve the assistance by the end of next week, possibly by adding it to a bipartisan, roughly $1.5 trillion bill financing federal agencies for the rest of this year. Biden administration officials told congressional aides last week that their request includes $3.5 billion for the Defense Department and $2.9 billion for humanitarian assistance for the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees fleeing to nearby countries. Some Democrats said that total could grow to $10 billion or more. There's broad support for the president and what he's doing now, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said of President Joe Biden 's handling of the crisis. Our biggest complaint is, what took him so long? he added, saying providing more support earlier might have deterred heavy aggression in advance. McConnell complained that bargainers had hit a snag. He said Democrats wanted to carve the defense assistance for Ukraine from the military spending in the larger $1.5 trillion government-wide legislation, but add the humanitarian aid on top of that measure's domestic programs. We're not going to do that. This is an emergency, McConnell said. But congressional support for helping Ukraine and financing government agencies is strong and bipartisan, and the problem seemed unlikely to cause serious problems. Some Democrats denied McConnell's description and said the extra defense and humanitarian spending for Ukraine would be treated the same. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., did not respond with specifics when asked about the dispute. We should be bipartisan on this issue. Nothing would make Putin happier than having Democrats and Republicans divided, Schumer said. He said earlier congressional efforts to impose sanctions on Russia before it invaded Ukraine, backed by lawmakers from both parties, would have torn the alliance apart, a reference to widespread international opposition to Russia's attack. Story continues Schumer said bargainers were working on a bipartisan, robust aid package with both military and security needs" and that very good discussions" were underway. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said his chamber could vote on the legislation next Tuesday. The Senate would follow. With Russia's military superiority suggesting it might achieve a quick victory, several senators said they'd like Congress to approve the Ukraine aid this week. Its so fast moving that the sooner we can get assistance, the better, said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. But she and others who attended briefings from administration officials said the briefers had not expressed an urgency that the aid be approved this week. There is very possibly a limited window in which you can get weapons to the Ukrainians, said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. But the need for humanitarian aid will be ongoing, Murphy said. Others said that practically speaking, there was little chance of Congress approving the aid before next week. As soon as you can here is never as quick as you and I both think it should be, said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. NEW YORK (AP) Warner Bros. is halting the release of The Batman in Russia, just days before it was to open in theaters there, as Hollywood moved to cease distribution plans in the country following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Warner Bros., the Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures said Monday that they would pause the release of their films in Russia. Each studio has significant upcoming releases that had been set to debut internationally in the coming weeks. The Batman, one of the year's more anticipated films, launches Friday in North America and many overseas territories, including Russia. In light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing the release of its feature film The Batman in Russia," a spokesperson for the studio said in a statement. "We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to this tragedy. Warner Bros.' move closely followed a similar decision Monday by the Walt Disney Co. The studio had planned to open the Pixar film Turning Red in Russia on March 10. That film is going straight to Disney+ in the U.S. Before Disney's announcement, Warner Bros. had been expected to proceed with the Russian release of The Batman. Given the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia, including the upcoming Turning Red from Pixar, a Disney spokesperson said in a statement. "We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation. In the meantime, given the scale of the emerging refugee crisis, we are working with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees. Hollywood scramble plans in Russia late Monday, as global pressure mounted to sever business ties with the country over the war in Ukraine. Western economic sanctions sent Russia's ruble plummeting Monday as numerous nations sought to block Russian banks. On Saturday, the Ukrainian Film Academy called for an international boycott of the Russian film industry. Story continues The Motion Picture Association said Monday that it stands with the international community in upholding the rule of law and condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On behalf of our member companies, who lead the film, TV and streaming industry, we express our strongest support for Ukraines vibrant creative community who, like all people, deserve to live and work peacefully, the MPA said in a statement. Russia is not a leading market for Hollywood, but the country typically ranks in the top dozen countries globally in box office. Sony's recent smash hit Spider-Man: No Way Home," which has totaled $1.85 billion in ticket sales worldwide, has grossed $46.7 million in Russia. Sony's most recent chart-topping release, the Tom Holland adventure Uncharted, has amassed about $20 million in Russia over the last two weeks. After Disney and Warner Bros. made their announcements, Sony followed suit. Given the ongoing military action in Ukraine and the resulting uncertainty and humanitarian crisis unfolding in that region, we will be pausing our planned theatrical releases in Russia, including the upcoming release of Morbius," Sony said in a statement referencing the Spider-Man spinoff slated for early April. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been impacted and hope this crisis will be resolved quickly. ___ Follow AP Film Write Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP News Headlines Vietnamese honey risks losing US market due to high anti-dumping tariff By Gustavo Palencia TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Environmental permits for Honduran metal and non-metal mining will be cancelled, the country's government said in a brief statement on Monday, describing the industry as harmful and declaring it will specifically prohibit open-pit mining. The statement from the Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources, Environment and Mines added that natural areas with "high ecological value" will be preserved, without going into further detail. "The approval of permits for extractive exploitation is cancelled due to being harmful to the state of Honduras, threatening natural resources, public health and because they limit access to water as a human right," according to the ministry's statement. The energy and mining ministry did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on whether the permit cancellations will only affect new projects, or whether they will also apply to existing ones. The announcement comes from the barely a month-old government of leftist President Xiomara Castro, who took office in January promising to pull the Central American nation "out of the abyss" caused by failed economic policies and rampant corruption. Castro's election manifesto released last September pledged to limit mining, prior to her victory at the polls in late November. The manifesto detailed 282 mining concessions doled out by previous governments through 2017, citing the country's geology and mining institute. Canada's Aura Minerals operates an open-pit mine in western Honduras, where it has encountered stiff local opposition in part due to alleged disturbances to a Maya-Chorti indigenous cemetery. Last year, the company suspended operations due to what it described as illegal blockades. Aura Minerals' San Andres mine processed more than 4.4 million tonnes of ore in 2020, producing nearly 61,000 ounces of gold, according to the company's website. Honduran mining export revenue from silver, zinc and lead projects in the country totalled nearly $130 million last year, according to central bank data, which did not include any revenue from gold shipments. (Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by David Alire Garcia, Chris Reese and Kenneth Maxwell) By Farah Master HONG KONG (Reuters) -Hong Kong residents braced for a city-wide lockdown, emptying supermarkets and pharmacies, even as leader Carrie Lam called for calm on Tuesday and appealed for the public not to worry over a compulsory mass COVID-19 testing plan. The Chinese-ruled territory reported 32,597 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday and a record 117 deaths in the past 24 hours. It has seen daily infections surge over 30 times from just over 100 at the start of February. The global financial hub has reported more than 230,000 coronavirus infections and more than 800 deaths since the pandemic began in 2020. Around 500 deaths have been in the past week, with the majority being unvaccinated residents. Hong Kong continues to stick to a COVID policy of "dynamic zero", the same as mainland China, which seeks to curb all outbreaks at any cost instead of trying to live with the virus. The former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule nearly 25 years ago, has introduced its most draconian measures since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Mass testing for the city's 7.4 million residents is set to take place over nine days starting in the second half of March, the South China Morning Post reported, citing an unidentified source. The news sparked concerns many people will be forced to isolate and families with members testing positive would be separated. Officials are planning to test people three times over nine days, with the government still deliberating whether a lockdown would be on a district basis or citywide, the SCMP said. Exemptions would be made for those who buy food, seek medical treatment or carry out urgent tasks. Hong Kong's stock market would continue to operate, Sing Tao newspaper reported, citing unidentified sources. "Our intention is always to keep markets fully functioning whatever the prevailing environment," the stock exchange said in a statement. Lam had previously said she was not considering a city-wide lockdown. She also said earlier this year she had no plans for compulsory mass testing. Story continues On Tuesday, she appealed to the public "not to fall prey to rumours to avoid unnecessary fears being stirred", saying the supply of food and goods was normal. "There is no need for members of the public to worry, they should stay vigilant and pay attention to the information disseminated by the government so as to avoid being misled by rumours," Lam said in a statement. Despite her comments, dozens of people queued to enter pharmacies and banks across the city, while many scoured empty shelves in grocery stores to stock up on whatever essentials they could. Streets and shopping malls in the heart of the densely populated city's Central financial district were eerily quiet in what would typically be a busy lunchtime period. Health experts from the University of Hong Kong said there were around 1.7 million people already infected as of Monday, with a peak of around 183,000 daily infections expected in the coming week. They said a plan for compulsory mass testing should take place in late April when case numbers were likely to be much lower. Lam, who inspected a mainland Chinese built isolation centre on Monday, said the team had raced against the clock to "create a miracle" in the city's construction industry. The Tsing Yi facility, located in the northwest of the city, would provide around 3,900 rooms for infected people with mild or no symptoms and others who need to isolate, she said. (Additional reporting by Twinnie Siu, Marius Zaharia, Anne Marie Roantree and Jessie Pang; Editing by Michael Perry and Nick Macfie) via Nathan Howard/Getty Images It seemed like Idaho Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin pissed off just about everyone in her state when she delivered a taped speech to a white-nationalist conference in Orlando last Friday. But fellow Republican Gov. Brad Littlewith whom she has routinely clashed in cartoonish fashion in recent monthsand the state GOP had been notably silent. At least until now. It is extremely unfortunate anyone in elected office in Idaho must make statements like these, but let me be clearI fully reject racism in all its forms, Republican Gov. Brad Little said in a Tuesday statement posted on Twitter. There is no place for racism and hate in the great State of Idaho. As Governor, I will continue to stand up for Idahoans values and work to make our state the place where our children and grandchildren choose to stay. While Little did not call out McGeachin by name, his statement came after Democrats, some former GOP officials, and advocates in the state called on him to condemn his no. 2 over her shameless appeal to professional racists. With her speech at the American First Political Action Conference (AFPAC)which also saw speeches from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and was organized by white nationalist Nick FuentesMcGeachin leaned into an extremist vision for the modern GOP. Idaho Lt. Guv Triples Down on Racist Appeal as Home-State Backlash Mushrooms Since her appearance, the lieutenant governor has doubled and then tripled down on palling around with racists. The saga suggests she thinks her challenge to Littleshe has declared herself a candidate for his job, even as he has not ruled out his own re-election bidwill benefit from extremist support, and that her fellow Republicans are leery of going after her. After all, it took until Monday for McGeachins boss to commenta move that was almost immediately followed by a painful statement from the Idaho Republican Party stating that AFPAC leadership does not represent their conservative values. Story continues White supremacy, antisemitism, bigotry, and neo-Nazism are reprehensible and have no place in the Idaho Republican Party," chairman Tom Luna said in a statement. We always have and will continue to stand against these divisive ideologies. Bizarrely, however, even as the party appeared to be subtweeting her just like its incumbent governor did, the chair deferred to McGeachins Saturday statement, in which she blamed the media for a guilt-by-association game. A spokesperson for Little did not explicitly confirm the governor was referring to McGeachin with his tweeted statement on Tuesday. A spokesperson for McGeachin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. For Idaho Republican State Rep. Greg Chaney, who has been openly critical of McGeachins past antics surrounding the states COVID-19 protocols, Littles vague response is better late than never. Know something we should about the far right? Reach out to Pilar.Melendez@thedailybeast.com or securely at pilar.melendez@protonmail.com. I think its a good statement, Chaney told The Daily Beast on Tuesday via email. Like his statement says, it should go without saying. Governor Little has avoided direct attacks on McGeachin (a courtesy that hasnt been reciprocated) and I think the statement shows he took the time to evaluate reports, allow the Lt. Gov. to speak for herself, then made the appropriate statement in light of the facts without descending into direct criticisms. Chaney, however, admitted that his style in responding to McGeachin is a bit more direct than the Governors. In April, he posted a Facebook video with the caption: WARNING: Beware of snake oil salesmen, political opportunists, and anyone else pretending to be concerned with your rights for their own selfish reasons. Looking at you Lt. Gov. McGeachin. Little and McGeachin have sparred routinely over the course of the pandemic, highlighted by her seizing power when he left the state to crack down on COVID safety measures, only for him to reverse it upon his return. The pair did not exactly choose to serve together: Unlike many states, in Idaho, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected individually. In 2018, Little clinched Idahos Republican gubernatorial primary with 37 percent of the vote while McGeachin won 29 percent. Eventually, they were both voted into office with 60 percent of the vote in the general election. For the Idaho Democratic Party, which previously released a statement calling on Little to condemn McGeachin, the governors vague condemnation was too Little, too late. It took over three days for him to release a statement, and nowhere does he openly condemn the event or Janice McGeachin, a spokesperson for the party told The Daily Beast. As we said in our open letter: It is not enough for us to denounce white nationalism in all its forms, we must also condemn those who openly associate and promote this unAmerican behavior. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The Indiana Senate killed controversial House Bill 1134, which would have banned several "divisive concepts" and given more power over curriculum and classroom activities to parents, Monday night after several hours of closed-door discussions in the Republican caucus. Even though Republicans have a supermajority in the General Assembly, Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, said he didn't have the votes to support the bill that was inspired by nearly a year of debate about "critical race theory" in the state's public schools. More: What you need to know about controversial 2022 education bills in Indiana They were largely divided into two camps after a Senate committee watered it down in the face of opposition. "We had some members of our caucus who felt like it didn't go far enough," he said. "We had some members of our caucus that felt like it was too much of a burden on education and just not good policy that we wanted to move forward." The bill, which would have limited what teachers could say in the classroom about race, sex and religion had been staunchly opposed by educators, school leaders, civil rights groups, Black community organizations and leaders in the faith community. For subscribers: 'Nail in the coffin': Hoosier teachers say CRT-inspired bill will drive them from classrooms The bill was inspired by the opposition nationwide of primarily white, suburban parents to what was called "critical race theory" but was more often about social emotional learning and diversity, equity and inclusion work. The bill would have given parents greater access to the lessons their children were being taught and more power to oppose material they found troubling. Bray said he supported the legislation personally and had hoped to get it passed. It was passed by the House last month, 60-37, along largely party lines but the version of the bill that the Senate was considering Monday had been significantly gutted. The list of "divisive concepts" shrank from eight items to three and provisions to allow parents to sue schools over things educators said in the classroom were stripped out. Story continues Those who opposed the bill said it was a solution to a problem that doesn't exist in Indiana and risked driving teachers a critical profession already in short supply out of the field. It had been largely opposed by the Black community, which worried that the bill would further limit representation of Black and other people of color in school curricula and result in an incomplete and inaccurate teaching of the country's difficult history. "This is a good day for the state of Indiana," said Garry Holland, education chair of the Indianapolis NAACP, "not to accept that which would cause disenfranchisement of children and teachers." The Indiana State Teachers Association, which has led a weeks-long effort to oppose the measure, celebrated its demise in a statement released Monday night. "Over the past several weeks, ISTA members and public education advocates have shared their stories and voiced their concerns about stifling teachers ability to teach and students' ability to receive an honest education," said ISTA President Keith Gambill. "Hoosier parents and educators all want our students to succeed, and well continue to be partners in standing up for whats right for their future." A similar bill was killed by the Senate earlier this session after Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville, became the focus of national outrage after saying Senate Bill 167 would require teachers to be neutral in their teaching on all topics, including Nazism, Marxism and fascism. He later walked back the comments. Bray raised the specter that parts of the legislation could be added to another bill, though it's unclear precisely what. He said Senate Republicans were looking at "a piece or so" to keep alive but the entirety of it would not be parsed out in the final days of the legislative session. The session is scheduled to end by March 14. Call IndyStar education reporter Arika Herron at 317-201-5620 or email her at Arika.Herron@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ArikaHerron. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: HB 1134: Indiana Senate kills CRT-inspired legislation An Indonesian man gave cooking oil to his new bride as her wedding dowry last week. Supadi, a 60-year-old groom from East Java, gave his wife-to-be, 54-year-old Sumariati, a liter of cooking oil for her dowry during their wedding ceremony on Feb. 22, reported Mashable. Muslim dowries traditionally include a prayer rug, gold jewelry and a Quran. Whether the man intended it or not, his unique gift has highlighted the severe shortage of palm-based cooking oil in Indonesia even though the Southeast Asian country is known as the largest exporter of palm oil in the world. "Although one liter isn't much, it's still valuable," said Meki Hasan Tachtarudin, religious affairs officer for the Sooko District of East Java and the wedding ceremonys facilitator. It's a necessity everyone needs it for cooking." Palm-based cooking oil has become a scarce commodity in Indonesia partly due to the increase in palm oil exports and the demand for biodiesel, a combination of palm oil and diesel fuel, according to The Straits Times. Along with the cooking oil, Supadi also reportedly gave Sumariati a cash dowry of 1 million Indonesian rupiahs (approximately $64.46). Featured Image via Jateng Pedia Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Daughter of WWII Concentration Camp Detainee Becomes First Asian American Female Episcopal Bishop Japanese American scientist awarded 2021 Nobel Physics Prize for seminal climate change research SF Couple Accused of Dismembering Elderly Father Plead Guilty Rising hallyu: 26 new Korean words added to Oxford English Dictionary katleho Seisa / Getty Images If youre an investor looking for capital appreciation, the stock market has always been a top choice. However, in recent years, two new areas for investment have unlocked exciting new opportunities for risk-tolerant investors. See: Have $1,000? These Are the Top 25 Stocks To Buy Find: Best Metaverse Coins to Buy for 2022 The metaverse and cryptocurrency, while related, are distinct asset classes that carry the potential for high returns in exchange for the risk of losing everything. Whether they are solid investment options along with their risks and rewards are still very much up for debate, though. Heres a rundown of the investment characteristics of the metaverse, cryptocurrency and the stock market, along with a look at which type of investor might be suitable for each. Investing in the Metaverse The buzziest asset class in recent months has likely been the metaverse, but many investors still have no idea what it is. Part of the reason is that the metaverse doesnt have one single definition. Essentially, its an online world thats a blend of virtual reality, social media and augmented reality, often powered by crypto. This virtual world has been used for years by gamers and developers, but its rapidly evolving into a parallel online universe where real financial transactions can take place. The current hot investment in the metaverse is virtual property, where prices have jumped about 500% over the past few months, according to the CEO of Tokens.com, Andrew Kiguel. One investor even paid $450,000 for a plot of land in the same virtual neighborhood as rapper Snoop Dogg. This may only be the start. Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence see the value of the metaverse hitting $800 billion as soon as 2024, while Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak estimates that value could top out at as much as $8 trillion. Social media giant Facebook even rebranded its entire company as Meta Platforms, indicating its belief in the enormous future significance of the metaverse. While the metaverse has exciting potential, investors should realize this early-stage asset class may offer either huge returns or devastating losses. Story continues Best for: Risk-tolerant investors wanting to get in on the next big thing Worst for: Conservative investors looking for reasonably predictable returns Learn: 5 Numbers You Need To Know About the Metaverse Investing in Cryptocurrency Cryptocurrency has made millionaires out of some investors, but its also cost many their fortune. Bitcoin and Ethereum are the two leading cryptos, with market capitalizations of about $750 billion and $325 billion, respectively. No other crypto is currently worth more than about $80 billion, and most of the remaining thousands of cryptos have minuscule market caps. Cryptocurrencies are incredibly volatile, as they have yet to prove their widespread utility in real-world transactions. Some speculators hope that crypto will one day either supplant or co-exist with fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, but its real value may be realized if the metaverse becomes a viable entity. Either way, crypto remains a highly speculative investment, with the potential to generate tremendous gains or become completely valueless. Its best suited for investors who can stomach wild swings in value and the potential to lose their entire investment. Best for: Highly risk-tolerant investors with capital they can afford to lose Worst for: Those on limited incomes or with no stomach for volatility Check Out: How To Become Rich by Investing in Crypto Investing in the Stock Market The stock market used to be considered one of the more volatile asset classes, but compared with cryptocurrency, its downright stable. Although the stock market experiences a 10% selloff, known as a correction, at least once per year on average, the markets long-term returns are surprisingly consistent. In fact, there has never been a 20-year rolling period in which the S&P 500 stock market index has posted a negative return. This makes investing in a stock market index much less risky than it may seem for long-term investors. And with a long-term average return of about 10% annually, you could potentially double your portfolio every seven years or so. Youll just need the mental fortitude to survive the occasional 10% to 20% drop in market values, which have always proven to be long-term buying opportunities for patient investors. Best for: Investors looking to build long-term wealth with some level of volatility Worst for: Investors seeking capital preservation or with short-term financial goals Explore: Ways Investing Will Change in the Next 25 Years The Bottom Line The metaverse, cryptocurrency and the stock market all offer the potential for outsized gains, but they each carry moderate-to-high levels of risk, especially over the short term. Of the three, the stock market is the least risky for long-term investors, as it has an incredible track record and is backed by real companies generating real revenues and earnings. Cryptocurrency and the metaverse can only be described as speculative investments at this point, as they are currently only backed by the hopes and dreams of investors. If the metaverse does become a viable parallel world powered by cryptocurrency, both of those investments may have a real foundation for growth. Investors just need to fully understand the risks involved and avoid sinking their entire nest eggs into these speculative asset classes. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Should You Invest in the Metaverse, Crypto or the Stock Market? ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -The top diplomats of 22 countries, including European Union member states, on Tuesday jointly called on the government of Pakistan to support a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was in Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin last week on the day Russian forces entered Ukraine. Pakistan has expressed concern about the fallout from the invasion but stopped short of condemning it. "As heads of mission to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, we urge Pakistan to join us in condemning Russia's actions," said a joint statement signed by envoys from 22 countries. Signatories included EU member states Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands, as well as Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland and Britain. The 193-member UNGA will this week vote on a resolution condemning Moscow's actions, similar to one vetoed by Russia in the Security Council on Friday. The resolution needs two-thirds support to be adopted. Before his Russia visit, Khan said the Ukraine crisis had nothing to do with Pakistan, which did not want to join any bloc. While Pakistan has begun expanding ties with Russia on energy projects, the EU is its top export market along with the United States. The EU has gives Pakistan special trade status, the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP+), which lowers entry tariffs. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman told Reuters that Islamabad has been engaging with members of the international community to "exchange perspectives" on the situation. "We have all along advocated dialogue and continued engagement to de-escalate and work for a diplomatic solution," he said. The country's Human Rights Minister, Shireen Mazari, responded on Twitter, calling the joint statement "ironic." She said Pakistan did not support military force, but the EU should not adhere to the U.N. Charter "selectively" as has been done "for decades." She called for the EU to condemn alleged violations by India and Israel. (Reporting by Gibran Peshimam in IslamabadEditing by Alex Richardson and Matthew Lewis) TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan on Tuesday joined the United States and other allies in slapping additional sanctions on Russia, including freezing assets of the country's leaders and three financial institutions. Aside from those held by six individuals including President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Japan will freeze assets of Russia state-owned Promsvyazbank and Vnesheconombank, as well as the country's central bank. Japan will also prohibit exports to 49 Russian entities as part of the sanctions, the government said in a statement. "We've agreed on the need to take powerful sanctions against Russia," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday after an online meeting with Western leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden. The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Russia's central bank and other sources of wealth, dealing a crushing blow to the country's economy and further punishing Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Kishida had announced on Monday Tokyo's plan to join international sanctions that included limiting transactions with Russia's central bank. Russia held $585.3 billion worth of foreign reserves as of June 2021, of which 5.7% were in yen, according to data by the country's central bank. (Reporting by Leika Kihara; Additional reporting by Kentaro Sugiyama; Editing by Kim Coghill) Jason Roy will not play in this seasons IPL (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire) England opener Jason Roy has withdrawn from this seasons Indian Premier League. The 31-year-old was due to play for new franchise Gujarat Titans in the 10-team competition, which is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 29. Roy, who had a second child in early January and played in the Pakistan Super League last month, said the past three years had taken its toll on him and he wanted to spend time with his family. Its with a heavy heart I have decided to pull out of this years tournament, Roy wrote on his social media accounts. With everything going on in the world over the last three years its added up and taken its toll on me. I feel its only right I spend some quality time with my family, as well as spending time working on myself and my game over the next couple of months leading into a very busy year. Roy will be hoping to help England to World T20 glory in Australia later this year, having suffered an injury during the 2021 tournament that ruled him out of the semi-final defeat to New Zealand. Danny is a writer and a Calaveras County native. He studied creative writing and marketing at San Francisco State University and has previously done work as an automotive journalist. He is happy to be back and writing about the local community. Comment Policy Calaveras Enterprise does not actively monitor comments. However, staff does read through to assess reader interest. When abusive or foul language is used or directed toward other commenters, those comments will be deleted. If a commenter continues to use such language, that person will be blocked from commenting. We wish to foster a community of communication and a sharing of ideas, and we truly value readers' input. Senator Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) called on the Biden administration to ban imports of Russian oil and step up domestic energy production in a statement on Monday evening, a day before President Bidens State of the Union address. According to Manchin, the U.S. is importing more than half a million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum from Russia while the Russian military is invading neighboring Ukraine. This makes no sense at all and represents a clear and present danger to our nations energy security, said Manchin, who is the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The U.S. must ramp up domestic energy productionto both protect our energy independence and support our allies around the globe. Manchin added, I am calling on the Administration and industry partners to take action immediately, up to and including banning crude oil imports from Russia. President Biden moved to halt all new oil and gas production leases on federal lands after taking office in 2021, in an attempt to fight climate change. Biden also revoked a presidential permit for the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, leading developers to scrap the project in June. Senator Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) called to lift restrictions on oil and gas leases, in a Friday interview on Fox Newss The Ingraham Angle. However, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said rescinding those policies would not be effective in comments to Fox on Tuesday. They are not policies that would address the issue at all, Psaki said. This Keystone pipelineit would take years for that to have an impact on prices. Psaki claimed that there are also 9,000 approved oil leases that companies are not tapping into. On Fox News, WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki rebuts Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) on energy prices: "These are not policies that would address the issue Keystone Pipeline, it would take years for that to have an impact There are also 9,000 oil leases that companies are not tapping into." pic.twitter.com/t7Ituxv4wJ Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) March 1, 2022 The Biden administrations ban on new oil and gas leases is currently the subject of a court battle. The administration said in a court filing on February 22 that it would delay all new oil and gas leases indefinitely while it finds a regulatory solution for new leases, in accordance with a February 11 court order. Story continues Oil prices have risen sharply since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Germany, a key importer of Russian natural gas, indefinitely suspended the certification process for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which has already been built and was intended to double natural gas imports. More from National Review Former national security adviser John Bolton pushed back against the idea that former President Trump's behavior discouraged Russian military aggression while he was in office, saying, "It's just not accurate to say that Trump's behavior somehow deterred the Russians." During an interview with Bolton, Newsmax host Rob Schmitt said that "there is something to be said, though, about the simple fact that there was not aggression during the four years" Trump was in office, noting a list of actions that the Washington think tank Brookings Institution said the Trump administration took against Russia. "I mean, he took a very tough stance against Russia. I'm surprised you don't think that he would have handled it better than Joe Biden," Schmitt told Bolton. "He did not," Bolton replied. "We didn't sanction Nord Stream 2. We should have. We should have brought the project to an end. We did impose sanctions on Russian oligarchs and several others because of their sales of S-400 anti-aircraft systems to other countries. But in almost every case, the sanctions were imposed with Trump complaining about it, saying we were being too hard." The Trump-era national security adviser claimed the former president did not know where Ukraine was on a map and said he believed Russia did not take more aggressive actions while Trump was in office because Russia "didn't feel that their military was ready." "The fact is that he barely knew where Ukraine was. He once asked John Kelly, his second chief of staff, if Finland were a part of Russia. It's just not accurate to say that Trump's behavior somehow deterred the Russians," Bolton said. Taylor Budowich, a spokesperson for Trump, slammed Bolton's comments in a statement to The Hill. "John Bolton was fired because he believes anything less than war is not enough. President Trump ensured peace during his administration and ended wars, making Bolton irrelevant," Budowich said. A majority of Americans believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if Trump were still president, according to a poll released last week. A Harvard Center for American Political Studies-Harris Poll survey last week found that 62 percent of those polled believed Putin would not be moving against Ukraine if Trump were still in office. The past weekend once again showed the dominance of South Korean dramas, as Thirty-Nine and Juvenile Justice both broke into Netflixs Global Top 10 rankings. According to FlixPatrol, a site that tracks streaming data from popular video platforms, both ranked among the top 10 most-watched Netflix shows in the world. South Korea continues to attract a global audience and proves its industry is not just a one-hit wonder with the success of Squid Games, which premiered last year. JTBCs Thirty-Nine, released Wednesday, Feb. 16, is the story of three unmarried women and their close friendship. When one of them falls terminally ill, the three reflect on their time spent together as well as how to spend their remaining time. The drama stars renowned actors Son Ye-jin (Crash Landing on You) and Jeon Mi-Do (Hospital Playlist), as well as Kim Ji-hyun (Justice) in her first lead role. The final episode of Season 1 is set to air March 24. Juvenile Justice, the second Korean Netflix original of the year, premiered just this past Friday, Feb. 25. Immediately after its release, it topped several global charts in Asia; however, it did not do as well in the U.S. unlike its predecessor All of Us Are Dead, which has made a home for itself in the domestic top 10 since its release in January. Juvenile Justice centers around Judge Shim Eun-suk, played by Kim Hye-soo (Hyena), and her many juvenile delinquent cases. The series highlights South Koreas controversial juvenile system in which offenders under 14 years of age are not held criminally responsible for their actions but are instead sent to reformatory centers for a chance at rehabilitation. The shows trailer starts with a young person laughing in court knowing they cannot be punished severely. Featured image via Netflix Asia Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Warrior Will Return for Season 3 on HBO Max, Fans Rejoice 'Shang-Chi' director wants Jackie Chan to be in the sequel Readers feel seen: Meet Corinne Tan, American Girls first Chinese American Girl of the Year doll BTS V Wins Ultimate Asian Heartthrob Award for Third Year in a Row As the conflict in Eastern Europe intensifies from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, outdoor footwear company Keen is working to help those displaced from their homes. The brand announced today that it has made a commitment of 50,000 euros, which converts to $55,669.75 at the current exchange rate, in both cash and products to support Ukrainian refugees at the Poland, Slovakia and Hungary borders. More from Footwear News In the face of a humanitarian crisis like the one unfolding in Ukraine, Keen stands in solidarity with its people. Our thoughts are with the people and families whose lives are affected by the crisis in Ukraine, the company said via its Keen Europe handle on Instagram. Keen said via statement that the cash donations will be driven through GlobalGiving, which was done to provide immediate support to local organizations. Also, the brand said it has joined forces with MM Sport and Outdoor Concept, its local distributors in Poland and Czech Republic, to make sure the people and families most impacted has footwear and other essentials. Whats more, Keen stated it is working with the European Outdoor Group (EOG) to ask the greater outdoor industry to join in the support efforts. The support Keen and EOG is looking for, the company said, includes cash and necessities such as clothing, food, hygiene products and bedding. Keen is also encouraging its consumers to make donations via GlobalGiving Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. Best of Footwear News Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. On Aug. 5, 1996, Jennifer Myers was robbed of about $40, tied up and sexually assaulted at her business, Tailfeather Gallery, in West Manchester Township. The perpetrator gagged her with a shirt and, at one point, pointed a handgun at her and threatened to shoot if she didnt shut up. Myers did not know her assailant. But she later recognized her attacker at a Sheetz in Hanover: Kevin Brian Dowling. Jennifer Myers, a mother of two, rose aficionado and owner of Gray Fox Art Gallery in Spring Grove, was shot and killed on Oct. 20, 1997. Not long before she was set to testify against him, Myers, a mother of two and rose aficionado, was shot and killed at her new business, Gray Fox Gallery in Spring Forge Plaza in Spring Grove, at about 1 p.m. on Oct. 20, 1997. The sole eyewitness who testified at Dowling's murder trial Sandra Eller stated that she had no doubt at all that she saw him in the parking lot of the shopping center on the day of the deadly shooting after grocery shopping. Eller said she wasn't sure of the exact time. She testified that it could have been about 11:20 or 11:30 a.m. Though her receipt from Kennies Market listed the time as 10:50 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police Trooper William Mowrey testified that clock in the cash register was behind and inaccurate. Dowling was found guilty of first-degree murder in 1998 and sentenced to death. Dowling 1998 trial: Read YDR's complete coverage of this fascinating York County case The Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office which has handled court proceedings after Dowling's conviction now concedes that the timestamp on the receipt from Kennie's Market that morning was, in fact, accurate. So Eller, a judge has determined, must have been mistaken when she made that identification. More than 24 years after the killing, Lebanon County Senior Judge Robert J. Eby on Feb. 22 awarded Dowling, now 63, of East Petersburg, Lancaster County, a new trial, ruling that his defense attorney was ineffective and that prosecutors did not turn over exculpatory evidence and presented false testimony about the receipt from the supermarket. Story continues This Court has thoroughly considered whether trial counsel provided effective assistance of counsel to Petitioner during his trial, Eby wrote in a 31-page opinion. We conclude that he did not. This Court has also thoroughly and extensively considered whether the Commonwealth participated in the suppression of exculpatory evidence prior to Petitioners trial in October and November of 1998, as well as whether the Commonwealth failed to correct testimony of both Eller and Trooper Mowrey which it knew or should have known to be materially false, he added. On both of these issues, we concluded that is has. Related: In Pa., many death penalty cases are overturned. York County is no exception. Here's why. Lebanon County Senior Judge Robert J. Eby on Feb. 22 awarded a new trial to Kevin Dowling, now 63, of East Petersburg, Lancaster County, who had been found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in the killing of Jennifer Myers, the owner of Gray Fox Art Gallery in Spring Grove, on Oct. 20, 1997. In an email, Assistant Federal Defender Tracy Ulstad, Dowlings new attorney, said she had no comment at this time. Dowlings trial attorney, Jerry Lord, also declined to comment. Former York County First Assistant District Attorney Tom Kelley, who prosecuted the case, asked for a copy of the opinion and stated "we never didn't disclose anything." In a statement, Molly Stieber, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office, said, We respectfully disagree with the conclusion reached by the court and plan to appeal." Check out: Man awaiting new death penalty phase trial in 1998 double-murder in York dies in prison Mowrey testified that he went to Kennies Market five days after the deadly shooting to investigate whether the timestamps on receipts were correct, according to the opinion. Ellers receipt, his police report indicates, shows that the sale started at 10:45 a.m. on Oct. 20, 1997. Mowrey said investigators checked that cash register Register No. 6 and determined that the time printed on receipts was 20 minutes behind on that date. Law enforcement inspected the other registers at the supermarket and found that each showed a different time, according to his police report. Mowrey reported that police collected four register receipt rolls and placed them into evidence. Mowrey did not describe his methodology as well as how he reached the conclusion that the times on all the registers were incorrect, the opinion states. Right before trial in 1998, Mowrey went back to Kennies Market to again check the times on the registers. Register No. 6, he testified, was 11 minutes slow. His police report, though, indicated there was a time discrepancy of 17 minutes. Read: Execution date set for York mass murderer, though it's unlikely he will be be executed A Bucks County jury that was brought in for the trial because of press coverage, the opinion states, received a copy of Ellers receipt with a handwritten note that specified, 20 minutes off. Dowling's wife, Joanne, provided investigators with a videotape that purported to show her husband fishing at the time of the murder on Muddy Run Lake in Lancaster County. Robert Boyle, a professor of physics and astronomy at Dickinson College, reviewed the footage and, using shadows and the angle of the sun, determined that some of the times in the videotape had been changed. Dowling conceded that hed altered the times. Thats because, he said, he did not want his wife to know that hed grown bored with fishing and left to go to a strip club in Harrisburg. During the trial, Clarence Hess, the rental boat proprietor at Muddy Run Lake, which is 40 miles away from Spring Forge Plaza, testified that Dowling got into a boat at about 10:20 a.m. and was on the water for 30 to 45 minutes, according to the opinion. Prosecutors presented evidence at trial that it takes one hour and three minutes, or one hour and eight minutes, to drive from Muddy Run Lake to Spring Forge Plaza. Based on the prosecution's evidence, Dowling would not have been able to make it to the shopping center until 11:50 a.m. at the earliest one hour after Eller had already checked out, Eby noted. Because the time on her receipt is accurate, the judge noted, she must have been mistaken in her identification. Kenneth Hewitt, of WSR Consulting Group LLC, provided an expert report that the internal register clock was accurate on Register No. 6. Christienne Genaro, with PayGility Advisors, independently confirmed his findings and submitted her own report, according to the opinion. Prosecutors hired their own experts, Dennis and Jeffrey Houser of Financial Forensic Consultants LLC, who reported that they would testify that they agreed with the findings of the defense experts. More: York County judge throws out death sentence against double-murderer due to jury error First, Eby determined that Lord provided ineffective assistance of counsel. Lord, he said, failed to request access to readily available exculpatory evidence:" the four receipt rolls. He also did not investigate whether the time on the receipt was accurate. Instead, Lord called Mowrey to testify that the time on the receipt was off" and erroneously strengthened Eller's testimony. *This item is very important, Lord wrote in a memo that he faxed to his investigator, Bill Donivan, days before jury selection. If we can establish the clock was definitely off by 20 minutes on 10/20/97, it will establish Dowling could not have been the guy S. Eller saw at Kennies on the morning of 10/20/97 If Lord had requested the register rolls and investigated, he wouldve had objective proof that his client was not the man whom Eller saw outside Kennies Market. And he wouldve been able to show that Mowreys conclusions were "baseless and patently false," Eby said. Mowrey, he said, was not competent to provide an expert opinion. Eby remarked that memo provided him with a clear window into trial counsels flawed thought process, resulting in an unreasonable trial strategy. Lord later testified and did not offer a reason for not hiring a point-of-sale expert besides that he was not familiar with any defense attorneys and assistant district attorneys hiring them. But Eby stated that was common in 1998. "Had he done any of these things, it is clear there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different," Eby said. "Petitioner was prejudiced." Also of interest: His son faces the death penalty in a deadly shooting at Regal West Manchester. Why this York father blames himself. Second, Eby ruled that prosecutors failed to turn over the receipt rolls, which were exculpatory. Prosecutors, he said, knew that the time when Eller checked out was important their case. They knew, or should have known, that her identification mustve been mistaken, Eby said. "Nevertheless, at trial, the Commonwealth relied upon the incompetent, unscientific and undocumented investigation of Trooper Mowrey in an attempt to bolster Eller's testimony and convince the jury that her receipt was inaccurate, Eby said. Eby said there is "more than a reasonable likelihood that this false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury." Dowling is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Phoenix, according to prison records. Dylan Segelbaum is the courthouse reporter at the York Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Contact him at dsegelbaum@ydr.com, by phone at 717-916-3981 or on Twitter @dylan_segelbaum. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Kevin Dowling wins new trial in 1997 death penalty case in York County A neighbor and acquaintance of a Cayce doctor accused of killing a salesman testified Tuesday that the doctor said he killed his best friend. Tiffany Beitler, who lived a few homes down from the doctor, said Lazzarini came to her house on the night of the shooting in October 2017. He sat outside her home, folded into himself and rocked. I killed my best friend, he said, according to Beitlers testimony Tuesday afternoon. He said it over and over again, she said. Later, Beitlers partner also testified that Lazzarini said he killed his best friend. Three or four days later, Lazzarini was back at Beitlers porch. They were talking through what happened, Beitler recalled. Lazzarini was imitating the hand motions of transferring the gun between himself and Holland. Maybe I shot him, Lazzarini said, according to Beitler. I think I shot him, he said. He seemed confused about the transfer of the gun, Beitler said. It was the first time jurors heard a witness say that Lazzarini confessed to shooting Holland. Prior to Tuesday, investigators had testified that Lazzarini initially said Holland had shot himself. Lazzarini, a former Lexington Medical Center doctor, is accused of involuntary manslaughter. Investigators have testified that he told different stories about what happened the night Holland was killed in the doctors home. Defense attorney Jack Swerling seized on Beitlers comment about Lazzarini being confused. He pushed Beitler to reiterate that Lazzarini seemed unsure about what happened in the shooting. Lazzarini was distraught, horrified and crying when he talked about the gun transferring hands, Beitler said. Lazzarinis defense has been building a case that Lazzarini was confused about what happened and thats why his story changed about the shooting. Chris Cunningham, Beitlers significant other who lived with her, said Lazzarini was distraught when he saw him immediately after the shooting. Cunningham, a firefighter, came into Lazzarinis house only moments after the shooting. Lazzarinis wife had gone to Cunninghams house and said someone was shot. Cunningham found Lazzarini on the ground in shock in the bedroom where Holland was shot. Cunningham led the first police officers to the upstairs room. Story continues Prosecutors Shawn Graham and Luke Pincelli of the 11th Circuit Solicitors Office are trying the case. Along with Swerling, attorneys Greg Harris and Alissa Wilson are defending Lazzarini. Judge Debra McCaslin is presiding. Nanny testifies The longest and most rigorous testimony came when a prosecutor and defense attorney questioned the Lazzarinis nanny. In one of the most revealing moments, the nanny, 19-year-old Savannah Beitler, daughter of Tiffany Beitler, revealed that Lazzarinis 5-year-old daughter said that he put the gun to his chest. There was a loud noise. And there was fire. Months later, the daughter spoke with a forensic child interviewer and said her father held the gun when it went off and that she was in the room when Holland was shot. The prosecutors said in opening statements that Lazzarini was criminally negligent in the shooting. Lazzarinis attorneys are pushing that the shooting was a tragic accident and theres reasonable doubt of the involuntary manslaughter charge. Savannah Beitler, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, recalled the events of that night. Lazzarinis wife, Vanessa Biery, came screaming into Beitlers house, where she lived with her mother and Cunningham. Someone was shot at their house, Biery told Savannah Beitler. Savannah Beitler went to the Lazzarinis home, where she picked up their daughter outside. Savannah Beitler quickly walked back to her home and brought the daughter to a bedroom. Savannah Beitler asked what happened. Thats when the daughter said she saw the shooting, Savannah Beitler testified. Savannah Beitler had been the Lazzarinis nanny for about a year in Oct. 2017. She was working for them seven days a week at one time and would stay at their house at times. Savannah Beitler later told Lazzarini that his daughter had seen the shooting, she testified. He acted stern, she said. Swerling, Lazzarinis attorney, questioned Savannah Beitler about her memory of the events. She admitted having an extensive history of marijuana use and other drug use. She also was interrogated by Swerling on her history of mental illness. Her drug use and mental illness were serious, Beitler said. The bottom line is you dont remember a lot of what happened and thats because of your drug use and mental illness, Swerling asked. Beitler responded, Yes. Beitler said she is sober now and taking medication for her illness. Shes a new mother and newly married, she said. The trial continues on Wednesday. Gustavo Dudamel, L.A. Phil's music and artistic director, conducts a concert in 2020. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) The history of collaboration between Black women artists; the legacy and thriving state of classical music in the Americas; the untold stories of women who lived during the California Gold Rush; and an immersive, multimedia exploration of the work of three historic female composers, dating back to the Middle Ages. These themes, stories and artists will be explored as part of the 2022-23 season lineup for Walt Disney Concert Hall, announced Tuesday by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Additional highlights include appearances by Michael Tilson Thomas, Zubin Mehta, Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock, Rhiannon Giddens, Rufus Wainwright and Renee Fleming. LA. Phil Chief Executive Chad Smith says the season is as notable for what isn't being announced as for what is. Organizing a season, Smith says, begins as early as four years before that season unfolds. For that reason, the L.A. Phil is planning to roll out future offerings every few months, with a focus on events curated by its Humanities program, which was founded in 2019 and is the first of its kind to operate alongside a major American orchestra. The purpose of the department is to partner with arts and educational organizations to create work that helps contextualize what the orchestra is doing in order to better connect with diverse communities in real time. "Weve known for a long time that our planning process in classical music is a barrier to relevance that planning things too far out means you dont have the flexibility in the moment to respond," says Smith. "We are trying to be a little more fleet-footed as a result of the pandemic, so we hold back." Gustavo Dudamel, the L.A. Phil's music and artistic director, will spearhead the efforts and is slated to conduct 10 programs, including opening the season with a night of film music by John Williams; world premieres of work by Ellen Reid and Gabriella Smith; 10 days of Rachmaninoff featuring Yuja Wang performing all four piano concertos; the conductor's first crack at Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde"; and concerts connected to his Pan-American Music Initiative. Story continues That initiative, now in its second year, is the L.A. Phil's "attempt to help shift the center of gravity a little bit more to the Americas and Latin America when we talk about classical music," says Smith. It will include work by Gabriela Ortiz, Jose Antonio Abreu, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Arturo Marquez. "Rock My Soul," the festival celebrating the history of collaboration between Black women artists, is created by soprano Julia Bullock, who also will perform in it. The series was inspired by the friendship between Florence Price and Margaret Bonds, two African American composers working during the early 20th century. Their collaboration allowed their work to be heard on stages across the country despite the enormous prejudice they faced, says Smith. "Julia said thats just an example of the supportive network that Black women artists have had over many decades, and asked, 'How can we highlight more of that work?'" says Smith. "Rock My Soul" became the answer to that question, and also an example of how the L.A. Phil is seeking to establish itself as an "artist-centered space," says Smith. "As we come out of the pandemic, if artists have an idea, I want the L.A. Phil to be the place where it can come to life," he says. "Whether its a commissioned new work, or a digital work, Gustavo and I want to create an institution that is malleable and able to support the most creative visionaries." Smith says he considers Bullock such a visionary, and is excited that she also will star in John Adams' opera "Girls of the Golden West," which is told from the perspective of women and immigrant workers in California gold mines, and uses letters and journals in the libretto. Another unique, one-night-only event titled "Electric Fields" will pair pianists Katia and Marielle Labeque with contemporary music soprano Barbara Hannigan in an immersive, multimedia exploration of the work of Medieval composer and saint Hildegard of Bingen, as well as the work of two female Italian composers, the Baroque era's Francesca Caccini and Barbara Strozzi. "I hope that across the season that incredible creativity that relentless and restless search for the new is also felt and understood when we dig into those meaty and meaningful works from prior centuries," says Smith. COVID protocols are swiftly shifting in the city and the state; as of press time, there is still an indoor mask mandate for county venues, including Walt Disney Concert Hall. The L.A. Phil expects to continue asking for proof of full vaccination (including a booster dose, if eligible). The full 2022-23 season lineup can be found here. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LOS ANGELES, CA As mask mandates and pandemic health orders ease across California, the situation in Los Angeles County remains a little more complicated. On Monday, state officials announced a March 11 end to the statewide mask mandate in schools, but the state's largest school district the Los Angeles Unified School District has, so far refrained from dropping its mask mandate. The teachers union has suggested that it would oppose an immediate end to mask mandates. Similarly, the state announced an end to its indoor mask policy for unvaccinated people last week, and health departments in Pasadena and Long Beach quickly followed suit. The state's indoor mask mandate for the unvaccinated ends Tuesday, but the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has not yet altered its indoor mask mandate. County officials are slated to discuss options for altering health orders at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting. Though not mandated, indoor masking remains strongly recommended by the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in places with high coronavirus transmission rates such as Los Angeles County. Still, the number of COVID-19-positive patients in Los Angeles County hospitals continued its downward trajectory Monday, and the region could soon achieve the CDC's moderate risk category. According to state figures, there were 916 COVID-positive patients hospitalized locally, down from 975 on Sunday. Of those patients, 182 are in intensive care, down from 188 the previous day. The county's number of hospitalized COVID patients has been as high as 8,098 and as low as 213 during the two-year pandemic. It quickly shot up to over 4,800 in January amid a winter surge in cases fueled by the Omicron variant, and has been steadily declining since then. The number fell below 1,000 on Sunday for the first time since December. Officials have said some patients enter the hospital for other reasons and discover they have COVID after a mandated test. Story continues The county reported another 67 COVID-19 deaths on Monday, raising the overall death toll from the virus to 30,716. The county also reported a total of 2,833 new COVID cases from the past two days, raising the cumulative pandemic total to 2,796,560. The rolling average daily rate of people testing for the virus was 1.1% as of Monday, down from 1.4% on Saturday, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The falling case rates led to Monday's easing of mask mandates for California schools. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that the state's indoor mask-wearing mandate in schools will end at 11:59 p.m. March 11. Los Angeles County will align with the state and also lift the school masking rule. But it remains to be seen if the Los Angeles Unified School District will adhere to the same schedule. The head of the United Teachers Los Angeles union issued a statement opposing a lifting of the mask mandate on school campuses. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho issued a statement saying only that the district will "continue to consult with our medical director and health partners as we work to establish an updated mask policy." The state on Tuesday will lift its overall indoor mask-wearing mandate for unvaccinated people in most settings. Los Angeles County, however, still has a mandate in place. The county on Friday relaxed its mandate, allowing people who are vaccinated against COVID-19 to remove face coverings indoors at establishments that verify patrons' vaccination status. The change took effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Hours later, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced amended COVID guidelines that dropped its recommendation for indoor mask-wearing in much of the country but not in L.A. County. LA Metro reminded riders Saturday that they are still required to wear face masks while on buses or trains, under a federal mandate that applies to all transit systems. Under federal rules, masks continue to be required indoors at airports, transit centers, aboard public transit, in health-care facilities and at homeless shelters, long-term care centers and emergency shelters. City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on the Los Angeles Patch The last suspect has pleaded guilty in the multi-defendant Muscogee Superior Court clerk scandal that authorities said may have cost taxpayers over $1 million. Rosalee Bassi, the mother-in-law of alleged ringleader and longtime Superior Court Clerk supervisor Willie Demps, pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon before U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land. Bassi was to plead guilty earlier, but Judge Land would not accept the plea then because Bassi, speaking through an interpreter, would not admit she committed a crime. Bassi is from Cameroon, and though she can speak some English, her native language is French, and she needs an interpreter for official court proceedings, attorneys said. She pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property, alleging she took cash derived from two Superior Court clerk checks from Columbus to Phenix City between Sept. 24 and Oct. 11, 2018. One check was for $4,320, and the other $3,868, according to her plea. Though her plea involved only those two checks, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Helmick told the court Demps contacted Bassi 16 times between September 2015 and February 2019, asking her to cash checks that together totaled $61,896, and Bassi took the cash to her home in Phenix City each time. Bassi faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison plus a fine of up to $250,000, and must pay back the stolen money in restitution. Bassi also faces possible deportation, authorities said. Defense attorney Pete Temesgen declined to comment on the plea. Helmick said she was not free to comment on the case. Details of the scheme Federal prosecutors have alleged Demps wired more than $500,000 to contacts in Africa between 2010 and 2018, most of it to Cameroon. He also sent funds to Nigeria, Senegal, Gabon, Gambia, Ecuador and Canada, they said. Demps pleaded guilty Feb. 2 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of tax evasion. He faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the first charge, and five years in prison and a $100,000 fine on each of the tax evasion counts. Story continues Judge Land has set Demps sentencing for 9:30 a.m. June 2, when Demps accomplices in the scheme also will be sentenced at the same time. Bassi and six other codefendants initially were accused of helping Demps steal at least $467,000 from accounts that Demps managed while working nearly 30 years for the clerks office, part of that time as chief deputy clerk. But when Demps pleaded guilty, prosecutors offered a fresh assessment of the losses. Helmick said Demps wrote 330 fraudulent checks totaling $1.3 million between October 19, 2010 and Nov. 27, 2019, and deposited only $210 out of $5.5 million in cash paid to the clerks office over that time span. The total Demps cost the county likely comes to around $6.8 million, when cash funds he failed to deposit for the clerks office are included, she said then. Demps managed funds for which he was authorized to write checks on Superior Court Clerk accounts at area banks. He recruited others to help him cash those checks, sometimes meeting them outside the bank branches, or outside the Columbus Government Center where he worked, authorities said. He took blank checks, wrote them to his accomplices and signed them, before they took the checks to be cashed. The accounts he oversaw held court funds derived from felony and misdemeanor fines, forfeitures and condemnations. The accounts were at Synovus Financial Corp., SunTrust Bank and Colony Bank. Demps, 64, was arrested Aug. 18, 2021, after he and his codefendants 71-count indictment alleged wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and transporting stolen goods and money. Besides Bassi, 66, others involved in the scheme were: Baltimore states attorney candidate Ivan Bates unveiled a detailed plan Tuesday for how hed bring down a persistently high rate of violent crime as the citys elected prosecutor. Touting beefed-up gun prosecution, enhanced law-enforcement cooperation, data-driven training and new diversion programs, Bates plan details how his administration would prioritize removing violent offenders from our communities and support alternatives to incarceration. Advertisement Bates announced the plan against the backdrop of a house in Park Heights where 24-year-old Kendal Fenwick was gunned down in 2015 for building a fence around his Northwest Baltimore property to keep illicit activity out. He was flanked by Fenwicks family, former city police brass, a retired chief circuit judge and former deputy states attorney, as well as community leaders. We deserve better. I can do the job better so we can make our city safer so that our children can have the city they deserve and we deserve, Bates said. My plan addresses that. Advertisement A prominent defense attorney and former city prosecutor, Bates is challenging incumbent States Attorney Marilyn Mosby in the Democratic primary, the second time hes sought to unseat the prosecutor. Like challenger Roya Hanna, Bates plans to resume the prosecutions discontinued by Mosby during the coronavirus pandemic for drug possession, prostitution and trespassing. Bates promises to bring back those cases not to punish those defendants with jail sentences but to connect the people to diversionary programs, such as drug court, which he argues have been underutilized. Diversion programs follow an arrest and incarceration, however brief. Mosby has defended not pursuing such low-level offenses by presenting the argument that those prosecutions disproportionately hurt the citys minority neighborhoods. She also says that sending people to jail for things like drug possession doesnt help address underlying problems like addiction. Bates contends the lack of arrests amount to missed opportunities to intervene in the lives of sex trafficking victims and drug users. His plan focuses on addressing what he described Tuesday as a gun crisis in Baltimore, including by reconfiguring units within the states attorneys office to address firearms cases. interactive_content The document cites a study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy, part of the universitys Bloomberg School of Public Health, that found that Mosbys office dropped or indefinitely postponed more than one-third of illegal gun cases from May 2015 to May 2019. Bates said his administration will leverage fear of prosecution in federal court, where he has seen firsthand that sentences there act as strong deterrents because there is no parole and prison time is often served in other states. He also plans to assign prosecutors to seek out those who sell illegal guns and make or sell ghost guns. Advertisement Baltimore state's attorney candidate Ivan Bates unveils his prosecution plan to reduce violent crime on Tuesday outside the home where Kendal Fenwick was fatally shot in 2015. (Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun ) The defense attorney wants to augment the citys Gun Offender Registration Act. Known in court as GORA, the program requires those convicted of gun offenses to register as a gun offender with Baltimore Police upon their release from incarceration and report to a specific police station every six months for five years to renew their registration. Bates said hell advocate for more supervision and monthly check-ins. Mosbys office says it collaborates effectively with other law enforcement agencies, but Bates disagreed and outlined steps in his plan to rebuild those relationships. He seized on tensions between Mosby and other elected and law enforcement officials, namely the U.S. Attorneys Office, which is prosecuting Mosby on federal perjury and false statement charges. This states attorneys office has lost credibility, its lost the ability to work with others and theyre fighting, Bates said Tuesday. When the criminal justice partners are fighting, the criminal element is winning. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > A spokeswoman for the states attorneys office declined to comment on points raised in Bates report. Retired Chief Baltimore Circuit Judge Wanda Heard and former Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Barksdale expressed support for Bates prosecution plan, describing it as a well researched, multifaceted approach to address crime in the city. They said in separate interviews Tuesday that it strikes a balance between being tough on crime and helping people. You cant just lock everyone up and throw away the key and you cant just put everyone on probation, Heard said. You have to know how to distinguish the various types of crime and people that come before you. Advertisement Among collaborative initiatives in Bates plan is the Baltimore Violence Reduction Coalition, a multi-level, multi-disciplinary and multi-agency process for exchanging information about all homicides and shootings to come up with preventive public health and criminal justice measures. He touts the success of similar groups in Oakland, California, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bates intends to staff every homicide case with a veteran and junior attorney to bolster experience within the office. He also plans to secure money to hire data analysts to understand why cases are dropped and to use the answer to better train officers and line attorneys. His plan also outlines his ideas to enhance victim and witness protection, in part, by assigning a prosecutor to witness intimidation and retaliation cases; reform the states attorneys offices juvenile program; and institute community court where prosecutors will review cases of loitering, trespassing and dice rolling to determine whether the defendants would best be served by doing community service or participating in a diversion program. Nuclear fission the physical process by which very large atoms like uranium split into pairs of smaller atoms is what makes nuclear bombs and nuclear power plants possible. But for many years, physicists believed it energetically impossible for atoms as large as uranium (atomic mass = 235 or 238) to be split into two. That all changed on Feb. 11, 1939, with a letter to the editor of Nature a premier international scientific journal that described exactly how such a thing could occur and even named it fission. In that letter, physicist Lise Meitner, with the assistance of her young nephew Otto Frisch, provided a physical explanation of how nuclear fission could happen. It was a massive leap forward in nuclear physics, but today Lise Meitner remains obscure and largely forgotten. She was excluded from the victory celebration because she was a Jewish woman. Her story is a sad one. What happens when you split an atom Meitner based her fission argument on the liquid droplet model of nuclear structure a model that likened the forces that hold the atomic nucleus together to the surface tension that gives a water droplet its structure. She noted that the surface tension of an atomic nucleus weakens as the charge of the nucleus increases, and could even approach zero tension if the nuclear charge was very high, as is the case for uranium (charge = 92+). The lack of sufficient nuclear surface tension would then allow the nucleus to split into two fragments when struck by a neutron a chargeless subatomic particle with each fragment carrying away very high levels of kinetic energy. Meisner remarked: The whole fission process can thus be described in an essentially classical [physics] way. Just that simple, right? Meitner went further to explain how her scientific colleagues had gotten it wrong. When scientists bombarded uranium with neutrons, they believed the uranium nucleus, rather than splitting, captured some neutrons. These captured neutrons were then converted into positively charged protons and thus transformed the uranium into the incrementally larger elements on the periodic table of elements the so-called transuranium, or beyond uranium, elements. Story continues Some people were skeptical that neutron bombardment could produce transuranium elements, including Irene Joliot-Curie Marie Curies daughter and Meitner. Joliot-Curie had found that one of these new alleged transuranium elements actually behaved chemically just like radium, the element her mother had discovered. Joliot-Curie suggested that it might be just radium (atomic mass = 226) an element somewhat smaller than uranium that was coming from the neutron-bombarded uranium. Meitner had an alternative explanation. She thought that, rather than radium, the element in question might actually be barium an element with a chemistry very similar to radium. The issue of radium versus barium was very important to Meitner because barium (atomic mass = 139) was a possible fission product according to her split uranium theory, but radium was not it was too big (atomic mass = 226). Meitner urged her chemist colleague Otto Hahn to try to further purify the uranium bombardment samples and assess whether they were, in fact, made up of radium or its chemical cousin barium. Hahn complied, and he found that Meitner was correct: the element in the sample was indeed barium, not radium. Hahns finding suggested that the uranium nucleus had split into pieces becoming two different elements with smaller nuclei just as Meitner had suspected. As a Jewish woman, Meitner was left behind Meitner should have been the hero of the day, and the physicists and chemists should have jointly published their findings and waited to receive the worlds accolades for their discovery of nuclear fission. But unfortunately, thats not what happened. Meitner had two difficulties: She was a Jew living as an exile in Sweden because of the Jewish persecution going on in Nazi Germany, and she was a woman. She might have overcome either one of these obstacles to scientific success, but both proved insurmountable. Meitner had been working as Hahns academic equal when they were on the faculty of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin together. By all accounts they were close colleagues and friends for many years. When the Nazis took over, however, Meitner was forced to leave Germany. She took a position in Stockholm, and continued to work on nuclear issues with Hahn and his junior colleague Fritz Strassmann through regular correspondence. This working relationship, though not ideal, was still highly productive. The barium discovery was the latest fruit of that collaboration. Yet when it came time to publish, Hahn knew that including a Jewish woman on the paper would cost him his career in Germany. So he published without her, falsely claiming that the discovery was based solely on insights gleaned from his own chemical purification work, and that any physical insight contributed by Meitner played an insignificant role. All this despite the fact he wouldnt have even thought to isolate barium from his samples had Meitner not directed him to do so. Hahn had trouble explaining his own findings, though. In his paper, he put forth no plausible mechanism as to how uranium atoms had split into barium atoms. But Meitner had the explanation. So a few weeks later, Meitner wrote her famous fission letter to the editor, ironically explaining the mechanism of Hahns discovery. Even that didnt help her situation. The Nobel Committee awarded the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of the fission of heavy nuclei to Hahn alone. Paradoxically, the word fission never appeared in Hahns original publication, as Meitner had been the first to coin the term in the letter published afterward. A controversy has raged about the discovery of nuclear fission ever since, with critics claiming it represents one of the worst examples of blatant racism and sexism by the Nobel committee. Unlike another prominent female nuclear physicist whose career preceded her Marie Curie Meitners contributions to nuclear physics were never recognized by the Nobel committee. She has been totally left out in the cold, and remains unknown to most of the public. After the war, Meitner remained in Stockholm and became a Swedish citizen. Later in life, she decided to let bygones be bygones. She reconnected with Hahn, and the two octogenarians resumed their friendship. Although the Nobel committee never acknowledged its mistake, the slight to Meitner was partly mitigated in 1966 when the U.S. Department of Energy jointly awarded her, Hahn and Strassmann its prestigious Enrico Fermi Award for pioneering research in the naturally occurring radioactivities and extensive experimental studies leading to the discovery of fission. The two-decade late recognition came just in time for Meitner. She and Hahn died within months of each other in 1968; they were both 89 years old. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Timothy J. Jorgensen, Georgetown University. Read more: Timothy J. Jorgensen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Feb. 28Maine restaurants, bars and liquor stores are pulling several brands of vodka from shelves in a symbolic effort to condemn the invasion of Ukraine even though little of the vodka sold here actually comes from Russia. Gov. Janet Mills has joined the effort and on Monday called on Maine spirit retailers and restaurants to remove Russian-made spirits from their shelves and for the State Liquor and Lottery Commission to delist the products as a "symbolic but clear sign that Maine stands with Ukraine." Several other state governors have made similar moves in recent days. Delisting would prevent additional Russian-made spirits from making their way to Maine retail and restaurant shelves until further notice, according to a press release from the governor's office. The commission must vote to delist a product. "Maine stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the face of this abhorrent, unprovoked assault on their country, their freedom, and their lives," Mills said in a statement. "As we bear witness to the escalating tensions, I support the Biden administration's efforts to implement aggressive sanctions that punish Russia and cripple its economy ..." Maine is not the first state to take a stand against allowing imports from Russia. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed an executive order over the weekend, directing state-run liquor and wine outlets to stop sales of Russian-made products. Other states including Pennsylvania, Ohio and Utah have issued similar boycotts. Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage urged Mills to take action and ban all Russian-made products in a statement issued early Monday. "It is a move which will signal our state's resolve against Russian aggression," LePage said. "We should stand up and show support for Ukraine." 'IT SENDS A SIGNAL' Many Maine retailers and restaurants had already removed Russian vodkas and a few non-Russian ones from their shelves and menus before the governor's announcement Monday. Story continues Russian Standard and Hammer + Sickle are the only two Russian-made spirits sold in Maine. Many of the big-name vodka brands such as Smirnoff, New Amsterdam, Pinnacle, Orloff and SKYY are distilled domestically. In fact, only about 1 percent of the vodka imported into the United States in the first half of 2021 was from Russia, according to a report from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. But the correlation between Russia and vodka, especially Russian-sounding brands, has been hard to shake. Stolichnaya, or Stoli, for example, has been boycotted by several businesses across the country, with videos circulating online of bartenders and store owners pouring it down the drain. But despite its Russian roots, Stoli is made in Latvia, is owned by a Luxemboug company and has spoken out against the invasion. Many Maine businesses, too, have removed Stoli from their shelves, along with Smirnoff and other brands that actually hail from Russia. Jacques deVillier, owner of Old Port Spirits and Cigars, quietly removed all Stoli products from shelves over the weekend. At the time, he didn't know it wasn't made in Russia. But even afterward, deVillier stood by his decision to halt sales. He said Tito's Handmade Vodka based in Texas is the shop's largest vodka brand, anyway. "I think it sends a signal," he said about the decision. "We need to stand up for freedom." A former military intelligence officer, deVillier said he's been proud of the Ukrainians and their bravery and wishes there was more he could do. "I'm just angry. Those poor people, they didn't want a war, they were just minding their own business," he said. "I didn't do it for a response, I did it for myself. I had to do something." LOCAL IMPACT MIXED Montsweag Farm Restaurant in Woolwich is undergoing a few renovations this week, which owner Wayne Wescott said provided a good opportunity to give the bar a bit of a refresh. That included removing Stoli and Hammer + Sickle from its offerings. It won't have much impact on the business, and it won't make any difference in the conflict, but Wescott said he wants to do anything he can to show support for Ukraine. Wescott said he is also trying to find other ways, such as potentially bringing in a Ukrainian vodka brand or possibly ordering custom "Stand with Ukraine" T-shirts for staff. Roger Tracy, owner of Skip's Lounge in Buxton, also stopped selling Stoli and Smirnoff over the weekend as a symbolic gesture. It's a fine line, he said: There are Russian-American customers who come in regularly, and he doesn't want to disrespect them, but it's a small stance he's able to take. If anything, it's an opportunity to promote more Maine-based alcohols, Tracy said. Cold River Vodka, a Freeport-based distillery, expects to see that same thought reflected in customer demand. Stoli is one of the brand's main competitors for blueberry vodka, and Cold River owner Chris Dowe said his company is likely to see an increase in sales as Stoli and other products continue to be removed from shelves. "It's great for us but kind of weird," he said about videos circulating of people pouring out their Stoli. "It's extreme, but I can understand people's thoughts." Dowe expressed concern for brokers who rely on sales of large vodka names such as Stoli and Smirnoff. "It'll affect people that live here," he said. Hannigan's Island Market on Peaks Island also announced over the weekend that the store would no longer stock Russian vodka in support of Ukraine. The store removed Smirnoff and Stoli from its shelves, owner Bob Hannigan said. Even though those companies aren't from Russia, the symbolism was the important part, he said. It's unclear how other Maine businesses and organizations might approach Russian exports, whether they be products or arts and culture. The Portland Symphony Orchestra's Summer Concert Series is scheduled to kick off June 25 with a performance of 19th century Russian composer Tchaikovsy's Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, along with Beethoven's Concerto in D Major, at the Seaside Pavilion in Old Orchard Beach. Executive Director Carolyn Nishon said Monday that no programming changes had been made in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but "we will be bringing together members of the organization to discuss it more fully." Staff Writer Eric Russell contributed to this report. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) - A fugitive Malaysian financier said he won support from allies of former U.S. President Donald Trump for a possible settlement of a probe into the looting of funds from the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, a former Goldman Sachs banker testified on Tuesday. Tim Leissner offered a glimpse of what he had heard from financier Jho Low about the attempted deal, on the sixth day of his testimony at the trial of Roger Ng, another former Goldman banker. Ng, 49, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to launder money and violate an anti-bribery law. Leissner, a former Goldman partner, said he had no independent verification of the information. Leissner testified that Low, whom he described as the mastermind of the scheme, told him at a 2017 meeting that Low and his lawyers were in talks with the Trump administration about the potential for a multi-billion dollar deal that would spare several people from U.S. charges. "Jho was quite comfortable and confident," Leissner said. Low told Leissner he had met with Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, in Beijing and had hired Chris Christie, the former Republican governor of New Jersey, as his lawyer with the promise of a $10 million fee if the settlement was successful, Leissner said. Christie said he represented Low in civil forfeiture actions in California that resulted in Low surrendering $700 million to the U.S. Department of Justice. He said he never entered into an agreement to receive a fee if charges were dropped in exchange for payment to the U.S. government. "There were never any discussions between me and any members of the Trump administration that the criminal investigation would be dropped or any charges against Mr. Low or anyone else dismissed in exchange for payment to the government," Christie said in a statement. "Nor was there any agreement for a legal success fee to me to negotiate such a result." Kushner could not be reached for comment. Story continues Low, who was indicted by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn in 2018, has not been arrested by U.S. or Malaysian authorities. Malaysia says Low is in China, which Beijing denies. Prosecutors say Goldman helped 1MDB raise $6.5 billion, but that $4.5 billion of those funds were diverted to government officials, bankers and their associates. The bank in 2020 agreed to pay a $3 billion fine and have its Malaysia subsidiary plead guilty in U.S. court. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Richard Chang) An 18-year-old man will face charges Tuesday in the death of a Massachusetts high school student, who was shot in Quincy earlier this month. The fire caused an estimated $300,000 in structural damage and an additional $50,000 in damage to the restaurant's merchandise and property. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) A man charged with setting fire to the Hancock Park building that houses Pizzeria Mozza during May 2020 protests over the murder of George Floyd pleaded guilty Monday to a federal arson charge. Mario Ernesto Alvarado of South Los Angeles was indicted in August 2020 on one count of arson for setting fire to the commercial building on Melrose Avenue, according to federal prosecutors. He walked into the building on May 30, 2020, the second night of civil unrest across Los Angeles, sprayed a flammable liquid on the ground and set a fire, prosecutors said. Alvarado, 44, changed his initial not-guilty plea as part of an agreement with the federal government. He is scheduled to be sentenced in June by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner. The fire caused an estimated $300,000 in structural damage and an additional $50,000 in damage to the restaurant's merchandise and property. Pizzeria Mozza and a connected shop were closed at the time due to citywide curfew orders stemming from the civil unrest. Tips from the public led authorities to Alvarado, and police who searched his home found the same T-shirt and hat he wore the night of the arson, according to court records. Authorities also found a can of lighter fluid in the back of Alvarado's Ford Focus, which he drove to and from the scene of the crime. The fire was set on the first full day that dine-in services resumed in Los Angeles after the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. That reopening was followed by another night of unrest that saw some protests marred by vandalism and thefts, and demonstrators were met with projectiles and tear gas from police. Michael Krikorian a former Times reporter and partner to Nancy Silverton, chef and owner of the four Mozzaplex restaurants said the fire inside the Mozza2Go shop left a table and some books charred. Television footage from that night showed smoke billowing out of the building and a row of firetrucks on Melrose Avenue. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. PETERSBURG Police have a teenager in custody charged with the killing of a man Monday in Petersburg's west end, the city's first homicide of the year.. Ronald Parker, 18, has been charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and discharging a gun inside the city. Parker is being held pending a court appearance. He is accused of killing Brian Wade Jr., 32, in the 2200 block of Ferndale Avenue near its intersection with Summit Street. The incident was reported shortly before 12:15 p.m. Monday. Crews responding to the scene found Wade with a life-threatening gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died. Deputy Police Chief Emanuel Chambliss said the suspect was located at the scene and captured without incident. No motive has been released for the shooting. An investigation is ongoing. This was the first homicide reported in Petersburg for 2022. Last year, 18 people were killed in the city. More: He grew up in the foster system. Through it all, he's preserving and finding his footing. Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is daily news coach for USA TODAY's Southeast Region-Unified Central, which includes Virginia, West Virginia and central North Carolina. He is based in Petersburg, Virginia. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg records first murder of the year; suspect in custody Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Manchin (D-W.Va.) is seen hearing to discuss the state of U.S. Territories on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) joined with Senate Republicans on Monday night to oppose legislation codifying the right to an abortion. Senators voted 46-48 to move the bill toward a debate on the Senate floor, falling short of the three-fifths vote needed to move it forward. The bill, which passed the House last year, enshrines the right to an abortion and pushes back against state-level restrictions. The Senate's failed vote comes as the Supreme Court is weighing a case that would curb Roe vs. Wade. "Sadly it looks like the Supreme Court will limit abortion rights on the coming months. That's why the bill is essential," Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. But the bill was guaranteed to fail because it needed 60 votes to move forward. Manchin and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) weren't formal co-sponsors of the bill, but Casey had previously said he would vote to start debate on the bill. Asked about Manchin's "no" vote, Sam Runyon, a spokesperson for Manchin, said, "Senator Manchin's position has not changed." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) accused Democrats of trying to support a "radical" policy to appease their base. "Yet again our colleagues wish to demonstrate that the radical left fringe runs today's Democratic Party," McConnell said. GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) voted against advancing the Democratic bill but introduced a proposal shortly before the vote to codify Roe vs. Wade. "I have long supported a woman's right to choose, but my position is not without limits, and this partisan Women's Health Protection Act simply goes too far. It would broadly supersede state laws and infringe on Americans' religious freedoms," Murkowski said. "The fact that my choice is between this bill, or nothing at all, shows how insincere Majority Leader Schumer is about protecting women's rights. Failing to conduct any outreach and reducing this important issue to nothing more than a designed-to-fail show vote is a disservice to women across America," she added. A Maryland man shared a heartbreaking story about two panhandlers killing his wife after the pair spent a joyous evening at a relatives birthday party. Now, hell spend the rest of his life in prison for her murder. Keith Smith, 55, was sentenced Monday to life in prison plus three years for the 2018 stabbing death of his wife, Jacquelyn Smith. Just after midnight on Dec. 1, 2018, Smith brought his wife, an engineer at an Army facility to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she was pronounced dead from multiple stab wounds, according to prosecutors. Her death was ruled a homicide by sharp force injuries, five stab wounds to the chest and one to the arm. In Smiths telling, he and his wife were driving home with his daughter, Valeria, when they saw a Black woman panhandling while holding a baby. Smith claimed he stopped and the woman approached the front passenger side window, through which Jacquelyn handed her $10. Thats when, Smith told police, a man walked up and asked if he could thank Jacquelyn, then stabbed her repeatedly, grabbed her necklace and wallet and fled on foot with the woman. But as investigators dug in, Smiths story fell apart as he and Valeria told detectives a different story and cell phone data placed the incident in a different part of town, a quiet corner where panhandlers were unlikely to be found. While tapping Smiths phones, detectives found two calls he made trying to book one-way plane tickets to Cuba and Canada, which he was unable to do without a U.S. passport. He also asked about traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands without a passport and searched online about going to Mexico or Jamaica. Eventually, detectives figured out the true story, later confirmed by Valeria Smith during the trial: Smith drove them to the park with Jacquelyn asleep in the front passenger seat, then stabbed her. Prosecutors alleged that it was an insurance scam. Smith was found guilty of first-degree murder in December. Keith Smith will now justly serve a life sentence in prison for violently stabbing his wife to death and then creating an elaborate cover-up plan to cowardly blame panhandlers for his horrific attack. Today, the public can rest assured that justice was served in a case that manipulated the hearts and minds of our country, States Attorney Marilyn Mosby said in a statement Monday. I applaud my Assistant States Attorney Shaundria Hanna for her skillful prosecution of an exceedingly hard-fought case. Her around-the-clock preparation during the weeks leading up to the trial, and close-knit collaboration with BPD, ensured Mr. Smith deservedly spends the rest of his natural life in prison for his heinous and reprehensible actions. My victim advocates will continue to support Ms. Jacquelyn Smiths family as they mourn the devastating loss of their loved one. Valeria Smith was sentenced to five years in prison in December after pleading guilty to acting as an accessory by ditching Jacquelyns purse at a bus stop to make the panhandler story more believable. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images McConnell on Monday said there's "no place" for white supremacists in the GOP. GOP Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar appeared a white-nationalist event over the weekend. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also condemned the lawmakers' appearance at the event. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday said there's "no place" for white supremacists in the Republican party after two GOP members of Congress attended a white nationalist event over the weekend. The Kentucky Republican criticized the Saturday appearances of Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona at the America First Political Action Conference, rejecting the far-right politics that have enveloped some of the more conservative elements of the party in recent years. "There's no place in the Republican Party for white supremacists or anti-Semitism," McConnell said in a statement after being asked by a reporter about the appearances by sitting members of Congress. The GOP leader did not mention any lawmakers by name. One of the event's organizers was Nick Fuentes, who has a history of making racist and antisemitic remarks. Last year, Gosar was a speaker at the America First conference, where Fuentes spoke of a desire to shield "the white demographic core." At Saturday's event, Fuentes called on attendees to give "a round of applause for Russia," according to Politico, a distressing message as Congress has overwhelmingly sought to rally behind Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against an invasion engineered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. When Greene was asked by CBS News about her appearance at the controversial event, she said that she didn't "know" Fuentes and simply wanted to "address his very large following" about "America First policies" and "what's "important for our country going forward." Story continues "I do not know Nick Fuentes. I've never heard him speak. I've never seen a video. I don't know what his views are, so I'm not aligned with anything that may be controversial," she said. A spokesperson for Gosar didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Other Republican leaders were similarly quick to condemn Greene's and Gosar's appearances at the event. "I definitely want to disassociate myself from it," Senate Minority Whip John Thune told Politico. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also issued a rare rebuke of his two caucus members, saying their appearances were "unacceptable." The appearances are also an unwelcome message for a party that has sought to diversify its ranks in recent years. In many of the competitive House districts that flipped to Republican control in 2020, women and candidates of color defeated Democrats by appealing to diverse constituencies. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, an outspoken member of the right flank of the GOP, said she rejected Fuentes and other white supremacists. "I do not apologize for other members and what they say or what they do. I do not support white supremacists, like Nick Fuentes, period," she told Politico. Read the original article on Business Insider Jacquelyn Trisvane Smiths husband seemingly had everyone fooled about her shocking murder. Keith Tyrone Smith formulated an elaborate ruse that pinned her killing on a pair of East Baltimore panhandlers and repeated this tearful tale again and again, to news reporters and police detectives. Advertisement He played the part of a grieving spouse during television interviews, and sat in the front row of his wifes funeral. But his story unraveled as homicide detectives picked up on inconsistencies and prosecutors highlighted those details during his trial in December. A jury found Smith guilty of premeditated murder. Advertisement The investigators shared a moment of celebration Monday with Jacquelyn Smiths loved ones in the corridor of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, moments after Keith Smith, 55, was sentenced to life in prison. This will never bring her back, but we are elated and we feel that justice was served, said Yvonne Saab, Jacquelyn Smiths older sister, after the hearing. In court, Circuit Judge Jennifer Schiffer lamented that Smith exploited Jacquelyns trust by stabbing her in the chest five times as she peacefully dozed in the passengers seat of their car, blamed her killing on the most vulnerable people in society and made a dash for the Mexican border. I have never seen facts that showed more premeditation, willfulness and intent than this crime, Schiffer said. She recited evidence presented during his trial about the killing and the coverup. The crime for which the defendant was convicted was the reason the maximum sentence for murder was created, the judge added. Saab read statements from a handful of relatives to explain how her killing had left them with a devastating void. Family members described the 54-year-old electrical engineer at Aberdeen Proving Ground as a kind, compassionate woman and doting mother who raised two boys to become successful young men. Jacquelyns mother, Anna Trisvane, wrote that it was no coincidence that her daughter was born on the Fourth of July because she was bright and colorful like fireworks. It pains her to realize shell never hear her daughters voice or see her bright smile again, Trisvane wrote. Advertisement I will never forgive him, Trisvane wrote of Keith Smith. Jacquelyn Smith was killed by her husband, Keith Smith, who then blamed her death on a panhandler. Keith Smith was sentenced to life in prison for her murder. Kendall Alexander Hood, Jacquelyn oldest son, wrote that he has endured panic attacks and night terrors following his mothers murder. He described his mothers killer as a monster who she trusted, and shed light on the additional pain his family endured because of Keith Smiths ruse. I feel ashamed that my aunt had to pay for my mothers funeral out of her pocket while the murderer sat in the front row, Hood wrote. Doienne Saab wrote about the milestones her Auntie Jackie will miss, and how shes wary of the people who come into her life because of the way Smith took advantage of Jacquelyns trust. Smith appeared at his sentencing by video from jail. He apologized to Jacquelyns family but maintained he was innocent. His attorney, Natalie Finegar, asked Schiffer to render a punishment less than the maximum, focusing on her clients faith and involvement in his church before his arrest. Finegar said Smith had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and said that his release after six years on a previous 12-year sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon indicated he was capable of doing well in prison. Advertisement In a statement following the sentence, States Attorney Marilyn Mosby lauded the diligence of the prosecutor and the detectives on the case and touted that justice was served for a horrific attack. Mosby said her offices victim advocates would continue to support Jacquelyn Smiths family. In court, Assistant States Attorney Shaundria Hanna, who prosecuted the case, said Smith not only manipulated the hearts and minds of his wifes family members but of a city and a nation that became consumed by his false narrative. She noted that he involved his daughter, Valeria Smith, who had been using drugs and who he knew would be defenseless. In exchange for a lighter prison sentence, Valeria Smith agreed to plead guilty to acting as an accessory after the fact of her stepmothers murder and testify against her father. Valeria Smith, 31, was the prosecutions key witness at trial; her testimony helped prosecutors expose her fathers elaborate cover-up and provided an eyewitness account of the killing. She has served almost three of five years of her prison sentence. Having gravely wounded his wife, Keith Smith made a distraught 911 call. He took her to the hospital but not in time for doctors to save her. He and Valeria ditched Jacquelyns wallet to support their story. He cried during an interview with homicide detectives, shed tears with his daughter while talking to reporters and demanded Baltimore outlaw panhandling. Keith Smith, along with his daughter Valeria Smith, talks with the media in December 2018 in the area where he said his wife, Jacquelyn Smith, 54, was killed while giving money to a panhandler. A jury convicted Keith Smith of the murder in December. (Kevin Richardson / Baltimore Sun) Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > Valeria recounted from the witness stand the story he told her to repeat, and described their race to reach Mexico. Smiths fictitious story about knife-wielding panhandlers stoked unfounded fears about people experiencing homelessness, leading to concerns the crime would provoke confrontations. The tale garnered national attention and outrage; Oprah Winfrey even commented on the tragedy. Advertisement Detectives suspicions grew as the story spread. Police would never find evidence of panhandlers on the street corner no knife, no cardboard sign. Smith first told detectives he didnt see the weapon, then said it was a kitchen knife. He said the womans coat was brown and then blue. Blood was spattered on the inside of the car window despite Smith claiming the window was down. Investigators doubted anyone would beg for money on a little trafficked street corner rather than a busy thoroughfare. None of the surveillance cameras in the area of the supposed attack turned up footage of Smiths car. When detectives confronted Smith with evidence that Valerias cellphone traced to Druid Hill Park, he brought up a previously unmentioned detour on the way home. After that interview, Smith moved to Florida and changed cellphones. He sent Valeria Smith a new phone through the mail. Together, they made a break from Maryland for the southern border three months after Jacquelyn Smiths murder. Texas state troopers arrested the father and daughter 20 minutes from the border, after about 1,770 miles on the run. British paedophile Daniel Erickson-Hull, right, at a court appearance in the Bulgarian city of Sliven in July 2020. (Getty) The Metropolitan Police has been accused of a 'dereliction of duty' for failing to investigate a British paedophile who fled to Bulgaria to abuse more children. A former chief prosecutor said he fears that convicted paedophile Daniel Erickson-Hull, 46, may have abused children as young as ten in Bulgaria since leaving the UK. Erickson-Hull, from London, was jailed in 2017 for making and possessing hundreds of indecent images of children. But after his release later that year, he fled the country and went to Bulgaria. He was required to sign the sex offenders register and was barred from travelling abroad without notifying the authorities, but he ignored both conditions. The Metropolitan Police issued a European Arrest Warrant seeking his extradition back to the UK, but Bulgaria refused to send him home, the BBC reported. Paedophile Daniel Erickson-Hull, second from right, fled the UK for Bulgaria, where he has posed as a pastor and youth worker. (Getty) Erickson-Hull has been living in the deprived Roma neighbourhood of Nadezdha in the city of Sliven, which he began visiting in 2015. He has been posing as a pastor and youth worker, but the BBC said it has heard child sexual abuse allegations against him that span more than five years. BBC Radio 4s File on 4 programme said witnesses had reported Erickson-Hull to the Metropolitan Police. Dawn Gibbs, a former volunteer in Bulgaria from Houston, Texas, told File on 4 she walked in on Erickson-Hull in bed with a group of boys in 2019. She said about 15 children told her they were being abused by Erickson-Hull. She told the programme: "This young man interrupts the conversation to say, 'We're having sexual relations with Daniel.' And I just stopped. And I looked at him and I said, 'What?' "The youngest boy who made the allegation would be around 10," she said. Read more: Radio DJ 'tried to arrange sex with children as young as 12 in Philippines' Gibbs told the BBC she contacted the Metropolitan Police about the allegations but did not receive a reply. The force can investigate child sex abuse committed by British offenders abroad through Section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act. Story continues Nazir Afzal, a former chief crown prosecutor for North West England, accused the Metropolitan Police of a dereliction of duty. He told File on 4: "This is horrific industrial level sexual abuse. "It would not surprise me if we're talking about potentially hundreds of children abused by this suspect. "The police's statement is a dereliction of duty when it comes to a British citizen whom we've already convicted, whom we've allowed to leave the country, who appears to be abusing children on a wholesale industrial scale in a very vulnerable community in Bulgaria. "The police here have a duty to investigate this thoroughly." The Metropolitan Police has been accused of failing to investigate paedophile Daniel Erickson-Hull, second from right, after he fled to Bulgaria. (Getty Images) The BBC said Erickson-Hull's sister, Anna, 43, gave the Metropolitan Police access to her brothers web search history, which she said was filled with searches for child sex abuse. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told Yahoo News UK: Detectives from the North East Jigsaw Unit remain keen to hear from anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Daniel Erickson-Hull, who is wanted on recall to prison. He is believed to have left the UK in July 2017. Officers continue to liaise with domestic and international partner agencies. In 2019, a BBC journalist for File on 4 travelled to Nadezdha and confronted Erickson-Hull. It resulted in Bulgarian police raiding his home and charging him with sexually abusing eight boys, the BBC said. However, the case collapsed after victims withdrew their statements following protests from some members of the Roma community who called for his release. File on 4: The Paedophile Preacher will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 8pm on Tuesday. Trauma surgeon and Navy veteran Dr. Peter Rhee rates 10 battlefield medical scenes in movies and television for realism. Dr. Rhee discusses the accuracy of medical war scenes in Hacksaw Ridge (2016), starring Andrew Garfield; Three Kings (1999), featuring Mark Wahlberg and George Clooney; Saving Private Ryan (1998), featuring Tom Hanks; and Cherry (2021) with Tom Holland. He also comments on the reality of bullet and grenade wounds in Black Hawk Down (2001), Band of Brothers (2001), and M*A*S*H (1973) and analyzes combat medical procedures in The Outpost (2020), Our Girl (2014), and Combat Hospital (2011). Dr. Peter Rhee is a trauma surgeon and a veteran of the United States Navy, where he served for 24 years. He is currently the chief of acute care surgery and trauma at the Westchester Medical Center. He wrote the book "Trauma Red" about his experience as a trauma surgeon. "Trauma Red" by Dr. Peter M. Rhee: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Trauma-Red/Peter-Rhee/9781476727318 With the MLB lockout continuing, it could be some time before Dodgers fans get to cheer like they did for Chris Taylor's home run that won the wild-card game last October. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Major League Baseball's three-month lockout continued Monday, the day the league said an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement needed to be reached. If not, MLB said, the season would not start as scheduled on March 31 and games would be canceled. With so much uncertainty, Los Angeles Times writers Dylan Hernandez, Bill Shaikin, Helene Elliott and Jack Harris held a Twitter chat Monday to share their thoughts. Hernandez served as moderator. What follows is an edited version of the chat. Hernandez: Bill, can you brief us on where we are on this thing, how close we are to losing games and how many games you think were going to lose? Shaikin: The major league owners imposed the lockout in December. There's no rule under labor law that says if a collective bargaining agreement expires, you have to proceed to a lockout. You can continue to negotiate under the terms of the old deal. The owners did not want to do that. And the reason they didn't want to do that is because they fear that if they did that, and they didn't reach a new deal by the spring, that then the players could decide to go out on strike. And that could be bad because the owners revenue comes from primarily television these days, and then later in the season, and certainly in the postseason, the more revenues [increase]. In 1994, when the players went out on strike, they did it in August, right before the postseason. So the owners imposed a lockdown and said, we'll get it done this way. We'll do it in the offseason. Well clearly, there's no deal by now. And the owners, again unilaterally, decided that if there's no deal by today, they're going to start calling off regular season games. And for how long? We don't know, if that happens. But clearly, the two sides have been negotiating all week, cooped up in Florida. They're probably sick of each other by now. They're probably gonna want to take a break. So I think if there is a delay to the season, it's not going to be a day or two. It's going to be a while. Story continues Hernandez: A lot has been said about how unwatchable the game has become, the shifts in the game because of analytics and stuff. Both of these sides at the end of the day work in the same industry. Is there no concern over the well being of a sport, at this point? Or have the owners basically talked themselves into the corner where, you know, they almost have no choice but to kind of fight their way out of it? Shaikin: I think the greater problem has been for the past few labor negotiations, the owners have won and it wasn't really close. And the owners have been able to exploit, legally and smartly, provisions in the collective bargaining agreement that allow them to make a lot of money and frankly run a baseball team at very little economic risk. And when Rob Manfred, the commissioner, came out a couple weeks ago, the last time he spoke publicly, and said [its] probably safer to actually have your money in the stock market than in ownership, I think the players were both amused and enraged. And of course, the Braves' financial report came out and the Braves are part of a publicly traded company, so they have to tell everybody how much money they made and how much money they spent and in an era when Major League Baseball would like you to believe that between paying players and the rest of our other expenses, its about a 50/50 [revenue split between owners and players], in reality the Braves, who won the World Series, spent 28% of their revenue on players. And that's an embarrassment. The Atlanta Braves celebrate winning the World Series with a 7-0 win over the Houston Astros on Nov. 2, 2021. (David J. Phillip/Associated Press) Hernandez: Here's what I don't get. A lot of these ballparks are now part of bigger developments. In the case of the San Francisco Giants, they own a lot of the real estate around the ballpark. There are gambling avenues that are going to be opening up. We heard about the [Baseball Advanced Media] sale, their multimedia property that they sold for billions. So, isnt there enough money to go around? Shaikin: Theres more than enough money to go around. Youve got a system, frankly, where, look at what the owners have done: They've pretty much insulated themselves from a lot of risks; the term is cost-certainty. So, if you look at free agency, one of the issues that is probably among the most prominent left to be resolved is how much can an owner spend in free agency? And because there's no salary cap in baseball, as opposed to most other major sports, the owners have been able to get a luxury tax system. You can spend what you want if you're the Dodgers, but if you spend above a certain amount, we're going to give you a financial penalty. And the owners would like to make those financial penalties stronger to satisfy the Pirates and the Marlins and the Royals and all the other teams that worry about how much the Dodgers and the Yankees and Cubs spend. That's one area of cost-certainty. In arbitration, the players want to have more eligibility for arbitration. The owners are like, Oh no, no, no. A third party deciding salaries? We don't want any more part of that than we already have. Minor leaguers, we're gonna cut minor league jobs. Drafts, we're gonna limit how much you can pay players.' I mean, there's really not a whole lot of risk, frankly, in my mind, to running a major league team at this point. And the owners kind of like it the way it is. Hernandez: I'm a worst-case scenario guy. If you had listened to me, there was gonna be no baseball in 2020. There would have been no Tokyo Olympics. That was wrong on both counts. But, I want to ask Helene here, who obviously in addition to covering baseball has also covered the NHL extensively, there was a work stoppage that led to a season getting wiped out. And I just want to ask, how did the NHL get to that point? And do you see any similarities maybe between that one and this one, where there might be the risk of there being no baseball this year? Elliott: Yeah, I've had the misfortune of covering three NHL lockouts. In 94-95, it shortened the season to 48 games. The entire 2004-05 season was wiped out. And then the 2012-13 season was shortened, which was the one where after the Kings had won the Stanley Cup There's some similarities in terms of, owners will throw up their hands and complain about costs. They don't mention all those nice revenues that are coming in. Obviously, baseball is in a much better financial situation than the NHL is. Baseball has the big media contracts with the different TV networks that the NHL doesn't have, and at levels the NHL doesn't. In all these work stoppages, all these lockouts and strikes, it's important to note that this one is a lockout. The players aren't doing this, the owners are imposing the lockout here. There's a certain amount of posturing: We can't go on. We can't compete. The smaller-market teams won't be able to compete unless we do this. All this back-and-forth thing. I think human nature is to require a deadline, a firm deadline. I remember one of the NHL lockouts, [it took until] the final, final, final deadline for a settlement to be reached to save some part of the season. And that's just human nature. I think that we're a ways away from that point in baseball. I think the sense is that spring training is so long anyway, I don't think anybody will mourn, and certainly the players won't mourn too much, if part of spring training is condensed. It isn't like it was years ago, when players came to spring training to get in shape. They're all in shape year round. And a lot of them I think, maybe a week, 10 days, tops two weeks of spring training and that would be enough. It wouldn't break my heart if baseball started April 15 or so. I think starting in March is ridiculous anyway, particularly in cold weather cities. And I would expect there to be a lot of back and forth before anything even remotely gets done. Hernandez: Jack, the Dodgers have obviously a lot at stake here in terms of, they're going to host an already-postponed All-Star game. What does this mean for them if this drags on to the point where they have to cancel it or postpone it again? The Dodgers are scheduled to host to 2022 All-Star game. The 2020 game was originally set for Dodger Stadium but was canceled because of the pandemic. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) Harris: There's obviously a lot of layers to the Dodgers specifically, with the idea of losing a lot of the season. I'll start with the All-Star game, which you mentioned, which is something that definitely isn't back of mind right now. I know there's already a lot of planning underway within the club to try to figure out where events will happen and what that week will look like. And obviously, the whole All-Star festivities were supposed to be a way to unveil the improvements and renovations they've made at Dodger Stadium. So the fact that, after [it was postponed by the pandemic] in 2020, it's sort of getting potentially endangered again, figures. As far as the team is concerned, I think in some ways, a team like the Dodgers is less affected by the potentiality of losing games. It's a team that, even during the regular season, as much as they're trying to win games obviously, is also trying to perfect itself for October and get the roster right. So I think especially when you add in some of the injured players they have coming into the year, whether it's giving Max Muncy more time to rehab or someone like Dustin May time to come back from Tommy John [surgery], I don't think losing a few games up front changes a lot about how they actually perform on the field. I think the biggest detriment is, the Dodgers have had so much success in recent years bringing in either players from the outside or players already in their system, and using the offseason, spring training, the early parts of a season to develop their players. And I think you look at the team this year with somebody like Andrew Heaney, somebody like Tony Gonsolin, some of the young pitchers in the bullpen, they're missing what has in the past been valuable time for the club to work with its pitchers and some of its other players, and try to develop them and improve them over the course of the year. So I think that's probably one of the things that the Dodgers specifically are missing out the most." Hernandez: One thing that's puzzling to me, too, is the entire no-contact thing right now between management and the players. I know medical staffs, for example, have been told to not talk to the players at all. The guys that are rehabbing are on their own right now, which to me seems very counterproductive here. Shaik, obviously, we've seen situations too where theyve scrubbed the players off the websites and stuff, even though they're basically making their merchandise invisible [because] the players are the product here. It almost feels like one of those 'cutting off your nose to spite your face' [situations]. How do you view this in terms of how much damage these owners of these franchises are doing to themselves here? Shaikin: You made a great point about the no contact between anybody working for a team and any of the players, because health-wise it's going to be huge. Now we're going to end up with a shortened spring training, whatever it turns out to be. You're going to want guys to get ready for the season a little bit quicker than they otherwise might. And you don't have any idea of what shape they're in. You don't have any idea of not only what rehab program you need to prescribe for them, but really, in a sense, what your personnel needs are. Because a guy coming off an injury might be ready to go, or you might think he might be ready to go, but he's not. And you're not going to know that until you get into camp, and all of a sudden you got to rustle up somebody to replace them. I guess on the flip side, there are 200 free agents sitting out there waiting for some sort of offers, so there'll be a market. But it does not seem like a great way to run a league. And as you pointed out, it certainly doesn't do much for protecting the game or interest from fans. Because all those Christmas ticket packages that you could have sold, you could have sold them by promoting all the new players you got, but you couldn't sign any of them because there was a lockout. All those spring training trips that everybody romanticizes about, afternoons at the ballpark sitting in the sun, downing a beer or a Coke depending on how old you are, going out to dinner after that's all wiped out. You got whole economies in the Phoenix area that spent combined hundreds of millions of dollars on spring training facilities for the benefit of these tourism arrangements that now are not going to happen. Hernandez: Helene, it seems like a lot of times when there are labor disputes in sports, fans ultimately wind up kind of like siding with the owners, it seems. We saw a couple days ago, Walker Buehler tweeted out about how their wages haven't kind of kept up with inflation and I think there was a pretty significant backlash there. I do feel like we've seen a shift in maybe the people that cover the game, where what Ive read seems like the media might be a little bit more pro-labor. Do you think there's been a shift in fans at all? And even if there has been, do these owners care enough about public opinion to let that affect how this whole thing goes? Elliott: Owners don't care about public opinion. It's not family ownership anymore. It's not like the O'Malleys owning the Dodgers and being in the community and hearing from unhappy fans every day. This is corporations. This is big investment companies owning major league teams now. So I think it's different. I think the relationship is different with the community. I think it's also important that whenever we write or whenever broadcasters broadcast about this, that it's mentioned that this is an owner-imposed lockout. People get confused by that. You hear from people saying, When the NHL players went on strike No, they didn't. It's the owners who locked them out. And I think it's part of our responsibility to make it clear where this is coming from." Hernandez: Jack, there are a lot of players unsigned all over the league. Clayton Kershaw is one of them. We've recently seen speculation maybe the Dodgers could be in on Freddie Freeman. What do you anticipate the free-agent market looking like in the days after the lockout ends? Harris: Hectic, in a word. I think what's interesting is that even for the players that were unsigned, going into the lockout, I think most of them probably had a pretty good grasp on what their markets were, which teams were interested and what their options were going to be coming out of the break. So how much some of that stuff changes is one of the things to look out for. I think you already kind of saw that a little bit with the news from Miami today that Derek Jeter was leaving reportedly over a change of philosophy and what they originally thought they might be able to do in free agency versus what they might actually do coming out of the lockout. So I think one of the early indicators will just be how different do teams plans and just the market in general, how different does that all look coming out of the lockout? For the Dodgers, there are going to definitely be some options for them to both bring back some of the guys that you mentioned that have been with them who are free agents right now, like Clayton Kershaw or Kenley Jansen or Joe Kelly. I think Freddie Freeman, of the other big-name [free agents still unsigned], probably is the one that makes the most sense, in terms of fit for the lineup and what they need and where the price point will be. I think there's also inevitably the factor of whatever the new luxury tax threshold looks like coming out of this, a team like the Dodgers, that's going to directly impact [them] as they look at their long-term plans and try to figure out where they want or how they want to spread out their their payroll over the next couple seasons." Hernandez: If you guys were to guess, when does this lockout end? When do we have a new CBA? What day would you guys put on it? Shaikin: Well, if things don't resolve themselves today in a positive manner and as I indicated, I think they're all kind of sick of talking to one another every day this week theyll take a break. It's all been dictated by the owners, frankly. The owners determined when there was going to be a lockout. The owners determined when there was going to be a so-called deadline for starting the season. So I guess whenever the owners decide that they're ready to talk every day until this thing is done. But I think human nature says theyll take a break, theyll still want three to four weeks of spring training. So let's say Memorial Day [May 30]. Elliott: This is being dictated by the owners. The pace is being dictated by the owners because they have the keys to the stadiums. You see all these wonderful dramatic videos and photos of locks on stadiums, and it's kind of funny. But they do have the keys. When there starts to be some owners who break away from the main group, who start to say, You know what, maybe we should be talking. Maybe we should be thinking about starting. Maybe this is going to hurt me more than it'll hurt other teams. I think once you start to get groups of owners splintering away, you'll see a little bit more urgency. And I would say May 1. Harris: I think even if you're being optimistic right now, you're probably just hoping to see any sort of regular season baseball before the end of May. I think anything beyond that, you're really looking at what's going to feel like a really different kind of season, one that probably looks a lot more like 2020 in terms of just the way the schedule is set up and how much time is lost and the way it impacts what we see on the field. So I would hope that even after today, and depending on what the fallout is if games are canceled, I don't think they cancel games and then a week from now are back together finding momentum toward the deal. So I think once we get past the point where opening day is moved, it's probably going to take a significant chunk of time after that. So, yeah, Memorial Day sounds like a good sort of over-under to put it on right now. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Delegates from United Nations member countries are considering proposals for a binding global treaty to curb plastic pollution. The UN Environment Assembly, meeting February 28 to March 2 in Kenyas capital Nairobi, is expected to propose an international framework to address the growing problem of plastic waste in the worlds oceans, rivers and landscape. For the first time in history, we are seeing unprecedented global momentum to tackle the plague of plastic pollution, said U.N. Environment Program Executive Director Inger Andersen. During preparations for the session, Andersen implored member states to take the opportunity to reshape humanitys relationship with plastic once and for all by developing a comprehensive global agreement to combat the problem. Two major proposals have emerged during years of international discussions about ways to reduce single use plastic. The first, by Peru and Rwanda, calls for a full spectrum approach to plastic pollution, covering raw materials extraction, plastic production, as well as plastic use and disposal. It urges creation of an international legally binding agreement ... to prevent and reduce plastic pollution in the environment, including micro plastics. The proposal is co-sponsored by Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Norway, the Philippines, Senegal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Uganda along with the European Union. A second proposal, sponsored by Japan, calls for an international agreement to address marine plastic pollution covering the whole life cycle and promoting resource efficiency and circular economy, including reuse. The key difference is that Japans approach concentrates on marine plastic pollution, while the Peru-Rwanda proposal covers plastic pollution in all environments. Both proposals envision establishment of a negotiating committee to complete the new plastic treaty by 2024. If such a plastics treaty is endorsed by the U.N. Environment Assembly, Andersen said it would be the most significant global; environmental governance decision since the Paris (Climate) Agreement in 2015. Story continues The environmental group Greenpeace supports the Peru-Rwanda proposals full lifecycle approach to addressing plastic pollution. Over 140 countries have declared support for opening negotiations on a global plastic treaty, said Erastus Ooko, the plastics engagement lead for Greenpeace Africa. However, support for negotiations is not enough," Ooko said. These countries should be calling for a legally binding treaty that will match the scale and depth of the plastics crisis. Neighbours might be coming to an end, but fans may still be able to visit the iconic Ramsay Street location in Melbourne, Australia. The local city council in Whitehorse is hoping to preserve the beloved set as a cultural hotspot and heritage site. The councillors passed a motion by eight votes to three to protect the properties on Pin Oak Court and Weeden Drive where the soap is filmed. Speaking to the Herald Sun, Councillor Andrew Davenport described the location that doubles as the fictional home of one of Australia's longest-running soaps as an "iconic street and precinct within the City of Whitehorse". Photo credit: Channel 5 Related: Neighbours star confirms Harold Bishop return ahead of show's finale He continued: "We should not wait until production ceases before acting and give the owners of the properties the opportunity to be part of a process, rather than have it imposed on them." In January, Channel 5 announced the shock news that it would not be renewing its contract with Fremantle Australia to fund the 37-year-old soap. If no new broadcaster comes forward to back the show, then it will be axed and filming will end on June 10. In a statement at the time, Channel 5 wrote: "It's been a much-loved part of our schedule for more than a decade, and we'd like to thank the cast, Fremantle and all of the production team for their fantastic work on this iconic series. Photo credit: Channel 5 Related: Neighbours petition reaches another milestone as fans continue to campaign against axe decision "We'd also of course like to thank the fans for their loyal support of Neighbours across the years. "We recognise that there will be disappointment about this decision, however our current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has strong appeal for our viewers." Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 6pm on Channel 5 (UK) and Mondays to Thursdays at 6.30pm on 10 Peach (Australia). Read more Neighbours spoilers on our dedicated homepage You Might Also Like Portrait of Beverly Gray. Beverly Gray honored by NAACP CHILLICOTHE The Ross County unit of the NAACP annually honors someone from our community in the month of April who has made significant contributions to the citizens of Chillicothe and Ross County. This year they will pay tribute to Beverly Gray. She was officially chosen in 2020, but the tribute was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gray was a teacher for more than 30 years, she is an author, lecturer, director of the David Nickens Heritage Center, member of Ohio's Woman Hall of Fame and has been recognized nationally for her contributions to historical projects including the PBS show "Finding Your Roots." The tribute will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 at the Christopher Conference Center. The tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for children 10 and under. For tickets, please contact Ross County NAACP President Adrienne L. D'Souza at 740-466-5280 or any NAACP member. Adena to host clinical recruitment event on March 14 CHILLICOTHE Adena Health System is searching for new and experienced individuals with a passion for caring for others. During its Clinical Recruitment Event, Adena will accept applications and host open interviews for Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Patient Care Associates, Respiratory Therapists, and other nursing support caregivers. Sign-on bonuses of up to $10,000 are available for some positions, so all interested are encouraged to attend. Leaders representing all of Adenas acute care sites and nursing departments will be available to help with the application process, there will be on-site interviews, and some qualified candidates may receive on-the-spot offers. When: 12 to 4 p.m. March 14 Where: PACCAR Medical Education Center, 446 Hospital Road, Chillicothe Participants should bring the following documents to the recruitment event: Resume with prior employer/job experience; Copy of current license and/or certification; List of three references, including contact information; Drivers license or state-issued identification; and Social Security card/number Story continues Adena offers competitive pay and benefits. To learn more about all career opportunities at Adena Health System, visit Adena.org/Careers. Traffic notice at Department of Energy site in Pike County Pike County The Northeast Bypass Road, also known as Fog Road, at the Department of Energys (DOE) Portsmouth Site in Pike County will be closed to public traffic from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning March 7. Drivers should seek alternate routes during this period. Emergency response vehicles will be granted access to Fog Road during this time. The road closure will allow for the safe transportation of demolition debris and soil from the site to the nearby On Site Waste Disposal Facility. There will be physical barricades, electronic message boards and signage to remind drivers of the restrictions. Walnut Street Children's School now accepting registrations CHILLICOTHE Registration for the 2022-2023 school year at Walnut Street Childrens School began March 1. Registration forms can be found on the walnutstreetpreschool.com website, and will also be available in the preschool office. Pictures of some of the fun the children have had this year can be seen on the most recent post on the Walnut Street Children's School Facebook page. This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Beverly Gray honored by the NAACP for their annual tribute DOVER, Del. A former police officer who was caught on store surveillance video slamming a mans head against a plexiglass panel has been indicted by a Delaware grand jury on charges involving excessive force. The indictment issued Monday accuses former Wilmington police officer Samuel Waters, 27, of six misdemeanors and two felonies in connection with two separate incidents in September. Advertisement In the first, Waters allegedly pressed his nightstick against the back of a mans neck as another officer tried to handcuff him after responding to a domestic violence call. Prosecutors said the suspect was bent over the back of a vehicle, had his hands behind his back, and was not combative or violent with the arresting officers. Nine days later, on Sept. 21, Waters confronted another man, Dwayne Brown, at a convenience store in south Wilmington after police received a call from a nearby day care facility about a man repeatedly harassing employees. Police reportedly were told that the man had been at the day care several times, and that his conduct included yelling and making sexual comments to staff members. Advertisement Waters is seen on store surveillance video approaching Brown, speaking to him briefly, then grabbing his arm and turning him toward the plexiglass panel as Brown turns his head and talks to him. Waters then grabs Brown, shoves him against the panel, and slams his head into it twice before they both fall to the floor. Waters is charged with third-degree assault and official misconduct, both misdemeanors, for each incident. He also faces felony charges of perjury and tampering with a public record in connection with the incident involving Brown, as well as a misdemeanor charge of falsifying a business record. Prosecutors allege that Waters falsely stated in an arrest warrant and police report that he immediately recognized Brown from numerous law enforcement actions/shared intelligence from other officers, but that he later admitted he was not familiar with Brown and did not know him by name. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > They also said Waters description of the use of force against Brown is inconsistent with the video surveillance, and that he omitted relevant facts in his police report. The evidence in this case shows a clear and disturbing pattern of violence and deception, Attorney General Kathy Jennings said in a prepared statement, adding that investigators discovered that Waters regularly failed to turn on his body camera. None of the charges against Waters carries any mandatory prison sentence, although he could face a maximum sentence of 13 years if convicted on all charges. John Malik, an attorney representing Waters, did not immediately respond to an email message. Brown has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Waters, whose attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss. Advertisement Waters was fired from the police department effective Jan. 5. Waters previously worked for the Cecil County Sheriffs Department in Maryland but was fired in February 2017 after making an obscene hand gesture at another motorist after a near-collision while he was in uniform and driving to work. Good morning, people of Dallas! It's me again, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Dallas Daily. First, today's weather: Sunny and delightful. High: 75 Low: 49. One of the easiest ways to connect with local customers and stay top-of-mind in town is to sponsor the Dallas Daily. Click here to learn more. Here are the top three stories in Dallas today: Water towers in North Texas are illuminated in support of Ukraine. The cities of Celina and Rowlett are making their water towers blue and yellow in an attempt to raise awareness of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The towers will reportedly remain lit until Friday night. (Patch) Dallas' Soul Rep Threatre Company is showcasing American history's dark side in its new play. Do No Harm is a production exploring the Father of Modern Gynecology's troublesome practices. Dr. Marion J. Sims practiced on women of color in the 1840s and his controversial procedures still linger in the medical field. (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth) A stunningly colorful exhibit by JooYoung Choi has arrived at Dallas' Crow Museum of Asian Art. The exhibit covers the first-floor gallery in a humanoid object made of fabric, wood, vinyl, and paint. JooYoung Choi is a Houston native and the third Texas-based Asian-American female artist to be featured at the Crow Museum of Asian Art. (KERA News) From our sponsor: Today's Dallas Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at GoodRx the best way to save money on your prescriptions. GoodRx helps you locate the lowest prices for medications at local pharmacies, so you're not overpaying. Works for pet medications too! To see how much you can save, go to GoodRx.com. Today in Dallas: The Market At The Dallas Farmers Market (All Day) From my notebook: Vote for the cutest puppy. Voters can choose between Pyle, Meatloaf, and Link. The puppies are currently available for adoption with the SPCA of Texas. (Instagram) The students at N.W. Harllee Early Childhood Center celebrated Black History Month by creating a living wax museum of notable Black historical figures. Click to see the photos. (Facebook) Tasteful Tuesday Floral Demos are free with admission to The Dallas Arboretum. The event occurs every week at 11:00 a.m. (Instagram) Story continues More from our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Featured businesses: Loving the Dallas 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 featured in front of readers Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. See you all tomorrow for another update! Nicole Fallon-Peek About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. This article originally appeared on the Dallas Patch Feb. 28No injuries were reported in an Albert Lea home fire today that started in the kitchen area, according to authorities. A press release from Albert Lea Fire Rescue stated police and fire crews were dispatched to 618 Freeborn Ave. at 10:22 a.m. after a neighbor reported the fire. Upon arriving, fire crews entered the home to search for occupants and to extinguish the fire, with smoke coming from the back of the house. A complete search confirmed no one was home, and police later verified that the occupants had left for the day. Firefighters extinguished the fire and began investigation into the cause. The State Fire Marshal's Office is also assisting with the investigation. Damages are estimated at $35,000. Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service assisted with the response. SOMERVILLE A North Brunswick man faces to five to seven years in prison after he pleaded guilty Monday to firing a gun at a party in Manville last year. Kevin Salmeron, 20, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Peter Tober to the second-degree crimes of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was released from the Somerset County Jail pending his sentence on April 19. Because it is a gun-related offense, he must serve 85% of whatever sentence he is given. READ: Manville police chief on leave after lawsuit alleges sexual assault over 12 years The guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. No one was injured in the June 2021 incident. Salmeron told the judge he deliberately fired the gun at the ground and did not aim at anybody. "I really didn't intend to hurt anybody that day," he said. "I just wanted to give a warning." About 3:26 a.m. June 20, 2021, Manville police were sent to the area of North 6th Avenue on a report of a man with a gun where they were notified of 10 gunshots possibly fired. When police arrived, they canvassed the area but did not locate an active shooter and no injuries or property damage was reported. An investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit and Manville police identified Salmeron as the suspect. He was arrested four days later at his North Brunswick home. Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: North Brunswick man faces jail time for shots fired at Manville party Welcome to Monday's Overnight Energy & Environment, your source for the latest news focused on energy, the environment and beyond. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup. Today we're looking at the International Panel on Climate Change's latest report, the Supreme Court hearing arguments for and against the EPA's powers and another oil giant divesting from Russia. For The Hill, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk. Write to us with tips: rfrazin@thehill.com and zbudryk@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @RachelFrazin and @BudrykZack. Let's jump in. Report warns of deadly climate consequences Climate advocates are seen during a press conference on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 to discuss climate change provisions in the Build Back Better Act. A new report from a United Nations climate panel is warning of the deadly effects of climate change both now and in the future - and finding that they are currently worse than scientists had believed they would be. The report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned of health risks from climate change, including from heat exposure, disease and mental health issues. What does it say? Globally, extreme heat events have already resulted in deaths, according to the report. And it said that since the last time the IPCC issued an equivalent report in 2014, there have been more extreme events, including "heat-related human mortality," that have been attributed to human-caused climate change. The panel's report described major additional risks in the decades to come, particularly between the years 2040 and 2100. "Climate change and related extreme events will significantly increase ill health and premature deaths from the near- to long-term," said a summary of the findings. In particular, the panel raised concern about exposure to heat waves as well as food-borne and water-borne disease risks and disease from pests like mosquitoes. It particularly warned of increases in the risk of diseases from a certain type of mosquito, "potentially putting additional billions of people at risk by the end of the century." Story continues And it warned of increased mental health issues such as anxiety and stress. What else? The report also warned that some of the effects currently being seen are worse than previously projected. "The extent and magnitude of climate change impacts are larger than estimated in previous assessments," the summary said, particularly highlighting "substantial damages" and "increasingly irreversible losses" to ecosystems and "shifts in seasonal timing." "We're seeing adverse impacts being much more widespread and being much more negative than expected in prior reports than expected at the current 1.09 degrees that we have," Camille Parmesan, one of the report's authors, told reporters, referring to the current level of warming compared to pre-industrial levels. Parmesan added that the world is seeing impacts that it previously did not expect to see at the current level of warming, such as "diseases emerging into new areas" and "the first extinctions of species due to climate change." Read more about the report here. SCOTUS wrestles with EPA's reach The Supreme Court on Monday struggled with how to define the reach of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a case with profound implications for the agency's power to address a main contributor to climate change. At issue during Monday's argument was the scope of the EPA's authority to regulate air pollution from power plants and whether it extends beyond the confines of plant sites to encompass broader aspects of the U.S. energy sector. The 6-3 conservative majority court did not clearly telegraph an outcome in the case, but several of the court's conservative justices seemed concerned about whether the more sweeping interpretation of EPA authority went beyond the power granted to it by Congress. Some conservatives, including Justice Samuel Alito, raised the so-called major questions doctrine. The judicial interpretative method holds that agency actions with transformative political or economic effects require a clear delegation of power by Congress. Some conservatives seemed to indicate that such an explicit statement from lawmakers was absent in the case. Alito suggested that if the EPA were deemed authorized to regulate climate change writ large, it would be difficult to conceive of any limit to its power. "This statute requires EPA to take into account several factors ... and they are incommensurable [with climate change]," Alito said to U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar. "What weight do you assign to the effects on climate change, which some people believe is a matter of civilizational survival, and the cost and the effect on jobs?" On the other side of the aisle: The court's liberal justices appeared generally skeptical of arguments for a narrower reading of EPA authority that were advanced by a number of states, led by West Virginia, as well as the coal industry. The state and companies argued that since the statute directs the EPA to issue performance standards for pollution sources, it is limited to only regulating within the power plants themselves - so-called inside the fence measures - rather than reshaping the entire power sector and promoting a shift toward cleaner energy sources. Justice Elena Kagan countered that regulations within the power plant could very well have the same effect of changing the makeup of our power system by making coal generation too expensive or otherwise unfeasible. "If that's what EPA wanted to do, I have a basket full of source-by-source regulations that would allow them to get their way on all of those questions. It just has no necessary relationship to this fence, non-fence way of thinking of things," Kagan said. Read more about the arguments here. GET ON THE LIST 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. Shell joins BP in divesting from Russia Shell will end all joint ventures with Russian majority state-owned oil company Gazprom in response to the invasion of Ukraine, the oil company announced Monday. As part of the divestiture, Shell will withdraw from its 27.5 percent Sakhalin-II liquefied natural gas facility and its 50 percent stake in Salym Petroleum Development. The company will also drop its involvement with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was set to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany. Germany itself decertified the pipeline in response to the invasion before it could go online, and it remains unclear if it will begin operations at any point in the future. Shell owned a 10 percent stake in the pipeline, and had about $3 billion overall in "non-current" assets in Russia, as of late 2021. "We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore, resulting from a senseless act of military aggression which threatens European security," CEO Ben van Beurden said in a statement. "Our immediate focus is the safety of our people in Ukraine and supporting our people in Russia. In discussion with governments around the world, we will also work through the detailed business implications, including the importance of secure energy supplies to Europe and other markets, in compliance with relevant sanctions." The announcement comes a day after another major oil company, BP, announced its own divestment from its 20 percent stake in Russian oil company Rosneft. Read more about the announcement here. WHAT WE'RE READING Exxon's Bank in Russia Among Those Hit by Sanctions Over Ukraine (Bloomberg) Mass. revives gas ban battle with Boston-area 'smackdown' (E&E News) UN plastic treaty to tackle production, packaging design - draft resolution (Reuters) Some environmental advocates oppose the creation of a Maine Space Corporation (Maine Public) ICYMI Global reliance on Russian energy a hurdle to US pressure campaign on Putin BP divesting stake in Russian oil giant over Ukraine invasion And finally, something offbeat and off-beat: Bear with us That's it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hill's energy & environment page for the latest news and coverage. We'll see you Tuesday. A Debt.com and Florida Atlantic University survey shows that the youngest face a host of money problems, while the oldest are racking up credit card debt. FORT LAUDERDALE, FL --News Direct-- Debt.com The Financial Pandemic: Younger and Older Americans Are Struggling the Most. A joint survey conducted by debt.com and the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI) shows the oldest and youngest respondents had to drain their savings account due to the pandemic. Gen Z (ages 18-24) did that the most, at 72%, followed by the Silent Generation (75 years old and up) at 61%. A joint survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Debt.com and Florida Atlantic Universitys Business and Economic Polling Initiative found that two generations on polar sides of the spectrum were hit the hardest financially by the pandemic. More than half of Gen Z respondents said they stopped making credit card payments. Those in the Silent Generation took on more credit card debt, with 1 in 3 reporting they owe more than $30,000, and nearly 5% are burdened with $50,000 of debt. The three generations in between fared better at maintaining their savings during the pandemic, but the statistics are still concerning. Only half of Millennials (51%) tapped their savings, followed by Gen Xers at 45%. By and large, Baby Boomers managed to keep their savings intact, with only 29% of Boomers saying they took out savings. The pandemics economic shock and its after-effects is affecting the oldest and youngest adults in America the most, says Debt.com Chairman Howard Dvorkin, CPA. Younger Americans were already falling further behind financially and delaying life goals thanks to things like student loan debt. Now they are even further behind because of COVID. Not only do they have less savings, but large numbers also reported that they lost income and took on credit card debt because of the pandemic. Young Americans were also the most likely to stop paying their credit cards at some point during the pandemic. Over half of Gen Z survey respondents (57%) admitted that they couldnt keep up with those bills. Compare that to just 17% of Baby Boomers and 21% of Gen Xers who said the same. Story continues The survey also revealed that the Silent Generation may be silently slipping into credit card debt. One in three have more than $30,000 in credit card debt, and nearly 5% have more than $50,000. More than 4 in 10 carry credit card debt every month. FAU BEPI director Monica Escaleras noted that differences arose not only by age, but also by location. Related: Personal Finance Statistics The younger generations and those in Northeast and West took on more credit card debt, Escaleras says. Individuals in the Northeast and West also reported a higher percentage of income loss due to COVID-19 compared to the South and Midwest. In fact, Midwesterners seemed to fare better than their regional counterparts on almost every count. They were less likely to experience income loss, less likely to take on credit card debt and stop making payments, and less likely to take money out of savings. Just as COVID-19 has spread unevenly across the country, the financial devastation is also uneven, Dvorkin says. Overall statistics about the price weve paid tell us something, but they dont tell the full story. ABOUT: Debt.com is the consumer website where people can find help with credit card debt, student loan debt, tax debt, credit repair, bankruptcy, and more. Debt.com works with vetted and certified providers that give the best advice and solutions for consumers when life happens. Methodology: Data was collected Oct. 1-20, 2021, from 1,022 Americans over the age of 18, using a mixed mode sample of online, cell phone and telephone participants. All respondents interviewed in this study were part of either a fully representative sample using mixed mode random stratified probabilistic sampling and a non-probability panel sample. The credibility interval for the sample is +/- 3.065% in 19 of 20 cases. Percentages are rounded up to the nearest whole number. SOURCE: Debt.com Press Center Contact Details Fabianny Crespo +1 954-377-9695 fcrespo@debt.com Company Website https://www.debt.com/es View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/the-pandemics-economic-shock-is-affecting-the-oldest-and-youngest-adults-in-america-the-most-694429589 Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine gave children 5 and older strong protection against hospitalization and death even during the omicron surge that hit youngsters especially hard, U.S. health officials reported Tuesday. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention come a day after a study of New York children suggested the vaccine may not be as effective in 5- to 11-year-olds as in older kids -- especially at blocking milder infections. That data raised the question of whether kid-sized doses given to those under 12 might be too low. But the CDC said data from multiple other states suggests the issue isn't children's ages or dose size it's omicron. Vaccination generally is less effective against the hugely contagious omicron variant than earlier versions of the coronavirus and vaccinations for 5- to 11-year-olds began just weeks before omicron began circulating. As a parent of a very young child, I think I would do everything to keep them out of the emergency department in the middle of the night, said CDC epidemiologist Ruth Link-Gelles. What we see from the data that we have is that the vaccine continues to provide good protection against more severe outcomes. Pediatricians say the back-and-forth results may seem confusing but that parents need to understand the shots are still the best way to prevent serious illness. If youre vaccinated, you may get a mild infection and were just going to have to learn to live with that, said Dr. Paul Offit of the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. He said the New York study was too small to draw conclusions and also can't account for variables such as infections going uncounted in kids tested at home instead of a clinic. He said youngsters admitted to his hospital with severe COVID-19 are the unvaccinated and its hard to watch. The CDC reported Tuesday that between April and early January there were nine deaths related to COVID-19 among vaccinated children ages 5 to 17 compared to 121 deaths among unvaccinated children that age. Story continues Also, the CDC examined pediatric hospitalizations in 10 states from last April to the end of January. The vaccine proved 74% effective against hospitalization in 5- to 11-year-olds. Only two vaccinated children were hospitalized compared to 59 unvaccinated children. In comparison, the vaccine was 92% to 94% effective against hospitalization in 12- to 15-year-olds and 16- to 17-year-olds. Most of the hospitalizations in the adolescents occurred when the earlier delta variant was dominant, while most of the hospitalizations of those younger than 12 occurred during the omicron wave, which started in early December. Tuesdays study also found that during the time when omicron was predominant, the vaccine was 51% effective in preventing emergency room or urgent-care visits by 5- to 11-year-olds. That was fairly similar to the 45% effectiveness for 12- to 15-year-olds whod gotten their second dose months earlier. What about less serious outcomes? A report released Monday from researchers with New Yorks state health department analyzed health records week-by-week from early December through the end of January. Vaccine effectiveness against any COVID-19 infection dropped from 68% to just 12% by the height of omicron's wave. But among kids 12 and older, that effectiveness dropped to just 51%. Remarkably, the data suggested 12-year-olds appeared to have the most protection of any age -- prompting the researchers to ask if maybe the dose should be reexamined. The Pfizer shots are the only vaccine available to U.S. children, and those ages 5 to 11 receive one-third of the dose given to everyone 12 and older. Also, everyone 12 and older is urged to get a booster dose to rev up protection against omicron. The CDC's latest study didn't track infections the same way, but Link-Gelles said surveillance data from 29 other states doesn't suggest a difference between the younger and older kids. Unvaccinated 5- to 11-year-olds were 1.3 times more likely to get COVID-19 in January -- at the height of the omicron surge -- than vaccinated youngsters, according to new CDC data. For 12- to 17-year-olds, the unvaccinated were 1.5 times more likely to get COVID-19 than their vaccinated peers that month. Its disappointing that protection against infection isnt higher, and it may take more research to tell if younger children might fare better with a different dose, said Dr. Richard Besser, a pediatrician and president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, who wasn't involved with the new studies. Pfizer currently is testing a booster dose for 5- to 11-year-olds. But meanwhile, we do know that these vaccines are safe, we do know they reduce the risk of hospitalization, Besser stressed. ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Jackson County prosecutors have asked a judge to sentence former Kansas City Det. Eric DeValkenaere to nine years in prison for the shooting death of Cameron Lamb. DeValkenaere, 43, was convicted in November of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the Dec. 3, 2019, killing in Lambs back yard. The plainclothes detective fatally shot Lamb as the 26-year-old backed his pickup truck into the garage of his home at 4154 College Ave. In an 11-page sentencing memorandum, prosecutors asked Judge J. Dale Youngs to sentence DeValkenaere to four years on the manslaughter conviction and nine years for the armed criminal action charge. Prosecutors asked that those prison sentences run concurrently. The sentencing is scheduled to take place Friday afternoon in the Jackson County Courthouse in downtown Kansas City. Youngs could sentence DeValkenaere to four years in prison on the manslaughter conviction and at least three years for the armed criminal action charge. The judge will decide if those are to be served concurrently or consecutively. DeValkenaere plans to appeal his conviction and will remain free on bond after his sentencing Friday. Prosecutors said DeValkenaere has not accepted responsibility for Lambs death or his role in the events that led up to the shooting. Prosecutors said Lamb was a beloved son, brother, and father of three young children. Mr. Lambs family and children will never see him alive again. As in any similar circumstance, there should be accountability for this crime. In the defenses memorandum, attorney Dawn Parsons asked for leniency in sentencing and wrote that DeValkenaere deserves a sentence that takes into account his character and contributions to this community. The shooting happened after officers investigating an unrelated vehicle crash reported a red pickup chasing a purple Ford Mustang. Helicopter officers spotted the truck driven by Lamb and followed the vehicle to his residence. Story continues DeValkenaere said he fired several shots after Lamb pointed a gun at his partner, detective Troy Schwalm. Police later found Lamb inside the truck with his left arm and head hanging out of the drivers side window. A handgun was found on the ground near Lambs left hand, police said at the time. During the criminal trial, prosecutors alleged the crime scene was staged and evidence was planted. They also said it took only nine seconds form the time DeValkenaere arrived at the front yard of the house to the moment he fatally shot Lamb. Minutes after the shooting, DeValkenaere radioed to commanders and other officers that when he and Schwalm arrived, they received information that there were guns involved in the chase with the red pickup truck and the purple Mustang. That set set in motion a thin narrative that this event involved some form of violence known to police at the time, prosecutors said in their memorandum. However, at trial, when confronted with inconsistencies in his statements, DeValkenaere could offer no credible explanation, prosecutors said. Despite the false and divisive narratives that have been propagated by so many to undermine these proceedings and this Courts verdict and to color Mr. Lamb as a fleeing and violent felon....They are not in reasonable dispute, prosecutors said. In their 12-page pleading, defense attorneys said DeValkenaere was born and raised in Kansas City and is the son of a retired Kansas City police officer. Prior to becoming a sworn police officer, DeValkenaere worked a year in the departments detention facility. He later worked various assignments including patrol, homicide and with the violent offender unit. DeValkenaere received numerous awards and recognition for his service. The court received 200 letters from family, colleagues, neighbors and others on DeValkenaeres behalf. Parsons wrote that prosecutors did not have a plan in place to ensure DeValkenaeres safety while incarcerated. The extraordinary notoriety and extensive media coverage coupled with Erics status as a former police officer make Eric unusually susceptible to prison abuse, defense attorneys said. Eric will be a walking target in prison not only as a result of convictions he directly participated in during his nearly two decades of service as a law enforcement officer, but also simply because he represents authority and law enforcement in general. Prison time is mandatory for the armed criminal action conviction, but placing DeValkenaere in indefinite solitary confinement is not a solution, his attorney said. Parsons asked Youngs to consider the significant and overwhelming amount of evidence that calls for a mitigated sentence. HAGERSTOWN The path to freedom for enslaved people before and during the Civil War was an arduous one. The goal for many was to reach the organized Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania. While the journey could remain treacherous even there, at least they would have some help. Advertisement That organized effort itself didnt necessarily include Hagerstown, but situated just below the Pennsylvania border, the city was a place of connection for some who sought to escape. Historian Emilie Amt has been researching Black history in Hagerstown and Washington County, and has collaborated with Visit Hagerstown to create a brochure detailing the sites in the city where those connections were made. Advertisement The result is a trail that leads from the former site of the Cumberland Valley Railroad depot on South Walnut Street to the future site of the Doleman Black Heritage Museum on Pennsylvania Avenue. The brochure was released last year. The sites are not like parts of the Underground Railroad, Amt recently told Herald-Mail Media. They are sites from which people escaped. [ A rediscovered log cabin with a mysterious past in Hagerstown showcases a forgotten Black community ] The brochure features stories and biographies of the people involved. Included are James W.C. Pennington, born into slavery on the Eastern Shore and brought to Washington County at age 4. In 1827, he escaped to Pennsylvania and connected with the Underground Railroad. He eventually attended Yale University, became a minister and officiated at the wedding of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Then theres Henry Wagoner, a free Black man who worked as an agent of the Underground Railroad and eventually felt pressured to leave Maryland and go north himself. We also learn about the plight of Otho Snyder, a free Black man sent to prison after being convicted of helping an enslaved man escape. One of the things that you find out about the Underground Railroad when you start to learn about it is that it was much more active north of the Mason-Dixon Line than below, Amt said, and people who were escaping from slavery really usually had to get themselves out of the South and into the North before they could really hope for much assistance from the Underground Railroad. And those are the stories that emerged from the areas local history. James W.C. Pennington was born into slavery on the Eastern Shore and brought to Washington County at age 4. (Wikimedia Commons) It happens all over Washington County, she said, but she concentrated on Hagerstown for the brochure to create a walking tour. Advertisement The stories in there about Hagerstown are typical of Washington County, she said. We have that kind of story everywhere. There are a lot of stories from the Boonsboro area, Funkstown, Clear Spring. A family enterprise One story from Clear Spring that Amt likes to tell involved three brothers who escaped the farm where they were enslaved on an Easter Sunday. They hitched two of the farm horses to a carriage and off they went, Amt said. They went through Chambersburg and eventually made it to Canada. But their owner discovered who their connections were in the Underground Railroad and contacted them, saying he would free the brothers if the organization would pay him $1,300. They declined. Then he offered to negotiate their freedom if they would come back. And theyre like, No, thanks, were good, Amt said. Advertisement But one of the brothers did go back. He saved up $80 to go to Clear Spring and try to get family members whod been left behind. But his efforts were in vain. They wouldnt go, Amt said. Theyd been promised their eventual freedom, she said, and opted to wait for it. It was probably that they thought it was too dangerous, she said, so he returned empty-handed. There also are painful stories of enslaved people in Washington County who tried to escape, were caught, and then were sold farther south. And that was every enslaved persons worst nightmare, was being sold farther south, Amt said. Theyd be separated from their families, theyd have much worse working conditions it was like the end of the road if you were sold south. Advertisement A backdrop of conflicted loyalties Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > Maryland, a border state during the secession crisis, was Southern-leaning but ultimately did not secede. It had the largest free Black population of any Southern state, and by the time of the Civil War, Amt noted, half the Black population in Washington County was free. Politically, Washington Countys residents were conflicted over secession. The majority of white folks out here were pro-Union, but there was an important secessionist minority. And so things got tense, Amt said. Shes been surprised by some of the things shes learned in her study of local Black history, Amt said. While the Underground Railroad is the topic shes asked to speak about most, Black history goes so far beyond the Underground Railroad, she said. I think its important for us, especially for white people, to learn more broadly about Black history, said Amt, who is white. It is important for us to learn more about the slave era, and that it was violent, it was oppressive. It was terrible. And it was terrible here in Washington County, too. There was violence here; there were beatings people were sold to the south. It was not some easy form of slavery that happened here in Washington County it was brutal. Its not a comfortable message to tell or to hear. But its an important one for us to know if we want to know a true history. Advertisement To take the Underground Railroad walking tour, download the brochure from the Visit Hagerstown website at https://tinyurl.com/4wfjkwns. In a striking departure from Cold War doctrine, experts say, Russia is asserting its right to use "tactical" nuclear weapons on the battlefield. Xander Heinl/Photothek via Getty Images; Express Newspapers/Getty Images; Rebecca Zisser/Insider During the first few days after Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine, the images from the conflict were both urgent and remote. For Americans, the violence felt heartbreaking, and the diplomatic choices seemed complex. But the fighting was taking place on a faraway continent, and the consequences appeared to be equally removed. Then, on Sunday, Putin shattered the complacency of any Westerners who believed they were a safe distance from the battlefield. He ordered Russian nuclear forces to shift to a higher state of alert he called "special combat readiness." While the Biden administration downplayed the announcement and declined to respond in kind, the implications of Putin's move were serious. He had already warned, on the day of the invasion, that anyone who stood in Russia's way would face "consequences," "such as you have never seen in your entire history." Now he was ordering his military to ratchet up the force posture on Russia's arsenal of 6,000 nuclear warheads a small but significant step toward initiating a global thermonuclear war. Biden was right to treat Putin's threat as a bluff. To do otherwise would've played into Putin's hands, enabling him to recast his aggression toward Ukraine as part of a larger civilizational conflict with the West. And it's important not to overstate the practical significance of Putin's decision to put his nukes on a higher alert. It most likely amounts to Russia disengaging one part of the safety on its nuclear gun, which is not the same thing as preparing to pull the trigger. "In the bizarre world of nuclear strategy," says Pavel Podvig, an analyst in Geneva who studies Russia's nuclear posture, "removing some of your safeties can make you feel safer." But the move is still a crucial one not because it brings the world to the brink of nuclear destruction, but because it's part of a new Russian military doctrine that lowers the threshold for nuclear engagement. Story continues The likelihood that Putin would decide to launch long-range nuclear weapons at the US or any other NATO member is still perceived to be almost nil, a threat as hollow as the "fire and fury" that Donald Trump threatened to rain down on Kim Jong Un. On Monday, when asked whether Americans should be worried about nuclear war with Russia, Biden replied with an emphatic "no." The doctrine of mutually assured destruction, created during the Cold War, is supposed to guarantee that such an action would mean the end not only of Putin's rule but of life on earth as we know it. That's why both Russia and America have traditionally avoided any mention of their nuclear arsenals. Everybody knew they were there, but threatening to deploy them was long considered to be off-limits. Russian nuclear missiles on parade in Moscow. Analysts have been warning for years that Russian military doctrine has shifted to permit a nuclear strike on a conventional battlefield if the existence of the Russian state were threatened. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP But among the specialists who study Russia's nuclear arsenal, there has been a long-running debate about another scenario: the possibility that Russian forces might use so-called tactical nuclear weapons, which have shorter ranges and smaller explosive yields, to seize a battlefield advantage, especially in conflicts they are losing. This new doctrine, in Strangelovian fashion, is known as "escalate to deescalate" or "E2D." It started in 2014, when an official Kremlin document raised the possibility of a nuclear reprisal to a conventional strike if "the existence of the state itself is threatened." The following year, Putin said he had considered putting Russian nuclear weapons on alert to protect ethnic Russians in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula that Russia annexed in violation of international law. In 2018, Trump's national security team thought E2D was a serious-enough threat to warrant mention in the Nuclear Posture Review. That document predicts a scenario in which "limited first use" of tactical nuclear weapons "could paralyze the United States and thereby end a conflict on terms favorable to Russia." In an interview with Insider, James Clapper, the former intelligence chief, said he agreed with the assessment that the Russian military had come to view itself as having a lower threshold for the use of tactical nuclear weapons. "The Russians were driven to this," he told me, "because the current Russian army is, comparatively, a shadow of the Soviet army." If your traditional military is weak, in other words, tactical nuclear weapons offer a major form of compensation. Podvig, the Swiss analyst, said he considered even a tactical nuclear strike to have "very low probability" of happening. He notes that "it would not help the Russian military achieve any of its goals, and the political consequences would be orders of magnitude worse than what we're seeing now." And even if Putin orders a nuclear strike, history suggests it's possible his own military might refuse to comply. The Soviet Union came close to launching two nuclear strikes that were halted at the 11th hour by individual officers Vasili Arkhipov during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and Stanislav Petrov after a military computer falsely warned of a US strike in 1983. But it's hard not to take the current threat seriously when one considers the person who is making it. Putin is an increasingly isolated autocrat, a few days into a difficult war, whose own diplomats are said to be apologizing behind closed doors for his actions. The first days of the unprovoked invasion have gone badly for Russia: Deaths of Russian soldiers already number in the thousands, a loss on the order of what the US sustained during its 20-year campaign in Afghanistan. The Russian military has also been suffering on the information front. Charismatic videos shot by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have helped galvanize commitments for weaponry and stiffer sanctions from Germany and other members of the NATO alliance, of which Ukraine is not a member. It's too soon to say how much of the Russian public is ready to turn on Putin, but many have acknowledged the possibility that a perceived threat to his rule could cause him to overreact. "I don't think he's a rational actor," H.R. McMaster, the former US national security advisor, said on "Face the Nation." "He's driven by a desire to remain in power until at least 2036. I think now he knows that all of that is at risk." Clapper agreed that Putin appeared to be increasingly volatile. "He was always hard, cold, disciplined, almost machine-like," Clapper told me. "Now his anger fury show. His meandering, incoherent rants are illogical and scary. He has no one who can push back and disagree with him." A tactical nuclear strike, he added, could offer Putin a way out of a situation that's starting to look increasingly untenable. "It is a risk, or at least more of a risk than it was a week ago," Clapper said. "The fact that we are even having such a discussion is reflective of the realization that yes, Putin might do the unthinkable." Read the original article on Business Insider Jacob Chansley, also known as the QAnon Shaman, inside the Capitol on January 6. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images Jury selection started Monday in the first trial stemming from the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Potential jurors said the only rioter they specifically remembered was "QAnon Shaman" Jacob Chansley. The judge posed questions to impanel an impartial jury for accused Capitol rioter Guy Reffitt. On January 6, 2021, news footage captured Guy Reffitt on the steps of the US Capitol wearing a tactical vest and using a water bottle to flush pepper spray out of his eyes. But on Monday, as jury selection began in the first trial stemming from the January 6 insurrection, residents of Washington, DC, seemed not to recognize Reffitt a Texas man in their presence who would occasionally peel off his mask and greet them with a smile as they entered the courtroom. Reffitt may be the first Capitol rioter to stand trial, but he's not the "shaman guy." Potential jurors identified Monday only by court-assigned numbers said they followed news coverage of the January 6 attack on the Capitol but were not familiar with Reffitt or his specific case. In their memories of the insurrection, some said only one rioter stood out: the "QAnon Shaman," who paraded shirtless through the Capitol wearing furs and a horned headdress. To one potential juror, he was the "guy with the horns." To another, "the shaman guy." "The 'QAnon Shaman.' He's the guy I remember," said a third potential juror, who works as a program analyst at the Department of Defense. The responses came as Judge Dabney Friedrich, along with prosecutors and Reffitt's defense lawyer, gauged the depth of potential jurors' knowledge about the January 6 attack and whether they could consider the case impartially. By day's end, Friedrich qualified 25 people to potentially serve as jurors in Reffitt's case. After many said they were not familiar with Reffitt, Friedrich often followed up to ask whether there was any case they could recall. Story continues Their answers underscored the extent to which "QAnon Shaman" Jacob Chansley had emerged as the poster boy of the January 6 attack. In November, Chansley was sentenced to 41 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to his role in the Capitol breach. At the outset of Monday's jury selection, Friedrich acknowledged that no juror would come to the case as a "clean slate" given the widespread media coverage of the January 6 attack. Friedrich said jurors are not required to guarantee their impartiality but rather show an intent to consider the evidence with an open mind. "Virtually every juror will have some view about the January 6 events, and that likely holds true about most Americans," the judge said. Guy Reffitt seen at the Capitol siege. FBI 'Kind of unavoidable' Reffitt, an alleged member of the far-right Three Percenters militia, stands charged with bringing a gun to the Capitol, charging at police guarding against the pro-Trump mob, and threatening his children to keep quiet about his involvement in the January 6 attack. Prosecutors plan to call Capitol police officers, FBI agents, and Reffitt's children as witnesses. The jury selection proceedings highlighted the challenge of seating an impartial jury for a trial related to the attack on the Capitol. Many potential jurors said they indeed have feelings about the January 6 attack. "I think everyone should be prosecuted to the max," said one potential juror, who was quickly dismissed from consideration. Several potential jurors said they almost couldn't help but absorb news coverage of January 6 and the more than 770 prosecutions stemming from the Capitol attack. "Some things are kind of unavoidable, with how ubiquitous it's been," said one potential juror, who added that he tries "pretty hard to avoid the news." That juror and several others said they have connections to the federal government and the legal industry. One potential juror described his father as a "major donor" to former President Donald Trump and said his stepmother worked in the Trump administration at the time of the January 6 attack. Another potential juror said he was a public relations professional who has several friends who work at the Capitol in congressional offices. The juror said he "commiserated" with those friends and was "incredulous" that an associate of his helped organize the "Stop the Steal" rally that preceded the Capitol attack. Asked whether he could review the case impartially, the juror answered, "I want to be candid, your honor. I don't think so. I feel very strongly about what happened." Other potential jurors have said they live close to the Capitol and felt imperiled by the January 6 attack. "It did feel like an attack on my home, in a sense," said one potential juror. "I didn't leave my house the day before, the day of, the day after." Witness testimony in Reffitt's case isn't expected to begin until Tuesday or Wednesday. Friedrich said she expects testimony and arguments to conclude early next week. As jury selection continued into the afternoon, some jurors said they were familiar with Reffitt only because of recent coverage previewing his trial. One potential juror recalled reading a news story about what was then Reffitt's upcoming and recalled that the case involved a firearm. "Little did you know," Friedrich said. Read the original article on Business Insider Macedonia recreation supervisor John Doyle, along with two police officers, an off-duty firefighter, an assistant middle school principal, a vacationing teenager and a professional model will be honored for bravery and acts of heroism, at the 26th annual Acts of Courage awards, presented by the American Red Cross of Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley. The annual dinner and award ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 3, at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, 3180 W. Market St., Akron. As a special feature of the Acts of Courage awards, the Red Cross takes an opportunity to present a community member, who has spent a lifetime pursuing good deeds, with the H. Peter Burg Community Leadership award. This year, the award will be presented to Bernett L. Williams, Vice President External Affairs at Akron Childrens Hospital. Acts of Courage Award Winners: John Doyle, recreation supervisor, city of Macedonia During Macedonias SummerFest 5K in 2021, recreation supervisor John Doyle was clearing the trails toward the end of the run and noticed a man face down on the trail. Recognizing him as the runner who had just passed him, Doyle immediately radioed for EMS and approached the man. After performing multiple rounds of CPR, several other workers arrived with an AED and LUCAS device. The runner regained his pulse and was breathing before being taken to the hospital. Officer Lenny Kunka, Officer Kyle Auckland - Kent Police Department A 14-year-old girl was babysitting a 1-year-old around 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning, when she heard someone trying to get inside. Unable to get away, she hid in a bathroom and bravely called 911. Through whispered exchanges, she spoke with dispatch. Two Kent police officers, officer Lenny Kunka and officer Kyle Auckland, responded to the call. Almost immediate shots were fired by the intruder. Officer Kunka was shot in the hand. Officer Aucklands bullet-resistant vest saved his life when he was shot in the chest. Both officers have recovered. The suspect was subdued and arrested. Story continues Tim Haas - Asst. Chief, Brunswick Hills Fire Department On just the second day of a family vacation to Mexico, Brunswick resident Tim Haas played the hero. While at the main pool of the resort where the family was staying, Hass, saw a 2-year-old girl being taken out of the pool. The child had drowned. She was not breathing and had no pulse. Haas utilized his extensive training and performed CPR until she was revived, about two minutes later. Emergency personnel at the resort then responded, and later told Haas the girl was doing well. Anthony Hermann, assistant principal, Barberton Local Schools Eighth grade assistant principal Anthony Hermann was helping clean up on a Taco Tuesday during lunch at Barberton Middle School. As students were getting ready to return to class, Hermann was called on to use the first aid training he and other administrators are required to learn. A student was choking on his meal and unable to verbalize his distress. Hermann could tell immediately what was wrong and moved into action. As he patted the childs back, trying to dislodge the food that was blocking his airway, the student passed out. As the situation unfolded, Hermann called for the room to be cleared and began to perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the food. Eventually, the student regained consciousness. Travis Shrout, college student, Stow While vacationing in Topsail, North Carolina, 19-year-old Stow resident Travis Shrout went swimming. While at the beach, he noticed a mother and young child in distress in the water. Shrout pursued them using his body board. He first reached the mother and gave her the body board. He then swam toward the boy, who was struggling to stay above the waves some 10-yards away. Shrout used his Red Cross lifeguard training to calm and rescue the boy, navigating both mother and son out of the rip current and safely to shore. LaDonya S. Williams, day care provider and model, Akron While sitting at a traffic light at V. Odom and Raymond St., a motorist careened wildly down the street, crashing into the car in-front of LaDonya Williams and her father, off-duty Akron Police Department Detective, Donny Williams. A woman leapt out of the vehicle, screaming that her 7-month-old baby was choking. Working quickly, LaDonya Williams pulled the 7-month old child out of the car and successfully performed infant abdominal thrusts, taught by the American Red Cross. In addition to being a licensed day care worker, she is a professional model, and was supposed to be in Chicago on a modeling job, but canceled at the last minute. It was a decision that may have saved that babys life. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Red Cross to honor 2022 Acts of Courage winners GENEVA (Reuters) - Red Cross agencies appealed on Tuesday for 250 million Swiss francs ($273 million) to provide food, water and shelter to millions of people in Ukraine where the humanitarian situation is "deteriorating rapidly" and to those who have fled abroad. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - the world's largest disaster relief network - issued the joint appeal as a huge Russian armoured column bore down on Kyiv, six days after Moscow's invasion began. "We need the funds in order to address the humanitarian needs which are already staggering - food, water, shelter, health care, psychological support - and they are growing by the hour," Martin Schuepp, ICRC regional director for Europe and Central Asia, told a news briefing. A priority was to reach people detained during the conflict and the ICRC is in touch with all sides regarding visits to detainees, he said. All sides have an obligation to facilitate the return of dead bodies, and ICRC teams are ready to help but remain limited in their movement due to insecurity, he added. ($1 = 0.9152 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Andrew Heavens) By Joseph Ax WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Democrat Beto O'Rourke won their parties' gubernatorial nominations on Tuesday, as the state's first-in-the-nation primary contests kicked off the race to the Nov. 8 general election. Abbott, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, easily turned back several right-wing challengers. He is favored to beat O'Rourke, who is seeking to become the first Democratic governor of Texas in nearly three decades. Texas voters were also selecting their parties' nominees on Tuesday for the U.S. House of Representatives. The results could offer clues about the mood of American voters ahead of the November elections that will determine control Congress for the rest of President Joe Biden's four-year term. Progressive Democrats scored a victory when democratic socialist Greg Casar, an Austin city councilman, beat out fellow Democrat Eddie Rodriguez, a state representative. Another liberal, Jessica Cisneros, was headed toward a run-off with incumbent Henry Cuellar, one of the House's most conservative Democrats. Both Casar and Cisneros campaigned alongside national progressive figures such as Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. Meanwhile, Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton was headed to a May 24 runoff election against Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, grandson of former President H.W. Bush, after failing to capture 50% of the vote. Paxton, who had Trump's support, remains under a 2015 indictment for securities fraud and also faces a federal corruption probe. He has denied any wrongdoing. The election was the first test of new Republican-backed voting restrictions passed in response to Trump's false claims of election fraud in his 2020 loss to Biden. There were no reports of major problems at polling places, following weeks in which several counties recorded large numbers of rejected mail-in ballots due to new identification requirements. Story continues Texas Secretary of State John Scott said Harris County, home to one in six Texans, had informed his office that vote counting was delayed due to "damaged ballot sheets." Midterm elections typically serve as a referendum on the sitting president, and Republicans are favored to win a majority in at least one of the two chambers of Congress that Democrats control by razor-thin margins. That would allow Republicans to block Biden's legislative agenda and launch investigations that could damage his administration. ABBOTT PUSHES CONSERVATIVE AGENDA Abbott has pursued increasingly conservative policies during his second term, including opposing COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates. He also signed the most restrictive abortion ban of any U.S. state and is building a new barrier on the border with Mexico. Last week, he instructed state agencies to consider medical treatment for transgender adolescents as child abuse, days after Paxton issued a legal opinion to that effect. While the full effect of the order remains unclear, transgender advocates decried the move as discriminatory and dangerous. "Abbott has not left much room to the right of him for these competitors to gain any traction," said James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas. O'Rourke, a former congressman, is the state's most prominent Democrat after losing a close U.S. Senate race in 2018 and then mounting a brief campaign for president. The Democrat has attacked Abbott's handling of the state's power grid, which failed during deadly winter storms in February 2021. Among congressional races, Republican-backed redistricting has eliminated virtually every competitive district. Still, some contests gave early looks at how each party is navigating internal tensions. In the 8th District north of Houston, where Representative Kevin Brady is retiring, the Republican primary was seen as a proxy battle between the party's ideological poles. Former Navy SEAL Morgan Luttrell, backed by House Republican leadership, held a sizable lead over Christian Collins, a conservative activist supported by the House's far-right Freedom Caucus. In the 3rd District north of Dallas, Republican Representative Van Taylor was forced into a run-off contest. He will face Keith Self, a former county judge who criticized Taylor for supporting a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2020, assault on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters. For Democrats, the contest between Cuellar, the lone anti-abortion Democrat left in the House, and Cisneros could leave the party vulnerable to a Republican takeover of the chamber. Federal investigators searched Cuellar's home recently, though details of the investigation are not clear and he has denied wrongdoing. If Cuellar loses the primary, Cisneros could be targeted by Republicans as being too liberal for Texas. The 15th District, likely the most competitive in Texas in November after incumbent Democrat Vicente Gonzalez opted to run in a neighboring district, had a crowded field for both parties. The Democratic contest will be decided in a runoff, while Republican Monica De La Cruz, who ran for the seat in 2020, won her party's nomination contest. Republicans are hopeful they can flip the seat after Trump showed unexpected strength among Hispanic voters in 2020. (Reporting by Joseph Ax and Moira Warburton; Additional reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Scott Malone, Alistair Bell, Ross Colvin and Kim Coghill) George Copeland describes how he felt just five days ago when Russia invaded Ukraine. As he watched troops invade the country, he worried for the country and friends he had left there just over a month ago. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian airline Pobeda, a low-cost unit of the state airline Aeroflot, is facing requests from a number of leasing companies to return their planes, the Interfax news agency reported. Pobeda cannot immediately replace planes being requested back with other aircraft but does not plan to suspend its operations, Interfax reported citing a Pobeda official. (Reporting by Moscow bureau; editing by Jason Neely) Vagit Alekperov, president of Russian oil company Lukoil has lost 60% of his net worth so far. Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Russia's 21 richest individuals have lost $84 billion so far this year, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Share prices of Russian companies listed globally have fallen even as the Moscow Exchange remains closed. The biggest loser among Russia's billionaires is Lukoil chairman Vagit Alekperov, who has lost $14 billion this year 60% of his net worth. The fortunes of Russia's richest individuals are getting hammered amid a massive market selloff as Western countries impose sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. Russia's 21 wealthiest individuals have collectively lost $84 billion this year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Their financial losses have more than doubled since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine: This same group of billionaires lost a collective $39 billion in just one day after the invasion, which sent the country's stock market diving 50% last week. The market turmoil prompted the country's central bank to halt stock trading on the Moscow Exchange to stem further declines. Even so, Russian billionaires' wealth continued to come under pressure, as some of their companies are listed elsewhere in the world. The biggest loser among Russia's billionaires is Lukoil chairman Vagit Alekperov, who has lost $14 billion this year 60% of his net worth after the company's share price tanked about 80% on the London Stock Exchange. He is now worth $8.8 billion, per Bloomberg. Russia's richest known man, Vladimir Potanin, has lost $6.2 billion and now has a net worth of $24.7 billion, per Bloomberg. The share price of Norilsk Nickel, of which he is the president, has fallen by 56% on the London Stock Exchange. Iskandar Makhmudov, President of Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, dropped out of the billionaire list altogether, Bloomberg's list shows. Andrey Melnichenko is the only Russian billionaire to have made gains to date this year. His fortune is largely derived from privately held fertilizer company EuroChem and thermal coal firm SUEK, according to Bloomberg. Story continues Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US and UK had already slapped sanctions on Russian oligarchs and their family members. Among the individuals sanctioned by the UK was oligarch Gennady Timchenko, who has close ties with Putin, according to Reuters. His net worth now stands at $11.1 billion after falling by $11.3 billion this year. Here's a breakdown of Russia's top ten richest people, their net worth, and how their wealth has changed so far this year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Name Net worth Year-to-date change Vladimir Potanin 24.7 -$6.20 billion Alexey Mordashov 21.9 -$6.94 billion Leonid Mikhelson 21.5 -10.9 billion Vladimir Lisin 20.8 -$7.19 billion Alisher Usmanov 19.7 -$1.59 billion Andrey Melnichenko 19.5 +1.99 billion Viktor Vekselberg 16.9 -1.58 billion Roman Abramovich 13.7 -4.29 billion Mikhail Prokhorov 13.5 -0.45 billion Suleiman Kerimov 11.3 -3.93 billion Read the original article on Business Insider Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo by ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images Russia is pressing ahead with its invasion of Ukraine despite ongoing global backlash. Several Russian oligarchs and lawmakers have now criticized the invasion, calling for it to end. Russia's elites usually shy away from criticizing Putin's regime, which has brutally silenced dissenters. Members of Russia's elite are publicly criticizing the invasion of Ukraine, a rare sign of public opposition to President Vladimir Putin's rule. After invading Ukraine last week, Russian forces have fought to seize Kyiv, but have been deterred by Ukraine's forces. The assault has been brutal, with Ukraine accusing Russia of committing war crimes and killing civilians and children. The Kremlin has denied the claims. Dissent in Russia is rarely tolerated, and Putin has a history of brutally cracking down on dissent. But in the past week, four Russian oligarchs and three members of parliament have spoken out against the war. All of them bar one stopped short of naming Putin. A composite image of the Russian oligarchs Oleg Deripaska and Mikhail Fridman. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov; Pavel Golovkin/Pool via REUTERS Here are the oligarchs who have spoken out: Mikhail Fridman, one of Russia's richest men who grew up in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, wrote in a Sunday letter to staff at his private equity firm LetterOne that "war can never be the answer." "I am deeply attached to Ukrainian and Russian peoples and see the current conflict as a tragedy for them both," he wrote. Oleg Deripaska, the founder of the Russian industrial giant Basic Element, wrote in a Sunday Telegram post: "Peace is very important! Negotiations need to start as soon as possible." Evgeny Lebedev, the owner of the UK's Evening Standard newspaper and a member of the House of Lords, wrote a public message to Putin in his newspaper on Monday. "I plead with you to use today's negotiations to bring this terrible conflict in Ukraine to an end," he wrote, referring to the first round of talks between Ukraine and Russia on Monday. There was no breakthrough in that first round of talks. Oleg Tinkov, the founder of Russia's Tinkoff Bank, said in a Monday Instagram post: "Innocent people are dying in Ukraine now, every day, this is unthinkable and unacceptable." Story continues The EU personally sanctioned Fridman on Monday as part of its response to the Russian invasion. "These sanctions are groundless and unfair," Fridman told Reuters. The other three oligarchs do not appear to be directly targeted by Western sanctions. Three members of the Russian Communist Party, which usually votes in line with Putin's agenda, also spoke out against the war. None of those three MPs were named in Western sanctions against Russia. Vyacheslav Markhaev wrote in a Facebook post Sunday that the Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, wasn't told of the invasion. "It's sad to watch what is happening around Ukraine, and it hurts my soul," he wrote. Oleg Smolin wrote on Russia's VK social-media platform on Friday that he was "shocked" by the invasion. "As a Russian intellectual, I am convinced that military force should be used in politics only as a last resort," he said. Mikhail Matveyev wrote on Telegram on Saturday: "I voted for peace, not for war." That post was later deleted. People wait for trains as they attempt to evacuate Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 24, 2022. Pierre Crom/Getty Images) Meanwhile, in Russia, more than 2,000 people protesting the war have reportedly been arrested. Some of Russia's closest national allies have also kept their distance from the war. On Friday, Kazakhstan refused to send its forces to help the Russian assault on Ukraine, US officials said. Putin has not lost all international support for his invasion, however. Ramzan Kadyrov, the authoritarian ruler of Chechnya and staunch Putin ally, admitted that Russia's tactics had failed in the early days of the invasion and called for a more brutal approach. "In my understanding, the chosen tactics in Ukraine are too slow," he wrote on Telegram on Sunday. "They take a long time and, in my opinion, are not effective." He called for "full coordination of the actions of the military, competent alignment of forces and a decisive assault." Meanwhile, China has slammed Western countries for imposing sanctions on Russia while not overtly supporting Russia in its invasion. Last week it accused the US of "creating panic." The US, UK, and EU have punished Russia by introducing sanctions and booting Russia from the SWIFT global payments system. Putin called the sanctions "illegitimate." Read the original article on Business Insider Carroll County commissioners recently agreed to award two contracts for repairs and improvements at the Freedom District Wastewater Treatment Plant in Sykesville. At last weeks Board of County Commissioners meeting, commissioners approved a request from the Bureau of Utilities to award a $31,814.20 contract for electrical repairs and improvements at the treatment plant to Eastern Sales and Engineering Company of Westminster. Advertisement Bureau chief Andrew Watcher told commissioners that the wastewater treatment plant consists of a newer facility completed in 2009 and an older plant constructed in 1981. Portions of the old plant continue to be used in processing of the effluent water byproduct of the newer facilitys water treatment operation. Staff has temporarily repaired a significant issue with the conduit and wiring at the old plant, Watcher said, but permanent improvements are required. Watcher said the project would upgrade the older plant to current code requirements and will allow the overall water treatment plant to continue to function in a reliable and efficient manner. Advertisement Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > The bid amount is within the countys adopted budget and no additional funds will be necessary, Watcher added. Construction of the Freedom District Wastewater Treatment Plant was the first non-state government contract for Maryland Environmental Service. MES has been continuously operating the plant since 1972. It currently treats 3.5 million gallons of wastewater per day from the Sykesville and Eldersburg areas. Commissioners also approved a request last week from the Bureau of Utilities to award a $31,273.65 contract for the purchase of a replacement grinder for the Sykesville Pumping Station to JWC Environmental. The pumping station is a facility containing equipment for pumping fluids from one place to another. The existing grinder at the Sykesville Pumping Station was installed in 2003 and is no longer operational nor can it be repaired in an economical manner, Watcher said. The grinder is a critical component in the overall operation of the pumping station. Its main purpose is to shred any solids contained within the wastewater stream that reaches the station into a fine slurry. This protects the pumps and other equipment from damages and clogging. The Sykesville Pumping Station will undergo a redesign or upgrade during the next several years and it is the bureaus intention to use the replacement grinder in the new facility. MOSCOW (AP) A Russian radio station critical of the Kremlin was taken off the airwaves on Tuesday, its chief editor said and The Associated Press confirmed, after authorities threatened to shut it down over its coverage of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The move against Echo Moskvy, one of Russias oldest radio stations, comes amid growing pressure on Russias independent media to follow the Kremlin's official line while covering the invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities also threatened to block Dozhd, Russias top independent TV channel. The Prosecutor Generals office accused the two media outlets of spreading content that incites extremist activities, as well as false information regarding the actions of Russian military personnel as part of a special operation in Ukraine. The Prosecutor General's office said actions taken against the two outlets would include immediate shutdown. The websites of Ekho Moskvy and Dozhd remained available to internet users in Moscow on Tuesday evening. However, Russia's communications and media watchdog Roskomnadzor confirmed to the Interfax news agency that it restricted access to the sites. Alexei Venediktov, chief editor of Ekho Moskvy, rejected the accusations, saying they are not supported by any examples, any evidence (and) are unfounded and offensive to journalists and citizens of Russia." The station will contest this decision in court," Venediktov said. "We see a political component in it, as well as the introduction of censorship, which is directly prohibited by the Russian Constitution, he said. Dozhd issued a statement rejecting the accusations against the TV channel, saying it strictly follows Russian laws in its coverage. Shortly after Moscow invaded Ukraine last Thursday, Russian officials threatened independent media with closure if their coverage of the attack deviated from the official narrative, including describing the assault as an invasion or a war. Story continues The website of the Current Time, a Russian TV channel launched by the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that also has been critical of the Kremlin, became unavailable Sunday after the channel reported receiving a notification from the authorities. ___ Follow all AP stories on the Russian invasion of Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. By Chen Lin SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A lawyer for a Malaysian man sentenced to hang for smuggling heroin into Singapore asked judges for mercy during his appeal on Tuesday, and urged more time to seek further psychiatric assessment to prove his mental impairment. Nagaenthran Dharmalingam has been on death row for more than a decade for trafficking 42 grammes (1.48 oz) of heroin into Singapore, which has some of the world's toughest narcotics laws. He has appealed on the grounds of mental disability. His lawyer Violet Netto asked for "mercy" from the judges in allowing time to arrange an independent psychiatric evaluation. The Court of Appeal was expected to make a decision on Tuesday but reserved judgement until an undisclosed date. Nagaenthran's case has attracted international attention, with Malaysia's prime minister, a group of United Nations experts and British billionaire Richard Branson joining human rights groups in urging Singapore to commute his death sentence. Singapore hanged 25 people from 2016 to 2019, according to official data, mostly for drug-related crimes. During Tuesday's proceedings, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said Nagaenthran's lawyer was abusing the court process by submitting reports late and that her actions appeared "calculated to delay". Menon said Netto had prevented the disclosure of her client's prison medical records, which would have helped the judges reach a decision on the appeal. The lawyer had objected to presenting the records, which included a psychiatric assessment, citing patient confidentiality. Nagaenthran's defence and human rights groups have argued that his intellect was at a level recognised as a mental disability and say he has other disorders affecting decision-making and impulse control. The court stayed his execution last year without ruling on his appeal after he tested positive for COVID-19 a day before he was due to be hanged. Nagaenthran's sister, Sarmila Dharmalingam, on Tuesday said she would keep praying for her brother's life. "Many thanks to each and every one who putting effort to save my brother's life. Keep on praying," she said. (Reporting by Chen Lin; Additional reporting by Rozanna Latiff in Kuala Lumpur; Editing by Martin Petty) MADRID (Reuters) - Spain will send 150 additional troops to Latvia as part of a wider NATO buildup in the Baltic region following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Spanish Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. Spain, which already has 350 troops in the alliance's enhanced forward presence battlegroup in Latvia, is increasing the number in line with the NATO response plans "to preserve peace and security after the invasion." The size of NATO battlegroups in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, once ruled from Moscow but now part of the European Union, are set to almost double from 3,400 troops at the start of the year to more than 6,000 in the near future. Spain will send a field artillery Unit, an engineering unit and logistical support personnel, the ministry said. (Reporting by Emma Pinedo; Editing by Nathan Allen, Alexandra Hudson) Mar. 1University of St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan was announced Tuesday as the next president of Santa Clara University in California. Sullivan, 64, who has led Minnesota's largest private university for nine years, will leave at the end of the school year. Rob Vischer, dean of the law school, will step in as interim president. In the nine years under Sullivan, St. Thomas made the move to Division I athletics, launched the two-year Dougherty Family College for low-income students and founded the Morrison Family College of Health. "Julie Sullivan has been a beloved and inspirational leader, and we are grateful for her incredible contributions to St. Thomas," Pat Ryan, chair of the St. Thomas Board of Trustees said in a news release. "She succeeded in elevating St. Thomas, building a team of strong leaders, and implementing several transformational priorities during her tenure." Sullivan was the first woman and first layperson to lead St. Thomas. She'll do the same when she takes over July 1 at Santa Clara, which like St. Thomas is a Catholic university. "This is God's will for me, and I believe, for Santa Clara," Sullivan said during Santa Clara's announcement Tuesday. The Rev. Matt Carnes, Santa Clara's search committee chair, described Sullivan as a "student-centered educator" with "unbridled optimism" and a deep commitment to Catholic higher education. She also has experience with the Jesuit Catholic tradition, on which Santa Clara was founded, having served as a trustee for Loyola University Chicago. Sullivan, who previously was the University of San Diego's provost, said the move will put her just minutes away from her four grandchildren. "The unique combination of leading an outstanding Jesuit, Catholic institution, along with the strong pull of my family, makes this an opportunity that I cannot pass up," she said. Stop & Shop workers, battered by COVID-19 and eager to avoid a second strike in three years, have ratified a four-year contract that delivers a $15 minimum hourly wage a year before Connecticuts higher wage takes effect and boosts pay significantly for workers who fill online orders for curbside pick-up. The agreement, approved Sunday and covering 30,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will increase wages by at least $4 an hour for all employees with at least six months on the job. Part-time workers will be paid a starting rate of $15 an hour and $17.30 as a starting rate for full-time employees, according to the union. Connecticuts minimum wage rises to $15 an hour on June 1, 2023. The company knew we were bargaining in the shadow of COVID and did not want to reduce costs or change health care, said Keri Hoehne, executive vice president of Local 371 of the UFCW in Westport. Supermarkets were among the few businesses not shut during the pandemic. Workers, who were particularly exposed to COVID-19, were often required to enforce state and local mask rules and other regulations, occasionally drawing abuse from customers. Stop & Shop and the UFCW negotiated premium pay for workers. In the new contract, the union said employees will not be required to contribute more to their health insurance, which was a key disagreement that led to a strike in 2019. A health insurance fund was merged with several union locals, saving money, Hoehne said. In addition, increased hours will be available to senior part-time employees who want guaranteed hours. The contract also calls for a $500 bonus for full-time employees and $250 for part-time workers, according to the UFCW. The contract will boost pay nearly 29%, to $19 an hour from $15.30, for click and collect workers who fill online orders brought to customers for curbside pick up, Hoehne said. The jobs were established in response to the pandemic. Story continues In a statement, Stop & Shop said the agreement is fair and will allow the supermarket chain to recognize and reward employees contributions and commitment to customers and the community and provide workers with opportunities for growth and advancement. The contract also makes it possible for Stop & Shop to continue to compete and thrive in this competitive landscape as the last large unionized grocer in New England. The agreement contrasts with a collapse in contract talks in 2019 over health care costs and other provisions. The result was an 11-day strike costing workers their paychecks and the Netherlands parent company, Ahold Delhaize, $345 million in lost sales. I dont think anyone wanted to go though that again, Hoehne said. Retail analyst Burt P. Flickinger III, managing director at Strategic Resource Group, said that following the devastating strike three years ago, the two sides this year made a wise strategic decision. No enemies at the bargaining table this time, he said. Ahold Delhaize posted 2021 sales of the equivalent of $83.9 billion, up 5% from 2020. Sales in U.S. stores for the year were the equivalent of $50.5 billion, an increase of 5.6%. Retailers are boosting wages to attract workers in a tight labor market, with Target announcing Monday it will pay workers up to $24 an hour. Stop & Shop has a real willingness to invest in higher wages, Flickinger said. With compensation that includes a pension, a rare benefit in the private sector, Stop & Shop had higher productivity and better retention among its workers during the pandemic, Flickinger said. Supermarkets that profited during the pandemic at the expense of restaurants ordered shut by public health officials will likely continue to benefit even with restaurants re-opened as consumers, struggling to pay more for energy and other expenses, cut costs, he said. The best place to save for food is at a supermarket and wholesale shopping, Flickinger said. Stephen Singer can be reached at ssinger@courant.com. There was a shootout overnight between a robbery suspect and police during a wild chase in Nassau County. An 18-year-old has been arrested in the death of an 81-year-old Eastover resident who was shot three times during a robbery, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said at a press conference Tuesday. Lott identified the suspect as Jadon Harper, who was arrested on a burglary charge eight days before the death of Lewis Jenerette. Lott said investigators believe someone else was involved. Jenerettes Chevrolet Impala has not been recovered, he said. Naida Rutherford, the Richland County coroner, said Jenerette was shot twice in the chest and once in the leg. Jenerette was found inside a home on Hickory Hill Road in Eastover. Lott described Jenerette as being well known in the community. Community members attended the press conference. Deputies making a wellness check discovered his body in the home near U.S. 601/McCords Ferry Road. Jenerette was described in his funeral program as honest, forthright, direct, always truthful, impeccable work ethics are just a few adjectives. His family said he was the epitome of generosity. He was calm in demeanor, quiet, meek,and one who made and kept friends for a lifetime. He was a native of Eastover, where his first job was delivering ice for refrigerators. He retired from Owens Steel in Columbia. In 2021, there were 32 criminal homicides reported in Richland County, and all of them involved guns, the sheriffs department previously said. Lott said his office made arrests on all cases. Additionally, there were 81 non-fatal shootings investigated as crimes, according to the sheriffs department. So far this year, there have been five murders since the first of the year, and four have resulted in arrests, Lott said. Lott said he believes the justice system is broken because some suspects need to remain in jail, rather than bond out. A bill that would authorize the use of vehicle monitoring systems to prevent trucks from using certain streets to get to warehouses on the Perryman Peninsula has been introduced by state Sen. Robert Bob Cassilly. If passed, SB642, Harford County Vehicle Height Monitoring Systems, would allow the installation of monitoring systems on segments of Spesutia Road, Mitchell Lane and Old Stepney Road. The bill was introduced Feb. 3; a hearing on the measure was held Thursday by the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Advertisement The monitoring systems would alert police to violations and police would issue citations to vehicle owners, Cassilly said. If approved by the legislature, the bill would take effect Oct. 1. These roads are already not to be used by those vehicles, but the residents have provided ample photos and testimony documenting that those restrictions are routinely violated, Cassilly said. These trucks are seriously undermining the safety and quality of life in these residential neighborhoods. Advertisement Perryman residents frequently post photos on to the Protecting Perryman Peninsula Coalitions Facebook page of trucks causing traffic problems in the area at various times of the day. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > We have tractor trailers using the roads causing traffic nightmares, going through peoples yards, knocking down signs, said Perryman resident Ron Stuchinski. The curbs and sewer covers are pretty banged up. I guess residents are just getting to the point where with the more warehouses that are being built, the less attention truckers are paying. Stuchinski was one of four Perryman residents who went to Annapolis to support the bill at Thursdays hearing. It feels great to represent a community as tight as ours, he said. Bertha Copeland, a 52-year resident of Perryman, also traveled to Annapolis to support the bill. This used to be a quiet neighborhood, Copeland said. Its not fair to be a homeowner to have all this traffic. And while the Perryman coalitions organizer, Paul Fallace, says this bill is a good first step, there are still larger issues at play. Our big thing is we just feel like theres too many warehouses inside of this residential area, he said. Cassilly concurred that more needs to happen in Perryman. The bill, he said, is one piece of the puzzle. Thousands of Texas ballots will be rejected unless voters take an extra step to correct them, election officials warned on the eve of Tuesday's primary. The statewide election will be the first test of new identification requirements for voters who cast their ballots by mail, and county figures indicate many are already encountering problems. In Harris County, almost 11,000 ballots or 29 percent of mail ballots received so far have been flagged for rejection as of Saturday, according to data from the office of the county elections administrator, Isabel Longoria. Harris is the largest county in the state, home to Houston and more than 4 million residents. Election officials across the state are calling and emailing voters if they have their contact information, or mailing ballots back to alert them to the issues, but time is running out to make those changes. Most voters must fix their ballots by the end of Tuesday, and can do so in-person, by mail or online, though some will be able to make changes at county elections offices through March 7 if the errors were discovered near the end of the early voting period. In Travis County, home to the capital Austin and more than 1.2 million residents, 12 percent of the approximately 7,000 ballots received by election officials have been flagged for rejection, according to Victoria Hinojosa, a spokesman for the county. In El Paso County, 26 percent of ballots or 1,038 have been rejected due to the new ID requirements, according to Lisa Wise, the county elections administrator. In Collin County, approximately 17 percent of mail ballots have been flagged for rejection, according to Bruce Sherbet, elections administrator in the county that's home to more than 1 million people. "Like other counties, almost every rejection is due to lack of an ID number on the returned ballot envelope," he wrote in an email to NBC News. Those ballots could play a deciding role in primary races for statewide positions. Gov. Greg Abbott is facing two challengers former Texas GOP Chairman Allen West and former state Sen. Don Huffines while Attorney General Ken Paxton is up against Rep. Louie Gohmert, former state Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and land commissioner George P. Bush, the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Story continues Republicans in the state Legislature overhauled the election code last year as former President Donald Trump pushed his lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, with a particular focus on mail ballots. Among other changes to state law, voters are now required to include some form of identification such as a drivers license number on mail ballot applications and the envelope they use to return their completed mail ballots. The law also limits early voting hours and empowers partisan poll watchers. Texas Democrats fought against the new law for months, arguing the changes would disenfranchise voters and were unnecessary in light of exhaustive evidence that voter fraud is incredibly rare, and widespread fraud is non-existent. (Texas own exhaustive hunt for fraud in 2020 closed just 16 minor cases, according to the Houston Chronicle.) We have so many eligible, true, good voters whove always been part of the process that are now getting caught up in just this extra layer of bureaucracy, Longoria told NBC News in February. Pamela Moses was sentenced to six years in prison for registering to vote. After intense public outcry and the revelation of new evidence, the judge has ordered a new trial. The whole situation stemmed from a government official's error, but Moses was the one held accountable. Meanwhile, law enforcement officers routinely harm and kill innocent people without consequence. This dichotomy illustrates some of the deepest failures of our legal system, which protects officials and punishes citizens particularly Black citizens, like Moses. Moses, a Black Lives Matter activist and recent mayoral hopeful in Memphis, had completed a prison sentence for a 2015 felony conviction when she sought information in 2019 on her voting eligibility. Under Tennessee law, those convicted of a felony lose their right to vote, but they can have their voting rights restored. They just need a government agent to complete a form. Changing the narrative A judge told Moses she was still on probation, but an official with her probation office told her the opposite and signed her restoration form, which Moses then submitted as part of her voter registration. But the probation office later informed election officials Moses was ineligible to register to vote. Corrections officials investigated the error right away and determined the probation officer made a mistake, but that evidence wasn't introduced at trial. To the contrary, prosecutors crafted a narrative, which the judge initially adopted, that Moses somehow tricked the probation officer into signing her form. Racism or justice? The legal tangle behind a Black woman's voter fraud sentence Pamela Moses was sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of illegally registering to vote. Moses was prosecuted, convicted and severely sentenced simply for relying on the probation office, whose job it was to certify eligibility for rights restoration. In other cases, too, prosecutors have zealously pursued prison sentences against mistaken voters, even though voting fraud is exceedingly rare and fraudulent votes can be nullified when discovered. Story continues Moses prosecution and sentence rightfully garnered widespread criticism for its unjustness and its stark contrast to the relative leniency given to white voters who have pleaded guilty to ballot signature forgery. Political fallout: Putin's 'assault on humanity' in Ukraine is looking really bad for Donald Trump While Moses was released from prison and began awaiting her new trial, the prosecutor sought to distance herself from the apparent injustice. In a statement, Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich said Moses' conviction was overturned because "the Tennessee Department of Correction failed to turn over a necessary document." "When reporters or political opportunists use the word 'state' they need to be crystal clear that the error was made by the TDOC and not any attorney or officer in the office of the Shelby County District Attorney," Weirich added. Regardless, it was the choice of the prosecutor acting as the state to blame Moses for the probation officers error regarding the registration form, to cast this mistake as a fraudulent act and to aggressively prosecute Moses for that mistake. Unequal standards of culpability The injustice Moses suffered must also be considered alongside the unequal standards of culpability to which our laws hold regular citizens versus law enforcement and it draws into sharp focus the ways our legal system actively disincentivizes political participation while shielding law enforcement from accountability. Violence at the hands of law enforcement is an all-too-common occurrence that has been decried for decades by overpoliced Black and brown communities. The legal systems response has been to manufacture allowances to let police officers escape accountability. Under the judge-created doctrine of qualified immunity, police officers may be sued for violating the Constitution only if prior federal appellate court decisions clearly established that they were acting illegally. Getting past a qualified immunity defense requires a showing that the unreasonableness of an officers actions was beyond debate. Often, the Supreme Court requires the plaintiff in such cases to identify a case that put the officer on notice that his specific conduct was unlawful, even though police encounters are rarely identical. Whoopsie! Marjorie Taylor Greene at a white nationalist conference? Probably Joe Bidens fault. Overcoming qualified immunity is required to recover money damages for officer misconduct, and because of state and local indemnification laws, officers almost never actually pay such damages. Convicting an officer of a criminal offense for violating constitutional rights is an even higher standard, requiring proof that the officer acted with the specific intent to deprive a person of a federal right made definite by law. Protesters reflect in Pamela Moses' sunglasses while she leads chants with a bull horn in 2017. While no one was harmed when Moses registered to vote based on an officials mistake, the legal system offered her no mercy. In contrast, some of the egregious situations where qualified immunity excused officers conduct include releasing a police dog on an unarmed, surrendering man, using a stun gun on an unarmed pregnant woman, and shooting an unarmed child. Even though officers receive training and are tasked with promoting safety, they are held to relatively low expectations in high-stakes situations. Perversely, the legal system punishes those who seek to exercise their rights, while rendering helpless those who have their rights violated in either circumstance, communities of color bear the burden. The Supreme Court has said that qualified immunity is necessary to protect officials and allow them to exercise their authority vigorously. But there is no justification for a system in which misconduct by those charged with enforcing and upholding the law is treated as a mistake while regular citizens have their actual mistakes treated as crimes. Kevin Jason and Georgina Yeomans, assistant counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc., are members of LDF's qualified immunity working group. Georgina Yeomans and Kevin Jason serve as assistant counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc., where they litigate racial justice cases and are members of LDF's qualified immunity working group. This column is part of a series by the USA TODAY Opinion team examining the issue of qualified immunity. The project is made possible in part by a grant from Stand Together. Stand Together does not provide editorial input. 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: Qualified immunity: Pamela Moses reaped an unjust prosecution France's finance minister said Tuesday that Western sanctions would cause the Russian economy's collapse. A top Russian official responded immediately, saying that economic wars often turn into "real wars." The West has leveled sweeping sanctions against Russia that appear to be disrupting its economy. A top Russian official appeared to threaten France with "real war" on Tuesday as he responded to saber-rattling comments from the French finance minister about the effects of punitive Western sanctions. In an interview with French radio on Tuesday morning, Bruno Le Maire said the West aimed to "cause the collapse of the Russian economy" through an "economic and financial war on Russia," for which the Russian population "will also pay the consequences." Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former prime minister and now deputy chairman of its security council, was quick to respond on Twitter. He said: "A French minister said today that they have declared an economic war on us. Watch what you say, gentlemen! And don't forget that in the history of mankind, economic wars have often turned into real wars." Western nations including France have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia, targeting everything from its central bank and leading financial institutions to President Vladimir Putin himself. The sanctions seem to have already disrupted the Russian economy. On Monday, the value of the ruble crashed by as much as 30% against the US dollar, forcing Russia's central bank to more than double its base interest rate to 20%. Meanwhile, Russians were pictured at ATMs trying to withdraw foreign currency. In the interview with France Info on Tuesday, Le Maire said that economic and financial sanctions leveled by the West against Russia were "extremely effective," adding: "I don't want to leave any ambiguity about the determination of Europe on this subject. We are going to wage an economic and financial war on Russia." Story continues He continued: "We want to target the heart of the Russian system. We'll target Vladimir Putin. We'll target the oligarchs. But we'll also target the entire Russian economy." He added: "Sanctions must strike fast, strike hard, and we are already seeing the effects. The ruble has collapsed by 30%. Russian foreign-exchange reserves are melting like snow in the sun, and Vladimir Putin's famous war chest has already reduced to almost nothing." Le Maire said, "We are going to cause the collapse of the Russian economy." On Monday, the US rolled out sanctions intended to prevent Putin from accessing a $630 billion foreign-exchange "war chest" he could use to prop up Russia's battered economy. The move followed analogous sanctions from the European Union and the UK. Read the original article on Business Insider PARIS (Reuters) - Russia's top security official Dmitry Medvedev responded on Tuesday to comments by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire promising to wage an economic and financial war against Russia. "Today, some French minister has said that they declared an economic war on Russia. Watch your tongue, gentlemen! And dont forget that in human history, economic wars quite often turned into real ones," Medvedev, a former Russian president, wrote on his Twitter account (@MedvedevRussiaE). Earlier on Tuesday Le Maire told France Info radio that "we are going to deliver a total economic and financial war against Russia," over its invasion of Ukraine. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Jon Boyle) Chapman School of Law professor John Eastman testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2017. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) Orange County attorney John Eastman is at the center of an ethics investigation into whether he violated laws while advising President Trump on how he could overturn his election defeat in 2020, the State Bar of California said Tuesday. Eastman, a former professor and dean at Chapman University's Fowler School of Law, emerged as a key legal advisor to Trump in the weeks after it was apparent he had lost the election to Joe Biden. Eastman wrote two legal memos that advised Vice President Mike Pence he could declare that the results in several states were disputed and therefore their electoral votes would go uncounted. Doing so would have injected a new element of uncertainty and opened the door for several state legislatures to recast their votes for Trump. The State Bar's chief trial counsel, George Cardona, announced Tuesday that Eastman has been the center of an investigation since September. "A number of individuals and entities have brought to the State Bars attention press reports, court filings, and other public documents detailing Mr. Eastmans conduct, Cardona said in a statement. We want to thank those who took the time to bring to our attention this information, which serves as the starting point for our investigation. We will be proceeding with a single State Bar investigation in which we will continue to gather and analyze relevant evidence and go wherever it leads us. Eastman was not immediately available for comment Tuesday. The phone number listed for his law practice in Anaheim was busy. Attorney Randall Miller, who is representing Eastman in the state bar probe, said his client expects the investigation will exonerate him. "Dr. Eastman, a nationally recognized constitutional attorney and scholar, represented former President Trump in several election challenges," Miller wrote in a statement. "As was his duty as an attorney, Dr. Eastman zealously represented his client, comprehensively exploring legal and constitutional means to advance his client's interests." Story continues Eastman is currently challenging a subpoena from the House Select Committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack. The committee is seeking documents and emails Eastman sent from his Chapman University email address, according to court records filed in a California federal court. Eastman was hired at Chapman's law school in 1999. He was dean of the school from June 2007 to January 2010, when he stepped down to run unsuccessfully for California attorney general. He remained on the faculty until January 2021, teaching courses in constitutional law, property law, legal history and the 1st Amendment. Eastman is also the founding director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, a public interest law firm affiliated with the Claremont Institute. The institute did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. In early January 2021, more than 100 Chapman faculty and others affiliated with the university signed a letter calling on the private school to take action against Eastman for his role in the events of Jan. 6, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Days later, Chapman University President Daniele Struppa issued a statement saying that Eastman was immediately retiring from the university. "Dr. Eastmans departure closes this challenging chapter for Chapman and provides the most immediate and certain path forward for both the Chapman community and Dr. Eastman," Struppa wrote. In October, the nonpartisan legal group States United Democracy Center called on the State Bar to investigate Eastman's actions on Jan. 6. "Lawyers, particularly those who represent elected and appointed officials, have a solemn duty to the public to advise their clients within the four corners of the law, and to ensure that they do not allow themselves to become the tools by which those officials seek to undermine democratic governance," the group wrote in a letter. The signers include two former governors, Republican Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey and Democrat Steve Bullock of Montana; retired California Supreme Court Justices Kathryn Werdegar and Joseph Grodin; retired California federal Judges Thelton Henderson, Fern M. Smith and Lowell Jensen; UC Berkeley Law dean Erwin Chemerinsky; and Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe. At the time, Eastman said, "I trust the bar association will see this as the politically motivated and defamatory attack on my legal representation of a controversial client that it is and summarily dismiss it. But if not, I look forward to responding in full to every false assertion. Christine P. Sun, senior vice president of legal at the States United Democracy Center, said in a statement on Tuesday that the investigation is a "welcome and necessary step forward to holding democracy violators accountable, including those who seek to use their legal credentials to undermine the foundations of our democracy." Wylie Aitken, a longtime Orange County attorney and Chapman trustee, said he commends the state bar for launching an investigation into Eastman's actions, which he called an "assault on democracy." "I hope they will act on this because this is not a free speech issue, as some would like to characterize it," he said. Chemerinsky, UC Berkeley's law school dean, said its crucial that the nation does not trivialize what happened on Jan. 6. John Eastman was the architect of an attempted coup in this country, Chemerinsky told The Times on Tuesday. Its unlike anything weve ever seen in this country, as he fomented the coup, and attempted to disrupt the hallmarks of democracy: the peaceful transfer of power. Chemerinsky does not think any attorney should be disciplined for protected free speech, but Eastmans actions went far beyond the type of speech that advocates for a position. Its obvious, I believe, that there is enough there to investigate, Chemerinsky said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ANKARA, Turkey Turkey is reversing policies with Gulf rivals in the hope that local defense companies can return to the lucrative Saudi and Emirati markets. Deep political divergences harmed Turkish relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in recent years, including clashing policies over the civil wars in Syria and Libya; the Muslim Brotherhoods legitimacy in Egypt; support of the military group Hamas in Gaza; the blockade of Qatar; and the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and some of its neighbors through the Abraham Accords. More directly, an official Saudi boycott of Turkish goods brought down trade volume with Turkey to $189 million last year from $3.2 billion in 2019. That boycott ended in January 2022. Analysts agree that, faced with declining approval ratings, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan needs to lure foreign investment and boost mutual trade partnerships to improve the economy ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in June 2023. Policy changes Turkey has changed course several times in its foreign policies: On Syria, the Turkish government is leaning further toward its Gulf neighbors in their anti-Iran approach. Tehrans support of the Damascus regime in the civil war is driving Ankaras decision. In Libya, several foreign parties involved in the civil war withdrew. Geopolitically speaking, it was Turkey against the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The Egyptian government continues to suppress the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that has received support in Turkey. But Erdogan is reversing course and beginning to curb Muslim Brotherhood activity on Turkish soil. Turkey has also become less vocal in its ideological support of Hamas. In addition, there are reports that Ankara has banned Hamas-controlled activity in Turkey that would harm Israel. The blockade of Qatar a move that saw Turkish policy clash with those of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt ended in 2021. Parallel to Turkeys efforts to reconcile with Gulf states and Egypt, Erdogan has initiated a charm offensive to improve relations with Israel. He has invited Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Turkey a de facto end to Turkeys protest of the Abraham Accords. Story continues Improving relations In efforts to reconcile, Erdogan in November hosted Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In February, Erdogan visited Abu Dhabi where Turkish and Emirati delegations signed 13 cooperation agreements, including for their defense industries. The president is now gearing up for a fence-mending visit to Saudi Arabia in which he hopes to sign agreements that would lure Gulf investment into cash-strapped Turkey. Every country with friendly ties with Turkey is a natural market for Turkish weapons systems, a Turkish presidential aide said. Reconciliation with countries [with which] we had difficult relations will mean [a] win-win [for] business, especially in defense industry. During Erdogans visit to Abu Dhabi, Emirati officials pledged to invest $10 billion in Turkeys defense, agriculture, information technology, construction, energy, food, real estate and health industries in the next several years. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan pose as they attend a signing ceremony for agreements between the two countries in Ankara on Nov. 24, 2021. (Adem Altan/AFP via Getty Images) The first of the planned UAE investments will come into Turkeys defense industry, said Nail Olpak, president of Turkeys Foreign Economic Relations Board. We see a particularly great appetite to invest in Turkish defense industry. Two-way trade between Turkey and the UAE was worth $8 billion in 2021. Olpak estimates annual trade will grow by 40 percent in the years ahead. There is great potential [in defense industry], said Anil Sahin, a Turkish defense analyst. Of course, a prerequisite to happier days is sustainable normalization in political relations. An official with a defense exports portfolio told Defense News that cooperation between Turkey and Gulf clients could include both armed and unarmed air-, sea- and ground-based drones; missile systems; naval platforms; helicopters; remotely controlled gun stations; air defense systems; and armored vehicles. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the individual was not authorized to speak to the media. Last year, Al Jasoor a joint venture between Emirati defense conglomerate Edge Group and Turkish firm Otokar launched their six-wheel drive amphibious armored vehicle Rabdan, a variant of the eight-wheel drive infantry fighting vehicle with the same name that entered service with Emirati forces in April 2021. But Gulf states wont want to rush into things, an Arab diplomat in Ankara told Defense News. The Gulf states have reason not to [make] haste, to make irreversible decisions to invest in Turkey, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the individual was not authorized to speak to the media. They will want to make sure Erdogan does not change course once again. By Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey is calling on all sides in the Ukraine crisis to respect an international pact on passage through the Turkish straits to the Black Sea, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was cited as saying on Tuesday after Ankara closed access. NATO ally Turkey borders Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea and has good ties with both. Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Ankara has the right to limit transit through its Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits during wartime. This allows it to curb Russian warships going to the Black Sea. The pact grants exemption to ships returning to their home bases. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was cited by state media as saying that Turkey had demanded all Black Sea and non-Black Sea states to halt passage through its straits. "Eroding Montreux or disrupting the status quo in any way is to nobody's benefit. We see a benefit in preserving Montreux. We tell all sides that it would be beneficial to abide by Montreux," Akar told reporters after Monday's cabinet meeting, his ministry said. In a call on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken "expressed his appreciation" to Cavusoglu for Turkey's implementation of the accord, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said. Yoruk Isik, an Istanbul-based geopolitical analyst and head of the Bosphorus Observer consultancy, told Reuters that Turkey had closed the straits to all states. "So it's really happened, it's closed... It's closed to all maritime traffic, not only to Russian ships," Isik said, adding the closure should be seen as Ankara giving Moscow "breathing room" to determine its position. At least four Russian ships are waiting to cross from the Mediterranean. Asked about Turkey's move to label the invasion a "war" and invoke the limiting articles of the pact, Ukraine's Ambassador to Ankara, Vasyl Bodnar, said Kyiv was "grateful" to Turkey for "meticulously" implementing the accord. Story continues "In today's situation, I think it's a very fair decision and it needs to be implemented," Bodnar told reporters. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu of the urgent need for a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, the Defence Ministry said. 'BENDS OVER BACKWARDS' While calling Russia's invasion an unacceptable violation of international law, Turkey has carefully formulated its rhetoric not to offend Moscow, with which it has close energy, defence and tourism ties. It has called for dialogue and offered to host peace talks. Late on Monday, President Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko about talks between Russia and Ukraine on Belarus' border, his office said. "We are determined to use the powers the Montreux Convention grants our country to ease the crisis," Erdogan said after the cabinet meeting. "We will surely not compromise on our national interests, but we will also not disregard regional and global balances. This is why we cannot abandon ties with Russia or Ukraine." Erdogan later discussed the invasion with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in separate phone calls, his office said, adding he told Rutte that Turkey was continuing to work for an immediate ceasefire. While forging close ties with Russia, Turkey has also sold drones to Ukraine and signed a deal to co-produce more, angering Moscow. It also opposes Russian policies in Syria and Libya, as well as its 2014 annexation of Crimea. "Turkey is really doing its best, or you can see it bends over backwards not to offend Russia," analyst Isik said. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Additional reporting by Yesim Dikmen and Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul; Editing by Daren Butler and Nick Macfie) Forensics investigators have ruled the death of a 19-year-old Millersville man, who was found deceased behind a funeral home this week, as a homicide, police said on Tuesday. Anne Arundel County homicide detectives are investigating the death of Devin Scott Freeman, who was discovered dead behind Gonce Funeral Service in Brooklyn Park on Sunday morning. Advertisement The teens death was ruled as a homicide caused by gunshot wounds, following an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, according to a news release from the Anne Arundel County Police Department. Freemans body was spotted on Sunday morning by funeral home employees who then contacted police, according to Donna Znamirowski, the funeral homes co-owner. Advertisement County homicide detectives are still investigating the death, and ask those with information on the situation to contact police at 410-222-4731. Individuals who wish to remain anonymous are encouraged to call the Anne Arundel County police tip line at 410-222-4700. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called on Ukraine and Russia to immediately stop fighting and to "contribute to world peace", adding Ankara was not opposed to NATO enlargement. NATO member Turkey shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia and has good ties with both. Under a 1936 pact, Ankara on Monday said it was closing its Black Sea straits during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, limiting the passage of some Russian ships from the Mediterranean. Asked about Ukraine's bid for European Union membership at a news conference in Ankara, Erdogan said Turkey, an EU candidate for decades, would support any enlargement of NATO and the EU. Erdogan called on the bloc to show the "same sensitivity" it showed for Kyiv's membership bid for Turkey's application, and slammed member states for being "not sincere". "Will you put Turkey on your agenda when someone attacks (us) too?" he said. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Catherine Evans) (Reuters) -The U.S health regulator has declined to approve Gilead Sciences' injectable drug for the treatment of HIV-1 infection over concerns related to the vials meant for the drug, the company said on Tuesday. In a so-called complete response letter, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cited issues related to the compatibility of the drug, lenacapavir, with the proposed borosilicate vial. "Gilead intends to provide FDA with a comprehensive plan and corresponding data to use a different vial type," said Merdad Parsey, chief medical officer of Gilead in a statement. Gilead, which is also developing the drug for prevention of HIV-1 infection, plans to discuss the concerns with the agency over the coming months to work towards the drug's approval. The issue of compatibility of the vials has been an issue since December, when some of the drug's trials, including those for prevention of HIV-1, were placed on hold by the FDA due to the potential of formation of sub-visible glass particles in the solution of lenacapavir. (https://bit.ly/3hfeXwc) The pause was only for injectable lenacapavir. Dosing of oral formulations was allowed to continue. Gilead's lenacapavir, meant to be injected under the skin once every six months, was developed for the treatment of patients who have undergone prior therapy and are resistant to multiple existing drugs. Lenacapavir works by interfering with the activity of HIV capsid, a protein which protects the virus' genetic material, playing a key role in its replication. Gilead's marketing application included data from a mid-to-late-stage trial, which showed lenacapavir, in combination with other antiretrovirals, helped reduce viral load in people living with HIV who were no longer effectively responding to their current therapy. Gilead already has several U.S. approved HIV treatments, with Biktarvy being its top selling drug in the category, raking in $8.62 billion in 2021. (Reporting by Amruta Khandekar and Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel, Sriraj Kalluvila and Shailesh Kuber) Mar. 1Freed for the moment from fears of being held in contempt of court, the Ohio Redistricting Commission will meet Tuesday afternoon to continue talking about a new map for Ohio's U.S. House districts. In their meeting notice, commissioners said they will hear presentations on maps newly submitted by the general public. At their previous two meetings they only allowed discussion of maps proposed prior to the commission's November approval of a Republican map, which the Ohio Supreme Court has since overturned. On Friday the commission sent the court official notice that it had passed a new state redistricting plan, one week after the court-ordered deadline. The commission, with dissent from Democrats, announced itself at an impasse Feb. 18. Then, in response to the contempt hearing order, some reversed course and said they weren't at an impasse following that by passing new maps which they say are compliant after all. In the notice of new maps, filed Friday on behalf of the commission, Attorney General Dave Yost asked the court to delay or cancel the contempt hearing. The notice says all commission members and staff "were included in the map-drawing process" this time, and that it would create the same number of swing districts as the Democratic plan the commission rejected Feb. 17. But an attached minority report from state Sen. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, and House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington the only Democratic members of the redistricting commission argues the latest proposal actually has fewer likely Democratic districts than the maps the court overturned Feb. 7. No Republican-leaning districts have margins nearly as close as the razor-thin ones in many supposedly Democratic districts, the minority report says. It also contradicts Yost's filing, saying the new maps were drawn "entirely by Republican legislators on the Commission without our involvement and without allowing feedback or changes." Story continues The latest version of maps for new state House and Senate districts, drawn to account for 2020 census results, would likely create 54 Republican House seats and 18 Republican Senate seats, according to its sponsors. Currently Republicans hold 64 of the 99 Ohio House and 25 of the 33 Ohio Senate seats. But of those, 19 House and seven Senate seats lean Democratic by less than 4%, while no Republican districts are that close, according to the tally mapmakers handed out. Long road to new maps On Feb. 7, the Supreme Court ordered the commission to file new state House and Senate district maps by Feb. 17. But the commission did not meet again until that last day, when Republicans voted unanimously to defeat the Democratic proposal without offering one of their own. The court then gave until noon Feb. 23 for commissioners to explain why they shouldn't be held in contempt. Commissioners filed various explanations, but the court scheduled a contempt hearing for Tuesday morning. Thaddeus Hoffmeister, professor at the University of Dayton School of Law, said people should take note of the court's threat to hold most of the state's high officials in contempt. "This is kind of precedent-setting. This is historical, really," he said. But Hoffmeister expected the threat would have an effect, since elected officials don't want the stigma of that charge. "The majority of Ohioans are against gerrymandering. They voted overwhelmingly to fix the lines," he said. "Maybe for your core supporters it may benefit you, but for the average Ohioan, I think they want it fixed in some form or fashion." Contempt of court, especially at the supreme court level, is not a common charge, Hoffmeister said. It's usually used against someone who refuses to testify. "It's rare, because most people will eventually acquiesce or cooperate with the court," he said. "And it's definitely rare that you would see it at the supreme court level and with the people that are involved here." Hoffmeister said he expected the court would consider the latest maps in lieu of a contempt hearing. He believes the court doesn't really want to be involved, but wants to see commissioners do the job correctly. On Feb. 24 commissioners reconvened and passed new maps. For the third time it was a Republican proposal. But in a first, Republicans broke ranks, with Auditor Keith Faber siding with Democrats to oppose the plan, which passed 4-3. Faber said the latest maps had the same defects as the Democratic proposal that Republicans shot down Feb. 17: unnecessary splits of counties or communities, and "compromising compactness" to meet a specific partisan ratio of seats. The day after the commission passed its third try at state House and Senate maps, the Supreme Court put the contempt hearing on hold, instead asking plaintiffs in the long-running challenge to the maps to file any further objections within three days. Plaintiffs did just that on Monday. The voting rights and progressive groups that have led legal challenges to the maps for months said in their latest objections that the new maps again have a disproportionate number of close Democratic districts and no similarly close Republican districts the same grounds the court used to reject the previous maps Feb. 7. An affidavit filed on plaintiff's behalf by Christopher Warshaw, associate professor of political science at George Washington University, reiterates that assertion. "The fact that all of the close seats are Democratic-leaning and none are Republican-leaning gives the Republican party a substantial advantage in the translation of votes to seats in Ohio," Warshaw wrote. Looming deadlines On Friday, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose ordered the state's 88 county boards of elections to use the latest state House and Senate maps for the May 3 primary, though those maps are still under court challenge. LaRose, a redistricting commission member, cited a Feb. 24 letter from fellow commissioners Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, and House Speaker Bob Cupp, R-Lima, reiterating the General Assembly's order to include legislative contests on the May 3 ballot. He also asked legislators for more election funding. "The (Ohio) General Assembly is not interested in delaying this primary election," LaRose said Monday following a business roundtable with the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce. But the Ohio Association of Election Officials, in a letter Monday to Huffman and other legislative leaders, said though money would help what they really need is more time. The state's 88 county boards of election asked legislators to delay the May 3 primary for all offices. The group has previously said holding separate primary elections for different offices would be the worst option. Election officials just got the latest maps on Saturday and still don't have fine details of the new district lines, the letter says. "Moreover, these maps are subject to further proceedings in the Ohio Supreme Court, the result of which likely will not be known until next week. Congressional maps are still being debated by the Commission and must be completed before election officials can begin our internal process of redrawing district lines and assigning voters to those districts," the group wrote. "Given these facts, our ability to administer a fair and accurate election has been compromised." Although the congressional map remains unsettled, LaRose also instructed people who want to run for U.S. House seats that they can file for office in "the most populous county of the district they seek to represent." The deadline to file for those seats is March 4. "If the most populous county changes after passage of a new district plan by the Ohio Redistricting Commission, the board of elections where the candidate previously filed will transfer the filing documents to the new most populous county board of elections in the district," LaRose's order says. He said he's asking the U.S. Department of Defense for more time to send ballots to overseas soldiers and their families. At the commission's Feb. 24 meeting, LaRose warned that those ballots had to be mailed by March 18. Staff Writer Ed Richter contributed to this report By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United States is expelling a Russian "intelligence operative" who works at the United Nations, said a spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to United Nations on Tuesday. The United States began the process on Monday "to require the departure of one Russian intelligence operative working at the United Nations who has abused their privileges of residence in the United States," the spokesperson said. The expulsion is in addition to 12 Russian diplomats at the country's U.N. mission in New York whom Washington has also ordered to leave over national security concerns. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday of the expulsion of the Russian U.N. staff member: "We regret that we find ourselves in this situation, but are engaging with the host country." "What makes this decision a little difficult to understand is that the staff member was scheduled to end his assignment on March 14th," Dujarric said. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Monday that the 12 Russian diplomats had been asked to leave by March 7. He described it as a "hostile" move by the United States and said Russia would respond "because it's diplomatic practice." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Grant McCool) LVIV, Ukraine/BEIJING (Reuters) - Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba asked his Chinese counterpart in a phone call on Tuesday to use Beijing's ties with Moscow to stop Russia's military invasion of its neighbour, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said in a statement. According to the statement, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Kuleba that Beijing was ready to make every effort to help end the war through diplomacy. China, which has grown closer with Moscow in recent years while it has also had cordial diplomatic ties and strong trade links with Ukraine, has refused to condemn Russia's attack on the country or to call its actions there an invasion. The call between the two is the first to have been reported since Russia's attack on its neighbour last Thursday. It was initiated by Kuleba, according to China's foreign ministry. Wang repeated China's call for a solution to the crisis through negotiations, saying it supported all international efforts that could help achieve a political resolution, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. In January, Chinese President Xi Jinping marked 30 years of ties with Ukraine, hailing the "deepening political mutual trust" between them. Ukraine is a hub in the Belt and Road Initiative, a sprawling infrastructure and diplomatic undertaking that binds China closer with Europe. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation" that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its southern neighbour's military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets in Lviv and Tony Munroe in Beijing, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Jon Boyle and Edmund Blair) (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had asked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday to help close the skies over Ukraine to halt the shelling of civilians by Russia. "Had a phone conversation with Chancellor Scholz. Spoke about Russia's shelling of residential neighborhoods in Ukrainian cities during peace talks. Emphasized the need to close the sky over Ukraine," Zelenskiy said. He also told Scholz to move swiflty on Ukraine's EU membership bid. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Edmund Blair) LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine was seeking an end to hostilities and withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory, a presidential aide said on Tuesday, adding that Kyiv would not agree to a break up of Ukraine's territory or allow invading troops to remain on its land. Presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych did not respond to a question on when talks with Russia could resume. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Jon Boyle) As an internal investigation continues, a judge handed down a not guilty verdict to an Anne Arundel County fire communications employee who had been accused of making a threat of mass violence in the workplace last fall. Following a three-day bench trial in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel District Judge Laura M. Robinson last week ruled there was not enough evidence to convict Jordan Brent Hartlove, 24, on a charge that he made a threat of mass violence while working as a civilian communications operator at the Anne Arundel County Fire Department headquarters. Advertisement Hartlove, of Denton, was arrested in October after a fellow employee at the Millersville operations base stated Hartlove had brought a rifle to work in a gym bag, and made violent threats to injure his colleagues to her after he discovered she had sparked an internal investigation by reporting the alleged gun to supervisors. During the district court trial last month, Hartlove maintained he had not made the threatening statements, his lawyer William C. Brennan said, adding there wasnt clear evidence he had brought a rifle to work either. Advertisement Neither Hartlove or Steve Kroll, the lawyer who prosecuted the case, returned calls to comment on the matter on Tuesday. Hartlove is still suspended from working at the fire department pending the results of an internal investigation, which is still ongoing following the criminal trial, fire department spokesperson Russ Davies said. Ukrainian officials are pushing the Biden administration and lawmakers on the Hill to impose sanctions on Russian oil and gas exports and cracking down further on the energy supplies that international markets are already starting to shun. Andriy Kobolyev, the former head of the countrys state-owned natural gas company, Naftogaz, said he has been meeting with U.S. senators and Biden administration officials to push for sanctions on Russian fossil fuel exports, which he asserts will be necessary to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin and those around him to halt their invasion of Ukraine. Kobolyev said he has been holding these meetings with the blessing of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We are pushing for a full embargo on oil and gas from Russia to the West, Kobolyev said in an interview. In my experience dealing with [Putins] team and him personally, one of the cornerstones ... is that the energy supply is so important to the West the collective West that no matter what [Russians] do, they'll always be forgiven, that Western countries will crawl back on their knees asking for their oil and gas," he said. "If the West makes the first move and says 'look, we are putting sanctions' or 'we are saying no to your gas and oil,' that will undermine that important hypothesis that Putin personally is using to convince people around him to do completely crazy things. A staffer for Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) confirmed he'd met with Kobolyev but did not comment further. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) confirmed he had met with a Ukrainian energy official. Toomey on Twitter Monday called on Biden to impose new broader sanctions on Russia's financial sector. Kobolyev's meetings with lawmakers come after Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday criticized oil companies that had not yet completely severed ties with Russia, and he has called for an embargo on Russian energy exports. In a document seen by POLITICO that Ukrainian officials circulated to supporters, Kuleba also requested the "blocking of all assets in U.S. jurisdiction and prohibiting U.S. individuals and legal entities from carrying out any transactions with foreign legal entities and individuals involved directly or indirectly, involved in or assisting in the purchase of Russian metallurgy products and energy products." Story continues The idea of blocking imports of Russian oil into the United States is gaining support on Capitol Hill. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on Tuesday unveiled a bill that would ban the import of Russian crude oil into the United States and sanction companies and people involved in bringing it into the country. American fossil fuel companies helped fuel Putins despicable war on Ukraine to the tune of billions, propping up the oil-garchs and cronies that keep him in power, Markey said in a press release. There is no separating Russian oil from the corruption and human rights abuses of the Putin regime." Much of Russias oil and gas flows to Europe, and deliveries of natural to countries there have actually grown since hostilities started. The United States does not import Russian gas but does take about 540,000 barrels a day of Russian crude oil and other petroleum products a relatively small amount the total U.S. energy imports. The Biden administration has so far rejected the idea of banning imports of Russian oil into the United States, saying Russia could simply sell the oil elsewhere. It also argues that sanctions on Russian oil and gas would prove too painful for Germany and other European allies that have so far gone along with imposing sanctions on Russias central bank and other financial entities, as well as kicking it off the international banking messaging system, SWIFT. Those moves have had a dramatic impact on the Russian economy this week. We are imposing devastating impacts on the Russian economy because Europe is united and willing to stick with it for the long term, an administration official said. If you cut off gas to Europe, they cannot hold on for the long term. But even without directly targeting Russia's oil exports, the sanctions that have rattled its financial foundations have caused global oil prices to spike. International benchmark Brent crude peaked above $107 a barrel on Tuesday as traders avoided cargoes and sought out crude elsewhere. Pressure in the Capitol to target Russian oil and gas is especially notable among senators who represent energy states and argue U.S. producers could replace any shortfalls without having to turn to the Middle East or other producers for supply. To me, it makes no sense at all for us to rely on energy from a country that is actively engaging in acts of war against a freedom-seeking democracy in Ukraine when we are blessed with abundant energy resources right here in America," Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said at a hearing on Tuesday. It's time for the administration to take strong action to unleash American energy, up to an including banning Russian oil imports at a time when they're attacking our allies. The current sanctions on Russias banks have also created an almost de facto ban on the countrys energy exports, analysts said. Trading companies and even Russias ally China are increasingly wary of taking delivery of any Russian crude oil for fear of getting enmeshed in financial penalties, market analysts said. British oil company BP canceled its loadings of Russian crude in the Black Sea, and Neste in Finland and Preem in Sweden are replacing and halting imports of Russian oil, said Andy Lipow, head of oil market analyst firm Lipow Oil Associates. For the second time in four days, the Russian oil producer Surgutneftegaz could not find buyers for its oil, he added. The oil business requires a lot of credit from banks, Lipow said. The amount of money that a bank makes from providing funding is small compared to the risk of being sanctioned and losing access to the world banking system. Private oil companies are also leaving Russia as financial sanctions and reputational risks pile up. Europe-based oil companies Shell and BP and wind company Equinor have said they will exit their operations in Russia, while French energy giant TotalEnergies, which is heavily invested in Russia, said it will not approve any new projects there. Exxon Mobil is telling its non-essential personnel to leave the Sakhalin LNG project it shares with Russian company Rosneft, according to a company source. Exxon itself, which also owns stakes in other Russian energy projects, has not publicly responded to questions whether it will follow the European companies footsteps. Given the growing moves in the private market against Russian energy supplies, Ukraine believes it is time for the Biden administration and European governments to official join in, Kobolyev said. An argument that I heard from people here is that everybody expected us to go down very soon after Russia sent tanks into Ukraine and started shelling its cities, Kobolyev said. We were compared to Afghanistan, that 'the next day after the Russians start full-scale operations, you will go down. You will put your weapons down and give in.' Well, that's not happening, which means we are worth fighting for. Josh Siegel and Kelsey Tamborrino contributed to this report. Bulgarian MiG-29s Hristo Rusev/Getty Images European Union foreign policy chief Josep Burrell said Sunday that individual EU countries had agreed to donate Soviet-era fighter jets to Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russia's invasion, and Ukraine's parliament said Monday that Bulgaria, Poland, and Slovakia had agreed to give the country more than 70 MiG-29s and Su-25s. A Ukrainian government official told Politico Monday that Ukrainian pilots were already in Poland to start the process of taking control of the 28 MiG-29s they are expecting to be donated. (Joseph Trevithick at The Drive explains why he's skeptical.) "The potential transfer of older Russian-made planes to be used in combat against Russian forces could be the most significant moment yet in a wave of promised arms transfers over the past 24 hours that includes thousands of anti-armor rockets, machine guns, artillery, and other equipment," Politico reports. But representatives from Poland and Slovakia did not respond to Politico's request for confirmation and Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said Monday he had rejected Ukraine's request for fighter jets. Other Western countries have promised to send anti-tank weapons and other lethal armaments to Ukraine, including Germany and, it was announced Monday, Finland, Sweden, Australia, and Canada. "President Zelensky said: 'Don't give me a ride, give me ammunition,' and that's exactly what the Australian government has agreed to do," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Tuesday in announcing that the "overwhelming majority" Australia's $50 million in aid will now "be in the lethal category." You may also like U.S. official: Belarus is preparing to join Russian invasion of Ukraine Conservatives pounce after Biden nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court 17-mile-long Russian convoy reaches outskirts of Kyiv Rep. Victoria Spartz, a Republican from Indiana, addresses reporters while wearing the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Win McNamee/Getty Images Ukrainian-American Rep. Victoria Spartz pleaded for the US to do more to stop Russia's war. Spartz told reporters that she still has family and friends in the country. She vowed that Putin would stop his aggression with his large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz, who was born in Ukraine, made an emotional plea on Tuesday for stronger US action in defense of Ukraine and warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has sights set on more than just taking Kyiv. "This is not a war, this is a genocide of the Ukrainian people by a crazy man who cannot get over the Ukrainian people do not want socialism, Soviet Union, communism," Spartz, who represents Indiana, told reporters during a GOP news conference about President Biden's State of the Union address. "They want to be with the United States of America. They want to be free people. They want to be with the West." Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, continues to be under attack and was sustaining intense shelling as Spartz spoke. The Indiana congresswoman's grandmother is 95 and lives in Chernihiv, a city just a few hours north of the capital. According to her official biography, Spartz immigrated to the US in 2000 after meeting her husband who is from Indiana. "She told my mom ... 'do not cry, we are not crying here just give us some guns,'" Spartz said, choking back tears as she recounted her mother's conversation with her grandmother. "'So we don't just fight with the sticks.'" Spartz claimed that Russia is killing women and children. Insider cannot independently verify accounts of fighting on the ground. Ukraine's human rights commissioner said on Monday that several children were among the 210 civilians who died so far since Russia began its bombing campaign of Ukraine's largest cities after building up more than 150,000 troops near its borders. Putin, Spartz added, is not going to stop with Ukraine. She said what President Joe Biden is "allowing to happen" is "unforgivable," adding that the president "will have the blood of many millions of Ukrainians on his hands too." Story continues "If we don't stop him there, he is not going to stop," she said. "He is going to further and then we'll have to send our children to die to fight this." President Joe Biden has repeatedly vowed that he will not deploy US forces to defend Ukraine. The US has committed more than $1 billion in security assistance to Ukraine in the past year, Reuters previously reported. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy confirmed talks are underway about sending additional lethal aid to Ukraine. Spartz called for a humanitarian corridor to be set up within the country, which would be a temporary zone that would allow Ukrainian people to flee the war and for international aid workers to come in with assistance. The World Health Organization has also called for such a zone to be established. If Russia were to oppose such a zone, it would put enormous pressure on an already delicate situation. The White House has rebuffed calls for a no-fly zone and similar military support that would risk the US and Russia engaging in an open shooting war between two nuclear powers. Spartz wants to see the US and the West impose tougher sanctions and has called for more Western companies to cut ties with Russia. So far, action has centered around multi-national energy companies that hold key stakes in the heart of Russia's economy. Both BP and Shell have announced plans to cut their Russian operations. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Ukraine accuses Russia of using weapons banned under the Geneva Convention during their invasion of Ukraine, including so-called vacuum bombs and cluster bombs. As Russian forces draw closer and closer to the capital Kyiv, they are leaving destruction in their wake. Charlie D'Agata reports. A proposed deal to allow Ukrainian pilots to fly fighter jets donated by European Union countries has fallen apart. Over the course of a confusing 48 hours, the EU announced it had brokered an arrangement for member states to allow Ukrainian pilots to start flying their used Russian fighter planes, only to have those countries deny there was any such deal even as Kyiv trumpeted the impending arrival of the jets. The dissolution of the deal comes as European countries lined up Monday to announce new weapons packages for Ukraine, from anti-armor and anti-air rockets to artillery and medical supplies. But the announcement Sunday by EU security chief Josep Borrell that fighter jets were also on their way appeared to be a game-changer for European military assistance. Borrell was forced to walk his pronouncement back somewhat by Monday, acknowledging that any transfers wouldnt come from the EU itself, but would instead be donated bilaterally by individual EU countries. Soon after, a Ukrainian government official told POLITICO their country had sent pilots to Poland to pick up the jets and the Ukrainian parliament announced that the planes from Slovakia, Bulgaria and Poland would soon be on their way. But by Tuesday, Bulgaria and Slovakia said there was no deal to send fighters, and the Polish president, appearing at a Polish air base alongside NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, said no planes would be flying any time soon. "We are supporting Ukrainians with humanitarian aid. However, we are not going to send any jets to Ukrainian airspace, President Andrzej Duda said. Slovakias small fleet of MiG-29s are the countrys only fighter jets, and they are being serviced by Russian workers under contract, making their transfer a tough sell in Bratislava. The Slovakian government is also engaged in talks with Poland to provide protection of Slovak airspace, and until that deal is reached, they need their MiG-29s. Asked in an interview with a Slovak newspaper Tuesday if the country would ever transfer its MiGs to Ukraine, Minister of Defense Jaroslav Nad said "there is a theoretical chance, but I do not know when we will reach an agreement with the Poles, when the Poles will be able to start protecting our airspace. And the second thing, what will be happening in Ukraine in two weeks, three weeks? And in two months? I do not know. Story continues In a move likely aimed at increasing pressure on Europe to act, the Ukrainian parliament on Monday tweeted that Europe was sending 70 fighter planes to Ukraine, including 28 MiG-29s from Poland, 12 from Slovakia and 16 from Bulgaria, along with 14 Su-25s from Bulgaria. The fighter plane drama came on top of a flurry of announcements over the weekend that saw European leaders promise a flood of new weaponry for the Ukrainian military to assist in fighting off invading Russian troops, an overt and very public acknowledgment of Europes newfound will to inflict pain on the Kremlin for its military adventurism. With the air corridors to Kyiv closed by Russian anti-aircraft weapons and fighter jets, U.S. and European powers have started pushing weapons into the country by road. Poland, Estonia and Latvia were some of the first to act, sending ammunition, Javelin anti-armor weapons, fuel and medical supplies to the Ukraine border for hand-off to Ukrainian forces. On Monday, Finland announced it would join the club, pledging 2,500 assault rifles, ammunition, 1,500 anti-tank weapons and 70,000 ration packages to Ukraine. Sweden is also readying a large arms and aid package, announcing the upcoming delivery of 135,000 field rations, 5,000 helmets, body armor and 5,000 anti-tank weapons. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is heading to Poland Tuesday to coordinate the shipment of 100 Carl Gustaf anti-armor rocket launchers, along with 2,000 munitions and other aid. Speaking with reporters before the trip, she said we will be able to make sure to send lethal aid to Ukraine. My role in this is to make sure that this aid gets in the arms of Ukrainian soldiers that are fighting for their life and fighting for their motherland. Thats exactly why I've been able to get an agreement from Poland to make sure that that delivery could be done through their borders. One of the biggest surprises in recent European political history came Saturday, when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced he was sending 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to Ukraine, a reversal of the German post-war policy of barring the transfer of arms to warring parties. He also pledged an immediate $100 billion infusion into the German military. President Joe Biden also ordered the release of up to $350 million worth of weapons from U.S. stocks to Ukraine on Friday. Speaking with reporters at the Pentagon Monday, a senior U.S. Defense Department official declined to go into detail about what will be included, but said there will be capabilities in there to help them with both their ground defensive capabilities as well as airborne defensive capabilities. HERNDON, VA Iaroslava Dutchak finds it difficult to sum up the feelings she's had over the last week after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade her homeland. "I feel devastated, sad, helpless, and angry," the Herndon resident said Monday. "I don't understand how Russian people can be so blind and ignorant. They believe all the lies Putin tells them. They also are scared to protest, which is upsetting." But Dutchak also feels hopeful. "Ukrainians have showed courage I feel I've never seen before," she said. "And the rest of the world stands with us like it never did before, too." Iaroslava Dutchak first came to the U.S. eight years ago to get her doctoral degree from Clemson University. Her family moved to Herndon just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, so they don't have a lot of connections in the community. "The few friends we have here feel very sad and express their concern and tell us they pray for us and our country, always asking us what we can do," she said. One piece of incredible luck is that Dutchak's sister, Elona, came to visit a month ago, weeks before the crisis in their homeland. As Russian tanks swept into Ukraine on Sunday, the Dutchak sisters joined other demonstrators outside the White House to express their support for their country. Iaroslava Dutchak even brought along a plastic container filled with traditional Ukrainian cookies called "horishky." "I made them and I was giving them out, because it's very sentimental," she said. Food is not only a way for the Dutchak sisters to share their culture, it's helping them to raise money for humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Iaroslava Dutchak is contributing horishky as part of the Local Bakers Bake for Ukraine effort, which is selling boxes of baked goods to provide direct donations to a number of charities. Radhika Murari, owner of OmMade Peanut Butter, was also looking for a way to help the Ukrainian people. Over the weekend, she was talking to her neighbors in a Reston Facebook group and made a connection with Iaroslava Dutchak. Story continues As an Indian woman who owns her own food business, the answer seemed obvious to Murari. "Food is how you show love," she said and suggested that they do something together. "I think I said, 'Basically, I want to do a fundraiser and maybe I can learn to make Ukrainian food, which I've actually never made in my life,'" she said. "I wanted to do something and I saw that World Central Kitchen had been there for a couple of days, at least, feeding the refugees." Iaroslava Dutchak mentioned that she and her sister were going to make borscht and that was it they would host a borscht-making class to raise money for the World Central Kitchen. On Sunday afternoon, they launched the Cook for Ukraine fundraising effort. By 4 p.m. on Tuesday, they'd raised more than $7,800. The Dutchak sisters will hold their borscht-making class from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Murari's home in Reston. In-person participants are asked to donate $35 and above for each attendee. In addition to the class, they'll receive a bowl of borscht and some Ukrainian bread. People can also participate remotely via Zoom. Remote participants are asked to make a donation of $20 or more. "In the midst of all this other stuff, with people getting bombed and children being taken away from their families, it's just really beautiful, in our little corner of the world, that everyone's just like, 'Yeah, let's do this,'" Murari said. This article originally appeared on the Herndon Patch Keep your home clean, stay in shape and more with these Amazon deals on fitness equipment and robot vacuums. Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. Every day, we scour Amazon to find the best deals available. Whether its something for your kitchen or top-rated tech to upgrade your smart home collection, the online shopping giant offers some of the best prices on a very wide range of items. 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(Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday urged efforts to speed up fostering world-class enterprises and strengthen the cultivation of talents in basic academic disciplines. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while chairing the 24th meeting of the central commission for deepening overall reform. The meeting reviewed and adopted several guidelines on the above-mentioned issues, along with other suggestions on advancing high-quality development of inclusive finance and enhancing state-owned enterprises' (SOE) capabilities of developing original technology. China will accelerate the building of world-class enterprises with outstanding products and brands, leading innovation, and modern governance, said Xi, also head of the central commission for deepening overall reform. The country will promote high-quality development of inclusive finance and build a sound financial system, which is highly adaptable, competitive, and inclusive, to better meet diversified financial needs of the people and the real economy, said Xi. Xi also stressed efforts to train a large number of basic research talents urgently needed for China's innovation-driven development, and encouraged state-owned enterprises to improve their innovation systems and develop sources of original technologies, Xi noted. Li Keqiang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng, who are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy heads of the central commission for deepening overall reform, attended the meeting. The meeting called for support and guidance for industry-leading enterprises and those possessing key technologies in deepening reform and strengthening innovation, and urged efforts to support enterprises in transforming the advantages of China's super-large market into a global competitive edge. In terms of pursuing the high-quality development of inclusive finance, the meeting stressed deepening supply-side structural reform in the financial sector to distribute more resources to key areas and weak links, preventing financial risks and strengthening financial regulations. The country should expedite the construction of a system for cultivating talents in basic academic disciplines with a long-term vision, and let higher-education institutions play their leading role in nurturing researchers in these disciplines, said the meeting. To promote the SOEs to establish cradles for original technologies, the meeting said efforts should be focused on core competitiveness of industries, supply of original technologies, and plan in advance for exploring cutting-edge and disruptive technologies. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) After graduating from the Naval Academy, spending about six years in the Marine Corps and working in the medical field, Gambrills Democrat John Dove Jr. has decided to enter his first political race. The candidate for District 4 of the Anne Arundel County Council decided to switch his focus after retiring from a 27-year career in the medical device field, helping surgeons implant medical devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators. Advertisement I started looking more and more at how else I can contribute to my community, Dove said. I believe Ive got the life experience [for the job] from being a veteran, from growing up the son of a veteran, from my experience in the business world, in the medical world. I think Ive got a different perspective growing up as a minority. Dove said a few issues he hopes to work on if elected include transportation, transitioning local graduates into the workforce and supporting veterans. Advertisement There are people that want to get to better paying jobs but theres really not a good public transportation alternative for them, Dove said. He said hed work on helping the county contract with shuttle bus companies to transport workers back and forth, an idea hes noticed has been successful for Maryland Live. Its a topic he said hed like to do more research on and look at how other states and localities have solved the same type of problem. On education, Dove said hed like to see the county more closely focused on helping students chart a career path, especially with major employers like Fort Meade right in their backyard. He said hed work to help foster more mentorship opportunities for high school students to learn about the workforce. I think we have to figure out ways to get more parents involved and business people involved, whether thats people that work at Fort Meade or other folks to be involved with schools like Meade and Arundel, Dove said. We have to make sure our kids truly understand whats there. Critical to student success, Dove said, is taking advantage of the Blueprint for Marylands Future at the county level to increase funding for school infrastructure, teacher salaries, supplies and transportation among other things. Its really important were supporting our teachers and our schools with the funding they need, Dove said. Weve got the Blueprint coming. We need to make sure that gets implemented at a local level. To Dove, spending money on schools isnt just a benefit to the students and teachers but the whole community, as he sees investing in students as investing in crime reduction by keeping kids in school and off the streets. Another issue important to Dove in ensuring local veterans have the resources they need. Advertisement Thats a big deal to me, making sure the veterans stay here. They want to stay in this county, Dove said. I know there are tax cuts on the table for veterans that retire here. I definitely support that. This is a high cost of living area. Breaking News Alerts As it happens When big news breaks in our area, be the first to know. > Dove said he admires the work the countys Veterans Affairs Commission has done to advocate for increased resources for veterans and, if elected, would work with them to bolster mental health and medical services for veterans recently returned from overseas. Dove, who has lived in District 4 since 1994, said he thinks his years of experience serving the county and nation qualify him to represent his neighbors on the council. I understand living here. I also understand and believe that I can work across every community in this county, Dove said. Ive been a leader. Ive been involved. I understand taking care of patients, taking care of doctors. I view that the same way as taking care of constituents. Dove said, even after decades of military and medical service, he still has plenty of energy left to give the job. I feel like Im a young 56, he said. Advertisement Dove filed for election in January and is running against fellow Democrats business owner James Estepp and former Board of Education representative Julie Hummer to replace Andrew Pruski who is running to represent District 33 in the House of Delegates. District 4 covers Odenton, Laurel, Gambrills and Fort George G. Meade. MEDYKA, Poland Lost in a crowd of thousands fleeing a war, Svetlana Katsi searched for a woman shes never met. She and her son, Daniel, 9, were at the Ukraine-Poland border waiting to meet up with a volunteer who had offered to give them shelter. But Katsi, 28, and her son werent meant to be traveling alone. They left home with her husband and both got caught in traffic for 20 hours. After their car moved only three miles, Katsi decided to take Daniel and travel to the border on foot. They walked about three hours to get to Medyka, wheeling a suitcase. In one day, I have no home, she said, her voice shaking earlier this week. And I dont know where my husband is. Image: People fleeing Russian invasion of Ukraine arrive at the Polish border town of Medyka (Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters) Katsi is part of a growing wave of people fighting to flee Ukraine. The United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday said that 660,000 refugees have left Ukraine to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and other countries since Russia invaded Ukraine and began bombing and shelling cities across the country. Up to 4 million Ukrainians could end up refugees, according to the agency. Medyka is where people whose lives have fallen apart come to begin to stitch them together. Volunteers have set up stalls for food, water, diapers and clothing. In front of a table offering meat and rice, a man holds a baby drinking a bottle of milk. Another man walks by dragging a blue carry-on in one hand and a baby stroller with a bag of diapers in the other. As a bus carrying dozens of people, including children, drives away, a woman yells at a police officer, asking why she could not get on. Cars stuck in traffic as families fleeing the conflict drive towards the border crossing between Ukraine and Poland. (Daniel Leal / AFP - Getty Images) What you guys are doing here, this is not the job of a country that is showing itself that they are helping refugees coming from Ukraine, she says. We walked 50 kilometers to come here, youre treating us like this. The police officer replies, Because I told you, first mother and children. What if Im pregnant? she responds. Across the road, a First Aid tent has been set up with paramedics and two ambulances standing by. Story continues Ikram Kaboury, 19, a medical student from Algeria who was studying in Kyiv, said the earliest she could get a train ticket heading west was four days. So she took a taxi with a friend from Kyiv, the capital city, to the western city of Lviv and then walked dozens of miles to the border. She said she thought the prospect of an invasion was a joke but realized she needed to leave when Russian troops started entering the country. I was really planning to be a successful doctor, she said. I slept, I woke up and youre not going to school, you have to go, you have to pack your bags. This is a feeling I cant describe. She said she planned to stay in Poland for several days, then head back to Algeria and did not know what she would do afterward. In the nearby town of Przemysl, dozens of people gathered outside a bus carrying refugees, holding up signs of cities they were offering to drive them to for free. At one point, a man yelled out, Germany! Image: Russian invasion of Ukraine continues (Thomas Peter / Reuters) Hundreds more refugees were at the train station, some resting on cots, others getting free SIM cards. About 150 miles west in the city of Krakow, volunteers along with the local government had set up a reception center for refugees at the train station. Yustyna Bahai, 18, a university student from Lviv in western Ukraine, was volunteering here but she said she would rather be home with her parents even though the shelling had gotten closer to their home. Its far away from Russia. We dont expect that, she said. Bahai said about 200 people had arrived at the reception center on Sunday and 1,800 more were expected by Monday. She said many were going to smaller villages where people were offering to host refugees but some went on trains headed as far away as Prague and Amsterdam. As for Katsi, from the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia, she said she simply hoped to find a safe place to work and support her family in Poland. In Zaporizhia, we dont have work now, she said. We have war, we have war in the 21st century in Europe. Vladimir Putin and President Biden. Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock American and European powers have so far responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine with a remarkable degree of unanimity, toughness, and restraint. We've imposed painful economic sanctions and isolated Russia in numerous other ways, but we've refrained from moves like imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine that would be maximally likely to start an escalatory spiral which could spark outright military hostilities between NATO and Russia. But will such sobriety hold through the moral turbulence of the coming days and weeks? Russia has already begun to fire rockets at civilian areas of Kharkiv, Ukraine's largest city. And 300 miles to the west, the battle for the capital of Kyiv is just getting underway, with aerial bombardment intensifying. That will only increase with each passing day, bringing images of unspeakable human suffering to the outside world. Eventually, Russian troops will enter the city, leading to even more horrific sights and sounds, as soldiers from both sides do battle in the streets. What will happen to public opinion throughout the Western world as these events unfold? American, British, or French air power could easily have bombed the 40-mile convoy of Russian forces as it has slowly moved into position outside of Kyiv over the past several days. But they didn't. Once those troops begin pummeling the city, killing more than consciences can bear, will people take to the streets of Western capitals, pivoting slightly from last weekend's anti-war, pro-Ukraine protests in Berlin, Amsterdam, London, and Milan to demand something be done to stop the slaughter? Will more than a handful of American politicians begin insisting we use our air power to give Ukrainian patriots a fighting chance and to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering the bloodbath? And then there's Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has become the face of Ukraine's courageous struggle against Russia's ruthlessness, his image and voice recognized and admired the world over. What if he is killed in battle, turned instantly into a martyr to his country's cause? Or captured by Russian forces and quickly convicted and executed in a military tribunal? That would be a foolish move in terms of propaganda. But then this whole operation has been a public relations disaster for Russia, so all bets are off. Story continues Already we've seen tectonic shifts in geopolitics since Russia's invasion began. As things get bloodier on the ground in Ukraine, the urge to go much further down the road of escalation is bound to be fierce. Much depends on the West's capacity to keep its cool. You may also like U.S. official: Belarus is preparing to join Russian invasion of Ukraine 17-mile-long Russian convoy reaches outskirts of Kyiv 'Mama, this is so hard': Read the final messages between a fallen Russian soldier and his mother One Omaha resident from Russia, Viktoriya Phillips is speaking out. Saying there's no need to identify Vladimir Putin's objectives with the opinions of the Russian community. I love gay people, activist and playwright Larry Kramer proclaimed at the outset of a 2004 speech in New York City. I think were better than other people. I really do. I think were smarter and more talented and more aware. A new study making waves among LGBTQ-focused academics lends empirical credence to the iconic Act Up co-founders prideful claims not to the supposed sweeping superiority of gay men, rather to the more narrow assertion that this group is remarkably inclined to excel academically. But the paper, which was published in the American Sociological Review on Feb. 20, comes to starkly opposing conclusions about how growing up gay appears to affect the academic performance of males versus females. Image: sociologist Joel Mittleman (Courtesy Amy Levin) Joel Mittleman, a University of Notre Dame sociologist and the papers sole author, found that on an array of academic measures, gay males outperform all other groups on average, across all major racial groups. Conversely, he concluded that lesbians perform more poorly in school overall and that Black gay women have a much lower college graduation rate than their white counterparts. This article is focusing a lens on what we do to all kids, Lisa Diamond, a psychology professor at the University of Utah, said of the societal pressures that appear to impede lesbians in school even as these stressors possibly unnerve gay males into compensating for homophobia through academic striving. And the most vulnerable kids are going to show it first. In recent years, academics, lawmakers and journalists alike have sounded an increasingly urgent alarm that on balance, American males are stuck in a scholastic funk. As the economic gap between those with and without a college degree has widened, womens college graduation rate has risen in tandem, but mens rate has remained largely stagnant for decades. Today, women comprise 59.2 percent of college students, according to the National Student Clearinghouse. Mittlemans research indicates that this characterization of the educational gender gap is critically lacking in specificity. It is, in fact, straight males who tend to be mired in a scholastic morass. And the considerable academic progress that young women have charted since the advent of second-wave feminism has been largely restricted to the heterosexuals among them. Story continues Benefit of adding sexuality questions to surveys Mittleman was able to reach his striking research findings thanks to a move during President Barack Obamas second term to add questions about sexual orientation to a trio of federally funded, nationally representative surveys. These major annual surveys which focus on health, drug use and crime victimization provided the sociologist with information regarding nearly half a million Americans diplomas. Additionally, the National Center for Education Statistics High School Longitudinal Study posed questions about sexuality for the first time to the cohort it followed between 2009 and 2017. From this, Mittleman mined a trove of data including 15,270 students high school and undergraduate transcripts. The three surveys of American adults consistently indicated that gay men are far more likely than straight men to have graduated from high school or college, with just over half of gay men having earned a college degree, compared with about 35 percent of straight men. Some 6 percent of gay men have a Ph.D., J.D. or M.D. a rate 50 percent higher than that of straight men. Mittleman found that gay mens considerably higher levels of educational attainment hold even after taking into account differences in mens race and birth cohorts. Whats more, gay mens college graduation rate dramatically bests even that of straight women, about one-third of whom have a bachelors degree. The longitudinal survey showed that compared with their straight male peers, gay males earned higher GPAs in high school and college, enrolled in harder classes, took school more seriously, had more academically minded friends and had a much lower rate of ever dropping out for a month or more. In stark contrast, these performance disparities were largely reversed when comparing lesbians with straight girls. Most strikingly, 26 percent of lesbians reported at least one dropout period, compared with 15 percent of heterosexual females. The U.S. lesbian populations overall college graduation rate, which ranged between 41 percent and 47 percent in the three survey studies, is significantly higher than that of straight women. But Mittleman found this advantage was limited almost entirely to white lesbians, and among women born more recently, gay womens educational edge has eroded. Historically, girls have received better grades than boys. But during much of the 20th century, societal constraints including the predominant expectation that young women would become wives and mothers and not pursue careers suppressed their graduation rates. In theory, this left lesbians with an advantage. But as constrictions on womens potential have eased since the 1960s, straight womens college graduation rate has risen to the point of statistical parity with lesbians among todays young adults. The Nancy Drew effect Searching for the drivers of these differences in school performance between straight and gay students, Mittleman used a machine-learning algorithm to identify response patterns to survey questions that predicted being male versus female among members of the longitudinal cohort. In turn, he found that being atypical for their gender in survey responses helped explain at least part of the gay students GPA variation. This suggested that not just sexual orientation, but its intersection with gender affectation could have influenced how well the gay and lesbians students did in school. Seeking to explain the sociocultural dynamics possibly at play in these complex equations, Mittleman pointed in his paper to the feminine archetype, long a prized ideal in white, middle-American culture, of the demurely diligent student. (Think Nancy Drew.) Characterizing masculinity as a fragile and insecure state, Mittleman argued that the long-standing anti-intellectual bias that plagues many American boys is driven in large part by their urge to assert their masculinity by differentiating themselves from the good-girl archetype. Gay boys, however, appear willing even eager to flout gender norms in academics. To the extent that its feminine to study and appreciate validation in an academic sphere, the gay boys will have an advantage, Yale School of Public Health psychologist John Pachankis said. On the flip side, young lesbians may be disinclined to identify with the femininity intrinsic to the good-student ideal, Mittleman suggested. Moreover, by tending to present as more masculine, lesbians may be slapped with a bad girl label by educational authorities, subjected disproportionately to school punishment and generally discouraged academically. This could hold especially true for Black girls, whom white authority figures already tend to stereotype as masculine, according to previous research. Girls who present as masculine are seen as troublemakers, are seen as suspicious in some way, Mittleman said. The Best Little Boy in the World phenomenon An additional factor that Mittleman argued drives the average gay boy to surpass even the average straight girl academically is whats known in queer psychology as the Best Little Boy in the World phenomenon. This refers to the title of the 1973 memoir by former Democratic National Committee treasurer Andrew Tobias, in which he chronicled his youthful crusade to appease his internalized homophobia through admission to Harvard University and other feats of superlative achievement. In a 2013 paper published in Basic and Applied Social Psychology, psychologist Mark Hatzenbuehler, now of Harvard University, and Pachankis found evidence suggesting that gay male college students indeed sought to compensate for anti-gay stigma by deriving their self-worth in part through academic mastery and other forms of competition. This psychological paradigm also comprises the bedrock of The Velvet Rage, psychologist Alan Downs go-to bible for queer men, published in 2005, on overcoming the pain of growing up gay in a straight mans world. While Mittleman is straight, he said he was nevertheless bullied as a child for not being sufficiently masculine. His brother, Dr. Chris Remishofsky, is gay and said the findings of Mittlemans paper closely reflect his personal experience. From a young age, said Remishofsky, a dermatologist in Sterling Heights, Michigan, I was determined to become a doctor so I could prove to everyone that I could be successful even though I was gay. An analysis by the Brookings Institutions Hamilton Project published in January found that gay male couples earn $30,000 more annually than lesbian couples. Ilan Meyer, a researcher at UCLAs Williams Institute, expressed intrigue over the story Mittlemans paper tells of many gay men apparently overcoming considerable odds. Meyer pointed to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance reports that have chronicled the myriad stressors lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people weather in school and the litany of deleterious impacts, including depression and suicidality. Indeed, Mittleman found that on the whole, lesbian, gay and bisexual young people reported feeling more unsafe in school and suffered higher levels of discrimination and whats known as minority stress than their straight peers. The effect of resilience to override effectively all stressors is quite amazing, Meyer said. Were basically saying gay boys have a terrible school environment, but still, on average, theyre doing fantastically well. To me, that is still a major question how does that work? The price queer youth pay Brian Mustanski, a professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University, cautioned that the relative success of gay men could amount to a double-edged sword. While certainly, its good news for the young gay men that theyre able to succeed well academically, I do have some real concerns about what kind of pressure theyre putting on themselves, he said. Suggesting that feverish academic striving in search of validation can come at a steep cost to mental and physical health, Mustanski pointed to his own research findings that gay men have disproportionately high levels of chronic inflammation. He hypothesized that this physical effect is fueled by minority stress and that it could raise the risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease. Kirsty A. Clark, a psychiatric epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University, spoke to the plight of young lesbians and said there is strong support in scientific literature for Mittlemans hypothesis that they incur an academic penalty for flouting gender norms. She noted that gay women, in particular lesbians of color, tend to be disproportionately singled out for school discipline and are overrepresented in juvenile correctional facilities. We need safe and inclusive policies that protect all students from bullying and differential treatment by school staff regardless of the students sexual orientation or gender expression, Clark said. She called for special support for those students who may be most likely to face difficulties in school, including sexual minority girls. Clark further called for reform of zero-tolerance school disciplinary policies, which disproportionately impact members of minority demographics, such as lesbians of color. While joining the other experts in praising what he called a beautifully done study, UCLA psychologist Patrick Wilson nevertheless expressed concern that Mittlemans findings may lead the public to paint student-achievement trends in overly broad strokes. Noting what an overwhelmingly unsafe place school still is for many queer kids, Wilson further cautioned the public not to conclude, for example, that a poor Black gay boy living in Montgomery or Mobile, Alabama, feminine-presenting and gender-nonconforming, is actually succeeding in high school right now. Follow NBC Out on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram PROVIDENCE A 32-year-old man on Tuesday admitted his involvement in drive-by shootings and drug-dealing as a member of the Chad Brown street gang that plagued the city with violence for years. Keishon Johnson of Providence was the last of five members of the gang that goes by Chad Brown Posse, Chad Brown Cutthroats and Chad Brown Killers, among other names, to admit to participating in racketeering conspiracy as an associate of the violent street gang linked to the housing complex in the Citys North End. Johnson pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. to an overarching charge of participating in a Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization, a charge traditionally reserved for the Mafia. Chad Brown Posse: They pleaded guilty to RICO charges: Chad Brown gang left city gripped in violence and drugs Under the plea agreement, federal prosecutors in June agreed to recommend that Johnson serve 10 to 12 years in prison. The government dismissed multiple firearms and other charges in exchange for Johnsons admissions. Johnson a self-admitted Chad Brown member who has the gangs logo Cutthroats tattooed on his back with the language death before dishonor could have faced up to 20 years if convicted on the RICO count alone. What was the Chad Brown Posse? In pleading guilty, Johnson joined his brother Kendrick Johnson, 30, cousin Montrel Johnson, 25 and Delacey Andrade, 28, in admitting to targeting rivals in the deadly dispute and selling drugs to pay for their enterprise. The plea agreements entered in federal court over the past two weeks came as jury selection in their trial was set to start March 8. According to prosecutors, the men engaged in acts of revenge, shared weapons and cars and celebrated their violence and gang allegiance in social media posts and through text messages chronicling their crimes. There is no higher priority for this office and this department than combating violent crime and gun violence in our communities, U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said in a statement. This case demonstrates that we, working hand-in-glove with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, will bring every resource at our disposal including the sweep and impact of a RICO prosecution, to bring the sources of violence in our communities to justice. These convictions are a testament to that cooperation particularly the work of the Providence Police Department, ATF and the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General, and a victory for public safety. Story continues 'Dead' man talking: Man who denies he's Alahverdian says others were arrested as the RI fugitive con man State Attorney General Peter F. Neronha credited investigators with using digital technology comparing spent shell casings to connect a firearm recovered in the probe to six additional shootings, two of which the defendants were charged with. Thanks to this investigation and prosecution, some of the worst perpetrators of violent crime in Providence will now find themselves behind bars and for a long time, Neronha said I commend the entire team of patrol officers, investigators and prosecutors for their relentless work regarding this case. This incredible investigation leading to criminal charges and convictions sends a very clear message to individuals who continue to be involved in violent criminal activity within this city that they will be relentlessly pursued by the Providence Police and our law enforcement partners, said Providence Police Chief Hugh T. Clements Jr. 9/11? Great Recession? COVID?: Which was worst for RI's T.F. Green Airport? Clements vowed to use every resource available in pursuit of justice and to put a stop to senseless gun violence and retaliation. We will continue to target this violent criminal activity, as evidenced by the high volume of firearms we continue to seize, with no jurisdictional boundaries, he said. The scene after after a fatal shooting in October 2014 at the Chad Brown housing project in Providence. What crimes in Providence were the gang members connected to? According to court documents, the Chad Brown gang and its associates long targeted their East Side rivals. The hostilities escalated in June 2013 when a Chad Brown member, Jose Hova Sanchez, was shot to death, and in retaliation, two East Side members, Ryan Moondo Almeida and Nelson Vamp Sanchez, were killed, Assistant U.S. Attorney John McAdams told the court. The defendants were not charged in federal court with those killings, but that violence marked the start of the time period implicated in the RICO case. McAdams detailed Tuesday a drive-by shooting involving Andrade and Montrel and Keishon Johnson in October 2016 after East Side rival Ryan DaCruz labeled Kendrick and Delacey snitches in a Facebook message that featured secret grand jury testimony. That incident came two years after 22-year-old Chad Brown member Terry Trap Robinson was shot to death outside the Chad Brown housing complex minutes after attending an arraignment in state court in another murder case. Andrade was shot in the buttocks, but Kendrick Johnson escaped injury. Four members of the East Side gang also known as the East Side Mafia and East Side Killers were charged in Robinsons shooting. Who rules RI's forgotten old roads?: Advocates push to preserve public access According to McAdams, Andrade, Keishon Johnson and Montrel Johnson shot at DaCruz outside Walmart on Charles Street, seriously injuring him in retaliation with three gunshot wounds to his abdomen and back McAdams referenced the 2016 trial into Robinson's shooting death. Andrade and Kendrick Johnson were subpoenaed as witnesses at trial against one of the killers, Bruce Moten. Andrade never took the stand. Kendrick Johnson Robinson's good friend told jurors that he couldnt remember the incident, but thought the shooter was a very tall, white Providence police officer, prompting Robinson's family to storm from the courtroom. McAdams detailed, too, prison phone calls in which Keishon instructed his associates to sell marijuana while he was behind bars. Federal prosecutors accused Kendrick Johnson and Andrade of engaging in illegal drug and liquor sales, including dealing cocaine and marijuana. Andrade, authorities said, also directed associates in prison phone calls to track down guns that had been tossed using code names for the weapons. Federal prosecutors told the court that ATF agents used Andrade's instructions to locate two guns that were used in drive-by shootings, McAdams said. McConnell asked Keishon Johnson, who was represented by Michael Fontaine, if he agreed to the facts laid out by McAdams. "Yeah, I admit" to it, Johnson said. McConnell urged Johnson, who is being held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility, to get a COVID vaccination. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Chad Brown gang member pleads guilty in racketeering conspiracy case Google is the latest to join the growing list of tech companies blocking access to Russian state media across Europe. In a tweet, the company has revealed that it's blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik in Europe following the European Commission's announcement that it will "ban the Kremlin's media machine in the EU." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the declaration a few days ago, adding that RT, Sputnik and their subsidiaries will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin's war." The tech giant said it'll take time for its systems to fully ramp up, so EU residents may still be able to access channels affiliated with the media organizations at the moment. It also said that it has a team monitoring the situation around the clock to take swift action, perhaps to ensure no new channels pop up to take the place of the ones being blocked. Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, were blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe, effective immediately. Itll take time for our systems to fully ramp up. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action. Google Europe (@googleeurope) March 1, 2022 YouTube barred the outlets from being able to monetize their content on the platform a few days ago, citing sanctions against their home country. In addition, it made sure their videos appear less frequently as recommendations and made their channels inaccessible in Ukraine following a request from the country's government. Eastern European media outlet Nexta tweeted out a copy of the letter Alexander Tkachenko, Ukraine's Minister of Culture and Information Policy, sent to YouTube, in which he asked the website to "block access of the aggressor state's propaganda channels not only in Ukraine, but around the world." So far, YouTube has only blocked RT and Sputnik in Ukraine and the EU. Facebook restricted access to the state-owned media outlets across the EU a few days ago after it removed their ability to monetize their pages with ads. Twitter halted ads in Ukraine and Russia, as well, "to ensure critical public safety information is elevated and ads don't detract from it." Microsoft followed suit, banning the publications from its ad network, pulling their news apps from the Windows store and de-ranking them in Bing's search results. Google started downranking results from the outlets in 2017, though it's unclear if that has changed over the years. Earlier, TikTok also made the RT and Sputnik accounts inaccessible to audiences within the EU. A 6.5% raise for all Amherst County Public Schools employees at a cost of $2.5 million is included in the divisions proposed 2022-23 fiscal year budget. Superintendent Rob Arnold presented the proposal, which totals $63.2 million, to the Amherst County School Board on Feb. 24. All in all, it is a very positive budget. The 6.5% raise for staff is fantastic, said Arnold, adding of the COVID-19 pandemic: And after these two years, they certainly deserve everything we can give to them. The budget plan includes a substitute pay minimum wage increase, at just more than $16,600, a pay scale adjustment for some positions at a cost of about $76,700, three additional teaching positions totaling nearly $160,000 combined and $162,752 in stipends for workers providing intensive support services, an area Arnold said are difficult positions with lots of turnover. Health insurance costs are estimated at about $301,000. We expect that number to come down but we are trying to be conservative in how we budget that, Arnold said. Overall, additions of $5.8 million to the proposed $52.5 million operational budget include one-time school construction funding of $2.4 million from the state, just more than $74,200 in increased textbook funding and $133,600 for higher fuel costs. The budget also includes $5.1 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stability (CARES) Act. That federal money includes $1.5 million in personnel costs and $2.6 million to go toward a major expansion project planned at Amherst County High School, among other items. Arnold, who presented his final budget for the division as he is retiring at the end of June, said the high school project, which includes a new auditorium and renovations to the cafeteria, is set to begin next year. For the fifth consecutive year, the division is requesting level funding of $13.9 million in local funding from the Amherst County Board of Supervisors. The budget plan is built on a projected enrollment of 3,838 students but the division has assurance from the state it will be held harmless in regard to funding per student if the count doesnt match up. If we have less, were not going to lose money, Arnold said. Thats a comfort to all of the schools. That takes a little bit of the heavy lifting off of us. Arnold said the combination of the CARES money and one-time school construction money from the state, which combined exceeds $7 million, makes this upcoming budget higher than usual at $63.2 million and that number is expected to come down beyond the 2022-23 school year. The board of supervisors recently authorized borrowing more than $19 million for the high school expansion project. I will say its been nice for the last four years that we havent had to ask for additional funds [from county supervisors], especially with the support that we are getting with construction on the school auditorium, said Abby Thompson, the boards chair. The board of supervisors has been very helpful with us. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Three Republican state delegates filed a lawsuit in February challenging the new legislative district map, arguing that it violates the Maryland Constitution. One of the most gerrymandered regions, they say, is Anne Arundel County. The lawsuit, filed by Dels. Mark Fisher of Calvert County, Kathy Szeliga, who represents parts of Harford and Baltimore counties, and Nic Kipke of Anne Arundel County, is one of four legal challenges to the new map in the states highest court. Advertisement Kipke said he and Szeliga have been looking forward to the new map. They served together in the Republican leadership of the General Assembly for much of the past decade with Kipke as minority leader and Szeliga as minority whip. Fisher was included in the filing because the area he represents was particularly heavily gerrymandered, said Kipke. We started working on [the lawsuit] as soon as we saw the maps since we knew very few changes would be made to them, Kipke said. Advertisement The goal is to have lawmakers redraw the districts or use the map created by the bipartisan Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission and later rejected by lawmakers. The citizens commissions map was supported by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. The lawsuit argues the approved map doesnt respect the borders of townships, some of the districts arent geographically compact, and natural barriers arent taken into consideration, violating state law. It further argues this was done to get as many Democrats elected as possible. The new map, which was approved by the General Assembly in January, was created by a group of legislators in which Democrats outnumbered Republicans. The delegates petition was filed Feb. 10. Special Magistrate Alan M. Wilner, a retired Court of Appeals judge, will review the challenge and is scheduled to submit his report to the Court of Appeals by April 4, more than two weeks after the March 22 filing deadline for the June primary. This may mean candidates will have to choose to run without knowing what districts they would represent. In Anne Arundel County, the suit, filed with the assistance of lawyers Strider Dickson and Brenton Conrad, says Districts 12, 21, 31 and 33 violate the Maryland Constitution. Dickson and Conrad did not respond to requests to comment. In the lawsuit, the lawyers argue the constitutional requirements of Article III, Section 4 are being violated in all four of the Anne Arundel County districts the suit cites. Article III, Section 4 reads: Each legislative district shall consist of adjoining territory, be compact in form, and of substantially equal population. Due regard shall be given to natural boundaries and the boundaries of political subdivisions. District 12 previously covered Arbutus and parts of Catonsville and Columbia. It has now been split into two districts (12A and 12B). The two combined stretch from south central Howard County in the west to Glen Burnie and Marley Heights in Anne Arundel County in the east with several twists and turns along the way. The dividing line between the two new sub-districts is around Elkridge. District 21 previously included parts of Odenton, Laurel, Maryland City and Beltsville. It now dips farther south to include College Park in the southwest, still includes Laurel and Maryland City in the north, and now wraps in part of Crofton in the southeast. In the previous map, District 31A included Brooklyn Park and Glen Burnie, while 31B covered Green Haven, Riviera Beach, Pasadena and Lake Shore. Under the new map, District 31 becomes one district stretching from Gibson Island to Severna Park and Pasadena in the east and Severn, Gambrills and the other side of Pasadena in the west. Kipke represents District 31B and is running to represent District 31. Advertisement District 33 previously included Crofton, Benfield, Severna Park and part of Arnold. The district has now been split up into three parts: 33A, 33B and 33C; 33A includes Odenton, 33B includes Crofton and 33C includes Severna Park. Doug Mayer and his organization Fair Maps Maryland worked with the delegates and lawyers on the lawsuit. Mayer, a former top aide to Hogan, said its not illegal to draw districts to protect incumbents, but it is illegal to divide localities across districts. In other words, the team believes the new maps violate the part of Article III, Section 4 of the Maryland Constitution that states that when drawing a legislative district: Due regard shall be given to natural boundaries and the boundaries of political subdivisions. You can do things to protect incumbents, but you run into big trouble when you start splitting up towns in order to do it, Mayer said. Though Mayer worked for Hogan, he said gerrymandering is a bipartisan issue that narrows the playing field for candidates in all states that participate in it. The arguments that we are making are very similar to arguments that are being made by Democrats in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, Mayer said. If were interested in having serious, competent people represent us, then we need to have our districts shaped in a way that promotes real competition of ideas and personalities. Kipke agreed that the new districts practically predetermine the outcomes of elections. Advertisement The way the districts are packed heavy Republican or heavy Democratic polarizes the process and basically handpicks winners and losers, and the general election is basically decided when the primary concludes, which totally freezes out unaffiliated voters, Kipke said. Breaking News Alerts As it happens When big news breaks in our area, be the first to know. > Mayer said he helped create Fair Maps Maryland and focus his time and energy on fighting gerrymandering because he believes its toxic and leads to increasingly extreme candidates. You have extreme candidates winning the primary because there are so many Democrats or Republicans in one district. In the past that candidate usually would have lost in a competitive general election, but now the general election isnt even close to being competitive, so they win, Mayer said. And when you do that in hundreds of places across the country you get what you get in D.C. gridlock. People arent there to compromise. In fact, theyre sent there to not compromise. Mayer and Kipke said they hope the judge will issue a favorable review of their case, but know they have an uphill battle ahead of them. Im cautiously optimistic. Its not an easy thing to undo decades and decades of partisan tradition in this state. Youve got the attorney general, Brian Frosh, representing the General Assembly. They can throw hundreds of attorneys at this, Mayer said. The Office of the Attorney General declined to comment because it is ongoing litigation. Advertisement Kipke added that he knows, even if they are successful, the General Assembly will still be primarily Democratic. But to him, its that principle thats important. My hope is for free and fair elections, Kipke said. The end result will still very likely be a General Assembly still controlled by Democrats. It just doesnt have to be so overwhelmingly partisan, as this is among the most partisan maps drawn in the entire country. The University of Lynchburg this week announced its new five-year strategic plan. Dubbed "Reimagine the Lynchburg Experience," the plan aims to put "a spotlight on the student experience" and "broaden the Universitys impact on campus and in the community," the university said in a news release. It came about after months of campus surveys, conversations, and deliberations among faculty, staff, and students. We will expand enrollment, make a deeper commitment to the use of data for decision-making, leverage our expertise to share leadership development, infuse operations with an innovative approach to problem-solving, and ensure a campus environment built on inclusive excellence, the new strategic plan states. The plan's goals include "Leadership for the Future, An Inclusive Campus and Collaborative Community, and A Pathway to Innovation." From staff reports Its been nearly a week since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, and one University of Lynchburg professor is warning Central Virginia residents that the Eastern European country isnt the only thing Russian President Vladimir Putin has his eye on. Because Putin sees the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest geo-political tragedy of the 20th century, said Marek Payerhin, a Polish-born professor of political science and international relations, hes been trying to build out Russia sort of to a position that the Soviet Union would have had before. Payerhin stressed Putin still sees the world in the category of Russia versus the West, which means Ukraine may not be his endgame in the region. Its a long-term attempt ... more broadly to reconstitute the Russian empire as it existed before, and of course NATO is seen as the potential threat that would keep Russia from doing this, he said referring to the the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that keeps the USA, Canada, and 28 European nations united against Russia. Payerhin said during World War II, the United States was going to stay out of the conflict until the foreign war hit home with the invasion of Pearl Harbor. But Payerhin believes the United States might not be able to wait until the war comes to us to get involved this time. As a member of NATO ... right now we are committed to helping any NATO member that is attacked by another country, Payerhin said. And NATO countries border Russia, and some of them used to be a part of the Soviet Union, like Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. So thats where Id expect most of the risk for a major confrontation starting, that one of the member states will ... be attacked, which will trigger provisions within NATO. So essentially, this does not have to be an attack against the United States for us to get involved. Unless that happens, the focus of the world will be on Russias invasion of Ukraine, which could lead to some changes for Lynchburg residents. Most likely, the biggest impact will be felt at the gas pump, according to Payerhin. Russia is the second-largest producer of oil in the world... Payerhin said. There is already an increasing price of oil, even though Russia is still allowed to sell its oil and gas, which is one area we have not sanctioned. The Biden administration, and many other countries, in the wake of the invasion, implemented economic sanctions on Russia, which could end up hurting the citizens and oligarchs of the country more than the actual leaders themselves, according to Payerhin. But Payerhin noted Russia still is allowed to sell its oil, one of the few things the United States has yet to cut off from the country. Payerhin said he thinks the U.S. could take in stride local impacts from the invasion fallout, such rising prices of known commodities that come out of Russia, such as wheat, oil and other natural resources, which are regulated by international markets. On Tuesday, the U.S. and 30 other member countries of the International Energy Agency agreed to release 60 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves, half of which will come from the U.S., according to the Department of Energy. Meanwhile, there is one area where Payerhin believes Americans should prepare for a threat: Cyber warfare, an arena in which Russia has been alleged to be highly active. Given the record of Russian cyber warfare attacks governmental, or private but allowed by the government one likely form of hostilities may be similar cyber attacks launched against the interests of U.S. businesses and individual citizens, Payerhin said. He suggested reviewing personal internet security provisions and backing up sensitive data on devices in order to reduce the impacts of a cyber attack. Its Payerhins expectation that there wont be significant improvement in relations between Putins Russia and the United States. Im saying Putins Russia because it may significantly change should Putin be out of the picture. I would expect after that, that both countries would have interest in improving the relations, he said. But while Putin is in charge, the desires of the Russian president will be what drives the countrys push for control. For so long we looked at Putin as this calculated, long-term player like a chess player... but the most recent pronouncements he made suggest a significant shift, he said. This is almost like a wounded, mentally detached individual who is really spewing all these fabrications and fantasies, and maybe he is somebody who is personally wounded by the loss of power in Russia, by the loss of Ukraine and other Soviet holdings. For the time being, Payerhin stressed Americans should look at the Ukraine Embassys website for ways they can help out those in need. He said other avenues of help may not be impossible, but could be impractical to do. One way the professor said Americans can have an impact is by divesting themselves from anything having to do with Russia and declare that, Today is the day to say, We are all Ukrainians. Talk to your company or your financial director and ask if you have those investments and pull those back, Payerhin said. Its easy to put yourself in the shoes of those in an unexpected, unjustified invasion that goes against the major populations of an independent, democratic, free nation. Its easy to see how much we have in common. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A House subcommittee on Tuesday again voted down proposed constitutional amendments to remove defunct language barring same-sex marriage from the state constitution and to automatically restore voting rights for felons who have completed their terms. The votes in the House Privileges and Elections subcommittee are the death knell for those measures in the General Assembly session that is scheduled to end March 12. The House and Senate had backed both proposed amendments last year when Democrats led the legislature. A proposed amendment must pass in consecutive years before going to the state's voters in a referendum. The panel voted 6-4 along party lines to defeat a resolution from Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, to remove the defunct language from the state's constitution and the resolution on felons' rights proposed by Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton. Under current Virginia law, people convicted of felonies lose the right to vote unless a governor restores it on an individual basis. The proposed constitutional amendment would restore voting rights automatically once felons complete their terms. Locke told the panel she was under no illusions about the resolution's prospects, given the subcommittee's Feb. 8 vote to reject a similar measure from Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria. "It's too early in the morning to waste my time or yours," Locke said. "You know what this amendment does and that's all I've got to say." Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, a member of the subcommittee, said that when the state's 1902 constitution took effect, putting in place barriers to voting such as poll taxes and literacy tests, Virginia became "the worst democracy in the country." While Virginia adopted its current constitution in 1971, the continuing prohibition on voting for felons is a vestige of that era, he said. "We should not be in the business of telling people they can't participate in a country that is theirs," VanValkenburg said. Representatives of Green New Deal Virginia, the ACLU of Virginia, Prison Fellowship and the Virginia Catholic Conference spoke in favor of the measure. No one spoke in opposition. The measure's backers included Richard Walker of the advocacy group Bridging the Gap in Virginia. Walker has said that he received an 18-month sentence for a felony as a result of drug use and then-Gov. Bob McDonnell restored his rights. "It's one thing to be punished for the fault that you've done," Walker told the panel, "but it's another thing to be left on punishment for the rest of your life." As for the other resolution, in 2006, Virginias voters backed a constitutional amendment to bar same-sex marriage. In 2015 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state laws that prevented same-sex marriage. Ebbin told the committee that the 2006 amendment "stained" Virginia's constitution. He said his proposed amendment to remove the language and affirm a right to marry "provides a fundamental dignity and equality to our friends, family and neighbors, and to me." Representatives of Equality Virginia and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance spoke in favor of Ebbin's resolution. Representatives of the Virginia Catholic Conference and the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists spoke against the measure. "We affirm the dignity of every person," said Caruso of the Virginia Catholic Conference. "We also believe marriage has an original design and purpose that predates any nation, religion or law." RICHMOND Virginias space program expects to remain on track with its next launch from the Eastern Shore to resupply the International Space Station, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine has clouded the long-term horizon for rockets that depend on Russian engines and Ukrainian first-stage core assemblies. The Antares rocket launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island on Feb. 19 for the 17th resupply mission to the international space station under a pair of private contracts with NASA, most of them from the state-owned launch pad on the barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean. Virginia Space CEO Ted Mercer said Monday that he expects the next Antares launch in August to remain on track, on schedule, despite concerns about the future of a space station that relies on cooperation between the United States and Russia, now in a tense standoff over Ukraine. We share the concern about what this is going to mean, said Mercer, a retired U.S. Air Force general who last year became CEO of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority, which operates the regional spaceport. Virginia has a stake in the outcome because of $160 million in state investment in the spaceport, with three launch pads serving a number of different customers, including Northrop Grumman, the Fairfax County company that is conducting the space station resupply missions under contract with NASA. Northrop Grumman and NASA have issued brief, terse statements in response to space industry concerns about the future of the program, after Russian space agency leader Dimitry Rogozin blasted President Joe Biden on Twitter last week for imposing economic sanctions. Biden said last week that the sanctions include reductions in export of U.S. technology to Russia that he said would degrade their aerospace industry, including their space program. Rogozin, director general of Roscosmos, asked, Do you want to destroy our cooperation on the [International Space Station? NASA responded last week with a statement of reassurance about the future of the space station orbiting the earth with an international crew of astronauts. NASA continues working with all our international partners, including the State Space Corporation Roscosmos, for the ongoing safe operations of the International Space Station, the U.S. space agency said. The new export control measures will continue to allow U.S.-Russia civil space cooperation, NASA added. No changes are planned to the agencys support for ongoing in orbit and ground station operations. Northrop Grumman deferred all questions about U.S. sanctions to NASA but said we have all the hardware needed to fulfill our NASA-contracted missions on Antares. John Logsdon, founder and former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, said, Its a very dynamic situation. Logsdon, professor emeritus of political science and international affairs at the university, said the Russians have withdrawn their staff from the European launch site for the space station in South America. Its not just what were going to do, he said. Its what theyre going to do. Concerns about the Antares program focused on the vulnerability of a supply chain that appears directly in the line of war and retaliatory sanctions. A Russian company, NPO Energomash, makes the RD-181 engines used in the rocket program since 2016, after an Antares rocket using rebuilt Russian engines exploded seconds after launching in October, 2014, causing $20 million in damages to the state-owned pad. Two Ukrainian companies, Yuzhnoye and Yuzhmash, design and build the first-stage booster assemblies that propel the rocket from the launch pad. Specialty space publications have cited unconfirmed reports that the Russian attacks in Dnipro, Ukraine, had damaged or destroyed the factory that manufactures the assemblies. Specifically with regards to Wallops, I think the long-term prospects for collaboration are shaky if indeed the Ukrainian factory has been destroyed, Logsdon said. On Monday, Space.com reported that attacks had destroyed a massive cargo plane previously used to transport Russian space shuttles. The Antonov AN-225, nicknamed The Dream, was parked for repairs in a hangar at an airport outside of Kyiv, the countrys embattled capital. The biggest plane in the world Mriya (The Dream) was destroyed by Russian occupants on an airfield near Kyiv, Ukraine said Sunday on its official Twitter account. We will rebuild the plane. We will fulfill our dream of a strong, free, and democratic Ukraine. The Antares program is not the only major customer at Virginias spaceport. Rocket Lab, based in California, could be expanding its presence there with the proposed construction of a new launch complex that would be used for the Neutron rocket. The spaceport already includes a launch pad that Rocket Lab will use for its Electron rocket to deliver payloads into Earth orbit. The first Electron launch from the spaceport is expected this year, pending NASA certification of the automated flight termination system at the new launch complex, Mercer said. The pending two-year state budget, which then-Gov. Ralph Northam introduced in December, includes $30 million for construction of a second pad Rocket Lab could use for the Neutron rocket if it chooses the Wallops Island site. The proposed House and Senate budgets include an additional $15 million in proposed incentives for the project. Mercer emphasized that the facility would be a multi-user launch pad that other customers also could use. The customer brings their rocket, their payload and we launch it for them, he said. It brings cold comfort to Mitt Romney, Im sure, to be reminded that he was right about Vladimir Putin in 2012. But it offers a cautionary note to anybody else who might think too quickly that ol Vlad has had it. During the 2012 presidential race, Republican Romney, now a Utah senator, was ridiculed for calling Russia our number one geopolitical foe. President Barack Obama responded in their next debate with the 80s are calling; they want their foreign policy back. And Vice President Joe Biden in a later speech joined in the fun, saying Romney was mired in a Cold War mindset. Well, now that Russia under Putin has invaded Ukraine, Romneys observation sounds downright prophetic. But, in fairness to all, Romneys Democratic critics were hardly alone in their thinking at the time. The Berlin Wall had fallen. The Soviet Union had broken apart in 1991. Al-Qaida and other international terrorist groups were posing a much more clear and present danger in the conventional wisdom of those times. Then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev reportedly begged European leaders to include Moscow in their security institutions after the wall fell. But those calls were rebuffed. And the mindset that the West had bigger fish to fry continued even after Putin took control of two breakaway republics in Georgia in 2008, with little objection from the rest of the world. Then he took Crimea in 2014. Obama said there were costs and Russia was isolated, but Western sanctions had little impact. Europe continued with its commercial diplomacy, even to the point of making itself dependent, particularly in Germany, on Russian gas and oil. Even Russian cyber-meddling in this countrys 2016 elections led to more arguing in our own parties than with consequences for Putins government. But now that Putin has moved into Ukraine, the West faces a can of problems that we have kicked down the road for too long. Masha Gessen, the bestselling Putin critic and New Yorker writer, says Putin learned the seeds of his current strategy from watching how President Bill Clinton and NATO handled the 1999 war in Kosovo. NATO launched a 78-day campaign of airstrikes against Serbia to force President Slobodan Milosevic to end his military campaign of widespread killings of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. Russia disapproved and refused to recognize Kosovo independence. But now Putin is back on the world stage with what Gessen in a recent interview on PBS Amanpour & Company called a cosplay of the Kosovo saga. He claims a humanitarian mission in Ukraine to protect people who have been abused by the genocide of the Kyiv regime for eight years, although neither he nor anyone else offered evidence of such abuses. He accused the Ukraine government of committing numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of Russia. Again, without evidence. Autocrats cant be troubled by such details. More disturbing, he appeared to question the legitimacy of the other liberated republics who made up the Soviet bloc, sounding like his deadly game of rolling into independent countries is not over. Putin seems to have chosen an unusually opportune time for his misadventures. After pulling out of its longest war ever in Afghanistan, the United States has little appetite for new conflicts. And our politics are so polarized that conservative influencers such as Fox News Tucker Carlson keep beating their love drums for Putin, whom former President Donald Trump praised as savvy after his would-be pal Vlad recognized the independence of two Russia-backed separatist-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine. President Biden had a more appropriate description. America stands up to bullies, he told reporters as Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. We stand up for freedom. This is who we are. Yes, at least thats who we try to be. America stands for democracy, we like to say. But were still haggling about the price were willing to pay. Pages column is provided by Tribune Content Agency. Gray, 8, is a native of Council Bluffs. Her father, Larry, is the executive director at Heartland Christian School and her mom, Erin, teaches there. Shes been at Heartland Christian since preschool and she is in the middle of her second grade year. Shes also part of 14 children and 11 grandchildren in the family, so there have been many Grays that have come before her at Heartland Chrisitian, and she currently goes to school with five of her siblings. Gray is a student in teacher Donna Dingus classroom, and she said its been a great school year so far. Her favorite subject is math, and shes currently learning about mixed numbers. She also enjoys spending time with her friends and classmates during recess. When the Nonpareil caught up with Gray last Friday, her class had to spend recess indoors due to the cold weather. That wasnt an issue Monday as the warm temperatures invited many in the community to get outside for some fresh air. She said her favorite recess activity is playing four square, and she likely got a few games in that afternoon. As the warm weather hints at the changing of seasons, it reminds Gray that the end of the school year is just on the horizon. While she said shes looking forward to the remaining months of her second grade year, Gray said shes even more excited for the summer season. She loves taking family trips, and the Grays have a tradition of taking their RV down to Galveston, Texas, for a beach vacation at the conclusion of every school year. From hanging out on the beach to stomping around in the splash pads and more, Gray said she is ready for all sorts of fun in the sun. Until then, Gray will make the rest of the school year count. The Council Bluffs Community School District Board of Education last week approved academic calendars for the next two school years. A public hearing on the calendars was held on Feb. 8. Both calendars meet the standard for beginning the school year on or after Aug. 23, as required by state law, and include more than the minimum of 1,080 hours of instruction. According to the 2022-23 calendar, school will start on Aug. 23 this fall and end of May 25, 2023. Winter break will be 13 days long including weekends and spring break will be five days long, also including a weekend. The hours of instruction will add up to 2.6 extra days, so about 2 days could be taken off for snow or other conditions without adding days onto the end of the year. The 2023-24 calendar is very similar. School will start on Aug. 23 and end on May 24. Winter break will again add up to 13 days, including weekends, and spring break will cover five days including a weekend. Hours of instruction will amount to 4.12 extra days. More than 800 district staff members responded to a survey on the two options, according to board materials. The response was fairly even, with 44.4% expressing a preference for the option that was similar to this years calendar and 49.9% voting for an alternate proposal with a five-day spring break in March and a slightly shorter winter break. A total of 5.4% expressed no preference. Members of the Superintendents Round Table also provided feedback and indicated a strong preference for ending the school year before Memorial Day, as well as providing opportunities for three-day weekends in February and March. In other business, the board: Approved upgrades to the HVAC system at Roosevelt Elementary School totaling $981,543, including the base bid and three alternates. The contract will go to Grunwald Mechanical of Omaha, which submitted the lowest of three bids. Approved the purchase of Chromebooks for the 2022-23 school year from CDW-G at a cost of $945,550, the lower of two bids. This includes 650 Acer C734T-C483 Chromebooks, 2,250 Acer C734-C0FD Chromebooks, 200 Acer R853TA-P3R1 Chromebooks and licenses for 3,100 Google Chrome OS Management console units. Approved an amended contract with Meyer Building Solutions to include work on renovation of Kanesville Alternative School in the amount of $112,000. The pay rate for previously contracted work on the Early Learning Center and security system remains the same. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Reynolds a championGov. Kim Reynolds is a champion for education in Iowa, grower of Iowa jobs, and is a leader Iowans can be proud of. I was impressed by the governors Condition of the State Address, where she talked about starting Iowas first teacher registered apprenticeship program in the country. In doing so, she created a system where schools can better grow their own workforce. Through the governors program, students will have the opportunity to obtain a paraeducator credential and associate degree within a year of their education. Their jobs will also count toward their student teaching requirements, which makes it more time and cost-efficient to become an educator. When we simultaneously build Iowas workforce and our education system, Iowas future wins Starlyn Perdue Griswold Unpaid time off is untenableMarch is Womens History Month. Women certainly made history during the pandemic as thousands left their jobs to care for children because schools and daycares had to close. Without income, many families struggled to pay groceries, rent and other bills. While the pandemic was a new experience, it exposed an old and chronic problem that working women in our society have faced for years unpaid leave. While both mothers and fathers are affected, working mothers are affected more. Women bear a disproportionate economic burden in taking time off from work to bond with a new child, for short or long-term care for a family member or to care for her own health. Many women cannot return to the workforce without addressing the needs of their families. For many, unpaid time off work is untenable and it threatens their economic security. The United States does not guarantee paid time off for illness or family care or for paid parental leave. However, ten states and the District of Columbia have paid leave laws that are or will soon be in place. The U.S. Congress or Iowa Legislature could make history by passing paid leave laws. Call or write your senator or representative and urge them to support paid parental leave for all working families. Jane Goldsmith AAUW Loess Hills Branch Treynor A letter to Sen. GrassleySen. Chuck Grassley, I find your professed support for Ukraine profoundly hypocritical. When President Donald Trump threatened to withhold 100s of millions of dollars of congressionally approved military funding to the Ukraine as leverage to extort political favors from President Volodymyr Zelensky, an act that had as its sole purpose the advancement of Trumps own personal political ambitions, you voted against finding him guilty of committing an impeachable offense. At the time, you stated that you had based your judgment on the utterly ridiculous argument that Trump was innocent because he had not been successful in actually following through with his intended plan. What Trump intended and attempted to accomplish was a treasonous offense. Had you Republicans booted him out of office, Im quite confident that Mr. Mike Pence as president would have reverted to an adversarial and tough-minded relationship with Putin, rather than the disgusting and dangerous mutual adoration society that Trump continued to participate in with Putin. I believe that a more assertive and defiant relationship with Putin might very well have precluded the current horror that the Russians are inflicting on the Ukrainian people and which is at the doorstep of eastern and central Europe. But you claimed that Trump had done nothing impeachable. Then, when Trump visited Iowa last year, you humiliated yourself and Iowa when you sprinted to get his endorsement of your run for the Senate. Now, you have yet to publicly condemn Trump for continuing his outspoken support and admiration for Putin. Your failure to condemn means only one thing: You agree with Trump and with Putins current attempt to forcefully overthrow a democratically elected government of a sovereign nation. You say that youll pray for the Ukrainians. Pray all you like. Just know that God has no ears for prayers from hearts calloused by insincerity, scurrilousness and moral depravity. Steven Pokorny Urbandale DES MOINES In a symbolic gesture of support for the Ukrainian people who are under Russian attack, Gov. Kim Reynolds has directed the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division to remove any Russian-produced alcoholic liquor products from its wholesale purchase list. Her order is unlikely to have much impact in Iowa even though Iowans purchased 2,024,662 gallons of vodka through the ABD in 2021. In the top 10 brands by gallons sold, there are five brands of vodka Titos, Hawkeye, McCormick, Smirnoff and Five OClock. However, Russian vodkas account for a very small portion of overall sales, spokesman Tyler Ackerson said Monday. Over the past 12 months, the sale of Russian vodka has totaled about $95,000 out of more than $93 million in vodka sales. Whiskey, led by Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey, is the drink of choice for Iowans based on ABDs gallons sold 2,117,237 in 2021. Sales of whiskey exceeded $168 million, according to ABDs annual report. Very few brands imported to the United States still are produced in Russia. Smirnoff vodka, for example, traces its roots to Moscow, but is distilled in the U.S. Stoli, which basically translates into capital city because it originated in Moscow, is distilled in Latvia as well as Russia and has its headquarters in Luxembourg, a NATO country. ABD has only three Russian vodkas permanently listed Russian Standard Original Vodka, Russian Standard Platinum Vodka and Hammer + Sickle Vodka, Ackerson said. Another three are considered special order on hand listing Russian Standard Imperia Vodka, Zu Bison Grass Vodka and Quadro Vodka. ABD has several Russian vodkas listed as special order. While Russian-made products that will no longer be available for purchase from the state wholesale operation, retailers are not required to cease sales of those products. Some retailers, bars and restaurants already have stopped offering Russian products in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Iowa is one of 17 states that controls the sale of alcoholic liquor at the wholesale level. Under Iowa law, ABD has the authority to determine the brands of alcoholic liquor products available for sale to retailers. Alcoholic liquor is sold by ABD to off-premises retailers, who then sell the products directly to consumers or to on-premises retailers, such as bars and restaurants. In issuing the order, Reynolds joins the governors of Utah, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania in making the symbolic gesture of support for Ukraine. Reynolds also has called for Iowa Sister States to end its relationship with Stavropol Krai, Russia, and provide recommendations for enhancing its sister state relationship with Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine. More information on the delisting of Russian products will be available at the ABD website on or before March 1. Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine last week happened to coincide with my reading of David McCulloughs Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Harry S. Truman, our 33rd president. Clearly, Russia has been a problem for a long time. Near the end of World War II, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill struggled to convince Josef Stalin to comply with previous agreements about the shape of the post-war world. With his troops deployed in Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary and elsewhere, Stalin saw expansionist opportunities for the Soviet Union, and he was determined to take advantage of them. In the late 40s, President Truman confronted few problems that caused him more anxiety and frustration than the U.S.S.R., and few projects took more of his energy than finding ways to prevent its expansion. Truman, a plain-spoken Missourian, said the Russians were like people from across the tracks whose manners were very bad. For the next four decades, world politics revolved around the Wests resistance to the spread of communism and the Soviet Unions determination to expand its hegemony, especially in Eastern Europe. An economic interpretation of this conflict sees a battle between communism and free enterprise, but its more than that. Roosevelt and Truman recognized that the Soviet system had no tolerance for the things that Americans value most: democracy, free elections, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, self-determination, a right to privacy. Stalin and the Soviet Union were to be resisted. He was an autocrat who maintained power with coercive secret police, gulags, torture and terror. In the 1930s, Stalin, in an effort to subdue Ukraine, engineered a famine that resulted in the deaths of 4 million Ukrainians. The U.S. has its faults. We are not perfect. But we were always on the right side of this struggle between democracy and autocracy. Fortunately, the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Alas, it is trying to make a comeback, in the person of Vladimir Putin. In 1946, President Truman said that lasting peace depended on the three great powers Britain, Russia and the U.S. Further, the great powers must also have the confidence of the smaller nations. Russia hasnt the confidence of the small nations, nor has Britain. We have. At present the mantle for resistance against autocracy has fallen upon the shoulders of one of those smaller nations, Ukraine. Unfortunately, Ukraines young President Volodymyr Zelenskyy got a rocky introduction to modern American democracy. He can be forgiven if he got the impression that President Donald Trump was conditioning military aid to Ukraine on Zelenskyys cooperation in an investigation of one of Trumps political rivals. And while Zelenskyy courageously leads the resistance to Putin, our still-popular ex-president finds so much to admire in Putin that Russian state television is running subtitled clips of him praising the Russian autocrat. Further, our commitment to democracy does not include a willingness to provide American troops to fight the Russians over Ukraine. In lieu of troops, the U.S. and its European partners are applying increasingly rigorous sanctions. But the sanctions are largely half-measures, applied carefully out of concern for the European and American economies. Few think that sanctions will stop Putin and, indeed, they have not. So while Ukrainian patriots and heroes are taking to the streets to fight for what we believe in, Biden must gingerly inform Americans that the war in Ukraine may cost us at the pump. How many times have we heard that phrase during this crisis? Still, withholding U.S. troops is probably the right decision at this point. But autocrats like Putin rarely respond to soft power. Force is the only language they understand. War is a great evil, but its not the worst evil. Sometimes only force can prevent fear, misery, hunger, torture, genocide, totalitarianism. If history is any guide, pure pacifism is unrealistic. Peace is rarely achieved through diplomacy and sanctions. The crisis in Ukraine is a test of our commitment and will to maintain democracy. May we show as much resolve as the Ukrainians. As President Truman put it, I want peace and Im willing to fight for it. A large Ukranian flag is unfurled at the end of a special prayer service for Ukraine at St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church Monday morning. (JERRY JACKSON/Baltimore Sun) Maryland has terminated its largely symbolic Sister State relationship with the region that includes the Russian city of St. Petersburg due to Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Gov. Larry Hogan sent a letter to Aleksandr Drozdenko, the governor of Leningrad Oblast, on Monday that cited the duty of every government to remain vigilant of unlawful acts against public order, democratic principles and innocent civilians. Advertisement Marylands relationship with Leningrad Oblast dates to 1993, a time of thawing relations and new investment in Russia by the United States after the fall of the Soviet Union. The state retains the Soviet-era name for the countrys second-largest city. Baltimore, meanwhile, is rekindling older ties to the Ukrainian city of Odesa, the Black Sea port located 50 miles by water from Russian-occupied Crimea. The Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee was established in 1974, Mayor Brandon Scott said Friday in a news release. Advertisement Ukrainians began settling in Baltimore during the 1880s, Scott said, especially in Highlandtown, Fells Point and Patterson Park. During the early 1900s, many worked for the citys steel- and glassmakers. Others followed shortly in part to escape World Wars I and II. The City of Baltimore stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine at home and abroad and we join leaders across the world in condemning Russias military actions against Ukraine, Scott said. Ukrainians have been a part of our city for generations. Today, many worry for the loved ones they may still have in Ukraine. If Gov. Hogan hadnt acted to break ties with the St. Petersburg region, Senate President Bill Ferguson said Monday morning that he planned to introduce a resolution calling for Hogan to pull out of the partnership. Diplomacy and soft power are vital, and relations should be resumed when Russian aggression ceases, Ferguson wrote on Twitter. Until then, we must send a clear message that we stand with Ukraine. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. By March 1 at noon, over 2000 Moroccans, mostly students, managed to leave the Ukrainian territory to neighboring countries, Moroccan foreign ministry said. Most crossings took place in Poland, followed by Romania, Slovakia and Hungary as Morocco dislocated its embassy and consular staff to Lviv, about 70 kilometers south of the Polish border. Prior to the start of the Russian invasion on Feb 24, Morocco has urged its citizens to leave Ukraine. On Feb 27, Moroccos flag carrier announced an airlift operation scheduling exceptional flights with affordable rates of $70 (750 DH) to transport Moroccans who fled Ukraine through neighboring countries. The airline said it would also transport Mauritanian students who had to leave Ukraine. The Russian military campaign on Ukraine has forced nearly 400,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring countries. The media have spoken about discrimination against non-European refugees fleeing Ukraine, notably Africans. Nigeria and South Africa have expressed alarm at reports that their nationals are being stopped from leaving Ukraine. CEO of Algerias oil and gas company Sonatrach Toufiq Hakkar said on Feb 27 his country was ready to tap the potential of a 10 cubic meter pipeline to Italy, but a day later he backtracked on his promise casting doubt on Algerias limited gas production capacity, in a volte-face that indicates a fear of Russian retribution. Algerias foreign policy has been geared towards supporting Russian position on regional issues and Algiers imports the bulk of its armament from Russia. Hakkar was first quoted by Liberte-Algerie as saying that his country was able to pump additional gas to the European market at a time Europe faces a dependency on Russian gas. The Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory put into a new test Europes energy security as Germany halts the landmark Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Moscow has often used the gas card to serve its geopolitical agenda in Europe and any move by Algeria to replace parts of Russian market share may trigger an angry response from the Putin regime, the protector of the military-political junta in Algiers. That explains the volte-face of Hakkar who rather blamed the newspaper for what he described as a mis-interpretation of his statements, in a move that indicates the scale of disarray within a military regime that looks at its key ally outflanked by economic sanctions. The invasion of Ukraine and the economic crackdown by the West on the Russian economy has made it hard to do business with Russian firms. Algeria, which claims to be with the right of people to self-determination, has not expressed a stand yet regarding the crisis in Ukraine and has not even urged its citizens to leave the war-stricken country. By keeping silent, Algeria is actually taking a stand in support of Putin and that will be remembered by the West and the international community amid a global rejection of the use of force in resolving international disputes. The U.S. has imposed visa restrictions on a number of Somali officials, including regional leaders, suspected of obstructing the electoral process. This is in response to the missed deadline for the completion of Somalias long-delayed elections. The countrys National Consultative Assembly, which is chaired by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, has extended the deadline for completing parliamentary elections to March 15. The previous deadline was February 25. In a press release announcing visa restrictions targeting some unnamed Somalis, the United States demanded the swift completion of parliamentary and presidential elections in a transparent and credible manner. According to Washington, the travel ban is intended to promote accountability and punish Somali officials who obstruct the electoral process. Some Somalis welcomed the measure. In Mogadishu, there is a broad consensus that visa restrictions should be imposed on Somali leaders to prevent them from traveling to the United States, where many Somali politicians families, some of whom hold dual citizenship, reside. Somalis hope that visa restrictions imposed by the U.S. and other countries will encourage local leaders to speed up the electoral process. Keith L. Allen, who shot and killed 25-year-old Brett Torres in May 2020, received a life sentence on Monday afternoon. Allen was handed the mandatory term in Nebraska for first-degree murder during a short hearing in Lincoln County District Court. The 45-year-old North Platte man also received a term of 20 to 30 years for the use of a weapon to commit a felony in the shooting of Torres. I feel like justice has been made, Torres father, Ray, said after the hearing. I am glad we are finished. I dont even know how to explain it. I felt like a ton of bricks has been lifted off my chest. Now I can lay my son to rest. Mondays sentencing came more than four months after Allen was found guilty by a jury of nine men and three women. The jurys decision led to a continuation of the sentencing in late January, after Allens attorney, Todd Lancaster, received information of possible jury misconduct during the trial. Judge Richard Birch ruled there was insufficient evidence to order a new trial at a hearing Monday morning. Lancaster said an appeal on the decision will be filed with the states Supreme Court within the next 30 days. In the court hearing, Lancaster said Allen never intended to hurt anybody on the day of the incident, and he reiterated afterward. If (Allen) could have done anything to prevent it, he wouldve, Lancaster said. But he felt he was in a position where he couldnt. He felt he had no choice but to protect himself. During the hearing, Lancaster pointed to the letters from Allens friends and family members that had been received as part of the pre-sentence investigation. The letters described Allen as a good citizen in the community with a heart of gold, who loved making a difference in others lives. Lancaster implied that Allens desire to help others may of led to the fatal confrontation outside Allens home on the 100 block of North Chestnut Street. Maybe that why he was in that situation. He was trying to help out Amanda Beall, Lancaster said. Allen claimed throughout the case that he acted in self-defense spurred by previous threats from Torres. The confrontation happened as Torres pulled his Chevrolet Tahoe in an alley alongside a Ford Focus that Allen was a passenger in. The Tahoe was being driven by Beall, with whom Torres had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with. Allen addressed the court before he was sentenced, expressing remorse for the situation but also said that two people, were not served or protected by any account of the law in the incident Torres and himself. He said Torres was a troubled individual who would have been best served by both counseling or rehab, but it never happened. Allen said he went to law enforcement with his claims of Torres growing threats but nothing came of it. We were both failed by the system, Allen told Birch. Birch said Allen wasnt the lone individual who wished the situation didnt ultimately result in Mondays hearing. But a large part of the reason we are here is because of your actions, Birch told Allen. As Allen was being led out of the courtroom after the sentence, one of the roughly 20 Torres family members or supporters present yelled out, I hope you find Jesus. Ray Torres said he has few words for Allen. I guess I would just tell him probably to burn in hell, Torres said. Thats all I could say. More by Tim Johnson Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When a representative from Johnson Companies did not call in to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners for Mondays meeting, Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer expressed his frustration. Because of that absence, the commissioners decided to table a vote on a bid for HVAC and smoke control software and hardware at the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office. They should be here, Kramer said. Im not the expert on this and you can tell Im annoyed. The problem, Chief Deputy Roland Kramer told the board, is with 11-year-old software and hardware. Johnson Companies offered two proposals to correct the problem with a cost of about $25,000. That version would allow the company to monitor the system from off site. The board said there were questions that needed to be answered by the company representative before an educated decision could be made, and tabled the vote until a Zoom meeting or phone call could be rescheduled. The board also tabled action on a contract with Mid-Continental Restoration Co. Inc. for an exterior coating project at the Lincoln County Courthouse. Deputy County Attorney Tyler Volkmer, who spoke with the company representative, expressed the countys dissatisfaction with the previous coating from 10 years ago. The building shows discoloring, Volkmer said, and the reason for that had not been determined at this time. My question is what will keep it from happening again in another seven years down the road, Commissioner Joe Hewgley said. Another question was the type of open-ended proposal presented by Mid-Continental. Volkmer said the proposal changed from the conversation he had with the company. At the time I (spoke with the company) it was an at-cost project, Volkmer said. It has since turned into time and materials, which are not the same thing. Commissioner Micaela Wuehler said the coating is needed to preserve the integrity of the building. (The company) indicated they had never had this happen before, Wuehler said. Kent Weems, commissioner, said he understood it was a big project, but the contract did not offer any pricing. I dont like the sound of that, Weems said. If this is what they do, they should have some idea of what the cost is going to be. Wuehler said she would speak with the company and get the questions answered. The board approved the 2022 contracts for brochure and rack card distribution for the North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau. One contract will be with CTM Media Group for distribution in metro Nebraska cities, Iowa and Missouri for 25,000 brochures. The cost is $5,580. The other contract with Certified Marketing Services and Distribution will cover Nebraska outside of the metro areas, Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas. Certified will distribute 40,000 brochures and rack cards for $5,456.47. The board also approved a contract for printing of brochures and rack cards for the Visitors Bureau. Executive Director Lisa Burke said requests for proposal were sent to two local companies. Myer Creative Print and Design returned the only bid for 25,000 rack cards and 50,000 brochures at a cost of $21,750.47. The board tabled action on having a county seal emblem made for the Commissioners Room. Wuehler will gather more information from the Hershey Public Schools Industrial Arts program for the project. Two Lincoln County Sheriffs Deputies were recognized during an employee recognition ceremony. The commissioners initiated the program for 2022 to honor employees for their service. Deputy Zach Kramer was recognized for 10 years and Deputy Devin Ruff for 15 years of service to the county. More by Job Vigil Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The full Legislature will look at and quite likely work over proposals to build a new marina at Lake McConaughy and revive the 1894 Perkins County Canal from Colorado. The Natural Resources Committee Friday advanced bills to do both, though questions remained about price tags for the canal and a proposed new metro-area lake unrelated to the Lake Mac work. State Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango and newly appointed North Platte Sen. Mike Jacobson joined in committee votes of 5-0 for Legislative Bill 1023, which includes the McConaughy project, and 6-0 for LB 1015, which would authorize the canal. Jacobson, sworn in Wednesday to succeed resigned Sen. Mike Groene, took over the latters assignments on the Natural Resources, Agriculture and General Affairs committees. Speaker Mike Hilgers introduced LB 1015 on behalf of Gov. Pete Ricketts and LB 1023 as chairman of a special Unicameral committee created in 2021 to examine three regions where water resources could be better developed. One of those was McConaughy, where committee members have called for a new 100-slip marina at a yet-undetermined site, a formal entrance to the Lake Mac area and road improvements near both shores. Only the marina is specifically mentioned in LB 1023 and a proposed Natural Resources Committee rewrite that wouldnt disturb the marina proposal. Most scrutiny of LB 1023s $200 million in projects has focused on the special committees call for a lake of at least 3,600 acres near the lower Platte River between Omaha and Lincoln. Thats also the case with the Natural Resources Committee amendment, which doubles down on an inside Unicameral joke by dubbing its opening sections the JEDI Act. (Lawmakers in 2021 crafted the special water panels eight-word name to yield a STAR WARS acronym, blaming it on Hilgers love for the movie series. The Natural Resources amendment follows suit with its language on the metro-area lake but uses just four words.) Ricketts 2022 budget called for applying $150 million in general-fund money to the LB 1023 projects and $50 million from Nebraskas share of federal COVID-19 aid. The Appropriations Committee will support the $200 million total but call for tapping state cash reserves instead of American Rescue Plan funds for the last $50 million, Chairman John Stinner of Gering told the Omaha World-Herald. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission facilities at Niobrara State Park and Lewis and Clark Lake also would be upgraded in LB 1023. Stinners committee and Ricketts are farther apart on how much money to set aside for the Perkins canal also called the South Divide Canal envisioned in Nebraskas 1923 South Platte River Compact with Colorado. LB 1015 would trigger the compact by giving the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources the authority to design, build and operate the canal, DNR Assistant Director Jesse Bradley told The Telegraph Monday. But the Appropriations Committees separate spending plan would allocate $22.5 million for design work, Stinner told the World-Herald. Ricketts has asked to set aside $500 million to design and build it, including $100 million from ARP funds. Early Perkins County residents dug about 16 miles of a canal in fall 1894 in Colorados Sedgwick County before financing collapsed. A Keith County-driven 1921 revival plan prompted the two-state compact. It says Nebraska can finish the canal for irrigation purposes and tap the South Platte at an average rate of 500 cubic feet a second between Oct. 15 and April 1. Ricketts and Nebraska water leaders have interpreted recent South Platte studies and statements in Colorado as evidence that state wants to all but shut off South Platte flows into Nebraska for use by their own residents. Colorado leaders dispute their contention. I think its important we do something to let Colorado know were coming to claim Nebraskas South Platte share under the compact, Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard told the World-Herald. But Erdman, an Appropriations Committee member, added he wasnt overly enthused about setting aside $500 million. His District 47 includes Deuel and Keith counties, considered all but certain to share the bulk of the canals Nebraska portion. More by Todd von Kampen Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Ukrainians take shelter amid Russias war of aggression. Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images That escalated quickly. Five days ago, it looked like the wests response to Vladimir Putins war of aggression would be tepid. Its first round of sanctions was replete with loopholes large enough to jam gas pipelines through. But Ukraines resolve has proven contagious. The Ukrainians willingness to die in defense of their national sovereignty and their capacity to inflict casualties on Russia have outstripped the expectations of their friends and enemies alike. This demonstration seems to have stiffened spines in Berlin and Brussels. Over the weekend, Europe and the U.S. declared something close to financial war on the Russian state. The western powers announced they were freezing all Russian central bank assets held in the E.U., U.S., Canada, and Britain and evicting Russian banks from the international payments system known as SWIFT. As a result, the Russian people saw the value of their savings collapse over night. Meanwhile, the U.S. and E.U. continued funneling weapons to Ukrainian forces. When Putin commenced his invasion last week, he warned that any nation that tries to stand in our way or create threats for our country and our people must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history. Just in case his implication was not clear, Putin reminded his adversaries that Russia remains one of the most powerful nuclear states. On Sunday, following the Wests actions against Russias central bank, Putin announced he was putting his nations nuclear forces on special combat readiness in response to illegal sanctions and aggressive statements from NATO countries. The precise meaning of Putins order is unclear. Both the U.S. and Russia keep nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles on high alert at all times. According to the theories of deterrence that structured Cold War policy, these weapons of mass death must be forever locked and loaded lest the other side seize an opportunity to launch a first strike so overwhelming it preempts retaliation. To the extent that Putins statement has substance, it would presumably mean removing Russian bombers from their hangars and loading them with nuclear weapons and/or sending nuclear submarines out to sea. Such actions would almost certainly appear on the proverbial radar of the U.S. security state, which keeps a watchful eye on Russian nuclear facilities. The Pentagon said Monday that it had not seen any specific muscle movements from Russias nuclear forces, and Americas nuclear alert level is therefore unchanged. Expert opinion holds that Putin is merely engaged in rhetorical brinkmanship. If youve recently looked up information about nuclear-blast radii and potassium iodide, take solace in these facts: The Kremlin issued nearly identical threats of nuclear action during Russias invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014. It would be insane for Russia to expose itself to the threat of nuclear retaliation for the sake of winning a war in which it already boasts overwhelming military supremacy. Although the U.S. and E.U. have aided Ukraine through the transfer of arms and the imposition of sanctions, they have not deployed troops to fight in the conflict. And even neoconservative hawks like Marco Rubio are saying that direct intervention would not be worth the risks. For these reasons, it is hard to see the war escalating to the point of a genuine nuclear standoff between opposing atomic powers. Thus, as Georgetown University professor Matthew Kroenig told the New York Times, Putin is almost certainly engaging in a game of nuclear chicken, of raising the risk of war in hopes that the other side will back down and say, Geez, this isnt worth fighting a nuclear war over. Kroenig maintains that using empty nuclear threats to dissuade western intervention is a longstanding Russian strategy known as escalate to de-escalate. Matthew Bunn of the Harvard Kennedy School takes a similar view, telling Vox, I think there is virtually no chance nuclear weapons are going to be used in the Ukraine situation. Nevertheless, given the scale of devastation that a nuclear conflagration would entail, even a small increase in the probability of such a development is cause for concern. Further, considering how quickly the present conflict has escalated, it is difficult to opine with certainty about where it could and could not take us. If one wishes to find causes for alarm, they are readily available. In 2020, Russia lowered its official standard for deploying nuclear weapons. Previously, Moscow had vowed it would only resort to the nuclear option if the very existence of the state is threatened. Two years ago, the Kremlin revised that position, announcing that it reserves the right to use nuclear weapons for the prevention of an escalation of military actions and their termination on conditions that are acceptable for the Russian Federation and/or its allies. In other words: Russia reserves the right to conduct a nuclear first strike in order to end a war on its preferred terms. This leads Georgetown nuclear-policy expert Caitlin Talmadge to believe Putin could plausibly deploy tactical (or battlefield) nuclear weapons to achieve his aims in Ukraine if conventional aggression fails to do the trick. But one of Putins aims in Ukraine is to install a puppet government capable of pacifying the populace, and dropping a nuclear bomb on the country seems to be a poor way to win hearts and minds. Initially, Russian military strategy appeared to reflect some concern about mitigating civilian casualties for the sake of maintaining postwar Ukraines governability. This said, after Ukrainian resistance proved more formidable than anticipated, the Russian military is now attempting to demoralize the Ukrainians by leveling civilian areas. Kharkiv administration building, right in the historic centre of the city. Russians have definitely given up on sparing the centre. changed to more brutal tactics pic.twitter.com/pw0Gntmi99 Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) March 1, 2022 It is far from clear what Putin would consider beyond the pale should his governments troubles multiply further. What happens if a collapsing ruble and mounting Russian casualties spark widespread dissidence in Russias streets or even a challenge to Putins leadership from within the regime? What if taking Kyiv proves insufficient to break the will of a Ukrainian insurgency? What kind of violence might a homicidal dictator embrace with his back against the wall? Theres a real possibility Putin could turn to nuclear weapons if he continues to experience military setbacks and sees the diplomatic and political situation crumbling, Talmadge told the Financial Times. Its not just a response to how his conventional campaign [in Ukraine] is going but to these other developments with sanctions and Germany sending weapons to Ukraine. The entire picture to him looks pretty bleak. In Russia, as in the U.S., the president has the unilateral authority to order a nuclear strike. We know Putin is reckless and paranoid enough to launch a bloody, destabilizing war in the absence of any martial provocation. We know he is an aging murderer with grand historical ambitions. So its hard to say with certainty what he is and is not capable of. Bloomberg reported Monday, With Covid-19 restrictions increasing his isolation in recent years, Putin has grown more reliant on a small circle of hardline advisers, according to people close to the leadership. That is consistent with recent reports from the New York Times and the Financial Times. Putins threats are a reminder that atomic war is not the nightmare of a bygone age. The threat of nuclear annihilation didnt end with the Cold War. Our collective success in averting a nuclear strike in the 76 years since America dropped atomic bombs on Japan is largely a product of luck. In 1961, a B-52 bomber came apart in midair, dropping two nuclear weapons on North Carolina in the process. One of those bombs nearly went off as three of the four triggering mechanisms required for its detonation activated upon release. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the captain of a Soviet submarine ordered the firing of a nuclear torpedo at the U.S. Navy out of a mistaken belief that his vessel was under attack. Only the resistance of a fellow officer prevented that order from being carried out. In 1980, the Carter administration nearly launched an unprovoked nuclear strike against the Soviet Union after the malfunctioning of a single 46-cent computer chip led the White House to believe the Soviets had just fired 2,200 nuclear missiles at the U.S. Near misses like these abound. Americas launch on warning policy which commits the nation to firing nuclear missiles (which, by design, cannot be called back) as soon as an enemy strike is detected greatly increases the risk of an accident ending less happily. As Eric Schlosser has documented, over the course of the Cold War, early-warning systems were triggered by the moon rising over Norway, the launch of a weather rocket from Norway, a solar storm, sunlight reflecting off high-altitude clouds, and a faulty A.T. & T. telephone switch in Black Forest, Colorado. Meanwhile, Americas nuclear stockpile is far less secure than many appreciate. In 2015, a nuclear-launch officer at the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota which is to say a person entrusted with the keys that launch intercontinental ballistic missiles was sentenced to 25 years in prison for leading a street gang, dealing drugs, sexually assaulting a minor, and possessing magic mushrooms. And America has the most secure nuclear arsenal on the planet. If Russias war in Ukraine doesnt bring us to the atomic abyss, it will still set back the cause of de-proliferation. Heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow have sidelined negotiations over an extension to the last remaining nuclear treaty between the U.S. and Russia, New START, which is set to expire in 2026. Meanwhile, Russias assault on Ukraines sovereignty after Ukraine agreed to forfeit its own nuclear arsenal 30 years ago in exchange for assurances about its territorial integrity will discourage other nuclear powers from following Ukraines example while encouraging other small nations to start their own nuclear programs. All that nuclear war requires is a single accident, miscommunication, or psychopath with his finger on the button. To permanently degrade human life on Earth, things need to go wrong only once. In our age of pandemics, rising geopolitical tensions, and reality-star presidents, it is abundantly clear that we need more margin for error. If we do not find a way to rid the world of nuclear weapons or, at the very least, of nuclear ICBMs that are primed to fire at the first warning of early-detection systems that can produce false positives our luck will eventually run out. History is not over. So we must make the world safe for history. You know what would really waste Rubios time? A COVID outbreak at the highest levels of government. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Marco Rubio wont be joining in any Republican booing of President Biden during Tuesday nights State of the Union address and not because his own SOTU-related mishap left him sympathetic to all who take part in the annual pageantry. The Florida senator confirmed earlier this week that hes skipping the event entirely because hes simply too busy to take a COVID test. Rubio says he wont attend Bidens State of the Union address tomorrow because of the COVID testing requirement. I dont have time to go take a COVID test today. I only take a test if Im sick, he says Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) February 28, 2022 The House floor mask mandate was lifted on Sunday, but some COVID precautions are still being observed. As the New York Post reported: The House chamber will be roughly one-third full, guests are not allowed, and some members of Congress will be relegated to the public viewing gallery. Everyone in the room must have a negative PCR test result in hand and press access to the House chamber is being dramatically curtailed. But unlike the vast majority of his colleagues (some of whom are pretty old), the Florida senator simply doesnt have time to let someone jam a Q-tip up his nostrils for 30 seconds. And after all, what are the chances that a person who doesnt feel sick might actually have COVID? Well, actually four Democratic lawmakers Senator Alex Padilla and Representatives Jamie Raskin, Pete Aguilar, and Suzan DelBene announced on Tuesday that theyve just tested positive for the virus in breakthrough cases, as the Hill reports. And at least one of them was asymptomatic: As I do regularly, I tested yesterday for COVID. Late last night, I received a positive test result with a breakthrough case. Im asymptomatic and grateful to be fully vaccinated and boosted. Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) March 1, 2022 Upon further investigation, logistics might not be Rubios primary issue with the State of the Unions COVID-test requirement. Per the Hill, he complained about the requirement during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday. For the first time in American history you now have people having to produce paper to go in somewhere, to sit somewhere, to go to the State of the Union, Rubio said. Youve got to show them Im vaccinated, I took a test yesterday, they took my temperature, you know, all this stuff, he added. This is, whats happening now in America, is what happens after 20 years of infusing this Marxist thought process into every aspect of our lives and now weve come face-to-face with it. Rubio has a point. I certainly felt more free during the Trump administration, when people could just wander into the State of the Union and shake the presidents hand without producing documentation proving theyd met any sort of criteria to be there. (Im assuming. New York says checking facts is part of my job requirements, but I dont have time to do that today.) IndexBox, Inc. Global natural graphite production rose by 3.5% to 1M tonnes in 2021. China recorded the most prominent growth, increasing production by 7.6% to 820K tonnes. LOS ANGELES, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a new report from IndexBox, global natural graphite production rose by 3.5% y/y to 1M tonnes in 2021. China, the worlds leading graphite manufacturer, increased output by 7.6% to 820K tonnes. The countrys share in the global natural graphite market expanded from 79% in 2020 to 82% in 2021. Among other countries, significant gains in output were recorded in Brazil, Canada, India, North Korea, Mozambique, Russia, Norway, and Ukraine. Brazil's production rose by 7% y/y to 68K tonnes, while production in Russia and Ukraine grew by 8% y/y to 27K tonnes and 6% y/y to 17K tonnes, respectively. Global Natural Graphite Exports by Country In 2020, approx. 409K tonnes of graphite (natural) were exported worldwide, with a decrease of -6.1% on the previous year. In value terms, graphite exports fell to $501M. China was the main exporter of natural graphite globally, with the volume of exports accounting for 238K tonnes, which was near 58% of total supplies in 2020. Madagascar (48K tonnes) took a 12% share of total exports, putting it in second place, followed by Mozambique (5.3%). Brazil (17K tonnes), the Netherlands (17K tonnes), Russia (16K tonnes), Germany (16K tonnes), and the U.S. (6.4K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders. In value terms, China ($328M) remains the largest graphite supplier worldwide, comprising 65% of global exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Germany ($27M), with a 5.3% share of the total value. It was followed by Brazil, with a 5.1% share. Natural Graphite Export Prices by Country In 2020, the average graphite export price amounted to $1,225 per tonne, picking up by 5.4% against the previous year. Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest price was the U.S. ($3,354 per tonne), while Russia ($162 per tonne) was amongst the lowest. In 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth. Story continues Worlds Leading Natural Graphite Importers In 2020, the Dominican Republic (259K tonnes) was the major importer of natural graphite, achieving 41% of total purchases. South Korea (47K tonnes) held a 7.4% share of total volume, which put it in second place, followed by Japan (6.8%), India (6.1%), the U.S. (5.9%) and Germany (5.9%). China (26K tonnes), the Netherlands (17K tonnes), Austria (15K tonnes) and Turkey (12K tonnes) held a minor share of total imports. In value terms, the largest graphite importing markets worldwide were South Korea ($102M), Japan ($66M) and the U.S. ($48M), with a combined 45% share of global purchases. These countries were followed by Germany, India, the Dominican Republic, China, the Netherlands, Austria and Turkey, which together accounted for a further 28%. About IndexBox IndexBox is a market research firm developing an AI-driven market intelligence platform that helps business analysts find actionable insights and make data-driven decisions. The platform provides data on consumption, production, trade, and prices for more than 10K+ different products across 200 countries. For more information, please visit Website https://www.indexbox.io Twitter https://twitter.com/indexbox YouTube https://www.youtube.com/IndexBox LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/indexbox-marketing/ Companies Mentioned in the Report Leading Edge Materials Corp., NextSource Materials Inc., Syrah Resources Limited, Talga Group Ltd., Triton Minerals Limited, Alabama Graphite, American Graphite Technologies, Anson Resources, Archer Materials, China Carbon Graphite Group, First Graphene, Focus Graphite, Gratomic, Hexagon Resources, Gratomic, Zentek, Tirupati Carbons & Chemicals, Chotanagpur Graphite Industries, Carbon & Graphite Products, China Carbon Graphite Group Sources World - Natural Graphite - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights China - Natural Graphite - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights Asia-Pacific - Graphite (Natural) - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights Eastern Europe - Graphite (Natural) - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights Africa - Graphite (Natural) - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights CONTACT: Contact Information Mekhrona Dzhuraeva Editor media@indexbox.io What's trending in the U.S. today, Feb. 28? *** The Snake Island soldiers The Ukrainian defenders of Snake Island -- who were all feared dead after their defiant response to threats from a Russian warship -- are actually "alive and well," according to the Ukrainian Navy. All of the soldiers on the tiny island in the Black Sea were thought to have been killed in an attack on the first day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last Thursday. According to a purported audio exchange, one of the Ukrainian troops had responded to a warning from an approaching Russian vessel to lay down their weapons or face bombing by saying, "Russian warship, go f*** yourself." More here: The Pelicans lose to the Lakers The New Orleans Pelicans are starting to find their stride since acquiring CJ McCollum nearly three weeks ago. Two nights after a surprising win at Phoenix, the Pelicans rolled to their biggest victory over the reeling Los Angeles Lakers. McCollum scored 22 points while Jonas Valanciunas and Brandon Ingram added 19 apiece in New Orleans' 123-95 rout Sunday night. The 28-point margin of victory is the largest in franchise history by the Pelicans over the Lakers, surpassing their 139-117 win in 2018. More here: 'The Batman' review "The Batman" presents a muscular vision of the Dark Knight that hardcore fans have long desired, a dark and serious epic that's somewhat offset by two disclaimers: At nearly three hours, the movie hangs around too long, really feeling it down the stretch; and despite its origins, this detective-driven take owes more to movies like "Seven" and "L.A. Confidential" than other superhero fare. More here: *** MORE TRENDING TOPICS Wall Street/Dow Jones State of the Union Derek Jeter Mardi Gras How Digital Transformation Reduces Safety Risks on Jobsites While safety has always been the top priority in construction, it is often compartmentalized. Digital transformation is changing how safety is managed on jobsites. If the term digital transformation is familiar, but not clear, here is a refresher. Digital transformation is about using technology to improve business processes, company culture and customer experiences. Extending this to safety, digital transformation also reduces risks and compliance costs and improves productivity. It does this by streamlining and/or eliminating time-consuming processes and administrative tasks, identifying potential safety risks at the office or jobsite and providing the data and insight necessary for general contractors to make more strategic decisions about their business and each construction project. While safety has always been the top priority in construction, it is often compartmentalized. It is common to see the safety officer conduct routine inspections and audits to identify and address potential risks and observe workers to ensure they are following protocols. However, safety is only practiced by workers not imposed by consulting engineers. Separating out safety can create an uncomfortable environment for the safety officer and colleagues, potentially impacting productivity as workers feel they are being monitored. In turn, this can foster adversarial relationships. Yet to be effective, safety is everyones job and requires continuous learning and collaboration. Digital transformation can help if safety practices are no longer a drag on productivity and if digital transformation empowers everybody on the jobsite to play a more active role in ensuring safety. Digital does not eliminate the need for a safety officer, although it will reduce the overall workload. Rather, it highlights how technology can make it easier to prioritize and follow safety guidelines, especially onsite, further reducing risks while raising profits. Four Obstacles Holding Back Digital Transformation The benefits of digital transformation have been proven across many industries, yet construction is among the last to adopt it. That is not to say the industry is not aware of the proliferation of new technology on jobsites. Just look at the rise in innovative solutions such as digital apps, jobsite management platforms, virtual reality, robots, sensors and drones all contributing to the creation of the connected jobsite. Yet, not every new technology leads to a company's digital transformation. This article originally appeared in the March 1, 2022 issue of Occupational Health & Safety. Folkston, GA (31537) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. As an invasion unfolds in Eastern Europe, the reverberations from heavy shelling in Ukraine are rippling across the world. As Putins Russia invades the sovereign country and the gears of war begin to turn, there are more questions than answers about the impact that the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine will have on the rest of Europe and the global economy. For one thing, as a critical lynchpin for the European continents energy security, conflict in Russia and Ukraine will have far-reaching consequences for the average resident in the European Union. Already, the attacks have caused oil prices to soar above $100 a barrel for the first time in nearly a decade, and have also sent renewable energy stocks surging as the liquefied natural gas market takes a major hit. Russia historically provides around 40% of the European Unions natural gas supply and approximately 50% of Germanys. All of which is to say that the Kremlin has considerable leverage in Europe, and this codependence has created a geopolitical nightmare as Russia has ignored the Wests pleas not to enter Ukraine. since well before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europeans have been struggling under the weight of runaway energy bills. In Germany, some residents are now paying as much for one month of energy as they used to pay for an entire calendar year. In the United Kingdom, the government raised the price cap for energy bills by a whopping 54%. And while the individual stories of financial strife, stress, and sacrifice are heartbreaking, the impact on local businesses and industries is nothing short of frightening. All kinds of small businesses across Europe have been forced to cease their operations as energy costs outweigh profits. Large industries have not been immune to sticker shock either. Almost two-thirds of the 28,000 companies surveyed by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry this month rated energy prices as one of their biggest business risks, the New York Times recently reported. For those in the industrial sector, the figure was as high as 85 percent. As European politicians have tried to respond to the energy crisis, their efforts have amounted to a bandaid where a tourniquet is needed. European governments have spent tens of billions of euros trying to shield consumers from record high energy prices, and themselves from voters' wrath, but the measures look set to fall short, Reuters reported last month. For policymakers, the volatility of the energy markets has been nothing short of a nightmare, especially for poorer countries with little financial buffer. In Poland, for example, hospitals reliant on embattled public budgets are left wondering if theyll be able to keep the lights on. Critically, Europes reliance on Russian natural gas to keep the lights on and the economy running has weakened the continents bargaining power with Putin. As the West imposes sanctions on Russia in light of this weeks Ukrainian invasions, world leaders have been hesitant to hit Russia where it can hurt them the most energy exports. "The sanctions that are being imposed today, as well that could be imposed in the near future, are not targeting and will not target oil and gas flows," an anonymous U.S. official was quoted by Reuters on Tuesday. "We would like the market to take note that there's no need for increasing the price at the moment." Over the weekend, the world tightened its financial sanctions on Russia, cutting many Russian banks out of the international monetary system SWIFT. And while political leaders continue to drag their feet over energy-focused sanctions, for fear of making their own citizens vulnerable to soaring gas and electricity prices, the private sector has taken matters into its own hands. BP and Shell have both abandoned Russian projects, taking a stand on the side of Ukraine and making strong statements condemning Putins aggression. The way that the world has rallied to defend Ukraine has been stunning even Switzerland has taken a side and the manner in which the private sector has stepped up to do what the government would or could not do is history in the making. It must be pointed out, however, that for Shell and BP, higher oil prices are not necessarily a problem. Ironically, the West and Russia have returned to a context of mutually assured destruction. This time its not nuclear holocaust, but economic devastation thats on the line if energy sanctions are placed on Russian exports at the same time that energy supplies are already devastatingly tight. If Europe is unwilling to go further than placing sanctions on Russian banks and freezing oligarchs assets, however, the Kremlin will have little reason not to continue a reign of terror in Ukraine. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: OPEC+ is widely expected to continue raising its overall production quota by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) per the plan from last summer, despite the surging oil prices over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a Bloomberg survey of 18 analysts and traders showed on Tuesday. The OPEC+ groupled by Saudi Arabia and Russiais meeting on Wednesday to discuss production for the month of April, while oil prices have jumped to over $100 per barrel and the market is apprehensive that it could soon have to go without at least some Russian barrels. Moreover, OPEC and OPEC+ have not been pumping as much as the OPEC+ pact calls for, essentially tightening the market and distorting analyst assumptions about market balances. Estimates in the International Energy Agency's monthly oil market report for February showed that the gap between OPEC+ production and its target levels surged to as much as 900,000 bpd in January. Despite $100 oil and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the OPEC+ alliance is set to rubberstamp another 400,000 bpd increase in monthly production targets next week, several OPEC+ sources told Reuters last week. The Russian invasion of Ukrainethe move that triggered oil's jump to $100hasn't changed the dynamics in the OPEC+ group, sources at the alliance told Reuters on Friday. In the Bloomberg survey, only one of 18 experts polled expects OPEC+ to decide to add more than 400,000 bpd to its production quotas for April. Russia's war in Ukraine hasn't affected the OPEC+ agreement, two sources at the group told Reuters on Tuesday, and also said they expect the alliance to stick to its monthly increases. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), discussed the oil market and "supporting stability in the global energy market," according to a statement from the Kremlin cited by Bloomberg. The UAEa U.S. allyabstained last week from voting a resolution of the United Nations to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The other two countries which abstained were China and India, while Russia vetoed the resolution. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Spare oil production capacity is already under stress, and it will likely worsen as the crisis in Ukraine continues. The world is short on spare oil production capacity. This became clear a while ago despite attempts to ignore it on the part of some governments of large consumer countries. The problem has once again come into the spotlight amid the Ukraine crisis, which has prompted fears of disruption in Russian oil and gas exports. Spare capacity is falling and the [oil] market is having to reprice that lack of safety margin, JP Morgans head of global energy strategy, Christyan Malek, told the Financial Times last week. The spare capacity problem has been highlighted repeatedly, by OPEC, the International Energy Agency, and numerous analysts. The result of underinvestment, the decline in global capacity will take quite a while to reverse if it ever does, given the energy transition pressure that environmentalist groups, activist investors, and governments are putting on the energy industry. Forecasts that if Big Oil continues to explore for oil and gas, it might end up with some $500 billion in stranded assets are not helping matters, either. Oil is currently trading at over $102 for Brent crude and over $98 for West Texas Intermediate. The latest spike came this weekend, after the United States, Canada, the EU, and the UK announced they would cut off several Russian banks from the international bank transfer settlement system SWIFT in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Given the size of Russias oil and gas exports, traders worried the latest punitive action from the West could result in oil and gas flow disruptions. In the meantime, global spare capacity in oil has dropped to just 2.8 million bpd, according to JP Morgan data. Thats quite a bit lower than the 5 million bpd that is considered a comfortable spare capacity level, sufficient to cushion the market against any operational or, as is the case now, geopolitical disruptions. The level is so low, in fact, that, according to Malek, prices will continue higher even if the situation in Ukraine does not lead to disruptions in oil flows. The oil price is going up, and an oil supercycle is inevitable, the analyst told the Financial Times. There is nothing you can do. Disruptions, however, seem quite likely in the wake of the latest sanctions against Russia. The various banking sanctions make it highly difficult for Russian petroleum sales to occur now, John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital, told CNBC this weekend. Most banks will not provide basic financing, due to the risk of running afoul of sanctions. Although the sanctions are still being crafted to avoid energy price shocks, we believe this aggressive-but-not-maximalist stance may not be sustainable, with disruptions to oil and gas shipments looking increasingly inevitable, Evercore ISI wrote in a note, cited by CNBC. Related: Oil Prices Retreat As Biden Leaves Energy Out Of Sanctions Package Meanwhile, demand for oil continues to grow. According to the chief executive of Vitol, the commodity trading major, global oil demand is set to pass the 100-million barrel-daily threshold this year for the first time. Demand is going to surge in the second half, Russell Hardy told Bloomberg earlier this month. While demand is surging, Big Oil in Europe is being pressured to reduce its oil production, in the case of Shell with a court ruling, and in the United States, shale drillers cannot drill fast enough to keep up with demand growth. They are also suffering the fallout of the supply chain havoc wrought on the U.S. economy by the pandemic, so production recovery is going slower than it otherwise could have. Eventually were going to run out of spare capacity, Vitols Hardy told Bloomberg last week. Thats what the market is trying to work out how worried to be about that scenario. Hardy was speaking before Russia sent troops to Ukraine. Now, the level of uncertainty about global oil supply is a lot higher, and prices may well follow. While the Western powers have tried to work around energy supplies in their sanction push against Moscow, Moscow itself may take the last step and turn off the taps. While for now Russia has assured its energy clients there will be no disruptions to oil and gas flows, lets not forget there were assurances it will not invade Ukraine until the countrys president mentioned Ukraine could once again become a nuclear power, which some in Russia believe acted as the final trigger for the invasion. The FT quoted Bob McNally from Rapidan Energy Group, who said the chances of oil and gas flow disruption in Ukraine was limited, noting that Russia exports some 250,000 bpd of oil via its eastern neighbor and about a fifth of its gas exports to Europe. The lack of spare production capacity, however, made the point more or less moot. Until its clear that there will not be an interruption in oil supplies and in gas, I think youre going to see upward pressure, McNally said last week. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In a move that likely angered his environment-conscious base, the White House has issued a muted request for U.S. oil companies to increase crude oil production in the wake of high crude oil and gasoline prices. Though words are different than deedsand President Joe Bidens deeds have been decisively anti-fossil fuel expansiona White House official told U.S. oil companies on Tuesday that they could increase production if they want. Prices are quite high, the price signal is strong. If folks want to produce more, they can and they should, White House National Economic Council Deputy Director Bharat Ramamurti said in an interview today. While the words fell short of an official request to U.S. oil companies to increase production, it is decidedly different from ignoring U.S. oil companies production plans altogether while asking OPEC+ to do the heavy lifting when it comes to oil productionto no avail, no less. Ramamurti also dispelled the notion that the U.S. Administration was somehow curtailing crude oil production. But U.S. oil companies have long held that while the Administration hasnt directly restricted U.S. output, the energy policies flowing out of the White House have put a damper not only on the attitude involving crude oil production but has made it far more difficult for oil companies to ramp up. The White House has received a lot of pushback in recent days for not tapping what many see as at least a partial solution to the headache that is high oil pricesU.S. shale. Oil companies such as Devon Energy have said they have been perplexed that the White House has not called on them directly to ramp up oil production. And Ramamurtis comments today still do not rise to the level of asking U.S. producers for more oil. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Crude oil's rally continued unabated today even after the United States and several of its international allies said they may release oil from their reserves in response to the high prices. Reuters reported that the United States and its allies were discussing the coordinated release of between 60 and 70 million barrels of crude in response to the latest moves in oil prices, which were prompted by fears of supply disruption after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia's crude oil exports average 4 to 5 million barrels daily, plus another 2 to 3 million barrels daily of oil products. These flows, however, have been disrupted after the West slammed a barrage of sanctions on Moscow, including suspending several banks from the SWIFT international system. The sanctions have sent commodity traders reeling, with some buyers shunning Russian oil, Reuters reported, and others finding it difficult to pay for the cargo and find tankers to transport them. Meanwhile, the UK has closed its ports to all Russian or Russia-related vessels, the report also said. So far, the West has not resorted to direct sanctions on Russia's oil and gas industry, but according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, these are not off the table, either. These, however, could have "extreme consequences for the world energy markets, particularly ours and Europe's," Psaki said. Meanwhile, prices at the pump across the United States continue to rise. According to the AAA, the average per gallon of regular at $3.610, up by $0.06 in a day. In Los Angeles, the average gas price has broken a new record, reaching $4.89 this week. The average for the state, according to the AAA, stood at $4.827 per gallon. With regards to the planned concerted release of oil reserves, "It should have a significant psychological effect on oil market sentiment, because it would signal to the market that the main oil-consuming nations are determined to try to prevent a further spike in oil prices," FG Energy analysts wrote in a note. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Germany had planned to phase out both nuclear power and coal in the coming years, but those plans could now be put on hold. As Germany aims to reduce its reliance on Russian natural gas, it is considering all energy sources and wants to build two new LNG terminals. Europes largest economy is heavily dependent on Russian gas and has now realized it must change its energy policy to ensure national security. The Russian invasion of Ukraine upended the energy policy of Germany. In just a few days since Putin decided to invade Ukraine, Europes biggest economy - heavily dependent on Russian pipeline gas and the end point of another project to receive natural gas from Russia - has suspended the new pipeline project and said no energy source is off the table when it comes to ensuring German energy security. Early last week, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and deployed troops there, Germany suspended Nord Stream 2, the Russia-led natural gas pipeline project. We now have to reassess the dramatically changed situation: This also applies to Nord Stream 2, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said last Tuesday, adding that The certification cannot take place now. Related: Russia Has $630 Billion To Spare As It Considers Cutting European Gas Flows Since last Tuesday, however, the crisis escalated into a full-blown Russian invasion of Ukraine. The European Union and the United States scrambled to draft sanctions against Russia and Putin in such a way so as not to disrupt Russian oil and gas exports, a large part of which go to Europe. And European countries, including the biggest economy in Europe, Germany, outlined new measures in their own domestic energy policies to wean themselves off Russian energy dependence. The Russian war in Ukraine placed that dependence in sharp relief - the West wants to punish Putin with the harshest possible sanctions, but it has been reluctant to slap sanctions on Russian oil and gas exports. Some European countries realized that having one predominant supplier of gas (or any other commodity) is not a sustainable energy policy, especially in light of the green policies that have led to pledges for phasing out coal in a few years. In a major change, of course, Germany - which had argued until a few months ago that it is looking at the purely commercial benefits it would gain from Nord Stream 2 - is now not only putting the project on ice, but it is also supporting the construction of two terminals to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is not leaving any energy source - not even coal or nuclear - off the table. We will change course in order to eliminate our dependence on imports from individual energy suppliers, Chancellor Scholz said on Sunday at Parliament, which had convened to discuss the war in Ukraine. After all, the events of recent days and weeks have shown us that responsible, forward-looking energy policy is not just crucial for our economy and our climate. It is also crucial for our security, he added. Germany will build two LNG import facilities, at Brunsbuettel and Wilhelmshaven, the chancellor said. The German government has asked energy group Uniper to reconsider its plans for an LNG terminal construction at Wilhelmshaven - plans that the company shelved two years ago because of poor economics, German business daily Handelsblatt reported on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the matter. Apart from two LNG terminals, Germany plans to boost the volumes of its natural gas storage and will purchase more gas on the global market in consultation with the EU, Chancellor Scholz said. Coal reserves will also be boosted, he added. No energy source is taboo in the new German energy strategy to move away from Russian gas dependence, said economy minister Robert Habeck, a member of the Green Party. Before Putins war in Ukraine, Germany planned to switch off all its remaining nuclear power generators by the end of 2022, while it also looked to retire a large portion of its coal-fired capacity fleet between 2022 and 2024. The country has said it would aim to phase out coal by 2030 eight years ahead of earlier plans. Extending the operation of the remaining nuclear power plants or phasing out coal later than 2030 are options currently under discussion, the minister said. There are no taboos on deliberations, regarding Germanys energy policy from now on, Habeck told German television ARD on Sunday. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The spike in crude oil prices last week in the aftermath of Russias invasion of Ukraine has lent further urgency to the long-running efforts to bring Iranian oil back into the global oil market in order to bring prices back down to levels that do not cause so much damage to major economies. According to sources closely connected to the current negotiations between the P5+1 group of nations (U.S., U.K., France, China, and Russia, plus Germany) and Iran exclusively spoken to last week by OilPrice.com, the mechanism to achieve this a new iteration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is tantalizingly close to being done. However, the most senior source added, not only will Iran have to make significant nuclear and missile concessions first but, even more problematic for both sides albeit for different reasons, Iran will be committed initially to aligning itself with the full rules and regulations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and then to becoming a fully-regulated and constantly-monitored FATF member. The prize for a full new iteration of the JCPOA to be signed and put into effect will be at least an immediate 5-10 percent drop in oil prices in the short- to medium-term and maybe more. Specifically, as highlighted by OilPrice.com most recently at the beginning of 2022, Iranian crude oil and condensate production could bounce back very quickly after a new iteration of has been signed and Irans Petroleum Ministry orders the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to ramp up production. According to a senior analyst at global energy markets intelligence company Kpler, spoken to exclusively by OilPrice.com at the time, in this scenario Iran could see an 80 percent recovery of full production within six months and a 100 percent recovery within 12 months. [As at the beginning of Q4 2021] Iranian crude oil production capacity stood at 3.9 to 4.0 million barrels per day [bpd] according to the NIOC with current output holding near 2.4 million, of which 1.7-1.8 million is consumed in domestic refineries, and close to 1 million barrels per day of condensate and natural gas liquids are also being produced at present, primarily from the South Pars gas field, although total condensate and NGL production capacity stands at around 1 3 million barrels per day, said the Kpler analyst. Ultimately, we believe Iranian production could technically jump by 1.7 million bpd including 200,000 bpd of condensate and LPG/ethane, in a 6 to 9 month period from when sanctions are lifted and an immediate impact of a 5-10 percent fall in the oil price would be likely, the analyst concluded. Over and above the nuclear and missile concessions required of Iran that have been analyzed in their various aspects by OilPrice.com and can be agreed to by Tehran with varying degrees of believability, the FATF is a different matter entirely. Founded in 1989 by the G7 group of nations - U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan - the FATF was initially focused on identifying and combating money laundering but shortly afterward had its operational remit expanded to included to do the same for the financing of terrorism and related activities. With its 40 active criteria and mechanisms in place to prevent money laundering or to deal with those who do it, and nine criteria and mechanisms in place to do the same for the financing of terrorism and related activities, the FATF has swingeing powers to wield against individuals, companies, or countries who transgress any of its standards and is extremely aggressive in using them by degrees, depending on whether the sanctioned entity is on its grey or black list. Currently, Iran is one of just two countries the other being North Korea on its blacklist, with a particular failure on Irans part noted by the FATF in its inability or unwillingness to address its deficiencies even after the Implementation Day of the first JCPOA on 16 January 2016. According to the FATF: Irans [2016] action plan expired in January 2018[and] In February 2020, the FATF noted Iran has not completed the action plan. The FATF added: In October 2019, the FATF called upon its members and urged all jurisdictions to: require increased supervisory examination for branches and subsidiaries of financial institutions based in Iran; introduce enhanced relevant reporting mechanisms or systematic reporting of financial transactions; and require increased external audit requirements for financial groups with respect to any of their branches and subsidiaries located in Iran. The FATF concluded and this is where we are now: Iran will remain on the FATF statement on [High Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action] until the full Action Plan has been completed. If Iran ratifies the Palermo and Terrorist Financing Conventions, in line with the FATF standards, the FATF will decide on next steps, including whether to suspend countermeasures. There are three key reasons why the FATF-conditionality being insisted upon by the P5+1 group of nations in the current negotiations to sign a new iteration of the JCPOA is so difficult for Iran. The first of these is that every single element contained in all 49 combined elements of the FATFs anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism rules and regulations are being broken by Iran. Second, they are being broken by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and/or its associated entities and affiliates (depending on which of the 49 elements is looked at), and that the IRGC and its associated entities and affiliates permeate the very fabric of Irans economic and corporate structures. And third, the IRGCs activities are regarded as being done entirely in the spirit of spreading Irans revolutionary Islamic message around the world by its religious leaders. In this latter regard, the remarkably pervasive view that the IRGC is somehow a rogue element in Iran that acts without the full knowledge and blessing of Irans senior religious figures is devoid of any factual basis. As analyzed in-depth in my new book on the global oil markets and evidenced in recent elections at the center of the guiding principles of Iran, and of all of its politicians and of the IRGC, is the concept of Velayat-e-Faqih. This means that all serious political and religious authority is entrusted to the Iranian clergy, which makes all the key decisions for Iran, provided that they have been approved by the foremost religious leader - the Supreme Leader himself. It is only when this approval has been given that actions are then taken to enforce it by the guardians of the 1979 Revolution, the IRGC. And these decisions cover everything of significance from foreign policy, through defense policy, economic policy, and intelligence policy, to any major domestic policy as well, a senior oil and gas industry source who works closely with Irans Petroleum Ministry told OilPrice.com. This standard operating procedure, then, feeds back into the breadth and depth of the IRGCs involvement in all levels of Irans economic and corporate structures, as also examined in my new book on the global oil markets. Back at the beginning of 2016 again, around the same time as Implementation Day of the first JCPOA - Emanuele Ottolenghi, a senior fellow with the foundation for Defense of Democracies testified before a sub-committee of the U.S.s House Committee on Foreign Affairs that the IRGC had significant ownership shares in 27 companies that are publicly traded on the TSE, constituting at minimum 22 percent of its total value, at US$15.8 billion between them. Since then, according to sources in Washington and London, estimates are that the IRGC placed top commanders at the heart of more than 200 Iranian companies. Indeed, according to Ottolenghi, the IRGC is active in the Iranian oil, gas, petrochemical, automotive, transportation, telecommunications, construction, and metals and mining sectors, and identified several companies in which the IRGC owns a significant stake. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, in September 2012, also described the NIOC itself as an agent or affiliate of the IRGC and therefore subject to sanctions under Iran Threat Reduction Act. Moreover, after years of prevarication given the knowledge that to do so would be effectively to brand Irans religious leadership as the same the U.S. officially branded the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), with all of the ramifications implied. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The IEA Ministerial Meeting being held on Tuesday has resulted in an agreement of some of its members to release 60 million barrels of crude oil from various countries strategic petroleum reserves. The United States has agreed to release 30 million barrels of crude oil from its SPR. The rest of the IEA members in Europe and Asia will release the remaining 30 million barrels. The concerted release is said to have a greater impact on the global oil markets than just a single countrys releasebut analysts have questioned how much of an impact it would really have on the global markets, considering that 60 million barrels is less than a day of global oil demand. But what the market is fearing here is lost Russian barrels. Lost to the market, that is. And for this, were talking about less than 7 million barrels a day that are exported. To offset that with 60 million barrels for a short while is certainly achievable. Whats more, its very unlikely that all Russian crude oil exports would be stopped, even if they are sanctioned. It is far more likely that China would continue to purchase crude oil from Russia even if there are sanctions, leaving an even smaller share for the SPR releases to cover. But the market is interpreting the 60 million barrels as a mere drop in the big oil bucket, as evidenced by the rise in prices. Shortly after the announcement, WTI shot up $8.54 (+8.92%) on the day to $104.26. Brent, meanwhile, jumped up $7.85 (+8.01%) to $105.82 per barrel on the day. The SPR release seems to have the opposite of the intended effect on oil prices, and thats not terribly surprising. An announced SPR release is also a signal to the market that the market is in trouble. Global crude oil inventories are low, and demand is soaring. And now, Russias oil supplyor at least part of itcould soon be unavailable to the Western world should additional sanctions become necessary. The announcement of the release of barrels from the SPR only highlights those issues. The IEA, however, has said that the SPR release sends a unified and strong message to global oil markets that there will be no shortfall in supplies as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Amid Russias attack on Ukraine, Azerbaijan has been trying to maintain good relations with both countries, sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine just days after signing a treaty alliance with Russia. Meanwhile, many Azerbaijanis have been discontented with what they see as their governments conspicuous silence in the face of the invasion, and several hundred Azerbaijanis held a rally in solidarity with Ukraine, which was ultimately dispersed by the police. On February 26, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy tweeted his thanks to Azerbaijan for supplying humanitarian aid to his country. That aid supply had not been previously made public in Azerbaijan, but several hours later local media reported that a plane from Azerbaijani air cargo company Silkway had transported 5 million euros worth of medicines to Ukraine. The same day, Zelenskiy sent another tweet thanking Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for ordering gas stations in Ukraine belonging to Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR to provide free fuel to ambulances and emergency services vehicles. Azerbaijan has particular ties with each country, which has helped determine its response to the crisis. Bakus relationship with Moscow is up-and-down, but took an up turn when Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Moscow and signed an alliance agreement linking the two countries foreign policies just two days before Putin announced the invasion. Also while in Moscow, Aliyev signaled that Azerbaijan intended to cooperate with Russia on gas exports to Europe; Russia has threatened to cut off Europes energy supplies and Azerbaijan had earlier suggested it could be a potential alternative. Ukraine, however, is also a strategic partner to Azerbaijan, and has long publicly supported Azerbaijans territorial integrity that is, its right to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, over which Azerbaijan lost control to Armenian forces in a war in the 1990s. When the second war between the two sides, in 2020, ended in Azerbaijan retaking much of that territory, Zelenskiy supported Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has not vocally reciprocated: following Russias formal recognition of the Ukrainian breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics, Baku has remained silent. The day before the invasion, Aliyev was asked in Moscow about his position on Russia-Ukraine tensions in a meeting with prominent Russian journalists. He demurred, replying that he preferred to withhold judgment as it would be irresponsible of me to give a prognosis. But he also spoke disapprovingly on the possibility of sanctions against Russia, saying he was sure that they would be futile as Putin has probably calculated it all when he made the decision. Russia is resilient against any sanctions with its potential, geography, and opportunities. On February 25, after the invasion had started, Aliyevs senior foreign policy adviser Hikmat Hajiyev told state television that the events happening around Ukraine were disturbing processes and should be solved by dialogue. The fact that Hajiyev and other officials stopped short of open support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia dismayed many Azerbaijanis. They should never again use the words territorial integrity and sovereignty, one independent journalist, Sahila Aslanova, wrote on Twitter, referring to Bakus regular talking points in defense of its position on Karabakh. Ukraines Ambassador to Baku, Vladislav Kanevskiy, told BBC Azerbaijani on February 25 that Kyiv was still waiting to hear Azerbaijans position. Im planning to hold a series of meetings to learn the official Azerbaijani stance on the current situation. We addressed a request to the official bodies for that, he said. The news of the humanitarian aid shipment the next day cheered many who were supporting Ukraine. When I read about Azerbaijans aid to Ukraine, I felt at ease, as if a burden was taken off of my shoulders, wrote another Twitter user. Azerbaijans balancing act between its two strategic partners was again displayed during a vote over terminating Russias membership in the Council of Europe. While 42 member states out of 47 voted to kick Russia out, Azerbaijan was one of only two countries which didn't show up for the vote. Support for Ukraine was not expressed only online: On February 27, a demonstration was held in Baku in front of the Ukrainian embassy to show solidarity with Ukraine, where several hundred participants chanted slogans Slava Ukraine (Glory to Ukraine) and Glory to Zelensky as well as some criticizing Russia and Putin. As the crowd grew, the police stepped in and dispersed the demonstrators, telling them nothing is going to change with your words, participants reported. The government appeared to try to play down the import of the rally. Holding a protest like this isnt against Russia, one pro-government member of parliament, Elman Nasirov, told local news outlet Pravda.az. If Russia were in the analogous situation, Azerbaijan would take the same steps. But now Ukraine is the side facing serious casualties. But the authorities are being cautious with respect to the protests against the war. On the day the war started, the police detained activist Elman Guliyev in front of the Russian embassy in Baku as he read a statement denouncing the war. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Canada, which has not imported any Russian oil in three years, has made a symbolic gesture in banning these same imports this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. While Canada has imported very little amounts [of crude oil] in recent years, this measure sends a powerful message, Trudeau said, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal. Canada, the WSJ recalls, has been among the most aggressive sanction proponents against Russia, while Europe, which imports a quarter of its oil and almost 40 percent of its gas from Russia, has been more hesitant about the possibility of shooting itself in the foot with sanctions. For now, the focus has been on the financial sector and government assets abroad, with a side focus on bans on Russian state media. While direct oil and gas sanctions have been kept off the table, there has been fear that current sanctions, including the cutting off of several Russian banks from the SWIFT international transaction reporting system, would affect oil and gas flows. Indeed, Reuters reported yesterday that a Russian tanker carrying crude oil to Malaysia might fall victim to the sanctions. The Linda, according to the report, is the property of a company called PSB Leasing, which is a unit of Promsvyazbankone of the targets of Western sanctions. The report cited the bank as saying it was no longer the owner of the vessel. Another vessel that Promsvyazbank said was not its property was seized by French authorities during the weekend. Again, reports said its owner was Promsvyazbanks subsidiary PSB Leasing. Another report from this week said buyers of Russian oil were encountering problems with payments for cargos and finding tankers to carry these cargos in the wake of the sanction wave from the West. All this suggests that even without directly targeting Russian oil and gas exports, the West could damage international flows, which means the upward risk for oil prices remains considerable. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Buoyed by the surging popularity of ready-to-drink cocktails during the COVID-19 pandemic, global liquor producer Diageo expanded its Will County manufacturing operations Tuesday with the opening of a new canning facility. The Plainfield manufacturing facility, Diageo Lincolnway, includes two high-speed can lines to support the growth of the companys ready-to-drink category, officials with Diageo North America said in a news release. Advertisement The parent company of Smirnoff, Crown Royal, Guinness and other well-known brands, Diageo has invested about $110 million in the Plainfield facility, which has the capacity to produce more than 25 million cases of malt-based beverages and spirits-based ready-to-drink cocktails each year. Global liquor producer Diageo invested $110 million in a new canning facility it opened March 1, 2022, in Plainfield, which will add 50 jobs to the company's roughly 600-person workforce southwest of Chicago. The plant is expected to produce 25 million cases annually of ready-to-drink cocktails, which have gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Diageo / HANDOUT) The new facility will support 50 full-time jobs, with Diageos Plainfield warehouse and bottling operation collectively employing more than 600 workers, the company said. Advertisement The new facility strengthens our manufacturing footprint in the region and allows us to leverage synergies with our warehouse and bottling operation in Plainfield, Michael L. Nelson Jr., Diageo North Americas senior vice president for manufacturing and distillation, said in a statement. The ready-to-drink cocktail market across the U.S. has exploded in recent years, fueled by a soaring number of consumers choosing to dine and drink at home, especially during the early days of the pandemic, when many restaurants and bars offered only meals and alcoholic beverages to go. Sales of ready-to-drink cocktails grew 116.2% to $723.9 million in 2021, according to market research firm NielsenIQ. A 56-year-old partnership with the Village of Plainfield began when the Plainfield Bottling site opened in 1966, making Diageo an integral part of Plainfields economic life, providing jobs and tax revenue, Plainfield Mayor John Argoudelis said in a statement. One of the biggest alcohol producers in the world, Diageo sells its products in more than 180 countries. The companys brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanans whiskeys; Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas; Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas; as well as Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness. Advertisement Chicago Tribune reporter Robert Channick contributed. kcullotta@chicagotribune.com The Switzerland-registered owner of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project could file for insolvency in a Swiss court as soon as this week, following the U.S. sanctions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter. Nord Stream 2, led by Russian gas giant Gazprom, was a project to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea. Until last week, the pipeline construction was complete, and 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, after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and deployed troops there, Germany suspended the Russia-led project, and the United States slapped sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG. After the crisis escalated into a full-blown war that Putin now leads in Ukraine, the Western partners tightened the screw with severe sanctions on Russia and Putins ability to use Russian banks and the central bank for payments. Nord Stream 2 has also terminated contracts with employees due to the sanctions. Following the recent geopolitical developments leading to the imposition of U.S. sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG, the company had to terminate contracts with employees. We very much regret this development, Nord Stream 2 AG said in an emailed statement to Reuters. Gazprom had European partners in the Nord Stream 2 venture, including Shell, Uniper, Wintershall Dea, Engie, and OMV. Shell already said earlier this week that it will exit all partnerships with Gazprom and also intends to end its involvement in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project due to Putins war in Ukraine. We cannot and we will not stand by, Shells chief executive officer Ben van Beurden said in a statement. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil traders are staying away from Russian crude after the Western countries banned selected Russian banks from SWIFT, and Russian producers cant sell their cargoes in tenders because no one is bidding. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian cargoes have become toxic for most of the traders, insurers, and tanker owners, although the sanctions do not target energy exports. Some refiners and traders are uncertain how the bank credits would work; others are staying away to avoid reputational damage. The global oil market is starting to see disruption in Russian supply, which could send oil prices even higher than the current $104 a barrel as of early Tuesday. Surgutneftegaz, for example, offered on Monday two cargoes of Russias flagship Urals grade loading on March 10 and 11, but received no bids, traders told Reuters yesterday. This was the second time Surgutneftegaz had failed to award those cargoes after a first failed tender last week when Russian invaded Ukraine. Last weeks bids were in the region of around $15 a barrel below Dated Brent. On Tuesday, Surgutneftegaz is offering eight cargos for loading in March, and if that tender fails again, it will be indicative of the struggles Russia has with selling its crude despite the fact that it is not directly targeted by the sanctions. Refiners are steering clear of Russian crude, charter rates have soared, especially in the Black Sea region, insurers decline to ensure tankers, and tanker owners as a whole are not willing to offer their vessels to load Russian crude. Refiners in Europe have started to replace Russian crude. For example, Neste of Finland said on Tuesday, Due to the current situation and the uncertainty in the market, Neste has mostly replaced Russian crude oil with other crudes, such as North Sea oil. Neste is preparing for various options in procurement, production and logistics. Swedens refiner Preem told Argus it had paused all incoming orders of Russian crude oil, pending sanctions. Supermajor BP, which said this weekend it would exit its 20-percent stake in Russian oil giant Rosneft, has canceled all of its fuel oil loadings from a Russian Black Sea port over Putins invasion of Ukraine, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a case on Monday brought by Republican states and coal companies over how much authority the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has to order emissions reductions at power plants. The case could be a significant hurdle to future climate policies of the Biden Administration and could set a precedent on whether federal agencies have the authority to impose carbon dioxide limits on power plants. The conservative-majority Supreme Court will hear arguments today over whether the EPA has the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal- and natural gas-fired power plants under the Clean Air Act. Republican states led by West Virginia and coal industry groups are challenging a federal court ruling from last year that said the EPA had the authority to issue such regulations. We dont think that the EPA has the unilateral capability to decarbonize our country, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey told Fox Businesss Maria Bartiromo on Monday, commenting on the case at the Supreme Court. We know that there is only a limited amount of authority that the EPA possesses with respect to these carbon emissionsThis is the great opportunity to rein in federal overreach, AG Morrisey said. Major policy choices affecting the national economy should not be made by unelected agency officials, according to a legal brief filed by North American Coal Corporation, cited by NBC News. Of those supporting the Administrations approach, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) said, commenting on the case that pro-coal interests want the Supreme Court to hand them a license to pollute. Opponents of the Biden Administration are advancing horror stories about extreme regulations the EPA may issue in the future. The EPA is writing a new rule on a clean slate, David Doniger, a climate change expert with the NRDC, told the Associated Press. The Supreme Court is expected to decide on the matter by the end of June. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Chinese buyers of coal are having trouble securing financing to buy coal from Russia, the worlds third-largest coal exporter, as Chinas banks are wary of sanctions themselves after selected Russian banks were expelled from the SWIFT banking system. Most banks have stopped issuing letters of credit after the SWIFT sanctions. As almost all contracts are dollar-denominated, we have no other way to make the payment, a trader dealing in Russian coal and based in China told Reuters on Tuesday. Despite the fact that Russias large-volume energy exports are not directly targeted by sanctions, the other sanctions already in placeespecially the SWIFT banis making a growing number of traders in all energy commodities reluctant to deal with Russia, all the more so that banks decline to issue letters of credit in U.S. dollars. Chinese traders are discussing with Russian coal exporters payments in Chinese yuan, for the first time, according to Reuters sources. There is an option for buyers to use the Chinese banking settlement and clearing system, CIPS, at some point in the future. Right now, even China is wary of dealing with Russian commodities, according to traders. Loading of Russian coal has almost stopped at the moment because of uncertainty over payments given the sanctions, a market participant told Argus. Even before the SWIFT ban, Chinese large state-owned banks were reportedly moving to restrict financing for Russian commodities purchases after Russia invaded Ukraine last week. China is the single largest buyer of Russian coal, while Russia is the second-largest coal supplier to China after Indonesia. Considering that the heating season is nearly at its end, China is not expected to have short-term issues with coal supply, according to Reuters. The uncertainty over the payments for Russian commodities has already started to reverberate through the global energy markets, sending coal prices to record highs and adding to the supply disruptions from Indonesia, which restricts exports. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Until college football can figure out what to do about NIL, it can slow its effect by turning back the clock, when immediate eligibility didnt get handed out like gumballs, Sam McKewon writes. The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Nebraska hit a seven-month low last week. Nebraska recorded 968 new cases of COVID for the week ending Thursday, down 50% from the 1,940 reported the previous week, according to a World-Herald analysis of federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. That marked the first time since late July that weekly cases have dipped below 1,000. Nebraskas per-capita case rate dipped below Marylands to become the nations lowest. The state rate is now less than one-third the national rate. In all, COVID cases have fallen by 97% in Nebraska since the omicron wave peaked five weeks ago. They have dropped 90% nationally in that same time, the reason that cities, school districts and states increasingly are setting aside mask mandates. The CDC last week issued new metrics that suggest 70% of Americans live in communities where cases and hospitalizations now are low enough that healthy people no longer need to wear masks. Based on the CDC metrics, Douglas and Sarpy Counties both are considered to have medium case levels, suggesting those with health concerns should continue to wear masks. Lancaster County has a low case rate. At that level, the CDC recommends that only people with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID should wear a mask. The CDC notes that anyone can choose to wear a mask at any time. Some rural Nebraska counties continue to have high ratings under the new system. The CDC still recommends mask use in those counties. Hospitalizations in Nebraska are falling more slowly than the number of cases. The average number of Nebraskans hospitalized last week fell only 13% from the week before. Hospitalizations did fall below 300 for the first time since August, dipping to 279 on Sunday. Thats down from a peak of 767 a month ago. But that number remains well above levels seen before the delta and omicron variant waves arrived last summer. There was a big exhale when we saw the volume going down, Kevin Miller, president of the Omaha areas Lakeside and Midlands Hospitals, said Monday. But he and other hospital officials said their facilities still are busy catching up with care delayed during the pandemic. Hospitals continue to face staffing challenges and concerns about burnout. Brett Richmond, president and CEO of Methodist Fremont Health, said he hopes for an easier spring and summer that will give staff members a bit of a reprieve. But he said it will be important to continue to push to increase vaccination rates and booster doses. If we dont continue to make progress on that front, he said, I think well have a decrease in immunity should we see another wave sometime this year. Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association, said data provided by the state indicates that only 32% of the states eligible population is boosted. Everyone 12 and older is eligible for boosters. Although the initial vaccine doses still are effective in preventing severe disease, their effectiveness in preventing infection wanes over time, especially in people 65 and older. And boosters have bolstered protection against the omicron variant, which can get around some portion of vaccine- and infection-induced immunity. Most of Douglas Countys share of the at-home COVID-19 test kits purchased by the state health department have been distributed or are being sent to the areas eight school districts and the Omaha Archdiocese, said Phil Rooney, a spokesman for the Douglas County Health Department. Others have gone to homeless shelters, correctional facilities and five Omaha Public Library branches Washington, Abrams, Benson, South Omaha and Millard. Some also will be distributed at community events. The state logged 73 confirmed or probable deaths last week, down only slightly from the 79 weekly deaths the state has averaged over the past month. At the current rate, the state this week will top 4,000 confirmed or probable deaths since the pandemic began. The state has recorded 453,569 COVID cases during the pandemic. <&rule> Omaha World-Herald: Live Well News, advice, a calendar of fitness/race events from Live Well Nebraska and occasional offers will keep you in shape and informed. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Julie Anderson Julie Anderson is a medical reporter for The World-Herald. She covers health care and health care trends and developments, including hospitals, research and treatments. Follow her on Twitter @JulieAnderson41. Phone: 402-444-1066. Follow Julie Anderson Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A cheerful contingent of kindergartners queued up outside Patton Elementary School in Arlington Heights Monday morning, blissfully unaware that Feb. 28 marked a dramatic milestone in their nearly two-year trek through the COVID-19 pandemic. For students in kindergarten through first grade, who have never experienced a typical, prepandemic school year, COVID-19 masks have become as ubiquitous as crayons, glue and scissors, and masked or unmasked, the youngsters greeted their arriving classmates with spirited squeals. Advertisement It does feel like were turning a corner, but for our students, masks have been a nonissue, Patton Principal Eric Larson said as the kindergartners headed to their classroom on the first day of the halting of Gov. J.B. Pritzkers school mask mandate. The kids have done a really good job treating each other with mutual respect, kindness and empathy, and their teachers have done a great job helping them understand that people make different choices about masking for different reasons, Larson said. Advertisement Students arrive at Patton Elementary School in Arlington Heights on Feb. 28, 2022. Two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has lifted the school mask mandate. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Despite months of fervent parent protests, a flurry of lawsuits, and increasingly polarized communities where grievances have erupted between even the closest of neighbors, the Illinois school mask mandate ended Monday without fanfare. Coinciding with the governors lifting of the mask mandate for the general public, and prompted by the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, federal rules also were relaxed for student transportation, with children no longer required to wear face masks while aboard a school bus. While universal masking will still be enforced at Chicago Public Schools as part of a COVID-19 safety agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union, the vast majority of the roughly 850 Illinois school districts had shifted to mask-optional policies weeks before the Friday release of the CDC recommendations. At Barrington 220 School District, where frustrated parents have packed school board meetings in recent months, demanding an end to the mask mandate, Superintendent Robert Hunt said in a letter to parents that even with the new CDC guidance, anyone who wishes to continue wearing a mask is welcome to do so. As I have stated in the past, this is an individual choice and we must respect one anothers decisions, Hunt said. The pandemic is constantly evolving and guidance may change in the future. It is possible that we will have to add mitigations if there are significant increases in transmission rates in our schools. However, these latest changes indicate a positive step forward in this process, Hunt said. At the Washington-based National Education Association, union officials said although they are encouraged by the new guidance, local governments must bring educators to the table with our in-school experience when determining how to keep school communities safe including those with disabilities who are more vulnerable to the exposure and effects of COVID-19. Students arrive for school at Patton Elementary School on Feb. 28, 2022, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) School districts should act cautiously in response to todays announcement, with the health and safety of students, educators and their families always in mind, NEA President Becky Pringle said in a statement. Advertisement Attorney Tom DeVore, who represents hundreds of Illinois parents who filed a lawsuit against the governor and the Illinois Department of Public Health, arguing that the school mask mandate was authorized illegally, said the governor didnt lift anything, because there was nothing for him to lift. State lawmakers failed to renew IDPH rules on masking in mid-February, prompting an appellate court to dismiss the governors appeal over a Springfield judges Feb. 4 restraining order as moot. In an order late Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court refused to take the case, and found that since the appeal had been dismissed as moot, the restraining order should also be tossed. DeVore said with the vast majority of school districts statewide were already mask-optional, even before the new CDC guidance, CPS remains the sole district requiring universal masking. Advertisement DeVore said he plans to ask a judge for an order halting masking at city schools later this week. Officials at Northbrook School District 28 said the district will continue its existing mitigation strategies, including the exclusion of positive COVID-19 cases and individuals with symptoms, SHIELD saliva testing, increased fresh air intake and hand sanitizing. In addition, remote instruction will continue to be available for students excluded from school for COVID-related reasons, District 28 Superintendent Larry Hewitt said in a letter to parents. Patton Elementary School students on Feb. 28, 2022, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Anyone who wishes to continue or discontinue wearing a mask in school is free to do so, and we respect and support each familys decision to act in the best interest of their children, Hewitt said. In Arlington Heights, engineer and mother of two Tina Fries waved goodbye to her kindergartner Monday morning, saying that while she appreciates the value of the CDCs recent change of guidance, her children will remain masked in the classroom, at least for now. If I continue to see the trajectory of the data moving in the right direction during the next two weeks, Ill start to feel a little better, Fries said. Advertisement Arlington Heights District 25 Superintendent Lori Bein expressed cautious optimism at last weeks school board meeting, pointing to virus data moving steadily in a positive direction in recent weeks. The pandemic came in like a lion, and hopefully is going out like a lamb, Bein said. Were definitely in a much calmer place than we have been for the past two years. kcullotta@chicagotribune.com For the past several years, federal and state health officials have been working to get Narcan, a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses, into the hands of more people. Pharmacies across Nebraska have made Narcan, or naloxone, available to any resident, often at no charge. A website maintained by a statewide campaign called Stop Overdose Nebraska allows Nebraskans to search for pharmacies near them that offer the drug. A change in Nebraska Medicines electronic medical records software appears to be boosting those efforts. In August, the health system added an advisory to its patient records system, known as One Chart, that alerts health care providers ordering opioids for patients who meet certain criteria to also prescribe naloxone for them. Since the alert launched in August, the number of prescriptions for naloxone filled at the health systems pharmacies has increased from 36 in the five months before the move to more than 1,290, said Dr. Alena Balasanova, an addiction psychiatrist with Nebraska Medicine. In addition, the number of prescriptions for naloxone statewide increased roughly four- or fivefold in August over the previous average of 150 to 180 prescriptions a month. The number remained well above that level through December, the latest month for which data was available. The data was collected by CyncHealth, which contracts with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to manage its prescription drug monitoring program. Kevin Borcher, CyncHealths vice president of pharmacy informatics, said further research would be needed to confirm that the Nebraska Medicine project directly impacted the statewide prescribing numbers. But Balasanova noted that Nebraska Medicine has clinics throughout the Omaha metropolitan area and that other hospitals elsewhere in the state use its health record system. We want to flood the community with naloxone, she said, because we know this is the No. 1 thing that can help to reverse an opioid overdose. Balasanova said a naloxone prescription might be warranted when opioids are prescribed for people who have respiratory illnesses or other conditions that affect breathing. The same goes for people who take other medications that can interact with opioids to impact breathing. Even when a person takes an opioid as prescribed, the drugs can result in an accidental overdose if breathing slows or stops. Most opioid overdoses, Balasanova said, are accidental. I think of naloxone like a fire extinguisher, she said. You want to have it in your house just in case something should ever happen. You dont ever expect to use it, nor do you want to use it. But gosh, if you end up having a fire, arent you glad you have that fire extinguisher? More than 200 Nebraskans died of drug overdoses in 2020, an increase of nearly 43% from the previous year, according to a report last summer from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDCs report did not specify which drugs are responsible for the overdose deaths. In Nebraska, Balasanova said, methamphetamines, not opioids, have been the predominant contributor. Balasanova said the change to the medical records system originated with feedback she got while meeting with other Nebraska Medicine providers. She leads an effort for the state health department to educate providers on opioid safety as part of a CDC grant. In a separate but related initiative, Balasanova also spearheaded an effort to create a new set of orders, added to the system in December, that provides a way to assess opioid withdrawal in patients and offer treatment options. Kristin Daniel, Nebraska Medicines pharmacist program coordinator for pain stewardship, said officials edited the medical records system to make it easier to prescribe naloxone. Its just good to know that were increasing the availability of naloxone, Daniel said. If we prevent just one death, then its all worth it. Omaha World-Herald: Afternoon Update The latest headlines sent at 4:45 p.m. daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Bellevue man has pleaded no contest to one count of third-degree sexual assault and 10 counts of misdemeanor child abuse. Dakota Oehm, 28, had been awaiting trial in Sarpy County District Court on two counts of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of strangulation of a girl at least 12 years of age but younger than 16. He also had been charged with 14 counts of possession of child pornography. Oehm entered the plea on Monday in Sarpy County District Court. He was able to plead to the lesser charges after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. Oehm had been facing up to 50 years on each count of assaulting the girl. He now will face up to 11 years in prison when hes sentenced in May. According to court documents, the first sexual assault occurred March 3, 2014, at Oehms residence. The second sexual assault occurred between March 3, 2014, and May 4, 2015, at the same location. Court records say Oehm intentionally stopped the girls breathing on two occasions. The first occurred between Jan. 1, 2014, and Aug. 29, 2015, and the second between Aug. 30, 2015, and Jan. 1, 2017. An investigation began in April after the girl went to police. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday added child care centers to the list of public places where masks are no longer required, a move that his office said was the result of new federal guidelines issued late Friday. Pritzker announced Feb. 9 that he would lift the mandate for most indoor public places at the end of the month, and he added schools to that list Friday after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new recommendations and the Illinois Supreme Court overturned a lower court order that blocked enforcement of mask rules in schools. Advertisement But when he made the new masking rules official through an executive order Monday, day care centers were added to the list. Gov. J.B. Pritzker talks to reporters as he visits Navy Pier in Chicago on Feb. 28, 2022, as the mask mandate is dropped for most indoor public spaces. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) In making the change, the governors office cited the new CDC guidelines, which only recommend universal masking in areas where the agency says the coronavirus poses a high risk to the general public and the local health care system. Currently, more than three-quarters of Illinois counties are classified as low or medium risk. Advertisement The end of the mandate for day care centers comes as the majority of the children they serve those 4 and younger arent yet eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, though masks have never been recommended for those under 2. The inclusion of day care centers appeared to surprise even those operating the Illinois Department of Public Healths social media accounts, with the agency sending a Twitter message Monday listing day cares, along with hospitals and public transportation, as places where masks would still be necessary. The agency later issued a correction, writing: Effective today, Feb. 28, 2022, due to the CDCs recommendation that masks are needed only in areas of high transmission, Governor J.B. Pritzker lifted the states indoor masking requirements, including the use of face coverings in day care settings. A CDC spokesperson confirmed that the new recommendations apply to early childhood care, though specific guidelines have not been published. While day care centers werent addressed Friday during a conference call with reporters, Greta Massetti, of the CDCs COVID-19 incident management team, cited the lower risk for children from COVID-19 in explaining the decision to include schools in the new guidelines. Weve been reviewing the data on COVID illness in children for two years of the pandemic, Massetti said. And we have seen that although children can get infected and can get sick with COVID, theyre more likely to have asymptomatic or mild infections. Advertisement Pritzker in October issued an executive order requiring an estimated 55,000 workers in 2,900 state-licensed day care centers to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 3 or undergo weekly testing. dpetrella@chicagotribune.com LINCOLN Kayla Buchan saw first-hand the frustrations that remote learning created for students during the first months of the pandemic. Trying to learn online and losing the personal connection with school staff cost her middle school son the momentum he had gained in a new school and new grade, the Millard mother told the Legislatures Appropriations Committee on Monday. As time went on, he fell back into the struggles that had marked his earlier school years. With his failures came depression that continues even after students have gone back to in-person learning. Thats why Buchan testified in support of a bill that would provide up to $2,000 per child to help Nebraska students catch up on learning lost during the pandemic. My son is one of the many this bill would support, she said. Legislative Bill 1240, introduced by State Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, would direct $60 million of Nebraskas federal pandemic relief dollars for education recovery grants. Gov. Pete Ricketts included the idea in his proposal for pandemic money. Under the bill, money would be given out over three years to children from low-income families. Parents would direct the use of the grants, which could be used for private school tuition, tutoring, digital learning subscriptions, home school curriculum and other K-12 educational services. This is a critical opportunity to make an important investment in our children, Albrecht said. Jeremy Ekeler, associate director of education policy for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, said the proposal was crafted with the goal of temporarily giving a hand to children who need it the most. This is a bill about vulnerable kids, not public versus nonpublic schools, he said. We cant split hairs on this issue when the future of Nebraskas most-impacted students is at risk. However, he also contrasted the bills cost with the more than $775 million that has gone to public schools over three rounds of federal pandemic aid. LB 1240 would draw on the $1.04 billion provided to the state under the latest round, the American Rescue Plan Act. Many of those who testified for the bill have children in private schools or are affiliated with private schools. Among them was Isabella Burns, who attends Catholic school. She told lawmakers about her difficulty understanding the teachers and seeing what they were doing while trying to learn online. But Jacqelle Lane, with the Nebraska State Education Association, and Daniel Russell, with Stand for Schools, opposed the bill. Russell said the money would be better used for such things as after-school programs, summer school for all grades, retaining teachers and hiring more mental health professionals. He estimated that the amount of money to be provided for the grants would help about 9,000 students, once administrative expenses are factored in. We need statewide solutions that benefit all students, not tuition discounts to just a few, he said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Holly Hansen and her husband have always wanted to send their three sons to a parochial school to receive a Catholic education. Hansen, who lives near Wahoo, said she followed up on that desire and enrolled all three at a Catholic school. But after her youngest boys, twins, started kindergarten, the family quickly realized the school did not have enough staff to help the boys who have individualized education plans and require additional help. After many meetings with school officials, Hansen said it was decided the best thing for her twins would be to transfer to public school to get the special education help they need. Every child has a right to an education and the value of public schools is immeasurable, Hansen said. However, I should be able to choose the school my children attend. And if my husband and I want to provide a Catholic school environment for my children, they should be able to get that. And they should be able to receive the special education help they need at any school they attend. Hansen and other parents told similar stories to the Nebraska Legislatures Education Committee on Monday. Legislative Bill 1251, introduced by Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, would provide state-funded scholarships to help special education students attend private and parochial schools. Hansen said he introduced the bill to empower parents of children with special needs to choose the educational setting that is best for them. His Equal Opportunity Scholarship for Students with Special Needs Program Act would not send money to a school. Instead, he said, it would give money to the parents of eligible students to assist them in sending their child to a school of their choice. Students would be eligible if they received special education services under an individualized education plan at a public school in Nebraska for at least one course in the preceding semester. The amount of money available to the student would depend on the level of intervention and support that student needs. As written, LB 1251 would take $5 million from the Nebraska State Lottery Operation Trust Fund and put it toward the scholarships. Hansen said he is still working out the details of the funding and there are a few other options for coming up with the required money. Kami Jessop, director of special services for the Westside Community Schools, spoke in opposition to the bill on behalf of several education organizations including the Nebraska State Education Association. Jessop said she and other education organizations have a number of questions and concerns about the bill. She said students with disabilities are already entitled to enroll in the school of their choice and students who attend private schools are entitled to receive special education services from public school staff. Connie Knoche, education policy director for OpenSky Policy Institute, said her organization also opposes the bill. It would direct state funds to private schools without imposing any accountability or oversight over them to ensure the program is working as intended, Knoche said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Ronald Roskens, the University of Nebraskas longest-serving president and a former member of President George H.W. Bushs administration, has died. Roskens died Sunday at Rose Blumkin Jewish Home in Omaha. He was 89. Roskens grew up in Spencer, Iowa, expecting to run the family farm. But his career in academia took off and he held leadership positions in the NU system, Kent State in Ohio and the University of Iowa. Roskens served as president of the University of Nebraska from 1977 to 1989. Before that, he was chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. During his years in the NU system, he elevated international studies and relations. At UNO, he instituted international programs such as the Center for Afghanistan Studies. As NU president, he traveled to China at least nine times. The Ronald W. and Lois G. Roskens Hall at UNO is named after Roskens and his wife. Roskens is survived by his wife and their four children, Elizabeth Torson of Omaha, Barbara Blount of Castle Rock, Colorado, Brenda Dicus of Topeka, Kansas, and Bill Roskens of Omaha. Of German heritage and at 6-foot-4, Roskens had a commanding presence, family and colleagues say. He was fairly stoic and could be intimidating to some, but not to us, his son Bill said. He was a good father to his family and a good provider. Bill said some of his familys fondest memories are of their summers at Green Lake in Minnesota. Extended visits to the lake gave Roskens a chance to get away from responsibilities in Nebraska. Upon leaving the NU system, Roskens was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve as administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Roskens held that post from March 1990 through December 1992. USAID provides billions of dollars of foreign assistance from the United States. From 1999 to 2009, he served in Omaha as honorary consul general of Japan. Shortly thereafter, for his promotion of exchange and friendship, the emperor of Japan honored him with the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japans highest awards to foreign nationals. Bill said his fathers work also meant his parents were always surrounded by very interesting people. Roskens has said one of his darkest days was May 4, 1970. At that time, students were protesting on campuses against the Vietnam War and Roskens was vice president for administration at Kent State University. As a protest unfolded at Kent State, the Ohio governor called in the National Guard, who opened fire on the students. Four students died and nine were wounded. Roskens said the lesson he took from the tragedy was that administrators needed to be more open to student views. As a boy, Roskens attended a one-room country school where one woman taught 10 to 13 children of various ages. He said his teacher, Agnes Kearney, was excellent. She was a powerhouse, he said during an interview in 2005. He was a licensed minister in the United Church of Christ and temporarily replaced ministers so they could have short breaks. Among the boards he served on were those at ConAgra Foods Inc., the Silverstone Group, Capitol Federal Savings Foundation in Topeka and the Russian Farm Project. World-Herald Staff Writers Henry J. Cordes and Rick Ruggles contributed to this report. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON The Fat Tuesday frenzy begins the night before for one Bloomington bakery. Tonights a big night; its gonna be a long one, David Marquardt, general manager of Dennys Doughnuts and Bakery, said Monday. The "hectic" Monday night has four bakers dedicated to paczkis plus one more on filling making 175 to 200 dozen paczkis for orders and extras for the display cases, he said. Paczkis are a Polish pastry traditionally eaten before the Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday, but they arrive in Dennys display boxes about a week and a half before the big day. We start out slow and then it builds up, getting supplies in that we dont have and different fillings because its different from our normal fillings, said Barb Marquardt, owner of the local staple. Bursting with fruit jellies or cream, the double-fried paczkis at Dennys have become tradition for Bloomington-Normal residents, making appearances in unexpected places. Barb Marquardt said theyre opening their doors a little early for one customer because he has to get his dozen paczkis to take to his exercise class. I think thats so funny they exercise and then they have paczkis. The pandemic might have hit their sales in 2021, but Fat Tuesday sales continue to grow annually and this year's numbers already surpass pre-pandemic years, she said. David Marquardt also noted, timing makes a difference. This year, being two weeks after Valentines Day we expect a bigger crowd versus when its sometimes on Valentines Day, he said. But paczkis which are denser and heavier than doughnuts are not the only seasonal treat drawing folks in. Cookies decorated for Mardi Gras are available and Dennys bakers tried their hands at mini king cakes a New Orleans classic for a special order and next year they plan to offer full sized cakes. We have a lot of people, Ive noticed, with it being Fat Tuesday theyre getting just regular doughnut orders, too, Barb Marquardt said. I have somebody that just ordered 24 dozen and none of those are paczkis, so I think theyre just taking advantage of the day. David Marquardt added, They come in and say, Whats bad for me? I want to eat it today. Given the prevalence of Polish descendants in Chicago, David Marquardt said paczkis are more common up north, but with so many students from the Chicago area in Bloomington-Normal, Dennys usually sees big orders from Illinois State University for the holiday. Despite the tradition holding steady in Bloomington-Normal, he noted in Poland they actually celebrate Fat Thursday. I always thought it was funny Paczki Day is actually the Thursday before not Tuesday, he said, of the day dedicated to indulgence before the Christian tradition of fasting and sacrifice begins. Coffee Hound also featured paczkis over the weekend and last week had Mardi Gras theme macarons ahead of Fat Tuesday. Some grocery store bakeries in Bloomington-Normal also have paczkis available each year for the holiday. Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON Bloomington police are getting another tool to solve crime. The city council has approved a $59,000 contract to purchase 10 automatic license plate-reading cameras. Police Chief Jamal Simington has said the cameras can help solve homicides and other violent crime, and have been used on past cases. "We have the responsibility to serve and protect the most vulnerable," Simington said Monday night during a presentation on the cameras. With that responsibility comes the responsible effort to pursue technology improvements which would greatly enhance our capability to effectively and efficiently serve the entire city regardless of their social economic status, race, color or other classifications. "Every victim and their family deserves justice by way of advanced, effective and responsible police services. The contract has been at the center of debate after a number of residents and community groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, that raised privacy issues. Bloomington police have attended multiple meetings to answer questions and quell concerns, and to explain how the department plans to use the cameras, who has access to the data, and how it is stored. More than 600 police departments in 38 states use Flock technology, according to the company. The Springfield, Rantoul and Decatur police departments have purchased ALPR cameras through the vendor. There is no empirical data showing the cameras reduce crime, but Simington pointed to a few cases in which the BPD used Flock data through other local agencies to identify or rule out suspects in homicides. Bloomington plans to purchase 10 single-pole-mounted cameras that cover up to two lanes of traffic in a single direction. The cameras capture images of vehicles going up to 100 mph, and use machine learning technology to make images searchable by make, model, color and plate number. The cameras do not capture the faces of drivers or passengers, Simington said. Data is encrypted and stored for up to 30 days in an Amazon Web Services Government Cloud Service. Flock data is not used for traffic enforcement, fines, towing or immigration enforcement, said Simington. The police department will limit usage to only major crime investigation, such as homicides, shootings, robberies, arson and sexual assaults. The police department has discussed the contract with members of the public, including dring a three-hour virtual question-and-answer event and a two-hour meeting with the Bloomington Public Safety and Review Board. The Bloomington City Council in an 8-1 vote approved the contract with Atlanta-based Flock Safety to buy and install the cameras, which police say will be primarily used as a crime solving tool. Ward 4 Alderwoman Julie Emig voted against the contract. Several residents spoke on the cameras during public comment, some voicing privacy concerns and others raising issues with potential over-policing. Other commenters spoke in favor of the cameras, saying they could help reduce and solve crime. "The time to nip this unnecessary expansion of public surveillance in the bud is now, before it's ever in place," said Mathtew Toczko, of Bloomington. "The city of Urbana set a good example by voting the Flock cameras down, and I ask this council to take the people of Bloomington's best interest to heart and likewise not allow them in our communities." Melissa Newbill spoke on behalf of Dameca Kirkwood, mother of 27-year-old Trevonte Kirkwood, who was murdered in a 2018 shooting in Bloomington. For the Kirkwood family, Newbill said having Flock technology in place could have meant solving Trevonte Kirkwood's murder. "Had those been installed, it wouldn't have taken this long to find the murders," said Newbill. "If these cameras were in place where there are vulnerable populations reside and gather, that crimes could be preventive, and if they do occur, that they could be solved even faster if these cameras were in place. She added, "It has been agonizing to watch the Kirkwood to go through this, and to think if these cameras were in place, it wouldn't have taken three long years." Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON The termination of the states mask mandate on Monday presents a new headache for some business owners wrestling with whether to adopt their own requirements. It does put businesses in a weird position, said Elizabeth Asbury, owner of the book store Bobzbay in downtown Bloomington, which has opted to make masks optional for employees and customers. Gov. J.B. Pritzker in early February said he intended to lift the mask rule in March if infection numbers continued to decline. The requirement had been reintroduced in August as cases edged higher. Business owners also can require facial coverings, meaning its up to them to weigh whats best. Jamie Mathy owns the downtown Bloomington board game store Red Raccoon Games and serves on the city council. He said experiences when the last rule was lifted shaped his decision, as well as local community transition rates and vaccination numbers. His shop is transitioning to mask-optional for customers and employees. Thats not really what we want to do, however, he said. The shop was requiring masks last summer after the state first lifted its mandates for indoor public spaces, but upon requesting customers to wear masks, Mathy said, there were some who did not react well. There were a lot of people who were just downright nasty to my employees (last summer), and Im not going to put my employees through that again. It should be up to the individual The previous mask mandate was eliminated in May 2021, when those who were fully vaccinated could go without facial coverings. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization have recommended the usage of masks to reduce the spread of COVID, but requirements to wear the devices across the country have been contentious. The divide was apparent in interviews with The Pantagraph even on Monday. Jim Carsel, 65, of Bloomington, said that after a certain point in the pandemic, the mask rules didnt make sense. At that time, I thought it might be reasonable, Carsel said about his initial reaction to the mask mandates. But any time you have to take your mask off to eat in public, well then why wear the mask at all? Its totally stupid. If youre allowed to take your mask off to do something like drink or eat a sandwich, well then why did you bother to wear it to begin with? Bloomington resident Shadrach Hall, 33, also questioned the need for required masks. The way I look at it, even if people do take the vaccine or wear a mask, you can still catch it even with it on, he said, adding later, I got the vaccine shot and then I got the boost, but I still caught it. Masks also will remain the rule on the state House floor, where they've been challenged by Republicans. The Legislature has planned an abbreviated spring session that's scheduled to end in early April. Democratic House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch told members he doesn't want to risk an outbreak which would derail work or worse, jeopardize family members of lawmakers who are immunocompromised or too young to be vaccinated. The requirement has led to the regular removal from the floor of up to eight Republicans for refusing to comply, including Rep. Blaine Wilhour, of Beecher City, who filed a lawsuit against Welch. Pritkzer had also intended for mask requirements to remain in effect for schools, but last week announced the state will comply with updated CDC guidelines, which now recommend masks are needed only in areas of high transmission. Previous mask guidelines were based on state coronavirus metrics such as case numbers and test positivity rates, but the state is now following different measures, such as how many hospital beds are in use, hospital admissions, and the total number of coronavirus cases in an area. Most Illinois counties are considered low or moderate transmission areas, according to CDC data. Counties considered high transmission areas are mostly located in southern Illinois and around the state's eastern and western borders. On Friday, the governor's office said the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 was down 50%, and the number of intensive care beds available had increased by 24%. Illinois' weekly coronavirus case rate also decreased by 70%. An appellate court last week declined to render a decision on a lower-court ruling that invalidated Pritzker's order that public schools require masks. The 4th District Appellate Court decided the issue was moot after a legislative committee nixed an extension of the emergency rule the governor imposed on schools last summer. The Democratic governor appealed the ruling to the Illinois Supreme Court. Balancing interests Several other states, including Michigan, have loosened mask rules. This month marks the second anniversary of the first COVID cases in Illinois. Last week, Bloomington announced it was rolling back mask requirements for city employees. People are still required to wear masks in certain spaces, such as some indoor facilities at Miller Park Zoo. About half of courthouse workers and attendees were masked Monday at the McLean County Law and Justice Center. Masking has become optional in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court, as the Illinois Supreme Court last week amended its order on courthouse mask policy to remove the requirement to wear a mask inside courthouses. Normal never issued a local mask ordinance, but town employees and facilities were following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social distancing and mask wearing. Normal Mayor Chris Koos said Monday: It moves to a phase where people make personal decisions. I think youre going to still see people wearing masks, they may be more cautious, they may have medical reasons to do so, and it could be that theyre COVID positive and dont want to spread. Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe added that people had become fatigued with the mask requirements. But locally, coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are trending in a positive direction. I think people will be happy to be able to go maskless if they so desire, said Mwilambwe. If businesses want to require masks, its up to them. It will be between them and their customers. Asbury, the book store owner, said business owners are now in a new phase. With the old requirement, I know a couple businesses that just stopped enforcing it; they were just exhausted with it. Honestly, I was approaching that point. The best approach in her business right now is to be mask-optional, she said. This whole pandemic, I've tried to enlighten people to the fact that its not all about them, she said. There are still people that will still need to be wearing masks and are still stressed out about going out in public. The Associated Press and Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report. Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPRINGFIELD Gov. J.B. Pritzker has asked Illinois employee pension systems to review potential divestment in Russian assets after Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine. The Democrat wrote to the Illinois State Board of Investments, the Teachers' Retirement System and the State Universities' Retirement System asking them to explore the potential of divesting state pension assets from Russian-based companies and Russian assets. Pritzker's action follows similar overtures in other states to protest Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade its neighbor last week. Pritzker adds child care centers to list of places where masks are no longer required Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday added child care centers to the list of public places where masks are no longer required, a move that his office The state of Illinois stands with the people of Ukraine and nations around the world supporting peace in the country, Pritzker wrote. Divestment of Russian-related interests from the state's $100 billion portfolio likely wouldn't have the impact that economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and much of the West. But it has precedent. State law prohibits investing in Iran, Sudan and companies that boycott Israel. The flag of Ukraine was also raised over the Illinois Statehouse in Springfield. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 African governments on Monday were scrambling to help their nationals escape the Russian invasion in Ukraine as reports emerged of racist and unfair treatment of their citizens at the border with Poland. The reports, denied by both Polish and Ukrainian officials, have cast a pall on the massive evacuation effort that has already seen half a million civilians cross into the European Union. While some Africans have been able to leave Ukraine, FRANCE 24 spoke to several students on Sunday at Lviv train station in western Ukraine who said they were turned back by Ukrainian border guards while attempting to cross into Poland. They stopped us at the border and told us that Blacks were not allowed. But we could see White people going through, said Moustapha Bagui Sylla, a student from Guinea. He said he fled his university residence in Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, as soon as the bombing began. Like thousands of Ukrainian civilians scrambling for the border, the young Guinean said he walked for hours in freezing temperatures heading for the Polish frontier village of Medyka only to be ordered to turn back. Another student from Nigeria described similar scenes at the border crossing. He said his group, which included women, was shut out of the border post even as White people were let through. They wont let Africans in. Blacks without European passports cannot cross the border (...). Theyre pushing us back just because were Black! said the Nigerian student, who gave only his first name, Michael. Were all human, he added. They should not discriminate against us because of the colour of our skin. According to Bagui Sylla, the Ukrainian border guards said they were merely following instructions from their Polish counterparts a claim denied by officials in Warsaw. Anna Michalska, a spokesperson for the Polish border guards, said she had spent the past two days denying such allegations. I dont know what is happening on the Ukrainian side of the border, but we let everyone in regardless of nationality, she told FRANCE 24. In a later communique, Polish officials confirmed that no visas were required to cross the border and that identity cards and passports would be accepted, even when expired. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian border guards also denied reports of discriminatory practices. He stressed that only Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60 who are required to join the war effort were barred from leaving the country. Regarding the numerous complaints by Africans who said they were pushed back, Andriy Demchenko said perhaps they attempted to jump the queue. Civilians fleeing the war face increasingly dire conditions at the Medyka border crossing, as FRANCE 24 has previously documented. According to a report by the European Commission, the crossing can now take up to 70 hours. For African students lured to Ukraine by the prospect of jobs and university degrees, being treated like economic migrants rather than refugees displaced by war is a devastating blow. Nigeria's government has advised its citizens leaving Ukraine to head for Hungary or Romania, instead of Poland. That is precisely what the students stranded at Lviv station said they planned to do. 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. Featured Video Some nurses across the country are seething with rage over the government's delay in the release of their February salary. According to the nurses, the situation has become unbearable for many health workers since salary for the month ending February has not been released. Many a time, as government workers on the Controller and Accountant Generals Department payroll alert for salary payment, is on the 25th day of the new month. But here we are, today is March 1, and theres still no alert indicating salaries have not been paid to beneficiary banks, the nurses bemoaned. A nurse with 14 years of experience, [name withheld] expressed the worry of her colleague workers in the health sector on the mid-day news of Accra 100.5FM on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Sometimes alert delays but it does not enter the new month, weve had instances of salary delays but that of this year is a cause for worry, she said. According to the Controller and Accountant-Generals salary chart, salary for the month of February was to be paid on the 25th. It is, however, not clear whether what the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin said about the government not being able to pay salaries for the next three months has begun to rear its head. Source: class fm Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr. Ngozi Ezike, who helped guide the states response to the COVID-19 outbreak, will leave her post as Illinois top public health official days after the second anniversary of a pandemic being declared, a significant departure as Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration attempts to move on from coronavirus restrictions. Ezike joined the administration in early 2019 as director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, typically a low-profile, bureaucratic role. But she became a familiar and, for many, calming presence on TV and computer screens in homes across Illinois in spring 2020 as she appeared with Pritzker at his daily briefings during the early days of the pandemic. Advertisement I ran for office; she did not. But throughout the crisis she has stood by me every step of the way, Pritzker said Tuesday during a news conference at Rush University Medical Center to mark the end of his statewide mask mandate. I am not putting it lightly when I say that she has had one of the hardest jobs in the world. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, head of the state's Department of Public Health, speaks to the media at the Thompson Center on Aug. 26, 2021. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) As a public face of Pritzkers coronavirus response, Ezike provided a dose of empathy along with the days grim statistics and repeated pleas for social distancing, mask wearing and hand-washing. The governor came to rely on her not just for medical guidance but also for help communicating with Spanish-speaking Illinois residents. Advertisement There was perhaps no better display of Ezikes sincerity than a news conference in October 2020, early in the states second COVID-19 surge, when she began to cry and briefly paused her remarks as she encouraged Illinois residents to fight the fatigue and keep doing their part to slow the virus. I have watched Dr. Ezike mourn the loss of every one of the more than 32,000 Illinoisans who have died from COVID-19, Pritzker said Tuesday. No number of sleepless nights and endless days could wear down her commitment to think first and foremost of Illinois most vulnerable. The governor said he is loath to accept Ezikes departure, which takes effect March 14, but hopes the doctor will be able to get a good nights sleep and precious time with her husband and her four kids. Ezike wiped away tears as Pritzker designated March 1 Dr. Ngozi Ezike Day. She received a standing ovation from Rush workers attending the news conference. I am so blessed to have been able to bring some measure of comfort to Illinoisans, to quiet some of the chaos and to infuse some calm, Ezike said. Im proud to be an example that empathy and strength can exist in the same body and in the same breath. Im glad that I served as a role model to young girls, girls of color, little Black girls, that they can be leaders in any field, said Ezike, the first Black woman to lead the states public health department. And Im proud to show our young boys, as well, the future men of our society, examples of women in leadership. Before being named public health director in 2019, Ezike was medical director at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. Ezike, a board-certified internist and pediatrician, earned her medical degree at the University of California at San Diego. She took the top job at the Department of Public Health after the agency had come under scrutiny for its role in handling a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires disease at a veterans home in downstate Quincy during Republican Gov. Bruce Rauners administration. Under Ezike, the agency again faced tough questions from lawmakers, particularly Republicans, about how it addressed a coronavirus outbreak that tore through the state veterans home in LaSalle in November 2020. Advertisement Ezikes assistant director, Amaal Tokars, will take over as interim director. Tokars, who is not a medical doctor, has a Ph.D. in leadership and policy from Northern Illinois University and was previously the director of the Kendall County Health Department and president of the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium. Ezike was not without her detractors as decisions over confronting the pandemic divided Illinois and the rest of the nation, and frequently became a target of scorn for those who believed the governor was overstepping his authority by issuing orders that curbed personal freedoms in an effort to slow the virus. Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia, a candidate in the GOP primary for governor who mounted an unsuccessful legal challenge of Pritzkers COVID-19 restrictions, called Ezikes departure good news for students, businesses, and people across Illinois in a message on his campaign Twitter account. The announcement that Ezike is leaving came as the number of COVID-19 patients in Illinois hospitals had dropped below 1,000 the past three days for the first time since early August, before Pritzker reinstated the statewide mask mandate. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, left, and Dr. Ngozi Ezike, of the Illinois Department of Public Health, hold a news conference at the Thompson Center in Chicago on March 2, 2020, to provide updates on the state's response to the spread of the coronavirus. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) As of Monday night, there were 958 COVID-19 patients in the states hospitals, down from 3,805 at the end of January and from an all-time high of 7,380 on Jan. 12. State health officials reported 40 more fatalities Tuesday, bringing the average daily number of deaths over the past week to 53. The statewide death toll stood at 32,803 since the beginning of the pandemic. Advertisement At Tuesdays news conference, Ezike thanked her family including her husband and daughter, who attended Tuesdays event, for tolerating the absences, the last-minute changes in plans, the endless multitasking and the ever-present cellphones. Now, its time to make you my priority and give back a portion of the encouragement and support that you have lavished on me, Ezike said. Julie Pryde, administrator of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department, thanked Ezike for working closely with local health departments during the pandemic. As Pryde got choked up about the toll the pandemic has taken on her community, Ezike rushed up to hand Pryde a tissue. Thats so typical, Pryde said. Im struggling, Im on the verge of tears in front of everyone, and who comes to the rescue? Dr. Ezike. Ezike said she has no announcements at all in terms of what the next steps are, but told the Tribune during a brief interview after her formal remarks that shes excited of the unknown. I know that Illinois will be in good stead, with me or without me, Ezike said. But Im excited to embark upon a new chapter. Advertisement dpetrella@chicagotribune.com cspaulding@chicagotribune.com The African Union has condemned disturbing reports of ill-treatment of African citizens in Ukraine trying to flee the country but are being refused the right to cross borders safely. Thousands of Africans and other foreign nationals, particularly students, have been scrambling to leave Ukraine following Russia's invasion. But as hundreds of thousands throng to Ukraine's various land borders, overwhelming authorities in neighbouring countries, reports have emerged that Africans are being treated differently and sometimes prevented from leaving. Several people have shared videos and testimonies on social media, denouncing discrimination at train stations and border posts. "Reports that Africans are singled out for unacceptable dissimilar treatment would be shockingly racist and in breach international law," AU Chair, Senegal's President Macky Sall, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of AU Commission said in a joint statement. The statement added that all people have the right to cross international borders during conflict, and should enjoy the same rights to cross to safety from the conflict in Ukraine, notwithstanding their nationality or racial identity. The Chairpersons commend the efforts by African Union Member State countries and their embassies in neighbouring countries to receive and orientate African citizens and their families trying to cross the border from Ukraine to safety, the statement concluded. Source: Ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has stated that it is following the raging Russia-Ukraine conflict with deep concern. GPCC in a statement dated 28th February 2022, called on all Ghanaians to pray for peace for the people of Ukraine, "especially the suffering women, children and the aged." "While praying for the peace of Ukraine, the Council is also calling for prayers for the safety of the many Ghanaian students still stranded in Ukraine and those who have crossed into neighbouring countries," the statement signed by General Secretary Rev. Emmanuel T. Barrigah added. The Council added that it was praying that leaders on both sides will see reason and de-escalate and seek a permanent ceasefire. They also called "on the international community, especially the United Nations, to do all within its powers to mobilise immediate international humanitarian support for the displaced persons." Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 ordered a military operation in Ukraine after it emerged that the country was seeking entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - which Russia sees as against its security interests. Russian forces have been in Ukraine trying to take control of the capital and second largest city - Kiev and Kharkiv respectively. The resulting chaos has led to people fleeing their homes into neighbouring countries. A major issue that has come up is the racist mistreatment of Africans seeking to escape - it has been condemned by African countries and the AU. Most African countries have started evacuating their nationals - mostly students - by having them cross land borders into neigbouring countries where they are given consular assistance. Initial talks between the two warring parties took place on February 28, with a second-round expected on March 2, according to Russian media. Source: Ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Forestry Commission on Monday presented GH500,000 to the Appiatse Support Fund towards the reconstruction of the community razed by an explosion on January 20, this year. The Commission donated GH100,000 cash and GH400,000 in wood products for the reconstruction exercise of the Appiatse Township. Mr John Allotey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, presented the cash to Reverend Dr Joyce Rosaline Aryee, the Chairperson of the Appiatse Support Fund Committee. He said the Commission was responding to the call from the Committee to support the Fund and as an Agency under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resource, Management saw it right to support. He said the Commission had already sent the wood to be used for the roofing and other activities to be delivered at Appiatse site for work to commence. As part of the reconstruction exercise, they will need wood, hence the supply of the woods, he said. The CEO said the Commission was in talks with some companies to mobilise some support to contribute to the Fund. Rev. Aryee said the donation was good news for the Committee responsible for the reconstruction exercise. She reiterated the Presidents instructions to use the Fund to rebuild a green, sustainable and model community for the people of Appiatse. She said as a country such issues always had a way of bringing Ghanaians together. Rev. Aryee said the term of reference of the committee was to solicit funds to support the Appiatse victims and this should be done in a transparent manner. The Chairperson commended the management of the Commission for coming to support the Fund, adding that the Committee needed to give the victims a decent accommodation. Mr Benito Owusu Bio, Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, said the support had come at the right time because the Committee needed wood for roofing purposes. He said a Mining Company had given the Committee an uncompleted structure, which would be completed to accommodate some of the victims. We need about 10,000 woods but currently we have about 2,000 and hope more will come later, he added. He appealed for more support for the reconstruction exercise to better accommodate the victims. The Appiatse Support Fund was established following an explosion that occurred when a truck carrying explosives for mining was involved in an accident in the town. The community was razed by the explosion. Thirteen people died from the incident while over a hundred people suffered various degrees of injuries. The Government established the Fund to support the rebuilding of the community. 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. Featured Video A wreath-laying and flag-raising ceremony was held at the Nationalism Park in Osu in Accra yesterday to mark the 28th February, 1948 Christianborg Crossroads shooting incident. The ceremony, the 74th edition, was in remembrance of the landmark incident which provoked a major strike and a call for an end to colonial rule, sparking the struggle for independence at the time. Wreath-laying The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who graced the occasion, laid one of the five wreaths on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana, while the Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice-Admiral Seth Amoama, laid another on behalf of the security services. The Chairman of the Veterans Administration, Ghana (VAG), Major General Clayton Naa Boanubah Yaache (retd), also laid a wreath on behalf of the veterans, with the Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi-Bonte II, on behalf of traditional authorities, laying one of the wreaths, while a representative of the family of the late Sergeant Adjetey, Nii Ala Nmashie I, also laid a wreath on behalf of the fallen soldiers. The ceremony, which is held every year in honour of three ex-servicemen who were shot while on a peaceful march to the Christianborg Castle at Osu on February 28, 1948, was witnessed by traditional rulers, security personnel, veterans, relatives of the three fallen heroes, the clergy, students and pupils from selected basic and second-cycle schools, as well as government officials. Also in attendance was a contingent of the Ghana Armed Forces and the police, while the Police Band provided some soothing songs. Background History has it that a number of ex-servicemen, on February 28, 1948, marched to the Christianborg Castle to present a petition to the then Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy, over their unpaid war allowances. The ex-soldiers were, however, intercepted at the Castle intersection by a contingent of armed policemen, led by a British Police Superintendent, Mr Colin Imray, who ordered that they disperse. When the ex-servicemen were adamant, Supt Imray ordered the police to open fire, leading to the death of the three ex-servicemen. The ex-soldiers had fought alongside the allied forces in the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force during the Second World War and had returned home, but they were not paid their gratuity. After several appeals to the colonial government to consider their plight had failed, the ex-servicemen decided to march directly to the British colonial governor at the Castle to present their petition. The three fallen heroes were Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey, all members of the then Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) says it is now fully ready, starting from March 1, 2022, to begin admitting Ghanaians and dual nationals returning to Ghana using valid Ghana Cards as their travel document. This follows the completion of the GIS connecting its systems to the National Identification Authority (NIA) database. It will now be faster and more effective for border control officials to verify the identity of holders of Ghana Cards at the port of entry into Ghana. Ghanas National Identity Card, the Ghana Card can now be used as an e-passport in 44,000 airports globally. It follows the recognition of the Ghana Card globally as an electronic passport that can be read and verified in all International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) compliant borders. In an interview with Graphic Online on Monday [February 28, 2022], the Head of Public Affairs at the GIS, Superintendent, Michael Amoako-Atta said: Following the certification by the ICAO, the Ghana card will serve as an optional travel document and from March 1, 2022, Ghanaians and those who have dual citizenship who have valid Ghana cards could travel with them into Ghana. Ghana Card valid for countries that have bilateral agreements with Ghana The dispensation was only available for travellers from countries that have bilateral agreements with Ghana. Thus while the card could be used to arrive in Ghana from the country of embarkation, it could not be used as a travel document outside to countries that have no agreements with Ghana. Thus, for now, the card could not be used outside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is important for all travellers to note that until bilateral agreements are signed with other countries, the Ghana Card cannot be used to travel outside the ECOWAS sub-region. He also indicated that Ghanaians who have renounced their Ghanaian citizenship to obtain the citizenship of other countries are not eligible to travel on the Ghana Card. However, Ghanaians with dual citizenship who have the Ghana Card could use it when they arrive. Readiness Supt Amoako-Atta said the GIS has put in some measures at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to ensure the smooth facilitation of the process. He explained that there will be designated booths at the arrival hall to process Ghanaian passengers who travel on the Ghana Card into Ghana. Upon arrival, the identity of the Ghana Card holder will be verified against the National Identity Register (NIR), and once the passengers identity has been successfully verified, the passenger will be admitted into the country, he explained. Eligibility, arrivals He explained that the dispensation was only available for travellers from countries that have bilateral agreements with Ghana. Thus while the card could be used to arrive in Ghana from the country of embarkation, it could not be used as a travel document outside to countries that have no agreements with Ghana. Thus, for now, the card could not be used outside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is important for all travellers to note that until bilateral agreements are signed with other countries, the Ghana Card cannot be used to travel outside the ECOWAS sub-region. He also indicated that Ghanaians who have renounced their Ghanaian citizenship to obtain the citizenship of other countries are not eligible to travel on the Ghana Card. However Ghanaians with dual citizenship who have the Ghana Card could use it when they arrive. While people who have renounced their Ghanaian citizenship and now using other countrys travel documents are not eligible to travel on the Ghana card, dual nationals holding the Ghana Card will not require visas to enter Ghana, he emphasised. Caution Supt Amoako-Atta cautioned travellers that any passenger who arrives in Ghana with a fraudulently acquired or fake Ghana Card will be denied entry and in addition, could be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with applicable laws. It is an offence under Section 52 of Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573) for a person to fraudulently acquire or use a forged or fake travel document and convicted offenders may be fined and/or imprisoned, he emphasised. NIA Meanwhile, the National Identification Authority (NIA) says the Ghana card has all the credentials needed to be used as an electronic passport. Describing as a huge milestone for the Ghana card to be recognised by the ICAO as a valid travel document, the acting Head of Public Affairs at the NIA, Mr Abudu Abdul Ganiyu said the credentials on the form used to apply for the card satisfied the requirements of the ICAO. Ghanaians with Ghana cards can now come home without passport or visa, all they need is to pick up their Ghana card and join the next flight he reiterated. Again, he revealed that, for all in-bound flight into Ghana, anyone in possession of the Ghana card will be able to travel because all the electronic gates that are ICAO certified will be able to read the Ghana card information into the passport. He also confirmed that the e-passport meant Ghanaians could now travel within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-regions with only the Ghana Card, but eventually it could be used for other countries once the agreement with those countries were established. Some two, three years to come, we will not be using paper passport, we would be using the e-passport and that will make the Ghana card very relevant, 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. Featured Video The African Union has said it is disturbed by reports of Africans in Ukraine being refused the right to cross the border to safety. The body urged all countries to respect international law and offer assistance to everyone fleeing from the war irrespective of their race. "Reports that Africans are singled out for unacceptable dissimilar treatment would be shockingly racist and in breach international law," AU said in a statement issued late Monday. The union hailed member countries and their embassies in countries neighbouring Ukraine who are supporting those fleeing from the war. Africans living in Ukraine had complained of racism at the Ukraine-Poland border. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, has revealed that there are some Ghanaians in Ukraine who have indicated that they do not want to come back home. She said at a meeting in Accra on Tuesday, March 1, with parents and guardians of Ghanaian students in Ukraine, that the government is evacuating persons who are willing to return. As at 5 PM on 28th of February, an estimated number of 527 Ghanaian nationals have crossed the Ukrainian border to various neighboring countries and they will soon be with us in Ghana as long as they are willing to be evacuated, it will be at no cost to them. I say that because there are some who have indicated that they do not wish to come back home. "So after a couple of days, they will be on their own because the government cannot cover those people forever. What we are covering is to pick them to a safe place to bring them back home as many of you parents have indicated that you want your children back home, so the government will do that, she said. The first batch of Ghanaians evacuated from Ukraine has arrived in Accra on Tuesday, March 1. This morning the first batch of Ghanaians evacuated from Ukraine arrive in Accra, Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah said in a tweet. Madam Ayokor Botchwey had earlier indicated that over 220 Ghanaians living in Ukraine were expected to arrive in Ghana soon. I am pleased to inform you that, a good number, over 220 of our compatriots have exited Ukraine and should be with us in Ghana soon, and we are earnestly facilitating the safe return of a lot more. 24 have arrived in Bucharest, Romania, and our officer on the ground is procuring tickets for them to leave tomorrow Monday en route to Accra, she said at a press conference in Accra on Sunday. Source: 3 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. Featured Video Ghana has become the first African country to evacuate its citizens fleeing the conflict in Ukraine following Russia's invasion. The first group of 17 students arrived on Tuesday morning at Kotoka International Airport, in the capital, Accra. Ghana's foreign ministry had earlier said some 460 students were en route to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. They are expected to return home in coming days. The total number of Ghanaians living in Ukraine is unknown and the government is currently meeting parents and guardians to document all students in the country. It is estimated that more than 1,000 Ghanaian nationals are currently studying or working in Ukraine. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced government's decision to cut down the expenditure of ministries, departments and agencies by 20 percent. This, he said, was a way to contribute towards the recovery of the economy from the shocks of the global pandemic - coronavirus. The move, President Akufo-Addo furthered will help government save some money. We have to make concerted efforts as partners to hasten our recovery from COVID-19 by finding intelligent ways of bringing everyone on board to contribute their quota no matter what, he said. Government on its part is implementing a policy of cutting the budgets of ministries, departments and agencies by 20% this year as its contribution, he added. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made this known while speaking at the 2022 National Labour Conference at Kwahu in the Eastern Region on Monday, February 28, 2022. He indicated that it's about time Ghanaians are fully involved in the payment of taxes, hence, the introduction of a tax on all electronic transactions, popularly known as the E-Levy. We cannot continue to allow less than 10%, specifically 7.8%, that is, 2.4 million people of the population to carry the direct tax burden of 30.8 million people. We must provide an opportunity for every Ghanaian to contribute towards nation building, President Akufo-Addo stated. But the announcement of the E-Levy in the 2022 budget has been fraught with several controversies, with many Ghanaians, including the Minority in Parliament kicking against it. The E-Levy bill was subsequently withdrawn from parliament and currently, the E-Levy has been reviewed downwards to 1.5% from 1.75%. The bill is yet to be re-laid before parliament after its withdrawal. Meanwhile, government through the information ministry is organising town hall meetings to discuss the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy). The exercise will also give government feedback on reactions from citizens on the proposed levy and how best to implement it. Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has also warned of dire consequences for the Ghanaian economy if the E-Levy is not passed. Ken Ofori-Atta urged Ghanaians to support the implementation of the E-Levy. Source: ghannaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The management of Consolidated Bank Ghana Ltd (CBG) led by the Managing Director, Daniel Wilson Addo, has donated GHS 100,000 to the Appiatse Support Fund to help with the reconstruction of the community. This Follows a huge explosion on January 20, 2022, along the Tarkwa Bogoso-Ayamfuri road when a truck carrying explosives to a gold mine crashed with a motorcycle. The crash claimed the lives of 13 people, flattened many houses completely, damaged vehicles, leaving many inhabitants with various injuries, and social and economic challenges. Presenting the cheque to Appiatse Support Fund Mr Daniel Addo explained that the Bank has an obligation to extend a helping hand when a challenge of this nature befalls a community. He said, We are here to add our contribution to establish a new township for Appiatse as part of reaffirming our brand tagline, We Stand With You. This brand promise puts a social responsibility on us to stand with our communities. Mr. Addo further mentioned that CBG is aligned with the support funds vision of building a model community. We identify with your pillars of building a green, and environmentally-friendly township that serves as a model for building townships in Ghana. Receiving the donation, chairperson of the 5-member committee, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, expressed appreciation to CBG saying, Thank you CBG for coming out to support the fund to rebuild Appiatse community and victims of the explosion. We call on mining firms, corporate Ghana and individuals to come on board and support. Rev. Dr Aryee further called on Ghanaians to assist with donations to the Fund to support the victims and rebuild the community. Other members of the CBG delegation were Nana Ama Poku Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Corporate Resources and Angela Forson Director, Corporate and Institutional Banking. The CBG donation is to support the Government in the rebuilding of the community, as well as the rehabilitation of the about 900 victims who are lucky to have escaped the disaster. The Appiatse Support Fund is expected to coordinate the mobilization of resources to reconstruct the community. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video When hes not hosting his popular television food segments, first for ABC 7 and now NBC 5, Steve Dolinsky has been focusing most of his attention for the past five years on pizza. Hes written Pizza City USA and The Ultimate Chicago Pizza Guide, runs the Pizza City, USA pizza tour and currently hosts the Pizza City podcast. Now he can add a pizza festival to his resume. Advertisement Taking place July 23 and 24, Pizza City Fest Chicago will feature a collection of some of the best pizzerias in Chicago dishing out slices to guests outside of the Plumbers Union Hall (1350 W. Washington Blvd.) in the West Loop. Its an organic outgrowth, Dolinsky said. If New York has a pizza festival, why dont we have one? Advertisement The two-day festival will feature 40 pizzerias, 39 of which are local. St. Vito Focacciaria from Nashville, Tennessee, is the only out-of-state option. Dolinsky said he hopes the festival shows the incredible range of different pizza styles you can find in Chicago, from deep dish and tavern-style pizza to Detroit-style and Sicilian. Participating restaurants include Chicago institutions such as Pats Pizzeria (2679 N. Lincoln Ave.) and Palermos 95th (4849 95th St., Oak Lawn), along with relative newcomers like Pizza Friendly Pizza (1039 N. Western Ave.) and Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream (964 W. 31st St.). Dolinksy is particularly proud to feature Vito & Nicks (8433 S. Pulaski Road), the classic South Side establishment. Vito and Nick dont usually do festivals, Dolinsky said. Im so glad they are coming. Instead of making their pizzas and bringing them into the festival, each restaurant will cook the pizzas at the festival using PizzaMaster ovens. 20 pizzerias will appear each day. 18 of those will be available with general admission, while two are only available to VIP ticket holders. General admission is $59 for one day and $89 for both days, though you can get both for $10 less if you purchase tickets now. You can also get discounted VIP tickets right now for one-day ($99 instead of $129) and two-day passes ($169 instead of $199). Along with the extra pizzeria, VIP ticket holders get complimentary beer, wine and air-conditioned restrooms, among other perks. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > News of the event was first reported by Block Club Chicago, though Dolinsky was still finalizing details at that point. Since then, the name of the festival changed from Chicago Pizza Festival to Pizza City Fest, and he was able to confirm several speakers and seminars on a number of pizza-related topics. Events include a seminar with The Dough Whisperers, featuring acclaimed pizza makers Chris Bianco (Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix), Dan Richer (Razza Pizza Artigianale, Jersey City) and Laura Meyer (Capos, San Francisco). Itll be moderated by Francisco Migoya, who co-authored the epic Modernist Pizza cookbook. Dolinsky also highlighted a Women in Pizza seminar featuring Nella Grassano (Nella Pizza e Pasta) and Kara Fitzgerald (Louisas Pizza & Pasta). Other seminars include Who Really Created Deep Dish? and Making Great Pizza at Home. Advertisement Along with all the food, the festival will feature live music, DJs, merchandise from the participating restaurants and even some pizza art. If everything goes well, Dolinsky said he hopes to replicate the festival in other cities, including Portland, Nashville and Detroit. To purchase tickets and find out the full list of participating restaurants, visit pizzacityfest.com nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. PPP National Chairman, Nana Ofori Owusu says Ghana should stop being a "begging nation" as this attitude is what is making the country subservient to European world leaders. Dailymail.com reported that Russia has "launched an all-out war on Ukraine with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air". According to them, "missiles and bombs rained from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, troops parachuted down on eastern regions and explosions were seen across the country after Vladimir Putin gave the order to attack". Hundreds of Ukrainian troops are said to have been killed in the clashes. US President Joe Biden has condemned the attack saying President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Also, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed gratitude to 11 countries including Ghana for backing a resolution that was vetoed by Russia on Friday, February 25, 2022. In a tweet, Mr Zelenskyy said the veto of Russia was a ''bloodstain on its plaque in the Security Council, the map of Europe and the world''. Reacting to the Russia/Ukraine conflict, Nana Ofori Owusu advised Ghanaians to ''build our nation. We must stop our nation from becoming a begging nation to a self-sufficient nation . . . Until we change our attitude and go back to Nkrumah of black man capable of doing for itself, African capable of doing for itself, every time we are at the mercy of what some other people are doing. The Europeans have always been war-thirsty''. "In times of difficulty, we need each other. We need each other. So, if we don't build a nation that loves ourselves as history has proved that the African loves themselves, we will have a problem," he stressed 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. Featured Video The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Commonwealth of Nations to investigate what it says was human rights violations against its members by the Ghanaian government. The party has also urged the international political organisation to monitor the human rights situation in Ghana and what it said was the criminal persecution of its members. The General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketia at a press conference in Accra Monday (February 28, 2022) said the party had sent a petition detailing its grievances to the Commonwealth. He said the petition was necessitated by the "harassment, criminal persecution and human rights violations" against some leading members of the NDC including its National Chairman, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo. "There are some practices that are not in accordance with good governance and the principles of the Commonwealth so we have petitioned them to take the appropriate action," he said. Mr Nketia explained that the party's petition to the Commonwealth doesn't suggest that Ghana was not an independent country but rather, the petition seeks to draw the attention of the organisation to the lack of good governance in Ghana's body politics. "Membership to the Commonwealth means the member state must adhere to good governance, so if you are not practicing good governance, you can be suspended like we saw in Zimbabwe and elsewhere," he said. Case In reference to examples of alleged persecutions and harassment, the NDC General Secretary cited some cases that are currently being prosecuted in court as the basis for the petition. In the case of the Republic v Stephen Kwabena Opuni and two others, which is cited in the petition, Mr Nketia said the Judge hearing the case, Mr Justice Clemence Honyenuga had made some pronouncements on the case which "in any fair legal system would warrant his recusal from the case on the ground of real likelihood or appearance of bias." He also cited the case involving the Republic vrs Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Anthony Kwaku Boahen and the Republic Vrs Cassiel Ato Forson and two others as examples of some of the criminal persecution of NDC members by the government. "The conduct of the government of Ghana in this matter has been dreadful leaving no doubt the government is bent on a conviction regardless of the quality of the evidence," Mr Nketia said. In relation to the case involving Dr Ato Forson, the party said it believes that the charges are politically motivated and engineered to weaken his opposition to the passage of the E-levy. "This is a brazen abuse of power by the government," Mr Nketia said. Outcome Mr Nketia said the party was therefore calling on the Commonwealth to call upon the government to stop the alleged human rights violations. "These actions of the government create conditions that threaten Ghana's political stability and further erode our democratic values," he said. The petition, according to Mr Nketia, also urged the Commonwealth to engage with a broad range of actors, including government officials, political parties, representatives of civil society, to respect, promote, and protect human rights in the country. The petition urged the organisation to also continue to engage with the government and support and encourage their pursuit of accountability for "the perpetrators of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency bye-election violence and the gruesome state-sponsored killings of eight innocent Ghanaians during the 2020 elections". Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Outspoken Editor-in-Chief of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt says Ghana's economy has become extremely worse to the extent that even to serve a stranger a chilled bottle of beer, the nation will have to first go for a loan. According to Mr. Pratt, affording a beer is no more a luxury in Ghana. To him, Ghana doesn't have the wherewithal to buy even a bottle of beer for a visting Diplomat or Head of State. Detailing Ghanaians on the state of the economy, Mr. Pratt was extremely worried about the President Akufo-Addo's governance stressing now, ''should a Head of State visit us and is thirsty for beer, we have to borrow before we can buy one bottle of beer''. He added; ''As we talk today, if President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe visits us and wants to drink tea, we have to use loan to make the tea for him. That is the reality. No, but that is the truth. That is how graphic you can paint the picture. When he comes and even desires to eat konkonte, we have to go for loan.'' Aside giving a stranger a bottle of beer becoming a problem for Ghana, Mr. Pratt also lamented that except the country borrows, the President cannot have petrol in his vehicle to move around. ''If an incident has happened at Nima and if the President must move from Flagstaff House to Nima, we can't buy petrol into his car if we don't go for a loan. 128 percent of your total national revenue is expended on two-line items; public sector emoluments and debt servicing. How much is left to buy petrol into his (President) car," he stated. In his candid opinion, if only Ghana will progress, there must be a change of attitude and better way of managing the economy. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A seven-member Supreme Court panel has set 4 May 2022 as date for judgment in the case filed by two Minority MPs and a Ghanaian citizen challenging the approval of salaries for the First and Second Ladies of Ghana. The panel is headed by Chief Justice Anin Yeboah. The Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee submitted the report of its recommendations, dated 18 June 2020, to President Akufo-Addo as required by the 1992 constitution. This was in fulfilment of the Article 71 provision of the 1992 constitution which enjoins every sitting president to set up a committee before the end of his or her four-year mandate to make recommendations on emoluments for Article 71 office-holders. The five-member committees report recommended, among other things, the payment of a salary equivalent to a cabinet minister who is a member of Parliament to the First Lady while her husband is in office, and the payment of a salary equivalent to 80% of the salary of a minister of state who is an MP if the spouse served one full term as president, or 100% of the salary of a minister of state who is an MP if the spouse served two or more full terms as president. With second ladies, the committee report recommended the payment of a salary equivalent to a cabinet minister who is not a Member of Parliament to a second lady while her husband is in office and, once he leaves office, the payment of a salary equivalent to 80% of the salary of a minister of state who is not an MP if the spouse served one full term as vice-president, or 100% of the salary of a minister of state who is a member of Parliament if the spouse served two or more full terms as vice-president. The reliefs sought The two MPs, Dafeamekpor Rockson-Nelson and Dr Clement Abaasinat Apaak and the citizen, Frederick Nii Commey, are seeking a total of eight reliefs from the Supreme Court. The reliefs are first, a declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 71(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee appointed by the President under Article 71(1), only had jurisdiction to make recommendations in respect of salaries, allowances payable, facilities and privileges of Article 71 office holders under the 1992 Constitution. The second is a further declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 71(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Prof Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee had no jurisdiction, mandate or authority to make any recommendations in respect of salaries, allowances payable, facilities and privileges of persons other than persons specified under Article 71 of 1992 Constitution. Third, a declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 71(1) of the 1992 Constitution, the Prof Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee exceeded its jurisdiction, mandate and authority when it purported to make recommendations in respect of privileges, facilities, salaries and allowances payable to the 1ST and 2nd Ladies of the Republic of Ghana. The fourth relief is a further declaration that the recommendations of the Committee, to the extent that it pertains to the 1st and 2nd Ladies of the Republic of Ghana, are null, void and of no effect. Their fifth prayer to the Supreme Court is a declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of the Constitution, 1992, spouses of the President and the Vice President are not Article 71 office holders for the purposes of receipt of wages and emoluments. As their sixth relief, the applicant is seeking an order declaring the recommendations in respect of privileges, facilities, salaries and allowances payable to the 1st and 2nd Ladies of the Republic of Ghana as unconstitutional and void. The seventh and eighth reliefs sought are an order restraining the President of the Republic of Ghana or any other arm, ministry, department or agency of the executive, from implementing any recommendations of the Prof Ntiamoah-Baidu Committee which pertains to the 1st and 2nd Ladies of the Republic of Ghana and any further Order(s) or direction(s) as this Honourable Court may deem necessary. In court When the case was called today 1 March 2022, at the Supreme Court, lawyer for the applicants, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, and the deputy Attorney General, Diana Asonaba Dapaah, told the Court that they have set out four joint memorandum issues that the Court may give attention to. The Supreme Court adopted the issues and set same down for determination on the 4 May 2022. Joint issues The joint issues are; whether or not the Plaintiffs have a cause of action in respect of the recommendations of the Ntiamoah-Baidu Committee. Secondly, whether or not upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution, the Prof. Ntiamoah-Baidu committee exceeded its mandate and authority in making recommendations in respect of privileges, facilities, salaries and allowances payable to the President and Vice Presidet to include salaries to be paid to the 1st and 2nd Ladies of the Republic of Ghana. Thirdly, whether or not the Parliament of Ghana breached Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution in determining the privileges, facilities, salaries and allowances payable to the President and Vice President to include salaries, to be paid to the 1st and 2nd Ladies of the Republic of Ghana. The last of the joint agreed issues is whether or not upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the Prof. Ntiamoah-Baidu Committee created another public office holder contrary to Article 71 of the Constitution by recommending that facilities, privileges and benefits payable to the President and Vice President of the Republic of Ghana should include salaries paid to the respective spouses of the President and Vice President. 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. Featured Video Attorney General, Godfred Dame, has said a recent petition by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the Commonwealth Secretariat is just an attempt to evade the claws of justice. In the petition signed by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Ghanas biggest opposition party said that Since assuming the reins of power in 2016, the message of physical violence against political opponents that Nana Addo preached and championed before the 2016 general elections has turned into structural, institutional and systematic forms of violence in the form of human rights violations, harassment, and political persecutions against members and supporters of the NDC, Mr. Dame, who is also the Minister of Justice, however, told journalists on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, that I find it [petition] to be very hypocritical and misleading. He explained: All the government has sought to do is that the NDC and its officers are brought to book. I will not be deterred at all in my quest to ensure that there is accountability for the people of Ghana, he vowed. He noted that the cases that we have investigated and the actions we have filed in court are on account of solid evidence that we have unearthed through painstaking investigation. I can cite the incident of Alfred Woyome, pointing out; All this recourse to the tribunal is an attempt to get the NDC to run away from justice [because] their claims are unjustified. I do not think we must pay too much attention to it, he added. To him, It is a clear attempt to undermine the administration of justice in the court and an attempt to interfere with the sound administration of justice. As far as I know, no foreign entity can influence or interfere with the courts of justice in the country, he averred. As far as I am concerned, all this attempt by the NDC is an attempt to infringe the sovereignty of Ghana. Source: class fm Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Majority Leader in Parliament Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has said that Parliament will listen to the Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament Sarah Adwoa Safo on why she absented herself from Parliament for more than fifteen days. The Leader of the Government Business told TV3s Benjamin Aidoo in an interview on Monday, February 28, said after he was asked when the Gender Minister was returning to Ghana that In the course of the week she may come down hopefully. Asked again whether she will be punished for absenting herself from Parliament for more than fifteen days, the Suame lawmaker said where we are, our orders have adequate provisions to deal with some of these matters but it depends on whatever excuse she has if it is plausible. Which is why the orders provide that a person who absents himself or herself for more than fifteen days in the meeting is unable to provide plausible justification for the absence, then the committee of Privileges could propose sanctions, so it depends on the information she is coming with. Some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) believe Adwoa Safo is sabotaging the government. For instance, the MP for New Juabeng South, Michael Okyere Baafi, said she is making the work of the government in Parliament difficult. All the problems the government is facing are attributable to Adwoa Safo. Clearly, her intention and posture show that she wants to sabotage NPP, he said on Kumasi-based Hello FM. The MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong also revealed that the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare gave him 120,000 to be deposited into the bank account of Adwoa Safo for her to attend to Parliamentary duties to work for the government. The Chief of Staff called me and I went, I swear my mothers grave, Chief of Staff gave me 120,000 and deposited into Adwoa Safos Fidelity Bank account. I took the money there into the Fidelity Account, ask her personal assistant if what I am saying is not the truth, a furious Kennedy Agyapong said. He added Now we are in opposition, the way Adwoa Safo is treating the party, it is clearly showing that we are in opposition and this shouldnt be tolerated at all, he told Asaase Radio on Tuesday, February 22. Mr. Agyapong had raised issues against the conduct of Sarah Adwoa Safo. He said that the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection has failed in life for requesting that she should be made a Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament. He wondered why a cabinet minister will now want to occupy a position that is below the rank of a Minister. Speaking on her rampant absence from Parliament, Mr Agyapong, who has two children with her, said: She says she wants to be Deputy Majority, that woman has failed in life. A whole cabinet minister now demanding that she should be made a Deputy Majority Leader before she comes, she should go to hell. You dont come to Parliament and you are on TikTok dancing? Dome Kwabenya is not for Apostle Kwadwo Safo, get it straight. I am very furious because people are insulting me because I went there to campaign for her. Mike Oquaye the Speaker, the man that I respect very well, I campaigned against his son because Adwoa used my kids, calling me and begging me to help her. And now everybody is insulting me for doing that but I have not regretted it, she is very responsible when it comes to the kids, he said on GTV Monday, February 21. Asked how many days she has been absent from Parliament, he answered: More than 15 days and the law says 15 days. Asked again whether Ghanaians should expect her seat to be declared vacant, he said: Why not? She should go and contest on TikTok. Source: 3 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. Featured Video Credit: CC0 Public Domain By combining CRISPR technology with a protein designed with artificial intelligence, it is possible to awaken individual dormant genes by disabling the chemical "off switches" that silence them. Researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle describe this finding in the journal Cell Reports. The approach will allow researchers to understand the role individual genes play in normal cell growth and development, in aging, and in such diseases as cancer, said Shiri Levy, a postdoctoral fellow in UW Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM) and the lead author of the paper. "The beauty of this approach is we can safely upregulate specific genes to affect cell activity without permanently changing the genome and cause unintended mistakes," Levy said. The project was led by Hannele Ruohola-Baker, professor of biochemistry and associate director of ISCRM. The AI-designed protein was developed at the UW Medicine Institute for Protein Design (IPD) under the leadership of David Baker, also a professor of biochemistry and head of the IPD. The new technique controls gene activity without altering the DNA sequence of the genome by targeting chemical modifications that help package genes in our chromosomes and regulate their activity. Because these modifications occur not in, but on top of genes, they are called epigenetic, from the Greek epi "over" or "above" the genes. The chemical modifications that regulate gene activity are called epigenetic markers. Scientists are particularly interested in epigenetic modifications because not only do they affect gene activity in normal cell function, epigenetic markers accumulate with time, contribute to aging, and can affect of the health of future generations as we can pass them on to our children. In their work, Levy and her colleagues focused on a complex of proteins called PRC2 that silences genes by attaching a small molecule, called a methyl group, to a protein that packages genes called histones. These methyl groups must be refreshed so if PRC2 is blocked the genes it has silenced. it can be reawakened. PRC2 is active throughout development but plays a particularly important role during the first days of life when embryonic cells differentiate into the variouscell types that will form the tissues and organs of the growing embryo. PRC2 can be blocked with chemicals, but they are imprecise, affecting PRC2 function throughout the genome. The goal of the UW researchers was to find a way to block PRC2 so that only one gene at a time would be affected. To do this, David Baker and his colleagues use AI to create a protein that would bind to PRC2 and block a protein the PRC2 uses to modify the histones. Ruohola-Baker and Levy then fused this designed protein with a disabled version of a protein called Cas9. Cas9 is the protein used in the gene editing process called CRISPR. Cas9 binds and uses RNA as an address-tag. The system allows scientists, by synthesizing a specific "address-tag" RNA, to bring Cas9 to a precise location in genome and therefore cut and splice genes at specific sites. In this experiment, however, the cutting function of the Cas9 protein is disabled so the genomic DNA sequence is unaltered. As a result, it's called dCas9, for "dead." However, the Cas9 function as a "vehicle" to deliver cargo to a specific location remains active. The AI-designed blocking protein was the cargo of the dCas9-RNA construct. "dCas9 is like UBER," says Levy, "It will take you anywhere on the genome you want to go. The guide RNA is like a passenger, telling the UBER where to go." In the new paper, Levy and her colleagues show that by using this technique, they were able to block PRC2 and selectively turn on four different genes. They were also able to show they could transdifferentiate induced pluripotent stem cells to placental progenitor cells by simply turning on two genes. "This technique allows us to avoid bombarding cells with various growth factors and gene activators and repressors to get them to differentiate," Levy said. "Instead, we can target specific sites on the gene transcription promoters' region, lift those marks and let the cell do the rest in an organic, holistic manner. " Finally, the researchers were able to show how the technique can be used to find the location of specific PRC2-controlled regulatory regions from where individual genes are activated. The location of many of these are unknown. In this case, they identified a promoter regioncalled a TATA boxfor a gene called TBX18. Although current thinking is that these promotor regions are close to the gene, within in 30 DNA base pairs, they found for this gene the promoter region was more than 500 base pairs away. "This was a very important finding," said Ruohola-Baker. "TATA boxes are scattered throughout the genome, and current thinking in biology is that the important TATA boxes are very close to the gene transcription site and the others don't seem to matter. The power of this tool is that it can find the critical PRC2 dependent elements, in this case TATA boxes that matter." Epigenetic modifications decorate broad regions of the genome in normal and abnormal cells. However, the minimal functional unit for the epigenetic modification remains poorly understood, Ruohola-Baker notes, "With these two advances, AI-designed proteins and CRISPR technology, we can now find the precise epigenetic marks that are important for gene expression, learn the rules and utilize them to control cell function, drive cell differentiation and develop 21st century therapies." Explore further Method discovered to reactivate tumour fighting genes 'silenced' by cancer More information: Hannele Ruohola-Baker, dCas9 Fusion to Computer Designed PRC2 Inhibitor Reveals Functional TATA Box in Distal Promoter Region, Cell Reports (2022). www.cell.com/cell-reports/full 2211-1247(22)00184-X Journal information: Cell Reports Hannele Ruohola-Baker, dCas9 Fusion to Computer Designed PRC2 Inhibitor Reveals Functional TATA Box in Distal Promoter Region,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110457 This figure is an elevation diagram of the interior structures of the Great Pyramid. The inner and outer lines indicate the pyramids present and original profiles. 1. Original entrance 2. Robbers Tunnel (tourist entrance) 3, 4. Descending Passage 5. Subterranean Chamber 6. Ascending Passage 7. Queens Chamber & its air-shafts 8. Horizontal Passage 9. Grand Gallery 10. Kings Chamber & its air-shafts 11. Grotto & Well Shaft. Credit: By Flanker, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41041394 The Great Pyramid of Giza might be the most iconic structure humans ever built. Ancient civilizations constructed archaeological icons that are a testament to their greatness and persistence. But in some respects, the Great Pyramid stands alone. Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only the Great Pyramid stands relatively intact. A team of scientists will use advances in High Energy Physics (HIP) to scan the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza with cosmic-ray muons. They want to see deeper into the Great Pyramid than ever before and map its internal structure. The effort is called the Explore the Great Pyramid (EGP) mission. The Great Pyramid of Giza has stood since the 26th century BC. It's the tomb of the Pharoah Khufu, also known as Cheops. Construction took about 27 years, and it was built with about 2.3 million blocks of stonea combination of limestone and graniteweighing in at about 6 million tons. For over 3,800 years, it was the tallest human-made structure in the world. We see now only the underlying core structure of the Great Pyramid. The smooth white limestone casing was removed over time. The Great Pyramid is well-studied, and over the years, archaeologists have mapped out the interior structure. The pyramid and the ground under it contain different chambers and passageways. Khufu's (Cheops') chamber sits roughly in the pyramid's center. In recent times, archaeological teams have used some high-tech methods to probe the insides of the pyramids more rigorously. In the late 1960s, American Physicist Luis Alvarez and his team used muon tomography to scan the pyramid's interior. In 1969, Alvarez reported that they examined 19% of the pyramid and found no new chambers. In 2016-17, the ScanPyramids team used non-invasive techniques to study the Great Pyramid. Like Alvarez before them, they used muon tomography, along with infrared thermography and other tools. Their most significant discovery is the "Big Void," a massive void above the Grand Gallery. The discovery was published in the journal Nature and is considered one of the most significant scientific discoveries that year. Muons are elementary particles similar to electrons but more massive. They're used in tomography because they penetrate deeply into structures. More deeply than even X-rays can. This diagram shows what happens when a primary cosmic particle collides with a molecule of atmosphere, creating an air shower. An air shower is a cascade of secondary decay particles, including muons, indicated with the symbol (?). Credit: SyntaxError55 at the English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13361920 Cosmic ray muons are created when high-energy particles known as cosmic rays slam into Earth's atmosphere. Cosmic rays are fragments of atomshigh-energy protons and atomic nuclei that constantly stream into Earth from the Sun, outside the Solar System, and outside the galaxy. When these particles collide with Earth's atmosphere, the collision produces showers of secondary particles. Some of those particles are muons. Muons are unstable and decay in only a couple of microseconds or millionths of a second. But they travel at near light speed, and at such a high velocity, they can penetrate deeply before they decay. There's an unending source of muons from the cosmic rays that constantly bombard Earth. The task in muon tomography is to measure the muons effectively. Muon tomography is used in different applications, like examining shipping containers for contraband. Recent technological innovations in muon tomography increase its power and lead to new applications. For example, scientists in Italy will use muon tomography to image the inside of the volcanic Mount Vesuvius, hoping to understand when it might erupt again. The Explore the Great Pyramid (EGP) mission uses muon tomography to take the next step in imaging the Great Pyramid. Like ScanPyramids before them, EGP will use muon tomography to image the structure's interior. But EGP says that their muon telescope system will be 100 times more powerful than previous muon imaging. "We plan to field a telescope system that has upwards of 100 times the sensitivity of the equipment that has recently been used at the Great Pyramid, will image muons from nearly all angles and will, for the first time, produce a true tomographic image of such a large structure," they write in the paper explaining the mission. EGP will use very large telescope sensors moved around to different positions outside the Great Pyramid. The detectors will be assembled in temperature-controlled shipping containers for ease of transportation. Each unit will be 12 m long, 2.4 m wide, and 2.9 m tall (40 ft long, 8 ft wide, and 9.5 ft tall.) Their simulations used two muon telescopes, and each telescope consists of four containers. There are five critical points in the EGP mission: Produce a detailed analysis of the entire internal structure which does not just differentiate between stone and air, but can measure variations in density. Answer questions regarding construction techniques by being able to see relatively small structural discontinuities. The large size of the telescope system yields not only the increased resolution, but enables fast collection of the data, which minimizes the required viewing time at the site. The EGP team anticipates a two-year viewing time. The telescope is very modular in nature. This makes it very easy to reconfigure and deploy at another site for future studies. From a technical perspective, the system being proposed uses technology that has been largely engineered and tested and presents a low risk approach. On the left is an illustration of the containers that make up the telescope. On the right is an illustration of how the telescope will be set up on-site. Credit: Explore Great Pyramid mission/Bross et al. 2022 EGP is still building telescope prototypes and determining which data-handling techniques they will use. Along the way, they're doing simulations and other work to prepare for the mission. One critical piece is how they'll corral all those muons into a tomographic image. But the team is confident in the work they've done so far and satisfied with their new approach. EGP says their effort will create an actual tomographic image of the Great Pyramid for the first time, rather than a 2d image. "The Exploring the Great Pyramid Mission takes a different approach to imaging large structures with cosmic-ray muons. The use of very large muon telescopes placed outside the structure, in our case, the Great Pyramid of Khufu on the Giza plateau, can produce much higher resolution images due to the large number of detected muons. In addition, by moving the telescopes around the base of the pyramid, true tomographic image reconstruction can be performed for the first time." Most of EGP's work so far has been data simulations. But they won't be starting from scratch when they build the telescope. "The detector technology employed in the telescopes is well established, and prototyping of specific components has already begun," they write. When ScanPyramids discovered the Big Void in 2017, it was big news. It caused some controversy, too. Egyptologist Zahi Hawass pooh-poohed the findings. He told the New York Times that "They found nothingThis paper offers nothing to Egyptology. Zero." But most other Egyptologists embraced the discovery and its scientific nature. Physicists were supportive of the discovery, too. Particle physicist Lee Thompson told Science that "the scientists have 'seen' the void using three different muon detectors in three independent experiments, which makes their finding very robust." There's bound to be some drama when scientists use modern high-energy physics to probe one of humanity's most ancient archaeological treasures. Some Egyptologists seem possessive and might view physicists as interlopers in their field. They might not like physicists using mysterious particles from outer space to open the veil on our ancient past. It looks like they'll have to get used to it. More information: Tomographic Muon Imaging of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Nature (2017). Journal information: Nature , Science Tomographic Muon Imaging of the Great Pyramid of Giza. doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2202.08184 Kunihiro Morishima et al, Discovery of a big void in Khufu's Pyramid by observation of cosmic-ray muons,(2017). DOI: 10.1038/nature24647 A man delivers supplies to stranded residents in Fairfield in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: AP Photo/Tertius Pickard Tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes by Tuesday and hundreds of thousands more were told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast were inundated by the worst flooding in more than a decade. At least 10 people have died. New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said there had been 1,000 rescues in the state by Tuesday and more than 6,000 calls for authorities to help. Scores of residents, some with pets, spent hours trapped on their roofs by a fast-rising river in the town of Lismore in the state's north. The body of a woman in her 80s was found by a neighbor in her Lismore home on Tuesday, a police statement said. There were no details of how she died. Dozens of cars were trapped on a bridge in the nearby town of Woodburn over Monday night with both the bridge's approaches submerged. Up to 50 people were rescued from the bridge early Tuesday, officials said. "We had no capabilities to get them off in the dark so we just had to make sure that they bunkered down and we went in this morning and got them all out," Woodburn State Emergency Services Commander Ashley Slapp said. The floodwaters were moving south into New South Wales from Queensland state in the worst disaster in the region since what was described as a once-in-a-century event in 2011. A man inspects the damage at a farm in Logan, south of Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes by Tuesday and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: Jono Searle/AAP Image via AP Perrottet said 40,000 people had been ordered to evacuate, while 300,000 others had been placed under evacuation warnings. Government meteorologist Jonathan Howe described the recent rainfall in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland as "astronomical." Nine of the 10 deaths reported so far were in Queensland. A 76-year-old man who disappeared with his vehicle in floodwaters northwest of Brisbane on Sunday has since been confirmed dead. Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said another man in his 70s remained missing after falling from his moored yacht in the state capital Brisbane into a swollen river on Saturday. The cleanup was underway in Brisbane, Australia's third most populous city, despite more storms forecast for later in the week. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner urged people to register for the "Mud Army," as the thousands of volunteers who mobilized to help out after the 2011 floods were dubbed. People wade through flood water as they relocate in Chinderah, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: Jason O'Brien/AAP Image via AP Thousands of homes in Brisbane were inundated Sunday, many by swollen creeks in suburbs such as Ashgrove, where Kelvin Barfoot had to evacuate with members of his family, including his 99-year-old mother-in-law, Mina Baker, in a State Emergency Service rescue boat. The family moved back into the top floor of their two-story home and started removing damaged furniture and electrical appliances that had been covered by almost 1.5 meters (5 feet) of water. "We thought we were pretty well prepared for it," said Barfoot, who leads a volunteer bush care group which has tallied more than 4,000 hours of planting and weeding along Enoggera Creek over the past six years. "Just unbelievable. When it did start coming in, it went up very quick." Barfoot said his daughter and her husband swam to the house to help with the rescue after notifying emergency services that her grandmotherwho moved to Australia from Christchurch, New Zealand, after earthquakes there in 2011 killed 185 peopleneeded to get out. A man delivers supplies to stranded residents in Fairfield in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: AP Photo/Tertius Pickard "We were pretty much stuck upstairs at that point," Barfoot said. "That was quite traumatic for my mother-in-lawwe got her out (of New Zealand) after the earthquakes, so it was all a bit reminiscent of that for her. "Now she's back home. She wanted to come home. She was a bit traumatized, but she's tough. She came down and asked me if there was anything to do to help!" Schrinner said the six-day rainfall in downtown Brisbane792.8 millimeters (31.2 inches) through Monday morningwas significantly higher than the previous record of 655.8 millimeters (25.8 inches) set when flooding devastated the city in 1974. Rick Threlfall and Steve Hadley, meteorologists who moved from England to Australia and have been living in Newmarket, Brisbane, for almost a decade, were in the process of sandbagging the ground floor of their home but couldn't finish in time to beat the rapidly rising flood. A man handles a python snake searching for dry ground on a bridge in Logan, south of Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes by Tuesday and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: Jono Searle/AAP Image via AP "Back in the U.K., we do weather warnings for 20 millimeters (1 inch) of rain," Threlfall said. "My weather gauge here has recorded 950 millimeters (37 inches) in three days. Brisbane's average is about 1,200 millimeters (47 inches) for the year, so we've pretty much had 80% of annual rainfall in three days. "No real escaping the water, I guess." The extraordinary rainfall comes as the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported this week that vast swathes of Australia have already lost 20% of its rainfall and the country's fire risk has gone beyond worst-case scenarios developed just a few years ago. Australia's hottest and driest year on record was 2019, which ended with devastating wildfires across southeast Australia. The fires directly killed 33 people and another 400 people were killed by the smoke. A man paddles a canoe through flood water in Cabarita, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes by Tuesday and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: Jason O'Brien/AAP Image via AP In this photo provided by the Fraser Coast Regional Council, water floods streets and houses in Maryborough, Australia, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Heavy rain is bringing record flooding to some east coast areas while the flooding in Brisbane, a population of 2.6 million, and its surrounds is the worst since 2011 when the city was inundated by what was described as a once-in-a-century event. Credit: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services via AP A woman carries sand bags as she wades through flood water in Pottsville, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes by Tuesday and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: Jason O'Brien/AAP Image via AP A bus shelter is submerged under water in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: AP Photo/Tertius Pickard Residents are seen cleaning up wreckage from their flooded homes in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: AP Photo/Tertius Pickard A cricket field is flooded in Yeronga, Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: AP Photo/Tertius Pickard A man makes his way through floodwaters in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: AP Photo/Tertius Pickard Wreckage is seen at the Hawthorne ferry terminal on the Brisbane river, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: AP Photo/Tertius Pickard Wreckage are seen at the Hawthorne ferry terminal on the Brisbane river, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Tens of thousands of people had been ordered to evacuate their homes and many more had been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia's southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in decades. Credit: AP Photo/Tertius Pickard The fires also destroyed more than 3,000 homes and razed 19 million hectares (47 million acres) of farmland and forests. But two La Nina weather patterns have since brought above-average rainfall to the same regions. Lesley Hughes, an Australian academic and lead author of the U.N. IPCC assessment reports in 2007 and 2015, said climate change was expected to overwhelm government systems such as flood responses. "We can see that our emergency services are struggling already to cope with the floods in northern New South Wales with people stranded on roofs without food for more than 24 hours," Hughes said. Explore further Rooftop rescues in Australia as tens of thousands evacuated from floods 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Genes jumping from microbes to green algae hundreds of millions of years ago might have driven the evolution of land plants, researchers report March 1 in the journal Molecular Plant. Their analysis reveals that hundreds of genes from bacteria, fungi, and viruses have been integrated into plants, giving them desirable traits for a terrestrial life. "Our study changes the conventional view on land-plant evolution," says senior author Jinling Huang, a biologist at East Carolina University. "I have suspected that horizontal gene transfer helped plants to move from water to land, but we didn't know how big of a role it played until now." Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) describes the movement of genetic materials between organisms of difference species. The genome-swapping events are common in bacteria, and they're responsible for the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance in these prokaryotes. But the role of HGT in complex multicellular eukaryotesorganisms such as plants and animalsremains controversial. Conventionally, scientists thought eukaryotic genes move only via vertical gene transfer, during which genes pass down from parents to offspring and mutations can occur to give rise to new genes and traits. But Huang and his colleagues, including plant biologist Chun-Peng Song at Henan University, have found evidence from prior studies that HGT in plants might be common. To investigate the role of HGT in plant evolution, the researchers scanned the genomes of 31 plants. They included species from all four plant groups, including mosses, ferns, and trees, as well as charophytes, a group of green algae related to modern land plants. They found that nearly 600 gene families in modern plantsfar more than were previously thoughtwere transferred from other organisms, especially from microbes such as bacteria and fungi. In addition, the team identified two major episodes of HGT during the early evolution of charophyte algae and the origin of land plants, when over a hundred gene families hopped from microbes to plants. "Our finding suggests that HGT plays a significant role in land-plant evolution. Compared with mutations from vertical gene transfer, HGT enables plants to gain new traits rapidly, and some of these new traits could help plants adapt to a drastically different environment, like when they moved from water to land," Huang says. Many of the genes acquired are known to perform important biological functions in plants. For example, the late embryogenesis abundant genes, which came from bacteria, helps plants adapt to a drier environment. The ammonium transporter gene, acquired from fungi, helps plants absorb nitrogen from soil for growth. "Almost everyone has experienced teary eyes when chopping an onion. We found that the gene in onions responsible for producing the tear-jerking agent actually came from bacteria. That's very interesting because we are all aware of this reaction but didn't realize it's a result from HGT until now," Huang says. "There're many more examples like this." Next, the team plans to further explore the transferred genes in bryophytes, which is the plant group that includes mosses. Many foreign genes in these plants have unknown functions, and future research might help identify desirable genes that can one day be transferred to crops to enhance their fitness. Explore further Scientists discover how plants evolved to colonize land more than 500 million years ago More information: Molecular Plant, Ma and Wang et al.: "Major episodes of horizontal gene transfer drove the evolution of land plants" DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.02.001 Journal information: Molecular Plant , Ma and Wang et al.: "Major episodes of horizontal gene transfer drove the evolution of land plants" www.cell.com/molecular-plant/f 1674-2052(22)00049-1 All Russia's security concerns must be taken into account for settlement in Ukraine -- Putin Xinhua) 07:40, March 01, 2022 MOSCOW/PARIS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- All Moscow's security concerns must be taken into account for settlement in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. Putin reiterated that a settlement would only be possible if Russia's security concerns were taken into account, including "Russia's sovereignty over Crimea," as well as the country's commitment to solving the tasks of Ukraine's demilitarization and denazification, and the issue of Ukraine's neutral status, the Kremlin said in a statement. Putin said Russia is open to negotiations with Ukraine and expressed hope they would lead to the desired result. "The French side expressed its well-known views on Russia's special military operation... and expressed hope for a quick settlement of the conflict through dialogue," the Kremlin said. Putin said that Russia's armed forces are not striking civilian objects, and do not pose a threat to civilians. "Ukrainian nationalists, who have been using their civilian population 'as a human shield,' are a threat," Putin said. According to the Elysee, Macron asked Russia to respect international law and protect the civil population. "The French President reaffirmed the necessity to implement an immediate ceasefire," the Elysee said. Putin and Macron agreed to hold further contacts. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) After being closed for almost two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Adler Planetarium has announced plans to fully reopen on March 4, following in the footsteps of various other Chicago museums and institutions. The planetarium will follow Illinois and Chicago and reopen without a mask mandate, according to Jennifer Howell, Adlers senior manager of public relations. Advertisement The Adler will be open Thursday through Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. It will also be open Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will be free to Illinois residents; tickets start at $19 and must be purchased in advance online at adlerplanetarium.org. The planetarium is also launching a new Star Pass, which gives visitors unlimited entry for one year with access to all exhibitions, starting at $65. The Adler Planetarium down Solidarity Drive on June 18, 2020. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Two cargo ships that allegedly dragged an oil pipeline with their anchors during a winter storm should be held liable for a disastrous October oil spill that sent thousands of gallons of crude into the waters off Orange County, the operator of the ruptured pipeline said in a lawsuit filed Monday. In a 35-page complaint filed in federal court, Houston-based Amplify Energy Corp. accused two shipping companies and their subsidiariesbased in Switzerland, Panama, Liberia and Greeceof improperly allowing their cargo ships to drop anchor near the pipeline and of failing to notify authorities after the damage occurred. Without the presence of the cargo ship anchors, "the pipeline would not have been displaced or damaged and thus would not have failed," Amplify said in the complaint. The Marine Exchange of Southern California, which monitors and directs traffic in the busy San Pedro Bay, was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The nonprofit should have been aware of the anchor drags and should have notified the company, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit also names as defendants the captains and crews of the two cargo ships, the MSC Danit and the Cosco Beijing. The Coast Guard has designated both ships parties of interest in the federal investigation of the spill, which sent at least 25,000 gallons of crude gushing into the waters off Orange County. An anchor striking and dragging the pipeline could have made the conduit more vulnerable to other damage or to environmental stressors, the Coast Guard said. Amplify's lawsuit said that, if company employees had been aware of the damage, they would have deployed a remotely operated vehicle to inspect the pipeline, "detected its dislocation and the damage done to it, suspended operations immediately, and undertaken remedial measures that would have prevented the discharge of oil." "We would have immediately assessed the situation and made any necessary repairs," company spokeswoman Amy Conway said in a statement Monday. Capt. Kip Louttit, the executive director of the Marine Exchange, said he was not aware of the lawsuit and could not comment. Al Peacock, a lawyer who represents the owners and operators of the Beijing, also said he could not comment. Representatives of the owner and operator of the Danit did not immediately respond to inquiries about the suit. After warnings of an approaching storm on Jan. 25, 2021, more than 20 container ships left their anchorages in San Pedro Bay and headed to deeper waters to ride out the storm, the lawsuit said. But the Danit and the Beijing remained near the pipeline, the complaint said. Driven by winds of up to 63 mph and waves of up to 17 feet, both shipswhich are longer than a downtown skyscraperdragged their anchors across the seafloor "and into areas where federal law prohibits anchoring," the complaint said. Movement data from the Danit shows the ship began "moving erratically" while broadcasting that it was at anchor, and "zig-zagged" over the pipeline repeatedly over a three-hour period, the lawsuit said. As the Danit prepared to raise its anchor and head to deeper waters, the Beijing came within about 560 feet of colliding with the other ship, the lawsuit said, citing November court filings by the Dordellas Finance Corp., the Panamanian company that owns the Danit. The Danit "ceased its anchor-raising operations and took action to avoid a collision" with the Beijing, the lawsuit said. The Danit's crew eventually sailed away without notifying authorities of any damage, while the Beijing remained at anchor near the pipeline, the lawsuit said. Given the "proximity between the ships, the length of the chains typically used to anchor such vessels," and the Beijing's movements in the area, Amplify alleged that the Beijing also dragged its anchor across the pipeline. The lawsuit accused both shipping companies of negligence. When a vessel strikes a stationary object, courts presume the vessel is at fault, the lawsuit said. Amplify is seeking punitive damages, as well as reimbursement for legal fees, the bill to repair and replace the ruptured portions of the pipeline, and the revenue lost while the pipeline has been inoperable. Amplify is also pushing to require the Marine Exchange to notify owners of undersea property to any potential anchor drags within 24 hours of the incident. The company also wants the Marine Exchange to block ships from anchoring in areas immediately adjacent to the pipeline when bad weather is likely, writing that "significant vessel traffic and congestion ... combined with the ever-present threat of heavy weather, make future anchor-dragging incidents reasonably likely." Explore further Authorities identify source of oil sheen off Huntington Beach 2022 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: CC0 Public Domain NASA's Near-Earth Object Observation Program painstakingly documents all asteroid sightings that could pose a potential threat to our planet. However, geographical constraints mean that somewhere between 2% and 7% of asteroids are not detected. Former director of the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (CDSCC) and recently appointed UNSW Canberra Professor of Practice, Ed Kruzins, believes Canberra could help fill that important gap. "We could create a capability here in Australiabecause of our unique geographic locationto plug that gap and to provide a service to NASA and the global community," Professor Kruzins said. "There is a group called the International Asteroid Warning Network, which is a part of the United Nations, and I've been very keen for Australia to become a part of that." During Professor Kruzins's time at the CDSCC, the team discovered that the 70-meter antenna at Tidbinbilla could be used to illuminate asteroids via radio waves and collect valuable data. UNSW Canberra Space worked with the CDSCC team to analyze the signals and contribute to the NASA catalog. Coupled with the University's telescopesone located at the ADFA campus and another in YassProfessor Kruzins said Canberra was well placed to assist in the vital task of asteroid sighting. Catastrophic asteroid events are rare. However, they are attributed to instances of mass extinction, most famously wiping out three-quarters of life on the Earth, including the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. That asteroid was believed to be about 10 to 15 kilometers wide. In 2013, a much smaller asteroidthe Chelyabinsk meteor, measuring about 20 metersinjured almost 1,500 people and damaged 7,200 buildings in Cherbakyl, Russia. In 1908, a 50- to 60-meter meteoroid exploded over a sparsely populated area in Tungaska, Siberia, flattening an estimated 80 million trees over an area of 2,150 square kilometers. The Tungaska event is the largest impact event on Earth in modern history, but larger asteroids do exist, and their impact could be devastating. "UNSW's work is therefore looking to understand the orbital knowledge and science of asteroids detected from the Southern Hemisphere and to determine potentially hazardous asteroids," Professor Kruzins said. NASA is already investigated how asteroids might be deflected if they appear to be too close for comfort. The recently launched Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) aims to test how firing a kinetic object at an asteroid could deflect its course. It's not just asteroids that Australia could play a role in tracking. Professor Kruzins said the same technology could also be applied to human-made objects, such as satellites and space junk, potentially locating or deconflicting rogue space missions. Object detection is a rich area of study and one in which UNSW is already well placed through its Space Situation Awareness Research Program to assist Australia to make a meaningful contribution. "This is our chance to play on the world stage to do something quite significant and add to the knowledge in this area," Professor Kruzins said. Explore further NASA's plans to prevent a potential asteroid impact catastrophe explained A man carries a dog rescued from a residential area destroyed by landslides in Petropolis, Brazil, Feb. 16, 2022. Scientists have long been warning that extreme weather would cause calamity in the future. But in Latin Americawhich in just the last month has had deadly landslides in Brazil, wildfires in the Argentine wetlands and flooding in the Amazon so severe that it ruined harveststhat future is here already. Credit: AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo, File Scientists have long been warning that extreme weather would cause calamity in the future. But in South Americawhich in just the last month has had deadly landslides in Brazil, wildfire in Argentine wetlands and flooding in the Amazon so severe it ruined harveststhat future is already here. In just three hours on Feb. 15, the city of Petropolis, nestled in the forested mountains above Rio de Janeiro, received over 10 inches of rainfall more than ever registered in a single day since authorities began keeping records in 1932. The ensuing landslides swallowed the lives of more than 200 people, and left nearly 1,000 homeless. A report published Monday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) corroborates what many on the ground are witnessing with their own eyes. Global warming is altering the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, such as El Nino and La Nina, the natural heating and cooling of parts of the Pacific that alters weather patterns around the globe. These events have also become more difficult to predict, causing additional damage, the report said. "Climate change is projected to convert existing risks in the region into severe key risks," the report said. Until 2020, there was plenty of water, swamps, stagnant lakes and lagoons in Argentina's Ibera Wetlands, one of the largest such ecosystems in the world. But an historic drought of the Parana River dried much of it out; its waters are in the lowest level since 1944. Since January it has been the stage of raging fires. A man pushes a shopping cart loaded with bananas through a street flooded by the Negro River in downtown Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, June 1, 2021. Rivers around Brazil's biggest city in the Amazon rain forest swelled to levels unseen in over a century of record-keeping, according to data published by Manaus' port authorities. Credit: AP Photo/Edmar Barros, File And this week, 70% of the remote city of Jordao in Brazil's Amazon rainforest was submerged by the overflow of two rivers. It has shattered the lives of thousands of people in the region, including in 32 Indigenous communities. Central and South America is the second most urbanized region in the world after North America with 81% percent of its population residing within cities. In this context, forests are playing a vital role to stabilize local climates and to help the world meet the ambitious temperature goals set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, experts say. The entire Amazon rainforest stores between 150 and 200 billion tonnes of carbon in the vegetation and soil, according to Carlos Nobre, a prominent Brazilian climate scientist who has studied the biome for several decades. "It's a huge reservoir," Nobre told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "If you lose the forest, this carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, goes into the atmosphere. It is very important to maintain the forest." Cattle walk along the banks of the Jaguari dam, which is part of the Cantareira System, responsible for providing water to the Sao Paulo metropolitan area, in Braganca Paulista, Brazil, Aug. 25, 2021. Brazil's south and southeast regions faced in 2021 their worst droughts in nine decades, raising the specter of possible power rationing given the grid's dependence on hydroelectric plants. Credit: AP Photo/Andre Penner, File But most governments across the region have failed to heed the IPCC's warnings and stop the destruction. Many South American leaders have remained silent about illegal logging and mining activities in sensitive regions. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has gone further, outright encouraging it both with his words and by weakening environmental agencies and regulation. Even in Colombia, where President Ivan Duque has attempted to rein in illegal logging, a recent increase in forest fires led more than 150 international academics and activists last week to send a letter urging the government to take a more aggressive stance. Indeed, local prosecutors and police have said the region is more and more dependent on activists for preservation, either to prevent deforestation that leads to drastic changes in climate or to deal with the consequences of environmental degradation. Rescue workers and residents search for victims in an area affected by landslides in Petropolis, Brazil, Feb. 16, 2022. In just three hours, the mountainous city nestled in the forest behind Rio de Janeiro, received on Feb. 15 over 10 inches of rainfall more than ever registered in a single day since authorities began keeping records in 1932. Credit: AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo, File Alejandra Boloqui, 54, manages a private natural reserve in Argentina's Ibera Wetlands, and has been helping firefighters wage their desperate fight against the flames. Last week, she recorded a scene on her phone that overwhelmed her with sadness: a dozen alligators fleeing the flames and walking down a dirt track in search of water. "When I started filming them, I cried. I felt they were saying to me: 'I've been left without a home, I'm leaving,'" Boloqui told the AP. "It got my attention seeing so many alligators moving together during the day. ... They are very slow reptiles who move at night to avoid heat." They, along with many other animals, found temporary refuge in a nearby lagoon that had dried up due to lack of rain and has since been artificially refilled with solar water pumps. Local authorities attributed the fires to the burning of pastures for cattle ranching, which has been prohibited since December. IPCC experts stress in the report that droughts lay the groundwork for blazes that spread rapidly. A demonstrator wearing a mask depicting Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and brandishing a fake chainsaw, with another wearing a mask depicting his Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, march in defense of the Amazon, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept. 5, 2019. Bolsonaro has encouraged illegal logging and mining activities with his words and by weakening environmental agencies and regulation. Credit: AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo, File Brazil's south and southeast regions last year faced their worst droughts in nine decades, raising the specter of possible power rationing given the grid's dependence on hydroelectric plants. Simultaneously, in Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon, rivers swelled to levels unseen in over a century of record-keeping, flooding streets and houses and affecting some 450,000 people in the region. This week, with most of Amazonian city Jordao plunged underwater, Indigenous leader and forest guard Josias Kaxinawa is working to bring any support he can to dozens of communities. He spent all day Wednesday rescuing people and their belongings using his small boat equipped with an outboard motor. The Jordao and Tarauaca rivers join during the rainy season, which Kaxinawa and his neighbors didn't expect for several more weeks. But this time, unlike last year, showers arrived not just too early, but also brutally, he told the AP. An aerial view of area that was consumed by a man-made fire to clear land near Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil, Aug. 18, 2020. While the threat under the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro is the latest and most severe, efforts to preserve the Amazon have been struggling for years. Credit: AP Photo/Andre Penner, File "We are living our worst moment. Flood, rains, winds. Climate change is creating more problems for us. We are losing a lot of stuff, boats, household appliances, every crop we grew last year," Kaxinawa said by phone from Jordao, adding he had never had seen so much rain in his area. "We worry about the future," he said. He added that the small city's agricultural production is "virtually all destroyed." This jibes with the IPCC report, which says changes in the timing and magnitude of precipitation along with extreme temperatures are impacting agricultural production across Central and South America. "Impacts on rural livelihoods and food security, particularly for small and medium-sized farmers and Indigenous Peoples in the mountains, are projected to worsen," the report read. Acre state's government said at least 76 families have lost their homes in Jordao and around, most of them Indigenous and now living in a local shelter. But Mayor Naudo Ribeiro admitted the count was underestimated. Alligators share a puddle of water in a field that was consumed by wildfires in the Don Luis reserve, next to the Ibera Wetlands, Corrientes province, Argentina, Feb. 19, 2022. Until 2020, there was plenty of water, swamps, stagnant lakes and lagoons in the Ibera Wetlands, one of the largest such ecosystems in the world. But an historic drought of the Parana River dried much of it outits waters are in the lowest level since 1944. Since January it has been the stage of raging fires. Credit: AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File Dredging barges operated by illegal miners converge on the Madeira River, a tributary of the Amazon river, searching for gold, in Autazes, Amazonas state, Brazil, Nov. 25, 2021. Hundreds of mining barges arrived after rumors of gold spread, with environmentalists sounding the alarm about the unprecedented convergence of boats in the sensitive ecosystem. Credit: AP Photo/Edmar Barros, File An Indigenous woman wears a protective face mask as a precaution against COVID-19 during a protest against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's proposals to allow mining on Indigenous lands, at the Esplanade of Ministries in Brasilia, Brazil, April 20, 2021. Bolsonaro's administration introduced legislation that would open up Indigenous territories to miningsomething federal prosecutors have called unconstitutional and activists warn would wreak vast social and environmental damages. Credit: AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File A wildfire consumes a forest near Ituzaingo in the Corrientes province of Argentina, Feb. 19, 2022. Local authorities attributed the fires to the burning of pastures for cattle ranching, which has been prohibited since December. Credit: AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File Tenetehara Indigenous man Nemai Tembe from the Ka'Azar, or Forest Owners, rides through an area of trees felled by illegal loggers, as the group patrols their lands on the Alto Rio Guama reserve in Para state, near the city of Paragominas, Brazil, Sept. 8, 2020. Three Tenetehara Indigenous villages patrol to guard against illegal logging, gold mining, ranching, and farming as increasing encroachment and lax government enforcement during COVID-19 have forced the tribe to take matters into their own hands. Credit: AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File A heavy lifter transports people across a flooded area after the passing of Hurricane Iota in La Lima, Honduras, Nov. 18, 2020. Iota flooded stretches of Honduras still underwater from Hurricane Eta, after it hit Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane and weakened as it moved across Central America, dissipating over El Salvador. Credit: AP Photo/Delmer Martinez, File Members of search and recovery teams search for survivors in the debris of a massive, rain-fueled landslide in the village of Queja, Guatemala, Nov. 7, 2020, in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Eta. From violent hurricanes in Central America to uncontrollable fires in the southern tip of Latin America, freak storms and other record-breaking, weather-related events are hitting the region at a worrying rate. Credit: AP Photo/Esteban Biba, File The swollen Los Esclavos River flows violently under a bridge during Tropical Storm Amanda in Cuilapa, eastern Guatemala, May 31, 2020. Global warming is altering the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, such as El Nino and La Nina, the natural variations in temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean. Credit: AP Photo/Moises Castillo, File After years of very little rainfall, the lagoon sits dry and cracked in Suesca, Colombia, Feb. 17, 2021. The basin which is dependent on runoff has suffered severe deforestation and erosion, which together with the added impact of climate change has led to a significant reduction of its water level. Credit: AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File A muddied TV screen hangs on the wall of a home destroyed by landslides on the third day of rescue efforts in Petropolis, Brazil, Feb. 18, 2022. The ensuing landslides swallowed the lives of more than 200 people, and left nearly 1,000 homeless. Credit: AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo, File "This was too fast, there's no way to prepare when it happens like this," Ribeiro told local media. More than 3,400 kilometers (2,100 miles) away in Petropolis, the Brazilian city ravaged by landslides last week, Mayor Rubens Bomtempo provided journalists with a similar comment just days before. "This was totally unpredictable," Bomtempo said. "No one could predict rain as hard as this." The IPCC report suggests events like these will continue to shake the region. Explore further Brazil launches plan to expand mining in Amazon 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Large fires are occurring more frequently than in the past. The author, who is also part of the Science Moms group of climate scientists, took this photo of regrowth at the site of a fire in Yellowstone. Credit: Erica A.H. Smithwick, CC BY-ND When I was a young researcher studying how forested ecosystems recover from wildfire, I brought my 6-month-old daughter with me to Yellowstone National Park. These forests are incredibly resilient to wildfire because they've been adapting to it for 10,000 years. Their story of resilience was a hopeful narrative as I began my research career and brought my children into this complex world. Fast forward to today: My daughter is now in college, and we are facing a much different fire regime in a hotter, drier world. In the western U.S., the area burned by wildfires has doubled since the mid-1980s compared to natural levels. Wildfires are now more common, from the tundra to the tropics. And the U.S. is seeing fires year-round. A new report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released Feb. 28, 2022, shows that the extent and magnitude of many climate change impacts like wildfires are now larger than previously expected. Some animals and plants are reaching limits in their ability to adapt. Droughts are affecting crop productivity and power generation. Excess heat and flooding are helping diseases to spread in agriculture, wildlife and people. People who work outdoors or live along the coast are especially vulnerable. The social and economic impacts are also growing, with consequences for critical infrastructure, transportation networks, health and food security. My third child in now 9 years old. According to the IPCC report, his future will include about four times as many extreme events compared to the experience of someone in their 60s todayand that's if nations reduce fossil fuel use enough to hold global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial times. It's even more dangerous if they don't. Adapting to a changing world The report warns that humanity has a brief but rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future. The risks posed by climate change will be felt differently in different regions, but the most vulnerable people will face the greatest risks. Ensuring that their voices are included in planning and decision-making is a key recommendation. For example, Indigenous peoples are on the frontlines of climate-driven catastrophes and also can be partners in their solutions. In Alaska, where I currently conduct research, sewer systems could be washed out in the next storm, and thawing permafrost is crippling critical underground food storage areas, as well as roads. I've seen homes set on coastal cliffs there that are eroding into the sea. Water and food security In North America, the report describes how the ideal climates for many crops and fisheries are shifting northward, leading to reduced productivity of key crops and livestock. The thermal habitat for salmon and trout may decline 5% to 31%, lobster and crab distributions will shift, and shellfish harvests will decline due to ocean acidification. The impacts vary by region, but research shows climate change has generally reduced agricultural productivity by around 12.5% in the U.S. since 1961, particularly in drought-prone areas. Rising global temperatures are reducing the snowpack that farms and cities rely on for water, and increased groundwater pumping in response is harming access to fresh water in some areas, particularly in the western U.S. Adapting might mean planting different crops or conserving water. On the Colorado River, falling water levels have triggered water use limits agreed to by seven states. Wildfires are also a risk in the East. Credit: Penn State Coastal and urban economies Along U.S. coasts and in urban areas, damage from storms and sea level rise, and disruption of trade and transportation networks, are likely to cause substantial social and economic upheaval, the report says. Up to 99% of coral reefs, which provide natural protection from storms, will be lost by the end of the century in the Gulf of Mexico and along the coasts of Florida and the Yucatan Peninsula if temperatures rise just a half-degree Celsius more. There are adaptation techniques other than building sea walls. Green infrastructure, typically vegetation in flood-prone areas, can help manage some floodwater. Some communities are also thinking about managed migration to help move residents out of harm's way. Another big risk is heat-related deaths and illnesses, particularly among outdoor workers and poor urban residents. How much it increases in the future will depend on how people and countries respond. Worsening wildfires Last year, I was back in Yellowstone with my 9-year-old son, and I revisited the places I had been as a young researcher. Rather than a scene of resilience, wildfires had returned in just 18 years, burning landscapes that under natural conditions weren't supposed to burn again for 150 years. What my colleagues and I saw matched what our research was showing: the potential for the Yellowstone landscape to be transformed by fire. It also showed how these changes are less than a lifetime away. As temperatures rise, wildfire frequency is projected to increase about 30% globally by the end of the century if greenhouse gas emissions continue at a high rate. Fires will release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, where it further exacerbates climate change, and they will worsen air quality for billions of people. Strategies exist to help avoid the worst harm. Restoring fire-adapted ecosystems and using forest thinning and prescribed burns, where appropriate, can help prevent megafires. Communities can take steps to reduce the fire risk by building firebreaks and following construction codes. A window of opportunity The IPCC report concludes that it is unequivocal that climate change has already disrupted human and natural systems and that it threatens human well-being. It also reminds us that we can change it for the better. Many reports have described pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach a "net zero" emissions economy to avoid the worst harm and help communities adapt. We also need to talk about climate change with each other. If people don't talk about it, they don't act. A Yale survey shows that 72% of Americans think global warming is happening, but only 35% are talking about it. Talking about climate change with friends, our communities and our children in appropriate ways is critical to sparking action. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Fossils that be became extinct millions of years ago can reveal various aspects of how they lived. Credit: W.J.Foster Two-hundred fifty-two million years ago, volcanic eruptions led to massive climate changes. Around the globe, roughly 75 percent of all land-based organisms and roughly 90 percent of all marine organisms died out as a result. Dr. William Foster from Universitat Hamburg's Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) and colleagues have now used a new form of machine learning to unravel the causes of the mass extinction in the oceans. This was possible because the "machine" part of machine learning is normally a "black box," but Dr. Foster and colleagues have managed to open that box: They have not only determined which organisms went extinct and which survivedbut also why. Their findings have just been published in the journal Paleobiology. The end of the Permian was characterized by the greatest mass extinction event in Earth's history. Two-hundred fifty-two million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions in Siberia led to a massive release of greenhouse gases. In the course of the next several millennia, the climate ultimately warmed by 10 degrees. As a consequence, on land, roughly 75 percent of all organisms went extinct; in the oceans, the number was roughly 90 percent. By analyzing how the now-extinct marine organisms once lived, Dr. Foster and his team were able to directly link their extinction to the following climate changes: declining oxygen levels in the water, rising water temperatures, and most likely also ocean acidification. These changes are similar to current trends. "Needless to say, our findings on the Permian can't be applied to modern climate change one-to-one. The two climate systems are far too different," says Foster, a geoscientist. "Yet they do show which traits were critical for an organism's survival or extinctionunder similar conditions. This can offer us valuable indicators for who or what will be at the greatest risk in the future." Specifically, the team analyzed more than 25,000 records on 1,283 genera of fossil marine organisms like bivalves, snails, sponges, algae and crustaceans from the region of South Chinaall of which had mineral skeletons or shells. Their fossilized remains can be dated using a special method, offering insights into marine ecosystems dating back millions of years. The team also drew on an enormous database that offers additional information on various ecological aspects of how these organisms lived. The coastline of Svalbard in Norway exposes Permian-Triassic rocks and expose the record of the mass extinction. Credit: W.J.Foster For each genus, 12 of these criteria were analyzed. Did certain traits make a given organism more likely to survive under the conditions prevalent at the end of the Permianor not? With the aid of machine learning, a method from the field of artificial intelligence, all of these factors were analyzed jointly and simultaneously. In the process, the machine essentially made certain rational decisions on its own. Once this was done, the team compared the results: what organisms were there before, during and after the mass extinction? Their findings reveal the four factors that were most essential to whether or not organisms survived the end of the Permian: where in the water they lived, the mineralization of their shells, species diversity within their genus, and their sensitivity to acidification. Dr. Foster says, "But with previous machine learning applications, we couldn't say how the machine made its decisions." Using a newly implemented method from games theory, Dr. Foster has now succeeded in unraveling this aspect. "Some animals lived in deeper water. Here, the machine shows that the worsening lack of oxygen posed a risk. In contrast, those animals that lived nearer the surface had to contend with the rising water temperatures. Plus, when you have only a limited habitat, you have nowhere to go when that specific habitat becomes uninhabitable." As such, the results show which of the organisms' traits were determined to be potentially fatal. The team was ultimately able to confirm that the mass extinction can be directly attributed to deoxygenation, rising water temperatures and acidificationwhich indicates that, in a future climate crisis, these could also be the three main causes of extinction in the long term. Explore further Fossil snail shells offer new tool for analyzing ancient ocean chemistry More information: William J. Foster et al, Machine learning identifies ecological selectivity patterns across the end-Permian mass extinction, Paleobiology (2022). Journal information: Paleobiology William J. Foster et al, Machine learning identifies ecological selectivity patterns across the end-Permian mass extinction,(2022). DOI: 10.1017/pab.2022.1 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain U.S. agricultural systems are world leaders in the production of food, fuel and fiber. This high level of production enables U.S. consumers to spend an average of only 8.6 percent of their disposable income on food, a percentage that has been trending downward since 1960. Growing evidence, however, shows that many hidden costs of cheap food may be passed on through factors such as reduced nutritional content, environmental degradation and the diminishing livelihoods of U.S. farm operators. A major new study led by Emory University digs deeper into the question of why, despite the extraordinary productivity of U.S. agriculture, U.S. farm operators are systematically losing money. The journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems published the analysis, which drew from publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and other sources. "It's not that agriculture as a sector is not profitable," says Emily Burchfield, assistant professor in Emory's Department of Environmental Sciences and lead author of the study. "It's that despite hard work and significant financial risk, many of the people who operate U.S. farms are not able to make a decent living at it." Rising input costs, shrinking production values, commodity specialization and challenges to land access all appear to be connected to declining farm operator livelihoods, the study concludes. "We've shown in a quantitative, systematic way the extent to which these trends are happening and, in many cases, how they appear to be worsening," Burchfield says. An online data repository "People who work in the agricultural space already know that it is difficult to make a living as a farmer," she adds. "In this paper, we've cleaned and merged tremendous amounts of data from multiple sources to bring key information together into one place. This allows us to tell a more complete and clear story about how and why this is happening at a national scale." The researchers deposited the cleaned and merged data into a free, online repository (https://github.com/blschum/US-Farming-Data-Narrative) so that other agricultural stakeholders can easily access it. They hope that their "one-stop" centralized data hub on farmer livelihoods will serve as an educational tool and inspire more research into the topic. The USDA reported in 2020 that the average funds generated by farm operators to meet living expenses and debt obligations, after accounting for production expenses, have been negative for nine out of the last 10 years. In 2017, for instance, median net-cash farm income was $1,035 in the red per farm household in the country. Paying to farm In many regions of the United States, the authors write, farm operators actually have to pay to engage in the labor- and time-intensive act of operating a farm. "What we were really surprised to find in the data is that the low, or negative, median farm operator income applies even when you factor in government subsidies," Burchfield says. "Given that the federal government is subsidizing farming with billions of dollars annually, it raises the question of how we might do so more effectively. How are we going to convince folks to continue growing our food if they are locked into a system where they can't make money?" Burchfield's research combines spatial-temporal, social and environmental data to understand the future of food security in the United States, including the consequences of a changing climate. Co-authors of the current paper include: Britta Schumacher, a former Emory research assistant in Burchfield's lab; Andrea Rissing, an Emory post-doctoral fellow in the lab; and Kaitlyn Spangler, a post-doctoral fellow at Penn State. Relying on off-farm income Understanding how much income individual farms are losing on average is complicated by farm households often having a family member bringing in income through a non-farm occupation, Burchfield notes. In 2019, the USDA reported that on-farm production contributes to less than 25 percent of farm household income, on average, with the remaining 75 percent earned off-farm. This suggests that many farmers rely on off-farm income to stay afloat. "Farming is one of the hardest jobs on the planet," Burchfield says, "and it's going to get even harder due to climate change. The combination of more gradual shifts in average climate conditions, and the increased prevalence of extreme weather events, presents a serious challenge to farmers." These ongoing challenges, the authors argue, require an urgent rethinking of how federal subsidies can play a role in encouraging and supporting new, adaptive approaches to agriculture. U.S. farm operations currently cover approximately 900 million cultivated acres, more than half of the nation's land area. And three cropscorn, soy and wheatare cultivated exclusively on more than two thirds of agricultural acres. "A lack of crop diversification can make farming increasingly brittle and less adaptable," Burchfield says. "Climate change, meanwhile, makes the need for innovation and adaptation more crucial and inevitable." The paper also highlights the lack of diversification among farm operators. Statistically, the "average" U.S. farmer is a 58-year-old white male. Those not identifying as white currently operate about 7 percent of farmland representing just 5 percent of operations. Only 1.4 percent of operators identify as Black, and these operators are heavily concentrated in the Southeast. And, on average, white operators receive twice as much from federal subsidy programs ($14,000 per farm) as Black operators ($6,400 per farm). A call for diversity of people, plants and practices "We need better data to track the persistent inequities at the intersection of race, class and livelihoods in the agriculture space," Burchfield says. She recommends finding ways to support the diversity of people, plants and practices in the national farm landscape to help address the growing issues of agricultural sustainability and climate change. "Small-scale experimentation and the emergence of grassroots alternatives along with technical innovations are all needed in order to better weather the challenges," she says. Burchfield also cites the need for the availability of more fine-scale data on the livelihoods of farmers that goes beyond yields and acreage to cover issues such as access to health insurance. "Farmers are fundamental to our survival, their work is risky and difficult, and ensuring their quality of life is necessary for U.S. agriculture to persist," she says. As Burchfield and her co-authors conclude: "Measuring and monitoring agricultural progress using only metrics of production, efficiency and revenue masks the lived realities of the humans operating our farms." More information: Emily K. Burchfield et al, The State of US Farm Operator Livelihoods, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2022). Emily K. Burchfield et al, The State of US Farm Operator Livelihoods,(2022). DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.795901 Credit: Shutterstock The oldest book of zoology was published on clay tablets more than 3,600 years ago, and reported the names of 396 types of wild animals known at the time. Ten of them were different kinds of fly. Flies have lived alongside humans since the dawn of history, feeding on our bodily fluids and other organic waste such as meat and vegetable scraps. When an adult female blowfly finds some juicy decaying materialtypically a carcassshe may lay hundreds of eggs or tiny maggots in it. So flies use us, our products, our waste, and even the bodies of our dead. How can we use them in return? One way is the science of forensic entomology. At a crime scene, flies and maggots can be used to determine how long it has been since a person or animal died, if they have been moved or neglected prior to deathand what drugs or poisons they had in their system. From flies on a sickle to modern forensics The first recorded instance of flies helping out in a murder case was during the 13th century. A Chinese judge named Sung T'zu was sent to investigate a fatal stabbing in a rice field. At the scene of the murder, he asked all the workers to lay down their sickles. After a short time, several flies swarmed on one of the sickles, attracted by the smell of invisible traces of blood. Sung T'zu wrote about the case in The Washing Away of Wrongs, the oldest known book on forensic medicine, printed in 1247. He showed how thinking "outside the box" using clues from nature can help in forensic investigations. It was several more centuries before the scientific method was applied to the use of flies in criminal investigations. The discipline of forensic entomology as we know it was not born until 1894, with the publication of Carrion Fauna: The Application of Entomology to Legal Medicine, by the French army veterinarian and entomologist Jean Pierre Megnin. Since then, research on blowfly growth rates, decomposition patterns in different environments and use of blowflies to clean up the wounds (debridement or "maggot" therapy) have gained momentum. Often flies can help estimate the time of death, as an entomologist can identify the flies or maggots, look at environmental conditions such as temperature, and thereby calculate the amount of time they have been growing. Forensic entomologists are often involved at crime scenes, and many suspicious deaths of humans and animals have been solved with the help of insects. You are what you eat However, drugs and poisons can also affect how attractive blowflies find the carcass, and how quickly maggots grow on it. This means we often need to identify what drugs or poisons we are dealing with. This can be found by analyzing blood, urine, solid tissue or hairs from the dead body. But in some cases all that remains is a skeleton, so these are unavailable. In these cases, we need to think outside the box, just like Sung T'zu. The old adage says "you are what you eat," so insects feeding on a body should take in substances from the body and store them in their own bodies. Furthermore, insects' hard external skeleton is made of chitin, a comparable substance to the keratin protein from which hair is made. Similarly to hair keratin, insect chitin stores drugs for a long time, which is helpful for toxicological analyses. Insects collected from a carcass can be used as alternative toxicological specimens in situations where traditional sources are not available. Knowing the effect of the toxins on the life cycles of the flies can be used to adjust what we know about their growth rates. In the early 1970s, the Finnish biologist Pekka Nuorteva showed mercury from a fish carcass could transfer to carrion flies. A few years later a similar analysis was used to determine whether a murder victim had lived in a polluted area. By 1977 the hybrid discipline of entomotoxicology (entomology + toxicology) became a reality. When tissues and fluids are unavailable, insects are more reliable than hair to detect drug use just before death. They are also easier to analyze than decomposed matter. What's more, they are available for a very long time. Empty fly puparial cases (cocoons left in the environment by the adult fly after its metamorphosis) as well as skin of carrion beetles have even been used for toxicological studies of mummified bodies found weeks, months, or even years after death. And since cocaine has been detected in the hair of3,000-year-old Peruvian mummies, it might also be possible to detect drugs in the insects associated with ancient skeletal remains. Ice and antifreeze Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in drug overdose deaths and also pet poisonings. My research group is developing ways to detect a range of drugs and other substances commonly found in the suspicious death of humans and animals. One of these is methamphetamine, a large problem for Australian law enforcement and health authorities. Another is ketamine, a sedative and hallucinogen sometimes used to facilitate sexual assault. We have also studied the effect of cheap, dangerous, and readily available poisons on blowflies, including nicotine, which can be lethal if ingested from e-cigarette refills or if passed through the skin via nicotine patches car antifreeze (ethylene glycol), as it is sometimes used to make home-made alcoholic drinks or consumed by homeless people in winter in the hope to keep themselves warm at night endosulfan, a pesticide often used to make poison baits to kill animals. More to be done Many compounds (such as drugs, metals and pesticides) as well as accelerants and gunshot residues have been detected in insect tissues in a forensic context. However, fewer than 100 such studies have been carried out. Furthermore, older research often lacks consistency, robust study protocols and method validations. Standard protocols and more sophisticated analytical methods can provide more accurate results that will hold more weight in court. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Pairwise distances between AY.3 sequences in the Delaware Valley. Included are the feline-derived sequence (VSP3509) and human-derived sequences. The number of SNPs separating each pair of lineages is shown by the color code. Credit: Viruses (2022). DOI: 10.3390/v14020421 Since being identified in people in 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has gone on to infect a wide range of animal species, wild and domestic. Concerns abound that these species jumps could lead to novel mutations and even harmful new variants. In a new report, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine find that, for at least one example of apparent interspecies transmission, this crossing the species boundary did not cause the virus to gain a significant number of mutations. Writing in the journal Viruses, the scientists identified a domestic house cat, treated at Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital, that was infected with the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 subsequent to an exposure from its owner. The full genome sequence of the virus was a close match to viral sequences circulating in people in the Philadelphia region at the time. "SARS-CoV-2 has a really incredibly wide host range," says Elizabeth Lennon, senior author on the work, a veterinarian, and assistant professor at Penn Vet. "What this means to me is that, as SARS-CoV-2 continues to be prevalent in the human population, we need to watch what's happening in other animal species as well." The find is the first published example of the delta variant occurring in a domestic cat in the United States. Notably, the cat's infection was only identified by testing its fecal matter. A nasal swab did not result in a positive test. "This did highlight the importance of sampling at multiple body sites," says Lennon. "We wouldn't have detected this if we had just done a nasal swab." Lennon and colleagues have been sampling dogs and cats for SARS-CoV-2 since early in the pandemic. This particular pet cat, an 11-year-old female, was brought to Ryan Hospital in September with gastrointestinal symptoms. It had been exposed to an owner who had COVID-19though that owner had been isolating from the cat for 11 days prior to its hospitalization, another household member doing the cat care in the interim. Working through the Penn Center for Research on Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Pathogens and Perelman School of Medicine microbiologist Frederic Bushman's laboratory, the team obtained a whole genome sequence of the cat's virus. Sequencing revealed the delta variant, more specifically, the AY.3 lineage. The researchers did not have a sample from the infected owner. Comparing the sequence to the database kept by the Bushman laboratory, however, the cat's virus was nothing out of the ordinary in terms of the sequences of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the Delaware Valley region at the time. "When we looked at a random sampling of human sequences from our geographic area, there wasn't anything dramatically different about our cat's sample," Lennon says. "So, our takeaway was that the cat was not infected by a virus that was somehow highly different." Not all variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been equally able to infect a wide range of hosts. For example, the original Wuhan strain could not naturally infect mice; later variants gained that ability. Scientists began seeing infections in cats and dogs from the early days of the pandemic, presumably infected through close contact with their owners. "A main takeaway here is that as different variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerge, they seem to be retaining the ability to infect a wide range of species," Lennon says. While this particular case does not raise alarms for the virus acquiring significant numbers of mutations as it moved between species, Lennon and colleagues, including Bushman and Susan Weiss of Penn's medical school, hope to continue studying other examples to see how SARS-CoV-2 evolves. Penn Vet's Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Disease will facilitate this look at human-animal interactions when it comes to pathogen transmission. "We know that the SARS-CoV-2 is undergoing changes as it passes between to become more and more transmissible over time," says Lennon. "We saw that with the omicron variant. It's host-adapting to people. We also want to know, when other animal species get infected, does the virus start to adapt to those species? And for those viruses that may adapt to a different species, do they still infect humans?" Explore further SARS-CoV-2 is moving between humans and wildlife around the US More information: Olivia C. Lenz et al, SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant (AY.3) in the Feces of a Domestic Cat, Viruses (2022). Olivia C. Lenz et al, SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant (AY.3) in the Feces of a Domestic Cat,(2022). DOI: 10.3390/v14020421 The sun shines near the Space Needle, Monday, June 28, 2021, in Seattle as Seattle and other cities broke all-time heat records, with temperatures soaring well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius). Weather extremes like this will increase in frequency and intensity in North America the coming years as global warming accelerates, according to a United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. Credit: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren,File The U.S. Pacific Northwest was in the throes of a record-shattering heat wave last summer when a woman in her 70s was wheeled into an emergency room with symptoms of a life-threatening heat stroke. Desperate to cool her, Dr. Alexander St. John grabbed a body bag, filled it with ice from the hospital kitchen and zipped the woman inside. Within minutes, her body temperature dropped and her symptoms improved. "I've never had to do that before. It was surreal," said St. John. "Twenty years ago, it seems like we would talk about climate change as something that would happen over the coming generationsand all of a sudden it seems to be accelerating to the point where we're all experiencing it in real time." The technique was used to save several other patients at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center during the five-day heat wave last June that saw temperatures spike as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius) in some places and killed an estimated 600 people or more across Oregon, Washington and western Canada. The sweltering stretch across the normally cool region offers a glimpse of the types of extreme weather events that will accelerate in North America within 30 years without a coordinated effort to slow climate change, according to a United Nations report released this week. Even if global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius, people across the U.S., Mexico and Canada will be at increasing risk of catastrophic weather events. In this aerial photo taken from a helicopter, a wildfire burns in the mountains north of Lytton, British Columbia, on Thursday, July 1, 2021. The wildfire that forced people to flee a small town in British Columbia that had set record high temperatures for Canada on three consecutive days. Weather extremes like this will increase in frequency and intensity in North America the coming years as global warming accelerates, according to a United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. Credit: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP,File The report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change lays out how worsening global warming will endanger people's health, drive food insecurity, spur economic upheaval and trigger migration from increasingly uninhabitable places. Low-income and minority populations will be the hardest hit, according to the report, exacerbating existing inequities. In the West, the report forecasts intensifying drought, extreme heat and wildfires. The Gulf Coast is expected to get more destructive hurricanes and rising sea levels. In the Midwest and Northeast, heavier rains are expected to cause more flooding and damage to crops. In the summer of 2019, flooding in the U.S. Midwest and South disrupted barge traffic on the Mississippi River and damaged cropland in Ohio and Indiana. A different downpour and flood months earlier crippled Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. Mud and debris surround damaged homes after Hurricane Ida in Ironton, La., on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021. Weather extremes like thisas well as drought, wildfire, flooding and diminishing air quality will increase in frequency and intensity in North America the coming years as global warming accelerates, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. Credit: David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP The economic impacts will be profound. Warming water and ocean acidification will disrupt commercial fisheries, extreme heat will mean lower yields of key crops such as corn and soybeans and drought will cause livestock losses as animals have less ground to forage, the report found. Since 1980, there have been 35 floods not associated with hurricanes in the U.S. that have caused more than $1 billion in damage and more than half of those have been since 2010, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "We're exposed to untold damage," said Kathleen Miller, a lead author of the report's North America chapter who studies the economic impacts of climate change at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. "It's time to step up and start thinking about what are our priorities and how can we address these mounting threats," she said. A volunteer helps set up snacks at a cooling center established to help vulnerable residents ride out a dangerous heat wave on Aug. 11, 2021. Weather extremes like this will increase in frequency and intensity in North America the coming years as global warming accelerates, according to a United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. Credit: AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus, File The report still holds out hope that people can slow climate changeor at least adapt to blunt its effects. Prioritizing society's most vulnerable will have the greatest impact on climate resiliency, it said. The type of adjustments cited in the report are already underway in the Pacific Northwest, which was not built for hot weather. In Seattle, for example, 44% of homes have air conditioning. After last summer's deadly heat wave, Portland officials are considering alarm systems in public housing that would alert building managers when temperatures climb above 100 degrees. City officials also approved a plan to distribute 15,000 heat pumps, which are an energy-efficient way to cool spaces. Oregon lawmakers are also considering $15 million in funding to boost distribution air purifiers, air conditioners and heat pumps. Dr. Alexander St. John poses for a photo at Harborview Medical Center, on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, in Seattle. During a heat wave in 2020 in the Pacific Northwest, St. John, an emergency room physician, used a body bag filled with ice from the hospital's kitchen to bring down the body temperature of a patient that had reached 104 degrees. Credit: AP Photo/Stephen Brashear Longer-term discussions in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere include painting roof tops white and using lighter-colored pavement to repel sunlight, planting more trees in urban centers and creating neighborhood cooling hubs that could also be social spots. The measures will be key for the groups hit hardest by last summer's deadly heat wavethe elderly living alone, the disabled and the poor. None of those who died in Portland had central air conditioning, more than half lived in apartments and 10% lived in mobile homes, according to data released by Multnomah County. The city's light-rail train stopped working, making it difficult for low-income residents to reach cooling centers hastily set up in public libraries. An analysis of data from 1,000 residences found the average temperature in richer homes was 75 degrees, compared with 125 degrees in poorer homes, said Vivek Shandas, a climate professor at Portland State University. Dr. Alexander St. John poses for a photo in front of an ice maker in a kitchen at Harborview Medical Center, on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, in Seattle, where medical assistants filled buckets with ice to be put in a body bag, in an effort to bring down the body temperature of patient with temperature of 104 degrees during a heat wave in the Pacific Northwest. Credit: AP Photo/Stephen Brashear Cars stranded in a Walmart parking lot after a flash flood on Nolensville Pike in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 28, 2021. Weather extremes like this, as well as drought, wildfire, flooding and diminishing air quality will increase in frequency and intensity in North America the coming years as global warming accelerates, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. Credit: Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP, File Vivek Shandas, a professor of climate adaptation at Portland State University, takes a temperature reading of almost 106 degrees in downtown Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Portland, Ore., during a major, multi-day heat wave. Weather extremes like this will increase in frequency and intensity in North America the coming years as global warming accelerates, according to a United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. Credit: AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File That shows how those with resources can "further isolate themselves and safeguard themselves," he said. Renee Salas, an emergency room doctor and a fellow at Harvard University's Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, noted that health risks are increasingly not only from heat, but from worsening wildfires that send smoke plumes thousands of miles across North America and rising temperatures that could foster the spread of diseases by mosquitoes and ticks such as dengue fever, West Nile and Lyme disease. Adaptation will mean considering climate change as a secondary diagnosis for many patients and treating it accordingly, Salas said. In the future, doctors might write prescriptions for air purifiers or heat pumps the way they do for medications and a national system of health records could help keep medical treatment consistent for patients who become climate refugees. "There are so many things that we can do in order to optimally identify who's most at risk and to then help protect them," she said. "The time to do that is now, when we're already beginning to see the impact." Explore further Deadly US Northwest heat prompts legislation aimed at relief 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Last week, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli issued an excellent analysis of the growth of green jobs in New York State and the potential for additional growth in the future. According to the comptroller's report: "There were 1.7 million green jobs in New York in 2019, 17.3 percent of total employment Green jobs constitute a smaller share of State employment than the national average (18.8 percent), and New York trails neighboring states such as Pennsylvania (20.9 percent) and New Jersey (18.5 percent), midwestern states like Illinois (21.4 percent), as well as large states like California (18.2 percent). Between 2015 and 2019, green jobs grew by 13.2 percent, more than twice the rate of total job growth (6 percent)." The pandemic resulted in job losses throughout the economy, including the green economy. According to DiNapoli's report, in New York State: "Between 2019 and 2020, green jobs declined by over 527,000 jobs to 1.1 million and 12.9 percent of total State employment." This trend was seen nationally during the pandemic, with the first loss of green jobs since measurement began a little more than a decade ago. But as recovery began in 2021, the green economy recovered more rapidly than the economy as a whole. According to E2, a national organization of environmental entrepreneurs: "Economic conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the previous administration's animosity toward clean energy, resulted in the first decline in clean energy jobs in America since E2 began tracking such occupations nearly a decade ago and the only decline on record since E2 began producing its annual Clean Jobs America reports. Yet data indicates that clean energy jobs were more resilient and are recovering more quickly than overall economy. By June of last year, more than 620,000 clean energy workers had lost their jobs since the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading widely three months earlier, according to analysis of unemployment data by E2 and partners. After losses peaked at the end of May 2020, jobs grew by more than 11 percent compared to about 9 percent across the U.S. economy overall. In fact, by the end of 2020 more than half of the clean energy jobs lost between March and May had been regained, leaving the number of clean energy jobs lost since COVID 19 at about 307,000." COVID, the Trump presidency, the horrific invasion of Ukraine, and other world crises may delay the transition to a green economy but will not prevent it. Just as global supply chains have been upended, their economic logic continues regardless. So too, with the green economy. While there is little question that the green economy is growing, there are major problems in defining that part of the economy precisely. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: "Green jobs are either: Jobs in businesses that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources[or] Jobs in which workers' duties involve making their establishment's production processes more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources." The Bureau measured green jobs for a few years but, due to budget reductions, ended its count in 2013. A report by Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce entitled "State of Green: The Definition and Measurement of Green Jobs" observed that: "Many different stakeholders have attempted to define and count green accurately; all have come upon the same problems. How to define an amorphous and still-emerging concept and how to count something when it does not easily fit into current coding systems have all been answered in a variety of ways by different partiesYet while there is a growing body of literature on the subject, the green jobs picture still remains fuzzy. This is due in part to the lack of consensus on a definition, but is also due to the lack of helpful information on projections and nationwide data." A more recent report (December 2019) by Amanda Novello and Greg Carlock of the Century Foundation does an excellent job of defining the various dimensions of green employment. They chart the history of green jobs along with the evolution of environmentalism from conservation to regulation to a contemporary definition that includes equity and investment. Novello and Carlock note that: "The standard definition of green jobs used by the BLS in their study captures ideas from all three waves of environmentalismincluding work in conservation, regulation, and all major sectors targeted for decarbonizationThe definition classifies green jobs into three major categories: renewable energy production, energy efficiency, and environmental management." Their study reports some of the differing estimates of the size of the green economy and concludes that: "The wide variation in estimates of the size of the green economy point to the limitations of patchwork research on the subject and the need for a government funded initiative to study the sector, or simply to reauthorize and appropriate the BLS to continue where they left off." In the spirit of the Green New Deal, they then connect health care, education, and efforts to increase gender and racial equity as essential to a sustainable economy. They also note that the workforce engaged in the Bureau of Labor Statistics definition of green jobs tends to be male, while the workforce engaged in the broader sustainable economy especially in health care and education, tends to be female. As the field of sustainability management evolves, we have seen the emergence of distinct subfields that will benefit from study and analysis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics definition of green jobs is focused on environmental sustainability. Issues of workplace equity and community impact are two other distinct but interrelated subfields of sustainability management. Each subfield requires its own distinct measures. Green jobs should be defined as supporting environmental sustainability. Other measures can be used to measure organizational equity and diversity and the impact of an organization on the communities it interacts with. The effort to broaden the definition of green jobs is reminiscent of the effort to include "social infrastructure" with physical infrastructure in the Biden "Build Back Better" bill. While there is no question that these social programs are essential to a sustainable economy, combining all these activities seems to lead to confusion and conceptual ambiguity and, in the case of Build Back Better, political failure. In sum, we should not expect green jobs to lead to a sustainable economy but to environmental sustainability. Comprehensive economic sustainability will require more than environmental sustainability. The New York State comptroller's report on green jobs discussed the need for worker education and training to enable current workers to retool for some of the high-skill jobs of the green economy. Many green jobs require workers to learn how to design, manage, build, and maintain new technologies. Electric vehicles are a good example of this. Maintenance of these vehicles will require that auto mechanics receive the training needed to maintain a very different type of vehicle than the one they are familiar with. While electric vehicles require less maintenance than internal combustion-powered vehicles, they will still break down and need to be repaired and maintained. These mechanical skills are likely to be scarce early on and, for that reason, should command a higher wage than one earned by today's auto mechanics. Training programs for these new skills that are funded by government could be targeted to overcome traditional gender and racial biases. The transition to environmental sustainability has begun, and it is important that it is connected to economic development and job creation. While there never has been an economy-wide trade-off between environmental protection and economic growth, there are always examples of jobs lost due to environmental rules. Jobs in coal mining and fracking will be reduced due to decarbonization. The people who hold those jobs should be given training for green jobs and preferences in hiring for those jobs. This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu. When the flood came, it came hard on a sizzling July day in 1986 on the construction site at what was then called the Chicago Historical Society. A water main cracked and it took more than three hours to stop the flow. But by then the water damage was done: more than 400 bound volumes of newspapers, some from the 1870s; 13,000 architectural drawings and hundreds of paintings in total, more than 100,000 items had been harmed by water, mud and sand. The task of saving what could be saved was immense. Advertisement Barry Bauman was called in to work on 174 of the societys oldest and most valuable paintings. It was an intimidating, awesome responsibility, he said then. I felt as if I was holding Chicagos very history in my hands. The restoration took three years, and Baumans work would later be compellingly captured in a documentary on WTTW-Ch. 11. Bauman, a passionate art conservationist, died on Feb. 5 of heart failure at his home in suburban Riverside. He was 73 years old and had spent most of his life bringing new life to a vast array of art and objects, his work featured in stories in the Tribune and many other publications. He was renowned in the art world. Advertisement Barry Bauman with paintings he is restoring at his River Forest home and studio, Wednesday July 19, 2006. The paintings include: "Modonna of the Harpies" by Andrea Del Sarto, 1516 (larger painting); "Point Lobos California" by Louis Sharp (on far right) and "Death Pursuing Youth" by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1899. (Milbert O. Brown / Chicago Tribune) With him when he died was his wife, the visual artist Mary Bourke, with whom he had two now-adult twin sons, Ian, a casting director who lives in Brooklyn, and Jeffrey, who works in the retail industry in Chicago. We all loved him dearly, said Bourke. We met in 1983 when he was hired to repair some of my paintings that had been damaged during an exhibition. He told me then that he never dates clients but He really loved what he did. He told me many times, If I were to die tomorrow, I would die a happy man. Bauman was born in 1948 in Syracuse, New York, and grew up in a house with zero art, so he never imagined an interest until enrolling in art history at Beloit College in Wisconsin because a political science class was filled. After receiving his bachelors degree from Beloit in 1969 and a masters from the University of Chicago in 1971, Bauman joined the conservation department at the Art Institute of Chicago and spent years there as associate conservator of paintings. But after 11 years in any position, one might look for new challenges, he told me. Many people, private collectors who I had met through my work at the Art Institute were coming to me for conservation work. It got to the point at which I had enough of these clients I thought I might use this base as a springboard into a private enterprise. But he needed a loan to open his own operation, first called the Chicago Conservation Center, and that money came from Marshall Field V, then the Art Institutes president. Setting up shop by himself in what was then the less-than-trendy River North area, he was able to pay Field back in 18 months. I was glad to help Barry, and I thought a place like the Conservation Center would be good for the city, Field told me. I think it has been. And I think hes succeeded beyond anyones hopes. Im happy for him. Hes a good fellow. The Chicago Conservation Center has since relocated to 400 N. Wolcott Ave. and is now known as the Conservation Center. It remains the largest private art conservation center in the city and one of the largest in the world. When I first visited the place in 1993, I found myself amid more than 250 paintings, textiles and sculptures in need of aid. Most of the works suffered such relatively prosaic ailments as discolored varnish; smoke or soot, the result of fires; bulges and ripples in the canvas, the result of warped framing; small tears; flecked paint; and other signs of aging. But weve had paintings damaged by gunshots, by floods, Bauman said. We have had a few paintings that were so badly damaged that there was nothing we could do. We are not magicians. Paintings came into the center so covered in grime that it was virtually impossible to tell what was once underneath. But in time, canvases came alive in blazing colors. In the centers 6,000-square-foot space, Bauman and his staff repaired, retouched, cleaned and otherwise ministered to artworks that belong to museums, corporations and private collectors. They worked on worthless but dear family heirlooms and museum paintings worth millions. People realize that when they send a painting or work of art here, its not like getting your car repainted for $29.95, Bauman said. Advertisement I asked him if he and his staff were nervous working on expensive works. He said, Would you ask a doctor if he was nervous about doing an operation? We are professionals. Bauman would sell the CCC to his employee Heather Becker, who I first met when she worked with Bauman on what was called the Mural Preservation Project. She recently wrote a loving tribute to Bauman, saying in part, His charisma and engagement were fascinating to witness, and his loyalty to train and nurture others was ever-present, along with his endless drive that overflowed onto others daily. Bauman would go on the start the countrys first conservation laboratory dedicated to offering complimentary services to museums and nonprofit organizations. In 2019, he started Conservation Ventures, a company that focused on presentations and helping museums apply for grants. He also gave lectures at museums and universities, in the hope that he might inspire art and art history students to consider conservation as a future career. He and I last talked in the summer of 2021, when he told me, with typical enthusiasm, that he was working on a national conservation grant for the Edgewater Historical Society. I was planning to write about this but then Bauman died. Services have been held and in the wake of his death, I recalled something he told me long ago: Certainly the responsibilities of working on a $3 million Renoir are different than working on a portrait of someones Uncle Billy. But that vanishes when I sit down to work. The work varies not at all. Advertisement rkogan@chicagotribune.com Fabric is a porous material with structure on multiple lengthscales. The top three images, from left to right, depict successively smaller lengthscales. At the largest lengthscale, fabric is a lattice woven from perpendicular yarns that go over and under other yarns at right angles to them. Credit: Richard P. Sear Like many other viruses, COVID-19 is transmitted primarily via particles carried in the air. An infected person breathes out particles containing the virus into the air, which can then be inhaled by another person, who then becomes infected. Masks are widely considered an important first-line defense against airborne transmission of the disease, as is supported by a preponderance of evidence. Fueled by the omicron variant, the latest wave of the pandemic prompted public health officials to recommend more protective face coverings because not all masks are created equal. In Physics of Fluids, researchers from England, Germany, and France focus their expertiseand their microscopeson examining the efficacy of particle filtration by woven fabric, which, unlike material used in standard air filters and masks, consists of fibers twisted together into yarns. There are, therefore, two lengthscales: the diameters of the fiber and the yarn. Using 3D imagery produced by confocal microscopy to see the air flow channels, the scientists simulate the airflow through these channels and calculate filtration efficiency for particles a micrometer and larger in diameter. The study concludes for particles in this size range, the filtration efficiency is low. "Masks are air filters, and woven fabrics, such as cotton, make for good jeans, shirts, and other apparel, but they are lousy air filters," said co-author Richard Sear, from the University of Surrey. "So, use woven fabric for clothing, and N95s or FFP2s or KF94s for masks." Indeed, the flow simulations suggest when a person breathes through cloth, most of the air flows through the gaps between the yarns in the woven fabric, bringing with it with more than 90% of the particles. "In other words, these relatively large gaps are responsible for cloth being a bad material to make air filters from," said Sear. "In contrast, the filtering layer of an N95 mask is made from much smaller, 5-micrometer fibers with gaps that are 10 times smaller, making it much better for filtering nasty particles from the air, such as those containing virus." While earlier research revealed similar findings, this study represents the first to simulate particles going directly through the gaps in woven fabric. Sear added good masks should feature the "two Fs: good filtration and good fit." "Surgical masks fit badly, so a lot of air goes unfiltered past the edges of the mask by the cheeks and nose," said Sear. Explore further The best material for homemade face masks may be a combination of two fabrics More information: Mohammad T. Hossain et al, Dynamics of Brownian Janus rods at a liquidliquid interface, Physics of Fluids (2022). Journal information: Physics of Fluids Mohammad T. Hossain et al, Dynamics of Brownian Janus rods at a liquidliquid interface,(2022). DOI: 10.1063/5.0076148 This illustration shows NASAs NuSTAR X-ray telescope in space. Two bulky components are separated by a 33-foot (10-meter) structure called a deployable mast, or boom. Light is collected at one end of the boom and is focused along its length before hitting detectors at the other end. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech For almost 10 years, NASA's NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) X-ray space observatory has been studying some of the highest-energy objects in the universe, such as colliding dead stars and enormous black holes feasting on hot gas. During that time, scientists have had to deal with stray light leaking in through the sides of the observatory, which can interfere with observations much like external noise can drown out a phone call. But now team members have figured out how to use that stray X-ray light to learn about objects in NuSTAR's peripheral vision while also performing normal targeted observations. This development has the potential to multiply the insights that NuSTAR provides. A new science paper in The Astrophysical Journal describes the first use of NuSTAR's stray light observations to learn about a cosmic objectin this case, a neutron star. Nuggets of material left over after a star collapses, neutron stars are some of the densest objects in the universe, second only to black holes. Their powerful magnetic fields trap gas particles and funnel them toward the neutron star's surface. As the particles are accelerated and energized, they release high-energy X-rays that NuSTAR can detect. The new study describes a system called SMC X-1, which consists of a neutron star orbiting a living star in one of two small galaxies orbiting the Milky Way (Earth's home galaxy). The brightness of SMC X-1's X-ray output appears to vary wildly when viewed by telescopes, but decades of direct observations by NuSTAR and other telescopes have revealed a pattern to the fluctuations. Scientists have pinpointed several reasons why SMC X-1 changes in brightness when studied by X-ray telescopes. For example, the X-rays' brightness dims as the neutron star dips behind the living star with each orbit. According to the paper, the stray light data was sensitive enough to pick up on some of those well-documented changes. "I think this paper shows that this stray light approach is reliable, because we observed brightness fluctuations in the neutron star in SMC X-1 that we have already confirmed through direct observations," said McKinley Brumback, an astrophysicist at Caltech in Pasadena, California, and lead author of the new study. "Going forward, it would be great if we could use the stray light data to look at objects when we don't already know if they're regularly changing in brightness and potentially use this approach to detect changes." Form and function The new approach is possible because of NuSTAR's shape, which is similar to dumbbell or dog bone: It has two bulky components at either end of a narrow, 33-foot-long (10-meter-long) structure called a deployable mast, or boom. Typically, researchers point one of the bulky endswhich contains the optics, or the hardware that collects X-raysat the object they want to study. The light travels along the boom to the detectors, located at the other end of the spacecraft. The distance between the two is necessary to focus the light. But stray light also reaches the detectors by entering through the sides of the boom, bypassing the optics. It appears in NuSTAR's field of view along with light from whatever object the telescope directly observes, and is often fairly easy to identify by eye: It forms a circle of faint light emerging from the sides of the image. (Unsurprisingly, stray light is a problem for many other space- and ground-based telescopes.) A group of NuSTAR team members has spent the last few years separating the stray light from various NuSTAR observations. After identifying bright, known X-ray sources in the periphery of each observation, they used computer models to predict how much stray light should appear based on which bright object was nearby. They also looked at almost every NuSTAR observation to confirm the telltale sign of stray light. The team created a catalog of about 80 objects for which NuSTAR had collected stray light observations, naming the collection "StrayCats." "Imagine sitting in a quiet movie theater, watching a drama, and hearing the explosions in the action movie playing next door," said Brian Grefenstette, senior research scientist at Caltech and the NuSTAR team member leading the StrayCats work. "In the past, that's what the stray light was likea distraction from what we were trying to focus on. Now we have the tools to turn that extra noise into useful data, opening an entire new way of using NuSTAR to study the universe." Of course, the stray light data can't replace direct observations by NuSTAR. Aside from stray light being unfocused, many objects that NuSTAR can observe directly are too faint to appear in the stray light catalog. But Grefenstette said multiple Caltech students have combed through the data and found instances of rapid brightening from peripheral objects, which might be any number of dramatic events, such as thermonuclear explosions on the surfaces of neutron stars. Observing the frequency and intensity of a neutron star's changes in brightness can help scientists decipher what's happening to those objects. "If you're trying to look for a pattern in the long-term behavior or brightness of an X-ray source, the stray light observations could be a great way to check in more often and establish a baseline," said Renee Ludlam, a NASA Hubble Fellowship Program Einstein fellow at Caltech and member of the StrayCats team. "They could also let us catch odd behaviors in these objects when we don't expect them or when we wouldn't normally be able to point NuSTAR directly at them. The stray light observations don't replace direct observations, but more data is always good." Explore further NASA telescope spots highest-energy light ever detected from Jupiter More information: McKinley C. Brumback et al, Extending the Baseline for SMC X-1's Spin and Orbital Behavior with NuSTAR Stray Light, The Astrophysical Journal (2022). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal McKinley C. Brumback et al, Extending the Baseline for SMC X-1's Spin and Orbital Behavior with NuSTAR Stray Light,(2022). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac4d24 False Widow Spider (Steatoda nobilis). Credit: NUI Galway Scientists from the Ryan Institute in NUI Galway have published the first record of a Noble False Widow spider feeding on a protected species of Pipistrelle bats in the UK. The new study, published today in the international journal Ecosphere, demonstrates that False Widow spiders continue to impact native species. It is the first time a member of this family of spiders, called Theridiidae, has been recorded preying on a bat anywhere in the world, or any vertebrate in Britain. It is also the first time for any species of false widow spider to be recorded preying on mammals. The extraordinary discovery was made by wildlife artist Ben Waddams at his home in north Shropshire, England. On two consecutive days, bats living in the attic were found entangled on the spider's web below the entrance to the roost. The first bat, a young pup, was completely immobilized with its limbs pinned tightly to the torso with silk. It was slightly shriveled and discolored from the spider feeding off the remains. A second, much larger adult bat, was also captured and entangled in the web but as it was still alive, the bat was rescued from the web and released. In Britain, the Pipistrelle bats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Dr Michel Dugon, Head of the Venom Systems Lab at NUI Galway, with a False Widow Spider (Steatoda nobilis). Credit: NUI Galway The rather grisly event is not as uncommon as people might expect, three years ago the Noble False Widow spider was reported feeding on a protected species of native lizard in Ireland. Originating from Madeira and the Canary Islands, the Noble False Widow spider Steatoda nobilis has the potential to become one of the world's most invasive species of spider. It was first reported in southern England in 1879 and has increased its range and population density in recent decades, spreading northwards towards Scotland and westward through Wales and Ireland. In that time the species has also spread globally from across Europe, East Asia, North America, and South America. The species is known for its medical significance, having the ability to cause a range of mild to severe symptoms in people who are bitten, but little is known about its impact on native species. A Pipistrelle bat entangled in a False Widow Spider's web. Credit: Ben Waddams Over the past five years, the team led by Dr. Michel Dugon in NUI Galway's Ryan Institute, have been studying a wide range of characteristics specific to the species including its venom, symptoms after envenomation, ecology and behavior. Dr. Michel Dugon, Head of the Venom Systems Lab, Ryan Institute, NUI Galway and senior author of the study, said: "We have been working on the Noble False Widow for the past five years, and have learnt a great deal about this speciesyet, we are still surprised by its ability to adapt to new environments and make the most of the resources available. It is a truly remarkable species." Dr. John Dunbar, Irish Research Council Post-Doctoral fellow, Venom Systems Lab, Ryan Institute, NUI Galway and lead author of the study, said: "In more exotic parts of the world, scientists have been documenting such predation events by spiders on small vertebrates for many years, but we are only beginning to realize just how common these events occur. Now that this alien species has become well established in Ireland and Britain, we are witnessing such fascinating events on our very own doorstep. "Even other, much smaller, species of false widows are known to capture and feed on snakes and lizards. This study presents yet another example of the invasive impact by the Noble false widow spider on native species. We know they are much more competitive than native spiders, and this further confirms their impact on prey species." Pipistrelle bat entangled in a False Widow Spider's web. Credit: Ben Waddams They possess a fast-acting neurotoxic venom with a very similar composition to true black widows that can cause neuromuscular paralysis in terrestrial vertebrates which allows them to occasionally feed on small reptiles and mammals. Aiste Vitkauskaite, researcher at the Venom Systems Lab, Ryan Institute, NUI Galway, said: "False widow spiders, just as their close relatives' black widow spiders, have extraordinary prey capture techniques and remarkably potent venom which allows them to capture small vertebrate prey many times larger than the spider itself with surprising ease. False Widow Spider that preyed on Pipistrelle. Credit: Ben Waddams "In the last three years alone, we have observed two occasions of the alien Noble False Widow capturing and feeding on protected species of vertebrate animals in Ireland and Britain. As the Noble False Widow continues to expand its range and increase populations across Ireland and Britain, we should expect to observe similar predation events on small vertebrate animals by this spider, including protected species." The team of scientists are encouraging members of the public to email them at falsewidow@nuigalway.ie to report sightings of the Noble False Widow spider. View a short video about the study: Explore further New study confirms Noble False Widow spiders bites can result in hospitalization More information: John P. Dunbar et al, Webslinger vs. Dark Knight First record of a false widow spider Steatoda nobilis preying on a pipistrelle bat in Britain, Ecosphere (2022). Journal information: Ecosphere John P. Dunbar et al, Webslinger vs. Dark Knight First record of a false widow spider Steatoda nobilis preying on a pipistrelle bat in Britain,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3959 Votive offering found inside the Large Temple. Credit: SIKAIT PROJECT An international team of archaeologists led by Joan Oller Guzman, lecturer at the UAB Department of Antiquity and Medieval Studies, published the results of the 2020 and 2021 dig seasons at the Roman site of Sikait, a set of buildings surrounding Roman Egypt's emerald mines, located in the Eastern Desert. The area was known in Antiquity as "Mons Smaragdus," given that it was the only place within the Roman Empire where emeralds could be found. This scientific collaboration was conducted jointly with the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw, Poland, and focuses on the study of how emeralds were extracted and commercialized in Antiquity. The excavations conducted in these past two years correspond to the latest Roman period, from the 4th to the 6th centuries CE, and reveal that some of the buildings were occupied or even built by the Blemmyes, nomad tribes living in the area at the end of the 4th century. The work conducted at the main temple of Sikait, the Large Temple, has allowed archaeologists to document two perfectly preserved ritual sanctuaries, one of which contained the last votive offering to have been made intact (between 4th and 5th centuries CE). "The discovery confirms the relevance of religion and local rituals in this late period, and this suggests that the exploitation of the mines may have fallen into the hands of the Blemmyes during this time, before the fall of the empire," Joan Oller explains. Researchers also excavated one of the most impressive building complex, the Tripartite Building, which was probably used both as a residence and as a warehouse for the emeralds extracted from the mines. First topography of the mines The two dig seasons began with a detailed surveying of the mining areas in which up to eleven extracting areas were found surrounding Wadi Sikait, the dry valley in which the archaeological site is located. For the first time, archaeologists were able to conduct a detailed topographic study of the two most important mines, one of them consisting of hundreds of galleries and with a depth of more than 40 meters. The survey also allowed them to determine how work was structured inside the mines: Large-scale mining only began once the most productive veins were identified. These operations included logistical infrastructures such as small settlements, necropolises, ramps, paths, working areas and watchtowers. A demonstration of the complexity and intensity of the processes needed to extract beryl, the mineral from which emeralds are obtained. Involvement of the Roman army The most remarkable characteristic of this mine is the documentation of an important set of ancient inscriptions which allow researchers to infer information on who worked there and how the tasks were carried out. Among these is an inscription by a Roman legion, which would for the first time demonstrate that the Roman army was directly involved in the exploitation of Egypt's emerald mines "not only to defend them, but also probably to help in their construction," Oller explains. The researchers continued to add to the documentation of emerald mines within the Wadi el Gemal National Park, of which over 300 have already been studied. In addition to the discoveries, the surveying of the area has led researchers to document dozens of new settlements, mines, infrastructures and even a new necropolis with over 100 tombs, which has added to the knowledge of ancient funerary rites and social features of the community living there shortly before the site was abandoned. The research is a huge step forward in understanding how emeralds were extracted and commercialized in the Graeco-Roman and Byzantine periods. Fifth dig season In January of this year, the archaeological team ended what was the fifth dig season of this site. The new season has focused on the excavation of what is known as the Small Temple, which, among other elements, has yielded part of an inscription in Greek dedicated to different Egyptian divinities. The team will publish the results of their most recent season before the end of this year. Explore further New evidence regarding emerald production in Roman Egypt coming from Wadi Sikait More information: Joan Oller Guzman et al, Emerald Mining During the Roman Period in the Egyptian Eastern Desert: Recent Evidence from Wadi Sikait, Thetis 26, pp. 25-35. 2021. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Lead researcher Dr. Milo Barham, from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group within Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said the team devised a metric, which determines the "age distribution fingerprint" of minerals known as zircon within sand, shedding new light on the evolution of the Earth's surface over the last few billion years. "While much of the original geological record is lost to erosion, durable minerals like zircon form sediments that effectively gather information from these lost worlds to paint a vivid picture of the planet's history, including changing environments, the development of a habitable biosphere, the evolution of continents, and the accumulation of mineral resources at ancient plate boundaries," Dr. Barham said. "This new approach allows a greater understanding of the nature of ancient geology in order to reconstruct the arrangement and movement of tectonic plates on Earth through time. "The world's beaches faithfully record a detailed history of our planet's geological past, with billions of years of Earth's history imprinted in the geology of each grain of sand and our technique helps unlock this information." Co-author Professor Chris Kirkland, also from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group within Curtin's School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, said the new method can be used to trace the Earth's history with greater detail than previously achievable. "Zircons contain chemical elements that allow us to date and reconstruct the conditions of mineral formation. Much like human population demographics trace the evolution of countries, this technique allows us to chart the evolution of continents by identifying the particular age population demographics of zircon grains in a sediment," Professor Kirkland said. "The way the Earth recycles itself through erosion is tracked in the pattern of ages of zircon grains in different geological settings. For example, the sediment on the west and east coasts of South America are completely different because there are many young grains on the west side that were created from crust plunging beneath the continent, driving earthquakes and volcanoes in the Andes. Whereas, on the east coast, all is relatively calm geologically and there is a mix of old and young grains picked up from a diversity of rocks across the Amazon basin." Dr. Barham and Professor Kirkland are affiliated with The Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR), Curtin's flagship Earth Sciences research institute and the research was funded by the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia. "Understanding ancient tectonic settings through detrital zircon analysis" was published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters. More information: M. Barham et al, Understanding ancient tectonic settings through detrital zircon analysis, Earth and Planetary Science Letters (2022). Journal information: Earth and Planetary Science Letters M. Barham et al, Understanding ancient tectonic settings through detrital zircon analysis,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117425 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The plants we eat have been domesticated. There are no wild chihuahuas, in the wilderness there are wolves and, likewise, there are no wild big and juicy tomatoes, bread wheat or popcorn maize in the wild. Our forebears modified these species to adapt them to their needs, uses, and tastes. The tomato was domesticated by native american cultures thousands of years ago. Unfortunately, there are few tomato archeological remains and many questions to answer. Although some of these issues have been discussed for decades, most of them still have no final answers. For instance, it has been proposed that the domestication could have been carried out in Mesoamerica, the region comprising Mexico and Central America, or, alternatively, in Peru and Ecuador, but there has been no definitive evidence capable of settling the debate. The plant genomic group at COMAV, a research institute located in the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia in Spain, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Georgia are publishing in Horticulture Research new findings obtained within Varitome, a National Science Foundation funded project (NSF1564366). The whole genome of 628 wild and cultivated plants have been analyzed to unravel some details of the complex American tomato history. Most of the contemporary cultivated tomato is very similar to the wild Mesoamerican plants (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme), however, in its domestication there were also involved wild Ecuadorian and Peruvian species (S. pimpinellifolium). This complex scenario has hampered the study of the tomato domestication for decades, but, thanks to a novel statistical analysis developed for this research, it was possible to find out that although the domestication process started with the Mesoamerican materials, it was quite complex. In a first step, Mesoamerican plants migrated southward to a region located between the Andes foot and the Amazonian forest in Peru and Ecuador. This humid region is known as Ceja de Montana. This migration was fast and very likely due to the commercial relationships established between different Mesoamerican and Ecuadorian and Peruvian cultures. More recently, some plants, very similar to the ones still grown in Southern Ecuador and Northern Peru, migrated back to Mexico. Surprisingly, the vintage Yucatan tomatoes are more similar to the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Ceja de Montana ones than to its wild counterparts found in Mexico. Thus, it has been established that some wild tomatoes migrated southward and, then, went back as cultivated. Moreover, these voyages would change the tomato forever. The growers from Ceja de Montana did not use pure Mesoamerican plants, but admixtures created crossing the newly arrived plants with wild plants from coastal Peru and Ecuador. It is also there, in Southern Ecuador and Northern Peru, in the region located between Mayo and Chinchipe, where the highest genetic diversity of cultivated tomatoes in the world have been found, and it might be there where the domestication took place. However, to have a final confirmation regarding this question new archeological tomato remains could be needed. The hybridization between Mesoamerican and Ecuatorial plants was used to take genes needed to adapt the northern tomatoes to the climate and latitude of Ecuador. Without this old hybridization it is unlikely that the tomato could have been easily adapted to climates as different as the Ecuadorian forests and the Mediterranean coasts. The American tomato history was complex and included very distant agricultural cultures that adapted the crop to their needs and tastes. Like any other crop, the cultivated tomato was created by the genetic modifications fostered by its first growers. In the Americas the tomato was a secondary crop used mainly to prepare sauces. However, this was not the end of its trips, but only the beginning. For instance, after arriving in Europe different varieties were created, and it wasn't until the industrial revolution that the crop acquired its current relevance. Nowadays we are still creating new varieties adapted, again, to our needs, uses, and tastes. The native american growers defined the past of the tomato, and it is our shared task to define its future. We change the plants we grow, and they, in turn, define us. Explore further Genome sequences for two wild tomato ancestors More information: Jose Blanca et al, Haplotype analyses reveal novel insights into tomato history and domestication driven by long-distance migrations and latitudinal adaptations, Horticulture Research (2022). Jose Blanca et al, Haplotype analyses reveal novel insights into tomato history and domestication driven by long-distance migrations and latitudinal adaptations,(2022). DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhac030 Provided by Universitat Politecnica de Valencia Finds at the Varsche Rivier 003 site in the Knersvlate region of South Africa show that humans thrived there 80,000 years ago, despite a tough climate. Credit: Alex Blackwood Between the time when early modern humans emerged in Africa and when they spread around the globe, they developed complex behaviors that enabled themand usto adapt and thrive in new environments. Those behaviorstoolmaking, thinking and planningevolved during the Middle Stone Age (315,00040,000 years ago), but our current understanding of where, why and how the behaviors arose relies on spotty archaeological evidence. The Middle Stone Age in southern Africa is best known from famous sites along the lush southern Cape Coast, such as Blombos Cave. But new research suggests people in the overlooked desert regions to the north sometimes lived very different, and in some ways more creative, lives. In an article in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, Alex Mackay of University of Wollongong in Australia, Teresa Steele, professor of anthropology at University of California, Davis, and colleagues report that 80,000 to 92,000 years ago people occupying a site in the Knersvlakte region of southern Namaqualand, in what is now South Africa, were innovating in multiple ways, including: Creating unique methods for producing stone tools by heating silcrete rocks to fracture along impurities Transporting mollusk shells an unusually long distance from the coast Producing technology from ostrich eggshells, their first known use as a medium for creativity These innovations, found at the Varsche Rivier 003 site, are not present in sites just 65 miles (100 kilometers) to the south, demonstrating a lack of connections between these contemporaneous populations. "It might be adaptations in these periods of isolation that helps motivate innovation," said Steele. However, Steele noted that a few thousand years later after a climatic shift, the occupants of Varsche Rivier 003 and the sites to the south began making the same stone tool industries, highlighting a change toward connections across wider geographic regions. Heat-shattered rock fragments collected at the site. Credit: UC Davis Cultural change amid climate shifts Steele and her colleagues began excavations in 2009 at the site of an ancient rock shelter in the arid Knersvlakte, a bioregion best known for its quartz-gravel plains and endemic dwarf succulents, situated 27 miles (44 kilometers) east of South Africa's Atlantic coast and 185 miles (300 kilometers) north of Cape Town. Artifacts from the site date to a climate shift beginning about 92,000 years ago, when milder winds and increased summer rainfall made the region more hospitable to humans. After a few thousand years, the climate changed back to more like today, with most of the region's 7 inches (175 mm) of average annual rainfall occurring in the winter. But even during the climate shift, the Knersvlakte was a marginal environment, Steele said. "It was a tough place for hunter-gatherer-herders to make a living, even recently. Even when there was a little bit more moisture on the landscape, it wasn't lush by any means. The fact that people 80,000 years ago could thrive there tells us something about human adaptability," she said. More research is needed to reconstruct climate change in the region in the past and to shed more light on how the environment shaped innovation and culture, the researchers said. Explore further Ancient ostrich eggshell reveals new evidence of extreme climate change thousands of years ago More information: Alex Mackay et al, Environmental influences on human innovation and behavioural diversity in southern Africa 9280 thousand years ago, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2022). Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution Alex Mackay et al, Environmental influences on human innovation and behavioural diversity in southern Africa 9280 thousand years ago,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01667-5 Credit: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service With the upcoming launch of NOAA's new GOES-T satellite, staff at ground stations such as NOAA's Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station (WCDAS) located at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility are in full swing preparing for the event. Although Wallops launches smaller rockets as well as research aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and high-altitude balloons, the facility also supports NOAA's satellite tracking and commanding capabilities. We spoke with Gregory Johnson, a GOES Ground System Engineer, and Jesse Speidel, Chief of Operations, about just what goes on at Wallops before and after a satellite launch. First however, they explained that ground stations, like Wallops, are basically radio stations that communicate with satellites from the ground by transmitting and receiving radio waves via large parabolic antennas. Wallops tracks many satellites orbiting Earth this way, as well as deep space satellites that monitor solar activity. The ground stations can send commands to the satellites as well as receive data from them that they then send to be processed. Prelaunch, these antennas must be thoroughly checked and tested to make sure they are fully functional. Staff must certify that each can properly receive and transmit information and validate that all specifications are met. They must also make sure that they are able to track the satellite accurately. Once the ground station starts detecting GOES-T after launch, it will take the satellite another 9 to 10 days days to reach a temporary location at 89.5 degrees west longitude, which is over the center of the U.S. Here, the satellite will undergo Post-Launch Checkout (PLC) Post Launch Testing (PLT), where all of its instruments will be tested and calibrated in space with the assistance of a specialized software suite. Before this software was developed, it would take over a month to process the data. Now, it can be done in just two weeks. After PLC PLT is complete, the satellite will be moved and eventually replace GOES-17 in the GOES West position, where it will keep watch over the Pacific Ocean, the western U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. "This is an exciting time," said Johnson. "With a new satellite launch, everyone is waiting to see the first image come down. We're excited to see all this collaboration come together." Provided by National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Florida's experiences helped researchers develop a new United Nations climate change report that offers a stark view of how global warming threatens the world and what people can do to address it. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's more than 3,500-page paper compiles findings from numerous studies that show people have made the earth hotter by burning fossil fuels, and that climate change threatens to kill off plants and animals; leave people with less food and water; and exacerbate droughts, floods and bouts of extreme heat. Humans still have some control of their destiny, according to the United Nations panel. The report emphasizes that people can build smarter, more resilient communities to protect themselves from disasters and could evade the most severe damage by cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Floridalush, surrounded by water and swelteringis as vulnerable to global warming and sea level rise as anywhere in the U.S. Lawmakers are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to build defenses to flooding, but the state has not adopted targets or sweeping policies to reduce fossil fuel emissions. Here are several ways that studies from Florida helped inform the report: Flood risk and adaptation The panel describes how sea level rise and flooding could force residents to move from certain coastal communities, citing Florida as an example. It relies on research that already suggests some lost real estate value around Miami. While the state is at natural risk because of its geography, the report spotlights how vulnerability is also a product of development, including along the Gulf of Mexico. The threat comes not only from people choosing to build in risky places, but also from weak construction standards. Hurricane Andrew, which hit Florida in 1992 and caused widespread wind damage, is mentioned as an example. That storm encouraged state leaders to strengthen Florida's building code. Tampa Bay is not specifically referenced like Miami. But the area is intensely vulnerable to storm surge flooding, a danger that swells with sea level rise. The United Nations panel noted sea level rise, surge and heavy rains are expected to cause bigger floods in the future. One more local mention: Tropical systems can force people to move, shifting populations across the world, like how Puerto Ricans left the island and moved to Florida following Hurricane Maria in 2017. Harmful algal blooms Florida's coastline is already beset by toxic algae blooms. Red Tide is the perennial threat facing the Tampa Bay region. Climate change could encourage Red Tide growth by altering the salinity of water or increasing the level of nutrients dumped to bays through rain runoff. Blue-green algae, a problem in Southeast Florida, could benefit from warmer water, too. Florida's Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force last year wrote: "Without hard work and careful planning, the challenges created by (Harmful Algal Blooms) are likely to worsen due to the influences of other environmental stressors associated with climate change and Florida's growing population." The United Nations report touches on problems that are at least partially the result of climate change, and how they cause disruptions that hurt local businesses. It cites research from Florida showing tourists spent less money during past blooms. But it also uses the state's example to spotlight a response. Forecasting blooms and their impactsan effort underway in Floridahelps people to avoid the toxins from algae, according to the panel, limiting sickness. Coral reefs The effects of climate change, like warmer oceans that can spur coral bleaching, add to existing problems and pose a major threat to coral reefs, such as those off Florida. The state has already been devastated by stony coral tissue loss disease. The United Nations panel notes research that suggested Florida could lose significant economic activity because of damage to its reef tractpopular among anglers and divers and a crucial habitat for sea life. But efforts to save corals also get a nod in the report. The Florida Aquarium in Tampa has been part of the response, breeding corals in a lab and outplanting them to replace lost sections of the reef. Groundwater There are still plenty of subjects on which science is unsettled about the effects of climate change. For Florida, groundwater is a big one. The latest United Nations paper explains that improved monitoring is needed to fully understand how climate change will affect stores of groundwater across the world. It notes that the groundwater supply has dropped in many places because of pumping for irrigation. The authors reference a study that showed reduced spring flows in Florida. Aquifers in tropical zones, the paper said, could respond to climate change differently than in drier areas. The consequences of climate change's effect on freshwater supplies are enormous. The paper explains that use agreements and water laws were written for past conditions. Scarcity has already led to court battles, including the Florida v. Georgia case (which Florida lost) over flows from Georgia to Apalachicola Bay. 2022 Tampa Bay Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. QUEENSBURY An appeal by a Lake George man serving a seven-year prison sentence for an assault on another inmate has been denied. On Monday, Warren County District Attorney Jason Carusone announced that the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court ruled in favor of upholding the sentence from the County Court in 2017. Scott J. Morehouse was convicted of felony assault by a Warren County jury in 2017 after he allegedly attacked another inmate at the Warren County Jail, leaving the victim with fractures in his face that required surgery. Before the incident, Morehouse had a lengthy criminal history and had been previously confined to a mental institution after it was deemed he was unfit to stand trial for two cases in 2015. Morehouses representation claimed that the prosecution introduced evidence improperly during the 2017 trial which resulted in a seven-year prison sentence imposed by Judge John Hall. His counsel argued to the appeals court that the sentence was harsh and excessive, but he was denied an opportunity to be re-sentenced by a panel of four Supreme Court judges. Morehouse is serving his sentence at the Auburn Correctional Facility and will be eligible for parole in January 2023. Jana DeCamilla is a staff writer who covers Moreau, Queensbury, and Lake George. She can be reached at 518-742-3272 or jdecamilla@poststar.com. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Craig Mack at a 2002 birthday celebration for P. Diddy at The Supper Club in New York City. (Globe Photos/Zuma Press/TNS)) Craig Mack, known for first putting Sean "Diddy" Combs's Bad Boy record label on the map with his iconic single "Flava In Ya Ear," died Monday at the age of 46. "God bless my friend," his producer Alvin Toney told the New York Daily News, which first reported the news of Mack's death of heart failure. Advertisement Mack died around 9 p.m. Monday in Walterboro, South Carolina, Colleton County coroner Richard Harvey told the Associated Press. The New York rapper's summer 1994 single became an instant hit and turned into a must-play classic and hip-hop anthem. Advertisement The subsequent remix included a breakout guest verse from Notorious B.I.G., whose "Ready to Die" album dropped a week before Mack's full-length debut, "Project: Funk da World." LL Cool J, who appeared on the popular "Flava In Ya Ear" remix, wrote a tribute on Twitter: Mack was signed to Bad Boy after Diddy heard him freestyle outside of a Manhattan club. "Craig is hip-hop's George Clinton, because his stuff is really off the wall," Diddy told the New York Times in 1995. "He does what's from his heart, which is where it starts for him. But his energy comes from somewhere else." The rapper ended up leaving Bad Boy and releasing his second album, "Operation: Get Down," in 1997, before departing from the music industry altogether to devote his life to religion. But he apparently was working on some new projects. Erick Sermon of rap group EPMD, who knew Mack since his breakout, tweeted that Mack was working on new music. Mack also had been participating in a documentary about his life, including his decision to leave music and focus on his faith. Toney told the Daily News he saw Mack last week at his South Carolina church to film the documentary. "Nobody got to understand his story," Toney told the outlet. "I wanted the world to know the talent he had. It was something I wanted people to enjoy, but it was cut short because he was very religious and wanted to go to church." DJ Scratch wrote on Instagram that Mack had "just reached out a couple of weeks ago for me to speak on his documentary about his life." Mack was Scratch's tour roadie, helping set up and break down his turntables each night. Advertisement "I just got a disturbing phone call. I cannot believe this dude is gone," Scratch wrote early Tuesday morning. "Rest In Peace Lil Bro." During Toney's visit, the producer said, Mack told Toney that he had been sick for a long time and knew he wouldn't live long. "He was prepared for whatever comes, to go home to the Lord," Toney told the Daily News. "He wasn't scared. He was ready." Word of his death spread across the hip-hop world Tuesday, which in recent years has mourned the early passing of other pioneers: Prodigy of Mobb Deep, who died in June at 42 from sickle cell anemia-related complications, and Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest, who died in 2016 at 45 from complications of diabetes. "To be In hip hop culture & live past the age of 50 is a fight to the finish for real," Questlove wrote on Instagram, adding that "Flava In Ya Ear" was freestylers' first "viral instrumental choice." "We cannot forget one of the greatest hip hop single debuts in the culture. That song was the gym routine mc's brushed their skills on." Advertisement RELATED STORIES: Pitchfork lineup is complete with Lauryn Hill, Fleet Foxes The iHeartRadio Music Awards should have let awards season die Taylor Swift debuts 'Delicate' music video Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP) Warren County Health Services Director Ginelle Jones said Monday that the county will follow the new CDC and state guidelines when it comes to enforcing masks in schools. Warren County Health Services will not enact a mask mandate for schools or day care facilities in Warren County when New York states mask or face-covering mandate expires on Wednesday, March 2, she said in a news release. However, as COVID-19 continues to circulate in our community, we believe that those who feel they should wear a mask to protect themselves or a vulnerable friend or loved one should continue to do so. Jones asked county residents to continue to practice common-sense protocols like staying home if they are ill. The county on Monday reported a total of 32 new COVID cases from the past two days. The report stated 17 news cases were identified on Sunday and 15 added on Monday. Warren County has recorded 88 new cases over the past five days. Two more individuals have been admitted to the hospital since the last report, making the total now eight, with five of them vaccinated against COVID. Glens Falls Hospital had only 12 COVID patients on Monday morning, with none in the ICU, spokesman Ray Agnew said. The seven-day rolling positivity rate has fallen to 4.6%. Warren County is giving away free at-home test kits at tjhe Warren County Municipal Centers DMV and Human Services building entrances, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tests are available on a first come, first served basis. Test kits remain available in Warren County town halls and Glens Falls City Hall for free distribution, as well as most Stewarts Shops in Warren County, with the exceptions the Glen Street and Broad Street stores because of traffic concerns. Washington County According to New York state data on Monday, eight positive COVID cases were identified in Washington County on Sunday out of the 129 test results reported. The seven-day rolling positivity rate was at 4.5%. Saratoga County On Monday, the Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services reported a total of 153 active COVID cases, with 325 positive tests confirmed in the past seven days. The county currently has 15 residents in the hospital, with eight of them being unvaccinated. The transmission level for Saratoga County is now considered low by CDC standards. The seven-day rolling positivity rate was at 3.7% on Monday, the countys website indicated. Jana DeCamilla is a staff writer who covers Moreau, Queensbury, and Lake George. She can be reached at 518-742-3272 or jdecamilla@poststar.com. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Justin Hoagland spent seven months in Ukraine as a specialist in the New York National Guard training Ukrainian soldiers in Army doctrine. The Whitehall native, now a sergeant, worked at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center in western Ukraine. He was stationed there from December 2017 until July 2018. Hoagland was told his job there was to train the Ukrainian soldiers to prepare the country to potentially join NATO. Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered attacks on airports and military headquarters. Tanks and troops and warplanes have bombed major cities. Theyve been in conflict since about 2014, which kind of went under the radar for a long time until recently, Hoagland said. So we knew that we were training them to actually fight. No one knew that this was going to happen. Hoagland and fellow Guardsmen worked six days a week with Sundays off teaching the Ukrainian soldiers. We were training them on our Army doctrine for a multitude of different tactics, Hoagland said, whether it be clearing trenches, bunkers, different battle drills, things like that. Hoagland, 25, who currently lives in Whitehall, was given permission to speak about the facts of his time at the Yavoriv training center, which was about an hour-and-a-half car drive from Poland. The topography of Ukraine reminded him a lot of home. It was similar climate and similar landscape to upstate New York, he said. We were kind of on the same parallel. Theyre a little bit more north, but I got to experience all four seasons. Its a little bit colder there in the winter. He and other Guardsmen were warmly welcomed. They used their weekend passes to explore the country. There was a city of Lviv about an hour south, he said. We were able to go and see the city and see the architecture. He befriended Ukrainians while he was there, and is still in touch with a waiter, who has kept him abreast of the onslaught. Everybodys kind of scared, Hoagland said. Hes in the age range where they ask you to pick up and fight. Hoagland is currently assigned to the vaccination clinic at the Aviation Mall in Queensbury, but will be deployed to Africa this summer. He said he thinks his unit accomplished what it was sent to Ukraine to do. Theyre just like anybody else that has a strong sense of nationalism, Hoagland said. They want to protect their home, their families, their way of life. Gretta Hochsprung writes features and hometown news. She can be reached at 518-742-3206 or ghochsprung@poststar.com. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. At a 3rd Ward public safety meeting Thursday night, Councilman Kaleem Shabazz said as recently as Wednesday night he was getting complaints of people having sex and taking drugs openly around Renaissance Plaza between New York and Kentucky avenues. Starting March 1, there will be more officers in the area, interim Officer-in-Charge James Sarkos said. Were going to make it a priority, Sarkos said. There will be officers on bikes as the weather warms. Cameras (there) are back up and running. We are going to start property checks around Renaissance Plaza, the parking lot and overhangs of buildings several times a day. The area is near City Hall, the Atlantic City Free Public Library, the Atlantic County building and the William J. Gormley AtlantiCare Health Plex. Shabazz said he has gotten continual complaints about aggressive panhandling, public urination and more in the area. To report non-emergency problems, Sarkos asked residents to call 609-347-5780, which goes directly to the citys police communication center. Only emergencies should be reported to 911, he stressed. The city is recruiting more special law enforcement officers, Sarkos said, which can be a route to becoming a full-time Atlantic City police officer. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, a U.S. citizen and have a valid New Jersey drivers license and a high school diploma or the equivalent, Sarkos said. To apply, visit the careers section of the city website. Those accepted will be sent to the State Police Academy in July, Sarkos said. After one year as a Class II officer, you could be full time, Sarkos said. Its a pathway to becoming full time with the Atlantic City Police Department. We are looking for community-oriented, dedicated individuals with honor and integrity who want to serve the community to come out, Sarkos said. Well consider Atlantic City residents first. Prior convictions for simple marijuana possession should be expunged and will not prevent an applicant from being hired, Sarkos said. The Fire Department is also starting a new emergency notification system that will go live next week, fire Chief Scott Evans said. Its a good system for weather alerts, special messages to neighborhoods such as snow removal routes, Evans said. We will be able to geotag areas. That means he can draw a circle around a particular area and notifications will go out to all phones and emails within the circle, Evans said. Text messages, phone calls and emails will go out to all residents and employees asking them whether they want to opt out, Evans said. We are coming to the table with 20,000 numbers already, Evans said. The system also allows serious emergency notifications to be sent to all phones in the city, so visitors will be included should there be a life-or-death situation they need to know about. The Fire Department will also be recruiting new firefighters, with applications and Civil Service tests beginning again soon. Applicant requirements are the same as for the Police Department. Evans said military veterans can be a bit older than 35. They are allowed one year over the limit for every year they served in the military up to six years, he said. REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BRIDGETON He broke barriers as the states first Latino assignment judge in 2011, when he took on leadership of the Atlantic and Cape May vicinage of Superior Court, but on his last day on the bench Judge Julio Mendez revisited his earliest days in the law. At the Cumberland County Courthouse at Broad and Fayette streets, Mendez heard an adoption case and a petition for custody in Courtroom 207, the first courtroom in which he ever argued a case. It was also the courtroom he occupied for nine years as a family court judge in Cumberland County. The Chief Justice signed a one-day order allowing me to come to Cumberland County, Mendez said in an interview after his court session ended. Mendez turned 65 Monday. The mandatory retirement age in the state for Superior Court judges is 70. Mendez has handled many high-profile cases as the leader of the Atlantic Cape vicinage, from disputes between Atlantic City and public safety unions to election recounts and challenges. His successor is Superior Court Judge Michael Blee, who becomes the Atlantic and Cape May assignment judge on Tuesday. Cumberland County is Mendezs home county. He graduated from Vineland High School in 1975 and has lived in Vineland for 40 years. One of the first things he plans to do, Mendez said, is a 130-mile walk on a pilgrimage across the North of Spain. Thats the home of his ancestors, and where he spent two years after leaving Cuba at age 14 before emigrating with his parents to the United States. At Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) Mendez thought of becoming an accountant, working with numbers rather than language. His English skills were new he began studying the language in Spain, but really learned it as a junior and senior in high school here, he said. One of the professors invited me to spend three weeks in Washington, D.C., in January 1976, Mendez said. I went and saw Thurgood Marshall, and I said, I want to do this, he said of the law. So he changed his major to political science, and went to Rutgers Law School after graduation. Seven years after I got (to the U.S.) I passed the bar exam, Mendez said. On his March trip to Spain, Mendez will walk 130 miles of the 500-mile Camino de Santiago, also called St. James Way, over 10 or 11 days. The route a network of trails travels across the north of Spain, ending in Santiago de Compostela at the northwestern corner, where the relics of the Apostle St. James are believed to be buried. Hes been walking six to seven miles each evening to get ready, Mendez said. Pilgrims have been doing this for 1,200 years, Mendez said. I wanted to have a transition between my life of service as a judge and whatever comes next, Mendez said, and reflect on the good things of life, like family, for which Im thankful. Mendez and wife, Rosa, have two adult children and three grandchildren, he said. Some of the accomplishments he most savors are those that made the court more community oriented, he said, citing expansion and renaming of the drug court program to Recovery Court, and the courts efforts to help graduates get jobs. That model has been duplicated statewide, as has the One Judge, One School program Mendez started that sends judges into schools to talk to students. All the judges participated, Mendez said. Other vicinages have followed, said Pete McAleer, spokesman for the N.J. Administrative Office of the Courts. Mendez was instrumental in working with Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson in creating the Central Municipal Court to allow nine (so far) municipalities to share one municipal court system to save money and make the system more fair. After finishing up his court session, Mendez greeted visitor after visitor there to thank him for his mentorship and wish him well on his retirement. Several were former law clerks, of which he has had 26 over the years, Mendez said. And he manages to keep in touch with all of them, said Brittany Chan, his current law clerk. Hes beloved by all his former clerks, said Jennifer R. Perez, now a legal services attorney. We just had a Zoom call with a big group of them. Mendez isnt sure whats next, only what isnt, he said. I will not be doing mediation, Mendez said, or return as a judge on recall. I want to do and explore things that make me completely happy and are meaningful. REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State Sen. Vince Polistina is happy with the new state legislative district map, which includes redrawn boundaries for the 40 districts that elect state senators and Assembly members. Im excited to have Galloway and Port Republic back because I grew up in Galloway and there are many reasons why its natural for them to be part of the district, Polistina, R-Atlantic, said Friday. Im disappointed to lose some great Atlantic County towns but will still treat it as (if) I am the senator ... representing all towns in (Atlantic) County. Galloway Township and Port Republic are moving back to the 2nd Legislative District after 10 years in the 9th District, which covers portions of southern Ocean and Burlington counties. The map, based on 2020 Census data, will be used from 2023 through 2030 and was recently agreed to by a bipartisan Apportionment Commission. John Froonjian, executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, said the new map likely benefits Republicans overall. Certainly the Republican reaction was that there are more competitive districts now, Froonjian said. So any map that creates more competitive districts is a plus for Republicans, who have been toiling in an overwhelmingly Democratic map for quite some time. Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, agreed the result is more competitive and that will help Republicans. Its a truly fair map, Testa said of the commissions product. There were some really good people on both sides engaged in intellectual honesty about the map. His 1st District, covering all of Cape May County and parts of Cumberland and Atlantic, picks up Democratic Bridgeton from the 3rd, and gives up several smaller Republican towns to the 3rd. That probably helps Republicans in the 3rd, Froonjian said, by having a big Democratic area leave. The 1st has been Republican so long it can absorb Bridgeton (without being threatened). The 3rd District is where longtime Senate President Steve Sweeney got voted out in November, in favor of newcomer Republican Ed Durr. More competitive districts drive up voter turnout and make it more interesting for voters, Froonjian said. It gives voters more of a reason to participate, he said. Galloway is a large township with lots of Republican voters, Froonjian said. So its addition to the 2nd will shore up the GOP there. Polistina and his running mates, Assemblyman Don Guardian and Assemblywoman Claire Swift, both R-Atlantic, defeated the Democratic team of two incumbents and a county commissioner, but it was a hard fought race. The new map moves Mullica Township, Egg Harbor City and Folsom from the 2nd to the 8th District, which covers parts of Burlington, Camden and Atlantic counties. For the past decade, the only Atlantic County town in the 8th was Hammonton. It also moves Buena Vista Township and Buena Borough out of the 2nd, into the 4th covering Camden, Gloucester and now Atlantic counties. We will continue to serve people living there and help in any way we can, said Swift of the towns that are leaving the district but helped elect her and her team. GOP gains top a year of change in New Jersey politics In a year full of political upsets, head-scratching decisions and momentous changes in the w She recommended people in need of help with unemployment or other issues call the office at 609-677-8266. The Apportionment Commission made history by coming to a bipartisan agreement on a new map, Froonjian said, rather than having to rely on an appointed tiebreaker. I cant overemphasize how unusual that is, Froonjian said. Maybe civility in government might have a chance after all. The congressional redistricting commission for New Jersey required a tiebreaker to come up with its new map this year. Even Atlantic Countys commission has asked for a tiebreaker to help decide a map for county commissioner districts. The new map created more problematic changes in North Jersey, where new boundaries put incumbent Democrats into the same districts, forcing them to run against each other in 2023. It made quite a mess up in Hudson County and Essex County, Froonjian said. Political Briefs: 2019 election pointed to this year's red wave, report says The red wave that hit New Jersey in this years legislative races had its birth in the much The affected incumbent Democrats will have to duke it out or retire, he said. Sen. Nick Sacco has already announced he will retire rather than run against Sen. Brian Stack (both D-Hudson). State Sens. Nia Gill and Richard Codey, both D-Essex, will likely face off against one another in a 2023 Democratic primary. Democrats control both chambers of the Legislature but lost six seats in the Assembly last year, while Republicans netted one new seat in the Senate. The full Legislature is up again in 2023, the first year the new maps will be used. Assembly people go through elections every two years. State senators start each decade with a two-year term, followed by two four-year terms. This wasnt Earth-shattering in South Jersey. It wasnt massive, but it helps the Republicans, Froonjian said. When combined with the congressional redistricting map, it shows the strength of the Republican Party right now in South Jersey. Red wave driven by GOP turnout, but will it last? In the wake of Republicans sweeping into office across South Jersey, knocking out even longt Congressional redistricting gave the more Republican parts of U.S. Rep. Andy Kims 3rd District to the 2nd, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd. We may see Republicans do well the next decade in South Jersey, Froonjian said. REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OCEAN CITY City Council and city Business Administrator George Savastano discussed the potential to create a parking garage and plans for new bathrooms on the Boardwalk during a Thursday meeting, which also saw the latest sparring between council members and the city administration. The city has promised the bathrooms at 10th and 11th streets will be complete and ready by the summer, but the project has faced delays. Work is set to start Monday, Savastano said. The parking garage proposal is a longer-term discussion. The idea has been considered on and off for years, but seems to have taken on new life this year, with Mayor Jay Gillian announcing plans to study its potential and council forming a parking committee. Frank Donato, the city finance director, told council he has two proposals from firms that would study the possibilities, including whether the city could break even on such a project. Either of the studies would cost about $20,000, he said. Councilman Jody Levchuk, who heads the council parking committee, said he had asked for details about the garage proposal several weeks ago and finally received it the day of the meeting. He let Savastano know he was unhappy with the timing of the discussions. Ocean City clam bar to be demolished to make way for more parking Business owner Thomas Spadafora had a year left on his lease of the building but had asked t Why couldnt you just forward this a couple of weeks ago? he said, saying the council subcommittee wants to conduct its own investigation into garage options. I just wish that my request would have been followed up with these reports instead of me still sitting here. Im so glad you told me these exist, but I wish we could have had them in hand by now so we could have a deeper conversation about it. Savastano said it would be inappropriate for the administration to send the proposals to a committee when council will ultimately make the decision on whether to approve a contract. Im not trying to withhold information from anybody, but to send information out in a piecemeal fashion just doesnt make sense, Savsatano said. The discussion on parking and on the bathrooms seemed to overlap. Levchuk, a Boardwalk business owner, expressed concern about timing for the bathroom project, which has been discussed extensively at council meetings. He also questioned whether the proposal needed to go in front of the Planning Board. The city is set to present plans for the work to the Planning Board at its Wednesday meeting, planned for 6 p.m. at City Hall, 861 Asbury Ave. At the meeting, Levchuk indicated he was concerned over potential delays to the work. New bathroom facilities on Ocean City Boardwalk expected to be complete by summer OCEAN CITY New bathrooms are on the way on two blocks of the Boardwalk, city Administrator It was my sense that you thought it would be a good idea to take it to the board for a review, city attorney Dorothy McCrosson told Levchuk, citing an earlier conversation. Levchuk said some Boardwalk business owners could have concerns about the design of the project. If we go to the Planning Board, do they have the option to turn it down? asked Council member Karen Bergman. She was told they did not, that it was only a courtesy review. Oh, thank God. This is not slowing up this project, I can guarantee that, Savastano said. Savastano said the city originally planned to have the bathrooms built off site and delivered for final construction and connections. But now, plans are to build the bathrooms on site. He said most of the materials have already been ordered. We ordered the stuff where there could be supply chain issues as early as possible, he said. Levchuk said it would have been good to have the bathrooms ready by Easter, which is often a big day for the Boardwalk. He said he was sure the administration knew what it was doing but wanted to have more details, and told Savastano that saying it would be open by summer was not enough information. Savastano said Memorial Day is the universally agreed-on unofficial start of the summer. Were going to have both bathrooms operational at both street ends before Memorial Day, he said. Together, the two bathrooms are expected to cost about $1 million. City officials say they will be a major improvement over the current bathrooms. Meanwhile, the city is looking at six potential locations for parking garages, including the municipal lot behind City Hall and some of the city-owned parking lots along the Boardwalk, including at Ninth Street, Moorlyn Terrace and between Fifth and Sixth streets. Donato told council he and other city staff members reached out to some firms for proposals to study the feasibility of such a project, including how much it could cost to construct and operate, and the potential revenue from parking fees. The plan would also include looking at parking rates in the city. Donato said he would like to meet with councils parking committee to go over the proposals within a week or so. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. After a six-week delay, residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on a proposed trash transfer station. St. Marys Episcopal Church will host a town hall at 6 p.m. Thursday for residents of Pleasantville and neighboring municipalities to discuss plans for a transfer station for debris waste to be built just off West Washington Avenue. The town hall was once scheduled for mid-January and again for early February, but was twice postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks fueled by the omicron variant. The Atlantic County Utilities Authority is scheduled to present its analysis of the project at the meeting Thursday. The ACUA has been the chief opponent of the proposed station. Over the past several months, the authority has organized a Stop the Dump campaign, posting signs near the proposed station and launching a website explaining its stance on the issue. ACUA officials have argued the transfer station would increase traffic in the neighborhood and expose residents to loud noises and odors. They also have maintained the proposed facility is not large enough to handle the amount of waste it is slotted to receive. James DiNatale, the developer for the project, has disputed the ACUAs characterization of the project. He has cited similarly sized facilities that handle as much waste at other locations from around the state as evidence the size of the development is sufficient to transfer the 400 tons of waste it is slated to receive. He also noted the facility is only to handle construction and demolition debris waste, not typical household trash, and so would not smell. Governing bodies at the county and city level have expressed support for the project. The Atlantic County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution endorsing the project in December by a 7-0 vote, with one recusal and one abstention. Pleasantville City Council voted 5-2 to pass a resolution endorsing the project in May, although one councilwoman who voted for the resolution announced she was opposed to the project several months later. Mayor Judy Ward has been one of the principal supporters of the project within city government. She said the transfer fees collected from the project would provide the city with much needed revenue it could leverage into important investment projects. The station is to handle 100,000 tons of debris per year, something that would necessitate 230 truck trips to the facility every day, six days per week. It would ship debris at the center via rail line to an Ohio landfill. The city will be paid a $4 per ton transfer fee, thus amounting to $400,000 in annual revenue. The proposal for the transfer station comes as the ACUAs Egg Harbor Township landfill is scheduled to close within the next seven years. DiNatale has argued the impending landfill closure makes a project like his necessary. ACUA President Rick Dovey has said the authority would be able to find an alternative location for the trash before the landfill closes. The ACUA projects it would lose about $9 million per year in revenue if the station is built. To recoup its losses, the ACUA said it would have to raise rates on municipalities by 62%, which in turn could force municipalities to increase taxes on residents. Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 388 gathered outside the entrances to Eaton-Cobham Mission Systems spent Monday morning waving new, handmade signs and showed off a bulletin board detailing the company's financial gains during 2021. Morale is high, one union official said. So is hope, as talks between representatives of the striking workers and Eaton-Cobham are slated to resume Tuesday. "Obviously, negotiations opening back up has given a lot of hope for our members," said John Herrig, directing business representative for District 6 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. "We are eagerly awaiting the company's response. I know morale will remain high throughout this process." More than 400 Eaton-Cobham union employees represented by IAMAW Local 388 and Machinist Union Local 1191 hit the picket line just after midnight on Friday, Feb. 18 after more than 98% of the membership voted down a proposed three-year contract from the company. According to MarketWatch, the conflict in Eastern Europe has increased the share value of a number of defense contractors and aerospace firms. It reported last week the share value of Eaton Corp. "inched 0.67% higher to $150.31." Herrig said union representatives were uncertain how or if the conflict in Ukraine will affect contract negotiations. Katie Kennedy, senior manager of global communications and marketing at Eaton Aerospace, declined to comment on any effects of the Ukraine situation. "Employees at our Davenport facility are diligently working and we have every intention of fulfilling our customer commitments," Kennedy responded in an email. "Eaton's proposed contract is equitable and consistent with nationwide market trends and with our goal of attracting and retaining skilled workers." Eaton, a multinational power management company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, announced June 1 that it had completed its purchase of Cobham Mission Systems, described as a leading manufacturer of air-to-air refueling, life-support, fuel inerting, space propulsion and missile actuation systems, primarily for defense markets. Cobham has a workforce of approximately 2,000 people and manufacturing facilities in the United States and United Kingdom. Eaton purchased Cobham for $2.83 billion, including $130 million in tax benefits. According to the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, the Eaton-Cobham plant employs 950 people, not all of whom are union members. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Barbara Gaines will exit her position as artistic director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the company she founded some 36 years ago. Her departure is the latest entry in a stunning ledger of artistic departures in Chicago theater over the past 12 months. By the time Gaines exits, likely at the end of 2022, almost all of the major Chicago-area theaters will have new artistic leadership from the pre-pandemic era, including Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and Writers Theatre. Yet further departures are expected elsewhere. Advertisement Gaines, 75, said her tenure had been a great ride: My life, she said, has surpassed my wildest dreams. Gaines also said the decision had been long in the making, and actually had been delayed by the pandemic and all of the insecurity it represented for the theater. I feel that I can leave now, she said, believing that we will be able to continue in a really healthy way. Chicago Shakespeare Theater, which now operates in three major theaters on Chicagos Navy Pier, was founded in 1986 at the Red Lion Pub as the Chicago Shakespeare Workshop. A year later, the company became Chicago Shakespeare Repertory before assuming its current name. For much of its early existence, the company was in residence at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts before moving to Navy Pier as a crucial cultural anchor in 1999. Advertisement Barbara Gaines, here in Sept. 2015, is the founder and longtime artistic director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater. She will step down from her position soon, likely at the end of 2022. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Chicago Shakespeare Theater is generally regarded as Chicagos third-largest theater, although under Gaines it now has a spectacular physical facility and has also maintained a robust and leading program of international presentations by major theater companies from around the world. But Gaines has long specialized in wrestling with Shakespeare, directing the majority of his plays. Her productions largely have been known for their clarity, accessibility and populist sensibility, be that through contemporary stagings or even the addition of contemporary music and new text. Under Gaines, the company also has been an especially strong supporter of resident Chicago actors, especially given the large casts required for many of its shows. She has aided in the training of many of them when it comes to classical work. Barbara has created the most important theatrical venture in Chicago, said veteran Chicago actor Mike Nussbaum, a mainstay at the company throughout its history. She is an incredible combination of grit and, I believe, genius. Criss Henderson, the executive director of Chicago Shakespeare and Gaines professional partner for some 32 years, hailed Gaines for her authentic civic engagement and noted that few directors have a comparable body of experience with the Bard. Gaines has directed over 60 shows at CST, including around 30 of Shakespeares plays, some several times. Almost all of her work has been at her home theater and she generally has seen her job almost entirely in terms of her home city. When you look back, Henderson said, you can see how Barbara was able to journey through the Shakespearean canon in step with the City of Chicago. Thanks to Barbara, Chicagoans who thought Shakespeare was something only for pompous bookworms found him to be something else entirely. Not many people have started a theater company and seen it grow to this size, said the actor Tyrone Phillips. Barbara has been the most generous artistic director I know. Gaines said the precise date of her departure, which she is not calling a retirement, has yet to be worked out and will depend on the results of what is expected to be an international search for her replacement. Most likely, though, the new artistic director will take up the position at the start of the next calendar year. I think the board of directors still thinks Im 35, Gaines said. But no goodbye parties yet. Too much left to do. Advertisement Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. cjones5@chicagotribune.com Annette Oberlander was shocked when her boss at Sharon's Styling Studio called at 12:15 a.m. Monday. What she saw a short time after that call from Sharon Wachal left her speechless as she stood outside the salon at 3018 Rockingham Road. "Sharon told me the police has just called her and a semi truck had hit the studio and run into a house," Oberlander said later Monday morning. "It sounded a little crazy, maybe. I really didn't know what to expect." According to the Davenport Police Department, at 11:56 p.m. Sunday emergency crews responded to the 3000 block of Rockingham Road for a report of a multi-vehicle crash with damage to several structures. Police said the preliminary investigation showed a Freightliner semitractor-trailer was driving eastbound in the 3400 block of Rockingham Road when the driver lost control and hit a Dodge Ram 1500 traveling westbound. Police said the semitractor-trailer continued, hitting a Cadillac XTS, also traveling westbound. The semitractor-trailer continued eastbound, hitting a westbound Chevrolet Equinox in the 3000 block of Rockingham Road. City crews confirmed the semitractor-trailer then grazed a power pole and jumped the curb before clipping the side of Sharon's Styling Studio and burying its cab in the front of the home at 3010 Rockingham Road. Four people were transported to area hospitals, including the two women in the home who were injured. One was taken to a local hospital for treatment; the other transported to Iowa City with serious injuries. According to police reports, the driver of the semitractor-trailer was also treated for minor injuries at the hospital. Police said no charges have been filed at this time. The driver of the Cadillac also self-transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The Red Cross is assisting four people affected by the incident, Brian Williamsen, a Red Cross spokesman, said Monday afternoon. Oberlander saw the aftermath of the crash. "I got to Rockingham and it was something I'd never expected. The cab of this big semi was just buried in the house right next door. I just wondered how anyone was going to live." Oberlander spent most of the night near the scene. The light of morning revealed most of the front of the house at 3010 Rockingham had been reduced to mounds of splintered wood and shattered plaster. Numerous plastic laundry baskets mostly in shades of blue, pink or white littered the area. The home's top half-story hung over the debris. Oberlander was joined by Sharon Wachal's daughter, Tracy Wachal-Naab, at the scene. Wachal-Nabb is a State Farm Insurance agent, serves as her mother's representative and said the styling studio has been in the squat brick building on Rockingham for 55 years. The building also is the home of Gray's Barber Shop and a tanning studio. "As an insurance agent, I've seen plenty of cars that hit buildings or homes," Wachal-Naab said. "Have to say I've never seen anything like this." City employees at the site said the demolition of the home at 3010 Rockingham was slated to start Monday afternoon. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A short while ago, I was visiting with an old friend I hadnt seen for awhile. We spoke about many things; among others, the state of our nation. He confided that he was becoming more and more of a libertarian. Hed lost confidence in government to do the right thing and trusted neither Republicans nor Democrats to make things better. As he grew older, he said he felt increasingly that he just wanted to be left alone: to do what he wanted without interference from anyone, including the government. Since my friend and I had in past years worked together closely in government to advance common interests in our Quad Cities community, this declaration somewhat surprised me. It also set me to thinking why members of our community grow disenchanted with government and the political process in general, so that theyd want to throw it all overboard and just be "left alone" to do as they please. Explanations for this disenchantment abound. Dating back to Vietnam and Watergate in the 1960s and 70s, weve seen our national leaders engage in some pretty questionable acts. In more recent years, promotion of a costly war in Iraq based on phony intelligence about weapons of mass destruction and partisan gridlock have done little to increase confidence in our national government. State and local governments can raise their own concerns. And yet, in our democracy we depend daily on the vital services government provides. From reliable police, fire and public sanitation locally; to a sturdy military and social support system nationally, we look to government daily for our needs. Former Senator Fritz Hollings of South Carolina once shared a story thats illuminating here. Confronted by an angry constituent complaining about the burdens of big government, Hollings recalled that this particular individual: "Went to college on the GI Bill, saw his kids born in a VA hospital, started business with an SBA loan, got electricity from the TVA, and water from an EPA project. His parents, living on Social Security, were saved from financial ruin by Medicare and saw a life saved by a drug developed through the NIH (National Institute of Health). He drove to work on the Interstate and moored his boat in a channel dredged by the Corp of Engineers". Yet, the constituent wanted to "get the government off my back" and complained he was "tired of paying taxes for all those programs for ungrateful people". The irony of this South Carolinians complaints to some extent resembles that of some libertarians today. Most of us frequently and abundantly benefit from the multiple programs and projects our government at all levels provides. So to condemn government itself as the problem is truly a case of biting that hand that feeds us. A better path forward favors recognizing the vital and valuable role government provides and then striving to make it better. We do this through the ballot box and by our own active participation in the processes that shape and govern our lives. It is also worth remembering that those politicians that tell us government is bad will nearly always give us bad government. Its like a law of nature: a self-fulfilling prophecy naysayers peddle to keep government from doing its job often in protecting us from the wrongdoing of those very naysayers! It is also curious that sometimes those most keen to get government off our back support the most authoritarian and undemocratic leaders. These would-be dictators promise easy answers to hard questions which, of course, only they can provide. These solutions generally offer a short, quick path to the same sort of political "freedom" folks in Russia and China experience today. By working together to make government better we can avoid these false prophets and assure government does what its supposed to do. And we can give proper regard to the wise words of Abraham Lincoln who warned, "If you turn your back on the fire and burn your backside youll just have to sit on the blisters". Mark Schwiebert, a lawyer, is a former mayor of Rock Island and an occasional columnist. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 388 gathered outside the entrances to Eaton-Cobham Mission Systems spent Monday morning waving new, handmade signs and showed off a bulletin board detailing the company's financial gains during 2021. Morale is high, one union official said. So is hope, as talks between representatives of the striking workers and Eaton-Cobham are slated to resume Tuesday. "Obviously, negotiations opening back up has given a lot of hope for our members," said John Herrig, directing business representative for District 6 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. "We are eagerly awaiting the company's response. I know morale will remain high throughout this process." More than 400 Eaton-Cobham union employees represented by IAMAW Local 388 and Machinist Union Local 1191 hit the picket line just after midnight on Friday, Feb. 18 after more than 98% of the membership voted down a proposed three-year contract from the company. According to MarketWatch, the conflict in Eastern Europe has increased the share value of a number of defense contractors and aerospace firms. It reported last week the share value of Eaton Corp. "inched 0.67% higher to $150.31." Herrig said union representatives were uncertain how or if the conflict in Ukraine will affect contract negotiations. Katie Kennedy, senior manager of global communications and marketing at Eaton Aerospace, declined to comment on any effects of the Ukraine situation. "Employees at our Davenport facility are diligently working and we have every intention of fulfilling our customer commitments," Kennedy responded in an email. "Eaton's proposed contract is equitable and consistent with nationwide market trends and with our goal of attracting and retaining skilled workers." Eaton, a multinational power management company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, announced June 1 that it had completed its purchase of Cobham Mission Systems, described as a leading manufacturer of air-to-air refueling, life-support, fuel inerting, space propulsion and missile actuation systems, primarily for defense markets. Cobham has a workforce of approximately 2,000 people and manufacturing facilities in the United States and United Kingdom. Eaton purchased Cobham for $2.83 billion, including $130 million in tax benefits. According to the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, the Eaton-Cobham plant employs 950 people, not all of whom are union members. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 3 Angry 4 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Traffic over Centennial Bridge will see some disruption March 12 for the St. Patrick Society Grand Parade XXXVI. In order to allow the parade to cross over from Rock Island into Davenport, the Iowa-bound lanes on the Centennial Bridge will be closed from 11 a.m. to approximately 1:30 p.m. March 12. Traffic will alternate on the Illinois-bound lanes on the bridge, escorted by police. Before the Grand Parade sets off Mass will be held at 10 a.m. at St. Marys Church, 2208 4th Ave., Rock Island. The Grand Parade will kick off at 11:30 a.m. at 4th Avenue and 23rd Street in Rock Island, moving through downtown before crossing the bridge onto West 3rd Street in Davenport. The parade will end at East 3rd and Perry streets. Celebrations will continue after the parade with the Post-Parade Bash, which will go from 1 to 4 p.m. at the RiverCenter, 136 E. Third St., Davenport. Membership to the St. Patrick Society is required for admission and can be purchased at the door. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. From New York to Paris to Muscatine, bridges and buildings are displaying yellow and blue lights to show support of Ukraine. Why not the Interstate-74 bridge in the Quad-Cities? Bettendorf and Moline have received several requests to do the same on the I-74 bridge, Bettendorf officials said. But they ran into a snag. The lighting system can't display blue and yellow at the same time just yet. "The aesthetic lighting on the I-74 bridge is anticipated to be fully operational in late spring/early summer," according to a news release from Bettendorf. "Until then, there are limited capabilities for illuminating the bridge. The colors blue and yellow cannot be displayed simultaneously at this time." Bettendorf is working with the lighting vendor to find a solution, the release said. And as a temporary solution, the bridge lights were blue on Monday night and yellow Tuesday night. How the lights work The lighting system was designed by a team from New York City-based HLB Lighting Design and Chicago-based engineering firm Alfred Benesch & Co., which designed the bridge. While overhead lights provide safe entrances and exits for the twin spans, each will have more than 100 fixtures, mounted to the floor beams, to supply the aesthetic lighting for the arches. The light shines upward, rather than down. The floor-level fixtures contain LED chips, and the glow of the luminaries follow the suspension cables. The chips and their circuitry provide the illumination, rather than traditional filament and bulbs. "The best way to highlight the structures was to go under the ribs (arch segments) ... to help it look its best," Elizabeth Johnson, project manager/designer for HLB, said in an interview when the bridge opened. The three primary colors in use red, green and blue appear at varying intensities through dimming, which creates countless colors and combinations of color. Faith Baum, principal in charge at HLB Lighting Design, said in an interview last year that the system would supply an enormous number of color combinations, explaining that mixing light was different from mixing paint. "The difference is that light mixes to create more light," she said. "You can't make brown." The colors, through programming, can be static or dynamic. Changes must occur slowly, though, Baum said, so they don't distract motorists. Reporter Barb Ickes contributed to this story. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An upcoming special in-person class, "How to let go so you can move on," with modern Buddhist nun Gen Kelsang Gomlam, will be held Saturday, March 5 from 2 to 2:30 p.m. at Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island. Cost is $10; free for members. Register at the door or sign up in advance at meditateinquadcities.org. The future of a Davenport business's liquor license may be in question following a fatal shooting Monday. Davenport Alderwoman Judith Lee, Ward 8, said Tuesday she planned to request city officials hold off on renewing the liquor license for GD Xpress at 4607 N. Pine St. in light of the violence. Demetrius Ray Howard Jr., of Davenport, is accused of shooting 25-year-old Corey Martin to death late Monday after they fought at the gas station and convenience store, according to Scott County court records. Howard, 23, was being held without bond on suspicion of first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the jail website. Howard was booked into the jail at about 4 a.m. A criminal complaint that is part of the court record accuses Howard of chasing Martin as he tried to flee, which was caught on security cameras. "The Defendant, with malice and aforethought, willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation chased the victim out of the store while continuing to shoot," the court record shows. "The incident was recorded on surveillance video and shows the defendant possessing and firing the gun; shell casings were located on scene." The record also indicates: Howard has felony convictions in Iowa for burglary in the 1st degree in 2015, along with previous convictions for domestic abuse with injury in 2016 and 2017. The 23-year-old also has a felony conviction in Illinois for resisting a peace officer with injury and domestic battery in 2020. Lee, who represents the area around the convenience store, said Tuesday she intended to make a motion at Wednesday's Davenport City Council meeting to table a routine vote to renew the business liquor license pending more information about the fatal shooting. "Since its come up this cycle, I think its responsible to table it," Lee said during a management update meeting with city staff and council members. "Let the police department do their work and get the information we need to make the overall decision on that approval or not." Mayor Mike Matson warned council members that the incident was still under investigation. Council member Robby Ortiz holds the liquor license for the neighboring Hawkeye Tap Sports Bar & Grill and formerly managed GD Xpress but said he hasn't worked there in more than two years. Ortiz cautioned against holding GD Xpress liable for a shooting he said could be unrelated to the business but happened to occur on its property. He noted that had the shooting happened "250 feet to the left" on the property of Hawkeye Tap "and wed be talking about my license today. Denying the liquor license, though, would largely be a symbolic move. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division is responsible for regulating and investigating complaints about alcohol establishments. City officials twice tried to deny a liquor license to the now-closed Shenanigans Irish Pub at 303 W. 3rd St. because of its public-safety history. The city was overruled by the Alcoholic Beverages Division Law enforcement responded to more than 2,000 calls for service to the bar over a three-year period, including reports of gunfire and large fights. The bar closed in 2019 because the landlord ended its lease. Davenport is pushing for legislation currently making its way through the state legislature that would allow cities and counties to sue alcohol establishments in district court for public-safety concerns. Love 2 Funny 2 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 8 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Anthony Watt Follow Anthony Watt Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Aaiden Tapia was part of a funky picket line Thursday morning. A member of Machinist Local 388's strike committee, Tapia is one of nearly 400 workers striking the Eaton-Cobham Mission System factory location on Hickory Grove Road. Part of his role is to check on fellow union members standing the line. "We want to talk to brothers and sisters and make sure everyone is doing OK," Tapia explained after he joined a group of strikers for an impromptu bounce-and-flail in the space between the road and Eaton property. "There are a lot of questions about what is happening, what's going to happen and how negotiations will go. "And I think I'm here to help with morale. But I have to tell you, those folks out there were the ones who got me dancing today. They're out there in the cold making the best of it. And dancing. That was cool." Tapia said waiting for talks to start was a challenge. Local 388 maintains picket lines from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Each shift is four hours long. "We haven't had any problem motivating people to picket," Tapia said. "We have people coming early and others staying late. I don't want to say it's fun, like some kind of party, but I get a sense that there's a lot of unity out there and people are supporting each other." Tapia talked about the biggest challenge for the rank-and-file. "It's hard because the company said it didn't plan to talk until March 1 or so," Tapia said. "What we know is that one of the tactics used by companies is to make the local wait for talks. We weren't surprised by that move." Tapia said union members and leadership remained focused on health benefits and the company's contribution to the 401(k) accounts of individual workers. "Salary is an issue, addressing the pay scale," Tapia said. "We were considered essential workers all through the pandemic, and we think that should be reflected in wages." On a day when global events were on top of the mind, Tapia said he "really hasn't had time think much about" the invasion of Ukraine. "I don't know if there is any kind of concerns with the projects going on there (Eaton)," Tapia said. "And we have not been given any kind of indication that what's going on over there with Russia will mean anything in terms of the negotiations between us and Eaton." Representatives from Eaton did not respond Thursday to questions about the possible impact of Russian military moves in Eastern Europe. Other Local 388 members said Russian attacks on Ukraine were a cause for concern but didn't rank as high as the progress of their strike. "It's going to take sacrifice," said one union member who requested to remain anonymous. "We are looking at something like $150 a week once the negotiations start. "That will be a challenge. Coming out to these picket lines, day after day. That will be a challenge. But I think everyone who picks up a sign is willing." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Davenport man was rescued but another died Monday after falling through ice in southeast Iowa. Des Moines County sheriff's deputies were called around 5 p.m. to a rural Mediapolis address after getting a 911 call asking for help, according to a Des Moines County Sheriff's Office news release. The deputies and Mediapolis firefighters found a man who had fallen through ice while fishing and rescued him. While rescuing the man, the authorities learned another man had also fallen through the ice but was still under water, the release states. Authorities found and pulled him from the water about 6:30 p.m. the release states. Both men, from Davenport, were taken to an area hospital, but the second man died of his injuries. The identities of the two men were being withheld pending notification of family members. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 6 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Iowa cities could take bar owners to court to have their liquored license pulled for safety concerns rather than having to rely on state regulators under a bill passed by the Iowa House. House lawmakers on Monday approved a bill that Davenport city officials say will give cities more control over addressing public safety nuisances stemming form establishments that serve alcohol. House File 2340 would allow city and county attorneys to sue alcohol establishments for creating a serious threat to public safety and seek a temporary injunction before trial, rather than relying on the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. Licensed food establishments that sell alcohol, such as restaurants, would be exempt. Some Iowa lawmakers and Iowas restaurant and beverage association say the bill creates an unnecessary second system for complaints and isnt enforceable. Davenport tried to deny a liquor license to the now-closed Shenanigans Irish Pub at 303 W. 3rd St. because of its public safety history. The city was overruled by the Alcoholic Beverages Division, which is responsible for regulating and investigating complaints about alcohol establishments. Law enforcement responded to more than 2,000 calls for service to Shenanigans over a three-year period, including reports of gunfire and large fights. The bar closed in 2019 because the landlord ended its lease. The bill, which heads to the Iowa Senate, states a public safety nuisance exists if "it is established by clear and convincing evidence that an owner, manager, employee, contemporaneous patron or guest of the licensed premises unlawfully discharges a firearm or uses an offensive weapon, assaults another person with a dangerous weapon, or engages in a riot on at least three separate days within any 12-month period, on the premises, on any property contiguous to the premises, or within 500 feet of the premises." The bill previously addressed a radius of 1,000 feet of the establishment, but lawmakers winnowed it to 500 feet because of concerns from the restaurant and beverage industry. City officials said the changes still keep the integrity of the bill, which is to provide a path through the court system for local governments to address public safety concerns at alcohol establishments. Going through local courts, which typically handle nuisance complaints in all other capacities, will bring parity to the process and, hopefully, swifter resolution, Davenport city officials have said in support of the bill. Should a district court determine a threat to public safety exists, the court could temporarily close the business, revoke its alcohol license or require a change in business practice or operations. It could also require the owner post bond to keep the property open pending final resolution of the lawsuit. Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, said the organization is still opposed to the bill as written over concerns that bar-owners or managers would be discouraged to call 911 for emergencies for fear of being flagged as part of the problem. She said the organization is hopeful the Iowa Senate will put a pause on the bill to allow stakeholders to propose a different solution for addressing issues with nuisance bars, and fix what's not working with the Alcoholic Beverage Association's complaint system. "I think it's best to fix the system that isn't working rather than create a second system as an end-run around," Dunker said. Sponsor Rep. Ross Paustian, R-Walcott called it "unconscionable" to allow a business with more than 2,000 public safety calls to stay open. The problem has become more pronounced in communities bordering Illinois, Rep. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, said. Illinois cities can suspend liquor licenses indefinitely if there is a public safety issue, she said. Rep. Rick Olson, D-Des Moines, expressed concerns about holding establishment owners responsible for activity that happens close to but not on the property, and called the bill "classic code clutter." Davenport Mayor Mike Matson praised the House's approval of the bill. "Im pleased that it passed the House, and look forward to it passing the Senate," Matson said. James Q. Lynch of the Cedar Rapids Gazette contributed reporting to this article Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BRISBANE, Australia Tens of thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes by Tuesday and hundreds of thousands more were told to prepare to flee as parts of Australias southeast coast were inundated by the worst flooding in more than a decade. At least 10 people have died. New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said there had been 1,000 rescues in the state by Tuesday and more than 6,000 calls for authorities to help. Advertisement Scores of residents, some with pets, spent hours trapped on their roofs by a fast-rising river in the town of Lismore in the states north. The body of a woman in her 80s was found by a neighbor in her Lismore home on Tuesday, a police statement said. There were no details of how she died. Advertisement Dozens of cars were trapped on a bridge in the nearby town of Woodburn over Monday night with both the bridges approaches submerged. Up to 50 people were rescued from the bridge early Tuesday, officials said. We had no capabilities to get them off in the dark so we just had to make sure that they bunkered down and we went in this morning and got them all out, Woodburn State Emergency Services Commander Ashley Slapp said. The floodwaters were moving south into New South Wales from Queensland state in the worst disaster in the region since what was described as a once-in-a-century event in 2011. Perrottet said 40,000 people had been ordered to evacuate, while 300,000 others had been placed under evacuation warnings. People wade through flood water as they relocate in Chinderah, Australia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (JASON OBRIEN/AP) Government meteorologist Jonathan Howe described the recent rainfall in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland as astronomical. Nine of the 10 deaths reported so far were in Queensland. A 76-year-old man who disappeared with his vehicle in floodwaters northwest of Brisbane on Sunday has since been confirmed dead. Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said another man in his 70s remained missing after falling from his moored yacht in the state capital Brisbane into a swollen river on Saturday. The cleanup was underway in Brisbane, Australias third most populous city, despite more storms forecast for later in the week. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner urged people to register for the Mud Army, as the thousands of volunteers who mobilized to help out after the 2011 floods were dubbed. Advertisement Thousands of homes in Brisbane were inundated Sunday, many by swollen creeks in suburbs such as Ashgrove, where Kelvin Barfoot had to evacuate with members of his family, including his 99-year-old mother-in-law, Mina Baker, in a State Emergency Service rescue boat. The family moved back into the top floor of their two-story home and started removing damaged furniture and electrical appliances that had been covered by almost 1.5 meters (5 feet) of water. We thought we were pretty well prepared for it, said Barfoot, who leads a volunteer bush care group which has tallied more than 4,000 hours of planting and weeding along Enoggera Creek over the past six years. Just unbelievable. When it did start coming in, it went up very quick. Barfoot said his daughter and her husband swam to the house to help with the rescue after notifying emergency services that her grandmother who moved to Australia from Christchurch, New Zealand, after earthquakes there in 2011 killed 185 people needed to get out. We were pretty much stuck upstairs at that point, Barfoot said. That was quite traumatic for my mother-in-law we got her out (of New Zealand) after the earthquakes, so it was all a bit reminiscent of that for her. Now shes back home. She wanted to come home. She was a bit traumatized, but shes tough. She came down and asked me if there was anything to do to help! Advertisement Schrinner said the six-day rainfall in downtown Brisbane 792.8 millimeters (31.2 inches) through Monday morning was significantly higher than the previous record of 655.8 millimeters (25.8 inches) set when flooding devastated the city in 1974. Rick Threlfall and Steve Hadley, meteorologists who moved from England to Australia and have been living in Newmarket, Brisbane, for almost a decade, were in the process of sandbagging the ground floor of their home but couldnt finish in time to beat the rapidly rising flood. Back in the U.K., we do weather warnings for 20 millimeters (1 inch) of rain, Threlfall said. My weather gauge here has recorded 950 millimeters (37 inches) in three days. Brisbanes average is about 1,200 millimeters (47 inches) for the year, so weve pretty much had 80% of annual rainfall in three days. No real escaping the water, I guess. The extraordinary rainfall comes as the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported this week that vast swathes of Australia have already lost 20% of its rainfall and the countrys fire risk has gone beyond worst-case scenarios developed just a few years ago. Australias hottest and driest year on record was 2019, which ended with devastating wildfires across southeast Australia. The fires directly killed 33 people and another 400 people were killed by the smoke. Advertisement The fires also destroyed more than 3,000 homes and razed 19 million hectares (47 million acres) of farmland and forests. But two La Nina weather patterns have since brought above-average rainfall to the same regions. Lesley Hughes, an Australian academic and lead author of the U.N. IPCC assessment reports in 2007 and 2015, said climate change was expected to overwhelm government systems such as flood responses. We can see that our emergency services are struggling already to cope with the floods in northern New South Wales with people stranded on roofs without food for more than 24 hours, Hughes said. ___ McGuirk reported from Canberra. Nevada Ellison wants to fulfill a promise to his mother who died from cancer in 2015. Ellison worked in the cannabis industry in Colorado from 2008 to 2012 before returning to Rapid City. When his mother, Susie, was in what turned out to be the last three months of her life, she called and asked her son for cannabis edibles. She was always anti-cannabis, Ellison said. She never broke the law her entire life and she called me. She was taking hundreds of milligrams of oxycodone every day. Shes like, I cant do this anymore. It broke her heart to break the law. A week later, she called again and asked for more edibles, noting that she now was better able to take care of herself. Ellison took care of his mother for 16 months in Lemmon until she died. Before she did, Susie made her son promise hed get back in the marijuana business. She made me promise if I had a chance to get back into it, especially in the medical side of it, that I would, and thats the reason that Im getting back into it, he said. Ellison is now chief operating officer of Black Hills Cannabis Care, which is Rapid Citys first cultivating company approved for a conditional use permit by the citys Planning Commission. Ellison runs the business with Jake Johnson, who is the company's CEO. Johnson got into the business because he has an uncle who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and relies on medical marijuana to help manage his pain. He knows that his time is running short, Johnson said. He said he has friends in the industry and has heard of the medicinal benefits of cannabis and hes a believer in those benefits. Knowing that and (Ellisons) story, we thought it was the right thing to do, to try and bring the highest quality of medicine to the people in the city, he said. The cultivation facility will have four to eight employees, but it won't be open to the public. It will be located at 1820 Rand Road on the northwest side of Rapid City off of Deadwood Avenue. Ellison said the business will open as soon as the state grants a license. "We're trying to get a cultivation going as quickly as possible to help meet the demand of our regional medical cannabis patients and to give them safe access to their medicine," he said. "Until we get some cultivations going, the dispensaries will have nothing to sell so we are working hard to get that done." Cultivation facilities for medical cannabis in Rapid City require a conditional use permit to operate. In order to qualify, applicants must show their facility is at least 1,000 feet from any school and 500 feet from any church, childcare center, public park or residential area. Facilities must be located in heavy industrial or light industrial zoning districts. The city did not set a limit to the number of cultivation facilities within city limits. Johnson said he and Ellison have been preparing for the business since November 2020 when voters overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana and have since spent nearly every day on the phone getting everything ready to apply to the state and municipalities for their licenses. Ellison said each city and each county has different rules. Rapid Citys application included submitting plans for management, operations, security, engineering and seed to sale tracking. Black Hills Cannabis Care also expects to have dispensaries in Fort Pierre and Belle Fourche, although the Belle Fourche location is listed under Redwater Cannabis Care. The company also has a provisional license for a dispensary in Rapid City. Ellison said they also plan to have a manufacturing facility, as well. The patients need to have a large enough variety of products to choose from, Ellison said. Were teaming up with some other locals or South Dakota folks and trying to create a network of people who are going to be in manufacturing so we can get these products moved across the state and have a high quality and a large variety. Johnson said those in the industry have a common goal of moving the industry forward, so even though they have competitors, they share information. They'll be working with Black Hills Cultivation and Supplies to get their equipment. Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Local officials acknowledged Monday that the lack of affordable housing has accelerated in Rapid City and the Black Hills while promising to do what they can to address the problem. We are aware theres a housing crisis, fully aware, Mayor Steve Allender said at a press conference. Much of the talk early on had to do with the B-21, the arrival of the B-21 airmen, construction and all of the related business over at Ellsworth Air Force Base, but the growth is outpacing our ability to create housing without the B-21. Elevate Rapid City President and CEO Tom Johnson, John T. Vucurevich CEO Alan Solano, Black Hills Area Community Foundation CEO Liz Hamburg and Allender also announced a public-private collaboration has been formed to tackle the housing crisis. They also intend to fund a housing study to take a closer look at the problem. Johnson said about 2,500 people move to Rapid City and the region in an average year. With the upcoming B-21 bomber expansion at Ellsworth Air Force Base, the area could grow by 7,000 people a year, he said, adding that Elevate Rapid City anticipates between 25,000 and 40,000 new residents moving here in the next few years. Johnson said the area currently has a need for as many as 6,000 more housing units. A 2017 housing study commissioned by the Vucurevich Foundation found the city was behind by about by 3,500 housing units. It also found that 4,500 households in the city area were paying more than 50% of their income for housing. At the same time, Allender said the city has seen the median listing price for homes increase from $271,400 in 2019 to $371,400 in 2021. He said the cost of rent has increased 10% in just the past year. This is hard to accept for someone just making it, and Rapid City, South Dakota, is held up in large part by workers and families who are in the service industry, agriculture, tourism and not many of these folks are living a luxurious lifestyle, he said. These market rents are a little bit dicey. He said with vacancies being at historic lows of 2% and scarce housing availability, theres no incentive for landlords and apartment complexes to reduce rent. The mayor said much of Rapid Valley east of Rapid City is facing large developments of several hundred homes, which present real life issues that need to be addressed. Pennington County officials and city officials have been discussing this behind the scenes for a little while and talks are getting very serious now, Allender said. Not only to the east but anywhere in Rapid City, if the justification exists, annexation could be one of the discussion topics that we face. Allender said Tax Increment Finance Districts, a financing tool that Rapid City has used in the past, are a tool that could be used for housing developments. Johnson said that Elevate Rapid City has received requests from the school district, health care organizations and other businesses that want help finding housing for employees that has led to hiring a housing coordinator with collaboration from the Black Hills Area Community Foundation. Johnson said they hired Laura Jones, who will work with the development community and city on housing projects. Solano said his foundation, the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, Elevate Rapid City and the city will fund another housing study that is anticipated to be released by the fall. He said the 2017 study cost about $70,000, but does not have final numbers on how much the 2022 study is expected to cost. In that time since 2017, weve seen dramatic changes, Solano said. I think maybe the challenging part will be understanding the impact of the B-21, what thats going to do to us. The immigration just during the pandemic has been so significant, to try to really understand that. Those are two dynamics that really were not in play during the 2017 study. There are three organizations that will be interviewed to do the study, which will look at housing, demographic and population changes, and income. He said it will also help find the gaps that exist in the community and be a resource when applying for state funds and to developers. City Communications Coordinator Darrell Shoemaker said there have been numerous inquiries from developers looking to build more housing in the area. CommonBond, a Minnesota-based affordable housing non-profit organization, is the first company to work with the Black Hills Area Community Foundation. The company was granted funds from the Strategic Housing Trust Fund, which was developed in response to the housing crisis based on the 2017 study. CommonBond will receive a $550,000 loan for a 42-unit development on LaCrosse Street. It is also working with the South Dakota Housing Development Authority for Community Development Block Grant funds from the city. Hamburg with the Community Foundation said the fund has about $11 million for revolving loans. She said $5 million came from the citys Vision Funds, a $5 million match from the Vucurevich Foundation, $1 million from the Dakota Charitable Foundation, and contributions from individuals. Hamburg said each project will be different and have a different payback timeline. Those interested are able to apply for funds. Those selected will be interviewed and could be reviewed by the fund advisory board, which includes city planning staff, business people and other developers. If approved by the board, the Community Foundation board of directors considers the application and makes the final call. She said there is a preference for multi-family housing. Just because the problem is so great that we can take a bigger bite out of it the more we can do in one location, she said. Allender and Johnson said solving the housing crisis is not just the responsibility of philanthropies, public and private entities. Johnson said the community can help as well by reaching out to lawmakers on legislation that could impact housing and to think about housing as a region rather than paying attention to political boundaries. I think everybody recognizes that if we get this wrong, things could go bad and we could have growth thats not anticipated, planned for, and maybe even ugly, Johnson said. But if we get this right, we can plan for it. We can have good jobs for those that want them, we can bring kids back that want to come here, and we can keep the kind of amenities and cultural things that make this a place that folks want to come to and stay. Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Seeking to tighten the financial squeeze on Russia over its war against Ukraine, governors and lawmakers in numerous U.S. states were taking actions Monday to pull state investments from Russian companies while encouraging private entities to do the same. The effect of sanctions by U.S. states often pales in comparison to national ones, but state officials said they wanted to show solidarity with Ukraine and do what they could to build upon the penalties imposed on Russia by the U.S. government and other Western nations. Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican, got a bipartisan standing ovation Monday when he told representatives he would seek to have the states retirement funds quickly divested from any Russian assets. I dont know about yall, but I dont want one penny of Georgians money going to subsidize Vladimir Putin, Ralston said. While our role in international affairs is limited, we make clear we stand with those who want to live in peace. Some actions have been largely symbolic. The capitols in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Tennessee and the governor's mansion in South Carolina were lit with the blue and yellow colors of Ukraines flag. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, issued a joint statement condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine as co-chairs of the presidentially appointed Council of Governors. Other state actions have potential teeth. On Monday, the Indiana House passed legislation that would block Russian-controlled businesses and nonprofits from acquiring property in Indiana for one year. It now goes to the Senate. Indiana will not be a safe haven for ill-gotten Russian funds, nor for its oligarchs trying to find financial shelter in the wake of Putins unconscionable invasion of Ukraine, Democratic state Rep. Ryan Dvorak said while proposing the amendment last week. Pennsylvania lawmakers said Monday they will file legislation requiring state pension funds to pull investments connected to the Russian government and its critical supporters. The state Treasury Department also has begun divesting its minimal holdings in Russian-based companies. In a memo to fellow senators, Democratic state Sen. Sharif Street said Pennsylvania must wield our economic power to ensure that Russia faces grave consequences for their flagrant violations of international law and human cooperation. Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, a Republican seeking co-sponsors for the legislation, said state lawmakers "have a moral obligation to ensure that our public fund investments are not inadvertently supporting those who are engaging in an unprovoked invasion of their democratically elected neighbors. Arkansas lawmakers have filed proposals authorizing banks in the state to freeze the assets of Russian oligarchs and to require a boycott of Russian-made goods. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared Tuesday through Thursday special days of prayer for Ukraine. A bipartisan group of California lawmakers said Monday they also will introduce legislation to divest public money from Russian state entities. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order Sunday forbidding her state from doing business with Russia. She ordered state agencies to divest money and assets from companies or institutions aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine. The Democratic governor also said New York would welcome Ukrainian refugees, noting that New York already is home to the largest Ukrainian population in the U.S. On Monday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, ordered state offices under his control to terminate government contracts that benefit Russian businesses. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, has banned state agencies from doing business with Russian state-owned firms and their subcontractors. Colorados $61 billion state pension fund is pulling $8 million from a Russian state-owned bank identified in federal sanctions. Governors in Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington also have ordered a review of whether any state money is going to Russian companies or investments supporting the Russian government. A North Dakota investment board was due to meet later this week to discuss its investments in Russia. If our state can put one brick in the wall around Putin, it will be a good thing, and we intend to do all that we can in this regard, said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat. Two prominent Republican governors, Floridas Ron DeSantis and South Dakotas Kristi Noem, who are widely seen as angling for a White House bid, mostly took aim at President Joe Biden rather than issuing executive orders targeting Russia. They criticized his energy policies and said that had made it difficult to slap sanctions on Russia's exports of oil and gas. Noem made her comments last weekend at the CPAC convention in Orlando, Florida. Other governors are seeking to sever good-will relationships between their home states and those in Russia. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday that he's dissolving Marylands decades-old sister-state relationship with Russias Leningrad region after the invasion of Ukraine. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, asked the cities of Norfolk and Roanoke to end their sister-city partnerships with Russian cities. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, called for an end to its sister-state relationship with Stavrapol Krai, Russia, and a strengthening of its sister-state relationship with Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine. Several states have expressed a willingness to provide housing to Ukrainian refugees. The Washington state House and Senate each have added amendments to their budget proposals setting aside $19 million to provide services and temporary housing to refugees who come from Ukraine. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, posted on Twitter over the weekend that he has asked restaurants and retailers to voluntarily remove all Russian products from their shelves. Officials in Alabama, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia all states that control the sale of alcohol have directed Russian-sourced alcohol to be removed from store shelves. Utah stands in solidarity with Ukraine and will not support Russian enterprises, no matter how small the exchange, Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 8 Kalispell-based Logan Health has notified patients of a data breach. In a notice posted to its website and in letters sent to patients dated Feb. 18 from President and CEO Craig Lambrecht, Logan says that on Nov. 22, 2021, it discovered suspicious activity that included unauthorized access to a server used for business operations. With the assistance of third-party forensic experts we immediately launched an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the incident and whether any personal information was affected, according to the notice. On January 5, 2022, the investigation determined that there was unauthorized access to certain files, which contained protected health information. There was no unauthorized access to our electronic medical records. The information accessed may be different for each patient, including name, address, medical record number, date of birth, telephone number, email address, insurance claim information, date(s) of service, treating/referring physician, medical bill account number and/or health insurance information. Logans report to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that more than 211,000 individuals may be impacted. Logans notice says there is no indication that patient data was misused, but is offering patients 12 months of credit and identity protection services at no charge. More information is available at loganhealth.kroll.com. Mellody Sharpton, Logans executive director of marketing and communications, said that after Jan. 5, it took investigators time to determine which patients should be notified. Pointing to an uptick in cybercrime including targeting of health care facilities, investigations often take months to complete, she said. Sharpton described the perpetrators as a malicious actor, but said she did not have additional details on who committed or was suspected of committing the breach. Logan Health -- known formerly as Kalispell Regional Healthcare -- has facilities in Kalispell, Whitefish, Eureka, Cut Bank, Conrad and Polson, among other places. Last year, other health care facilities across Montana reported data breaches, including Benefis Health System, Glacier Medical Associates, Sapphire Community Health and River City Whole Health. Tom Kuglin is the deputy editor for the Lee Newspapers State Bureau. His coverage focuses on outdoors, recreation and natural resources. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In celebration of Yellowstone National Park's 150th anniversary, a variety of activities are scheduled. Efforts will focus around reflecting on 150 years of protecting the park, highlighting successes in the ecosystem, and opening dialogue on the lessons learned from yesterday, the challenges of today and a vision for tomorrow. "This anniversary should remind us of the incredible value of our National Park System and the need for us to continue working together to address the many challenges of the future," said Superintendent Cam Sholly. Highlights include: Tribal engagement May 26Sept. 30: Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center Yellowstone National Park and Yellowstone Forever will pilot the Tribal center at Old Faithful where Tribal artists, scholars and presenters can directly engage visitors through education. June 1-3: Wind River Inter-Tribal Gathering This in-person gathering will bring together Tribal Nations, federal managers, nongovernmental organizations and others to discuss conservation, important issues to Tribal Nations, and the future of consultation and collaboration. Tribes associated with Yellowstone, nonprofits and agency personnel will honor, nourish, dance, heal and celebrate Native Americans. Hosted by the Wind River Tribes and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly will be a featured speaker. Aug. 23-28: Teepee Village Yellowstone is working with numerous Tribes to establish a temporary teepee village at the parks North Entrance. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with Tribal members to learn about their heritage and culture. Event partners include Mountain Time Arts, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, National Parks Conservation Association, Park County Environmental Council and Yellowstone Forever. Partners Feb. 28-March 1: Wyoming Governors Hospitality & Tourism Conference Sholly will be among the keynote speakers at this conference dedicated to celebrating and educating Wyomings tourism industry. The superintendent will address how the 150th is an important moment in time for Wyoming, the country and the world. May 6: Yellowstone National Park Lodges: 150 Years of Inspiration Yellowstone National Park Lodges will host a public event that coincides with the summer season opening of the Old Faithful Inn. Yellowstone and partner representatives will give remarks followed by refreshments, free Historic Yellow Bus tours of the Old Faithful Historic District area and a Native American Art Exhibition and Marketplace will be open. May 15-18: 15th Biennial Scientific Conference on Yellowstone Themed Expanding the Scope of Science Together: The Next 150 Years, this conference will be hosted by Montana State University. It will bring together researchers and practitioners from academia, state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and Tribal communities to reflect on the science and conservation accomplishments that brought us to the present day and envision solutions for some of the grand challenges facing Greater Yellowstones future. May 19-20: University of Wyomings Symposium on Yellowstones 150th The University of Wyoming College of Law and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources will host this public event. Keynote talks and panel discussions will celebrate the parks history and look to the future. Sholly will be one of the keynote speakers. Video Series MarchAugust: Yellowstones social media team will moderate a series of presentations with subject matter experts who will share their knowledge about the past, present, and future on priority issues including people of Yellowstone, geology, wildlife conservation, climate change research, transportation and infrastructure, historic preservation, Tribal initiatives, youth programs and partnerships. The video series will be shared on Yellowstones website and social media platforms. Infrastructure Spring: New employee housing open house This year marks the opening of new employee housing. This $40 million project replaced 64 obsolete trailers with new modular homes. The old trailers located throughout the park were 40-60 years old and in substandard condition. The project also upgraded utilities and incorporated landscape designs to develop a sense of community. May 27: Tower Junction to Chittenden Road (near Dunraven Pass) opens The segment of road between Tower Junction and Chittenden Road will open to the public following two years of improvements. The $28 million project was funded through the Nationally Significant Federal Lands Program and fee dollars. June 23: Historic Fort Yellowstone preservation project groundbreaking This $22 million project, funded through the Great American Outdoors Act and the Legacy Restoration Fund, is one of the largest historic preservation efforts in the National Park Service. It will stabilize and rehabilitate the exteriors of 16 buildings located within the Historic Fort Yellowstone at Mammoth Hot Springs. Visit go.nps.gov/Yellowstone150 and follow #Yellowstone150 frequently in 2022 to stay current on commemoration information. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 " " Thanks to the high prices they command, avocados are sometimes referred to as 'green gold.' Floortje/E+/Getty Images To the relief of avocado lovers from coast to coast, the recent drama between the United States and Mexico was fleeting. The U.S. Department of Agriculture banned imports of the fleshy fruit from Mexico Feb. 11, 2022, after an employee of its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, who was working in Mexico, received threats after refusing to certify a mislabeled shipment of avocados. With only a two- to three-week supply stored in American warehouses, any extended disruption to the avocado pipeline would have been quickly felt. Eight days later, the ban was lifted, and cooks could resume smashing avocados into guacamole, blending them into smoothies and smearing them onto bread without trepidation. Yet to me, this disruption however brief reveals just how reliant the U.S. has become on its neighbor for a product that has seen its demand soar. When I was working on my book "Avocado: A Global History," I was struck by the extent to which this lucrative trade has evolved over the past 25 years, making it an attractive business possibility for both legitimate and criminal enterprises. Advertisement Mexico's Cash Crop Avocados from Mexico have been fueling America's taste for the fruit since 1997, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture lifted a 1914 import ban, which originally was implemented due to fears over pests like seed weevils infesting U.S. crops. At the time, Southern California produced about 90 percent of the avocados eaten by Americans. Since then, per capita avocado consumption in the U.S. has ballooned from 2 pounds (0.9 kilogram) in 2001 to nearly 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) in 2018. This increase in the popularity of avocados, coupled with the limitations of domestic sources, has allowed Mexican avocados to dominate the American market. Today, Mexico specifically, the Mexican state of Michoacan, which is the only state certified to sell the fruit to the U.S. supplies about 80 percent of the 60 million pounds (27 million kilograms) of avocados eaten north of the border each week. Avocados are sometimes referred to as "green gold" because of the price they command in international commodity markets. Exports of avocados from Mexico were valued at nearly $3 billion in 2021, ahead of both tequila and beer, two other popular Mexican exports. The average price of an avocado is up 10 percent from a year ago; during the brief ban, the price of a carton of the fruit catapulted to nearly $60, up from around $30 a year ago. Currently, less than 1 percent of avocados eaten in the U.S. come from places other than Mexico and the U.S. Countries like Peru and Colombia also produce the fruit. Advertisement Cartels Want Their Piece of the Pie In Mexico, the high profit margins of the avocado trade attracted the interest of crime cartels, and those operating in Michoacan began to infiltrate the avocado business more than 20 years ago. As various cartels have vied for control of the avocado industry, violence and extortion have escalated in the region. In the beginning, cartels were content to extort farmers, packers and exporters in essence, taxing them for the ability to do business without interference from the cartels. " " Members of a self-defense group guard an avocado plantation from drug cartels in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, in July 2021. Enrique Castro Contributor/AFP/Getty Images But a bloody turf war has intensified in recent years. In 2019, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel killed nine people in Uruapan, Michoacan's hub of avocado distribution, hanging their corpses from a prominent overpass in the city. They dumped seven more bodies on the side of a road, leaving a banner at the scene that taunted a rival gang, the Viagras. There are even reports of cartels using drones to drop bombs as part of their efforts to control the economy of the region. Threats directed at inspectors have happened before. While no individual cartel has been directly tied to a specific threat, U.S. officials seem to think the threats are linked to increased cartel participation in the avocado trade. In 2019, a team of USDA inspectors working in Ziracuaretiro, a city just west of Uruapan, were robbed and threatened with violence. Later that year, the USDA wrote a memo stating it would suspend inspection activities if threats of physical violence and intimidation against inspectors continued. After the most recent threat, the USDA referenced this memo when announcing the temporary import ban. Advertisement The Hass Holds All the Cards Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador dismissed the notion that the suspension was due to cartels associated with the avocado trade. Instead, he blamed unspecified political interests in the U.S. and pressure from other countries who want a share of the lucrative American avocado market. One of the reasons the U.S. began allowing Mexican avocados to be imported over the objection of domestic growers was NAFTA. The U.S. wanted the ability to send corn and other agricultural goods to Mexico under the rules of the 1994 free trade agreement. But the Mexican government demanded some sort of agricultural export quid pro quo to help balance trade between the two countries, and avocados were ripe for the job. The recent brief disruption underscores the risks of being so heavily reliant on a product that comes from one region in one country that's rife with violence and corruption. Yet it isn't easy to simply open an avocado spigot from another country. Americans really prefer just one variety of avocado: the Hass, which is the type imported from Mexico. While the U.S. allows Hass avocado imports from Peru and Colombia, wholesalers prefer not to sell them because they're thought to be lower quality. Hass is the dominant variety grown in California, too, but American growers can't grow nearly enough to meet the demand. Greenskin avocados, which are grown in Florida and the Caribbean, along with many other countries, aren't nearly as popular with consumers due to textural differences and the fact that they don't change color to indicate when they are ripe. Greenskin avocados could ease U.S. dependence on Mexican avocados, but until they gain acceptance by avocado eaters, they won't help wean Americans off the Hass avocados grown in Michoacan. Avocados might be a source of political tension, but their unicorn status as a creamy, delicious food that's considered healthy makes most people willing to put politics aside and pass the guacamole. Jeffrey Miller is an associate professor of hospitality management at Colorado State University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here. " " It's tradition to eat paczki on both Fat Tuesday and Fat Thursday to mark the start of Lent is near. Xinhua/Jaap Arriens/Getty Images You might think you've eaten a good pastry or two in your life, but you really haven't truly lived until you've tried a paczek (plural: paczki, pronounced "pawnch-kee" or "poonch-key"). This round Polish treat is associated closely with the pre-Lent religious holiday Fat Tuesday, or the Tuesday that falls before Ash Wednesday every year. And, let's face it Mardi Gras wouldn't be Mardi Gras without it. Advertisement How Do You Make Paczki? The word paczek roughly means 'bud,' likely referring to its round shape, which is practically bursting at the seams with filling. Rose filling (and sometimes fried rose buds) is a component of a traditional paczek. "It's got sugar, butter, eggs and savory flowers," says Sandy Bakic, whose parents became owners of the New Martha Washington Bakery in greater Detroit in 1973, where she's been working since she was a teenager. The sweet treat is made of yeasty dough and comes covered in an icy glaze or powdered sugar. It also typically contains some type of cheesy cream or fruit-based filling, like cannoli cream or marmalade. Typical flavors include raspberry, strawberry, apricot and rose. "My favorite filling in paczki is apricots," Bakic says. Making the dough is a painstaking labor of love, which Bakic describes as a "lengthy process." "You make the big balls of dough. Then you wait till they rise. Then you make smaller individual paczki, then you let those rise, and then you fry them," Bakic says. Although Bakic says that you could opt for a non-traditional paczki without filling, you'd really be missing out on the true flavors of the dessert. "We sell a lot more filled paczki than non-filled," she says. Advertisement The History of Paczki Paczki originated in Poland in the Middle Ages, but became more commonplace in the U.S. in the 20th century as Polish immigrants populated urban centers and brought their food traditions with them. Paczki evolved from a Polish pastry into a Midwestern regional treat. "I read that every Polish person eats 2.5 paczki on Fat Thursday," said Bart Kolatek, the second-generation owner of Kolatek's Bakery & Deli, in a 2020 interview with Chicago PBS affiliate WTTW. Each year, tens of thousands of people in Polish-heavy communities in the midwestern U.S., such as Chicago and Detroit, flock to local bakeries to purchase the confection on Fat Tuesday, also informally known as "Paczki Day" or "Polish Mardis Gras." Some people also celebrate the event on the previous Thursday, known as "Fat Thursday." As Bob Dombrowski wrote in his book, "Paczki Day," paczki's association with the pre-Lent holiday Fat Tuesday stems from the Ash Wednesday religious ritual, which marks the beginning of Lent. At the approach of Lent, which requires giving up something often a favorite food Polish families would combine any excess sugar, flour and jam, which is how they came up with paczki. Bakic's family is of Serbian origin from the former Yugoslavia, and they immigrated to the U.S. in 1969. But they still use the recipes provided by the original Polish owners. According to Bakic, the Polish man who had opened the bakery passed away, but his wife entrusted his recipes to the Bakic family. "She gave them to me. And they were the same recipes that we have been using all along," says Bakic. "This is a Polish bakery. We've had the pleasure and privilege to work with all the old-time Polish bakers," she adds. Although Bakic is aware of the paczki religious associations, for her, the treat holds a greater cultural significance than a religious one. As a child, Bakic grew up eating sweet treats like paczki in her Serbian household, which she would eat "as soon as they came out of the kettle." "[In] the European countries, whether you come from Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, our grandmas made these scrumptious little treats, just before Lent," Bakic says. " " A bakery in Krakow, Poland, sells paczki on Fat Thursday, which is a traditional Catholic Christian feast on the last Thursday before Lent. ) Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images Advertisement Are Paczki Doughnuts? Bakeries and websites typically describe this sweet treat as a Polish doughnut. Indeed, doughnuts and paczki share many similarities, from the familiar round doughy shape to the glaze on top. But, technically, the doughnut has an entirely separate American history, having been brought to the states by the Dutch or the English, long before the arrival of Polish immigrants. Some bakers feel that it's better to just leave doughnuts as doughnuts, and call paczki by their real name. "It is not a doughnut; it is a European treat," Bakic says. Advertisement Paczki Is Also a Dyngus Day Staple If you missed out on Paczki Day this year, fret not. There are plenty more opportunities to chow down on this delicious pastry, including the Polish religious holiday Dyngus Day, which takes place in Polish communities every year on the Monday following Easter. During Dyngus Day, revelers play music, dress up in the red and white colors of the Polish flag, and, of course, eat paczki. Buffalo, New York even bills itself as the "Dyngus Day capital of the world." And, of course, if you're a talented baker, you can make paczki year-round, provided you're up for the challenge. "You have to be basically a master baker to know the chain from measuring to mixing, because when [you] get them frying, the next batch has to be ready to get fried," Bakic says. "Otherwise, you'll never have enough paczki." Now That's Interesting According to Michal Korkosz's cookbook, "Fresh from Poland," here's the description of the perfect paczki: "A perfect doughnut should be still warm and very fluffy, well-fried but not burnt, and with a bright stripe around the center. The glaze should glitter and stick to your fingers." Advertisement Originally Published: Feb 16, 2021 Fibromyalgia is a common and complex condition. It is a long-term, incurable disorder that is not fully understood by doctors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 4 million Americans are affected, while the National Fibromyalgia Association puts that number closer to 10 million, up to 90% of whom are women. Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose and just as difficult to treat For a lot of fibromyalgia patients, medication-based solutions can work quite well, says Maegan Hodge, licensed acupuncturist and owner of Centered: Richmond Acupuncture and Wellness. But when you have a system like Western medicine that has become pretty regimented and uses the solutions that work the best for the most people, there are always going to be people who fall through the cracks. Fibromyalgia sufferers for whom doctors go-to solutions fall short find their way to Hodges clinic in search of relief. And in her experience, acupuncture can often provide them freedom from pain. Determining the root cause of pain is key Fibromyalgia is often rooted in a combination of stress or trauma, injury, infection and systemic inflammation, explains Hodge. The real trick is figuring out what is triggering the inflammation. Sometimes many years of digestive dysfunction could be contributing. Sometimes it's simply chronic stress that causes the inflammation. Hodge thinks that there can be environmental factors that contribute, like exposure to allergens or toxins like mold. Taking a deep dive to understand the patient Hodge starts with a detailed and comprehensive intake form to collect significantly more information than a standard doctors office intake form. The thing that is so great about acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine is that you are looking at all the health problems a person has simultaneously, Hodge says. For example, something like 60% of patients with fibromyalgia also have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). This is usually overlooked at your doctors office and seen as being unrelated, but it usually isnt. This approach ensures that treatment is personalized to the patient, which means faster and better results. A good acupuncturist is able to quickly step outside of the catchall approach of Western medicine, says Hodge. If you have a complex condition like fibromyalgia and the traditional avenues of treatment are not working for you, do not give up hope. It might just be time to try something different. For more information, visit centeredrichmondacupuncture.com. This content is provided for informational purposes only by Centered: Richmond Acupuncture and Wellness and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider for medical advice. Any views, thoughts or opinions in this paid post belong solely to Centered: Richmond Acupuncture and Wellness and do not represent the views of Brand Ave. Studios or its parent company. Acacia midtown, the award-winning restaurant from Aline and Dale Reitzer, has signed a lease for Libbie Mill-Midtown. Acacia has leased approximately 3,739 square feet in the Corner Shops building located at 2363 Roux St. Suite 105. Dale Reitzer, chef of Acacia midtown, is a four-time nominee for the James Beard Foundation Best Chef Mid-Atlantic Award and was twice named Richmonds chef of the year. Acacia was voted the best restaurant in Richmond by readers of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and The Washington Posts Tom Sietsema called it Richmonds best restaurant. Our plan was always to open another restaurant, and we believe the time and location are a perfect fit. We are looking forward to bringing our new venture to such a vibrant community and creating an experience our long-time supporters and new diners will enjoy, Aline Reitzer said in a statement. She is also the founder of Richmond Restaurant Week, a popular annual event that raises money for Feed More. Acacia midtown plans to open its new location in the fall. Acacia will be a great complement to Libbie Mills existing restaurants, Shagbark, Crafted and [others] ... and we anticipate the trend of strong commercial demand to continue through 2022, Skip Nash, vice president for Gumenick Properties, the developments owner, said in a statement. Libbie Mill-Midtown is a mixed-use, walkable community located at Libbie Avenue, Staples Mill Road and Interstate 64 in Henrico County. Acacia midtown closed in early 2020 after the Reitzers sold the building at 2601 W. Cary St. Richmond appears poised to create a civilian review board for its police, but what it will look like is still up in the air after City Council heard on Monday of an alternative plan for oversight backed by Mayor Levar Stoneys administration. Stoney hired William Pelfrey Jr., a professor at VCUs L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs with national renown and expertise on policing, to make recommendations as a counterpoint to a proposal from a council-appointed task force. At odds on many points, both plans agree on one primary premise: Richmond should have a civilian review board. There is clearly agreement from our task force, from our community, from the administration, that this is a model and a method that we drive to see put into place in our city, said Council President Cynthia Newbille, who represents Richmonds 7th District. Newbille said the council would begin as soon as possible, working collaboratively with administration to discuss the form and function of the board. More than five months ago, the council heard recommendations from the task force it created following the civil unrest in 2020 over police brutality. If enacted, the civilian review board and new city office envisioned by the task force would be one of the most expansive in the country with a $1.2 million budget and the ability to investigate every complaint against officers. It would be independent of the police department and could compel testimony, audit police data, suggest changes to the departments policies and budget, and punish officers. While considered in the 28-page report submitted by Pelfrey, the task forces recommendations, outlined in a separate 35-page report, were largely disregarded. What the task force recommended was ambitious, Pelfrey said in an interview ahead of Mondays presentation. He told City Council on Monday that the department doesnt have a track record of abuse allegations, or federal oversight like a consent decree, an agreement between a police agency and the Justice Department, usually enacted due to repeated constitutional violations. This civilian review board would represent one of the most powerful or authoritative in the nation. Im not sure thats justified, Pelfrey said responding to the task forces recommendations. I think that if Richmond was New Orleans, or Detroit, or St. Louis, or Portland, with a long history of police abuse, and federal suits directed towards police regarding overuse of authority or deaths in custody, then the scale of a CRB would be different. But thats not Richmond. Pelfreys pared-back CRB is in line with similarly-situated cities, he said, and would essentially review only the most serious complaints: deaths or serious injuries sustained in custody or during an encounter with police and police shootings. And its review would come after an investigation conducted by the police departments Internal Affairs unit. If an additional investigation was warranted, the CRB could then hire someone outside the department to do so. I guess it just doesnt sound to me like the CRB is, in my view, independent if its only reviewing things forwarded from the internal affairs. So that gives me pause, said Councilmember Katherine Jordan, of the 2nd District, said. Pelfrey responded by saying thats how the vast majority of CRBs operate, outside of those operating with federal oversight, which are required to review every complaint, as the task force suggested for Richmond. Jordan said she hoped there could be some middle ground found. We dont want things to get worse before stronger oversight is implemented, said Eli Coston, one of the task forces leaders, after Mondays meeting. Yes, we were ambitious... We did want this to be a model for what civilian oversight could look like. Coston is an assistant professor at VCU in the department of gender, sexuality and womens studies, and has done extensive research on policing data and Richmond polices use-of-force incidents as part of Richmond Transparency and Accountability Project, which has been calling for civilian oversight for years. In the months since our recommendations were released, Charlottesville and Virginia Beach have strengthened their models of oversight, and these changes have generally aligned with what the Task Force recommended for Richmond, Coston said in a letter to council responding to Pelfreys report. In fact, the discontent with ineffective models of oversight in both of these places alongside concerns we heard from citizens in Richmond about the potential harms of ineffective models were key to our decision-making in this regard. Pelfrey also recommended limited subpoena authority, which is the ability to compel evidence and testimony. It is the one power that the task force, City Council, Stoney, and even Police Chief Gerald Smith, have endorsed because it is widely accepted as the teeth that make civilian oversight effective. The ability to make binding disciplinary decisions was exceedingly rare, Pelfrey found. Pelfrey had said he was surprised the city didnt already have a civilian review board. Richmond should have one, he said. It just fosters trust, it enhances public perception of the police, and given the history of the police-community relationship, particularly over the past two years, anything that fosters police trust is an important thing. Pelfrey was a member of Stoneys task force to Re-imagine Public Safety, which was formed amid the unrest in 2020 and recommended the creation of a civilian oversight board with subpoena power. He has also been consulted by the Richmond Times-Dispatch for stories on use-of-force incidents and other police matters. He was paid $3,600 for his report, according to the mayors office. Until a year ago, Stephana Ferrells political activism was limited to the occasional letter to elected officials. Then came her local school board meeting in Orange County, Florida and an objection raised to Maia Kobabes graphic novel Gender Queer: A Memoir. And the countys decision last fall to remove it from high school shelves. Advertisement By winter break, we realized this was happening all over the state and needed to start a project to rally parents to protect access to information and ideas in school, says Ferrell, a mother of two. Along with fellow Orange County parent Jen Cousins, she founded the Florida Freedom to Read Project, which works with existing parent groups statewide on a range of educational issues, including efforts to keep or get back books that have gone under challenge or have been banned. Amanda Darrow, director of youth, family and education programs at the Utah Pride Center, poses with books, including "The Bluest Eye," by Toni Morrison, that have been the subject of complaints from parents in Salt Lake City on Dec. 16, 2021. The wave of book bannings around the country has reached a level not seen for decades. (Rick Bowmer/AP) Over the past year, book challenges and bans have reached levels not seen in decades, according to officials at the American Library Association, the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and other advocates for free expression. Censorship efforts have ranged from local communities such as Orange County and a Tennessee school boards pulling Art Spiegelmans graphic novel Maus, to statewide initiatives. Advertisement There are some books with pornography and pedophilia that should absolutely be removed from K through 12 school libraries, says Yael Levin, a spokeswoman for No Left Turn in Education, a national group opposed to what it calls a Leftist agenda for public schools that has called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate the availability of Gender Queer among other books. Now were not talking about a public library or bookstores. Were talking about K through 12 school libraries, books that are just pornographic and with pedophilic content. According to PEN America, which has been tracking legislation around the country, dozens of bills have been proposed that restrict classroom reading and discussion. Virtually all of the laws focus on sexuality, gender identity or race. In Missouri, a bill would ban teachers from using the 1619 Project, the New York Times magazine issue which centers around slavery in American history and was released last fall as a book. The responses have come from organizations large and small, and sometimes from individuals such as Ferrell. The American Civil Liberties Union, PEN America and the NCAC have been working with local activists, educators and families around the country, helping them to prepare for meetings, to draft letters and to mobilize opposition, according to PEN Americas executive director, Suzanne Nossel. The CEO of Penguin Random House, Markus Dohle, has said he will personally donate $500,000 for a book defense fund to be run in partnership with PEN. Hachette Book Group has announced emergency donations to PEN, the NCAC and the Authors Guild. Legal action has been one strategy. In Missouri, the ACLU filed suit in federal court in mid-February to prevent the Wentzville school district from removing such books as Gender Queer, Nobel laureate Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye and Keise Laymons memoir Heavy. The civil liberties union has also filed open records requests in Tennessee and Montana over book bans, and a warning letter in Mississippi against what it described as the unconstitutionality of public library book bans. Vera Eidelman, staff attorney with the ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, cited the U.S. Supreme Courts 1982 ruling declaring that local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books. The tricky area, Eidelman acknowledged, is that schools officials are allowed to ban books for reasons other than not approving of the viewpoints the books express. Officials might determine, for instance, that the book is too profane or vulgar. The problem is just that often our definitions, for example, of vulgarity or age appropriateness, are for lack of a better word, mushy, and they can also hide or be used as pretext for viewpoint-based decisions by the government, she said. Two anti-banning initiatives were launched in Pennsylvania. In Kutztown, eighth grader Joslyn Diffenbaugh formed a banned book club last fall that began with a reading of George Orwells Animal Farm. The Pennridge Improvement Project has started a drive to purchase books that have been removed from schools, including Leslea Newmans Heather has Two Mommies and Kim Johnsons This is My America, and place them in small free libraries around the district. Advertisement The wave of bans has led to new organizations and to a change of focus for existing groups. Katie Paris, an Ohio resident and the founder of Red, Wine & Blue, a national network of politically engaged PTA mamas and digital divas founded in 2019, said that last year she began receiving calls from members begging for help as debates over critical race theory erupted. Red, Wine & Blue started online sessions it calls Trouble Maker Training, which includes such guidance as Present a calm face to counter the yelling and shouting and Own individual freedom: You can decide what is right for your child, but you dont get to dictate whats right for other families. Red, Wine & Blue also launched a website that tracks book bans, raised about $65,000 to organize against bans and is organizing an event in March featuring authors of banned books and parents from communities where books are being challenged. We think education works best when its parents and teachers working together, says Paris, the mother of 7- and 3-year old boys. And if you dont want your child to have access to a book, then opt them out. Thats fine. You just dont want to just take that opportunity away from my kids. Trying to get a book restored is often like other kinds of community activism letter writing, speeches, attending meetings. Meenal McNary is a member of the Round Rock Black Parents Association, based about 20 miles from Austin, Texas. The association was founded in 2015 after a Black teenager was slammed to the ground by a police officer, but more recently became active in diversifying the curriculum and fighting efforts to remove books. Last year, a parents objection led to Round Rock school district officials considering whether Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, should be taken off middle school reading lists. We worked with a middle school teacher who started a petition, and that gained a lot of traction, with more than a 1,000 signatures, McNary says. The district followed a three-step review process culminating with a school board vote during which McNary and others helped organize people into writing letters, turning up for board meetings and telling others about the petition. Advertisement We had children speaking up in favor of this book, even though it was traumatic for some of them to read, McNary says. We had everyone from middle school students to grandmothers and grandfathers stating their reasons why this should remain on the shelves. The board ended up voting in our favor and the book is still there. Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas. A Mechanicsville man who before his 21st birthday started to engage in a series of online consumer fraud schemes involving the sales of fictitious drone businesses, among other fake ventures, was sentenced to more than 3 years in federal prison Tuesday for wire fraud. Prosecutors said at least five victims were bilked of $706,000 in 2018 and 2019. Harlan Barry Coxs elaborate scam, in which he created websites for his fictitious businesses that included bogus company logos and financial statements, drained at least two victims of their life savings or retirement investments. The damage incurred went well beyond financial loss, prosecutors said, with some reporting severe mental and emotional repercussions. It is impossible for me to trust anyone, one victim wrote in a statement quoted by prosecutors in court documents. Ive experienced anxiety and depression for which I had to seek medical attention. It took me a long time to stop blaming myself for what happened. I felt angry, ashamed, guilty and embarrassed. I have even had suicidal thoughts. I have become numb and very distant from my family and friends. Its been over two years and not a single day goes by that I dont relive what happened to me. Another victim, who was seeking to acquire a business that would allow him the freedom of quitting work as a trucker, reported feeling anger, numbness and depression, placing him in shutdown mode ... unable to gain the strength to crawl out. Cox, now 24, used most of the money he fraudulently obtained to support his lifestyle and pay personal expenses including trips to Miami, New York City and Los Angeles and the purchase of a $103,000 Mercedes SUV, according to a statement of facts signed by Cox. Prosecutors said Cox used deliberate and calculated methods to take advantage of unsuspected victims online planning and executing his schemes over many months. The fake businesses he offered for sale on online marketplaces included Drone Purple and Pelagoon, companies that purported to sell drones, and Margin Street Inc., a company purported to serve as an online marketplace where other internet-based businesses could be bought and sold. In soliciting the sales of these phony businesses, Cox created various alias names and individualized email accounts for fictitious business representatives and provided prospective buyers with purported due diligence materials consisting of false and doctored documents. That included fraudulent financial statements that purported to show that the businesses for sale were generating millions of dollars in revenue with net profits exceeding $1 million. Thereafter, Cox made numerous material misrepresentations to induce prospective buyers to provide large down payments on quick closing timelines for the purchase of these fictitious businesses, assistant U.S. attorneys Avishek Panth and Michael Moore wrote in the governments sentencing memorandum. In reality, none of these businesses had any revenue or were viable concerns. The victims would sign purchase agreements, which Cox signed using one of his aliases. To close on the sale, the victims were instructed to wire initial down payments to bank accounts he controlled. The prosecutors said Cox also used various shell companies, and bank accounts created in the name of such companies, to receive the buyers money. He then quickly moved that money out into different accounts in other shell companies names to avoid recoupment of the funds. In total, Cox utilized 10 bank accounts at six different banks in an effort to avoid detection. He sometimes would close bank accounts within months of opening them to obfuscate efforts at detecting his wrongdoing, the prosecutors wrote. At all times Cox was the sole individual in control of the bank accounts of all these shell companies. Following a sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in downtown Richmond, Judge David J. Novak sentenced Cox to 39 months behind bars, which is near the low end of federal sentencing guidelines, which called for a term of punishment between 37 and 46 months. Novak gave Cox credit for time he has already served nine months as he awaited the disposition of his case. Panth urged Novak to sentence Cox to 46 months, noting the leniency Cox received in Richmond Circuit Court after being found guilty in January 2020 of obtaining money under false pretenses a charge that was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor and netted him a six-month suspended jail term. After getting that break, Cox continued to lie about his criminal behavior, Panth said. But Assistant Federal Public Defender Nia Vidal urged a downward variance in punishment of 18 months, noting that Coxs crimes started just before he turned 21, and played out during a short period of time in an otherwise law-abiding life. In comments from the bench, Novak noted that Cox attended, by way of scholarship, the Veritas School, an elite private secondary institution in Richmond, and appeared to be a very bright person. The judge also noted that Cox has a very supportive family his mother, father, brother and grandmother attended Tuesdays hearing and he had other advantages that most defendants who come before him dont have. In spite of that, Cox became an internet con. Im not seeing whats going on here, Novak said. None of this makes any sense. How does this happen? When given a chance to speak, Cox said his immaturity and greed were the principal factors. I was just outside of myself outside of my character. I have no excuse. He added hes a different person now, after spending nine months behind bars to reflect on his actions. You started off with such a head start, Novak replied. The good news is, everybody wants you to succeed. Although Novak gave him a slight break in prison time, the judge ordered that Cox make $561,776 in restitution; the government indicated he already has repaid some of some of the stolen funds. Novak also ordered Cox to undergo mental health treatment while in prison, believing that may partially explain his aberrant behavior, along with his youth and immaturity. Novak wished Cox luck, but made it clear that if he appears before the judge again, Im going to give you every day [in prison] that I can. Chesterfield County Public Schools modified its mask mandate once again, giving staff and visitors the option to wear a mask in school buildings and for students on school buses. In a statement to families and staff on Monday, the district announced the changes in collaboration with the countys department of risk management. The new mask options went into effect on Tuesday. Chesterfield County government employees also now have the option of wearing a mask or not to work. Guidance has been shifting over the last several weeks, reflecting the changing nature of COVID-19, the district wrote in a statement. Taking into consideration the recent shifts in guidance and continued downward trend of cases in our community, masks will now be optional for CCPS staff and visitors to CCPS facilities. Removing mandatory employee mask use is still under review by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, but according to the districts statement, the department is expected to soon lift the requirement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday lifted the requirement for masks on school buses. In January, the Chesterfield School Board narrowly approved parental choice for students wearing masks. Also on Tuesday, state legislation went into effect allowing for parental choice for their children wearing masks in school and rid school districts of implementing student mask mandates. Hanover County Public Schools made masks optional for students in January, while Henrico County Public Schools followed suit in mid-February, while Richmond Public Schools waited to drop the mandate until Tuesday. Hanover County is also allowing students to not wear a mask on buses and is giving the option to staff and visitors wear to forgo masks in school buildings. Henrico and Richmond schools are still requiring masks for adults. Richmond and Chesterfield government employees and residents will no longer be required to wear masks in order to enter City Hall and other local municipal facilities. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced that he is suspending the mandate starting Tuesday, in accordance with updated guidance from local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chesterfield County announced a similar order effective immediately Monday evening, making masks optional While we are relaxing the mask mandate, we still must be vigilant and follow protocols based on science and heed the advice of our leading public health officials from the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health, Stoney said. Under the new CDC advice, cities and counties that are considered having a medium or low level of transmission of the COVID-19 have the option to wear masks. As of last Thursday, CDC data shows that the Richmond area is considered medium, including Richmond and the counties of Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield, Goochland, Powhatan and Charles City. Dinwiddie, Prince George, Petersburg and Hopewell are still considered high. A state Senate committee is wrestling with a bill that would essentially undo a change in the law made last year and broadly stop the public from getting access to police investigative files in closed cases. Misinformation about the current law has muddled the debate. While records that are used in criminal court cases are public, police and prosecutors have long had discretion over whether to release records that arent filed in court. Even in police cases that are long closed, police routinely denied releasing any records. After families of those killed in the 2019 mass shooting at the Virginia Beach government center had trouble getting police records about the case, lawmakers changed the law in 2021 to require police to provide records to the public in cases where release of records wouldnt hinder a prosecution. The law, sponsored by then-Del. Chris Hurst, D-Montgomery, went into effect on July 1 and has been in place for eight months. It was vetted through the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council and included some key privacy provisions: Police cant release photos or records that show or identify a victim. The law doesnt apply if release of records would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. And records that would disclose the identity of a confidential source or information provided to police only by a confidential source would not be released. But police and prosecutors want the law largely overturned, to shift back to a policy in which the default is that they dont have to disclose any closed case files they dont want to, unless its to the immediate family of a victim. Supporters of the proposed legislation, filed by Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, say the priority should be protecting victims and avoiding public and media access to criminal records that could re-traumatize the survivors of people who were killed. Crime victims didnt ask to be in the situation theyre in, Bell told the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee a week ago. Theyve been dragged in, in this case because of the deaths of their daughters, he said, referring to the parents of two college students who were murdered. That their records would be used for this is atrocious. Its obscene. Once the public realizes they can get such records, he told senators, they can get everything. This will not end at made-for-TV movies. It will be on TikTok videos. It will be on Facebook. Theyll be making YouTubes. Bells bill would allow only immediate family access to records in closed police cases (and attorneys working on post-conviction issues) but shut off access to all closed police records to the rest of the public, not just in sensitive murder cases but in any closed police investigation in Virginia history. Open government advocates who oppose the bill say it doesnt strike the right balance between family privacy and allowing public access to government records, and say the Senate committee should avoid passing the bill until more time can be spent on how to fix any real problems that exist. The committee is scheduled to address the bill again Wednesday. Despite the speculation that sensitive records could be released, no evidence emerged in General Assembly hearings that any sensitive photos or records related to a murder or violent crime actually have been released since the new law took effect July 1. Unanswered questions and misinformation Hannah Graham, an 18-year-old University of Virginia student, was murdered in 2014. The man convicted in her death also pleaded guilty to killing Morgan Harrington, a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student, in 2009. In testimony this year, Hannahs mother, Susan Graham, said that she and her husband learned in November that Albemarle County police had received a FOIA request under the 2021 law from an international media company that apparently wants to make a documentary movie. Graham said release of new records would traumatize her family, and has asked lawmakers to pass Bells bill. Bell testified that an Albemarle detective called him and cursed, saying he had been told he needed to handle a FOIA request to a TV producer. But its unclear whether Albemarle police have yet provided any records, or if they withheld any records for reasons allowed by existing law, or if the FOIA request is still pending. A senator asked Bell last week if he knew its status. I dont know where theyre at or how hard theyre fighting or what they turned over, Bell replied. And Albemarle police and county officials arent saying. A police officer did not respond to a voicemail asking about the status of the FOIA. Someone who answered the phone at the police department referred questions to the countys communications director, Emily Kilroy. She did not respond to inquiries made since Thursday to her desk voicemail, cellphone voicemail and email. So if theres no evidence any sensitive records have been turned over to anyone in the eight months since the change in law, why the need to change it back? Its based on speculation, and thats where the misinformation comes in. On Monday, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Childrens president and CEO, John F. Clark, sent a letter in support of Bells bill to members of the Senate committee. But the letter misstated how photos are handled under current law, saying current law allows unlimited access for anyone to crime scene photographs when a child has been murdered. The letter falsely claimed that Bells bill would protect photos, audio or video depicting a victim from being released. Again, current law already does that. Bell told senators the issue is the guy who wants to see as many disgusting pictures as he can and put them on TikTok. After Bell made that comment last week, Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, told the committee he might favor an approach that focused on photos and videos and salacious things movie producers might use. Asked in an interview Tuesday if he believed photos of victims could currently be released, Ebbin said, Thats what they made it sound like during the hearing. Although the 2021 law also doesnt require police to release records identifying confidential sources or information provided solely by confidential sources, Bell made this comment to senators about why his proposed change is needed: If you are a witness, who saw something, talked to the officers and were promised that they wont use it in court, it wont ever come up, that is no longer much protection because someone across the street can get the whole file. Not just see what you said and how you said it, to whom you said it, they can actually get the video if its a video case. In an interview for this story, Bell acknowledged he was unaware of any police agency or prosecutor under the 2021 law who was forced to turn over a sensitive photo from a closed case file. He said he knows of no police agency that was forced under the 2021 law to turn over records that had the name of any confidential source in a case. I agree that this hasnt happened, he said. We are trying to prevent this from happening. Because once it has happened its too late to address it. Representatives of the Virginia Association of Commonwealths Attorneys, who support Bells legislation, didnt respond to a question Tuesday about whether they know of any examples since July 1 of police or a prosecutor being required to turn over sensitive records about a murder or a violent crime to news media. Megan Rhyne, executive director of the nonprofit Virginia Coalition for Open Government, told senators last week that the 2021 law allows a balance of privacy rights with public access that can be used by journalists, historians, family of victims or someone who was arrested but not charged and wants to see what evidence the police had. Under Bells legislation, she said, essentially were going back to no access again. Whether parking at a home, a business, a school or any other destination, Virginia drivers are grappling with the harsh reality of a costly crime that can happen in a matter of minutes. Catalytic converter thefts are on the rise in the commonwealth and across the country. From Richmond to Raleigh to Houston, incidents are happening in driveways, in strip malls and on side streets. Using just a wrench or a reciprocating saw, thieves can walk away with the part, and under the Code of Virginia, the car becomes legally inoperable without it. When owners return to their vehicles, they also learn how functionally inoperable the car becomes. When trying to start the engine, they hear a roar that resembles the beginning of a NASCAR race. Worst of all, the cost of replacing a catalytic converter often exceeds the single parts price. Damage incurred during the theft can affect other components, such as oxygen sensors. Solving the rash of these crimes requires a multilayered approach. As the National Insurance Crime Bureau explains, catalytic converters serve a key environmental purpose: transforming harmful toxins from a vehicles exhaust into less potent particles. The components that accomplish this process are what make the car part an attractive target. To do this, manufacturers use platinum, palladium, or rhodium, the NICB adds. In recent years, the values of these precious metals have increased significantly, and many investigators are attributing the dramatic increase in catalytic converter thefts to rising metal costs. Per the NICB, at the end of 2020, these metals were worth thousands of dollars per ounce: rhodium at $14,500, palladium at $2,336 and platinum at $1,061. As their worth rose, so did the national level of catalytic converter thefts: from 108 per month on average in 2018 to 1,203 in 2020. State government can do something about this. Both the House of Delegates and Virginia Senate recently passed bills stiffening penalties for catalytic converter thefts. The proposals now are being debated in the opposite legislative chambers. While the House and Senate versions slightly differed on whether thefts should be a felony or a misdemeanor, both legislative efforts have a shared priority: deeper documentation. Purchasers of scrap metal would have to collect personal information from sellers, keep it on file for at least two years and make copies accessible to law enforcement as needed. Local governments also have a part to play. Earlier this month, Richmond Police delivered a warning on social media about a local spike in catalytic converter thefts. The No. 1 prevention tip from police was to park cars in well-lit areas. But as Richmonders know, not every streetlight in the city promotes a sense of safety. Public service announcements about catalytic converters also should connect residents to government services other than calling 911. For example, the Department of Public Utilities Streetlight Utility team offers two ways to request maintenance: an online request at RVA311.com; or phone calls to (804) 646-8550 for repairs and (804) 646-8541 for new installations altogether. Drivers then have options to protect their own vehicles. Autoweek recently highlighted six devices that could complicate thieves attempts to swipe a catalytic converter. On the lower end of the price spectrum, there are alarms ($30 via eBay) that hang with clamps attached to the cars exhaust. On the higher end, there are locks ($423 via eBay) made of cables that wrap around the part. A company called MillerCAT also makes catalytic converter shields tailored to individual car brands. A searchable database is available on its website, showing the years, makes and models that have been created to date. But even with better laws, better lights and better protection, maybe its time to reconsider our dependency on cars. When our worlds environment and personal financial environments become less stable, we must remember: There are alternatives to driving. Chris Gentilviso The Local Office on Aging recently completed its second full-blown pandemic Soup for Seniors collection drive. And thats yielded some good and not-so-good news. The not-exactly-great news is, Soup for Seniors fell 1,457 pounds short of its 2022 goal of 45,000 pounds of nonperishable food. But on the other hand, it brought in a total of 43,543 pounds of food, which was about 10,000 more than collected in 2021. We got pretty close to our goal, said LOA CEO Ron Boyd. The volunteers, the corporate partners, the satellite collections, all of that I saw overall as a huge win. The annual winter food drive was launched in 2006 by Barbara James, whos since retired from the LOA. It provides a stash of shelf-stable meals that will keep in a cupboard indefinitely, to needy seniors, many of them who already are recipients of Meals on Wheels. Even better, the entire program is conducted by volunteers, without any overhead whatsoever. That means every morsel of food or dollar donated go to feed a needy senior. The totals this year suggest Soup for Seniors collections are slowly climbing back to their pre-pandemic levels. To take a look at that, lets consider collections in recent years. In 2019, before the COVID-19 virus was on anyones radar, Soup for Seniors collected 47,150 pounds of food overall. They know the weight because for a number of years volunteers have weighed all donated food on a 4-foot by 5-foot industrial scale loaned by Security Scale Service of Roanoke. In 2020, just before COVID-19 began spreading widely in the United States, Soup for Seniors brought in 54,962 pounds of canned and boxed soup, crackers, tins of meat and fish, jars of peanut butter and other foodstuffs. That year, the LOA distributed 2,854 grocery bags to low-income seniors, who make up the bulk of Soup for Seniors recipients. The 2021 Soup for Seniors effort occurred in the middle of the pandemic, before any vaccines against the virus were widely available. Nevertheless, it pulled in 33,377 pounds of canned or packaged prepared foods. That translated into 2,303 bags to seniors. The 2022 effort was short of 2020 but exceeded levels of 2021. Somehow, the volunteers managed to stretch this years collection to 2,914 bags. Roughly $1,000 in cash donations also came in to Soup for Seniors. That money was spent buying supplementary items such as peanut butter or tins of meat and fish, which were added to bags for seniors, Boyd said. The number of pounds collected by area schools this year totaled 11,402, he said. Roanoke County schools led the way, amassing 4,654 pounds. Leading the pack in the county was Penn Forest Elementary, which collected and turned over food totaling 1,831 pounds. Public school pupils werent the only ones who participated, however. The private Community School, in the Hollins area, donated 358 pounds of foodstuffs, and Roanoke Catholic collected 244 pounds. Even preschools participated. One was Noahs Landing, operated by Christ Lutheran Church in Raleigh Court. It came through with foodstuff that weighed 88 pounds. Thats more than the weight of any one of its pint-sized pupils. The American Association for Retired Persons donated cloth sacks in which the food was delivered to seniors. Black Dog Salvage raised 1,221 pounds at its satellite collection in the West End neighborhood and also donated a truck for use in the effort. Collections at other partners Vistar Eye Center, First Bank and the Salem and Vinton libraries bought in 5,309 pounds, Boyd said. Numerous churches transported donations to the central collection site at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in northern Roanoke County. Central United Methodist Church, Grandin Court Baptist and Vinton Baptist led the way among church donations, Boyd said. The Roanoke County Sheriffs Office both collected food donations and distributed bagged-up food to seniors once it was sorted, Boyd added, A couple schools donated after the drive was over, Boyd told me. They brought the items here to LOA. A huge round of applause for Security Scales for donating a scale for us to weigh all the food, St. Peter & St. Pauls for the use of their facility and The Roanoke County Sheriffs Department for collecting donations and distributing Soup bags, Boyd said. Contact metro columnist Dan Casey at 981-3423 or dan.casey@roanoke.com . Follow him on Twitter:@dancaseysblog . Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A fatal, drug-fueled crash resulted in a five-year prison sentence for a Roanoke man Monday. Christopher Charles Roberts, 35, overcame an abusive childhood to serve his country in Iraq but later descended into addiction as he dealt with PTSD and the dissolution of his marriage, defense attorneys said. His drug use was described as escalating from marijuana to pain pills to methamphetamine a substance that authorities found in his system at high levels during the early morning of Dec. 4, 2020, when he wrecked his motorcycle on Frontage Road Northwest. The crash killed his girlfriend, Kasey Lynn Carpenter, a 21-year-old nursing student, who was a passenger on the bike. Roberts pleaded guilty to aggravated involuntary manslaughter last year, and told a judge at his sentencing that he was trying to take responsibility for the tragedy. The crash had forced him to confront his substance abuse, he said. Unfortunately, at a cost that is unbearable, he added after apologizing in the courtroom to Carpenters relatives. I realize what its cost myself and everyone else. Defense attorney Rob Dean asked the court to delay sentencing until Roberts could be screened for possible enrollment in an alternative sentencing program offered by the state. Assistant prosecutor John McNeil opposed that request, and said in part that Roberts had been given a chance at alternative sentencing not long before the crash. He was placed in the regions drug court program in 2019 after being arrested on possession charges in Roanoke County, according to Mondays proceedings, but did poorly with the requirements and was removed from the program in 2020. Roberts and his incredibly terrible decision-making would go on to end a life, McNeil said. Ms. Carpenter, unfortunately, died an unnecessary and horrific death because of the decisions made by Mr. Roberts. Dean said the request was made not to avoid prison, which Roberts knew he would face, but to help him lay a better foundation for the day he is released. Certainly, some kind of punishment, Dean said. But there is also the sentencing goal of rehabilitation. He cited Roberts service in the U.S. Army, which included three deployments, culminating in a checkpoint explosion that led to him being diagnosed with PTSD in 2015. Roberts was honorably discharged from the military, according to Mondays proceedings. His record of drug use in the courts would begin to follow in 2018. He recognizes hes an addict, Dean said. Hes also someone whos proven that hes capable of doing good things in life. Officials advised the court that the sentencing program hoped for by Roberts would only enroll people sentenced to one year or less. Roanoke Circuit Judge Chris Clemens said that fell short of what was appropriate in the case. Clemens said he took note of Roberts remorse and his background that led him to this day. But he added he had to balance that with Roberts court history and the severity of the crash. You took someones life, he said. These people [her family] are never going to see her again. He delivered a sentence of 10 years, suspended after five years are served, with five years of probation to follow after his release. The decision fell within state-calculated guidelines. Clemens added he would consider referring Roberts to the alternative program, if eligible, once he had one year remaining on his sentence. Roberts stay in the program could go beyond his prison release date depending on the timing and how he fares with its requirements. Roberts said hed be amenable to that. In earlier testimony, he said he was resolved to make this a turning point in his life and hoped to find a way to help others going forward. Id like to give something back at some point, he said. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Blacksburg police Chief Anthony Wilson announced Tuesday that he would retire this summer, stepping down after a 25-year run with the town department. Ive been absolutely blessed to be surrounded by the greatest people on earth here at the BPD, Wilson said in a statement released by the town. They all serve with such incredible honor, sacrifice and professionalism. They have become my family and together we have weathered some of the toughest times imaginable. I truly look forward to the future and new endeavors, but will always have the men and women of the BPD in my heart and mind. Town Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith wrote in an email that the list of Wilsons accomplishments could not capture the passion he brought to the job. He grew up in this town, and hes served us all with fidelity and honor, Hager-Smith wrote. The chief has a metaphor for his role: Blacksburg has a product and it is young adults. Its the work that we do together, in partnership with the university. Students come to us as youngsters, and they grow into productive adults on our watch. Thats the kind of devotion hes given to this job: The kind you give to family. Wilson, 60, became chief in 2014. He said then that his law enforcement career began because he missed the camaraderie hed found during a stint in the U.S. Marines. He said that he joined a fire department, then became a Blacksburg patrol officer. Sixteen years later he became police chief. Wilson did not set a specific date for stepping down. The town said it has started a process to find a new chief. In Wilsons retirement announcement, the town listed a litany of initiatives and positions, saying the chief emphasized community engagement and ties with Virginia Tech. Among the programs begun under Wilsons watch were the safety programs No Hokie Left Behind, Be Safe Blacksburg, and Adopt a Cop. These included setting up cell phone charging stations in downtown restaurants; establishing Free Ride Fridays to take people from downtown to anywhere in town; launching Fifth Grade Field Days that introduced fifth-grade classes to one another ahead of the transition to middle school; and pairing Virginia Tech fraternities with officers in the Adopt-a-Cop Academy. Wilson worked with the Montgomery County Dialogue on Race as it examined racial issues articulated by the African American community. He worked with New River Community College to create Books to Badges, a program that offered two-year scholarships for students working toward law enforcement careers, the town statement said. Wilson created the Training Triangle that became the cornerstone of the Blacksburg departments officer training. It increased training in tactical ability, advanced communications and de-escalation skills training, and the spiritual connection to service and psychological wellness, the town statement said. Wilson has been co-chairman of the New River Valley Public Health Task Force for the two years of the pandemic. Having served as a patrol field training officer, investigator, investigative unit supervisor, tactical team commander, patrol unit commander and division commander, Wilson became chief when Kim Crannis retired. Town Manager Marc Verniel said in the town statement that it had been an honor to work with Wilson, and called him much more than a police chief for Blacksburg a key leader in the New River Valley. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea on Monday said he disagrees with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkins call this weekend for Roanoke to break off its 30-year Sister City relationship with Pskov, Russia, in light of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Now is not the time for further division, wrote the mayor in a letter to the governor dated Monday, but rather to ensure we demonstrate compassion for and support of the people of Ukraine, while continuing to use our existing relationships with the people of our sister cities to show them there is a better way, a way led by common understanding, freedom and peace standing in direct contrast with the path of authoritarianism and violence. Leas stance with Youngkin stood in contrast to a report this weekend by WFIR radio that said Lea told the station he agreed with Youngkins call to sever ties. I misspoke, Lea said Monday. He added that he did not fault WFIRs reporting. Lea said he intended to place the Pskov relationship on the agenda for discussion during the March 7 Roanoke City Council meeting. It would be up to the council to decide what action, if any, needs to be taken with regard to the relationship, the mayor said. Lea said he does agree with Youngkins denouncement of the invasion and told him so when they talked Sunday. Lea also said he supports Youngkins action plan. The mayor did not have specifics of that plan. Youngkins office said the governor believes the state should cease buying Russian goods and services and that the Virginia Retirement System and university endowments should pull back investments in Russian assets. Roanoke Valley Sister Cities Inc. said it, too, disagreed with the governors offices request about Pskov in a letter signed by the groups president, Mary Jo Fassie. Meanwhile, in Norfolk, another city Youngkin had asked to end such a relationship, Mayor Kenny Alexander called for the Norfolk Sister City Association to rally behind Ukraine and end its relationship with Kaliningrad, Russia, according to The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot. Freedom and self-determination are ingrained in Norfolks spirit, and we stand in support of a free and independent Ukraine, Alexander wrote in a Sunday afternoon Facebook post, according to the Pilot. Norfolk is proud to join many throughout the world who are rallying behind Ukraine, while calling out Russian President Vladimir Putin for his senseless, inhumane, and tyrannical acts of violent aggression against a sovereign and democratic nation. Marguerite Inscoe, president of the Norfolk Sister City Association, wrote in an email to the Pilot: The mayor and governor have made a notable request considering current circumstances with Russia and Ukraine. Discussion is underway with the executive board. Roanoke has seven sister cities and Norfolk has 10. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Office of Inspector General found strong evidence of race-based disparities in an analysis of Chicago Police Department stops and use-of-force incidents. The inspector generals office announced in a news release Tuesday that it found these disparities after looking at incidents from Oct. 17, 2017, through Feb. 8, 2020. The office found that Black people were consistently at a disadvantage and white people were consistently at an advantage when faced with such policing scenarios. Advertisement The results were mixed for Hispanics and the numbers of other racial and ethnic groups were too small to evaluate, according to the inspector generals office. The office looked over the Police Departments tactical response report data, which is a compilation of the forms officers have to fill out when an officer uses force. Advertisement Chicago police headquarters at 35th Street and Michigan Avenue in Chicago on Oct. 16, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) The data showed that Black people were overwhelmingly disproportionately stopped by CPD despite the demographic composition and crime level in the district where the stop occurred, according to the release. Among those who were stopped, Black people were also more likely to be subjected to force. Black people were overrepresented in investigatory stops that lead to uses of force relative to their population in 17 of 22 police districts, the release said. Black motorists vehicles were 3.3 times more likely to be searched than white motorists, the inspector generals office found. During investigatory stops, Black people were also 1.5 times more likely to be searched than non-Black people and 1.5 times more likely to be patted down. Chicago police officers were also more likely to use higher-level force options against Black people, the release said. When it came to deadly force, Hispanics had higher odds than non-Hispanics of facing a higher-level force option, according to the release. While this report is primarily driven by quantitative analysis, OIG recognizes that quantitative data analysis cannot capture the complexity or situational uniqueness of individual use-of-force incidents, the release said. OIGs report does not draw conclusions on whether the individual stops or uses-of-force under analysis were justified by law or consistent with CPD policy. OIGs report also does not make a finding that the observed disparities are attributable to racial or ethnic bias by CPD members. The Police Department did not immediately comment on the report. The office did not make recommendations to the Police Department but invited the department to respond, according to the release. The department gave a description of officers use-of-force-related training and training planned for the future. It also mentioned the departments creation of the force review division that reviews individual reports of force and makes recommendations for training opportunities, refers incidents for accountability review if necessary and reports out. Advertisement Since (OIGs period of analysis), the department has made great strides in use of force and procedural justice training and has revised numerous policies including, but not limited to, the entire use-of-force suite of orders. In fact, the department has achieved preliminary compliance on the use-of=force paragraphs in the consent decree, the police department told the inspector generals office. pfry@chicagotribune.com The location of the New River Valleys proposed rail station is now narrowed to one of two sites, each of which are in proximity to the Uptown Christiansburg mall, based on work performed by the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. The news about the sites was among several details shared Monday night during a virtual meeting hosted by VPRA officials. The VPRA began a feasibility study this past fall to look at potential station locations in the New River Valley and then conducted a survey that ran from Dec. 22 to Jan. 31. The meeting briefly addressed the survey, with the hosts highlighting respondents general preference for the two Christiansburg mall sites. The survey drew just over 2,600 respondents. Among the other general themes/comments highlighted from the survey was that multi-modal and public transit access to the station and student access were all considered important issues. One of the mall sites is located just west of that property. The other is just north of the mall. Conceptual, but not definite, designs of each location were presented Monday. The diagrams for both potential sites showed a connection to the existing New River Road. They also showed what officials said would be a temporary relocation of a piece of the Huckleberry Trail, which passes by the mall as part of its run between Christiansburg and Blacksburg. Officials also shared estimated costs, with the mall sites showing to be most cost-effective when compared with two other previously considered sites. The total capital costs for the west and north sites, respectively, would be approximately $56 million and $52 million. More than $250 million in investment is expected to cover the return of passenger rail to the New River Valley and the upcoming addition of another Amtrak train from Roanoke to Washington, D.C. The investment includes the acquisition of right of way and track from Norfolk Southern Railway for just under 29 miles of the Virginian Line from the Salem Crossovers to Merrimac in Montgomery County. The start of the New River Valley service is not expected until at least 2025. Of the sites being considered for the NRV station, several were in Christiansburg area, including the mall sites, as well as one in the Ellett Valley. There is another virtual NRV rail meeting March 1 at noon. It was earlier announced that to register, go to: https://transformingrailva.com/events. A man in jail custody awaiting a court appearance died Monday in an apparent suicide, according to Western Virginia Regional Jail. Daniel Wayne Snell, 37, was discovered unconscious in his cell Monday afternoon, according to a statement from jail administrators. Officers and medical staff attempted life-saving measures, including CPR and defibrillation, while first responders were en route, officials said. Snell was rushed to LewisGale Medical Center but pronounced dead at 4:18 p.m. In keeping with jail policy, his death will be reviewed by the medical examiners office and the Roanoke County Police Department. Snell, of Blacksburg, had been held at WVRJ since Feb. 9 while awaiting court proceedings in a burglary case in Montgomery County. His is the second death reported this year by WVRJ. In 2021, three deaths were reported. That included one suicide, one case of pulmonary emboli and an 84-year-old inmate who died of COVID-19. WVRJ, which serves multiple localities, has an average daily inmate population of about 850. On Feb. 7, a 66-year-old man, Darrell David Davis, died after a medical emergency, according to prior disclosures from the regional jail. The medical examiners office determined the cause of death was complications of a Covid-19 viral infection. Davis, who was awaiting transfer to a federal prison, had been sent to the regional jail nine days earlier and was in an automatic 14-day quarantine period for new admissions, said Deputy Superintendent Christopher Hayes. He had been seen by officers and medical staff prior to his death but no signs of acute distress were observed, according to a prior statement. Under protocols developed in consultation with the health department, new inmates are tested for covid at the end of the 14-day window. WVRJ, which currently has 770 inmates, has experienced no other covid cases in the past 18 days, Hayes said. The jail continues to observe masking mandates and heightened cleaning protocols including use of an electrostatic sprayer that coats rooms in disinfectant, Hayes said. Inmates are given KN95 masks. Staff are given KN95 or N95 respirator masks depending on the community threat levels reported outside the jail. The Omicron spike in community cases also spurred the return of additional safeguards, including limiting inmate movements outside of their housing units to minimize contacts, Hayes said. Hayes commended the work that jail officers and staff have done over the past two years to keep people safe. Officials continue to closely monitor covid data and respond to evolving risks. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MANASSAS A group of George Mason University forensic science students are preparing an experiment with hopes they will demonstrate how honey can help lead authorities to missing human remains. Anthony Falsetti, an associate professor in GMUs forensic science program, and others say proteins in bee honey contain troves of biochemical information thats already widely used by scientists and government agencies to detect illegal pesticides in green products and fruit, or for measuring the amounts of heavy metal or microplastic pollutants in the air. Whatevers in the environment, gets into the plant. Bees take in a sample of the environment wherever they go, Falsetti said. Falsetti said his GMU forensic science students will use a similar strategy to gather data in their study, but they will be searching for human proteins they also believe exist in the small samples of honey they will gather later for analysis. The new experiment takes place at the universitys outdoor forensics laboratory, scheduled to open this spring at George Masons Science and Technology Campus in Manassas. The 5-acre facility features an inner fenced-in body farm, where in less than two weeks, students will help bury corpses provided to the university by the Virginia State Anatomical Program. The bodies will be placed in pre-dug graves of varying depths, already prepared in advance by the students. [Remains] are screened by the state to make sure they do not have a contagious disease, said Stafford resident Mary Ellen OToole, a retired FBI special agent and current director of the forensic science program at George Mason University. The inner 1 acre will not disturb the surrounding community. Falsetti said there are only eight U.S. universities where students are using human remains in forensic science experiments. Last November, about 80 varieties of plants were strategically planted by students and researchers near the spots where the human remains will be placed. By late spring, the flowers will bear highly scented white and yellow blossoms neither typical to the campus, nor native to Virginia at all. With a bee flight radius of just over three miles, Falsetti said the unique types of flowers close to the remains will help students maintain accountability of those bees that have touched down on the special flora. Students have already gathered samples of honey from the existing cluster of hives on the Manassas campus and will use data from those samples as a baseline in the upcoming experiment. Falsetti expects the new crop of honey will be ready for sampling by late spring or early summer. Alessandra Luchini, a professor in the universitys Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, perfected the method to effectively extract the countless proteins from bee honey that are later analyzed in search of the presence of human remains. Proteins can tell us a more precise story of what organisms have touched the honey and what organisms the bees have interacted with, Luchini said. Luchini said the same technology used for years in cancer and infectious disease research will be used in the GMU honeybee experiment. Luchini said the experiment centers around an enormous mass spectrometer machine that scientists at the university maintain and operate to analyze proteins. It spits out hundreds of thousands of different proteins without having any presumption, Luchini said. Its just a very unbiased method. Falsetti said finding human remains in honey samples could one day aid criminal investigators in a large area searching for a missing person. He said samples of honey could be collected from beehives in an area presumed to contain a body and then analyzed. As bees operate within the wide range of their hives, the locations of existing hives could then be triangulated to help investigators determine an approximate location where the body might be found. Its a good area, Luchini said. It depends on the frequency of the hives. Keith Tignor, the state apiarist within Virginias Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, estimates there are between 2,500 and 3,000, if not more people involved in beekeeping across the state. With so many beehives already up and operating in a hobby thats gaining popularity in some locations, many ordinary citizens could one day help authorities solve a crime. We can use existing beehives and the sampling is nonevasive, its just a small spoon of honey, Luchini said. Give us a spoon of honey and you could help solve the biggest crime of the century. Falsetti said the Manassas campus hosts about 300 undergraduate forensic science majors and 90 graduate students. OToole said students in todays forensic science programs are well-versed in courses such as chemistry, biology, physics and math, and said about 85 percent of the students are women. As they reach their junior and senior year, and certainly if theyre a graduate student, then they start to learn how to apply that science to crime scenes, said OToole. RICHMOND An effort by Del. Marie March, R-Floyd, to repeal red flag firearm confiscation in Virginia was quashed by a panel of senators Monday morning. Under law passed in 2020, police or attorneys may petition a judge to prohibit a person who poses a substantial risk to himself or others from purchasing or possessing a firearm, according to state documents. Marchs HB 509 sought to repeal that legislation, commonly referred to as a red flag law, and presented her bill to the Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday morning. Who among us is such an expert on reading someones mind that we can predict who will commit a crime even before they commit one? March asked the Senate committee. How does one prove that a crime was prevented, when no crime has actually occurred? Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, said the law is often used in situations where family calls law enforcement for help with someone who is in jeopardy of harming themselves or others. Opponents of the red flag law said it violates due process and rights embedded in the U.S. Constitution, while proponents said the law is applied carefully and judiciously, and that firearms are only taken from people temporarily, to reduce the potential of harm. Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, was one of 6 Republicans to vote in favor of Marchs bill, which was defeated 9-6 by the Democrat-controlled committee. Anytime my government says that they are violating my constitutional rights and due process carefully and judiciously, Ive got a problem, Stanley said. We all should have a problem. Also discontinued on a party-line vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday morning was HB 812 by Del. Wren Williams, R-Patrick. The bill proposed a list of at least 15 circumstances, mostly violent, in which judges could deny bail to accused criminals, including no bail for illegal aliens charged with certain crimes. Committee Chairman Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, said use of the word aliens in Williams bill contradicts a law passed from the House of Delegates this year that intends remove all uses of alien from state code. I actually thought about that, Williams said. Should we conform this bill right now? There might be another idea, Deeds replied. Yeah, Williams said. Youre just going to kill it. Indeed, HB 812 was also defeated on a 9-6 party-line vote. But Williams HB 813 survived the committee. The bill looks to remove some prohibitions on law enforcement agencies from purchasing certain surplus military equipment, including mine-resistant vehicles. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In an effort to protect the safety of its users, Google has disabled live traffic features offered by Google Maps in Ukraine, because live traffic features are derived from data from users phones, which can be used by the Russians to track the movement of civilians. Google said it suspended the feature for the safety of Ukrainians after consulting with regional authorities concerned that the Russians have used those tools to target crowded areas in Kyiv and other metropolitan locations in Ukraine. Other major tech companies are also taking steps that will help protect Ukrainians from Russias invasion. On Monday, Facebook suspended around 40 fake accounts targeting people in Ukraine that had promoted fake news articles about the invasion. Amid a flood of Russian-backed disinformation related to the invasion, Twitter also said it would expand labeling content from Russian state-affiliated media websites. Even though Twitter has been labeling Russian state-owned or affiliated media accounts since 2020, new rules apply to individual accounts sharing links from those sites. The company said that since the start of the invasion, there have been 45,000 shares per day of those links from individuals. In addition to that, all three companies said they are blocking Russian state media from running ads on their platforms "We are now prohibiting Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on our platform anywhere in the world," Facebook's head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher said. Previously, Facebook had said that Russia had ordered the company to "stop the independent fact-checking and labelling" of four Russian outlets. For its part, Twitter said that its services are now restricted in Russia, while Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor said it is partially limiting access to Facebook, accusing the company of "censorship" of Russian media. Roskomnadzor has reportedly ordered independent Russian media to remove reports describing the attack on Ukraine as an assault, invasion, or declaration of war. The Russian communications regulator also accused several media outlets of spreading unreliable socially significant untrue information about the shelling of Ukrainian cities by the Russian army. On Sunday, Roskomnadzor stated that it had demanded from Google that Russia medias YouTube channels be restored in Ukraine, Reuters reported. Last week, the authorities of Ukraine took steps to remove or replace all road signs that could be used by Russian forces to navigate the country. "The enemy has poor communications; they cannot navigate the terrain. Let us help them get straight to hell, " Ukravtodor, the company in charge of building and maintaining roads, posted on Facebook last Friday. It also said that directions have been replaced with profanities such as Go f. yourself back to Russia." The company also urged all road organizations, territorial communities, and local authorities to immediately start dismantling nearby road signs. That might additionally create issues for the Russian traveling troops considering that Moscow has previously banned mobile devices and social media use among its troops to prevent its movements from being tracked. " " On Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, 1945, for the first time in world history, two nuclear bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (left) and Nagasaki (right). The nuclear bombs killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, mostly civilians. Public Domain The first nuclear bomb meant to kill humans exploded over Hiroshima, Japan, Aug. 6, 1945. Three days later, a second bomb detonated over Nagasaki. The death toll for the two bomb blasts an estimated 214,000 people and destruction wrought by these weapons was unprecedented in the history of warfare [source: Icanw.org] At the end of World War II, the U.S. was the world's only superpower that possessed nuclear capabilities. But that didn't last long. The Soviet Union, with the help of a network of spies who stole American nuclear secrets, successfully tested their own atomic bomb in 1949 as well [sources: Icanw.org, Holmes]. Advertisement As the U.S. and the Soviets slipped into a decadeslong period of animosity that became known as the Cold War, both nations developed an even more powerful nuclear weapon the hydrogen bomb and built arsenals of warheads. Both countries augmented their fleets of strategic bombers with land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching one another's cities from thousands of miles away. Submarines were equipped with nuclear missiles as well, making it even easier to launch a devastating attack [sources: Locker, Dillin]. Other nations the United Kingdom, France, China and Israel all had nuclear weapons by the late '60s [source: Icanw.org]. The nuclear bomb loomed over everyone and everything. Schools conducted nuclear air raid drills. Governments built fallout shelters. Homeowners dug bunkers in their backyards. Eventually, the nuclear powers became frozen in a standoff. Both had a strategy of mutual assured destruction basically that even if one nation launched a successful sneak attack that killed millions and wreaked widespread devastation, the other nation still would have enough weapons left to counterattack and inflict an equally brutal retribution. That grisly threat deterred them from utilizing nukes against one another, but even so, the fear of a cataclysmic nuclear war remained. During the 1970s and '80s, tensions continued. Under President Ronald Reagan, the U.S. pursued a strategy of developing anti-missile defense technology dubbed "Star Wars" by skeptics that was intended to protect the U.S. from attack, but also might have enabled the U.S. to strike first with impunity. By late in the decade, as the Soviet Union began to teeter economically, Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev were working in earnest toward nuclear arms limitation. In 1991, Reagan's successor, George H.W. Bush, and Gorbachev signed an even more important treaty, START I, and agreed to major reductions in their arsenals. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Bush and Boris Yeltsin, president of the new Russian Federation, signed another treaty, START II, in 1992, which cut the number of warheads and missiles even more [source: U.S. State Department]. But the specter of the nuclear bomb never really went away. In the early 2000s, the U.S. invaded Iraq and toppled its dictator, Saddam Hussein, in part due to a fear that he was trying to develop a nuclear weapon. It turned out, though that he had abandoned those secret efforts [source: Zoroya]. By then Pakistan had tested its first nuclear weapon in 1998 [source: armscontrolcenter.org]. But another totalitarian country, North Korea, succeeded where Saddam had failed. In 2009, the North Koreans successfully tested a nuclear weapon as powerful as the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. The underground explosion was so significant that it created an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 [source: McCurry]. And by the 2020s, increasing tensions between Russia and western nations, coupled with the prospect of a new generation of hypersonic missiles capable of evading early-warning systems to deliver nuclear warheads, raised the prospect of a frightening new nuclear arms race [source: Bluth]. While the political landscape of nuclear warfare has changed considerably over the years, the science of the weapon itself the atomic processes that unleash all of that fury have been known since the time of Einstein. This article will review how nuclear bombs work, including how they're built and deployed. Up first is a quick review of atomic structure and radioactivity. FLORENCE Harvest Hope of the Pee Dee will be acquiring and moving into a new building in the spring 2023. Harvest Hope is located at the Pee Dee Farmers Market. Its new home will be located at 2701 Alex Lee Blvd. A groundbreaking ceremony will occur on March 17. Erinn Rowe, Harvest Hope chief executive officer, made the announcement Monday at the Florence Rotary Club meeting at Victors. Rowe said the move is being made possible with a generous lead gift from the Dr.s Bruce and Lee Foundation. She said they are looking for other partners in the community. At the new site, Rowe said the building is half completed. The finished portion will be used for offices and conference rooms, she said. The half that is not complete will be transformed into warehouse space. One of the main reasons, she said, for needing a new space is to increase storage capacity, especially for refrigeration and freezer storage. Rowe said this will enable the organization to provide more fresh produce and vegetables. The move will allow our program in the Pee Dee to mirror what we do in the Midlands and the Upstate already, she said. Rowe said Harvest Hope Food Bank started in 1981 as the result of a shared vision of business leaders and the faith community, who set out to provide for the hungry in Columbia. Harvest Hope now provides food for those in need across 20 counties in the Midlands, Pee Dee and Upstate. Harvest Hope partners with more than 388 agencies in the 20 country area it serves. In the Pee Dee, Rowe said it partners with approximately 150 agencies. Rowe said the organizations mission is to transform lives in the communities we serve, feeding the hungry, addressing food insecurity and building a healthy and hopeful hunger-free tomorrow. Harvest Hope partners with at risk schools, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and churches. It serves children, families, military and veterans and seniors, people who have food insecurities. Harvest Hope provides diabetic food pantry boxes, heart healthy food boxes, healthy senior food boxes, a backpack program for school-age children, onsite nutrition education and training. Rowe said all counties in the Pee Dee are at or above the state average for food insecurity. She said Dillon County is the most food insecure. Rowe said the first gift to the Pee Dee branch of Harvest Hope was given in 1997 by Dr.s Bruce and Lee Foundation. In 1988 the Pee Dee branch moved into the current facility at the Pee Dee State Farmers Market and is now partnering with more than 150 agencies in nine counties. With this new location, Rowe said it is their goal to help build a hunger-free Pee Dee, to increase their capacity to serve the community and to operate more efficiently. We want to make sure we are doing our best, she said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Florence, S.C. Good mental and physical health is critical for African Americans, panelists at Mondays Florence-Darlington Technical College Black History Month discussion said. Florence-Darlington Technical College hosted a Black History Panel on the last day of Black History Month. The panelists were all female and their occupations varied, but connected to black health and wellness. The panelists were comprised of educators, health-care workers and community partners. Students and community members gathered in the SIMT auditorium to learn about black health and wellness. When asked why this panel was important, community activist and Florence-Darlington Technical College alumni Henry Bailey Jr. and Valorie Bailey said, We are black and need to be well. We are in ministry and it is important for us to not only preach to people, but educate them on how to live a holistic life. Especially as African Americans due to the disparities and disadvantages we face. Ruth Silva, a human services student said, No matter what race you are, its important to be aware of the concerns of everyone around you. We need to be aware of different realms of thinking and concerns, so we can understand people. The panel discussed the importance of mental health and how the topic is treated as forbidden fruit in the African American Community. Most people are traumatized by the stigmas of mental health, said Angela Scott of Pee Dee Mental Health. The portrayal of mental health issues on the big screen has left African Americans terrified of being perceived as crazy. If someone comes up to you expressing concerns of mental health issues, listen to them. That should be our first step in normalizing these types of conversations in our community. This will stop people from suffering in silence and make our community whole. Mental health and physical health go hand-in-hand. If physical health is neglected, it will bleed into mental health. A 2017 article published by Rural Information Hub shows African Americans in rural areas are disproportionately affected by heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, strokes and chronic respiratory disease. When asked about COVID-19 and the fear within the African American community, Crystal Murillo, director of simulation at University of South Carolina nursing said African Americans did not trust medical professionals. She recounted times during history like the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment that contributed to the distrust. We need to acknowledge that our community is afraid and that is OK. We have to look at the numbers, more people have died that have not had the vaccine than did have the vaccine. The event concluded with the panelist giving tips to the first African American President of Florence Darlington Technical College Jermaine Ford. Scott said school should partner with Pee Dee Mental health to have resources for students available on campus. We do not have connections to any of the colleges. We have access, but we are not making those connections, she said. Murillo wanted the president to know that he mattered. This is a lot of pressure for a black man. Take care of yourself. Just as much as the community matters and the school and faculty matters. Remember that you matter too Dr. Ford, she said. Paula McLaughlin, director of Student Life and Career Development, wanted this panel to bring awareness to health and wellness and how it relates to the rural and urban communities that Florence-Darlington Technical College serves. We want to get to know the challenges, advantages, and disadvantages that our students and prospective students face daily to better serve them, she said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A rare stretch of virgin prairie has received yet another reprieve from the bulldozer, with the Federal Aviation Administration telling the Tribune that Chicago Rockford International Airport has agreed to delay construction until June 1. The airports previous agreement to refrain from construction ended Tuesday. Advertisement The airport wants to build a road through the Bell Bowl Prairie, one of the last remaining places in the state where prairie exists much as it did 8,000 years ago. Conservationists are fighting the road in the name of rare plants and animals found on the 5-acre stretch of land, including the federally endangered rusty patched bumblebee. Were not trying to stop the airport expansion, said Kerry Leigh, executive director of the Natural Land Institute, a conservation group based in Rockford. Were trying to get them to redesign the road and avoid the prairie. Advertisement Environmentalists, she said, are calling on the airport to turn what remains of the prairie into a nature preserve. Cargo planes are visible behind the Bell Bowl Prairie adjacent to Chicago Rockford International Airport on Oct. 20, 2021, in Winnebago County. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) The airport declined to comment, but the FAA said via email that airport officials have agreed to a new time frame for any possible construction. The Airport Authority has made a commitment that construction work will not begin before June 1, 2022, an FAA spokesman wrote. Leigh showed the Tribune a Feb. 16 letter from the FAA to the airport, thanking airport officials for confirming they did not immediately intend to proceed with construction in the prairie area, and outlining an environmental review process involving the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The thing theyre trying to determine at the moment is whether there are (rusty patched bumblebee) queens hibernating in the prairie, Leigh said. Rusty patched bumblebee queens hibernate underground in winter and emerge to lay eggs in spring. Endangered species laws say a habitat needs to be protected when a rare animal is on the property, but once the animal leaves, the habitat can be disturbed. The prairie, which is owned by the airport, has experienced a series of reprieves since August, when environmentalists, alerted that an area near Bell Bowl was being bulldozed, discovered the airports 280-acre expansion project. Advertisement Not long after that, on Aug. 8, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources identified the rusty patched bumblebee in the Bell Bowl area. Informed of the presence of the bee, the airport stopped construction on the project and the FAA began discussions with the Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the bumblebee and other species, according to the FAA. The airports $50 million expansion project includes a new cargo center and cargo ramps for more planes, as well as new roads and parking areas. Bell Bowl was used as a U.S. Army training camp during World Wars I and II, which protected its ancient ecosystem from grazing and plowing. The land is considered a remnant prairie, a rare throwback to the days before European settlement when buffalo roamed freely. Less than one-hundredth of 1% of the original ancient prairie has survived in Illinois, according to a white paper by John White, a former chief ecologist for The Nature Conservancy. A high quality, old-growth prairie is the Midwest equivalent of a cathedral redwood grove only far, far rarer, White wrote. Advertisement Bell Bowl is home to at least 164 species of plants, many of which are rare, and birders have found rare nesting birds such as the grasshopper sparrow. A rusty patched bumblebee specimen in the collection of Chicago's Field Museum. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) The prairies star species, the rusty patched bumblebee, has declined by 87% in the past 20 years and is likely present in 0.1% of its historical range, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. The fight to preserve Bell Bowl dates back to the 1960s, when it was championed by George Fell, founder of the natural areas movement and conservation organizations like The Nature Conservancy. Over the years, the prairie has been reduced to 5 acres from 20 acres, but it remains a rallying point for Illinois environmentalists. In October, the Illinois Environmental Council told the Tribune that environmental groups were urging citizens to send letters and make phone calls asking politicians to save the prairie. Advertisement Leigh, for her part, hopes this battle for the Bell Bowl Prairie will be the last of its kind. nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com Texas carries out its second execution of 2018 | Main | Mass molester Larry Nassar in state court for his third and final sentencing January 30, 2018 Prez Trump, in his first State of the Union address, mentions "reforming our prisons" and need to "get much tougher on drug dealers" As had been predicted (see this prior post), President Donald Trump in his very first State of the Union address said that prison reform was on his agenda for the coming year. But later in this speech, he suggested that he supported an even tougher criminal justice response to our nation's drug problem. These were both very small parts of a very long speech, and here is the context with key sentences highlighted from this official text: As America regains its strength, this opportunity must be extended to all citizens. That is why this year we will embark on reforming our prisons to help former inmates who have served their time get a second chance.... In 2016, we lost 64,000 Americans to drug overdoses: 174 deaths per day. Seven per hour. We must get much tougher on drug dealers and pushers if we are going to succeed in stopping this scourge. My Administration is committed to fighting the drug epidemic and helping get treatment for those in need. The struggle will be long and difficult but, as Americans always do, we will prevail. With these sentences and sentiments, I believe Prez Trump has defined the terms of what is truly possible on the federal criminal justice reform front in 2018. It would seem "back-end" prison reforms to facilitate earlier release from prison for all federal offenders and enhanced reentry efforts are quite possible and may truly be a priority for the Trump Administration; it would also seem that "front-end" sentencing reforms to reduce mandatory minimum terms for drug trafficking offenses many not be possible and may be actively opposed by the Trump Administration. Interesting times. A few prior recent related posts: January 30, 2018 at 11:21 PM | Permalink Comments As I have said several times, NYC liberal. Lots of worthless, quack, make work jobs for registered Democrats, working for government. Posted by: David Behar | Jan 31, 2018 8:56:12 AM Clearly, Trump already is more impressive than Obama after eight year. /snark Posted by: Joe | Jan 31, 2018 10:47:17 AM Its obvious that Trump and Sessions arent aware of the current penalties fir drug dealing. But they could make a huge contribution on Opioids if they would shutdown, McKesson and other drug compsnies from shipping the drugs nation wide to be pedaled on the streets. So far both are sadly i formed on the issue. Step 2 is to educate or threThen Drs from dishing out opioid prescrptions like its Valentines day for trivial pains at best. Step 3, get the Feds to put prosecutotial teeth in fines against these drug companies. Thats what sessions could/should be doing, not going the same make work worthless direction kf imprisoning drug addicts. Thats my story and Im stucking to it. Posted by: MidWestGuy | Jan 31, 2018 3:07:17 PM Post a comment Another SCOTUS order list with a dissent by Justice Sotomayor as only criminal justice news | Main | "The New Due Process: Fairness in a Fee-Driven State" February 28, 2022 Previewing the notable criminal drug prosecution cases before SCOTUS Tomorrow morning the Supreme Court hears oral argument in a couple of the relatively few criminal cases it will be addressing this Term. Two cases are consolidated for one argument, Ruan v. United States and Kahn v. United States, and here is the question presented: Whether a physician alleged to have prescribed controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice may be convicted of unlawful distribution under 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1) without regard to whether, in good faith, he reasonably believed or subjectively intended that his prescriptions fall within that course of professional practice. The setting for SCOTUS to be addressing this question is quite interesting and still timely, and a number of media outlets have these helpful previews: From JD Supra, "Pain Management or Pill Mill? Supreme Court to Weigh in on Standards for Prosecutions of Practitioners Prescribing Narcotics" From Law360, "DOJ Has Few Allies, Many Foes In High Court Opioid Brawl" From the New York Times, "Were These Doctors Treating Pain or Dealing Drugs?: The Supreme Court will hear from two convicted pill mill doctors in cases that could have significant implications for physicians latitude to prescribe addictive painkillers." From SCOTUSblog, "Amid overdose crisis, court will weigh physician intent in pill mill prosecutions and more under the Controlled Substances Act" From STAT, "Fight over opioid prescribing and when it turns criminal heads to Supreme Court" February 28, 2022 at 04:29 PM | Permalink Comments Ironically, if a Doctor prescribes Ivermectin or HCQ, he could be stripped of his medical license and fined hundreds of thousands of dollars. Maybe if a doctor prescribed one of these narcotics instead of those proven effective drugs, many people would view them with less guilt. Posted by: Eric Knight | Feb 28, 2022 11:34:13 PM needed to hire any criminal lawyer for criminal drug prosecution cases before SCOTUS Posted by: Johnson Alfred | Mar 1, 2022 5:47:58 AM Post a comment Previewing the notable criminal drug prosecution cases before SCOTUS | Main | Will Prez Biden say anything about any criminal justice matters during his first State of the Union address tonight? February 28, 2022 "The New Due Process: Fairness in a Fee-Driven State" The title of this post is the title of this article recently posted to SSRN authored by Glenn Harlan Reynolds and Penny White. Here is its abstract: Many parts of the criminal justice system are funded by revenue from "users" -- i.e., the accused, in the form of fines, fees, and forfeitures. Drawing on both existing Supreme Court authority and recent Court of Appeals decisions, we argue that a violation of due process exists when all participants in the criminal justice system, from police to court clerks, to prosecutors and judges, depend on revenues from pleas and convictions in order to function. Instead, we argue that due process demands that the criminal justice system be funded in ways that are not affected by the rate of arrest and conviction. February 28, 2022 at 06:39 PM | Permalink Comments While I'm somewhat sympathetic, there's a distinction to be drawn here between cost recovery and profiteering. And there are some charges that could financially incentivize convictions vs. some that cannot. For example, the article mentions jail fees. Whether or not you think those fees are a good idea, it's not clear how a jail fee limited to cost recovery could create bias in an adjudicator as the jurisdiction doesn't financially benefit from jailing people. Same for probation fees, ignition interlock fees, or other fees that are limited to cost recovery. Posted by: Jason | Mar 1, 2022 12:38:24 AM Post a comment Will Prez Biden say anything about any criminal justice matters during his first State of the Union address tonight? | Main | Will the US Supreme Court be interested in any issues being pressed by Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof? March 1, 2022 Why is getting the EQUAL Act through the US Senate proving so challenging? In this post six weeks ago on MLK day, I asked "How about passing the EQUAL Act so we can be 'free at last' from the crack/powder sentencing disparity?". I noted in this prior post that the Senate version of the EQUAL Act has garnered seven notable and diverse GOP Senators as co-sponsors, and that this comes after last Fall the Act was passed by the US House by a vote of 361-66 with a majority of GOP Representative voting in favor. These matters are on my mind particularly today after seeing this new DOJ press release headed "Readout of Justice Department Leadership Meeting with FAMM." Here is an excerpt (with my emphasis added): The meeting focused on the positive real-world impact of the finalization of the First Step Act Time Credit Rule, and the recent memorandum by the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) concerning home confinement, as well as the need for Congress to pass the EQUAL Act. The department has strongly urged Congress to pass the EQUAL ACT, which would reduce the disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine sentences from 18:1 to 1:1. The Attorney General emphasized that meetings like these are vitally important to help department leadership understand how its policies on paper affect people and their communities. During her remarks, Deputy Attorney General Monaco spoke about the importance of implementing the First Step Act and the Time Credit Rule and praised the work of FAMM. She noted that as of this month, thousands of people are returning to their communities having put in the work to do so. In Associate Attorney General Guptas opening remarks, she reiterated the importance of hearing from individuals directly impacted by the criminal justice system and shared that the department provided written testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of the EQUAL Act in June 2021, saying, the current sentencing differential between crack and powder cocaine is not based in evidence and yet has caused significant harm in particular to communities of color. Its past time to correct this. I strongly agree that it is long past time to fix the crack/powder disparity, and every day matters: on average, every single workday, about 5 people 4 whom are typically black and the other who is most likely Latino are sentenced based on unjust crack sentencing rules in federal court. Consequently, I continue to be deeply troubled that, nearly six months after the US House overwhelmingly voted with majorities in both parties in pass a bill to equalize crack and powder penalties, this bipartisan bill remains stuck in neutral in the US Senate. Sigh. A few related posts on the EQUAL Act: March 1, 2022 at 01:14 PM | Permalink Comments I am a family member..reading everything I can find related to passing the Equal Act..watching FAMM with guest speakers etc..this is ALL TALK! Its ALL B.S. & thats a shame..Im just grateful that my family member has been accepted into a great faith-based program! So even though he may not be coming home he will be moving forward in a positive direction.. Posted by: Flo Domijan | Mar 7, 2022 9:16:48 AM Whats taking so long for the senate to pass the bill seems all talk to me Posted by: Tierra Roddy | Apr 19, 2022 5:31:59 PM Post a comment "The New Due Process: Fairness in a Fee-Driven State" | Main | Why is getting the EQUAL Act through the US Senate proving so challenging? March 1, 2022 Will Prez Biden say anything about any criminal justice matters during his first State of the Union address tonight? As is this blog's focus, I tend to focus most of my attention during presidential State of the Union addresses on whether the President focuses any attention on criminal justice issues. More often than not over the nearly 20 years of this blog, I come away disappointed (but not especially surprised) that no mention gets made of the issues that are central to this blog. But, providing a notable reminder of the different world we lived in not all long ago, it may at this moment be worth recalling that Prez Trump in SotU 2018 talked about "reforming our prisons" and need to "get much tougher on drug dealers" and in SotU 2019 gave considerable attention to criminal justice reform after having just signed the FIRST STEP Act. Circa early 2022, with a war on-going in Europe and and a pandemic and economic worries still very fresh at home, I would be quite surprised if any criminal justice reform issues get serious mention tonight. That said, this is technically the first SotU since George Floyd's murder touched off nationwide protests about police practices, and we still appear to be in the midst of an increase in murders in many parts of the country and in the midst of an increase in public concerns about crime more generally. In addition, I do expect Prez Biden to say many good things about his new SCOTUS nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, and that might necessarily include comments about he rich criminal justice professional background. So, dear readers, do you think Prez Biden will say anything about criminal justice matters tonight? Do you think he should and if so, what should he say? March 1, 2022 at 09:29 AM | Permalink Comments Could we see a paragraph or two? Maybe. The SoTU is a very long speech with a laundry list of legislative items. It's become the U.S. equivalent of the speech from the throne that opens sessions of parliament in Commonwealth countries. Of course, the key difference is that the speech from the throne represents the intended plans of the majority party which means that many of the items in those speeches actually become law or policy. The SoTU represents the wish list of one official. So while mention may garner attention to some issues, what really matters is whether the members of Congress actually make a serious effort to follow-up on those mentions. The folks over at 538 have a chart on how many of the items mentioned in the SoTU actually become law and the percentage is rather dismal. In today's politics, mention in the SoTU may actually hinder the chances of significant legislation passing by making the idea part of the president's agenda (which then becomes anathema to folks in the other party) and takes it out of behind the scene negotiations between legislators who, for different reasons, see a need for change. Posted by: tmm | Mar 1, 2022 10:28:15 AM He should be explaining how Hunter got away with tax evasion and lying on a gun purchase application. Posted by: Federalist | Mar 1, 2022 10:48:52 AM Here's something he could say: "The surge in murder over the last two years was unprecedented, and was the surge in drug overdose deaths. We cannot in conscience simply look away from these lethal problems, which disproportionately harm black people. Fortunately, we know how to do better. When I was Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee during Bill Clinton's presidency, we adopted and advanced policies with strong bi-partisan support that, over the next 20 years, helped to dramatically reduce crime. We succeeded once with these sober and realistic approaches and we can do so again. I challenge Congress to restore the path to success -- and to safer, more habitable communities -- that we followed not so long ago." Chances that he will say this, although every word is true, = 0. The strong pro-criminal element on the Left won't permit it. Posted by: Bill Otis | Mar 1, 2022 5:47:16 PM He actually got somewhat close to what you suggested, Bill. Your Georgetown party connections sure are strong. Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 1, 2022 10:25:09 PM Doug -- Ron Klain and I go to the same gym. Well, not really. But when you've been hanging around this town as long as I have, you get to know lots of people. Posted by: Bill Otis | Mar 1, 2022 11:26:45 PM Post a comment By Foo Yun Chee and John Chalmers BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Alphabet unit Google and its subsidiary YouTube, Facebook and Twitter must do more to tackle disinformation related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the premiers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia said. In a joint letter to the chief executives of the four companies dated Feb. 27, the four prime ministers criticised the U.S. tech giants, saying what they have done so far is inadequate. "Although the online platforms have undertaken significant efforts to address the Russian government's unprecedented assault on truth, they have not done enough," they said in the letter. "Russia's disinformation has been tolerated on online platforms for years; they are now an accessory to the criminal war of aggression the Russian government is conducting against Ukraine and the free world." They urged the companies to proactively suspend accounts denying, glorifying or justifying wars of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity. They also urged the tech giants to suspend the official accounts of Russian and Belarusian government institutions, state-controlled media and personal accounts of the countries' leadership and their associates that consistently disseminate disinformation about the situation in Ukraine. The countries called on the companies to prevent Russian state-controlled media from circumventing restrictions imposed by several national regulators against them. The online platforms should adjust their search and recommendation algorithms to inform users of disinformation and immediately demonetise all accounts controlled by the Russian and Belarusian governments, they said. Facebook referred to a Sunday tweet by its vice-president Nick Clegg which said the company was reviewing other government requests to restrict Russian state-controlled media. It will continue to label and fact-check these outlets as well as prohibit ads and demonetise their accounts globally, the tweet added. Story continues Google and Twitter did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Russian state-controlled news service Sputnik said on Monday its Polish site was no longer available to users, and that Youtube had subsequently banned its account in Poland. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington, D.C; Editing by Jan Harvey) LONDON New details have been revealed ahead of the July 2 opening of the Victoria and Albert Museums major exhibition Africa Fashion, which aims to highlight the continents global impact and spark a renegotiation of the geography of fashion, according to Christine Checinska, the museums senior curator of African and African diaspora textiles and fashion. More than 250 objects will be showcased, about half of them drawn from the museums collection, including 70 new acquisitions. The exhibition will feature stories behind the pieces alongside personal insights from the designers, together with sketches, editorial spreads, photographs, film and catwalk footage. More from WWD The selections will represent 45 designers from more than 20 countries across the continent. A selection of garments to be on display will come from the personal archives of a group of mid-20th-century African designers Shade Thomas-Fahm, Chris Seydou, Kofi Ansah and Alphadi, marking the first time their work will be shown in a London museum. IAmIsigo, fall 2020 - Credit: Courtesy Courtesy The exhibition will also highlight influential contemporary African fashion creatives including Imane Ayissi, IAmIsigo, Moshions, Thebe Magugu and Sindiso Khumalo. The South Africa-based Magugu, winner of the LVMH Prize in 2019, said documenting and showcasing the history and culture of his kind visually is important to the fashion industry, which is often criticized for a lack of diversity. Its so often that our story has been told by other people and I feel like now more than ever, African designers are really in charge of their own narrative and telling people authentic stories. Not these sort of imagined utopias, he added. Artsi, the Morocco-based designer behind Maison ArtC, who designed a piece specifically for the exhibition, thinks that Africa Fashion means the past, the future and the present at the same time. The joy of life and the joy of color are completely different and very particular to the continent. Story continues Omoyemi Akerele, founder of Lagos Fashion Week and Style House Files, believes that African fashion reaches far beyond the designers. Theres a whole ecosystem. There are models and makeup artists, photographers, illustrators. Imagine bringing everybodys work to life season in, season out, bringing fashion that is created by our people for our people, and for the benefits of growing and developing our economy. What could be even more special than that? Alphadi dress, circa 1993. - Credit: Courtesy Courtesy Checinska told WWD in an earlier interview that she adopted an open, collaborative approach to the curation of the exhibition. The museum made a public callout last year to anyone who has clothes by Sydou, Ansah or Thomas-Fahm, personal testimonies to share, family portraits, or made-to-order garments that showcase African and African diasporic fashion from the years of African independence to the modern day. The results of the callout are photography from 10 families, an Alphadi dress of cotton and brass gifted to the museum by the designer and the new piece from Maison ArtC. The exhibition provides a great opportunity to re-frame some of our historic textiles within the context of contemporary fashion.We wanted to capture personal stories that bring the exhibits to life. The foregrounding of multiple African perspectives and voices is a key guiding principle that informs all aspects of Africa Fashion,' she added. Related: Victoria & Albert Museum Plans a Major African Fashion Exhibition for 2022 Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. STORY: Wearing elaborate costumes, dancers twirled through Bolivia's capital as dozens of musicians and bands performed traditional carnival dances. While much smaller than Rio's famed, flamboyant carnival, the festivities in Bolivia are filled with color, dance and music. Carnvial attracts thousands of tourists to witness the unique fusion of indigenous traditions and colonial Catholicism. SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Call it a three-peat. Tuesday morning, business representatives and elected officials from across Siouxland gathered at the Marriott Riverfront in South Sioux City to hear a speech from outgoing Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and to learn that, for a third straight year and tenth time overall, the tri-state area has been named a top spot for economic development by "Site Selection" magazine. In sharing the news, Adam Bruns, the publication's managing editor, said: "The spike of projects (in Siouxland) is really tremendous." A press release for the event noted that one contributor to the designation was Ag Processing Inc.'s $71.5 million expansion of its soybean crushing plant at Port Neal near Sergeant Bluff. Multiple executives for the company, including CEO Chris Schaffer, were in attendance for the announcement. Bruns said Site Selection makes its designations by counting projects that include: new construction, have at least $1 million invested, add 20,000 new square feet of space and create 20 jobs or more. During his time at the podium, Ricketts, who was introduced by Siouxland Initiative Chair Mike Wells, shouted out AGP and said his state saw record years for corn and soybean production. While folks ate their muffins and rolls, Ricketts went on to note that Nebraska was in competition with South Dakota for highest workforce participation rates in the country. "When you have great job opportunities, kids are taken care of," Ricketts said. Because of Nebraska's current economic activity, Ricketts said it's an opportune time to give money back to people by: offering property tax and Social Security "relief" and by taking tax rates to below 6%. Of those plans, the governor said: "When we can be more competitive on taxes, it drives us to do better." Looking forward, Ricketts said the state would need to continue to find more people to participate in its workforce. To do that, Ricketts pitched the idea of further bolstering apprenticeship programs and working closely with community college students. At one point, Ricketts even singled out the work South Sioux City Community Schools had done in preparing their students for future work. The Sioux City metro area has ranked first in the nation for development in its population category (under 200,000) in 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020. "This award is collective recognition of the collaboration and cooperation that our Siouxland tri-state area and The Siouxland Initiative have promoted for nearly three decades," Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Chris McGowan said. Jared McNett is an online editor and reporter for the Sioux City Journal. You can reach him at 712-293-4234 and follow him on Twitter @TwoHeadedBoy98. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Burr Ridge businessman pleaded guilty Tuesday to swindling as much as $2.6 million from hospitals seeking coveted protective gear in the traumatic early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, then blowing much of it on credit cards, two Maseratis and a Range Rover. Dennis Haggerty, 46, pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering during a hearing before U.S. District Judge John Kness. Preliminary sentencing guidelines call for up to about four years in prison, and prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of about $2.57 million in allegedly ill-gotten gains. Advertisement According to Haggertys plea agreement with prosecutors, the scheme began in March 2020, when Haggerty and two business partners formed At Diagnostics and contracted with two hospitals to provide as many as 1 million N95 face masks in exchange for $5 million. One of the hospitals, identified only as Hospital A, was located in Chicago. The other, Hospital B, was previously identified by the Tribune as the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Advertisement According to the plea agreement, on March 31, 2020, the Chicago hospital deposited $2.5 million into a bank account that was supposedly the companys but was controlled only by Haggerty. Beginning the next day, Haggerty withdrew and spent the funds for his personal use, including nearly $150,000 in cash that he took out in increments under $10,000 to avoid federal currency reporting requirements, according to the plea. Haggerty also used more than $132,000 in hospital funds to buy a 2013 Maserati GranTurismo, a 2015 Range Rover, and a 2017 Maserati Ghibli, paid $20,000 to a friend, and made about $190,000 in credit card payments, according to the plea. In April, after At Diagnostics had failed to deliver a single mask, Hospital A demanded a refund. In response, Haggerty falsely stated that his bank had no record of the hospitals wire transfer and that the bank was in the process of trying to get to the bottom of the issue, according to the plea. Confronted by his two business partners about the missing funds, Haggerty altered a bank statement to make it appear the money was never received, the plea stated. Meanwhile, in June 2020, after the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics entered into a contract with At Diagnostics for 500,000 N95 masks, the hospitals payment system inadvertently released $933,825 to Haggerty before any masks had been received, the plea stated. Instead of returning the money, Haggerty used some of it to repay what hed taken from Hospital A and spent another portion on himself, according to the plea. No masks were ever shipped to Hospital B, and as of this month, Haggerty had not paid back any of that money. The charges against Haggerty represented the single biggest case of fraud to arise in the Chicago area out of the pandemic. Advertisement Among the others: An Elgin restaurant owner accused of obtaining a PPP loan even though shed closed the restaurant and terminated all of her employees; the owner of an Evanston-based technology company accused of falsifying paperwork seeking a $441,000 PPP loan; a south suburban businessman who allegedly was given more than $420,000 even though his company had no employees or ongoing operations; and a North Shore businessman accused of illegally price gouging customers seeking to buy protective masks. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Joshua Currier, 31, pleaded guilty in October in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Currier conspired with others from January 2020 through February 2021 to sell at least 5 kilograms of meth. Currier also traded a 9mm pistol and meth and gave it to another person to settle a drug debt. Because of Currier's previous felony convictions, he was prohibited from possessing guns. WALTHILL, Neb. -- Construction of a new church in Walthill can move forward now that a lengthy legal battle between church and village leaders has ended. A federal judge has signed a consent decree to finalize a negotiated settlement that will put to rest Light of the World Gospel Ministries' contentions that the Walthill village board violated the church's First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly by passing zoning laws designed to discriminate against the church and denying its building permit applications for construction of a new worship center on Main Street. Light of the World also had argued the village board's denial of building, demolition and special use permits for removal of four vacant buildings to clear space for the new worship center treated the church unequally compared with nonreligious entities. "The church is thrilled with the resolution and now being able to minister more effectively," said Roger Byron, an attorney at First Liberty Institute, a Texas-based legal organization that represented Light of the World in the lawsuit. Under terms of the agreement, the village's insurer has paid a $500,000 settlement to be divided among law firms that worked on the case, and the village board has approved the necessary permits clearing the way for construction of the church. The church agreed to include two businesses in its new building. Current plans call for a cafe and bookstore. The church also agreed that if it builds a new structure on two lots adjacent to the planned worship center in the future, that building also must include one or two businesses or a community youth center. "It's really a win-win for everyone, the village thinks. The church gets its church, and the village gets businesses within its commercial district," said Matt Munderloh, the village's attorney. As part of the agreement, reached after months of mediation and negotiations, the village admits no wrongdoing. Byron said he expects the church to move forward with demolition and construction in the near future. Light of the World, which describes itself on its website as a diverse and multicultural nondenominational Christian congregation, has been located at 214 Main St. in Walthill since 2007. As the congregation continued to grow, the building became too small and, church leaders said, dangerous because of the partial collapse of an adjacent building. The church first applied for a building permit in 2013 after buying four vacant buildings across the street with the intention of demolishing them and building a new worship center. The church filed suit in federal court in Omaha in July 2018, saying that the village had inconsistently enforced its zoning laws to prevent construction of the church within the commercial district. The church argued that during the same time, the village board approved construction of nonreligious places of assembly, including a library and an education center, in the same zoning district. The U.S. Department of Justice sued the village in February 2020 for violating a federal law intended to protect religious institutions from burdensome or discriminatory land use regulations. The Justice Department on Friday announced it had settled the lawsuit. Among the settlement terms, village officials must obtain training on the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, or RLUIPA. "RLUIPA protects the right of every religious community to worship free from unlawful burdens. We will not tolerate the unlawful use of zoning or land use restrictions to infringe on that right," Jan Sharp, U.S. Attorney for the Nebraska District, said in a news release. The building next to the church was demolished in 2019 and is now the site of a dialysis center operated by the Carl T. Curtis Health Education Center in Macy, Nebraska. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY The process of finding a new Sioux City schools superintendent has officially begun. Superintendent Paul Gausman was selected to be the next Lincoln Public Schools superintendent. His last day in Sioux City is June 30. School board president Dan Greenwell said the board is in the process of seeking proposals from superintendent search firms to lead the process. Because of the tight timeline to find a new superintendent, Greenwell said the board is considering all options, including a potential interim superintendent. He said this is a very busy time for the search firms, with many districts seeking a new superintendent. Once a firm is selected, the board will follow their guidance on how to proceed. The community, administration and staff will be engaged in the process, Greenwell added. Gausman, who'd been Sioux City's superintendent for 14 years, landed his "dream job" in his home state of Nebraska following the retirement of Lincoln superintendent Steve Joel, who announced in September that he would step down after 37 years. This just happened to be the year and I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to apply, interview and be selected, Gausman said at a press conference in Sioux City last Wednesday. Several board members congratulated Gausman on his new position during Monday's school board meeting. Board member Perla Alarcon-Flory said Gausman was someone who was willing to work together with the parents, students and the community. She said she is sad to see him leave, but thanked him for his work with the district. Gausman said he has grown to love Siouxland and the people in the community. I pledge to this community that I intend to finish well here, he said. Weve got a lot of things in the works right now and I intend to keep working forward on those things and to not be distracted as I do that work. This community, these students, deserves no less. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY In an attempt to attract more teachers and staff, the Sioux City Community School District is offering up to $5,000 in recruitment bonuses. We need new employees and doing what we were doing, and have been doing, probably is not going to work in this market, so we have to try something different, board president Dan Greenwell said. Doing nothing is not an option. Teachers who are hired since Jan. 1 will receive a $5,000 hiring bonus over two years, or $2,500 per year. Former Sioux City teachers and permanent substitute teachers who are hired will receive a $2,500 stipend; and certain SCESPA para educators, food service workers and bus drivers will receive $1,000 divided into three payments over one year. The school board unanimously approved the stipends Monday. Lisa Banks of the Sioux City Education Association, the union that represents the district's teachers, said she supports the new hires receiving the bonus, but added the district also needs to be focused on teacher retention. She said there are 583 teachers with 10 years or less experience in the district and 487 teachers with more than 11 years with the district, 93 of those have been with the district for more than 25 years. "We're not looking at a good balance there," she said. Brenda Zahner of the Iowa State Education Association asked for the topic to be placed in the ongoing collective bargaining with the district for a new contract. She also asked the board to consider rewarding current employees. New teachers receive their first paycheck at the end of September. Board member Bob Michaelson said if new teachers are moving to the area, the first $2,500 could help pay rent and buy food before their first paycheck. Greenwell said the board will work with human resources to determine the payment timing. The recruitment stipends will be paid from the district's share of the Education and Secondary School Relief funding, with $600,000 currently allocated. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Argosy University students prepare to leave the campus after they learned the school is closing for good, March 7, 2019. (Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune) Attorneys general from 10 states, including Illinois, announced an agreement Monday to cancel $2.1 million in student debt following the abrupt closing of Argosy University in 2019. The private university shut down its campuses in 11 states amid allegations of financial mismanagement, giving students mere days to acquire their official transcripts in hopes of transferring elsewhere to finish their degrees and leaving them debt from predatory private loans, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a statement Monday. Advertisement Students of Argosy University, through no fault of their own, have been left with debt and even negative credit ratings but not the degrees they were promised, Raoul said. I am pleased with this agreement that provides some relief to those students and holds Argosy accountable to the students abandoned when the school abruptly closed. At time it closed in 2019, about 700 students attended Argosys Chicago campus, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. The agreement announced Monday includes nearly $90,000 of relief for Illinois students who attended classes online or at Argosys Chicago or Schaumburg campuses. The agreement also halts any negative credit reporting that may result from their debt. Advertisement Argosy University announced the school was closing for good, March 7, 2019. (Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune) Raoul alleged that Dream Center Education Holdings Argosys parent company at the time it closed misrepresented the school to prospective students by falsely calling it a nonprofit university. The institution capitalized on its misleading marketing to issue institutional loan debt to enrolled students, according to the agreement. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. About a week before Argosy closed, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would no longer provide the school financial aid, citing the schools mismanagement of millions of dollars to cover payroll and other expenses instead of giving the money to students. The federal education department also denied Dream Centers previous request to convert Argosy from a for-profit to a nonprofit university. Argosys financial mismanagement was a grievous breach of the universitys responsibility, the department said. The institution ultimately entered federal receivership, a process similar to bankruptcy where a court-appointed receiver manages the property. That led to a change in ownership of the institutional student debt, and the attorneys general reached the debt-cancelation agreement with those new owners. The agreement will be filed in the Ohio federal court overseeing the receivership. The nonprofit Dream Center acquired the chains of schools operating under the names Argosy University, South University and the Art Institute (which is not connected to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago), in 2017. In March 2020, Raouls office entered a settlement with Dream Center to cancel more than $2.15 million in student debt and refund more than $37,000 to Illinois residents who attended Illinois Institute of Art and were deceived about the schools accreditation status. The school also had a troubled history under its previous owner, Education Management Corp. In 2011, then-Attorney General Lisa Madigan sued the company over alleged consumer fraud. The company ultimately agreed to pay a $95.5 million settlement in 2015. Advertisement cspaulding@chicagotribune.com China-Africa trade reaches all-time high in 2021, showing resilience amid pandemic Xinhua) 07:44, March 01, 2022 * China has maintained its position as the largest investor in Africa over the last 10 years. * The African economy's improvement in 2021 was mainly due to the improvement of the external environment, especially the active support of China and other markets that enhanced Africa's export capacity. * China created 18,562 jobs a year on average in Africa with yearly increases. * China-Africa cooperation has yielded tangible results and contributed greatly to African countries' efforts to reduce poverty, improve the investment environment, upgrade industrialization level and promote economic development. NAIROBI, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- China-Africa trade has bucked the global economic downward trend, and analysts believe it has contributed to the African economy's resilience in the face of COVID-19 challenges. Staff members check a train at Nairobi station of Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Nairobi, Kenya, March 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Yan) TOP TRADE PARTNER China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 12 consecutive years. According to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs of China, the total bilateral trade between China and Africa in 2021 reached 254.3 billion U.S. dollars, up 35.3 percent year on year, among which, Africa exported 105.9 billion dollars of goods to China, up 43.7 percent year on year. China has maintained its position as the largest investor in Africa over the last 10 years, according to a new report by Swiss-African Business Circle released in February. Photo taken on Nov. 22, 2021 shows facilities of the De Aar wind power project invested by China's Longyuan Power and its South African partners in De Aar, South Africa. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran) The United States is the second-largest investor in Africa, followed by France and Turkey, in third and fourth positions, respectively. Globally, Africa's external trade performance in 2021 was very strong. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) data in November, Africa's import and export of goods increased by 31 percent and 40 percent respectively in the third quarter of 2021. GROWING WITH CHINA The UNCTAD believes that the African economy's improvement in 2021 was mainly due to the improvement of the external environment, especially the active support of China and other markets that enhanced Africa's export capacity. Africa's trade growth has also been supported by higher commodity prices. Over the past 10 years, China created 18,562 jobs a year on average in Africa with yearly increases, said the Swiss-African Business Circle report. For example, China continued to help Zimbabwe develop its infrastructure, including telecommunications, energy, and agriculture. Major projects include the expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station, expansion of Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, and the new parliament building. Photo taken on Sept. 1, 2021 shows the construction site of the expansion project of Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Zimbabwe. (Xinhua/ Wanda) South Africa is an important trading partner of China, with bilateral trade accounting for more than one-fifth of the total China-Africa trade. In 2021, the total trade volume between China and South Africa reached 54.35 billion dollars, with a year-on-year growth of 50.7 percent. In the same year, Chinese investment in South Africa reached 280 million dollars, including 130 million dollars in non-financial investment and 150 million dollars in financial investment. IMPETUS FOR RECOVERY "At present, countries around the world are still faced with the two arduous tasks of epidemic prevention and control and economic recovery. The high-quality development of China's economy has provided impetus and confidence for global and African economic recovery," said Chen Mingjian, Chinese ambassador to Tanzania. According to the International Monetary Fund, China's gross domestic product (GDP) accounted for 18 percent of the world economy in 2021, and its contribution to world economic development has been steadily increasing year after year. At the same time, China's steady economic growth is also bringing more development opportunities to boost African countries' economic recovery. "In 2021, compared with the previous year, Ethiopia's exports to China increased by 8 percent; new foreign direct investment (FDI) from Chinese companies to Ethiopia grew by 346 percent; the value of newly signed contract projects by Chinese companies in Ethiopia were up 25 percent," said Zhao Zhiyuan, Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have played a key role in China-Africa cooperation. A staff member is seen during the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Sept. 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) According to a report by Africa Policy Institute, a pan-African think tank, since the BRI was proposed in 2013, China has supported modern infrastructure projects such as railways, roads, ports, dams, industries, and digital connectivity, injecting vitality into Kenya's growth. "In less than a decade, Kenya has a brand new 670-kilometer modern Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connecting the port of Mombasa and the inland (dry) port of Naivasha," said the report titled "Shared Prosperity: Tracking the Belt and Road Initiative in Kenya, 2018-2021." "The FOCAC, established in 2000, is a continuation and distillation of China-Africa friendship and provides a guarantee for high-level China-Africa relations in the new century," said Humphrey Moshi, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam. "Since 2000, under the guidance of FOCAC, China-Africa cooperation has yielded more fruitful results. In 2019, China's stock of direct investment in Africa reached 49.1 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of nearly 100 times since 2000," said Moshi. China has helped Africa build the African Union Conference Center, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, and other large-scale infrastructure projects, and conducted close cooperation with Africa in science, education, culture, health, and other fields. China-Africa cooperation has yielded tangible results and contributed greatly to African countries' efforts to reduce poverty, improve the investment environment, upgrade industrialization level and promote economic development. "Despite difficulties, China and Africa have made encouraging progress in discussing practical measures to tackle the epidemic and restore economic development under the framework of the FOCAC. This once again shows that China-Africa cooperation has been moving in the right direction and has made solid efforts to help Africa achieve sustainable development," said Moshi. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will not be running for mayor against Lori Lightfoot in the 2023 election, he announced on Tuesday. Duncan, 57, runs Chicago CRED, a nonprofit aimed at violence prevention. Before that, Duncan served as President Barack Obamas education secretary and CEO of Chicago Public Schools. He had been considering a run for months but ruled it out today, saying in a statement, I am exactly where I need to be, doing the work I love. Advertisement Shortly after announcing via Twitter that he wouldnt run, Duncan told the Tribune he made the decision because he couldnt walk away from the work Im doing on anti-violence initiatives with Chicago youth. Advertisement Arne Duncan speaks during a news conference at the Breakthrough Urban Ministries FamilyPlex on Nov. 1, 2021. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Lightfoot has not formally announced her reelection campaign but is widely expected to seek a second term. Her political team has recently started hiring for key positions and she has been raising money, though she has also burned through more campaign cash than shes collected since shortly after winning office two and a half years ago. Asked whether hell back another candidate, Duncan said hell work with anyone whos serious about making our city safer. That doesnt preclude him backing Lightfoot despite his consistent criticism of the direction of the city under her stewardship, according to Duncan. Thats not what I said. Our kids deserve so much better, he said. But couldnt he do more to fight violence as mayor than as the leader of a nonprofit? Trust me, I understand the levers and the power of being mayor, Duncan said. But in the end, somebody has to do the work, and Im where I need to be to do that. Im laser-focused on breaking the cycle of violence in this city, and ready to work with anybody who can help with that work. Family considerations werent a factor in deciding not to run, Duncan said. My family was fully supportive of my decision, whatever it was, he said. In a statement Tuesday, Lightfoot praised Duncan and his work, saying hes dedicated himself to public service, and over the arc of his career contributed to our citys well being in important ways. Advertisement The work hes doing now to build community-based solutions to violence is important, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Chicago CRED and the other street outreach and intervention organizations and initiatives across our city, Lightfoot said. We all agree that the priority is to make sure every resident, regardless of zip code, experiences safe and peaceful neighborhoods, and I will work with all people of good will focused on that objective. Lightfoots tenure as mayor has served as a crash course in crisis management, from the COVID-19 pandemic and destructive civil unrest to a teachers strike and skyrocketing violent crime. Her relationship with aldermen has also been rocky, dating back to her very first day as mayor. Public safety figures to be a key campaign issue as crime has increased significantly over the past two years. Challengers said to be weighing bids against Lightfoot include Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner, Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Stacy Davis Gates, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, South Side Ald. Roderick Sawyer, downtown Ald. Brian Hopkins and former city Building Commissioner Judy Frydland. DES MOINES -- The Iowa House on Monday voted 57-36, mostly along party lines, to approve a bill prohibiting public and private schools, colleges and licensed day care centers from requiring a COVID-19 immunization as a condition of enrollment. The bills sponsor, Rep. Henry Stone, R-Forest City, offered no reason for imposing the mandate on those businesses and institutions. Currently, only Grinnell College requires a COVID-19 vaccination. None of Iowas of Iowas K-12 private schools, community colleges, regents institutions or private colleges require a COVID-19 vaccine. Rep. Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City, said she thought majority Republicans wanted government to stay out of running private businesses. For that reason and for the safety of our kids, she encouraged a no vote on the bill that was supported by groups opposing vaccination and mask mandates, VALOR Iowa, Informed Choice Iowa. Associations representing nurses, pediatricians, and public health opposed the bill. House File 2298 would prevent a requirement for a COVID-19 immunization for enrollment before July 1, 2029, regardless of whether a student attended in-person or remotely. Democrats argued the bill will take away local control from school districts, licensed day cares and colleges to require immunizations against COVID-19 vaccines as safe and effective in combating the spread of the disease. They also said the bill would discourage the use of COVID-19 vaccinations. For community health, they said, Iowa needs as many people as possible vaccinated. As of last month, nearly 61 percent of Iowans have received the vaccination, making Iowa 26th among the states and Washington. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 DES MOINES In a symbolic gesture of support for the Ukrainian people who are under Russian attack, Gov. Kim Reynolds has directed the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division to remove any Russian-produced alcoholic liquor products from its wholesale purchase list. Her order is unlikely to have much impact in Iowa even though Iowans purchased 2,024,662 gallons of vodka through the ABD in 2021. In the top 10 brands by gallons sold, there are five brands of vodka Titos, Hawkeye, McCormick, Smirnoff and Five OClock. Russian vodkas account for a very small portion of overall sales, spokesman Tyler Ackerson said Monday. Over the past 12 months, the sale of Russian vodka has totaled about $95,000 out of more than $93 million in vodka sales. Whiskey, led by Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey, is the drink of choice for Iowans based on ABDs gallons sold 2,117,237 in 2021. Sales of whiskey exceeded $168 million, according to ABDs annual report. Very few brands imported to the United States still are produced in Russia. Smirnoff vodka, for example, traces its roots to Moscow, but is distilled in the U.S. Stoli, which basically translates into capital city because it originated in Moscow, is distilled in Latvia as well as Russia and has its headquarters in Luxembourg, a NATO country. ABD has only three Russian vodkas permanently listed Russian Standard Original Vodka, Russian Standard Platinum Vodka and Hammer + Sickle Vodka, Ackerson said. Another three are considered special order on hand listing Russian Standard Imperia Vodka, Zu Bison Grass Vodka and Quadro Vodka. ABD has several Russian vodkas listed as special order. While Russian-made products that will no longer be available for purchase from the state wholesale operation, retailers are not required to cease sales of those products. Some retailers, bars and restaurants already have stopped offering Russian products in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Iowa is one of 17 states that controls the sale of alcoholic liquor at the wholesale level. Under Iowa law, ABD has the authority to determine the brands of alcoholic liquor products available for sale to retailers. Alcoholic liquor is sold by ABD to off-premises retailers, who then sell the products directly to consumers or to on-premises retailers, such as bars and restaurants. In issuing the order, Reynolds joins the governors of Utah, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania in making the symbolic gesture of support for Ukraine. Reynolds also has called for Iowa Sister States to end its relationship with Stavropol Krai, Russia, and provide recommendations for enhancing its sister state relationship with Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine. More information on the delisting of Russian products will be available at the ABD website on or before March 1. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Republican politicians may think they have a winning issue in banning controversial books from schools, but new polling says otherwise. It indicates that more than 80% of Americans oppose removing books from school shelves due to content involving race or other controversial issues. It means that Democrats (and Republicans, for that matter) who oppose such bans will not only be doing the right thing but will also be doing the politically savvy thing. The trend toward book bans in schools is one of the GOPs more disturbing culture-war assaults of late. While activists have targeted some materials based on obscenity or violence, far more of what theyre trying to remove are books they fear will make students (or their parents) uncomfortable by accurately recounting historical facts about slavery, or discussing race in the context of current events. They dont want students learning facts about history or society that may not line up with hard-right ideology, in other words. The fact that this wide net has captured such serious and important works as Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, recently pulled from the shelves in Wentzville, says all thats necessary about the illegitimacy of the whole endeavor. The school board rescinded that decision on Friday. Some Republican politicians clearly think they have a winning issue with middle America. And it appears many Democrats agree with them, judging by how skittish they have been in directly confronting the book-banning efforts. But a new CBS News/YouGov poll indicates Democrats should perhaps be talking more about this issue, rather than just trying to duck the subject. The poll asked whether adult respondents believe books should ever be banned from schools based on specific types of content like racial discussion, depictions of slavery, criticism of U.S. history or political ideas you disagree with. Between 83% and 87% of respondents said they would oppose the yanking of books from schools based on those types of content. In an important rebuke to the conservative claim that learning about race in America would make white students feel guilty, just 23% of the polls respondents agreed. Similarly, just 16% agreed with the conservative trope that learning about race would diminish racial tolerance. Meanwhile, 68% said teaching about race would make students understand what others went through. Numbers like those are far more lopsided than the usual Democrat-Republican split among voters meaning even many Republicans recognize that the GOPs book-banning rationales dont hold water. The strategy of Republican book-banning efforts counts on Democrats being cowed by fears they will look radical or woke if they oppose such bans. But numbers like these indicate that, in fact, its these ideologically driven book bans that are unpopular among average Americans as they should be. What could be more American, after all, than ensuring future generations can assess the nations sometimes-troubling past and face the often-controversial present with facts on their side and eyes wide open? Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The German National Tourist Office is encouraging travelers from the United States to visit the country this year, showcasing its sustainability, responsibility and cultural sites in exciting new ways. According to Amrei Gold, head of public relations for the GNTO, Americans comprise the majority of international travelers to Germany. With approximately 40 million Americans who claim German heritage, the most popular reason for visiting Germany for leisure trips is heritage travel. Overall, Germany is the third most popular destination for Americans to visit, with the United Kingdom and France coming in first and second. With desire for international travel expected to grow more this year than in the past two years, the GNTO is preparing several exciting new ways for travelers to interact with and learn more about Germany before they even arrive. One of these new ways is a microsite dedicated to educating travelers on barrier-free accommodations and attractions in Germany. From mobility differences to neurodivergence and more, the GNTO has created approved lists of accommodations, attractions and information for travelers with disabilities and their families. Similarly, its published another microsite dedicated to sustainable and responsible travel within Germany, with a list of the most sustainable accommodations, attractions, travel methods, cities and more. Did you know Berlin is a vegan and vegetarian food mecca? It even hosts an annual vegan and vegetarian food festival each year and is home to the first-ever all-vegan grocery store chain! The tourism organization is also currently in the voting stage of the new Top 100 Sights and Attractions in Germany; travelers who have visited the country can vote for their favorites now through June 30, when the list of the top 100 will be published. Additionally, GNTO is working to create educational experiences for travelers using technology and social media. A new augmented reality program now allows people to place themselves into Germanys most popular castles and palaces using AR technology on their cell phones! Users can take selfies in a digital Neuschwanstein Castle, take quizzes on Moritzburg Castles history and more. Americans can enter Germany provided they have proof of full vaccination, a recent recovery or a recent negative COVID-19 test. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On Monday morning, the Supreme Courts Republican-appointed justices deployed a series of made-up rules to override the Clean Air Act and hobble the Biden administrations regulation of greenhouse gases. Their arguments, which dragged on for two hours, involved very big feelings but remarkably little law. The conservative bloc appears convinced that the federal government currently has little or no authority to regulate carbon emissions at coal-fired power plants. But this conviction is based on a subjective sense of what the Environmental Protection Agency should be able to donot what Congress authorized it to do. So while the liberal justices asked about the words of the statute, their conservative colleagues searched for some reason why those words could not possibly mean what they say. Advertisement Mondays case, West Virginia v. EPA, is the coal industrys latest assault on federal restrictions of carbon emissions at coal-fired power plants. It began in 2015, when President Barack Obamas EPA tried to limit these emissions through a regulation called the Clean Power Plan. The Supreme Court blocked the rule before it took effect. And in 2019, President Donald Trumps EPA formally repealed the Clean Power Plan, declaring it illegal and replacing it with the Affordable Clean Energy rule. (This regulation did virtually nothing, which made the coal industry very happy.) But in 2021, a federal appeals court vacated both the Clean Power Plan and the Affordable Clean Energy rule. It held that Trumps EPA relied on a mistakenly cramped reading of federal law. And it told the EPA to consider afresh to what extent it can restrict these emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Heres the upshot of that labyrinthine history: There is no current federal regulation limiting carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants. So, you might think, there is nothing for the Supreme Court to dono controversy to resolve, no regulation to evaluate. There is only the prospect of a future regulation from President Joe Bidens EPA. And the Supreme Court is not allowed to issue advisory opinions about hypothetical conflicts that may arise in the future. But it seems the conservative justices are kept awake at night by the knowledge that someday, somehow, the government might attempt to regulate power plant emissions. Theres no other reason the Supreme Court would take up this case now, rather than wait for the Biden administration to give it an actual rule to invalidate. Advertisement West Virginia v. EPA is not a live legal dispute; it is a preemptive strike. Which brings us back to its true target: the Clean Air Act, a landmark statute enacted in 1963 and amended many times since. When writing the law, Congress identified many specific pollutants that it wanted the government to control. It understood, however, that scientists would find new pollutants harmful to humans and the environment. So lawmakers directed the EPA to identify each emission from stationary sources like power plants that causes, or contributes significantly to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. (Carbon definitely qualifies.) The EPA must then set an achievable emission standard for existing plants using the best system of emission reduction. States, not the federal government, get to determine how theyll meet these new standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Technically, the fight in West Virginia v. EPA is over what counts as a best system of emission reduction. Obamas EPA read the term broadly to encompass both direct limits on power plants and broader strategies to bring down overall emissions. A cap-and-trade program, for instance, doesnt make every power plant cleaner, but it does reduce net carbon production. Increasing energy generation from renewables while decreasing generation from fossil fuelsan approach called generation shiftingachieves the same goal. The Trump administration, by contrast, read the statute narrowly. It insisted that the best system of emission reduction must apply at the source of the plant itself. So a scrubber would count, but a cap-and-trade system would not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coal industry, supported by Republican attorneys general, wants SCOTUS to adopt this crabbed interpretation of the Clean Air Act. Doing so would handcuff the EPA, preventing it from setting ambitious standards achievable through creative programs. There is a problem, though: As Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan explained over and over again on Wednesday, this limitation does not exist in the statute. The Clean Air Act speaks of a system of reductions, not a technological fix. Coal lawyers dont just want to reinterpret the law; they want to rewrite it. Advertisement Advertisement These mushy doctrines encourage judges to look far beyond the textto their own feelings. Most, if not all, of the conservative justices appear happy to oblige. During oral arguments, they deployed four fabricated doctrines or canons to replace the Clean Air Acts text with a far narrower mandate. First, theres the clear statement rulethe notion that, as Justice Brett Kavanaugh put it, Congress must speak clearly if it wishes to assign an agency decisions of vast economic and political significance. What qualifies as vast economic and political significance? No one knows. Second, theres the major questions doctrinethe principle that only Congress, not a federal agency like the EPA, can resolve major policy questions. Third, theres the nondelegation doctrine, the final boss of anti-textualism, which holds that Congress acts unconstitutionally when it delegates too much power to an agency. Finally, just for good measure, theres the federalism canon, which bars agencies from issuing regulations that upend the federal-state balance of power. Advertisement Each of these rules was invented by conservative lawyers for the purpose of striking down regulations, even when they are authorized by Congress. Each of them is, at best, tenuously connected to the Constitution, resting on a subjective sense of the proper separation of powers (and the assumption that unelected judges get to enforce those judgments). On Monday, they all melted together into an unholy slurry. Chief Justice John Roberts suggested that a regulation violates this muck of manufactured doctrines if a judge is surprised when they read it. It was surprising when the Food and Drug Administration regulated cigarettes. It was surprising when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regulated evictions. If it feels like an agency has gone beyond its mandate, Roberts asked, shouldnt the courts assume it broke the law? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This no law, just vibes approach got a big endorsement from Kavanaugh as well. Congress, he noted, knows how to do cap-and-trade, but didnt pass a cap-and-trade measure for carbon. So why should the EPA get to suggest squeezing one into an old statute that wasnt necessarily designed for something like this? Justice Sam Alito complained that the EPA was reading a new interpretation into a long-dormant statute, as if the Clean Air Act has a secret expiration date. The task fell on Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar and Beth Brinkmann, both ably defending the EPAs power, to drag these justices back to the text and force them to confront the words on the page. Advertisement All six conservative justices have claimed to apply the law as written by interpreting the text alone. But these four mushy doctrines encourage judges to look far beyond the textto congressional intent, to policy considerations, to their own feelings. Justices Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett have both endorsed variations of these principles, but on Monday, even they sounded confused about them. Justice Neil Gorsuch, a nondelegation obsessive, stayed mostly silent; perhaps he recognized that there was nothing to gain from wading into this constitutional quagmire. Advertisement Advertisement Its impossible to predict, on the basis of these arguments, how the court will rule. The smart bet remains that the conservatives will issue an advisory opinion radically diminishing the EPAs ability to regulate carbon emissions at coal-fired power plants, strangling Bidens climate agenda in the cradle. A bigger mystery is whether, in the process, a majority will unleash these various doctrines to run amok in the lower courts, hampering the entire administrative state from tackling the big problems of the day. Call this free-form style of judging conservative if you like. But none of us needs to pretend its textualism. This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy. On Sunday, Turkish leaders labeled Russians invasion of Ukraine a war, a rhetorical shift that sets the stage for Turkey limiting warships transiting the Turkish Straits and entering the Black Sea. Speaking on CNN Turk, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that the situation in Ukraine has transformed into a war and Turkey will implement all articles of Montreux transparently. Cavusoglu was referencing the 1936 Montreux Convention, an international agreement that governs the transit of all vessels and airplanes through the Turkish Straits, a strategic chokepoint that links the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. As the Russia-Ukraine conflict rages, the Montreux Convention has taken on increased importance as a potential regulator of warship traffic into the conflict zone. If Turkey formally invokes Montreuxs wartime provisions, Russian warships will generally be prohibited from entering the Black Sea. This would play a small but substantive role in de-escalating Russia-Ukraine tensions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 1936 Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits (commonly referred to as the Montreux Convention, after the city in Switzerland where it was negotiated) is a 1936 international agreement that governs the transit of the Turkish Straits for merchant vessels, vessels of war, and aircraft. Negotiated in the shadow of an expansionist Nazi Germany, the Convention includes 29 Articles and three technical annexes that address which warships may enter the Black Sea. It has played an important role in demilitarizing the Black Sea for the past 85+ years. It does so by limiting the size of vessels that may enter the Black Sea, imposing notification requirements on warships transiting the Turkish Straits, and restricting how long non-Black Sea powers can deploy their warships in the Black Sea. Since its inception, Montreux has played an important role in enforcing a rules-based international order in the Black Sea and Turkish Straits. Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Constitution of the Oceans, governs transit passage through international straits around the world. Article 35 clarifies that UNCLOS does not apply to long-standing international conventions in force. The upshot: Montreux Conventions restrictive provisions, and not UNCLOS, govern the Turkish Straits, which enjoy a truly unique legal status in international transit governance. Advertisement Because Montreux was negotiated over 85 years ago and naval warships and technology have changed dramatically since that time, it can sometimes be difficult to apply the Conventions highly technical transit limitations to modern warships. Montreux generally limits the passage of capital ships greater than 15,000 tons, but this can be subject to some interpretation and debate. For example, during my time on the U.S. Navys Sixth Fleet staff in 2008, where I served as an international law and ethics attorney, the Russia-Georgia conflict raged for several weeks. The USS Mount Whitney transited the Straits and entered the Black Sea despite questions about its tonnage and whether it fell under a Montreux exception. While Russia protested the Mount Whitneys transit as a violation of Montreux and an unnecessary provocation, Turkey has allowed the Mount Whitney to transit the Turkish Straits since that time. U.S. destroyers routinely transit the Straits. The USS Porter, a guided missile destroyer, conducted exercises and operations in November 2021 with the Bulgarian, Romanian, Turkish, and Ukrainian navies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During peacetime, civilian merchant vessels enjoy complete freedom of transit and navigation through the Straits, under any flag any with any kind of cargo. The Montreux Convention is unique in the law of the sea in that it explicitly discriminates against nations outside the Black Sea. Instead, Montreux favors six Black Sea Powers (Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Romania, Georgia, and Bulgaria) over non-Black Sea Powers (everyone else). Non-Black Sea Powers cannot remain in the Black Sea for longer than 21 days. The Convention also restricts access to the Black Sea for belligerents during war and allows Turkey to restrict access when it considers itself to be threatened with imminent danger of war. Following Russias annexation of Crimea, its naval power and presence in the Black Sea has increased which is permissible under the privileges it enjoys as a Black Sea Power, and which has been a source of growing NATO concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the Black Sea Powers, Turkey is, by far, the most important. Montreux empowers Turkey with the legal authority to control the passage of warships through the Straits during war. Were Turkey to restrict passage now, that would hurt Russia but not affect Ukraine, which lacks a large naval presence and is operating in a defensive posture. In fact, Ukraine has already asked Turkey to intervene by closing the Straits to Russian warships. The Black Sea has been the site of fighting between Russia and Ukrainian forces, and several Russian naval assets are already in the Black Sea. Two Montreux provisions are of critical importance for the unfolding Russia-Ukraine conflict. First, Article 19 states that during times of war when Turkey is not a belligerent warships enjoy freedom of navigation and transit through the Straits. But vessels of war belonging to belligerent parties are prohibited from transiting the Straits unless they are returning to base or rendering assistance. This appears to be the situation at hand in Ukraine, as we are witnessing two sovereign nations engaged in an international armed conflict. Turkey is not actively fighting and remains a non-belligerent. The Turkish Foreign Minister pointed to this provision yesterday, stating Article 19 of the Montreux Convention is clear. This is war. Invoking Article 19 would restrict Russian warships operating in the Mediterranean Sea from entering the Black Sea. This is significant: as of this writing, there are 16 Russian warships the bulk of the entire Russian Navy operating off the coast of Syria. They would now be prevented from transiting the Straits and entering the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, Article 21 states that if Turkey considers herself to be threatened with imminent danger of war (emphasis added), the Turkish Government may limit the passage of warships through the Turkish Straits. The decision of what warships may enter is then left entirely to the Turkish Governments discretion. Once again, if Turkey so elected, this could prevent Russian ships outside the conflict from transiting the Turkish Straits and entering the Black Sea. Significantly, Article 21 empowers Turkey with enormous discretion to allow warships to pass through the Straits. So Turkey could feasibly allow NATO non-Black Sea vessels to transit and exclude Russian vessels from entering the Black Sea. Still, it is hard to see how Turkey could credibly claim that it is threatened with imminent danger of war. Article 19 seems much more likely to be the wartime provision at play. Advertisement Invoking either Article would be historically significant. Turkey has not labelled earlier Russian aggression in Georgia, Crimea, or eastern Ukraine a time of war and restricted Black Sea access. In fact, Turkey has only invoked Montreuxs wartime provisions once before: in World War II, to prevent German and Italian combatants from entering the Black Sea. The U.S. was absent from the Montreux Convention negotiations and has not joined the treaty. Nevertheless, the U.S. abides by the Convention under customary international law. While the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier is operating in the Mediterranean Sea, the Trumans passage through the Turkish Straits is likely a non-starter. While there is no provision in the body of the Montreux Convention addressing aircraft carriers, a nuclear aircraft carrier is a capital ship that exceeds Montreuxs tonnage limitations. But other U.S. and NATO vessels could still feasibly transit the Turkish Straits, provided they give Turkey ample notice under the Convention (15 days for all non-Black Sea Powers). The USS Porter destroyer and USS Mount Whitney (Sixth Fleet flagship) were recently in the Black Sea, although no NATO vessels are operating there now. Vessels of war belonging to non-Black Sea Powers which includes much of NATOs maritime force are prohibited from remaining in the Black Sea for more than 21 days. Putin may see an increased NATO presence in the Black Sea as an escalatory measure, so it remains unclear whether this is being seriously considered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the conflict escalates, the rights of parties other than Ukraine and Russia will also depend on whether other states are adjudged to be co-belligerents. This could cut in one of two ways: if Turkey is not a belligerent but other states join the fight, their access would be compulsorily restricted under Article 19. But if Turkey itself were to join as a belligerent, or if the conflict escalated to the extent that Turkey did feel credibly threatened, Articles 20 and 21 would give Turkey discretion over the passage of warships including the right to deny return passage to vessels of war belonging to the State whose attitude has given rise to Turkeys belief in imminent danger of war. Article 23 is the only provision that governs aircraft transiting the Straits. It authorizes Turkey to set up air routes through the Straits. Montreux does not expressly address military aircraft, and it remains unclear how invoking the Article 19 wartime provisions will affect air travel through the Straits. As Russia is denied access to European airspace, the Turkish Strait air route may well increase in importance. Advertisement Finally, it is important to note that Russia, as a Black Sea Power, has benefited quite a bit from the Montreux regime and is almost certain to abide by Turkish authority in the Straits. Disregarding Montreux would immediately escalate tensions between Russia and Turkey and appears to be a non-starter. It remains to be seen if Turkeys rhetorical use of war has already led to the legal implementation of the Montreux Conventions wartime provisions. So far, Turkey has not taken measures to block the Straits, but Cavusoglu stated that Turkey always had implemented the Montreux Agreement to the letter and would do the same here. And even if Turkey did close the Straits to the arrival of future Russian warships, it could not force Russian vessels already engaging in conflict from leaving the Black Sea. It would also be required to allow those Russian vessels to return home when Russia so chose. Still, invoking the Montreux wartime provision would signal the seriousness with which Turkey, a key NATO ally, views the Russian-Ukraine conflict. It would also be broadly aligned with international efforts to isolate Russia by denying Russian access to airspace and global economic markets. More From Just Security: Questions for Congress to Ask the Biden Administration at the AUMF Hearing United Nations Response Options to Russias Aggression: Opportunities and Rabbit Holes On Monday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stunning decision transferring control over the Navys special operations forces from the commander in chief to a single federal judge in Texas. The 5th Circuits decision marks an astonishing infringement of President Joe Bidens constitutional authority over the nations armed forces, directing him to follow the instructions of an unelected judgerather than his own admiralsin deploying SEALs. High-ranking military personnel have testified under oath that this power grab constitutes a direct threat to the Navys operational abilities. As Russia invades Ukraine and declares a nuclear alert, Donald Trumps judges are actively threatening Americas national security. Advertisement Like so many lawless cases in the 5th Circuit, this dispute began in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor. A notorious George W. Bush nominee, OConnor is best known for attempting to abolish the Affordable Care Act in 2018, then getting reversed by a 72 vote at the Supreme Court last year. So when 35 Navy Special Warfare service members refused to comply with Bidens COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the armed forces, they brought their case to OConnor. These service membersmostly SEALs, all represented by the far-right First Liberty Instituteclaimed that their religious beliefs barred them from getting the shots. (Some said they heard divine instruction not to receive the vaccine; others asserted that the mRNA vaccines altered the divine creation of their body by unnaturally inducing production of spike proteins.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. OConnor predictably sided against Biden in January, granting a preliminary injunction of staggering scope on the grounds that the mandate violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. He awarded himself sweeping authority over the assignment of the plaintiffs, forcing the Navy to deploy them with operational units. When several plaintiffs were denied transfer to a duty station, they asked OConnor to sanction the government for allegedly violating his order; he promptly ordered the Justice Department to explain why it should not be punished for failing to deploy these service members. (OConnor has not yet decided whether to impose sanctions.) As of today, this lone judge continues to oversee the plaintiffs assignments, forcing the Navy to train, equip, and deploy unvaccinated troopswith granular specificity as to their exact stations and duties. Advertisement Never before in the history of the United States has one district court judge exercised so much control over the armed forces. The Constitution assigns this authority to Congress and the president. There are certainly legal limits on executive discretion, including due process and constitutional safeguards against invidious discrimination. Right-wing lawyers have typically been loath to acknowledge any restrictions on the presidents war powers. Indeed, the conservative legal movement has endorsed a near-limitless vision of the commander in chief: Republican presidents, lawyers, and judges have argued that the Constitution allows the president to deploy troops without congressional approval, indefinitely detain enemy combatants, and exclude entire classes of immigrants from the country. But now it seems they draw the line at a simple vaccine requirementeven though all service members were already required to have at least nine vaccines upon enlistment. Advertisement Advertisement Admirals testified that the courts intervention puts the Nations ability to respond to crises around the world at unnecessary and self-inflicted risk. Setting aside this hypocrisy, OConnors order violated a fundamental principle of judicial restraint: Federal courts have long held that specific military assignments are never subject to judicial review. OConnor appears to be the first judge ever to rule that, in fact, the courts can compel the armed forces to deploy a specific service member to a specific location to perform a specific duty. If his court were in a sane circuit, this unprecedented intrusion on the presidents power would be quashed almost instantly. Advertisement Advertisement But OConnor does not sit in a sane circuit; he sits in the 5th Circuit. This rogue court is now dominated by Trump judges, and it is breaking every rule to hobble Bidens presidency. The governments request for a stay landed in the laps of two infamous Trump judges, Stuart Kyle Duncan and Kurt Engelhardt, along with Edith Jones, an infamously partisan Ronald Reagan nominee. Advertisement In an unsigned opinion that bristled with hostility against the COVID-19 vaccine, this panel agreed that the mandate violated religious liberty. Noting that most service members are vaccinated, the panel declared that the Navy lacks the paramount interests necessary to overcome anti-vaxxers religious objections. It questioned the efficacy of the vaccine, noting that the USS Milwaukee was sidelined in December 2021 by a COVID-19 outbreak despite having a fully vaccinated crew. (Unmentioned was the fact that the crews vaccination status prevented even more transmission and serious illness.) The panel then found that the Navy will not be irreparably harmed by OConnors order. And it concluded that the public interest lies in keeping the plaintiffs unvaccinated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These last two assertionsthat both the Navy and the American people are better off with OConnors continued supervision of unvaccinated special forcesis not just wrong. It is dangerously delusional. In support of the mandate, the Justice Department filed five declarations from high-ranking Navy officers: Adm. Daryl L. Caudle, Vice Adm. William Merz, Capt. Joon Yun, Rear Adm. Gayle D. Shaffer, and Capt. Christopher Brown. These leaders explained that OConnors order poses a direct threat to the militarys readiness and lethality. Service members in the Navy, they wrote, live in extremely close quarters with one another for lengthy periods. An outbreak on a ship or submarine can thwart an entire mission. OConnors reasoningabout the incremental impact of adding a few unvaccinated membersis thus incorrect and dangerous logic. With each additional unvaccinated member, the risk to personnel and risk to mission increases exponentially and unacceptably. The mandate is thus the most effective and readily available tool the Armed Forces has to protect vital United States national interests. Simply put, the less people who are vaccinated, the less ready the Navy is to deter aggression and, if required, fight and win in combat. Advertisement Advertisement The bottom line, these admirals and captains testified, is the COVID-19 vaccine is keeping ships at sea, submarines on patrol and aircraft flying to protect and defend the Nations and our partners and allies interests. Forcing the Navy to deploy unvaccinated members puts the Nations ability to respond to crises around the world at unnecessary and self-inflicted risk. The military leaders also testified that OConnors order had grievously undermined the chain of command. In the deadly business of protecting our national security, they wrote, we cannot have a Sailor who disobeys a lawful order to receive a vaccine because they harbor a personal objection any more than we can have a Sailor who disobeys the technical manual for operating a nuclear reactor because he or she believes they know better. Our success, our national security, and the safety of our people depends on instinctive compliance with orders. OConnors injunction invites service members to challenge a commanders professional military judgment, whether it concerns training, assignment of duties, or other everyday orders essential to the Navys mission that they might find to be objectionable. Advertisement The 5th Circuit shrugged off this testimony, substituting expert judgment with its own whims. Its decision opens the door to a significant escalation: The plaintiffs have asked OConnor to extend his injunction to an entire class of Navy anti-vaxxersexempting up to 4,000 service members from the mandate and seizing control over their deployment orders. If the Supreme Court does not put a stop to this subversion, OConnor appears poised to bite off an exponentially bigger chunk of Bidens authority. While the world inches closer toward the possibility of nuclear war and Russia presses further into Ukraine, OConnor, Jones, Duncan, and Engelhardt are sabotaging the Navys ability to fight. If this judicial assault on military readiness during a violent global conflict does not run afoul of the commander in chiefs constitutional powers, it is hard to imagine what would. A Prospect Heights woman has been charged in the October hit-and-run death of a man near Vernon Hills, the Lake County sheriffs office said Tuesday. Amanda Cisneros-Elacio, 20, of the 800 block of East Old Willow Road, was taken into custody Monday on a warrant for leaving the scene of an accident causing death, the sheriffs office said. She is charged in the Oct. 9 death of Wojciech Glowik, 22, of Glenview. Advertisement Glowik was found around 2 a.m. that date along Illinois Route 45 in Indian Creek. At a Tuesday bond hearing, Lake County prosecutors said Glowik had left a social gathering at a residence, and had walked outside to the end of a driveway when he was hit. He had ordered an Uber ride, which was canceled when the driver didnt see Glowik, the prosecutor said. Surveillance video from a nearby residence showed an Audi SUV hitting Glowik and driving away at 1:54 a.m., Assistant States Attorney Dino Katris said at a Tuesday bond hearing Advertisement Glowik was transported to a hospital with critical injuries and later died. About a week later, police seized an Audi SUV at an auto body shop in Wheeling that they said had damage consistent with evidence collected at the scene of the hit-and-run. Police said they concluded, after hundreds of hours of investigation, that Cisneros-Elacio was driving the vehicle when it struck Glowik. Authorities said they conducted dozens of interviews and reviewed video surveillance before making the arrest. Cisneros-Elacio told police in an interview that she struck an animal, but did not report it, the prosecutor said Cisneros-Elacio was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bail. Judge Theodore Potkonjak on Tuesday set a Friday hearing for status of attorney. If the driver had only stopped and called for help, maybe the young man who died would have had an opportunity to survive, Sheriff John Idleburg said. I hope this arrest provides the victims family with the first steps toward closure. Russias difficult relationship with cryptocurrency has grown yet more complicated during the countrys aggressive invasion of Ukraine. Russia kicked off 2022 with a proposed ban on using or mining cryptocurrencies in the country before fully pivoting in February to suggest that regulation may be a better route than outright prohibition. The countrys lurching dance with crypto shows how this new technology both empowers and threatens prevailing government interests. While cryptocurrencies are nearly as popular as gold among Russian investors, according to recent surveys, Russians affinity for investing in digital currencies also introduces risks to the financial system that the Kremlin is reluctant to tolerate. Advertisement However, recent events may paint the most compelling use case for cryptocurrency in Russian political affairs: as a new tool in conventional warfare. Since initiating its brazen invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, challenging decades of international sovereignty norms, cryptocurrency has played a significant role for both parties in the conflict, and even for nonparticipants. While the war has been waged primarily through conventional technologiestanks, missiles, and combatants on the groundcryptocurrency has played an increasingly pivotal, nonviolent role in the war. Cryptocurrency has served as a new countermeasure to the Ukrainian defense, as an escape hatch for Russia as it navigates crushing sanctions from the West, and even as a tool for nonparticipants to support Ukraine in the conflict. However, these new intersections between money and war are likely temporary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, digital currencies have provided new ways for Russia to sidestep the worlds primary response to its attack: sanctions. Many commentators argue that the country has likely been developing such a strategy in the years since it invaded Crimea. Individuals and businesses targeted by sanctions can simply move their funds through crypto networks, which remain harder to monitor and control by governments, particularly across borders. However, it is worth noting that this seemingly simple strategy remains rife with difficulties. In fact, Russia may be far better off continuing its efforts to develop an alternate financial network that circumvents SWIFT (which is the global interbank financial network used to enforce sanctions). Still, given the sheer scope of Russian wealth held in cryptocurrencies, digital money will likely play a role in future sanctions against the country. Advertisement Beyond this, cryptocurrency provides new attack vectors for the Ukrainian defense to hit back at Russia. Recognizing the opportunity for Russians to evade sanctions via crypto, Ukrainian officials have publicly solicited information on Russian politicians crypto wallets in order to monitor, publicize, and potentially intercept these attempts at evading the Wests nonviolent interventions. Two days into the armed conflict, Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov sent a tweet offering substantial rewards for any tips. The effort reflects not only the impressive capabilities of Ukraines still-growing IT army, but also the vulnerabilities that Russia still faces in its efforts to use this technology as a functional escape hatch from global punishment for its illegitimate actions. Advertisement However, Ukraines cryptocurrency defense strategy doesnt stop with a call to hackers arms. The country has also requested that major cryptocurrency exchanges freeze every digital currency wallet associated with Russian users. Fedorov even claimed it crucial to freeze not only the addresses linked to Russian and Belarusian politicians, but also to sabotage ordinary users, a suggestion eliciting mixed responses among crypto exchanges. Crypto exchange operators are now in positions of significant power over the role of digital money in todays war. While a wide swath of these exchanges have begun freezing Russian cryptocurrency wallets on their networks, some have been reluctant to comply and have limited their efforts to the minimum necessary compliance with sanctions. This development may be one of the most significant points of uncertainty around cryptos use case in war, as it highlights the extremely youngand underregulatednature of the digital currency market, and the enormous power that these circumstances place on a small set of large business owners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, digital money has also provided a new avenue for people outside of the armed conflict to support Ukraine. In the early days of the war, small corners of the cryptocurrency community began organizing to send digital currency donations in support of Ukraines defense. Since the countrys president openly solicited crypto donations with a publicly listed wallet address, the fundraising effort has amassed more than $22 million in financial support for the defense in a matter of days. While these figures pale in comparison with the billions of dollars in Ukraines defense budget, and the magnitudes larger funding that Russia has at its disposal, the rapid accumulation of financial support for defense has provided a compelling use case for cryptos role as a nonviolent intervention in conventional wars by non-participants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While crypto has helped both sides in todays conflict, the Ukrainian defense has arguably benefited more from digital moneys new role in war than Russia, at least for now. These developments are due to two unique causes which shape the lessons we can learn from todays examples. On one hand, the unique technology of cryptocurrency has paved the way for these new and creative applications of digital money in interstate conflict, especially the rapid settlement of payments that are more difficult for governments to monitor and control. On the other hand, most of these developments are due to the extremely early nature of crypto markets. The technological promises of digital currency are only appreciating their time in the limelight because there are few to no binding rules on how money moves through cryptocurrency networks, and particularly how it crosses borders. Advertisement In this respect, the ability for digital money to make an impact in war is really a symptom of underregulation, a situation that is even less likely to continue after the use cases portrayed in todays conflict. When the dust of this war finally settles, it is likely that we will see countries turn their focus toward regulating crypto more broadly. Especially as many governments are already working to develop their own central bank digital currencies, it is likely that we will approach an end to the Wild West phase of the cryptocurrency market, and usher in an age of digital currency conflict that may open new doors for crypto in global politics. Advertisement Advertisement While the novel roles for digital money in conventional conflict are impressive, and even an exciting set of nonviolent measures, the future of this dynamic is highly uncertain. Some countries may appreciate, or even enjoy the weaponization of digital money for geopolitical goals. However, further integration of cryptocurrency in global conflict only jeopardizes the potential opportunities that digital money has to offer, and significantly expands the large risks associated with these instruments. In this respect, todays intersection of crypto and war call for careful thinking about whether and how countries want to allow this relationship to proceed, a decision that will require global coordination. After a long period of shirking diplomatic leadership, the U.S. faces a unique opportunity to restore and update its economic diplomacy by leading on this issuebefore others set more dangerous standards. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. This story was originally published by Undark and has been republished here with permission. Since the first human genome was sequenced in the early 2000s, scientists have touted the breakthrough as a blessing to humanityone that holds promise to promote human health and enhance medical treatment the world over. But around two decades later, the benefits of that scientific advancement have barely rippled out beyond Europe and North America. As of 2018, people of European ancestry who represented approximately 16 percent of the world population at the timemade up 78 percent of all individuals whose genomes have ever been collected and studied. Advertisement Over the last decade or so, international studies on human population genetics have begun to expand genomic libraries to encompass regions of the Global Southincluding Southeast Asia, where I am a science reporter, and the Pacific islands. These international studies, often led by Western scientists, have contributed to a more global understanding of ancient patterns of human migration and evolution. But on some occasions, theyve also sidestepped local regulatory agencies in the developing world, and ventured into murky research ethics terrain as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent examplea case that simultaneously illustrates the promise, pitfalls, and pressure points of international genomics researchcomes from the largest genetic study ever conducted in the Philippines, published last year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A team led by Mattias Jakobsson of Uppsala University in Sweden and Maximilian Larena, who was a researcher in Jakobssons lab at the time, collected and analyzed DNA samples from more than 1,000 Filipinos representing 115 indigenous groups. The study determined that todays Filipino population descends from at least five distinct waves of human migration, spanning thousands of yearsa finding that they said contradicted the prevailing theory of how humans populated the islands. Advertisement Advertisement One could see the Uppsala study as a model of international collaboration. The project was endorsed by the Philippines National Commission for Culture and the Arts, a government body that coordinates, funds, and makes policy for the preservation, development, and promotion of Philippine arts and culture. It was also done in partnership with more than a dozen local Indigenous and cultural groups in the Philippines; the papers appendix acknowledges more than 100 Filipinos who assisted with the study in some way, and Larena is himself Filipino. And key portions of the research plan were approved by an ethics review board in Sweden. Advertisement But many bioethicists would argue that it is not enough for researchers who do a human genomic study on foreign soil to merely collaborate with local groups. Various ethics guidelines on health-related researchincluding UNESCOs International Declaration on Human Genetic Data and international ethical guidelines published by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences, or CIOMS, in collaboration with the World Health Organizationadvise researchers to seek approval from an ethics committee in the host country. Such reviews are critical, bioethicists say, because cultural and social considerations of research ethics might vary between countries. In low-resource countries especially, ethics reviews are essential to protect the interests of participants and ensure that data are used in ways that benefit local communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nowhere in Larena and Jakobssons paper, or in any of the subsequent publications based on the Philippines study, does the Uppsala team mention obtaining such an ethics approval in the Philippinesand Philippines officials say they never granted the team such an approval. Asked whether his group had obtained a formal ethics clearance in the Philippines, Jakobsson pointed to the projects endorsement from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and wrote that part of the commissions mandate is to ensure that the research they support is in accordance with the ethical principles of research involving participants from the Indigenous communities. But the NCCA primarily supports research that is cultural, not scientific, in nature, and a government website outlining the commissions mandate, powers, and functions makes no mention of any duties related to research ethics. In a 2021 letter, the commissions executive director wrote that the agency has no mandate or authority to give ethical clearance and did not give ethical clearance for the Uppsala study. (I reached out to the commission for this story but did not receive a response.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A failure to secure formal ethics clearance might be understandable if there were simply no official Filipino agencies equipped to provide that clearance. But the Philippines has such a bodythe National Ethics Committee, or NEC, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Health Research Ethics Boardand the Uppsala researchers were no doubt aware of this. In 2014, as the researchers were laying the groundwork to begin collecting human samples, they actively sought the NECs approval. That approval was never granted. Marita Reyes, then the chair of the NEC, said she noticed problems with the initial Uppsala application. For instance, it did not clearly describe how research participants would be recruited, and it lacked the proper paperwork for researchers who intend to ship genetic materials overseas, she told Undark in an email. Reyes asked the Uppsala team to fix the issues and also recommended that they collaborate with local researchers who were doing similar work at the Philippine Genome Center. Advertisement Advertisement According to Jakobsson, the Uppsala researchers took issue with the stipulations levelled at their application, and they say the prospective collaborators at the Philippine Genome Center made troubling demands regarding control of the collected samples. Ultimately, the researchers withdrew their application altogether. Their rationale: They say their population genetics study was not health-related, and therefore did not fall under the jurisdiction of the NEC or the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board.* Given that your good office does not have regulatory mandate on the nature of our study, Larena wrote to Reyes in an email, we humbly withdraw our application. In the ensuing months, the Uppsala team would go on to collect DNA from more than 1,000 Filipinos without ever receiving express ethics approval from the NEC. Advertisement Advertisement The case created an uproar in the Philippines. In a public statement, Allen Capuyan, chairperson of the Philippines National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, condemned the study, saying the researchers showed a blatant disregard of critical policies governing scientific research in the Philippines. Leonardo de Castro, a Filipino bioethicist who now chairs Philippine Health Research Ethics Board, asserted that the Uppsala study did fall under the NECs jurisdiction, and he called on the journal that published the Uppsala work to issue a retraction. (I first learned of the controversy in 2018 from officials at the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board; Maria Corazon De Ungria, a laboratory director at the Philippine Genome Center, later contacted me about the matter as well.) Meanwhile, the Uppsala researchers have maintained that they are absolutely certain that they abided by basic ethical principles of research involving humans, and they say that investigations by a Swedish ethics review board, by Uppsala University itself, and by scientific journals have cleared them of any wrongdoing. Advertisement Nevertheless, I believe the case exposes a glaring shortcoming in the regulation of international genomics research: Even if bypassing a formal ethics review does not violate the letter of the law on human genomic research, it at least seems to go against the spirit of trust and transparency that are the foundation for healthy international scientific collaborationprinciples enshrined in the UNESCO and CIOMS guidelines. The Uppsala team is hardly the first to wade into this gray area of research ethics. In 2018, I wrote about a team of mostly Danish and American scientists who conducted a genetic study of Bajau traditional divers in Indonesia and also failed to obtain ethics approval from a local review board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Was the Uppsala team right to conclude that their study fell outside the jurisdiction of the Philippines health research regulatory framework? Some people seem to think so. In a letter of support to the researchers, an attorney with the National Commission for Culture and the Artsthe Philippines group that supported the studyaffirmed that the nature of the Uppsala project was exclusively cultural and fell under NCAAs jurisdiction, rather than that of the National Ethics Committee or the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. Hank Greely, a professor of law at Stanford University who specializes in biosciences, including bioethics, said that the study published in PNAS didnt appear to be health-related and suggested its reasonable to argue that health research guidelines shouldnt apply in this case, although that wouldnt mean that no ethical standards should apply. Advertisement But other bioethics expertsincluding Triono Soendoro, the chair of the Indonesian Society of Ethics Committee for Research and Servicessay that ethics standards like those developed by CIOMS and enforced by the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board were clearly meant to apply broadly to research involving human biological samples, even studies that have non-medical purposes. Population genetics research that identifies subjects by social or ethnic group, as the Uppsala study does, is certainly covered by CIOMS, said Eric Juengst, a bioethicist and professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Advertisement Human genomic science is too important, too consequential, to allow this precarious state of affairs to persist. If we want science to serve the whole of humanity, we need a strong set of universally binding rules on research ethicsrules that clearly give local authorities a voice on matters of research ethics in all studies involving human genetic sampling, not just those that are obviously medical in nature. Advertisement Advertisement In the Uppsala case, for instance, a formal ethics review might have offered important safeguards to ensure participants were fully aware of how their samples would be used and stored. Although participants signed informed consent forms that laid out many details of the research, a copy of the form obtained by Undark did not mention that samples would be shipped out of the country, to Sweden, for sequencing and analysis. This information could conceivably have influenced a subjects decision to participate. (In a follow up email after publication, the Uppsala researchers provided seven lettersdated after the publication of this essaysigned by individuals attesting that they were involved in the sampling process and affirming that participants were aware their samples would be shipped to Sweden.)* Advertisement Formal ethics reviews are also crucial for ensuring that low-resource countries can freely and independently access data that might benefit the health and wellbeing of their people. Even genetic data obtained for purposes unrelated to health may later prove beneficial for medical purposes. Data generated from more than 1,000 samples collected in the Uppsala study are now stored in the European Genome-Phenome Archive, where a Data Access Committee now has sole power to determine who can use it for future studiesalthough one condition must be that such research is in accordance with consent provided by study participants.* (The archives website doesnt specify the members of the Data Access Committee assigned to the Philippines data set, but it lists Larena as the contact person.) Research institutions in the Philippines are not guaranteed to be able to make use of data from the largest human genetic sampling ever conducted on its own soil (though Jakobsson indicated in an email after this essays publication that some researchers in the Philippines have been granted access through a data sharing consortium).* Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The international scientific community must be proactive in raising the standards of global research ethics. Prestigious journals, the gatekeepers of science, should ensure that researchers who collect human DNA samples make every effort to secure formal ethics approvals in the countries where the sample collection is performed. They should also be transparent about investigations of ethics misconduct and involve ethicists from developing countries in those investigations whenever possible. Human genomic science should not stop at merely satisfying our curiosity. It should also serve the poor and the marginalized. Otherwise, if history is any guide, it will lead only to increasingly extreme disparities between the Global North and the Global South. Corrections and updates, March 7, 2022: A previous version of this piece, which was originally published by Undark, stated that a group of Uppsala researchers had initially withdrawn their application to a Philippines research ethics authority because their proposed study was cultural, not health related. While the Philippines National Commission for Culture and the Arts described the work as cultural, the researchers themselves describe the work as a study of heritage. The piece has been edited to remove this error. The piece also imprecisely described the data stored in the European Genome-Phenome Archive. It is data generated from the more than 1,000 genetic samples collected. The 1,000 samples themselves are not stored in the archive. This piece has also been updated to clarify whether participants in the study knew that their DNA samples would be shipped to Sweden for analysis. As the piece originally stated, consent forms signed by study participants did not mention this transfer. Following publication of this essay, however, the researchers produced statementsdated March 2, 2022from seven individuals involved in the sampling process attesting that study participants were informed of the shipment plans. The essay has been updated to reflect this. The piece also questioned whether institutions in the Philippines would be able to make use of the data collected by the Uppsala team. In an email sent to Undark after publication, the researchers indicated that some researchers in the Philippines have already been granted access through a data-sharing consortium. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. If youre tired of your desk job, perhaps you will be intrigued by a recent career listing form the Department of the Interiors US Fish and Wildlife Service: Grizzly Bear Conflict Manager. The salary range for the job is $79,363 - $103,176 per year, and the location is flexible, within 100 miles of a few towns in Montana. This leaves one important question though, as Erin McCann, an editor at the New York Times who shared the listing on Twitter, pointed out: Advertisement Why is there so much conflict in the grizzly community in the first place erin mccann | (@mccanner) February 25, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bears do fight with each otherlike when they compete for a mate. But as a pretty solitary species, the need for a third party arbitrator is low. Instead, grizzly bear conflict is usually defined as scuttles between bears and property or humans. This includes livestock predation and unexpected encounters (like having one turn up in your backyard because you left the garbage out, or if you run into one while hiking). Advertisement Advertisement What happens after a conflict involves a series of choices, made by the grizzly bear conflict manager. When a grizzly conflict is reported, and the grizzly in question is still on the lam, often that bear will be trapped. (You can read and watch a video about trapping bears for research here and here.) Sometimes the bear will simply be released, sometimes itll be relocated (away from a ranch or place with livestock, for example). Or, if no other option is available, the bear might be euthanized. Killing bears is the worst part of my job, recently-retired conflict specialist Tim Manley has said, according to the Flathead Beacon. We try to avoid having to do it but when bears become very food-conditioned and start causing property damage and breaking into vehicles, trailers and cabins, those bears are removed. Advertisement Were in an important moment for the grizzly conflict manager gig. Manley, who worked in Northwest Montana managing grizzlies for nearly 30 years, told the Flathead Beacon that 2021 was one of his busiest years. Human-bear conflict is on the rise, including bear attacks. As bear populations continue to increase, interactions with bears and humans are only going to get more common. Grizzly bears are a threatened speciesnot quite endangered, but they are protected. This means that harming or killing them is illegal except in cases of self-defense. But Montana Governor Greg Gianforte is considering lifting the ban on hunting the bears, given the uptick in conflict. The ad notes that the bears belong to a highly controversial species, and suggests that candidates should have a balanced perspective. If the gig sounds appealing to you, be aware that the job listing also requires applicants to have not just prior bear handling experience, but also the ability to deal with large numbers of biting insects. Fun! Welcome to Source Notes, a Future Tense column about the internets information ecosystem. On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin issued the order for Russian forces to invade Ukraine. Since then, Russians have killed 352 Ukrainian civilians, including 14 children, according to Reuters. That information is now reflected on the English Wikipedia page for the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, an article that sprang to life mere minutes after Putins televised address and has been collaboratively written by nearly 740 distinct authors as of Tuesday morning. Advertisement With deadly explosions in Ukraines capital city of Kyiv and a developing refugee crisis, it might seem odd to cover the play-by-play of a digital encyclopedia. But internet-savvy Ukrainians, including the countrys own Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recognize that how the facts are represented on Wikipedia matters. Right now, the number of people reading about Ukraine on Wikipedia is at an unprecedented highspiking to more than 22 million English page views in the past month versus roughly 290,000 in February 2021. Meanwhile, Russia is coupling its lethal military campaign with a Goebbels-like propaganda blitz. The lies from Moscow put pressure on Wikipedia to maintain the sites disinformation countermeasures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But before covering the latest developments, its worth revisiting one of the most brutal edit wars in Wikipedias history, which also says something about the Ukrainian spirit. The issue was whether the web encyclopedia should spell Ukraines capital as Kyiv or Kiev. Beginning in 2003, editors tried to change the spelling on the subjects Wikipedia page, taking advantage of the sites open platform to modify it from Kiev to Kyiv and back again. Kyiv derives from the Ukrainian language, while Kiev has Russian-language roots and is seen by Ukrainians as an imperial imposition. Both sides recognized that the spelling on Wikipedia was not a trivial matter. Not only does Wikipedia inform the work of journalists and publishers, but it powers Googles search results around the world. Advertisement Advertisement For nearly two decades, Wikipedia editors retained the Kiev spelling, spending more than 50,000 words on arguments and discussion about the issue (archived here). But following Russias invasion of Crimea in 2014, many Western media outlets began using the Y, acknowledging the importance of that spelling to Ukraines national identity. The social media campaign #KyivNotKiev launched in 2018 and began gaining traction. In August 2020, Wikipedia editors began a long and spirited discussion about how language changes over time, and whether Wikipedia should play a role in righting great wrongs. After reaching consensus to use the Ukrainian name, English Wikipedia editors formally adopted Kyiv in September 2020. Advertisement Now that Kyiv vs. Kiev has been resolved (at least on Wikipedia), the editors are working to document the breaking news of Russias invasion. The English Wikipedia page on the invasion provides historical context prior to Feb. 24, including the 2014 annexation of Crimea and Russias opposition to Ukraine joining NATO. There is a daily timeline of events, including Russias launching ballistic missiles at airfields and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys mobilization of all Ukrainian males 18 to 60 years old. Besides the Wikipedia article for the invasion itself, there is an entry on the larger Russo-Ukrainian War dating to 2014 and separate pages for its individual battles like the Battle of Kharkiv and the Attack on Snake Island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wikipedia editors are required to construct the encyclopedia pages using reliable sources. The policies generally prohibit Russias state-run media outlets, which are seen as unreliable, from being used in citations. For instance, English Wikipedias source guidelines state the following about the publication Russia Today: There is consensus that RT is an unreliable source a mouthpiece of the Russian government that engages in propaganda and disinformation. Although Wikipedia itself has a reputation for being somewhat text-focused, the articles about the conflict in Ukraine are embedded with visuals. Theres an animated map of the invasion and photos of apartment buildings that have been struck by Russian missiles. One photo showing a structure hit by a missile fragment in Kyiv initially caused some controversy. At first, Wikipedia editors were unable to verify its authenticity, but later were persuaded by the fact that the image file contained full metadata. The metadata showed the precise geolocation where the photo had been taken in Kyiv, and indicated that it had been taken with a first-generation iPhone on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Samuel Breslow, an experienced Wikipedia editor and an information journalist, one of the trickiest elements of covering the Russian invasion is writing the encyclopedia articles at the right level of detail. Wikipedia aspires to take a long-term world-historical view similar to a traditional encyclopedia like Encyclopedia Britannica. That means presenting a summary rather than an overly detailed description of historical events. But with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, its not immediately clear what events will have long-term historical importance. For instance, we dont know whether the Ghost of Kyiv will ultimately be a significant part of the narrative of the invasion or just a momentary internet rumor, Breslow said in an email. (If youre curious, the Ghost of Kyivs wiki page describes it as an unconfirmed MiG-29 Fulcrum flying ace credited with shooting down six Russian planes. The page also notes that the Ghost is most likely an urban legend that has had the effect of boosting Ukrainian morale.) Advertisement Advertisement Most of the English Wikipedia articles relating to the invasion of Ukraine have a blue E symbol in the top-right corner, indicating that editing is limited to experienced Wikipedia editors, those with at least 500 edits and a months tenure. That means brand-new editors can only propose edits to the articles behind-the-scenes talk pages. On the one hand, this protective measure cuts against Wikipedias ethos as the encyclopedia that everyone can edit. But Wikipedians say that the extra level of protection is helping to reduce vandalism and disinformation attacks on Ukraine-related information. Writing on Wikipedia always comes with a lot of responsibility, Breslow said in an email. Wikipedia is the major collective record of humanitys knowledge, and its articles are read by a staggering number of readers. They influence what people believe and how they live their lives, so its essential we make them as reliable, neutral, and comprehensive as possible. Advertisement Meanwhile, there are echoes of the old Kyiv vs. Kiev battle lingering on Russian Wikipedia. Its important to note that there is not a singular Wikipedia, but rather at least 323 language editionsand that these language editions can vary considerably. For instance, although English Wikipedia has seen a huge uptick in the amount of activity dedicated to Ukraine, the Ukrainian-language version has seen considerably less activity. Since the invasion, the number of article edits per day on Ukrainian Wikipedia has decreased by at least 50 percent, according to the Wikimedia Foundation. Thats understandable. When a superpower is invading your country, the Wikipedia-editing hobby tends to fall off the old to-do list. Editing Wikipedia from a bomb shelter is difficult, said Mykola Kozlenko, the vice president of the Wikimedia Ukraine user group. To be honest, covering the invasion is not our main priority now. People are mainly trying to put in place their plan B, either by evacuating to a safer place, by joining the army, or by joining volunteer organizations. Kozlenko told me that he knew of Ukrainian Wikipedia editors who were supporting the army by giving blood, organizing supplies, and building barricades designed to thwart the Russian armys advance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One Wikipedia edition that has signaled its support for Ukraine is Georgian Wikipedia, the version for the language spoken in the country of Georgia, which like Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. To express solidarity, the editors of Georgian Wikipedia changed their logo to reflect the blue-and-gold coloring of Ukraines flag. English Wikipedia has not yet changed its logo, and past efforts to make a public political statement have been controversial. For example, back in 2020, English Wikipedia editors voted against a proposal to black out the site in support of Black Lives Matter in part due to concerns that it could threaten Wikipedias reputation for neutrality. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, there are echoes of the old Kyiv vs. Kiev battle lingering on Russian Wikipedia, where some editors have pushed to rename the article, changing it from Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022) to either Russian Military Operation in Ukraine or even the Liberation of Ukraine (emphasis added). This is Russian Wikipedia and we must interpret events from a Russian point of view, argued LukaE, a Russian Wikipedia editor. (LukaE, naturally, wrote in Russian; I used Google Translate to translate this and other comments.) A few editors repeated the Kremlins position, pushed without basis, that Russia is on a peacekeeping mission. The Russian side does not consider this a war, but a special operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, wrote Russian editor Alexander Poryadin. Other Russians argued that the word invasion was inflammatory and violated Wikipedias policy to present information from a neutral point of view. Note how this maneuver weaponizes the concept of neutrality to conceal and mischaracterize the underlying facts. Advertisement Ultimately, Russian Wikipedia editors determined that the word invasion was accurate, and reached an agreement to preserve that word in the articles title. As the Russian editor Pessimist put it, Russian troops invaded the territory of Ukraine. Its just a fact, not a point of view. Todays readers of Russian Wikipedia will find an article describing their countrys invasion of their neighbor. Advertisement Advertisement At first, it might come as a surprise that Russian-language users on Russian Wikipedia would be willing to defy Putins preferred spin on events, especially given his governments willingness to arrest anyone who opposes him. But as Slates Yana Pashaeva has reported, Russian citizens have been loudly denouncing the attacks on social media and other digital channels, despite great threats to their personal safety. Overall, it seems encouraging that Russian Wikipedia editors would be willing to call an invasion what it is. In the best case, its a leading indicator: The Russian people are resisting Putins war. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. ARCHIVED - Polar air mass will radically reduce temperatures: Spain weather forecast March 1-3 Heavy rainfall and a DANA storm are predicted in Spain as the week moves on While spring begins in Spain in mid-March, the arrival of the new month is set to herald far more winter-like weather as a polar air mass sweeps across the country, bringing rain, night frosts and daytime temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees lower than what we have been experiencing Spain welcomes March with relatively stable weather and rain confined to the north but all this will change in Thursday 3, according to the experts. As of Thursday we are going to have significant changes in the atmospheric situation, Ruben del Campo, spokesman for the State Agency for Meteorology (Aemet) warned. A mass of polar air arrives in our geographical environment air coming from higher latitudes, not necessarily from the pole, despite the name much colder than what we currently have. The cold air is likely to give rise to a DANA weatherfront (with isolated depression at high levels) in the coming days with storms predicted along the Mediterranean coast, causing a significant reduction in temperatures and widespread rain as we come into the weekend. While Spain is braced for a few days of wintery weather that may slightly alleviate the ongoing drought situation , the meteorologist doesnt foresee any long-lasting rain. Tuesday March 1: An inactive Atlantic front will enter the peninsular northwest, leading to rainfall in Galicia and the north of the country but generally clear skies throughout the rest of Spain. Temperatures will rise in eastern parts where the mercury will hit the low 20s. An inactive Atlantic front will enter the peninsular northwest, leading to rainfall in Galicia and the north of the country but generally clear skies throughout the rest of Spain. Temperatures will rise in eastern parts where the mercury will hit the low 20s. Wednesday March 2: Rain will persist in the north but the weather will remain stable in the rest of Spain, although temperatures will drop everywhere except for the Mediterranean coast, where the thermometers could top 25C in cities like Valencia. Rain will persist in the north but the weather will remain stable in the rest of Spain, although temperatures will drop everywhere except for the Mediterranean coast, where the thermometers could top 25C in cities like Valencia. Thursday March 3: A fairly active front will cross Spain from the northwest to southeast, leading to rainfall in large areas of the northern half of the peninsula and, to a lesser extent, the south and east. A mass of cold air will significantly lower temperatures across the country, with the coldest weather being felt on Thursday night. Image: Aemet Public opinion has shifted. Fewer Slovaks are "bear huggers" after the invasion. Protest against the war and in support of Ukraine in Bratislava. (Source: Sme) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Six out of ten Slovaks blame Russia for the war in Ukraine. The Focus AKO polling agency polled 1,000 respondents for the Hospodarske Noviny daily on Friday, one day after Russia invaded Slovakia's immediate neighbour, Ukraine. More than 62 percent of respondents said Russia was responsible for the war. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Meanwhile, 25 percent of those polled believe the US is to be blamed for the conflict. Related article Related article Why Russia is winning the information war in Slovakia Read more The claim that the US and the NATO were escalating the tension in Europe is one of the narratives frequently stressed by the pro-Kremlin websites in Slovakia. It has also been adopted by some opposition politicians. Most prominent among them is the onetime ruling party Smer and its leader Robert Fico, who in his official statement condemned the invasion but reiterated that the war in Ukraine was a conflict between Russia and the US. Related article Related article Moscow or bust: Fico backs Russia, sees popularity rise Read more The Slovak population has been consistently deemed particularly vulnerable to pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation by researchers. A poll by the Globsec think tank last year put Slovakia, together with Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro, in the group of bear huggers. In a poll from earlier this year, during the heated discussion about the Defence Cooperation Agreement with the US that the opposition fiercely campaigned against, 44 percent said US and NATO were responsible for the escalation of tension. Afer the invasion, 8.9 percent of Slovaks polled blamed NATO for the war, while 7.8 percent said Ukraine was responsible and 5 percent said the EU was to be blamed. The respondents in the poll could mark more than one of the offered answers. More than 16 percent did not know or did not want to say. About a quarter of those polled is convinced that there will be no war in Slovakia in the near future as a consequence of the war in Ukraine. Nearly half of those polled said they believed war was unlikely, while 13 percent said it was likely and 3 percent definitely expect war to break out in Slovakia. Related article But the investment cannot be carried out without the joint effort of the EU institutions, the Slovak government and affected businesses, the company has said. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled U.S. Steel Kosice is planning to make a large investment in Slovakia. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement It wants to invest 1.3 billion in its modernisation project, which will include a new metallurgical unit. However, it stresses this cannot be done without the cooperation of the European institutions, the Slovak government and affected business subjects. Investment Advisory Guide Well-arranged information about the economy, labour market, investor support, legislation, and real estate as well as investment opportunities in Slovakia. For more details visit our online shop. The aim [of the investment] is to modernise the process of steel production, its casting and rolling into coils while reducing energy and raw material intensity, eliminate a significant portion of negative impacts on creating carbon footprint, and secure the sustainability of production, reads the document submitted for the environmental impact assessment, as quoted by the SITA newswire. No increase in total production The new unit should bring the production, casting and rolling of steel under one roof while using new, progressive technologies. Matovic sees decarbonisation as the only way to secure the future of Kosice steelmaker Read more It should comprise two electric arc furnaces, out-of-furnace steel processing operations, and one metallurgical line for fluent casting and hot rolling with an annual steel production capacity of up to 3,100,000 tonnes. The implementation of the project will not increase the total production of U.S. Steel Kosice, the company said, as quoted by SITA. The construction of new technologies of metallurgical production will be done at the expense of a reduction in the production of existing facilities while preserving the current production of steel and hot roll products. The works on the project are scheduled to start next year and finish two years later. Support from the government needed As the representatives of U.S. Steel Kosice stressed, a project of such an extent can be carried out only as a joint effort of the European institutions, the Slovak government and other affected business subjects. Slovakias industry strives to be greener, needs more money and time Read more This is part of the decarbonisation plan, and its implementation will depend on the EU's approval, the full support of the Slovak government, and the readiness of the energy infrastructure for running new technologies, said its spokesperson Jan Baca, as quoted by SITA. The talks about the decarbonisation of production in the Kosice-based steelworks have been ongoing for some time now. Finance Minister Igor Matovic (OLaNO) even visited the headquarters of the company in Pittsburgh in May 2021. He said after the trip that the decarbonisation of production is the only way to secure the future of the U.S. Steel plant in Kosice. At the time, he estimated the investment at 1.5 billion. Related article The police react to tens of thousands of refugees crossing the Slovak border. People fleeing war in Ukraine at the border crossing in Vysne Nemecke, eastern Slovakia. (Source: Sme - Marko Erd) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The Foreigners Police branches have announced the limitation of operations. Taking into consideration the situation in Ukraine, the police stated that they will deal only with foreigners from Ukraine. Other agenda will be limited until further notice, reported spokesperson for police Denisa Bardyova. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Only foreigners arriving from Ukraine, who are citizens of Ukraine or their family relatives, will be handled at workplaces, Bardyova said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. At the same time, the Foreigners Police are drawing attention to compliance with the so-called reporting obligation in accordance with the Act on the Residence of Foreigners in the form of the Residence Report form, which can be downloaded from the website of the Interior Ministry. The original of the completed and signed form must be delivered to the locally competent department of the Foreigners Police. The spokesperson added that all contacts at the Foreigners Police Departments can also be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior: www.minv.sk. Slovakia depends on raw materials from Russia. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Despite the ban on Russian planes from entering Slovak airspace, a Russian aircraft landed at Bratislava airport on the morning of March 1. The cargo plane of the Volga Dnepr Airlines company received an exemption as it was carrying nuclear fuel for Slovakia's two nuclear power plants, Mochovce and Jaslovske Bohunice, both in western Slovakia. The Economy Ministry confirmed the information by explaining that the supplies the plane carried consisted of efforts to secure Slovakia's resources in the event of problems with fuel supplies from Russia. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement "After gas and oil, Slovakia's economy has secured another energy carrier," Economy Minister Richard Sulik (SaS) stated as quoted by the TASR newswire. 1. Mar 2022 at 17:30 I Modified at 23. Mar 2022 at 11:33 Temporary protection will be provided until the end of 2022 for now. Refugees from Ukraine on the Vysne Nemecke border crossing. (Source: TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled On March 1 Slovakia started providing temporary protection to people from Ukraine fleeing the war. It is described as the easiest way of protecting refugees, not requiring long administrative procedures and enabling Ukrainian citizens quick and unlimited access to the labour market and health care, their children access to education, the Interior Ministry announced. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement For now, temporary protection will be provided until March 4, 2023, but this period can either be prolonged or shortened, based on the situation. Read more about the current developments concerning war in Ukraine. Important information concerning temporary protection: the applications of people who prove their identity and state citizenship will be evaluated in an expedited procedure. Identity can be proven by presenting: a driving licence plus birth certificate; valid or invalid passport; ID card; any other personal document with a picture of its holder plus birth certificate; people with temporary protection will be entitled to basic health care (just as in the case of asylum seekers); in case refugees from Ukraine are accommodated in asylum facilities run by the Interior Ministry, they will receive food, hygiene products and pocket money (just as in the case of asylum seekers). Foreigners Police branches will remain open only to foreigners from Ukraine Read more Who can ask for temporary protection: state citizens of Ukraine and their family members: spouses; the underage child of a state citizen of Ukraine or underage child of their spouse; parents of an underage child who is a state citizen of Ukraine; people who are not Ukrainian citizens, if they had asylum, international protection or permanent residence in Ukraine, and had to flee the war. Four hotspots and special website in Ukrainian to help refugees Read more Who cannot ask for temporary protection: Ukrainians who have temporary or permanent residence in Slovakia; asylum seekers; people who were already granted asylum or subsidiary protection. Police deployed stop sticks six times on southbound Interstate 65 Monday while attempting to apprehend a motorist who led them on a more than 45-mile chase. The driver, Jarett Astin Rivera, 31, of Indianapolis, is facing seven charges including felony resisting law enforcement (prior conviction); felony resisting law enforcement; felony possession of legend drug and felony obstruction of justice. Rivera was also charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and reckless driving. Advertisement He was wanted on warrants from the Marion County sheriffs office for dealing in cocaine and resisting law enforcement, both felonies. Trooper Kevin Council first attempted to pull over Rivera who was driving a white 2020 Toyota Camry southbound on I-65 near the 241 mile-marker, north of the Indiana 2 Lowell exit, after observing several different traffic violations, according to Sgt. Glen Fifield, public information officer for the Indiana State Police. Advertisement Rivera refused to pull over and continued to travel south at the highway speed of 70 mph, a release said. The pursuit continued for about 10 miles with the vehicles speed ranging from about 60 to 80 mph. Stop sticks were set up near the Demotte Roselawn exit at the 230 mile-marker. Rivera struck the stop sticks but continued southbound on I-65. Stop sticks were then set up two more times on the highway at the 225 mile marker and the 218 mile marker, according to the release. The driver was able to avoid them. Another set of stop sticks were set up at the 215 mile marker by the Rensselaer Police Department. This time the vehicle struck the stop sticks but continued to flee. The driver lost a rear tire, but continued to flee at reduced speeds of 60 to 70 mph, according to the release. Stop sticks were deploy again near the 205 mile marker, but the fleeing vehicle was able to avoid them. A last set of stop sticks was place at the 198 mile marker and where the Toyota struck them. The vehicle continued southbound until it ran off the road near the 196 mile marker. Still the driver continued to flee, driving southwest into a field for a few hundred yards. Jasper County Sheriffs deputies were able to apprehend Rivera in the field and place him under arrest without further incident. Rivera was wanted on an active arrest warrant through the Marion County sheriffs office. Police found him in possession of marijuana, paraphernalia and a legend drug, a release said. Evidence at the scene led officers to believe Mr. Rivera destroyed suspected narcotics prior to being taken into custody, Fifield said in the release. Rivera was transported to the Lake County Jail since the chase originated in Lake County. Advertisement Indiana State Police Lowell District were assisted by the IPS Lafayette District, Jasper County sheriffs office, Newton County sheriffs office, Rensselaer Police Department, Remington Police Department, White County sheriffs office and Farneys Towing. Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. https://sputniknews.com/20220228/fence-around-us-capitol-building-is-being-reinstalled-ahead-of-bidens-state-of-the-union-address-1093464122.html Fence Around US Capitol Building Is Being Reinstalled Ahead of Biden's State of the Union Address Fence Around US Capitol Building Is Being Reinstalled Ahead of Biden's State of the Union Address In the past year, following the January 6 siege of the Capitol, fencing was erected around the building, and it was reinstalled before a September protest in... 28.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-28T23:31+0000 2022-02-28T23:31+0000 2022-02-28T23:31+0000 us washington dc state of the union joe biden fence national guard /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/1c/1093464274_0:284:3071:2011_1920x0_80_0_0_22cbe9f149d0923c359ac7270480abbb.jpg For US President Joe Biden's State of the Union address this week, the Capitol fence will be re-erected.Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger stated on Sunday that an inner-perimeter fence will be constructed around the Capitol. According to the police chief, the decision was made "out of an abundance of caution," as well as "in conjunction with the United States Secret Service."According to the US media reports, authorities are beefing up security in anticipation of possibly disruptive truck convoys arriving in Washington. Truckers recently shut down parts of Ottawa for weeks in protest of COVID-19 mandates, a protest that reverberated in conservative circles in the United States. Earlier this month, Capitol Police said that they were "aware of plans for a series of truck convoys arriving in Washington, DC around the time of the State of the Union" and were preparing extra security. At the time, the agency stated that restoring the Capitol building fence was still an option, but that no decision had been taken.The National Guard stated on Wednesday that up to 700 servicemembers will be available to assist local DC authorities in managing demonstrations until March 7. According to Capitol Police, a number of highways in the nation's capital will be closed for Tuesday's address, but the closures are "not related to the potential truck and vehicle convoys," as they are the same as those put in place in previous years.Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis took to Twitter on Monday to tell his followers that the Biden Administration had requested him to send the State National Guard to DC, but DeSantis had refused. Biden will deliver his first State of the Union address tomorrow., According to the known information about the contents of the speech, the president's intentions for 2022 will be laid out, which will also highlight the hurdles the government faced in its first year. washington dc Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Kirill Kurevlev Kirill Kurevlev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Kirill Kurevlev us, washington dc, state of the union, joe biden, fence, national guard https://sputniknews.com/20220301/council-of-europe-responsible-for-situation-in-ukraine-leningrad-region-governor-says-1093479101.html Council of Europe Responsible for Situation in Ukraine, Leningrad Region Governor Says Council of Europe Responsible for Situation in Ukraine, Leningrad Region Governor Says The Council of Europe is responsible for the situation in Ukraine since Europe has never met Russia's proposals to assess and discuss the situation in Donbas... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T14:16+0000 2022-03-01T14:16+0000 2022-03-02T13:08+0000 russia ukraine leningrad region situation in ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093490388_0:141:3141:1908_1920x0_80_0_0_bfa9c41c38c89124f8de88f31dd6c498.jpg A representative of the governor and regional administration's press service said that Alexander Drozdenko, who heads the Russian delegation at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CoE), spoke at an extraordinary Congress meeting.For some reason, you have shut up our proposals to consider the genocide of the people of Donetsk and Lugansk Regions, you refused to consider the death of people in Odessa, and this is a genuine Nazi manifestation, you did not react to Poroshenko's words that children of Donbas will sit in the cellars, threats of massacres against citizens of Donbas by Dnipropetrovsk Mayor Borys Filatov, as well as many other facts, the governor said.However, he hoped that the chance for people-to-people diplomacy in the current circumstances would continue.Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday, 24 February. President Vladimir Putin called its aim "to protect people who have been facing genocide perpetrated by the Kiev regime for eight years."The Russian President said that the plan is to demilitarise and denationalise Ukraine and to put on trial all war criminals responsible for bloody crimes against civilians in Donbas.According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the Armed Forces are striking only military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops, while civilians face no threat. Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic forces supported by the Russian military develop the offensive. However, there is no plan to occupy Ukraine, the Russian president stressed.By Monday morning, more than 1,100 objects had been struck including airfields, control points, and radar stations. The area around a nuclear power station in Chernobyl and an operating nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia is now under Russian control. After eight years, the North Crimean Canal has been unblocked and the water supply to Crimea has been restored.The offensive is advancing in several directions and Kiev is blockaded from the west. However, a detailed map of Ukrainian regions where the Russian military is operating has not yet been officially published. The Russian Defence Ministry reports that there are dead and wounded among Russian troops, but casualties among Ukrainian troops and Nazi nationalists are many times higher. The exact figures have not been announced at the moment.The Russian military has reported many cases of Ukrainian troops voluntarily laying down their weapons they have been guaranteed safety and will be able to return to their families. Meanwhile, Ukrainian security forces are deploying rocket-propelled salvo systems directly into residential areas of Kiev and other Ukrainian cities. President Putin has called this a terrorist act. ukraine leningrad region Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 russia, ukraine, leningrad region https://sputniknews.com/20220301/donald-trump-appeals-ruling-forcing-him-to-testify-in-ny-probe-into-his-business-dealings--1093468833.html Donald Trump Appeals Ruling Forcing Him to Testify in NY Probe into His Business Dealings Donald Trump Appeals Ruling Forcing Him to Testify in NY Probe into His Business Dealings On 17 February New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron said that ex-President Donald Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr, and daughter Ivanka Trump must each... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T06:12+0000 2022-03-01T06:12+0000 2022-03-01T06:12+0000 donald trump letitia james ivanka trump donald trump jr /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0b/17/1090963291_0:10:3000:1698_1920x0_80_0_0_0734ee713bec8df6498e77ef9fc1685d.jpg Former President Donald Trump has appealed a judges ruling requiring him to testify in a New York civil investigation into his business practices.Appropriate papers were filed on Monday with the appellate division of the state's trial court by a legal team representing the ex-POTUS and his two eldest children, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr.The Trumps lawyers have asked the appellate court to consider if the New York attorney generals office is violating their rights by issuing subpoenas for their testimony while also participating in the criminal investigation; whether immunity for grand jury witnesses under state law can be eviscerated, if the same agency involved in the criminal investigation simply opens a civil investigation into the very same matters; and whether Judge Engoron made a mistake rejecting the Trumps argument that Attorney General of New York Letitia James has been waging selective prosecution.Trumps lawyers argue that if the Trumps are ordered to testify under oath, their answers could be used in a parallel criminal probe. A Manhattan criminal investigation resulted in criminal charges last summer against the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen H. Weisselberg.In July, the Manhattan district attorneys office charged the Trump Organization with orchestrating a 15-year scheme allowing its executives to dodge taxes by compensating them with hidden fringe benefits.Furthermore, Trump and his business currently face civil and criminal inquiries into his business dealings and political activities in several states.On Monday the lawyers requested the appellate court for a stay to spare the Trumps from questioning as the matter is being considered. No court date has yet been set for arguments.In a statement on 28 February, when lawyers for the Trumps were preparing to file the appeal, Letitia James indicated readiness to fight to get them to testify.If Judge Engorons decision is upheld, Trump might have to decide whether to answer questions, or cite his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination.Politically Motivated AttackWhile New York attorney general, Letitia James, a Democrat, has been working with Manhattan prosecutors on their criminal investigation, she is also heading a parallel civil inquiry since 2019 into whether Trumps company misled lenders about the value of its assets.Prosecutors have suspected the company management of fraudulently inflating the latter to secure bank loans, while in other cases underestimating them to reduce taxes.In an eight-page ruling on 17 February Judge Arthur Engoron set a March 10 deadline for Trump and his children to sit for depositions, denying the motion by respondents Donald J. Trump, Ivanka and Donald Trump, Jr. to quash subpoenas issued by the petitioner in December 2021. The judge added that after reviewing the case, he determined there was sufficient basis for continuing the investigation.James earlier said that she had uncovered "significant evidence" indicating that the Trump Organization engaged in fraud to obtain economic benefits, "including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions."Trump stepped down as CEO of the Trump Organization in 2017 after taking office, passing the business on to his sons Donald Jr. and Eric.The 45th US President has repeatedly claimed that the probe into the companys financial activities is a politically motivated attack by the Democratic Party. Trump filed a lawsuit against James, accusing her of political animus and a desire to harass, intimidate, and retaliate against a private citizen who she views as a political opponent. https://sputniknews.com/20220225/trump-his-children-will-not-testify-after-defense-appeals-court-subpoenas---report-1093351874.html https://sputniknews.com/20220217/new-york-judge-orders-trump-adult-children-to-be-questioned-over-businesses-1093124929.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko donald trump, letitia james, ivanka trump, donald trump jr https://sputniknews.com/20220301/dpr-ukrainian-nationalists-seized-some-20-osce-cars-in-kramatorsk-staffers-fate-remains-unclear-1093471783.html OSCE Denies Their Vehicles Were Seized By Ukrainian Nationalists OSCE Denies Their Vehicles Were Seized By Ukrainian Nationalists Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine early in the morning on Thursday, 24 February, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T07:41+0000 2022-03-01T07:41+0000 2022-03-02T23:44+0000 osce ukraine russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093472858_0:128:3185:1920_1920x0_80_0_0_fb1c75a5cb2e333f1846d3a5851c0666.jpg In a statement, the OSCE stated that previous reports about their vehicles being stolen were false.Prior to the statement, it was reported that Ukrainian nationalists seized around 20 OSCE SMM vehicles in Kramatorsk and that the fate of the mission staff remains unknown. Earlier, the OSCE SMM stated in its daily report that monitoring teams in Donetsk and Lugansk were waiting to be evacuated through Russia. Prior to this, OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid said that she had decided to remove all members of the OSCE mission from Ukraine as soon as possible.On Thursday, Russia began a special operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the Armed Forces strike only at the military infrastructure and Ukrainian forces, nothing threatens the civilian population. With the support of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the DPR and LPR groups are developing an offensive. But there is no talk of the occupation of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasised. Prior to that, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognising the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. In the past weeks, the situation along the line of contact has significantly deteriorated as Ukrainian forces intensified the shelling of Donbass.THIS ARTICLE WAS UPDATED FOLLOWING A STATEMENT BY THE OSCE ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 osce, ukraine, russia https://sputniknews.com/20220301/end-the-imperialist-expansionism-us-progressives-demand-nato-be-disbanded-1093467424.html 'End the Imperialist Expansionism': US Progressives Demand NATO Be Disbanded 'End the Imperialist Expansionism': US Progressives Demand NATO Be Disbanded Russia has repeatedly said that NATO failed to take into account Moscows security concerns related to the concentration of its military capacity near Russian... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T04:36+0000 2022-03-01T04:36+0000 2022-03-01T04:36+0000 situation in ukraine us dsa ukraine crisis russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/03/1083295996_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0fab53dd9fe2f2011edece5d2a68f471.jpg The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have slammed the United States imperialist expansionism and failure to respond to Russias security demands and called for the dissolution of NATO's Western alliance, according to an official statement.While accusing Russia of aggression, DSA said that the US has set the stage for this conflict.At the end of 2021, Russia proposed drafts of a treaty with the US and NATO on security guarantees, including a stop to the alliances eastward expansion and establishment of military bases in post-Soviet countries. The proposals also contained the non-deployment of NATO strike weapons near Russian borders and the withdrawal of alliance forces in Eastern Europe to the positions of 1997.After a series of heavy strikes by the Ukrainian military against the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics, President Putin said that the situation require decisive and immediate action as the republics of the Donbass have asked for help.According to the Russian leader, all responsibility for the bloodshed lies on the Ukrainian authorities. He called on the Ukrainian military not to follow their criminal orders and lay down their arms.Later, the Russian Defence Ministry stressed that the Russian Armed Forces aren't launching any strikes on Ukrainian cities, and are targeting only military infrastructure. Moscow stressed that it is not interested in Ukrainian territory and would withdraw its forces after the demilitarisation and denazification of Kiev, which refused to comply with the Minsk agreements and has waged war in the Donbass region, is concluded. https://sputniknews.com/20220301/german-mp-says-nato-responsible-for-ukraine-escalation-should-have-guaranteed-neutral-status-1093466436.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Alexandra Kashirina Alexandra Kashirina News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Alexandra Kashirina us, dsa, ukraine crisis, russia https://sputniknews.com/20220301/eu-will-wage-total-economic--financial-war-against-russia-french-finance-minister-says-1093473057.html EU Will Wage Total Economic & Financial War Against Russia, French Finance Minister Says EU Will Wage Total Economic & Financial War Against Russia, French Finance Minister Says On Monday, Paris vowed to identify Russians who have properties in France so that they might be included in the EU sanctions list due to links with the Russian... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T08:14+0000 2022-03-01T08:14+0000 2022-03-01T09:55+0000 ukraine russia france eu bruno le maire /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/0f/1082083804_0:195:2945:1852_1920x0_80_0_0_b39addab2cc86de16d173e9ef2eb8f5b.jpg The EU will wage a total "economic and financial war" against Russia, said French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.Russia will face a collapse of its economy amid the full force of sanctions from the European Union and the United States unleashed against it, Le Maire told France Info radio on Tuesday.Bruno Le Maire also said that he would discuss with the leaders of TotalEnergies and Engie their activities in Russia amid Moscow's ongoing actions in Ukraine.On Monday, the French Economy and Finance Minister said Paris would be identifying Russians who have properties in France as the new package of EU sanctions is unleashed. The French announcements come as on Sunday, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the European Union's intention to ban state-owned Russian media outlets, including RT, Sputnik and their subsidiaries, as part of new sanctions imposed on the country amid its special military operation in Ukraine.Instagram has restricted access to multiple accounts that belong to Sputnik News Agency, according to an e-mail distributed late on Monday by the platform.Furthermore, the TikTok accounts of Russia-affiliated media resources, including RT and Sputnik, are now unavailable to users in the European Union, according to reports, with Sputnik correspondents in Spain and Germany confirming denied access in the early hours of Tuesday, local time.Amid the unprecedented media crackdown, Brussels is also determined to send additional weapons supplies to Ukraine, despite the US and its NATO allies already pumping nearly $3 billion in military assistance into Kiev since the 2014 Maidan coup d'etat.Brussels is also to sanction Belarus and any other country found to be "collaborating" with Russia on Ukraine, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said at a meeting of EU defence ministers on Monday.Moscow launched its special military operation in Ukraine to demilitarise and denazify the country after the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics' authorities asked for assistance to defend themselves against persistent attacks by Ukrainian troops. Russian Defence Ministry has said that the operation is targeting the military infrastructure of Ukraine only and that the civilian population is not in danger.However, the US and its allies in Europe and Asia condemned the Russian operation as an unprovoked "invasion" and slapped Moscow with new sanctions. https://sputniknews.com/20220227/as-west-slaps-another-package-of-sanctions-on-russia-analyst-mulls-over-their-effectiveness-1093412045.html https://sputniknews.com/20220228/european-union-determined-to-further-increase-military-aid-to-ukraine-borrell-says-1093453678.html ukraine france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 ukraine, russia, france, eu, bruno le maire https://sputniknews.com/20220301/german-mp-says-nato-responsible-for-ukraine-escalation-should-have-guaranteed-neutral-status-1093466436.html German MP Says NATO Responsible For Ukraine Crisis, Should Have Guaranteed Neutral Status German MP Says NATO Responsible For Ukraine Crisis, Should Have Guaranteed Neutral Status According to the member of the Bundestag, the debate about Ukraine's NATO membership was the trigger for the current events. The West's unwillingness to make... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T02:45+0000 2022-03-01T02:45+0000 2022-03-01T03:24+0000 russia ukraine ukraine crisis germany german bundestag alternative for germany (afd) nato situation in ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093466746_0:0:3119:1754_1920x0_80_0_0_ccb27dd657029f4388b79296afa843c0.jpg Alice Weidel, a co-leader of the German political party Alternative for Germany, also known as AfD, presented her view of the current tense situation around Ukraine, calling it "a failure of the West," while also adding that it failed to ensure Kiev's neutrality at an early stage.Speaking in the German parliament on Sunday, the politician said that her party wishes that timely measures had been made "to put Ukraine and all other surrounding countries on a neutral status and not continuously pushing the frontiers of NATO's eastward expansion."Weidel expressed an opinion that fulfilling the promise of Ukraine's neutrality could have reassured Russia about its security concerns. Weidel pointed out that Moscow had articulated the problem clearly for 20 years. And the US, for instance, would not tolerate any hostile power in its backyard, she added.Weidel reiterated that this "insult" to Russia was the main reason for the situation in Ukraine. And more to that, the West bears some responsibility for the situation, because the hardliners have stuck rigidly to the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO and, in doing so, arrogantly denied Russia's status as a great power.According to the member of parliament, "it was a total mistake" to tease Ukraine with unfulfillable promises, such as they would be able to join the EU and NATO. NATO and above all Germany and France should have intervened early on, said the politician. Moreover, the current crisis sets political processes in motion "that we may no longer be able to control afterwards."Western nations have increased sanctions pressure on Russia after it launched a special military operation in Ukraine following requests for help from Donbas. The Russian Defense Ministry has said that the operation is targeting only the military infrastructure of Ukraine and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine and that the purpose of its operation is to save the civilian population from genocide and liberate the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics, namely through the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. ukraine germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Kirill Kurevlev Kirill Kurevlev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Kirill Kurevlev russia, ukraine, ukraine crisis, germany, german bundestag, alternative for germany (afd), nato https://sputniknews.com/20220301/hackers-become-the-hacked-anonymous-site-taken-down-following-declaration-of-cyberwar-on-russia-1093496604.html Hackers Become the Hacked: Anonymous' Site Taken Down Following Declaration of Cyberwar on Russia Hackers Become the Hacked: Anonymous' Site Taken Down Following Declaration of Cyberwar on Russia The Anonymous hacker collective began attacking the Russian segment of the internet Friday in connection with the situation in Ukraine, targeting websites of... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T18:30+0000 2022-03-01T18:30+0000 2022-03-01T18:30+0000 ukraine russia anonymous hacking /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/18178/69/181786901_0:1:600:339_1920x0_80_0_0_9426aeac496f6e5f81eb45473a30bf93.jpg A hacking group called Killnet claims to have brought down a key website affiliated with Anonymous, as well as the neo-Nazi Ukrainian Right Sector paramilitary group and the office of the president of Ukraine.Users attempting to access Anonymous official website, anonymoushackers.net on Tuesday afternoon were met with the message Sorry, that didnt work. Please try again or come back later. 500 Error. Internal Server Error.Killnet accompanied the gesture with a Russian-language video address, with a shadowy hooded figure against the backdrop of a Russian flag reading out a text.Greetings, Russians and friendly union nations. The internet is full of fake information about the hacking of Russian banks, hacks on Russian media servers, and much more. None of this poses any danger to people. This information bomb is merely text, and nothing more. Do not fall for fake information on the internet. Have no doubts about your country, the hackers said.Addressing Anonymous directly, Killnet urged the group to start restoring your site, suggesting it looks very pitiful against in light of your threats against our country.Anonymous launched a cyberwar on Moscow on Friday, summoning hackers from around the world to target Russia over its military operation in Ukraine. The group has taken credit for DDoS attacks on Russian government and media websites, the military and businesses.The groups attacks appear to have been uncoordinated, disorganized, and indiscriminate. In addition to attacks on state media, for example, they targeted an independent St. Petersburg-based newspaper, several business outlets, and regional media which do not pay much attention to federal politics or world affairs.Anonymouss hacking campaign began coordination with efforts by Western IT giants and governments, which have moved to censor Russian foreign-language media outlets by blocking websites, shutting down radio and television broadcasts, and taking Russian media social media pages offline. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov ukraine, russia, anonymous, hacking https://sputniknews.com/20220301/indian-student-killed-by-shelling-in-kharkov-says-foreign-ministry-1093480042.html Indian Student Killed by Shelling in Kharkov, Says Foreign Ministry Indian Student Killed by Shelling in Kharkov, Says Foreign Ministry India is trying to evacuate nearly 20,000 citizens who have been stuck in Ukraine during the present hostilities. The stranded Indians are being evacuated to... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T14:16+0000 2022-03-01T14:16+0000 2022-03-01T14:16+0000 situation in ukraine ukraine russia india nato vladimir putin us kiev kharkiv poland /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093483640_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f8f208a6d4ca886d04b636980df90d44.jpg An Indian student has been killed by shelling in Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkov on Tuesday morning, the Indian foreign ministry said.The deceased student has been identified as Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, a native of the state of Karnataka, in Indias south.Several reports in Indian media claim that Gyanagoudar was a fourth-year medical student at Kharkov National Medical University (KNMU). He had reportedly gone to buy food from a nearby store when he was hit by a shell.Sources from the Indian foreign ministry have said that they have been trying to evacuate Indian students from Kharkov, but their efforts have been obstructed by intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces.Indian officials have revealed that about 9,000 Indian citizens, many of them students, have been brought out of Ukraine since Russia's President Vladimir Putin announced special military operations designed for the denazification and demilitarisation of Ukraine.Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian began in earnest on 25 February, with Moscow consistently stating that its aim is to neutralise military and radar installations with minimum collateral damage.Though Ukrainian authorities say they are continuing to hold major cities such as Kyiv and Kharkov, local authorities have admitted that they have been besieged by Russian forces. The Russian defence ministry on 28 February advised civilians living in Kyiv to leave the city and head for the safer western regions, along the borders with Poland, Romania and Hungary. On the same day, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine issued the same advice to Indians stuck in Kyiv - that they should make their way to the western parts of the country. It also urged students to proceed to the west of the country by whatever means available, preferably on train.Russian forces are bearing down on Kharkov, which is on the border with Russia, after it was reported that attacks against parts of the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples republics had come out of there.The US, the European Union and other western allies such as Canada, Australia and Japan, have hit Russia with a coordinated set of economic sanctions targeting its central bank and political leadership in response to these military operations. The US and its NATO allies have also supplied Ukraine with nearly $1Bln in military equipment since the hostilities began last week.However, Moscow has remained steadfast in its military and political objectives in the face of western sanctions. President Putin told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during a telephone call on Monday, 28 February, that a settlement would only be possible if Ukraine is designated as neutral and Moscows sovereignty over Crimea is recognised.Putin also said that Russian forces were taking care to ensure that the military operations cause minimum collateral damage, as he blamed Ukrainian forces for employing human shields in a bid to mount a counter-offensive. https://sputniknews.com/20220228/indians--africans-fleeing-ukraine-accuse-ukrainian-border-security-of-violence-racism--videos-1093437375.html ukraine india kiev kharkiv poland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Dhairya Maheshwari Dhairya Maheshwari News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Dhairya Maheshwari ukraine, russia, india, nato, vladimir putin, us, kiev, kharkiv, poland https://sputniknews.com/20220301/israel-opens-up-to-foreign-visitors-but-will-it-be-enough-to-revive-tourism-from-covid-19-1093470256.html Israel Opens Up to Foreign Visitors, But Will it be Enough to Revive Tourism From COVID-19? Israel Opens Up to Foreign Visitors, But Will it be Enough to Revive Tourism From COVID-19? In 2019, before the outbreak of the pandemic, 4.6 million foreign tourists visited the country, a ten percent spike compared to the previous year. The eruption... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T09:51+0000 2022-03-01T09:51+0000 2022-03-01T09:51+0000 israel covid-19 tourism /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093475487_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6ff0e80f4acc25d3cca4d7efac7c5bd7.jpg After two years of endless restrictions caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, Israel is gradually opening up to the world.Starting Tuesday, both vaccinated and non-vaccinated tourists will be allowed in, pending PCR tests that they would need to take before and after arrival in Israel.Israelis willing to travel abroad will no longer need to take a PCR test. They will need to prove their well-being only upon their return to the country.Relief is also expected within Israel. The nation has already cancelled the so-called green pass, a permit issued by the Ministry of Health that was required to be presented upon entering public institutions, bars, restaurants and public gatherings.In the upcoming weeks, the government will be mulling over the possibility of cancelling this requirement in mass gatherings. The obligation to wear facial masks in close areas might be cancelled as well.Low NumbersThe easing of restrictions comes amid a dive in the number of daily coronavirus patients.Sunday registered fewer than 6,000 new cases, a relatively small amount compared to what was seen at the peak of the fifth wave in January.But experts have been warning that Israel should not be complacent and that the emergence of yet another variant was still possible.Economic PressureHowever, the removal of the various COVID-19 restrictions was not only dictated by the decline in numbers. Another motive behind the move was the mounting economic pressure applied on the government and the demand that the public look for solutions.Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, Israel was one of the hottest tourist destinations. In 2019, for example, more than 4.5 million foreigners visited the country, a ten percent spike from the previous year.The eruption of COVID-19 in February 2020 brought this industry to a standstill. In March the airport was closed, visits of foreigners have dwindled and many local businesses that relied on tourists have gone bankrupt. Israeli tour guides have lost their bread and butter, focusing their attention on domestic visitors who didn't bring in that much of an income.During the government of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the government has been giving out money to small and medium business owners to keep them afloat. The current coalition -- led by PM Naftali Bennett -- took a different approach, limiting the assistance to the private sector.Last December, Israel's Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman advised Israeli tour guides "to change profession" indicating that that industry was dead and that the government had no intention to salvage it from the mess.Later on, he backtracked from his comments, but the damage has already been done. In recent months, representatives of the tourism industry have been protesting the inactive stance of the government. Many have taken to the streets to demand assistance, a move that finally bore fruit.In late December, the government approved a package that included special assistance for tour guides, amounting to $7.7 million. $18.5 million has been allocated to inbound tourism organisers, and an additional $46 million to hotels.Previously, tour guides were complaining that that assistance wasn't enough to recover what had been destroyed by the pandemic. But now with the opening of the gates to foreign tourists, it looks like for the first time in two years, Israel's tourism has a glimpse of hope. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Elizabeth Blade Elizabeth Blade News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Elizabeth Blade israel, covid-19, tourism Chinese action star Wu Jing will join the British action star Jason Statham in the much-anticipated sequel to the sci-fi giant monster horror film "The Meg." China's CMC Pictures, the film's producer and Chinese distributor, announced Wu and Statham will co-lead the international project. It also published a photo of Wu on set with the director. "The Meg 2: The Trench" will be directed by Ben Wheatley, known for his stylish thrillers such as "Kill List," "High-Rise," and "Free Fire," instead of the first installment's director Jon Turteltaub. But the original cast and crew members are returning, including scriptwriters Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, and Erich Hoeber, will return to the sequel. The film is loosely based on the 1999 book "The Trench" by Steve Alten. Also joining the cast of "The Meg 2" are returning actors Sophia Cai, Cliff Curtis, and Page Kennedy from the first installment besides Statham, and a new cast of renowned Hollywood actors including Skyler Samuels, Sienna Guillory, and Sergio Peris-Mencheta. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Belle Avery will produce the film, and Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute it outside China. In 2018, "The Meg," loosely based on Alten's 1997 book "Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror," also starred Chinese actress Li Bingbing to appeal to Chinese audiences and featured a ravenous prehistoric shark known as a megalodon. The Sino-American co-production went on to earn more than $530 million worldwide. In North America, it grossed $145 million, and in China, it took in 1.05 billion yuan ($166.8 million). It was seen as a big success and a milestone for an international project mainly controlled and developed by a Chinese company to win universal popularity. In its press release on Thursday, CMC Pictures said that the development of "The Meg 2: The Trench" may also become a pivotal opportunity to promote the progress of Chinese film industrialization further and promote Chinese culture to the world. "It can show the world the level of Chinese filmmaking and the strength of Chinese filmmakers. At the same time, this will create further exchanges and cooperation with worldwide film industries, promote the influence of Chinese films, and show the characteristics of contemporary Chinese culture as well as the mix, integration, and inclusiveness of Chinese and foreign cultures," it reads. The press release added that China's films have prioritized fostering cultural exchanges and showing Chinese culture globally. Wu Jing, a famous actor starring in many phenomenal blockbusters, including the "Wolf Warrior" franchise, "The Battle at Lake Changjin," and "The Wandering Earth," has become a cultural symbol and gained influence internationally. "It is also his wish to make use of the film art, the cultural exchange form, to convey China's contemporary culture and philosophy." "The Meg 2: The Trench" is currently filming in the U.K. and will release worldwide in 2023. https://sputniknews.com/20220301/journalistic-unions-and-lawyers-eu-censorship-of-sputnik-and-rt-is-counterproductive-and-illegal-1093492486.html Journalistic Unions and Lawyers: EU Censorship of Sputnik and RT is Counterproductive and Illegal Journalistic Unions and Lawyers: EU Censorship of Sputnik and RT is Counterproductive and Illegal The European Commission has proposed banning Russia's Sputnik and RT from accessing the European media market over Russia's "special operation" in Ukraine. The... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T16:20+0000 2022-03-01T16:20+0000 2022-03-01T16:28+0000 europe twitter facebook instagram rt sputnik news censorship tik tok youtube google /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/103383/80/1033838044_0:160:3073:1889_1920x0_80_0_0_ca2741b9dc9a7e69cba6da0e0fb1c532.jpg "First of all, one should bear in mind that media regulation is not within the competence of the European Union," says Ricardo Gutierrez, general secretary of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the largest journalist organisation in Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced measures that she will not be able to put into practice. The EU does not have the right to issue or revoke a broadcast license. This is the exclusive competence of states. Secondly, shutting down the media altogether does not seem to be the best way to deal with disinformation or propaganda."On 27 February, von der Leyen claimed that the EU would ban Sputnik and RT's "toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe."Gutierrez argues that censorship could be counterproductive for citizens who read or watch banned media. Instead, apparent disinformation should be countered by exposing factual errors or poor journalistic research, demonstrating the lack of their financial or political independence, devotion to special interests and disregard for the public interest, according to the EFJ general secretary.The prohibition of the media outlet is a serious step that must be based on a solid legal framework and objective reasons in order to avoid arbitrariness, according to the EFJ. The major task of democratic countries is to fight disinformation while maintaining the freedom of speech, the federation emphasises, adding that the real antidote to disinformation is not an outright restriction, but a promotion of a vibrant, pluralistic, professional, viable, and completely independent media ecosystem.The EU's move to ban RT and Sputnik means direct censorship that, if passed, would be illegal, according to Berenger Tourne, a lawyer at the Paris Bar since 2001 and former secretary of the Paris Bar Internship Conference."This is not so much a violation of free speech as it is a revision of what was considered free speech," Tourne says. "If the political power now seizes its own press (and in France its major assets already belong to a handful of billionaires), then one can say that a free press simply does not exist. They keep it on a tight leash."Even prior to the European Commission's decision, Sputnik Polska and Sputnik Czech Republic became unavailable to users in the two Central European states. Meanwhile, over the weekend, multiple Sputniks, including Sputnik International, Sputnik German SNA, and Sputnik Ceska Republika reported large-scale DDoS attacks.German regulators announced that they would block RT DE on 2 February, under the pretext that the Russian broadcaster "does not have the necessary broadcasting license."Big Tech on Warpath Against Russian MediaFollowing the EC's proposal to ban Sputnik and RT, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, signalled on Monday that it had blocked access to Sputnik and RT pages across the European Union.Instagram has blocked all RT and Sputnik News accounts in 27 European countries. Earlier the broadcaster said that the Telegram channel of RT France with more than 50,000 subscribers was blocked in France. For its part, TikTok confirmed to several media outlets on Monday that it has restricted access to "Russian-backed" accounts including Sputnik and RT, throughout the EU.Meanwhile, Twitter announced that it would "put warnings on tweets" which are sharing links to "Russian state-affiliated media," adding that the platform has been detecting over 45,000 tweets per day that are sharing links to Sputnik and RT.Simultaneously, Google Europe stated that it is blocking YouTube channels associated with RT and Sputnik across Europe.On 25 and 26 February, Facebook and YouTube blocked what they called "Russian state-affiliated media" from running ads on their platforms, with Twitter also suspending all advertising in Ukraine and Russia.Akkaya stresses that in the times of crises and during military operations, this false information spreads many times faster than usual. According to the secretary general, the duty of a democratic system is to guarantee the right of the population to receive reliable information, including during the period of hostilities.One glaring example is the story of Ukrainian border guards who, according to the Ukrainian authorities, were killed on the Zmeiny (Snake) Island in the Black Sea during Russia's special operation in Ukraine. The story was frantically circulated on social media with some mainstream media and American congressmen re-tweeting and reposting it. However, Sputnik and RT revealed that 82 Ukrainian border guards from the island weren't killed but voluntarily laid down arms, surrendered, and were delivered to Sevastopol in Crimea. The Russian media outlets presented ample video evidence describing the event and interviewed Major General Mikhail Yasnikov, deputy commander of the Black Sea Fleet for logistics. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova europe, twitter, facebook, instagram, rt, sputnik news, censorship, tik tok, youtube, google https://sputniknews.com/20220301/kremlin-on-paris-remarks-on-total-financial-war-against-russia-masks-have-been-removed-1093485309.html Kremlin on Paris' Remarks on Total 'Financial War' Against Russia: Masks Have Been Removed Kremlin on Paris' Remarks on Total 'Financial War' Against Russia: Masks Have Been Removed MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Aggressive actions against Russia in the economic sphere have taken place before, but now "masks have been removed" and the measures have... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T13:02+0000 2022-03-01T13:02+0000 2022-03-01T13:02+0000 situation in ukraine russia sanctions /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/05/1092769850_0:96:3303:1954_1920x0_80_0_0_231a9fbbc96e6a2f710ce101c123926b.jpg "Now these aggressive actions against our country are of such an ultra-concentrated nature. But these actions, in fact, have taken place before. It's just that they maybe weren't visible to the naked eye. But experts are perfectly aware of all discriminatory measures, measures involving unfair competition, and so on. That is, this all has happened before. It's just that now it's all concentrated, extremely concentrated. Well, as they say, the masks have been removed," Peskov told reporters.The spokesman also noted that at the moment, consumers have been reacting hyper-emotionally to price increases, but this is just the first reaction.Earlier in the day, French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said that the European Union will wage a massive economic and financial war against Russia.On 21 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics and on 24 February Russia launched a military operation to demilitarize Ukraine. The Russian Defene Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. In turn, Western nations have increased sanctions pressure on Russia after it launched a military operation in Ukraine. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 russia, sanctions Russian Envoy to UN in Geneva: Time Has Come to Withdraw Nuclear Weapons From Europe MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The time has come to withdraw nuclear weapons from Western and Eastern Europe, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Gennady Gatilov said on Tuesday. "The time is right to remove nuclear weapons from Western and Eastern Europe and everywhere else," Gatilov told Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen. The envoy added that US military bases pose a threat to Russia's security, and Moscow has long demanded that Washington remove these weapons from Russia's borders. In addition, the Russian diplomat pointed out that the United States will not be able to exclude Russia from the UN Human Rights Council or the UN Security Council. He also indicated that Moscow is not convinced that the looming dialogue will bring the desired results between Ukrainian and Russian officials. "Contacts have begun between the Ukrainian delegation and Russia, and we hope that these contacts will continue in the nearest future and will serve as the beginning of a political solution," Gatilov told Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen. "We support diplomatic means, but this diplomacy must respect the positions of all countries and should be carried out on the basis of equality, which unfortunately we do not see... We do not see the desire of the Ukrainian regime to try to find a legitimate and balanced solution to this problem," Gatilov added. https://sputniknews.com/20220301/mod-plans-strikes-on-ukrainian-intel-military-relay-facilities-in-kiev-1093486001.html Russian MoD Plans Strikes on Ukrainian Intelligence, Military Info Warfare Relay Facilities in Kiev Russian MoD Plans Strikes on Ukrainian Intelligence, Military Info Warfare Relay Facilities in Kiev Russian forces began concentrating near the Ukrainian capital from the first days of the operation, with troops and armoured formations backed by army aviation... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T13:16+0000 2022-03-01T13:16+0000 2022-03-01T14:20+0000 ukraine russian military situation in ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093487595_0:187:728:597_1920x0_80_0_0_f1ffd40a626f05093278768d40bd029e.jpg The Russian ministry of defence has announced plans to carry out precision strikes against Ukrainian Intelligence Service (SBU) and military information warfare facilities, and has warned employees and civilians in the affected areas to leave their homes to avoid casualties.The attacks are expected to target SBU operational and communications facilities, as well as the 72nd Center for Information and Psychological Operations of the Special Operations Force of Ukraine, according to the Russian military.These facilities have been used to carry out informational attacks against Russian state institutions, including to send out death threats and to report the planting of bombs in Russian schools, train stations and other social infrastructure, the MoD said. The military said informational attacks have spiked dramatically in recent days in connection with the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Russian authorities have long suspected informational attacks of this nature coming from Ukraine since the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev - with the threats, bomb scares and fakes tying up Russian emergency services, causing chaos in government administration and educational institutions, and costing businesses lost revenues.The long-running security crisis in Ukraine collapsed into a full-blown conflagration between Russian and Donbass forces on one side and the Ukrainian army and ultra-nationalist formations on the other last week. The Russian military and the Donetsk and Lugansk people's militias launched what President Putin characterized as a "special military operation" Thursday to "demilitarise" Ukraine following the dramatic ramping up of artillery, mortar, sniper and sabotage attacks by Kiev forces in the Donbass throughout the month of February. The US and its allies framed the operation as an out of the blue, unprovoked "invasion" and slapped Russia with new sanctions. The West also promised to send Kiev an additional $850+ million in military aid. https://sputniknews.com/20220228/live-updates-turkey-warns-all-coastal-non-coastal-states-it-will-not-let-warships-though-straits-1093461274.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov ukraine, russian military https://sputniknews.com/20220301/new-planned-vehicle-may-help-store-oxygen-on-moon--build-lunar-villages---report-1093464910.html New Planned Vehicle May Help Store Oxygen on Moon & Build Lunar Villages - Report New Planned Vehicle May Help Store Oxygen on Moon & Build Lunar Villages - Report New Planned Vehicle May Help Store Oxygen on Moon & Build Lunar Villages - Report 2022-03-01T00:28+0000 2022-03-01T00:28+0000 2022-03-01T00:28+0000 tech lunar station moon oxygen european space agency /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0f/1092276202_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_7cfc44439ec79e6ecc5718c4b2944299.jpg A special device, reportedly being developed by the European Space Agency in cooperation with Thales Alenia Space, Franco-Italian aerospace manufacturer specialising in the space industry, would be able to extract oxygen from Lunar rocks, according to the Mirror.The innovation may be another step towards the creation of a real lunar village.An unmanned spacecraft would feed the rocks into the machine to be crushed to dust that would be pressed into tablets, according to the newspaper. When heated, these tablets were said to be able to emit oxygen that could be stored in reservoirs for future use.The European Space Agency agreed on a 840,000 ($1,1 million) deal with Thales Alenia Space to develop a blueprint for the device. The project is expected to start in the next two years.Electrolysis has many applications, from separating water into hydrogen and oxygen to extracting oxygen from lunar rocks. Not so long ago, researchers at the University of Glasgow in the UK examined how the electrolysis method works in reduced gravity since the Moon has only one-sixth and Mars one-third of Earths gravity. Scientists discovered that under conditions of Lunar and Martian gravity, oxygen production can decrease by about 11 and 6 percent compared to terrestrial conditions.Meanwhile, there is a lot of oxygen on the Moon, but it doesn't exist in gaseous form. Instead, it resides inside regolith, a layer of rock and fine dust that covers the Moon's surface.Oxygen can be found in many minerals on Earth, and the Moon mostly consists of the same materials. Minerals such as oxides of aluminium, iron, silicon and magnesium dominate the Moon's landscape. All of these minerals contain oxygen, for example, Lunar regolith is made up of about 45 percent oxygen. https://sputniknews.com/20220225/chinese-researchers-explain-mysterious-glass-balls-on-moons-surface---photo-1093352012.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Alexandra Kashirina Alexandra Kashirina News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Alexandra Kashirina tech, lunar station, moon, oxygen, european space agency https://sputniknews.com/20220301/poland-begins-seizure-of-russian-property-in-warsaw-including-school-building-1093499764.html Poland Begins Seizure of Russian Property in Warsaw, Including School Building Poland Begins Seizure of Russian Property in Warsaw, Including School Building WARSAW(Sputnik) - Poland began seizing Russian property in Warsaw, including the school building at the Russian embassy, the republic's foreign ministry said... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T20:41+0000 2022-03-01T20:41+0000 2022-03-01T20:40+0000 situation in ukraine ukraine russia poland seizure building /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/101719/45/1017194519_0:152:2921:1795_1920x0_80_0_0_d80e203e358636a7f1a7750b555493de.jpg "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has applied to the competent government authorities with a submission to initiate enforcement proceedings in respect of two real estate objects that are not used for diplomatic and consular purposes and are illegally owned by the Russian Federation, that is, real estate facilities located at Sobieskiego 100 and Kieleckiej 45 in Warsaw," the statement says.The school at the Russian Embassy in Poland is located in the building at Kieleckiej Street 45. The building at Sobieskiego 100 was previously inhabited by Russian diplomats, but now it is unoccupied and in need of repair.The ministry noted that "in respect of both of these facilities, the final decisions of the Polish courts have been issued, ordering them to be transferred to their rightful owner - the State Treasury."In addition, the ministry recommended "to use all available procedural means to ensure the speedy conduct of legal proceedings in other cases related to real estate."The ministry explained its actions by a "gross discrepancy in the amount of real estate" of Poland in Russia and Russia in Poland and "the lack of prospects for finding a solution to this issue in the foreseeable future."Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz said that it was planned to accommodate refugees from Ukraine in the buildings confiscated from Russia.Russia uses several properties in Poland, some of them are the property of Russia, others are used on the basis of agreements. However, several facilities in Warsaw and Gdansk are used, according to the Polish side, without the necessary agreements.The Russian Embassy in Poland will deal with the legal aspects of the decision to seize real estate in Warsaw, Russian Ambassador to Warsaw Sergey Andreev told Sputnik."We have heard the information that comes to us on this issue, and tomorrow we will deal with its legal aspects," the head of the Russian diplomatic mission said. ukraine poland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 ukraine, russia, poland, seizure, building https://sputniknews.com/20220301/russia-and-ukraine-engage-in-negotiations-investors-brace-for-volatile-markets-1093465868.html Russia and Ukraine Engage in Negotiations; Investors Brace for Volatile Markets Russia and Ukraine Engage in Negotiations; Investors Brace for Volatile Markets Ukrainian and Russian diplomats met today near the Belarus border to work on a resolution to hostilities. 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T07:19+0000 2022-03-01T07:19+0000 2022-03-01T09:25+0000 the critical hour venezuela cuba nato swift julian assange radio /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093465823_36:0:1280:700_1920x0_80_0_0_64f2b2cb17765ccfe8dc743f369cf97a.png Russia and Ukraine Engage in Negotiations; Investors Brace for Volatile Markets Ukrainian and Russian diplomats met today near the Belarus border to work on a resolution to hostilities. Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss the Ukrainian military operation. Ukrainian and Russian diplomats met today near the Belarus border to work on a resolution to hostilities. The Russians have made clear demands that the Eastern European nation must pledge to remain neutral and free from US/NATO and Nazi influence.Jack Rasmus, professor in economics and politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. Investors are bracing for a hostile and volatile world market as draconian sanctions against Russia threaten to destabilize the world economy. Russia has taken internal actions to dampen the effects, and the EU is considering additional actions.Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, joins us to discuss the implications of the Ukraine conflict on great world powers. The Russian operation to rid its border of a major NATO military base of operations will have major implications on changing the power dynamics of the three great world powers. The unipolar hegemony of the US empire is being challenged by Russia as Iran, Venezuela, and China watch and wait.Steve Poikonen, national organizer for Action4Assange, joins us to discuss Julian Assange. Julian Assange's unwillingness to trade his integrity for power and freedom set him apart from his tormentors. Assange provided a public service to the world by ripping off the veil of the vicious and brutal elite ruling class.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Iran has advised that they will not accept any deadlines for ending talks on the revival of the JCPOA. They also say that they will no longer accept questions centered around accusations that they consider politically motivated.KJ Noh, activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss China. China says that the US sailing its warship through the Taiwan straits is unnecessarily provocative. Also, China has said that it opposes sanctions and will continue to do business with Russia.Ajamu Baraka, former vice presidential candidate for the Green Party, joins us to discuss the reactions to the Ukraine conflict in the Global South. Cuba has stated that they believe Russia has a right to defend itself. Also, Venezuela blames the US and NATO for the Ukraine conflict.Ted Rall, political cartoonist and syndicated columnist, joins us to discuss the media's response to the Ukraine conflict. The media refuses to discuss the history that pointed to this outcome. Instead, the military operation is put forth as a result of the whims of a madman.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com venezuela cuba Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg the critical hour, venezuela, cuba, nato, swift, julian assange, , radio https://sputniknews.com/20220301/russia-has-currently-no-plans-to-withdraw-its-diplomats-from-canada---ambassador-1093465301.html Russia Has Currently No Plans to Withdraw Its Diplomats from Canada - Ambassador Russia Has Currently No Plans to Withdraw Its Diplomats from Canada - Ambassador WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov tells Sputnik that media reports of alleged preparations of the Russian diplomatic mission to... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T00:21+0000 2022-03-01T00:21+0000 2022-03-01T10:23+0000 russia canada military aid ukrainian crisis russian ambassador /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106307/52/1063075214_0:0:4501:2532_1920x0_80_0_0_005fc3b16844a72c76ff16ff6ab1d4be.jpg Muhammad Lila, a correspondent who had worked for CBC and CNN, said on Twitter on Monday that Russia was making preparations to withdraw all of its diplomats from Canada.Earlier on Monday, Ottawa announced an additional $20 million in military aid to Ukraine that includes equipment such as helmets, body armor, gas masks and night vision gear.The Canadian government had previously approved lethal military aid to Ukraine in the amount of $6.1 million as well as a loan of up to $393 million amid rising tensions with Russia.Russia launched a special operation in Ukraine responding to calls for help from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics against the intensifying aggression of Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation was solely targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and emphasized that the civilian population is not in danger. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 russia, canada, military aid, ukrainian crisis, russian ambassador https://sputniknews.com/20220301/russian-armed-forces-will-continue-ukraine-op-until-they-achieve-their-goals-shoigu-says-1093476022.html Russian Armed Forces Will Continue Ukraine Op Until They Achieve Their Goals, Shoigu Says Russian Armed Forces Will Continue Ukraine Op Until They Achieve Their Goals, Shoigu Says The Russian military and their Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic allies began a large-scale military operation aimed at demilitarising Ukraine last... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T09:40+0000 2022-03-01T09:40+0000 2022-03-01T10:32+0000 ukraine russia sergey shoigu /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093476864_0:146:3123:1902_1920x0_80_0_0_bdaea1a66fa7e09458749ea9f805e707.jpg The main goal of the Russian military operation in Ukraine is the defence of the country against a military threat created by the West, and Russian forces will continue the mission until they reach their stated aims of demilitarising and denazifying the country, defence minister Sergei Shoigu has said.Speaking at a briefing Tuesday, Shoigu said that the Russian military was not out to "occupy" Ukrainian territory, and emphasised that troops were doing everything possible to preserve the lives of civilians, including by limiting strikes only to military objects using precision weapons.Shoigu praised the armed forces for their "courage and heroism, and the conscientious and professional carrying out of their assigned tasks" in the course of the operation.Unfortunately, the defence minister said, the Ukrainian side has shown in places that it has no qualms about using civilians as human shields, including by deploying artillery systems, heavy guns and large-calibre mortars near residential areas, schools and kindergartens.Shoigu also announced plans to hold a 'First International Antifascist Congress' in August, with its goal being to "unite efforts of the international community in the fight against the ideology of Nazism, neo-Nazism in any form of its manifestation in the modern world".Russia began a large-scale military operation in Ukraine on 24 February after receiving a request for assistance from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, which faced weeks of escalating Ukrainian shelling, mortar, sniper fire and sabotage attacks. Moscow took the unprecedented step of recognising the DPR and LPR as independent states on 21 February.The dramatic situation in Ukraine is the culmination of a security crisis which began in 2014, when pro-Western political forces backed by Washington and Brussels overthrew the country's government in a coup and set a course to drag Kiev into the European Union and NATO. The coup prompted Crimea to break off from Kiev's control and rejoin Russia. In eastern Ukraine, the rise of fledgling pro-independence movements prompted Kiev to send troops to try to crush the resistance, sparking a years-long civil conflict. A Russian, French and German-led effort to end the conflict through the 2015 Minsk Peace Agreements failed to bear fruit, with successive Kiev governments refusing to provide the Donbass with constitutionally mandated autonomy in exchange for its peaceful reintegration into Ukrainian jurisdiction. https://sputniknews.com/20220228/live-updates-turkey-warns-all-coastal-non-coastal-states-it-will-not-let-warships-though-straits-1093461274.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov ukraine, russia, sergey shoigu https://sputniknews.com/20220301/scientists-propose-measures-to-ensure-well-being-of-gene-edited-babies-1093476153.html Scientists Propose Measures to Ensure Well-Being of Gene-Edited Babies Scientists Propose Measures to Ensure Well-Being of Gene-Edited Babies Chinese experts suggest surveillance and protection measures for the world's first three gene-editing babies, as well as their descendents, while He Jiankui... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T09:44+0000 2022-03-01T09:44+0000 2022-03-01T09:44+0000 china scientists /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093476064_0:320:3073:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_b57f9c98e7b821c697757dcc899fdf72.jpg In 2018, He, a genome-editing researcher at the Southern University of Science and Technology of China in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, shocked the world as he claimed to have created genetically modified humans, which are the world's first. He was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2019. Citing unnamed sources, some media said that He would be released in near future, reviving concerns over the condition of the gene-edited babies, including twins referred to as Lulu and Nana and another named Amy.Amid concerns, the Global Times learned from Qiu Renzong at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing and Lei Ruipeng at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, that they had drafted a proposal to related authorities to call for the government to develop policies to protect the three children and their descendents from discrimination and gene diseases caused by the editing. The proposal suggests the babies' whole genome should be examined regularly to know whether it is normal, if not, what is abnormal. After they reach the age of 18, they should be informed by their parents with the assistance of relevant genetic professionals, that their genome has been edited.The proposal also calls for the authorities to establish a special research and care organization, which may be called the Human Genetic Genome Editing Research and Care Center, and to allocate special funds (or establish a fund with public and private investment). The Global Times learned from Lei that the proposal would be published China Science Daily recently. It has already been reported in an article published on the website of the Nature magazine on Friday, in which international researchers said that it is the first to discuss how to manage the children's unique situation and welcomed it, but some also concerned that the proposal would lead to unnecessary surveillance of the children.Qiu told the Global Times on Monday that, depending on the characters of gene editing and current development of the technology, it is necessary to conduct surveillance. Qiu explained that gene-editing techniques are immature at current stage with high off-target rate and potential abnormalities even if the target is hit. In particular, the abnormalities may be passed on through reproduction to their children and their children's children.Surveillance is inconsideration of the well-being of these children. Or, how could we detect the abnormality after gene editing? Qiu asked.Preimplantation genetic diagnosis should also be performed on early embryos with their consent during pregnancy to observe whether the embryo genome is abnormal and how is the severity of the abnormality, so as to help them make reproductive decisions, Qiu noted.This article originally appeared on the Global Times website. china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 china, scientists You are here: Business Erenhot, the largest land port on the China-Mongolia border, has seen a significant rise in China-Europe freight trains so far this year, according to the local railway authorities. Since Jan. 1, the port has handled a total of 503 China-Europe freight trains, up 27.9% from the same period last year. The 500th China-Europe freight train this year passed through the port at 1 p.m. Monday, a milestone that took 18 fewer days to accomplish than last year. The number of inbound trains totaled 232, up 33.3%, while the number outbound trains reached 271, a rise of 23.6%. The port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region now serves 54 China-Europe freight-train routes, connecting over 60 overseas destinations across more than 10 countries. https://sputniknews.com/20220301/tel-aviv-to-vote-against-russia-at-un-but-israelis-say-it-will-jeopardise-countrys-security-1093470022.html Tel-Aviv to Vote Against Russia at UN but Israelis Say it Will Jeopardise Country's Security Tel-Aviv to Vote Against Russia at UN but Israelis Say it Will Jeopardise Country's Security Over the years, Israel and Russia have coordinated activity when it came to Syria, where it did so to avoid potential clashes in the skies over Syria... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T10:20+0000 2022-03-01T10:20+0000 2022-03-01T10:20+0000 israel russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093475711_71:0:1033:541_1920x0_80_0_0_017745bf47d13bf7b5a01cef66206469.jpg Just days after Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid condemned Russia's military operation in Ukraine, he has come up with yet another dramatic declaration.This time around, he says Israel would vote to condemn Russia at the United Nations General Assembly, a vote that's expected to take place later today.According to reports, Israel is also mulling over an option to join the Western sanctions slapped on Russia but a decision in this regard hasn't been taken yet.Good Decision?Lapid's announcement has already stirred lively discussions on Telegram's various groups, with some users backing the move.Another one added: "we need to be on the right side of history. Nothing will happen to Russia as a result of this vote, that will surely pass with a big majority. Our vote at the UN is more a PR move... nobody wants that encyclopedias will write that Israel voted in favour of Russia together with Syria, Iran, China and North Korea".Fatal MistakeBut the vast majority of users who participated in that discussion said Lapid's decision was a fatal mistake."Lapid is an idiot on steroids," commented one user."Do not forget, who allows you to target Iranian weapons that arrive in Syria," reminded another.Since 2015, when Russia started its operation in Syria aiming at preserving the rule of the country's President Bashar Al Assad, it coordinated its actions with Israel to avoid potential clashes in the Syrian skies.Over the years, Israel has reportedly carried out dozens of attacks on Syria. It eliminated multiple military targets allegedly belonging to Iran and its regional ally, the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah. Russia reportedly was informed about those attacks and has purportedly turned a blind eye to the situation, allowing Israel to act freely.Now, with Lapid taking sides, Israelis are concerned that that move will eventually backfire.However, Israel's free operation in Syria is not the only issue that bothers Israelis. Traditionally, Moscow has enjoyed good ties with the Palestinians, and has often served as a mediator between them and Israel at times of escalation.And this is the reason why losing the support of Moscow at a time when Hamas, an Islamic group that controls the Gaza Strip, is still threatening Israel is considered by many as a mistake that begs to be corrected.Others agreed: "well, good luck to us all, when it comes to another military confrontation with Hamas. It will soon come".Yet, there were also those, who were trying to calm down the panic."Russians are not stupid. They understand Israel has its own reservations. They were expecting this. So we have nothing to worry about".So far, it seems that Israel and Russia are continuing business as usual. Moscow has reiterated that it will keep on sticking to its coordination with Israel when it comes to Syria.The Jewish state has also offered its assistance to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, by convening a summit in Jerusalem, something that Moscow hasn't agreed to yet.Will that be enough to soothe Russia? It might, as long as Israel doesn't back its words with actions, and as long as it doesn't join western sanctions that have been damaging the Russian economy. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Elizabeth Blade Elizabeth Blade News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Elizabeth Blade israel, russia https://sputniknews.com/20220301/un-general-assembly-emergency-session-on-ukraine--day-2-1093491778.html UN General Assembly Emergency Session on Ukraine Day 2 UN General Assembly Emergency Session on Ukraine Day 2 On Sunday the United Nations Security Council called for an emergency special session of the General Assembly amid Russias military operation in Ukraine. 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T15:04+0000 2022-03-01T15:04+0000 2022-03-01T15:04+0000 situation in ukraine world united nations general assembly /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/01/1093492271_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_cf27a7d15daa2216bc4e2a81d3fd3497.jpg The United Nations General Assembly is convening in New York City for the second day of the special session to discuss the situation in Ukraine.On 24 February, Russia began a special operation to demilitarise Ukraine, responding to calls for help from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics in countering the aggression of Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defene Ministry said the special operation is only targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow has repeatedly stated it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. Western nations have increased sanctions pressure on Russia as a result. Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More! Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 UNGA emergency session on Ukraine: Day 2 UNGA emergency session on Ukraine: Day 2 2022-03-01T15:04+0000 true PT201M23S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 world, united nations general assembly, https://sputniknews.com/20220301/us-could-transfer-terrorists-from-syria-to-ukraine-amid-russian-op-damascus-says-1093467828.html US Could Transfer Terrorists From Syria to Ukraine Amid Russian Op, Damascus Says US Could Transfer Terrorists From Syria to Ukraine Amid Russian Op, Damascus Says DAMASCUS (Sputnik) - US special services could send members of Daesh*, as well as other terrorist groups in Syria, to Ukraine, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T04:35+0000 2022-03-01T04:35+0000 2022-03-01T04:53+0000 ukraine syria russia terrorism situation in ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105936/09/1059360992_0:239:2793:1810_1920x0_80_0_0_3200316e6432653eadd6b2501770f88d.jpg "Based on the analysis, we can say that this is quite possibly true. We, as a state, have evidence that the US military in Syria is transferring terrorists from one place to another, especially members of the IS and Jabhat al-Nusra*," Jaafari said.He argued that the US had transferred terrorists from Syria to Afghanistan and Burkina-Faso and that the use of mercenaries is a well-established US practice.He added that Western states have been supporting nationalist radicals in Ukraine.The Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister argued that if Russia had any "real allies" in WWII, they would not be supporting neo-Nazis today.On Sunday, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to supply 450 million euros ($500 million) worth of arms to Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters after a virtual EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting late on Sunday that the aid would also include 50 million euros for non-lethal supplies, such as fuel and protective equipment, and the EU was also going to provide fighter jets to Kiev. The US, Canada and Australia have also approved lethal defensive assistance to Ukraine.Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine at the end of February, following requests for help from the peoples republics in Donbass. The Russian Defence Ministry has said that the operation is only targeting the military infrastructure of Ukraine and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine and that the purpose of its operation is to save the civilian population from genocide and liberate the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics (DPR and LPR), including through the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.*Daesh (ISIS/ISIL/IS), Jabhat al-Nusra - terrorist organisations banned in Russia and many other countries ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 ukraine, syria, russia, terrorism https://sputniknews.com/20220301/washington-coordinating-with-allies-to-seize-putins-assets-us-senator-says-1093468399.html Washington Coordinating With Allies to Seize Putins Assets, US Senator Says Washington Coordinating With Allies to Seize Putins Assets, US Senator Says WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The West is preparing further restrictive measures against Moscow, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, US Senator Chris Murphy... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T04:52+0000 2022-03-01T04:52+0000 2022-03-01T05:08+0000 ukraine russia dpr lpr us vladimir putin situation in ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/12/1093146016_0:120:3009:1813_1920x0_80_0_0_56db066542a9a7d8feab887af59835c6.jpg "The U.S. and allies are coordinating to not only freeze the assets of Putin and his oligarch allies, but to seize those assets as well. This is likely a further step than Putins inner circle anticipated," Murphy said on Twitter on Monday.The White House has asked Congress to allocate $6.4 billion to assist Kiev in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The funds could be attached to a broader government spending package expected to pass next week.Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter that he'd told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call that Kiev needs more weapons amid Russias ongoing military operation in Ukraine and is also insisting on further restrictions against Moscow.On Sunday, G7 foreign ministers discussed with Kuleba further steps to support Kiev, including in cybersecurity and the fight against disinformation, and expressed their commitment to increasing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The ministers once again condemned Russia's operation in Ukraine and demanded the withdrawal of all troops.The Western nations have increased sanctions pressure on Russia after it launched a military operation in Ukraine following requests for help from the peoples republics in Donbass. The Russian Defence Ministry has said that the operation is targeting the military infrastructure of Ukraine only and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine and that the purpose of its operation is to save the civilian population from genocide and liberate the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics (DPR and LPR), including through the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.On Sunday, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to supply 450 million euros ($500 million) worth of arms to the Kiev forces. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters after a virtual EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting late on Sunday that the aid would also include 50 million euros for non-lethal supplies, such as fuel and protective equipment, and the EU was also going to provide fighter jets to Kiev. The US, Canada and Australia have also approved lethal defensive assistance to Ukraine. On Friday, the Biden administration unlocked a $350 million package of military assistance to Kiev, including more Javelin anti-tank missiles. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 ukraine, russia, dpr, lpr, us, vladimir putin https://sputniknews.com/20220301/west-carrying-out-massive-propaganda-to-portray-russia-as-enemy---us-activist-1093492758.html US Activist: West Carrying Out Massive Propaganda to Portray Russia as Enemy US Activist: West Carrying Out Massive Propaganda to Portray Russia as Enemy WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The United States and NATO have mounted a massive propaganda campaign to make Russia the enemy in the eyes of Western audiences... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T15:20+0000 2022-03-01T15:20+0000 2022-03-01T18:56+0000 situation in ukraine world us nato russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/03/1092713651_0:232:3072:1960_1920x0_80_0_0_ef7aa5f894ce0dbac006992928e28598.jpg "I think the US and NATO have carefully carried out a massive propaganda campaign against Russia that has led most people in the West to unthinkingly accept the narrative that Russia is an enemy country run by a brutal dictator with expansionist ambitions," Wilayto, a co-founder of the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, and coordinator of the Odessa Solidarity Campaign, said.Wilayto has placed the responsibility for the current situation in Ukraine on the US and NATO.The activist wondered what would happen if Russia were arming, training and mobilizing military forces near the United States."There is no doubt what the reaction would be," he answered.Wilayto accused the US government of supporting the 2014 violent coup in Ukraine and bringing to power people who "have taken down memorials to Soviet heroes of World War II and replaced them with memorials to Ukrainian fascists who sided with the Nazi occupation."On Thursday, Russia began a special operation to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces. The Russian Defence Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.The move has elicited condemnation from Western leaders, sanctions on the Russian central bank, export control measures, and SWIFT cutoff for select banks. In addition, the European Union banned RT and Sputnik from broadcasting in the EU, with their accounts on YouTube and TikTok also blocked. us russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 world, us, nato, russia https://sputniknews.com/20220301/womens-health-protection-act-which-would-codify-abortion-rights-in-us-law-voted-down-by-senate-1093465675.html Womens Health Protection Act, Which Would Codify Abortion Rights in US Law, Voted Down by Senate Womens Health Protection Act, Which Would Codify Abortion Rights in US Law, Voted Down by Senate A bill that would have made the right to an abortion part of US law, instead of being dependent on a US Supreme Court ruling, has failed to pass the US Senate... 01.03.2022, Sputnik International 2022-03-01T00:43+0000 2022-03-01T00:43+0000 2022-03-01T00:43+0000 abortion us senate us roe v. wade us supreme court /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/16/1083204825_0:0:3141:1768_1920x0_80_0_0_ebd4a87ecd0547549e0092beb26aa6b0.jpg The Senate voted 46-48 on Monday on a motion to bring the Womens Health Protection Act to a vote in the Senate, meaning the bill has died.The bill passed the Democratic-majority House in late September, several weeks after the US Supreme Court decided not to stop the implementation of a Texas law that bans abortions at roughly five weeks after conception, when most women do not even know they are pregnant. However, in the evenly-split Senate, where Vice President Kamala Harris casts a tie-breaking vote and where Republicans can use the filibuster rule to stop objectionable bills from even getting to be voted on, the WHPA stalled for months.In November and December, the US Supreme Court heard several cases concerning the Texas abortion law, known as SB 8, as well as another very restrictive anti-abortion law in Mississippi, but has declined to move against them thus far. In one case, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the state of Mississippi asked the court to not just consider its ruling in the 1992 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey, but also its 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade. The latter case saw the court deem abortion a legal practice, protecting access to the procedure under a womans right to privacy, but also laying out a structure in which abortion could be regulated.The Roe decision provoked a strong backlash among religious conservatives, whose anti-abortion program has become one of the bellwethers of Republican Party politics. With a 6-3 conserative majority, Democrats now fear that the high court is both capable and willing to reverse its decision in Roe. us Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 abortion, us senate, us, roe v. wade, us supreme court Standardbred Canadas Heart of Harness Racing Calendars photographer for March is Kaitlyn Wesley of Truro, N.S., who captured this photo of Prince Adam in the paddock at sunset. Wesley is a caretaker in the industry and helps take care of Prince Adam, so she and her daughter spend lots of time with him. Prince Adam is stationed at Truro Raceway, and she managed to capture this photo while turning him out one day. Q: How many years have you been involved in harness racing? A: Since I was in grade 11. I took a break and came back four years ago! Q: Are you a harness racing fan, owner, groom or trainer? A: I am a groom. Q: What is your favourite racetrack? A: To be honest, Cape Breton tracks! Q: Who is your favourite horse of all time? A: Prince Adam -- my heart horse. Q: What is your favourite subject to photograph aside from horses? A: Animals in general, but landscapes come close too! Q: Where is your favourite spot to take photos? A: Trackside! Or farms -- I love capturing memories. Q: Who is your favourite harness driver? A: I am very biased, but it would be Andrew Campbell (my boyfriend); just proud of how far he has come! Q: If you could take photos for one day anywhere in the world, where would it be? A: The North America Cup! Capturing memories of the fans, owners, trainers, drivers, grooms and horses. Q: What is one racetrack that you want to attend that you have never been to? A: Mohawk -- I am a faithful online watcher and would love to be there someday! Q: The last picture you took on your phone? A: My seven-year-old daughter Ahlea Fudge putting Prince Adam away. Q: What is your favourite race? A: Gold Cup and Saucer or North America Cup tied! Q: First place you are going to visit once travel restrictions are lifted? A: Im not much of a traveller outside of Nova Scotia, but I would have to say P.E.I. Natasha and Marc Campbell have invited us over to visit. The calendar project is supported by many tracks and associations, and Standardbred Canada would like to thank this month's calendar sponsor, Truro Raceway. Charles Chesnutt was one of the first widely read Black fiction writers in the U.S. RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images Any writer has to struggle with the dilemma of staying true to their vision or giving editors and readers what they want. A number of factors might influence the latter: the market, trends and sensibilities. But in the decades after the Civil War, Black writers looking to faithfully depict the horrors of slavery had to contend with readers whose worldviews were colored by racism, as well as an entire swath of the country eager to paper over the past. Charles Chesnutt was one of those writers. Forced to work with skeptical editors and within the confines of popular forms, Chesnutt nonetheless worked to shine a light on the legacy of slavery. His 1899 collection of stories, The Conjure Woman, took place on a Southern plantation and sold well. At first glance, the stories seemed to mimic other books set in the South written in a style called local color, which focuses on regional characters, dialects and customs. But Chesnutt had actually written a subversive counternarrative, using humor to poke holes in the nostalgic myths of the South and expose the contradictions of a racist society. Rewriting the past After the Civil War, there was a concerted effort to portray the South as a pastoral place possessed with a culture of honor. Slavery, meanwhile, had been a nurturing, even benevolent, institution. These beliefs bled into the eras fiction, with white authors such as Thomas Nelson Page and Joel Chandler Harris writing stories that sentimentalized and softened the complex histories of the past. Writer and editor Joel Chandler Harris published a magazine named for his famous character Uncle Remus. Jay Paull/Getty Images Many of these stories feature a formerly enslaved older male whos given the affectionate moniker Uncle. These characters tended to describe the Civil War as an affront on the Southern way of life, while presenting the South and its landed gentry as heroic. In A Story of the War, for example, Harris introduces the character Uncle Remus, who recounts the time his master went away to fight the Civil War. Overcome with concern for the man who enslaved him, Uncle Remus follows him and witnesses a Northern soldier preparing to shoot him. In a moment of panic, Remus shoots the Northerner, wounding him. A Story of the War, like most Southern local color tales, appealed to readers invested in the Lost Cause of the Old South, a revisionist ideology that depicts the creation of the Confederate States and cause of the Civil War as just and heroic. Historian Fred Bailey notes that stories like Pages and Harris were hailed by the Souths upper-classes, while associations like the United Daughters of the Confederacy routinely read from these works at their meetings. Chesnutts revisionist humor At first glance, it would seem Chesnutt, who was mixed-race and could have easily passed for white, was merely working within the dominant literary form of his time and fashioning stories geared to a white audience. Like his white contemporaries, Chesnutt, in The Conjure Woman, includes a character whos an uncle living on the abandoned plantation where he once toiled. But Chesnutt, as literary historian Dickson Bruce points out in his 2005 essay Confronting the Crisis: African American Narratives, used the setting of the plantation to present a more authentic representation of slavery. The first edition cover of Charles Chesnutts The Conjure Woman. Documenting the American South Uncle Julius, who appears in each of the collections stories, isnt nostalgic for some bygone era. Instead, he reflects on his own life and seeks to show the humanity of the enslaved. He uses his ability as a raconteur to cleverly swindle a white carpetbagger who bought the plantation Julius lived on during his bondage and after the Civil War. The stories are descriptive, corrective and, most importantly, funny. While Chesnutts tales explicitly engage with the hard history of slavery, each of the stories ends on a lighter note, with Uncle Julius often getting what he wants. Throughout the collection, he parodies the conventions of Southern fiction whether refuting racist tropes or showing the cruelty of the ruling class subtly poking fun at a culture enveloped by the fog of nostalgia. Bound by form At the same time, Chesnutt felt as if he couldnt simply write broadsides against myths like the Lost Cause. In order to be published, Black writers needed to appeal to the sensibilities of white readers and the demands of editors. For example, Uncle Julius spoke in a Black dialect that sounded similar to those of the uncles authored by white writers. This didnt come easily for Chesnutt. In one letter to his editor, Chesnutt described writing in this dialect as a despairing task. Nonetheless, he avoided completely pandering to mainstream expectations of how Black characters should be portrayed. He rejected the emergent historiography of Reconstruction that refused to recognize the agency of African Americans, and despite working within the form, Chesnutt didnt present Julius as a buffoon who was happy to serve the whites in his midst. Even though his stories didnt overtly denounce racism, Chesnutt hoped they might still chip away at prejudice: But the subtle almost indefinable feeling of repulsion toward the negro, which is common to most Americans and easily enough accounted for, cannot be stormed and taken by assault; the garrison will not capitulate: so their position must be mined, and we will find ourselves in their midst before they think it. Humor opens doors Chesnutt is far from the only Black artist asked to make compromises. Poet Langston Hughes had a falling out with his patron, Charlotte Osgood Mason, who viewed African Americans as a link to the species primitive past and wanted his work to be devoid of political progressivism. As Hughes wrote in his 1940 autobiography, The Big Sea, I was only an American Negro who had loved the surface of Africa and the rhythms of Africa but I was not Africa. I was Chicago and Kansas City and Broadway and Harlem. And I was not what she wanted me to be. In Chesnutt, I also see ties to contemporary Black comedians who center their humor around race. During the third season of Chappelles Show, Dave Chappelle famously suffered from an existential crisis because the comedian wasnt sure how people were responding to his humor. In a 2006 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he explained how, when filming a sketch in blackface, someone on the set, that was white, laughed in such a way I know the difference of people laughing with me and laughing at me. And it was the first time Id ever gotten a laugh that I was uncomfortable with. Shortly after, Chappelle quit the show. Comedian Dave Chappelle struggled over whether the audience was laughing with him or at him. Riccardo Savi/Getty Images While Chesnutt was certainly not the first African American artist to use humor to depict the horrors of slavery, he was one of the first to reach the American mainstream. The humor disarms readers, helping them cross a psychological threshold and enter a space where a more nuanced conversation about the history of the country can take place. ___ Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Rodney Taylor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. ___ OMAHA Bio Nebraska, together with Marylinn Munson, recently announced that they have launched the Marylinn Munson & Bio Nebraska STEM Scholarship to support and encourage Nebraska high school students as they pursue relevant classroom study and professional experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related fields. Applications will be accepted beginning March 1, 2022, for the 2022-2023 academic year. I am inspired by our talented young women and men. They are our future leaders, the ones who will not only be making new discoveries but solving existing and future human problems and needs through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, said Marylinn Munson, a Nebraska leader in the life science, biotechnology, and agriculture industries. Providing students a strong foundation, through impactful and connecting organizations like Bio Nebraska, is critical. Im honored and privileged to be able to support them in their journey. Scholarships are available to Nebraska high school seniors who have been accepted at a Bio Nebraska approved Nebraska college, community college or university, are planning to enroll in an undergraduate course of study in a STEM-related field, and who plan to pursue a career with a STEM-related organization. A one-time scholarship payment of $2,500 may be awarded to up to four high school seniors for the 2022-2023 academic year. We are proud to partner with Marylinn to support Nebraska high school seniors as they begin their journey to a career in STEM, said Rob Owen, Executive Director of Bio Nebraska. Nebraska offers enormous opportunities across STEM fields and our states youth is a crucial component in growing and sustaining these important industries. Applications must be received before 9 a.m. CST on Apr. 30, 2022, and scholarship recipients will be announced in June 2022. For more information about the Marylinn Munson & Bio Nebraska STEM Scholarship, interested applicants can visit the Bio Nebraska website here. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Several European countries, the United States and Canada issued a joint statement on Saturday saying they will remove some Russian banks from SWIFT, the payment system used for most international financial transactions. The expulsion, which some people believe will deal a heavy blow to the Russian economy by crippling Russian banks' ability to settle international transactions, could be bad for Europe, as it will at the same time bring energy supply shocks to the European Union (EU). That is probably why a few European countries like Germany and Italy were hesitant about endorsing it at first. SWIFT expulsion SWIFT is a Belgium-headquartered global provider of secure financial messaging services. It was formed in 1973 by 239 banks from 15 countries to solve the problem of cross-border payments communication. More than 11,000 financial institutions are now using SWIFT for their financial transactions, including around 300 from Russia. According to the joint statement released Saturday, in concert with the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Britain and Canada, the United States is supporting the expulsion of "selected Russian banks" from SWIFT "within the coming days," so as to "further isolate Russia from the international financial system and our economies." "It will stop them (the Russian banks) from operating worldwide and effectively block Russian exports and imports," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted on Sunday. Many media reports have predicted that such an expulsion, if endorsed for all major Russian banks, is likely to wreak havoc on Russia's financial system and economy by triggering bank runs and greatly undermining Russia's exports, and have therefore touted the expulsion as a "nuclear option." However, some experts said the move did not necessarily mean that Russian banks will be rendered incapable of conducting international transactions, as they can still finalize the process with other banks through other systems, or even by fax or Email given that SWIFT is only a messaging system. The expulsion will only make the whole process slower and costlier, they said. In fact, Russia has started to developed its own financial transfer system -- the System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS) -- since 2014, as an alternative to SWIFT, a move in anticipation of possible expulsions from the West. At the end of 2020, there were 23 foreign banks connected to the SPFS from Armenia, Belarus, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Switzerland. As of May 2021, the SPFS had been handling around 20% of Russia's domestic payments. Supply shocks Citing analysts, some media reports said there was in the beginning reluctance among several leaders from EU countries to take the step of expulsion due to their countries' heavy reliance on Russian energy exports. For example, the Financial Times reported Thursday that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz believed such a move "should not be included in an EU sanctions package." British online newspaper The Independent reported on Saturday that Germany, France and Italy opposed a request from Britain to shut Russia out of SWIFT. "The German finance minister, Christian Lindner, admitted Berlin refused to go further because of 'a high risk that Germany will no longer be supplied with gas or raw materials,'" it said. According to Russia's central bank, the country's exports totaled $489.8 billion in 2021, more than 50% of which were energy products. Over 40% of the EU's natural gas comes from Russia. Germany, the largest economy in the EU, gets 55% of its gas imports from Russia. Besides, Russia is a main supplier of crude oil and solid fossil fuels to the EU. Nikolai Zhuravlev, deputy speaker of the Federation Council of Russia, told Russia's TASS news agency in January that European countries will not be able to receive gas, oil and metals from Russia in case Russia is disconnected from SWIFT. Many experts believed if EU countries are weaned off Russian energy supplies, they will face a huge challenge to find backup suppliers. "Europe's economy, which is far more closely tied to Russia's than the U.S. economy, could suffer if Russia was restricted or prohibited from using SWIFT, including if banks are blocked from access," NBC News reported on Sunday. They might be thousands of miles apart but the bond between the Christians in Ukraine and Russia and those gathered at Western Avenue Baptist Church on Sunday is one that cannot be broken. That was the message at a quickly arranged prayer service. Andy Lackey, Western Avenues associate pastor, said he received a phone call from local activist Brian Summers late last week as the situation in Ukraine worsened, and by Saturday morning, the prayer service was arranged. Summers said there is one simple reason he helped to put together the prayer service. All we can do is pray, he said. Western Avenues pastor, Dr. Jeff Spry, said there are people in both countries who share the love of Christ with those sitting in the pews at the church Sunday. Our bond is stronger than with any unbeliever, he said. The service featured prayer for the people of Ukraine and Russia, the Ukrainian military, the Russian military, the church and believers in the Ukraine, the missionaries serving in either of those countries, government leaders in the U.S. and those offering relief and humanitarian aid in countries neighboring the Ukraine. Spry said the situation in Ukraine is concerning. We are deeply concerned, he said as he opened the service. Dr. Andy White opened the service by offering prayer to the people in both countries. He said the offering is for those who chose to flee, stay, to fight or those forced to stay as well as those in Russia protesting the invasion. Right now, think of the people in the Ukraine, he said. To those protesting in Russia, he said, the prayer is that God will help them find strength. Katie Hatchett offered prayer for the Ukrainian army as well as the civilians who are taking up arms to fight. Phil Greene prayed for those in the Russian Army, as well as civilians who may be conscripted into the army but do not want to fight. Kyle Tucker encouraged the church and Christians in Ukraine in their fight. May you not lose hope, she said. Jennifer Combs asked for prayers for the Gospel to go out, while Chuck Miller offered a prayer for those in leadership in the U.S. Spry said that is so so much needed. The service continued with blessings for those who are and will be providing relief and humanitarian aid in the weeks and, perhaps, months to come. David Moss said organizations such as Samaritans Purse and others will be providing that relief. Words of prayer were offered to those who will be working with the refugees that have fled to other countries to provide necessities. Spry said that local people also can help in this regard. and once efforts are established, the church will spread the word. Mark Collins, minister of youth at Western Avenue, then sang the song Is He Worthy?, which was followed by a final prayer from Lackey. Our hearts are heavy for all those effected, he said. Not long after Judge Daniel Chambers started his work with the Iredell County Magistrate Court, a young probation officer brought an arrestee in front of him for his first judicial proceeding. On Monday, that man, Clerk of Superior Court Jim Mixson, led a ceremony as Chambers was recognized for his 30 years of service with the Iredell County Magistrate Court. Now he has three decades of experience, something that helped him be selected as the chief magistrate in 2020. In those years, Chambers demeanor and evenhandedness have been a hallmark of his work, according to all of those gathered in the room. Hes been a great leader in the magistrates office for many years. Hes got a calm demeanor, which bodes well for someone in his role, Mixson said. I didnt see it coming; the years fly, Chambers said with a laugh before thanking many of those he worked with during his career. Ive worked with some great people as a magistrate here. Ive worked under some great judges. Were all a big judicial family here, and its great. Other judges and staffers at the Iredell County Hall of Justice gathered in the Magistrate Court to present Chambers with a rocking chair Monday while sharing a few words praising the veteran judge. He is an example of someone who will do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason, every time, Joe Crosswhite, the senior resident Superior Court judge, said. Our county is blessed to have people of his caliber step up and do this kind of work. Crosswhite said Chambers helped show him the ropes in Iredell County when he began his time here in 1995. Crosswhite, Mixson and others said Chambers helped mentor many people at the Hall of Justice as well. I would not know what it would be like to come into a courthouse and not have Daniel Chambers influence somewhere in the courthouse, in every office and every respect, Crosswhite said. Chambers said he isnt one who likes the spotlight and that the ceremony was overwhelming, but he also appreciates everyone he worked with over the last three decades. In that time, the veteran judge said remaining fair-minded and ruling that way as well has been the most important part of his work. To be fair, to be considerate and always justice fairly, Chambers said. Kesler recognized for 25 years of service Mondays ceremony wasnt all about Chambers, though like the judge, Tammy Kesler said she could have done without the spotlight being on her. She was recognized for her 25 years of service within Iredell Countys judicial system. Crosswhite also praised her for her behind-the-scenes work that might go unnoticed by the public but was important to keep the courthouse running smoothly. Kessler started off as a deputy clerk in the criminal department, but she has been working with with Crosswhite and fellow Superior Court Judge Will Long since 2013, providing clerical support. She also serves as a liaison between law enforcement, attorneys and other judicial offices. I love working for the clerk of court and just meeting and communicating with people of all walks of life, she said. The 25 years with the state of North Carolina has really flown by, and I look forward to achieving full retirement. Follow Ben Gibson on Facebook and Twitter at @BenGibsonSRL Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Community members are invited to a farewell reception for former Town Manager Kayla Cox prior to next weeks Town Council meeting at W. Skip Bishop Town Hall on March 3. Those wishing to honor Cox and her contributions to both the Town of Floyd and Floyd County should arrive at W. Skip Bishop Town Hall at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 3. The regular Floyd Town Council meeting is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Cox first announced her exit last year, but agreed to stay onboard until March to fill at least two of the positions to staff the Town Offices. Lynn Gregory joined the town team in early January as Town Clerk/Treasurer, and Andrew Morris was officially hired as Town Manager during the Feb. 3 Town Council meeting. Coxs contributions to the town and county include restructuring the joint Floyd Tourism Department during the summer with County Administrator Linda Millsaps, planning Small Town Summer alongside contracted organizers, starting the process of Town Hall renovations and leading several VDOT-involved projects, among others. Cox has been a part of the town team since 2016, and she is expected to fully transition out of the role by the end of March, following Morriss training. RIDGEFIELD The Cowlitz Indian Tribe donated more than a half a million dollars Monday to nine local nonprofits during its foundation event at the tribes ilani casino in Ridgefield. A teen camp in Battle Ground called Camp Hope received a check for $85,000 and an animal-assisted therapy organization in Ridgefield called Mtn Peaks Therapy Llamas & Alpacas received a check for $25,000. The following organizations were also awarded for a total donation of $540,000: Cowlitz Wahkiakum Legal Aid: $50,000. Columbia Riverkeeper: $50,000 Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Willamette: $20,000. Junior Achievers of SW WA: $50,000. Innovative Services NW: $150,000. Partners in Careers: $50,000. PERIOD. Inc: $60,000. The tribes foundation has donated more than $18 million to more than 1,000 Washington and Oregon nonprofits since 2018, says the organization. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is one of 574 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages in the United States. The tribes land is located in Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis and parts of Pierce, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Longview dentist Dr. Sam Wise was evicted last week from his 11th Avenue office after staying roughly three months past the lease agreement, amid court cases and state investigations about his Lower Columbia Oral Health practice. The 1538 11th Avenue office Wise operated for almost three years stood empty and closed Monday. The eviction comes amid a pending Washington State Department of Health investigation into whether Wise violated state codes in 2019, and Cowlitz County Superior Court cases surrounding his practice. Eviction Court records show the landlord of the 11th Avenue office sent Wise a lease termination notice in November, after Wise failed to pay that months $8,200 rent. The lease ended Nov. 30, court records state, but Wise did not leave the building until around Friday. Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office Chief Criminal Deputy Troy Brightbill said sheriffs deputies posted the eviction notice on the office building Feb. 18, after Superior Court issued the notice, and the business was vacated when deputies followed up on Friday. An email from Wise to Lower Columbia Oral Health patients on Sunday alleges the eviction was not done fairly. Wise said he was one day late on rent due to mailing issues, and the landlord took advantage of the lease contract to evict him. The landlord of the 11th Avenue office is the former tenant, Dr. Daniel Haghighi, who returned to Ohio in 2019 after operating Lower Columbia Oral Health for 24 years. Wise took over the business in 2019 under the official name German Wise Dental, LLC. Haghighis attorney denied comment Monday, and Wises attorney could not be reached by phone Monday. Court cases Wise and his company are in the middle of several court cases. Wise and his wife are appealing a Cowlitz County District Court decision that denied $7,784 from two former patients who said they were promised some free services during the offices transition from Haghighi to Wise. Court records include a letter from Haghighi stating he and Wise agreed the services for at least one of the patients would be free. On Wednesday, Cowlitz County Superior Court ruled Wise also defaulted on a $1.35 million loan his company took out with JPMorgan Chase when he did not respond to the banks allegations he had not made payments since March 2021. A former employee of Wise named Darci Cooper is suing Wise, his wife and German Wise Dental, LLC for shorted pay, among other issues, according to a previous article by The Daily News. A five-day trial for the case is scheduled for Sept. 27 in Cowlitz County Superior Court. In addition to legal action, former employees and patients alleged Wise was rude to patients and staff and didnt abide by basic medical and ethical practices in 2020, according a TDN report. Wise said the complaints were from disgruntled employees and lacked evidence, says the article. State reviews The Washington State Department of Health is reviewing whether Wise will face disciplinary actions for prescribing his wife a weight-loss drug for sleep apnea as her dentist, about two months after Wise was issued a license to practice in Washington in 2019, according to state documents. The state alleges the actions could be a violation of unprofessional conduct because prescribing sleep apnea medication falls outside the scope of dental practice. Wise also could be in violation of not keeping records of his wifes prescription, including the date and medication amount, says the state. Enforcement action was listed as pending on the Washington Department of Healths website as of Monday and Wises dental license also was active. TDN reported the state closed investigations on four complaints against Wise in 2020, but still had 11 to review at the time. Three additional complaints were filed with the Washington State Attorney Generals Office as of July 2020, according to the TDN report. TDN requested information on the results of those complaints Monday and updates on the accusations, as well as the practice in general, are forthcoming. Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 9 Sad 2 Angry 2 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. China is poised to take bolder steps to accelerate building a strong and highly efficient domestic market, analysts and business executives said. Thus, market-oriented reforms will continue to underpin China's next-phase development, which should bring benefits to local residents as well as foreign businesses, they said. Measures to further empower the role of the market in resource allocation and to foster a level playing field for companies from both home and abroad by removing market entry barriers are vital for China to build a new growth model characterized by the idea of a dual-circulation development pattern proposed by the central leadership, economists said. A unified domestic market that is efficient, open and rule-based is essential for China to improve internal economic circulation while a strong and prosperous domestic economy will also help enhance external circulation, or the two-way flow of goods and capital, which is the essence of the dual-circulation development idea. Liu Quanhong, director of the international economics research institute of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, said that China gained valuable experience in deepening market-oriented reform in the past decades, which will continue to guide the nation's policymakers on future reforms. "Strong leadership of the Party to ensure reforms stay on the right track, properly handling the relationship between the government and the market to avoid improper administrative interventions, unswervingly unleashing productivity potential, and using pilot projects for experimentthese are some of the important factors for China's success," he said. China's GDP expanded to more than 114 trillion yuan ($18 trillion) in 2021 from 54 trillion yuan in 2012 and the country's per capita GDP has exceeded $12,000. Contributing to about 30% of global growth in recent years, China has become an important growth engine for the global economy. "In the next step, I think the most urgent task is to deepen market-oriented reforms for production factors, which is the inner driver of the country to pursue high-quality development and to build a unified and highly efficient domestic market that encourages fair competition and is fully integrated into the global economy," Liu said. Policies should also be drafted to improve the role of the government for better coordination in allocations of key production factors such as land, capital, labor and technology, he said. The central leadership sent a clear signal to accelerate market-oriented reform at a recent top-level meeting. President Xi Jinping said at the meeting in December that it is imperative to speed up the building of a unified national market that is efficient, standardized, open and allows fair competition. It is also vital to establish unified market rules and regulations across the country and promote the smooth flow of goods, factors, and resources on a wider scale. Xu Gao, chief economist at BOC International, said that building a dual-circulation development model will better enable the Chinese economy to shift toward a consumption-driven growth model and to unleash the potential of its vast consumer market. Necessary reforms including policies to substantially increase household income and its share in the country's GDP and to reform the existing income distribution system are crucial for China to build a stronger consumer market. "A strong and vibrant domestic consumer market will create attractive business opportunities, which will also be welcomed by foreign companies," Xu said. Foreign investors have given China a vote of confidence despite the shocks generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021,61,000 foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, up 23%, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing other news outlets. Wu Dongming, CEO of DHL Express China, said: "China's 'dual-cycle' model marks the Chinese economy's entry into a new era of enhanced economic development. The continuous opening-up has been leading to an improved business environment, in particular the efficiency of Customs clearance, from an international logistics provider's perspective." Peter Foo, president and chief executive officer of United Overseas Bank (China) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Singapore-based banking group, echoed the view that a stronger Chinese economy will generate more opportunities and greater access for foreign businesses. "To achieve stable and high-quality economic development, China is spearheading efforts to drive sustainable trade and investment flows and build a greener and upgraded economy. We see more opportunities in enabling customers to transform together with China's economy," Foo said. The grainy aerial images of a destroyed Russian tank and missile batteries were, according to Ukraines air force, the latest evidence of the damage inflicted by its fleet of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones. The grainy aerial images of a destroyed Russian tank and missile batteries were, according to Ukraines air force, the latest evidence of the damage inflicted by its fleet of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones on Vladimir Putins invading army. In an English-language tweet Tuesday, Ukraine lauded the attack as the jewelry work of Bayraktar TB2 crews, saying it took place in the previous 24 hours at an undisclosed location. Since fighting started last week, Ukrainian claims have credited the pilotless aircraft with destroying dozens of Russian armored vehicles, missile systems and trucks. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: While its impossible to confirm a role for the drones in all those losses, it wouldnt be the first time planes made by Turkeys Baykar had a significant impact on battlefields where Moscow maintained an interest. Relatively cheap to make and deploy, the aircraft have in recent years helped swing conflicts in places as far afield as Azerbaijan and Libya in favor of Turkish allies. Now they are prized items in the budding relationship thats made Turkey one of Kyivs most important backers. In the process, the planes are straining ties between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Putin, a relationship that has consequences for Turkeys economy, defense ties and regional flashpoints including Syrias war. Information available from open-source intelligence appears to confirm Feb. 26 drone strikes on a Russian BUK surface-to-air missile system and a supply train, said Arda Mevlutoglu, an independent Turkish aviation expert based in Ankara. Satellite images showed an explosion at the specific location where the Ukrainian military claimed to have targeted the transport train, he said. Ukraine appears to be successfully using surviving Bayraktar TB2 drones against Russian military assets, once again proving its efficiency in combat, Mevlutoglu said Tuesday. Communications and operational failures within the Russian force might be contributing to the drones successes, he said. Michael Kofman, a Russia analyst at CNA, a nonprofit research and analysis organization in Arlington, Virginia, similarly ascribed some of Ukraines drone strikes to mind boggling decisions by Russias military, including failing to provide extensive air cover. Putins forces, which are yet to secure control of skies over all Ukraine despite starting their campaign by targeting radar facilities and airstrips, said they had destroyed at least four Bayraktar drones as well as the base from which theyre launched, according to an Interfax report. Russian troops are now thought by Western intelligence agencies to be massing north of Kyiv for an assault on the capital after failing to meet some of their early war aims amid unexpectedly fierce Ukrainian resistance. Ukraine has bought dozens of Bayraktar TB2s since 2019 together with control stations and missiles, according to several Turkish officials and an executive at one of the countrys defense companies with close government ties. The two nations also agreed to cooperate on a new generation of the drones during a visit to Kyiv by Erdogan early last month. The low-flying and highly maneuverable TB2s are operated from mobile stations and protected by jammers, said a Turkish official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Theyre a product of Erdogans ambition to make Turkeys projection of regional power more self-sufficient, and Istanbul-based Baykar is run by Selcuk Bayraktar, a son-in-law of the president. Bayraktar drones owned by Ukraine opened fire for the first time in October to destroy mobile artillery in Donbas, a region where Russian-backed separatists have faced off against Ukrainian troops since 2014 and thats cited by Putin as one justification for his invasion. Turkeys Drone Chief Leads Pursuit of Homegrown Military Edge In a Dec. 10 phone call with Erdogan, Putin condemned Ukraines provocative deployment of the attack drones, according to a Kremlin statement. About a month earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had warned Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to take Moscows concern over Turkeys militarization of Ukraine as seriously as possible. Before the Russian invasion, Ukraines government had set aside land for facilities to manufacture Turkish drones locally as the two countries planned to expand defense industry cooperation, including supplying Ukrainian engine technology for Turkeys fast-growing arms producers. A senior Turkish official said that working with Kyiv provides Ankara with leverage in its dealings with Moscow in conflicts from Africa to the Middle East and the Caucasus. But Turkey remains wary of aggravating Moscow and has largely avoided publicizing the role of its hardware in those wars so not to damage economic ties or trigger military retaliation in places like Syria. Russia provides more than half of Turkeys gas and is also building a nuclear reactor in the country, while Russian tourists have been a major source of income. Thousands of Turkish soldiers are deployed in Syrias rebel-held Idlib province where theyd be vulnerable to attacks by government forces who are backed by Putin. Ankaras foremost priority will be to avoid antagonizing Moscow, while supporting Kyiv and building Western goodwill as a reliable NATO ally will be secondary goals, Emre Peker, Europe director for Eurasia Group, wrote in a note on Monday. Still, theres little doubt over the Bayraktar planes effectiveness in Ukraine, said Paul T. Levin, director of the Stockholm University Institute for Turkish Studies. There were many skeptics about the Turkish made Bayraktar TB2 drones ability to go up against the Russian military machinery in Ukraine, he tweeted. So far, however, it appears to have done rather well for the Ukrainians. Chinese state-owned companies have been barred from doing business in the United States, severely hampering their global ambitions. On a stage reserved for the biggest players in the global telecoms industry, three Chinese firms took their place alongside three Western companiesand pushed the message that they wanted to "work together". But the state-owned companiesChina Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicomhave been barred from doing business in the United States, severely hampering their global ambitions. The US authorities cited security and risks of meddling by the Chinese statesimilar reasons lay behind Huawei's exclusion from the US market in 2020. With a relatively small international footprint, all three firms used their presentations at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to trumpet their achievements in their homeland. "By the end of 2022, we are expected to roll out a total of over one million 5G base stations, with subscribers using 5G networks to exceed 330 million," said Yang Jie, boss of China Mobile. The rollout of 5Ga faster, more efficient mobile networkis seen as vital for a host of future technologies, not least self-driving vehicles and advanced industrial machinery. But the rest of the world is lagging far behind China, and analysts are expressing concern that excluding the Chinese firms from the global market will do more harm than good. 'National security' risks In his pitch to the MWC, Vodafone boss Nick Read was explicit about the challenge faced by Europe. "At (the) current rate, it will take at least until the end of the decade for Europe to match the transformational, full 5G experience that China will already have achieved this year," he said. The three state-owned firms have been integral to that effort. China Mobile boasts almost one billion subscriptions, making it by far the biggest firm in the world. The other two Chinese companies each have more than 300 million subscriptions. And all three are heavily pushing 5G. "If we look at the world of the way it is now, at least on the consumer side, 65 percent of 5G sits in mainland China," said Dario Talmesio of Omdia, a research firm. He said "a body of expertise, experience... and best practices" was being established in the region. "Can the rest of the world confidently say: 'We don't need that'?" The US government believes they can live without it. In banning China Unicom in January, the US Federal Communications Commission said the company could be exploited by the Chinese government and posed "significant national security and law enforcement risks". 'Hearts and minds' The battle lines are drawn, but on stage the three Chinese firms were cautious not to tackle the US ban directly. Yang ended his video presentation by saying China Mobile was "willing to work with all sectors of society" to "unleash the infinite potential" of 5G and other technology. China Telecom chief Ruiwen Ke said he wanted to "work together" to "create a better future". The Chinese firms were on a "hearts and minds mission", according to Ben Wood of research firm CCS Insight, using their platform in Barcelona to stress China's strengths more generally. "The Chinese are very proud of what they have created and they want to come and tell that story," he said. "And they want to make sure that they set the agenda for the future evolution of technology." Wood and Talmesio both highlighted the massive advantage enjoyed by the Chinese firms because of the sheer size of their domestic 5G business. Talmesio said the firms were sending a "clear message" in Barcelona: "We're here, we're still international, we're happy to do business with anyone if they'll let us." Explore further China Mobile's Shanghai debut lukewarm after US delisting 2022 AFP Combining questions about a persons health with data from smartwatch sensors, the CovidDeep app can predict within minutes whether someone is infected with COVID-19. Credit: Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy Combining questions about a person's health with data from smartwatch sensors, a new app developed using research at Princeton University can predict within minutes whether someone is infected with COVID-19. This new breed of diagnostic tool stems from research led by Niraj Jha, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Princeton University. His team is developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology for COVID-19 detection, as well as diagnosis and monitoring of chronic conditions including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, diabetes and sickle cell disease. NeuTigers, a company founded to commercialize Jha's work, applied to the U.S. FDA, under the agency's provision for "software as a medical device," for clearance for its COVIDDeep product. Shayan Hassantabar, a Ph.D. student in Jha's group, is the lead author of a paper in IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics describing the development and testing of COVIDDeep. The software integrates smartwatch sensor readings of heart rate, skin temperature and galvanic skin response with blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels, as well as a questionnaire on COVID symptoms. Jha's research group at Princeton has long focused on adapting a type of AI called deep learning, which is typically energy-intensive, to function on low-power electronic devices such as phones and watches instead of centralized cloud computing centers. This approach, known as edge AI, has the added benefit of helping to preserve users' privacy and increase security. A key innovation is pared-down neural networks (the "neu" of NeuTigers) that mimic human brain development. "It's a very generalizable framework," said Jha. "Smart health care is just one application. We are also applying it to cybersecurity and other internet-of-things applications." Similar to preventive medical interventions, machine learning models could spot aberrant patterns and help fix software vulnerabilities before a cyberattack ever occurs, he said. In recent years, Jha's team has explored edge AI for health care applications such as noninvasive detection of diabetes and mental health disorders from smartwatch and smartphone sensor data. In fall 2017, former pharmaceutical executive Adel Laoui audited Jha's class on "Machine Learning for Predictive Data Analytics" and was intrigued by the technology. Laoui, who had experience developing and deploying new technologies for disease management, approached Jha after the course ended. After further discussions with Jha's Ph.D. students, they launched NeuTigers in June 2018. "We saw a lot of intersections in our interests," said Jha. "Smart health care with the help of edge AI was taking off, so it was an opportune moment for a startup in this area. Adel had a lot of connections with angel investors, and so it ramped up very quickly." Several patented technologies from Jha's lab have been licensed to NeuTigers, including methods for diagnosis of diabetes and mental health conditions, and for security vulnerability detection in internet-of-things systems. When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020, Jha wondered whether his team's deep learning approaches could be used to diagnose the virusespecially in people with the potential to spread COVID-19 with no apparent symptoms, a major problem for controlling the disease. "The hypothesis was that the disease leaves a unique signature on the physiological signals emanating from our body," said Jha. "This hypothesis seems to have been true, at least for the few diseases we had looked at, so my idea was to see if we could diagnose COVID-19 this way." CovidDeep uses smartwatch sensor readings and a symptom questionnaire to detect COVID-19. Credit: Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy Jha and Laoui got in touch with Ignazio Marino, a professor of surgery at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and the executive director of the Jefferson Italy Center. In May 2020, at the tail end of northern Italy's initial cluster of COVID-19 in Europe, NeuTigers CTO Vishu Ghanakota traveled to Pavia, Italy, to deliver medical-grade smartwatches, software applications and training materials to Marino's colleagues at San Matteo Hospital. The clinical researchers collected data from 87 individuals, 30 of whom had tested negative for COVID by PCR; another 30 tested positive and were symptomatic, and 27 tested positive and were asymptomatic. The data included 60 minutes of smartwatch sensor readings on heart rate, skin temperature and galvanic skin response (a measure of sweat gland activity), divided into 15-second intervals. Separately, the clinicians measured participants' blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels, and answered a questionnaire indicating whether each participant had shortness of breath, cough, fever or any of eight other symptoms. The Princeton researchers, led by Ph.D. student Hassantabar, used a subset of this data to train neural network models to predict a patient's COVID-19 status, and another subset to test the resulting models. The team found that their models were 98.1% accurate at detecting COVID-19. One method Hassantabar used to boost the models' accuracy was the addition of synthetic data obtained based on the probability distribution of the real dataa broadly applicable technique that Jha's group first used for other applications. Another method he used was based on the grow-and-prune neural network synthesis paradigm developed in Jha's group. The researchers have since validated the method with a larger field trial in France, and health organizations in the United States and Algeria have piloted COVIDDeep among their staff. To enable more widespread adoption of COVIDDeep, NeuTigers is working to make it compatible with some types of Samsung, Fitbit and Apple smartwatches, which will also integrate blood pressure and pulse oximeter measurements. Manually entering clinical data into a smartphone app could be another useful screening approach in many settings, especially since smartphones are far more common worldwide than smartwatches, said Marino, who oversaw clinical data collection for the study. On the other hand, said Laoui, using a smartwatch alone may be preferable for many users, and the researchers are also working to adapt the neural network models to function with a smartwatch's more limited computing power. "I think this could be far superior [to rapid antigen tests], because the accuracy of a rapid test that you do by yourself at home is limited," said Marino. "Pushing the swab up in the nose is obviously a discomfort, and I don't know if people are going to do that as accurately as they need to. But if you have a device on your wrist that is not invasive and is totally independent from a physical human maneuver, I think that is much better." Marino also expressed hope that the technology could improve early diagnosis of widespread conditions such as diabetes. "There are millions of people in the United States that have early diabetes that probably is very treatable, and they don't know," he said. Having new information that leads to early diagnosis could lead to "a very successful treatment," he added. Laoui is interested in exploring the methods' use for diagnosis and monitoring of other diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and sepsis infections, both increasing problems for the world's aging population. "We're going to have a library of disease models embedded in the watch, and from time to time we're going to run the sensors' information through these disease models, which will be personalized," said Laoui. "If there is something wrong or something unusual, we are going to inform you in a meaningful way. I believe this new era of smart health care will be powered by edge AI applications and will redefine healthcare delivery and consumer well-being." Explore further Smartwatch data used to predict clinical test results More information: Shayan Hassantabar et al, CovidDeep: SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Test Based on Wearable Medical Sensors and Efficient Neural Networks, IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics (2021). Shayan Hassantabar et al, CovidDeep: SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Test Based on Wearable Medical Sensors and Efficient Neural Networks,(2021). DOI: 10.1109/TCE.2021.3130228 This Jan. 16, 2019, file photo, shows Cruise AV, General Motor's autonomous electric Bolt EV in Detroit. On Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, General Motors said Kyle Vogt will take over as CEO of its Cruise autonomous vehicle subsidiary, which he helped found in 2013. Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File General Motors said Monday that Kyle Vogt will take over as CEO of its Cruise autonomous vehicle subsidiary, a company he helped found in 2013. A GM representative confirmed what Vogt posted on Twitter, that he had "once again" accepted the job as CEO of Cruise. He replaces Dan Ammann. The Detroit automaker announced in December that Ammann was leaving the company to be replaced by Vogt as interim CEO at Cruise. Cruise is operating a small fleet of autonomous-vehicle in San Francisco that it opened to the general public at the beginning of February. GM expects to get a permit to charge passengers for autonomous rides this year. "Based on feedback from early users of our robo-taxi service, we've made something really special," Vogt tweeted Monday. "I try to stay clear of too much hype and unrealistic expectations, but this just feels absurdly better than the status quo. We've needed this for a long time." Explore further Cruise offers public first driverless rides in San Francisco 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The Cohoes, New York, municipal reservoir (without floating solar), identified by NREL as suitable for floating solar PV, will become the first city-owned-and-operated floating solar installation in the nation. Credit: Google Earth Two city employees of Cohoes, New York, were brainstorming how to power the city's municipal buildings with renewable energy, but few options made sense. Cohoes does not have acres of unused land for solar panels, and the slate-topped buildings cannot hold rooftop solar. Moreover, with its high amount of low- and moderate-income (LMI) residents, 17,000-person Cohoes was not swimming in cash. The solution had to be something localsomething to keep cost savings within the community. "We looked at every aspect of how to add clean energy to our working-class community," said Theresa Bourgeois, director of operations for the city of Cohoes. "Then my colleague came upon the idea of floating solar. We considered our 10-acre water reservoir and asked, "Can we really utilize this?" The more we researched, we realized yes, we can. In fact, it's the best possible answer." No U.S. cities have done anything like what Cohoes was proposing: a municipally-owned and operated floating solar installationbut there was no reason it would not work. Bourgeois and City Planner Joe Seman-Graves did their research and learned that the technology of floating solar is sound and that their reservoir could hold enough panels to power all Cohoes city-owned buildings and streetlightserasing around $500,000 in annual electricity costswith 40% of the generated electricity remaining for civic use. Everything about the project lined up, but at a cost of $6 million, Cohoes needed buy-in from others. Such clean energy investments are especially challenging for small and LMI cities because municipalities cannot access the same tax incentives as private companies when developing renewable energy. Instead, the city would need to make the case for state, federal, and foundation funding, and for that, they found their pitch in a 2018 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report. Discovery of NREL study and data set buoys support for floating solar The NREL report that Bourgeois discovered was "Floating Photovoltaic Systems: Assessing the Technical Potential of Photovoltaic Systems on Man-Made Water Bodies in the Continental United States." The report provides coarse yet comprehensive data about potential U.S. "floatovoltaic" sites, including each reservoir's estimated size, proximity to electric transmission, ownership status, and current use. For Bourgeois and Seman-Graves, NREL's data set was the missing link. "NREL's study gave us confidence and credibility in the power of this idea, that we could generate clean energy in Cohoes," Bourgeois said. "We used the basic results in that study to provide information to Congress, to our representatives, to the public, showing that we have a viable option. It really drove our success in building support for the project." The report portrays floatovoltaics as a large, unexplored opportunity for renewable energy. NREL found that if even a portion of the most suitable reservoirs were covered, floating solar could generate almost 10% of national electricity. That includes almost 25,000 human-made water bodies unused for recreation, mine tailings, and fish and wildlife. NREL has identified almost 25,000 human-made bodies of water that would be suitable for floating PV, yet there are currently less than 10 installments across the country. Credit: NREL In one instance, the report was invaluable when Cohoes first ran the idea by New York state agency officials. Bourgeois and Seman-Graves referenced the number of possible reservoirs that could support floating solar492 in New Yorkto substantiate that not only are floatovoltaics viable, but that Cohoes could be at the forefront of a replicable model worth pursuing and funding. It was a strong enough case to win Cohoes some preliminary support. Cohoes had similar success when running the idea by elected officials. NREL's data identifies a value proposition for renewable energy that appealed to state and federal representatives alike, with the latter advocating to fund about 50% or more of project costs. NREL also found that many of the suitable reservoirs are in water-stressed areas with expensive land and electricitythese areas could find a shortcut to solar power with floatovoltaics. But for Cohoes, one statistic was missing in the data: What about floating solar's proximity to low-income communities? If the technology is such a practical option, how many other communities can use their own down-the-road reservoir for clean energy? As the Cohoes Municipal Floating Solar Demonstration project becomes a model for municipal ownership and small-city sustainability, the city is using NREL's data to share resources, educate, and advocate for environmental justice in related clean energy projects around the state, region, and country. A new life for NREL's data While pitching the project, Bourgeois wondered whether NREL's data could be even more impactful; a visualization that breaks the data into congressional districts and economic factors might sum all 7,000 words up in a few seconds to show the economic imperative for Cohoes. Bourgeois connected with NREL and learned that no such visuals were planned, but the authors would happily provide input; so, Bourgeois teamed with nearby Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, sending NREL's paper to Rensselaer's Institute for Data Exploration and Applications (IDEA) where students and faculty engage with data of imminent societal importance. The request was shared with John Erickson, director of research operations at IDEA, who is drawn to visualizing economic and technical data. He enthusiastically jumped in. His first goal was to visualize NREL's data overlaid with LMI maps. "Plotting the two data sets together was an eye-opener," Erickson said. "Right away the possibilities for low-cost clean energy become clear." Erickson collaborated with Bourgeois and Seman-Graves to create the Floating Solar Explorer. The exploration tool is available online and includes a map of all the suitable reservoirs identified by NREL, as well as congressional district-scale LMI information layered over New York. Erickson originally bootstrapped the data explorer to share with Cohoes project stakeholders, but it is now shaping up to be a nice undergraduate elective. "We try to have our students be driven by questions from elsewhere. NREL's floating solar data set is an excellent launching point for students to use data to explore topics of deep importance," Erickson said. The exploration tool is a perfect example of the cross-community collaboration that Bourgeois and Seman-Graves envision and which is already accounted for. They plan for NREL's data and accompanying visualization to be part of a wider virtual platform where the city can share and access information about the floating solar installation and where Cohoes can be a resource for K12 education, university-based research, workforce development, and economic collaboration, all of which provide a roadmap for others to adopt community ownership. "Supporting Cohoes in their ongoing effort to install floating solar has been a great example of one of the many ways NREL can support cities in deploying innovative renewable energy systems," said Sika Gadzanku, who leads some of NREL's floating solar projects and has led engagement with Cohoes over the last year. "Creative solutions such as the Cohoes floating PV project are helpful for extending the benefits of solar to LMI communities," said Jenny Heeter, lead author of NREL's Affordable and Accessible Solar for All: Barriers, Solutions, and On-Site Adoption Potential report. LMI households can face barriers to installing rooftop PV such as difficulty financing a system, higher rental rates, and underinvestment in marketing and education to their communities. Likewise, communities are generally left out of tax incentives that are meant to spur renewable development. The newly updated DOE Solar Power in Your Community Guidebook offers resources for other communities wanting to install solar on government property and also includes discussion of both floating PV and engaging LMI communities. NREL also began cost benchmarking floating PV systems in 2021 to track their cost competitiveness nationwide. Another recent publication analyzed the benefits of pairing hydropower and floating PV systems around the worlda hybrid energy opportunity that could also be surprisingly cost friendly. With Cohoes taking the charge toward clean energy justice, the success of NREL's research in supporting the small-city energy transition is a case study in going from R&D to deployment. Explore further Untapped potential exists for blending hydropower, floating PV Japanese industrial group Toshiba dates back to 1875 and has faced turmoil in recent years. Once a symbol of Japan's advanced technology and economic power, Toshiba has been rocked by turbulence in recent years. The industrial giant dates back to 1875 when its forerunner, a telegraph factory, operated in central Tokyo. During Japan's 1980s tech boom it grew into a vast conglomerate, with businesses ranging from escalators and chip-manufacturing equipment to laptops and nuclear plants. Here AFP charts Toshiba's recent highs and lows: 2015: Profit-padding scandal Toshiba withdraws its earnings forecast in May, citing accounting problems on several infrastructure projects. An external panel finds that high-level Toshiba staff "systematically" inflated profits by $1.2 billion between 2008 and 2014, pressuring underlings to cover up weak results. The company president and other top executives resign over the ballooning scandal, as shares tank and thousands of jobs are cut. 2016: Asset sell-offs The scandal hits Toshiba at a weak point after the 2008 financial crisis and 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, which dealt a blow to its key atomic power division. In a scramble to recover, the company sheds businesses, but still suffers a record net loss of around $4.4 billion for the 2015-16 financial year. 2017: Westinghouse goes bust Toshiba's US nuclear subsidiary Westinghouse Electric, whose tech is used in around half the world's atomic reactors, goes bankrupt, largely owing to delays and cost overruns. Strapped for cash, Toshiba is forced to try to sell part of the family silverits memory chip business, which accounts for around a quarter of annual revenue. The conglomerate posts a net loss of $8.8 billion in 2016/17 as it faces the humiliating threat of being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). It raises $5.3 billion in new capital with foreign activist investors rushing in, but is demoted to the TSE's second section. 2018: Mega-sale of Toshiba Memory After months of complications, the $21-billion sale of prized chip unit Toshiba Memory to a group led by US investor Bain Capital is completed. Toshiba retains a 40 percent stake in the chip business, which is renamed Kioxia. The deal is seen as crucial to keeping Toshiba afloat, even as the firm says it has bounced back into the black by ceding assets and debts related to Westinghouse. 2019-2020: Shareholder pressure Toshiba works on its financial woes and strengthens its governance, with a board composed of mostly external directors. But the group faces pressure from activist shareholders who want to see faster growth and a clearer long-term strategy. The crisis comes to a head after the 2020 annual general meeting, as some shareholders call for an independent inquiry into vote irregularities. 2021: Buyout offer Having won a return to the TSE's first section, Toshiba says it has received a takeover offer from private equity fund CVC Capital Partners. In a shock move, CEO Nobuaki Kurumatani, who previously worked for CVC, resigns. He insists his decision is not related to the buyout offer, which is later dropped. In June, the independent probe into the 2020 AGM finds that the company sought government help to prevent activist investors from exercising their proposal and voting rights. Toshiba apologises and removes two directors, but days later, shareholders vote to oust the board's chairman. 2022: Spin-off plan Toshiba announces plans in February to spin off its device segment, revising a proposal to split into three companies that was announced in November 2021 but faced stiff opposition from some investors. A shareholder vote on the two-way split is set for late March, but on March 1 the conglomerate's new CEO Satoshi Tsunakawa steps down after less than a year in the job. Tsunakawa had spoken out against taking Toshiba private in an interview with Bloomberg News the previous day, saying that splitting into two companies remained the best plan. 2022 AFP Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Europe's ferry industry has set sail for an emissions-free future. It's leading the eco-friendly revolution with electric and hydrogen-powered boats that are destined to make urban transport more sustainable. In just a few months' time, passengers in Stavanger, Norway, will be able to begin commuting on a revolutionary ferry that doesn't produce any greenhouse gas emissions. Called Medstraum, which means both "to go with the flow" and "with electricity" in Norwegian, it will be the first high-speed vessel in the world that runs purely on electric power, replacing a diesel-powered ferry that currently shuttles people to surrounding islands. If the trial goes well, similar vessels could soon operate in other cities too. "We're in a very exciting period," said Mikal Dahle, a project manager at public transport company Kolumbus AS in Stavanger, Norway, and coordinator of the TrAM project which is developing the catamaran ferry. "We are now finalizing the vessel and getting it ready." Medstraum is an example of the new and sustainable modes of transport set to transform urban mobility. In the EU, emissions from transport account for about 25% of total greenhouse gas emissions and are the main cause of air pollution in cities. Furthermore, most people use roads to get around in urban areas where traffic jams have become a huge problem and cost an estimated 110 billion a year in Europe. "Waterways are underused for the time being and could be a great alternative," said Virginie Seurat, the VP at Seabubbles, a company developing a hydrogen-powered boat. Our waterborne travel also needs to get a lot greener to meet the EU's goal of reducing transport-related emissions by 90% by 2050. Existing high-speed craft, for example, are typically powered by fossil fuels and produce significant amounts of emissions. "It's much more polluting to travel with (conventional) fast ferries compared to airplanes," noted Dahle. "A proper reduction in CO 2 emissions is one of the main challenges for inshore vessels." Rethinking electric boat production Dahle and his colleagues in the TrAM project are tackling this challenge with a novel design and production method for zero-emission electric vessels operating in coastal waters and inland waterways. Cost is still a barrier since these vessels are more expensive to build compared to those powered by diesel fuel, but the new approach should make them more affordable. "The goal is to establish and validate a methodology for the design and production of (electric) craft that reduces the overall cost by 25%," said Dahle. "We want to make it possible for a large market to invest in zero-emission vessels." Their new approach is based on modularization, where a boat is divided into different functional parts, such as the hull and passenger section, which are in turn subdivided into individual components, like the batteries and electrical equipment in the energy module. The idea is that a new vessel could be designed and built by piecing together pre-existing modules instead of starting from scratch, making the process more efficient and cost-effective. "Some (parts) are standardized, like the seats in the vessel, so we can pick out exactly what we need for a boat at relatively low cost since they are produced in certain volumes," explained Dahle. "Then we have other things that need to be adjusted for each vessel like the hull shape and the motors." Setting sail for new electric vessels Medstraum is the first vessel being created using this approach, and aims to demonstrate its feasibility. Built from lightweight aluminum to reduce energy consumption will also allow the vessel to be easily recycled after use and contribute to the circular economy. The vessel will be able to carry around 150 passengers at speeds of up to 42 km/h and will make 16 round trips per day. The ferry's electric battery will be charged each time it stops at Stavanger. Dahle and his colleagues will use the same approach to develop two other boats. One will be designed to transport either passengers or goods on the River Thames in London, while the other will be used on inland waterways in Belgium and will therefore need to be adapted for different purposes and environments. The London craft will be required to travel at a higher speed and have a larger capacity than the Stavanger vessel, for example, while the boat to be used in Belgium will need to meet different rules and regulations. A 'flying' boat powered by hydrogen City commuters could also soon use a 'flying' water taxi to get around thanks to another team aiming to lower the environmental impact of water transport. Seurat's colleagues have developed the first zero-emission hydrofoil craft that glides above waves powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and battery as part of the Seabubbles project. "The idea is to offer citizens new solutions that are a step forward in terms of a green way of life," said Baptiste Arribe, the strategy director at Seabubbles in Annecy, France. The futuristic-looking craft, which is made of composite fibers, can operate in two different modes and has been developed for waterways, lakes and marine zones. When traveling at less than 12 km/h, its hydrofoils are retracted and it navigates like a conventional vessel. However, at higher speeds its foils are deployed and the hull is lifted 60 centimeters above the water's surface, which results in a smooth ride even in choppy waters. "People are excited about the passenger experience because there are zero waves and no noise," said Seurat. The "flying" mode has environmental advantages too. It uses 35% less energy compared to the conventional mode since gliding on the foils reduces the surface area of the boat immersed in water and hence the amount of friction. Charging versus refueling When they developed the prototype, the team initially planned to power the craft with electricity produced from solar panels and hydropower. But they later decided to switch to hydrogen power since a boat could travel further on a full tank of the gas compared to a single charge. It would also take less time to refuel; a hydrogen top-up that takes just a few minutes allows the boat to run for about two and a half hours. While the latest Seabubble boat still runs on electricity, it is generated by a hydrogen fuel cell. It also contains a battery that is charged by the fuel cell when the craft is cruising to provide extra power when needed, for example during acceleration. Artificial intelligence is used to optimize the use of energy between the battery and fuel cell to make the boat as energy efficient as possible. "We combine the avant-garde in energy and (the latest) technology with our control system," Seurat explained. Constructing the first Seabubbles The first Seabubble boats are currently being assembled at a shipyard on the shores of Lake Annecy in France. They will be available to European buyers in a few months' time and later to the international market. Able to carry up to 12 passengers, the vessels are of particular interest to private services for use as a shuttle for hotels located on the waterfront or as a quiet craft to take visitors around a nature reserve without disturbing wildlife. While these vessels could also be used for public transport, cost remains a barrier. However, the EU's commitment to supporting the large-scale deployment of clean hydrogen technologies by 2030 should make it easier to implement Seabubbles more widely. "In the beginning, we need the support of governments to create the overall hydrogen infrastructure," concluded Seurat. "Then everything will come together, and I think we will change the mobility field." Explore further Nation's first hydrogen fuel cell ferry to transport commuters across San Francisco Bay in early 2020 remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. China welcomes global semiconductor companies to invest in the nation and carry out cooperation with local companies, and jointly contribute to the stabilization of the global integrated circuit supply chain, the nation's top industry regulator said on Monday. Tian Yulong, spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said, "We will continue providing good policies and market environment for domestic and foreign integrated circuit companies, treat all market players equally, as well as give equal treatment to domestic and foreign investment in accordance with the laws." According to Tian, more efforts will be made to strengthen the protection of intellectual properties and jointly promote the innovative development of the integrated circuit industry. The ministry forecast that the shortage of auto chips has gradually been eased, and it predicted the situation will further improve this year, considering that the world's major chip companies have beefed up production, and the supply capacity of domestic chip companies is also growing. More efforts will be made to encourage auto makers and components companies to optimize the layout of supply chains, rationally schedule production, improve the efficiency of resource allocation, and minimize the impact of chip shortages, the ministry added. AUSTIN The 2022 midterm election season opens Tuesday in Texas, where voters will pick their nominees for governor, attorney general, congressional seats and more. With the next state primaries not coming until May, Texas will be far ahead in offering the first glimpse of whether embracing former President Donald Trump remains a litmus test for Republicans and what messages are sticking for Democrats. Of particular interest are congressional primaries in two districts where the incumbents are threatened. Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar is facing a progressive challenger just weeks after FBI agents raided his home. Republican Rep. Van Taylor is seen as vulnerable in his GOP-dominant district for criticizing the Jan. 6 insurrection and voting to certify Trumps loss in the 2020 election. Statewide, Attorney General Ken Paxton is looking to survive a Republican primary challenge while under the cloud of an FBI investigation over corruption allegations. What to watch as the Texas primary unfolds: Issues driving the races Republican candidates in Texas are increasingly moving to the right, and some havent stopped questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election despite a broad coalition of top government and industry officials calling it the most secure in American history. That makes Texas primary an early test of Trumps sustained influence on the party and how much discredited claims of widespread voter fraud will motivate Republican voters this year. One survey by Hearst Newspapers of Texas GOP congressional candidates found dozens who dispute the outcome of President Joe Bidens victory. The primary also marks six months since Texas put in place the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S. in nearly 50 years. Democrats have said abortion rights will be a centerpiece of their national strategy in the 2022 midterms, but the issue has not been at the forefront in Texas primary. The governors race For months, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democrat Beto ORourke have been looking past the primaries and campaigning against each other. Abbott set his sights on a third term with Trumps endorsement, $56 million in campaign funds and his signature on a long list of divisive new laws on guns, abortion and immigration that have steered Texas hard to the right. But that didnt insulate him from challengers on the far right, including former Florida congressman Allen West, the one-term tea party firebrand. West and other primary rivals leaned into anger within the GOP base over Abbotts handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including an early mask mandate. But there are scarce signs of a close race. If Abbott avoids a primary runoff by garnering more than 50% of the vote, his victory would demonstrate broad support within the GOP and keep him in the conversation of potential 2024 presidential candidates. ORourke, coming off an early exit in the 2020 presidential race, has shown he can still draw a crowd in Texas and quickly raise money. He has no serious competition on Tuesday. Is a Trump ally in trouble? The most heated statewide primary is the attorney generals race. Paxton, seeking his third term in office, led a failed lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election and has been dogged by securities fraud charges and an FBI investigation into corruption allegations. He has broadly denied wrongdoing. He carries Trumps endorsement and has become one of the nations most prominent state attorneys general by bringing cases against the Biden administration and Big Tech. His challengers, including Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, are running on a message of restoring order to an office that has experienced upheaval under Paxton. Bush, a son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and a grandson of former President George H.W. Bush, has spent the final days of the race expressing confidence that he will force a May runoff. Hes the only member of the Bush family still in public office. What will voting be like? Primary turnout is typically low in Texas, and this year so far has been no exception: Early voting has hovered in the low single digits among the states 17 million registered voters. But this primary is also the first test of a GOP-engineered election overhaul that Texas Republicans muscled through the state Capitol last year. At least 17 other states this year will also hold elections under tougher rules, some driven by Trumps unfounded claims about the 2020 election. The rushed rollout of new rules for Texas early primary has led to thousands of mail ballot applications and actual ballots getting returned for not including new identification requirements. Secretary of State John Scott has said voters are still learning the rules and expects Texas later elections to run smoother. But local officials are worried that the issues could result in some voters not casting a ballot. Semi-truck drivers opposed to medical mandates will roll past Grand Island today on Interstate 80 on their way to a rally later in the day in Lincoln. Some of the drivers will converge on Washington, D.C., on Saturday. Grand Island is one of the donation drop-off sites for the Nebraska Peoples Convoy. Supporters of the effort dropped off supplies at a Grand Island business. Those items will be sent to the Washington, D.C., area in support of convoy participants. The convoy begins at 6:30 a.m. in Sidney. Participants will travel across Nebraska on I-80. A rally will be held near the Archway in Kearney between noon and 1 p.m. The trucks will park south of the Interstate, said Allie French of Omaha, who is the founder and leader of Nebraskans Against Government Overreach. The rally in Lincoln will begin at 5 p.m. outside the Capitol, with speakers starting around 6 p.m. The drivers will not bring their semi-trucks to the Capitol area, French said. They will park their vehicles in parking lots outside of downtown and take shuttles to the Capitol area. Organizers are trying hard not to bring any of the trucks into the downtown area, French said. They dont want to clog up streets. Plus, we want to be able to get home at the end of the night, too, said French, who hopes 1,500 people will attend the Lincoln rally. One of the speakers will talk about the effects of medical mandates on rural Nebraska nursing homes, she said. The Lincoln event will end with a ceremonial send-off to Nebraska truckers who will travel to the national event this weekend. Those drivers will head south to meet other convoy drivers on Interstate 70 near Kansas City, Mo. Several different convoys are funneling into the Washington, D.C., area on Saturday to stand against medical mandates, French said. Those convoys arent taking I-80, but Nebraskans still wanted to support their efforts, she said. Thats why the Nebraska Peoples Convoy was put together. Organizers decided to do the statewide convoy in solidarity with the national event on the anniversary of Nebraskas statehood, French said. Donation drop-off sites were organized at a number of Nebraska cities, including Omaha, Gretna, Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney and Madrid. French said there are no plans to block traffic on I-80. Organizers have been in contact with local law enforcement and the Nebraska State Patrol to apprise them of their plans, French said. French said the truckers do not plan to drive into the interior of Washington, D.C., this weekend. They will travel to the outskirts of the Nations Capital, camping out at RV parks, unless an organizer is able to obtain a permit for them to travel near the Capitol, she said. Another convoy will travel through central Nebraska on Friday, French said. Members of the Midwest Freedom Convoy will stop at Bosselman Travel Center to refuel. That group will handle replenishing efforts for truckers heading to Washington, D.C. The supplies are needed because the truckers might be in Washington for some time, French said. The drivers arent earning an income while theyre involved in the convoy and may have difficulty obtaining food and fuel in the Washington area, she said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. TV and internet advertising by the candidates for the Nebraska gubernatorial race and if youve read any letters to the editor in the last month have made an impression. Mostly bad and worse. From shotgun-brandishing and border-walking, the candidates for governor have been doing the agenda-setting and still not discussing issues important to Nebraskans. Their campaigns define the images and issues probably not entirely without polling data. But they are trying to tell us what they think we think matters (if you can follow that) and still not discussing issues important to Nebraskans. The Grand Island Independent wants to try something a little different. In conjunction with its sister media companies across Nebraska, we want to find out what issues in the gubernatorial race matter most to you. So were launching a statewide, unscientific poll to see whats on the minds of Nebraskans. Were not trying to figure out what Nebraskans think is the answer to tax reform, but how important is it. Same with immigration, rural-urban tension, climate change, rural health issues and a number of other matters. We want to know what Nebraskans care about, and then we want to help Nebraskans get answers to how, specifically, candidates prioritize and would solve our issues. We hope to see how different issues matter differently depending on where and how folks live. If youre reading this in print, you can snap a photo of the QR code included with this story on your smartphone, and youll be linked to the survey. If youre reading online, you can click here https://nebraskapapers.survey.fm/nebraska-citizen-survey Either way we hope to hear from you. The survey runs through March 15. Your responses will help us have a more substantive discussion about what issues need to be addressed as we elect the top executive in this state in November. Watch for stories about the results and maybe, just maybe, our gubernatorial candidates will begin to discuss the issues important to us and our lives in the Cornhusker state. The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, concluded its 33rd session Monday in Beijing. At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to adopt the decision on the ranks for active-duty soldiers of the People's Liberation Army, and the decision to remove Li Jiheng from the post of the minister of civil affairs and appoint Tang Dengjie as the new minister. President Xi Jinping signed two presidential orders to promulgate the above decisions. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting. Lawmakers also voted to adopt a decision to establish the Chengdu-Chongqing financial court. Lawmakers approved in principle the work report of the NPC Standing Committee and entrusted Li Zhanshu to deliver the report to the fifth annual session of the 13th NPC on behalf of the NPC Standing Committee. Lawmakers also approved a report on deputy qualifications and personnel-related bills. The meeting approved the draft agenda for the NPC annual session to be opened on March 5 and the draft name list of the session's presidium and secretary-general, and decided to submit the drafts to the preparatory meeting of NPC session for deliberation. A name list of members invited to sit in on the NPC session as non-voting participants was also passed at the meeting. Addressing the closing meeting after the vote, Li Zhanshu called for well-thought and meticulous efforts in preparing for the NPC annual session to greet the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. For the NPC session, Li called for thoroughly promoting whole-process people's democracy and creating an atmosphere in which people can freely express themselves and talk pragmatically to reflect their voices and demands. Li also chaired a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting and presided over a lecture for lawmakers after the meeting. Paris, TX (75460) Today Scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 66F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 66F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. HARRISBURG 10 years following the devastating Leap Day Tornado, Harrisburg residents continue to honor the eight lives lost. On Monday, the victims families and several government officials, including former Mayor Eric Gregg, spoke at a memorial of the resilience of Harrisburg and the eight people who died. The day of the tornado after we had confirmed the loss of lives, I had typed it on a piece of paper, Gregg said in an interview with The Southern. I carry that with me when I go into meetings and different things. I always carry that with me just as a reminder of today. It's still with me, and hopefully, I'll be able to do it 10 more years or 20 more years. While the paper is much more tattered than it was 10 years ago, the meaning behind it is still the same. The takeaway is this: 'We're never going to forget those we lost,' Gregg said. The victims were Jaylynn Ferrell, 22; Lynda Hull, 74; Mary Osman, 75; R. Blaine Mauney, 74; Donna Mae Rann, 61; Randall Earl Rann, 64; Donald R. Smith, 70; and Gregory Swierk, 50. Leap Day 2012 A series of tornadoes struck the Midwest in 2012 on February 28 and 29. The string of destructive storms was later named the Leap Day Tornado Outbreak, when more than 30 tornadoes touched down over two days. The EF-4 tornado in Harrisburg was the most destructive. At 4:51 a.m. on Feb. 29, 2012, the tornado touched down just north of Carrier Mills, damaging a church and several homes. Five minutes later, the tornado was on the doorstep of the Dorrisville neighborhood in Harrisburg. Jumping over U.S. 45, or Commercial Street, the tornado remained on a northeast path toward a shopping center, Walmart, an apartment complex and more homes in what is known as Gaskins City. It then continued past the Harrisburg Medical Center, Southeastern Illinois College and into Ridgway. The 275-yard-wide tornado with winds of up to 180 mph affected 604 homes and businesses. Of those, 99 were completely destroyed and 53 were left with major damage. It traveled 26.5 miles and was on the ground for 22 minutes, according to the National Weather Service. By the time the dust settled, approximately 108 people were injured. Eight were dead. Both Gregg, the mayor at the time, and Dale Fowler, a current state senator, were on the streets of Harrisburg and surrounding areas before the sun rose that day. Fowler and his family had rushed downstairs during the storm minutes prior to glass being thrown through the top of the building and their roof taken away, Fowler said. The work from our first responders was obviously amazing, from our community and from all over Southern Illinois and all over the Midwest and, quite frankly, the nation, Fowler said. When the sun came up, and we saw our roof was torn off and with glass throughout the whole house it seemed like in just a matter of no time at all there were people all over our neighborhood and in my backyard that I didn't even know picking up debris. They weren't there to have a conversation. They were there to work. Despite the devastation and tragedy the tornado brought, it did allow Southern Illinois' true colors to shine through, Gregg said. We showed our true character during those difficult times, Gregg said. I witnessed the best people in the worst of times. Rather than see people running away from a disaster, I saw them running into it, which was just remarkable. They ran in to help their family, their neighbors, their friends, and they were fearless. It just certainly speaks very well of our character and who we are here and the kind of the culture that we have here in the Midwest. According to The Southern Illinoisan archives, thousands of people poured into the area offering aid after the tornado. From the moments following the storm to roughly a year later, as the city rebuilt, some 6,000 volunteers poured into Harrisburg with their aid. The mayors office had received correspondence from 22 states and 13 countries represented by people who came to help, according to previous reporting by The Southern. Even with all of the aid the area received, not all holes within the community have been filled. There (are) still voids, Fowler said. I know, in the subdivision where I live, the home right beside us was completely destroyed. It's still a vacant lot, there's still a couple of vacant lots in that subdivision. So every time I drive by there, you know, it's just always remembrance of what once was there. Harrisburg continues to grow in the wake of the disaster, according to current Mayor John McPeek. Harrisburg is growing a lot, McPeek said. The community, the city, the town has got more businesses opening up every day. It's made a difference. It was such a tragic event that day, but it's brought our community together to help rebuild our community to be stronger. We're all in this together. I think that is a big thing. Today we're all together here. Importance of safety Aside from the huge levels of compassion that came from Southern Illinoisans and the nation following the tornado, Gregg took another thing away from the tragedy he said. The biggest takeaway that is you have to be prepared as a community, Gregg said. As a community leader I had to make decisions, and I had to make them quickly because people's lives were at stake. So it was very, very important that we were coordinated on all levels. As part of the 2022 Severe Weather Preparedness Week, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service have teamed up to publish a Severe Weather Preparedness Guide to help Illinoisans be better prepared when severe weather strikes. The National Weather Service will be recognizing Severe Weather Preparedness Week during the week of February 28 - March 4, according to a news release. During the week, Illinoisans are encouraged by NWS to: Update your family communications plan Make a severe weather preparedness plan Build an emergency preparedness kit Identify your safe place to during a storm Know the various weather watches/warnings/advisories The NWS is the official agency for issuing severe weather watches, warnings and advisories to alert the public when dangerous weather conditions are expected. Tornado drill On Tuesday, March 1, the Carbondale Office of Emergency Management is participating in the statewide tornado drill to increase awareness and promote preparedness for severe weather hazards. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 30-year-old unsolved cold case has been tied back to a West Frankfort man thanks to new DNA sampling and advances in forensic technology. Lee Rotatori, 32, of Nunica, Michigan, was murdered in June of 1982, according to a news release from police in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Rotatori had just started a job at Jennie Edmundson Hospital and had been staying at the Best Western Frontier Hotel while looking for a permanent place to live, the release stated. When she did not show for work the morning of June 25, 1982, her boss asked hotel staff to check on her, police said. Her body was discovered in the room. She died from a single stab wound and there was evidence of a sexual assault, police said. No suspects were ever identified during the initial investigation. In 2001, evidence collected in 1982 was re-submitted to the State of Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Lab. The examination revealed the presence of a male DNA profile, but no match was found in the system, police said. The DCI Lab would periodically check this unknown DNA over the years without any luck, police said. In April 2019, Council Bluffs investigators submitted the unknown male's DNA profile to Parabon Nanolabs to begin a genetic genealogy case. In February 2021, researchers concluded the source of the suspect DNA was Thomas O. Freeman, of West Frankfort. A sample of Freeman's daughter's DNA was subsequently analyzed by the Iowa DCI Lab, further confirming there was a parent/child relationship between the DNA found at the scene of Rotatori's murder and Freeman's daughter. Further investigation revealed Thomas O. Freeman was the victim of a murder not long after Rotatori was found dead. On Oct. 30, 1982, Freeman's body was found buried in a shallow grave in Cobden, Illinois, police said. Freeman, who was 35 at the time of his death, had been shot multiple times and had likely been dead for three months before the discovery of his grave. Freeman's killer was never identified. Council Bluff investigators are currently working with the Illinois State Police to determine if Freeman's murder was somehow linked to his involvement in Rotatori's death, police said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 WASHINGTON Republican Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger told a conference of conservatives turned off by former President Donald Trump on Sunday he would fight to take back our political system after he leaves the House at the end of this term. He hedged later when asked if that meant he was considering a run for president. Speaking at the end of the two-day Principles First conference at the National Press Club, Kinzinger got several standing ovations, including when he talked about his work with fellow Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming on the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. If we as Republicans would have simply taken responsibility, we could have moved on, we could have determined nothing like that would ever happen again in the United States. And instead, we tried to sweep it under the rug. Well, its not going to be swept under the rug. The truth is out there and its coming, Kinzinger said. Targeted by Trump for his vote for impeachment after the attack and censured, with Cheney, by the Republican National Committee earlier this month for serving on the select committee, Kinzinger decided in October not to run for another term this year. In his speech, Kinzinger praised the bravery of Ukrainians fighting a Russian invasion and contrasted that to grievances that Trumps wing of the party complains about. Like many other speakers at the conference, he noted several times that Trump had praised Russian leader Vladimir Putin as recently as a few days ago. Kinzinger also argued the former president had abused his supporters patriotism by trying to convince them of the lie that the election he lost had been stolen. When you have a leader of the free world that stands in front of America and convinces half the country that the system is broken, that your vote doesnt count, listen, as patriotic Americans, we can understand why some would say that it is time to overthrow the government by force Which is why leaders words matter so much, Kinzinger said. He then said that while he will be out of Congress in a year, Im not going anywhere, and hes excited he will have more time to work with all of you to make sure that we take back our political system because we deserve that. Those generations of Americans deserve it. But theyve been told that theres no hope, theyre told that theres no opportunity, theyve been told that somebody that doesnt think like you was the enemy. Theyve been told by a former president that Vladimir Putin is a good guy. I mean, I have no doubt that people feel confused. This is why leadership is so important at this moment. Asked outside the ballroom if he was hinting at a presidential race, he said the super PAC he leads, Country First, has been building support and he wants to see where that goes. I am excited about continuing the fight for the country. At some point youve got to look and say, Is the House the best place to do it? I think 12 years in the House is a long time for me. But I dont intend to give up on the fight for the country, he said. Asked if he was definitely not running for president, Kinzinger, who turned 44 on Sunday, replied: Im definitely not announcing Im running for president. Trump has strongly hinted he plans to run in 2024, and he and several Republicans who may run if he doesnt, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri, spoke in the past few days at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida. The Principles First conference where Kinzinger spoke was set up as a counterpoint to CPAC, and the insurrection and Trumps dominance of the party were recurring themes. Retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified at hearings that led to Trumps first impeachment for withholding aid to Ukraine, was a featured speaker and also got standing ovations. So did Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who testified before the Jan. 6 committee, and was given an award for heroism. Former GOP Reps. Barbara Comstock of Virginia and Joe Walsh of Illinois were part of a debate over whether to form a third party on a panel called Should We Stay or Should We Go? Two potential 2024 candidates who have begun to break from Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, were not at CPAC. But one of the Principles First programs included Alyssa Farah Griffin, Pences former press secretary, interviewing Bill Palatucci, a Christie ally and RNC member who voted against the resolution censuring Cheney and Kinzinger. I belong to the Republican National Committee, not the Trump National Committee, Palatucci said to applause. He said some of his fellow committee members privately told him they agreed with his opposition to the resolution, which said Cheney and Kinzinger were helping Democrats carry out a political vendetta against people who engaged in legitimate political discourse. He urged the audience to talk to the committee members form their states and convince them to speak out. They know theyre wrong. They need more courage, Palatucci said. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Masks mandates ended in most of Chicago and Illinois Monday, but not in the states largest school district. Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez reminded families in a Sunday letter that universal masking is still required in all of its schools and offices for now. Martinez thanked families for their patience. He said the district is reviewing the latest recommendations on masks and working with our labor and public health partners on how to preserve a safe, healthy learning environment for all as we transition into this new phase of the pandemic. On Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the end of the mask rule for schools after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance to call for indoor masking only in areas with high COVID-19 transmission. The entire Chicago area is currently in the low risk category. Scores of Illinois schools had already moved to mask-optional policies after a lawsuit against dozens of districts, including CPS, resulted in a temporary halt to the mandate for children of those who sued. But in CPS, universal masking is stipulated in a hard-fought COVID-19 safety agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union, which came about after union members refused to teach in person during the omicron surge in January, resulting in five days of canceled classes. Last week, the Chicago Board of Education took the further step of passing a resolution to affirm masking and other coronavirus-related rules, though it grants Martinez authority to change those policies in consultation with public health officials and stakeholders. A day after the board meeting, CPS announced it had published inaccurate COVID-19 data on its online public dashboard that painted a rosier pandemic picture. The district said it posted the incorrect number of students in isolation and quarantine between Feb. 18 and Feb. 23 due to a system error. Last Tuesday, the district reported 405 students in isolation because they tested positive for the virus or in quarantine because they encountered an infected person. The district is now saying that on that day there were 1,226 students in isolation or quarantine. CPS has come under fire in recent months for not being consistent with its public data reporting methods. Last week the district once again changed the data it posts on its dashboard, this time to reflect positive cases that were detected from in-school testing, versus cases reported to the district. Case numbers have been falling since mid-January, according to CPS data. Board members last week cited the low vaccination rates at several district schools as a reason to keep the mask mandate in place. According to the district, nearly 53% of CPS students 12 and old are fully vaccinated, while about one in three students ages 5 to 11 have received at least one vaccine dose. More than 91% of CPS staff is fully vaccinated, the district said. Parents in CPS are lining up on both sides of the mask issue. A group in favor of keeping the mask rule rallied outside City Hall Monday morning. Our special education students deserve to feel safe in school, not to constantly be pushed aside for the sake of normalcy or for the sake of our comfort, said Leigh Mabry White, a CPS parent of a second grader with autism. We demand Chicago Public Schools add the COVID vaccine to the list of required immunizations for fall 2022 ... Masks, in combination with vaccination, are our only options to move in the direction that we all want. CPS parent Erykah Nava said its unfair to leave children under five years old to fend for themselves because vaccines are not available for that age group. When people tell us to learn to live with COVID, or COVID is like the flu, they are really saying our most vulnerable do not matter, that their lives are expendable for the sake of normalcy, Nava said. Well, we are here to show that we will never stop fighting for each others safety and lives. Other parents are urging the district to drop the mandate in the alignment with the latest CDC guidance. Several parents attended last weeks board meeting to call for the district to go mask optional like other districts. Pritzker had already announced that the general statewide mask mandate for most indoor spaces would end Monday, with Chicago following suit. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 For Felita Davis-Hicks, it all started as the daughter of a preacher. She didnt know growing up in Charleston and worshiping at the historic Morris Brown African Methodist Episcopal Church led by her father, the late bishop Z.L. Grady, that her interest in history and teaching as well as her gift for communicating with people would energize her career in the utility industry. More than 35 years later, Davis-Hicks continues to evangelize about career opportunities at Dominion Energy. She started at the company in 1986 when its predecessor, South Carolina Electric & Gas, hired her as an energy educator. They recognized then the need to diversify their recruitment and community outreach team. Davis-Hicks visited South Carolina schools talking about energy conservation and electric safety. The Orangeburg resident has been a talent acquisition specialist for the past decade based at Dominion Energys South Carolina headquarters in Cayce. Davis-Hicks helps develop new hiring strategies in support of the companys ongoing efforts to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive. This, she said, ultimately drives innovation in all areas of the business and makes Dominion Energy a better company. Although her title has changed over the years, one thing has stayed the same: her passion for connecting the right people with the right job opportunity in an industry they may never have considered before meeting her. Dominion Energy employs about 3,700 people in South Carolina. And theyre not all linemen or engineers. Dominion Energys workforce includes skilled technical positions in electric operations, plant operators in power generation, foresters, environmental science technicians, customer service representatives and more. Davis-Hicks is confident in Dominion Energys ability to match a wide variety of opportunities with an increasingly diverse workforce. There is a broad range of diverse talent across our state, Davis-Hicks said. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion helps to ensure that our workforce mirrors the communities where we live and work. Davis-Hicks said a recently established partnership with Denmark Technical College and an upcoming career fair will help Dominion Energy in its efforts to recruit from smaller, more rural parts of the state. The free, on-campus event is March 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to all students, alumni and the general public. Our increased outreach at historically Black colleges and universities like Denmark Tech is just one example of many ways Dominion Energy has sharpened our focus on diverse recruitment, Davis-Hicks said. Were making progress every day, but there is still much work to be done. In its first external diversity, equity and inclusion report released last year, Dominion Energy cites an increase in diverse hiring from 28% in 2013 to nearly 50% in 2020. The company has set goals to increase diverse representation among its workforce, including an ongoing focus on retaining diverse talent. A longtime supporter of HBCUs, Dominion Energy announced in 2020 a six-year, $25 million commitment to support HBCUs and $10 million to provide scholarships to students from underrepresented communities. The company also has a robust and dynamic diversity student conference and internship program. I see the future of our company every single day, Davis-Hicks said. I see it in the many different faces of the candidates we select and hire. We like to say that we are making progress, not just promises, and our actions speak louder. Thats what keeps me motivated to do what I do. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Eutawville man who was considered missing returned home on Monday, according to the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office. The sheriffs office had asked for the publics help locating Nicholas Sinkler, 25, of Miami Lane, on Sunday. Its hard to imagine Calhoun County government and Calhoun County in its totality without David Summers. Calhoun may be a small county but it had a giant of a local leader who devoted half of his life to serving the people while at the helm of government. Summers died Saturday, soon after announcing in January that he would relinquish the position of county council chairman, a post for which he was chosen in 1979 after being elected to council in 1978. His record as a local government leader is nothing short of amazing and in fact is a record. He was the longest-serving chairman of a county council in South Carolina, likely ever but definitely since records were kept beginning in 1969. We say ever because elected county councils were not around in South Carolina until the Home Rule Act was passed in 1975. The act greatly expanded the authority of county government, allowing it to provide municipal-type services. It took away commissioners appointed by state lawmakers and replaced commissions with elected local leaders. David Summers was a transitional figure in home rule. With Calhoun and Orangeburg counties the home of powerful state lawmakers Marion Gressette and Marshall Williams, he pushed ahead with the new order in which local government was to be in the hands of leaders elected to govern locally and not from Columbia. And he did it his way. Someone serving as long as Summers was known by many: critics, proponents, friends, rivals just about everybody. In reacting to the death of the longtime leader, Calhoun County officials hit the nail on the head in so many ways: Summers was a giant in the community, Calhoun state Rep. Russell Ott said. Not much happened in Calhoun County that he wasnt a part of. New County Council Chairman James Haigler said Summers was an ambassador for Calhoun County across South Carolina. Because of Summers leadership, Calhoun is known across the state like the larger counties, and it avoided the financial difficulties other small counties faced. Summers was conservative where he needed to be and liberal where he needed to be, Haigler said. He left us fine and stable. Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers called his second cousin a dedicated person when it came to being on County Council. He loved Calhoun County and devoted countless hours to Calhoun County businesses and people. He was absolutely a great asset to Calhoun County. We have our recollections too. In our inquiries to Summers about the Freedom of Information Act as it pertained to council business, the chairman was never shy about saying he did not really agree with all provisions of the state law designed to ensure the public gets information about what its government is doing. Unlike too many elected leaders claiming to cherish FOIA but doing too little to live up to its standards, Summers would meet requirements but openly state that local government should have the flexibility to operate more like a business than an open public forum. Perhaps if all elected leaders had the integrity of a David Summers, the public would not have to worry if leaders could do more business behind closed doors. But he acknowledged that was not how it was to be and he led county government in a way that will make him a model of service for generations. We affectionately called Summers Calhouns King David. The better way to remember him and his contributions is embodied in the words of County Administrator John McLaughlin: He was definitely Mr. Calhoun County. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 You are here: China China has released the information on the fourth batch of lunar samples brought back by the country's Chang'e-5 mission, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Monday. Public users can log on to the website of China's Lunar and Deep Space Exploration (www.clep.org.cn) to view information related to the new samples and submit applications for research. The Chang'e-5 probe returned to Earth on Dec. 17, 2020, retrieving a total of 1,731 grams of lunar samples, mainly rocks and soil from the moon's surface. This subscription will allow existing subscribers of The World to access all of our online content, including the E-Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047. (TBTCO) - Thi truong ket thuc thang 4 voi muc giam 8,4%, tro thanh thang giam sau nhat trong vong 2 nam. Hang loat co phieu chiet khau gia cuc sau tuy gay thiet hai rat lon cho nhieu nha au tu, nhung cung se tao co hoi cho cac nha au tu khac. A bill that would refund Wyomings share of added federal mineral royalty revenue to oil and gas producers cleared the Senate on Monday. The states oil and gas industry has been slow to recover from prices tanking in the early months of the pandemic, often citing uncertainty about federal regulations. Lawmakers are worried that a royalty hike on new federal leases a move the Biden administration appears to be considering will suppress new production in the state. Opponents of Senate File 84, which would authorize the state to issue severance tax refunds using federal mineral royalty dollars, argue that a modest increase in the royalty rate wouldnt have much of an impact on producers and lawmakers would instead be turning their backs on needed funds. According to Sen. Brian Boner, R-Converse and Platte counties and chairman of the select committee sponsoring the bill, the royalty relief would provide stability to producers already shaken by several turbulent years. State bill could thwart federal oil and gas royalty hike in Wyoming Under the bill, Wyoming would reimburse coal, oil and gas producers for the added cost of any federal royalty increase. The royalty rate for oil and gas production on federal lands has remained at 12.5% for more than a century; on Wyoming state lands, its currently 16.67%. A draft notice inadvertently posted and quickly taken down last month wouldve set the federal rate at 18.75%. Lets focus on what we know, Boner told the Senate ahead of Mondays vote. Make no doubt about it, these companies will still be paying more once (the royalty increase) goes into effect. Theyre going to be paying more to the federal and state government. So this isnt just a handout. What we know, responded Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Albany County, is that the federal government hasnt formally tried to raise the federal royalty rate. The state doesnt yet know how much it might change, or how companies might respond. Were not in a hurry to do this, Rothfuss said. We have time to think about what the data really looks like, and to understand it in the context of the circumstances when it takes place. This hasnt taken effect yet. We dont know whether it will or not. Boner, however, said that regulatory uncertainty was already impacting producers in Wyoming. Its important, he said, that we provide stability this year, right now. Rothfuss also echoed concerns voiced by Sen. Charles Scott, R-Natrona County, who questioned whether, if Wyoming effectively rejected an increase in federal royalty revenue, the federal government might stop giving that money to the state. And both Rothfuss and Sen. Cale Case, R-Fremont County, urged patience. With the budget in a bad spot, they said, wouldnt it be prudent to wait? The world is a very, very dramatic place right now, Case said. Our mineral industry will be so needed, and I suspect that with large price increases in carbon-based minerals around the world, especially petroleum, that we are going to be in a good position for a while. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Current leadership at Caspers Art 321 have denied the majority of allegations brought against them by former board members in a recent lawsuit, court filings show. The suit, filed in January, alleged that the organizations executive director, Tyler Cessor, has blocked the board from key decisions, altered the artist guilds bylaws and led a campaign to remove and intimidate officers who disagreed with (his) vision for the organization. The organization is nearly 100 years old, founded as the Casper Artists Guild in 1924. Cessor was hired in January 2020. Among those who brought the suit, several used to sit on the guilds board. Two are former presidents and one, according to court documents, was a substantial contributor who played a role in the organizations move into their downtown facility. Aside from Cessor, 11 other board members are named as defendants. In the defendants Feb. 14 answer to the suit, court filings show they ask the court to dismiss the case and deny the majority of its allegations. There is a lot that we roundly object to, Cessor said Monday. Im very confident that we have a lot of the evidence we need to clear our names when it comes time. The claims denied by current leadership include allegations that Cessor has physically intimidated people or called them names, withheld revenue and membership documents and made decisions without informing or consulting with others. Lawyers on both sides of the suit did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. The suit alleges that Cessor closed board meetings that were previously open and made at least three changes to their bylaws that cut members out of decisions like board member elections. After Cessor was hired, the suit states, several volunteer committees were eliminated. The complaint also alleges that Cessor micromanages to the point where volunteers have felt uncomfortable and cease to volunteer. The plaintiffs allege that because the current board was improperly selected without a member vote. In the initial filing, they asked the court to declare the current leadership has no authority to govern the organization. They also request the judge rule that past board presidents be reinstated to the board, in line with the organizations ruling articles. The suit is the latest installment in a turbulent year for Art 321, as conflicts between older and newer members came to light over the summer. An open meeting was held to address concerns in July, but many members said they felt they werent heard and didnt get a chance to get the answers they sought. (The lawsuit) is an effort by and for all members to regain their voice and to exert control over those who have disregarded the membership for the past two years, former president Vicki Primrose told the Star-Tribune when the suit was first filed. The complaint states they are also asking for the organization to hold annual meetings and member elections for officer positions, again in compliance with the articles. In the reply, filed in Natrona County District Court, current leadership alleges that those articles are void for vagueness and are ambiguous, and unenforceable since the plaintiffs previous enforcement of them has been inconsistent, capricious and/or arbitrary. The suit also alleges that Art 321s membership numbers and incoming donations have declined since Cessor arrived. On Monday, he said that theyve been seeing around seven new members join the guild each month over the last year. Although donations from the community (excluding larger, legacy donors) declined in 2020, Cessor said that they were higher in 2021 than in the four years prior. Editors note: Cayla Nimmo, named as a defendant in this suit due to her time as an Art 321 board member, was the Star-Tribunes staff photographer during the time of the allegations. Nimmo left the Star-Tribune and Wyoming in the fall, and was not included in editorial decisions related to coverage of Art 321. Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHEYENNE Teenage cousins accused in last summers shooting death of a 14-year-old pleaded not guilty last week in Laramie County District Court. Xavier Sanchez, 18, of Casper, appeared Thursday morning in front of Laramie County District Judge Peter Froelicher. He has been charged with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Raymond M. Sanchez, 16, of Cheyenne, is being charged as an adult with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. He appeared Friday afternoon in front of Laramie County District Judge Thomas Campbell. Information collected by the Cheyenne Police Department points to the 14-year-olds death having been the result of a gang-related conflict, or at least a conflict between two families. According to court documents: At 1:03 a.m. July 5, Cheyenne Police officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 1600 block of Taft Avenue in response to a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers observed a bullet hole in the door and a .45-caliber brass shell casing near the door. Officers found a 14-year-old boy, identified as D.B. in the probable cause affidavit, lying on the floor with a large pool of blood to the right of his head. It was later determined D.B. had a suspected gunshot wound to his upper back. The 14-year-old was pronounced dead by American Medical Response personnel at about 1:20 a.m. Joshua Wolfson is the editor of the Casper Star-Tribune. Find him on Twitter @joshwolfson. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 U.S. House candidate Harriet Hageman will host town halls with Kentuckys Sen. Rand Paul on Monday in Cheyenne and Gillette. With Donald Trumps endorsement in tow, Hageman is challenging Rep. Liz Cheney for Wyomings lone House seat. Hageman has also been endorsed by Paul. Paul has been to Wyoming recently, as he also visited the Legislature during the first week of the states budget session. It is a terrific honor to welcome Sen. Paul to our state, because he is a national leader in the conservative movement and truly in step with our belief in liberty and freedom we all have here in Wyoming, Hageman said in a statement. I am grateful for his support and willingness to come visit with us, because this shows how important it is that we take our only House seat back for the people of Wyoming. Hageman entered the race in early September, after Cheney endured months of backlash for her vote to impeach the former president and her repeated rebukes of his actions on Jan. 6. Hagemans candidacy is by far Cheneys toughest reelection challenge since she first sought Wyomings lone U.S. House seat in 2016. Ive had the chance to meet with Harriet Hageman and discuss our shared conservative view of the role of the federal government, and I am pleased to endorse her candidacy completely and fully, and without reservation, Paul said when he endorsed her in December. Harriet represents the spirit of Wyoming, which is full of people who want to live their lives without the oppressive weight of the federal government on their backs. Normally, Wyomings House race receives little attention outside the states borders. This time around, the contest has taken on national significance thanks to the battle between Cheney and Trump. That battle has attracted unprecedented amounts of outside financial contributions and media attention. Most recently, the Republican National Committee voted to censure Cheney over her service on the House committee investigating the Jan.6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The censure was decided by voice vote of the 168-member committee. The resolution was co-sponsored by Frank Eathorne, the chairman of the Wyoming Republican Party. That censure came almost a year to the day after the Wyoming Republican Party voted to censure the congresswoman for her vote to impeach Trump. Wyoming GOP leadership has also voted to no longer recognize Cheney as a Republican, which is a symbolic move. She can still run in the Republican primary. Cheney has shown no sign of backing down, arguing Trump represents a threat to the rule of law in the U.S. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Wyoming Senates budget amendment eliminating all funding from the University of Wyomings gender studies program faces a tough road ahead, as questions remain over its constitutionality and future, given that the same budget revision failed in the House. The amendment, which passed late Friday afternoon, prompted a debate about the Legislatures role in the states academics. The amendment bars any general funds, federal funds or other funds under the control of the university for the purpose of gender studies courses, academic 8 programs, co-curricular programs or extracurricular programs. The amendments sponsor, Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, said were training activists, when arguing in favor of nixing the funding. She added that finding out what was being taught in this department caused her to lose sleep. Jacquelyn Bridgeman, a law professor and the director of the Culture, Gender and Social Justice school at UW, said that no one from the Legislature reached out to representatives from the School of Culture, Gender & Social Justice on the topic prior to Fridays vote. Steinmetz has articulated her displeasure in the past, but nothing as concrete as a budget amendment, said Rep. Cathy Connolly, D-Laramie, who, as a professor of gender and womens studies at the university, would be affected by the loss of funding. Attempts to strip a university program of funding appear rare in recent history. University spokesperson Chad Baldwin said he couldnt think of a specific example that matches this particular situation, although he said that, over the years, there have been some concerns in the legislature about certain activities at UW. The Senate approved the amendment in a close vote (16 to 14) Friday, but a mirror amendment died in the House. The rules committee in that chamber concluded the amendment was not germane to the budget because its more of a policy decision than an accounting one. A rules committee was not called in the Senate, which allowed lawmakers there to debate the amendment at length. Academic freedoms been hijacked folks, Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, said Friday. It was never the intention that nobody else gets to weigh in on what we teach at the university, but it seems to be present that academic freedom means that if youre not smart enough or intellectual enough and work for a university then you dont get a say so in the process. Is that what intellectual freedom actually means? Sen. Drew Perkins, R-Casper, chairman of the committee that drafts the budget bill, pushed back. That was the hue and cry just a couple years ago about what was happening on college campuses around the nation about providing safe spaces so people didnt have to exposed to certain points of view, he said. We were incensed at that. I was incensed at that. Well this is just the other side of that coin. Perkins maintained the Senate was within its power to act. But he said doing so was a bad idea. Do we have the power to do this? Sure we do, Perkins said. But I still believe in limited government ... this is too much government for me. This is too much overreach. As with many controversial bills, the legality of the amendment came into question. Is this amendment in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the United States and Wyoming Constitutions? asked Sen. Tara Nethercott, a Republican and Cheyenne lawyer. This amendment is so broad, and its completely unacceptable and I believe unconstitutional and completely unlawful. I appreciate that you dont like the program. It appears to have some problems in balance, I will submit that. This is not our place. But supporters of the amendment were not moved. I dont believe its an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars, Steinmetz said. Only the Senates draft of the budget will move forward with the amendment. The differences in the two chambers budgets are hashed out in a committee that tries to reconcile the discrepancies. And there are a lot of them. Creating one cohesive budget out of the two budget bills is a long and arduous process, which can sometimes cause some amendments to be thrown out with little discussion. At least one lawmaker predicted that may happen with the gender studies amendment. I dont think it will be the subject of any conference committee, said Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson. The following senators voted in favor of the amendment: Bo Biteman, Brian Boner, Anthony Bouchard, Ed Cooper, Dan Dockstader, Ogden Driskill, Tim French, Dan Furphy, Larry Hicks, Lynn Hutchings, Tom James, John Kolb, Troy McKeown, Tim Salazar, Charlie Scott, Cheri Steinmetz. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 11 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Victoria Eavis State politics reporter Follow Victoria Eavis 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 Wyomings COVID-19 public health emergency declaration will effectively end March 14, Gov. Mark Gordon announced Monday. As we see our case numbers and hospitalizations receding, it is time to begin the shift to a new phase, Gordon said in a statement. This virus will be with us for the foreseeable future and we should manage it appropriately. That means being personally responsible for ones own health and respectful of your family and neighbors. Gordon issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Wyoming on March 13, 2020, two days after the first case was identified here in a Sheridan County resident. The order directed the Office of Homeland Security, the Adjutant General and the Wyoming Department of Health to mobilize resources to fight the COVID-19 public health crisis. After cases spiked and receded many times, it appears that COVID cases and hospitalizations are on decline, at least for now. On Monday, the states hospitals were treating 47 COVID-19 patients. That number peaked at nearly 250 in October. Cases in Wyoming have also fallen off dramatically following a spike driven by the omicron variant. In late January, the states seven-day average for lab confirmed cases topped 1,000. Its now under 60. The New York Times reported 9,086 new cases nationally on Sunday. In mid January, by comparison, daily cases at times topped 900,000. The end of the public health emergency entails the termination of the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program emergency allotment, effective May 1, and the elimination of emergency rule changes to licensure requirements for the Board of Medicine and Board of Nursing, according to Gordons announcement. States were eligible to receive emergency SNAP allotments beginning in March 2020. The rule changes for licensure requirements were meant to accommodate the need for more medical personnel on a temporary basis, said Wyoming Department of Health spokesperson Kim Deti. The announcement said that the majority of Wyomingites will not be impacted by the shifts brought about by the end of the states public health emergency (the states declaration covers different areas from its national counterpart, which is still in effect). Gordon also announced on Monday the appointment of Stefan Johansson, currently Wyoming Department of Public Health interim director, as the departments permanent director. Johansson has served as interim director since May 2021 and has worked in the department since 2013. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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. Chinese envoy warns against politicization of OPCW work Xinhua) 08:07, March 01, 2022 UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday warned against the politicization of the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The investigation and handling of the alleged use of chemical weapons must strictly follow the requirements of the Chemical Weapons Convention, respect science and facts, and ensure procedural compliance, reliable evidence and credible conclusions, said Counselor Xing Jisheng of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations. There are still many doubts over the sources of information, working method and the completion of the chain of evidence of the report of the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) on alleged chemical weapons use in Douma, Syria. So far the doubts are yet to be clarified. This will invariably affect the credibility of the work of the FFM, he told the Security Council. "China calls for maintaining the technical attributes of the OPCW, and avoiding the politicization of its work," he said. In recent years, some countries have repeatedly pushed for a vote in the absence of consensus, seriously undermining the authority and effectiveness of the OPCW. China calls on the director-general to play an active role in promoting dialogue among states parties, returning to the tradition of making decisions by consensus, and avoiding going further down the road of division. The OPCW should not be used as a tool for pursuing geopolitical goals, said Xing. Syria has repeatedly expressed its willingness to cooperate with the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW, and its constructive attitude deserves recognition. The Technical Secretariat should take an equally constructive approach and be flexible, he said. "We hope that the two sides will hold the 25th round of technical consultations as soon as possible to promote the settlement of outstanding issues and maintain communication on issues such as the inspections of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center and the in-person meeting between the director-general and the Syrian foreign minister." Since 2017, the Syrian government has repeatedly provided the Technical Secretariat with information on the possession and use of chemical weapons by terrorist groups. This merits the attention of the Technical Secretariat, said Xing. Given the limited resources and busy schedule of the Security Council, China strongly suggests reducing the frequency of briefings on Syria or combining the different issues for joint consideration. This will not only help deal with the Syrian issues from a holistic perspective, but also improve the efficiency of the council, he said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) 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. A Barrackpore woman returned to her house in the early hours of last Saturday and found an i Keeping the peace: A police vehicle blocks the entrance to the compound of Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd in Pointe-a-Pierre last evening after receiving information that the bodies of three of the four missing divers had been recovered. Photo: DEXTER PHILIP 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. Tucson native Claire Thai wanted to show a different side to the harp when she composed her Harp Concerto for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. The first movement of the two-movement work casts the behemoth instrument in its quintessential state smooth and lush with lots of big chords. In the second movement, it segues to overlapping lines from the woodwinds and strings and showcases the dramatic side of the instrument. "I wanted to write a piece that showed a lot of different aspects of the instrument," said Thai, a senior at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia who became interested in the harp when she was 3 and saw and heard it for the first time at a TSO Just for Kids concert. "When you think of the harp, you think of the Disney Princess movies, lush, rich sounds, and that's a wonderful part of it," she said. There are so many pieces I play that I dig into that aspect of the instrument, but at the same time there are so many things the (harp) can do." Thai, 22, who has been studying harp since she was 5, has won a number of local and international harp contests including landing a solo spotlight at the 2017 World Harp Congress held in Hong Kong. She also spent several years in the TSO's Young Composers Project learning how to compose music. Her Harp Concerto, commissioned by the TSO in 2019, was her second commission. Her first was the score for the Vail Preservation Societys Voices of Vail documentary in 2018. The Harp Concerto is the TSO's fourth commissioned work from its Young Composers Project alums. Thai will join the orchestra this weekend to perform the world premiere of her piece on a program that also includes her teaming up with the TSO's Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning principal flute Alexander Lipay for Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp. Performances are at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway. Tickets are $47 to $96 through tucsonsymphony.org and ticketholders will be required to show proof of full COVID vaccination or a negative test taken within 72 hours of the performance. Face masks are required. Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com. On Twitter @Starburch Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PHOENIX State senators decided Tuesday to do something they havent done in decades: censure one of their own. By a 24-3 margin, the GOP-led chamber voted to censure Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, for conduct unbecoming of a senator. The specifics included publicly issuing and promoting social media and video messaging encouraging violence against and punishment of American citizens. Rogers spoke to a white supremacist group late last month, calling for public hangings. She followed that with a last-ditch effort to avoid censure by making political threats to fellow Republicans. Rogers lashed out, calling the official rebuke an attack on free speech. I do not apologize, she said. I will not back down. Rogers claimed that the hundreds of thousands of people she represents are with me and they want me to be their voice. She accused Senate GOP leadership of colluding with Democrats. But Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott, said thats not the case. This is not a Democratic or a Republican thing, she said, saying every lawmaker makes his or her own decision. Fann also said this isnt about interfering with anyones First Amendment rights. But what we do not condone is members threatening each other to ruin each other, to incite violence, to call us Communists, she said. We do not do that to each other. Rogers had tweeted, I will personally destroy the career of any Republican who partakes in the gaslighting of me simply because of the color of my skin or opinion about a war I dont want to send our kids to die in. Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, said many senators were offended by that threat. Rogers tried other tactics to convince colleagues to vote against the move. For example, she directed a Twitter posting to Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Glendale, pointing out that she supported his measure to greatly expand eligibility for vouchers of state funds for parents to use at private, parochial and home schooling. Boyer was not impressed. So, I should stay silent on your unhinged speeches and tweets, Wendy Rogers, because you once voted for one of my bills? he responded. No thanks. Just hours before Fann scheduled the censure vote, Rogers told her followers that today is the day where we find out if the Communists in the GOP throw the sweet grandma under the bus for being white. Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios, D-Phoenix, said Rogers public face belies her self-description. When somebody shows you who they are, believe them, Rios said, saying Rogers has proudly shown us who she is. Its not a sweet grandmother, Rios said. Its someone who has gleefully called white nationalists patriots, called for hanging political enemies, called (Ukranian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy a globalist puppet for Soros and the Clintons. Rogers spoke on Feb. 25 to the America First Political Action Conference, a group of white nationalists, where she said we need to build more gallows. If we try some of these high-level criminals, convict them and use a newly built set of gallows, itll make an example of these traitors who have betrayed our country, she said. She also praised the conference host, Nick Fuentes, who opened it by seeking applause from the crowd for Russias invasion of Ukraine. Shope said that, if nothing else, elected officials should not speak to such groups. Rogers herself has made her feelings clear about the war and Zelenskyy, calling him a globalist puppet for Soros and the Clintons. She did so after Vladimir Putin said he was invading to promote the demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine. Both Zelenskyy and Soros are Jewish. When the Anti-Defamation League, in a posting, asked Republican Gov. Doug Ducey to condemn her anti-Semitic, racist, violent language, she responded, Oh shaddup. But Rogers isnt new to stoking controversy. I like Indians and I like Redskins, she tweeted last summer. I like Aunt Jemima and I like Uncle Ben. I like Robert E. Lee and I like Stonewall Jackson. And in January, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, she retweeted a posting urging people to celebrate Confederate generals. Sen. Lisa Otondo, D-Yuma, derided Rogers claim that lawmakers were interfering with her First Amendment rights. Freedom of speech does not give you the right to be a bully, to dehumanize people, she said. It does not allow you to have slander, many other things. Sen. Vince Leach, R-Tucson, who supported the censure, said it would have been nice had there been a way to settle the issue in a family discussion. But he said that isnt possible, as there are no parents who can impose discipline. And that requires all members to consider the greater wellbeing of the Senate, he said. The body comes first, the unit comes first, Leach said, calling it a terrible vote to have to take. The Senates action stood in sharp contrast to Duceys. He was asked last week, after many of the senators comments had been widely circulated, whether he regretted having his political action committee put $500,000 into the 2020 election to help Rogers. Ducey said his concerns are different. What I need as a governor are governing majorities, he responded, noting that Rogers provides the crucial 16th Republican vote in the 30-member chamber. So thats what Ive wanted to do, is move my agenda forward, Ducey said. Im proud of what weve been able to accomplish and (Rogers) is still better than her (Democratic) opponent Felicia French. Rogers, in response, tweeted, Thank you, Governor. But Ducey had a decidedly different take following the Senate vote. Antisemitic and hateful language has no place in Arizona, he said in a prepared statement. I believe the vote taken today by the Arizona Senate sends a clear message: Rhetoric like this is unacceptable. Ducey also said late Tuesday that any statement supporting Russias action in Ukraine is not only ill-advised, but wrong and dangerous. Voting against censure were Sens. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, and Rogers. Not voting were David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista; Victoria Steele, D-Tucson; and Kelly Townsend, R-Apache Junction. The Senate vote cames a day after two Maricopa County supervisors, both Republicans, condemned Rogers for what they said is her hateful rhetoric. Those supervisors, Bill Gates and Clint Hickman, also called her out for apologizing for Putin and condemning U.S. allies. There is no record of the Senate censuring a member for at least four decades, an action that takes only a simple majority. Senators did vote to expel Sen. Carolyn Walker, D-Phoenix, in 1991. Walker was one of 11 lawmakers caught up in what was dubbed AzScam, taking money from someone posing as a lobbyist to get them to vote to legalize casino gaming in Arizona. All the others resigned; it took a two-thirds vote to oust Walker. Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on Twitter at "@azcapmedia" or email azcapmedia@gmail.com. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. An industrial gas manufacturing company from Taiwan has bought land in Casa Grande for a new facility. Jing He Science bought 20 acres at Peters and Burris roads, in the Barnes Farms Industrial Area, for $1.6 million. The new facility will supply the areas semiconductor industry and employ about 50 people when operational. Land Advisors Organizations advisors Michele Pino, Kirk McCarville and Trey Davis represented both parties. Were seeing incredible growth and interest in the area by manufacturing facilities, semiconductor suppliers and construction material suppliers, McCarville said. This sale marks the firms fourth significant closing in Casa Grande. Kohler Inc., a plumbing manufacturer, bought 206 acres in December; CCCP, a chemical company, bought 84 acres in November; and LCY, a chemical company, bought 27 acres in September. The latter two companies are also from Taiwan. Thanks to the support by Casa Grande and Pinal County to make critical infrastructure investments in the coming months and years to the area, industrial development is going gangbusters, McCarville said. Other recent real estate transactions include: KR-Pad D Cortaro LLC bought 1.28 acres of land at Cortaro Road and Interstate 10 for $550,000. Aaron LaPrise, with Picor, and Mark Bramlett, with Cushman & Wakefield of Arizona Inc., handled the transaction. E&G Optical LLC, doing business as Eye Lab, leased 3,560 square feet at The Plaza at Williams Centre, 5480 E. Broadway. The landlord, Larsen Baker, was represented by its broker Isaac Figueroa. Cadillac Coatings LLC leased 3,000 square feet of industrial space at Tucson Industrial Center, 4151 E. Tennessee St., from Tic Tac Properties LLC. Cintya Denisse Angulo Garcia, with Picor, represented the landlord. Mesquite Interiors leased 1,910 square feet at Crossroads Festival, 4811 E. Grant Road, to sell custom mesquite furniture. The landlord, Larsen Baker, was represented by its broker Isaac Figueroa. Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC leased 1,890 square feet of office space at 1151 S. La Canada Drive in Green Valley from Continental Professional Plaza. Richard M. Kleiner, with Picor, represented the tenant and Valerie Schuyler, with Partners Management and Consultants Inc., represented the landlord. Information for Tucson Real Estate is compiled from records at the Pima County Recorders Office and from brokers. Send information to Gabriela Rico, grico@tucson.com Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. "Human rights" is an ethical foundation that argues that each and every human being has a foundational set of "rights," which are defined as "a moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way." Rights are deemed to be universal and are designed to protect human beings, giving everyone an equal and fair chance to exist. While everyone in the world can agree on this idea, this has not stopped these values from being mired in controversy or dispute. Western governments have sometimes been criticized for selectively using human rights as a weapon in order to advance geopolitical objectives and wars against certain countries, as well as for molding the concept into a zero-sum distinction to vindicate its liberal democratic ideology. In response, the Chinese government has released its annual "Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States," which, through extensive detail and research, seeks to highlight Washington's hypocrisy and double standards. Although the United States is in practice a self-proclaimed "liberal democracy," the report helps us understand that such an ideological premise does not necessarily mean human rights are being upheld. First of all, the report helps us understand that human rights are not just about "inalienable freedoms," or as philosopher Isaiah Berlin called it, "classical liberty," i.e., "the absence of restraint" or government, but of course also how the government cares for, upholds, and supports the needs of its people. As a hyper-capitalist state which renders the role of government as a moral evil and, therefore, an "individual freedom," the report notes, America has suffered considerably, in this case, through its total mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic. America has since 2020 suffered 34.51 million cases and has a death count coming close to 1 million. If human rights are about the right to life where is it here? While this philosophy of freedom has not only led to a surge in pandemic-related deaths, its almost religiously adhering to "right to bear arms" has too led to continual and sporadic gun violence, which the government has no means of stopping. As the report notes: "There were 693 mass shootings in 2021, up 10.1 percent from 2020," and overall, more than 44,000 people were killed because of gun violence." The occurrence of mass school shootings is also accepted as a normal phenomenon in American life. Is this human rights? Is this giving people an equal chance or the protection from violence that is required? John Stuart Mill's famous "harm principle" theorized that freedom is not true freedom if it infringes upon the freedom of others, and this defines America right now. Similarly, America's anti-China paranoia espoused by politicians has also resulted in human rights setbacks. Programs such as the FBI's "China initiative" have seen thousands of innocent scholars face state-led harassment, while "around 81 percent of Asian American adults said violence against Asian communities is rising," with "hate crimes against Asians in New York city jumping 361% from 2020." This increase in racism is also a reminder that American society is deeply divided, unequal, and that ethnic minorities, such as African Americans, continue to face problems such as poverty, unemployment, reduced educational attainment, as well as state-led police violence. Likewise, the report slams not just America's actions at home but abroad too, noting that the United States has considerably harmed human rights overseas through its aggressive foreign policy, including the killing of civilians and children with drone strikes in Afghanistan last year; illegal and arbitrary detentions in Guantanamo Bay; the pursuance of brutal sanctions against regimes and countries, which have introduced malnutrition and humanitarian crises, such as in Yemen, Syria, and the DPRK; and many other respective conflicts. This also shines on America's claim to be a champion of human rights and morality throughout the world, showing instead that it exhibits a two-tier system of justice whereby some nations are more equal than others. As a whole, the report is insightful, detailed, empirical, and eye-opening. Human rights are important and few can deny that, but it is dangerous in turn to interpret the meaning of human rights in practice as a zero-sum political weapon used to disingenuously smear certain countries. As such, this document helps us understand that America is not the champion of human dignity it continues to claim to be. Although it is a wealthy country, it nonetheless comes on the back of a political system that promotes extreme inequality and social disorder in the name of "freedom," which in practice upholds the interests of its wealthy elite against the population at large. Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/TomFowdy.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Omicron is fading away, and so are Americans' worries about COVID-19. As coronavirus pandemic case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths continue to plummet, fewer people now than in January say they are concerned that they will be infected after the rise and fall of the wildly contagious virus variant, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Just 24% say they are extremely or very worried about themselves or a family member contracting COVID-19, down from 36% in both December and January, when omicron caused a massive spike in infections and taxed public health systems. Another 34% say they are somewhat worried. Read on for more info: Even some of the most ardent supporters of Covid-19 precautions are ditching mask mandates as health officials release new guidelines and hospitalizations plummet. Across the country, more governors are letting go of mask rules -- including in states that have long held on to school mask mandates. But, the Transportation Security Administration's mask mandate for airports, commercial airplanes, public buses and passenger trains is set to expire March 18. It's not clear what will happen after that. Read more here: In good times or bad, American presidents come to Congress with a diagnosis that hardly differs over the decades. In their State of the Union speeches, they declare the state of our union is strong" or words very much like it. President Joe Bidens fellow Americans, though, have other ideas about the state theyre in and little hope his State of the Union address Tuesday night can turn anything around. Read on: *** PLUS, MORE COVID-19 NEWS: Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Flash The next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks will take place on the Belarusian-Polish border in the coming days, according to Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation at the talks held in Belarus, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported Monday. "Most importantly, we agreed to continue the negotiation process, the next meeting will be held in the coming days on the Polish-Belarusian border," Medinsky said after the consultations. Medinsky also pointed out that each one of the delegations would now head back to their capitals to further discuss all negotiation positions and would meet for the next round of negotiations. "We have found some issues on which we can predict there would be common positions," said the official. During the talks, all negotiation positions were discussed in detail, he added. PHOENIX Companies that fire Arizona employees for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID could be required to continue paying them for a year. The state House gave preliminary approval Monday to legislation that would make such payments automatic, though it would permit either a lump sum or installments. The only way for a firm to escape the financial hit would be to give the worker the job back but with a reasonable accommodation to honor any claim of a religious exemption. And the measure, House Bill 2198, which now awaits a roll-call vote before going to the Senate, would be retroactive, covering any who lost a job as long ago as December. Rep. Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix, said the payment is justified. They need time to find employment, he said. He said its also a matter of civil rights. State and federal laws require employers to honor a workers sincerely held religious beliefs against getting vaccinated, he noted. And theyre supposed to provide accommodations to their workers, Kaiser said. Those usually take the form of options such as being placed separate from other workers, or working at home. However, Kaisers legislation doesnt mention the issue of workers having a religious reason for refusing the vaccine. And, as written, it would permit employees to object for any reason and, if denied some accommodation, demand a years worth of pay. State lawmakers have proposed several measures to prohibit government agencies from requiring that workers be vaccinated. Proposals to extend the same prohibition to private employers, however, have failed to win approval. Kaisers measure would provide a work-around of sorts, with no ban but instead a financial disincentive. Not all Republicans are pleased with the alternative. Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, said if a company is violating state and federal law, as Kaiser contends, there is recourse through the courts where evidence can be presented. Kaiser, however, said thats not an acceptable option, especially when he said it puts an individual worker against one of these massive companies. Thats going to be very expensive, he said. Its going to be more than a year to finish that lawsuit. Kaiser acknowledged there is the option of filing a civil rights complaint with the attorney generals office, but he said that also doesnt solve the problem. It takes a long time, he said. The persons already been fired. There is no recourse. And they cant get another job in the industry. Cook remained unconvinced, saying the measure runs contrary to Republican principles that say government should not set the work conditions of private employers. Kaiser furnished Capitol Media Services with emails from people who told of being fired for refusing to get the vaccine. Some of the complaints were from people who said they have natural immunity as a result of having previously had COVID, as well as those who contend the vaccine and the testing procedure are dangerous. But at least one person said he never asked for an exemption before being let go. 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A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: My fellow Americans, I speak to you tonight about what I believe is the most important issue we face as a country. I speak to you about the death of democracy. Our founding fathers created our democratic republic as a bulwark against centuries of oppressive, autocratic aristocracy. They had witnessed the injustices of vast income inequality; of human suffering caused by capricious, destructive wars; of families living in fear for holding different religious views. Our founders were wise and educated people. They understood the guiding moral and political principles of historys great philosophers. They modeled our republic on English common law, law that had evolved to ensure the rights of the people were protected. But our founders added a remarkable innovation: we would no longer subject ourselves to the whims of a monarch. It was King Georges government one that refused to accommodate our desire for self-determination and freedom from taxation without representation that finally triggered the American Revolution. The Founders model offered three unique components: Representative democracy with protections for minority rights; distribution of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches; and the exclusion of religion from our governance. Of course, our founders were men: white, privileged men. Theirs was an 18th century perspective, where women and people of color were second-class citizens, or worse. Our countrys birth was stained by the institution of slavery. Over time, our nation has evolved, infusing new norms of behavior, cultivating a culture of respect for differences, and incorporating into law the rights of all citizens to vote and to enjoy the freedoms and securities promised by the Constitution. But in the 1800s, debate over slavery grew fierce, pitting neighbor against neighbor, tearing our nation in two, and inciting a brutal civil war in which hundreds of thousands lost their lives. As President Lincoln said, A house divided against itself cannot stand. My fellow Americans, we are again a house divided. Our nation must choose a different course. We Americans love our freedom. We love it so much that we fought two world wars to defeat fascist autocracy, to protect millions of innocent victims, and to preserve democracy. Can we possibly turn our backs on our forebears, who fought and died to preserve our precious form of government? Friends, we cannot. We cannot abandon the principles that created this great nation. We cannot stand by while America falls apart. As a country riven by a pandemic, a climate crisis of epic proportions, racism and antisemitism, economic trouble, and international threats to peace, we must act now. It is our moral duty to save our country and return to our place as the guiding example for all countries. I call on all patriots, from both sides of the aisle, to take stock of the perilous state of our democracy. I call on each of us to commit, as did our Founding Fathers, to a new era in which we rebuild our country based on our highest values: an unencumbered right to vote, creating a truly representative democracy; ensuring policy-making is for the benefit of the people, not the wealthy; a return to a true separation of church and state; and a culture of civil debate. We can do this. I call on like-minded Republicans, Democrats, and independent voters to commit to a renewal of our democracy. I call on every politician over the next two election cycles to commit to the Democracy Renewal Pledge, which integrates these principles. Regardless of party affiliation, I pledge to work with and support anyone willing to commit to this initiative by word and by deed. Im calling for a peoples movement because our current political parties seem only driven by the lust for power to enact starkly different agendas. This will be a peoples movement, not a political movement. It is not about one party winning over another. It is about salvaging the most precious gifts of our Founders: the right to self-determination based on representative democracy, separation of powers, and civil discourse. I propose a non-partisan Democracy Restoration Fund to energize this effort and to support politicians who sign and fulfill the pledge. Corporate donations will not be accepted. This is the peoples campaign. My friends, this will be a difficult endeavor. But I see no better way to prevent our collapse as a democracy. Let us join together in the spirit of our Founders, in humility before God, and in memory of our fallen, to heal our democracy. Let us invoke, as Lincoln said, the better angels of our nature to ensure that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth. God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Michael Seibold is a retired executive and Tucson resident. He served in local and state government as well as corporate leadership. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. This story was created by #ThisIsTucson and underwritten by the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Thank you for supporting the local organizations that support us! There are 13 rattlesnake species in Arizona and 36 total in North America and South America, according to the most recent data. Howard Byrne, the curator of herpetology, ichthyology and invertebrate zoology at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, says that data is ever-changing. With more than a dozen species currently in our home state, #ThisIsTucson recently chatted with Byrne to find out more about rattlesnakes and how to avoid them. Plus, read about the Humane Society of Southern Arizona's rattlesnake avoidance classes for dogs! Lets slither into some fun and interesting facts about rattlesnakes Unlike constrictor snakes that have to wrap themselves around their prey, rattlesnakes can strike from a distance and let the venom do the work, Byrne said. In addition, with their super-strong senses of smell, rattlesnakes can track their wounded prey no matter how far it has attempted to flee. Rattlesnakes have around 10 different defense mechanisms, including remaining motionless, camouflage, fleeing and rattling. However, rattlesnakes arent cookie-cutter animals, according to Byrne. Instead, they can mix and match any defense mechanisms to fit an individual situation. They also have the ability to choose between fight or flight. Rattlesnakes have excellent memories that allow them to remember where dens and holes are so they can burrow and escape from extreme temperature changes. A rattlesnake can strike at about one-tenth of a second, which is faster than our eyes can track it, Byrne said. Rattlesnakes are their own living water dish, according to Byrne. Water droplets are able to stick to their keeled scales, which allows them to drink water without going anywhere. Byrne says that no other snake in the desert can do that. Rattlesnakes pupils can appear very round at nighttime or in lowlight. Baby rattlesnakes have brightly colored tails, according to Byrne. No rattlesnake can deliver all of its venom in one bite. Defensive bites are usually very quick and very brief, Byrne said. Baby rattlesnakes arent necessarily more dangerous than adult rattlesnakes. While some components of young rattlesnake venom can sometimes be more concentrated, if we're going to talk about a defensive bite, the most dangerous rattlesnake potentially would be the larger one, because it's a volume thing at that point, Byrne said. So their ability to dose that larger volume is of much greater concern than anything a small rattlesnake can deliver. A few rattlesnake avoidance tips Here's what Byrne said about how you can avoid rattlesnakes: Respect rattlesnakes and theyll respect you. According to Byrne, theres no such thing as an aggressive rattlesnake because all the behaviors that all the snakes do on planet Earth, including rattlesnakes, is only defensive. This means that a rattlesnake will never choose to interact with us, Byrne said. Rattlesnakes only interact with us when we accidentally or on purpose interact with them. So if you stumble across a rattlesnake in the wild, give it a little bit of space and understanding and the rattlesnake should happily go on its way. Communication is key. Sometimes rattlesnakes will slither close to your home, garage or even dog house, but Byrne says that because rattlesnakes want no interaction, they dont want anything to do with us, or our kids, or our pets. So, in these situations, its critical to communicate with others in your presence that theres a rattlesnake near, so everyone can avoid the snake who may just be temporarily visiting. We just (need to) communicate about the snake and then it leaves. So rattlesnakes are easier to live with than some people really think, he said. But if a rattlesnake gets inside of a place it shouldnt be, Byrne recommends calling in a professional that can safely trap and relocate the snake a short distance away. Learn more about rattlesnakes and their behaviors. With so many animals inhabiting the Sonoran Desert, it can be difficult to keep track of the potential dangers that each species presents. But by taking the time to learn more about inhabitants like the rattlesnake, the more informed you can be about protecting both yourself and the animal. Places like the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum offer shows to help educate the public about rattlesnakes and their behaviors (where you can learn a few rattlesnake fun facts too). I think the more we know about something, the less scary it becomes, Byrne said. Your dog can learn to avoid rattlesnakes too The Humane Society of Southern Arizonas rattlesnake avoidance training sessions return this month in an effort to help local pets avoid costly and possibly deadly rattlesnake bites this spring. The hour-long training sessions run on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings from March 1 through mid-to-late October, with tuition prices starting at $125 for one dog. If you plan on bringing a second dog to the training session, the price is $105 for the second dog. (Important note: There needs to be one handler per dog.) Register for more free articles. Log in Sign up If youve attended an HSSA rattlesnake avoidance training session before, its $75 for a refresher course. The HSSA requires participating dogs to be at least 6 months old, be up-to-date on vaccinations and be in overall good health. Senior dogs are recommended to get approval from their veterinarian before participating in the training, according to Inge Koopman-Leyva, the HSSAs director of education and community outreach. In many cases, when training happens, it's not just protecting your pet, it also actually ends up protecting your humans because then the dogs are warning you of the rattlesnakes, Koopman-Leyva said. So it is just another measure that we have in place to help protect dogs and humans against rattlesnake bites that could be deadly and extremely costly and traumatic, more so to the owners and the guardians than to the dog itself. So, how does the training work? The participants will meet up as a group at the HSSAs Education Center for a 10-minute educational session about rattlesnakes and what to expect during the training. After the brief educational session, dogs and their handlers will go to the courtyard, one at a time, where there will be five stations set up. They're all based on sight, scent and sound, so each station really reinforces the previous, Koopman-Leyva said. The first station features a model rattlesnake stored in a real-life snake container. The purpose of this station is for dogs to get the sensation of being near a snake. At the first station, pets will receive a shock from a shock collar, which is used to startle the dog and help it associate the shock with the danger of the snake. The shock collar is used just to startle the dogs, it's set at a low setting, Koopman-Leyva said. And then based on the dog's reaction or nonreaction, it might need to be increased. But it's really to startle them, it's not to cause them pain. While the HSSA uses shock collars for this training, its not something they regularly endorse, according to Koopman-Leyva. This particular course is an exception because its valuable and life-saving training, she said. By the second station, your pet will be able to see and hear a real rattlesnake as it sits in an erected position and rattles its tail. The third and fourth stations focus on sound and scent, including hearing the muffled sound of a rattler when wet and smelling a scent rag that is housed with the rattlesnakes. At the fifth and final station, the rattlesnake handler will lift the rattlesnake and present it to your furry companion. At that point, we want the dog to make their own decision without looking to their owner for guidance and to say, Oh, I want nothing to do with this, get me the heck out of there, Koopman-Leyva said. To make the training as safe as possible for everyone involved, the training is directed by professionals from Arizona Animal Experts, Inc. and Adobe Dog Training. The rattlesnakes used from Arizona Animal Experts, Inc. have recently been trapped and will be relocated to safer locations. Every snakes mouth is secured with surgical tape to prevent possible bites. That's why we use those animals because they haven't been defanged, so they're not altered in any way, Koopman-Leyva said. They have their venom and they're eating live wild prey, where captive rattlesnakes who have been defanged, who are altered, are eating grain-fed rats that live in a warehouse, so they smell different (from wild rattlesnakes). If your pet avoids the snake in the final station, the training is considered a success and provides your dog with a tool they can now utilize in the real world while on hikes or just strolling through your neighborhood with you. And one of the most foolproof ways to prevent a possible snake bite is following local leash laws, according to Koopman-Leyva. There are three main points that the HSSA hopes participants will learn from the program: help dogs become more aware of their surroundings, help owners become more knowledgeable of what their furry companions are trying to tell them and realize the importance of rattlesnakes in our environment. Every dog is individual, but for the amount of dogs that we've had go through the class, we've had a very high number of positive cases and people call us and they're like, I was out on a hike and my dog avoided this, Koopman-Leyva said. Like they didn't believe during the class that it worked. But then they'll go out and have a real-life experience and, like, realize, Oh, it did actually work. The HSSA offers Colorado River Toad avoidance training, too! For more information about their avoidance training courses, visit their website. Learn more about the Humane Society's rattlesnake avoidance classes The Humane Society of Southern Arizona provides valuable and life-saving Rattlesnake Avoidance training classes for dogs and their owners from the spring to the fall. Each Rattlesnake Avoidance training class gives dogs the necessary training to help prevent an expensive and potentially deadly snakebite. Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting immediate action be taken to strengthen the United States and its allies abroad by embracing Americas domestic crude oil and natural gas industry and halting the importation of Russian crude oil and natural gas products. In part, the letter states: Every administration since 1973, Republican and Democrat, prioritized American energy independence until yours. The recent events in Ukraine are yet another example of why we should be selling energy to our friends and not buying it from our enemies. Energy-producing states like Oklahoma are ready to step up domestic production in an environmentally responsible way . With your support, we can significantly increase production to meet Americas domestic needs and export energy to our allies, reducing their dependence on foreign adversaries ... Mr. President, energy security is national security. Right now, ahead of your first State of the Union address, there is a window of opportunity to reverse course on your administrations resistance to domestic oil and gas production. I encourage you to embrace American energy producing states here at home. Now is the time to put politics aside and work together to regain our energy independence and support our allies around the globe. The entire letter can be read here.The White House on Tuesday also issued a news release on the topic ahead of Bidens State of the Union address. President Biden campaigned on a bold vision of tackling the climate crisis with the urgency that science demands by seizing the opportunity to build a strong domestic energy sector that can manufacture and deploy clean energy for the benefit of all Americans with lower costs for families, good-paying jobs for workers, and healthier air and cleaner water for communities, it said. Since day one, he has delivered. After rejoining the Paris Agreement, restoring scientific integrity, and reinvigorating U.S. leadership on the world stage, President Biden mobilized every federal agency to achieve groundbreaking goals: reducing greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030, reaching 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035, and delivering 40% of the benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities. The president formed the first-ever National Climate Task Force, bringing together Cabinet leaders to drive decisive action toward those goals. U.S. Sen Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., also released a statement on the issue. As we continue to support the Ukrainian peoples ability to defend themselves, bolster our Eastern NATO allies, and deter (Russian President Vladimir) Putin from continuing his aggression, I call upon the Biden administration to reverse its anti-fossil energy agenda and to do everything in its power to undermine one of the Kremlins biggest economic tools high energy prices, Inhofe said. This includes withdrawing from the radical, job-killing Paris Climate Agreement, granting permits to restart the Keystone XL pipeline, abandoning proposals for unprecedented new taxes on the oil and gas sector, and reducing regulations that have led to production costs surging in America over the past year. This will not only weaken his ability to wage continued war against Ukraine, but also provide much-needed relief here at home for hard-working Americans, many of whom are facing $5 per gallon at the gas pump and 40-year high inflation. Featured video: Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Skiatook has 87 active cases of COVID-19. Sperry now has 37 active cases as of February 14, 2022. There were 7,083 active cases in the state as of February 24, 2022, down from last week. There have been 14,537 deaths in the state. There have been 1,018,328 total cases reported in Oklahoma. The seven day new case average is is 880, down from last week. Skiatook has lost a total of 44 people to COVID-19. There are 32 active cases in the city, down from 87 last week and 3,887 have recovered. Less than 50% of the population is fully vaccinated. There have been 3,963 total cases. Sperry has lost 8 people to COVID-19 and has 20 active cases, down from 37 last week. There have been 1,415 people who have recovered. Less than 50% of the population is fully vaccinated. There have been 1,443 total cases. Owasso has 121 active cases, Collinsville has 51. The city of Tulsa has 21,266 active cases. The Stealth Omicron variant, also known as BA.2 has been detected in Oklahoma. It is called the Stealth variant because it has many genetic mutations so it doesnt look like Omicron. However, it does appear to be more contagious and will spread more quickly. The Oklahoma State Health Department released a statement saying, A sub variant of omicron, BA.2, has been identified in an Oklahoma specimen by Aegis Sciences. While BA.2 has not yet been identified at the states Public Health Lab, variant identification and sequencing continues for positive COVID-19 specimens. We are committed to sharing information with Oklahomans on the presence of COVID-19 and its variants in the state. Flu shots and vaccine shots are currently available and are safe to take together. The CDC now recommends vaccines for all people ages 5 and above. Booster shots are recommended for everyone ages 12 and up. Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that unvaccinated adults who were previously infected with COVID-19 were twice as likely to be reinfected as vaccinated adults who were previously infected. It is important to note that you can be infected with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. It is critical for Oklahomans to seek out testing, with or without symptoms. Diagnostic testing is freely available to all Oklahomans. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, a public health worker may try to contact you; the need to adhere to instructions to quarantine and isolate remain critically important. For more information, visit oklahoma.gov/covid19.html Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Police Chief Wendell Franklin plans to meet with residents in the 61st Street and Peoria Avenue neighborhood in a few weeks to discuss placing video cameras in the area, he said Monday. Franklin, who recently traveled to Las Vegas with Mayor G.T. Bynum and other city officials to observe how that citys Real Time Crime Center operates, described the installation of cameras in the crime-plagued neighborhood as a pilot program. It is about starting small, Franklin said. It is about putting some cameras up and seeing if we can change that stigma around 61st and Peoria. Franklin said the Tulsa Police Department has tried a number of initiatives to reduce crime in the neighborhood, some of which have been successful but not necessarily sustainable over the long run. So we need a sustainable effort, and this has not been tried in that area. And I would love for that area to be a test bed for it, kind of like a pilot program, Franklin said. Speaking at City Hall with Bynum, Franklin said the Police Department doesnt have the resources to monitor cameras 24-7, so the video footage recorded at 61st and Peoria might be used after an incident has occurred, meaning that the camera footage is sifted through after a crime has taken place, as opposed to being able to be proactive and have eyes on the cameras all the time. Franklin has been advocating for the creation of a Real Time Crime Center since he became police chief two years ago. City officials had hoped to visit the Las Vegas Real Time Crime Center, known as Fusion Watch, in early 2020, but the trip was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I think part of my job is to be an innovator and to sit back and say, Oh, were good as a Police Department, and not try to move the needle forward I think is a disservice to the position, Franklin said. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has 515 cameras, including 15 camera trailers that can be deployed into high-crime areas or at big events, according to the departments Public Information Office. The cameras are placed in tourism corridors, high-crime areas and critical infrastructure sites. Franklins intent is to deploy Tulsas cameras in some of the same areas. We are not looking to put it (in) covert locations, Franklin said. They would be in areas that are high-traffic areas of our city (and) areas that might experience crime problems within our city. The cameras, which would have strobe lights to ensure that they are clearly visible, would be attached to existing utility poles and identified as Police Department equipment, Franklin said. They would not record audio. Now, these cameras do have the option of turning that strobe (light) off sometimes, Franklin said. That can be annoying to some people, and as you get into deployments, if it became a nuisance at an intersection to have a flashing blue light I could see that being a hindrance to the flow of traffic then that would be turned off. But the camera would be readily visible. There is nothing hiding or obstructing that it is a camera. Franklin said he has no plans to incorporate facial recognition technology into the cameras and that he is well aware that some people might have concerns about the technology intruding on their privacy and civil liberties. But he argued that the technology is already being used widely across the country, including by more than 120 local law enforcement agencies. There is not a place that you can go to in a city that you are not on camera already, Franklin said. The majority of the crimes that we solve we solve because of cameras. Franklin noted that private businesses are already using the technology to keep their employees and customers safe. We are just looking to put systems in public areas that will assist us in being proactive but also assist us with our detectives in responding to crimes that have taken place, Franklin said, adding that it was too early to know how many cameras the city would need. Bynum said the Las Vegas Police Department did a lot of work, including consulting with the ACLU, before implementing its Real Time Crime Center. He and Franklin committed to engaging similar experts and consulting with affected neighborhoods before cameras are put up in Tulsa. This is not just going in and throwing up cameras and everybody just trust us that everything is going to be fine, Bynum said. They (Las Vegas) did a lot of work on the front end, and if we are going to do this in Tulsa, I would like to see us do the same of bringing in outside experts. Bynum estimated that a fully deployed, state-of-the-art Real Time Information Center, as the city is calling it, would cost approximately $7 million to $8 million. Franklin said that figure would cover the build-out and equipment needed to operate the center in the Police Courts Building, with additional annual expenses tied to personnel and software updates. But that is a ways off. I am not looking to go all in and build the biggest, greatest center. I am looking to start incrementally, Franklin said. A gradual rollout of the technology would give the public and police officers an opportunity to see how it works and increase the likelihood of buy-in, Franklin and Bynum said. Franklin said he doesnt have a date for when cameras will be installed in and around 61st Street and Peoria Avenue. But hes confident they will help. As an example, he pointed to the ceremonies surrounding last years 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre centennial commemoration, where TPD installed a temporary camera system. At the time, Franklin told the media that new technology was being deployed to assist law enforcement, but he provided no specifics. That technology was exactly what I am talking about today. It was a camera network that we put in place in the downtown area to be able to monitor activities within the downtown area, Franklin said. That was flawless. Officers monitoring the network were able to stop potential threats, potential interruptions to the ceremonies that were going on downtown. It occurred all in the background, and nobody knew a thing. Nobody knew anything about it. Featured Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A nearly 20-mile pursuit that went from Broken Arrow to Tulsa and crossed Tulsa International Airport property ended when a woman driving with trafficking amounts of methamphetamine in her car slammed into an uninvolved motorist, Broken Arrow police said. The pursuit began after Broken Arrow officers stopped the vehicle driven by Lori Lindley, 39, about 2:15 p.m. Monday in an attempt to arrest her on drug and weapons charges and for removing an electronic monitor, Officer Chris Walker said in a news release. But Lindley fled on Oklahoma 51 near Coweta, Walker said. She struck three officers vehicles while fleeing from the traffic stop when other routes to evade existed, according to her arrest report. The pursuit continued into Tulsa, where police and Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers assisted as Lindley drove through the Tulsa International Airport, Broken Arrow police said. After leaving airport property, Lindley reportedly avoided stop sticks at two different points on South Memorial Drive while swerving toward the police officers who had placed them on the roadway. The pursuit, which lasted about 15 to 20 minutes, ended when Lindley crashed into a stopped car near 36th Street and Memorial Drive, police said. She got out of her disabled vehicle and was taken into custody, they reported. Officers said Lindley was in possession of 38.3 grams of methamphetamine, about $1,500 in cash, a scale and a bundle of empty small plastic bags. Police noted that the trafficking amount for meth is 20 grams. Lindley was booked into the Tulsa County jail around 4 a.m. Tuesday with bail set at $205,250. In addition to the prior charges, Lindley now faces complaints including assault with a dangerous weapon, eluding, trafficking and possession of drug proceeds. Flash UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for an immediate end to Russia's military operations in Ukraine. "The fighting in Ukraine must stop. It is raging across the country, from air, land and sea. It must stop now," he told an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine. "Enough is enough. Soldiers need to move back to their barracks. Leaders need to move to peace. Civilians must be protected. International humanitarian and human rights law must be upheld. The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, must be respected," said Guterres. Citing dropping COVID-19 case rates and revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tulsa Public Schools is adjusting its mask policy. At Monday nights school board meeting, Superintendent Deborah Gist announced that starting Tuesday, masks will be strongly recommended rather than expected at all district sites. It did factor into our decision that some of our prekindergarten students are not 5 years old yet and arent eligible to get vaccinated, Gist said. We did take that into consideration, along with the fact that we have a smaller number of students in special services who are not old enough yet, either. On Friday, the CDC issued new guidance that vaccinated people living in communities with a low or medium level of community spread of COVID-19 could safely stop wearing masks. As of Monday night, Tulsa County was listed as having a high level of spread on the CDCs website, but Gist said the districts decision was made after looking at more recently updated data from the Tulsa Health Department. We will keep monitoring the data closely, and we will make changes as needed to our safety protocols, she said. In other business Monday night, the board unanimously approved entering into a letter of agreement with the Indian Nations Council of Governments to develop new school board district boundaries with no more than a 10% population variation between the smallest and largest districts based on 2020 census data. According to 2020 data published by the U.S. Census Bureau, 309,649 people live within TPS attendance boundaries. By comparison, the 2010 census recorded 285,730 residents in that same area. Under state law, school boards are required to undergo redistricting every 10 years, similar to the Legislature and Congress. Once the redistricting process is completed, the new boundaries would take effect starting with the 2023 election cycle, which includes the District 1 seat. Board President Stacey Woolley said that under the agreement, efforts would be made to avoid drawing boundary lines that would pit two incumbents against each other. It is not the intent to move anyone, she said. The board also unanimously voted to accept a comprehensive independent annual audit of the districts finances through June 30, 2021. The auditing firm RSM US LLP issued an opinion that the districts financial statements were fairly presented and met accepted accounting standards. When questioned by board member Jerry Griffin, the firms representative, Mike Gibson, confirmed that the audit was a comprehensive review designed to detect material misstatements rather than a forensic audit looking for specific suspicions of fraud. Claiming a lack of access to financial information, Griffin previously called for State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrds office to conduct a forensic audit of the districts finances. However, under state law, individual school board members do not have the authority to formally request a special audit. Griffin confirmed Monday night that no action has been taken on his request to date and that he questioned Gibson to get it on the record that the two types of audits are distinct. There is some confusion in the public that we have this audit conducted every year, that this takes the place of a forensic audit, Griffin said. Featured Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A group of Tulsa-area residents took their fight against entities installing 5G cell poles in their neighborhood to court Monday. Twenty-two residents, mainly from the Walnut Creek neighborhood in south Tulsa but also some outliers from Broken Arrow, north Tulsa and Owasso, filed their signatures in a petition in Tulsa County District Court. Theyre seeking an injunction against multiple wireless carrier companies, utility companies, and state and city agencies that may have a part in installing the poles, which will provide for the latest generation of mobile technology, near their homes. The group is led by Shelli Landon, a former Oklahoma congressional candidate, and her husband, Barry Landon, who say the poles could be hazardous to residents health and are property value-decreasing eyesores. Shelli Landon, who said she survived cancer, is worried about the dangers the nearby poles could pose to her health. The American Cancer Society states that there is no strong evidence that radiofrequency waves from cellphone towers cause cancer but that they havent been proven absolutely safe, either. Most expert organizations agree that more research is needed to help clarify this, especially for any possible long-term effects, the organizations website states. The petition laments that the Walnut Creek neighborhood association was not notified of the poles installation and seeks a temporary injunction in lieu of a permanent injunction. The petition argues that the poles threaten to violate residents rights, create a public nuisance, and infringe on the health and safety of the neighborhood. WHY SHOULD We The People be burdeoned (sic) to Prove that 5G is unsafe, the petition questions, comparing the potential harm and timeline to that of the tobacco industry. How long did the cigarette industry deceive us? only now to be debunked and determined detrimental. Among other requests, the filing seeks to remove any illegally erected structures installed on the plaintiffs properties, cease installation of those contemplated and restore all landscape to its original condition at the defendants cost. Defendants named include Verizon, Cox, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, AT&T, Mobilitie, Renavotio Inc., construction contractors, and multiple city of Tulsa departments and state commissions. Most of these people wouldnt allow one of these things to go up 100 feet from their home, Barry Landon said in a Tulsa World interview. The Oklahoma Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act allows wireless providers to install, operate and maintain utility poles in the public right-of-way. The city of Tulsa said last week that it was reviewing pole installation permit requests for compliance with federal, state and local requirements in response to the residents complaints. The city previously told the Tulsa World it permitted 350 5G, or small cell, device locations, the first of which was installed in 2017. Another 25 permits are pending review. The companies that have applied for permits to install poles are AT&T, Verizon, Mobilitie and U.S. Cellular. Featured video: Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. For Vladimir Putin, this is not war. However, he is prepared to fight one declaring that if anyone tries to stand in Russias way in Ukraine, the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history. The Russian presidents mindset is forged from World War II history, his KGB experiences during the Cold War, and the humiliation of the Soviet Unions collapse. In his Feb. 24 speech as he launched the Ukraine invasion, he lamented the Soviets lack of readiness for the Nazi onslaught, vowing that Russia will not make that mistake a second time. He likens Americas influence in Europe to Hitlers, accusing NATO of supporting far-right nationalists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine to secure a military foothold and create a hostile anti-Russia state fully controlled by the outside. Consider his wording carefully. He refers to Ukraine as a territory while misleadingly inferring that it will have autonomy under a pro-Russia alliance. He considers the current situation with NATO on his doorstep as a matter of life and death, and a matter of Russias historical future as a nation. The red line is drawn. Putin is on a mission to reassert Russian dominance in Eastern Europe. He considers hardships resulting from Western sanctions to be patriotic sacrifices. The U.S., NATO and the EU have no appetite for war with Russia. Our semi-tough talk is window-dressing policy. Ukraine will be ceded to Russia in hopes of averting a larger conflict that truly could change the global balance of power. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to tulsaworld.com/opinion/submitletter. Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Society Pass Incorporated (SoPa), a Southeast Asian data-driven loyalty platform, announced on Monday its acquisition of Dream Space Trading Company Limited (Dream Space), the operator of online grocery delivery service Handycart that is based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Handycart is SoPas third acquisition in Vietnam following its purchases of e-commerce marketplace Leflair and merchant software platform #HOTTAB. Founded in 2019, Handycart is an online grocery delivery app with its own fleet of delivery vehicles dedicated to servicing the South Korean restaurant market and F&B sector in Hanoi. South Korean food and pop culture have taken Vietnam by storm, driven by the growing 'Korean Wave' -- a neologism referring to the increase in the popularity of South Korean culture since the late 1990s -- with a recent survey by market research firm Q&Me having found that 58 percent of Vietnamese favor South Korean cuisine. Seo Jun Ho, founder and CEO of Handycart, claimed that the app has gathered a loyal user base of over 3,000, with more than 26,000 orders in 2021 alone. SoPa is an acquisition-focused e-commerce holding company operating across five interconnected verticals, namely lifestyle, F&B, travel, merchant software, and loyalty, in Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Its business model focuses on collecting user data through the expected circulation of its universal loyalty points. The firm stated that it has amassed over 1.6 million registered consumers and above 3,500 registered merchants/brands on its platform. Ngo Thi Cham, SoPa Vietnam country general manager, said Handycart will be integrated into SoPas F&B delivery vertical with its existing merchant POS and business app #HOTTAB. We are determined to increase merchant coverage to 500 restaurants in Hanoi by the end of 2022 and look to expand to Ho Chi Minh City in the third quarter of 2022, Cham said. In line with the strategic deal, Handycart CEO Seo Jun Ho has been named head of the new business unit managing both Handycart and #HOTTAB in Vietnam. Vietnam has been one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia over the past two decades. The countrys e-commerce is growing tremendously, valued at US$13.2 billion, and is expected to grow steadily from 2021 until 2025, according to the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM). Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams gasoline prices climbed to a new peak on Tuesday afternoon as authorities adjusted them upward for the sixth time in a row. The price of gasoline E5RON92 leapt VND540 to VND26,070 per litter, while that of RON95-III increased VND550 to VND26,830 per litter from 3:00 pm on Tuesday, following a notice released by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. (US$1 = VND22,815) Oil products, meanwhile, jumped VND470-530 for each liter sold. These prices surpassed the previous peak reached in July 2014. Tuesdays adjustment was the sixth consecutive fuel price hike since the beginning of this year. Under a new government decree on petroleum business that took effect on January 2, fuel prices are adjusted three times on the first, 11th, and 21st day every month, or on a 10-day cycle instead of 15 days like before. The fuel price adjustment on February 1 was skipped as it was the first day of the recent Lunar New Year holiday. Fuel prices in Vietnam have gone in line with the global trend, which has been strongly influenced by Russia's military attack on Ukraine. Global oil rates topped $100 per barrel last week and is forecast to continue to edge higher. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Finance to study and amend the environmental protection taxes on oil and gas products as a temporary measure to stabilize fuel prices in the near future, thus preventing their adverse impacts on businesses and citizens. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! For climate scientists reviewing a Pacific Ocean temperature forecast map in November, a bright red, sideways "V", thousands of kilometres long signalled disaster. Combined with La Nina cooling in the central and eastern Pacific, the V-shaped pattern of warm sea water, stretching from Australia's east coast to the Philippines and back over the ocean north of Hawaii, indicated that halfway around the world in the Horn of Africa the upcoming March-May rainy season would likely fail. The scientists' organization, called Famine Early Warning System Network or FEWS Net, sent out an alert with U.N., EU and African institutions, saying the "unprecedented" drought would likely "cause a perilous and disruptive humanitarian disaster". If the warning is born out, it could push the region into its worst drought on record. Millions of people would struggle to feed themselves. Such warning systems are becoming increasingly essential as climate change puts food security at increasing risk. "Our work is to save lives and livelihoods," said FEWS Net agricultural meteorologist Gideon Galu said in Kenya. On Monday, a report by the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the top global climate science authority, warned heatwaves, droughts and extreme rainfall would become more frequent in coming decades as temperatures continue to climb. Already, "increasing weather and climate extreme events have exposed millions of people to acute food insecurity and reduced water security," it said. In East Africa, FEWS Net's team says only two biannual rainy seasons since late 2016 were considered "normal", while the rest were wet to the point of flooding or dry to the point of drought. Following FEWS Net's Dec. 1 warning on East Africa, aid groups started scrambling for funding and supplies. "It's not just enough to forecast, we really need to act," said Zinta Zommers, an IPCC report review editor who works at the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Cows graze on a dry field in Kilifi county, Kenya, February 15, 2022. Photo: Reuters Acting fast FEWS Net began in 1985 following the Ethiopian famine. The U.N. has run a similar programme known as GIEWS for decades, while other agencies including the World Food Programme have experts regularly analysing conditions. As climate science and satellite monitoring have improved, those tools are increasingly used as the first step in heading off climate-related catastrophe. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change lists such systems as a tool to minimize loss and damage from extreme weather events, such as drought, heatwaves, locust swarms, storm surges and wildfires. Systems can even predict when winds will be strong enough to rip the roofs off houses. FEWS Net now works in 29 of the world's most food-insecure countries, generating crisis risk maps three times a year. The network's sole funder, the U.S. government's Agency for International Development (USAID), uses its research to decide where and how to allocate aid, said Tracy O'Heir, the East Africa chief for USAID humanitarian assistance. Last year, the agency's aid spending totalled $8 billion. It has given early warning on events including flooding that is becoming increasingly common in South Sudan. In response to the current East Africa drought alert, following three failed biannual rainy seasons, USAID plans to fund searches for alternative local water sources or to bring in water trucks. Locals struggling to feed themselves as cattle die of thirst and crops fail will receive stipends to buy food or dried foodstuffs shipped into the area. The Red Cross, meanwhile, has begun using warning systems for "forecast-based financing", with aid payments issued automatically when certain forecasting conditions are met. "We can make more use of the same amount of humanitarian support to help more people if we act before, rather than clean up afterwards," said Maarten van Aalst, director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. In the Philippines - among countries most vulnerable to tropical storms - automatic payments will go out when a typhoon is predicted to destroy at least 10% of houses in at least three municipalities. Similar set-ups exist for Peru, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mozambique and Mongolia. Women carry water jerrycans on their heads in Kilifi county, Kenya February 16, 2022. Photo: Reuters 'What will you eat?' Last month, Bernard Mbithi set to tearing out a failed corn crop from his field in eastern Kenya. "What will you eat? How will you even survive? That is a major thing you have to ask yourself," said 63-year-old Mbithi, who is married with two children. He learned about the poor forecasts for this year's rains on his mobile phone, and decided to try planting more drought-tolerant cowpeas instead. But warning systems, even when they work correctly, won't be a cure-all for regions hit by climate change, scientists warn. "I'm afraid we just kind of tell them, 'Put the Band-Aid here'. We're not solving the big problem, the long-term problem" of climate change, said Jim Verdin, programme manager for FEWS Net. A U.N. report last year found that 58 developing countries collectively need about $70 billion per year through 2030 to adapt to climate change. So far rich countries have mobilized only $20 billion annually for these efforts, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. They pledged at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow last year to double that figure by 2025. Mbithi said people need help urgently, for example with keeping livestock alive during extreme weather episodes. "We need a lot a lot of education to people, a lot of resources," Mbithi said. "Everywhere in the world you see that there is climate change. So you have to be worried." Among the patients having recovered from COVID-19 in Vietnam are many striking cases, including two with oversized bodies in Ho Chi Minh City, who have done so thanks to their strong will and doctors persistent treatment efforts. With a bundle of colorful flowers in her hand, Nguyen Ngoc Bao Chau recently arrived at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City to visit a doctor who gave her the last chance for recovery from COVID-19. Dr. Tran Thanh Linh, head of the hospitals emergency resuscitation department, was really happy seeing Chau again after around six months since she was discharged from COVID-19 Resuscitation Hospital in Thu Duc City, where he had been sent in to help treat critically-ill patients. Hello my little love, how much do you weigh now? Let me see how healthy and beautiful you have become now, Dr. Linh said jokingly when he saw his patient. Linh replied that her weight went down remarkably to 97 kilograms and her health gradually stabilized, except for the rapid heartbeat that happened when she made strong movements. She added she was trying to exercise, as instructed by doctors, to return to normal life soon. Chau was a special case among the severely-sick patients that Dr. Linh had treated, as she had a very strong will to beat the disease despite facing death on many occasions during her treatment at the hospital. In mid-July last year, when the pandemic was at its peak in the city, Chau fell ill and was confirmed COVID-19 positive after being thought to only run a viral fever for many days before. She was sent to Cu Chi Hospital, one of the four COVID-19 treatment hospitals in the city at that time, for quarantine and treatment and was brought to the hospitals intensive care unit two days later due to her critical conditions, including a deep fall in the blood oxygen saturation index (SpO2). Chau fell into a coma the next day and did not recover until the 20th day of her admission to COVID-19 Resuscitation Hospital in Thu Duc. When she was conscious again, she had vague feelings about everything around, not knowing where she was, until she could talk with doctors and other health workers, Chau recalled. She was later placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as she, with her underlying condition of obesity, was suffering damage in multiple organs including her lungs, liver, kidneys, and heart. During those days, what Chau remembered the most was Dr. Linhs repeated saying, Lets give this case a chance. With the chance given by the doctor, I decided that I had to try my best to struggle with and defeat the disease in reponse to doctors' efforts to save me, Chau said. After being taken off ECMO, Chau faced the problem of gaining back her functions post-COVID, mainly due to her big body mass, and worrying about whether she could be weaned off the ventilator so that she could recover and return home. Chau narrated that Dr. Linh, sent in from Cho Ray, and other medical workers gently slapped her shoulder and said, It'll be OK for you. Try and you will eventually go home. This image shows Vu Quoc Dung being discharged from Field Hospital No. 16 in Ho Chi Minh City after nearly three months of COVID-19 treatment. Photo: Thu Hien / Tuoi Tre Such words of encouragement gave Chau more energy and strength to cope with the respiratory disease and follow doctors instructions during the treatment process, she said. As a result, Chau recovered day after day until she was qualified for a discharge. Chau deemed her recovery from COVID-19 a miracle given by Dr. Linh and other doctors and health workers at the hospital. "With Chaus obesity, it was very difficult to wean her off ECMO and the ventilator. But she was very determined to cope with her critical conditions, Dr. Linh said. Despite the pain, she did not want to use sedatives, and even when suffering from pulmonary hemorrhage, she still tried to practice breathing to speed up her healing, the doctor narrated. Witnessing such extraordinary efforts from her, we tried our best to get her out of Death's scythe, Dr. Linh said. Meanwhile, Chau confided, Doctors have saved my life so I have to live responsibly." She also disclosed that she has now shifted to living more slowly. Another patient amazingly beating COVID-19 is 28-year-old Vu Quoc Dung, who was discharged from Field Hospital No. 16 after nearly three months of struggling with the disease. After contracting COVID-19, Dung was treated at Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital before being transferred to Field Hospital No. 16, where he was diagnosed with severe respiratory failure. He had underlying conditions such as type-2 diabetes and level-3 obesity, with a weight of 140 kilograms and a body mass index of up to 48 kilograms per square meter. Dung fell in a coma for months at the hospital and doctors believed he would face critical conditions very soon. Only after 18 hours of admission, he was placed on tracheal intubation, invasive mechanical ventilation, and ECMO intervention. At this time, Dung's lungs were severely damaged and had up to 80 percent of their volume become consolidated so doctors predicted that he might die at any time later. But we were determined to save the patient's life despite his little chance of survival, recalled Dr. Giang Minh Nhat, head of the intensive care unit at the hospital. At the hospital, the doctors and nurses treated me like their family members. They always encouraged me and told me to think positively. They said they would be beside me to help me fight the disease, Dung recalled. Thanks to Dungs extraordinary energy and constant efforts of doctors and health workers, a miracle happened when his lungs began to gradually recover after nearly three months of treatment. On January 23 this year, Dung was taken off the ventilator. Doctors here have given me a new life, Dung said. Vu Dinh Tam, Dung's father, said he was overjoyed on the day of his sons discharge. A doctor said that Dung could finally make it following efforts by doctors and health workers as well as his own iron will. This is really beyond my imagination. During nearly three months of my son's hospitalization, nobody, no matter how optimistic they were, could imagine that Dung could be as healthy as he is today, Tam said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Firefighters were able to rescue three people after a fire broke out at a hotel in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on Monday afternoon. The ten-story hotel, located at 274 De Tham Street in District 1, caught fire at 1:46 pm. As the high location of the flames was beyond local firefighting capabilities, three people were trapped on the eighth floor of the hotel and cried for help. Firefighters use ladder trucks to spray water to a fire at a hotel on De Tham Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, February 28, 2022. Photo: Supplied Firefighters arrived shortly after and managed to put out the fire at 2:40 pm on the same day, preventing it from spreading to adjacent houses. The rescuers used a ladder truck to take the three people stuck on the eighth floor down to the ground. Local authorities are assessing the damage and coordinating an investigation into the cause of the blaze. Firefighters use ladder trucks to spray water to a fire at a hotel on De Tham Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, February 28, 2022. Photo: Supplied Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Two out of three major submarine cable systems in Vietnam, which previously had errors, have been fixed, contributing to the improvement of Internet connectivity in the country. The problems on the Intra-Asia (IA) and Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) cable systems were solved on Sunday, a network operator confirmed on Monday. An error was previously detected on the IA about 10 days ago, while the APG had encountered a problem for over three months. The complete restoration of these two cable systems is very important in boosting Vietnam's Internet speed, especially international connection. The issue on the Asia America Gateway (AAG) cable, which occurred in late October 2021, is still being fixed, and the repair work is expected to be finished in mid-March. International connection in Vietnam relies on several submarine cable systems, namely the APG, AAG, IA, SMW3, and Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1), according to the Vietnam Internet Association. The APG, which runs about 10,400 kilometers underwater across the Pacific Ocean, connects Vietnam with mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore. The AAG is a 20,000-kilometer submarine communications cable system connecting Southeast Asia with the U.S. mainland across the Pacific Ocean via Guam and Hawaii. The IA, with a total length of 6,800 kilometers, links Internet users in Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! You are here: World Flash The next 24 hours will be crucial for Ukraine's fight with Russia, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday during a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the National News Agency of Ukraine (Ukrinform) reported. Johnson said he would do all he could to help ensure defensive aid from Britain and other allies reached Ukraine. Meanwhile, according to the regional government, the city Berdyansk in southern Ukraine had been seized by Russian troops Monday morning. The Ukrainian army said on Monday that the situation in Kiev was still under its control. According to the latest development, a Ukrainian delegation arrived at the place for talks with the Russian side in the Gomel region in Belarus on Monday, Sputnik reported. A Vietnamese driver has received a nine-year jail term for transporting 11 Chinese nationals into Vietnam in April 2021 while the country was struggling against a fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak. A court in Phu Yen Province on Monday sentenced the car driver, Pham Duy Anh, 37, hailing from Phu Tho Province, to nine years behind bars for organizing illegal entry into Vietnam. Anh got to know Phuc, whose identity is still under investigation, on social media at the end of April 2021, according to the indictment. Phuc told Anh that he was arranging for Chinese nationals to enter Vietnam to reach Cambodia for work. The other ring members would help the Chinese border jumpers sneak into Vietnam while Anh transported them from north to south. Anh was reportedly given VND27 million (US$1,184) for each successful trip. On May 2, he picked up five Chinese near Dong Tri Bridge in Hanoi, carried them to Ho Chi Minh City, and handed them over to an unidentified taxi driver. On the next day, the man continued transporting six other Chinese from Hanoi to Thanh Hoa Province and handed three to other accomplices to bring them to Ho Chi Minh City. While Anh was driving through Song Cau Town in Phu Yen Province, he was pulled over by local police for a check. Three Chinese nationals in the car, Li Chao, Kong De Meng, and Li Jia Sheng, could not present any paper proving their legal entry into Vietnam at the time. Anh later admitted to having received VND43 million ($1,885) from Phuc, from which he made a profit of VND26 million ($1,140). At the trial, he confessed that he did not know the five Chinese on his first trip were illegal immigrants. However, the court concluded that Anh had tried to smuggle 11 Chinese into Vietnam on purpose, following the testimony and investigation conducted by police officers. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tyler, TX (75702) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. About 108,000 people crossed the state border of Ukraine in the western direction on February 28, according to the State Border Service of Ukraine. According to operational information, about 15,000 vehicles left Ukraine, which is about 10% less than on February 27. Almost 96,000 people traveled to leave Ukraine for the EU and Moldova. In particular, almost 61,000 people crossed the border to Poland, the rest - to Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova. Currently, there are about 8,000 cars in queues to exit. Over the last five days of Russian aggression, people not only left Ukraine. "About 80,000 of our compatriots have returned to their homeland, most of them are men. Patriots who worked or temporarily lived abroad arrive in Ukraine to join the ranks of the Armed Forces, other military formations and territorial defense forces," the message says. All checkpoints on the western border operate around the clock. Checks and access operations are simplified as much as possible, the list of documents that you need to have when leaving the country is minimized. The border guards and customs officers of neighboring countries also simplified the passage to their territory as much as possible. The State Border Guard Service asks all citizens at the border to observe the rule of law, order and moral standards when crossing the border. Source: https://www.facebook.com/100066866381279/posts/286848663554011/ Vingroup VinFast signs memorandum of understanding with LeasePlan for customer leasing options in Europe BARCELONA, SPAIN - Media OutReach - 1 March 2022 - On February 28, 2022, at Mobile World Congress 2022 (MWC 2022), VinFast announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with LeasePlan, one of the world's leading car-as-a-service companies. Through this anticipated collaboration, VinFast will continue to establish its positioning in Europe ahead of launches in the Dutch, German and French markets. VInfast According to the MOU, it is the intention that LeasePlan will become the preferred partner of VinFast to provide operational leasing, fleet management and remarketing to B2C and B2B customers. It is foreseen that LeasePlan will also offer online leasing solutions as part of a range of flexible financing options available to VinFast's customers in the launch markets of Germany, France and the Netherlands. In addition to a range of financing options, including a convenient lease option through LeasePlan, as detailed at MWC 2022, VinFast is also fully integrating multiple advanced safety and convenience technologies to enhance customer experiences and to make smart EVs and their users close companions in everyday life. LeasePlan is one of the world's leading car-as-a-service companies, with the ability to manage nearly 2 million vehicles in 29 countries spanning the globe. This collaboration will help VinFast to quickly reach customers, promote electrification in Europe and lay the groundwork to bring high-quality products and advanced smart services to market. Ms. Nguyen Thanh Thuy, CEO of VinFast in Europe, said: "This announcement with LeasePlan is further evidence of the rapid progress VinFast is making towards its European launch, as well as its commitment to offering optimal financing solutions to customers. LeasePlan's reputation and market coverage will be vital enablers for our quest to penetrate a competitive market. VinFast is constantly working to meet all the needs of customers and create a better life for everyone." Europe has always been a key market in VinFast's global expansion strategy. Over the years, VinFast has established significant partnerships with proven suppliers in this market in the areas of finance, technology and design. Cooperation with LeasePlan is the next move in VinFast's expansion plan in the European market. At MWC 2022, VinFast continues to further its Future of Mobility - a safer, greener, and more efficient tomorrow. VinFast has detailed the advanced connectivity technologies fitted across its range of EV models, including Smart Services and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). These features will integrate VinFast EVs into all aspects of life, creating a true three-in-one smart EV: the perfect family car, the ultimate company car, and the ideal shopping car./. The VF 8 and VF 9 were introduced to the global audience at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, and reservations announced at CES 2022, are taking place from January 5, 2022, until the end of April 5, 2022. During this time, customers who complete a 150 Euro deposit enter the exclusive VinFirst - "Pioneer's Gratitude to Pioneers" programme, which offers many fascinating perks, including an e-voucher worth 2,500 Euros towards the purchase of a VF 8 and 4,200 Euros towards the purchase of a VF 9, one free ADAS & Smart Services package, one free portable charger, a tree planted in the participant's name, and much more. Customers can learn more and reserve at: https://vinfastauto.eu/en/reservations. About VinFast VinFast - a member of Vingroup - envisioned to drive the movement of global smart electric vehicle revolution. Established in 2017, VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with globally leading scalability that boasts up to 90% automation in Hai Phong, Vietnam. Strongly committed to the mission for a sustainable future for everyone, VinFast constantly innovates to bring high-quality products, advanced smart services, seamless customer experiences, and pricing strategy to inspire global customers to jointly create a future of smart mobility a sustainable planet. Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.com. About Vingroup Established in 1993, Vingroup is one of the leading private conglomerates in the region, with a total capitalization of $35 billion from three publicly traded companies (as of November 4, 2021). Vingroup currently focuses on three main areas: Technology and Industry, Services and Social Enterprise. Find out more at: https://www.vingroup.net/en. Media contact: v.nammh@vingroup.net Dissemination of a CORPORATE NEWS, transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. PA Media: Video The blue shirt worn by Diego Maradona when he scored two momentous goals to knock England out of the 1986 World Cup, including the so-called Hand of God goal, has sold for a record-breaking sum at auction. The Argentinian, hailed as one of the greatest players of all time, described his opening goal in the quarter-final, where he punched the ball into the net, as a little with the head of Maradona, and a little with the hand of God. He then dribbled past a host of England players to score again past goalkeeper Peter Shilton. That effort was later voted the goal of the century. Mark Page, pictured, is accused of trying to arrange sex with children as young as 12. (Reach) A British radio DJ attempted to arrange sex with children as young as 12 in the Philippines, a court has heard. Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Mark Page, 62, from Teesside, denies five counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offence. Teesside Crown Court heard on Monday that three offences occurred in 2016 on webcams when he was in the UK and the children were in the Philippines, The remaining two offences happened in person after Page travelled to the Philippines, the court was told. Jo Kidd, prosecuting, said: He used charity and business as a cover to meet underage people in order to meet them for sex. The case against Mark Page is being heard at Teesside Crown Court. (Getty Images) Read more: Wiltshire road resembles earthquake site due to mystery movements Page is accused of bargaining down the price to have a 13-year-old boy involved, saying in a message, 3k too much for him, later making a payment of 2,000 Philippine pesos (about 30). The court heard that Facebook monitors raised concerns about messages that exploited children which were sent to a charity that protects young people. The charity contacted UK law enforcement and Cleveland Police carried out a search warrant at Pages home in January 2020. Officers seized his phone, tablet and computer tower, which were analysed. Prosecutors said this showed Page had been in contact with children in the Philippines and had arranged payments by money transfers. Kidd said Page used the pseudonym Pancho on a Philippines-based dating app. At the time he was managing director of Garrison FM, which provided radio services for the British Army, the court heard. Mark Page denies five counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offence. (Reach) Page is accused of sending explicit Skype messages to a girl in the Philippines, asking for a 12-year-old to join her. He is also accused of asking for a boy to take part when he had travelled to the Philippines, and the final offence, in 2019, related to arranging a sexual encounter with a girl aged 13. Kidd said Page denies being responsible for the comments, and that by implication, somebody else used his Skype account, his dating app account and someone else arranged the payments. Page worked for BBC Radio 1 in the 1980s. The trial continues. Flash One kidnapper was killed and four others arrested after intelligence personnel of the Afghan caretaker government busted a group on the western outskirts of the capital Kabul, the government confirmed on Monday. "The Kabul department of General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) rescued Abdul Ghafar from the kidnappers in Qargha area of Paghman district in a special operation on Monday," the government said in a statement. The statement came as security forces have arrested nine kidnappers, six Islamic State (IS) militants and 35 robbers, and seized a huge amount of weapons and ammunition in clearance operations in Kabul and surrounding provinces since Friday, according to government sources. The Taliban-run administration has vowed to crack down on outlaws to ensure law and order in war-torn Afghanistan. University of North Georgia (UNG) cadet Isabelle Clark has been selected to participate in the Army's competitive Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP) during the summer 2022 semester. The internship will provide the Bachelor of Science in Nursing student the opportunity to develop both her leadership and nursing skills. A clinical elective offered at Army hospitals in the United States and Germany, cadets attend NSTP during the summer between their junior and senior years. Clark will be based at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. The NSTP, which starts June 27, accepts only top ROTC applicants to complete the four-week training event. Under the supervision of an experienced Army nurse, Clark will obtain invaluable hands-on experience. This one-on-one time will also allow Clark the ability to hone her clinical skills, develop problem-solving techniques, and gain familiarity with developing professional skills as a member of the U.S. Army Healthcare Team. "I'm excited to be able to feel it out and see if it's what I really want to do," Clark, a junior from Davenport, Florida, said. "Right now my clinicals for school are an operating room floor, so I will get to see patients before and after surgeries, which is pretty hard to get in nursing school. The program is very competitive. So, I'm pretty happy to be able to do that because the Army options are pretty much only critical care." Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech on Monday calling on the international community to uphold equity and justice to promote the sound development of the global human rights cause. Wang issued his call at the high-level segment of the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which he attended via video link. He said that ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights by all is an unremitting pursuit of humanity, while protecting human rights is the shared cause of all countries. China believes that all parties should act as true practitioners of human rights, staunch guardians of people's interests, positive contributors to common development, and firm defenders of equity and justice, said Wang. Wang noted that respecting and protecting human rights is the unremitting pursuit of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and China will continue to steadfastly pursue a human rights development path that meets the trend of the times and suits its national conditions. "We will continue to uphold a human rights philosophy that puts people front and center, develop the whole-process people's democracy, promote common prosperity for all, and safeguard the human rights of the Chinese people at a higher level," said Wang. China will continue to take an active part in UN human rights endeavors by making China's voice heard and contributing China's part to this worthy cause, he added. Wang refuted false information about the affairs of China's Xinjiang and Hong Kong, saying they had been hyped up with ulterior motives, and adding that China is ready to engage in human rights exchanges and cooperation with all countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect. "We do not accept self-styled 'lecturers' on human rights and reject stoking bloc confrontation in the name of human rights," said the foreign minister. Airbnb is offering free short-term housing for up to 100,000 Ukrainians who have been displaced by the war with Russia, the company announced Monday. The stays will be funded by donations to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund as well as with help from hosts on the platform. Brian Chesky, Airbnb's cofounder and CEO, called for people to open their homes in Poland, Germany, Hungary and Romania as more Ukrainians flee the conflict in their home country. Chesky and two other Airbnb officials sent letters to European leaders of nations bordering Ukraine to offer Airbnb's support with housing refugees, the company said. While the stays are temporary, the company said it "will work closely with governments to best support the specific needs in each country, including by providing longer-term stays." Some Ukrainians who need housing may not currently have access to devices or internet traditionally required to book lodging on the platform. Airbnb said it will work with "nonprofits on the ground, who are responsible for booking and coordinating stays for refugee guests, regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, or how they identify." The rental platform's refugee housing is part of Airbnb.org, an independent nonprofit organization that it launched in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy that works to provide temporary housing for those in crisis. Last week, Airbnb.org announced that it will provide 21,300 Afghan refugees with short-term housing solutions. More than 500,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered surrounding countries over the last four days as the Russian invasion escalates. The European Union is asking member nations to grant temporary asylum to all arriving Ukrainians for up to three years, according to EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson. The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Flash Key consensus reached by Chinese and U.S. presidents last November should be implemented to bring the China-U.S. relations back on the right track at an early date, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday. Wang made the remarks in a video speech at a gathering held online and offline to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the issuance of the Shanghai Communique, a historic document that became the political foundation for China and the United States to establish diplomatic ties. During the virtual meeting with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden in November, President Xi Jinping put forward the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, clarifying the framework for future development of China-U.S. relations. President Biden responded positively, Wang said. Wang also mentioned the remarks made by Biden that the United States does not seek a "new Cold War," does not seek to change China's system, does not support "Taiwan independence," and has no intention to have a conflict with China. Biden had also said the revitalization of the U.S. alliances is not anti-China. The important consensus reached by the two heads of state is not only a continuation of historical experience, but also development and innovation that conform to the trend of the times, Wang said. He called on the U.S. side to adhere to the one-China principle and consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations. He also called for mutual respect in keeping the correct direction of bilateral ties, and adherence to the principle of win-win cooperation to promote the development and prosperity of the two countries. The two countries should shoulder their respective responsibilities as major countries and provide the international community with more public goods, Wang said. WATERLOO It was supposed to be an easy job, Marquas Gafeney said. Gafeneys friend, Keyon Roby, had been inside the Cedar Falls apartment earlier that night for a cocaine deal. Roby told Gafeny it would be an easy target for a robbery sweet was the term Gafeney used. I didnt think it would be a big deal, Gafeney said. But first Roby needed a gun, Gafaney told jurors Monday as testimony resumed in Robys trial for first-degree murder and robbery. The Dec. 4, 2019, robbery, it turned out, would be anything but simple, ending with one dead and four others in custody on an array of charges. Gafeney, 23, told jurors about what led up to the fatal heist. He said Roby turned to him to acquire a gun, and Gafeney said called a friend. They then drove to an apartment building near the SportsPlex in downtown Waterloo to pick up the weapon a green 9 mm SIG Sauer pistol with a red laser sight. From there, McKayla Ryan drove them to Cedar Falls, and they parked in the lot behind Main Street. As prosecutors played a surveillance video, Gafeney identified the alleged robbers by what they were wearing and as exited the vehicle. Gafeney said he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the words Humanize my Hoodie, gray jeans and gray Air Jordan shoes. Roby had a black hoodie and pink and white shoes. The third robber, James Wright-Buls, had a gray sweatshirt and red pants, he said. He said Roby was the first person up the stairs and down the hall to the apartment, he was second and Wright-Buls brought up the rear carrying a .25-caliber pea shooter. They knocked on the door, someone answered, and they entered. He ups the gun ... pointing, Gafeney said. He said Roby told the people inside We need everything, and instructed them to sit down. Roby used his gun to club a guy who was eating in the kitchen, according to Gafeneys account. Roby then fired three times at Grant Saul who was seated on a couch. Witnesses said Saul had pulled his own pistol before he was shot. Gafeney said no one else fired a gun inside the apartment, and Saul was shot before he could shoot. Following the shots, the robbers fled the apartment, Gafeney said. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 5 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO Waterloo Community Schools support staff will see an increase in wages, starting with the next paycheck. The Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved a supplemental pay increase to hourly wages for employees represented by the Waterloo Educational Support Personnel and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2749. The measure is being put in place because of the difficulties employees have faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective immediately, well be doing a $2 increase to the WESP and the AFSCME group, said Kingsley Botchway, the districts chief officer for human resources and equity. He noted that will cost $629,671 for 390 employees covered by the WESP and $389,744 for the 177 covered by AFSCME during this fiscal year. The increase is being funded with federal Elementary and Secondary School Relief dollars. Officials plan to maintain the higher wages and boost them even more in future years. This does utilize ESSER dollars initially to accelerate the increase, said Botchway, noting those funds will supplement district reserves. We know it will be sustainable for 10 years, even after ESSER is gone. He credited Michael Coughlin, chief financial officer, and Superintendent Jane Lindaman for helping to make the plan possible. We feel confident we can move forward in this way, said Botchway. This is game changing and, everyone involved, thank you, said board member Stacie Mills. I think this proposal is right on target, said board member Lyle Schmitt. Its not just good for people, which it is, but also underscores that the employees are mission critical for the district. He believes the plan will help to land and retain our best-fit staff. The district has negotiated contracts with the two unions that go through the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year. The raise is being implemented outside of the negotiations process after getting feedback from union members in focus groups. The WESP contract covers secretaries, home school workers, clerk typists, paraeducators, study hall monitors and behavior intervention specialists. AFSCME Local 2749 covers custodial, maintenance, food service and campus safety monitor positions. Under the WESP contract, right now our Step 1 is $13.23. Immediately, people with no experience would get $15(.23), said Botchway. The contract underway now includes a 50-cent hourly pay increase for those employees next school year. But that would be supplemented by another 50 cents per hour. So literally in the span of six months, WESP will have a $3 increase, said Botchway, bringing the beginning pay to $16.23 per hour. In addition, those who have worked for the district four or more years will get an additional 50 cents per hour increase for every four-year period of employment. As a result, we have a number of people who will make $20, $22 even $25 per hour. What I like is we are rewarding longevity, said board member Sue Flynn. These paras are important in peoples lives. Beyond the immediate $2 per hour increase for those represented by AFSCME Local 2749, no decisions have been made about further supplemental pay. We still havent worked out all the details with AFSCME, said Botchway. Employees represented by that union have a wide range of starting wages, depending on the position. Hourly pay starts at $15.03 for some food service workers and at $25.42 for master electricians/plumbers. We want to show value for the people who have stuck with us, but also through a tumultuous time, said Botchway, of the reason for the pay increase. The measure is also aimed at retaining workers at a time when many in education are feeling demoralized. This is definitely a focus on them, to ensure were paying attention, he noted. And we want them to stick and stay with us. The other huge piece is were not removing any differentials, said Botchway. Differentials are part of the WESP and AFSCME contracts, providing a pay increase for certain positions. Employees in the WESP group also get additional hourly pay increases for educational advancement. This is not the only way Waterloo Schools has increased pay recently using ESSER money. It has received a total of $52.31 million in the funds, some of which are already spent or designated. In January, the board approved the two $550 bonuses for all regular full- and part-time staff. One bonus was distributed that month and the second will be given to those who sign a contract to continue working for the district next school year. The district currently has about 1,700 regular full- and part-time employees. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO Students riding the bus in the Waterloo Community School District are no longer required to wear a mask. Superintendent Jane Lindaman announced the change by Durham School Services, the company that provides transportation for the district, during the Board of Education meeting Monday. Durham made a decision later this afternoon, she told the board, about the mask requirement. That will be starting (Tuesday): No more masks on buses. Lindaman noted that the requirement is being dropped because the CDC guidance did change. The requirement to wear masks on school buses was put in place nationwide Jan. 29, 2021, by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. On Friday, the agency dropped that requirement, according to information on its website. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CEDAR FALLS The Maple Syrup Festival, held each year in early March, was as popular and well-attended in 2020 as it had been in previous years, with patrons standing in long lines, cramming side-by-side inside Hartman Reserve Nature Center and eating pancakes topped with the surrounding trees sweet, sticky syrup. It was a real nice one, too, said Connie Svoboda, development coordinator for Hartman Reserve. Then, a week later, everybody shut down. COVID-19 had come to Iowa, and the Maple Syrup Fest which usually attracts well over 2,000 people and is one of Black Hawk County Conservations biggest fundraisers would have to pivot a year later in 2021. Svoboda, who plans the fundraiser, said that meant outdoor demonstrations like tapping the trees, appointment-only times to see the process of turning the sap into syrup inside the Sugar Shack, or virtual ones, such as her Cooking with Connie syrup recipe videos. The time off wasnt all bad: Hartman Reserve staff had time to catch up on exhibits and other projects, and a record number of people took to the trails, went camping or participated in Hartman programs a 35% jump, Svoboda said. But people kept asking about Maple Syrup Fest. Its such a great community event, Svoboda said. People love to come for the theater of it the throwing of the pancakes and all-you-can-eat pancakes, its hard to turn that down. For me, its mostly (that) you walk into a room full of smiles, and I love that. With the blessing of county supervisors, and with cases of COVID trending downward in the county from an astronomical January 2022 high, Hartman was ready to bring it back -- with modifications. "We decided that we would take some precautions so that people would feel confident in our decision to hold the fest," Svoboda said. No longer will there be 2,300 people in long lines and at crowded tables: This year, the roughly 700 available tickets must be purchased in advance, with patrons assigned to an hour-long time slot and seated at fewer tables than before. But staff will still get pancakes flying; attendees can still enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes with in-house syrup, sausage, Sidecar coffee and Hansen's milk, cream and butter; and raffle prizes -- a kayak from Crawdaddy Outdoors, gift package from Bike Tech and overnight package from The Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo -- are back this year. "Even though it's not quite the same, we hope that we can still provide the fun atmosphere and then, of course, the great food and drink," Svoboda said. Tickets can be purchased online at HartmanReserve.org for reserved times, which include the evening of Friday, March 11, as well as Saturday and Sunday mornings, March 12-13. Several time slots have already been filled as of this writing, though Svoboda said more times may be added. Tickets are $10, or $5 for those ages 3-15 and free for kids 2 and under. Patrons may call 319-277-2187 for assistance. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I wrote this a few days ago: And predictably: Trump went out spouting lies, as he has done non-stop since becoming president and as he has done his whole life WASHINGTON, January 20./TASS/. Donald Trump released a farewell address on his final day in office as President of the United States, saying he was proud to have started no new wars. I am especially proud to be the first President in decades who has started no new wars, Donald Trump said. As a result of our bold diplomacy and principled realism, we achieved a series of historic peace deals in the Middle East. Nobody believed it could happen. The Abraham Accords opened the doors to a future of peace and harmony, not violence and bloodshed. It is the dawn of a new Middle East, and we are bringing our soldiers home, the outgoing president added. https://tass.com/world/1246755 Trump was given the opportunity to do what so few presidents had the possibility to do. That was to actually do anything big thing he ran for president on But the second it was obvious that he was a puppet president, like so many before him.it was all over! Why does everyone think Biden is now president? It wasnt stolen, it was given back to a more stable situation, not better grant you, yet more stable in a sense for the world The acts of war were very blatant during Trumps era. The Trade war with China, the sanctions after illegal sanctions on Russia, the alternate attack after attack and even the underhanded killing of an Iranian leader, Attacking Syria with missiles, helping Israel attack Syria and Iran, allowing Israel to move the capital & I could write page after page of things that illegally happened So many small countries as so many small countries have been twisted and coerced into changing things and or be sanctioned and plied by media into poverty and turmoil So many terrible things, that either were the continuation of past presidents of the US and or Trump instilled himself illegally I dont forget: I have article after article about what was said by many past presidents of the USA. Trump is no different and Trump lost every battle he tried to do for the people, because he never cared in the first place and that is what changed my feelings the most about the corruption of the system in the USA That easy to win trade war with China Lost! Pulling out of Syria never did and we set up and stealing Syrian oil! Dozens of USDA attempts to stop and still attempting to stop the Russian/Germany pipeline The USA is Illegal in all ways upon the international system! Put Hillary behind bars? Never happened and never will! Wall with Mexico? Oops.very likely Mexico will build it to keep the USA out! There are a thousand more that never happened and or were so illegal that they should have never happened As with Obama: Hope and Change! Trumps hope and change I voted for the first time Fizzled and went pop! ~~ Yet Trump did not start any new wars? ~~ Not because he did not try! & he plus his cronies did try But, because the world is allowing the USA to tighten that noose around its neck and kill her self Tells me who values the earth more. Who wants to see peace and prosperity prevail, not death and war It is obvious to us all now! WtR As we stumble into the future of the USA PS: Irony seems to fit what has happened to the USA Weather Alert ...MORE WINDY DAYS ON THE WAY, WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES AND RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS FOR MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND... --Thursday and Friday-- * A pair of systems brushing through the region will bring gusty winds both days, with Friday looking to have the strongest peak winds. Anticipate wind gusts of 35-45 mph Thursday, and 35-55 mph Friday, locally stronger in wind prone locations. Winds will bring travel difficulties both in the air and on the ground. Travel restrictions for high profile vehicles are possible. Check with CalTrans/NDOT for the current road information. * Area of blowing dust are possible both afternoons downwind of the Carson Sink, possibly affecting portions of I-80, US 50, and Highway 95. In addition, backcountry and ski recreation could be impacted along with choppy conditions on area lakes. * A few light showers with minimal liquid totals are possible in far northern Nevada and northeast California. --Mother's Day Weekend into Early Next Week-- * It will remain breezy throughout the weekend, with a secondary max in wind speeds on Sunday due to a strong cold front. This front will usher in a much colder air mass and high temperatures on Mother's Day will be 15-20 degrees below normal. * There will be rain and snow showers with the front, but again, liquid amounts will be minimal. There are solid chances for snow levels to fall to all valley floors by Sunday evening, which may catch many off guard, though it is hard to get snow to stick to roadways in lower elevation valleys this late in the spring. * Well below normal temperatures and chances for light showers will continue into Monday and Tuesday next week. While still some uncertainty due to winds and cloud cover, it's possible we could have frost and freeze concerns Sunday and Monday nights. ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM PDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. Wind prone areas may experience gusts in excess of 60 mph. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph and waves of 2 to 4 feet expected on Pyramid Lake. * WHERE...Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake. * WHEN...From 11 AM to 9 PM PDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects and high profile vehicles will be prone to tip over. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Blowing dust may locally reduce visibility downwind of dry lake beds and sinks. Small boats, kayaks and paddle boards will be prone to capsizing. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel restrictions for high profile vehicles are possible. Check with NDOT for the latest on road conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Now is the time to secure loose outdoor items such as patio furniture, holiday decorations, and trash cans before winds increase which could blow these items away. The best thing to do is prepare ahead of time by making sure you have extra food and water on hand, flashlights with spare batteries and/or candles in the event of a power outage. Check lake conditions before heading out on the water and be prepared for a sudden increase in winds and wave heights. Consider postponing boating activities on the lake until a day with less wind. && Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation Monday with Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdisaid Muse Ali on bilateral ties. Wang said that China and Somalia enjoys a long history of traditional friendship. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have stood in solidarity and jointly safeguarded the health and security of both peoples. Stressing that China attaches great importance to bilateral relations and firmly supports the Somali side in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, Wang said that China is willing to take the Belt and Road cooperation and implementation of the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as an opportunity to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level. China will continue to provide assistance for the reconstruction and development of Somalia, hold consultations with the Somali side on the implementation of the "nine programs" of the FOCAC, draw up the list of priorities for cooperation and provide much-needed humanitarian aid. China will also discuss with Somalia the implementation of projects to improve people's livelihood in areas with relatively good security situation, and strengthen practical cooperation in agriculture, fishery, health and other fields, said Wang. China will provide Somalia with a batch of emergency food aid and more vaccines to help the country cope with drought and fight the pandemic, said Wang. Expressing appreciation for Somalia's active support for the China-proposed Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa, Wang said all countries in the region are China's good friends. China will continue to adhere to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and help the countries in the Horn of Africa better meet the triple challenges of security, development and governance, said Wang. The special envoy for the Horn of Africa affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Xue Bing has assumed office and will soon go to work in the region, said Wang. China looks forward to the convening at an early date of the Horn of Africa peace conference by countries in the region through consultation, he added. For his part, Ali said he welcomes China's appointment of the special envoy for the Horn of Africa affairs under the current situation, and introduced the situation on the fight against piracy in Somali waters and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The Somali side always attaches great importance to developing relations with China and will continue providing firm support for China on issues concerning its core interests and major concerns. Expressing firm opposition to Taiwan's collusion with Somalia's northern region of Somaliland, which infringed upon Somalia's sovereignty, the Somali minister said Somalia will continue to carry out strategic and practical cooperation with China. Thanking China for its support and assistance in the reconstruction of Somalia and the fight against the pandemic as well as the severe drought, the minister said Somalia is ready to work with the Chinese side on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, deepen bilateral cooperation in such areas as infrastructure, agriculture, education and people's livelihood, so as to elevate Somalia-China relations to a higher level. Unusual financial activity A major red flag of potential financial abuse is unexplained activity in an older persons accounts, says Stephanie Genkin, a certified financial planner in New York. Inquire about large withdrawals and unpaid bills and make sure there are no questionable credit card charges. Stop any bank transfers or recurring transactions the account holder does not recall making. Its not uncommon for older individuals to forget things from time to time, but major financial dealings they have no memory of requesting or authorizing, or that they have difficulty explaining, should set off alarm bells. Genkin suggests periodically reviewing an aging loved ones bank and credit card statements with them to help guard against fraud. If possible, create a transparent system that allows both of you to monitor financial activity and perform basic record-keeping, and keep the lines of communication over money matters open. New friends or helpers Individuals who live alone are particularly susceptible to financial exploitation. Wrongdoers can more readily hide their misdeeds if no one else is around. Experts caution that perpetrators of financial abuse, especially new acquaintances, frequently try to box out others and limit relatives contact with a vulnerable, older adult. Isolation is the number one tip-off, says Michael McGuire, an attorney and president of the California Elder Law Center. It can be very subtle, he adds. A new friend may try to cut off the family from getting access to the senior. All of a sudden, this friend is saying: Theyre not available, theyre taking a nap or theyre not feeling well right now. Ill have them call you back. And then they never do. Be especially wary of newcomers who insinuate themselves into an older persons life in a way that makes the new associate indispensable in the eyes of the victim. Many schemers are initially incredibly helpful, McGuire says, taking the senior to the store or their doctors appointments or restaurants and, most importantly, theyre running them over to the bank. Cognitive decline or loss of financial acumen If an older person has known cognitive impairments such as Alzheimers or dementia or is beginning to show a loss of financial acumen, a designated family member or other trusted individual may need to immediately step in to help. Once a decline starts, it can happen very quickly, Genkin says. McGuire says unscrupulous family members, neighbors or friends may try to exert influence over people with cognitive issues. With dementia, theres a phenomenon that often occurs that whoever is the person sitting in front of the senior sort of wins the day and can persuade the older adult to take financial actions they ordinarily wouldnt, McGuire says. Financial fraud can easily occur when a third party has access to an older adults sensitive private data, such as account numbers, passwords or Social Security number. Many older folks do need help with money management tasks, from simple bill paying to buying groceries, but their financial details should be closely guarded and only provided when necessary to known, trusted individuals. Coors Light is ditching plastic rings on its six-packs and replacing them with an environmentally friendlier option. Hong Kong: Subsidies for hair salons to open The Subsidy Scheme for Hair Salons & Barber Shops under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund will open for applications on March 7, the Government announced today. Hair salons and barber shops that have been directed to suspend operations since February 10 will be eligible, including those run by social enterprises. Each eligible hair salon and barber shop will receive a one-off subsidy ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, depending on the number of workers at its premises. The maximum subsidy amount for a hair salon or barber shop chain is $1.5 million. With $130 million of the fund earmarked, the scheme is expected to benefit about 4,200 eligible premises. Operators of hair salons and barber shops with a business registration should file their applications through the scheme's dedicated online application website at hairsubsidy.gov.hk. For those operated by social enterprises and without a business registration, their applications should be submitted via the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. The application period will close on March 20. It is expected that the scheme's secretariat will start to disburse the subsidies within March. Call 1836 138 or send an email for enquiries. This story has been published on: 2022-03-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Chinese envoy hopes adjustment of Yemen sanctions is conducive to political settlement Xinhua) 08:10, March 01, 2022 UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday expressed the hope that the adjustment of Yemen sanctions is conducive to a return to the right track of political negotiation. Since the beginning of this year, the situation in Yemen has kept deteriorating. Conflicts and confrontations intensified and hostilities saw an upward spiral. China is deeply concerned about this, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. China condemns all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, calls for an immediate stop to the cross-border attacks on and security threats to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and supports the two countries in their efforts to defend their national security, he told the Security Council after the adoption of a new resolution that imposes an arms embargo on the Houthi militia in Yemen. Using the opportunity of sanctions renewal, and given the new developments in the situation, the Security Council just updated relevant restrictive measures and the mandate of the Panel of Experts that assists the Sanctions Committee, he noted. China's position on the issue of sanctions has always been consistent. China will keep a close eye on the impacts of the restrictive measures, he said. "We hope that this resolution is conducive to facilitating all parties to the conflicts to renounce the military option and actively support the mediation efforts of the (UN) special envoy, so as to return to the right track of political negotiation as soon as possible." China supports Special Envoy Hans Grundberg in continuing his work proactively and keeping engagement with all parties to promote the Yemeni peace process. At the same time, the United Nations and other agencies should continue humanitarian assistance across Yemen, said Zhang. The Panel of Experts should conduct its work strictly in accordance with its mandate given by the Security Council, uphold objectivity and impartiality, and provide information that is accurate and neutral, he said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) You are here: World Flash China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that China hopes both Russia and Ukraine to continue maintaining the dialogue and negotiation process and work out a political solution to realize the common security of Europe. Speaking at a daily press conference, Wang said China welcomes the Russia-Ukraine negotiations that started on Monday. Nearly half a million families are estimated to be stranded without reliable child care, exacerbating the nation's worker shortage as parents continue to stay home, according to a new report. RE Project - $17.4m Acid-Bake Kiln Contract Advancing Perth, Mar 1, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australia's next rare earths producer, Hastings Technology Metals Ltd ( ASX:HAS ) ( FRA:5AM ) is pleased to announce that it has re-activated the Design and Construct contract of the Acid-Bake Rotary Kiln previously awarded to FLSmidth, a global Tier 1 manufacturer of engineering and mining equipment.Highlights- FLSmidth a Danish Tier 1 international processing equipment manufacturer, was awarded the Engineering and Supply package for the Acid-Bake Rotary Kiln.- The $17.4m Acid-Bake Kiln to be constructed at Onslow is the most significant piece of equipment for the Yangibana project and represents the longest lead item in the construction schedule.- The supply of the kiln supports the current construction schedule and plant commissioning date in 2H 2024.- Kiln design is well advanced with shell fabrication about to commence.- The kiln is 75m long and 4m in diameter and is utilised in the downstream processing of rare earths at Onslow.- The $20m early infrastructure works package continues to gather pace with the clearing of the 300-man village area initiated.This package marks a major milestone in the commitment to build and operate the Yangibana Rare Earth projects downstream hydrometallurgical processing facility at Onslow.Detailed Kiln design is substantially complete allowing fabrication of the Kiln shells to commence immediately.On the back of the recent NAIF debt funding announcement (refer ASX Announcement dated 2nd February 2022 NAIF Approves $140m Loan for Yangibana Rare Earths Project) the re-commencement of this significant package supports the belief and commitment that the Hastings board and project team have in progressing the Yangibana Project.Andrew Reid, Hastings' COO, said:"The Acid-Baked Rotary Kiln is an internationally sourced long lead-time item required for the hydrometallurgical plant at Onslow. Hastings has chosen a trusted, industry-leading supplier for the Kiln, and the fabrication of this important piece of equipment ensures that the Yangibana construction can continue to gather pace as we target a 2H 2024 commissioning date."PROJECT UPDATEAt the Yangibana site, progress of the $20m early works package continues to ramp up with clearing activities on the main access road and permanent village progressing. The early works packages are due to run until the Q3 2022 with the main processing plant construction contract commencing during Q3.Progress highlights include:- Access Road (Shire Road to Beneficiation plant) - Vegetation clearing and grubbing now 63% complete.- 300 Personnel Village - Clearing and grubbing of the site completed with construction package due to be awarded shortly.- SipHon Borefield water bores and associated monitoring bores - drilling and construction at 50% completion- Exploration Drilling - 13,334m for 170 holes targeting the 8km long mineralised zone between Bald Hill and Frasers, in close proximity to the proposed beneficiation processing plant site is now complete. First results anticipated in late April due to long laboratory delays.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Hastings Technology Metals Ltd Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:HAS) (FRA:5AM) is advancing its Yangibana Rare Earths Project in the Upper Gascoyne Region of Western Australia towards production. The proposed beneficiation and hydro metallurgy processing plant will treat rare earths deposits, predominantly monazite, hosting high neodymium and praseodymium contents to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate that will be further refined into individual rare earth oxides at processing plants overseas. Neodymium and praseodymium are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets which is used in a wide and expanding range of advanced and high-tech products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and others. Hastings aims to become the next significant producer of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China. Hastings holds 100% interest in the most significant deposits within the overall project, and 70% interest in additional deposits that will be developed at a later date, all held under Mining Leases. Numerous prospects have been identified warranting detailed exploration to further extend the life of the project. Brockman Project The Brockman deposit, near Halls Creek in Western Australia, contains JORC Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, estimated using the guidelines of JORC Code (2012 Edition). The Company is also progressing a Mining Lease application over the Brockman Rare Earths and Rare Metals Project. Hastings aims to capitalise on the strong demand for critical rare earths created by the expanding demand for new technology products. Appointment of Board Member Sydney, Mar 1, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Board of Symbio Holdings Limited ( ASX:SYM ), a leading voice communications software provider, today announced the appointment of Leanne Heywood as an Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee and Risk Committee effective 1 March 2022.Ms. Heywood is a highly experienced company director holding Board positions for both public and private companies in B2B settings across a variety of industries. She currently chairs Audit and Risk Committees at ASX-listed companies Allkem Ltd ( ASX:AKE ), Midway ( ASX:MWY ) and Quickstep Technologies ( ASX:QHL ).With a background in finance and accounting, Ms. Heywood brings considerable commercial, sales and marketing, and business analytics experience to the Board. She also has extensive international experience managing complex and culturally diverse stakeholder relationships across the APAC region during her 11 years at Rio Tinto, including her position as General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Copper Concentrate.Commenting on Ms. Heywood's appointment, Symbio Chair Anne Ward commented: "On behalf of the Board, we are very pleased to welcome Leanne as Non-Executive Director and Chair of our Audit and Risk Committees. Leanne's governance experience and global expertise means she is well positioned to further strengthen the capability of Symbio's Board and we look forward to working with her as we expand into the Asia Pacific region."Ms Heywood added: "I am delighted to join Symbio and work with the Board and management team at this exciting time. Symbio's clear strategy and long-term aspirations in a rapidly evolving industry are highly appealing and I believe my experience and skills will further complement the Company's deeply experienced Board."About Symbio Holdings Limited Symbio Holdings Limited (ASX:SYM) is a software company changing the way the world communicates. Symbio's technology replaces old-fashioned telecom networks with software, making it faster and easier to deliver modern cloud-based communication services, unlocking endless new applications for calling, messaging and phone numbers. Symbio is the backbone for the global cloud communication industry. Over 500 service providers - from telecom start-ups to the world's biggest software companies - rely on Symbio for the connectivity, quality and expertise they need to solve complex communication challenges. Headquartered in Sydney, Symbio powers billions of calls and messages each year, owns networks in three countries and employs over 450 staff worldwide. For more information about Symbio visit www.symbio.global Spring weather may have arrived a few weeks early in New Mexico, with temperatures expected to reach 70 degrees in Albuquerque this week and fire weather conditions likely for the states northeast plains. Randall Hergert, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Albuquerque, said statewide temperatures could reach 8 to 18 degrees above normal this week. But temperatures will trend cooler by Sunday, Hergert said. Albuquerque is expected to be mostly sunny for much of the week. The city has a forecasted high of 65 degrees on Tuesday and 70 on Wednesday. Northeast New Mexico will likely experience the highest winds over the next several days. Those traveling on area highways, especially east-to-west highways, could experience some crosswind hazards, Hergert said. We could see some peak gusts of 25, 35, potentially 40 miles per hour during the afternoon on Thursday. The high winds, warmer temperatures and dry conditions could create ideal fire weather conditions in northeast New Mexico on Thursday. Albuquerque may hit 70 degrees on Thursday. Fire weather conditions could spread across eastern New Mexico and into the Rio Grande Valley on Friday. Albuquerque is expected to reach 69 degrees on Friday. There could also be some blowing dust impacts as well, Hergert said. A storm system that will move into New Mexico on Friday evening is expected to drop temperatures and bring a few rain showers to the northern part of the state this weekend. Albuquerque is expected to reach 61 degrees on Saturday and 56 on Sunday. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE After posting a narrow victory at the GOP state pre-primary convention this weekend, Jay Block declared himself as the front runner of New Mexicos Republican crop of governor candidates and quickly went on the attack. He called for fellow GOP candidate Mark Ronchetti to drop out of the race, saying he kicked the crap out of him at the convention, and criticized another candidate who is facing an ethics complaint. Block, a Sandoval County commissioner and retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, said in an interview his win at the Republican Party convention in Ruidoso could give him a boost in fundraising and visibility with the June primary election just over three months away. I am the front-runner, no doubt about it, Block told the Journal. He said Ronchetti should drop out after his fourth-place showing at the convention and should apologize to Republican Party delegates for voicing criticisms of the longstanding process used to nominate candidates. Hes been rejected, Block said of Ronchetti. I kicked the crap out of him and it felt great. Ronchetti, a former KRQE-TV meteorologist, got 16% of the votes cast by GOP delegates at the pre-primary convention or just shy of the 20% threshold needed to secure a spot on the June primary ballot. But Ronchetti has already turned in more than twice the amount of voter signatures necessary to get on the ballot and downplayed the significance of the convention in an interview Saturday. This is just another example of a flawed process, Ronchetti told the Journal after urging GOP delegates to vote for other candidates so as many gubernatorial candidates as possible could appear on the June 7 primary ballot. In a Monday statement, a Ronchetti campaign spokesman dismissed Blocks call for Ronchetti to drop out. Thats a silly comment akin to Belarus asking NATO to dissolve, Ronchetti campaign spokesman Enrique Knell told the Journal. He also cited Ronchettis lead in internal campaign polling and a fundraising haul of more than $1.2 million in the first two months after he launched his campaign, while predicting Ronchetti would defeat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in November. Ultimately, three GOP gubernatorial candidates eclipsed the 20% delegate vote threshold, with Block getting 199 of the 687 votes cast by delegates or about 29% and state Rep. Rebecca Dow of Truth or Consequences coming in close behind with 27.9% of the votes cast. Albuquerque financial adviser and military veteran Greg Zanetti was third with about 23% of the votes. A four-way primary race for the GOP governor nomination including Ronchetti could be an advantage for Lujan Grisham, who is seeking a second four-year term and running unopposed in the Democratic primary. The incumbent governor reported last fall having more than $2.1 million in her campaign account and the Democratic Governors Association, a deep-pocketed national group that is led by Lujan Grisham, was quick to pounce Monday on the infighting among Republican gubernatorial candidates. The candidates in the GOP primary field are too busy attacking each other to see the real reason they cant materialize any significant support even with Republicans is because their agendas are unpopular and out-of-touch, said DGA senior communications adviser Christina Amestoy. After winning the pre-primary convention, Block, who was lagging behind Dow and Zanetti last fall in terms of fundraising, also criticized Dow for past issues, saying GOP voters were looking for somebody who doesnt have corruption issues. Most recently, the general counsel for the state Ethics Commission found probable cause in January that Dow violated state law by failing to properly disclose her income from a nonprofit group that received state funding. Dow has vigorously disputed the claims against her, which are set to go before a hearing officer in July. She told the Journal she was in a great position for the June primary election, given the fact she was prohibited, as a state legislator, from soliciting campaign donations during the 30-day legislative session that ended Feb. 17. Dow also said voting issues prevented some of her own family from casting ballots at the GOP convention. A lengthy delay in voting and vote-counting at the Republican convention was caused by technical issues with an electronic voting system that prompted a shift to paper ballots. While some delegates left before casting a vote, GOP officials insisted Monday the final tally was accurate. The entire process demonstrated transparency and precision and again shows (the state Republican Partys) commitment to election integrity, said state GOP tabulation Chairwoman Amy Barela. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Philip Snedeker a one-time sheriff of Quay County and longtime member of law enforcement has announced his candidacy for Bernalillo County sheriff. Snedeker will face off against Pat Ruiloba, a former state representative, and John Allen, a former BCSO homicide sergeant, in the Democratic primary in June. The general election will be held in November. A spokeswoman for the Bernalillo County Republican Party said Joshua James, Ryan Lawrence, Paul Pacheco, and Dereck Scott were running for sheriff as well. No information was immediately available about those candidates. Snedeker, raised in Silver City, has had a 47-year career in public service and most recently was with the State of New Mexico Probation and Parole Division, according to a news release. He began his career as an officer with the Silver City Police Department while attending college and after graduation served as a New Mexico State Police officer for 10 years in Santa Fe, Farmington and Tucumcari. He was elected sheriff of Quay County in 1987 during which time he also oversaw the operations of the countys detention center. In February, Snedeker retired from his position as the administrator of court services in the 2nd Judicial District Courts Probation and Parole Division. Ive been fortunate in my career to see law enforcement from all sides, said Snedeker. From the standpoint of an officer arresting someone; to operating a detention center while defendants are in custody; to overseeing the probation and parole system. Addressing the crime situation in our community needs a comprehensive approach from someone who truly understands how the whole system works. He said he supports the expansion of crime reduction strategies including treatment and programs to address substance abuse and the expansion of services related to mental health interventions. PHOENIX A man who killed his ex-girlfriend and shot five Phoenix officers two weeks ago told his sister in phone call during a standoff with police that he wasnt going to spend the rest of his life in prison, authorities said in police reports recently released. Morris Jones sister told investigators that she heard gunfire during the call that she believed was the self-inflicted gunshot wound that killed her brother on Feb. 11 at his ex-girlfriends home in southwest Phoenix. Morris also had called his mother to say goodbye, police reports released late last week said. The Maricopa County Medical Examiners Office had previously concluded that Jones death was a suicide. Authorities say Jones killed 29-year-old Shatifah Lobley and wounded five officers, including one officer who was ambushed by Jones when responding to a call of a shooting at the home. Lobleys brother, who lived with his sister, stepped out of the home at some point during the encounter, put down Jones and Lobleys 1-month-old daughter and surrendered to police. Police say Jones later shot four officers who were trying to bring the baby to safety. The infant was unharmed. Lobleys sister told police that Shatifah had told her the night before that Jones had hit her while she was holding their infant. And Lobleys brother said he heard Jones and his sister argue shortly before the shooting but didnt know what the dispute was about. He later heard gunshots. Four additional officers were injured by shrapnel or ricocheting bullets. All officers have been released from the hospital. Jones had previously served time in prison on convictions for firearms possession and transporting immigrants who were in the United States illegally. Flash Russia will continue its special military operation in Ukraine until achieving the main goal of defending itself from Western threats, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday. "The main thing for us is to protect Russia from the military threat posed by Western countries that are trying to use the Ukrainian people in the fight against our country," Shoigu said during a video conference with top defense officials. The Russian military is not occupying Ukrainian territory and is taking all measures to preserve the lives and safety of civilians, he reiterated. "I would like to stress that the strikes are carried out only against military targets and exclusively with high-precision weapons," Shoigu said. WASHINGTON As Russias war in Ukraine plays out for the world on social media, big tech platforms are moving to restrict Russian state media from using their platforms to spread propaganda and misinformation. After the European Unions president called for a ban on Russian state media, a wave of tech companies blocked the channels from their platforms. Google announced Tuesday that its blocking the YouTube channels of those outlets in Europe effective immediately but acknowledged itll take time for our systems to fully ramp up. Russias RT and Sputnik accounts were also disabled in Europe on Chinas TikTok, a video-sharing platform, a company spokesperson confirmed Tuesday. The actions followed Metas announcement that it would bar the state media from its platforms, Instagram and Facebook. Tech companies have also offered more modest changes in other parts of the world so far: limiting the Kremlins reach, labeling more of this content so that people know it originated with the Russian government, and cutting Russian state organs off from whatever ad revenue they were previously making. The changes are a careful balancing act intended to slow the Kremlin from pumping propaganda into social media feeds without angering Russian officials to the point that they yank their citizens access to platforms during a time of war, said Katie Harbath, a former public policy director for Facebook. Theyre trying to walk this very fine line; theyre doing this dance, said Harbath, who now serves as director of technology and democracy at the International Republican Institute. We want to stand up to Russia, but we also dont want to get shut down in the country. How far can we push this? Banning RT and Sputnik wont shut off the well of disinformation around the war in Ukraine thats flowing into social media feeds from everyday users, pundits or the Kremlins vast network of Facebook pages, trolls and reporters. But unlike the EU, the U.S. government has not cut off one of the most obvious supplies of wartime propaganda by sanctioning Russian state media or calling on tech companies to ban it, leaving the American-owned tech companies to wrestle with it on their own. The results have been mixed. RT and other Russian-state media accounts are still active on Facebook in the U.S. Twitter announced Monday that after seeing more than 45,000 tweets daily from users sharing Russian state-affiliated media links in recent days, it will add labels to content from the Kremlins websites. The company also said it would not recommend or direct users to Russian-affiliated websites in its search function. Over the weekend, the Menlo Park, California-based company announced it was banning ads from Russian state media and had removed a network of 40 fake accounts, pages and groups that published pro-Russian talking points. The network used fictitious persons posing as journalists and experts, but didnt have much of an audience. Facebook began labeling state-controlled media outlets in 2020. Meanwhile, Microsoft announced it wouldnt display content or ads from RT and Sputnik, or include RTs apps in its app store. And Googles YouTube restricted Russian-state media from monetizing the site through ads, although the outlets are still uploading videos every few minutes on the site. On TikTok, a Chinese platform popular in the U.S. for short, funny videos, state-affiliated media is not labeled as such. And pro-Russian propaganda and misinformation around the war has flourished on its site. One recent video posted to RTs TikTok channel, which is still active in the U.S., features a clip of Steve Bannon, a former top adviser to ex-President Donald Trump who now hosts a podcast with a penchant for misinformation and conspiracy theories. Ukraine isnt even a country. Its kind of a concept, Bannon said in the clip, echoing a claim by Russian President Vladimir Putin. So when we talk about sovereignty and self-determination its just a corrupt area where the Clintons have turned into a colony where they can steal money. Already, Facebooks efforts to limit Russian state medias reach have drawn ire from Russia. Last week, Meta officials said they had rebuffed Russias request to stop fact-checking or labeling posts made by Russian state media. Kremlin officials responded by restricting access to Facebook. The company has also denied requests from Ukrainian officials who have asked Meta to remove access to its platforms in Russia. That would prevent everyday Russians from using the platforms to learn about the war, voice their views or organize protests, according to Nick Clegg, recently named the companys vice president of global affairs We believe turning off our services would silence important expression at a crucial time, Clegg wrote on Twitter Sunday. More aggressive labeling of state media and moves to de-emphasize their content online might help reduce the spread of harmful material without cutting off a key information source, said Alexandra Givens, CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology, a Washington non-profit. These platforms are a way for dissidents to organize and push back, Givens said. The clearest indication of that is the regime has been trying to shut down access to Facebook and Twitter. Russia has spent years creating its sprawling propaganda apparatus, which boasts dozens of sites that target millions of people in different languages. That preparation is making it hard for any tech company to mount a rapid response, said Graham Shellenberger at Miburo Solutions, a firm that tracks misinformation and influence campaigns. This is a system that has been built over 10 years, especially when it comes to Ukraine, Shellenberger said. Theyve created the channels, theyve created the messengers. And all the sudden now, were starting to take action against it. Redfish, a Facebook page that is labeled as Russian-state controlled media, has built up a mostly U.S. and liberal-leaning audience of more than 800,000 followers over the years. The page has in recent days posted anti-U.S. sentiment and sought to downplay Russians invasion of Ukraine, calling it a military operation and dedicating multiple posts to highlighting anti-war protests across Russia. One Facebook post also used a picture of a map to highlight airstrikes in other parts of the world. Dont let the mainstream medias Eurocentrism dictate your moral support for victims of war, the post read. Last week, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia sent letters to Google, Meta, Reddit, Telegram, TikTok and Twitter urging them to curb such Russian influence campaigns on their websites. In addition to Russias established use of influence operations as a tool of strategic influence, information warfare constitutes an integral part of Russian military doctrine, Warner wrote. ___ Klepper reported from Providence, R.I. AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan in London contributed to this report. KYIV, Ukraine Russian forces escalated their attacks on crowded urban areas Tuesday in what Ukraines leader called a blatant campaign of terror, while U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to make his Russian counterpart pay a price for the invasion. Nobody will forgive. Nobody will forget, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed after the bloodshed on the central square in Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city, and the deadly bombing of a TV tower in the capital. Biden used his first State of the Union address to highlight the resolve of a reinvigorated Western alliance that has worked to rearm the Ukrainian military and adopt tough sanctions, which he said have left Russian President Vladimir Putin isolated in the world more than he has ever been. Throughout our history weve learned this lesson when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos, Biden said. They keep moving. And the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising. Biden devoted the first 12 minutes of his Tuesday evening address to Ukraine, with lawmakers of both parties repeatedly rising to their feet and applauding as he praised the bravery of Ukraines people and condemned Putins assault. As Biden spoke, a 40-mile (64-kilometer) convoy of hundreds of Russian tanks and other vehicles advanced slowly on Kyiv, the capital city of nearly 3 million people, in what the West feared was a bid by Putin to topple the government and install a Kremlin-friendly regime. The invading forces also pressed their assault on other towns and cities, including the strategic ports of Odesa and Mariupol in the south. Day 6 of the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II found Russia increasingly isolated, beset by the sanctions that have thrown its economy into turmoil and left the country practically friendless, apart from a few nations like China, Belarus and North Korea. As the fighting in Ukraine raged, the death toll remained unclear. One senior Western intelligence official estimated that more than 5,000 Russian soldiers had been captured or killed. Ukraine gave no overall estimate of troop losses. The U.N. human rights office said it has recorded 136 civilian deaths. The real toll is believed to be far higher. Britains Defense Ministry said it had seen an increase in Russian air and artillery strikes on populated urban areas over the past two days. It also said three cities Kharkiv, Kherson and Mariupol were encircled by Russian forces. Many military experts worry that Russia may be shifting tactics. Moscows strategy in Chechnya and Syria was to use artillery and air bombardments to pulverize cities and crush fighters resolve. Ukrainian authorities said five people were killed in the attack on the TV tower, which is near central Kyiv and a short walk from numerous apartment buildings. A TV control room and power substation were hit, and at least some Ukrainian channels briefly stopped broadcasting, officials said. The bombing came after Russia announced it would target transmission facilities used by Ukraines intelligence agency. It urged people living near such places to leave their homes. Zelenskyys office also reported a missile attack on the site of the Babi Yar Holocaust memorial, near the tower. A spokesman for the memorial said a Jewish cemetery at the site, where Nazi occupiers killed more than 33,000 Jews over two days in 1941, was damaged, but the extent would not be clear until daylight. In Kharkiv, with a population of about 1.5 million, at least six people were killed when the regions Soviet-era administrative building on Freedom Square was hit with what was believed to be a missile. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry said its consulate in Kharkiv, located in another large building on the square, was destroyed in the attack. The attack on Freedom Square Ukraines largest plaza, and the nucleus of public life in the city was seen by many Ukrainians as brazen evidence that the Russian invasion wasnt just about hitting military targets but also about breaking their spirit. The bombardment blew out windows and walls of buildings that ring the massive square, which was piled high with debris and dust. Inside one building, chunks of plaster were scattered, and doors, ripped from their hinges, lay across hallways. People are under the ruins. We have pulled out bodies, said Yevhen Vasylenko, an emergency official. Zelenskyy pronounced the attack on the square frank, undisguised terror and a war crime. This is state terrorism of the Russian Federation, he said. In an emotional appeal to the European Parliament later, Zelenskyy said: We are fighting also to be equal members of Europe. I believe that today we are showing everybody that is what we are. Another Russian airstrike hit a residential area in the city of Zhytomyr, the towns mayor said. Ukraines emergency services said Tuesdays strike killed at least two people, set three homes on fire and broke the windows in a nearby hospital. About 85 miles (140 kilometers) west of Kyiv, Zhytomyr is the home of the elite 95th Air Assault Brigade, which may have been the intended target. Zelenskyy said 16 children had been killed around Ukraine on Monday, and he mocked Russias claim that it is going after only military targets. Where are the children? What kind of military factories do they work at? What tanks are they going at? Zelenskyy said. Human Rights Watch said it documented a cluster bomb attack outside a hospital in Ukraines east in recent days. Residents also reported the use of such weapons in Kharkiv and Kiyanka village. The Kremlin denied using cluster bombs. Cluster bombs shoot smaller bomblets over a large area, many of which fail to explode until long after theyve been dropped. If their use is confirmed, that would represent a new level of brutality in the war and could lead to further isolation of Russia. The first talks between Russia and Ukraine since the invasion were held Monday, but ended with only an agreement to talk again. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Russia should stop bombing first. As for dialogue, I think yes, but stop bombarding people first and start negotiating afterwards, he told CNN. In his speech, Biden announced that the U.S. was joining several other countries in closing its airspace to Russian planes. He also warned the countrys oligarchs that the Department of Justice was assembling a task force to investigate any crimes they committed. We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets, he said. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains. Biden trumpeted the toll global measures had taken on the Russian economy already, including a stock market plunge and currency devaluation. Moscow made new threats of escalation, days after raising the specter of nuclear war. A top Kremlin official warned that the Wests economic war against Russia could turn into a real one. Inside Russia, a top radio station critical of the Kremlin was taken off the air after authorities threatened to shut it down over its coverage of the invasion. Among other things, the Kremlin is not allowing the fighting to be referred to as an invasion or war. Roughly 660,000 people have fled Ukraine, and countless others have taken shelter underground. Bomb damage has left hundreds of thousands of families without drinking water, U.N. humanitarian coordinator Martin Griffiths said. It is a nightmare, and it seizes you from the inside very strongly. This cannot be explained with words, said Kharkiv resident Ekaterina Babenko, taking shelter in a basement with neighbors for a fifth straight day. We have small children, elderly people, and frankly speaking it is very frightening. A Ukrainian military official said Belarusian troops joined the war Tuesday in the Chernihiv region in the north, without providing details. But just before that, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said his country had no plans to join the fight. A senior U.S. defense official said that Russias military progress including by the massive convoy has slowed, plagued by logistical and supply problems. Some Russian military columns have run out of gas and food, the official said, and morale has suffered as a result. Overall, the Russian military has been stalled by fierce resistance on the ground and a surprising inability to completely dominate Ukraines airspace. The immense convoy, with vehicles packed together along narrow roads, would seemingly be a big fat target for Ukrainian forces, the senior Western intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. But it also shows you that the Russians feel pretty comfortable being out in the open in these concentrations because they feel that theyre not going to come under air attack or rocket or missile attack, the official said. ___ Isachenkov and Litvinova reported from Moscow. Mstyslav Chernov in Mariupol, Ukraine; Sergei Grits in Odesa, Ukraine; Robert Burns, Zeke Miller and Eric Tucker in Washington; Francesca Ebel, Josef Federman and Andrew Drake in Kyiv; Lorne Cook in Brussels; and other AP journalists from around the world contributed to this report. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine WASHINGTON A federal jury is scheduled to hear attorneys opening statements Wednesday for the first trial stemming from the riot at the U.S. Capitol last year. Twelve jurors and four alternates were selected Tuesday for the trial of Guy Wesley Reffitt. The resident of Wylie, Texas, is charged with bringing a gun onto Capitol grounds and interfering with police officers who were guarding the building on Jan. 6, 2021. Reffitt also is charged with threatening his teenage children if they reported him to authorities. U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich individually questioned dozens of prospective jurors on Monday and Tuesday. She disqualified several members of the jury pool who said they have strong opinions or emotions about the riot that would make it difficult for them to be impartial. A man employed by the Architect of the Capitol was among those disqualified from serving as a juror. The man, who manages construction projects for the Library of Congress, said he knows one of the Capitol police officers who was assaulted during the Jan. 6 attack. He also said it also was upsetting to see the damage to the Capitol, which has cost more than $1 million to repair. You do get kind of emotionally invested in your work, he told the judge. Reffitts trial could be a bellwether for many other Capitol riot cases. A conviction would give prosecutors more leverage in plea talks with others. An acquittal could inspire other defendants to either push for a more favorable plea deal or gamble a trial of their own. More than 750 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the riot following then-President Donald Trumps Stop the Steal rally. Over 200 of them have pleaded guilty, more than 100 have been sentenced and at least 90 others have trial dates. A prosecutor said a Capitol police officer will be the first government witness at Reffitts trial after opening statements. The trial is expected to stretch into next week. Reffitt is a member of a militia-style group called the Texas Three Percenters, according to prosecutors. The Three Percenters militia movement refers to the myth that only 3% of Americans fought in the Revolutionary War against the British. Reffitt was armed with a holstered handgun and wearing body armor when he and others charged at police officers on the west side of the Capitol, according to prosecutors. Reffitt retreated only after an officer pepper sprayed him in the face, prosecutors said. Defense attorney William Welch has said there is no evidence that Reffitt damaged property, used force or physically harmed anybody. Reffitt faces five counts: obstruction of an official proceeding, being unlawfully present on Capitol grounds while armed with a firearm, transporting firearms during a civil disorder, interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, and obstruction of justice. The obstructing justice charge stems from threats that he allegedly made against his son, then 18, and daughter, then 16. Reffett told his children to choose a side or die and said they would be traitors if they reported him to law enforcement, prosecutors said. NEW YORK Until a year ago, Stephana Ferrells political activism was limited to the occasional letter to elected officials. Then came her local school board meeting in Orange County, Florida and an objection raised to Maia Kobabes graphic novel Gender Queer: A Memoir. And the countys decision last fall to remove it from high school shelves. By winter break, we realized this was happening all over the state and needed to start a project to rally parents to protect access to information and ideas in school, says Ferrell, a mother of two. Along with fellow Orange County parent Jen Cousins, she founded the Florida Freedom to Read Project, which works with existing parent groups statewide on a range of educational issues, including efforts to keep or get back books that have gone under challenge or have been banned. Over the past year, book challenges and bans have reached levels not seen in decades, according to officials at the American Library Association, the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and other advocates for free expression. Censorship efforts have ranged from local communities such as Orange County and a Tennessee school boards pulling Art Spiegelmans graphic novel Maus, to statewide initiatives. There are some books with pornography and pedophilia that should absolutely be removed from K through 12 school libraries, says Yael Levin, a spokeswoman for No Left Turn in Education, a national group opposed to what it calls a Leftist agenda for public schools that has called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate the availability of Gender Queer among other books. Now were not talking about a public library or bookstores. Were talking about K through 12 school libraries, books that are just pornographic and with pedophilic content. According to PEN America, which has been tracking legislation around the country, dozens of bills have been proposed that restrict classroom reading and discussion. Virtually all of the laws focus on sexuality, gender identity or race. In Missouri, a bill would ban teachers from using the 1619 Project, the New York Times magazine issue which centers around slavery in American history and was released last fall as a book. The responses have come from organizations large and small, and sometimes from individuals such as Ferrell. The American Civil Liberties Union, PEN America and the NCAC have been working with local activists, educators and families around the country, helping them to prepare for meetings, to draft letters and to mobilize opposition, according to PEN Americas executive director, Suzanne Nossel. The CEO of Penguin Random House, Markus Dohle, has said he will personally donate $500,000 for a book defense fund to be run in partnership with PEN. Hachette Book Group has announced emergency donations to PEN, the NCAC and the Authors Guild. Legal action has been one strategy. In Missouri, the ACLU filed suit in federal court in mid-February to prevent the Wentzville school district from removing such books as Gender Queer, Nobel laureate Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye and Keise Laymons memoir Heavy. The civil liberties union has also filed open records requests in Tennessee and Montana over book bans, and a warning letter in Mississippi against what it described as the unconstitutionality of public library book bans. Vera Eidelman, staff attorney with the ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, cited the U.S. Supreme Courts 1982 ruling declaring that local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books. The tricky area, Eidelman acknowledged, is that schools officials are allowed to ban books for reasons other than not approving of the viewpoints the books express. Officials might determine, for instance, that the book is too profane or vulgar. The problem is just that often our definitions, for example, of vulgarity or age appropriateness, are for lack of a better word, mushy, and they can also hide or be used as pretext for viewpoint-based decisions by the government, she said. Two anti-banning initiatives were launched in Pennsylvania. In Kutztown, eighth grader Joslyn Diffenbaugh formed a banned book club last fall that began with a reading of George Orwells Animal Farm. The Pennridge Improvement Project has started a drive to purchase books that have been removed from schools, including Leslea Newmans Heather has Two Mommies and Kim Johnsons This is My America, and place them in small free libraries around the district. The wave of bans has led to new organizations and to a change of focus for existing groups. Katie Paris, an Ohio resident and the founder of Red, Wine & Blue, a national network of politically engaged PTA mamas and digital divas founded in 2019, said that last year she began receiving calls from members begging for help as debates over critical race theory erupted. Red, Wine & Blue started online sessions it calls Trouble Maker Training, which includes such guidance as Present a calm face to counter the yelling and shouting and Own individual freedom: You can decide what is right for your child, but you dont get to dictate whats right for other families. Red, Wine & Blue also launched a website that tracks book bans, raised about $65,000 to organize against bans and is organizing an event in March featuring authors of banned books and parents from communities where books are being challenged. We think education works best when its parents and teachers working together, says Paris, the mother of 7- and 3-year old boys. And if you dont want your child to have access to a book, then opt them out. Thats fine. You just dont want to just take that opportunity away from my kids. Trying to get a book restored is often like other kinds of community activism letter writing, speeches, attending meetings. Meenal McNary is a member of the Round Rock Black Parents Association, based about 20 miles from Austin, Texas. The association was founded in 2015 after a Black teenager was slammed to the ground by a police officer, but more recently became active in diversifying the curriculum and fighting efforts to remove books. Last year, a parents objection led to Round Rock school district officials considering whether Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, should be taken off middle school reading lists. We worked with a middle school teacher who started a petition, and that gained a lot of traction, with more than a 1,000 signatures, McNary says. The district followed a three-step review process culminating with a school board vote during which McNary and others helped organize people into writing letters, turning up for board meetings and telling others about the petition. We had children speaking up in favor of this book, even though it was traumatic for some of them to read, McNary says. We had everyone from middle school students to grandmothers and grandfathers stating their reasons why this should remain on the shelves. The board ended up voting in our favor and the book is still there. ___ Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal The New Mexico Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed that a Game Commission rule that allows landowners to restrict access to water that flowed through private property is unconstitutional. The ruling in the stream access case represents a victory for kayaking and fishing groups seeking to preserve public access to the states waterways, and a defeat for landowners who saw the rule as key to protecting private property rights. Chief Justice Michael Vigil said the court unanimously agreed that the rule is contrary to a constitutional reading of a 2015 state law. The previous state Game Commission used that law to issue five non-navigable water certificates to landowners some of whom posted signs and built fences through the waterways. The court will order an issuance of order declaring that the certificates issued pursuant to the rule are void, Vigil said. Those certificates are on the Rio Chama, Pecos River, Mimbres River in Grant County, Alamosa Creek in Socorro County and Rio Penasco in Chaves County. Justices reached a unanimous decision after 15 minutes of deliberation and an hour of oral arguments from attorneys. Seth Cohen, an attorney for the Adobe Whitewater Club and other groups that sought to overturn the rule, said the publics constitutional right to make recreational use of the public water includes an incidental right to touch streambeds or riverbanks. It is nearly impossible for most stretches of most rivers in New Mexico for the public to enjoy that public use right guaranteed in the constitution with the rule in effect, Cohen said. A spokesperson for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the ruling provides needed clarity on issues of stream access. We are glad to see the resolution of this case, Nora Meyers Sackett said. Several ranchers and landowner groups had argued that the rule should stand as a way to prevent trespass and preserve sensitive streambeds. This isnt limited just to fly-fishing, landowner attorney Jeremy Harrison said. The right that the petitioners are seeking is a broad recreational right. The Western Landowners Alliance said that the rule had provided clarity as to what authority landowners and law enforcement had to protect specific stream segments. Without that clarity, the organization said, disputes and conflicts will undoubtedly continue. The coalition said landowners have helped to restore fish populations and protect streams on their property from overuse. As a result of development, recreation and intensive agriculture, we continue to lose wildlife habitat and wildlife species at an alarming rate, WLA said in a statement. Yet people continue to demand more and more access to places where wildlife have traditionally sought refuge, including on private land. Justice Shannon Bacon took issue with landowner arguments about limits to the publics right to use water. If you cant walk on the streambed, and your use and enjoyment protected by the constitution is your ability to fly fish unless you can figure out how we can all walk on water, how is that not contrary to the use and enjoyment of the public? Bacon said. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich called the decision a pretty exciting day in New Mexico history. Heinrich and former Sen. Tom Udall had filed a friend of the court brief advocating for the court to strike down the rule. This is a huge victory for people who care about our history and our culture and our natural resources, Heinrich said. I want to thank everyone who made this possible to make sure that public waters stay in public hands. The outgoing state Game Commission in 2017 and 2018 crafted the process for non-navigable water certifications and approved five permits that will now be invalidated. But commission attorney Aaron Wolf told the court that the current board had no intention of using the rule, as the panel demonstrated last summer when it rejected five additional landowner applications for non-navigable waterway certificates. Landowners had secured a federal court order that forced the commission to make a decision on the applications, even though the panel had raised concerns about if the rule was constitutional. This whole process has exploded in the face of the commissioners, Wolf said of the panels recent resignations and removals because of the stream access debate. When Justice Bacon asked if the issue is one of great public importance, Wolf said its a matter of balancing the publics right to these waters versus private ownership of land. I think private ownership of land that covers waterways is increasing dramatically in New Mexico, he said. Many out-of-state people are buying up large parcels of property. Vigil said the court will issue an opinion outlining full reasoning for the ruling. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. DENVER Former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens has resigned from his position as chairman of the supervisory board of one of Russias largest banks, Credit Bank of Moscow, an institution that is investor-owned. The Colorado Sun reports Tuesday that Owens decided to resign after Russia invaded Ukraine last week and informed his colleagues on the board before formally giving notice on Sunday. Credit Bank of Moscow is not state-owned but is among 13 Russian financial institutions barred by the Biden administration from issuing shares and debt in the U.S. Russian state-owned financial institutions have been slapped with more severe sanctions. Owens was the last Republican to be governor in Colorado, serving from 1999 to 2007. He joined the banks supervisory board in 2012 and was chairman since 2013. Ukraine is a free and independent nation which was brutally attacked in an unprovoked way by Russia, Owens told the Sun. I believe the U.S. and our allies should stand for Ukraine, as they stand for us all. Instagram Celebrity In a new social media post, the WWE Hall of Famer announces that he has a new girlfriend named Sky and confirms that he's 'officially divorced' from his second wife. Mar 1, 2022 AceShowbiz - Hulk Hogan makes it clear that he's already moved on. Taking to social media, the former professional wrestler announces that he has a new girlfriend after he's "officially divorced" from his second wife Jennifer McDaniel. On Monday, February 28, the 68-year-old former pro wrestler confirmed that he's no longer in the ring with his wife of 11 years as saying, "Yo Maniacs just for the record, the Facebook and Instagram posts are of me and my girlfriend, Sky, I am officially divorced." He went on to add, "Sorry I thought everyone already knew, love my Maniacs4Life." Hulk Hogan announced his divorce from his wife of 11 years, Jennifer McDaniel, and revealed that he has a new girlfriend named Sky. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Hulk, whose real name is Terry Eugene Bollea, and his ex-wife filed for divorce in October 2021. Their split was finalized that same year. Prior to the announcement, some of Hulk's fans had spotted him out with a woman near his home in Clearwater, Florida. At one point, the pair were spotted at bars and doing karaoke. Aside from their sighting, he shared a video to his Facebook account of himself and a woman, who appeared to be Sky, watching another woman's performance at a bar. In another clip he shared on Instagram, he introduced Sky as "his girl" to the Poison frontman Bret Michaels. As for Hulk and Jennifer, they began dating in 2008. The exes got engaged in November of the following year before tying the knot in December 2010 in Clearwater. Hulk was previously married to Linda Claridge from 1983 until she filed for divorce in 2007. At the time, Hulk was accused by Linda of having engaged in several affairs, though he adamantly denied any infidelity. However, in 2012, during his marriage to Jennifer, Hulk was caught on tape having sex with Heather Clem, the estranged wife of the radio host Bubba the Love Sponge. The tape was filmed by Bubba and was eventually posted online by celebrity gossip site Gawker. Shortly after, Hulk sued the radio host and Jennifer for invasion of privacy and later reached a settlement. He subsequently sued Gawker for $100 million, alleging that Gawker defamed him, invaded his privacy and caused him emotional pain. The publication eventually reached a $31 million settlement with him. Celebrity The 'Power of the Dog' actor calls for people to act instead of just having thoughts and prayers, saying, 'This is no longer a time for avarice or sloth or inactiveness or ineptitude.' Mar 1, 2022 AceShowbiz - Benedict Cumberbatch is making use of his platform to raise awareness about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Showing his support for the people of Ukraine, the actor condemned the "idiocy" of Russian government for launching the attack during his Walk of Fame speech. "I can't speak today at this amazing moment in my life, on this extraordinary platform, without acknowledging the obvious of what's happening in the Ukraine," he said when accepting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, February 28, "and to show my support for the people of Ukraine, my support for the people of Russia who are opposing the Kleptocracy and the idiocy of their rulers to try and halt the progression of this atrocity." The British actor called for people to act instead of just having thoughts and prayers. "But it's more now for all of us to do than just have thoughts and prayers," he urged. "We need to act, we need to go on to embassy websites, we need to see what we can do as citizens of the world, citizens of Europe and people who want a better place and a better outcome for this horrendous moment for these people with children, with families who are struggling to survive as rockets rain down on their cities." The 45-year-old went on making his plea, "We can't stand back anymore. This is no longer a time for avarice or sloth or inactiveness or ineptitude. We need to act, and there are things you can do. You can support organizations. You can support those who help refugees on the ground. You can support human rights organizations. You can pressure your politicians, your bank, your industries to recognize anything that you can do to help. It is possible, so I urge people to do that on this day." Earlier in his speech, Benedict paid tribute to his late sister Tracy, who passed away last year. "I want to mention my sister who we lost last year," he said. "She would have loved this. She was unbelievably loyal, supportive, and she would have loved the glitz and the oddness and the glamour. She would have just been laughing nonstop all the way through, and probably crying." The "Sherlock" star continued, "I hope somewhere up there, where the real stars shine, you're looking down on this moment now. I'm sure you are. We miss you so much. You remain such a good and wonderful person to have had in our lives." Benedict was feted by Kevin Feige and J. J. Abrams at the ceremony. He was joined by his wife Sophie Hunter at the event, which was attended by his "The Power of the Dog" co-star Kodi Smit-McPhee. Instagram Music Following the footsteps of AJR and Green Day, more musicians are canceling their upcoming performances in Russia following the country's invasion of Ukraine. Mar 1, 2022 AceShowbiz - More musicians are canceling their shows in Russia following the country's attack on Ukraine. Aside from Green Day and AJR, Yungblud, Louis Tomlinson, The Killers and HEALTH have pulled out of their scheduled performance. In a statement he posted on his social media platforms on Monday, February 28, the "11 Minutes" hitmaker admitted to feeling "heartbroken." He wrote, "I'm heartbroken to announce I will be cancelling my Russian shows scheduled for this summer." "Heartbroken because I know the vicious and brutal acts of the Russian regime in Ukraine over the past week do not reflect the attitudes and ideals of the beautiful people who I have met in Russia in the past," Yungblud continued. "To the people of Ukraine, a country I've spent time in and have dear friends in, my heart is with you - you've already shown such strength and determination, resisting this needless invasion." "Everyone deserves to be the creator of their own destiny, rather than having it forced upon them by acts of war and aggression," added the 24-year-old artist. He then concluded his note as saying, "Ukraine, I promise I'll come back as soon as I can. My heart is with you, always." Yungblud announced that he's canceling his upcoming shows in Russia amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Also canceling his upcoming performance in Russia was Louis. On Monday, the "Two of Us" crooner released a statement that read, "Due to the recent events in Ukraine, I have to sadly announce that my tour shows in Moscow and Kyiv are cancelled until further notice." The former One Direction member explained, "The safety of my fans is my priority and my thoughts go out to the people of Ukraine and all those suffering from this needless war." In the meantime, a representative for The Killers told TMZ that the band "will no longer be playing in the 'Park Live Festival'." The group was initially scheduled to play at the event in July in Moscow. This year's lineup includes performances by My Chemical Romance, Sum 41, Gorillaz, Deftones, Iggy Pop, Five Finger Death Punch, Slipknot and Limp Bizkit. HEALTH also showed some support to the Ukrainian people by canceling their upcoming Russian gig. "Though we do not wish to penalize our fans for governmental decisions that are beyond their control, given the current state of affairs we will no longer be performing our previously scheduled shows in St. Petersburg and Moscow," read the post. The note further added, "Our thoughts go out to the people of Ukraine." This came after Green Day and AJR announced their upcoming shows in Russia due to the country's invasion of Ukraine. Realizing that "this moment is not about stadium rock shows," Green Day, who was set to perform on May 29 ahead of their European tour in June, decided to cancel their stadium tour in Moscow. "With heavy hearts, in light of current events we feel it is necessary to cancel our upcomingshow in Moscow at Spartak Stadium," the band announced. "We are aware that this moment is not about stadium rock shows, it's much bigger than that." The statement posted on their official account added, "But we also know that rock and roll is forever and we feel confident there will be a time and a place for us to return in the future." The note also stated that refunds are available at the point of purchase. As for AJR, the trio wrote, "We are sad to announce that we will be cancelling our upcoming show in Russia." They then showed their gratitude for their Russian fans, "Thank you to our Russian fans who oppose their country's unprovoked and criminal behavior. Our hearts are with the people of Ukraine," before noting that "the best thing you can do is share ACCURATE info." Instagram Celebrity The actor, along with a woman named Mirela Todorova, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Mar 1, 2022 AceShowbiz - Aspiring actor Kather Sei had a run-in with the law. The actor, who starred on "Lucifer", has been charged for allegedly delivering drugs that killed Bed Head founders Bruno Mascolo and Kyara Mascolo's son, Ray Mascolo. The actor, who also appeared on "S.W.A.T.", was arrested on Saturday, February 27 and was arraigned Monday, per a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, which stated that he was officially charged in a grand jury indictment on February 24. "The indictment alleges that Sei delivered fentanyl-laced pills that led to the death of a Beverly Hills man in late 2020," the release read. The authorities alleged that the 36-year-old artist worked with a woman who ran a drug delivery service. The female had been identified as Mirela Todorova, also known by her street name "Mimi." According to the federal grand jury indictment, Kather and Mirela were charged with "one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances resulting in death." They're also charged with another count of "distribution of fentanyl resulting in death." In the report, law enforcement alleged that Mirela sold counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl that led to the 2020 opioid overdose of Bed Head hair care founders Bruno and Kyara's 37-year-old son, Ray. They also believed that Kather delivered the fatal pills. Ray, who was named in Mirela's phone as "Ray Client Rich Kid," contacted Mirela for oxycodone pills on November 15 and 16, 2020, according to the report. The release further stated, "[Kather] allegedly delivered pills laced with fentanyl that caused the man's fatal overdose in his Beverly Hills home." Ahead of Ray's death, Mirela and Kather's customers addressed concerns about the pills they were providing. One of the buyers told Mirela via text, "Yo mimi the oxys are dirty," according to the release. Kather, who once starred on "The Blacklist", reportedly delivered the pills to Ray's Beverly Hills, California address. The indictment alleged that Kather placed a call to Mirela using a phone provided by Mirela. According to the Los Angeles Times, Ray's body was discovered in his kitchen by a maintenance worker who was led to the location by his Chihuahua puppy, Versace. As for now, Kather and Mirela are being held without bail. According to the Justice Department, the aspiring actor and Mirela face a minimum of 20 years behind bars and a maximum sentence to life in prison. Instagram Celebrity The subject of the Netflix true-crime documentary is being sued for millions of dollars as he 'stole' Lev Leviev's family identity and 'tried to exploit' the family's good name to con his victims. Mar 1, 2022 AceShowbiz - The man who was investigated in Netflix's true-crime documentary "The Tinder Swindler" has been slapped with millions worth of lawsuit filed by the real Leviev diamond family to which he allegedly pretended to belong. The subject of the doc, Shimon Hayut, is being sued for impersonating them and unjustly enriching himself using their last name. Israeli Russian diamond tycoon Lev Leviev and his family, including daughter Chagit Leviev, the CEO of Leviev Group U.S.A., filed the court documents against Shimon on Monday, February 28. In the lawsuit, Guy Ophir, the lawyer for the diamond mogul, accused Shimon of defrauding, cheating, conning, falsifying as well as hurting women, men and businesses both in Israel and worldwide. "For a long time, he [Shimon] has been making false representations as being the son of Lev Leviev and receiving numerous benefits (including material ones), cunningly and using false words, claiming to be a member of the Leviev Family, and that his family will pay and bear the costs of his benefits," read the petition. "He even used the LLD Diamonds trademark to make his victims believe that he was indeed part of the diamond company (it's CEO no less, per his signature) and was a member of the Leviev Family." The lawsuit further stated that Shimon used Tinder to emotionally manipulate his victims. "The defendant used the dating application 'Tinder' to locate women who he then emotionally manipulated, cunningly bamboozled of funds, and eventually convinced to transfer large sums of money to him under the guise of being on the run from individuals intending on hurting him," read the paperwork. In his statement, attorney Guy vowed that more legal action may be forthcoming. "This legal action is only the beginning of a number of lawsuits that my firm is currently working on," he insisted. "In the next [phase] we will file a monetary suit against [Shimon] and any other affiliate that will work with him, including some websites that have Joint ventures with [Shimon] and/or have offered to buy cameos from him. Anyone that will try to capitalize from this scheme will be sued." In a separate statement, Lev's daughter Chagit dubbed Shimon a "fraud who stole [her] family's identity and has tried to exploit [her family's] good name to con victims out of millions of dollars." She further stressed, "He has no relation to the Leviev family and has no affiliation with our company LLD Diamonds." "I am relieved that his real identity and actions have been globally exposed, and hopefully this will bring an end to his unscrupulous actions," Chagit noted. "The lawsuit we filed today is just the first step out of many we will be taking to have him face justice and get the sentence he deserves." "The Tinder Swindler", which premiered on February 2, featured interviews with multiple women who claimed that they were scammed out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by Shimon. He pretended to be the son of Lev and lured women in with luxurious first dates. Under his false identity, he would charm women and persuade them to loan him money, swindling an estimated $10 million from people across the globe. Though he was convicted of fraud, theft as well as forgery and sentenced to 15 months in prison in December 2019, he was released early only five months later. Instagram/WENN Celebrity The 'Joe Rogan Experience' host previously came under fire after he shared a screenshot of an alleged CNN article that stated the actor was with Russian special forces near Kyiv in Ukraine. Mar 1, 2022 AceShowbiz - Joe Rogan has offered a mea culpa for his recent social media post. Having come under fire for sharing fake news about Steven Seagal joining Russian forces, "The Joe Rogan Experience" host admitted that it was only a "parody." Making use of Instagram, the 54-year-old uploaded an article about Seagal being banned from Ukraine due to his bromance with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the caption, the podcaster wrote, "I deleted my earlier post about Steven Seagal being in Ukraine because it was parody, which isn't surprising." "But honestly it wouldn't be surprising if it was true either," the UFC color commentator added. "He was banned from Ukraine in 2017 because he was labeled as a national security threat. I, like all of you, hope the tragic situation is resolved there quickly." Rogan previously came under fire for posting a screenshot of an alleged CNN article on Instagram. It read, "Intelligence agencies around the world have spotted American actor Steven Seagal among Russian special forces positioned around the outskirts of Gostomel airfiield near Kyiv captured by Russian airborne troops." Many have since called out Rogan on Twitter after they found out that the photo of Seagal was taken from his movie, "Cartels". The comedian himself recently drew backlash over his podcast and N-word controversy. As for Seagal, he has made it clear that he considers both Russia and Ukraine "as one family." Speaking about the war between the two countries, the veteran action man told Fox News on Monday, February 28, "Most of us have friends and family in Russia & Ukraine." "I look at both as one family and really believe it is an outside entity spending huge sums of money on propaganda to provoke the two countries to be at odds with each other," he added. "My prayers are that both countries will come to a positive, peaceful resolution where we can live & thrive together in peace." WENN Celebrity The two-time Academy Awards winner, who has condemned Russia's 'brutal' attack against Ukraine, reveals that he escapes Ukraine along with his two colleagues. Mar 1, 2022 AceShowbiz - Sean Penn is making his way to get out of Ukraine. The "Milk" actor, who has been in the country to film a documentary about Russia's invasion, informed his fans that he has walked miles to the Polish border. Making use of Twitter on Monday, February 28, the 61-year-old posted a photo of him dragging a taped-up suitcase. "Myself & two colleagues walked miles to the Polish border after abandoning our car on the side of the road," he first revealed. "Almost all the cars in this photo carry women & children only," the two-time Academy Awards winner further explained. "Most without any sign of luggage, and a car their only possession of value." Penn has condemned Russia's "brutal" attack against Ukraine. In a statement shared on Twitter, he argued, "Already a brutal mistake of lives taken and hearts broken, and If he doesn't relent, I believe [Russian President Vladimir Putin] will have made a most horrible mistake for all of humankind." "President [Volodymyr Zelenskyy] and the Ukrainian people have risen as historic symbols of courage and principle," he continued. "Ukraine is the tip of the spear for the democratic embrace of dreams. If we allow it to fight alone, our soul as America is lost." On the same day Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Penn was photographed at a news conference held at the Presidential Office in Kyiv. At the conference, he spoke with deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk, local journalists and members of the Ukrainian military. Penn's "courage" to visit Ukraine amid the conflict has been applauded by Zelenskyy. A translated statement shared on the latter's Facebook page read, "American actor and film director, Oscar winner Sean Penn arrived in Ukraine. The director came to Kyiv specifically to record all the events taking place in Ukraine as a documentary filmmaker and to tell the world the truth about Russia's invasion of our country." "Today, Sean Penn is among those who support Ukraine in Ukraine," it continued. "Our country is grateful to him for such a display of courage and honesty. This morning, the director visited the Office of the President and attended a press briefing by Iryna Vereshchuk, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the Head of State and Vice Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine. He talked to journalists, to our military, saw how we defend our country." WENN/Avalon Celebrity While it remains unclear whether the 95-year-old monarch still tests positive for coronavirus, it is unveiled that she already met up with Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three kids over the weekend. Mar 2, 2022 AceShowbiz - Queen Elizabeth II is on the mend. More than a week after it was announced that she tested positive for COVID-19, the Queen reportedly is recovering. It was also unveiled that she had already returned to work. Buckingham Palace said the Queen held virtual sessions with the ambassadors of Chad and Andorra on Tuesday, March 1. On Sunday, she met up with her grandson Prince William, his wife Kate Middleton and their three kids in the winter sunshine at Frogmore House on the grounds of Windsor Castle. It looks like the Queen is already in a good condition since she managed to have virtual meetings after canceling some last week due to her ongoing symptoms. However, during her recovery, the Queen was able to hold a weekly audience by telephone with the U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The Queen's COVID-19 status remains to be seen. The palace itself has declined to comment on the 95-year-old monarch's health, citing her right to privacy. The palace announced Her Majesty's COVID diagnosis via a statement on February 20. "Buckingham Palace confirm that The Queen has today tested positive for Covid," the statement read. "Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold-like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week." "She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines," the statement concluded. In the meantime, a source revealed to CNN that there were other people who also contracted the virus. "A number of cases have been diagnosed in the Windsor Castle team," the source claimed. It has been widely reported that the Queen is fully vaccinated and her diagnosis came after her son, Prince Charles, and his wife Camilla also tested positive for coronavirus. As for the couple, they are also fully vaccinated and even have received their booster shots. Parcos, a leading luxury beauty retailer, has launched the Parcos Beauty Influencer Awards 2022 to honour influencers who, via their innovative content, get up close and personal with customers and have a significant impact on their beauty, luxury, and lifestyle habits. Parcos has always worked closely with Indian influencers to foster international collaborations, and as part of the Baccarose alliance, it now features brands like the Shiseido Group, L'Oreal, Puig, Coty, InterParfums, and many more. Parcos foresight will help to develop talent, give a platform to Indias growing community of beauty and lifestyle influencers, and expose them to worldwide brands within the Parcos family. In conversation with Adgully,, sheds more light on the Parcos Beauty Influencer Awards 2022, the evolution of influencer marketing in India, increasingly engaging with influencers and creating the right connect between the brands and consumers and more. How have brands worked their way up via influencer marketing? The Indian influencer marketing industry is estimated to reach a value of Rs 900 crore by the end of 2021, according to GroupM INCAs India Influencer Marketing Report. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% till 2025 to reach a size of Rs 2,200 crore. As per the report, personal care (25%), F&B (20%), fashion and jewelry (15%) and mobile and electronics 10% are the top four categories that contribute to 70% volume of influencer marketing. Besides, celebrities account for 27% of influencer marketing spends, while influencers account for 73%, which clearly shows the strength of influencers today. Nearly two-thirds of the Indian population follows an influencer, especially during the pandemic, which has accelerated the adoption of influencer marketing by brands, thus making it an integral part of their marketing strategy and an important part of media. With the influx of social and digital media in consumer lives, engagement in product-led conversions, discovering the benefits and authenticity, usability has made marketers more conscious about various modes of promotion. With targeted marketing, we have arrived at a point in this digital world, where marketing or an influencing of a purchase decision has become a way of life. With the proliferation of social media, and the democratisation of online publishing, the role of word-of-mouth has rapidly expanded into a new tool for marketers- something that has the structure of publishing and traditional advertising (and sometimes the cost), but can have much more impact in swaying opinions or converting into purchase. What influencers do, as third-party endorsers, is showcase actual usage and thus, make it more believable than an advertisement whether print or digital or TV. It allows the brand to connect with the influencer attributes that matches the brand truth or promise and thus, helps the communication marry the two for a better outcome than mere traditional marketing. Basis the influencers follower pattern, deploying their distinctive approach to the communication converts to product usage, performance advocacy and driving positive word of mouth. The returns in influencer marketing investment are almost double the investment with better quality acquisition, thus leading to its manifold popularity. Brands have worked their way up to legitimise every expense by reaching out to the correct target audience, from celebrity endorsements to micro-influencers across various channels especially redefining luxury, beauty, and personal grooming category. Influencer marketing was earlier limited to television, radio, and newspaper commercials, with little regard for the end consumer, but the trend today has shifted dramatically towards achieving the same with minimal cost and maximum reach. The legal modalities have also been pre-determined, thus making it a plausible way to deliver results and also fine tune it through brand advertisement and promotion. How was 2021 as a year of growth for the influencer marketing industry? During the second and third waves of the pandemic, brands had no other option but to utilise Virtual Selling platforms, wherein influencer marketing featured in this marketing mix more than before. Therefore, we have seen brands heavily investing in influencer marketing campaigns to capture a huge market by exploring new and better creative boundaries with over-the-top, glamorous, humorous, and top-of-mind kind of campaigns. Not only did brands increase awareness and visibility of their products through such campaigns, but they also created the possibility of developing new key relationships, that is, between the Brand, the Customer, and the Influencers. This meant harmonious and trustworthy bonds leading to honest selling and recommendations. Newer updates and opportunities kept the buzz and momentum of online marketing alive. Some key factors which helped are: Short format content: With visually rich image content, short and long-form video content that includes reels, live sessions, and stories, the followers experienced similar content and product promotion, time and again by the influencer, which leads the audience to believe that the products and services have genuine reviews, which in turn translates into creating a demand for the products that influencers are using. This helped brands to capture a market through what we term as virtual word-of-mouth publicity as an outcome of trust. Micro-influencers: Nano and Micro-influencers have been key drivers of influencer marketing campaigns, creating an impact for brands who want to involve them for most of their campaigns. Although these influencers have a lower follower base, many brands are now looking out for engagement and relatability, which is easy to receive from these kinds of influencers. Additionally, they dont charge as much, thus making it a win-win for both! Guidelines: After influencer marketing gained huge momentum, the government took notice of it and new guidelines were issued for the smooth running of the sector, thereby providing transparency within the ecosystem. ASCI introduced guidelines that ensure that the influencer-produced content is transparent and authentic. This further helped the influencers gain the trust of the followers and be in their eyes as they have also realised that this marketplace is here to stay and if they need to survive as well, it is only right that they speak their hearts out, be consistent with what they are recommending and stick to it. The year 2022 will only witness further growth in the influencer marketing industry with massive technological upgrades, which will revamp the way we consume content on social media platforms, thus making marketing more consumer-centric. As per Influencer Marketing Report of 2021, there has been a 54% increase from influencers in Tier 2 and 3 cities and beauty, fashion and lifestyle continue to rule the roost. Another thing which came up is that influencers prefer long-term relationships over short-term projects. This is a win-win for both parties as long-term collaboration with specific influencers establishes brand credibility and go a long way in building trust and thus usability. What factors should one look at when choosing the right influencers? Overall reach of the influencer within the category, the Instagram engagement, video views and reach across social channels. Also, the content connects with the brand style and product type. There are different types of influencers basis category specialisation. Each influencer has a follower base and basis the quantum they are bucketed into nano, micro, and macro celebrity. The content type trust and ability to drive audiences with their meaningful advocacy is the true measure of an influencer. Affiliate marketing also engages and involves influencers to help their audience set to make purchases with promo offers. Style tonality and approach to make content appear seamless and organic are the distinct markers of a good influencer. How is the Parcos Beauty Influencers Award different from other award ceremonies? Keeping in mind the larger brand goals and customer connects, Parcos has announced Parcos Beauty Influencer Awards 2022 where the winners of the event will be inducted into the Hall of Fame and be associated with Parcos for a year-long partnership. This association will include masterclasses, workshops, and mentorship programs. They will also receive media coverage, which would include a campaign where winners will feature in a leading magazine. It chooses to recognise 23 winners from across influencer categories, whether popular or upcoming, and more in the world of beauty and lifestyle. How does Parcos plan to leverage the winners in the coming year? Whats in it for the winners? Parcos wants to leverage these extended brand partners to spread more effective messaging to targeted consumers. The connect and engagement can be measured well. We wanted to create a pyramid of influencers which would be relevant and effective for our category and what best way to do it by inviting talent in the industry to associate with us. Basis performance and a rigorous screening with stringent criteria, we are adjudging the best in class winners. The aim is to establish the right partner program with consistent product launches, reviews, sampling trials, annual contractual agreement, and product goodies besides the international trip for the top performers. Meanwhile, commenting on what these kinds of events bring to the table,said, Influencer marketing is growing very rapidly in India and I see that trend continuing over the next few years. I hope awards platforms such as these will recognise the genuine influencers and separate them from the fraud ones. Facebook and Instagram have taken down a network run by people in Russia and Ukraine targeting Ukraine for violating the Meta policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior. Facebooks parent company Meta has informed that the network ran websites posing as independent news entities and created fake personas across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Telegram, and also Russian Odnoklassniki and VK. In the past few days, weve seen increased targeting of people in Ukraine, including Ukrainian military and public figures by Ghostwriter, a threat actor that has been tracked for some time by the security community. We continue to roll out privacy and security measures to help people in Ukraine and Russia protect their accounts from being targeted, said Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Security Policy, and David Agranovich, Director, Threat Disruption, at Meta. In response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, our teams have been on high alert to identify emerging threats and respond as quickly as we can. Here are a few updates on our security work, they said in a blog post. In the last 48 hours, Meta uncovered a relatively small network of about 40 accounts, pages and groups on Facebook and Instagram. They were operated from Russia and Ukraine and targeted people in Ukraine across multiple social media platforms and through their own websites. We took down this operation, blocked their domains from being shared on our platform, and shared information with other tech platforms, researchers and governments. When we disrupted this network on our platform, it had fewer than 4,000 Facebook accounts following one of more of its pages and fewer than 500 accounts following one or more of its Instagram accounts, informed Meta. This network, said Nathaniel and David, used fake accounts and operated fictitious personas and brands across the internet including on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Telegram, Odnoklassniki and VK to appear more authentic in an apparent attempt to withstand scrutiny by platforms and researchers. These fictitious personas used profile pictures likely generated using artificial intelligence techniques like generative adversarial networks (GAN). They claimed to be based in Kyiv and posed as news editors, a former aviation engineer, and an author of a scientific publication on hydrography the science of mapping water. This operation ran a handful of websites masquerading as independent news outlets, publishing claims about the West betraying Ukraine and Ukraine being a failed state, they said. They said that their investigation is ongoing, and so far they have found links between this network and another operation they removed in April 2020, which was then connected to individuals in Russia, the Donbass region in Ukraine, and two media organisations in Crimea NewsFront and SouthFront, now sanctioned by the US government. Meta officials informed that Ghostwriter typically targets people through email compromise and then uses that to gain access to their social media accounts and post disinformation as if its coming from the legitimate account owners. We detected attempts to target people on Facebook to post YouTube videos portraying Ukrainian troops as weak and surrendering to Russia, including one video claiming to show Ukrainian soldiers coming out of a forest while flying a white flag of surrender. Weve taken steps to secure accounts that we believe were targeted by this threat actor and, when we can, to alert the users that they had been targeted. We also blocked phishing domains these hackers used to try to trick people in Ukraine into compromising their online accounts, said Meta in the blog post. Account Security Meta has advised the people in Ukraine and Russia to take steps to strengthen the security of their online accounts to protect themselves from being targeted by threat actors. We encourage people to use caution when accepting friend requests and opening links and files from people they dont know. Please refrain from reusing the same passwords across different services to prevent malicious hackers from gaining access to your information. We also strongly recommend using two-factor authentication on all online accounts, said the company. Earlier this week, Meta rolled out additional privacy and security protections in Ukraine. The company is now adding them in Russia as well, in response to public reports of targeting of civil society and protesters. Wieden+Kennedy announced today that they have hired Santosh Paddy Padhi, as Chief Creative Officer for India. The hire also means an expansion for the independent creative agency into Mumbai, where Paddy will build out the shops second India location. Wieden+Kennedy has been established in Delhi since 2007, over the years building some of Indias most exciting brands including IndiGo Airlines, Royal Enfield, and the government of India. Some of the offices greatest hits over the years include Nike Da Da Ding, an initiative to bring in foreign investment into manufacturing called Make in India, 15 years of branding and design for IndiGo Airlines, and more recently, Thats Why I Airbnb, for Airbnb, Light up new beginnings, for OPPO, and Gamerkind, Humankind needs you, for HP Omen. In 2021, W+K Delhi had their best new business year in five years, adding business from ABinBev, Delhivery, Hero Motorcorp, OPPO, PokerBaazi and Visa. Padhi commented: W+K have always raised the creative product of our industry for the last 3-4 decades, they were one of my inspirations when Taproot was set up. I have always believed creativity is the core of our businessW+K has proven that consistently with fearless creative work on a variety of brands. I'm very excited, its a great opportunity for me to take this vibrant legacy brand forward and build the next chapter of creative excellence out of India. In a business like ours you are as good as the kind of people you have onboardthere are some wonderful minds in Delhi and I'm once again fortunate to handpick some more wonderful people to join us and expand our presence into Mumbai. Popularly known as Paddy, Padhi started his advertising career 25 years ago after graduating from art school in Mumbai. He founded Taproot in 2009, and the agency quickly became one of Indias most prominent creative agencies, picking up critical acclaim, accolades and awards for work done for clients including Amazon, Disney, Facebook, Uber, Adidas, Bennett, Coleman & Company (publisher of the Times of India), Bharti Airtel, and PepsiCo. Coke, Star Sports. Taproot was rated the No. 1 Independent Agency from India at Cannes and ranked amongst the Top 20 Independent Agencies in the World, along with being the first-ever Indian agency to win "Creative Agency Of The Year" at Adfest, Spikes Asia Creative Agency Of The Year and Integrated Grand Prix winner, Clio India Agency Of The Year, and Local Creative Agency Of The Year. Earning over 200 international awards (including 2 dozen Cannes Lions, and multiple Golds and Grand Prix titles from different award shows) and over 300 local awards, Padhi is one of the most awarded creatives in India. Some work highlights include: Adidas Odds campaign for Para-athletes, The Times of India, Mumbai Mirror & Dulux Paints. In 2012, Padhi and his partner Agnello Dias sold Taproot to Dentsu. Padhi remained the Chief Creative Officer for Taproot Dentsu until 2021, when he left. Karl Lieberman, Wieden+Kennedy Global Chief Creative Officer commented: Paddy is a transformative creative leader with an impressive track record building creative companies and brands, and making work that is really centered in culture. We feel lucky to have him join us at a time when we really want to connect further to the creative people and culture in India. We are excited about the future of Wieden+Kennedy in India Immediately, Padhi will build out a leadership, talent and client roster for the expanded India shop. Dean Wei, who has been the Executive Creative Director leading W+K Delhi since 2019, is leaving the agency later this year to return to London. Current W+K Delhi Managing Director Gau Narayanan will stay on in his current role. Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research Dubendorf, St. Gallen und Thun, 01.03.2022 - A newly installed data center in the NEST research building is not only used for data processing, but also helps to heat the entire building. The server system is part of the international EU research project ECO-Qube, which is investigating the integration of data centers into building systems and their energy-efficient operation. A click on the internet leaves traces behind. Not only in the web itself, but also in the form of a large ecological footprint. Because even though all our data is supposedly floating in the cloud, physical data centers are required to process and store it, and these consume huge amounts of energy a significant proportion of which is used to cool the facilities due to the enormous amount of waste heat that is generated during computation. The big tech giants are now well aware of their responsibilities, investing generously in renewable energy and looking for ways to optimize the energy efficiency of their server farms. One of these paths, for example, leads to the Arctic Circle, where some of the largest data centers are currently located. The cold temperatures there help to reduce the amount of energy needed to cool the equipment. With the latest digital trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and the Internet of Things (IoT), however, further challenges lie ahead: The volumes of data to be processed are increasing rapidly, and at the same time, reactions are required in real time without delay. To achieve this, the processing of the data must move closer to the place where it was created. For instance, in the form of a micro data center in the neighborhood. In the best case, however, this local data center will not only be used for data processing, but connected to the energy system will also be used to heat the building. A field test with micro data centers in the NEST research building at Empa and at two other locations in Turkey and Netherlands aims to explore the potential of this idea. Intelligent cooling The project, called ECO-Qube, is supported by the EUs Horizon 2020 program and brings together research and industry partners from Switzerland, Turkey, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden. "Our goal is to reduce both the energy demand and CO2 emissions of small data centers by one-fifth each," says Cagatay Ylmaz, Innovation Manager at Turkish IT solution provider Lande and ECO-Qube project leader. According to the Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance, another project partner, conventional data centers often operate at only about 15 percent of their capacity. Despite this, the servers constantly need power and are cooled. To counter this problem, the cooling of the ECO-Qube data centers is made intelligent: Sensor data from the individual IT components are accumulated into Big Data structures and help to ensure that the heat distribution within the components is accurately recorded at all times. AI combines this data with airflow simulations so that cooling can be specifically targeted. At the same time, the computing loads in the three test data centers in Switzerland, Turkey and the Netherlands are distributed in such a way that all three facilities can be operated as energy-efficiently as possible. Reusing waste heat The three data centers will be integrated directly into the energy systems of their surrounding neighborhoods and are to be supplied with renewable energy whenever possible. In NEST, for example, the electricity for operating the data center is provided by the photovoltaic systems of the NEST units and Empa's mobility demonstrator, move, among others. The waste heat from the data center is fed into the existing medium- or low-temperature network. In winter, it thus directly feeds the building's heating system and, over the year, simultaneously serves as a source for a heat pump that provides domestic hot water. "For us, it is interesting to consider the micro data center not just as an electrical consumer, but as a dynamic component in the overall system that we can use so that calculations take place when it makes sense ecologically. The coupling of the electrical and thermal world with the IT infrastructure and data processing offers great potential for optimization towards sustainable operation," says Philipp Heer, Head of the Energy Hub (ehub) at Empa. The project will last about three years. After completion, the team hopes to be able to provide guidelines for planners and building operators to help them integrate data centers into buildings and neighborhoods in an energy-efficient manner. Address for enquiries Philipp Heer Urban Energy Systems Phone +41 58 765 49 90 philipp.heer@empa.ch Publisher Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research http://www.empa.ch Paul Scherrer Institut Villigen, 01.03.2022 - Scientists at EPFL and the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have studied the chemical composition and origin whether natural or anthropogenic of aerosols in a region spanning from Russia to Canada. Their findings provide unique insights for helping researchers better understand climate change in the Arctic and design effective pollution-mitigation measures. The work was made possible thanks to the joint effort of scientists from three continents. The tiny particles suspended in the air known as aerosols play an important role in heating and cooling our planet, but their effects still arent fully understood. The particles can occur naturally, such as from volcanoes, forests and oceans, or be produced by human activity, such as fossil-fuel combustion and industrial manufacturing. They interact with solar radiation, either reflecting it back out into space and lowering the Earths temperature, or absorbing it and raising the temperature. They are also essential for the formation of clouds, which similarly play a role in cooling off or warming up the planet by reflecting solar radiation out into space or re-emitting terrestrial radiation back down to the Earth. Cloud formation in the Arctic is particularly sensitive to aerosols. To gain deeper insight into these mechanisms, scientists at EPFLs Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, headed by Julia Schmale, and the PSIs Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, whose head is Imad El Haddad, analyzed samples taken from eight research stations across the Arctic over several years. The Arctic is a crucial region for understanding climate change because the temperature there is rising two to three times faster than the rest of the planet. "If we know what kind of aerosols exist in different areas and at different times of year, and what the origin and composition of those aerosols are, we will have a better grasp of how they contribute to climate change," says Schmale. "That will also help us design more targeted measures to reduce pollution." The study was led by Vaios Moschos as part of his PhD thesis, supervised jointly by Schmale and El Haddad. Anthropogenic in the winter and natural in the summer In a first study, the researchers looked specifically at organic aerosols. Scientists still have little data on these aerosols even though they make up nearly 50% of total particulate matter. The researchers in this study analyzed the chemical composition of samples taken in the Arctic and found that, in the winter, most of those aerosols come from human activity. They attribute this to the Arctic haze that occurs each year when emissions from oil extraction and mining operations in North America, Eastern Europe and Russia are carried to the Arctic and trapped there during the winter. On the other hand, the study found that most organic aerosols in the summer come from natural sources. Thats because the transport of anthropogenic aerosols from mid-latitudes to the Arctic is diminished during the warmer months, and the high latitude emission rate of biogenic aerosols or their precursors rises. "We didnt expect to see so much naturally occurring organic aerosols," says Schmale. "These particles come from boreal forests as well as phytoplankton, a micro-organism that lives in oceans. Here we might see a consequence of global warming in the future as forests expand northwards and the permafrost thaws more organic molecules can be released from land, and as sea ice retreats, more open ocean leaves space for microbial emissions." Mitigation is now possible In another study, the EPFL and PSI scientists used the same samples but analyzed the composition and origin of all the aerosols, both organic and inorganic. They found that the inorganic aerosols included black carbon, sulfate and sea salt; black carbon is of particular concern to the scientific community because it absorbs solar radiation and contributes to global warming. "We knew that black carbon emissions were high in regions with oil and gas extraction facilities, but we didnt have collocated pan-Arctic measurements to understand how large their circle of influence is," says Schmale. "Thanks to the data collected in this study, we were able to map black carbon concentrations and origins in each Arctic region throughout the year and recommend the most appropriate measures to take." The scientists were able to perform the studies thanks to a unique joint effort bringing together scientists from Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Norway, Russia, Slovenia and the US. The eight research stations at which samples were collected (see list below) are run by research groups from various countries. The samples were analyzed at the two labs in Switzerland. El Haddad explains: "Analyzing organic aerosols requires mass spectrometers, which are expensive, sophisticated instruments, along with trained experts. Thats one reason why we still have little data from the Arctic on this subject. Our lab is at the forefront of research on organic aerosols and their origin." Samples were collected at the following research stations: Alert, Canada Baranova, Russia Gruvebadet, Norway Pallas, Finland Tiksi, Russia Utqiagvik, USA Villum, Greenland Zeppelin, Norway This research has received funding from: The European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme 231 via the ERA-PLANET (The European Network for observing our changing Planet) project iCUPE 232 (Integrative and Comprehensive Understanding on Polar Environments) under grant agreement No. 233 689443 The Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI; contract No. 234 15.0159-1) The SNSF Scientific Exchanges grant Source apportionment of Russian Arctic aerosols, 237 (SARAA; No. 187566) Text: Based on a press release by EPFL Original Publications Equal abundance of summertime natural and wintertime anthropogenic Arctic organic aerosols V. Moschos, K. Dzepina, D. Bhattu, H. Lamkaddam, R. Casotto, K. R. Daellenbach, F. Canonaco, W. Aas, S. Becagli, G. Calzolai, K. Eleftheriadis, C. E. Moffett, J. Schnelle-Kreis, M. Severi, S. Sharma, H. Skov, M. Vestenius, W. Zhang, H. Hakola, H. Hellen, L. Huang, J. L. Jaffrezo, A. Massling, J. Nojgaard, T. Petaja, O. Popovicheva, R. J. Sheesley, R. Traversi, K. E. Yttri, J. Schmale, A. S. H. Prevot, U. Baltensperger, I. El Haddad Nature Geoscience, 28. February 2022 (online) DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00891-1 Elucidating the present-day chemical composition, seasonality and source regions of climate-relevant aerosols across the Arctic land surface V. Moschos, J. K. Schmale, W. Aas, S. Becagli, G. Calzolai, K. Eleftheriadis, C. E. Moffett, J. Schnelle-Kreis, M. Severi, S. Sharma, H. Skov, M. Vestenius, W. Zhang, H. Hakola, H. Hellen, L. Huang, J. L. Jaffrezo, A. Massling, J. Nojgaard, T. Petaja, O. Popovicheva, R. J. Sheesley, R. Traversi, K. E. Yttri, A. S. H. Prevot, U. Baltensperger, I. El Haddad Environmental Research Letters, 28. February 2022 (online) DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac444b Address for enquiries Dr. Mirjam van Daalen Head of Communications Paul Scherrer Institute CH-5232 Villigen PSI Phone: +41 56 310 56 74 mirjam.vandaalen@psi.ch Publisher Paul Scherrer Institut Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Bern, 01.03.2022 - Switzerland is delivering around 25 tonnes of relief supplies to the Ukrainian population. Swiss Humanitarian Aid will transport urgently needed materials and medical supplies from the Armed Forces Pharmacy to Poland today and tomorrow. The aid supplies are part of Switzerland's overall support package worth around CHF 8 million. This evening, a cargo plane with around 25 tonnes of relief supplies will fly to Warsaw, delivering medicines and tents for families equipped with mattresses, sleeping bags, woollen blankets, heaters, cooking utensils and water canisters. This will be followed by a six-truck convoy tomorrow delivering medical material provided by the Armed Forces Pharmacy of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS). The supplies include defibrillators, respirators, hygiene masks, surgical gowns and medical protective clothing for the Ukrainian population both in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries. "The Ukrainian population is suffering. It is our duty to help them in the here and now, in keeping with Switzerland's humanitarian tradition," said President of the Confederation Ignazio Cassis, who is also the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Swiss Humanitarian Aid, which is part of the FDFA, is setting up an upstream hub in Poland for Switzerland's aid supplies. This should facilitate further aid deliveries to Ukraine and the border area in Poland, and potentially other neighbouring countries as well. Consignments are accompanied by staff of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA). A team of SHA experts flew to Warsaw yesterday to plan how the current supplies will be used in the field, and to start up initial emergency measures. Swiss funding for humanitarian organisations Switzerland has already provided the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Ukraine with half a million Swiss francs and the UN with a quarter of a million. It also made an immediate contribution of half a million Swiss francs to the UN emergency relief fund for Ukraine. Further funding for international organisations such as UN agencies and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are being considered in view of the international appeals for assistance issued earlier this week. Switzerland will also support local organisations that are particularly active on the ground and already providing humanitarian aid. Financial resources from the existing CHF 8 million budget have been earmarked for the first phase of Switzerland's humanitarian aid support package. Address for enquiries FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53 Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55 E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @SwissMFA Publisher Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html General Secretariat DDPS https://www.vbs.admin.ch/ Defence http://www.vtg.admin.ch Alton, IL (62002) Today Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 54F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low 54F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. BLACKWELL, Wis. Each year folks in the north look forward to early spring when sap rises in the forest trees. The smell of wood smoke wafts Winter often lies too long along the road formerly known as Hilldale, where my woodlot resides. From hill to dale the road gives up its frost Dear Michael: We want to do our estate planning, but we have had a meeting with the local attorney and all of it has just sat there for the pa Im writing this on Valentines Day, which makes me think of Teddy Roosevelt. Heres why. Teddy Roosevelt and his fiance, Alice Lee, announced their engagement Feb. 14, 1880. Their only child, also named Alice, was born on Feb. 12 four years later. Two days after her birth, also on Valentines Day, both Teddys wife AND his mother died, his wife of Brights Disease and his mother of typhus. Teddy wrote in his journal, The light has gone out of my life. He never spoke of his wife again, tore out the pages of his diary that referred to her and burned the letters theyd written to each other. Then he handed the baby off to his older sister and moved to a ranch he owned near Medora, N.D. He stayed for two years, grieving and rebuilding his body and soul. In letters to his sister asking about the baby, he referred to her as Baby Lee. When Roosevelt was 28, he returned to New York, married his next-door neighbor, had five more children and started a career that led him to the White House and beyond. Its a fascinating story, even seen as romantic. But when I hear it, what I think is, what about the baby? I realize Teddy Roosevelt lived in a different world than I. A different world and a different time. He and everyone he knew or was related to was rich beyond anything I can imagine. Not only rich, but powerful, with influence and political power going back 200 years, to a time before the United States was a country. So maybe it wasnt considered unusual to hand a newborn baby over to a relative, to be raised in a house full of servants. After all, Teddys second wife was considered remarkable because she would often spend as much as two or three hours a day with her children, before sending them back to others to feed, bathe, and put to bed. Children in that level of society were often sent to boarding schools, sometimes as young as six or seven. But I just cant stop thinking about the little girl. Only a few days old, her mother dead and her father off to North Dakota for two years to play cowboy and get over his heartbreak. Baby Alices life didnt turn out too well, at least not by my placid Midwestern standards. She was a rowdy young woman, to the point where Teddy, now president, told a friend, Look, I can run the country or I can attend to Alice, but I cannot possibly do both. Alice famously had a pillow embroidered with, If you cant say something good about someone, sit right here by me. She married young, to a Washington big shot, but the marriage was a little shaky. She had a long string of affairs, and her only child was the product of one of those affairs. The girl had an unhappy life and died of an overdose when she was about 30. It can be hard to remember that people are complicated, that we live a world with very little black and white and lots of shades of gray. Teddy Roosevelt was a great man, who did great things. He backed the little guy against big business, founded the national park system, helped bring the United States onto the world scene. But at one point, he was also a weak and broken man who recovered from a tragedy by abandoning the one person on earth who needed him above all else. Both descriptions are true statements, and unless you can hold them both in your mind, youre not ready to see the world as it really is. Thats what I was thinking about today. Copyright 2022 Brent Olson Copyright 2017 Brent Olson www.independentlyspeaking.com Minnesota Farm Guide Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from the Minnesota Farm Guide. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. With each generation becoming further removed from production agriculture, now more than ever it is crucial that young children learn about where their food comes from. With so much to learn and so many exciting things happening in the agriculture industry, Montana Ag in the Classroom was started in 2019 to help bring ag awareness into classrooms across the state. Montana Ag in the Classroom is a public/private foundation that works to provide educators accurate materials that represent the agriculture in Montana, explained Lindsay Orem, Montana Ag in the Classroom program manager. Any and all educators have access to the Montana Ag in the Classroom curriculum. Grade- and age-appropriate learning materials are available to K-12 public school, private school, and home school teachers. Materials range from a list of ag-accurate books to lesson plans for hands-on activities. The overall goal of the program, Orem says, is to teach Montana kids about where their food comes from and to help them gain an understanding and appreciation for the agriculture industry as a whole. We have endless resources available, and if we dont have it, I will find someone to help me create it, she added. With a background in special education, Orem and her family currently manage Ox Bow Ranch, where they raise registered Black Angus seedstock. Her background, combined with her current lifestyle, makes Orem perfectly qualified to sit at the helm of the Montana Ag in the Classroom program. As a mother of school-aged children herself, she also brings to the job a passion for in-school agriculture education and the values it can teach children. This is absolutely my dream job, Orem stated. Bringing further awareness to the program is one of Orems goals for 2022. Montana Ag in the Classroom has so much to offer students and educators, she articulated, but none of it can be made possible without monetary support. As it is the middle of tax season, Orem emphasized that Montana Ag in the Classrooms general operating budget is funded through voluntary tax donations. Line 18C on the short form and 69C on the long form are the voluntary tax donation lines on everyones taxes. An individual or a business can check that line and the money is donated directly to our program, she explained. In addition to tax donations, individuals and businesses can also become program members with their dues payments applied directly towards supporting Montana Ag in the Classroom. Right now, Orem is orchestrating a membership drive with the goal of gaining 50 new contributor memberships in 2022, which entails a donation between $100 and $999. If you become a member, you get some Montana Ag in the Classroom swag and you get a sign that says you supported the program, Orem said. Another way to support Montana Ag in the Classroom is by sponsoring a classroom as a part of the Montana Ag Book Buddies program. For $175, your money would help provide an ag-accurate book once a month to any K-5 class of your choice. Along with the book, teachers are given coordinating lesson plans and activities. This is Montana Ag in the Classrooms most noted outreach program and Orem explained that the impact is huge. Teachers all over the state already participate and the more classrooms that are sponsored means more children will be learning about the multi-faceted agriculture industry. It is very important that kids have some connection to agriculture because we are losing it, she stated humbly. Orem is beyond excited to keep growing Montana Ag in the Classroom. As the program continues to gain moment, she looks forward to enhancing Montana agriculture literacy. For more information about Montana Ag in the Classroom or to acquire any of its curriculum, please e-mail Lindsay Orem at montanaaitc@gmail.com. The Prairie Star Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from The Prairie Star. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The race among Republicans who want to be the states school chief could come down to whethe News featured Woman assaulted in 'hate-related' crime in Albany File Photo An Albany man was taken into custody and charged with homicide by vehicle after striking a pedestrian on the 1700 block of East Oglethorpe Boulevard Tuesday evening. ALBANY Albany police announced that the arrest of a man last week for the assault of a woman in a business parking lot is being considered a hate-motivated crime carried out against a woman for her sexual preference. APD officers arrested Brocdrick Stewart, 44, in the Sams Club parking lot after he assaulted a woman in the presence of her partner and her 5-year-old daughter. Officers said the female victim, whose name they refused to release out of respect and privacy, had a gun pressed into her face by Stewart, who grabbed her by the hair, pulled her to the back of his vehicle, then hit her with his fists and kneed her in the face. Police said several of Stewarts friends pulled him off the victim, and he sped away from the scene. The violence occurred in the presence of the victims girlfriend and her daughter. During interrogation after his arrest, police learned that Stewart assaulted the victim because of her sexual preference. Stewart was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, cruelty to children in the third degree, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a specific crime, terroristic threats and acts and robbery. He is currently being held in the Dougherty County Jail. Officials said in a news release, The city of Albany is a caring city and celebrates diversity. This incident does not reflect our community, and our hearts go out to the victim and her daughter. Anyone with information about this case or any similar incident is asked to contact the Albany Police Departments Criminal Investigations Bureau at (229) 431-2100. APD will also accept anonymous tips at (229) 436-TIPS. Monroe County Assessor Randy Noe spoke to the Monroe County Board of Supervisors Feb. 8 about an ongoing property valuation appeal from Cargill. Noe said that Cargill has appealed the 2021 assessed value of their property and requested that the valuation be cut by $22,174,511 or about 20 percent across the board which could impact the finances of several local entities. If Cargill receives the full cut in valuation they have requested that would cut about $500,000 off their taxes each year moving forward. According to Noe the three entities that would be affected the most are Monroe County, the Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont School District and the Monroe County Hospital & Clinics. On the Cargill main plant, I am looking at the Eddyville School and thats right about $160,000 in revenue and on the Qore part it looks like it would be right around $36,000 and its kind of the same with the county, said Noe. Noe said the school district receives 39.311 percent of Cargills taxes, while Monroe County receives 39.937 percent and MCHC receives 10.887 percent. Indian Hills Community College also receives 3.718 percent and the assessors office receives 2.6 percent of Cargills total property taxes, with other entities receiving even smaller amounts. Noe said the initial request was considered by the local review board and rejected in May, but that Cargill then appealed to the Iowa Property Assessment Appeal Board in June. Noe said that process is ongoing and those decisions can often take over a year to be announced but he wanted the board to be aware of the appeal as they make their budget since if the request is granted the county could lose a significant amount of funding or property tax rates on other landowners might have to be raised to make up the difference. According to Noe, Monroe County attorney John Pabst would be representing the county at any hearings held by the Iowa Property Assessment Appeal Board if it gets to that stage. Cases can be settled before going to hearings as well. Were going to get a third-party appraisal done and I think a lot will hinge on how that comes out, said Noe. Noe said the appraisal could cost the county about $85,000 plus the cost of travel and time for any testimony needed at a potential hearing according to a quote he received from Mid-States Appraisal Services in Overland Park, Kansas. Noe said that Cargill did not ask for a hearing with the local board, just made the request for the valuation cut and has so far not provided any evidence to the county as to why their valuation should be decreased. Monroe County attorney Pabst said during the supervisors meeting that he has made requests for documentation from Cargill and has received no response either. We havent seen anything yet, said Noe. Russia learned some hard lessons when it invaded Finland in November 1939. Today in Ukraine, its become clear that those lessons didnt stick, at least not among Russias decision-makers. In the winter of 1939, Russia having just conquered half of Poland after Germany had already knocked that country out of the war decided that war was good business. So they invaded Finland. In Poland, the Soviets re-took land that had been under the control of Czarist Russia for two centuries before it was divided away from Russia at the treaty of Versailles. Repeating that strategy, on November 30, 1939, Russia attacked Finland, intending to recover land that had also been part of Czarist Russia before Versailles. Like Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, Finland was a Baltic state that had existed for centuries, before becoming a Czarist vassal state. But unlike Poland, Finland had a strong army that had not been defeated in battle. In the Kremlin, the Soviets decided the time was right to take that territory back, thinking it would be another piece of cake as Poland had been two months earlier. Indeed, this invasion should have been a cakewalk for the Soviets. After all, the Soviets had more soldiers in their army 1.8 million than Finland had males of all ages 1.75 million in its entire country in 1939. However, after two serious but little-known border wars earlier in 1939 with Japan along the Manchurian-Mongolian border, many of the Red Armys best troops were still stationed along that battle line. On November 30th, the Soviet force 450,000 men in 21 army divisions crossed the border. Known as the Winter War, this invasion focused on the Karelian Isthmus, a strip of land that separated the Baltic Sea from Lake Ladoga. Karelia seemed to offer a highway between Leningrad and the Finnish capital, Helsinki. Most of the invading army 250,000 Soviet troops attacked along that narrow strip of land. Facing them on all fronts were just 130,000 Finnish soldiers. However, the Red Army committed two cardinal sins both of which they are now repeating in Ukraine. They sent in an army largely made up of newly conscripted men, virtually just out of training and ill-equipped for a long war along the Arctic Circle. Then they divided their forces, sending nearly half their army around 200,000 men to invade central and northern Finland, territory with no strategic value to the Soviet Union. Their divided forces were then defeated in detail. While some of these Red Army troops had invaded Poland in September, there was a decided and decisive difference between Poland and the attack on Finland. First, the Polish Army had already been defeated by the German Army, which invaded 17 days earlier. What the Russians did was less of an armed invasion and more of a peaceful occupation of undefended territory. While they experienced the invasion, none of those soldiers had experienced real combat. Against Finland, most of the Soviet soldiers even veterans of the Polish occupation were relatively recent conscripts, drafted into the Soviet Army and given little training before being thrust into combat. Worse, they were not prepared for the winter weather in Finland, where daytime temperatures could reach 45 degrees below zero. Finnish machine gun nest (public domain photo) However, Finnish soldiers were primarily long-service veterans, well-trained for winter warfare, outfitted with camouflaged white snowsuits, many equipped with skis. Perhaps as important, they were fighting for their home, their families, and their country. Against them, the rank-and-file Red Army had no clue why they were fighting. As in Finland in 1939, the Russian army is today invading a country during the winter, using recently conscripted troops who are ill-prepared for an all-out invasion of a well-defended enemys homeland. The failure to invade Finland using experienced troops properly dressed and equipped for a winter war cost the Russians thousands of unnecessary casualties, and dragged the war on for more than three months a war the Soviets planned to win in less than three weeks. Now it seems to be happening again. Oops. Fast forward eighty-three years. Reports from Ukraine suggest that the Russian armys advance had stalled out. Again. Why? In yet another winter invasion its still very much winter in Ukraine an army of mostly recent conscripts, given brief training before being thrust into combat has under-performed in ways not anticipated by Kremlin leaders. The lesson in Ukraine should have been learned in Finland in 1939. On average, Ukrainian soldiers are more experienced, better prepared for the weather and theyre fighting for their homes, their families, and their nation. Those factors are strong force multipliers. The other main lesson from history that the Red Army is ignoring in Ukraine at their own cost involves the division of force. Two thousand years ago, the legendary Chinese master of war, Sun Tzu, wrote: We can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up into fractions. Hence there will be a whole pitted against separate parts of a whole This is another lesson that the Russians should have learned in Finland, in 1939. There, they divided their forces between the main invasion and the sideshow invasion of Central and Northern Finland. Outnumbering the Finns, they remained too weak to win anywhere. It took a second invasion of the Karelian Isthmus on top of the first, failing invasion a new assault with a fresh army that drove Finland to the negotiating tables more than three months after the invasion. In addition to Sun Tzu and von Clausewitz, since Czarist days, Imperial, Soviet and Russian military academies taught the precepts of military strategist American Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan. It was Mahan who warned against the folly of dividing the battle-fleet and by extension, any army assault force. Mahans books remain required reading for Russian officer candidates, yet in its desire to quickly overwhelm Ukraine, Russia divided its invasion force into four separate attack forces. One force is attacking from the Northwest, out of Russian puppet state Belarus. Another is attacking from the Northeast, from along the Russian/Belorussian border. A third force is attacking due West from the heartland of Russia, and the final force is attacking from the South, from Crimea, which Russia took from Ukraine in 2014. To the uninitiated, this might seem like a sound strategy everywhere Ukraine looks, its borders are under attack. However, by mounting four attacks, the Russian army must also have four air forces to clear their paths, as well as four logistic trains to keep the troops supplied with fuel, bullets and bombs, food and water, repair teams, and medical units. All the while Ukraine has the long-known benefit of interior lines. It is far easier for them to move troops and support forces from one attack front to another, using roads and railways under their control. Bottom line: the Russian Army should know better and perhaps it does. But the shots are being called by the Kremlin, by leaders who have little practical experience with war at the strategic level. Eventually, if Russia is willing to absorb the casualties, they can keep pouring in ill-trained, ill-equipped troops in penny-packet formations and eventually wear down the Ukrainians, just as they did with Finland in 1939. But what could have been a lightning campaign has turned into a slogging match. Winston Churchill famously said, Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it? Obviously, he wasnt a Russian. Ned Barnett is a widely-published author, a student of American military history, and a frequent on-camera historian for the History Channel, back when they actually covered history. He is the founder of Barnett Marketing Communications, where he helps authors get their thoughts together and their books successfully published, offering editing, ghostwriting and book marketing and promotion services from his base in Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at nedbarnett51@gmail.com or 702-561-1167. Charges of fascism are often flung around like paper confetti, sometimes to cover for actual fascism. Almost every political faction has been subjected to such claims, especially ones that are polar opposites of historical Italian fascism and German National Socialism. Even Canadian truckers seeking an end to COVID-19 lockdowns have been savagely attacked as Nazis, along with freedom-based organizations that supplied the intellectual ammunition to oppose Hitler's and Mussolini's ideologues. So the question becomes this: what is fascism, and where did it originate? Consensus often points to postWorld War I Italy. However, that old belief is starting to crumble. Fascism and its state-oriented mixed economy appear to have an earlier starting date. Some scholars are now pointing at Soviet Russia. Benito Mussolini may be the world's most notorious fascist, but he was not the first to introduce socioeconomic and political fascism to the world. In actuality, this Italian Marxist intellectual simply popularized the word. The socioeconomic mechanics behind Fascism came from another Marxist, one deep inside Russia. He was a Russian revolutionary whom Mussolini lionized: Vladimir Lenin. After Lenin secured control of Russia in 1921, his unrelenting nationalization of the Soviet economy finally collapsed. Moscow and other Russian cities transformed into walking-dead hellscapes. Most factories and mills closed. Most Russians were starving. Workers fled to the countryside to find food. Hundreds of violent riots spread across the land. Lenin and the communists were almost overthrown. Karl Marx's dreams of a socialist worker's paradise had failed. Under these dire conditions, Lenin had to change direction. He reluctantly rolled back the communist economic system and established a mixed economy: the state still owned the big industries but allowed small companies, farmers, and individuals to exist and engage in open commerce. At this point, Lenin embraced Marxist-lite Fascism by supporting an alternative "third way" between socialism and capitalism, a concept Lenin and Mussolini called "state capitalism." The political sociologist Seymour Martin Lipset concurred, arguing that Fascism is "extremism of the center," referring to its reliance on a mixed economy. He contended that Fascism is not right-wing because Mussolini did not plan to restore monarchical or aristocratic privilege. In 1921, Lenin dubbed his revised economic policies the New Economic Policy (NEP), which introduced a form of "market socialism," "crony capitalism," or what he approvingly termed "state capitalism." Lenin described this change as the "development of capitalism under the control and regulation of the proletarian state." This meant that fascism was not the "last stage of capitalism" as Marxist historians have maintained, but the first stage of a pullback from the economic and political failures of Marxism-Leninism. Lenin's policies to mitigate the defects of absolute nationalization and communism spawned the NEP and produced a fascist economy. Under his NEP policies, Lenin said he would allow "a free market and capitalism, both subject to state control," while socialized state enterprises would operate on "a profit basis." His policy even allowed the ownership of small companies, which were privatized from former state-owned enterprises. And by initiating a mixed economy in 1921 and early 1922, Lenin became the world's first fascist dictator, over a year before Mussolini was appointed Italy's prime minister in late 1922. Who makes such a bold claim? It was Peter Drucker, the famous professor of politics, philosophy, and management, who lived in Germany in the early 1930s. He asserted that fascism came out of communism in his 1939 The End of Economic Man. He wrote, "Fascism is the stage reached after communism has proved an illusion. ... Communism in anything but name was abandoned in Russia when the Five-Year Plan was substituted for the New Economic Policy (NEP)." Since Mussolini, Lenin, and Trotsky were Marxist chums in Switzerland, it is not surprising that Mussolini closely watched Lenin and his regime with keen interest. Considering himself a disciple of Lenin, Mussolini proposed that Italy should officially recognize the Soviet Union in 1923. According to Stanley G. Payne in his History of Fascism, 19141945, "[n]ot only was Italy the first Western country to recognize the Soviet Union in 1924, but the new Soviet art first appeared in the West that year at the Venice Biennale, Italy's premiere art show." In the Italian elections of 1919, as the leader of the Fascist Revolutionary Party, Mussolini publicly compared himself to Lenin, bragging that he was the "Lenin of Italy." When Lenin ushered in the NEP, Mussolini felt compelled to imitate Lenin's market-oriented economic policies. The prime minister of Italy, Francesco Saverio Nitti (19191920), noted this coziness, writing, "In Italy today one finds that greater tolerance is shown toward Communists affiliated with Moscow than to Liberals, democrats, and Socialists." He also remarked, "Fascism and Bolshevism are the same." Mussolini understood what Lenin was trying to do in Soviet Russia. Considered one of the greatest Marxist theoreticians of the 20th century, Mussolini realized that Lenin was following Karl Marx's precepts to the letter. Marx argued that only ruthless industrial capitalists could successfully bring the population out of feudalism and poverty. Since Russia's economy was primarily agricultural, some limited form of capitalism was required to get it to the Marxian sweet spot of a highly industrial state. Lenin argued for the "full maturation of capitalism as the precondition for socialist realization." Fascism sprang out of Marxism over the Marxian reaction to the failures of Lenin's Bolshevism in the Soviet Union. In other words, many strands of revised Marxism devolved into Italian Fascism. A. James Gregor, a political scientist at U.C. Berkeley, agreed, writing, "The first Fascists were almost all Marxists serious theorists who had long been identified with Italy's intelligentsia of the Left." The former English socialist David Ramsay Steele succinctly declared, "Fascism began as a revision of Marxism by Marxists." Indeed, Lenin and the Bolsheviks ushered in the first fascist socioeconomic system, scattering across Europe. Winston Churchill also noted this political evolution, writing in 1948: "As Fascism sprang from Communism, so Nazism developed from Fascism." L.K. Samuels is the author of Killing History: The False Left-Right Political Spectrum (2019) and other books. Image: Benito Mussolini, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. The retreat of the United States and her allies before the Chinese-backed Taliban in Afghanistan and the failure of the Wests feeble attempts at diplomacy in the face of Russias invasion of Ukraine share a sinister aetiology that has attracted remarkably little attention. A relentless, targeted campaign of desinformatsiya systematic reputational destruction or unpersoning by Communist front groups posing as environmental campaign entities but in reality fostered, funded and too often founded by Moscow and Beijing has all but silenced thousands of skeptical climate researchers who had formerly been able to debate the climate question in the sunlight of the agora, and has deterred tens of thousands more who would have spoken out in their support but dare not do so. Goebbels had developed unpersoning as an art-form in the decades before the Nazis took power in Germany. Anyone who had proven successful in denouncing Corporal Hitler was compelled to endure repeated reputational assaults, until very nearly all who valued their reputations fell silent, allowing Hitler to assume power in 1933. In 1945, when the Allies hung back from Berlin to allow Marshal Zhukov the honour of taking the capital of the Reich in recognition of his gallant defence of Stalingrad, it was the then MGB that we permitted to march into the Mitte district, the seat of government at the heart of Berlin. In Mauerstrasse, they captured the Reichspropagandaamt, then the largest office building in Europe. Goebbels, having swallowed his own propaganda about the Tausendjahriges Reich, had ordered his officials not to destroy the Propaganda Ministrys records. The Royal Air Force had bombed one wing of the giant office block, but nearly all of the records were intact. They fell into the hands of the MGB. Within a month, the MGB later the KGB had come to understand the efficacy of unpersoning. At once, they founded the Desinformatsiya directorate. Its chief task was to unperson everyone, anywhere in the world, who had publicly opposed Soviet Communism. The Kremlin appointed General Ion Mihai Pacepa, then the head of the Securitate, the secret police in Ceausescus Romania, as the first head of the directorate. He was to hold that post for a third of a century. His first target was Pope Pius XII. The Directorate commissioned a German Communist playwright to draft a play hostile to the Pope, and infiltrated stories about his alleged Nazi-loving, Jew-hating sympathies into fellow-traveling news media throughout the West. Ion Mihai Pacepa in 1975 (public domain photograph) The facts were that in 1937, the Pope, as secretary of state to his predecessor Pius XI, had published Mit Brennender Sorge (With profound concern), the first Papal encyclical in a language other than Latin since the Middle Ages, roundly condemning Nazism while all the chancelleries of Europe, applying their habitual policy of the pre-emptive cringe, were cravenly appeasing the Corporal. So successful was the Vaticans pipeline to get Jews out of the Gestapos clutches in Italy that, as soon as it was safe to do so after the War, the Chief Rabbi of Rome and his deputy were both baptized as Catholics. The Chief Rabbi particularly requested that the Pope should stand sponsor for him. At the Yad Vashem memorial to the Holocaust in Israel, the largest plaque on the memorial wall for those who had stood by the Jews is devoted to Pope Pius XII. Notwithstanding such mere facts, after some years the KGB had succeeded in tarnishing the reputation of the saintly Pope. It was only recently, when the Holy See opened the archives to scholars, that the truth became widely known. Unpersoning has become a staple technique among Communist front groups throughout the West. For instance, Saul Alinsky devoted two of his dozen Rules for Radicals to advocacy for it. It was and is of particular efficacy in silencing almost all those who would otherwise have dared to question the official narrative on global warming, whose origin in the Desinformatsiya directorate is nothing like as widely appreciated as it should be. On 28 July 1979, less than three months after Margaret Thatcher had first taken office as the British Prime Minister, the Communist leader of the National Union of Mineworkers, Arthur Scargill, quietly set sail on a Polish freighter bound for St. Petersburg (then Leningrad). There, like Lenin before him, he took a sealed train to Moscow, where he was met and transferred to the Patrice Lumbumba University, where the worlds terrorist rank and file were trained. After just three weeks there, Scargills handlers realized that he was a cut above the rest and transferred him to the Lenin Institute, where terrorist leaders such as Yassir Arafat were trained. He spent five months at the Institute, returning on an Aeroflot flight to Paris, where he transferred to a British Airways flight bound for London. Scargills handlers had trained him to emulate the success of the miners strike a decade earlier, which had brought down the Conservative government of Edward Heath and replaced it with a Kremlin-friendly Labour administration. He was given funding of at least $30 million that our quants in the intelligence community could trace a substantial sum in those days paid via the then Czechoslovak Embassy in London, which the KGB had vainly hoped we were not monitoring. However, the year before Scargill set sail for St Petersburg, Pacepa had quietly defected to the West. He was perhaps our most important defector in the Cold War. He had warned us the second miners strike was coming. No less importantly, he had told us why. Despite the tight control of information in Soviet Russia, the impoverished, suffering citizenry had come to learn that life in the West was far better and freer. Whenever any of us visited the Communist bloc in those days, flashing our orange British Military Mission cards at Checkpoint Charlie, we would wear four or five pairs of jeans, which, like so much else, were unobtainable behind the Iron Curtain. We would give the much-prized jeans to our contacts there. The KGB had reasoned that the Wests economies must be brought down to the wretched Soviet level, and their citizens freedoms taken away, so that Soviet citizens would no longer have reason to clamor for the unimaginably wonderful Western lifestyle, jeans and all. The KGBs weapon of choice at that time was its control over certain Western union leaders. Since energy is the lifeblood of any modern economy, the KGB decided that it would see whether it could bring down the elected government of Margaret Thatcher, the feared Iron Lady, by fomenting a miners strike. However, thanks to Ion Mihai we were more fully prepared than the Kamitet had realized. Margaret, though still in opposition in 1978, acted on his warnings transmitted to her via the ever-helpful American cousins in the CIA. The special relationship is a wonderful thing. Margaret had already appointed the late Nicholas Ridley, soon to be a member of her Cabinet, to head a committee to devise stratagems for defeating the Kremlin-funded strike whenever it came. Ridley, apparently an amiable, tweed-clad, hearty-drinking squire from the shires, had and carefully concealed the sharpest mind on Margarets team. First, he did a deal with the private, non-union port of Felixstowe in rural East Anglia, which quietly installed coal-bunkering facilities. Next, he approached the Poles via Solidarnosc, Lech Walesas anti-Soviet trades union, for which the British Catholic newspaper The Universe had raised some of the earliest funds. He obtained the Poles agreement, under the very nose of the Soviet stooge General Jaruzelski, to supply as much coal as we might need in the event of a miners strike, for delivery to Felixstowe. He also persuaded the then-nationalized Central Electricity Generating Board that it should build a load-equalization station a substantial forebay lake dug out of a mountain-top with a reversible turbine beneath it in the roots of the mountain and a channel to a natural lake at the foot. The previous miners strike had shown that at peak hours it was necessary to bring dozens of ancient, inefficient coal-gobbling power stations online. The daily peak was at 7.45 pm, during the commercial break halfway through the daily episode of Coronation Street, then Britains most popular soap opera, when every housewife scuttled out to the kitchen to put the kettle on and electricity demand surged. At night, when electricity from the grid was plentiful and cheap, Ridleys proposed turbine would be run in reverse to pump water from the lake at the foot of the mountain to the forebay lake at the top. During Coronation Street, grid managers would be able to flip a switch and the water in the forebay would instantly drop straight through the turbine, providing several minutes vital boost to the grid to power Nans kettle, so that the ancient, coal-guzzling spinning-reserve power stations were no longer needed. Three questions arose: where to put the load-equalization station, how to defend it against attack by Communist saboteurs, and how to conceal its existence from Russias many spies throughout the governing elite and saboteurs in the unions. Ridleys solutions were characteristically masterly. First, he decided to put it in Wales, which was somewhat less Communist than Scotland, the only other region with the right terrain. The deciding factor was that the station, to be built at Dinorwig, near Caernarfon, was little more than 100 miles from the SAS lines at Hereford. When the miners strike began in 1984, the boys of the special forces were kept on constant exercise in the hills around the new power station. No one messes with the SAS, and no one got near it. The third question how to conceal Dinorwig from the Kremlins spies was pure genius. Ridley advertised it. He commissioned a commercial showing the load-equalization station being built at night, so that one could not quite see where it was. The ad, in the name of the grid authority, described how the station would work, and ended with a sickening jingle: We have the power to help you! sung (if that is the word for it) to a particularly drippy theme. It worked a treat. It was not until weeks before the strike ended that the KGB found out it had been hoodwinked by Ridleys skilful maskirovka. By then it was far too late. Dinorwig came onstream early in 1985. The strike collapsed in early March that year. A few weeks before the strike began, Ridleys committee had dispatched a tall, lean, good-looking lad ostensibly from Margarets six-man policy unit at 10 Downing Street on his loud, red, fast Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica motorcycle to a country house somewhere in England. There the lad recruited the late David Hart, a property magnate and close friend of Margarets, to visit every pit throughout Britain and talk to the ordinary mineworkers directly. David drove 29,000 miles in his new Mercedes that year, explaining to every mineworker that Scargill had been trained in Moscow and was being funded by the Kremlin. The lad had been down the pits both in Wales and in Yorkshire. Indeed, he had been put alongside Scargill some years before, at the motor-mouth Communists favorite watering-hole, a 15th-century pub in the center of Leeds, a Yorkshire city two hours north of London. Scargill was clubbable, but his politics stank. The lad knew that although the miners leaders were Communist the rank and file were not. They were deeply loyal to their country first and foremost and would fiercely resent Scargills Moscow connection. In general elections, many of them secretly voted for Margaret. To ensure that the demarche that would and did break the strike was unseen by the many spying eyes in the Civil Service, the lad arranged for David Hart to report daily direct to the Prime Minister and to no one else. Davids first-class memoranda, now publicly available, were a model of punchy concision, and were a great comfort to Margaret, for it is lonely at the top. To keep the operation secret, David established a war room around the walnut grand piano in a grand suite at Claridges, the last place where the KGB would ever think of looking. The lad would amuse the team from time to time by playing the first movement of Beethovens moonlight sonata and suchlike soothing pieces. Eventually, Peter Walker, the not entirely trustworthy Trade and Industry Minister, nominally but not actually in charge of the Governments response to the strike, discovered the existence of Davids war room at the swank London hotel and angrily telephoned him to say: You cant run this strike from Claridges! David, unperturbed, said: Of course not, Minister. Youll be wanting to speak to the Chairman of the National Coal Board. Here he is now. And he handed the phone to Sir Ian MacGregor. Weeks later, the strikers were defeated, with the help of an advertising campaign planned and paid for by David. At a personal cost of millions, he took out daily full-page spreads in the national newspapers, saying to Scargill, Come on, Arthur, gizzaballot! on ending the strike. Sure enough, the miners delegates voted to return to work. David, like all who work for their country in the shadows, never received any thanks or recognition for his unpaid, unsung and uncommonly effective service to his countrymen, on whose behalf I honor his memory here. The shock in Moscow was palpable. The strike had been defeated by a method the KGB had simply not foreseen, and by a team of whose existence it had been entirely unaware. We had appealed directly to the loyal mineworkers of Britain, over the disloyal, Communist heads of their union. At the lads farewell party at 10 Downing Street after the strike had been brought safely to an end, three leaders of the National Working Miners Committee founded by David were present perhaps the first mineworkers ever to set a friendly foot in Downing Street under a Conservative administration. Now that the Kamitet knew we knew how to thwart such strikes, which had until then been frequent and damaging, it realized it could no longer depend on the Communist union leaderships it had spent decades and tens of millions corrupting. Smarting from its defeat, it was most anxious to find another way to bring the Western economies down and to undermine our enviable prosperity and our precious freedoms, for which the people of Soviet Russia longed. The Kamitet had already had some success in infiltrating far-Left political lobby groups. In particular, we learned from the Vaticans intelligence service often the best-informed in the world, in those days that the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament was Soviet-controlled, under the influence of a powerfully-placed but profoundly misguided Catholic monsignor who shall remain deservedly nameless. Building on that success, the Kamitet decided to infiltrate the environmental movement, beginning with Greenpeace. The problem was that the leaders of the movement, such as Patrick Moore, were and are genuine environmentalists, not Communists. Therefore, Greenpeace was infiltrated by thousands of new Communist members. In short order, Patrick and his fellow true environmentalists were pushed out and replaced with Communists. As a rule of thumb, one would not be far wrong in assuming that these days every environmental pressure-group with an innocent-sounding name is, first and foremost, a Communist-led front group, though few of the members like the miners are themselves Communist. By the time the global warming scare was launched into the public square by elaborately-publicized testimony in 1988 before Congress on the part of a many-times-arrested far-Left agitator at NASA, the KGB had seen the potential. The kamitet realized that, if the climate-change narrative could be captured, it would be possible to induce Western ministers and opinion-formers fearful of being unpersoned to fall as culpably silent as the opponents of Nazism in the years leading to Hitlers takeover in 1933. What was more, Pacepa told us, the KGB, by now firmly in control of the environmental movement, had seen the potential not merely to impoverish and even bankrupt the Western economies but also to inflict upon their peoples so many pettifogging environmental restrictions in the name of Saving The Planet that the freedoms we have long taken for granted would, in effect, be no more. The growth of the internet greatly facilitated the unpersoning of climate skeptics. For instance, Wikipedia, founded by a pornography merchant, was swiftly captured, whereupon the biographies of climate skeptics were tampered with A single fellow-traveler rewrote the biographies of more than 2000 skeptics, including mine, to recast us as knaves, rogues, idiots or all three. The intelligence community tracked down the agent via his incautious membership of a rowing club in a tiny Cambridgeshire village. He was banned from interfering with Wikipedia entries. However, as the Communists tightened their grip on Wokipedia, driving out the pornographers co-founder in despair at its sullen, far-Left prejudice, the agent was reinstated. YouTube and FaceTwit began shadow-banning skeptics by preventing their internal search engines from returning entries related to or posted by anyone questioning the Party Line on climate. After the massive nationwide campaign of voter fraud organized by the Democrat National Committee in swing States had unexpectedly failed in the 2016 election (for in 2011 I had learned of it from the chief investigator working for Sheriff Arpaio of Maricopa County, AZ, who had discovered it, and I had at once alerted the Republican National Committee), the tech giants doubled down on their censorship of non-Communists, especially climate skeptics. Google held a staff meeting at its headquarters, at which its largely far-Left leaders reassured its largely far-Left personnel that no such election result would ever be permitted again. In 2020, it was not permitted at all. Matters were little better on the other side of the Atlantic. Who would have imagined a third of a century ago, when the Berlin Wall was overthrown, that in Britain today a nominally Conservative government, under an undue alien influence that it would once have resisted, would be busy shuttering the last of the coal-fired power stations that produce electricity at half the cost of gas-fired power and a quarter of the cost of wind-farms, and would ban gasoline-fired autos, ban fracking of the largest shale gas reserves in Europe, ban extraction of North Sea oil, ban fireplaces and gas-fired central-heating boilers, ban Edisons incandescent lamps, and even ban the roast beef of old England? Who would have thought that, as a result of these lunatic encroachments and impositions on our freedoms, electric power in Britain, once among the worlds cheapest, would have become the costliest? Though the Soviet Union collapsed at about the same time as Margaret Thatcher lost office (on the question of Britains membership of the European Union, on which as in much else she turned out to have been right all along), in 2000 a silent coup orchestrated by Vladimir Putin unseated Boris Yeltsin. By 2004, Putin had installed some 6000 of his former KGB colleagues in key governmental posts in Moscow and in all the regions of Russia. Communism was back. With good reason, the intelligence community describes Putins Russia as a DINO a democracy in name only, an atavistic throwback to the lumbering, murderous, militaristic totalitarianism of old that we had hoped was extinct. The Kremlins capture of the environmental movement was latterly and actively assisted by China, the chosen home of the late UN climate fanatic Maurice Strong (who called himself a lifelong Socialist). So successful has been the Communists theft and repurposing of the environmental movement, their capture of the climate-change issue and their unpersoning of all who dare to question the Party Line on that subject that by 2004, four years after his coup, Putin himself had become concerned that perhaps global warming was a real problem after all. That year Putin asked Dr Andrei Illarionov of the Russian Academy of Sciences to hold a climate-change conference with a difference in Moscow. The difference was that, instead of true-believing climate fanatics only, whose unfailing custom was and is to exclude rather than to debate those who disagree with the Party Line, skeptics were invited to participate as well. Putin was genuinely curious to know whether his kamitets own propaganda about global warming might, after all, correct. Andrei looked around the world and decided that Britains governing class was the sappiest, most lackwit, most true-believing classe politique on the planet. He invited the governments then climate change ambassador, the chemist Sir David King, to give the keynote address. However, when King arrived at Sheremetyevo airport, he noticed that several prominent skeptics were arriving as well. He tried to turn back and return to the UK. However, the FSB gently but firmly accompanied him to the Kremlin and he was made to give his talk. Halfway through, Dr Roy Spencer, the skeptic who had won awards for designing, building and operating the microwave-sounding-unit satellites that provide the least inaccurate measure of global temperature (which currently shows no global warming for well over seven years), interrupted King in full flow to say, Surely, Sir David, you cant possibly believe that? Sir David, unfamiliar with the notion of debate, flounced out. The FSB made to intercept him a second time, but Andrei waved them away, replaced King at the microphone and said: Sir David King has disgraced the name of science, disgraced the name of Britain and disgraced the name of King. But he has taught us one thing. Global warming caused by us was not, is not and will not be a problem. That is what Andrei later told me he had reported to Putin. From then on, the Desinformatsiya directorate, joined by its Chinese equivalent, doubled down on unpersoning anyone, anywhere in the West, who had proven successful in publicly opposing the Party Line on global warming. The unelected Kommissars of the European tyranny-by-clerk, easy prey for Communist infiltrators, saw to it that coal-fired power stations with decades of useful life in them were torn down and replaced with combined-cycle turbines powered by Siberian gas, whose unit carbon dioxide emissions per megawatt-hour generated are half those of coal but whose unit cost is twice that of coal. As competition from coal inexorably diminished, the price of Siberian gas sold to Europe no less inexorably rose. The law of supply and demand is an iron law. It is not up for repeal. Even before the Chinese-virus pandemic, Europe was paying Putin four times the world price for its gas. Now it pays more like eight times the world price; and, on a day in December 2021 when Europe was under a blocking high and the wind did not blow, it rose to 200 times the world price. Putin, on the pretext of addressing an unspecified technical fault in the pipelines but in reality to serve notice on Europe that it was now utterly dependent upon him and him alone to keep the lights on as he prepared to invade Ukraine, had turned the gas off for a few hours. The price had duly and very profitably surged. Putin has not only succeeded in crippling the Western economies with the global-warming nonsense: he now profiteers directly from our scientifically-illiterate politicians economically and strategically half-witted decision to interfere in the energy market by force and remove coal from the energy mix, reducing competition, hiking power prices and rendering Europe and to a striking degree the United States dependent upon a hostile foreign power for the preponderance of its energy supply, the lifeblood of its industries. Aluminum smelting, steelmaking, heavy manufacturing and many other energy-intensive enterprises have been driven out to Russia, India and China, which have all repudiated attempts by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to shutter their economies as the West has so eagerly done under the Paris climate accords. Putin has made a fortune from Siberian gas overpriced as a direct and ineluctable consequence of the Western classe politiques abject, poltroonish fear of being unpersoned. He has spent it wisely, steadily rebuilding the motherlands armed forces. He now has five times as many men under arms per head of population, and ten times as many in all, as the United Kingdom, which under successive, ever-dimmer Conservative administrations that ought to have known better has cut its own armed forces to almost nothing. Putin has 1.4 million men under arms. Only a fifth of them are deployed at the Ukrainian front. He has 15,000 tanks. Britain, laughably, has only 200. China, like Russia, now profiteers directly by the Wests craven failure to act upon the ancient Roman saw Si vis pacem, para bellum if you want peace, be ready for war. As invisibly as the Tsar of Some of the Russias and his KGB cronies have rebuilt the Soviet armed forces on the vast profits from Europes overpayments for Siberian gas, Xi Jinping, emperor of the Middle Kingdom, has built up Beijings armed forces to make them the largest and best-equipped on the planet. He is doing so out of the rapidly growing profits from the sale of lithium carbonate extracted from the vast mines of occupied Tibet by usefully inexpensive slave labor. What is more, China has quietly been cornering the market in the extraction and supply of lithium carbonate worldwide. Every electric buggy churned out by Tesla and increasingly by other automakers worldwide must have lithium-ion batteries. All other metals are too heavy for the job. As it is, the extra weight of the batteries adds 30% to the mass of an auto and, therefore, 30% to its energy consumption. No sane government would for an instant interfere in the market to force real autos of the road and replace them with buggies that waste energy on that monstrous scale. Beijing has supported, trained and equipped the Taliban for decades. Once the Democrat administration in Washington (which has long been far too close to Communism for comfort) had done what was expected of it and pulled out the troops, carefully leaving nearly $100 billion in military materiel behind to ensure that the enemies of the West in the region were equipped with nothing but the best, the Taliban rewarded China for its support by granting it effective control of the lithium mines in Afghanistan, by far the largest and most productive in the world. China has also gained control of lithium mines in Africa via its Belt and Road debt-trap diplomacy scheme. It has bought a placeholder stake in the substantial deposits recently discovered in south-western Greenland (where, by a delicious irony, Communist environmental campaigners had succeeded in persuading their government that the lithium should not be extracted, prompting China to reduce its stake). China has a controlling 73% stake in the Cornish lithium mines in south-western England, whose Prime Minister, despite repeated attempts by the intelligence community, cannot be brought to understand the strategic importance of lithium. China is currently doing a deal with the recently elected Communist president of Chile to secure control of the mines there too. As a result, almost 100% of global lithium production is already under Beijings control, and the market in lithium carbonate is denominated not in dollars but in the Chinese currency. As governments panicked by the fear of unpersoning rush to ban affordable, energy-efficient gasoline-powered autos, the price of lithium carbonate has risen sixfold this year alone. Buy some now and put it in the shed. It will be worth dozens of times the cost in a year or two. If the British Prime Ministers crazed plan to ban real autos in just eight years time were to come to pass, the UK alone would consume almost all of the worlds current supplies of lithium carbonate, as well as half the global annual output of copper and twice the global output of cobalt. Worse still, as the price of electrical power continues to rise as coal-fired stations are needlessly shut down, not only the capital cost but also the running cost of electric buggies will put personal transport one of the greatest freedoms the West has given to the world far beyond the reach of the ordinary motorist. In the real world no longer inhabited by Western politicians, net-zero carbon dioxide emissions are not in practice achievable. As if the scarcity and soaring prices of rare-earth and other essential minerals as artificially increased demand driven by net-zero foolery rapidly outstrips supply were not bad enough, a net-zero electricity grid is simply unattainable. The reason is that once the installed capacity of unreliables (wind and sun) becomes equal to mean hourly demand, as it very nearly does in the US and in the UK, adding more unreliables cannot reduce total grid emissions. In any event, the requirement to back up unreliables with spinning reserve power from gas-fired power stations wipes out any theoretically obtainable reduction in emissions. Analysis of published grid data in the US shows that, notwithstanding close to 10% of capacity contributed by unreliables, only 0.3% of total grid emissions is being abated. By the time emissions from construction and cabling are taken into account, that 0.3% becomes a net-zero cut in emissions. Forgive the pun. In any event, net-zero emissions are unnecessary. Climatologists perpetrated a grave error of physics in 1984 when they borrowed feedback method from control theory in engineering physics without understanding it. They forgot the Sun was shining. They added the large solar feedback response to, and miscounted it as part of, the actually minuscule feedback response to the small direct warming by greenhouse gases. Thus, they overstated CO 2 -driven warming fourfold. After correction, global warming will continue to be, as it has long been, small, slow, harmless, and net-beneficial. Not a cent need or should be spent on attempts futile in any event to abate it. Had it not been for the Wests capitulation to Communist propagandists paid by Russia and China to peddle the official global warming narrative and profiteering by the ineffable strategic immaturity, scientific illiteracy and economic innumeracy of our current generation of politicians, trembling in fear of being unpersoned, the West would never have given Putin the means to rebuild his forces. But it is we who elect the politicians. Irresponsibly, we chose a close-to-Communist administration led by a fumbling geriatric in the United States and an etiolated, clapped-out, effete, no-longer-Conservative administration led by a notorious and all-too-exploitable sexual incontinent in Britain. Ion Mihai would be appalled. In his handwritten dedication to me on the dedication page of his book Desinformatsiya, he wrote: Dear Viscount Monckton, Please receive my warm thanks for your tireless exposure of Communism/Progressivisms economic stupidity and for your valuable help given to those who engaged in the war against Communism and Progressivism. With gratitude, Ion Mihai Pacepa. Ion Mihai is now merry in Heaven. In 2021 that friend of freedom died and I attended his virtual memorial along with his formidable widow and also the former CIA director who had long been his handler. How sorely we miss him. The gallant president of Ukraine and the army of brave citizens now fighting not only for their nations right to determine its own destiny but also for their very lives have us, the voters of the West, to thank for their existential predicament. After decades of imprudent self-disarmament aggravated by the global-warming stupidity by which we have long been funding the militaristic expansions both of Putin and of Xi, we are scarcely less at fault for the plight of Ukraine than is Vlad the Invader himself. Christopher Monckton is the third Viscount Monkton of Brenchley Something called a Mission Critical toolkit has been disseminated amongst British intelligence agencies MI5, MI6, and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), according to the Daily Mail. The Daily Mail published the leaked documents showing that the intelligence agencies are promoting inclusive language, attempting to do away with verbiage that could reinforce dominant cultural patterns, and urging Britains spies to declare their preferred pronouns and add them to their email signatures. This new guidance was allegedly approved by Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the U.K.s national security adviser. But wait, isnt the title Sir a vestige of bygone days? Is it not binary in nature, as well as being classist? Does it not itself reinforce dominant cultural patterns? The toolkit, shared internally in early December, purportedly states: Sharing your pronouns, if you are comfortable doing this, helps to create an environment in which this is normal. It notes, In national security, look out for words and phrases, such as strong or grip, that reinforce the dominant cultural patterns. (Really? Well, not to worry then; the dominant cultural patterns wont be dominant for long.) Documents in the toolkit also allegedly state, Avoid jargon, hierarchy or gender biases, and strongly caution against the use of the term manpower. Sir Lovegrove would disapprove. Use gender-neutral language to reflect peoples diversity and reduce stereotypes and assumptions, for example about job roles and functions which need not be gender-defined. Image: Flying the trans flag over M16s headquarters. Twitter screen grab. The toolkit tells staff that they should understand your unconscious bias, be aware of intersectionality, acknowledge your privilege, and consider refusing to speak on all-male panels. In that kind of climate, I think I would refuse to speak at all. The nanny state toolkit also encourages intelligence officers to read a list of books focusing on diversity, inclusion, and equity, including those by critical race theory advocate Kimberle Crenshaw. Richard Moore, chief of Britains Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), declared: Were proud of our trans and non-binary colleagues and committed to providing an inclusive workplace where you can be your true self. Diversity makes us more effective, inclusion makes us stronger. Apparently, you can be your true self only if you fully agree with the trans and non-binary agenda, and the inclusion of anyone else would not make British intelligence services more effective or stronger. MI6 proudly flew the transgender flag over its headquarters last April, to mark the Transgender Day of Visibility. Historically, a nations spies and intelligence agencies liked to keep a low profile for numerousand obviousreasons. Secrecy was the key to success, not visibility. Of course, back in those silly old days, Western leaders typically thought that protecting ones nation was more important than catering to a specific special interest groupor making sure their virtue-signaling tolerance was as visible as a transgender flag flying high above Vauxhall, Londons MI6 headquarters. As of today, thirty member countries constitute the NATO alliance. Between 1999 and 2020, fourteen countries were admitted into NATO in the following order: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. Much of that real estate borders Russia, and the U.S. is committed to defending those lands against Russian aggression. Alliances can be powerful deterrents to war, but they can also be dangerous. After Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated, the Serbians agreed to a long, demeaning list of Austrian demands to avert war. Nevertheless, the Austrians insisted on crushing Serbia without fear of drawing Russia to Serbia's defense, knowing that the Kaiser had sworn the equivalent of a Teutonic blood oath to defend Austria unconditionally, On December 9, 2021, Reuters reported that in a 90-minute phone call, President Biden had assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Kyiv's bid to join the NATO military alliance was in its own hands. Said Zelensky: "President Biden said very clearly that the decision on Ukraine's accession to NATO is the decision of the Ukrainian people only, this is a sovereign and independent Ukrainian state, he said ... and it depends on Ukraine and NATO members." Surely Biden knew that admitting Ukraine into NATO was a red line for Putin that would trigger a military response, and surely Putin knew about the phone call if Reuters published an article about it. Knowing we could not realistically prevent Russia from invading Ukraine if she was determined to do so, was it wise to give Zelensky those assurances just as Putin was massing troops on the border? Last week, the New York Times reported that for the last three months, from December through February, U.S. intelligence officials had been sharing information about Russian troop movements with the Chinese, in an unsuccessful attempt to get China to dissuade Putin from invading Ukraine. The intelligence given to the Chinese was passed on to the Russians, and wouldn't that harm rather than help the Ukrainians, whose interests we are presumably defending? On the face of it, the behavior of the Biden administration makes it look as though Biden's people were baiting Putin into invading Ukraine. But why? Getting a stock villain to do so something villainous can help shift the focus of the administration's tanking poll numbers. That's a high-risk motive if that's what it is. Then you have the Green New Dealies, who are influential in the Democrat party and are ever impervious to political and economic damage. They hate low oil and gas prices because they know that high oil and gas prices make their unpopular grand schemes more palatable to the masses. Motive or not, it's a fact that the U.S. imported 12 million to 26 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products per month from Russia in 2021, and we import more gasoline from Russia than from any other country: "In 2021, Russia accounted for 21% of all U.S. gasoline imports, with Canada second at 17%." To compound those stats, Biden's cancelation of the Keystone Pipeline has deprived us of about 800,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada. There's plenty of blame for this mess to be laid on Biden's lap. Our military's readiness, effectiveness, and status in the world have certainly been degraded by Biden. The whole world witnessed the humiliation of our withdrawal from Afghanistan. Wherefore art those woke generals who howled that climate change is the number-one threat to our national security? So far only John Kerry is dumb enough to publicly fret that the horror and stench of war are bad for the climate. Putin has put Russia on some sort of Defcon nuclear alert and has said removing Russian banks from the SWIFT banking network would be an act of war. An American/Russian cyber-war could be devastating to power grids, financial networks, and the energy sector. As much as we may wish for the resistance of the Ukrainians and the sanctions from the U.S. and Europe to succeed, we can only hope that those actions don't result in a catastrophic escalation of events. A bitter compromise agreement between Russia and Ukraine with which neither side is entirely happy may be the best result that can be achieved. Image: Vitaliy Ragulin. When I think of former attorney general William Barr, I think of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Part of him is an upstanding figure who respected constitutional limitations; another part of him is a loyal swamp creature who desperately wanted to serve a milquetoast George W. Bush (or George H.W. Bush) only to find himself working for a vigorous, aggressive Donald J. Trump. Both those aspects of his personality apparently come through loud and clear in a new 600-page book (and doorstop) in which he narrates his stints as U.S. attorney general under George Bush, Sr. and Donald Trump. I have not read One Damn Thing after Another and do not intend to. Everything in this short essay is based upon the New York Post's article about the book. First, the part of the article that reflects well on Barr's relatively short stint as Trump's A.G.: In his book, Barr defends himself against accusations that he was protecting Trump when he issued a summary of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on his investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. He also dropped the criminal case against Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials during the presidential campaign. Barr wrote that he had to intervene in those cases because of what he saw as overreach by federal prosecutors. "Predictably our motion to dismiss the charges led to an election-year media onslaught, flogging the old theme that I was doing this as a favor to Trump," he wrote in the book. "But I concluded the handling of the Flynn matter by the FBI had been an abuse of power that no responsible AG could let stand." Barr was correct. His summary of Mueller's report was accurate in all respects, so he did nothing wrong by writing it. As for Flynn, both the FBI and the prosecutors were engaged in gross overreach and abuse of power. It would have been a travesty to proceed, and Barr rightly pulled the plug. Image: Bill Barr. YouTube screen grab. However, with the Mueller Report front and center in my brain, I take serious issue with Barr's criticisms about Trump criticisms that seem to arise from the fact that Barr and Trump didn't get along: The conservative lawyer encouraged members of his party to consider "an impressive array of younger candidates" whom he did not identify by name who he believes share Trump's agenda but not his "erratic personal behavior," the book says. The former attorney general, who served from February 2019 to December 2020, wrote that the former president has "shown he has neither the temperament nor persuasive powers to provide the kind of positive leadership that is needed." The fact is that, with the massive, vicious, defamatory Russia hoax dogging almost all of his presidency, Trump was never given the opportunity truly to lead. That is, he was able to use his management skills to incredibly good effect, but the Democrat establishment ensured that he was not able to function as either a leader or a statesman. For Barr, who had Robert Mueller's report in front of him a report that tried desperately to smear Trump but was unable to do so because the facts weren't there to attack Trump is just low. When you look at Trump's successes despite the indecently corrupt anchor dragging him down, it's really extraordinary: a roaring economy; energy independence; a border coming under control (something, again, that the Democrats blocked); improved racial relations (blown to bits by George Floyd's selfish, drug-induced death and the Democrats' BLM/Antifa response); growing peace in the Middle East; a slow vise closing around Xi Jinping, the Iranian mullahs, Hamas, and Putin; and a growing rapprochement with Kim Jong-un, who was gently being inveigled into the fold of civilized nations. Barr also doubles down on his claim that the election was untainted by fraud, even though it was immediately obvious that multiple states and jurisdictions had unconstitutionally removed checks against fraud and engaged openly in vote fraud. Whether Barr did so because he hated Trump, was a coward, was siding with his Bush buddies, or something else, I don't know, and I'm betting he doesn't explain it in the book. All I know is that when I look at our open borders, broken economy, racial divisions, insane slide into wokeness, weakened military, and now a possible nuclear showdown with Russia, I strongly blame Barr. There's nothing in his book that can be sufficiently exculpatory for me ever to forgive him for abandoning Trump when the chips were down and it was clear that the other side had cheated. A long time ago, a power-mad tyrant established himself as the autocratic ruler of a democratic country. He crushed dissent within his own country, and then he began to make demands on other countries. At first, he went after small, weak countries. Often, he would take small parts of that country and annex them to his country. These were minor countries on the world stage, so most other countries would not stand up against him for those insignificant places. Other countries argued, "Why should we stand up for these little countries? This will only result in a major war. Who wants to risk another world war?" So no one wanted to stand up to him. Then one day, the tyrant changed his ways and simply invaded another country. There was a cover story giving a phony reason for the invasion, but everyone knew that it was false. The world knew that the invader would win, but everyone hoped for a miracle. As you've guessed, that narrative could describe Hitler in the 1930s or Putin now, given that the parallels between the current Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Nazi invasion of Poland are many. What's different is that there was an optimism about the future at the start of World War II. Poland, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, and France all fell quickly to Hitler, yet those countries did not completely give in. They each formed a "government in exile" in another country, typically Britain. Not only that, but expatriates who were able to make it to Britain formed their own fighting units, such as the "Free French" brigades and the Polish pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain. And don't forget the resistance fighters who waged unconventional war inside those countries. Each of these countries' governments and people expected that, one day, they would be able to return to their own land. Image: Polish flyers (plus one Canadian) in the Battle of Britain. Public domain. But where did that vision come from? Mind you, this was before the NATO alliance. It was before the United Nations was formed. And it was before the United States entered the war. By the fall of 1940, the only intact country fully opposed to Hitler's Third Reich, which stretched across most of Europe, was Britain. It was a pretty small alliance against such an overwhelmingly powerful foe. Britain had not yet won the Battle of Britain, an air battle. Neither the British nor these governments-in-exile had any idea how long it would take to defeat Hitler, but they were determined to try. The ability of those governments-in-exile to continue the fight depended on three primary things: Shelter: A country willing to shelter and support a government in exile. That country would be automatically targeted as Russia's enemy. Britain was already at war with Germany, so it had nothing to lose by sheltering governments-in-exile. Willingness: A cultural willingness to fight regardless of the strength of the enemy's forces. Churchill's speeches did much to strengthen his countrymen's resolve. Potential Leverage: A sense that a much larger military force just might be brought to bear in the near future. Britain worked for the U.S.'s participation, and it finally came about. This is highly speculative, but if Russia were to defeat Ukraine in the near term, I think Poland might be the best bet for a government-in-exile. Let's evaluate those three criteria: Concerning shelter, it is possible that a Western NATO country might be able to step into this role, but thus far no such country has stepped forward. Currently, though, Poland is allowing many Ukrainians fleeing the war to settle in their country. The Poles might accept a government-in-exile. Concerning willingness, Poland has a history of standing up to the Russian bear near the end of the Cold War. It's also a potential target of Russia because it's adjacent to Russia's ally, Belarus, and because Russia owned Polish land in the past. Concerning leverage, Poland is part of NATO. If the NATO treaty is to be believed and enforced, then war between Russia and Poland would bring the full force of that alliance to bear (pun intended). It may be that the war will end with Russia retreating. However, if the Russians prevail, there is a strong possibility that Putin will follow Hitler and expand his wars of conquest. If that turns out to be true, it would be better for the world to stand against Putin now than a much stronger Putin in the future. And that's why the possibility of continuing the fight should be considered. Trump absolutely did not praise Putin for invading Ukraine, contrary to what so many journalists; other Democrats; and people like Romney, Cheney, and other Trump-hating Republicans say. What he said is that Putin is a genius. It related to how he hoodwinked the U.S. and NATO as he prepared for war. There have been and are a lot of evil geniuses. While Putin built up his troops and telegraphed everything he was going to do for months, Biden, NATO, and others just talked and threatened him with sanctions. While Ukraine was asking for weapons, we were promising sanctions. Germany gave them helmets. Hillary, Pelosi, and other Democrats are saying Biden's strategy on Ukraine and Russia has been brilliant. That is stupidity on steroids, yet the media, Democrats, Romney, Cheney, and others are not pointing out their pure ignorance. Of course, the media and other Democrats have always been more concerned about talking points than results. Here is a timeline of items relating to Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. and under what president they occurred: In 1994, during Clinton's presidency, the U.S. and U.K. coerced Ukraine to give up its nuclear weapons by promising to defend them if Russia ever attacked. No matter how many times in the last 28 years, The U.S. and U.K. have not kept their word. In 2009, Obama backed out of a promise to put up missile shields in Poland and the Czech Republic, which certainly appeased Putin. It showed NATO members that the U.S. could not be trusted to keep its word. In March 2012, Obama whispered to the Russian president that he would be more flexible after the election. YouTube screen grab. Before the election in 2012, Obama laughed at Romney when Romney said Russia was a dangerous adversary. In 2013, the Obama administration gave Russia permission to take over a uranium mine from Canada and America, and all Russia had to do was give massive kickbacks to the Clintons. Obama drew a red line that if Syria ever used chemical weapons on his people, that country would be in big trouble. Yet Syria used them, and Obama essentially moved the red line and engaged Russia to monitor Assad, the Russians' buddy. The Obama administration signed on to the worthless Paris agreement, which leaves Russia and OPEC more powerful to control oil prices and essentially does nothing about the climate. It destroys the U.S. economy by decimating our fossil fuel industry. As Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, Obama refused to give the Ukrainians weapons, which certainly had to please Putin. It had to be pleasing to Putin that the Obama-Biden administration was so willing to lie to build up Iran with hundreds of billions as the Iranians pledged death to America. The more money Iran had, the more it could spend on arms in Russia, one of its biggest trading partners. Contrast the actions of Obama and Biden with Russia to how Trump handled them: Unlike Obama, Trump gave Poland and Ukraine weapons, which would have ticked off Putin. In 2018, Trump pushed NATO allies to pay more for their defense, which had to displease Putin. He also told Germany and other NATO countries that it was dangerous to be so dependent on Russia for their energy needs. Sadly, they didn't listen. Trump pulled out of the worthless Paris climate accord and started producing more American oil, which reduced the pricing power of Russia and OPEC and helped Americans with lower prices, especially the poor and middle class. Trump pulled out of the Iran deal and punished Iran with many sanctions and that harmed Russia. Putin and other dictators had to be pleased that while Trump was in office, the media and other Democrats trashed our country as an unfair, systemically racist country and claimed that capitalism helps only the rich. They love propaganda that they can feed to their people to say how much better they are than us. Then Biden took office and again catered to Putin: One of the first things Biden did was block the Keystone pipeline and send a message that he would destroy the American fossil fuel industry. And prices started going up. We also rejoined the Paris climate accord, which further weakens America and further raises prices. Anyone who thinks Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other oil-producing countries care about their carbon footprint needs to have his head examined. Biden waived the sanctions on Nord Stream 2, which helped Russia and harmed Ukraine. While Putin was building troops around Ukraine, the U.S. and other NATO allies were essentially begging Iran to get back in the Iran deal so we could help them build their economy. A main spokesman for Iran is a Russian. That is as brilliant as having Russia monitor chemical weapons in Syria. The Iran Nuclear Talks' Breakout Player Love him or hate him, Russia's man in Vienna has become the Iran deal's unofficial spokesman. While Putin was preparing for war in Ukraine, the Biden administration was giving China intelligence, which the Chinese shared with Russia. Another brilliant strategy. What could go wrong? While China was sharing intelligence with Russia, keeping the origin of the coronavirus secret, and committing genocide, the Biden Justice Department was deciding that it should stop investigating Chinese professors. Here is how CBS described it. Dropped investigation of Chinese professors The Justice Department is ending a controversial program, launched under the Trump administration, to hunt down Chinese spies. The "China Initiative" was designed to tackle a top national security priority: identifying and prosecuting those responsible for China's widespread theft of hundreds of billions of dollars a year in American trade secrets and intellectual property. The media frequently insert the word "controversial" into news stories when they want to influence, not inform their audience. "Controversial" should be used in opinion pieces, not news pieces. What possibly is controversial about investigating Chinese professors when we know how much intellectual property China steals? While Putin, Iran, and China prepare for war, the American military is focused like a laser on wokeness, computer-generated climate models, and kicking healthy people out of the military for refusing a vaccine that doesn't protect against a virus. Will the media ever report on all the kickbacks to the Biden family from Russia, China, and Ukraine? Isn't it important to know if those kickbacks influence Biden's policies, or don't journalists care about pure corruption? Journalists and others should pay attention to what politicians do instead of what they say. Make no mistake: Obama and Biden continually catered to Russia and Iran, and Trump held them at bay. The main solution to controlling Putin has always been for other countries not to become dependent on him for their energy needs. It is greatly heartening to see how well the Ukrainians have been fighting off Putin's invasion. Even for someone like me, who is skeptical of Russia's real military capabilities, it was surprising to hear how badly this is going. Now, apparently, the Russians are already bled so badly that Putin may have to call in reinforcements from Belarus. The average Russian soldier has no stomach for this fight. Almost as incredible, the new German chancellor has stepped up with powerful sanctions and weapons support, showing the leadership NATO has long needed. The last SPD chancellor was a Russian mouthpiece. Angela Merkel Frau Dummkopf, as I call her was long Putin's enabler, possibly part of her long suspected communist past. These developments, assuming they're really happening, must also have sent a chill down Chairman Xi's spine. The Red Chinese plans to take Taiwan the Republic of China (ROC) were often said to be similar to what Putin has tried in Ukraine, using much of the same arsenal of missiles and airplanes, their war machines being inferior copies of Russian designs. They would want to use a barrage of short-range missiles to soften up the ROC army, then land airborne troops, to get a toehold for a months-long amphibious invasion. Given the well armed and trained land, sea, and air forces of the ROC, and a million-man reserve, such an operation now looks like a suicide mission. But Ukraine's troubles are only beginning. The Ukrainians can fight off the Russians trying to enter their big cities, but they are surrounded. Another week, and the food shortages will be severe. Lack of medicines will see older people dying of chronic diseases and worse. We could see a modern version of WWII's Leningrad siege, maybe even with the cannibalism, if this keeps going. Somebody has to go to Moscow and talk to Putin, to at least get a ceasefire in place and allow humanitarian supplies to come in. There are only two people who have ever impressed Putin on the world stage enough to pull this off: Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. Mr. Xi leads Russia's only important ally. And Mr. Trump, whatever some Americans think of him, dominates world opinion in a way nobody has since Ronald Reagan. Uniquely, he is seen now as likely to return to the presidency. Mr. Xi won't lift a finger to help. Why would he? Mr. Trump, though, would be happy to lead a delegation to give this a try. Right now, Old Joe is hiding away in Delaware, and Team Biden, Blinken, Klain, Wendy Sherman is still trying to do a sell-out deal with Iran. That's why Saudi Arabia won't increase oil production. Waiting for these folks to get the message and do something smart may be a long time in coming. But perhaps with all the newfound courage among our NATO leaders, one or two of them can ask Trump to go visit Putin on their behalf. Making a deal with Trump instead of Biden could be just the kind of face-saving gesture that would entice Putin to stop the shooting. As long a shot as this may be, I figure the odds are better than what I suspect Team Biden may actually be planning: sending Kamala Harris over to beguile Putin with her feminine charms. Frank Friday is an attorney in Louisville, Ky. The Biden administration has done a lot of damage to immigration enforcement in the U.S., but perhaps its most dangerous move has been its consistent refusal to deport criminal illegal aliens who commit crimes right here in the U.S. The latest example of the Biden administration's malfeasance came late last month, when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) canceled a deportation request for an illegal alien who allegedly killed a teenager in a hit-and-run incident. Heriberto Fuerte-Padilla, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested in November 2020 after he allegedly drunkenly rammed his car into the car of 19-year-old Texas woman Adrienne Sophia Exum, killing her. Fuerte-Padilla then allegedly fled the scene before police officers caught up and apprehended him. After initially putting out a detainer for Fuerte-Padilla's deportation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rescinded the detainer after Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas dramatically reduced the pool of illegal aliens eligible for deportations. "To be arrested or deported, a migrant now must be a national security risk, a recent border jumper or a public safety risk," a report from the Washington Times stated. While most law-abiding Americans would likely consider drunk driving a "public safety risk," Mayorkas has made clear that he sees things differently. Shortly after taking office last year, Mayorkas announced that many criminal illegal aliens living in the country no longer had to worry about being deported. The guidelines adopted by DHS under Mayorkas's leadership give free passes to illegal aliens who commit crimes such as drunk driving and assault. Other illegal aliens living in Texas with drunk driving offenses are also getting a pass, according to the Washington Times' report. Another illegal alien who is benefiting from the Biden administration's relaxed rules is Jose Godoy Vasquez, an illegal alien from Guatemala who now lives in Texas. Vasquez has a lengthy criminal record, which includes convictions for drunk driving, drug possession, and domestic violence. Like Fuerte-Padilla, Vasquez initially had an ICE detainer on him, which was rescinded as a result of the policies implemented by Mayorkas after he took office. This means that Vasquez will be able to continue to live in Texas once he's released from prison in 2025 unless a new administration is elected and rescinds the White House's current policies. The Washington Times' report also noted Nay Thar, an illegal alien from Thailand who was previously convicted of drug possession and drunk driving. Thar was released from prison earlier this year and will be allowed to continue to live in Texas because of the Biden administration's guidelines. Biden is doubling down on his radical anti-borders agenda even as polls make clear that the American people oppose these policies. Even some Americans who cast their ballots for Biden in the last presidential election now regret their votes, including Adrienne Sophia Exum's mother, who recently expressed outrage over the administration's refusal to deport her daughter's alleged killer. "By him not being deported, it's like you telling me my daughter's life didn't mean anything," she said in a recent Fox News interview. It may sound harsh, but it's certainly a reasonable conclusion to come to, given the Biden administration's stubborn refusal to hold criminal illegal aliens accountable. At the very least, it's fair to say there is a startling lack of empathy from America's leaders toward victims of illegal alien crime. We see this lack of empathy demonstrated not just in this administration's refusal to deport illegal aliens convicted of drunk driving offenses, but in instances involving other crimes as well. A recent investigation from the Immigration Reform Law Institute uncovered the story of Antonio Miranda-Cota, an illegal alien in Nevada who is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for repeatedly bludgeoning his construction co-worker in the head with a claw-hammer, an act that nearly killed his victim. Miranda-Cota had previously been referred for deportation after two previous assaults but was allowed to stay in the country and was ultimately given a work visa by the Obama administration. Miranda-Cota's victim survived the attack but has lost his ability to work, and he was not allowed to read a victim impact statement at Miranda-Cota's sentencing. These crimes evoke outrage because of how preventable they are. The refusal of our political elites to enforce the law has led to a body count that continues to grow. The Biden administration's radical moves to protect criminal illegal aliens will only create more victims and more suffering. William J. Davis is a communications associate for the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a public interest law firm working to defend the rights and interests of the American people from the negative effects of mass migration. Image: Pixnio, public domain. Last week marked a grim period in American history. It was 80 years ago that, in the name of the "greater good," 120,000 Americans were rounded up by the "woke" ruling party of the day and shipped off to camps in order to "protect" everyone. They lost homes, businesses, jobs, savings, and in many cases their lives. They were denied their freedom and the American dream they were promised. In the aftermath, and upon reflection, it was determined that the Japanese-American internment during World War II not only was unlawful but also had no positive effect on the "greater good." Our nation pledged never again to allow this type of horror to be repeated. But that was then. Now, as we exit the two-year pandemic, we see many of the same tendencies from the "woke" ruling party of the day. In the name of the "greater good," we were thrust into home lockdowns and told "two weeks to slow the spread," a blatant lie to anyone familiar with the science of diseases. We were forced to mask up, to stand six feet apart, to let our loved ones die alone, lest we risk the safety of others to say goodbye. Above all, we were told that, to be re-accepted into society as we once knew it, we must undergo (at least) three doses of an experimental vaccine...or else! Many lost homes, businesses, jobs, savings, and in many cases their lives. They were denied their freedom and the American dream they were promised. In the aftermath, and upon reflection, we're learning that masks are actually detrimental, that lockdowns did nothing to slow the spread, and that the mRNA shots don't stop anything. It's highly unique that in America, government is formed in order to "protect the liberties of the people." Yet there have been times when government has forgotten its role, all with the well-intentioned "greater good" in mind. But our founders were wise to this excuse. They knew all too well that unrestrained power can be exercised upon an unsuspecting people where there are no laws in place to limit that power. The dictatorial whims of King George were a prime example. Freedom to work and freedom of medical choice have always been fundamental tenets of our society. Government was granted only the powers expressed in the Constitution, leaving all other power to the citizens who allow them the power to govern. The government must not be allowed to trample on the people's power even for the "greater good." It was Ronald Reagan who said freedom is only one generation away from extinction. Every generation has its moment to take a stand and preserve our great democratic republic that was gifted to us by Almighty God and administered through remarkable minds during our nation's founding. Exposing the festering poison of government control disguised as pandemic "safety" measures is just the beginning. There is much more to be done, and each of us has an opportunity to contribute. Let us each find the courage to do so. Let freedom ring. Andrew Crapuchettes is the founder and CEO of RedBalloon, founded in 2021 to fight alongside business owners, hiring managers, and job seekers to protect and preserve the fundamental freedom to work regardless of one's medical decisions, pronoun choices, or ideology. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain. (Image source from: Twitter.com) Telangana Chief Minister KCR is focused on national politics and he announced a Federal Front. For the same, he has been meeting several crucial leaders of the regional parties of the country. KCR left for New Delhi on Monday to meet several leaders in the national capital. A day before this, political strategist Prashant Kishor met KCR at his Erravelli farmhouse. There are strong talks that KCR will meet AAP Chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today to discuss about the Federal Front. KCR has also plans to meet retired bureaucrats and the officials of defence. KCR is planning a crucial meeting in Hyderabad very soon as per the update. Rakesh Tikait, the Union Leader for Farmers who was active in the protest of the farmers will meet KCR today in New Delhi. Telangana government announced an ex gratia of Rs 3 lakhs for the deceased farmers in the agitation. KCR's daughter Kavitha along with TRS leaders Santosh Kumar, B Vinod Kumar and V Srinivas Goud are present along with KCR for his Delhi trip. KCR and the leaders flew to Delhi from Begumpet airport. KCR recently met Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai recently. KCR is also in plans to meet some of the leaders from Punjab during his Delhi tour. The Telangana Chief Minister is in plans to launch Mana Vooru-Mana Badi program from Wanaparthy on March 8th. COSCO SHIPPING has ensured its core business remains globally competitive while building a comprehensive logistics supply chain service ecosystem. China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited (COSCO SHIPPING) was founded in Shanghai on February 18, 2016 as a result of the merger between China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO) and China Shipping (Group) Company (China Shipping). In the six years since its restructuring, COSCO SHIPPING has attached equal importance to improving the competitiveness of its core businesses and optimizing the industrial chain layout, while facilitating the global economic and trade development and creating an integrated logistics supply chain ecosystem. By constantly optimizing its business structure and layout and establishing a market-oriented operation system, it has made unremitting efforts to become a world-class enterprise with global competitiveness. Chinas first 20,000 TEU container vessel COSCO SHIPPING ARIES is docked at the port of Piraeus, Greece. Focus on Core Business and Optimize Industrial Structure During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), COSCO SHIPPING carried out deep and rapid reforms during the restructuring process. While focusing on four strategic dimensions scale growth, profitability, anti-cyclicality, and globalization, it made an overall plan to promote the integration of group headquarters and the reorganization of its core businesses. In 2016, also the initial year of its restructuring, COSCO SHIPPING completed the reorganization of its headquarters and seven core industrial clusters, including container shipping, ports, oil tankers, dry bulk shipping, logistics, shipping finance, and equipment manufacturing, as well as its overseas networks. Based on that, it successively completed a number of integration projects on seafarer management and educational resources, in addition to a total of 20 major specialized restructuring reforms. Eleven listed companies were engaged in the reorganization, involving 130,000 employees and more than 1,600 units in more than 160 countries and regions. Through reform and reorganization over the past six years, COSCO SHIPPING has continuously consolidated its industrial leadership and become the worlds largest integrated shipping enterprise, with a fleet capacity of more than 110 million DWT. It has also become the worlds largest terminal operator, with an annual throughput of 130 million TEUs. COSCO SHIPPING ranked 231st among the Fortune 500 in 2021, up 234 places compared with the pre-merger ranking. Today, the global operations of COSCO SHIPPING are gaining steam, with the overseas assets, income and net profits accounting for 57 percent, 59 percent and 63 percent of the total, respectively. In addition, the core businesses weigh more heavily, as the ability of the corporation to serve globalization has been effectively enhanced. Its total shipping capacity has increased by 35 percent compared with the pre-merger period, and the container shipping capacity has increased by 78 percent. Particularly since 2020, COSCO SHIPPING has added 47 ships into its fleet, with a capacity of 6.76 million DWT to stabilize imports and exports, ensure the transportation of anti-pandemic supplies, and safeguard the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain. Build an Unimpeded Service Supply Chain COSCO SHIPPING highlights the role of business that serves as a pivotal point and continuously strengthens port operations in the Belt and Road countries. Terminal business is the foundation and strategic support of its global network. COSCO SHIPPING has so far invested RMB 64.2 billion in countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and invested in 20 ports. In 2016, it acquired 67 percent of the equity in the Port of Piraeus, the largest port in Greece, and fully took over its operation. In 2019, the throughput of the Port of Piraeus jumped to 5.4 million TEUs, making it the largest port in the Mediterranean, and bringing great economic and social benefits to the local communities. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis jointly inspected the port on November 11, 2019. According to President Xi, the Belt and Road Initiative advocated by China is not just a slogan or a legend, but a real and exciting example of cooperation. He said that the project is a successful example of China and Greece complementing each others advantages and pulling together to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. The China-Europe Land-Sea Express starting from the Port of Piraeus has become the third trade corridor from the Far East to Europe. Extending from the Far East to the Port of Piraeus by sea, and then to the hinterland of Central and Eastern Europe by rail, it covers nine countries along the route and a population of 71 million. COSCO SHIPPING places great emphasis on total logistics and consolidates the land-sea integrated logistics service foundation. Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed, COSCO SHIPPING has been increasing its investments in Asia-Europe sea-rail intermodal transport and Asia-Europe freight trains. Transport services, including Chongqing-Shenzhen, Chengdu-Shenzhen, Lianyungang-Kazakhstan-Europe, and Tianjin-Moscow lines, have been launched successively in recent years. To further boost the construction of the new land-sea corridor in the west, COSCO SHIPPING has opened new ocean routes with Qinzhou Port in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as the departure or stopover port. Combined with the service provided for the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, special trains offering intermodal transport service were also put into operation in 2021, with new accomplishments achieved at Hainan Free Trade Port by the supporting industrial chains. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, COSCO SHIPPING launched special trains to transport pandemic prevention supplies to Germany, France and other countries and regions, which have provided a strong guarantee for the resumption of import and export trade of local enterprises, as well as great support for overseas pandemic prevention and control. COSCO SHIPPING highlights innovation-driven development and promotes the creation of a digital-empowered industrial ecosystem. During the reform, COSCO SHIPPING has been promoting digital innovation and transformation, applying big data technology to build a data integration platform to continuously improve its global resource allocation capabilities. It pioneered the application of blockchain technology in the shipping industry, and took the lead in building the industrys first blockchain alliance Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN). The GSBN platform has launched the paperless cargo release application, cutting the time for imported goods to be document ready for release from 24-48 hours to less than 4 hours. COSCO SHIPPING also launched Syncon Hub, a visual shipping e-commerce platform, and put into use the IRIS4 global container management system and e-commerce platforms for domestic trade to promote the realization of digital transformation and improve the transportation efficiency and service quality. In addition, it also launched Chinas first smart port with full-scenario application of 5G technology at Xiamen Ocean Gate Container Terminal, achieving smart port operation in all business scenarios empowered by 5G technology. Its data integration platform, IRIS4 system and GSBN blockchain platform have been successively listed as major projects by the Ministry of Transport While carrying out global operations, COSCO SHIPPING also highlights the obligation of fulfilling its corporate social responsibility. It attaches great importance to its overseas charitable causes and continues to organize regular charitable donations. In 2020, it launched a campaign in overseas markets to battle against COVID-19, donating 42 batches of supplies in cash and kind to more than 20 countries to support the global fight against the pandemic. COSCO SHIPPING (North America) was presented the 2020 Hero Award by the city of Secaucus where it is based and the Hudson Regional Hospital, as a recognition of its contribution to the local community during the pandemic. COSCO SHIPPING also received letters of thanks from Rotterdam Port Authority. The donation activities held by COSCO SHIPPING in Italy were covered by local media, including Rai Radiotelevisione Italiana and ANSA News Agency, which reported that at this historical moment, COSCO SHIPPINGs donations are more precious than gold and diamonds. North Andover, MA (01845) Today Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 47F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 47F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. The Huawei chairman says that the company does not intend to retreat from international markets despite sanctions and political issues. Huawei is currently one of the main victims of the dispute between the West and China. Huaweis Rotating Chairman Guo Ping presented his pre-recorded message to the MWC 2022. He stressed that others should judge Huawei by its achievements, not by where the company is located. Huawei has been excluded from all Western telecom development projects on charges of collaborating with the Chinese government on censorship and espionage. Regarding the issue, Ping said that to see the future, we need to look up, above the politics, partisanship, and rhetoric. Advertisement Ping also noted Huaweis determination to continue its presence in international markets. Many people ask whether Huawei will retreat from the international market. But the answer continues to be no. We are committed to helping customers who choose us to achieve the greatest business success. Despite all hardships, Huawei wont give up international markets Allegations of collaborating with the Chinese government have caused Huawei to lose a large portion of its market share. In this regard, the companys profit in 2021 decreased significantly. Huawei even hoped that it could reach an agreement with the new administration of the United States. However, Joe Biden whipped Huawei hopes by imposing new rounds of sanctions on the company and other Chinese manufacturers. Advertisement But Huawei still wants to continue to operate in international markets. The company has adopted new strategies and focused more on other areas of technology. We are reshaping three areas fundamental theories, architecture, and software that will support the long-term sustainable development of the ICT industry, Ping noted. Pings say that his company will increase its investment in foundational technologies that will reshape the technological paradigm. MWC 2022 could be a good opportunity for Huawei to showcase its latest achievements and let others know what valuable and cheap technologies they may lose if Huawei is excluded from global markets. PLEASE NOTE: ALL ONLINE PURCHASES ARE AUTOMATIC RENEWALS UNLESS YOU EMAIL JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM OR CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 256-235-9253.... Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM *NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY join with a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! AMEX is not accepted through this site. After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* (ANSA) - ROME, MAR 1 - The EU will be held responsible for the lethal weaponry it is supplying to Ukraine, Russia's ambassador to Italy Sergey Razov said Tuesday. "The citizens and structures of the EU involved in supplying lethal weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be held responsible for any consequence of such action in the context of the ongoing special military operation," he said. "They cannot fail to grasp the degree of danger of the consequences". Razov also said EU sanctions on Russia would not "remain unanswered". (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAR 1 - A 29-year-old Albanian bandit who broke out of jail at Vercelli by lowering himself down from his cell on a bedsheet on New Year's Eve has been caught in the Netherlands, Italian police said Tuesday. Kristjan Mehill, a member of the 'gang with the ice-cold eyes' who staged a string of burglaries in villas in Piedmont and Lombardy, was serving a term until 2029. The gang's biggest heist was in November 2018 when they stole cash and valuables worth some 40,000 euros from noted Monferrato wine producer Riccardo Coppo after repeatedly threatening to blow his brains out unless he opened his safe. The armed and violent gang were arrested in May 2019. Police said they operated with military precision - the same precision shown in Mehill's spectacular jail break. Three alleged accomplices in the jail break were also arrested. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAR 1 - The Italian embassy in Ukraine is being moved from Kyiv to the western city of Lviv due to the deterioration of the security situation in the capital and the resultant impossibility of ensuring full functionality, the foreign ministry in Rome said Tuesday. The embassy will move to Lviv in order to continue to carry out its functions, like other embassies which have already moved there, the ministry said. (ANSA). The debate about what democracy is, permanently crosses political and academic boundaries, extending in certain contexts to the whole of society. The system, conceived to defend the peoples right to elect and supervise their rulers through mechanisms of direct or indirect participation, is adopted mostly in the West, and in Latin America in particular, the U.S. model is used. With the rise of China in the international arena, debates are making their way in the West about whether or not there is democracy in China as democracy has failed to solve many problems of the people in the West. Much more is known in China about the democracy that is practiced in the West than in the West about the Chinese political system and democratic practices. Wang Xiaomei (first from left), deputy to the National Peoples Congress and vice principal of Qingshen Middle School in Qingshen County, Meishan City of Sichuan Province, conducts an on-site investigation of the implementation of the Qingshen Middle School relocation project, on May 14, 2020. Differences between China and the West There have been also a lot of discussions about democracy in China in recent years. However, it is considered a tool for the benefit of society, not a good in itself. On the other hand, in the West there is the conviction that if there is not an electoral process based on a multiparty system, with a very strong tendency towards U.S.-style bipartisanship, there is no democracy. In general, in the Chinese intelligentsia there is a need to advance the internal democracy of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to further deepening the current economic, political, and ideological legitimacy. If the legitimacy of the CPC deteriorates, this will not only have consequences in China, but throughout the world. Peoples congresses of different levels and the national and local committees of the Political Consultative Conference of the Chinese People are among the many platforms through which Chinese people can exercise democracy, participate in state and local affairs, voice their opinions, and supervise the government and the implementation of laws and the adopted resolutions. Dr. Cristina Reigadas, a political philosophy and ethics expert from Argentina, holds that the claim that there is no democracy in China is a Eurocentric prejudice and that the Chinese political culture is suitable for democracy. In the Chinese political reality, the efforts to strike a balance between tradition and innovation, as well as centrality and decentralization, within the framework of democratic centralism, create the best conditions for the growing popular participation of state affairs and democratic practices. This dynamic, enriching and not without challenges, is a process that is based on the sinicization of Marxism. It takes into account the rich ancient culture and philosophy of China, and allows a permanent adaptability to the changing reality, upholding the principle of seeking truth from the facts. This steers the country towards the resolution of contradictions, towards a society ruled by law and a socialist future. In this regard, President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech in October 2021 at a central conference on work related to peoples congresses. There he stressed that the government encourages and promotes democracy in China and allows popular participation in national governance, adding, Whether a country is a democracy or not depends on whether its people are really the masters of the country. Xi affirmed that democracy is a shared value of humanity and has always been cherished by the CPC and the Chinese people, and that it is not a decorative ornament, but an instrument for addressing the issues that concern the people. On the other hand, he was very clear about the attacks on the Chinese political system by stating that to judge whether a country is democratic or not, one must look into whether the rules and procedures for the exercise of power are democratic, and more importantly, whether the exercise of power is genuinely subject to public scrutiny and checks. Xi contended, Whether a country is democratic should be judged by its people, not dictated by a handful of outsiders, in a clear reference to the interventionist policies and the anti-China campaign promoted by the United States and its allies in the West. Xi believes that there is no fixed model of democracy; it manifests itself in many forms. A Permanent Debate Based on what we have observed, it can be concluded that socialism with Chinese characteristics is not incompatible with democracy, as many Western analysts want to make out, starting from the idea that democracy is exclusively Western. On the contrary, in China there is a whole-process peoples democracy in place. And democracy per se is considered a tool to benefit society, not a good in itself. One aspect that we consider very important is the way in which candidates for different legislative and executive positions are chosen in each country. In China, the starting point is direct elections at the base and indirect elections at higher levels. The candidates are proposed by local communities and grassroot organizations. The elected, in turn, designate the higher representative authorities, but having to answer to the lower instances for their decisions. In China, deliberative democracy is advancing, an effective practice to make the principle that the people are the masters of the country, a reality. Although it is very difficult to make predictions about how the political and participatory systems will evolve in China and in Western countries that follow the American model, there is some data provided by historical experience, by the processes underway, and by the systemic characteristics present in the capitalist or socialist objectives present in these countries, that can guide us to establish trends. In this sense, we understand that if the process of building socialism with Chinese characteristics continues, with advances and setbacks, in the consolidation and creation of popular participation mechanisms, with the same flexibility that it has been demonstrating, it can achieve much deeper progress than what is expected. On the contrary, many Western societies are facing the contradiction between the capitalist logic, based on exploitation, and the pre-eminence of increasingly concentrated economic, financial and media powers, which act as strong limitations to autonomous and sovereign projects and, ultimately, to the deepening of democracy. RUBEN DARIO GUZZETTI is an international analyst and member of the China Studies Department of the Center for Marxist Studies and Training in Argentina. MARCELO F. RODRIGUEZ is director of the China Studies Department of the Center for Marxist Studies and Training in Argentina. (ANSA) - ROME, MAR 1 - Italian Ambassador to Ukraine Pier Francesco Zazo has managed to rescue around 20 children including six newborn babies as the Italian embassy in Ukraine was moved from Kyiv to the western city of Lviv due to the deterioration of the security situation in the capital and the resultant impossibility of ensuring full functionality, the foreign ministry in Rome said Tuesday. The children had been taken in by the embassy in the last few days because they had no safe place to go. The embassy is moving to Lviv in order to continue to carry out its functions, like other embassies which have already moved there, the ministry said. (ANSA). BEIRUT - Over 300 people have been reported killed in February alone in the armed conflict in Syria that has been ongoing for over 10 years, according to the monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The victims include 161 civilians - 34 children and teens and 11 women. The soldiers and militants killed are 172, mostly ISIS fighters, members of militias led by the Kurdish PKK, government soldiers and anti-regime fighters, the NGO said. According to the detailed toll provided by the UK-based monitoring group, which has been counting for years on a widespread network of contributors on the ground, out of the 161 civilian victims, 45 were killed under torture in government-run prisons, including a minor. Another 33 victims, including two women and 16 minors, died in the explosion of landmines and other war explosives. Twenty-seven people, including four minors and four women, were killed in a raid carried out by the Russia-backed Syrian government. Three people - two children and a woman - died due to causes linked to the dire economic situation in regions strongly affected by chronic lack of food. A woman and a child were killed by gunfire shot by Turkish border guards. One woman was killed by jihadist militants. Two men were killed under torture in prisons run by anti-regime militants. Four people, including two teens, were killed by Kurdish militias. An additional 20 people, including three women and five minors, were killed in armed clashes not directly connected to the armed conflict but caused by growing social tension. The toll of non-civilian victims included 42 Kurdish and Arab members of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the coalition of militias led by the anti-Turkish Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK). In addition to these victims there were 39 members of ISIS, 32 Syrian government soldiers, 16 loyalist militiamen, as many anti-regime militia members, six Shiite jihadists who are members of Hezbollah or other pro-Iranian militias, one Turkish soldier, another 18 unidentified armed men, according to the NGO. TEL AVIV - Two Islamic Jihad militants were reportedly killed by Israeli gunfire last night in a refugee camp in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, according to a toll provided on Tuesday morning by Palestinian medical sources. The victims have been identified as Abdallah Hussari and Shadi Najem. The Islamic Jihad warned on Tuesday morning that it will retaliate. A message of solidarity towards militants who have taken up armed fight against Israel was issued by Hamas in Gaza. Israeli military sources were quoted by local media as saying that border guards and a special plainclothes unit went inside the refugee camp in Jenin to capture a member of the Islamic Jihad, Imad abu al-Hija. After his arrest, the Israeli unit was exposed to intense fire from automatic weapons and the launch of molotov cocktails and it responded by firing back. The two militants were hit during the shooting. According to Israeli media, in Jenin the security services of the Palestinian National Authority are showing growing weakness, which induces Israeli forces to carry out an increasing number of operations. Last week, Israeli forces killed a 14-year-old Palestinian whom they said was launching Molotov cocktails against them in the city of Bethlehem. Some 475,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank, together with 2.9 million Palestinians, in settlements that are mostly considered illegal under international law. BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic confirmed on Tuesday that Belgrade opposes sanctions against Russia over its military intervention in Ukraine. Vucic said that Serbia backed condemnations concerning the violation of territorial integrity, but did not adhere to sanctions, speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to begin work on a planned highway connecting Belgrade to Sarajevo. Such a situation, he added, will remain until he is president. The situation could change if another president will be elected on April 3, he explained. Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said Tuesday in Belgrade that Serbia deplores armed conflicts and the crisis that emerged in Ukraine, believing it is a mistake to violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of any State. Selakovic was speaking at a meeting with the head of the EU representation in Belgrade, Emanuele Giaufret and ambassadors of EU countries in the Balkan State. Serbia, he added, clearly urges the respect of international law, on which its foreign policy is based. Selakovic, who according to a statement issued by his ministry informed diplomats on the conclusions adopted over the past few days by the Council for national security, stressed at the same time that Serbia fully backs negotiations between the two sides and all international efforts to look for a peaceful and political solution to the crisis in Ukraine. Belgrade, he concluded, continues efforts to maintain peace and stability in southeastern Europe. CAIRO - The daily cost for Egypt of Ukrainian tourists who are stranded in Egyptian tourist resorts is "between 50 and 100,000 pounds", or between 2,850 and 5,700 euros for each hotel, opposition website Mada Masr said on Facebook, citing a member of the "board of tourist facilities", Ali Mansour. In case of a "continuation of the crisis and difficulties for Ukrainians to return" it is "possible" that the Egyptian union of tourist chambers will "help pay off the owners of hotels by negotiating with the government", noted Mansour. According to the charge d'affaires of the Ukrainian embassy in Egypt, Ruslan Nechai , there are "16,000" Ukrainian tourists stranded in Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam, the three main seaside resorts on the Red Sea. Belarusian military chiefs are among those to be targeted as part of the UKs first tranche of sanctions against Minsk for the role it is playing in Russias invasion of Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Belarus president Alexander Lukashenkos administration actively aids and abets Russias illegal invasion and should be made to feel the consequences. Four senior defence officials and two military enterprises have been sanctioned with immediate effect under the UKs Russia sanctions regime, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said. The named individuals will be unable to travel to the UK and any UK-based assets will be frozen. The decision affects the Belarus chief of the general staff and first deputy minister of defence, Major General Victor Gulevich, who is responsible for directing the Belarusian armed forces. The Foreign Office said the Belarusian military has supported and enabled the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Others sanctioned include Major General Andrei Burdyko, the deputy minister of defence for logistics and chief of logistics of the Belarusian armed forces; deputy minister of defence for armament and chief of armament of the Belarusian armed forces, Major General Sergei Simonenko; and deputy minister of defence, Major General Andrey Zhuk. State enterprises JSC 558 Aircraft Repair Plant and JSC Integral, a military semi-conductor manufacturer, have also been included in the economic strike, the FCDO said. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has announced that sanctions relating to Russias invasion of Ukraine will be extended to hit Belarusian military officials and organisations (Efrem Lukatsky/PA) JSC 558 provides maintenance and servicing to military aircraft at Baranovichi air base, from which Russian aircraft operated as part of the invasion, according to the department. The Foreign Secretary said: We are inflicting economic pain on Putin and those closest to him. We will not rest until Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity is restored. The Lukashenko regime actively aids and abets Russias illegal invasion and will be made to feel the economic consequences for its support for Putin. There will be nowhere to hide. Nothing and no one is off the table. The move follows separate sanctions against Russia, including preventing designated Russian banks from being able to transact payments in sterling and have correspondent banking relationships with UK-based banks. NEWS: UK imposes sanctions on Belarus for its role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) March 1, 2022 It is designed to cut Russias biggest bank, Sberbank, out of the UKs financial markets. A ban has also been enacted on a range of exports critical to the maintenance and development of Russias military and strategic interests. It is being applied in close alignment with the US, European Union and other partners to collectively cut off much of Russias high-tech imports, with the intention of constraining Russias future military-industrial and technological capabilities. The Belarus sanctions are on top of those already applied on Minsk by the UK since 2020. More than 100 people and organisations have previously been targeted in response to the fraudulent elections in Belarus and the litany of abhorrent acts and human rights violations that the Lukashenko regime continues to commit, the FCDO has said. UN ready to scale up humanitarian operations in Ukraine once security permits Xinhua) 08:11, March 01, 2022 Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2022 show a temporary resettlement site for people from Ukraine, in Przemysl, Poland. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) The UN Refugee Agency reported that more than half a million people have already crossed international borders, primarily toward Poland. At least 160,000 were internally displaced. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and partners are preparing to scale up humanitarian operations in Ukraine once the security situation permits, a UN spokesman said on Monday. Local civil society organizations and volunteers are on the front lines providing support to everyone in need, including internally displaced people, those impacted by the violence and the people trying to cross borders, said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "Our colleagues are telling us that days of intense clashes across parts of Ukraine have caused civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure, with severe humanitarian consequences," he said. "Road damage and insecurity have disrupted local supply chains and access to food and other basic items." The spokesman said the UN Refugee Agency reported that more than half a million people have already crossed international borders, primarily toward Poland. At least 160,000 were internally displaced. "Our humanitarian colleagues are also warning that the increasingly intense conflict threatens to trigger a humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine and in neighboring countries," said Dujarric. People from Ukraine arrive in Medyka, Poland, Feb. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Nan) He said the World Food Programme (WFP) is launching a three-month emergency operation in Ukraine to provide food assistance for people fleeing the conflict. The WFP is on standby to assist refugees in neighboring countries, as requested. WFP teams are on the ground in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev and in a number of neighboring countries, leading the emergency telecommunications and logistics clusters on behalf of the UN's humanitarian community, he said. The WFP also warns that the Black Sea basin is one of the world's most important areas for grain and agricultural production and that the conflict's impact on food security will likely be felt beyond Ukraine's borders, Dujarric said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) NAIROBI, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations has called for the use of science-based innovative solutions in order to halt the decline in the health of oceans globally. Peter Thomson, the special envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Ocean, said Monday that science has the solution that is crucial toward restoring the health of marine and coastal ecosystems. "The international community needs to produce solutions that could lead to starting a new chapter in the global ocean action," Thomson said at a forum on oceans held on the sidelines of the fifth resumed session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) underway in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Thomson emphasized there was an urgent need to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and for use by future generations. He observed that for a long time micro-plastics have unleashed health challenges to consumers of ocean resources. Inger Andersen, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said that oceans must be kept healthy since millions of populations globally rely on them for survival while urging nations to embrace the blue economy since it is part of the solution to the growing ocean pollution and the climate crisis. She urged UN member states to take keen attention to climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss in order to transform livelihoods and emphasized the need to embark on the transfer of technology and finance to save the planet from the global crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, pollution and waste. She also called on fishing communities to embrace sustainable fisheries and ensure that plastics are not thrown into the water systems. Macharia Kamau, the principal secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, observed that low funding toward blue oceans is part of the delay in meeting the fourteenth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG14), adding that 2 percent of funds that have been allocated through green climate projects is not enough for the island states and oceans programs. Sleeping in the basement, struggling to eat and keeping an eye on the news 24 hours a day. That is the new reality for many Ukrainians, according to one student living just outside of the capital Kyiv. Liza Chernobay, 19, spent the last six years studying at a school in Gloucestershire in England but was living with her parents in central Kyiv when the Russian invasion began. Now they have moved outside of the city to stay with friends, where they are continuing to monitor the situation before deciding what to do next. At the moment to travel is probably more dangerous than to stay where you are, she told the PA news agency. Liza Chernobay said the last few days in Ukraine have felt like a dream (Liza Chernobay/PA) If things will start to get worse but its just, the word worse what is good and what is bad is quite relative at the moment. Everything seems quite horrible. Ms Chernobay said the last few days have felt unreal. She said: It all felt like a dream like Im gonna go to sleep, then wake up the next morning and everythings gonna be just fine, but it never happened. And now Im realising that it is this new reality. And very often I start thinking about what could have been, what life could have been, whats not gonna happen anymore, whats not possible anymore, and think about the bad things. I try not to think about it because it doesnt help, but to be completely honest, it does pop into my mind quite often nowadays. Ms Chernobay is due to return to the UK later this year to go to university but is now uncertain whether it will happen. First of all, even though it sounds very morbid, but I dont know if Ill still be alive, she said. Hopefully, I will. But I currently dont have a visa to the UK. If I managed to get to another country, I suppose that wont be a problem. But also there is a factor which is a very, very big concern, which is the economic impact of this war on Ukraine. For now she remains in her friends house, waiting to see what happens next. And while the initial shock has lessened, Ms Chernobay is still struggling to come to terms with what is happening. I think things are a little bit more calm, she said. Well, again, the word calm here is used very relatively calmer than before. So I feel less shocked still afraid, but not as intensely afraid. Nowadays the routine consists of checking the news 24/7 its just my new job, to read the news and to share some information. Liza Chernobay is now living with friends outside the Ukrainian capital Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Her family and their friends are sleeping in the basement of the house, which she described as the best solution in the absence of a bomb shelter. Many are struggling to eat and sleep though, and nearly all semblance of normal life is gone from her daily routine. She said: It starts with checking the messages and asking my friends who are still in areas most affected whether they are OK likewise my grandmother, shes still in Kyiv. And I check the news. And as a person living in 2022 I think its one of my small duties to spread truthful information so I do a lot of my own little media campaign on Instagram. Ms Chernobay said they try to do some exercise and go outside when they can. And she added: I was lucky to bring a book with me, but I havent touched it. I just cant do anything normal it just doesnt seem right. The International Energy Agency said that all 31 member countries have agreed to release 60 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves to send a strong message to oil markets that there will be no shortfall in supplies as a result of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The IEA board made the decision at an extraordinary board meeting of energy ministers chaired by US energy secretary Jennifer Granholm. Besides the United States, other members of the organisation include the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. Russian President Vladimir Putin (Alexei Nikolsky/AP) IEA members hold emergency stockpiles of 1.5 billion barrels. The release amounts to 4% of stockpiles or roughly two million barrels per day for 30 days. It is only the fourth time in history that the IEA has done a coordinated drawdown since the reserves were established in the wake of the Arab oil embargo in 1974. Nicola Sturgeon has called on the UK Government to waive all visa requirements for any Ukrainian nationals fleeing the Russian invasion and seeking refuge in the UK. In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Scotlands First Minister said she is concerned current proposals from Westminster are still insufficient given the gravity of the situation. Mr Johnson announced on Tuesday that more Ukrainians will be allowed to enter the UK to join family members as they flee the war zone, which his official spokesman said would widen eligibility to around 200,000 people, twice the number previously estimated. Ms Sturgeon urged Mr Johnson to offer immediate refuge and sanctuary, where necessary for those who may be displaced. She said: For those Ukrainians who were already in the UK prior to Russias unprovoked and illegal invasion, the UK Government announcement of temporary visa extensions and in-country visa category switching measures simply do not go far enough. Ukrainians in the UK should be offered the assurance that they will be offered protection in the UK for as long as is required, regardless of their migration status. In this respect it is vital that you lift No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and any employment restrictions so that individuals can support themselves and access vital public services during this difficult time without fear of breaching the conditions of their visa. Her letter also says that Scotland stands ready to offer refuge and sanctuary for those who may be displaced as it did with the Syrian Resettlement Programme, which saw all 32 local authorities in Scotland welcome Syrian families into their communities. Ms Sturgeon said it is vital that rapid, safe and legal routes be established immediately, cooperating with international partners wherever possible. She said it is important to learn the lessons from the Afghanistan resettlement schemes in order to provide rapid and appropriate support to those who need it. Ms Sturgeon added: We cannot turn our back on the people of Ukraine during what is arguably the most serious moment the world has faced since the end of the Cold War, and one of the most dangerous since World War II. Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Poland on Tuesday (Leon Neal/PA) She said further action is needed on three fronts to support UK nationals and their family members who currently have a right to enter the UK but who face bureaucratic barriers, to establish a safe route for those fleeing conflict, and to support Ukrainian nationals currently in the UK or arriving here seeking refuge. During a visit to Poland on Tuesday, Mr Johnson announced that individuals and organisations will be able to sponsor Ukrainian refugees to come to the UK. The first phase of the plan had allowed people in Ukraine who had immediate family members in the UK to come and join them, but the move was criticised for being too restrictive. Downing Street said people living in the UK would now be allowed to bring in adult parents, grandparents, children over 18 and siblings in addition to those who had previously been allowed. Mr Johnson said the widened access would allow very considerable numbers of Ukrainians to come. At Holyrood earlier on Tuesday, Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson said that MSPs from all parties should call on the UK Government to waive visa requirements for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. A UK government spokesman said: The United Kingdom with Scotland within it has a strong and proud history of supporting people in need and that will never change. We are making it easier for people here to bring their Ukrainian relatives to join them in the UK and today we announced further measures, including our sponsorship scheme, that could see thousands more come to the UK. We welcome the Scottish Government and Scottish councils offers to support these efforts, demonstrating that when we pull together we can achieve so much more. Russia could try to starve Ukrainian cities of food to break the fierce resistance to the invasion, Kyivs ambassador to the UK has told MPs. Vadym Prystaiko said Vladimir Putin is facing a lack of progress. with civilians meeting his tanks by hurling Molotov cocktails from their cars rather than the flowers he dreamed of. The diplomat warned that the Russian president could try to crush the will of the Ukrainian people to resist, and raised concerns about people running out of cash. There is currently a lifeline to secure food supply, but Mr Prystaiko warned of a bottleneck, a very serious one and raised the need to explore the option of humanitarian ships being able to arrive in the Black Sea. Conservative MP Bob Seely asked the ambassador during an appearance before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee whether the Kremlins strategy could be to starve civilians into surrender. Mr Prystaiko replied: The support and resilience is going so much against his (Mr Putins) plans and in Russia themselves start asking questions, What are we doing? I believe they might use the tactics you described in the second part try to block our cities, try to soften political position, try maybe some riots in Ukraine, because of the lack of foods, against the government. Mr Prystaiko said officials might have to come up with some military solution to the distribution of food. Mr Seely said he recognises that to prevent a civil breakdown you need arms and you need food. The Ukrainian ambassador seemed to hold out little hope over the negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, saying we just stated our positions and went back to our capitals, with the Kremlin wanting demilitarisation and recognition of annexed state Crimea as Russian territory. Addressing how Mr Putins assault can be overcome, Mr Prystaiko said: The only soft spot he still has is his own population. The circle around him, we dont believe that they are self-sufficient or risky enough to tell him no. Maksim Chmerkovskiy has reached Poland after fleeing Ukraine. The pro dancer, who was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. in 1994, shared the news Tuesday on Instagram. "I'm in Poland," he wrote along with flag emojis for Ukraine and Poland. (Screenshot: Maksim Chmerkovskiy via Instagram) In a second post, he noted that he hadn't slept in 31 hours. Chmerkovskiy, of Dancing With the Stars fame, had been in his birthland to shoot the reality competition series World of Dance Ukraine when Russia invaded. He documented his experience being in Kyiv as the war broke out. On Monday, he shared that he had been arrested in Kyiv. He also said he was beginning his journey out of the county. It involved taking an overpacked train, with its five train cars stuffed with people fleeing, to the Poland border. The cabin he was riding was normally for 30 people, but they were told they would have to fit about 135 people. Chmerkovskiy said he would be limiting updates to conserve battery power so he could stay in touch with his family. About 30 miles before reaching the border, he made a quick video when the train stopped to change wheels and passengers used the restroom. He talked about how "packed" the train cars were. He said one car was slightly less filled because it was devoted to transporting sick children and adults. More than 500,000 people have fled the country in recent days, the U.N. estimated. In his updates, Chmerkovskiy previously made it clear that because he's Ukrainian-American and holds a U.S. passport, he had more options. ("I have a passport and a way out. A lot of people here do not," he said.) The dancer's full-time residence is in Los Angeles with his wife, Peta Murgatroyd, and their 5-year-old son, Shai. He also said that being in Ukraine while the war plays out has resurfaced old wounds from his childhood. He said it felt "like the way it was when ... we left [Ukraine] in the '90s" and immigrated to Brooklyn. "My old PTSD Ive finally fixed is coming back." Cartier lawsuit accuses Tiffany of stealing luxury jewelry trade secrets Tiffany & Co. jewelry is displayed in a store in Paris By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -Cartier sued Tiffany & Co on Monday, accusing its luxury rival of stealing trade secrets concerning its high-end jewelry from an employee it lured away in December, in a sign competition in the fast-growing jewelry category is heating up. According to a complaint filed in a New York state court in Manhattan, Tiffany hired an underqualified junior manager away to learn more about Cartier's "High Jewelry" collection, where pieces typically cost $50,000 to $10 million. Cartier, a unit of Switzerland's Richemont SA, called Tiffany's hiring of Megan Marino a desperate bid to revive its own high jewelry unit after it was left in "disarray" following several departures, reflecting Tiffany's "disturbing culture of misappropriating competitive information." According to court papers, Tiffany appeared to pin ultimate blame on Marino by firing her after just five weeks. In an affidavit accompanying the complaint, Marino said Tiffany was "more interested in hiring me as a source of information than as a High Jewelry manager." Cartier also accused Tiffany, owned by luxury goods group LVMH, of letting a recently hired former Cartier executive work on a high jewelry project called the "Blue Book" despite her six-month non-compete agreement. Contacted by Reuters, Tiffany said in a statement: "We deny the baseless allegations and will vigorously defend ourselves." The lawsuit seeks an injunction requiring that Tiffany return and not use stolen trade secrets, plus unspecified damages. Cartier said in a statement: "Cartier fully respects the rights of competitors to pursue their commercial objectives. In this case, however, Tiffanys commercial ambition crossed the line between the ordinary course of business and unfair competition." Bernstein analyst Luca Solca said he believed LVMH was indeed in the process of becoming a contender for category leadership against Richemont. "Branded jewelry after the Tiffany acquisition has transformed from an oligopoly to a duopoly. Tiffany has plenty of opportunity to revive its fortunes," Solca said in an emailed statement. On Jan. 19, Richemont said strong demand for jewelry and watches following a trough earlier in the coronavirus pandemic boosted quarterly sales by 32%. Sales at Richemont's jewelry brands Cartier, Buccellati and Van Cleef & Arpels rose 38%. The case is Cartier v Tiffany and Co, New York State Supreme Court, New York County. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel, additional reporting by Silke Koltrowitz in Zurich; Editing by Sandra Maler and Jonathan Oatis) The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created a humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing their homes. More than 160,000 people reportedly have been displaced within Ukraine since February 24 when the invasion started and over 520,000 have crossed into neighboring Moldova, Poland, and other European nations. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations warned that up to five million Ukrainians could be displaced. Many around the world are looking for ways to help. Here are some organizations that you can donate to assist Ukrainians in need. Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders Doctors Without Bordersis sending teams to Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia to set up emergency response sites. It already in place in Russia and Belarus. In Mariupol, Ukraine, the organization is distributing medical kits for injured people and is providing telemedicine training for trauma care for 30 surgeons from eastern Ukraine. A women waits beside a Ukrainian flag after refugees from the Ukraine arrive at the main train station on March 1, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. Governments around the world are still struggling to evacuate their citizens caught between Russia's armed invasion and the mounting humanitarian crisis as Ukrainians flee to neighbouring countries. (Photo by Hannibal Hanschke/Getty Images) UNICEF UNICEF (United Nations Childrens Fund) helps children through the United Nations. The organization is working in eastern Ukraine with municipalities to provide emergency programs for affected children and families, including: Setting up health, hygiene, and emergency education supplies; Delivering safe water by truck to affected areas; Supporting teams providing psychosocial care to children, responding to cases of violence and abuse, and assisting children separated from family. The International Committee of the Red Cross The International Committee of the Red Cross is delivering clean water to Ukrainian citizens. The Red Cross is also helping to rebuild infrastructure in the nations areas thats been destroyed during the Russian invasion. Project C.U.R.E. Project C.U.R.E. delivers medical equipment to people in developing countries. The organization is currently working to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian hospitals. It plans to send a cargo shipment to Ukraine via Poland on Friday, March 4, according to its website. The organization is also planning a second shipment. World Food Kitchen WCK has expanded our #ChefsForUkraine response into Romania! Working with restaurants like Marinela in Stefanesti, were serving hot, fresh meals to families at a local community center. Today Marinela made chicken soup, pilaf with sausage, and chicken with polenta. pic.twitter.com/mJ4xBCXmj4 World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) March 1, 2022 Chef Jose Andres and his non-profit World Food Kitchen is setting up operations in the region to serve hot meals to Ukrainians fleeing the invasion. The organization has multiple locations serving food in border crossings in Poland. It's also supporting local restaurants offering meals in Odessa and Lviv in Ukraine. Teams are arriving to Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and Hungary to offer support. Razom for Ukraine Founded in 2014 after Russia invaded Crimea, Razom for Ukraine Razom means together in Ukrainian is purchasing medical supplies to support Ukraine. Donated funds will go to buying items as tourniquets bandages, combat gauzes, sterile pads, and satellite phones. The organization is collaborating with U.S. nonprofits that provide medical supplies to countries in crisis as well as Nova Ukraine, United Help Ukraine, Revived Soldiers Ukraine, Sunflower for Peace, and Euromaidan-Warszava. Ukrainian women who were fleeing Russian invasion of Ukraine hold their children as they arrive at a temporary camp in Przemysl, Poland, March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach United Help Ukraine United Help Ukraine raises funds to provide food and medical supplies and humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees. The organization also works to raise awareness about the Ukraine crisis. Save the Children Save the Children is a charitable organization dedicated to helping children in crisis. In Romania, it is working with migrants and asylum seekers in five reception centers. In four refugee camps in northeastern Romania, the organization's teams are planning to distribute essential items and set up spaces where children can safely play, learn and cope with grief and loss. The organization is also assessing needs in Poland and Lithuania. International Rescue Committee The International Rescue Committee provides health and education services to refugees and is in Poland preparing for the influx of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion. It is working with the government and local nonprofits to address the crisis and scale up its support as needed. Ella Vincent is the personal finance reporter for Yahoo Money. Follow her on Twitter at @bookgirlchicago. YF Plus Read the latest personal finance trends and news from Yahoo Money. Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn. Facebook parent Meta (FB) is taking on Russian propaganda by removing groups and users that share it on the companys social networks. But that doesnt mean Meta will ever be completely rid of it. One of the fundamental truths of security is that the bad guys keep trying, and we know they'll keep trying, Nathaniel Gleicher, head of security policy at Meta, told Yahoo Finance on Monday. The goal is to make them less and less effective. On Monday, Meta announced that it knocked out a pro-Russia network of accounts spreading disinformation about Russias invasion of Ukraine. The group, Gleicher said, is linked to a similar Russian operation Meta took down last year. The difference this time around, however, is that while the propagandists managed to get some 250,000 followers to their various pages promoting Russian disinformation before Meta caught them in 2021, they only got 5,000 followers this year. That's a very good trend, Gleicher said. Facebook-based disinformation campaigns arent new. Russia attempted to disrupt both the 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections, as well as the U.Ks 2016 Brexit referendum and elections in France in 2017 and Germany in 2021. Gleicher, however, says that unlike in 2016, networks of defenders now work to recognize disinformation campaigns. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with representatives of the business community at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia February 24, 2022. Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via REUTERS Despite those increased efforts, however, Meta continues to face considerable pushback from regulators around the world who say the company doesnt do enough to remove disinformation. Meta, for its part, says it doesnt want to delete posts, regardless of accuracy, so that users can see what people are posting. The company does, however, label disinformation and misinformation as incorrect. As for how the company identifies disinformation, Gleicher told Yahoo Finance that the social media giant works with third-party fact-checkers to ensure the accuracy of user-generated content. But not everyone likes Metas fact-checking. Russia, for instance, has limited its citizens access to Facebook, because Meta refused to stop labeling disinformation from state media organizations as false. On Monday, at the request of the European Union, Meta blocked the pages for Russias RT and Sputnik state media organizations across the E.U. Beyond the disinformation networks its dismantling, Meta announced that it is monitoring a Russia-linked hacker group known as Ghostwriter thats stealing users credentials to spread disinformation. According to Gleicher, the group is sending out fraudulent emails in an attempt to gain access to victims email accounts. Once they do that, theyre able to jump to their social media accounts and begin posting as if they were their victims. The group is specifically targeting high-profile Ukrainians including politicians and journalists in an effort to spread disinformation about the invasion. One of the pieces of content they tried to share was a video that purported to show Ukrainian soldiers surrendering and waving a white flag of surrender, Gleicher explained. This is why it's so important to find and counter these operations early. Sign up for Yahoo Finance Tech newsletter More from Dan Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit Got a tip? Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley. MOGADISHU, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) said Tuesday its forces killed ten al-Shabab terrorists in the ongoing security operations in Lower Jubba, southern part of the country. The SNA commanders leading the operation told the State-owned Radio Mogadishu that some of the militants were also wounded in the sting operation conducted in Yontoy, Raynerow and Farbulay locations. "Ten al-Shabab terrorists were killed and some wounded and captured in special security operations conducted by the SNA in Yontoy, Raynerow and Farbulay of Lower Jubba region on Tuesday," the radio reported. The latest onslaught on the militants came hours after the security forces repulsed an attack on its military base in Hudur town in Southwest State early Tuesday, killing five al-Shabab militants. There was no immediate comment from the terror group which has intensified its near-daily attacks during the electoral process. Prime Minister Mohamed Roble on Tuesday held a meeting with senior security and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) commanders where he directed them to enhance security in the country. During the meeting, Roble instructed the officials to intensify the counter-terrorism measures in the country and maintain the stability in the capital ahead of the elections of parliamentary speakers and the presidential elections. When Ann Civitareales father passed away in 2009, she little fathomed that she would spend thousands of her inheritance on medical and educational testing for her two sons. Yet the boys, 12 and 14, have struggled with multiple disabilities including developmental and speech delays and profound challenges learning to read that she did not feel the schools could sufficiently diagnose. Usually when you get a report back from the school, its just a few pages, not a comprehensive report, she says. Ive always gotten them more than what the school offers. I want them to have the best possible start in life. Over the last decade, Civitareale, who lives in the Boston suburb of Medford, estimates she has spent upwards of $20,000 on the independent testing. Each of her sons has had five evaluations each, with insurance covering the base rate of $5,000. Yet Civitareale has paid an average of $2,500 out of pocket each time for extras not covered by her familys already expensive insurance, including classroom observations and expert testimony at school meetings. One dyslexia evaluation with an expert who didnt accept insurance cost her family $5,000 alone. Ann Civitareale sits at the kitchen with her sons as they work on homework. Despite the fact that she and her husband paid more for health insurance that covered a lot of it, Civitareale estimates that her family's spent upward of $20,000 out of pocket for evaluation-related expenses alone. Costly independent evaluations have come to play an outsize role in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous disabilities, from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to autism to dyslexia. Depending on the scope, the evaluations can involve up to two days of testing, interviews and observation with up to a dozen doctors and experts. And thats even for disabilities that are relatively common: An estimated 9% of American kids have ADHD. Dyslexia hinders a persons ability to read words correctly and efficiently, with between 5% and 15% of the population likely affected. The costs can make it more complicated and expensive for whole swaths of Americans particularly families with lower incomes and those living in rural areas to access desperately needed special education services. Dyslexia is not for poor kids, because you dont get the diagnosis. You dont get the treatment, says Maureen Ronayne, another Medford parent. She and her husband, a carpenter, have struggled to afford repeated independent evaluations for two of their six children. She said theres an oft-recited maxim: This is a rich mans game. Two boys with the same disability tried: The rich student got it quickly. The poor student did not. Homework at the kitchen table in the Civitareale family. In some school districts, a specific diagnosis and even the first-hand testimony of a neuropsychologist can be crucial for accessing the best services. Those can range from occupational and speech therapy to small group time with a teacher to a publicly funded spot in a specialized private school. The system designed to support struggling students is broken in ways that extend far beyond evaluations, says Nadine Gaab, an associate professor and reading expert at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Why are we not making assessments in the schools better and more comprehensive? Speaking of reading in particular, she says: We need to move from a reactive model to a proactive model, where we are trying to find the people who will most likely develop problems and help them before they struggle so much. What is a neuropsychological test? The independent evaluations many families find so costly and hard to access originated in a well-intended provision of federal law: the guarantee that families have the right to a second opinion. Thousands of families each year seek out a medical exam known as a neuropsych, which looks closely at the connection between brain function and learning, and has become a critical part of diagnosing some disabilities. With many neuropsychologists temporarily suspending in-person appointments during the first year of the pandemic, and countless students struggling more than ever due to school shutdowns, the bottleneck has worsened in many communities. Any students with more complex learning disabilities or developmental disabilities could benefit from a neuropysch, says Katherine Gamble, president of the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society. If anyone is on the autism spectrum, there is no question those kids need it. A limited number of school districts have neuropsychologists on staff or on contract, but thats more the exception than the rule, Gamble says. I dont think they have the funding, she says. Neuropsychologists arent needed all the time, and theres this question: Why would we spend this money on someone who doesnt need to see all of our kids? Many families pay out of pocket for the exam and its many add ons. Some, like Civitareale,a stay-at-home parent whose husband is a kitchen supervisor at a hospital, seek out deluxe health insurance plans partially because they cover neuropsych exams. Her familys cost $1,800 a month for several years. Others cobble together whatever money they can. One Boston parent said she relied on relatives who cashed in retirement savings to fund her daughters $4,200 independent evaluation for dyslexia and other disabilities. 'Special needs'?: Disability advocates, experts implore you to stop saying it Federal law requires school districts to foot the bill for independent evaluations if a family can prove one is warranted. Thats a battle school districts do often win because the parent has to show that the evaluation was flawed, wrote Ellen Saideman, an attorney based in Rhode Island who focuses on special education. In Massachusetts, the state actually requires districts to pay for independent evaluations for lower-income families regardless yet at a rate well below what most evaluators typically charge. Moreover, most families dont realize thats an option unless they are working with an advocate or lawyer. Its asking parents to know a lot, says Cassandra Archie, founder and CEO at Advocates for Educational Equity & Excellence. They dont have the time; they dont have the experience in this space; they dont have the language. It is intimidating. Many parents of color also worry about stigma and prejudice from a potential disability diagnosis, Archie adds, and may hesitate to seek outside testing for that reason. Even when parents do know, they can encounter years-long wait lists at providers willing to accept a payment well below market rate. In Massachusetts, for instance, a neuropsych often costs at least $5,000, yet the state reimbursement rate typically works out to less than $3,000 even after a recent increase, according to Helene Busby, an attorney at Community Legal Aid in Springfield, who works on a lot of special education cases. Ninety-nine percent of the work around independent evaluations involves talking on the phone to a million people, asking who has an opening in the shortest amount of time, will do a good job and will take the state rate, says Elizabeth McIntyre, senior counsel at the EdLaw Project in Boston, which provides advocacy for underserved student communities in Massachusetts. Sometimes districts put up hurdles to that effort whether by accident or intent. Two Massachusetts parents interviewed for this piece said their school districts list of approved independent evaluators included psychologists who actually werent licensed to work in the state. And Ronayne and Gamble say the Medford school district at one point asked neuropsychologists to provide not only a resume, tax form, professional license and liability insurance, but also to drive to Medford for a criminal records check and get fingerprinted. I believe that this is a way to slow the (independent evaluations) down, Ronayne says. Those requirements rarely slowed down the process, says Joan Bowen, director of pupil services for Medford Public Schools. (The requirements, Bowen said, were instituted before she assumed her current position.) Yet earlier this school year, the district changed course after conversations with attorneys and other special education directors. We stopped it right then and there, she says. The districts biggest challenge, she said, has been finding evaluators who take the state rate. Its not that school districts never diagnose learning disabilities, but their evaluations are typically less extensive than an independent neuropsych exam. Apart from the capacity issues highlighted by Gamble, school districts may fear, sometimes legitimately, that a neuropsychologist will ask for services they are unable to provide. That can cause a family to ask to send their child to a private school with better services at the school districts expense, a right families have under federal law. Private special ed schools: Some restrain kids, and parents might not know Restraints can end: How 'the most violent' special education school ended restraint and seclusion Not unlike most things in life, it boils down to money, says Tiffany Hogan, a professor and director of the Speech & Language Literacy Lab at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. She completely understands the frustration of many parents. Still, she says, sometimes the expectations parents have around the progress kids should make in school is too high. Schools have to work under resource limitations. The school is sometimes left in the position of deciding who to give treatment to and who not to. Homework at the kitchen table in the Civitareale family. A year and a half for answers For families who dont have the money to pay out of pocket for an independent evaluation, the wait for a publicly-funded one can be excruciating. Busby worked recently with one financially struggling mother in the Springfield area who realized in the fall of 2019 she wanted a fresh perspective on her sons disabilities and classroom needs. Over several years, the school districts evaluations had focused much more heavily on behavioral issues than academic ones. Yet the childs mother, Sara, who asked to be identified by her first name to protect her sons privacy, wanted desperately to understand how the boy, now 11, could learn better. It took a year and a half to get some answers. Since the family could not afford to pay for independent testing on their own, they needed to find an evaluator who would accept the public rate. They quickly found someone local with availability that September, according to Busby. But before the family could schedule an appointment, the woman wrote to say she was taking an indefinite leave of absence from her practice. Over the course of the fall, Busby and an intern reached out to dozens of potential evaluators; none of them took the state rate or had openings within the next three months. Finally, in early 2020, Busby found a provider in Amherst, less than an hour away, who would accept payment only modestly above the state rate. But before the school district and the center finalized the contract, COVID-19 shut down in-person evaluations. In late September 2020, the Amherst center still had not resumed bringing in patients. Busby began the hunt again. The school district balked at one provider who charged well above the state rate, according to Busby; but in early 2021, after repeated inquiries from Busby, school officials offered up an alternative. In February, the pre-teen traveled to the Boston area for two days of psychological evaluations, including a thorough reading assessment. In March, a doctor followed up by observing the boy at school. The diagnosis dyslexia, plus ADHD and disruptive mood disorder enabled Saras son to receive much more intensive and tailored reading supports than he had previously, including small-group instruction in a science-based reading program. For Sara, the long and at times frustrating wait for an independent evaluation was worth it. It was such a relief to finally have it put into his (individual education plan) that his issues are not just behavioral but about learning as well, Sara says. It confirmed to me that I wasnt wrong as a mom. Her sons reading struggles are hardly over, but Sara says her son is willing to spend more time with books at home. There is less of a fight, she says. Another family's fight for special ed services: Their son had autism. Mom didn't speak English well. Then COVID-19 put school online. It shouldnt take families thousands of dollars or the resourcefulness and tenacity of a team of lawyers to secure a disability diagnosis that might bring a child more educational support, many experts say. Whats happening is that we are withholding the necessary treatments as if they are chemotherapy, until (families) can absolutely prove that they are disabled, says Steve Dykstra, a Milwaukee-based youth psychologist who serves as an advisor to the International Foundation for Effective Reading Instruction. We should be treating it like vitamins, like brushing your teeth. One necessary change is to work toward better screening for all students so independent evaluations become far less important, Gaab says. That would enable students struggling with reading, including those who might not meet the diagnostic criteria of dyslexia, to get help earlier. The reading scores in this country havent changed substantially since 1992, Gaab says. If you look at all the policy implementations, none of this has moved the needle. What may move the needle is moving from a reactive to a proactive model. Many families have learned the hard way that even a costly diagnosis doesnt necessarily translate into appropriate educational supports. There are a lot of times the neuropsych will recommend things, says Civitareale, one of the Medford parents, and the school will say, We dont agree with that. We dont want to put this accommodation in. For instance, one evaluator recommended Civitareales older son, then in third grade, receive a specialized reading program. The district disagreed, maintaining its own reading program was sufficient. So the family opted to hire a private tutor to work with the child. Like the independent evaluations, the expenses quickly added up, yet Civitareale didnt feel like she had any other choice. They are already behind, she says, and I dont want them to fall further behind. Sarah Carr, an independent journalist, is examining gaps in access to reading supports during a nine-month OBrien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism at Marquette University. Lelah Byron and Aimee Galaszewski, who are students at Marquette, contributed reporting. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ADHD, autism test: Why neuropsych for special education costs so much The West fears Vladimir Putin will resort to barbaric tactics as his forces close in on Ukraines capital. A Russian military convoy around 40 miles long is north of Kyiv and there are fears that the city will face a barrage of rockets and shells which could inflict devastating civilian casualties. Ukraine has already accused Russia of war crimes during the invasion over the bombardment of civilian areas in the second city Kharkiv. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, a former Foreign Office lawyer, said it must be clear both to Putin but also to commanders in Moscow and on the ground in Ukraine that they will be held accountable for any violations of the laws of war. He told Sky News: Those that engage in war crimes will be held to account. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, said he plans to open an investigation as rapidly as possible into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. Western officials fear that the slow progress of the Russian invasion will lead Mr Putin and his commanders to adopt more brutal and indiscriminate tactics to achieve the Kremlins goals. Mr Raab told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We can expect, for every stutter and stumble, him to try and come back for even more heavy-handed tactics, but that is a sign that the initial phase at least and this is going to be a long haul has not lived up to his expectations. Mr Raab told LBC nothing is off the table in support for Ukraine in response to a question about whether the UK would supply fighter planes. But the Ukrainian air force largely flies jets from the former Soviet bloc so it is unlikely that British planes would be helpful due to a lack of pilots trained in their use. Latest Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/1Ynzlps2dY Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 1, 2022 The latest intelligence from the Ministry of Defence said the advance on Kyiv had made little progress over the past 24 hours, probably due to logistical problems. But there had been increased use of artillery north of the capital. The MoD also said that Russia had been forced to shift to more night operations due to the failure to gain air superiority. Satellite images from the Maxar company showed the extent of the Russian forces massing around Kyiv, with a column of armoured vehicles, tanks, artillery and support vehicles stretching 40 miles. That force was 17 miles from the capital on Monday. (PA Graphics) Prime Minister Boris Johnson is visiting Poland and Estonia to help show the UKs support for its eastern Nato allies. Mr Johnson said: We have shared values that are more important than ever to protect, as the humanitarian situation gets worse. Alongside all our international allies the UK will continue to bring maximum pressure to bear on Putins regime to ensure he feels the consequences of his actions in Ukraine. We speak with one voice when we say Putin must fail. The northern end of a convoy of Russian vehicles (Maxar Technologies/AP) Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was in Geneva addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council, where she was due to accuse Mr Putin of violating international law. He is violating human rights on an industrial scale and the world will not stand for it, she will say. Mr Johnsons visit to Poland, one of the main destinations for people fleeing from Ukraine, came as the UK Government faced pressure to do more to address the refugee crisis. (PA Graphics) Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: At the moment, what the Home Office is doing is trying to just tweak the existing system. Theyre trying to carry on with a version of business as usual, with a version of asking people to apply for traditional work visas or traditional visitor visas or traditional family visas that are still narrowly drawn. And the normal system just doesnt work when you are facing war in Europe, when youre facing a crisis on this scale. Boris Johnson has accused Vladimir Putin of unleashing barbaric and indiscriminate violence against Ukrainian civilians as Russian forces closed in on Kyiv. A military convoy around 40 miles long is north of the Ukrainian capital and there are fears that the city will face a barrage of rockets and shells which could inflict devastating civilian casualties. Ukraine has already accused Russia of war crimes during the invasion over the bombardment of civilian areas in the second city Kharkiv. Speaking during a visit to Warsaw, Mr Johnson said the Russian president had decided to bomb tower blocks, to send missiles into tower blocks, to kill children, as we are seeing in increasing numbers. But he said that in the grim war Mr Putin had fatally underestimated the resistance of the Ukrainians and the resolve of the West to act. Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw (Leon Neal/PA) The Prime Minister paid tribute to the leadership and courage of Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president. I think he has inspired and mobilised not only his own people, he is inspiring and mobilising the world in outrage at what is happening in Ukraine, Mr Johnson added. (PA Graphics) The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, said he plans to open an investigation as rapidly as possible into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, a former Foreign Office lawyer, said it must be clear both to Putin but also to commanders in Moscow and on the ground in Ukraine that they will be held accountable for any violations of the laws of war. He told Sky News: Those that engage in war crimes will be held to account. Western officials fear that the slow progress of the Russian invasion will lead Mr Putin and his commanders to adopt more brutal and indiscriminate tactics to achieve the Kremlins goals. Mr Raab told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We can expect, for every stutter and stumble, him to try and come back for even more heavy-handed tactics, but that is a sign that the initial phase at least and this is going to be a long haul has not lived up to his expectations. The latest intelligence from the Ministry of Defence said the advance on Kyiv had made little progress over the past 24 hours, probably due to logistical problems. But there had been increased use of artillery north of the capital. Satellite images from the Maxar company showed the extent of the Russian forces massing around Kyiv, with a column of armoured vehicles, tanks, artillery and support vehicles stretching 40 miles. The northern end of a convoy of Russian vehicles (Maxar Technologies/AP) That force was 17 miles from the capital on Monday. Mr Johnson is visiting Poland and Estonia to help show the UKs support for its eastern Nato allies. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was in Geneva addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council, where she was due to accuse Mr Putin of violating international law. He is violating human rights on an industrial scale and the world will not stand for it, she will say. (PA Graphics) Mr Johnsons visit to Poland, one of the main destinations for people fleeing from Ukraine, came as the UK Government faced pressure to do more to address the refugee crisis. The Prime Minister told his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki: We stand ready, clearly, to take Ukrainian refugees in our own country, working with you, in considerable numbers, as we always have done and always will. But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: At the moment, what the Home Office is doing is trying to just tweak the existing system. Theyre trying to carry on with a version of business as usual, with a version of asking people to apply for traditional work visas or traditional visitor visas or traditional family visas that are still narrowly drawn. And the normal system just doesnt work when you are facing war in Europe, when youre facing a crisis on this scale. LONDON (AP) Queen Elizabeth II held two virtual audiences after more than a week of suffering cold-like symptoms from COVID-19. Buckingham Palace said the 95-year-old British monarch held virtual sessions with the ambassadors of Chad and Andorra. The queen canceled several sessions last week, so the ones held Tuesday suggest she is recovering. The monarchs age, COVID-19 diagnosis and a health scare last year caused worry among officials and the public. The palace's Feb. 20 announcement that Elizabeth had tested positive test for the coronavirus virus prompted concern and get-well wishes from across Britains political spectrum. The palace has declined to offer day-to day commentary on the monarch's health, citing her right to privacy. But palace officials have said that Elizabeth, who has been fully vaccinated and had a booster shot, would continue with light duties at Windsor Castle. The queen, who is the countrys longest-reigning monarch. has a series of engagements coming up as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. She is due to attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14, and then a March 26 memorial service, also at the Abbey, for her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last April at age 99. ___ Follow all AP stories on the queen at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine offer almost no protection against coronavirus infection in kids ages 5 to 11, according to new data posted online a finding that may have consequences for parents and their vaccinated children. Researchers from the New York State Department of Health found that the vaccines effectiveness dropped to 12 percent from 68 percent in the age group in December and January, when the omicron variant of the coronavirus began circulating widely in the United States. The Pfizer shots still offered protection against serious illness from COVID-19, the researchers found, with protection against hospitalization declining to 48 percent from 100 percent over the same time period. The findings, which were posted to a preprint server Monday and have not yet been peer-reviewed, looked at the health records for COVID-19 cases in children and teens in New York between Dec. 13 and Jan. 30. It may be a setback for parents with vaccinated children who were hoping to resume normal pre-pandemic activities. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only COVID-19 shot in the U.S. available to kids in this age group. More than 7 million children ages 5 to 11 have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The large drop in the vaccines effectiveness against infection may be due in part to the smaller vaccine dosage given to kids 5 to 11, said Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Childrens Hospital. He helped develop another COVID-19 shot that uses old vaccine technology. The Food and Drug Administration authorized a vaccine dosage of 10 micrograms for kids ages 5 to 11, one-third the dosage given to everyone 12 and up. The two doses are given three weeks apart. The New York state researchers, who also examined vaccine data in children ages 12 to 17, found the shots performed better in older children, who are given a higher dosage. Vaccine effectiveness against infection in older kids fell to 51 percent from 66 percent, according to the data. Vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization dropped to 73 percent from 85 percent. Its looking more likely that at the current lower dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the 5- to 11-year-olds, a third dose may be required, Hotez said. Its unclear if Pfizer will seek FDA authorization of a booster dose for kids 5 to 11. The company told NBC News in a statement that it is confident in the protection and safety of its COVID-19 vaccine, though early data suggests people vaccinated with three doses may have a higher degree of protection. Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, said it will be hard to determine whether a higher dosage or another shot is needed in kids 5 to 11 because the omicron variant has also already been shown to evade some of the immunity in vaccinated or boosted adults. I dont think you can tell yet because omicron is immune evasive, so therefore even if youre vaccinated, youre not going to be as well protected, he said. For now, it is reassuring that the vaccine appears to hold up some against serious illness, Offit said, though some children may be susceptible to mild illness. Hotez said while the vaccine is holding up against severe illness, it is unclear whether that level of protection is continuing to diminish or if it is simply because of the omicron variant. About two weeks ago, Pfizer said it was postponing its vaccine application to the FDA for children ages 6 months to 4 years after it found two doses didnt work well in children ages 2 to 4. The company said it will wait for its data on a three-dose series of the vaccine. This story was originally published on NBCNews.com Three Republicans in the U.S. House were the only votes against a bill that would make lynching a federal hate crime. The Emmett Till Antilynching Act, named after a 14-year-old Black boy beaten and lynched in Mississippi in 1955, passed the House with an overwhelming vote of support, 422-3, on Monday. The bill would make lynching a federal hate crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The only three representatives to vote against the bill were Republicans Andrew Clyde (Ga.), Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Chip Roy (Texas). In a series of tweets, Massie explained he voted against the bill in part because passing this legislation falsely implies that lynching someone does not already constitute criminal activity. The bill doesnt imply that. Instead, it gives federal authorities the power to prosecute lynchings as hate crimes. From left: Republican Reps. Chip Roy, Thomas Massie and Andrew Clyde voted against a bill that would make lynching a hate crime. (Photo: Getty Images) Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), who authored the bill, said he was 8 years old when he saw a photograph of a dead and brutalized Till. The experience shaped my consciousness as a Black man in America, changed the course of my life, and changed our nation, Rush said in a statement. Rush cited the 2020 killing of Black man Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia as an example of a modern-day lynching. Arbery was 25 years old when he went for a jog and was chased and shot to death. Three white men were convicted of federal hate crime charges last month in his killing. The House today has sent a resounding message that our nation is finally reckoning with one of the darkest and most horrific periods of our history, and that we are morally and legally committed to changing course, Rush said. The bill will now go to the Senate, where it is expected to pass. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. On Monday, the leaders of eight European Union countries in Central and Eastern Europe gave their support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys plea to quickly facilitate his countrys membership in the EU. We, the Presidents of the EU member states: the Republic of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia strongly believe that Ukraine deserves receiving an immediate EU accession perspective, the leaders wrote in an open letter. Zelensky asked for immediate EU membership as Russian troops encircle the cities in Ukraine, and much of Europe has rallied in support of Kyiv. Eastern European countries once under Soviet control have been particularly shaken by Russias invasion of its smaller neighbor. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holding the country's application for membership in the European Union on Monday. (Ukrainian Presidency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Speaking at a briefing at the presidential palace in Kyiv, Zelensky appealed to the EU for immediate accession of Ukraine via a new special procedure. He added: Our goal is to be together with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be on an equal footing. Im sure its fair. I'm sure its possible." Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reiterated the presidents point on Twitter and said the country is applying for EU membership under a special procedure and the time to put it down on paper has come. Typically, EU membership is an exhausting and time-consuming process that involves adopting the blocs laws and currency. Croatia was the last country to join, with its application formally accepted in 2013 10 years after it had applied for membership. Some EU officials cast doubt on whether Ukraines request was practical. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Euronews that Ukraine is one of us and we want them in the European Union. However, she gave no indication whether it would be the quick accession requested by Zelensky. Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, said, Membership is a long-standing request from Ukraine. But there are different opinions and sensitivities within the EU on enlargement. Ukraine will submit an official request, the European Commission will have to express an official opinion and the Council will decide." European Council President Charles Michel speaks to media on the situation in Ukraine on Feb. 25. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images) Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he didnt know whether Ukraines request could be put through immediately. But he said that regardless of how quickly the country's membership could be confirmed, he "certainly would be a proponent and supporter of accelerating it and making it very clear that they can become members of the European Union. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday that the EU has always been a house with open doors and that Ukraine is a part of the European house. But Baerbock added that membership is not something that can be completed in a few months, but involves an intensive and far-reaching process of transformation. Where are Russian forces attacking Ukraine? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out. Benedict Cumberbatch. (Ryan Pfluger/For The Times) Benedict Cumberbatch knows you have questions about that "Power of the Dog" ending. He has questions too. Maybe they're the same ones. But before he dives in and this is a man prone to picking apart and parsing, so settle in Cumberbatch would like to make a statement. And before we hand him the floor, it should go without saying that if you haven't seen "The Power of the Dog," which has been available for months now, you should not be reading this story because we're going to be talking about the ending that everyone has been discussing and dissecting since the end of, ahem, last year. Now that we have that out of the way, Cumberbatch would like to say that he very much hopes you felt bad when his character, the menacing, hyper-masculine cattle rancher Phil Burbank, dies at the end of the movie. He doesn't expect that you broke down weeping or anything. (Phil wouldn't want that.) But Cumberbatch thinks people are taking juuuuust a bit too much pleasure in Phil's death. And while the 45-year-old actor can understand why audiences cheer for Peter (played by Oscar nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee), the young man who does a seeming 180 and murders Phil to protect his mother, Rose (another Oscar nominee, Kirsten Dunst), and avenge the way Phil mistreated her, Cumberbatch thinks people are missing some larger issues as well. For one: how Phil's malevolence comes from a place of self-loathing and self-protection as a closeted gay man living in Montana in 1925. "I'm feeling the whiff of a popularity contest in the reaction," Cumberbatch tells me over a lunch conversation not long ago. "It's reductive: 'Phil's the mean guy. Peter's the hero.' It's not that simple. I think people better watch out for Peter." Cumberbatch dips a fry into ketchup and begins musing about the future of Phil's brother, George (Jesse Plemons, yes, another Oscar nominee), whose marriage to Rose sets the film's plot in motion. "Peter hides the rope under the bed ... why does he do that?" Cumberbatch asks, mentioning the object Phil and Peter made together, the one fashioned with the anthrax-infected rawhide that Peter supplied, unbeknownst to Phil. "I think he's going to kill George. Nice as George is, he's still in the way of the Oedipal complex and the full Anthony Perkins takeover, you know?" Cumberbatch is half-kidding, but it's not the last time he drops a reference to Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" in the conversation. I've heard others embrace his take on Peter over the past couple of months. Smit-McPhee, though, isn't having it. "I think murdering Phil is a one-time thing," Smit-McPhee tells me. "Killing Phil was just something he had to do, and now hes gone on with his life." He smiles. "I think Benedict might be a little too close to Phil still, which I can understand. I feel the same way about Peter." In the film, Peter's and Phil's paths first cross at the restaurant at the Montana inn run by Rose. During a fried chicken dinner with George and the ranch hands the brothers employ, Phil makes disparaging remarks about Peter, whom he perceives as effeminate. Phil also burns the paper roses that Peter made as centerpieces. (Smit-McPhee believes Peter decides to murder Phil right then and there.) Some time later, after George and Rose marry, Peter comes to the ranch to live with his mother. By this point, Phil's psychological warfare (all that whistling and banjo playing!) has driven Rose to alcoholism, and the initial prospects for his treatment of Peter don't look much better. Phil and the ranch hands taunt Peter. But to Cumberbatch, Phil's motivation for doing this might have less to do with destroying Peter than to "rip the umbilical cord from his mother's womb." "Phil's teaching Peter to ride, to tie the rope, and he's looking over at Rose, thinking, 'I've got your f boy and I'm tying him to me. He's mine now,'" Cumberbatch says. "You could view the purpose of his recruitment as an act of tough love." While making the lasso on that final night together in the barn, Phil recounts how his hero and role model and "best friend" Bronco Henry once saved him from freezing to death by lying body against body in a bedroll. As the scene progresses, it's clear that there's a seduction taking place, but the power dynamic is fluid. Benedict Cumberbatch. (Ryan Pfluger/For The Times) "Is there some real chemistry there?" Cumberbatch asks, still unsure of the answer himself. "Who's in control? Is Phil allowing himself to be killed to risk it? He doesn't ask where the hide comes from. He doesn't ask about the cow. Is he losing himself in some kind of dreamscape where he's falling into a memory and he's suddenly Bronco Henry and Peter is becoming Phil?" Cumberbatch likens Phil's destabilized mental state to what he experienced when he came down with COVID after the London Film Festival in October. "You're just consumed by the illness, but, at the same time, you understand what's going on around you," Cumberbatch says. "By the end, Phil knows what the boy did and why he had to do it and he can't believe he did it and is sort of proud and astonished by it and then, you know, he's got a fever, so he's fighting death. I really wanted to play with the space between those two things." The end comes quickly, both for Phil and the movie. The next day Phil doesn't show for breakfast. George drives him to the doctor. The screen goes dark briefly, and the next thing we see is George picking out Phil's coffin. And then, after the funeral, we find Peter pushing the rope under the bed. "It definitely signifies that he's holding onto something," Cumberbatch says. "I love stories that are f up." Did you grieve Phil? Cumberbatch did. For all the emphasis on Phil's cruelty, Cumberbatch says there are things about the man that should be celebrated. As the father of three boys, he says he'd like to be able to teach them to be "so resilient in a world gone mad so they could be producers rather than consumers." "That's what my ethos is," Cumberbatch says, noting that he thinks often about what skills he's passing on to his children. "There's an amazing amount that Phil is capable of." Cumberbatch stayed in character throughout the shooting of "The Power of the Dog." In an oft-told story, director Jane Campion introduced Cumberbatch to the crew on the first day of filming as "Phil." "You'll meet Benedict at the end of the movie," she added. "Benedict's really nice." One anecdote that Cumberbatch hasn't yet shared came on that last day of filming, which concluded with a shot of Phil lying in a coffin as the lid is shut. (By the way, Cumberbatch also would like you to grieve the way Phil has been shaved and dressed. "He has been completely de-Philled," he says. "It's awful and would go against every wish as to how he'd like to be remembered.") After Campion finished the shot, Cumberbatch stayed in the coffin for a little longer than he would have liked. He could hear glasses clinking outside. And then Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" came wafting through the lid. "Then they opened the coffin and it was this weird celebration and f up commemoration all in one," Cumberbatch says. "I was so floored. Even now, I'm getting choked up talking about it. And, of course, I immediately went into stuttering English actor mode, super self-conscious because everyone was just kind of staring at me like I had just dropped out of the back of an animal. 'Why are you staring?' 'Well, it's because we really haven't met you.' That's how wonderful my immersion into Phil was. They gave me the space to play this toxic but ultimately damaged and flawed human being. Benedict Cumberbatch photographed at the Four Seasons Hotel for his role in "The Power of the Dog." (Ryan Pfluger/For The Times) "And that orchestrated ending was a really beautiful thing," Cumberbatch continues. "I'd been naked spiritually, psychologically and physically in front of them all. I bared my soul and my ass as well." That made me laugh, and I repeated the line to Cumberbatch in appreciation. "There's the headline," he says, laughing. "It's something my mom will read and ask, 'Oh, Benedict, why do you have to say things like that?'" This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. NAIROBI, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Tuesday announced that it will woo landlocked east African nations to use its China-built Lamu port to enable them to boost their international trade. Stephen Ikua, the director-general and chief executive officer of the Lamu Port, South Sudan, Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority (LCDA), told a continental forum in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, that Kenya's second commercial seaport has the capacity to handle larger sea vessels as compared to the existing port of Mombasa due to its deep natural waters. "South Sudan's vast mineral and agricultural resources can now be efficiently be exported through the port of Lamu, diversifying the country's revenue that is heavily reliant on crude oil production," Ikua told the seventh Programme For Infrastructure Development In Africa (PIDA) Week organized by the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD. President Uhuru Kenyatta officially operationalized the first berth of the port of Lamu in May 2021. The seaport in the Lamu archipelago is being constructed by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and will have 32 berths in total upon completion. According to the government, the first three berths will be financed by the government while the private sector will fund the remaining 29 berths. LCDA said that the berth at the Lamu Port can currently handle 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year. Ikua said that Ethiopia has heavily invested in the industrial sector with the emergence of various special economic zones (SEZs), supporting exports of finished products in the textile and manufacturing sector over and above the horticultural, livestock and mineral exports. "The LAPSSET corridor, therefore, offers an efficient alternative to support its growing export base." Ikua said the LAPSSET corridor is Kenya's second strategic transport corridor with the first being the Northern Corridor that connects Kenya's Mombasa seaport to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He added that the project will ultimately connect the deep seaport of Lamu in Kenya to South Sudan and Ethiopia through a series of road, railway crude and product oil pipeline networks contained within a 500-meter-wide transport corridor. GENEVA (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday that Russian "crimes" in Ukraine are mounting by the hour, with strikes hitting hospitals, schools and residential buildings with civilians. Moscow faced increasing isolation on Tuesday as President Vladimir Putin showed no sign of stopping an invasion of Ukraine, where fierce fighting and Russian bombardment have killed dozens and sparked a refugee crisis. "Russian strikes are hitting schools, hospitals, and residential building," Blinken said in a video message to the Geneva forum. "Reports of Russia's human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law mount by the hour." Blinken said that the council's urgent debate on Ukraine scheduled for Thursday, where a resolution brought by Kyiv and allies would set up an international probe into violations, is an "important step toward ensuring documentation and accountability". "We must send a resolute and unified message that President (Vladimir) Putin should unconditionally stop this," he said. "We must reject Russia's attempts to falsely justify this attack as a defense of human rights misappropriating terms that we reserve for the worst atrocities and disrespecting every victim of those crimes," he said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Uzra Zeya, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva after the speech that Russia's invasion was "resulting in a human rights and humanitarian catastrophe". Blinken's speech marked Washington's return as a voting member to the top U.N. human rights body which the Trump administration quit in 2018 over what it called chronic bias against Israel and a lack of reform. But he said that the Biden administration would continue to counter what he called the council's "anti-Israel bias and the unfair and disproportionate focus on Israel on the Council". He said that China "continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang" against Muslim Uyghurs. He was referring to reports that some 1 million Uyghurs are detained in mass camps in the remote northwestern region, some subjected to forced labour, which Beijing denies. He called for U.N. human rights boss Michelle Bachelet to release her office's report with findings on the situation. Russian military convoys advance north of Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. (Maxar Technologies) Russian forces struck government buildings, a television tower and Ukraine's main Holocaust memorial on Tuesday as they targeted residential neighborhoods and assembled a 40-mile-long column of tanks, artillery and other military vehicles outside Kyiv, in what appeared to foreshadow an imminent assault on the capital. The specter of more violence and the scenes of civilians huddled in bomb shelters or pouring across Ukraine's western borders came as Russia found itself increasingly isolated on the world stage, with sanctions inflicting immediate damage to its economy and currency. The United Nations high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, said in a news briefing from Geneva that about 677,000 people have fled Ukraine in the last six days. The rate puts the situation on track to "become Europes largest refugee crisis this century," agency spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said in Geneva. Russia's Defense Ministry said it would strike facilities of Ukraine's state security service along with communications centers "in order to suppress information attacks on Moscow." Soon after, a large explosion rocked Kyiv when Russian bombs felled the capital's landmark TV tower. Ukrainian defense officials said at least five people were killed and five others injured. Programming of Ukraine's TV channels was temporarily disrupted. The officials also reported a "powerful missile attack" near the Babi Yar Holocaust memorial, which marks the site where nearly 34,000 Jews were killed within 48 hours in 1941 when the city was under Nazi occupation. In Kharkiv, the nation's second-largest city, a missile slammed into a central city square in front of a large, ornate government building, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said. Video of the explosion was shared widely on social media, showing cars driving through the cobblestoned square in the morning hours after the curfew's break before being engulfed in flames. Barbaric Russian missile strikes on the central Freedom Square and residential districts of Kharkiv. Putin is unable to break Ukraine down. He commits more war crimes out of fury, murders innocent civilians. The world can and must do more. INCREASE PRESSURE, ISOLATE RUSSIA FULLY! pic.twitter.com/tN4VHF1A9n Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 1, 2022 Ukraine's State Emergency Service said 10 people were killed and 24 wounded in the strike on Freedom Square, the site of Kharkiv's regional government headquarters. An opera house and concert hall nearby were also hit. The blast came after a barrage of what observers say might have been cluster bombs on a residential neighborhood Monday evening, killing at least nine civilians and wounding dozens of others in Kharkiv, a city of 1.4 million in northeastern Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as "state terrorism." Ukrainian authorities also confirmed reports that about 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in a Russian attack on a military base in the town of Okhtyrka, west of Kharkiv, on Sunday. And several people were wounded in strikes Tuesday on the southeastern port city of Mariupol, the Associated Press reported. In an interview with Ukrainian 24 News, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said, "Russian Nazis seek the genocide of the Ukrainian nation." "We will fight until the last bullet," he said. "If they run out, we will use our teeth against the enemy that is moving toward Mariupol." The bombardments hint at a new, more violent phase in a Russian incursion that appeared to have partly stalled in the face of dogged resistance and possible logistical problems, such as a shortage of food and fuel. A senior Pentagon official said Tuesday that there were signs that Russian troops might be losing morale, and said some had surrendered without a fight. "They're not only running out of gas, but they are running out of food, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Yet Russia has been unrelenting in its bombardments, with the official saying more than 400 Russian-launched missiles had struck Ukraine as of Tuesday. The U.N.'s Human Rights Office said that since hostilities began Feb. 24 and up to midnight March 1, there had been 536 casualties, including 136 civilians killed 13 of them children. The toll's rise matches alarm over fears of increased airstrikes and suspicions that Russian President Vladimir Putin will order his troops to encircle and blockade major population centers such as Kyiv and Kharkiv, bombing or starving them into submission. Despite word from Russian officials quoted by the state news operator Tass that negotiations would resume between Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a news conference on Tuesday that the special military operation Moscow's routine term for its war in Ukraine "will continue ... until the set goals are achieved." What we see now see is a new wave of attack against Ukraine, against innocent people," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a news conference in Estonia on Tuesday. "And a column of heavy Russian armor which is moving towards Kyiv will bring more death, more suffering and more civilian casualties." Speaking virtually at the opening session of this year's U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva on Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken blasted Moscow for its mounting human rights abuse and violation of international law. Russian strikes are hitting schools, hospitals and residential buildings, Blinken said. They are destroying critical infrastructure, which provides millions of people across Ukraine with drinking water, gas to keep them from freezing to death and electricity. Civilian buses, cars and even ambulances have been shelled. Later in Mondays U.N. meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke, also via video conference. With delegates from Western countries turning their backs and staging a walkout, he launched into an angry speech justifying Russias invasion of Ukraine, blaming the neighboring former Soviet republic for atrocities against ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine. And he claimed, with no evidence, that Kyiv was trying to secure nuclear weaponry. The German representative, Katharina Stasch, accused Lavrov of a cynical distortion of the facts, according to the German news agency DPA. Lavrov had planned to attend the meeting in person but couldnt travel because most of Europe has closed its airspace to Russian aircraft, as part of a battery of sanctions the West and others have imposed to punish Moscow. Talks on Monday between Ukraine and Russia failed to bring the cease-fire that Kyiv demanded. More negotiations are in the offing, but Zelensky has expressed skepticism of any breakthrough, saying he agreed to talks only to show that he was shunning no opportunity to try to restore peace. As the invasion stretched into its sixth day, residents of Kyiv braved freezing temperatures and trudged through snow Tuesday to line up outside supermarkets, gas stations and even the small coffee kiosks that dot the sidewalks here to stock up before a Russian assault. Throughout the capital there were signs of a city hunkering down. Makeshift checkpoints sprang up overnight in greater numbers than before. Reservists dressed in civilian clothing some of them young men who appeared to be barely out of high school wrapped yellow armbands around their sleeves, indicating they were with the so-called Territorial Defense Force, a sort of people's army that has joined regular troops in repulsing a Russian blitz. Wielding guns, they manned hastily assembled barriers of tires, trash bins and other detritus and stopped motorists to check their cars. To the northwest of the city, closer to Russian positions, traffic was almost nonexistent; even the large neighborhood supermarket had no lines. Soldiers shooed away anyone approaching, warning them that Russian artillery fire had started up. Moments later, a blast hit nearby, reverberating across the tall birch forests on the side of the highway. Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine's ambassador to London, told British lawmakers that Ukrainian troops still maintained control of the western approach to Kyiv and the western part of the country, which is vital to keep the capital from being strangled by Russian forces. He said Ukraine's military had 200 tanks and 700 trucks to help defend the country and keep supply routes open. Volunteers with Ukraine's military. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) But the massive convoy of Russian armored vehicles to the north of Kyiv, which satellite images showed stretching for 40 miles, augured a major assault. On Tuesday afternoon, the Russian Defense Ministry issued a warning, carried by the news agency Tass, that its forces would be launching "high-precision weapons" at a facility belonging to the Security Service of Ukraine and an information and psychological operations center in Kyiv, "in order to suppress information attacks against Russia." The statement warned residents in the area to leave their homes. They want to break our nationhood thats why the capital is constantly under threat, Zelensky said in a video address late Monday, adding that Kyiv was hit by three missile strikes Monday and that hundreds of Russian saboteurs were roaming the city. Many, including remaining staff and family members of foreign embassies, decided that threat was too high. Thousands carrying what bits of their life they could take massed in Kyiv's train station, lugging suitcases on stairs while others stared at the departures board, almost willing it to change. It showed that the train from Kharkiv had arrived; there was no return trip. Outside, near a commercial center, an advertising billboard shuffled through messages directed at the coming Russian troops, telling that "Instead of flowers, bullets are waiting for you" or "How can you look in the eyes of your children?" Others were more direct: "Russian soldier, go f yourself." A host of Western nations, including most recently Australia, have agreed to supply Ukraine with military aid. But they have rebuffed calls to impose a NATO-led no-fly zone over Ukraine because of the risk of starting a much larger war. Unfortunately the implication of that is that the U.K." and other nations "would be engaged in shooting down Russian planes," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in Warsaw. "It would be engaged in direct combat with Russia. Thats not something that we can do or that we've envisaged. ... The consequences of that would be truly very, very difficult. Both Kyiv and Kharkiv, as Ukraine's two most populous cities, hold enormous symbolic significance and are therefore prime targets, said Prystaiko, the ambassador, pointing to the historical example of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia more than a century ago. "They are using the same textbook they used from 1918 when they couldnt take Kyiv," Prystaiko said. "They took Kharkiv" and proclaimed the Ukrainian Peoples Republic, with Kharkiv as its capital. Then, "as soon as Kyiv fell, they moved the capital back to Kyiv. So I believe that thats one of the scenarios [now]. Johnson, following a meeting with the Polish premier, said that the West was prepared to intensify its sanctions on Moscow to punish it for "unfolding disaster in our European Continent." I say to Vladimir Putin and his regime: There is only one way out of this morass, and that is to stop the tanks, to turn back the tanks, on their way to Kyiv turn them round and take the path to peace, Johnson said. On Monday, Zelensky said he had officially signed an application for Ukraine's membership in to the European Union. Appearing by video in an address to the European Parliament early Tuesday afternoon, he passionately campaigned for Ukraine to be let into the 27-nation club, although accession is a distant prospect. We are fighting also to be equal members of Europe," Zelensky said. "I believe that today we are showing everybody that is what we are. ... We have proven that, at a minimum, we are the same as you. At night in Kyiv, with curfew back in place, the explosions were more sporadic. Air raid sirens wailed. When they stopped, all that remained was the slap of ropes against flagpoles and the subdued whir of a sidewalk billboard shuffling through its posters: A bank and a rock concert from last week. Above, the streetlights remained stubbornly lit, illuminating the streets for no one. Bulos reported from Kyiv, Linthicum from Mexico City and Wilkinson from Washington. Times staff writers Anumita Kaur in Washington and David Pierson in Singapore also contributed. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. TISZABECS, Hungary (AP) Of the hundreds of refugees gathered on the grounds of a small village school in eastern Hungary, almost all are women and children who left their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons behind to fight in Ukraine's resistance to the deadly Russian invasion. I have brothers, they are fighting now, said Olga Skliarova, a 34-year-old resident of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Men are not allowed to cross the border, so they helped us to get to the border and went back to Kyiv to fight. The exodus of refugees from the war in Ukraine is rapidly growing in the eastern countries of the European Union, with more than 675,000 people fleeing to neighboring countries since the Russian invasion began a number that will only grow, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Shabia Mantoo, a spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said in Geneva Tuesday that at this rate, the situation looks set to become Europes largest refugee crisis this century. An order from Ukraine's government prohibiting men aged 18- to 60-years-old from leaving the country so as to keep them available for military conscription means that many women and children must seek safety on their own. Irina Yarimchuk, an accountant from the western Ukrainian town of Kalush, traveled the five hours to the Hungarian village of Tiszabecs early Tuesday with her 14-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter. Through tears, she said her brother had joined the Ukrainian army, and she was "very worried about his life. I love you so much. Keep yourself strong. We will win, and we will see you soon, I hope, she said in an emotional message to her brother, who is stationed near Ukraine's border with Belarus. After a missile hit the nearby Ivano-Frankivsk airport as the Russian invasion began Thursday, Yarimchuk who is planning to stay with relatives in Prague spent her days and nights shuttling her family from their home to a bomb shelter as air raid sirens blared every few hours. From that day ... we stay outside our home every evening, she said of the five panicked nights before she left. I was afraid for my children. Skliarova, who worked in tourism in Kyiv before war laid siege to the city, recounted keeping a full backpack of clothes and emergency supplies that she brought with her each time she took shelter in her apartment building basement. Its an evil, evil feeling," she said. "Scary, stress, shock. Every hour in the night, we got up to run into the basement. We slept dressed to get up and run. In Poland, too, it was largely Ukrainian women arriving with their children as Russian President Vladimir Putins forces intensified their attacks on civilian targets in a campaign that is becoming deadlier for children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the European Parliament on Tuesday that Russian forces had killed 16 children the day before as he appealed to EU leaders to accept Ukraine in the bloc. Among those fleeing was Oxana Sereduk, who arrived by car in Medyka, Poland, with her two daughters and grandchildren Tuesday morning. Her daughter Mariana drove the car, sometimes with her 16-month-old baby sitting on her lap and nursing. I am mostly afraid for the children, Sereduk said. Maria Lisicka took her two children and fled when shelling began in Lutsk, western Ukraine. I will do everything for my children, she said. I didnt want to take them away, I wanted them to be at home, but what can be done? I want their psyche to be normal. The most important thing is children. I dont care about the rest. At the bus station in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Tuesday, Pavlo Bilodid wiped away tears as he kissed his wife and 2-year-old daughter Maria goodbye, helping them board the bus to Poland. Wrought with emotion, as three generations of the female members of his family made the trip to safety, he told the Associated Press they had fled Kyiv after fighting there intensified. Sorry, he said, taking a moment to compose himself. Its terrible, because it was so unexpected and nobody was prepared for this situation, and we believe that we will see them soon. Im sure that we will see them soon. Bilodid, 33, and his father stayed behind. Were staying here and we have to volunteer and we will do here what we can do here in Lviv, and if we will need, we will go to Kyiv to fight, he said. Back in Hungary, many of the women and children at the school in Tiszabecs hope to reach destinations in the Czech Republic and Poland, but difficulties have arisen in arranging transport from the remote village on the Ukrainian border. Our biggest lack in recent days has been transportation, said Lajos Revesz of Hungarian Baptist Aid, which is running the reception center at the school. Volunteers from several countries in the region have begun arriving in Tiszabecs to bring newly-arrived refugees farther into the EU. Ivan Mursha, a native of Khust in western Ukraine who lives in Brno, Czech Republic, drove more than seven hours to offer free rides to anyone wishing to join him. We are all Ukrainians. We must unite and help each other, Mursha said. Skliarova, before departing for Brno in Mursha's 12-passenger van, said that her cousins 15-year-old son was shot by Russian forces on Monday while riding in a car in Brovary, on the outskirts of Kyiv. The boy, she said, survived. When asked what she expects to find when she returns to Kyiv, she said simply: Ruins. I think someone has to stop" Putin, she said. "I think there must be at least one person in the world who can stop this paranoiac. Hes ill." - Gera reported from Medyka, Poland. AP writer Andrea Rosa in Lviv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. Ukrainian officials and two Republican members of Congress have pushed for the United States to implement a no-fly zone as Russias invasion continues, but doing so would mark a major escalation in the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, via a statement to Axios on Monday, called on President Biden and NATO to impose a no-fly zone over significant parts of his country, saying that if the West does this, Ukraine will defeat the aggressor with much less blood. Zelensky tweeted Tuesday morning that he had told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Europeans supporting Ukraine needed to close the sky. In an interview with MSNBCs Morning Joe on Tuesday, Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandra Ustinova continued to make the case. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Monday. (Presidency of Ukraine/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) We need to protect our sky, and thats why we need a no-fly zone, Ustinova said. I know this is something that nobody wants to talk about because everybody is scared of Vladimir Putin. My only question here to the international community would be, what is the red line for him? What is the red line when you actually step in? How many children have to die? On Friday, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., called for the implementation of a no-fly zone, stating that it would disrupt Russias air [operations] to give the heroic Ukrainians a fair fight. Its now, or later. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., joined him on Monday. Clearly, in the absence of a U.N. resolution, which Russia would veto, a strong coalition of like-minded nations should step in and seriously consider this, Wicker told HuffPost in an interview. Tens of thousands of women and children fleeing from Kyiv west have created a humanitarian situation that the international community needs to step in and be involved in, he added. According to the United Nations, more than 100 civilians have already been killed since Russia launched its invasion last week, although the real number could be higher than that. To actually enforce a no-fly zone, NATO would likely need to shoot down any Russian aircraft that violated the declaration, an open attack on a nation with nearly 6,000 nuclear weapons. (On Monday, Biden said Americans should not be worried about nuclear war with Russia.) The U.S. and its allies have implemented multiple no-fly zones in recent decades over countries with much less powerful militaries, such as Saddam Husseins Iraq in the 1990s and Libya in 2011. Flight tracker website Flightradar24 shows no aircraft flying over Ukraine following the Russian attack. (Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) The concept of a no-fly zone over Ukraine appears to have gained no traction with the Biden administration. Press secretary Jen Psaki said at Mondays White House briefing that implementing one would require deploying U.S. military to enforce, which would be ... potentially a direct conflict, and potentially a war with Russia, which is something we are not planning to be a part of. During Mondays Department of Defense briefing, a reporter asked Pentagon press secretary John Kirby whether mounting civilian casualties could lead the U.S. to implementing a no-fly zone. Kirby answered, No, and moved on with the briefing. There was bipartisan support of that position from Capitol Hill. Theres been a lot of loose talk from smart people about close air support and no fly zones for Ukraine, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., tweeted. Lets just be clear what that is the U.S. and Russia at war. Its a bad idea and Congress would never authorize it. Military equipment for Ukraine, humanitarian support for Ukraine, crippling sanction on Russia, movement of U.S. troops to the eastern flank of NATO these are all the right moves, he continued. But direct war between the worlds two nuclear powers should be a non-starter. People have to understand what that means, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told reporters Monday evening when asked about the possibility of a no-fly zone. That means a willingness to shoot down Russian planes. And that would mean World War III. President Biden at the White House on Monday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) International allies in Europe also ruled out the possibility. United Kingdom Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said last week that implementing a no-fly zone would put British fighter jets directly against Russian fighter jets and that NATO would have to effectively declare war on Russia because thats what you would do. We have no intentions of moving into Ukraine, neither on the ground or in the airspace, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told NBC News in a Monday interview. We have a responsibility to make sure that this doesnt spiral out of control and escalate even further into concern for full-fledged war in Europe involving NATO allies. Where are Russian forces attacking Ukraine? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out. An off-duty police officer in Las Vegas is accused of robbing a casino at gunpoint early Sunday, police said. Caleb Rogers, 33, a member of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department since 2015, is charged with burglary with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, according to a statement from his agency. Police said they were dispatched to a casino in the 4100 block of South Valley View Boulevard shortly before 7 a.m. Security at the casino, which police did not name, told officers they had detained a suspect. Responding officers contacted security and identified the suspect as off-duty LVMPD officer Caleb Rogers, police said. The department said Rogers, who is assigned to the Community Police Division, Bolden Area Command, will be "placed on suspension of police powers without pay pending the outcome of the criminal and internal investigations." Rogers made an initial appearance in court Monday and was held on $250,000 bail with high-level monitoring and a mandate that he have no weapons if he posts bail, a representative for the Clark County District Attorney's office said. It was unclear whether Rogers had retained an attorney. He remained in the Clark County Detention Center on Monday afternoon, according to online jail records. His relatives could not be immediately reached for comment. Earlier Monday, prosecutor Christopher Laurent said in court that Rogers also is a suspect in two other armed robberies in the area. They include recent holdups at Red Rock Resort and Aliante Hotel, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. They have similar MOs, Laurent said, adding: It appears to be the same person. Metro is currently investigating. He is a danger to the community with that kind of training and knowledge. A representative for the district attorney's office deferred to Las Vegas police when asked whether Rogers is a suspect in additional casino robberies. A spokesperson for Las Vegas police declined to answer and pointed to the departments statement from Sunday when asked the same question. "Additional charges may be forthcoming," police have said. Steve Grammas, the president of Las Vegas Police Protective Association, said Rogers arrest is not a reflection of the department. "While everyone has a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, if these allegations are true, the LVPPA could not be more disappointed and disgusted by the actions of one rogue officer, the statement said. This is not indicative of the excellent work and character that the men and women at LVMPD exemplify on a daily basis. ... If these charges are proven to be true, we hope the criminal justice system accurately holds the person accused accountable. In this image taken June 16, 2020, a Russian Tu-95 bomber, top, is intercepted by a U.S. F-22 Raptor fighter off the coast of Alaska. Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers have flown near Alaska on missions demonstrating the military's long-range strike capability. (North American Aerospace Defense Command) President Vladimir Putin conjured up the specter of nuclear war during the last weeks fierce fighting in Ukraine, instructing Russias military to place nuclear forces on high combat alert, a special regime of combat duty. When was the last time there was a nuclear alert like this? The last nuclear alert in a U.S.-Russian/Soviet crisis was by the United States during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, according to James Acton, who co-directs the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Before that, many experts say the closest the Cold War powers came to nuclear war was the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. Acton wrote an instructive Twitter thread about Russias current nuclear threat. He explains that Russian nonstrategic warheads are stored separately from the weapons that carry them, like intercontinental ballistic missiles and ballistic submarines. Putins alert may direct forces to move them to the same sites, then disperse them to strategic locations. There could well be numerous changes to other aspects of Russia's nuclear posture: More troops called up, airborne command-and-control aircraft alerted, security at bases increased. The basic idea here is clearly to scare the West into backing down, Acton wrote. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush ordered U.S. nuclear-capable strategic bombers off alert in an effort to reverse the nuclear arms race, and they have remained that way since. So how close are world powers to a nuclear showdown? On Monday, Acton said analysts he knows who have access to classified Russian information have not seen any major changes to Russias nuclear force posture except increased readiness of nuclear command and control. I still think theres a good chance that over the next few days we will see a change in Russias physical nuclear forces, Acton said. Partly this depends on who the audience is, the U.S. or Ukraine or both? If its the U.S., Russia would probably deploy added submarines with long-range weapons or place warheads on long-range bombers, intercontinental missiles or trucks dispersed in the field where theyre more difficult to target, Acton said. If Russia wants to send a message to Ukraine, it would deploy shorter-range weapons that cant reach the U.S., moving warheads from storage to aircraft, ground launch and ballistic missile sites. We havent seen any of this yet, Acton said. Actons concern is that Putin unwilling to compromise in negotiations on allowing Ukraine to remain a sovereign state and facing a protracted, bloody ground war will deploy a nuclear weapon as a show of force. Experts said he would probably test-fire a weapon or deploy it in a remote, sparsely populated area of Ukraine, away from Russian strongholds in the east and south. The point wouldnt be to win the war through brute force. The point would be to say, Im willing to do this, Acton said. How have the U.S. and Europe responded to Putins nuclear threats? The Biden administration has not raised the alert level of U.S. nuclear forces. U.S. Strategic Command issued a statement saying that it remains at an appropriate posture, meaning its combat readiness has not increased. Britain and France, the leading nuclear powers in Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have not increased their alerts either, Acton said. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned Putins nuclear threats as completely unacceptable. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki accused Putin of manufacturing threats that dont exist in order to justify further aggression. How many nuclear weapons does Russia have? Russia has about 6,200 nuclear warheads, the U.S. nearly 5,500, according to the Arms Control Assn. Of those, about 2,000 in both countries can be launched quickly. They include land- and sea-based long-range ballistic missiles and heavy bombers with intercontinental range. These things are designed to destroy cities, said Brian Toon, an atmospheric physicist at the University of Colorado in Boulder, who has spent 35 years researching chilling nuclear winter scenarios (here's his Ted talk summary). Toon was concerned that as fighting rages in Ukraine and tensions escalate between Russia and the West, an accident could lead Russians to activate a nuclear weapon. This is a classic example of how you get into a nuclear war. Its very improbable that Russia is suddenly going to attack the U.S. or the U.S. is going to attack Russia. But weve had numerous examples of coming close to a nuclear war, like the Cuban missile crisis, and, Weve had numerous cases since then where one side thought they detected a missile launch by the other side. If they do, he said, they have a roughly 20-minute window to decide whether to launch in return or potentially be targeted. He estimates that full-scale nuclear war between Russia and the U.S. could kill up to 6 billion people. The way you would kill most of them is not radiation, he said. Most of the deaths would be because you would burn the cities. How powerful are Russias nuclear weapons? Both the U.S. and Russia now have nuclear weapons exponentially stronger than the bombs the U.S. dropped on Japan during World War II. But what makes todays nuclear weapons more dangerous is not just the force of their explosions, but also improved accuracy, said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists: You dont need as big a bang to destroy your target. So when people say the arsenals are more powerful, its not about tonnage, its that theyre more efficient, Kristensen said. Weve seen Russia really modernizing its nuclear forces, bringing them out of the Soviet era. How does the Russian nuclear arsenal compare with other nations? Russia and the U.S. have the largest nuclear arsenals, but other countries have expanded their stockpiles in recent years, including Britain, China, India, North Korea and Pakistan, Kristensen said. Every permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has them. The total number of weapons has dropped by about 80% since the end of the Cold War, from an estimated 70,300 in 1986 to 12,700 this year. Other than Britain and France, no other NATO countries have significant nuclear stockpiles, Kristensen said, although the U.S. has sent some nuclear weapons to alliance members including Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. If its about standing up to the Russians, he said, only the U.S. can do that. Does Ukraine have nuclear weapons? After the Soviet Union fell, Ukraine inherited thousands of nuclear weapons stationed there, the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal. But in 1994, the new Ukrainian government joined the global Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, relinquishing its weapons. In exchange, the treaty said, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America reaffirm their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine. Didnt the U.S. also agree to scale back nuclear weapons as recently as last year? The Biden administration was soon expected to release a Pentagon-led study of U.S. nuclear capabilities with no plans to expand in coming years, Kristensen said. Our military doesnt think they need to they think they have plenty, he said. Last year, the U.S. and Russia agreed to extend until 2026 a treaty limiting their nuclear stockpiles. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, signed in 2011, limits both countries to deploying no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and imposes restrictions on land- and submarine-based missiles and bombers used to fire them. But after Russias nuclear threats, the Biden administration's position may change. Biden came in with a promise to do several things to try to scale back the nuclear arsenal, Kristensen said. Most of those, if not all, are now in jeopardy because of the way things are going with China and Russia and certainly with these events and Russia rattling the nuclear sword. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Japanese writer-director Ryusuke Hamaguchi adapted material from three Haruki Murakami short stories and Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" to create "Drive My Car." (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Japanese auteur Ryusuke Hamaguchi adapted a roughly 40-page Haruki Murakami short story into a fully realized, seamless three-hour film, "Drive My Car." But it was much more involved than that: He actually took material from three Murakami stories, and within that adaptation, he included significant passages of Anton Chekhov's stage classic "Uncle Vanya" in multiple languages. And he accomplished all of that while retaining Murakami's themes and expanding far beyond where the author left his characters. "The short story didnt really have a conclusive ending; it was sort of midway through," said Hamaguchi, through an interpreter. "From the audience perspective, thats something they might be dissatisfied with. I had to think of What were the characters issues, and how were they going to be solved?' I thought the most legitimate way to do it would be to use other stories from this collection ... there were common themes running through them." "Drive My Car," nominated for four Oscars, including best picture, director and adapted screenplay, could as easily have been called "Men Without Women," after the book from which Hamaguchi mined the three tales. The central relationship, between actor-director Kafuku (played by Hidetoshi Nishijima in the film) and laconic driver Misaki (a perfectly cast Toko Miura), and Kafuku's wife's infidelities including with a man Kafuku came to know, Takatsuki come from the collection's first story, "Drive My Car." But the most unforgettable aspects of Kafuku's wife, Oto, come from another, unrelated story: "Scheherazade," in which a woman having an almost regimented affair tells her lover fascinating stories of her past following their sexual encounters. In the film, that basic scenario exists with the stories being inventions, not memories. A third entry in the collection, "Kino," contributes more subtly, with its decisive violence and main character's catharsis. Hamaguchi said, "The character Kino, in the short story, is also cheated on by his wife, and there are things that he should be noticing that he doesnt. In the same way, there are things Kafuku should have realized, so I used 'Kino' to show the place where he should be getting to. Also, in regards to the violent nature of Takatsuki [in the film], this was something depicted in Kino that influenced the character of Takatsuki." That's quite a bit of surgery on material by one of the world's foremost authors of fiction. Hamaguchi was undaunted. In the Murakami story, Kafuku is a somewhat fading stage actor in a performance of "Uncle Vanya"; the discovery of his glaucoma requires the use of a hired driver, a young woman named Misaki. In the car, Kafuku drills his lines with a cassette tape of the other characters' dialogue. Apart from a brief, quoted passage, the Chekhov barely appears in Murakami's pages. In Hamaguchi's film, it's a major presence: The artistically formidable Kafuku is directing the play; his "Vanya" is cast with actors from several different Asian countries, speaking the dialoguein their own languages (one uses sign language). Hamaguchi said, "I had a friend who had gone to France and performed with a multilingual acting troupe. That was extremely interesting. Even if its in just one language you dont speak lets say for me, its in English Im not going to get everything, but Im going to base my understanding on nuances, emotions, things like that. [The actors] are going to have this very intense concentration to be in tune with the other people." This device suits his and Murakami's theme of deeper understanding, realizing one didn't know another as one thought. But Hamaguchi also saw parallels between the play and his characters. Vanya is envious and obsessed with what might have been; Kafuku is likewise unable to free himself from the past and looks jealously upon Takatsuki, whom he has cast in "Vanya" despite knowing of the affair. "I was surprised by the amazing [correlation] between Vanyas character and Kafukus character. The lines spoken by Vanya really match up with the feelings Kafuku has. Because I wasnt using [Murakamis devices of] flashback and inner monologue, this would also help express those things." He also saw "parallels between Misaki and Sonya [Vanya's niece, a practical person to whom Vanya listens]. The driver Misaki is able to guide Kafuku to solutions to ease his burden. This is similar to the relationship of Sonya and Vanya. There was the solution of being able to live on, to move forward with your life. "The theme of how those left behind, those surviving, go on with their lives this is definitely in the film. You have to move on, or it wont end. I thought, how can the audience come to think that Kafuku will be OK, to think, Hell be all right? Thats how it turned out this way." One of Hamaguchi's subtler changes is also one of the most significant. The film adds the wrinkle that the voice on the cassette with which Kafuku runs lines belongs to his wife, Oto. "After she dies, hes continuing this conversation with her even though shes not physically there anymore," said Hamaguchi. "Of course, its a [set] conversation; hes not gaining any information about the things he wants to know about her, her secrets. Its a safe way for him to interact with her. Its also a way to show how hes still so caught up with his wife." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A translator was seemingly moved to tears while translating an impassioned speech by the president of Ukraine at the European Parliament as Russias military invasion enters its sixth day. Translating Volodymyr Zelenskys speech live on Tuesday, the interpreter could be heard getting emotional. This morning, two cruise missiles hit Freedom Square. Dozens were killed. This is the price of freedom, Zelensky said, according to the translators interpretation. The interpreter then could be heard choking up. We are fighting just for our land and for our freedom, he continued. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks via video conference to the European Parliament on Tuesday. (John Thys/AFP via Getty Images) On Tuesday morning, the square in the heart of Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, was struck by a missile, and the large explosion could be seen ripping apart cars. At least 20 people, including one child, were reportedly injured, and authorities are still trying to confirm the death toll. Speaking via video link to the European Parliament, Zelensky went on to say that his citizens were fighting for their survival. Nobody is going to break us, he said. We are strong, we are Ukrainians. We have a desire to see our children alive. I think its a fair one. Yesterday, 16 children were killed. Zelensky received a standing ovation from hundreds of diplomats at the European Parliament. The parliaments president, Roberta Metsola, told diplomats that she welcomed Ukraines application for EU membership and would work toward it. Members of the European Parliament applaud after Zelenskys address. (Virginia Mayo/AP) We are fighting also to be equal members of Europe, Zelensky said Tuesday. The European Union is going to be much stronger with us. The speech came one day after Zelensky asked for immediate EU membership as Russian troops encircled Ukrainian cities, and much of Europe has rallied in support of Kyiv. Speaking at a briefing at the presidential palace in Kyiv, Zelensky appealed to the EU for immediate accession of Ukraine via a new special procedure. He added: Our goal is to be together with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be on an equal footing. Im sure its fair. Im sure its possible." On Tuesday, the chairman of Ukraines parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, also told the European Parliament that the best support to the people of Ukraine in its darkest hours will be the real recognition of our European aspiration. He added: Give us the membership of the European Union. _____ Where are Russian forces attacking Ukraine? Check out this explainer from Yahoo Immersive to find out. SYDNEY, March 1 (Xinhua) -- As devastating floods continue to swamp much of eastern Australia, an environmental scientist is warning of the threat to the drinking water supply for millions of people. Writing in the online current affairs publication, the Conversation, Ian Wright from Western Sydney University noted that the torrential rains had already forced the temporary closure of two drinking water treatment plants in the southeastern region of the state of Queensland. In response, health authorities are urging people to conserve drinking water, which has already led to one bottle shop in the state capital of Brisbane offering free ice to thirsty residents. Wright said the problem was caused by an excessive run-off of soil which led to "milky chocolate brown" flood waters, which could become even more contaminated by various forms of waste matter potentially creating "a dangerous cocktail". "The trouble is the treatment system has been hit quickly by a tremendous volume of water, which puts great pressure on the process which has not been designed for such disasters," he told Xinhua on Tuesday. Wright said the huge input of unclean water could overwhelm the system by, for example, clogging the system's filters and ultimately diluting the chlorine and other chemicals used in the disinfection process. "Water must be crystal clear by the time it gets to your tap," he said, adding that during these unprecedented flood times, cloudy water could appear in the system meaning the entire water body had to be "flushed" along with extensive testing done before the "all clear" could finally be given. Meanwhile, other health experts are also anticipating a rise in related illnesses due to the filthy flood waters. Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) Queensland deputy chair Shantha Raghwan warned in a statement on Monday that residents in the flooded regions could expect to suffer from an increase in gastroenteritis and skin infections due to the unclean conditions. Adding to the problem, Raghwan said the floods were hampering staff numbers at hospital and healthcare systems. "Due to floodwaters, many healthcare workers are unable to get to hospitals to work, so there are significant staffing pressures being experienced across Queensland and northern New South Wales," Raghwan said. Editor's note: This page recaps the news from Ukraine on Monday, Feb. 28. Follow here for the latest updates and news from Tuesday, March 1, as Russia's invasion continues. *** More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed after Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kyiv, the head of the region wrote on Telegram. Dmytro Zhyvytskyy posted photographs of the charred shell of a four-story building and rescuers searching rubble. In a later Facebook post, he said many Russian soldiers and some local residents also were killed during the fighting on Sunday. The report could not immediately be confirmed. Earlier Monday, Russian forces shelled Ukraines second-largest city, rocking a residential neighborhood as they closed in on the capital, Kyiv, in a 40-mile convoy that included hundreds of tanks and other military vehicles. The fighting continued as talks aimed at stopping the war yielded only an agreement to keep talking. The countrys embattled president said the stepped-up shelling was aimed at forcing him into concessions. I believe Russia is trying to put pressure (on Ukraine) with this simple method," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Monday in a video address. He did not offer details of the hours-long talks that took place earlier, but said that Kyiv was not prepared to make concessions when one side is hitting each other with rocket artillery. As Russian forces marched forward and met stiff resistance from Ukrainian soldiers, countries tightened the vise around Moscow's economy Monday, announcing new sanctions on its central bank and individuals. Even Switzerland is breaking its neutral stance to join the EU in its actions. TRACK THE INVASION: Satellite images, surveillance footage, social media posts show the latest on the war in Ukraine FACT CHECK: What's true and what's false about the Russian invasion of Ukraine RUSSIA'S RICHEST TARGETED:Biden hits yacht-riding elites with sanctions. Will it help? Russian infantry GAZ Tigr vehicles destroyed as a result of fighting in Kharkiv, seen on Feb. 28, 2022. Mastercard blocks financial institutions over sanctions on Russia Mastercard announced Monday it was blocking "multiple financial institutions from the Mastercard payment network" as a result of sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The U.S.-based financial services company said in a statement it will continue to work with regulators to stay in compliance and is actively monitoring and preparing to respond to cyberattacks. The U.S. and EU have sanctioned top Kremin officials and Russian elites as well as taken steps to remove Russian banks from the SWIFT network, which allows for payments between financial institutions. The financial corporation also said it would donate $2 million in humanitarian relief. Celina Tebor United States expels Russian diplomats from U.N. headquarters The United States is expelling 12 Russian diplomats stationed at the United Nation's headquarters in New York. for engaging in espionage activities that undermine U.S. national security. Olivia Dalton, a spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN, said the U.S. action has been in the works for several months. She did not elaborate on the accusations that the Russians were spying on the U.S. but referred to the 12 individuals as intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have abused their privileges of residency in the United States. Deirdre Shesgreen Australia commits $50 million in support for Ukraine Australia will provide Ukraine with $50 million in missiles, ammunition and other military hardware to fight Russian invaders. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday elaborated on his countrys plans after revealing a day earlier that his government would provide Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with lethal military equipment. Morrison promised only non-lethal military equipment last week. President Zelenskyy said: Dont give me a ride, give me ammunition, and thats exactly what the Australian government has agreed to do, Morrison said. Australia had committed $50 million to provide both lethal and non-lethal defensive support for Ukraine through NATO, he said. The overwhelming majority of that ... will be in the lethal category, Morrison said. Associated Press Disney, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. halt release of films in Russia The Walt Disney Co., Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. are joining the list of businesses retaliating against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Disney is pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia, including the upcoming Turning Red from Pixar, in response to the attack, the company said in a statement Monday. We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation, the statement said. The company said it is working with non-governmental organizations to provide aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees. WarnerMedia is putting the release of The Batman on hold in Russia. The film starring Robert Pattinson had been set to open in Russia on Thursday. We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves, Warner Bros. said in a statement. We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to this tragedy. Sony Pictures is also pausing planned theatrical releases in Russia, including the upcoming release of Morbius, which is due out in early April. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been impacted and hope this crisis will be resolved quickly," a Sony Pictures spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement. Michael Collins, Charles Ventura Ukraine official: 5 million rubles and full amnesty for Russian soldiers who stop fighting Ukraine is offering Russian soldiers cash to stop fighting in a Kremlin-ordered invasion of the country. We offer Russian soldiers a choice: to die in an unjust war or a full amnesty and 5 million rubles in compensation. If they lay down their arms and surrender voluntarily, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in a statement posted to the departments Twitter account. The offer of 5 million rubles is worth less than $50,000 dollars as the currency has cratered amid global sanctions levied against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Rick Rouan Durbin requests Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainians in U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters that he plans to send a bipartisan letter to President Biden this evening asking for Temporary Protected Status for all Ukrainians currently in the U.S. There are 29,500 Ukrainians in the United States now on visas," said Durbin, the second most powerful Democrat in the Senate. "They include tourists and students and people working here." He said some have expired visas and are now expected to return to Ukraine, which is unacceptable under these current circumstances. Temporary Protected Status would allow them to stay in the U.S. temporarily without fear of deportation. That is something we could and should do immediately, he said. Dylan Wells and Rebecca Morin Ukraine ambassador compares Russia to Nazi Germany Ukraines ambassador to the United States said Monday Russian forces that invaded her country are acting like the Nazis during World War II and killing innocent civilians. Russian troops have shot into residential areas, orphanages, schools and kindergartens, Ambassador Oksana Markarova told reporters after a meeting with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill. FROM SOCCER TO VODKA: The sanctions, bans and boycotts placed on Russia It is horrible, she said. They have to pay the price. They have to be isolated. They have to understand that its not OK in the 21st century to start a war and kill people in a neighboring sovereign country. Russia is trying to inflict devastation on Ukraine, Markarova said, but Ukrainians continue to fight back and will not surrender. We are defending our home, she said. We do not have any other option. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the Congress members who met with Markarova, praised the Ukrainians and said there was universal support among lawmakers at the meeting to offer assistance. Were exploring all the ways that we can help them, he told reporters after the meeting. Michael Collins U.S. not ruling out closing airspace to Russian planes The U.S. has not ruled out the possibility of banning Russian flights from its airspace in retaliation for Moscows invasion of Ukraine, the White House said Monday. There are obviously a range of options that remain on the table, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. So it's not off the table. Canada and the 27-nation European Union have closed their airspace to Russian planes. Russia has responded by closing its airspace to airlines from 36 countries. On Monday, Russia announced that it has closed its airspace to carriers from 36 nations, including European countries and Canada, responding in kind to their move to close their respective airspaces to all Russian aircraft. The move, announced Monday by the state aviation agency, follows a decision by the EU and Canada over the weekend to close their skies to the Russian planes in response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine. It added that planes from those countries could only enter Russias airspace with special permission. Michael Collins U.S. has no plans to update nuclear threat level The U.S. sees no reason to update its nuclear threat level despite Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to put his nuclear forces on high alert, the White House said Monday. The U.S. is assessing Putins directive, but at this time, we see no reason to change our own alert levels, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. Neither the U.S. nor NATO has any desire for conflict with Russia, Psaki said, and we think provocative rhetoric like this regarding nuclear weapons is dangerous, adds to the risk of miscalculation, should be avoided and will not indulge in it. - Michael Collins Poll: Majority of Americans fear Russia could deploy nuclear weapons Most Americans are wary that Russia could use nuclear weapons if the United States and its NATO allies step in to stop the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine, a new poll found. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted mostly before Russian President Vladimir Putin put his countrys nuclear forces on high alert found that more than six in 10 Americans are worried Russia could deploy nuclear weapons. President Joe Biden says they shouldn't. Asked Monday by a reporter as he attended a Black History Month celebration at the White House whether Americans "should be worried about nuclear war," Biden answered with a simple 'no'." Still, there is growing support among Americans for U.S. military involvement. The share of respondents who support President Joe Bidens decision to send U.S. troops to shore up NATOs eastern flank increased from 54% in a Feb. 16 poll to 70% in the most recent survey. About 70 percent of respondents said American troops should get involved if Russia moves beyond Ukraine and into a NATO country, a prospect that nearly two-thirds believe Putin has in his sights. The poll surveyed 1,364 U.S. adults between Feb. 25-27. -- Rick Rouan Shell to cut ties with Russian natural gas company Shell will exit a joint-venture with the Russian-owned natural gas company Gazprom a day after BP said it was cutting ties with a Russian state-owned oil company amid the Kremlins ongoing invasion of Ukraine. We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore, resulting from a senseless act of military aggression which threatens European security, Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said in a prepared statement. The company said it had about $3 billion in assets tied up in Russian ventures at the end of 2021. That includes interests in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and other joint ventures. Rick Rouan Twitter to flag tweets sharing Russian state media content Twitter will begin flagging content shared on its platform from Russian state media as it tries to stem the tide of disinformation flowing from the Kremlin. The social media platform announced its plan on Monday. Twitter already labeled the accounts of state media outlets, but now it will flag tweets from any account sharing that content, the companys head of site integrity Yoel Roth said. Roth said about 45,000 tweets a day are sharing links to Russian state-affiliated media outlets. Rick Rouan Macron: France will bring resolution to UN security council French President Emmanuel Macron said he will bring a resolution to the United Nations Security Council after reinforcing to the Kremlin the need to protect civilians in the invasion of Ukraine. Macron tweeted on Monday that he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to adopt a ceasefire and to stop attacks against civilians, residences and infrastructure. He asked Putin to respect humanitarian law, according to a translation of his tweet, and said France would bring the resolution to the UN. The UN general assembly is scheduled to meet in an emergency special session on Monday. Ukraines ambassador to the United States previously accused Russia of committing war crimes in the attack, including the use of heavy missiles and artillery to hit hospitals and kindergartens as well as infrastructure. Rick Rouan Zelenskyy asks European Union to grant Ukraine immediate membership Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskyy has formally made his appeal for membership into the European Union. Zelenskyy signed an application to grant Ukraine membership in the EU on Monday after urging the union publicly to expedite the process under a special procedure. The request came after the European Union announced new actions against Russia, including plans to close its airspace to Russian airlines, bankroll weapons for Ukraine and ban pro-Kremlin media outlets. -- Rick Rouan Residents of Sievierodonetsk, Lugansk Oblast, wait hidden in their basement during heavy shelling by Russian forces and Russia-backed separatists on Feb. 28, 2022. Residents of Sievierodonetsk, Lugansk Oblast, look out from the basement where they hid during heavy shelling by Russian forces and Russia-backed separatists on Feb. 28, 2022. FACT CHECK ROUNDUP: What's true and what's false about the Russian invasion of Ukraine Ruble-to-bitcoin trades surge after sanctions crater Russian currency Holders of Russian currency are turning to bitcoin as the ruble cratered in the aftermath of global sanctions that have cut off Russia from western financial institutions. Coindesk, a cryptocurrency news organization, reported a spike on Monday in trading volume between the Russian ruble and bitcoin. Trading volumes have hit a nine-month high, according to Coindesk. The increase came after the U.S., European allies and other countries around the globe imposed financial sanctions that have crippled Russias economy in response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine. The value of the ruble compared with the U.S. dollar has plunged since the announcement of those sanctions. -- Rick Rouan A baby sleeps while people trying to flee Ukraine wait for trains inside Lviv railway station, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, in Lviv, west Ukraine. Kremlin: Sanctions 'problematic,' worsened economy At the outset of a brewing financial crisis, the Kremlin conceded Monday that Western sanctions were affecting the economy but remained confident effects could be dampened. "The economic reality has considerably changed," Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlins spokesperson, said during a press call with reporters, according to Reuters and CNN. "These are heavy sanctions, they are problematic, but Russia has the potential to offset the harm." The U.S. and EU have sanctioned top Kremin officials and Russian elites as well as taken steps to remove Russian banks from the SWIFT network, which allows for payments between financial institutions. The West also took steps to stop the Kremlin from accessing its $640 billion in foreign reserves which Russian banks could use to buoy the isolated economy. "Russia has been making plans for quite a long time for possible sanctions, including the most severe ones. There are response plans, they were developed and are being implemented as problems appear, Peskov said. He added that sanctions on Russian elites and Russian President Vladimir Putin himself were pointless. Matthew Brown EU Foreign Affairs chief: 'Sanctions have a cost' Days after the United States and European Union levied stringent sanctions on the Russian elite and financial system, the EUs foreign affairs chief reiterated that sanctions will have a negative effect on the global economy. Its a price that the West must be ready to pay, he stressed. This is not a free lunch. Sanctions will backlash. Sanctions have a cost, Josep Borrell, vice president of the European Commission, said Monday. Borrell said it is important to explain to public opinion the costs of sanctions on the global economy. LEARN MORE: Mapping and tracking Russia's invasion of Ukraine We have to be ready to pay this price now because if not, we will have to pay a much bigger price in the future, Borrell continued. He noted there would be turbulence in global energy markets that would especially impact Europe in the short term, which the EU and U.S. are working to mitigate. While the U.S. is more insulated from the economic pain of isolating Russia than Europe, President Joe Biden has also cautioned Americans that the sanctions will have ripple effects for the U.S. economy that will be felt in the stock market and energy prices Matthew Brown IOC calls for exclusion of athletes from Russia, Belarus In a sweeping move to isolate and condemn Russia after invading Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee urged sports bodies on Monday to exclude the countrys athletes and officials from international events. The IOC said it was needed to "protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants." The decision opened the way for FIFA, the governing body of soccer, to exclude Russia from a World Cup qualifying playoff match on March 24. Poland has refused to play the scheduled game against Russia. The Olympic bodys call also applied to athletes and official from Belarus, which has abetted Russias invasion. Associated Press PUTIN'S MIND: 'Erratic?' 'Delusional?' Lawmakers question Putin's stability as he puts nuclear forces on alert Swiss adopt EU sanctions The Swiss government on Monday took the extraordinary step of joining in the EU's sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Switzerland's Federal Council decided to adopt the financial sanctions, whiich include freezing the assets of individuals and companies, as well as levying sanctions upon Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Swiss government is also joining the EU in closing its airspace to all flights from Russia and to aircraft with Russian markings. The Federal Council is suspending visas for Russian nationals, excluding diplomatic passports, and is blocking entry for "a number of individuals who have a connection to Switzerland and are close to the Russian president." Katie Wadington United States imposes sanctions on Russia's Central Bank The U.S. on Monday imposed new sanctions on Russia targeting the country's Central Bank, dealing a major blow to Moscow's economy, which holds more than $630 billion in foreign currency reserves. The sanctions effectively cut off Russia's Central Bank from accessing assets either held in the U.S. or in U.S. dollars, severely restricting any effort by Russian President Vladimir Putin to blunt the effects of previous sanctions that have sent the country's economy into a free fall. The new restrictions, in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, also target Russia's National Wealth Fund and the Ministry of Finance. The measures prohibit foreign financial firms with U.S. dollars from sending it to Russia's Central Bank, National Wealth Fund or finance ministry, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the announcement. The official said the U.S. wanted to put the penalties in place before markets opened Monday after learning from allies over the weekend that the Russian Central Bank was attempting to move assets beginning Monday morning from institutions around the world. Courtney Subramanian WHAT IS SWIFT?: How would a removal from SWIFT affect Russia? Zelenskyy creates 'international legion,' enlists foreign fighters President Volodomyr Zelenskyy announced the creation of an international legion to enlist non-Ukrainians who want to support the war effort against Russia. We already have thousands requests from foreigners, who want to join the resistance to the (Russian) occupiers and protect the world security from Putin regime, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said Monday. While no other country has sent its own troops to Ukraine, the U.S., European Union and NATO have all ramped up the delivery of weapons to the eastern European country amid the Russian invasion. Anyone interested in joining the new unit should reach out to the Ukrainian embassies in their home countries, the statement said. The Ukrainian government has also called on the support of its civilians to assist in defending the country from Russian invasion by directly resisting and confusing invading forces. Matthew Brown U.S. closes embassy in Belarus The State Department has shut down the U.S. Embassy in Minsk, Belarus, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday morning. Non-emergency personnel and family members at the embassy in Moscow have also been authorized to leave. Blinken said the steps were taken "due to security and safety issues stemming from the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine." Belarus has served as a staging area for Russian troops for weeks ahead of the invasion that started on Thursday. Katie Wadington Pope Francis offers to help solve Ukraine crisis The Vatican is offering to help in any negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans No. 2 official, told several Italian newspapers in an interview published on Monday that the Holy See is offering its willingness to facilitate dialogue with Russia." On Friday, Pope Francis took the extraordinary step of visiting the Russian Embassy to the Holy See to meet with the Russian ambassador. The pontiff urged an end to fighting and a return to negotiations, Parolin said. While Orthodox Christians are predominant among the faithful in Ukraine, the Catholic Church has a discreet presence in that country through believers who follow the Eastern Rite of Catholicism. Associated Press UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson: 'Putin must fail' British Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed that Western allies would impose the harshest economic sanctions possible against Russian President Vladimir Putin for his "abhorrent campaign against Ukraine." The European Union has announced unprecedented new actions against Russia, outlining plans to close its airspace to Russian airlines, fund a weapons purchase to assist Ukraine and ban some pro-Kremlin media outlets, while the Associated Press reported the United States approved the delivery of anti-aircraft Stinger missiles to Ukraine. Western powers in support of Ukraine could soon be joined by Switzerland, an oftentimes neutral country that on Monday is set to review potential sanctions and asset freezes against Russia, said President Ignazio Cassis via Reuters. Cassis said it was very probable the country would follow suit, the outlet reported. "Putin must fail," the British prime minister wrote on Twitter. Caren Bohan and Associated Press Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukrainian soldiers killed after Russian artillery hits base: Recap Editor's note: This page recaps the news from Ukraine on Tuesday, March 1. Follow here for the latest updates and news from Wednesday, March 2 as Russia's invasion continues. Russian military forces escalated attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine's largest cities Tuesday, even as its massive convoy of tanks and vehicles appeared to bog down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an attack Tuesday on the main square of the country's second-largest city frank, undisguised terror. Nobody will forgive. Nobody will forget. This attack on Kharkiv is a war crime. At least 11 people were killed and 35 wounded in the rocket strike, Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko said, adding that the death toll is expected to rise. Closed-circuit television footage showed a fireball engulfing a street in front of one building, and a few cars rolled out of the billowing smoke. Russian strikes on Kyivs TV tower also killed five people. The Russian military advance drew to within 15 miles of Kyivs center amid signs that troops are running out of gas and food, a senior U.S. Defense Department official said Tuesday. Russia has committed about 80% of the combat force President Vladimir Putin deployed to invade Ukraine, the official said. Ukrainian resistance is continuing, and it has helped stymie the advance, according to the official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence findings. It is also possible the Russians are pausing to regroup and reassess their attack, the official said. Zelenskyy said he spoke with President Joe Biden on Tuesday concerning Russian sanctions and defense assistance to Ukraine. The White House confirmed that they spoke for more than 30 minutes. "We must stop the aggressor as soon as possible," Zelenskyy tweeted. "Thank you for your support!" Biden gave his first State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday night amid the war abroad, condemning Russia for its "unprovoked" invasion of Ukraine and confirming the closing of U.S. airspace to Russian planes. Biden said the U.S. and western allies are enforcing "powerful economic sanctions," including cutting off Russia's largest banks from international financial systems, preventing Russia's central bank from shoring up the Russian ruble and "making Putin's $260 billion war fund worthless." Putin is now isolated from the world more than he has ever been, he said. Hospital workers transferred a Kharkiv maternity ward to a bomb shelter. Amid mattresses piled up against the walls, pregnant women paced the crowded space to the cries of dozens of newborns. Zelenskyy said he believes Russian shelling of civilian areas is an attempt by Russia to put pressure on Ukraine to make concessions. No peace deal can be reached when one side is hitting another with rocket artillery, he said. In Geneva, dozens of diplomats from the U.S., the U.K. and other European countries walked out in protest when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was addressing the UN Human Rights Council and Conference on Disarmament. THE NEWS COMES TO YOU: Get the latest updates on the situation in Ukraine. Sign up here A view of the square outside the damaged local city hall of Kharkiv on March 1, 2022, destroyed as a result of Russian troop shelling. Latest updates: Apple said it would stop selling its products in Russia. The company doesn't have physical stores in Russia but ships devices through its online stores and sells its products through retail stores there. ExxonMobil said it would discontinue operations of the Sakhalin-1 project and leave the venture, which involves Russia among other countries, and that it would not invest in new developments in Russia. At least two international humanitarian groups accused Russia of using cluster bombs, which open in the air and rain down multiple explosives over a wide area with little accuracy. Moscow denied the allegation. At least 677,000 refugees have already fled from Ukraine into neighboring countries, most to Poland, said Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees. Zelenskyy, in an address to the European parliament Tuesday, said his country is fighting "to be equal members of Europe. We have proven that, as a minimum, we are the same as you. The State Department has closed the U.S. Embassy in Belarus, a Russian neighbor and supporter, and is allowing non-essential staff at the U.S. Embassy in Russia to leave the country. TRACK THE INVASION: Satellite images, surveillance footage, social media posts show the latest on the war in Ukraine USA TODAY FACT CHECK ROUNDUP: What's true and what's false about the Russian invasion of Ukraine United States to ban Russian planes from American airspace President Joe Biden announced State of the Union address Tuesday night that the U.S. is closing its airspace to Russian planes in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, . The U.S. joins a growing list of countries that have announced plans to close their airspace to Russian aircraft in response to the invasion. The European Union took that step Sunday after several European countries, including France, Italy and Denmark, announced the move. Canada also joined the international move to cut off Russian aircraft. Michael Collins and Courtney Subramanian Biden says 'no more' to Russian oligarchs; sanctions strangling Putin Biden said at the State of the Union Tuesday night that the U.S. and western allies are enforcing "powerful economic sanctions," including cutting off Russia's largest banks from international financial systems, preventing Russia's central bank from shoring up the Russian ruble and "making Putin's $260 billion war fund worthless." The president, who praised Ukraines resolve on the battlefield, also said the Justice Department is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of Russias wealthiest people. He pledged that the U.S., along with European allies, will look seize Russian yachts, luxury apartments and private jets. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains, Biden said. The president also said coordinated sanctions are "choking off Russia's access to technology" that will weaken its military and undermine its economic strength. Courtney Subramanian and Phillip M. Bailey US to release 30 million barrels from Strategic Petroleum Reserve Biden said at the State of the Union the U.S. is working with 30 countries to release 60 million barrels of oil from reserves around world to ease the impact of the war in Ukraine on energy markets. The U.S. is leading the effort by releasing 30 million barrels from its own Strategic Petroleum Reserve, he said. These steps will help blunt gas prices here at home, he said. Michael Collins Ukraine: Attack on TV tower kills 5, damages Babi Yar Holocaust Center Russian strikes on Kyivs TV tower killed five people, wounded others and damaged the Babi Yar Holocaust Memorial Center, Ukrainian authorities said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office tweeted that a "powerful barrage" was underway and that a missile hit the center. The Nazis shot tens of thousands of people at Babi Yar, including almost the entire Jewish population of Kyiv. "To the world: what is the point of saying 'never again' for 80 years, if the world stays silent when a bomb drops on the same site of Babyn Yar?" Zerenskyy tweeted. "At least 5 killed. History repeating" Ukrainian emergency service personnel carry a body of a victim out of the damaged City Hall building following shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. US official: Russian force may be regrouping The 40-mile convoy approaching Kyiv has made little progress because of resistance and a lack of gas and food, according to a senior U.S. Defense Department official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence findings. The official said the Russians also are likely protecting the convoy, explaining why it does not appear to have been attacked. The airspace over Ukraine continues to be contested by Ukrainian and Russian forces, the official said. There are also signs that there are morale problems among Russian troops, many of whom have been drafted into service, the official said, declining to say how the Pentagon has made that assessment. Many of the soldiers are young men who have not been thoroughly trained or even aware why they were sent to Ukraine. The Russians, however, have a potent force in and around Ukraine, the official said. The Russians have systems capable of launching thermobaric weapons in Ukraine, the official said. Those fuel-air weapons are used primarily to kill people on the ground or in bunkers. Tom Vanden Brook Ukraine refugees find open doors through online sites At a time when desperate Ukrainians are fleeing their country by the hundreds of thousands, online connections are helping them find refuge in other countries. Facebook groups such as Host A Sister and Accommodation, Help & Shelter for Ukraine are among the sites serving as a link between those escaping the war in Ukraine and hosts willing to open their doors to them. Iryna Yarmolenko, who served as a council member for the Ukrainian city of Bucha, fled with her mother and 5-year-old son last week and found a safe place with a couple in Lublin, Poland, after posting a request for help on the Host A Sister page. "Even if it was just with their words: 'Iryna, we are here. Tell me what you need,' ... I felt myself not so alone." she said. "I was totally broken because I left all my stuff, all my dreams, all my house, all my career, all my everything." Bailey Schulz and Eve Chen Ice skating, skiing and basketball join growing list of sports entities barring Russians In addition to the economic sanctions piling up against Russia for invading Ukraine, the sports bans continue to mount. On Tuesday, Russia was barred from competing in international ice skating, skiing, basketball, track and some tennis events, a day after being kicked out of soccer competitions and hockey President Vladimir Putins favorite team sport. The decisions follow the IOCs request to international sports federations to keep Russian athletes out of events they organize. The International Skating Union, which runs the sport around the world, said it won't allow any competitors from Russia to participate in its events, which would exclude Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova and 15-year-old star Kamila Valieva from the world figure skating championships in France later this month. Athletes from Belarus, which has supported Russia's attack, will also be barred. Court will look into whether Russia has committed war crimes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of committing war crimes during the invasion, and the International Criminal Court's prosecutor said he would investigate. But what exactly are war crimes? Are they attacks on civilian populations? Launching rockets into residential areas? Other forms of cruelty in what's an inherently brutal endeavor like war? The definition of a war crime has evolved over time, but Dustin Lewis, research director for the Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict, said it encompasses two criteria. "First, the conduct must be committed with a sufficient connection to an armed conflict,'' he said. "Second, the conduct must constitute a serious violation of the laws and customs of international humanitarian law that has been criminalized by international treaty or customary law." Ryan W. Miller Mayor describes Kharkiv's situation as 'pretty grave' Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said Tuesday that his government remained in control but said the city is surrounded by Russian troops. Military equipment and armored vehicles are coming from different directions, he told The Washington Post in a phone interview. Terekhov said a government building and the opera and ballet theater were among buildings shelled. Transformer stations were also struck by artillery, cutting off power to much of the city, he said. The shelling stalled efforts to supply the city with food and medical supplies, he said. There are casualties, and by now, there are certainly a lot more of them, after the night and morning shelling, he told the Post. The situation is pretty grave. Diplomats in Geneva walk out on Lavrov speech More than 100 diplomats from dozens of nations walked out on a speech by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday in protest of the invasion. Lavrov spoke remotely from Russia because he said his flight path to Geneva was blocked by governments that closed their airspace to Russian planes. He accused the West of "Russophobic frenzy." Ambassador Michele Taylor, the U.S. representative to the council, said the diplomats were working to ensure Russia's leaders were held accountable for the "illegal war" against Ukraine. "As widespread human rights abuses continue + civilian casualties mount, we #StandwithUkraine in rejecting Lavrovs lies," Taylor tweeted. "Russia is isolated." Actor Sean Penn flees Ukraine on foot Filmmaker and actor Sean Penn confirmed he has evacuated to Poland after spending time in Ukraine working on a documentary about the conflict. The actor shared a photo of himself Monday carrying a suitcase while walking along the side of a backed-up highway as many others attempted to flee Ukraine. "Myself & two colleagues walked miles to the Polish border after abandoning our car on the side of the road," Penn wrote. "Almost all the cars in this photo carry women & children only, most without any sign of luggage, and a car their only possession of value." Penn said Putin has made a "most horrible mistake for all of humankind" and that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people "have risen as historic symbols of courage and principle. Ukraine is the tip of the spear for the democratic embrace of dreams." Penn's visit drew accolades from Zelenskyy. "Sean Penn demonstrates the courage that many others, especially western politicians lack," the president's office wrote on Facebook. "The director specially came to Kyiv to record all the events that are currently happening in Ukraine and to tell the world the truth about Russia's invasion of our country." Elise Brisco Cities under siege: A look at Kyiv and Kharkiv by the numbers The war has thrown a global spotlight on Ukraine's two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv. Kyiv's (KEE-ev) population of 2.7 million people would make it the third largest in the U.S. slightly ahead of Chicago. The city covers 330 square miles bigger than Chicago or New York, about the size of San Diego. Kyiv is in north central Ukraine, not far from the borders with Russia and Belarus. Ukrainian and Russian are commonly spoken in the city, among the oldest in Eastern Europe. Kharkiv (kar-KEEV), 300 miles east of Kyiv and near the Russian border, has a population of about 1.4 million spread over about 135 square miles about the size of Philadelphia, which has a population of about 1.5 million. Ukraine has a population of about 44 million people, 4 million more than California, and is about 233,000 square miles a bit smaller than Texas. NATO chief says nuclear alert level unchanged NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday visited troops in Poland with Polish President Andrzej Duda. Poland shares a border with Ukraine, and the air base in the central Poland city of Lask is home to NATOs Polish and U.S. F-15 and F-16 fighter jets. "We are increasing our presence in the east to defend & protect our people," Stoltenberg said in a social media post. "Allies are stepping up support for #Ukraine & imposing costs on #Russia. The world stands with Ukraine in calling for peace." Despite Russias threats about nuclear weapons, the alliance sees no need to change its nuclear weapons alert level, Stoltenberg said. And while Ukraine is not a member of NATO, it is the alliance's responsibility to ensure that we dont see a development where a conflict in Ukraine spiraled out of control and becomes a full-fledged confrontation between NATO and Russia in Europe." A military facility was destroyed by shelling in the city of Brovary outside Kyiv on March 1. Google, other big tech firms grapple with Russian state media, propaganda Big tech platforms have begun restricting Russian state media from using their platforms to spread propaganda and misinformation. Google announced Tuesday that it's blocking the YouTube channels of those outlets in Europe effective immediately but said it could take some time to get all of them removed. Other U.S.-owned tech companies have also taken steps, including labeling more content so people know it originated with the Russian government and cutting Russian state organizations off from ad revenue. The changes are intended to slow the Kremlin from pumping propaganda into social media feeds without persuading Russian officials to block their citizens from access to platforms during a crucial time of war, said Katie Harbath, a former public policy director for Facebook. Read more here. "Theyre trying to walk this very fine line; theyre doing this dance, she said. War threatens Russian space partnerships with US, Europe Russia's invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns about the country's relationship with the United States in space, a union that has remained intact despite geopolitical rifts between the two countries. Four NASA astronauts, two Russian cosmonauts and one European Space Agency astronaut are stationed aboard the International Space Station, their home traveling 17,500 mph some 200 mile above Earth where Russia has drawn international rebuke for its invasion of Ukraine. NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei is scheduled to return March 30 aboard a Russian spacecraft. President Joe Biden has promised sanctions will target the Russian aerospace industry, a warning that led to a tweet from Russian space chief Dmitry Rogozin asking "who will save the ISS from an uncontrolled deorbit and fall into the United States or Europe." The European Space Agency also works with Russia. A planned launch of a European-Russian mission to Mars this year is "very unlikely," the space agency said Monday. Emre Kelly, Florida Today Contributing: Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine recap: Biden takes aim at Putin in State of the Union address Kyiv's Gorodetsky House, also known as House with Chimeras, seen here in 2012, is a prominent architectural symbol of the Ukrainian capital. (Christopher Lee / Getty Images) In 1903, an architect by the name of Vladislav Gorodetsky put the finishing touches on a luxurious apartment building in the center of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. To say that the building is unusual would be a vast understatement. Gorodetsky alternately known in English as Wladyslaw Horodecki was a Polish-born architect dubbed "the Gaudi of Ukraine." His namesake building fuses Beaux-Arts and Art Nouveau styles with a roofline and facade bearing a truly bizarre menagerie of grotesqueries: Rows of frogs patrol the roofline, an elephant bulges from the building's skin, heads of deer and rhinoceros emerge from atop Corinthian columns. And, on the roof, mermaids ride writhing fish. As arts writer and editor John Pancake once described Gorodetsky House in a 2010 Wall Street Journal dispatch: This was a structure created by "a man who hated the dull, the safe, the easy." It therefore could not be more apropos that the building has emerged as architectural backdrop to one of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's urgent social media dispatches. On Saturday, as Russian troops unleashed their attack on Ukraine, and rumors swirled that Zelensky might be evacuated from the country, the Ukrainian leader stood firmly before Gorodetsky House and declared: "I am here. We are not laying down our arms. We will defend our state." He could be nowhere else. Gorodetsky House exists only in Kyiv. Like countless people around the world, I have been glued to my phone for news updates on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And like countless others, I have been deeply moved by Zelensky's eloquence, his fearlessness and his social media savviness amid Vladimir Putin's senseless invasion. It has been gripping for what is at stake: the sovereignty of Ukraine and the lives and deaths of millions. It has also been gripping for how Zelensky, an actor and comedian turned politician whose inexperience was cause for great concern as tensions with Russia boiled has not only led with great strength, but masterfully deployed the internet as a weapon. In some of his videos, Zelensky appears decked out in stylish olive green raglan tees; in others, he serves as his own jittery camera operator. This gives him an air of a tough, youthful leader deep in the trenches. Putin, by contrast, has appeared in dark suits, giving statements from gilded rooms like "a detached and scowling villain in a John Le Carre novel," as my colleagues Nabih Bulos and Kate Linthicum wrote in a recent analysis of how Zelensky is winning the public relations war. Times fashion scribe Adam Tschorn told me via Slack, "Zelensky in a raglan-sleeve olive-green shirt beats a shirtless Putin any day." I get the feeling that raglan shirts which have design roots in the Crimean War (the one from the 19th century) will soon be making a comeback. In employing the building as a symbolic backdrop, Zelensky also seemed to be pointing to the cultural heritage that is at stake. As Artnet's Sarah Cascone has reported, Ukraine's museums have been scrambling in the face of the Russian advance, attempting to find secure storage for thousands of objects. On Monday, the Kyiv Independent, an English-language news outlet based in Ukraine, tweeted that Russian troops had burned down a museum of Ukrainian folk art in Ivankiv, a city northwest of the capital. Afterward, Ukraine's minister of culture asked UNESCO to strip Russia of its membership in the organization presumably for violating the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of an Armed Conflict. In addition to taking lives, the destruction of cultural patrimony is a way of eliminating a culture's narratives. And Gorodetsky House offers a particularly compelling one. Completed in 1903, the building began life as a ritzy apartment building and among its dwellers was its flamboyant architect. According to Pancake, Gorodetsky was "a bon vivant, ladies man, crack shot, big-game hunter, watercolorist, jewelry designer and lover of airplanes." According to legend, much of which may very well may have been self-invented, the architect liked to motor around town in his automobile reportedly one of the first in Kyiv in the company of a monkey. Death caught up with him in Tehran, Iran, where Gorodetsky got himself a commission designing railway buildings for the Shah. Today, a statue to the architect shown drinking coffee and reading a book about hunting inhabits a well-to-do shopping arcade on Khreschatyk Street in Kyiv. A statue dedicated to architect Vladislav Gorodetsky in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in 2017. (Efrem Lukatsky / Associated Press) His best-known building, Gorodetsky House, has been an unlikely survivor of 20th century turmoil. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, its grand apartments were chopped up and turned into communal dwellings. And the neighborhood that surrounds it saw the rise of self-serious Soviet-style government buildings redolent of bureaucrats and Neoclassicism (such as the Ukrainian Presidential Administration Building, which sits just across the street). Around the time of World War II, Gorodetsky House changed hands repeatedly. After the war, it was turned into a medical clinic for Communist Party brass. After a needed renovation in 2004, the House with Chimeras, as Gorodetsky House is also known (in reference to the architectural term describing gargoyle-style decorations on a facade), was transformed into an official government building. This fanciful, rather unreal structure is now used for diplomatic gatherings. In Zelensky's hands, this ebullient building has become a symbol of ebullient defiance, a fitting backdrop to an ideal of leadership embodied by Zelensky, which, in the words of the Atlantic's Tom McTague, is becoming a rarity in the cynical West a figure who expresses an "unembarrassed, defiant belief in a cause." May Zelensky and Gorodetsky House survive the onslaught and add a chapter of 21st century history to this extraordinary building's storied halls. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Prime Minister is due to fly to Natos border with Russia, pledging that Vladimir Putin will feel the consequences for invading Ukraine. Boris Johnson will travel on Tuesday to meet counterparts in Poland and Estonia and visit British troops as he pushes for Western unity in punishing the Russian president for starting a conflict that has taken hundreds of lives in only five days. Before his trip to eastern Europe, the Prime Minister urged allies to speak with one voice to ensure Putin must fail. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will also embark on a diplomatic mission as she prepares to address the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Cabinet minister is expected to tell the council that Mr Putin has blood on his hands and that he has been murdering Ukrainians indiscriminately. Putin is violating international law he is violating human rights on an industrial scale and the world will not stand for it, Ms Truss is expected to say in a speech urging the West to isolate Russia as a result of the war it has instigated. The comments are due to be made only 24 hours after Moscow suggested it had put the Russian nuclear deterrent on high alert in response to unspecified comments made by Ms Truss. The ministerial trips come after the UK Government looked to up the pressure on the Kremlin on Monday, with fresh sanctions on Russian banks and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps urging all UK ports to deny access to Russian flagged, registered or operated vessels. Mr Johnson, in a call on Monday with world leaders from the G7, Nato and the European Union, stressed the need for allies to continue to provide Kyiv with defensive weapons. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will travel to Geneva (Aaron Chown/PA) He also said Ukraines neighbours would require support to deal with large numbers of Ukrainians escaping violence. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with Warsaw and Tallinn leaders and visit British troops serving in Estonia, which shares a border with Russia. Speaking before his visit to the two Nato members, Mr Johnson said: Alongside all our international allies the UK will continue to bring maximum pressure to bear on Putins regime to ensure he feels the consequences of his actions in Ukraine. We speak with one voice when we say, Putin must fail. Officials said Mr Johnson will meet Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki before travelling on to Estonia, where he will hold talks with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. Now back in the underground shelter in Kyiv, our position shaken by nearby missile fire. Windows shook. Closest blast yet to our base.Fighting coming closer to heart of #kyiv Clive Myrie (@CliveMyrieBBC) February 28, 2022 They will jointly visit British troops serving on the front line of Russian aggression in Tapa, No 10 said, before meetings with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Estonian President Alar Karis to discuss security. Ukraine was braced for another evening of attacks, with reports that Kyiv had come under fire on Monday evening. BBC broadcaster Clive Myrie said he had to take shelter underground after the building he was reporting from in the capital was shaken by nearby missile fire. He tweeted: Windows shook. Closest blast yet to our base. Fighting coming closer to heart of Kyiv. It came after a first round of Ukraine-Russia talks aimed at ending the fighting concluded with no immediate agreements. Western officials believe that so far around half of the Russian forces that had been ringed around Ukraines borders have been committed to the assault on the country. Moscow could use more indiscriminate force if the invasion stalls, British officials fear. Meanwhile, in New York, British diplomat Dame Barbara Woodward was part of a chorus of Western pleas for Russia to stop the war. Barbara Woodward, permanent representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, speaks during a meeting of the security council (John Minchillo/PA) The UK permanent representative to the UN told the Security Council that Russias attack had brought Ukraine to the brink of humanitarian catastrophe and that only a withdrawal of troops could save the Ukrainian people from the disaster that Russia is inflicting upon them. She said hundreds of civilians had been killed as a result of the Russian invasion and seven million people had been displaced, with the figure rising exponentially. The Ukraines representative, Sergiy Kyslytsya, told the council that Kyiv was sitting within Russian crosshairs right now and that 352 people, including 16 children, had been killed as of Monday in the fighting. He accused Moscow troops of attacking hospitals and ambulances in a determination to kill civilians, adding: There is no debate. These are war crimes. But Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian UN permanent representative, said his countrys armed forces did not have the goal of occupying Ukraine or harming the local population. Ambassadors from dozens of countries have backed a proposal demanding that Russia halt its attack on Ukraine, as the UN General Assembly held a rare emergency session during a day of frenzied and sometimes fractious diplomacy surrounding the five-day-old war. If Ukraine does not survive international peace will not survive, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said at the assemblys first emergency meeting since 1997. Have no illusions. If Ukraine does not survive, we cannot be surprised if democracy fails next. Reflecting escalating global alarm, both of the UNs major bodies the 193-nation assembly and the smaller, more powerful Security Council took the unusual step of holding simultaneous, hastily scheduled meetings on the war. In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council voted to hold its own urgent session. Tension permeated the diplomatic discourse: The Security Council meeting opened with the news that the United States was kicking out 12 Russian UN diplomats whom Washington accused of spying. Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian officials held talks on the Belarus border, agreeing only to keep talking. A girl holds a plush doll as people who fled Ukraine after the Russian invasion arrive by bus in Athens. More than 500,000 people have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries since Russias invasion started on Thursday (Petros Giannakouris/AP) The guns are talking now, but the path of dialogue must always remain open, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the assembly. We need peace now. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia reiterated his countrys assertions that what it calls a special military operation in defence of two breakaway areas in eastern Ukraine was being misrepresented. Russian actions are being distorted and thwarted, he complained. Russia has repeatedly sought to blame Ukraine for what Moscow claims are abuses of Russian speakers in the eastern enclaves. The Russian Federation did not begin these hostilities that were unleashed by Ukraine against its own residents, he said. Russia is seeking to end this war. The assembly session came three days after an attempt to condemn and stop Russias attack ran into a Russian veto in the Security Council. The assembly will give all UN members an opportunity to speak about the war. More than 110 signed up to do so, with speeches to continue on Tuesday. The assembly, which allows no vetoes, is expected to vote later in the week on a resolution coordinated by European Union envoys, working with Ukraine. The draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, demands that Russia immediately stop using force against Ukraine and withdraw all troops. It urges an immediate peaceful resolution through dialogue and negotiations, and it deplores what it calls Russias aggression and the involvement of Belarus, which is siding with Moscow. Assembly President Abdulla Shahid opened Mondays session by asking all envoys to stand for a moment of silence. In hours of speeches afterward, dozens exhorted their colleagues to vote yes. With the Security Council having failed to deliver against its responsibilities, we, the General Assembly, must now stand up to play our part, said New Zealands ambassador, Carolyn Schwalger. Austrian Ambassador Alexander Marschik appealed to those who have good relations with Russia, saying that a good friend, an honest friend, will speak up and say what needs to be said and what needs to be done when a friend commits an illegal and evil act. Vasily Nebenzya, Russian ambassador to the United Nations (Seth Wenig/AP) But Russian ally Syria accused the West of a politics of hypocrisy, noting that various other conflicts over the years havent gotten such special attention. This historic emergency session on the situation in Ukraine completes the anti-Russian campaign that finds its origins in the provocative and hostile rhetoric towards Russia, propagated by the West to stoke tensions in Ukraine and compromise Russias security, Syrian Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh said. China, another Russian ally, called for respecting all countries sovereignty and internationally recognized borders but didnt directly address the resolution. Instead, Ambassador Zhang Jun encouraged fostering a conducive atmosphere for Russian-Ukrainian talks and frowned on any approach that may exacerbate tensions. Nothing can be gained from stirring up a new Cold War, but everyone will stand to lose, he said. The Security Council meeting later Monday was focused on the humanitarian impact of Russias invasion, but the session began with a prickly exchange about the Russian diplomats expulsion from the US. Mr Nebenzia bristled to the council that the expulsions were yet another hostile step by Washington. US Deputy Ambassador Richard Mills said the dozen diplomats were engaged in undiplomatic activities. Olivia Dalton, a spokesperson for the United States UN mission, later said in a statement that the 12 were intelligence operatives who were engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security. Mr Nebenzia, in remarks to The Associated Press, dismissed the assertion as a pretext. Ukraine is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, Britains UN ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward has warned an emergency meeting of the Security Council. As Russia continues its assault on the eastern European country, Dame Barbara was among those at the UN to accuse the Kremlin of launching indiscriminate attacks against men, women and children and violating international humanitarian law. She said: As a result of President Putins decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a country of 44 million people is now on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe. Missiles have rained down on Kharkiv, with cluster munitions hitting residential areas and injuring residents. Disruption to supply chains has caused food shortages in Kramatorsk. The reckless bombing of an oil depot in Vasylkiv, has unleashed toxic fumes in nearby communities. Violence in Kyiv has forced people to seek refuge underground, with many thousands, including the elderly and disabled, unable to evacuate. Barbara Woodward, permanent representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, speaks during a meeting of the security council (John Minchillo/PA) The UK permanent representative to the UN told the Security Council that hundreds of civilians had been killed as a result of the Russian invasion and seven million people had been displaced, with the figure rising exponentially. Ukraines representative, Sergiy Kyslytsya, told the council that Kyiv was sitting within Russian crosshairs right now and that 352 people, including 16 children, had been killed as of Monday in the fighting. He accused Moscow troops of attacking hospitals and ambulances in a determination to kill civilians, adding: There is no debate. These are war crimes. But Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian UN permanent representative, said his countrys armed forces did not have the goal of occupying Ukraine or harming the local population. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he plans to open an investigation as rapidly as possible into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP File) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed Mr Kyslytsyas statements in a late-night address on Monday. In a video posted to social media, the leader said that in five days Russian forces had launched 56 missile strikes and 113 cruise missiles in Ukraine. He added: Today, Russian forces brutally fired on Kharkiv from jet artillery. It was clearly a war crime. Kharkiv is a peaceful city, there are peaceful residential areas, no military facilities. Dozens of eyewitness accounts prove that this is not a single false volley, but deliberate destruction of people: the Russians knew where they were shooting. There will definitely be an international tribunal for this crime its a violation of all conventions. No one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people, he said. It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson flies to Natos border with Russia today, pledging that Vladimir Putin will feel the consequences for invading Ukraine. Boris Johnson will meet counterparts in Poland and Estonia and visit British troops as he pushes for Western unity in punishing the Russian president for starting a conflict that has taken hundreds of lives in only five days. Prior to his trip to eastern Europe, the Prime Minister urged allies to speak with one voice to ensure Putin must fail. (PA Graphics) Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is also embarking on a diplomatic mission as she prepares to address the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Cabinet minister is expected to tell the council that Mr Putin has blood on his hands and that he has been murdering Ukrainians indiscriminately. Putin is violating international law he is violating human rights on an industrial scale and the world will not stand for it, Ms Truss is expected to say in a speech urging the West to isolate Russia as a result of the war it has instigated. The comments are due to be made only 24 hours after Moscow suggested it had put the Russian nuclear deterrent on high alert in response to unspecified comments made by Ms Truss. The ministerial trips come after the UK Government looked to up the pressure on the Kremlin on Monday, with fresh sanctions on Russian banks and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps urging all UK ports to deny access to Russian flagged, registered or operated vessels. Mr Johnson, in a call on Monday with world leaders from the G7, Nato and the European Union, stressed the need for allies to continue to provide Kyiv with defensive weapons. (PA Graphics) He also said Ukraines neighbours would require support to deal with large numbers of Ukrainians escaping violence. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with Warsaw and Tallinn leaders and visit British troops serving in Estonia, which shares a border with Russia. Speaking before his visit to the two Nato members, Mr Johnson said: Alongside all our international allies the UK will continue to bring maximum pressure to bear on Putins regime to ensure he feels the consequences of his actions in Ukraine. We speak with one voice when we say, Putin must fail. Officials said Mr Johnson will meet Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki before travelling on to Estonia, where he will hold talks with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. Now back in the underground shelter in Kyiv, our position shaken by nearby missile fire. Windows shook. Closest blast yet to our base.Fighting coming closer to heart of #kyiv Clive Myrie (@CliveMyrieBBC) February 28, 2022 They will jointly visit British troops serving on the front line of Russian aggression in Tapa, No 10 said, before meetings with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Estonian President Alar Karis to discuss security. Ukraine was braced for another evening of attacks, with reports that Kyiv had come under fire on Monday evening. BBC broadcaster Clive Myrie said he had to take shelter underground after the building he was reporting from in the capital was shaken by nearby missile fire. He tweeted: Windows shook. Closest blast yet to our base. Fighting coming closer to heart of Kyiv. It came after a first round of Ukraine-Russia talks aimed at ending the fighting concluded with no immediate agreements. Western officials believe that so far around half of the Russian forces that had been ringed around Ukraines borders have been committed to the assault on the country. Moscow could use more indiscriminate force if the invasion stalls, British officials fear. LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday British troops would not fight Russian forces in Ukraine, and that recent reinforcements were firmly within the borders of NATO members. "These are nothing more than defensive measures, which have been the essence of NATO for more than 70 years," he said during a visit to Estonia where Britain has deployed more troops. "I want to be crystal clear finally, on that point, we will not fight Russian forces in Ukraine and our reinforcements like these reinforcements here in Tapa are firmly within the borders of NATO members and they are profoundly the right thing to do." (Reporting by Michael Holden. Editing by Andrew MacAskill) A war veteran, who says he feels a sense of duty to do something for Ukraine, is planning to travel to Poland to deliver medical supplies. Matt Simmons, 42, from Emsworth, Hampshire, set up the organisation Ems4Afghans last year in response to the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan, which is now being relaunched as the community interest company Bridge to Unity to offer support to multiple causes. He told the PA news agency he found a Facebook page for a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Poland (Zintegrowana Sluzba Ratownicza) and has teamed up with them to help provide medical supplies to those in Ukraine, including ambulance dressings and eye wash. Zintegrowana Suzba Ratownicza members helping Ukrainians who enter the Polish border (Zintegrowana Suzba Ratownicza/PA) Mr Simmons has been crowdfunding to help raise money for the medical supplies, and said he has been reaching out to absolutely everyone, and has been working on three hours of sleep at night. So far, 10,000 has been raised from the 12,500 target Mr Simmons set when he started fundraising on February 25 just one day after Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine. We went to the community in Emsworth and surrounding areas and its gone bigger than little us in Hampshire, he said. Its gone mad. Ive got people sending items from New York and donating from around the world. Charlotte Crosby from Geordie Shore has put out a message about me on her Instagram (story). Charlotte Crosbys story from March 1 which mentioned Bridge to Unitys fundraiser (@charlottegshore/PA) Mr Simmons added that the support he has received so far has been overwhelming and heart-warming. I think sometimes people want to do something when you see such things in the media but dont necessarily know how they can help, he added. (Fundraisers) give people a direction of how to help. Ive tried to say to people, it doesnt matter if youre donating money, if youre sharing a post, if youre interacting with a post, if youre putting us in contact with somebody that may be able to help. Its about sharing and interacting and pushing the message out and thats the important thing us all coming together in the face of Russian aggression and fighting back in a way. Mr Simmons is set to travel to Poland between March 4-5 with five others, including two members of Portsmouth Baby Bank who have been collecting essential items for mothers and their children and Hannah Jarvis, 39, from Abergavenny, Wales, who has worked with Mr Simmons on helping Afghan refugees in the past. Hannah Jarvis (Hannah Jarvis)/PA) She said: (It has been heartening to see) the best of humanity leap into action and respond to the worst of humanity. I never expected wed raise over 10,000 in such a short space of time and were now at the point where were declining offers of assistance, which is a wonderful problem to have. Whilst I think we may see some unpleasant scenes at the aid camp and no doubt be upset to hear of the experiences of the Ukrainian refugees, its certainly preferable to being at home feeling helpless and frustrated. The conversations Mr Simmons has had with the Polish NGO, which provides medical care and practical assistance to those entering Poland from Ukraine, have meant the drive for donations is even more paramount. Members of Zintegrowana Sluzba Ratownicza (Zintegrowana Sluzba Ratownicza/PA) Theyre saying theyre really up against it. Theyve got teams of medical people down there 24 hours a day, he said. Supplies are a massive issue. Theyre just having to do supply runs all the time and thats taking people with medical experience away from the border. Theyve said in the last 24 hours theres been a difference in the type of injuries theyve seen come through and the type of medical needs that are coming through. Theyre starting to see more trauma injuries. Even though there is a risk in travelling to Poland, Mr Simmons said: Ive got to go. Thats the biggest thing. Thats what will get people behind us, I think, because we can then be transparent with whats donated. People will be able to follow us, follow the story and by taking it myself, its actually like Im taking the supporters with me and theyll be able to see where their donations have ended up. MANILA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Philippine health authorities on Tuesday urged people to remain vigilant amid the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions to accelerate the economic recovery from the two-year pandemic. The government downgraded the pandemic restrictions in Metro Manila and 38 other areas to alert level 1 from March 1 to 15 as COVID-19 transmission slowed and the hospitalization rate declined. The rest of the country is under alert level 2. Lowering the alert level means that more people can go back to work, take public transport, and more businesses can operate at full capacity. "As the country shifts to alert level 1, we continue to urge the public to remain vigilant, so we can slowly but surely transition into the new normal," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told an online press conference. Carlito Galvez, the chief implementer of the government's measures to combat COVID-19, said the decision to lower the rules to the minimum comes one year after the government launched the vaccination rollout on March 1 last year. Galvez noted the Philippines received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 28 last year from China. "Donated by the Chinese government, the COVID-19 jabs enabled the Philippines to roll out its vaccination drive the following day," he said. China has delivered tens of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines, remaining its biggest supplier of vaccines. The Philippines, with a population of around 110 million, has administered nearly 136 million doses of vaccines. More than 63 million people are now fully vaccinated. Galvez expressed confidence that the government can hit its goal to inoculate 90 million Filipinos by the end of the second quarter. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said relaxing the restrictions will accelerate and sustain economic growth this year. "This situation is good for our country. Alert level 1 will benefit 62 percent of the economy and 20.3 million workers who will earn more," Chua told a televised press conference, adding that transport, hotels, malls, and restaurants are expected to recover further. Chua said the shift to alert level 1 in more parts of the country will generate an estimated 9.4 billion pesos (roughly 183 million U.S. dollars) per week of economic activity in gross value-added terms. The new rules will also improve the performance of key sectors like tourism. According to Chua, the contribution of domestic tourism to the economy fell by 1.5 trillion pesos (roughly 29 billion U.S. dollars), or 7.4 percent of the gross domestic product in 2020. With the easing of restrictions, he said at least 750 billion pesos (about 14.6 billion U.S. dollars) can be recovered. The Philippines has reported over 3.66 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 56,451 deaths. The Ministry of Defence has announced a host of new deployments in recent weeks in response to building tensions with Russia, culminating with the invasion of Ukraine last week. British troops and tanks have been deployed to Estonia, near Russias border, while Royal Navy ships are at sea in the Mediterranean and Royal Air Force jets are conducting missions over Poland and Romania, intended to reassure allies. Here, the PA news agency runs through where key British forces are currently located across Europe. (PA Graphics) Royal Navy After a short delay due to a technical defect, the Royal Navy has deployed HMS Diamond, a Type 45 guided-missile destroyer, to the Mediterranean. She is due to join up with HMS Trent, currently deployed alongside other Nato vessels in the eastern Mediterranean. HMS Trent is an offshore patrol vessel and is lightly armed but does carry a detachment of Royal Marines. Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond leaves Portsmouth on February 25 (Andrew Matthews/PA) Also in the region is HMS Echo, a multi-role survey vessel. While she specialises in survey work, she is armed with some light weapons. The Royal Navy has vessels deployed in Norway too. HMS Albion for example, an amphibious assault ship, is currently in Tromso, ahead of a Nato exercise. @HMSTRENT continues to support European Maritime Security through contribution to Operation #SeaGuardian We are doing this now as part of @NATO #SNMG2 enhancing security and reassurance to the region#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/hKeyUJOJp6 HMS Trent (@HMSTrent) March 1, 2022 HMS Portland, Northumberland, and Defender are all also at sea, all in the vicinity of the UK. The Royal Navys two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are alongside in Portsmouth. The latter is due to deploy later this month to join Nato exercises off the coast of Norway. Aircraft carriers HMS Prince of Wales, left, and HMS Queen Elizabeth are currently alongside in Portsmouth (Andrew Matthews/PA) Royal Air Force The UKs base in Cyprus, in the eastern Mediterranean, is home to a number of Typhoon fast jets. Four more jets have been deployed to the base in recent weeks. Alongside Voyager air-to-air refuelling tankers, jets based both in Cyprus and the UK are conducting flights over Romania and Poland. This is known in Nato as air policing, and aims to preserve the security of alliance airspace, according to the organisation. Also in the area is a Royal Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, designed for anti-submarine warfare. RAF Typhoon jets, pictured here in 2020, are conducting air policing missions over Poland and Romania (Sgt Keates/MoD/PA) Currently deployed in Sicily, it is taking part in Nato exercises. Intelligence-gathering aircraft have been seen active near Ukraine. A Royal Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft has flown several times since Russian forces invaded Ukraine. On February 23, a day before Russias invasion began, the aircraft was seen on flight tracking website flightradar24.com flying a pattern over Ukraine. Since then, it has been conducting flights over Poland, near the countrys border with Ukraine. According to the Royal Air Force, its sensors soak up electronic emissions from communications, radar and other systems. British Army A Nato graphic illustrating the spread of its enhanced Forward Presence (Nato/PA) The British Army has maintained a presence in Estonia since 2017, as part of Natos enhanced Forward Presence (eFP). Nato says these deployments, which also include a Canadian-led force in Latvia, a German-led force in Lithuania, and an American-led force in Poland, make clear that an attack on one ally would be considered an attack on the whole alliance. The UK has now deployed an additional 1,000 troops to Estonia, as well as further Challenger 2 tanks. In early February, an extra 350 troops were also sent to Poland, adding to the 100 troops already in the country. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said last week that the UKs deployments constitute a credible deterrent to stop Russian aggression threatening the territorial sovereignty of member states. Express your opinion! Fill out this form to submit a Letter to the Editor. Submit Feature Your News Online $25.00 / for 30 days Highlight your business' news for just $25! We'll feature your content on our News From Local Business section & our Marketplace front page to give it maximum exposure for the next 30 days. Online Access for Print Subscribers. Do you have a print subscription with the Argus-Press? If yes, then click here to enjoy complimentary access to our Online Content! COLOMBO, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka surpassed 90,000 in February, seeing a 14-percent increase from the previous month, official figures from the Tourism Ministry showed here Tuesday. According to the ministry, 93,582 tourists arrived in February, leading to 175,909 tourists arriving in the country this year. Russia continued to be the leading source market for Sri Lanka with 28,392 tourists arriving in the country to date, followed by India with 24,141, Britain 17,749, Ukraine 13,039 and Germany 12,779. In addition, tourists also came from countries such as France, Poland, Australia, Kazakhstan and the Maldives in January and February. Sri Lanka recently revised its tourist arrival forecast for 2022, down from 2.3 million to 1.1 million due to challenges posed by the Omicron variant. The tourism sector contributed to 4.3 percent of Sri Lanka's gross domestic product and employed 402,607 people in 2019. The country has lost an estimated 10 billion U.S. dollars in tourism revenue over the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. by Misbah Saba Malik ISLAMABAD, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Arshad Swati from Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is among the thousands of onion farmers in the Asian country. He dreams of selling his onions overseas to fund a better education for his children. In particular, he wants his onions to be sold to China. "Many farmers in Pakistan export their onions and have got rich by doing so. I want to join other producers in my hometown and export our crop to China. It will mean more money for everyone," Swati told Xinhua. Swati thinks that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is located not very far from China, is well positioned to access China's huge market. Pakistan is one of the world's largest onion producers. Malaysia, Gulf countries, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the major overseas destinations of Pakistani onions today. Currently, about 30 percent of Pakistan's fresh produce of onions are wasted due to the lack of storage facilities and substandard practices in packing and transportation. Pakistan exporting onions to China has not yet begun, but related rules were agreed on in November last year. Pakistani Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam told Xinhua that agriculture is one of the focuses for cooperation in the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Pakistan's production of many crops, including onions, will improve with the access to Chinese technology and research, he said. "The Chinese agriculture sector is very modern, and they have a high per acre yield. Pakistan too has a very fertile land with rich potential to produce crops of high export value. We are already producing some very high-quality onions, and our scope can be enhanced in cooperation with China," the minister noted. Yasar Saleem Khan, a provincial team manager at the Pakistan office of the Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) said that the CPEC cooperation with China may "save millions of (U.S.) dollars and increase onion production by millions of tons" for Pakistan. According to the CABI, no onion processing of any kind currently takes place in Pakistan, even though the technology is very simple. With small investment, excellent export value can be generated. "Dried onions are in demand in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and the Gulf at large. There is no supply from Pakistan so if we make better use of this potential, it will generate income and create a lot of jobs. Good quality onion seeds from China will greatly improve the crop," Khan told Xinhua. "The economic corridor is an opportunity for Pakistan to transport all kinds of commodities to international markets. Access to the Chinese market will have a great effect on the lives of our farmers," he added. 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 A vote is expected Wednesday, and it must reach a two-thirds threshold to pass The Security Council holds a meeting to address the invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters on February 28, 2022 in New York City. (AFP) UNITED NATIONS: Encountering deepening global isolation, Russia faced urgent calls Monday to end its "unprovoked" and "unjustified" assault on Ukraine as the UN General Assembly's 193 members held an extraordinary debate on the invasion of the ex-Soviet state. During the rare emergency special session, just the 11th the Assembly has held in its history, Russia defended its decision to invade its neighbor as nation after nation urged peace from the podium. On the sidelines, the United States said it was expelling from the country 12 "intelligence operatives" at Russia's United Nations mission for "engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security." Inside the General Assembly hall, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, pleaded: "The fighting in Ukraine must stop. Enough is enough." Representatives of more than 100 countries are expected to speak over three days as the global body decides if it will support a resolution that demands Russia immediately withdraws its troops from Ukraine. A vote is expected Wednesday, and it must reach a two-thirds threshold to pass. The resolution is non-binding but will serve as a marker of how isolated Russia is. Its authors hope they may exceed 100 votes in favor -- though countries including Syria, China, Cuba and India are expected to either support Russia or abstain. "We do not feel isolated," Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters. He reiterated Moscow's stance, flatly rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies, that its military operation was launched to protect residents of breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. "The hostilities were unleashed by Ukraine against its own residents," he said during his address. The vote is also being seen as a barometer of democracy in a world where autocratic sentiment has been on the rise, diplomats said, pointing to such regimes in Myanmar, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, Nicaragua -- and of course Russia. "If Ukraine does not survive, the United Nations will not survive. Have no illusions," said Ukraine's ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya. 'I'm afraid' During an emotional speech, Kyslytsya held up images of what he said were the final text messages from a Russian soldier to his mother before he was killed. "Mama, I'm in Ukraine. I'm afraid," Kyslytsya said, reading the messages. "They call us fascists. Mama, this is so hard." Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Moscow has pleaded "self-defense" under Article 51 of the UN Charter. But that has been roundly rejected by Western countries and the United Nations itself. They accuse Moscow of violating Article 2 of the Charter, requiring members to refrain from the threat or use of force to resolve a crisis. Addressing the General Assembly, British ambassador Barbara Woodward said the war was "unprovoked, unjustified." The resolution would be "a message to the world: that the rules we built together must be defended," she added. "Because otherwise, who might be next?" China's UN envoy Zhang Jun warned that "nothing can be gained from starting off a new Cold War," but did not indicate how Beijing would vote. The move to hold the emergency session was sparked by Russia using its veto Friday to block a similarly-worded Security Council resolution. Council members can turn to the General Assembly if the five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- fail to agree to act together to maintain peace. 'Hostile act' There is no veto right at the General Assembly, which held a similar vote in 2014 condemning Russia's seizure of Crimea and obtained 100 votes in support. The Security Council held a separate emergency meeting Monday on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi warned that the fighting was expected to displace four million people. Nebenzia broke the news of the 12 expelled diplomats during a press conference, saying he had just heard the dozen had been told to leave the United States by March 7. A US spokeswoman said the move had been "in development for several months," implying it was not directly related to the war. In response, Moscow called the expulsions a "hostile act." Delhi abstains in yet another vote, on special UN general Assembly session New Delhi: The government said on Monday that it is rushing four ministers to oversee the safety and return of Indian nationals, mostly students, from war-struck Ukraine. Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Gen (Rtd) V.K. Singh and Kiren Rijiju will be positioned in Ukraine's neighbouring countries Hungary, Romania-Maldova, Poland and Slovak Republic, respectively, to coordinate and oversee the evacuation of Indians. Union ministers have also been deployed to receive them at Indian airports. This announcement came after India once again abstained at the United Nations Security Council during a vote to convene a rare Emergency Session of the 193-member General Assembly on the Russian military action on Ukraine. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor slammed the government's decision not to vote for Ukraine at the UN. If the Chinese march into our country we would want other countries to stand up for us. If Ukraine expects us to speak to Russians, then at least we should try and be counted on the right side of the issue, he said even as his party quickly said his views are personal and do not reflect the partys opinion. We continue to be deeply concerned about the safety and security of the Indian nationals including a large number of Indian students who are still stranded in Ukraine," said India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations T.S. Tirumurti during the UNSC meeting even as India welcomed the announcement by Russia and Ukraine to hold talks at the Belarus border. He added it was regrettable that the Ukraine situation has worsened further since the Council last convened on this matter. We reiterate our call for immediate cessation of violence and an end to all hostilities. There is no other choice but to return back to the path of diplomacy and dialogue. Our Prime Minister has advocated this strongly in his conversations with the Russian Federation and Ukraine, he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held another meeting on the Ukraine crisis. This was the third such meeting in the last 24 hours. Foreign secretary Harsh V. Shringla said the Indian government will be sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine and that it is in touch with the International Committee of Red Cross in Geneva for the needs of citizens stranded in Ukraine. MEA officials said the aid will include medicines among other things as sought by the Ukrainian government. More flights carrying Indian students are landing in various cities. In Delhi, the sixth evacuation flight from Hungarys capital city Budapest carrying 240 Indian nationals was welcomed by Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Air India Express has also joined Operation Ganga operating flights between Mumbai and Bucharest. Poland ambassador to India Adam Burakowski said already more than 2 lakh people have crossed the border into Poland, including Indian students. The border points are overcrowded but we are receiving everyone with a warm heart There will be special flights for Indian students. Poland is cooperating and will also help India's High-level delegation in the evacuation process. Indian nationals can cross into the Poland border without any visa, Mr Burakowski added. With the weekend curfew lifted in Kyiv, the Indian embassy in Ukraine asked all students to make their way to the railway station for onward journey to the country's western parts. Ukraine Railways is operating special trains for evacuation. Indian students from Odessa who are in shelters in Moldova set up by Moldovan government are requested to remain in the shelters. Embassy officials are in Chisinau and will go to the shelters to facilitate evacuation, Indian embassy said. It added, It has been brought to our notice that some people are charging money to transfer Indian students from the Romanian border to Bucharest. Please note that all services provided by the Embassy are free, including transport to Bucharest. Please do not pay money to anyone. Ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said over 8,000 Indians left Ukraine since they issued initial advisories and six evacuation flights four from Bucharest two from Budapest -- have brought 1,396 Indian students. Mixed stories of struggle to cross borders keep coming from Ukraine. Some lucky ones managed to be evacuated early while many had to tread miles yet remained stuck at borders in freezing weather. Our focus is of course on land borders to get them on the bordering countries of Ukraine. There have been some difficulties on Poland's borders and it is pretty crowded. Though there are still difficulties but situation has improved. Our embassy has managed to take out some students but more are there. Food and shelter has been arranged for them till they board flights. At the border with Romania and Hungary we have managed to bring out more people even as large crowds still remain in all border points. We have opened new route through Moldova to bring out people from Southern Ukraine like Odessa etc, he said We are encouraging Indians to move to Western Ukraine. Some students are taking trains and reaching to western side but do not move to the borders on their own without coordinating with us as there is long waiting and queueing on the borders. Stay in nearby cities and stay put till we make arrangements to take you out. Do not panic. There are enough flights and our teams are there to help students out, he added. We are closely monitoring Kyiv and Kharkiv Over the next 24 hours three more flights are scheduled -- two from Bucharest and one from Budapest. Flights are not the constraints but the main focus is to get Indians to cross over to the neighbouring countries. Students should not panic. We are constantly augmenting MEA teams in the area, Mr Bagchi said. When asked about the mistreatment and beating of Indian students at Ukraine-Poland border by the Ukraine security allegedly after India abstained in UNSC voting, Ukrainian ambassador in India Igor Polikha said Ukraine is doing everything possible in challenging circumstances to facilitate the exit of Indian nationals, especially students, adding though Russian President Vladimir Putin alone can give assurances for their safety even as he brushed aside these reports. Instead, he said there was need for discipline and calm at the border checkpoints to ensure the orderly exit of all foreigners. There are bound to be issues as some 500,000 Ukrainians and foreigners seek to flee through the land borders with Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. It is a war, its a deep crisis... I can assure that the Ukrainian side is helpful to everyone who is trying to leave the territory, Mr Polikha said. He added that even the Ukrainian defence attache and his wife along with several others remained stuck at the Poland border for three days. Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar spoke to EAM Dr S. Jaishankar over phone on Monday and discussed evacuation of Indian students stuck in Kharkiv. Discussions also covered evacuations via Belgorod (Russia) route and matters of aiding students stuck at the Romania-Poland border were also discussed. In an advisory, it asked the citizens to leave Kyiv by available trains or any other means Indian students stuck in Shehyni, Lviv Oblast before crossing the Ukraine-Poland border, as part of evacuating Indians from war-torn Ukraine. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday asked stranded Indians in Kyiv to leave the capital city urgently. In an advisory, it asked the citizens to leave Kyiv by available trains or any other means. "All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," the embassy said. The advisory came amid increasing fighting between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops around Kyiv. There were reports of poll violence in Heingang, the constituency of chief minister N. Biren Singh Women holding their identification cards, wait in a queue to cast their vote during the first phase of Manipur Assembly Elections, in Manipur. (PTI Photo) Guwahati: Amid reports of sporadic incidents of violence, more than 78 per cent voters came out to exercise their franchise in the first phase of the Assembly polls in Manipur on Monday. A Manipur Police personnel who was on poll duty was killed in a suspected case of accidental firing. There were reports of poll violence in Heingang, the constituency of chief minister N. Biren Singh, where Congress accused the ruling BJP of resorting to rigging the polls. The Congress candidate complained that his agents were not allowed to participate in the polling process. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajesh Agarwal said that an incident of poll disruption was also reported in Keithelmanbi which led to a delay in the polling process. He said that EVM machines were broken in the polling stations. Mr Agarwal also told reporters, A Manipur Police personnel, who was on poll duty on Monday, was killed in a suspected case of accidental firing from his service rifle during the first phase of assembly elections to 38 seats in the state. The incident took place in Tipaimukh assembly constituency in Churachandpur district. The police personnel was identified as Naorem Ibochouba, a resident of Kakching district and his body has been airlifted to Imphal and sent to a state-run hospital for autopsy. Security sources said that voting began at 7 am in 1,721 polling stations in five districts amid tight security and strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols. At least one person was injured in a clash between two parties in Churachandpur district. Allegedly Congress workers vandalised a BJP polling booth in Kakwa area in Langthabal constituency in Imphal West district, while a vehicle of an NPP candidate was damaged by supporters of a rival group in Keirao seat, although nobody was injured in the incident. Polling was stalled at a polling station in Saitu constituency Monday morning after a clash broke out between two groups, police said. This is the first of the two-part election in the insurgency-hit state. The key candidates whose fates were sealed on Monday include chief minister N. Biren Singh, who is contesting from Heingang, Speaker Y. Khemchand Singh from Singjamei, deputy chief minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh from Uripok and state Congress chief N. Lokesh Singh from Nambol. The second phase of polling for the remaining 22 seats will be held on March 5, and the votes will be counted on March 10. The minister, V Kashiho Sangtam, added that the forensic report is awaited after which the SIT will submit its finding The graves of 12 civilians, killed by Indian army soldiers on Dec. 4, lie in a row in Oting village, in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland. (Photo: AP/File) Kohima: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is still awaiting the report of the forensic laboratory in the border violence incident in which 14 civilians from the state had died. Nagaland Minister for soil and water conservation V Kashiho Sangtam told ANI that the SIT has completed its investigations and is ready with the report. But the forensic report is awaited after which the SIT will submit its findings, he said. "The SIT which was formed by the Nagaland government to probe the deaths of 14 civilians in Mon district in the violent border skirmish will submit its report soon. The SIT is yet to receive the forensic laboratory report. The SIT will submit its findings after receiving the forensic report. The state government will take a decision on the matter after receiving the SIT report," Sangtam added. The border violence had led to deaths of 14 civilians and one security personnel also killed and many were injured that took place between Tiru and Oting villages in the Mon district on December 4 and 5, last year. Earlier, the SIT had examined and recorded statements of the officers and jawans of 21 Para Special Forces who were allegedly involved in the firing incident. On the other, Sangtam on the issue of the border dispute between the two neighbouring states said that the issue between Assam and Nagaland is now in the Supreme Court. "Whenever the Supreme Court will give the verdict, both states will come together to resolve the inter-state border issue," the Minister said. Modi has asserted that his government's top priority is to ensure safety and evacuation of Indian students New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting Tuesday evening on the Ukraine crisis with focus on the evacuation of Indian citizens from the war-hit country, official sources said. This was his fourth meeting on the Ukraine situation since Sunday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and another Union minister Piyush Goyal were among those who attended the meeting besides top bureaucrats. The meeting comes as the situation in the war-hit country worsened, with one Indian student also losing his life in shelling in Kharkiv as Russian troops advanced deeper into Ukraine. Modi has asserted that his government's top priority is to ensure safety and evacuation of Indian students. BUDAPEST, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Hungary supports a request by eight European Union (EU) countries to begin membership talks with Ukraine, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said here on Tuesday. "We urge the Brussels institutions to put this request of the eight presidents on the agenda, which Hungary also supports," Szijjarto said in a video posted on his Facebook page. "We expect Brussels to take this initiative very seriously," he added. On Monday, eight European countries said in a joint declaration that they would support Ukraine's immediate accession to the EU. "Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Poland, the Slovak Republic, and the Republic of Slovenia strongly believe that Ukraine deserves receiving an immediate EU accession perspective," the declaration said. Romania also expressed support to the initiative on Tuesday, increasing the number of EU countries supporting Ukraine's appeal to 10. The declaration was published after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday signed an official appeal for Ukraine to join the EU, urging the bloc to grant Ukraine immediate accession via a new special procedure. The issue has to be agreed by all of the bloc's 27 member countries, which failed to reach an agreement in the past over the issue of EU enlargement. Asked about Ukraine's membership prospects before Zelensky's latest appeal, European Council President Charles Michel said there were "different opinions and sensitivities within the EU on enlargement." Tirumurti voiced deep concern for the safety and security of thousands of Indian citizens, including students, stranded in Ukraine PR/Ambassador of India to United Nations TS Tirumurti speaks during the UNSC meeting, in New York. (PTI Photo) United Nations: India voiced concern over the urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine and told the UN Security Council that apart from evacuating its own citizens, New Delhi stands ready to help those from neighbouring and developing countries stranded in Ukraine and in need of assistance. There is an urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine. In such times of conflict, India attaches the highest priority to safety and well-being of civilians, in particular women, children and elderly. We are of the view that core principles of humanitarian assistance should be fully honoured, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said at the Security Council meeting Monday on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Tirumurti voiced deep concern for the safety and security of thousands of Indian citizens, including students, stranded in Ukraine. Our evacuation efforts have been adversely impacted by the developments on ground at the border crossings, Tirumurti said. Underlining that the safety of Indian nationals is of paramount importance to the Indian Government, Tirumurti told the Council that senior Ministers from the Government of India are being deployed as Special Envoys to Ukraine's neighbouring countries. We thank them for their cooperation at this difficult time. We stand ready to help those from neighbours and developing countries who are also stranded in Ukraine and may seek assistance, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting that reviewed ongoing efforts to bring back Indians from Ukraine. India has decided to send four senior ministers as the prime minister's special envoys to Ukraine's neighbouring countries to oversee the evacuation of Indians. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in New Delhi that Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri will go to Hungary, Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia will oversee the evacuation process in Romania and Moldova, Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju will travel to Slovakia and Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation General (retd) V K Singh is leaving for Poland. Tirumurti said that taking into account the humanitarian requirements in Ukraine, the Indian government has also decided to provide urgent relief supplies, including medicines and these are expected to be dispatched Tuesday. India on Monday decided to send relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian situation along its bordering areas arising out of tens of thousands of people attempting to flee the Russian invasion. Tirumurti told the Council that India remains deeply concerned at the unfolding developments in Ukraine, where the situation continues to deteriorate. Our considered call for immediate cessation of violence and an end to all hostilities is an urgent imperative, Tirumurti said, reiterating that there is no other option but to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue, as the only way ahead. He underlined that Modi has advocated strongly for the immediate cessation of violence and end to all hostilities in his recent conversations with the Russian and Ukrainian leadership. We welcome their commencement of direct talks. We reiterate our conviction that differences can only be bridged through sustained dialogue and diplomacy. In his conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Modi reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue, and expressed New Delhi's willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts. In the telephonic call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue. He appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue. India also underlined that all member states have agreed on the principles in UN Charter, international law and on the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. Tirumurti said India notes the appointment by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres of Amin Awad of Sudan as United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine, to lead the coordination of all UN efforts, including the humanitarian response, on both sides of the contact line. We support and welcome the UN's efforts in this direction. France requested the meeting of the 15-nation Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The Council meeting was running parallel to a rare emergency special session of the 193-member UN General Assembly on Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The IAF is likely to deploy several C-17 aircraft as part of Operation Ganga from Tuesday In order to scale up the ongoing evacuation efforts under Operational Ganga, PM Modi has called for the IAF to join the exercise. (Twitter) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive against that country, sources said on Tuesday. The IAF is likely to deploy several C-17 aircraft as part of Operation Ganga from Tuesday, they said. Till now, only private Indian carriers were evacuating Indians from Romania and Hungary, countries with land borders with Ukraine on the western side, as the Ukrainian airspace had been shut since February 24. India began evacuation of around 14,000 of its stranded citizens on February 26. In order to scale up the ongoing evacuation efforts under Operational Ganga, PM Modi has called for the IAF to join the exercise, the sources said. Leveraging the capacities of the IAF will ensure that more people can be evacuated in a shorter time frame, they noted. The large C-17 aircraft will also help deliver humanitarian aid to war-hit Ukraine more efficiently, they mentioned. Taking into account the humanitarian requirements in Ukraine, Ambassador of India to United Nations, T S Tirumurti, on Monday, had said that India has decided to provide urgent relief supplies, including medicines to Ukraine, which is expected to be despatched tomorrow. Tirumurti made these remarks at the UNSC meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. He said that there is an urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine. PM Modi briefs President Kovind on Ukraine crisis Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday and briefed him on various issues, including the Ukraine crisis, official sources said. Sources said Modi briefed Kovind on the crisis and his government's efforts to bring back the Indian citizens stranded in the country. Meanwhile, An Air India Express flight carrying 182 Indians nationals from war-torn Ukraine landed in Mumbai from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday morning, an airline spokesperson said. The AI Express flight IX-1202 from Bucharest via Kuwait touched down the runway at 7.40 am, he said. This is the second evacuation flight operated to Mumbai from Bucharest to bring back Indians from war-hit Ukraine since February 27. Indias foreign policy under the current government has not been able to find its rhythm because it doesnt have a theme India has abstained on the vote in the United Nations Security Council (where we are a non-permanent member) condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. India said that it was deeply disturbed, called for an end to violence and for respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and then said that for these reasons it chose to abstain. This may seem puzzling as India is repeating the worlds case against Russias war, and then refusing to condemn it. But the reality is that India faces a difficult period in diplomacy. Russia provides more than half of Indias military materiel. For instance, 96 per cent of our main battle tanks are Russian, our only aircraft-carrier and only nuclear-powered submarine are Russian, 71 per cent of our fighter jets and all six of the air tankers are Russian. This is not classified information: these numbers come from the US Congressional Research Service. War and even training in these extremely high-performance machines requires constant spare parts and servicing, and for this reason India must remain connected to Russian suppliers. Additionally, experts see Russia as the peacemaker between us and China on the issue of Ladakh. So, we cannot afford to displease Mr Putin. Indias vote did not really matter in the end, because Russia as a permanent UNSC member has a veto, which it used, and it was known the condemnation would fail. However, it was an opportunity for the world to come together against aggression and the largest democracy chose not to side with the invaded country. Interestingly, China also abstained along with us. Indias foreign policy under the current government has not been able to find its rhythm because it doesnt have a theme. Throughout our history as an independent nation, India has presented itself abroad as an ancient land with secular and inclusive traditions. This changed after 2014 but without an official shift in doctrine, meaning there was no written policy that proclaimed Hindutva was Indias ruling ideology. Recent studies show that the government has begun instructing diplomats to focus on events abroad which showcased Indias Hindu traditions. This made some diplomats uncomfortable, but the change was accompanied by recruiting more diplomats who were aligned to the BJPs ideology. For the first five years of this government, the change did not matter because the ideology did not show itself within India to any large extent. After 2019, our diplomats have been kept busy in a defensive posture because the ideology bared its fangs against our minorities. After the second win of 2019 came a series of internal strokes that had external repercussions. The first was the decision to undo Article 370 of the Constitution. This was accompanied by an Internet blockade on all Kashmiris for 17 months. Kashmiri children had no access to online education for all of 2020. In the US House of Representatives (their Lok Sabha), a resolution was moved to condemn Indias actions against Kashmiris. The resolution could not progress far because the Republicans were in charge and President Donald Trump was our friend. Only days after Joe Bidens administration was sworn in, India lifted the 17-month blockade, and one reason was the pressure it felt was sure to come now that Mr Trump was out. Weeks after the Article 370 move, a confident BJP passed the Citizenship Amendment Act. The world was again alarmed. In the European Parliament, a resolution was moved condemning India. It was reported here that it would likely pass. Indias diplomacy managed to stave off the vote but the quid pro quo was that we would not implement the CAA (which has not been enforced). These are the sort of things that Indias diplomats have not had to deal with in the past with those who are supposed to be our friends. The contradiction portraying ourselves as secular and pluralistic abroad while acting in the opposite fashion at home has not been easy to resolve. To add to this issue which we have brought on ourselves is the problem of the neighbourhood, also coming after the change in Article 370: the Chinese incursion in Ladakh. We must defy China, but also be friendly with Russia (which is aligned with China against the West). We want to get closer to the United States militarily and have signed a series of agreements after 2014, but we do not know how close to get. The Quad alliance was meant to be a naval partnership, but that role has now been given to something called AUKUS, of which we are not part of, while the Quad is dealing with Covid-19 vaccines. Our external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar says the world is multipolar and so India must be opportunistic and discard what he calls the hesitancies of the past. However, what is being exposed is that we have no real doctrine and no idea how to deal with the world. It is hard not to conclude that our standing in the world has reduced because of what we have chosen to do internally. On the other hand, we have gained no new friends or allies by going down the road that we have. Fortunately, we dont have to debate this or even recognise this debacle. Our global stature is less important than opposing namaz, beef and the hijab, and we will remain focused on that. Premier Christian Brand Communications Agency Celebrates 20th Anniversary NEWS PROVIDED BY Infinity Concepts March 1, 2022 EXPORT, Penn., March 1, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- On March 1, 2022, Infinity Concepts, an integrated brand communications agency, will celebrate their 20th Anniversary. Founded in early 2002, Infinity Concepts sought to create a new kind of agency that could provide organizations with help in two key areas: strategic thinking to best fulfill God's calling on their lives, ministries, and businesses expertise in the specialized fields of branding, marketing, fundraising, and media "My vision for Infinity Concepts was a new kind of agency, an agency that would offer an integrated communication ecosystem with multiple agency disciplines under one roof," says Mark Dreistadt, Infinity Concepts Founder and CEO. "This agency concept was revolutionary at the time, yet it quickly became our reality. In the beginning my wife, Susie, and I worked from our kitchen table. But now the agency has grown into a successful international business with a dedicated staff that currently serves over 50 clients." Infinity Concepts is a unique organization that helps clients to reach, engage, and activate the Christian community and build effective Jewish-Christian relations. In 2006, Infinity Concepts became the Christian marketing and public relations agency for the Israel Ministry of Tourism for North and South America. This relationship helped to build unprecedented bridges of communication and cooperation between the Jewish people and the Christian community. "We have inspired tourism, volunteerism, and chartable support for the land and people of Israel," says Dreistadt. "We have served to strengthen the intrinsic link that connects the Jewish and Christian communities as they work together in areas of solidarity." Through the years, Infinity Concepts has continued to broaden service options and develop new strategies that best serve their growing list of clients. With many clients in the nonprofit and ministry sectors, Infinity Concepts also serves clients in health care, broadcasting, hospitality, retail, and tourism. In 2015, Pittsburgh Business Times honored Infinity Concepts as one of the 100 fastest-growing businesses in Pittsburgh. And in 2020, Infinity Concepts received the National Religious Broadcasters annual award for Best Digital Experience for production of the weekly podcast Health, Hope & Inspiration. So, what does it take to build a premier Christian brand communications agency that serves clients not only across America but also around the globe? "We are a unique set of individuals who are guided by biblical principles. Our team is skilled in strategy, marketing, and communications and we are committed to our clients' success. It is our teams' commitment to effectiveness, integrity, and excellence that has helped to make Infinity Concepts America's premier Christian brand communications agency," says Dreistadt. "God has blessed the hard work of our agency these past 20 yearsand it appears that the future is bright for this innovative agency to blaze new trails in the years ahead." For more information on Infinity Concepts or to schedule an interview with a member of our agency management team contact Infinity Concepts Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, Darrell Law at darrell@infinityconcepts.com or 724-930-2801. Infinity Concepts is America's premier Christian brand communications and fundraising agency serving clients worldwide. SOURCE Infinity Concepts CONTACT: Darrell Law, 724-930-2801, darrell@infinityconcepts.com San Angelo, TX (76909) Today Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 66F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 66F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Recently I listened to a podcast that highlighted the life of Amy Carmichael. Are you familiar with her? Amy Carmichael was a missionary in the 19th century. She was born in Northern Ireland and spent almost 60 years serving in India, sans furlough. During her years of service she built an orphanage and safe house for young girls and later boys and played a major role in rescuing thousands of indian girls from the ancient practice of temple prostitution that had become normalised. As a young girl she was told that if she prayed, the Lord would answer. She found her brown eyes to be quite unattractive and so prayed earnestly one night that God would change her eye colour from brown to blue. The next morning she excitedly looked in the mirror only to see the same brown eyes staring right back at her. She was overcome with disappointment. Amy Carmichael's heroic and life threatening rescues as a missionary were only possible because she was able to pass as a hindu and be amongst the girls in the temple. She did this by wearing traditional indian dress and staining her skin with coffee and tea bags. Amy's naturally dark hair and brown eyes enabled her to blend in perfectly with the other girls at the temples. The brown eyes that she was born with that God did not transform to blue, equipped her to do the work that God called her to do. We question our quirks What are the things you find unattractive about yourself? Why do you deem them unattractive? In today's world we all are more exposed than at any other time in history. Comparison is rife. All day, everyday we are being told either by others or our own self talk that we are not enough of one thing and too much of something else. We have developed an unhealthy fixation with identifying (what we consider to be) weaknesses and flaws and creating paths, programs and mechanisms to fix them. The range of 'problems' is wide and deep, actual and perceived. Growing up I was always taller and bigger than everyone my age. As a result it was assumed that I was older and so I was often given additional responsibilities and chastised and ridiculed for being childish when playing with friends. My adolescent heart was bruised several times as I heard variants of "you're cute/fun/nice but too tall" from the boys I liked. I knew that praying to be shorter would prove futile and so I continued being uncomfortable standing up straight until I got to university and finally had peers I could look up to, literally. Prior to that my being tall was a shackle that brought me the wrong kind of attention and was too much for the people I wanted to attract. A great source of pain and shame. Why couldn't God have made me a few inches shorter and smaller? He began a good work in all of us Years later during my time as a high school teacher, it was my height and stature that would aid me in maintaining control and building positive relationships with some of the more troublesome male students who made it a sport of trying to intimidate my smaller counterparts. Teaching was never a lifelong dream but I know God placed me there for that particular season and used what I had been ashamed of all my life, to be an asset. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10 For some it is obvious what their particular strength and calling is, for others not quite. Your headstrong son that can only be described as stubborn and never listens to you will one day become an immovable pillar in the kingdom of God. That side of yourself that you wish you could turn off because everyone says you're too emotional, is what will drive you to your knees interceding for hours on end for persons you don't know and will never meet. You're constantly being told how irresponsible you are because you don't seem to focus on the long term but you are the one who when the going gets tough are able to point everyone else to the joy and blessings present even in difficult times. You are labelled as the party pooper because of your tendency to over think but you will be the one to churn out a cornucopia of strategic plans when the time is right. God never has to make do "But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christs power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 9 Our all seeing, all powerful, all loving God knew from before the beginning of time exactly what He was pouring into each of us. Please note, I am not referring to sinful tendencies and wayward desires, that's a whole other discussion. What we consider to be our quirks, weaknesses and flaws are not obstacles that God suddenly has to navigate. These are designated areas in our natural design that God uses as an aperture through which His power can be clearly seen. Danelle M. Pinnock first emerged as a writer when she began chronicling her journey with God, through a debilitating sickness. Her authentic reflections provided encouragement to many and resulted in her first publication 31 Day Devotional- Quiet Time. This full time homemaker, a proud Jamaican, lives in Kingston with her husband Raul and their two children Levi and Zhuri. Along with her freelance writing, she is a worship leader at her church and serves with her husband, a cancer survivor, on the marriage ministry team. Visit her website, (danellempinnock.com) to learn how God guides a woman with a background in Chemistry, Business Management and Public Health to skillfully pen His methods and His ways through sickness, marriage and parenting. Athens, TX (75751) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. kW EV kilowatt The entire system is 82-feet (24.9 meters) tall, but only occupies two square meters (21.5 square feet) of ground for itself, and it is imagined to have six charging points installed.Those points are meant to allow the simultaneous charging of six EV s with up to 20each. Its inventor initially set out to improve traditional wind turbines for farm use, but decided to use their skills to provide a solution to a different problem.As Jim Bardia explained, conventional wind turbines are not efficient at generating power if they face gentle gusts of wind, so he first worked on a way to improve those. Both the Vertical Axis Wind Turbines and the Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines were examined. The company, Change Wind Corporation, decided to go for a distinctive design.Eventually, he and his development team, which included friends and colleagues with whom he shared experience in motorsport, managed to build a model that could achieve that goal. The first model was deployed for five years in Pennsylvania, where it survived two hurricanes According to the inventor, the Wind and Solar Tower is more effective than conventional wind turbines due to its use of powerful permanent magnets, which are deployed within a floating-bearing levitation hub. The idea is that technology eliminates contact between moving parts, as well as reduces friction, which means an increase in the electrical output curve of the installation.For further optimization, these towers were equipped with a multi-speed sequential gearbox, which is operated by a computer and helps generate electricity in wind speeds as low as 5 mph (ca. 8 kph), but also works in wind speeds as high as 75 mph (ca. 121 kph). Both existing turbine technologies cannot operate under the described conditions, Change Wind Corporation claims.When not charging an electric vehicle, the energy generated from the new type of wind turbine is stored into an on-site battery array that has a capacity of 1,000 kW (one megawatt). Otherwise, excess energy is sent into the grid. Unlike other wind turbines, this tower also integrates a solar panel, which has a self-cleaning function for optimal performance.We should note that other wind turbines have been adapted to charge vehicles before, while other companies have developed solutions to store renewable energy for later use. There are also solar-poweredchargers out there, but none of the systems we know of have combined all these ideas into a single unit, as is the case with the Wind & Solar Tower.According to its creators, the WST can generate 169,000-hours of non-polluting electricity each year, and the resulting resource may be used for over 600,000 miles (ca. 965,606 km) of pollution-free driving. That is the best-case scenario, where up to 8,400 EVs are topped-up each year from the tower, which allows for up to six vehicles to be charged at the same time. kWh Audi has recently pulled the plug on the A1 and Q2 due to woeful sales, which is why a small electric vehicle in the spirit of the A2 has been mooted since February 2021. Back then, big kahuna Markus Duesmann told British motoring publication Autocar.co.uk : I like the A2. Certainly we discuss this segment as well. So, it might be an A2 or an E2, or an A3 or an E3.The smallest electric vehicle currently offered by Audi is a premium-oriented crossover utility vehicle dubbed Q4 e-tron. Almost 4.6 meters long, this fellow could use a little brother, although it remains to be seen how little. Using the shorter, low-cost version of the MEB platform could backfire in the sense that a watered-down Audi wont sell as well as its Volkswagen Group twins from Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, and SEAT's Cupra marque.An electric vehicle, slightly smaller than the A3 Sportback, may fare better, yet Audis executives are keeping their lips tightly shut in regard to the finest of details. The AI:ME concept , for reference, is 4.3 meters long.Speculatively rendered by pixel artist Bernhard Reichel in an eye-popping shade of green, the design study before your eyes wouldnt look out of place in the automakers future lineup. As far as the underpinnings are concerned, Audi may very well borrow the front-mounted electric motor and 57-battery of the Volkswagen ID. Life concept from IAA Mobility 2021.The only alternative would be rear- or dual-motor MEB underpinnings from the Q4 e-tron, which are too expensive for the segment of the A2/E2 in the automakers lineup. Given these circumstances, the MEB eco platform seems to be the right call for the indirect successor of the A1 and Q2. EV kWh WLTP Back in September 2021 during the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, the chief executive officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars let it slip that sister models are in the pipeline with software developed by the peeps at CARIAD, a Volkswagen-owned German company established in 2020.In addition to locations in Wolfsburg, Ingolstadt, Berlin, Munich, and Stuttgart, these guys also work closely with development teams in China, Silicon Valley, and Seattle. One of the projects that CARIAD has taken is the software and technology platform for the Premium Platform Electric, due in 2022 in the Audi A6 e-tron and next-generation Porsche MacanSkoda chief executive officer Thomas Schafer made it clear that the Czech marques baby electric crossover will stand out from its twins with maximized interior dimensions. Given that practicality has been Skodas mantra ever since the Volkswagen Group acquired this brand, this kind of differentiation was to be expected. Schafer told the media that hes not sure if production will be handled in the Czech Republic or somewhere else.Expected to be priced in the ballpark of 20,000 euros or 22,200 freedom bucks are current exchange rates, the yet-unnamed model will be launched in 2025 at the earliest or 2026 at the latest. Until then, Skoda is due to premiere a compact-sized model based on the ID.3 compact hatchback.Speculatively rendered by pixel artist Bernhard Reichel with stylistic influences from the ID. LIFE concept mentioned earlier, the indirect successor of the A-segment Citigo e iV hatchback has the makings of a commercial success if Skoda can keep the starting price as low as technically possible.As a brief refresher, the ID. Life presented in September 2021 is rocking a 57-battery pack that enables adriving range of approximately 400 kilometers (248 miles). A front-wheel-drive affair instead of rear-wheel drive like the compact-sized ID. 3, the concept packs 231 horsepower (234 ps) and hits 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) in 6.9 seconds. As most of you know by now, Super Bowl LVI took place at the SoFi Stadium. Thats in Inglewood, California, a stone's throw away from the shiny Los Angeles.As usual when it comes to such high-profile events, the said stadium was witness to a spectacle not only on the field, but also in the sky. There, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) deployed, together with the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation, a P-51 Mustang.The vintage aircraft was not alone , but accompanied by the infinitely more modern F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, and A-10 Thunderbolt. The four aircraft performed what the Air Force calls its first-ever heritage flight over a Super Bowl.But these planes were not the only ones flying that night. Further up, and out of sight, three F-15E Strike Eagles were lurking in the dark, performing security patrol missions over the Los Angeles area.We get to see one of them in action thanks to the main photo of this piece, released by the USAF last week. The plane is deployed with the 144th Fighter Wing and was snapped on film by a Senior Airman, as the fighter jet was approaching its airborne refueling station.That would be a KC-10, flying with the 60th Air Mobility Wing, which delivered during the Super Bowl night no less than 83,000 pounds (over 37 tons) of fuel to the three hunting birds.The F-15E Strike Eagle is described as a dual-role fighter, which can take on both airborne and ground targets. Its a two-seater that came to be in the shops of McDonnell Douglas (now owned by Boeing) back in the late 1980s and has proven successful enough since then there are presently over 200 of them flying with the USAF.Each Strike Eagle comes equipped with a pair of Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines with afterburners, giving out up to 29,000 pounds of thrust each. Thanks to them, the planes are capable of reaching speeds of over Mach 2.5 (1,875 mph/3,018 kph), being some of the fastest military birds presently flying.Normally, F-15E Strike Eagles can fly for as much as 2,400 miles (3,840 km) when packing three external fuel tanks to complement the onboard ones. But, thanks to the availability of aerial refueling, as seen during Super Bowl over Los Angeles, that range is purely theoretical.Back in 1998, the reference year for this birds price, a single unit cost $31.1 million, which in todays money would mean close to $54 million. Clive Palmer is worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but its not just his wealth thats made him a household name. Hes also a lawsuit-happy magnate with dealings in iron ore, coal and nickel, an aspiring politician, and a business entrepreneur who once dreamed of bringing the Titanic back to life and into modern times, for actual cruising, but without the whole part about hitting an iceberg.In recent months, hes also been working on building what he believes will be the worlds greatest collection of vintage cars, which he wants to go on display at a yet-uncertain location. The goal, according to news.com.au , is to have 600 such prized collectibles rotating on display when the museum does open to the public.His latest acquisitions would certainly make it worthy of at least one visit: reports from the local media say that Palmer has finalized the deal on Adolf Hitlers armored limousine, shortly after purchasing King Edward VIIIs Rolls-Royce. He bought the latter at an auction in London for a reported $200,000, while Hitlers ride was sold to him by a mystery Russian owner.The limousine in question is a very rare 1939 Mercedes-Benz 770K Grosser Offener Tourenwagen , last offered publicly for sale in 2017. Its been with countless owners and its often described as one of the most historically significant vehicles offered at a public sale, and its priced to match: the auction prompted a $7 million bid but reserve was not met. No word on how much Palmer ended up paying for it, but he did put in two years worth of negotiations, according to the report.Hitler owned and used the armored limousine for almost three years, including on official appearances in Berlin (with Mussolini), in France, Greece and Yugoslavia. Powered by a 7.7-liter 8-cylinder supercharged engine producing 230 hp, the Super Mercedes, as its come to be called, could go from 0 to 100 kph / 62 mph in 23 seconds and max out at 190 kph (118 mph). Hitlers was armored, which made it slower. In order to win this grand prize, youll have to first sign up for the sweepstakes, which you can do right HERE . Theres also another contingency, namely that you need to be a new or current Land Rover owner, which of course includes all Range Rover-branded models such as the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque.Aside from winning a seat on a Virgin Galactic space flight, there are also a number of other prizes in contention, such as various Land Rover Experiences, Land Rover and Virgin Galactic merchandise, and more.Land Rover owners love adventure, and we are pleased to offer them a chance to win the greatest adventure of the 21st Century: a once-in-a-lifetime trip to space with Virgin Galactic, said JLR North America president and CEO, Joe Eberhardt.Land Rover and Virgin Galactic share a spirit for innovation and exploration, and now together we are offering our owners the adventure of a lifetime.His sentiments were mirrored by Virgin Galactic president and chief business officer, Blair Rich, who also mentioned the strong partnership these two companies have, and how they both like to push boundaries and reach for the unexplored.After registering for the sweepstakes, you can receive additional entries by creating a Space Team and referring friends and family to join. In turn, that Space Team will then generate additional entries for the Land Rover vehicle owner.You can throw your hat in the ring any time between now and June 20, 2022, with the grand prize winner getting announced on August 15, 2022. Despite a solid start to their pre-season campaign in Barcelona, Red Bull was only fourth overall in terms of how many miles they put in at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with 34 fewer laps than Mercedes over three days.When asked to assess his teams performance in Spain, Verstappen stated the following: Its difficult to rate. What was positive is the car was running smooth, I was happy with the balance but Bahrain is going to be completely different, so heading into race one, the car will be completely different as well.He then went on to say that he just focused on doing a lot of laps and try to really nail down every single aspect of the car.The car runs really well. In general, the weight is a bit up, but I really enjoy driving the car, it has a nice stable balance and I think they look cool as well that's always nice to jump into.That right there is a rare instance in which a driver praises the way these new grand effect cars drive. Then again, theyve only just started driving them, as all previous work had been done in the simulator.The 2022 Formula One season is scheduled to commence on March 20, in the same venue as this upcoming pre-season test, Bahrain. By the way, Verstappen will be in the #1 Red Bull instead of the #33 one of the perks of being the champ. Less than a month ago, before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine started, Russian President Vladimir Putin moved his assets closer to home, anticipating worldwide sanctions against him. He also made sure all three of his superyachts made a quick rush to safe Russia-controlled waters. 9 photos Chinese envoy calls for political decisions to revive Iran nuke deal Xinhua) 08:11, March 01, 2022 VIENNA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna Wang Qun on Monday urged relevant parties to make political decisions in the final stage of the Vienna talks to seek a deal restoring the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Wang made the remarks at a meeting of the Joint Commission on the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), held here. Representatives from Iran, Russia, Britain, France and Germany also attended the meeting, which was chaired by Enrique Mora, deputy secretary-general of the European External Action Service. The Chinese envoy said the negotiations have entered the "final critical stage," and relevant parties are "seeing hopes of reviving the JCPOA." He called on all parties to show wisdom and political determination at this stage to reach an agreement, instead of "falling one step short of success." China commends the vital role played by the European Union (EU) coordinators in the negotiations and acknowledges the efforts by all other parties to reach a deal, Wang said, adding that Iran's legitimate and reasonable demands on pending issues should be addressed in an appropriate manner. He stated that China will continue to work with all other parties to seek an early agreement from the perspectives of upholding the JCPOA and safeguarding multilateralism and the global non-proliferation regime. The JCPOA was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 (namely the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States, plus Germany), together with the EU. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled Washington out of the pact in May 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Iran, which prompted the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments and advance its halted nuclear programs. Since April 2021, Iran and the other five remaining parties to the JCPOA have held rounds of talks in Vienna to revive the deal. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Its been a tense week, even in areas we, average Joes, never thought conflict would come. Like say in space exploration, a human activity that almost never cares about dissensions between governments and armies.That changed over the past few days, with Dmitry Rogozin , the head of Roscosmos, asking who will save the ISS from an uncontrolled de-orbit if the Russians no longer cater to keeping the station in place, safe from burning up in the atmosphere.It also changed with Russia pulling out from joint operations with the European Space Agency (ESA) at the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana, forcing the Europeans to find alternatives to the Soyuz rocket.And, as a twist, current events seem to have far-reaching effects when it comes to mid-term plans as well. This year, ESA was planning to use a Russian Proton-M rocket to launch the continents first rover to an alien world, the Rosalind Franklin.Franklin, part of the ExoMars mission, was supposed to leave our planet in the fall, and land sometime next year in the Oxia Planum region of Mars, where it would have looked for signs of life. The timetable is no longer valid, said ESA this week, without giving any indication of an alternative solution.Regarding the ExoMars programme continuation, the sanctions and the wider context make a launch in 2022 very unlikely, the space agency said in a statement ESAs Director General will analyse all the options and prepare a formal decision on the way forward by ESA Member States. The apparent destruction and complete loss of the the largest cargo aircraft the world has ever seen in armed conflict was a horrific blow for both the civil and military aviation sectors worldwide. The announcement that the six engine, 1.4 million pounds (fully loaded) Ukrainian transport plane had been destroyed during fighting at Antonov Airport in the capital of Kyiv took time to be confirmed as factual.But now, footage of what appears to be the An-225 engulfed in flames in its massive hangar appears to confirm the worst. It appears what was once deemed the largest operational airplane of any kind in the world is now nothing more than a pile of ash and scrap lying on the floor of a hangar in a Kyiv airport hangar. To understand why this is a devastating blow for aviation, it's essential to understand the historical significance of what the An-225 indeed was.Absurdly large airplanes are nothing new. Since the dawn of manned flight, man has been trying to find ways to make aircraft bigger, heavier, and capable of carrying more stuff. Be it cargo, trucks, tanks, bombs, and hey, even people. Apart from a couple of industry icons in the Boeing 747 , Airbus A380, Hughes H-4 Spruce Goose, and a handful of others, it's been astonishingly tricky for supersized transport planes and airliners to jump from concept drawing to reality, let alone become operationally successful.The An-225 is another name on that short list, at least before some unspecified event rendered it nothing more than an oversized barbecue. It was designed as a purpose-built carrier aircraft for the Soviet Space Shuttle program . Dubbed the Buran Orbiter, the Soviet-built space plane is a near-identical copy of the North American-Rockwell S pace Shuttle Orbiters famous for service with NASA.The An-225's design has its roots in the smaller but still gargantuan An-124 quad-engined airliner and military transport. Nearly every aspect of the base An-124 airframe was strengthened, elongated, and widened to fit the specifications required by the Soviet Space program. This included a bonkers 32 wheel landing gear system capable of holding the immense girth of the airframe. This gear arrangement became a bit of a trademark feature of the Ukrainian jet.There was every reason to suspect that the An-225 was due for a long and successful career in support of the Soviet Space Program, but there was one not-so-small snag in the road. By December 1991, the Soviet Union was up in smoke. So too was its promising Buran Shuttle program, which only logged one un-crewed mission orbiting the Earth before the collapse of the Soviet Union saw it unceremoniously retired.Consequently, the An-225 Shuttle Carrier spent eight years following the collapse of the USSR mothballed in storage in Ukraine. Once the Ukrainian economy had recovered sufficiently to even consider taking the massive aircraft out of storage, the airplane promptly went about setting all kinds of impressive world records.These include the world record for a single-item payload of 189,980 kg (418,830 lbs) lifted by a single aircraft and an airlifted total payload of 253,820 kg (559,580 lbs) with an astonishing four unspecified Russian Main Battle Tanks in tow at speeds in excess of 500 miles per hour (800 or so kph). It also carried a fully-loaded payload of 247,000 kg (545,000 lb) in commercial service. Dwarfing the average payload of something like a 747.At the end of the day, there were a plethora of uses for an aircraft as colossal as the An-225. Be it in the government-funded space sector, private cargo service, and yes, the occasional military mission. The loss of the only airworthy Mriya in the world is a crippling loss for aviation. Legend had it that another partially completed An-225 airframe is lying in storage somewhere either in Ukraine or Russia.If this 70% complete by some estimates airframe can be found, it should be a top priority for Antonov to bring another An-225 into service. Some very important super heavy and super-specialized cargo is very much dependent on it.Of course, the Ukrainian people have much more pressing priorities at the current moment. But once the dust settles on their current struggles, the rebirth of the An-225 must be a matter of national importance. The global aviation sector depends on that for invaluable research into super large aircraft.Check back for more record-breaking and unique aircraft profiles from all over the world and so much more right here on autoevolution. EV BEV ICE During the presentation, Carlos Tavares, the Chief Executive Officer of the Stellantis conglomerate, which also includes the Jeep brand, has confirmed that the battery-electric Jeep is the next step of the brand's vision of Zero Emission Freedom. The latter was also mentioned last week when Jeep confirmed its presence at the 56th Annual Easter Jeep Safari At the time, Jeep published two teaser images of future concept vehicles. One of them was shaped like a pickup, while the other was a blue vehicle that is expected to be based on the 2022 Grand Cherokee. Those images are not related to this new vehicle, the first all-electric Jeep.As you can observe, the first fully electric Jeep model presented today is painted yellow, and it is one of many concept vehicles planned to be revealed by the American brand in the coming months. It is believed that the upcoming Jeepwill share underpinnings with vehicles like the Opel Mokka-e and other models from Stellantis.Brand representatives have not announced if this vehicle, yet to be named, will be shown in April in Moab, but they have confirmed that more information on the matter will be released in the coming months. Sadly, that is not much to go by, as the vehicle is meant to be revealed in early 2023.It is worth noting that Carlos Tavares announced that half of all the vehicles sold by Stellantis in the U.S. will be all-electric by 2030, while all of the vehicles sold by the industrial conglomerate in Europe will be electric by that year.Moreover, the conglomerate wants to have a 50% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030 when compared to the levels of 2021, as well as become net-zero when carbon emissions are concerned by 2038.As a group, Stellantis plans to have over 75 battery-electric vehicles modes in its portfolio in the years to come and targets annual sales of over five million EVs by 2030. The all-electric Jeep model will be succeeded by the first all-electric pickup from Ram, the 1500. Starting with the year 2025, the Alfa Romeo, DS, Lancia, and Maserati brands will only launch electric vehicles, while all will stop sellingvehicles in Europe by 2030. None of these concepts have actually proven their worth in real life, but its never too late conventional aircraft interior design has nothing in common with these thought-provoking ideas that could transform luxury private aviation.Andrew Winch, the founder of the British award-winning brand Winch Design, studied under the legendary yacht designer Jon Bannenberg, before becoming an acclaimed designer himself. As a brand thats mostly known for its opulent yacht interiors, its not surprising that some of those elements made their way to the brands aircraft interior designs as well.Unlike most of the designs in the companys portfolio, the Sky Residence concept never became reality, although it was initially conceived for a customer asking for a clean, calm, modern look for a wide-body such as a Boeing 787 or Dreamliner. According to Robb Report, the team at Winch Design enjoyed the idea so much that they decided to keep it anyway, so its still available for potential buyers.The main idea behind this concept was to replace that feeling of being on a plane with a residential atmosphere. Due to it being meant for a larger airplane, this cabin includes a master suite, a childrens room, and two generous lobby areas. That offered plenty of room for an open space layout.Instead of conventional dividers and bulkheads, the team envisioned sliding doors and transparent screens. Thanks to this, from certain areas inside, passengers can enjoy a stunning 100-foot (20.4 meters) view down the cabin, Grieg Jolly, a Winch associate, told Robb Report.The wide rectangular panels used as window treatments diffuse the light and create a horizontal line, which also contributes to a feeling of spaciousness. Last but not least, the neutral tones with calming blue accents recreate the harmonious elegance of luxury yachts, instead of the formal look typically associated with business jets.This futuristic airship inspired by blimps is a unique lifestyle zeppelin thats supposed to provide the luxuries of a cruise ship while flying its busy millionaire passengers from one place to another. Although its not just a cabin, but an aircraft concept, the most impressive thing about it is the interior. As its name suggests, the Strato Cruiser is designed to make passengers feel as though they are enjoying a luxurious cruise.This includes a lap pool, located on a terraced deck, premium spa and beauty services, access to yoga and fitness classes, plus even a library and several private mini-offices. The airships atrium would also boast a sky lounge, with a gourmet restaurant and bar beneath it, and a climbing wall for adventure enthusiasts in-between.In the evening, after all that spa pampering and body toning, the passengers would also get to party at the onboard club, before ending the day in their private suites.According to Dezeen , who presented this unusual concept back in 2007, this aircraft was inspired both by ocean cruising and space travel. It was supposed to be built with helium chambers, a retractable polycarbonate roof, a photovoltaic cell network, and a propulsion system that would make it much faster than regular blimps.As you can guess, the Strato Cruiser never came to life either, but it offered an interesting vision of what luxury cruising could look like up in the sky.This is the most recent concept out of the three, and the one with the most chances of coming to life someday. It was introduced by the German aircraft overhaul and maintenance specialist Lufthansa Technik, at both the Monaco Yacht Show and the Dubai Airshow in 2021. Designed for the Airbus Corporate Jet ACJ330, this two-level cabin concept was directly derived from explorers the yachts that are meant to travel to the most isolated locations on the planet.Able to accommodate up to 16 passengers, the Explorer stands out right away due to a projection system that can cover the interior walls and ceilings with any type of setting, including underwater scenes, transforming the interior into a fantasy world. According to Lufthansa, this large-scale projection system for a VIP cabin is a premiere in the industry.The most unusual feature is the spacious veranda offering an incredible view from 13 feet (four meters) above the apron. This is possible due to the design of the floor in the forward fuselage area, which can extend outwards, turning into a veranda.In addition to bedrooms, offices, a dining area, and even a gym, what makes this cabin concept an explorer is that it also offers room for several luxury vehicles onboard. The unique Mobility Lounge that would carry these vehicles was designed together with Brabus. Passengers would even get a great view of the cars inside, thanks to the main decks glass floor, right above the Mobility Lounge on the lower deck.If youre wondering how much the Explorer concept costs, Aviation Week reports that configuring the ACJ330 with this design, for 12 passengers, would add up to $100 million not counting the aircrafts initial price. If billionaires have paid outrageous sums for blowing bubbles in space , someone is also likely to pay this much for turning a wide-body jet into a flying world explorer. After two years of struggle, car manufacturers out there have mixed expectations for 2022, with some predicting a continued struggle due to the very constrained chip supply.Toyota, on the other hand, seems to be very optimistic most problems would go away sooner rather than later. In fact, the Japanese carmaker is so optimistic that it reportedly expects to build no more, no less than 11 million, in the fiscal year 2022.While the firm hasnt publicly announced this target, its pretty clear that building 11 million vehicles wouldnt be possible unless the global chip inventory improves.In other words, Toyota is almost certain this thing can happen in the coming months, despite all the gloomy forecasts coming from various experts and analysts across the world.But in addition to the current chip supply, the Japanese carmaker also has other things to worry about.Toyota has recently decided to suspend its domestic operations due to what was believed to be a cyberattack. The company, therefore, halted the operations at its plants in Japan, and its believed the production of approximately 13,000 cars would be impacted.Correctly predicting the chip shortage, on the other hand, seems to be more of a matter of luck at this point. Strongly tied with the global health crisis, the lack of semiconductors is seen by many as a long-term headache that just wouldnt go away overnight.For the time being, however, even the largest carmakers out there are struggling to find a way to reduce the disruptions the shortage causes in their daily operations. Ford, for example, has recently suspended the operations at its North American plants due to the very same reason, therefore confirming that the chip inventory continues to be as tight as in 2021. The automotive world was in shock on February 16 when the news broke about the Felicity Ace car carrier being affected by a fire that broke out in the cargo hold. Abandoned by the crew, the ship continued to burn for days, with little hope for the rescue teams to extinguish the fire. Many cars onboard were electric vehicles, which means they had Li-Ion batteries that are notoriously difficult to extinguish in case of a fire.One week later the fire appeared to have been put out and rescue teams were expected this week to board the ship to assess the damages. This did not happen though, as rough waters and heavy waves pushed the vessel to lean 45 degrees to its starboard side. Around 9 a.m. local time, Felicity Ace sank 220 nautical miles off the coast of Portugals Azores Islands, taking the 4,000 cars onboard to the bottom of the ocean.The weather was pretty rough out there, Pat Adamson, a spokesperson for MOL Ship Management, a unit of Mitsui OSK Lines, said by phone to Automotive News. And then she sank, which was a surprise.The ship was carrying almost 4,000 cars from the German port of Emden to Rhode Island at the time the fire started. Most of them were Audi, but also Volkswagen, Porsche, Bentley, and Lamborghini. According to dealer and Volkswagen sources, there were around 1,900 Audis, 1,100 Porsches, 500 Volkswagens, 189 Bentleys, and 85 Lamborghinis on the ship. Some of them were end-of-life limited-edition Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae, which are irreplaceable Volkswagen declined to comment on Tuesday. The German company had hoped at least some of the cars onboard were salvageable, but the hopes sank along with the vessel. According to Automotive News , the risk-modeling company Russell Group estimated the accident would cost the carmaker at least $155 million. There were $438 million worth of goods on the ship, of which $401 million were cars. In a statement via email, the Swedish brand said that it had made this decision because of potential risks associated with trading materials with Russia, including the sanctions imposed by the EU and US.Then came the big announcement: Volvo Cars will not deliver any cars to the Russian market until further notice, said Volvo.Meanwhile, a company spokesman stated that the carmaker was previously exporting vehicles to Russia from plants not only in Sweden, but also China and the United States, reports Reuters . Last year alone, Volvo sold roughly 9,000 passenger cars in Russia.Yesterday, Swedish truck maker AB Volvo also decided to halt all production and sales in Russia , for similar reasons. Then there was German truck brand Daimler Truck, who stated that it would freeze its business activities in Russia effective immediately including its cooperation with Russian truck company Kamaz.Last week, automotive companies such as Volkswagen, Renault and even tire firm Nokian Tyres, had outlined plans to either shut down or shift manufacturing operations following the Russian armed forces' attack in Ukraine. If things carry on as they have, its safe to assume that all global automotive players will follow in Volvos footsteps, and sooner rather than later.However, by far the most significant decision by a Western company with regards to these sanctions was taken this past weekend by BP (British Petroleum), who abandoned its stake in Russian oil giant Rosneft, marking the end of three full decades of operating in Russia. The latter now stands abandoned on several economic fronts, as well as by major international sporting governing bodies such as FIFA, UEFA and the FIA. Auto giant General Motors has decided to suspend vehicle exports to Russia following President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. GM's move to hold exports follows the application of severe U.S. sanctions on Russia. A GM spokesperson issued a statement regarding the conflict, saying the company's thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at this time. The spokesperson added that the loss of life is a tragedy and the carmaker's overriding concern is for the safety of people in the region. The good news for General Motors is that it no longer operates any manufacturing plants in Russia. The company already sold its stake in Russian car brand Avtovaz, which French automaker Renault now owns. GM still operates, however, a national sales company for Russia and CIS markets with vehicles sourced from South Korea and North America. U.S. piles more sanctions on Russia as war in Ukraine continues The U.S. government announced on Monday, February 28, that it is imposing stricter sanctions on the central bank of Russia and its other sources of wealth, as per CNBC. The United States is piling on the pressure with this series of escalating actions to force Russia to stop its military action in Ukraine. A senior U.S. administration official told Reuters that the government's main objective is to make sure that the Russian economy goes backward if President Putin decides to continue with his invasion of Ukraine. With the United States and its allies using all the tools at their disposal to hurt Russia's economy, that is bad news for companies that have business interests in Putin's country as well as in Ukraine. Volkswagen and Renault have already been forced to halt production this week due to supply chain issues brought upon by the war. A Volkswagen spokesperson said that the German firm is suspending delivery of its vehicles to dealerships for the time being because of the conflict. The spokesperson added that Volkswagen deliveries would only resume once the effects of the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union on Russia have been clarified. General Motors made it clear that it has limited supply chain exposure to the two countries waging war. The company said that it is working hard to mitigate any potential risks to its people and business. Also Read: Volkswagen Halts Production at 2 German Plants as Russia's War in Ukraine Causes Parts Shortage Volvo suspends vehicle exports to Russia GM joins Volvo Cars and Trucks in suspending exports to Russia. Volvo Cars was the first international automaker to stop vehicle shipments to Russia, making the announcement on Monday. Volvo exports vehicles to the Russian market from its plants in the United States, Sweden, and China, selling around 9,000 vehicles there in 2021. Volvo Cars decided to halt vehicle exports because of the sanctions imposed by the EU and the U.S. on Russia, citing "potential risks" in trading material with them. Truckmaker AB Volvo also acted swiftly, suspending its sales and production in Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Related Articles: Renault, Volkswagen and Stellantis Fear Sanctions for Auto Plants in Russia After War Erupts in Ukraine EPA Orders Tesla to Pay $275,000 Penalty for Clean Air Act Violations in Fremont Facility Toyota to suspend domestic factory operations due to a suspected cyberattack on one of its suppliers. (Photo : KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images) Toyota Motor announced that it would suspend domestic factory operations on Tuesday, March 1, after one of its suppliers was targeted by a suspected cyberattack. Kojima Industries, which produces electronic components and plastic parts for Toyota, suffered a devastating crash to its system on Monday, February 28. A spokesperson for Kojima issued a statement, saying the company appeared to have been a victim of some kind of cyberattack. A Toyota spokesperson described the incident as a "supplier system failure." As a result of that system crash, Toyota would temporarily shut down 28 production lines at 14 Japanese plants. That is a huge blow for Toyota as the auto giant will be losing around 13,000 vehicles of output because of the closure. Will shutdown extend to another day? Toyota scheduled the shutdown for Tuesday's first and second shifts, but the Japanese automaker is unsure if the closure will extend to another day. Toyota hopes that won't be the case as its 14 plants in Japan account for a third of its global production. No information was given about who was the one responsible for the cyberattack. Kojima's system failure, however, comes just after Japan joined its Western allies in imposing sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine. However, it was not clear if the attack on the Japanese company's system was part of Russia's retaliation to those sanctions. As per Reuters, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that his government would launch an investigation and determine whether Russia was involved in the cyberattack. Kishida told reporters in a press conference that it is difficult to say that Russia was behind the cyberattack before making thorough checks. Kishida himself announced on Sunday that Japan would join other countries, including the United States, in blocking some Russian banks from gaining access to the SWIFT international payment system. Kishida also said that Japan would provide $100 million in emergency aid to Ukraine. Toyota was not the only automaker affected by the March 1 shutdown as some of the closed Japanese plants were operated by the company's affiliates, Daihatsu and Hino Motors. Toyota is known in the auto industry for its Just-In-Time manufacturing method, with parts from suppliers going straight to the production line instead of being stockpiled. Also Read: Toyota Offers Free EV Charging to Owners of 2023 bZ4X After Partnership Agreement with EVgo Production stoppage in Japan is the latest setback for Toyota Toyota's production stoppage comes at the worst possible time for the world's biggest automaker, with the company already facing supply chain issues to start the year. A global semiconductor shortage has been wreaking havoc on the entire auto industry ever since the COVID-19 pandemic started, forcing Toyota and other carmakers to curb the production of their vehicles up to now. Toyota also had to halt production in some of its plants in North America last month due to parts shortages caused by the trucker protests on several border crossings in Canada. Related Articles: UK Car Production Continues to Struggle as January 2022 Numbers Hit 13-Year Low Tesla Plans Expansion of Shanghai Factory: Aims to More Than Double Production Capacity in China The U.S. deported its first Afghan evacuee back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan earlier this month due to a criminal record discovered after their arrival, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Out of the tens of thousands of evacuated Afghans brought to the United States, only a small handful remain in government custody because of criminal records or other concerns. Now, a process has been established for returning Afghans to their home country, if necessary. The details: The Afghan in question was returned on Feb. 13 in coordination with officials in Doha, Qatar, according to an internal government document obtained by Axios. The details of the crime are unclear, although Axios was told by an administration official there was no connection to terrorist networks or national security concerns. The official said that this was an example of the vetting system working. All Afghans are screened and vetted through multiple U.S. agencies before their arrival. As of September, just 44 out of tens of thousands of evacuees were flagged through those processes as potential national security risks, the Washington Post reported at the time. What they're saying: The vetting process is ongoing. "If individuals engage in criminal activity or additional information becomes available that raises a concern, the U.S. government takes action, which can include prosecution, revocation of parole and placement into removal proceedings, a DHS spokesperson told Axios in a statement. The big picture: Roughly 76,000 Afghans have been brought to the U.S. through Operation Allies Welcome since the Taliban took Kabul in mid-August. As of earlier this month, all had been moved off military bases, to be resettled in communities across the U.S. More than 1 in 3 has been resettled in Texas, California and Virginia, CBS News reported. "We are prepared to welcome additional qualifying Afghans over the coming weeks and months as capacity allows," a DHS official told Axios in a statement. That includes "thousands of Afghans who are at overseas transit locations for processing to come to the United States." What to watch: As of Sunday, the Taliban will no longer allow Afghans to leave the country without a good reason, the Wall Street Journal reported. With Ukraine holding Russia off longer than many U.S. officials had expected, President Biden now faces a great unanswered question how to give Vladimir Putin an off-ramp to avoid even greater calamity. Why it matters: A cornered, humiliated Putin could unleash untold pain on the world, from cyberattacks to nuclear threats. After enacting brutal sanctions, the White House now must consider how the invasion can end without a new catastrophe. Between the lines: Nobody knows what Putin would accept. Many officials fear that we are heading into a very dangerous period the punishing Western sanctions pushing an autocrat into a corner. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), vice chair of the Senate intelligence committee, has hinted Putin could be addled. "This is the most dangerous moment in 60 years," Rubio tweeted Sunday night. Putin, he said, "is facing a humiliating military fiasco & he has triggered extraordinary consequences on #Russia's economy & people that will not be easy to reverse ... And his only options to reset this imbalance are catastrophic ones." A European diplomat told reporters at a briefing yesterday: "It's like the Sun Tzu thing of giving someone a golden bridge to retreat across. How do you get him to go in a different direction?" "I think the door to diplomacy remains open," the diplomat continued. "Putin ... doesn't normally back down. But he also controls the information environment in his own country to such an extent that if he does, he can cover his tracks. ... So I think there is room for him to de-escalate and that's certainly what we're pressing for." The diplomat pointed to yesterdays Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Belarus as the most viable off-ramp in a sea of bad options, noting that negotiations lasted for four hours and appear headed for a second round. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said before the talks that he was willing to discuss "neutral status" for Ukraine one of Putin's three demands. But the other two demilitarization and "denazification" of Ukraine, and recognition of Russia's claim to Crimea suggest Putin will never accept a deal in which Zelensky remains in power. The bottom line: The West's response to Putin for so long, uncertain and halting has moved at astonishing speed and ferocity over the past week. How Putin will respond and whether de-escalation is even possible is keeping national-security leaders up at night. Go deeper: Axios Ukraine dashboard Social media platforms are beginning to crack down on Russian state media in response to the Kremlin's efforts to tighten controls around internet communications. Why it matters: Tech giants that provide services around the world prefer not to take sides in conflicts where they operate in both combatants' territory, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine is making that stance tough to maintain. Driving the news: Google said late Saturday it is pausing monetization of Russian state-funded media across its platforms, hours after its subsidiary YouTube announced a similar measure, citing "extraordinary circumstances in Ukraine." A YouTube spokesperson noted it will also be "significantly limiting recommendations to these channels." Facebook parent Meta on Friday said it would also prohibit Russian state media "from running ads or monetizing on our platform anywhere in the world," per a tweet from its head of security policy, Nathaniel Gleicher. Twitter also said Friday it would temporarily pause advertisements in Ukraine and Russia "to ensure critical public safety information is elevated and ads dont detract from it." State of play: Social networks have for many months labeled accounts for outlets such as RT and Sputnik as Russian state media. Russia is beginning to push back on efforts to fact-check content from those accounts. Twitter has been restricted in Russia, as of Saturday morning, according to data forensics from internet monitoring group NetBlocks. On Friday, Meta president of global affairs Nick Clegg confirmed that Russia had partially restricted the platform after Facebook refused to stop fact-checking and labelling of content posted by four Russian state-owned media organizations when asked by Russian regulators. Meanwhile, Russian state media has quickly become a target for hackers seeking to show support for Ukraine. On Friday, hackers claiming association with Anonymous, the decentralized activist group, said they were responsible for web outages at RT.com and Russian government sites. On Thursday, Reuters reported that Ukraine has been asking for volunteers from its own hacker community to defend against Russian cyberattacks. The big picture: Security officials warned for weeks leading up to the invasion that Russia would be using disinformation via state media channels to seed justification for the war. Ahead of the invasion, Russia state media accused the West of hysterical over-reaction to non-existent invasion threats then pivoted to pumping out minute-by-minute coverage of the tensions. Around the world, millions of people are watching the chaos unfold from the ground on platforms like Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. That allows timely reports to spread fast but leaves information context-free and easy to distort or misrepresent. Between the lines: Ukraine officials have been publicly urging social platforms to take down Russian state accounts. On Friday, Ukraine's vice prime minister and minister of digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, wrote a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook asking him to block access to Apple's App Store for citizens of the Russian Federation. On Saturday, Fedorov tweeted that Twitter had decided to stop Russians from registering new accounts in Russia, and urged Meta to do the same. Twitter didn't confirm that detail. On Thursday, Ukraine's official Twitter handle wrote, "They should not be allowed to use these platforms to promote their image while brutally killing the Ukrainian people." What to watch: U.S. regulators are closely eyeing whether U.S. companies are vulnerable to Russian cyberattacks, given reports of attacks on computers in Ukraine ramping up during the crisis. Israeli government experts believe that a U.S. return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran will set the amount of time Tehran needs to produce the amount of highly enriched uranium needed for a nuclear bomb to four to six months, a senior Israeli official told me. Why it matters: This assessment is shorter than the six to nine month breakout time the Biden administration experts calculated, per two Israeli officials familiar with strategic consultations between the U.S. and Israel. The big picture: The standard set by the 2015 nuclear deal was one year breakout time. But Irans nuclear advances since the Trump administration withdrew from the deal made this standard irrelevant. U.S. and Israeli officials say that Irans current breakout time without a deal in place is only about five weeks. Behind the scenes: The six to nine month breakout time assessment by the Biden administration was relayed to Israeli officials during video strategic consultations two weeks ago, Israeli officials told me. During the consultations with the U.S., Israeli officials learned that a renewed nuclear deal will not include destroying Iranian advanced centrifuges, which they were not allowed to use according to the 2015 agreement. A senior Israeli official said a renewed deal will only include the storage of these advanced centrifuges in Iran under an International Atomic Energy Agency seal. Israeli officials fear this will allow Iran to resume using those centrifuges on a very short order. A White House National Security Council spokesperson declined to detail the strategic consultations between the U.S. and Israel, which he said were meant to exchange views and trade ideas confidentially. We will not negotiate in the press or comment on specific claims about the negotiations," a State Department spokesperson said. What to watch: The Vienna nuclear talks, which resumed yesterday, have reached a critical point, with U.S. officials saying Iran must make "tough" decisions now or face an escalating crisis. Rob Malley, the U.S. envoy for Iran, is in Vienna but continues to engage in indirect talks with the Iranians through European mediators. The talks are expected to continue through at least next week. Its unclear whether a breakthrough can be achieved. Go deeper: Inside the Biden-Bennett call on Iran Diplomats from mainly Western countries staged walkouts of two meetings when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov began a remote address on Tuesday. Driving the news: Ukraine's ambassador to the UN in Geneva led the walkout at the UN Human Rights Council and was followed by approximately 100 people, a council spokesperson told Axios. The walkout left just a few diplomats in the room, including envoys from Russia, China, Syria and Venezuela. Lavrov said that he had planned to attend the sessions but was unable to because European countries banned Russian airlines from their airspace, AP reports. Around the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was addressing the European Parliament remotely. He received standing ovations before and after his speech. What they're saying: During his speech to the Human Rights Council and a disarmament meeting in Geneva, Lavrov accused Ukraine of looking to acquire nuclear weapons, an unfounded claim that the Russian government has used to justify its invasion of Ukraine, per the New York Times. He also said that the current "hysteria" in the U.S., NATO and the European Union confirmed that "it was and still is the aim of the U.S. and all its allies built by Washington to create an 'anti-Russia,'" the Times notes. The walkout "demonstrates the strong unity of the international community in condemning Russias war of aggression against Ukraine," said Ambassador Sheba Crocker, a U.S. envoy to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, in a statement. "We are working with our partners at the Council to hold Russia accountable for the extensive human rights abuses and deteriorating humanitarian situation brought about by this unprovoked war. "As each day passes it is clear that Russia is isolated and has no one but itself to blame for the situation it now finds itself in." Go deeper: Ukraine war enters new, uglier phase Editor's note: This post has been updated to include comment from Ambassador Sheba Crocker. Data: UNHCR; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios More than half a million Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries as Russia continues its invasion of their homeland, according to UN statistics released Monday. Why it matters: There were 84 million forcibly displaced people around the world as of mid-2021, according to UN data. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as last year's fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, will only add to the global population without a home. "Even before the situations in Afghanistan and Ukraine, the numbers of people forced to flee globally had been rising to new highs for several years," Matthew Saltmarsh, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said in a statement to Axios. "[S]adly, there is no sign that the trend is ending," By the numbers: Roughly 520,000 Ukrainians have now fled to neighboring countries, according to UN figures as of late Monday afternoon. Most (281,000) have headed to Poland, while Hungary has received 94,000. At least 160,000 people have also been internally displaced inside Ukraine, Martin Griffiths, UN emergency relief coordinator, said on Monday. The big picture: With so many global crises, refugee and humanitarian groups "are all stretched very thinly right now," Bob Kitchen, International Rescue Committee's director of emergency preparedness and response, told Axios. Much of the region's refugee infrastructure has been in Ukraine rather than surrounding countries, complicating humanitarian organizations' efforts to prepare. Many refugee programs in Ukraine have been forced to shut down. Some national leaders now welcoming Ukrainians only recently refused or reluctantly offered refuge to people fleeing from the Middle East and Africa, as NPR reported. Go deeper. Ahead of a possible large-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine's government has moved to introduce a 30-day state of emergency, call up military reservists between the ages of 18 and 60 and allow ordinary civilians to carry firearms. Why it matters: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that he does not expect an "all-out war against Ukraine" but that he will "put Ukraine on a war footing" if there is a "broad escalation" from Russia. [Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine crisis.] Details: The state of emergency will apply to all of Ukraine except for the territory in the east occupied by Russian and pro-Russian separatist forces. It will allow the government to impose additional security measures and inspections, pending parliamentary approval, and could be extended a further 30 days. The Ukrainian government has also called on millions of Ukrainian citizens to leave Russia, warning that it could become difficult to ensure their safety in a hostile country. Between the lines: Some Western officials have been puzzled that Zelensky hadn't taken similar steps before or ordered a full national mobilization. But the president has long argued that causing "panic" would destabilize the country at the worst possible moment. "There's been this perception that they've been downplaying the threat, and that they're therefore not prepared. That's completely inaccurate," a source in contact with the Ukrainian government tells Axios. "They're as prepared as they can be. And boy are they going to fight. I do believe that the Russians don't quite understand what they're going to face," the source added. The big picture: Zelensky does not intend to relocate himself and his team from the capital Kyiv to Lviv, in western Ukraine to protect himself against what U.S. officials warn would be a devastating assault, complete with Russian missiles raining down on the city and the paralysis of electronic communications. "The president will not be running away from his own capital," another source close to Zelensky told Axios' Jonathan Swan. But the mood in Kyiv is "much more nervous than it was even 48 hours ago," the source said. What they're saying: "Plan A is to utilize every tool of diplomacy, to deter Russia and prevent further escalation," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. "And if that fails, plan B is to fight for every inch of our land, and every city and every village. To fight until we win." What to watch: Russian forces have entered the occupied territories in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, but it's still unclear whether they will move beyond the "line of contact" or seek a confrontation with Ukrainian forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that the borders of the separatist "republics" he recognized extend to territory controlled by the Ukrainian government the clearest indication yet that he may soon instigate a war. Go deeper: Read the latest developments You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @idesai98 on Twitter. Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Police, once again, are reporting that gun fire has struck a place where people and their families live in Port Arthur. This time, Port Arthur Police Departments officers received a call shortly after 10:20 p.m. Sunday in the 3607 block Jimmy Johnson Blvd. at the Encore at Ninth Avenue apartment complex for deadly conduct. When officers arrived, they observed the residence was struck twice by gunfire, PAPD said in a news release. No one was injured. Police are investigating the incident and no further information was provided. This is not the first call that the agency has received for this type of crime. In the past year, PAPD has reported at least four incidents where an apartment complex or house has been struck by a bullet. About 15 minutes away from this apartment complex, PAPD officers received a call on around 8 p.m. on Jan. 26 for deadly conduct at Farnham Park Apartment at 3000 block of Turtle Creek Drive. Officers reported that the residence had been hit once by gunfire. The residence was occupied at the time of the incident, however; no one was injured. PAPD said in the release. About 15 minutes away from the Encore Apartment Complex or 20 minutes from Farnham Park Apartment, officers received another call at approximately 11 p.m. on Nov. 15 in the 3400 Block of Seventh Street to report gunshots. When the officers arrived, they learned a house had been hit several times by gunfire during a drive-by shooting. None of the occupants were injured and possible suspects were identified by police, a previous news release said. The Seventh Street incident occurred fewer than 2 miles about 5 minutes away from where a toddler was struck in a July drive-by shooting. The 1-year-old child had to be flown to a Houston hospital after being hit by the bullets in the aggravated assault in the 2100 block of Evergreen Drive. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie A Beaumont school designed to help students missing credits to catch up with their classmates is about to get an upgrade. In a January presentation to the Beaumont ISD school board, Paul Brown Learning Center Principal Calvin Rice and members of the Office of Innovation presented a plan to maximize the potential of the campus' operations. "The superintendent felt the campus was being underutilized," Rice said. "So, she charged me along with members of the innovation team to look at some things that we could possibly do to expand the program to increase opportunities for students who were at risk and needed credit recovery." The Paul Brown Learning Center is an alternative high school in BISD targeted at helping students with credit deficiencies to rejoin their cohort and graduate. Some students also perform better in a smaller learning community, which the Paul Brown Center provides, BISD Chief Innovation Officer Anetra Cheatham said at the meeting. Additionally, the school serves students who have missed a number of class days for truancy or medical absences that prevented them from regularly attending school. Students who are pregnant or already have children also can regain lost credit from classes missed to care for their children. "Whether a school had five or 500 students before the pandemic, those same students now have more risk factors and access to fewer supports," Rice said at the presentation. The campus currently serves just over 110 students -- 150 at its maximum. Rice said during his presentation that the campus needed to be accessible to more students, providing data that showed more than 150 students in the district needed credit recovery. The redesign will make room for 250 students and increase the campus from serving just 11th and 12th graders to ninth and 10th graders as well. "The longer a student becomes deficient in their credit, the more likely they are to drop out of school," Rice said. "So, if we're identifying students -- and most of the time you can identify those students when they're in middle school that are in danger of dropping out -- if we (identify) these students early, then there's a chance we can prevent them from dropping out." Students who regain their credits before their senior year can return to their home campus, Rice said. However, students are allowed to continue at Paul Brown if the circumstances at their home campus played a role in why they were credit deficient. "Because this is a small environment, we try to encourage those students to persist here," he said. The campus is also implementing an "optional flexible school day," where students can enroll in a dual credit program and earn credits towards a certification, Rice said. It also helps students who work or take care of their children throughout the day, which makes attending traditional school hours difficult. "A student can attend our campus at three different sessions, there's an a.m., there's a p.m., and there's an evening session which students can attend," Rice said. "So, if I'm Charlie, and I have to work to help support my family, and I have to make a choice on whether or not I'm going to come to school, I still can attend because I can go to work in the morning, get off and then come in the evening to take classes. Or if I work in the evening, I can come in the morning to attend class." The optional flexible school day is only given to students who apply and meet the criteria and is given on a need basis, Rice said. Previous criteria for attending Paul Brown prevented students with persistent discipline issues from attending the school as well. But, with the reimagining, some of those students will be allowed at the campus because they are often the group with the most credit deficiencies, Rice said. "Even though these students have made a mistake, we don't want to take the opportunity from them to be able to come in and regain their credit," he said. "However, those students will be interviewed to make sure that they understand, that in this environment, they have to make sure that they're doing what they're supposed to do in order to regain the credits." The learning center is also looking to have its own graduations. Previously, students who chose to walk would graduate with their home campus. The redesign proposes that the Paul Brown campus host its own graduation that students can participate in if they choose. Rice said this could serve as a point of pride for the students. One of the more complicated aspects of the redesign is the hope to partner Paul Brown with Lamar Institute of Technology to give students an option to work towards a degree or certification before they graduate, since the campus doesn't have access to the Taylor Career and Technology Center, which provides the same opportunity to other BISD high school students. However, the Paul Brown Center operates on a different semester system than LIT, which makes scheduling difficult, Rice said. One nine-week period makes up a semester at Paul Brown while LIT's semesters are about double that. "We're looking at partnering with LIT to help us support our students in the (College Career Military Readiness)," he said. "My mantra since I've been here has always been, we want to graduate students, however we're graduating students and they're going into society and they're lost and they're trying to find their way. Some of them find their way and some of them don't. I think that we can give them a head start in our program to put them in a position to be successful." A partnership with LIT would also help improve the school's accountability rating, which is currently a D. "While our teachers have done a great job of preparing students for the STAAR and they have fared well on STAAR, we have lost accountability because of our CCMR, which is our domain three, closing the gaps," Rice said. "So, if we could get more students engaged in CCMR or Career Technical Education programs, then we would be able to get those points we need in order for us to move beyond a D." Some of the changes have already been implemented, including allowing ninth and 10th grade students on campus as well as students with discipline issues and the optional flexible school day. Rice said he's looking at the fall semester for the beginning of the LIT partnership. Rice said he wants the community to know that the Paul Brown Center is offering every opportunity it can for students to be successful. "It starts with making sure that, first of all, (students) graduate, but most importantly, that they are capable of entering into the workforce and being productive citizens in our community," he said. "One of the biggest things (that makes us) different from many schools is that we don't have extracurricular activities. Many schools get good support from the community because they have extracurricular activities. If people have time and resources, I would ask that they would engage the Paul Brown Learning community and offer support for our students." olivia.malick@hearst.com twitter.com/OliviaMalick This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Families had a chance to cast a line during the Big Thicket National Preserves free fishing day on Saturday at Village Creek. Big Thicket National Preserve Chief of Interpretation, Meagan Urban, said the event provided a place for children of all ages to fish with Certified Angler Education Instructors. The instructors taught participants basic fishing skills. Whitley West, 8 of Lumberton, learned about baiting and identifying fish during her familys first trip to Village Creek on Saturday. The event was held where Texas 327 crosses the creek on the west side of the river and the south side of the highway. I think it is cool because it is fun and I havent fished in a long time, Whitley said. Elizabeth He, 11 of Beaumont, and her family also participated. The discovery of getting a new fish is exciting, He said. The preserve had nine rangers, a superintendent and a couple of volunteers onsite throughout the day. We have been pleasantly surprised with the number of people who have showed up, Urban said about an hour into the event. So far, we have had over 20 people and a lot of other people coming to launch boats and learn more about Big Thicket. She said Thicket staff is looking forward to continuing these kinds of events through the year. The preserve teamed up with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the event. With the TPWDs approval for an exemption, none of the participants had to have a Texas fishing license, which normally would be required. The only statewide free fishing day is held on the first Saturday in June, Urban said. Fishing is one of the many great past times and ways to recreate here in Big Thicket, Urban said. For some people who might not have grown up fishing, this is a great way for them to get comfortable fishing and maybe bring their family out. The annual event began in 2018. However, last years gathering was canceled by the coronavirus pandemic. We are happy that we are able to start out doing events again, Urban said. The fact that we are able to do our events outside makes it a family-friendly and family safe event. You dont have to worry too much about masks. It definitely made rangers happy to get back out and do what they love doing connecting with people. The Big Thicket already has scheduled other events, such as ranger-led canoe trips and hikes, through the end of the calendar year. Reservations are required to keep numbers small and manageable during the pandemic. The preserve will be celebrating its birthday event in October, which will be held in Beaumont. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie Anime: Upcoming Dragon Ball Super Movie Gets Release Date And Key Visuals 3 Minute Read Advertisement The next Dragon Ball Super movie is right around the corner. This is everything you need to know about Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. The Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero movie is coming out in Japan on April 22, 2022. And it officially has a North American release date, too. Heres what we know about the next Dragon Ball movie and when you will have a chance to watch it. What We Know About the Story Weve known about this movie for a little while now. The San Diego Comic Con 2021 panel that featured executive producers Akio Iyoku and Hirihiro Hayashia gave us a bunch of preliminary information and hype over the summer. But with the Japanese release right around the corner, Im getting excited about the next Dragon Ball chapter. The fictional Red Ribbon Army, an evil organization that once destroyed by Goku, is rebuilt. Red Ribbon Army and their Androids will seek revenge on Goku and his entire Dragon Ball family. Despite Goku being at the center of this, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is said to be a story centered around the master and disciple relationship of Gohan and Piccolo. Previous movies have focused on Goku and Vegeta, but Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero will give some other characters a chance to shine. And there will be lots of other characters! Official posters and art show most of the Dragon Ball cast, including new androids, Gamma 1 and Gamma 2. It also includes the adorably tiny Pan. It also looks like Piccolos home will be heavily featured in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. This film will be a sequel to and take place after the events of the Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie but before the 28th Tenkaichi Budokai Tournament. Animation Style While last years conventions were seeing a lot of info and concept art, there have also been teaser trailers. This one was shown as part of Decembers Jump Festa 2022. Advertisement Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero will be the first Dragon Ball movie to utilize a 3D animation style. And Im not sure how to feel about it! The animation looks clean, and the art style is unmistakably Dragon Ball. But the 3D style makes it feel almost more like a video game than a movie. Its a little weird, but Im looking forward to seeing it in its entirety. Subscribe to our newsletter! Get Tabletop, RPG & Pop Culture news delivered directly to your inbox. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy When can the North American audience expect to see Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero? It looks like well be waiting for a summer 2022 release. More specific dates arent available; and as of yet, I havent seen more information regarding further international releases. I will be keeping our eyes peeled for dates as well as where to watch or stream the movie. Are you looking forward to the upcoming Dragon Ball movie? What do you think of the 3D animation style? Which member of this huge cast is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! Ja Ne, Adventurers! Advertisement Latest News From BoLS: Advertisement Read the Comments (0) Local-news featured hot Plan to create retirement-like savings accounts for Wisconsin kids nets bipartisan support Godlewski Ringhand Loudenbeck Spreitzer MADISONIn a rare show of bipartisanship, state lawmakers are in support of an effort that would create a retirement-style savings account for every child from birth in Wisconsin. In January, Wisconsin Treasurer Sarah Godlewski announced a bill that would create the 401KIDS savings program to help every child in Wisconsin save money for retirement. The framework of the legislation stemmed from the Retirement Security Task Force that Godlewski chaired. In an interview with the Beloit Daily News, Godlewski said on Monday that a number of people who testified last year during public hearings before the committee signaled they wanted to save for retirement, but were unable to do so based on various factors. The bill would create an IRA-like investment account for every child born or adopted in Wisconsin. The state would oversee investment and management. The individual account holder would access the savings once they became an adult to roll the funds into an additional retirement plan, pay off medical expenses or school tuition costs. Families with existing children would be able to buy into the program to create accounts for children, with the ability to contribute to the fund over time. This is a win-win. You dont lose anything from joining, Godlewski said. The big piece to know is that bipartisan support is what is needed and the fact that is what this bill has is setting it up on a path for success to improve the lives of Wisconsinites. A study by University of Wisconsin-Madison that was funded by AARP found that 427,300 Wisconsin residents are at risk of experiencing poverty during retirement in 2030, and the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) reports that less than 50% of all households contribute to a retirement account. Additionally, one in five households with respondents ages 55 to 64 reported no retirement savings. Godlewski said the automatic enrollment to the account would be the first of its kind nationwide, with the committee basing legislation off of other state programs and a similar plan in Rhode Island that creates savings accounts for children. The bill was introduced by Rep. John Macco, R-Ledgeview, Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee and Sen. Janis Ringhand, D-Evansville. Rep. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, is a co-sponsor of the bill. Spreitzer said Monday he was glad to see the bill was scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday in Madison. (I) hope it continues to move through the legislative process, Spreitzer added. Ringhand said the bill would be vital to the future success of Wisconsins social and economic well being. Its very important that every child gets this opportunity, Ringhand told the Beloit Daily News. Its important to look at ways to get out in front of problems and to start people on the right path. That would be a big advantage for these kids and their families. It would ensure that they have a more secure future. Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, R-Clinton, said she was supportive of the idea that would create accounts for children, but questioned the nature of the current draft of the legislation. I believe the bill is well intended, but based on the feedback from the departments, may be cumbersome and somewhat costly to implement, Loudenbeck said. Its certainly worth further discussion in the next legislative session. Godlewski said Monday the timeline for the bill was still unclear, but highlighted the success of a hearing set for Tuesday for the bill. The bill would need to move out of committee with a vote on the floors of both the Assembly and Senate prior to heading to Gov. Tony Evers. Were not entirely sure what the legislative schedule is going to be, Godlewski said. Loudenbeck said it was highly unlikely the bill would be passed this year due to it being introduced late in the legislative session. Relatives of a 12-year-old boy and residents carry his body to be cremated in Sinak, a district of Puncak regency in Indonesias Papua region, Feb. 24, 2022. The military is investigating the death of a boy in Indonesias rebellious Papua region after he allegedly was tortured by soldiers who had accused him and his friends of stealing a firearm, an army spokesman in the area said Tuesday. Human rights advocates, meanwhile, are clamoring for an independent probe into the death of 12-year-old Makilon Tabuni. He died on Feb. 22 after being arrested two days earlier along with six other children for allegedly stealing a gun belonging to an Indonesian soldier in Sinak, a district of Puncak regency in Papua province, a resident said. The investigation team is already in Sinak district, Puncak regency. The investigative team has inspected the location of the incident at the Sinak Airport Command Post, where the firearm disappeared, and the location of the alleged abuse, Col. Aqsha Erlangga, the spokesman for the provincial military garrison, told BenarNews. The investigation team has also investigated a number of soldiers who are suspected of having knowledge of and being directly related to the incident of the missing weapon. I hope the public can be patient because the investigation team continues to search to obtain the correct data, he said. The alleged incident has cast a fresh spotlight on longtime grievances among locals about Indonesian government forces using excessive force and engaging in racist actions against indigenous people in mainly Melanesian Papua. The militarized region in Indonesias far-east is home to a separatist insurgency that has simmered for decades. The body of Makilon, who was the son of a village chief, was cremated on Feb. 24, according to local customs, said a resident who requested to be identified only by the initials Y.K. for security reasons. No autopsy had been conducted. Y.K., a teacher, said a soldier tasked with guarding a military post in Sinak lost his gun on Feb. 20 and immediately suspected that children who were watching television at the post earlier in the day had taken it. A joint military and police team arrested seven elementary school-aged children, Y.K. told BenarNews. A Papuan human rights activist, Okto Tabuni, said Makilon was dead on arrival when he was rushed to a community clinic in Sinak on the night of Feb. 22. Okto also said that he did not know details about Makilons injuries. But he said that under a local custom, cremation is usually performed for people who die of unnatural causes. Culturally, it is a form of protest to the authorities, he told BenarNews. After Makilons death, the other six children were transferred from a police detention center to a hospital to be treated for their injuries, the source Y.K. said. When asked about Makilons death, Papua police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ahmad Musthofa Kamal replied: I need to emphasize that the police are not involved. He declined to comment further. Calls from rights groups mount Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International in Indonesia, said the alleged assault that led to the boys death could not be justified, as he called for an independent investigation. We would like to remind [authorities] that civilians, especially children, must not be made victims of abuse, let alone be killed in an armed conflict, Usman told BenarNews. Usman said allegations of torture by security forces must be investigated thoroughly and independently to ensure that such cases do not happen again. For the sake of justice, those responsible for this tragedy must be made to account, Usman said. Fatia Maulidiyanti, coordinator for the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), also called for an impartial investigation. It must be uncovered with an investigation involving other parties such as the National Commission on Human Rights and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission, Fatia said. Okto echoed Fatias calls. This is not the first case of children dying because of the military in Papua. So, other parties must be involved in the investigation, so that it does not set a bad precedent in the future, Okto said. Two children were shot, one of them fatally, during a gun battle between security forces and rebels in Intan Jaya Regency in October 2021. In Jakarta, a deputy of the Presidential Chief of Staff, Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, could not be reached immediately for comment. On Monday, United Nations human rights experts expressed serious concern about what they called the deteriorating human rights situation in the Papua and West Papua, provinces, citing shocking abuses against indigenous Papuans. These abuses, they said, included child killings, disappearances, torture and mass displacement of people. Between April and November 2021, we have received allegations indicating several instances of extrajudicial killings, including of young children, enforced disappearance, torture and inhuman treatment and the forced displacement of at least 5,000 indigenous Papuans by security forces, the experts said, according to a statement issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. They said estimates put the overall number of displaced, since the escalation of violence in December 2018, at between 60,000 to 100,000 people. Violence and tensions in the Papua region, which is made up of the provinces of Papua and West Papua, have become more intense in recent years after separatist rebels killed 19 workers who were building a bridge in Nduga regency in late 2018, accusing them of being government spies. In 2019, more than 40 people were killed in violent unrest across the Papuan region after police raided a dorm in Surabaya and arrested dozens of Papuan students amid allegations they had disrespected the Indonesian flag. Video was circulated of the armed police using racial slurs against the students. Meanwhile, provincial military garrison spokesman Col. Aqsha said authorities had arrested a teacher, who authorities identified only as D.M., for leaking photos of Makilons cremation that later were posted on social media accompanied with text deemed to be fake news. Aqsha did not elaborate on why the text was considered to be false. The suspect, D.M., admitted that he was the one who sent the photo of Makilon Tabunis cremation to the the WhatsApp group of Puncak Students Association, Aqsha said. Aqsha added that D.M. admitted that he sent the photos to the WhatsApp group but denied posting them on social media or writing the text. Under the law, distributing fake news online is punishable by six years. Last year, the government designated separatist rebels as terrorists after insurgents ambushed and assassinated an army general who headed the regional branch of the National Intelligence Agency. The killing prompted President Joko Jokowi Widodo to order a crackdown. In 1963, Indonesian forces invaded Papua like Indonesia, a former Dutch colony and annexed the region that makes up the western half of New Guinea Island. Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-sponsored vote, which locals and activists said was a sham because it involved only about 1,000 people. However, the United Nations accepted the result, which essentially endorsed Jakartas rule. The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has fought for independence for the mainly Christian region since the 1960s. Nearly three dozen people, a majority of them Ukrainian, protest against Russias invasion of their homeland outside the Russian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Feb.28, 2022. Malaysia will bar a Russian oil tanker on a U.S. blacklist from docking at any of its ports in coming days, the transport ministry announced Tuesday, saying it did not want to breach Washingtons sanctions over Moscows invasion of Ukraine. European Union officials, meanwhile, urged non-aligned Malaysia to back a U.N. General Assembly resolution denouncing the Russian military strike and that is due for a vote soon. The Russian tanker Linda is named among several Russian assets sanctioned by Washington, in a United States Treasury document dated Feb. 22, 2022. The ship is scheduled to arrive at Malaysias Kuala Linggi International Port, on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia on March 7, according to MarineTraffic, a website that uses satellite-based data to track movements of ships worldwide. The vessel called the Linda a.k.a. Lady M, cited in media reports published early this week, is allegedly included in sanctions by a foreign country against the Russian Federation, the Malaysian Transport Ministry said in a statement. MOT wishes to inform that the port operator of the vessels destination in Malaysia has made the decision to decline its request to dock at Kuala Linggi International Port (KLIP) in order not to violate any sanctions as it is the operators prerogative, the ministry said. The Linda is due to arrive at the Kuala Linggi port on Saturday, March 5, the statement said. The ministry will keep reviewing the situation for further action as may be required according to current government policies, the MOT added. The route of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Linda, which left a port in Oman on Dec. 12 and was more than 200 miles from Banda Aceh, Indonesia as of 12:30 a.m. (Malaysia time) Wednesday, March 2, 2022. [MarineTraffic.com] Meanwhile several European Union (EU) ambassadors in Malaysia are urging similar action from the government during a vote in the U.N. General Assembly, likely on Wednesday, on a resolution condemning Russia for launching its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. The French, German and other EU ambassadors said that Malaysia, as a non-aligned country, should back the resolution in its own interest. [M]alaysia, like Ukraine, is not a party to any alliance, which means that at the end of the day, the only defense and the ultimate defense of Malaysia lies in the respect of the principles that I just emulated; territorial integrity, sovereignty, political independence, the right to make their own choices, Roland Galharague, Frances ambassador to Malaysia, said at a press conference. Additionally, Malaysia had supported a similar resolution when Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, he said. Malaysia voted in favor of the resolutionand we think that this time, were not talking about Crimea, were talking about the whole of the country, the French envoy said. The political independence of Ukraine is being violated and the right of Ukraine to choose its security arrangements is being violated, he told reporters. Also present at the press conference were the Ukrainian and German ambassadors to Malaysia. In neighboring Thailand, 18 diplomats from Western nations, including Michael Heath, the U.S. Charge d' Affaires, met with the Thai Senates foreign relations committee on Monday to talk about Ukraine. Don Pramudwinai, Thailands foreign minister, said the cabinet discussed the Ukraine situation during its weekly meeting on Tuesday. Thailand has to adjust its approach because condemnation by several parties doesnt help. Thailand has to find a point which makes the situation go in the right direction. We have to brainstorm how to. We have to support dialogue and it must go on without stalemate, he said. Thailand is lucky to be a friend of all people in the world and we can talk. We have channels to talk with the EU, Russia, Ukraine and the U.S., but we have to make it flow naturally, no need to take action. But Kobsak Chutikul, a retired Thai envoy and advisor to the Senates foreign relations committee, did not flinch in stating that Russia was in the wrong as he urged Thailand to act accordingly. Thailand should take principled stand. At stake are not only the security concerns on the European continent, but an assault on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that have held together a post-World War II and post-colonial world, he told BenarNews. The world will be a more dangerous place if we do not uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. We cannot go back to a world divided into spheres of influence where there are no constraints on the powerful carving up territory. Nontarat Phaicharoen in Bangkok contributed to this report. Philippine troops enter a section of the southern city of Marawi where Islamic State-linked militants engaged in battles with the military, June 2017. Two Filipino members of an Islamic State-linked extremist group and a soldier were killed during a battle in the southern Philippines on Tuesday in which government warplanes bombed suspected militant positions as part of a major operation, the military said. The military offensive targeted members of Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group militant faction, said Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., head of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) headquartered in Zamboanga city. Weve been monitoring this Maute Group. The operation [was] very deliberate. We made sure no civilians would be affected, Rosario told reporters, describing the offensive as a major operation. Maj. Andrew Linao, a spokesman for the regional command, said government troops recovered two bodies of Maute members at a militant camp overrun by the military, while a soldier also died and three other government troops were injured. Daulah Islamiyah is the local name of the Islamic State (IS), whose membership comprises fighters from several Filipino militant factions, including the Maute Group fighting out of Lanao. In May 2017, Maute Group members and other pro-IS militants launched a siege of Marawi, precipitating a battle with government forces that lasted five months. As many as 1,200 militants, troops and civilians were killed before the military regained control of the southern Philippine city. Aerial, ground assaults On Tuesday, the military launched bombing runs before dawn to support an infantry mission against 60 Daulah Islamiyah members hiding out in the hinterlands of Ilalag in Lanao del Sur province, WestMinCom said in a statement. Linao said ground troops assaulted the Maute Group fighters at around 2 a.m., unleashing a battle with about 50 militants under the leadership of Abu Zacharia. Military officials have accused the local IS leader, also known as Jer Mimbantas, of leading attacks against government positions in Lanao towns. Zacharia faces arrest warrants on charges of arson, murder, kidnapping and terrorism, according to officials. The military said the militants fled from the battle. As of now, were pursuing them the enemy scampered, Linao told reporters. He said the battle occurred far from communities, but he urged residents to stay put and remain calm amid pursuit-operations against the militants. Meanwhile, military spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala told BenarNews that Philippine Air Forces FA-50 lead-in fighters and A-29 Super Tucano bomber planes carried out the aerial assault. We used precision munitions since our troops were nearby. There are no civilians in the area since this was in the hinterlands where we had identified the enemy presence, Zagala said, without divulging details. At least a dozen airstrikes were carried out against dynamic targets as guided by the intelligence operatives, a WestMinCom official, who knew of the military offensive but was not cleared to speak to the media, told BenarNews on condition of anonymity. Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano said this was not the first combat operation for the bombers delivered by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer in 2020. There were a lot of aircraft in the area, Mariano said. The Air Force was in full support of the effort. A BenarNews correspondent in Zamboanga, Philippines, contributed to this report. In this Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018 file photo Shawn Wooden, then candidate for Connecticut state treasurer, speaks at the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee Cookout and Campaign Rally, in Greenwich, (Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, File) (Tyler Sizemore/AP) Connecticut is divesting Russian-owned assets from its retirement plans and trust funds following Russias unprovoked attack on Ukraine, state Treasurer Shawn T. Wooden said Tuesday. State investment in companies in Russia and government debt issued by Russia amounts to $218 million, less than half of 1% of the states retirement funds valued at more than $47 billion. Woodens decision to drop the investments are as much a business decision in response to the collapsing value of Russian investments due to sanctions squeezing its economy as a protest against Russias attack on a democratically elected government. Advertisement [ Connecticut package stores removing Russian vodka in protest of Ukraine invasion ] The Ukrainian people are experiencing an assault on their freedom and suffering devastating human loss due to an unprovoked and unjustified attack by the Russian government, Wooden said. We cannot stand idly by as the humanitarian crisis unfolds and Russian markets crumble, and I cannot continue to invest these pension funds in a way that runs counter to the foreign policy and national interests of the United States. The attack that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched last Thursday has created a fiscal and humanitarian crisis that puts global markets at risk, Wooden said. His decision to divest Russian stocks and bonds is a necessary step towards protecting the long-term viability of our investments globally. Advertisement The value of Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds Russian-related investments has declined since 2014 due to rising geopolitical risks, he said. Sanctions imposed over the past several years against Russia and Russian cyberattacks and election interference have made the Russian markets less favorable relative to others, Wooden said. Eliminating our holdings of Russian assets is not only a moral imperative but the current crisis also constitutes a substantial risk for Connecticuts investments, our national policy and economic security, Wooden said. Connecticut joins California, Georgia, Oregon, Pennsylvania and other states that are moving to divest state assets from Russian interests. Wooden said in a statement that Putin needs to know that the free world stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and that Putins abhorrent actions will have enduring, harrowing economic consequences in the days, months, and years ahead. The treasurers office did not release a specific list of the investments he targeted. Christine Dempsey may be reached at cdempsey@courant.com. As police continue to investigate two head-on crashes that killed six within 20 minutes Saturday, information is beginning to emerge about the victims. One was on a ladies night out with friends; another was a student at Southern Connecticut State University. Four of the women, including Yarelis Ramos, died in a crash with a tractor trailer in the Hartford tunnel on I-84 about 2:45 a.m. About 20 minutes earlier, two women, including a 21-year-old Southern student named Charde Monet Spates, died in a head-on crash on I-91 in Meriden. Advertisement Investigations into the collisions, which took place more than 20 miles apart, are continuing. Ladies night out Yarelis Ramos, 37, told her boyfriend he couldnt come out with her Friday night because it was a girls night out, said her mother, Ivette Negron. She was with her friend and neighbor, Quashonda Grant, 31, who lived in the same apartment building in Hartfords South End. Advertisement Yarelis Ramos died in a head-on crash in Hartford Saturday. Three other women died in the same crash. (Provided by Ivelisse Correa-Ojeda) The women were with two others, April Slade, 40, and Natachia Izekia Rivera-Hall, 40, who was driving, at the time of the crash. Somehow, the SUV they were in ended up heading west in the lanes for eastbound traffic and collided head-on with a tractor trailer, state police said. All four women died at the scene. Negron said she heard that her daughter and Grant had been heading to a house party. Ramos cousin, Ivelisse Correa-Ojeda, said, She spent hours getting ready that night and was so excited. Negron said her daughter liked to dance and sing. Yarelis Ramos dances with her grandfather, Jorge Negron. Ramos died in a head-on crash that killed four women over the weekend. (Provided by Ivelisse Correa-Ojeda) She lights up the party wherever she goes, she said. She worked for a security firm and did stints at Westfarms mall and Saint Francis Hospital, her mother said. She worked with the public most of her life, Negron said, describing her daughter as both very friendly and humble, a caring person who treated people with respect. Negron is raising money for her daughters funeral services through GoFundMe. Hard worker Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Saturday on I-91 in Meriden, about 20 minutes before the tunnel crash, the 2020 Toyota Camry Charde Spates was driving south in the north lanes collided head-on with a 2012 BMW driven by Judith Melvin-Levy of Windsor, state police said. Both Spates and Melvin-Levy died; Melvin-Levys front seat passenger Justin Thomas Levy, 21, survived, suffering injuries troopers said seemed minor. Advertisement A tractor trailer also struck the BMW but was not involved in the initial crash, state police said. As with the other crash, police said they are still trying to determine why the Camry was in the wrong lanes. Charde Spates of New Haven was only a few credits shy of earning her degree in public health, a Southern spokesman, Patrick Dilger, said Tuesday. She was scheduled to finish classes this semester, complete an internship in the summer and graduate in August. Spates was part of the universitys Residential New Haven Promise Emerging Leaders Program in 2018. Her mentor, Dawn Stanton, director of University Access Programs, said Spates was so warm and kind and full of ambition. She was a hard worker who learned to balance multiple responsibilities and took great pride in everything she committed to achieving. Charde Spates, a student at Southern Connecticut State University, died in a head-on crash Saturday. (Provided by Southern Connecticut State University) She was beautiful inside and out with a smile that lit up the office every time she walked in, Stanton added. I will miss her smile, her occasional texts, and knowing all the ways she would have changed the world. The loss of Charde is heartbreaking. Advertisement Faculty members said Spates worked several jobs but managed to get good grades. Why do head-on crashes happen and how can we avoid them? Breaking News As it happens Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut > State police say head-on crashes happen for different reasons and are avoidable. Anyone who is drunk or under the influence of a drug should not drive. A designated driver should get behind the wheel and if there is none, a rideshare service should be called, Sgt. Dawn Pagan said. [ Connecticut state police release details on fatal wrong-way crash ] People with medical conditions that may cause them to be sick or disoriented also shouldnt drive. Pagan said some drivers suffer diabetic attacks while driving, and elderly people sometimes become disoriented. She asked that people should keep an eye on their ailing or aging family members. Manage your loved ones, she said. Pay attention to their driving. Highway drivers may take steps to avoid being struck by a wrong-way driver by driving in the center or right lane, Pagan said Tuesday. Thats because wrong-way drivers often travel in the left lane. Advertisement When wrong way drivers are traveling the wrong way on the limited access highway they often travel in the left lane because they believe they are driving on the correct side of the road, she said. Christine Dempsey may be reached at cdempsey@courant.com. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. Paul Belogour, owner of Vermont News & Media, has employees based in Ukraine who work globally for his many businesses. Some of those employees are Eugene Sherbak, head of website development; Eugene Sidoronok, head of sales, in a Vermont Innovation Box T-shirt; Ilya Petrov, head of IT operations, Boston Unisoft Technologies; Ivan Sonin, head of software development; and Arsen Abovyan, head of technical support. Christine MacBeth, president and CEO of The Brien Center, will speak when the Zonta Club of Berkshire County meets March 8. A day after K-12 students returned to classrooms with a statewide mask mandate no longer in place, the Baker administration announced that children no longer need to mask up while riding in school buses or vans. Individual Berkshire County districts may continue to require masking on buses, as well as in schools, even as state and federal guidelines shift, though most districts will drop masking requirements in the coming weeks. The state Department of Public Health published an updated advisory on Tuesday that does not feature a face covering requirement for bus and van transportation to and from schools and child care centers, aligning Massachusetts with federal policy changes rolled out last week. On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it would no longer mandate masks on school buses and vans for both K-12 schools and for child care programs, affecting both public and private schools. As always, any individual who wishes to continue to mask should be supported in that choice, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley wrote in a Monday night newsletter. Riley announced Feb. 8 that a statewide mandate for students and staff to mask up in K-12 schools would expire at the end of the month. Since that announcement, Berkshire County districts have implemented a variety of policies on masking. Many have taken a wait-and-see approach, opting to continue their mandates at least one week, if not more, into March. Masks will be optional in classrooms at Lenox Public Schools starting March 14. Pittsfield Public Schools, meanwhile, will stop requiring masks as of March 7 or March 14, depending on case counts. For some districts, indoor school masking mandates will continue to go hand-in-hand with transportation mandates for as long as they last. Berkshire Hills Regional School District, for example, will continue to require masks on buses for the rest of the week, before dropping its mandate on March 7 Masks remain required on some forms of transportation including public transit and flights as well as in health care facilities, but state and local officials have been steadily loosening mandates in recent weeks as cases and hospitalizations decline after a winter spike fueled by the omicron variant. Rapid COVID-19 antigen tests are sent out to waiting cars at a drive-thru testing clinic in January in Lee. Tri-Town Health, the regional agency serving Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge, is expected to withdraw its COVID-19 mask directive by the end of this week. Cops and Courts Reporter Amanda Burke is Cops and Courts Reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. WECO Hospitality will start delivering meals to Connecticut homes on March 22. Among the offerings, pictured, is the lobster ravioli kit. (Brian Samuels Photography) A new meal prep service that delivers locally sourced food to your door is expanding into the Hartford area starting March 22 and announcing its arrival with a lasagna event in West Hartford on March 5. WECO Hospitality, co-founded in March 2020 and based in Acton, Massachusetts, drops new menus full meals, kids meals and desserts every Thursday at noon. Meals, prepared the morning of delivery, are delivered to homes Monday to Friday. Advertisement Starting March 22, WECO will deliver to homes in West Hartford, Avon, Canton, Bloomfield, Windsor, Simsbury, Farmington, Burlington, Windsor Locks, East Granby, Granby and Suffield. More towns will be added in phases. WECO sources food from New England purveyors, including BOTL Farm in Ashford, Arethusa Farms in Bantam and Saugatuck Kitchens in Stratford. Advertisement The company has a unique payment system. Customers order online but, as in a restaurant, they do not pay for the meal until after it is eaten. Unlike a restaurant, however, customers decide how much to pay. Ramen is one of the dishes that have been offered by WECO Hospitality, which is starting service in the Hartford area. (WECO Hospitality) Jennifer Fremont-Smith, WECO CEO and co-founder, said the system is totally crazy but we are really glad we did it. Our payment system is trust-based. We operate on the honor system. When you request food from us, we are going to cook it, package it, deliver it to your door. You are going to unbox it, heat it, plate it and eat it all before weve asked you for money, Fremont-Smith said. Each customer is emailed a payment invoice at 7 p.m. the night of the meal. We will only bill you the cost of ingredients [and a $6 per-day delivery fee], she said. Then we ask customers to add whatever they think is fair for our overhead, labor and love. Essentially, theyre paying the ingredient cost and whatever is reasonable that they consider to be the value of the meal. The system has worked, she said. Our community is pretty good at covering the cost, she said. If they can afford to pay more, they do, and that allows us to serve those who pay a little less. On average, ingredient costs per person for main courses range from $9 to $13, for bowls $7 to $9 and for kids meals $5 to $7. Fremont-Smith said the menu cant be more specific than that because the local farms where WECO buys food wont know until the day the food is bought what they will charge for it. WECO Hospitality delivers chef-prepared dishes inspired by cuisines around the world, including Italy, India, China and Japan. (WECO Hospitality) WECO has gained popularity in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In addition to Connecticut, WECO plans to expand to Maine and Rhode Island. Advertisement Every week, WECO studies customer requests to decide where to expand. Food & Drink Weekly Keep up with news from the Connecticut food scene, delicious recipes, and restaurant and bar reviews > There is this ever-growing chorus of people saying, please come to our town. Its been that way from the beginning, she said. A lot of people have been asking us to come to Hartford. People in our areas buy gift cards give them to friends in Hartford. People in Hartford are saying, I want to use this card. The meals delivered to Hartford-area towns will be made in the commissary kitchen in Randolph, Massachusetts. Eventually, Fremont-Smith said, WECO will establish a kitchen in Connecticut. Past menu selections have spanned the globe: Italian (potato gnocchi piccata, chicken marsala), Indian (chicken tikka masala, saag paneer), Mexican (beef barbacoa burritos, tacos shrimp al pastor), Chinese (mushroom lo mein, shrimp and basil fried rice), Japanese (pork belly miso ramen, soba noodle bowls), North African (Moroccan pot roast, harissa chicken), Thai (khao soi, sweet chili shrimp and rice bowl), Spanish (gambas al ajillo), Korean (bibimbap rice bowls), Vietnamese (banh mi) and French (choucroute garnie). WECO also serves a variety of American-style dishes such as roast pork loin, short ribs, salads with steak or chicken and fried chicken, as well as meatless selections, kids meals and desserts. Fremont-Smith said meals sell out quickly, so those who want to buy them should log in as soon as possible after noon on Thursday. We have customers who set alarms so they wont forget, she said. WECO delivers meals from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Customers get a text the night before with an estimated delivery time. Those who cant be home for delivery can leave a cooler on the doorstep. Advertisement WECO Hospitality will hold a Limited Edition Lasagna Drop on March 5 from 2 to 6 p.m. at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Ave. Up to 200 customers can buy a WECO lasagna, meat or veggie, to be picked up there. To get a lasagna that day, register in advance at wecohospitality.com/secret-lasagna-drop. Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com. Downtown Pittsfield landmarks will light up in blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine Columnist Ruth Bass wonders: What is the city of Pittsfield doing about all these potholes? And why is it that some heavily traveled roads get completely ignored? Mary Hurley was the first woman to be elected mayor of Springfield in 1989. She has represented Berkshire County and most of Western Massachsuetts on the Governor's Council since 2017. Averys Beverages of New Britain has produced a special flavor called Putin Punch. Proceeds will benefit the Ukrainian Red Cross. (Courtesy Averys Beverages ) Averys Beverages, the New Britain independent sodamaker famous for releasing special flavors based on news events, has created a Putin Punch, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Ukrainian Red Cross. The flavor was introduced on Tuesday. Averys General Manager Rob Metz said Averys already has donated $500 to the Ukrainian Red Cross. He added that at least 50 cents per bottle of Putin Punch will be donated to that cause. Advertisement Whenever something topical happens in the news, we try and commemorate it. This is a little different. You feel a little helpless with all this stuff going on and you feel like you cant do anything about it. I mean, we make soda. So we decided to make a soda to try and donate it to a cause that will help people living there, Metz said. The bottles design shows Russian President Vladimir Putin being punched in the nose by a gloved hand that is blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Advertisement We showed that because basically a lot of people around the world would like to do that, he said. In the now seven-day-old war, Putin has waged an assault on Ukraines capital and other cities across the country that destroyed homes and public buildings as well as military targets and left untold numbers dead. A a senior Western intelligence official estimated that more than 5,000 Russian soldiers have been captured or killed, while Ukraine has given no estimate of troop losses, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 16 children had been killed Monday. Metz called the drink fruit punch with a little twist, a little more acidic than normal. The beverage was produced so quickly that it currently is available for sale only at the Averys plant at 520 Corbin Ave. Metz said six bottles maximum will be allowed per customer, until they can get the label production ramped up. One bottle is $2. When buying multiples, they are $ 1.50 each. Those who want to donate directly to the Ukrainian Red Cross can visit redcross.org.ua. Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com. BLISS, ID - The Idaho State Police arrested a California man on multiple charges Tuesday morning after a Trooper spotted him at a rest stop inside a stolen vehicle. After being spotted, the suspect reportedly rammed multiple patrol cars and led police on an off-road vehicle and foot pursuit before eventually being taken into custody. Early Tuesday morning, ISP Troopers receives word to watch out for a white Ford pickup pulling a trailer with a Bobcat skid-steer loader that had been reported stolen out of Twin Falls. Later Tuesday morning at approximately 8:15 a.m., a Trooper on patrol located a vehicle matching the description at a rest stop on westbound Interstate 84 west of Bliss. According to the ISP, when the Trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver attempted to flee, ramming the patrol car, driving through a fence and into the desert near Power Plant Road. Soon after, police say the pickup became disabled and the suspect got out on foot, circled back, and drove off in the skid-steer. The suspect, who was later identified as 33-year-old Lonnie S. Schaefer, of Sacramento, CA, then allegedly rammed a Gooding County patrol vehicle before the skid-steer also became disabled in a ditch. At this moment, police say the suspect remained non-compliant, which led Gooding County Sheriff's deputies to deploy bean bag rounds and an ISP Trooper to deploy a Taser before the suspect was finally taken into custody. During the incident, police there was evidence Schaefer may have ingested a controlled substance. Schaefer was transported by ground ambulance to a medical center in Gooding where he was treated and released. Upon his release, Troopers booked the subject into the Gooding County Jail on the following charges: MOSCOW - Citing a dramatic decline in COVID-19 cases across the state, as well as easy access to vaccinations and KN95 masks, masks are now optional at University of Idaho facilities in Moscow and Coeur dAlene, staring March 1. Masks are no longer required in labs, meeting rooms, hallways or other areas of the university. Instructors may still require masking in their classrooms until directed otherwise. A memo from University of Idaho President Scott Green says both Gritman Medical Center and Idaho Public Health also support the move to personal protection choice. "If positive cases dramatically increase or if a new variant threatens our local hospital capacity, we will move swiftly to reinstate a mask requirement," said Green. The UK has provided 276 million since 2018 The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), based in Norway, has welcomed a 160 million pledge from the UK Government to advance its work against the COVID-19 crisis and build the critical tools and partnerships needed to reduce, or even eliminate, future epidemic and pandemic threats. The announcement comes ahead of the UK government hosting CEPIs Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit on 7 to 8 March in London. The event aims to raise funds for CEPIs goal, backed by the UK during its G7 presidency last year, to cut the time it takes to develop new vaccines to 100 days, including variant-proof vaccines that will work against multiple future COVID-19 variants. The UK government invested more than 88 million to support the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. To date, the UK has also donated 32.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, of which 25.3 million have gone to COVAX, a global scheme to get more vaccines to developing countries. Several facets of our great nation were brought forth by the sudden impact of COVID-19. For one, healthcare infrastructure and diagnostics need fundamental changes and strategic direction for future improvement. Vaccinology has, however, written success stories in both development and manufacturing. It also highlighted how public-private partnership can succeed, building on the nations earlier success with developing and manufacturing world-class Rotavirus vaccine ROTAVAC, TYPBAR TCV, the innovator Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine among other world-leading vaccines. These challenging times also reaffirmed the growing need to nurture startups in areas of vaccine development and the ever-increasing need for the industry and academia to participate in advancing science. India had the advantage of two good vaccines to fight the SARS-COV-2 virus and both vaccine companies have to be commended for their contributions during this pandemic. India has placed itself in the upper tier of countries such as the United States and China, where more than two COVID-19 vaccines were manufactured and supplied at scale. Most importantly, Covishield and COVAXIN were available in the quantities required to vaccinate our large nation. 'Necessity is the mother of all inventions' , and adversity can bring out the best or worst in us. During the early days of the pandemic (January-March 2020), while the nation was grappling to deal with the pandemic, scientists at Bharat Biotech were chalking out its product development strategies towards a self-reliant indigenous vaccine. The company had the option of deploying multiple platforms and vaccine manufacturing technologies such as inactivated, recombinant, viral vectored, etc. Bharat Biotech had invested in these technologies with a significant amount of prior knowledge and expertise in all these platforms including research and development. Evolution of vaccine research in India The primary prerequisite for any new vaccine is always safety, safety, safety !. The whole virion inactivated platform technology provided us with the required assurance of safety, with deep expertise to rapidly deploy the technologies required for manufacturing and testing. India was always ahead in its pursuit to research, develop novel vaccines such as the Rotavirus, Typhoid Conjugate, Hepatitis, Zika, Chikungunya, Rabies, among others. Bharat Biotech had existing BSL3 facilities and a vero cell manufacturing platform to manufacture inactivated vaccines. We received the SARS-COV2 strains from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV)-Pune, and were immediately able to start product development activities. In fact, several developmental activities had already commenced prior to the receipt of strains. The significant aspect of Indias vaccine was its ability to complete all the preclinical studies and clinical trials required for emergency use approvals. The knowledge on inactivated vaccine platforms led to extensive pre-clinical studies and to conduct safety, immunogenicity, toxicology, and live viral challenges, in multiple animal models including hamsters and primates for the vaccine. Clinical Trials knowledge is another significant aspect of Indias advancement in vaccine science and establishing its position as a world-leading vaccine developer and manufacturer. COVAXIN has been tested in more than 30,000 subjects (adults & children), for safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy, including, detailed immunogenicity evaluation that was conducted for both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. COVAXIN is the most highly studied vaccine in India, in the Indian population, providing a great level of confidence on the safety, efficacy, effectiveness, and duration of immune responses. These detailed clinical evaluation studies have defined COVAXIN as a UNIVERSAL VACCINE with the versatility of the same dosage, that can be administered to adults, and children, for the two-dose primary and booster dose schedules. With approvals from India, 25 other countries, and World Health Organisation (WHO), COVAXIN has become a global vaccine with significant demand from foreign countries. It is one of the few vaccines that have an excellent safety profile, followed by efficacy and cellular immune responses. Need for self-reliance The development of COVAXIN was based on knowledge and technologies available in India. Its development has also been instrumental in developing a sustainable ecosystem for vaccine development and R&D in the country. It leaves behind a sense of accomplishment and self-reliance that the country needs. Institutions such as the NIV-ICMR and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, were instrumental in developing COVAXIN . While NIV-ICMR provided the strains for the manufacture of COVAXIN, IICT developed the process for synthesis and manufacture for the IMDG molecule used as an adjuvant in COVAXIN. The IMDG molecule licensed from a company in the United States, and the ICMR, both receive royalties as per industry standards. In the process, these institutions have received a rare glimpse and understanding of the R&D and product development process of vaccines, and they will be geared-up for future challenges. The trail of knowledge does not end at development and licensure, the manufacturing process for COVAXIN is being shared with four companies in India and one in the United States. One of the companies has already absorbed the technology, and started manufacturing and supplies. The IMDG adjuvant molecule is, also, fully manufactured in India - the first adjuvant to be manufactured within India. Hence COVAXIN manufacturing has been 100 per cent indigenised, providing a great amount of vaccine security to our country. This initiative will result in the manufacturing ecosystem also being activated for vaccines and associated technologies and improve our readiness for future pandemics. Both the biotechnology and chemical-pharmaceutical manufacturing industries have been involved in the manufacture of COVAXIN, both playing their roles. COVAXIN has created an ecosystem for vaccine development, manufacturing not just at Bharat Biotech, but also around the country. This will surely improve the scientific focus required for a country like ours. We need to have positive examples of Indian industry and academic institutions showcasing their ability to rise to the challenges during a pandemic. Most importantly, the financial resources, taxpayers' money, must remain within our country to strengthen our GDP and reduce the drain on our economy. Dr Krishna Ella, Scientist, Serial Entrepreneur and CMD, Bharat Biotech Ukainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the press in the town of Bucha, northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on April 4, 2022. (Ronaldo Schemidt/Getty-AFP) KYIV, Ukraine Russian forces escalated their attacks on crowded urban areas Tuesday in what Ukraines leader called a blatant campaign of terror, while U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to make his Russian counterpart pay a price for the invasion. Nobody will forgive. Nobody will forget, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed after the bloodshed on the central square in Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city, and the deadly bombing of a TV tower in the capital. Advertisement Biden used his first State of the Union address to highlight the resolve of a reinvigorated Western alliance that has worked to rearm the Ukrainian military and adopt tough sanctions, which he said have left Russian President Vladimir Putin isolated in the world more than he has ever been. Throughout our history weve learned this lesson when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos, Biden said. They keep moving. And the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising. Advertisement People look at the gutted remains of Russian military vehicles on a road in the town of Bucha, close to the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (serhii nuzhnenko/AP) Biden devoted the first 12 minutes of his Tuesday evening address to Ukraine, with lawmakers of both parties repeatedly rising to their feet and applauding as he praised the bravery of Ukraines people and condemned Putins assault. As Biden spoke, a 40-mile convoy of hundreds of Russian tanks and other vehicles advanced slowly on Kyiv, the capital city of nearly 3 million people, in what the West feared was a bid by Putin to topple the government and install a Kremlin-friendly regime. The invading forces also pressed their assault on other towns and cities, including the strategic ports of Odesa and Mariupol in the south. Day 6 of the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II found Russia increasingly isolated, beset by the sanctions that have thrown its economy into turmoil and left the country practically friendless, apart from a few nations like China, Belarus and North Korea. As the fighting in Ukraine raged, the death toll remained unclear. One senior Western intelligence official estimated that more than 5,000 Russian soldiers had been captured or killed. Ukraine gave no overall estimate of troop losses. The U.N. human rights office said it has recorded 136 civilian deaths. The real toll is believed to be far higher. Britains Defense Ministry said it had seen an increase in Russian air and artillery strikes on populated urban areas over the past two days. It also said three cities Kharkiv, Kherson and Mariupol were encircled by Russian forces. Many military experts worry that Russia may be shifting tactics. Moscows strategy in Chechnya and Syria was to use artillery and air bombardments to pulverize cities and crush fighters resolve. Advertisement Ukrainian authorities said five people were killed in the attack on the TV tower, which is near central Kyiv and a short walk from numerous apartment buildings. A TV control room and power substation were hit, and at least some Ukrainian channels briefly stopped broadcasting, officials said. The bombing came after Russia announced it would target transmission facilities used by Ukraines intelligence agency. It urged people living near such places to leave their homes. Zelenskyys office also reported a missile attack on the site of the Babi Yar Holocaust memorial, near the tower. A spokesman for the memorial said a Jewish cemetery at the site, where Nazi occupiers killed more than 33,000 Jews over two days in 1941, was damaged, but the extent would not be clear until daylight. In Kharkiv, with a population of about 1.5 million, at least six people were killed when the regions Soviet-era administrative building on Freedom Square was hit with what was believed to be a missile. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry said its consulate in Kharkiv, located in another large building on the square, was destroyed in the attack. The attack on Freedom Square Ukraines largest plaza, and the nucleus of public life in the city was seen by many Ukrainians as brazen evidence that the Russian invasion wasnt just about hitting military targets but also about breaking their spirit. Advertisement The bombardment blew out windows and walls of buildings that ring the massive square, which was piled high with debris and dust. Inside one building, chunks of plaster were scattered, and doors, ripped from their hinges, lay across hallways. People are under the ruins. We have pulled out bodies, said Yevhen Vasylenko, an emergency official. Zelenskyy pronounced the attack on the square frank, undisguised terror and a war crime. This is state terrorism of the Russian Federation, he said. In an emotional appeal to the European Parliament later, Zelenskyy said: We are fighting also to be equal members of Europe. I believe that today we are showing everybody that is what we are. Another Russian airstrike hit a residential area in the city of Zhytomyr, the towns mayor said. Ukraines emergency services said Tuesdays strike killed at least two people, set three homes on fire and broke the windows in a nearby hospital. About 85 miles (140 kilometers) west of Kyiv, Zhytomyr is the home of the elite 95th Air Assault Brigade, which may have been the intended target. Zelenskyy said 16 children had been killed around Ukraine on Monday, and he mocked Russias claim that it is going after only military targets. Advertisement Where are the children? What kind of military factories do they work at? What tanks are they going at? Zelenskyy said. Human Rights Watch said it documented a cluster bomb attack outside a hospital in Ukraines east in recent days. Residents also reported the use of such weapons in Kharkiv and Kiyanka village. The Kremlin denied using cluster bombs. Cluster bombs shoot smaller bomblets over a large area, many of which fail to explode until long after theyve been dropped. If their use is confirmed, that would represent a new level of brutality in the war and could lead to further isolation of Russia. The first talks between Russia and Ukraine since the invasion were held Monday, but ended with only an agreement to talk again. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Russia should stop bombing first. As for dialogue, I think yes, but stop bombarding people first and start negotiating afterwards, he told CNN. In his speech, Biden announced that the U.S. was joining several other countries in closing its airspace to Russian planes. He also warned the countrys oligarchs that the Department of Justice was assembling a task force to investigate any crimes they committed. Advertisement We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets, he said. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains. Biden trumpeted the toll global measures had taken on the Russian economy already, including a stock market plunge and currency devaluation. Moscow made new threats of escalation, days after raising the specter of nuclear war. A top Kremlin official warned that the Wests economic war against Russia could turn into a real one. Inside Russia, a top radio station critical of the Kremlin was taken off the air after authorities threatened to shut it down over its coverage of the invasion. Among other things, the Kremlin is not allowing the fighting to be referred to as an invasion or war. Roughly 660,000 people have fled Ukraine, and countless others have taken shelter underground. Bomb damage has left hundreds of thousands of families without drinking water, U.N. humanitarian coordinator Martin Griffiths said. News @3 Daily Catch up on the days top headlines sent directly to your inbox weekdays at 3 p.m > It is a nightmare, and it seizes you from the inside very strongly. This cannot be explained with words, said Kharkiv resident Ekaterina Babenko, taking shelter in a basement with neighbors for a fifth straight day. We have small children, elderly people, and frankly speaking it is very frightening. Advertisement A Ukrainian military official said Belarusian troops joined the war Tuesday in the Chernihiv region in the north, without providing details. But just before that, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said his country had no plans to join the fight. A senior U.S. defense official said that Russias military progress including by the massive convoy has slowed, plagued by logistical and supply problems. Some Russian military columns have run out of gas and food, the official said, and morale has suffered as a result. Overall, the Russian military has been stalled by fierce resistance on the ground and a surprising inability to completely dominate Ukraines airspace. The immense convoy, with vehicles packed together along narrow roads, would seemingly be a big fat target for Ukrainian forces, the senior Western intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. But it also shows you that the Russians feel pretty comfortable being out in the open in these concentrations because they feel that theyre not going to come under air attack or rocket or missile attack, the official said. Isachenkov and Litvinova reported from Moscow. Mstyslav Chernov in Mariupol, Ukraine; Sergei Grits in Odesa, Ukraine; Robert Burns, Zeke Miller and Eric Tucker in Washington; Francesca Ebel, Josef Federman and Andrew Drake in Kyiv; Lorne Cook in Brussels; and other AP journalists from around the world contributed to this report. The new millennium was ushered in with the conviction that innovation in life sciences, especially biotechnology, will play a transformative role in making India a knowledge economy. The optimism was palpable and several ventures emerged during the period spanning 2000 and 2002 to translate this dream. That was when I moved from Mumbai to Hyderabad to head the newly formed ICICI Knowledge Park (later renamed as IKP Knowledge Park, IKP), the first life science park in the country, founded by ICICI Bank with support from the then State government of Andhra Pradesh. But, before reminiscing about the evolution of the life sciences startup ecosystem since that time, a few trendsetters that created a fertile ground for change, need to be recognised The Early Years When Astra Zenecas R&D Centre (erstwhile Astra Research Centre India, ARCI) became operational in 1987 near the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) campus in Bangalore, it created an open innovation environment that helped bioscience researchers gain industrial R&D exposure. ARCI could be called the first biotech incubator in India that helped spawn startups like Bangalore Genie, Xcyton and Gangagen, and later Aristogene, Cellworks and Enzene. In 1993, when Dr. Varaprasad Reddy founded Shantha Biotechnics, it was briefly incubated at Osmania University, Hyderabad and then at the Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB). Shantha Biotechnics went on to produce Indias first domestically developed rDNA product Shanvac-B, a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, at less than a dollar a dose when the same was globally sold at $23. Companies like Advanced Enzymes, Biocon, Biological E, Praj, Serum Institute of India (SII) among others were making their own mark in the biotech field. Bharat Biotech, that indigenously developed the COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, started operations in Hyderabad in 1996. Two institutions that funded technology innovations during these times were TDICI (ICICI Ventures), the first Venture Capital Fund set up by ICICI and UTI in 1988, and the Technology Development Board, DST, GoI, set up in 1996 to fund commercialisation of indigenous technologies. Globally, the Human Genome Project was causing huge excitement regarding advances in medicine and biotechnology. This was the setting when a number of startup icons began their entrepreneurial journey between 2000 to 2002. Four computer science faculty from IISc led by Prof. Vijay Chandru started Strand Genomics (later Strand Life Sciences), the first bioinformatics and medical genomics company in India, in 2000. In the same year, Anuradha Acharya co-founded Ocimum Biosolutions, another trailblazing bioinformatics startup. Prof. J. Ramachandran launched Gangagen to develop novel therapeutic proteins targeting infectious diseases. Dr. K. K. Narayanan and Dr. Gautham Nadig left their corporate research jobs to start Metahelix Life Sciences focusing on crop protection and productivity. Dr. Villoo Morawala Patel founded Avesthagen and delved into the agbiotech and nutraceuticals opportunities. Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan, founder, Healthcube, Bigtec co-founders Chandrasekhar Nair and GM Kini, and Dr. Bala Manian of Reametrix focused on developing innovative, affordable point of care medical diagnostics. Dr. Sudhir Jain left Ranbaxy to start Concord Biotech in fermentation-based APIs. ChemBiotech, GVK Bio and Sai Life Sciences augmented the Contract Research space where Syngene had already started functioning. These entrepreneurs came with deep domain expertise and have been a guiding force for the next generation of startups. The journey of these iconic startups are rich with lessons. Many of these businesses succeeded in developing unique scalable models. All of them raised capital at a time when biotech venture funding was rare in India. Some of them faltered, several pivoted, got acquired and the entrepreneurs went on to start one or more new ventures. Several ecosystem level developments were simultaneously happening during this time. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka had set up state level VC funds. AP, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu came up with state biotech policies; biotech parks were set up, including the Jubilee Womens Biotech Park in Chennai, focussing on women entrepreneurs. BioSpectrum was launched in 2002; the Association of Biotech Led Enterprises (ABLE) was launched in 2003. The New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) of the Department of Science & Industrial Research, GoI was launched in 2003 to fund innovation projects. The 2nd Wave of Indian Biotech & Medtech Startups The second wave of bio and medtech entrepreneurship came with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), GoI setting up the Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) scheme in 2005. The product IP regime was introduced in India in the same year. Some notable innovative companies founded during this period are Stempeutics Research, VLife Sciences, Anthem Bioscience, Inbiopro Solutions. The Stanford India Biodesign (SIB) programme of DBT, in partnership with AIIMS, IIT Delhi and Stanford University in 2007 started clinical immersion programmes for engineers and shook up the medtech startup space. This got further fillip from global partnership programmes like the Affordable Healthcare in India fund of Wellcome Trust, UK, the Indo-US Endowment Fund, Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Grand Challenges Canada. A special GCE was launched by BMGF in India in 2011 with IKP as the partner, which later on expanded as the DBT-BMGF Grand Challenges-India initiative. With grant funding and guidance from Indian and global mentors, young engineers, clinicians and researchers found an alternate path to channelise their talent to innovate for social impact. The growth of biotech startups in India however really began with the launch of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) in 2012. Pioneered by DBT under Dr. M K Bhans vision, BIRAC became a vehicle to both leverage government funding to derisk technology development and also develop the ecosystem with partners. The Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme with liberal grant funding drew innovators from across all fields of biotechnology to develop the proof of concept of their ideas. BIG has so far supported over 750 startups and innovators from across India, many of whom went on to raise substantial follow-on private capital. Fig 1 shows that the number of startups supported through BIG as a percentage of the total number of biotech startups has decreased from 23% in 2015 to around 14% in 2021. This seems to point to the critical role BIG played in reducing the risk perception of early-stage funding of biotech startups, thereby attracting funding from other donors, friends and family, as well as angels and early stage VCs. The success of partnering with biotech incubators for the BIG programme led to deeper engagements with the incubation community. The BIRAC Regional Innovation Centre (BRIC) at IKP mapped the innovations across life sciences clusters, and helped BIRAC formulate targeted programmes to promote entrepreneurship. This led to the setting up of three more BIRAC Regional Centres, at C-CAMP, Bangalore and Venture Centre, Pune for entrepreneurship development and at KIIT TBI, Bhubaneswar for capacity building in the North East Region. The DBT and World Bank funded National Biopharma Mission helped revamp infrastructure and innovation capacity, including setting up Regional Tech Transfer Offices to ensure translation. The StartUp India action plan of 2015 brought startups to the centre stage. NITI Aayog, central government ministries as well as state governments launched a plethora of initiatives around incubation and seed stage funding. As per the Startup India website there are around 790 incubators in the country of which around 226 have biotechnology as one of their domains. The total number of DPIIT registered startups in February 2022 is around 63,800 and roughly one-tenth of that would be in the life sciences space. ABLE puts the number of biotech startups at around 5,400 at the end of December 2021. As of 2021, over 17% biotech startups are from outside the established clusters (Fig 2). By 2010 e-commerce and SaaS platforms had started revolutionising the technology startup space with influx of huge global capital. Lifesciences startups being IP /product driven largely failed to attract the capital needed for scaling. Examples of biotech startups that succeeded in raising substantial venture capital are Bugworks, MedGenome, Sea6Energy, String Bio, Zumutor. Several others like Remidio, Forus Health, Niramai, Telluris and Tierra Bio Science could provide huge impact through early stage capital. Since 2015 the country started witnessing the emergence of a large base of healthtech, agtech and cleantech entrepreneurs leveraging data, AI & ML. Technology convergence across domains became a norm marked by the emergence of new age digital health and agtech startups offering solutions to solve problems across the spectrum of service delivery attracting several rounds of venture capital funding. The disruptions led by the COVID-19 pandemic led to widescale adoption of digital healthcare services. Turtle Shell (Dozee), with its under-mattress wireless health monitoring device used technology to turn a hospital ward bed into a stepdown ICU. AI based startups Cure.ai, Predible Health and Setu helped read CT scans and X-rays, providing quick decision support to doctors and healthcare staff. Covid19 Turbulence and the Response of Indian Biotech Startup Ecosystem COVID also tested the agility of the Indian innovation ecosystem, and especially the biotech ecosystem, and it passed the stress test with aplomb. From breaking silos and collaborating to solve problems, to shrinking development, validation and manufacturing timelines to meet the requirements of diagnostics and vaccines, the startup ecosystem walked in step with regulators and industry to deliver. The investment community, incubators, corporates, donors and the government rolled out several funds at lightning pace. More than a dozen groups worked on non-invasive ventilators and those for ICUs. The story of the ICU ventilator developed at IIT Kanpur is well known. Huwel Life Sciences was quick to gauge the supply chain issue of its imported reagents and started developing these in their own labs along with the RTPCR test kit for COVID-19. Pune based Mylab, the first company to receive ICMR approval for COVID-19 testing and also developed a home based rapid test is supported by Mr. Adar Poonawala, Chairman, SII. Mylab has entered into a strategic tie-up with Shilpa Biologicals from Dharwad for manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutics. I must hasten to add that these are just some examples and there must be at least a hundred startups that need special mention. The Next Decade A startup journey is akin to that of a river. It starts small and along its path gains strength through investments and acquisitions, very much like tributaries and at times hives off/or an employee quits to grow independently. This goes on till it itself merges with a dominant river or the sea (IPO). Many streams also die before reaching another river. Estimates are that 80% of the streams on the planet are first to third order headwater streams. To judge the evolution and maturity of a startup ecosystem my three indicators would be if: Some startups from the ecosystem have grown enough to acquire new startups Some employees from the matured startups are becoming entrepreneurs themselves Matured entrepreneurs are mentoring and investing in new ideas The story of Dr. Reddys and Biocon are well known as ecosystem creators. Laurus Labs, that started as a 3-member pharma API startup at IKP Incubator in 2006 has grown to become a fully integrated pharmaceutical company with market cap of around US$3.8 Billion. In 2020, Laurus acquired Richcore Life Sciences to foray into Biotech and in 2021 took a minority stake in ImmunoACT, an advanced cell and gene therapy startup from SINE, IIT Bombay. This is a happy trend of a maturing startup ecosystem. I look forward to many more such examples in this decade of deep science and deeptech innovations around digital health, personalised medicine, biomaterial, sustainability, climate resilience and one health. Deepanwita Chattopadhyay, Chairman & CEO, IKP Knowledge Park It has been a long journey for the Indian pharmaceutical industry from being merely an import dependent to emerging as a selfreliant producer and now as one of the main export countries in the global market. Today the Indian pharmaceutical industry is the worlds third largest by volume and worth over $42 billion. Let's chart the future of this 'sunrise' sector as it stands presently India exports pharmaceuticals to approximately 206 destinations with the US being the largest export destination followed by Africa and Europe. It is a leader in vaccine manufacturing and supplies over 60 per cent of global vaccine demand. With an export value of $24.44 billion (2020-21), the products of the Indian pharmaceutical industry continue to improve health outcomes for patients worldwide. The policy initiatives by the Government of India and entrepreneurship spirit of Indian industry have made it possible to achieve this. In the recent Union Budget 2022, the Government of India recognised the pharmaceutical industry in the sunrise sector of the economy which is expected to register a threefold growth in the next decade. According to the Indian Economic Survey 2021-2022, the pharmaceutical industry is estimated to reach $65 billion by 2024. The industry aspires to grow to $120-130 billion by 2030. For this, the industry can embark on a vision of establishing Indias global leadership in life sciences, while driving deeper domestic access and affordability. Mettle of Indian pharma industry Crisis doesnt create character, it reveals it. The pandemic posed unprecedented and new challenges but it also offered opportunities and learning to the Indian pharma industry. The pandemic demonstrated the pharma industrys commitment to be a reliable supplier of high-quality, affordable medicines. The urgency to understand the virus and develop new medicines and vaccines provided unparalleled learning opportunities. In India, the industry not only supplied medicines continuously but also contributed to preventive healthcare, sanitation and quarantine facilities. It responded to the challenges of COVID-19 by evaluating the possible utilisation of available drugs (repurposing drugs) and exploring innovative approaches to fight the pandemic. This coupled with regulatory reforms, initiated by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), has resulted in speedy permissions for clinical trials, and encouraged approval of applications to manufacture or import drugs and vaccines for trials. Over the last two years, collaboration and coordination between government, industry and other stakeholders was instrumental to address challenges collectively by sharing best practices, knowledge, technology, and experiences. Several Indian companies forged strategic alliances with global pharma to provide better access to essential drugs/new treatments for COVID-19 such as Remdesivir, Molnupiravir among others. Under the initiative of Vaccine Maitri, the Indian government delivered over 14.68 crores of doses of vaccine to 97 countries. A new trend of joint development of vaccines by private entrepreneurs and government laboratories has also been witnessed. For example, Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (NIV) manufactured COVAXIN vaccine. Advantage India Under the ambit of Ease of Doing Business, the Government of India took initiatives to reduce the compliance burden and amended the Drug Rules. Further Policy support such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and other pharma products by the government announced in 2021, is a positive and significant step towards promoting domestic manufacturing thereby increasing not only self-reliance but also cater to the Make in India pharma products for the world. India has the advantage of both scale and reach from the pharmaceutical sector perspective. The cost of manufacturing pharmaceutical goods in India is relatively lower than advanced countries. India has a highly skilled workforce and enjoys price advantage over other developed nations while providing best of quality medicines. Leading the post-pandemic world Having contributed significantly to the generics, the industry is now poised to expand its innovation and research and development (R&D) capabilities to offer cutting-edge products at affordable prices. It is time to move from Make in India to Discover and Make in India. The thrust would be on accelerating R&D and innovation, smart manufacturing, foster policy reforms, expedite digital transformation, and nurture valuable collaborations. Focus on R&D and innovation: Indian pharmaceutical industry would need to move up the value chain and focus on innovation which accounts for 2/3rd of the global pharmaceutical market size. The Indian pharmaceutical industry needs to build a strong innovation pipeline (with 5-7 new molecular entities and 1012 innovation launches per year by 2047). Towards this, the industry is now venturing into complex generics and specialised drugs. Idea is to enhance Indian pharma's significance in biologics, new drug development and innovations and on enhancing capabilities in biological sciences, usage of Information Technology, Cell and Gene therapy, all focused on patient needs. Foster policy reforms: A fundamental enabler for a vibrant innovation ecosystem is a strong and efficient regulatory setup e.g., having a single window system, elimination of multiple regulatory bodies, establishing detailed guidelines. Learning from the pandemic, it is critical to ensure that there is an ongoing dialogue between the regulator and the industry for example - pre-approval meetings, more frequent industry meets, rolling reviews, may be considered. Digital transformation: Digital transformation is imperative for improved patient care, cost-effectiveness, greater transparency, improved production, and drug development. Supply chains are also becoming more patient-centric due to the increased adoption of digital tools, telehealth, and app-based ecosystems. Latest technologies, like AR/VR, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), 3D printing and additive manufacturing are assisting pharma companies to step up the research and development process, conducting tests in increasingly less time and adding newness to the products as well as improving efficiencies and compliance in manufacturing. Nurture valuable collaborations: During COVID 19 pandemic, cohesive collaboration between the government, academia, and industry to promote research initiatives has been the key. Regular feedback, integrated efforts, sharing and consistent dialogue between industry stakeholders and government authorities has worked well during COVID-19 pandemic and this dialogue should continue in future too. Focus on exports: Going forward it will be critical for the industry to consolidate the existing large export markets and to explore new ones. Indian missions abroad could be great facilitators in this context. At the same time, the policies in India would need to focus on supporting the industry to be competitive in the export market through policy instruments such as Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP), PLIs, incentivising R&D and innovation in the pharma sector. The road ahead India has an advantage of technology and world-class manufacturing capabilities that have been built over the years. This strength is critical in regulated and science driven industry as the rate of change is expected to be faster for the next two decades. Agility to adapt will be crucial in sustaining the competition. Indian industry has demonstrated its commitment towards patient welfare especially during the pandemic and will continue to do so in future too. Nonetheless, in this mission of providing quality medicines at affordable prices, the key will be to be a leader in technology and to leverage the demographic advantage of India and become the life sciences hub. Samir Mehta, President, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) and Chairman, Torrent Group Here we look at whether the dismissal of an employee who accused a fellow employee of racism and threatened and intimidated her was substantively and procedurally fair. Summary Alleged unfair dismissal of the employee for reasons of misconduct Legal provisions considered by the CCMA CCMAs findings The dismissal of an employee who had accused a fellow employee, a female security supervisor, of searching his car because he was a black man and intimidated her by promising to deal with her, was considered to be substantively and procedurally fair.This was the issue considered by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in the case of. This case related to the alleged unfair dismissal of the employee for reasons of misconduct. The employee commenced employment at the respondent as a supervisor. He was dismissed on 29 September 2020, after a disciplinary hearing was convened and he was found guilty of misconduct.The employee, thereafter, referred a dispute to the CCMA. It was the employers case that the employee had accused Mokhadi Elizabeth Mafoko, a security supervisor stationed at the employers premises, of racism. Mafoko testified that the employee had informed her that he had purchased off-cut leather bags from the employer and that they were too heavy to carry to his car. She then suggested that he bring his car inside the employers premises. She noted that his car would be searched upon entering and leaving the premises.Before the employee brought his car onto the respondents premises, Mafoko had received a tip-off that he had loaded a full hide in his car. It was for this reason that Mafoko approached the employees car when he arrived on the premises and began conducting a search. At the time, two other security officers had already begun searching the employees car. Mafoko asked the security officers to remove the off-cut leather bags from the car so that she could conduct a thorough search. The employee became angry and accused Mafoko of engaging in a search of his motor car because he was black. The employee then informed Mafoko that he was going to deal with her. He said he would find out whether Mafoko treated a white lady in the same manner as that which she had treated him.The employer had a zero tolerance policy for racism. Daniel Modipane, the chairperson of the disciplinary hearing, testified at the CCMA. He noted that the employee had failed to raise a grievance through proper channels in respect of the way in which his car was searched and that the most aggravating factors against the applicant were that his actions were directed against a female employee, and that he did not show remorse for his conduct.The employee acknowledged that he was aware of the respondents search procedures but took issue with the fact that Mafoko wanted to search his car after it had already been searched. The employee explained that he felt as if he was being treated like a criminal which provoked him, but denied that he made any racial insults towards Mafoko.In considering the substantive and procedural fairness of the employees dismissal, the CCMA Commissioner considered the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the Labour Relations Act, Schedule 8 of the Code of Good Practice: Dismissal as well as various case authority. The relevant legal authority was in support of the finding that employees who falsely accuse other employees of racism assault such employees dignity.This may result in the dismissal of the employee making such a false allegation. For instance, in the decision of(LAC) the court dismissed an employee who had made false accusations of racism against his employer and held that false accusations are demeaning, insulting and an attack on ones dignity and the dismissal of the employee was therefore upheld. The authority also supported a finding that employees who engage in intimidation and/or use abusive language may be dismissed in appropriate circumstances.The employee did not present any evidence challenging the procedural fairness of his dismissal. In regard to substantive fairness, it was held that the employer had proved on a balance of probabilities that the employee had committed the offences of racism and intimidation. Furthermore, the Commissioner noted that throughout the proceedings the employee failed to acknowledge the wrongfulness of his conduct and continued to make unfounded allegations of racism. In light of the employees lack of remorse for his conduct, it was held that the dismissal of the employee was substantively and procedurally fair. In the last few years, we've seen great innovation across various industries, breakthroughs for marginalised communities and a digital revolution that has impacted every aspect of our lives. Although these are milestones to be celebrated, there is still so much more that needs to be done when it comes to developing the presence of women in the technology and innovation space. Kim Palmer One woman who has dedicated her career to this cause, to the empowerment of youth and the promotion and upliftment of women in the ICT sector, is the award-winning founder of Cape Town based training organisation, On the Ball College (OTBC), Kim Palmer.Launched in September 2005, this renowned college has since become a household name in the ICT industry within the Western Cape. As a participant in the Innovator Trust ICT Incubation program, this black-female owned college has actively been involved in sharpening the minds of youth and created a much-needed space for women to interact through their ICT learnership offering, skills programmes and their annual Women in ICT Seminar.Women in ICT at present in South Africa account for less than 30% representation. Women need to see more role models, they need to have access to mentorship and be made aware of the careers that are available to them. The future is built on a foundation of digital skills and if women are not encouraged to grow these skills, they will be excluded and left behind, said Kim Palmer.For On the Ball College, the Innovator Trust have been one of those role models and a key partner to the promotion of continuous learning and development particularly for women such as Kim within the South African ICT sector. The benefit of being a part of an incubation program such as the one offered by the Innovator Trust, is that it provides support across the organisation and not just at the executive level, shares Kim. Executive leadership skills and operational expertise complemented by a mentor, a personal coach and a support team who are on-call and ready to assist suggests a incubation model tailored to guiding SMMEs beyond just profitability, to a state of sustainability. This is not a place of toxic affirmation so expect to be challenged. The values witnessed and why I would encourage participation in the program is the focus and professionalism, the detail and empathy experienced, the flexibility with our business and the exceptional support and belief in the vision and cause for On the Ball College, added Kim.Raising racial awareness, spotlighting cultural shifts, and creating platforms for marginalised voices only reflects part of the active interventions of On the Ball College. A unique value offering from the organisation is that theyve managed to unlock exclusive industry insights that have allowed its students to thrive, often surpassing industry peers. These triumphs are testament to the colleges study approach and material content that focus on both theoretical and practical applications.Each year, students are able to participate in ICT certificate programmes that range from NQF levels 4-6, providing beneficiaries with the opportunity to be accredited for future careers which include becoming a computer technician, network administrator, programmer, developer or business analyst.Beyond launching the careers of several successful individuals, Kim has found innovative ways to combine her wealth of knowledge from 21 years of experience in the ICT educational sector, with current emerging industry trends and tactfully apply it to the social-political environment in which the company now finds itself.While many institutions have battled to keep up with e-learning demands, Kim Palmer has proven that she is not only an industry veteran but a trailblazer too. To aid the transition from brick-and-mortar learning to online schooling, On the Ball College has readjusted its learning structures.We adapted and helped clients to adapt to the changing learning environment through adding devices like laptops or tablets to our course fees and learnership programmes. We included a work-from-home learning model to help our students be better prepared for remote working and become more adaptable to this way of working, said Palmer. The media industry association Publisher Support Services (PSS) has challenged Google and Meta to be compensated for their content used on these platforms. This happened at an in-camera hearing of the Competition Commission's market inquiry into online platforms operating in South Africa. Hoosain Karjieker, CEO of Mail and Guardian Media and chairperson of the PSS, said, Although the initiative is led by the founder members of the PSS (Arena Holdings, Caxton, Independent Media, Mail & Guardian and Media24), the main objective of the submission goes beyond the interests of these publishers only. This is about protecting the funding and sustainability of journalism as a cornerstone of our democracy.Globally, platforms like Google and Meta have been using publishers content at no cost to grow their market dominance. Our objective is to get them to compensate all publishers, big and small, fairly and equitably for their journalistic efforts, Karjieker continued.Karjieker noted the success achieved by similar efforts in other parts of the world, most notably Australia and Europe, that forced these platforms to the negotiating table to have them agree on fair compensation to publishers for their content.The Competition Commission launched its market inquiry into online platforms operating in South Africa in May 2021, focusing on online intermediation services. This includes the market dynamics and business practices that apply across the respective platforms operating in the country.Karjieker reiterated his invitation to other media organisations to participate. Publishers and media owners who are not members of PSS are welcome to join our efforts or independently liaise with the Commission.The inquiry is expected to release its findings and report by October 2022. Wavemaker South Africa bids farewell to Pick n Pay as the retailer moves media services in-house For the past 13 years, Wavemaker and GroupM have worked with major South African retail brand Pick n Pay and has contributed enormously towards shaping consumer decisions through media, content and technology to ensure Pick n Pay's success and growth. After much thought, analysis and review, Pick n Pay has come to the decision to move their ATL media planning and buying in-house effective from 1 March 2022. This allows the retail giant to merge its already in-housed digital media with ATL media to drive communication synergy and performance. Wavemaker South Africa believes that growth sometimes requires uncomfortable change. What matters is that these shifts are done in the best interests of the businesses it has long supported. Since October 2021, Wavemaker has worked to assist and support Pick n Pay with this move to in-house media-buying services. Although the transition from outsourcing to insourcing can be difficult, having a strategic partner that is equally invested in your business can make the process easy and effective, and can help to ensure that no marketing momentum is lost. Our successful partnership throughout the years has enabled us to provide the best solutions and strategic counsel to Pick n Pay. While we are truly sad to see this flagship client leave us, we are always supportive of progress and wish them well with their in-sourcing journey, says Merissa Himraj, Wavemaker CEO SSA. Scan Display supplied a full shopfitting solution for The Fashion Cube at Table Bay Mall in Cape Town in November last year. The 360m store was created as an incubation space for small local businesses that are looking to establish or grow their retail footprint. It is one of three similar concept stores (the other two being The Food Cube and The Creative Cube) that the mall has created to nurture entrepreneurs, while offering shoppers a greater selection of South African brands and products. Scan Display was contracted by design house TAG Design (now Bryce Henderson Design, or BHD), to fit out the space, installing flooring, electrics and lighting, ceiling features, fitting rooms and shelving units. Architect Bryce Henderson, who is a director of BHD, was responsible for the store design. The sleek and modern interior has clever nautical references (echoing the malls design theme) while providing a versatile backdrop to promote the 22 brands housed there, which include clothing, jewellery and accessories brands like Leigh Schubert and Dr Pachanga.As an entrepreneur, this project is close to my heart, says Scan Displays managing director Justin Hawes. Scan Displays origin story is also that of a small business, which I founded 24 years ago. Weve grown the business so that today we can provide a turnkey solution for retail environments, including all fittings, decor, electrics and lighting, flooring and branding. We also provide exhibition and event infrastructure, build exhibition stands, and stock a wide range of display products.Henderson says he chose Scan Display as a service provider due to their industry experience, past projects, and that they have their own factory as well as in-house designers and services, all of which made the project more seamless.Despite strikes affecting the delivery of steel and other essential items, the team was able to complete the job in time an achievement that has been credited to their experience working in the exhibition industry, with its tight turnaround times to deliver (often) complex stands.Rian Thompson, centre manager of Table Bay Mall, says: This space has only been open for two and a half months but has received a positive response from our community.He continues: Its a real privilege to be able to support small businesses in this manner. While were honoured to give entrepreneurs the opportunity they deserve, were also proud to be nurturing the incredible talent and skill thats so richly present in South Africa. The fashion space is especially exciting in this regard, and were delighted to give our shoppers more choice, a greater range and a chance to get behind our local designers.To find out more about this and Scan Displays other capabilities, please contact Justin Hawes at az.oc.yalpsidnacs@nitsuj or on + 27 11 447 4777, or visit Scan Displays website Chinese envoy calls for efforts to promote direct negotiations on Ukraine Xinhua) 08:17, March 01, 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) -- "China welcomes the start of direct dialogues and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine," a Chinese envoy said. -- Cold War mentality based on bloc confrontation should be abandoned. Nothing can be gained from stirring up a new Cold War, but everyone will stand to lose, he warned. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for efforts to create an enabling atmosphere and conditions for direct negotiations over the Ukraine conflict. The situation in Ukraine is changing sharply and has evolved to a point where China does not wish to see and where it is not in the interests of any party, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. The immediate priority is for all parties concerned to exercise necessary restraint, prevent the worsening of the situation while stepping up diplomatic efforts aiming for a political solution, he told an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine. "China welcomes the start of direct dialogues and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine should serve as a bridge of communication between the East and the West, rather than an outpost for confrontation between major powers. We call for efforts to create an enabling atmosphere and conditions for direct negotiations between the parties concerned, as this is the fundamental way to resolve the issue," said Zhang. All actions taken by the United Nations and the relevant parties of the international community should prioritize regional peace and stability and universal security for all, and should help de-escalate tensions and facilitate a diplomatic settlement. China does not approve of any approach that may exacerbate tensions, he said. Photo shows a view of the talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations held in the Gomel region in Belarus on Feb. 28, 2022. (Belta news agency via Xinhua) China supports relevant UN agencies' continued work on humanitarian aid in Ukraine. China believes that the safety of civilian life and property and their humanitarian needs should be effectively guaranteed, he said. "As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China always earnestly fulfills its responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. It is our consistent and unequivocal position that all countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, and that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld. China will continue to play a constructive role in the pursuit and realization of peace," said Zhang. The Cold War has long ended. Cold War mentality based on bloc confrontation should be abandoned. Nothing can be gained from stirring up a new Cold War, but everyone will stand to lose, he warned. One country's security should not come at the expense of other countries' security. And regional security should not rely on reinforcing or even expanding military blocs, he said. China supports the European Union, NATO and Russia in resuming dialogues, bearing in mind the concept of indivisible security, properly addressing the legitimate security concerns of all parties, including those of Russia, and striving to put in place a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism, so as to achieve lasting peace and stability on the European continent, he said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) A homeless man with a lengthy arrest history has been charged with smearing a stranger with human feces as she waited for a subway train in the Bronx, in a revolting caught-on-camera attack, police said Monday. Advertisement Frank Abrokwa, 37, was arrested Monday and charged with the disturbing Feb. 21 attack. The 43-year-old victim was minding her business while sitting on a bench on the Manhattan-bound platform at the Wakefield-241st St. No. 2 train station when she was attacked without warning about 5:15 p.m., cops said. Advertisement Video released Monday shows the assailant walking down the platform in her direction as he opens a plastic bag holding the excrement. Suddenly, he turns toward her and wallops her in the face with the bag. The shocked woman dropped her cell phone to the ground as she tried to shield herself with her hands, the video shows. But the attacker, now standing behind the bench, rubbed the bag on her head two more times, smearing her further before running off, the video shows. I got out of work and was waiting for train, sat down for a moment, the victim told ABC 7, speaking in Spanish through a translator. All of a sudden, a man approaches me. He hits me in the face and throws a bag of feces. He spreads it all over my face, in my hair, without a motive, for no reason. It happened so quickly, I didnt even realize, she added. Once he left, it sunk in what occurred. Tips led police to arrest Abrokwa on Monday and charge him with forcible touching, menacing, disorderly conduct and harassment. Sources said Abrokwa has 44 past arrests, including three from January and February for which he was released without bail, cop sources said. On Jan. 7, he attacked a 30-year-old stranger on a subway platform at 125th St. and Lenox Ave. He approached the man aggressively, yelling, Hey! Hey! as he repeatedly punched the man in the head, cops said. On Feb. 5, police said, he walked up to a 53-year-old man, also a stranger, at the Greyhound station at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown and punched him in the cheek. Advertisement And on Feb. 22, he grabbed screwdrivers and other items from a Bronx hardware store, then pointed a screwdriver at an employee and said, Call the police, cops said. Abrokwa was arraigned on bail-ineligible misdemeanor charges in the first two cases, and though police initially charged him with robbery in the Bronx case, he was ultimately arraigned only on menacing, petit larceny and misdemeanor weapon possession charges, court records show. . The video speaks for itself and must have been as awful to experience as it is disgusting to watch, said MTA spokesman David Steckel. Its another example of why we fully support efforts by the governor and mayor to deliver essential mental health services to those who need them. A similar unprovoked feces attack in 2016 led cops on a manhunt for a perpetrator who threw excrement at two women on the Upper East Side in a four-hour span. Cops arrested a suspect, Ekwan Hill, at a Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, homeless shelter. A judge later deemed Hill unfit to stand trial. News @3 Daily Catch up on the days top headlines sent directly to your inbox weekdays at 3 p.m > The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last year saw an uptick of reports of feces on the subway. The No. 2 line where the woman was attacked last week was the third-poopiest subway line during the first five months of 2021, a Daily News analysis found. Advertisement The putrid smear in the Bronx was the latest in a crime uptick in recent months that transit officials say is keeping riders from returning to mass transit. Subway turnstiles clocked fewer than 3 million daily entries last week, and weekday ridership is about half what it was before the pandemic. Our riders are letting us know that they dont feel safe, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said in January. Our workforce is scared in addition to our passengers. Our workforce is scared because theyre feeling vulnerable. Mayor Adams and Gov. Hochul recently announced a new effort to crack down on subway crime that includes additional cops on trains and platforms. The NYPD in 2021 reported the highest number of assaults, homicides and rapes on the subway system since the late 1990s and crime has continued to rise. Cops reported 320 major crimes on the subways this year through Feb. 20, a 61% increase from the 199 reported during the same period of 2021. Robberies were up 87%, to 88 from 47, and grand larcenies more than doubled, to 153 from 74. "We've been here three times in the last month" said Dereck Cutone of Terryville who came with his daughter Adley to Amato's Toy and Hobby in New Britain on its final day of operation. Owners Steve and Sheri Amato are retiring; Monday was the end of a six-week-long closing sale. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) Wrapping up 19 years behind the register at Amatos Toy and Hobby in New Britain, Danica Levesque figures shell miss the little children most of all. Some of them would come in and their eyes would get wide. Their parents or grandparents would tell them This is a toy store. Youve never been in a real one before. This one is real, " Levesque said. Advertisement From its creaking, circa-1925 hardwood floors to its shelves of 1940s to 1990s board games, Amatos could never have been confused with any big-box chain outlet. Starting this week, though, memories are all that will be left: Monday was the end of the line for what had been one of central Connecticuts best-loved hobby shops for more than 60 years. Advertisement Preparing for semi-retirement, owners Steve and Sheri Amato began a store-closing sale in mid-January; Monday was the final day. Clearance discounts of 20 to 50% brought in a steady stream of buyers, but many came mostly to say goodbye. This is sad, but I know he has to move on, said Art Speranza, of Wethersfield, a customer for the past decade. You come in here, you feel so comfortable youre like family. And theyre very helpful, knowledgeable. If you go online, its very hit or miss. Here hes got basically everything you want, Speranza said. Steve Amato, left, talks with Ernie Miranda in the aisle of Amato's Toy and Hobby on Monday as the New Britain toy store closed. The day capped a six-week-long closing sale; a steady stream of customers visited for a last chance to buy new and vintage toys from the iconic downtown store. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) Speranza is among a loyal group of model train enthusiasts who rely on Amatos for everything from scenery, trestles and track to secondhand locomotives and box cars. In more than a half-century in the toy business, Steve Amato has sold trendy items from the Furby to Hungry Hungry Hippos and Big Wheels, but considers trains as a secure niche that never goes out of style. The back wall of Amatos 9,600-square-foot store displayed scores upon scores of railroad-related items. A working model train in a compact layout ran in one corner, and shelves offered pricy collector-oriented trains particularly Lionel and vintage American Flyer locomotives. Unlike a general toy retailer, Amatos is known for dealing in vintage trains sometimes secondhand and worn, occasionally still in fading, decades-old original wrapping. Bob Lariviere, 85. works as a model train repairman in the back of Amato's Toy and Hobby in New Britain. He solders wires on a vintage Lionel steam engine. "It just brings a lot of joy just to repair them," he said Monday. "That's where I find the most fun." Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) At a workbench in employees only storage room in the back, 85-year-old Bob Lariviere was still working Monday on repairs to red American Flyer locomotive from its 1950 circus train. The new ones have circuit boards, theyre different. But a train like this you can keep going forever, Lariviere said. Advertisement Like model railroaders in general, Amatos train shoppers skewed heavily toward late middle age and up. But there were exceptions. I came in here and it was just complete wonderland, said 26-year-old Josh Wilson, who periodically made trips from his home in Ledyard specifically for the inventory of used trains. With trains and a truck for himself and his son, Sean Raymond of Southington (right) loads toys in his car with the help of Amatos' Chris Pawlow on the store's final day of operation. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) The draw to the hobby for me is having something that is broken or has all kinds of dents and dings. Ill take it home and put my personal touch to bring it back to what I think it would look best as, Wilson said after buying $276 worth of locomotives and scenery for his layout. This is a place with a whole wall of stuff thats reasonably priced and has all kinds of history behind it. Amatos shoppers also include a sprinkling of classic toy collectors, radio-controlled car enthusiasts and, of course, parents and children looking simply for toys. Levesque Sheri Amatos sister enjoys them most of all. The ones Im really going to remember are the little kids who come in with pocket change in a little baggie, she said. Therell be a little kid who is so excited and proud. Well be counting out the nickels and dimes and pennies to see if he has enough to pay for his toy. I dont know if other stores would do that. Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > Amatos was about service. You cant go into another store and get that they barely know what theyre selling, let alone how to fix it or get you going, she said. Advertisement Co-owner Sheri Amato and Chris Levesque, a relative, hug in the aisle of Amato's Toy and Hobby in New Britain as it prepared to shut down Monday. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) Steve Amatos father at one time had toy stores in several Connecticut cities, but in recent decades there have been just two: The Middletown store and the New Britain one. Diane Gervais, Steve Amatos sister, owns the Middletown business and plans to keep going. But Steve Amato, who has run the New Britain shop since 1976, said he and his wife are ready to shift to an online and mail order business. Theyve sold the 97-year-old Main Street building to developer Avner Krohn, who intends to demolish it to make way for an apartment complex. Brian Walsh carries a large-scale model of the Enterprise aircraft carrier out of Amato's Toy and Hobby in New Britain on Monday. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) Amato recalled being asked how his store was still operating when even giant Toys R Us had gone out of business. One of the early messages I remember from my dad was that you dont build a business solely on price. Thats the easy thing to do. You build a good business with relationships, stand behind what you sell, he said. And the other thing was that you cant focus on what you like. My job is to have and sell you want you want, not to get you to buy what I want, he said. Ive seen hobbyists get into the business and fail because they focus too much on their interest. I should ask what you want, what do you want to do with it and then sell you that. Globalist billionaire investor Bill Ackman has called for the United States to intervene militarily in the Russia-Ukraine war, despite the clear risk that this would lead to a global nuclear conflict. Ackman, who exploited COVID-19 hysteria to make billions after hysterically warning hell is coming if the entire country was not shut down, made the comments on Twitter. I hope Russia stops this onslaught, but I dont see how Putin saves face. We need to be prepared for what comes next which means we need to start thinking about intervening military, Ackman tweeted. Isnt it time we set a real red line? We cant sit back and allow hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and perhaps millions to die. I dont want to live in that world and you dont either. @POTUS, it is in your hands. You can fix the errors of the past and protect our future. With all due respect Mr. President, the time is now, he added. need to start thinking about intervening military. Had we set up a show of force at the beginning of the war that we were prepared to execute on, we might have deterred Putin. We let Crimea, Georgia, and more happen, which got us here. Isnt it time we set a real red line? Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) February 28, 2022 Ackman is seemingly upset at thousands of Ukrainians dying, but his response is to call for a massive escalation that could lead to billions of people across the world dying. Genius. Chris Menahan asserted that if Ackman was so keen to fight for Ukraine, he should take up Volodymyr Zelenskys call for foreigners to join the Ukrainian army. If Ackman wants to fight in Ukraine so badly he should pick up a gun and go there himself, he wrote. You can take your whole family along with you as Zelensky is fine with women, children and the elderly throwing themselves against Russian tanks. As we highlighted earlier, chickenhawks have begun to stridently call for a no fly zone to be imposed over Ukraine, something that would almost inevitably lead to a nuclear world war. Both the Biden White House and people like Senator Marco Rubio have explained the obvious that shooting down Russian warplanes would spark World War III. Meanwhile, the military-industrial complex continues to enjoy vast profits as the war drums beat louder. War is obvious the grimmest and darkest thing humanity can confront, but, admit all the misery, here is some good and exciting, and coincidental and unrelated, news: pic.twitter.com/VgM6JQApzR Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 28, 2022 Follow on Twitter: Follow @PrisonPlanet Brand new merch now available! Get it at https://www.pjwshop.com/ ALERT! In the age of mass Silicon Valley censorship It is crucial that we stay in touch. I need you to sign up for my free newsletter here. Support my sponsor Turbo Force a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown. Get early access, exclusive content and behinds the scenes stuff by following me on Locals. Stop & Shop workers have ratified a four-year contract that delivers a $15 minimum hourly wage a year before Connecticuts higher wage takes effect and boosts pay significantly for workers who fill online orders for curbside pick-up. Stop & Shop workers, battered by COVID-19 and eager to avoid a second strike in three years, have ratified a four-year contract that delivers a $15 minimum hourly wage a year before Connecticuts higher wage takes effect and boosts pay significantly for workers who fill online orders for curbside pick-up. The agreement, approved Sunday and covering 30,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will increase wages by at least $4 an hour for all employees with at least six months on the job. Part-time workers will be paid a starting rate of $15 an hour and $17.30 as a starting rate for full-time employees, according to the union. Advertisement Connecticuts minimum wage rises to $15 an hour on June 1, 2023. [ From gasoline to groceries, Connecticut consumers buying less to avoid soaring inflation ] The company knew we were bargaining in the shadow of COVID and did not want to reduce costs or change health care, said Keri Hoehne, executive vice president of Local 371 of the UFCW in Westport. Advertisement Supermarkets were among the few businesses not shut during the pandemic. Workers, who were particularly exposed to COVID-19, were often required to enforce state and local mask rules and other regulations, occasionally drawing abuse from customers. Stop & Shop and the UFCW negotiated premium pay for workers. In the new contract, the union said employees will not be required to contribute more to their health insurance, which was a key disagreement that led to a strike in 2019. A health insurance fund was merged with several union locals, saving money, Hoehne said. In addition, increased hours will be available to senior part-time employees who want guaranteed hours. The contract also calls for a $500 bonus for full-time employees and $250 for part-time workers, according to the UFCW. The contract will boost pay nearly 29%, to $19 an hour from $15.30, for click and collect workers who fill online orders brought to customers for curbside pick up, Hoehne said. The jobs were established in response to the pandemic. In a statement, Stop & Shop said the agreement is fair and will allow the supermarket chain to recognize and reward employees contributions and commitment to customers and the community and provide workers with opportunities for growth and advancement. The contract also makes it possible for Stop & Shop to continue to compete and thrive in this competitive landscape as the last large unionized grocer in New England. The agreement contrasts with a collapse in contract talks in 2019 over health care costs and other provisions. The result was an 11-day strike costing workers their paychecks and the Netherlands parent company, Ahold Delhaize, $345 million in lost sales. I dont think anyone wanted to go though that again, Hoehne said. Advertisement Retail analyst Burt P. Flickinger III, managing director at Strategic Resource Group, said that following the devastating strike three years ago, the two sides this year made a wise strategic decision. No enemies at the bargaining table this time, he said. Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > Ahold Delhaize posted 2021 sales of the equivalent of $83.9 billion, up 5% from 2020. Sales in U.S. stores for the year were the equivalent of $50.5 billion, an increase of 5.6%. Retailers are boosting wages to attract workers in a tight labor market, with Target announcing Monday it will pay workers up to $24 an hour. Stop & Shop has a real willingness to invest in higher wages, Flickinger said. With compensation that includes a pension, a rare benefit in the private sector, Stop & Shop had higher productivity and better retention among its workers during the pandemic, Flickinger said. Advertisement Supermarkets that profited during the pandemic at the expense of restaurants ordered shut by public health officials will likely continue to benefit even with restaurants re-opened as consumers, struggling to pay more for energy and other expenses, cut costs, he said. The best place to save for food is at a supermarket and wholesale shopping, Flickinger said. Stephen Singer can be reached at ssinger@courant.com. People in the NATO-member state of Czechia have been warned that they could face up to three years in prison if they express support for Russia on social media. Yes, really. The countrys Attorney General Igor Striz announced in a press release that it was necessary to inform citizens that the current situation associated with the Russian Federations attack on Ukraine may have implications for their freedom of expression. The limitations are being imposed under the umbrella of criminal code measures that make it a crime to approve a criminal offence or deny, question, approve or justify genocide. [F]reedom of speech also has its limits in a democratic state governed by the rule of law, asserted Striz, announcing that anyone who publicly (including at demonstrations, on the Internet or on social networks) agreed (accepted or supported the Russian Federations attacks on Ukraine) or expressed support or praised the leaders of the Russian Federation in this regard, they could also face criminal liability under certain conditions. Evidujeme desitky podnetu na komentare v internetovych diskusich, schvalujici ruskou invazi a aktivity ruske armady. Internetove prostredi peclive monitorujeme a omlouvame se, ze nereagujeme na kazde oznaceni v prispevcich. Neni to vzdy zadouci a takticke. Dekujeme za pochopeni! Policie CR (@PolicieCZ) February 27, 2022 The official Czech Police website also announced that they were closely monitoring the content of dozens of comments in internet discussions approving the Russian invasion and the activities of the Russian army. According to a report by Radio Prague International, someone found in breach of the criminal code could be imprisoned for up to three years, although it would be difficult to bring charges. Breitbarts Jack Montgomery asked if someone might be open to prosecution for merely questioning NATOs eastward expansion, the Wests decision to back the Euromaidan coup in 2014, or the extent to which claims the Ukrainian government has mistreated civilians in Donbas might be true. As we previously highlighted, before the outbreak of war, Czech President Milos Zeman said Russia would be crazy to invade Ukraine. One wonders how far governments working in cahoots with Big Tech will try to milk the war for more domestic censorship. Will simply pointing out brazen examples of war propaganda pushed by the pro-NATO political media class also be characterized as Russian disinformation? Leftist blue checkmark journalists on Twitter must be licking their lips. Follow on Twitter: Follow @PrisonPlanet Brand new merch now available! Get it at https://www.pjwshop.com/ ALERT! In the age of mass Silicon Valley censorship It is crucial that we stay in touch. I need you to sign up for my free newsletter here. Support my sponsor Turbo Force a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown. Get early access, exclusive content and behinds the scenes stuff by following me on Locals. As an active member of the Lima Group, Macris government demonstrated an interventionist attitude in relation to Venezuela, said Tayana. With the overall goal of overthrowing the Bolivarian Revolution, the objective of the military drills was to train a swift action battalion ready and available to the U.S. militarys Southern Command. Seven military exercises were conducted at the Campo de Mayo garrison and by videoconference. Participants included Cordobas Parachute Brigade, the Tenth Mechanized Infantry Brigade of La Pampa, and commandos from Argentinas Special Operations Force, also located in Cordoba. After the initial incursion into Venezuelan territory, a multinational task force would follow to provide military support and consolidate the occupation. The Communist Party of Argentina has called for Paleos removal. Maps in code Revealed by Argentinean journalist Horacio Verbitsky, operation Puma also uncovered maps of Venezuela with military installations and positions. Not so unassuming codewords and acronyms were used to describe different countries in the region. South America is called South Patagonia. Venezuela is referred to as Volcano and its officials in conflict are NM and JG, otherwise, Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido, said Verbitsky. The map also showed Colombia referred to as Ceres; the two Guyanas and Suriname are Tellus; Brazil is Febo; Peru and Ecuador are Fauno; Chile is Juno; Uruguay is Baco; and Paraguay and Bolivia are nonexistent. It also has been noted that the first Puma military exercises were conducted in April 2019, just 15 days prior to Operation Liberty, a failed attempt to seize a military base east of Caracas. The operation was coordinated by the disgraced former president of Venezuelas National Assembly and self-proclaimed president, Juan Guaido, and opposition figurehead Leopoldo Lopez. Withdrawal from Lima Group Macri was a regional head of state who recognized Guaido as president of Venezuela. He also was a signer to the Organization of American States (OAE) Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance. During heightened tensions against the Venezuelan government, this treaty made it permissible to activate the armed forces of regional countries if any member state suffered an attack. Venezuelas National Assembly has approved an agreement, signed by the government and opposition, on three principal aspects regarding the protection of its national territory: (1) Coordinate and reject any pretense of military intervention; (2) Incentivize investigations to determine responsibility and impose sanctions on those who attempt to undermine or weaken the national territory; (3) Strengthen internal laws related to security and defense of the national territory. Argentinas current president, Alberto Fernandez, withdrew from the Lima Group in March 2021. The Republic of Argentina has formalized its withdrawal from the so-called Lima Group, considering the actions promoted by the group internationally, to isolate Venezuela and its representatives, have achieved nothing, noted Argentinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The official press release also stated that the Lima Group was composed of Venezuelan opposition members, as if they were equal parties to the group. Their presence has led to the adoption of positions that our government cant undertake and will not support. Established by 13 countries including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru with support from the United States, the Lima Groups stated purpose is to denounce the rupture of the democratic order in Venezuela. Despite not officially being a participating member, the U.S. government attended several Lima Group conferences via videoconference. In May 2019, as Paleo commanded the second and third sessions of the Argentine Armed Forces exercise to invade Venezuela, said Verbitsky, [t]he (U.S.) Southern Command published a white paper entitled Enduring Promise for the Americas. The publication of the document coincided not only with Operation Puma military drills but also an official visit by the Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, Craig Faller, to Argentina in June 2019. During his stay, the career military official convened with Venezuelas former Minister of Defense Oscar Aguad to discuss issues involving cyber-defense, narco-trafficking, and organized crime. Feature photo | The commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Navy Adm. Craig Faller, visits the CAECOPAZ training facility in Argentina, on June 25, 2019. Photo | US Embassy Argentina Julian Cola is a translator (Brazilian-Portuguese to English). A former staff writer at the pan-Latin American news outlet, teleSUR, his articles and essays also appear in Africa is a Country, Black Agenda Report, Truthout, Counterpunch and elsewhere. The past was alterable. The past never had been altered. Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia. George Orwell, 1984 Whats happening in Ukraine right now is a travesty. Innocent people are suffering and it is unacceptable. War is the plight of mankind and should be avoided at all cost. Unfortunately, however, when a physical conflict or war breaks out, it is always preceded and accompanied by psychological attacks, in the form of propaganda which help to start it and keep it going. The propagandists involved in the Ukrainian crisis have been in a full-court press well before the first shot was fired or border crossed. Americans were bombarded with conspiracy theories about Russian false flags before the invasion and they have been bombarded with false stories taking place after it began. Cenk Uygur & Vaush on the Snake Island massacre. pic.twitter.com/BxRH9XALWl Jackson Hinkle (@jacksonhinklle) February 27, 2022 The result of such a massive propaganda campaign has been a new era of McCarthyism. Simply pointing out facts about how this war was preventable, and the historical context which shaped it now makes you a traitor who should be hung. What Tulsi Gabbard says in the above quote is accurate. For the last decade, Russia has been asking for Ukraine and Georgia to remain neutral states and not be allowed into NATO; and for years, the United States has refused to reach a compromise. It is also important to point out that just because the US baited Putin into war, it does not excuse any of the violence the Russian military is carrying out inside the Ukrainian border. This invasion is criminal and it is why the Russian people are protesting. Yes, Vladimir Putin is a tyrant in his own regard and so is the Ukrainian government, who has been attacking the Donbass region, killing innocent civilians for 8 years since the coup in 2014. If he was so concerned with the Donbass region, why didnt Putin step in sooner? Whats more, why didnt the US condemn the attacks against civilians in Donetsk that have been taking place at the hands of their allies for years? Not only was the US silent as Ukraine bombed innocent civilians but they were actively planning an escalation in the region in order to take the fight to Russia. The US aids Ukraine and her people so that they can fight Russia over there, and we dont have to fight Russia here, Rep Adam Schiff said on the Senate floor in 2020. The US aids Ukraine and her people so that they can fight Russia over there, and we dont have to fight Russia here. @RepAdamSchiff Schiff made it plain that US uses Ukraine to fight Russia over there. Dont be surprised when Russia fights back.pic.twitter.com/6B4QVFSZvV Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) February 25, 2022 Even if you forget that the US has been one of the main driving forces behind this war, what right does America and their 30-nation army in NATO have to sabotage peace agreements between Russia and Ukraine? What right does the US have to arm insurgents in the region to fund one side of the war? There is no basis even for US sanctions against Russia much less providing the means of taking lives. Yet, somehow, this is all happening and acceptable now thanks largely in part to psychological manipulation from the corporate press and state actors who are weaving a narrative that fits their interests, and their interests only truth and the lives of innocent people be damned. What we are seeing now is a level of propaganda akin to that of which unfolded after 9/11 when hundreds of millions of people were tricked into supporting senseless wars including this author. Unfortunately, we are now seeing the full catastrophic nature of such reckless endeavors going largely unchecked by the mainstream. We should not do this again. As Glenn Greenwald reminds us, Again, no matter how certain one is about their moral conclusions about this war, these are urgent questions that are not resolved or even necessarily informed by the moral and emotional investment in a particular narrative. Yet when one is trapped inside a system of a complete consensus upheld by a ceaseless wave of reinforcing propaganda, and when any questioning or dissent at all is tantamount to treason or siding with the enemy, there is no space for such discussions to occur, especially within our minds. When one is coerced through emotional tactics and societal inventive to adhere only to one script, nothing that is outside of that script can be entertained. And that is all by design. This divide and propaganda is not new. For years, all wars have been started with distortions of the truth and appeals to emotion. Government-sanctioned blinders are applied to the minds of statesmen and the lies and propaganda reverberate between them, reinforcing false narratives to the point of dehumanizing entire groups of innocent people. How would the state get away with ruthlessly killing children for years without this tactic of manipulation? How is it that millions of people are donning the blue and yellow flag emojis in support of Ukraine, while simultaneously ignoring the genocide the US is currently aiding in Yemen? Yemen has been devastated by more than 6 years of civil war, fostered by the Saudi Arabian government and supported militarily by the United States and yet Twitter is not flooded with millions of Yemeni flags in profiles. Since March 2015, over 23,000 airstrikes have been launched by the coalition in Yemen, killing or injuring over 18,000 civilians. Living in a country subjected to an average of 10 airstrikes per day has left millions feeling far from safe, the UN Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen stated in a recent report. While there have been thousands slaughtered with US-backed airstrikes, the blockades imposed by the US and its allied states are wreaking far more havoc. As Antiwar.com reported, humanitarian groups agreed that the air war conducted by the KSA and UAE caused the most civilian damage and casualties. Along with the de facto blockade imposed by the royal states and their hireling coalition partners, the result has been horrific. Nearly 400,000 civilians, an astonishing 70 percent of them children, have died, most from disease or malnutrition. Clearly we are not trying to deemphasize the severity of the suffering of the people in Ukraine. Their suffering is real, calculable, and senseless. The point to be made here is the selective outrage held by so many folks who claim to be against their suffering, while largely ignoring the suffering of those in other conflicts. Despite this horrific suffering of mostly children, the mainstream has been almost completely silent on the issue of Yemen. As a result, the American public and Westerners at large, have also been completely silent. This is by design. As Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman pointed out in their book Manufacturing Consent, this propaganda model works because the establishment is able to convince the population which victims are worthy of support and which arent. Chomsky and Herman hypothesized that worthy victims will be featured prominently and dramatically, that they will be humanized, and that their victimization will receive the detail and context in story construction that will generate reader interest and sympathetic emotion (Ukrainians). In contrast, unworthy victims will merit only slight detail, minimal humanization, and little context that will excite and enrage. (Yemeni children) Sadly, their hypothesis has been proven right multiple times since the book was published in 1988. We have the tools to be able to see the truth and beat the propaganda, yet fewer and fewer people are choosing to use them. If this tendency continues, the possibility of catastrophic consequences increases. We cannot allow this to happen. Source: The Free Thought Project Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds. The Rev. Ollie Gray III watched his mother draw her last breath as she lay dying of cancer. That harrowing experience nearly 30 years ago reaffirmed his belief that only God determines when death occurs. In the end, God knows whats best, said Gray, a pastor and motivational speaker from Waterbury. And his timing, even in the matter of death, is perfect. Advertisement Gray was one of nearly a dozen Christian leaders to speak out at a recent legislative hearing against a bill that would make Connecticut the 12th state to legalize aid-in-dying for terminally ill patients. The Catholic Church, which believes suffering is part of life, has long been one of the most powerful voices in opposition to the measure. Catholic teaching holds that life is sacred from conception until natural death and, in 2020, the Vatican reaffirmed its stance that assisted suicide is evil. Advertisement Our own pain and suffering is not worthless but rather redemptive when united with Jesus Christ, the Rev. Joel Estrada, a Catholic priest, told lawmakers at the hearing. Assisted suicidewill only cause the temporal and spiritual downfall of our state and its deteriorating view of the true dignity and sacredness of life. But other people of faith take a different view. The Rev. Josh Pawelek, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Society: East in Manchester, spoke out in support of Senate Bill 88, which would allow patients with less than 6 months to live to seek a physicians help in ending their lives. As a pastor who will inevitably be asked to serve as a witness to requests for medical aid and dying should this bill become law... I cannot imagine saying no, I dont support you,' Pawelek said. For me to witness and support such a request, and to be present at the time of death if invited, would be an act of the most compassionate, loving ministry I can provide, he said. The Rev. Cecily Stranahan, an interfaith minister from Southport, said she, too, views efforts to end a persons suffering as an expression of kindness and love. We do not allow our pets to die in long, drawn-out, pain, suffering and helplessness, she wrote in an email to lawmakers. We, with consideration and planning, should be allowed the same option, Stranahan said, Advertisement Ten states, along with the District of Columbia, allow some form of aid in dying. The concept has been raised in Connecticut at least 14 times since 1994. Last year was the first time the bill was approved by the legislatures public health committee, but it failed to come up for a full vote in either the House or the Senate. The bills supporters say this year they will again bring it up for a committee vote. Supporters of the measure say providing terminally ill patients with a medical means to end their suffering provides enormous comfort, even though studies show most people who qualify under the bill do not pursue aid in dying. But critics of the legislation say it could be used to target vulnerable people such as those with disabilities and the elderly. (The bills advocates say safeguards embedded in the legislation, such as a requirement that only mentally competent patients can participate, address those concerns.) [ Disability-rights groups vow to block aid-in-dying bill ] Critics also point out that medical experts cant always determine exactly when a terminally ill person will die. Instead of approving aid in dying, they said, the state ought to provide more resources for palliative and hospice care. Sister Catherine Mary Clarke, a clinical social worker and spiritual care for Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care, told lawmakers that terminally ill patients need not suffer at the end of life, provided they have access to proper pain medication through hospice. Advertisement What is extraordinary and beautiful is the way that that process can unfold even if its difficult, Clarke said. Theres essentially no reason for someone to have to be in pain with proper services, she said. That doesnt mean its not painful to watch someone you love decline but in the course of that process, the conversations, the reminiscences, the healing that happens on every level. It really is a gift. Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > Connecticut, a blue state where Democrats control both chambers of the General Assembly and the governors office, was the third state to recognize marriage equality and has a long tradition of supporting access to legal abortion. But unlike other cultural issues, the aid in dying debate doesnt always break down along political lines. Former Gov. Dannel P Malloy, a Democrat and a Roman Catholic, was a strong opponent of the idea. (His successor, Gov. Ned Lamont, also a Democrat, has been more open to the idea.) The state is also among the most heavily Catholic. Late last week, the Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference, the churchs lobbying arm, sent an email blast to parishioners asking them to sign a petition against Senate Bill 88. The state of Connecticut already faces a suicide crisis and should not enact any legislation that views suicide as a solution to a problem, the petition states. Advertisement But the state also has a tradition of religious tolerance, said the Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree, a retired United Church of Christ minister. As a state weve set aside other singular religious doctrines that used to govern birth control and freedom of conscience and same gender marriage, Foy Crabtree told members of the public health committee. We dont impose our faith practice on others and we have a reasonable expectation that others will not try to impose their faith practices on us, Crabtree said. Everyone should be free to practice their faith according to its teachings as they understand them and according to their own relationship with God. Help Our Community Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You! Take The Survey Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. A female patrol officer with the Wethersfield Police Department is suing the town, complaining of years of sexual harassment on the job. Jessica Blank is accusing several coworkers and supervisors of harassment, and contends that the departments administration knew about it but didnt act. Advertisement The working environment that the plaintiff is exposed to on a daily basis is hostile and pervasive, according to the suit filed in January in Hartford Superior Court. There is a clear pattern of discriminatory behavior dating back years. The lawsuit is the latest problem for the department, which has gone through more than a year of turmoil involving former Chief James Cetran. Advertisement The town fired Cetran last summer and appointed Rafael Medina as his replacement in November, but Cetran is still pursuing a lawsuit to reverse his dismissal. Blanks lawsuit doesnt cite Cetran by name, but appears to side with his version of a severe rift with then-Town Manager Gary Evans. Evans overrode Cetrans discipline against an officer who had harassed her, Blank claims, but later denied it. (Evans) claimed he did not rescind the discipline. This was not true, the suit said. Blank served 2 years on the Enfield police force before transferring to Wethersfield in mid-2013. Her lawsuit claims she has been harassed through much of her career since then. She has been the target of sexual harassment at the hands of supervisors and other officers with no consequence and retaliated against for speaking up, her attorney, Ronald Pugliese Jr., wrote in her suit. The Wethersfield Police Department and the town of Wethersfield has not taken the plaintiffs complaints seriously, yet is quick to prosecute complaints made against her, according to Pugliese. Neither Pugliese nor attorney Patrick Allen, who is representing the town, would discuss the suit Tuesday. This is pending litigation and the town does not comment on that, Interim Town Manager Bonnie Therrien said in an email Tuesday. Advertisement Blank is currently on special assignment as the departments accreditation manager. She was assigned to regular patrol duty during much of the time when she alleges harassment. The lawsuit claims that a year after Blank joined the department, some co-workers began gossiping about how she had been the victim of domestic violence by an ex-boyfriend. One male officer was casually talking and joking about her situation and making untrue and inappropriate comments about her while at a training class. The suit said a male supervisor took her complaint, but took no action against the officer. Instead, the supervisor added a regulation prohibiting department members from spreading malicious rumors about each other. She said the same male officer later put up a social media post portraying her as unprofessional and potentially having a drinking problem that prevented her from effectively doing her job. This was untrue, offensive, and salacious. Supervisors gave the male officer a written reprimand, but Blank contends that was inadequate. Her suit also contends that she suspected a male janitor had gone through her closed gym bag in the departments locker room and left her underwear out. Advertisement Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > Rather than investigate the incident immediately, Lieutenant (Michael) Connolly told her that she should not have left her gym bag unsecured in the locker room, according to the suit. When commanders decided to investigate, they put a small hidden camera in the female locker room. Female officers were supposed to be told when the camera was activated and when it was off, but that didnt consistently happen, Blank claimed. The janitor continued to work day after day and it did not appear as though anyone was actively trying to stop this behavior or protect the female employees, according to the suit. Repeated requests for someone to simply check the hallway camera monitoring the door to the female locker room were ignored until the footage had recorded over itself and was unavailable. [ Details of Wethersfield police chiefs paid leave revealed, as Cetran submits retirement letter ] The suit said the janitor later confessed to stealing another officers sunglasses. It was further discovered that he had stolen other items from the police department. After this occurred, the plaintiff requested a formal review as to why there appeared to be no official internal investigation regarding her complaint, the suit claims. To this day, she has not received a satisfactory answer. Blank is seeking damages for emotional distress along with other compensation. The town is scheduled to file a response in court before March 7. Advertisement An agenda for a Feb. 22 special meeting of the Town Council included discussion in executive session of pending litigation involving suits from Blank, Cetran and Jenny Rivera. OTTAWA The Trudeau government says its making it easier for Ukrainians to reach Canada, but refugee advocates want the federal government to do much more to prepare for a humanitarian airlift. Advertisement Advertise With Us OTTAWA The Trudeau government says its making it easier for Ukrainians to reach Canada, but refugee advocates want the federal government to do much more to prepare for a humanitarian airlift. We have to learn a little bit from what happened in Afghanistan, said Lloyd Axworthy, who chairs the World Refugee and Migration Council. Im disappointed that there isnt a bit more pickup. Manitobas Ukrainian community says its not aware of many people who want to leave Europe, but Axworthy argues its clear that Russia will target politicians, journalists and civil-society activists if it takes over Kyiv. We need to establish a lifeline for those people fairly quickly, he said. Axworthy said he fears a repeat of last fall, when Canada set up a chaotic, last-minute program to air-lift Afghans fleeing the Taliban takeover of Kabul, a program advocates had called for months earlier. Its the kind thing that really calls for very proactive and energetic action. Axworthy was Jean Chretiens immigration and foreign affairs minister in the late 1990s. In 2019, he oversaw Canadas election-observation delegation in Ukraine during its presidential vote. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Monday that more than 500,000 refugees have been forced to flee Ukraine. Manitoba has the largest percentage of Canadians who claim Ukrainian roots, and Axworthys group wants Ottawa to tap into those communities for a fast-tracked, private-sponsorship program, for Ukrainians who either could be targeted by Russia or have medical issues that wont get adequately treated during a war. We should be taking the lead, not just on our efforts but in trying to get international efforts mobilized, said the Winnipegger, who argued that Ukrainians would likely return home from various countries once its safe to do so. His group called Saturday on Ottawa to take six steps to make sure people living in Ukraine can seek asylum, from organizing flights from Europe to Canada, to deploying visa officers to border zones. Instead, Ottawa dropped visa processing fees for Ukrainians on Monday, and Immigration Minister Sean Fraser told reporters he had beefed up consul staffing in the capitals of countries that neighbour Ukraine. Were working with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress to develop the best path forward and working with different provincial counterparts as well to understand the opportunities to do this the right way, he said. The federal Conservatives have called on Canada to drop its visa requirement entirely, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seemed open to pursuing. We have several concrete measures that have accelerated the processing of applications but we are also looking at all the different tools that we could use to best help those who want to come to Canada, Trudeau said. Manitoba has, so far, contributed $150,000 to the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress for humanitarian aid to displaced families and refugees, a statement from Premier Heather Stefanson said Monday. The province will take in Ukrainian refugees looking for a safe haven, and will expedite Ukrainian immigration applications through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, the statement said. Its too soon to expect a flood of refugees from Ukraine but Canada needs a plan, said Winnipegs Ostap Skrypnyk, vice-president of the Canada Ukraine Foundation and former Ukrainian Canadian Congress executive director. Were preparing for that eventuality and trying to work with the federal government to see what could be done in that regard, said Skrypnyk. Right now, these people are fairly comfortable staying in Europe, he said. If the situation worsens and refugees from Ukraine begin arriving in Canada, there are Manitobans who want to help, he said. Some have been contacting the Ukrainian Canadian Congress nationally and here in the province about offering to take people from Ukraine into their homes, said Skrypnyk. I got an email last night about a woman in Beausejour that says shes willing to give her spare room for a refugee family, he said. Right now there is no big influx of people on the immediate horizon. Axworthys group has also called on Canada to make sure that neighbouring countries continue allowing people living in Ukraine to claim asylum, amid reports of Ukrainians and other foreigners being denied entry to countries like Poland. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said she has been bringing up that concern with Eastern European countries, and would do so again in a Tuesday visit to Poland. Should they see massive flow of people at their borders, (I told leaders) that Canada could help, she told the Free Press during a press conference from Geneva. Canada will play its part. And of course, we will make sure that Ukrainians seeking refuge will have a place to stay in Canada. Winnipeg Free Press OTTAWA Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says co-ordinated sanctions against Russia by G7 countries will go even further in the coming days, choking off President Vladimir Putins ability to fund his war on Ukraine. Advertisement Advertise With Us OTTAWA Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says co-ordinated sanctions against Russia by G7 countries will go even further in the coming days, choking off President Vladimir Putins ability to fund his war on Ukraine. Freeland says she spoke with her G7 counterparts this morning, joined by Ukraines "tired but determined" finance minister, who assured them his country would win the war as he spoke from a windowless room furnished with a spartan cot and a blue and yellow flag taped to the wall. She says existing sanctions are the most serious and stringent ever imposed on a major economy and new measures will keep targeting the institutions and individuals enabling Putin to advance his attack. Freeland says G7 countries understand the stakes of this great conflict between democracy and dictatorship. She says Putin has made a grave and historic error and this is not the behaviour of a superpower but the last gasp of a failing kleptocracy. Defence Minister Anita Anand also says Canada will provide another 1,600 fragmentation vests and just under 400,000 meal packs to Ukraine in addition to previously announced military aid. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 1, 2022. Brandon Sun photographer Tim Smith chanced upon a great grey owl that was spending its afternoon hunting in the deep snow along Highway 10 near Onanole on Monday. The Audubon Field Guide to North American birds describes the great grey owl as "a big nightbird, haunting woods of the far north and certain high mountains of the west. "Its great size is partly illusion: it has very thick fluffy plumage, and its body size is smaller than it would appear, so it preys mostly on tiny rodents. "When there is a population crash of voles and other rodents in the boreal forest, numbers of Great Gray Owls may drift into the northeast, causing excitement for birders." The great grey owl hunts either day or night, locates its prey by sound, and can plunge into snow to catch rodents more than a foot below the surface. OTTAWA Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is headed to the Poland-Ukraine border today to make sure that Canadas latest supply of military aid flows into the war-ravaged country. Advertisement Advertise With Us OTTAWA Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is headed to the Poland-Ukraine border today to make sure that Canadas latest supply of military aid flows into the war-ravaged country. Her visit comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that Canada was sending anti-tank weapons and upgraded ammunition to Ukraine, which amounted to a significant upgrade in lethal military aid. Of course, this is in addition to our three previous shipments of lethal and non-lethal equipment, Trudeau said. He added Canada has bolstered its presence in the region so it can fast-track immigration applications for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada. Joly said she will also be meeting with her Polish counterparts in Warsaw to discuss the refugee crisis spawned by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. My role in this is to make sure that this aid gets in the arms of Ukrainian soldiers that are fighting for their life and fighting for their motherland, Joly told reporters from Geneva on Monday. Joly earlier told a United Nations panel that Russia lied to the world in the run-up to its invasion of Ukraine. Russia is the only one to blame for this crisis. It chose to resort to lies and violence and fabricate all the pieces of a crisis to try and undermine the rule of law and violate the rights of people, Joly told the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. Worse, theyre trying to justify their war by spreading a false rhetoric and attempting to manipulate the principles of human rights to support their illegal and illegitimate violence. Joly was in Geneva after Russian and Ukrainian delegations met for talks earlier in the day in an attempt to defuse the biggest land conflict on the continent since the Second World War. Outmatched Ukrainian forces were holding off the onslaught of a land, air and sea attack by Russia as President Vladimir Putin raised the stakes further by placing his countrys nuclear forces on alert. Asked on a media video conference what she thought about the threat, Joly said it was madness. Bob Rae, the Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, offered a harsher assessment in an interview from New York. We cant be buffaloed or bullied by that kind of a tactic, Rae said. He knows if he has any practical bone in his body, he knows what the consequences will be for him and for his government and for his people. Rae spoke after denouncing the invasion in a speech before the UN General Assembly, telling Russia it had a responsibility to play by the international rules that it helped write when it helped create the UN after the Second World War. Were not asking any nation state, any member state to do us a favour. Were asking them to follow the rules and to follow the law, Rae said, waving a well-worn blue booklet of the UNs founding charter. It means that there are no second-class states in this organization. In the interview, Rae said he wanted use his speech to call Russia out as bully and an abuser, and he also derided the lies that he said Putin and his supporters were now telling the world, including Putins justification that he is saving Ukraine from the clutches of Nazis. This attempt to smear all Ukrainians and the Ukrainian government or anyone whos proud of being Ukrainian to smear everyone as a Nazi is a terrible lie. Its a horrendous lie, said Rae. Asked what he thought of the myriad or pre-invasion assurances by Putin and his diplomats that they had no intention of attacking Ukraine, Rae said: This government under President Putin is profoundly cynical, and a government thats drowning in lies and propaganda. You know, you can take the boy out of the KGB, but you cant take the KGB out of the boy. Joly also condemned the arrests of Russian citizens who have protested the war in demonstrations across their country. We call on Russia to respect the human rights not only of Ukrainians, but also of its own citizens, who by thousands have taken to the streets in protest of this unjust war. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Monday an immediate ban on all Canadian financial institutions from conducting transactions with the Russian central bank. In addition to that prohibition, Canada is imposing an asset freeze and a dealings prohibition on Russian sovereign wealth funds. Canada and its allies continue to take concerted action to ensure that Russias invasion of Ukraine will be a strategic failure. This has never been done before at this scale today we are taking a historic step by directly censuring Russias central bank, Freeland said in a written statement. The Canadian Press While World Poetry Day doesnt take place until March 21, members of the Western Manitoba Regional Library are already collecting the best forms of written expression that the surrounding region has to offer. Advertisement Advertise With Us While World Poetry Day doesnt take place until March 21, members of the Western Manitoba Regional Library are already collecting the best forms of written expression that the surrounding region has to offer. After all, the winners of this years contest will get the chance to showcase their poetry for all to see in the pages of The Brandon Sun. WMRL program and outreach assistant Michelle Boudreau told the Sun that the organization decided to offer this new grand prize as a way of making up for the fact that the in-person performance element of World Poetry Day wont be around this year in Westman. "I think its an awesome opportunity to get peoples artistic and creative sides going," Boudreau said on Friday. "And its another opportunity for people of all ages to connect with each other through a beautiful form of art." The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization first adopted March 21 as World Poetry Day during its 30th general conference in Paris in 1999. Program and outreach assistant Michelle Boudreau took some time on Friday afternoon to showcase some of her favourite poetry collections that are currently available at the Brandon branch of the Western Manitoba Regional Library. Boudreau told the Sun that she is one of several WMRL members who are involved in organizing World Poetry Day festivities for the Westman region. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun) The stated goal of this global celebration, according to UNESCOs official website, is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increase the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard. As such, Boudreau wanted to remind Westman residents that the WMRL will be accepting World Poetry Day submissions in any language and any form, as long as each poem adheres to a strict one-page limit. With those loose parameters in mind, Boudreau encourages Westman residents to get creative and step outside their comfort zone if they choose to take part in this years festivities. "And if theyre looking for inspiration, pop by your local library, because we have a lot of books to help you jump right into the world of poetry," she said. The WMRL currently has branches located in Neepawa, Carberry, Glenboro, Hartney and Brandon, with plans to expand the organizations presence in Brandons Shoppers Mall. Anyone looking to submit their piece for the WMRLs World Poetry Day contest should send an email to programs@wmrl.ca by March 18. Entries will be divided between an "under 18" and "over 18" category. The Brandon Sun KYIV, Ukraine Russian forces shelled Ukraines second-largest city on Monday, rocking a residential neighbourhood, and closed in on the capital, Kyiv, in a 17-mile convoy of hundreds of tanks and other vehicles, as talks aimed at stopping the fighting yielded only an agreement to keep talking. Advertisement Advertise With Us Cars are stopped at a roadblock set by civil defensemen at a road leading to central Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday. (The Associated Press) KYIV, Ukraine Russian forces shelled Ukraines second-largest city on Monday, rocking a residential neighbourhood, and closed in on the capital, Kyiv, in a 17-mile convoy of hundreds of tanks and other vehicles, as talks aimed at stopping the fighting yielded only an agreement to keep talking. Amid ever-growing international condemnation, Russia found itself increasingly isolated five days into its invasion, while also facing unexpectedly fierce resistance on the ground in Ukraine and economic havoc at home. For the second day in a row, the Kremlin raised the spectre of nuclear war, announcing that its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines and long-range bombers had all been put on high alert, following President Vladimir Putins orders over the weekend. Stepping up his rhetoric, Putin denounced the U.S. and its allies as an empire of lies. Meanwhile, an embattled Ukraine moved to solidify its ties to the West by applying to join the European Union a largely symbolic move for now, but one that is unlikely to sit well with Putin, who has long accused the U.S. of trying to pull Ukraine out of Moscows orbit. A top Putin aide and head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that the first talks held between the two sides since the invasion lasted nearly five hours and that the envoys found certain points on which common positions could be foreseen. He said they agreed to continue the discussions in the coming days. As the talks along the Belarusian border wrapped up, several blasts could be heard in Kyiv, and Russian troops advanced on the city of nearly three million. The vast convoy of armored vehicles, tanks, artillery and support vehicles was 25 kilometres from the centre of the city, according to satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies. People in Kyiv lined up for groceries after the end of a weekend curfew, standing beneath a building with a gaping hole blown in its side. Messages aimed at the advancing Russian soldiers popped up on billboards, bus stops and electronic traffic signs across the capital. Some used profanity to encourage Russians to leave. Others appealed to their humanity. Russian soldier Stop! Remember your family. Go home with a clean conscience, one read. Video from Kharkiv, Ukraines second-biggest city, with a population of about 1.5 million, showed residential areas being shelled, with apartment buildings shaken by repeated, powerful blasts. Flashes of fire and grey plumes of smoke could be seen. Footage released by the government from Kharkiv depicted what appeared to be a home with water gushing from a pierced ceiling. What looked like an undetonated projectile was on the floor. Authorities in Kharkiv said at least seven people had been killed and dozens injured. They warned that casualties could be far higher. They wanted to have a blitzkrieg, but it failed, so they act this way, said 83-year-old Valentin Petrovich, who watched the shelling from his downtown apartment and gave just his first name and his Russian-style middle name out of fear for his safety. The Russian military has denied targeting residential areas despite abundant evidence of shelling of homes, schools and hospitals. Fighting raged in other towns and cities across the country. The strategic port city of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, is hanging on, said Zelenskyy adviser Oleksiy Arestovich. An oil depot was reported bombed in the eastern city of Sumy. In the seaside resort town of Berdyansk, dozens of protesters chanted angrily in the main square against Russian occupiers, yelling at them to go home and singing the Ukrainian national anthem. They described the soldiers as exhausted young conscripts. Frightened kids, frightened looks. They want to eat, Konstantin Maloletka, who runs a small shop, said by telephone. He said the soldiers went into a supermarket and grabbed canned meat, vodka and cigarettes. They ate right in the store, he said. It looked like they havent been fed in recent days. Across Ukraine, terrified families huddled overnight in shelters, basements or corridors. I sit and pray for these negotiations to end successfully, so that they reach an agreement to end the slaughter, said Alexandra Mikhailova, weeping as she clutched her cat in a shelter in Mariupol. Around her, parents tried to console children and keep them warm. For many, Russias announcement of a nuclear high alert stirred fears that the West could be drawn into direct conflict with Russia. But a senior U.S. defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States had yet to see any appreciable change in Russias nuclear posture. As far-reaching Western sanctions on Russian banks and other institutions took hold, the ruble plummeted, and Russias Central Bank scrambled to shore it up, as did Putin, signing a decree restricting foreign currency. The Associated Press A new research study at Brandon University will explore Indigenous approaches to autism in education. Advertisement Advertise With Us Patty Douglas, an associate professor in BUs Faculty of Education, is leading a research study that will explore Indigenous approaches to autism in education. (Submitted) A new research study at Brandon University will explore Indigenous approaches to autism in education. The research will bring Indigenous autistic people and those who love and care about them together as part of an upcoming video-based collaboration. Patty Douglas, an associate professor in BUs Faculty of Education and project academic lead, said there is a need to better understand Indigenous approaches to autism and how these approaches can improve school outcomes, well-being and belonging for Indigenous students, families and communities. Overall, the project will be guided by the teachings and presence of Elders, knowledge-keepers and Indigenous storytellers and artists, and the team from Douglas ReStorying Autism in Education project. Interviews with Indigenous people with autism and family and other kin, teachers, community leaders and supporters are currently being held ahead of an online digital storytelling workshop that will begin March 12. The workshop will bring together these groups to support participants to create their own videos telling their stories with the school system, life experiences, strengths and struggles. "Interviews and videos from the project will serve as important sites of knowledge and a road map for change honouring Indigenous worldviews of difference," she said. Douglas added that Indigenous perspectives that understand children, including autistic children, as unique and as gifts, are largely absent from mainstream understandings of autism. She is working in partnership with Leah LaPlante, vice-president of the Manitoba Metis Federation Southwest, and with Gail Cullen, executive director of the Brandon Friendship Centre. Following Douglas earlier research and digital storytelling work on autism, LaPlante suggested a need for a similar initiative in southern Manitoba because supports for Metis families with autistic members are limited. "Opening up about lived experiences that have been hard to deal with and telling your story with the help of elders is an important part of this study. We are hoping this study will give us the documentation we need to improve autism supports and add a cultural perspective. It is crucial that the well-being of Indigenous people is woven into education and health care systems going forward," LaPlante said. This video project is part of a larger focus on decolonizing autism for the ReStorying Autism project. Last May, Maori family members in New Zealand whose youth are takiwatanga (a word that translates to "living in their/our own space and time" and is used to describe people who have autism), along with other international participants, created digital videos reflecting their own experiences. "We are looking to see if we will find similar results in southern Manitoba, and to expand educational practice to include cultural understandings of difference going forward," Douglas said. kmckinley@brandonsun.com Twitter: @karenleighmck1 Tamela Mann Takes Home Two NAACP Image Awards | TKO Publicity DALLAS, TX Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artist Tamela Mann is celebrating wins at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album for Overcomer and Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song for Help Me, featuring The Fellas. The award-winning, Billboard Gospel music charting album, Overcomer, features the single, Help Me, which added to Tamelas bank of personal bests; the track was her eighth No. 1 on Billboard's Gospel Airplay chart. The public and NAACP members cast this year's award votes, and industry and fans showed their support of Tamela by honoring her with these prestigious awards. I am so thankful to God, the NAACP, and the fans for recognizing my album and song. This is the most important musical body of work Ive ever done. To be recognized for the project is a big blessing, said Tamela. For the latest updates on Tamela Mann, visit: WEBSITE: www.tillymannmusic.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/davidtamelamann TWITTER: @DavidandTamela INSTAGRAM: @DavidandTamelaTIKTOK: @TheRealTamelaMann If punishment can be measured by damage to reputation and public ignominy then Crowns major shareholder James Packer and the former board have already paid a heavy price. Now it will be up to Australias financial system crime detection unit, AUSTRAC, to determine the financial injury the scandal ridden casino must endure for a litany of now infamous anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism law breaches. This is an important moment for Crown shareholders - here comes the real hip pocket cost. AUSTRAC chief executive Nicole Rose says Crown made Australias financial system vulnerable to criminal exploitation. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen And there is plenty at stake because the payment of a large financial settlement by Crown could jeopardise the proposed $9 billion takeover from private equity firm Blackstone for the casino group. The political reporter is seeking unspecified damages from the network, which she alleges caused her to suffer a personal injury, hurt, humiliation and distress, the loss of opportunities to advance her career and lost income. George launched Federal Court action against her employer in January , arguing the way she was treated - specifically by Murdoch and Dr van Onselen - had damaged her career and had a severe impact on her mental health. She has been on leave since June 7, 2021 after suffering what she claims to be a personal injury. Ten has filed its defence with the Federal Court, denying its senior editors including network executive editor Anthony Murdoch, and political editor Peter van Onselen ignored, undermined or humiliated her and alleged that George had taken several text message exchanges out of context. Television broadcaster Network 10 has rejected allegations political reporter Tegan George was bullied during her time working in Parliament House, requesting more than 20 claims made to the Federal Court be struck out because they are embarrassing and vague. In her statement of claim, George alleges van Onselen had directed her to move desks to allow a more junior journalist to use her desk, sent parts of a script she had written to Health Minister Greg Hunt without her knowledge (reducing her professional standing with a minister) and refused to meet with her about her workplace concerns. She alleges van Onselen expected her to apologise for hurting his feelings. Network 10 denies these claims and denies any decisions were made to undermine or humiliate George. The network also defended van Onselens inability to have coffee with George and said he was not in a position to meet with Canberra-based journalists except on limited occasions. George alleges her situation escalated after she overheard a conversation between a Network 10 employee and a freelance camera operator in the networks Parliament House bureau in May last year, during which a sexist remark was made about another employee. She said when she refused to make a formal complaint believing it would adversely impact her health she was threatened with disciplinary action. Network 10 claims George refused to be involved in a sexual harassment investigation involving another colleague. A text message allegedly sent by George on May 10, 2021 to Canberra bureau chief Achim Bormann, explained she would not give a statement to help with the investigation. If it was something I wanted to take further, I would have said something in the moment, the text message said. Or even in the week after. I need to do what I expect others would afford me in the same situation. See you tomorrow Network 10 says it did not threaten disciplinary action against George in connection with her refusal to assist with the investigation. Swindlers who prey on the lonely and lovelorn have drained life savings from victims in Connecticut and throughout the nation, state and federal officials warned. Romance scams have cost victims in the U.S. $1.3 billion in the last five years, and the crooks profits have been rising. Recent convictions in a federal trial in Bridgeport reveal the yield in cash, cryptocurrency and gifts available to heartless grifters, authorities say. Advertisement State Attorney General William Tong in a news release referenced the federal case and a Netflix documentary, The Tinder Swindler, which tells the story of a man who allegedly fleeced women out of millions using the Tinder dating app. While the scope and scale of the depicted scam was exceptional, dating app cons are common, state and federal law enforcement officials say. [ Tinder Swindler Simon Leviev might be hosting a dating show ] Scammers strike up relationships, earn their victims trust and persuade them to send money. The romance ripoff artists also use social media apps such as Instagram and Facebook. Advertisement Be hypervigilant when a stranger contacts you online and asks you to share personal information and send money, Tong said. Its most likely a scam. He cited complaints sent to his office in the last two years. One Connecticut woman said she lost $100,000 to a scammer she met on the dating app Bumble. She and the scammer communicated for several months before he claimed to be stranded in Turkey and in debt. The woman sent him $100,000 in wire transfers and BitCoin before realizing it was a scam, Tong said. Ive never thought of myself as a gullible person, but I was manipulated, the woman was quoted as saying in the news release. Earlier this year, a man told Tongs office he was asked to send $6,300 to a woman he connected with on a dating app. The woman said she was traveling in Dubai and needed the money for an emergency. The man recognized the scam and did not pay, the release said. Tho Vu, who spent nearly her entire life savings after being tricked by a crypto scammer posing as a man named Ze Zhao on the dating app Hinge, in Gaithersburg, Md., Feb. 16, 2022. Romance scams -- the term for online scams that involve feigning romantic interest to gain a victim's trust -- have increased in the pandemic. (Schaun Champion/The New York Times) Typically, romance scammers create profiles on dating websites that include false personal details such as the death of a spouse or military service to gain victims trust. Then they ask for money for medical or business emergencies, travel expenses to see the victim and other fictional purposes. Dating scams are among the costliest cons. In 2021, victims lost $547 million, up 80% since 2020, the FTC reported. The median individual reported loss in 2021 was $2,400. Reports about romance scams increased for every age group in 2021, according to the agency. For people ages 18-29, the number of reports increased more than tenfold from 2017 to 2021. But the reported median loss increased with age: people 70 and older reported the highest individual median losses at $9,000, compared to $750 for the 18 to 29 age group, the FTC reported. In mid-February, a federal jury in Bridgeport found three men guilty of bilking millions of dollars from mostly elderly victims through romance and lottery scams. Farouq Fasasi, 27, Rodney Thomas Jr., 31, and Ralph Pierre, 32, were convicted of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering offenses, federal authorities said. Advertisement From August 2015 to March 2020, the men persuaded victims around the nation to send money, gifts and personal details. Victims mailed cash, money orders and checks to various addresses in Connecticut. They also wired or deposited money into bank accounts in the state controlled by the swindlers, authorities said. Fasasi, Thomas, Pierre and other co-conspirators lived together on Sherman Avenue in New Haven, where many packages containing cash, checks and money orders were delivered. To help launder the money, Pierre formed a fake charity called Global Protection Foundation and opened four bank accounts in the fake charitys name, authorities said. The scams defrauded more than 200 victims across the U.S. of more than $5 million, officials said. Many of the victims were elderly and vulnerable, and some victims lost their life savings. One Connecticut victim lost more than $1 million. Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > A jury found Fasasi and Thomas guilty of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and mail fraud. Fasasi also was found guilty of three counts of money laundering. Pierre was found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. Sentencing is set for May 10. These verdicts will help to heal the many individuals who gave thousands of dollars to these predators, U.S. Attorney Leonard Boyle said. I encourage all to resist falling victim to these schemes and not send any money to anyone you havent met in person. Instead, call your local police department, or 833-FRAUD-11, for assistance and to report these crimes. Advertisement Some tips to avoid becoming the victim of a romance scam: Never send money or gifts to a love interest you havent met in person. Scammers will contact you on dating apps and request money, sometimes in the form of cryptocurrency or gift cards. Be wary of someone youve never met professing their love quickly. Tinder calls this lovebombing on its tips to avoid romance scams bit.ly/3M7dUwF. Scammers will often claim to be overseas or in the military and have emergencies in which they need cash immediately. Scammers may study information people share online and then pretend to have common interests, according to the FTC. Details they share about themselves will always include built-in excuses for not meeting in person. For example, many reportedly claim to be serving overseas in the military or working on an offshore oil rig. If you suspect you might be scammed, stop communicating with the person immediately. Seek advice from someone you trust, like a friend or family member. If youve been contacted by someone you dont know online, take time to verify the persons identity and think through what youre being asked. Does it makes sense? Search to see if other people have reported similar stories as scams. Reverse image search (bit.ly/3MaGInT) the persons dating profile picture to see if it belongs to a different person or account. If you find the picture and its associated with another person or the details dont add up, its likely a scam. Victims are urged to contact local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Complainants also may call Tongs office at 860-808-5420, or file a complaint with the office at dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint. Scams also may be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or at ftc.gov/complaint. Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com The ASX increased for a third session in a row despite devastating flooding in north-eastern Australia and rising concerns about the impact of Russias invasion of Ukraine on the global economy and financial markets. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 gained 47.4 points to 7,096.5 points on Tuesday, a rise of 0.7 per cent. The Reserve Banks monthly meeting was unsurprising with rates kept on hold, but traders still expected to see the US Federal Reserve lifting rates later this month. Chairman Jerome Powell was due to provide more details in a speech to Congress overnight. But the pressure to lift rates prompted MSCI Researchs Daniel Szabo and Thomas Verbraken to warn global economies could be at risk of stagflation - where prices rise but demand falls. Floods havent stopped the ASX from recording its third consecutive day of gains. In addition to the growing human toll, which is all too real, Russias invasion of Ukraine could significantly impact economies and financial markets worldwide, they wrote in a blog post this week. MSCI revealed it was considering removing Russia from its Emerging Markets ETF, which would see huge amounts of capital pulled out of listed Russian companies. Mr Szabo and Verbrakens worst-case scenario has central banks unable to postpone monetary tightening because of rising inflation caused by an energy shortage. Equities plunge, credit spreads rise and the U.S. dollar gains versus the euro, they predict. Amid the economic recovery from COVID-19 and high-inflation environment, the U.S. and European economies are vulnerable; anda diversified portfolio of global equities, bonds and real estate could lose 13 per cent under a scenario where stagflationary pressures take the upper hand. Locally, the Commonwealth Bank gained 1.5 per cent after announcing it would sell a $1.8 billion stake Chinese lender Bank of Hangzhou, with NAB, ANZ, Westpac and Macquarie Group also closing higher. GrainCorp gained 1.4 per cent, Elders gained 0.7 per cent, and Nufarm gained 1.3 per cent after official estimates the national harvest would peak at $81 billion in 2021-22. Virtus Health jumped 4.7 per cent to new highs of $7.80 as a bidding war saw CapVest increase its offer. ASX-listed depository receipts in Block Inc gained 12.8 per cent after its Nasdaq listed shares reached a four-week high. Insurer IAG was flat after receiving 6700 claims so far from flooded areas. Suncorp pared losses with a 1.2 per cent rise. And Crown Resorts fell 1 to $12.37 after the financial crimes regulator launched court action alleging innumerable breaches of anti-money laundering laws over the past six years. Sandfire Resources dropped 11.6 per cent after Royal Bank of Canada analysts said half-year results missed expectations Zip Co dropped 6.3 per cent to 22-month lows of $2.07 as detailed an all-scrip acquisition of US-based Sezzle, which ended the day 9.9 per cent higher. In the late 1970s and early 80s, a ripple of momentum in Geelong was building into wave after wave of action. Bored teenagers were expressing themselves in live bands and Maree Robertson found herself at the heart of this sweaty, raucous and captivating musical maelstrom. Now with teenagers of her own at home, Robertson found time in the past two years to turn a dream of documenting Geelongs world-renowned music scene into reality. Dave Thomas on stage with Bored! and, right, a flyer for a live gig in Geelong featuring the band. Credit:Ron McPherson Bored! This Was Geelong is a 680-page book filled with Robertsons treasure trove of photographs, band flyers, letters, posters, newspaper clippings and first-hand accounts from the bands and fans who lived and breathed the scene. The number of contributions from people sharing their memories was enormous, Robertson writes in the books introduction. This a book thats full of love and focused on a time that was ours. Pope Francis has asked people around the world to remember Ukrainians in underground shelters seeking protection from bombardments and thanked Poland for taking in the bulk of refugees from the war. Francis spoke at his weekly general audience on Ash Wednesday, which he has declared a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine. Pope Francis spoke at his weekly general audience on Ash Wednesday, which he has declared a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine. Credit:AP After addressing Poles, the pope went off script to say that the Polish translator on the stage with him, Father Marek Viktor Gongalo, is Ukrainian. His parents are now in underground shelters to protect themselves from the bombs in a place near Kyiv, the pope said. By accompanying him, we accompany all the people who are suffering from the bombings, including his elderly parents and so many other elderly who are in underground shelters defending themselves. Let us remember these people in our hearts. Kyiv residents have been sheltering in metro stations and other underground sites at night, there are long lines for fuel, and some products are running out in shops. More than half a million Ukrainians have fled the fighting since the invasion, which Russia calls a special military operation, began, most crossing into Poland and Romania. The European Commission proposed granting temporary residence to Ukrainian refugees.You were the first to support Ukraine, opening your borders, your hearts and the doors of your homes to Ukrainians fleeing war, the pope said, addressing Poles through the translator. You are generously offering them everything they need to live in dignity, despite the drama of the moment. I am deeply grateful to you and I bless you from my heart. Pope Francis has called for humanitarian corridors to help refugees leave and said those who make war should not be deluded into thinking that God is on their side. Reuters And if so, did they complete an exit interview outlining their concerns of bullying or harassment? The ABCs written reply was blunt. No. Not that the ABC is aware of. N/A. The answers were supplied before the follow-up Senate estimates hearing in February. While Bragg doesnt resile from probing the past lives of public candidates, strangely enough, none of the Liberal Party MPs at the hearing revisited that line of questioning. SECOND SHOT In his crusade to independently vet candidates standing for public office, Bragg fired a round of shots at union official and one-time dating advice writer Misha Zelinsky which were deflected. The Australian Workers Union official and CBUS super fund trustee stood as a Labor candidate for the southern Sydney seat of Cunningham but withdrew in mid-February. Sean Penn with Misha Zelinsky. Credit: It was Zelinskys role as a trustee of a super fund that piqued Braggs curiosity, given action under way by the financial regulator to examine insider trading in the sector. Acting for Parliaments joint committee on corporations and financial services, Bragg asked the Australian Securities and Investments Commission if Zelinsky was under investigation for insider trading in superannuation. The short answer? No. Meanwhile, Zelinsky has sought redemption by becoming a war correspondent in Ukraine for The Australian Financial Review. His dispatches have him as a shoo-in for a Walkleys nomination in the best selfie category, pictured with Sean Penn while sheltering in a hotel bunker. TOP TIER To think we assumed Penny Wong had reached the top when then-Labor leader Bill Shorten named the plain-speaking Adelaidian as opposition leader in the Senate back in 2013. Penny Wong has scored the ultimate achievement in the world of corporate perks. Credit:ILLUSTRATION: JOHN SHAKESPEARE Little did we know of the altitude Wong had yet to reach. Now the opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman has scored the ultimate achievement in the world of corporate perks: Qantas Frequent Flyer Lifetime Platinum Status a designation, in our books, on par with an Australia Day honour or top gong on Dancing With The Stars. When pressed, a Qantas insider confirmed the privilege was bestowed only on passengers once they rack up 75,000 status credits a different measure to frequent flyer points. And the South Australian senator sure knows how to fly. Consider this: frequent flyers earn 10 status credits for a discounted economy flight from Adelaide to Canberra. That means Wong has taken the equivalent of 7500 flights between the two capitals during her lifetime and near-20-year tenure in Federal Parliament. Of course, there were stints on the frontbench first as climate change minister and then as finance and deregulation minister and both gigs involved a packed international travel roster. But thats all in the past. With Wongs new designation, theres plenty to be happy about including lifelong access to the airlines first and business lounges, and a guarantee that your name is top of the pile for international upgrades. It also comes with a handy luggage bonus, which means your bag is first off the plane and first to arrive on a baggage carousel when you land. Less time hanging about in Heathrows Terminal 4? Heck, wed fly to Adelaide for that. STAYING POWER Things are getting messy inside the Melbourne Racing Club, where a board split over the choice of a new chair has prompted the incumbent, Peter Le Grand, to perform a spectacular backflip just days after announcing he would wrap up on March 14. Its been just over four months since the former footy player and prominent businessman told the clubs annual general meeting of his plans to retire. A week ago, he told racing reporter Michael Felgate he would wrap up on March 14. But by the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse last weekend, those plans were out the window. Le Grand told the committee room that hed shelved arrangements to step down and would now stay until late 2022. Daumier, ridden by Mark Zahra, edges out his rivals in Saturdays Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Credit:Getty Images Could it be a case of unbridled passion making it hard to say goodbye? Not so, according to insiders at the exclusive club who say board members are at loggerheads over choosing a successor. The 10-person committee is equally split between non-executive director Matt Cain and transport executive Scott Davidson. To be fair, theres plenty of factors for the directors to consider. Le Grands plain-speaking manner and strident criticism of the Victorian government during lockdown had some club insiders complaining of receiving the cold shoulder from the Andrews government and Racing Minister Martin Pakula in particular. That hatchet appears to have been buried if Pakulas attendance at the racecourse and presence on Le Grands table is anything to go by. But committee members are on high alert over the need to keep things light with the government and the states powerful racing body, Racing Victoria. Presumably, the committee now rates skills in diplomacy at the top of the pile for desired attributes in a new chair. An MRC spokeswoman played down the division, issuing a clipped response on Le Grands Nadia Comaneci-esque performance. Peter Le Grand announced he was stepping down as chairman at the AGM last year and is currently working through transitional arrangements with the board. Nothing like working through transitional arrangements. MULTITASKING CBD loves a multi-hyphenate. And none more so than Ross Andrew Fitzgerald, AM, the academic, historian, novelist, secularist and political commentator. Fitzgerald, an emeritus professor in history and politics at Griffith University, even though he lives in Redfern, Sydney, is the author and co-author of 43 books. His latest is a one of a series of political/sexual satires about corpulent anti-hero Professor Dr Grafton Everest, co-written with Ian McFadyen, of TV series Comedy Company fame. The novel, The Lowest Depths, released last year, is set in Australia and Russia, and during its course the latters dictatorial president for life, Vladimir Putrid, is assassinated. Wish-fulfilment or canny prophecy? Whatever, the ninth novel is on the way, where Everest becomes secretary-general of the United Nations. The books are barely known here but sell well in South Africa and Britain. The first perspective is from Professor Greg Dore, an infectious diseases physician and researcher at the Kirby Institute, who is leading a research project on long COVID. I like Dores views because they tend to be pragmatic and change as the evidence changes, and because he is willing to openly criticise developments and people (including me) when other scientists are not. The second perspective is from Professor Brendan Crabb, head of the infectious diseases-focussed Burnet Institute. The Burnet has done major COVID-19 modelling for the Victorian government. Professor Crabb is a member of OzSAGE; in general, I find OzSAGE members tend to be slightly more pessimistic than other experts about the pandemics future course and the risks we face. Before we get into how to think about the pandemic, its useful to think about how much direct personal risk we face right now Weve talked before about the evidence around Omicrons severity in general, but we have some better data now which allows us to be a bit more personal. Using this data, the Immunisation Coalition have updated their excellent COVID-19 personal risk calculator. Lets start with me, a 31-year-old male with no underlying health conditions who is triple-vaxxed. I have a 1 in 120,000 chance of dying from Omicron if I catch it. Compare that to my risk of dying from choking on food: 1 in 5000 over the course of my life. Or my risk of dying from going for a base-jump: 1 in 2500 per jump. Now, Im not the best case-study here. My chances of dying from COVID-19 even if I was unvaccinated are 1 in 14,000. But what about people who are older? What to make of this data? Professor Colleen Lau, who worked on the team that built the calculator, points out these numbers relate only to death. A lot of other bad things can happen when we get COVID: serious illness, long-lasting symptoms. University of NSW infectious diseases modeller Associate Professor James Wood has a slightly different perspective: In vaccinated people the severity of Omicron (and likely BA.2) is similar to influenza, he says. At a personal level, if you are vaccinated or had Omicron and are not at high risk, then you can consider current COVID variants as comparable to other significant respiratory viruses that circulate seasonally. Something that can make you quite sick and miss work but not a life-threatening virus. Right. So how should I feel? One thing both Dore and Crabb agree on: its time to move on from being anxious about the pandemic. With vaccination rates high it is time, Dore argues, for us to refocus some of the enormous energy we have put into COVID towards other public health problems. What Im concerned about is that we have lost focus on other major public health issues for the country, he tells me. The inevitable consuming of peoples time and energy in the public health sphere has to detract from other public health concerns. I look at Hep C. Were a fair bit behind where we had hoped to be a couple of years ago. There has to be some sort of change in relation to COVID exceptionalism. It has to change. Professor Crabb, meanwhile, notes that while he is quite positive about the current situation, its not over. But what about all the deaths? Theres a weird cognitive dissonance here, I find. We are reopening. The variant is less-severe. Yet our mortality is as high as it has ever been: 1482 people died with coronavirus in Australia in the past month alone. Imagine if you had read that line two years ago. People would be freaking out! One way to square this in your head is to think about risk. The reality is, a global pandemic means Australians are going to die, argues Professor Andrew Robinson, CEO of the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis at the University of Melbourne. This is an unavoidable truth. The mortality rate is low, he says. The number of people dying is upsettingly high. But the rate is less than a quarter of a percent. The risk to the vulnerable Here is where Crabb and Dores viewpoints diverge. What the vastly increased transmission (of Omicron) means is the virus is finding its way to every susceptible person in the community. Everyone who is vulnerable, Professor Crabb argues. This new variant is, in one sense, much more worrying, and in another sense less worrying. Make no mistake, the more transmission, the more suffering and death. Professor Dore disagrees. If you continue to push the line that theres huge swathes of the community that are vulnerable, that drives anxiety. The reality is, a large proportion of the community have an underlying health condition, but the vast majority of those people are at low risk of severe disease if infected. Thats what the data says, he says. To continue to push, to overplay, the vulnerability line, I think is not the way to go. Many, many people who are marginalised in society are at far greater risk from other public health issues. To be honest, if they are vaccinated, COVID is way down the list. Almost three quarters of Australian deaths due to coronavirus up to July 2021 had a pre-existing chronic condition, per the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These people do face a higher risk. But thanks to vaccines, that risk is dramatically lower than it was. Consider this CDC study of 2246 fully-vaccinated Americans who caught COVID-19 in 2020-21 (before Omicron). Some 189, or 8.4 per cent, ended up with severe COVID-19. The underlying condition that made the most difference was immunosuppression; it nearly doubled a persons chances of getting seriously ill. Thats bad. But, because everyone was vaccinated, this doubling was from a low base. Some 446 immunosuppressed patients were included in the data; 86 or 19.2 per cent of them developed severe disease. The elderly and the immunosuppressed are at greater risk, but they are not entirely unprotected. What about restrictions? Professor Crabb is concerned we have become too confident in the success of our vaccines and are not doing enough to use the other tools at our disposal to cut transmission. While we performed brilliantly for the first 18 months, I dont think were performing brilliantly now, he says. What else can we do to protect the community while being more open? What are we doing to get the best quality masks and encourage people to wear them? To get testing and isolation to work where its most needed? To clear the air in our high-risk settings? We could do substantially more. The narrative is far too vaccine-set-and-forget for me. I dont understand it. Are we afraid of not having a social licence, do we not believe in the science? For whatever reason we dont embrace these non-onerous tools as we should. Professor Dore by and large agrees. All that is common sense, he tells me. Its more about the focus. There are only so many public health professionals, so much money and infrastructure, so much political will. And at the moment, he argues, were spending too much of our budget on COVID-19. The next variant The best evidence we have suggests variants of COVID-19 will keep coming. The best experts are reluctant to guess if that variant will be more lethal or less (no, there is no scientific rule that says viruses get less lethal over time). But there are some promising hints that, over time, our immune systems should get better at fighting new variants thanks to the incredible powers of T cells. More on that in a future Examine. Where do I personally find myself landing on all this? Loading I am choosing to treat Omicron as the eye of the storm. With three doses in my system, I am as worried about the virus personally as I am about the flu. Im not in close regular contact with anyone who is extremely vulnerable to the virus. I am not worried about the risk COVID-19 poses to my child. Things may get worse, via a new variant or an outbreak that suddenly overwhelms our healthcare system. Equally, they may well get better. But if there is ever a time to go see friends and family and fully take part in life, this feels like it. Pfizer appears to be far less effective at protecting children aged five to 11 against infection with COVID-19 than it is for adolescents or adults, with experts speculating the Omicron variant or a lower dose of the vaccine could be to blame for its rapidly decreasing protection. New data collected during the Omicron wave by New York state health officials suggests that while Pfizer strongly prevented severe illness and hospitalisation in children, it offered virtually no protection against infection, even within a month of full immunisation. Australian infectious disease physicians and paediatricians still strongly recommend the Pfizer vaccine for children. Credit:AP The findings of the not-yet-peer-reviewed and pre-print study, published on Monday, follow preliminary indications from early clinical trials that the vaccine fared poorly in children aged two to four, who received an even smaller dose. In the study, six New York state public health scientists analysed outcomes for 852,384 fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 17 and 365,502 children aged five to 11 between December last year and January this year. An accounts manager for One Nation is accused of using bogus emails in his attempt to defraud the Electoral Commission of Queensland of $24,000 in election funding. Alexander Stewart Jones, national executive treasurer for the party led by Pauline Hanson, is charged with attempted fraud, forgery and uttering forged documents. Mr Jones is due to appear in person on Wednesday at Brisbane Magistrates Court for a mention of his case. Credit:Robert Shakespeare The 22-year-old, who listed his address in court documents as a three-bedroom Hamilton townhouse renting for $630 a week, had his case mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court again on Wednesday, where it was adjourned to March 31 in the same court. He was charged on December 15 last year after the police investigation began in January following a referral from the Electoral Commission of Queensland. One couple, Lee and Jan Langford, moved into the street in 2000 but now rent their Ryan Street home to students. The Langfords were back on Monday to lend a hand. We knew from before, and you just get on with it. Its like we say to our kids: Shit happens, its how you handle it. Its damage management, Ms Langford said. Lee and Jan Langford in Gray Road, West End. Credit:Tony Moore The Langfords say insurance companies should face scrutiny again after many companies refused to pay out flood or storm insurance in 2011, when we were last flooded. We were lucky and Lee had taken photographs of the water coming up through the grates and it was clean, Ms Langford said. So it wasnt from the river. For us, it was stormwater damage. We ended up getting a small payout. The couple believe Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk should consider a Queensland flood appeal similar to 2011, to help those who will undoubtedly need help. I think the conditions are no different, Ms Langford said. People did not get much of a chance to get their belongings out. Weve been told about the house next door here in Ryan Street where their dog came in at 2am and woke them up. It was waist deep. They would have had no chance to get things out. Jason and Rebecca Petzke. Credit:Tony Moore Jason and Rebecca Petzke paused as they headed to the shops to look at a line of cars barely visible in the floodwater. Mr Petzke backed the Langfords call for a flood appeal. I work in construction and there are lots of companies and workers that are going to struggle after these floods, particularly after two years of COVID, he said. So yes. I definitely think it is something they should think about. Earlier, our neighbour Mark Wheelhouse jumped from his front deck after sleeping upstairs while the water filled the ground floor beneath him. I slept on and off for a couple of hours; then I had a couple of smokes and walked around a little and saw how the water levels were going inside, he said. Mark Wheelhouse. Credit:Tony Moore When I was inside resting the water must have come up three feet or more. I woke up at 7am and thought with all the water inside Im going to have to jump off the balcony. He put dry clothes and his wallet inside a plastic bag and jumped or scrambled down the balcony. Then I waded through the water past my car and the guys across the road were awake and were taking photos. Loading Across Ryan Street, Terry or Jingles as he is known told how he scrambled to repair a Harley-Davidson bike he crashed last week, just so he could get it clear of the rising water at 9.45pm on Sunday. Talk about a biker build-off, the good-humoured, Muswellbrook-born bloke said, referring to a popular YouTube competition where bikers get a fortnight to completely rebuild a motorcycle. I just had to really go for it to get my bike ready. And I did. I just rode her out gently as the water was coming up. That just after 9 on Sunday. In the newer apartments close to the river long-term residents refer to the area as West of Montague Road cars were parked on the footpath outside the new Woolworths as floods filled the basement car parks and cut off Ferry Road and Duncan Street. Allan Farrell (right) and Josh Gilsenan have a generator for power in their units at West End. Credit:Tony Moore West End Community Association president Selina More said questions about how and when Energex turned off the power to the suburb, and how that impacted the apartments occupants, deserved scrutiny. They turned it off on Saturday from about 11am without notice. But particularly for the area, west of Montague Road, theres about 3000 apartments in five streets down there. They are not going to have power for several days. That raises questions of fire compliance and ventilation. In this area between Montague Road and the swollen river nervous people were carrying out belongings, while 40 to 50 more sat charging their phones at the nearby shopping centre. Federal Defence Minister Peter Dutton and a Coalition colleague may risk opening themselves up to perceptions of favouritism or political motivations in the allocation of money from online crowdfunding flood-support campaigns, a public integrity and governance expert has warned. Insurers say it is still too early to determine the size of the recovery bill as south-east Queensland and northern NSW reel from the major flooding event, with more than 150 GoFundMe pages alone already netting more than $500,000 for those affected. Brisbane-based minister Peter Dutton and fellow Coalition MP Luke Howarth have set up online fundraisers for flood recovery efforts amid criticism that such support should come from government. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Griffith University professor and Transparency International Australia board member AJ Brown said while the MPs intentions may have been noble, it was very unwise, if not dangerous for politicians to place themselves at the centre of such a charity fundraising effort. Hes leaving himself open to allegations of favouritism in deciding where it goes, Professor Brown said, suggesting Mr Dutton could have encouraged the council or a local community group to set up the fundraiser instead and then publicised a sizable donation of his own. The Andrews government has dumped its controversial $800 million social housing tax, even if Labor is re-elected, after fierce resistance from the property sector. Less than two weeks after it was announced, Treasurer Tim Pallas on Tuesday ditched the package, which could have streamlined planning approvals, creating $7 billion of economic uplift over 10 years while building 1700 new affordable homes for vulnerable Victorians. State Treasurer Tim Pallas. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Mr Pallas said the rare policy retreat occurred because the property sector reneged on an agreement to support the tax and opposed returning a portion of the new profits to the government to pay for social housing. They are done, they are dusted, and they are finished, he said. This is clearly a disappointing result. An Avon man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to a charge that he distributed pornographic images of children. The U.S. Attorneys office said Michael Ferro, 36, began communicating over an internet platform frequently used by child pornographers with a person he did not know was an undercover FBI operative posing as someone who was abusing his 12-year-old child. Advertisement Prosecutors said Ferro sent the operative an obscene photograph of a child, said he had more photographs, and asked to meet the operatives child. Ferro was arrested on Sept. 29, 2021. Advertisement Ferro is scheduled to be sentenced on May 24 and faces a mandatory minimum of at least five years in prison, according to federal authorities. Ferro had been free on bond since his arrest but was taken into custody after pleading guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. An 11-month-old boy who was in a car when it was allegedly stolen in Melbournes south-east has been reunited with his family, Victoria Police say. Emergency services were called following reports a white 2013 Toyota RAV 4 was stolen from Putt Grove at Keysborough about 2.10pm on Tuesday. Victoria Police Inspector Fiona Halford said the mother of the infant had momentarily stopped on the street and had gotten out of the still-running Toyota, when an unknown man jumped in the drivers seat and drove off. Ms Halford said the theft appeared to be opportunistic. While West Australian hospitality, tourism and events businesses lament impending harsher COVID restrictions, some of the countrys top epidemiologists say flattening the Omicron peak is a worthwhile pursuit. Despite a third-dose vaccination rate of 64 per cent on Monday, WA Premier Mark McGowan announced the state would beef up its public and social health measures from level one restrictions to level two from Thursday as the states hard border was brought down. WA Premier Mark McGowan. Credit:Peter de Kruijff The new restrictions extended the mask mandate to children in year 3 and above and significantly reducing event and venue capacities. The Premier said the restrictions would likely last a month and were a proactive effort to reduce hospitalisations as the states COVID-19 cases approached their predicted peak expected to occur by the end of March. Australia will ramp up its spending on a surge in weapons being shipped to Ukraine after federal cabinet ministers heard new warnings about a Russian advance that will intensify the siege of the capital, Kyiv, and bring massive firepower to the conflict. The growing alarm over the Russian advance, including a column of tanks and troop carriers heading into the capital from the north, led federal ministers to commit to a dramatic increase in military and humanitarian aid on Tuesday with the promise of more funding still to come. The northern end of a 60-kilometre Russian military convoy north-west of Kyiv on Monday. Credit:Maxar Technologies via AP The $105 million Australian pledge was far greater than expected earlier in the week and was approved by the national security committee of cabinet to fund NATO allies that can ship supplies into Ukraine as soon as the coming days. With United States defence officials warning of brutal siege tactics against Kyiv and other cities, western allies are pledging anti-tank missiles, machine guns, bullets and food packages for the Ukrainian forces. Fears of major flooding on Sydneys north-western fringes were growing on Tuesday night as forecasters escalated weather warnings before torrential rainfall expected from a major east coast low threatening the city. Communities in Richmond and the Nepean were on high alert and sandbagging properties, just shy of 12 months since thousands from the same areas were evacuated in what became Sydneys worst floods in 60 years. Flooding at Leichhardt on Tuesday morning. Credit:Renee Nowytarger Late on Tuesday the State Emergency Service (SES) was escalating preparations after the Bureau of Meteorology updated forecast rainfalls in the catchment, with major flooding possible in the upper and lower Nepean rivers, Hawkesbury and the Shoalhaven. We have to prepare for the worst, even if its not as bad as the March flood last year, said SES spokesman Phil Campbell. The federal government has fired a warning shot at Facebook, Twitter and TikTok for allowing posts from Russian state-owned news outlets on their platforms, urging the social media giants to follow the lead of local television networks and pull the services content. Australian TV networks Foxtel and SBS pulled Russian state-owned news services, RT and Sputnik, from their offerings in recent days. The Russian services have also been blocked or restricted by Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube in Europe, following a request from the European Commission. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lashed Russian state media as spreading lies to justify the countrys invasion of Ukraine. Credit:AP However, posts from the two Russian channels remain visible on the digital platforms in Australia, sparking a rebuke from Communications Minister Paul Fletcher. I encourage Facebook and the other large platforms to act responsibly, recalling they are signatories to the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation, he said. First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on November 5, 1956 Russians overrun Budapest Attack by 1000 tanks while talking peace LONDON, Nov. 4.In a lightning invasion today, Russian armoured forces over ran Budapest and are fighting for the rest of Hungary. Front page of The Sydney Morning Herald on November 5, 1956. Credit:SMH Archives Just before noon Moscow Radio interrupted its programme to announce: The Hungarian counter-revolution has been crushed. Unconfirmed reports say that the Russians have seized the Titoist Hungarian Premier, Mr. Imre Nagy, his Government and Hungarian officers who were holding peace talks with Russian officers. In their 1999 book on military strategy in the era of globalisation, Unrestricted Warfare, two Chinese colonels wrote: Warfare has re-invaded human society in a more complex, more extensive, more concealed, and more subtle manner. Over the past five days, war has re-invaded European society with Russias invasion of Ukraine, although it has been anything but subtle. The Ukrainians are fighting hard (and smart) for their people, and the idea of a free and democratic society. This sense of purpose for combatants and the citizens they serve is critical. At the same time, it is not clear that the Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine have a similarly compelling sense of purpose. An armoured personnel carrier burns and damaged light utility vehicles stand abandoned after fighting in Kharkiv. Credit:AP We are approaching a critical phase in the Russian conquest of Ukraine. There have been multiple commitments of Western lethal and non-lethal aid in the past 72 hours. Concurrently, the Russians continue to commit more combat forces. According to background briefings at the Pentagon, Russia now has committed about 75 per cent of its combat power initially arrayed at the Ukrainian border. After an initial lack of progress, it is likely that the Russian military leadership has rethought its strategy and will change its operational approach in the Ukraine. This will result in an increase in the use of artillery, rockets, thermobaric weapons, and air-delivered munitions as they turn to their more traditional approaches to war to secure their version of victory. They were hailed as national heroes and promised Ukraines highest honour posthumously for their bravery after standing up to the Russian Navy in a key Black Sea atoll in a final act of defiance against the invading forces. The defenders of Zmiinyi Island, also known as Snake Island, went viral as the victims of Russias first major transgression in the war with Ukraine and a symbol of the bravery of the Ukrainian people in the face of the invasion. Snake Island. Credit:location4film.com.ua But on Tuesday morning AEDT the Ukrainian navy said the border guards were alive and well and had surrendered to the Russians. The guards drew international attention last Thursday after an audio recording of their purported encounter with the Russian warship was published online by the Ukrainian news outlet Ukrayinska Pravda. The recording was later verified by a Ukrainian official. Yet there he stood on the second day of Russias invasion, surrounded on the street by his top advisers and military officials, the moment crafted for YouTube, choosing precisely the words his people might need: We are all here, defending our independence, our country. And it will stay that way. Glory to the men and women defending us. Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the heroes. Within hours, millions across the world had downloaded the moment. And in the past 24 hours, condemning the Russians for attacking residential areas in the city of Kharkiv at the very time so-called peace talks were occurring, Zelensky chose words that rang with perfectly clipped outrage. Peaceful city. Peaceful residential areas. No military facilities. No one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people, he said. At a time when the power to inspire might be as important as an artillery piece, Zelenskys path to political leadership appears to have equipped him like few others with the ability to motivate his own people and to attract the support of much of the world. He was born in Kryvyi Rih to Jewish parents, a Russian-speaking region in southern Ukraine. His father was a cybernetics professor and university lecturer and his mother worked for 40 years as a civil engineer. Zelensky became, after gaining a bachelors degree in law, a highly successful entertainer with a sharp line in political satire whose campaign for Ukraines presidency in 2019 was run entirely on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Alongside him was the woman who became his wife in 2003, scriptwriter, trained architect and champion of social and humanitarian causes, Olena (nee Kiyashko), who was born in the same region as her husband, and in the same year, 1978. They met at Kryvyi Rih National University. Though she reportedly opposed her husbands political aspirations initially, she is considered his most steadfast ally, who refuses to leave her homeland as the war rages. She is said to be in an undisclosed area in Ukraine with the couples two children, Oleksandra, 17 and Krylo, 9. And Olena, too, uses social media to inspire. I will not have panic and tears, she wrote to Ukrainians in an Instagram post last week. I will be calm and confident. My children are looking at me. I will be next to them. And next to my husband. And with you. Zelensky and his team controlled the presidential campaign in 2019 to the point that Ukraines TV and other news media channels were reduced to replaying Zelenskys savvy YouTube statements over and over because he drastically restricted the number of his formal interviews. The result was that his rare face-to-face appearances rose in value and his own messages and key ideas still broke through. He won the election with more than 70 per cent support from voters. Perhaps the only other major political figure to achieve such political impact through social media was Donald Trump, who used Twitter as a weapon and a personal noticeboard. Zelensky acknowledged that he had studied Trumps approach during what would become an infamous phone call between the US and Ukrainian presidents on July 25, 2019. Loading A partial transcript of the conversation revealed Zelensky said to Trump: I would like to confess to you that I had an opportunity to learn from you. We used quite a few of your skills and knowledge and were able to use it as an example for our elections. The conversation later led to Trumps impeachment after it became obvious he had tried to strongarm Zelensky into investigating the Democratic Party and the family of Joe Biden, who Trump claimed had been involved in allegedly corrupt dealings with a Ukrainian prosecutor. Zelensky had asked Trump to increase military aid to allow Ukraine to purchase Javelin missiles for defence purposes. Trump, who had suspended $US400 million of military aid to Ukraine just a week before, made it clear such a request would depend on Zelenskys co-operation in investigating the Bidens, saying: I would like you to do us a favour, though. Zelensky might have been moved to reflect privately on one of his old barbed gags when he was a stand-up comedian: Can someone be a president and not steal anything? Well, this is a rhetorical question, as no one has ever tried to do so. Trump is gone now and Zelenskys greater foe, Vladimir Putin, has sent his military machine to Zelenskys door. But it remains tempting to imagine that Trumps attempt at quid pro quo blackmail gave Zelensky insight into the level of pressure great powers are capable of exerting, and perhaps helped toughen him for todays battles for national survival. Meanwhile, the social media world has fallen hard for this Ukrainian leader, not least through discovering bewitchingly video-friendly elements of his past. Millions seem transfixed at the YouTube evidence that Zelensky won the first season of the Ukraine version of Dancing with the Stars in 2006. There he is all over Twitter, all rhythm and athletic flare, the audience and the judges going gaga. Millions more melted to discover Zelensky had been the voice of Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian version of the enormously popular movie. And a clip from his old TV comedy drama, Servant of the People (he created, produced and starred in the show himself), remains on high rotation. It is considered to be an almost impossibly accurate prediction of the future. The vaccines effectiveness against hospitalisation declined to 73 per cent from 85 per cent in the older children. In the younger children, effectiveness dropped to 48 per cent from 100 per cent. But because few children were hospitalised, these estimates have wide margins of error. The numbers for protection from infection are more reliable. Vaccine effectiveness against infection in the older children decreased to 51 per cent from 66 per cent. But in the younger children, it dropped sharply to just 12 per cent from 68 per cent. The numbers change drastically between ages 11 and 12. During the week ending January 30, the vaccines effectiveness against infection was 67 per cent in 12-year-olds but just 11 per cent in 11-year-olds. The difference between the two age groups is striking, said Florian Krammer, an immunologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The biological difference between the two ages is likely to be minimal, but while 12-year-old children got 30 micrograms of the vaccine the same dose given to adults children who were 11 received only 10 micrograms, he noted. Loading This is super interesting because it would almost suggest that its the dose that makes the difference, Krammer said. The question is how to fix that. There have been at least 851 deaths involving COVID-19 in children under 17, and nearly 7,000 cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a rare but serious condition associated with COVID. More children were hospitalised during the Omicron surge than at any other point in the pandemic. The findings underscore the need to gather more information on the best dose, number and timing for the shots given to children, Rosenberg said. They also underscore vaccines as just one measure of protection from the virus, along with masks and social distancing, he said. Rosenbergs research was posted just days after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention released new recommendations that would allow the majority of Americans to stop wearing masks, including in schools. The new data also raises important questions about the Biden administrations strategy for vaccinating children. Only about 1 in 4 children ages 5-11 has received two doses of the vaccine. (The CDC has not yet recommended booster doses for this age group.) The vaccine has not yet been authorised for children younger than 5. Scientific advisers to the Food and Drug Administration were scheduled to meet February 15 to evaluate two doses of the vaccine for the youngest children, while three doses were still being tested. But the meeting was postponed after Pfizer submitted additional data suggesting two doses were not strongly protective against the omicron variant. Loading Rosenberg briefed top CDC officials, including Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, the agencys director, with findings in early February. FDA leaders learned of the data around the same time. Some federal scientists pushed for the data to be made public before the FDA expert meeting scheduled for February 15, viewing it as highly relevant to the discussion about dosing in children under 5, federal officials and others familiar with their responses to it said. The data is generally consistent with a report from Britain showing that vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection in adolescents ages 12-17 drops to 23 per cent after two months. The CDC has been compiling its own data on the vaccines effectiveness in younger children and is expected to release at least some of it as early as this week, according to people familiar with the agencys plans. Israeli researchers have also been assessing the vaccines performance in young children since the country made it available to them in November. We continue to study and assess real-world data from the vaccine, Amy Rose, a spokeswoman for Pfizer, said in response to queries about the new data. Dr Philip Krause, who recently retired from the FDA as a senior vaccine regulator, said assumptions about certain antibody levels being predictive of vaccine effectiveness should be re-evaluated in light of the new results. It certainly weakens the argument for mandating that people get that lower dose, he said. It is not unusual for experts to revisit the dosing and interval for pediatric vaccines as more evidence becomes available. But in this case, giving the children a higher dose to kick up the immune response may not be an option because some data suggest that it may cause too many fevers, an unwelcome and potentially dangerous side effect in young children. There are other alternatives that may improve immunity in young children, said Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunologist at the University of Arizona. Pfizer and BioNTech are testing a third dose in children under 5, as well as in those ages 5-11, with the idea that, as in adults, an extra shot may significantly augment immunity. Results from these trials are expected in several weeks. Studies in adults suggest that three doses of the vaccine were more protective against the Omicron variant than two doses. Bhattacharya said he and his wife spaced the two doses for their children, who are 8 and 10, by eight weeks rather than the currently recommended three, based on studies suggesting that a longer gap between doses may improve protection. The CDC last week encouraged some people older than 12, especially boys and men ages 12-39, to wait eight weeks between the first and second shot. Another option may be a version of the vaccine designed to thwart the omicron variant, or one that has a mix of several variants. Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are all testing Omicron-specific versions of their vaccines. The next variant may differ widely from omicron, much as omicron did from the delta variant. But training the body to recognise multiple versions would still offer a better chance at preventing infection with newer forms of the virus. Ukraines resistance to Russias invasion epitomizes a stark example of passionate fighting for the homeland. Ukrainians and their leaders commitment to stay and fight, risking life against superior forces, is profoundly inspiring. The United States joins a large international community that is fortifying its efforts with funds and materiel. Advertisement Ukrainians are also valiantly working to exploit home-field advantage with subterfuge, improvised explosive devices and surprise attacks. And then there is the cyber dimension both offense and defense of this heartbreaking, unprovoked war. Discussion of cyber has been drowned out by the immediate, visible impact of Russias aggression. But we overlook it at our peril. Advertisement Soldiers in Belgium prepare to depart to Romania to join the NATO Response Force, which was activated following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) (Olivier Matthys/AP) In 2013, Russian Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Defense Minister Valery Gerasimov articulated a blueprint of tactics to achieve strategic goals, or as one analyst put it, What Gerasimov was talking about was the use of subversion to prepare the battlefield before intervention. Such tactics include conventional attacks, terror, economic coercion, propaganda and cyber, currently being deployed to disrupt government and bank services. The Ukrainians have long suffered from and are bitter about being a Russian petri dish for Russian cyber weaponry. Russia weaponized social media, flooding it with disinformation, during its 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Russia has twice used cyber to shut off electricity in Kyiv in the winter. Then there was the NotPetya malware in 2017, which was spread through software for filing taxes in Ukraine but metastasized to cripple ports, corporations and government agencies around the world. Make no mistake, cyber is bound to be a player in the current battle, and our distant, physical borders are no comfort. Several scenarios could lead the United States and NATO countries to be drawn into cyber exchanges with Russia: direct response to resupplying Ukrainian forces or to economic sanctions deemed to be acts of war; malware deployment like NotPetya that spills beyond its intended target in Ukraine to damage Europe and the United States; cyberwarfare spilling into Poland or another NATO member, interpreted as an attack and triggering NATOs Article 5 joint defense provision. Cyber easily triggers unforeseen consequences. As a United States resident, you are not immune. As a Connecticut resident, you may be interested to know that our state was active in strengthening Ukraines cyber defense after 2015. During my time at Connecticuts Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and subsequently as chief cybersecurity risk officer, we became the first state with a cybersecurity strategy and action plan, initially for critical infrastructure and then more broadly for the state. The U.S. Agency for International Development included the Connecticut model of critical infrastructure defense assessment in its support offered to Ukraine, other Black Sea countries, the Baltics and former Yugoslav countries. We made our strategy available to them and held several overseas training sessions during which participants agreed that national security vulnerability directly tied to inadequate relationships between utilities and national intelligence and military authorities. Opinion Weekly Perspective on the week's biggest stories from the Courant's Opinion page > Within a few years that support became outdated. Security is not a state in which you exist; its a constant battle. Nation states have continued to penetrate utilities in the U.S. and Europe with sophisticated malware, and the West has reciprocated. Our national intelligence capabilities track such plantings and work to keep penetrators unaware of what we know. However, this leaves our utilities half-blind, with defenses to fend off a wide range of hackers and ransom attackers but detached from the sophisticated national security threats to their operating systems. Clearly, a cyberattack derived from any cause, including the Ukraine war, demands a comprehensive, national plan to join the separate worlds of intelligence and critical infrastructure as well as municipal, state, regional and national leadership. After all, the states could not have implemented the national highway system without national leadership. Advertisement Every states infrastructure also needs first-rate defenses in the form of strong, diverse resilient networks. That means a high density of small nodes and lots of pathways between them, so there are backups for nodes and pathways that are not destroyed. We need redundant applications, backup processes and planning and training for network failure. Preparation also requires some old-school bench strength: analog systems in some instances, physical backups and manual options for operating systems. We can never forget, however, that cyber offense is more powerful than cyber defense all over the world. We need to get beyond the Maginot line mentality that we can prevent any attack. Clever forces will go around our lines. Someday it will happen, and none of our states has adequately come to terms with cyber weaponry against domestic or international targets. A women embraces her son as the family reunites after fleeing from Ukraine at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, on March 1. Cyberattacks preceded Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) (Markus Schreiber/AP) Finally, we need to anticipate and face up to how ugly a compromised system could be and rehearse what we will do when it happens. How would Connecticut handle loss of electricity for more than two weeks? No drinking water? Inoperable banks and hospitals whose generators have run out of diesel fuel? Perhaps the reality of a war whose arsenal includes cyber weaponry that could hit the United States and any of our hometowns will motivate national, state and corporate leaders to prepare for dangers that are increasingly at our doorstep. Arthur House has worked at the National Security Council and for the director of National Intelligence. He chaired Connecticuts Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and was Connecticuts chief security officer. Currently he is an adjunct professor at UConn. He lives in Simsbury. Wellington: Wearing riot gear and using pepper spray, New Zealand police on Wednesday moved in on the hundreds of protesters who have been camped outside the nations Parliament for more than three weeks. A fire broke out among some tents, sending smoke billowing over the site before it was doused by police, as officers towed cars and worked to completely clear the grounds. Those protesters illegally occupying Parliament grounds and surrounding streets have been given ample opportunity to leave. It is time for them to go, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a news conference after the police action. It was the most significant use of force yet by authorities against the protesters, who oppose coronavirus vaccine mandates. We in the Pacific have been raising the alarm about the impacts of climate change for decades, but the latest United Nations climate science report on impacts hits especially hard. The report confirms our darkest fears that humanity has already severely tested natures resilience and it is clear that we have already caused irreversible harm to our planet. My people in Kiribati are effectively paying the price for the worlds addiction to fossil fuels. By 2050 up to 80 per cent of the land on the island of South Tarawa, one of the most densely populated places on the planet, may be completely inundated and these effects will result in significant loss of livelihoods and massive human displacement. Globally, most ocean reefs, including the very reefs Kiribati is built on, will have lost their ability to grow with the rising tide. Kiribati is effectively paying the price for the worlds addiction to fossil fuels. Credit:James Alcock Even if global temperatures are kept within 1.5C as per the Paris Agreement, there will still be biodiversity losses, water insecurity, submergence of reef islands, economic decline, loss of cultural resources and heritage. And it will be the worlds poorest and most vulnerable, those who have contributed the least to global warming, who will pay the biggest price. Tens of millions around the world will be pushed into poverty as climate change disrupts their livelihoods and their environments. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change makes it abundantly clear that we still have time to reverse course and avoid future nightmares but this requires strong political commitment by polluting countries and a radical reassessment of the role of the fossil fuel industry. Quint Digital Media Limited, a digital media group, announced on Tuesday that it has entered into a binding term sheet with the . will acquire a minority stake in Quintillion Business Media Private Limited. "The proposed transaction with the is only for QBM which is a digital business platform and not in relation to other digital media/ media tech properties owned by Quint Digital viz. The Quint, Quintype Technologies, thenewsminute and Youthkiawaaz," said Quint Digital in a stock exchange filing without quantifying the stake Adani was taking. Adani Media Ventures intends to lead the path for new age media across different platforms. The adoption of technology and the increased ability of our nation to consume information has dramatically transformed the way media is expected to disseminate authentic information. This is exactly what Adani Media Ventures aims to do. I have had the privilege of working with QBMs talented, credible and diverse team. This relationship between AMV and QBM marks a strong beginning of Adani Groups foray into Indian media, said Sanjay Pugalia, CEO, Adani Media Ventures Limited. QBM is a business and financial company and operates a leading business digital platform in India. QBMs main content is based on the Indian economy, international finance, corporate law & governance and business news, amongst others through its platform Bloomberg | Quint. We are delighted to welcome the Adani Group as an investor in QBM. Given the proven execution record of the Adani group, their support to fulfill the ambitions of QBM will lay the foundation for accelerating the growth of the business and scale of QBMs high quality content for the Indian audiences, said Anil Uniyal, CEO, QBM. Last year, there were media reports claiming that Adani is looking to acquire a Delhi-based media house, which many speculated to be NDTV. Meanwhile, Bloomberg Media and Quintillion Media on Tuesday announced the restructuring of their partnership in India. The have ended their equity joint venture in favor of a new content license agreement. Bloomberg Media and Quintillion Media will no longer co-produce content but will continue to distribute Bloomberg content in India through a license agreement We have valued our relationship with the Quintillion Media team. While we have mutually decided to shift the focus of our work together, Bloomberg Media remains committed to our presence in India and look forward to a continued relationship with Quint," said M Scott Havens, CEO, Bloomberg Media Our joint venture with Bloomberg Media was the embodiment of resilient energy. Our digital-only premium subscription product has quickly become the market leader. Even as our terms of engagement with Bloomberg Media have changed, we look forward to imparting a new energy and spirit to the new website," said Raghav Bahl, Co-founder, Quintillion Media. With Tuesday's move, Adani is set to face off with Reliance which owns India's Network18 that runs several business TV news channels and online platforms. Adani Group has a market capitalization of over $150 billion, comprising seven publicly listed which are in the businesses of operating airports and ports, power generation and transmission, coal and gas trading. Snapmint has raised $9 million in its Series A from a clutch of marquee investors and industry leaders led by Prashasta Seth, CEO & CIO of Prudent Investment Managers. The round also saw participation of 9 Unicorns, Anicut Capital, Negen Capital, Livspace founder Ramakant Sharma, Usama Fayyad - Chairman of Open Insights and head of Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University, among other angel investors. Snapmint, a BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) platform, makes it easy for Gen Z consumers to buy any lifestyle category product, be it clothes, accessories or mobile phones, using small installments and no-cost monthly payment options, said the company. It has over 4 million consumers on its platform, many of who are from Tier 2/smaller towns, and serves over 27,000 pin-codes across India. With this round of investment, Snapmint plans to expand its network of merchants, launch a suite of BNPL products and power the purchases of over 450 million consumers in India. Nalin Agrawal, Co-founder of Snapmint said, This investment will boost our expansion plans as we look to grow our merchant partners 50x pan-India and bring a unique shopping experience to our customers. Our transaction-led underwriting models allow us to democratize access to credit, provide fair financial terms and give the freedom of choice to our consumers. IIT batchmates and serial entrepreneurs Nalin Agrawal, Anil Gelra, Abhineet Sawa and Rahul Agarwal, founded Snapmint in 2017. They researched the market on the observation that only a handful of their employees actually had a credit card and many were afraid of onerous credit card terms. As per industry estimates, although there are nearly 450 million bank account holders, there are less than 35 million active credit card users. On the other hand, over 15 million young consumers join the workforce every year, and they aspire to buy a range of lifestyle products. Snapmint was founded to give customers the option of paying using convenient installments, thus letting them manage their monthly cash flows without burning a hole in their pocket. Prashasta Seth, CEO and CIO of Prudent investment Managers said, We are truly impressed by the teams ability to underwrite young customers from Tier2/small towns instantly and seamlessly, which shows in the portfolio quality. This differentiates them from a vast majority of the other players in the space. The $810 billion Indian retail market is the fourth largest in the world, and affordable credit options will continue to boost the growth of this market. A 2021 report by Bain and Co. shows that 80% of the growth in new e-retail customers came from Tier-2/ smaller towns in India. Snapmint is looking to democratize access to credit by allowing these customers to buy on interest free installments, with no hidden costs. For online merchants, Snapmints platform gives upto a 25% boost to sales, opening up a brand-new segment of customers which were previously not shopping with them. Two weeks after he was appointed chief executive officer, has declined the offer to join the Tata Group-owned airline. Aycis departure, even before taking charge, comes in the backdrop of a controversy around his security clearance prospects. Ayci, former chairman of Turkish Airlines, had earlier served as advisor to Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His closeness to Erdogan drew criticism on social media given the frosty relations between India and Turkey. More recently, Rashtriya Swayam Sevak-backed Swadeshi Jagaran Manch opposed the appointment on grounds of national security. Ayci, who spearheaded Turkish Airlines to its turnaround and success, blamed the media for viewing his appointment with an undesirable prism. As a business leader who has always prioritized professional credo and more importantly the happiness and well-being of my family above all else, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be a feasible or honourable decision to accept the position in the shadow of such a narrative, he said in a statement on Tuesday. Ayci said he had recently met Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran to convey his decision of not accepting the post. Tatas, which won the bid and acquired in a Rs 18,000-crore deal last year, did not comment. While Aycis exit is being seen as a major hurdle for Tata Groups effort to revamp operations, this is not the first such departure for the salt-to-software conglomerate. In March 2021, Marc Llistosella, then a top Daimler executive, was named Tata Motors CEO. Llistosella declined to join and Guenter Butschek continued as CEO till June 2021. Since then Tata Motors has been without a CEO. To the question on Tatas plan B for Air India leadership, sources said the airline would be operated by a five-member committee in the interim. Tata Sons has resumed the process of hiring a CEO. The five member committee is headed by Nipun Aggarwal, senior vice president at Tata Sons. While head hunting firm Egon Zehnder had shortlisted other names besides Iyci for Air India CEO, any fresh appointment at that level will require more than a month, sources said. Incidentally, Llistosella was shortlisted for Tata Motors by the same executive search firm. Talking about the interim five-member committee, a source said that the airline under the current set-up has improved its financial performance as well as on timings and passenger focus. "Wherever required, experts from the group are assisting the interim committee. This is not to say that the company can stay headless but the interim management has been quite adept at running the airline, a person familiar with the operation said. The daily loss at the airline has been reduced primarily due to financial restructuring prior to disinvestment. Around Rs 46,000 of debt of the company was taken over by the government before handing over the national carrier to the . Sources said that Suresh Tripathi, former vice president of human resources at Tata Steel HR, is involved with Air Indias restructuring process while a team from Tata Consultancy Services is working to integrate the airlines software with the One Tata Operating Network (OTON). A second team with people from Taj Hospitality group and led by Sandeep Verma--who earlier headed in-flight services for Vistara--is looking at improving the airlines soft image. The DGCA rules make it compulsory for the airline to designate an accountable manager whos responsible for airline's operations. In most cases, the CEO of an airline is designated as accountable manager. Besides appointment of a new CEO and planning an Air India board, Tata Sons is also working on restructuring and merger of the operations of its low- cost airline AirAsia India and Air India Express- a subsidiary of Air India. Sources said that the groups partnership with Malaysian airline AirAsia Bhd would be over by the end of March . An executive of a head hunting firm with experience in aviation termed Aycis exit as unfortunate adding that it will reduce Indias attractiveness as a work place for foreign executives. As it is, it is not easy to convince accomplished foreign executives to come and work in India. Such incidents where a large group like Tata Sons has to bow down to public pressure for appointments will hit the sentiments further, he said. According to the ministry of home affairs guidelines, an airlines board of directors requires a security clearance. Security clearance is also required in case the post of CEO, CFO and COO is filled with a foreign citizen. In his resignation letter to the Board, co-founder Ashneer Grover has hit out at the in his company. In the wee hours of Tuesday, the embattled founder of the fintech unicorn quit as the managing director and one of the directors of the Board. Shedding light on his fraught relationship with the companys investors, Grover wrote: "You treat us founders as slaves pushing us to build multi-billion-dollar businesses and cutting us down at will. Investor-founder relation in India is one of master-slave. I am the rebel slave who must be hung by the tree so none of the other slaves can dare to be like me ever again." "None of you, including the ones based in India, have ever been to our office even once, since the pandemic turned our lives upside down and sought to suffocate the economy. Not even once. Not Micky. Not Harshjit. Not Mohit. Not Teru San. Not Rahul. Not Deven. No one. None of you even turned-up despite an invitation for the inauguration of our new office," he added. Grover was referring to Micky Malka of Ribbit Capital, Harshjit Sethi of Sequoia, Teruhide Sato of Beenext, Rahul Vijay Kishore of Coatue, and Deven Parekh of Insight Partners. Ribbit Capital owns 11 per cent of shareholding in the company, Beenext holds 9.6 per cent, Sequoia 19.6 per cent, Coatue 12.4 per cent, according to data from Tracxn. Insight Partners holds around 10 per cent of the company, according to media reports. Grover has resigned amid a tussle in the company where Grover has found himself on the opposite side of the Board, key in the company and his co-founders. Meanwhile, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) has refused to grant emergency relief to Grover from a governance review being conducted by the company, according to sources. Earlier this month, he had filed an arbitration plea earlier this month to stop a probe into alleged financial mismanagement in the company. The MD, who went on leave last month till March-end, is also said to be seeking indemnity against future action by the company through the plea. The company and Grover are also reportedly in talks to settle the matter by buying out the latters stake in the unicorn. Grovers stake of 9.5 per cent in the company was worth Rs 1,915 crore based on the last funding round in August, when was valued at $2.8 billion. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. 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Digital Editor The government on Tuesday issued a memorandum promising a one-time relaxation measure for bringing back pet dogs and cats along with stranded Indians who are being evacuated from war-hit . The measure by the government followed an appeal from the People for the Ethical Treatment of (PETA) India after the non-profit noticed a video on social media on Saturday. In the video, Rishabh Kaushik, a final-year undergrad student of software engineering at the Kharkiv University of Radio Electronics in Ukraine, complained that he had been trying to contact Indian authorities but they repeatedly asked him for documents in order to bring his pet dog, Malibu. India wrote to Parshottam Rupala, the minister for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying. On Tuesday, shared the office memo that includes relaxed pre-import and post-import conditions and directs regional officers of all animal quarantine and certification services (AQCS) to coordinate with the state veterinary authorities concerned to share details of each migrant pet with the Centres Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. We are extremely thankful to the Modi government for this compassionate decision to include companion in the evacuation process. Separating animal companions from their guardians would have been another tragedy for those desperately fleeing Ukraine, and it would have only resulted in more heartbreak and unnecessarily lost lives, said India Chief Executive Officer and veterinarian Manilal Valliyate in a press release. He added that with this decision, India joined a select list of countries including Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania that have made entry for less bureaucratic, thereby helping families, including people like Rishabh, escape the warzone with their beloved companion animals. When asked about how the relaxation has eased conditions, Valliyate told Business Standard that according to the existing law, anyone bringing a companion animal from abroad has to produce proof of continuous stay of two years in that particular country, along with proof of transferring his or her residence to India, which implies an airline ticket. Besides this, one requires an advance customs permission. Most importantly, the individual has to produce a health certificate from a vet ruling that the animal is free from any contagious diseases, as well as a vaccination certificate that is valid. The vaccination of the animal has to be within 12 months of travel, with the latest round not less than one month prior. Finally, the person has to give a declaration saying that the animal is not being transported for any commercial purposes. Putting this tedious documentation aside, Valliyate says, what the government has now done is to allow a person to give a declaration claiming possession of the pet for merely one month. Ideally, the government still prefers a health certificate and vaccination certificate of the animal. If you are travelling and crossing the border to another friendly country, you can take the animal to a veterinarian and get a certificate. The memo gives further relaxation. For example, if you have a vaccination certificate, upon arrival at a place where you have the quarantine services, the pet will be examined along with the certificate and given a clearance. In case there is no vaccination certificate, the animal will be kept in quarantine for 15 or 30 days, at the end of which the animal will be vaccinated, Valliyate said. After the animal is taken home, it has to be taken to a vet and its owner has to submit a certificate to the AQCS. Valliyate pointed out that India is an exception of sorts, as other countries relaxing rules similarly are those bordering . A Facebook page of the alumni association of St Josephs Academy, a co-ed school in Dehradun where Kaushik studied, posted his video and has been giving regular updates on his whereabouts.It had posted that Kaushik had refused to leave for Dubai with his family on February 19. His family runs an export business in . When the crisis in Ukraine worsened, Kaushiks father immediately arranged a visa for his return. But Kaushik was adamant about leaving with his pet. Praveen Chandhok, who heads the alumni association of the school, said Kaushik caught a train from Kiev on Monday, along with Malibu, to Uzhhorod, a city in western Ukraine along the border with Slovakia and near Hungary. He is expected to reach Hungary on Tuesday and fly with his pet to India soon after. An Express flight carrying 182 Indians nationals from war-torn landed here from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday morning, an airline spokesperson said. The AI Express flight IX-1202 from Bucharest via Kuwait touched down the runway at 7.40 am, he said. An aircraft to bring back Indian nationals from had left from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) for Bucharest on Monday. This is the second evacuation flight operated to Mumbai from Bucharest to bring back Indians from war-hit since February 27. (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.) All Indian nationals have left Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Foreign Secretary said on Tuesday. At a media briefing, Shringla said he has conveyed to envoys of Russia and Ukraine India's demand for "urgent safe passage" for all Indian nationals stuck in Kharkiv and other conflict zones. He said at a high-level meeting on the Ukraine crisis, PM Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the loss of life of an Indian citizen in Kharkiv. "We remain very concerned over the situation in Kharkiv, Sumy and other conflict zones," Shringla said. "Over the next three days, 26 flights have been scheduled to bring back Indian citizens," he said. Shringla said a C-17 IAF aircraft is expected to fly out at 4 AM on Wednesday to Romania to repatriate our citizens. India has been operating flights to bring back Indians from Romania and Hungary after they crossed over to these countries. Shringla also said that Prime Minister Modi received a call from President of France Emmanuel Macron. Modi also spoke to the President of Poland. Apart from Bucharest and Budapest, airports in Poland and the Slovak Republic will also be used to operate evacuation flights, he 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 Home Minister is scheduled to visit on March 8 to attend the fourth anniversary celebration of the BJP-IPFT government in the state. He will also lay the foundation stone of the Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) campus in Jarulbachai area of West district. The NFSU is presently functioning from the old building of Basic Training College near Buddha Mandir in heart of Agartala. Shah is scheduled to attend a rally to mark the completion of four years of the BJP-IPFT government. Though the anniversary is on March 9, the event will be held a day earlier. The Union home minister will also launch two welfare schemes of the state government on the occasion. Shah will arrive in on March 8 morning and leave the northeastern state by evening. state vice president Rajib Bhattacharjee said that Chief Minister Biplab Deb has already held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath and state president Dr Manik Saha at the state party headquarters to chalk out a plan for the rally at Vivekananda Ground. "The Union home minister will lay the foundation stone of NFSU in Jarulbachai area in Dukli block of West Tripura district. The state government has also requested him to launch the PRASHAD programme, a tourism-related project at Tripureswari temple," Prashanta Kumar Goyal, secretary to the chief minister, said on Tuesday. He said that the details of the tour are yet to be finalised. The Centre has already sanctioned Rs 100 crores for the infrastructural development of NFSU, considered an institute of international importance. The state government has allotted 50 acres of land to build the NFSU campus in Jarulbachi area. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as 162 persons tested positive for coronavirus, while two died of the infection in on Tuesday, an official from the state health department said. With this, the tally of infections in the state has risen to 12,22,790 and the toll stood at 10,932, he said. At least 333 patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, taking the count of recoveries to 12,10,211, the official said, adding that the state is now left with 1,647 active cases, with 16 patients being on ventilator support. As per official data, Ahmedabad reported 65 new cases, Vadodara 23, Banaskantha 12, Surat 11 and Rajkot eight cases, among others. Both the fatalities were reported in Vadodara, the official said. Meanwhile, 31,552 people received COVID-19 jabs on Tuesday, raising the number of doses administered so far to 10.30 crore. The Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu reported one new case, taking the count of cases to 11,410, including 11,404 recoveries and four casualties. There are currently two active cases in the region, it was stated. Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 12,22,790, new cases 162, death toll 10,932, discharged 12,10,211, active cases 1,647, people tested so far - figures not released. (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 Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said 11 more students from the state, who were stranded in war-torn Ukraine, have reached New Delhi, as part of the evacuation mission. With their return, overall 12 students from the northeastern state have been evacuated so far. "11 students of Meghalaya, who are studying in Ukraine, have reached Delhi safely. Efforts are on to get the rest of the students back home safely," Conrad said on Twitter. Still, several students from the state remained stranded in the restive country, an official said. Of the 12 students, Ishika Debnath, a resident of Laitumkhrah area in Shillong, had arrived here on Sunday after taking a flight from Ukraine's neighbour Romania. Debnath, a student of Bukovanian State Medical University, had taken the flight after crossing the Ukraine-Romania border with the help of the Indian Embassy, her parents said. She boarded a bus from her university and reached the border on February 24. "We got off the bus and walked for around 4-5 km before crossing the border, and were then escorted to the airport," she said. Debnath said she heaved a sigh of relief after finding her name in the second Indian Embassy list of 240 students who would be evacuated. "There were some Assam students from my batch, and I was the only one from Meghalaya," she said. Chief Secretary R V Suchiang said the state government is in constant touch with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safe return of the remaining students. (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.) Congress leader on Tuesday condoled the death of an Indian student in shelling in Ukraine's Kharkiv and called upon the Union government to draw up a strategy for the safe evacuation of all stranded Indians. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the death in a tweet on Tuesday and said it was in touch with the family of the student. The student, Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, was a native of Chalageri in Karnataka's Haveri district. "Received the tragic news of Indian student Naveen losing his life in Ukraine. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. "I reiterate, GOI (Government of India) needs a strategic plan for safe evacuation. Every minute is precious," wrote on Twitter. The Congress party expressed condolences to Gyanagoudar's family and friends. It also urged the government to expedite the evacuation of Indians stranded in war-torn Ukraine. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the demise of an Indian student in Ukraine. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. We once again urge GoI (Government of India) to ensure the speedy and safe evacuation of our people," it stated in a tweet. The MEA said the foreign secretary is calling in ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate its demand for "urgent safe passage" to Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and in other cities which have become conflict zones. "Similar action is also being undertaken by our ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine," the MEA said. The Kharkiv city is witnessing increasing fighting between the Ukrainian troops and Russian forces. (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 Ministers and Gen (Retd) on Tuesday flew to Budapest and Warsaw respectively to oversee the evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in . Taking to Twitter Puri said, "All set to bring back our young students back home safely. Enroute to #Budapest with a refuelling stop in Istanbul with the ever efficient 6E boys & girls." Puri left by a special flight of IndiGo Airlines for the evacuation of Indian nationals stuck in via Budapest. Union Minister General V.K. Singh is on his way to Poland to energize the government's efforts to facilitate Indians stranded on the Ukrainian side of the Polish border. The Indian Ambassador to Poland is also present near the Polish border points to personally direct the evacuation efforts. Taking to Twitter Gen Singh said, "Stay where you are, don't move until you are told, and don't panic. Your country will safely evacuate you. Jai Hind. #General_In_Poland.""My message to all parents, guardians and family members, Your kids will be back with you soon," Singh said in his other tweet message. While leaving for Slovakia, Union Minister said, "Thank you @flyspicejet for joining the efforts to evacuate our fellow Indians especially students who are facing huge difficulties due to war in # ." PM @narendramodi Ji has given clear instructions to evacuate every Indian back home safely, he added in his tweet message. He also thanked SpiceJet for operating a special flight for Slovakia to evacuate the Indian nationals in Ukraine via the Slovakia border. On February 28 the government, in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to send four senior Union Ministers -- Hardeep Singh Puri, Gen VK Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia and -- to the countries neighbouring war- torn Ukraine to oversee the evacuation of Indian nationals under 'Operation Ganga'. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is leaving for Romania and Moldova, for Slovakia, is enroute to Hungary and Gen V.K. Singh (Retd) for Poland to oversee the evacuations. On Monday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his Polish counterpart to discuss the evacuation efforts while Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday spoke to the Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate the demand for the safety of Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones. On Tuesday, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv asked all Indians to leave as soon as possible as the situation in the capital city of Ukraine is getting worse. On Monday, the weekend curfew was lifted in Kyiv and the Indian Embassy advised all students to make their way to the railway station for onward journey to the western parts. The Embassy officials were present at the railway station to facilitate and a large number of students were able to board the trains. To avoid overcrowding and a long waiting time and ease pressure at the border points, the External Affairs Ministry's teams and the Embassy are trying to arrange shelter in nearby towns, particularly Uzhhorod near the Hungary border, Indian officials said. --IANS ams/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.) Devising their own strategems to get out of Kyiv, about 100 Indian students stranded at the train station split into groups of 10 to board a train from the Ukrainian capital to city of Lviv where they would be safer, one of the students said on Tuesday. We realised no one is going to come to help us and it is up to us now, 20-year-old Ashna Pandita told PTI over the phone as the train took them to the western city of Ukraine, about 80 km from the Poland border, where the fighting has been relatively less. We split into smaller groups and somehow managed to board the train," she added a day after the students from Taras Shevchenko Medical University in Kyiv managed to escape from the back gate of their hostel and reach the Vokzal station, the capital's main train hub. Though they responded to an advisory from the Indian mission asking all students to make their way to the railway station for onward journey to the western part", the students alleged that officials had failed to provide any transportation to shift them to a safer location. The advisory said Ukrainian railways is putting up special trains for evacuation" but the reality on ground was quite different, Ashna and her brother Ansh, who studies in the same college, said. The twins are from Ghaziabad. The group of 100 odd youths, including many women, were not allowed to board a train and Ukrainian guards thrashed some of them, they alleged. After they were pushed away from many trains, the students split into smaller groups and somehow managed to get on to the train to Lviv, where the officials of many embassies are stationed. The train was crowded and they could manage only standing space during the nine-hour journey. At least let us reach Kyiv, Ashna said tearfully, recounting their struggles to reach the station from a city that had run out of food and cash in ATMs and then the many hurdles to get on to a train. Left to their own devices, the students said they would either try to cross over to Poland or to the Hungary border, about 570 km from Lviv. On Monday, the train station was teeming with people. The Indian students sat huddled together, holding a large tricolour aloft so they could be recognised in the crowd and also so no one from the group gets lost. The students had also issued a video appeal. "Indian embassy, we request you to evacuate us as soon as possible," Ansh Pandita said in the video as his friends looked on. Ashna, too, sent videos to family and friends at home. One showed a train with closed doors and shuttered windows. "This train didn't let us in. They closed the door on our faces. They pushed us out," she said. In another, students can be seen being pushed and chased away by guards. Back home in Ghaziabad, Ansh and Ashna's parents Anil and Sunita are frantic with worry. "My children are suffering. They have nothing to eat and the irony is that we can't do anything sitting here other than to appeal to the government to bring everyone back," Sunita said. Their worries have escalated after an Indian student from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Kharkiv city on Tuesday morning. "With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning," the External Affairs Ministry said. The government is sending four Union ministers as the prime minister's envoys to Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova to oversee the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine through its border crossings with these countries. (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 on Tuesday said it was inclined to dismiss a petition filed by dismissed policeman Sachin Waze challenging two orders of the panel set up to probe into the corruption allegations against former minister . Waze, who is presently in jail after his arrest in the Antilia bomb scare and murder case of businessman Mansukh Hiran, in his petition challenged the legality, validity and propriety of the two orders passed by the Chandiwal Commission and sought to quash the same. The first order of the panel refused Waze's application seeking to summon the Joint Commissioner of police (Crime) Milind Bharambe for examination, while in the second order, the commission denied him permission to retract his earlier statement against Deshmukh. A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Madhav Jamdar, however, said it was not inclined to grant any relief and said it would dismiss the petition. Waze's counsel Anil Anturkar then sought that the matter be posted on Wednesday so that he could take instructions from the former policeman on whether he would prefer to withdraw the plea. "You (Waze) either withdraw the petition or we dismiss it with strictures," the court said. Waze had filed an application before the Chandiwal Commission on January 21 this year seeking to summon the then joint commissioner of police (Crime) Bharambe for examination before the Commission. Bharambe had written a letter and later authored a report on March 25, 2021. Former home minister had presented a copy of this secret letter along with Bharambe's report March 30, 2021 before the commission. Waze had sought to call Bharambe before the Commission claiming that the latter's report is prejudicial to his interest. However, the Commission dismissed his application on January 24. On February 9, Waze had made an application seeking to retract his statement with regard to Deshmukh. He had said that neither the former minister nor his associates or people related to him have ever made any monetary demand or instructed him to extort Rs 100 crore from the city's bar owners. However, a month later Waze sought to retract the statement, which the commission did not permit. According to Waze's plea before the court, he had filed an affidavit before the Commission along with his application for retraction of his statement. The former policeman had claimed that he was under immense and tremendous pressure due to his arrest by the Mumbai crime branch. He has alleged that he was mentally harassed and victimised so as to affect his psyche and his state of mind, and claimed that he was subjected to severe mental torture and harassment apparently by Deshmukh and it continued even after his resignation. Consequently, when the petitioner was put certain questions at the time of his cross examination before the Hon'ble One Member High Level Committee, the petitioner gave incorrect answers, Waze's plea read. Waze, in his plea, claimed that he is a whistle blower and has been falsely implicated in a series of criminal cases consequent to political vendetta arising out of the shocking revelations disclosed by him in the public domain through his senior officer. The former policeman has claimed that he had confided in his senior officer about a series of demands made by Deshmukh, and based on this, the senior officer had written to the state government on March 20, 2021, following which a one-member committee headed by retired Justice K U Chandiwal was formed. (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.) India "strongly and emphatically" asked and on Tuesday to create "urgent safe passages" for the Indian nationals stuck in various conflict zones in Ukraine, after a medical student from Karnataka was killed in intense shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla called in the envoys of the two countries and conveyed the demand, while the Indian missions in and too passed on similar messages to the diplomatic and military authorities in the two countries. After attending a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Ukraine, Shringla said the evacuation of Indians from Kharkiv is now India's top priority. "We have absolutely, strongly and emphatically asked them (the Russian and Ukrainian envoys) to create the safe passage. But there is a war going on and we will have to make the best of the situation so that we can find a way," he said. "I think our interlocutors both in and understand that and we will try and continue to press them to enable us to withdraw and evacuate our citizens," he added. Shringla said all Indian nationals have left Kyiv. The Ukrainian capital also witnessed bombings and shellings by Russian forces. "The information with us is that we have no more nationals left in Kyiv. Nobody has contacted us from Kyiv. All our inquiries have revealed that each and every one of our nationals has come out of Kyiv," he said. Earlier in the day, the Indian embassy in Ukraine asked all Indians stranded in Kyiv to leave the Ukrainian capital urgently by trains or any other means of transport. Shringla said over the next three days, 26 flights have been scheduled to bring out Indian citizens, adding that airports in Poland and the Slovak Republic will also be used, apart from those in Bucharest and Budapest. The foreign secretary said a C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is expected to fly out at 4 am on Wednesday to Romania to repatriate the Indian citizens. He said more IAF aircraft could be used in the evacuation mission in the next few days. Shringla referred to his comments a few days ago that an estimated 20,000 Indians were in Ukraine at the time India issued its first advisory. The first advisory was issued over a fortnight ago, when the tensions between Russia and Ukraine were increasing. "This is the general number of people in Ukraine. From that number, approximately 12,000 have since left Ukraine, which is 60 per cent of the total number of our citizens in Ukraine," he said. Roughly a half of the remaining 40 per cent remained in the conflict zones in Kharkiv and Sumy and the other half has either reached the western borders of Ukraine or are heading towards the western part of the country, Shringla said. "In other words, they are out of the conflict areas," he added. The foreign secretary said around 2,000 Indians have come back to their homeland, while 4,000 to 5,000 are getting ready to be brought back by flights. To a question on whether Indians are facing difficulties in getting out of Ukraine, he said there is "no endeavour to block our citizens from coming out". "I think the issue is logistical. There are huge queues of people, there are lines of vehicles," Shringla added. He said a flight carrying the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine left India on Tuesday morning. The foreign secretary said the consignment comprised medicines, medical equipment and other relief materials. "Another flight tomorrow will carry the second consignment also through Poland," he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The central government on Tuesday compared its response to help Indian citizens in war-hit with those of several other countries, including the US, the UK and China, vis--vis their nationals to assert that while its 'Operation Ganga' continues and embassy remains functional, others have been unable to work at such a scale with some even expressing inability to help their citizens. There has been criticism from some quarters, especially opposition parties, over the alleged delay in India's response to evacuate its citizens, mostly students, with some videos surfacing of Indian citizens facing harassment. Government sources shared response of various countries to rebut criticism and assert that India has been prompt and relentless in helping its citizens. The Chinese have postponed their evacuation plans while the Indian Operation Ganga is proceeding. Flights from India into neighbouring countries are continuing to bring back Indians. China has issued no travel advisories and no support mechanisms, while India has released contact numbers, advisories and support mechanisms. Chinese nationals are being attacked in while the buses with the Indian flag are being given safe passage, a source said. The US has stated that it will not be able to evacuate its citizens who are facing a long waiting time at the Ukrainian border for evacuation through other neighbouring countries, government sources said. They cited official statements from the US and China besides Chinese media reports to back their claims. At certain points, the US asked its citizens to even carry food and other items for two days at the Ukrainian border, and their waiting situation is similar to that of Indian citizens, they said, adding that both India and the US have issued similar advisories and have released several phone numbers for assistance. Citing the response of other countries, government sources said Britain has clarified that it will not be able to provide increased support to its citizens stranded in while, they added, India has increased support on a war footing. The British embassy has relocated while the Indian embassy in Kyiv is still functioning. Britain has asked its nationals to follow the advice of Ukrainian authorities with no additional assistance, a source said. He quoted a statement of the UK government which said, Russia's military action in Ukraine will severely affect the British Government's ability to provide consular assistance in Ukraine. British nationals should not expect increased consular support or help with evacuating in these circumstances. Similarly, the German embassy has been closed at Kyiv while the Indian embassy is still functional. Germany has said that it is not in a position to evacuate its citizens, while India's Operation Ganga, name of its evacuation exercise, is continuing, they said. Over 80,000 international students study in Ukraine, according to data from Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science. The largest number come from India, followed by Morocco, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Nigeria. India's evacuation programme, Operation Ganga, has been the most active among all nations which have their citizens in Ukraine, a source claimed. Sources shared media reports of various other countries, including Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria, to back their assertions. Some opposition parties, including the Congress, have been criticising the government for not evacuating Indian students in time from Ukraine and have called for urgent steps to evacuate them, after attacked Ukraine. They have shared videos of Indian students in Ukraine highlighting their plight and making appeals to the Indian government to evacuate them soon. Stepping up its evacuation efforts, India on Monday decided to send four Union ministers to countries in Ukraine's neighbourhood as its special envoys to coordinate the evacuation of Indian students. (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.) In first Indian casualty in the war in Ukraine, a student from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Kharkiv city on Tuesday morning. External Affairs Ministry confirmed the death of the Indian in a tweet. "With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning," it said. The ministry said it is in touch with the family of the student. "We convey our deepest condolences to the family," it said. The student was a native of Karnataka's Haveri district, a state government official said. "A student Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, a native of Chalageri in Haveri district, died in the shelling," Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Manoj Rajan told PTI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to the father of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar. Official sources said Modi offered his heartfelt condolences to the family following the tragedy. No one form the Indian Embassy reached out to stranded Indian students in Kharkiv in Ukraine, the victim's father alleged earlier on Tuesday. Naveen Shekargouda was killed when he stepped out of his bunker to exchange currency and fetch some food, his uncle Ujjanagouda claimed. Shekaragouda's residence in Chalageri slipped into gloom upon receiving the news of their child killed in the faraway European nation, with a large number of people thronging the house to console the bereaved family. Shekaragouda complained that no one from the Indian embassy reached the students stuck in Kharkiv, which is witnessing hostilities. His family members said Naveen was in the fourth year of his course in the Kharkiv medical college. Ujjanagouda said Naveen along with others from Karnataka was stuck in a bunker in Kharkiv. He had gone out in the morning to exchange currency and to fetch some food when he was caught shelling happened, in which he was killed instantaneously. On Tuesday when he rang up his father, Naveen said there was no food and water in the bunker, Ujjanagouda stated. Learning about the tragedy, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai called up Shekaragouda over phone and expressed his sorrow. Bommai assured Shekaragouda he would make every effort to bring back his son's body to . He also told him that he is touch with the officials in the external affairs ministry. The bereaved father told Bommai that Naveen had called him in the morning as well. Daily the son used to ring him up at least two to three times, he told the Chief Minister. The MEA said Foreign Secretary is calling in ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate its demand for "urgent safe passage" to Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and in other cities conflict zones. "Similar action is also being undertaken by our ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine," the MEA said. The Kharkiv city is witnessing increasing fighting between the Ukrainian troops and Russian forces. Official sources said the deteriorating situation in Kharkiv is a matter of grave concern and that the safety and security of Indian nationals in that city is of utmost priority for the government. They said has already taken up up with the Russian and Ukrainian embassies the "pressing" requirement of safe passage to Indian nationals, including students, from Kharkiv and other cities in conflict zones. "This demand has been repeatedly made of Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of this conflict on February 24. It has been conveyed to both their ambassadors in New Delhi as well as taken up in their capitals," said a source. The sources said the preparations for evacuation of Indians from the Indian government side have been in place for sometime now. "An Indian team has been positioned in the Russian city of Belgorod, close to the Ukrainian border. However, the conflict situation in and around Kharkiv and nearby cities has been an obstacle," the source said. "Therefore, it is imperative that Russia and Ukraine respond to our need for safe passage urgently," it said The sources said in places where the conflict has not endangered movement, Indian authorities have been able to evacuate the citizens. They said will continue to make utmost efforts to ensure the return Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine. Union Minister Hardeep Puri is going to Hungary, Jyotiraditya Scindia will oversee the evacuation process in Romania and Moldova, Kiren Rijiju is traveling to Slovakia and Gen (retd) V K Singh will oversee the evacuation along the transit points with Poland. (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 on Tuesday spoke to the father of Indian student Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, who died in shelling in war-hit Ukraine. Official sources said Modi offered his heartfelt condolences to the family following the tragedy. Gyanagoudar was a native of Karnataka's Haveri district. Earlier, the external affairs ministry in a tweet confirmed his death. "With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning," it said. The ministry said it is in touch with Gyanagoudar's family. (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.) Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, who was arrested by the (ED) on February 23 in connection with a Prevention of involving underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim, has moved to the against his arrest. Malik in his plea has urged the Court to quash the PMLA case lodged by the central probe agency. He has also mentioned his plea that his arrest was illegal and sought to be released immediately. Malik is in the ED custody till March 3. The ED had on February 18 arrested Dawood's brother Iqbal Kaskar in the matter. Salim Qureshi, an aide of Chhota Shakeel, was also interrogated in the matter. On February 3 the NIA had received an information that was raising terror funds and was working with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Al Qaeda (AQ). He was controlling criminal activities in India through his close aides. The ED filed a PMLA case against Dawood. Another case was lodged against his brother Iqbal Kaskar, Iqbal Mirchi and 19 others. Later both the cases were merged by the ED. The Central probe agency conducted nine raids and recovered incriminating documents from the premises of Dawood's aides. Chhota Shakeel's relative Salim Fruit told the probe agency that in 2006 he met Chhota Shakeel three to four times during his Pakistan visit. --IANS atk/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister met President on Tuesday and briefed him on various issues, including the Ukraine crisis, official sources said. The government has launched "Operation Ganga" to evacuate Indian citizens, mostly students, from Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia. Sources said Modi briefed Kovind on the crisis and his government's efforts to bring back the Indian citizens stranded in the country. The government had on Monday decided to send four ministers to several neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate the evacuation exercise. (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 spoke to several European leaders over the crisis on Tuesday and expressed his anguish over the deteriorating situation and the humanitarian crisis in the war-hit country, while reiterating India's appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue, the PMO said. Modi spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda and European Council President Charles Michel amid a worsening situation in as the Russian forces moved deeper into the country. An Indian student also lost his life in shelling during the Russian advance. Modi and Macron shared their concerns over the continuing hostilities and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in . Modi welcomed the talks between Ukraine and Russia, and stressed upon the importance of ensuring free and uninterrupted humanitarian access and smooth movement of all people. In his comments, the prime minister reiterated India's consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy. He stressed India's belief that respect for international law, the UN Charter and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries underpin the contemporary world order, the PMO said. Modi also briefed Macron on India's efforts to evacuate its citizens from the conflict areas and send urgent relief supplies, including medicines, for the affected populations. In his talks with Duda, Modi thanked him for the assistance provided by Poland in the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine and for the special gesture of relaxing the visa requirement for the Indian citizens crossing over to the country from Ukraine. He expressed his particular appreciation for the warm reception and facilitation extended by Polish citizens to the Indian nationals at this difficult time, the PMO said. Alluding to the traditional friendly relations between the two countries, Modi recalled the assistance offered by Poland in the wake of the Gujarat earthquake in 2001. He also recollected the exemplary role played by the Maharaja of Jamnagar in rescuing several Polish families and young orphans during the Second World War, the PMO said. Modi also informed Duda that Union minister V K Singh would be stationed in Poland as his special envoy to oversee the evacuation efforts of Indian citizens. "The Prime Minister reiterated India's consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue. He stressed upon the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations," the PMO said. In his talks with the European Council president, Modi expressed anguish over the deteriorating situation and the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. He reiterated India's appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue. "The Prime Minister stressed that the contemporary global order was anchored on international law, UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states. He welcomed the talks between the two parties and stressed upon the importance of ensuring free and uninterrupted humanitarian access and smooth movement of all people," the PMO said. Modi also spoke about the efforts being made by India to send urgent relief supplies, including medicines, to the affected areas. (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.) India's top lender will not process any transactions involving Russian entities subject to international sanctions imposed on after its invasion of Ukraine, according to a letter seen by Reuters and people familiar with the matter. "No transactions involving entities, banks, ports or vessels appearing" on a US, or sanctions list shall be processed irrespective of the currency of the transaction, said a letter sent by State Bank of India (SBI) to certain clients. did not immediately respond to emails or calls seeking comment on the matter. "We have a significant international presence and we need to comply with U.S. and EU regulations as we are present in those jurisdictions and we cannot be seen as not adhering to these rules," said a senior executive. The invasion, which calls a "special operation" and which is the biggest assault on an European state since World War Two, was met with widespread condemnation and an array of sanctions. India, which has deep trade and defense ties with Russia, has so far not publicly condemned its long-standing ally, but has called for an end to violence and for diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the conflict. in the letter to clients also urged "extra precautions" while handling any transactions related to sanctioned countries. Many major Indian corporate houses have deep links with the state-controlled lender, which has a large network of overseas branches. SBI has also sought information from Indian oil companies about their exposure to including stakes in Russian assets, funds received from in the last year and lenders involved in routing these transactions, according to two senior energy industry sources. One of India's top refiners, Indian Oil Corp, said on Monday it would no longer accept cargoes of Russian crude and Kazakh CPC Blend cargoes on a free on board (FOB) basis due to insurance risk. Apart from oil companies, Indian fertiliser companies also deal extensively with Russia for imports of crop nutrients. (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.) Snow clearance operation along the Srinagar- national highway is in the last phase and efforts are on to open the 434 km-long strategic road as soon as possible, BRO officials said on Tuesday. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is maintaining the highway which usually remains closed during winters due to heavy in the 3528 m-high Zojila Pass, a high mountain pass that runs through the Kashmir valley to Ladakh. BRO's Project Vijayak Chief Engineer Ashish Gambir said the snow clearance operation is going on in full swing in the Zojila Pass and the road would be opened as soon as possible. He gave this assurance to Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor Feroz Ahmad Khan during a meeting here, an official spokesperson said. Gambir said only a stretch of 2-3 km is left to be cleared of snow from side and the highway is all set to reopen shortly. It was closed for vehicular traffic in January this year. The spokesperson said the chief engineer also briefed Khan about the BRO projects being executed in Kargil district. Gambir said the recently announced bypass from Drass to Pushkum via Shimsha Kharboo is in tendering process and work will start soon on the project, the spokesperson said, adding this road is expected to decongest and minimise traffic in Kargil and Drass towns. He also said the work on Kargil to Batalik road is already underway, while the survey on the Hambuting-la tunnel is complete and further process will be carried out soon. On Khangral to Sanjak road realignment, the spokesperson said the BRO and the Kargil Revenue Department decided to conduct a joint survey on the project. Accordingly, the CEC assured it will take up the issue with the UT administration. The spokesperson said Gambir assured that local workers who have labour cards as per MGNREGA will be engaged in Project Vijayak on twice the wage MGNREGA workers currently get wage of Rs 214 per day, while the BRO project will give them at least Rs 600 per day, he 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.) Four top ministers were dispatched on Monday as Indias special envoys to countries neighbouring Ukraine to facilitate and speed up the evacuation of Indian students from the war-torn nation. And all stranded Indians were advised to move to West Ukraine but not reach the border directly. It is cold. There are long queues at all borders as Ukrainian citizens also make their way to the most convenient exit point. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Feature: Photographer gives Greeks online tour of China Xinhua) 08:18, March 01, 2022 ATHENS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Greek photographer is taking his compatriots on a journey to China, with online tours organized by the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation in the port of Piraeus. From Feb. 16 until April 11, amateur photographer and environmentalist Nikos Stantzos will act as an online tour guide for Beijing and its outskirts, as well as the ancient capitals and the country's borders. Stantzos will give five presentations for Greek people, called "Traveling to China," which are free of charge. Stantzos lived in Beijing from 2012 to 2017, working for a German company as an expert in energy, renewables and climate change. He has taken more than 20,000 photos in China, and found the time to tidy up his archive during the pandemic. He decided to share his pictures and experiences to show his people the lesser-known side of a country he has grown to love. Stantzos has traveled to over 20 Chinese provinces to date, and is planning more adventures in the future, he told Xinhua in a recent online interview. Speaking from Singapore, where he is now based, he said: "Beijing, when I moved in 2012, was a city that was just basking in the glory of the 2008 (Summer) Olympics. That was definitely a high point for the city. Because of my work there, I had to travel extensively all over China ... That gave me an exposure to how variable and how amazing basically China is." He was also impressed by the organization of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. "I think that these Olympic Games show a China that it is more, if you like, confident and relaxed, compared with the first Olympics (2008)," he told Xinhua. "The Chinese did an amazing job to reuse a lot of the facilities. For example, the water tube that became the ice tube ... I thought that was a very good symbolism of how we can actually reuse facilities," he said. Stantzos' main motivation for the "Traveling to China" series was to contribute to understanding between the East and West. He wanted to show the China he saw and experienced, which is very different from what is sometimes being reported by mainstream Western media, he explained. "My message is that you have to go out and find out China with your own eyes ... go there with an open mind and I guarantee you you're going to like it or at least you're going to find a lot of things you like," he said. Konstantinos Mazarakis Ainian, General Director of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, was happy to see the strong interest Greeks showed for China during the first presentation. "What impressed us is that the approximately 600 viewers who started watching the series at the beginning of the first episode did not decrease until the end," he told Xinhua, adding that viewers had bombarded Stantzos with questions. The foundation, which is a cultural and educational organization promoting Greek letters and historical and nautical research, has a close partnership with Tsinghua University in Beijing, as well as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). "We thought that an important parameter that can bring China closer to Greece is for the average Greek to get to know China in a non-academic way, as a tourist. So we arranged and organized this series of five trips to China that I believe gives ... a complete picture of China as it is today, highlighting culture, history, way of life," he explained. "Traveling to China" is presented within the framework of the Center for China Studies, which was established two years ago at the Foundation in collaboration with CASS, to enhance bilateral cultural relations, promote Chinese culture in Greece, and produce scientific work in the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) India on Tuesday sent the first tranche of humanitarian assistance comprising medicines and other relief materials to via Poland. At a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said another flight will carry the second consignment of aid to the east European country on Wednesday. "A flight left this morning carrying the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to through Poland," he said. India on Monday decided to send the relief supplies to to help it deal with the humanitarian situation along its border areas that has arisen out of tens of thousands of people attempting to flee the Russian invasion. "The prime minister noted that the first consignment of relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian situation on Ukraine's borders would be despatched tomorrow," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. Ukrainian envoy Igor Polikha thanked India for sending humanitarian aid to his 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 first Indian to become collateral damage in the Russia- conflict, Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, originally from a small village in Karnatakas Haveri district, was killed in intense shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Tuesday. As the Russian army closed in on Kyiv, the Indian Embassy in sent a message to all Indians to get out of the capital immediately, by any means possible. About 400 students who were living near the Indian Embassy were successfully sent to Romania and were on their way home. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday, announced that the Indian Air Force would be deployed for evacuations in addition to commercial aircraft. He also spoke to Naveens father, who alleged that the government did nothing to reach out to stranded in Kharkiv. After the meeting on the crisis, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said all Indian nationals had left Kyiv. He said the government remained very concerned about the situation in Kharkiv, Sumy and other conflict zones in Ukraine. He said 26 flights had been scheduled to bring back Indian citizens over the next three days. Apart from Bucharest and Budapest, airports in Poland and Slovak Republic would be used to operate evacuation flights, he added. ALSO READ: A rules-based world order. Where? Naveen, who was studying at a medical college in Ukraine, was killed instantaneously in shelling when he stepped out of his bunker to exchange currency and fetch some food, his uncle Ujjanagouda said, according to news agency PTI. On Tuesday, when he rang up his father, Naveen said there was no food and water in the bunker, Ujjanagouda stated. Efforts were being made to get his body back. The foreign secretary called ambassadors of and Ukraine to reiterate India's demand for urgent safe passage to Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and other cities in conflict zones, the spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, said. Similar action is also being undertaken by our ambassadors in and Ukraine. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar met President Ram Nath Kovind to brief him about the evacuation efforts, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. Later, the PM also met the President. Two more flights landed in Delhi and Mumbai with around 400 Indians. With several MPs receiving anxious calls from families of Indian nationals stuck in Ukraine, Jaishankar has asked MPs to directly contact his office to flag particular concerns and share information about such people. Please be assured that we are taking cognisance of all enquiries and information. All of them will be attended to by Team MEA representatives on the ground, the Union minister said in a letter sent out to all MPs on Monday. He also shared an e-mail ID and WhatsApp numbers on which the MPs can share details. But for Naveen, it was too late. With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning, the government tweeted. There is still no clarity about the exact number of stranded in Kharkiv, as food and water shortages in the embattled city mount, heating of buildings drops, and petrol runs out. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) via its teams on the ground reported about the grim situation in eastern Ukraine. Residents across Ukraine are desperately trying to get in touch with their relatives, but internet connectivity is very bad. People are seeking safety in shelters, often for hours on end. In Kyiv, most citizens are torn between staying or heading west. Most streets have been deserted though we see long lines at pharmacies and bank machines, said a team member. Prime Minister has asked the (IAF) to evacuate Indians stranded in due to the Russian military offensive against that country, sources said on Tuesday. The IAF is likely to deploy several C-17 aircraft as part of Operation Ganga from Tuesday, they said. Till now, only private Indian carriers were evacuating Indians from Romania and Hungary, countries with land borders with on the western side, as the Ukrainian airspace had been shut since February 24. India began evacuation of around 14,000 of its stranded citizens on February 26. In order to scale up the ongoing evacuation efforts under Operational Ganga, PM Modi has called for the IAF to join the exercise, the sources said. Leveraging the capacities of the IAF will ensure that more people can be evacuated in a shorter time frame, they noted. The large C-17 aircraft will also help deliver humanitarian aid to war-hit more efficiently, they mentioned. (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.) SpiceJet on Tuesday afternoon sent a plane to Kosice in to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive. shares land border with Ukraine on the western side. Minister of Law and Justice is travelling on SpiceJet's special flight to as a Special Envoy of the Indian Government to oversee the evacuation, SpiceJet said in a statement. "The aircraft will fly to Kosice in Slovakia from Delhi and the return flight will operate via Kutaisi, Georgia," it said. The Kosice flight depart from Delhi at 4 pm on Tuesday, the airline said. Ukrainian airspace has been shut down since February 24 for civil aircraft operations and therefore, India is operating evacuation flights to neighbouring countries such as Romania, Slovakia and Hungary to evacuate its stranded citizens. The Kosice flight is the second evacuation flight being operated by SpiceJet under 'Operation Ganga' after a special flight left on Monday night for Hungarian capital Budapest from Delhi. (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.) Former external affairs minister and TMC leader on Tuesday said Prime Minister has a chance to be a "Vishwaguru" (world leader), if he successfully mediates in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Modi has good relations with Russian President and he can play a significant role in ending the ongoing six-day-old war with Ukraine as it is badly affecting the global economy, Sinha told a press conference held at his house. "It is a big opportunity for Modi to become a Vishwaguru if he utilises his good relations with Putin and convinces him to end the war at this juncture as (otherwise) this conflict will continue and ruin the global economy," said Sinha who was the external affairs minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. As of now, India has taken a neutral stance on the conflict. The TMC MP said no other country has come forward to end the war. Responding to a query, Sinha said Modi should talk to Putin as India has been a long time friend of and has always supported it. "Modi should utilise this moment and influence the Russian president to end this war as it is wrong to capture Ukraine. Besides, war is no solution to any problem," he said. Sinha urged the PM to send Foreign Minister S Jaishankar to create an atmosphere for holding talks. The move would be relevant as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought India's support, he pointed out. He also expressed fear that if the war continues, it will have a tremendous impact on the prices of petroleum products, agricultural production, fertiliser and chemicals. Sinha said sanctions imposed by countries such as the USA, France, Germany and the UK will have no impact on as Moscow is backed by China. To a question, he said India should have brought back students from Ukraine much earlier when there was an indication of the war coming. (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.) India is committed to address to reduce its adverse impact on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as well as human well-being, Environment Secretary Leena Nandan said at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly on Tuesday. In her address at the assembly being held in Nairobi, she also said that India had piloted a resolution on addressing single-use plastic product pollution in the last UNEA in 2019. "India is committed to address including marine to reduce the adverse impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and human well-being. India had piloted a resolution on addressing single-use plastic product pollution in the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) held in 2019, bringing global focus on the issue," Nandan said. "The government has recently notified the guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) on plastic packaging under the new Plastic Waste Management Rules banning identified single-use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential," she said. Making the national statement for India, the secretary also said that sustainable development is core to the country's development strategy. "Proactive steps have been taken to mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into policies, schemes and programmes of the government. Our sustainable development policies cover many sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable mobility, sustainable habitats and many others," she said. The progress towards the SDGs can be accelerated through strong global partnerships in accordance with agreements under multilateral environmental conventions, Nandan said. "India reiterates its commitment to sustainable development, and supports global efforts in this direction," she said. Union Bhupender Yadav, who will be also representing India at the UNEA, had on Monday said that India will play a vital role in the UNEA on the issues of sustainable use and recycle economy. "Our ministry has already brought out the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, following the directions and vision of the prime minister to ban single-use plastic by 2022," he had said. According to the ministry, on Sunday, three resolutions were put forth by member states -- Peru, Rwanda, Japan and India -- on plastic pollution. The two draft resolutions of Peru, Rwanda and Japan were based on the principle of a legally binding target, while the Indian draft resolution was based upon the principle immediate collective voluntary action by countries. In order to allow for global action to take place, India agreed for setting up of an intergovernmental negotiating committee for a new international legally binding treaty, a ministry official said, adding that the Indian delegation is engaged constructively in the negotiations. In her address, Nandan asserted that making the planet pollution free must be the responsibility of all member states and driven nationally. "India has been spearheading many initiatives which include National Hydrogen Energy Mission, National Clean Air Program, restoring 26 million hectares of degraded and deforested land, development of urban forests, and conservation of species like lions and dolphins," she said. Nandan also reiterated the Lifestyle for Environment-LIFE mantra proposed by India at COP 26, saying, "the call for the mass movement on sustainable lifestyle is a true reflection of India's ethos towards Mother Earth or nature." While thanking the UNEP for organising the assembly, Nandan said it is being held at a time when the global community is still fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. "The persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic is a reminder that all countries must work together to ensure vaccine equity, leaving no one behind. Without vaccine equity, another wave of COVID-19 may emerge necessitating the imposition of lockdowns and restrictions," she said. The UNEA commenced on Monday and will conclude on March 4 with a special session of the Environment Assembly to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP@50), which will be held on March 3 and 4 under the leadership of the Presidency and the Bureau of the sixth session of the Environment Assembly. (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.) Turkey's Ilker Ayci declines CEO role in setback for Tata Group Former Turkish Airlines chairman Ilker Ayci on Tuesday said he has declined the Tata Group's offer to be the chief executive officer and managing director of as "some sections of the Indian media" have attempted to "colour" his appointment in an undesirable manner. Ayci is considered to be close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an ally of Pakistan. Read more Ukraine crisis: Karnataka student killed during shelling in Kharkiv In first Indian casualty in the war in Ukraine, a student from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Kharkiv city on Tuesday morning. External Affairs Ministry confirmed the death of the Indian in a tweet. "With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning," it said. Read more GST collection up 18% YoY at over Rs 1.33 trn in Feb: FinMin in February grew 18 per cent to over Rs 1.33 trillion in February even as the Omicron wave dented the month-on-month collection momentum. This is for the fifth time in the current fiscal that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection has crossed Rs 1.3 trillion-mark. Also, this is the first time, cess collection has crossed the Rs 10,000 crore-mark, signifying recovery in certain key sectors, especially automobile sales, the Finance Ministry said on Tuesday. Read more Maruti Suzuki sales decline marginally in February to 164,056 units The country's largest car maker (MSI) on Tuesday reported a marginal drop in total wholesales at 164,056 units in February. The company had sold 164,469 units in February 2021, MSI said in a regulatory filing. Read more Union Home Minister on Tuesday announced that the government would talk with all the militant outfits in and solve the insurgency related problems in the state by bringing all the cadres of the extremist groups into the mainstream. Addressing an election rally in Thoubal, the home minister said that so far 9,500 militants belonging to various outfits of Assam and other northeastern states surrendered and joined the mainstream. "There will be no fire to any Manipuri youth, no youth will go to jail. All the cadres of the extremist outfits would come into the mainstream and they would work for the development of and the country," Shah said. He added that curbing smuggling and illegal trade, would be made a drug free state. Urging the people to vote for the BJP in the assembly elections, Shah said: "The BJP government has done a lot of work in Manipur in the last five years. Give us five more years. I came here to tell you that we would hold talks with all militant groups to establish permanent peace in the state." He also announced to keep the territorial integrity of Manipur intact. His promise to secure the territorial integrity of the state assumes significance as the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) has been demanding the integration of the Naga dominated areas of the neighbouring states -- Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. This demand has been strongly opposed by all the three northeastern states. Highlighting the performance of the BJP led Manipur government, Shah said when his party first came to power in the state in 2017, there was no women run police station, now all the districts have women police stations. "There was no railway line in Manipur earlier, but the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government has extended 111 km railway line in the state by spending Rs 12,000 crore." "Earlier there was no national highway but now there are several national highways in Manipur. Rs 16,000 crore is being spent to build major highways in the state," he added. The Home Minister said that the former Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh (Congress), knocked at the doors of the Gandhi family several times, but the BJP government at the Centre introduced the Inner Line Permit for which the incumbent Manipur Chief Minister does not have to go to Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday also addressed election rallies in Manipur virtually from Delhi. He had visited the poll bound state on February 22 and addressed an election rally in Imphal while Shah visited Manipur several times to campaign for the party. The first phase of the Manipur (in 38 of the 60 seats) was held on Monday while the second phase of polling will be held in the remaining 22 seats on March 5. The votes will be counted on March 10. --IANS sc/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.) Hollywood studio has decided to pause its theatrical releases in Russia, following the country's military operation in . The company's spokesperson shared the update via statement. "Given the unprovoked invasion of and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia," the statement read. will also halt the release of 'Turning Red' from Pixar, which was previously set to premiere in the country on March 10, The Hollywood Reporter reported. "We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation. In the meantime, given the scale of the emerging refugee crisis, we are working with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees," the spokesperson added. For the unversed, last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced military operation in and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences they have never seen. (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.) After Facebook and Instagram, Google-owned on Tuesday said it has also blocked Russian news outlets RT (formerly Today) and Sputnik across Europe in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Alphabet-owned company confirmed the news on Twitter. "Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we're blocking channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe, effective immediately. It'll take time for our systems to fully ramp up. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action," it posted. Ursula von der Leyen, The president of the EU Commission, said the bloc would ban "the Kremlin's media machine. "The state-owned Today and Sputnik, and their subsidiaries, will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin's war. We are developing tools to ban their toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe," she said. Earlier, Meta (formerly Facebook) blocked Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik across the European Union. RT and Sputnik pages aren't visible in the EU on Facebook and Instagram any more. "We have received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state controlled media," Nick Clegg, president of global affairs at Meta, said on Twitter. "Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time," he posted late on Monday. The social network has also blocked Russian state media from advertising on the platform. Meta earlier blocked access to several Russian state-controlled accounts in Ukraine. The social network said it was also reviewing other governments' requests to restrict access to these accounts in their countries. Hit by partial restrictions, Meta (formerly Facebook) had prohibited Russian state media from running ads or monetising on its platform anywhere in the world. Meta has also taken down a network for targeting people in Ukraine who posed as news editors, aviation engineers and authors to spread misinformation around the Russian invasion across social media platforms. The people ran websites posing as independent news entities and created fake personas across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Telegram and also Russian Odnoklassniki and VK apps, the company said. This operation ran a handful of websites masquerading as independent news outlets, publishing claims about the West betraying Ukraine and Ukraine being a failed state. --IANS na/ (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.) Russia's Permanent Representative to the Vasily Nebenzya on Monday (local time) said the Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed that all peaceful citizens of Kyiv can leave without hindrance via Kyiv-Vasilkov road which is open and safe. Speaking at the UNSC meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Nebenzya said that people are trying to blame the Russian military for the casualties of civilians in which is being done by itself. "Over 5 days of operation, there hasn't been a single documented case of targetted destruction or evidence of the death of civilians caused by the Russian military, people are trying to blame us for what's being done by itself," he said. "Ukrainian authorities issued an order to distribute arms to anyone who wants it, including criminals let out of prisons for that specific purpose, resulting in mass incidences of robberies, killings, and lootings," Nebenzya said. He also said that did not start the "war" as it was started by Ukraine in 2014. "Ukrainian radicals are placing their attack weaponry in residential areas, which is a direct violation of humanitarian law... did not start the war, it's trying to end it. Ukraine started it in 2014," he said. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Ambassador to UN Sergiy Kyslytsya termed the Russian invasion in Ukraine as the "most horrible" and "large-scale invasion" since World War II. "It's the most horrible & large-scale invasion since World War II... keeps attacking kindergartens, orphanages, hospitals, mobile medical aid brigades & ambulances, with shellfire. This is an action of a state determined to kill civilians," Kyslytsya said. He also welcomed the appointment of Amin Awad as the Assistant Secretary-General to serve as Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine. "Ukrainian govt welcomes the appointment of Amin Awad as the Assistant Secretary-General to serve as Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine. He has arrived in Geneva and resumed his duties," he said. "More checkpoints on the border with Poland have been opened, including 2 additional pedestrian crossings, for all who want to go to the neighboring safe country. An electronic resource platform will be launched tomorrow," Kyslytsya said. "All information on the electronic platform will be systemized for effective communication & distribution of essential goods... Do not listen to the Russian lies, listen to Ukraine's cries. We need your help," he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday that Russian "crimes" in Ukraine are "mounting by the hour", with strikes hitting hospitals, schools and residential buildings. Blinken, addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, said that the forum's urgent debate on Ukraine scheduled for Thursday, where a resolution brought by Kyiv and allies would set up an probe into violations, is an "important step toward ensuring documentation and accountability". "We must send a resolute and unified message that President (Vladimir) Putin should unconditionally stop this," he said. Blinken also said that China "continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang" against Muslim Uyghurs, and called for U.N. human rights boss Michelle Bachelet to release her office's report with findings on the situation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ambassadors from dozens of countries on Monday backed a proposal demanding that halt its attack on Ukraine, as the UN General Assembly held a rare emergency session during a day of frenzied and sometimes fractious diplomacy surrounding the five-day-old war. If Ukraine does not survive ... peace will not survive," Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said at the assembly's first emergency meeting since 1997. Have no illusions. If Ukraine does not survive, we cannot be surprised if democracy fails next. Reflecting escalating global alarm, both of the UN's major bodies the 193-nation assembly and the smaller, more powerful Security Council took the unusual step of holding simultaneous, hastily scheduled meetings on the war. In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council voted to hold its own urgent session. Tension permeated the diplomatic discourse: The Security Council meeting opened with the news that the United States was kicking out 12 Russian UN diplomats whom Washington accused of spying. Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian officials held talks on the Belarus border, agreeing only to keep talking. The guns are talking now, but the path of dialogue must always remain open, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the assembly. We need peace now. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia reiterated his country's assertions that what it calls a special military operation in defense of two breakaway areas in eastern Ukraine was being misrepresented. Russian actions are being distorted and thwarted," he complained. has repeatedly sought to blame Ukraine for what Moscow claims are abuses of Russian speakers in the eastern enclaves. The Russian Federation did not begin these hostilities that were unleashed by Ukraine against its own residents," he said. is seeking to end this war. The assembly session came three days after an attempt to condemn and stop Russia's attack ran into a Russian veto in the Security Council. The assembly will give all UN members an opportunity to speak about the war. More than 110 signed up to do so, with speeches to continue Tuesday. The assembly, which allows no vetoes, is expected to vote later in the week on a resolution coordinated by European Union envoys, working with Ukraine. The draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, demands that Russia immediately stop using force against Ukraine and withdraw all troops. It urges an immediate peaceful resolution through dialogue and negotiations, and it deplores what it calls Russia's aggression and the involvement of Belarus, which is siding with Moscow. Assembly President Abdulla Shahid opened Monday's session by asking all envoys to stand for a moment of silence. In hours of speeches afterward, dozens exhorted their colleagues to vote yes. With the Security Council having failed to deliver against its responsibilities, we, the General Assembly, must now stand up to play our part, said New Zealand's ambassador, Carolyn Schwalger. Austrian Ambassador Alexander Marschik appealed to those who have good relations with Russia, saying that "a good friend, an honest friend, will speak up and say what needs to be said and what needs to be done when a friend commits an illegal and evil act. But Russian ally Syria accused the West of a of hypocrisy, noting that various other conflicts over the years haven't gotten such special attention. This historic emergency session on the situation in Ukraine completes the anti-Russian campaign that finds its origins in the provocative and hostile rhetoric towards Russia, propagated by the West to stoke tensions in Ukraine and compromise Russia's security, Syrian Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh said. China, another Russian ally, called for respecting all countries' sovereignty and internationally recognized borders but didn't directly address the resolution. Instead, Ambassador Zhang Jun encouraged fostering a conducive atmosphere for Russian-Ukrainian talks and frowned on any approach that may exacerbate tensions. Nothing can be gained from stirring up a new Cold War, but everyone will stand to lose," he said. The Security Council meeting later Monday was focused on the humanitarian impact of Russia's invasion, but the session began with a prickly exchange about the Russian diplomats' expulsion from the U.S. Nebenzia bristled to the council that the expulsions were yet another hostile step by Washington. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Richard Mills said the dozen diplomats were engaged in undiplomatic activities. Olivia Dalton, a spokesperson for the United States' U.N. mission, later said in a statement that the 12 were intelligence operatives who were engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security." Nebenzia, in remarks to The Associated Press, dismissed the assertion as a pretext. With the UN saying the war is creating an already alarming and potentially massive humanitarian and refugee crisis, France and Mexico planned to propose a humanitarian-focused Security Council resolution. French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said Sunday it would demand the end of hostilities, protection of civilians, and safe and unhindered humanitarian access to meet the urgent needs of the population. (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.) Beijing's pro-Kremlin approach concerning the ongoing Russian military operations in the Ukrainian territory might compromise the safety of the Chinese citizens stranded in Ukraine, said a media report. According to the Chinese embassy in Kyiv, there were around 6,000 Chinese nationals in Ukraine when launched its military operations in the country, reported Vision Times. Notably, the Chinese embassy initially advised its citizens to display the flags of the People's Republic of (PRC) on their cars as a sign of their neutral position concerning the ongoing conflict. However, revoking this decision on February 26, the embassy told its citizens to "avoid ... flaunting symbols of their identity", the publication reported citing Radio France Internationale (RFI). The Chinese embassy also advised the PRC nationals to maintain "harmonious relations with the Ukrainian people " and "avoid confrontations on specific issues." With China's pro- attitude in the whole conflict, showing the PRC's colours got some Chinese citizens in Ukraine in trouble. "I put the national flag on my car, as the embassy recommended. Then people started chasing me, what the [expletive]," the media outlet quoted a Telegram user. "Do you dare take responsibility for your words? Putting the flag on yourself and going outside is looking for death. Everyone knows that the Chinese here are affluent and well-supplied, and on top of that people here think the Chinese support Russia's invasion of Ukraine," said another user berating the Chinese embassy. Notably, though the Chinese Foreign Ministry on February 23 said the sovereignty of all nations, including that of Ukraine, must be respected, it has accused the United States and its allies of augmenting the situation. Further, Chinese President Xi Jinping on February 4 signed a major strategic agreement with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, securing the economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries. Moreover, Chinese social media, filled with pro-Russian sentiments, clearly demonstrates Beijing's pro-Kremlin attitude. Also, prior to Russia's military operations in Ukraine, Chinese state media accidentally published guidelines on how to handle the Russia-Ukraine conflict: to support Moscow and expurgate content presenting in a negative light. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State has assured to impose more sanctions against and will provide weapons to Ukraine, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday (local time). "In our call, @SecBlinken affirmed that the U.S. support for remains unfaltering. I underscored that craves for peace, but as long as we are under Russia's assault, we need more sanctions and weapons. Secretary assured me of both. We coordinated further steps," Kuleba tweeted. He also held talks with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Russia's latest war crimes in . "Call with @JosepBorrellF on Russia's latest war crimes in Ukraine, including brutal indiscriminate shelling of civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv which led to multiple civilian casualties. HR/VP updated me on the EU's resolute steps to further elevate sanctions against Russia," Kuleba wrote in a tweet. Taking to Twitter, Kuleba informed that he had a call with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio. Ukrainian Foreign Minister also held talks with Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis and Singapore counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan. "Call with my Lithuanian friend @GLandsbergis. Lithuania stands by Ukraine resolutely. More military and humanitarian support is on its way to Ukraine. We both agree that the EU must adopt the most painful sanctions against to stop Putin's war against the Ukrainian people," Kuleba tweeted. "Call with Singapore's FM @VivianBala. Singapore stands in solidarity with Ukraine as we defend ourselves from the ongoing Russian invasion. Grateful for Singapore's humanitarian assistance and urge Singapore to join the global economic pressure on to stop Putin's war," he wrote in a tweet. (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 warned the US that it will pay a "heavy price" for its attempts to show support to Taiwan's independence as a delegation of ex-American defence officials dispatched by President Joe Biden landed in Taipei amid apprehensions that Beijing may attempt action against the self-ruled island akin to Russia's military assault in Ukraine. Taiwanese media reports said a five-member delegation headed by former US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Admiral (retd) Mullen was received by Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, raising concerns in Beijing over the US efforts to step up its engagement with Taiwan, which firmly affirms as part of the Chinese mainland. in recent months ratcheted up military preparations sending hundreds of its air force jets into Taiwan's Air Defence Zone besides beefing up its naval force keeping the self-governing breakaway island on tenterhooks. Officials in and the US say that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has drawn fresh attention to China's threat to forcibly annex the self-governing island. Besides Mullen's visit, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to arrive in on Wednesday. Both Mullen and Pompeo, known for their anti-China rhetoric during their stint under former US president Donald Trump, are due to meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who Beijing blames as the ring-leader of advocating Taiwan's independence. Much on the expected lines, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had some sharp words to criticise the visit of US officials. "The Chinese people are firmly determined to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing here when asked about the American officials visit. "The attempt by the US to show support to will be in vain no matter who it sent. China urges the US to abide by the one-China principle, he said. He denounced the US guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson last Saturday sailing through the contested waters of Taiwan Straits, saying the US moves to back Taiwanese independence forces will accelerate their fall. "I wonder what is the US intention behind this high part of this passage of USS Johnson. If it intends to embolden Taiwan's independent separatist forces, then it will only accelerate the fall of Taiwan independence forces and the US will pay a heavy price for his adventurous acts, Wang said. If the US intends to intimidate China by this, then, in front of the 1.4 billion Chinese people united in their steely determination, the so-called military deterrence will be nothing but scrap metal, he said. "Such US tricks involving sailing across the Taiwan Strait will better leave the show to those obsessed with hegemony, Wang 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.) Corp. is facing a tough choice over whether to leave as rival supermajor oil explorers quit the countrys vast oil and natural gas fields in response to the invasion of . Although BP Plc and Shell Plc have announced plans to cut ties with Russian partners, Exxon hasnt disclosed intentions for its 30% stake in a huge offshore crude development in the Russian Far East. The moves by BP and Shell leaves Exxon and TotalEnergies SE as the only remaining supermajors with significant drilling operations in . Unless an announcement comes sooner, Exxon Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods is expected to be grilled by analysts Wednesday during the companys annual strategy presentation to Wall Street. The geopolitical urgency of energy security is much more central to the conversation that it would have been even 100 days ago, said Pavel Molchanov, an analyst at Raymond James & Associates. Exxon has a long-standing history in and that relationship will be a question at Wednesdays event. Shell cited Russias senseless act of military aggression while BP said the invasion prompted a fundamental rethink of its ties with Rosneft. Exxons position in Russia already may be growing more tenuous after banking-sector sanctions threated the drillers ability to pay local workers, according to a person familiar with the situation. Woodss predecessor and mentor, former CEO Rex Tillerson, avoided finding fault with Putin during a previous incursion in that led to the seizure of the Crimean peninsula. We dont take sides in any geopolitical events, Tillerson said in a 2014 meeting with reporters. We have navigated these kinds of challenges before. Exxon made history when it successfully tapped gigantic oil reserves off the coast of Sakhalin Island. The Texas explorer oversees the Sakhalin-1 development that it co-own with Rosneft and from Japan and India. As for TotalEnergies, the French titan holds a major stake Novatek PJSC. Chevron Corp., which is also a member of supermajor clique, doesnt conduct any drilling in Russia, although it holds an interest in a pipeline that crosses part of the nations territory. The Finnish government has decided to provide the Ukrainian authorities with military assistance, including assault rifles, anti-tank weapons, and combat ration packages, the Finnish defense ministry said on Monday. "On the proposal of the Government, the President of the Republic decided today that will deliver 2,500 assault rifles, 1,50,000 cartridges for the attack rifles, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank weapons and 70,000 combat ration packages to as material aid," the ministry said in a statement. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin noted at a briefing that the decision was "historic," since the country had never previously supplied weapons to conflict zones. "This is not a war of ordinary Russians. In Finland, there is no place for discrimination and harassment against Russians or Russian speakers," Marin stressed. According to Finnish Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen, the military assistance will be delivered to in two batches - on Tuesday and on Wednesday. Poland pledged to help with the transit, he said. also decided to provide with additional military support, in particular, M72 light anti-tank weapons, the Norwegian government said on Monday. "Like other countries, has an idea of the military equipment Ukraine needs. With that in mind, the armed forces assessed what can offer promptly. The government decided to donate up to 2,000 M72 anti-tank weapons," the government said in a press release. The Italian Council of Ministers approved on Monday a decree also providing for military assistance to Ukraine amid Russia's operation in the country. "The order allows the transfer of military means, materials and equipment to the governmental authorities of Ukraine," the council said in a statement, following a meeting on the Ukrainian crisis. The Italian government's decree must be approved by the parliament to come into force. On Sunday, both Oslo and Helsinki pledged to provide Kiev with helmets and bulletproof vests. In addition, decided to sent stretchers and equipment for emergency medical care stations in Ukraine. Italy, in turn, approved the allocation of 110 million euros ($123 million) to support Ukraine. On Thursday, Russia began a special operation to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine, responding to calls for help from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics in countering the aggression of Ukrainian troops. Moscow has repeatedly said that it has no plans to occupy the Ukrainian territory. Western countries have been arming Ukraine for months prior to the Russian operation. According to reports, Ukraine has now asked the EU for more arms, including air-defense and anti-missile systems, as well as cannons, mortars, and automatic weapons. (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.) Three evacuation flights from Romania's capital Bucharest and Hungary's capital Budapest came to India on Tuesday with 616 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive, officials said. On Tuesday, two flights were operated by while one service was operated by Tata Group-owned . India began the evacuation of its citizens from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania and Hungary on February 26. Private Indian carriers have brought back 2,012 Indian nationals in nine special flights till now. operated the Bucharest-Mumbai flight via Kuwait with 182 Indian nationals. operated Budapest-Delhi flight via Istanbul with 216 Indian nationals. India's largest carrier also operated Bucharest-Delhi service via Istanbul with 218 Indian nationals. Meanwhile, sent four planes, two to Budapest and two to Rzeszow in Poland, to evacuate Indians. SpiceJet also sent a plane to Kosice in Slovakia for evacuation on Tuesday. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had said on February 27 that around 13,000 Indians, mainly college students, are currently stranded in Ukraine. Ukranian airspace has been shut down since February 24, when the Russian government started its military operations against the country. In first Indian casualty in the war in Ukraine, a student from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Kharkiv city on Tuesday morning. External Affairs Ministry confirmed the death of the Indian in a tweet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive against that country, sources said on Tuesday. Indians are travelling by road to Ukraine's borders with Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland etc, from where they are being taken by the Indian government officials to airports for evacuation flights. The Indian Embassy in Ukraine on Twitter advised all Indian nationals, including students, to leave Kyiv urgently on Tuesday itself, preferably by available trains or through any other means available. (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.) Global auto and truck makers, including U.S. automaker Co and Germany's Daimler Truck, on Monday suspended some business in Russia following that country's invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces invaded Ukraine last week, marking the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two. Many firms have idled operations in Russia following Western sanctions against Russia. Energy giant BP Plc, Russia's biggest foreign investor, abruptly announced over the weekend it was abandoning its 20% stake in state-controlled Rosneft at a cost of up to $25 billion. On Monday, GM said it would suspend all vehicle exports to Russia until further notice. The Detroit company does not have plants in Russia, only sells about 3,000 vehicles annually there and has limited supply-chain exposure. "Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at this time," Gm said in a statement. "The loss of life is a tragedy and our overriding concern is for the safety of people in the region." Swedish automaker Volvo Cars said it would suspend car shipments to the Russian market until further notice, becoming the first automaker to do so as sanctions over the invasion continue to bite. In a statement, the company said it had made the decision because of "potential risks associated with trading material with Russia, including the sanctions imposed by the EU and US." "Volvo Cars will not deliver any cars to the Russian market until further notice," it said. A Volvo spokesman said the carmaker exports vehicles to Russia from plants in Sweden, China and the . Volvo sold around 9,000 cars in Russia in 2021, based on industry data. Also on Monday, Volkswagen in Russia temporarily suspended deliveries of cars to dealers until further notice. "Deliveries are to resume as soon as the effects of the sanctions imposed by the European Union and the have been clarified," a VW spokesperson said. VW previously said it would halt production for a few days this week at two German factories after a delay in getting parts made in Ukraine. Daimler Truck said on Monday it would freeze its business activities in Russia with immediate effect, including its cooperation with Russian truck maker Kamaz, which is 47% owned by Russian state conglomerate Rostec. Mercedes-Benz Group is also looking into legal options to divest its 15% stake in Kamaz as quickly as possible, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported. A Mercedes spokesperson said business activities would have to be re-evaluated in light of the current events. Mercedes-Benz Group, formerly Daimler AG, was the parent company of Daimler Truck before the truck maker was spun off. U.S. truck engine maker Cummins Inc on Monday declined to discuss its relationship with Kamaz, but said it expected "some impact" to its business in Russia without providing further details. In 2006, Cummins agreed to produce engines for Kamaz's fleet of trucks, buses and other heavy machinery. Media representatives for Kamaz could not immediately be reached to comment. HALTED PRODUCTION Swedish truck maker AB Volvo said it has halted all production and sales in Russia due to the crisis. It generates about 3% of its sales in Russia and has a factory there. "We now have a bit more clarity on sanctions and security in the region ... this means all operations in Russia end," a company spokesperson told Reuters, adding the measures would apply until further notice. Officials with U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co could not be reached to comment on Monday. Ford, which has a 50% stake in three Russian plants, previously said it was working to manage any impacts on its operations but its primary focus was the safety of its employees in the region. U.S. airplane manufacturer Boeing said Monday it has paused operations at its Moscow Training Campus and temporarily closed its office in Kyiv. Separately on Monday, Toyota Motor Corp said it would suspend factory operations in Japan after a supplier of plastic parts and electronic components was hit by a suspected cyberattack. No information was immediately available about who was behind the possible attack, or their motive. The attack comes just after Japan joined Western allies in clamping down on Russia after it invaded Ukraine, although it was not clear if the attack was at all related. Japanese government officials said they would investigate whether Russia was involved. (Writing by Ben Klayman in Detroit, additional reporting by Jan Schwartz in Hamburg and Bianca Flowers in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski) (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.) Several Indian students stuck in eastern parts of Ukraine, which is largely affected by the Russian military offensive, are facing a grim situation as it is difficult for them to travel by road to reach the western borders and move out of the war-hit country, one of the students returned to India said here on Tuesday. A number of students evacuated from arrived in Mumbai by an Air India Express flight from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday morning. Talking to reporters at the Mumbai airport, one of the evacuees, Nishi Malkani said the university where she was studying is located in west Ukraine, where the situation is comparatively better. "We hid in our hostels for a couple of days and then managed to reach the western border quickly. Thousands of students in educational institutions in the eastern parts of are facing a grim situation as travelling by road from there is extremely difficult, she said. "There should be more efforts to provide an access to those students for safe return," she said. Asked about her experience in the last few days, Malkani said, I had never thought that I will face a situation like this in my life. We were asked by our university administration to remain inside our hostels for four days. We were close to Ukraine's western borders, so we could cross over to neighbouring Romania quickly. The Indian embassy officials helped further and we could return home, she said. She also claimed there were "some militants" on her university campus in the last few days, but the students were not harmed. Poorva Patil, another student who came back from on Tuesday, thanked God for the safe return. She was also pursuing an educational course at an institution in west Ukraine. "I feared for my life, but by God's grace, I am back home. It is a big thing for me, she said. Narrating her experience in the war-torn country, Patil said, First, we were asked to stay inside our hostel rooms and were later sheltered in bunkers. It was severe cold with temperature around 2 degrees Celsius. We travelled almost 10 km by hiring a bus to reach near the Romanian border. She has been exhausted after facing such a difficult situation. "My feet are swollen, Patil said, adding that she received good support from the Indian embassy officials in facilitating her safe return. Some of the other evacuees also said that many Indian students were still stuck in Ukraine and were in need of support. Union minister Narayan Rane, who received the students at the airport here, said, As many as 182 students have returned to Mumbai today. It was the fifth flight organised by the Union government under 'Operation Ganga'. (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 on Monday has issued red notices against Atul and Rajesh Gupta -- two of the three Indian-origin Gupta brothers -- who fled with their families amid investigations into their alleged looting of billions of rands from state and parastatal organisations. However, they have declined a request from the South African government to issue red notices against their wives -- Arthi and Chetali Gupta. A red notice is an alert to all member states that an individual is a wanted fugitive, but is not equivalent to an arrest warrant. However, it strengthens the case of a country negotiating the extradition of wanted criminals from another state. The South African government had applied for Red Notice against them seven months ago. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has described the move as a positive development which he hoped would allow justice to take its course. South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been trying for several years to extradite the Gupta brothers, who are believed to have fled to Dubai in 2018. Although their exact whereabouts remains obscure, last year had concluded an extradition treaty with Dubai and applied for their extradition. The Guptas have been accused of misusing their proximity to former President Jacob Zuma to loot from parastatal companies, including the national electricity supplier Eskom, which is now severely cash-strapped, resulting in frequent load shedding cross the country. The Guptas had previously stated that their extradition was politically motivated, which has been denied by the NPA. Zuma is currently fighting the revocation of his medical parole after serving just a few months of a 15-month jail sentence imposed by the apex Constitutional Court last year because he walked out of a hearing of the commission and refused to testify further. Lawyers for the Guptas have confirmed that they had been made aware that the NPA had "temporarily succeeded" in having red notices issued against the brothers, but stated that they would be challenging these notices on the basis of "material misrepresentations by the NPA, according to website news24.co.za. Outgoing head of the Investigating Directorate at the NPA, Hermione Cronje, who had led the process to get the Guptas back to South Africa, has described Interpol's move as bittersweet. "This is my last day at the ID, so getting formal notification that these red notices have been issued - which paves the way for the Gupta brothers to be extradited - is bittersweet. So many people have worked very hard to make this a reality and my sincere [wish] is that their efforts translate, finally, into those allegedly responsible for state capture being held to account, Cronje told news24.co.za. (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 has denied that the Russian military has used cluster munitions in and insisted that the Russian forces only have struck military targets. Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted Tuesday that the Russian troops don't conduct any strikes against civilian infrastructure and residential areas. Peskov's claim contradicts abundant evidence documented by the AP of indiscriminate shelling of homes, schools, and hospitals across . Peskov also rejected the accusations that the Russian military has used cluster munitions and devastating vacuum weapons, dismissing them as fabrications. Speaking in a conference call with reporters, he wouldn't respond to questions about whether the is happy with the pace of the offensive and wouldn't comment on Russian military casualties. The Russian Defense Ministry said for the first time Monday that it has suffered losses but didn't name any numbers. ___ Geneva: The UN human rights office says it has recorded the deaths of 136 civilians, including 13 children, in since the start of Russia's invasion on Feb 24, but warned the toll may be far higher. The Geneva-based office said Tuesday that it has also recorded 400 civilians injured in the conflict, among them 26 children. Most of these casualties were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, and air strikes, it said. These are only the casualties we were able to cross-check, and the real toll is likely to be much higher. It urged parties to the conflict not to use explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas because of the very high risks of indiscriminate and disproportionate impact on civilians. ___ Moscow: Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu says that the military will keep pressing its offensive in Ukraine until it achieves its stated goals, charging that the attack is intended to protect" his country from a military threat from Western countries, "which are trying to use the Ukrainian people in the fight against our country. Shoigu reaffirmed on Tuesday that the Russian military strikes only military facilities and uses exclusively precision weapons despite abundant evidence documented by the AP of indiscriminate shelling of homes, schools and hospitals across 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.) All day long, as trains and buses bring people fleeing to the safety of Polish border towns, they carry not just Ukrainians fleeing a homeland under attack but large numbers of citizens of other countries who had made their home and whose lives have also been upended. In Przemysl, a town near the border which is the first stopping point for many refugees, there is a visibly large number of Africans and people from Middle Eastern countries. Ahmed Ibrahim, a 23-year-old Egyptian, arrived carrying his cat in a carrier late Friday, feeling stunned and sick after days of travel. He said he had been studying medicine in for five years and had only one year left. He had no idea what his future holds, not even what his next steps are. What should I do? he said. Earlier a Pakistani man got off a bus that had come from Lviv in western Poland in a supermarket parking lot that is the arrival point for buses. Shaking in the cold he told a volunteer that he wants to go to Germany but has no money. The volunteer asked him if he wanted to be taken to Krakow, a Polish city that would bring him closer to Germany, and he said yes. The UN refugee agency said Tuesday that some 660,000 refugees had already fled from Ukraine into neighbouring countries. This figure has been rising exponentially, hour after hour, literally, since Thursday, agency chief Filippo Grandi told the United Nations Security Council. I have worked in refugee crises for almost 40 years and I have rarely seen such an incredibly fast-rising exodus of people the largest, surely, within Europe, since the Balkan wars. Most go to Poland, a European Union country that is already home to many Ukrainians who came for work in recent years. UNHCR figures on Monday had 281,000 people arriving in Poland, more than 84,500 in Hungary, about 36,400 in Moldova, over 32,500 in Romania and about 30,000 in Slovakia. The UN believes up to 4 million refugees could leave Ukraine if the war deteriorates further. Polish UN Ambassador Krzysztof Szczerski said people of some 125 nationalities had been admitted from Ukraine on Monday morning alone. Most were of course Ukraine. But other nationalities that made up at least 100 people each were: Uzbek, Nigerian, Indian, Moroccan, Kazakh, Pakistani, Afghan, Polish, Belarussian, Iranian, Turkish, Algerian and Russian. Some non-Ukrainians have complained that they have waited longer in line than Ukrainians and in some cases felt treated poorly. Kaneka Agnihotri, an Indian student who has lived six years in Ukraine, walked six hours without food to the Shehyni border crossing. There, she said, Ukrainian guards humiliated her and a group of other Indians, telling them to stand up and sit down over and over again and getting close to them with guards. She told the AP that her group later moved to a different border crossing where they were treated well. Once in Poland, the Poles did everything to help. There have been some reports that Africans in particular have been treated badly by Ukrainian guards. Cihan Yildiray, a 26-year-old from Turkey who has been working in Kyiv, said Ukrainians passed through the border checkpoint more easily. He said he saw Black people and Arabs being beaten by Ukrainian guards. (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.) Meta (formerly Facebook) has now blocked Russian state media outlets RT (earlier called Today) and Sputnik across the . RT and Sputnik pages aren't visible in the EU on and Instagram any more. "We have received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state controlled media," Nick Clegg, president of global affairs at Meta, said on Twitter. "Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time," he posted late on Monday. The social network has also blocked Russian state media from advertising on the platform. Meta earlier blocked access to several Russian state-controlled accounts in Ukraine. The social network said it was also reviewing other governments' requests to restrict access to these accounts in their countries. Hit by partial restrictions, Meta (formerly Facebook) had prohibited Russian state media from running ads or monetising on its platform anywhere in the world. Meta has also taken down a network for targeting people in Ukraine who posed as news editors, aviation engineers and authors to spread misinformation around the Russian invasion across social media platforms. The people ran websites posing as independent news entities and created fake personas across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Telegram and also Russian Odnoklassniki and VK apps, the company said. This operation ran a handful of websites masquerading as independent news outlets, publishing claims about the West betraying Ukraine and Ukraine being a failed state. --IANS na/svn/ (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.) Russia said it would press forward with its invasion of until its goals are met, as troops were seen moving in a large convoy toward the capital, Kyiv. In the countrys second-largest city, Kharkiv, the mayor said residential areas were being bombed in what he called a war to destroy the Ukrainian people. As penalties against Russia continued, the identified seven Russian banks its considering excluding from the SWIFT messaging system. Meanwhile, a United Nations agency reported more than 100 civilian deaths, and said the actual number of casualties could be much higher. Russia banned residents from transferring hard currency abroad, as President Vladimir Putin sought to counter the fresh sanctions walloping the economy. Russia warns it will strike military targets in Kyiv Russia plans to strike some communication objects belonging to security service inside Kyiv, Russian Defence Ministry says, according to Interfax. Russian forces plan to strike the source of information attacks, the ministry said. While Russia says it is only targeting military facilities, Ukrainian officials and eyewitnesses have reported scores of civilian casualties from air and missile strikes and shared videos of munitions hitting civil and residential buildings. Zelenskiy urges to let join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the EU to grant Ukraine entry, as eight presidents from the blocs eastern members called for the country to be immediately given a path to accession. Zelenskiys request has been met with enthusiasm from some member states, but EU officials, who declined to be identified while speaking about a confidential issue, cautioned that the procedure is usually long and complex. The EU will be definitely stronger with us, Zelenskiy told the European Parliament via video link. In an open letter to the EU, the presidents of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia called for a path toward membership to be opened for Ukraine. Hungarys government also said it backs the membership bid. Cargo aircraft grounded by Russian invasion Russias invasion of Ukraine has sidelined a fleet of massive freight-hauling planes that oil companies and engineering firms rely on to carry oversize items such as helicopters, power turbines and even spacecraft. UK looking at tighter Russian SWIFT curbs Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK is examining how we can tighten up yet further restrictions on Russias use of SWIFT, on which it relies for its oil and gas exports. Speaking in Poland, Johnson told reporters. Sberbank, Russias largest lender, could also face more sanctions after announcing Monday that it will no longer be able to clear payments in pounds sterling. UN reports hundreds of civilians killed, wounded Reports of civilian casualties and civilian infrastructure damage continue to increase across Ukraine, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement. The government-controlled areas of the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions in eastern Ukraine are among the hardest hit, with several cities, towns and villages on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe, the OCHA said. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed at least 406 civilian casualties, including 102 deaths, with the real figures feared to be much higher. Ousted leader Aung San pleaded not guilty Monday to a corruption charge that alleged she had accepted $600,000 and seven gold bars from a former political ally, a legal official said. The case is one of 10 in which she is being prosecuted under the anti-corruption law. She is accused of receiving the money and gold bars in 2017-18 from Phyo Min Thein, the former chief minister of Yangon, the country's biggest city. He was also a senior member of her National League for Democracy party. has been detained since the army toppled her elected government in February last year, and has not been seen or allowed to speak in public since then. All of her court hearings have been closed to the media and public. Her lawyers, before they were served with gag orders late last year, said she rejected all the corruption allegations against her as absurd. has also faced a series of other criminal charges since her arrest. She has already been sentenced to six years' imprisonment after being convicted of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions and sedition. Her supporters and human rights groups say the cases against her are an attempt to discredit her and keep her from returning to and participating in a new election the army has promised by 2023. Her party won a landslide victory in the 2020 general election. The army said it seized power because there was massive voting fraud, an allegation that independent poll watchers do not support. A court in the capital, Naypyitaw, is hearing the 10 corruption cases against Suu Kyi. The maximum penalty for each offense is 15 years in prison and a fine. The nine other corruption cases include several related to the purchase and rental of a helicopter. She is also charged with diverting money meant as charitable donations to build a residence, and with misusing her position to obtain rental properties at lower-than-market prices for a foundation named after her mother. The state Anti-Corruption Commission has declared that several of the actions deprived the state of revenue it would otherwise have earned. An 11th corruption charge, alleging that she accepted another bribe, has not yet gone to trial. In Monday's hearing, the judge ruled that the trial should proceed after earlier hearing the prosecution's case, as is customary in trials, and Suu Kyi then pleaded not guilty. She then requested that four prosecution witnesses, including Phyo Min Thein, be recalled for re-examination. The legal official familiar with the hearing said Suu Kyi appeared to be in good health. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information. Suu Kyi is also being tried in the same court on a charge of violating the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years, and on a charge alleging election fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of three years. (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 awarded three additional missions to the Space Station (ISS) to Elon Musk led company for a $3.49 billion contract. The contract for Crew-7, Crew-8, and Crew-9 is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap), which follows the US space agency's notice of intent to procure the flights in December 2021, said. It brings the total missions for to nine and allows to maintain an uninterrupted US capability for human access to the space station. As part of the missions, SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket transport up to four astronauts along with critical cargo to the space station. Earlier, was contracted to fly three more missions to the ISS: Crew-4 and Crew-5 in 2022 and Crew-6 in 2023. With the extension, which is "fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity," NASA said in a statement. The period of performance for SpaceX now runs through March 31, 2028, it added. "It's critical we begin to secure additional flights to the space station now so we are ready as these missions are needed to maintain a US presence on station,a Kathy Lueders, associate administrator of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate, said in the agency's notice of intent to modify SpaceX's contract, published in December 2021. "Our US human launch capability is essential to our continued safe operations in orbit and to building our low-Earth orbit economy," Lueders added. In 2014, NASA had awarded the CCtCap contracts to Boeing and SpaceX through a public-private partnership as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Programme. Under CCtCap, NASA certifies that a provider's space transportation system meets the agency's requirements prior to flying missions with astronauts. Only SpaceX was certified by NASA for crew transportation in November 2020, and the company is currently on its third crew rotation mission for the agency. --IANS rvt/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Energy Agency said on Tuesday that all 31 member countries have agreed to release 60 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves to send a strong message to oil markets that there will be no shortfall in supplies as a result of Russia's invasion of . The IEA board made the decision at an extraordinary board meeting of energy ministers chaired by US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Besides the United States, other members of the organisation include the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. IEA members hold emergency stockpiles of 1.5 billion barrels. The release amounts to 4 per cent of stockpiles or roughly 2 million barrels per day for 30 days. It's only the fourth time in history that the IEA has done a coordinated drawdown since the reserves were established in the wake of the Arab oil embargo in 1974. (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.) Secretary- General Jens Stoltenberg is meeting Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Lask Air Base in central Poland for talks on the eastern flank's security, as Russia wages war on Ukraine, just across Poland's eastern border. Stoltenberg and Duda shook hands early Tuesday at the 32rd Tactical Air Base in Lask, where Polish and fighter jets are based, including F-16s. The United States recently reinforced the eastern flank of NATO's territory with some 5,000 additional 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.) Rebecca Meads 2014 book My Life in Middlemarch was an original and insightful hybrid work. Blending literary biography, textual commentaries and snippets of personal memoir, she shone a fresh light on George Eliots study of provincial life and at the same time revealed how the novel had helped and guided her, both when she first encountered it at age 17 and when she revisited it at key stages throughout the years. If there was a downside to the book it was that Mead's experiences were frequently overshadowed and ultimately eclipsed by Eliot's life story. She avoids this problem in her latest book, another personal account, by positioning herself squarely at the center of it. Her tale comprises the main narrative, but branching off from it at regular intervals are welcome riffs and reflections on a diverse range of topics. Advertisement (Alfred A. Knopf) Home/Land: A Memoir of Departure and Return chronicles the authors relocation from her adopted home of New York to her birth city of London. After becoming increasingly disenchanted with the American political situation, Mead, a staff writer at The New Yorker, decided to leave the country with her husband and adolescent son. It was a big step: She had lived in America for 30 years and become an American citizen; London had drastically transformed itself over that time and she harbored mixed feelings about her "chilly, moated island nation." But in the summer of 2018 she and her family finally took the plunge and made the move. Advertisement Mead describes how relocation brought dislocation: She spends months in limbo, staying in temporary, short-term accommodation and adapting to new surroundings and different ways of doing things. As she recounts how she acclimated, one thought gives rise to another. London landmarks streets, buildings, institutions, recreational space trigger private memories or spawn meditations on art and literature. A profile of the carpenter she recruits to build her bookcases a man who, until recently, had the distinction of being Britains longest-serving prisoner prompts musings on the seaside town of Weymouth where she grew up, her first love, Thomas Hardys Tess of the dUrbervilles and her late fathers birthplace. Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > Mead continues to zigzag through time by replaying her years starting out as a journalist in New York and tracing her parents' histories. Her non-linear approach never disorientates rather, it invigorates, creating as it does a rich patchwork of overlapping ideas and recollections. Only occasionally are Mead's ruminations too ponderous for their own good. This is an artfully crafted memoir that offers a clear-eyed examination of home, roots, belonging, and personal and national identity. At the end Mead explains that she has been sifting through fragments, filling in blanks, making imaginative leaps, all in an attempt to weave myself back into the citys fabric. In doing so, she shows us how we are shaped by both the places we come from and the places we come to call home. Malcolm Forbes has written for the Times Literary Supplement, the Economist and the Wall Street Journal. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. ___ About the book HOME/LAND: A Memoir of Departure and Return Rebecca Mead Alfred A. Knopf. 240 pp. $27. NATO's chief says the alliance sees no need to change its alert level, despite Russia's threats. The alliance's secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, spoke to The Associated Press following talks on European security with Polish President Andrzej Duda. They met at an air base in Lask, central Poland, where NATO's Polish and US fighter jets are based. We will always do what is needed to protect and defend our allies, but we don't think there is any need now to change the alert levels of NATO's nuclear forces, Stoltenberg said. The Kremlin has raised the spectre of nuclear war, reporting on Monday that its land, air and sea nuclear forces were on high alert following President Vladimir Putin's weekend order. NATO itself has no nuclear weapons, but three of its members, the United States, Britain and France, do. (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 government on Monday reiterated that it would not allow any activity against its friendly and neighbouring countries, including India and China, on its territory. The comments, which were part of a Cabinet decision, came a day after Nepal's Parliament ratified the contentious US-funded USD 500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact along with an Interpretive Declaration a day ahead of the February 28 deadline set by Washington, ending months of debates, protests and polarisation in the Himalayan nation. The MCC is a bilateral United States foreign aid agency established by the US Congress in 2004. It is an independent agency separate from the State Department and USAID. Nepal's political parties were sharply divided on whether to accept the US grant assistance under the MCC agreement. The MCC also dragged into a geopolitical game, with Beijing taking a jibe at Washington for providing a "gift" to with an ultimatum, for a second time in a week, firstly warning the US against using coercive diplomacy in Nepal. On Monday, the Nepal government, during the cabinet meeting, expressed thanks to all, including the Speaker, members of the House of Representative (HoR), political parties in the ruling alliance, the oppositional party, and other parties for facilitating to create an enabling atmosphere to endorse the MCC compact from the HoR on February 27. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday took a decision to this effect. "Nepal would not allow its territory to be used against any friendly and neighbouring countries including and India," stated the cabinet decision. The Cabinet meeting stated that the essence of Nepal's foreign policy is to keep friendly relations with all the countries, according to government spokesman and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki. The Cabinet meeting also thanked all the friendly countries, donor agencies, regional and organisations for their significant support in Nepal's socio-economic development. (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.) and signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday that unlocks unprecedented access to the British market and accelerates New Zealand's Covid-19 recovery, said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. "Virtually all our current trade will be duty-free from entry into force, including duty-free quotas for key products like meat, butter and cheese, helping to accelerate our economic recovery," Ardern said in a statement. The deal will boost New Zealand's GDP by up to NZ$1 billion ($680 million), supporting business and jobs, he added, Xinhua news agency reported. This is New Zealand's first bilateral trade agreement to include a specific article on climate change and includes provisions towards eliminating environmentally harmful subsidies, such as harmful fossil fuel subsidies, and prohibiting fisheries subsidies which lead to overfishing, she said. The FTA was signed in London by Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor and Britain's Secretary of State for Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan. It's estimated New Zealand goods exports to will increase by more than 50 per cent through the agreement, O'Connor said, adding the agreement will enter into force by the end of 2022 after both partners ratify the agreement through respective parliaments. was New Zealand's seventh-largest trading partner pre-Covid, with two-way trade worth NZ$6 billion ($4.06 billion) to March 2020, he said. --IANS int/sks/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oil futures rose on Tuesday morning, following a volatile start to the week, as the market weighed a coordinated release of crude inventories against Russian supply disruptions in the wake of Moscow's invasion of . May Brent crude futures, which began trading as prompt on Tuesday, gained about 1% at 0141 GMT to $98.90. The benchmark touched a seven-year high of $105.79 after Russia's invasion of began last week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) April crude futures were up about 0.8% at $96.53. That contract touched a high of $99.10 a barrel the previous day, and had settled up more than 4%. Concerns over tightening supplies come as major oil and gas companies, including BP and Shell, have announced plans to exit Russian operations and joint ventures. Buyers of Russian oil are also facing difficulty over payments and vessel availability as Western sanctions in response to the invasion of take hold. The market calmed as the United States and allies discuss a coordinated release of crude stocks in a bid to mitigate supply disruption. That release could tally up to between 60 and 70 million barrels, media outlets reported. "That likely release is capping oil price rises for now," analysts for Commonwealth Bank of Australia wrote in a note. The Energy Agency (IEA) is set to hold an extraordinary ministerial meeting on Tuesday to discuss what role its members can play in stabilising oil markets. Russia, which calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation", exports some 4-5 million barrels per day of crude, and 2-3 million barrels per day of refined products. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers - including - will also meet on Wednesday and are anticipated to maintain a gradual increase to supplies. (Reporting by Liz Hampton in Denver; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) (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.) By Julia Payne LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices surged on Tuesday as concerns over potential supply disruptions after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and related sanctions outweighing talks of a coordinated global crude stocks release. May Brent crude futures were up $3.04, or 3.1%, to $101.01 a barrel by 0843 GMT. The benchmark touched a seven-year high of $105.79 after the invasion began last week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) April crude futures were up $2.56, or 2.67%, at $98.28. The contract touched a high of $99.10 a barrel the previous day, ending up more than 4%. A huge Russian military convoy approached Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Tuesday after ceasefire talks between and Ukraine failed to reach a breakthrough. Russia's economic isolation worsened as the world's biggest shipping firm Maersk on Tuesday said it would halt container shipping to and from . "The fragile situation in Ukraine and financial and energy sanctions against will keep the energy crisis stoked and oil well above $100 per barrel in the near-term and even higher if the conflict escalates further," Louise Dickson, senior oil market analyst from Rystad Energy, wrote in a note. Major oil and gas companies, including BP and Shell, have announced plans to exit Russian operations and joint ventures. Buyers of Russian oil are facing difficulty over payments and vessel availability due to sanctions. Still, the market mood was helped by the United States and allies discussing a coordinated release of crude stocks to mitigate supply disruption. That release could reach 60 million to 70 million barrels, media outlets reported. "That likely release is capping oil price rises for now," analysts for Commonwealth Bank of Australia wrote in a note. The Energy Agency (IEA) is set to hold an extraordinary ministerial meeting on Tuesday to discuss what role its members can play in stabilising the oil market. Meanwhile, Asia's factories sustained a brisk recovery in February amid signs the coronavirus pandemic was having less of an impact on business, implying an uptick in oil demand. Russia, which calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation", exports some 4 million to 5 million barrels per day of crude oil, and 2 million to 3 million barrels per day of refined products. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers - including Russia - will also meet on Wednesday and are expected to stick with a planned output increase for April. (Reporting by Liz Hampton in Denver and Muyu Xu in Beijing; editing by Kenneth Maxwell and Jason Neely) (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.) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed Ukraines membership application. Deputy Head of the President's Office, Andriy Sybiga, said that Zelenskyy has just signed a historically significant document: Ukraine's membership application, Ukrainska Pravda reported. He also signed a joint request with the head of the Verkhovna Rada [Parliament] of and Prime Minister Dmytro Shmygal. The documents are already on their way to Brussels. Zelenskyy said: "I have signed Ukraine's membership application. I am sure that we can achieve this." According to EU procedure, the membership application has to be submitted to the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Council is currently headed by France. Ukraine's application may be important for Zelenskyy, given that this issue could potentially be used in the talks with Russia, because the European Union is a project built around peace and using dialogue to resolve conflict, Ukrainska Pravd reported. On Monday morning, Zelenskyy addressed the European Union regarding Ukraine's accession under a special procedure. According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainians deserve EU membership. After Russia's invasion, several EU countries called upon the EU to give a pathway to membership, and Slovakia proposed a special procedure for Ukraine's accession to the EU. --IANS san/arm (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 Vladimir Putin justifies his war on as a peacekeeping mission, a denazification of the country. In his address to the Russian people on Feb. 24, 2022, Putin said the purpose was to protect people who had been subjected to bullying and genocide for the last eight years. And for this we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of . The victims of the genocide claimed by Putin are Russian speakers; the Nazis he referenced are the elected representatives of the Ukrainian people. While Ukraines new language laws have upset some minorities, independent news media have uncovered no evidence of genocide against Russian speakers. In fact, as the historian Timothy Snyder has pointed out, Russian speakers have more freedom in Ukraine than they have in Russia, where Putins authoritarian government routinely suppresses political dissent. And while far right groups have been growing in Ukraine, their electoral power is limited. As the author of a recently published book on anti-Jewish violence in Ukraine and a historian of the Holocaust, I know why the accusations of Nazism and genocide have resonance in . But I also understand that despite episodic violence, Ukrainian history offers a model of tolerance and democratic government. Ukraines Jewish leadership First, it is worth pointing out that Ukraine today is a vibrant, pluralistic democracy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky won a five-year term in the 2019 presidential election with a landslide majority, defeating 39 candidates. His Servant of the People party then swept the parliamentary elections in July 2019, winning 254 seats in the 450-seat chamber, becoming the first majority government in the history of the modern Ukrainian state. Zelensky was well-known as a comedian and star of the popular sitcom Servant of the People, from which his partys name was derived. The fact that Zelensky is the grandson of a Holocaust survivor and was raised in what he told The Times of Israel was an ordinary Soviet Jewish family was barely noted during the election. Nobody cares. Nobody asks about it, he remarked in the same interview. Nor did Ukrainians seem to mind that the prime minister at the time of Zelenskys election, Volodymyr Groysman, also had a Jewish background. For a brief period of time, Ukraine was the only state outside of Israel to have both a Jewish head of state and a Jewish head of government. How could I be a Nazi? Zelensky asked in a public address after the Russian invasion began. Explain it to my grandfather. The pogroms against Jews Sporadic episodes of violence against Jews, or pogroms, began well before the Holocaust. In 1881, for instance, after the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, ordinary churchgoers, laborers, railway workers and soldiers attacked Jewish-owned shops, mills and canteens, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Jews in what was then considered the south of Russia, but is now Ukraine. During another wave of violence following the Revolution of 1905, workers, peasants and soldiers, egged on by Russian right-wing paramilitary groups, murdered 5,000 Jews in the region. During the unrest that followed the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, about 100,000 Jews died as a result of attacks perpetrated against them by soldiers fighting to restore a united Russia, as well as by the armies of the newly established Ukrainian and Polish states. Finally, during the Second World War, German soldiers murdered 1.5 million Jews in the areas that are now Ukraine, often with the collaboration of Ukrainian militias established in the diaspora and with the help of local auxiliary police. The role of ethnic Ukrainians in the Holocaust remains contentious in Ukraine today, where nationalist heroes who collaborated with the Nazis continue to be honored. Yet at the same time, millions of non-Jewish Ukrainians lost their lives under the Nazis or were exploited as slave laborers. The occupiers treated Ukrainian lands as little more than Lebensraum , living space for ethnic Germans. A pluralistic state Forgotten in this history is the period between 1917 and 1919 when an independent Ukrainian state offered a different model of multiculturalism and pluralism. The Ukrainian state that declared its independence from in the aftermath of the 1917 Revolutions, envisioned a Ukraine for all ethnicities and religious groups living within its territory. One of its first acts was passing the Law on National Autonomy in January 1918, which allowed each of the major ethnic minority groups Russians, Jews, and Poles broad autonomous rights, including the right to use their own language. The cabinet included a Secretariat of National Affairs, with vice-secretariats for Russians, Jews and Poles, and, briefly in 1919, even a Ministry of Jewish Affairs. The legislative body, as well, included proportional representation from each of the national minorities. The state issued declarations and currency printed in four languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Polish and Yiddish. However, this state, hailed by Jews around the world as a model for the new nation states then emerging in eastern and central Europe, never managed to hold the capital for more than a few months at a time. By April of 1919, the government was being run from a moving train and could barely claim more land than the tracks beneath it. From its inauguration in January 1918, Ukraine found itself enmeshed in a bloody war on multiple fronts. The Soviet Red Army attacked it from the east, while Moscow sought to ignite Bolshevik revolutions throughout Ukraine. A Russian White Army led by officers from the old tsarist army attacked from the south, hoping to reestablish a version of the Russian Empire. From the west, the army of the newly established Polish Republic attacked with the goal of restoring historic Polands borders. [Over 140,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.] At the same time, a range of insurgent fighters and anarchists formed militias to seize land for themselves. In the midst of this chaos, the dream of a pluralistic state devolved into inter-ethnic violence. In March 1921, the war ended with the Treaty of Riga, incorporating much of the territory claimed by the independent Ukrainian state into the Soviet Union. Putins selective telling of the past exaggerates the legacy of Nazism in Ukraine while ignoring the states historic struggle for pluralism and democracy. There is a good reason for this: he fears democracy more than he fears Nazism. Jeffrey Veidlinger, Professor of History and Judaic Studies, University of Michigan This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Russia's foreign minister told a Geneva disarmament meeting on Tuesday that Ukraine has been seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a "real danger" that needed a Russian response. Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday in what it called a special operation to demilitarise and "denazify" the country - a justification dismissed by Kyiv and the West as propaganda. "Today the dangers that (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskiy's regime pose for neighbouring countries and security in general have increased substantially after the authorities set up in Kyiv have embarked upon dangerous games related to plans to acquire their own nuclear weapons," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the Conference on Disarmament in a video address. "Ukraine still has Soviet nuclear technologies and the means of delivery of such weapons. We cannot fail to respond to this real danger," he said, also calling for Washington to rebase its nuclear weapons from Europe. He delivered the speech to a thin crowd after many diplomats including France and Britain staged a walk-out to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine as they did at a parallel U.N. meeting in Geneva on Tuesday. They stood in a circle outside the meeting for the duration of Lavrov's speech, holding a Ukrainian flag. Lavrov was supposed to attend the session in person but the visit was cancelled, with Russia accusing unidentified EU states of blocking his flight path. Earlier, a minute of silence was held for the victims of fighting in Ukraine. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has enlivened the deadlocked arms negotiating forum that has failed to reach a deal in decades despite holding over 1,600 plenary meetings. At the same meeting, Ukraine's foreign minister accused Russia of war crimes through its shelling of his country and the ambassador called for a special meeting to address Russian aggression and weapons of mass destruction. A copy of the request seen by Reuters said the meeting would address the "the use of conventional weapons against the civilian population as well as nuclear and other WMD threats" and called for concrete and specific actions. It said the request was supported by "numerous other" members of the 65-member body, without naming them. Russia's delegate objected to the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Monday again advocated for peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and said the Indian government firmly believes in the path of . Speaking at the 11th Emergency Special Session of UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Ukraine, India's Permanent Representative, TS Tirumurti, said, "Peaceful settlement of disputes has been India's consistent position; my government firmly believes that there's no other choice but to return to the path of ." " is doing whatever it can to undertake immediate and urgent evacuation efforts of Indian nationals who are still stranded in Ukraine... this important humanitarian necessity must immediately be addressed," he said. Tirumurti thanked all neighbouring countries of Ukraine for opening up their borders for Indian citizens. "We stand ready to help those from our neighbours and developing countries who may seek assistance," he added. Prior to the Session, a UNSC meeting was also held on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. During the Security Council meeting, Tirumurti informed that will provide urgent relief supplies, including medicines to Ukraine. The Indian representative at the UN said that there is an urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine. "In such times of conflict, India attaches the highest priority to safety and well-being of civilians, in particular women, children, and elderly. We are of the view that core principles of humanitarian assistance should be fully honoured," he said. Tirumurti also noted that India remains deeply concerned about the unfolding developments in Ukraine where the situation continues to deteriorate. "Our considered call for an immediate cessation of violence and an end to all hostilities is an urgent imperative," he stated. (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.) From a tent in the rebel-held pocket of Syria, Ahmad Rakan has closely followed news of Russia's invasion of . More than two years ago, a Russian airstrike destroyed his house in a nearby village during a months-long Syrian government offensive backed by Moscow's firepower that drove him and tens of thousands of from their homes. We more than anyone else feel their pain, he said of Ukrainian civilians currently under Russian bombardment. For the past seven years, Syrians like Rakan have experienced first-hand Russia's military might as it struck opposition strongholds, brokered mass surrender deals and deployed military police across their country, practically rendering it a Russian protectorate on the Mediterranean. Observers say Russia's brazen military intervention in and the impunity with which it was met emboldened Vladimir Putin. They say it gave him a renewed Middle East foothold from where he could assert Russian power globally, and paving the way for his attack on . There is no doubt that the Russian intervention in is an accumulation of a series of Russian military interventions in Georgia in 2008, Crimea in 2014 and in 2015, said Ibrahim Hamidi, a Syrian journalist and senior diplomatic editor for Syrian affairs at the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper. Putin believes that America is regressing and China's role is increasing and Europe is divided and preoccupied with its internal concerns so he decided to intervene, he said. Moscow's 2015 decision to join the war in was its first military action outside the former Soviet Union since the federation's collapse. It saved President Bashar Assad's government and turned the tide of the war in his favor, enabling the Syrian leader to brutally reassert control over much of Syria. Russian airstrikes often indiscriminately hit hospitals, schools and markets. The war-ravaged country became a testing ground for Russian weapons and tactics that it can now bring to bear in Ukraine. Anna Borshchevskaya, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute focusing on Russia's policy toward the Middle East, said deployed a multi-domain approach in Syria, including long-range precision weapons and large-scale bombing campaigns, along with cyber warfare, disinformation and use of paramilitary forces. Deploying its air power has come to define Russia's evolving way of war and Syria was an especially important illustration of this development, she said. Moscow also showed a canny diplomatic touch in Syria, creating arrangements with the West that forced an implicit acceptance of its intervention. It created joint patrols with NATO member Turkey which backed Syrian rebels, to enforce truces in some areas. It established understandings with Israel that allowed the latter to carry out airstrikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria. It set up a so-called deconfliction line with the U.S. to prevent mishaps between American and Russian planes flying in Syria's skies. At the same time, it sought to defend Assad on the scene, dismissing as fabrications Assad's use of chemical weapons and barrel bombs against civilians. Within Syria, added a soft power campaign. In some areas, festivals were put on to popularize Russian culture, Russian national songs were played on Syrian television, self-serving propaganda was churned out and hot meals were served to civilians. Max, a dual Syrian-Ukrainian national who hails from Syria's coastal province of Latakia, recalled working for a week as a social media troll disseminating the truth about Russia's positive actions in Syria. He and other Russian-speaking Syrians worked from an office set up in a local university. A member of Assad's Alawite ruling sect, he said he and in his hometown were grateful when intervened militarily in 2015, particularly as Islamic extremists had been approaching the area. Then Russians came and the front line was pushed way back, he told The Associated Press in a phone call from Ukraine, where he is now stuck in an Airbnb in a residential area of Kyiv. Max, who is now working for an organization in Lebanon, had flown to Ukraine to update his personal documents when he became trapped there by Russia's invasion. He spoke on condition his full name would not be used for his safety. Today, Max no longer buys into the Russian narrative. Many in his hometown in Syria, though, support Russia's war in Ukraine, as Moscow continues to mount a sophisticated disinformation effort about its invasion. Images coming out of Ukraine, including the harrowing mass flight of civilians, are stirring intense and conflicting emotions among Syrians at home and refugees across the globe. Resentment runs deepest in the northwest province of Idlib, Syria's last opposition-held bastion, where Russian airstrikes continue to this day. In a statement issued Monday, the opposition's civil defense group known as the White Helmets group, deplored Russia's aggression against Ukraine. It pains us immensely to know that the weapons tested on Syrians will now be used against Ukrainian civilians, it said, lamenting what it said has been a lack of support from the community in holding Russia to account in Syria and elsewhere. Instead of standing up for international norms, such as those against the use of chemical weapons, the international community has tried to find ways to cooperate with Russia and to this day considers Russia a willing and essential partner in diplomacy, it said. Borshchevskaya said the lesson Putin took from Syria was that the West will not oppose his military interventions and it gave him a success to build on. Appetite comes with eating, and with each intervention he has grown increasingly more brazen, culminating in the tragedy we now see unfolding in Ukraine, she said. Just as what happened in Syria did not end in Syria, what is happening in Ukraine will not end in Ukraine. Rakan now lives in a tent with his wife and three kids near the Turkish border, where he runs a car spare parts shop. He said he hopes a Russian defeat in Ukraine could have positive repercussions for Syria's opposition. We pray for God for victory for the people of Ukraine, and we hope that this war will mark the end of Russia, he said. Maybe they (Ukrainians) can achieve the victory that was not achieved in Syria. (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.) Robert Peele, ABC store manager in Norfolk's Downtown Plaza, shows where the store stocked Russian vodka before its removal. This photo ran in The Virginian-Pilot in September 1983. (Bill Ballenberg) Russian vodka brands pulled from state-owned liquor store shelves in solidarity with Ukraine will be kept in storage for now a move with precedent in the liquor monopolys nearly 100-year history. The seven Russian-sourced vodkas in Virginia ABC inventory amounting $77,500 in stock will be kept in store back rooms and other state facilities for the time being, ABC spokesperson Carol Mawyer said in an email. Another $30,000 in stock, still owned by suppliers and not purchased by the ABC, also will be held from shelves. Advertisement The Russian vodka brands to be removed include Beluga, Hammer & Sickle, Imperia, Mamont, Organika, Russian Standard and ZYR. The Russian-sourced spirits accounted for $1.2 million in Virginia ABC sales during fiscal year 2021 a fraction of the $57.9 million generated in the same time frame by Titos brand vodka, the top-grossing vodka in the state. Advertisement Its unclear what will ultimately happen to the liquor. The products wont be destroyed, Mawyer said. The state-run liquor store system attributed the decision to Gov. Glenn Youngkins call on Saturday for the state to take decisive action in support of Ukraine. Virginia ABC said in a Facebook post it would be reviewing its other products to determine whether they have origins in Russia. It isnt the first time the Virginia ABC has pulled alcohol from its shelves based on political sentiment. Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > Stolichnaya, or Stoli, was pulled from Virginia ABC shelves at least twice in the 1980s amid the Cold War. It was the only Russian-imported product carried in state liquor stores at the time, The Virginian-Pilot reported in 1983. The vodka was quietly returned to shelves once tensions thawed. This time around, Stolichnaya is one of the Russian-themed vodkas staying on the shelf, as it is made in Latvia, according to its website. Still, the vodka with hard-to-pin-down origins in Moscow was an instinctual target of wrath during chills in U.S.-Russian relations in the 1980s. The first removal in 1980 was prompted by the then-Soviet Unions invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Virginia ABC halted orders of Stolichnaya but kept remaining inventory up for sale until stock ran out, the Associated Press reported. The product returned in April 1981, The Pilot reported. The high-priced spirit was pulled again in protest when Soviet jet fighters shot down a South Korean airliner carrying 269 passengers and crew members in 1983. A Virginia ABC spokesperson told a Pilot reporter at the time the removed bottles would be stored. The liquor was absent from shelves for nearly three years until its return in mid-1986. Advertisement Other states have joined the commonwealth in squirreling away their Russian liquor brands. Officials in Alabama, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia all states that control the sale of alcohol have directed Russian-sourced alcohol to be removed from store shelves. Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com British Prime Minister on Tuesday left for a tour of Poland and Estonia, Britain's European allies neighbouring Ukraine which is fighting a bloody conflict with Russia. In Poland, Johnson has a meeting with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to underpin the UK's financial and diplomatic support for central Europe as it faces the prospect of a humanitarian crisis. He then travels on to Estonia, where he will join NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to meet British troops on the frontline of the Russian invasion in Tapa. Today I will visit Poland and Estonia, two countries that are acutely affected by the current crisis in Ukraine. We have shared values that are more important than ever to protect, as the humanitarian situation gets worse, the PM said. Alongside all our allies the will continue to bring maximum pressure to bear on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's regime to ensure he feels the consequences of his actions in Ukraine. We speak with one voice when we say, Putin must fail, he said. Johnson is also due to meet Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Estonian President Alar Karis to discuss European security and stability. His visit comes as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss outlined further tough sanctions against Russia in the House of Commons on Monday. We will continue working through our hit list of oligarchs, focusing on their houses, their yachts, and every aspect of their lives, Truss told parliamentarians. More legislation will follow in coming weeks to sanction Russian-occupied territories in the Donbas, extending more sanctions to Belarus, and limiting Russian deposits in UK banks, she said. The minister confirmed two new pieces of sanctions legislation as the UK keeps ratcheting up actions aimed at introducing a set of new powers against Russia's financial sector. It includes powers to prevent Russian banks from clearing payments in Pound Sterling. Truss told Parliament that with over 50 per cent of Russian trade denominated in Dollars or Sterling, the coordinated action with the United States will damage Russia's ability to trade with the world. And as soon as this legislation comes into force we will apply it to Sberbank Russia's largest bank. I will also be imposing a full asset freeze on three further banks, VEB Russia's national development bank, SovComBank the third largest privately owned financial institution in Russia, and Otkritie, one of Russia's largest commercial banks, said Truss. We will bring in a full asset freeze on all Russian banks in days, looking to coordinate with our allies. This same legislation will prevent the Russian state from raising debt here. And it will isolate all Russian companies that's over 3 million businesses from accessing UK capital markets, she added. The target is for Russian global giants like Gazprom no longer being able to issue debt or equity in London. Another piece of UK legislation will ban exports to Russia across a range of critical sectors, with impacted British businesses being offered support by the Department for Trade (DIT). On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Truss is set to travel to Geneva to speak at the United Nations Human Rights Council, where she is expected to accuse the Kremlin of breaching human rights on an industrial scale, paving the way for a UN resolution which could go as far as expelling Russia from the Security Council. It comes after Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov blamed "unacceptable" remarks about possible "clashes" between NATO the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military alliance and Moscow, including by "the British foreign minister" for putting its nuclear forces on high alert. The UK has categorised the heightened nuclear alert as an attempt by the Kremlin to "distract" from what was "going wrong" with its assault on 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.) In war, winning quick control of airspace is crucial. Russia's failure to do so in Ukraine, despite its vast military strength, has been a surprise and may help explain how has so far prevented a rout. The standoff in the sky is among the Russian battle shortcomings, including logistical breakdowns, that have thrown Moscow off stride in its invasion. Typically, an invading force would seek at the outset to destroy or at least paralyse the target country's air and missile defenses because dominance of the skies allows ground forces to operate more effectively and with fewer losses. US military officials had assumed that would use its electronic warfare and cyber capabilities to blind and paralyse Ukraine's air defenses and military communications. A possible explanation for Russia's failure to do so is that President Vladimir Putin built his war strategy on an assumption that Ukrainian defenses would easily fold, allowing Russian forces to quickly capture Kyiv, the capital, and crush Ukrainian forces in the east and south without having to achieve air superiority. If that was the plan, it failed, although at this stage the conflict's overall trajectory still seems to favour the larger, better equipped invading force. The invasion is less than a week old, and still hasn't committed to the battle the full force it had assembled on the border. A senior US official said Monday that about one-quarter of the force hasn't crossed into . The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal military assessments, said has retained a majority of its surface-to-air missile systems used to shoot down aircraft and a majority of its helicopters and airplanes. One reason they have yet to be destroyed, the official said, may be because Ukraine's air defenses were not centrally located and may have been moved around the country. It appears that Russian commanders have become frustrated by the pace of their battlefield gains and failure to win full air dominance, the official said. In response they may consider more aggressive, larger-scale attacks against Kyiv and to reduce the significant remaining Ukrainian air defenses. When he announced his decision to attack on Feb. 24, Putin gave no timetable for completing what he called not a war but a "special military operation." By US estimates he had assembled more than 150,000 troops on Ukraine's borders. We think that they're a few days behind where they expected to be at this stage, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Monday, five days into a war that is the largest in Europe since World War II. It's clear, yes, the Russians have had their own challenges and they have met resistance we don't believe they fully expected. Philip Breedlove, a retired Air Force general who commanded NATO forces in Europe from 2013 to 2016, said did unleash substantial missile attacks on Ukrainian air defense sites and airfields in the first few days. And yet the Ukrainians have found creative ways to preserve their air and missile defenses. I am pleasantly surprised that the air defense capability of Ukraine, even though diminished, has carried on as long as it has, Breedlove said. He added that Russia may yet bring more fighters and bombers into the conflict, even as Ukraine acquires Stinger missiles and other air defense weaponry from Western nations. In Breedlove's view, the weaponry provided to Ukraine by the United States and many other countries in recent weeks, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, has given Kyiv an important boost. He recalled that when Western countries in 2014 began providing radars used to detect and pinpoint the origin of artillery and mortar attacks, some questioned whether the Ukrainians could make good use of them. It was not long after they had them and started working with them that they were teaching us new tactics, techniques and procedures on how to employ them, said Breedlove, who was NATO chief at the time. From what I read and see, the Ukrainians have done a pretty good job of inflicting costs on Russian airborne forces, he said. More broadly, beyond failing to destroy or ground the Ukrainian air force, the Russians as of Monday had not managed to capture any major Ukrainian city and were advancing far more slowly than planned, Pentagon officials have said in recent days. Still there were signs of intensified conflict. Fighting raged in towns and cities scattered across the country. The strategic southern port city of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, was hanging on, said Zelenskyy adviser Oleksiy Arestovich. An oil depot was reported bombed in the eastern city of Sumy. Video from Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, showed residential areas being shelled, with apartment buildings shaken by repeated, powerful blasts. There are two basic ways you can describe the slowness of the Russian advance in Ukraine," said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst at the Lexington Institute, a Washington think tank. "One explanation is deliberate restraint. The other explanation is poor execution. We don't know enough to identify which is the more plausible explanation, but it's important to recognise the Russians have all sorts of options they have not yet brought to bear, including heavier use of cyberattacks against the Ukrainian command and control system and air defenses. In its latest assessment, the Institute for the Study of War said Moscow has likely recognized that its initial approach failed and is moving additional combat power toward Ukraine. The tide of the war could change rapidly in Russia's favour if the Russian military has correctly identified its failings and addresses them promptly, given the overwhelming advantage in net combat power that Moscow enjoys, it 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.) Russian forces stepped up their attacks on crowded urban areas on Tuesday, bombarding the central square in Ukraine's second-biggest city and Kyiv's main TV tower in what Ukraine's president called a blatant campaign of terror. Nobody will forgive. Nobody will forget, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed after the bloodshed on the square in Kharkiv. Ukrainian authorities said five people were killed in the attack on the TV tower, which is a couple of miles from central Kyiv and a short walk from numerous apartment buildings. Officials said a TV control room and a power substation were hit, and at least some Ukrainian channels briefly stopped broadcasting. Zelenskyy's office also reported a powerful missile attack on the site of the Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial, near the tower. At the same time, a 40-mile (64-kilometer) convoy of hundreds of Russian tanks and other vehicles advanced slowly on Kyiv in what the West feared was a bid by Russian President Vladimir Putin to topple Ukraine's government and install a Kremlin-friendly regime. Many military experts worry that the Kharkiv attacks mean could be shifting tactics. Moscow's strategy in Chechnya and Syria was to use artillery and air bombardments to pulverize cities and crush fighters' resolve. Russian forces also pressed their attack on other towns and cities across the country, including the strategic ports of Odesa and Mariupol in the south. Day 6 of the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II found increasingly isolated, beset by tough sanctions that have thrown its economy into turmoil and left the country practically friendless, apart from a few countries like China, Belarus and North Korea. The attack on the TV tower came after Russia's Defense Ministry announced it would target transmission facilities in the capital used by Ukraine's intelligence agency. It urged people living near such places to leave their homes. Overall death tolls from the fighting remained unclear, but a senior Western intelligence official, who had been briefed by multiple intelligence agencies, estimated Tuesday that more than 5,000 Russian soldiers had been captured or killed so far. Britain's Ministry of Defense said it had seen an increase in Russian air and artillery strikes on populated urban areas over the past two days. The ministry also said three cities Kharkiv, Kherson and Mariupol were encircled by Russian forces. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, with a population of about 1.5 million, at least six people were killed when the region's Soviet-era administrative building on Freedom Square was hit with what was believed to be a missile. The attack on Freedom Square Ukraine's largest plaza, and the nucleus of public life in the city was seen by many Ukrainians as brazen evidence that the Russian invasion wasn't just about hitting military targets but also about breaking their spirits. The bombardment blew out windows and walls of buildings that ring the massive square, which was piled high with debris and dust. Inside one building, chunks of plaster were scattered, and doors, ripped from their hinges, lay across hallways. People are under the ruins. We have pulled out bodies, said Yevhen Vasylenko, an emergency official. Zelenskyy pronounced the attack on the main square frank, undisguised terror and a war crime. This is state terrorism of the Russian Federation, he said. In an emotional appeal to the European Parliament later, Zelenskyy said: We are fighting also to be equal members of Europe. I believe that today we are showing everybody that is what we are." He said 16 children had been killed around on Monday, and he mocked Russia's claim that it is going after only military targets. Where are the children, what kind of military factories do they work at? What tanks are they going at, launching cruise missiles? Zelenskyy said. Human Rights Watch said it documented a cluster bomb attack outside a hospital in Ukraine's east in recent days. Local residents also reported the use of the weapons in Kharkiv and the village of Kiyanka, though there was no independent confirmation. The Kremlin denied using such weapons. If the allegations are confirmed, that would represent a new level of brutality in the war and could lead to even further isolation of . Unbowed by Western condemnation, Russian officials upped their threats of escalation, days after raising the specter of nuclear war. A top Kremlin official warned that the West's economic war against Russia could turn into a real one. Throughout the country, many Ukrainian civilians spent another night huddled in shelters, basements or corridors. More than a half-million people have fled the country, and the UN human rights office said it has recorded the deaths of 136 civilians. The real toll is believed to be far higher. It is a nightmare, and it seizes you from the inside very strongly. This cannot be explained with words, said Kharkiv resident Ekaterina Babenko, taking shelter in a basement with neighbours for a fifth straight day. We have small children, elderly people and frankly speaking it is very frightening. UN humanitarian coordinator Martin Griffiths said the bombings had damaged water pipes and electrical lines. Hundreds of thousands of families are without drinking water, he said. A Ukrainian military official said Belarusian troops joined the war Tuesday in the Chernihiv region in the north, without providing details. But just before that, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said his country had no plans to join the fight. In Kharkiv, explosions burst one after another through a residential area in a video verified by the AP. In the background, a man pleaded with a woman to leave, and a woman cried. Determined for life to go on despite the attacks, hospital workers transferred a Kharkiv maternity ward to a bomb shelter. Amid makeshift electrical sockets and mattresses piled up against the walls, pregnant women paced the crowded space, accompanied by the cries of dozens of newborns. Russia's goals in hitting central Kharkiv were not immediately clear. Western officials speculated that it is trying to pull in Ukrainian forces to defend the city while a larger Russian force encircles Kyiv. Russian troops continued their advance toward the capital, a city of nearly 3 million. The leading edge of the convoy was 17 miles (25 kilometers) from the center of the city, according to satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies. A senior US defense official described the long convoy as bogged down, saying Russia appeared to be pausing and regrouping to re-evaluate how to retake the momentum in the fighting. Overall, the Russian military's movements have been stalled by fierce resistance on the ground and a surprising inability to completely dominate Ukraine's airspace. The immense convoy, packed together along narrow roads, would seemingly be a big fat target for Ukrainian forces, the senior Western intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. But it also shows you that the Russians feel pretty comfortable being out in the open in these concentrations because they feel that they're not going to come under air attack or rocket or missile attack, the official said. Ukrainians used whatever they had on hand to try to stop the Russian advance: On a highway between Odesa and Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, residents piled tractor tires filled with sand and topped with sandbags to block convoys. Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, on Monday regretted the US decision to expel 12 staff members of the Russian UN mission. "I would like to inform you about yet another hostile step taken by the host country -- a step against the Russian mission. Just now, literally, an hour ago, we were informed that from the Russian mission, 12 of its staff are being expelled," said Nebenzia at the beginning of a Security Council meeting that he was chairing, Xinhua news agency reported. The decision is "yet another gross violation" of the UN Headquarters agreement signed by the as the host country, and of the Vienna Conventions, said Nebenzia. "We keep being told about the need for diplomacy, diplomatic solutions. At the same time, our opportunities to conduct this kind of activity are being restricted," he said. "We deeply regret this decision. And we'll see how the events develop within the context of this decision." US deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Richard Mills, said the 12 staff members of the Russian mission were ordered to leave because they engaged in "activities that were not in accordance with their responsibilities and obligations as diplomats". "They have been given a request to depart this country so they do not harm the national security of the host country," said Mills. Nebenzia said the US representative's response was not satisfactory. The US decision came amid Russian military operations in . --IANS int/pgh (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korean President on Tuesday called for to look squarely at history and show a humble attitude over its wartime past in order for the two countries to overcome historical feuds and move forward for cooperation. In a speech marking Korea's 1919 nationwide uprising against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, Moon said remains open to dialogue with to work together on various regional and global issues, such as Covid-19 and supply chains, Yonhap news agency reported. and "should be able to overcome the 'history of a once unfortunate past' and cooperate toward the future," Moon said, describing the two nations as "close neighbours". "To that end, Japan must look squarely at history and be humble before history." Moon said Japan can become a "trusted nation" only if it "can sympathise with the wounds of the people of its neighbouring country". Diplomatic tensions between Seoul and Tokyo have run deep since 2019, when Japan imposed a set of export restrictions against in a move seen as economic retaliation for South Korean court rulings against Japanese firms involved in forced labour during Japan's colonial rule. --IANS int/pgh (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korean President on Tuesday expressed his concern about a "new Cold War" and nationalism seeking to gain hegemony by force, as pressed ahead with its invasion of despite global condemnation and sanctions. In a speech marking Korea's 1919 nationwide uprising against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, Moon emphasised that should have the power to prevent itself from being pushed around by global powers, Yonhap news agency reported. "The order is fluctuating amid the Covid crisis," Moon said. "State-centered nationalism, which seeks to gain hegemony by force, is also raising its head again. Concerns over a new are on the rise as well." Moon said that the lesson from the spirit of the 1919 uprising "gives us today is that we should have the power to lead our history without being pushed around by an order centered on powerful countries." Moon's speech came a day after said it will ban exports of strategic items to and join sanctions to exclude major Russian financial institutions from a key global payment system to increase pressure over Moscow's invasion of . The remarks were seen as a veiled condemnation against Russia's military action. Moon said is "imbued with the spirit" of the 1919 uprising, "which resisted violence, discrimination and injustice, and rejected a hegemonic international order." "We will never again experience that pain from one hundred years ago," Moon said. "We will safeguard the survival and raise the pride of all Koreans through peace and prosper in peace." Moon also called for Japan to look squarely at history and show a humble attitude over its wartime past in order for the two countries to overcome historical feuds and move forward for cooperation. "In this time of many difficulties, Korea and Japan -- close neighbours -- must be able to overcome the history of the once unfortunate past and cooperate for the future," Moon said. "Beyond Korea-Japan relations, I sincerely hope that Japan will take leadership as an advanced nation. To this end, Japan must squarely face history and be humble before it," Moon said. South Korea remains open to dialogue with Japan to work together on various regional and global issues, such as Covid and supply chains, Moon said. Moon said Seoul "will always keep the door open for dialogue to join forces not only for regional peace and prosperity but also in responding to global challenges -- ranging from Covid and the climate crisis to the supply chain crisis and the new economic order." With North Korea showing signs of ratcheting up tensions by test-firing ballistic missiles, Moon said dialogue with the North must be resumed to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula. Recalling heightened tension about five years ago, when North Korea conducted a nuclear test, Moon said his administration "was able to achieve peace through dramatic dialogue. However, dialogue has been suspended, making our peace tenuous." "Efforts for dialogue to sustain peace must continue," Moon said. "If we do not lose our determination -- just as we dreamed of turning the PyeongChang Winter Olympics into a Peace Olympics amid the dark clouds of war -- we can certainly bring denuclearisation and permanent peace to the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy," Moon said. "Cooperation between Korea and Japan is the responsibility of the current generation for the sake of future generations," Moon said. "Japan will become a trustworthy country only when it is able to empathise with the wounds of the people of neighbouring countries, which are sometimes exacerbated by a once unfortunate past," Moon said. Diplomatic tensions between Seoul and Tokyo have run deep since 2019, when Japan imposed a set of export restrictions against South Korea in a move seen as economic retaliation for South Korean court rulings against Japanese firms involved in forced labour during Japan's colonial rule. Japan's recent heritage bid for a controversial mine added to a litany of thorny issues between the two countries, including Japan's claims to Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, its wartime sexual slavery and its planned discharge of tainted nuclear plant water into the ocean. The latest tussle over the Sado mine -- where as many as 2,000 Koreans were thought to have been mobilised to work against their will -- struck a particularly jarring note as it put a damper on Seoul's hitherto unfruitful fence-mending efforts with Tokyo. --IANS int/sks/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) says it sent 27 tons worth of medical supplies to via a flight to late Monday. Foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou told reporters Tuesday that was happy to assist as a responsible member of the community, and a member of the democratic camp. has strongly condemned Russia's invasion of and had said it would impose economic sanctions against Russia. It has yet to reveal what those sanctions were, but the island is a dominant manufacturer of semiconductor chips, which are crucial to tech products ranging from smartphones to cars. (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.) Turkish President insists his country won't give up on its relations with either Russia or Ukraine, but says it will implement an convention that allows to shut down the straits at the entrance of the Black Sea to the warships of belligerent countries. The 1936 Montreux Convention gives the right to bar warships from using the Dardanelles and the Bosporus during wartime. Ukraine has asked to implement the treaty and bar access to Russian warships. Several Russian ships have already sailed through the straits to the Black Sea in the past weeks and it was not clear how much of an impact Turkey's decision to close down the straits would have on the conflict. The convention, also provides an exception for Black Sea vessels returning to port. Turkey has criticised Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, but has also been trying to balance its close ties to Ukraine with its interests in not upsetting its fragile economic relationship with 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.) Even now, on the fifth day of the Russian invasion of and Kyiv bracing for the worst, the West has continued purchasing the that Moscow is desperate to sell pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars daily to subsidize its war machine. Washington and Brussels have carved out loopholes big enough for an oil tanker in their current sanctions policy, allowing the trade to continue. Western officials have also worked the phones, reassuring traders and their banks they can continue buying and paying for Russian . But Kyiv is pleading for it to stop. We insist on a full embargo for Russian oil and gas, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted over the weekend. Buying them now means paying for the murder of Ukrainian men, women and children. As with every other action that only a few days ago seemed unpalatable and unlikely targeting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and SWIFT foreign-currency system, or supplying offensive armament the oil weapon is looming as an economic punishment that could provoke a dangerous military response. exports about 8 million barrels a day of crude, refined petroleum products and other oil liquids, a significant chunk of global demand of about 100 million barrels a day. About two-thirds of the Russian supply goes to industrialized nations in Europe, North America and Asia. Germany is worried Europe wont have enough gas to make it until the spring, and blackouts may follow. The U.S. fears oil prices will jump to $150 or even $200 a barrel, just ahead of its midterm elections. In Washington and Berlin, the message is almost unanimous: Sanctioning Russian will hurt the West more than Moscow, and its unlikely to deter Vladimir Putin. For now, it wont happen. John Arnold, a famed former commodity trader, summarized that school of thought: As much as the world is mad at Putin, that is not a price the West is willing to pay. Others appear open to the idea, however. U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss over the weekend floated the prospect of setting caps on purchases of Russian oil, progressively reducing them. Ironically, that sounds exactly like the 1973 Arab oil embargo, which set a 5% monthly output reduction. Other Western officials are asking, if not now, when? I cant see the status quo of the energy trade lasting forever. Unless the Ukrainian-Russian talks yield some quick results, the gruesome photographs and videos that will inevitably follow a Russian push into the biggest Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, will harden Western public opinion. If the war drags on, its a matter of when, rather than if, the energy trade gets sanctioned. Already some European refiners have stopped buying Russian crude, self-sanctioning Russian oil. Even with the White House encouraging oil traders to keep going, moving Russian petroleum, particularly seaborne flows, is increasingly difficult. Canada on Monday became the first G7 nation to brandish the oil weapon. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his country won't import more Russian crude, a largely symbolic step as Canada imports just a trickle of Russian oil. But as Trudeau said, "this measure sends a powerful message." Oil traders described it to me this way: Nothing official is blocking the energy trade, but there's a lot of sand in the gears. The system is at risk of seizing up at any time, they add. In a sign of how reluctant the market is to buy Russian oil, its flagship Urals crude is selling at a record discount to the benchmark Brent. On Friday, it sold for minus $11.50 a barrel. The gap is likely to be much larger on Monday. For sure, China and India may buy more, but they cant replace European demand. If that dries up, Russian crude will start to back up at ports. With limited domestic storage, and without the option of turning tankers into floating storage units, Russian producers will be forced to shut down wells, potentially damaging them for good. Western countries have contingency measures. Washington, in talks with European nations and the Energy Agency, has drafted a plan to release between 60 and 75 million barrels from the West strategic petroleum reserves as soon as this week, if needed. An emergency IEA ministerial meeting was for called for Tuesday to authorize the release and explore further measures. For now, OPEC+ doesnt see the need to deviate from its plan to boost monthly output by 400,000 barrels a day. But in the event of an actual disruption, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates may feel compelled to use their spare capacity. A lot more would be needed, even if only half of the Russian oil gets hit by either official sanctions or corporate decisions. In theory, the IEA emergency reserves should be able to absorb even a 5 million-barrel a day disruption for a few months. But the West would be fighting an open-ended disruption with a finite stock. The market would anticipate that sooner or later the reserves would be exhausted, and oil prices would soar. Ultimately, though, the biggest risk of deploying the oil and gas weapon, is military rather than economic. The Kremlin could consider it a casus belli. At current prices, earns north of $1 billion a day exporting its oil and gas, and cutting that equals the economic decapitation of the regime. Putin has already raised nuclear alert levels. Put oil and gas on the table, and hes likely to up the ante. NATO's chief said Tuesday that, despite Russia's threats about nuclear weapons, the alliance sees no need to change its own nuclear weapons alert level. The alliance's secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, spoke to The Associated Press following talks on European security with Polish President Andrzej Duda at an air base in Lask, central Poland, where NATO's Polish and US fighter jets F-15 and F-16 are based. We will always do what is needed to protect and defend our allies, but we don't think there is any need now to change the alert levels of NATO's nuclear forces, Stoltenberg said. The Kremlin began an invasion of last week and on Tuesday shelled the center of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. has raised the specter of nuclear war, reporting on Monday that its land, air and sea nuclear forces were on high alert following President Vladimir Putin's weekend order. itself has no nuclear weapons, but three of its members do the United States, Britain and France. We strongly believe it's reckless and irresponsible the way is speaking about nuclear weapons, Stoltenberg said, standing in one of the base's hangars, which has been turned into a conference room with Polish and flags and jets around it. Stoltenberg stressed that has signed a number of deals agreeing that nuclear war cannot be won and should not be fought. He called on Russia to stop the attacks and withdraw all its forces and engage in good faith in diplomatic efforts to end the war. Government delegations from and Russia met for talks in southeastern Belarus on Monday, but the outcome was not immediately clear. This is a horrendous, horrific invasion of an innocent country and we see that civilians are killed. It's a brutality that has to stop immediately, Stoltenberg said. The United States recently reinforced the eastern flank of NATO's territory with some 5,000 additional troops deployed to Poland and Romania. Both countries border Ukraine, which is not part of NATO. A number of French troops were traveling to Romania on Tuesday to further strengthen the region, Stoltenberg said. The alliance is to discuss further reinforcement steps at its next summit in June in Madrid. It is NATO's responsibility to ensure that we don't see a development where a conflict in spiraled out of control and becomes a full-fledged confrontation between NATO and Russia in Europe, Stoltenberg said. He said alliance commanders are insisting that they are able to maintain deconfliction (contacts) with Russia, he said. From Lask, Stoltenberg flew to Tallin, Estonia, for talks on security of the Baltic region which borders Russia and its ally Belarus. (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.) Jason Nixon, left, and Alexis Nixon, right, listen as Sen. Bill DeSteph speaks during a meeting in Richmond on Jan. 28, 2020. Families of Virginia Beach mass shooting victims met with lawmakers to encourage launching a state investigation into the mass shooting. (Jonathon Gruenke) Richmond An amendment to defund the state commission investigating the 2019 Virginia Beach mass shooting was included in this years House budget and two Virginia Beach delegates are arguing about who is to blame. Democrat Kelly Convirs-Fowler recently slammed Republican Barry Knight, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, on social media for cutting the funds. But on the House floor Thursday, Knight attributed it to a miscommunication and said he was unaware the commission needed more time to finish its work. Advertisement Knight said he would get the funding back in the budget. The House and Senate already passed their proposed budgets but will be working together on compromises in the coming weeks. A city employee went on a shooting rampage May 31, 2019, at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. The gunman fatally shot 12 people and wounded four others before he was killed by police. Advertisement In the aftermath, Convirs-Fowler worked alongside now Attorney General Jason Miyares, who was then a Virginia Beach delegate, to create the state commission. She previously explained many survivors and victims families were concerned with the city investigation and believed it was not independent enough to be effective. On the House floor Thursday, Convirs-Fowler said the funding for the commission had been actively omitted and stricken from the budget. Virginia Beach is watching, she added. Convirs-Fowler did not reference Knight by name Thursday. But she called him out directly in a recent social media post. Why did Chairman Barry Knight kill the mass shooting commission when it hasnt even finished its work?! she wrote on Twitter last week. VB deserves better than his politics. Jason Miyares and I did this for VB in a bipartisan way. Knight did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Virginian-Pilot. Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > In an interview with the Pilot, Convirs-Fowler said the commission needs more time to complete its mission. It was only formed in June, she said, and its work was partially delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Jason Nixon, whose wife, Kate, was killed in the shooting, told The Pilot he came to Richmond last week to speak directly with Knight. Advertisement The meeting was initially tense, according to Nixon. But he hopes Knight will ensure the commission gets its money. If he is a man of his word, he will do exactly what he said he will do, Nixon said. Nixon said he appreciates the ongoing support from Miyares and Convirs-Fowler, and credited both legislators for staying committed to the victims families. But Nixon said he is tired of fighting for more information about the day his wife was killed. I shouldnt have to keep jumping through hoops to get the right thing done, he said. Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com Britain on Tuesday banned any ship with Russian connections from entering its ports as the country stepped up efforts to isolate President Vladimir Putin's government because of its war in . Announcing the blanket ban in a tweet, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps encouraged other countries to prohibit ships tied to from using their ports. We've just become the first nation to pass a law involving a total ban of all ships with any Russian connection whatsoever from entering British ports, Shapps said. The decision came a day after Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, urged Shapps to block a Russian tanker from docking in the Orkney Islands, where the ship was due to arrive Tuesday. The NS Champion is owned by Sovcomflot, a Russian state-owned company that specialises in the transportation of oil, oil products and liquefied natural gas. Western countries have imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Russian companies, wealthy individuals and even Putin in an effort to end the war in . Sovcomflot, the Russian state-owned company that owns NS Champion, hasn't been sanctioned by the UK. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the EU on Tuesday via video link to an emergency session of the European Parliament to "prove that you are with us" in Ukraine's war with Russia, a day after Kyiv officially asked to join the bloc. European Union lawmakers, many wearing #standwithUkraine T-shirts bearing the Ukrainian flag, others with blue-and-yellow scarves or ribbons, gave Zelensky a standing ovation. "We are fighting to be equal members of Europe," Zelensky said in Ukrainian in a speech translated into English by an interpreter who spoke through tears. "Do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. Do prove that you are indeed Europeans, and then life will win over death and light will win over darkness," he said. "The EU will be much stronger with us." Zelensky has remained in Kyiv to rally his people against the invasion. As he spoke on Tuesday, a Russian armoured column was bearing down on Ukraine's capital. The presidents of eight central and eastern European nations on Monday published an open letter calling for to be granted immediate EU candidate status and for the start of formal membership talks. #WATCH | Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received thunderous applause after concluding his remarks at EU meeting, said, "We are also fighting to be equal members of Europe. Without EU Ukraine is going to be lonesome. Do prove that you are with us & will not let us go." pic.twitter.com/49WtnQT6MP ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2022 HARD TO JOIN EU But is well aware that any membership process will be long and difficult, even if it manages after the war to avoid falling back under Moscow's domination. Charles Michel, the chairman of EU leaders, told the EU Parliament after Zelensky's speech that the bloc would have to seriously look at Ukraine's "legitimate" request to join. But he added: "It is going to be difficult, we know there are different views in (about further enlargement)." According to a draft text they will vote on later on Tuesday, EU lawmakers are expected to brand Russia a "rogue state" and urge member states to agree even tougher sanctions. The EU has taken unprecedented steps, including financing weapons deliveries to Ukraine, after President Vladimir Putin launched war on Russia's neighbour last week. According to the draft resolution and amendments backed by the assembly's main parties, lawmakers will call for the scope of sanctions to be broadened and "aimed at strategically weakening the Russian economy and industrial base, in particular the military-industrial complex". Russia's invasion of "effectively makes Russia a rogue state," the lawmakers are set to say. While Putin "recalls the most dreadful statements of 20th century dictators", Zelensky is being "heroic", the draft of the non-binding resolution said. The European Parliament will also urge EU leaders to be tougher on oligarchs and officials close to the Russian leadership, restrict oil and gas imports from Russia, ban Russia and its ally Belarus entirely from the SWIFT bank messaging system, and to close all EU ports to Russian ships or ships headed to or from Russia. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation" aimed at ridding the country of leaders it characterises as "neo-Nazis and drug addicts". European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Putin's decision to invade Ukraine had had the effect of uniting countries against Russia. "If Putin was seeking to divide the European Union, to weaken NATO, and to break the community, he has achieved exactly the opposite," von der Leyen told the EU Parliament, a blue and yellow ribbon pinned to her jacket. (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 Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday (local time) asked the Court of Justice to hold a hearing on Ukraine's request as soon as possible and called upon to immediately halt all military activities in the country. "...In light of the extraordinary urgency of the situation, respectfully asks the Court to hold a hearing on Ukraine's Request during the week of 28 February 2022," Kuleba said in a statement. "... requests the President of the Court to call upon the Russian Federation to immediately halt all military actions in Ukraine to enable any order the Court may make on the request for provisional measures to have its appropriated effects," read the statement. Notably, tensions between and Ukraine escalated when on February 24 Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of Ukraine's breakaway region following which western nations toughened sanctions against the country. Earlier, negotiations between delegations of and Ukraine in the Gomel Region of Belarus ended and the second round of talks will be held on the Belarusian-Polish border in a few days. (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.) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a faster transition to . "Instead of slowing down the decarbonisation of the global economy, now is the time to accelerate the energy transition to a future," the UN chief said in his video message on Monday to the Geneva press conference launch of a new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on (IPCC). According to the IPCC, if warming isn't controlled, some of the planet's most crowded regions will become uninhabitable, Xinhua news agency reported. The 3,600-page report focuses on the practical impacts of on humans and nature. "Today's IPCC report is an atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership," said the top UN official. The UN chief warned that global average temperatures have already risen by 1.1 degrees Celsius, roughly two degrees Fahrenheit, "leaving perilously little room" for meeting the targets of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. "I am calling for developed countries, Multilateral Development Banks, private financiers and to form coalitions to help major emerging economies end the use of coal," he said. "The Glasgow commitment on adaptation funding is clearly not enough to meet the challenges faced by nations on the frontlines of the climate crisis," Guterres said. --IANS int/sks/svn/ (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 UN refugee agency says that about 660,000 people have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries since the Russian invasion began. The number, given on Tuesday, was up from a count of more than 500,000 a day earlier. Shabia Mantoo, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said in Geneva that at this rate, the situation looks set to become Europe's largest refugee crisis this century. She said the agency is urging governments to continue allowing access to all those who are fleeing, including third-country nationals living in Ukraine who are forced to escape the violence. She added: We stress that there must be no discrimination against any person or group. ___ Berlin: The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe says some of its observers in Ukraine are trapped in Kharkiv and Kherson due to fighting in those cities. The Vienna-based organisation announced Friday it was evacuating members of the monitoring mission from Ukraine. In its latest report, published late Monday, the OSCE said due to ongoing kinetic activity, including continued shelling and reports of fighting, as well as the dynamic movement of front lines, the monitoring teams located in the cities of Kharkiv and Kherson continue to shelter in place. The teams are conducting dynamic security risk assessments to establish a window to allow them to move safely, it added. The OSCE said its chief Monitor and senior management would remain in Ukraine until the evacuation process was complete. The mission comprising some 500 observers was tasked with monitoring the line of contact between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country. __ Geneva: The UN human rights office called Tuesday for the release of all peaceful protesters who were arrested after taking part in anti-war demonstrations in Russia. The Geneva-based office said reports suggested about 6,400 people have been arrested in Russia since last week for taking part in peace protests. We understand the vast majority are released within hours, many after paying an administrative fine, while some are given prison sentences ranging from seven to 25 days under various laws, it said. There are also reports of unnecessary and excessive use of force by police during and after the arrests. Arresting people solely for exercising their rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of liberty, it added. We call for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained and for the authorities to abide by their obligations to respect and ensure the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly. Separately, it also urged the release of some 744 people detained in neighboring Belarus, saying some had been arrested for chanting no war and expressing support for Ukraine. ___ Geneva: The Red Cross is appealing for 250 million Swiss francs ($272 million) to help people affected by the war in Ukraine. The Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Cross federation said in a statement Tuesday they fear millions of people face extreme hardship and suffering without improved access and a rapid increase in humanitarian assistance. Casualty figures keep rising while health facilities struggle to cope, said the head of the ICRC, Robert Mardini. We already see long-term disruptions in regular water and electricity supplies, he added. People calling our hotline in Ukraine are desperately in need of food and shelter. ___ Rome: The Italian ambassador to Ukraine has been sheltering 87 Italians, including children and newborns, in his home in Kyiv. Italian Premier Mario Draghi told Parliament on Tuesday said most of those being sheltered should be leaving today for Lviv, a city in western Ukraine. Unlike several other Western countries, Italy kept its embassy services functioning in Ukraine's capital in the run-up to the invasion by Russia but moved the embassy to the ambassador's residence. There are some 2,300 Italians in Ukraine, more than half of them residents of 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.) A US-based charitable non-profit organisation here has launched a helpline to help evacuate students stranded in war-ravaged by arranging for transportation to the nearest border check post and making arrangements for food and other essential supplies for their journey. Sewa already has over 4,000 students registered in its helpline, with its volunteers making concerted efforts to help evacuate another 400, according to a statement by the organisation on Monday. Explosions and gunfire were heard in embattled cities in on Monday as Russia's invasion met with stiff resistance. Sewa Europe, an independent partner organisation, and the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) are currently working in ten Ukrainian cities. Sewa has also released USD 10,000 for the Ukrainian relief efforts and started a Facebook fundraising campaign to help people who are caught in this humanitarian crisis, the release said. The messages and videos we are getting from the war zone show the fear, anxiety, and danger people are facing as they run to safety. As the global Sewa network rises to face this challenge, I request people to support Sewa International in this rescue effort," Arun Kankani, President, Sewa International, USA said. "The war between and has affected all people in the region and caused serious distress in a world that is still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Sewa International in the USA, and HSS volunteers in Europe, the US, and India are receiving hundreds of messages seeking help from people who are stuck in the war zone," he explained. Sewa International helped a group of 150 students on February 26 to travel from Vinnitsa to Chernovtsy by bus. At Chernovtsy, Sewa provided them shelter, food, and transport for their onward journey to the Romanian border, the release said. According to official estimates, about 18,000 Indian students are studying in universities across Ukraine. Due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, they are currently stranded, facing a severe shortage of food, and are in dire need of transport and shelter. The Indian Embassy in Kyiv is advising these students on how to reach the country's western borders to reach Poland, Romania, or Hungary from where they can board Air India flights specially operated by the Indian government to reach India. According to latest information, a total of 1,396 Indian nationals have been brought back from Ukraine in six evacuation flights. (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.) Underlining that not everyone can or will choose to flee Ukraine, US Deputy Permanent Representative to the Richard Mills said that those who remain in must be ensured "unobstructed protection and assistance". Mills made these remarks at a UN Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in and the region. He noted that now half a million people have fled in response to Russia's invasion. "...Behind each of these numbers are real people caught in a humanitarian nightmare unfolding before our eyes. And the truth is, no one knows where it will end, how many people will flee their homes, how many will need humanitarian assistance, how many will die. That is because we don't know when President Putin will end his war of choice against Ukraine," Mills said. He noted that the World Food Program warns us that the food security impact of Russia's invasion will be felt far beyond Ukraine's borders. Vulnerable people from Asia to Africa and the Middle East will face greater levels of food insecurity as supplies are disrupted, as we are already seeing, he said. "An estimated 283 million people in over 80 countries are acutely food insecure or are at high risk, and this conflict in Ukraine will only exacerbate situations already on the brink of starvation. This is yet another reason why hostilities must end now." He highlighted that the is already providing nearly USD 54 million in additional humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. He continued saying that USAID has been airlifting and positioning relief supplies - especially needed to help older people, people with disabilities, and people displaced from their homes - to face the winter weather. Meanwhile, UK Ambassador to UN Barbara Woodward highlighted that UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson announced USD 54 million in aid to help the Ukrainian people. "Yesterday, UK PM Boris Johnson announced USD 54mn in aid to help our Ukrainian friends, bringing the total amount pledged to Ukraine this year, to USD 190 million. The UK would also guarantee up to USD 500mn loans via multilateral development banks," Woodward said during the UNSC meeting. "The UK will also participate in tomorrow's UN appeal. UK govt experts have also deployed to the region to provide humanitarian support to those fleeing violence in Ukraine. We call on President Putin to stop this war and withdraw his forces from Ukraine," Woodward 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.) US payment card firms Inc and Inc have blocked multiple Russian financial institutions from their network, complying with government sanctions imposed over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. said on Monday it was taking prompt action to ensure compliance with applicable sanctions, adding that it will donate $2 million for humanitarian aid. also promised to contribute $2 million. "We will continue to work with regulators in the days ahead to abide fully by our compliance obligations as they evolve," said in a separate statement late on Monday. The government sanctions require to suspend access to its network for entities listed as Specially Designated Nationals, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The United States has added various Russian financial firms to the list, including the country's central bank and second-largest lender VTB. On Saturday, the U.S., Britain, Europe and Canada announced new sanctions on Russia - including blocking certain lenders' access to the SWIFT payment system. Russians rushed to ATMs and waited in long queues on Sunday and Monday amid concerns that bank cards may cease to function, or that banks would limit cash withdrawals. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation". Many Western banks, airlines and more have cut ties with Russia, calling the country's actions unacceptable. European nations and Canada have shut their airspace to Russian aircraft. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukrainian resistance to Russias invasion has been fierce since attacked the country, raising questions about whether hed be able to rule Ukrainians as he pleases if hes ultimately successful in winning the war in military terms. There are good reasons to believe that he wouldnt. Even if victorious, Putin wont be able to achieve what he wants because to ultimately win, hell need to govern a country conquered against its will. How well a country is governed depends on its culture more precisely, on how compatible its culture is with the model of the government put in place. The late American political scientist Harry Eckstein, an expert in political culture, once argued that governments perform well if their authority patterns are similar to the authority patterns of the governed society. In stable democracies, all organizations including households have some elements of democratic rule. Conversely, in autocracies, power tends to be centralized at all levels of social organization. The father of the nation, a popular concept in Russia, is expected to act very much like the father of a family. Power distance The concept of power distance, originally proposed by the late Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede, helps measure to what extent inequality in the distribution of power is socially accepted. The bigger the value of the power distance index, the more inequality is accepted, although Hofstede was interested mostly in the distribution of power within companies. An in-depth comparative study of the perception of power conducted in Russia and in 2015-16 shows Ukrainians and Russians regard power differently. The value of power distance index is 100.9 in Ukraine compared to 110.7 in Russia. Educated and well-off Ukrainians have a particularly low tolerance for inequality in the distribution of power. Putins potential rule in is therefore problematic because it would not match the model of power that Ukrainians are prepared to accept. Suspicion and rejection of autocratic power is deeply rooted in Ukrainian culture. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) The impact of the Cossacks Ukraines most renowned historian, Mykhailo Hrushevsky, considers the Cossacks of the 15th and 16th centuries the predecessors of modern-day . The Cossacks border militia hired by the Polish and Russian governments to protect against raids by the Tatars had a reputation for being trouble-makers for any rulers, including the Poles, the Tatars and the Russians. Hrushevsky described the Cossacks as people knowing no authority over them. Even the Poles, who had their own problems with the concept of centralized power, called the Cossacks unruly. Cossack military leaders, or starshina, were elected and easily replaceable. After a military loss, the Cossacks usually gathered and elected a new leader. No one among them possessed power permanently and with no strings attached. Does the Cossack heritage still influence Ukraines culture, at least as far as the perception of power and those who possess it are concerned? The fierce resistance Ukrainian forces are showing against their Russian invaders suggest it might. Ukrainian national culture was suppressed during the Soviet Union era and denigrated by Russia. That could explain Putins allegations that Ukrainians are ruled by nationalists and neo-Nazis. Elements of Cossack culture were revived during the mass protests in 2013-14 against the former Ukrainian presidents efforts to replicate Putins style of governance. The protesters organized their tent camp in the centre of Kyiv along the organizational and spatial lines of Cossack military camps. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) War creates nations War often serves a trigger for the revival of a nations consciousness. British historical sociologist Anthony D. Smith, an authority on nations and nationalism who died in 2016, wrote that warfare is one of the most powerful factors in the creation of both nations and ethnic communities in every period of history. The 2014-15 military confrontation in eastern Ukraine and Crimea had precisely this effect. Todays full-fledged war waged by Putin will hardly be an exception. It will likely lead to an outcome clearly unanticipated by Putin the further rejection by Ukrainians of autocratic rule. If one placed Ukraine and Russia on a continuum from anarchy to autocracy, Ukraine would be closer to anarchy whereas Russia is an autocracy. Russia has always been a power-centred society where all key decisions are expected to be taken by a few ideally, by one. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel) The alignment of Putins rule with the perception of power rooted in Russian culture explains its exemplary stability, at least so far mass protests against the Ukrainian invasion in several Russian cities suggest growing dissent. Nonetheless, Russia and Ukraine appear to be almost perfect opposites, reducing the chance that Ukraine could be governed in a friendly manner by Putins Russia even if it wins the war. The war in Ukraine confirms that power is about force in the Russian mindset. For Putin to transfer that mentality to Ukrainians would be a very difficult if not impossible task. Anton Oleinik, Professor of Sociology, Memorial University of Newfoundland This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. BitConnect founder Satish Kumbhani, charged criminally in the U.S. last week with a $2.4 billion scheme, has vanished from his native India, officials said. Last September, the separately sued Kumbhani, claiming he fraudulently raised more than $2 billion from investors in his exchange platform. But the SEC didnt know where he was and couldnt serve him with the lawsuit. The mystery deepened a bit Monday. Kumbhani, 36, has likely relocated from India to an unknown address in a foreign country, SEC attorney Richard Primoff said in a court filing. Since November, the commission has been consulting with that countrys financial regulatory authorities in an attempt to locate Kumbhanis address. At present, however, Kumbhanis location remains unknown. Primoff asked U.S. District Judge John Koeltl for an extension until May 30. The SEC said it wants to look for Kumbhani and if it finds him in the U.S., serve him with the complaint. Of course, if Kumbhani comes to the U.S., he could be arrested and potentially go to prison if hes convicted of charges in the indictment filed Friday in San Diego. Prosecutors said he created BitConnect in 2016 and the digital token, BitConnect Coin. Kumbhani touted BitConnects lending program based on proprietary trading bot and volatility software that would trade on the global crypto markets. But in reality, the lending program was a massive scheme that raised $2.4 billion from investors around the world before shutting down in January 2018, prosecutors said. The next day, one of Kumbhanis promoters based in South Korea warned that some people here are talking about committing suicide and that lots of [Korean investors] invested everything they have, according to the indictment. A promoter in Australia also wrote that we are getting death threats...[and] the coin will be useless!!!!! BitConnect used money from new investors to pay earlier ones, the U.S. said. He is charged with wire fraud, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and three conspiracies: to commit wire fraud; commodity price manipulation; and international money laundering. Last September, BitConnects top promoter in North America, Glenn Arcaro, pleaded guilty. In November, prosecutors said they would sell about $57 million in seized from Arcaro. This month, a judge approved an amended order for the sale. The indictment of Kumbhani seeks to forfeit $2.4 billion attributable to his actions. The Norfolk-based destroyer USS Forrest Sherman operates with the Italian carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi and two U.S. 6th fleet warships. (U.S. Navy) The Norfolk based destroyer USS Forrest Sherman, recently deployed to the Mediterranean as part of the Navys stepped-up presence there, has been exercising with the Italian navys anti-submarine warfare carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. The American destroyers assistant navigator these days is Italian Lt. j.g. Gianmatteo Francavilla, who is on a one-year exchange program with the U.S. Navy. Advertisement Watching from Forrest Shermans bridge as the destroyer drills on maneuvering and communicating with the Garibaldi was something special, he said. Garibaldi is a veteran ship and is one of the most important in the Italian Navy, he added. Commissioned in 1985, Garibaldi is the Italian Navys the first aircraft carrier since World War II. Advertisement The carrier has surface-to-air missiles, torpedo tubes and close-in weapons system. It can launch and recover AV-8B Harrier II jump jets as well as helicopters. Also joining the exercise is the commander of Norfolks Destroyer Squadron 22, Capt. Milciades Tony Then, operating on the Gaeta, Italy-based amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney, and the Rota, Spain-based destroyer USS Roosevelt. I admire the incredible professionalism Garibaldis sailors showed during the exercise, Then said. Forrest Sherman is one of several Norfolk-based destroyers deployed in recent weeks to the Mediterranean as Russian threats to Ukraine mounted ahead of last weeks invasion. The USS Gonzalez and USS Mitscher have also been operating in the Mediterranean. Separately, the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group deployed there in December, and has stayed in the Mediterranean longer than has been typical recently for Norfolk-based strike groups. Dave Ress, 757-247-4535, dress@dailypress.com By Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank Bhardwaj NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's exports are expected to accelerate with a flurry of enquiries from buyers seeking alternatives to Black Sea shipments as Russia's invasion of Ukraine threatens to disrupt supplies from the two major producers. After five consecutive record crops, is struggling with mammoth inventories and both the government and private traders are keen to capitalise on any opportunity to sell the grain on the world market. is the world's biggest rice exporter, shipping 20 million tonnes last year, but shipments have been hampered by unfavourable global prices - at least until now. The Black Sea belt is the world's largest supplier of wheat but given the current uncertainty, demand would shift to India, Nitin Gupta, vice president at Olam Agro India, told Reuters. "Also, wheat availability in the world market anyway remains limited until April-May, and can easily tap this opportunity," he said. India, which exported 6.12 million tonnes of wheat in 2021 against 1.12 million tonnes a year earlier, is likely to sell 4 million tonnes of the grain in the first half of 2022, traders said. Apart from India, in the face of any long-term Black Sea supply disruption, Australia could become another top supplier. Kyiv has significantly climbed the ranks of grain exporters over the last decade and was likely to take third place this year, but the conflict with Russia has left doubting whether it can maintain its export effort. Ukraine's military has suspended commercial shipping at its ports, threatening grain and oilseed exports. "For the first time in many years, India has received so many enquiries for both prompt and long term deliveries of wheat," said the chief of a global trading firm who didn't wish to be identified in line with his company's policy. "We haven't seen such interest in Indian wheat, at least not in our recent memory." Indian suppliers, who have been exporting wheat at $305 to $310 a tonne free on board, could sell at $330 a tonne, said trader Rajesh Paharia Jain at Unicorp Pvt Ltd. On Monday, benchmark wheat prices in Chicago were up 6.1% at $9.12-3/4 a bushel, after earlier touching $9.35 a bushel. Bangladesh, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates are among the main buyers of Indian wheat, but new buyers such as Lebanon could also turn to India. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) (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 state-run coal major's offtake stood at 57.4 million tonnes (MT) in February 2022, growing 12% as compared with 51.3 MT recorded in the same month last year. The company's coal production rose 3.9% to 64.3 million tonnes (MT) in February 2022 from 61.9 MT in February 2021. On a sequential basis, the production fell 0.31% while offtake dropped 5.59% in February 2022 as compared to January 2022. On a consolidated basis, the PSU coal major's net profit jumped 47.7% to Rs 4556.54 crore on 19.7% increase in net sales to Rs 25,990.97 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 FY21. Coal India is a coal mining company engaged in the production and sale of coal. As of 31 December 2021, the Government of India held 66.13% stake while Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India held 11.01% stake in the company. Shares of Coal India advanced 3.18% to end at Rs 168.65 on Monday, 28 February 2022. The domestic stock market will remain shut today, 1 March 2022, on account of Mahashivratri. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hero MotoCorp sold 358,254 units in February 2022 compared to 505,467 units in February 2021. Total sales include domestic sales of 331,462 units and exports of 26,792 units. With a sharp decline in the number of Covid-19 cases and the economy gradually opening up with several other positive indicators, such as easing of the lockdown restrictions, as well as the measures announced in the FY'23 Union Budget, a swift revival in sales is expected in the coming months. In the month of February 2022, Hero MotoCorp became the first automotive OEM to tie up with a leading Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) to set up charging infrastructure across the length and breadth of the country. The company has collaborated with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), to establish charging infrastructure for two-wheeled electric vehicles (EVs) across the country in its endeavor to electrify India. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Panacea Biotec and its wholly-owned subsidiary Panacea Biotec Pharma (PBPL) have entered into definitive agreements for sale of pharmaceutical formulations brands of PBPL for India and Nepal, to Mankind Pharma. The sale is being for a total consideration of Rs 1,872 crore. Mankind Pharma is India's 4th largest pharmaceutical company and operates in 34 overseas destinations. The consolidated revenue of Panacea Biotec is Rs 634.78 crore and the domestic formulations brands being sold have reported revenue from operations of approximately Rs 132 crore for H1 FY2021-22 which is approximately 42% of Panacea Biotec's consolidated revenue for H1 FY2021-22. As part of this arrangement, Mankind Pharma has agreed to retain Panacea Biotec's well-trained sales and marketing team engaged in this business. Dr. Rajesh Jain, managing director of Panacea Biotec, said: The sale of domestic formulation brand portfolio is in line with the company's strategic plan to become debt free and focus on exports of Pharmaceutical formulations in US and other international markets besides the vaccine business in global markets. The divestment will ensure adequate liquidity for these businesses, drive investments in products under development and expanding capacities for key vaccine projects to drive future growth in a sustainable manner. Panacea Biotec is a biotechnology company that focuses on discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines primarily, focusing on vaccines, diabetes, transplant, gastroenterology, and oncology. The company reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 49.20 crore in the quarter ended December 2021 as against net loss of Rs 40.06 crore during the previous quarter ended December 2020. Sales rose 9.96% YoY to Rs 155.88 crore in Q3 FY22. The scrip shed 0.21% to end at Rs 189.05 on Monday. The domestic stock market will remain shut today, 1 March 2022, on account of Mahashivratri. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Persistent Systems has achieved Infrastructure Services Specialization by Google Cloud. Persistent is part of the Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program. Specialization is the highest technical designation a Google Cloud partner can earn and requires an established Google Cloud practice, client success, and proven technical capabilities, as endorsed by Google. The benefits include technical enablement, financial incentives, competitive pricing, training, and certifications to help accelerate Google Cloud-led modernization for clients. Cloud is arguably the most critical component of any digital journey. Persistent's deep experience in the cloud, combined with this specialization and the increasing shift to a multicloud strategy, will help meet clients' need for modernization using Google Cloud. Being part of the Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program means Persistent has the certified experience to deliver Google Cloud solutions to clients. The Specialization reflects Persistent'scommitment to help clients meet their digital transformation goals with Google Cloud and allows for a closer alignment around advanced training, go-to-market, and technical collaboration. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Persistent Systems announced the completion of the asset acquisition of Data Glove IT Solutions, India, by the Company, asset acquisitions of Data Glove Inc., USA and its affiliate entities based out of Australia, UK, Canada and Singapore by the wholly owned and step-down subsidiaries of the Company and equity acquisition of Data Glove IT Solutions Limitada, Data Glove's subsidiary in Costa Rica by Persistent Systems Germany GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Consequent to the equity acquisition, Data Glove IT Solutions Limitada, Costa Rica has become a step-down subsidiary of the Company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyderabad-based Brightcom Group (BGL) on Monday said the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) ordered a forensic audit of books of accounts of the company on 16 September 2021. In a communication, BSE said, "The Exchange is in receipt of a letter dated 16 September 2021, from SEBI, issued to the Company, Brightcom Group Ltd, informing the Company about the appointment of a forensic auditor, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP, for conducting the forensic audit for the financial years FY15 to FY20. The same is being disseminated for the information of the Investors." BGL is a digital marketing solutions company. SEBI ordered a forensic audit by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India into the financial statements of BGL for the financial years 2014-15 to 2019-20. The market regulator has said that it found discrepancies in the disclosures by BGL that could be detrimental to the interests of investors and securities markets. The auditor will check if there are any manipulation of books of accounts of the company and its subsidiaries; misrepresentation of consolidated financials and business operations; and wrongful diversion or siphoning off company funds by promoters, directors and key managerial persons. BGL, in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges on Monday (28 February 2022), said it received SEBI's communication in September 2021, informing it about the appointment of the forensic auditor. It was primarily concerning queries relating to 'Impairment of Assets in 2019-20. The impairment charge, a non-cash charge, was taken by the company due to the Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and its applicability worldwide, it said. We have represented to SEBI that the said audit was unnecessary because several internet companies had to take such charges globally, owing to the GDPR norms, it said. However, the market regulator informed on 25 February 2022 that the audit would be necessary. "Since September 2021, the company has extensively cooperated with the SEBI and the auditor, in this regard, by supplying volumes of data, including a break-up of the impaired assets," it said. BGL said it was audited by EY for 40% of its revenues, and "nearly 70% of our revenues come from Israel and the US, two of the most regulated countries in the world." BGL consolidates ad-tech, new media and IoT based businesses across the globe, primarily in the digital eco-system. Brightcom Media enables businesses, agencies, and online publishers worldwide in meeting their digital marketing needs. On a consolidated basis, net profit of BGL surged 168% to Rs 371.45 crore on 130.08% rise in net sales to Rs 2021.33 crore in Q3 December 2021 over Q3 December 2020. The company allotted 1,50,00,000 (one crore and fifty lakh only) warrants convertible into equity shares to Shankar Sharma and 80,50,000 (eighty lakh and fifty thousand only) equity shares to the 21 other allottees on 23 January 2022 at an issue price of Rs 37.77 per warrant/share on preferential basis. Sharma is vice chairman & joint managing director of First Global, an investment management firm. Shares of BGL rose 0.68% to Rs 119.05 on Monday (28 February 2022). The domestic stock market is shut today, 1 March 2022, on account of Mahashivratri. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TVS Motor Company registered sales of 281,714 units in February 2022 as against sales of 297,747 units in the month of February 2021. Total two-wheelers registered sales of 267,625 units in February 2022 as against sales of 284,581 units in February 2021. Domestic two-wheeler registered sales of 173,198 units in February 2022 as against sales of 195,145 units in February 2021. Motorcycle sales grew by 5% increasing from 137,259 units in February 2021 to 143,523 units in February 2022. Scooter sales of the Company registered 86,616 units in February 2022 as against sales of 95,525 units in February 2021. The shortage in supply of semiconductors has impacted the production and sales of premium two-wheelers. The company is cautiously optimistic that the supply of semiconductors will improve in the coming months. The Company's total exports grew by 6% from 101,789 units in the month of February 2021 to 107,574 units in February 2022. Two-wheeler exports grew by 6% from 89,436 units in February 2021 to 94,427 units in February 2022. Three-wheeler sales of the Company grew by 7% from 13,166 units in February 2021 to 14,089 units in February 2022. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new LOVE sculpture has been installed at the Portsmouth seawall. Here, Irving Wolff, who built the sculpture, removes some grass from the public art before its dedication Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. (Steve Earley/The Virginian-Pilot) portsmouth A 71-year-old Portsmouth man who said he was acting in self-defense when he shot and killed a woman in his apartment Sunday was one of the artists who constructed the citys LOVE sculpture in Olde Towne, according to court documents and a colleague. Irving Wolff was charged with second-degree murder in the Sunday night shooting of 37-year-old Crystal Jacobs. In an interview with detectives shortly after the incident, Wolff told officials he shot Jacobs after she attacked him. Advertisement Describing the encounter to police, Wolff said Jacobs had asked him to take her to his bank to get money for drugs but he refused because hed been drinking, according to court documents filed in Portsmouth General District Court. Wolff said Jacobs became irate and began throwing him around the apartment, then pushed him to the ground and grabbed him around the neck. Wolff said he broke free, drew his gun and the two fought over it. Next, Wolff said he got control of the gun, fired a round into the ceiling, and then went and sat down. Jacobs jumped over a couch and attacked him again, and thats when he shot her, the court document said. Wolff said he shot her a second time after she ran to the kitchen door, turned and pointed at him. Advertisement Irving B. Wolff is charged with second degree murder, use of a firearm, shooting in commission of a felony and reckless handling of a firearm. (Courtesy of Portsmouth Police Department) Wolff is one of the artists who worked on Portsmouths LOVE sculpture, which was erected next to the Crawford Bay seawall near Tidewater Yacht Marina in July 2016. Wolff served as a fabricator for the project, confirmed John Joyce, a co-founder of Support Portsmouth Public Art, the organization that oversaw the installation of the steel structure. Irving did a great job on the project for very little in return, Joyce said Monday, noting he had not been aware of the charges against Wolff until he was contacted by a reporter. He worked in blistering heat and rainy conditions to achieve his perfectionist self-approval. He is truly an artist. There are more than 300 LOVEworks sculptures across Virginia. The sculptures are a play on the states marketing slogan: Virginia is for Lovers. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Portsmouth police talked to next door and downstairs neighbors in the building located in the 100 block of Florida Ave. in Port Norfolk who said they heard two gunshots several minutes apart. After the second one, they heard someone falling down the rear metal stairs. Shortly after neighbors heard the second gunshot, they said Wolff knocked on their door and asked them to call police. When officers arrived, they found Jacobs slumped on the drivers seat of a car parked in the back of the building. She had a gunshot wound on her left side and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police didnt see any wounds on Wolff, the document said. Wolff is charged with second-degree murder and three firearm charges. Wolff was taken into custody and released from the city jail on a $25,000 bond Monday evening. He could not be reached by phone following his release. Jane Harper, 757-222-5097, jane.harper@pilotonline.com Advertisement Caitlyn Burchett, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com Staff writer Ali Sullivan contributed to this report. A 22-page notification was issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, on October 29, 2021. It was titled General Instructions on Procurement and Project Management, which is an innocuous one. There was no announcement on this by the prime minister or finance minister. Very few in the media and business circles even took notice of this. All Central government entities were routinely informed, and the document was quietly hosted on the ministry website. The Infratalk in Business Standard of December 7, 2021, highlighted that it was one of the most ... The on Tuesday demanded that the government should convene all-party meet on and apprise the situation to the parliamentarians. Gaurav Gogoi, party deputy leader in the Lok Sabha said, "At such a crucial time in history, Prime Minister Modi should convene an all-party parliamentary meeting on the Russian- war. Such a dialogue will help the Indian government take the best possible step forward." The has been critical of the government's evacuation exercise and said it should deter from making it a public relations exercise, "India has glorious history of 30+ evacuations -- "There should be no on ongoing evacuations but at same time no drum beating in election rallies should be done till every single Indian stranded is rescued -- GOI must pressure to ensure safety of Indians caught in crossfire." The Prime Minister on Monday evening chaired a high-level meeting, his second on Monday, to review the ongoing efforts under Operation Ganga to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine, and said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all Indian nationals there are safe and secure. "India has never abandoned it's citizens & always evacuated them from war zones. Gulf War, Kuwait, 1991: 150,000+, Op Sukoon, Lebanon, 2006: 2,300, Op Home Coming, Libya, 2011: 15,000, Op Raahat, Yemen, 2015: 4,650 PM should remember evacuation is his duty not PR exercises for it," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, in a tweet on Monday. --IANS miz/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The traditional raffle is one of the oldest forms of fundraising in the world and has a surprisingly rich history; the Ancient Babylonians used raffle-like games to draw winners for community prizes; Moses awarded the land to the West of Jordan through a lottery; and the Han Dynasty deployed a similar game called Keno to raise funds to build the Great Wall of China. Raffles are still an invaluable fundraising tool today, and youd be very hard-pressed to find someone who hasnt played a raffle at some point in their life, whether at a school fayre, a local event, or perhaps as part of a charity fundraiser. Yet for something so well-enjoyed across the world, the raffle is still predominantly an offline phenomenon, and hasnt been brought up to speed with the digital revolution. That is, until now. Meet Raffolux an online raffling platform started by two British entrepreneurs, Gerry Lianos and Harry Hammond, that brings a long-overdue digital makeover to the raffle industry. With Raffolux, people have the chance to win amazing prizes and support amazing charities, all from as little as 1 an entry and with much better odds than the lottery. The prizes range from major jackpots such as a brand-new Mercedes G-Wagon or an all-inclusive stay at a luxury resort in the Maldives, to the latest in tech and fashion (iPhone 13 anyone?) and quick cash bundles that can be won within minutes. During a time when charity is needed more than ever, Raffolux supports a range of organizations, such as Womens Aid, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Oxfam, Worldwide Cancer Research, the Alzheimers Society, and many more. Raffolux CEO and co-founder Gerry Lianos said that Raffles are something that just about everyone understands, and with Raffolux, we wanted to bring such a well-loved game online for the first time. We offer really good odds on all our raffles, and our players know that win or lose, theyll have donated to a charity of their choice just by playing. Zion Chetram, founding employee and commercial manager at Raffolux, noted that its really exciting to be part of a project that is forming an entirely new category within the play-to-win industry, and the company culture is fantastic - innovation is very much the expectation rather than an exception. Raffolux is home to over 100,000 active users, and five new people become winners every single day through the platform. For more information on Raffolux, visit their website or follow them on Instagram. Between 2016 and 2020, Indian defence was the main recipient of Russian arms, accounting for 23% of the total arms import, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). 49.4% of Indias arms imports between 2016 and 2020 were from Russia and in the previous five years, Russia accounted for 69.6% of India's total arms imports. While Indias arms imports from Russia have fallen from $3.85 billion in 2013 to $969 million in 2020, Russia continues to be Indias biggest defence supplier. The defence business between the two countries is strong, with contracts worth over $15 billion in the pipeline. Several Indian are vulnerable to sanctions under a 2017 US law, including the $5.4 billion contract for five long-range ground-to-air S-400 Triumf missile systems, the deliveries of which began in November last year. The air defence capability of India will be significantly enhanced with the induction of this system. The US has previously objected to this purchase. Besides this, India signed a $3 billion contract in 2019 to lease a Russian nuclear attack submarine for ten years, starting 2025. Further, the Indian Air Force wants to buy and upgrade 21 MiG-29 fighter jets lying unused in Russia for about a billion dollars. Its also considering a new contract to buy 18 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters for over $800 million. A $2 billion deal for joint production of 200 Kamov 226T light helicopters, the $4 billion purchase of four stealth frigates, of which two are to be built in India, are also underway. Defence expert and Business Standard columnist Ajai Shukla tells us what the threat of mean for Indias defence procurement deals with Russia and the options that India has. Meanwhile, the Centre is reportedly planning to strengthen the rupee-rouble trade arrangement with Russia after the US and its Western partners decided to cut off several Russian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system that facilitates cross-border payments. Trade in the rupee-rouble account has increased manifold since the Narendra Modi government assumed office in 2014. Western sanctions on Russian banks could also disrupt India-Russia trade, particularly fertilisers that are crucial for Indias vast agriculture sector. Watch video Among the financial sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia is the exclusion of several Russian banks from the payment system, which facilitates smooth and rapid money transfers across nations. Without access to SWIFT, Russian banks will find it harder to communicate with international peers which will slow down trade and make transactions costlier. According to a US White House official, if one of the banks cut off from wants to make a payment with a bank outside of Russia, it will likely need to use a phone or fax machine. Russian companies and individuals will find it harder to pay for imports and receive cash for exports, borrow or invest overseas. Lets learn more about and what it does. The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, or SWIFT, is the worlds leading provider of secure financial messaging services. It facilitates trillions of dollars of cross-border payments between 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 countries. Each member has its own SWIFT code. Every day, more than 40 million financial messages are exchanged securely using the SWIFT platform. Headquartered in Belgium, SWIFT is a global member-owned cooperative that was founded in 1973 by 239 banks from 15 countries. It went live with its messaging services in 1977, replacing the Telex technology that was then widely used by banks to communicate instructions related to cross-border transfers. The SWIFT Standards group maintains several important message standards. The use of standardised messages and reference data ensures that information exchanged between institutions is unambiguous and machine-friendly, facilitating automation, cost reduction and risk mitigation. Through SWIFT, banks, custodians, investment institutions, central banks, market infrastructures and corporate clients can connect with one another to exchange structured electronic messages for common business processes like making payments or settling trades. SWIFT is a cooperative society under Belgian law and is owned and controlled by its shareholders, representing approximately 3,500 financial institutions across the world. The shareholders elect a board of 25 independent directors representing banks across the world. This board governs the company and oversees ist management. The executive committee is a group of full-time employees headed by the chief executive officer. Each nations usage of SWIFTs messaging service determines both SWIFT shareholding allocations and the number of board directors that each nation is entitled to. SWIFT is overseen by the central banks of G-10 countries, as well as the European Central Bank, with the National Bank of Belgium as the lead overseer. It is important to note that SWIFT is only a messaging service provider. It has no control over the underlying financial transactions that are mentioned by its financial institutional customers in their messages. While SWIFT complies fully with all applicable sanctions laws, the responsibility for ensuring that individual financial transactions comply with sanctions laws rests with the financial institutions handling them, and their competent authorities. In March 2012, as international sanctions tightened against Iran over its disputed nuclear programme, SWIFT was prohibited from providing financial messaging services to European Union-sanctioned Iranian banks. SWIFT, since it is incorporated under Belgian law, had to comply with this regulation as confirmed by its home country government and disconnect these Iranian banks. In January 2016, many of the affected banks were removed from the sanction list by the EU and were subsequently reconnected to SWIFT. In 2014, Russia developed its own alternative to SWIFT. It is called the System for Transfer of Financial Messages, or SPFS. But this system has struggled to establish itself in international transactions. Similarly, China launched the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System in 2015 to internationalise the use of the yuan. It allows global banks to clear cross-border yuan transactions directly onshore. CIPS still largely relies on SWIFT for cross-border financial messaging, but it has the potential to have and independently operate its own direct communication line among financial organisations. About 1,280 financial institutions from 103 countries and regions are connected to the CIPS, which processed more than $12 trillion in 2021. Michael Wayne Mitchell Jr. defense counsel Robert Ringstrom, standing, addresses 28th Circuit Court Judge Jason Elmore during his clients scheduled sentencing Monday. Mitchell Jr. was scheduled to be sentenced Monday, and while the proceedings were held, the 16-year-old was not sentenced. The Manton teen pleaded guilty in January to intentionally discharging a firearm from a dwelling causing serious injury for his connection with an incident on Sept. 3 in Cedar Creek Township. As part of the plea, two counts of assault with intent to murder will be dismissed at sentencing. Chinas months-long suspension in issuing new gaming licenses has affected the industry widely. Photo: VCG Gaming / In Depth: Chinas game studios face long march as titles languish unapproved The future of Chinese video game companies is hanging in the balance as Beijings freeze on licenses for new titles enters its seventh month. The National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), which oversees licensing video games in China, has not published a list of approved new titles since late last July. Its the longest hiatus since Beijing carried out an eight-month hold on giving out licenses back in 2018. This freeze has become a major headache for the industry, driving many companies out of business. During the six months between July and December, 140,000 gaming companies shut down, according to data from commercial query platform Tianyancha. In contrast, just 18,000 shuttered their businesses in 2020. Russia-Ukraine / Cover Story: The beginning of the end of the post-Cold War world order At 4 a.m. Feb. 24, when Russian missiles pounded the Ukraine capital Kyiv, the post-World War II world order faced its most severe challenge far more so than the Balkans crisis of the 1990s and the regional wars in eastern Ukraine since 2014. Hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation to demilitarize Ukraine in a nationally televised speech, multiple cities in Ukraine came under attack from three sides by land, sea and air. Massive explosions were heard in Kyiv, and street fighting broke out early Sunday in the second-biggest city, Kharkiv. Chinese envoy reaffirms respect for Ukraine sovereignty, assures countrymen of safe evacuation Chinese embassy in Ukraine urges its citizens not to reveal their identity Hong Hao: What the Russia-Ukraine conflict means for Chinese markets FINANCE & ECONOMY China Merchants Bank and one of its subsidiaries have won approval to conduct pilot trials of its AI-backed verification product in a fintech regulatory sandbox in the Greater Bay Area. Photo: VCG Fintech / China Merchants Bank to join Greater Bay Area testing ground for fintech China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd. (CMB) and one of its Hong Kong subsidiaries won initial approval to conduct product trials as part of a cross-border fintech pilot program in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). An artificial intelligence-backed identity verification tool developed by CMB and CMB Wing Lung Bank Ltd. will be used when CMB Wing Lung's Chinese mainland customers open a Hong Kong-dollar account on its app, according to a product description released by the Shenzhen branch of the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC). Supply chain finance / In Depth: China overhauls $23 trillion supply chain finance mechanism China is about to rein in its booming, 167.23 trillion ($23 trillion) market for commercial acceptance bills, a risky, controversial form of business financing that played a role in the 2019 collapse of Inner Mongolia-based regional lender Baoshang Bank. Stung by that financial calamity, Chinas central bank and top banking regulatory agency are about to overhaul the 25-year-old regulations governing the bills. The rapid growth in their use in recent years and their involvement in fraudulent financing and other violations spurred regulators to close loopholes and tighten supervision of the instruments. Morgan Stanley / U.S. probe casts shadow over Morgan Stanleys China expansion American investment bank Morgan Stanleys drive to expand its business presence in China hit a speed bump after U.S. regulators questioned its block trading operations. The Wall Street giant faces closer scrutiny by Chinas securities regulator, which may slow its plan to take greater control of its China fund management business. Chinese regulations stipulate that foreign financial institutions should have no record of violations within three years before such a transaction. Covid-19 / Shenzhen probes Covid rule-breaking as new outbreak tops 150 cases Shenzhen is investigating a dental clinic and property management firm for potential violations of epidemic control rules as the southern tech hub strains to contain its latest local Covid-19 outbreak. The Guangdong province city reported 36 locally transmitted cases Sunday after its government ramped up testing and contact tracing. It imposed temporary lockdowns in some areas. The new batch of cases takes the tally in the outbreak to more than 150, many of which have been confirmed as the omicron variant. Inactivated Covid-19 vaccines may contaminate inoculation sites, China study says Quick hits / China pledges stronger economic policies to stabilize growth BUSINESS & TECH A Nio showroom in Shanghai on Dec. 27, 2021. Photo: VCG Electric cars / Chinese EV-maker Nio to trade shares in Hong Kong Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) maker Nio Inc. obtained pre-approval for its secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, where its shares are set to start trading on March 10 under the ticker 9866, according to a statement released Monday. Nio chose to list by introduction a way for companies with good compliance to trade their existing shares on another bourse. This means the New York-listed business will not sell any fresh shares or raise any money from the move, the company said in a separate exchange filing with the Hong Kong bourse. Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse AG, and CICC Capital are joint sponsors. Li Auto swings back to profit as sales of its sole electric car surge Evergrande / Evergrande sells off more projects to firms that promise to finish them Debt-ridden China Evergrande Group will sell stakes in four unfinished real estate projects to two state-owned trust firms that have promised to complete them as the troubled private developer works to keep enough cash coming in to pay its bills. The move shows the lengths Evergrande is willing to go to comply with government directives for developers to complete projects they have already started in hopes of rebuilding confidence in Chinas battered real estate market. Metals / Ukraine war sends London aluminum, nickel prices on wild ride All eyes were on prices of aluminum and nickel ahead of their opening in London Monday after supply concerns amid Russias invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions whipsawed them last week. The aluminum price on the London Metal Exchange (LME) jumped 3.1% to close at $3,395 per ton Thursday, a historic high, before sliding 1.1% the next day. Prices of nickel gained 1.3% to hit a near 11-year high of $24,716 Thursday, then dropped 1.4% Friday. Commodities from gold to grains rally as Russia faces isolation Quick hits / Sequoia China, Legend Capital lead $188 million funding in self-driving truck developer Editorial: Seeking progress while maintaining stability in the global industrial chain GALLERY Ordinary Ukrainians amid Russias attack Recommended newsletter for you / China Green Bulletin Premium - Subscribe to join the Caixin green community and stay up to date with the most exclusive insights on ESG, energy and carbon. Sign up here. Thanks for reading. If you havent already, click here to subscribe. The Gazprom PJSC Slavyanskaya compressor station, starting point of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, in Ust-Luga, Russia. Photo: Bloomberg (Bloomberg) Gazprom PJSC took a new step toward potentially its biggest-ever natural gas supply deal with China as nations around the world sever economic and political ties with Russia over the countrys invasion of Ukraine. The Russian gas giant signed a contract to design the Soyuz Vostok pipeline across Mongolia toward China, Gazprom said in a statement. If Russia reaches a new supply agreement with China, Soyuz Vostok will carry as much as 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year to the Asian nation. On Feb, 28, Chinese students traveled from Ukraine to Moldova on buses organized by the Chinese embassy. Photo: CCTV screenshots The first 400 Chinese students were successfully evacuated from war-torn Ukraine Tuesday, entering neighboring Moldova by bus, according to the Chinese embassy in Ukraine. The students were evacuated from Odesa and will be transported to the Moldova capital Chisinau with the assistance of the local embassy and consulate. An additional 200 Chinese students in the capital Kyiv are on their way to leaving the country, the Chinese embassy in Ukraine said. The Coast Guards Portsmouth command center received a call just before 4 a.m. from a container vessel about a crew member who had suffered a serious hand injury while working in the engine room. (AP) The Coast Guard on Sunday medevaced an injured woman from a container ship 57 miles east of Hatteras Island. The Coast Guards Portsmouth command center received a call just before 4 a.m. from the container vessel Ivar Reefer about a crew member who had suffered a serious hand injury while working in the engine room. Advertisement The command center launched an aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City, with the crew meeting the boat offshore and hoisting the injured woman aboard, the Coast Guard said in a news release. The crew member was taken to Norfolk Sentara General Hospital in Norfolk. Advertisement Kari Pugh, karipugh@icloud.com Gov. Roy Coopers executive order directs agencies and departments to review existing contracts and terminate those that directly benefit businesses that are headquartered in Russia or have their principal place of business there. (Bryan Anderson/AP) RALEIGH, N.C. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday ordered state offices under his control to terminate government contracts that benefit Russian businesses in response to its war against Ukraine. The directive also meant some liquor was getting removed from shelves at government-operated alcohol stores. Coopers executive order directs agencies and departments to review existing contracts and terminate those that directly benefit businesses that are headquartered in Russia or have their principal place of business there. Advertisement The invasion of Ukraine is an attack on a free people. This order sends a strong message and helps ensure no public dollars or operations from North Carolina will benefit Russia and its unjustified aggression, Cooper said in a news release about the sanctions. Our state stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they fight courageously against a tyrant to defend their country, their democracy and their freedom. The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission was also directed under the order to review products made by Russian businesses approved for sale in North Carolina through local ABC outlets and to suspend the approval of such products as quickly as practicable. Advertisement The ABC Commission confirmed the suspension of those products late Monday, which ultimately means ABC stores run by area governing boards wont offer them for sale. Three alcohol brands appear subject to the order, Coopers office said. The sanction on contracts also applies to future contracts, unless its determined by an agency head that a contract is necessary for the agency to perform its work and there arent any suitable alternatives. The order applies to government entities over which Cooper has executive authority, as well as those for which he appoints the chief executive or a majority of the board members. Other government agencies run by members of the statewide elected Council of State and local governments are encouraged to follow the order, it says. State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who oversees the states retirement plans and investments, said earlier Monday that there are no plans at this time to divest from Russian holdings unless directed by federal or state regulators. Of the state pension plans total assets of $118.2 billion, less than $80 million or almost 0.07% are from securities from companies domiciled in Russia, Folwell wrote in an email. We will continue to make investment decisions based on what is in the best interest of the members of the pension plans who teach, protect and otherwise serve, Folwell wrote, adding his office will be prepared to reallocate investments as circumstances warrant. Construction of mainland-aided isolation facility in Hong Kong completed in 1 week Xinhua) 08:19, March 01, 2022 Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), speaks in a video speech in south China's Hong Kong, Feb. 28, 2022. Lam said that Hong Kong will undoubtedly win the battle against the epidemic and resume normal under the staunch support from the country. (Information Services Department of the Government of the HKSAR/Handout via Xinhua) HONG KONG, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The construction of a community isolation facility (CIF) located in Tsing Yi, Hong Kong, was completed on Monday with the support of the Chinese mainland in one week's time. Commenced on Feb. 22, the construction of the CIF is the first one to be completed since the fifth wave of the epidemic, able to accommodate over 3,900 patients after being put into use. The CIF is a combination of modular cubicles, with basic furniture and bedding, air conditioner, smoke detector and fire extinguisher included in each room. "The construction team has created a miracle for Hong Kong within seven days," said Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), during her visit to the CIF on Monday afternoon. "The construction of the CIF is a test to our team in terms of resource deployment and rapid construction capability," said Zhang Ming, assistant president of China State Construction International Holdings Ltd., the construction contractor that is building the temporary facilities. Zhang said that they have mobilized all possible resources to Hong Kong for the construction project, including sending 150 engineers and various construction supplies from the Chinese mainland. Zhang pledged that the team will pay full effort in the construction of the remaining seven community isolation facilities in Hong Kong under the support of the central authorities. Lam, the HKSAR chief executive, said in a video speech earlier on Monday that Hong Kong will undoubtedly win the battle against the epidemic and resume normal under the staunch support from the country. According to Lam, the HKSAR government will step up existing anti-epidemic efforts and are currently refining the details of the compulsory universal testing to be launched within March, in order to cut COVID-19 virus transmission chains in a thorough, speedy, orderly and effective manner. The central government has also assigned a mainland construction team to build a hospital for contingency use in the Lok Ma Chau Loop area to enhance Hong Kong's treatment capability, Lam added. "The HKSAR government will continue to mobilize all available manpower and resources, and adopt all necessary measures to fight the epidemic," she said. Aerial photo taken on Feb. 26, 2022 shows the construction site of the community isolation facility (CIF) in Tsing Yi, south China's Hong Kong. The construction was completed on Monday with the support of the Chinese mainland in one week's time. Commenced on Feb. 22, the construction of the CIF is the first one to be completed since the fifth wave of the epidemic, able to accommodate over 3,900 patients after being put into use. (Xinhua) Aerial photo taken on Feb. 26, 2022 shows the construction site of the community isolation facility (CIF) in Tsing Yi, south China's Hong Kong. The construction was completed on Monday with the support of the Chinese mainland in one week's time. Commenced on Feb. 22, the construction of the CIF is the first one to be completed since the fifth wave of the epidemic, able to accommodate over 3,900 patients after being put into use. (Xinhua) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Students show the thumbs-up sign before boarding the flight in Bucharest. (Photo: Twitter/@DrSJaishankar) Mumbai: An Air India Express flight carrying 182 Indians nationals from war-torn Ukraine landed here from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday morning, an airline spokesperson said. The AI Express flight IX-1202 from Bucharest via Kuwait touched down the runway at 7.40 am, he said. An aircraft to bring back Indian nationals from Ukraine had left from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) for Bucharest on Monday. This is the second evacuation flight operated to Mumbai from Bucharest to bring back Indians from war-hit Ukraine since February 27. This site of Highway 24 in Peletier could eventually become waste vegetation disposal site for Carteret County after hurricanes, but the land must be cleared first. (Brad Rich photo) New Delhi: The nations worst fears came true on Tuesday as an Indian student was killed during intense shelling by the Russian military in Kharkiv. Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, 21, a fourth-year medical student from Bengaluru, died when splinters hit him as the Russians bombed a nearby government building, the Kharkiv governors house. Naveen had gone to buy food items in a nearby supermarket when the tragedy struck. As the Russian forces moved towards Ukraines capital Kyiv, the Indian embassy in Ukraine asked all its nationals to leave the city immediately as the government scrambled to organise safe passage for its citizens. About 4,000 Indian students are still in Kharkiv, while almost all have left Kyiv now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired yet another meeting on Tuesday evening on the Ukraine situation. Foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the PM conveyed his deep anguish over the loss of life of an Indian. The PM also spoke to the students family in Karnataka. With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family. The foreign secretary is calling in the ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate our demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and other cities in the conflict zone. Similar action is also being taken by our ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine, MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Tuesday. We had already taken up with the Russian and Ukrainian embassies the pressing requirement of safe passage for Indian nationals, including students, from Kharkiv and other cities in the conflict zone. This demand has been repeatedly made of Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of this conflict on February 24. It has been conveyed to both ambassadors in New Delhi as well as taken up in their capitals. From the Indian side, the preparations for evacuation have been in place for some time now. An Indian team has been positioned in the Russian city of Belgorod, close to the Ukrainian border. However, the conflict situation in and around Kharkiv and nearby cities has been an obstacle. Therefore, it is imperative that Russia and Ukraine respond to our need for safe passage urgently, sources said. The sources said the deteriorating situation in Kharkiv was a matter of grave concern and the safety and security of Indian nationals in that city was of utmost priority to the government. The Indian embassy in Kyiv has shut down and the ambassador and the staff are on their way to western part of the country, the sources said. Its a fluid situation. Our interlocutors will press to allow us to evacuate. We remain concerned about the situation. During our conversation with the Russian and Ukrainian governments, we emphasised the need to protect Indian students and reiterated the demand in Kyiv and Moscow too for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals. The evacuation from Kharkiv remains our top priority. While 60 per cent of Indians have left the zone, of the 40 per cent left, half are in conflict zones while the other half have moved towards the western borders. All our nationals have left Kyiv as per our information, the foreign secretary said. He added another 1,400 Indians in Zaporizhia had left for the western borders while at Moldova 400 students have crossed over. An Indian embassy office is being set up at Lviv in Ukraine. In the next few days, 26 more flights, including by IAFs C-17 aircraft, have been scheduled to bring the Indians back home. The sources said that in places where the conflict has not endangered movement, several Indians have been evacuated. More than 9,000 have been already brought out of Ukraine, while a considerable number are now in the safer areas. On India abstaining during the vote at the UN Security Council meeting on the resolutions against Russia, Mr Shringla said: In the UN we take positions that are based on careful considerations and certainly we do regard the merits of each and every case that comes before us. There are a number of resolutions that have emanated and we will take decisions based on their entirety and on careful consideration of our best interest. Indias permanent representative at the UN in New York T.S. Tirumurti told a rare emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine convened on Monday that New Delhi was doing whatever it can to undertake an immediate and urgent evacuation efforts of Indian nationals still stranded in Ukraine. India is deeply concerned that the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate. We reiterate our call for immediate cessation of violence and an end to hostilities, Mr Tirumurti said. My government firmly believes there is no other choice but to return to the path of diplomacy, he said. Mr Tirumurti noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had advocated this strongly in his recent conversations with the leaderships of Russia and Ukraine. We reiterate our firm conviction that all differences can only be bridged through honest, sincere and sustained dialogue, he said. l Walter Pelorosso is from Canuelas, in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. With a touch of humour he claims to be ""a kind of modern Rousseau "", sharing his time between the reality of a bank job and his passion for painting. He lives upholding respect, passion, friendship, love and fun, which he considers to be the five pillars of his equilibrium and development. For him, it is crucial to present and not represent. One must invent, creating a new reality through art. And so he chose to follow in the footsteps of the great masters of geometric abstraction of the early twentieth century, seeking to retain the essence of the Argentine art movements of the 40s such as ""Arte Concreto Invencion"" and ""Arte Madi"". At the age of 30, he decided to further his knowledge and began a Bachelor of Visual Arts. He says that he was overwhelmed by this new form of language and sought to exploit it to the best of his ability to develop his own style. Contemplation and creativity then became two essential and inseparable actions in the eyes of the artist. Since then, he has regularly attended university to take courses in graphic design and video and has learned to do his work in 2D and 3D installations. The artist describes his style as ""geometric, conservative and composed."" He focuses on the invention of new spaces. Walter seeks to create something new, without any references. He advocates geometry as a pure, concrete and timeless art, whose mastery requires the utmost attention to detail. Lines must be perfect, shapes carefully assembled and colours solid. Over time, Walter Pelorosso pushes the content of his compositions by incorporating a brand new element. He now offers us paintings done in acrylic, in which he creates collages with newspaper clippings. Carriers of various information, they give a new and different meaning to each of his works. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and consider subscribing for only $7 per month to get access to more articles and news as it happens. ATLANTA The Carter Center is establishing I-Policy (India Policy), an initiative to educate U.S. policymakers on issues related to democracy and human rights in India. I-Policy will host dialogues and publish original policy research to keep stakeholders informed of key developments in Indian democracy, including those that impact U.S.-India relations. With a programmatic presence in Washington, D.C., I-Policy aims to be an important resource for American policymakers to ensure that Indias democracy remains robust, especially given rising challenges in the country. At a time where global cooperation is more necessary than ever, upholding the democratic values at the root of U.S.-India ties is vital, said the Carter Centers CEO, Paige Alexander. Experts have pointed out that because India is the worlds largest democracy, backsliding there has repercussions for countries everywhere, especially the U.S. I-Policy, therefore, will bring these issues to the attention of American policymakers through informed and measured research. In recent years, India has seen a significant decline in global indices that measure the strength of democratic norms and practices. Areas of concern include freedom of the press, judicial independence, and protection of minorities. Economic stagnation has compounded these problems, and U.S. companies including technology firms have reported difficulties navigating Indias sensitive landscape. Failure to address such challenges in a timely and effective manner poses risks to economic prosperity, geopolitical stability, and the U.S.-India strategic partnership. I-Policy will provide American policymakers with necessary research and analysis on Indian democracy and human rights, with a view to strengthening bilateral ties and managing potential pitfalls. Tanmay Misra has been appointed as I-Policys strategy officer and will be based in Washington, D.C. He brings to the role a decade of experience in the United Nations and with the Indian diaspora in the U.S. and UK. He is a graduate of Brown University (B.A.), the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (M.A.), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (Ph.D.). Shelby House will be I-Policys researcher-editor. Fluent in Hindi and Urdu, she has a background in research and communications and is a graduate of the University of Washington (M.A.) in South Asian studies and Vanderbilt University (B.A.) in political science and South Asia studies. I-Policy will be supported by an advisory board whose members include Saman Zia-Zarifi (secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists), James Traub (columnist at Foreign Policy and senior fellow at New York University's Center on International Cooperation), and Vinod Jose (executive editor at The Caravan Magazine). This spring, I-Policy expects to launch its official website, which will showcase research and analysis of developments in Indian democracy from a diverse array of leading observers in both the U.S. and India. ### Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Photo: The Canadian Press Russian strikes pounded the central square in Ukraines second-largest city and other civilian sites Tuesday in what the countrys president condemned as a blatant campaign of terror by Moscow. Nobody will forgive. Nobody will forget, vowed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the same time, a 40-mile convoy of hundreds of Russian tanks and other vehicles advanced on the capital, Kyiv, in what the West feared was a bid to topple Ukraines government and install a Kremlin-friendly regime. And Russian President Vladimir Putins forces pressed their attack on other towns and cities across the country, including the strategic ports of Odesa and Mariupol in the south. Day 6 of the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II found Russia increasingly isolated by tough economic sanctions that have thrown its economy its disarray and left the country practically friendless, apart from China and Belarus. In Kharkiv, Ukraines second-biggest city, with a population of about 1.5 million, at least six people were killed when the regions Soviet-era administrative building was hit. Explosions tore through residential areas, and a maternity ward was moved to an underground shelter. Kharkivs Freedom Square Ukraines largest plaza, and the nucleus of public life for the city was struck with what was believed to be a missile, in an attack seen by many Ukrainians as brazen evidence that the Russian invasion wasnt just about hitting military targets but also about breaking their spirits. The strike blew out windows and walls of buildings that ring the massive central square, which was piled high with debris and dust. Inside one building, chunks of plaster were scattered, and doors, ripped from their hinges, lay across hallways. People are under the ruins. We have pulled out bodies, said Yevhen Vasylenko, representative of the Emergency Situations Ministry in Kharkiv region. In addition to the six killed, 20 were wounded in the strike, he said. Zelenskyy called the attack on Kharkivs main square frank, undisguised terror, blaming a Russian missile and calling it a war crime. This is state terrorism of the Russian Federation, he said. In an emotional appeal to the European Parliament later, Zelenskyy said: We are fighting also to be equal members of Europe. I believe that today we are showing everybody that is what we are. He said 16 children had been killed on Monday, and he mocked Russias claim that it is going after only military targets. Where are the children, what kind of military factories do they work at? What tanks are they going at, launching cruise missiles? Zelenskyy said. In a worrying development, Human Rights Watch said it documented a cluster bomb attack outside a hospital in Ukraines east in recent days. Local residents have also reported the use of the munitions in Kharkiv and the village of Kiyanka, though there was no independent confirmation. If confirmed, that would represent a worrying new level of brutality in the war and could lead to even further isolation in Russia. The Kremlin denied Tuesday that it has used such weapons and insisted again that its forces only have struck military targets despite evidence documented by Associated Press reporters of shelling of homes, schools and hospitals. The International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor said earlier this week that he plans to open an investigation into possible war crimes. Unbowed by Western condemnation, Russian officials upped their threats of escalation, days after raising the specter of a nuclear attack. A top Kremlin official warned that the Wests economic war against Russia could turn into a real one. The first talks Monday between Ukraine and Russia yielded no stop in the fighting, though the two sides agreed to another meeting in the coming days. Throughout the country, many Ukrainian civilians spent another night huddled in shelters, basements or corridors. More than a half-million people have fled the country, and the U.N. human rights office said it has recorded the deaths of 136 civilians. The real toll is believed to be far higher. It is a nightmare, and it seizes you from the inside very strongly. This cannot be explained with words, said Kharkiv resident Ekaterina Babenko, taking shelter in a basement with neighbors for a fifth straight day. We have small children, elderly people and frankly speaking it is very frightening. A Ukrainian military official said Belarusian troops joined the war Tuesday in the Chernihiv region, without providing details. But just before that, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said his country had no plans to join the fight. One after the other, explosions burst through a residential area of Kharkiv in one video verified by the AP. In the background, a man pleaded with a woman to leave, and a woman cried. Determined for life to go on despite the attacks, hospital workers transferred a Kharkiv maternity ward to a bomb shelter. Amid makeshift electrical sockets and mattresses piled up against the walls, pregnant women paced the crowded space, accompanied by the cries of dozens of newborns. Russias goals in hitting central Kharkiv were not immediately clear. Western officials speculated that it is trying to pull in Ukrainian forces to defend the city while a larger Russian force encircles Kyiv. Russian troops continued their advance toward the capital, a city of nearly 3 million. The convoy was 25 kilometres from the centre of the city and stretched about 65 km, according to satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies. Flames shot up from a military base northeast of Kyiv, in the suburb of Brovary, in footage taken from a car driving past. In another video verified by AP, a passenger pleaded with the driver, Misha, we need to drive quickly as theyll strike again. And Ukrainian authorities released details and photos of an attack Sunday on a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kyiv, saying more than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed along with some local residents. The attack could not be immediately confirmed. The Russian militarys movements have been stalled by fierce resistance on the ground and a surprising inability to dominate Ukraines airspace. Ukrainians used resourcefulness to try to stop the Russian advance: On a highway between Odesa and Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, residents piled tractor tires filled with sand and topped with sandbags to block Russian military convoys. In Kyiv, sandbags were heaped in front of doors and windows of City Hall. Photo: The Canadian Press Scores of diplomats have walked out of two meetings at the United Nations in Geneva in which Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was beamed in for a video statement, as a protest against Russias invasion of Ukraine. Lavrov spoke by video to the Conference on Disarmament and the Human Rights Council, which he had planned to attend before closure of airspace to Russian planes by several European countries prevented his travel to the Swiss city. What you have seen is strong support for Ukraine, said Bonnie Jenkins, U.S. Undersecretary of State for arms control and international Security, after the walkout from the disarmament meeting. Shortly afterward, in a conference room two floors higher, scores of diplomats including Ukraines ambassador in Geneva and the foreign ministers of Canada and Denmark poured out of the Human Rights Council chamber. A spokesman for the council said about 100 people left the room. Meanwhile, in Poland, NATOs chief says the alliance sees no need to change its nuclear weapons alert level, despite Russias threats. NATOs secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, spoke to The Associated Press following talks on European security with Polish President Andrzej Duda an air base in Poland where NATOs Polish and U.S. fighter jets are based. We will always do what is needed to protect and defend our allies, but we dont think there is any need now to change the alert levels of NATOs nuclear forces, Stoltenberg said. The Kremlin has raised the spectre of nuclear war, reporting on Monday that its land, air and sea nuclear forces were on high alert following President Vladimir Putins weekend order. NATO itself has no nuclear weapons, but three of its members, the United States, Britain and France, do. Photo: The Canadian Press Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says Canada wants the International Criminal Court to speed up its investigation into Russia for possible war crimes because of its invasion of Ukraine. Joly announced Canada's intent in Geneva Tuesday after she and other Western officials walked out in the middle of the address by their Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, at the United Nations Human Rights Council. On Monday, ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan issued a statement saying he had decided to open an investigation because he found there was a reasonable basis to believe war crimes and alleged crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine. Joly's announcement could speed up the pace of an ICC investigation. Khan said that because Ukraine is not a party to the Rome Statute that governs the court it "cannot itself refer the situation" to his office. He noted Ukraine has accepted the ICC's jurisdiction in the past "over alleged crimes under the Rome Statute occurring on its territory." "An alternative route set out in the statute that could further expedite matters would be for an ICC state party to refer the situation to my office, which would allow us to actively and immediately proceed with the office's independent and objective investigations," said Khan. Canada is a state party and founding member of the ICC and the Rome Statute. "Today also Canada will petition the International Criminal Court of justice against Russia, for crimes against humanity and war crimes. And it was also important for us to show that we're steadfast in terms of our support," Joly said Tuesday in Geneva. Joly said she and her fellow diplomats walked out on Lavrov to send a message to Russia over the invasion. "Minister Lavrov was being broadcast and giving his version, which is false about what is happening in Ukraine," said Joly. Lavrov, along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, have been sanctioned by Canada and their allies for their role in orchestrating what is described as an illegal attack on a sovereign country. Joly was leaving Geneva and headed to Poland later Tuesday for meetings with her counterparts there to address the Ukrainian refugee exodus and oversee the delivery of Canadian military aid. She is expected to travel to Poland's Ukraine border later this week. Photo: The Canadian Press The first three RCMP officers who responded to the Nova Scotia mass shooting walked through darkness toward gunfire and burning homes, but the gunman they pursued continued to kill before slipping away. Transcripts tabled Tuesday at a public inquiry indicate the officers who raced sirens screaming to the scene in Portapique, N.S., were dispatched after a harrowing 911 call at 10:04 p.m. on April 18, 2020, from Jamie Blair, just before she was killed. "The last thing we had was just a person screaming there (in Portapique)," the dispatcher radioed Const. Stuart Beselt as he drove about 50 kilometres toward Portapique's unlit, dirt roads, arriving at about 10:25 p.m. A 92-page summary prepared by the commission of inquiry details the officers' actions after they arrived in Portapique, and reveals that for about 90 minutes, they were the only police officers to enter the village. As Beselt drove into the community in his patrol vehicle, he met residents Andrew and Kate MacDonald driving out. They had just crossed paths with the killer in his replica RCMP cruiser, and Andrew MacDonald had been shot. However, the inquiry heard Monday that at that moment the shooter was beyond Beselt's line of vision, in a dip in the road. Some time between 10:27 p.m. and 10:40 p.m., the killer drove south, deeper into the small community and fatally shot Joanne Thomas and John Zahl in their home. At that point, as the first officers were advancing into Portapique, the killer, Gabriel Wortman, managed to elude detection. Rather than head north toward the Mounties, the commission believes he drove along a rough trail through a wooded lot that he owned in the south end of the community, ending up at his warehouse on Orchard Beach Drive, which he had earlier set alight. The commission says there is evidence Corrie Ellison a visitor to Portapique was taking photos of the burning building just before he was shot dead at 10:40 p.m. Within the next five minutes, its believed the gunman slipped out of the community by taking a dirt road that provided an escape route to the highway and allowed him to bypass police stationed on the main road into town. But this wasn't known to Beselt, a 24-year-veteran of the force, as he entered the community on foot with Const. Adam Merchant, a 13-year-veteran, and Const. Aaron Patton, a newer member. According to the inquiry's summary, he had put on his body armour almost immediately upon arriving, and after encountering the MacDonalds, he was ready to enter the community along with Merchant. The commission documents show Beselt speaking to the MacDonalds at 10:28 p.m., and by 10:36 p.m., he was radioing Patton, who was just behind him, that he and Merchant could see a burning house halfway down Portapique Beach Road. Beselt had studied the 2014 shootings of RCMP officers in Moncton, N.B., and believed being in a police car added to the danger. "I made the decision to run in, and I'm glad I did. I think it kept me alive, to be honest with you," he told commission investigators. According to the commission's transcripts and interviews, Beselt, Merchant and Patton advanced with carbines pointed forward and wearing body armour, while Const. Vicki Colford stayed at the intersection of the highway and Portapique Beach Road, to contain the area. They were following basic RCMP training to create an "immediate action rapid deployment" team, which requires them to seek out someone posing a threat to others' lives. Just after 10:39 p.m., they radioed in that they were hearing shots being fired to their east, and found their way through a wooded trail that emerged at the killer's burning warehouse property. By 10:48 p.m., Beselt radioed to a supervising officer that "things are blowing up or they're shooting, I'm not sure." They found Ellison's body in front of the warehouse. Then, the three officers knocked on the door of Lisa McCully's house, where her two children and Jamie Blair's two children had taken shelter, and were on the line with a 911 operator. McCully had been killed by the shooter when she'd gone outside. Meanwhile, back at the intersection of the highway, Colbert radioed incoming officers at about 10:48 p.m. that she'd been informed there were private, back roads that might lead out of the area. "If you guys want to have a look at the map, we're being told there's a road, kind of a road that someone could come out, before here," she said. The commission's investigators state it's likely that message was directed at Cpl. Natasha Jamieson and Const. Chris Grund who were coming in from the Millbrook detachment. The commission doesn't indicate how they responded. However, it was probably too late: the commission's investigators say the killer had likely already reached the highway and was driving away. It wasn't until a little after 5 a.m. the next morning police set up a checkpoint at the back-road exit where the killer escaped. The commission said GPS data suggests that the killer's vehicle may have sped by two RCMP officers during his escape, but both Grund and Jamieson told commission investigators they didn't notice a police car passing them. Shortly after 11 p.m. more officers had arrived at the entrance to Portapique Beach Road and the report describes their frustration as they awaited orders. Grund asked Staff Sgt. Andy O'Brien, the operations officer during the incident, about entering the community, but O'Brien "indicated that he only wanted one team in the community to avoid a risk of crossfire," according to the commission summary. Const. Bill Neil, arriving from neighbouring Pictou County, also asked supervisors to "give us something to do" at about 11:35 p.m. After the RCMP dispatcher indicated nobody was with the children, he and Grund were sent to bring them to safety shortly after midnight. Grund and Neil were the first officers to join Beselt, Merchant and Patton in the community about 90 minutes after their original entry on foot. Through all of this, the general public had been given little word of what was going on. At 11:16 p.m., Beselt radioed Brian Rehill, RCMP risk manager, to ask whether some kind of emergency broadcast might be made to warn civilians, but Rehill replied the police were using a 911 map to call as many residents as possible. At 11:32 p.m. local time, the RCMP sent out a tweet saying they were "responding to a firearms complaint in the Portapique area," and asked people to avoid the area and stay in their homes with locked doors. It wasn't until 8:02 a.m. the next morning, over nine hours after Wortman had escaped the area, that they issued another tweet declaring an "active shooter situation." What is happening in Ukraine is horrible and heart-wrenching. My husbands family were on the receiving end of Russian aggression as the tanks rolled into Hungary in 1956. They escaped by walking to Italy to a Red Cross camp and eventually to Canada, which took in 40,000 refugees. Many more went to the US and Australia. We have been very fortunate never to have had (modern) war touch ours lands. We have no concept. Hearing the horror stories from my in-laws are forever etched in my mind and am grateful every day to live in a free Canada. Those who are calling for a strong military response from NATO countries towards Russian have to realize Ukraine is currently not a member of NATO, so it cannot respond in a military fashion as it would violate its charter. That would indicate a call to war and just play into Russian justification for the invasion. These NATO countries can give military equipment to Ukraine so they fight this aggression themselves and many are doing just that, including Canada. This is a different time and not like during the two World Wars. Provoking Russian into nuclear aggression will not end well for any country and we have to be very cognizant of that. Carole Kormendy NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Tapa Military Base in Estonia to meet the soldiers that are defending Estonia and the alliance. "These soldiers are keeping our nations safe and free. And we owe them a debt of gratitude. Thank you to Estonia for hosting our battlegroup so well. And being such a staunch NATO ally," said NATO chief. Talking of the NATO deterrence, he emphasized, "Allies are imposing severe costs on Russia through sanctions. We are increasing NATO presence across the Alliance, to deter and defend. And we are stepping up our support to help Ukraine defend itself." He thanked Boris Johnson for doubling UK's contribution over the last few weeks, with more British troops sent to Estonia. "NATO Allies are sending Ukraine anti-tank weapons, air-defence missiles, and ammunition. Allies are also providing millions of euros worth of financial help and humanitarian aid. I commend Estonia and the United Kingdom for the assistance you are providing to Ukraine," he added. Stoltenberg condemned Russia saying, "The people of Ukraine are fighting bravely against a brutal and unprovoked Russian invasion. We utterly condemn the Kremlin's war." Talking of the increased NATO defensive presence he said, "In the air, on land, and at sea. With over 100 jets at high alert operating from 30 different locations. And over 120 ships from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean." Reiterating NATO's commitment to Article 5 Stoltenberg said, "The UK, the US, and other Allies are deploying thousands more troops to the eastern part of the Alliance. For the first time in our history, we are deploying the NATO Response Force. Because there must be no doubt, no room for miscalculation or misunderstanding. Our commitment to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is iron-clad. We will protect and defend every inch of NATO territory. Credible deterrence prevents conflict and preserves peace." He stressed that NATO is a defensive force saying, "NATO is a defensive Alliance. We do not seek conflict with Russia. Our message to President Putin is: stop the war, pull out all your forces from Ukraine, and engage in good faith in diplomatic efforts. The world stands with Ukraine in calling for peace." Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas talked of Ukraine's will to fight against Russia and said, "I think we underestimate the Ukrainians' motivation and will to protect their cities. Of course, we also know that the forces are not really equal. So one is to really conquer the cities and the other one is to keep those cities under control. So I think there is going to be a lot of resistance from Ukrainians." "I think what we have seen is that all Ukrainians have really surprised everybody by their motivation to fight for their country, to fight for freedom," she added. Echoing the same sentiments, UK PM Boris Johnson said, "With every day that goes by, as they watch the heroism of the Ukrainian resistance and they see what is happening in Ukraine, and they see episodes like the shedding, like the missile in Kharkiv and the destruction of civilian populations. I think peoples' stomachs are being turned by what is happening and they are seeing that it is necessary to stand up against Russian aggression to support the Ukrainians and to endorse our strategy, which is that President Putin must not be allowed to succeed, he must fail in Ukraine." (ANI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting Tuesday evening on the Ukraine crisis with focus on the evacuation of Indian citizens from the war-hit country, official sources said. This was his fourth meeting on the Ukraine situation since Sunday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and another Union minister Piyush Goyal were among those who attended the meeting besides top bureaucrats. The meeting comes as the situation in the war-hit country worsened, with one Indian student also losing his life in shelling in Kharkiv as Russian troops advanced deeper into Ukraine. Modi has asserted that his government's top priority is to ensure safety and evacuation of Indian students. Isolation is recommended during acute infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, but the duration of infectiousness varies among individual persons. Rapid antigen test results have been correlated with detection of viable virus (13) and might inform isolation guidance, but data are limited for the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant. On January 5, 2022, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) recommended that persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection isolate for 10 days after symptom onset (or, for asymptomatic persons, 10 days after a positive nucleic acid amplification or antigen test result). However, isolation could end after 59 days if symptoms were resolving or absent, fever was absent for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications, and an Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag (BinaxNOW) rapid antigen test result was negative. Antigen test results and associated individual characteristics were analyzed among 3,502 infections reported to YKHC during January 1February 9, 2022. After 59 days, 396 of 729 persons evaluated (54.3%) had a positive antigen test result, with a declining percentage positive over time. In a multivariable model, a positive antigen test result was more likely after 5 days compared with 9 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 6.39) or after symptomatic infection (aOR = 9.63), and less likely after previous infection (aOR = 0.30), receipt of a primary COVID-19 vaccination series (aOR = 0.60), or after both previous infection and receipt of a primary COVID-19 vaccination series (aOR = 0.17). Antigen tests might be a useful tool to guide recommendations for isolation after SARS-CoV-2 infection. During the 10 days after infection, persons might be infectious to others and are recommended to wear a well-fitting mask when around others, even if ending isolation after 5 days. YKHC provides health care and public health services to approximately 27,000 persons in an area of southwest Alaska that includes 50 remote communities; high rates of COVID-19 have been reported in this region.* On January 5, 2022, after rapidly increasing incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections associated with introduction of the Omicron variant, YKHC recommended an isolation policy incorporating the use of SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests. All persons with a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen or nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) result were eligible to receive a follow-up BinaxNOW SARS-CoV-2 antigen test 59 days after symptom onset (or, in asymptomatic persons, after the first positive test result) if the person reported no symptoms or resolving symptoms, and no fever for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications. Persons were recommended to isolate for 10 days but could end isolation after 59 days if the follow-up antigen test was negative; all persons were advised to wear a well-fitting mask around others and to avoid close contact with persons at elevated risk for severe COVID-19, until the end of the 10-day period. Persons with a positive SARS-CoV-2 NAAT or antigen test result were interviewed by a public health or clinic staff member after notification to YKHC, and at the time of a follow-up antigen test, if performed after the initial interview. Information collected included age, sex, whether the person was of the American Indian or Alaska Native race, and whether any symptoms were reported during follow-up. Persons were considered vaccinated if 14 days had elapsed since completion of a primary COVID-19 vaccination series and were considered to have received a booster dose if 7 days had elapsed after receipt of their booster dose. Previous infection was defined as a previous positive NAAT or antigen test result >90 days before the current infection episode; vaccination and previous infection status were assessed from electronic health records. Follow-up antigen testing was performed by YKHC staff members at a local health facility using the BinaxNOW antigen test; results of the first follow-up antigen test were recorded in the electronic health record. Positive results of the first follow-up antigen test were evaluated by demographic characteristics, symptom status, previous infection, vaccination status, and number of days since symptom onset or a positive test result. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors independently associated with a positive follow-up antigen test result, adjusted for age group, previous infection, vaccination status, presence of symptoms, and number of days since symptom onset or the initial positive test result. Statistical analyses were conducted using SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute), using a two-sided significance threshold of p<0.05; univariate comparisons were made using the chi-square test. This activity was reviewed by CDC and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.** During January 1February 9, 2022, a total of 3,502 persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection were reported to YKHC, including 3,266 (93.3%) in whom symptom onset or the initial positive test result had occurred 59 days earlier. Among these persons, 729 (22.3%) received a follow-up BinaxNOW antigen test 59 days after symptom onset or, among asymptomatic persons, after the first positive test result (Supplementary Table, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/114423). The median age was 30 years (IQR = 1745 years), 380 (52.1%) were female, and 666 (91.4%) were of the American Indian or Alaska Native race. By the day of the initial positive test, 541 (74.2%) had completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series 14 days earlier, including 215 (39.7%) who had also received a booster dose; 21 (2.9%) persons were partially vaccinated, and 167 (22.9%) were unvaccinated. Previous infection was documented in 145 (19.9%) persons, including 108 who had also completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series; among persons with a previous infection, a median of 418 days (IQR = 343439 days) had elapsed between the earlier infection and the current episode. Symptoms were reported by 564 (77.4%) persons. Compared with persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection without follow-up antigen testing, those with follow-up antigen testing were more likely to be older (median age = 30 years versus 22 years, p<0.001) and to have received a primary COVID-19 vaccine series (74.2% versus 59.9%; p<0.001), although other characteristics were similar. Overall, 396 (54.3%) tested persons had a positive BinaxNOW antigen test 59 days after symptom onset or after an initial positive test (Table 1). A positive antigen test was more likely after a symptomatic infection (361 of 564, 64.0%) than after an asymptomatic infection (35 of 165, 21.2%) (p<0.001). The proportion of positive antigen test results declined with the number of days since an initial positive test (p<0.001), and, among persons with symptomatic infections, since symptom onset (p<0.001) (Figure). A positive test result was more likely if there was no history of previous infection (346 of 584, 59.2%) than if there was a documented previous infection (50 of 145, 34.5%) (p<0.001). Among 541 persons who received a primary vaccination series, 285 (52.7%) had a positive antigen test result, including 127 of 215 (59.1%) persons who had received a booster dose and 158 of 326 (48.5%) who had not received a booster dose. Among 167 unvaccinated persons, 98 (58.7%) had a positive antigen test result. In multivariable models, a positive antigen test result was more likely after 5 days than after 9 days (aOR = 6.39; 95% CI = 3.3912.03), symptomatic infection (aOR = 9.63; 95% CI = 6.0315.37), and less likely after previous infection (aOR = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.190.46), receipt of a primary COVID-19 vaccination series (aOR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.390.93) or after both previous infection and receipt of a primary COVID-19 vaccination series (aOR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.090.33) (Table 2). AdBri records revenues of AUD1569m in 2021 01 March 2022 AdBri reported revenue of AUD1569.2m (US$1135m) compared to AUD1454.2m in 2020 with increased sales volumes experienced for all products other than lime. Strong sales demand was seen across all market segments, including residential, commercial, infrastructure and mining. Reported net profit after tax (NPAT) attributable to members increased from AUD93.7m to AUD116.7m. Net debt increased by AUD65.3m to AUD437.4m at 31 December 2021, representing a leverage ratio of 1.6 times underlying EBITDA and gearing of 34.5 per cent, while interest cover was 14.4 times underlying EBITDA. Cement and lime Cement and lime growth was achieved in cement volumes during the year despite variable demand due to temporary government lockdowns that closed the construction sector in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Northern Territory. Lime volumes decreased as the Alcoa contract wound down. A contract extension with Adbris second-largest lime customer, South32, and agreements with Northern Star and Newmont Boddington reinforced Adbris reputation for reliable domestic supply. Concrete aggregates and masonry Concrete and aggregate volumes increased by nine and 22 per cent respectively, despite temporary construction industry restrictions in some markets and states due to the pandemic. Overall, masonry sales revenue increased by two per cent to AUS$149m as compared to the prior year. The earnings contribution from joint ventures increased by AUD6.4m to AUD33.3m compared to the prior corresponding period. Strong demand across the southeast Queensland construction sector, saw a 115 per cent improvement in Sunstate Cements contribution to earnings. Independent Cement & Lime Pty's earnings rose by 13 per cent and Mawson Group's earings increased by 23 per cent. Capex spending Capex increased marginally to AUD140.5m (AUD103.4m stay-in-business capex and AUD34.5m for development). Development projects included the purchase of a pugmill and road access works for the Scotchy Pocket quarry, upgrade of the Birkenhead drymix plant and AUD14.1m for the Kwinana upgrade project. The company also injected AUD32.2m into a new 50/50 joint venture to acquire the Metro Quarry Groups sand assets in Victoria. The Kwinana upgrade project will provide greater efficiencies in our Western Australian cement operations, with reduced electricity and diesel use, and lower emissions, compared to the existing operations, said AdBri. Progress on the lime strategy included completion of a pre-feasibility study for a new kiln in Kalgoorlie and commencement of a definitive feasibility study, expected to take 12-18 months. In December 2021, we completed the sale of our Hilltop land in Geelong. Outlook Favourable market conditions are expected to continue in the construction and resources sector. Buoyant residential construction will underpin a strong order book until at least the middle of 2022, while multi-residential activity is also beginning to increase. Published under As one of the worlds great traditional old-time and bluegrass fiddlers, the late Fletcher Bright dedicated his life to sharing his gifts with others. So when his daughter Lizzer Bright Graham 77 wanted to honor his legacy through a gift to Girls Preparatory School, she knew it had to celebrate the arts. The result is The Fletcher W. Bright Fellowship for Inspiring Artistic and Community Engagement, an endowed program that offers an annual award to a rising senior. The award was established to foster and instill individual growth, to develop a discerning sense of inquiry, and to explore an area of concentration that brings excitement and sensitivity of wonder in a student. As Fletcher Bright felt about all of the artsthe possibilities are vastly endless. For the sake of this fellowship, the disciplines include visual, creative writing, music, theater, or dance. This year, Rowan Espy 23, a member of Terpsichord, Partnerships in the Community, Science Club, Environmental Club, and SWE-Next (Society of Women Engineers-Next Generation), was awarded the prestigious title of Fletcher Bright Fellow by a judging panel composed of Peggy Wood Townsend 81, a GPS alumna and arts philanthropist who co-owns Townsend Atelier; Charlotte Caldwell 01, a GPS alumna and arts philanthropist who founded and serves as director of Stove Works; and Eleanor McCallie Cooper 64, a GPS alumna, arts philanthropist, author, and community engagement strategist. Rowans proposal outlined her plan to showcase mental health topics through dance during a two-night performance at Barking Legs Theater. During this showcase, the Chattanooga dance community could come together to perform, with proceeds donated to various mental health organizations such as the Aim Center, the AB Korker Foundation, and Erase the Stigma Through Dance. She explained, The COVID-19 pandemicand the loneliness, grief, and isolation it broughthas caused a mental health crisis, particularly among youth. Some therapists have described it as a second pandemic that has intensified depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Despite this increase, Rowan said, openly discussing mental health is considered taboo, so the subject does not receive the attention it needs, and people who need help go without treatment. Those suffering from mental health illnesses often do not receive the same level of care or are not taken as seriously as those with physical illnesses. Because of this stigma, many people suffer in silence. The goal of this project is to expose people to the issue of mental health illness, encourage the destigmatization of it and demonstrate how participation in the arts can be freeing to those who suffer from it. Ultimately, she hopes her project can prompt people who are struggling to get help, to destigmatize asking for help, and to raise awareness in addition to funds. As of now, the plan is for the performances to take place this October. Additional applicants for the fellowship included: Soree Kim | Soree, a violinist and member of GPSs Tango Quartet, proposed to perform for her elementary school and provide an illustrative wall cling in an effort to empower young girls to pursue music. In addition, she wanted to sponsor a young musicians introductory lessons. She said she wishes she had been introduced to the violin earlier, but her elementary school didnt have a music program like GPS. Anisha Phade | Anisha, who created her own business in middle school called Quill for Kids, which raised money for Childrens Hospital at Erlanger, proposed a week-long quilling class for elementary and middle school children over the summer. They would learn to make jewelry pieces, then have the opportunity to sell their work at local markets and donate the proceeds to charity. The workshop, she said, would push kids to take risks and experiment, and would encourage self-confidence. Colette Smith | Colette proposed to host a week-long summer camp at Siskin Childrens Institute for kids with special needs. The programming would center around music therapy. On the autism spectrum herself, Colette has received immense support and inspiration from musical theater, choir, and dance. Music enrichment, she said, is one of the best ways to stimulate the mind of a child with autism. First, let me say that I have nothing against any of the three Republican county mayor candidates, but I do have questions and thoughts. Weston Wamp- County mayor is an executive position that requires management of people and departments. It is not just a policy-oriented position. How many direct reports have you ever managed? What level of budget have you ever managed? Have you ever met a payroll or had to manage a bottom line? You are well-spoken and seem intelligent, but what have you ever accomplished that would entice voters to vote you into such an important position? Also, you are vocal and it seems like your support of vocational education is saying lets support that instead of a college education. I support adding more vocational education, but lets continue to push people toward college. The future will be won by those who are more highly educated, not the other way a round. Matt Hullander- You clearly have run a business successfully, have met a payroll and have managed a bottom line. What I cant figure out, is why you are running? Your TV commercials that say you Want to make it better are childish and non specific. What do you want to do and why are you even in this race? My impression is that you have sold your business, made millions and now need something else to do. Sabrina Smedley- I know almost nothing about you but a good friend of mine who lives in Ooltewah, says you have been an excellent representative and sings your praises. Your commercials, which talk about not riding daddys coattails sure ring a bell with me. It seems to me that you have the citizens' best interests at heart. In summary, Im not sure who to support but Weston and Matt need to make a better case before they win my support. David Groves * * * David, Thank you for you interest in this important race. Ill address your questions in two parts: about my background and about my position regarding vocational education. My background: You may be surprised to learn that the county mayor, while serving as the fiscal agent of our county and authoring the budget every year, does not have a particularly large number of direct reports. In that way, county government is structured quite differently than city government. That said, I have led several entrepreneurial ventures, including being involved from the ground floor in two of the most important small business investment funds in recent years in Chattanooga, Lamp Post Group and the original $18 million Dynamo Fund. These two entities were the first investor in several of the fastest growing companies in our region. I launched a fiscal policy nonprofit in 2019 and organized and have led a commission of 20 business executives across America while coordinating the commissioners advisors, another 20 the brightest economists and elected officials in America. As far as budgets are concerned, I serve on the Finance Committee of the Tennessee Board of Regents, overseeing a $1.45 billion budget 50 percent larger than the countys budget. My background spans business, policy and education and has prepared me well to serve as county mayor. On vocational education: It is my strong opinion that the world needs more young people to pursue specific career and vocational skills as opposed to generalist college degrees. As a graduate with honors from our states flagship university, I can tell you that most four year degrees are highly overrated including my own. The current K-12 model is hyper-focused on sending all of our children to college, which is part of the reason it costs a fortune to hire a plumber these days. Its also part of the reason that so many of our high school students are hopeless because they werent reading on grade level in elementary school and never caught up to have a realistic shot at a four-year college. Im not sure that your assertion that the future will be won by those who are highly educated, not the other way around is true in 2022 and beyond. A welding certificate and some business classes at Chattanooga State are every bit as valuable as many graduate degrees. Based on the states Ready Graduate standard, more than 60 percent of our countys high school graduates arent ready to go to work or to college. Ive got a track record as a problem solver and an entrepreneur and if Im elected as our next mayor, Ill guarantee you that number will improve dramatically. Id be honored to have your vote. Weston Wamp * * * As I read Weston's beautifully articulated explanation of his background, I had to ask myself, "huh?" I realized I completely zoned out like when I'm watching talking heads on the news. The answer was a whole lot to do about nothing with which I can relate. $18 million. After rereading that paragraph, it has me even more puzzled as to why Weston started out with some of the biggest investor funds our area has seen in years. Everyone else running started out at the relatable bottom and worked up. I think it reads more like: "I was hand selected by elites to put me in a position of perceived power and success in order to one day repay them by running for office and effecting policy in their favor. Big number, larger than we've ever seen in this area. I found success in a position in which I couldn't fail doing things that didn't really move the needle. I have a long track record of place holding on various boards until I was called up to run for office. I have the backing of a political machine and higher aspirations than county mayor." Juxtapose David's take on Matt's reasons for running and you realize that Weston is salivating to get his first elected position. I've watched Sabrena's involvement ever since I came to town. She comes across as a true advocate for the people. She doesn't need the job. She has given out her cell phone number to people I know in order to deal with issues within her district. She spent her career understanding the people of Hamilton County's needs as a realtor (single word describing her basis of experience). She had her finger on the pulse of the people's needs when forced annexation was happening and she responded by getting involved. I've watched her vote "No", followed by the words: "The people of my district are completely against this." She can say those words with confidence because she is the only commissioner (or other elected official for that matter) to hold community meetings, where she puts herself out there to educate the public and take the heat. Her latest one was Monday evening regarding a zoning change. It's very clear to me that Sabrena has a servant's heart, relatable experience, and the appropriate motives for running. Weston's experience appears to be as useful as his college degree and his motive's are vague at best. Tim Giordano The Chattanooga Fire Department is looking for future firefighters who will help strengthen the department and continue a legacy of service and dedication. It is currently taking applications for fire cadets for our next Fire Academy which is expected to start in January 2023. The 2022 Fire Academy is currently underway. With a 150-year history in Chattanooga, the CFD leads the way with superior response, training and reputation. We have 26 companies housed in 20 stations across the city, a Fire Prevention Bureau that conducts inspections year-round, a modern training center and a repair shop. In all, more than 400 dedicated men and women provide firefighting, emergency medical care and all-hazards response 24x7x365 for an area of 143 square miles and nearly 185,000 citizens. We are laying the groundwork for the next 150 years of our department and this next generation of firefighters will play a vital role in preserving our past and pushing the CFD into the future. We want career firefighters who want to make a difference in their community, said Fire Chief Phil Hyman. Candidates will be responsible for participating in a six-month Fire Training Academy. Duties include attending class, taking exams and integrating classroom training during hands-on exercises. No prior experience or knowledge is required. Training staff will educate cadets on all aspects of the fire service. They will complete Emergency Medical Technician training and learn how to fight different types of fires. They will also master other skills like hazardous materials operations, vehicle extrication, rope rescues, tactical ventilation, self-rescue and how to save fellow firefighters lives in dangerous situations. For more information on the hiring process, feel free to email CFDRecruiting@chattanooga.gov. Here is the link for fire cadet: https://fa-eqto-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/22195/?utm_medium=jobshare In 2012, UTC business majors Keenan McLean and Nate Harlan thought Black male students on campus needed a unifying group beyond the formal structure of fraternities. We felt there was an unmet need for minority males on campus as far as leadership and retention opportunities, Mr. McLean recalled. Mr. Harlan said the University needed a place for men of color to have the type of conversations in which This person right here is my brother. I trust him to hold what it is that I share in this space. Ten years later, the student-led organization they brought to UTC, Brother 2 Brother, is still at the forefront of helping men of color find success and camaraderie during their college years, while never losing sight of the importance of education and earning a degree. The Brother 2 Brother program is a national student organization that promotes successful retention and college completion among African American and Hispanic/Latino males. The group encourages its members to embrace leadership by serving as positive role models for one another through a solid commitment to academic achievement, brotherhood and community service. I have been around this organization since it first started on this campus and Ive seen firsthand the impact of what it has done to impact male retention here at UTC, said Chris Stokes, assistant director of the UTC Office of Multicultural Affairs and the campus advisor to Brother 2 Brother. When those young men are together, theres a level of transparency, comfort and familiarity, he said. Its men from all different backgrounds, typically African American, some Hispanic, biracial, multiracial, young men of color. They get to share their experiences and commonalities in a space where they can just be comfortable. Mr. McLean and Mr. Harlan met as second-graders in Columbia, Tn. They stayed in touch through their adolescent years and bonded as first-year students at UTC. When they arrived, Mr. McLeans sister, Katrina, already was a UTC student. She was extremely involved with everything that was happening on campus, from orientation to admissions to campus organizations, and she introduced us to all of the students who were just as active and passionate about UTC as she was, Mr. Harlan recalled. We were introduced to UTC from a lens of, This is your University. Its going to be whatever you make it. They took it to heart. Once sophomore year rolled around, Mr. McLean and Mr. Harlan began having conversations about things impacting them that were unique to their experiences. Their initial concept was to build an organization from scratch called the Elevated Mens Initiative. They brought their idea to Justin Moses, the UTC associate dean of students, asking him to be the program sponsor. He said, I think that something like this is going on at another campus, Mr. Harlan recalled. Mr. Moses then suggested they learn more about an organization called Brother 2 Brother. After we were introduced to Brother 2 Brother, Mr. Harlan said, we worked with Dean Moses to figure out how that model could be tailored to what we needed here at UTC. Mr. McLean recalled meeting with Mr. Harlan and others in his Stophel Apartment living room, talking about whats going on around the world with us, three to four hours at a time. We were just college kids, and we were writing bylaws and creating something, but even at that young age, we had that mindset that we wanted this to be a long-term thing. At the forefront was building Brother 2 Brother with an education-first attitude. Its members were at UTC to receive a degree. A second priority was student retention. We used to say, How do we keep you coming back over the mountain? Thats a saying from Keenan and me; to get from Columbia, Tennessee, to Chattanooga, you have to come over the mountain, Mr. Harlan explained. The want and the push to create this organization so that it could be sustainable and a resource for students 10 to 20 years after that was one of the reasons why I continued to come over the mountain. Equally as important, the group was established to fill a much-needed void. Brother 2 Brother was created to be a safe space for these young men to feel like they can be their complete selves and be free, Harlan said. Whatever happened in that room, whatever we discussed, whatever walls we broke through, whatever epiphanies we had, they remained in that room. Mr. Harlan received a bachelors degree in business administration with a finance concentration in 2014. He is now a financial planning and analysis manager with Asurion in Nashville. Mr. McLean received a bachelors degree in business administration and management from UTC in 2015. He is now a market rep analyst with Nissan Motor Corp. in the Chicago area. Several years after they graduated, Cinque Peggs came to Chattanooga from Jackson, Tn. He was not your typical high school graduate when he first came to UTC in fall 2019. Thanks to a partnership between Jackson-Central Merry Early College High School and Jackson State Community College, Mr. Peggsthe salutatorian of his graduating classarrived at UTC with an associates degree. He is on pace to receive a bachelors degree in mechatronics, robotics and automation engineering in December. He could have fully devoted his time to academics but said he was hooked after being invited to a Brother 2 Brother meeting. The group opened doors to volunteering, mentoring and leadership opportunities. Mr. Peggs climbed the organizational ladder, taking over as president at the end of fall semester 2021. Accountability, he said, makes Brother 2 Brother different from other groups. We ask our members to sign a contract agreeing to hold your brother or another member of the organization accountable, he said. We really stress that the people joining the organization be serious and be committed because we want this bond to be a brotherly bond: Someone that is there to help you out throughout your college journey and set you up for success. Mr. Peggs said its imperative that everyone feels comfortable during Brother 2 Brother weekly meetings. He uses the phrase: I am my brothers keeper and together we shall rise. What that mantra means is that, as Black males on campus, we realize that we have a powerful voice, he said. If we want to go somewhere and be successful, we have to hold each other accountable for whatever our goals might be. Hence, being our brothers keeper. Mr. Harlans mother, Patricia, is a candidate for a doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy analysis at East Tennessee State University. She is the inspiration for an in-the-works documentary about the first 10 years of the UTC Brother 2 Brother program. My mother is doing her dissertation on the impacts of mentorship and mentor programs for Black male retention within higher education, Mr. Harlan said, so this seemed like the right time to have the conversations, do the reflections and remember what it was like when we started. Mr. McLean called it a walk down memory lane to collect photos and thoughts of the organizations creation. He and Mr. Harlan are just as excited about documenting the groups formation as they were about creating it. At the heart of the documentary is understanding what we did, the benefit we had and the lives we changed, Mr. McLean said. I always tell Nate, I cant believe that was us but, at the same time, we did that. We believed in each other, and we built a community. An outline has been completed and a script is being finalized for the documentary. Shooting is scheduled to begin in the next few months. If all goes well, the film will be finished within the year. It definitely makes you pinch yourself and just kind of say, Im glad we decided to do what we did, Mr. Harlan said. This documentary stems from a plan coming together, like the labor of love we did 10 years ago. Hyderabad: The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has launched KCR as Prime Minister campaign in bordering villages of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh in the wake of its president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's recent decision to play a key role in national politics. The party is showcasing the benefits being enjoyed by the people in Telangana villages bordering these states with the implementation of Chandrashekar Rao's welfare schemes such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Aasara pensions, 24x7 free power to agriculture, KCR Kits, Kalyana Laxmi, Shaadi Mubarak etc. and highlighting development of villages with Palle Pragathi programme prompting people in bordering villages of other states wish Chandrashekar Rao becomes the Prime Minister and extend Telangana development schemes to all states. The pink party has deployed teams to these bordering villages in other states where they are interacting with villagers and discussing Chandrashekar Rao's welfare schemes and development programmes. These teams are camping in Nekli, Amthana, Palaj, Chandrapur etc. in Bhokar taluk in Nanded district in Maharashtra. They are also camping in Purushothapatnam, Etapaka and Nellipaka villages in Bhadrachalam mandal which were merged with Andhra Pradesh soon after the bifurcation of state in 2014. They visited Tallagudem village in Bhupalapatnam taluk in Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh which is bordering Mulug district in Telangana. The prime objective of these teams is to show the 'difference' between Telangana and their states. They are showcasing how people in these bordering villages in Telangana were receiving 24x7 uninterrupted power, treated piped water through taps in their households through Mission Bhagiratha, receiving Rs 10,000 per year per acre towards Rythu Bandhu, Rs 5 lakh free life insurance through LIC as part of Rythu Bima within a week in the event of the death of farmer, free 24x7 power to agriculture etc. They are also highlighting how the people of other states are not enjoying any benefits like Telangana people do who are just a few kilometres away from these bordering villages. The people in the villages of other states are complaining about power cuts, their plight to walk kilometres to fetch drinking water, not getting free power for agriculture, even though some states are implementing free power to agriculture, they are supplied at midnight leading to accidents and snake bites in fields, and not getting financial assistance for farmers like Rythu Bandhu etc. The teams are also showcasing clean and green villages with Chandrashekar Rao's Palle Pragathi programme under which every village has been provided with a nursery, a tractor to collect garbage every day, a water tanker to water plants, vaikuntadhamams (crematoria), dump yard in every village with segregation of wet and dry garbage facility, Rythu Vedika in every village etc and convey a message that if Chandrashekar Rao becomes the Prime Minister, these schemes will be extended to the entire India. After interacting with these teams, people in these bordering villages in other states expressed their desire to see Chandrashekar Rao as the Prime Minister and wanted their villages merged with Telangana until then. Videos of these responses from people wishing Chandrashekar Rao as Prime Minister are being circulated widely on social media platforms. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency announced that hunting and fishing licenses and permits will be valid for one year from the date of purchase. All current yearly Tennessee hunting and fishing licenses expired Feb. 28. Exceptions will be captive permits, Federal duck stamp, migratory bird permits, and slat basket tags. Licenses are available online anytime at www.GoOutdoorsTennessee.com, on the TWRA On the Go App, or at one of 474 license agents across the state. You can also select to auto-renew your license and never worry about your license expiring again. Customers can also purchase a new design of the collectors card for any annual license. The new waterproof, durable card features a choice of a smallmouth, Tennessees state game fish, or a pair of deer. If you like wildlife of any kind, you should thank a hunter or fisherman. Without them, the state would not have the abundance of fish and wildlife that Tennesseans enjoy. Hunters and anglers have been funding Tennessees and the nations wildlife conservation for more than 100 years through license purchases. 100% of hunting and fishing license fees go to support wildlife conservation in Tennessee. Whats more, a license purchase returns taxes paid on firearms, archery equipment, fishing gear and boat fuel to Tennessee at a rate of up to $40 per year so a license purchase is a great investment. This successful funding system is the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration program which is the largest driver of wildlife conservation nationwide. Because of support from the community, the Samaritan Center was able to partner with Ready Set Sew! to give five refugees sewing supplies that will allow them to start a new life. Through the partnership with local businesses, each refugees sewing kit cost the Samaritan Center $716. For only $716 we are changing peoples lives. Because of this donation, these refugees will be able to work and support their families. Its incredible, said Sharon Smith-Hensley the Social Services director at the Samaritan Center. Each refugee received a sewing machine, serger, ironing board, storage cart and 30+ notions and tools necessary to mend and make garments. Students at the F.R.E.E Refugee Center will learn to mend, create and alter garments. Once they complete the sewing course, the refugees will be able to start new jobs at businesses and boutiques that work with F.R.E.E. The Samaritan Center is a non-profit social services agency that has impacted the community for 35 years. By providing, rent and mortgage assistance, emergency food boxes, disaster assistance and more, the Center provides help and hope to neighbors in need. For more information about the Samaritan Center, visit https://thesamaritancenter.net/ For more information on Ready Set Sew!, visit www.ReadySetSewTN.com and for information about F.R.E.E, visit https://freerefugees.org/. The Monday evening Signal Mountain Town Council meeting was the last one for Interim City Manager Mitchell Moore. It had been expected that a new city manager would be in place before he left. However, after narrowing the list of candidates to two, the council members decided not to move forward with either. So the search has started over from scratch. An employment agreement with James Smith, another interim city manager, was approved at the council meeting. Mayor Charles Poss thanked Mr. Moore for all he did during the short time he worked with the city. Mr. Moore said he had enjoyed his short tenure. Wishing the town well, he said that he had found that Signal Mountain has five dedicated council members as well as dedicated employees. During the time he has worked in Signal Mountain, Mr. Moore has been instrumental in filling vacant positions. On Monday, he announced two new employees, a new executive administrative assistant, Katie McKinnon, who started work this week. And beginning next week, Matthew Justice will become the towns new water utility director. He comes to Signal Mountain from American Water. Bid openings for paving will be Thursday and for a drainage project on Friday. Bids to replace 500 feet of water line on Palisades Road were advertised to be opened on Feb. 17, but no bids were received. Mr. Moore said the problem is that contractors do not want small jobs now. Additionally, water piping is not readily available. The work will be rebid in hopes that there is some interest received. A new bid opening for the project will be March 28. An extension may be needed from TDOT to complete the work. A special council meeting will be held March 3 to discuss problems with three projects that CTI engineers are facing. Some interest has been expressed to locate a brew pub in Signal Mountain. After the initial inquiry the town found that would not be permitted under the existing zoning ordinance. After reviewing, the planning commission approved allowing a restaurant that would make and sell beer. The council agreed and voted to allow a brew pub in the Highway Commercial District. The change will require a second reading before it is final. Two board appointments were made on Monday night. Those are Amanda England to the Condemnation Board and Katie Anderson to the Signal Mountain Recreation Board. Resident and volunteer with the MACC Dick Graham gave a monthly update for the facility. He said that a goal of $15,000 was made for new lighting and that a check for $15,000 from an anonymous donor was received. On April 16 a community Easter egg hunt will take place there with over 3,000 eggs including camo-eggs for adults to find. And on April 2, the first monthly Market at the MACC will take place. It will be modeled after the Chattanooga Market at First Horizon Pavilion, with vendors selling crafts, photos, art and pottery. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) has joined Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) in introducing the American Energy Independence Act of 2022, which they said "reverses President Joe Bidens shutdown of the American energy sector and returns American energy to full production." The senators said, "Immediately following Russias invasion of Ukraine, the price of oil rose to over $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014. Gas and energy prices for working Americans are quickly rising to new highs. The Biden Administration has been reluctant to sanction the Russian energy sector, due no doubt to the United States dangerous dependence on foreign energy. At the same time, European countries, particularly Germany, are heavily dependent on Russian natural gas." Senator Hagerty said, The Biden Administrations war on American energy has placed severe burdens on the shoulders of American citizens and led to disastrous national security ramifications across the globe. For the sake of our national and economic security, we must immediately reverse course and re-establish the energy independence created by the previous Administrations policies, which is exactly what this legislation would do. Senator Hawley said, To be strong and free as a nation, we must be energy independent. My bill will reverse Joe Bidens disastrous energy surrender that has allowed Russian energy dominance and instead open up American production full-throttle. To stand up to aggressors like Vladimir Putin, we can and we must work to power our nation and the world. Waldens Ridge Emergency Services respond to a house fire on the W Road Tuesday morning. At 6 a.m. a motorist called 911 reporting a house fire located at 4020 W Road. Fire officials from WRES arrived on the scene reporting 95 percent of the home was on fire and immediately requested a mutual aid response for additional manpower and water tankers. Since there are no fire hydrants on the W Road, WRES had to set up a water supply system called a Tanker Shuttle to fight the house fire. Chattanooga Fire Department and Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene to assist WRES. Signal Mountain Fire Department stood by at WRES fire stations for any additional emergency calls. Once fire officials confirmed no one was home, firefighters conducted a defensive attack to contain the fire. No injuries were reported, but Hamilton County EMS was on the scene for any potential injuries to firefighters. The cause of the fire is undetermined and will be under investigation by WRES. Damages are unknown at this time. Taylor Sheridans 1883 episode 10 showed Elsa Duttons death, and fans were saddened to see the protagonists long and agonizing fate. Elsa died in the arms of her father, James Dutton. And its clear James was absolutely heartbroken over what became of his daughter. Tim McGraw, the 1883 cast member who plays James, explained the hardest thing of filming the scene, too. [Spoiler alert: 1883 episode 10 spoilers ahead.] Elsa Duttons death in 1883 episode 10 deeply upset fans and the cast Isabel May as Elsa and Tim McGraw as James | Emerson Miller/Paramount+ Elsa Duttons fate was sealed long before 1883 episode 10. In the pilot episode of the series, a flashback scene showed Elsa getting shot with an arrow through the stomach and that scenario played out in episode 9. While Elsa initially lived through the arrow wound, she became ill with an infection. Margaret and James Dutton conversed about their daughters inevitable death, and they decided they wouldnt tell her what they already knew. Elsas health was tough and go in episode 10. While it seemed like she was making a recovery from her infection, the pain and the fever returned. James vowed to settle wherever he buried Elsa, which also changed their traveling plans. Instead of heading all the way to Oregon, they decided theyd settle in Montana. Once Elsa accepted she would die, she and James rode on horseback together to a clearing. They sat under a tree and fell asleep as Elsa drifted to her death. James Dutton actor Tim McGraw explained the hardest thing about Elsas death Isabel May as Elsa Dutton and Faith Hill as Margaret Dutton | Emerson Miller/Paramount+ During an interview with Variety, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill talked about their personal difficulties with filming Elsa Duttons death in 1883 episode 10. Hill and McGraw both cried as they read through the finale. When I finally finished reading episode 10 to him, we both just sat there and said, My God, this is one of the most incredible stories weve ever read,' Hill said. As for the hardest part, McGraw said it was not being too emotional too early. Both of our characters are really strong people and wanted to be strong for our family, McGraw explained. So that was the hardest thing for us, because we do have daughters and because Isabella, when we first walked on set and saw her, we said, My gosh, she looks she could be one of our daughters. It was great casting. But you do become emotionally invested and you do bring your real-life situation into the way you act. McGraw and Hill also found themselves thinking of their own family with Elsas death scene. It does expose all those emotions, and its hard as a parent, playing that role you dont want to go to any dark places in your mind about your kid, McGraw added. Will 1883 Season 2 happen? Taylor Sheridan shared his thoughts Though Elsa Duttons death in 1883 episode 10 clearly defines the end of the series, fans are hopeful for more details on whats to come for future episodes. 1883 Season 2 seemed to be in the works. So, whats happening with it now? According to Deadline, creator Taylor Sheridan seems content to leave the story where it is. Its unclear exactly where this leaves the possible next season. You never get to see how James and Margaret move on, Sheridan explained. You did seem them in a flashback as having moved on, and so thats what I cared to explore. On to the next peek through the window. I also wanted to create something you could watch and be completely enthralled and fulfilled, having never seen Yellowstone. Let it live on its own merits. As for the next peek, Sheridan has another Yellowstone spinoff coming titled 1932. Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! RELATED: Sam Elliott Said Taylor Sheridans Part for Him in Yellowstone Didnt Speak to Him Yellowstone prequel 1883 is the latest Western Sam Elliott has made, so he knows a thing or two about the American west. So when The Power of the Dog swept the Oscar nominations, Elliott weighed in. Unfortunately, he doesnt approve. Sam Elliott | Emerson Miller/Paramount+ Elliott was a guest on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast on Feb. 28 to discuss 1883. When Maron asked him about the Oscar-nominated Power of the Dog, Elliott didnt mince words. 1883 star Sam Elliott does not approve the message of The Power of the Dog As soon as Maron brought up The Power of the Dog, Elliott let loose. Apparently, they had mentioned bringing it up before recording the podcast. You wanna talk about that piece of sh*t? Elliott said on WTF. I didnt like it anyway. I looked at it when I was down there in Texas doing 1883. What really brought it home to me the other day when I said do you want to f***in talk about it, there was a f***in full page ad out in the L.A. Times and there was a review, not a review but a clip and it talked about the evisceration of the American myth. And I thought what the f***? What the f***? This is the guy thats done westerns forever. The evisceration of the American west. Sam Elliott says The Power of the Dog left out families The Power of the Dog stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Phil Burbank, a grumpy rancher who terrorizes his brother (Jesse Plemons), his sister-in-law (Kirsten Dunst) and her effeminate son (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Elliott understood the films interrogation of cowboy machismo, but said it ignored the families who settled the frontier. Those families are at the heart of 1883. RELATED: Oscars 2022: The Power of the Dog Could Change Cinema History And the myth is that they were these macho men out there with the cattle, Elliott said. I just come from f***in Texas where I was hanging out with families, not men but families. Big, long, extended multiple generation families that made their living and their lives were all about being cowboys. Boy, when I f***in saw that I thought what the f***? Where are we in this world? Other possible inaccuracies in The Power of the Dog As a veteran of westerns like Tombstone and Rough Riders, Elliott rattled off more critiques of The Power of the Dog. Though a fan of New Zealand writer/director Jane Campions work, Elliott felt she had no place depicting the American west. The Power of the Dog is based on the Thomas Savage book. RELATED: 1883 Season 2 Is Coming, But Fans Should Not Expect Another Full Season of the Yellowstone Prequel What the f*** does this woman, shes a brilliant director by the way, I love her work, previous work, but what the f*** does this woman from down there, New Zealand, know about the American west? Elliott said. And why the f*** does she shoot this movie in New Zealand and call it Montana and say this is the way it was? So that f***in rubbed me the wrong way, pal. Elliott also called the Power of the Dog wardrobe inaccurate and impractical. He compared the cowboys in the film to Chippendales dancers in costume. Theyre all running around in chaps and no shirts, Elliott said. Cumberbatch never got out of his f***in chaps. He had two pair of chaps, a wooly pair and a leather pair. Every time hed walk in from somewhere, he never was on a horse, maybe once. Hed walk into the f***in house, storm up the f***in stairs, go lay on his bed in his chaps and play his banjo. I was like what the f***? Wheres the western? Wheres the western in this western? RELATED: Sam Elliott Said Taylor Sheridans Part for Him in Yellowstone Didnt Speak to Him Frank Sinatra was a powerful force in the music industry whose impact has lasted in the decades after his death. As it turns out, Sinatras mother was also a significant figure in his hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey. Natalina Maria Vittoria Garaventa, who went by Dolly, was active in local politics. She also provided abortions to women in her community, earning her a criminal record. Frank Sinatra and Dolly Sinatra in 1945 | Hulton Archive/Getty Images Frank Sinatras parents were Italian immigrants Dolly Sinatra immigrated from Italy to the United States, where she met Anthony Sinatra, an Italian immigrant and boxer. Per the Daily Mail, Dolly would disguise herself as a boy by stuffing her hair into a hat so that she could watch Anthonys fights. In 1913, the couple married. In 1915, they welcomed Sinatra, their only child. The Frank Sinatra statue is standing nice and tall in Hoboken, New Jersey If you happen to be around, snap a picture using #PhotosWithFrank pic.twitter.com/cEZRAnRDHj Frank Sinatra (@franksinatra) January 4, 2022 Given the tense dynamic between Hobokens Irish and Italian populations, Anthony went by the name Marty OBrien so that he could fight in the Irish-only gyms. According to the Hoboken Museum, Anthony would later open a bar under the same name. His mother was a notable figure in Hoboken Sinatras mother was intelligent and ambitious. She wielded both traits to gain power in local politics. My mother is what you would call a progressive, Sinatra said, per the essay Frank Sinatra: The Popular Front and an American Icon by Gerald Meyer. She decided she didnt want to be just a housekeeper, and studied nursing and is now a graduate nurse. She was always interested in conditions outside her own home. My father, too, but he was the more silent type. Dolly became the Democratic Party leader for Hobokens Third Ward, the first immigrant woman to hold this job in New Jersey. Her influence in the community was far-reaching she used her clout to secure her husband a job in the fire department and she had 87 godchildren. She was also able to cross lines between Irish and Italian residents because of her close political relationships with Hoboken mayors. Outside of her position as a ward boss, Dolly campaigned ardently for womens rights. Per the Irish Times, she was arrested in 1919 for chaining herself to Hobokens town hall in support of womens suffrage. As a midwife, she also helped provide and organize free abortions for women in need. Frank Sinatras mother died in a plane crash In 1977, Dolly was on a plane to Las Vegas to watch her son perform at Caesars Palace when the aircraft vanished off radar screens. After an arduous search, authorities discovered the plane had crashed into Mount San Gorgonio, killing Dolly and three other passengers. This is Dolly Sinatra, once known as "Hatpin Dolly." She provided illegal abortions to the women of Hoboken, she got arrested protesting for the right to vote, she ran a saloon during prohibition. She was a fighter. We will be fighters too. pic.twitter.com/fJVtCnFYHP Robyn Pennacchia (@RobynElyse) June 28, 2018 A 1977 article in the Desert Sun (via the California Digital Newspaper Collection) detailed that her funeral in Cathedral City, California, drew roughly 700 mourners. This included many public figures, such as Cary Grant, Dean Martin, and Ronald Reagan. Religious leaders at the service spoke highly of Dolly. Rabbi Joseph Hurwitz read from the Book of Proverbs and called Dolly a valiant woman. Rev. Alfred F. Geimer referred to her as one of the kindest persons I ever knew. RELATED: Frank Sinatra Was Unhappy and Lonely, According to Larry King Squid Game continues to make history as leading actors HoYeon Jung and Lee Jung-jae won Female and Male Actors in a Drama Series at the 2022 SAG Awards. The 2021 Korean drama has broken ground as the first to be recognized globally by Hollywood. It is also Jungs first role as a new actor. Her co-stars and fans stood proud as she received her SAG Award. A behind-the-scenes video shows Jung collapsing from emotion, but fans believe she is bowing out of respect to Lee. Lee Jung-jae and HoYeon Jung at 2022 SAG Awards backstage | Emma McIntyre via Getty Images HoYeon Jung received SAG Award for her role in Squid Game Squid Game was nominated in four categories at the 2022 SAG Awards. Lee and Jung were nominated for best female and male actor in a drama series. Some of the K-drama cast was in attendance including Anupam Tripathi, Kim Joo-ryoung, and Park Hae-soo. They were in attendance as Squid Game was nominated for Ensemble in a Drama Series and Stunt Ensemble in a TV Series. Jung was nominated with Jennifer Aniston, Elisabeth Moss, Sarah Snook, and Reese Witherspoon. The South Korean model and actor took home the win. Her co-stars and fans watched as Jung was overcome with emotion during her speech. In a behind-the-scenes video posted on Twitter by Ramin Setoodeh, Jung is seen collapsing in front of Lee. But fans believe Jung was doing something else. HoYeon Jung was bowing to Lee Jung-jae out of respect at the SAG Awards Squid Game star Jung Ho-Yeon collapses to the ground as she hugs Lee Jung-Jae after they both win #SAGAwards. pic.twitter.com/i0Kk04zEva Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) February 28, 2022 RELATED: Squid Game Season 2: Lee Jung-jae Has an Interesting Idea to Bring Back Characters In Setoodehs Twitter post, he describes Jung as collapsing after receiving a congratulatory hug from Tripathi at the SAG Awards. Anyone who watches the video would think the same, but fans explain that is not what is likely happening. According to fans on Twitter, Jung is bowing to Lee. The video shows Jung dropping to her knees in front of Lee and bowing her head as he approaches to congratulate her. South Koreans and fans aware of Korean culture are right to assume Jung is bowing out of respect to Lee. In Korean culture, bowing is the equivalent of shaking hands and showing respect to elders. According to The Korea Times, Respect for age and seniority is still a huge part of Korean culture and influences how one bows to others. How a person bows also indicate the message they are giving across. When paying respect to elders or giving deep thanks, the person will kneel and bow so deeply that his forehead touches the floor. Jung is still a newcomer to the acting industry, and Lee is a veteran being one of South Koreas most recognized actors. With the global fame Squid Game has received since its premiere, Jungs SAG Award win was a momentous moment in her career, and she wanted to respect Lee as her senior. The South Korean actor paid homage to South Korea Jung Ho-Yeon receives her first-ever Actor for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her role in #SquidGame #sagawards pic.twitter.com/PJAHCavDni SAG Awards (@SAGawards) February 28, 2022 RELATED: Squid Game Wi Ha-joon was Unable to Attend SAG Awards Due to Schedule Conflicts Squid Game is the first K-drama in history to receive global success. While K-dramas are not new to TV, they were still making their way out of a niche fan base. K-drama, K-content, K-Pop, and Korean culture have become a global interest, and Jung wanted to represent her country with pride. At the 2022 SAG Awards, Jungs dress and hairstyle represented years of Korean history. Louis Vuitton custom-made her black and silver dress to represent Korean embroidery. The accessory in Jungs braided hair has sentimental value. Louis Vuitton designed a daenggi using the same dress fabric. Korean women often use the accessory when wearing braids dating back to years of history. RELATED: Squid Game: HoYeon Jungs Mindset About Aspiring for Hollywood Has Changed Since K-Drama Success Julia Garner didnt anticipate the real Anna Delvey/ Sorokin to be so charming even though she transformed herself into the Russian-born German fake heiress in the Netflix series, Inventing Anna. Based on a true story, Inventing Anna recounts Delveys rise in the Manhattan financial sector when she posed as a wealthy heiress intent on creating her own upscale social club, The Anna Delvey Foundation. Delvey scammed powerhouse banks, luxury hotels, and a few friends along the way until she was ultimately arrested. Garners convincing performance was compelling, bringing Delveys stark often cold remarks and calculating moves to light. She studied her unique accent and style but was surprised by how likable she was when they met. Julia Garner was surprised by how likeable and charming Anna Delvey was Garner met with Delvey while she was still in prison and revealed what really struck her. The thing that struck me that I did not, I didnt expect I really dont even know really how to describe it was how bubbly she was at moments, and how likable she was and how charming she was, and how quickly she can go from light to dark and dark to light in seconds, she recalled to IMDb. Julia Garner | RCF/MEGA/GC Images She also described to Elle that the entire experience of meeting Delvey was surreal. Shes very funny, when you meet her in real life, and so I knew there had to be that comedic aspect to the show, she said. Very funny, very likable, and she wanted to talk, as much as she was able to, Garner continued. But I also still dont think that she thinks she did anything wrong. I think she just wanted power, and prestige, and success, and she was still thinking like that. It seemed like her perspective was still that she didnt do anything wrong, that she was just doing everything it took to get to where she should be. I dont think she sees a difference between being hungry, and being ambitious. Developing Annas accent was a challenge Garner also shared with Elle that capturing Delveys accent was immensely challenging. This is probably the hardest job Ive ever done, she said. It makes so much sense that Anna Delvey knew Fyre Fest organizer Billy McFarland pic.twitter.com/xgXgT4SzbB Netflix (@netflix) February 16, 2022 Its German, but then she grew up in Russia, so you hear a little bit of the Russian inflection alongside the German. But then the musicality of it is more American, she added. A lot of times, people coming from Europe to live in America, their accents starts to shift. And Anna especially does that anyway, she kind of embodies whoever shes hanging out with. Shes struggling a lot with her own identity, so you see her pick up on traits from whoever shes hanging out with. She shared with IMDb which of Delveys phrases from Inventing Anna was her favorite to say in the accent. The one that makes me laugh every time I see it, Im crying on the phone and Im saying Im all on my own! I just think its so funny, she shared. It just came out, I wasnt even aware of what I was doing. My accent was very strong there because I was emotional, and I had my wall down. Well, Anna did. What happened to those iconic Celine glasses? Garner also dished about being on the Inventing Anna set and said filming in Morocco was the most memorable location. Plus, which days were the most luxurious? Every day, minus the jail scenes! she exclaimed to IMDb. I was like Im going to wear my Chanel, and Prada and Givenchy. You know. Speaking of fashion, she said most of the dresses and those iconic Celine glasses went into the archives. I got to keep a few things a lot of it went also to archives, she said. I cant keep the babydoll Alaia dress with the Celine glasses just because that is the iconic Anna Delvey outfit. Also, I dont know where I would wear that people would be like oh thats what you wore on Delvey which is totally fine, I dont mind that but you know. RELATED: Inventing Anna: 5 Shows Like It to Watch for More True Crime and Con Artists Hyderabad: In a sudden development, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao left for Delhi at 7.45 pm on Monday. He is likely to meet leaders of various parties as part of his efforts to forge an anti-BJP front in the runup to 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Chief Ministers sudden visit to Delhi has created a buzz in the party and political circles. There were no indications whatsoever either in the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) or in political circles about the Chief Minister leaving for Delhi on Monday until Chandrashekar Rao left for the airport. The Chief Minister convened a meeting at Pragathi Bhavan on Monday to finalise the dates for holding the budget session of Legislative Assembly and Council. Ministers T. Harish Rao, K.T. Rama Rao, Vemula Prashanth Reddy and CMO officials were present in the meeting. The meeting started at around 3 pm and ended at 7.10 pm. The Chief Minister rushed to Begumpet airport soon after to leave for Delhi by a special flight. The Chief Ministers visit to Delhi at a time when the Assembly polls for five states have almost ended barring Uttar Pradesh where the final two phases of polling will be held on March 3 and 7 and counting of votes will take place in all the five states namely UP, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur on March 10. Party sources said Chandrashekar Raos prime focus was on UP, where he wanted the BJP to lose and Samajwadi Party to win with a strong belief that if the BJP lost in UP, it would boost his ongoing efforts to bring all regional parties together against the BJP. Rao is expected to meet Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during his Delhi trip and leaders of other parties based on their availability. It is not clear whether Chandrashekar Rao will proceed to other states from Delhi for the purpose. Chandrashekar Rao is likely to camp in Delhi for a few days and likely to return before March 6 to attend the state cabinet meeting to approve the budget and take part in the budget session of the Assembly from March 7. On March 8, the Chief Minister will launch Mana Ooru-Mana Badi programme to develop government schools in the state in Wanaparthy. He will later inaugurate the newly-constructed Integrated Collectorate Complex and the TRS district office in Wanaparthy and address a public meeting on the same day. Kanye West, (sometimes referred to by the stylized stage name Ye) is an artist known for his genre-bending albums. Before he was a Grammy Award-winning musician, West attended Chicago State University and wrote essays for his English courses. Kanye West attended college for becoming a Grammy Award-winning artist Rapper and producer Kanye West is seen in Chelsea, New York | Gotham/GC Images Some know him for songs like Praise God, City of Gods, and POWER. West is the musician behind Donda, making a name for himself as a rapper, producer, and even gospel artist. West created music for several years, even starting his career while still attending college. During an interview with Complex, the rapper explained that he went to college for almost two semesters. West dropped out because he received a rap deal with Donnie Ienner at Columbia Records. I dropped out my second semester, West added. I went to Chicago State second semester freshman year, and I dropped out in the fall sophomore year Once I got back to Chicago, I left school at that point and had to figure out a way to make it. Kanye West studied English while at Chicago State University The Chicago Sun Times reported West attended Polaris High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois, graduating from high school in 1995. West first attended the American Academy of Art for one semester because of a scholarship. Because the scholarship did not extend beyond his first semester and his mother advised against taking out a loan, the artist transferred to Chicago State University. Because his mother (Donda) worked at Chicago State University, he could attend for a lower tuition cost. He majored in English, which even played a role in his creative process and his experience as a rapper. Public speaking, piano, voice training, even though I was an English major, um, I had essays, he added in the same interview. The rapper never returned to college to finish his degree, setting his sights on music and his Yeezy sneaker brand. He did reference dropping out of college in the 2022 release City of Gods, rapping, I go back to college, do an album, and then drop out again. Kanye Wests debut studio album is The College Dropout Released in 2004, Wests first studio album was The College Dropout, featuring tracks Graduation Day, Ill Fly Away, and All Falls Down. The production was, according to Billboard, the story of the underdog or the underachiever. Since its debut, this production has earned millions of Spotify plays. According to the Grammy Awards website, the artist earned his first Grammy nomination for The College Dropout, snagging recognition in the Album of the Year category. He went on to receive over 70 nominations, and 22 award wins. Despite drama with Billie Eilish, his family, and his ex-partner Kim Kardashian, this rapper announced Donda 2 on Feb. 22, 2022. Until its premiere, music by West is available on most major streaming platforms. RELATED: Its Gemini Season: Kanye West, Venus Williams, and Other Celebrities With the Star Sign Over the past few weeks, one particular story has captivated the entire world. The Tinder Swindler is a true-crime documentary that has been making waves on Netflix, opening up conversations about the functionality of dating apps, the way that people craft their online identitiesand the prevalence of scamming in a social media age. In the days following the shows release, many fans have been diving deep to learn more about the man behind the story in The Tinder Swindler. And as it turns out, pop culture fans might be seeing more of him in the near future. When did The Tinder Swindler air on Netflix? The Tinder Swindler dropped on Netflix in early February. The documentary, which was produced and created in Britain, tells the story of an alleged Israeli conman named Simon Leviev. The conman allegedly used the dating app Tinder in order to find people to manipulate and extort money from. Visceral and intense, The Tinder Swindler showcases the darker side of online datingand cautions viewers against trusting people that they have only just met on any online platform. The Tinder Swindler has gotten an incredible response from fans, with many turning to the documentary as both a true-crime story and a cautionary tale. Some experts have praised the documentary as fascinating, a perfect example of what happens when humans looking for meaningful social connections become too responsive to strangers. Psychology Today notes that the tale of Leviev is fascinating on a deep level, but has educational overtones as well. What do pop culture fans know about Simon Leviev? As The Tinder Swindler has become wildly popular, many pop culture fans have become interested in what ended up happening to Simon Leviev. As it turns out, Leviev was sentenced to prison for the fraud he committed in his home country of Israel in 2019. Still, Leviev wasnt charged with any of the crimes that he allegedly committed against the women featured in the documentary. Ultimately, Leviev only served about five months out of his 19-month prison sentenceand was released in 2020. Leviev has used various aliases over the course of his life, and according to People Magazine, he was born Shimon Hayut. The publication notes that Leviev ostensibly still lives in Israel and is very active on social media, regularly posting content to his Instagram pages. Leviev is banned from Tinder, following the release of the documentary although, according to a new report from TMZ, he could be looking to get on peoples screens in a whole new way. Simon Leviev allegedly wants a Hollywood career It will cost you a lot to get a personalised message from #TheTinderSwindler. https://t.co/nKs5RbVtXM Heart (@thisisheart) February 21, 2022 Although Leviev isnt receiving the best press, a TMZ report claims that he is actively considering a Hollywood career, and could be taking steps to make that happen. Sources note Leviev is working with a manager named Gina Rodriguez, and is interested in launching a dating show that would feature multiple women competing for his affections. Additionally, Leviev is said to be looking at options for a podcastand he is interested in clearing the air regarding his true intentions, claiming that the Netflix documentary got his personality and motives all wrong. While nothing official has been announced regarding Levievs future projects, fans should be on the lookout for the next move from the infamous Tinder Swindler. After all, if Leviev has shown anything, it is that he is resilient and easily able to bounce from one situation to the next with relative ease. Most recently, TMZ reported Leviev is charging $20,000 to appear at nightclubs. He is also on the celebrity e-greeting service Cameo, charging $200 to $1,000 for a video. RELATED: True Crime Documentaries: Netflix Tackles the College Admissions Scandal in Operation Varsity Blues Summer House newbie Mya Allen quickly gained fans with her honesty, vulnerability, and impressive cooking skills. Heres everything you need to know about the reality TV star, including who her ex-fiance Kwame Onwuachi is and the business she runs outside of the show. Amanda Batula, Mya Allen, and Ciara Miller | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank Mya Allen is a new cast member on season 6 of Summer House Mya Allen is a new cast member on season 6 of Bravos Summer House. She struggled for the first few episodes to find her place in the house and win over her castmates, but they saw her in a new light after she sat down with them and initiated an important conversation about race. Her fellow cast members, including Ciara Miller, Paige DeSorbo, and Kyle Cooke, seem to love her cooking, and with good reason. Allen is a certified professional chef, and she owns a cookie company called The Knead. The New York City-based business ships its cookies nationwide. According to the dessert delivery services website, Allen studied at Colby College before getting her culinary degree from the International Culinary Center. She worked in restaurant management for years, gaining further culinary experience at various restaurants in New York City before becoming a freelance personal chef. The reality star founded The Knead in 2020 during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as a way to spread love through cookies! Kwame Onwuachi | Dixie D. Vereen/The Washington Post Mya Allens ex-fiance Kwame Onwuachi is a famous chef Mya Allen has mentioned her ex-fiance Kwame Onwuachi on Summer House. Onwuachi is a chef, author, and restaurateur who came into the public eye as a contestant on season 13 of Top Chef. In 2016, Onwuachi opened his own restaurant in Washington, D.C., called the Shaw Bijou. The restaurant closed in January 2017. Later that year, the chef opened an Afro-Caribbean restaurant called Kith and Kin. Esquire named Onwuachi the Chef of the Year in 2019 and deemed Kith and Kin one of the Best New Restaurants in America. In 2019, Onwuachi published a memoir, Notes from a Young Black Chef, about his childhood in Nigeria and New York and Nigeria and his experience opening the Shaw Bijou. His cookbook, My America: Recipes from a Young Black Chef, is scheduled for release in May 2022. According to The Washington Post, Onwuachi and Allen got engaged in August 2016 after six months of dating. He said of their whirlwind romance, Yeah, we moved fast, but when you know you know, Onwuachi said of their whirlwind romance. Im definitely very excited. Ive got a lot on my plate right now, and this is just adding to it, but I figured why wait. As Allen revealed on Summer House, she and Onwuachi ended their engagement just months before she first appeared on the Bravo show. The Summer House star owns a cookie delivery business called The Knead Besides her relationship with Kwame Onwuachi, another piece of her life Maya Allen has shared on Summer House is her gourmet cookie business. Although Allens castmates seem to love her cookies on the show, many of her fans and customers havent gotten to try them yet. Several people are leaving angry comments on The Kneads Instagram, saying that they havent received their cookie delivery orders. Ordered cookies on Feb 9. Still have not received them and no responses to email or DMs, one customer commented on The Kneads Instagram post from Feb. 8. Another customer wrote, Ordered cookies on the 4th. Confirmation email money taken out no cookies and no reply to email I sent two days ago either. One upset customer commented, Do NOT order from this place! They take your money and you get nothing! I have sent messages and emails to no avail!! Needs to be reported to the better business bureau for false advertising!! The Kneads website states that orders are processed within 1-4 business days, and customers will receive an order confirmation email. On Feb. 27, Allen shared an Instagram post from the business page apologizing for the delays. The Knead customers we deeply apologize for the delay in product shipment and communication, she wrote. We appreciate the overwhelming amount of support we have received from you all and cannot wait for you to taste our cookies! RELATED: Winter House Couple Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover Dress as Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee for Halloween The Monkees werent a band known for creating controversy. Despite this, The Monkees Randy Scouse Git had a title so offensive it had to be censored in England. During an interview, the Prefab Fours Micky Dolenz explained why he gave the song its distinct name. The Monkees Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Micky Dolenz | James Jackson/Evening Standard/Getty Images How the sitcom that inspired All in the Family influenced The Monkees Micky Dolenz During a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, The Monkees Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Mike Nesmith named 15 songs that defined their lives. One of them was Randy Scouse Git. While many of the Monkees greatest hits were written by outside songwriters, Dolenz penned Randy Scouse Git on his own. Dolenz explained the inspiration behind the tracks name. I was watching an English television show called Till Death Us Do Part, which became All In The Family over here years later, he recalled. The father figure calls the young song a randy scouse git. I didnt know what it meant, but in my frame of mind I just thought, Whoa, thats really cool, man. Im gonna call my song that.' The Monkees Mickey Dolenz | Gems/Redferns RELATED: The Monkees: Micky Dolenz Played This Chuck Berry Song During His Audition for Their TV Show The title of The Monkees Randy Scouse Git is a sexual British phrase Dolenz learned Randy Scouse Git was going to be released in England. Ward Sylvester, a producer of The Monkees sitcom, received a letter about the song. Dear Ward, following up my recent cable to you concerning Randy Scouse Git,' the letter said. You are no doubt aware that many English expressions have a totally different meaning in America and vice versa. In this, it is a question of the versa being vice. The name Randy Scouse Git had a sexual meaning. To give you a perfectly straightforward translation of the title, you are referring to someone as being an oversexed, illegitimate son of a prostitute from Liverpool, he said. The word git has been used on television in this country but only in a late-night adult program. The letter noted The Monkees using the word git would clash with their wholesome image. In England, Randy Scouse Git was released under the name Alternate Title. RELATED: The Monkees Micky Dolenz Reacted to Breaking Bad Using 1 of Their Songs in a Drug Scene The way listeners in the United States and the United Kingdom reacted to Randy Scouse Git Randy Scouse Git did not become popular in the United States. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. On the other hand, its parent album, Headquarters, was a hit. Headquarters peaked at No. 1 for one of its 68 weeks on the Billboard 200. Under the name Alternate Title, Randy Scouse Git became successful in the United Kingdom. According to The Official Charts Company, the song peaked at No. 2 in the U.K., staying on the chart for 12 weeks. Meanwhile, Headquarters hit No. 2 and lasted on the chart for 19 weeks. The original name of the song was offensive but that didnt stop it from becoming a hit. RELATED: Why The Monkees Micky Dolenz and The Carpenters Lost the Chance to Record Three Dog Nights An Old Fashioned Love Song 1st 90 Day Fiance has certainly had some interesting cast members over the years. Some of them like Kenny and Armando warm our hearts. Others like Darcey Silva and Jesse Meester make us laugh. And still others like David and Annie have become like our extended family. And then there are those cast members that make us vomit. Whether theyre cheating, abusive, or just plain nasty, these 10 90 Day Fiance cast members are the worst of all time. 90 Day Fiance stars Leida and Eric | TLC/Discovery Press Room 10. Debbie Johnson (a/k/a Colteeees Mother) whos now a current 90 Day Fiance: The Single Life cast member While Debbie Johnson has rebranded herself as a bit of a lovable old lady who just needs a little love, 90 Day Fiance fans cant forget how possessive, smothering, and over-the-top she was about her baby Colt. Sure, Larissa Dos Santos Lima had her own set of issues and by no means was she perfect. However, Debbie didnt seem to get the memo that Colt picked her. And as Colts subsequent failed relationships have proven, Debbies presence looms large and unhealthily so. They were better suited for I Love a Mamas Boy than 90 Day Fiance. 9. Evelin Evil-Lyn Villegas How hard do you have to work to get the nickname Evil-Lyn from nearly everyone in the fandom? Just ask The Other Way cast member Evelin Villegas, whom Reddit users refer to as cold and fraudin. And thats when theyre being polite. Her nasty and entitled personality, combined with her despicable treatment of her husband Corey, and her hypocrisy about cheating make her one of the worst 90 Day Fiance cast members of all time. 8. Alina Kozhevnikova A recent entry into the TLC pantheon, Alina was fired from the show before her season was even over thanks to her over-the-top racism. Good riddance to bad garbage! 7. Deavan Clegg Shes fame-hungry, man-hopping, and a poster child for parental alienation. Fans of 90 Day Fiance couldnt help but notice how neglected and dirty her daughter, Drascilla, looked all the time not to mention how ill-behaved she was, seemingly from a lack of love and attention from her mother, who always seemed to be too busy posting selfies and hooking up with the next man to pay attention to her children. And while Deavan has subsequently blasted the show for their editing, according to OK! Magazine, producers cant work with what you dont give them. So, there had to be some truth to the rumors. 6. Mark Shoemaker one of the creepiest, and most sexist, 90 Day Fiance cast members Only the die-hards will remember Mark Shoemaker, who was 58-years-old when he married Nikki, a 19-year-old native of the Philippines. Fans couldnt help but notice that all of Marks children were older than his new wife and he was so controlling that he forced her to sign a prenup, refused to give her any children, and flipped out on her when she left her fingerprints on his car window. Shoemaker set the stage for follow-up creeps who bedded and wedded barely-legal women like Jonathan Rivera, who was well into his 30s when he began dating 17-year-old (and not of legal age) Fernanda Flores, according to Newsweek but hes the original, and still the worst. And as for the sexism claims? Well, the 90 Day Fiance alum had this to say about his critics (per InTouch): You know, when you look at most of the people who are responding [on social media], they have five things in common. Basically, theyre overweight, theyre women, theyre alone, theyre jealous, and I dont know what the fifth is. Yes, Mark, theyre definitely jealous. LOL. 5. Mohamed Jbali Again, nobodys saying that Danielle Mullins is perfect. Certainly, she was a piece of work. But when her ex-husband Mohamed Jibali went on national television to inform the nationwide viewing audience that Danielle smells down there, while screaming that no man would ever have sex with her because of it and then finishing it off by screaming at her to stop crying as he continued to humiliate her he crossed a major line. 4. Paul Staehle Paul Staehles most redeeming qualities were that he was neurotic and strange. But few 90 Day Fiance fans realized how much trouble he would bring until it was way too late. Us Weekly has a detailed timeline of his back-and-forth relationship with Karine Martins, and needless to say, its filled with shocking abuse claims, possessiveness, and overall disgusting behavior. 3. Ximena Morales Its evident to anyone with a pair of eyes that shes using Mike Berkowitz for everything hes worth. While 90 Day Fiance fans all seem to agree that Mike is nothing if not a strange egg, hes definitely a good egg. And that makes Ximenas behavior even more despicable. 2. Geoffrey Paschel Someone should have done some research before bringing Geoffrey Paschel on 90 Day Fiance. His rap sheet includes convictions of possession with intent to sell a controlled substance, as well as two federal drug trafficking charges. But thats nothing compared to his most recent crime. According to People, Paschel is currently serving an 18-year sentence for kidnapping, and violently assaulting, his ex-fiancee. Theres no possibility of parole for this violent felon, and the world is suddenly a safer place because of it. 1. And Leida Margaretha is the worst 90 Day Fiance cast member of all time You have to really work overtime to be universally reviled by every member of the 90 Day Fiance fandom but Leida Margaretha definitely earned the top spot. She beat out convicted felons and n-word using racists. Thats pretty impressive in its audacity if nothing else. Fans will recall that Leida had no issue reminding Eric how much she had to give up to be with him, as she went from alleged wealth in Indonesia to a small apartment in Baraboo, WI, which was far beneath her high standards, you see. And as for the apartment? Well, this is where it gets even more despicable. As it would later be revealed by InTouch, it turned out that Tasha Erics daughter from his previous marriage was the one who rented the apartment. Imagine how much audacity you have to have to kick someone out of their own home that they were paying for with their own money just so you and your ill-behaved brat could move in. But you dont have to imagine, because thats exactly what the spoiled, entitled Leida did. (That Eric stood by and watched it happen to his own flesh and blood makes him just as bad as his new blushing bride, but thats neither here nor there.) And then there were the subsequent fights with Eric that led to police involvement, death threats to other cast members (including Deavan), and noxious political views that resulted in Leida receiving death threats of her own. (And to be clear, nobody deserves to receive death threats, even when theyre as terrible as Leida clearly is.) But the worst part of all was when Leida encouraged Eric to stop paying child support for his children from his previous marriage, and to divert his limited funds to Leida and her child from her previous marriage instead. In short, Leida is the embodiment of the wicked stepmother trope: a vile, nasty person who browbeats her husband, abuses his children, and demands everyones attention at all times. And for this reason, she is the worst 90 Day Fiance cast member of all time. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance Fans Outraged Over Kimberly Forcing Intimacy With Usman The process is sustainable (right to left: flasks containing astaxanthin, beta-carotene, and a blend of both pigments extracted from P. rhodozyma yeast) Scientists based in Brazil and Portugal have developed an environmentally sustainable process to produce biodegradable plastic using pigment extracted from yeast by green solvents. In an article published in the journal Green Chemistry, they show that this biodegradable plastic could in future be used in smart packaging with antioxidant and anti-microbial properties. With similar applications to those of conventional plastics derived from oil, gas and coal, which take hundreds of years to decompose, sustainable bioplastics produced from sugarcane, corn and potatoes are starting to become commercially available. After more than eight years of research, the scientists demonstrated that eutectic solvents can efficiently extract two carotenoids, astaxanthin and beta-carotene, from biomass of the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma. Carotenoids are a class of more than 750 naturally occurring pigments synthesized by plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria. They account for the yellow, orange and red colors of many plants. They have commercial applications in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, among others. According to the researchers, eutectic solvents can be used both to extract the pigments and to produce biodegradable plastic film based on bioactive starch without any need for additional purification. We demonstrated as proof of concept that its possible to produce a natural pigment by means of a sustainable process. We worked with two lines. One was production of yeast-based pigments and extraction of these economically valuable natural compounds using eutectic solvents, which are a blend of biocompatible and biodegradable components. The other was utilization of the extracts to produce biomaterials such as the starch-based bioplastic, said Jorge Fernando Brandao Pereira, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Coimbras School of Science and Technology in Portugal, and one of the corresponding authors of the article, alongside Cassamo Ussemane Mussagy. FAPESP supported the research via four projects (20/08655-0, 19/15493-9, 18/06908-8 and 15/11759-3). The research is part of Mussagys postdoctoral work at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in collaboration with Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), under the supervision of Professor Adalberto Pessoa Junior. We set out to find alternatives to synthetic pigments and the extraction processes that use polluting solvents. We worked with sustainable methods to obtain natural pigments and apply them in the production of biodegradable plastic using green solvents, Mussagy told Agencia FAPESP. Pigments have been used for centuries to enhance or restore the appearance of different products and guarantee uniformity. As consumers increasingly seek healthier or more nutritious products, while also trying not to harm the natural environment, synthetic pigments are being replaced by natural compounds that are ecofriendly and are also biologically active in the sense of having antioxidant and anti-microbial properties. According to the researchers, scientific studies aiming at the production or extraction of natural pigments from microorganisms will help expand the supply of bioplastics. Also known as biopolymers, these products currently account for less than 1% of the more than 367 million metric tons of plastic manufactured every year worldwide, according to European Bioplastics, which represents the interests of some 70 member companies. According to some estimates, production of bioplastics will rise from 2.42 tons in 2021 to 7.59 million tons in 2026, in response to the rise in demand for alternative materials from the packaging, appliance and textile industries, as pressures increase to reduce the use of plastics derived from petroleum, owing to pollution and non-degradable waste. Development of novel biopolymers is the focus for a research group led by Rondinelli Herculano, a professor at UNESP who collaborated on the development of the starch-based bioplastic. Some 11 million metric tons of plastic were thrown away in 2018 in Brazil, corresponding to 13.5% of total waste in the year and making Brazil the fourth-largest producer of plastic waste in the world. The estimate is from the Brazilian edition of Plastic Atlas, published in November 2019 by Heinrich Boll Foundation, a German NGO. Plastic pollution is a growing threat to all ecosystems, especially the oceans, where it accounts for 85% of total waste, according to the United Nations. Industrial production processes are always aggressive even if the product is biodegradable, Pereira said. Paper, for example, is renewable and recyclable, but in almost all cases its produced by non-sustainable methods that consume huge amounts of energy, water and toxic chemicals. Our study demonstrates the possibility of obtaining bioplastics via an integrated and sustainable platform. The process The scientists produced the carotenoids by growing Phaffia rhodozyma in a bioreactor. They then used ionic liquids, choline-based eutectic solvents and butyric acid to extract the pigments from the yeast. Choline is a vitamin B-like nutrient produced by the human organism and found in nature. Ionic and eutectic liquids are considered ideal solvents for the extraction of compounds from natural matrices, thanks mainly to their capacity for solvation, a process whereby solvent molecules surround and interact with solute ions or molecules, or an ionic compound dissolves in a polar substance without forming a new one. To maximize retrieval of astaxanthin (one of the most important natural antioxidants produced by yeasts and microalgae) and beta-carotene, the researchers tested five biomass-solvent (solid-liquid) concentrations, considered a key parameter in cell rupture procedures to retrieve intracellular molecules from microbial biomass. The concentration that increased in both was up to 0.2 g mL1 of wet yeast cells. We used the biosolvents so that the pigment was extracted from the yeast biomass and could be applied. We detected that the solvent with the best result both extracted the pigment from the biomass of the microorganism and also acted as a plasticizer for packaging, said Valeria de Carvalho Santos Ebinuma, a professor at UNESP and a co-author of the Green Chemistry Hot Article. Constant long-term investment is needed if we want to foster first-class research, so FAPESPs support is important, Mussagy said. After years of research on the development of sustainable processes to produce and extract pigments from microbial sources, weve seen our work recognized by a science journal thats one of the best 5% in the field of sustainability. For Pereira, the multidisciplinary approach used in the study is important. Its a reward for Mussagys steady efforts, and shows the importance of synergy between institutions and researchers, he said. Mussagy said next steps will focus on application of the results to show that packaging with this type of green plastic can be used for various purposes, not least by the food industry. Hahnemuhle is delighted to announce the appointments of Nancy Janes to the position of Hahnemuhle UK & Ireland Managing Director and General Manager, Sven Heeren to the position of General Manager DACH & The Netherlands and Simon Waller to the position General Manager Hahnemuhle USA. All appointments become effective as of 1 March 2022. In line with the excellent growth of the Hahnemuhle Group worldwide, I am excited to expand the management team with outstanding business leaders to prepare and scale up Hahnemuhles Go-to-Market regions per the long-term planning. All of them are commercially focused senior leaders, experienced with global companies across the paper and printing industry or already with Hahnemuhle and responsible for great achievements within our company stated Jan Wolfle, President and CEO Hahnemuhle-Group. Nancy Janes charter is to take both roles, the General Manager as well as Managing Director for Hahnemuhle UK & Ireland. She has a proven track record in driving positive customer, business and employee outcomes. Nancy is experienced across UK & Ireland, EMEA and worldwide in the Commercial, Publishing and Packaging printing markets. She has extensive leadership experience, with expertise in sales, marketing, solutions, channel management, commercial strategy, digital printing capabilities, business development and partnerships. The wealth of experience Nancy brings, will enrich the existing Hahnemuhle UK team and contribute to accelerating success. Relevant highlights from her professional experience include her most recent role as Global Publishing Solutions Business Director at HP, where she established HP as a thought leader partnering with brands like Adobe, Mondelez, Danone, Pearson Publishing etc. to enable Print-Service-Providers transitioning their analogue to digital workflows, utilizing the benefits of digital graphics creations and digital Publishing / Packaging. Most notably, Nancy was HP Country Manager for HP Indigo, HP Inkjet high speed webpress, Wide Format (Latex, Aqueous, UV), and PageWide and achieved best performing region results in EMEA. During that assignment she was being named the 16th most influential person in the UK printing industry by PrintWeek. Hahnemuhle is using this change to enable Simon Waller, General Manager UK & Ireland since 2005, to make a career move. Simon will succeed Sven Heeren as General Manager Hahnemuhle USA, who was recently promoted to General Manager DACH & The Netherlands within the Hahnemuhle Group. Sven joined Hahnemuhle USA in 2019, having previously worked at companies such as Messe Dusseldorf, Kraft Foods, and Beam Suntory. During his time at Hahnemuhle North America, the team significantly outperformed organic market growth in the Digital FineArt and Photo business segment. As a native German, living in USA for more than 20 years, this position was an excellent development path for Sven also in his endeavor to return to his roots. As General Manager, he will lead sales and a team of product and marketing managers at Hahnemuhles headquarters in Germany. Simon Waller is appointed General Manager Hahnemuhle USA with nearly 25 years of experience in Hahnemuhle (former Schleicher & Schuell Group). He drove the UK team successfully in Digital FineArt, Artist Papers and Filtration/Life Science. Most notably, he prepared UK Region for Brexit and established B2B and B2C Web-Shop and Direct Sales capabilities during the last years. These three appointments complete important steps in Hahnemuhles Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy. With this newly structured organisation our tradition rich company will drive the development of new products and services to new levels in a challenging business and competitive environment. Hahnemuhle offers everyone the opportunity to work internationally and implement personal career and succession plans, concludes Jan Wolfle, President and CEO Hahnemuhle-Group. A shopper waring a proactive mask as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus selects fruit at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. The majority of healthy Americans, including students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines released Friday, Feb. 25. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined a new set of measures for communities where COVID-19 is easing its grip, with less of a focus on positive test results and more on whats happening at hospitals. Keith Lewis disposes of used syringes at a needle exchange run by Camden Area Health Education Center in Camden, N.J., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Four companies involved in the opioid industry are finalizing settlements over the addiction crisis in the U.S. in deals that could total $26 billion over 18 years. At some point, the US Supreme Court will have to consider whether Christian college professors are legally ministers, and who decides that, and how, Justice Samuel Alito said in a statement on Monday. But the case of a former social work professor suing Gordon College for denying her promotion is not quite right for those argumentsat least for now. The court turned down Gordons appeal to have Margaret DeWeese-Boyds lawsuit dismissed based on the ministerial exception, which says that clergy are not protected by employment law, because that would be excessive government interference into religious matters. Alito, however, released a statement saying there are still concerns about how ministers are being defined legally. The preliminary posture of the litigation would complicate our review, Alito wrote. But in an appropriate future case, this Court may be required to resolve this important question. The statement was joined by three other conservative justicesClarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrettsignaling an interest in appeals from Gordon or other Christian colleges seeking exemption from antidiscrimination legislation. For now, however, DeWeese-Boyds lawsuit against Gordon College can go forward in state court. She claims the school administration denied her promotion in 2017, against the recommendation of her department and the full faculty, because she critiqued the schools stance on LGBT issues. Gordon argues it denied her promotion because she hadnt done enough scholarship. The school also sought to have the case dismissed because it considers DeWeese-Boyd a minister. Gordon revised its faculty handbook in 2016 to say that all professors are ministers. Professors have long been required to integrate faith into their teaching, showing students how Christian commitments relate to their academic disciplines. D. Michael Lindsay, the former Gordon president who is also on CTs board of directors, testified before a Massachusetts court that there are no non-sacred disciplines at Gordon. He said for faculty, joining Gordon should be like joining a religious order. Becket vice president Eric Baxter, told CT the ministerial exception should apply to anyone whose work has a religious function, even if theyre not ordained and not considered a minister in any church. The phrase ministerial exception is perhaps unfortunate, he said. The ministerial exception does not require you to be a minister. It applies to anyone doing an important religious function. I think maybe a better term would have been important religious function. The state supreme court, however, found that the school was collapsing the difference between Christians and Christian ministers. While it may be true that Gordon employs Christians, and Christians have an undeniable call to minister to others, Justice Scott Kafker wrote, this line of argument appears to oversimplify the Supreme Court test, suggesting that all Christians teaching at all Christian schools and colleges are necessarily ministers. The Massachusetts judge also worried that the college was asking for an expansion of the ministerial exception to the point of eclipsing and elimination of civil law protection against discrimination. The president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, representing DeWeese-Boyd before the Supreme Court, agreed. The ministerial exception was meant to ensure that houses of worship could freely choose their clergy, Rachel Laser told Courthouse News Service. It was never intended to be a free pass for any religious employer to discriminate against its entire workforce and sidestep civil-rights laws. John Bursch, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, which also represents Gordon, said that kind of argument seems to deny that Gordon is a Christian college, entitled to First Amendment protections. Gordons professors are key to teaching the Christian faith to students, who choose to attend Gordon because they want to integrate their faith and learning, he said. And the First Amendment is clear: The government has no business telling a faith-based college how to exercise its faith. Alito, similarly, said, I have doubts about the state courts understanding of religious education. In Massachusetts, Gordon will still be allowed to argue that DeWeese-Boyd was, in fact, legally a minister. The two sides may, however, focus more on the specific details of the denied promotion, the metrics for measuring scholarship, and Gordons established standards for promoting professors. If DeWeese-Boyd wins the lawsuit, Gordon could also appeal the case to the Supreme Court again. Meanwhile, if any other Christian schools want to make the case that Christian college professors are ministers, there are four Supreme Court justices who would like to hear about it. Alabama megachurch votes to leave The United Methodist Church A megachurch in Alabama has voted to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church several months before the denomination will hold a legislative meeting that might lead to a schism over theological differences. Frazer United Methodist Church, a congregation of about 4,000 members in Montgomery, voted on Jan. 30 to disaffiliate from the mainline Protestant denomination. Their decision to depart the UMC will be voted on in June at a scheduled session of The UMC Alabama-West Florida Conference, which is the regional body that Frazer Church belongs to. It is not without sadness that we contemplate departing from our denominational ties with the UMC. The Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference of the UMC has been our home for many years, and we honor the connection we have shared and the work we have accomplished together, said Frazer Church in an emailed statement to The Christian Post from its Director of Communications Kym Klass. The church said in its statement to CP that the congregation intends to join the Free Methodist Church: "[W]e believe that the Free Methodist Church is a better fit for our present identity and future fruitfulness. It further explained that they look forward to this new chapter in our history once this decision is ratified by the Annual Conference in June. We pray for continued blessings on our Bishop, our Conference, and all UMC churches around the world, knowing that Gods Kingdom transcends all denominational lines, they added. In response to the church's decision, the Alabama-West Florida Conference expressed its praise for Frazer Church in an emailed statement to CP. Frazer Church is a remarkable witness for Jesus Christ. For many years they have been a leader in the United Methodist Church and in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, stated the conference. While we are saddened that they are exploring denominational options, it is our strong desire and prayer that each church and clergyperson honor what God is genuinely calling them to do. The conference added that it will follow all guidelines outlined in our United Methodist Book of Discipline regarding the June process of confirming the disaffiliation. We mourn their potential departure, yet we know that Kingdom work knows no denominational bounds, and we pray they continue to make positive changes in their corner of the world, the conference added. Frazer Churchs decision to disaffiliate from the UMC comes as the denomination prepares to hold its General Assembly meeting Aug. 29 Sept. 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delegates at the UMC General Assembly will consider measures aimed at ending its decadeslong debate over whether to consider homosexuality a sin and to ban the blessing of same-sex unions. Many believe that the churchwide legislative meeting will result in a splitting of the UMC along theological lines, with large numbers of traditionalists possibly leaving to form their own denomination while most progressives will remain to change the stance of the UMC on LGBT issues. Islamic terrorists kill 3 Christians, destroy church in Nigeria Suspected terrorists from the Islamic State West Africa Province have killed three Christians and destroyed a church in an attack in a village in northeast Nigerias Chibok area, according to reports. The attack took place in the predominantly Christian village of Kautikari in Borno state on Friday evening in which three Christians were killed and the building of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria was destroyed, Morning Star News reported Sunday, citing area residents. Nigerian newspaper the Daily Post identified the deceased as Bulama Wadir, a traditional rulers son, and two internally displaced persons. The Kautikari community, which lives on the fringes of Sambisa forest, a base of ISWAP terrorists, was also attacked in mid-January, when 24 Christian women and children were captured and taken into captivity, with 20 of them still held captive. The four others managed to escape in late January. A worship auditorium of the local Church of the Brethren in Nigeria was also damaged in the January attack. Kautikari village is near Chibok, where over 200 girls were kidnapped from a school in 2014. Chibok leaders were quoted as saying that their communities have been attacked more than 72 times since the 2014 kidnappings. After eight years in which 57 girls escaped on their own and others were released, 110 of the girls remain in captivity, according to the Chibok Area Development Association. In an earlier interview with The Christian Post, Emeka Umeagbalai of the Anambra-based International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law said kidnappings of Christians happen for various reasons. Boko Haram, ISWAP and radicalized members of the Fulani herding communities are motivated by money, while others are inspired by Islamic radicalism. Security analysts say kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative industry in Nigeria as weapons are becoming available to militants in Nigeria thanks to war-torn Libya. In Nigerias northeast, Boko Haram and ISWAP have killed thousands and displaced millions. The U.S.-based persecution watchdog group International Christian Concern warns that the Nigerian government continues to deny any religious motivation behind the attacks and has recently convinced the U.S. Department of State to do the same. Many have raised concerns about what they perceive as the governments inaction in holding terrorists accountable for the rising number of murders and kidnappings. However, last November, the Biden administration removed Nigeria from the U.S. State Departments list of countries of particular concern, a designation reserved for the countries that tolerate or engage in some of the world's worst violations of religious freedom. Nigeria was added to the CPC list in December 2020 during the final months of the Trump administration. ICC identified the African country as one of its 2021 Persecutors of the Year. Nigeria is one of the deadliest places on Earth for Christians, as 50,000 to 70,000 have been killed since 2000, the ICC Persecutor of the Year report states. According to Open Doors USAs 2022 World Watch List report, at least 4,650 Christians were killed between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021, up from 3,530 the previous reporting year, and more than 2,500 Christians were kidnapped, up from 990 the previous reporting year. Pastor survives after he's stabbed 7 times in 'devastating' random attack outside home Members of Second Baptist Church in Santa Ana, California, are thanking God for their pastor being alive after he was stabbed seven times in a random attack outside his home that left him with significant injuries, including two punctured lungs. Kelita Hull-Gardner, executive director of operations for the church, explained in a statement posted on the churchs Facebook page that her pastor, the Rev. Ivan S. Pitts, was attacked at about 8 a.m. Thursday outside his home in Long Beach by a man he did not know. The doctors are claiming him to be very lucky, but we know luck has nothing to do with his survival, Gardner said in her statement. Pastor Ivan Pitts was randomly approached by a man in his driveway. The man commenced to stab the pastor 7 times; in his left eye, back and shoulder/neck. Both lungs were punctured, bones in his eye socket and shoulder were broken, she explained. Gardner further explained to ABC7 in an interview that the pastors attacker, who is now in police custody, approached the pastor and asked him if he could ask a question and when he acknowledged him, he stabbed him seven times. Twice in the eye, four times in the back and once in the neck, shoulder area. Pastor Pitts, who is a married father of four, went on to get surgery to repair three cuts to his left eyelid and a tendon. He was recovering in great spirits, according to a Sunday update from the church in which he declared I am so fortunate. Pastor Ralph Williamson of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine told ABC 7 that he and Pitts are members of a coalition of pastors who were set to meet at 9 a.m. Thursday. The attack, he said, has devastated the community. "We received a long text message stating what had happened, that Pastor Pitts has been attacked in his own driveway following his return home and he was stabbed several times. It devastated us," said Williamson. Gardner told ABC 7 that her pastor ran to a nearby construction site to get help after he was attacked, and workers got a picture of the man's license plate. The suspects car was later found by Huntington Beach police and he was arrested. Authorities intend to charge the suspect with attempted murder, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and felony vandalism. Williamson explained that he has been communicating with the pastor frequently via text. He noted that despite the attack, the pastor is "going to be alright." Gardner said the pastors family is supporting him in the hospital and urged the church community to limit calls and texts to the family. If you desire, the family has asked that cards and flowers be sent to the church, Gardner said. Theyve requested to please give them space to process and heal by avoiding calls and texts at this time. Pro-lifers praise Senate's defeat of bill to codify abortion rights into federal law As a bill that would have codified the right to abortion into federal law failed to advance in the U.S. Senate Monday, pro-life advocates contend that Senate Democrats who supported the bill are radically out of touch with the American people. The Senate failed to garner the necessary votes to begin debate on the Womens Health Protection Act, described as a bill to protect a persons ability to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to protect a health care providers ability to provide abortion services. The Senate came up far short of the 60 votes required to invoke cloture and begin debate on the legislation, with 48 senators voting in favor of cloture and 46 senators voting against it. All Senate Republicans that voted, including pro-choice Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted against invoking cloture. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., was the only Senate Democrat to join Republicans in opposing the bill. The Womens Health Protection Act passed the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives last year, with all Republicans and one Democrat opposing the measure. The bill was supported by the White House, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Pro-life groups issued statements Monday evening, reiterating their concerns about the legislation and the Democrats near-unanimous support for it. Meanwhile, pro-abortion organizations have condemned the Senates failure to advance the bill. We thank all our pro-life allies in the Senate who spoke out about the extremism of this bill and helped defeat it, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the grassroots lobbying organization Susan B. Anthony List. Biden, Pelosi, and Schumers Abortion on Demand Until Birth Act would enshrine an unlimited abortion right in federal law and block common ground pro-life laws around the country. In calling for this bill to be passed, Chuck Schumer referred to abortion as sacred and a fundamental right proving that pro-abortion Democrats could not be more radically out of touch with the American people, she added. Those who sided with the abortion lobby to trample the will of the people will face political consequences. Carol Tobias, the president of National Right to Life, described the Womens Health Protection Act as evidence of the abortion zealotry of the Democratic Party. This legislation shows just how rigid and uncompromising the Democratic Party has become on abortion, she said. This legislation would have made sweeping changes, including expanding taxpayer funding of abortion, and eliminating requirements that a woman be given information about the development of her unborn child so she can make an informed decision. This legislation would quash nearly all existing protective state laws, warned Jennifer Popik, NRLCs director of Federal Legislation. With this bill, elective abortion would have become the procedure that must always be facilitated never delayed, never impeded to the slightest degree. Leaders of pro-abortion advocacy organizations vowed to keep fighting to pass the legislation. Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, tweeted Monday asserting that Mondays outcome was disappointing. But the progress we made along the way is still a big step towards protecting abortion access, Johnson tweeted. The outcome of today's vote on WHPA was disappointing, but the progress we made along the way is still a big step towards protecting abortion access. We are grateful for all the organizers, volunteers, supporters, & elected officials who fought for WHPA! We wont stop fighting. Alexis McGill Johnson (@alexismcgill) February 28, 2022 We are grateful for all the organizers, volunteers, supporters, & elected officials who fought for WHPA! We wont stop fighting. NARAL, a pro-abortion advocacy group, blamed Senate Republicans for blocking the bills advancement. NARAL contends that the legislation would safeguard the legal right to abortion. Reproductive freedom is at risk but they failed to protect us, NARAL tweeted. Were holding the Republicans who voted against WHPA accountable in 2022. BREAKING: Senate Republicans blocked advancement on the Womens Health Protection Act, which would safeguard the legal right to abortion. Reproductive freedom is at riskbut they failed to protect us. Were holding the Republicans who voted against WHPA accountable in 2022. NARAL (@NARAL) February 28, 2022 The effort to pass the Womens Health Protection Act, which began nearly three years ago in the 116th U.S. Congress, heated up last fall after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a Texas law banning abortions after six weeks gestation to go into effect. Additionally, concerns that the Supreme Court will reverse or weaken the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, played a role in the push to codify abortion into federal law. The Supreme Court is scheduled to decide on the constitutionality of a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks gestation. Polling indicates that while most Americans oppose the overturning of Roe, most Americans support limiting abortions after 15 weeks gestation. A poll conducted late last year and sponsored by Harvard Universitys Center for American Political Studies found that 54% of Americans oppose overturning Roe, while 56% of respondents expressed support for limiting abortions to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. Jesus loves little children and little churches While the world is quick to celebrate the strong and mighty, the large and powerful the Lord has a special place in His heart for the small, the weak, the overlooked, and the ones society barely notices. This is especially true in the case of little children and little churches. Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:14). On one occasion, Jesus took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in His arms, Jesus said to them, Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me (Mark 9:36-37). No one loves little children more than Jesus; not even their parents. The lyrics of a popular childrens song convey Gods attitude: Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world, Red and yellow, black and white, They are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. It is no wonder Jesus gave this warning: If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea (Matthew 18:6). Jesus told His disciples: See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in Heaven always see the face of my Father in Heaven (Matthew 18:10). While the world tends to look right past little children and little churches, Jesus loves them dearly. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him (1 Cor. 1:27-28). Many congregations are relatively small, and even more churches have garnered this label over the past two years of COVID-related social distancing and an overall decrease in church attendance. And yet the Holy Spirit is not limited in accomplishing His powerful work in churches that are small in number, yet strong in faith and obedience. Chapters 2 and 3 in the book of Revelation contain seven letters from Jesus to seven congregations in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). In five of those letters, Christ identified particular problems in the congregations, while only two of the letters contained no such corrections. One of those two churches was the church in Philadelphia, which was a small congregation of believers. You see, the size of a church is not what determines the Lords approval or displeasure. Instead, Jesus is pleased by the faith, love, sacrificial service, spiritual growth, persistence, faithfulness to Scripture, obedience, and graciousness in the lives of the Christians in the church. This has always been Gods measuring stick for those who belong to "the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Jesus loves little children and little churches, and believers have been given a high calling. We are not called to impress the world or to achieve some worldly measure of success. Instead, we are called to humbly serve the King who gave His life on the cross for our eternal salvation. In his book, Strategically Small Church, Brandon OBrien writes, Instead of illustrating the dominant narrative of success, the Bible testifies to the narrative most pastors experience the narrative of obscurity. Sometimes faithfulness to Gods work results in the sudden shrinking of a group of followers. People left Jesus in droves when His teaching struck too near to the bone. OBrien suggests that we adjust our mental image of the size and success of the early Church. The three thousand that responded to Peters message were dispersed over an area twice the size of Texas and separated by the Mediterranean Sea. Pentecost may have been the first mass revival in history, but it did not create the first mega-church. Instead, Acts 2 records the birth of many small even micro congregations. It should not surprise us then today that the vast majority of Christian congregations have fewer than 100 people in attendance. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research reports that the median church in the U.S. has 75 regular participants in worship on Sunday mornings. Thankfully, Jesus loves churches of all sizes and people of all ages. During the three years of Christs earthly ministry, He chose to spend much of His time teaching, discipling, and mentoring those in His small inner circle of followers. And the impact of Christ's intentional and relational ministry has been transforming lives for 2000 years wherever believers have implemented the Lord's life-changing model of discipleship. The Holy Spirit empowers Christians who trust, love, and obey Jesus, regardless of the size of their family or the number of people in their congregation. Jesus teaches us how to effectively raise children and how to effectively make disciples. Our focus should always be on individual people rather than on numbers. If and when the Lord chooses to increase the number of people in a family or in a congregation, our task remains the same. God wants us to become mature disciples, and to assist others in becoming spiritually mature as well. The Holy Spirit helps believers grow in the grace, love, and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The fact that Jesus loves little children and little churches so much is a huge motivator to press on toward the goal to win the prize (Philippians 3:14). Believers are free to focus on Christ rather than on numbers. Our goal is to please our King and Savior, and one day to hear these words: Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your masters happiness (Matthew 25:23). So dont be surprised when the world continues to ignore the very things that cause angels to rejoice in Heaven! (Luke 15:7,10). The future of Russia and Ukraine according to the Bible The invasion of the Ukraine by Russia has re-awakened fears of the communist Northern giant that havent been felt for a very long time. And fear is something all bullies, including Russia, prize even when everything else around them is failing. While living in Russia, journalist David Satter tells of waiting in a potato line when a fight broke out among those on the street. These lines are a disgrace. How can we live like this? asked one man who was promptly answered by an old woman with, Never mind the whole world is afraid of us. This being their mindset, military action by Vladimir Putin should really surprise no one. When you have a disgraced country with a worldview proven to be a failure, an economy in shambles, a capital that mirrors Gotham City, utter lawlessness that makes the recent U.S. crime wave look tame by comparison, allies who resemble serial killers, and Olympic athletes who cant compete without doping up, carrying out war is the most effective way for him to consolidate support for his deteriorating regime. Looking at the situation, political commentators are recalling the 2014 annexation of Crimea that caused the Crimea effect, in which, according to Nikolai Petrov of Moscows Higher School of Economics, Russians forgot their worries and felt everything was allowed and anything was possible. Deflection, a favorite tactic of political failures, works anywhere naive populations exist (just look at our own country). So, in a sense, its a win-win for Putin who buttresses his own failing approval numbers while causing unreasonable fear everywhere else. That seems especially true in America where the panic-porn media trumpets the potential for nuclear clashes and the stock market sells off in sheer terror, never mind the fact that, before the invasion, Ukraine is a country to which 99% of Americans have never given a moments thought. While Im thankful every day God saved me and privileges me with knowing His truth, its times like these when Im especially grateful to rest in His sovereign control over everything and know Hes never taken by surprise. And that includes actions by nations like Russia who have their fate spelled out clearly in Scripture. Gods plan for the nations When it comes to all the nations that have or will ever exist, there are basically two eschatological (End Times) buckets: (1) Israel, a nation divinely brought into existence and chosen by God to deliver the Messiah (the human Word) and the Bible (the written Word) to the world, and (2) Gentile Nations: non-Jews both beloved (the Church) and hated, used by God for His purposes. When it comes to nations leaders, whether its Alexander the Great or Vladimir Putin, their actions are ultimately controlled by God, who treats their heart, like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes (Prov. 21:1). God is, ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings (Dan. 4:32, 2:21). Because humanity is estranged from God and from one another, the end result is constant turmoil and the rising and falling of nations. The longer humanity attempts to rule the Earth apart from God, the more degenerated that rule becomes. This being true, the big picture Scripture paints for the nations is consistent worldwide turmoil, unrest, wars/threats of wars (Matt. 24:6-8) that eventually culminates first in the regathering of the nation of Israel in the End Times (Is. 11:11-2, Is. 66:7-8, Jer. 16:1415, Ez. 36:2228, 37:1-10) and then the establishment of a false peace by a one-world government and its appointed leader (Rev. 6:1-2). After that, the Bible says those on the Earth will experience a world war like no other, followed by the return of Christ and the establishment of His rule on Earth (Rev. 19:11-20, 20:4-6). And what part does Russia play in all this? Gods plan for Russia A telltale sign of a nation ruled by Satan is its hatred for Israel and the people of God. You probably wont be surprised to find that Russia is brutal to everyone in general, including its own people. Russians file more complaints with the European Court of Human Rights than the citizens of any of the 46 countries that make up the Council of Europe, 13,645 complaints in 2020 alone (by contrast, the figure for the U.K. was 124). But its anti-Semitic worldview makes it especially difficult for Jews. In the 1800s, Russian Jews were murdered or forced to immigrate if they didnt join the Russian church. Fast forward to the early 1960s and we find a Times magazine article stating, The major center of persecution of Jews nowadays is the Soviet Union. In a land openly dedicated to atheism, the 3,000,000 Jews of Russia suffer more than any other faith because they are attacked both for their religion and as a despised national minority. But Psalm 121:4 says, Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep, and so we find a very fitting end to Russia spelled out in Scripture. The prophetic Word of God states in multiple places how God will pull Russia into its doom, with the most complete description being found in Ezekiel 38-39. In those chapters, Russia is referred to as Gog and Magog. Interestingly, Magog is identified by Josephus as the land of the Scythians, the region north and northeast of the Black Sea and east of the Caspian Sea now occupied by three countries: Russia,Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. The Great Wall of China was originally called The Wall of Magog by the Arabic countries in reference to it protecting the Chinese from invading Russians. At some point in the future, God says He will, put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out on that day when My people Israel are living securely you will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog (Ez. 38:4, 14-16). Russia is also referred to as a people from the north multiple times elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Dan. 11:40-41) so its no surprise that when you look at a map and draw a line north from Israel, you go squarely into Ukraine and then Russia. Theologian C. I. Scofield was ridiculed in the early 1900s for saying in his study Bible that there would be a future Russian invasion of Israel, who didnt exist at the time, but he said, I dont understand it, and I cant explain it, but the Bible says it, and therefore I believe it. Scripture is crystal clear in its prediction of Russias demise, so while today they may confidently flex their military muscle and claim Ukraine, the reality is they are squarely carrying out Gods will and in the crosshairs of His trap from which they one day wont escape. So, knowing God is in control and has told us in advance what will happen, dont be afraid of the actions of Russia or any nation, and do pray for the people of Ukraine. Never forget our God is sovereign over everything: He makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away (Job 12:23); The LORD of hosts has sworn saying, 'surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand,' (Is. 14:24). Black Americans more certain than any other racial group that theyre going to Heaven: study An increasing number of Christians say faith in God is not required to go to Heaven, and Christianity is not the only way to get there. Now, a new study has revealed that a majority of Americans need to be certain theyll make it to Heaven, and African Americans are more certain than any other racial group that they will be with God in Heaven in the afterlife. African Americans are also more likely to be certain theyre going to Heaven if they hold Christian beliefs, according to the findings of a recently published Evangelism Explosion Study of Americans Openness to Talking about Faith conducted by Lifeway Research from Dec. 8-17, 2021. Some 1,002 Americans from a national pre-recruited panel were surveyed for the report. The Bible assures Christians in Scriptures like John 3:16 "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. According to the study, however, only 37% of Americans are sure they will be with God in Heaven, while 23% hope they get to Heaven. Another 17% say no one can really know that they are going to Heaven. Still, some 55% of Americans, in general, note in the survey that it's very important to have the certainty they will go Heaven or have eternal life. In the survey, 49% of African Americans chose the response I am sure I will be with God in Heaven when asked about their place in the afterlife" compared to just 37% of white respondents. Only 28% of Hispanics selected that response. Some 63% of Americans who are sure they will be with God in Heaven hold Christian beliefs, while 21% who do not hold Christian beliefs say they are sure they will go to Heaven. When it comes to the certainty that theyll make it to Heaven, more women, 44%, selected I am sure I will be with God in Heaven compared to 30% of males. Older American adults were also more certain about their place in Heaven than younger ones. While women and older adults were more likely than men and younger adults to say they deserve to go to Heaven because of their trust in Jesus Christ alone, a significant share also said they should be allowed into Heaven just because they are a good person. Respondents from the Northeast were found to be more likely to hold this view than those in the Midwest or South. The study also showed that while a majority of Americans were open to talking with a friend or a stranger about God, six out of 10 say that many of their friends who claim to be Christians rarely talk about their faith. Now, perhaps more than ever, people are open to conversations about faith, yet few Christians actually take the opportunity to engage in personal evangelism, John B. Sorensen, president and CEO of Evangelism Explosion International, said in a statement published by Lifeway Research. Our mission at EE is to equip Christians to have the confidence to share the Gospel naturally, lovingly, and intentionally with family, friends, and yes, even strangers. We imagine a world where every believer is a witness for Christ to His glory. It really isnt about religious liberty, people not wanting to hear, or religion being off-limits, Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, added. The reason conversations are not happening about the Christian faith is that Christians are not bringing it up. While many Christians still maintain that their faith in Jesus alone will take them to Heaven, a recent survey from Probe Ministries, a nonprofit that seeks to help the Church in renewing the minds of believers with a Christian worldview, showed that nearly 70% of born-again Christians disagree with the biblical position that Jesus is the only way to God. And according to Steve Cable, senior vice president of Probe Ministries, that could contribute to Christians not sharing their faith in a society where Christianity is losing its cultural dominance on faith in America. If you think that there are multiple ways to Heaven, why would you want to go out of your way to convert someone to your religion? Cable asked. Of course, you could be sharing with an unaffiliated person who needs to choose a valid religion. The Probe Ministries survey found that among the top reasons given by born-again Christians for not telling others about their faith is the acceptance of pluralism. When asked why they dont share their beliefs with others, born-again respondents chose, They can get to Heaven through their different religious belief, We shouldnt impose our ideas on others and The Bible tells us not to judge others as their top three responses, respectively. At first glance, this may seem surprising. But in a culture where pluralism is a dominant part of all religious groups, it begins to make sense. And the pluralistic reasons were dominant, attracting around two-thirds of the population across all religious groupings, Cable said. He stated that pastors and churches need to focus on teaching the exclusivity of Jesus as the only way to Heaven in their congregations in order to push back against the tide of pluralism. On the most common reasons (which indicate a belief that other people dont really need to know about salvation through faith in Jesus), we need to make the exclusive role of Jesus Christ in any hope of salvation a recurring and prominent theme in our teaching, he said. This is not a topic to tiptoe gingerly around. Rather, we need to boldly proclaim, There is salvation in no other name under Heaven other than the name of Jesus Christ. God would not have planned from before the beginning of time to sacrifice Himself on the cross for our salvation if there were any other means to reconcile sinful men and women to Himself. RZIM says it 'does not agree' with entire explosive Guidepost report, but vows to 'learn' from mistakes The board of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries reacted to a report detailing how leaders turned a blind eye to Zacharias misdeeds for years and spent nearly $1 million to defend the late apologist against allegations of sexual misconduct, saying that while it does not agree with everything in it, it hopes to nevertheless repent and learn from our mistakes. On Wednesday, the board of RZIM released a statement in tandem with a report from Guidepost Solutions highlighting Zacharias moral failures as well as oversights by the organization's board and ministry leadership. Although we are releasing this report, we do not agree with everything in it, the board of directors said. We believe there are inaccurate accounts or pieces of information that were either overlooked or omitted by Guidepost and we disagree with some characterizations therein. Regardless, we believe this report provides an important assessment of our organization's actions to investigate Zacharias and the steps we sadly failed to take. The board said it has endeavored to honor the biblical exhortation to be quick to hear, slow to speak even when some narratives about RZIM differ from our experience. Our focus has been instead to repent and learn from our mistakes, it added. We remain committed to supporting ministries that present the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those with deep questions in challenging settings around the world. RZIM had engaged Guidepost in February 2021 to independently evaluate RZIMs structures, culture, policies, processes, finances, and practices, including the handling of any former abuse allegations against Zacharias, who died in 2020 after battling cancer. The report, released seven months after the board of RZIM received it, found that the organization used nearly $1 million of ministry funds to pay for Zacharias legal bills after he was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017, thus ensuring that Zacharias himself did not pay a single penny, even though RZIM was not a party to the legal action. The board had previously publicly stated that no ministry funds were used in connection with his legal action. Guidepost also found that leaders at RZIM had been aware of allegations of inappropriate behavior by Zacharias since at least 2008 when he was seen in Singapore holding the hand of a young woman who was not his wife. When confronted about the incident, Zacharias claimed he required assistance to walk across the street due to ongoing back pain. The report also detailed how, in 2011, an RZIM board member traveled to Singapore at Zacharias request, as the apologist was concerned because he had been seen leaving a massage therapist office and there was an inference that he had done something inappropriate. Zacharias told the board member that he had visited the massage studio because it was essential for his back issues, and then separately added that he had never viewed pornography (which seemed odd to the board member), the report states. Though Zacharias family raised concerns about the ministry leader traveling with a female massage therapist, Zacharias daughter and former CEO Sarah Davis told Guidepost they did not suspect that there was anything untoward about the relationship between Zacharias and the massage therapist; rather, they were concerned about the appearance of the relationship and its potential impact on the ministry. In the fall of 2020, months after Zacharias death, numerous allegations surfaced against the apologist accusing him of sexual misconduct at spas that he had co-owned in the United States. A February 2021 report from Miller & Martin found the ministry leader had engaged in sexting, unwanted touching, spiritual abuse, and rape during his life. He also was accused of having an illicit online relationship with Canadian Lori Thompson, allegedly soliciting sexually explicit photos from her and engaging in sex over the phone. Zacharias later sued Thompson and her husband before paying a $250,000 settlement, authorized by the RZIM executive committee, according to the Guidepost report. The committee then gave the apologist a $400,000 bonus for the specific purpose of paying back the $250,000 loan made by RZIM to Zacharias for settling the litigation he started against the Thompsons. Overwhelmingly, Guidepost found that RZIM leaders and board members showed Zacharias near-complete loyalty even in the face of his inconsistent and incomplete explanations, evidence undercutting those explanations, and an ever-evolving storyline that played out in the Christian and mainstream media. Since the release of the Miller & Martin report, Guidepost said many current and former RZIM employees had come forward to speak with them and claimed to have had suspicions and unanswered questions dating back to 2017. However, each of these individuals also told us that somehow, in spite of their concerns and questions at the time, they were satisfied enough with the explanations provided by Zacharias to stay at the ministry, the report said. We are unaware of anyone who left RZIM in 2017 or 2018 because they did not get answers to questions or did not believe the statements by Zacharias regarding his relationship with the Thompsons. As one RZIM employee told us, We were all duped. Still, the report stressed that many RZIM leaders, employees, and the board of directors chose not to press for further investigation of Zacharias interactions with Thompson, despite clear indications that Zacharias had not provided a truthful account of those interactions. Ultimately, we believe that RZIMs leadership and cultural weaknesses stem from the devotion and loyalty to Zacharias shown by the ministrys leaders, directors, employees, and followers, it said. Guidepost offered a series of recommendations in light of its findings, including advising the organization to periodically communicate and train staff about sexual harassment, abuse, and misconduct, to demonstrate the ministrys commitment to prevent this improper and illegal behavior. It also recommended changes to RZIM leadership, expressing concern about RZIMs ability to move forward under its current leadership and board. Many of the current leaders and directors of RZIM are the same individuals who mishandled the ministrys response to allegations about Zacharias in the past, it said. It will be difficult for the current RZIM leaders and the board to rebuild trust with the ministrys employees and members and to reestablish their credibility as leaders, because of their previous failings. In its statement, the board of RZIM said the past 18 months have brought to light painful and sinful realities which have impacted so many lives. We at RZIM sincerely apologize for the enormous pain caused by Ravi Zacharias' sin and our failure to uncover it sooner. Regretfully, we trusted and defended a man of whose integrity we were firmly convinced, it said. In the fallout from the scandal, the global apologetics ministry downsized and restructured into a grant-making organization. Davis, who has since left RZIM and been replaced by Garth Morrison, announced in March 2021 that RZIM intended to change its name and remove all content featuring her father from the organizations website. In May, Davis apologized for her initial reaction to her fathers sexual misconduct allegations. She said she erred by ignoring allegations against her father and defending his innocence. I earnestly wanted the truth, but I recognize that the steps I took didnt always show this, she shared. I should have immediately called for an independent investigation in 2017, but I trusted my father fully, and I carried his narrative, both in 2017 and then initially in 2020, when we were first made aware of those allegations. In both of these, I know that I caused pain. I did not serve well, and I did not love well. And for this, Im deeply sorry. Pastors Robert Morris offers money-back guarantee if congregants tithe for a year and nothing happens Willow Creek Community Church Senior Pastor David Dummitt has offered his congregants a money-back guarantee if they tithe 10% of their income for a year and nothing happens. He made the offer Sunday after guest preacher Pastor Robert Morris revealed he's been offering the same guarantee to his nearly 40,000-member Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, for 22 years without a claim. Morris, who preached at Willow Creek on Sunday on The Principle of First as part of the suburban Chicago churchs sermon series More Than Money, was seeking to help boost falling revenues that the church has been experiencing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Roys Report. I dont want to exaggerate, but Im sure thousands and thousands of people, and Im sure its multiplied, that have told me some way over the years through email, letters, whatever, this changed my life, Morris noted in a YouTube Clip from his message on tithing the first 10% of one's income. When I started giving the first 10% to God it changed everything. And heres what Id like to do. Id like to just challenge you. Ive done this with our church. Ive told our church on multiple occasions, Ive said to them, if youll try it for one year, if you are not fully satisfied, at the end of that year, Ill give you your money back. With 22 years in the church, no ones ever asked for their money back, he said before suggesting to Dummitt that he should also offer the money-back guarantee. You know what? Im so confident, Ill say it here. You tithe for one year, if youre not fully satisfied, Dave will give you your money back, he said with a chuckle. In the YouTube clip posted by The Roys Report, Dummitt is then shown accepting the challenge. Ill just go ahead and say yes. Just like the Lord said, test me in this. I think Ill go ahead and be bold and say if you do this for the year and you are not fully satisfied, well give the money back. I like that challenge, he said. The Christian Post reached out to Willow Creek about the challenge on Thursday and while Dummitt was not immediately available for an interview, Liz Schauer, Willow Creeks marketing and communications director, noted in an email on Friday morning that: Our team is still exploring the potential program. The portion of Morris sermon about the money-back guarantee also appears to have been edited from the full sermon posted by Willow Creek Church. A majority of Evangelicals say tithing is a biblical commandment, but a recent study shows that only an estimated 13% engage in the practice, and half give less than 1% of their income annually. The study, "The Generosity Factor: Evangelicals and Giving," from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts, a brand communication agency, shows that the average Evangelical gave $1,923 to the church and $622 to charity over the past 12 months, for a total of $2,545 in giving. At the median mark, however, Evangelicals only gave $340 to the church and $50 to charity, for a total of $390. The study found that people who were more engaged with their church and faith tended to give more to their church, and vice versa. The higher the household income of the Evangelical, the more they were also found to give. Among Evangelicals with a household income below $30,000 annually, the median total giving was found to be $300. This doubled to $600 when people earned $30,000 to $60,000. It more than doubled to $1,400 when the income was $60,000 to $100,000. At six figures, median giving registered at $2,200. Actress developed blood disorder 'out of nowhere' while filming supernatural horror The Conjuring Actress Joey King has opened up about her time on the set of the horror film The Conjuring, revealing the physical condition she developed out of nowhere. King played little girl tormented by demons in the 2013 film when she was 12. But in a recent interview on The Drew Barrymore Show, she admitted that the things she experienced made her shudder. The actress said she suddenly developed an unexpected blood disorder while playing the character Christine Perron. It was pretty intense. Some weird stuff happened on the set, along with the movie being scary, she revealed. Its true, I developed this bizarre, rare, out-of-nowhere blood disorder, and basically, my body, like all the red platelets from my body were like drained. They were just gone. The condition was so grave King went to the hospital before each taping to ensure she didnt need a blood transfusion. King had a high risk of internal bleeding. The actress said that every day before work and after work, she had to go to the hospital, get my blood taken. Barrymore became spooked by Kings story when the 22-year-old revealed that the condition suddenly stopped as soon as she was finished filming The Conjuring. Then, all of a sudden, I got home, and Ive never had a problem with my blood since, she commented. Every time I think about it, I just shudder a little bit. In another interview in 2020, King told crass radio host Howard Stern that the bizarre condition was discovered when bruises randomly began appearing on her body during filming. In the [movie], when the mom gets possessed, she gets all these bruises on her, King disclosed, saying that it was during those scenes that she noticed a lot of bruises show up on my body. King, who comes from a mixed Jewish and Christian background, said she realized her experience was nothing but normal. The Bible speaks of demon possession often and warns believers not to partake in darkness. The Conjuring franchise was written by Christian screenwriters Chad and Carey Hills. Although many Christians think scary movies are evil and should be avoided, the writers maintain that their films are to show how faith overcomes evil. For us, its very simple; we love doing true stories of where good conquers evil. Conjuring 2 is a story told through the eyes of believers, whose strongest weapon is their faith in God. Our film allows believers and non-believers to travel their journey with them, and in some ways, maybe affect someone who is on the edge of faith, and somehow give them the strength they need, the couple told The Christian Post in a past interview. They added: For us, other than ones own faith in Jesus, the symbol of the cross radiates that faith for those who hold it, hang it and even tattoo it! Some may have a Bible in their home and think theyre protected. But without studying it and believing, its like just any other book. Same with the cross. One must believe in what it represents. Appeals court rejects Biden admin.'s attempt to unblock vaccine mandate enforcement on Navy SEALs A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has rejected a motion to lift a block on enforcing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for 35 Navy personnel who oppose getting vaccinated against the coronavirus for religious reasons. In a per curiam decision released Monday, the panel denied a motion from the Biden administration to lift a lower court injunction blocking the Department of Defense from enforcing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on the 35 service members seeking religious exemptions. Under the policy, military service members were to have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 28. The court concluded that the 35 plaintiffs, including 26 Navy SEALs, had a valid complaint under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act that deserved to be seriously considered. Plaintiffs allege specific, and far from frivolous, violations of their free exercise rights under both the First Amendment and RFRA. Thus, the nature and strength of Plaintiffs claims weigh in favor of judicial resolution, the decision reads. Plaintiffs also face irreparable harm if judicial review is denied. By pitting their consciences against their livelihoods, the vaccine requirements would crush Plaintiffs free exercise of religion. The panel noted that Navy leadership does not even dispute that its COVID-19 vaccination requirements substantially burden each Plaintiffs free exercise of religion, but the nature of the injury bears emphasis. Plaintiffs have thoughtfully articulated their sincere religious objections to taking the vaccine itself. Accepting the vaccine would directly burden their respective faiths by forcing them to inject an unremovable substance at odds with their most profound convictions, continued the decision. Defendants have not demonstrated paramount interests that justify vaccinating these 35 Plaintiffs against COVID-19 in violation of their religious beliefs. The First Liberty Institute, a legal group representing the Navy service members, released a statement Monday celebrating the panel decision. Our military should be welcoming service members, not forcing them out because of their religious beliefs, said First Liberty Director of Military Affairs Mike Berry in a statement. Its time for our military to honor its constitutional obligations and grant religious accommodations for service members with sincere religious objections to the vaccine. Were grateful the Fifth Circuit denied the Navys motion. Last November, First Liberty Institute filed the lawsuit on behalf of the service members who opposed getting vaccinated against COVID-19 for religious reasons. In January, Judge Reed OConnor of the U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, a George W. Bush appointee, issued a preliminary injunction against the mandate. The Navy provides a religious accommodation process, but by all accounts, it is theater. The Navy has not granted a religious exemption to any vaccine in recent memory. It merely rubber stamps each denial, wrote OConnor earlier this year. The Navy servicemembers in this case seek to vindicate the very freedoms they have sacrificed so much to protect. The COVID-19 pandemic provides the government no license to abrogate those freedoms. There is no COVID-19 exception to the First Amendment. There is no military exclusion from our Constitution. African American author recalls seeing her aborted baby in a divine dream: 'His name is Tyler' An African American author who recounted her own decision to get an abortion as a teenager at last months March for Life has shared how her faith in Christ helped her heal from post-abortive trauma, recounting a dream where God revealed her aborted son. Toni McFadden is one of many who spoke at the 2022 March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 21, expressing regret for the abortion she had as a senior in high school and detailing how she suffered severe hemorrhaging a month after taking a second dose of the abortion pill. McFadden, who now runs the organization Relationships Matter with the aim of educating the youth on the degradation of sex in culture, is the author of the upcoming book Redeemed: My Journey After Abortion. McFadden documents the story of her abortion as a teenager in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and her healing process in detail. The book, scheduled for publication in paperback format on Apr. 11, is currently available in Kindle format on Amazon and as an eBook from Barnes & Noble. Now a married mother of four, McFadden attributes her successful lengthy healing process that followed her abortion to her faith in Christ, which began to solidify when she was in college. If it wasnt for my faith, I dont think I would be healed right now, she told The Christian Post in a recent interview. God showed me not only my sin, but He showed me what He did with my sin by dying on the cross for my sins. While God showed McFadden that she was created for more, He also forced her to take responsibility for her abortion. I think I would still be sitting in shame if not for the Gospel, she suggested. I think I would still be sitting in condemnation if it wasnt for Jesus coming and rescuing my soul and showing me what life was truly supposed to be. So Ive been having a testimony to tell, she said. Changing worldview After rejoicing that she had given her life over to Jesus, McFadden declared: I know that His word the Bible is alive and it has shaped me and it has changed my worldview. It has changed the way I view life from womb to tomb. Before she gave her life to Jesus, McFadden said she didnt have a strong faith but knew things about God. Knowing things about God, she said, is very different than having a relationship with God. I went to church here and there, but it wasnt consistent. And I think Ive learned things about God, which Im thankful for, she recalled. Im thankful that I was exposed to Christianity when I was younger, but I dont think it took root in my life until after I was in college. McFadden became a Christian in 2001 but didnt talk about her abortion until three years after her conversion. I dont even think when I became a Christian, I knew what the term pro-life even meant, she said. I think I knew when I became a believer reading the Bible that abortion was wrong, but I dont think I took a stand until probably 2005 when I started working for the crisis pregnancy center and started going through my healing. During remarks she gave at the Heritage Foundation headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 14, McFadden explained how pressure from her boyfriend and her best friend influenced her to have an abortion when faced with the unplanned pregnancy. When she had a sonogram shortly before the abortion, she asked the nurse to show her the screen, which was faced away from her. The nurse showed her the sonogram. McFadden said she wishes she would have just had somebody else with a different perspective, the perspective of life at the time of her abortion instead of those around her who assured her that this is normal and this is what you have to do. She reiterated that, at the time, she viewed abortion as her only option. She was given abortion pills from an abortion clinic in what she characterized as an area of Allentown with a high minority population. In McFaddens case, the boyfriend broke up with her immediately after her abortion although she cited concerns he would leave her if she did not go through with the procedure as one of the reasons why she terminated her pregnancy. But ultimately, the boyfriend came back to me almost nine years later to apologize to me. The two eventually married and now have four children, three of whom joined them on stage at the March for Life. Her children are 11, 10, 9 and 7 years old. To this day, McFadden still thinks about the baby she aborted. His name is Tyler, she said. I named him when I went through post-abortion counseling, so my husband had not come along yet. This is something [that happened] when I was going through my own healing, and the Lord gave me a dream and showed me that the baby was a boy. Telling her kids about their sibling As demonstrated by their presence on stage with her at the March for Life, three of her four children know McFaddens abortion story. She sat down with each of them separately to tell them what happened because she didnt want them to find out from somewhere else, like Google. That was probably the most difficult conversation, and its an ongoing conversation because theyre still pretty young, she said. We [told] them as much as we thought they could handle. They dont know the procedure I went through, they dont know anything like that. But we understand that its going to be an ongoing conversation. As they mature in life, theyll be able to handle a little bit more depth of our story, she predicted. They understand that they are supposed to have another sibling, and they just know abortion is wrong. And so they question like, Why would you do something like that? Kids dont use euphemisms like adults do, and they dont sugarcoat things. McFadden said it was heartbreaking when one of her children asked: So were supposed to have another sibling? She responded to her child by saying, Yeah, you are. We wish we could go back and change it, but we cant, and this is why mommy goes out and speaks because I dont want any other people to go through this and I want other women and men to know that they can have healing, McFadden recalls telling her child. McFadden expressed gratitude for a God who redeems. He can take the pain and the mistakes of our past and make something absolutely beautiful out of it, she said. McFadden closed the interview by assuring women who have walked the same journey and maybe in a place of shame that healing is possible. She offered pursuing a relationship with Jesus Christ and an eight-week Bible study called Forgiven and Set Free by Linda Cochran as remedies for women experiencing post-abortive trauma. McFadden weighed in on the state of the pro-life movement with the U.S. Supreme Court scheduled to make a ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health. A ruling in favor of the state of Mississippi, which is seeking to uphold a 15-week abortion ban, would weaken the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Im very hopeful that Roe v. Wade is overturned. And that is going to change our nation. I think that the pro-life movement still needs to be the pro-life movement, regardless [of] if Roe v. Wade is overturned or not because we know its going to be brought to the states. But even if the state says ... abortion is illegal, women are still going to face unplanned pregnancies. And the pro-life movement needs to be who we are right now, and that is we are the ones meeting the needs of these women who are going through it right now. They want to eliminate those who look exactly like me Since the March for Life, McFadden has spoken at other pro-life events, including a press conference hosted by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation announcing the relaunch of the Standing with You initiative for women facing unplanned pregnancies. Not only does the abortion industry not care about women, but they want to eliminate those who look exactly like me, McFadden claimed at the event. The act of abortion is literally wiping out the black community, she proclaimed. Yet NARAL and Planned Parenthood want to celebrate Black History Month and pretend they care about black lives while telling blacks and minorities that restrictions on abortion [are] racist and that we need access to abortion to thrive. They are walking right in step with their racist founder, Margaret Sanger. In her interview with CP, McFadden elaborated on why abortion advocacy group NARAL and abortion giant Planned Parenthoods recognition of Black History Month ring hollow as long as they continue to promote abortion and assert that restrictions on abortion are racist. Its an absolute lie. What theyre saying is a lie, she argued. Black Americans make up 12-13% of the population, yet theyre putting all of their abortion facilities, over 80% of them, in our neighborhoods. And then they say that there is a lack of access [for] black women and women of color. Thats not true, she continued. Theyre within walking distance in their cities. And it goes back to their founder, Margaret Sanger, who theyre trying to disavow. But it goes back to her saying [they] dont want word to get out that [they] want to eliminate the negro population. Thats what she said, but its actually working. Planned Parenthood kills 360 black babies a day. Additionally, she insisted that if abortion didnt exist, black Americans wouldnt even be a minority. The statistics McFadden pointed to come from the pro-life Radiance Foundation, which determined the 360-a-day figure based on the data from Planned Parenthoods 2018-2019 annual report revealing that the organization committed 345,672 abortions in that period. Applying the statistic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finding that black babies constitute 38% of abortions to the total number of abortions committed by Planned Parenthood led the pro-life organization to conclude that roughly 131,355 black babies lost their lives to abortions that year. Dividing 131,355 by the 365 days in a year results in a quotient rounding up to 360. Degradation of sex in our culture She told CP that she sees the degradation of sex in our culture as a root cause behind the high number of abortions in the U.S. Weve taken the meaning out of it, where God is the Creator of sex. And sex inside the boundaries of marriage has benefits; not just procreation but [it] is also protected by a lifelong commitment, she asserted. Because sex has become mainly just about a feeling in our culture, McFadden stated that there is so much divorce stemming from the fact that the sexual revolution has led to people not taking marriage seriously and failing to take commitment seriously. McFadden lamented the epidemic of broken homes, stressing that its not normal anymore to have parents who are still together. I think thats mainly because of the way our culture sees sex, in music and [in] the movies, she said. Theyre just surrounded by [sex]. Not only is it degrading to these teens, but were seeing the after-effects down the road. The after-effect that causes the pro-life activist the most concern is the rush to abort following unplanned pregnancies, an experience she knows all too well. Church sued by employee who resigned for cohabitating with boyfriend wins in court An appeals court has ruled that a Wisconsin church daycare employee who left her job over a policy barring unmarried employees from cohabitating was not wrongfully terminated. Sandra Sandoval sued Capitoland Christian Center Church, Inc., claiming the institution ended her employment because she violated an employment agreement that prohibited workers from cohabitating outside of marriage. Sandoval contends that the Madison-based church discriminated against her due to her marital status. In a per curiam decision released last Thursday, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals panel which included judges JoAnne Kloppenburg, Rachel Graham, and Jennifer Nashold ruled against Sandoval, upholding a prior ruling from the Madison Equal Opportunities Commission. According to the decision, Sandoval signed a Statement of Affirmation and Agreement, where she agreed to refrain from co-habitation with members outside of marriage as a condition of employment. Sandoval was hired to cook for the church daycare center in 2014. The fact that she lived with her boyfriend was not brought up until January of the following year. The panel concluded in part that she was not wrongfully dismissed from the position because the church did not explicitly fire her, noting that the director of the church daycare center had wanted to work something out regarding the employee agreement violation. The director of the church daycare center, Brenda Van Rossum, testified that when she informed Sandoval that Capitoland could not allow its employees to live with each other outside of marriage, she replied, its okay, Ill be done then. Van Rossum reported indicating to Sandoval that she did not want her to resign right away and announced her intention to touch base with the Capitoland pastor (Samuel Jake Stauffacher) and go from there. Additionally, she said she encouraged Sandoval to come back the next day and to not just resign on the spot like that. The director of the church daycare center hoped Sandoval could elaborate on her arrangement to determine whether it conflicted with the agreement, but she repeatedly responded to such requests by insisting, no, thats okay, Ill be done. It didnt seem like she wanted to discuss it, Van Rossum concluded. Sandoval deduced based on the conversation that she had already been fired even though she was never explicitly told that. She called in to say she would not be coming into work the day after the discussion and did not show up or call in for the following three days, which was a cause for termination of employment. When Sandoval returned to work four days after her conversation with her supervisor to hand in her keycard, she claims she was told, I could not return to work unless I got married, and if I didnt, I could not return to work. Based on testimony from Sandoval and her former employer, the panel determined that Sandovals noncompliance with the Agreement was ongoing, [and] Capitoland had not yet imposed any ultimatum on Sandoval. Additionally, the judges affirm the Commissions finding that Sandoval voluntarily resigned her employment with Capitoland. Sandoval does not develop any argument explaining why she would be entitled to any of the damages she seeks if, as we have concluded, Capitoland did not terminate or constructively discharge her employment, the panel reasoned. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal nonprofit representing Capitoland, celebrated the ruling that reaffirmed the earlier decision against Sandoval. Every church has a statement of faith, and it is not only reasonable, but expected for a church to require its employees to agree with and follow its religious beliefs, asserted ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus in a statement released Thursday. Were pleased the Wisconsin Court of Appeals agreed and that Capitoland Christian Center Church will be free to continue its great work in the Madison community. The Madison Equal Opportunities Commission ruled against Sandoval in May 2019, concluding that she was unable to draw a causal connection between the adverse action and her protected classes (sex, race, and/or national origin). Sandoval argued that the commission's determination that she voluntarily resigned her employment was "erroneous" and claimed that the commission was wrong to determine that the church's "no cohabitation provision" doesn't violate the state's Equal Opportunities Ordinance. "[R]egardless of the merits of Sandovals argument that the Agreements cohabitation clause violates the Equal Opportunities Ordinance, Sandoval does not argue that she is entitled to relief if she voluntarily resigned her employment," the panel ruled. "During the proceedings before the Commission, Sandoval sought back pay, front pay, and an unspecified amount of damages for emotional distress, but it appears that some if not all of the damages sought by Sandoval may be dependent on proof that she was subjected to an adverse employment action." 'God answered our prayers': Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard expecting baby after miscarriage Duggar sister Jill Dillard of "19 Kids and Counting" fame revealed she and her husband, Derrick, are expecting another baby after her recent miscarriage. Weve been keeping a little secret! the couple said in a blog post shared Sunday. The Dillards suffered a devastating loss last fall due to the miscarriage of their baby they named River Bliss. We have prayed that, if it was Gods will, He would bless us with another baby," they said. We are excited to announce that God has answered our prayers and we are expecting our rainbow baby due July 2022! We are so thankful for a healthy baby and pregnancy so far and we look forward to finding out the gender soon! Rainbow baby is a term used for a baby born after a miscarriage or stillbirth. Dillard was a main figure in her familys popular TLC series, 19 Kids and Counting, which followed her Christian parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, and their ultra-conservative household. After seven years on air, she starred in the spinoff series, "Counting On," along with her sisters. She decided to quit the show in 2017. The couple, who married in 2014, have two sons, Israel David and Samuel Scott. They first revealed in 2021 that Dillard had suffered a miscarriage. We recently found out we were expecting our third baby, the Duggar sister captioned an Instagram video at the time. We were thrilled! However, a few days later we started miscarrying. We love and miss you, River Bliss! The Arkansas native disclosed that the name of their unborn child was intentional. One meaning for River is tranquil, and here in Arkansas, rivers are often a serene, beautiful escape in nature, they explained in the blog post at the time. We also like how the River talked about in the Bible (Rev. 22:1-5) represents Gods life-giving presence. The river of life (Holy Spirit), flows from the throne of God, and with the tree of life is for the healing of the nations. They added, Our baby doesnt get to live here with us on earth, but is forever with the source of the river of life, in the presence of the Lord! The Dillard family's announcement comes as the eldest Duggar sibling, Josh Duggar, is facing up to 20 years in prison for allegedly having over 200 images of child porn on his devices of children ranging from about 18 months of age to 12 years of age. After Josh Duggar was found guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography in December, the Dillards shared a lengthy statement on their family website. Joshs actions have rippled far beyond the epicenter of the offense itself, they said. Children have scars, but his family is also suffering the fallout of his actions. Our hearts are sensitive to the pains Joshs wife, Anna, and their seven children have already endured and will continue to process in the future. This trial has felt more like a funeral than anything else. Joshs family has a long road ahead. We stand with them, we are praying for them, and we will seek to support them however we can during this dark time. Pastor Greg Locke says hes being threatened with death, hexes and sex toys for exposing witches Pastor Greg Locke, who exposed the presence of suspected witches at his church in recent weeks, says hes being threatened with death, hexes, sex toys and glitter bombs for preaching about deliverance from evil. Locke, the leader of the Global Vision Bible Church in Tennessee, has been preaching about deliverance at his church for the last two months. On Sunday, he referred to his latest series as the most dangerous message hes ever preached. The most dangerous message Ive ever preached is the message of deliverance in the name of Jesus Christ. Its caused more anger; its caused more pushback, its caused more threats, more evil, it stirred up more problems, he said. Its done more to hurt people in our church meaning that friends and family have forsaken them. In a video message to his more than 2 million followers on Facebook Friday, Locke called the opposition to his deliverance message unbelievable. Its really been unbelievable. I havent even checked the mail yet today, but you can ask anybody on our staff or people that volunteer here with us in deliverance ministry at the office. It is non-stop, he explained. We get hundreds and hundreds, many times thousands, of phone calls every week. The voicemail will only hold 40 voicemails at a time. We can be on the phone and the voicemails will fill up about every two hours, and so many of them are like non-callback numbers, private numbers, people calling us and fussing, he continued. Locke revealed one man recently "promised to come to the tent and slice my throat and to kill me," while others have sent sex toys and glitter bombs in the mail. "Everybody is mad about the thing I said about calling out witches," he said. "They are real. They know theyre real. Theyre not hiding the fact that theyre real. Its just that the Church is too unbiblical and ignorant to recognize witchcraft, sorcery and spells and curses when they see them. We literally got a box the other day that said it was from my mom that was full of all kind of crystals and hexes and vexes and curses. Locke added that the Church of Satan sends him postcards every day, and some detractors have been trying to get him banned from his favorite Dunkin' Donuts coffee shop. The Tennessee pastors ongoing crusade to promote deliverance in American churches began generating national headlines after he said a demon told him the names of six witches in his congregation during a deliverance session at his church. He insisted that while many of his critics have been trying to make him look crazy for pushing his deliverance message, he is confident that the Bible supports it. During his sermon on Sunday, Locke said he's been reading the book of Psalms in the Bible to encourage himself. How many times in the 150 chapters of the book of Psalms, David or one of the Old Testament writers . wrote about the subject of deliverance? You ought to do a Blue Letter Bible study sometime of how many times the word 'deliver' and 'deliverance' [are] even used in the book of Psalms. Its uncanny, he said. Locke said he began to notice many of the headings to the Psalms include the word "deliverance." "As I read through the Psalms, Im amazed ... at how much deliverance is mentioned in the Bible and more shocked at how little preachers have said anything about it for decades, he added. Its almost like its been hidden under a rock for so many years. Then all of a sudden, we start peeling things back and making the invisible Kingdom visible, and the devil gets so stirred up when we bring national, global attention he would assume stay a secret. Pastors call to police after 2 church members die same way leads to conviction for double murder Years after a Missouri pastor called police about two members of the same family dying in a short time span, a court convicted the wife and mother of the deceased of killing them by antifreeze poisoning. However, she now claims in a media interview she is innocent. Diane Staudte was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in 2018. The conviction came years after Jeff Sippy, the former pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Springfield, Missouri, made an anonymous call to police about the death of Staudtes husband and son, followed by the hospitalization of her daughter. "I shared that I am a pastor and I have a family who has experienced two deaths in a short proximity of time and has another family member in ICU," Sippy said in Friday's episode of ABC's "20/20." "I've never had two family members die in the same type of situations ever. I believe these were circumstances that needed to be investigated," he added. Staudte's husband, 61-year-old Mark Staudte, a musician, died on Easter Sunday in 2012. His death came two days after his bandmates noticed he was slurring his words and his skin appeared yellow, the media outlet said, adding that there was a ring of blood around his mouth at the time of his death. Five months later, Staudte's son, Shaun, died after suffering from flu-like symptoms. Then, in 2013, her eldest daughter, Sarah, was admitted to the ICU with a brain bleed and organ failure. She was taken to the hospital by her mother and her sister, Rachel. Thats when doctors suspected that poisoning could be the cause. There was nothing in me that believed that it was of a natural cause, Sippy was quoted as saying. I didnt believe that he died of a stroke. A heart attack. Or in his sleep. I just didnt. Theres nothing scientific. Theres nothing professional about my observation. But my first words were, No way. He did not just die. After Springfield Police Department Detective Neal McAmis interrogated Diane Staudte and her daughter, Rachel, the duo admitted to mixing antifreeze into her childrens Coca-Cola and husbands Gatorade, ABC News said. Though she recovered from the poisoning, Sarah Staudte has sustained permanent damage with lifelong effects. She is now in assisted living. Staudte, a nurse who was described as "an active member of her church and the breadwinner for her family of six," later told police she felt "trapped" in an unhappy life, she hated her husband, found her son to be "worse than a pest" and was upset that her daughter Sarah was "nosy" and didn't have a job. She said she researched online how to kill someone with antifreeze, a product she believed would be hard for medical examiners to detect. Rachel Staudte told police her mother first brought up the idea and she went along with it. Diane and Rachel Staudte each pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in 2016. In 2018, Diane Staudte was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Rachel received two life terms with the possibility of parole after 42-and-a-half years. However, Staudte is now maintaining her innocence, and recently told ABC News that theres more to that than what people know. Mark was with some people that are very dangerous people have disappeared, she said. Im saying somebody probably came in and gave him something. She claimed her husband struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, but that she was not the one to poison him. But McAmis dismissed her claims, adding: There is nothing whatsoever to show that anybody was involved in this case other than those mentioned already. Diane and Rachel ... the ones that killed their family. Biden to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court President Joe Biden has nominated a federal judge to fill an impending vacancy on the United States Supreme Court who, if confirmed, would become the first black woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. The White House announced the presidents intention to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, to the Supreme Court on Friday. If confirmed, she will replace Justice Stephen Breyer, who plans to retire at the end of this term. A former clerk for Justice Breyer, Judge Jackson has broad experience across the legal profession as a federal appellate judge, a federal district court judge, a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an attorney in private practice, and as a federal public defender, the White House noted in a statement. Judge Jackson has been confirmed by the Senate with votes from Republicans as well as Democrats three times. The White House praised Jackson as an exceptionally qualified nominee as well as a historic nominee, and the Senate should move forward with a fair and timely hearing and confirmation. A native of Washington, D.C., and the daughter of parents who attended segregated schools, Jackson graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School. She lives in Washington with her husband and two children. When formally announced, Jacksons nomination will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where members will decide whether to advance her nomination to the full Senate. Jackson only needs the support of a simple majority of senators to secure confirmation. Currently, the Senate has a 50-50 split between the two parties, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote in favor of the Democrats. As the White House statement noted, Jackson has received support from Republican senators in the past. Last year, when Biden nominated her to serve on the influential D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, three Republicans voted with all Democrats in favor of her confirmation: Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. As a presidential candidate, Biden announced his intention to nominate an African American woman to serve on the Supreme Court should he win the 2020 presidential election and a vacancy on the Supreme Court were to pop up. Collins, one of the three senators who supported Jacksons nomination to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, expressed concern that imposing such a litmus test on Supreme Court nominees adds to the further perception that the court is a political institution like Congress when it is not supposed to be. What President Biden did was, as a candidate, make this pledge, and that helped politicize the entire nomination process, Collins said. Graham, on the other hand, explained that he was in the camp of making sure the court and other institutions look like America, signaling that he did not view Bidens litmus test as a problem. Whether you like it or not, Joe Biden said, Im going to pick an African American woman to serve on the Supreme Court. I believe there are plenty of qualified African American women, conservative and liberal, that could go onto the court, Graham added. Interest groups on both sides of the aisle quickly reacted to Jacksons nomination. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life advocacy group Susan B. Anthony List, released a statement citing Jacksons nomination as evidence that Joe Biden is fulfilling his promise to only appoint justices who support the Roe v. Wade regime of abortion on demand up to birth a policy so extreme only a handful of countries in the world hold it, including North Korea and China. Ketanji Brown Jackson is backed by many of Americas most radical pro-abortion groups, she said. She is on record opposing free speech rights of pro-life advocates pleading to save lives outside abortion centers and supporting the false claim that abortion is health care. We have no doubt she will work with the most pro-abortion administration in history to enshrine abortion on demand nationwide in the law. Susan B. Anthony List pointed to a 2001 amicus brief Jackson authored in support of a Massachusetts law creating a buffer zone around abortion clinics to prevent pro-life sidewalk counselors from approaching to speak with women seeking abortions as a cause for concern for the pro-life movement. Carrie Severino of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network sent out a Twitter thread asserting that With the intended nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson, Joe Biden has made it clear that his top priority is paying back the left-wing dark money network that spent over one billion dollars to help elect him and Senate Democrats. She specifically mentioned that the Arabella Advisors Network has been increasingly vocal about the fact that Jackson was their preferred nominee the one they are sure will rubber stamp their left-wing political agendas from the bench. Today, Joe Biden is delivering exactly who they demanded, she lamented. Expect to hear from Biden and his supporters that Judge Jackson is in the mainstream. Thats liberal-speak for a judge who will deviate from the text of the constitution and statutes without hesitation to ensure the Lefts preferred policy outcomes. Recently, the Arabella Advisors network has been increasingly vocal about the fact that Jackson was their preferred nomineethe one they are sure will rubber stamp their left-wing political agendas from the bench. Today, Joe Biden is delivering exactly who they demanded. /2 Carrie Severino (@JCNSeverino) February 25, 2022 NARAL Pro-Choice America, a pro-abortion group, expressed gratitude for Jacksons nomination to the Supreme Court, tweeting, We need a justice on the bench who will uphold reproductive freedom. Planned Parenthood Action, another pro-abortion advocacy group, sent out a tweet proclaiming: This nomination arrives as our rights are in crisis, and we believe Judge Jackson will bring a commitment to the court to protect our individual liberties, including reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights. BREAKING: Ketanji Brown Jackson is President Bidens nominee to the Supreme Court. We need a justice on the bench who will uphold reproductive freedom. This historic nomination is a chance to shape the Court for decades to come. pic.twitter.com/pniSAR5fQv NARAL (@NARAL) February 25, 2022 Some GOOD news!! Judge Jackson is making history. This nomination arrives as our rights are in crisis, and we believe Judge Jackson will bring a commitment to the Court to protect our individual liberties, including reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights. #JusticeForAllhttps://t.co/QxpDDVXY0k Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) February 25, 2022 Jacksons nomination to the court will not dramatically change the ideological balance of the court, which currently consists of six justices appointed to the bench by Republicans and three appointed by Democrats. Jackson would become Bidens first Supreme Court appointment, joining two justices appointed by Democratic former President Barack Obama, three justices appointed by Republican former President Donald Trump, two justices appointed by Republican former President George W. Bush and one justice appointed by Republican former President George H.W. Bush. In addition to becoming the first African American woman on the Supreme Court, Jackson will become the fourth female Supreme Court justice and the third African American Supreme Court justice if confirmed. Biden vows to hurt Putin's long-term ambitions with new sanctions: 'Freedom will prevail' US 'forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia and Ukraine' President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday as Russias invasion of Ukraine intensifies, vowing to enact additional sanctions to hurt the Russian economy and President Vladimir Putins long-term strategic ambitions. Biden assured that freedom will prevail. Biden spoke at a press conference in the East Room, calling the Russian militarys attacks that began Thursday targeting Ukrainian military assets across several cities a brutal assault on the people of Ukraine without provocation, without justification, without necessity. Lamenting the pre-meditated attack, Biden asserted that Vladimir Putin has been planning this for months. This is a dangerous moment for all of Europe, for the freedom around the world, he contended. While the 79-year-old president spent much of his speech discussing the peril of the situation, he remained optimistic about the future. In the contest between democracy and autocracy, between sovereignty and subjugation, make no mistake. Freedom will prevail, he said. Biden insisted that all available diplomatic options have been exhausted before indicating that he had authorized additional strong sanctions and new limitations on what can be exported to Russia. He maintained that the additional sanctions would impose severe costs on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time. We have purposefully designed these sanctions to maximize the long-term impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies, he said. Biden touted a coalition of partners, including 27 members of the European Union, Great Britain, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and others. Biden had spoken with leaders of the G7, a coalition of the worlds largest democracies, earlier in the day. He reported that they were in full and total agreement in determining that we will limit Russias ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen to be part of the global economy. Were going to stop the ability of them to finance and grow the Russian military, he said. Were going to impair their ability to compete in [a] high-tech 21st-century economy. He cited the efforts of existing sanctions on the Russian economy and the strength of Russian currency as evidence that the approach would work. The new sanctions will expand to four additional banks in Russia, meaning every asset they have in America will be frozen. They will also apply to members of Russian elites who have personally gained from the Kremlins policies. Between our actions and those of our allies and partners, we estimate that well cut off more than half of Russias high-tech imports, Biden predicted. It will be a major hit to Putins long-term strategic ambitions. Biden stated that NATO, a group of nations formed during the Cold War to counter the Soviet Union, will convene a summit Friday. The summit will bring together the leaders of 30 allied nations and close partners to affirm our solidarity and to map out the next steps we will take to further strengthen all aspects of our NATO alliance. The president vowed that U.S. forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia and Ukraine" and acknowledged the presence of U.S. troops in Europe to defend our NATO allies and to reassure those allies in the east. Addressing the potential impact of heightened tensions with Russia on the price of gasoline in the U.S., Biden said that his administration was using every tool at its disposal to protect American families and businesses from rising prices at the gas pump. Shortly after Biden spoke, reports surfaced that Russian forces seized the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in Northern Ukraine. Biden insisted that this aggression cannot go unanswered because America stands up to bullies, we stand up for freedom. This is who we are, he said. Biden detailed a conversation he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The president assured support for the Ukrainian people and vowed to provide humanitarian relief to the Eastern European country. In response to a question from a reporter, Biden declared that he has no plans to talk to Putin. He told another reporter that [t]he notion that this is going to last for a long time is highly unlikely as long as we continue to stay resolved in imposing the sanctions were going to impose on Russia. Biden pushed back on the idea that sanctions would not change Putins mind about taking further action in Ukraine because sanctions have failed to deter him thus far. He concluded that imposing the sanctions as opposed to simply threatening sanctions will weaken Russia so that Putin will have to make a very, very difficult choice as to whether to continue to move toward being a second-rate power or, in fact, respond. In addition to reaction from global political leaders, religious groups have also condemned Russias aggression against Ukraine. The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations released a statement Thursday expressing disappointment that the efforts to prevent the outbreak of war by many people around the world, including our Council, have not been successful. The truth and the international community are on the Ukrainian side, the statement reads. We believe that good will prevail with Gods help. We support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and all our defenders, we bless them in their defense of Ukraine from the aggressor, and offer our prayers for them. A poll from the Associated Press, released Wednesday, reveals that Americans do not want the United States to play a major role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Just 26% of respondents want the U.S. to play a major role in the situation between Russia and Ukraine. Most Americans (52%) want the U.S. to play a minor role, while the remaining 22% think the U.S. should have no role in mediating the conflict. Teachers across US advocating trans-ideology in classroom for Jazz & Friends reading day Schools across the United States are urging students to read books about trans-identified children as part of an annual campaign promoted by a leading activist group to support transgender and non-binary youth. Launched by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT activist organization, schools nationwide held the annual Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings on Thursday in partnership with the National Education Association and the American Association of School Librarians. The event was first conceived after what the HRC characterized as a national anti-LGBTQ hate group [bullying] a young transgender girl in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin and her community rallied behind her by hosting a community reading of I am Jazz by transgender advocate Jazz Jennings. Liberty Counsel, the religious liberty law firm that was derided by the Human Rights Campaign as a national anti-LGBTQ hate group, wrote a letter to the president of Mt. Horeb Area School District Board of Education in 2015, expressing opposition to plans to read the book, I am Jazz, to first-grade students. The law firm threatened to file a federal lawsuit against teachers and staff in their official and individual capacities for violation of parental rights if the school went ahead with the reading. In response to the threat to take legal action, the Mt. Horeb Area School District canceled plans to read the semi-autobiographical childrens book to first graders. However, a Mt. Horeb parent presented the book reading at a public library in the village in a show of support for a trans-identified student in the district. Shortly thereafter, the effort led to similar events across the U.S., which took place at schools and other community locations, such as libraries and places of worship, and has since become an annual affair. The stated purpose of the Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings is to support transgender and non-binary youth. The Human Rights Campaign promotes I am Jazz as the primary reading material for the day, although it offers other suggested titles as well. The advocacy organization has put together a lesson plan, which encourages teachers to tell elementary school students that gender is a spectrum, not a binary, and that we all express ourselves in many different ways along that spectrum. Students are also taught about differences and being an ally. Along with I am Jazz, the Human Rights Campaign has put together lesson plans for other books included on the advocacy organizations list of suggested reading material for the Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings. The descriptions for one of those books, CALVIN: Time To Be Me! reads: Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind, but he hasnt yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer. The Human Rights Campaign lists CALVIN: Time To Be Me! as an ideal resource for students in kindergarten through second grade. The lesson plan for the book calls on teachers to use the Gender Snowperson when introducing the concepts of gender identity to their students, a concept whose lesson plan indicates that it is designed for students in the third through eighth grade. In other words, the Gender Snowperson is designed for students older than the target audience for CALVIN: Time To Be Me! Lesson plans for CALVIN: Time To Be Me! describes the Gender Snowperson as a simple tool to break down the concepts of how you feel and know yourself to be (gender identity), who you love (sexual orientation), boy/girl assigned at birth (sex assigned at birth) and gender expression. The lesson plan insists that many people do not realize that gender identity and sexual orientation are two very different concepts and that all of us have both a gender identity and sexual orientation, adding: there are lots of different ways to be a boy, girl, both or neither. Conservative groups expressed concern about promoting LGBT activism and ideology to school children, contending that parents are the best people to teach their children about such topics. Jeff Johnson, a culture and policy analyst at Focus on the Family, first wrote about the Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings in 2019. Sadly, this event is part of a much larger trend in public education, as children are taught confusing messages about gender and sexuality in classrooms across the nation, he said. These lessons are in direct opposition to objective, scientific reality and to most parents beliefs and values. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest public school district in the United States, announced last week that it was partaking in the National Day of School & Community Readings to affirm transgender & non-binary youth. The event, available for viewing on Zoom, was hosted by Hooper Avenue Elementary Schools Rainbow Club. National Day of School and Community Readings - JAZZ & FRIENDS Affirm Transgender & Non-binary Youth FEBRUARY 24, 8:20AM - 9:10AM https://t.co/qy3lktbq99pic.twitter.com/NDhOcoVWGH BCM_COS (@BCM_CoS) February 15, 2022 Join Human Relations, Diversity & Equity (HRDE) and schools across the district for a nationwide virtual community reading about gender, diversity & inclusion, a promotion for the event states. Teachers, Zoom in with your class for the story, discussion, and an optional art activity. We recommend paper and basic supplies for the activity. While the Los Angeles school district did not state which age group the discussion was geared toward, the fact that Hooper Avenue Elementary School is taking part suggests that young students will be participating. The book at the center of this particular discussion, From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea, is designed for students in kindergarten through third grade. The Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings comes as parents across the U.S. have raised concerns that school officials are encouraging gender fluidity in children who might be confused or have questions surrounding their biological gender. Last year, a parent in Leon County, Florida, sued the school system for working to prevent her from finding out that the school had begun to refer to her daughter by using they/them pronouns and allowed the child to sleep in the same quarters as her male classmates on a school field trip. Courage on display in Ukraine History is unfolding in Ukraine. Russias invasion of the country is a voluntary war of aggression the likes of which Europe hasnt seen since World War II, and the way the world chooses to respond is profoundly significant. The heroes and villains of this story are already emerging. Tragic and impossible situations reveal ones character. And Russias unprovoked and to most Ukrainians, completely unexpected attack on Ukraines very right to exist as a country has prompted Ukrainians to respond with remarkable strength and determination. A survey of recent reporting offers a glimpse of the heroics on display from everyday people: Ukrainians in small rural communities are patrolling their villages and constructing checkpoints, trenches and underground shelters. A Ukrainian woman named Julia cried as she waited to be deployed to fight Russian troops, telling The New York Times, I just want to live in our country, and thats all. Julia is a teacher, not wanting and hardly expecting a fight, but she volunteered to take up arms for her country anyway. The government is arming anyone able to hold a gun and willing to fight. Many are taking them up on the offer, even a former Miss Ukraine. Elsewhere, a Ukrainian woman was entrusted with bringing a strangers children across the border to safety while their father stayed to fight. A young boy demonstrating maturity beyond his years teared up while telling a journalist how his father stayed behind to support the fight against the Russian forces while he flees to the border. Although over 500,000 Ukrainians have fled to other European countries, some Ukrainians who were living in Poland are returning to Ukraine to join the fight. The Russian leadership does not understand that it is at war not only with the armed forces of Ukraine, but with the entire Ukrainian people, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Sunday. This seems to be exactly the case. A senior defense official at the Pentagon stated openly over the weekend that Ukraines resistance is greater than what the Russians expected. The courage of everyday Ukrainians is inspiring people around the world. Thousands throughout the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Japan, Brazil, the United States, and many other countries are rallying in support of Ukraine. The world is also noticing the rise of a Churchill-like figure in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He first became famous as a comedic actor in a TV series in which he played an average character who almost accidentally became president. In real life, he campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, likely not suspecting to be targeted by a sophisticated full-scale Russian invasion. Zelenskyys presidency is now anything but comedic, yet he has risen to the challenge of being a wartime president with remarkable resolve and grace under fire. Last Thursday, Zelenskyy addressed the Russian people in a heartfelt plea. He said: It is not about peace at any cost. It is about peace and principles, of justice, of international law. It is about the right to self-determination, that every person might determine their own future. It is the right of every society, and of every person, to security, to a life without threats. I am certain that these rights are important to you, as well. The truth is that this needs to end before it is too late. If Russias leadership does not want to meet us across the table for the sake of peace, perhaps it will sit at that table with you. Do you Russians want a war? I would very much like to know the answer, but that answer depends only on you, on the citizens of the Russian Federation. Some Russians seem to have responded to Zelenskyys appeal, making it clear to Russian leaders they do not want to see an attack on Ukraine. Its one thing to protest in a free country, but its quite another for Russians to protest the government they know might brutally crack down on them. By some estimates, Russian authorities have arrested more than 5,000 Russian protestors. Experts believe that Russian forces want to assassinate Zelenskyy and replace him with a Russian-backed leader and Zelenskyy believes it too. The United States offered to help Zelenskyy leave. Yet, his reply showed unwavering resolve: The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride. This strength of will has earned admiration across the globe and fostered hope both inside and outside of Ukraine. One Ukrainian American journalist wrote on Sunday, Can Ukraine withstand the third largest army in the world? If you asked me Thursday, Id think the chances were low. Now I am sure they will. Images and videos of Ukrainians praying and singing hymns are stirring hearts around the world. Join them in praying for the preservation of their country and the sound defeat of Russias brutal attack on their freedom and independence. If Ukrainians manage to keep their land and freedom, it will be due in large part to the courage of the Ukrainian people and their gutsy leader. God bless them. Originally published at the Family Research Council. Gary Kremen, the founder of Match.com who currently serves as chair of the board of directors for the Santa Clara Valley Water District, is suspending his campaign for Santa Clara County assessor following a nude photo scandal he is calling "made up." Over the weekend, the San Jose Spotlight spoke to an anonymous former Kremen campaign staffer who accused him of sharing unsolicited nude photos. The Spotlight reported that the staffer "became upset and vomited after seeing the photos," which according to the Spotlight, show Kremen and his partner "in bed, nude from the chest up." The Spotlight reviewed the photos and reported that the woman's "left breast is exposed in four photos." Kremen told the Spotlight that the four photos were among 20,000 photos from his iPhone camera roll he moved to a Dropbox and asked the staffer to review. According to Kremen, he wanted the staffer to find photos of his family that would be suitable for campaign material. He said that the four photos were taken while his wife was breast feeding, telling Bay Area News Group, "As a new dad, I was excited to capture every moment with my family and took many shots of us all." The Spotlight reported that the child was not in any of the photos in question, and that when the staffer confronted Kremen, he reportedly "joked about the pictures and asked if he looked good," then refused to delete them. Kremen denied both allegations. The news has prompted two Santa Clara County officials state Sen. Dave Cortese and Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee member Michele Dauber to publicly call for Kremen's resignation from the water district board, a position he has held since 2014. In an email to SFGATE, Kremen said he will not resign, writing, "Having this made-up 'scandal' (4 breastfeeding picture that allegedly made an adult 'vomit') is defocusing to run a campaign against a 27 incumbent in a county of 1.9 million people. It has nothing to do with providing safe, clean water during one of the worst droughts in history." Kremen said that the staffer, who resigned July 7, 2021, is primarily retaliating over an argument with Kremen over Israel and Palestine. Specifically, Kremen told SFGATE he believed that a resolution passed by the Santa Clara County Democratic Party condemning Israel's bombing of the Gaza strip was "divisive at best and antisemitic at worst." The staffer disagreed with Kremen's characterization and subsequently resigned, Kremen said. When SFGATE asked Kremen why he suspended his campaign if he believes the nude photo scandal is "made-up," he replied, "Because the headline and a campaign piece 'nude picture scandal' gets more folks worked up than 'private breastfeeding pictures illegally shared.' Or 'unheard of event - folks fight over the Middle East.'" Because the photos were shown to the Spotlight, Kremen said he is looking at possible legal action against the staffer. "To secretly keep copies of all my photos, shopping them to the media for at least 6 months before someone bit and then sharing them with others is a betrayal of trust, very creepy as well as revenge porn," he wrote in an email to SFGATE. The staffer told the Spotlight that prior to the Israel-Palestine argument or sharing of the nude photos, Kremen had a pattern of behavior they objected to. Kremen allegedly touched the staffer's shoulders and legs at parties and showed pictures of himself with pornographic actors. Kremen denied the staffer's allegations of inappropriate behavior during parties and told SFGATE he plans to return all of the money he raised for his campaign. In his run for county assessor, Kremen was challenging Larry Stone, an incumbent of 27 years, whom Kremen accused of having a cavalier attitude towards the COVID-19 pandemic. Stone previously got into a high-profile feud with staffers over return-to-office policies. Kremen founded Match.com, which was originally based in San Francisco, in 1993. He then left the company in 1996, and became the first registrant of the internet domain address Sex.com. He founded solar financing startup Clean Power Finance in 2006 before first getting involved in local politics in 2010, when he was elected to the board of the Purissima Hill Water District in Los Altos Hills. U.S. stocks registered a strong rally at the end of the last week despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Bargain-hunting for beaten-down stocks amid geopolitical tensions led to risk-on sentiments. Moreover, as per some market analysts, western sanctions against Russia have not been as harsh as initially feared. Plus, there have been reports that Russia is open to negotiating with Ukraine, even as Russian troops are approaching the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. Against this backdrop, below we highlight five sector ETFs that have been benefiting from the Russia-Ukraine tensions. Defense Any kind of warfare or military strike means increased purchase and usage of weapons. This benefits the defense and aerospace industry. Defense sector ETFs hauled in $126 million in the week to Feb 21, almost doubling their inflows so far this year, per a Financial Times article. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Wednesday passed a law to boost the revenue and expenditure parts of the 2022 state budget by UAH 26.5 billion. Of these, UAH 16 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Defense to increase the state's defense capabilities and national security. It says that, the operating environment is pretty hot for aerospace and defense ETFs like iShares US Aerospace & Defense ITA and SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR). Oil/Energy Russia is energy-rich. And Europe is highly dependent on Russia for energy, importing about 40% of its energy requirement. If Russia tensions increase, gas prices in Europe which soared to new highs last year will go up further, per Capital Economics, as quoted on a CNBC article. Russia is the provider of about 35% of Europes gas. Oil breached $100 for the first time since 2014. United States Brent Oil Fund, LP BNO was up 3.2% past week amid heightened tensions in East Europe. So, the energy sector can be considered for short-term gains should the geopolitical tensions continue. For this, investors may try ETFslikeiShares U.S. Oil Equipment & Services ETF (IEZ). In any case, oil prices have been rising since the beginning of 2022. The upside in crude oil prices was triggered by a variety of factors like easing Omicron variant concerns, outages in Libya causing supply shortages and less OPEC+ output. Clean Energy Clean energy stocks have registered an upswing due to the jump in fossil fuels. The sheer jump in the conventional energy sector made the prospects of the alternative energy sector lucrative. After all, the cost of renewable energy generation has been falling in recent years with continued technological innovation. Invesco Solar ETF TAN and WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) added about 8.3% and 4.6%, respectively, past week.These funds seem excellent choices to play the rebound in the stock market as well as the energy market. Cyber Security With the Russian incursion into Ukraine and the resultant Western sanctions against Russia hitting headlines, chances of heavy cybercrime on the global level have come to the fore. Several Ukrainian government websites were offline on Feb 23, 2022 as a result of a mass distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, a Ukrainian official said, as quoted on a CNBC article. No wonder, cyber security ETFs staged a rally late last week. Volt Cloud and Cybersecurity Disruption ETF (VCLO) andWisdomtree Cybersecurity Fund (WCBR) gained 3.1% and 3.9%, respectively, last week against 2.2% gains seen in the S&P 500 Index. Materials Its not only oil that has been getting a boost from the crisis. The disruptive metal industry is also following the suit. Ukraine is a major producer of uranium, titanium, iron ore, steel, and ammonia too. And the countrys steel makes up around 10% of Europes imports. In any case, solar industry (which needs usage of several disruptive metals) itself has been thriving with an upward potential. Titanium alloys are also widely used in military applications (another high-demand area currently). This explains why disruptive metal companies have been surging higher. Steel is the backbone of any civilization. So, fears of supply chain woes in this segment sent material stocks soaring. VanEck Steel ETF SLX and SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF XME are two sectors that gained materially last week. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report VanEck Steel ETF (SLX): ETF Research Reports Invesco Solar ETF (TAN): ETF Research Reports United States Brent Oil ETF (BNO): ETF Research Reports SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME): ETF Research Reports iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Indonesia Energys (INDO) shares have rallied so far this year, fueled by industry tailwinds. The stock is up more than 380% in price this year. However, the companys weak bottom line and negative profit margins are concerning. So, is it wise to add INDO to ones portfolio now? Read on. The shares of Jakarta, Indonesia-based oil and gas exploration and production company Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited (INDO) have gained 61.9% in price over the past year and 169.5% over the past six months. The stock has gained 382.1% year-to-date to close yesterdays trading session at $13.50. The companys share price has been rocketing due to bullish sentiments surrounding the energy sector. The rally in oil and gas prices due to the U.S.-Russia-Ukraine geopolitical crisis amid already tight supply from the OPEC+ favored INDO. Also, the company has outlined plans for drilling projects in 2022, which attracted investors attention. Last month, INDO announced plans to commence drilling two new wells in its Kruh Block within 30 days. Also, it plans to begin drilling a third new well at the location before the end of the second quarter, with each well costing $1.50 million to initiate. INDO named these wells Kruh 27, Kruh 28, and Kruh 29. The company expects to produce approximately 450 barrels of oil per day after completing the first two wells and generate approximately $1.50 million in net revenue in their first year. Heres what could shape INDOs performance in the near term: Poor Profitability INDOs gross profit margin and EBITDA margin of negative 4.33% and 281.25%, respectively, is substantially lower than the 38.50% and 22.93% industry averages. Also, its negative 182.60% levered FCF margin is lower than the 9.36% industry average. Moreover, INDOs negative 51.30%, 44.56%, and 26.88% respective ROE, ROA, and ROTC compare with the 7.69%, 2.53%, and 4.19% industry averages. Stretched Valuation In terms of forward EV/Sales, INDO is currently trading at 18.47x, which is 649.3% higher than the 2.47x industry average. Also, its 18.98 forward Price/Sales ratio is 1,177.6% higher than the 1.49 industry average. Weak Financial Profile INDOs trailing-12-month revenues stood at $2.02 million, but its revenues have declined at an 18.8% CAGR over the past three years. Also, its gross profit came in at a negative $87,260, while its EBITDA came in at a negative $5.67 million. INDOs trailing-12-month operating income was negative $6.36 million. Its net income and EPS were negative $6.32 million and $0.85. In addition, its trailing-12-month net operating cash flow and levered free cash flow stood at negative $3.78 million and $3.68 million, respectively. POWR Ratings Reflect This Bleak Prospects INDO has an overall D rating, which translates to Sell in our proprietary POWR Ratings system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 distinct factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree. The stock has a D grade for Stability, which is consistent with its 24-month beta of 2.57. INDO has a D grade for Quality. Its negative profit margins justify this grade. Among the 53 stocks in the Foreign Oil & Gas industry, INDO is ranked #51. Beyond what I have stated above, one can also view INDOs grades for Sentiment, Growth, Momentum, and Value here. View the top-rated stocks in the Foreign Oil & Gas industry here. Bottom Line INDO has garnered significant investor attention so far this year. However, its premium valuation is not justified by its underlying fundamentals. Furthermore, Wall Street analysts see a potential 40.7% downside in the stock. Although the company expects to generate significant returns from its new projects, it might take a while to reverse its losses and improve margins. INDO looks less attractive than its peers, and thus, we think it could be best to avoid the stock for now. How Does Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited (INDO) Stack Up Against its Peers? While INDO has an overall POWR Rating of D, one might want to consider investing in the following Foreign Oil & Gas stocks with an A (Strong Buy) rating: LUKOIL PJSC (LUKOY), TransGlobe Energy Corp. (TGA), and Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (GTE). Note that TGA is one of the few stocks handpicked by our Chief Growth Strategist, Jaimini Desai, currently in the POWR Growth portfolio. Learn more here. INDO shares fell $0.98 (-7.26%) in premarket trading Tuesday. Year-to-date, INDO has gained 382.14%, versus a -8.07% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period. About the Author: Subhasree Kar Subhasrees keen interest in financial instruments led her to pursue a career as an investment analyst. After earning a Masters degree in Economics, she gained knowledge of equity research and portfolio management at Finlatics. More... The post Is Indonesia Energy Corp. a Good Oil Extraction Stock to Own? appeared first on StockNews.com Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Sanctions imposed by the worlds leading economies on Russia amid the Ukraine invasion are triggering an exodus of some of the biggest energy companies. The latest name on the list is Shell PLC (LON:SHEL), which announced it would quit operations in the country, following the steps of BP plc (NYSE:BP). Q4 2021 hedge fund letters, conferences and more Shells Exit As reported by Fox Business, the announcement means the energy giant is canceling its relationship with Russian colossus Gazprom PAO (MCX:GAZP), which owns 50% of the Sakhalin 2 LNG plant in which Shell holds a 27.5% stake. Shell is also ending its involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline project. The announcement arrives a day after BP dropped its stake in Rosneft NK Rosneft PAO (MCX:ROSN) a move that could cost the British company over $25 billion, according to Reuters. On Shells side, pulling out of Russias joint ventures could yield impairments as the company had $3 billion in non-current assets by the end of last year. Shell Chief Executive Ben van Beurden said in a statement: We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore, resulting from a senseless act of military aggression which threatens European security. More On The Go There are more exiters within the energy sector, including the likes of Norway giant Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) and Frances TotalEnergies SE (EPA:TTE). The formers CEO Anders Opedal said the companys position given the current situation is unsustainable. Other firms from various sectors are pausing operations in the Russian market, among them the giant manufacturer Daimler Truck Holding AG (ETR:DTG), with labor representatives supporting the idea of the German firm dropping its stake in local partner Kamaz PAO (MCX:KMAZ). Volvo Car AB (STO:VOLCAR-B) and General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) are halting sales in Russia the American manufacturer exports about 3,000 vehicles a year to Russia from the U.S. The Swedish multinational also announced it would stop production in the country. Other Western companies including global bank HSBC and the world's biggest aircraft leasing firm AerCap said they plan to exit Russia as Western governments ratchet up economic sanctions on Moscow, as informed by Reuters. Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved No charges have yet been filed against three people involved in a Thursday night shootout with Montgomery County Sheriffs deputies in Magnolia. Deputies responded to an 8:45 p.m. call about shots being fired in the area of 19700 Turtle Dove Lane. Hearing an active disturbance inside the home, the deputies entered with one male shooting at the officers. In response, a deputy shot back at the shooter, according to the sheriffs office. No one was struck or injured by either shot, the sheriffs office noted. Deputies gave verbal commands to the shooter whereupon he surrendered without further incident, according to the agency. A pair of males spoke with deputies about how they were at the home looking for a friend whom they had not heard from in several days. They told officers they spoke with another male inside the home and an argument ensued with one of them firing shots into the ground and the third male retreating back into the home, according to the sheriffs office. All three unidentified individuals were detained and questioned by detectives, the sheriffs office explained Friday. It was unclear how many deputies were involved in the initial disturbances response or the shootout. Texas Rangers are involved in the investigation, the sheriffs office added. On Monday afternoon, sheriffs spokesman Lt. Scott Spencer told The Courier a grand jury will likely decide whether charges will be filed against the individuals involved in Thursdays shooting incident. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office on Sunday evening arrested a man accused of fatally shooting his stepfather. Joseph William Lloyd Pilkerton, 18, of Porter, is charged with murder, according to the sheriffs office. As of Monday, Pilkerton was being held on a $100,000 bond at the Montgomery County Jail in Conroe, jail records show. Anthony Dawann Holt, 47, died at a local hospital from injuries sustained after being shot in the chest sometime around 7 p.m. in the 21600 block of Cavallo Lane in Porter, according to the sheriffs office. Holt was allegedly shot by Pilkerton, his stepson, during an argument, the agency has detailed. Sheriffs deputies detained Pilkerton on the scene without incident and homicide detectives questioned him before he was charged, the agency explained. Pilkerton, arrest records show, was taken into custody at his home address, whose property is owned by Holt, according to the Montgomery County Appraisal District. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx As Connecticuts treasurer on Tuesday announced he is cutting the state pensions ties to Russian financial assets, the governors office says its reviewing all potential connections with the country following last weeks invasion of Ukraine. In a statement calling Russias invasion an unjustified and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, Connecticut Treasurer Shawn Wooden said he was directing the state pension fund to divest public funds from Russian-owned assets. Eliminating our holdings of Russian assets is not only a moral imperative, but the current crisis also constitutes a substantial risk for Connecticuts investments, our national policy and economic security, Wooden said in his statement. Connecticuts action today will apply further economic pain on a dangerous autocrat who needs to know that the free world stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and that Putins abhorrent actions will have enduring, harrowing economic consequences in the days, months and years ahead. The move comes amid wide-scale sanctions against Russia by the United States and Europe following last weeks invasion, which has so far left hundreds dead or wounded. Gov. Ned Lamonts office has initiated a review of all state purchasing and had not found any Russian or Russian-backed suppliers as of midday Tuesday. The governors office was also looking into state investments through the Department of Economic and Community Development or Connecticut Innovations, the states quasi-public technology investment arm. Were checking with all of our state agencies, which have contracting authority, Lamonts spokesperson Max Reiss said. Is there any technology were paying for, is there any product were paying for, is there any service were paying for that is being provided by a Russian company? As for economic aid or investments, Reiss said Tuesday, as of now, were not aware of any Russian company that were backing. Connecticut Innovations was not aware of any Russian-owned companies in its portfolio. We dont have any direct investment in companies that have emanated from there, CEO Matthew McCooe said Monday. We do, however, have a company called Intelliboard where the CEO is from Kyiv. Hes based in Monroe and hes got employees in Kyiv and hes got employees in Russia. And headquarters are here. Its a fast-growing ed-tech company here and weve had many conversations over the last few days about what the implications are and what we might do to support them. Reiss said the governors office has asked McCooe to check on investments in companies that also have investments by Russian entities. Woodens office said the more than $47 billion pension funds Russian investments total some $219 million, which includes nearly $151 million in equities in companies based in Russia, and just over $68 million in Russian-backed debt. The office said the sanctions issued by the Biden administration only freeze new investments, meaning divesting the fund is not directly the result of U.S. sanctions against the Kremlin. But eliminating our holdings of Russian-owned assets is a necessary step toward minimizing harm to our investment portfolio and is consistent with the treasurers mandate, codified in state statute, to consider U.S. foreign policy, Michelle Woods Matthews, a spokesperson for the office, said in an email. This action is consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national interests of the United States, including the sanctions currently imposed by the Biden administration. The treasurers office noted the funds Russian investments including in companies located in Russia and in sovereign debt issued by the Kremlin have declined since 2014. That coincided with wider U.S. sanctions in the wake of Russias annexing of the Crimean peninsula and fomenting a separatist conflict in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Reiss said Lamont is also checking with refugee settlement agencies about their ability to help emergency immigrants from Ukraine. We want to welcome with open arms any Ukrainian refugees that could find their way to Connecticut, Reiss said, understanding that Afghan refugee resettlement is ongoing. Lamont said he believes encouraging boycotts of products, other than oil and gas, may be less effective than direct measures the state can take. The governor wants to take steps, which are tangible and real, Reiss said. U.S. advises its citizens in Russia to depart Xinhua) 08:38, March 01, 2022 Photo taken on March 16, 2020 shows the White House Visitor Center in Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The State Department said that the U.S. government's ability to assist Russia-based U.S. nationals is "limited" now, so Americans should consider leaving the country "via commercial options still available." WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of State on Monday advised U.S. citizens currently in Russia to consider departing the country "immediately," citing Moscow's ongoing military actions in Ukraine and what the department expected to be potential "harassment" toward Americans by "Russian government security officials." The State Department said in an updated travel advisory that the U.S. government's ability to assist Russia-based U.S. nationals is "limited" now, so Americans should consider leaving the country "via commercial options still available." The European Union closed its airspace to Russian aircraft on Sunday, three days after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration expanded a "no-fly zone" to cover the entire territories of Ukraine and Belarus, as well as the western part of Russia. An increasing number of airlines are cancelling flights into and out of Russia. As such and given "the ongoing armed conflict," the State Department in its advisory advised U.S. citizens against traveling by land from Russia to Ukraine, and urged those near the Russia-Ukraine border and those who plan to travel there "to be aware that the situation along the border is dangerous and unpredictable." Ukrainian and Russian delegations concluded the peace talks at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border on Monday, with the next round of negotiations scheduled for the coming days on the Belarusian-Polish border, according to the Russian delegation. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form A cross-country convoy is picking up more cars and trucks as well as some political support as it completes the final legs of an 11-day trek. The People's Convoy is the collective name being used for a motorcade of vehicles, mostly big rigs, that is traveling to Washington, D.C., as a sign of opposition to pandemic restrictions and mandates. The dozens of vehicles making their journey were scheduled to stop Monday for a rally in Sullivan, Missouri, near St. Louis, before rolling another 315 miles to Indianapolis today. The convoy is inspired by truck protests that took place in Canada. The People's Convoy is one of three major convoys planned. Freedom Convoy USA 2022, which started in California, disbanded because of a lack of support, according to reports, but urged drivers to join one of the others. The Texas Convoy is the third. Although the convoy's route remains largely to the south of west-central Illinois, there are estimates that as many as two dozen other, smaller convoys are going to join up before arriving Saturday in the nation's capital. That possibility prompted Illinois State Police to caution drivers about the potential for more traffic than usual along some interstates this week, and also to caution convoy participants to keep things moving. Officials have become aware of a planned event along several interstate corridors ... where truck drivers plan to conduct a convoy causing traffic delays and potentially crashes," Saturday afternoon's announcement from ISP said. Illinois State Police Col. Margaret McGreal said police respect the rights of people to express their opinions lawfully, but not any attempts to impede or block the movement of traffic. "Traffic backups are a major contributing cause to traffic crashes, which lead to property damage, personal injury and even death. A planned event designed to impede normal traffic flow is dangerous to the innocent motoring public," McGreal said. "Those who choose to participate in events that intentionally endanger the public and violate Illinois law will be subject to the enforcement of applicable laws and could potentially be held liable for traffic crashes occurring as a result of their actions." About 700 National Guard troops will be in Washington to help with traffic control, The Associated Press reported. Several truckers have told reporters they plan to remain on the city's outskirts to avoid confrontation. "This convoy is about freedom and unity. The truckers are riding unified across party and state lines and with people of all colors and creeds Christians, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Mormons, Agnostics, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, Republican, Democrats," according to a statement from organizers. "It is now time to reopen the country." A poll conducted by Trafalgar Group and released Monday said the convoy protest has strong support from Republicans and independents, with 78.5% of Republicans and 68.6% of independents saying they were "very likely" or "somewhat likely" to support demonstrations by truckers. Among Democrats, that support fell to 15.1%, according to the poll. Kim Brent /The Enterprise Buc-ee's continues to draw attention, this time from TikToker AnneinSeoul. The social media celebrity made a "fan requested" stop at the gas station famous for its clean bathrooms and beaver nuggets on Sunday, February 27 in Fort Worth. AnneinSeoul has over 1.9 million followers on TikTok and gained her fan-base by going to stores in South Korea and trying different kinds of snacks in her videos. She was heading back to South Korea when her plane made a stop before heading home. She decided to finally get out to Buc-ee's after her fans requested she try out the Texas gas station someday. San Antonio Board of Realtors As people recover from their Fat Tuesday indulging, the Gruene Historic District prepares to welcome people to the Hill Country for another celebration. Hill Country-area bars, shops, and restaurants are offering patrons ice-cold deals for Texas Independence Day on the 186th anniversary of Texas declaring independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. To celebrate Texas' 186th birthday, the Gruene Historic District invites people to enjoy deals littered with the number 186. A video posted online shows former Austinite and drug trafficker on the lam praising Russian troops invading Ukraine as "liberators." The man, Russell Bonner Bentley, is seen in a video posted to Twitter in front of Russian military tanks before they invaded Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv. "It's Tejas on the frontline with the de-Nazifiers and liberators of Ukraine," Bentley says in the video. "These guys are tough. These guys are ready and there is plenty of them." RELATED: San Antonio sold Laika out of cheesecakes throughout the weekend to support Ukraine The video was posted to Twitter by international correspondent for The Independent Borzou Daragahi, saying "Just a good ol' boy apparently embedded with Russian forces in Ukraine." Bentley is a former arborist from Austin turned drug trafficker and self-proclaimed communist who is on the run from U.S. Marshals, according to a 2018 Texas Monthly article. He was also an Army engineer based in Germany, a musician in South Padre, and a marijuana legalization activist in Minnesota and Alaska. Bentley has reportedly been embedded with the Russian military since the last Russia-Ukraine crisis in 2014. He joined a militia group recruiting foreign fighters known as the the Vostok Battalion in 2014 and has since become a local celebrity in the area. During the 2014 Ukraine crisis, he also purported that the conflict was the result of Nazis in Ukraine. When Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24, he called it a military operation to "denazify" Ukraine as justification. There is an ultra-nationalist militia group in Ukraine that formed in 2014 as part of the National Guard of Ukraine known as the Azov Battalion. The militia wears insignias featuring neo-Nazi symbols. However, neither U.S. officials and the United Nations have recognized Putin's justification and have denounced his actions as an invasion. It should be noted that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is Jewish. Bentley, however, still believes that Russian forces are liberating Ukraine from Nazis, saying the military will "bring the hammer" to save the "good people" of Ukraine. As for the "bad people" Russian forces will "Boom! Kick their a**." The U.S. has since enacted sanctions against Russia and the UN has reported that at least 102 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 304 injured, according to CNN. Those figures might be an underestimation as the invasion continues. Texas kicks off the midterm primary season Tuesday with elections that will help determine the political staying power of the Bush family name, the potency of former president Donald Trump's endorsements and the state's future representation on Capitol Hill. Primary contests for governor, attorney general and Congress, as well as dozens of local jobs such as county judge and justice of the peace, are on the ballot in a state where Republicans have found their footing after suffering some setbacks during the 2018 midterm elections. Republican strategists enter Election Day bullish on their prospects in November. Early-voting totals show much higher Republican than Democratic interest in what appears to be shaping up as a low-turnout primary affair. More than 1 million Republicans had cast ballots through Friday, compared with about 628,000 Democrats, according to a tally kept by the Texas secretary of state. "Their turnout is going to be dwarfed by our turnout," said David Carney, a Republican consultant who is advising Gov. Greg Abbott on his reelection campaign. "The EPA should be down here protecting Democrats as an endangered species." Democrats countered that they are well positioned to hold their ground and potentially make gains in the fall, even as they complained that new voting laws have been keeping some of their voters from turning out. These include rules requiring specific types of voter identification that have led to a higher number of rejected mail-in ballots. "I don't think there is any question that we have momentum. Part of the problem we have right now is we are dealing with these new election laws," said Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa. "People are just not enjoying going out to vote because the state of Texas wants them to be scared." Among the questions voters will answer Tuesday is whether state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Trump endorsee who faces an FBI investigation and an indictment on state securities fraud, can avoid a runoff in his quest for his third Republican nomination against Land Commissioner George P. Bush, a grandson and nephew of former presidents, as well as retired state Supreme Court justice Eva Guzman and Rep. Louie Gohmert. At least two embattled House incumbents face challenging primaries. In the 28th Congressional District on the southern border, a rematch between Rep. Henry Cuellar and more liberal 2020 challenger Jessica Cisneros is the Democratic Party's most expensive congressional race, with Cuellar dipping into his war chest after his home and campaign office were searched by the FBI. Cisneros has been supported by liberal activists both from Texas and farther north, including the Justice Democrats. Republicans, who have never seriously competed for the Laredo-based border district, have a competitive but less-expensive primary for the seat - and both could go to runoffs. Cuellar has denied any wrongdoing but vanished from the campaign trail after the FBI raid, encouraging liberal groups who see a chance to unseat one of the most conservative Democrats in the House. On the Republican side, Rep. Van Taylor, who represents a suburban district north of Dallas, faces a primary challenge from the right, after he voted with Democrats to support a bipartisan investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump has stayed out of that race, while endorsing more than 30 other Republican candidates in the state, a wide array that runs from Abbott's gubernatorial campaign to a candidate for Tarrant County judge. Many of his endorsements have come in the last few weeks and have gone to incumbents or candidates not facing serious opposition, suggesting that he is hoping to burnish his win-loss record in GOP primaries, a statistic he often boasts about. He has also proudly endorsed state Rep. Ryan Guillen, another border politician, who recently switched parties to become a Republican after state leaders redrew his district. Republicans have been running local candidates at a clip not seen in recent memory in historically Democratic strongholds in southern Texas. "I am almost unblemished in the victory count, and it is considered by the real pollsters to be the strongest endorsement in U.S. political history," Trump said in a statement on Feb. 13. Abbott, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, and former Democratic congressman Beto O'Rourke, who ran for Senate in 2018 and president in 2020, are expected to win their parties' nominations for the top job in the state. Public and private polls have put them both well above the 50% threshold needed to avoid a May 24 runoff in their respective contests. O'Rourke, whom Democrats spent months urging to enter the race, faces challengers who've raised little money, including public radio reporter Joy Diaz. Abbott's challengers include conservative YouTuber Chad Prather, former state senator Don Huffines and former state GOP chairman Allen West, all of whom have accused the two-term governor of acting on conservative priorities only when forced. A mindful Abbott in recent months has floated conservative measures on voting, abortion and transgender rights. "There's a clear, stark difference between the governing style and priorities of [Florida Gov.] Ron DeSantis and the style and priorities of our governor here in Texas," West said in an interview after a lunch with a Republican club in Houston. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a close ally of Trump who like Abbott is seeking a third term, has drawn only little-known challengers, while Democrats will pick from a field that includes 2018 Patrick challenger Mike Collier and state Rep. Michelle Beckley. Paxton, who trailed other Republicans in his 2018 reelection race, has the best-funded challengers of any Republican on the ballot. He has run ads attacking Guzman and Gohmert, but polls suggest that he is likely to be forced into a second round, with Bush as the most probable runner-up. "He's already admitted that this is going to a runoff," Bush said in a recent interview, after a campaign stop near College Station. Trump's endorsement of Paxton, he said, had not changed his own strategy. Bush had fought at minimum to deny Paxton the endorsement, to no avail. "I'm still reaching out to Trump supporters, and I still subscribe to his policies," Bush said. "They work for Texas, whether they're securing the border, energy independence or getting tough on crime. He still likes me, he's said so publicly." Bush also pointed out that National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd, an early Trump supporter, endorsed him and was featured in his ads. Trump has also backed state Sen. Dawn Buckingham in the primary to replace Bush, helping her lead the field for that influential statewide job. She's raised nearly $2 million for the race; Jay Kleberg, a Democratic conservationist leading the contest for his party's nomination, has stockpiled $500,000, more than any of the Democrats running for attorney general. In the race for agriculture commissioner, Trump has endorsed incumbent Sid Miller, another early backer of his 2016 presidential campaign. New congressional districts approved by Texas's Republican-led legislature last year drastically shrunk the number of competitive seats, with swing districts around Houston, Dallas and Austin redrawn into districts safe for one party. Lawmakers also created a new open seat on the border, the 15th District, stretching north from McAllen, where Republicans in Washington are hoping a local business executive, Monica De La Cruz, wins the nomination with Trump's endorsement. She faces challenges from her right from Mauro Garza, another Republican businessman, who recently received the endorsement of Rep. Paul A. Gosar, R-Ariz., and has attacked De La Cruz as a representative of the establishment. Democrats are divided between a few candidates, with Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, backing veteran Ruben Ramirez and some national liberal groups supporting activist Michelle Vallejo. She's run unabashedly from the left, while Ramirez has argued that the Republican-trending district is more inclined to elect a moderate in November. "The way you get lasting change is to have bipartisanship," Ramirez said while greeting early voters last week in McAllen. "It's unfortunate that the Republicans are too busy playing politics instead of coming up with viable solutions." Ramirez, who served in Afghanistan, said he would support hearings into the Biden administration's chaotic withdrawal of American forces from that country last summer, during which 13 U.S. service members were killed. The rest of Tuesday's House primaries will determine who will represent safe seats, or which candidates will compete for them in the May runoffs. The bitterest Republican primary has unfolded in the 8th Congressional District, where longtime Rep. Kevin Brady is retiring. A candidate for that seat, ex-Navy SEAL and Trump administration official Morgan Luttrell, has faced criticism for his friendship with Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., a fellow veteran. Christian Collins, a former aide to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, has attacked Luttrell over a $5,000 donation from Kinzinger, even though the candidate returned it. "I've spent my life intimidating other people, like that empty suit," Luttrell said at a televised debate with Collins last month. "That guy's going to sit down there and bag on me, and he has actually done nothing in his life except for what somebody has told him to do?" Luttrell has the support of fellow Republicans Rep. Dan Crenshaw and former governor Rick Perry, both political mentors, while Collins rallied during the early-voting period with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C. The most expensive Democratic fight for an open seat is unfolding in the 35th Congressional District, where former Austin city councilman Greg Casar has locked up labor and liberal endorsements, rallying with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. - though he lost the support of a local Democratic Socialists of America chapter over his rejection of its Israel policies. Polling has put him ahead of state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez and lesser-known candidates, but supporters of both Casar and Jessica Cisneros are trying to push them over 50% Tuesday, wary of runoffs that could give moderate Democrats time to regroup and spend money against them. "This is about making sure that we send a message: Do not mess with Texas progressives," Ocasio-Cortez told voters at a San Antonio rally last month with Casar and Cisneros. Democrats are also battling for another safe seat, the 30th Congressional District in Dallas, where Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson is retiring and has endorsed state Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a former public defender. Crockett has swept up endorsements from liberal groups but has trailed two other candidates in fundraising: former state legislative staffer Abel Mulugheta and party operative Jane Hamilton. Democrats argue that while the state remains challenging ground, the party is poised to show that Texas is growing more blue after the 2018 burst of energy, as they seek to ride shifting demographics. "Texas has been a hard state for Democrats for 25 years," said Matt Angle, director of the Lone Star Project, a group focused on recruiting and supporting Democrats in Texas. "The fact that [Republicans] are able to hold on in a Republican state is not a show of strength." The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is investigating one of its own employees after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the agency to probe parents of transgender youth for possible child abuse. Last week, Abbott issued the controversial directive following a legal opinion issued by Attorney General Ken Paxton defining gender-affirming health care, including puberty blockers and sex change procedures, as child abuse when administered to minors. An employee of the state's protective services agency with a 16-year-old transgender child says she was placed on administrative leave last week and now faces termination, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday. The employee, who works on the review of reports of abuse and neglect, says she was visited by an investigator from DFPS seeking medical records related to her child, who is identified in court documents as Mary Doe. The state investigator told the employee, identified as Jane Doe, that the sole allegation against her and her husband, John Doe, is that their transgender daughter may have been provided with gender-affirming health care and was currently transitioning from male to female," according to the suit. Jane Doe has refused to turn over records requested by DFPS. Not providing Mary with the medically necessary health care that she needs is not an option for us," Jane Doe wrote in the suit. We are terrified for Marys health and well-being, and for our family. I feel betrayed by my state and the agency for whom I work. On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization focused on the LGBTQ community, sued to block the inquiry. According to the filing, other investigations have also begun, some almost immediately after the directive was issued. The groups argue that Abbott and Paxton's directives were issued without proper authority, "in violation of the Texas Administrative Procedures Act, the separation of powers requirements of the Texas Constitution, and the constitutional rights of transgender youth and their parents." Dr. Megan Mooney, a licensed psychologist in Houston, is also a plaintiff in the suit. Mooney is required to report suspected child abuse under Texas law and has a practice that includes transgender patients, many of whom have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to the suit. No family should have to fear being torn apart because they are supporting their trans child, said Adri Perez, the policy strategist at the ACLU of Texas, in a statement. A week before an election, Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a partisan political attack that isnt rooted in the needs of families, the evidence from doctors and the expertise from child welfare professionals." As news of the lawsuits spread online, users took to social media to express their dismay. Charlotte Clymer, a writer and activist, warned that Abbott's directive could have potentially deadly consequences for transgender children. "What's happening in Texas will lead to higher rates of abuse, harassment, and ultimately suicides of trans children," Clymer tweeted Tuesday. "Greg Abbott is attempting to completely erase trans children from the public square, and trans kids will die because of it. Those are the stakes here." Other users called for Texans to consider the targeted attacks on transgender children when voting at the polls during the primary Tuesday. Abbott and Paxton are both up for reelection. "Its really happening," tweeted transgender activist and actress Jen Richards. "A parent was placed on leave and is being investigated for simply providing love and care to her trans child. Texas primaries are today. Please vote if you can. This is nauseating and terrifying." Chris Mosier, the first openly transgender athlete for Team USA, said trans kids in Texas and other states facing similar legislation, "deserve better." Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke also chimed in on the investigations, tweeting "The people of Texas are so much bigger than this hate. Together, we will overcome it and protect trans kids." Hours prior, the former El Paso congressman tweeted "Imagine what our kids could accomplish if they had a governor who invested in their success instead of obsessively attacking them." Contrary to its Russian-sounding name, Smirnoff vodka is not a Russian product. Its made in Canada and is still available on LCBO shelves. Local Man behind Light Up Citrus battles thyroid cancer mattbeck / Matthew Beck / Chronicle photo editor In this photo from Nov. 13, 2020, Frank Simmons hangs LED lights on their Lecanto home as part of his annual Light Up Citrus lights and synchronized music display. People in Citrus County may not know Frank Simmons by name, but many do know him as the Light Up Citrus guy whose house is ablaze with lights and synchronized music throughout the Christmas holiday season every year. Also what people may not know: Simmons, 45, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2020 and has been going through treatment, which has depleted his energy and all his and wife Rachels savings. However, some local people have learned of this news and are spreading the word that Simmons could use some community support. While I dont know Frank personally, my family has delighted in his magical creations for the past few years, Mary Alice Hogan wrote in an email to the Chronicle. I recently learned via the Light Up Citrus Facebook page that Frank has fallen on hard financial times with his battle with thyroid cancer. Hogan added, Frank uses his displays to collect donations for local nonprofits. As an example, with the Batman of Spring Hill and his Masked Miracle Inc., he was able to collect and donate 336 toys and 200 stocking stuffers to Jessies Place this past Christmas. With all that he has done for the community, I thought the community might be able to help him, she said. Batman of Spring Hill, Citrus County EMT Jack Asbury, called Simmons a serious blessing to Citrus County. He constantly, without hesitation, helps anyone who needs it, stranger or friend, Asbury said. {h4 style=text-align: center;}Accidental diagnosis{/h4} It started with a car accident in June 2020. Simmons was driving on Homosassa Trail when he was rear-ended at a traffic light. I was OK, but it was enough that I thought I should get checked out, he said. An MRI after the accident showed a mass in his neck area; an ultrasound led to needing a biopsy. Thats when we learned it was cancer ... so, the accident was a blessing in a way, Simmons said. Next came many doctor appointments before surgery at UF Health Shands on Oct. 14, 2021, to remove his thyroid, followed ever since by more back and forth appointments in Gainesville. Recently, Simmons received a radioactive iodine treatment and he will take daily medication for the rest of his life. On Feb. 24, a full-body scan resulted in good news and bad news, Simmons said. The cancer hasnt spread, but its still detected in the lymph nodes in his central neck. I was hoping they would tell me its all gone, he said. When I heard that, it really threw me for a loop. Simmons said before he was diagnosed, he worked in Ocala as a manager for a rent to own company. He had also resumed his decal business that he started in 2010. Currently, hes not able to work because the medication he takes causes his energy level to be unpredictable. Some days Im amped up and other days when I cant function, he said. I take a lot of naps. His wife, Rachel, works full time at a dental office. She also lives with a thyroid condition called Hashimotos disease. I never had medical issues before, and Im not used to this, Simmons said. Ive been leaning on my wife, and if it wasnt for her, I wouldve lost my mind. Simmons said his cancer diagnosis has forced him to rethink everything. It makes me realize what my priorities are, and that I have a lot of life left to live and Ive got to live it, he said. That includes doing more for the community, he said. In his spare time during the off-season, hes continually planning and tweaking and dreaming up new things for the next Light Up Citrus. It started off as Hey, I love lights, and then it was Hey, theres a car out front and then we had two cars and then 100, he said. Actually, 2020 was our busiest year because of the pandemic. That was the year that everybody needed it the most. Weve gotten messages from people who tell us how much it meant to them and about the people theyve lost to COVID, and that drives us to keep going, he said. This year we teamed up with the Batman of Spring Hill and did a Trunk or Treat toy drive and had about 3,000 people here that night. That was nine days after his surgery. He did all he could do to make sure he was out of the hospital in time to host it, Rachel Simmons said. The event for our community was amazing, and honestly, I still cant believe a week after surgery (and 17 hours on a ventilator) he was able to be present. For Frank Simmons, his motivation is the community. Im always thinking about things that can bring the community together, he said. Because thats all weve ever wanted to do. We just want people to be happy. A Help with Franks Thyroid Cancer journey GoFundMe account for Frank Simmons is at https://tinyurl.com/476ud6ak. Send Frank Simmons a message at the Light Up Citrus Facebook page or email at: lightupcitrus@gmail.com. Florida, US (34429) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. A vehicle collided with this Citrus County School District bus occupied by 21 Citrus Springs Middle School students the afternoon of Tuesday, March 1 at a Hernando intersection. One student reported minor injuries, and at least occupant of the other vehicle was transported to hospital for treatment. Please refer to the Canadian government's website for more information. Canadas immigration measures for people affected by the situation in Ukraine Canadas immigration measures for people affected by the situation in Ukraine Please refer to the Canadian government's website for more information. Canadas immigration measures for people affected by the situation in Ukraine Please refer to the Canadian government's website for more information. Canadas immigration measures for people affected by the situation in Ukraine Please refer to the Canadian government's website for more information. CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A The Canadian government has introduced a variety of new immigration measures to assist Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and Ukrainian citizens impacted by the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has created a webpage for those seeking assistance. Click here to learn more. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Oklahoma City, OK (73106) Today Variable clouds with strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Variable clouds with strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Termeni de referinta pentru selectarea unui expert/ e care va presta servicii de instruire in drepturile omului pentru tinerii care se pregatesc sa paraseasca sistemul de protectie Government efforts to collect data on charities and social enterprises at the start of the pandemic were chaotic, a parliamentary committee said today. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) was left scrambling for information to understand the impact of Covid-19 on civil society when the outbreak began, according to MPs and peers on the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on social enterprise. Their report into the governments support for social enterprises during the crisis, Rising to the Challenge, was published this afternoon. The report recommends that responsibility for social enterprise should be moved from DCMS to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Puzzling DCMS approach Social entrepreneurs first raised their concerns formally with government on 13 March 2020, 10 days before the first national lockdown was implemented, the report said. It says that representatives from social enterprise told officials at the Covid-19 forum, convened by DCMS, about the lack of balance in the meeting, which only included one voice from social enterprise and focused more on voluntary organisations and volunteers than social enterprises, despite the size and scale of the sector being equal (and in employment terms greater than) the voluntary sector. Despite raising this issue, no changes were made to the balance of the meetings. Given the impact and contribution of social enterprises, this decision is puzzling. Data One witness told the committee that DCMSs approach to data collection was chaotic. The report found that basic information on the size and scale of the social enterprise sector was not available to officials. The rush to understand the sector was typified by repeated requests for information with very short deadlines. MPs describe times when sector representatives had just a single morning to provide detailed information on social enterprise, as well as requests for data which had already been provided weeks earlier. The report said: Repeatedly, ministers would say that not enough information had been provided to make decisions, despite all requests for information being responded to. It said that progress was hampered by a lack of understanding and awareness of social enterprise or its contributions to society and the economy and that the government had to learn about social enterprise as the pandemic developed, and did not have the information to integrate social enterprise into policy measures as they were being developed. This weakness raises questions about whether DCMS should retain responsibility for policies affecting social enterprise, the MPs concluded. Where in Whitehall? The parliamentarians called on the government to move oversight of social enterprise from DCMS to BEIS, so that social enterprise is fully embedded in business policy across government and to ensure that future support open to other businesses is made available equally to social enterprises. The report also said that the role of social enterprises in public service delivery should be ramped up, given the financial resilience the sector showed during the pandemic. It stated: At a time when we are looking to rebuild from Covid-19, we need our best organisations on the frontline. Rather than ramping down social enterprise in public services, we should be ramping up delivery. SEUK: Ministers need to listen Social Enterprise UK urged the government to take on board the recommendations in the report. Peter Holbrook, chief executive of Social Enterprise UK said: I am grateful to parliamentarians for their inquiry and the recognition of the vital contribution that social enterprises made to keeping our country going through the pandemic. Social enterprises across the UK stepped up to help communities when they needed it most and we should be proud of what the sector has done and continues to do to help with our recovery. We should learn the lessons from the pandemic but more importantly we need to think about the future. Whether it is the independent Commission on Social Investment or this APPG inquiry there is a clear consensus that social enterprise have significant potential to improve our society but we are not doing enough to maximise that potential. I hope that ministers will listen carefully to the constructive recommendations made in this report and work more closely with the social enterprise sector to develop a plan for how we can grow our sector over the coming years. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, TONIGHT, BEFORE A JOINT SESSION of Congress, President Joe Biden will deliver his first State of the Union address. The backdrop is a frightening new war in Europe, which the president has described as a brutal and unjustifiable assault on the people of Ukraine. In a moment of great uncertainty, it will be on Biden to comfort and provide clarity to Americans about what the conflict might entail. Hell also have on his plate threats to democracy at home, a struggling economy, and a pandemic whose challenges continue to evolve. Then theres that other crisis, climate change, which threatens much of life as we know it but disappears so easily from our aperture because it is a slow-moving crisis. But it endures, and, as ever, humanitys time to act remains short. Ukraine is rightly top-of-mind, but this evening journalists must also make room for climate in their coverage of the presidents address. To his credit, Biden will arrive on Capitol Hill with more than a few climate wins notched in his belt: Immediately upon taking office, the president rejoined the Paris Agreement, a critical international accord to get serious on climate, signed in 2015, on which, during the Trump administration, the US became the only country in the world to renege. Biden announced plans for the US to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 2005 levels, and reach net-zero emissions by 2050consistent with international goals of limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In November, Biden signed into law a $1.2 trillion infrastructure and jobs bill, which includes substantial provisions for clean energy and climate resilience. And via executive authority the president has moved, among other things, to decarbonize the federal government, protect and restore natural lands and waters, and improve US vehicle and building efficiency standardsall while also taking steps to address Americas legacy of environmental racism, which grows only more apparent as climate impacts begin to take their toll. Those achievements of Bidens, of course, are only half the story. On nearly every count, climate advocates sayand science agreesthe US should be doing more, faster. In some cases, changes implemented under Biden have only reversed slash-and-burn environmental cuts made by Donald Trump; other of the former presidents rollbacks remain in place. After scuttling the high-profile Keystone XL gas pipeline, Biden perhaps confusingly has allowed similar projects, including the controversial Line 3 pipeline, to go ahead. Similarly, though Biden issued a moratorium on federal oil and gas leases, in the past year he granted new oil and gas drilling permits at a faster rate than Trump ever did. Most publicly, Bidens bid to pass his much-touted Build Back Better bill, which encompassed the majority of his administrations climate agenda, failed; the bills collapse leaves America with decidedly meager tools to tackle what the president himself called the number one issue facing humanity. In his State of the Union, Biden will likely want to shine light on the more flattering aspects of his climate program. The grim reality, though, is that, in the face of climate emergency, America is a powerful country either unable or unwilling to act at scale. Indeed, one reason for the unusual March date of this speechin recent history, State of the Union addresses have been delivered in January or Februaryis that Democrats reportedly wanted to give Biden time to get his legislative agenda back on course. Alas, the speech is here, and Bidens agenda, including its climate components, remains stuck on the rocks. Coverage of State of the Union addresses is typically hit-or-miss. Theres a lot of style over substance, with much focus on how the president appeared, versus what he said, and who among the audience cheered, jeered, or slept. Humdrum winners and losers framing comes in abundance. And what coverage does parse the particulars of the speech often resorts to summary, rather than placing the presidents remarks in the context of the big issues of the day. If climate change doesnt come up or comes up only briefly in the speech, its likely to also be missing in the coverage. At a time of monster wildfires, crippling drought in the West, and ever stronger hurricanes that batter the Gulf Coast and the Eastand with time short to implement rapid, far-reaching change, if humanity hopes to avoid worseclimate is context we cant afford to ignore. As UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Monday, on the release of a major new climate report, Delay is death. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Should Bidens speech paint an overly rosy view of Americas climate future, journalists should challenge that. Should the president say little about climate change, journalists should call that out. Journalists might also observe the clear connections between climate and the Ukraine crisis: For example, the Wests stubborn reliance on fossil fuels, which are Russias top export, has greatly limited retaliatory options that might be taken against the Kremlin. To be sure, for journalists to explain all of this isnt tantamount to climate advocacy. Science is unequivocal that humanity is on the brink of climate breakdown, and the press should expect leaders to articulate both the threat and its solutions. Whats more, Biden campaigned as a climate championso his effectiveness on climate is an obvious standard by which his administration should be judged. Not all responsibility for Americas weakness on climate belongs at Bidens feet, of course. The failure of Build Back Better is in large part attributable to the whims of Democratic senator Joe Manchin, a former fossil-fuel executive from West Virginia who has raked in enormous sums of money from fossil-fuel companies; through months of negotiations, Manchin slowly whittled away Build Back Betters climate provisions before declaring, in December, that he would not support the bill. Then theres the Republican Party, filled with reliable and often gleeful obstructionists; Manchins opposition to climate action would matter less if only one Republican senator could muster the courage to break ranks. Republicans position on climate is indefensible, yet in the press they are seldom held to account; their anti-scientific obstruction is simply taken as a given or, worse, treated as a neutral stance. Bidens power alone is not enough to solve the climate crisis; to the extent that America remains behind the curve on climate, journalists must be clear with audiences that were losing at a team sport. But this crisis is winnable. In fact, the latest science says if humanity enacts ambitious policies now to zero out greenhouse gas emissions, global temperature rise will halt in as little as three to five yearsdown from the decades that scientists previously thought. Amid all else that weighs on the worldnot least Russias invasion of Ukraineas journalists, we must preserve space for the biggest story of all. Just as climate is a standard by which we should judge the president, its a good standard by which we journalists should judge ourselves. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Andrew McCormick is an independent journalist and former CJR Delacorte Fellow. His work has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, the South China Morning Post, and more. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewMcCormck. In the five days since Russia declared war on Ukraine, invading troops have drawn ever closer and their attacks have grown more deadly. Domestic and foreign reporters on the ground are struggling to determine how much danger is too much, and where they can most effectively cover the conflict. On this weeks Kicker, NPRs Eleanor Beardsley and Igor Kossov, a journalist at the Kyiv Independent, speak with Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of CJR. The two journalists, both attempting to leave the country as they speak, discuss the war they witnessed and their decision to leave. SHOW NOTES The Ukraine invasion, and breaking our worst habits, Kyle Pope, CJR Fighting breaks out after Russian troops enter Ukraines second-largest city, Eleanor Beardsley, All Things Considered Sanctions likely to seriously hurt Russia. But they may not stop the war, Igor Kossov, the Kyiv Independent TRANSCRIPT Eleanor Beardsley: Can you hear me? Kyle Pope: Yes, go ahead. Eleanor Beardsley: OK, Im heading out today. Kyle Pope: Youre in a car with an NPR colleague? Eleanor Beardsley: Yes, theyre trying to get us out through Hungary, so were driving through the Carpathian Mountains. Were catching a bus to the Hungarian border. Were going to walk across and catch another bus to Budapest, and hopefully Ill have my flight to Paris tomorrow. Kyle Pope: How far is the walk? Eleanor Beardsley: We just have to walk over the border, I dont think its too far. Well, I dont know actually, there could be tons of people at the border crossing. Were just trying to catch our bus to get there, and then well find out. Its supposed to be less crowded than Poland. Kyle Pope: And where were you before this? Eleanor Beardsley: OK, before this I flew to Kyiv on Friday the 18th, and I spent a couple of days in Kyiv. Then I went east to the Donbas, and I went right up against the separatist Republic, some small towns like 10 miles from the front line. I ended up not going in the trenches or anything like that, but I was over in the east and then drove out of there and went to Kharkiv that one night, and thats when the invasion started, the next morning. We spent one night in Kharkiv and my husband called me at 3:30 in the morning from Paris and said where are you because CNN is reporting that Putin is going to invade Kharkiv. And I said, Oh, Im in Kharkiv. Its kind of a horrible feeling. And then I spent the entire day. As soon as Putin declared war, I heard the explosions and it was just chilling, because we knew that it was starting. So we decided to get out instead of, you know, hunker down. We didnt think theyd start shelling, so we thought lets just get out of here. We left at 5:30 in the morning. Kyle Pope: How was the reporting before you left? How did you find the mood of the people? How did you go about doing your job? Eleanor Beardsley: Oh, well, I was in this village, Slovyansk. It was a village that was basically occupied by the separatists. They spent only like three months under separatist occupation, but its horrible. Like the journalists felt threatened. It was just a terrible time and many things were destroyed, peoples houses. The Ukrainian army took it back, and everybody was very glad. They were close, they were in Donetsk Oblast, so they were close. They never want to live under that, and Im going to do a story about that. That was my next big feature, but the invasion came the next morning. I spent the whole day there and then drove out and the invasion came. I reached some of the people a couple days later, and they hadnt been invaded yet, but now I havent been able to reach them, and I fear that theyreI mean, the Republic is going to enlarge, try to take all of the Donbas. and the attack is on for Kharkiv and Kyiv, and then up from the south. *We watched the country completely change. everything changed. It changes every day. The first day of the state of shock, people in an absolute state of shock. We went out on the highways at 5:30 in the morning and there was nobody out. Then they started getting crowded. People just with a stunned look on their face. Then the next day it was anger. We rode by little towns, and there were hundreds of men out ready to enlist in the army, in the territorial defense. Fathers and sons together and you could see an anger. And then next day theyre mobilizing, and theres roadblocks put up everywhere,. On highways, going into little towns, and neighborhoods. People had brought out guns, just protecting, looking for Russian saboteurs. I mean, the roads and many checkpoints at night, you have to turn the lights on, and the satellite thing, and look at you. They want to know who you are and the whole nation is really vigil. I mean, theyre preparing. And as they watch these two cities, the onslaught on the two biggest cities, the rest of the country knows that they could be next, and people are getting ready. We went to a little town, and when we arrived theres an air raid, sirens going off, and people were just calmly filing down under us. Please go into this bunker under there they had benches set up, food and water, and they had little beds for all the kids. They were big enough so adults could fit on them too. People were lying there. Some people brought their dogs down. Other people had cats in cages. Its like theyve been doing it forever and theyve only been doing it two days, a couple days ago. And so its a completely different country and things are shut down. Things are closed mostly. Kyle Pope: How are people eating, are the grocery stores open? Eleanor Beardsley: Yeah, the grocery stores are still open, though in that little town we went to, the family said that they had gone that day, and there were no provisions. The clerk said that the trucks had been shot at at the border. Not the border, the boundary, the town limits. Theres a lot of fear. Nobody knows whats going on, and stores are open and theres food and water. Theres huge lines at the gas station. Thats a big thing, and theyve only been letting people get five gallons at a time. Thats a big deal if you dont have your car gassed up. We had to wait a long time for gas, many times. Kyle Pope: So Eleanor, let me ask you about the call from your husband. So he called at 3:30 in the morning when this happened. You talked to him. I know that you have kids at home. How much did you debate this in your head? I assume youd already been thinking about this, do I stay or do I go? But tell me about the thought process there. Eleanor Beardsley: It was really scary, I was actually really scared. I wasnt like, my life was going to end, but I really thought, My God, I am in the far east of Ukraine, 25 miles from Russia, in this teeny town. And of course, you know, the time we talked, I didnt believe any of this. That it could be this. I couldnt fathom it. I mean, it was wrong. I was one hundred percent wrong. But many other people, Ukrainians are in a state of shock. Its like were having World War II in 2022. Its unfathomable. I just received a video of Kharkiv being shelled from a friend of mine. Its her apartment building she can see in the background. She now lives in California, but her father is in there and hes 80 years old, and the people who filmed it, theyre talking, and you can see shells are raining down on a residential housing block. So yes, at that moment, our security guys said we need to go to the basement. My husband said Do you have a French passport? I can never remember. Im like, No, I dont have a French passport, I need to get one. He said, You shouldnt be stuck there with your American passport, you know? And I just thought, Oh my God, I dont want to be here when the Russian soldiers arrive, is all I could think. You dont know what to do. When he called me, it was dark, and I called our security guy next door, and we decided to go on the road in a car, the three of us alone on the dark roads. And that didnt seem safe, so we decided to wait till daylight and then decide, and we decided to go. And Im so glad we did, because after that it sounds like the roads were blocked, and you cant get back. But millions of Ukrainian people are making that same decision. Some are hunkering down and some are leaving. And I thought so much about World War II, about the Jewish people. Maybe they didnt believe it either. Kyle Pope: I talked to a journalist from the Kiev Independent who was exactly where you are. He was in a car leaving the town. Hes in a different situation, he lives in Ukraine, hes a young guy. But he was like, Im leaving but I dont know if its the right thing to do. Should I turn around and go back? I dont know what to do. You know, I am reminded of our last conversation and we talked about this, and you had the view that I had, that a lot of people had, like this can never happen. This is absurd. Do you still, even having seen what youve seen and experienced these last few days, do you still have a hard time wrapping your head around it? Eleanor Beardsley: Yes, I do. And I think Putin has really lost, hes unhinged or something, he does not understand Ukraine today. Theyve been in a bubble with phone or internet or something. The first day I was like, Is this a dream? I cannot believe this is happening. Then when you look at the footage, these soldiers are rolling into a country thats done nothing and they are attacking it. And I still cant imagine how theyre going to occupy it. Theyre going to be attacked from now until kingdom come. They will not have one moments peace here. And but its going to be long and its going to be horrible, and no, I still cant believe it, and neither can the Ukrainians. And I will tell you one thing, I will never doubt US intelligence again, its unbelievable. I mean, they got it exactly right. These crazy predictions about a full-scale assault on these major cities, which seems so absurd when you hear. Its just a normal place, youve got a beautiful, nice city. It does seem unreal, and then when you see the footage of whats happening. I mean, I think Putins a madman, a Hitler type character who lives in this world of fantasy and who nobody can reach, maybe. No one can tell him the truth. It seems like that. And a person like that can do anything, so its very dangerous. Kyle Pope: Are you feeling a sense of relief for your personal safety, or are you still worried about the journey that you have ahead of you? Eleanor Beardsley: No, Im not worried for my personal safety. I think I was a couple of times, like trying to get out that first morning in Kharkiv. I felt very alone at 3:30 in the morning in the dark, straining my ears just to see if I could hear these attacks. I still couldnt believe it, why is everybody fighting? And it was scary. You know, air raid sirens, and you dont know, is that plane is going to fly overhead and strike us? But I havent really been scared, just that first morning. If I was going back, if I was in Kyiv, Id be terrified, yes. Terrified of being shelled and terrified of what the Russian troops would do when they found an American journalist. Its not only like young Russians. Its Chechens, and mercenaries, and the Wagner Group. Really scary people. Kyle Pope: Well, its great to connect with you. Good luck on this. Hopefully, this last couple of legs here, and Ill be thinking of you and looking forward to talking to you next time from your apartment in Paris. Eleanor Beardsley: Okay, and the next time I hope not to get it so wrong. And never doubt US intel. Theyre good. Kyle Pope: All right, Eleanor, be safe. Take care, good to talk to you. Eleanor Beardsley: Thank you. Good to talk to you too. Bye bye. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Amanda Darrach is a contributor to CJR and a visiting scholar at the University of St Andrews School of International Relations. Follow her on Twitter @thedarrach. In the back of Facility magazine is a list of door entry codes for bathrooms throughout New York City: the TJ Maxx near Union Square, the Standard Hotel in the East Village. Even though the publication keeps a more up-to-date list on its website, sometimes the codes change. (Chipotle is particularly notorious for this.) When in doubt, the magazine advises that many places print their bathroom codes on their receiptsthose can be lifted from trash cans. Some bathrooms in the list come with an extra endorsement: a reader says this bathroom is the shit, Facility noted for a Guitar Center in Queens. The most basic of needs is what informs the rest of the independent, hundred-plus-paged, black-and-white magazine devoted to all things bathroom and hygiene. Erin Sheehy conceived of the magazine with another writer, Elizabeth Gumport, in 2019. When I actually started thinking of it, Sheehy says, all of a sudden I had around like twenty ideas for stories, and they were actually good. Sheehy and Gumport, who edit the magazine together, realized it was a specific way to address the broad topics they were interested in, including public spaces, city infrastructure, and the environment, while thinking about gender, race, class, and disability. It was like, you can talk about all those things, and it might be funny or gross, but theres something sort of freeing about it being a little silly like that, Sheehy said. They took inspiration from a seventies magazine about gourmet bathing called Wet. Even though Sheehy says the magazine didnt really define gourmet bathing, it had a compelling sensibility in covering topics beyond hot tubs. (Its a lens thats proved of interest to a few other writers as well.) The first issue of Facility explores history with stories like Howd We Get Segregated Bathrooms, Anyways? by Gumport and The Groom of the Stool, by Sheehy, about Henry VIIIs bathroom servant. The issue recounts events like the 504 Sit-in that helped ensure disability access in public spaces (yes, including bathrooms) and riots over sanitation at the El PasoJuarez border in 1917. Sign up for CJR 's daily email These stories sit between sink photography, morning-routine surveys, interviews with plumbers, and reviews of pill capsules and cleaning ingredients. Facility leans into the inherent silliness of the topictheres a guide on which household item best replicates the look of urinebut deftly maneuvers through being a literary publication, art portfolio, beauty blog, and trade magazine. Its stories can be read on their own, but like any good magazine, the full issue of Facility offers its own rewards. They were working on the second issue when the pandemic hit, and Sheehy initially had her doubts. It was like, should we be making a bathroom magazine right now? But soon people started reaching out to her, talking about fears around contamination, hygiene, restricted access to public bathrooms, and more. What was originally planned to be shorter became another full-fledged issue. In that issue, Joyce S. Lee, a researcher and zine creator, explored toilet paper design. I had been thinking about embossing on toilet paper as analogous to that on business cards, a symbolic rather than functional enhancement, Lee wrote. I hadnt considered that embossings texture could play a role in performancethe same way that the weave of dish towels functions differently than, say, that of a bath towel. Lee mused on the broader utility of toilet paper, reflecting on its scarcity at the start of the pandemic and drawing from her experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, where she became used to washing with water instead. As her Peace Corps instructor put it: Imagine you had poo on your handwould it feel cleaner if you wiped it off with some paper, or if you washed it with soap and water? (Yes, they do review bidets.) An essay by Ward 5B, Bleach: The Scent of Plague, recalls how bleach once again permeated his senses during the coronaviruss initial outbreak, just as it had over thirty years ago during the aids epidemic. In another story, Sheehy penned an essay about the role of water in protests during the summer of 2020 after George Floyds death. Sheehy and Gumport financed the first issue of Facility themselves; sales from the first issue paid for the second. They print the magazines out of a facility in Queens, and then ship them out of Sheehys apartment in Brooklyn. Its a small operation that doesnt yield much profit. Were just delighted by the idea that someone would find this in twenty years, she said, and be like, What is this? Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Feven Merid is CJR's staff writer and Senior Delacorte Fellow. BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Parts of Australias third-most populous city Brisbane were under water Monday after heavy rain brought record flooding to some east coast areas and killed eight people. The flooding in Brisbane and its surrounds is the worst since 2011 when the city of 2.6 million people was inundated by what was described as a once-in-a-century event. The latest fatality was a man in his 50s who drowned on Monday after driving his car into floodwater before dawn at Gold Coast city, south of Brisbane, Queensland state police said. The bodies of the man and his dog were retrieved hours later from a submerged car which had been washed from the road, a police statement said. Queensland emergency services warned life-threatening flash flooding was occurring in parts of Gold Coast. Emergency crews made more than 130 swift-water rescues in 24 hours, officials said. All eight flood deaths have been in Queensland state, of which Brisbane is the capital. A search continues for a solo sailor, aged in his 70s, who fell overboard from his vessel in the Brisbane River near the city center on Saturday. Police were also searching for a man missing from Goodna, west of Brisbane and another Esk, northwest of Brisbane. South of the Queensland border, police on Monday were searching for man after officers heard him calling for help on Sunday in floodwaters in the New South Wales town of Lismore. Police warned downtown Brisbane businesses along the river waterfront to evacuate after a pontoon carrying a crane broke from its moorings upstream and began riding the floodwaters toward them. Multiple emergency flood alerts were in place for Brisbane suburbs, where 2,145 homes and 2,356 businesses were submerged on Monday. Another 10,827 properties were partially flooded above the floorboards. The Brisbane River peaked on Monday at 3.85 meters (12 foot, 3 inches), officials said. That was 61 centimeters (2 feet) below the 4.46 meter (14 foot, 3 inch) flood level reached in 2011, officials said. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the rainfall over Brisbane had been extraordinary since November when authorities were considering water use restrictions due to a shortage. It is still a significant event, and I think everyone would agree no one has seen this amount of rain in such a short period of time, in the southeastern area, Palaszczuk said. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the floods are very different to 2011 because the rain pummeled the region for five days. In 2011, the rain had stopped days before the Brisbane River peaked and authorities had warned for several days of flooding downstream. Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said major roads had been cut. Train and ferry services across Brisbane have been halted, he said. Were going to have localized flooding in a lot of areas for a couple of days yet, Bailey said. Lismore was bracing for its worst flooding on record. Downtown Lismore was inundated on Monday after days of unrelenting rain and 15,000 people had been evacuated, officials said. About the photo: In this photo provided by the Fraser Coast Regional Council, water floods streets and houses in Maryborough, Australia, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Heavy rain is bringing record flooding to some east coast areas while the flooding in Brisbane, a population of 2.6 million, and its surrounds is the worst since 2011 when the city was inundated by what was described as a once-in-a-century event. (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services via AP) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A swath of major American businesses from major banks to utility companies is preparing for possible cyberattacks against their computer networks as Russia on Thursday threatened consequences for nations that interfere with its invasion of Ukraine. Their concerns, echoed in C-suites and around Washington, follow recent warnings from the Biden administration that U.S. firms should harden their defenses against potential cyberattacks that could disrupt the nations critical infrastructure. American officials say there are no current threats against the U.S. But they have nonetheless urged organizations to plan for worst-case scenarios and more aggressively monitor their computer networks for possible intrusions. Right now, everybody needs to be at a heightened alert in the event this continues to escalate, and Russia tries to sway political opinion by causing damage in the United States and its Western allies, said David Kennedy, the chief executive officer of security firm TrustedSec. He said companies should be going through their computer infrastructure with a fine-tooth comb to ensure previous intrusions cant be used to cause future, more damaging, attacks. Major U.S. banks, for instance, fear aggressive cyberattacks if Washington imposes deeper financial sanctions on Russia, said two banking executives who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. CEOs of major financial firms and their cybersecurity experts recently met with Treasury officials as Russian threats of war intensified, according to the executives. (The New York Times previously reported the meeting.) Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that any foreign attempts to interfere with Russias actions in would lead to consequences you have never experienced, according to remarks of his speech provided by the Kremlin. U.S. officials have tied recent cyberattacks on government websites and banks in Ukraine to the Russian government. On Thursday, President Joe Biden warned that the U.S. is prepared to respond to any cyberattacks. Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has been urging U.S. businesses and organizations to be prepared for cyberattacks, despite the lack of specific threats. Russia may consider taking retaliatory action in response to sanctions that may impact our critical infrastructure, she tweeted on Tuesday. Those warnings were echoed by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in a letter Wednesday to energy executives, urging them to prepare to the highest possible level for potential Russia-linked cyber and disinformation activity or cybercriminal activity from actors seeking to exploit the ongoing geopolitical situation. CISAs Shields Up campaign has encouraged cyber preparedness in recent days, from ensuring that software is up to date to designating a crisis-response team for a suspected cybersecurity incident. The Russian government understands that disabling or destroying critical infrastructure including power and communications can augment pressure on a countrys government, military and population and accelerate their acceding to Russian objectives, according to a webpage devoted to the campaign. Speaking on a panel for the Aspen Institute last week, Easterly said, We all recognize that early warnings of a cyberattack effecting U.S. organizations are frankly going to be identified by very likely a private company first rather than the government. Michael Daniel, who served as a cybersecurity coordinator under President Barack Obama, said he is most worried about a Russian hacking operation that spirals out of control. I think its almost inevitable that there will be some sort of spillover effect, he said, which could start with neighboring countries but extend further to the U.S. Steven Silberstein, chief executive officer of the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, known as FS-ISAC, an organization that shares cyber intelligence among financial institutions around the world, said in a statement: Our global intelligence team is continuing to actively assess the situation through enhanced monitoring and cross-border threat intelligence sharing across the financial services sector. Our members and the broader financial services industry remain vigilant. Electric utilities are closely monitoring the situation and are coordinating across the industry and with our government partners, said Scott Aaronson, a security executive at the Edison Electric Institute, a trade group. The Solar Energy Industries Association, meanwhile, encouraged its members in a message Thursday to discuss your organizations cyber response procedures with your staff and have a clear understanding of everyones roles and responsibilities. Other experts urged caution, saying it wasnt a given that Russia would wage cyberattacks against American organizations in retaliation. Adam Meyers, senior vice president for intelligence at the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike Holdings Inc., said he didnt currently anticipate Russia attacking U.S. targets in retaliation for sanctions or other actions from the Biden administration. Meyers said the guise of the Russian effort is a peacekeeping mission, and to them attack Western entities would be problematic for that narrative. With assistance from Hannah Levitt, Katherine Doherty, Mark Chediak and William Turton. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The State Bar of California is investigating a data breach after learning that a website published confidential information about 260,000 attorney discipline cases in California and other jurisdictions. State Bar officials learned about the posted records on Feb. 24, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday. As of Saturday night, all the confidential information that had been published on the website judyrecords.com had been removed, the newspaper said. The records included case numbers, file dates, information about the types of cases and their statuses, respondent and complaining witnesses names. We apologize to anyone who is affected by the websites unlawful display of nonpublic data, State Bar executive Leah Wilson said in a statement. We take our obligations to protect confidential data with the utmost seriousness, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that we resolve this issue quickly and prevent any such breaches from recurring. Full case records were not published. Officials said they dont know whether the published information was the result of a hacking incident. Judyrecords.com is a website that aggregates nationwide court case records. The State Bar website allows the public to search for case information, but the information on the attorney discipline cases posted by judyrecords.com is not supposed to be available to the public, the Times said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Claremore, OK (74018) Today Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. Low 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. Low 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected. If a visitor to Israel had the time to take a month to really get to know the country, I would recommend the period that has just concluded from Passover through Israeli Independence Day. Its Israel in a nutshell. And it also happens to be a time of year when most of the days are picture- Emporia, KS (66801) Today Periods of rain. The rain will be heavy at times. High 56F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers likely. Low 53F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. South Euclid could see its first medical marijuana dispensary by the end of this year or early 2023. At a Feb. 14 city council meeting, council unanimously approved a conditional-use permit that would allow the Nevada-based The Source dispensary, named in the legislation as The Source Holding Ohio LLC, to open at 14481 Cedar Road in the former Huntington Bank building. When medical marijuana sales became legal in Ohio in 2017, city council approved legislation that would allow dispensaries within the city as a conditional use, and also set up guidelines preventing the businesses from being near schools, libraries, churches or playgrounds. According to Michael Love, city economic development director, The Source was one of 12 applications received when applications for dispensaries were reopened in 2021 and was one of seven businesses randomly selected from those applications. If all goes according to plan, The Source will lease the building, he told the Cleveland Jewish News. This will be our first medical marijuana dispensary in South Euclid, Love said, with the closest one being Buckeye Relief in Cleveland Heights, which is set to open early this year. Beyond that, you have to go pretty far west or east to access a dispensary. Out of those applying, we were happy (The Source) was selected. The former Huntington Bank building also seemed somewhat conducive for The Source, as it is both a free-standing building and soon to be fully vacant once Arova, a kosher restaurant, moves to the Cedar Center shopping plaza in a few weeks. Its going to be totally vacant, so they can come in and do a comprehensive renovation of the building, Love said. We think it works out well as a location for the dispensary, and it will beautify a building that definitely needs some love. Love said he also believes the community will respond well to the dispensary. In our discussions with The Source, theyve said they want to be very supportive of the community and want to be involved, he said. We dont know exactly how that will play out as it is still to be determined, but we think they will be a good community partner. Before moving forward, The Source has a few more approvals on the state level, which is a three-to-six month process, Love said. Then they have to submit all of their plans to the city for review, which is administered through the building and fire departments. Ruth Gray, South Euclid City Council president, told the CJN that the city has done our due diligence and believed a dispensary within the community warranted opportunity. Medical marijuana is something our society needs and is regulated, she said. The ability for people to create entrepreneurship on it while also serving a medical need is something in line with what South Euclid wanted to do. Gray added The Source has done their homework, and she believes they can present a good application to the state for their licenses when the time comes. Love mirrored the sentiment that a medical marijuana dispensary, and specifically The Source, is a good fit for the South Euclid community. We look forward to working with The Source because everything that weve heard and discussed with them shows them to be a really good company that aims to be very involved, he said. The Source has four locations in Nevada two in Las Vegas, one in Reno and another in Henderson. Simon Nankervis, CEO of The Source, previously lived in Columbus for several years and worked for Designer Brands. Clinton, IA (52732) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Charles Dumas, a professor emeritus from Penn States College of Arts and Architectures School of Theatre, described himself as a foot soldier during the 1960s civil rights movement. Dumas, the School of Theatres first Black professor to receive tenure, said he went to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech and later met King in 1964 while helping people in Mississippi register to vote. He was involved in a variety of committees and events during the civil rights movement, including the Congress for Racial Inequality and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Dumas said in the South during the 60s, activists lived under fear of terror at all times. If you stepped out of line, you could be killed, and if you were killed, you would be sure that the people who did it would not be prosecuted, as in the case of Emmett Till, he said. By risking their lives fighting white supremacy in the South, Dumas said King and his supporters hoped to appeal to the conscience of white America. Starting in 1964, Dumas said he worked as a full-time civil rights activist for 8 or 9 years by helping register people to vote, traveling and working in places like Mississippi, California and New York. We were poor workers, Dumas said. We werent doing it for money because there was no money. We were doing it because we wanted to make a change in the world. Jo Dumas, Charles wife and an associate teaching professor in Penn States Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, said she has very vivid recollections of Little Rock Central High School being integrated in 1957. She said she was outraged seeing adults beating and intimidating Black teenagers on television. Once the Vietnam War began, Jos father served as an officer in the military. The fact that he was still opposed to the war strongly influenced her opinion that the war was unethical, Jo said. Despite the intimidation, Charles said he and his fellow activists always had hope. Charles, 76, said his parents generation fought in World War II. The Black soldiers were inspired by the Double V campaign, which meant victory overseas and victory at home, according to Charles. We were a generation growing up with the notion that it was courageous, honorable and fully American to fight for democracy, freedom and equality, Charles said. MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE As the 60s progressed, the civil rights movement found itself marching alongside anti-Vietnam War protesters, according to Charles, who said American conservatives elected Richard Nixon in 1968 out of fear of these protesters. Charles said conservatives thought of protesters who entered the streets and demonstrated against the war as lawless. He called these protests one of the most American things ever. If theres one thing about American exceptionalism, it is the fact that we as a people and we as individuals think that if something is wrong, you open your mouth and try to change it, Charles said. Charles said the assassination of King in 1968 was a turning point in the civil rights movement since King preached nonviolence and was not a physical threat to anyone. While Charles and his fellow activists succeeded in changing segregation law, what they couldnt change was an assassin murdering King or Robert F. Kennedy, which led to despair and frustration among the activists, Charles said. Jo said King epitomized goodness. Everything he communicated with people through his writings and through his speaking was about rising to those better angels that we can all become, Jo said. He appeared to be someone who had already done it. After King was killed, Jo said she and many other supporters had to rediscover our goodness. We had to rediscover that commitment and that love we had for a path of nonviolence, Jo said. Charles said he ran for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvanias 5th District in 2012. Even though he lost to Republican Glenn Thompson, Dumas said he believed his Democratic campaigning helped Obama win Pennsylvania. Charles said he also ran for the New York State Senate in 1980, where he was endorsed by Coretta Scott King, Martins wife, and Jo said Coretta attended an event Charles and Jo hosted for her. Jo said she was getting the refreshments ready, but Coretta would not allow me to stay in the background. Coretta told Jo behind every man doing great work is someone unsung working alongside, and Jo recalled Coretta as the most down-to-earth person. After Martins death, Jo said she admired how Coretta would continue to laugh, joke and play despite all of the responsibility she had taken on as she continued advocating for civil rights. For Charles, he said hes always very impressed with young peoples advocacy especially with how confident he said they are about confronting climate change. One sign of hope he said he saw for the future was how Parkland, Florida, high school students reacted to their school being attacked in 2018. On Feb. 14, 2018, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the high school, opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others. Their friends had been killed, and instead of crawling into a hole, they started organizing against guns and created thousands of people coming to Washington. Charles said. These were high school kids. They were younger than me when I went to Mississippi. That gave me hope. MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE In 1997, Charles directed the classic 1959 Lorraine Hansberry play A Raisin in the Sun at Penn State, which was the first play written by an African American person to be performed on Penn States main stage, according to Charles. Charles said he was asked where he would find Black actors for the play, since the universitys School of Theatre was predominantly white at the time. There were Black students all over the campus, Charles said, and he said Frances Foster, who was a dear friend he brought in from New York to play Mama, was the only person in the cast from outside of Penn State. Foster was the understudy to the younger Ruth in the original Broadway production. According to Cynthia Henderson, who played Ruth in Penn States 1997 production, Foster took over Ruths role on Broadway when Ruby Dee played Ruth in the 1961 film. Charles said this would be the last play Foster performed before she died. Henderson, currently a professor and the associate chair of the Department of Theatre Arts at Ithaca College, called the 1997 play one of the most artistically satisfying experiences shes had. Carla Hargrove, who played Beneatha in the 1997 Penn State production, said Charles would require the actors to do research on their characters to explain choices the characters made in the play. He didnt let us skimp on that research, Hargrove said. Hargrove said while auditioning for the play, she felt more connected to Ruth and really wanted to play her. However, being cast as Beneatha forced her to think differently and go to different places than she had planned. It was a nice process to be able to explore parts of myself that I had not intentionally thought about, Hargrove said. Being cast as Beneatha helped Hargrove realize that, as a performer, Its not necessarily what you get its what you do with what you have, she said. Henderson and Hargrove both graduated from Penn State in 1997. Henderson called A Raisin in the Sun a perfect play in terms of its structure and encapsulation of the civil rights movement. She also praised the plays universality of family dynamics, calling it one of the great kitchen sink family dramas alongside Death of a Salesman. For Hargrove, Penn States production of the play has a special place in her memory. The whole show and the whole time has a little halo around it, Hargrove said. It was a good time. Both Charles and Jo have always been mentors to Henderson, she said, ever since they met in 1996, when Henderson became Charles office assistant. Hargrove also gave praise to Charles for his passion for community involvement. Its really, really rare to find someone like him someone who has achieved all that he has achieved but also is so very willing to give back, Hargrove said. Hargrove said she thinks of Charles as her adopted dad. Charles and Jo are also close with Hargroves daughter, often mailing her birthday cards. Charles has stayed in Hendersons life since the play in 1997, and she invited Charles to teach a theatre and race workshop at Ithaca College over Zoom in 2021. Henderson called the workshop eye-opening and wonderful, and she said about half of Ithacas theatre department attended. For Hargrove, wherever she goes, she tries to remind her colleagues to maintain a focus on Black history, art and culture throughout the year. There shouldnt be just a rush to pay attention in February, Hargrove said. There shouldnt be an eyeglass shone down on Black people from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28. Charles campaigning across the hinterlands or red sea of rural Pennsylvania had some similarities to the campaigning he did nearly 50 years earlier, he said. While the messages were different, Charles said the political process has always been about engagement and knocking on doors. Charles said one of the motivations for knocking on doors in the 60s was to humanize the civil rights movement. People saw that you didnt have two heads, and you werent some kind of communist conspirator running around trying to destroy America, Charles said. For Charles, he said he had the same goals throughout his 2012 election campaign. Theyre gonna see that Im like them, Charles said. Ive got my mortgage, my children, my grandchildren, and Im trying to build a better world for all of our children. MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE Cathleen Hunt, teaching professor and co-director of undergraduate studies in psychology at Penn State, has spent the last 15 years dedicated to psychology education and research. For as long as I can remember, I knew that I wanted to learn more about human and animal behavior, Hunt said. Early in her career, Hunt developed a passion for developmental studies by pursuing her undergraduate degree in her home state at the University of California Davis, her masters degree at California State University, Sacramento, and her Ph.D. at the University of Arizona. My research experience as an undergraduate was mainly focused on an animal behavior group, Hunt said. But my masters thesis was focused on people. Since finishing her Ph.D., Hunt has become well-versed in ethology and human behavior, human development and behavior genetics, she said. Following her arrival at Penn State, Hunt has been an active member of the psychology faculty. Every semester, I teach a ton of really interesting classes, Hunt said. I teach Introduction to Learning Psychology, Introduction to Developmental Psychology and Evolutionary Psychology. For Hunt, teaching has always been something she wanted to pursue. I was sure that I wanted to be an academic-oriented psychologist since I started my undergrad, Hunt said. Luckily, [teaching] stuck. Furthermore, Hunt said she enjoys everything she teaches and interacting with her students in and out of the classroom. Hunt said shes also involved in advising students, mentoring undergraduate teaching assistants and judging undergraduate and graduate research conferences. The processes involved in development and learning have also been centerpieces of her research. I havent been actively researching for a while now, Hunt said. But, my last project was working to demystify research articles for students so that they feel more comfortable reading and comprehending published research in scholarly articles. For this project, Hunt allowed her students to take part in the research process. I have hope for the future of research, Hunt said. I hope to see continued research in the biological components of human and primate behavior. Hunt said the relationships with her undergraduate TAs are really important to her. MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE My favorite part about being a professor is being able to mentor students, Hunt said. I have enjoyed getting to know my undergraduate TAs better as students and as individuals. Hunt, similar to the rest of Penn State, said she felt the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in her classroom. I tried to let my students know that we could get through this together, Hunt said. I tried to make my students smile at least one time during class. Because of her experience advising students, Hunt offered advice to students who want to pursue higher education in psychology. If youre interested in pursuing a career in psychology, do your best to get research experience, Hunt said. You should also try to get one-on-one experience with a faculty member. Mikayla Day has experienced being both a student and TA for Hunt. I took her developmental psychology course during the spring semester of my sophomore year, Day (senior-psychology) said. She asked me if I wanted to be a [teaching] assistant because I asked her more questions than any other student. Day said Hunt is not just a great professor but a great person in general. Dr. Hunt is different because she empathizes with every student and wants people to do well if they want to do well. Day said. She will go out of her way to have a conversation with you she is very approachable and genuinely cares about what she is teaching. For Day, her favorite topic to learn and teach with Hunt is fetal psychology. Samantha Ricciardella, another former student and a current TA of Hunts, echoed Days thoughts. I took her class during my first semester freshman year, Ricciardella (freshman-psychology) said. During class, my favorite subject was the stages of cognitive development. Ricciardella said near the end of the class, she wasnt ready for it to be over. I really wanted to become a TA because of how much I enjoyed her class, Ricciardella said. So when she asked me to TA for her, I was overjoyed. For Ricciardella, Hunt did a great job at keeping the students involved in the class. She is just an amazing lecturer, Riciardella said. She does a wonderful job keeping everyone in the class engaged and interested. Besides being a TA for Hunt, Ricciardella said she enjoys being around Hunt because of her positive style of teaching. She cares so much about her students, Ricciardella said. She also just has so much experience in the psychology field that she has so many stories and real world examples. MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE Im no Carrie Bradshaw. Real life isnt drinking martinis and dating the most eligible men in the city. Lets face it: Martinis in London are about 12 (thats about $16), and the most eligible men arent stalking the local pubs. But theres a very important difference between Carrie and all people my age Tinder, Hinge and Bumble. You might think there are no differences between being on dating apps in the U.S. compared to the U.K., but youd be wrong. London specifically is a melting pot of cultures. In addition to the many American exchange students, there are different nationalities with their own customs when it comes to dating. Being a straight, white 21-year-old, Im only looking at men in my dating pool. That being said, the only similarity between men in the U.S. and the U.K. is that I frequently ask the question, Why do men? Thats it, thats the question. A gentleman from Hinge once asked me if I have an American accent. Another asked why my name was Megaladon (exact spelling). Again, Why do men? The biggest difference between the two countries is that I havent gotten one request for my Snapchat username. Each time a guy asks, it's always for my Instagram handle. It seems here in the U.K., Instagram direct messages trade places with Snapchat as the first line of initial communication. If Ive progressed past the Instagram trial run, hell ask for my WhatsApp. Forget iMessage games, this is WhatsApp, where the only cool thing is you can change the background of your text chains. One positive Ive noticed is that lads here are quick to set up a date. Instead of talking for a couple of weeks over Snapchat, theyll quickly ask to grab a drink and meet face-to-face. I dont know about all the other ladies out there, but meeting a stranger in a public setting rather than a 1 a.m., You up? text is much better. Plus, free drinks (if youre of age of course). In addition, each bathroom of every pub has flyers advertising the pubs no harassment policy. If any woman feels unsafe, the safety initiative called Ask for Angela allows women protection from dangerous dates. Sexual harassment is no joke, and I appreciate that pubs take that issue seriously. My personal apps of choice are Hinge and Bumble. I like having conversations with people and feel those two are the apps where that most happens. The prompts allow something that Tinder could never substance. Instead of just superficially judging pictures on Tinder, you can also superficially judge their personality with prompts, too. Leading the conversations toward, Can you be my tour guide, Im American, can yield lots of restaurant recommendations or even your very own tour guide. Carrie Bradshaw could never. Clothing is also different. A blanket statement doesnt cover all of the male existence in the U.S., as the vast majority of men seem to love the gray sweatpants, sweatshirt and flannel combo. No hate, as women also get called out for wearing the same jeans and black crop top combo in a group. In the U.K., due mostly to the fact that people constantly dress nice, theres no cookie cutter outfit that all men wear. Men will come to the date dressed to impress and impress it does. Obviously, these are just my cultural observations. I cannot encompass the entire ecosystem of online dating differences between the U.K. and the U.S. By no means am I hating on any men in any country. Im just embracing the differences I observe. If I could give any advice, it would be to embrace said differences. There are pros and cons for everything, right? In this June 29, 2018, file photo, wild horses occupy a watering hole outside Salt Lake City. The U.S. government is seeking new pastures for thousands of wild horses that have overpopulated Western ranges. Landowners interested in hosting large numbers of rounded-up wild horses on their property can now apply with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Would you like to receive our news updates? Signup today! Sign up to receive notifications when a new Columbia Gorge News e-Edition is published. Error! There was an error processing your request. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. News and Info from our Community Partners Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?) Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. 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 New rocket to be partially reusable By ZHAO LEI (China Daily) 08:38, March 01, 2022 The Shenzhou XIII spacecraft and the Long March 2F carrier rocket are moved from a testing facility to a launch tower at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Oct 7, 2021. WANG JIANGBO/FOR CHINA DAILY China's next-generation rocket designed to carry astronauts will be multifunctional and partly reusable, according to a senior rocket scientist. Wang Xiaojun, president of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the country's major maker of carrier rockets, told an international forum in mid-February that the new rocket, which has yet to be named, will have two models. The first will consist of a two-stage core booster and will be used to transport astronauts or cargo to China's Tiangong space station, while the other will have a three-stage core booster and multiple side boosters and will be tasked with carrying astronauts to the moon. The first model will be able to send 14 metric tons of payload to the low-Earth orbit in which the Tiangong station is traveling. The second model will be capable of carrying spacecraft weighing about 27 tons to an Earth-moon transfer trajectory, a gateway for lunar landings, Wang said. The first two stages of their core boosters will be basically identical while there will be a third stage on the moon-landing rocket, he said. The first stage of the models will be reusable, Wang said, explaining that the component will have a controlled, powered landing with its own engines and will be captured by a special recovery net. Wang's remarks were made at the International Symposium on Outlook and Cooperation on Near-Earth Orbit Human Spaceflight on Feb 17 and were published by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp last week. The virtual conference was co-hosted by the Chinese Society of Astronautics and the International Astronautical Federation. Chinese space industry engineers have been working to make their rockets reusable for several years and have made substantial progress via technology demonstration tests. Jiang Jie, a senior rocket designer at Wang's academy and a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said research and development of the reusable variant of the Long March 8 rocket are proceeding well. She said designers are developing an integrated first stage for the reusable variant. It will consist of a core booster and two side boosters. Instead of breaking up and falling back to Earth like the first stages of all previous Chinese rockets, the new core and side boosters will stay together and make a powered landing at a preset landing site or a recovery platform at sea. The only reusable rocket that has entered operational service is SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, which made its maiden launch in February 2018. All boosters on the US rocket's first stage can be recovered and reused as they separate from each other before controlled reentry and landing. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) 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 What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 319-352-3334 or email legals@waverlynewspapers.com. With Russia's attacks on Ukraine intensifying, I expect Apple will join the list of companies exiting the Russian Federation. Doing so reflects the companys commitment to environmental, social and corporate responsibility. Update: Since this article was posted, Apple has ceased selling products via its online store in Russia and published a statement (see below). Will Apple leave Russia? Ive been thinking about the implications of Apple making such a move since Ukraine Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov urged it to stop offering products and services in Russia. At first, I felt that doing so might deprive Russians of essential tools they could use to oppose their government. My thinking has moved on, though Apple will also have a duty of care to its Russian employees, who may find themselves exposed to reprisal if the company exits the market. Im not going to dig too deeply into the politics of current events. Newsweek, Slate and others do a far better job of that, but I will try to explore what the significance might be. First, what is Russia to Apple? Russia is (or was) the worlds 11th-largest economy. As we know, Apple continues to seek out markets for future growth, and while the Russian market was small, it was generating business and Apple has very loyal customers there. Apples Russia business has grown significantly in the last few years. Apple CFO Luca Maestri told us the company was very pleased with results there in Q3 21. The most recent data Ive seen suggests Apples business in Russia generated around $2.5 billion in 2020, which is under 1% of Apples sales. Apple probably makes more revenue selling Apple One subscriptions internationally. Given the cost of those sales, its unlikely they contribute a huge amount to company profit. What is the business environment? Apple only recently complied with a government mandate to open offices in Russia. One of the reasons it was required to do so was so it could continue to offer online services there.The company also keeps some user data on servers situated in Russia. This likely includes iCloud user data. Apple isnt the top smartphone brand in Russia; that's Samsung, according to Burga, with Xiaomi a close second. In third place, iPhones account for about 15% of smartphones sold in Russia in Q3 21 but also take roughly 45% of smartphone sales revenue. The revenue may matter less, given the plunging value of the ruble. When a Russian consumer purchases an iPhone they will see a prompt during setup which encourages them to install Russian-developed software. This was required by Russian regulators and was a step Apple originally opposed, but eventually agreed to take. When it did, the company successfully reached a compromise that means customers can choose or reject which Russian apps they should install, rather than having these apps forcibly pre-installed. Notably, other smartphone manufacturers (including Samsung) did not reach the same compromise, which means most non-Apple devices sold in Russia ship with state-sanctioned software pre-installed. Thats the environment in which Apples business takes place. What happens when you leave? But what happens if Apple does exit the market? One recent illustration of what happens when you apply financial sanctions: Russian commuters hoping to catch the subway who find they can no longer use Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay to pay for the metro. This likely affects the 20% of Russians who use Apple Pay. When it comes to the supply chain, it seems unlikely that Apple relies on Russian component suppliers. Most of its manufacturing partners are in the APAC/US regions. The conflict is likely to generate interruption in raw materials supplies with or without sanctions, but perhaps those challenges can be resolved. There is also the significance of exiting the market on Apples customers there. Protecting Apple customers In terms of using big-name services such as Apple and iCloud, its arguable that Russias brave peace protesters should (and probably already have) adopt more highly secure, cross-platform communication tools, such as Signal or Briar. They should also disable server-based services such as iCloud to protect their privacy and dig deep to secure every available privacy feature on their device. Of course, fully securing your iPhone degrades the functions and services it provides. At its most secure, an iPhone will not use Apples services and most certainly will not store data in iCloud. iCloud is not encrypted, and Apple will share details of data held in the service with law enforcement in any nation in which it does business. Given that most dissidents will understand this, Apples services cannot logically be seen as essential to the effort of protesting Putins war. It seems relevant to note that Russia government device requests for customer data grew from under 200 in 2013 to more than 2,000 in July-December 2020, according to Apples own transparency report. Apple does not comply with all these requests and Russia does not make anything near as many such requests as the US. What happens next? I do not think Apples business will be deeply impacted if it chooses to withdraw from Russia. On a global basis, I imagine Apple and others are already feeling the decline in consumer confidence, in comparison to which the Russian business may seem small-time. Its a tragedy that weve reached a point where there are no good answers and even the least worst answers seem terrible. When the invasion began, Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted: I am deeply concerned with the situation in Ukraine. Were doing all we can for our teams there and will be supporting local humanitarian efforts. I am thinking of the people who are right now in harms way and joining all those calling for peace. Meanwhile, in the Ukraine, developers including those from Reddit, MacPaw, Setapp, Readdle and others continue to strive to protect their own people. While working to support people in Ukraine, I imagine Apple will now also be considering what it can do to protect its Russian teams from reprisal as the situation continues to unravel. What Apple did On March 1, Apple ceased product sales via its online store. It also published the following statement via John Paczkowski and Buzzfeednews. "We are deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand with all of the people who are suffering as a result of the violence. We are supporting humanitarian efforts, providing aid for the unfolding refugee crisis, and doing all we can to support our teams in the region." The company also confirmed steps it has taken so far: Apple has paused all product sales in Russia. It has stopped all exports into its sales channel there. Apple Pay and other services have been limited. RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download from the App Store outside Russia. Apple has disabled both traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine. "We will continue to evaluate the situation and are in communication with relevant governments on the actions we are taking. We join all those around the world who are calling for peace," the company also said. Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. The memorial service for Judith McFerran Robertson will be held at Algiers United Methodist Church, 637 Opelousas Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70114 at 2PM on Sunday, May 22, 2022 with Reverend JoAnne Pounds officiating. The obituary for Judi can be viewed and online condolences made at www.shule It is not often that the media, when reporting news of the murder of a leading member of organized crime, immediately and in unison, indicate the organization suspected of being responsible as well as the motive. In the case of Carmine Verduci's murder (on Apr. 24, 2014; see Part 2), all this happened. And it happened largely for one reason: because there were different police sources who all suggested the same line of inquiry. We refer to a set of opinions expressed by anonymous officers that, considering their authoritativeness and competence, journalists understandably reported and developed. These opinions could be summarized as follows: The killing was to be attributed to the Rizzuto crime family (Montreal Family), which had eliminated a high-ranking member of the 'Ndrangheta rooted in the Greater Toronto Area, right in the heart of its territory. Verducis fault would have been to have joined the attempt (2009-2011), headed by Salvatore Montagna, to overthrow the leadership of the same Montreal Family (Montagna would have been killed as part of an internal feud within his crime syndicate on Nov. 24, 2011; in the above picture, he is shown in surveillance footage on the day of his murder). The outcome of the attempt has now passed into the history of North American crime. Despite the very high human losses suffered by the Rizzutos, it was a failure (which was made definitive by the departure from the scene of its principal promoter mentioned above), not without the same amount of bloody consequences. Indeed, after the release of the supreme boss Vito Rizzuto from a US prison (on Oct. 5, 2012, after a total of nine years of imprisonment), a relentless work of revenge started that continued even after his death on Dec. 23, 2013 (due to natural causes). Thus, over time, those who had participated or supported in the attack on the Family paid with their lives. The same fate that befell some who merely had not openly sided with it. Therefore, in this context of events, the proposed motive for the killing of Verduci could appear coherent and plausible, if it was not for a small detail: that it was almost certainly wrong, at least based on subsequent acquisitions by the Italian authorities, in particular within a Project code-named Acero-Krupy (Sept. 2015), however not yet proven in court (we will deal with them carefully in the next Part 4). But what we want to highlight in the present article is that noteworthy news and information, already known at the time of Verduci's murder, all together could and should have contributed to casting doubt on that investigative hypothesis, given by all the questioned police sources as the most likely. Indeed, this news and information reported unequivocal, historical, and documented relationships between the Rizzutos and the Coluccio Clan. We have already dealt extensively with the latter in this explanation (see in particular Part 1). Therefore, we know that it was a relevant component of the mother-Locale of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica (supreme boss Rocco Aquino) and its dependent Locale rooted in the GTA. Carmine Verduci belonged to the Coluccio Clan and the Locale on Canadian soil, where he had settled for many years. Probably, at the time of his assassination, of this Locale, following the previous deportations of its other leading exponents to Italy, he held the position of the supreme boss (Capo Locale), as argued in Part 2. Hence the doubts - that should have arisen - about the convenience for the Coluccios, and consequently for the mother-Locale of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, to waste such close and valuable ties with a criminal organization as powerful as the Montreal Family. All this to embark, along with others, on a risky adventure that indeed ended, as we have already noted. o-o-o-o-o-o-o But let's proceed in order. Firstly by quoting opinions of police sources as they were reported, at the time, by the major newspapers focused on the Greater Toronto Area (Toronto Sun, National Post, and Toronto Star). As we will see, these opinions guided the judgments, hypotheses, and narratives of their specialized journalists. The first contributions that we propose are those of R. Lamberti and C. Doucette and only of R. Lamberti (Toronto Sun). A very evocative narrative characterized them: Mob boss Vito Rizzuto is dead but his vendetta lives on. Carmine Verduci, 56, was gunned down outside a private Vaughan social club, police said Friday. Verduci is a suspected Toronto-area Ndrangheta clan mob hitman described as a bona fide psycho-killer. Its proof the Vito Rizzuto vendetta continues, sources believe. Its not over, a source said. This is a direct result of Montreal. This is a message to the Calabrians. This is a settling of accounts. () Police in Ontario and Quebec were uncertain as to how the settling of accounts stood after Montreal mafia chieftain Vito Rizzuto died of natural causes on Dec. 23, 2013. The 67-year-old Mob boss was on a rampage, seeking revenge for the assault on his family that began in 2009 with the deaths of his son, his father, and family members and friends who were senior members of this crime clan. Its believed a confederation of Ontario Ndrangheta clans and turncoat Quebec mobsters launched the assault while Rizzuto was in a Colorado jail serving a 10-year sentence for his role in the 1981 murders of three Bonanno captains who were apparently planning a coup. But shortly after his release and return to Canada, Rizzuto began his vendetta. He reached out to Italy in the slaying of his former Ontario captain Juan Fernandez, known as Joe Bravo, to Mexico to kill Moreno Galo, and to the GTA with the shooting murder of hitman Salvatore Sam Calautti. They were but three who were eliminated. Rizzuto, however, ran out of time as he died of natural causes in December and Ontario-based Ndrangheta clan members thought they didnt have to look over their shoulders. They body guards that travelled with them and their family members were set aside. Police knew his vendetta wasnt complete but investigators were unsure if it would continue past his death or if a balance of power would be reached. Thursdays assassination of Verduci shows the vendetta continues, a police source said. Police were waiting to determine if the Rizzuto vendetta had stopped and it appeared to be quiet on the Mob front. This is the big drop, the source said. This is a big message. It aint over. (R. Lamberti - C. Doucette, Toronto Sun, Apr. 25-26, 2014). The city [Woodbridge] is where many of Ontarios Ndrangheta members feel safe. Its their home turf. But the incursion by assassins, who police strongly believe were sent by those who have taken over Vito Rizzutos Montreal crime family, is sure to strike fear. In a world often marked by symbolic maneuvers, the hit on Verduci is a significant move by the Montreal Mob. It was Montreals reminder that Rizzutos vendetta his quest for revenge in the murders of his father, his son and other family members in an attempted coup didnt end with the capos Dec. 23 death of natural causes. Police sources say Verducis death could signal that the next targets could be higher in stature. This is basically putting it in their faces, a police source said. Verduci had huge influence within the Calabrian underworld. Its the second recent venture by the Montreal mob into Woodbridge. Calabrian mob assassin Salvatore Sam Calautti, a 41-year-old father of two who owned a Dufferin St. restaurant, was assassinated in an ambush last July 12 as he sat in his car outside a Vaughan banquet hall attending a stag. His killer or killers knew Calautti would be there. The same seems to be true for Verduci. His killers knew where he would be and patiently waited for their moment. () Woodbridge is the Calabrian Ndranghetas power base and killing a guy like Verduci is like saying that none among them is safe. Clearly, someone needed to be held to account and (Verduci) was on the vendetta list, the source said, who believes the hits are expected to continue. He is a central figure in the power base, the source said. They know Verduci is a guy who gets things done for them. () When the guns were turned on the Rizzuto clan, the Calabrians started by killing low-level members such as the street drug dealers. They slowly moved up the hierarchy until they reached Vito Rizzutos father Nicolo, his son Nick Jr., and other family members who were also senior level leaders. The same thing is happening here, the source said. I think this is the message we were waiting for, everyone was wondering what was happening after Vito was gone. Theres going to be a lot of nervous people. (R. Lamberti, Toronto Sun, Apr. 26, 2014). Identical concepts were also reaffirmed a few months later (Dec. 2014), as can be inferred by the same title of the article (Mob vendetta spree expected to continue in new year): A police source says the vendetta spree that began in 2012 shortly after Vito Rizzuto returned to Canada after serving a 10-year prison sentence in Colorado for racketeering-related charges is expected to continue. The natural death of Rizzuto, 67, last December didnt stem the vendetta. There are apparently still a few Calabrian Mob opportunists and Sicilian traitors that need to be dealt with by the Rizzuto crime family, the source says. () Verduci was killed in a precise strike against him outside a cafe frequented by Ndrangheta members in the city where they felt safe. The message was loud and clear: For those who opposed Rizzuto, there is no safe haven. (R. Lamberti, Toronto Sun, Dec. 28-29, 2014). A. Humphreys (National Post) developed the theme of the alleged revenge of the Rizzutos less than the others did. However, he also reported the opinion of a police source who always proposed the same scenario: His [Verducis] position within the Calabrian clans of Toronto would make him an attractive target to Sicilian rivals in Montreal looking to make a stand, a police source said. We might find it was meant as a message to the Calabrians from the Sicilians, that this aint over, we havent forgotten.' If that scenario is true, then hope of peace after Mr. Rizzutos death seems unlikely. (A. Humphreys, National Post, Apr. 25, 2014). Lastly, we report some excerpts from the article by P. Edwards (Toronto Star). Already from the title: Rizzuto revenge suspected in murder of GTA mobster Carmine Verduci in Woodbridge, it is possible to understand that he also speculated the same motive: The brazen daytime slaying of GTA mobster Carmine Verduci is a blunt message from Montreals underworld: The war with Vito Rizzutos old crime family isnt over. () Rizzuto, Canadas top Mafioso, died in bed from what were reported to be natural causes in December, in the midst of a gang war that pitted members of the Montreal mob against GTA criminals. At the time of his death, Rizzuto was bent on revenge against at least a half dozen GTA mobsters, police sources say. Verducis murder is a loud message to his old associates in the GTA and Hamilton underworld, police officers who specialize in organized crime said Friday. To me its a huge message, one officer said. Its not over just because Vitos dead... Certain people have to die before business gets done. () The slaying comes after several visits to the GTA from two senior members of the old Rizzuto crime family this year. Verduci was a prime target for Montreal assassins because he tried to encroach on turf which the Rizzutos considered their own, a police source said. (P. Edwards, Toronto Star, Apr. 25, 2014). However, Edwards' article had the merit of continuing by also providing some interesting additional information and in particular: He [Verduci] was a frequent visitor to Montreal during the mob wars of the past five years, police say. Rizzutos eldest son and father are among the victims of unsolved gangland murders during that time. During the fight to steal turf from Rizzuto, police say Verduci was part of a group that became involved with Sal Montagna, head of the Bonanno crime family of New York City. Montagna was murdered near Montreal in November 2011. (ibidem). So, according to this latest news directly from the police: Verduci had traveled frequently to Montreal during the ongoing mob war in that city. He had openly sided with Salvatore Montagna. Needless to say that it was information of great importance. We do not know how the police collected it. The only access to its archives would allow us to understand this. o-o-o-o-o-o-o However, we can make assumptions based on at least one diagram (see Figure 1.) identifying steps and methods of collecting crime intelligence information. The diagram represents and develops the content of the following clear sentence: in order to carry out his activities, a member of a criminal organization must meet personally with other members, mainly from his organization, but also from other different ones, with whom to decide and plan, and potentially carry out in person, certain crimes. Even more so, in a situation of constant fear of wiretapping that imposes an absolute ban on talking about criminal affairs by phone. This well-known dictate reminds us that law enforcement agencies carry out a typical intelligence activity. Therefore, it is usual for the mobsters, aware of the danger, to oppose the relative counterintelligence. Usually, it is not particularly sophisticated, but this does not mean that it is ineffective. In addition to the first rule that is, as we said, not talking about criminal affairs by phone, examples of counterintelligence measures (which altogether constitute a code of conduct that distinguishes a real mobster from a street criminal) include: (+) Using the method, widely employed by all mafia organizations of Italian origin, of the so-called ambasciate (transl. embassies): the high-ranking mafia member does not expose himself personally, but he makes a trusted person go to communicate (embassy), verbally or by written notes (to be destroyed immediately after reading them), orders, news, and appointments to the intended recipient. This method tries to undermine precisely the investigative scheme we are dealing with since it reduces the opportunities for meetings, which could be monitored, and, at the same time, avoids much of the possible electronic interception of communications. (+) During conversations, never use people's names; at most, only nicknames or other names other than real ones. Moreover, mix English, Italian and closed dialects, thus making it more difficult for eventual police eavesdroppers to understand the dialogues (in a possible criminal proceeding, this expedient then often allows defense lawyers to challenge the correctness and interpretation of the translations). (+) Using encrypted mobile phones. On the black market, members of criminal organizations can find cell phones specially configured to avoid surveillance. They are usually standard phones (among which BlackBerry devices traditionally stand out), then suitably modified. In particular, they are often deprived of all the principal and usual functions such as microphones, cameras, and GPS antennas. There is no internet browsing and no regular messenger apps pre-installed too. In return, they have a secure-communications software to send encrypted messages through servers located in offshore countries. In addition, devices can be remotely wiped if authorities seize them. Concerning the contrast to this kind of communication service when it is deliberately functional to the commission of crimes (in particular, international drug trafficking), we can mention the court cases against two companies, curiously both based in Canada, Phantom Secure (its case became known in 2018; see: https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/phantom-secure-takedown-031618 ), and, even more recently (Mar. 2021), Sky Global (see: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/sky-global-executive-and-associate-indicted-providing-encrypted-communication-devices ). (+) Continuous replacement of the cell phone SIM cards, possibly from other countries, and registered in the name of figureheads. Furthermore, especially during particular movements, it is essential for mobsters not to bring along their mobile phones or exchange them with accomplices to confuse possible controls of investigators (we refer to the traceability of mobile phone numbers through the analysis of the cellphone towers information). (+) Always in communications, using cryptographic codes, which usually associate a number with a letter of the alphabet (see the picture belowfrom an Italian investigation that ended in Sept. 2021, code-named Crypto, against the Ndrangheta rooted on the Tyrrhenian side of the province of Reggio Calabria and engaged, as usual, in international drug trafficking). (+) Periodically inspecting premises and cars for bugs or GPS devices and, at the same time, manning and monitoring them continuously to prevent the police from sneaking in and installing these types of devices. Interception activities by law enforcement otherwise should be feared at all times. Ndrangheta high-ranking members are very vigilant in this regard. By way of example, we can recall the words of Vincenzo Muia from Siderno during his stay in the GTA in Apr. 2019 (he had crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the hope that the Figliomenis would provide him with information about the perpetrators of the murder of his brother Carmelo, killed in Siderno on Jan. 18, 2018; see the second article of this series): Even outside they [law enforcement agents] hear you, You [they] put the directional and hear what you say. () In my opinion, that home [a house in Vaughan, a city just north of Toronto, where Vincenzo had been a guest for a meal] is a bomb, That house, full of bugs. He says no, [but] I told him If they want to hear you, they hear you. o-o-o-o-o-o-o Then, returning to the diagram represented in Figure 1, police can rely on or act as follows: Collecting information directly. Using informants confidences. Figure 1.: Investigative techniques Confidential informants are often extremely valuable. In particular, in cases where they provide an initial indication that consent to identify a line of inquiry to pursue. In our case study, it can therefore happen that an informant in some small part can: Report a mobster to start investigations. Inform what illegal business he deals with and who his crime partners are. Report where he goes and who he meets beyond the topics covered in one or more of his meetings. However, it is necessary to be very careful. Indeed, news from informants is not always reliable as it mainly serves their convenience. For this reason, any information from them must always be carefully verified and cross-referenced. The figure of the confidential informant, who is, at the same time, a high-ranking member of an organized crime group, is particularly significant and delicate to manage (evidently, always by an exchange pact of mutual benefit). According to the journalists F. Seguin and E. Thibault in their book La Source (Les Editions du Journal, 2020), the notorious mobster Andrea Scoppa, shot to death on Oct. 21, 2019, in Montreal borough of Pierrefonds (see Part 1), belonged to this category. On the other hand, operating directly means that, after selecting a target, the police investigators will employ their specialized operating units capable of carrying out physical and electronic surveillance activities (we remember that, in the present context, the target can be defined as an individual, not necessarily placed at the highest levels of a criminal organization but having at least some key role or particular qualities, whose monitoring promises interesting investigative developments). Specifically, we are referring to stalking and surveillance, including a series of integrated technical activities such as: photographing; filming; data analysis of GPS trackers; analysis of the cellphone towers information; wiretapping (which, in any case, remains a fruitful tool for monitoring movements and knowing the circle of relationships of a target). However, stalking a person and finding out where she goes and who she meets is much easier than knowing what is said during her meetings. At the same time, the latter is indispensable knowledge since meeting one or more people in itself means nothing in front of a criminal court. Intercepting conversations (indoors or outdoors) is, therefore, the only way to obtain it, excluding from this examination the informative contributions of undercover agents and government witnesses that are both outside the strictly operational context. Note that the contents of a meeting can be captured live or ex-post, meaning the interception of a conversation (for example, inside a car) in the course of which usually a high-ranking mafia member tells his trustworthy not present subordinate or relative of what was discussed. In any case, skills that are not common to the special police units employed in this type of operation are required. Indeed, according to the circumstances, they must: Know in advance the place chosen for a meeting. Elude the eventual continuous control of a place precisely to prevent intrusions by the police (we have already mentioned this counterintelligence measure here above). When it is time to act, implement an outer protective belt. For instance, in the case of homes, it is essential to activate surveillance for all residents to avoid being surprised by sudden, unexpected returns. Apply specific technical skills to enter the place (the typical way is to get or make a copy of the door or car key) and hide and power listening devices and cameras, all while leaving no traces of their passing. The latter ability is of paramount importance. In any case, it must be said that it is practically impossible to completely eliminate the risk of burning an often unrepeatable opportunity, however great the attention paid. Lets not forget that expert criminals are trained to notice the differences as well as use expedients (always definable as counterintelligence measures) to detect possible police intrusions. By way of example, we can recall the case of the wife of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo, at that moment still at large and for this reason actively sought by the police throughout the Palermo area (he will be arrested on Nov. 5, 2007, after 24 years as a fugitive). The woman, the first natural target of the investigation, purposely left a layer of dust on top of her car dashboard. One day, thanks to it, she noticed some fingermarks, thus realizing that the police had entered to install a listening device. Soon after, she was seen and filmed handing over the car to an auto wrecker. As for this type of special police operation in Canada, it is worth mentioning a still relatively recent press article by D. Renaud ("Proces de Claude Gauthier: comment entrer chez un Hells Angel en catimini", La Presse, Aug. 12, 2020). He reported the deposition of an operational officer of the Escouade nationale de repression du crime organise (ENRCO) during the trial of Claude Gauthier, 53 (below), a full-patch member of the Hells Angels (Trois-Rivieres chapter), for drug-trafficking in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec (on Apr. 9, 2021, he was sentenced to a prison term of nine years). The officer described problems and techniques used during house intrusions. When a team acts after dark, one of the main problems is the need to operate with very little light so as not to run the risk of attracting random attention from the outside. Instead, the technique they use to make sure they put everything back in its exact place is, before starting to search and hide listening devices, to film all the rooms, both in their entirety and in particular. In this way, in case of doubts, it is always possible to double-check any original position. However, it is essential to note even the smallest detail. The officer gave the example of a wad of banknotes, easily discovered inside Gauthier's home. A rubber band held it tightly, but they noted another rubber band strangely inserted under the first. It had probably been deliberately positioned that particular way only to allow the suspect to detect any possible tampering. In the absence of interceptions and possible contributions of undercover agents or government witnesses, the only other way to know the contents of a meeting between full mafia members is to rely on the information revealed by one or more confidential informants. o-o-o-o-o-o-o After briefly outlining the operational framework of reference, let us now return to the events of our interest. We can therefore assume that the statement: "He [Verduci] was a frequent visitor to Montreal during the mob wars of the past five years", was truthful since direct or indirect surveillance of him by law enforcement was undoubtedly possible. On the contrary, it seems much more complicated to determine the reasons (which could have been more varied) for such visits to confirm the other very important information provided by P. Edwards in his article (During the fight to steal turf from Rizzuto, police say Verduci was part of a group that became involved with Sal Montagna, head of the Bonanno crime family of New York City). As we have already said, we are not in a position to know based on what evidence the police came to such belief that evidently directed the investigations related to Verducis (still unsolved) murder. Instead, what we know from the content of some interceptions within the Italian Project code-named Acero-Krupy is that, almost certainly, the homicide in question was inserted into a completely different context. To be precise, a context of war/clash between two Locali of Ndrangheta located in the GTA, therefore, recalling the categorization proposed in the fourth article of this series, falling into Cat. 1 sub.2. These investigative results of the Italian authorities, about a year and a half after the killing, consequently dropped the motive that would have consisted in Verducis involvement alongside Salvatore Montagna and his partners in crime. However, already in the aftermath of the murder, specific elements were known which did not support this hypothesis presupposing a type of war/clash falling into Cat. 3 sub.1 (war/clash between one or more Locali of Ndrangheta located in the GTA and one or more other distant criminal organizations with Italian origin). Indeed, these elements described such long-lasting and close relationships between the first command line of the Montreal Family and the principal exponents of the Coluccio Clan that it was rather unlikely that the latter would suddenly change sides. Nevertheless, they were not taken into adequate consideration by the police sources consulted by the journalists. (Continued on Part 3.2). We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Community News Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. Continue Reading Below Advertisement And Princess Leia doing the Gangnam Style dance alongside her dead mother Continue Reading Below Advertisement Then there was the Kinect Star Wars video game which bafflingly included a level in which Han Solo boogies perilously close to Cloud Citys carbon freezing chamber, thanks to beats provided by (*sigh*) DJ Lobot. Maybe, in time, fans will come to embrace groups of middle-aged tourists shuffling awkwardly to a fake pop song in a hotel lobby as an inexorable part of the Star Wars canon. You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter! Top Image: Disney Parks/YouTube Suppose a company facing mass tort liability to U.S. citizens produced a piece of paper that read "Cook Islands Liability Extinguishment Corporation." The company then says to the tort victims, "We have formed this corporation under the law of the Cook Islands, which allows us to assign any liability we want there and extinguish it. And, that's exactly what we did with your tort claims." The legal response would surely be that the law of the Cook Islands does not govern the company's tort liability under U.S. law. Yet, this is not dissimilar what has happened to citizens of Illinois and other states in the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder litigation. Essentially "old J&J" split into two companies--J&J Consumer and LTL Management. (The corporate structure is more complex, but those details are unnecessary to the point.) J&J's talcum powder liability went to LTL Management, and the bulk of the assets and other liabilities went to J&J Consumer. All this is authorized as a "divisional merger" under the Texas Business Organizations Code. In a procedure known as the "Texas Two-Step," LTL Management then filed bankruptcy to deal with the talcum powder liability. The rest of the company--i.e., J&J Consumer--went along its merry way pretending the liabilities it used to have are no longer part of it. Texas law here sets the rule for everyone. In fairness, J&J did not leave LTL Management with nothing and claims there are financial resources to backstop the tort liability. A bankruptcy court last week refused to dismiss the LTL Management bankruptcy filing on grounds of bad faith and indeed controversially embraced the idea that bankruptcy courts are an appropriate place to handle mass-tort liability. I don't want to get into that debate. My question is why should I, as a citizen of Illinois, have to suffer the consequences of the Texas legislature's decision to allow divisional mergers? Well, as a lawyer, I know why, but I think that can be changed. The reason I have to put up with the Texas two-step is the internal affairs doctrine. It says that the law of the state of organization governs the corporation's internal affairs. That is, because J&J Consumer and LTL Management were organized under Texas law, that same law governs how to divide up the companies asset and liabilities. The internal affairs doctrine, however, is just a choice-of-law rule, and as lawyers are taught in law school, a choice-of-law is just another law that determines which jurisdiction's laws apply in a particular dispute. Most choice-of-law rules are judge made. Like any other judge-made rule, a state always can change a choice-of-law rule by adopting a statute providing otherwise. It seems to me that if Illinois (or Massachusetts or New York or California, to name a few possibilities) does not want its citizens' tort rights against a corporation to be governed by the divisive merger law of Texas, it can simply adopt a statute so saying. Such a law might provide, for example, that for purposes of liability Illinois tort law, the divisive merger is ignored. Indeed, nothing occurs to me why such a law could not apply to existing tort liability. Adam had an earlier post explaining how fraudulent transfer law would (or would not) apply to a Texas two-step. Fraudulent transfer recoveries requiring lawsuits and happen years after the fact--and Adam's post explains the weaknesses in arguments that fraudulent transfer law even governs. Statutorily, changing the internal affairs rule requires none of that. It would allow tort claimants simply to proceed against the surviving companies after a divisional merger. Some defend the Texas (and Delaware) divisional merger statutes as efficient and allowing companies to deal with liabilities without interfering with profitable operations. As an empirical matter, I disagree, but I see the contrary view. What is more difficult to defend is the idea that one state should be able to make this policy decision for everyone. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. Margaret Pearl Blaylock, age 85, of Crossville, TN, passed away at her home on May 3, 2022. She was born on November 18, 1936, in Crossville, TN, daughter of the late William Wyatt and Alice (Hale) Wyatt. Margaret was a homemaker and attended Stephen Gap Church of Christ. She is survived by Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Corporate boards are asking their CISOs to inform them more often about cybersecurity risks. This gives security leaders an opportunity to help senior business stakeholders better understand securitys value and makes them more likely to support and strengthen security strategies. However, talking to the board about cybersecurity in a way that is productive can be a significant challenge, and failing to do so effectively can result in confusion, disillusionment, and a lack of cohesion among directors, the security function, and the rest of the organization. Here are some common mistakes that CISOs make when speaking to the board, along with advice for avoiding them. 1. Using over-technical security language When presenting to the board, CISOs need to be careful about the language they use. If they are too technical, they will lose their audience, Michael Tamir, CISO at Cyren, tells CSO. Directors are rarely security experts and using overly technical jargon is going to be counterproductive, he adds. Board members dont like things they dont understand, and most are multitasking a thousand different things in their heads, so, perceptively, they have short attention spans, agrees Information Security Forum analyst and former CISO, Paul Watts. CISOs must translate the deeply technical into business terms where possible and explain things they cannot. Be as succinct as you can, use a sensible pace, and visualize rather than using lots of words. 2. Focusing on the wrong threat impacts CISOs should ensure that threat messaging never strays far from the business impacts to the organization, says CyberGRX CISO, Dave Stapleton. A CISO may understand why a specific code library dependency presents a threat to an internet-facing asset, but this is likely too far in the weeds for the board of directors, he adds. Sounil Yu, CISO at JupiterOne, agrees. CISOs often speak Greek when the rest of the board speaks in dollars and common sense. To connect with the board in a language they can understand, CISOs should focus their messaging on how security enables the business to enter new markets, execute on new initiatives, and quantitatively reduce annual loss exposure. This is where knowing what key performance indicators (KPIs) the board measures and being able to assess the impact of threats on those KPIs can be particularly helpful, says Rob Dartnall, UK council chair at information security accreditation and certification body, CREST. Being able to relate the threat risk to the impact on a business service or the boards main strategies and objectives is powerful, he adds. Security concerns that deserve the boards attention should be framed with context into how the threats, if unaddressed, can hinder business growth or introduce unacceptable levels of operational or business risk, concurs Yu. Regarding the code library threat example cited above, Stapleton says a security leader is far more likely to capture the attention of the board by talking about enterprise software supply chain risk and describing the return on investment (ROI) expected from implementing a code dependency analysis program. 3. Relying on out-of-box cyber risk reporting CISOs often report cyber risk posture based on what their tools tell them, which typically focus on aggregates of operational activities, vulnerability remediation efforts, or even one-size-fits-all measures, says Peter Prizio, CEO at Booz Allen Hamilton threat intelligence spinout SnapAttack. However, this is missing the mark. Not all risks are created equal, and those risk scores lack the nuance and context required to make them actionable. Instead, Prizio says CISOs need to zero in on the things the company cares about most, such as maintaining its reputation, protecting the crown jewels, or continuing operations. They then need to tie in the specific assets that support them and assign risk in terms the board can understand. He also warns against using compliance objectives to measure and quantify risk, as showing progress against regulatory requirements is not the same as communicating the true risks a business faces. 4. Failing to prepare for potential questions Board meetings are not a great place for surprises, says James Nelson, vice president of information security at Illumio, and CISOs need to avoid being caught off guard by questions they cant answer. Preparation should include not just generating the content in your slides, but also thinking about what questions the board will potentially ask you and considering your answers ahead of time. Nelson advises apprising any executive team attendees of both your prepared material and the questions you think will be asked, as well as how you plan to answer them. They will know you cant guess them all, but the process can help build trust, he adds. 5. Oversharing and security scaremongering A boardroom is not the place to unburden yourself, although it can be tempting when you feel the collective burden of everyones risks on your shoulders, says Watts. Dont be the prophecy of doom, and be very careful when using fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) as a weapon of leverageit can come back to bite you. Instead, explain why you think a problem exists, and follow that with solution options, your recommendations, and their associated benefits, Watts continues. Do this as a package. Its also key to avoid segues into other debates as they surface during conversations. Take a mental note, park them, and come back to them, Watts says. When it comes to giving bad news, avoid allegations or confrontation during delivery. Prepare the audience in advance to soften the blow. Boards do not like surprises especially bad ones. 6. Presenting cybersecurity as a cost center A common mistake made by CISOs when speaking to the board is not addressing the outdated view that security is a cost center, Mandy Andress, CISO at Elastic, tells CSO. That mindset must change, and CISOs should help the board see security as a business enabler that facilitates growth and innovation. Jasmine Henry, field security director at JupiterOne and a former CISO, concurs. Security leaders often approach board meetings hoping to win additional resources and budget. While it can be tempting to make a case for security investment by presenting a complex laundry list of technical needs, CISOs should consider how to change board member perceptions of security as a cost center, she says. CISOs can win board endorsement by presenting evidence that security is a revenue-driver instead of a costly function, and this can be achieved by quantifying the bottom-line impact of security on profitability, Henry adds. Important metrics include securitys involvement in the sales process, the velocity of completed sales security questionnaires, and the total revenue value of all customer contracts that include security and compliance obligations. Likewise, if outages or costs are occurring due to a particular type of attack, relaying what the increased profit would be, based on removing that threat, can be helpful, says Dartnall. An example would be: We refunded XXm in fraud against our clients based on Y attack type. By implementing this control, we will recover Xm in lost revenue, he says. 7. Not investing in relationships outside the boardroom Matthew Smith, divisional director, cyber and information security at St. Jamess Place Wealth Management and ClubCISO member, says that CISOs can be guilty of failing to engage with board members outside of the formal board context. Understanding your audience's personal and professional motivators helps you more succinctly land any message or content you are presenting upwards, he adds. Often having context or addressing issues outside of the formal channels helps build rapport and ensures that your content is suitable and relatable to those you want to influence or impact. This is something Watts agrees with. This is stakeholder management 101: Research your board, understand their motivations, and find boardroom allies, especially non-technical ones who can help you stress test pitches in advance. When it comes to getting business cases signed off, divide and conquer: take complicated or big-ticket pitches to them all individually and work out the wrinkles well in advance, he says. CISOs can then leverage the outcomes of these conversations to isolate any dissenting voices with a consensus of buy-in from others. Make them all feel like theyve contributed, Watts says. You need to be a politician, salesman, account manager, matchmaker, and mediator. Risk-based authentication (RBA), also called adaptive authentication, has come of age, and it couldnt happen fast enough for many corporate security managers. As phishing and account takeovers have blossomed under the pandemic, RBA can become a key technology to protect corporate assets, particularly as remote work is more the rule than the exception. What is risk-based authentication? RBA is all about examining signals, as the vendors refer to the various observations they make in near-real time as a user moves through the login process or when a customer buys something online. It creates a risk profile of the person or device requesting access to the system. That profile is based on factors or signals including IP geolocation, user behavior, keystroke patterns, and connection type. These factors may change depending on specific threat factors, and this could require ongoing management of risk profiles. The changing risk-based authentication market A lot of corporate M&A has occurred in the authentication space since Experian bought 41st Parameter in 2013: Equifax bought Kount Lexis/Nexis Risk Solutions bought ThreatMetrix Transunion bought Iovation Quest Software bought OneLogin (and now owns OneIdentity) Vasco rebranded as OneSpan RSA split off Fraud Manager to Outseer Easy Solutions is now part of Appgate Ping Identity bought SecureTouch Behind all this activity, RBA has split into two and a half major markets: transactions/fraud prevention and enterprise authentications. The half could be considered the passwordless branding that some vendors are using. While this last use case isnt a full adaptive/step-up authentication, the notion of combining a series of authentication factors helps drive a full RBA adoption. Note that some of these mergers involve the major credit bureaus. That shows how quickly RBA has grown from some wonky infosec tech into the mainstream. Authentication trends driving RBA adoption Multi-factor authentication becoming the norm Google made multi-factor authentication (MFA) mandatory last October across its own accounts and has seen a rapid adoption and a just as rapid decrease in phishing and account compromises. This has helped drive higher RBA adoption, too, because you need MFA in place before you can roll out RBA. Two other core technologies that are seeing more traction include more adoption of both FIDOv2 and OpenID Connect standards. They have both come a long way and are mostly now accepted and well implemented across all five endpoint operating systems (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android and iOS). Concern over use of biometric data Thanks to the EUs GDPR and its global equivalents, there is a growing sensitivity about how security tools leverage biometric data, where this data is stored, and how it traverses the authentication infrastructure. Witness the recent blowback from the IRSs use of facial recognition software as a prime example of what not to do. Having RBA can help control how these biometric factors are consumed by your security apparatus. Threats becoming more sophisticated RBA will continue to be useful in fighting the latest sophisticated threats. One such example is the growing popularity of installment payments. Increased adoption of EMV 3-D Secure Payment vendors have continued to develop the EMV 3-D Secure (3DS) standard, which incorporates RBA methods to fight transaction fraud. A few RBA vendors have begun to incorporate this standard in their toolsets. The payment and credit vendors -- including Mastercards NuData Security business -- now have access to a huge corpus of billions of transactions that they can use as early warnings of fraud to apply the step-up challenges. (NuData partners include both Thales and Entersekt.) Risk-based authentication products We spoke with the following vendors: Appgate RBA Cisco/Duo Security Entersekt Authentication iProov Lexis/Nexis Risk Solutions Okta, who offers its own and Auth0 product lines OneLogin by One Identity/Quest OneSpan Intelligent Adaptive Authentication Outseer Fraud Manager PingID, which offers a series of products Silverfort Thales Safenet Trusted Access Other vendors in this space including Iovation, Kount, IBM Securitys Verity Access, HIDs Global Risk Management, SecureAuth and Transmit Security did not respond to multiple requests. RBA pricing Most RBA vendors are coy about pricing. There are two general approaches: One scheme is used for transactional or fraud detection business and another for what is sometimes called the workforce -- the traditional per-end-user authentication business. Three notable exceptions are worthy of your attention: Duo, Ping and Okta. Duo has the best pricing page, laying out the various pricing tiers and the features available in each in a clear and informative manner. Ping has finally made its pricing public, and Okta has pricing pages for both its Okta and Auth0 business units. Many vendors offer free trials of their most capable plans and some, like Duo and Auth0, have forever-free plans -- but with limited features that dont include any RBA support. Appgate RBA Appgate purchased the RBA software line from Easy Solutions in October 2021 and has added advanced behavioral biometrics that bring near-real-time decision making and a more complete API. The product temporarily stores biometric information on an Appgate server when needed to verify a users login but then delete the data. Appgate has added the workforce RBA to augment the older Easy Solutions transaction RBA. While Appgate is now a FIDO member, it hasnt yet added support. The company has transaction pricing and says a mid-sized organization with about 6 million logins per year would pay a fixed fee of $10,000, with surcharges for additional transactions. They dont have their own identity provider but support Active Directory, Google, Salesforce, SugarCRM, and others through SAML and Radius connections. Cisco/Duo Security Since being purchased by Cisco several years ago, Duo has continued to enhance its authentication offerings and has a fully featured collection of authentication tools. Some are available with its Access tier, but you probably want to consider the Beyond plan tier for the full set. While its span of authentication features is granular and deep, managing the RBA processes and policies isnt as adept as it could be. For example, you can track user location, device hardware fingerprint, behavioral factors, apps being run and lots more. However, crafting the best action from these various signals can take some effort. Any biometric data is encrypted and stored in the endpoint secure enclave. Duo supports a variety of identity providers including Okta, Google and Active Directory. It also supports the FIDOv2 standards and devices and is a key player in the shared signals working group of OpenID. As I mentioned earlier, Duos pricing is transparent and useful and should be a model for vendors that are still hiding their fee structure. The company processes billions of monthly transactions. Entersekt Authentication Entersekt is based in Capetown, South Africa, and has been providing mostly financial services transaction security for the past decade. It has recently branched out into the workforce user authentication market. Entersekt doesnt have its own identity provider but supports others through SAML and OAuth. It works with the endpoint secure hardware enclave to store private encryption keys and detect jailbreak and harmful apps installed on the phone. Entersekt scores risk signals including location, fingerprinted hardware, and the NuData Security transaction corpus to build a risk profile for each transaction. It supports FIDO devices and standards. Entersekt offers both transaction and per-user pricing. iProov iProov is another decade-old security vendor that offers SDKs for developers rather than a turn-key application suite. Its network handles hundreds of thousands of daily transactions. iProov doesnt store private data other than for a brief time to check a users initial login. Customers can specify a range from 12 hours to a month for the life of this temporary data storage. iProov supports identity providers including ID.me, Ping Identity and Jumio.com. It offers both transaction and per-user pricing. iProov is involved in an interesting trial at Londons St. Pancras train station where passengers just need to have their face scanned to board Eurostar trains. Lexis/Nexis Risk Solutions The company acquired ThreatMetrix in 2018 and has since built a sophisticated RBA business, offering a line of mobile SDKs and Java-based tools that are now found in just about every large bank and most of the major insurance carriers. Lexis/Nexis Risk Solutions use its large corpus (the company processes more than 270 million hourly transactions across more than 8.5 billion devices) to detect transaction fraud and provide signals for identity verification. It offers three different levels of endpoint identification: the ExactID based on cookies, the SmartID based on Java and the StrongID system using cryptographic signatures with a private key stored in the phone or desktops secure enclave. It supports the latest EMV 3DS protocols. Lexis/Nexis offers transaction pricing. Okta Okta offers two product lines. First is the Auth0s Adaptive MFA. Auth0 has a well-developed collection of risk signals, including impossible travel (where multiple logins happen in near succession from far-apart locations), known bad IP addresses, bot detection, and breached password detection through its separate attack protection and Credential Guard services, which are available to Enterprise plans. Pricing is transparent, with a forever-free plan and others that start at $23/month (not based on per users, but transactions). Any RBA/MFA features are only available on the Enterprise plan at an additional cost. Oktas own product line includes its MFA tool and a large collection of authentication policies for 7,000 different products and a large collection of API references for different programming languages and frameworks. Oktas Risk Ecosystem API augments its built-in risk scoring system by ingesting external risk signals from new third-party solutions, including bot detection and web application firewall providers Fastly, HUMAN, F5 Networks, and PerimeterX. Oktas FastPass passwordless product works with its single-sign on product. The company also has a transparent pricing page that provides workforce plans that start at $5/user/month for RBA. Add $6/user/month for Adaptive MFA, and there are other extra-cost features. A separate pricing scheme for transactions starts at $36,000/year for enterprise-grade plans. OneLogin by One Identity/Quest OneLogin is now the access management component of One Identitys solutions which span situations including privileged access and Active Directory connectors. The OneLogin RBA features are supplied by its Vigilance AI dynamic risk engine, which scores each authentication attempt and assigns the appropriate action and login flows. The product also offers dynamic Smart Factor Authentication and checks for compromised credentials to prevent users from password reused or part of a previous breach. OneLogin doesnt store any biometric data and supports on-device hardware fingerprinting. FIDO2/WebAuthn standards as an additional MFA (including using Yubico keys, FaceID and Windows Hello) are supported and are stored in the secure endpoint enclave. OneLogin can synchronize its own IDP as well as Google Workspace, AD, Azure AD, LDAP and others. Pricing ranges from $2-$6 per user per month for workplace users and transaction pricing for its fraud/transaction product line is also available. OneSpan Intelligent Adaptive Authentication The OneSpan product has been delivering RBA solutions for many years, and now supports both the user authentication and transaction markets. Its own Cronto hardware token to provide an encrypted channel for transactions was an early FIDO adopter, and it incorporates behavioral methods. OneSpan also has an integrated esignature and its own government ID verification applications. It covers a variety of MFA methods and token form factors and provides both SSO and RBA with a large collection of pre-configured rules and policies. One place you should examine is its demo My Bank online application, where you can freely get to play around with its interface and see how the product works. OneSpan did not reveal pricing. Outseer Fraud Manager Outseer is the repository of RSAs legacy fraud analytics business unit that primarily targets financial institutions. (RSAs SecurID unit has its own RBA version based on similar technology.) It comes in either on-premises or cloud-based versions and can obtain signals from other behavior and location-based third parties. One of the new modules can protect fraud in installment buy now, pay later transactions, while another supports the latest EMV 3DS standard. The vendor also offers a FraudAction intelligence service. PingID PingOne In keeping with the hybrid nature of Russias invasion of Ukraine, several hacktivist groups and hackers have joined the fight in the embattled nation, including some hacktivists encouraged by the government of Ukraine itself. Although the hacktivists have been waging their version of cyber warfare mostly against Russian organizations, hacktivists sympathetic to Russia are also turning their weapons against Ukraine. The following are notable hacktivist events that have occurred so far related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. IT Army of Ukraine emerges : Developers in Ukraine are joining an IT army, the IT Army of Ukraine, which has assigned them specific challenges. Announced on February 26, the group already has nearly 200,000 users on its main Telegram channel that it uses to hand out assignments and coordinate operations. The group was ostensibly responsible for shutting down the API for Sberbank, one of Russias major banks and Kremlin-aligned Belaruss official information policy site. Its not clear if the Ukraine government is behind the IT Army of Ukraine, even though Ukrainian officials have endorsed the effort. : Developers in Ukraine are joining an IT army, the IT Army of Ukraine, which has assigned them specific challenges. Announced on February 26, the group already has nearly 200,000 users on its main Telegram channel that it uses to hand out assignments and coordinate operations. The group was ostensibly responsible for shutting down the API for Sberbank, one of Russias major banks and Kremlin-aligned Belaruss official information policy site. Its not clear if the Ukraine government is behind the IT Army of Ukraine, even though Ukrainian officials have endorsed the effort. Anonymous claims credit for website take-downs. Late last week, a Twitter account purporting to represent Anonymous wrote that The #Anonymous collective has taken down the website of the #Russian propaganda station RT News. The Russian state-run TV channel RT website said it was a victim of a hacker attack, which it attributed to Anonymous. Late last week, a Twitter account purporting to represent Anonymous wrote that The #Anonymous collective has taken down the website of the #Russian propaganda station RT News. The Russian state-run TV channel RT website said it was a victim of a hacker attack, which it attributed to Anonymous. Cyber Partisans of Belarus claim train hacks. Activist hackers in Belarus called the Cyber Partisans allegedly breached computers that control that countrys trains and brought some to a halt in the cities of Minsk and Orsha and the town of Osipovichi. The hackers purportedly compromised the railway systems routing and switching devices and rendered them inoperable by encrypting data stored on them. Activist hackers in Belarus called the Cyber Partisans allegedly breached computers that control that countrys trains and brought some to a halt in the cities of Minsk and Orsha and the town of Osipovichi. The hackers purportedly compromised the railway systems routing and switching devices and rendered them inoperable by encrypting data stored on them. AgainstTheWest targeted Russian interests. Another hacktivist group known as AgainstTheWest claims to have hacked a steady stream of Russian websites and corporations, including Russian Government contractor promen48.ru, Russian Railways, the State University Dubna, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. Another hacktivist group known as AgainstTheWest claims to have hacked a steady stream of Russian websites and corporations, including Russian Government contractor promen48.ru, Russian Railways, the State University Dubna, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. The Anon Leaks says it messed with Putins yacht information. The Anon Leaks, a group purportedly an offshoot of Anonymous, said it changed the callsign of Russian President Vladimir Putins superyacht Graceful on MarineTraffic.com to FCKPTN. The hackers also found a way to alter the yachts tracking data, making it look as if it had crashed into Ukraines Snake Island and changing its destination to hell. The Anon Leaks, a group purportedly an offshoot of Anonymous, said it changed the callsign of Russian President Vladimir Putins superyacht Graceful on MarineTraffic.com to FCKPTN. The hackers also found a way to alter the yachts tracking data, making it look as if it had crashed into Ukraines Snake Island and changing its destination to hell. Presumed hacktivists hacked Russian EV charging stations. Hackers, presumably activists, hacked electric vehicle charging stations along Russias M11 motorway to display anti-Russian messages. The hackers likely gained access through a Ukrainian parts supplier called AutoEnterprise. Hackers, presumably activists, hacked electric vehicle charging stations along Russias M11 motorway to display anti-Russian messages. The hackers likely gained access through a Ukrainian parts supplier called AutoEnterprise. Patriotic Russian hackers helped hit Ukraine websites with DDoS attacks: Last week, some independent Russian hackers, so-called patriotic Russian hackers, or vigilantes who operate in a hacktivist-like mode, claim they helped bring down Ukrainian websites during the second round of DDoS attacks that hit the country. Last week, some independent Russian hackers, so-called patriotic Russian hackers, or vigilantes who operate in a hacktivist-like mode, claim they helped bring down Ukrainian websites during the second round of DDoS attacks that hit the country. Russian media outlets hacked to display anti-Russian messages. The websites of several Russian media outlets were hacked to display anti-Russian messages, with some of the sites going offline. The sites affected were TASS rbc.ru, kommersant.ru, fontanka.ru, and iz.ru of the Izvestia outlet. Some Russian media sources say anonymous was the source of these hacks. The websites of several Russian media outlets were hacked to display anti-Russian messages, with some of the sites going offline. The sites affected were TASS rbc.ru, kommersant.ru, fontanka.ru, and iz.ru of the Izvestia outlet. Some Russian media sources say anonymous was the source of these hacks. Researcher leaked Conti gangs messages: A Ukrainian security researcher leaked over 60,000 internal messages belonging to the Conti ransomware operation after the gang publicly sided with Russia over the invasion of Ukraine. (Conti backpedaled from its robust support of Russia after its Ukrainian affiliates objected). The leaked messages were taken by a Ukrainian security researcher who reportedly had access to Conti's backend XMPP server from a log server for the Jabber communication system used by the ransomware gang. Hacktivism isnt necessarily a good idea The main question surrounding the hacktivism accompanying Russias invasion of Ukraine is whether this kind of hacking is a healthy development in defense of Ukraine. It's worth noting that the situation is really quite unprecedented, Brett Callow, threat analyst at Emsisoft, tells CSO. I don't recall anything like this having happened before. We obviously have multiple activist groups operating on behalf of both sides, as well as certain cybercrime groups taking sides, as well as intelligence services invariably doing the things they normally do. Generally speaking, hacktivism isn't necessarily a good idea, Callow says. It's obviously illegal, and the consequences can be quite unforeseen. Sometimes a DDoS attack can affect more than the resource being targeted. In the case of the IT Army of Ukraine, "The Ukrainian government may be concerned that they are not going to get as much help as they otherwise could on the cyber side of things and so are looking to take matters into their own hands by recruiting the army. Another argument against encouraging hacktivism is that hacktivists arent always truthful and can contribute to disinformation. Callow doubts, for example, that the claims by AgainstTheWest are true. The claims seem unlikely to be true, he says. One of the most concerning risks is that activists will interfere with other planned strategic operations. For example, if a Western intelligence agency has compromised, stealthily compromised, the network of a Russian company, that could all be blown out of the water if a Russian company finds itself having to remediate because of an attack by activists. The activists will be looking to cause short-term disruption. Whereas the intelligence agencies may have longer-term objectives included information gathering. All is fair in love and war Chris Anthony, founder and CEO of TeamWorx Security, leans more favorably toward hacktivism in this circumstance. We're talking about an effort that's rising up and challenging whoever the bad guys are. I think it's an important part of who we are as humans, Anthony tells CSO. Back in the 1700s, we used to circle the wagons and come to each other's defense. I think hacktivism is the same thing, just in the 21st century. There's an aggressor, and this is our country, and we're not happy. We're going to use whatever means available to us to show you that we can stand on our own two feet. We can fight back, and we can defend ourselves. Hacktivists can particularly help when the target faces such a lopsided fight, as in Ukraine. Sometimes, this is a war of attrition, Anthony says. When you call upon every single mobile device and computer, assembled and united against the cause, it's a pretty powerful thing. I think that's an advantage to Ukraine. Garret Grajek, CEO of YouAttest, also supports what the hacktivists are doing, saying, in essence, all is fair in love and war. The powerful tool of unwelcomed site intrusion cuts both ways, Grajek tells CSO. Russians attacked Ukrainian and government sites immediately. Now hackers officially aligned with Ukraine, and hacktivist groups like Anonymous have begun hacking and attacking official Russian sites and affiliated news sites. It's war, and it's to be expected. The gloves came off when the tanks rolled in. The holiday season has long been completed, but that doesn't stop Hallmark from continuing the Christmas spirit. A new movie for the channel was filming in West Hartford on March 1. According to spokesperson for the city of West Hartford Renee McCue, a scene from the forthcoming Hallmark film, "The Ghost of Christmas Always" was filming on 34 Foxcroft Road in West Hartford. In a synopsis of the film provided by McCue, the film provides a new take on the classic, "A Christmas Carol." The film tells the story of Katherine Marley, a ghost who is "spending her afterlife working for the Department of Restoring Christmas Spirit as a Ghost of Christmas Present." Marley's job is to visit earth every Christmas to help a soul rekindle its love of Christmas. When she is assigned to help a man named Peter, Marley cannot figure out why his Christmas spirit needs help. What Marley does discover that she and Peter "just might be fated for each other." McCue said in an email that the West Hartford location isn't the only one in the area the production is using as a backdrop. "The majority of the movie is filmed in Hartford at the Bushnell Park carousel," she said. While there is no information available yet on when the film will air, the Hallmark production joins a host of other movies to have filmed in the state over the past year. In 2021, Hartford played host to the film, "A Holiday in Harlem" that premiered during Hallmark's "Countdown to Christmas" in November. Hallmark also filmed "Next Stop, Christmas" and "Sugar Plum Twist" in Connecticut in 2021, both of which debuted during the network's "Countdown to Christmas" movie series. DANBURY The health care system that runs Danbury and Norwalk hospitals stopped delivering babies at Putnam Hospital in nearby New York on Tuesday, with hopes to reopen the maternity ward as a smaller birthing center for low-risk pregnancies. The reason: the OB-GYNs affiliated with CareMount the only medical group providing deliveries at Putnam Hospital Center have either taken their patients to larger hospitals in neighboring New York counties or are phasing out of practice, an executive told Hearst Connecticut Media on Tuesday. We received notice in early January that their group, which has been with us for past 30 years, made the decision to deliver babies (at Vassar Brothers Medical Center) in Poughkeepsie and at Northern Westchester Hospital, said Dr. Mark Hirko, president of Putnam Hospital part of the seven-hospital health care system in Connecticut and New York known as Nuvance. Yes, it is a temporary setback, but we are looking at the silver lining that we have the opportunity to do something different. CareMounts OB-GYNs switched hospitals because of greater birth volumes and the support of neonatal intensive care units, the group said in a release. Putnam Hospital, which does not have a NICU, has averaged one birth daily for the last two years, Nuvance said. Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y., which belongs to a competing network called Norwell Health, has a NICU and averages five births a day, CareMount said. It was too soon on Tuesday to say what impact the maternity ward suspension at Putnam Hospital would have on Danbury Hospital 17 miles to the east, except that Nuvance would encourage women in Carmel, Southeast and other nearby New York towns to consider giving birth at Danbury Hospital. Putnam Hospital is the only hospital in a county of 100,000 people which stretches from the Connecticut border to the Hudson River. Our job is to keep the people as local as possible by temporarily splitting them with Danbury and Northern Westchester and Vassar, Hirko said. Were not going to put a NICU (in Putnam Hospital) but we do have the ability to do low-risk births. It was not clear on Tuesday how long it would take for Putnam Hospital to reinvent its maternity ward, or what model a smaller center might take. Such a center could include midwives and OB-GYNs on staff who handle births. Nationally we know that its difficult to recruit high-end physicians, so we know this is not going to be easy, Hirko said. But its encouraging that we have people that are reaching out to us. Putnam is the second Nuvance hospital in six months to announce changes to its maternity ward. Late last year, Nuvance said it would phase out its maternity wing at Sharon Hospital, where births are averaging 200 annually. Sharons maternity ward will close as soon as it is approved by the state Office of Health Strategy, which is backlogged in approval requests by hospitals. So why does Sharon with low birth volume have to close while Putnam with low birth volume is being reimagined as a smaller niche center? The short answer is that if something goes wrong during labor at Putnam Hospital, there are NICUs to the north, south and east. There are fewer emergency options for Sharon Hospital. Sharon is more isolated, and because of the low volume of births, it is difficult to recruit and keep the full gamut of maternity services, Hirko said. Putnam is surrounded by multiple tertiary care centers with NICUs, so its possible to maintain a unit with a lower number of births. Meanwhile, CareMount OB-GYNs will continue to practice at Putnam Hospital. They are keeping their offices and (gynecology) practices on site, so there is no change in that that category, Hirko said. The demographic changes in the U.S. mean that hospitals have to look at regionalization of care. You dont do liver transplants in every hospital, and you dont have NICUs at every hospital. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 The newest beer coming out of Hog River Brewing Co.'s Hartford taproom is a "juicy" New England IPA, fruited with peach and Cara Cara oranges. It also has particular significance for the women of Connecticut's brewing industry. Driven by a shared desire to empower and uplift women in beer, three female brewery owners came together to craft the collaboration beer, which they named "Bombshell." It's a partnership between Joy Braddock of Hog River, Heather Wilson of Hop Culture Farms & Brew Co. in Colchester and Alisa Bowens-Mercado of Rhythm Brewing Co. in New Haven. The beer was released during a special event at Hog River on March 5, in the first week of Women's History Month. Proceeds from sales will be donated to the CT Pink Boots Society Scholarship for Women in Brewing, which supports women enrolling in Sacred Heart University's Brewing Science Certificate Program. The Bombshell IPA was available on draft and in cans at Hog River and Hop Culture's taprooms, and will be distributed along with other Rhythm beers at select retail outlets. The release event at Hog River featured more than a dozen female vendors in the taproom, along with live music. Winter Caplanson/ CT Food & Farm As female brewery owners, Braddock, Wilson and Bowens-Mercado face the challenges of a male-dominated industry, and Bowens-Mercado is one of just a few Black female owners in the United States. When they gathered in Hartford to brew the beer, they sat together and had long, candid discussions about their experiences, Braddock said. "It was unlike any other conversation I've ever had with any other peer in the industry, to date," she said. "I've never been surrounded by two other female owners. It was honestwe could relate in a different way to each other. It was really refreshing." They chose "Bombshell" for the name to signal that women will be making a splash, Bowens-Mercado said. "We're letting folks know, 'Don't underestimate women in the industry." The 'reckoning' in craft beer A man is literally talking to me like a dog right now, Brienne Allan posted on her Instagram story last May. Frustrated by her experiences in the industry, Allan, a production manager at Massachusetts' Notch Brewing, asked women in beer to share their own stories: the sexism, harassment, racism and general misogynistic behavior they'd experienced in their professional settings. The response was swift, and overwhelming. Thousands of women reached out to Allan on Instagram, describing demeaning remarks about their knowledge levels or physical strength, assumptions about their roles in the industry, pervasive cultures of sexual harassment and even sexual violence. The movement, which Braddock called a "reckoning," also hit home in Connecticut. Women writing to Allan accused an employee at South Windsor's Connecticut Valley Brewing Co. of sexual harassment. The employee was fired, and the brewery's owners issued a statement denouncing his behavior and affirming a commitment to training and education. Courtesy of Joy Braddock / Hog River Brewing Co. None of it came as a shock to Connecticut's female leaders in beer. Braddock said she was "sickened and saddened, although not surprised" to hear about sexual harassment and abuse in the industry. She and her husband, Ben, opened the brewery in 2016, and she says people rarely assume she's an owner, or that she's just "the brewer's wife" helping out. She says she and her female staff members will sometimes get "tested" on their craft beer knowledge, as if customers don't trust they know what they're talking about. "It's just a very different treatment, as compared to if Ben goes behind the bar, and it's instant respect...that conversation starts without him having to prove himself," she said. Bowens-Mercado opened Rhythm in 2018. "I think when we hit the scene, we were the fourth [Black female-owned brewery] in the country," she said. "I don't take that lightly. When you have numbers like that, then you know there's work to be done." Before she even "made a drop of beer," she said, she researched the industry for more than four years, understanding that she would need to be equipped with as much knowledge as possible to be taken seriously. "People are going to quiz you; they're going to think you don't know anything about the industry," she said. "And I knew, getting into the business as an African-American female, that the assumption was going to be, 'What the heck does she know about beer?'" Winter Caplanson/ CT Food & Farm Wilson co-owns Hop Culture with her husband, Sam, and she's the head brewer at their Colchester farm brewery. People are sometimes surprised that she's at the helm of the operation, and she's also had her knowledge challenged. But she's trying to break down stereotypes, she said. "That only challenges me to level up and become better," she said. "I don't want to become the best female brewer. I want to be the best brewer. Every time I'm challenged with that, I just continue to learn and try to grow my craft." The future of women in brewing Sacred Heart's brewing science certificate is the first of its kind in Connecticut, according to the university. The curriculum includes classes in sanitation and safety, introduction to brewing ingredients, sensory analysis and beer service, craft beverage brewing and operations and management.The early courses will qualify students for the Cicerone Certified Beer Server exam and the ServSafe Alcohol exam. The Connecticut brewery owners said they're thrilled to be involved in contributing to the scholarship, which was established in 2021 by Bloomfield's Back East Brewing Company and the Connecticut Chapter of the Pink Boots Society as a way to help "increase opportunities for females in a male-dominated industry." Winter Caplanson/ CT Food & Farm Braddock said she believes the brewing science education and associated internships will help more women move into "decision-making roles" in the beer industry. (Bowens-Mercado currently has an intern at Rhythm who's a student in the program, calling her "an up-and-coming star in the beer world.") Wilson, a mother of three daughters, said it's a "big passion" of hers to get more women involved in the production side of brewing. "We believe that increasing access to knowledge and information and education will give women the chance to step into some of these bigger roles on the production side, and [becoming] owners and brewers themselves," she said. Braddock said her "heart was full" after the event. "It was such a positive energy between the customers and vendors who were there," she said. "I think because everyone was there with an intention to support the cause, it just permeated the whole space." The goal was to have visibility, Braddock said. "To actually see people come through the door and say, 'Yes, I want to see more women in the industry,' that's what I wanted to see, and that's what really feels good." While the release was a success, Braddock said she, Wilson and Bowens-Mercado are already asking, "What's next?" "We've got to capture the momentum, which we're feeling, and just keep going with it," she said. Elsewhere in Connecticut, Stratford's Athletic Brewing is releasing the 2022 edition of "Trailblazer," a Helles-style non-alcoholic beer, in celebration of Women's History Month. One hundred percent of the profits will be donated to multiple non-profit organizations such as Pink Boots Society, Ladies Who Launch, the Womens International Beer Summit and other organizations that inspire women to join the craft beer community. A series of crashes on state highways and local roads killed eight people within two days over the weekend. According to investigators, the first two crashes involved drivers heading the wrong way on major highways less than an hour apart during the overnight hours early Saturday morning. The issue of wrong-way drivers is one that is not unique to our state, Connecticut State Police said in a statement. It is a battle that is faced nationwide, and unfortunately, is not something new. When calls are received reporting wrong way drivers, State Police respond swiftly as we fully recognize the imminent danger involved. State police said factors influencing wrong-way driving tend to involve those experiencing mental health issues, those who are driving while impaired and inclement weather. Officials have not said whether the third weekend crash involved a wrong-way driver. Here is what we know about each of the accidents: I-91 northbound in Meriden State troopers were called to Interstate-91 northbound in Meriden around 2:26 a.m. Saturday on reports of a crash. When they arrived, they found the Toyota Camry driven by Charde Monet Spates, 21, of New Haven, was heading southbound in the left-most of the northbound lanes when it collided with BMW X5 that was heading the correct direction on the highway between exits 17 and 18, a state police report showed. Spates was killed in the crash. The driver of the BMW X5, identified as 50-year-old Judith Melvin-Levy of Windsor, was also killed in the crash, state police said. A passenger in the BMW suffered suspected minor injures, according to state police. State police are asking any witnesses to the crash to contact Trooper David Pelletier, of Troop I, at 203-393-4200 or david.pelletier2@ct.gov. I-84 eastbound in Hartford Troopers were dispatched to Interstate-84 eastbound in Hartford around 2:46 a.m. Saturday for a wrong-way driver crash. Troopers found that a Chevrolet Equinox traveling westbound in the left of four eastbound lanes crashed into a tractor-trailer truck that was heading eastbound in the left-most lane, according to a state police report. All four people in the Chevrolet Equinox were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, state police said. The driver of the tractor-trailer truck was taken to Hartford Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to state police. On Monday, state police identified two of the individuals in the Equinox as Natachia Izekia Rivera-Hall, 40, of Bedford Street in Hartford, and April Slade, 40, of Seyms Street in Hartford. State police said Monday they were still working to identify the other two people in the vehicle. State police are asking anyone with information to contact Trooper John Wilson of Troop H at 860-534-1098 or john.wilson@ct.gov. East Cedar Street in Newington Newington police were called to a crash on East Cedar Street near Route 175 around 9:30 a.m. Sunday for a reported crash. Police said two people were killed in the multi-vehicle crash. On Monday, they identified the two people killed in the crash as Mark Steiner, 61, of East Hampton, and Alexis Soto, 29, of Wethersfield. The Midstate Accident Reconstruction Team, a regional group of police officers, were investigating the accident. The National Poison Control Center cautioned those using an at-home rapid test kit for COVID-19 might not be safe to use. A warning came from a toxic substance that could adversely affect children and adults from the kit. Based on a blog on the Cincinnati Drug and Poison Information Center responsible for it. The National Poison Control Center (NPCC) published a warning as well. At-Home Rapid Test Kits Found With Toxins The NPCC mentioned that a component in the kit called sodium azide found in the extraction vial, used as a preservative agent, is harmful. Several kits like BinaxNow, BD Veritor, Flowflex, and Celltrion DiaTrust COVID-19 quick test kits have it, reported the Epoch Times. These kits were found to have sodium azide in all of them hence the warning for its use, noted the National Capital Poison Center. The unsafe chemical has no smell or color to it. This liquid is where cotton swabs are dipped into before being used for swabbing. Sodium azide is usually used for herbicides, controlling pests, and car airbags. Health Canada forwarded an advisory on how it can lower blood pressure even in small doses, but larger amounts would cause more severe effects. ProClin adds that more than one component chemical could cause eye and skin irritations, including allergic reactions. Some hospitals have had calls complaining of symptoms caused by sodium azide in the US. Sheila Goertemoeller, a pharmacist and clinical toxicologist for a Children's hospital, said that the effects caused by the exposures were recorded by early November. The National Poison Control Center said many people of all ages were affected using the at-home rapid tests kit. Read Also: Study Identifies Certain Antibodies That can Stop Omicron Infection, Affect the Notorious Spike Proteins She added that it worried her that young children get affected by it. Proper Use of Test Kit Could Avoid Exposure to Toxins Another doctor, Kelly Johnson-Arbor, connected to the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, spoke to WNEP about the concern during the weekend. One of the common mistakes is that it is thought to be eyedrops most of the time. Kinds would drop rub on their skin, and adults would put it in their eyes as eyes. The doctor added that exposing it to anyone's skin results in allergies or a very bad skin rash. Another danger that can happen is someone might ingest the chemical by accident. If it happens, better contact the PCC, as ingesting the liquid with several components could be harmful. Both non-toxic and dangerous chemicals ingested might need medical care. The official spoke to an outlet about the test kits, which they should dispose properly of because accidental ingestion happens if someone will not follow how to use them properly. Officials reminded consumers that the test kits are not dangerous if someone knows how to use them appropriately. Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, a St. Luke's University Health Network, reminded users of these test kits to dispose of as instructed to avoid further problems. Anyone might ingest the sodium azide, touch them and put it in the eyes, and rub it on the skin, which could cause a rash, all of the above are harmful. If there is eye exposure, just rinse for 15 to 20 minutes using warm water. For skin exposure, just wash the skin with tap water, and it's all good. Call the PCC's online tool or at 1-800-222-1222 for more help in case of accidental ingestion. Take note that the Poison Control Center says at-home rapid test kits should be used only for what they are purposed, and the contents are not for any other uses, reminded authorities. Related Article: Scientists Engineer Synthetic Coronavirus To Study SARS-CoV-2 Innate Mechanisms Better To Devise Countermeasures @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Even through the fog of war, the Ukrainian peoples fight against Russian invaders has been awe-inspiring. Its hard to pick a most moving moment, but heres mine: Over the weekend, a viral video showed a Henichesk woman offering sunflower seeds (the national flower of Ukraine) to Russian soldiers, so that when they are killed in Ukraine, the seeds will be fertilized by their rotting bodies. Thats the kind of curse you can support, a matter-of-fact invitation to hell that is just the right amount of eloquent. Its hard not to be a little shame-faced about what has occupied public discourse in the Nutmeg State. By comparison, skirmishes in Connecticut are petty and sad. A guy punches another guy over changing a high school mascot in Glastonbury. The police are called to a Coventry board of education meeting because overexuberant parents dont want their children to wear masks in a global pandemic. (The board eventually decided to make masks optional unless the town reaches a certain number of COVID cases.) A handful of students and parents travel to the State Capitol to whine that they dont like masks either, because they cant see their colleagues faces and that interrupts their socialization. I mean, honestly. If the world isnt laughing at us, it should be. While Ukrainian grandmothers are confronting Russian soldiers and everyday Ukrainians are trying to stop tanks by standing in front of them, the anti-science brigade of Connecticut is celebrating the states relaxing of some pandemic mandates. Happy First Week with No State Mask Mandate in Schools and Child Care Centers, Connecticut. If its all the same to you and even if it isnt Ill go ahead and mask up when I go out because I dont know the burdens of that guy at the next cash register. But do keep belaboring the point and reminding the rest of us about freedom. To guard their own freedom, Ukrainian citizens not just soldiers have made and are throwing Molotov cocktails at their invaders. Theyre sleeping in metro stations when they arent out defending their homeland. They go home to get more clothes, then the sirens sound and they go back to the stations. Their money is running out. They cant use credit cards, and provisions are running low. Meanwhile, a truck convoy whose members were inspired by truckers who shut down Ottawa, Canada, over vaccine mandates is rolling toward D.C. to protest well, Im not entirely sure. If mask mandates have been mostly lifted around the country, I supposed theyre protesting out of a sense of nostalgia, or to give their lives meaning. This isnt a grassroots movement. The convoy enjoys strong ties with and the deep pockets of radical right-wing groups, and shame on them. Perhaps we can all draw a lesson from Ukraine, where a man blew himself up trying to stop Russian convoys from crossing a bridge. In Connecticut, the Party of Trump has taken to social media to whine about gas prices. What one news outlet called rampant geopolitical uncertainty has a way of affecting prices and supply chains which, by the way, arent helped by truckers who block roads because theyre irritated. After fighting in the Spanish Civil War, George Orwell wrote, One of the most horrible features of war is that all the war propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting. Ukrainian men between ages 18 and 60 have been conscripted to fight. Some Ukrainian soldiers on an island in the Black Sea were told by someone on a Russian military ship radio to surrender. Instead, the soldiers told the Russian warship to go (fill in the blanks). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said later those Ukrainian soldiers were killed though recent reports hold out hope they survived. God, let that be true. President Zelensky, who has earned the respect of the everyone in the world except Putin, has stayed to fight. If you needed the reminder, the Ukrainian president was on the other end of that phone call made by the former president, who really, really wanted to find some dirt on President Joe Biden and his family. I would like you to do us a favor, the former president said, and so opened the door to his first impeachment trial. Pvt. Bone Spurs? Meet Capt. Ukraine. On Sunday, Dee Snider, front man for the band Twisted Sister, took to Twitter to explain why he endorsed the Ukrainian peoples use of his 1984 song, Were Not Going to Take It, when he wouldnt let the anti-maskers use it. Snider wrote, Well, one use is for a righteous battle against oppression while the other was an infantile feet stomping against an inconvenience. If we cant agree about the appropriate response to a global pandemic, weve strangely (and mostly) been able to pull together for Ukraine. There have been multiple gatherings around the state to show support for Ukraine, including one last Saturday in Hartford. The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford began taking donations. Donors crashed the website of an heirloom seed company in Missouri that offered to share all weekend proceeds with Ukraine relief groups. Package stores throughout the country started pulling Russian vodka off their shelves. A pandemic should have pulled us together. Instead, we went for each others throats. Perhaps this one thing we can do. We can stand together against tyranny. And for the elected officials who dont? We see you and well remember. Susan Campbell is the author of Frog Hollow: Stories from an American Neighborhood, Tempest-Tossed: The Spirit of Isabella Beecher Hooker and Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism and the American Girl. She is Distinguished Lecturer at the University of New Haven, where she teaches journalism. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A proposed bill could provide homeowners in some Connecticut municipalities a brief reprieve by allowing local officials to delay property revaluations up to one year. Connecticut property values have rebounded during the COVID-19 pandemic to levels not seen since the real estate boom of the mid-2000s, as high-rise dwellers in New York City have sought an escape to the town and country lifestyle. In some instances, that has cascaded into annual tax bills homeowners and businesses pay municipalities where they are located. Bridgeports grand list of property values jumped 23 percent last year, with owners having until earlier this week to file appeals. Democrats proposed the bill last week in the Connecticut General Assembly, where it will get an initial consideration in the Planning & Development Committee. The bill would allow municipalities to delay up to one year any initiation of revaluations through 2023. The municipality can vote on it, said state Rep. David Michel, D-Stamford. I believe in letting the cities decide on this, especially under the assumption that it can offer temporary relief for many, in the case that the reval would end up in an increase in property tax, which seems most likely for many homeowners. The committees co-chairs are Sen. Steve Cassano, D-4, a former Manchester mayor whose district includes Glastonbury and Bolton that are up for revaluations in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, D-Fairfield. As part of his budget plan, Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed expanding Connecticuts property tax credit to $300 annually from its current level of $200, and ending a restriction that allowed only taxpayers with dependents or those age 65 and older to qualify. Property tax is pretty relentless you pay it in good times, you pay it in bad times, Lamont said this month when he announced the tax-credit expansion. It particularly hits the middle class hard, and were doing everything we can to mitigate that. Under Connecticut law, municipalities complete property revaluations every five years, with taxpayers able to challenge those findings to lower their property assessments. Stamford, Danbury, Middletown, Ansonia, Bethel, Guilford, Newtown, Orange, Redding, Ridgefield and Wilton are among those that have revaluations underway this year. Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Madison and Weston are scheduled next year for revaluations, which could be pushed back a year under the bill. For revaluations completed in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, Connecticut values totaled $392 billion spanning homes, autos, apartments, commercial buildings and other property subject to assessment for tax purposes. That was up $7.1 billion from the prior year. In 2020, Bridgeport saw the single-biggest jump in grand-list value, a 23 percent increase from 2019. Many Bridgeport taxpayers were vocal after seeing their bills go up on the heels of a 2016 revaluation. Includes prior reporting by Julia Bergman and Brian Lockhart. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman HARTFORD Gov. Ned Lamont has nominated 22 Connecticut residents, including two on the Shoreline, to fill vacancies as judges on the Connecticut Superior Court. The court currently has 59 vacancies. This is the second class of Superior Court nominations made by Lamont since he took office in 2019, according to a press release. His first class was made in early 2021 and consisted of 15 judges. Our court system works the best when it reflects the diversity, experience, and understanding of the people who live here, Lamont said in a prepared statement. These men and women that Ive selected to become judges not only have the competence, skills, and proficiency to serve the court with integrity, but come from a variety of backgrounds that provide them with the important shared experiences of the people who will come before them, he added. These nominees have the qualifications that meet the high standards the residents of Connecticut deserve on the bench. Nominees include: Kevin M. Shay, 47, of Old Saybrook, who graduated from the University of Notre Dame and earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is a senior assistant states attorney assigned to the Judicial District of Middlesex, and as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut. Prior to his government service, Shay was a staff attorney for Connecticut Legal Services, and an associate in the litigation department of Nutter, McClennen and Fish in Boston, the news release said. Maria del Pilar Gonzalez, 34, of Guilford graduated from Quinnipiac University and obtained her juris doctor degree from Quinnipiac School of Law. Since 2018, she has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut and is a member of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. She is also the District of Connecticuts Violence Against Women Act coordinator. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorneys Office, she served as an assistant states attorney for the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice in the Appellate Bureau and at Geographical Area 23. The nominations will be considered by the Connecticut General Assembly. To view the other nominees, go to portal.ct.gov. Contributed Photo / Hartford Police Department HARTFORD A woman was found with a gunshot wound at an apartment complex in Hartford Saturday morning, according to the Hartford Police Department. Police were called to the Collinswood Apartments on Collins Street around 9 a.m. Sunday for a report of someone shot. At the scene, police found a woman in her 20s with a gunshot wound, according to Lt. Aaron Boisvert. 99 cent introductory offer Includes everything we offer online for 24-7 news. This option allows you to read unlimited stories at ctnewsonline.com, and access our e-Edition (digital replicate of the daily newspaper). $7.99 per month after the introductory offer. This service comes with a complimentary CT Select Card allowing for local discounts. Rates are subject to change. Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media STRATFORD A Florida man pleaded guilty Monday after allegedly attempting to defraud the government while working for a Stratford health care company, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for Connecticut. Innis Fredrick, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and impede and impair the Internal Revenue Service, which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison. Amid the Russian attack on his country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has earned the admiration of the world, most especially his constituents, after his declaration that he will not go anywhere and will stay to defend Ukraine's sovereignty. "The enemy has marked me down as the number one target. My family is the number two target. They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state. I will stay in the capital. My family is also in Ukraine," Zelensky, a former actor, said in a video that went viral. Aside from the love of his country, President Zelenksy also draws courage from the love of his life, Ukraine's First Lady Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska, 44, whom he married in 2003. She is one of the most influential women in the country, Zelensky's most steadfast comrade, and the mother of their two lovely children. Like her husband, Zelenska communicates with the people of Ukraine through social media, uplifting spirits amid the crisis that their country is going through. In her Instagram post, she uploaded an image of a baby covered in a white blanket, with the caption (translated in English) "This child was born in the Kyiv bomb shelter. This was to take place in completely different conditions, under peaceful skies. It is what children should see.But the main thing is that despite the war, there were doctors and caring people on our streets next to her. She will be protected and defended. Because you are incredible, dear compatriots!" Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Agrees to Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Without Preconditions Despite Vladimir Putin's Deadly Threat The Wife of Volodymyr Zelensky Olena Zelenska (whose maiden name is Olena Kiyashko) is an accomplished screenwriter, but initially, she took up architecture at Kryvyi Rih National University per Parade. She is among the co-founders of Studio Kvartal 95, the most prominent television and film production company in Ukraine. She met Zelensky at the university when he was a budding comedian and law student. Eventually, Zelenska wrote for the comedy group that catapulted the now-president into the public spotlight, just in time for his breakout role as a satirical politician in the hit comedy series Servant of the People. Zelensky's aspirations to enter politics were strongly opposed by Zelenska, who had previously lived a life away from public attention. Though, apparently, that did not stop him. Working First Lady As First Lady, Zelenska spearheaded initiatives on promoting gender equality, access to health services, proper nutrition, and spreading the Ukrainian language around the world. In September 2020, she worked with French First Lady Brigitte Macron to promote physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and other programs aimed at securing women's equal opportunity. Zelenska is also considered among the most stylish First Ladies in the world. She graced the pages of several prominent fashion publications showcasing her "Fashion diplomacy" to make significant statements. According to her interview with Diplomatic Courier, she does it to support Ukrainian artists and designers. The Ukrainian First Lady believes that fashion also sends a message about a diplomat's country and its goals. "The President and I always want to represent Ukraine in a positive and strong way. It is a reflection of our actions and values," she said in a Tatler interview. Related Article: Belarus President Warns US, West Sanctions Are Pushing Russia to World War 3: "Nuclear War Is the End of Everything" @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Watching the news coverage of Russias invasion of Ukraine under President Vladimir Putin, Sergei Sikorsky spotted an old comrade. I am a very close friend of Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, Sikorsky said Monday from his home in Arizona. Ive seen him on one or two of those quick little flashes that the television shows. ... Vitali is very definitely on my mind. Sikorsky and his Connecticut-based brother, Igor Jr., both in their 90s, are the sons of the late Igor Sikorsky Sr., the Russian immigrant who invented the first practical helicopter, constructed seaplanes or flying boats and founded the namesake Stratford-based aircraft manufacturing giant. His name also adorns Bridgeports Stratford-based airport. The aviation pioneer was born in Kyiv in 1889 when it was part of the Russian empire. For that reason and other connections his sons are viewing the conflict there, and the fate of Ukraines capital in particular, with intense personal interest. Mother was born in Poltava, which is a city in Ukraine. So they both were Ukrainian by citizenship but really Russian by citizenship at that time, said Sikorsky Jr., who resides in Unionville. I am appalled by Putin. I believe that father would be, also. Sikorsky Sr. fled Russia in the early 1900s and after living briefly in France he arrived in New York City in 1919 during the Russian Revolution which resulted in a Communist government under Joseph Stalin. There was no way you could get dad back into Russia while Stalin was still alive. He would have been arrested and probably executed as a quote-unquote defector or traitor or whatever, Sergei Sikorsky said. But dad spoke, I think, quite favorably of his childhood in Kyiv. ... He had good, fond memories. According to Sikorsky Jr., their fathers home, at least until recent events, was in terrible shape but still standing and there had been some discussion about turning it into a museum, though nothing ever developed. I would say father's name in Russia is more famous than it is here. ... Hes the kid who left and made good, he said. In the Stalinist-era his name was enough to get you arrested saying something nice about Sikorsky. But afterwards he gradually became accepted. To the point where one of Kyivs two international airports was a few years ago named in honor of Sikorsky Sr., as was the National Technical University of Ukraine, also located in Kyiv, that he attended. The schools website boasts he was an outstanding aircraft designer of the 20th Century. But, as combat rages and Russian soldiers bear down upon Kyiv, Sikorsky Srs. sons are less worried about bricks-and-mortar tributes and more concerned about the individuals they have met from both Ukraine and Russia through familial and business connections. During the course of my professional career I met with and became friends with a great many of the people there in the aircraft industry, said Sergei Sikorsky, a retired Sikorsky Aircraft executive. He last spoke with Klitschko who, along with brother Wladimir is a famous former boxer, by phone maybe a year ago around Christmas. He has not tried to contact him recently. I feel very much concerned about Vitali, about his brother and the whole Klitschko family. But right now things are very confused and quite frankly I have not been trying to get a hold of Vitali by phone. I think hes pretty busy right now. Sikorsky Jr. said their grandfather had 11 children so there are a bunch of Sikorskys out there. He previously visited Ukraine five years ago. Sergei said overall he feels pity and sadness. Its something I very, very deeply regret that is happening to the people of Ukraine and Im keeping my fingers crossed, he said. Meanwhile Sikorsky Jr. is calling on the Russian-American community and Russians everywhere to repudiate the actions. This is clearly very unfortunate, he said. And it will haunt the Russians for a lot longer than they realize. In the latest insight post on NAFCUs Compliance, Risk, & BSA Network, NAFCU Senior Regulatory Affairs Counsel Kaley Schafer reviews how the imposed sanctions against Russia will impact credit unions. Russia early Thursday morning launched an attack on Ukraines borders in an effort to undermine its territorial integrity. In response to the invasion, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) imposing sanctions against Russia, blocking property of certain persons and prohibiting certain transactions with respect to the attacks. Schafer notes that while the majority of the imposed sanctions will not impact credit unions, there are sanctions that directly impact Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) compliance, which credit unions, as financial institutions, are familiar with. Following Bidens EO, OFAC added certain individuals and entities to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN), to include major Russian banks and their subsidiaries, as well as Russian political figures and families with close ties to Russian President Vladmir Putin. Transaction monitoring systems typically receive updated SDN list information, but credit unions should ensure that they are abiding by OFAC regulations and properly blocking property and prohibiting transactions as required, wrote Schafer. Of note, the EO also blocks all property and interests in property that are in the U.S. by any person operating in covered regions. OFAC issued several directives including one that prohibits any U.S. financial institution from participating in certain actions with the Central Bank of Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, or the Ministry of Finance Russian Federation. Despite Moscow placing its nuclear forces on high alert in response to tough US sanctions, President Joe Biden said Monday that Americans need not be concerned about Russia's invasion of Ukraine turning into a worldwide nuclear war. Because of aggressive declarations by NATO countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged his military to increase its readiness to deploy nuclear weapons on Sunday. Putin ordered Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to place their nuclear forces under a special combat duty regime. Biden Admin Seeks To Ease Tension "We believe aggressive rhetoric like this involving nuclear weapons is irresponsible, contributes to the risk of mistake, should be avoided, and [we] will not indulge in it," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday, NY Post reported. However, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close Putin ally, stated on Sunday that US sanctions on Russia may lead to a third world war, although the US has so far avoided targeting important Russian industries like oil and gas exports. After imposing limited restrictions last week, the White House slapped more sanctions over the weekend, targeting Putin's immense personal fortune and shutting Russian banks out of the SWIFT international payment system. The Biden administration is seeking to ease the tension produced by Russian President Vladimir Putin's alleged nuclear threats, according to Psaki. Over the weekend, Putin put Russia's nuclear weapons on high alert, and he earlier threatened Western nations with dire repercussions if they intervene militarily in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Psaki dismissed as "provocative rhetoric." Putin's threats, she stated, are hazardous, contribute to the risk of miscalculation, should be avoided, and US will not engage in it. Psaki went on to say that the White House is "assessing President Putin's directive, and at this moment, we see no cause to modify our own alert levels." Later in the briefing, Psaki told reporters that the No. 1 way the US is actively working to "reduce the possibility of nuclear war" is by "not escalating our own rhetoric," as per Washington Examiner. Earlier in the day, when asked if nuclear war with Russia is a realistic possibility, President Joe Biden simply replied, "No." Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Agrees to Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Without Preconditions Despite Vladimir Putin's Deadly Threat President Joe Biden's Approval Rating Plummets Amid Ukraine Invasion President Joe Biden's approval is plummeting in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to recent polling from The Washington Post and ABC News, only 37% of Americans approve of Biden's job performance, a new low for the president just over a year into office. A majority of adults in the United States, 55 percent, disapprove of Biden's job performance. Those findings were echoed in a Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll poll, which indicated Biden's approval rating had dropped to an all-time low of 38%, as originally reported by The Hill. Biden appeared to enjoy a rare moment of bipartisan support, as senators across the political spectrum decried Vladimir Putin's aggression on Ukraine and backed US sanctions against Russia. However, numerous congressional leaders chastised the president last week for not moving far enough on sanctions as Moscow began a full-scale invasion of its eastern European neighbor. Many Republicans also questioned the administration's decision to join European partners in penalizing Putin personally as too late, citing the timing of sanctions on Russia's financial institutions and rich elites. Others criticize Biden for failing to target Russia's oil and gas supply. Related Article: President Joe Biden Sparks Fury For His Absence in DC; POTUS Spends Weekend in Delaware Despite War Wages in Ukraine @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Opioid settlement As part of the $26 million opioid lawsuit agreement: Johnson & Johnson is required to: Stop selling opioids. Not fund or provide grants to third parties for promoting opioids. Not lobby on activities related to opioids. Share clinical trial data under the Yale University Open Data Access Project. In addition to providing funds, Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen will: Establish a centralized independent clearinghouse to provide all three distributors and state regulators with aggregated data and analytics about where drugs are going and how often, eliminating deficiencies in the current systems used by distributors. Use data-driven systems to detect suspicious opioid orders from customer pharmacies. Terminate customer pharmacies abilities to receive shipments, and report those companies to state regulators, when they show certain signs of diversion. Prohibit shipping of and report suspicious opioid orders. Prohibit sales staff from influencing decisions related to identifying suspicious opioid orders. Require senior corporate officials to engage in regular oversight of anti-diversion efforts. Binance raised more than $10 million that will be distributed to intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help provide emergency relief to Ukrainian refugees, including children, amid Russia's continued invasion. The cryptocurrency trading platform said in a media release that it would allocate the funds through organizations on the ground, including UNICEF, UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, the International Strategic Action Network for Security (iSANS), and People in Need. Currently, the company has a partnership with only UNICEF. Donations for Ukraine The donation will add to another crypto crowdfunding project known as "Humanity First - Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund," which aims to raise roughly $20 million. In a statement, Binance urged others to support Ukraine by directly donating crypto. People who wish to support the cause can use BNB, BUSD, bitcoin, and ether to donate to the funding. In an email, a Binance spokesperson said that other charities could be added in the future. The money raised in the project will be used to "support logistics on the ground such as food, fuel, and supplies for refugees in countries bordering with Ukraine and more," as per Coindesk. After posting appeals on social media platforms, the Ukrainian government was able to raise roughly $13 million in cryptocurrency as donations. The government's official Twitter account appealed for digital asset donations on Saturday after Moscow's full-scale military operation. Ukrainian Vice-Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov posted on the social media platform his requests for support of the Ukrainian population. He urged people to donate cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Tether. Read Also: Belarus President Warns US, West Sanctions Are Pushing Russia to World War 3: "Nuclear War Is the End of Everything" According to Reuters, as of Monday at 8:50 GMT, the wallet addresses were able to raise roughly $12.8 million from 17,300 donations. The numbers were released by London-based Elliptic, which tracks the movement of digital coins on the blockchain, which is a public ledger that records cryptocurrency transactions. Funds for Military Weapons Furthermore, the Ukrainian embassy to the Czech Republic has also launched a crowdfunding campaign, but unlike before, this project aims to raise money that will be used to purchase weapons. The equipment will be distributed to Ukraine's armed forces to support them in fighting against the Russian invasion. The embassy in Prague launched the project on Saturday through social media and asked people to donate to the fund to help procure military equipment. The Kyiv command wrote a list of items that would be purchased using the money. "We call on all to financially support the fundraiser for immediate assistance in procurement of military equipment for the Ukrainian Army and citizen self-defense units. The Armed Forces and the Defense of Ukraine now urgently need military material to defend their homes, country, and national sovereignty," the embassy said on Saturday on its official Facebook page, the Wall Street Journal reported. Several other donation projects aim to help Ukraine in this time of crisis, including one from UkraineDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that was made for the country. The founding member of the "conceptual protest art group," Nadya Tolokonnikova, announced the funding earlier this week. Related Article: US Banks Prepare For Russian Cyberattacks Amid New Sanctions on Moscow @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The University of Oregon launched The Ballmer Institute for Childrens Behavioral Health today, UO President Michael Schill announced in an email to the UO community. The institute aims to provide behavioral and mental health resources to K-12 students in Oregon. The Ballmer Institute will be based in Portland, which the institute's website identifies as the epicenter of Oregons behavioral health crisis. The global pandemic has only amplified the mental and behavioral health needs of students here in Portland and across the country, Portland Public Schools Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero said in the announcement. School districts are often ill-equipped to adequately address these barriers to learning. We have a responsibility to find innovative ways to support the holistic needs of our students and are excited for our groundbreaking partnership with the Ballmer Institute. Toya Fick, a UO board of trustees member and Oregon director of the nonprofit Stand for Children, said the institute follows statewide legislation like the 2019 Student Success Act. We heard from so many parents and teachers and students themselves that our schools need the financial support to provide mental and behavioral health for our kids in a school setting, Fick said. That legislation provides the financial resources. The Ballmer Institute will help provide the human resources to ensure our kids have what they need in school settings across Oregon. The Ballmer Institute will be funded by a gift of over $425 million from Connie and Steve Ballmer. The two also co-founded the Ballmer Group, a philanthropic organization that works to improve economic mobility for children and families in the United States who are disproportionately likely to remain in poverty, according to its website. With the institute, UO plans to create new degree and certificate programs for behavioral health practitioners, provide science-based early detection, prevention and treatment strategies for children and families, develop new technologies and research through clinical studies and provide scholarships to support UO students and help them enter the workforce. The board of trustees is expected to look at purchasing the former Concordia University campus in northeast Portland as a home base for the institute. UO held a press conference at noon Tuesday to discuss the initiative further. Schill, UO Provost Patrick Phillips, Guerrero, Director of the Prevention Science Institute Laura Lee McIntyre, Executive Director of Ballmer Institute Randy Kamphaus, and UOs Vice President for University Advancement Mike Andresen sat on the panel together. UO Vice President of Communications Richie Hunter introduced the speakers. Kids in this state are suffering, Schill said. Parents in this state are suffering. And our state needs help, and the University of Oregon, we are uniquely capable of providing that help. Guerrero applauded UO for having a willingness to be bold and to seek solutions to the issue of behavioral health among students. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed the negative impact on Oregon students, he said, highlighting the potential for the Ballmer Institute to have a positive impact on both students and families. Why us and why now? Phillips asked. He cited UOs research capabilities, its student body that pays attention to how it can make a difference and an opportunity to show why Oregon as a state is special, since the program has garnered state government support. We exist at a scale where we can actually make a difference, he said. Andreasen highlighted how Connie and Steve Ballmer are asking all of us, maybe even demanding of us, to leverage our teaching mission to have an impact on society through their donation. Kamphaus said that UO feels the same urgency as the rest of America in addressing the issue of behavioral health. Interested parties can anticipate the certification program later this year, he said, followed by the admittance of 200 students in fall 2023 for its bachelor-level program. this story was updated at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to include details from the press conference. As darkness sets in like a fog and the shrill sound of police sirens echo out, a malevolent energy rises up from cigarette ashes on the pavement below. Time slows, like traffic, as the hours become late and tired. Streets empty and lots fill. Cars sit paralyzed, listening to the passing trains horn blare through the night. At least the trains can escape, they think. What comes next: the all too familiar tales of vandals and burglars who haunt streets at night. Cars perhaps know these stories best. Crime against cars has risen across Oregon. Portland car thefts have seen a dramatic 62% increase from the past 10 years, and, last year on average, 20 cars were stolen everyday in the area. In Eugene, 2,556 car break-ins occurred in 2020, and vandalism as a whole is on a 63% rise. When specific lots become high-risk for vehicular crimes, cities typically intervene to require security camera installations. But what if an entire city itself becomes high-risk? It seems Eugenes answer is to do nothing. Perhaps a lack of resources prevents the city or private lots from taking action the swiftness with which cars are ticketed for parking violations both indicates and challenges this theory. Still, the more likely reason is that no one really cares. Be this true or not, cars essentially remain sitting ducks, waiting for the crimes against them to escalate. In an abandoned lot on Broadway, car on car crime has reached treacherous heights. Being one of few free and relatively unmonitored lots in Eugene, drivers fight tire and rubber to ensure a spot. Cars are blocked in daily as the lot crowds. This, expectedly, upsets the trapped cars owners. Some leave notes or wait it out. Others, though, take a darker, more villainous route. My car was keyed all over, Elliott Turner, a frequent parker in this lot, said. Its been happening to more and more people. I think its definitely someone at the [apartment nearby] doing it. At least three cars in this lot alone have been keyed with the words Nice Parking on the hood. The nearby apartments cameras do not reach the area, and the lot itself has no cameras. Turner, who filed a police report, was told the department will continue to look'' for the person responsible. This lot is far from the only hub of car crime. Vehicular victims of violence are spread far and wide across Eugene, and stories like these can be heard from nearly every car owner in the city as their possessions are looted, their windows smashed and their dignity stripped. Imagine if it were you who were deliberately and routinely preyed on by predatory vandals and thieves night after night with little to nothing to protect you. For many, this gruesome existence is reality. Consider Helen, who has had her window broken to bits, her bike rack stolen, her glovebox rifled through constantly and, one time, her doors literally left swung open. Most recently, her front tire was slashed with the word walk written into the dust on her door. Several items were taken from her, including napkins and registration. Helen, though, is not a person. Helens a car. My car. And she is a victim. The targeted attack on cars like Helen and, at times, drivers in Eugene is nothing new. Last year, in a Diamond parking lot near the 959 Apartment building, student Jakob Klinenberg was sitting in his car when he noticed two men approach his vehicle. They were 5 or 6 feet away from my car when one of them pulled a gun out at me, yelling get out of the car, Klinenberg said. Fortunately, his car was still in drive, and he was able to speed out of the lot unharmed. Klinenberg reached out to the Diamond Parking company, who put him in touch with a lot owner who reportedly seemed more concerned with how his phone number had been reached rather than what had happened in his lot. He basically was like, Im sorry that happened, but I dont plan on putting in cameras or doing anything. After filing a police report, a detective met with Klinenberg the following day to look into the encounter. Two months later with no leads, though, the investigation was dropped. Few may know that Eugene is internationally recognized as a city of peace. This declaration of peace accompanies a mission to transform and unite every neighborhood to ensure security, empathy [and] collaboration. Who, you may ask, reaps the benefits of this promise, of this protection? Certainly not the cars. They know no protection. They know no peace. In a 2020 Emerald interview, Eugene Police Departments Community Engagement Specialist Steven Chambers said, Almost 100% of vehicle break-ins can be prevented. I agree, Steven. Vehicular break-ins can be prevented, but not just by locking a car and taking out everything inside, as the Eugene Police Department website advises. Empty cars can still become victims of break-ins and other crimes. If someone wants to smash your car window and steal cents in change, they will. If they want to key your car and slash its tires, they will. If they want to pull out a gun and threaten you, they will. The city government needs to show that it takes these crimes seriously before they get worse. Consequences are necessary, and the inability to find perpetrators is no longer acceptable. Current city surveillance laws need to change and mandate security camera installations in public and privately owned parking lots. If you care about your car and, more importantly, your community, call and urge the city council to ensure Eugene lot safety for cars and drivers alike. Your car story deserves to be shared and heard. You deserve to feel safe in your city. On Monday, North Korea broke its quiet on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, criticizing the US and the West for their "hegemonic strategy" and "high-handedness." Russian and Ukrainian officials resumed talks on the Belarusian border as Moscow faced US-led economic sanctions four days after its invasion of Ukraine, which was widely condemned in the West. The North Korean Foreign Ministry issued its first official statement on Russia's attack, accusing the West of "abuse of power," according to Reuters via MSN. "The root cause of the Ukraine crisis completely lies in the hegemonic policy of the US and the West, which enforce themselves in high-handedness and abuse of power against other countries," the North's official KCNA news agency quoted an unnamed foreign ministry spokesperson. More Than Half a Million Residents Fled Amid Russia-Ukraine Tension The message arrived only a day after North Korea fired a missile in what might be its first test after a record number of launches in January despite stalled denuclearization negotiations with the US. Washington has urged for a resumption of negotiations aimed at eliminating Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, but Pyongyang has rejected the offers, demanding an end to the US's hostile policy and double standards. Pyongyang has also vowed to resume testing of longer-range missiles, possibly including nuclear weapons. The US has promised to impose export curbs on semiconductors and other advanced technology critical to Russia's weapons development and biotechnology, as well as to prohibit some Russian banks from using the SWIFT international payments system. North Korea accused the United States and its allies of disregarding Russia's fair and lawful requests for legally supported security guarantees. The vast influx of migrants from Ukraine to the European Union's eastern fringes showed no signs of slowing down on Monday, according to the United Nations. More than 520,000 individuals have reportedly fled Russia's escalating conflict with Ukraine, Market Watch via MSN reported. At checkpoints around the borders of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova, long lineups of automobiles and buses formed. Others walked across the border, dragging their belongings behind them. Read Also: Joe Biden: US Should Not Fear Nuclear War Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis Russia Launches Massive Rocket Attack in Ukraine Hundreds of migrants congregated in a makeshift reception center in Beregsurany, Hungary's border settlement, awaiting transfer to transit hubs where they would be sent farther into Hungary and beyond. Many of the refugees in Beregsurany, as well as other Eastern European border areas, are from India, Nigeria, and other African nations who were working or studying in Ukraine when the conflict erupted. More than 520,000 refugees have fled Ukraine, according to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, who spoke to the UN Security Council via video, adding that the number "has been rising exponentially, hour after hour." Trains continued to bring refugees into the border town of Przemysl on Monday, with Poland reporting the most arrivals at over 280,000. As they departed the station, several wore winter jackets to protect themselves from the near-freezing conditions and carried little luggage. Cluster munitions are a type of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that discharges or ejects tiny submunitions, which are meant to kill people and destroy vehicles, as per The Independent. It comes after the Russian military was suspected of employing similar explosives in a separate strike in northeastern Ukraine, which killed a kid and two adults hiding in a pre-school. In the shelling of the Sonechko nursery and kindergarten in Okhtyrka, a second kid was injured. According to Amnesty International, the strike might be considered a war crime. Peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia began earlier this week along the Belarusian border. The purpose of the discussions, according to the Ukrainian president's administration, was to achieve a quick ceasefire and the evacuation of the Russian military from Ukraine. After violent confrontations with Russia, Ukrainian troops declared Sunday night that they had successfully repulsed an attack on Kharkiv, the country's second largest city. However, as the battle progresses on a daily basis, the situation has shifted. Related Article: Volodymyr Zelensky Agrees to Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Without Preconditions Despite Vladimir Putin's Deadly Threat @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Over the years, as bloody conflicts have unfolded across the globe and tyrants have slaughtered indiscriminately in the pursuit of power, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been unequivocal about one of the great geopolitical challenges of our age. The 'major problem' his exact words back in 2012 was Nato, the military alliance formed in the still-looming shadow of World War II to promote the freedom and security of its members in Europe and North America, but which Corbyn asserted was instead dedicated to 'thwarting the Soviet Union'. As we know, Corbyn's loathing of Nato is matched only by his passionate support of nuclear disarmament, something for which he has argued vehemently over the years. Damaged radar arrays and other equipment outside Mariupol, Ukraine on Thursday following air and missile strikes from Russia Vulnerable As recently as 2015, Corbyn has proclaimed that there is no justification for nuclear weapons now that the Cold War is 'over'. Those words sound pretty hollow today as Putin's tanks encircle the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and Russia's state of nuclear readiness is cranked up to maximum. How profoundly thankful we must be that Corbyn (who led the Opposition until two years ago) did not triumph at the polls, meaning his determination to strip this country of its strongest means of defence never came to pass. If he had, the effect would have been catastrophic: it would have left all 68 million of us in the UK vulnerable to the whims of a psychopath. The mere thought of how exposed we would be is horrifying. Yet I also feel much the same revulsion at Corbyn's more recent proclamations. In the face of distressing scenes from Ukraine and Putin's increasingly evident lunacy Corbyn has certainly softened his rhetoric, bleating about the need for a 'global peace movement' to act 'against the war machine'. This, too, betrays the stupidity of a man and his followers whose world-view has always been at best naive, at worst reckless, sinister and morally delinquent. The defeatism of the Left dates back to the 1950s when the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) was founded to push for the scrapping of Britain's nuclear deterrent. The remains of a missile that landed in the street in Kyiv, Ukraine, pictured on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation In the very same month that CND was established, arch Leftist Tony Benn resigned his position as one of Labour's front bench spokesmen on defence, stating that he could not, 'under any circumstances, support a policy which contemplated the use of atomic weapons in war'. Benn never succeeded in becoming leader of the Labour Party, but another CND veteran did: Michael Foot. In 1960, he declared: 'A Britain which denounced the insanity of the nuclear strategy would be in a position to direct its influence at the United Nations and in the world at large, in a manner at present denied us.' Foot was a regular participant in the Aldermaston marches, which set off from the Atomic Weapons Establishment near Aldermaston to Trafalgar Square, attracting a diverse array of radicals from Monty Python's Eric Idle to a teenage Rod Stewart. David Patrikarakos writes: 'How profoundly thankful we must be that Corbyn (pictured) did not triumph at the polls' And a series of Left-wing voices have parroted the same old saws ever since, from Diane Abbott to Angela Rayner. As recently as 2016, Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy who joined the CND as a teenager said: 'Thankfully, the threat of nuclear attack seems far more remote than when I was growing up, but many of us now seem to have lost sight of the senselessness of the stock-piling of these weapons and the utter barbarity of the concept of mutually assured destruction.' Even Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister to David Cameron in the Coalition Government of 2010 to 2015, had a wobble in 2013. Speaking on his weekly phone-in radio show with LBC, he said: 'Trident was designed very explicitly for a completely different Cold War world, where the main strategic threat was [an] unannounced, overwhelming and unpredicted nuclear strike from Moscow. I think the world has changed.' How wrong he was. As a student of international conflict, I can tell you that many Ukrainians have long been baffled by those who have continued to call for nuclear disarmament in the name of 'peace'. Only eight years ago, Ukrainians faced the Russian president's forces as the country's 2014 revolution led to Putin aggressively annexing Crimea and, after that, parts of eastern Ukraine. As days turned into weeks, gunfire and shells turned cities in the east of the country into ghost towns, to the horror of the watching world. Yet not all of the watching world was outraged. In an eerie foreshadowing of the arguments deployed by Putin eight years later as he prepared to invade Ukraine, Corbyn refused to condemn this outrageously hostile act. Denounced The man who was then just a year away from becoming Leader of the Opposition asserted that Ukrainians had collaborated with the Nazis during World War II, stating that 'their descendants could be seen bearing Nazi insignia and spouting racist slogans in Kyiv only a week ago'. What a damning insight into the prevailing, unquestioning ideology of the hard Left. Thankfully, eight years on, Sir Keir Starmer now leads Labour and on this issue at least he's sensible. As recently as 2016, Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy (pictured), who joined the CND as a teenager, said: 'Many of us now seem to have lost sight of the senselessness of the stock-piling of these weapons' In recent days, Starmer has both reaffirmed Labour's staunch support for Nato and denounced Stop The War protesters as no 'benign voices for peace' but supporters of authoritarian leaders who directly threaten democracies. Amen to that. Mindful, too, of the fact that his party is often seen as weak on defence, Starmer has reaffirmed its commitment to maintain Britain's nuclear deterrent. Yet there is also no doubting that, behind the scenes, many of those in his party remain loyal to the cause of nuclear disarmament: in 2016, alongside Corbyn, some 46 MPs voted against the renewal of the UK's Trident nuclear weapons programme. Threat Today, their views appear breathtakingly unsophisticated, the product of a mindset that is blind to the fact that the collapse of communism in 1989 did not mark the end of any threat to our national security. And that since the end of World War II, it is the threat of mutually assured destruction that has safeguarded us from mass global conflict or a confrontation between Russia and the West, at least. This is not just on the battlefield, but in the boardroom, too. If you lack a seismic threat possessed by another, it weakens you on all fronts. In an ideal world, none of this would be true but even the biggest idealist amongst us must see that we do not live in such a world. Whether we like it or not, the threat to our autonomy and peace will always be there. And while it is always better to prevent a war than to have to fight one, those who believe the planet is 'safer' without a nuclear deterrent show a lack of understanding of the world that would be astonishing at high-school level, more still in political office. In a world where despots possess nuclear weapons that could be aimed at us despots who are all too often supported by the Left we must not, and cannot, give up our own ultimate deterrent. Each day brings a new horror. Pictures of a child's final moments caught in an air attack, the desperation of medics unable to save her, the anguish of her family. Her blood-stained pink unicorn pyjamas, the cartoon crocodile on the doctor's surgical hat. Heartbreaking details that only emphasise the soul-wrenching hopelessness of the situation. The anguish of young women giving birth in makeshift wards as they try to escape the 40-mile-long convoy of Russian tanks and artillery reaching towards Kyiv like a creeping black shadow. The sense of disbelief as, minute by minute, Putin tortures Ukraine before our very eyes. 'Flee or die,' was his message to the people of Kyiv. If only we could fast-forward to the part where he blows his brains out in a bunker. Each day brings a new horror. Pictures of a child's final moments caught in an air attack, the desperation of medics unable to save her, the anguish of her family Pictured: A girl named Polina, who Kyiv officials say was shot and killed by the Russians while in a car with her parents But this is no Hollywood blockbuster. This is the reality of war, in all its grinding desperation. The world watches as one man destroys a nation, child by child, mother by mother, father by father. And we seem powerless to stop him. Worse than powerless, in fact. Because in a ghastly way we are complicit. It's our money that's fuelling this war. Ours and Europe's: up to one billion dollars a day on Russian oil and gas, flowing from our pockets to his. That's an awful lot of hardware, boots and cluster bombs. What does he care if the rouble loses 30 per cent of its value. Each day brings another billion. This is exactly what dear, old Ronald Reagan predicted, back in the 1980s, when he tried to obstruct the construction of the pipelines. He failed, and 40 years on, here we are. But it's not too late. I'm no Greta Thunberg. But if I had to ditch my car, turn off my heating, shower every other day and never catch another plane to put an end to this man's lunacy, I'd do it. But this is no Hollywood blockbuster. This is the reality of war, in all its grinding desperation. The world watches as one man destroys a nation, child by child, mother by mother, father by father. And we seem powerless to stop him. Pictured: A child patient in treatment at Okhmadet Children's Hospital, Kyiv In a ghastly way we are complicit. It's our money that's fuelling this war. Ours and Europe's: up to one billion dollars a day on Russian oil and gas, flowing from our pockets to his I'd read by candlelight on a winter's evening if I thought it meant the world could be a safe place, where little girls in unicorn pyjamas can sleep soundly at night. My greatest hope is that we see Vladimir Putin in The Hague. My greatest fear is that this is only the start of it. But whatever transpires, if one good thing comes out of this nightmare it will be that we finally understand the need to be reliant on our own energy reserves: we must never again find ourselves in the perverse situation of indirectly financing a madman's war. Clive, King of Kyiv If one person is restoring my faith in the BBC, it's Clive Myrie, who's been professional, compassionate and charismatic reporting from Kyiv. He's worth the licence fee alone. And to think that they'd squirrelled him away presenting Mastermind. Advertisement Perhaps, as Kwasi Kwarteng says, re-starting fracking in Britain will not make much difference. Perhaps North Sea oil won't get us as far as we'd like to think. But we should not rule anything out. And however frightening nuclear power may seem, it's a lot less scary than Putin. Provided, of course, we don't get the Chinese to build it. The pandemic showed us how reliant we, as a nation, are on other countries for many of our basic necessities. Covid PPE was a case in point: there was a huge shortage, for the simple fact that Britain no longer has a solid manufacturing base. I'm not saying that we need to build Fortress Britain and turn inwards on the world. But our Government has a duty to ensure we maintain a degree of independence in vital sectors such as manufacturing, fuel and, of course, food production. Because, as we now see from the horrific events unfolding in Ukraine, you never know when you might need it. Vladimir Putin is running short of friends in the world. So he might be thankful for Kristina Rihanoff, the Russian-born former Strictly dancer who at the weekend posted a series of tweets in which she said she doesn't 'give a sh*t about the war' and which some deemed to be supportive of the president. Perhaps she'd like to take her perfectly sculpted rear and go and offer him support in person as far from Britain as possible. Eye-bulging: Russian former Strictly pro Kristina Rihanoff has claimed she is 'deeply sorry' for raging 'I don't give a s**t about the war' in shocking tweet Talking ourselves into trouble Barely a week goes by without another report warning of the dire mental state of the nation's children. The latest, from a study of secondary school pupils, suggests that girls in particular are suffering due to their perfectionism. I have no doubt young people are facing many difficulties. But I can't help wondering if there's something about the widespread debate around mental health issues that's actually starting to contribute to the problem. It almost feels as though the welcome destigmatisation of mental illness has had the side-effect of encouraging young people to categorise themselves as ill. It's important we distinguish between normal feelings of sadness and actual mental illness. Otherwise we'll end up medicalising an entire generation for no reason. This tiresome trend among showbiz mums Well, there's a surprise: Amanda Holden says her daughter Lexi, 16, has signed with Kate Moss's modelling agency. What is it about women like Holden and Victoria Beckham that the sum total of their ambitions for their children seems to be offering them up as fashion fodder? Lexi is very pretty, but she should be working on her school exams, not being paid to prance around like a clothes horse. Well, there's a surprise: Amanda Holden says her daughter Lexi, 16, has signed with Kate Moss's modelling agency Labour's Stella Creasy has lambasted early years tsar Andrea Leadsom for opposing moves to allow babies in the Commons. She said Leadsom's comments were 'worrying', since it's her job to help give youngsters the best start in life. Forgive me, but spending an afternoon listening to a bunch of MPs braying at one another doesn't strike me as 'the best possible start in life'. It's not the first time someone has made that Helen Mirren joke about the SAG showbiz awards the 76-year-old said: 'I hate to say the word sag at my age, it's always S-A-G for me' but it is the first time a winner has done so. Good on her. She may have acquired U.S. citizenship, but it's refreshing to know that she still retains a self-deprecating British sense of humour. Outbreak of sense In a rare outbreak of sanity, the NHS has pushed back against demands to note patients' preferred pronouns on their medical records. A report had claimed that 70 per cent of trans people had experienced 'discrimination', 'misgendering, micro-aggressions and misunderstanding' from their primary care provider. Seventy per cent? Can that really be true? In my experience, most medical professionals go out of their way to make patients feel at ease but then I guess I'm not a trans woman. Still, the last thing they need is more pointless paperwork. Common sense: 1; Wokery: 0. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has outlined plans to introduce a licensing scheme for beauty salons providing Botox or fillers. The only remarkable thing about this is that it doesn't exist already. My 18-year-old daughter has recently started working in a bar. It's been quite an eye-opener for her. She says the scariest customers are the middle-aged women who get blotto and then importune men who are half their age. Classy. The mayor of London Sadiq Khan claims the capital is 'well-prepared' for a nuclear strike. What on earth is the man talking about? If only he could say the same about this week's business-wrecking Tube strikes. Can someone tell me the Richard Moore on Twitter who lists his pronouns as he/him and uses the war in Ukraine to remind everyone about the importance of LGBT rights is not the Richard Moore who is the head of MI6. Because if it is, then we're in more trouble than I'd thought. Hotels offer people the chance to leave their cares and worries at the door and enjoy a bit of pampering and TLC, so it's not too much for staff to expect rooms to be left in good order in return. But unfortunately that's not always the case, as these snaps from around the world collected by Traveler Door reveal, with gruesome guests leaving underwear in kettles and nail clippings in the phone. One photo shows a man passed out in the doorway of his room, topless with his clothes spread around him, while another image shows a filthy bed covered in newspapers and food. Elsewhere is a terrifying prank, where someone has wound the telephone cord around a dummy under the duvet cover. Here Femail shares a selection of photos that will make you inspect your hotel room very carefully the next time you check in. Made or unmade? We do NOT want to know what is lurking beneath those bed sheets in this very messy hotel room in Australia This guy definitely hit it too hard last night at the hotel bar? Points if you can find all of his clothes Well that must have been a nail biting conversation. This gruseome guest in the US left their nail clippings inside of the hotel room's telephone Breakfast in bed? This guest just couldn't wait for his dinner and decided that midnight munchies of pork chops in bed was just what he needed. Can't fault his honesty Fancy a tasty snack whilst practicing butterfly? This guest decided to leave their chicken wings poolside at a hotel in New York A hotel guest, believed to be staying in Australia or New Zealand, was lambasted on Twitter for using the kettle to clean her period-stained pants, claiming it was a 'fast and hygienic' solution That's not smashing! Nobody will be able to stay in this hotel room until the sink is fixed after being dramatically broken by the previous guest And this pair decided to take anything they could get their hands on. Unfortunately they weren't the slyest of burglars and the neighbours caught them stealing the mini fridge Treetops ski resort in Gaylord issued the University of Michigan with a bill for half a million dollars after six fraternities and sororities staged a huge party that tore apart the hotel in an Animal House-style melee You've got to be sheet-ing me! Let's spare a thought for the cleaner who opened the door to this prank A woman has been urged to dump her boyfriend after he let his friends to go through his phone while drunk, potentially allowing them to see the X-rated photos she had sent him. The anonymous British woman took to Mumsnet to ask for advice on how to deal with the situation. She explained that her boyfriend of 10 months had been at a party when he text her and said: 'I kissed a girl tonight x'. When she challenged him, he said his friends had taken his phone and sent her the message as a prank. A woman has been left disgusted by her boyfriend's behaviour after he got drunk at a party, kissed another girl and let friends on his phone, able to see her explicit pictures (file photo) The anonymous woman from the UK took to the 'Am I Being Unreasonable?' thread on the forum website to see if other women could help her decide how to deal with her boyfriend She continued: 'Thats not what Im p****d about. Im p****d he has my revealing pics/images (ones you expect between gf and bf) and explicit saved messages. 'These are really easy to find on his phone (think Snapchat) and Im so very upset these could of been exposed or seen by other people. I trusted him and he stupidly let others on his phone.' The woman explained that her boyfriend didn't understand why she was upset. She said that her boyfriend is 'genuinely such a good person' but feared she wouldn't be able to see past this behaviour. The woman added: 'Am I being unreasonable to be upset with him? I supposed it could be my fault for sending such things but Im hurt he was so careless. Theres sick f***s in this world and the phone might of been passed around or videos taken. Maybe Im just overthinking this. Advice welcome.' Many users said she should break up with her boyfriend after deleting all of the photos and videos from his phone. Others noted it seemed likely that he had kissed someone else. The community was unforgiving to both the boyfriend and the woman, who many argued it was not 'expected' nor 'normal' to send explicit photos of yourself Others blamed the woman, saying she shouldn't have sent him X-rated content in the first place. One said: 'See him and delete all the photos of you from his phone (if that's something you worry about), then dump him. 'And, in future, I would advise that you not send revealing photos of yourself to anyone. Or, if you feel you must send them for some reason, make sure they don't include your face.' Another user said that these photos shouldn't even be sent to someone you're married to, considering the risks it holds: 'I'm so sorry. But these are not 'images you'd expect' to share for this exact reason. 'You haven't even known this guy a year. It's silly to send stuff like this even if you were married tbh. You just don't know who can get hold of these images. He is an a******e. You must be so hurt. 'As PP [previous posters] said arrange to see him then make sure you delete all of these images (also from deleted items and cloud) just as damage limitation. But he may well gave already sent them to others or stored them elsewhere. 'Then dump him and block him and move on. What an utter b*****d and it sounds like his friends are equally obnoxious, you will be well rid.' Another user added: 'The trust will be gone now and every time he goes off with these mates you will worry. Cut your losses and as above, remove all images from his device that involve you exposing yourself.' The woman was urged to break up with her boyfriend once she had deleted all of the evidence Most respondents said they didn't believe his argument that he wasn't the one to send the message to the upset girlfriend. 'He sounds cruel,' said one user. 'I don't believe him that he didn't send the message. 'I think he sent it to hurt you. The admiring other women in front of you is also hurtful. This guy takes pleasure in hurting your feelings. See him, delete the photos, then get rid! He's lousy.' Someone else reiterated the dangers of sending naked pictures of yourself to someone, no matter how trustworthy you consider them to be: 'Howay OP [original poster], he sent the message when he was pissed hoping for a reaction from you. 'He's obviously thought better of it once he'd sobered up. Whether he did actually kiss someone is irrelevant really - his text was to hurt you, whether it was true or not. I'd dump him for the old 'my mate sent it' excuse alone'. 'Please though, don't send identifiable pics to anyone, no matter how nice you think they are - it's not worth the stress if you split.' After leaving school in Qatar at the age of 16 Hash Tayeh tricked his parents into thinking he was going on a short holiday to Australia - but had secretly planned to stay and set up a new life for himself. Fifteen years later the Melbourne businessman is the CEO of the country's largest privately owned burger chain Burgertory which turned over more than $30million worth of burgers in 2021 alone. Hash and his family lived in Australia briefly when he was just a year old after fleeing Jordan during the Gulf War. When he turned six his family relocated to Qatar for his father's work but he never stopped thinking about the laidback Australian lifestyle he had known as a young boy, and he missed his friends living Down Under. 'Having friends on Myspace and MSN messenger, I could always see what my friends in Australia were up to, the lives they were living seemed to be filled with freedom, fun, and diversity,' he told FEMAIL. Hash Tayeh (pictured), 31, from Melbourne, came to Australia from Qatar without his family at just 16 with nothing and is now the owner of burger empire, Burgertory With 17 location across Melbourne, Burgertory has been named the largest independently owner burger chain in the country and has sold $30million worth of burger since launching in 2018 Hash tricked his parents into thinking he was going on a holiday to visit his aunty in Australia but planned to stay and hit the ground running starting his own business just one year later 'I plotted a plan to tell my parents I wanted to go and visit my aunty in Australia, however when I landed I stayed with friends and told them that I planned to stay for good. 'To say they were angry would be an understatement, they were furious.' Hash hit the ground running and started up his first business just a year later and spent the next decade making money as an entrepreneur, launching Burgertory in 2018. Since opening the first Burgertory store in the Melbourne suburb of Braybrook, the eatery has been going from strength to strength selling 2.1million burgers across its ever expanding locations since the beginning. 'The omicron wave was particularly hard for us at one point... 260 of my staff were off sick with Covid. Everyone who wasn't sick worked around the clock, many doing double shifts so the stores could stay operating,' he said. 'With the masses being restricted to their areas they were forced to discover their local small businesses, this gave us an opportunity to rapidly expand and benefit from huge local exposure. 'During the Covid restrictions last year we opened 11 new stores.' Since opening the first Burgertory store in the Melbourne suburb of Braybrook, the eatery has been going strong, selling 2.1million burgers across its ever expanding locations since its beginnings and even through challenges arisen because of the pandemic and lockdowns Now with 17 locations Burgertory was named the largest independently run burger chain in Australia and Hash has plans to grow to 50 restaurants by the end of 2023. 'People ask me all the time why is being independent so important when it comes to making a better tasting burger - and that's because the buck stops at me,' Hash said. 'We don't take short cuts or compromise on quality. Each item off our menu is made the exact same way as the day we started Burgertory. We didn't streamline our production or lose our origins in our fight to the top.' With a series of businesses and a burger empire under his belt, Hash said his parents have finally forgiven him for sneaking away at 16. 'I think it took them about ten years of me being abroad to tell me they were proud of me,' he said. 'My proudest achievement is that a few years ago I was able to support my family in helping them move back to Australia, so we are all reunited now.' Burgertory's new flagship store in Box Hill, Melbourne, will launch tomorrow, Wednesday, March 2 and the first 300 customers will receive a free burger to celebrate the opening On Wednesday March 2 the new Box Hill store will open and mark a new era for Burgertory. It will be the new flagship store with a 300sqm layout and the capacity to serve $400,000 worth of burgers each month. To celebrate Hash being named the burger king of Australia and the launch of his flagship store, Burgertory will be giving away free burgers for the first 300 customers at the new Box Hill location from 4pm tomorrow. UN chief says fighting in Ukraine must stop Xinhua) 08:39, March 01, 2022 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 28, 2022. Guterres on Monday called for an immediate end to the military operations in Ukraine. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for an immediate end to the military operations in Ukraine. "The fighting in Ukraine must stop. It is raging across the country, from air, land and sea. It must stop now," he told an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine. "Enough is enough. Soldiers need to move back to their barracks. Leaders need to move to peace. Civilians must be protected. International humanitarian and human rights law must be upheld. The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, must be respected," said Guterres. "We are facing a tragedy for Ukraine, but also a major regional crisis with potentially disastrous implications for us all," he warned. "Yesterday, Russian nuclear forces were put on high alert. This is a chilling development. The mere idea of a nuclear conflict is simply inconceivable. Nothing can justify the use of nuclear weapons." The only true solution is peace, said Guterres. "The guns are talking now, but the path of dialogue must always remain open. It is never too late to engage in good-faith negotiations and to address all issues peacefully." He expressed the hope that the direct talks now taking place between Ukrainian and Russian delegations will produce not only an immediate halt to the fighting, but also a path toward a diplomatic solution. "I welcome and encourage all peaceful efforts to end the bloodshed and halt this conflict. I thank the countries who have offered to host and facilitate negotiations. The United Nations is ready to support such efforts," he said. "War is not the answer. It is death, human suffering, senseless destruction and an immense distraction from the real challenges facing humanity," he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (on the podium) speaks during an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 28, 2022. Guterres on Monday called for an immediate end to the military operations in Ukraine. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (on the podium) speaks during an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 28, 2022. Guterres on Monday called for an immediate end to the military operations in Ukraine. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Reports say that China gave classified intelligence regarding Russia-Ukraine to help talk Vladimir Putin from a possible invasion. This revelation by ex-Trump Pentagon official Kash Patel calls President Biden's decision to share information a violation and a colossal failure of leadership. The sensitive information is about the Russian troops moving on the Russia-Ukraine border, as one of the devastating wrong decisions similarly made before the fall of Afghanistan. US Shares Classified Information With China Over three months and six meetings, President Joe Biden allowed US officials to speak to their Chinese counterparts, while Vladimir Putin would array massed troops on the shared border with Ukraine as mentioned by the New York Times last Friday. The White House thought that Chinese President Xi Jinping would be enough to change the Kremlin's mind. But the White House shamed itself by getting cast aside by Beijing, which doubted Russia would push through, reported the Daily Mail. When the information was transmitted to Moscow, Biden should have considered it is still debated. It only backfired quite spectacularly when the administration could even consider China siding with the US. China sent the info with the sensitive intel, expressing how naive the White House is to believe it can cause disunity between Beijing and Moscow, cited Axios. On Fox's Sunday Morning Futures, Patel took a swipe at President Biden and compared his administration as a train wreck to the full-on and in-control Trump administration, for allowing China access to classified information could be a critical push for Russia. Read Also: Supreme Court Says Hillary Clinton Testimony Not Needed in an Email Server Case China Gave Putin Information Shared by the US Last Thursday, Vladimir Putin ordered the special operation to free Donbas and Lugansk, next came to the assault with missiles on Ukraine's military assets. A propaganda battle online to show Ukrainian resistance to Russian forward movements. In an embarrassing moment in one of the press meets about the invasion, the president just gave no comment the Chinese could help. Patel called it proof that an American leader spoke to China, which is America's competitor, gave the information to them. He served as chief of staff under the Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller. He was also an official in the National Security Council under Trump's presidency. The Democrat House committee would subpoena him as a suspect in the alleged Capitol attack, which conservatives called a witch hunt. It seemed that the Biden practiced bad judgment in even considering that China would naively support Washington over Russia. To many worlds leader and even Americans, the president has little credibility due to crumbling polls. Everyone knows that China and Russia sense weakness with the US president and are sharing information is another alleged debacle of judgment in only one year in office. Patel added that everything that happened and attempts to stop the hostilities was made worse by sharing with China. Unlike Trump, Joe Biden has jeopardized NATO, the EU, and the US by his actions, who started no conflict in four years. Patel was accused as Trump's back channel to Ukraine when Hunter Biden, the president's son, was involved. But it would not hold, and the media would shield then vice-president Biden. China got the classified intelligence shared by the US, which is tantamount to sharing with the enemy. Plus, Biden's connection to Ukraine is getting spotlighted again. Related Article: Who Is Kash Patel? Would the New Defense Secretary be Loyal to the Administration? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Novelist Howard Jacobson has said misogyny 'is not a word that should be used about writers' as he made a stand against publishing's sensitivity crisis. The 79-year-old, who lives in London, said he was repeatedly warned to 'be careful' when writing his memoir Mother's Boy, which is released this week. The author, who won the Booker Prize for The Finkler Question in 2010, said he was warned by his publisher that his book would make him seem 'not very likeable'. Having previously been accused of misogyny by critics, he told The Telegraph: 'I've lost the energy for the battle...[Misogyny] is not a critical term. As anti-Semitism is not a critical term... Novelist Howard Jacobson, 79, has said misogyny 'is not a word that should be used about writers' as he made a stand against publishing's sensitivity crisis 'Dickens wrote novels that you could say are anti-Semitic so what have you said? And a male writer is not obliged to like women.' Howard said a common mistake by readers is to confuse art, in terms of plot or character, for a political statement from the author. He said he considers 'the worst crime' to be 'bad writing, much lower down the list is whether or not you said something you're not supposed to say at the moment'. Meanwhile he added that the 'male gaze' is a 'horrible concept' which he called 'anti-life and it's anti-art', He revealed he had repeatedly been told to be 'careful' when writing the novel having been accused of misogyny by critics His comments come after critically-acclaimed author Kate Clanchy, 57, from Scotland, found herself at the centre of a cancel culture row over revising her memoir. She revealed her former publisher Picador recruited 'sensitivity readers' to 'detect and reform problematic racism and ableism' in her Orwell Prize-winning book. It came after the 2019 memoir about her life as a state school teacher was criticised for allegedly portraying some pupils in a racist manner. Miss Clanchy, 57, said she was 'horrified that people found prejudice and cruelty' in the book and 'went into the process' of the memoir being scrutinised by the sensitivity 'experts' willingly. Kate Clanchy (pictured), who wrote Some Kids I Taught And What They Taught Me, revealed her former publisher Picador recruited 'sensitivity readers' to 'detect and reform problematic racism and ableism' in her Orwell Prize-winning book Writing for website UnHerd, she said one focus group rated supposedly offensive words and passages on a scale of one to three. She wrote: 'One Reader fusspots around single words: I should not use 'disfigure' of a landscape (infraction level 3, as presumably comparing bings spoil heaps to boils might be harmful to acne sufferers). 'Nor should I use 'handicap' in its ordinary sense of 'impede' (infraction level 2, serious); and I should prefer the acronym 'SEN' to its origin phrase, special educational needs, because it is more inclusive (infraction level 2).' She added: 'My Readers though, have not been hired as literary people. They are there to help create a book that would play better on Twitter, not one that is better written.' Miss Clanchy, who was awarded an MBE in 2019, cut ties with Picador before the revised version of the book was published. Swift Press has reissued it without the changes but with other edits. Swift Press told the Daily Telegraph: 'The only thing we wish to say is that minor revisions were made because Kate wished to make them.' A Virginia woman who found a secret room in her home filled with hundreds of old love letters from the previous owners has now reunited them with the recipient's family. Anna Prillaman, 40, from Henrico County, was stunned when she discovered a hidden door to a blocked off section in her attic, while she was doing some spring cleaning recently. Inside, she came across hundreds of handwritten letters addressed to a woman named Betty Sue McGhee - some of which were penned by a man named Vance Herschel Long, who professed his love for Betty in them. Anna, who was moved by the pair's compelling love story, became determined to find Betty and Vance - or their descendants - and she set out on a mission. A Virginia woman, who found a secret room in her home filled with hundreds of old love letters from the previous owners, has now reunited them with the recipient's family Anna Prillaman was stunned when she discovered a hidden door to a blocked off section in her attic while she was doing some cleaning recently. Some contents of the room are pictured Inside, she came across hundreds of handwritten letters addressed to a woman named Betty Sue McGhee Some of them were penned by a man named Vance Herschel Long, who professed his love for Betty in them. Betty and Vance are pictured together Eventually, through the help of social media, she was able to get in contact with their grandson, and she has now sent the letters to him. A glimpse into Vance's love letters to Betty In one of the letters, Vance wrote, 'Hi honey. How is my baby getting along? 'When were not together I know just the right words that I would use in telling you everything. 'But when were together all I can think of is "I love you."' Advertisement According to Anna, she was hoping to find 'treasure' in the hidden room, but instead, she found something much more special. 'I realized there was a door. It is not a door that had a key or anything it was just latched at the top,' she recalled to local news outlet WTVR. 'I am an '80s baby, so I watched Goonies. As Im rummaging through the attic, Im thinking there could be treasure back here, could be a map, there could be gold coins.' In one of the letters, Vance wrote, 'Hi honey. How is my baby getting along? When were not together I know just the right words that I would use in telling you everything. But when were together all I can think of is "I love you."' Although Anna admitted that it felt slightly 'intrusive' for her to read the letters, which were more than 70 years old, she said they left her wanting to know more. 'It does pose a lot of questions just out of curiosity about their love story. Because it sounds neat,' she said. Anna, who was moved by the pair's compelling love story, became determined to find Betty and Vance (pictured) - or their descendants - and she set out on a mission Eventually, through the help of social media, she was able to get in contact with their grandson, Dalton Long (pictured), and she has now sent the letters to him Although Anna admitted that it felt 'intrusive' for her to read the letters, which were more than 70 years old, she said they left her wanting to know more. Betty and Vance are pictured In one of the letters, Vance wrote, 'When were not together I know just the right words that I would use in telling you everything. But when were together all I can think of is "I love you"' 'I think the reason it felt intrusive is that a letter written is between two people and two people only. Anna (pictured with the letters) took to Facebook to try to find the rightful owners, posting in local community groups, and everyone in town became invested in the story 'I thought, Im not sure I need to be the third party that puts my head and my eyes on that because it wasnt meant for me to read. 'But upon glancing at these, it was clear [they] needed to be in the right hands and I needed to figure out how I was going to find that.' She took to Facebook to try to find the rightful owners, posting in local community groups, and everyone in town became invested in the story. 'People love the story. Everywhere I go in town people are stopping me like, "Hey you wrote that post about the letters have you found the family yet?"' she shared. 'I think a lot of people put on their Sherlock Holmes hat and got to work.' After much detective work, Anna came across a man named Dalton, who turned out to be Betty and Vance's grandson. He is pictured with Betty and Vance as a child She reached out to him, and he revealed that Betty and Vance (pictured) - who were high school sweethearts - ended up getting married, and were together for 50 years Now, Dalton said he is excited to read the letters and 'connect on a human level' with people who 'aren't here with us anymore.' Betty and Vance are pictured After much detective work, Anna came across a man named Dalton Long, who turned out to be Betty and Vance's grandson. But he unfortunately, lived thousands of miles away in Portland, Oregon. She reached out to him via Facebook, and he quickly responded and said he 'would love' to have the letters. He revealed that Betty and Vance - who were high school sweethearts - ended up getting married, and were together for 50 years until they both sadly passed away. Now, he is excited to read the letters and 'connect on a human level' with people who 'aren't here with us anymore.' 'To add words to that time in their life is going to be incredible. I think it is so beautiful to connect on a human level with people that arent here with us anymore you know?' said Dalton, who grew up in the house that Anna now owns. He added that 'to add words to that time in their life' is going to be 'incredible' that that he is so thankful Anna helped 'unite him with a little piece of his past' Anna explained that if she found long-lost love letters from her own grandparents, she wouldn't be able to hold back her tears. 'I hope that is what this family is able to do,' she added According to Anna, she was hoping to find 'treasure' in the hidden room, but instead, she found something much more special 'She was able to find something and find the other end of it. And I think not only is it exciting for me but I hope its exciting for her to be able to unite me with a little piece of my past.' Anna explained that if she found long-lost love letters from her own grandparents, she wouldn't be able to hold back her tears. 'I know that if I found letters from my grandparents on my mother's or fathers side, I would be sitting there in a pool of tears reading them and cherishing them. I hope that is what this family is able to do,' she added. 'It is interesting the reach this story has gotten with people being interested in it. So everyone has that in them. Human connection matters. The past matters.' Dalton's mom recently picked up the box of letters and is now planning on sending them to Dalton soon. A mother-of-two from the US has divided opinion over her take on 'walking tacos' for dinner, which involves filling a bag of Doritos with meat, cheese and sour cream. Cooking with Meg on TikTok shared a recipe video with the Doritos 'treat' on February 26, showing how she crafted a separate meal for her daughter and son. 'My daughter only wants lettuce as a topping,' she wrote, showing how she piled pieces of iceberg lettuce on top of a mince meat base with chips. 'Whereas my son wanted cheese and sour cream on top of spicy sweet chilli Doritos.' Interestingly the mother herself opted for 'the lot' with mince meat, hot cheese, lettuce, chopped up tomato and sour cream. Cooking with Meg on TikTok shared a recipe video with the Doritos 'treat' on February 26, showing how she crafted a separate meal for her daughter and son Poll Would you make a walking taco? Yes No Would you make a walking taco? Yes 25 votes No 45 votes Now share your opinion The meal is so simple to make and can easily be eaten while you wander around because the bag of Doritos acts as a bowl. But not everyone was so sure about the quick trick. 'This looks like literal prison food,' one woman remarked. 'Are US parents really calling this a meal for their kids? For real?' Said another. A third added: 'Sometimes I'm very happy that I'm not American'. But others were complimentary of the snack and said it made for an excellent fix when you were in a rush. 'I remember when they gave these out at school,' said another. 'As a British woman this is revolutionary to me and I know if I do this for my husband he is going to think I'm a genius, thanks for sharing,' replied another. Meg clarified that the concoction has a different name depending on where you're from and also goes by taco in a bag, nachos and dorilocos. First Lady Jill Biden showed her support for Ukraine following Russia's invasion by wearing a face mask embroidered with a sunflower the country's national flower. The 70-year-old made the political fashion statement when she joined her husband, President Joe Biden, at an event celebrating Black History Month in the East Room of the White House on Monday. Dr. Biden donned a $1,390 white and black polka-dot midi dress and a $2,190 matching blazer by Brandon Maxwell, which she paired with a white face mask featuring a sunny yellow sunflower embroidered on the side. First Lady Jill Biden wore a face mask with a sunflower at a White House event on Monday to show her support for Ukraine The White House said that she chose to wear the mask because the sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine, and she wanted to express her support for the Ukrainian people The White House said that she chose to wear the mask because the sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine, The Guardian reported. Dr. Biden wanted to express her support for the Ukrainian people as they fight to protect their country against Russian aggression, the White House told the press pool. The first lady topped off the look with bright pink stilettos and pink flower earrings featuring a rhinestone-encrusted center. The baubles peeked out from underneath her shoulder-length blonde hair as she walked. The Bidens entered the East Room with Cateo Hilton, a student and a junior mentor at Life Pieces to Masterpieces, an after-school program for young black men and boys in Washington, D.C. Dr. Biden introduced Vice President Kamala Harris at the event, earning a few laughs after she accidentally referred to her as the president. Dr. Biden paired the mask with a white and black polka-dot midi dress and matching blazer by Brandon Maxwell The first lady's white mask featured a sunny yellow sunflower embroidered on the side Dr. Biden topped off her designer outfit with a pair of bright pink stilettos 'I just said that to make you laugh,' she joked, playing up the blunder. During the event, President Biden said Americans should not be worried about nuclear war with Russia after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that 'aggressive statements' by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) led him to ratchet up his nuclear defenses. 'Should Americans be worried about nuclear war?' a reporter asked him. 'No,' the president shot back matter-of-factly. Press secretary Jen Psaki later stated the White House sees 'no reason' to change its nuclear posture. 'We think provocative rhetoric like this is dangerous adds to the risk of miscalculation, should be avoided, and well not indulge in it,' Psaki said. While Dr. Biden made a political fashion statement with her sunflower mask, her husband, President Joe Biden, opted for a standard black medical face covering The first couple was joined by student Cateo Hilton as they headed to the East Room to attend the event celebrating Black History Month Hilton is a junior mentor at Life Pieces to Masterpieces, an after-school program for young black men and boys in Washington, D.C. 'We are assessing President Putins directive and at this time we see no reason to change our own alert levels.' Putin's move raised concerns that the invasion of Ukraine could intentionally or mistakenly lead to a global nuclear war. Russia's assault on Ukraine continued overnight as Putin's forces closed in on the capital city, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been able to defend Kyiv, so far. Sunflowers have become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance in recent days. Last Thursday, a video of a Ukrainian woman telling Russian soldiers to put sunflower seeds in their pockets so flowers would grow in Ukraine after they died in battle went viral. Hilton will be attending Delaware State University after he graduates high school. The news thrilled President Biden, who grew up in Delaware Dr. Biden also donned pink flower earrings featuring a rhinestone-encrusted center Dr. Biden introduced Vice President Kamala Harris at the jovial event The clip was posted on Twitter by the news site UkraineWorld and has been viewed more than 8.4 million times. BBC News also shared the video with English subtitles. 'Take these seeds so sunflowers grow when you die here,' the woman told the Russian soldiers, according to the BBC's translation. 'Guys, put these seeds into your pockets. Take these seeds,' she continued. 'You will die here with them. You've come to my land ... Do you understand? You're occupiers. You're enemies. And from now on, you're cursed.' Protestors around the world have taken to carrying or wearing sunflowers while activists such as David Hogg are adding sunflower emojis to their Twitter bios, Insider reported. Dr. Biden's show of solidarity comes just one day after she urged anyone whose mental health was suffering due to the conflict in Ukraine to reach out for help. President Biden assured Americans on Monday that they should not worry about nuclear war with Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured sitting several feet away from his aides during a meeting) ordered forces operating Russia's nuclear deterrent to be on alert amid simmering tensions with the West 'I imagine many of us are feeling the weight of what is happening in Ukraine over recent days,' she wrote at the start of her Twitter thread. 'Parents are sitting in front of the television with their children, explaining reports from thousands of miles away. 'Teachers are standing in front of classrooms, answering questions of "why" and "what is going to happen next?" Our military families are acutely aware that events taking place in Europe may have a rippling effect on the future of their loved ones in uniform.' 'In this difficult time there are no easy answers, and that may cause a feeling of uncertainty,' she wrote. 'It is okay to ask for help.' She encouraged people to reach out to MentalHealth.gov and told military service members and their families to seek counseling at Military OneSource and Veteran Affairs. Dr. Biden added that she and President Joe Biden were praying for 'the brave and proud people of Ukraine.' "Take these seeds so sunflowers grow here when you die" Footage shows Ukrainian woman confronting armed Russian soldier Follow live coverage on Russia's invasion of Ukraine: https://t.co/vPdkyzs8cg pic.twitter.com/4Rn56iNYb0 BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 25, 2022 Last week, a video of a Ukrainian woman telling Russian soldiers to put sunflower seeds in their pockets so flowers would grow in Ukraine after they died in battle went viral Sunflowers have become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance in recent days. A German protester is pictured wearing a headdress with sunflowers while protesting the war in Ukraine 'Our hearts are with our troops and our military families, including those who are stationed throughout Europe demonstrating solidarity with our Allies. We are profoundly grateful for your service,' she wrote. A second round of talks aimed at ending Russia's attack on Ukraine is set to take place after the first meeting ended without a resolution. The first set of talks, which were held in Belarus on Monday afternoon, ended with Kyiv slamming Russia's destructive processes.' A member of the Ukrainian delegation today said the discussions, which took five hours, were difficult and the Russian side was biased. Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter: 'The Russian side, unfortunately, still has a very biased view of the destructive processes it has launched.' The sunflower emblem of Ukrainian resistance is seen on the walls of the Russian embassy A woman is pictured holding up sunflowers at a protest in Michigan. Nearly 40,000 Michigan residents are of Ukrainian descent A woman is pictured taking a selfie while holding a flower at a U.S. protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine Russian officials, meanwhile, said: 'We have identified certain points from which we can predict general positions.' Zelensky earlier admitted he was not confident of a positive resolution, adding that he owed it to his people to at least try and engage. A new round of talks is now set to take place in the coming days, according to Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Putin. 'Another round of talks was agreed to,' Medinsky said. Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, gave few details except to say that the talks, held near the Ukraine-Belarus border, were focused on a possible cease-fire and that a second round could take place 'in the near future.' 'The next meeting will take place in the coming days on the Polish-Belarusian border, there is an agreement to that effect,' he added. Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, awoke from a night of heavy Russian bombardment on Monday as fears that Putin's troops could step up attacks increased A Ukraine resident who volunteered to right against Russia is pictured preparing a post with trenches in Kyiv on Monday Zelensky had been reticent to agree to talks in Belarus, a country used as a staging ground for the Russian invasion and which is now poised to join the war, offering instead to meet in Istanbul, Warsaw, or Baku. Ukraine had indicated it would request a ceasefire and full withdrawal of Russian forces, but Moscow remained tight-lipped over what the negotiations would entail. The discussions came as columns of Belarusian military vehicles were spotted on Monday heading east from the southwestern corner of the country in what appeared to be preparations to join the invasion of Ukraine. Some observers warned the talks could be a pretext for Moscow to ramp up its attacks on Ukraine if Kyiv's officials refuse Russian demands. Among those present at the talks were the Ukrainian defense minister, a lead advisor to the president's office, and the deputy minister of foreign affairs. But while Ukraine sent its defense minister and other top officials, the Russian delegation was led by Putin's adviser on culture an unlikely envoy for ending the war and perhaps a sign of how Moscow views the talks. Meanwhile, ahead of peace talks on Monday, Russian military officials ordered heavy strategic bomber flights as part of what appeared to be efforts to prevent international aid from reaching Ukraine. Observers have warned the order suggests Putin's forces are preparing to ramp up the bombardment of Ukraine in the coming days. Richard Nass, president of the Council of Foreign Affairs, said recent development most likely mean the progression of the conflict is 'conventional' military escalation by Russia, rather than a diplomatic breakthrough. Nass, writing on Twitter, speculated that Moscow was using negotiations to 'appear somewhat reasonable' to slow sanctions against Russia as well as help to Ukraine. But he warned the Kremlin's forces were likely to turn to 'more destructive munitions' if peace talks collapse, using the failure to negotiate a diplomatic breakthrough as a pretext. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted he was not confident of a positive resolution ahead of Monday's peace talks but added that he owed it to his people to at least try Delegations from Ukraine and Russia, including aides to both Putin and Volodymyr, held peace talks in Belarus' Gomel region on Monday As outgunned but determined Ukrainian forces slowed the Russian advance and sanctions crippled the Russian economy, the military confirmed that its nuclear forces were on high alert following Putin's order. While that raised the unimaginable specter of nuclear conflict, it was unclear what practical effect it had. A tense calm reigned in Kyiv by Monday morning. Explosions and gunfire were heard in embattled cities in eastern Ukraine, and terrified Ukrainian families huddled overnight in shelters, basements, or corridors. Ukraine filed a lawsuit against Russia at the Hague, with Zelensky requesting that the UN International Court of Justice orders Russia to stop its attack against Ukraine and starts trials soon. The United States condemned Putin's order to put his nuclear forces on high alert as dangerous and 'unacceptable.' Russian forces are now attempting to skirt around Kyiv and encircle it from the west. Troops fighting out of Crimea continue to make gains and are likely to surround Mariupol soon, while also reaching the outskirts of a key Ukrainian nuclear plant. Fighting in the east continues to be heavy with no breakthrough for Putin Kyiv has been holding out for days against Russian attempts to breach the outskirts of the city, with tanks now trying to encircle it and a large column of armor approaching amid fears the fighting could get much worse The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield also said nothing was 'off the table' when asked about the possibility of Putin being tried in international court as a war criminal. When Russian troops invaded Ukraine on Thursday, the city of 2.8 million people initially reacted with concern but also a measure of self-possession. However, nerves started fraying when grocery stores began closing and the city's famously deep subway system turned its stations into bomb shelters. Ukraine's health ministry said on Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, had been killed since the beginning of Russia's invasion. It also said that 1,684 people, including 116 children, had been wounded. At least 200,000 people have fled Ukraine to three countries, with 150,000 said to have crossed into Poland alone. A TikToker has shared a 'magic' hack for whitening teeth that requires just a kiwi, a cucumber, and some baking soda and a dentist insists it really works. Armen Adamjan, who goes by the username @creative_explained on TikTok, has shared his 'magic' teeth whitening hack at least twice on the app and he's earned hundreds of thousand of views of views for the tip. Adamjan breaks down how a simple three-ingredient mixture can naturally whiten teeth at a fraction of the cost of pricey whitening strips. TikToker Armen Adamjan shared his 'magic' teeth whitening app and earned hundreds of thousand of views The ingredients are surprising, and include cucumber and kiwi He mixes slices of cucumber and kiwi, mashes them up, and adds baking soda Like 'magic'! How to whiten teeth with KIWI Ingredients: Kiwi Cucumber Baking soda Method: Mash two slices of kiwi and two slices of cucumber in a bowl. Add a sprinkle of baking soda and mix. Apply mixture to your toothbrush and brush teeth with it. Repeat twice a week. Advertisement 'Kiwis are packed with calcium and cucumbers get rid of any bad bacteria that builds up in your mouth, which in turn gives you whiter teeth,' he explains in one video. 'If you want to whiten your teeth without using those whitening strips, try this,' he continues. 'Get a bowl, add some kiwi. Add some cucumber. Mash it up,' he says. He demonstrates, throwing two slices of cucumber and two slices of kiwi into a bowl and mashing them together with a pestle. 'Add a little bit of baking soda,' he goes on. 'Mix it up. That's it! 'Put it on your toothbrush and brush your teeth with it, twice a week,' he says, demonstrating. 'Tastes like kiwi!' 'Don't buy these expensive teeth whitening strips,' he warns in another video. 'Just use cucumber and kiwi. It's magic!' Plenty of creators have shared tips for getting whiter teeth with natural products that cost less, but not all of them work. Yet dentist Dr. Joseph Field, DDS, told Bustle that this combination really will get teeth a bit whiter but no one should expect staggering results. Baking soda is abrasive and already found in a lot of whitening toothpastes, while the kiwi and cucumber both have acids that can dissolve and remove surface stains Dentist Dr. Joseph Field, DDS, told Bustle that this combination really will get teeth a bit whiter, though users shouldn't expect a dramatic change Adamjan says to brush teeth with the mixture twice a week, while the dentist says to do it for ten days in a row and then once or twice a month for maintenance 'The kiwi, cucumber, and baking soda combo does a good job removing the stains from your teeth, giving them a whiter appearance,' he said. Baking soda is abrasive and already found in a lot of whitening toothpastes, while the kiwi and cucumber both have acids that can dissolve and remove surface stains. 'You need to be careful not to use it too often as it can cause [your tooth] enamel to erode,' Dr Field added, suggesting people apply the mixture once a day for up to ten consecutive days. After that, it's OK to use once or twice a month for maintenance. Of course, not every beauty, skincare, or dental hack found on social media is effective or even safe, and it's always advisable to check with a doctor before trying something new. In fact, in 2020 a teeth-whitening TikTok trend was slammed as 'extremely harmful by dentists. Leading dentists warned against a potentially 'extremely harmful' beauty in which teens bleached their own teeth with hydrogen peroxide Users from the US and the UK took to buying hydrogen peroxide one of the active whitening agents used in over-the-counter and professional teeth whitening products and applying the chemical directly onto their teeth to achieve a brighter smile. Among them was 18-year-old Claudia, from Essex, whose video of the process racked up nearly 3 million views on the video sharing platform. The teenager bought a 4 bottle of hydrogen peroxide from eBay and used a cotton bud to apply the liquid directly to her teeth for up to one minute. The bottle contained three per cent hydrogen peroxide 30 times the amount allowed in over-the-counter and regulated online teeth whitening products. However, Claudia appeared unconcerned with potential risks, saying in the voiceover to her video: 'If you're a dentist, don't tell me this is wrong, save me the grief, the damage has already been done.' She later pointed out that some US teeth whitening products use up to 14 per cent of hydrogen peroxide in their products, and insisted she is not encouraging any other users to use the same method as her. Another user, an American named Amanda told her followers she often rinses her mouth with the product to keep her teeth white. The user advised others to use the chemical for 30-seconds to a minute in order to change the color of their teeth Another user, an American named Amanda told her followers she often rinses her mouth with the product to keep her teeth white Dental experts warned using undiluted hydrogen peroxide in strong concentrations in this way poses significant risk to long-term oral health. The substance can cause sever gum damage, which can eventually lead to tooth loss, as well as damage the enamel and tooth sensitivity. Dr. Reena Wadia, founder of London gum clinic RW Perio, explained: 'Professional teeth whitening systems use a custom-made "tray" that holds the hydrogen peroxide gel in contact with the teeth and prevents it from contacting the gum tissue. 'This is important as if the gel touches the gums it can lead to gum irritation, inflammation and pain.' Severe gum issues can even lead to teeth falling out. She continued: 'Gums and bone hold your teeth in place so there is no point having white teeth if they start loosening up, changing position and eventually fall out. 'Professional teeth whitening involves supervision from a dental professional who can oversee the whole process. 'This allows you to have the very best whitening result while ensuring that no harm is being done.' Women's bathrooms are far more than the rooms we visit to perform our ablutions. They are where we go to do our make-up, cry, gossip, laugh to bond with other women. When we become mothers, they are where we dash with our toddlers before or after they have an accident. In short, they are female sanctuaries. Hilary Freeman with her daughter, Sidonie. She writes: 'When I was younger, the women's toilets in nightclubs and pubs were a private haven' I once took a positive pregnancy test in the ladies' loo at House of Fraser. Another time, I was in the toilet at London's Soho Theatre when I realised I was miscarrying another baby. Both times, I was with female friends who supported me. These are not experiences I would have wished to share with strange men. When I was younger, the women's toilets in nightclubs and pubs were a private haven, somewhere to escape the unwanted attentions of persistent men. I want my six-year-old daughter to have these same safe spaces available to her when she is older. So it was with some horror that, earlier this month, I found myself in a West End theatre having quite the opposite experience. That night, I was expecting to see Cabaret. I certainly didn't anticipate that, during the interval, I'd also be 'treated' to an impromptu performance of Privates on Parade. But, thanks to the Playhouse Theatre's gender-neutral toilet policy, that's exactly what I got front-row tickets to the unwelcome spectacle of a row of embarrassed men relieving themselves at urinals. Opera glasses were not required. Why? There are no longer any Ladies' toilets at the Playhouse Theatre. Facilities once reserved for women are labelled simply 'Toilets' and open to both sexes. The only other option are labelled 'Urinals'. You don't have to be a genius to work out that this means, in effect, that all the theatre's toilets are for men. Hilary Freedman says: 'I also find myself deeply concerned at the seemingly insidious spread of gender-neutral toilets across Britain.' Pictured, a stock photo of a gender neutral toilet Theatre staff ushered me and other bemused women into the urinals (where there were also two cubicles) because what was formerly the 'Ladies' was utterly oversubscribed. This isn't an isolated incident. Last week in her column, Sarah Vine wrote an impassioned piece about how the rise of gender-neutral toilets which, while intended to help, make many people deeply uncomfortable exemplifies the insanity of the modern age. Her words sparked a strong reaction from readers, who inundated the Mail with letters supporting her view. I also find myself deeply concerned at the seemingly insidious spread of gender-neutral toilets across Britain. For they are more than just a 'right on' nod to the semantics of gender identity. They are nothing short of an erosion of women's rights, an attack on a precious safe space. This audit proves how widespread unisex loos have become. They're found in workplaces, restaurants, schools and universities, department stores and the studios of 'anti-woke' TV channel GB News. In 2018, Bristol University (pictured) pledged to spend 3.4 million on campus toilets, including installing gender-neutral ones I have been forced to take my daughter to a gender-neutral loo in one of London's most refined department stores, Liberty. Surprised, she asked why there were men queuing in 'our' loo, which thankfully was all cubicles without urinals. Regardless, though, it's potentially very confusing for children like her, as teachers at her school are (rightly) strict about girls and boys 'keeping their privates private'. Indeed, when a boy exposed himself to her at school last year, she was congratulated for telling the teacher, he was berated, and both I and his mum were called to see the head for a solemn debrief. What mixed messages are we sending children, then, with these gender-neutral facilities? More than this, my daughter is becoming aware of the need to protect her privacy, and to explore her independence proud to be able to go to the toilet on her own without me in attendance. But would you allow your six-year-old to use a gender-neutral public toilet alone, alongside adult men? Would you want your young daughter to glimpse grown men's penises at a urinal? Conveniences at Halifax Borough Market (pictured), West Yorkshire, have recently been designated unisex Soon, I fear, it will be too late, and all women, young and old, may find themselves at theatres, museums or restaurants, shuffling past exposed men. Unisex toilets have been popping up in public spaces for the past decade, since gender-reassignment discrimination became illegal under the Equality Act 2010. In London, their spread can be traced back to Mayor Sadiq Khan's 2017 guidance that all new commercial developments in the capital should feature them. Under the terms of the Act, organisations can be taken to court if transgender people feel they are being treated worse than others. However, the law is murky. While single-sex bathrooms can be viewed as discriminatory, making all toilets gender neutral could also be seen as discrimination on the grounds of religion. But how does changing the sign on a toilet door from 'Men's' or 'Ladies' to 'Gender Neutral' protect a transgender person? All it does is make all females both 'cis', as biological women are dubbed, and trans feel less safe. Most concerning is the fact that unisex loos are being forced on our children, with their adoption in some schools both primary and secondary. In 2017, the head of the prestigious Highgate School in North London had to apologise to parents after introducing gender-neutral lavatories without consultation. Pupils said they made them feel 'less comfortable and happy'. An Edinburgh branch of Costa recently refurbished four toilets, making two for men and the others unisex (stock photo used) There have been many anecdotal reports claiming some girls now won't eat or drink all day at school to avoid using mixed-sex toilets, putting their health at risk. And all this against the backdrop of a sexual assault crisis in schools. Remember, a 2021 Ofsted review showed sexual harassment in educational establishments has become normalised. Surely gender-neutral loos will only exacerbate the problem? Some trans lobbyists may be delighted at the encroachment of gender-neutral loos, but by and large, these toilets please no one. In 2018, female Home Office employees refused to use the newly installed gender-neutral toilets which cost taxpayers 36,000 as they felt 'distressed' by their male colleagues leaving the cubicle doors open while they urinated. At the Playhouse Theatre on the night I attended, men also expressed their discomfort. One elderly man looked extremely alarmed. Unsurprisingly, decent men don't like urinating in front of women, any more than women like changing their sanitary protection with men just a few feet away. So what can we all do? Boycott venues that offer only unisex loos? Cross our legs? In September last year, Finham Park secondary school (pictured) in Coventry told parents of its plans to start making some toilets gender neutral There are solutions, but they tend to be expensive. If venues really want to provide toilets that are safe for everyone, they should construct bathrooms that contain a set of fully enclosed cubicles (no gaps over and under the door for peering), complete with individual mirrors and sinks. Alternatively, they could provide three types of toilet: Men's, Women's and Unisex. Or, if this isn't possible, they can just leave the toilets as they are. Common sense should apply. Yes, trans people need safe spaces, but so do women, and, once again, it's women's rights that are being flushed away. Call me cruel, but at the Playhouse Theatre, part of me felt pleasure at the men's discomfort. I may even have paused a little longer than necessary at the sink to apply some lipstick, just to drive the point home. Because in our society, men's voices are still louder than women's. And I fear it's only when we make their displeasure heard that things will change. Aldi Australia has made a major change to its bread packaging and it's dividing customers - especially during wet weather. In a bid to reduce its impact on the environment, the supermarket giant has ditched plastic bread tags for cardboard ones. However, despite being better for the environment, shoppers are whingeing that eco alternatives are flimsy and crumble into 'mush' when wet. While many Aldi customers are praising the eco-friendly switch, there's the same number who claim the new tags are 'useless'. In a bid to be more environmentally friendly, Aldi Australia has switched from plastic to cardboard bread tags sparking a debate among customers 'It's not only Aldi, nearly all bread has these tags now, it's called being environmentally friendly,' a shopper fired back. 'I like the paper/cardboard tags. I replace them with an Ikea bag clip anyway, but now can put the cardboard tag into the compost. Win,' said a second. 'Yep they are the worst. In this wet weather even more so. They just fall off the bread,' another wrote. 'They break too easy. Especially if they get wet, they just fall off and then they are useless. Biodegradable plastic would be better,' a user responded. Many others were suggesting their alternative solutions to using bread tags and keeping loaves fresh. 'I just keep a couple of clothes pegs in the cutlery draw for this. It's not a big deal,' a woman advised. 'I just spin the bag and it's locked tight. Done. I've never understood why anyone puts the tag back on,' wrote another. On social media, Aldi customers are praising the eco-friendly switch however some aren't happy claiming the new tags are 'useless' A spokesperson from Aldi Australia told FEMAIL the move is part of an effort to reduce plastic packaging and increase sustainability. 'ALDI Australia has a number of commitments to improve the sustainability of our product packaging, including a goal to reduce the amount of plastic packaging across our own-label range by a quarter by 2025,' they said. 'We have started trialling recyclable cardboard bread tags on a select range of our bread products, and we continue to work closely with our business partners to identify opportunities to transition to cardboard tags on more of our products.' 'The next few years will see us continue to remove plastics from our range or replace it with sustainable alternatives and by 2025 all remaining packaging will be either recyclable, reusable or compostable.' ARIES - Six of Cups Your wildest dream relates to a nostalgic and affectionate daydream about your past, or even childhood. The Six of Cups is a rekindling card, so maybe there's a relationship, love, family tie, activity, hobby, place or role that you once loved a great deal, but lost. This new moon, wander down memory lane and focus on the one thing you miss the most. You can restore this to your present life, and now is the right time. TAURUS - The World It's time to clarify, plan and work on what will become the biggest and boldest achievement of your life to date (and possibly ever). The World is the tarot's final card and a powerful symbol of ultimate achievement. It can also represent global travel and aspirations, so an amazing journey or location move could be in scope. It asks you to think big and to go for the boldest ambition you can muster. The cosmos is backing you. GEMINI - Two of Wands Multi-tasking and adaptability are your greatest strengths, and you spin a great many plates at one time. However, this new moon, the Two of Wands is asking you to prioritise and recalibrate your precious time and energy into the one ambition you hold dearest or have the greatest future potential. You're spreading yourself too thinly and hedging your bets. Come down off the fence, pick a priority, and make overt and focused moves towards it. Magic will happen. CANCER - Four of Coins The Four of Coins shows that life has gotten more rigid, same-same routine and predictable these last few years. What was comforting and familiar now feels a little stifling and boring. You are ready for major change. This new moon, make a conscious effort to release your old routines and rituals and do as many new things as possible. Visit different places, change your schedule, look for new roles, reconnect with old friends. Shake it all up and your life can, over the coming two weeks, totally renew and transform. LEO - Five of Swords The creative theme of this new moon for you, Leo, is healing. The Five of Swords shows you've endured some stress and strife in your relationship landscape over the last six months or so, now you can repair, restore, and rejuvenate the bonds under the most strain. Be logical, objective, and factual. Don't add more emotional fuel to this fire. Let the embers burn out and then set to talking. Everyone is ready to resolve this, and you can lead them through this process (you're a natural leader). The end result will feel wonderful. VIRGO - Two of Swords A big decision has hung over you the last couple of months with the tough and challenging Two of Swords. You have been procrastinating because there doesn't seem to be clear course of action (and clarity is your cat nip). This new moon, let your best hopes (not worst fears) lead you here. Let your imagination dream up a dream of the best possible outcome and then head in its direction. Be positive and optimistic and the cosmos will bring you what you want. LIBRA - Ten of Wands Being ruled by Venus gives you a default setting towards pleasure, indulgence, and chill-time. Life needs to be beautiful in your ideal world. Libra, you can make it so. The Ten of Wands reveals your wildest dream right now is to introduce real, deep rest and relaxation back into your regime. Seek active ways to lighten your load of obligations and tasks. Streamline the chores. Clear some room. And then bring in new rituals- massage, crystal healing, reiki, exercise, sofa time, whatever floats your boat and makes you feel amazing. SCORPIO - Judgment This new moon is a life-changing turning point for you. Old ways and beliefs are falling away to be replaced by new attitudes and behaviours which are aligned with your authentic self. You're not pretending or faking or trying too hard any more. You're being happy in your own skin and attracting whatever (or whoever) genuinely aligns with that. Life is going to change for the better. New opportunities, invitations, roles, and relationships will start to flow, simply because you've changed the power and authenticity of your beacon. SAGITTARIUS - The Magician The Magician is one of the tarot's most magical cards so your new moon is going to feel almost enchanted. It represents creation and creativity, the ability and desire to make and present something new to the world, something which could indeed make your fortune. This is a time to seek entrepreneurship, self employment, creativity, the arts, new jobs or side lines. Draw closer to your natural talents and make something new of them. There's a niche in this world JUST for you. CAPRICORN - Eight of Cups Capricorn, the Eight of Cups is bringing healing and progressive energy to your world this new moon, if only you'll acknowledge and release something you've been hoping for that hasn't panned out. Acknowledge the disappointment and withdraw your time and energy from this project, situation, or relationship. Dream a new dream. The cosmos is ready to replace whatever was lost with something far better and more suited to you. Let go of the fading or false, in order to activate the new and authentic. Something better is coming. Let it in. AQUARIUS - Five of Coins Your wildest dream right now is to feel normal, settled, content, at peace with yourself. You're an honest and self-aware person and you know the last few years have taken an emotional toll on you. It's time, this new moon, to turn a corner and feel genuinely enthused about the future, rather than regretful about the past. The key here is to plan some things to look forward to. Schedule some future treats and rewards this new moon to consciously turn your gaze to your bright and waiting future life. It's time to reawaken. It's time to feel like your best self again. PISCES - The Lovers The Lovers brings you the opportunity to settle and resolve the issues in your life that have created confusion and doubt recently. There is a situation you've felt conflicted or torn about maybe a head vs heart decision, a temptation, a cross roads. It has given you anxiety and you're tired or worrying about it. This new moon, resolve to make a choice and act upon it, and get past this unsettling phase. Make a list of pro's and con's, engage your feelings and your intellect, and make a choice based on what you know now. Do a future you a massive favour and unblock this obstacle in your life. Source: Tarotbella A grieving mother is desperate to know why her two teenage daughters died alongside their father after all three bodies were discovered in his home. Father Manuel Gil, 33, was found dead upstairs in his home in December 2021 after apparently starving himself. His daughters Adriana, 17, and Mariel, 16, were discovered together on the sofa downstairs but their cause of death in not known. Police said it appeared the girls died five days before their father, meaning he remained in the same property as their bodies for almost a week. The girls' mother, Betsy Alvarado, 33, of Washington, said her ex was 'extremely religious' and she fears he had been 'brainwashing' their children in the lead up to their deaths. 'I knew the girls were following their dad in his extreme religious beliefs. Really, it was like a cult,' she said. 'I knew he was putting ideas in their head. I just had no idea it would come to this.' Ariana was found dead beside her sister Mariel on the sofa, with both girls weighing less than eight stone, compared to their normal weight of around 12 stone each. Cleaning company boss Betsy Alvarado, 33, discovered her daughters Adriana (pictured right), 17, and Mariel (pictured left), 16, were dead on December 11 2021, after months of anguish during which she feared their father Manuel Gil, 33 - who was found dead in the same property - had 'brainwashed' the teenagers Betsy (with her daughters), of Washington State, said: 'I knew the girls were following their dad in his extreme religious beliefs. Really, it was like a cult. I knew he was putting ideas in their head. I just had no idea it would come to this.' Manuel Gils (pictured) landlord discovered his body upstairs on the floor dead, with the cause suspected as starvation. Ariana was found dead beside her sister Mariel on the sofa, with both girls weighing less than eight stone, compared to their normal weight of around 12 stone each The two teenagers decided to live with their father when aged 11 and 12, despite their mother receiving full custody after the couples split. Betsy and Manuel were just 15 when the childhood sweethearts fell pregnant with Ariana. Resolving to raise their family in the right way, they found jobs and moved in together in their home state of Louisiana, before Mariel was born a year later. The girls were so close in age, they were often mistaken for twins, according to Betsy, who said: 'They did everything together, always playing, always smiling. 'They were such beautiful little girls, and their dad was great with them. He was never, ever violent towards them.' Sadly, though, with Betsy, he often became drunk and violent. And eventually, after years of domestic abuse, following their move to Washington State in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, she left Manuel, going on to meet Ron Anderson, 44, with whom she had another daughter. But Manuel's brooding presence was felt when he decided to take Betsy to court over custody of their older daughters - a move that backfired. The two teenagers (pictured) decided to live with their father when aged 11 and 12, despite their mother receiving full custody after the couples split. Pictured left to right, Mariel and Adriana The girls' autopsies failed to establish a cause of death and toxicology results are yet to be completed - leaving Betsy (pictured) without any answers She said: 'Ironically, I was awarded full custody, although I worked with Manuel to co-parent. 'Things seemed to calm down. Manuel got married and would see the girls every other Wednesday and every other weekend. It was good.' When the girls turned 11 and 12 and decided they wanted to move in with their dad, Betsy was horrified. She said: 'Manuel's life with his wife seemed stable. I was a strict parent but didn't want to disregard the children's feelings. Adrianna wanted to live with her and Mariel did everything with her sister.' Not wanting to push them away, Betsy agreed, hoping the girls would change their minds eventually. She continued to see the girls as much as she could. Mariel came back to live with her mum while Adriana visited on weekends. In 2020, Betsy became aware that Manuel had become involved with religion. A year on she started to worry. A video Manuel posted on YouTube shows him ranting about 'having the devil in me.' Betsy (pictured centre) and Manuel were just 15 when the childhood sweethearts fell pregnant with Ariana Betsy said: 'My daughters were being brainwashed by what they were calling a religion but was actually like a cult. 'They started covering their hair, became pescatarian, then vegetarian, then really strict vegan. We'd go out and they'd pull a single spinach leaf from their bags and refuse to eat anything else.' Betsy agonised as she watched her daughters lose weight and become withdrawn - last seeing them alive in February 2021 when she took them rollerblading. The trio made plans to do the same again the next weekend, but Adriana and Mariel cancelled the plans at the last moment. Betsy said: 'They were saying to me that I was sinful, and they couldn't see me. That skating was against their beliefs. I knew Manuel must have been putting all this stuff in their heads.' The girls also withdrew from Betsy's wider family and, eventually, stopped responding to their mum's calls and messages altogether. Betsy was heartbroken but did not want to put any pressure on her daughters and risk pushing them further away. She tried to speak with Manuel, but was met by strange, circular conversations, where he would rant about God and her still being his 'wife.' Eventually, after years of domestic abuse, following their move to Washington State in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Betsy left Manuel, going on to meet Ron Anderson, 44, with whom she had another daughter. Pictured, Adriana and Mariel as children Despite not getting a response, Betsy would text her daughters regularly, reminding them that she would always be there for them. She said: 'I cried so many nights trying to convince them to come back, but they felt like if they lived with me, they would burn in hell because they wouldn't be following God's word.' With no other way to contact them, Betsy received regular updates from Manuel's now ex-wife. Then, last spring, the girls' school called Betsy to say they had not been attending. Worried, she called Child Protective Services (the CPS) to intervene and claims that, while she was told someone would get back to her, she never heard anything. On December 10, 2021, Betsy received a worried call from Manuel's ex-wife, who had not heard from the family in days. She told Betsy that Manuel had unexpectedly quit his job and had not used his bank account in two weeks. Worried, Betsy immediately drove the 40 minutes from her home to her ex's house in the Renton area of the state. She knocked but got no answer and, after neighbours said they had not seen the family for over a week, she called the police. An officer arrived, but refused Betsy's calls for him to break down Manuel's door. For three months now, Betsy has been left without any answers and was only finally able to lay her daughters to rest last month The next day, she returned to the property to try and gain access, fearing her ex had abducted their daughters. But when she approached the back door, through a gap in the curtain, she saw 16-year-old Mariel lying on the sofa. Thinking her daughter was asleep, Betsy was relieved and left the property to head to work. To her horror, just a couple of hours later, one of Manuel's neighbours called and explained that the landlord had entered the home to find 'everybody in there dead.' Manuel Gil had been found upstairs on the floor dead, with the cause suspected as starvation and his time of death being stated as the day before - just when Betsy had stood outside begging police to break in. Ariana was found dead beside her sister on the sofa, hidden from Betsy's view through the glass. When they were found, the girls each weighed less than 8st, compared to their normal weight of around 12st each. But the girls' autopsies failed to establish a cause of death and toxicology results are yet to be completed - leaving Betsy without any answers. Renton police told The Seattle Times that it appeared the girls died around December 5 and their father died around December 10, one day before their bodies were found by their landlord. She said: 'I just want to know why my girls have died. I know in my heart that Manuel did this to them for some sort of religious reason, mental illness or something. 'But two healthy girls don't just die on the same day side-by-side. It doesn't happen. 'Now I just want justice, but I don't feel like the police care because even if it was murder the killer is dead too.' For three months now, Betsy has been left without any answers and was only finally able to lay her daughters to rest last month. She said: 'It was a beautiful day. But I can't rest until I know why my daughters are in the ground. It tortures me. Why, why, why?' Betsy also feels something could have been done to save her daughters while they were still alive. She said: 'Someone could have done something. Manuel clearly wasn't well and I just had no idea how bad it had got. If someone had listened to me, then my girls would still be alive.' Advertisement A beaming Kate Middleton was in high spirits today as she joined Prince William to celebrate St David's Day with a visit to Wales. The Duchess of Cambridge, 40, donned an all-green tonal outfit while visiting Abergavenny Market alongside the Duke, 39, where the couple learned how important local suppliers are to rural communities. They then visited a youth club at Blaenavon Hwb in Blaenavon, and played a game of pool. Mother-of-three Kate opted to wear her 940 longline forest green Sportmax coat with a matching polo neck, as well as black skinny jeans, for the occasion. In a touching nod to her decade of duty in the royal family, Kate also finished her outfit with her Aquatalia Rouge boots, which she first wore for her first official engagement in 2011. When the couple visited Blaenavon Hwb, a community-focused youth centre, Kate, who is a keen baker, cast her eye over William's attempts to make Welsh cakes and they also played a game of pool. She went over to the oven and effortlessly began assisting with cooking and flipping the cakes on the stove, while chatting with Libby, 16. After William began rolling the dough and cutting it out, he told the group gathered around him: 'I'm under a lot of pressure here. 'Do not judge my cooking, this could go horribly wrong. It's not Bake Off. Where's Mary (Berry) when you need her?' When the duchess asked to see her husband's efforts, she pointed out the thinness of his cakes. 'That one is a little bit skinny,' William conceded, before looking at them again and adding: 'They are probably all a little bit skinny.' Kate (pictured) appeared perfectly poised as she joined Prince William at Pant Farm near Abergavenny, on a visit to Wales today - as the nation celebrates St David's Day Then the Duke and Duchess both opted for forest green knitted jumpers as they arrived for their visit to the market this afternoon (pictured) Taking part! The Duchess of Cambridge at the Neon Youth Club at Blaenavon Hwb in Blaenavon during her trip to Wales today Saying hello! The adorable goats kept on the Welsh farm were eager to greet their royal guests during their tour of the grounds The Duchess of Cambridge, 40, cut an elegant figure in the forest green jacket with a matching polo neck as she stepped out in Wales earlier today It was a quick costume change for the royal, who earlier today was in her natural element when getting up close and personal with a group of adorable goats as the couple paid a visit to a Welsh farm. Kate dressed down in a recycled Seeland khaki jacket and a red scarf as she joined the Duke at Pant Farm; a goat farm near Abergavenny, that has been providing milk to a local cheese producer for nearly 20 years. She teamed her garment with a simple pair of black jeans and finished off her look with her 170 boots from celeb-loved brand Blundstone. Meanwhile, William donned navy trousers, a green jumper and a matching coat with a light blue shirt for the occasion. The royal couple are visiting Wales to learn about the importance of the agricultural industry to rural populations and how community organisations are providing support to young people while also celebrating the history of the region. During the visit, the couple also revealed how they are getting their children involved in farming, the couple revealed on a day out to Wales to mark St David's Day. The future Prince and Princess of Wales were visiting a goat farm in Llanvetherine, near Abergavenny, and shared how Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis had helped with their animals during half term. The Duchess was seen howling with laughter after trying her hand at a game of pool at Neon Youth Club at Blaenavon Hwb in Blaenavon It's pancake day! Meanwhile the Duchess was also seen making pancakes in the kitchen at the youth centre earlier today The Duchess wore her long brunette locks in loose waves across her shoulders for the visit earlier this afternoon Flipping it up! Kate shared a laugh with team members at the youth centre as she grabbed the utensils to help make pancakes for the group The Duke and Duchess had a rare moment of PDA as she placed a hand on his back while encouraging him to try out making a pancake The royal couple could barely contain their enthusiasm as they chatted with staff members at the community-focused youth centre that helps to support over 600 local young people The cooking king! The Duke could be seen wielding a rolling pin as he tried his hand at some baking during the royal visit today The 39-year-old was enthusiastic and animated as he tried his hand at baking this afternoon at the youth centre Meanwhile the Duke and Duchess also spoke with youngsters at the youth centre as they celebrated St David's Day It is thought the family were in Norfolk, where the Prince of Wales has been working to turn the Queen's Sandringham estate into a fully organic operation. During a day spent in the Welsh valleys, the couple tried making traditional Welsh cakes at a community centre but the future king told the young people watching: 'Do not judge my cooking...' As they toured Pant Farm, where Gary and Jess Yeomans, both 50, produce goats' milk that has supplied a local cheesemaker for the past two decades, William spotted a robot silage sweeper in one of the barns. Gary explained it could also be used to move feed, and the duchess replied: 'That was George's job at half term - moving feed.' William told his hosts the children had been getting involved on the farm and added: 'We are trying some Agroforestry as well.' The method involves planting crops in between rows of trees to provide healthier soil, higher yields and vital homes for wildlife. The duke studied agricultural management at Cambridge University in 2014, but it seems the duchess also has farming running in her veins. Kate told her hosts: 'I was looking into my ancestry and there was someone who was a rare breed goat farmer. I will have to find out which one it was. It was just after the First World War.' William also commented on the couple's new sporting rivalry following Wales's narrow defeat to England in the Six Nations on Saturday, where Kate, as patron of England Rugby, triumphed over her husband, patron of the Welsh Rugby Union. 'She's wearing a Welsh scarf today though,' said the Duke. 'It's a good family rivalry.' Gary told him: 'George is going to have to come on your side.' 'Don't worry,' replied William. 'He's already there.' Looking typically radiant, Kate donned her 209 green Seeland wax jacket, which appears to have become a favourite with the royal since she also sported the coat during her trip to Denmark, last week. She teamed her casual garment with a high neck jumper and a bright red scarf, while wearing a daffodil pin. The national flower is traditionally worn on St David's Day, Wales' patron saint's day. Opting for a smattering of glamorous makeup, the mother-of-three kept her locks loose and wavy, while wearing a dainty pair of hooped golden earrings, costing 60 from Spells of Love. During their trip, the Duke and Duchess also met with representatives of the wider farming sector, both in Wales and across the UK, as well as those secondarily employed by the industry to gain a better understanding of how the agricultural sector underpins so much of the local economy. The Duchess was seen clutching a small bunch of daffodils as she chatted with one man during her visit to Wales this afternoon Kate and Prince William were greeted by crowds of cheering royal fans, many of whom were waving their flags as they celebrated St David's Day Back to normal! After two years of virtual royal visits and low key engagements during the Covid pandemic, Kate appeared overjoyed to be meeting crowds again The couple were in high spirits as they arrived at the bustling marketplace to see first hand how important local suppliers are to rural communities and to mark St David's Day All smiles: The mother-of-three beamed as she waved to the crowds of royal fans following the visit earlier today Prince William and Kate appeared particularly charmed by one young royal fan as they greeted crowds at the market this afternoon Following their time at Pant Farm, the couple visited Abergavenny Market to see first hand how important local suppliers are to rural communities and to mark St David's Day. Later today, in Blaenavon, the Duke and Duchess visited the Blaenavon Hwb, a community-focused youth centre that helps to support over 600 local young people. While visiting the centre, the duke then chatted with the children about their experiences using the centre and asked them: 'What sort of talking do you do?' One girl told him that she comes to the hwb to rant and let off steam and the duke replied 'Everyone needs to rant.' They ended their visit by planting a 'tree for the jubilee' as part of the Queen's Green Canopy, an initiative created to celebrate the Queen's 70-year reign. In keeping with many South Wales valley towns, Blaenavon has had to overcome economic hardship in the last 30 years and the Hwb is playing its part by ensuring that the next generation are able to reach their potential by providing a space for alternative education and supporting care-experienced and vulnerable young people. Both giving it a go! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed a game of pool when visiting the Neon Youth Club at Blaenavon Hwb in Blaenavon The Duke and Duchess (pictured) took the opportunity to celebrate an important historical moment as they 'planted a tree for the Jubilee' in Blaenavon as part of The Queen's Green Canopy, an initiative created to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee The Duke of Cambridge plants a tree at the Blaenavon Heritage Centre in Blaenavon, left, while Duchess of Cambridge also takes part, right Joining in! The Duchess of Cambridge also plants a tree at the Blaenavon Heritage Centre in Blaenavon during a visit to Wales The Duchess of Cambridge at the Blaenavon Heritage Centre in Blaenavon during a visit to Abergavenny and Blaenavon They also had the opportunity to take part in some of the activities the centre lays on, which on this St David's Day includes making Welsh cakes. While the decline of the mining industry has led to some of the challenges faced today, Blaenavon's history is an important part of its identity, with parts of the town and surrounding area recognised in 2000 as a World Heritage Site an example of how the 18th-19th Century iron and coal industry in Wales drove the Industrial Revolution. The Heritage Site, in partnership with the Blaenavon Hwb, uses the power of culture to empower young people's voices and helps to promote the area's rich history through the World Heritage Youth Page 2 of 5 Ambassador programme. World Heritage Youth Ambassadors get involved in organising events, managing workshops and building networks with other World Heritage Sites around the world. Adorable! The Duchess said hello to the goats at Pant Farm, when visiting alongside her husband Prince William today Kate (pictured) and William, both sporting daffodil pins as is tradition on St David's Day in Wales, toured the grounds with farmers Gary and Jess Yeomans Look at me! The goats seemed eager for the royal couple's attention, with Kate and William chatting to farmers when touring the farm in Abergavenny Kate and William will meet a number of these young ambassadors, before travelling to the World Heritage Site visitor centre to learn more about the history of Blaenavon and the importance of the Ambassador programme. The Duke and Duchess took the opportunity to celebrate an important historical moment as they 'planted a tree for the Jubilee' in Blaenavon as part of The Queen's Green Canopy, an initiative created to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee. Earlier this morning, the Duke and Duchess wished the people of Wales a 'Happy St David's Day' on Instagram, writing: 'Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus,' which is the Welsh translation of the greeting. The post continued: 'See you soon to learn all about the role of small businesses in local communities - from farm, to market, to table - and how young people's opportunities are being improved by charities and engaging projects across Wales' Affectionate: The Duke and Duchess walked alongside each other and appeared in good spirits during their trip to Wales The Duchess of Cambridge, 40, dressed down in a recycled Seeland khaki jacket and a red scarf as she joined the Duke (pictured together), 39, at Pant Farm; a goat farm near Abergavenny, that has been providing milk to a local cheese producer for nearly 20 years The Duke (pictured right) and Duchess (pictured centre ) heard about the challenges and opportunities faced by the sector and how the farm works with local industries and services During their trip, the Duke and Duchess (pictured touring the farm) also met with representatives of the wider farming sector, both in Wales and across the UK Kate (pictured) teamed her garment with a simple pair of black jeans and finished off her look with her 170 boots from celeb-loved brand Blundstone First Lady Jill Biden made headlines after she introduced United States Vice President Kamala Harris as the president of the U.S. during a Black History Month celebration at the White House on Monday. She later said that she was joking. During her introductory remarks, Jill Biden started out by saying the path of the vice president to get into the White House began with Harris' parents in the Civil Rights movement. The first lady said Harris has dedicated her life to pursuing justice and opportunity for all Americans. Biden called Harris a partner to her husband, United States President Joe Biden, particularly on issues such as voting rights. "President" Kamala Harris Afterward, Biden introduced Harris as the president of the United States but immediately corrected herself amid the audience's laughter and a shrug from her husband. The first lady then said that she only referred to Harris as the president to make the audience laugh. Jill Biden introducing Kamala Harris: Ladies and gentlemen, the president I mean the Vice President I just said that to make you laugh. pic.twitter.com/EGCUHJqu5m Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 28, 2022 Similarly, Biden's husband has repeatedly referred to Harris as the president of the United States in his remarks. In December, during a commencement address at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Joe spoke glowingly of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He then touted that "President Harris" was a proud Howard University alum, as per Fox News. The situation comes as Joe is the subject of criticism every time he confuses Harris as the president of the United States. Another instance was in January of this year during an appearance to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Read Also: Joe Biden: US Should Not Fear Nuclear War Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis During his speech at the Atlanta University Center Consortium, Joe said that he and "President Harris" stood on the United States Capitol the week before. Another incident was in March 2021 when Joe celebrated Harris' COVID-19 response, saying the two of them took a virtual tour of a vaccination center in Arizona. According to the Independent, Joe will be coming into his Tuesday State of the Union Address with 54% of Americans expressing concerns that he does not have the mental sharpness needed to effectively be the president of the United States. Black History Month During the Black History Month celebration, Joe called on Congress to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court and pass voting rights bills. In his remarks, the president acknowledged that the process can be slow and frustrating. But he noted that cooperation and faith can help progress things along. The East Room was filled with roughly 150 people, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus, state and local elected officials, the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and other community leaders. Black individuals in Joe's Cabinet and other administration officials stood on stage as the president called on them by name to thank them. During the event, Joe said he was happy that the event was held in person and not virtually, a milestone amid the coronavirus pandemic. Harris said that the people at the celebration were gathered at a time when America's democratic principles have come under threat due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine using a full-scale military operation, GrayDC reported. Related Article: President Joe Biden Sparks Fury For His Absence in DC; POTUS Spends Weekend in Delaware Despite War Wages in Ukraine @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. University Challenge viewers were gutted after fan favourite Luke Kim was booted out of the competition. Luke, who has just completed his degree in physics at Cambridge's Trinity College, has been praised throughout the series for his 'cheery disposition and untriumphant happiness'. But last night was his final appearance on the show after his team was beaten by fellow Cambridge college St John's by 155 points to 125. Viewers acknowledged that the 'best team won' but shared their dismay at losing Luke, saying it 'broke their heart'. University Challenge viewers were gutted after fan favourite Luke Kim was booted out of the competition when Cambridge's Trinity College lost to St John's College by 30 points How many Starter For Ten questions can YOU answer? Scroll down to check your answers... The Indian City of Makrana, the Greek Islands of Naxos and Paros and the Italian town of Carrara are notable sites for the quarrying of what material? What three letter term is applied to a funnel-shaped inlet in a river mouth for example Southampton Water? At a similar latitude to St Petersburg in the Shetland Islands Cape Farewell is the southernmost point of which island more than three times the size of Texas? An international best seller during the Covid pandemic, what allegorical novel of 1947 begins with Dr Rhia? What name is given to the insects with species including the Yukuba and Verillas? What surname links all of these: The 17th century author of the memoir Religio Medici, a US abolitionist executed in 1859 and a Spanish Botanist? What punctuation mark was intended to end this phrase: 'What? A refrigerator that makes its own ice cubes'? In newtons what Centripetal force is needed to move a 4kg object in a circle of radius 50cm at constant speed 3m per second? What decade saw all of these, the dancing plague of Strasberg, the first publication of Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso and the accession of Francis I of France? Advertisement 'I hope to one day be as happy as Trinity's Kim #UniversityChallenge', said one viewer. Another wrote: 'The best team won there. The only thing breaking my heart was seeing Kim and Brekke losing - such good contestants.' 'Its been very cheering to see Luke Kims untriumphant happiness at knowing and giving a right answer the last few months, said a third. Another commented: 'I shall miss Kim's sunny disposition most of all #UniversityChallenge.' Fans of the academic quiz show were quick to take to Twitter to share their dismay, saying it 'broke their heart' to see Luke's 'cheery disposition and untriumphant happiness' leaving their screens With a total of 515 points, Trinity had appeared on the quiz show three times before the quarter-final, beating Durham in round one before losing to University of Edinburgh in round three. They had an outstanding win in round two against St Hilda, Oxford - at one point gaining a lead of over 200 points to zero before eventually winning by a whopping 210 points. In addition to their win, Trinity's student team was a big hit with viewers after their second episode, having gained fans during their appearance in the first round of the quiz show in August. Appearing on BBC2 last night, the two Cambridge teams battled it out in the quarter-final - with St John's ultimately bagging the victory with a total of 155 points to Trinity's 125 Trinity was also represented by Hatty Innes, Ludvig Brekke, and Luke Kim - with Kim cementing his status as fan favourite thanks to his constant grin while answering questions Navonil Neogi, a Maths student from Surrey, was a particular hit with viewers after admitting to host Jeremy Paxman that he had no idea what question he had just asked during the show. Trinity was also represented by Hatty Innes, Ludvig Brekke, and Luke Kim - with Kim cementing his status as fan favourite thanks to his constant grin while answering questions. Meanwhile, with a total of 690 points, St John's lost to Imperial College in round one but continued through the competition to beat UCL and Queen Mary's London - however were defeated in their last match by Emmanuel College, Cambridge. The St John's team was represented by Thomas Clark, Louis George, Jonathan Chan, Kiana Ouyang. His younger sister Georgia, nine, has also caught the acting bug and is the star of a new Northern Irish film, Torn - and younger brother Jonah is already attending the same drama class as his newly famous brother LA talent agencies have been scrambling to sign the talented youngster; his mother Shauneen, now his manager, says she first noticed his acting skills when he read out a poem at school when he was just four Advertisement Before being cast in Belfast, Sir Kenneth Branagh's semi-autobiographical blockbuster about a childhood in Northern Ireland, young actor Jude Hill attended his local village primary school, taking drama lessons and reading poetry in his spare time. However, with awards season now well underway in Hollywood - finally in person after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic - the Northern Irish youngster, who turned 11 last summer, is quietly stealing the show in Hollywood - with a slew of LA talent agencies having battled to represent him. On Monday night, at the 5th annual Hollywood Critics Association Awards at Los Angeles' swish Avalon nightclub, a confident-looking Jude donned a characterful royal blue suit, with matching polka dot dickie bow, and smart brogues, and looked every inch the rising star as he took to the stage to accept his first major individual award. The blonde-haired boy from the village of Gilford, about 25 miles south-east of Belfast in County Down, looked every inch a match for Hollywood's glitterati. Scooping Best Newcomer Award for the role of Buddy in the black-and-white film, which documents life growing up in a working class family during the Troubles in the late 1960s, the rising star was swiftly congratulated by A-listers Jamie Dornan and Caitriona Balfe, who play his parents in the film. Scroll down for video Hollywood calling: Jude Hill, 11, won the Best Newcomer Award at 5th annual Hollywood Critics Association Awards for the role of Buddy in Sir Kenneth Branagh's Belfast; it was Hill's first major film role after he beat 300 hopefuls to win the part High praise: The Year 7 student is currently doing the rounds with his co-stars during Hollywood awards season - pictured left to right: Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Jude Hill, Kenneth Branagh and Ciaran Hinds Hill, who grew up in a village 25 miles from Belfast, has been hailed as a natural by actor Sir Kenneth Branagh, with Dame Judi Dench saying the star was like an actor who had had 25 years experience Family affair: Hill's parents, Darryl and Shauneen, are currently chaperoning their young son during his trip to California; the actor has a sister, Georgia, who also acts, and a younger brother, Jonah who is signed to the same drama school Critics have garlanded the film with praise in his five-star review, the Daily Mails critic Brian Viner called it a small masterpiece - and the awards season looks set to back that up. Mingling with his co-stars on the red carpet this week - including Sir Kenneth Branagh, the youngster has had the chance to meet his heroes; he told reporters that he was lost for words after chatting to Spider-Man: No Way Home star Andrew Garfield. His stratospheric rise to fame, after beating 300 hopefuls to play the part, has seen him win wide praise for his own stellar performance - and several awards, although he missed out on a predicted Oscar nomination. Hill has now been signed by Hollywood acting agencies UTA and Berwick & Kovacik and further roles are surely just a matter of time - but his parents maintain that he's just 'a normal boy', who they're keen to protect from the glaring spotlight of Hollywood. Potential: Hill in a photo posted on his Instagram account showing him during his final year at primary school 'Normal boy' A young Jude holding aloft a trophy for his drama skills, and right in Ninja outfits with his younger brother Mum Shauneen has now given up her job to be a full-time manager to her son - and rising star daughter, Georgia. Pictured from left: Darryl, Georgia, Jude, Shauneen and Jonah Wearing a characterful royal blue suit, with matching polka dot dickie bow, and smart brogues, the 11-year-old has looked entirely at ease with his glitzy co-stars while doing the rounds in Hollywood Now 11, the young actor has been hailed as a natural by Sir Kenneth, while co-star Dame Judi Dench said he was completely like an actor who had had 25 years worth of experience. For the Hill family, the bright lights of Hollywood are a far cry from the sleepy County Down village where they live. Dad Darryl is an Operations Manager at Concentrix, while mum Shauneen has given up work to focus on the acting aspirations of both Jude and daughter Georgia. Adorable photos on his official Instagram page - significantly glitzier in recent weeks - show the family in their everyday life, enjoying family holidays in Mallorca and gathered around a Christmas tree at their home. The schoolboy trained at the Shelley Lowry School for speech and drama in his spare time while attending St John's Primary School. He secured the Hollywood role after sending in a tape of his work and having a series of virtual interviews and auditions. His mother, Shauneen, now his full-time manager, said she spotted her sons talent when he was only four, after he recited the poem Roger Was A Razor Fish at school. The blonde-haired youngster has been sharing photos of his rise to fame on his Instagram account, and has his own TikTok account too She told Belfast Live in October: 'It all started off with Jude whenever he was four. I used to bring him to all these Speech and Drama festivals and he cleaned up in every festival every year. 'I could see when he was in nursery, and even when he was in primary school, that when he'd be asked to read a poem in public or something - I could see how talented he was.' After being encouraged to go for roles by local talent manager Lowry, the actor began sending out tapes, saying: 'The first audition I ever did was a self-tape. I go to speech and drama lessons and I do poems and extracts from books and my teacher sent through this self-tape and I filmed it and I got called back like five or six times.' The self-tape was a scene from a film chosen by his mother. He used a scene from Belfast for future auditions before the final hurdle: A call with Sir Kenneth. When the email came through I ran around my house screaming for about five minutes, Jude said of winning the role. I didnt even get half way through and I read it all and I found out who would be in it and I was amazed... It was just crazy. Jude Hills stellar performance in Belfast has seen him already win awards for his portrayal of Buddy, although he missed out on a predicted Oscar nomination Jude Hill and his mother Shauneen Hill arrive the 24th British Independent Film Awards at Old Billingsgate on December 5, 2021 in London. It seems that his newfound fame is not going to his head. His mother said: Hes very humble and hes such a good boy about it' Jude Hill (centre)with actors Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds, his co stars in the film 'Belfast'. Mum Shauneen says he's taken to fame like a duck to water, saying: 'Hes very humble and hes such a good boy about it.' On set: Director Kenneth Branagh (left) and Jude Hill (right) during the filming of Belfast; much of the film was shot in Berkshire Friends: The schoolboy's principal organised a trip to the cinema so that Hill's pals could see him in action Pictured earlier this year with This Morning presenters Alison Hammond (far left) and Holly Willoughby (far right) after an appearance on the ITV daytime show with his mum Shauneen His younger sister, Georgia, is the star of a new short film written, Torn, by Lowry, in which Jude also stars, proving that the acting genes run in the family. She also recently finished filming Mimis World, a Channel 5 childrens drama, and appeared in the CBBC show Silverpoint. Talent Manager Lowry told the Belfast Telegraph that all eyes are currently on Northern Ireland for young talent thanks to Belfast, saying: 'The eyes of the world are on Northern Ireland because of this brilliant film that Kenneth Branagh has made. 'When I was in LA with Jude, everyone I spoke to knew about the talent here. Theyre waiting to see whos going to be the next Dornan, Branagh or Neeson.' It seems Jude's not going to let his newfound fame is not going to his head. His mother said: Hes very humble and hes such a good boy about it. 'Even when he went back to school after [filming], his teachers were asking him lots of questions and he didnt really talk about it, saying: 'Hes just a normal boy and thats how we and him want to stay. Sir Kenneth Branagh revealed Prince Charles spoke about the 'isolation' and 'burden of expectation' he feels as the heir to the throne when the pair held a private meeting in the late 1980s. The actor, 61, told the Awards Chatter podcast that he arranged to speak to Charles as he prepared to take on the role of Shakespeare's Henry V in a 1989 film, which he also directed. He said Prince Charles acknowledged he was privileged in his position and as a result worked even harder to connect with people, and give back to the public. 'It was interesting also to hear how he spoke - very quietly. People in authority often do,' the actor said. Sir Kenneth Branagh, 61, revealed how he met with Prince Charles, then 40, as he prepared to play and direct Shakespeare's Henry V in 1989 (pictured in 2019 in London) The actor, pictured in the movie with Emma Thompson, said he suffered from impostor syndrome before he directed his film 'They don't need to raise their voices - the degree of thoughtfulness, the degree of detail. Watching them when they deal with large numbers of people.' Branagh explained Prince Charles understood that people expect memorable moments when they meet him and that it was his desire to connect with people who were 'dazzled' by his job title. The actor continued: 'Built in, and I could see it in every fabric of his being, a sense of duty, a sense of privilege, a sense of sacrifice. 'For all of the first class life that they lead, they know it's an accident of birth and one that they need to meet by a commitment to serving others. 'And I saw in his case a genuine expression of that, and it doesn't matter if you're a monarchist, an anti-monarchist or whatever. 'I felt that what I was hoping to find in the character of Henry V, because I believed it was there as Shakespeare wrote it, was this sort of spiritual or character confirmation of at least some parts of it, and that carried the sort of interior of the performance into what I was trying to do. So for me it was an invaluable experience.' Branagh and the Prince of Wales talking after a production of Hamlet starring the actor in 1988 Branagh said it was a combination of his own imposter syndrome - going from his Belfast working-class upbringing to playing a royal - and his young naivety and bravado that led him to find a way to meet Charles. He had appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Henry V, directed by Adrian Noble, when he was 24, before adapting it for the film version, which he appeared in and directed. Talking about securing the meeting with Charles, he said: 'There was a moment when I was playing the part in the theatre where, I do think it's ignorance, you're not really thinking, or it's a tunnel vision about the creativity. 'And I think this is another thing I carried from Belfast: who the bejazes am I, nine-year-old working-class North Belfast Protestant, to be playing the air to the throne of England and then the King of England. And I thought "well, how do you find out about what that's like"?' Talking about his desire to go deeper into a royal's life and character, Branagh said: 'I thought "well, how do you find out about what that's like? Can you find a way to speak to the heir to the throne?" 'I was voicing these concerns over a pint with a friend of mine, who said "well actually, you know, I do know someone who knows someone". He said "if you're serious and you will be discreet". And so he arranged a number of intermediary meetings. 'I was very clearly screened. But eventually I met Prince Charles who was very open, particularly about the burdens of expectation, and the fact of isolation, and this to me was very interesting.' Branagh added that despite his conscientious preparation with Charles the launch of the film was at risk until the last minute. He added: 'Financing was harem-scarem right up to the last minute. I remember Sir David Puttnam was involved for a while, Lord Puttnam as he now is, and he I remember called me in with a month to go before shooting. 'He just felt that the finance wasn't strong enough. And I'm 27 years old and he says "Ken, I've got to tell you with absolute certainty, this film will collapse, either two weeks before or two weeks after principle photography begins and your movie career will be over in its entirety". 'And I said "well gosh, gosh, well I very much hear what you're saying sir, and thank you for being involved up to this point and I'm grateful for your candour". 'And it was a great challenge. I didn't go away thinking "how dare he". I thought "well I'm sure he means and knows what he says, he's been there many times". 'It was with ten days to go, maybe even a week to go.' Dame Judi Dench, Paul Scofield, and Robert Stephens also appeared in the film. The Duchess of Cornwall reflected the sombre mood in Southend-on-Sea today, wearing a stylish navy and black ensemble as she helped Prince Charles finally make the Essex town a city - after years of campaigning by murdered MP Sir David Amess. The royal, 74, who has recently recovered from a second bout of Covid, joined the future king on the official visit to the Essex coastal region, wearing a smart blue navy coat dress, frilled white blouse and black suede knee-high boots for the bittersweet public duty. Camilla carried a classic Chanel clutch bag in navy and wore a wide-brimmed black velour hat and black gloves for the visit, in which she met the widow of late MP Sir David, who was killed on October 15th last year by a terrorist while he held a clinic for his constituents. An emotional Lady Julia Amess received the free man of the city honour on behalf of her late husband. Scroll down for video The Duchess of Cornwall, 74, accompanied Prince Charles, 73, to Southend-on-Sea today as the Essex coastal town was officially made a city. The royal chose a stylish navy and black ensemble for the public duty Camilla chose darker colours - and accessorised with a classic Chanel bag - to mark the bittersweet occasion; Southend was officially granted city status following years of campaigning by local MP Sir David Amess - who was murdered in 2021 by a terrorist Camilla carried a classic Chanel clutch bag in navy and wore a wide-brimmed black velour hat for the visit Camilla holds a bouquet of flowers she was handed while chatting to members of the public in Southend on Tuesday The Duchess also added vintage jewellery for her visit to the east coast, wearing pearl drop earrings and an oval diamond brooch on her dress coat. Camilla appeared to be in good spirits and happy to be carrying out public engagements again following her latest recovery from Covid, which saw her isolating with Prince Charles for a second time. Today, she took time to chat and shake hands with well-wishers who turned out to greet the couple, accepting bouquets from royal fans. On a grey day in the newly crowned seaside city, the royals also spent some time close to the water, posing for photos near the resort's famous pier during their visit. The couple also visited the Western Esplanade, and the official granting of city status was broadcast to local residents on a big screen. Charles and Camilla arrive to greet members of the public during their visit to Southend, as hundreds of locals gather to look on Charles and Camilla unveil a new eco-friendly Pier Train, named after murdered MP David Amess, during their visit to the Pier in Southend on Tuesday Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, leave the Civic Centre during a visit to Southend-on-Sea Camilla looked chic in a navy pea coat, paired with a black hat, gloves, boots and a dark blue Chanel bag, while Charles donned a navy pinstriped suit paired with a patterned tie and grey shirt In a speech just after 11am, the Prince of Wales praised the town - now city - for coming together following the brutal murder of Sir David in the town of Leigh-on-Sea last year. He told those gathered to witness the granting of the city status: 'In the aftermath of Sir David's brutal murder, the people of Southend-on-Sea came together in a remarkable and inspiring way to bring good out of evil. 'In doing so, they demonstrated a deep truth: that what matters more than any name, whether of a person or a place, is the spirit.' Later during his speech, the future King of England became the first royal to condemn the attacks on Russia. Sir David Amess (pictured), who had served as Conservative MP for Southend West since 1997, was murdered during a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15 An emotional Lady Julia Amess (pictured) received the free man of the city honour on behalf of her late husband Camilla was all smiles as she clutched her Chanel handbag and shook hands with members of the public upon arriving to Southend on Tuesday The Prince said he 'stands in solidarity' with the citizens of Ukraine as he lauded Sir David for his dedication to the 'values which underpin the society we share'. He said: 'We can only hope that those who are too often cynically dismissive of those in public life will look at his example of service. 'No one could have given more for the values which underpin the society we share, values which appear all the more precious, at this present time, when we see more starkly than for many years, the appalling suffering and devastation caused when the path of violence is chosen. Poundland has announced its plans to sell its products online after the discount retailer bought out a rival's website. Poundland has acquired poundshop.co.uk, an online-only budget retailer founded in 2014, that will see it inherit its online platform, distribution centre and database of 400,000 customers across the UK. The retailer trialled online shopping in Birmingham and Walsall last year and is now looking to expand. Poundland already owns the poundland.co.uk website but for the majority of the UK it is simply a landing page to see the products available in stores. Poundland has aquired poundshop.co.uk, a website founded in 2014 with almost 400,000 customers across the UK, meaning bargain hunters in the UK and Ireland who love a trip to Poundland will be able to get their favourite products online (file photo) The jobs of all 65 staff members working at the Poundshop centre will be protected under the new ownership of Poundland. A spokesman for Poundland said that all active online orders will still be fulfilled during the passing over of the business ownership and management. They also said that this acquisition would help 'power a national roll-out of its own pilot ecommerce operation' where their items can be purchased online. Poundland will retain all of the current Poundshop.com staff and during the integration process Poundshop.com will continue fulfilling customers orders as normal. The price of the buy-out has remained a secret. But this is one big step for the discounted retailer to roll-out their product lines, including their clothing range Pep&Co and their homeware items, to an online market. This e-commerce operation has plans to one-up the website they have just acquired. These new expansions of product ranges now joining the world wide web could put Poundland up against UK supermarkets who also offer an online shopping service (file photo) Chairman of Poundshop.com, Steve Smith, and CEO Chris Maddox are said to be helping with the changeover in an 'advisory capacity', led by retail and transformation director at Poundland, Austin Cooke. Mr Cooke is to lead the operation of Poundland's online business day-to-day. They are also going to offer a Dealz online service, the Republic of Ireland's version of Poundland. This latest online business venture also complements Poundland's recent opening of new stores, as well as an expansion of the current range, including more clothing from in-house brand Pep&Co, chilled and frozen food. The managing director for Poundland, Barry Williams, said of the purchase: 'This acquisition puts power and pace behind our aspirations to make our amazing products and value available to customers across the UK and Ireland, however they choose to shop.' These new expansions of product ranges now joining the world wide web could put Poundland up against UK supermarkets who also offer an online shopping service. 'Momager' Amanda Holden stands to make 1 million from her daughter Lexi's modelling contract in just 12 months, experts have revealed. The Britain's Got Talent judge, 51, told MailOnline that Storm, who have propelled the likes of Cara Delevingne, 29, and Cindy Crawford, 56, to catwalk stardom, 'came after' her 16-year-old daughter and it was Lexi's decision to sign on the dotted line ahead of interest from rival agencies. In an exclusive interview, Amanda joked she would love to become a 'momager' like US reality star Kris Jenner, 66, who's known for being the matriarch of the Kardashian family, and responsible for the success of her five millionaire daughters. The presenter has previously spoken of how she would 'push her children into showbusiness behind-the-scenes', and taken her 16-year-old to various red carpet events. Experts have now predicted Amanda stands to make 1 million from her daughter's modelling contract within the first 12 months alone. Gary Pope, CEO at family focussed marketing agency, Kids Industries told FEMAIL: 'Should Amanda's daughter be successful, it'll be a short hop to a wide ranging media profile, endorsements and of course her own range of licensed products. 'Momager' Amanda Holden stands to make 1 million from her daughter Lexi's modelling contract in just 12 months, experts have revealed In an exclusive interview, Amanda joked she would love to become a 'momager' to her daughter Lexi 'Ms Holden seems to be an amazing mum and will place her daughter's best interests as a child first and that is the number one thing you can do. 'And actually, being authentic in this way is fundamentally important to today's audience. 'The sky really is the limit but depending on her success and how audiences perceive her, she could pull in around 1m in her first 12 months alone leveraging her Mum's profile and no doubt the line of brands ready to cash in on that.' Meanwhile Beth Gregory, a personal branding specialist at Folio Creative said her earning potential could be 'phenomenal'. Her daughter initially made her television debut before she was even born, with Amanda filming her TV series WIld At Heart while pregnant with her first child (pictured while expecting) She said: 'Building a personal brand is certainly a lot easier if your parent, or parents, are already famous, as is the case with Amanda Holden. 'Amanda's personal brand will turbocharge her daughter's ability to earn and significantly boost her appeal with brands globally. 'How much she could earn is anyone's guess, but you can't help but think her earnings potential is going to be considerable, if not phenomenal, in the years ahead. 'Amanda's exact plans aren't clear but she seems to be fairly keen on keeping her daughter grounded and moving things forward at a sensible pace, which is encouraging. And as Lexi grew older, Amanda began taking her to various press events and red carpet events (pictured in 2010 at the Gala Screening and Tea Party For Disney's 'The Princess and the Frog) 'With Amanda's business savvy behind her, Lexi has the potential to take the world, literally and metaphorically, by Storm.' It's far from the first time that the actress and presenter has spoken about encouraging her children to enter the spotlight. Her daughter initially made her television debut before she was even born, with Amanda filming her TV series WIld At Heart while pregnant with her first child. In a 2008 interview with People magazine, Amanda said she was 'overly-complimentary' to her two-year-old daughter to encourage her natural talents. She said: 'I'm like that with Lexi. I'm really encouraging when she's painting on the kitchen floor. In a 2013 interview with the Daily Star, she explained how she was determined then-seven-year-old Lexi would follow her into the fame game. 'I try to instill positivity into everything, if you can do that, then naturally they will have some kind of confidence.' And as Lexi grew older, Amanda began taking her to various press events and red carpet events. And in a 2013 interview with the Daily Star, she explained how she was determined then-seven-year-old Lexi would follow her into the fame game. She said: 'I won't be pushing them into showbiz but I will be doing it secretly behind the scenes.' She went on to discuss her daughter's 'talents' and said the would 'hit the path to fame soon.' Among the events that Lexi attended with her mother was the British Academy Television Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in 2018 At the time, she spoke about her daughter Lexi's singing talent as being 'really good' and said she could be a 'future winner' of Britain's Got Talent. She added: 'Me and my husband keep saying they live with us rent-free so it's about time they went out there and earned a living.' In recent years, the star has been ramping up the amount of photographs she has shared of her daughter with her 1.8 million following. Earlier this year it was reported she is set to scoop a string of lucrative commercial deals but her mother had told her she had to wait till she turned 16. 'They're keen': The BGT judge told MailOnline that Storm, who have propelled the likes of Cara Delevingne and Cindy Crawford to catwalk stardom, 'came after' her 16-year-old daughter Calling her future 'incredibly bright', a source told The Sun: Amanda was adamant she complete her studies first. 'The family is excited and proud.' She had interest from agencies including Source, Select and MiLK agencies. Amanda told MailOnline: 'Lexi has just signed with Storm Management this week. 'They came after her and they're very lovely and nurturing and it will be a soft, slow thing and she won't do anything until she's 18 but they want her and that's what she wants to do. Good genes: In an exclusive interview, Amanda joked she would love to become a 'momager' like US reality star Kris Jenner, who's known for being the matriarch of the Kardashian family 'I have to say there was quite a number of them and there's such a different mindset to how you might think modelling agencies look after the young, but they are very nurturing and very caring, all of them. 'She has made the decision to sign with them and Chris and I support her, and we are very protective but they're very keen. 'It is odd because I remember changing her nappy and her first tantrum and suddenly, she's this little woman. 'She is bright too so we're making sure she does her A-levels and she has her sights set on university but we will cross that bridge when we get to it.' The Heart Breakfast presenter, who also shares Hollie, 10, with husband of 14-years Chris, 49, said she aspires to be like Kris Jenner after she helped daughter Kendall, 26, to become one of the world's highest-paid models. She added: 'I hope I am! If I have an ounce of the business acumen that Kris has then yes. 'Chris is phenomenal and is a record producer and works at a management level with artists and is really savvy when it comes to business and contracts and I'm in it. 'We are quite a good team and we sit round the dinner table every night and we will describe our days so she has a good insight into the industry so I think she is going into it more eyes wide open than most 16-year-olds.' Meghan Markle has continued to support Smart Works, one of her UK patronages, with a grant from her and Prince Harry's US-based Archewell Foundation. The Foundation, which was created by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after they stepped down as senior royals in 2020, will help finance one of the charity's major 2022 projects, titled The Smart Works Female Unemployment Index, Hello! revealed. Smart Works has a team of 300 trained volunteers and helps long-term unemployed and vulnerable women regain the skills, confidence and tools to succeed at job interviews, return to employment and transform their lives. Meghan became patron of Smart Works in January 2019 and remains in the position even after stepping down as a senior royal because it is one she held in a private capacity, rather than was given by the Queen. Meghan also remains Patron of UK animal charity Mayhew. She had to give up her royal patronages of the National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities as part of the Megxit agreement. The Archewell Foundation will give out a grant to Meghan Markle's Smart Works patronage to mark International Women's Day (pictured, the 40-year-old during a visit to Smart Works in 2019) Archewell, which was founded by Harry and Meghan, pictured on 26 February, after they stepped down as senior royals in 2020 Kate Stephens, CEO, Smart Works said: 'We are so grateful to Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and Archewell Foundation for their steadfast support of Smart Works' mission and continued growth. 'Whether in person or remote, we are dedicated to providing women with the tools they need to feel confident at such a critical moment in their lives, and the research we are undertaking will shine a light on the challenges they face.' The new Smart Works project, which will be published in late 2022, will focus on data around female unemployment in the UK and the challenges face by women Smart Works supports. The charity has always held a special place in Meghan's heart since her royal days. In September 2019, she launched a sell-out capsule collection with Smart Works and her designer pal Misha Nonoo. She has remained the charity's patron despite stepping back from royal duties, although her title changed from 'royal patron' to simply 'patron'. Kate Stephens, CEO of Smart Works, pictured with Meghan in Oxford Street in 2019, thankd Archewell and Meghan for their 'steadfast support' In spring 2021, she sent personalised notes on behalf of the UK-based charity, which helps long-term unemployed and vulnerable women return to employment. In an Instagram Story shared at the time, the charity revealed Meghan sent notes to four clients from her home in California. The bulk of the note was typed on the computer but photos reveal the Duchess wrote each woman's name by hand and included a short message: 'Wishing you every success in your new role' before signing off 'as ever, Meghan'. They were included in parcels sent out to women who have benefited from the charity's services. Further details about the recipients were not revealed. Meghan, who is currently living in her $14 million mansion in California, has been increasingly vocal about politics in the US having stepped back from royal duties. Over the weekend, the mother-of-two spoke to Anita Hill for URL media about the nomination of Judge Jackson, saying: 'Judge Jacksons nomination has opened new ground for womens representation at the highest level of a judicial system that for too long has tilted against the very community she hails from. 'For the millions of young women who will rightfully find inspiration from this moment, lets remind ourselves that Black achievement is something that exists not just today or yesterday, and not just in moments of celebration, but as a fabric woven into the entire chronicle of the American story.' Anita said the pair had 'recently connected' and said there was 'a measure of parallelism given her experience navigating uncharted territory as a Black woman.' The duchess's latest intervention heightens speculation that she sees herself in a political position in the future, like her heroines Angelina Jolie and Amal Clooney. It is not the first time the Duchess has weighed in on politics in the US. Last year, she made a series of calls for compulsory paid family leave in the US, including in her first major TV appearance since her notorious tell-all with Oprah Winfrey. A woman who needed IVF treatment to have kids took a part-time position at Starbucks just for the fertility benefits - despite earning $0 a week from the job. Autumn Lucy, 33, a small business owner from Michigan, and her husband, Anna, were struggling to get pregnant after suffering multiple miscarriages and having an ectopic pregnancy - which required emergency surgery - so they decided to turn to in vitro fertilization per the recommendation of their doctor. However, they soon discovered that it could cost an upwards of $30,000 for the treatment, and it isn't covered by private insurance companies. Autumn - who was paying $600 a month for private insurance at the time - decided to start working 20-hours a week at Starbucks so that she could have access to the company's benefits - and despite taking home a $0 paycheck each week, the side gig has now made it possible for her to start IVF. As of October 2019, Starbucks offers its employees a benefits package that includes $25,000 towards IVF treatment and $10,000 for related medications. How much you pay out of pocket depends on which plan you choose, but Autumn opted for one that has a low deductible and high monthly cost - which is automatically taken out of her paycheck. This means she pays very little for the IVF treatment but earns $0 for her work. A woman who needed IVF treatment to have kids took a part-time position at Starbucks just for the fertility benefits - despite earning $0 a week from the job Autumn Lucy, a small business owner from Michigan, and her husband, Anna, were struggling to get pregnant They suffered multiple miscarriages and had an ectopic pregnancy - which required emergency surgery - so they decided to turn to in vitro fertilization Autumn decided to start working 20-hours a week at Starbucks for the benefits - and despite taking home a $0 paycheck, the side gig has now made it possible for her to start IVF She went viral on TikTok last summer when she posted a video of herself talking about her first day at Starbucks, while showing off her new uniform. She went viral on TikTok last summer when she posted a video of herself talking about her first day at the job, gaining more than a million views on the clip 'It's my first day of work at Starbucks for fertility benefits so I can pay for IVF should I need it,' she said at the time, as she pulled out her green apron and name tag to show viewers. The video has since received over a million views, and many people were impressed with Autumn's dedication and hard work. 'IVF and other fertility treatments are a covered benefit under Starbucks health insurance, and Starbucks gives healthcare insurance to part-time employees as long as you're working 20 hours a week,' she explained in another TikTok. 'They cover up to $25,000 in medical expenses for fertility treatments, and up to $10,000 in prescription expenses. 'How much you will pay out of pocket depends on your state, your doctor, and which level of plan you pick. 'If you pick a plan with a cheaper monthly premium and a higher deductible, you obviously have to pay your deductible before your benefits kick in so you're going to pay more out of pocket. Autumn explained that IVF is covered under Starbucks health insurance, which you have access to as a part-time employee - as long as you are working at least 20 hours a week She said the company will cover up to $25,000 in medical expenses for fertility treatments, and up to $10,000 in prescription expenses She began working there at the end of August, covering three morning shifts weekly, and making roughly $300-$400 each week. Her benefits became available after three months She chose a plan that has a very low deductible but costs a lot each month; that meant it 'ate up' all of her paycheck, but saved her money in the long run 'They also have high monthly premium plans with very low deductibles, so you pay very little out of pocket for your IVF. 'I'm choosing a low deductible plan, which will probably eat up a lot of may paycheck, but I'm paying very little for my IVF.' In a statement to Human Resource Executive after raising their benefits for fertility services from $15,000 to $25,000, the company said in 2019, 'We are consistently evolving our benefits as we continue to listen and learn from our partners [employees] and the Family Expansion Reimbursement program extends Starbucks long-history of putting partners first. 'It has long been our belief that when we put our partners first, the result is an elevated Starbucks experience for our stores, our customers and our communities.' Autumn explained that you have to work three months at Starbucks before you have access to the benefits. She said she began working there at the end of August, covering three morning shifts weekly, and making roughly $300-$400 each week. In December, the benefits became available to her and she decide to choose a plan that cost a lot each month, but has a very low deductible; that meant it 'ate up' all of her paycheck, but saved her money in the long run. 'I'm going to pay very little out of pocket for a $25,000 medical procedure. I would have had to pay $25,000 to have my IVF done,' she added. Autumn has now started the IVF process and often documents it for her 20,000 followers on TikTok, where she has wracked up more than 700,000 likes across her videos Dedicated: She shared her story in the hopes of helping others who are struggling to pay for IVF Her egg retrieval is now complete and she has a transfer of her healthiest embryo scheduled for April. And she said having access to the treatment 'feels incredible' 'There are almost no employers in Michigan that cover IVF in their insurance plans. I was buying insurance from the marketplace because I own a small business and there are no insurance plans on the marketplace that cover IVF at all. 'It's saving me tens of thousands of dollars and hopefully I'll come out of this with a baby.' When asked if she was going to quit after she got pregnant and the IVF was done, Autumn explained that she had no plans to stop working there. 'No, I don't plan on quitting once I get pregnant,' she said. 'Before working at Starbucks, I was paying $600 a month in private health care insurance, and I had a family deductible of $6,000. 'With my Starbucks insurance, I have really good healthcare, I have a $0 deductible and I get life insurance and lots of other benefits that come with working the job. 'I really enjoy working at Starbucks. My manager is really great, the employees I work with are really nice.' Autumn has now started the IVF process and often documents it for her 20,000 followers on TikTok, where she has wracked up more than 700,000 likes across her videos. She shared her story in the hopes of helping others who are struggling to pay for IVF. 'Before posting my first-day video, I had only a couple thousand followers on TikTok, but as folks hit the follow button, I decided to keep posting about my experience of subsidizing my IVF journey through part-time work,' she told Insider. 'I'm using my new platform to talk about ways that non-wealthy people can access this life-changing treatment.' Her egg retrieval is now complete and she has a transfer of her healthiest embryo scheduled for April. And she said having access to the treatment 'feels incredible.' 'I'm not saying that getting a second job with IVF coverage is a perfect system - far from it. I believe in socialized medicine and think healthcare should be available for all Americans,' she concluded. 'But at the same time, I have to work within the broken system we have. So I'm making lattes and fraps three mornings a week while advocating that states add mandates and make fertility benefits a requirement. 'I am so grateful for the opportunity to work for Starbucks and for the incredible management at my store. While others in my situation are having to take out huge loans or even refinance their homes to afford IVF, I feel I have found a shortcut, and that's why I continue to talk about this on TikTok. 'I believe that regular, non-wealthy Americans should not be excluded from conceiving simply because we don't have $30,000 in the bank.' David Bowie's son has hit out at RT for quoting his late father - and produced the 'perfect comeback', according to Twitter users. Duncan Jones took to the social media platform after the state-backed Russian broadcaster tweeted a story about NASA with the caption 'Ground control to Major Tom'. The lyric is from Bowie's 1969 hit Space Oddity, and Mr Jones was seemingly less than impressed by the channel, formerly known as Russia Today, referencing his father's work. He swiftly replied, quoting the tweet and simply writing: 'Wrong song' alongside a Ukrainian flag and two heart emojis, as well as an image of poignant lyrics from another Bowie classic Heroes (1977). Social media users were quick to reply to Mr Jones and brand his reply a 'perfect comeback' amid the Ukraine crisis. David Bowie's son (pictured together in 2009) has hit out at RT for quoting his late father - and produced the 'perfect comeback', according to Twitter users Duncan Jones took to the social media platform after the state-backed Russian broadcaster tweeted a story about NASA with the caption 'Ground control to Major Tom'. He swiftly replied, quoting the tweet and simply writing: 'Wrong song' alongside a Ukrainian flag and two heart emojis, as well as an image of poignant lyrics from another Bowie classic Heroes (above) The lyrics tweeted by Jones on Friday were: 'I, I can remember (I remember). Standing, by the wall (by the wall). And the guns, shot above our heads (over our heads) 'And we kissed, as though nothing could fall (nothing could fall). And the shame, was on the other side. Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever. Then we could be Heroes, just for one day.' Delighted by Mr Jones' response, one person wrote: 'Well if that isn't the perfect comeback.' Another said: 'This has always been my favourite of your dad's many brilliant songs, for very emotional, personal reasons. It has never meant more to me than it does now. #GloryToUkraine.' A third added: 'This tweet is the tweet of the decade', while a fourth wrote: 'The old man's grinning now mate.' Social media users were quick to reply to Mr Jones and brand his reply a 'perfect comeback' amid the Ukraine crisis It comes after media regulator Ofcom yesterday began 15 investigations into the 'due impartiality' of RT. The move, which increases the likelihood of RT losing its UK licence, relates to 15 editions of its hourly news show aired on Sunday. The EU has banned the channel but Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned a similar move in the UK was likely to lead to the BBC being banned in Russia. She added: 'We want the Russian population to hear the truth about what Putin is doing.' After days of speculation, Ofcom revealed it had 'observed a significant increase' in the number of shows on the broadcaster that 'warrant investigation under our Broadcasting Code'. Mr Jones (pictured in 2018) was seemingly less than impressed by the channel, formerly known as Russia Today, referencing his father's work It is understood the investigations mainly centre on reporting from correspondents on the ground - in places like the Donbas region of Ukraine - rather than the handling of stories by presenters in the studio. RT, which has a number of British presenters and reporters, has reportedly referred to the invasion of Ukraine as a 'special military operation'. Ofcom said yesterday it was expecting 'full-cooperation from RT', adding that the investigations will be 'expedited' given the 'severity and urgency of the current crisis'. On Sunday, Boris Johnson said the channel had been 'peddling' content that was 'doing a lot of damage to the truth', and called for Ofcom to look at whether it was 'infringing the rules of this country'. Last week Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries used a letter to Ofcom to accuse RT, previously known as Russia Today, of being 'demonstrably part of Russia's global disinformation campaign'. Media regulator Ofcom yesterday began 15 investigations into the 'due impartiality' of state-backed Russian broadcaster RT But yesterday Miss Truss admitted any move to ban the channel here could lead to retaliation against UK broadcasters like the BBC. She told Parliament: 'We are looking at what can be done on RT but the reality is that if we ban RT in the United Kingdom, that is likely to lead to channels like the BBC being banned in Russia.' The Foreign Secretary added: 'And what we want is we want the Russian population to hear the truth about what Vladimir Putin is doing.' Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said last night: 'Given the serious on-going situation in Ukraine, we will be concluding our investigations into RT as a matter of urgency.' A bereaved mother has written a heart-wrenching tribute to her son, who died last month of a drug overdose and has used his obituary to spread awareness about the dangers of addiction. Hunter Lee Clemons had just turned 22 when he died on February 10, 2022, after taking a pain pill laced with fentanyl while getting ready for work in Jacksonville, Florida. His mother, Christy Couvillier, describes him as 'kind, funny, charismatic, selfless, [and] loyal' but says that drugs offered him 'an escape from his demons.' In an honest and emotional obituary, Couvillier said that she and the rest of her son's family want to 'speak the truth about his death' so that it wasn't in vain and that they might educate others about the drug epidemic in the US. Hunter Lee Clemons had just turned 22 when he died on February 10, 2022, after taking a pain pill laced with fentanyl while getting ready for work His mother, Christy Couvillier, described him as 'charismatic' with a 'heart of gold' in his obituary She said drugs offered him 'an escape from his demons' and he'd been to rehab after a 2019 overdose 'Hunter had a heart of gold; anyone from his childhood or adult life could confirm,' Couvillier wrote in the obit. 'He was kind, funny, charismatic, selfless, loyal, and always tried to find the positive in any situation. 'In turn, doing his best to block out the negatives, which is where his addiction came into play. Drugs offered Hunter an escape from his demons he faced throughout his life.' While living in Lafayette, Louisiana, Clemons began struggling with addiction and on July 23, 2019, at age 19, he overdosed after taking heroin laced with fentanyl. Clemons spent four days on life support at the time and entered rehab when he got out of the hospital. After completing a rehab program, he moved to Florida, where he was born. 'Hunter had a heart of gold; anyone from his childhood or adult life could confirm,' Couvillier wrote in his obit While living in Lafayette, Louisiana, Clemons began struggling with addiction - and on July 23, 2019, at age 19, he overdosed after taking heroin laced with fentanyl Clemons spent four days on life support and entered rehab when he got out of the hospital. After completing a rehab program, he moved to Florida (pictured with his mother and sister) Clemons (pictured with his brother) began using again at some point and took a single pill one morning before work 'He thrived after moving to Florida,' Couvillier wrote. 'He started a job as a valve tech at Flotech, Inc. and went fishing every chance he got. He loved spending his days outside on the water or with his roommates.' But Couvillier told KLFY that at some point, he started to use again, unbeknownst to her. The morning of his death, he took a pill while getting ready for work. He soon felt unwell, and went to sleep face-down in his bed. He never woke up, and his roommate found him hours later. 'His family would like to speak the truth about his death,' Couvillier wrote. 'Silence would mean Hunter's death was in vain, but if one person's life is saved by his story, we would tell it a million more times. 'We know the pain of his suffering. We know the pain of our own suffering as his family, and we know there are hundreds of other people here in our community suffering as addicts or as loved ones to them.' Couvillier, from Louisiana, wants to 'speak the truth about his death' so that she might educate others about the drug epidemic in the US She stressed that her son wasn't an IV drug user and took just one pill from someone he trusted, but it was laced with dangerous fentanyl 'It can happen to anyone, not just everyday users. Nobody is exempt from fentanyl,' Couvillier said Couvillier noted that addiction is an epidemic in the US, and she hopes that reading about her son's death can help save others. 'Speaking the truths (no matter the circumstances) surrounding the epidemic of drug use may be the difference between life and death for someone,' she wrote. 'In honor of Hunter's life, we ask that truth be spread in regards to this epidemic and awareness be raised.' Speaking to DailyMail.com, Couvillier stressed that her son took just one pill, having no idea that it was laced with fentanyl and that a similar fate could befall anyone. 'I want it to be known that my son didn't die from heroin or IV drug use,' she said. 'He took one pill that was laced with fentanyl. He took this pill from someone he trusted. All it took was one single pill. 'It can happen to anyone, not just everyday users. Nobody is exempt from fentanyl.' Fentanyl is is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and mimics the effects of heroin, and illegally-made fentanyl has been used to lace other street drugs According to the CDC, 93,000 people died of a drug overdose in the US in 2020. That's up from 70,630 in 2019, when 70.6% of all drug overdose deaths were due to opioids. Opioids, and synthetic opioids in particular, are the main driver of overdose, involved in 72.9% of opioid deaths. Opioids were involved in 49,860 overdose deaths in 2019 (70.6 per cent of all drug overdose deaths). Fentanyl, which is used by prescription to treat severe pain, is is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and mimics the effects of heroin. However, most deaths related to fentanyl are due to illegally-made fentanyl. It can end up in black market pills that look like Oxycontin, Vicodin, Xanax, or Adderall. Ryan Reynolds, a Hollywood actor, has opened up about his anxiety problems. The 45-year-old Deadpool star has battled the crippling condition his whole life, but it took a toll on him when he became one of Hollywood's most popular stars. The much-loved actor has said that he felt he would die from his anxiety struggle at times throughout his professional career. Before big TV appearances, Ryan Reynolds recounted how the crippling condition grabbed hold of him. Reynolds Confesses the Probable Cause of His Anxiety Ryan Reynolds went on to discuss how he manages his anxiety and how his panic episodes lessen with time. Reynolds, who is also a happy father of three kids, revealed that he believes his anxiety issues derive from his father's upbringing. Mirror reported that Ryan Reynolds said his father, James Reynolds, was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer who was a "tough guy." The 45-year-old actor has been candid about his lifetime struggle with anxiety, which is characterized by a feeling of unease, concern, fear, or dread about what is going to happen or what could happen. However, the Red Notice actor, who has been dubbed the "King of Twitter" for his impeccable comic timing, admitted to being scared before chat show appearances. Ryan Reynold claimed in a 2017 interview that his wife, Blake Lively, assisted him in coping with the stress of working on the first Deadpool film. "Blake was there to help me get through it." He remarked, "I'm blessed to have her around just to keep me sane." Ryan Reynolds said that he has been to the depths of the darker end of the spectrum, which is not fun, and that he has been anxious about a variety of things in the lighthearted, as per METRO. Read Also: Kim Kardashian Ignores Divorce Drama After Kanye West Denies Separation; Rapper Files To Ban Social Media Posts For Proof of Misinformation Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively Donates $1 Million For Ukrainian Refugees Meanwhile, following their million-dollar vow to help Ukrainian refugees over the weekend, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively were spotted out on a stroll in New York City. Following Reynolds' kind Twitter announcement the day before, the married couple strolled out arm-in-arm on a frigid February Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled into neighboring nations seeking safety since Vladimir Putin's forces invaded the independent nation last week. As they went down the Manhattan sidewalk, the Gossip Girl star looped her arm around her husband, according to Daily Mail. Ryan Reynolds was dressed warmly with a navy hoodie and puffer vest, as well as navy knit gloves and a beanie. He wore khaki pants and sneakers with a warm combination. The pair announced on Saturday that they will match donations to the UN Refugee Agency up to $1 million in support of Ukrainian refugees. According to the United Nations, more than 500,000 people have left Ukraine as a result of the horrific invasion. This figure is projected to rise. The Washington Post said that the bulk of the refugees are seeking sanctuary in Poland, with thousands more escaping to Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, and Romania. According to the UN Refugee Agency, the Russian invasion will leave about three million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian assistance. Blake Lively also announced the news on her Instagram page, where she posted a photo of a woman with a toddler wearing a blue and yellow jacket in the Ukrainian colors. Ryan and Blake, who married in 2012 and have three children: James, seven, Inez, five, and Betty, two, have repeatedly stepped up to help in times of need throughout the years. In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the couple contributed another $1 million to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada earlier this month. Related Article: 'Sister Wives' Star Kody Brown Refuses To Continue Tell-All Topic After Christine Brown Reveals Divorce; Fan-Favorite Scores New TLC Spinoff @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The daughter of former cult leader-turned-child killer 'Mother Anna' has opened up about growing up in her mother's twisted 'House of Prayer,' recalling how she watched two children die of starvation and abuse. Joy Fluker's mother, whose real name was Anna Young, died in prison last March at age 79 after spending just 42 days behind bars for the deaths of toddlers Emon Harper and Katonya Jackson in the 1980s. It was Fluker who had called the police in 2016 to report that her mother had killed Harper decades earlier while running her tightly-controlled religious community in Micanopy, Florida. 'There was a part of me that hoped that my memories were mistaken and that there was a chance that maybe, because of all the other sufferings, I was delusional a little bit,' Fluker explained on Tuesday's episode of Dr. Phil. Joy Fluker, the daughter of former cult leader 'Mother Anna,' has opened up about what it was like to grow up in her mother's strict 'House of Prayer' Fluker's mother, whose real name was Anna Young, started the House of Prayer in Micanopy, Florida, in 1983. Its religious philosophies were based on her perverse Bible interpretations 'I was hoping that it wasn't true, but I knew that I could no longer live with myself without speaking up because I felt like, what kind of mother, what kind of person am I if I'm okay with the fact that I believe that my mother is responsible for a child's death?' Young started the House of Prayer in 1983, and the community's strict religious philosophies were based on her own perverse and often cruel interpretations of the Bible. Members and their children had to change their birth names to biblical ones and went by the titles of 'Brother' or 'Sister.' As the leader, Young dubbed herself 'Mother Anna.' They were also required to wear Old Testament-style 'holy clothing,' including long robes and beards for men and long dresses and head coverings for women. Young preyed on the vulnerable, and many members were single mothers. She offered free room and board to those who were struggling, but she made it nearly impossible for them to leave by requiring members who earned money to back into the community. Young died in prison last March at age 79 after spending just 42 days behind bars for the deaths of toddlers Emon Harper and Katonya Jackson in the 1980s Young believed in corporal punishment and would allegedly refer to Bible verses when dolling out abuse at her Florida compound (pictured) The strict religious leader was accused of locking children in closets and in the attic or throwing them outside as punishment, something Fluker said she feared as a child The leader would sleep in the same room as the children and cut them off from their biological mothers. She also believed in corporal punishment and would allegedly refer to Bible verses when dolling out abuse. 'Our church community believed that my mother was basically the voice of God,' Fluker said, sharing that she still has 'nightmares' about Harper being starved to death. Harper, who was called 'Baby Moses' by members of the religious community, was taken to the House of Prayer as a baby in 1986 because his mother was unable to care for him. He disappeared two years later and is presumed dead. The child, who was two or three when he died, had been locked in a closet and deprived of food and water. His body was never found. Fluker said she still has 'nightmares' about Harper (pictured), who had been locked in a closet and deprived of food and water until he starved to death. His body was never found In 1983, two-year-old Jackson (pictured) was starved, beaten, and denied epilepsy medication because Young believed the girl's seizures were a sign she was possessed by the devil 'We all as a church would have to fast and pray, [a] three-day fast. No food. No water. And it didn't matter how old the children were. They also had to fast,' Fluker explained. 'Emon Harper had to fast as well, and [during] different times of the punishment, he wasn't allowed to eat or drink or anything,' she recalled. 'I remember being a child once. I had to give him his water after he had went through a fast as a punishment, and he was starving. 'And I remember the dead skin from his lips being so much it touched my finger. And I remember pulling away. I was a little kid myself. I was scared.' Fluker said other children's mothers were with them and would witness their beatings at the hands of the community's leader. 'One of the other children was beat so much he started having seizures, and one of those seizures killed her,' she added, referring to Jackson. In 1983, two-year-old Jackson was starved, beaten, and denied her epilepsy medication because Young believed the girl's seizures were a sign she was possessed by the devil. 'I was a little kid myself. I was scared,' Fluker said of watching Harper starve to death 'I just didn't wanna get in trouble,' she explained. 'I wanted to be obedient 'cause I didn't want to get the next beating' It was Fluker who had called the police in 2016 to report that her mother had killed Harper decades earlier, which led to her arrest and conviction for the toddlers' deaths 'I was a child, so I thought it was normal. I thought she was the voice of God too,' Fluker said of her mother. 'I wanted to be her. I thought, at first, that that this was God's will.' 'I just believed everything,' she added. 'I just didn't wanna get in trouble. I wanted to be obedient 'cause I didn't want to get the next beating. I didn't wanna get thrown outside. I didn't wanna get put in the attic.' The cult dissolved in 1992 after Young bathed a 12-year-old girl in a tub full of chemicals as 'punishment.' Many of the members of the House of Prayer were children whose parents were unable to take care of them for various reasons, and the victim's parents were not members. Young had reportedly decided the girl 'smelled bad' and that bathing her in bleach would 'burn the evil out of her.' The parents reported the leader to the police for child abuse, but she fled Florida and was captured eight years later in the attic of a relative's home in Illinois. 'There was a part of me that hoped that my memories were mistaken and that there was a chance that maybe, because of all the other sufferings, I was delusional a little bit,' Fluker said Fluker has since started a nonprofit called Prevent the Pain, which offers support for victims who have spoken up about people they know who were causing pain to themselves or others In 2001, she was convicted and sentenced to six months and 12 days in jail. Following her release, she moved to Marietta, Cobb County, where she kept her past hidden from her neighbors for more than 15 years. Young's arrest in December 2017 was sparked by her daughter coming forward and telling law enforcement that she knew Harper had died as a result of regular beatings and starvation by her mother. In February 2021, the former cult leader pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and negligent manslaughter, according to Alachua County court records. She received 30 years for the murder conviction, which would have run concurrently with her 15 year-sentence for manslaughter for Jackson's death, but she died in prison a little over a month later. Fluker has since started a nonprofit called Prevent the Pain, which offers support for victims who have spoken up about people they know who were causing pain to themselves or others. 'After I spoke up regarding my mom, I wanted to speak to someone else just like I wanted to breathe air that had spoken up against someone that they love, knowing that that person would suffer [the] consequence for what they did,' she told Dr. Phil. An American couple who welcomed twin preemie babies via surrogate in Ukraine are now in a desperate fight to get their children out of the war-torn capital. Alex Spektor, 46, and Irma Nunez, 48, from Georgia, are doing everything they can to keep their newborn babies, Lenny and Moishe Spektor, safe amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The twin boys were born at 32 and a half weeks - two months early - via surrogate on Friday at Adonis maternity hospital in Kyiv, after a 'complicated' pregnancy. Due to their small size, the babies (who weigh around four pounds each) are now facing terrifying health complications - including having trouble breathing - as a war rages on right outside the hospital walls. As 'staff and supplies dwindle' at the 'unstable and dangerous' hospital, the parents are desperate to transfer the four-day-old babies to a safer area. Come home: An American couple who welcomed twin preemie babies via surrogate in Ukraine are now in a desperate fight to get their children out of the war-torn capital Alex Spektor, 46, and Irma Nunez, 48, from Georgia, are doing everything they can to keep their newborn babies, Lenny and Moishe Spektor, safe amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine The twins were born at 32 and a half weeks - two months early - via surrogate on Friday at Adonis maternity hospital in Kyiv, after a 'complicated' pregnancy Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine on Thursday, with missiles raining from the sky, tanks rolling across the border, and masses of attack helicopters swarming on capital Kyiv The Georgia parents of newborn twins born via surrogate in Ukraine are scrambling to get their premature babies safely home. @JesseKirschNews reports. https://t.co/MzxslXbiEt pic.twitter.com/ArHfvh6qeB TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 1, 2022 'Its unimaginable, what can I say? Its impossible to wrap your mind around,' Alex said during a recent interview with the Today show. Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine on Thursday, with missiles raining from the sky, tanks rolling across the border from Belarus, and masses of attack helicopters swarming on capital Kyiv after Russian leader Vladimir Putin personally gave the order to invade. Ukrainian troops are fighting Russian forces for control of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, 60 miles north of the capital Kyiv, amid fears the battle could damage storage facilities holding nuclear waste sparking a fallout that could blanket Europe. The couple is desperate to transfer the babies to a safer area, and eventually bring them home to the U.S., but their special medical needs pose a major problem. 'The fact that theyre premature plays against us - theres a conflict,' Alex continued. 'They need to stay put. We need to take them out.' The parents want to move the little boys to a different hospital - which has a basement bomb shelter - however, they cannot find an ambulance available to transport them. 'They came into the world two months early, at the end of a complicated pregnancy and the beginning of a war,' their mom, Irma, wrote on a Facebook page created to help the twins. 'We need your help to bring them home safely and to help other newborn babies, parents, and their caregivers stranded at the hospital with them. 'The twins cannot cannot be moved without medical support. They still need some help with breathing and monitors and any medicines/equipment in case of distress while on the move. Due to their small size, the babies (who weigh around four pounds each) are now facing terrifying health complications - including having trouble breathing - as a war rages on outside Dedicated parents: As 'staff and supplies dwindle,' the couple is desperate to transfer the babies to a safer area, and eventually bring them home to the U.S. The parents want to move the four-day-old boys to a different hospital - which has a basement bomb shelter - however, they cannot find an ambulance available to transport them Alex told the Today show that the hospital is running low on equipment needed to care for the babies - including clothes and preemie milk Speaking out: They parents said the hospital is 'unstable and dangerous,' as they begged for help via a Facebook group started for the twins 'Ordinary people have been taking extraordinary actions to care for each other in this horrific situation. 'Do you speak Russian? Can you make calls RIGHT NOW to find someone who can do a supplies drop-off at the Adonis maternity hospital in Kyiv? 'Can you help track down an ambulance in Kyiv for transport of Moishe and Lenny from Adonis to a nearby hospital with more supplies/staff that has agreed to take them in? WE NEED YOU.' The couple explained that the hospital is running low on equipment needed to care for the babies - including clothes and preemie milk. 'I talked to this pharmacy in the morning. By afternoon, when one of our contacts got there, it was already shelled and it was closed,' Alex explained to the Today show. They revealed in another Facebook post that the hospital was thankfully able to find some preemie milk for the babies after a 'family member' took supplies 'on foot' amid the 'chaos.' However, they said the hospital remained 'unstable and dangerous.' They also voiced their fears that the surrogate, Katya - who is currently watching over the babies - may want to leave soon. 'The twins cannot cannot be moved without medical support. They still need some help with breathing and monitors in case of distress while on the move,' their mom wrote on Facebook 'We need your help to bring them home safely,' she added. 'Ordinary people have been taking extraordinary actions to care for each other in this horrific situation' Coming together: The couple has also set up a GoFundMe page, where they have raised more than $50,000 Staying positive: Despite the battle that the tiny babies have already had to face, Alex said he feels hopeful that his sons will make it home Fighters: 'To have them born in a war zone - among all this devastation - feels incredibly hopeful,' he said 'In our mind, the surrogate, she gave birth to our children, but shes not beholden to them. What if she decides she needs to be with her family and save herself?' Alex said to the Washington Post. 'We need to find someone who can take care of the babies.' The couple has set up a GoFundMe page, where they have raised more than $50,000. But they are calling on the help from the United States government. 'Just get our babies out,' Alex begged, while speaking to the Today show. 'Or, if thats not possible, at least to Lviv, somewhere westward, where they would be safe.' During the pregnancy, Katya began to develop a condition where her body 'attacked' the babies due to an Rh-incompatibility. Then, when she went into labor early, she had to spend three hours in an ambulance due to traffic from military vehicles. 'For those three hours, it was agony. Were thinking, "Is this three hours going to be the end of our babies?"' Alex recalled to the Washington Post. Despite the battle that the tiny babies have already had to face, Alex feels hopeful that his sons will make it home. 'We have these two lives born, and their own journey into this world was so difficult, and all of a sudden to have them born in a war zone - among all this devastation - feels incredibly hopeful,' he concluded. Prince Harry's ex Chelsy Davy wrapped up in a navy puffer jacket as she stepped out for her first appearance in public since welcoming a baby with her Old Etonian partner. The mother-of-one, 36, opted to wear a cosy jacket with a pair of denim jeans and brown boots as she stepped out of her London home to walk her dog earlier today. It marked her first appearance since it emerged she had given birth to her first child, a boy called Leo, with her partner Sam Cutmore-Scott, 37, a successful hotelier, who was in the year above Harry at Eton College. Chelsy and Harry have stayed amicable since breaking up in 2010 after a seven-year romance. In 2011 they went to Prince William's wedding together. Prince Harry's ex Chelsy Davy wrapped up in a navy puffer jacket as she stepped out for her first appearance in public since welcoming a baby with her Old Etonian partner The mother-of-one, 36, opted to wear a cosy jacket with a pair of denim jeans and brown boots as she stepped out of her London home to walk her dog earlier today It marked her first appearance since it emerged she had given birth to her first child, a boy called Leo, with her partner Sam Cutmore-Scott, 37, a successful hotelier, who was in the year above Harry at Eton College (pictured) It was revealed on Saturday, that Chelsy Davy had given birth to her first child, a boy called Leo, in January without virtually anyone knowing she was pregnant. One of their friends confirmed: 'Sam is the father of Chelsy's baby.' Sam is managing director at The Harper hotel in Holt, Norfolk, and Chelsy shared a photo online last week of their dogs on a beach a few miles away. He's the brother of Jack Cutmore-Scott, 34, the dashing Hollywood actor best-known for his role in Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning film Tenet and the U.S. drama series Deception. Chelsy and Harry have stayed amicable since breaking up in 2010 after a seven-year romance. In 2011 they went to Prince William's wedding together Chelsy cut a low-key figure as she donned a pair of sunglasses and a white beanie hat to walk her dog in London today It's unclear if Sam is married to Chelsy but he's a director of his parents' hospitality company, the Bijou Collection, which owns four exclusive wedding venues. These include a mansion and a manor in Surrey, an abbey in Buckinghamshire and a chateau in the South of France. Chelsy and Oxford graduate Sam live together in Chiswick, West London. Their baby was born at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in January. Party-loving Chelsy, who was born in Zimbabwe and now runs a jewellery and luxury travel business, revealed in 2020 that she had a serious boyfriend. Chelsy and Oxford graduate Sam live together in Chiswick, West London. Their baby was born at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in January Party-loving Chelsy, who was born in Zimbabwe and now runs a jewellery and luxury travel business, revealed in 2020 that she had a serious boyfriend At the time, she did not give his name, explaining: 'There is someone, and I am quite taken by this one, but it's very new and I don't want to say too much.' Her last known boyfriend before then was dashing television producer James Marshall, from whom she split in 2018. Chelsy began dating Prince Harry while she was a pupil at Cheltenham Ladies' College. The pair had an on-off relationship for seven years until they split in 2011, as Chelsy didn't want to be a royal bride. Both Chelsy and Sam declined to comment yesterday. A new mother who gave birth while hospitalized with severe COVID-19 has been reunited with her newborn baby, meeting him for the first time two months after he was born. Macenzee Keller, 20, from New Hampshire, gave birth to her son, Zack, via C-section on November 28, 2021 a day after arriving at the hospital with COVID. But the first-time mom was critically ill and under sedation, and didn't get to meet her son for the first time until February 3, 2022, once her condition had improved. 'It was very emotional because I was like, "Oh, I got to finally see my baby that I was waiting for so long to see,"' Keller told the AP. Macenzee Keller, 20, gave birth to her son, Zack, via C-section on November 28, 2021 a day after arriving at the hospital with COVID Struggling to breathe, she had been put on ECMO and was sedated during and after his birth and didn't get to meet him Keller was diagnosed with COVID-19 two weeks before before her due date. Pregnant and unvaccinated, she was hit hard by the virus, and was experiencing shortness of breath on November 27 when she decided to go to the hospital which is the last thing she remembers. She was put on a ventilator at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, and her baby was born via C-section the next day. Critically ill, Keller was soon transferred to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), before getting to meet her son. She was kept on ECMO for 47 days, which Ciaran Moloney, BSN, RN, a nurse who cared for her, said is 'a lot longer than weve seen in the past.' 'There were times when we were wondering how or if she would be able to recover, but over the last few weeks, shes made an amazing recovery,' he told the hospital's newsroom. She remained on ECMO for 47 days but finally got to meet her son on February 3 By then he was two months old and weighed 11 pounds, 13 ounces Keller, who was unvaccinated, said she now wishes she had got the shot and is encouraging others to do so Finally, Keller was able to come off of sedation as her condition slowly improved, but she said waking up was confusing. 'Do you know like when you fall asleep somewhere and then you wake up somewhere new? And youre like, "Whoa!" Thats kind of what I felt,' she said. It still took some time until she was well enough to meet her son, but on February 3, she got to hold him for the first time. By then, Zack was two months old and weighed 11 pounds, 13 ounces. 'Its a new experience, but Im excited to become a mom,' Keller said. 'He was big!' She now wishes she had been vaccinated during her pregnancy, and is encouraging other unvaccinated people to get the shot. 'Now I'm definitely getting vaccinated,' Keller said. 'Definitely get vaccinated. Being as sick as I was, was definitely scary, and I don't want anybody to have to go through that.' 'It was very emotional because I was like, "Oh, I got to finally see my baby that I was waiting for so long to see,"' Keller said She still uses a pulse oximeter to measure her blood oxygen levels and is also getting physical therapy to help her walk again Doctors told Keller she has to wait a couple more weeks before she can do so. The new mom is still improving, but she still uses a pulse oximeter to measure her blood oxygen levels. She is also getting physical therapy to help her walk again. But while she is not totally back to her pre-COVID self, her recovery has been a bright spot for medical professionals at the hospital. 'In the medical (intensive care unit), we have a lot of difficult and often tragic stories, and so when we get one like this, where someone has made such an amazing recovery and gets to meet their child for the first time, its a real special one for us, and one that really makes it easier to come into work the next day,' Moloney said. 'She went from being completely reliant on the ECMO pump to being fully interactive within just a span of a couple of weeks,' he added. 'My wife, we found out she was pregnant roughly around the same time, and that just made it very emotional for me to see everything that Macenzee was going through,' he said. The Tinder Swindler was spotted dining out with a friend today at a restaurant in Tel Aviv - weeks after he was discovered living in a luxury 14-storey tower block in the coastal city in Israel. Shimon Heyada Hayut, 31, from Israel, found notoriety after a 114-minute Netflix documentary exposed how he ruthlessly conned women he had met on Tinder out of an estimated 7.4 million by posing as the son of a billionaire diamond mogul. Hayut, who operated under several aliases, including Simon Leviev, was recently found by the Daily Mail to be holed up in a high-end complex in the city after he was exposed as one of the world's most reviled fraudsters. The crook, who is dating girlfriend Kate Konlin, a model, was pictured visiting a restaurant in Tel Aviv today, where he sat down with a friend and appeared to enjoy a meal. The Tinder Swindler was spotted dining out with a friend today at a restaurant in Tel Aviv - weeks after he was discovered living in a luxury 14-storey tower block in the coastal city in Israel (pictured) The crook, who is dating girlfriend Kate Konlin, a model, was pictured visiting a restaurant in Tel Aviv today Hayut would pretend to be Simon Leviev, chief executive of LLD Diamonds and the son of Israeli-Russian billionaire Lev Leviev, a man Forbes once called the 'King of Diamonds'. The international conman would dazzle his victims with his apparently luxurious lifestyle of private jets, designer clothes and five-star hotels before tricking them into giving him eye-watering sums. In a twisted Ponzi scheme, he would use the cash he stole from them to lure in his next target, lavishing them too with trips abroad, and with hundreds of red roses and tables in VIP clubs. He left his victims with suicidal feelings, crippling bank debts and the agony and humiliation of discovering their relationship with him was a sham. Above, Hayut's girlfriend, model Kate Konlin. Her Instagram is filled with pictures of her posing in skimpy attire on their modern balcony, or with an enormous teddy bear and hundreds of balloons in their lounge, or showing off her Louboutin heels in the slick lobby of their apartment building Hayut has denied all their allegations against him, claiming he is 'not a fraud and not a fake' but instead a 'legitimate businessman' who made his fortune by investing in Bitcoin. In an interview on the U.S. TV programme Inside Edition, he insisted this week: 'I'm not this monster. I was just a single guy that wanted to meet some girls on Tinder.' In the interview, he kissed his girlfriend Konlin, for the cameras as she accused his victims of creating a 'fake story'. To find out more about the Tinder Swindler and to build up the most comprehensive profile of the fraudster yet, the Daily Mail spent several days in Tel Aviv, the city he comes from and to which he has now returned. Reporters spoke to neighbours, to relatives and visited the poverty-stricken area east of Tel Aviv where he was brought up a neighbourhood poles apart from the vibrant, city-centre location of his current home just 200 metres from the city's crowded beach. The twice-jailed criminal was tracked down to the high-end complex where he lives with his blonde Ukrainian-Israeli girlfriend by following a trail of clues on her social media account. Her Instagram is filled with pictures of her posing in skimpy attire on their modern balcony, or with an enormous teddy bear and hundreds of balloons in their lounge, or showing off her Louboutin heels in the slick lobby of their apartment building. When reporters arrived, they found Hayut himself in a garish Gucci jumper making a tense phone call while pacing up and down the same balcony. Hayut (pictured), 31, from Israel, found notoriety after a 114-minute Netflix documentary exposed how he ruthlessly conned women he had met on Tinder out of an estimated 7.4 million by posing as the son of a billionaire diamond mogul Conman Hayut (above) would pretend to be Simon Leviev, chief executive of LLD Diamonds and the son of Israeli-Russian billionaire Lev Leviev, a man Forbes once called the 'King of Diamonds' The brand new building boasts 6million five-bedroom penthouses with private rooftop swimming pools. Even the more modest three-bedrooms flats, with floor-to-ceiling windows and modern balconies, cost 1.2million. Home to a raft of well-heeled residents including foreign diplomats and other residents draped in designer wares it is one of Tel Aviv's most sought-after developments. It is also the base from which Hayut has been cashing in on his cruel crimes. The vast windows, always with their blinds drawn, have served as a backdrop to all his interviews, videos and business meetings. While his victims are still fighting to clear the debts they took out to fund his vicious scams, he has continued to grasp at opportunities to profit from their misery. After the Netflix documentary's release, he signed with Los Angeles agent Gina Rodriguez, who represents a raft of fame-hungry clients through her agency Gitoni. It has been claimed that Hayut wants to 'break into Hollywood', start his own dating show and host a podcast. In 2018, one of Hayut's targets, London-based Norwegian web designer Cecilie Fjellhoy (pictured with him), travelled to Amsterdam with more than 20,000 in cash to give him, thinking she was saving her boyfriend's life Even though he claims he wants to clear his name, when the Mail approached him with the chance to do so through an interview, he demanded 7,000 ($10,000) 'compensation'. When we insisted that we did not think a fee was appropriate, a Gitoni employee suggested the money would be paid to the management firm rather than to the conman himself. He added: 'Simon has never been convicted of crimes involving the women in the documentary. He also has never been arrested or investigated by police over the accusations.' Konlin has since signed with the same company. Hayut's other money-making schemes include charging his 'fans' 148 a time for personalised greetings messages. He signed up to the platform Cameo, which boasts other celebrity signings including Nigel Farage and John Bercow. Punters can ask the criminal to record any greeting or message from wishing their loved one a happy birthday to telling them to give him a wad of cash. It has been reported on one American gossip website that he made more than 22,000 in the first three days from this, although this should be treated with scepticism his account only has 59 reviews. After the Netflix documentary's release, Hayut signed with Los Angeles agent Gina Rodriguez, who represents a raft of fame-hungry clients through her agency Gitoni. It has been claimed that Hayut wants to 'break into Hollywood', start his own dating show and host a podcast As well as selling 25 T-shirts emblazoned with tasteless quotes such as 'If she really loves you, she'll take out of a loan for you', the fraudster has also launched a series of NFTs (or non-fungible tokens) digital artworks of the very pictures he used to con his female victims. Since the Netflix documentary, he has continued to parade his supposedly limitless wealth. Last weekend, he was pictured browsing Ferraris worth more than 200,000 at a garage. When a Mail reporter visited the garage, outside Tel Aviv, a witness claimed Hayut appeared to have brought the cameraman with him. The lifestyle Hayut seems to live could not be more different from his strict upbringing in Bnei Brak a Hasidic Jewish neighbourhood in the east of Tel Aviv. This is one of the most densely populated cities in Israel, made up of uniform, beige apartment blocks. The run-down area, described as 'dirt poor' by local media, consists of crumbling buildings. Furniture and other rubbish lies in piles in overgrown grass. Hayut grew up with his five siblings in one of 16 apartments in a concrete four-storey block. His father, Rabbi Yohanan Hayut, still lives in the building which has a bomb shelter filled with junk and holes in the walls on the stairwell. Hayut was eventually arrested and imprisoned in December 2019 at Tel Aviv Magistrates Court but released the following May, after serving five months of his 15-month sentence Outside the sparse family home, a white orchid sits on a welcome mat, but the reception from Rabbi Hayut, a severe-looking man with a white beard, is anything but warm. As soon as he opened the door to Mail reporters, he immediately slammed it shut and locked it. Rabbi Hayut himself has been accused of teaming up with his son to defraud a wealthy rabbi in New York, although he denies the allegations. According to neighbours, the father-of-six is a 'tough man' who used to shout at his children at Shimon Hayut in particular. Just three of the Hayut children remain in the community, the neighbours added. Shimon 'lost his way'. 'Shimon left the family and his religion and fell apart,' said one man, who wanted to remain anonymous. Describing the Tinder Swindler, one neighbour said: 'He brought shame to the entire neighbourhood. How a man like this isn't ashamed of his behaviour is beyond me. What he did damaged our city's name.' Hayut's criminal career began when as a teenager he used stolen cheques to buy a Porsche and pay for a pilot training course. Although he was charged in 2012, he fled Israel on a stolen passport before his sentencing. Three years later, he was jailed for two years after defrauding three women in Finland. In 2017, upon release from the prison, he legally changed his name to Simon Leviev. He was returned to Israel, to be re-charged and sentenced, but slipped out of the country for a second time. This is when his elaborate con to trick the victims featured in the Netflix documentary began. Hayut is currently living as a free man in Tel Aviv. He has never been charged for the crimes outlined in the Netflix documentary After impressing his targets with his supposed riches, gaining their trust and winning their hearts, he would claim that he was in danger owing to the violent nature of the diamond business. He would send them pictures of his bodyguard 'Peter' supposedly bleeding from the head following what he said was a criminal attack. Claiming he had to go underground to hide from his 'enemies', Hayut told his targets he was unable to use his credit cards because he could be traced. In this way, he persuaded his victims to give him the cash he said he needed. They used high-interest loans and platinum credit cards to raise the money before handing it over to him in the belief it was the only way to ensure his enemies would not find him. Convinced by the outrageous ploy and certain his previous displays of wealth proved he was not short of cash the victims always complied. In 2018, one of his targets, London-based Norwegian web designer Cecilie Fjellhoy, travelled to Amsterdam with more than 20,000 in cash to give Hayut, thinking she was saving her boyfriend's life. He convinced her to pretend she worked for his fake firm on a vast salary, so she could increase her American Express allowance. She was left with debts of more than 200,000. The other victims featured in the documentary, Pernilla Sjoholm and Ayleen Charlotte, also faced mounting debts from a carbon copy of the same scam. Hayut was arrested for his original charges of fraud in 2019 after Miss Charlotte, who had become wise to his tricks, reported him to Interpol for using a fake passport in Greece. He was extradited to Israel and, in December 2019, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, of which he served five. He has since been living as a free man in Tel Aviv. Hayut has never been charged for the crimes outlined in the Netflix documentary. Additional reporting: Jotam Confino Finding could lead to test that enabled risky pregnancies to be spotted early Parents at risk of having preterm baby could be spotted through swab test A simple cheek swab of mothers and fathers-to-be could determine whether their baby will be born prematurely, experts claim. Washington State University researchers say the finding would eventually lead to a 'very useful' test that can spot pregnancies that are likely to be preterm, allowing doctors to intervene early. Tens of thousands of babies are born premature before the start of the 37th week of pregnancy in Britain and the US every year. Being born early is a leading cause of death among newborns. Survivors are more likely to develop future health problems, such as disabilities and seizures. Scientists from Washington State University, who studied 40 sets of parents, found around 100 differences in the epigenetics of fathers and mothers who gave birth preterm compared to those who had their baby at full-term How common are premature births? Around eight per 100 babies are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. This means around eight per cent of births in the UK are preterm, equaling around 60,000 babies a year. Of these births, five per cent were extremely preterm - meaning they happened sooner than 28 weeks. Around one in 10 were very preterm, which means the mother gave birth between week 28 and 32 of pregnancy. Meanwhile, the majority were moderately premature, meaning the baby was born between 32 and 37 weeks. Around 95 per cent of babies born after 31 weeks in the UK survive, but the survival rate drops the earlier that the baby is born. The earlier a baby is born, the higher the risk of it having health problems. One in 10 of preterm babies will have a permanent disability, such as lung disease, cerebral palsy, blindness or deafness. And around half of those born before 26 weeks will have a disability. The risk of giving birth prematurely is highest for black Caribbean women (10 per cent) and lowest for white women (six per cent). The NHS can determine if a woman is at risk of giving birth early based on whether they have done so previously, if their cervix has been damaged during surgery or if their cervix is short. But in some cases, pre-term labour is planned because it is safer for the baby to be born sooner, such as if the mother has a health condition. Source: Tommy's Advertisement For the study in the journal Scientific Reports, scientists took cheek swabs from 40 sets of parents nine days after their baby was born. Half of the mother-father pairs had a baby born prematurely, while the others were carried to full-term. Lab analysis of the samples showed mothers of premature babies had 100 unique biomarkers, which could enable them to be identified early in theory. Distinct epigenetic signatures molecular processes that determine how genes behave were also spotted in swabs of fathers, although there were fewer. But study author Professor Michael Skinner said biomarkers were present in all the parents whose babies were born early. Biomarkers were also spotted in female babies who were born preterm but not in boys, results showed. The marker among girls could potentially be used to determine whether they are at risk of giving birth prematurely later in life, the team said. The researchers said their findings suggest that a test could be developed to spot these differences among expectant parents. Being able to predict preterm birth and intervene to reduce the rate of early births would have a 'significant impact on human health'. It would allow caregivers time to take action to delay or prevent the early birth, the researchers said. Current treatments to halt early labour include inserting a hormone in the vagina or an operation to put a stitch in the cervix to help support it. Professor Skinner said: 'Although we may not be able to fix the problem, if we know that it's going to develop because of these diagnostics, we can treat it. 'This could help with the transition from reactionary medicine to preventive medicine.' However, the researchers noted that longer and larger studies would be needed to refine which biomarkers to test for. A preterm birth is classified as a baby born less than 37 weeks after conception. It affects around one in 10 births. Pregnant women are more likely to give birth premature if they smoke, have diabetes or are carrying twins. However, it is unclear exactly why some women give birth early in more than half of preterm births. Moderna is facing allegations of hijacking technology from two smaller biotech firms to produce its COVID-19 vaccine. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company is facing a lawsuit from Arbutus Biopharma and Genevant Sciences, both based in Vancouver, Canada, over allegations that is used lipid nanoparticle technology that infringed on the Canadian companies' patents. Moderna's shot is the second most commonly used in the U.S., and has been a financial success for the previously low-profile biotech brand. Earlier this month, CEO Stephane Bancel told investors that the company expects to rake in $19 billion in revenue in 2022 off of vaccine sales alone. This is the second lawsuit Moderna is facing over its vaccine, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also suing to have three of its scientists named as co-inventors of the vaccine after contributing to its creation. Moderna is being sued by Arbutus Biopharma and Genevant Sciences, both from Vancouver, Canada, over allegations the company infringed on patents when making its COVID-19 vaccine (file photo) The two companies allege that nanoparticle technology used by the Moderna vaccine belongs to them, and that the company knowingly used it without even requesting a licensing agreement (file photo) 'We seek fair compensation for Modernas use of our patented technology that was developed with great effort and at great expense, without which Modernas COVID-19 vaccine would not have been successful,' William Collier, CEO of Arbutus, said in a statement. Arbutus and Genevant have patented a 'breakthrough' lipid nanoparticle that gives the vaccine a protective coating it needs to function. Messenger RNA, or mRNA, vaccines work by providing a person's body with an instruction kit to make an artificial spike protein. The immune system then activates to destroy that protein, and in the process builds Covid antibodies. Without the nanoparticle, the companies filing suit allege, the vaccine would not have been discovered so quickly. 'It is well established in the scientific literature that the most significant technological hurdle to developing and deploying medicines using mRNA is engineering a safe and effective way to deliver the mRNA to human cells,' an Arbutus statement explains. 'Scientists at Arbutus and Genevant have spent years developing and refining lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology, which has been licensed for various applications to many different third parties... with this technology, the RNA can travel through the human body to a target cell and through the target cells membrane before releasing the RNA. 'Without this crucial delivery technology, the RNA would quickly degrade in the body and be ineffective.' In a complaint, Arbutus writes that Moderna knew that it was breaking the patent when it used the nanoparticle without licensing it. They allege that 'attempted to invalidate several of the patents before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and when those efforts largely failed, Moderna simply used the patented technology without paying for it.' Moderna made around $12 billion in profit in 2021, largely fueled by a successful rollout of Covid vaccines, and booster shots later in the year. The company's shot has been administered 208 million times to fully vaccinate 75 million Americans and boost 40 million others. It has more vaccine products on the way that should boost revenue figures this year - and in future years - as well. Keeping the virus under control will likely require regular, potentially annual booster shots, similar to a yearly flu shot many Americans already receive. Bancel said on an earnings calls earlier this month that he believes the next available Covid shot could become available during the fall, but said the U.S. government has not yet ordered a purchase of more jabs. Moderna is also currently in Phase 2 of trials for its Omicron-tailored Covid jab. It is reportedly aiming to have the shot available to Americans late next month. The company is also under fire from the federal government at the moment as it battles a lawsuit from the NIH. The NIH claims that the creation of the vaccine was a collaborative project between the agency and Moderna, while Moderna declined to include three NIH scientists on its patent application for the mRNA sequence that forms the basis of the vaccine. If the NIH were to win, the agency would be able to collect royalties on vaccine sales, and even license it to smaller, less developed, nations that have had trouble purchasing the vaccine from companies like Moderna. This would hurt Moderna's market share - now competing with generics rather than just Pfizer and a few others in the international vaccine rollout - while also being a boon to much of the developed world. It's a mainstay of first aid advice for treating burns run the affected skin under cold water. Now scientists have discovered precisely how long you need to do it for and why the remedy is so effective. According to research by leading skin specialists, 20 minutes is the optimum time spent under the tap. Doing so led to a 56 per cent reduction in the depth of the burn which is how damage to the skin is measured. This time protocol is longer than that recommended by some NHS hospitals, which advise just ten minutes. Professor Hugh Wright, a consultant hand surgeon at Leeds General Infirmary who led the study, experimented on 30 pieces of tissue donated from patients whod undergone breast reconstruction. According to research by leading skin specialists, 20 minutes is the optimum time spent under the tap for treating burns HOW TO BEST TREAT A BURN - Remove clothing from around the burn - Put it under running water for 20 minutes - Do not use iced water - Cover burn with clean, sterile, non-stick material - If the burn is larger than a 20c piece, seek medical treatment Advertisement The breast tissue was burned to the same severity as the skin of a hand touching a gas hob. This created so-called mid-thickness burns, where the damage penetrates only the upper layer of the skin. This is the most common form of burn. The tissue was then run under water cooled to 16 C the average temperature of tap water for different 20 minutes, and compared with burnt skin that had not been cooled. Prof Wright explains that the cooling effect interferes with the bodily process that triggers skin damage after a burn. When the skin is injured, the immune system releases proteins called cytokines which protect against infection in the wound. But often, too many cytokines are released in response to a burn, leading to prolonged inflammation in the area and increased damage to the tissue as a result. Prof Wrights study, entitled Putting Out The Fire Of The Burn, argues that cooling the wound shuts off the release of cytokines, limiting the tissue damage. He said the findings, presented at the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons in December, show that, if more injured people run burns under cold water for 20 minutes, there would be fewer severe burns treated on the NHS every year. Roughly 250,000 Britons experience burn injuries every year, with 175,000 attending hospital for treatment, according to the National Institute For Health and Care Excellence. The most common type is a scald caused by hot water or steam. Prof Wright said: If we can teach people why it is so important to cool skin after a burn and how to go about it, we can save many people skin grafts, infections and ongoing burns treatment. More than twice as many drivers plan to buy a petrol car than an electric one in the next five years as motorists plan to get their hands on unleaded-powered models ahead of the 2030 ban, according to a huge poll of motorists. Some 22 per cent of a 15,677-strong panel of drivers quizzed by the AA said their next motor will be petrol compared to one in 10 who plan to transition to EVs between now and 2027, despite new car buyers being forced to buy battery-only cars some three years later. And while 36 per cent of the drivers surveyed currently own a diesel, only 9 per cent intend to buy another oil burner, in what the AA described as a 'nail in the coffin for diesel cars'. Petrol demand could stay above electric for years: A poll of 15,000 drivers has found that twice as many plan to buy a petrol car over an EV between now and 2027 The study asked licence holders which fuel type they would choose to buy next between now and 2027 - just three years before the ban on sales of new cars with internal combustion engines (ICE). Results of the poll have been published as the average UK petrol prices surpassed 1.50-a-litre over the weekend, with both unleaded and diesel prices reaching new record highs on the back of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Yet drivers planning long-term car purchases say they are twice as likely to buy a petrol vehicle next over an EV, with the latter being more expensive to purchase but far cheaper to run. While the majority of drivers already own a petrol car (58 per cent), compared to just one per cent who drive pure EVs, twice as many motorists say they will choose a petrol model next over a vehicle with batteries and an electric motor. After petrol, the next most popular fuel choice is hybrid (both conventional and mild-hybrid) at 19 per cent, while demand for plug-in hybrids is the same as diesel (9 per cent). Fuel type drivers plan to buy in the next 5 years Fuel Type Current Car Next Car Petrol 58% 22% Diesel 36% 9% Hybrid 3% 19% Plug-in Hybrid 1% 9% Pure Electric 1% 10% Other 1% 1% Don't know N/A 18% I won't be changing my car within five years N/A 12% Source: AA poll of 15,677 drivers With the Government's ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles set to be introduced in 2030, almost one in five (18 per cent) drivers are torn about their next purchase, adding to the suggestion that there isn't enough public confidence in EVs and the charging infrastructure for many to make the transition. The findings also hint at a potential slowdown in battery car uptake when compared to recent sales data. Last year, EVs made up 11.6 per cent of all new cars registered in the UK - compared to 6.6 per cent in 2020. New EV sales outsold diesels (both conventional and mild-hybrid diesels) last month, and the study found that just one in four current diesel owners will get another. But the AA said there need to be the 'right incentives' to switch to EVs in place to keep consumer confidence high before the 2030 ban on sales of new ICE models. If so, the motoring group says there is 'considerable scope' for EV's to become the most popular drivetrain when people change their current car. Some 22% of the licence holders surveyed by the AA said they will buy a petrol car in the next 5 years. That compares to 10% whose next vehicle will be electric The study follows the Government's decision in December to slash the plug-in car grant for a second time in nine months and ahead of the close of the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme - offering 350 towards the installation of a home charge point - for most Britons at the end of March. It also comes just weeks after the Department for Transport published public charging infrastructure figures for 2021 that showed the network falling behind current EV uptake and highlighting a regional disparity in terms of availability. The number of public charge points for electric vehicles grew 37 per cent last year, though a North-South divide is expanding in terms of which areas have the worst and best access to devices, according to data published by the DfT in January. An additional 7,600 new charger installations were added to the country's network over the 12 months, taking the total to 28,375 publicly-accessible plug-in points. However, the data shows that London has benefitted from a much faster expansion of its charging infrastructure than any other region, with 102 devices per 100,000 of its population, while areas like the North West have just 24 per 100,000 people. There are also growing concerns that infrastructure is failing to keep pace with the number of electric cars entering the road, with one new public device added for every 24 zero-emission vehicle registered last year. This chart shows the growth in the UK's public charging infrastructure in the last 7 years. An additional 7,600 new charger installations were added to the UK network in 2021 This data shows the number of total public charging devices in each region per 100k people. It shows that London is miles ahead of the rest of the country in terms of availability Commenting on the results of the study, Edmund King, AA president, said the AA is doing its part to boost public confidence in electric cars by adding more EV-qualified technicians to its recovery team 'One in ten drivers saying they will actively choose an electric vehicle for their next car is a great step towards cleaning up the UK's road based transport system,' he said. 'The electric revolution is in good health, but with a large group of drivers unsure which drivetrain to choose next, we know that some drivers need help and reassurance that, should they switch, the AA will be able to help them throughout their ownership. Which EVs are currently eligible for the Gov's 1,500 plug-in grant? The Government slashed both the value and eligibility for the Plug-in Car Grant - a taxpayer-funded incentive designed to cut the cost of relatively expensive electric vehicles (EVs) - in December 2021. Originally launched in 2011, the Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG) offered up to 5,000 off the price of a new EV. But a decade later, transport ministers have bludgeoned the value of the subsidy to just 1,500 and capped its availability to models priced up to a maximum of 32,000 - down from 35,000 previously. This means all expensive models from the likes of Tesla, Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Jaguar are all priced out of the scheme. Since it was scaled back at the end of December 2021, only 24 models on sale qualify for the 1,500 subsidy. > See which cars are currently eligible, from cheapest to the most expensive 'As the UK's number one for EVs, with more EV-trained patrols than anyone else, we're giving power to electric drivers so potential owners or a long standing EV drivers, can trust us to support them throughout their electric dream.' The results of the AA's study mimicked findings from a similar piece of research carried out by Close Brother Motor Finance in December. Its poll of 1,500 motorists found that petrol remains the number one choice of car for UK drivers in 2022, despite the upcoming ban on petrol and diesel vehicles. Its survey found that almost a third (30 per cent) of drivers still prefer to purchase a petrol vehicle as their next car - which is 8 percentage points higher than when they polled motorists a year earlier. Some 18 per cent told the finance company they would choose to go electric with their next car. Close Brothers Motor Finance also found that more women than men would stick to petrol, at 31 per cent versus 29 per cent respectively. Conversely, electric cars are more popular with men, 22 per cent of whom would choose one compared with just 14 per cent of women. Director, Sean Kemple, said: 'The Government's ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars is fast approaching just eight years away. But at what should be a time for motorists to transition and plug into electric, they're in fact moving further away. 'Significant concerns remain, and these must be addressed if we are to see more motorists making the switch. We are still languishing in the tens of thousands of much needed electric car charging points we need to get to two million to meet the ambitious 2030 goals. 'Coupled with the Government cutting grants the second time in just one year - for electric car buyers, the industry is at risk of not going in the right direction.' Studies have suggested that new EVs will have price parity with petrol and diesel cars by 2026, which would likely influence a more rapid shit to battery cars than the AA and Close Brother Motor Finance studies predict. The Swedish regulator has given Freetrade the green light to offer its products to investors, paving the way for its long-awaited expansion across Europe, This is Money can reveal. The Finansinspektionen recently authorised Freetrade to offer its product to Swedish retail investors, meaning investors in the Scandinavian country will now have commission-free access to thousands of European, UK and US stocks and ETFs. Freetrade Sweden will also look to offer local investors an ISK account in the coming months - which is the Swedish version of an Isa. Freetrade Sweden, led by Karl Broome, has been granted approval by the Swedish regulator kickstarting the platform's move into the continent The platform plans to launch a closed beta for those signed up to the waitlist in the coming months, before rolling out to the general public. Freetrade has long talked of a move into Europe, having incorporated a separate entity in Sweden last year. Its chief marketing officer Victor Nebehaj told This Is Money last year: 'We chose Sweden because it has a very reputable regulatory jurisdiction and not a lightweight one'. Regulators in both Europe and the UK have started to crackdown on what they deem as the 'gamification' of investing as well as crypto investing more broadly. Where Freetrade does have the regulatory upper hand, particularly across Europe, is that it does not use payment for order flows. The European Commission is set to ban the practice, which sees brokers receive payments from third parties for directing client order flow to them as execution venues. While the Swedish regulator's approval marks a significant step in Freetrade's European expansion, it will still need to apply to each regional regulator in the EU. However it is understood that because of passporting the approval is likely to speed up the process. While the investment platform has captured a significant portion of the UK market, Freetrade will now be vying with rivals like Sequoia-backed Trade Republic and eToro. Earlier this year, Freetrade struck a deal to offer its customers direct access to the German stock exchange via CBOE and Equiduct, usually reserved for institutional investors, rather than using the CREST system which charges a fee. It followed the arrival of Finnish stocks on the platform in December 2021 and users can now also trade Dutch, Swedish, Portuguese and Austrian shares on the platform. Freetrade has expanded at a rapid pace since its launch in 2018. It has built a loyal following in large part because of its referral system which promises a free share worth up to 200, which has helped push customer numbers to over 1million. That has met the attention of the Financial Conduct Authority, which last month said is considering banning refer-a-friend bonuses or new joiner giveaways. It is currently in consultation stage. Its valuation has also doubled from 270million to 650million in under a year. Trading volumes in 2021 soared 313 per cent while revenue was up 647 per cent, according to recent figures. Karl Broome, managing director and Freetrade's head of Sweden, said: 'I am thrilled to be able to share our mission to get everyone investing in Sweden. 'This development is testament to the hard work of our team and we're looking forward to evolving the way retail investors in Sweden, and eventually, across Europe, access global stock markets. Adam Dodds, Freetrade founder and chief executive added: 'There is a massive opportunity for our business to offer European retail investors a low-cost and simple way to invest for the long-term. 'We've always put our customers' first in everything we do, and we're thrilled to now be able to bring this to the rest of Europe.' The troops who were charged with defending Snake Island in the Black Sea have reportedly been captured and are alive and well, the Ukrainian Navy says after initial reports that they were killed. The group of soldiers valiantly fought against Russian troops on the island, known as Zmiinyi Island, and successfully repelled two assaults. The defenders were later forced to surrender after they suffered a "lack of ammunition." Snake Island Troops In a statement on Monday, the Ukrainian Navy reported the reversal of the initial reports but noted that Russian troops have completely destroyed the island's infrastructure, including lighthouses, towers, and antennas. The Ukrainian Border Guard Service said that over the weekend, they had received information that all of the 82 soldiers on Snake Island may be alive. Previously, Russian state media have shown the arrival of the Ukrainian soldiers in Sevastopol, Crimea, where they are currently being held captive. Snake Island is positioned roughly 30 miles off the southern tip of the Ukrainian mainland in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. It is also about 185 miles west of Crimea, the Ukrainian territory that Russia annexed in 2014, as per CNN. After the Ukrainian military first lost contact with the soldiers on Snake Island, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that each of the defenders would be posthumously awarded the title of "Hero of Ukraine." Read Also: Joe Biden: US Should Not Fear Nuclear War Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis In a statement, the Ukrainian Navy said that authorities were glad to hear that the troops were alive and well. They added that the illegal capture of a civilian ship, a non-combatant without performing any military mission, was a violation of the rules and customs of war and international humanitarian law. According to Fox News, officials demanded that Russia immediately release all of the illegally occupied citizens of Ukraine amid its invasion of the region. Adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, Anton Heraschenko, circulated an audio clip purportedly of Russian forces threatening that they would bomb the 13 Ukrainian soldiers if they did not surrender. Fog of War The Russian troops sent a message identifying themselves and proposing the Snake Island soldiers surrender to avoid further bloodshed and unnecessary victims. In their reply, the troops on the island shouted explicitly at Moscow's troops, saying "Russian warship, go f*** yourself." The initial reports of the troops being dead stemmed from the belief that they were gunned down by Russian soldiers. Zelensky previously noted that Snake Island was part of Ukrainian land and he will order to protect it with all of the country's might. The incident was an early incident and an example of the fog of war and its effects on parties involved as well as spectators. Reporting about the news of the conflict is usually clouded by distance, efforts to capitalize on potential PR victories, and the general confusion over the multiplicity of events that are occurring at the same time, Yahoo News reported. Despite its sparse population, Snake Island serves a historic role in Ukrainian territorial waters in the Black Sea. while it is only roughly 46 acres in size, the non-partisan Atlantic Council think tank called the island "key to Ukraine's maritime territorial claims" in the Black Sea. Related Article: North Korea Says Russia-Ukraine War's Root Cause Is Not Territorial Dispute But US' Sanctions; More Than 520,000 Refugees Flee Kyiv @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mortgage brokers have warned that some estate agents are pressuring buyers into using their in-house financial advice services sometimes as a condition of submitting their offer. A group of independent brokers has said that certain agents, including some nationwide chains, are taking advantage of the ultra-competitive market as a way to sell in-house mortgage and financial advice. They have said that buyers, desperate to secure a home, are being 'misled' into using services they do not want or need. Brokers have accused some estate agents of pressuring buyers into using their in-house financial advisers, but trade body Propertymark confirmed that they don't have to do so They claim that some agents are implying that a buyers' offer will not be put forward to the seller unless they agree to use these services, or that they will be viewed less favourably. Buyers may pay a fee for in-house mortgage or financial advice, which can be up to 700 in some cases, and agents usually receive a commission if they do. Having to go through lengthy conversations with advisers may also waste buyers' time, especially if they have already spoken to an independent mortgage broker and secured an agreement in principle (see case study below). The practice also affects sellers, as agents refusing to put certain offers forward could reduce the price they ultimately sell their home for. Rhys Schofield, managing director at mortgage broker Peak Mortgages and Protection, told This is Money the practice had been increasing in the past eighteen months due to the current housing market boom. He said: 'I won't mince my words: many agents are repeatedly breaking the law and don't give a damn about it because clients are too scared to complain for fear of missing out on properties.' Schofield, along with other brokers, is currently assembling evidence to take to trade body the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries. Home buyers can provide documents from their own personal mortgage broker or financial adviser, instead of using the one recommended by an estate agent, to prove viability Rob Peters, principal at broker Simple Fast Mortgage, said agents employing these tactics were doing so under the guise of having to prove to the seller that the buyer could afford the property even if the buyer had already obtained such evidence elsewhere. 'Clearly, by the time a buyer gets to the estate agent, they've usually already checked they can get a mortgage and for how much,' he said. 'High volumes of feedback from both customers and brokers indicate some estate agents are refusing to accept confirmation or documents provided which evidence the buyer is "fit" to proceed, instead insisting they speak with their preferred in-house mortgage adviser. A large corporate applied the pressure tactics, and ended up offering a client a mortgage that would have cost them an extra 12,000 in payments over a few years Imran Hussain, independent financial adviser 'The unfortunate result is that buyers are being misled into using services they would not have otherwise wanted or needed, with potential additional cost, in order to have their purchase offer put forward.' There are also concerns that buyers using in-house mortgage brokerage services may not be offered the best deals available. This is because they often use a selected 'panel' of lenders, rather than showing clients mortgages from across the whole market. Lewis Shaw, founder and mortgage expert at Shaw Financial Services, said: 'Often these in-house mortgage services have limited panels, are never whole-of-market or independent. 'They also often push heavily-loaded life insurance premiums, often from only one insurer you guessed it the one that will pay them the highest commission rates and that rinses the consumer. 'It's time this practice was banned, and a proper punishment was put in place.' One independent adviser said he had seen a client offered a mortgage that would cost them thousands more over the fixed term than comparable deals on the market. UK house prices rose 11.2% last month, the strongest January rise since 2005. The competitive housing market is said to be making buyers more susceptible to agents' up-selling tactics Imran Hussain, director at Harmony Financial Services, said: 'I think most advisers at some point have come across agents applying pressure tactics on clients looking to purchase a home to use their in-house services, which they get huge kickbacks on. 'Usually it comes from the large corporate agents who have silly targets in place for the advisers they employ. 'I have personally had someone approach me after a large corporate applied the pressure tactics, and ended up offering a client a mortgage that would have cost them an extra 12,000 in payments over a few years.' This is Money asked Propertymark, the membership body for estate agents, to clarify the rules when it comes to agents recommending their in-house financial advisers to buyers. Its chief executive, Nathan Emerson, was clear that 'an agent cannot say they will not pass on an offer unless someone is taking their services.' It is a legal requirement that an agent puts forward all offers on a property, unless the person selling the home has requested otherwise, in writing. It is not illegal to ask a potential buyer to verify their information, however, and agents must perform anti-money laundering checks and confirm the buyers' identity. If the agent has in-house financial experts, Emerson said it often 'makes sense' for them to carry out this vetting. However, he said that this should not be forced upon buyers, and that they are free to solicit their own advice elsewhere. 'These checks can [also] be done by a provision of mortgage agreements in principle, evidence of proceeds of sales and conversations with brokers and independent financial advisers,' he said. Emerson also said that, if an agent receives a referral commission, they must advise the seller of the home in writing. In 2015, we answered a reader question on the same topic - could I lose out on our dream property if the estate agent snubs me because I haven't used their financial services? Unsuspecting Britons have been conned out of 880,000 through fake NHS Covid text scams claiming they had come into contact with a virus case since January, Santander has warned. The bank said people are being scammed out of 5,600 on average, with one couple even transferring more than 20,000 after fraudsters send the victims a link to a fake NHS website to order a PCR test. The website then asks for their personal details and a small amount of money is requested to cover postage for the PCR test meaning the payment card details can be harvested by the fraudster. The thief then contacts the intended victim pretending to be from their bank and convinces them they are being scammed and they need to move their money into a safe account. Unsuspecting Britons have been conned out of 880,000 through fake NHS Covid text scams claiming they had come into contact with a virus case since January, Santander has warned. Pictured, an example of a bogus text a person might receive People are being scammed out of 5,600 on average, with one couple even transferring more than 20,000 after fraudsters send the victims a link to a fake NHS website to order a PCR test Top tips to stop fraud Criminals will offer 'travel deals' to obtain your money and information. Websites may look genuine, but subtle changes in the URL can indicate they are fraudulent. Websites may use images of luxury villas and apartments that do not exist. These are offered for rent, often at discounted prices and require deposits which are never returned. Where possible, book directly with an established hotel or through a reputable travel company/agent that is a member of a trade body such as Abta or Atol. Always use the secure payment options recommended by reputable online travel providers and do not accept requests to pay separately via a bank transfer. Where possible, use a credit card when booking holidays over 100 and up to 30,000 as you receive protection under Section 75 of the Credit Consumer Act. When travelling in the EU, people will be able to access emergency and medical care with a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This card has replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Criminals are asking people for payment details, when the GHIC is free. They are advertising cards on fake websites that emulate the NHS. They claim to either fast-track or manage your application process before charging an up-front fee. Criminals may also target people with fake 'Covid certificates' and 'passports'. Often posts include a link to a fraudulent website, used to steal personal and financial information. SOURCE: Take Five To Stop Fraud Advertisement The name on the safe account is often someone elses and the fraudster will concoct an explanation for why it is not in the customers name. In reality, the account is controlled by the fraudster. Once the money is sent, all contact is cut off, and victims details are sometimes sold on to other criminals. In one case seen by the bank, Mrs D received a text purportedly from the NHS warning her she had been in close proximity to someone who had tested positive for the Omicron variant. She clicked on a link in the text to order a PCR test and paid 1 for postage. She then received a call from someone claiming to be from the Santander fraud team, who advised her she had recently fallen victim to an NHS PCR scam and that her account was at risk. She was told she needed to move her money to a safe account immediately. The account details provided were under someone elses name. When Mrs D transferred the money, confirmation of payee the system used by many banks that checks whether the account name matches the account number provided confirmed the account was registered to someone else but she continued with the transfer. Once the transfer was complete, the fraudster asked to speak to her husband. Mr D was advised to move his money from his joint account with his wife into his sole account, as his wifes details were apparently compromised. He was then provided with the same account details as his wife and told to transfer his money to the safe account. In total, Mr and Mrs D transferred more than 20,000 to the fraudster. Chris Ainsley, head of fraud control at Santander UK, said: Be on high alert if an SMS or email includes a link to a website, however genuine the website may look, and never feel pressured to move your money. No bank or legitimate organisation will ask you to transfer your money to a safe account ever. Santander said if someone is contacted by a person claiming to be from their bank, the police or any organisation and they are asked to move their money, they should stop, end the call and call their bank, making sure to use a number they trust. If they think they have fallen victim of this type of scam, they should report it straight away, the bank said. Adam French, Which? consumer rights expert, said: Throughout the pandemic, fraudsters have used every change in Covid rules as an opportunity to create new scams to part people from their hard-earned cash. These scam NHS texts offering PCR tests are no exception. People should be on high alert for scams and if in any doubt, should verify the text directly with the NHS or their bank before giving any personal or bank account details. Which? is calling on banks and businesses to sign up to its SMS best practice guide and commit to taking steps to help prevent their customers falling victim to fraud. During the pandemic, there was a massive spike in coronavirus-related cybercrime, including fraudsters using fake NHS Covid apps to dupe victims. As Britains vaccine rollout began in January 2021, vulnerable Britons were targeted with fraudulent messages offering them access to coronavirus vaccinations. Pictured, an authentic letter received by residents on the Isle of Wight Experts oversaw a 15-fold rise in the removal of online campaigns in 2020-21 compared to 2019, according to the National Cyber Security Centre. There was a jump in the number of phishing attacks using NHS branding to dupe victims, with the Covid-19 vaccine rollout used as a lure via email and text message to harvest people's personal information for fraud. HM Revenue & Customs remains the most copied brand used by fraudsters, totalling more than 4,000 campaigns, followed by the Governments gov.uk website, and TV Licensing. As Britains vaccine rollout began in January 2021, vulnerable Britons were targeted with fraudulent messages offering them access to coronavirus vaccinations. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) said that text messages had been sent out including links to fake NHS websites that asked recipients for bank details, supposedly for verification purposes. Such messages were first reported at the end of December on the Western Isles of Scotland, but the CTSI said they were by no means limited to the region. Its 10:00 AM on Saturday and English professor Matthew Kenenitz is sitting at a pierogi cafe in rural Pennsylvania making video calls on Whatsapp, trying to reach his teenage students in Ukraine. A few weeks ago, he would have been in class teaching them in the western city of Lviv, less than 50 miles from the Polish border. One student, 17-year-old Maksym, picks up the professors call. 'Im stressed and sad,' he tells Kenenitz. He and his family are safe, for the moment, but fears what will come next. A text comes in from another student. It reads, 'I hear the 4th air siren of the day, we are making our way to shelter.' 'Im telling them they need to sleep in shifts in case something happens,' says Kenenitz, 40, who has been teaching English to college students in Lviv since 2019. Third generation Ukrainian Matthew Kenenitz takes a video call from a student in Lviv, Ukraine who is trapped there following the Russian invasion Alex Duda-Holoviak, 13, says he and his 19-year-old brother Vladimir are ready to go to Ukraine to fight against Putin's forces. His mother Paula says: 'Go ahead' Rosemarie Duda, 84 (with granddaughter Zoryana) says Putin's attack on her ancestral homeland feels like Stalin all over again A third-generation Ukrainian himself, whose grandfather was a coal miner, Kenenitz feels deeply connected to the nation's culture and history. And hes hardly alone in Pennsylvania's Schuylkill County in that regard. Schuylkill is home to the highest percentage of people claiming Ukrainian ancestry in the whole United States. Beginning in the 1870s, the first influx were workers from farmlands of Western Ukraine who settled near Pennsylvania's steel and coal-mining regions. Between the two world wars, a second wave came as they escaped a Stalinist-induced famine. In the 1940s came more as Europe was torn apart by World War II, according to the Ukrainian Heritage Studies Center at Manor Junior College. A fourth migration came in the 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union. 'It is so deeply interwoven, from expressions we use in English, to the food to the way we celebrate holidays, greetings and the church,' said Paula Duda-Holoviak, a friend of Kenenitz and founder and co-director of the Kazka Ukrainian Folk Ensemble. She was one of many in the community to pressure Kenenitz to leave Ukraine earlier this month amid rising security threats. Since his return, Kenenitz said he is afraid to go to sleep at night. Students in Lviv shared a picture of a bomb shelter in their hometown with their English professor Matthew Kenenitz as Russian forces threatened. One said he had heard four air sirens in one day Thousands of women and children thronged Lviv train station, trying to escape to Poland and points west in this picture taken Saturday Women, not knowing when or if they will ever see each other again, hug at Lviv train station on Monday. More than 500,000 people are estimated to have left Ukraine since the outbreak of hostilities Vehicles destroyed by Russian shelling in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.Russian forces now appear to be shelling Ukrainian cities indiscriminately Russian rocket attacks in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv have destroyed buildings in the city center A young girl sorts empty bottles for Molotov cocktails at a humanitarian centre in Lviv on Sunday 'I wake up to messages and am afraid to find out something happened to someone I know.' Across Schuylkill County this weekend, families and friends gathered at church, at restaurants and in their homes to discuss the war, bonding over their shared Ukrainian identity. At every church service, there were prayers for the beleaguered nation. Rosemarie Duda, Paula's 84-year-old mother, sat with her granddaughter, Zoryana. 'I am heartbroken for Ukraine,' she says. 'Ukraine is in my blood,' says Paul Hancher, 85. 'All we can do is pray' 'This is Stalin all over again.' Many believe a much stronger response to Putin's aggression is needed from countries around the world. 'We need boots on the ground, we need to put a stop to this. We as a world are delusional if we think Putin will stop at the Polish border,' said Kenenitz. 'Evil does not stop itself. Right now we are watching the forces of evil spreading their terror. 'The world has just let this guy use Eastern Europe as a personal playground. We watch it from thousands of miles away but there is a very real threat to western ideals democracy and freedom to have a good life, a free life," said As an educator, Kenenitz said it has always been his mission to help provide a better life for his students - 'to guarantee success for them' - but now he feels he has failed in his mission because of the 'unchecked cruelty of one person.' 'Vladimir Putin,' he says, tears welling in his eyes. The deep emotional ties to Ukraine is something Duda-Holoviak understands well. 'We refer to non-Ukrainians as Americans,' she says. 'But of course we are Americans. We are our own little village.' As a child, at age 5, Holoviak, now 58, said she learned how to write Cyrillic before she was taught English. Today, she says her two boys, 19 and 13, are more Ukrainian than she is. 'My kids are making plans to go fight in Ukraine. I say go ahead. They want to be heroes,' she said with a smile. 'Seeing war in Ukraine, to see the damage, it's heartbreaking and senseless. Ukrainians are winning, holding the mighty Russian army at bay. You cant subdue the people, you wont break the back of [the Ukrainian] people,' Duda-Holoviak adds. 'Evil does not stop itself. Right now we are watching the forces of evil spreading their terror, says Matthew Kenenitz, pictured with a group of students he was teaching in Lviv, Ukraine Rev. Petro Zvarych (left), and Deacon Paul Spotts (at lectern) lead Sunday church services at St. Michael's Ukrainian Church in Frackville Frackville is a little more than 100 miles north west of Philadelphia in Schuylkill County which has the highest percentage of people of Ukrainian descent in the country Stan, (right) , a self-described 'old warrior,' says he believes U.S. military action may be necessary in Ukraine> He is with the Rev. Petro Zvarych (left), and Deacon Paul Spotts at St. Michael's Ukrainian Church in Frackville Area churches are collecting money through the Ukrainian Homestead, an organization celebrating heritage and culture. Holoviak added, community leaders are encouraging people to donate to the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (ZUDAK). Frackville is in Schuylkill County which has a higher percentage of people claiming Ukrainian heritage than any other county in the country On Sunday morning, outside St. Michael's Ukrainian Church in Frackville, Paul Hancher, 85, comes to pray for the embattled nation. 'Ukraine, its in my blood. My father was from Ukraine,' Hancher said. 'All we can do is pray for them, other than sacrifice ourselves over there, thats it.' Another parishioner named Stan, said he joined the U.S. military at age 17 and that its time for the U.S. to take stronger action in Ukraine. 'There's people like myself, old warriors who are ready to go. Its time, whether it be economic pressure or military pressure. Time for talk is over,' he said. Rev. Petro Zvarych, who leads the church, opened with a prayer for his country, afraid for many in his family , including his sister and father, who live in Lviv. Paula Duda-Holoviak, the founder and co-director of the Kazka Ukrainian Folk Ensemble, shows a 1916 picture of her grandparents. Her grandfather came to the United States from Ukraine in 1898 Matthew Kenenitz and Father Paul Makar of the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Church in West Easton, Pennsylvania, make their message clear 'We ask that God watch over Ukraine and its people,' he says. 'I want to cry but deep in my heart I am praying God will watch over Ukraine to stop this invasion.' His colleague, Deacon Paul Spotts, a third-generation Ukrainian, said he wants the West to do more to help. 'I am very disappointed in the rest of the world as they do nothing.' I am heartbroken for Ukraine. This is Stalin all over again Rosemarie Duda, 84 For Kenenitz, who continues to get hourly updates from his students in Ukraine, he says he just wants his students to have the life they deserve. 'I just want to cry because they should have so much more in life. They should have so many more opportunities. This should not be their day to day existence. They wonder every day if there is a home to come back to.' And now as the war with Russia enters its second week, Kenenitz hopes to continue virtual classes to talk and exchange ideas and is already plotting his return to Ukraine via Poland to help in the rebuilding efforts, whenever it comes. His students encouraged him to leave earlier this month but told him not to worry. 'Ukraine will always be here, they said. We will be here waiting for you.' Schoolchildren in California, Oregon and Washington will no longer be required to wear masks as part of new indoor mask policies the Democratic governors of all three states announced jointly on Monday. 'With declining case rates and hospitalizations across the West, California, Oregon and Washington are moving together to update their masking guidance,' the governors said in a statement. There are more than 7.5 million school-age children across the three states. The new guidance will make face coverings a recommendation rather than a requirement at most indoor places in California starting Tuesday and at schools on March 12, regardless of vaccination status. In Washington and Oregon, all the requirements will lift on March 12. Federal mask requirements will still apply in high-risk indoor settings such as public transportation, airports and taxis. Rules for other high-risk indoor settings could also vary by state. The milestone, two years in the making, comes as much of the country relaxes public health orders, including school mask mandates, in an effort to restore normalcy and boost economic recovery. The changes reflect a growing sense that the virus is not going away and Americans need to learn to live with it. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, announced Sunday that the state's masking requirements in schools would be lifted by March 2. New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and others recently made similar adjustments to ease restrictions for schools. Hawaii stands alone in the nation in sticking with a statewide mandate after Governor David Ige said Friday that Hawaii will not be following the new CDC guidance on masks. California will stop requiring masks in K-12 schools as of March 12, leaving it up to counties and school districts to keep or ditch the the pandemic mandate as tension mounts among parents, who are divided over whether or not face coverings should stay on kids State officials from California, Washington and Oregon announced the end of school mask mandates on March 12 on Twitter after other states have dropped theirs in recent weeks following low averages of newly reported COVID cases and deaths in the U.S. The announcements signal a turning point that is poignant in its timing, coming almost exactly two years after American cities began shutting down to prevent COVID-19s spread. California was the first state to announce a shutdown with stay-at-home orders in March 2020, followed soon after by other states. 'Two years ago today, we identified Oregon's first case of COVID-19,' Oregon Governor Kate Brown said in the statement. 'On the West Coast our communities and economies are linked. Together, as we continue to recover from the Omicron surge, we will build resiliency and prepare for the next variant and the next pandemic.' Earlier this month, California became the first state to formally shift to an endemic approach to the coronavirus with Governor Gavin Newsom's announcement of a plan that emphasizes prevention and quick reaction to outbreaks over mandated masking and business shutdowns. Newsom has come under growing pressure from Republicans and other critics to ease the school mandate, which has increasingly become a polarizing issue among parents in California. While many parents still support wearing masks in schools, others have questioned why it's necessary when they are no longer required to do so in supermarkets and elsewhere. Parents who are part of the California Parent Power group, a parent-led organization centering the voices of students and families in public education and claiming to ' helping reimagine education reform in California', have asked for the state's mask mandate to be dropped as early as tomorrow, instead of next month. 'For the past two years California has treated children in a way that doesn't correspond to their low risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19. We already know a year-plus of school closures has caused significant academic and emotional harm to children,' CA Parent Power Executive Director Megan Bacigalupi said in a statement. 'Masking is not without harm to many children, as it impairs the ability to read facial emotions, makes early literacy teaching much more difficult, is likely contributing to speech delays, and impedes speech therapy. Given all of this, mask mandates in schools should be the first to be lifted, not the last,' she added. Parents in school counties across California have pressured Governor Newsom to end mask mandates in schools earlier than the March 12 deadline, including those who are part of the California Parent Power group - a parent-led organization centering the voices of students and families in public education and 'helping reimagine education reform in California' On February 15 California ended an indoor mask requirement for vaccinated people, but at that time left the rule in place for the unvaccinated and for schoolchildren. Starting Tuesday in California, masks will no longer be required but 'strongly recommended' for unvaccinated individuals in most indoor settings. The same shift will apply to K-12 schools and child care facilities starting March 12, the statement said. The powerful California Teachers Association said it expected a mixed reaction to the announcement at schools across the country's most populous state. 'Simply put, while some students are ready to immediately remove their masks, others remain very afraid,' CTA President E. Toby Boyd said in a statement. The union has more than 300,000 members. 'Change is never easy, and today's announcement is bound to disrupt and destabilize school communities.' A handful of California school districts have already dropped mask mandates for students in recent weeks in open defiance of the state mandate. The West Coast announcements come after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased the federal mask guidance Friday, essentially saying the majority of Americans don't need to wear masks in many indoor public places, including schools. The new CDC guidance bases recommendations for restrictions such as masking on a new set of measures, with less focus on positive test results and more on what's happening at hospitals. Under the new system, the CDC said that more than 70 percent of Americans live in places where the coronavirus poses a low or medium threat to hospitals and therefore can stop wearing masks in most indoor places. Of the most populous counties in California, Los Angeles County and San Diego County were the only two where indoor masking is still recommended for residents. The CDC had endorsed universal masking in schools regardless of virus levels in the community since July, but it now recommends masks in schools only in counties at high risk. Six states didn't have any counties where residents are still recommended by the CDC to follow indoor masking protocols: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. But other states had more than 75 percent of residents living in a county considered to have a 'high' community level: Kentucky, West Virginia, Maine and Montana. Washington Governor Jay Inslee said health officials will announce new guidance for schools next week to give them time to prepare. 'Many businesses and families will continue choosing to wear masks,' he said. 'As we transition to this next phase, we will continue to move forward together carefully and cautiously.' The total amount of daily COVID-19 cases in the U.S. has gone back to levels seen before the first numbers of the highly infectious omicron strain were reported, helping to lower hospitalizations, the number of patients in intensive-care units and the daily death toll. The U.S. has recorded an estimated 65,858 cases per day, decreasing by 62 percent from two weeks ago, according to the CDC, as cases caused by the omicron strain continue to decrease from its peak in January. There has been an average of 52,909 hospitalizations a day, down 43 percent from two weeks ago. Deaths are also starting to fall, down 24 percent to an average of 1,867 a day. The number of Americans in ICUs is down 42 percent to 10,033 a day. A police officer's son accused of murdering schoolboy Rikki Neave has denied having an unhealthy interest in dead birds and young children in underwear. James Watson was only 13 at the time it is alleged he killed six-year-old Rikki in Peterborough on November 28 1994. The little boy was found strangled, stripped and posed in a star shape in woodland the next day. Watson, now 40, was charged with Rikki's murder after his DNA was allegedly found on the youngster's discarded clothes. Jurors at the Old Bailey have heard that he was seen with the victim on the morning of November 28, when both children should have been at school. A police officer's son accused of murdering schoolboy Rikki Neave has denied having an unhealthy interest in dead birds and young children. James Watson (left) was only 13 at the time it is alleged he killed six-year-old Rikki in Peterborough on November 28 1994 Giving evidence on Monday, Watson told jurors that was the 'first and only time' he had met Rikki. The defendant also dismissed allegations that he was interested in dead birds and images of young children in underwear. Watson was taken into care after his father, a serving police officer with Cambridgeshire Police, was arrested and subsequently jailed, the court was told. He could not stay with his mother instead because of the person she was living with, the jury was told. Watson said: 'It was not my fault that I had to leave and go into care.' He hated school and would play truant 'an awful lot'. 'I did not fit in. I did not like having to sit there for hours. I didn't have any friends at school,' he said. After being dropped off at school by taxi, he would walk around, sometimes at a shopping centre, before getting picked up for the journey back to the children's home, jurors heard. He denied ever going into the home of Rikki and his family on the Welland estate in Peterborough. Watson also denied a former girlfriend's evidence that he once killed a sparrow with a stone, saying: 'All my life I have always liked animals, and birds in particular.' Watson, now 40, was charged with Rikki's murder after his DNA was allegedly found on the youngster's discarded clothes He told jurors that he later became involved in animal rights when he and a boyfriend lived in Cambridge. He added that he had always wanted to be a vet but did not have the qualifications, and was 'really proud' that he passed an Open University course in animal care while in prison. His lawyer, Jennifer Dempster QC, asked about a claim that he kept a 'bespoke' clothing catalogue, featuring young children in underwear, in his room when he was in care. Watson replied: 'Absolutely not.' Ms Dempster said: 'If you had a Littlewoods-type catalogue did you have that for any purpose connected with looking at pictures of children?' Watson dismissed the suggestion as 'crazy' and insisted he had no interest in that type of material. On the claim that he kept the carcass of a pheasant in his room at the same children's home, Watson said he was against 'animal cruelty' but found the iridescence of pheasant feathers 'fascinating'. Earlier, in an opening address, Ms Dempster told jurors there are three issues in the defence case. A map showing the distance between Rikki's home and the wood where his body was found Firstly, she highlighted the difficulty in pinpointing the time of Rikki's death. The second issue is whether the jury can be sure that Watson killed Rikki 'given the state of the evidence'. Ms Dempster said it is 'incontrovertibly' proven that Watson had met Rikki and there were a 'few minutes' of interaction. But there is 'simply no evidence' that he was in the woods for some two hours, during which time it is alleged he killed, stripped and posed Rikki. Thirdly, Rikki's body was found by a police officer the next day, shortly after noon. Yet, Ms Dempster said, another officer had searched the path where he was found just after 7.30pm the night before and Rikki was not there. The defence lawyer suggested that if that was right, Rikki or his body was moved there under cover of darkness. The 'major consequence' of that would be to rule out Watson, as he would already have got his taxi back to the children's home, she asserted. Watson, of no fixed address, denies murder and the trial continues. The body of a man has been found floating off a beach by shocked locals on their morning walk. Police were called to Lady Robinsons Beach in Brighton-Le-Sands about 9.30am on Monday after beachgoers made the grim discovery. The body was retrieved by police and a crime scene established. The body of a man has been found floating in the water near Lady Robinsons Beach in Brighton-Le-Sands, south Sydney (pictured, police establish a crime scene) 'The body has not been formally identified, however is believed to be a man,' police said. 'A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner and the circumstances surrounding the death are being investigated.' Police believe the man took his own life and could not provide any more details. Sunrise host Natalie Barr has found herself standing knee-deep in the swollen Brisbane River while reporting on Queensland's deadly floods. 'When we set up this morning we were on dry land, as we have been standing here, this is how much it has risen,' Ms Barr said live on TV. The camera then panned down to show water coming up to the top of Ms Barr's boots. Eight people have died and hundreds have been rescued from floodwaters which have so far damaged at least 19,000 homes and won't fully recede for days. Ms Barr said many stressed residents are asking why Wivenhoe dam is still releasing water Brisbane copped the wettest week since records began in 1840, with 19,000 homes damaged Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said much of the wider region is devastated 'The water was way back there it wasn't anywhere near us, and it has come back here and is now nearly up to my knees.' 'We have had people coming up to us very frustrated asking "when is this going to end, why are they still releasing water from Wivenhoe dam?",' Ms Barr said. 'The Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk is saying, Brisbane get used to flooding for the next week, because they have to release the dam in the next six to seven days.' But Ms Palaszczuk has reassured residents that it a safe and necessary for the Wivenhoe dam to continue releasing water downstream into the Brisbane area. 'What we've seen is those extraordinary levels of water going into our SEQ grid, but also into Wivenhoe as well,' Ms Palaszczuk said. Many people are distressed, who can't leave their homes or defiantly not wanting to leave 'We had an inquiry following the 2011 floods, the dam manuals have been updated and I have been absolutely assured that those dam manuals are being followed and that means controlled releases. That is safety for SEQ residents.' Yet Ms Barr said there are many Queenslanders under a lot of strain. 'They are already under so much stress, tens of thousands of people dealing with their homes underwater,' Ms Barr said. 'It's a terrible situation - many, many people still sitting in their homes, defiant, they don't want to leave, or they can't leave as there's not many places to go.' Major flooding is under way on the Brisbane, Logan, Bremer and Mary rivers, and Warrill Creek after the torrential downpours of the past week. More than 1.77m of rain fell on Mount Glorious, 1.55m at Pomona on the Sunshine Coast and 1.23m at Upper Springbrook on the Gold Coast in seven days. Brisbane copped 795mm - the city's wettest week since records began in 1840 - with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying much of the wider region is devastated. Former President Trump appealed a New York judge's order for him and his two eldest children to testify as part of a civil investigation into his business practices on Monday. Lawyers for Trump, Don Jr. and Ivanka filed papers for a review from state apellate court after Judge Arthur Engoron compelled them to testify in a Feb. 17 ruling. The ruling gave the Trumps 21 days to appear, and the appeal is likely to back up the fight over the former president's testimony for months. The lawyers argue ordering the Trumps to testify violates their constitutional rights because anything Trump says in a civil deposition could be used against him in the criminal probe being overseen by the Manhattan district attorneys office. At a hearing prior to Engorons decision, Trumps lawyers argued that having him sit for a civil deposition is an improper attempt to get around a state law barring prosecutors from calling someone to testify before a criminal grand jury without giving them immunity. A federal judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump all must provide depositions in a civil fraud case Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump, Don Jr., and Ivana must appear within 21 days A lawyer for the attorney generals office told Engoron that it wasnt unusual to have civil and criminal investigations proceeding at the same time, and Engoron rejected a request from lawyers for the Trumps to pause the civil probe until the criminal matter is over. Last summer, spurred by evidence uncovered in James civil investigation, the Manhattan district attorneys office charged Weisselberg and the Trump Organization with tax fraud, alleging he collected more than $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation. Weisselberg and the company have pleaded not guilty. The future of the criminal probe was thrown into question last week when the two prosecutors leading it abruptly quit. New York AG Letitia James argued that all possess vital information about Trump's business dealings and assets. She has already accused Trump of boosting valuations on financial statements when seeking lending. Trump is no stranger to depositions he answered questions for 4 1/2 hours last year in a case brought by men who claimed they were assaulted by security at Trump Tower. His other adult son, Eric Trump, previously testified in the civil case and repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment rights more than 500 times, according to a filing by James' office. Don Jr. and Eric ran the Trump Organization along with now-indicted executive Allen Weisselberg while Trump was serving as president. The decision comes after a bombshell filing Monday that revealed Trump's longtime accounting firm Mazars USA had quit and that 10 years of financial statements could not be relied on. While undoubtedly helpful for prosecutors, James has already been able to obtain a trove of information through subpoenas and interviews with other company officials. She was able to obtain a wealth of tax and financial information from Trump's longtime accounting firm, Mazars, following a case that went to the Supreme Court. The ruling came down on a day when James, who is up for reelection, took a victory lap at the state Democratic Party convention in Manhattan, blasting former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and vowing she would not be 'bullied.' 'Today, justice prevailed,' James said in a statement. 'Donald J. Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., and Ivanka Trump have been ordered by the court to comply with our lawful investigation into Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization's financial dealings. No one will be permitted to stand in the way of the pursuit of justice, no matter how powerful they are. No one is above the law,' she added. Trump this week accused James of 'vicious intimidation tactics' against his longtime firm, after Mazars said it could no longer rely on a decade's worth of financial statements it worked on for him and announced it was ending its relationship with the company. Ivanka Trump had an option to purchase a Park Avenue apartment leased to her by her father's company for $8.5 million, according to the court order seeking testimony filed by the AG's office. But the firm listed its value as high as $25 million in financial statements Ivanka had an option to purchase the Park Avenue apartment for $8.5 million, according to the court order seeking testimony filed by the AG's office, after leasing it on 'extraordinarily favorable terms'. Ivanka is seen in the apartment with two of her kids Trump said they were 'essentially forced to resign from a great long-term account by the prosecutorial misconduct.' Trump in his statement goes on to provide dollar figures for cash and marketable securities, escrow, reserve deposits and other categories he says lead to a net worth of $5.8 billion. Earlier Thursday, Trump lawyer Alina Habba used a hearing in the former president's alleged fraud case to accuse District Attorney Letitia James of going after him 'probably because he can win again in '24.' The Bedminster, New Jersey-based lawyer also took the opportunity to accuse Trump's 2016 rival Hillary Clinton of 'spying' on his campaign. Channeling Trump's tone in his frequent online statements and his demands to investigate his investigators, she told James and another lawyer for the state AG's office: 'I want to know ... are you going to go after Hillary Clinton for what she's doing to my client?' Lawyers for the Trumps asked the appellate court Monday to consider three questions: - whether James' office is violating their rights by issuing subpoenas for their testimony while also participating in the criminal investigation; - whether protections for grand jury witnesses under state law, such as immunity, can be 'eviscerated, if the same agency involved in the criminal investigation simply opens a `civil investigation into the very same matters'; - and whether Engoron erred in rejecting the Trumps' contention that James has engaged in selective prosecution. Engoron, in his ruling, said the thousands of pages of evidence hes reviewed in the case shows theres sufficient basis for continuing the investigation and undercuts 'the notion that this ongoing investigation is based on personal animus, not facts and law.' Advertisement The most expensive home in the nation - which boasts five swimming pools, a 30-car garage, a bowling alley and more - went up for auction on Monday after failing to sell on the market for $295 million. Dubbed 'The One,' the 105,000-square-foot Bel Air estate could fetch the highest price tag in US history if it surpasses the $238 million that hedge-fund billionaire Ken Griffith spent on a Manhattan penthouse in 2019. Bidding on the opulant property started at 4pm on Monday through Concierge Auctions, and will run until Thursday. It has been listed at $295M - its previous asking price - and has no reserve. The infamous White Elephant estate - which took eight years to build and was once priced at $500 million - has been a money pit since hitting the market last year and falling into foreclosure. Although the opulent estate is undeniably impressive, some have raised concerns about undisclosed construction flaws and zoning code violations, the Los Angeles Times reported. Other possible red flags include a missing occupancy permit, although a realtor representing the property dismissed critics as 'unhappy people.' 'You know, really this is not for me, or you,' co-listing agent Rayni Williams of the agency Williams& Williams told the Times. 'This is for the one per cent of the world, and were not the one per cent of the world.' A 105,000-square-foot megamansion known as The One is going up for auction Monday after failing to net the $295 million asking price on the open market While most people would be happy with one pool, the Bel Air estate boasts five swimming pools A listing agent stated the obvious when commenting that the house wasn't likely to be snapped up by a commoner. 'You know, really this is not for me, or you,' Rayni Williams said. 'This is for the one per cent of the world, and were not the one per cent of the world' Other features of the home include a movie theatre, 'philanthropy wing' for charity galas, a nightclub, an outdoor running track, and a 4,000 square foot guest house. The home's 4,000-foot master bathroom includes a sprawling walk-in closet and private pool. Despite the home's size, it shouldn't be difficult to track down a bathroom. After all, there are 49 of them. Branden Williams, who is also representing the estate along with the Aaron Kirman Group at Compass, called the property 'a modern masterpiece.' 'Its four acres at the top of a mountain in Bel-Air, and it can never be built again,' the seller asserted. With that said, Hollywood producer-turned-developer Nile Niami, 53, who set out on building the house in 2013 with the help of 600 contracted workers, probably wishes it never was. During its construction, the home was billed by Niami as the 'biggest and most expensive modern home in America.' What's more, the ex-Hollywood exec reportedly was convinced he could secure an asking price of $500 million for the impressive estate - a prediction that would leave the the producer of films like The Patriot and Point Blank hopelessly disappointed. Other features of the home include a movie theatre, 'philanthropy wing' for charity galas, a nightclub, an outdoor running track, and a 4,000 square foot guest house An indoor lap pool is pictured inside the estate, where floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light An indoor bowling alley is yet another feature of the home, complete with digital score boards and lounge areas Branden Williams, who is also representing the property, called the home 'a modern masterpiece.' He said: 'Its four acres at the top of a mountain in Bel-Air, and it can never be built again' A colorful glass sculpture stands erected outside the home, which took eight years to build The sprawling home took eight years to build and once once marketed for $340 million Niami hired renowned architect Paul McLean and interior designer Kathryn Rotondi to bring his vision to life on five acres in the hills overlooking Los Angeles, but cost overruns left him in massive debt to the tune of $180 million. Niami, known as 'The King of LA mega-mansions,' filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for his Crestlloyd company in October, after he defaulted on a $106 million debt owed to Hankey Capital. The palatial estate was subsequently placed into receivership - a form of foreclosure - last year after being listed for $340 million in January of that year. At that point, the home was pulled from auction, after ten months on the market. Following the foreclosure, the sale of the home was subsequently blocked until November 29. It finally made its return to the market on Friday - with its price slashed by $45 million. Now, insiders familiar with the court proceedings say it will have to sell for at least $200 million just to cover the costs. If the newly listed property fails to collect that price, lenders will either be forced to sell below the asking price and take a loss or direct the property into further foreclosure proceedings. It is currently being shown by court-appointed receiver Ted Lanes, who now controls the property and is in charge of finding a buyer and paying off the lenders and other creditors. With that said, lenders and brokers say that the property's second listing Friday comes at an ideal time, with luxury real estate in Los Angeles currently a hot commodity. Sales of properties priced at $10 million or more doubled in 2021 compared to 2019, prior to the pandemic, with a total of 312 sales, according to real estate appraiser Miller Samuel. Working from home won't be a problem at The One, where office space is plentiful Circular seating within a moat offers panoramic views of the mountains and forests The home was built by Hollywood producer-turned-developer Nile Niami, 53 in 2013 with the help of 600 contracted workers The ex-Hollywood exec reportedly was convinced he could secure an asking price of $500 million for the impressive estate And the home itself, boasting 21 bodacious bedrooms and 42 bathrooms, is nothing to sneeze at, even by luxurious LA standards. Designed by architect Paul McLean and decorated by interior designer Kathryn Rotondi, The structure is surrounded by a moat on three sides and 'appears to float above the city,' Architectural Digest wrote last year in a profile of the contemporary castle. The mansion even possesses its own beauty salon, which boasts bright red walls and opaque shampoo stations. Despite the opulence, McLean and Rotondi, who were enlisted by Niami to construct the structure, said that wanted to create a house that was light, bright, and low fuss. 'We wanted to provide that quintessential L.A. living but on a bigger scale. To allow the home to feel livable,' McLean stated last year. Interior pictures show the home features floor to ceiling windows letting in the California sunshine. The mansion even possesses its own beauty salon, which boasts bright red walls and opaque shampoo stations Insiders familiar with the court proceedings say it will have to sell for at least $200 million just to cover the costs The home includes 21 bodacious bedroom, 42 bathrooms, and a range of open-concept living spaces During its construction, the home was billed by Niami as the 'biggest and most expensive modern home in America' There's no shortage of breathtaking views from a number of vantage points Pictured: A woman's walk-in closet in the 4,000 square-foot master bathroom, which also includes a private pool The Los Angeles skyline is visible from the well-manicured grounds of the estate Niami first purchased the land where 'The One' now stands in 2012 for $28 million from Rita Kogan, the late video game heiress and daughter of Space Invaders creator Michael Kogan. The former producer reportedly took out millions of dollars in loans to fund the lavish project. Now, more than a hundred million of dollars and a decade later, the home is still unfinished, and a buyer would need to cough up millions - and likely spend months mired in construction - just to make property livable. Bidding was set to open Monday at 4 pm PST and is scheduled to close March 3. The Russian embassy to Australia's Facebook page has been inundated with pro-Ukrainian posts, after the Sydney consulate was the scene of heated confrontations. Recent posts and social media updates by the embassy on the situation in Ukraine have been targeted Ukraine loyalists and trolls. The embassy last published a post on Thursday where the aide to former Russian culture minister Vladimir Medinsky relayed a message calling for 'peace talks'. It didn't take long for the post to be swarmed, with one Ukraine supporter writing, 'Putin has blood on his hands. He needs to go'. The attacks on the Russian Embassy's Facebook page come after pro-Russian and pro-Ukraine protesters clashed outside the Sydney consulate over the weekend (pictured) Ukraine protesters took to the streets of Sydney to demonstrate against Putin's invasion The Russian embassy (pictured) to Australia's Facebook page has been inundated with pro-Ukrainian posts, after the Sydney consulate was the scene of heated confrontations Another said: 'Are you really aiming to achieve peace? Or is this another opportunistic situation to take advantage of the other side like your historical actions?' 'Happy for my taxpayer dollars to pay for weapons aimed at Russian invaders while you pretend to negotiate,' a third wrote. One user commented: 'Do the Russians love their children too? Regardless of ideology, we share the same biology.' 'De-escalate the situation please. Have troops return to the Russian border. Stand down the nuclear threat. Work for peace.' The attacks occurred on the embassy's Facebook page, where recent posts and social media updates by the embassy on the situation developing in Ukraine has been bombarded with comments from Ukraine loyalists and trolls One user commented: 'Do the Russians love their children too? Regardless of ideology, we share the same biology.' 'De-escalate the situation please. Have troops return to the Russian border. Stand down the nuclear threat. Work for peace' The embassy, who have not responded to the online attacks, last published a post on Thursday where the aide to former Russian culture minister Vladimir Medinsky relayed a message calling for 'peace talks' 'Pathetic country and culture. A s**tstain on the underpants of humanity,' added a Ukraine supporter on another post. One individual called on fellow supporters to 'egg' the embassy. Others shared images and GIFS with the Ukrainian flag. The responses on the page ranged from calling the nation 'fascists' and 'propagandists' to 'hypocrites' and 'liars'. The Facebook page s also been bombarded with one star ratings, and while it has not responded numerous comments have been deleted. It didn't take long for the post to be swarmed by pro-Ukraine supporters, with one writing, 'Putin has blood on his hands. He needs to go' The responses on the page ranged from calling the nation 'fascists' to 'propagandists' to 'hypocrites' The swarming of comments on social media comes as pro-Russian and pro-Ukraine protesters clashed over the weekend. Putin supporters outside the Sydney consulate holding pro-Russian signs were confronted by pro-Ukrainian protesters, while the CBD was home to a large anti-war demonstration. A fringe group of Russian patriots in Australia, some of whom were spotted at the protests on the weekend, are fervently backing the invasion of Ukraine. As western allies including Australia back financial sanctions against Russia and its wealthy oligarchs, members of a Sydney-based self-styled military group who hold meetings in Soviet-style uniforms and a bikie club known as 'Putin's Angels' are staunchly defending the Russian President. They claim Ukraine is the aggressor and Putin is recognising self-proclaimed republics in the area of Donbass in southeastern Ukraine, the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), some of whose territory has been occupied by pro-Russian separatist groups since 2014. Simeon 'The Aussie Cossack' Boikov of Cabramatta in western Sydney leads a self-styled military unit called Australian Cossacks or Zabaikal Cossack Society of Australia Australian Night Wolves' Sasha Duganov (left of above left), with global bikie group president, Alexander Zaldostanov, and (above right) Russian Australians dressed in uniforms and mocked up their cars as tanks Simeon 'The Aussie Cossack' Boikov of Cabramatta in western Sydney leads a self-styled military unit called Australian Cossacks or Zabaikal Cossack Society of Australia. Boikov claims the President's aim is the 'demilitarisation and de-Nazification' of Ukraine, which had been waging a war of its own with missile strikes and killing civilians' who speak Russian' for the last eight years. The Russian nationalist activist publishes a monthly newspaper in Australia printed in Russian, The Russian Frontier, campaigned but did not eventually run as an independent in the Strathfield by-election. On his Youtube channel he described Russia versus Ukraine as 'Z' (the symbol on Russian tanks) v 'The Elites' and claims it's a welcome distraction for politicians like Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and US President Joe Biden. Sydney-based group The West United For Russia, also campaigns against Ukraine and against sanctions on its Facebook page with photos of Australians waving flags and wearing T-shirts with the hashtag #IStandWithRussia. The West United for Russia is a group which protests against sanctions taken out by allies to punish Russia at time when it is actively at war with Ukraine After unintentionally posting a story announcing Ukraine's defeat, Russian state-run news outlets had to scramble. The article was swiftly removed, but not before numerous social media users caught wind of it and translated it. According to Google Translate, the article published by RIA Novosti stated incorrectly that "Ukraine has returned to Russia...It will be reorganized, re-established, and returned to its natural state as part of the Russian world...[Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine will now act] in geopolitical terms as a single whole..." Report About Russia's Victory Is False Per Newsweek, the story is false and was most likely crafted in advance for publication before being unintentionally released. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is still going on. Although Russian and Ukrainian officials started peace talks on Monday, the discussions and armed confrontation continue, as Western nations continue to impose economic and diplomatic sanctions on Russia. In other words, the essay said that ethnic Russians need to unite since individuals of mixed races and ethnicities cannot dominate Europe. The story was supposed to go live at about 8 am. According to The Internet Archive, the story was published on February 26. Though RIA Novosti swiftly removed it, Pakistan's Frontier Post, Scotland's The Scotsman, and other foreign news sites quickly reported on the gaffe. With additional British anti-tank missiles being delivered practically daily, hero Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Boris Johnson with a "shopping list" of weapons required to fight Putin's soldiers. According to the PM, the latest consignment of weaponry would be flown out to Poland and pushed into Ukraine in "hours and days," The Sun reported. Read Also: Joe Biden: US Should Not Fear Nuclear War Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis UK To Send Weapons to Ukraine The Prime Minister will go to Poland and Estonia today to speak with British troops stationed on NATO's eastern flank. He noted last night that these are two nations that are most affected by Ukraine's present issue. As the humanitarian situation worsens, we have common ideals that are more crucial than ever to safeguard. When we say, "Putin must fail," we speak with one voice. According to Western diplomats, Putin's stumbling Russian offensive has already deployed half of the soldiers he had amassed on Ukraine's border since last October. They are concerned, however, that as the Kremlin despot grows upset with the sluggish pace of his invasion, he would resort to more "indiscriminate" shelling and bombing. One official lashed out at the isolated Kremlin chief, suggesting he was not listening to advice, saying Putin had "stirred up a hornet's nest but also underestimated the capacity of the Ukrainians to fight." Meanwhile, over 100,000 Ukrainians escaping the invasion will be permitted to enter the United Kingdom, according to Priti Patel. Even if they do not fit the standard visa conditions, the Home Secretary stated that immediate family, partners, and children under the age of 18 of British and Ukrainians currently in the country would be allowed to enter. Despite pleas from MPs, she said these applications would be a priority, but she would not waive all visas due to security concerns. There are serious concerns that Russian criminals or operatives may take advantage of the check-free entry to the UK. Instead, humanitarian assistance will be focused on assisting displaced persons in neighboring countries to return home as soon as possible. More than 500,000 Ukrainian refugees have already left, according to the UN. The bombing of Kharkiv, which killed scores of people, has been branded as a war crime by Ukraine's president. Eyewitness stories of people being purposefully targeted during Monday's onslaught on Ukraine's second-largest city, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. According to human rights organizations, war crimes may have happened during Russia's incursion. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is considering conducting its own inquiry following the claims. Russia is invading Ukraine on numerous fronts as part of its invasion, but Ukrainian resistance has delayed its approach, as per BBC. Related Article: North Korea Says Russia-Ukraine War's Root Cause Is Not Territorial Dispute But US' Sanctions; More Than 520,000 Refugees Flee Kyiv @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Australia will have more floods, bushfires and droughts and stands to lose entire ecosystems to climate change, a major international report warns. Scientists who wrote the Australasian chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report say that the nation is barrelling towards a future that will be full of disasters like the floods causing chaos in NSW and Queensland. They found Australia is lagging when it comes to planning and executing strategies to adapt to the risks climate change will deliver. National progress on adaptation is uneven, the report says, citing a lack of consistent policy direction and 'competing objectives'. Australia is poised to endure a number of floods, bushfires and droughts over the coming years and also stand to lose entire ecosystems to climate change, a major international report has warned (pictured, a firefighter working on the Sydney bushfires in 2019) Scientists also say that the nation is facing a future that will be full of natural disasters like the floods causing chaos in NSW and Queensland (pictured, a dead sheep in NSW after the droughts in 2018) The IPCC report, representing a large-scale review of global warming research, also warns some species and ecosystems are approaching the limit of their capacity to adapt. The Great Barrier Reef and snow-dependent plant and animal species in Australia's Alpine region are said to be at critical thresholds, with limited scope for adaptation. 'The region faces an extremely challenging future. Reducing the risks would require significant and rapid emission reductions to keep global warming to 1.5C to 2C, as well as robust and timely adaptation,' the report says. 'The projected warming under current global emissions reduction policies would leave many of the region's human and natural systems at very high risk and beyond adaptation limits.' Mark Howden, a professor at the Australian National University and vice-chair of the working group that compiled the report, said Australians must acknowledge that climate change is already here, affecting almost every aspect of life on every continent. He said it's embedded in extreme weather events like the current floods and in the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20. Prof Howden said Australia could still help get the world off its current path towards warming of more than 2C and possibly as high as 3C. 'We can go on a high emissions trajectory which leads us to extraordinary degrees of climate change, effectively equivalent to an ice age - but in reverse. 'Or we can go on a low emissions trajectory, a trajectory that's consistent with the Paris agreement.' The current floods in Queensland and NSW have left several people either dead, missing or facing an uncertain future (pictured, an overturned car in Toowoomba recently) He urged Australia's political leaders to 'listen to the people', saying 90 per cent of Australians are hungry for more aggressive action to combat climate change. In the flooded NSW city of Lismore, resident Maddy-Rose Braddon is furious. She spent Monday helping victims salvage possessions from homes swallowed by a so-called 'rain bomb' - the type of intense rainfall event the IPCC report says will be more frequent in Australia as the climate warms. 'We've never had a flood like this. People in two-storey houses are stranded on their rooftops. People have drowned in their cars,' Ms Braddon said. 'We don't need another report to tell us what we already know. Climate change is destroying our homes. We had once-in-a-century floods five years ago, and now we're having them again. The floods in Queensland in particular have been relentless, with experts declaring it the biggest downpour in 30 years (pictured, a woman trapped in south-east Queensland on Monday) AAP sought comment from the offices of the prime minister, environment minister and emissions reduction minister. The Scott Morrison-led government has promised to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 under a plan that relies on a technology-led economic evolution to cut emissions, capture and store them, or offset them, while allowing coal and gas exports to continue as long as there is demand. Mr Morrison faced heavy international criticism at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow last year for not ramping up Australia's 2030 emissions target - one of the big appeals to avoid runaway climate change. The conference ended with a call for all countries to return to the negotiating table in 2022 with stronger 2030 targets. An Australian Covid expert has warned new data shows the Pfizer vaccine offers very little protection against infection for young children. New York Health Department researchers found the two-dose Pfizer shot was only 12 percent effective at preventing Omicron infection in children aged five to 11 after only a month. Protection against catching the virus was about 67 per cent after the second jab, but dropped rapidly by 28 to 34 days. Australian National University professor Peter Collignon discussed the results on his social media, noting the vaccine's ineffectiveness against the dominant strain. 'While protection against hospitalisation is still strong, the vaccine offered almost no protection against infection, even just a month after full vaccination,' he wrote. The study looked at more than a million newly fully vaccinated children in the United States amid the Omicron wave in December and January (stock image) ATAGI recommends everyone five or older get a Covid vaccine - with only Pfizer available for those under five, and both Moderna and Pfizer for six to 11. New York researchers gathered data 852,384 children aged 12 to 17 and 365,502 aged five to 11 for the study. The study, which is pre-print and pending peer-review, gathered data from the Omicron period of the pandemic, from December 2021 and January 2022. Participants in the study were followed up with and compared to general figures from unvaccinated populations. Pfizer's effectiveness at preventing infection dropped from 66 per cent to 51 per cent in older children when up against the Omicron variant - and in younger children dropped from 67 per cent to just 12 per cent. The most dramatic difference in numbers was noted between 11 and 12-year-olds in the week leading up to January 30 where those aged 12 had 67 per cent protection and those aged 11 had just 11 per cent protection. At two vaccine doses immune system response against Omicron is much lower (source: Kirby Institute) 'The difference between the two age groups is striking,' Florian Krammer, an immunologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, said. One major difference between the study groups is the dosage of the vaccine. Children aged 12 and older receive a 30 microgram shot, but only 10 micrograms for the five to 11 age group. 'This is super interesting because it would almost suggest that it's the dose that makes the difference. The question is how to fix that,' Dr Krammer said. The findings have far reaching implications on the use of the vaccines, and whether parents will want to get their children jabbed. Children do not suffer much of a risk from the virus, with hospitalizations and deaths being especially rare. The main argument in favor of vaccinating them is to prevent them from spreading the virus, though these findings imply that the vaccine does little to prevent that. The Omicron variant, though causing less severe symptoms, is far more contagious and more children were hospitalised during this wave than at any other point in the pandemic. Professor Collignon (pictured) said more variants are expected but there are more tools to fight Covid so the consequences are less 'than even a year ago' As well as illness directly from Covid, there is growing evidence of associated conditions that can appear weeks after infection. A study from Italy showed a link to severe gastrointestinal illness in children 4-6 weeks after infection, while in the US more than 7,000 children have been diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a rare but serious condition. While the Omicron wave has largely subsided, experts agree more Covid variants will appear. Pfizer and BioNTech are testing a third vaccine dose in children aged 5 to 11 based on a third dose significantly improving immune system response in adults against Omicron. Several labs around the world are also working on a pan-sarbecovirus vaccine - a single dose vaccine to protect against all future variants of Covid. A Florida man has been arrested for murder for allegedly shooting his girlfriend in the head at a shooting range as part of a botched suicide-pact. Alec Almanzar, 23, had put his head next to Ayadalis Chalas' and pulled the trigger in the hope the bullet would kill them both, police said. But the bullet that killed Chalas, 21, only injured Almanzar who was taken to hospital. He has since been arrested, Holly Hill police Lt. Chris Yates told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. The couple had visited the Hot Shot Shooting Range in Holly Hill back on October 7 and rented a 9mm Glock handgun. 'Basically, they just put their heads together and he shot into her head,' Yates said on Thursday. 'The bullet went through her head into his head.' Pictured: Ayadalis Chalas, 21, was fatally shot, allegedly by her boyfriend Alec Almanzar, as the two visited a shooting range in Florida in October Pictured: the Hot Shot Shooting Range in Holly Hill, Florida, the site of an alleged botched suicide pact between Almanzar and Chalas A safety sign is posted at the shooting range as police investigate the fatal shooting of Ayadalis Chalas, 21 Almanzar was hospitalized at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, until December 15. Once discharged, he left for New York with his family. He was extradited back to Florida last week and brought back to Volusia County, Yates said. Almanzar was charged with second-degree murder with a firearm in the death of his Chalas. He was being held without bail in the Volusia County Branch Jail on Thursday. 'They (Almanzar and his family) knew that the charges were coming down,' Yates said. Chalas, pictured, was found dead on arrival, with her her back on the floor, when authorities arrived to the shooting range on October 7 Chalas, pictured, could be seen in surveillance footage paying with her credit card before the two headed to Lane No. 7, where the shooting reportedly occurred 'Now he is back in our custody and will be facing the charges.' A reason behind the alleged suicide pact was not immediately given, as a suicide note was not found at the scene of the crime. Surveillance video from the shooting range obtained via a warrant request that day shows the couple as they requested two targets and received ear and eye protection, along with a box of ammunition, prior to heading to the designated shooting lanes. Chalas could be seen paying with her credit card before the two headed to Lane No. 7, where the shooting reportedly occurred. The video footage showed Almanzar talking to Chalas as he loaded the firearm and then fired at the targets one at a time, according to the report. Pictured: the location of Holly Hill, Florida, where a man was arrested for murder in connection to his girlfriend's shooting death months after an alleged botched suicide pact Police investigating the crime scene of a shooting death at a Holly Hill shooting range back in October Almanzar initially positioned his head so that the right side of his face was touching the left side of Chalas' head before pulling the trigger, however the gun misfired. He reportedly was then seen on surveillance video checking the gun and looking at Chalas, before firing three shots at the target. Moments later, Almanzar shot into Chalas' head with his head adjacent to hers, Yates added. Chalas was found dead on arrival, with her her back on the floor, when authorities arrived shortly thereafter, while Almanzar was discovered sitting in a chair and holding a compress to his head, according to investigators. Both Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy came out against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for her appearance at a white supremacist event over the weekend. McCarthy, R-Calif., said he plans to speak with the Georgia Republican and Rep. Paul Gosar, who spoke at the event last year and appeared this year in a 30-second pre-recorded video. McCarthy said that Greene should have left the stage after the event's alt-right organizer, Nick Fuentes said in announcing her: 'Can we get a round of applause for Russia?' and the crowd started chanting, 'Putin! Putin! Putin!' 'To me it was appalling and wrong,' McCarthy said, according to CNN.'There's no place in our party for any of this.' 'This is unacceptable,' he added. 'The party should not be associated, any time, any place, with some body who is anti-Semitic,' the California Republican said. McConnell echoed his sentiments in a statement to Politico: 'There's no place in the Republican Party for white supremacists or anti-Semitism.' Fuentes, who has been described as a white supremacist by the Anti-Defamation League, founded AFPAC in 2020 to rival the popular Conservative Political Action Conference, which also held its annual conference over the weekend. As the event's organizer Nick Fuentes introduced Greene, he said: 'Can we get a round of applause for Russia?' and the crowd started chanting, 'Putin! Putin! Putin!' Republican leaders condemned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for appearing at a white nationalist rally Before introducing Greene, Fuentes told the crowd: 'Now they're going on about Russia and Vladimir Putin is Hitler they say that's not a good thing.' He gained infamy for making many anti-Semitic comments, denying the Holocaust happened and opposing women's right to vote. Fuentes was also apart of the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in 2017. In her AFPAC address she claimed that Democrats had destroyed 'gender' and 'pronouns' by adopting trans-inclusive language and told the crowd they must 'fight for the Constitution.' 'You've been handed the responsibility to fight for our Constitution and stand for our freedoms, and stop the Democrats who are the communist party of the United States of America,' Greene said. But the Georgia Republican's appearance at the rally left her increasingly isolated from members of her own party. 'I definitely want to disassociate myself from it,' said Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., told Politico. 'It's unacceptable.' Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, did not mince words in his criticism of Greene and Gosar. 'Morons. I have morons on my team,' Romney said Sunday. Even Trump-era Sec. of State Mike Pompeo called Greene's appearance at the rally 'shameful.' 'Associating with anti-Semitic neo-Nazis is not consistent with the conservative values I've defended for decades. Representative Taylor-Greene playing footsie with Nick Fuentes and his splinter movement is shameful,' Pompeo tweeted. Even fellow far-right congresswoman Lauren Boebert put distance between herself and Greene: 'I do not apologize for other members and what they say or what they do. I do not support white supremacists, like Nick Fuentes, period.' After Greene's remarks at AFPAC, speaker Vincent James Foxx told the crowd, 'They want to replace you.' 'Western white culture is the majority culture, to which even non-whites assimilate into today and they're better off for it.' As Greene exited CPAC, where she also spoke to the crowd, she claimed not to know Fuentes. 'I do not know Nick Fuentes. I have never heard him speak, I have never seen a video. I do not know what his views are so I am not aligned with anything that is controversial,' she told CBS reporter Robert Costa. 'I went to his event last night to address his very large following because it's a very young following and it's a generation I'm extremely concerned about,' she said. And as her appearance at the conference gained media attention, Greene wrote on Twitter: 'I am not going to play the guilt by association game in which you demand every conservative should justify anything ever said by anyone they've ever shared a room with. I'm not going to be drawn into that. I'm only responsible for what I say. So ask me about my speech.' Greene came out as a special guest at Fuentes' AFPAC event to talk about 'god and liberty.' The two are pictured together at Friday's event US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (center) denied knowing white nationalist Nick Fuentes (right) despite taking a picture together with him and right-wing pundit Michelle Malkin during his America First Political Action Conference in Orlando on Friday 'I talked about God and Liberty. I'm also not going to turn down the opportunity to speak to 1,200 young America First patriots because of a few off-color remarks by another speaker, even if I find those remarks unsavory.' 'I want to embrace the young, boisterous and energetic conservatives in our movementnot cancel them like the establishment does. 'I am going to play it. You spoke to a white supremacy group. You are defending your presence there. If this was not bizarro world, you would be the one censured and excommunicated from the GOP. You will lose ultimately, just like Putin. And people will curse your name,' Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., shot back on Twitter. One Republican remains squarely in Greene's camp: Donald Trump. He praised the congresswoman when he took the stage at CPAC, facetiously describing her as 'a person who is very shy, doesn't like speaking her mind, but she does it anyway.' Even Republican National Committee (RNC) chairwoman Ronna McDaniel weighed in on Greene's appearance at the event, saying in a statement: 'White supremacy, neo-Nazism, hate speech and bigotry are disgusting and do not have a home in the Republican Party.' One RNC member suggested on Twitter he would bring up a resolution to censure Greene and Gosar, just as the committee had done for Reps. Kinzinger and Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., for joining the House Jan. 6 committee. McDaniel did not shoot down the idea, but instead suggested on a call with reporters that the next party meeting in August would be the forum to debate that topic. The most flooded postcode in Australia was left off a priority list to better prepare it for natural disasters, as people are rescued from rooftops in the town in its worst-ever flood. Lismore was left off a list of local government areas prioritised to receive Commonwealth money to help with flood preparedness and resilience. The town of about 45,000 people in the northern rivers region of NSW is undergoing one of its worst flood disasters to date after more than 700mm of rain fell in the area on Sunday and Monday. Wilsons River running through Lismore peaked at 14.1m on Monday, above the peaks of around 12m during the town's famous 1954 and 1974 floods, and when rain from Cyclone Debbie inundated the town In 2017. Lismore in northern NSW is the most flooded postcode in Australia yet didn't make a priority list to receive credit towards Commonwealth funding for disaster resilience Locals and emergency services take to small boats to help evacuate people in Lismore on Monday One local said Lismore had experienced 130 floods in 150 years of official flood records Applications for grants of up to $10million under the Preparing Australian Communities opened in December, with results to be announced in March. The program is run by Australia's National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRRA) who announced a list of priority LGAs assessed as having 'high exposure to bushfire, tropical cyclone or flood' which would receive extra points towards receiving one of the grants. Lismore was not on the list, as the ABC reported in November, despite neighbouring LGAs of Byron, Ballina and Clarence Valley appearing as priorities at risk of flood. Resident Richard Trevan from Lismore Citizens Flood Review said at the time the decision was 'crazy'. 'We've had 130 floods in 150 years of official flood records, which means something in the order of a flood about every 14 months,' he said. Shane Stone, the Director General of the NRRA subsequently visited Lismore to meet with Mr Trevan's group. 'There are other funds that they can tap into,' Mr Stone said when asked why Lismore was not considered a priority LGA. 'Projects will be funded based on merit, so a local government area that isnt listed as a priority location is still eligible to receive a share of the $150 million available under this round, if they put forward a strong application that meets all the criteria,' he said. The latest flood in the town saw harrowing scenes of people trapped on the roofs of their houses and desperate social media calls for assistance. Around 1000 rescues were conducted in the northern rivers area, with a number of residents believed to still be missing. Residents inspect the damage as water from the Wilsons River begins to recede after peaking at 14.4metres A natural disaster has now been declared in Lismore, making affected communities and individuals eligible for further range of special assistance measures Around 1000 rescues were conducted in the northern rivers area, with a number of residents believed to still be missing. Pictured: Debris seen in Leycester St, Lismore On Monday Lismore residents and others in northern NSW became eligible for the one-off disaster relief payment Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday to compensate Queenslanders affected by flooding the weekend deluge. The Disaster Recovery Payment of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child is paid directly into bank accounts for those who have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury. A natural disaster has now been declared in Lismore, making affected communities and individuals eligible for further range of special assistance measures from the state body tasked with disaster management and recovery, Resilience NSW. Eight people have now died in the deadly 'rain bomb' weather event across Queensland and northern NSW. Lismore has attempted numerous efforts at mitigating floods in the town over the years. In 1999 a government-funded scheme to protect the CBD and South Lismore from a 1-in-10-year flood event via levees was approved. Lismore has attempted numerous efforts at mitigating floods in the town over the years The proposal was designed to prevent smaller floods would entering the town's CBD and given residents and businesses more time to evacuate in larger floods. But the levee was unable to contain the March 2017 flood, with extensive damage caused to the town. The local council then launched a Flood Ready project to respond to natural disasters in concert with emergency services, local agencies and community groups. The NRRA said it could not comment on applications while the assessment process is underway when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. Anthony Albanese has joked he won't be taking his new white sneakers to visit flood victims in Brisbane. The Labor leader debuted a fresh new look last week, posing for photos in a fitted shirt, skinny chinos and $129 Country Road gum sole sneakers with girlfriend Jodie Haydon at his Marrickville home. The images caused a storm online with one Twitter user even comparing him to James Bond actor Daniel Craig. Anthony Albanese (pictured last week) has joked he won't be taking his new white sneakers to visit flood victims in Brisbane Anthony Albanese opens up about splitting from his wife of 30 years as new girlfriend reveals the moment she knew she was in love - as he sends a subtle message to the PM with his shoes in stylish photo shoot https://t.co/n6N4IiGt8l Daily Mail Australia (@DailyMailAU) February 24, 2022 In an interview with Brisbane radio B105 on Tuesday morning, Mr Albanese confirmed he owned the sneakers instead of just borrowing them for the shoot. But he said he would be wearing more appropriate footwear for his visit to flood victims in the city on Tuesday. 'No. They might end up a bit muddy,' he joked when told not to wear the sneakers. All of southeast Queensland is likely to be declared a 'disaster emergency zone', with deadly floods still peaking in some areas after parts of the region were hit by the most intense rainfall ever recorded. Eight people have died and hundreds have been rescued from floodwaters which have damaged at least 19,000 homes and won't fully recede for days. There were blue skies over much of the region on Tuesday morning but major flooding is under way on the Brisbane, Logan, Bremer and Mary rivers, and Warrill Creek after the torrential downpours of the past week. People are seen disposing their flood damaged belongings in the suburb of Albion in Brisbane A Queensland Fire and Rescue Swift Water Rescue crew move through the flooded streets in Paddington in suburban Brisbane More than 1.77m of rain fell on Mount Glorious, 1.55m at Pomona on the Sunshine Coast and 1.23m at Upper Springbrook on the Gold Coast in seven days. Brisbane copped 795mm - the city's wettest week since records began in 1840 - with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying much of the wider region is devastated. 'We will get to the stage where basically the entire southeast will be declared a disaster emergency zone,' she told Nine's Today program on Tuesday. 'At the moment they are doing council, one-by-one. Don't forget Ipswich has been badly impacted as well, now Logan is experiencing it, they definitely will. Hundreds of homes are being inundated in Logan, south of Brisbane, where the Logan River was still yet to peak on Tuesday morning. More than 15,000 homes in Brisbane and 3600 in Gympie have been damaged by the floods and another 43,860 properties were without power. Maree Harradine (left) and Jason Pride (right) check Maree's fathers house in Ipswich, west of Brisbane A man casts a fishing line into the swollen Brisbane River in Brisbane on February 28 More than 800 schools also remain closed across the southeast and many roads are still cut by floodwaters. Scott Morrison visited Brisbane on Sunday and Monday and Mr Albanese made his way up on Tuesday. It comes as Labor is ahead of the Coalition by 10 points according to Monday's Newspoll and four points according to Essential on a two-party preferred basis. But the polls leading up to the 2019 election, which also put Labor ahead by up to four points during the campaign, turned out to be wrong - just like at the 2015 UK election and 2016 US election. An inquiry found they were distorted by falling response rates which led to unrepresentative samples. People who were more engaged in politics and more highly educated were more likely to answer polls, giving the results a left-leaning bias. Aussies in flood-affected areas have found creative ways to combat the catastrophic weather. Footage from TikTok users brxcewxyne and charlilewisss - both from Queensland - shows friends and family ingeniously keeping floodwaters out of their properties. One video sees two men using a tabletop to push an overflow of water down a walkway next to their home towards a yard. 'We used a tabletop to stop our house flooding,' the caption in the clip reads. One video sees two men using a tabletop to push an overflow of water down a walkway next to their home towards a yard 'Just another year in Australia,' they wrote in the post. The other video has a family locked inside their house as the floods continue rising around their property. A woman is filmed at the front door using a vacuum cleaner to suck up any excess water that has fallen through the cracks. Eight people have died and hundreds have been rescued from floodwaters in Queensland, which have damaged at least 19,000 homes and won't fully recede for days. All of southeast Queensland is likely to be declared a 'disaster emergency zone', with deadly floods still peaking in some areas after parts of the region were hit by the most intense rainfall ever recorded. There were blue skies over much of the region on Tuesday morning but major flooding is under way on the Brisbane, Logan, Bremer and Mary rivers, and Warrill Creek after the torrential downpours of the past week. A woman at the front door using a vacuum cleaner to suck up any excess water that has fallen through the cracks Brisbane copped 795mm - the city's wettest week since records began in 1840 - with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying much of the wider region is devastated. 'We will get to the stage where basically the entire southeast will be declared a disaster emergency zone,' she told Nine's Today program on Tuesday. 'At the moment they are doing council, one-by-one. Don't forget Ipswich has been badly impacted as well, now Logan is experiencing it, they definitely will. Snr Sgt Howard said the past four days have been harrowing with at least 630 water rescues made and more than 10,000 calls for help responded to across the southeast. All of southeast Queensland is likely to be declared a 'disaster emergency zone', with deadly floods still peaking in some areas after parts of the region were hit by the most intense rainfall ever recorded. Pictured: A man fishing at a flooded Brisbane River There were blue skies over much of the region on Tuesday morning but major flooding is under way on the Brisbane, Logan, Bremer and Mary rivers, and Warrill Creek after the torrential downpours of the past week Snr Sgt Howard said the past four days have been harrowing with at least 630 water rescues made and more than 10,000 calls for help responded to across the southeast. Pictured: A woman using a kayak in Rocklea in Brisbane In New South Wales, more severe weather is expected along the coast as people in parts of the north coast town of Ballina have been told it's too late to leave. The State Emergency Service performed 932 flood rescues across the Northern Rivers region - which encompasses Ballina - in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning. There are evacuation orders covering 34,000 people and another 310,000 across the state are on standby. The crisis has engulfed the northeastern part of the state, with multiple major flood warnings including the Tweed, Richmond, Wilsons, Brunswick, Bellinger and Clarence rivers. The Bureau of Meteorology warned NSW is in for more thunderstorms, heavy rain and damaging winds as extreme weather moves south. Wild footage has captured the moment a group of thugs blocked peak hour traffic as they viciously bashed another man in the middle of a motorway. The handheld video taken on the Monash Freeway near the Blackburn Road exit in Mount Waverley in Melbourne's south-east about 4pm on Monday showed the group of at least four attackers putting the man in a headlock. He was then thrown to the ground as onlookers including a child watched on in horror. Vision of the attack ended with one member of the group stamping on the man repeatedly as he lay defenseless on the tarmac. The road rage brawl ensued after the car load of attackers got out of a grey BMW bearing red P-plates. The cause of the fight remains unclear. A Victoria Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the force was unable to confirm whether the matter had been reported to authorities. The footage comes just two weeks after a driver allegedly pulled a gun on another motorist as they wildly swerved at each other on a busy Adelaide highway. A 32-year-old man behind the wheel of a grey Toyota Hilux was later arrested following the incident at Salisbury Heights in Adelaide's north on February 15. Set upon: A group of thugs blocked peak hour traffic as they viciously attacked another man in the middle of a motorwa A passenger in a car behind the two vehicles filmed the shocking encounter. 'Bro, he's just aimed a gun at him,' the witness exclaims. 'What the f**k, he's got a gun... Pull over, pull over'. Abbott Laboratories expanded its recall of Similac baby formulas on Monday, after a second infant who was exposed to the powdered baby formula died. The company recalled Similac PM 60/40 cans and cases produced at its Sturgis, Michigan facility, after an unidentified infant who used the formula died of a Cronobacter sakazakii infection, which can cause severe blood infections and meningitis. Similac PM 60/40 is marketed as a 'specialty formula for certain infants who would benefit from lowered mineral intake.' It was sold in the United States and Israel. It was not included in a recall issued just a few days earlier for certain lots of Alimentum, Similac and EleCare baby formulas that were also produced at the Sturgis facility. One other baby previously died after exposure to deadly bacteria. That victim has not been identified either, but both babies who died are from Ohio. The FDA had said at the time that it had received complaints dating back to September 16 of Cronobacter sakazakii infections, and are investigating the consumer complaints. Both it and the Centers for Disease Control are also now conducting additional laboratory testing, and are working with Abbott to safely resume operations at the factory. Similac PM 60/40 baby formula was recalled on Monday after an Ohio infant who used the formula died of a Cronobacter sakazakii infection Elecare and other Similac products were previously recalled on February 17 The CDC has said it was first notified of bacterial infections related to Abbott Nutrition baby formulas on February 10. Since September 16, it reports, four infants in Minnesota, Ohio and Texas have contracted a Cronobacter sakazakii infection after consuming baby formula including Similac Sensitive, Similac Pro-total Comfort, Similac Advance and Similac PM 60/40. One Salmonella Newport infection has also been reported in connection with the outbreak, NBC New York reports. All five children were hospitalized as a result, and the two infants in Ohio have died. Abbott Laboratories said they have not found any Cronobacter sakazakii in any samples of the formula it sends out, and conducts tests on a regular basis. But it did say it found evidence of the bacteria in a 'non-product contact area' at the Sturgis plant. The dangers of Cronobacter sakazakii Cronobacter sakazakii is a bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections or meningitis. The first symptoms in infants is usually a fever, accompanied by poor feeding, excessive crying or very low energy. It can also cause bowel damage and spread to other parts of the body, possibly resulting in the swelling of the linings surrounding the brain and spinal cord - or meningitis. If it spreads to the blood, it could also cause jaundice - or a yellowing of the skin or eyes. Advertisement According to the FDA, Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria can cause life-threatening infections or meningitis, symptoms of which could include poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, yellowed skin or eyes, grunting breaths and abnormal movements. The first symptoms in infants younger than 1 year old is usually a fever, accompanied by poor feeding, excessive crying or very low energy. It can also cause bowel damage and spread to other parts of the body, possibly resulting in the swelling of the linings surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Some infants may also experience seizures. The company announced a recall of the products on February 17, with Joe Manning, the executive vice president of nutritional products, saying in a statement: 'We know parents depend on us to provide them with the highest quality nutrition formulas. 'We're taking this action so parents know they can tryst us to meet our high standards as well as theirs. 'We deeply regret the concern and inconvenience this situation will cause parents, caregivers and health care professionals.' Consumers are encouraged to type in the code on the bottom of their package to confirm whether it is part of the recall, and those who are using the formula are encouraged to switch to a different brand. Liquid baby formulas are not included in the recall. Anyone whose child is experiencing any symptoms of an infection is also encouraged to call their health care provider immediately. The products came from the company's Sturgis, Michigan plant (pictured), where Cronobacter sakazakii was found in a 'non-product contact area' Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria (pictured) can cause life-threatening infections or meningitis Following the announcement, angered and panicked mothers took to social media to express their frustrations and the symptoms their children were experiencing. Khrysten Ziegenfuss, for example, wrote that her daughter, Everly, had been taking Elecare almost since birth and is now almost three months old. During that time, she shared, Everly would vomit out of her mouth and nose, making her unable to breathe and needing immediate assistance clearing her airway. She also had a distended abdomen and would scream every time she had a bowel movement. Ziegenfuss said she took Everly to the Emergency Room on three separate occasions for abdominal pain and issues going to the bathroom, but doctors would keep dismissing her concerns. 'For almost three months my daughter has been in pain,' Ziegenfuss posted on February 21. 'For almost three months, I have been advocating for her and telling every doctor she saw that something was wrong, and NOW it comes to light that I was right, and my daughter was sick. 'She's been continually infected with bacteria for her entire life up until recently,' she wrote, adding: 'I'm angry and disappointed, but even more than that I am sad that my daughter and so many babies suffered and did so because a company wanted to make a quick buck rather than stop production BACK IN SEPTEMBER when they and the FDA were made aware of possible bacterial contamination in that facility.' The son of a Holocaust survivor was appalled to discover a makeshift wooden swastika in the backyard of a Melbourne property in the heart of the city's Jewish community. The man was walking through Caulfield, an affluent suburb in the Victorian capital's south-east, on Monday afternoon when he spotted the Nazi insignia. 'Something alarming is happening in Victoria, and it's time to acknowledge that we are facing an epidemic of antisemitism,' Anti-Defamation Commission Chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich said. 'No Jewish person should be confronted with the emblem of evil in their own neighbourhood.' The son of a Holocaust survivor was appalled to discover a makeshift wooden swastika in the backyard of a Melbourne property in the heart of the city's Jewish community The Jewish man, aged in his 70s, found the swastika on one of the busiest roads in the leafy suburb, not far from Princes Park. The symbol was visible from the street, crudely made out of pieces of plywood. The site appears to currently be under instruction, and it's believed the owner of the property lives next door. Caulfield is not unfamiliar to acts of anti-semitism, after extremisit group Antipodean Resistance stuck a swastika at the front of an aged care facility that was home to several Holocaust survivors. The insignia was found on the gates of Emmy Monash Aged Care on New Year's Day in 2019, prompting calls to ban the public display of Nazi symbols in the state. The laws were supposed to be proposed and introduced in the first half of 2022, with the Liberal member for Caulfield David Southwick admitting there was an escalation in hateful incidents in recent years. 'It's not just an issue for the Jewish community, it's right across the board,' Mr Southwick said last year. The man was walking through Caulfield (pictured), an affluent suburb in Melbourne, on Monday afternoon when he spotted the Nazi insignia The Australian Federal Police also released a report, saying they 'strongly support the criminalisation of the public display of flags and other extremist insignia'. Dr Abramovich lamented the stalling of instituting the laws in Victoria 'This malicious act, dripping with venomous and dangerous hate, is a punch in the gut of every Holocaust survivor, and a spit on the memory of the victims and the diggers who gave their lives to vanquish that monstrous dictator,' he said. I look forward to the day this year, when the Victorian Parliament rises to the challenge, and does the honourable and righteous thing by banning the public display of all Nazi insignia genocidal symbols that stand alone in the annals of human barbarity.' Glen Eira Council confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they had removed the swastika. Former United States President Donald Trump has filed an appeal against a judge's decision that he and his two eldest children were required to testify in New York state's civil investigation into his business practices. The move was widely expected by parties involved in the probe and could potentially prolong the legal battle over his testimony by several months. Lawyers representing the Republican businessman and his two children filed the papers on Monday with the appellate division of the state's trial court. Trump Files Appeal The legal experts seek to overturn Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron's ruling on Feb. 17, requiring the three Trumps to testify. The lawyers argued that the order requiring the defendants to testify violates their constitutional rights because their answers and statements could be used in a parallel criminal investigation. Engoron set a Mar. 10 deadline for Trump and his two eldest children, Ivanka Trump and Don Jr., to sit for depositions in an eight-page ruling. The lawyers for the three asked the appellate court for a stay to the ruling to spare them from questioning while it considers the matter, as per The Guardian. Trump's lawyers are fighting the legal battle amid the Republican businessman's consideration of a potential presidential run for the 2024 elections. The situation comes as two top prosecutors leading the investigation resigned last week amid talks over the strength of the criminal case against the former president. Read Also: Barr's New Memoir Criticizes Trump, Says Former President is 'Unfit' To Lead A source familiar with the thinking of the former president said that Trump and his team would find it rather difficult to run for president while grappling with a criminal indictment. The businessman's legal team plans to litigate against New York Attorney General Letitia James' civil probe for as long as they can amid the possibility of charges fading in New York. According to CNN, while the source said that the civil case was a critical barrier to Trump's candidacy, they looked at options for pleading the Fifth Amendment if the former president and his children are forced to appear for depositions. Civil Probe Into Trump Organization Trump accused Attorney General James of selectively prosecuting him because he was her political enemy, arguing that the investigation into his company was a political attack. In response to the appeal, James' office repeated its statement last Friday. The statement said that while Trump and his children had the right to seek a delay, they were not able to deter the attorney general and her office from following the facts and the law wherever they may lead. James' office added that no one was above the law, not even a former president of the United States. At the time of Engoron's ruling, Trump issued a statement decrying it as a "continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in history-and remember, I can't get a fair hearing in New York because of the hatred of me by judges and the judiciary. It's not possible!" James' civil probe has already run for nearly three years and focuses on whether the Trump Organization improperly valued its real estate properties to get better loans and lower tax bills. Despite the probe, none of the Trumps have been accused of criminal wrongdoing, Yahoo News reported. Related Article: Jan. 6 Panel Could Get Voluntary Interview With Ivanka Trump Amid Capitol Riot Probe @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Britons were warned against all travel to Russia yesterday as the Ukraine conflict escalated. The Foreign Office released a statement urging UK travellers not to visit any part of Russia due to a lack of flights for returning and increased volatility in the country's economy. American citizens were also advised to leave the country on Sunday. It comes after Britain last week banned Russian planes from entering UK airspace and the Kremlin retaliated by mirroring the ban. The European Union has also banned Russia's planes from flying over its airspace. Britons were warned against all travel to Russia yesterday as the Ukraine conflict escalated. Pictured: A passenger looks at a departures board at Sheremetyevo airport The Foreign Office released a statement urging UK travellers not to visit any part of Russia due to a lack of flights for returning and increased volatility in the country's economy as Liz Truss, foreign secretary, made a statement on Russia on Monday The Foreign Office blames a lack of flights for returning and Russia's economy being more volatile. Pictured: Heathrow Airport The Foreign Office said: 'If you are in Russia, you should be aware that it may not be possible to fly directly to the UK, or via EU countries, and should amend any travel plans accordingly.' It added: 'The value of the rouble has fallen considerably in recent days, and there are reports of large numbers of people attempting to withdraw their savings from Russian banks. 'Any amounts of Russian currency you hold may reduce in value.' The statement continued: 'There are also reports that foreign nationals in Russia are having difficulty using ATM and banking services. 'You should be aware that it may not be possible for you to access your funds through Russian banks.' The Foreign Office has also warned against travel to Ukraine, which has shut its airspace, for the past few weeks. Americans have rallied together to show their support for Ukraine as the nation battles an ongoing invasion from Russia, with crowds lining the streets for a table at East Village's Ukrainian restaurant, Veselka, following the Russian invasion. More than 100 New Yorkers joined a line wrapping around the block in a show of solidarity with Ukraine and the almost 70-year-old restaurant. 'I'm surprised by the crowds, but then again, I'm not. It's kind of like we're everybody's favorite living room and I am grateful and thankful for that,' said Jason Birchard, Veselka's owner. 'Many of our staff members are Ukrainian. Everyone is up all night, talking to family members. Some are so distraught, they can't even come to work. They are hanging by a thread, feeling so angry, upset and helpless,' added Birchard, who has been working 16 hour days since the invasion. New Yorkers wait in a long line at a Ukrainian diner Veselka to show solidarity in the wake of Russia's invasion on February 25, 2022 Pictured: New Yorkers waiting in line for Lower East Side Ukrainian restaurant Veselka after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began last week The mural facade outside of Veselka restaurant in the Lower East Side, where over 100 patrons could be seen lined up around the block in support of Ukrainians A Ukrainian flag hangs outside of Veselka on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in New York People dine inside Veselka where a Ukrainian flag hangs in the East Village, Friday, February 25, 2022, in New York on the date of the Russian invasion of Ukraine Jason Birchard, pictured, owner of Veselka, said he has been working 16 hour days at the restaurant since the invasion The restaurant, which opened in 1954 and was famous for its 24-hour service prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, serves Ukrainian comfort food, ranging from pierogis to borscht. One customer, a 29-year-old Ukrainian-born medical technician who only gave her name as Tanya, told the New York Post that Veselka is 'a very symbolic, special place.' 'My heart is always there. I try to support it as much as I can,' said Tanya who came to the restaurant wrapped in a yellow and blue Ukrainian flag. Those colors have illuminated skyscrapers, including the Empire State Building, buildings and national monuments since Russia invaded last week. Tanya added that her own family back in Ukraine is currently 'surrounded by lots of Russians and tanks.' But thankfully the tanks are out of fuel and the most serious bombing has stopped for now. 'But it was pretty bad,' she said. 'My family is still hiding in basements and the Russians were shooting at a kindergarten while kids were there and some died. My entire family is still in Ukraine, my parents, brother, uncles, aunts and friends.' The Empire State Building, left, and the State Education Building, right, are illuminated colors of Ukrainian flag in New York City Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge is illuminated in the colors of Ukraine's flag in support of their efforts during Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 27, 2022 in Washington, DC A red traffic light frames the George Washington Masonic National Memorial which is lit with blue and yellow lights in support of Ukraine, in Alexandria, Virginia on Saturday Several hundred people participate in a Stop the Bloodshed in Ukraine rally on February 27, 2022 in Santa Monica, California Another patron, identified only as Susan, added why she too felt compelled to dine at Veselka in support of Ukrainians on Saturday. 'We came to Little Ukraine tonight to do something, to show some sort of support for the brave people of Ukraine,' she told the Post. 'My husband and I printed a dozen shirts with President Zelenskyy's statement: 'The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.'' 'It gave us comfort to pass these out and listen to the stories of others who are worrying about family, friends and humanity. President Zelensky and his people are brave, fighting to live in peace and freedom. We pray this ends quickly, with the outcome of peace and freedom for Ukraine,' she continued. Meanwhile, protesters carrying signs and waving flags have flooded the streets outside the White House, as well as in other major US cities, and called on leaders to take action against Russia. Pictured: the I-35W Bridge glows blue and yellow in support of the people of Ukraine in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 25, 2022 Demonstrators during a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine in front of the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Monday, February 28, 2022 Ukrainians and people gather around the Lafayette Park in front of the White House in Washington DC to stage a protest against Russia's attacks on Ukraine, on February 27, 2022. The large crowds began coming together, both in Washington DC, in front of Veselka and across the country, after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 25. The colors of the Ukrainian flag have illuminated skyscrapers and monuments nationwide, including the Empire State Building, State Education Building, George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and more, since Russia invaded the country last week. 'It's been like this for days,' said a manager, who has been working 16 hour days since the invasion... 'We're just trying to keep up,' said Birchard. 'Everyone is pitching in. Managers are working as cashiers and cooks are working seven days a week.' Birchard added that the restaurant has always served as a gathering point for the Ukrainian community in New York, including everything from 9/11, Superstorm Sandy, the Orange Revolution of 2005 to Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea. A tiny sedan sent a large car rolling across an intersection after failing to stop for a red light and ploughing into it. Dramatic dashcam footage showed the white Toyota Camry plowed into its side at an intersection in the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. The driver was moving through the intersection between Alexander Parade and Brunswick Street when the other car appeared to run a red light. A tiny Camry sent a large car rolling over an intersection after failing to stop for a red light The small vehicle T-boned the driver and sent the car rolling until it landed upright in front of a pedestrian walkway, almost hitting two men. One bystander ran from the crash while the other began pacing with his hands on his head, despairing at the devastation. A woman ran towards the vehicle to help while on the phone, presumably calling for an ambulance. The rolled car landed upright after the collision in front of a pedestrian walkway, almost hitting two men The first man ran from the incident while the other began pacing with his hands on his head Debris from the accident struck the window of an unoccupied car parked nearby. Victorian Police said one of the drivers from the collision were taken to hospital with minor injuries and both vehicles were severely damaged. Police said they were investigating the crash. More than 150 British ex paratroopers who fought in Afghanistan are now on their way to Ukraine to battle Putin's forces - after Army chiefs banned serving UK soldiers from the warzone. Whitehall officials are scrambling to determine the Government's policy after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she would support British nationals who chose to fight alongside Ukrainian forces against the Russian invasion on Sunday. Her comments went against Foreign Office travel advice, while Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and a No 10 spokesman also both appeared to contradict Ms Truss yesterday. Hundreds of troops have expressed interest in answering a request from Kyiv for international volunteers, it is believed, but commanders have told them not to sign up. They cannot stop retired personnel from travelling to eastern Europe, but full-time and reserve troops have received a stern warning not to take part in the conflict. Shaun Pinner, 48, (pictured) is one of many UK nationals who have travelled to Ukraine to fight A Ukrainian serviceman fires an NLAW anti-tank weapon during an exercise in the Donetsk region earlier this month Ukrainian Military Forces walk in the small town of Sievierodonetsk, Lugansk Oblast, on Sunday A serviceman of pro-Russian militia stands next to a house that caught fire after shelling on Monday One brigadier said he heard talk that some soldiers were considering going Awol to join the fight, The Times reports. But a post on the Armys internal messaging service read: There has been some recent media coverage relating to foreigners being welcomed into Ukraine to help fight against Russia. 'To be clear, as members of the British Army, you are not authorised to travel to Ukraine to support the ongoing conflict against Russia in any form, whether you are on leave or not. Please remain professional and focused on your duty and your team. Despite this, a military source has said that 150 of former paratroopers were on their way to Poland. Shane, 34, a former sniper with the Princess of Waless Royal Regiment, said Ms Truss' comments on Sunday were 'the green light' Ukraines president Volodomyr Zelensky said he was forming his countrys own foreign legion to fight Russia. Several thousand people have volunteered to join the force, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said yesterday. Military surplus stores have been overrun with Ukrainian expats sourcing gear for recruits heading to join the fight. Ukrainian soldiers walk at Kyiv central train station last week ahead of an ongoing battle with Russia At the Ukrainian embassy in London yesterday, one 60-year-old English ex-soldier, who did not give his name, vowed to join the fight. He told Sky News: I used to be in the TA so Ive got a lot of first aid training so I thought it would be a good idea to come and do something. I can get on a flight tomorrow. Im 60 which means Im just about within the age range theyll accept. Asked if he would put his life on the line, he said: Well somebody has to. Shaun Pinner, 48, an ex-soldier with a Ukrainian wife who is already on the front lines, and Antony Zamparelli, a father-of-seven who served in the Army but has never been in a conflict, are among those from the UK to have said they will fight. But Mr Wallace insisted yesterday: Unless you are properly trained, unless you are an experienced member of the armed forces, there are better ways for you to contribute to the security of Ukraine. Oleksander Biletsky, a foreign ministry adviser, says weapons were being distributed to anyone who wanted to fight for Ukraine. He told British soldiers it was 'really cool [of you]' to support his country. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has urged only properly trained UK nationals to join the cause in Ukraine Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (pictured) said she would support British nationals who chose to fight alongside Ukrainian forces against the Russian invasion on Sunday It comes amid concern that over whether those who decide to travel to Ukraine will be charged with terrorism offences if they return. During the Syrian civil war in 2014, the Crown Prosecution Service warned those going out to fight that they could be committing an offence. Its guidance adds that Britons who travel overseas to participate in fighting 'may be caught by the provisions of section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000'. His warning came 24 hours after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss welcomed those joining the struggle. Mr Wallace insisted: Unless you are properly trained, unless you are an experienced member of the armed forces, there are better ways for you to contribute to the security of Ukraine. Downing Street also effectively contradicted Miss Truss yesterday. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The best way we can help Ukraine right now is by ensuring Putin fails. There are a number of ways Brits can show their support for that, and the Ukrainian embassy in London is putting out information about how the British can support them. We fully recognise the strength of feeling about British people wanting to support the Ukrainians following the Russian invasion. 'Theres advice up on travelling to Ukraine, we currently advise against travel to Ukraine. At the Ukrainian embassy in London yesterday, one 60-year-old English ex-soldier, who did not give his name, vowed to join the fight. He told Sky News: I used to be in the TA so Ive got a lot of first aid training so I thought it would be a good idea to come and do something. I can get on a flight tomorrow. Im 60 which means Im just about within the age range theyll accept. Asked if he would put his life on the line, he said: Well somebody has to. On Sunday Ukraines president Volodomyr Zelensky said he was forming his countrys own foreign legion to fight Russia. Several thousand people have volunteered to join the force, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said yesterday. Military surplus stores have been overrun with Ukrainian expats sourcing gear for recruits heading to join the fight. Folkestone has become a rallying point and the Kent towns G4 Echelon supply store has seen scores of volunteers buying up combat uniforms, first aid kits, flak jackets and helmets. Britain's Lads Army 'willing to die' in fight with Putin: Ex-carer who battled ISIS, father-of-seven who has never seen action and ex-soldier with Ukrainian wife line up to battle Russia - as No 10 says DON'T go to war By Chris Matthews for MailOnline Dozens of former Army and Special Forces soldiers from Britain and amateurs who have never seen action before have volunteered to fight Putin's invading troops and say they're willing to die for the cause. Shaun Pinner, 48, an ex-soldier with a Ukrainian wife who is already on the front lines, and Antony Zamparelli, a father-of-seven who served in the Army but has never been in a conflict, are among those from the UK to have said they will fight. Others include Aiden Aslin, 28, an ex-carer who previously fought ISIS in Syria, as well as a team of 60 British former Army and Special Forces soldiers that have been gathered by Mamuka Mamulashvili, 43, commander of the Georgian National Legion. It comes as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and a No 10 spokesman both appeared to contradict Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who yesterday gave her backing to Britons who wanted to join the resistance movement. Speaking this morning, Mr Wallace said he didn't 'want to see British people killed any more than I want to see Ukrainians' and asked people who were not properly trained or an 'experienced member of an armed forced' not to join the war in Ukraine. The Russian invasion of Ukraine was 'very dangerous', Mr Wallace told Sky News, and there were 'better ways' to support the country. Shaun Pinner, 48, (pictured) is one of many UK nationals who have travelled to Ukraine to fight Father-of-seven Antony Zamparelli said he was willing to die for Ukraine and urged other Brits to fight against the Russian invaders Aiden Aslin, 28, (pictured) is a former carer who previously fought against Isis in Syria. Now he is fighting against a Russian invasion of Ukraine A 60-year-old former Territorial Army soldier (pictured) said outside the Ukrainian embassy in London that 'somebody has to' put their life on the line Sixty British volunteers are heading to Ukraine to fight against Vladimir Putin's Russian forces, led by Mamuka Mamulashvili, Georgian National Legion (pictured training in Kyiv in January) commander Asked if the Prime Minister supported her remarks, a No 10 spokesman said today the travel advice was not to go to Ukraine. He added: 'We think the best way of helping now is ensuring Putin fails.' Friends and families of the Brits going to war told MailOnline of their worries for them being on the frontlines in Ukraine. Mr Pinner, who previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, said he fought with the Ukrainian army as a 'contract soldier This week they are frantically searching for chest seals to treat battle wounds before they head to Ukraine, she added. A friend of Mr Aslin, Kattia Beckinsale-Yates, told MailOnline: 'I messaged the other day but haven't heard anything back.' She added she was 'hoping and praying he's safe'. A YouGov poll of UK adults on Monday found 18 per cent believes the Government should encourage people who want to fight the Russians to go to Ukraine (Image: YouGov) A YouGov poll of UK adults on Monday found 18 per cent believes the Government should encourage people who want to fight the Russians to go to Ukraine. Father-of-seven Antony Zamparelli told GB News he was willing to die for the Ukrainian cause and urged other Brits to 'go to Ukraine if you're willing to fight for freedom'. Meanwhile, a 60-year-old former Territorial Army soldier said outside the Ukrainian embassy in London that 'somebody has to' put their life on the line. He added: 'I decided to come and do something. I can get on a flight tomorrow.' MailOnline revealed on Saturday that foreigners are crossing into Ukraine to take up arms after a call from president Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr Aslin is a former carer who left his job in April 2015 and travelled to Syria to fight Isis in Syria. He spent ten months there before coming home to the UK, where he was arrested. He was held for 30 hours after officers boarded his plane at Heathrow, where members of his family were eagerly awaiting his arrival. He was immediately taken to Nottinghamshire Police headquarters for questioning over a suspected terrorism offence. He remained on bail for months until all charges were dropped in October 2016. Now, in Ukraine, he is not the only Britain ready to fight off a Russian invasion. The former carer has been joined by ex-soldier Mr Pinner, from Bedfordshire. He is married to a Ukrainian woman and has been in Donbas for the past four years. Mr Pinner previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment and said he fought with the Ukrainian army as a 'contract soldier'. Speaking from a trench ten miles outside Mariupol, he said: 'I am here defending my family and adopted city. Russia started this war it's funded by Russia and driven by Russia. But we will fight them, make no mistake about that.' Mr Pinner said fighting in the trenches was 'like Hell', with snipers 'less than 600m away'. Mr Pinner said there has been tension in Ukraine' for years'. 'It's only new to Europe, who have finally woken up to what's happening here,' he told Al Jazeera. Mr Pinner is one of the oldest in his unit, which has three Brits and one Croatian as well as Ukrainians. The team is known as the Marines First Battalion. 'I've always got something to prove,' Mr Pinner added. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline commander Mamulashvili said: 'I have a very big group of Britons, around sixty travelling to Ukraine to join up with my Georgian National League unit. 'They are travelling by car from the UK and will cross over at the Polish border. I am expecting them here with equipment and supplies in the next few days. A Russian tank burning in the Ukrainian city of Sumy just days after newly revealed dashcam footage showed a huge column of tanks moving in 'They are mostly guys who have fought with me in Ukraine before but there are also new recruits as well. 'We will provide them with training and weapons and they are coming from London and all over Britain. 'Their background is former British Army and Special Forces and they are good fighters, they can be trusted to take on the Russian aggressors and most importantly win. Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine faces a 'crucial' 24 hours as Russia throws even more ground forces at Kyiv Plumes of smoke rise from a building, which was caused by a cruise missile according to local media, in Kyiv, Ukraine Smoke billows over the town of Vasylkiv, which is just outside Kyiv on February 27 Public Chernihiv reports that a rocket hit a residential building in the centre of Chernihiv, north of Kyiv. A fire broke out with two lower floors ablaze. The number of injured is currently unknown 'What I want to stress is that none of them are getting paid, they are not mercenaries, they are all volunteers.' Commander Mamulashvili is a veteran of the 2008 war against Russia in Georgia and a mixed martial arts expert and founded the unit in 2014 to provide foreign fighters in Ukraine's war against Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region. He added: 'The guys from the UK are just bringing basic equipment with their uniforms and rations, they will get weapons when they arrive. 'Putin is very much mistaken if he thinks he will take Ukraine, he will face a fight to the death as the Ukrainian army has shown how brave and strong it is. 'They have experience and now they have good equipment from the rest of Europe and the world and now we have the backing of some of the best foreign volunteer soldiers in the world. 'We know some of us might die but unless we fight against Russia, Putin will just keep going and trying to take countries. 'When he went into Georgia in 2008 the then President of my country said Ukraine would be next and he was right.' Father-of-two Mamulashvili added that he 'expected' the number of volunteers from Britain and elsewhere to top 500 within the next few days after having received dozens of requests asking for details on how to join up. Members of Georgian Legion train civilians to adapt them with the self-defence capabilities in January The paramilitary unit formed mainly by ethnic Georgian volunteers to fight against Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2014, now includes people of various nationalities Commander Mamuka Mamulashvili told MailOnline: 'anyone from the UK who wants to come and fight is to get in touch with the Ukrainian embassy in London and they will advise how to get to our base. If that is not possible volunteers should make their way to Poland and cross the border into Ukraine and head for the city of Lviv where we have a mobilisation base and make themselves known to the local authorities' He added: 'My advice for anyone from the UK who wants to come and fight is to get in touch with the Ukrainian embassy in London and they will advise how to get to our base. 'If that is not possible volunteers should make their way to Poland and cross the border into Ukraine and head for the city of Lviv where we have a mobilisation base and make themselves known to the local authorities but for obvious reasons I cannot give you the exact address.' Earlier this year it emerged that at least two Brits were fighting in Ukraine, Aiden Aslin, 28, from Newark, Nottinghamshire and Sean Pinner, 48, from Bedfordshire. Do you know someone going to fight in Ukraine? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Harry Jackson, 27, who founded UK Aid for Ukraine, and launched an appeal on Facebook for volunteers and equipment said he had been 'flooded with offers of help'. Harry said: 'I'm putting people in touch with Mamuka Mamulashvili, commander of the Georgian National Legion. 'I have helmets, flak jackets and medical supplies all going out as well as a group of volunteers.' On Sunday President Zelensky urged foreigners to head to Ukrainian embassies in their home countries to sign up for an 'international brigade' to help fight invading Russian forces. He said: 'All foreigners wishing to join the resistance against the Russian occupiers and protect global security are invited by the Ukrainian leadership to come to our state and join the ranks of the territorial defence forces,' Zelensky said in a statement on the presidential website. 'A separate unit is being formed from foreigners the International Brigade of the territorial defence of Ukraine. This will be a key testimony of your support for our country.' Since 2016 it has been legal for foreigners to join the Ukrainian army. Sen. Joe Manchin joined with his GOP colleagues to block a bill that would have codified the right to an abortion after states across the country have restricted the practice. The bill was widely expected to fail, but Democratic leaders put it up to a vote in a show of support for abortion rights ahead of the Supreme Court's impending ruling on Roe v. Wade. The Women's Health Protection Act garnered 46 yeas and 48 nays. Manchin along with Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, both Republicans who have supported abortion rights, voted against moving the bill forward for debate. The House-passed bill would have needed 60 votes to surpass the filibuster and make it to President Biden's desk. Both Murkowski, R-Ala., and Collins, R-Maine, introduced their own amendment to codify Roe v. Wade shortly before a vote on the bill. 'I have long supported a woman's right to choose, but my position is not without limits, and this partisan Women's Health Protection Act simply goes too far. It would broadly supersede state laws and infringe on Americans' religious freedoms,' Murkowski said. Sen. Joe Manchin joined with his GOP colleagues to block a bill that would have codified the right to an abortion after states across the country have restricted the practice Some 26 states would move to immediately ban abortion if Roe is overturned, according to the Guttmacher Institute 'The fact that my choice is between this bill, or nothing at all, shows how insincere Majority Leader Schumer is about protecting women's rights. Failing to conduct any outreach and reducing this important issue to nothing more than a designed-to-fail show vote is a disservice to women across America,' she added. Collins and Murkowski cited concerns about language in the bill stating that the WHPA 'supersedes and applies to the law of the Federal Government and each State government,' including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. That law prohibits government from 'substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion,' according to The 19th. The bill stated that healthcare providers should be able to provide abortions without a number of barriers - including restrictions on abortions prior to fetal viability, which many states currently have in place. It proposed that the U.S. attorney general could sue any state or government official who violated its terms. The two senators wanted to remove any 'extraneous and over-reaching provisions' in the bill. Republicans said the bill was too radical at a news conference ahed of the vote. 'This is by far the most extreme pro-abortion bill that has ever been put in front of Congress. Ever,' said Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. Since the 1973 Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade, women have had the right to an abortion prior to viability, around 23 or 24 weeks. In December, the court signaled its willingness to permit a Mississippi ban on abortion after 15 weeks. The court is expected to come to a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in late spring. Even Chief Justice Roberts questioned why 15 weeks is 'not enough time' for a woman to choose, Brett Kavanaugh hinted that abortion rights should be left up to the states and Amy Coney Barrett brought up alternatives to termination including adoption during debate in December. Some 26 states would move to immediately ban abortion if Roe is overturned, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights advocacy research group. Ukraine's deputy prime minister is sharing his appreciation for billionaire Elon Musk, who activated Starlink satellites for the war-torn country after its Internet service was disrupted by relentless Russian invaders. Musk, the world's richest man, on Saturday answered the pleas of vice PM and Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had implored him to help the embattled nation with Internet access. After the Tesla and SpaceX founder came through, Fedorov tweeted: 'Starlink here - thanks, @elonmusk' alongside a picture of a truck filled with equipment. Musk promptly responded, tweeting: 'My pleasure.' Eastern European news station Nexta reported that the satellites were already providing service at speeds of 100 Mbps, which is enough bandwidth to stream movies, play games, and work from home. Ukraine's vice PM Mykhailo Fedorov took to Twitter on Monday to thank Elon Musk for supply the country with Starlink satellites Ukraine's vice VP Mykhailo Fedorov Although Fedorov was among the more prominent figures to recognize Musk's assistance, everyday Ukrainians also turned to Twitter to express their gratitude. 'Success! SpaceX Starlink is working in Kyiv, Ukraine,' tweeted Kyiv-based engineer Oleg Kutkov. 'The Dishy was placed just outside my window, even without adjustments. Thanks, @SpaceX team, for your support,' Kutkov tweeted that the Internet at one point reached speeds of 200 Mbps. As Internet service became spotty following days of rocket attacks by Russia, Ukrainian officials sought ways to ensure locals remained connected. It's been five days since Putin ordered Russian troops to enter Ukraine, which has reported 352 civilian deaths since the start of the invasion, including 14 children. Russia has for days been attempting to takeover Kyiv, but faced fierce resistance from brave Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who used guns and Molotov cocktails to defend their capital city. A refugee stands by a fire after crossing the Ukrainian-Polish border on February 28, 2022 as Russia carried out its fifth consecutive day of unprovoked attacks on Ukraine A woman is pictured in front of a damaged building in Donetsk, Ukraine on February 28, 2022 They saw it as a way to combat Russian propaganda and share atrocities being carried out by troops on the orders of Vladimir Putin. Fedorov put out a request for help last Saturday, tweeting: '@elonmusk, while you try to colonize Mars Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.' Within 11 hours, Musk announced that Starlink - a space-based system that SpaceX has been building for years to bring internet access to underserved areas of the world - was up and running in Ukraine. Musk's response to Fedorov's request was prompt; the Starlink stations were up and running within 11 hours The tech visionary, who founded Tesla and SpaceX, told the Ukrainian official that he was happy to help SpaceX Starlink works by creating a mesh network in orbit, that users within the range of these satellites can connect to using a specialist dish and terminal STARLINK: SATELLITE INTERNET FROM SPACEX Elon Musk's SpaceX has launched nearly 2,000 of its 'Starlink' space internet satellites into orbit. They form a constellation designed to provide low-cost broadband internet service from low Earth orbit. Its goal is to beam superfast internet into your home from space. There are an estimated 145,000 users users around the world, and that is before it available worldwide. SpaceX says putting a 'constellation' of satellites in low earth orbit would provide high-speed, cable-like internet all over the world. The company has previously filed plans with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch 4,425 satellites into orbit above the Earth and could have 42,000. 'Once fully deployed, the SpaceX system will pass over virtually all parts of the Earth's surface and therefore, in principle, have the ability to provide ubiquitous global service,' the firm said. 'Every point on the Earth's surface will see, at all times, a SpaceX satellite.' Advertisement While Ukraine continues to ensure attacks from the air and assaults from the ground by Russian forced, the county has also been subjected to cyber attacks. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, Cabinet of Ministers, and Parliament website were all appeared offline for several hours last Wednesday following a cyberattack which also affected some of the banks in the country. Hawthorne, California-based SpaceX has close to 2,000 Starlink satellites orbiting Earth at an altitude of 340 miles. Earlier this month, Musk's satellite venture launched a free high-speed internet service to connect remote villages in Tonga that were cut off since a devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami in January. The satellites allow for large amounts of information to be beamed quickly to any point on Earth without the need for fiber-optic cables. 'In 2022 modern technologies are one of the best response to tanks, rockets and missiles. I've addressed to the biggest tech giants to support the sanctions for Russian Federation. We asked them to help us stop this outrageous aggression on our people!' Fedorov wrote in another Twitter posting on Saturday. As of the February 26, a total of 2,142 Starlink satellites have been launched since the first couple in February 2018, although many of this total have failed or been decommissioned in space. SpaceX has even grander plans for its Starlink project, and has already requested authorization for a second-generation megaconstellation, made up of 30,000 satellites. Musk, 50, also offered to come to the rescue Sunday after Putin's space chief Dimitry Rogozin warned on Twitter that Russian technology was needed to keep the International Space Station in orbit and prevent it from crashing into the US or Europe. 'If you block cooperation with us, who will save the ISS from an uncontrolled deorbit and fall into the United States and Europe?' Rogozin tweeted last Friday. Musk said his company SpaceX would rescue the ISS if necessary. Advertisement Americans and Canadians are among the thousands of international civilian volunteers responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's call to arms to help fight Russia, despite the fact many have no military experience. Zelensky on Sunday announced the formation of what he is calling the International Legion of the Territorial Defense Army in Ukraine. He asked international volunteers with experience to join him and the Ukrainian people on the ground as they continue their brave defense of the country. Among those who answered is 29-year-old Canadian comedian Anthony Walker, who is already in Poland, and several Americans who spoke to Reuters on the condition that their full identities not be disclosed. Ukrainian nationals like a Chicago-based woman who gave her name only as Maria are also flying back to the region to help. 'It's harder when you're not there. All of my people are there. I'd rather go there. I am strong, I am stubborn, I speak all the languages in the region - I can be useful,' she told NBC on Monday. Canadian Anthony Walker, left, is in Poland now and plans to enter Ukraine when more volunteers arrive next week. Right, a Ukrainian woman who gave her name only as Maria, who lives in Chicago. She will fly to Poland next week and enter Ukraine from there She is taking her American fiance with her who is a military veteran. The pair have asked for night vision goggles as wedding gifts, and plan to get married within the next week before they fly to Poland on Monday. 'I hope by the time I get there, this is all over,' she said. Walker told DailyMail.com that he has no military experience but feels compelled to help. He has been sharing videos from the border on social media where he and others are galvanizing to enter Ukraine to fight soon. Anthony Walker has a wife and kids at home in Canada but he says he feels compelled to help in Ukraine Others include American veterans who say they feel 'guilty' watching the conflict from afar. 'I feel guilty to not go,' said Dax, 26, a veteran of the elite U.S. 82nd Airborne Division infantry, who planned to deploy with other former U.S. military personnel. 'Like many volunteers, the Alabama native declined to give his full name amid discussion on social media of the need to keep their identities and movements secret for security reasons. Canadian Bryson Woolsey quit his job as a cook on Sunday after seeing Zelenskiy's appeal. He has no military training and plans to buy a plane ticket to Poland, cross into Ukraine and volunteer for combat. 'I felt like I had to do something,' said Woolsey, 33, of Powell River, British Columbia, who became restless as he watched images of wounded women and children in Ukraine. Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Sunday told reporters it was up to individual Canadians to decide whether they wanted to join Ukraine's international brigade. The U.S. Department of State did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Not all volunteers want to fight. Maria and her fiance. He is a US Army veteran who will travel with her to Ukraine next week to help in the war against Russia Anthony Walker is in Poland now, stationed on the border. Hundreds more volunteers are expected in the region next week Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar posted on Facebook on Monday said that thousands of people had come forward since Zelensky's appeal In Quebec, 35-year-old physician Julien Auger was preparing to leave his young family to become a medic with Ukraine's health ministry and provide 'neutral' humanitarian aid. War reporter Nolan Peterson said on Monday he had been informed by one of the American volunteers fighting in the region that he almost died 'on the first day' 'Global opinion and support is the key right now to solving the conflict,' said Auger, a father of two who provides palliative care at a hospital in Saint-Jerome. In online groups, military veterans warned volunteers with no combat training they were heading into a conflict where inexperience could be a liability for themselves and others. That did not stop those like Tai B., 23, who studied journalism in New York. 'I'm not looking to be a hero, or a martyr, I just want to finally do something right,' said Tai, who can cook, do basic mechanics and knows how to handle a firearm. He has contacted Ukraine's U.S. Embassy about enlisting in Zelenskiy's 'international legion.' Hyde, a 28-year-old from the U.S. Midwest, said he was already in Kyiv and expected to start military training on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday after signing an application for Ukraine to join the EU. On Sunday, he appealed to international volunteers to join Ukraine's International Legion of Territorial Defense Ukrainian emergency service personnel gather outside the damaged City Hall building following shelling, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1, 2022 People take part in a basic military training on March 1, 2022 in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. Ukrainians from the eastern and central parts of the country have increasingly fled to western cities as Russian forces advance toward Kyiv from three sides A view of the central square following shelling of the City Hall building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1, 2022 'I cannot bear the thought of Europe once again being plunged into warfare,' said Hyde, who described himself as a gun enthusiast and avid survivalist with no combat experience. He expects to be given a helmet, body armor, knee pads and eventually a rifle. In Austin, Texas, a software developer said he would draw on his experience as a U.S. Army cadet to fight for Ukraine. 'If they're willing to defend democracy then I think those that benefit from a democratic society are duty bound to support them,' said the 25-year-old, who asked that his name not be used. 'I'm not telling my parents until I head to the airport.' The Military Times on Monday reported that it had received 'several' inquiries from American veterans who were interested in flying to the region to help. Officially, anyone who wants to fight is being asked to fill out their credentials at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington DC. A mother-of-three who was tragically found stabbed to death in one of the UK's 'poshest' villages has been named by police. The body of Clair Ablewhite, 47, was discovered in her home shortly before 6.30pm on Saturday in Hall Lane, Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire. A post-mortem examination has since been carried out and confirmed the 47-year-old suffered multiple stab wounds. Nottinghamshire Police revealed they had arrested a 48-year-old man on Sunday morning in connection with the incident on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody as enquiries continue. Detectives said they were 'carefully and painstakingly building up a picture of what happened before, during and after the murder'. Ms Ablewhite's family are described as being 'devastated' by her death and family liaison officers are working closely with them and providing support. The body of Clair Ablewhite, 47, (pictured) was discovered in her home shortly before 6.30pm on Saturday in Hall Lane, Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire. A post-mortem examination has since been carried out and confirmed the 47-year-old suffered multiple stab wounds In a statement, Nottinghamshire Police said: 'The death of a woman at her home in Colston Bassett is being treated as murder, police have confirmed. 'Mother-of-three Clair Ablewhite was found dead after officers were called to the property in Hall Lane, shortly before 6.30pm on Saturday. 'A Home Office post-mortem examination has since been carried out and confirmed the 47-year-old suffered stab wounds. 'Officers arrested a 48-year-old man on Sunday morning on suspicion of murder in connection with the investigation and he remains in custody as enquiries continue. 'Police have been carrying out forensic investigations at the property, as well as house-to-house enquiries and checking CCTV in the area. 'A cordon is likely to remain in place for some time and officers will be in the area as they continue their investigations and provide reassurance to local residents. 'Family liaison officers are working closely with the family and providing support at this difficult time.' Detective Inspector Mel Crutchley, of Notts Police, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Our thoughts remain with the family as they deal with the impact of this tragedy. They have been left devastated by her loss. 'Our investigation is now in the stages of very carefully and painstakingly building up a picture of what happened before, during and after the murder and as people can probably imagine, this process can take time as the evidence we gather makes things clearer and clearer. 'I understand that in a quiet, close-knit community like this it is shocking for an incident like this to happen and people will be talking but I would urge people not to speculate, respect the family and please trust the judicial process to find the truth in due course. Nottinghamshire Police revealed they had arrested a 48-year-old man on Sunday morning in connection with the incident on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody as enquiries continue. Pictured: Police cordon off Hall Lane in Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire 'I would also ask anyone who has information that may help the investigation to contact Nottinghamshire Police as soon as possible.' Simon Robinson, leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, said: 'It is very unusual to see this happen. and we send the woman's family our condolences. 'It's a shock for this to happen in such a rural area. The woman who died was very well known in the community.' Colston Bassett - named as one of the 54 'most desirable' in the country in January - is based in the picturesque Vale of Belvoir on the Notts-Leics border, and has a population of around 400. The average house price is around 800,000 - the most expensive in Notts - and the village is the home of traditional Stilton and Shropshire Blue cheeses. Its dairy has been making cheese for over 100 years, and is one of only five nationwide that are permitted to name their blue cheese 'Stilton'. And Colston Bassett's pub, the Martin's Arms, is a frequent award winner renowned for its fine wine and cuisine. Advertisement A Russian military convoy traveling towards the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv has grown from being 17 miles long earlier on Monday to 40 miles, a satellite company has said, as U.S. officials warned that the city could be the scene of a siege and ugly urban warfare. Maxar Technologies, a private U.S. satellite company, said additional ground forces deployments and ground attack helicopter units were seen in southern Belarus, less than 20 miles north of the Ukraine border. Maxar said the convoy stretches from the Antonov airbase, just 17 miles north of Kyiv's city center, to just north of the Ukrainian town of Pribyrs'k, which is close to the Ukraine-Belarus border and the failed nuclear reactor at Chernobyl. Ukraine war: The latest Russia promised on Monday that it would hit back against the EU following its support of Ukraine and warned the West against supplying weapons to the country A second round of talks aimed at ending Russia's attack on Ukraine is set to take place after the first meeting on Monday ended without resolution Ukraine's Defense Ministry says Russia has lost 5,300 soldiers, 29 planes, 29 helicopters and 151 tanks Russia's DoD has for the first time acknowledged suffering losses, but refused to say how many Ukraine reports 352 civilian deaths since the start of the invasion, including 14 children. The UN puts the civilian toll at 102, including seven children. Russian economy entered freefall as Western sanctions put in place over the weekend took effect, with ruble sliding to its lowest level ever Moscow's central bank has more-than doubled the interest rate to 20 per cent Russia orders people and companies to sell 80 per cent of their revenue in foreign currencies, forcing them to buy the ruble to help prop it up Moscow stock exchange won't open until at least 3pm in an attempt to head off all-out crash Zelensky has allowed Ukrainian prisoners to be freed if they join defense forces to 'repay their debt' Ukraine's president also announced creation of 'international brigade' for foreign volunteers wishing to join military, after 'thousands' applied Spain's foreign minister called Putin's order to put nuclear forces on high alert 'one more sign of [his] absolute irrationality' Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his country should be open to hosting nuclear weapons Germany announced a $112million fund to rebuild the country's armed forces, more-than double its current self-defense budget EU announced, for the first time in its history, that it will send funds to Ukraine for weapons - including fighter jets Advertisement White House sources told CNN they were carefully monitoring the convoy, and were concerned not only at its increased size but also at the uptick in violence and indiscriminate killings. U.S. intelligence officials told members of Congress on Monday that they expect a second overwhelming wave of attacks to engulf Ukraine. Two people told CNN that the briefing detailed how they expect the sheer numbers of Russian troops to flatten the Ukrainian resistance. Another source told the channel that Russia was likely to lay siege to Kyiv, and predicted ugly scenes of urban warfare. U.S. intelligence believes around 75 percent of Russian forces positioned on the borders with Ukraine are now inside the country. Monday's convoy of vehicles was so extensive that it was not entirely captured in the satellite imagery. In some areas, the vehicles are two to three rows deep. It was not clear whether all vehicles in the convoy were headed for the same final destination, or whether the military forces would split up and encircle the capital. On Sunday, when Maxar had measured the convoy then near Ivankiv, Ukraine it stood at just 3.5 miles long. News of the convoy came as the scale of the attacks over the weekend were becoming clear. On Monday, Dmitry Zhivitsky, the head of the Sumy Military Administration in the east of the country, said that 70 Ukrainian soldiers were confirmed dead when they came under attack from Russian artillery on Sunday. He said that many Russians also died, without giving details. An apparent cluster bomb attack targeted the city of Kharkiv on Monday, killing at least 11 people and wounding scores more. Ukraine's ambassador to the US also accused Putin's forces of using a banned thermobaric bomb on the capital of Kyiv overnight. The bombardment of Kharkiv continued Tuesday morning with a rocket landing just in front of the civilian public administration building, destroying the road outside and blowing the windows out of the building itself. Footage from inside shows the building was heavily damaged, with ceilings collapsing and rubble strewn around. Closer to the capital, the director of the Adonis maternity hospital in Buzova, 20 miles west of Kyiv city center, said their facility had been hit. The district came under heavy attack in the early hours of Saturday, and the onslaught continued into Monday, when the hospital was hit. A rehabilitation clinic for military veterans in Borodyanka, 40 miles north west of Kyiv center, was also hit on Monday, The Kyiv Independent reported. Vitali Klitchsko, the former world heavyweight boxing champion who is now the mayor of Kyiv, said on Monday night that his city was frightened but determined. 'We never were so patriotic,' he told CNN's Anderson Cooper. 'I have never been so proud of our soldiers. Our soldiers are heroes. Civilians are building defenses. People are taking weapons and are ready to defend our homes, defend our families, our future and our country. 'I am really proud. The army is not interested in how strong the Russian army is; we are ready to fight, and ready to die for our home. Because it is our future. Somebody wants to come to our home and steal our future from us.' Asked how long Kyiv could hold out, he replied: 'So long as we can survive.' And, in a message to Putin, he said: 'We don't want the Soviet Union back. We want a free, democratic country. We are fighting for that - fighting for our dream. 'We don't need the war. We are a peaceful nation, a peaceful people.' Earlier on Monday, he advised residents to spend the night from Monday to Tuesday in basements or bomb shelters, if possible. 'Tonight will again be difficult,' he wrote in a statement. 'I call on people in Kyiv to spend the night in a shelter.' After a daylong curfew on Sunday, the mayor allowed residents to leave their homes during the day on Monday but few did. A massive Russian military convoy is seen advancing from Belarus in the north towards Kyiv. This Maxar satellite image taken and released on Monday shows part of a military convoy in southern Ivankiv A 40-mile long convoy is seen traveling south from the Belarus border towards Kyiv on Monday. The convoy is composed of tanks and personnel carriers The head of the convoy is at Antonov airport, 17 miles north of Kyiv city center - the scene of fierce fighting since Thursday. The airport is strongly contested, but is believed to be controlled by Russia The 40 mile-long convoy of military vehicles came from the north, from Belarus, and was on Monday moving south past Ivankiv and Prybirsk Russian troops have advanced on Kyiv from the north, through Belarus; from the south, from the Black Sea; and from the east, via the separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. The eastern city of Kharkiv has also come under heavy attack. In the early hours of Tuesday, the city of Kherson, 120 miles east of Odessa, was being attacked Russia on Monday was continuing to pour heavy weapons into Ukraine. On Monday Ukraine's ambassador to the United States said that Moscow had deployed a thermobaric weapon, which is banned by many countries for its lethal efficiency in killing large numbers of people Handed over application for the EU membership signed by President @ZelenskyyUa to PermRep to the EU Philippe Leglise-Costa, current Presidency of the Council of the EU @Europe2022FR. Application is registered. Process has been started. #UkraineIsEU #EUisUkraine pic.twitter.com/BBcx7UI6ST Vsevolod Chentsov (@VVChentsov) February 28, 2022 Kharkiv was struck by more Russian rockets on Tuesday morning, with one striking outside the civilian public administration building which was heavily damaged in the blast. The rocket can be seen a split second before it slams into the building, triggering a massive blast The rocket caused huge damage to the building and threw up a huge plume of smoke in the aftermath of the explosion The blast blew debris across the square outside the administrative building and demolished several parked cars This image, posted by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, shows the square outside the administrative building covered in rubble following the rocket attack This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows bridge damage in Stoyanka, a village west of Kyiv, on Monday. It was unclear whether the bridge was deliberately damaged to slow the Russian advance, or whether it was hit by artillery A satellite image shows a closer view of ground attack helicopters, at Vd Bokov airfield, in Mazyr, Belarus, on Monday. Putin in January and February staged military exercises in Belarus, and then kept his troops there for the invasion Ground forces are pictured deployed in Teshkov, Belarus, north of the border with Ukraine, in images taken by Maxar Technologies on Monday, showing the scale of Russia's military onslaught Helicopters are pictured lined up in Bokov airfield in southern Belarus on Monday, not far from the border with Ukraine. The satellite company also released images showing a huge military convoy of Russian equipment heading towards Kyiv Russian military equipment is pictured moving into formation in Khilchikha, Belarus, on Monday. Vladimir Putin and his ally, Belarus's dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko, are working together to attack Ukraine from all sides The military convoy is seen on Monday in Ivankiv, heading south towards Kyiv. The convoy in places is three vehicles wide, showing the scale of the invasion A satellite image shows southern end of convoy armor towed artillery trucks, east of Antonov airport on Monday. Antonov airport is only 17 miles outside of Kyiv city center A view shows the regional administration building following the Russian rocket attack in central Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 1, 2022 Rescue workers and medics are pictured close to the regional administration building in central Kharkiv, picking their way through the debris following the explosion The bombardment of Kharkiv continued Tuesday morning with a rocket landing just in front of the civilian public administration building, destroying the road outside and blowing the windows out of the building itself. Footage from inside shows the building was heavily damaged, with ceilings collapsing and rubble strewn around Ukraine on Monday announced it was applying to join the European Union - a move guaranteed to further anger Vladimir Putin. On Monday evening, Vsevolod Chentsov, Head of the Ukrainian Mission to the E.U., tweeted photos of him handing over the documentation. 'Handed over application for the EU membership signed by President @ZelenskyyUa toPermRep to the EU Philippe Leglise-Costa, current Presidency of the Council of the EU @Europe2022FR,' he said. 'Application is registered. Process has been started. #UkraineIsEU #EUisUkraine.' On Tuesday morning in Japan, the prime minister, Fumio Kishida - who comes from Hiroshima - said the G7 nations will urge the international community to unite against Russia. 'It is important that all members of the international community respond resolutely to Russia's acts,' Kishida told reporters in a news conference after a call with G7 leaders and allies. Kishida said the G7 nations Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States and their partners had also agreed to help Ukrainian refugees following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Kishida said any use of nuclear force is unacceptable. As Kishida spoke, the economic noose was tightening around Moscow. Mastercard announced late on Monday it has 'blocked multiple financial institutions' from its payment network as a result of sanction orders against Russia. The company's chief executive, Michael Miebach, did not say which financial institutions had been blocked, only that Mastercard would 'abide fully by our compliance obligations as they evolve.' Hours earlier, Disney said they were banning their films from Russia. They followed Uber, BP, Shell, HSBC and other companies in withdrawing from the country. There were bank runs reported in Russia on Monday, and the rouble suffered its biggest-ever loss against the dollar, plunging 40 percent. On Monday night, Connecticut senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said that a classified briefing to Congress confirmed that Putin was advancing slowed than he had hoped. 'Just leaving classified briefing on Ukraine crisis. A few takeaways that I can share,' he tweeted. '1/ Confirmation that the Russians have fallen behind their timeline. Ukrainian resistance has been fierce and there have been multiple Russian equipment and logistics failures. '2/ DoD and DHS are pressing hard for Congress to end the continuing resolution and get a budget passed. There is no way for our national security agencies to be nimble enough to support Ukraine if they are operating on the 2020/21 budget. '3/ The ability to keep supply lines running to Ukraine remains alive, but Russia will try to encircle and cut off Kiev in the next several weeks. The fight for Kiev will be long and bloody and Ukrainians are rapidly preparing for street to street combat. '4/ The U.S. and allies are coordinating to not only freeze the assets of Putin and his oligarch allies, but to seize those assets as well. This is likely a further step than Putin's inner circle anticipated.' Part of a Russian rocket is seen in the street outside a shop in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, after bombardment by Russian forces A spent Russian rocket is seen embedded in the floor of an apartment building in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, after Putin's forces unleashed a bombardment against civilian areas on Monday A destroyed Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle is seen next to a spent missile casing in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, which came under attack from 'cluster' munitions on Monday Antonov airport, the closest Russian-held site to the center of Kyiv, was the scene of fierce fighting on Friday as it changed hands several times. By Saturday, it was under Putin's forces' control. Kyiv was subjected to a strong attack on Friday night and into Saturday morning, as Russian forces attempted to enter the city from all sides. From the north, troops were attacking from Antonov airport, with a thermal power plant in the suburb of Troieshchyna the focus of fighting. From the east, Putin's forces advanced towards Kyiv zoo, sparking fierce battles along Peremohy Avenue - a main artery into the city. And from the south, fighting was raging near the town of Vasilkov, 20 miles south of Kyiv. On Monday, delegations representing Ukraine and Russia met in Belarus to discuss the future. As soon as the discussions broke up, Russian forces began firing upon Kyiv. Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, said on Monday night that his country had so far in the five-day conflict been hit with 56 Russian missile strikes, and 113 cruise missiles were fired. He accused Russia of war crimes after Vladimir Putin's forces launched what were believed to be cluster and vacuum bomb attacks on the fifth day of their invasion. In a late night address directed at Russia, Zelensky said there would 'definitely be an international tribunal' for what he said was a 'violation of all conventions' and added that 'no one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people.' The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said that he plans to open an investigation 'as rapidly as possible' into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. In the early hours of Tuesday, air raid sirens were sounding once again in the capital city. Ukrainian media reported that the city of Kherson, 300 miles south of Kyiv on the Black Sea, was also coming under attack early on Tuesday, Nexta reported. In a late night address directed at Russia on Monday night, Zelensky said there would 'definitely be an international tribunal' for what he said was a 'violation of all conventions' and added that 'no one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people' Smoke can be seen near Ivankiv, 50 miles north of Kyiv, after the Russian convoy passed through heading south towards Kyiv. It is unclear what caused the smoke A burnt-out car is seen in the east of Ukraine, in Donetsk, on Monday Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of war crimes on Monday after Vladimir Putin's forces launched what were believed to be cluster and vacuum bomb attacks on the fifth day of their invasion. Above: Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, coming under heavy attack on Monday The attack on Kharkiv is believed to have left nine people dead, including three children. Above: The aftermath of the strike on Monday Body of a Russian soldier lays outside a school destroyed as a result of fighting not far from the center of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Monday What are thermobaric 'vacuum' bombs? Thermobaric weapons - also known as vacuum bombs - are high-powered explosive that use the atmosphere itself as part of the explosion. They are among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever developed. The bomb works by using oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion, making it far deadlier than a conventional weapon. A thermobaric bomb dropped by the US on Taliban in Afghanistan in 2017 weighed 21,600 pounds and left a crater more than 300 meters (1,000 feet) wide after it exploded six feet above the ground. Thermobaric weapons were developed by both the U.S. and the Soviet Union in the 1960s. In September 2007, Russia detonated the largest thermobaric weapon ever made, which created an explosion equivalent to 39.9 tons. The U.S. version of the weapon reportedly costs over $16 million each. Last week, it emerged that Russia may use the weapons if their assault in Ukraine became bogged down. A western official said: 'My fear would be that if they don't meet their timescale and objectives they would be indiscriminate in their use of violence. 'They don't adhere to the same principles of necessity and proportionality and rule of law that Western forces do.' Advertisement The eastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest, came under heavy attack on Monday, killing nine civilians, The New York Times reported. 'Today showed that this is not only a war, it is the murder of us, the Ukrainian people,' said Kharkiv's mayor, Igor Terekhov, in a video posted on Facebook. 'This is the first time in its many-year history that the city of Kharkiv has been through something like this: shells that hit residential homes, killing and maiming innocent citizens.' Terekhov said four people died on Monday when they emerged from bomb shelters to find water. A family of five two adults and three children was burned alive when a shell hit their car. Another 37 people were wounded, he said. Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. claimed earlier on Monday that Russia used a devastating vacuum bomb on Ukraine. Oksana Markarova, speaking after briefing members of the U.S. congress, said: 'They used the vacuum bomb today, which is actually prohibited by the Geneva convention. The devastation that Russia is trying to inflict on Ukraine is large.' The vacuum bombs, which are also known as thermobaric weapons, can vaporize bodies and crush internal organs. They use oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion, typically producing a blast wave of a significantly longer duration than that of a conventional explosive. They are among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever developed. The U.N. human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, said on Monday her office has confirmed that 102 civilians, including seven children, have been killed, and 304 others injured in violence in Ukraine since Thursday, as she cautioned that the tally was likely a vast undercount. Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, on Monday voiced his anger at reports of 'Russia's attacks on Ukrainian cities and mounting civilian deaths,' according to the State Department. Blinken made the comments while on a call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday. Their conversation came amid reports that Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko is poised to throw his own troops into the fighting. The move follows on from Chechen forces being thrown into battle, which led to the almost-immediate destruction of a column of armored vehicles and the death of one of their top generals. Belarus on Sunday also voted to amend the country's constitution allowing them to host Russian nuclear weapons, which came after Putin's chilling order to his defense chiefs to put the country's nuclear weapons on 'alert' in response to 'threats' from the West. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Monday that Russia's decision to raise the nuclear alert was 'a reckless, dangerous decision'. He added: 'There's no reason for that. NATO is no threat to Russia. We don't seek confrontation with Russia.' Media regulator Ofcom yesterday began 15 investigations into the 'due impartiality' of state-backed Russian broadcaster RT. The move, which increases the likelihood of RT losing its UK licence, relates to 15 editions of its hourly news show aired on Sunday. The EU has banned the channel, formerly known as Russia Today, but Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned a similar move in the UK was likely to lead to the BBC being banned in Russia. She added: 'We want the Russian population to hear the truth about what Putin is doing.' Media regulator Ofcom yesterday began 15 investigations into the 'due impartiality' of state-backed Russian broadcaster RT The EU has banned the channel, formerly known as Russia Today, but Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned a similar move in the UK was likely to lead to the BBC being banned in Russia Last week Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries used a letter to Ofcom to accuse RT, previously known as Russia Today, of being 'demonstrably part of Russia's global disinformation campaign' After days of speculation, Ofcom revealed it had 'observed a significant increase' in the number of shows on the broadcaster that 'warrant investigation under our Broadcasting Code'. It is understood the investigations mainly centre on reporting from correspondents on the ground - in places like the Donbas region of Ukraine - rather than the handling of stories by presenters in the studio. RT, which has a number of British presenters and reporters, has reportedly referred to the invasion of Ukraine as a 'special military operation'. Ofcom said yesterday it was expecting 'full-cooperation from RT', adding that the investigations will be 'expedited' given the 'severity and urgency of the current crisis'. On Sunday, Boris Johnson said the channel had been 'peddling' content that was 'doing a lot of damage to the truth', and called for Ofcom to look at whether it was 'infringing the rules of this country'. Last week Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries used a letter to Ofcom to accuse RT, previously known as Russia Today, of being 'demonstrably part of Russia's global disinformation campaign'. But yesterday Miss Truss admitted any move to ban the channel here could lead to retaliation against UK broadcasters like the BBC. She told Parliament: 'We are looking at what can be done on RT but the reality is that if we ban RT in the United Kingdom, that is likely to lead to channels like the BBC being banned in Russia.' The Foreign Secretary added: 'And what we want is we want the Russian population to hear the truth about what Vladimir Putin is doing.' Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said last night: 'Given the serious on-going situation in Ukraine, we will be concluding our investigations into RT as a matter of urgency.' As the war between Russia and Ukraine goes on, there are also fears of Moscow's possible use of more advanced and highly devastating weapons. Some media reports say that Russian President Vladimir Putin has "War Toys" or unconventional arsenal developed by the country's scientists. It includes robot tanks, invisible drones, and attack dogs. In the recent past, Russian scientists claimed to have invented driverless robot tanks - armed with sensors, rockets, machine guns, and flamethrowers - which could destroy enemy trench positions. The Daily Star reported that Kremlin already has the Uran-9 strike robots operational. Such robots can operate unassisted and can be controlled remotely. Russia also reportedly has dogtroopers. These airborne soldiers would hit the ground accompanied by attack dogs in body armor, ready for combat and rescue missions. Aside from dogs, Russia War Toys also include tanks that can be dropped with a parachute onto land and into bodies of water. These are the 18-ton Sprut-SDM1 war machines that can destroy targets from three miles away. Even getting hit in 4ft. waves, it can still fire its anti-tank gun. Moscow also has a stealth drone that cannot be noticed by radar. It is the S-70 Okhotnik that can fly back and forth from Moscow to London. It could support Su-57 fighter pilots in groups of four. How massive is Russia's Nuclear Weapons Arsenal? According to the Arms Control Association, Russia's overall nuclear stockpile is larger than the United States. Moscow has around 6,250 total nuclear warheads, while the US possesses not less than 5,500. The Arms Control Association estimates that Russia has 1,458 warheads on 527 intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and bombers in terms of deployed nuclear warheads. While the US holds 1,389 warheads on 665 intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and bombers. No other country possesses nuclear weapons, including the United Kingdom, France, Israel, Pakistan, India, China, and North Korea, which has a stockpile level near those numbers of Moscow and Washington, CNN reported. Read Also: North Korea Says Russia-Ukraine War's Root Cause Is Not Territorial Dispute But US' Sanctions; More Than 520,000 Refugees Flee Kyiv Vacuum Bomb Allegedly Used by Russia in Ukraine Meanwhile, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States claimed that Russia had used a condemned weapon in its attacks. In a media briefing after a meeting with US legislators, Ukrainian ambassador Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador, said Russia had used a thermobaric weapon, known as a vacuum bomb, in its attack on her nation. A vacuum bomb, also known as a thermobaric weapon, draws oxygen from the surrounding air to produce a high-temperature explosion. It generates a blast wave that lasts much longer than a normal explosive and is capable of vaporizing people. However, authorities have not yet confirmed the employment of thermobaric weapons in the Ukrainian conflict, per Reuters. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had seen reports on such weapons but had not received any confirmation if Russia utilized a vacuum bomb. She remarked that if Russia used a thermobaric weapon to attack Ukraine, "it would potentially be a war crime." Human rights group Amnesty International says International humanitarian law prohibits the use of inherently indiscriminate weapons, like cluster munitions. It is a war crime to execute indiscriminate strikes that kill or hurt civilians. Related Article: Russian Billionaires Jet Tracker: Teen Who Stalked Elon Musk Now Targeting Russia's Wealthiest @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Scott Peterson was back in court Monday for his retrial hearing to overturn his conviction in the sordid slaying of his pregnant wife 20 years ago, as his defense team argued a juror was not impartial because she allegedly failed to disclose domestic abuse at his first trial. Lawyers on Monday completed their questioning of former juror Richelle Nice who testified that she did not intentionally lie on the jury questionnaire about being the victim of a crime. 'I did not do it intentionally. I don't consider myself a victim. I've been in many fights,' Nice testified. Nice, dubbed 'Strawberry Shortcake' because of her dyed red hair, was among the 12 jurors who found Peterson guilty of killing his pregnant wife, Laci. Peterson, 49, was convicted in 2004 of killing Laci and their unborn son, who the couple planned to name Conner. He has long maintained his innocence. Attorney Pat Harris, said it was impossible for Nice to be unbiased in Peterson's case because she was the victim of domestic violence while pregnant, like Laci. Nice was once granted a restraining order against a boyfriend convicted of assaulting her. 'When I filled out that questionnaire, honestly and truly, nothing of this ever crossed my mind, ever,' Nice said Monday of her failure to disclose that she had sought a restraining order in 2000 against her then boyfriend's former girlfriend, saying then that she feared for her own unborn child. That, Peterson's attorneys say, colored her view of Peterson. But they must first prove to California Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo that Nice lied on her pre-trial jury questionnaire to get on the panel. The judge then would have to find that Nice was biased against Peterson from the start, tainting his jury and denying him a fair trial. Peterson's attorneys plan to spend the next two days of the weeklong hearing putting on witnesses they say will contradict Nice's answers. Scott Peterson listens during a hearing at the San Mateo County Superior Court on February 28. His lawyers are seeking a retrial on the grounds that a juror lied on her questionnaire when failing disclose she was once beaten while pregnant Peterson, seated, listens as attorneys Shelley Sandusky, left, Pat Harris, second from left, and Cliff Gardner, speak during a break at hearing at the San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City, California on Monday, February 28 Lawyers must first prove to California Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo that Nice lied on her pre-trial jury questionnaire to get on the panel that convicted Peterson in 2004 Richelle Nice was a juror who helped convict Scott Peterson for the Christmastime 2002 murder of his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner Peterson was sentenced to death in 2005 for the murders, but was last December re-sentenced to life without parole Nice swore also disputed any financial motive in the case. Jurors never discussed jointly writing a book until after the trial and verdict - 'Absolutely not,' she swore. Another juror loaned her $1,000 only after the trial ended - 'Way after the trial, maybe even a year.' She denied selling a series of post-trial letters between herself and Peterson to People Magazine. Nice said she doesn't recall a fellow juror's account that when she joined the jury in deliberations she declared that 'We should get Scott for what he did to Laci and 'little man.'' 'It doesn't sound like something I would say, but I have no idea,' she said. 'I don't remember this.' She said to her recollection, the first time she used 'little man' to refer to Conner was in her first television interview after the trial. Peterson's attorneys argue that she lobbied to get on the jury. But prosecutors on Monday called that into question with a transcript of the jury selection process showing that the trial judge had dismissed Nice from the jury pool because of financial hardship and she was ready to walk out the door without complaint - until Peterson's celebrity attorney, Mark Geragos, called her back. It was only then that she said she could afford to serve during what was expected to be a five-month trial despite being paid by her employer for just two weeks. Nice said she could afford to go without pay because she was living with her mother and boyfriend, who could help financially. Scott Peterson, seated at right, listens as attorney Pat Harris, standing, speaks during a hearing at the San Mateo County Superior Court on Monday, February 28 Peterson, right, walks out of court after the hearing on Monday. But Peterson attorney Pat Harris said Friday that they can't find Nice's then-boyfriend, who he said told a defense investigator that he was concerned at the time about the financial toll and Nice's need to care for a sick child. Massullo is weighing whether to allow the investigator to testify instead. Defense attorneys plan to call Geragos to the stand, contending now that his allowing Nice to serve amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. Geragos has said in court papers that had he known of Nice's personal history he would have immediately bounced her from the jury. Peterson's attorneys plan to call to the witness stand three former fellow jurors; a co-author of 'We the Jury,' the book written by Nice and six other jurors; and filmmakers who say Nice had on her wall a photograph of a young child in pajamas with printing on the pajamas that said 'Little-man.' They also plan to question a People magazine reporter who wrote a story based on the 17 letters Nice wrote to Peterson after his conviction and the eight letters Peterson wrote to Nice. Nice became emotional for the only time during the two days of questioning when she said her therapist had suggested that she write to Peterson in the wake of a trial that she said 'absolutely' changed her. She said she asked Peterson about his infidelity in one letter because she was trying to understand 'about men in general, why they cheat.' Peterson was arrested only after his lover came forward to say he had told her his wife was gone a month before her actual disappearance. Nice testified that her boyfriend at the time was serially unfaithful, which Peterson's attorneys have suggested biased her against him going into the trial, which she denies. Nice (pictured at Peterson's sentencing in 2005) allegedly failed to disclose that she was a victim of domestic abuse during the 2004 juror selection process for Peterson's high-profile trial, and it's now among the reasons his defense team is seeking a retrial Nice's testimony Monday and Friday centered on whether she lied about her history with domestic violence. She's pictured on February 25, 2005 Nice is pictured hugging attorney Gloria Allred after speaking at a news conference after the formal sentencing of Scott Peterson in Redwood City, Calif., on March 16, 2005 Nice's testimony, which started Friday, kicked off a weeklong hearing centered on whether she lied about her history with domestic violence to get on a jury so she could vote to convict Peterson. While grilled on the stand Friday by Peterson's lawyer Pat Harris, Nice claimed that although her boyfriend was convicted of assaulting her, he never actually did. She said her then-boyfriend Eddie Whiteside called the cops on her in November 2001 after she assaulted him in their bedroom during a fight. When police arrived, she said they noticed a cut on her lip that was caused by her braces and they arrested him for assault. 'Eddie never hit me,' she told court on Friday. 'Now, or any time. Eddie never hit me, so I was not a victim of domestic violence.' However, Nice did admit during testimony that she failed to disclose being victimized by her ex-boyfriend's girlfriend, who slashed his tires, broke into their home and threatened her. Nice, who was testifying with impunity, claimed she never intentionally lied when responding to a jury selection question about whether she or her associates had ever witnessed or been victimized by a crime. She responded that she hadn't been victimized, despite filing a restraining order while pregnant in 2000 against a woman she then accused of terrorizing her. But she claimed on the stand Friday that she was 'being spiteful' by seeking a court injunction for herself and unborn son. When asked if she was ever in fear that the woman would harm her unborn child, she said: 'Nope.' Her latest claim that she wasn't worried about her baby's safety contradicted the statements she made while requesting the court order. She at that time said she was worried the woman might hurt harm the fetus. She now said she was only worried about what might have happened if the two engaged in a fist fight. 'She wasn't going to deliberately hurt my child, but if we fought and rolled around like some dummies on the ground, then yes I would be fearful losing my child doing something stupid like that,' she said. If Peterson gets a new trial, Harris said they can present new evidence that burglars were nearby on the day Laci Peterson disappeared, that witnesses saw her alive that day, and that her fetus was 'alive for at least another five to six days' based on an examination of the fetal remains. However, prosecutors said Peterson's attorneys have presented no evidence to support their assertions that he deserves a new trial because Nice had a 'darker motive' to be on the jury 'and was in essence a stealth juror.' Peterson's pregnant wife Laci (pictured) vanished on Christmas Eve 2002 and was discovered months later floating in the San Francisco Bay. The mutilated corpse of their unborn son was also recovered If Peterson gets a new trial, his lawyers said they can present new evidence that burglars were nearby on the day Laci Peterson disappeared Laci Peterson, 27, was killed when she was eight months pregnant with a son, whom the Petersons planned to name Conner. Investigators said that on Christmas Eve 2002, Scott Peterson dumped his wife's body from his fishing boat into San Francisco Bay. Peterson was eventually arrested after Amber Frey, a massage therapist living in Fresno, told police they had begun dating a month before Laci Peterson's death. She said he had told her his wife was dead. Peterson has maintained his innocence throughout. Although the state Supreme Court threw out Peterson's death sentence in December and ordered Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo to decide if Nice tainted his trial, it also said 'there was considerable other circumstantial evidence incriminating Peterson.' Peterson was sentenced to death in 2005 for the 2002 murder of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Connor. Last December, he was re-sentenced to life without parole. Private schools are on high alert to block fee money from sanctioned Putin cronies and report it to the authorities. The Independent Schools Council advised fee-paying schools they must not accept money from Russian individuals or banks on the Governments updated sanctions list. Universities will likely take similar action. However, staff may delay taking action if they have safeguarding concerns. Oligarchs have long favoured UK private schools, often boarding, which can provide a prestigious British education while parents enjoy a lavish jet-set lifestyle. In addition, the government has also banned any Russian national living in the UK from having more than 50,000 in British banks. It means even Russians who are far removed from Vladimir Putin could find it hard to process the funds to pay for fees. If fees remain unpaid for a certain period - usually 14 days - the schools have the right to terminate the contact with the parents and the child would have to leave. Fee paying schools 'must not' accept money from Russian individuals or banks, The Independent Schools Council has warned. Pictured: A generic stock image of pupils at a school However, schools may delay this action if they have safeguarding concerns. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, said childrens safety and wellbeing are a priority and that sanctions are drawn up by the government - not by the ISC. However, she said: Sanctions currently imposed on individuals and Russian banks mean schools must not accept payments of fees from these sources. They are encouraged to remain on high alert over suspicious payments and expected to raise Suspicious Activity Reports if they have any concerns over the provenance of the money they are receiving. She added schools are conducting background checks on sources of funds in accordance with guidance from the Independent Schools Bursars Association, which has been drawn up with legal experts. Clearly, the support of the Home Office, National Crime Agency, NECC (National Economic Crime Centre) and other relevant authorities is hugely important, she added. Associations representing independent schools work with these agencies to encourage vigilance against suspicious fee payments and ensure reporting is carried out as required under relevant laws and regulations. An $800 million housing tax on property developments to fund social housing has been dumped by the Victorian Government, blaming a 'mischievous' scare campaign. The Andrews Labor government on February 18 announced plans to impose a 1.75 per cent levy on new developments of more than three dwellings to pay for building thousands of social and affordable homes from 2024. It argued the tax would affect less than 30 per cent of residential planning permits and could raise more than $800 million per annum to fund up to 1700 new social and affordable homes each year. An $800 million housing tax on property developments to fund social housing has been dumped by the Victorian government (pictured, stock photo) Several key industry groups immediately expressed concern the levy costs would be passed onto home buyers, despite the government claiming they reached a deal to secure support for the levy alongside reforms to cut red tape for the sector. Treasurer Tim Pallas confirmed the tax and adjoining reforms would be dumped after meeting with sector leaders on Monday. 'They are done, they are dusted, they are finished,' he told reporters on Tuesday. The Andrews Labor government on February 18 announced plans to impose a 1.75 per cent levy on new developments of more than three dwellings (pictured, Victorian premier Dan Andrews) He attributed the decision to the industry's 'negative' response and the spread of 'misinformation' as part of a 'mischievous' scare campaign. 'They've sought to mislead and confuse the community into this being a net cost on housing,' he said. 'It's total nonsense and the government is not going to put up with the scare campaign of that nature.' The reforms package and levy will not be revisited by the Andrews government after the November state election, with Mr Pallas admitting some fellow Labor MPs expressed concern about the impact of the 'disinformation'. 'We're not interested in playing those games. We'll get on and deliver social and affordable housing,' he said. 'But, of course, a great opportunity I think has been squandered here for people in most need who needed this industry to step up to the plate and think beyond their own immediate self interest.' The tax could fund up to 1700 new social and affordable homes each year (pictured, a couple walks past a real estate agent's window in Melbourne) One of the main industry bodies, the Urban Development Institute of Australia, said last week it was not informed about the levy during government talks on the reforms before it was announced. UDIA Victoria's chief executive Matthew Kandelaars welcomed the decision to bin the levy, citing figures it would cost home buyers up to $20,000, but not its planning reforms. 'It's frustrating that the government has chosen to hold to ransom the improvement of inefficiencies within a state-sponsored planning system that would help to accelerate the Victorian economy out of the pandemic, with a $20,000 tax on homebuyers,' Mr Kandelaars said in a statement. 'The ultimatum was put to us, but it is a position we could never accept.' Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the government should not have been considering a levy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Victorians don't want more taxes and now is the last time they can afford new taxes,' he said. MPs today demand a shake-up at the police watchdog following a string of scandals which have undermined public confidence in how complaints against officers will be handled. The Commons home affairs committee says lengthy inquiries, poor communications and opaque processes are still having a detrimental impact on complainants and officers alike. This means the public perception remains that complaints against police are unlikely to succeed and would only result in minimal sanctions. MPs also blast watchdog officials for making the widow of ex-home secretary Leon Brittan falsely accused of being a member of a Westminster murder and child sex ring feel like a suspect when she complained about potential misconduct in Scotland Yards disastrous VIP child sex abuse inquiry, Operation Midland. The home affairs committee says those responsible for making Lady Brittan feel this way should be ashamed. The MPs call for a change in the governance of the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Speaking out: Lady Brittan is seeking justice over the treatment of her husband, the former Home Secretary Leon Brittan, after false allegations were made about him The report into the IOPC follows scandals including the police-vetting row in the Sarah Everard case, appalling failings by detectives in the case of gay serial killer Stephen Port and a damning review published last month into a toxic culture of racism and sexism at Charing Cross police station. Todays report refers in detail to the testimony of Lady Brittan. Bungling Scotland Yard officers raided her two homes following bogus claims of child sex abuse and murder made by serial liar Carl Nick Beech. Not one officer has faced sanction, despite a report by retired High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques that identified 43 blunders in Operation Midland. The MPs say: The sorry story of Operation Midland and subsequent inquiries into how it was conducted demonstrates why a robust complaints and conduct system is necessary if the public is to be confident that police officers behave properly and will be held to account if they do not. 'Lady Brittans account of how she... was treated is salutary. 'Those investigating potential police misconduct should be ashamed of leaving any vulnerable person feeling as if they are a suspect. Labours Dame Diana Johnson, home affairs committee chairman said: The IOPC does deserve credit for the progress it has made in the four years since it was created. However, more work remains to be done. 'We heard from individuals and communities who feel badly let down. The Mails role in exposing the Operation Midland scandal was praised at a committee hearing last May. Doctors have warned of a wave of gastroenteritis and skin infections caused by floodwaters in southeast Queensland and northeast NSW. Torrential downpours caused flooding along the Queensland coast before the storm moved south, causing rivers to break their banks and putting Lismore underwater by Monday afternoon. Australian College for Emergency Medicine deputy chair Dr Shantha Raghwan said there was already extreme pressure on the healthcare system from the disaster. 'Many staff are sleeping at hospitals, as they cannot leave, and everyone across the healthcare system is working hard to provide care to people who need it, while worrying about the wellbeing of their own loved ones, homes and communities,' she said. Amid record-breaking floods in northeast NSW, a medical expert has warned to avoid the floodwater which is contaminated and could cause illness (pictured: Lismore on Tuesday) Hundreds of Lismore residents, many carrying their pets, were rescued by boat as floodwaters inundated the city (pictured) Some healthcare workers were stuck at hospitals, unable to leave as floodwaters or storms blocked routes, and had been working back-to-back shifts, she added. Dr Raghwan strongly advised against travelling through floodwaters unless absolutely necessary. There was not only the risk of drowning but of also being infected by diseases and contamination in the murky water. 'We are anticipating gastroenteritis and skin infections from exposure to contaminated floodwater. Wherever possible, avoid contact with floodwater,' she said. 'Please follow government directives on maintaining and consuming safe drinking water.' Floodwaters in Lismore on Monday reached the gutter-level on houses and cut-off roads (pictured) Many Australians unaware of the dangers have posted videos online of themselves and friends swimming and playing in flooded streets. One man kicked back on an inflatable pool raft while AFL star Mitch Robinson copped backlash for swimming laps in his flooded backyard. 'Mate you can practically see the gastro radiating from the water,' one person commented on the clip. NSW Health also warned to avoid the deluge saying floodwaters contaminated with sewage may carry a range of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Southeast Queensland is enduring its worst flood since 2011 with more than 49,000 homes cut off from power. The floods were caused by several days of relentless heavy rain and inundated several towns with residents stranded. Residents who lived along the Brisbane River were warned their properties may be at risk as the river was expected to peak at 4m. AFL star Mitch Robinson has been ridiculed for risking his health after taking a swim in floodwaters surrounding his home in south-east Queensland Further south, Wilsons River in Lismore peaked at more than 15m and submerged the entire CBD with roof-level water. There are evacuation orders in place for 350,000 residents and hundreds of people across the region were stranded for hours on rooftops as state and federal emergency services struggled to access impacted areas. Rescuers in a flotilla of dinghies and inflatables plucked stranded residents from the rooftops and balconies of submerged homes on Monday. Other Lismore residents waded to higher ground carrying belongings and pets. 'The expectation of the flood waters peaking is now above 16 metres in Lismore and for context the previous record was just a tick over 12 metres in 1954,' NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said. He added that two defence force Blackhawk helicopters were airborne and conducting rescues as flying conditions marginally cleared. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie launched into former President Trump with dismay over his comments describing Vladimir Putin as 'very savvy' and a 'genius.' Christie, a former close advisor to Trump who trained him for his debates in 2020, wrote on Twitter: 'How can anyone with any understanding of the world call Putin's decision to invade Ukraine "genius" and "very savvy" as we watch him unite the rest of the world against Russia in nearly an instant?' Russia's invasion of Ukraine has triggered aggressive sanctions the world over - even typically neutral nations like Sweden and Switzerland have joined the European Union's sanctions plan to starve and isolate the Russian president. 'President Putin has been one of the greatest unifiers of NATO in modern history. So I guess that is one thing we can thank him for,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. 'Putin has two choices now: an unwinnable occupation of Ukraine after leveling the country and murdering its hero President (if that is even achievable) or a humiliating retreat. Yeah, that's 'genius' and 'very savvy' alright. No walking that back. History is watching,' Christie continued. Christie, a former close advisor to Trump who trained him for his debates in 2020, wrote on Twitter: 'How can anyone with any understanding of the world call Putin's decision to invade Ukraine "genius" and "very savvy" as we watch him unite the rest of the world against Russia in nearly an instant?' Speaking with conservative podcaster Buck Sexton last week, the former president said: 'I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' 'Putin declares a big portion of of Ukraine, Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful. 'So, Putin is now saying, 'It's independent,' a large section of Ukraine. I said, 'How smart is that?'' 'He used the word 'independent' and 'we're gonna go out and we're gonna go in and we're gonna help keep peace.' You gotta say that's pretty savvy.' Trump hit the theme again on Wednesday, during a fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. 'I mean, he's taking over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. I'd say that's pretty smart,' he said. And again, the former president insisted that Putin was smart during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference. 'The problem is not that Putin is smart, of course he's smart, but the real problem is that our leaders are dumb,' Trump said. 'I have no doubt Putin made his decision to ruthlessly invade Ukraine after watching pathetic withdrawal from Afghanistan.' 'I was with Putin a lot, I spent a lot of time with him, I got along with him,' Trump also offered. 'It's a good thing to get along with people, it's not a bad thing,' the ex-president protested. 'It would have been so easy for me to stop this travesty from happening,' Trump continued. 'He understood me, he understood I didn't play games.' The ex-president knocked Biden for being 'grossly incompetent' and poked fun at Biden's threat of sanctions, saying Putin's been getting sanctioned for the past 25 years. Trump then wafted between saying the Ukrainian invasion never would have happened on his watch and questioning why Americans cared so much. 'Ukraine is a catastrophic disaster, but [it's] really interesting that so many Democrat politicians in Washington seem to be rushing to microphones to declare, 'Ukraine's borders are sacred, we feel for Ukraine ... Ukraine's sovereignty must be protected at all costs,'' he noted. 'Even though they're destroying our own borders and our own sovereignty.' 'The Biden administration has spent months obsessing about how to stop an invasion of a country thousands of miles away,' Trump said. 'I believe Americans deserve a president who will stop an invasion of our country.' He added that the Biden White House 'cares more about helping citizens of a distant foreign nation than it does our own citizens.' Trump also suggested that if Democrats were interested in fighting for democracy, 'they should start with the democracy that is under threat right next door - a place called Canada.' Democrats hit out at Trump's comments, President Biden saying: 'I put as much stock in Trump saying that Putin's a genius as I do when he called himself a stable genius,' in an interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen. Ukraine's president accused Russia of war crimes on Monday after Vladimir Putin's forces launched what were believed to be cluster and vacuum bomb attacks on the fifth day of their invasion. Christie, once a trusted Trump advisor, has publicly broken with the president on a number of issues in recent weeks 'Putin has two choices now: an unwinnable occupation of Ukraine after leveling the country and murdering its hero President (if that is even achievable) or a humiliating retreat. Yeah, that's 'genius' and 'very savvy' alright. No walking that back. History is watching,' Christie said mockingly In a late night address directed at Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky said there would 'definitely be an international tribunal' for what he said was a 'violation of all conventions' and added that 'no one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people.' In a panicked bid to reignite his stalled military onslaught, Vladimir Putin had launched an indiscriminate bombing campaign on the eastern city of Kharkiv just 24 hours after local resistance had sent his troops packing from its streets. Weapons rained down on the most Russia-friendly city in Ukraine which sits 25 miles from the border and is home to 1.5million people in a bid to break its will to resist. The hail of bombs, shells and rockets which began falling at lunchtime left at least 11 dead, including three children, with homes and even a school reduced to rubble. A Hawaiian adventurer filmed himself climbing into a 25 foot volcanic fissure to rescue a dog that had been trapped there for two days. Kawika Singson is renowned on the island for getting up close to volcanoes - normally to snap an incredible eruption photo. So when a dog went missing and was tracked, via its GPS collar, to a fissure into Kilauea volcano, on the island of Hilo, he was the first call to rescue the animal. 'I received a text about a dog that fell in a volcanic fissure deep in the tropical rain forest, so I made the 100-mile drive to try to help rescue the dog,' he said on YouTube after posting the footage. Scroll down for video Kawika Singson, pictured, captured footage of the heroic rescue of a dog trapped inside a fissure caused by a nearby volcano and posted it on YouTube Pictured: Malka, the dog that had been trapped inside the fissure for two days before being rescued Footage from Singson's headcam shows him repelling down for some time before reaching the whimpering dog The dog, named Malka, belongs to a teenage boy named only as Cody and had been trapped for two days before Singson arrived. Singson met Cody and other rescuers at the entrance to the volcanic vent and armed with climbing equipment, Singson began to descend - risking sudden high temperatures and toxic gases. Footage from Singson's headcam shows him repelling down for some time before reaching the whimpering dog, hiding in between several rock plates, who initially cowers away. He grabs the pet by the collar before securing it in a safety harness and slowly ascending up the tight fissure towards the crew waiting above. The dog, hiding in between several rock plates, initially cowers away from Singson when he tries to reach for it He grabs the pet by the collar before securing it in a safety harness and slowly ascending up the tight fissure towards the crew waiting above Singson eventually heaves the dog out the vent first, before following him out Kilauea: one of the world's most active volcanos Kilauea is the youngest and most active Hawaiian shield volcano, erupting constantly for over three decades It can be found on the Big Island of Hawaii, on the southeastern slope of Mauna Loa, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Kilauea is one of 5 active volcanoes in Hawaii, including Loihi, Mauna Loa, Hualalai and Haleakala. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates Kilauea's first eruption happened between 300,000 and 600,000 years ago Its current eruption began January 3, 1983 and is called Pu'u'O'o Advertisement Singson eventually heaves the dog out the vent first, before following him out. The dog was thankfully uninjured despite the 25 foot fall and two days without food or water. 'Another happy ending,' Singson tells the camera. ' We got Maka out of this hole,' Singson is a well-known figure in Hawaii, having captured photos of volcanic eruptions on the island over the years. In 2013, he withstood the intense heat of a lava flow and allowed himself to be set alight in order to get this photograph on top of a Hawaii volcano. The photographer then stood on a thin layer of rock just centimeters above magma and it was so hot his tripod and shoes set on fire. In 2015, the extreme landscape photographer braved the rough waters during a brief period of calm and managed to capture the Kilauea volcano eruption in all its glory. The stunning footage - taken somewhere in between Waikupanaha and the Hawaii Volcano National Park, off the coast of the Big Island - is almost therapeutic to watch as fiery fluid plunges underwater where it will transform into land. And a year later, he retrieved the remains of bombs that were dropped onto Mauna Loa volcano in an effort to divert lava and protect the nearby city of Hilo. The remains were part of a cluster of 40 bombs dropped on the big island of Hawaii just two days after Christmas in 1935, the first time bombs had been used in Hawaii to redirect lava. The NHS has rebuffed a demand to note patients preferred pronouns and trans status on their medical records. A report by the London Assemblys health committee says trans and gender-diverse patients are being failed by a lack of NHS data on gender identity. Some experience misgendering, micro-aggressions, and misunderstanding and may be deterred from booking an appointment, it adds. The report found that 70 per cent of trans people had experienced discrimination from their primary care provider, with 14 per cent claiming they were refused GP care because they were trans. Incorrect medical records that fail to take account of patients individual circumstances may result in a trans patient missing out on life-saving tests, it warns. The NHS said it 'currently does not have any plans' to add patients' pronouns or trans status to medical records, despite calls from the London Assembly This is because the way gender is noted in GP records determines who is automatically invited for screening, including for breast and cervical cancer. An NHS spokesman said: The NHS does not currently have any plans to add pronouns or trans status to medical records. 'We continue to work... to ensure that nobody faces undue barriers to getting the care they need, when they need it. The London Assembly document, published yesterday, stated: To avoid the harmful impact of mispronouning and misgendering, NHS Digital should improve NHS IT systems so that all healthcare providers can record trans status in a consistent and inclusive way. The committee investigated health inequalities among the capitals trans and gender-diverse (TGD) population and examined ways to improve access to care. It found 70 per cent of trans people had experienced discrimination from their primary care provider, with 14 per cent refused GP care because they were trans. Caroline Russell, chair of the London Assembly Health Committee, said: We were told during our investigation that without data, you are invisible. It is clear that trans and gender-diverse people are being failed by this absence of appropriate recording, which is having a significant impact at both an individual and population level. Training NHS staff and adjusting NHS IT systems to be trans inclusive could reduce health inequalities and greatly improve the general healthcare experience for trans and gender-diverse Londoners. The way gender is noted in GP records determines who is automatically invited for screening programmes such as breast and cervical. However, systems currently fail to take account of patients individual circumstances and trans history. The report says: Greater awareness and understanding of TGD people and their healthcare needs is required within the NHS to deliver good quality, personalised care and support. The absence of mandatory training for new and existing clinical and non-clinical NHS staff has hindered their ability to gain the confidence and skills needed to support TGD patients effectively. A fear of getting it wrong also makes it difficult to drive progress in this area.' Sydneysiders are bracing for what's forecast to be six hours of heavy rainfall as torrential storms wreak havoc on the NSW coast. The deluge briefly started battering down just before 7pm on Tuesday before easing, but residents in Newcastle down to the South Coast have been warned of more torrential rain in the coming hours. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for damaging winds and heavy rainfall in Sydney, the South Coast and parts of the Hunter coast. Thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy to torrential rain may also lead to flash flooding along the length of the coast from the Hunter down to Bega on the south coast, combined with severe warnings of abnormally high tides and damaging surf. Some areas may cop 200mm of rain over the six-hour period on Tuesday night. Sydney residents can expert to see increasing rain and wind into the evening on Tuesday and continuing throughout Wednesday Lismore in northern NSW has been devastated by floods this week with heavy rainfall now set to wreak havoc in Sydney The huge downpour may bring flooding to parts of Sydney's west and north west, as the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers overflow. Flooding is also expected along the Cooks River in Sydney's inner west and in the Parramatta River. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet earlier described the downpour as a 'one in 1000-year' event and warned Sydney was next in line to cop the brunt of the weather. 'The worst could be yet to come ... the flood rivers remain a real risk to people's lives and we will be doing everything we can to get every person, every family, every business back on their feet as quickly as possible,' Mr Perrottet said. 'I also want to say as well, we know that at the moment this is focused on the north. But very quickly, as we're seeing in metropolitan Sydney now, it will move to the south.' Sydney won't see any relief on Wednesday and Thursday with 150mm to 200mm of rainfall to hammer down on the city tomorrow alone. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet earlier described the downpour as a 'one in 1000-year' event and warned Sydney was next in line to cop the brunt of the weather (pictured in Lismore) There is a 80 to 95 per cent chance of rain everyday in the city over the next week until Tuesday. It comes as flooded Lismore reports its first death of the crisis - with an 80-year-old woman found dead inside her home about 10.20am. Northern NSW has been devastated by floods in recent days with a total of 1,000 rescues being carried out. Another 300,000 are currently under evacuation warnings. Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned on Tuesday: 'We've been encountering what has been an extraordinary weather event - a weatherbomb. 'There has been a series of extreme events which are continuing and will still continue for many days to come. 'Further storms and further flooding activity is expected throughout the week. People in Lismore have been used to floods - but nothing like this in their lifetime.' The low pressure system that has brought flooding havoc to south-east Queensland and Lismore in northern NSW (pictured) is expected to deepen and approach Sydney with the worst expected to hit about 6pm Sydney and the NSW coast will now bear the brunt of the latest 48-hour weatherbomb explosion (pictured) South-east Queensland is set to be smashed by yet more storms, bringing days of damaging large hail and even more heavy rainfall, with flood warnings for creeks and streams between now and the weekend. The PM revealed defence forces had been mobilised to respond to the predicted chaos. 'We are pre-positioning ADF support all along the eastern coast of Australia,' he said. 'We also have the assets out of Holsworthy where the Blackhawk [helicopters] are and able to assist should they be called upon to do so.' Mr Morrison put the banks and insurance companies on notice that they will be expected to help and support those suffering in the devastation. 'The treasurer and the assistant treasurer will be working closely with the banks and insurance companies,' said the PM. 'I've asked them to contact all the banks today and the insurance companies and be very clear what our expectations are about their response. 'I look forward to that being a positive response.' Wednesday is likely to bring even worse weather for parts of NSW. 'Damaging wind gusts with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h may develop over parts of the coastal fringe in the warning area from Wednesday,' the BoM warned. The arrival of the system in Sydney comes just a week after the city was smashed by a severe downpour that turned streets into rivers in the inner-west and saw the Parramatta River break its banks. The new weather event follows a huge downpour in Sydney last week when the Parramatta River broke its banks (pictured) State Emergency Service commissioner Carlene York said the rain coming to Sydney is unlikely to be as heavy as the storms up north, but could still lead to flash flooding. 'That is affected by the amount of saturation that's in the land at the moment that there is no way for the water to run as it falls onto the ground, which will cause flash flooding and that's a very dangerous situation for any motorists.' The rain fell in record-breaking numbers in northern NSW in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday, with 775mm of rain in Dunoon, 537mm in Nimbin, 520mm in Mullumbimby and in 467mm Lismore. The mostly Gen Z activists have blocked the entrance and climbed among pipes and atop tankers at the Nustar Clydebank terminal, near Glasgow, resulting in dozens of police officers being called to the scene. In videos posted on Twitter, groups of activists can be seen holding up orange banners carrying their organisation's name, while demonstrators - some as young as 17 - warn they will push on with their 'disruptive action' across the country until the UK government releases a 'meaningful' statement agreeing to their demands. It comes just days after a total of 35 people were cuffed after members of the eco-mob damaged pumps and glued themselves to the tarmac and vehicles at two petrol stations on the M25. Meanwhile, drivers were warned last night that Petrol and diesel prices could hit new records within weeks - just in time for the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday getaway in early June. One protestor told Capital Scotland News on Tuesday that the group's demand to stop investment for new oil fields that 'won't be operational for decades to come' was 'more than reasonable'. He added: 'We don't want to be here, we don't want to be inconveniencing people, we don't want to be shutting people out of their work, we don't want to have police here wasting their time with this frankly, when they have got better things to be doing... Our plan is to stay here until we are forcibly removed, and over the longer term we are going to keep doing these disruptive actions until we get a meaningful statement from the government that they're going to halt the expansion of oil and gas.' A spokesperson for the group told MailOnline there have yet to be any arrests and that many plan to protest at the Scottish site 'for several days'. Prior to the release of the Samsung Galaxy S22 series, the South Korean technology company revealed the shocking news that the Galaxy Note series will be ending its era. This, however, is not a discarding of the product, but a rebranding. The tech giant clarified that Galaxy Note will now be known as the Galaxy Ultra. Samsung Galaxy Note Ends Its Era For those unfamiliar, Android Headlines has an informative summary of the Samsung Galaxy Note Series' history and evolution. The Samsung Galaxy Note series was first introduced in 2011, an extremely large smartphone compared to others available on the market. The first Samsung Galaxy Note has a 5.3-inch 1280 x 800 display while having an above-average width of 83 mm. It also has a plastic back cover, a physical key under its display, and two capacitive buttons on the side. Surprisingly, the Galaxy Note also features a hidden stylus inside which is accessible at all times. Since this device provided numerous surprising specs and designs, the Galaxy Note series smartphones have become one of the most popular devices worldwide selling tons of them over the years. The Verge recently reported that the South Korean-based technology company will never make another Galaxy Note phone despite it being on the market for over a decade. Samsung's head of smartphones Roh Tae-moon told reporters at Mobile World Congress 2022 that the Galaxy Note series will now be known as Ultra. It is worth noting that Samsung recently released the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The last smartphones under the Galaxy Note series were the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra which were released in 2020. Similar to the Galaxy Note 20, the Galaxy S22 Ultra also contains a stylus pen. Read Also: Samsung Metaverse Event Ends Up a Disaster: Fans Complain About Connectivity Issues The Verge also emphasized that the Galaxy Note series has become a way for the South Korean tech giant to popularize larger devices. However, the initiative was without a few setbacks. The Galaxy Note 7 series was tagged as one of the worst consumer electronics disasters in recent memory. This particular device was immediately recalled and ultimately discontinued due to safety concerns over defective batteries. This slowed down the Note's momentum and the Galaxy Z fold took over as Samsung's standard-bearer for smartphones with large screens. Samsung Galaxy S22 Series Prices and Specs We Know So Far In terms of its price range, Tech Advisor noted that the standard Samsung Galaxy S22 series will cost around $799 to $849. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus costs around $999 to $1,049. For those eager to have the flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a prince range of $1,199 to $1,599. With regards to its camera, both the S22 and S22 Plus contain a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixels ultrawide camera, and 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, per Tom's Guide. For their front camera, both devices offer 10 megapixels. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts a 108-megapixel sensor, and two 10-megapixel telephoto cameras have been added, one with 3x optical zoom and the other with 10x optical zoom. In addition, the selfie camera has a resolution of 40MP. Related Article: Samsung Unpacked Releases Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: 5 Cameras and an S Pen A politician has been grilled after proudly posting a photo of a charred lasagne he cooked. Liberal MP David Sharma was mocked on Twitter for sharing a photo of the dish, which featured burnt pasta sheets on top, on Sunday night. Some commenters joked that the photo could lose Mr Sharma the Italian vote, while others compared the dish to asbestos. Twitter simmered with comments: 'looks more like Cardboardgna,' and 'anti-Italian hate crime' Liberal MP David Sharma was mocked on Twitter for sharing a photo of the dish, which featured charred pasta sheets on top The photo was posted with the caption: '[political scare campaign voice-over] can you really trust Dave Sharma to govern when you can't even trust him with a lasanga?' One user responded: 'this is an anti-Italian hate crime' 'Who on earth tops a lasagna with dry pasta sheets.' 'That looks how I used to make lasagne - before I realised I had no idea how to make lasagne,' said another. One commenter said it 'looks more like Cardboardgna', while another said: 'That looks almost as awful as Morrison's curries.' Mr Sharma hit back, bemused at how much attention one of the 'family favourites' had attracted. 'My children can vouch for the fact that I make good lasagna,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'The crisp - some would, uncharitably, say burnt - lasagne sheets on the top level are actually at their request they like a crisp top layer, rather than a soft top layer.' Mr Sharma said he cooks for the family often, at least a few nights a week. City kids have turned a flooded skate park into the ultimate water slide pool amid record-breaking floods. Pharaoh Christos shared a heartwarming video on Monday of kids at Varsity Lakes skate park, Brisbane, sliding into a flooded skate park bowl. The bowl had been filled with rainwater by recent heavy rainfall and created the perfect makeshift water slide pool. Scroll down for the video. Pharaoh Christos shared a heartwarming video on Monday of kids at Varsity Lakes skate park, Brisbane, sliding into a flooded skate park bowl Parents watched on as little ones made the most of the wet weather. Kids could be seen sliding down the sides of the bowl and splashing in the rainwater gathered below. Commenters were impressed by the creativity of the children and were glad they could find joy in the stressful situation created by the southeast Queensland floods. 'I would totally do that! Hahah this is why we love Australia,' one person wrote. The bowl had been filled with rain water by recent heavy rainfall and created the perfect makeshift water slide pool. 'Good on ya kids, they deserve to have fun,' another said. 'Love it, I would have done the same in my childhood too,' another wrote. However, other commenters were concerned over how dirty the water would be after so many children playing in it. A man paddled a kayak past a bus in Milton Brisbane as the region battles the worst flood event the state has seen since 2011 'Cholera, diarrhoea, hepatitis A & typhoid vibes,' one person wrote. 'Someone grab come chlorine from Clarkeys and she'll be right,' another said. 'Less bacteria in a dogs water bowl,' another wrote. The Brisbane River peaked at 3.85m at 8am on Monday and 140 suburbs were issued flood warnings Residents in Lismore, northern NSW, were forced to evacuate on Monday following the collapse of the town's levee The devastating flood in southeast Queensland has submerged at least 15,000 Brisbane homes and cut off power to 53,000 more. Eight people have been killed in Queensland's worst floods since 2011 and at least another four are missing. The Brisbane River peaked at 3.85m at 8am on Monday and 140 suburbs were issued flood warnings. Lismore, northeast NSW, is facing its worst ever flood crisis following the collapse of the town's levee as 340,000 northern NSW residents have been urged prepare to evacuate their homes Lismore, northeast NSW, is facing its worst ever flood crisis following the collapse of the town's levee. 40,000 northern NSW residents - majority in the Lismore region - have been ordered to evacuate their home while another 300,000 have been told to prepare to flee their homes. Emergency services, and the military all assisted with the large-scale evacuation effort. A California father has shot dead his three daughters aged nine, ten and 13 before gunning down a fourth victim and then killing himself in a Sacramento church. David Fidel Mora-Rojas, 39, had a restraining order against him from his wife and was on a supervised visit with his three children at the church on Monday afternoon. The identity of the fourth victim is not yet known, with some reports suggesting it was a male chaperone. The horrific attack started at around 5.10pm on Monday when officers were called to the 'The Church in Sacramento' in the Arden Mall area of the city, reported ABC10. The shooting happened in the main room of the small church. Emergency services were alerted after an employee at the church who was upstairs heard gunshots and called 911. A huge police presence built up outside the church where the shooting took place Multiple people were killed in a shooting on Monday at a church near the California capital of Sacramento, CBS13 television reported, citing the Sacramento Metro Fire department A large police presence could be seen gathered outside the church in the Arden-Arcade area Police vehicle could be seen positioned outside of the church early on Monday evening Residents watch police activity following a shooting at a church in Sacramento, California People look over a fence towards a church following a shooting in Sacramento Police block off Ethan Way and Wyda Way after a shooting at the Church in Sacramento A father killed four, shooting three of his children before killing himself at the church in Sacramento A sheriff's deputy puts up crime scene tape following the shooting A police officer can be seen putting up crime scene tape following the shooting on Monday Sgt. Rod Grassman from the city's sheriff's office said he did not know if the family members belonged to the the church, which sits on a mostly residential block near a commercial area east of downtown Sacramento, CBS13 reported. It wasn't immediately known how many people were at the church or if there were any services or activities at the time of the shooting. The church is known to hold Bible study classes for children and teens, although none were scheduled for Monday. So far, a possible motive for the shooting had not been released but the sheriff's office said it was a case of domestic violence. Police officers investigate the scene of a shooting at the church Police investigate a shooting at the Church in Sacramento near Wyda Way and Ethan Way in Sacramento on Monday Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies stand by police tape that blocks the street leading to a church where a shooting occurred with multiple victims, in Sacramento on Monday Neighbors Samantha Sanchez and Nick Martinez watch as police officers investigate the scene of a shooting at The Church in Sacramento Sgt. Rod Grassman from the city's police force also confirmed there was a fifth person killed, however it is unclear if that person was also a family member 'Another senseless act of gun violence in America this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating,' said California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. 'Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and their communities. We are working closely with local law enforcement. 'Our thoughts are with the community, parishioners, and all those impacted by this horrific event.' The Mayor of Sacramento, Darrell Steinberg, also tweeted about the incident on Monday night. 'This is an unspeakable tragedy. It happens too often, and tonight it happened in our backyard. First thoughts are with the victims and their families. Same to the first responders who have to confront such a horrible scene.' The shooting took place at a church on the outskirts of the California state capital in the Arden Mall area of the city (pictured, file photo) 'Another senseless act of gun violence in America this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating,' said California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement The Mayor of Sacramento, Darrell Steinberg, also tweeted about the tragedy on Monday night BREAKING NEWS: @sacsheriff deputies responding to a shooting a church on Wyda Way in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood. There is a massive sheriff and police presence there right now. @van_tieu is on the scene and photojournalist Miguel Cano pic.twitter.com/VFBCNfe76z Madison Wade (@madisoncwade) March 1, 2022 Alongside emergency services, a SWAT team were also called as officers tried to secure the scene reported ABC10. Video images from the scene showed a heavy police presence outside the church in the Arden-Arcade area outside the city limits. 'Please be aware and on the look out. Local law enforcement are responding to a mass casualty shooting event in the county at a church on 2041 Wyda way,' Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra said on Twitter. 'Please be alert while in the area as local law enforcement responds.' The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department told the public to avoid the area because of the large police presence, and said it was establishing a command post in the area. There are calls for a group of heroic Fijian abattoir workers to be granted Australian citizenship after rescuing elderly residents of an aged care home from New South Wales' generational floods. The city of Lismore in northern NSW remains cut off, where more than 1,000 stranded residents are trapped or waiting to be rescued on Tuesday morning. The severe weather cell is now moving south, with a further 300,000 residents are currently subject to evacuation warnings. A team of 45 Fijians emigrated to the town under the Pacific Labour Scheme last year, a program designed to help the country's labour shortage due to the pandemic. The men, who work in a local abattoir, leapt into action on Monday after hearing an aged care home was flooded with dozens caught inside. 'It was just devastating, the entire building was underwater,' Apenisa Marau told Ben Fordham. A group of 45 Fijians who emigrated to Australia under the Pacific Labour Scheme helped rescue dozens of aged care residents in Lismore A team of 45 Fijians emigrated to Lismore under the Pacific Labour Scheme last year, a program designed to help the country's labour shortage due to the pandemic There are calls for a group of heroic Fijian abattoir workers to be granted Australian citizenship after rescuing eldery residents of an aged care home The bureau has issued a flood watch for the Mid North Coast, Central Coast, Greater Sydney, the Illawarra and the South Coast. There are also major flood warnings for rivers in the state's north and minor to moderate flood warnings on the Mid North Coast. The rain fell in record-breaking numbers in northern NSW in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday, with 775mm of rain in Dunoon, 537mm in Nimbin, 520mm in Mullumbimby and in 467mm Lismore. SES crews and local volunteers continue to boat residents away from their home as they race to rescue the remaining people as floodwaters continue to rise. Mr Marau said the situation was 'terrifying' and their task made more challenging given the condition of some of the aged care residents. 'It was really hard, and quite terrifying trying to get those elderly people out of their homes,' he told 2GB. 'Most of them were bedridden, in wheelchairs, some of them were just trying to stay afloat. 'They were pretty shocked by the time we reached them, but we were glad we were able to get them to safety.' Many of the residents could have died if it wasn't for these Fijian meat workers who saved them The men, who work in a local abattoir, leapt into action on Monday after hearing a Lismore aged care home was flooded with dozens caught inside ADF and abattoir workers aid flood emergency As #Lismore faces its worst-ever flood disaster, the Australian Defence Force has been called in to help. It comes as Fijian abattoir workers aid SES and emergency volunteers to evacuate 60 nursing home residents. Special #Floods coverage LIVE: 9Soci.al/iLTI30sc2LW Posted by 9 News Sydney on Sunday, February 27, 2022 Despite the horrific conditions, which has seen the Wilsons River peak at 14.4 metres overnight, the 45 Fijians are on deck to help out again on Tuesday. 'The boys are ready, we're getting everything organised and then we'll see who we can send down to the SES to help with the search this morning. The rest are here at the shelter assisting the SES as well,' Mr Marau said. 'You stepped in when people needed help. You've done your country proud and you've done Australia proud,' Fordham replied, commending the group on their heroism. The Fijians managed to help move the 60 trapped elderly residents to safety, before the SES workers boated them out of the town. 'We just tried to do what we can, since we're going to be here for the next three years, we wanted to be a part of the community,' the Fijian worker said. Mr Marau said the situation was 'terrifying' and their task made more challenging given the condition of some of the aged care residents A woman is assisted to higher ground as people use small boats to travel through flood water in Lismore The entire Lismore CBD was underwater on Monday after days of heavy rain that led to the Wilsons River breaching its levee overnight, with roads cut off. Some residents resorted to cutting holes in the corrugated iron roof of their homes so they could climb out to be rescued - with the water above doors and windows. Waters in Lismore were receding on Monday after peaking at 14.4m. The Brisbane River was also falling with the tide after peaking at 3.5m, but is expected to reach 3.7m on Monday morning. A distraught woman is helped through the flood in the town of Lismore by SES workers Residents evacuate from flooding occurs in Lismore, on February 28, 2022. A severe weather warning is in place for south-east Queensland and areas in northern New South Wales State Emergency Service commissioner Carlene York said even with the best forecasting, it was hard to tell which areas would be worst hit. 'The issues with these types of east coast lows is that it just depends where it goes how close to the coast and what path it travels. And then the unknown is where it will actually drop the heaviest rainfall,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney is predicted to get up to 90mm of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, while further south, Kiama is forecast to get up to 80mm on Tuesday and 150mm on Wednesday. The Batemans Bay region will be inundated with similar levels on Wednesday and Thursday. A man wearing just his boardies is pictured leading a dog on a string through flooded waters in Lismore The huge geographic spread of the floods is stretching emergency resources. Ms York said the SES resisted sending more people to northern NSW to ensure there was capacity down south when needed. 'We have moved extra members up into the Northern Rivers district, but also we have retained our volunteers and other emergency service partner members down on the South Coast to make sure that they are in the stages of planning, and also getting messaging out and communication out to the community to prepare them for this event as it comes through,' she said. Ms York said the rain coming to Sydney is unlikely to be as heavy as the storms up north, but could still lead to flash flooding. 'That is affected by the amount of saturation that's in the land at the moment that there is no way for the water to run as it falls onto the ground, which will cause flash flooding and that's a very dangerous situation for any motorists.' A Ukrainian family who secured visas and flights to Australia has been barred from boarding a flight to Sydney, as their nine-month-old baby does not have a passport. Iryna Zaiets fled Ukraine when the Russian invasion began on Thursday, with her mother Olena Kuzmych and nine-month-old baby Oksana, leaving her father and husband behind. After making it across the border to Poland, the family secured visas and flights to Sydney, but when they went to check in for the Emirates flight from Krakow to Sydney via Frankfurt and Dubai, they were told they could not fly. The Australian family of Iryna Zaiets and her baby Oksana are worried as the Ukraine conflict rages Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of war crimes on Monday after Vladimir Putin's forces launched what were believed to be cluster and vacuum bomb attacks on the fifth day of their invasion Ms Zaiets' sister in Sydney said they would have been allowed into Australia on a direct flight but would have been deported at transit stopovers because baby Oksana did not have a passport. Olha Lyeskakova told AAP she has heard from half a dozen Ukrainian families with small children who are facing the same problem trying to get to Australia. 'I am the first one but there is a queue of people in the same circumstances and they are looking at me for how to manage all this,' she said. The department of home affairs has been contacted for comment. Ms Lyeskakova's family is staying in emergency accommodation in Krakow but will not be able to remain there long and she believes they are not safe in Poland. The Australian family of Iryna Zaiets and her baby Oksana are worried as the Ukraine conflict rages "If Russia starts bombing and uses nuclear weapons, it will not be limited by a border, it will go to Poland, it will go everywhere," she said. Friends who are hiding in Kyiv have told her their houses have been leafleted with instructions in case of a nuclear attack. Ms Lyeskakova said that while the EU was allowing people to cross the border from Ukraine without travel documents, other countries were not. 'The EU will be overwhelmed with Ukrainians who will be willing to depart immediately from Europe to their relatives in Australia, the US or Canada, but there is no legislation in place at this stage to get it done,' she said. The Australian permanent resident said the Ukrainian embassy in Krakow is assisting her family and she hopes DFAT may be able to quickly issue temporary travel documents for baby Oksana. 'We are very thankful to the Australian government, you can't believe how much support there is in this humanitarian crisis,' she said. It comes as federal cabinet's national security committee begins talks to determine further responses to the Russian invasion, including the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine. The aid will come on top of the $4 million already pledged to military assistance through NATO's Ukraine trust fund. The family of an elderly dementia patient who was seen being brutally arrested by a Colorado cop in shocking video footage have revealed their disgust over a controversial plea deal that could see him walk free in a year. Officer Austin Hopp, 26, was fired and charged with serious bodily harm after his police body cam captured him hurling 73-year-old Karen Garner to the ground and breaking her arm. The 80-pound grandmother was left sobbing in pain in a jail cell for six hours while gloating Hopp replayed the sickening arrest to his colleagues and boasted: 'We crushed it!' Hit with felony charges of second degree assault, attempting to influence a public servant and official misconduct, the rookie Loveland Police Department cop faced up to 30 years behind bars. However, Garners family learnt last week that prosecutors are offering the warped bully a plea deal that will reduce his charges and likely slash his sentence to just a few years when its rubber-stamped at an upcoming plea hearing. Bodycam footage showed Hopp throwing Karen Garner to the ground on June 26, 2020 Garner's daughter-in-law Shannon Steward said this incident was 'the lowest form of human behavior and indecency' Shannon Steward, Garners daughter-in-law, told DailyMail.com that her loved ones are adamantly opposed to the pact and will make a heartfelt plea to the judge when Hopp appears Wednesday morning at the Larimer County courthouse. Karen didnt resist. She didnt fight. She didnt swear. She did nothing to deserve this inhumane treatment, said Steward, who is married to Garners son John. You would expect that officer to get her home safely not to abuse her, throw her down, assault her and then leave her locked up for six hours with a dislocated shoulder. We think theres more than enough evidence to get a guilty verdict so why do a deal now? This is cheapening what happened to Karen, its not justice.' Steward says her gregarious, outgoing mom-in-law never recovered from her brutal June 2020 ordeal at the hands of Hopp, who chased her down for forgetting to pay for $13 worth of items at a Walmart, including a Pepsi and a candy bar. Hopp's body camera footage shows him catching up to her as she walked through a field Garner's family said she was a happy grandmother (right) before the traumatizing arrest in June 2020 where she was left in a jail cell in pain with her broken arm still cuffed behind her (left) Body-worn camera footage shows him catching up to Garner as she picks flowers on her route home and giving her barely seconds to comply before he savagely bundles her to the ground and hogties her. Garner, who frequently forgets things because she suffers from dementia and sensory aphasia, cries out in pain and repeats the phrase Im going home over and over as the snarling officer drags her to his squad car. As she languished in a cell for the next six hours crying out in pain because of a fractured arm and dislocated shoulder, Hopp was recorded on his police departments CCTV system laughing and joking as he played back his footage to colleagues. Ready for the pop? he was overheard saying as he relived the moment he pinned Garner to his vehicle and violently yanked her arm behind her back. I think it went great. I think we crushed it, he sniggered, giving his partner Daria Jalali a celebratory fist bump. I was like, All right, lets wrestle, girl. Lets wreck it! Garner faced no further action but the damning video evidence instead led to criminal charges being leveled against Hopp and Jalali, 27. Loveland city leaders fired both and paid Garner, now 75-years-old, a $3 million settlement but nothing can repair the damage done to her dwindling quality of life, Steward told DailyMail.com. Austin Hopp, left, and Daria Jalali, right, turned themselves in after warrants were issued for their arrest Prior to the incident her mother-in-law lived alone with constant monitoring from family who used a tracker on her phone to see where she was. She had left it at home the day she was roughed up by Hopp. Today, she lives in a facility for dementia patients, suffers from PTSD and no longer recognizes her three children and nine grandchildren. Karen would repeat things, she would show me her new bedspread three times while I was visiting, that sort of thing. But she wasnt leaving the stove on, it wasnt dangerous. She loved to walk, she loved to be active, Steward said. After the incident all she could say was, why did they do this to me? Why did they do this to me? She couldn't discuss it, she just repeated herself over and over. She didn't trust anyone. The doctors and nurses would try to come in her room and she would push the doors shut. She wanted to be left alone. She couldn't get a Covid vaccine because she wouldnt let anyone touch her. We were told by her care facility that the PTSD has accelerated her dementia. She wouldn't even let us hug her. Garners family say they were anticipating an April trial for Hopp when they were contacted out of the blue last week by Assistant District Attorney Matt Maillaro and asked to review a potential plea deal that would scrap the less serious charges and downgrade the assault charge. Steward says the family spent hours debating what was best before deciding to reject it only for Maillaro to push on regardless. They will come face to face with Hopp at this weeks plea hearing where theyve been advised that Judge Michelle Brinegar could sentence him to anything from two to six years in jail. Taking into account his clean record, good behavior and Colorados emergency Covid directives, Hopp could be back on the streets in as little as a year, they fear. We were taken aback. We were unhappy. Karen has no ability to comprehend what is going on with the case but we reviewed it as a family and said, categorically no, Steward said. There is plenty of evidence and its our position that this should go to trial. In less than 24 hours he said he was doing it anyway. Its not just us, our town - the video went global, the world was outraged when they saw that video. We will have to go before the judge and plead with him to give Karen what she deserves, her day in court. The DAs office have declined to provide further information about the potential plea deal. DailyMail.com revealed last April that Hopp and Jalali, who also lost her job for her part in Garners arrest, were previously in a romantic relationship. She faces misdemeanor charges of failing to report excessive use of force, failure to intervene and first-degree official misconduct. Australians returning to the office are finding their work attire covered in an unpleasant white mould that costs a fortune to dry-clean. Soaring humidity thanks to a rainy La Nina summer and poorly-ventilated homes provide the perfect conditions for bacterial growth. Tens of thousands of workers on the east coast are going back to their desks as relaxed Covid rules led to cancelled work from home orders. But when opening their wardrobes and shoe drawers for the first time in months, many were shocked to find tiny white spores stuck to their clothing. SAS Australia star Simone Holtznagel shared her frustration on Monday after her $3,000 leather Givenchy bag was covered in white mould from Sydney's humidity Heavy rain and warm summer temperatures combined to turn bedrooms into the perfect bacterial breeding ground. In Sydney, humidity levels spiked to 91 per cent on Tuesday, far higher than a regular summer even in the city's temperate climate. Occupational health scientist Brad Prezant said poorly-ventilated wardrobes were one of the first places mould tends to grow when the humidity rises. 'Once the humidity gets over 80 per cent, that's when it contributes to fungal growth,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'What's happening is we're seeing humid air going into your wardrobe and condensing on surfaces.' Mr Prezant said leather shoes, which are porous and allow moisture to seep through, were particularly vulnerable to mould growth. SAS Australia star Simone Holtznagel shared her frustration on Monday after her $3,000 leather Givenchy bag was covered in the same white mould. Unlike more aggressive black mould that grows in the corners of bathrooms or on ceilings, white mould can be easily brushed or wiped off surfaces and then the clothes washed or dry-cleaned - but could of course grow back. Australia's humidity stays high throughout the summer months largely thanks to La Nina - a climactic phenomena that brings more rain, floods and cyclones. Mr Prezant said leather, which is porous and allows moisture to seep through, was particularly vulnerable to mould growth Australian meteorologists declared a La Nina weather event back in November 2021, characterised by cooler temperatures but higher humidity. Mr Prezant said many Australians homes also leave themselves open to mould growth with household habits that encourage high humidity - such as cooking and using cheap electrical dryers. 'You have to bear in mind you have outdoor-generated moisture and indoor-generated moisture,' he said. 'Every time we boil spaghetti, wash dishes or use an indoor dryer we are creating moisture.' He said condensing dryers, which take the hot air generated from drying clothes and condense it into water, helped reduce humidity but were expensive to run and out of the financial reach of many families. 'The main solution is good ventilation,' he said. 'You can do that by keeping your closet open or by using a dehumidifer. 'If you're aggressive over the humid months, you can probably also keep the mould at bay by wiping it off with a surfactant [such as mould solution cleaner].' Mr Prezant added mould would be less likely to grow on properly treated furniture, such as a table with a shellac cover, than on unfinished wood. He said when professionals often use an industrial dehumidifier when they go into a home to rectify flood damage, and the same process would work for mouldy clothes. But he added that task was made harder in high-humidity climates such as Queensland and NSW. 'If you were in Tasmania in winter you could get away with just taking the outside air and using it to heat your house,' he said. 'If it's very humid you need to seal the building or home and make it very dry before you use a dehumidifer.' In some situations there's no going back, he added - such as when furniture is exposed to moisture for such a long period of time it starts to dry rot. 'In most homes, unless you have a chronic leak you only see staining on clothing or furniture.' As well as causing ripe conditions for mould growth, Australia's La Nina nightmare has also been blamed for triggering a spike in eczema cases. Eczema is a health condition that makes your skin chronically red and itchy and can occur at any age. Hot and humid conditions are well known irritants of the condition. Dermatologists say a humidity level of 30 to 50 per cent is the most ideal for people who are prone to eczema. Baffled residents have discovered a cow washed up on the beach - alive - in the wake of Queensland's flood crisis. Gold Coast locals found a cow roaming Duranbah Beach on Tuesday morning and assumed it had floated down from a flooded Tweed Heads paddock. Locals have been driven cow-crazy over the last five days after three dead cattle were discovered on nearby Mermaid Beach and Broadbeach among flood debris. Gold Coast locals spotted a cow roaming Duranbah beach on Tuesday morning and assumed it floated down from a flooded Tweed Heads paddock However residents were shocked on Tuesday when a cow washed onto the beach and began exploring. The adventurous cow first took a walk along the beach before venturing into headlands and crossing roads. Authorities believe the bovine was swept away from the Murwillumbah area by floodwater. The adventurous cow first took a walk along the beach before venturing into headlands and crossing roads A front end loader was used to clear away a dead cow that washed up on a Gold Coast beach over the weekend However the cows are far from the only animals affected by the floods. RSPCA Queensland said they have received 510 animal rescue calls from Brisbane, Logan, Scenic Rim, Toowoomba, Somerset, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Gympie council areas since Wednesday last week. 323 animals have entered RSPCA's hospitals since then, 84 of which were brought in on Monday. 323 animals have entered RSPCA's hospitals since then, 84 of which were brought in on Monday RSPCA Queensland said they have received 510 animal rescue calls since Wednesday last week RSPCA staff and volunteers have rescued and cared for flood-stricken animals since Wednesday last week Spokesperson Emma Lagoon said due to limited resources the RSPCA wasn't able to respond to all calls for help. 'It's been a tough time for our rescue teams. Like many others, we've been limited with our ability to get to every call for help due to flooded roads and staff and volunteers also stranded. Our Rescue Units can only get to places the roads will let us,' she said. An RSPCA Queensland worker nurses a wet joey who was rescued from southeast Queensland's floods RSPCA have received calls from Brisbane, Logan, Scenic Rim, Toowoomba, Somerset, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Gympie council areas An RSPCA spokeswoman said staff and volunteers were working hard to care for injured animals 'Sadly we are now seeing more deceased animals that couldn't survive the weather event, it's just devastating.' Some RSPCA shelters have been forced to close due to power outages and road damage but Ms Lagoon confirmed all sheltered animals are safe. Southeast Queensland is currently in the grips of the worst flooding event the state as seen since 2011 with eight lives lost so far. A koala being nursed back to health by an RSPCA worker after being rescued from floodwater Some RSPCA shelters have been forced to close due to power outages and road damage but Ms Lagoon confirmed all sheltered animals are safe Staff and volunteers at RSPCA Queensland are working hard to rescue animals - big and small - from southeast Queensland's floods All Gold Coast beaches have been closed due to debris and dangerous conditions. 80 roads have also been closed in the Coast/Tweed Heads region with estimates of flood damage costs nearing that of Cyclone Debbie in 2017. Hundreds of motorists are stranded on the M1 highway south of Queensland's border in the Tweed region due to the road closures. RSPCA Queensland have received hundreds of calls to help animals injured in recent floods An RSPCA worker cares for a wet koala after it was rescued from southeast Queensland's floodwater RSPCA Queensland said flood damage and limited resources had prevented them from answering every animal distress call Sunshine Coast man Dene Smedley told the ABC he and other motorists have been trapped since 2pm Monday. 'There's kids and elderly people and we're just sitting around waiting for somebody to tell us what's going on,' he said. 'We've got water behind us and water in front of us.' Residents in the Tweed Region have been stranded due to flood damaged roads in the area Tweed Council has warned residents to ration water as the town only has access to a two-day supply while water treatment facilities are repaired Road damage caused by floodwater has also trapped residents in the Tweed area. Tweed Shire Council Mayor Chris Cherry has urged locals to be considerate of their water usage as they only have a two-day supply left. 'We can't treat water at the moment and so although the most tempting thing for everybody to do is hose everything down, we've only got two days' supply of water,' she said. 'It's going to take two days to repair our water treatment. Tweed Shire Council Mayor Chris Cherry has urged locals to be considerate of their water usage as they only have a two-day supply left A man who killed a security guard in Sydney and almost beat a former champion kickboxer to death has been released from prison. Django Womack O'Hara was granted an 18-month extended supervision order in the community by Justice Julia Lonergan at the NSW Supreme Court on Friday. The state of NSW initially sought a four-year order, but Justice Lonergan opted for a 'significantly shorter' period of time because of 'positive factors exhibited' by the 47-year-old. 'I am satisfied that he has shown remorse for his past violent offending and a determined and positive approach to avoiding violence in his last few years in custody,' Justice Lonergan told the court. Notorious murderer who bashed a champion kickboxer behind bars with a sandwich press and left him with brain damage is released from jail 'I am satisfied Mr O'Hara is entirely genuine in his wish to 'turn his life around' and he has made large strides towards that.' The former prisoner has had a long history filled with violent criminal behavior, and at age 21 he was jailed after pleading guilty to the shooting murder of 31-year-old Michael Fennell. The sentencing judge found O'Hara didn't intend to kill but acted with reckless indifference to human life by discharging a shot into the darkness in the direction of Mr Fennell during an attempted robbery at a Roseville home in 1995. O'Hara was later sentenced for inflicting a burn mark on another inmate and assaulting a prison officer, before receiving more time after he attacked remand prisoner Adam Watt in 2009. The champion kickboxer suffered brain damage after O'Hara bashed him from behind with a sandwich press hidden inside a pillowcase. O'Hara said the victim had threatened him 'so I was going to kill him first before he got to me'. He later served terms for violence involving two other inmates, before being released in November. Former champion kickboxer Adam Watt (pictured) suffered brain damage after O'Hara bashed him with a sandwich press hidden inside a pillowcase The judge, who heard expert psychiatric and psychological evidence, said his compliance with conditions of an interim supervision order had been very good. 'The evidence tendered and that I have evaluated satisfies me to a high degree of probability that the defendant does pose an unacceptable risk of committing a serious violence offence if not kept under supervision under the order,' the judge said. 'Mr O'Hara has spent nearly all of his adult life in custody. 'He has had a complex and traumatic upbringing which has left him with cognitive distortions around violence. 'He to an extent understandably has hypervigilance. 'A lot of his offending has its origins in that hypervigilance and his sudden violent responses to perceived (and actual) threats.' O'Hara said Watt had threatened him 'so I was going to kill him first before he got to me' A psychiatrist had noted O'Hara's positive factors were 'strength of character, the fact that he is articulate and intelligent, and that he is in regular contact with his family and has their support'. The numerous conditions of the supervision order include wearing an electronic monitor and being subject to a curfew from 10pm to 6am. His lawyer had argued against a condition that O'Hara agree his supervisor would disclose his criminal history to another person 'if reasonably necessary', arguing it would induce a 'feeling of no control or ability to navigate his own interactions with others'. But the State said as O'Hara's violence is reactive and potentially overreactive, people living or working with him need an opportunity to develop safety plans. There is also a concern that he will minimise his past offending. 'Both arguments have merit,' the judge said. She imposed the condition but added that O'Hara should first be given the opportunity to disclose his offending himself if thought 'reasonably necessary'. An truck driver has been jailed for nearly four years because he 'turned a blind eye' to mysterious packages loaded into his truck. Peter James Wright, 59, had no idea the boxes contained $4 million in cash, but a court ruled he should have been suspicious and refused them. The truckie from NSW crossed into WA in September 2020 believing he was on a legitimate job to transport construction equipment. He stopped at the Swan River Hotel in Ascot, Perth, the evening before he was supposed to collect the load, where his employer told him the job had changed and he would be paid $7,500 to complete it. Mr Wright left the hotel In the morning, unaware police were tracking him, and met with co-accused James Harrison in a gravel truck bay in Wattleup, in Perth's south. Two large plastic toolboxes shrinkwrapped in black plastic were loaded into Wright's truck after stopping on the side of the road (pictured) Police who had been tracking him broke the padlocks and found $4million in cash the largest money seizure ever in WA (pictured) Harrison pulled two large plastic toolboxes covered in shrink-wrap from the boot of his Commodore and loaded them onto the truck. He then drove off with police tailing him as he headed back in towards the South Australian border. Cops pounced in Sawyers Valley an hour east of Perth where they broke the padlocks on the containers and found just short of $4 million in cash inside. The bust was the largest cash haul ever seized by WA Police, including a separate $3,000 in cash found in the truck's cab. Police also seized 13kg of meth at another location as part of the investigation. Wright claimed he assumed the containers held tools but in court this week, Judge Gary Massey found as a professional truck driver he did or should have suspected the containers were linked to illegal activity. 'They were loaded into your truck in an isolated area on the side of the road and were padlocked and were wrapped in black plastic shrink wrap,' he said, according to The West Australian. The investigation also netted 13kg of methamphetamine (pictured) 'Given that you're a professional truck driver, the circumstances... fell far short of the way this job would have been performed if the boxes were part of a legitimate delivery.' Judge Massey added that despite being a 'mere courier' he played a pivotal role in a criminal enterprise by assisting in the laundering of money. Wright was jailed for three years and 10 months and will be eligible for parole in July. His co-accused Harrison was jailed for five years. A data extortion group has claimed responsibility for NVIDIA's two-day outage last week. LAPSU$, the data extortion group in question, recently revealed they stole 1TB of data consisting of "stuff, schematics, driver, and firmware" from the U.S. chipmaker, per a Bleeping Computer article. The group says it is prepared to sell the stolen data, including a procedure to remove the Ethereum mining limiter NVIDIA placed on the GeForce RTX 30 Series if the company does not pay the ransom demand. LAPSU$'s Messages and Threats According to the group's messages, they were in NVIDIA's systems for a week. During such time, they "fastly escalated to admin of a lot of systems." It was in this same message where they revealed they were able to acquire data they described as most important. They also mentioned that NVIDIA fought back by encrypting a machine the hackers were using to retrieve data from the company but failed due to LAPSUS$ already having all the data the group needed, per a PC Mag article. In another message, the group said it "decided to help [the] mining and gaming community" by ordering NVIDIA to push an update for all GeForce RTX 30 Series Firmware, removing the limitations NVIDIA placed. Should NVIDIA ignore the group's demand, they will leak a folder containing instructions on how to remove it. Read More: How Attack Surface Management Software Projects Against the 4 Major Cybercrime Pathways "If they remove the LHR, we will forget about [the] hw folder," the group said, adding that they know about the impact of LHR on mining and gaming The LHR, or "Lite Hash Rate," is NVIDIA's identifier for GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs that have a limited Ethereum hash rate. This limiter and identifier is part of the company's effort to help gamers get their hands on the GPUs, per NVIDIA's blog post on the matter. The data extortion group also mentioned that they have documentation, company private tools, SDKs, and data regarding NVIDIA's proprietary control processor, Falcon. LAPSUS$ Posts Link to NVIDIA's Data LAPSUS$ finally posted a link to the first part of NVIDIA's data. According to the group's message, the leak, which is around 20GB, contains the source code and highly confidential data from various parts of NVIDIA's GPU driver. It also includes other information, such as data about Falcon and the LHR. NVIDIA filed an abuse report to prevent the leak, but LAPSUS$ switched to using torrents to share the information, stating they would not re-upload the file. The leaked information was reported to be sufficient enough for a good developer to create a bypass for NVIDIA's LHR. NVIDIA's Reponse LAPSU$ extortion group, a group operating out of South America, claim to have breached NVIDIA and exfiltrated over 1TB of proprietary data. LAPSU$ claims NVIDIA performed a hack back and states NVIDIA has successful ransomed their machines Intel and photos courtesy of @S0ufi4n3 pic.twitter.com/fXcTNqgIpW vx-underground (@vxunderground) February 26, 2022 NVIDIA did not immediately respond to inquiries about LAPSU$'s messages but gave a statement saying that they are "investigating an incident," and its business and commercial activities continue uninterrupted. The company also added that it is evaluating the nature and scope of the event and has not any new information to share at the time of the statement's release. This was also the same response NVIDIA released last week when the two-day outage was fresh on everyone's minds. However, PC Gamer reports that NVIDIA counter-hacked LAPSU$ with ransomware in retaliation of their hack last week. Whether NVIDIA's hack is successful or not remains to be seen, but we should be getting an update from NVIDIA in the coming days. Related article: NVIDIA Cyberattack Leads to Outages! Email, Developer Tools Compromised? A burns survivor has opened up about her incredible recovery 10 years after she was set on fire in a fit of paranoid jealousy. Dana Vulin, 36, was doused in methylated spirits and set alight when her attacker broke into her Perth apartment in 2012. The woman wrongly believed Ms Vulin slept with her estranged husband after she spotted the pair talking at a New Year's Eve party. Ms Vulin suffered third degree burns to more than 60 per cent of her body and endured years of rehabilitation and more than 200 surgeries. Dana Vulin, 36, has shared her incredible 10 year recovery in a Facebook post (pictured) after she was doused in methylated spirits and set alight by a jealous woman who broke into her Perth apartment Now, almost 10 years on from the horrific attack, Ms Vulin has chosen to share her incredible recovery in a raw and unedited video on social media. 'This isn't to sexualise myself but more to show other survivors and people that anything is possible,' she captioned a video uploaded to Facebook. 'It may not be for everyone but no one is. I am so proud of how hard I've worked on my body and feel the strongest and fittest I've ever felt in my life.' The 15-second clip shows Ms Vulin's progression from 2013 to 2016, before she unveils herself at 36 in red lingerie. Ms Vulin said she created the video without auto-enhancements, special effects or lighting to inspire other survivors. 'I carry this with a badge of honour, It's a point of difference and that's why I choose to show my body raw and unedited,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Ms Vulin has chosen to share her incredible recovery in a raw and unedited video on social media while sporting a stunning piece of red lingerie (pictured) Ms Vulin (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia that she created the video without auto-enhancements, special effects or lighting to inspire other survivors 'What happened to me was the most cruel and evil thing, I wasn't allowed to have a voice or a say because of the trial. 'I remember I was so desperate for before and afters for me since my story has been so public I take this responsibility so seriously.' However, Ms Vulin pointed out her transformation wasn't just physical and she reached other milestones along the way. 'I've accomplished so much, I've become an author, a speaker... I've completed a degree, there's more to my recovery than just aesthetics,' she said. Ms Vulin (pictured) emphasised her transformation wasn't just purely physical and that she's reached a number of milestones along the way Ms Vulin earned a master's degree of science in nursing and is working as a cosmetic nurse to help improve the scars of others. She opened her clinic I am D aesthetics - which stands for 'I am deserving' - in August last year which offers cosmetic tattooing to cover scars from injuries or other surgeries. The surgeon regularly treats new mothers and cancer patients, helping them minimise marks from operations. 'I carry this with a badge of honour... I'm so grateful I'm alive for me it's such a responsibility for survivors,' she said. Radio broadcaster Ben Fordham has launched another blistering attack on the ABC's doomsayer Covid expert Dr Norman Swan after he claimed Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to a spike in Covid cases and even new variants. Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale war last week, with 150,000 soldiers attacking key cities and territories near the border as they attempt to take the capital of Kyiv. But while most Australians worried about whether Ukraine would be able to hold out, yesterday Dr Swan fretted about low immunisation rates in Eastern European nations. Ben Fordham has called out ABC broadcaster Norman Swan and asked whether he was suffering from 'relevance deprivation syndrome' The former GP and ABC presenter said the invasion had huge health ramifications on both populations given the chaotic movement of people. 'Fresh outbreaks, new variants. Warfare through the centuries is a concurrent theme in making pandemics worse or creating them in the first place,' he told ABC Radio National. Dr Swan's comments prompted a scathing response from Fordham on 2GB. 'Is Dr Norman Swan suffering from relevance deprivation syndrome?,' he said on Tuesday morning. 'The ABC's medical expert is now warning about COVID numbers in Ukraine. 'Dr Swan says that the Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to a spike in COVID cases and even new variants. 'Do you think locals in Ukraine are more worried about missiles or COVID right now?' Fordham has previously slammed Dr Swan, claiming he lead a fear campaign about the Omicron virus, despite the variant only having a death rate of 0.1 per cent. Dr Norman Swan said Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to a spike in Covid cases and even new variants given low immunisation rates Ukraine has vaccination rates of just 35 per cent in its eligible population, with Russia just over 56 per cent. Russia is suffering a wave of Covid cases, with a rolling average of more than 137,000 new infections a day as Omicron makes it way through the country. 'If this goes on a lot longer, where people are getting hungry, sanitation breaks down, Covid may be the least of it,' he said. The combination of high infection rates and low immunisation could lead to a medical catastrophe, with vulnerable people packed together in wartime conditions, Dr Swan warned. 'But you will certainly see an exacerbation in Covid-19, particularly in the elderly population of the Ukraine.' There are also questions over the effectiveness Sputnik vaccine that is being administered in Russia, with fears infected soldiers could expose at-risk populations. 'Even the Russians coming in are vulnerable because they've got the vaccine which has dubious protection,' the physician said. 'You've got two populations coming in together who are either under-immunised or they've got an inadequate vaccine.' Dr Norman Swan, a former GP and presenter for the ABC, said the invasion had overwhelming health rammifications on both populations Dr Swan said separate from Covid, the war would see an increase in other diseases and illnesses associated with the conditions of conflict. He said there would be more common sicknesses like colds, diarrhea, vomiting, and gastroenteritis spreading through the community, but things could get much worse if the invasion was prolonged. 'If it goes on a long time you'll see pneumonia. Kids will die of childhood diseases,' the ABC doctor said. 'It doesn't bear thinking about how bad it could get with the usual disease, much less Covid-19 going around in a vulnerable population.' Surrounding countries like Poland, Romania, and Moldova were also at risk as thousands of Ukrainian refugees fled over the border. Shocking video footage captured the moment at least a hundred teens fell through the floor of a massive house party in a Denver-area suburb of Colorado over the weekend. Three people were taken to a hospital, one with serious injuries, after the floor collapsed into the basement under the weight of more than 100 partygoers, authorities said. South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) said crews responded to the house southeast of Aurora around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. 'A portion of the first floor collapsed into the basement due to a large party with 100-150 juveniles inside,' SMFR reported. Video of the party shows the teens dancing and jumping up and down as the floor finally gives way beneath them in a violent crash. A portion of the first floor of Denver home collapsed into the basement due to a large party with 100-150 teenagers dancing inside. Video of the party shows the teens dancing and jumping up and down as the floor finally gives way beneath them in a violent crash Shocking video footage captured the moment at least a hundred teens fell through the floor of a massive house party in a Denver-area suburb of Colorado over the weekend. Three people were taken to a hospital, one with serious injuries, after the floor collapsed into the basement under the weight of more than 100 partygoers Two of the partygoers who were among the teens who fell through the floor, said they found out about the party because address of the home was shared on social media Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office told KUSA that the homeowners were hosting a birthday party for their 18-year-old grandson at the time of the collapse. It is not clear if they were home at the time. Two of the partygoers who were among the teens who fell through the floor, said they found out about the party because address of the home was shared on social media. Cass Henry, 15, and his brother AJ Henry, 17, told KUSA that the party quickly got out of hand. 'I think it just got leaked around a little bit so everyone thought it was just an open house,' Cass said. 'People started just showing up.' Cass went to the hospital for a broken ankle. 'Two seconds before the ground ended up breaking, you could hear it all snapping apart, but you didn't have enough time to do anything about it,' Cass said. South Metro Fire Rescue said the collapse caused a natural gas leak, but it has since been shut off and for now the house is not fit for occupancy Authorities have not identified the homeowners or those taken to the hospital, but said it appeared to be a horrible accident and as of right now, there is no criminal investigation. South Metro Fire Rescue said the collapse caused a natural gas leak, but it has since been shut off and for now the house is not fit for occupancy. 'It's amazing that no one was seriously hurt or killed,' Scott Richardson, special operations chief for SMFR, told KUSA. Richardson added that he's never before seen a floor collapse in his career quite like this one. 'It's not the static weight of us just standing on [the floor], but if people are jumping up and down, and that creates what we call a "shock load" to the floor, and then you can't really predict what's going to happen,' he said. Victoria's Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has called for Melbourne's council to cut ties with Russia's second largest city after the nation invaded Ukraine. Melbourne's sister city relationship with St Petersburg could be suspended, as calls grow for it to be completely scrapped over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Victoria's Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has added his voice to calls for the City of Melbourne to cut ties with Russia's second largest city, after the nation launched a ground and aerial attack on neighbouring Ukraine. Victoria's Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has called for Melbourne's council to cut ties with Russia's second largest city after the nation invaded Ukraine (pictured, a Melbourne pro-Ukraine protest) 'It's not a reflection of the people of St Petersburg, many who do not support that war, but it is sending a message to the Russian government,' he told reporters on Tuesday. The Ukrainian-Australian has family living in the war zone near Kharkiv in the country's northeast, close to the Russian border. Mr Guy earlier published a text from his cousin describing the 'horror' of the last four days. 'Praying this war will end immediately. Every morning (I) write to all (my) acquaintances, friends, relatives (to) find out if everyone is alive,' it read. 'But despite all this horror, we believe in a bright future. We believe that we will restore all cities, infrastructure, economy and we will live happily in peace.' Melbourne's sister city relationship with St Petersburg could be suspended, as calls grow for it to be completely scrapped over Russia's invasion of Ukraine (pictured, an anti-war protest in St Petersburg) Melbourne and St Petersburg established the partnership in 1989, when the Russian city was still known as Leningrad and before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Sally Capp, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, said the status of the partnership could first be raised during a meeting on Tuesday night. 'I can't reveal anything that might happen this evening but it can be considered,' she told Melbourne radio station 3AW. 'We actually have a full-scale review underway of all our sister city relationships.' It is expected a motion suspending the sister city partnership will be voted on during the council meeting from 5.30pm. Melbourne's other sister cities include Japan's Osaka, China's Tianjin, Greece's Thessaloniki, United States' Boston and Italy's Milan. An out of control inferno has erupted at a city centre woolshed next to a massive petrol and diesel fuel storage facility. More than 100 firefighters and 30 firetrucks are tackling the firestorm in Wickham, near Newcastle, NSW, which has engulfed the city in thick black smoke and knocked out power to 1,200 homes. Fire and Rescue NSW have branded it a 'mega warehouse blaze' with FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter saying the the fire was a 'major' incident. A nearby oil terminal with bulk fuel storage facilities is creating serious concerns for firefighters who are desperately trying to stop the flames spreading. The Ampol hub distributes petrol and gasoline to fuel trucks delivering to service stations across northern NSW. More than 60 firefighters are currently on the scene with at least 50 more bringing water pumps and specialist equipment to tackle the four-storey inferno. One of Australia's biggest wool storage facilities has spectacularly burst into flames with more than 40 firefighters on the scene (pictured) More than 1200 homes have lost power in the area as a result of the blaze. Fire crews fear there could be asbestos in the iron roof of the building which can be seen buckling in the intense heat which has so far been contained to one of three storage areas. One eyewitness told Daily Mail Australia her partner had been loading steel onto his truck at the nearby wharf before he was told clear the area immediately as the fire raged nearby. 'He was surrounded by trucks full of fuel, so no-one wanted them around with these flames about,' she added. More than 100 firefighters and 30 firetrucks are tackling the firestorm in Wickham, near Newcastle's CBD, which has engulfed the city in thick black smoke and knocked out power top hundreds of homes The fire is believed to have broken out about 2.30pm and quickly took hold of the building. 'Crews from Fire and Rescue NSW are currently on scene working to extinguish the flames which are contained to the building,' said a NSW Police spokesman. 'Police officers have evacuated residents and businesses along Annie and Milford Streets as a precaution. 'Several surrounding roads have been closed, motorists are urged to avoid the area whilst the operation remains underway.' Newcastle's city centre has been engulfed in thick acrid smoke from the blaze, prompting health warnings for anyone with respiratory problems. Fire crews warned locals to stay inside and shut all their windows and doors after taking in any washing they may have outside. Advertisement Many people turned to exploring local nature paths for their daily exercise when lockdown closed gyms and group sports took a hiatus amid the pandemic. Amateur photographers who captured stunning images of animals in their natural habitat were quick to submit their snaps to Weekend magazine's annual Wildlife Photography Challenge in the hopes of winning a package worth over 1,000. The entrants were split into five categories - Birds; Mammals; Insects; Under-18s; and Reptiles, Fish, Amphibians & Molluscs. While each category winner received a Nikon mirrorless digital camera kit and a year's subscription to Nikon Owner magazine, the overall winner also received a trip to the Camargue with wildlife photographer Simon Stafford, courtesy of Create Away, for a four-night masterclass in photographing the region's wild horses, flamingos and bulls. Judges David Suchet, Clare Balding, Lucy Cooke, Steve Brown, Kelly Brook and Michael Eleftheriades were impressed with Lee O'dwyer, 67, a retired engineer from Lancashire, who was awarded the overall winner for his shot of a long-tailed tit. These runner-up snaps taken by talented amateur photographers prove choosing an overall winner was a tough decision... BIRDS PUFFIN: Taken by Joseph Bristow, 23, a retail supervisor from Llantwit Major. 'Arriving at 3am and queueing for the 6am ticket office to open. First in line I caught the boat over to Skomer Island. With only a few hours permitted on the island I had no time to waste. Surrounded by the Puffins was an amazing spectacle and allowed me to capture some amazing photos. I found this one puffin who seemed very tame and loved posing for the camera. As he stared down the barrel of my lens I took my shot and was pleased with the result. I found the black background really provides a provocative and striking image highlight the vibrant colour of the Puffins.' KESTREL CHICKS: Taken by Jayne Kirkby, 20, from Braintree, Essex. 'Beautiful pair of Kestrel chicks, taken at Wrabness on 20th June 2020.' KINGFISHER: Tim Clifton, a 59-year-old from, St Leonards on Sea, snapped this captivating photo of a kingfisher hunting for small fish MALLARD: William Watson, 64, a semi retired HGV driver from East Dunbartonshire. 'Taken on the Forth & Clyde canal (December '19') Bishopbriggs, As I went to take this photo of this female Mallard it stretched creating a nice reflection....' INSECTS BUTTERFLY: Adam Lane, a 27-year-old host at Legoland, from Slough, captured a butterfly perched on a purple flower in specular detail WASP: Shelia Moth took this captivating photo of a wasp on a thistle, capturing the insect and plant in immense detail SPIDER: Taken by Geoffrey Wells, 67, a maintenance caretaker from North Yorkshire. 'This picture was taken in my back garden during the recent lockdown.' REPTILES MATING FROGS: Taken by Steve Jellett, 64, from Essex, who is retired. 'Taken in small garden pond when 21 frogs descended to mate.' MAMMALS ROE DEER: Tim Cliffton, a 75-year-old from St Leonards on sea, took a photograph of two roe deer spotted in a field MOUSE: Taken by Cameron Parfitt, 20, a student at the University of Brighton, from Worthing. 'I would love to highlight that even in your back garden there are images to be had. This image is of a cheeky wood mouse that keeps stealing food from what we have now dubbed the mouse feeder. It's not unheard of for this little guy to be found inside the feeder without a care in the world stuffing himself with the bird seed.' JUNIORS FOX CUB: Billy Evans-Freke, 15, a secondary school student from East Sussex. 'It wasn't a long wait in the hide before the first fox cub woke up from its nap and came out into the open. It was soon followed by another cub. At first they stayed in the shadows of the bushes near the den. But once they gained their confidence they started coming closer. This cub in particular was very curious and came very close to the hide.' Chris Murphy, a Democratic senator from Connecticut has revealed the U.S. is working with its allies in order to seize Russian President Vladimir Putin's assets. Senator Murphy who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee made the revelation on Twitter after he attended a 'classified briefing on Ukraine.' 'The U.S. and allies are coordinating to not only freeze the assets of Putin and his oligarch allies, but to seize those assets as well. This is likely a further step than Putin's inner circle anticipated,' Murphy wrote on Twitter noting that it was just ''a few takeaways that I can share.' Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, pictured above, says U.S. together with allies are 'coordinating to seize assets of Russian President Putin and oligarchs' In series of tweets, Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee said the U.S. and its allies are preparing further sanctions and restrictions against Moscow, including seizing the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin Murphy also said tweeted several other nuggets of information that he was allowed to reveal publicly. 'Confirmation that the Russians have fallen behind their timeline. Ukrainian resistance has been fierce and there have been multiple Russian equipment and logistics failures,' he wrote. 'Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security are pressing hard for Congress to end the continuing resolution and get a budget passed. There is no way for our national security agencies to be nimble enough to support Ukraine if they are operating on the 2020/21 budget,' Murphy added in a follow-up tweet. 'The ability to keep supply lines running to Ukraine remains alive, but Russia will try to encircle and cut off Kiev in the next several weeks. The fight for Kiev will be long and bloody and Ukrainians are rapidly preparing for street to street combat.' Senator Murphy is renowned as one of the most vociferous critics of Russia in the Senate. Even before the current war in Ukraine, Murphy held the view Russia would remain a permanent, persistent threat to the United States and its security interests, regardless of who was president. 'The U.S. and allies are coordinating to not only freeze the assets of Putin and his oligarch allies, but to seize those assets as well,' Senator Chris Murphy revealed Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Marco Rubio of Florida said Russian President Vladimir Putin was laying the groundwork for a 'medieval siege' of Kyiv Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio has been passionately tweeting about Ukraine The classified briefing heard from President Joe Biden's top national security officials who detailed how the worst was still to come for Kyiv. New satellite images shows a large Russian convoy some 40 miles in length is edging ever close towards the capital. 'Russia can hold on a lot longer than Ukraine can,' said Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 'This is dire.' Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Marco Rubio of Florida said Russian President Vladimir Putin was laying the groundwork for a 'medieval siege' of Kyiv. 'No matter how many cities Putin takes he will never pacify 40 million Ukrainians. We should provide them weapons to keep eliminating the Russian occupiers until they leave And then we should help them overthrow & bring to justice the traitorous puppets Russia leaves behind', Rubio Tweeted. 'Maybe Putin takes Kyiv, but he will NEVER conquer Ukraine. He isnt just fighting against a military he is fighting against over 40 million people. And they wont stop killing Russias invaders until all of them are gone,' the Republican Senator added. A massive Russian military convoy can be seen advancing from Belarus in the north towards Kyiv in satellite images released on Monday The head of the convoy is at Antonov airport, 17 miles north of Kyiv city center On Monday night it was revealed that the Russian military convoy traveling towards the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv is now far longer than first thought having grown from 17 miles long to 40 miles, according to pictures from a satellite imaging company. U.S. officials are warning the city could be the scene of a siege and ugly urban warfare. Maxar Technologies, a private U.S. satellite company, said additional ground forces deployments and ground attack helicopter units were also seen in southern Belarus, less than 20 miles north of the Ukraine border. On Sunday, Maxar had initially measured the convoy to be just over three miles in length. White House sources told CNN they were carefully monitoring the convoy, and were concerned not only at its increased size but also at the uptick in violence and indiscriminate killings. U.S. intelligence officials told members of Congress on Monday that they expect a second overwhelming wave of attacks to engulf Kyiv with the sheer numbers of Russian troops flattening any Ukrainian resistance. 'Cocaine' Cassie got engaged to Tatiana last November and are about to marry She wore an orange coat and high-heeled boots as she waited for her mother Sainsbury is waiting on a judge's decision to be able to return home to Australia She was caught with 5.8kg of cocaine in her luggage as she tried to board a flight It was the first time Sainsbury had returned to the airport since her arrest in 2017 Australian drug dealer 'Cocaine' Cassie Sainsbury has reunited with her mum Lisa Evans in Colombia for the first time in four years ahead of her wedding later this month. Sainsbury, 26, and her fiancee Tatiana met her mum and her husband Nick Evans at El Dorado Airport in Bogota on Monday morning. It was the same location where, in April 2017, Sainsbury was caught with 5.8kg of cocaine in her luggage as she tried to board a flight to London. She spent almost three years in El Buen Pastor jail for her crime and is unable to leave Colombia because she is completing her sentence on bail after getting an early release due to Covid. Sainsbury was wearing a stylish orange coat, matching high-heeled boots and tight black trousers showing off her impressive weight loss. Cassie Sainsbury (left) is hugged by her mum Lisa Evans. Beside them are Lisa's husband Nick and Cassie's fiance Tatiana She and Tatiana looked nervous as they waited for her mum and stepdad to arrive in Bogota after an epic 31-hour journey from Adelaide. Writing on social media during a stopover on her mammoth trip, Lisa wrote: 'I'm so happy that my girl has found her true love.' Tatiana stroked Sainsbury's blonde hair and made her laugh to break the tension as the wait went on. If the police officer stationed a metre away from her bothered Sainsbury, she didn't let on. As passengers started to emerge from the arrivals area, she and Tatiana moved closer to where her mother would emerge from. And then, the moment Sainsbury had waited four years for finally arrived. A nervous looking Cassie Sainsbury (pictured left) is calmed down by her fiance Tatiana (right) It was four years since Cassie Sainsbury (pictured right, with her fiance Tatiana) had seen her mum Cassie Sainsbury (left) looks worried as she waits with her partner Tatiana for her mum to arrive Tatiana (right) pulls a funny face to keep Cassie Sainsbury's (left) spirits up as they wait for her mother and stepfather to arrive from Australia Ms Evans came out of arrivals first and headed straight for her daughter for a minutes-long, emotional hug before the group headed to a people carrier and on to a hotel. Then Mr Evans emerged with two large suitcases and got a welcome to Colombia hug from his future daughter-in-law. It was the first time Sainsbury had returned to the airport since her arrest and also the first time Mr and Ms Evans had met her partner. Cassie Sainsbury (left) and her finance Tatiana (right) were getting excited at the imminent arrival in Colombia of Cassie's mother and stepfather Then the moment finally came and Cassie's mum Lisa Evans emerged from the arrivals gate. Pictured are Cassie and Lisa embracing while her fiance Tatiana looks on Cassie's stepfather Nick Evans (pictured right) then arrived as Cassie was still hugging and crying with her mum Nick (left) chatted to Cassie's fiance Tatiana as the emotional mother and daughter reunion continued The relief can be seen on Lisa Evans' (centre) face as she hugs her daughter, Australian drug dealer 'Cocaine' Cassie Evans As Sainsbury and her mum continued to embrace and cry, Mr Evans chatted with Tatiana, whom he'd previously only spoken to on the phone and on video chat calls. Getting off to a good start, Tatiana, who is an IT specialist, brought a huge bouquet of flowers with her to present to her future in laws. An onlooker said: 'It was a very emotional moment at the end of what must have been a very difficult flight. 'Cassie seemed nervous before her mum came through but Tatiana looked very confident and assured. 'They're plainly in love, they were laughing and giggling and Tatiana held Cassie's hand to reassure her.' Getting off to a good start, Tatiana (right) brought a huge bouquet of flowers with her to present to her future in laws Cassie Sainsbury's mum (left) admires the flowers given to her by her future daughter-in-law Tatiana (centre) Pictured left to right are Lisa Evans, her husband Nick, future daughter-in-law Tatiana and daughter Cassie Sainsbury Sainsbury, who is still on bail after being released from jail early in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic, lives with Tatiana at an apartment in the Chapinero suburb of Bogota. Last November, she showed off her glitzy engagement ring as she opened up about Tatiana and made plans to return to Australia after the years locked up in a Colombian prison. Sainsbury shared the news of her engagement to her 15,000 Instagram followers, posting a photo proudly posing with her ring. 'So hard to choose a wedding dress,' she wrote. 'Yes people I'm engaged.' In celebration of her upcoming nuptials she posted a series of photos with Tatiana, a 33-year-old computer technician from Bogota who she met through mutual friends on May 26, 2021. Sainsbury shared the news of her engagement to her 15,000 Instagram followers, posting a photo proudly posing with her ring (pictured) They are getting married later this month and plan to live between Colombia and Australia once Sainsbury is able to return to her home country. 'It was a really unexpected relationship,' Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia from Bogota. 'We had shared a group of friends and one night we went out for a birthday and we literally hit it off.' After a short romance, Sainsbury said Tatiana further surprised her by proposing to her during a getaway to Cartagena on the Colombian coast. 'She put a ring on it!' Sainsbury said of the engagement. 'She'd been planning for a while trying to find a ring that she thought was perfect for me and in the end she found it. Sainsbury (pictured) spent three years in Bogota's El Buen Pastor prison after she was convicted for smuggling 5.8kg of cocaine into the country in April 2017 'She took me to Cartagena and organised a small, romantic dinner at a cosy little restaurant on the beachfront. She asked me to marry her there.' In July last year Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia her new lover was unaware of her past and why she had been headline news in Australia, but that has now changed. 'I shared everything with her about everything,' she revealed. 'Basically [Tatiana] said she wasn't going to judge me on my past, she was really mature about the whole situation. 'I feel like I'm the happiest I've ever been. It's nice to feel like I can be myself with no judgement from someone who is always there for me.' Sainsbury said she wants to return to her hometown of Adelaide as soon as possible but delays in the Colombian legal system caused by the incursion of Covid-19 into the country mean she is still waiting on the decision of a judge before she is allowed to return home. After a short romance, Sainsbury (pictured) said Tatiana further surprised her by proposing to her during a getaway to Cartagena on the Colombian Sainsbury (pictured being escorted to a court hearing in Bogota in 2017) became engaged to a fellow female inmate, Joli Pico, while in prison, before her current relationship 'We'll get married and then the plan is to go back home for a while, sort things out there, see my family and then make a decision about what the big plan will be. 'She's never been to Australia. We'll probably end up between Australia and Colombia because obviously her family is here so it will be like, some time here, some time there type of thing.' Sainsbury, whose Australian accent has been transformed by a Latin lilt after her four-and-a-half years in Colombia, has undergone many changes since her arrest in April 2017 when cocaine packaged inside 18 headphone boxes was found in her suitcase. Coming out as gay is one such change. Sainsbury became engaged to a fellow female inmate, Joli Pico, while in prison, before her current relationship with Tatiana once she'd been released. 'It has always been something there,' she said of her attraction to women. 'I had relationships like that [in Australia]... but not as serious.' 'Tatiana said she wasn't going to judge me on my past, she was really mature about the whole situation' Sainsbury said of her new love Sainsbury said the lowest point of her whole ordeal since she was first arrested was when she became seriously ill with bacteria in her stomach while inside El Buen Pastor prison. 'When I became sick I was taken out of prison into hospital and that is what saved me.' While in prison she was locked in a two-metre by two-metre cell with up to five other inmates and says she still has nightmares about it. Sainsbury said she is focused on putting her past behind her rather than trying to prove the claims she made in a 60 Minutes program in April 2020 that pressure from a Brazilian drug lord had caused her to undertake the cocaine smuggling mission. She claimed back then that a mysterious man named 'Angelo Sanchez' allegedly threatened to kill her mother and then-boyfriend, Scott Broadbridge, unless she committed the crime. Sainsbury was just 22-years-old when she was arrested with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine hidden in her luggage at Bogota airport (pictured, arriving for a court hearing in Bogota in 2017) 'I want to move forward but trust me there are still days where I ask myself, 'why me?'' 'I want to move forward but trust me there are still days where I ask myself, 'why me?'' 'I feel like if I keep trying to bring up the past, I'm never going to be able to move forward. I just want to be able to put all this behind me and live a normal life.' But Sainsbury said she does take note of the perceptions Australians have about her. 'I still care. Believe it or not, the comments people make obviously affect me,' she confessed. 'I try not to let it affect me too much, I know there are a lot of mixed opinions about me. I can't tell someone not to have their own opinion.' Sainsbury said the perception of her by Australians does affect her. 'I'm not sure what to expect, to be honest,' she said of returning to her home country 'I feel like if I keep trying to bring up the past, I'm never going to be able to move forward. I just want to be able to put all this behind me and live a normal life, Sainsbury said, pictured above at the time of her arrest in Colombia in April 2017 She said she is concerned about whether she will be able to readjust to life in Australia, where she has said she wishes to establish a personal training business and is open to reality television offers. 'I'm not sure what to expect, to be honest.' A love of Colombian culture and people was one of the positive things to come from her experience since she'd been out of prison, Sainsbury said. 'Through everything I went through, I learnt to take the best out of the experience I could... meeting new people, maturing, learning more about myself. 'To make it feel like it was not a complete loss of time, using what I learnt from the experience to become the person I've become.' An 11-month-old baby boy who was missing for nearly four hours in Melbourne's south after a man stole a car with the infant sitting inside has been found safe and well. The baby had been inside the back of a white 2013 Toyota Rav 4 before it was stolen from Putt Grove in Keysborough at 2.10pm on Tuesday. Police say the child's mother had briefly exited the car while leaving the engine running before an unknown man jumped into the driver's seat and took off with the baby still onboard. The baby and the Toyota were later found in Cranbourne about 5.40pm and a man was arrested. Police are searching for this man after an 11-month-old baby went missing in Melbourne's south 'I can safely say that we have located the child safe and well and he's in the process of being returned to mum and dad now,' Inspector Fiona Halford told reporters. 'I just cannot thank the public enough. It was a member of the general public who had identified police of the location and subsequently police attended that location and found the child safe and well.' Police earlier released images of a man they wished to speak to and a car similar to the one stolen. Investigations are ongoing and a 46-year-old man is assisting police with their inquiries. The 13 Ukrainian border guards who were feared dead after they told the Russian military to 'go f*** yourself' over the radio as they defended a small island in the Black Sea are actually alive and being held as prisoners of war, the Ukrainian Navy has since confirmed. 'We are very happy to learn that our brothers are alive and well,' it declared in a statement. The Ukrainian Navy added that a civilian ship had gone to the island to help after the attack, but it was captured by the Russians, and demanded the release of all Ukrainian citizens. 'Illegal capture of a civilian ship a non-combatant without performing any military mission, is a violation of the rules and customs of war, international humanitarian law,' the Ukrainian Navy added. 'We demand from Russia the immediate release of illegally occupied citizens of Ukraine.' The guards defending Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, a strategically-significant speck of land south of the port of Odessa, had originally thought to have gone down in a blaze of glory during Thursday's attacks. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy even promised to posthumously decorate 'the heroic deceased border guards.' But pictures released by the Russian Defense Ministry claim guards, part of the Ukrainian independent law enforcement agency, the State Border Guard Service, are in fact still alive after 'voluntarily' surrendering their garrison to Russian troops. Almost a dozen photos released by Russia purportedly show the men boarding buses, being given bottled water and a food parcel, before being shown sitting in their seats. Ukrainian border guards protecting tiny island in the Black Sea from Russia were thought to have been killed after telling Russian navy to 'go f**k yourself' but Russia has since released almost a dozen pictured The guards defending Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, a speck of land south of the port of Odessa, had originally thought to have been killed but to have gone down in a blaze of linguistic glory but they were purportedly pictured on Saturday The Ukrainian border guards manning a tiny island in the Black Sea near Romania who were originally thought killed on Thursday after telling a Russian warship to 'go f*** yourselves' when they were told to surrender, are now believed to have survived Snake Island is strategically important because it allows Russia to claim territorial waters stretching 12 nautical miles out to sea. Russia have even said that men will be released an be allowed to return to their families. The Ukrainian Navy confirmed Monday that the soldiers on the island repelled two attacks by Russian forces, but were forced to surrender 'due to the lack of ammunition.' They also said in the statement that Russian forces destroyed Snake Island's infrastructure, including lighthouses, towers and antennas. On Friday, an audio clip shared online, an officer from a Russian military ship can be heard telling the Ukrainian guards to 'lay down your arms immediately to avoid bloodshed and unjustified deaths', adding 'otherwise you will be bombed'. The guards can then be heard talking amongst themselves, agreeing 'this is it', before they responded to the Russian navy saying: 'Russian warship, go f*** yourself.' Ukraine later lost contact with its forces defending the island on Thursday after Russia conducted strikes from the air and sea, officials in Kyiv said. A video circulating on Twitter also appeared to show the moment that the island was shelled. It showed a Ukrainian soldier staring at a camera before a shell landed nearby. The Ukrainian Navy called for their immediate release. Pictures released by Russia on Saturday purportedly show Ukrainian servicemen arriving from Snake Island, having left their garrison and 'voluntarily surrendering' to Russian troops Before getting on board a bus, the soldiers were given food parcels and bottles water Russian officials handed the Ukrainian solders bottled water as they boarded a bus The Russians have said the men who were captured will be 'returned to their families' The men can be seeing boarding a bus having been taken off Snake Island during the operation The Ukrainian border guards manning the tiny Snake Island in the Black Sea near Romania were thought to have been killed on Thursday after telling a Russian warship to 'go f*** yourselves' when they were ordered to surrender, but now it's thought they survived Protestors in Munich, Germany hold signs containing messages of the Snake Island attack where a Russian warship was told ''go f**k yourself'' by border police The soldiers were posted on Snake Island in the Odesa region and were defending the territory after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The island is ruled by Ukraine but sits just miles from the coast of NATO member Romania On Friday, Russia's defense ministry said 82 Ukrainian soldiers on the island had surrendered to them voluntarily. It made no mention of carrying out strikes or inflicting casualties. Russian Major-General Igor Konashenkov stated how the servicemen on the island 'laid down their arms and voluntarily surrendered to a unit of the Russian Armed Forces.' 'Russian media reported that Ukrainian servicemen on the island had been sent to Sevastopol' in Crimea the statement explained. Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion in the early hours of Thursday, Moscow's most aggressive action since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Snake Island is ruled by Ukraine but sits just miles from the coast of Romania. It is strategically important because it will allow Russia to claim territorial waters stretching 12 nautical miles out to sea. They cover important shipping channels to the port cities of Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson. After taking the island, Russia would have been able to cut off the shipping channels, isolating Ukraine from international markets and depriving its economy of vital trade revenues as it seeks to defend itself. The famous automaker Toyota is getting ready to suspend 14 of its factories because of a possible cyberattack. Officials say they have no idea how long this disruption might last. The 14 flagged factories in Japan notably account for a third of the automotive firm's global production. Other plants affiliated to Toyota, like Hino Motors and Daihatsu, are also included in the shutdown. Toyota Cyber Attack 2022: Japan Factories Affected There is no information immediately available about the attack, so sources like Reuters recorded the data submitted by reporters. Some speculate the attack might be retaliation against Japan for supporting Ukraine, but nothing is confirmed at this time Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, "It is difficult to say whether this has anything to do with Russia before making thorough checks." He promised that his government was already taking steps to investigate the attack. It should be emphasized that the attack was not launched directly against Toyota Motor Corp. Instead, it was directed towards the supplier of plastic parts and electronics components, namely the Kojima Industries Corp. A spokesperson told Nikkei that "It is true that we have been hit by some kind of cyberattack. We are still confirming the damage, and we are hurrying to respond, with the top priority of resuming Toyota's production system as soon as possible." For reference, Toyota uses a just-in-time production control system, which means any parts received from the supplier are immediately used for production instead of being stockpiled. This is why Toyota had no other choice but to stop production. Note that until the supplier system failure is resolved and its cybersecurity not compromised, Toyota will still continue to struggle with production. Read Also: Toyota Tundra 2022 Design Flaws: Users Worry About Door-Lock and Waste Gate Issues, Are These Fixed Now? Toyota Cybersecurity Issues: When Will Production Resume? As previously mentioned, Toyota is one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world. So this sudden shutdown is definitely affecting its systems negatively. The closure will reportedly set back the production of 13,000 cars or more, per BBC. This is approximately 4-5% of Toyota's monthly output in Japan. Its affiliate Hino Motors will also suspend operations at its Koga facility and Hamura plant. These two are responsible for manufacturing trucks of all sizes for export and domestic sale. Unfortunately for fans, Toyota has yet to announce how long this shutdown would last. The suspension will be effective starting Tuesday, Feb. 28, and will last indefinitely until the company is confident with its system repairs and cybersecurity countermeasures. Notably, the cyberattack shutdown just happened on top of Toyota's supply chain crises because of the global pandemic. These two factors should negatively impact their performance. Toyota should be able to find a way to overcome these unfortunate predicaments, just as it did during the Toyota recall crisis. Fans interested in the Toyota vehicle lineup are advised to wait for further updates, which might drop anytime within the week. Related Article: 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor USA Release Date, Engine, Specs: Just How Powerful Is the "Most Powerful Ranger"? An equestrian rider found guilty of raping two women in their swags at horse events told them not to leave him 'sexually frustrated'. Joshua James David Slape, 24, from Glenburnie in South Australia was jailed for 11 years with a non-parole period of seven in the District Court on Tuesday. Judge Gordon Barrett found the horse breeder guilty of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault, over the two incidents which occurred in 2017 and 2018. Slape was 19 when he assaulted the first woman while at a horsing riding event at his family's farm in June, 2017. He forced her to perform sexual acts on him before raping her while her two children slept just metres away. Joshua James David Slape, 24, from Glenburnie in South Australia was jailed for 11 years with a non-parole period of seven in the District Court on Tuesday Slape had told his victim 'are you just going to leave me with blue balls?', according to court documents. The second attack happened just six months later after a rodeo event. Slape had known both women and had climbed into both of their swags before assaulting them. The court had earlier heard Slape had told both women 'not to leave him sexually frustrated' before he attacked them. One victim has suffered from severe anxiety and depression in the wake of her rape, saying in an impact statement she keeps all her blinds and doors shut. 'My life is very different now and I'm a different person to what I used to be. I wish I could be the confident, happy, outgoing person I was,' she said. The second victim said it would take time for her to be able to trust people again. Slape's sentence will be backdated to 2020, meaning he can be eligible for parole in 2027. The horse rider has been viciously trolled online in the wake of his charges. Women and children were forced to watch on in horror as a motorist was violently attacked by four other men on a busy freeway. The brawl was sparked in the middle of Melbourne's Monash Freeway near the Blackburn road exit at about 4:30pm on Monday. In footage of the violent encounter, four men spring from a grey BMW convertible sporting red P plates and begin to pummel the motorist in front. In footage of the violent encounter four men spring from a grey BMW convertible sporting red P plates and begin to pummel the motorist in front (pictured) At one point in the video, the driver is put in a headlock and thrown to the ground, as the attackers land a series of punches and kicks. A woman can be seen yelling at the group to break it up as a young boy and other shocked motorists watch the violence unfold. The chaotic scenes brought traffic to a standstill just before the afternoon rush. It is unclear what triggered the brawl, with Victoria Police to launch an investigation into the incident. A spokesperson said police have spoken to parties involved who has declined to make a formal statement at this time. Anyone with dashcam footage of the altercation has been urged to contact police. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has issued a graphic telling people how to launch a Molotov cocktail at a tank. It came as brave Ukrainians were seen hurling DIY petrol bombs at a Russian tank from the window of a passing car. Remarkable footage shows people in the car shouting abuse at Putin's forces, before a woman throws the home-made weapon directly at the armoured vehicle. The Ministry of Defence and the Ukrainian army's General Staff posted detailed instruction on how to make Molotov cocktails and where to aim when faced with a Russian tank or truck. The official account of the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces showed people key areas of Russian tanks and trucks to target with petrol bombs. It added: 'Beat the occupier! Let's win together!' A series of graphics showed which parts of Russian tanks and trucks to aim for, including the windows, manholes on top and the engine grill Remarkable footage shows people in the car shouting abuse at Putin's forces, before a woman throws the home-made weapon directly at the armoured vehicle Another angle shows the aftermath of the incident, in which flames can be seen erupting from the tank, as vehicles drive by on a dual carriageway The official page of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense shared a flyer of how to make a Molotov cocktail It gave detailed instructions on how to create the DIY petrol bomb and suggested throwing them at Russian tanks and trucks. They are illegal to make in the UK under the Explosive Substances Act A map issued by Ukrzaliznytsia, or Ukrainian Railways, showed which stations were still operational (Pictured: Graphic for February 27) The daily graphics give an idea of the Russian advance from the east and south (Pictured: Graphic for February 28) A Green dot means 'The station is operational', a green train means 'There's a connection', a red sign that there is 'no connection' and an explosion sign that 'there's a situation, explosions near the station' (Pictured: Graphic for March 1) Civilians have been encouraged in recent days to make their own petrol bombs, with President Zelensky's embattled government even giving out a DIY flyer with instructions. The illegal petrol bombs believed to have had their name coined by the Finnish: What are Molotov cocktails? Molotov cocktail is a generic name given to petrol bombs. Also known as a poor man's grenade, because of their relative ease to make, they are improvised incendiary weapons involving flammable liquid put into glass bottles. The name was coined by the Finnish during their war with Soviet Russia in 1939 - also known as the Winter War. It is believed they were called Molotov as a pejorative reference to Vyacheslav Molotov due to the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact a deal between Russia and Nazi Germany that saw Poland divided between the two countries and Finland into the Soviet 'sphere of influence'. However they were used before the Winter War, most notably in the Spanish Civil war three years earlier. General Franco is said to have ordered his Nationalist troops to use them against Soviet tanks. Many were made by people in Britain in the 1940s as the threat of an invasion by Nazi Germany loomed. They are often used in riots and uprisings and, as of such, have become a symbol of revolution. But they are illegal to make in the UK under the Explosive Substances Act. Advertisement A post from the verified Twitter page of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine last week said: 'In Obolon... We ask citizens to inform about the movement of equipment! 'Make Molotov cocktails, neutralise the occupier! Peaceful residents - be careful! Do not leave the house!' More footage over the weekend showed hundreds of civilians of all ages making the weapons as part of efforts to arm themselves against Russian attackers. A Sky News report from Dnipro showed crowd of people grating up polystyrene and putting it into bottles. The idea is that the substance would then make the cocktail stick to vehicles and other targets. The weapons were being made according to a recipe distributed by Ukraine's ministry of defence. Ukrainian Railways have also issued daily maps showing which stations were still operational. They give an insight into how far Russian forces have advanced from the east and south of Ukraine. The name Molotov cocktail was coined by the Finnish during their war with Soviet Russia in 1939 - also known as the Winter War. It is believed they were called Molotov as a pejorative reference to Vyacheslav Molotov due to the MolotovRibbentrop Pact - a deal between Russia and Nazi Germany that saw Poland divided between the two countries and Finland into the Soviet 'sphere of influence'. However they were used before the Winter War, most notably in the Spanish Civil war three years earlier. General Franco is said to have ordered his Nationalist troops to use them against Soviet tanks. Many were made by people in Britain in the 1940s as the threat of an invasion by Nazi Germany loomed. They are often used in riots and uprisings and, as of such, have become a symbol of revolution. But they are illegal to make in the UK under the Explosive Substances Act. An elderly couple has been found dead inside their home in a suspected murder-suicide. The bodies of Stephen and Sally Starling, aged 74 and 75, were discovered at their Perth home about 6.45pm on Monday after a neighbour noticed the couple's barn door was open. Western Australian police confirmed the bodies were discovered by a traumatised neighbour who alerted police on Monday evening. A neighbour has arrived first on the scene to make the tragic discovery of the bodies of a 'gorgeous' elderly expat British couple in their home Sally Starling, 74, was one of the two people found deceased by a neighbour in the Darling Downs home, alongside her husband Stephen Mr and Mrs Starling, said to be an adventure-loving couple and members of the Jaguar Car Club of Western Australia, were identified on Tuesday (pictured, Stephen Starling) Mr and Mrs Starling, said to be an adventure-loving couple and members of the Jaguar Car Club of Western Australia, were identified on Tuesday. The club posted twice about 'the tragic passing of [the] respected long-time members' but deleted one in order to allow the family 'space to grieve without interference'. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia WA police said there was 'no indication at this point in time of any third party involvement' in the tragedy'. WA police commissioner Chris Dawson told ABC radio it was 'a tragic set of circumstances for this couple'. Another neighbour, Maureen Parkes, told 7News that police were at property in the 'quiet' Darling Downs area overnight. 'About 2am I got up, looked out the window and police cars were there ... the whole of the driveway was floodlit, so I knew something was wrong,' she said. Another neighbour, Pat Hogge described the couple as 'gorgeous' and 'welcoming'. It is understood that as well as being in the classic car club, Mr Starling, a former engineer, owned a yacht and his wife was 'a keen horse rider'. Ms Hogge said the neighbour who found the couple were 'quite close' to them. 'She couldn't talk, she said there has been an incident and that's all I can say.' WA police confirmed they were not looking for any third party and described the incident as 'tragic for this couple' but they could not confirm the identity of the deceased pair Mr Starling, was an engineer and author who wrote a book about riding motorbikesa cross te United States 'About 6:45pm [on February 28], police were called to the home by a neighbour. Upon attendance a 74-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman were located deceased,' the WA police statement said. 'Investigations in the circumstances surrounding the deaths are ongoing. 'Detectives and forensic officers will remain at the scene today.' Mr Starling was also an author have written a well-regarded book, 'Three Harleys, Three Aussies, One American Dream: A 5,000-mile Motorcycle Adventure around the USA'. 'Travel, writing, and photography have been Stephen W. Starling's passions since he left the UK in the 1970s. 'Stephen has backpacked across Africa, Asia, and South America; ridden motorcycles around Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and the USA; and sailed the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean,' his Amazon author's bio reads. Advertisement Ukraine war: The latest Russian army tells citizens in Kyiv they can 'freely leave' as it hints of attacks on civilian areas Russian forces shell Ukraine's second city Kharkiv, killing at least 11 civilians in residential areas Russian forces reach the southern city of Kherson near Moscow-controlled Crimea Kyiv says 352 civilians have been killed, including 14 children, since the invasion began last Thursday Nearly 520,000 people have fled Ukraine in the last five days, the UN's refugee agency says, International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan says he is investigating the 'situation in Ukraine', saying there is a 'reasonable basis' to believe 'war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed' Turkey blocks warships from the Bosphorus and Dardanelles strait, limiting the movement of Russian and other naval assets by invoking a 1936 treaty Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia end a first round of talks with no breakthrough. Both sides agree to conduct a second round 'soon' In a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Putin demands 'demilitarisation and denazification' of Ukraine Head of UN's atomic watchdog 'gravely concern' that invading Russian troops are operating close to Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine's largest nuclear power station Twitter and Facebook move to curb the online presence of Russian state-linked news outlets Russia is expelled from the 2022 World Cup and its teams suspended from all international football competitions 'until further notice' International Olympic Committee urges sports federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes US moves to expel 12 members of Russia's UN mission from America for being 'intelligence operatives' US and Canada ban all transactions with Russia's central bank in an unprecedented sanction. EU adds more Putin allies to its sanctions blacklist Putin orders emergency capital controls and forces exporters to buy rubles to prop up his currency, which plunges by a fifth, reaching record lows. Lawmakers in traditionally non-aligned Finland - which has a long border with Russia - are to debate NATO membership Disney and Sony Pictures stop the release of their films in Russian cinemas because of its invasion of Ukraine Advertisement The woman who broke down in tears as she demanded Boris Johnson tighten UK sanctions against Russia is a high-profile Ukrainian campaigner who helped establish the country's anti-corruption court. Daria Kaleniuk's voice began to crack as she urged the Prime Minister to impose tougher sanctions on Russia and its oligarchs following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. During a press conference in Poland, where Mr Johnson is visiting today ahead of talks with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Ms Kaleniuk said Ukrainian children were 'taking the hit' because of the refusal of NATO to get involved in the conflict. She also urged the Prime Minister to get tough on Russian billionaires such as Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and their families, including Vladimir Putin's, who she said were safe 'in mansions' while Ukrainian children were hiding in bomb shelters. Mr Abramovich vehemently denies he is close to the Kremlin or has done anything that would merit sanctions being imposed against him. Breaking into tears as she talked, Ms Kaleniuk, who said she recently fled her home in Kyiv, where many of her family and colleagues remain, she told the Prime Minister: 'These are Ukrainian children who are there taking the hit. 'You're talking about more sanctions Prime Minister but Roman Abramovich is not sanctioned. 'His children are not in the bombardments. His children are there in London. Putin's children are in Netherlands, in Germany, in mansions, where all these mentioned seized? I don't see that. 'I see that my family members, that my team members, I'd say that we crying. We don't know where to run. This is what is happening Prime Minister.' Ms Kaleniuk, believed to be a mother-of-two, is the co-founder and executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC), an organisation that has shaped Ukraine's anti-corruption legislation After listening in awkward silence, Mr Johnson replied that he was doing what he could, but 'cannot pretend' that the West will step in militarily. 'Unfortunately the implication of that would be that the UK would be engaged in shooting down Russian planes, engaged in direct combat with Russia, that's not something we can do,' he said. The confrontation came after Mr Johnson accused Mr Putin of using 'barbaric and indiscriminate tactics' against innocent Ukrainian civilians. As the invading forces escalated their attacks with harrowing pictures of children falling victim to the violence, he warned that the world was witnessing an 'unfolding disaster'. The UN says at least 136 civilians have been killed so far, including 13 children, and hundreds more injured. The woman who broke down in tears as she demanded Boris Johnson tighten UK sanctions against Russia is high-profile Ukrainian campaigner, Daria Kaleniuk (pictured), who helped establish the country's anti-corruption court Daria Kaleniuk told Boris Johnson said women and children were 'taking the hit' because NATO would not enforce a no-fly zone Ms Kaleniuk said Mr Johnson was coming to Warsaw rather than Kyiv because he is 'afraid' Mr Johnson said he could not pretend NATO is ready to intervene militarily, warning that the situation could spiral out of control if there was a direct confrontation with Russia Speaking alongside Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw, Boris Johnson said the UK 'stands ready' to take refugees in 'considerable numbers' Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Vladimir Putin (left) has 'blood on his hands' and urge the West to 'isolate' him further in a speech at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva A wounded woman is helped in aftermath of Russian shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine today A view shows the regional administration building following the Russian rocket attack in central Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 1, 2022 Daria Kaleniuk's emotional appeal to the PM in full I passed the border a couple of days ago. I'm from Kyiv. Most of my family. Most of my team members are still in Ukraine in Kyiv, in Lviv. A woman from my team is now in Bilozerka. She is there with two kids, and Russian military is over there and she is so much afraid that she will be shot. Kharkiv, the city where I was studying was bombed today, fully, the downtown square. 'So you're talking about the stoicism of the Ukrainian people. But Ukrainian women and Ukrainian children are in deep fear because of bombs and missiles which are going from the sky. And Ukranian people are desperately asking for the West to protect our sky. We are asking for the no fly zone. We are saying response that it will trigger World war three. But what is the alternative Mr Prime Minister, to observe how our children are instead of planes are protecting NATO from the missiles and bombs? What's the alternative for the no fly zone? We have planes here we have air defence system in Poland in Romania. NATO has this air defence, at least this air defence shield the Western Ukraine. So this these children with women could come to the border. 'It's impossible now to cross the border. There are 30 kilometres of mines. Imagine crossing the border with a baby or with two children. 'I'm so glad that Samantha Power is coming here to the border from the Polish side. Let her come to the border from Ukrainian side and see that. 'Britain guaranteed our security under Budapest Memorandum. So you're coming to Poland you're not coming to Kyiv Prime Minister, you're not coming to Lviv, because you are afraid. Because NATO is not willing to defend. Because NATO is afraid of World War Three, but it is already started. 'And these are Ukrainian children who are there taking the hit. You're talking about more sanctions Prime Minister but Roman Abramovich is not sanctioned. He's in London. His children are not in the bombardments. His children are there in London. Putin's children are in Netherlands, in Germany, in mansions, where all these mentioned seized? I don't see that. I see that my family members, that my team members, I'd say that we crying. We don't know where to run. This is what is happening. Prime Minister. Advertisement Kyiv endured another night of bombing on Monday before satellite images revealed the huge column of tanks headed for the city, with Putin's men trying to cut off the capital and bomb it into submission The tearful Ukrainian campaigner who begged Boris to do more: American-educated anti-corruption chief fled Kyiv but has family and colleagues stuck in under-siege capital The woman who broke down in tears as she demanded Boris Johnson tighten UK sanctions against Russia is a high-profile Ukrainian campaigner who helped establish the country's anti-corruption court. Ms Kaleniuk is the co-founder and executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC), an organisation that has shaped Ukraine's anti-corruption legislation. Her group, which is funded by donations, and with the support of the US and the European Union, helped establish the country's National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), as well as the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine - which was founded in 2019. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Ms Kaleniuk has called for heavy sanctions on Russia, including a no-fly, cutting Russia from the SWIFT banking system and arresting all Russian oligarchs and their family members - accusing them of being 'enablers' of the war Ms Kaleniuk, who according to Linkedin studied law in Kharkiv before studying and working in the Chicago, US, for a year, co-founded the group with Vitaliy Shabunin, who is the head of the council of public control at NABU. As co-founder of the group she has held talks with a number of high profile politicians, including Andy Baukol, then US acting Secretary of the Treasury, who she met in September last year, and George Kent, who served as US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs from 2018 to 2021. She visited Washington last year with Hanna Hopko, a former Member of Parliament and head of the committee on foreign affairs of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada and the influential chairwoman of Ukrainian Democracy in Action. And pictures from 2020 show her in discussion with Larry Fink - the billionaire businessman behind the highly influential BlackRock, an American multinational investment firm with an annual revenue of more than $22billion. The pair are said to have discussed investment and the environment, according to her Facebook post. Alongsider her work with AntAC, Ms Kalniuk has also founded resources aiming to track money laundering and corruption across the world and last year organised a Zero Corruption conference in Kyiv, where she was living prior to the Russian invasion. She told the press conference in Poland she had escaped Ukraine 'a couple of days' ago but that most of her family and team remained in under siege Kyiv. Ms Kaleniuk has demanded Russia be banned from world economy and financial markets and said Russia should be immediately removed from the UN Security Council Since the invasion of Ukraine, Ms Kaleniuk has called for heavy sanctions on Russia, including a no-fly, cutting Russia from the SWIFT banking system and arresting all Russian oligarchs and their family members - accusing them of being 'enablers' of the war. She has demanded Russia be banned from world economy and financial markets and said Russia should be immediately removed from the UN Security Council. She has also shared graphics comparing Vladimir Putin to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Ms Kalniuk, who is a mother of two, has previously shared her support for Hong Kong on social media, and has visited in China, having posted a picture of herself in the port city of Dalian in June 2019. Advertisement Mr Johnson said the UK 'stands ready' to take refugees in 'considerable numbers' - suggesting that could mean more than 200,000. He also pledged to stay for the long haul, insisting Putin has 'fatally underestimated' the resolve of the West and Ukraine's citizens under the leadership of 'inspirational' Volodymyr Zelensky. He stressed there is still 'more things that we can and will do' on sanctions, But Ms Kaleniuk, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Centre civil society organisation, stood up to lambast the West's response. Saying she had recently come over the border from Ukraine, she said her family and friends are still there. 'Ukrainian women and Ukrainian children are in deep fear because of bombs and missiles which are going from the sky. 'Ukrainian people are desperately asking for the rights to protect our sky, we are asking for a no-fly zone. 'What's the alternative for the no-fly zone? 'Nato is not willing to defend because Nato is afraid of World War Three but it's already started and it's Ukrainian children who are there taking the hit. 'You are talking about more sanctions Prime Minister but Roman Abramovich is not sanctioned, he's in London, his children are not in the bombardments, his children are there in London.' She added: 'Putin's children are in Netherlands, in Germany, in mansions, where all these mentioned seized? I don't see that. 'I see that my family members, that my team members, I'd say that we crying. 'We don't know where to run.' Mr Abramovich vehemently denies he is close to the Kremlin or has done anything that would merit sanctions being imposed against him. A Downing Street source said Mr Johnson 'sympathised' with Ms Kaleniuk's 'very important' intervention. They are not thought to have spoken after the encounter. Ms Kaleniuk's group, which is funded by donations, and with the support of the US and the European Union, helped establish the country's National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), as well as the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine - which was founded in 2019. Ms Kaleniuk, who according to Linkedin studied law in Kharkiv before studying and working in the Chicago, US, for a year, co-founded the group with Vitaliy Shabunin, who is the head of the council of public control at NABU. As co-founder of the group she has held talks with a number of high profile politicians, including Andy Baukol, then US acting Secretary of the Treasury, who she met in September last year, and George Kent, who served as US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs from 2018 to 2021. She visited Washington last year with Hanna Hopko, a former Member of Parliament and head of the committee on foreign affairs of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada and the influential chairwoman of Ukrainian Democracy in Action. And pictures from 2020 show her in discussion with Larry Fink - the billionaire businessman behind the highly influential BlackRock, an American multinational investment firm with an annual revenue of more than $22billion. The pair are said to have discussed investment and the environment, according to her Facebook post. Alongsider her work with AntAC, Ms Kalniuk has also founded resources aiming to track money laundering and corruption across the world and last year organised a Zero Corruption conference in Kyiv, where she was living prior to the Russian invasion. She told the press conference in Poland she had escaped Ukraine 'a couple of days' ago but that most of her family and team remained in under siege Kyiv. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Ms Kaleniuk has called for heavy sanctions on Russia, including a no-fly, cutting Russia from the SWIFT banking system and arresting all Russian oligarchs and their family members - accusing them of being 'enablers' of the war. She has demanded Russia be banned from world economy and financial markets and said Russia should be immediately removed from the UN Security Council. 'If you can't, just dissolve UN and throw it out from fancy offices in New York and other key cities at the West. Use these building for shelters of Ukrainians who are must flee their homes because of full impotence of international community,' she said in a Facebook post last week. She has also shared graphics comparing Vladimir Putin to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and has shared inspirational quotes from Winston Churchill. Ms Kalniuk has previously shared her support for Hong Kong on social media, and has visited in China, having posted a picture of herself in the port city of Dalian in June 2019. The confrontation came after Mr Johnson accused Mr Putin of using 'barbaric and indiscriminate tactics' against innocent Ukrainian civilians. As the invading forces escalated their attacks with harrowing pictures of children falling victim to the violence, he warned that the world was witnessing an 'unfolding disaster'. The premier is now heading on to Estonia as the UK pushes for sanctions to be ratcheted up again. In his speech, Mr Johnson said it was clear Putin is willing to 'bomb tower blocks, to send missiles into tower blocks, to kill children, as we are seeing in increasing numbers'. Heaping praise on Mr Zelensky he added: 'I think he has inspired and mobilised not only his own people, he is inspiring and mobilising the world in outrage at what is happening in Ukraine.' In a nod to criticism of the government's visa offer to those fleeing Ukraine, Mr Johnson told Mr Morawiecki: 'We stand ready, clearly, to take Ukrainian refugees in our own country, working with you, in considerable numbers, as we always have done and always will.' In a speech in Warsaw afterwards, Mr Johnson said Putin is 'tearing up every principle of civilised behaviour between states' and Ukraine's 'spirit will not be broken'. 'Putin has lied to his people and his troops about how this will go... and he has now been caught out in that lie.' He added: 'He has hurled his war machine on the people of Ukraine, a fellow Slavic country, he has bombarded civilian targets, fired rockets at blocks of flats, he is responsible for hundreds of civilian casualties including growing numbers of children. 'And also, of course, for the deaths of many Russian and Ukrainian soldiers. 'We must accept the grim reality that Putin will continue to tighten the vice and, if you go by the size and firepower of Vladimir Putin's war machine, the odds have always been heavily against Ukrainian armed forces.' Ms Kalniuk, who is a mother of two, has previously shared her support for Hong Kong on social media, and has visited in China, having posted a picture of herself in the port city of Dalian in June 2019 Since the invasion of Ukraine, Ms Kaleniuk has called for heavy sanctions on Russia, including a no-fly, cutting Russia from the SWIFT banking system and arresting all Russian oligarchs and their family members - accusing them of being 'enablers' of the war She visited Washington last year with Hanna Hopko, a former Member of Parliament and head of the committee on foreign affairs of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada and the influential chairwoman of Ukrainian Democracy in Action. Pictured: Daria Kaleniuk Pictures from 2020 show her in discussion with Larry Fink - the billionaire businessman behind the highly influential BlackRock, an American multinational investment firm with an annual revenue of more than $22billio Mr Johnson had 'tripped and stubbed his toe' on the fact that no matter how many troops and tanks he sends Ukrainians will want to be independent. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss today warned that 'nothing and no-one is off the table' when it comes to punishing Russia - amid claims of 'indisputable evidence' of war crimes. She delivered a stark message to Vladimir Putin and his allies that they will be held accountable as she gave a speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Ms Truss said Mr Putin has 'blood on his hands' and the consequences 'will only increase in breadth and severity' as the conflict continues. Delegates at the session staged a walkout when Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov appeared on screen to give a speech. Meanwhile, Ireland has highlighted 'deliberate' targeting of civilians with a probe under way into the use of cluster bombs and vacuum bombs. The UN says at least 136 civilians have been killed so far, including 13 children, and hundreds more injured. Ms Truss told the UNHRC meeting: 'Putin is responsible for civilian casualties and over 500,000 people fleeing with the numbers still rising fast. The blood is on Putin's hands, not just of innocent Ukrainians but the men he has sent to die. 'We're using our collective heft, making up over half the world's economy to cut funding from Putin's war machine and we're delivering severe economic costs through these sanctions as ordinary Russians are finding form queues at their local banks and rising interest rates.' Ms Truss went on: 'These consequences will only increase in breadth and severity as the conflict goes on, we're working to squeeze the Putin regime harder and harder by steadily tightening the vice. 'We're going after the highest echelons of the Russian elite, targeting President Putin personally and all of those complicit in his aggression. Nothing and no one is off the table.' Earlier, Mr Johnson said that Russians considering whether to follow Mr Putin's orders should bear in mind that they will face justice in the end. Ms Truss told the UNHRC session that 'nothing and no-one is off the table' when it comes to punishing Russia He pointed out that Radovan Karadzic was eventually convicted of genocide during the war in the former Yugoslavia. Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said there is 'indisputable evidence' of Russian war crimes in Ukraine. 'We've seen I think indisputable evidence now that war crimes are taking place in Ukraine the brutalising of a number of Ukrainian cities, the deliberate targeting of civilians,' he told reporters in Dublin. 'First of all, it is now under investigation from the International Criminal Court, who have now opened a file on potential war crimes in Ukraine, and I think that says a lot. 'But I think we can see for ourselves in terms of some of the social media pictures that are coming out, which I think are being stood over by the media organisations, as to the extent of civilian targeting in Ukrainian cities, which is essentially terrorising civilian populations. 'And that is something that can't go unchecked and we need to call it out.' In a call with world leaders from the G7, Nato and the EU last night, Mr Johnson stressed the need for allies to continue to provide Kiev with defensive weapons. He also said neighbouring countries will require support to deal with 'large numbers of Ukrainians escaping violence'. Mr Zelensky is said to be providing the PM with a 'shopping list' of military gear to fight the Russian advance in near-daily phone calls. Mr Johnson is scheduled to visit British troops serving in Estonia, which shares a border with Russia, as well as holding talks with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. They will jointly visit British troops serving 'on the front line of Russian aggression' in Tapa, No 10 said, before meetings with Estonian PM Kaja Kallas and Estonian President Alar Karis to discuss security. In a round of interviews this morning, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab warned Putin could resort to 'even more barbaric tactics' as his campaign stalls, and insisted any war crimes must be pursued. Western ambassadors and diplomats walk out while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's pre-recorded video message is played to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva Boris Johnson arrived in Poland today and will head for Estonia later as he vows to exert 'maximum pressure' on the Kremlin Ukraine ambassador warns Putin could try to starve cities Ukrainian ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko has warned that Russian invaders could try to starve civilians in major cities in a bid to win the war. Asked about the possibility by MP Bob Seely, the ambassador told the Commons Foreign Affairs committee that Vladimir Putin was facing a 'lack of progress', with civilians meeting his tanks with 'molotov cocktails from their cars' rather than the 'flowers' he dreamed of. 'The support and resilience is going so much against his plans and in Russia themselves start asking questions 'what are we doing',' the ambassador said. 'I believe they might use the tactics you described in the second part, try to block our cities, try to soften political position, try and maybe ... some riots in Ukraine, because of the lack of food, against the Government.' Advertisement Mr Raab told Sky News: 'Those that engage in war crimes will be held to account.' He said it must be clear to 'both to Putin but also to commanders in Moscow and on the ground in Ukraine that they will be held accountable for any violations of the laws of war'. Voicing alarm at the prospects for escalation, Mr Raab said: 'We know that Putin will react to this, or we fear that he will react to this, with even more barbaric tactics, that's why we must be prepared that this could be a long haul. The former foreign secretary added: 'This is turning into a much, much more perilous misadventure for Putin than I think he realised and it has a demoralised effect on Russia forces and it has had the effect of steeling the will of the Ukrainian people. 'That's how we will ensure Putin fails in Ukraine and we're there for the long haul.' Britain's UN ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward told an emergency meeting of the Security Council last night that Ukraine is on the brink of a 'humanitarian catastrophe'. As Russia continues its assault on the eastern European country, Dame Barbara was among those at the UN to accuse the Kremlin of launching 'indiscriminate attacks against men, women and children' and violating international humanitarian law. She said: 'As a result of President Putin's decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a country of 44 million people is now on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe. 'Missiles have rained down on Kharkiv, with cluster munitions hitting residential areas and injuring residents. Disruption to supply chains has caused food shortages in Kramatorsk. 'The reckless bombing of an oil depot in Vasylkiv, has unleashed toxic fumes in nearby communities. 'Violence in Kyiv has forced people to seek refuge underground, with many thousands, including the elderly and disabled, unable to evacuate.' The UK permanent representative to the UN told the Security Council that 'hundreds of civilians had been killed as a result of the Russian invasion' and seven million people had been displaced, with the figure 'rising exponentially'. Ukraine's representative, Sergiy Kyslytsya, told the council that Kyiv was 'sitting within Russian crosshairs right now' and that 352 people, including 16 children, had been killed as of Monday in the fighting. He accused Moscow troops of attacking hospitals and ambulances in a determination to 'kill civilians', adding: 'There is no debate. These are war crimes.' But Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian UN permanent representative, said his country's armed forces did 'not have the goal of occupying Ukraine or harming the local population'. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he plans to open an investigation 'as rapidly as possible' into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. Mr Zelensky echoed Mr Kyslytsya's statements in an address late last night. In a video posted to social media, the leader said that in five days Russian forces had launched 56 missile strikes and 113 cruise missiles in Ukraine. He added: 'Today, Russian forces brutally fired on Kharkiv from jet artillery. It was clearly a war crime. 'Kharkiv is a peaceful city, there are peaceful residential areas, no military facilities. Dozens of eyewitness accounts prove that this is not a single false volley, but deliberate destruction of people: the Russians knew where they were shooting.' 'There will definitely be an international tribunal for this crime it's a violation of all conventions. No one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people,' he said. resident Volodymyr Zelensky is said to be providing the PM with a 'shopping list' of military gear to fight the Russian advance in near-daily phone calls The bombardment of Kharkiv continued Tuesday morning with a rocket landing just in front of the civilian public administration building, destroying the road outside and blowing the windows out of the building itself. Footage from inside shows the building was heavily damaged, with ceilings collapsing and rubble strewn around Belarus troops have invaded Ukraine, Kyiv claims, as 40-mile convoy of Putin's artillery snakes towards the capital amid fears Russia will 'use medieval tactics' to bomb the city into submission as supermarket shelves run empty Belarusian troops have joined in the invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv claimed today, as a 40-mile Russian convoy bared down on the capital amid warnings that Putin will now use 'medieval tactics' to try and force a bloody victory after being handed a series of embarrassing defeats in the opening days of the war. Vitaliy Kyrylov, a spokesman for Ukraine's North Territorial Defense Forces, said that Minsk's men had entered the city of Chernihiv, north-east Ukraine, on Tuesday morning. Dictator Alexander Lukashenko acknowledged sending 'rapid deployment groups' to the border 'to stop any military action against Belarus', without acknowledging that his men had joined the attack. It came as a convoy of hundreds of Russian tanks, artillery pieces and trucks was pictured snaking its way towards Kyiv, leading to fears that its mission will be to surround the city, besiege it, and bomb it into submission as Russian forces did in Syria while fighting alongside Bashar al-Assad's forces. Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, said Russian forces may also try to spark a food crisis by cutting off supplies to major cities as pictures showed some store shelves already running empty in the capital. He said the military may have to step in to ensure everyone has access to food. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg today said Putin had 'shattered peace in Europe' with an invasion 'enabled by Belarus' while vowing to support Kyiv and defend 'every inch' of allied territory should the Russian strongman's sights wander outside Ukraine's borders. But, speaking during a visit to the Lask airbase in NATO member Poland, Mr Stoltenberg repeated that the alliance is 'defensive' and that no troops will be sent to assist Ukraine. 'NATO is not going to be part of the conflict,' he said. Russia already appeared to be employing siege tactics elsewhere in Ukraine today as the city of Mariupol, in the south, came under 'constant shelling' by Russian forces using artillery, Grad rockets, and fighter jets targeting civilians areas such as schools and homes which had left many dead, including women and children. Power to the city, which is in danger of being surrounded by Russian forces, has been cut - region head Pavlo Kyrylenko said Tuesday - but it remains under Ukrainian control. Kherson, another key city located in southern Ukraine with a bridge over the Dnieper River, also came under bombardment by Russian forces today as missiles landed near civilian buildings on the outskirts and troops were pictured moving through the streets. Kharkiv, in the east, continued to be bombed today with a large rocket landing in front of the civilian public administration building, leaving the interior heavily damaged. It came just a day after the city was hit by cluster bombs that landed near a shopping centre, killing at least 11 people and leaving dozens more wounded. Ukraine's ambassador to the UN later said that a thermobaric 'vacuum bomb' was also used on the country, though did not saying exactly when or where. President Volodymyr Zelensky this morning branded the Kharkiv bombing a 'terrorist' attack and branded Russia a 'terrorist state' while repeating calls for a war crimes investigation. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court at The Hauge has said that a probe will be established 'as soon as possible'. Philip Reeker, America's Charge d'Affairs to the UK, warned separately that 'medieval tactics are certainly what we can expect' from Moscow's forces going forward. '[That is] exactly what President Putin and the Russian military have in mind,' he added. Sergey Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, said Tuesday morning that the invasion will continue until 'objectives are met' - which he said was to prevent Russia being threatened by the West. In a grim sign of the carnage to come, he also warned that Ukraine's army is using civilians as human shields in what looks to be an attempt to justify the deaths of innocents as they ramp up over the coming days. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both said that Russian forces appeared to have used widely banned cluster munitions, with Amnesty accusing them of attacking a preschool in northeastern Ukraine while civilians took shelter inside. Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, told reporters after meeting with members of the U.S. Congress that Russia had used a thermobaric weapon, known as a vacuum bomb, in its invasion of her country. 'They used the vacuum bomb today,' Markarova said after a meeting with lawmakers. '...The devastation that Russia is trying to inflict on Ukraine is large.' A vacuum bomb, or thermobaric weapon, sucks in oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion, typically producing a blast wave of a significantly longer duration than that of a conventional explosive and is capable of vaporizing human bodies. There has been no official confirmation that thermobaric weapons have been used in the conflict in Ukraine. CNN reported that one of its teams had spotted a Russian thermobaric multiple rocket launcher near the Ukrainian border early on Saturday afternoon. A convoy of Russian tanks, artillery pieces, fighting vehicles and support trucks now stretches all the way from Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kyiv, to the village of Prybirs'k some 40 miles away (part of the convoy is seen, right) There are fears the purpose of the convoy (pictured) is to surround Kyiv, besiege it and bomb it into submission - mirroring tactics Russia used in Syria while fighting alongside the forces of Basahar al-Assad A line of Russian vehicles is seen snaking its way via the town of Ivankiv towards Kyiv, around 40 miles to the south Russian vehicles are seen to the southeast of Invankiv and heading towards Kyiv in this satellite image taken on Monday A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows part of a military convoy and burning buildings, northwest of Ivankiv As Kyiv prepares for a dramatic escalation in bloodshed, Kherson, Kharkiv and Mariupol all came under shelling attack by Russian forces as Putin looks to achieve victory by brute forces after more-sophisticated tactics failed People walk by a damaged vehicle and an armored car at a checkpoint in Brovary, outside Kyiv A volunteer of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces walks by a damaged armored vehicle at a checkpoint in Brovary, Kyiv A man reacts inside a vehicle damaged by shelling, in Brovary, outside Kyiv Members of an Ukrainian civil defense unit pass new assault rifles to the opposite side of a blown up bridge on Kyiv's northern outskirts, where fighting with Russian forces has been taking place White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said she had seen reports but did not have confirmation that Russia had used such weapons. 'If that were true, it would potentially be a war crime,' she told a press briefing, noting that there are international organizations that would assess that and President Joe Biden's administration 'would look to be a part of that conversation.' The Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. Markarova said Ukraine was working actively with the Biden administration and Congress to obtain more weapons and tougher sanctions. 'They should pay, they should pay a heavy price,' she told reporters after leaving the meeting. One lawmaker who attended the meeting, Democratic Representative Brad Sherman, said the Ukrainians had asked for a U.S.-enforced no-fly zone over Ukraine but that he felt that was too dangerous because it could provoke conflict with Russia. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could retaliate with increasingly 'heavy-handed tactics' if his invasion of Ukraine faces further hitches. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We can expect, for every stutter and stumble, him to try and come back for even more heavy-handed tactics, but that is a sign that the initial phase at least - and this is going to be a long haul - has not lived up to his expectations.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for their support amid the Russian invasion. 'Olena and I are grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that, at this crucial time, when Ukraine is courageously opposing Russia's invasion, they stand by our country and support our brave citizens,' he tweeted. 'Good will triumph.' Amnesty International said international humanitarian law prohibits the use of inherently indiscriminate weapons such as cluster munitions. Launching indiscriminate attacks that kill or injure civilians constitutes a war crime. As the bloodshed ramps up, the Kremlin has found itself increasingly isolated by tough economic sanctions that have sent its currency plummeting. After a first, five-hour session of talks between Ukraine and Russia yielded no stop in the fighting, both sides agreed to another meeting in coming days. Ukraine's embattled president, however, said he believed the stepped-up shelling was designed to force him into concessions. 'I believe Russia is trying to put pressure (on Ukraine) with this simple method,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Monday in a video address. He did not offer details of the talks that took place Monday, but he said Kyiv was not prepared to make concessions 'when one side is hitting another with rocket artillery.' Six days into the invasion, the Russian military's movements have been stalled by fierce resistance on the ground and a surprising inability to dominate the airspace. Many Ukrainian civilians, meanwhile, spent another night huddled in shelters, basements or corridors. 'I sit and pray for these negotiations to end successfully, so that they reach an agreement to end the slaughter,' said Alexandra Mikhailova, weeping as she clutched her cat in a shelter in Mariupol. Around her, parents tried to console children and keep them warm. The Kremlin has twice in as many days raised the specter of nuclear war and put on high alert an arsenal that includes intercontinental ballistic missiles and long-range bombers. Stepping up his rhetoric, President Vladimir Putin denounced the United States and its allies as an 'empire of lies.' Supermarket shelves have started to run empty in Kyiv as the city is slowly encircled and besieged by Putin's forces A woman looks at empty shelves that typically contain in Kyiv, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues A view of empty shelves in a local grocery in Kyiv, Ukraine, as Russian tightens the noose around the capital A photo shows empty shelves at a market due to the problems in food stocks, in Ukrainian capital Kyiv Houses destroyed as a result of shelling by the Russian army in Bucha, Kyiv Military equipment destroyed during the hostilities with the Russian army in Bucha Military equipment destroyed during the hostilities with the Russian army in Bucha, Kyiv Burned bits of polystyrene litter the road - evidence that homemade Molotov cocktails were used against Russian military vehicles during fighting in Bucha, near Kyiv Meanwhile, an embattled Ukraine moved to solidify its ties to the West by applying to join the European Union - a largely symbolic move for now, but one that won't sit well with Putin, who has long accused the United States of trying to pull Ukraine out of Moscow's orbit. A top Putin aide and head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that during the first talks held between the sides since the invasion, the envoys 'found certain points on which common positions could be foreseen.' He said they agreed to continue the discussions in the days ahead. As the talks along the Belarusian border wrapped up, several blasts could be heard in Kyiv, and Russian troops advanced on the city of nearly 3 million. The convoy of armored vehicles, tanks, artillery and support vehicles was 17 miles (25 kilometers) from the center of the city and stretched about 40 miles, according to satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies. People in Kyiv lined up for groceries after the end of a weekend curfew, standing beneath a building with a gaping hole blown in its side. Kyiv remained 'a key goal' for the Russians, Zelenskyy said, noting that it was hit by three missile strikes on Monday and that hundreds of saboteurs were roaming the city. 'They want to break our nationhood, that's why the capital is constantly under threat,' Zelenskyy said. Messages aimed at the advancing Russian soldiers popped up on billboards, bus stops and electronic traffic signs across the capital. Some used profanity to encourage Russians to leave. Others appealed to their humanity. 'Russian soldier - Stop! Remember your family. Go home with a clean conscience,' one read. Video from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, with a population of about 1.5 million, showed residential areas being shelled, with apartment buildings shaken by repeated, powerful blasts. Authorities in Kharkiv said at least seven people had been killed and dozens injured. They warned that casualties could be far higher. 'They wanted to have a blitzkrieg, but it failed, so they act this way,' said 83-year-old Valentin Petrovich, who watched the shelling from his downtown apartment. He gave just his first name and his patronymic, a middle name derived from his father's name, out of fear for his safety. The Russian military has denied targeting residential areas despite abundant evidence of shelling of homes, schools and hospitals. Fighting raged in other towns and cities. The strategic port city of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, is 'hanging on,' said Zelenskyy adviser Oleksiy Arestovich. An oil depot was reported bombed in the eastern city of Sumy. Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kyiv, and more than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, the head of the region wrote on Telegram. Dmytro Zhyvytskyy posted photographs of the charred shell of a four-story building and rescuers searching rubble. In a later Facebook post, he said many Russian soldiers and some local residents also were killed during the fighting on Sunday. The report could not immediately be confirmed. Despite its superior military strength, Russia still lacked control of Ukrainian airspace. This may help explain how Ukraine has so far prevented a rout. In the seaside resort town of Berdyansk, dozens of protesters chanted angrily in the main square against Russian occupiers, yelling at them to go home and singing the Ukrainian national anthem. They described the soldiers as exhausted young conscripts. Kharkiv was struck by more Russian rockets on Tuesday morning, with one striking outside the civilian public administration building which was heavily damaged in the blast. The rocket can be seen a split second before it slams into the building, triggering a massive blast The rocket caused huge damage to the building and threw up a huge plume of smoke in the aftermath of the explosion This image, posted by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, shows the square outside the administrative building covered in rubble following the rocket attack A view shows the regional administration building following the Russian rocket attack in central Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 1, 2022 Rescue workers and medics are pictured close to the regional administration building in central Kharkiv, picking their way through the debris following the explosion The bombardment of Kharkiv continued Tuesday morning with a rocket landing just in front of the civilian public administration building, destroying the road outside and blowing the windows out of the building itself. Footage from inside shows the building was heavily damaged, with ceilings collapsing and rubble strewn around 'Frightened kids, frightened looks. They want to eat,' Konstantin Maloletka, who runs a small shop, said by telephone. He said the soldiers went into a supermarket and grabbed canned meat, vodka and cigarettes. 'They ate right in the store,' he said. 'It looked like they haven't been fed in recent days.' For many, Russia's announcement of a nuclear high alert stirred fears that the West could be drawn into direct conflict with Russia. But a senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States had yet to see any appreciable change in Russia's nuclear posture. As far-reaching Western sanctions on Russian banks and other institutions took hold, the ruble plummeted, and Russia's Central Bank scrambled to shore it up, as did Putin, signing a decree restricting foreign currency. But that did little to calm Russian fears. In Moscow, people lined up to withdraw cash as the sanctions threatened to drive up prices and reduce the standard of living for millions of ordinary Russians. In yet another blow to Russia's economy, oil giant Shell said it was pulling out of the country because of the invasion. It announced it will withdraw from its joint ventures with state-owned gas company Gazprom and other entities and end its involvement in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project between Russia and Europe. The economic sanctions, ordered by the U.S. and other allies, were just one contributor to Russia's growing status as a pariah country. Russian airliners are banned from European airspace, Russian media is restricted in some countries, and some high-tech products can no longer be exported to the country. On Monday, in a major blow to a soccer-mad nation, Russian teams were suspended from all international soccer. In other developments: - The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he will open an investigation soon into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. - Cyberattacks hit Ukrainian embassies around the world, and Russian media outlets. - The United States announced it is expelling 12 members of Russia's U.N. mission, accusing them of spying. The U.N. human rights chief said at least 102 civilians have been killed and hundreds wounded - warning that figure is probably a vast undercount - and Ukraine's president said at least 16 children were among the dead. More than a half-million people have fled the country since the invasion, another U.N. official said, many of them going to Poland, Romania and Hungary. Among the refugees in Hungary was Maria Pavlushko, 24, an information technology project manager from a city west of Kyiv. She said her father stayed behind to fight the Russians. 'I am proud about him,' she said, adding that many of her friends were planning to fight, too. Do you know someone going to fight? Email james.robinson@mailonline.co.uk British 'Lads' Army' volunteers eager to take on Vladimir Putin's Russian forces could be prosecuted under UK terror laws if they go out to fight in Ukraine, Boris Johnson today hinted. Groups of men have gathered outside the Ukrainian embassy in west London to answer Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky call to arms for foreign fighters to join his country's defence against Russia. Yesterday Foreign Secretary Liz Truss appeared to encourage Britons saying she would 'absolutely support' those who wished to sign up to fight as part of the Ukrainian armed forces. But lawyers have warned that Britons who fight in Ukraine could be prosecuted under UK terror laws - much like those who took arms for Kurdish militia forces against ISIS in Syria. Now the Prime Minister has waded into the debate, warning members of the so-called 'Lads Army' that they could be breaking British law by going over to Ukraine to fight. Giving a speech in Estonia today, Mr Johnson said: 'I can understand why people feel as they do but we have laws in our country about international conflicts and how they should be conducted.' Do you know someone going to fight in Ukraine? Email: james.robinson@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Asked if, in the wake of Ms Truss's comments, that the Government was encouraging Britons to fight, he replied: 'The UK is not actively doing any such thing.' It comes as a London banker became the latest to arrive at the Ukrainian embassy in London to volunteer to fight against Russia. Sam Ottaway, 38, works at a bank in the City and has no combat experience, but came down to volunteer in his lunch break. Mr Ottaway, who describes British writer George Orwell as one of his heroes and an inspiration for his decision to join the fight, said: 'It's the right thing to do, can't see that happen. History has taught us that this stuff doesn't just stop does it?' It comes after gym owner Leon Dawson, 37, yesterday told reporters he was prepared to lose his life fighting to defend Ukraine as a volunteer in the country's newly formed Foreign Legion. Standing outside the Ukrainian embassy with other would-be-fighters, including his friend Tom Konarzewski, who is originally from Poland and who runs a dog care business, he told reporters from Sky News: 'We're young, strong, fit men and we can help, so why not?' 'We don't want to die. We're obviously scared. But if we're scared, we can imagine how the innocent women and children feel. I can't sit here and just let that happen.' Asked if his family were aware, Mr Dawson, who has no military experience, said: 'My family are upset. Obviously it is a hard time.' British 'Lads Army' volunteers eager to take on Vladimir Putin's Russian forces could be prosecuted under UK law if they go out to fight in Ukraine, Boris Johnson (pictured) has hinted today. Leon Dawson, 37, is seen telling journalists he is prepared to lose his life fighting to defend Ukraine as a volunteer in the country's newly announced foreign legion Standing outside the Ukrainian embassy in west London with other would-be-fighters, including his friend Tom Konarzewski (pictured left), he tells reporters from Sky News: 'We're young, strong, fit men and we can help, so why not? Brian Grove, a 60-year-old former Territorial Army (TA) member from Kent, told reporters he had 'decided to do something' to help under siege Ukrainians Mr Dawson and Mr Konarzewski were mong a number of people seen outside the Ukrainian embassy yesterday responding to calls by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky for foreign fighters to join their defence against Russia. Pictured: Governor Dmitry Zhivitsky posts photos of damage done by Russia to Okhtyrka The 'Lads Army' volunteering to fight in Ukraine Leon Dawson A 37-year-old gym boss from Surrey, Leon Dawson has no prior military experience. But speaking outside the Ukrainian embassy in London yesterday, where he volunteered for the country's newly established foreign legion, he said: 'We're young, strong, fit men and we can help, so why not?' Leon runs The Physique Warehouse Gym in Moseley, on the outskirts of west London. Tom Konarzewski Originally from Poland, and friends with Leon Dawson, Tom Konarzewski runs a dog care business in Surrey. His business is called Walk-Me. Founded in 2007, it is a dog-walking business aimed at high-flying professionals. It also offers daycare and overnight services. On signing up to join Ukrain's Foreign Legion, he said: ' 'What we've seen on the TV, in my opinion, is wrong,' he said. 'We'd like to get over there as soon as possible.' Brian Grove Brian Grove is a 60-year-old former Territorial Army (TA) member from Kent. He told Sky News reporters he had 'decided to do something' to help under siege Ukrainians. 'I used to be in the TA, I've also got a lot of first aid training so I've decided to come and do something,' he said. Asked if he's prepared to fight, Mr Grove, from Sittingbourne in Kent, replies: 'Yes, I can get on a flight tomorrow.' Sam Ottaway Sam Ottaway, 38, works at a bank in the City and has no combat experience, but came down to volunteer in his lunch break. Sam said: 'It's the right thing to do, can't see that happen. History has taught us that this stuff doesn't just stop does it? 'George Orwell is one of my heroes. Homage to Catalonia. 'People have done this before in history, volunteering for good causes. And if this isn't a good cause, I don't know what is.' Jason Luck Jason Luck has family in Mykolaiv, a city near the Black Sea in southern Ukraine. He served for 12 years in the British Army and feels he has something to offer in the fight. He is due to fly out on Wednesday. Jason said: 'My family are in Ukraine. Fighting isn't my priority. My family is my priority. I live in Surrey but go back and forwards. First it was the pandemic, now this idiot [Putin].' Shaun Pinner A 48-year-old ex-soldier with a Ukrainian wife. He is already on the front lines. He is married to a Ukrainian woman and has been in Donbas for the past four years. Mr Pinner previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment and said he fought with the Ukrainian army as a 'contract soldier'. Liam Hawkins A 30-year-old father with no military experience. He drove to the Ukrainian embassy from Deptford, south-east London, to sign up to help refugees stuck at the border in a humanitarian capacity. 'I havent slept since this invasion and I just cant stay at home with my babies and my missus and do nothing. 'I know its dangerous, people are trying to talk me out of it, but I believe I can make a difference.' Matthew Green A 47-year-old from London, who retired as a Staff Sergeant six months ago. He said: 'I want to fight for diplomacy. 'I think the British military are stuck and I'm sure we would send our men if we could. It's the perfect timing for me as I was discharged six months ago. 'I have no connection with Ukraine or Russia, but I want to do my part.' Alex Pickett A 32-year-old from Andover, Hants, who works in private security. He said: 'I will do whatever I can in whatever way I can. 'I'm just slowly getting my affairs in order so that I can go when they tell me. I'm non-military, but I'm an Englishman. 'I'm a free man who is fighting for a free world and is willing to do his part. 'All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.' Antony Zamparelli A father-of-seven who served in the Army but has never been in a conflict. Mr Zamparelli told GB News he was willing to die for the Ukrainian cause and urged other Brits to 'go to Ukraine if you're willing to fight for freedom'. Akos Horvadh A 28-year-old Hungarian man living in the UK. He says he is nervous about telling his parents but is adamant about going to fight. Akos said: 'I'm Hungarian. Ukraine is my neighbour. I can't stand to see what goes on there. 'As I see it, what they really need is people to go there and fight. I have a little experience. I know how to use a gun. 'If I go there there is a chance I could die. But that's the truth of war. I could die, lose my limbs, I'm aware. But someone needs to go.' Douglas Lambourne Douglas Lambourne is a 25-year-old from west London. He said: My mums Polish and Ive got family out in Ukraine. Im 25 and sitting at home, and my time is better spent going over there doing whats right.' Advertisement Among those attending the Ukrainian embassy yesterday was Brian Grove, a 60-year-old former Territorial Army (TA) member from Kent. He told Sky News reporters he had 'decided to do something' to help under siege Ukrainians. 'I used to be in the TA, I've also got a lot of first aid training so I've decided to come and do something,' he said. Asked if he's prepared to fight, Mr Grove replies: 'Yes, I can get on a flight tomorrow.' Others to arrive at the embassy to volunteer include Akos Horvadh. The 28-year-old says he is nervous about telling his parents but is adamant about going to fight. Akos said: 'I'm Hungarian. Ukraine is my neighbour. I can't stand to see what goes on there. 'As I see it, what they really need is people to go there and fight. I have a little experience. I know how to use a gun. 'If I go there there is a chance I could die. But that's the truth of war. I could die, lose my limbs, I'm aware. But someone needs to go.' Though many who have arrived at the embassy have no previous combat experience, one man to volunteer, Jason Luck, does. Jason Luck, who has family in Mykolaiv, a city near the Black Sea in southern Ukraine, served for 12 years in the British Army. He is due to fly out on Wednesday. He said: 'My family are in Ukraine. They're in the east of the country. I've got my partner, her boy, my daughter. 'Fighting isn't my priority. My family is my priority. I live in Surrey but go back and forwards. First it was the pandemic, now this idiot [Putin].' Jason, who is in his late 40s, refused the offer from Ukrainian authorities to pay for his flights. 'I'm going out Wednesday. I need to. I'm really worried. I've got a twisted feeling in my stomach,' he said. 'I want to go out there to protect my city. I don't want to end up in Kyiv. I want to be near my family. That's why I'm here. 'I don't want to join Ukrainian regular forces. This is why I'm here to explain to them. I'm happy to fight but I want to be there for my family.' Matthew Green, 47, from London, who retired as a Staff Sergeant six months ago, said: 'I want to fight for diplomacy. 'I think the British military are stuck and I'm sure we would send our men if we could. It's the perfect timing for me as I was discharged six months ago. 'I have no connection with Ukraine or Russia, but I want to do my part. Alex Pickett, 32, from Andover, Hants, who works in private security, said: 'I will do whatever I can in whatever way I can. 'I'm just slowly getting my affairs in order so that I can go when they tell me. I'm non-military, but I'm an Englishman. 'I'm a free man who is fighting for a free world and is willing to do his part. 'All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. 'I'm just a normal Englishman, I've got a basic firearm skill and I'm reasonably fit. 'My heart is in the right place and that is the only reason why I'm doing this.' If the 'Lads' Army' are given the green light to fight in Ukraine, they will be joined by more than 150 British ex-paratroopers who fought in Afghanistan are now on their way to Ukraine to battle Putin's forces. Dozens of former Special Forces soldiers from Britain are also said to be heading out there to fight for Ukraine, including a crack team of retired SAS fighters who are on their way to join the war on the side of the Ukrainians. Ukrainian expats living in Britain are also heading back to their home country to fight against Putin's invaders. Meanwhile, military supply stores in the UK are said to be kitting out volunteers - with some even offering 50 per cent discounts for those heading out to Ukraine. Yesterday, as the fighting raged on in cities such as Kyiv and Kharkiv, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and a No 10 spokesman both appeared to contradict Liz Truss, who gave her backing to Britons who wanted to join the resistance movement. In a surprising comment, the Foreign Secretary said she 'won't oppose' British nationals who travel to Ukraine to fight the Russian invasion. But Mr Wallace urged Britons not to join the fighting, particularly those without military experience, saying that the 'very dangerous' situation could lead to them being killed. The comments came as a former defence minister today said the Government should issue clear advice that Britons should not go to Ukraine to fight. The British Army meanwhile are warning UK soldiers 'on or off leave' not to take up arms against Russia over fears that the sight of British insignias could spark a major escalation in the conflict. Hundreds of troops have expressed interest in answering a request from Kyiv for international volunteers, it is believed, but commanders have told them not to sign up. They cannot stop retired personnel from travelling to eastern Europe, but full-time and reserve troops have received a stern warning not to take part in the conflict. One brigadier said he heard talk that some soldiers were considering going Awol to join the fight, The Times reports. But a post on the Army's internal messaging service read: 'There has been some recent media coverage relating to foreigners being welcomed into Ukraine to help fight against Russia. 'To be clear, as members of the British Army, you are not authorised to travel to Ukraine to support the ongoing conflict against Russia in any form, whether you are on leave or not. 'Please remain professional and focused on your duty and your team.' Despite the warning, a military source has said that 150 of former paratroopers were on their way to Poland. Shane, 34, a former sniper with the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, said Ms Truss' comments on Sunday were 'the green light' Ukraine's president Volodomyr Zelensky said he was forming his country's own foreign legion to fight Russia. Several thousand people have volunteered to join the force, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said yesterday. Among them are reportedly a group of SAS veterans eager to defend Ukraine. According to The Mirror, the retired UK special forces soldiers have volunteered for missions deep inside Ukraine to back up the country's defence. The veterans, aged between 40 and 60, have had meetings to discuss signing up for the dangerous mission, backing up Ukrainians in combat. Key to their operation is among them there are highly-trained snipers and experts in the use of anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. It comes as lawyers warned that Britons leaving to fight in Ukraine could face legal action on their return under UK terror laws. However they said prosecutions would likely be a 'non-starter' - pointing to those who avoided legal action for fighting against for Kurdish militias against ISIS. Under the UK's Terrorism Act 2000, terrorism is described as the use or threat of violence, to influence a government or the public, 'for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause'. Jonathan Hall QC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, said fighting in Ukraine would be captured by the definition. He told The Independent: 'Russia's aggression against the international legal order, and the importance of supporting Ukraine, makes any support for foreign fighters who want to travel to Ukraine at first glance attractive. 'Given the government's apparent support, prosecution of foreign fighters against Russia under terrorism legislation appears to be a non-starter even if the broad statutory definition of terrorism is satisfied in these cases. 'But there is always the possibility of less desirable cases at the edges - individuals who travel to Ukraine under false pretence either to support Russia or fight with an ideological group such as the [neo-Nazi] Azov battalion.' British authorities have previously tried to prosecute British fighters who took up arms against ISIS in Syria. Ex-paratrooper Daniel Burke originally fought against ISIS with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) between late 2017 and June 2018. No action was taken at the time. But he was later prosecuted for 'preparing acts of terrorism' after allegedly attempting to return to support the YPG against an invasion by Turkish-led forces in 2019. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured left) said he didn't 'want to see British people killed any more than I want to see Ukrainians' and asked people who were not properly trained or an 'experienced member of an armed forced' not to join the war in Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (pictured right) said the UK will back Britons going to fight in Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine faces a 'crucial' 24 hours as Russia throws even more ground forces at Kyiv More than 150 former British paratroopers who fought in Afghanistan are now on their way to Ukraine to battle Putin's forces More than 150 British ex paratroopers who fought in Afghanistan are now on their way to Ukraine to battle Putin's forces - after Army chiefs banned serving UK soldiers from the warzone. Whitehall officials are scrambling to determine the Government's policy after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she would support British nationals who chose to fight alongside Ukrainian forces against the Russian invasion on Sunday. Her comments went against Foreign Office travel advice, while Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and a No 10 spokesman also both appeared to contradict Ms Truss yesterday. Hundreds of troops have expressed interest in answering a request from Kyiv for international volunteers, it is believed, but commanders have told them not to sign up. They cannot stop retired personnel from travelling to eastern Europe, but full-time and reserve troops have received a stern warning not to take part in the conflict. One brigadier said he heard talk that some soldiers were considering going Awol to join the fight, The Times reports. But a post on the Army's internal messaging service read: 'There has been some recent media coverage relating to foreigners being welcomed into Ukraine to help fight against Russia. 'To be clear, as members of the British Army, you are not authorised to travel to Ukraine to support the ongoing conflict against Russia in any form, whether you are on leave or not. 'Please remain professional and focused on your duty and your team.' Despite this, a military source has said that 150 of former paratroopers were on their way to Poland. Shane, 34, a former sniper with the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, said Ms Truss' comments on Sunday were 'the green light' Ukraine's president Volodomyr Zelensky said he was forming his country's own foreign legion to fight Russia. Several thousand people have volunteered to join the force, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said yesterday. Advertisement However the charges were later dropped against Burke and two other men following a review by the Crown Prosecution Service. Yesterday Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and a No 10 spokesman both appeared to contradict Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who yesterday gave her backing to Britons who wanted to join the resistance movement. Mr Wallace said he didn't 'want to see British people killed any more than I want to see Ukrainians' and asked people who were not properly trained or an 'experienced member of an armed forced' not to join the war in Ukraine. The Russian invasion of Ukraine was 'very dangerous', Mr Wallace told Sky News, and there were 'better ways' to support the country. Asked if the Prime Minister supported Ms Truss's remarks, a No 10 spokesman said yesterday the travel advice was not to go to Ukraine. He added: 'We think the best way of helping now is ensuring Putin fails.' As the debate continued, today former defence minister Kevan Jones told MailOnline that the Government needs to issue clear advice that Britons should not go to Ukraine to fight. The Labour MP flagged the risk that people could either get captured by Russian forces, or hamper the Ukrainian resistance because they are not properly trained. 'Following the Foreign Secretary's comments the government needs urgently to clarify the position,' he said. 'Not only in terms of the legal position but also whether it could endanger the individuals and hamper the resistance rather than help it no matter how well intentioned.' Meanwhile, one British military store is reportedly giving discounts to Britons wishing to join Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Damon Warren, a 52-year-old ex-soldier who owns Folkestone's G4 Echelon Military Supplies in Kent, is said to be giving 50 per cent discount to both Ukrainians and any British veterans seeking to help them. However Mr Warren said he had been turning away Britons who were not veterans because those with neither military experience nor the ability to speak Ukrainian would be 'more of a liability than a help'. One person visiting his store yesterday was Andrew Lester, a 25-year-old electrician from Kent who served in the Parachute Regiment till last July. He told the Telegraph: 'The Ukrainians are really doing quite well, I think. 'They're holding out. If they need a few more blokes to push them back, then that's what we're here for.' Yesterday, as the fighting raged on, nine Ukrainians left England heading off to war in three equipment-laden SUVs. They left from Kensington's Ukrainian Social Club, where Britons had been appearing throughout the day to volunteer to fight against Putin. The cars were laden with body armour, rucksacks and piles of Boots bags packed with bandages, nappies, medicine and toothbrushes. Yesterday nine Ukrainians left England heading off to war in three equipment-laden SUVs They left from Kensington's Ukrainian Social Club, where Britons had been appearing throughout the day to volunteer to fight against Putin The cars were laden with body armour, rucksacks and piles of Boots bags packed with bandages, nappies, medicine and toothbrushes Lawyer warns Britons could face prosecution under terror laws for joining Ukraine's fight against Russia - but says legal action is likely a 'non-starter' Lawyers have warnet Britons leaving to fight in Ukraine that they could face legal action on their return under terror laws. However they say prosecutions would likely be a 'non-starter' - pointing to those who avoided legal action for fighting against for Kurdish militias against ISIS. Under the UK's Terrorism Act 2000, terrorism is described as the use or threat of violence, to influence a government or the public, 'for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause'. Jonathan Hall QC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, said fighting in Ukraine would be captured by the definition. He told The Independent: 'Russia's aggression against the international legal order, and the importance of supporting Ukraine, makes any support for foreign fighters who want to travel to Ukraine at first glance attractive. 'Given the government's apparent support, prosecution of foreign fighters against Russia under terrorism legislation appears to be a non-starter even if the broad statutory definition of terrorism is satisfied in these cases. 'But there is always the possibility of less desirable cases at the edges - individuals who travel to Ukraine under false pretence either to support Russia or fight with an ideological group such as the [neo-Nazi] Azov battalion.' British authorities have previously tried to prosecute British fighters who took up arms against ISIS in Syria. Ex-paratrooper Daniel Burke originally fought against ISIS with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) between late 2017 and June 2018. No action was taken at the time. But he was later prosecuted for 'preparing acts of terrorism' after allegedly attempting to return to support the YPG against an invasion by Turkish-led forces in 2019. However the charges were later dropped against Burke and two other men following a review by the Crown Prosecution Service. He was one of a string of fighters to face unsuccessful prosecutions for fighting against ISIS. Almost all terror charges were dropped before trial or ended in acquittals. Advertisement One - called Vladimir - 44, said: 'I am going to fight for Ukraine, to protect Ukraine, to defend Ukraine.' Another in their party, a Russian called Denis, 33, who worked with the fighters, was helping to ferry equipment to Ukraine. He said: 'They have families here, they know what they have to do. They are just going to their home. If they support it they will fight. 'They just want to go to their home and help their families. They just want to go to their home.' He said he would stop at the border and not fight, but would help them take equipment across. Cars carried provisions alongside helmets, sleeping mats, armoured vests and binoculars. Angela, 47, said: 'I don't know if I will fight but I will try to help the innocents. 'It's very important. When you see people who die you think we can help here with the money from England, but we don't have the people.' In a touching scene, they were helped by 28 year old engineer Harry Wright from Dagenham, east London, before he volunteered himself. Father-of-two Harry, who has three-and-four-year old girls, said: 'I want to stop it from spreading. Stop letting Putin get that power.' Jimmy Butt, a forklift driver from Wolverhampton, has relatives who are 'cut off' in Ukraine. He said: 'My friends are not really taking me seriously with it. Think I'm blowing off steam. 'I want to try and do something worthwhile, something beyond myself while I'm still able to do it. 'This is bigger than anything. I'm willing to sacrifice for something I see as greater.' As their passports were checked and the Ukrainians tried to force more equipment into the boots of their cars, onlookers said it felt like a First World War spirit as they watched them go off to war. They are getting a ferry and then driving across Europe to the Polish border. It comes as MailOnline reported on Britons already in Ukraine joining the fight against Russia. Shaun Pinner, 48, an ex-soldier with a Ukrainian wife who is already on the front lines, and Antony Zamparelli, a father-of-seven who served in the Army but has never been in a conflict, are among those from the UK to have said they will fight. Others include Aiden Aslin, 28, an ex-carer who previously fought ISIS in Syria, as well as a team of 60 British former Army and Special Forces soldiers that have been gathered by Mamuka Mamulashvili, 43, commander of the Georgian National Legion. Friends and families of the Brits going to war told MailOnline of their worries for them being on the frontlines in Ukraine. This week they are frantically searching for chest seals to treat battle wounds before they head to Ukraine, she added. A friend of Mr Aslin, Kattia Beckinsale-Yates, told MailOnline: 'I messaged the other day but haven't heard anything back.' She added she was 'hoping and praying he's safe'. Shaun Pinner, 48, (pictured) is one of many UK nationals who have travelled to Ukraine to fight Father-of-seven Antony Zamparelli said he was willing to die for Ukraine and urged other Brits to fight against the Russian invaders Aiden Aslin, 28, (pictured) is a former carer who previously fought against Isis in Syria. Now he is fighting against a Russian invasion of Ukraine Sixty British volunteers are heading to Ukraine to fight against Vladimir Putin's Russian forces, led by Mamuka Mamulashvili, Georgian National Legion (pictured training in Kyiv in January) commander Mr Pinner, who previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, said he fought with the Ukrainian army as a 'contract soldier A YouGov poll of UK adults on Monday found 18 per cent believes the Government should encourage people who want to fight the Russians to go to Ukraine. Father-of-seven Antony Zamparelli told GB News he was willing to die for the Ukrainian cause and urged other Brits to 'go to Ukraine if you're willing to fight for freedom'. MailOnline revealed on Saturday that foreigners are crossing into Ukraine to take up arms after a call from president Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr Aslin is a former carer who left his job in April 2015 and travelled to Syria to fight Isis in Syria. He spent ten months there before coming home to the UK, where he was arrested. A friend of Mr Aslin, Kattia Beckinsale-Yates (pictured), told MailOnline: 'I messaged the other day but haven't heard anything back.' She added she was 'hoping and praying he's safe' A YouGov poll of UK adults on Monday found 18 per cent believes the Government should encourage people who want to fight the Russians to go to Ukraine (Image: YouGov) Amazing scenes outside Ukrainian embassy in London on Sky News 60-year-old who used to be in the TA wanting to sign up to fight pic.twitter.com/QKHCKRbQy2 John Stevens (@johnestevens) February 28, 2022 He was held for 30 hours after officers boarded his plane at Heathrow, where members of his family were eagerly awaiting his arrival. He was immediately taken to Nottinghamshire Police headquarters for questioning over a suspected terrorism offence. He remained on bail for months until all charges were dropped in October 2016. Now, in Ukraine, he is not the only Britain ready to fight off a Russian invasion. The former carer has been joined by ex-soldier Mr Pinner, from Bedfordshire. He is married to a Ukrainian woman and has been in Donbas for the past four years. Mr Pinner previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment and said he fought with the Ukrainian army as a 'contract soldier'. Both Mr Aslin (left) and Mr Pinner (right) are prepared to fight off a Russian invasion in Ukraine as they wait on the frontline Ex-Marine turned pub landlord to drive over 1,000 miles from English seaside town to Ukrainian border to deliver supplies to refugees A pub landlord is driving over 1,000 miles from an English seaside town to the Ukrainian border with a van-load of supplies for refugees - and he is prepared to fight. Tom Littledyke, an ex-royal marine reservist, was compelled to help as Russia invaded the country and hundreds of thousands of refugees fled. Tom Littledyke, an ex-royal marine reservist, was compelled to help as Russia invaded the country and hundreds of thousands of refugees fled The 31-year-old from Lyme Regis, Dorset, has filled his 14ft minivan with donated sleeping bags, children's toys, coats, and tinned food left outside his pub. He is undertaking the 1,300 mile journey to the Polish border town of Korczowa and is currently in Germany. On the way he has picked up people travelling to fight for Ukrainian forces in the struggle against the Russians. He said he would do so too 'without a second of hesitation' to defend refugees from enemy aggression. He said: 'Absolutely (I would fight) if necessary, if called upon, in the aid of people who have not asked for this. Entirely so - without a second of hesitation. 'I'm incredibly full of emotion and clear drive. I am blown back by the amount of support we have received already. I am inspired by how inspired people have been to make this happen. 'That we can get this much together in a couple of hours inspires me - and we are already talking about doing another one.' His partner, Georgia, added: 'I know Tom will do as much as he can and he doesn't have anything stopping him. 'He doesn't have the fear that most of us have - he is either brave or stupid and I haven't decided which yet.' The couple have raised 6,000 on a Justgiving page to buy further supplies for a second trip later this year. Advertisement Speaking from a trench ten miles outside Mariupol, he said: 'I am here defending my family and adopted city. Russia started this war it's funded by Russia and driven by Russia. But we will fight them, make no mistake about that.' Mr Pinner said fighting in the trenches was 'like Hell', with snipers 'less than 600m away'. Mr Pinner said there has been tension in Ukraine' for years'. 'It's only new to Europe, who have finally woken up to what's happening here,' he told Al Jazeera. Mr Pinner is one of the oldest in his unit, which has three Brits and one Croatian as well as Ukrainians. The team is known as the Marines First Battalion. 'I've always got something to prove,' Mr Pinner added. Another man who turned up at the Ukrainian embassy to try to enlist with the country's military told Sky News: 'They look like they need help. We are young, strong fit men, we can help so why not?' A third he said he was going to 'try to make a difference'. Asked if he was prepared to lose his life, he said 'I think so'. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline commander Mamulashvili said: 'I have a very big group of Britons, around sixty travelling to Ukraine to join up with my Georgian National League unit. 'They are travelling by car from the UK and will cross over at the Polish border. I am expecting them here with equipment and supplies in the next few days. 'They are mostly guys who have fought with me in Ukraine before but there are also new recruits as well. 'We will provide them with training and weapons and they are coming from London and all over Britain. 'Their background is former British Army and Special Forces and they are good fighters, they can be trusted to take on the Russian aggressors and most importantly win. 'What I want to stress is that none of them are getting paid, they are not mercenaries, they are all volunteers.' Commander Mamulashvili is a veteran of the 2008 war against Russia in Georgia and a mixed martial arts expert and founded the unit in 2014 to provide foreign fighters in Ukraine's war against Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region. He added: 'The guys from the UK are just bringing basic equipment with their uniforms and rations, they will get weapons when they arrive. 'Putin is very much mistaken if he thinks he will take Ukraine, he will face a fight to the death as the Ukrainian army has shown how brave and strong it is. 'They have experience and now they have good equipment from the rest of Europe and the world and now we have the backing of some of the best foreign volunteer soldiers in the world. 'We know some of us might die but unless we fight against Russia, Putin will just keep going and trying to take countries. 'When he went into Georgia in 2008 the then President of my country said Ukraine would be next and he was right.' Father-of-two Mamulashvili added that he 'expected' the number of volunteers from Britain and elsewhere to top 500 within the next few days after having received dozens of requests asking for details on how to join up. Plumes of smoke rise from a building, which was caused by a cruise missile according to local media, in Kyiv, Ukraine Smoke billows over the town of Vasylkiv, which is just outside Kyiv on February 27 Public Chernihiv reports that a rocket hit a residential building in the centre of Chernihiv, north of Kyiv. A fire broke out with two lower floors ablaze. The number of injured is currently unknown A Russian tank burning in the Ukrainian city of Sumy just days after newly revealed dashcam footage showed a huge column of tanks moving in He added: 'My advice for anyone from the UK who wants to come and fight is to get in touch with the Ukrainian embassy in London and they will advise how to get to our base. 'If that is not possible volunteers should make their way to Poland and cross the border into Ukraine and head for the city of Lviv where we have a mobilisation base and make themselves known to the local authorities but for obvious reasons I cannot give you the exact address.' Earlier this year it emerged that at least two Brits were fighting in Ukraine, Aiden Aslin, 28, from Newark, Nottinghamshire and Sean Pinner, 48, from Bedfordshire. Harry Jackson, 27, who founded UK Aid for Ukraine, and launched an appeal on Facebook for volunteers and equipment said he had been 'flooded with offers of help'. Harry said: 'I'm putting people in touch with Mamuka Mamulashvili, commander of the Georgian National Legion. 'I have helmets, flak jackets and medical supplies all going out as well as a group of volunteers.' On Sunday President Zelensky urged foreigners to head to Ukrainian embassies in their home countries to sign up for an 'international brigade' to help fight invading Russian forces. He said: 'All foreigners wishing to join the resistance against the Russian occupiers and protect global security are invited by the Ukrainian leadership to come to our state and join the ranks of the territorial defence forces,' Zelensky said in a statement on the presidential website. Members of Georgian Legion train civilians to adapt them with the self-defence capabilities in January The paramilitary unit formed mainly by ethnic Georgian volunteers to fight against Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2014, now includes people of various nationalities Commander Mamuka Mamulashvili told MailOnline: 'anyone from the UK who wants to come and fight is to get in touch with the Ukrainian embassy in London and they will advise how to get to our base. If that is not possible volunteers should make their way to Poland and cross the border into Ukraine and head for the city of Lviv where we have a mobilisation base and make themselves known to the local authorities' 'A separate unit is being formed from foreigners the International Brigade of the territorial defence of Ukraine. This will be a key testimony of your support for our country.' Since 2016 it has been legal for foreigners to join the Ukrainian army. The United Nations has voiced 'grave concern' of another Chernobyl disaster after Russian troops started operating close to Ukraine's largest nuclear power station. Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said late on Monday that he was following the events in Ukraine 'very closely and with grave concern'. He warned Russian troops it was 'extremely important' not to 'put at risk in any way' nuclear power plants across Ukraine, after Vladimir Putin's men seized control of Chernobyl nuclear power plant following a 'fierce' battle on Thursday. It has sparked fears of a radiation leak that could cause fallout in Europe, last seen when the reactor exploded in 1986, after officials said the condition of the nuclear storage facilities was 'unknown'. Radiation levels at the plant had increased by Friday, according to Ukraine's nuclear agency, though Moscow denied the claim. Grossi also warned that 'an accident involving the nuclear facilities in Ukraine could have severe consequences for public health and the environment.' The United Nations has voiced 'grave concern' of another Chernobyl disaster after Russian troops started operating close to Ukraine's largest nuclear power station (pictured, the safe confinement structure covering the damaged reactor at the nuclear plant) Russian troops have been warned by the UN that it is 'extremely important' not to 'put at risk in any way' nuclear power plants across Ukraine Radiation levels at Chernobyl nuclear power plant have increased after Russian troops seized the area on Thursday (pictured), Ukraine's nuclear agency warned on Friday Grossi also said he had received reports that the soldiers were close to the Zaporizhzhia station in eastern Ukraine. The six reactors there were safe for the moment and Russian troops had not tried to enter the facility, a statement said. But Grossi said he was following developments in Ukraine 'very closely and with grave concern'. A meeting of the IAEA's governors is scheduled for Wednesday at its Vienna headquarters to discuss the risks that the conflict poses to Ukraine's nuclear facilities. Ukraine has four nuclear power stations currently in operation providing about half the country's electricity. It is also the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, the 1986 Chernobyl fire. The disaster occurred when a nuclear reactor at the plant 80 miles north of Kyiv exploded, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe. It happened while Ukraine was part of the USSR, with Soviet officials initially playing down the disaster, slowing the response. The damaged reactor was later covered by a protective shell to prevent leaks with the construction of the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement completed in 2018. Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said late on Monday that he was following the events in Ukraine 'very closely and with grave concern' Grossi also said he had received reports that the soldiers were close to the Zaporizhzhia station (pictured) in eastern Ukraine Ukraine war, day six: Russian forces are now attempting to skirt around Kyiv and encircle it from the west. Troops fighting out of Crimea continue to make gains and are likely to surround Mariupol soon, while also reaching the outskirts of a key Ukrainian nuclear plant. Fighting in the east continues to be heavy with no breakthrough for Putin Video on Thursday revealed Russian tanks and armoured vehicles standing in front of the destroyed reactor. An official said on Thursday that Russian shelling hit a radioactive waste repository and an increase in radiation levels was initially reported. On Saturday Russian forces damaged an electrical transformer at a radioactive waste disposal facility in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Meanwhile on Sunday, the agency said Ukraine's nuclear authorities had reported that missiles had hit a radioactive waste disposal facility in Kyiv. There were no initial reports of damage to the buildings or indications of a release of radioactive material but further monitoring was underway, the IAEA said. Such facilities typically hold low-level radioactive materials such as waste from hospitals and industry, but Grossi said the two incidents highlight a 'very real risk'. He said if the sites are damaged there could be 'potentially severe consequences for human health and the environment'. It is not clear whether Russian forces are deliberately attacking nuclear plants or radioactive waste disposal facilities. The United Nations' nuclear watchdog has said missiles hit a radioactive waste disposal site in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv (pictured, a big fire at a petroleum storage depot after a Russian missile attack, in Vasylkiv near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Saturday night) In this file photo taken on February 4, 2022 Servicemen take part in a joint tactical and special exercises of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ukrainian National Guard and Ministry Emergency in a ghost city of Pripyat, near Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant The bombardment of Kharkiv continued Tuesday morning with a rocket landing just in front of the civilian public administration building, destroying the road outside and blowing the windows out of the building itself. Footage from inside shows the building was heavily damaged, with ceilings collapsing and rubble strewn around. It came as Russia's invasion of Ukraine - which met with heavy defeat in its initial plan to seize key targets and infrastructure in precision strikes - entered a new phase, with the aim seemingly to surround and besiege cities such as Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol, Sumy and Kherson which have so-far put up fierce resistance. Moscow's tactics seemed to be to bomb the cities into submission using indiscriminate weapons in echoes of tactics Russia used against rebel forces in Syria while fighting alongside dictator Basahar al-Assad. Meanwhile Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday accused Russia of war crimes after what were believed to be cluster and vacuum bomb attacks following a blast on the city of Kharkiv on Monday which killed at least 11 people and wounded scores more. In a late night address directed at Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky said there would 'definitely be an international tribunal' for what he said was a 'violation of all conventions' and added that 'no one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people.' Prosecutors at The Hague say they intend to open a probe 'as soon as possible.' The rocket caused huge damage to the building and threw up a huge plume of smoke in the aftermath of the explosion Kharkiv was struck by more Russian rockets on Tuesday morning, with one striking outside the civilian public administration building which was heavily damaged in the blast. The rocket can be seen a split second before it slams into the building, triggering a massive blast Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of war crimes on Monday after Vladimir Putin's forces launched what were believed to be cluster and vacuum bomb attacks on the fifth day of their invasion. Above: Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, coming under heavy attack on Monday A man accused of three sex attacks, including rape, while he was a serving Met Police officer 18 years ago has this morning denied all the charges. Stephen Kyere, 58, is accused of attacking one woman three times over a four-day period in April 2004 in Teddington, Middlesex. The alleged victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons - is being supported by specialist officers in Kyere's old force. He appeared at the Old Bailey in London today to deny three charges of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault. Kyere, who retired from the Met Police in March 2021, was off-duty at the time. According to the Met, he was attached to the Hammersmith and Fulham police at the time of the allegations. Former PC Stephen Kyere has been charged with a rape in Teddington in 2004 18 years ago Stephen Kyere, seen at court this morning, has denied all three sex attack charges today The former PC was dressed in grey trousers and a white shirt for the brief appearance. The Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft, QC, fixed Kyere's provisional trial date for January 16 next year at the Old Bailey. It is expected that the trial will last up to five days. Kyere, of Ashford, Middlesex, was granted unconditional bail ahead of a further pre-trial hearing on May 16. Former PC Kyerer also faced charges of attempted rape and indecent assault in court today Met Police said former PC Stephen Kyere has been charged with a rape in Teddington in 2004 The Met Police earlier released a statement which said 'A former Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with rape, attempted rape and indecent assault. 'The charges relate to an incident in Teddington in April 2004 when the officer, then attached to Hammersmith and Fulham police, was off duty. 'Former PC Kyere was charged by postal requisition in January 2022 following an investigation by officers at the South West Command Unit. 'He retired from the Metropolitan Police on 19 March 2021. Misconduct matters will be considered following the criminal process.' Long Covid could be being drastically overreported in children, an official report suggests. The Office for National Statistics said only one in 100 primary-aged pupils actually have the condition, despite half of parents reporting at least one of its symptoms. Professor Russell Viner, a member of SAGE and child health expert, said it showed 'just how common tiredness and headaches are in children'. The report showed that 47.5 per cent of parents said their child was still battling at least one symptom of the virus 12 weeks later. But almost the same amount (46.6 per cent) had similar symptoms despite never having Covid. Most common symptoms were a sore throat, lost voice, coughs and shortness of breath. The ONS estimated that fewer than one in 40 secondary pupils in the UK have long Covid. The report was based on a survey of 3,400 parents and 3,300 students between March 2020 and December 2021. Graph shows: 47.5 per cent of parents said their child experienced one or more symptoms of the virus at least 12 weeks after a positive test between March 2020 and December 2021 in England. But 46.6 per cent also claimed their children had the same symptoms even if they did not have an official Covid case. An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report showed just one per cent of under-11s were considered to meet all the criteria for the condition Primary school children were more likely to experience head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat (HEENT) symptoms (21 per cent) including sore throat, lost voice or earache regardless of a positive test. A quarter of those testing positive had the symptoms compared to a fifth in those who did not. It was followed by 'cognitive disturbance trouble sleeping, headaches and memory loss (21 per cent) and pulmonary symptoms coughs or shortness of breath (20 per cent) The most common long-lasting 'long Covid' symptom in pupils from Year 7 to 11 who did not test positive were anxiety and mood swings (30 per cent). Thirty-one per cent of those who tested positive had trouble sleeping, headaches and memory loss, compared to 29 per cent in those who did not test positive. Reacting to the findings, Professor Viner, former chair of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: 'These data emphasise just how common symptoms such as tiredness or headaches are in children and teenagers, regardless of whether they had Covid-19 or not. 'They found that almost all these symptoms occurred as frequently in those who had never had a positive test compared with those who had. 'Covid toes' may actually be caused by not wearing socks, experts claim 'Covid toes' may actually have nothing to do with the virus, experts now believe. Throughout the pandemic, there have been reports of infected patients suffering from chilblains redness and swelling on their feet. Some experts believed the condition was brought on by the body's immune system being weakened by the virus. But Yale University scientists now say the condition may have been caused by people not wearing socks while working from home. The study, published in PNAS, looked at 23 people claiming to have Covid toes but found only three actually caught the virus beforehand. While the authors could not rule out an immune response to Covid as a cause, they said there were other explanations for the increased trend, including not wearing socks. Chilblains are usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold or damp air. They said: 'An increased incidence of chilblains has been observed during the pandemic and attributed to viral infection. 'Our results do not support Covid as the cause of the increased chilblain incidence.' Advertisement 'These findings make it clear that research that simply counts issues or symptoms in those who have had Covid or those who haven't overstates the extent of major problems after infection.' Long Covid is a poorly understood condition, which has seen survivors complain of fatigue, breathing difficulties and problems concentrating. Experts have previously cast doubt over long Covid estimates because headaches and fatigue are so common. The report found only 1 per cent of under-11s met the clinical definition for the condition a positive test, continuous symptoms for at least 12 weeks and everyday life impacted by those symptoms. Meanwhile, just 2.7 per cent of secondary school children met the same criteria, the ONS said. Yet a total of 57.6 per cent of children who were diagnosed with Covid reported lingering symptoms 12 weeks after their case. This was only slightly higher than the 49.5 per cent who reported a common symptom despite never testing positive. Despite the rates of symptoms being similar in those who tested positive and those who did not, rates of long Covid were significantly higher in children who already suffered with a mental disorder. Thirty per cent of primary school children with mental disorders reported long Covid symptoms, compared to 7.7 per cent of those without. Professor Viner added: 'We have always known there is a small group of children and teenagers in whom persistent problems after Covid affect them considerably. 'Although there's been a lot of debate about the size of this group. 'These data are very helpful in confirming this appears to be a reassuringly small group.' Dr Michael Absoud, a women and children's health expert at King's College London, said: 'The study provides reassuring findings for children and their families.' He added it was 'consistent with recent studies by the ONS and others that showed the vast majority of children recover well post Covid.' Dr Shamez Ladhani, consultant paediatrician at the UK Health Security Agency and study chief investigator, said: 'It is reassuring that the vast majority of primary and secondary school aged children surveyed since March 2020 have not experienced long Covid symptoms. 'These new data should be reassuring for parents, clinicians and policy-makers. 'Not surprisingly, the study also highlights that some primary and secondary school aged children have described symptoms of emotional, behavioural or hyperactivity conditions. 'As these findings show that children are at much less at risk of complications from Covid-19 than adults, keeping children in school where mental health support is available therefore remains vital.' President Volodymyr Zelensky played the voice of Ukrainian Paddington Bear eight years before he had to stand up to the Russian Bear when Putin invaded last week. The 44-year-old President has garnered love from around the world as he defies Russia's calls for surrender and live-streams from the capital of Kyiv. Yet it's not just his bravery in the face of invading Russians people adore him for. Before becoming President in 2019 he had a 23-year career in showbiz as an actor and comedian. The man defending Ukraine from Putin's attack even played a fictional president on television that also lead defended the country from Russian influence. Since Russia invaded Ukraine last Thursday, Zelensky has been a symbol of courage and strength in the country President Volodymyr Zelensky played the voice of Ukrainian Paddington Bear eight years before he had to stand up to the Russian Bear when Putin invaded last week The President had a career in acting and comedy that spanned 23 years before he went into politics Although many saw him as a joke candidate he won 73 per cent of the vote after pledging to fight corruption and make peace in Donbas, south east Ukraine, which has been controlled by pro-Russian separatists since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014 Zelensky played the voice of Ukrainian Paddington Bear (pictured) in the hit children's film starring Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins Servant of the People, a political satire that debuted in 2015 and went on for three seasons. It tells the tale of a history school teacher's 'tirade against government corruption', which goes viral, with Zelensky's character Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko soon finding himself sitting the president's seat. The series ran from 2015 to 2019, during which time, in 2018, Zelensky announced his candidacy for the presidential election the following year. Pictured in the show Zelensky was born to Jewish parents in Kryvyi Rih, in Soviet Ukraine (now east Ukraine), in 1978. His grandfather fought for the Red Army against the Nazis in WWII, while three of his great-uncles and his great-grandfather were killed in the Holocaust. Zelensky was only 17 when he started acting and telling jokes. A little more than two decades later he became president. The first episode of the piece of political satire has amassed over 13.7million views on YouTube, with Zelensky starring as Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko, a high-school teacher in his thirties. He was unexpectedly elected as the President of Ukraine after being filmed by one of his students ranting against the corruption of his country's government, which ended up going viral His popularity as a fictional leader (pictured) was what led him to become the president in 2019. In the clip that went viral in the fictional series, Zelensky , as Holoborodko, said to his colleague: 'I am sick and tired of it. Why do our politicians come to power and make the same mistakes?' Before that, he played Napoleon in Rzhevsky Versus Napoleon, a sequel to the comedy Hitler Goes Kaput, had a recurring role as the main character in rom coms Love In The Big City and Love In The Big City 2 and even won the first season of Ukraine's Strictly Come Dancing in 2006. He was a regular in rom coms, comedy and stints on the red carpet. He recorded the Ukrainian voiceover for Paddington Bear in the 2014 Paul King film starring Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky goes viral after Strictly Come Dancing appearance President Volodymyr Zelensky has come a long way in a short space of time, having been a comedy actor before winning a landslide victory in the Ukraine elections of 2019. He appeared on the Ukrainian version of Strictly Come Dancing in 2006, which he won with an impressive jive wearing a pink suit with flared trousers. Footage of the Ukrainian President's performances on the show went viral over the weekend. Twitter user Kat Abu, from the US, posted a compilation of the President's best dances on the show in a clip which has been viewed more than two million times. The video shows Zelensky in an array of flamboyant outfits Waltzing, doing the Paso Doble and performing blindfolded with professional partner Olena Shoptenko. His appearance on the show is what made Zelensky a household name and acted as a preface for his on-screen acting career which began in 2008. Advertisement Zelensky playing Maksym Tkachenko in the 2018 Ukrainian film I, You, He, She trailer Zelensky also had a leading role as the main love interest in 8 First Dates (left), which was released in 2012 and won the Best Russian Comedy of the Year at the 2013 Russian National Movie Awards. He also featured as Napoleon in Rzhevsky Versus Napoleon (right), a sequel to the comedy Hitler Goes Kaput However, the role he is most famous for is another comic number as a school teacher Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko who becomes president of Ukraine in successful series Servant Of The People, which ran from 2015 to 2018. The same year the show ended he became Ukraine's actual president, running with a party set up by his TV production company Kvartal 95 and named Servant Of The People, after the series. Although many saw him as a joke candidate he won 73 per cent of the vote after pledging to fight corruption and make peace in Donbas, south east Ukraine, which has been controlled by pro-Russian separatists since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014. He also promised to remain as President only for one term of five years. Since Russia invaded Ukraine last Thursday, Zelensky has been a symbol of courage and strength in the country. As shells rained down on Kyiv he posted a video from the streets of the capital and has led Ukraine's strong resistance to Putin's army. On Tuesday he accused Russia of war crimes over the brutal shelling of Kharkiv that saw 11 civilians killed and schools destroyed as Ukraine's ambassador to the US claimed Putin dropped a deadly thermobaric vacuum bomb during the invasion. China issues report on U.S. human rights violations Xinhua) 08:42, March 01, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council Information Office on Monday issued the Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2021. The report said the human rights situation in the United States, which has notorious records, worsened in 2021. Its political manipulation led to a sharp surge in COVID-19 deaths while shooting deaths in the country hit a new record. Fake democracy trampled on people's political rights and violent law enforcement made life harder for migrants and refugees in the United States, it said. The report also highlighted the country's growing discrimination against ethnic minority groups, especially people of Asian descent. Unilateral U.S. actions created new humanitarian crises across the globe, it added. Related: Full text: The Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2021 China on Monday issued The Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Zhe) China on Monday issued The Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Zhe) China on Monday issued The Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2021. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) China on Monday issued The Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2021. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) China on Monday issued The Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2021. (Xinhua/Xiao Xiao) China on Monday issued The Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Zhe) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Lee Sook-kyung, the artistic director for the 14th edition of the Gwangju Biennale, slated for April 2023 / Courtesy of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation By Park Han-sol What is known as the "Gwangju Spirit" is a foundational mindset of Korea's southwestern city historically, which witnessed one of the most tragic events of the modern era, the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. The Gwangju Biennale, Asia's oldest biennial of contemporary art, has continuously revisited this spirit in both its mission and exhibition themes since its founding in 1995. To Lee Sook-kyung, the newly appointed artistic director for the 14th edition of the Biennale, the spirit of Gwangju is a rich concept that still leaves plenty of room for constructive redefinition and reinterpretation. "The city's spirit didn't emerge out of nowhere along with the May 18 pro-democracy movement. Rather, it has been a [deep-rooted] mindset that simply burst out in the form of resistance in the face of extreme adversity in 1980," Lee said at Monday's press conference in central Seoul. "In fact, the concept can be traced back much further to the ideological and cultural roots inherent to the city." She emphasized that the Biennale does not aim to narrow its focus to artworks that directly represent Gwangju's history. Instead, the host city's iconic spirit will serve as a transnational framework to bring together a range of contemporary pieces that are intricately connected to different layers of global crises: reckonings with forms of racism, the climate emergency, Indigenous peoples' right to self-determination and the COVID-19 pandemic, among others. "For instance, during the show, Mexico's Indigenous Mayan artists can unfold their own stories of oppression based on their historical and ideological background Or a new-generation Arab creator who has memories of the Arab Spring can perhaps discuss the similarities and differences of their experiences to the case of the Gwangju Uprising from four decades ago." Therefore, the curation of the exhibition will be aimed at connecting the dots and creating dialogues between these geographically and temporally distinct narratives that all explore issues of oppression, resistance and justice, many of which were marginalized and rendered "peripheral" within previous hegemonic cultural frameworks, the director stated. Such a commitment to steering away from certain dominant Western-centric discourses and examining other transnational, postcolonial narratives has been reflected in Lee's own identity and decades-long practice as the "migrant curator," most recently, as the senior curator of international art at the Tate Modern in London. Slated for April 7, 2023, the upcoming edition of the Gwangju Biennale will be held for 94 days until July 9, making it the longest run in the event's history. A facade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Busan, one of the venues where the upcoming Busan Biennale will be held / Courtesy of the Busan Biennale Organizing Committee British Airways has been questioned by the industry regulator over its latest IT meltdown which left thousands of holidaymakers in the lurch. The Civil Aviation Authority has sought clarity from the flagship carrier amid concerns about whether consumer rules were breached. The regulator is understood to be concerned about whether travellers who suffered cancellations were offered the full array of alternative flights they were entitled to. Airlines are legally obliged to arrange alternative flights to get travellers to their destination on the right day, even if it means booking customers a fresh seat with a rival carrier. Yesterday the Mail revealed how BA cancelled or delayed more than 500 flights over the weekend after suffering its biggest IT meltdown for years. It scrapped 65 flights on Sunday, with a further more than 200 delayed. This was on top of 187 cancellations and 151 delays on Saturday. There were dozens more cancellations and delays earlier in the week. Passengers complained of being stranded abroad, having breaks cancelled at the 11th hour and their luggage lost or waiting hours to receive it. Passengers at Heathrow Airport T5, London, as an IT meltdown caused havoc with British Airways flights on Saturday, February 26. The issue continued for passengers on Sunday The airline said the problem, which also caused delays for its customers using Gatwick and London City Airport, is related to a hardware issue and is not because of a cyber attack Passengers queue at the arrivals entrance to terminal five at Heathrow Airport on Saturday morning British Airways has been questioned by the industry regulator Civil Aviation Authority over its latest IT meltdown which left thousands of holidaymakers in the lurch. [File image] BAs customer service was also branded woeful after travellers found it impossible to get through on their helpline. The CAA is said to have approached BA informally. But it could launch a formal probe if its concerns are not addressed. The regulator has powers to force operators to comply with consumer law. Under European passengers rights rules, imported into UK law after Brexit, airlines which cancel services are obliged to find travellers an alternative flight that will get them to their destination as soon as possible after the original arrival time. They are allowed to re-book customers onto one of their own flights later that day, even if it takes off after a rival airlines flight. However, if there are no other flights with the cancelling airline, it is obliged to book passengers a seat on a rival carrier. New seats are often with a rival carrier it has disruption agreements with. But if none of these are available the cancelling airline is legally obliged to buy a fresh ticket with an unrelated carrier. However, BA appears not to have made the rules explicitly clear in a letter to passengers affected over the weekend, which said: You can either accept the replacement flight weve suggested for you or review alternatives which might be more suitable. Furious customers posted more complaints on social media yesterday as the fallout from the fiasco continued. A member of staff checks passenger boarding passes at the entrance of Heathrow Airport Terminal five A check in board at Heathrow Airport's terminal five showed a number of cancellations on Saturday morning Departure screens were completely blank at Heathrow after the computer system failure Traveller Sara Templeton posted on Twitter: @British_Airways could you tell me firstly when my money will be refunded for my cancelled flight on 26th Feb. Secondly what compensation I am due having been forced to buy another very expensive flight with another carrier? Another traveller, Lin Payne, also complained of having to personally shell out for an alternative flight. She posted: I know I get a refund but it doesnt even cover half the cost of the new flight I had to book which was 180. No news of when there would be availability so I had to take what I could to get back to work. Conor Hayes posted: Absolutely deplorable our experience with British Airways. Myself and my wife are supposed to be on our honeymoon but will have missed nearly 3 full days in St Lucia after 2 cancelled flights and now experiencing a 4-hour delay while sitting on the plane. Passengers expressed their frustrations as they directed questions at the airline and Heathrow Airport on social media following Saturday's delays BA has repeatedly denied being the victim of a cyber-attack, but has not revealed the cause of the IT failure. A BA spokesman said: We always meet our obligations under the law. Where a customers flight is cancelled, we always offer options including a full refund or to re-book onto another service. There is no evidence to suggest it was a cyber-attack. It took some time for all the systems to fully recover. This meant we regrettably had to cancel short-haul flights from Heathrow on Saturday morning, and suffered some further disruption later that day and on a small number of flights on Sunday after some crews and aircraft were out of position. A CAA spokesman said: Passengers who have seen their flights cancelled should be offered the choice of reimbursement for cancelled flights, alternate travel arrangements under comparable conditions at the earliest opportunity which includes flights on other airlines, or a new flight at a later date at the passenger's convenience. We also expect airlines to proactively provide passengers with information about their rights when flights are cancelled. Boris Johnson today lavished praise on Volodymyr Zelensky as the two leaders continue to forge a strong relationship following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Speaking during a visit to Warsaw in Poland, the Prime Minister hailed the 'courage' of the Ukrainian President and said he had 'inspired and mobilised' the world against Vladimir Putin. The two men have held phone calls every day since Moscow launched its attack last Thursday. Mr Johnson appears to have spoken to Mr Zelensky more than any other Western leader in the last six days, with the Ukrainian President leaning on the UK for military support. He is said to have presented Mr Johnson with a 'shopping list' of arms requests, with Britain thought to be sending anti-tank missile shipments almost daily. Downing Street would not be drawn on the specifics of the weapons it is sending but Number 10 said last night that Mr Johnson had committed to 'sending more in the coming hours and days'. A source told The Sun: 'Zelensky has made very specific requests for military hardware during near daily phone calls, and we are working round the clock to get them into Ukraine.' Boris Johnson and Volodymyr Zelensky have spoken every day since the Russian invasion of Ukraine Mr Johnson appears to have spoken to Mr Zelensky more than any other Western leader since last Thursday, with the Ukrainian President leaning on the UK for military support Mr Johnson is today visiting Poland and Estonia as he inspects NATO's borders and meets British troops. He told a press conference in Warsaw that Mr Putin had 'fatally underestimated' the resilience of the Ukrainian people and their leader. The PM said: I think in this grim war which is now, what, in its sixth day, he (the Russian President) has fatally underestimated two things. The first is the passionate desire of the Ukrainian people to defend and protect their own country, their belief in their sovereign right to defend themselves. 'And may I pay tribute by the way to the leadership and courage that is being shown by Volodymyr Zelensky. I think he has inspired and mobilised not only his own people, he is inspiring and mobilising the world in outrage at what is happening in Ukraine. It emerged at the weekend that Mr Johnson had told aides of his admiration for Mr Zelensky as he continues to lead his nation's fightback against Russia, having turned down a US offer of evacuation. The Prime Minister has publicly paid tribute to the 'incredible heroism' of the Ukrainian people and their leader. Following a call with Mr Zelensky on Friday morning, Mr Johnson reportedly turned to an aide and said: 'Jesus, that guy is brave.' The pair have now spoken every day since Russia's invasion began in the early hours of Thursday morning last week. The calls between the two men appear to be taking place more frequently than Mr Zelensky's discussions with other world leaders. However, Downing Street yesterday refused to be drawn on the subject when asked about the frequency of the calls. It is unclear whether the PM will speak to Mr Zelensky today but given the daily calls up to now, it appears highly likely. The daily calls started last Thursday after Russia launched its initial invasion of Ukraine. Mr Johnson and Mr Zelensky spoke in the early hours as the PM said he was 'appalled by the unfolding events in Ukraine'. The premier also told his counterpart that the 'West would not stand by' as Mr Putin 'waged his campaign against the Ukrainian people'. Then on Friday morning Mr Zelensky updated Mr Johnson on Russian advances as the PM said the 'world is united in its horror at what Putin his doing'. Downing Street said Mr Johnson had 'committed to provide further UK support to Ukraine in the coming days'. The phone calls continued over the weekend as Mr Johnson 'paid tribute to the incredible heroism and bravery of President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people' during a conversation on Saturday evening. Mr Johnson is today visiting Poland and Estonia as he inspects NATO's borders and meets British troops. The PM is pictured arriving in Warsaw, Poland, this morning On Sunday evening Mr Johnson again 'lauded the bravery of the Ukrainian people following the Russian invasion and praised the leadership of President Zelensky in the face of such adversity'. Number 10 said the leaders 'agreed to continue to stay in close contact and the Prime Minister reiterated the UK's staunch support for Ukraine's sovereignty'. The most recent call took place yesterday afternoon as Mr Zelensky 'updated the Prime Minister on the Ukrainian resistance to the ongoing Russian invasion'. Mr Johnson again praised Mr Zelensky for 'his bravery and that of the Ukrainian people'. Downing Street said: 'The leaders categorically condemned the barbaric airstrikes being carried out by Russia against innocent civilians, including children. 'The Prime Minister updated President Zelenskyy on UK military support being sent to Ukraine, and committed to sending more in the coming hours and days.' Advertisement Prince Charles warned in a speech today that the values of democracy are 'under attack' in Ukraine in the 'most unconscionable way' - as he blasted Vladimir Putin's 'path of violence' for causing 'appalling suffering and devastation'. The Prince of Wales made the comments as he officially made Southend-on-Sea a city on Tuesday following a years-long campaign by the late MP Sir David Amess - who was stabbed to death by a terrorist last year. During his speech, the future King of England said he 'stands in solidarity' with the citizens of Ukraine as he lauded Sir David for his dedication to the 'values which underpin the society we share'. He said: 'We can only hope that those who are too often cynically dismissive of those in public life will look at his example of service. 'No one could have given more for the values which underpin the society we share, values which appear all the more precious, at this present time, when we see more starkly than for many years, the appalling suffering and devastation caused when the path of violence is chosen. Prince Charles speaks at an extraordinary council meeting in Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday - in which he made the town an official city and blasted Russia's invasion of Ukraine Prince Charles, with Camilla at his side, formally presents the legal document which entitles the change of status, the Letters Patent, to Southend's mayor Margaret Borton at the extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday Charles told the council meeting about Sir David: 'No one could have given more for the values which underpin the society we share' - while the late MP's emotional widow looked on An emotional Lady Julia Amess (pictured) received the free man of the city honour on behalf of her late husband Lady Julia Amess (left) passes the Freedom of the City of Southend award, presented to her on behalf of her late husband MP Sir David Amess, by Southend's mayor, Margaret Borton (left), to their daughter Kate Amess Lady Julia Amess (centre) passes the freedom of the City of Southend presented to her on behalf of her late husband MP Sir David Amess, by Southend's mayor, Margaret Borton (left), to their daughter Kate Amess The Prince of Wales (pictured during speech in Southend, with Camilla by his side) made the Ukraine comments as he officially made Southend-on-Sea a city on Tuesday following a years-long campaign by the late MP Sir David Amess - who was stabbed to death by a terrorist last year The future King of England waves to crowds who had gathered for his arrival at Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday Camilla was all smiles as she clutched her Chanel handbag and shook hands with members of the public upon arriving to Southend on Tuesday Hundreds of locals gathered by barricades and waved Union Jacks as Charles and Camilla arrived to make Southend an official city A local dressed as Queen's guard poses for a photo as Camilla approaches in the background in Southend on Tuesday Sir David Amess (pictured), who had served as Conservative MP for Southend West since 1997, was murdered during a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15 The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall stand in the council chamber at the Civic Centre in Southend-on-Sea Camilla looked chic in a navy pea coat, paired with a black hat, gloves, boots and a dark blue Chanel bag, while Charles donned a navy pinstriped suit paired with a patterned tie and grey shirt Council members and the family of Sir David Amess listen attentively to Charles' speech as he makes Southend a city, fulfilling the late MP's long-held dream From climate change and Crimea to the infamous Black Spider memos - A history of the 'dissident' Prince Charles' interventions Prince Charles today branded Russia's invasion of Ukraine a 'brutal aggression', blasting Vladimir Putin's 'path of violence' for causing 'appalling suffering and devastation'. It was the most strongly-worded intervention from a royal on the invasion to date, in which the future King of England said he 'stands with' the people of Ukraine. But it's not the first time the Prince of Wales has spoken his mind about politics, having allegedly compared Putin to Hitler while often speaking out passionately about climate change over the years. Climate change intervention In August last year, Charles made his most powerful intervention to date in the fight against climate change, telling Britain's business leaders they must help, or the planet is 'done for'. Drawing emotionally on his family connections to wildfire-racked Greece, the prince issued a robust challenge to big business to join his crusade for action 'before it's finally too late'. The heir to the throne said humanity's 'only hope' is for business chiefs to join world leaders in an 'epic battle' to avert 'climate catastrophe'. The prince urged leading companies to sign up to his 'Terra Carta', a charter that commits them to putting sustainability at the heart of all their business activities. Charles 'compares Putin to Hitler' In 2014, the Queen's first-born son allegedly compared Putin to evil German dictator Adolf Hitler during an official visit to Canada. He reportedly made the comments while speaking to a former Polish war refugee about Russia's actions in Ukraine - which saw Crimea annexed. The Russian president said that if the prince had made such comments they were 'wrong' and 'not royal behaviour'. Clarence House did not comment at the time. Qatari letters Years earlier, in 2009, Charles disagreed with architect Richard Rogers's planned designs for the Chelsea Barracks site in west London. He decided to pen a letter to the Qatari royal family, who were financing the project, branding the plans 'unsuitable' and a 'gigantic experiment with the very soul of our capital city.' Rogers was removed from the project and replaced by The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment - leading Rogers to brand Charles' intervention as 'unconstitutional' and an 'abuse of power', accusing the future King of subverting the 'open and democratic planning process.' Infamous Black Spider memos And there was outcry in 2015 when a series of letters sent by Charles to former Prime Minister Tony Blair and other government figures, dubbed the Black Spider memos, were finally published following a decade-long legal battle. They showed how Charles contacted Tony Blair in 2004 over his concerns about a lack of resources for the Armed Forces in Iraq and particularly the 'poor performance' of the Lynx helicopter. He also sent a barrage of correspondence to Mr Blair over a seven-month period pushing for a cull of Britain's badgers and describing opponents as 'intellectually dishonest'. In 2004, he complained over modern teaching methods and extolled the virtues of his Summer Schools when writing to Education Secretary Charles Clarke The future king also asked Mr Blair to 'bring pressure' on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs over the bureaucratic burden on farmers. In a letter to Mr Blair in February 2005, he also voiced support for 'alternative' medicines, describing a regulation to restrict practitioners as being like 'using a sledgehammer to crack a nut' He also penned a note to Environment Minister Elliot Morley in October 2004 in which he involved himself in the illegal fishing of the Patagonian toothfish. During another 2005 missive, he even made an ironic comment about his reluctance to put issues in writing to Mr Blair because of the Freedom of Information Act - which was ultimately used to release the contents of the letters to the public. The 'dissident' prince In 2006, Mark Bolland, the former deputy private secretary and press adviser to the Prince of Wales, said the royal had referred to himself as a 'dissident' who worked against the prevailing political consensus. Concerning Charles's views, Mr Bolland said in a 10-page witness statement that he 'routinely meddled in political issues and wrote sometimes in extreme terms to ministers, MPs and others in positions of political power and influence.' The statement was prepared for court when Charles was attempting to seek summary judgment against the Mail on Sunday for breach of confidence and infringement of copyright after the paper published extracts from a journal he wrote following the British handover of Hong Kong in 1997. Mr Bolland added: 'The prince used all the means of communication at his disposal, including meetings with ministers and others, speeches and correspondence with leaders in all walks of life and politicians. 'He was never party-political, but to argue that he was not political was difficult. These letters were not merely routine and non-controversial...but written at times in extreme terms...containing his views on political matters and individual politicians at home and abroad and on international issues. 'I remember on many occasions seeing in these day files letters which, for example, denounced the elected leaders of other countries in extreme terms, and other such highly politically sensitive correspondence.' Advertisement 'What we saw in the terrible tragedy in Southend was an attack on democracy, on an open society, on freedom itself. 'We are seeing those same values under attack today, in Ukraine, in the most unconscionable way. 'In the stand we take here, we are in solidarity with all those who are resisting brutal aggression.' He added: 'In the aftermath of Sir David's brutal murder, the people of Southend-on-Sea came together in a remarkable and inspiring way to bring good out of evil. 'In doing so, they demonstrated a deep truth: that what matters more than any name, whether of a person or a place, is the spirit. 'Today, Southend becomes a city. As we celebrate and honour that fact, we remember that it is always, and crucially, a community.' Charles is the first working royal to condemn Putin's actions, which have seen hundreds of civilians killed - and thousands of soldiers slain. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who gave up their royal duties last year, previously said they 'stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law.' At an awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday, Prince Harry added: 'We would like to acknowledge the people of Ukraine, who urgently need our continued support as a global community.' Charles formally presented the legal document which entitles the change of status, the Letters Patent, to Southend's mayor Margaret Borton at the extraordinary council meeting on Tuesday. He presented the document on behalf of the Queen with his wife the Duchess of Cornwall by his side. Sir David, who had served as Conservative MP for Southend West since 1997, was murdered during a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15. The 69-year-old had campaigned tirelessly to make Southend a city. Mayor Mrs Borton said Tuesday: 'Formally receiving city status from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will be a special moment for Southend-on-Sea, and we are hugely honoured to receive a royal visit from Their Royal Highnesses on what is sure to be a momentous day for our new city.' Hundreds of locals gathered behind metal barricades in the wet and windy weather to greet the royals. They were seen waving Union Jack flags and filming the future king and Queen Consort on their phones as they stopped to shake hands and chat. Camilla looked chic in a navy pea coat, paired with a black hat, gloves, boots and a dark blue Chanel bag, while Charles donned a navy pinstriped suit paired with a patterned tie and grey shirt. Lady Julia Amess was given the Freedom of The City honour on behalf of her late husband. Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, a friend of Sir David's, read a statement on behalf of Lady Julia and her family. 'Despite a traumatic and tragic journey, we have arrived at the city of Southend-on-Sea,' she said. 'How thrilled our husband and father would be to know that Her Majesty the Queen has bestowed such a huge honour to the people of Southend-on-Sea in his name. 'A dream come true, and he would now be wanting to get out there and make the very best of this huge opportunity for the city. 'There would have been talk of nothing else in our home or indeed whenever he spoke in Parliament. 'How we wish that this could be. 'Of course, David was very well aware that city status would not have been possible without the help and hard work of so many people. 'The people of Southend-on-Sea came together and look what they achieved 'We know they will continue to work together in friendship and with pride to promote their city.' Ms Widdecombe said that, on behalf of Sir David, the family 'wish to say thank you to the amazing people in the community who have achieved so much for Southend'. The statement concluded: 'We are, of course, filled with sadness that he's no longer with us but his legacy is huge and we are so grateful to have had him in our lives and to know that he will never be forgotten.' Charles and Camilla also visited the seafront to unveil a new eco-friendly pier train named after Sir David. The battery-powered trains will be used to take visitors from the shoreline to the end of Southend Pier, which at 1.33 miles (2.14km) is the longest pleasure pier in the world. The 3.25 million pier train replacement project is seeing the existing diesel trains, which have been in operation on the pier since 1986, replaced with new, eco-friendly trains, designed in heritage green and cream following a public vote. Green and cream liveried pier trains previously ran on Southend Pier from 1949 to 1978. The Duchess of Cornwall capped her visit with the Prince of Wales by having a seaside staple - fish and chips. Camilla's lunch of cod and chips was accompanied with tartar sauce and a wally - the local word for a gherkin - when she stopped for a bite to eat. Philip Miller, executive chairman of Stockvale, which owns and runs the restaurant and Southend's fun park Adventure Island, said: 'The visit was tremendous for Southend. The turnout was brilliant. 'When she came in we offered her cod and chips and she had them in the boardroom. She thoroughly enjoyed them.' Before arriving at the restaurant, the couple went on a long walkabout along the seafront and Charles was asked about the health of the Queen by Janice Jacom, 64, an admin worker at a local golf course. She said: 'I asked the prince about his mother and he said "she's a lot better now - it was very mild". 'It was a bit worrying as the Queen is getting on a bit but I think she's absolutely wonderful.' Southend was one of several towns competing for city status as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June next year, with Sir David having pushed for the recognition for at least two decades. Camilla 'thoroughly enjoys' fish and chips - served with a 'wally' - during Southend visit Camilla capped her visit to Southend with the Prince of Wales by tucking into some fish and chips. Camilla's lunch of cod and chips was accompanied with tartar sauce and a wally - the local word for a gherkin - when she stopped for a bite to eat. Philip Miller, executive chairman of Stockvale, which owns and runs the restaurant and Southend's fun park Adventure Island, said: 'The visit was tremendous for Southend. The turnout was brilliant. 'When she came in we offered her cod and chips and she had them in the boardroom. She thoroughly enjoyed them.' Before arriving at the restaurant, the couple went on a long walkabout along the seafront and Charles was asked about the health of the Queen by Janice Jacom, 64, an admin worker at a local golf course. She said: 'I asked the prince about his mother and he said "she's a lot better now - it was very mild". 'It was a bit worrying as the Queen is getting on a bit but I think she's absolutely wonderful.' Advertisement With a population of around 183,000, Southend is a large coastal town and is home to the longest pleasure pier in the world, Southend Pier, measuring 1.33 miles. It also has London Southend Airport less than two miles north of the town centre. Cities historically were settlements with cathedrals, which is why small places such as Ely in Cambridgeshire and Salisbury remain cities. But having a cathedral is no longer an official requirement for a city-aspiring town. In recent years, towns have been able to apply to the Government for city status via competitions by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. At the last competition, held to honour the Queen's Diamond Jubilee nine years ago, three towns were granted city status - Perth, Chelmsford and St Asaph. In 2002, Preston became a city, while Brighton and Wolverhampton were granted the upgrade to mark the turn of the millennium. In the days after his death, the Prime Minister praised Sir David as a politician who 'simply wanted to serve the people of Essex' as a backbench Conservative. He vowed that the 'contemptible act of violence' that took his life would not 'detract from his accomplishments as a politician or as a human being'. Mr Johnson added that Sir David was a 'seasoned campaigner of verve and grit' who 'never once witnessed any achievement by any resident of Southend that could not somehow be cited in his bid to secure city status for that distinguished town'. 'As it is only a short time since Sir David last put that very case to me in this chamber, I am happy to announce that Her Majesty has agreed that Southend will be accorded the city status it so clearly deserves,' the Prime Minister said, to cheers from MPs. Charles and Camilla are guided through the Civic Centre during their visit to Southend Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, leave the Civic Centre during a visit to Southend-on-Sea Charles and Camilla visit the Civic Centre during a visit to Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday Charles appears to point to the camera during a tour of the civic centre in Southend - before he made the town an official city Charles and Camilla arrive to greet members of the public during their visit to Southend, as hundreds of locals gather to look on The Prince of Wales greets members of the public outside during his visit to Southend A nurse records the moment Prince Charles stops to talk to locals during his visit to Southend on Tuesday A local records the moment he shakes hands with the future King of England during his visit to Southend Camilla holds a bouquet of flowers she was handed while chatting to members of the public in Southend on Tuesday Camilla looked chic in a navy pea coat, paired with a black hat, gloves, boots and a dark blue Chanel bag, while Charles donned a navy pinstriped suit paired with a patterned tie and grey shirt. Security stand outside The Sands fish and chips shop ahead of the arrival of Charles and Camilla to Southend Union flags are handed out to the public of Southend ahead of the arrival of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall Charles and Camilla are welcomed by Southend mayor Margaret Borton during their official visit Tuesday Charles and Camilla shake the hands of council members and Sir David Amess's family in Southend on Tuesday Charles and Camilla unveil a new eco-friendly Pier Train, named after murdered MP David Amess, during their visit to the Pier in Southend on Tuesday The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall pose for pictures during a visit to the sea front at Southend-on-Sea, in Essex on Tuesday Charles and Camilla take a walk along the shores of Southend during their royal visit Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe (pictured), a friend of Sir David's, read a statement on behalf of Lady Julia and her family. A new sign pictured Tuesday welcomes people to the City of Southend-on Sea, which is twinned with Sopot in Poland Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the city status for the seaside town was a 'fitting tribute to Sir David's hard work'. Nadine Dorries paid a touching tribute to Sir David in October when she revealed his last letter to her pleaded for help making Southend a city. In it he congratulated on her promotion to replace Oliver Dowden in Boris Johnson 's reshuffle, adding: 'Let's now make Southend a city!' In a tweet, Ms Dorries wrote: 'It's taken me a while to get through the post in my Parliamentary office. 'Just opened this letter from David, in his true style, asking me to make Southend a city. 'It happened David, it happened.' Workers install a new Welcome to the City of Southend-on-Sea road sign ahead of today's Royal visit With a population of around 183,000, Southend is a large coastal town and is home to the longest pleasure pier in the world, Southend Pier, measuring 1.33 miles. (Pictured: People enjoying the hot weather on Southend beach in summer of 2020) A man skates along the promenade in Southend, Essex on October 18, 2021 Southend also has London Southend Airport less than two miles north of the town centre (pictured) Nadine Dorries paid a touching tribute to Sir David in October when she revealed his last letter to her (pictured) pleaded for help making Southend a city Sir David was known for using every opportunity he could to lobby for Southend to be upgraded to city status. In March 2018, Theresa May, then Prime Minister, was being quizzed over Anglo-Russian relations following the recent Salisbury poisonings - but Sir David had other priorities. During Prime Minister's Questions, he asked Mrs May if she was aware that a charity for learning difficulties in his constituency had just broken the world record for dinging the most triangles - and whether or not she thought, as he did, that this was enough of a reason to make Southend-on-Sea a city. At the Westminster Dog of Year contest last year, Sir David entered his French bulldog Vivienne. Asked why she should win, he said: 'Because she is an enthusiastic supporter of Southend becoming a city.' Prince Charles' speech in which he condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine while granting Southend-on-Sea city status Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, my wife and I are immensely proud to join you (albeit later than originally intended, for which I can only apologise profusely), at this historic moment for Southend-on-Sea. I recall with great fondness an occasion in January 2014, when my wife and I visited the Palace Theatre in Westcliff-on-Sea. We were most impressed as local school children from the area expertly performed scenes from Shakespeare plays to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the playwright's birth. It was a very happy occasion, and we were enormously touched by the warmth of the reception from everyone we met. During that visit we recall our conversation with Sir David Amess. I knew of him, of course, as a renowned and respected Parliamentarian and an effective campaigner on many national and local issues. Among them was his passionate determination to secure city status for Southend-on-Sea. Today, we mark the culmination of that dedicated campaign - and yet, how we all wish we could celebrate the occasion without the shadow of the dreadful event which took the life of such a devoted public servant. Sir David's tragic and senseless murder in October 2021, and the appalling circumstances under which he died, shocked the nation. I am only too aware that today's ceremony cannot possibly replace the agonising loss felt by Sir David's widow, Lady Amess, and their five children, but I do hope it will offer at least some comfort in such unbearable sorrow. I have no doubt that Sir David would have been immensely proud today. However, as was the case throughout his life, it would not have been pride in personal success, but would have stemmed from his deep understanding of duty and his unfailing ambition to serve his constituency and improve the lives of those he represented. We can only hope that those who are, too often, cynically dismissive of those in public life will look at his example of service. No-one could have given more for the values which underpin the society we share values which appear all the more precious at this present time when we see, more starkly than for many years, the appalling suffering and devastation caused when the path of violence is chosen. What we saw in the terrible tragedy in Southend was an attack on democracy, on an open society, on freedom itself. We are seeing those same values under attack today in Ukraine in the most unconscionable way. In the stand we take here, we are in solidarity with all those who are resisting brutal aggression. In the aftermath of Sir David's brutal murder, the people of Southend-on-Sea came together in a remarkable and inspiring way to bring good out of evil. In doing so, they demonstrated a deep truth: that what matters more than any name, whether of a person or a place, is the spirit. Today, Southend becomes a city. As we celebrate and honour that fact, we remember that it is always, and crucially, a community. By that measure, Ladies and Gentleman, Southend-on-Sea is a marvellous example to our nation. It epitomises the heartfelt words offered by Sir David's family following his death about the need, and I quote 'to set aside their differences and show kindness and love to all' There could be no greater legacy. I pray that this new city of Southend-on-Sea will continue from strength to strength, honouring the memory and legacy of Sir David Amess - one of its greatest ambassadors - and inspired always by the example of his dedication to the community he loved.' Advertisement Zelensky thanks Kate and William for 'standing by Ukraine's brave citizens at this crucial time'... but fails to mention Harry and Meghan despite their own statement on invasion By Dan Sales for MailOnline Prince William and Kate were thanked this morning by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife after the royals said they stood with them in their fight. The supportive message from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was sent on Saturday as Putin's forces bombarded the country. And this morning Mr Zelensky and his wife Olena said they were 'grateful' for the rare political comment from the Royals. They added the support was boost as Ukraine continued to fight off Russia's invasion. President Zelensky said: 'Olena and I are grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that at this crucial time, when Ukraine is courageously opposing Russia's invasion, they stand by our country and support our brave citizens. 'Good will triumph.' Harry and Meghan had also sent their own words of support to Ukraine, but was not mentioned by Mr Zelensky. It is not known whether he has privately thanked them. The Sussexes had posted on their website on February 24 'Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine'. They restated that support on television as they accepted the President's Award at the NAACP Image Awards. William and Kate's remarks were posted on Saturday and were a rare foray into politics. The message of gratitude to William and Kate was posted just after 8am this morning The Duke and Duchess entertained President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena in the opulent Throne Room The area today near the regional administration building, which city officials said was hit by a missile attack, in central Kharkiv, Ukraine Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, accept the President's Award at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards Show, where they restated their support for Ukraine Harry and Meghan also posted a message of support on their Archewell site on February 24 Their February 26 post on Twitter insisted they 'stand' with the people of the war-torn nation, as they 'bravely fight' for their future. The royal couple also recalled the 'privilege' of meeting President Zelensky and his wife, when they jetted into London in 2020. In a personal tweet signed by the couple, they wrote: 'In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine's future. 'Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine's people as they bravely fight for that future.' William and Kate welcomed the Ukrainians to Buckingham Palace in October 2020 - their first audience since the start of the first Covid lockdown. The Duke and Duchess entertained President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena in the opulent Throne Room. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have said they 'stand' with the people of Ukraine as they 'bravely fight' for their future William and Kate welcomed the Ukrainians to Buckingham Palace in October 2020 - their first audience since the start of the first Covid lockdown The Tweet from William and Kate was sent on Saturday and was a rare political message Ukraine war: The latest Russia promised on Monday that it would hit back against the EU following its support of Ukraine and warned the West against supplying weapons to the country A second round of talks aimed at ending Russia's attack on Ukraine is set to take place after the first meeting ended without resolution Ukraine's MoD says Russia has lost 5,300 soldiers, 29 planes, 29 helicopters and 151 tanks Russia's MoD has for the first time acknowledged suffering losses, but refused to say how many Ukraine reports 352 civilian deaths since the start of the invasion, including 14 children. The UN puts the civilian toll at 102, including seven children. Russian economy entered freefall as Western sanctions put in place over the weekend took effect, with ruble sliding to its lowest level ever Moscow's central bank has more-than doubled the interest rate to 20 per cent Russia orders people and companies to sell 80 per cent of their revenue in foreign currencies, forcing them to buy the ruble to help prop it up Moscow stock exchange won't open until at least 3pm in an attempt to head off all-out crash Zelensky has allowed Ukrainian prisoners to be freed if they join defence forces to 'repay their debt' Ukraine president also announced creation of 'international brigade' for foreign volunteers wishing to join military, after 'thousands' applied Spain's foreign minister called Putin's order to put nuclear forces on high alert 'one more sign of [his] absolute irrationality' Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his country should be open to hosting nuclear weapons Germany announced a $112million fund to rebuild the country's armed forces, more-than double its current self-defence budget EU announced, for the first time in its history, that it will send funds to Ukraine for weapons - including fighter jets Advertisement The couples did not wear masks but observed social distancing and appeared in good spirits during the meeting, the first royal event to take place at Buckingham Palace in nearly six months. William and Kate held the audience on behalf of the Queen, who stayed at Windsor Castle to carry out a limited number of engagements. Ukraine's president has accused Russia of war crimes after Vladimir Putin's forces launched what were believed to be cluster and vacuum bomb attacks in an attempt to turn the tide of a conflict that they have so-far been losing. In a late night address directed at Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky said there would 'definitely be an international tribunal' for what he said was a 'violation of all conventions' and added that 'no one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people.' Prosecutors at The Hague say they intend to open a probe 'as soon as possible.' Zelensky spoke after what appeared to be a cluster bomb attack on the city of Kharkiv on Monday which killed at least 11 people and wounded scores more, and after Ukraine's ambassador to the US accused Putin's forces of using a banned thermobaric bomb on the capital of Kyiv overnight. The bombardment of Kharkiv continued Tuesday morning with a rocket landing just in front of the civilian public administration building, destroying the road outside and blowing the windows out of the building itself. Footage from inside shows the building was heavily damaged, with ceilings collapsing and rubble strewn around. It came as Russia's invasion of Ukraine - which met with heavy defeat in its initial plan to seize key targets and infrastructure in precision strikes - entered a new phase, with the aim seemingly to surround and besiege cities such as Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol, Sumy and Kherson which have so-far put up fierce resistance - and bomb them into submission using indiscriminate weapons in echoes of tactics Russia used against rebel forces in Syria while fighting alongside dictator Basahar al-Assad. Fears that Kyiv will be hard-hit have been growing and reached new heights on Tuesday as satellite images revealed a column of Russian vehicles heading towards the capital is actually 40 miles long, as opposed to the 4 miles that were reported on Monday. The most-advanced units in the column are now just 15 miles from the city, having been significantly slowed by Ukrainian resistance but never-the-less inching closer day by day. The regional administration building, which city officials said was hit by a missile attack, in central Kharkiv, Ukraine Ukrainian police officer escorts refugees, at the Medyka border crossing in Poland today Russia's plan appears to be using the heavy armour to encircle and shell the city, before troops move in for street-to-street fighting. A taste of what was to come struck Kharkiv on Monday when bombs rained down on the most Russia-friendly city in Ukraine which sits 25 miles from the border and is home to 1.5million people in a bid to break its will to resist. The hail of bombs, shells and rockets which began falling at lunchtime left at least 11 dead, including three children, with homes and even a school reduced to rubble. The man shot dead by police outside a Brisbane McDonald's has been identified, as its revealed he was recently released from prison. Ben Baker, 33, had only been reunited with his partner for 24 hours before he was hit with a spray of bullets in a car park in Marsden last week. Confronting footage of the incident shows a shirtless Baker walking towards officers with a knife just seconds before several shots are heard. Confronting footage of the incident shows a shirtless Baker walking towards officers with a knife just seconds before several shots were heard (pictured) Police can be heard asking the 33-year-old to drop the knife which he refused to do, instead taking steps towards the armed officers. Shots were then fired at Baker, who later died from his injuries in hospital. Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said police had received several calls about the man with reports he was threatening McDonald's staff, the Courier Mail reports. 'When he came at police, obviously police took action,' Ms Carroll said. 'Knives can be just as dangerous as guns.' The commissioner said a female employee was being held against her will at knifepoint when police arrived on the scene. Ben Baker, 33, (pictured) had only been reunited with his partner for 24 hours before he was hit with a spray of bullets in a car park in Marsden last week Queensland Police released a statement at the time confirming the shooting. 'He was transported to Logan Hospital with serious injuries, in a critical condition,' the statement said. 'There is no ongoing threat to the community and no-one else has been injured.' Acting Chief Superintendent Mel Adams said police were called to the scene after reports of a man threatening people with a knife at Marsden Park Shopping Centre. 'Police found an armed man at the McDonald's at Marsden on Chambers Flat Rd, ' Acting Chief Superintendent Adams said. It's understood Baker was recently released from prison, with his bereft partner and a few friends paying tribute to the 33-year-old online (pictured is the scene in Marsden) 'Police attempted to negotiate with that person but that person ran at police.' She added officers tried to subdue the man by using a taser device before he was shot multiple times. It's understood Baker was recently released from prison, with his bereft partner and a few friends paying tribute to the 33-year-old on social media. 'I got one night, one day with him after being locked up for two years,' she wrote. No McDonald's crew or dine-in customers were harmed, the corporation said in a statement, with employees offered support and assisting police. The International Criminal Court is set to open a probe investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine after invading Russian forces bombed the city of Kharkiv. 'Today I wish to announce that I have decided to proceed with opening an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, as rapidly as possible,' said ICC prosecutor Karim Khan on Monday. 'I am satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine' since 2014, he added. A rocket landed in front of the civilian public administration building in Kharkiv on Tuesday morning, destroying the road outside and blowing the windows out of the building itself. Footage from inside shows the building was heavily damaged, with ceilings collapsing and rubble strewn around. Zelensky said on Monday that Russia had 'violation of all conventions' in its attacks on Ukrainian people, adding there will 'definitely be an international tribunal' to investigate The ICC's comments follow Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Russia of war crimes after Vladimir Putin's forces launched what were believed to be cluster and vacuum bomb attacks on the city of Kharkiv. Zelensky said on Monday that Russia was in 'violation of all conventions' in its attacks on Ukrainian people. 'Given the expansion of the conflict in recent days, it is my intention that this investigation will also encompass any new alleged crimes falling within the jurisdiction of my office that are committed by any party to the conflict on any part of the territory of Ukraine,' added Kahn. The Hague-based court began receiving queries last week 'with respect to the crime of aggression'. But because Ukraine is not a State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, meaning it has no representation within the Hague assembly, it was unable to refer itself. 'I will continue to closely follow developments on the ground in Ukraine, and again call for restraint and strict adherence to the applicable rules of international humanitarian law,' said Khan on Monday. The ICC had already launched preliminary probes to investigate the violent suppression of pro-European protestors leading up to the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. CCTV footage shown the Russian munition landing outside the civilian public administration building in the city of Kharkiv, with the missile circled in red The impact tore through nearby cars and infrastructure, with casualties yet to be confirmed Analysist fear the missile strikes are a hint of evolving Russian tactics, signaling a pivot towards heavily artillery shelling of Ukrainian cities Russian tactics change Russia's invasion of Ukraine is being met with heavy resistance that has so far stalled its initial plan to seize key targets and infrastructure in precision strikes. But the war is entering into a new phase, with the aim seemingly to surround and besiege cities such as Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol, Sumy and Kherson. The use of indiscriminate weapons on civilian targets echoes tactics Russia used against rebel forces in Syria while fighting alongside dictator Basahar al-Assad. Fears that Kyiv will be hard-hit have been growing and reached new heights on Tuesday as Satellite images revealed a column of Russian vehicles heading towards the capital Kyiv previously thought to be 4 miles long is actually stretches to 40 miles, with most of the units just 15 miles from the city. Russia's plan appears to be using the heavy armor to encircle and shell the city, before troops move in for street-to-street fighting. A taste of what was to come struck Kharkiv on Monday when bombs rained down on the most Russia-friendly city in Ukraine which sits 25 miles from the border and is home to 1.5million people in a bid to break its will to resist. The hail of bombs, shells and rockets which began falling at lunchtime left at least 11 dead, including three children, with homes and even a school reduced to rubble. A military source told MailOnline that videos of the onslaught showed 'cluster' munitions - which are illegal under international law - had been used. Later on Monday, Ukraine's ambassador to the US claimed that Russia used a devastating vacuum bomb on Ukraine. The vacuum bombs, which are also known as thermobaric weapons, can vaporize bodies and crush internal organs. They use oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion, typically producing a blast wave of a significantly longer duration than that of a conventional explosive. Russia's foreign ministry promised that it would hit back against the EU after the bloc imposed sanctions, ramping up tensions between Putin and the west. A Russian spokesman also warned that 'EU citizens and structures' involved in sending weapons to Ukraine would be 'responsible for any consequences'. Amid the ongoing fighting, it was announced that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Tuesday fly to Poland to visit British troops manning Nato's eastern border with Russia. Photos taken after the missile landed in Kharkiv shows wreckage throughout the city square A British teacher who travelled to Ukraine to save his wife and son from the brutal Russian invasion has made it to his family 'tea in hand'. Ian Umney arrived in Nikopol, near Dnipro in the south east of the war-torn country, on Tuesday afternoon to be with Nelia and young Jonathan. The 28-year-old from St Helens, Merseyside, now dressed in combat gear, said his first job was to barricade them in the house amid fears of Vladimir Putin's bombs. Mr Umney flew from Manchester to Krakow in Poland on Sunday before travelling to Lviv in Ukraine and taking a 12-hour overnight train for 500 miles to Nikopol. It comes as Russia's war on Ukraine entered its sixth day, with a 40-mile convoy of tanks and armoured vehicles inching closer to the capital Kyiv. Putin stepped up shelling of Kharkiv, the second-largest city, pounding civilian targets there. But local fighters are putting up a fierce resistance and Russia has not been able to dominate the skies. Ian Umney arrived in Nikopol, near Dnipro in the south east of the war-torn country, on Tuesday afternoon to be with Nelia and young Jonathan (pictured together today) Ian Umney is on a 12-hour train journey from Lviv to Nikopol, near Dnipro, as he desperately tries to reach Nelia and their baby boy Mr Umney updated his Telegram followers at 2pm Ukraine time - 1pm in Britain - to say: 'I made it to my family... tea in hand.' He added on TikTok: Guys I made it. It's been a long time but I'm finally here. This place is empty by the way because I have to secure it for us. 'I have to tape the windows and everything. But I will go live very soon and speak to you all.' Mr Umney has documented his rescue mission over the last few days online, saying he could not just sit in Britain and do nothing. In an update on Tuesday morning, he shared a video message while on a railway line through western Ukrainian heartlands between Lviv and Nikopol. He said: 'Turbulent morning with trains being delayed and not being here but now I'm on the train, it's an overnight train so it will take all night. 'I should be in my wife's city in 12 hours so that's the time frame that I've got for myself. 'How long it's going to take to get there on average... 12 hours I should be in the arms of my wife and my son will be in my arms. 'So not long left, just the rest of the evening on this train, then the night time and then tomorrow morning into the afternoon. 'My journey's not over yet. I still have the entire... nearly the entire width of Ukraine to traverse, but it's nearly there. It's nearly time for family time.' The 28-year-old from St Helens in Merseyside was travelling the 500 miles overnight through the war-torn country as Vladimir Putin's bombs rained down Mr Umney added a second clip this morning, but it was believed to have delayed uploading from last night due to a lack of signal. He said: 'So there's not much to give an update on really. I'm on the train. Still. It's a long, long, long, long train journey over the other side of the country. 'I should arrive, I estimate GMT 11am. I should arrive at a station at about 11am. But I am going to update everyone tomorrow morning. 'I should have better signal so I should be able to go live but right here in central Ukraine it's nearly impossible. 'Everyone keeps saying ''update, update, update''... I'm on a train bro, I can't do anymore. But thank you I'll speak to you tomorrow.' Mr Umney's videos have garnered millions of views across social media, with some calling him a hero. Asked what he will do when he gets to his family, he said: 'I'm not really sure... I'm leaning towards getting my family out but the journey to do that is a bit dangerous at the moment.' He continued: 'We're going to have to come to a decision about what's best for us and our family. 'People have commented how I'm being selfless and a hero but I'm not, I'm just a husband and a father.' The former cybersecurity worker (pictured with his wife) vowed he was 'on the way to reunite with my family by whatever means' Mr Umney has documented his journey through the Ukraine crisis across social media before he decided to fly out. Pictured: Mrs Umney Mr Umney met Nelia in 2016, later marrying her, but had to return to the UK for work. He plans to apply for a spouse visa when they decide to return to the UK. Mr Umney said his wider family were 'completely against' him going to Ukraine and warned him not to. 'My uncle is senior Army... he's quite well clued up on what's happening in Ukraine and he advised me not to go. 'I just told him it is my decision, it's my family - I have to be there.' Despite the warnings, Mr Umney said he 'feels safe' in Ukraine. He said: 'I don't feel in danger at all, I feel like it's a normal day, if I were living here, it would be a normal trip from one place to another. 'I've not been to the east yet, I don't know if the situation there is going to be a lot more strict. 'But in the gateway to Europe, it's very much calm, collected, quite organised and there is a massive amount of help for people over here.' Mr Umney's brother, Garry Umney, said he has the 'full support' of his family. The 30-year-old said: 'He has my respect, he has the full support of his family both home and abroad, and we stand with the Ukrainian people and pray for a peaceful resolution to this conflict. 'Ian is very happy with the positive responses he has had from people all over, including the Ukrainian people he comes into contact with.' Before flying Mr Umney posted a video of the provisions he was taking in a military rucksack and holdall. He said in the footage: 'I've got everything packed, not going to get much more in there.' He continued: 'Decided to take a little holdall because as a Brit going abroad I need the most essential things - PG Tips and a cup. 'And I've got my everyday things in there, chargers, cigs and stuff, but yes, I'm ready to go. I'm leaving to the airport... I'll let you know what happens.' Mr Umney met Nelia in 2016, later marrying her, but had to return to the UK for work. He plans to apply for a spouse visa when they decide to return to the UK He said in another post: 'I'm here at Manchester Airport heading to the gate then on to the flight to Krakow. 'The next update I want to do is if I can get into Krakow, get on the WiFi, make sure everyone knows I'm there.' He added: 'But mainly will be when I'm at the border of Ukraine - so I'll give you an update then.' The next video he shared was of him walking through the railway station at Krakow Airport. He said: 'There's the train going to the city centre, next stop will be the border. Stay in touch. Slava Ukraini.' Mr Umney posted a further clip on Monday morning as he crossed the border into Ukraine on what appeared to be a bus. He said: 'So I made it successfully into Ukraine last night. And now we're just approaching the outskirts of Lviv.' The Briton went to school in Western Australia where he played first team rugby before moving to Germany to attend Frankfurt International School. He went on to study computer engineering at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee in the US. Mr Umney moved to Ukraine in February 2016 where he worked as a teacher at a school in Dnipro. But for the past five years he has run his own service, which runs courses for locals looking to speak English. 'I have a strong interest in cyber security and I am currently studying for several CompTIA certifications to pivot into the industry next year. 'My personal ambition is to relocate back to the UK next year, in the new career, and build up experience and skills to progress into digital forensics within 10 years.' Mr Umney appeared to toy with the idea on social media as the Russian invasion spiralled out of control before declaring he would fly out. He wrote on Facebook: 'I cannot sit here, while my wife and son are in Ukraine, and watch the freedom and safety of Ukraine be threatened by Putin. 'I took four days of stress, upset, hurt, and anger but now I have packed my bag, planned, written my letters. 'I'm now on the way to reunite with my family by whatever means. Please continue to support Ukraine and those who are in need. 'I will post updates. I love you all. I will be safe. Stand strong, Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine.' Yesterday Defence Secretary Ben Wallace urged Britons not to travel to Ukraine to join the fighting as he said the 'very dangerous' situation could lead to death. Volunteers from the Territorial Defense Units gather in an outpost to collect weapons, train and get their assignments in Kyiv He said he did not 'want to see British people killed any more than I want to see Ukrainians' dying. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a new 'international legion' to defend his country and appealed to foreigners to come forward and bare arms. Foreign Secretary Ms Truss told the BBC: 'The people of Ukraine are fighting for freedom and democracy, not just for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe. 'Absolutely, if people want to support that struggle I would support them in doing that.' But Mr Wallace, who served in the Scots Guards, said there were 'better ways' for Britons to help. He told Sky News Ms Truss was right it was a 'just cause', but added: 'If you're keen to help and you're a United Kingdom citizen, come and join our armed forces. 'Look, there are people who will go... I think what I would say is unless you are properly trained, unless you are a, you know, experienced member of an armed forces, I think there are better ways for you to contribute to the security of Ukraine.' He said this could be through donating money through the Ukrainian embassy to be spent on weaponry and aid, or to volunteer with organisations helping refugees. Mr Zelensky's call for an international legion carried echoes of the International Brigades that fought against the fascists in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba appeared to encourage the comparison, saying just as Hitler had finally been defeated, 'we will defeat Putin, too'. He tweeted: 'Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine, I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries. 'Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too.' YouTube and Facebook have banned Russian state-owned media outlets RT and Sputnik's channels across Europe. It is the latest in a big-tech clampdown on Moscow's propaganda finally imposed this week following the Russian invasion of Ukraine last Thursday. The Google-owned video platform said the ban was effective immediately, including in the UK, but said it may take some time for the block to become fully effective. The technology giant had previously limited the ability for RT and other Russian channels to make money for advertisements that appear on videos but has extended its sanctions to fully blocking such channels. Facebook parent company Meta announced yesterday that it had blocked both media organisations, which are considered mouthpieces of Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime. The change means RT and Sputnik's pages are not visible on Youtube, Facebook or Instagram in the EU, but for now, they remain visible in the UK. It comes a day after an international hacking organisation launched a 'cyberwar' on Putin's media, social media sites and Kremlin-backed broadcaster. Anonymous targeted Russian state news agencies TASS, Fontanka, and Kommersant, as well as Kremlin-backed channel RT and the Kremlin website, taking the sites down - though they were back online on Tuesday morning. YouTube and Facebook have banned Russian state-owned media outlets RT and Sputnik's channels across Europe (pictured today) Sputnik's youTube channel (pictured before the ban yesterday) was considered a mouthpiece of Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime The Google-owned video platform said the ban on Russia Today and Sputnik was effective immediately, including in the UK, but said it may take some time for the block to become fully effective 'Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we're blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe, effective immediately,' a statement from Google Europe said. 'It'll take time for our systems to fully ramp up. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action.' Former UK deputy prime minister, Sir Nick Clegg, who is now vice president of global affairs at Facebook's parent company, Meta, said the firm had been asked by governments to take further action against Russian state-backed media. 'We have received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media,' he said on Twitter on Monday night. 'Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time.' He added Meta would continue to work closely with governments on the issue European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday announced they and their subsidiaries would be banned from broadcasting in the bloc for spreading 'lies to justify Putin's war'. Canadian telecoms operators have also stopped offering the RT channel. Meanwhile yesterday anonymous hackers attacked several Kremlin-backed media outlets, posting a message on one that urged Russia to 'stop this madness'. When trying to access TASS, Fontanka, and Kommersant's websites on Monday morning, error messages appeared and the websites were unable to load. When MailOnline tried to access Fontanka, a news outlet based in St Petersburg, on Monday morning, a message signed by Anonymous urged citizens to 'stop this madness' and said Vladimir Putin has 'put us in danger'. All the sites appeared to be were back online by early Tuesday. Hackers have declared a 'cyber war' on Putin's government after he mounted a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday. Moscow has been accused of producing Hollywood-style 'fake news' videos to inflame tensions with Ukraine. Misinformation about the conflict includes the notion that Ukrainian soldiers are 'radical nationalists' who are defending a genocide against Russians. When trying to access Fontanka, a message reads: 'Dear citizens. We urge you to stop this madness, do not send your sons and husbands to certain death' When MailOnline attempted to access Kommersant's website on Monday morning, a message appeared saying 'the site can't be reached' A similar error message appeared when trying to access TASS's website on Monday morning Facebook parent company Meta announced yesterday that it had blocked both media organisations, which are considered mouthpieces of Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime Google had earlier blocked access to the Russian media outlets YouTube channels in Ukraine following a request from Kyiv on Saturday. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote on Twitter he requested the ban 'to help Russians and the world to know the truth.' He said: 'I've contacted @YouTube to block the propagandist Russian channels such as Russia 24, TASS, RIA Novosti. 'If they are afraid of speaking the truth, so we should stop this flow of poisonous lies.' Following another request from the Ukrainian government, Google also removed Russia's state-run television network RT, formerly known as Russia Today, from its Google Play Store in Ukraine. YouTube has removed hundreds of channels and thousands of videos over the past few days that violated its policies by engaging in 'coordinated deception,' CNN reported. Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor over the weekend demanded that Google restore access to the channels on YouTube in Ukraine and accused Facebook and other big tech companies of 'censorship' for limiting its programs. It said on Sunday that it had written a letter to Alphabet Inc., Google and YouTube's parent company, seeking the removal of all restrictions imposed on state media outlets such as RBC, TV Zvezda and Sputnik. Roskomnadzor has been cracking down on the country's own outlets, ordering media to remove reports describing the Kremlin's attack as an 'assault, invasion or declaration of war', or face being blocked and fined. Russian forces entered Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv today after failing in their overnight efforts to seize control of the capital city of Kyiv YouTube also restricted Russia state-run media outlets from monetizing due to sanctions against the country Some Russian news websites have been criticised for being part of a media offensive from the Kremlin in which Ukraine's fighters are painted as Nazis and Russia is viewed as a liberating force. Some Russian reporters have also insisted the Russian military is not targeting civilians, despite images of bloodied Ukrainians and bombed-out tower blocks. Describing Ukrainian fighters as 'Nazis', Russian state TV talk show host Olga Skabeyeva said: 'You know, as they retreat, the Ukrainian Nazis continue to destroy Donbas. 'Today Zhelobok was shelled with Grad multiple rocket launchers. Yesterday the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched Tochka ballistic missiles at an oil facility.' Criticised stories included TASS headlines, which claimed Russian troops were 'welcomed with flags in Ukraine's Melitopol' and that Ukrainian forces have 'actively resorted to sabotage'. The propaganda has led many Russians to be convinced that the conflict was provoked by the West. Amid the misinformation, Anonymous announced on Twitter on Thursday evening that it was declaring a 'cyber war' against Vladimir Putin's government. They said shortly before 10pm: 'The Anonymous collective is officially in cyber war against the Russian government.' Around 30 minutes later, they announced that they had taken down the website of the Kremlin-backed TV channel RT, which broadcasts in Britain and has been heavily criticised for its coverage. Anonymous said in their tweet about RT: 'The #Anonymous collective has taken down the website of the #Russian propaganda station RT News.' When MailOnline attempted to access the RT site on Friday morning, it was still inaccessible and only displayed an error message that said 'this site can't be reached'. On Monday, the website appeared to be back up and running. Anonymous have previously targeted groups including the Ku Klux Klan and Islamic extremists. Members are known as 'Anons' and are distinguished by their Guy Fawkes masks. On Thursday evening, Anonymous said shortly before 10pm: 'The Anonymous collective is officially in cyber war against the Russian government' The group also announced that they had taken down the website of the Kremlin-backed TV channel RT, which broadcasts in Britain and has been heavily criticised for its coverage Searchers have found the body of a man who went missing while on a camping trip with his girlfriend in the South Australian outback. Dylan Stuart, 29, and and Danika Thomson, 24, were on a trip in north of Roxby Downs when their 4WD became bogged down on Saturday. Mr Stuart rode off on a motorbike to seek assistance while his girlfriend remained in the car. Ms Thomson waited several hours for Mr Stuart return before setting off on foot into the surrounding area, which is regarded some of the hottest and driest country in South Australia. Searchers have found the body of a man who went missing while on a camping trip with his girlfriend in the South Australian outback Dylan Stuart, 29, and and Danika Thomson, 24, were on a trip in north of Roxby Downs when their 4WD became bogged down on Saturday Police were alerted when family were unable to contact the pair. During the search police found a hat, footprints and a motorcycle they believed belonged to Mr Stuart. His body was eventually found 10km north of where their vehicle broke down. Ms Thomson was spotted because she had turned her dirty white t-shirt inside out to make it more visible - searchers acknowledged this may have saved her The body of Dylan Stuart, 29, was found by searchers at 2pm on Tuesday 100km north of Roxby Downs 'After waiting several hours for his return, the woman left the 4WD on foot,' SA Police said. Ms Thomson was found on Monday afternoon in a creek line about 100km north of Roxby Downs by a search aircraft and taken to hospital where she was treated for dehydration at the local hospital. Ms Thomson was spotted because she had turned her dirty white t-shirt inside out to make it more visible - searchers acknowledged this may have saved her. She was also carrying a red bag. 'I spotted a white T-shirt and a red bag,' pilot and Marree publican Phil Van Wegen told the ABC. 'The T-shirt was fairly dirty she'd been out in the bush for a bit, so she put her shirt on inside out so it was whiter and it stood out a lot better and we were able to spot her, so very lucky.' Ms Thomson was treated for dehydration after being found. Tragically her partner Dylan Stuart died when he went to get help after their vehicle became bogged The country around Roxby Downs is regarded some of the hottest and driest in South Australia An air and ground search was intensified on Monday with local police, PolAir, family members, local station owners and aircraft involved. 'Sadly, the body of the 29-year-old Roxby Downs man was located near Gregory Creek about 100km north of Roxby Downs, just before 2pm,' police said in a statement on Tuesday evening. There are no suspicious circumstances and police will prepare a report for the coroner. The Tories are clawing back ground on Labour as Boris Johnson oversees the response to the Ukraine crisis, according to a poll. Research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies showed Keir Starmer's lead has been trimmed from six points to three over the past week. Meanwhile, the PM's personal ratings have surged after plummeting amid the Partygate row. Some 32 per cent said they approved of his performance, up by seven points from a week ago. And the proportion disapproving was down six points at 50 per cent. The net rating of minus 18 is the best Mr Johnson has recorded since the start of the year. Research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies showed Keir Starmer's lead has been trimmed from six points to three over the past week Mr Johnson has been playing a leading role coordinating the international response to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The PM is pictured arriving in Poland today The premier has been playing a leading role coordinating the international response to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. He is visiting Poland and Ukraine today, and has been speaking almost daily to President Vlodymyr Zelensky. Tough sanctions have been imposed on Russia, cutting off banks and sending the rouble into freefall. The poll put Labour on 38 per cent - down one over the past week - while the Tories were up two on 35 per cent. The gap has not been narrower between the main parties in a Redfield & Wilton poll this year. It suggests the PM has been benefiting from his handling of the Ukraine crisis. However, Mr Johnson is still awaiting the results of the police probe into Partygate. Tories have been threatening to move against the leader if he is fined for attending lockdown-busting gatherings in Downing Street. But Cabinet ministers have been voicing growing confidence that Mr Johnson can ride out the scandal even if he is punished. Furious Muslims have voiced their anger after a religious studies secondary school teacher used a picture of Osama Bin Laden to depict the Prophet Muhammad - an act likened to comparing the Pope to Jimmy Savile. The teacher at the Church of England All Saints Academy in Dunstable, near Luton, has now been suspended after Year 10 pupils were shown the image during a Power Point presentation on Friday. After the use of the picture was brought to the academy's attention by a concerned pupil in the class, the school apologised and pledged to bring in an 'external person' to carry out an investigation. But outraged Muslims, many of whom consider any depiction of their prophet to be deeply offensive, are accusing the school of 'Islamophobia' and claiming the incident reveals a 'pure hatred' for their religion. Akbar Dad Khan, a community leader in nearby Luton who attends the Central Mosque in the town, said putting the name of the Prophet Muhammad alongside a photograph of Osama Bin Laden had been compared with Jimmy Savile's name appearing underneath an image of The Pope. Mr Khan, who is the Chair of a community group called Building Bridges, said: 'I have had conversations with young people about this and they are very angry. They feel this has been done deliberately to defame Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. 'Putting name of the Prophet alongside an international terrorist is very directly connecting Islam with terrorism. It is condemnable and should be condemned.' All Saints Academy in Dunstable, outside Luton, has apologised for using a picture of Osama bin Laden to depict the Prophet Muhammad Deputy Editor of Muslim community news site 5 Pillars, Dilly Hussain, wrote to the school: 'Your apology and short-term suspension of the teacher aside, the Muslim community want answers: How did a photo of Osama bin Laden used to depict the name of the Prophet Muhammad?' He went on: 'It is right for the school to suspend the teacher concerned and carry out a full investigation. It must be impartial. The school has acted promptly and has issued an apology, which is the right thing to do.' 'SIX QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERING' Muslim community news site 5 Pillars is demanding answers to six questions regarding the circumstances of the incident. The six questions they want answering, posted to the 5 Pillars website, are: 'Was this presentation slide from All Saints Academy Dunstable? If yes: 'For how long has this presentation slide been used in R.E. classes? Is it still being used? 'What is the name of the teacher who put this presentation together? We'd like to contact them for comment as well. 'What action have your board of governors and headteacher taken regarding this matter (if any)? 'Does ASA believe this is remotely acceptable? 'Is the teacher in question competent enough to teach religious education?' Advertisement The school, which teaches around 700 pupils aged 13 to 18-years-old, says it has a Christian ethos and 'very useful' links had now been established with the Muslim community in Luton. Muslim community news site 5 Pillars, which has more than 400,000 followers, is now demanding answers to six questions regarding the circumstances of the incident. Deputy Editor Dilly Hussain wrote to the school: 'Your apology and short-term suspension of the teacher aside, the Muslim community want answers: How did a photo of Osama bin Laden used to depict the name of the Prophet Muhammad? '[We want] chronology and full details, [including] all who knew and involved.' One social media message directed to the school's Twitter page reads: 'Absolutely despicable. It's hard to see this as anything other than malicious! This needs investigating asap!' Another said: 'All I see is pure hatred for Islam and all Muslims here. I see no error... If all you did was remove the content, then you don't really see the gravity of this offense. That means your views are not too far off from the offender's.' A third said: 'Disgusting. You're clearly an Islamophobic, ignorant, pusillanimous school. I hope the world sees how disgusting you are.' In a statement, the school said it was 'totally inappropriate' to use the picture and that it 'recognises the deep hurt and distress' caused. They said: 'Not only was it offensive to attempt to portray an image of the prophet Muhammad, but the image that was used was that of Osama bin Laden, a terrorist leader, which added further added to the deep insult. 'The academy reiterates its unreserved and sincere apology for the distress this episode has caused.' It is not yet clear how the picture of the al-Qaeda leader ended up in the PowerPoint presentation. Muslims, many of whom consider any depiction of their prophet to be deeply offensive, are accusing the school of 'Islamophobia' and claiming the incident reveals a 'pure hatred' for their religion In Islam, it is deeply offensive to depict the Prophet Muhammad because it is seen as similar to the forbidden worship of idols. The use of the image was brought to the Academy's attention by a concerned pupil in the Year 10 class. After suspending the teacher, who has not been named, the school said it would also undertake a review. On its latest inspection by OFSTED the school's regulator in 2019, it was described as 'requires improvement'. A notice about branch consolidation is posted in the window of a KB Kookmin Bank branch in Seoul, Jan. 25, 2021. Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung Korea's major financial holding firms are in a rush to scout senior digital experts possessing decades of field experience at major IT firms. With digital transformation becoming the new normal in financial circles in the wake of the pandemic, banking groups here are seeking to stay ahead of the toughening digital competition by hiring better digital experts. KB Financial Group recently recommended Gangneung-Wonju National University professor Choi Jae-hong as its new non-executive director, in recognition of his broad career experience at major IT companies such as NHN and Kakao. The nation's largest financial holding firm by market capitalization expects him to give a clearer direction to its ongoing digital transformation. Choi is best known for his advisory role, having worked as a non-executive director at Kakao for six years and helping the company develop into the nation's top mobile platform operator. Last May, Hana Financial Group also appointed former Delivery Hero executive Kim So-jung as the vice president at Hana Bank's digital experience division. Kim had also been a vice president of eBay Korea before moving to the online food-delivery service operator in 2020. She has since placed her focus on driving Hana Bank's mobile growth, looking for the lender's next digital innovation initiatives. Industry officials said the moves will accelerate down the road, but most financial firms still face difficulty expanding their digital experts. "Even if banks can find such executive-level officials with less difficulty, most banks have a tough time hiring digital experts in working-level positions," a financial industry source said. "This is because demand for officials with IT background keeps surging while supply is still limited. Most IT experts still prefer to work at conventional tech firms in the area of games and IT platforms. Banks are not the priority for most digital experts." But financial firms have no choice but to invest more in the digital sector at a time when conventional financial services are being replaced by online platforms rapidly. According to data from the Financial Supervisory Service, the number of sales offices of Korea's top four banks KB, Shinhan, Hana and Woori came in at 3,203 as of the end of September 2021, a decline of 15 percent from five years earlier. But the number of subscribers for their mobile banking apps is on the rise each year, even among those in their 60s and older. Data from the nation's five banks showed that the number of mobile banking subscribers in the age group reached 8.57 million at the end of 2021, up 63.1 percent from two years earlier. He has otherwise been silent about invasion being bravely resisted by Ukrainians Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was urged to publicly denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine today amid questions over his claims to be involved in brokering a peace deal. The oligarch, who made his fortune in post-Communist Russia, has been under fire since Vladimir Putin's troops crossed the border and has since suggested he is relinquishing his control of the Champions League winners ahead of possible sanctions. Last night the Russian-Israeli billionaire was believed to have flown to Belarus ahead of crunch talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials. His spokesman claimed the mega-rich businessman had become involved after a request from the Jewish community in Kyiv. But he has otherwise been silent about the deadly invasion, which is being bravely resisted by the Ukrainian people. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab today demanded he denounce Putin, saying: 'I think every right thinking person should denounce what Putin has done.' The oligarch, who made his fortune in post-Communist Russia, has been under fire since Vladimir Putin's troops crossed the border Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab today demanded he denounce Putin, saying: 'I think every right thinking person should denounce what Putin has done.' On Saturday, amid the mounting pressure, Mr Abramovich announced plans to hand over the stewardship of his beloved Chelsea to the club's charitable trust. Asked if the billionaire could be key to negotiations, Mr Raab told LBC radio: 'Who knows? I would say this, first of all, I think the prospect of diplomacy at the moment is slim but we must always make sure that we keep the door to a diplomatic resolution open. 'It's also true to say that the financiers who are close to Putin, the oligarchs and the like, are often one of the most important points of leverage and that's where our sanctions have been directed and targeted.' Mr Abramovich, 55, who is one of Russia's richest men and is reportedly worth more than 10billion, was last week labelled as an enabler of the Putin regime by British MPs in Parliament, amid calls for powerful oligarch 'with links to the Russian state' to be hit with greater sanctions. Mr Abramovich vehemently denies he is close to the Kremlin or has done anything that would merit sanctions being imposed against him. On Saturday, amid the mounting pressure, Mr Abramovich announced plans to hand over the stewardship of his beloved Chelsea to the club's charitable trust. The club's trustees are yet to accept his proposals, while experts have described the move as a 'PR' stunt with 'no legal significance'. Last night, in a surprise development, a spokesman for the Premier Club revealed that the businessman has been 'trying to help' in brokering a peace deal between his home country of Russia and Ukraine. 'I can confirm that Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in achieving a peaceful resolution, and that he has been trying to help ever since,' a Chelsea spokesman said. The spokesman added: 'Considering what is at stake, we would ask for your understanding as to why we have not commented on neither the situation as such nor his involvement.' Mr Abramovich was in Belarus, according to the Jerusalem Post, though this has not been confirmed. On Sunday one of his private jets was seen flying into the Latvian capital of Riga, while another of his planes was seen travelling to Moscow yesterday. There has been no confirmation that he was on either jet. Dominic Raab today suffered a skewering over the Government's help for Ukrainian refugees amid mounting calls for ministers to offer more support to people fleeing the Russian invasion. The Justice Secretary faced a bruising interview on Sky News with presenter Mark Austin who pressed the Cabinet minister on how vulnerable people are supposed to make it out of Ukraine. Mr Austin, speaking in Kyiv as air raid sirens blasted, presented Mr Raab with a hypothetical example of a 75-year-old woman in the capital who has a son living in London. He questioned if she would be eligible to come to the UK and how that journey would be facilitated. But Mr Raab squirmed as he said 'we know that the difficulties on the ground make it practically very challenging' for people to get out of the country. He also insisted that he 'cant comment on every potential hypothetical case'. Dominic Raab today suffered a skewering over the Government's help for Ukrainian refugees amid mounting calls for ministers to offer more support to people fleeing the Russian invasion Priti Patel yesterday ruled out a visa waiver for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict but rules have been eased to make it easier for people with links to the UK to come here The Home Secretary said that the Government is 'giving British nationals and any person settled in the UK the ability to bring over their immediate Ukrainian family members' Ministers are under growing pressure to make the UK's help for refugees more generous. Priti Patel yesterday ruled out a visa waiver for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict but rules have been changed to make it easier for people with links to the UK to come here. The Home Secretary said the Government is 'giving British nationals and any person settled in the UK the ability to bring over their immediate Ukrainian family members'. However, Home Office guidance suggests that elderly parents would not qualify under the definition of immediate family. Mr Austin suggested to Mr Raab that the UK is being a 'bit mean-spirited' on the issue of visas as he asked: 'I wonder, a 75-year-old woman living now in a basement in the capital here who has her son living in London, can she go and join him? Mr Raab replied: In terms of the question of visas and Ukrainians, the Home Secretary has set out the plans for a bespoke humanitarian scheme for Ukraine, allowing up to 100,000 to come here. The dependents of British nationals in the UK, the dependents of Ukrainians living in this country and I think that is the right way to approach and it follows the wider action that we have taken. As air raid sirens began to sound, Mr Austin said: But how does the 75-year-old woman, as the siren is just going off here, living in a basement get to her son who is living in London? Can she do that? Is she able to do that because I cant see how she does. How does she go to Lviv, 11 hours drive away, get a visa, it just doesn't make sense. I dont see how she can get to her son in London under the current system. The Deputy Prime Minister replied: Well, this is a consistent feature whenever we have humanitarian asylum schemes set up. We know that the difficulties on the ground make it practically very challenging. But we also know that many will get out of Ukraine, those that are fleeing through fear, and we need to be ready with our international partners, the Europeans Mr Austin told the Justice Secretary that the European Union had made a more generous offer to Ukrainian refugees and asked why the UK is not doing more. Mr Raab said: I cant comment on every potential hypothetical case. What I have just set out is the circumstances and of course we understand the difficulties of the practical situation on the ground. 'That is common to most conflict zones, of course. We recognise that and will work with all of our international partners and the UN to try and resolve that and make sure that we continue this tradition of offering safe haven to those fleeing persecution. Mr Raab said many Ukrainians who are fleeing the country would want to be as close to their home country as possible in order to be able to come back at some point in the future. But challenged again on the hypothetical case of the 75-year-old Mr Raab said: Sorry, I dont know the facts of the case but it is clear from what the Home Secretary announced yesterday that we would make that route technically open but of course it is very difficult to know how exactly she would traverse the country at that age. But that is the offer the Home Secretary has made, actually it addresses the scenario you have described. Ukrainian forces have inflicted heavy losses on advancing Russian forces as bitter fighting in Ukraine enters its sixth day, according to a spokesperson for the nation's general staff. Ukraine claimed that Russian forces have lost 5,710 personnel in the fighting thus far, along with 29 aircraft, 198 tanks and 846 armoured vehicles which were either destroyed or significantly damaged - though these figures cannot be verified. Moscow acknowledged for the first time yesterday that its forces had incurred losses amid the invasion but have refused to give concrete figures, stating only that the numbers are far lower than those given by Ukraine. Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Russian forces had dealt significant damage to Ukrainian defences in kind. 'A total of 311 tanks and other armoured military vehicles, 42 airplanes and helicopters, 51 multiple launch rocket systems, 147 field artillery weapons and mortars, and 263 specialised military vehicles have been destroyed,' he said. Russia's invasion - which met with heavy defeat in its initial plan to seize key targets and infrastructure in precision strikes - entered a new phase yesterday, with the aim seemingly to surround and bombard cities such as Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol, Sumy and Kherson. Ukrainian army units and civilian defence forces have put up fierce resistance and have stalled the Russian onslaught on the ground for now, prompting Putin to launch an indiscriminate bombing campaign of Ukraine's two largest cities - Kyiv and Kharkiv. The civilian death toll has increased significantly in the past two days since Russia began its bombardment, with Ukrainian authorities reporting 352 civilian deaths since the start of the invasion, including 14 children. Ukrainian forces have inflicted heavy losses on advancing Russian forces as bitter fighting in Ukraine enters its sixth day, according to a spokesperson for the nation's general staff (picture: Russian armoured vehicles stand destroyed or abandoned in the streets of Kharkiv) Ukraine claimed that Russian forces have lost 5,710 personnel in the fighting thus far, along with 29 aircraft and 198 tanks which were either destroyed or significantly damaged, though these figures cannot be verified (pictured: a Ukrainian territorial defence fighter examines a destroyed Russian armoured vehicle) A Ukrainian Territorial Defence fighter takes the automatic grenade launcher from a destroyed Russian infantry mobility vehicle GAZ Tigr amid conflict in Kharkiv Ukrainian army units and civilian defence forces have put up fierce resistance and have stalled the Russian onslaught on the ground for now, prompting Putin to launch an indiscriminate bombing campaign of civilian targets in Ukraine's two largest cities - Kyiv and Kharkiv (pictured: demolished buildings in northeast Kharkiv as a result of Russian shelling) Russian authorities meanwhile acknowledged for the first time yesterday that their forces had incurred losses amid the invasion, but have refused to give any further details or concrete figures. Ukrainian forces have thus far successfully repelled Russian attacks on the ground (servicemen of Ukrainian Military Forces walk in the small town of Sievierodonetsk, Lugansk) A comparison of Russian and Ukrainian military might suggests that Russia easily has enough bodies and firepower to succeed in their invasion. But Ukraine has called on all men between 18-60 to remain and fight, while the US and several EU countries have delivered a steady stream of weapons and equipment to its army This image, posted by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, shows the square outside the administrative building covered in rubble following the rocket attack The U.N. human rights office has put the civilian death toll in Ukraine at 136, including 13 children, since the start of the invasion, but warned the toll may be far higher. The Geneva-based office said this morning that it has also recorded 400 civilians injured in the conflict, among them 26 children. Many of the civilian deaths are thought to have come as a result of Russia's bombardment of residential and administrative targets in Kyiv and Kharkiv in the past 48 hours. The move has seen Putin accused of war crimes, after multiple reports of the use of cluster bombs on residential high-rises and non-military structures. International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan confirmed yesterday that a probe will be launched into Russia's bombing campaign: 'I wish to announce that I have decided to proceed with opening an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, as rapidly as possible'. 'I am satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine,' he added. It came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last night said there would 'definitely be an international tribunal' for what he described as a 'violation of all conventions' and added that 'no one in the world will forgive [Putin] for killing peaceful Ukrainian people.' The Kremlin meanwhile denied that the Russian military has used cluster munitions in Ukraine and insisted that the Russian forces only have struck military targets. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that 'the Russian troops don't conduct any strikes against civilian infrastructure and residential areas.' But Peskov's claim contradicts abundant evidence of indiscriminate shelling of homes, schools, and hospitals across Ukraine. Speaking in a conference call with reporters, he wouldn't respond to questions about whether the Kremlin is happy with the pace of the offensive and wouldn't comment on Russian military casualties. Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov also declared today that Russia 'did not and does not have any land-based, short or medium-range missiles', though he did not explicitly deny the widespread reports of Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. The bombing campaign began yesterday morning, with the most intense fire laid down on Kharkiv - Ukraine's second city which is home to 1.5 million people and stands a mere 25 miles from the Russian border. Bombs, shells and rockets began hailing down on the city from lunchtime, leaving at least 11 dead, including three children, with homes, offices and even a school reduced to rubble. Harrowing images show the brutality of the Russian attacks in Ukraine. This citizen was caught in a rocket blast in Kharkiv on Monday and lost a leg Kharkiv was struck by more Russian rockets on Tuesday morning, with one striking outside the civilian public administration building which was heavily damaged in the blast. The rocket can be seen a split second before it slams into the building, triggering a massive blast The blast blew debris across the square outside the administrative building and demolished several parked cars Rescue workers and medics are pictured close to the regional administration building in central Kharkiv, picking their way through the debris following the explosion A military source told MailOnline that videos of the onslaught showed 'cluster' munitions had been used. 'The BM-21 Grad is a multiple launch rocket system used for "area denial", dropping cluster bombs on a concentrated area,' the expert said. 'It's mainly used on enemy troops before an offensive. Used against civilians, it's not only a war crime, but has only one purpose to spread terror and alarm among the civilian population.' But despite Russia's ruthless bombing campaign and sustained ground assault, the Ukrainian army and its territorial defence forces have remained resolute. Dozens of images and videos published on Monday showed Ukrainian forces parading defeated Russian soldiers who were captured as the remainder of their units retreated or were killed. Ukraine has paraded captured Russian soldiers in dozens of online videos. Footage appeared on Facebook that showed a captured Russian soldier saying he did not come to the country 'wanting to kill' The body of a Russian serviceman is coated in snow next to a destroyed Russian military vehicle on the outskirts of Kharkiv Servicemen from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic were captured by the Ukrainian military on Thursday, hours after Russia launched an invasion of the country Footage posted online show tied up 'demoralised and exhausted' prisoners of war captured after they failed to break through defences in Kyiv and Kharkiv over the weekend. Several of the videos were posted on a Telegram channel set up on Saturday by Ukraine's Interior Ministry called 'Find Your Own'. Many Russian troops claimed that they believed they were conducting training exercises in the border regions and did not know they were being sent to invade Ukraine. The Russian onslaught seems to have been slowed considerably, but there are fears that this lack of success on the ground will give rise to a prolonged bombing campaign designed to inflict maximum damage and beat Ukraine's cities into submission. Finland will today debate joining NATO after a petition calling for a referendum reached 50,000 signatories in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The move to debate Finland's NATO membership comes despite neighbouring Russia threatening the country with 'military and political consequences' if they join the military alliance. Finnish MPs will discuss the possibility of their country joining NATO on Tuesday after an opinion poll showed a historic change in attitude in the traditionally non-aligned country after Putin waged war on Ukraine. 'I fully understand that the view of many Finns on the issue of NATO membership has changed or is changing as Russia has started military action against Ukraine. This is understandable,' Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin said. Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Monday evening that a planned debate in parliament the following day would cover the situation in Ukraine and was not intended as a 'wider conversation on Finland's policy regarding military alignment or non-alignment' Finland will today debate joining NATO after a petition calling for a referendum reached 50,000 signatories in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia has threatened both Sweden and Finland - Moscow's Arctic neighbours - with 'military consequences' if they join NATO. Both countries have rejected any Russian interference in their foreign security policy She said on Monday evening that a planned debate in parliament the following day would cover the situation in Ukraine and was not intended as a 'wider conversation on Finland's policy regarding military alignment or non-alignment'. But she added that since a citizen's petition requesting a parliament debate on a referendum had reached the necessary 50,000 signatories to trigger a debate in parliament, it 'makes sense to hear the parties' views on handling the issue.' 'From this perspective, the issue will also figure in tomorrow's parliamentary debate,' Marin said. The petition, which is calling for a referendum on membership, was launched last Monday and reached the targeted 50,000 by the end of the week. Marin said that the shift in Finnish opinion on joining NATO has been influenced by Russia's movements in Ukraine. She told Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat: 'The question is if Russia crosses a border, are we alone or with others.' Finland shares a lengthy land border with Russia, and the two countries fought a short but bloody war over it between 1939 to 1940 which saw Finland inflict heavy losses on Soviet forces. Russia has threatened both Sweden and Finland - Moscow's Arctic neighbours - with 'military consequences' if they join NATO. Both countries have rejected any Russian interference in their foreign security policy. People walk by a damaged vehicle and an armored car at a checkpoint in Brovary, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday A destroyed Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle is seen next to a spent missile casing in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, which came under attack from 'cluster' munitions on Monday The debate also comes on the heels of a poll released Monday by public broadcaster Yle, showing that most Finnish people now favour joining NATO, according to a poll released Monday, a historic change in attitude and a major shift compared to even just a few months ago. According to the survey, commissioned by public broadcaster Yle, 53 percent of Finns backed their country joining the military alliance, 28 percent opposed it, and 19 percent were unsure. 'A completely historic and exceptional result,' Charly Salonius-Pasternak, senior research fellow at Finnish Institute of International Affairs, said. 'The change is dramatic.' The poll surveyed 1,382 respondents between the ages of 18 and 80 between February 23 and 25, said Yle. In contrast, a January poll published by the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper had only 28 percent in favour and 42 percent against NATO membership. 'The only significant thing that has changed is that Russia has attacked a neighbouring country that is not a member of NATO,' Salonius-Pasternak said. Although the results of the latest poll could be an effect of the initial shock at the Russian invasion, the researcher said he believed support would likely remain at a higher level. When Yle last commissioned a similar poll in 2017, support for NATO membership was at 34 percent. A man is visibly upset as he sits inside a vehicle damaged by shelling, in Brovary, outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday Finland shares a 830-mile-long border with Russia. While neither it nor neighbouring Sweden are NATO members, both countries are partners of the Western military alliance. Faced with Moscow's demands that NATO not expand eastwards, Helsinki and Stockholm have rejected any Russian interference in their security policy. Both countries have received assurances from NATO that the door remains open to them, though the Social Democrats in power in both countries have no plans to join. In another response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Alko, Finland's state-run alcohol distributor, took vodka and other Russian products off the shelves Monday. 'The situation in Ukraine is shocking and we have taken it seriously,' said spokesman Anu Koskinen, announcing the suspension of both in-store and online sales. Members of an Ukrainian civil defense unit pass new assault rifles to the opposite side of a blown up bridge on Kyivs northern front on Tuesday The measure will affect around 30 Russian products - most of them vodka - from its total stock of 11,000 items. In neighbouring Sweden, the state-run alcohol monopoly Systembolaget also announced it would stop the sale of Russian products. Last week, Russia threatened its close Arctic neighbours Sweden and Finland with 'military consequences' if they join NATO. Sweden and Finland are the two closest countries to Russia in the Arctic Circle. 'Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries and their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and face some military and political consequences,' Russian foreign affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a news briefing. The foreign ministry later reiterated the threat on Twitter. 'We regard the Finnish government's commitment to a military non-alignment policy as an important factor in ensuring security and stability in northern Europe,' the department wrote. 'Finland's accession to NATO would have serious military and political repercussions.' Vladimir Putin is widely believed to have attacked Ukraine after western nations mooted the idea of the country joining NATO, over fears it could end up with a US military presence on its doorstep. A similar move by Sweden or Finland could potentially provoke similar ire. Ukrainian leaders want to join NATO but Russia has been strongly opposed to the move. Western nations have increased weapons shipments to Ukraine to help its forces defend themselves - but have so far ruled out sending in troops. Still, the embattled country moved to solidify its ties to the West by applying to join the European Union - a largely symbolic move for now, but one that won't sit well with Putin, who was already infuriated by Ukraine's desire to join the NATO alliance. Messages aimed at the advancing Russian soldiers popped up on billboards, bus stops and electronic traffic signs across the capital. Some used profanity to encourage Russians to leave. Others appealed to their humanity. Steven Seagal has sparked fury after claiming both sides of the Ukraine war are 'one family' and blaming an 'outside entity' for spreading propaganda against the Russian invasion. The actor, 69, who is a friend of Vladimir Putin and was granted Russian citizenship in 2016, said he is hoping for a 'peaceful resolution' after forces invaded Ukraine last week. The Kremlin apologist, who was appointed as a special envoy for humanitarian ties with the US in 2018, previously supported Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and praised Putin as 'one of the great living world leaders'. Putin apologist Steven Seagal has sparked fury after claiming both sides of the Ukraine war are 'one family' The actor, 69, who is a friend of Vladimir Putin and was granted Russian citizenship in 2016, said he is hoping for a 'peaceful resolution' The Under Siege star told Fox News: 'Most of us have friends and family in Russia and Ukraine. 'I look at both as one family and really believe it is an outside entity spending huge sums of money on propaganda to provoke the two countries to be at odds with each other. 'My prayers are that both countries will come to a positive, peaceful resolution where we can live & thrive together in peace.' The comments sparked fury online, with many slamming the actor for parroting the Kremlin's lines and failing to condemn the Russian invasion. The comments sparked fury online, with many slamming the actor for parroting the Kremlin's lines and failing to condemn the Russian invasion Last year, the Hollywood star joined a pro-Kremlin party. Seagal received a party membership card of an alliance named Just Russia - Patriots - For Truth, a video released by the party showed. It was formed earlier last year, when three leftist parties, all of which support Putin, merged into one. Seagal proposed a crackdown on businesses which damage the environment. 'Without being able to arrest people, when we just fine them, they are probably making more money of the production of the things that are defiling the environment,' said in his welcome speech at a party event. Hollywood star Steven Seagal received a party membership card of an alliance named Just Russia - Patriots - For Truth on Saturday, a video released by the party showed The party controls a faction in the lower house of the Russian parliament and plans to take part in a parliamentary election in September. Seagal, a US-born martial artist, is best known for producing and starring in action movies, while Putin, who granted him the citizenship, is a fan of martial arts. In 2018, Russia tasked Seagal with improving humanitarian ties with the United States at a time when relations between the two countries have deteriorated to their worst level since the Cold War. As a Russian representative, Seagal visited Venezuela earlier last year and presented a samurai sword to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This is the moment Britain's most wanted woman was arrested by Spanish police following nearly a decade on the run. Privately-educated university graduate Sarah Panitzke, 47, was held on Sunday by officers from an elite Madrid-based police unit as she walked her dog near her home in Santa Barbara village, between Barcelona and Valencia. The property developer's daughter has been wanted since 2013 over a massive mobile phone VAT fraud in which she played a key role by laundering up to 1billion. She was part of 16-strong criminal gang that bought mobile phones abroad without VAT then resold them in the UK. Panitzke was said to have travelled to places like Dubai, Spain and Andorra to 'clean' the money the gang had stolen. Originally from Fulford, near York, Panitzke disappeared in May 2013 before being convicted and sentenced in absentia to eight years behind bars. She was the last of the gang to be caught, with other members collectively sentenced to 135 years in jail, Britain's National Crime Agency said. Sarah Panitzke, 47, from Fulford has been on the run for nearly nine years She was sentenced in her absence to eight years in jail in August 2013 after absconding during her trial at Kingston Crown Court and has been on the run ever since. A court found she laundered 1 billion as part of a VAT fraud has been arrested while walking her dogs in Spain Panitzke had been recruited into notorious tax criminal Geoffrey Johnson's web of 18 fraudsters located throughout the UK after meeting an acquaintance. She was part of a group of companies that bought cheap mobile phones in overseas countries without VAT, then sold them in the UK for a big profit. UK holidaymakers were asked to help catch the convicted fraudster from Fulford near York in a recent appeal for information. She was said to have 'disappeared into thin air' after becoming the only woman on the National Crime Agency's Most Wanted List. Police said in an appeal in August 2019 she was responsible for laundering approximately one billion pounds. Privately-educated university graduate Sarah Panitzke (pictured) was held on Sunday by officers from an elite-Madrid based police unit as she walked her dog near her home For a long period she was the only woman on the National Crime Agency's Most Wanted List, with her face described in one recent newspaper article as an 'anomaly' alongside those of a fugitive who stabbed and paralyzed his victim with a machete and another who raped a seven year-old girl. The arrest occurred around 9am on Sunday, well-placed sources said. Initial reports said the 5ft 7in blonde had been held in the town of Vilanova i la Geltru a 45-minute drive south of Barcelona and close to the famous resort of Sitges, although police are expected to confirm later that she was arrested in a village in the Catalan province of Tarragona. Respected Spanish news website El Confidencial, which broke news of Sunday's arrest on Monday, said she was fighting her forced return to the UK. Last night she was said to be in a prison near Madrid ahead of her expected extradition. Well-placed sources confirmed she had been held on Sunday. The arrest was carried out by the Civil Guard Central Operative Unit's Fugitive Task Force. The specialist Madrid-based unit was the same one that arrested Irish fugitive gang boss Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch last August near his hideaway in the Costa del Sol resort of Fuengirola. Panitzke, who went to York College for Girls before moving on to fee-paying St Peter's School, which is the third oldest in the world, came from a wealthy family. Her father Leo was a residential property developer and insurance broker but was arrested when she was 19 for buying council houses and selling them on early for a large profit and was subsequently sentenced to four years in prison. She is said to have studied ten GCSEs and three A-levels. She studied Spanish at Manchester Metropolitan University before doing a master's degree in Barcelona in Business Management. Sarah Panitzke was held in Catalonia on Sunday and is claimed by Spanish authorities to be the only member of a crime gang that remained free, with 16 people already jailed She was arrested by Spanish Civil guard police officers whilst she was walking her dog near her hideout in Spain Operation Vaulter, the codename given to HMRC's investigation into the fraud gang, led to a trial at Kingston Crown Court. Her links to Spain were well-known and she is believed to have been allowed to travel to and from her then-home on a gated residential estate in Vilanova i la Geltru where she had been based during her trial. At the time she was said to have been living in the coastal town with two dogs and a long-term partner and doing 'front jobs' as a hotel worker and property investor. Recent reports said she would face 17 years' incarceration if caught because her non-payment of a 2.4 million confiscation order meant further time had been added to her prison sentence. She remained the only member of the 18-strong gang on the run because ringleader Geoffrey Johnson was arrested in Dubai in 2017 and subsequently sentenced to 24 years in prison. In 2016 when she first became Britain's 'Most Wanted Woman' her father, who died in April 2020, told the Daily Mail it was a 'shock'. Her brother Leon told Vice magazine last year 'the whole saga had been incredibly difficult for everyone involved.' At the time he was described as the director of a communications agency. The Costa del Sol was flagged up as a possible hideaway for Sarah after she went on the run. Police described her in their Wanted Appeal as '170cm tall, slim build with mousey straight hair, blue eyes and a Yorkshire accent.' She was the only woman on the National Crime Agency most-wanted list - and had been for most of the eight years she was on the run. The NCA had said in an earlier appeal: 'She controlled the company accounts of many companies remotely via different IP addresses.' She is said to be languishing in a prison near Madrid ahead of her expected extradition The arrest was carried out by the Civil Guard Central Operative Unit's Fugitive Task Force. A spokesman for the force, which released pictures and footage of Panitzke's arrest, said: 'The Civil Guard has arrested a British national aged 47 with the initials S.P. in the municipality of Santa Barbara in the province of Tarragona.' It added, detailing the long operation to catch her after she absconded during her Kingston Crown Court trial: 'The evidence pointed to the fact she could be in hiding in Spain because of her family and academic links that she had maintained with Spain since her adolescence. 'For that reason HMRC in the UK contacted the Civil Guard to help them track her down. 'In 2015 we were able to establish that S.P. was hiding out in Olivella near Barcelona where she was visited by her husband at weekends amid tight security. 'Those visits were designed to provide the woman who has now been arrested with her basic necessities, as she hardly left her hideout so as not to raise suspicion.' But during the operation to arrest her, Panitzke managed to detect the police presence, completely change her appearance and escape. 'From that moment she became a prime objective for investigators, who managed to accumulate a large amount of information about her and put her close circle under constant watch,' said the Civil Guard 'Despite that investigators concluded she had broken off all physical ties with her family in Spain to avoid detection.' In a statement on the arrest, the Civil Guard added: 'In February officers received information about her possible presence in Santa Barbara in Tarragona, a small village with around 4,000 inhabitants. 'A round-the-clock watch was established in the area that lasted several weeks. 'At the beginning of last week investigators managed to detect a woman whose appearance matched that of the detainee and then established that she lived in a block of apartments on the outskirts of the locality. 'Given what had happened in 2015, a large-scale operation with undercover officers was put in place and on Sunday morning she was arrested when she left her home to walk her dogs.' The Madrid-based judge who ordered her remand in prison while she fights her forced return to the UK, has been named as Joaquin Gadea. No-one could be reached late on Monday night at the Audiencia Nacional, the court which deals with extradition issues. A hospital has been forced to evacuate all staff and patients to a nearby high school as flood waters continue to devastate parts of northern New South Wales. Fifty-five patients at the Ballina Hospital will be moved to the Xavier Catholic College where a makeshift emergency department is being set up for any others needing urgent care. All patients have been transported with the help of NSW Ambulance and SES crews. A hospital has been forced to evacuate all staff and patients to a nearby high school as flood waters continue to devastate parts of northern New South Wales Fifty-five patients at the Ballina Hospital will be moved to the Xavier Catholic College where a makeshift emergency department is being set up for any others needing urgent care All patients have been transported with the help of NSW Ambulance and SES crews 'The evacuation is taking place on the advice of the local Police Commander and out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and safety of patients and staff,' Northern NSW Local Health District said. 'Extra NNSWLHD staff have been called in and are working alongside NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and the SES to ensure the safe transfer of all patients, whose families have been notified. 'A makeshift emergency department is being set up at Xavier Catholic College for anyone in the community in need of emergency care while the hospital is temporarily closed.' Those living in the area will be notified through a text message that the hospital is temporarily closed. Earlier on Tuesday evening an evacuation order was issued for Ballina's CBD as flooding ravages northern parts of NSW. The Ballina Hospital was evacuated on Tuesday evening as flood waters rise in northern NSW A Scottish nationalist politician has been forced to make a grovelling apology after using the Russian invasion of Ukraine to justify her party's drive for Scottish independence. The SNP's Michelle Thomson drew a link between Kyiv's emergency attempt to join the European Union and her party's hopes of rejoining the bloc if they break up the UK. The SNP wants a new independence referendum in Scotland, having failed to win one in 2014. President Zelensky last night signed a request for Ukraine to join the EU 'immediately' as troops resisted a fierce onslaught. As desperate Ukrainian leaders used all levers at their disposal with Russian troops over-running their country, she tweeted: Delighted for Ukraine. It just goes to show what political will can achieve. Remember this Scotland!' Her remarks were immediately condemned by the SNP's political opponents, with Tory MSP Annie Wells saying it was 'utterly tone deaf' and colleague Stephen Kerr adding: 'This is not normal behaviour for a political party.' Later, Ms Thomson deleted her tweet and write: 'I noted and then tweeted something earlier that was insensitive regarding Ukraine. Like everyone, my first thoughts are sympathy for the people there. Apologies if I offended anyone.' The SNP's Michelle Thomson drew a link between Kyiv's emergency attempt to join the European Union and her party's hopes of rejoining the bloc if they break up the UK. President Zolensky last night signed a request for Ukraine to join the EU 'immediately' as troops resisted a fierce onslaught. Later, Ms Thomson deleted her tweet and write: 'I noted and then tweeted something earlier that was insensitive regarding Ukraine. Like everyone, my first thoughts are sympathy for the people there. Apologies if I offended anyone.' It came as Belarusian troops joined in the invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv said a 40-mile Russian convoy was baring down on the capital amid warnings that Putin will now use 'medieval tactics' to try and force a bloody victory after being handed a series of embarrassing defeats in the opening days of the war. Vitaliy Kyrylov, a spokesman for Ukraine's North Territorial Defense Forces, said that Minsk's men had entered the city of Chernihiv, north-east Ukraine, on Tuesday morning. Dictator Alexander Lukashenko acknowledged sending 'rapid deployment groups' to the border 'to stop any military action against Belarus', without acknowledging that his men had joined the attack. It came as a convoy of hundreds of Russian tanks, artillery pieces and trucks was pictured snaking its way towards Kyiv, leading to fears that its mission will be to surround the city, besiege it, and bomb it into submission as Russian forces did in Syria while fighting alongside Bashar al-Assad's forces. Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, said Russian forces may also try to spark a food crisis by cutting off supplies to major cities as pictures showed some store shelves already running empty in the capital. He said the military may have to step in to ensure everyone has access to food. Advertisement This is the astonishing moment dozens of diplomats from around the world today walked out during a speech by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a Geneva disarmament conference in protest against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Diplomats from countries including Britain, United States and France stood up and filed out of the room when Lavrov's pre-recorded video message to the U.N. Human Rights Council began to play. During his speech, the foreign minister blamed Ukraine for the war and claimed Kyiv has been seeking to acquire nuclear weapons - a 'real danger' that required a Russian response. But Lavrov delivered his speech to a thin crowd after dozens of diplomats staged a walk-out to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine as they did at a parallel U.N. meeting in Geneva on Tuesday. They stood in a circle outside the meeting for the duration of Lavrov's speech, holding a Ukrainian flag. Lavrov was supposed to attend the session in person but the visit was cancelled at the last minute, with Moscow blaming 'anti-Russian sanctions' imposed by EU countries. Diplomats from countries including Britain, United States and France stood up and filed out of the room when Lavrov's pre-recorded video message to the U.N. Human Rights Council began to play Lavrov delivered his speech to a thin crowd after dozens of diplomats staged a walk-out to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine as they did at a parallel U.N. meeting in Geneva on Tuesday The diplomats stood in a circle outside the meeting for the duration of Lavrov's speech, holding a Ukrainian flag, on Tuesday Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addresses the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council through a pre-recorded video message - but he delivered the speech to a sparse crowd after the walkout 'Today the dangers that (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskiy's regime pose for neighbouring countries and international security in general have increased substantially after the authorities set up in Kyiv have embarked upon dangerous games related to plans to acquire their own nuclear weapons,' Lavrov told the Conference on Disarmament in a video address. 'Ukraine still has Soviet nuclear technologies and the means of delivery of such weapons. We cannot fail to respond to this real danger,' he said, also calling for Washington to rebase its nuclear weapons from Europe. Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday in what it called a special operation to demilitarise and 'denazify' the country - a justification dismissed by Kyiv and the West as propaganda. Before diplomats walked out on Lavrov's pre-recorded video message, a minute of silence was held for the victims of fighting in Ukraine. The walkout was led by Ukrainian Ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko, who told the crowd gathered around the large Ukrainian flag outside the chamber: 'Thank you very much for this wonderful show of support to Ukrainians who are fighting for their independence.' 'Any invasion constitutes a violation of human rights... massive violations and civilian losses,' French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont said. 'It is important that the Human Rights Council shows with this walkout that it is united with Ukraine and with the people of Ukraine.' The fresh walkout came less than an hour after diplomats all but emptied a nearby room at the UN's European headquarters in Geneva when Lavrov's video speech aired to the Conference on Disarmament, a body created in 1979 to try to stem the Cold War arms race. Outside that chamber, diplomats also gathered in front of a Ukrainian flag and applauded loudly. The applause could be heard in the chamber where Lavrov's speech continued, with only a handful of ambassadors from countries including Yemen, Syria, Venezuela and Tunisia there to hear it. Before diplomats walked out on Lavrov's pre-recorded video message, a minute of silence was held for the victims of fighting in Ukraine Ambassadors and diplomats walk out while Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (on screen) addresses the Geneva conference Ambassadors and diplomats walk out while Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (on screen) addresses with a pre-recorded video message the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday Delegates and ministers walk out of the Human Rights Council meeting during the video speech by Lavrov Ambassadors and diplomats gather next to Ukraine's ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko (centre) as she holds a Ukrainian flag after they walked out of the convention The walkout was led by Ukrainian Ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko, who told the crowd gathered around the large Ukrainian flag outside the chamber: 'Thank you very much for this wonderful show of support to Ukrainians who are fighting for their independence' Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov addresses a largely empty room at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Tuesday Russia's invasion of Ukraine has enlivened the deadlocked arms negotiating forum that has failed to reach a deal in decades despite holding over 1,600 plenary meetings. At the same meeting on Tuesday, Ukraine's foreign minister accused Russia of war crimes through its shelling of his country and the ambassador called for a special meeting to address Russian aggression and weapons of mass destruction. A copy of the request seen by Reuters said the meeting would address the 'the use of conventional weapons against the civilian population as well as nuclear and other WMD threats' and called for concrete and specific actions. It said the request was supported by 'numerous other' members of the 65-member body, without naming them. Russia's delegate objected to the meeting. Russia has become an international pariah since it launched a full-scale invasion six days ago, with its forces killing dozens on the streets of Ukraine's cities and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee. The morning meeting of the disarmament conference kicked off with a minute of silence for the victims in Ukraine. 'Russian indiscriminate attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure are war crimes and violations of the Rome Statute,' Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba told the meeting. The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. 'Russian aggression is a global threat,' Kuleba warned. 'The response too must be global.' He said Ukraine had called for a special plenary meeting on the crisis at the Conference for Disarmament but it remained unclear whether this would go ahead. Kyiv meanwhile succeeded on Monday to secure support for an urgent debate at the UN human rights council later this week. It will seek the creation of a high-level investigation into violations committed in the conflict, dating back to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. In his speech at the Conference on Disarmament, Lavrov meanwhile blamed Kyiv for the crisis and said Ukraine was trying to assemble nuclear weapons. 'I can assure you, Russia as a responsible member of the international community... is taking all necessary measures to prevent the emergence of nuclear weapons and related technologies in Ukraine,' he said. It comes as Kyiv claimed today that Belarusian troops have joined in the invasion of Ukraine, as a 40-mile Russian convoy bared down on the capital amid warnings that Putin will now use 'medieval tactics' to try and force a bloody victory after being handed a series of embarrassing defeats in the opening days of the war. Vitaliy Kyrylov, a spokesman for Ukraine's North Territorial Defense Forces, said that Minsk's men had entered the city of Chernihiv, north-east Ukraine, on Tuesday morning. Dictator Alexander Lukashenko acknowledged sending 'rapid deployment groups' to the border 'to stop any military action against Belarus', without acknowledging that his men had joined the attack. It came as a convoy of hundreds of Russian tanks, artillery pieces and trucks was pictured snaking its way towards Kyiv, leading to fears that its mission will be to surround the city, besiege it, and bomb it into submission as Russian forces did in Syria while fighting alongside Bashar al-Assad's forces. A convoy of Russian tanks, artillery pieces, fighting vehicles and support trucks now stretches all the way from Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kyiv, to the village of Prybirs'k some 40 miles away (part of the convoy is seen, right) There are fears the purpose of the convoy (pictured) is to surround Kyiv, besiege it and bomb it into submission - mirroring tactics Russia used in Syria while fighting alongside the forces of Basahar al-Assad A volunteer of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces walks by a damaged armored vehicle at a checkpoint in Brovary, Kyiv Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, said Russian forces may also try to spark a food crisis by cutting off supplies to major cities as pictures showed some store shelves already running empty in the capital. He said the military may have to step in to ensure everyone has access to food. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg today said Putin had 'shattered peace in Europe' with an invasion 'enabled by Belarus' while vowing to support Kyiv and defend 'every inch' of allied territory should the Russian strongman's sights wander outside Ukraine's borders. But, speaking during a visit to the Lask airbase in NATO member Poland, Mr Stoltenberg repeated that the alliance is 'defensive' and that no troops will be sent to assist Ukraine. 'NATO is not going to be part of the conflict,' he said. Russia already appeared to be employing siege tactics elsewhere in Ukraine today as the city of Mariupol, in the south, came under 'constant shelling' by Russian forces using artillery, Grad rockets, and fighter jets targeting civilians areas such as schools and homes which had left many dead, including women and children. Power to the city, which is in danger of being surrounded by Russian forces, has been cut - region head Pavlo Kyrylenko said Tuesday - but it remains under Ukrainian control. Kherson, another key city located in southern Ukraine with a bridge over the Dnieper River, also came under bombardment by Russian forces today as missiles landed near civilian buildings on the outskirts and troops were pictured moving through the streets. Kharkiv, in the east, continued to be bombed today with a large rocket landing in front of the civilian public administration building, leaving the interior heavily damaged. It came just a day after the city was hit by cluster bombs that landed near a shopping centre, killing at least 11 people and leaving dozens more wounded. Ukraine's ambassador to the UN later said that a thermobaric 'vacuum bomb' was also used on the country, though did not saying exactly when or where. President Volodymyr Zelensky this morning branded the Kharkiv bombing a 'terrorist' attack and branded Russia a 'terrorist state' while repeating calls for a war crimes investigation. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court at The Hauge has said that a probe will be established 'as soon as possible'. Sergey Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, said Tuesday morning that the invasion will continue until 'objectives are met' - which he said was to prevent Russia being threatened by the West. Kyiv endured another night of bombing on Monday before satellite images revealed the huge column of tanks headed for the city, with Putin's men trying to cut off the capital and bomb it into submission As Kyiv prepares for a dramatic escalation in bloodshed, Kherson, Kharkiv and Mariupol all came under shelling attack by Russian forces as Putin looks to achieve victory by brute forces after more-sophisticated tactics failed People walk by a damaged vehicle and an armored car at a checkpoint in Brovary, outside Kyiv A man reacts inside a vehicle damaged by shelling, in Brovary, outside Kyiv Members of an Ukrainian civil defense unit pass new assault rifles to the opposite side of a blown up bridge on Kyiv's northern outskirts, where fighting with Russian forces has been taking place In a grim sign of the carnage to come, he also warned that Ukraine's army is using civilians as human shields in what looks to be an attempt to justify the deaths of innocents as they ramp up over the coming days. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both said that Russian forces appeared to have used widely banned cluster munitions, with Amnesty accusing them of attacking a preschool in northeastern Ukraine while civilians took shelter inside. Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, told reporters after meeting with members of the U.S. Congress that Russia had used a thermobaric weapon, known as a vacuum bomb, in its invasion of her country. 'They used the vacuum bomb today,' Markarova said after a meeting with lawmakers. '...The devastation that Russia is trying to inflict on Ukraine is large.' A vacuum bomb, or thermobaric weapon, sucks in oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion, typically producing a blast wave of a significantly longer duration than that of a conventional explosive and is capable of vaporizing human bodies. There has been no official confirmation that thermobaric weapons have been used in the conflict in Ukraine. CNN reported that one of its teams had spotted a Russian thermobaric multiple rocket launcher near the Ukrainian border early on Saturday afternoon. The NSW Department of Education has issued an apology after blaming a principal for saying 'better breeding' is required in order to improve students' grades. Department officials claimed earlier this week an acting principal at Lithgow High School had been in a meeting with the director of educational leadership in September 2020 when they made the accusation. They were asked by the director: 'What will it take to move students from Band 4 to Band 5 in each HSC course?' to which they replied 'better breeding'. The remark, which was recorded in the minutes of the meeting, has been unearthed by One Nation MP Mark Latham, the Daily Telegraph reports. However, on Tuesday the department backtracked. It was forced to apologise to the unnamed ex-principal, explaining that meeting minutes from different schools had somehow been muddled up. The former relief principal who was blamed for saying Lithgow High School's grades could lift with 'better breeding' has been given a public apology - but the identity of the principal who did say it remains a mystery Lithgow High School (pictured) was exonerated by the education department's apology which said the school's former relief principal was not responsible for the 'better breeding' remark 'The Department has apologised to the former relieving principal for the inference that they were in any way involved in the matter,' the department told the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday. It admitted that the minutes containing the offending comment did not even relate to Lithgow High School. Notes from a meeting with another school were 'inadvertently included' with files given to parliament. One Nation MP Mark Latham, who uncovered the remark, now claims the high school principal who did make the remark remains in their job and has faced no consequences over the 'slur'. He also sledged the department as 'incompetent' over the messy episode. The identity of the official who made the remark remains a mystery. 'How incompetent is NSW Education Department?' Latham tweeted on Tuesday evening. 'Now [they are] saying they put the wrong document in the upper house Call For Papers. The better breeding slur is from a high school principal near Lithgow who, seemingly has stayed in her job untouched since the slur was made 18 months ago.' One Nation MP Mark Latham (pictured) condemned the 'slur' as 'nasty, elitist and condescending' and doubled down on his criticism, calling the education department incompetent In its apology issued on Tuesday, the department did not say which school the 'better breeding' suggestion related to or who said it. The context for the initial outrage was that whoever made the comment was asked by another senior education official: 'What will it take to move students from Band 4 to Band 5 in each HSC course?' They replied 'better breeding' - and it was recorded in meeting minutes. NSW One Nation Leader Mark Latham stumbled upon the comment when reviewing documents about a School Excellence Policy, following a parliamentary call for papers. He condemned the 'slur' as 'nasty, elitist and condescending' to the people of Lithgow as well as the students enrolled at the school. Mr Latham said the 'nasty' slur was the last thing the Lithgow community needed as it entered an economic transition following a loss of jobs in the mining sector. 'Is this really how schools in Lithgow are being run? With elitist, condescending, nasty reflections on the breeding of this working class community? he said. 'These are leaders who are supposed to have effective ways of improving school results yet instead they are sneering at the school community by saying there's something wrong with their breeding.' NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell (pictured) said she was 'shocked' that such a statement had come from a staff member The Department of Education responded to concerns by launching a formal investigation into the comments. Underneath the initial response of 'better breeding' the relieving principal goes on to suggest grades could be improved by choosing the correct maths course. 'We have the small numbers to allow students to push themselves to achieve mathematically in a higher course,' they wrote. 'This means we achieve bands 3 and 4 in Advanced courses rather than bands 5 in the Standard course. This gives our students more scope to access university courses.' NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said she was 'shocked' that such a statement had come from a staff member. Initially the department of education said the comment came from a former relieving principal at Lithgow High. 'The Department unreservedly apologises for the comment, which was inappropriate and doesn't reflect the standards we expect of our principals,' a spokesperson said. 'The comment was made by the then relieving principal, who is no longer in the role or teaching at any school. 'The matter was immediately addressed by the local director. It has been referred to the department's Professional and Ethical Standards Unit.' Lithgow High School is also exonerated by the department's apology. Calls grow to disband Financial Services Commission for better supervisory independence, consumer protection By Anna J. Park A long-running debate on how to restructure Korea's financial supervision system has reemerged ahead of the March 9 presidential election. Lawmakers from both the ruling and main opposition parties as well as financial experts from the private sector have been calling for an overhaul of the current financial regulatory system by the next administration, to ensure better supervisory independence and consumer protection. Currently, the country's financial policymaking and supervision are handled by two institutions: the Financial Services Commission (FSC) which assumes the roles of both directing financial industry policies and supervision, and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) which is focused on carrying out the supervision of private financial companies. The FSS is under the authority of the FSC. The current system was established at the onset of the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2008. Experts have long been critical of the current system as it does not guarantee the independence of the financial supervisory system. The core problem is that the FSC, the policy provider of the finance industry, also holds authority over supervisory functions in the financial sector, thereby impairing the objectivity of supervision. Due to conflicts between the two roles, the country's financial supervision could not earn a satisfactory level of independence to raise its proper voice of impartial criticism to limit any possible problematic financial practices or policies driven by the FSC. That's why four lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties each submitted their own bills to the National Assembly on restructuring the nation's financial supervision system. Despite slight differences in details, three of the four bills have a common element of dismantling the FSC. The submitted bills share a common awareness that the FSC's dual role in both policy and supervision has impaired supervisory functions, resulting in a series of financial fund fiascos, such as those associated with Lime and Optimus, which are two private equity funds that incurred huge losses on thousands of private investors. As a result, the bills aim to separate the policy and supervisory roles of financial watchdog agencies. Granting independence to FSS Financial experts in the private sector agree that it is necessary to separate the two functions to improve the country's financial market system. In early February, 312 experts comprised of financial professors and industry professionals released a joint statement calling for the financial supervisory function to be separated from the financial policy institution. The association of experts called for granting the financial supervisory institution complete independence from the government. "The restructuring of the financial supervisory organization is the utmost task that cannot be delayed further for the sake of financial development and consumer protection," Kim Dae-sik, a professor at Hanyang University, said during a press conference held in mid-February, representing the group's view that financial policy should be transferred to the government's Ministry of Economy and Finance, while financial supervisory functions should be implemented by an independent institution. "A raft of financial fiascos, ranging from savings bank scandals from the past to recent mis-selling of problematic funds, originated from the financial policy institution's control over the supervisory roles. Unless we rectify the structural problem that the supervisory function is swayed by government policy, it's hard to prevent such financial accidents," the association's statement read. Jun Sung-in, a professor at Hongik University's School of Economics who contributed to the joint statement, told The Korea Times that the country's current FSC-FSS system is fairly different from other advanced markets like the U.S., where the supervisory function is clearly separated from the government that devises industry policies. "Financial supervision should be taken up by an independent entity. Supervisory function is to serve the role of regulation and it should not be subject to a country's policy direction," Jun stressed. The professor explained that while Korea's monetary policies under the authority of the Bank of Korea were once controlled by economic ministers during the 1960s, this underdeveloped system was revamped to grant deserved independence to the central bank. He continued that the financial supervisory role should be given similar independence to the central bank's, utterly separated from the current problematic organizational structure where the government exerts control over supervision. "The current supervisory system under the purview of the FSC is not desirable in the sense of the development of the financial market nor in consumer protection. Such a system is rarely seen in advanced market countries," Jun reiterated. Guaranteeing checks and balances Regarding such arguments in favor of dismantling the FSC, financial industry watchers have come up with less drastic measures. They point out that the structure and the number of employees at the FSC have been increasing over the years. As a result, making structural changes to the FSC and FSS system would be a more realistic approach to improve the situation, according to experts. "I think the status of the FSS governor in the governing body of the FSC should be strengthened in order for the supervisory agency to better carry out its supposed role of checks and balances against the FSC. In addition, the FSC's secretariat has been controlling the budget and personnel matters of the FSS. I think it needs to be changed; the FSS should have its decision-making rights in matters of budget and personnel to secure the supervisory institution's independence," stressed Lee Sung-bok, research fellow at the Korea Capital Market Institute. Meanwhile, the financial authority has been showing a low-key approach regarding such matters. FSC Chairman Koh Seung-beom said it is now more important to focus on solving imminent problems, such as the deepening financial imbalance in the COVID-19 situation. "I think it's more important to create a system where financial authorities could organically cooperate in a concerted effort, rather than changing the system itself," Koh said during a National Assembly audit last October. Russian politicians who voted to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk are now saying they regret their decision and have condemned Vladimir Putin's invasion. Dissent to the war is growing not only on the streets in Russia, with thousands arrested during protests, but also in parliament where dissent against the leader is rare. Three members of the Communist Party, which typically remains loyal to Putin on key issues, have spoken out against the military action, saying they did not realise what they were voting for. Vyacheslav Markhaev, a senator from Siberia, wrote on Facebook that Putin 'hid plans to unleash a full-scale war with our closest neighbour'. His remarks follow two of his party colleagues who have denounced the invasion. Vyacheslav Markhaev, a senator from Siberia, said he did not realise Vladimir Putin would launch an invasion Oleg Smolen said he was 'shocked' by the invasion, saying military force should only be used as a last resort Mikhail Matveyev from Samara also called for the war to be stopped, saying he 'voted for peace, not for war' Markhaev said members of Russia's Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly, did not know the vote would lead to a full-scale invasion Ukraine war: The latest Russia promised on Monday that it would hit back against the EU following its support of Ukraine and warned the West against supplying weapons to the country A second round of talks aimed at ending Russia's attack on Ukraine is set to take place after the first meeting ended without resolution Ukraine's MoD says Russia has lost 5,300 soldiers, 29 planes, 29 helicopters and 151 tanks Russia's MoD has for the first time acknowledged suffering losses, but refused to say how many Ukraine reports 352 civilian deaths since the start of the invasion, including 14 children. The UN puts the civilian toll at 102, including seven children. Russian economy entered freefall as Western sanctions put in place over the weekend took effect, with ruble sliding to its lowest level ever Moscow's central bank has more-than doubled the interest rate to 20 per cent Russia orders people and companies to sell 80 per cent of their revenue in foreign currencies, forcing them to buy the ruble to help prop it up Moscow stock exchange won't open until at least 3pm in an attempt to head off all-out crash Zelensky has allowed Ukrainian prisoners to be freed if they join defence forces to 'repay their debt' Ukraine president also announced creation of 'international brigade' for foreign volunteers wishing to join military, after 'thousands' applied Spain's foreign minister called Putin's order to put nuclear forces on high alert 'one more sign of [his] absolute irrationality' Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his country should be open to hosting nuclear weapons Germany announced a $112million fund to rebuild the country's armed forces, more-than double its current self-defence budget EU announced, for the first time in its history, that it will send funds to Ukraine for weapons - including fighter jets Advertisement Oleg Smolen said he was 'shocked' by the invasion, saying: 'As a Russian intellectual, I am convinced that military force should be used in politics only as a last resort. 'I could not vote for the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics without betraying myself.' Mikhail Matveyev from Samara also called for the war to be stopped, saying in a now-deleted tweet: 'I voted for peace, not for war. For Russia to become a shield, so that Donbas is not bombed, and not for Kyiv to be bombed.' Markhaev said members of Russia's Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly, did not know the vote would lead to a full-scale invasion. He wrote: 'It is sad to watch what is happening around Ukraine, and it hurts the soul, imagining where our world and the whole world's contribution can go. 'We needed the recognition of the independence of the Republic of DPR and LPR to protect them from complete extinction. It was thought that this could be developed the possibility of continuing negotiations and finding new compromises to settle all sharp corners. 'To my great regret, the whole Campaign in recognition of the DPR and the LPR had a completely different idea and plan, which was initially hidden, and as a result, we were in a state of full-scale confrontation and war between the two states. 'It is very painful to lose colleagues, colleagues, co-workers, ordinary young and promising guys. It is very painful to look in the eyes of their parents, children and loved ones.' He continued: 'I condemn the West's unjustified strategy, their double standards policies, promoting their own interests through a change of lawful power in countries they don't suit, seize new territories under false slogans of protecting democracy. 'I also condemn the leadership of Russia, which began to use the same methods of double standards. Under the aegis of recognition of the DPR and LPR, we have hidden plans to launch a full-scale war with our closest neighbor.' An online petition to stop the war which was launched shortly after the invasion was announced on Thursday has garnered over 1 million signatures, which made it the most widely-supported online petition in Russia in recent years. Since the first day of the attack on Thursday, Russians in Moscow, St. Petersburg and dozens of other cities have been taking to the street to protest it - only to be swiftly, and often brutally, detained by police. On Monday, the OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests counted at least 350 detentions of protesters in 13 Russian cities. Over the past five days of protests, more than 6,000 people been detained, according to OVD-Info. Many were detained, according to local media, and one woman lost consciousness while being arrested, Novaya Gazeta reports The OVD-Info rights group that tracks political arrests now counts 6440 detentions in anti-war demonstrations in the country since February 24 Videos on Telegram show protesters sitting on the floor, clapping, and chanting 'no to war' as others showed police taking protesters away Kyiv endured another night of bombing on Monday before satellite images revealed the huge column of tanks headed for the city, with Putin's men trying to cut off the capital and bomb it into submission As Kyiv prepares for a dramatic escalation in bloodshed, Kherson, Kharkiv and Mariupol all came under shelling attack by Russian forces as Putin looks to achieve victory by brute forces after more-sophisticated tactics failed In an effort to stifle critical voices, Russian authorities have restricted access to Facebook, which has played an important role in amplifying dissent. Internet users also reported problems with accessing Twitter. Russian officials have also pressured the media to cover the invasion in strict accordance with the official line and have bemoaned the reports that described Russia's attack on Ukraine as an 'invasion' or 'a war' as untrue. The website of the Current Time, a Russian TV channel launched by the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that has been critical of the Kremlin, became unavailable Sunday after the channel reported receiving a notification from the authorities. 'I have two sons and I don't want to give them to that bloody monster,' Dmitry Maltsev, 48, who joined the rally in St. Petersburg, told The Associated Press. 'War is a tragedy for all of us.' Protests also took place in Belarus, where more than 500 people were detained on Sunday, according to the country's most prominent human rights group. The Viasna human rights center said demonstrations were held in at least 12 cities, including Minsk, the capital. Demonstrators placed flowers on a growing pile outside the Ukrainian Embassy. It comes as Russia's ministry of defence said today it was going to strike sites it said belong to Ukraine's security forces and special operations units in Kyiv, warning civilians who live near the buildings to evacuate. There are fears that Russia is about to massively step up its assault on Ukraine including on its major cities using heavy and indiscriminate bombardments, after attempts at using more-sophisticated tactics yielded a series of embarrassing setbacks for Putin's forces in the opening days of the conflict. Kharkiv was struck by more Russian rockets on Tuesday morning, with one striking outside the civilian public administration building which was heavily damaged in the blast. The rocket can be seen a split second before it slams into the building, triggering a massive blast The rocket caused huge damage to the building and threw up a huge plume of smoke in the aftermath of the explosion This image, posted by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, shows the square outside the administrative building covered in rubble following the rocket attack Russia already appeared to be employing siege tactics elsewhere in Ukraine today as the city of Mariupol, in the south, came under 'constant shelling' by Russian forces using artillery, Grad rockets, and fighter jets targeting civilians areas such as schools and homes which had left many dead, including women and children. Power to the city, which is in danger of being surrounded by Russian forces, has been cut - region head Pavlo Kyrylenko said Tuesday - but it remains under Ukrainian control. Kherson, another key city located in southern Ukraine with a bridge over the Dnieper River, also came under bombardment by Russian forces today as missiles landed near civilian buildings on the outskirts and troops were pictured moving through the streets. Kharkiv, in the east, continued to be bombed today with a large rocket landing in front of the civilian public administration building, leaving the interior heavily damaged. At least 10 people were killed and more than 20 were injured in the attack, which came just a day after the city was hit by cluster bombs that killed at least 11 people and left dozens more wounded. Ukraine's ambassador to the UN later said that a thermobaric 'vacuum bomb' was also used on the country, though did not saying exactly when or where. President Volodymyr Zelensky this morning branded the Kharkiv bombing a 'terrorist' attack and branded Russia a 'terrorist state' while repeating calls for a war crimes investigation. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court at The Hauge has said that a probe will be established 'as soon as possible'. The civilian death toll has increased significantly in the past two days since Russia began its bombardment, with Ukrainian authorities reporting 352 civilian deaths since the start of the invasion, including 14 children. Advertisement Prince Charles said today that his mother the Queen is 'a lot better now' after she held two virtual audiences at Windsor Castle following her Covid diagnosis. Nine days after she caught the virus, the 95-year-old head of state felt well enough to speak to the diplomats who were at Buckingham Palace today after postponing similar virtual engagements on two days of last week following her positive test on February 20. Buckingham Palace said at the time of her positive test that she was experiencing 'mild cold like symptoms', but she was able to continue with 'light duties' throughout the period while she was unwell. The heir to the throne reassured well-wishers during a visit to Essex to formally present Southend with the Letters Patent granting it city status following the death of MP Sir David Amess. The prince and his wife Camilla went on a long walkabout on the seafront and Janice Jacom, 64, an admin worker from a local golf course, asked about the Queen's health. She said: 'I asked the prince about his mother and he said "she's a lot better now - it was very mild". It was a bit worrying as the Queen is getting on a bit, but I think she's absolutely wonderful.' Today, the Queen received His Excellency Mr Carles Jordana Madero, who presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Principality of Andorra ambassador to the Court of St James's. The monarch also received His Excellency Mr Kedella Younous Hamidi, who presented his Letters of Credence as ambassador from the Republic of Chad to the Court of St James's this morning. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said it was 'splendid news that indicates she has recovered from Covid'. Another royal expert, Phil Dampier, tweeted that the Queen was 'seemingly a lot better', adding: 'What a woman.' During the two audiences the Queen wore a green dress with a large brooch and her trademark pearls. It comes after a diplomatic reception the monarch was due to host at Windsor Castle tomorrow was also postponed. The Queen was due to meet hundreds of members of the Diplomatic Corps but Buckingham Palace said on Saturday she had accepted the Foreign Secretary's advice to delay the event. It is understood the decision was made because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Queen Elizabeth II appears on a screen via videolink from Windsor Castle today during a virtual audience with an ambassador Queen Elizabeth II appears on a screen via videolink from Windsor Castle for a virtual audience to receive the Ambassador of Andorra, Carles Jordana Madero (centre), and Soraia Maria Valls Pinilla (left), at Buckingham Palace in London today The Prince of Wales has revealed that the Queen is 'a lot better now', as he met well-wishers in Southend-on-Sea today It comes after the Daily Mail revealed today that the Queen had enjoyed an afternoon with some of her nearest and dearest over the weekend as she continued her remarkable recovery from Covid. The 95-year-old monarch went to Frogmore on her Windsor Estate on Sunday, where younger members of her family had gathered to meet her for the first time since her diagnosis. They included Princess Beatrice, her baby daughter Sienna and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children, who were all making the most of the unseasonably glorious sunshine. When in better health, the Queen often drives to Frogmore, which is about a mile from Windsor Castle, to walk her dogs. Today, the Queen received His Excellency Mr Carles Jordana Madero, who presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Credence as Principality of Andorra ambassador to the Court of St James's The Queen also received His Excellency Mr Kedella Younous Hamidi, who presented his Letters of Credence as ambassador from the Republic of Chad to the Court of St James's this morning at Buckingham Palace But following a spate of issues and her recent diagnosis with Covid-19, she has not been such a frequent visitor of late. It is believed that Princess Eugenie, her husband Jack Brooksbank and their year-old son August, who live at Frogmore Cottage, were not at home on Sunday. The Queen is said to be making a 'good recovery' from her bout of coronavirus following an outbreak of cases at Windsor. Last week she was forced to cancel a number of online engagements while in isolation. But sources said there was no cause for alarm, explaining her reluctance to appear on camera was due to sounding rather hoarse as a result of the virus. The Queen is pictured in the back of a Range Rover leaving Windsor Castle today after suffering from coronavirus The Queen is driven in a Range Rover today as she leaves her residence of Windsor Castle in Berkshire William and Kate's presence was intriguing coming the day after the Mail revealed that their plans for a new family life in the Home Counties were moving forwards swiftly. The couple are advanced in their decision for a new Berkshire prep school for their eldest son Prince George, eight. And they have been looking at new family homes on the Windsor Estate, although well-placed sources have said that the castle itself has been earmarked for the couple one day. The Queen has a string of high-profile events coming up that she is due to attend, including 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. The nation's longest reigning monarch, who is believed to have been triple vaccinated, recently spent more than three months resting, on doctors' orders. In the autumn she pulled out of attending the Cop26 climate change summit, the Festival of Remembrance and then the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph service due to a sprained back. She also missed the Church of England's General Synod. The Queen now regularly uses a walking stick and has been pictured looking frailer recently. She remarked during a Windsor Castle audience last month: 'Well, as you can see, I can't move.' Her lights duties as head of state include working from her red boxes, sent to her every day and containing policy papers, Foreign Office telegrams, letters and other State papers which have to be read and, where necessary, approved and signed. A senior Tory MP today warned Russia could try to disguise agents as Ukrainian refugees to enter the UK and carry out a repeat of the Salisbury spy attack. Mark Harper, the former chief whip, said the Russian regime 'will not hesitate to send agents here to kill British citizens' as he urged the Government to maintain strict checks on the people coming to the UK. Mr Harper said it is 'really important that we continue to keep the biometric checks in place' because he can 'still remember what happened in Salisbury' in 2018 when a Novichok nerve agent was used on the streets of the Wiltshire city. Home Secretary Priti Patel insisted the checks will be kept in place amid calls from some MPs to cut 'red tape' to make it easier for Ukrainian refugees to come to Britain. Ms Patel told the House of Commons that Russian troops are 'seeking to infiltrate and merge with Ukrainian forces' and 'extremists are on the ground in the region too'. She said that because of this, combined with 'Putin's willingness to do violence on British soil', the Government 'cannot suspend any security or biometric checks on people we welcome to our country'. It came as Boris Johnson today predicted more than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees could come to the UK after ministers offered more help to people fleeing the Russian invasion. The Prime Minister said Vladimir Putin's attack had 'already forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and we must prepare for an even larger outflow' as the conflict worsens. Mr Johnson said 'many people in Britain will of course want to help Ukrainian refugees', with ministers now allowing Ukrainians living in the UK to bring their relatives here. The premier said the numbers are 'hard to calculate' but it could be in excess of 200,000 - double an initial Government estimate of 100,000 - after ministers today decided to extend the refugee scheme. The original scheme allowed people to be reunited with their 'immediate family' but Downing Street said it will now be widened to also cover parents, grandparents and children over 18. Meanwhile, the Government is also creating a 'humanitarian sponsorship pathway' which will allow individuals, charities and business groups to offer to sponsor Ukrainian citizens with no family ties to the UK so they can come to Britain. Mark Harper, the former chief whip, said the Russian regime 'will not hesitate to send agents here to kill British citizens' as he urged the Government to maintain strict checks on the people coming to the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel insisted the checks will be kept in place amid calls from some MPs to make it easier for Ukrainian refugees to come to Britain Boris Johnson today predicted more than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees could come to the UK after ministers offered more help to people fleeing the Russian invasion Some MPs have urged the Government to waive visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens coming to the UK. Ms Patel told the Commons this afternoon: 'I have heard some members calling for visa waivers. Russian troops are seeking to infiltrate and merge with Ukrainian forces, extremists are on the ground in the region too.' The Home Secretary was heckled by some SNP MPs but continued: 'I will continue and perhaps the opposite party members, I will take their questions later on, but I actually do want to emphasise the seriousness of the security situation on the ground and that is not something that can be discounted lightly at all.' She added: 'Given this and also with Putin's willingness to do violence on British soil and in keeping with our approach which we have retained consistently throughout all emergency evacuations, including that in Afghanistan, we cannot suspend any security or biometric checks on people we welcome to our country. 'We have a collective duty to keep the British people safe and this approach is based on the strongest security advice.' The SNP's Stuart C. McDonald later told Ms Patel: 'The simple and just response is to waive visa requirements for Ukrainians and offer comprehensive protection, that is the only way to stop splitting up families and the only way to help Ukrainians as a whole, avoiding the red tape that we have already heard about today.' But Mr Harper hit back and said: 'Could I just gently say to SNP members it is really important that we continue to keep the biometric checks in place. 'I can still remember what happened in Salisbury. The Putin regime is a regime that will not hesitate to send agents here to kill British citizens and it is the Home Secretary's job to make sure we keep people safe.' Ms Patel yesterday announced the Government was 'giving British nationals and any person settled in the UK the ability to bring over their immediate Ukrainian family members'. However, that only covered spouses, unmarried partners in relationships of at least two years, parents of children under the age of 18 and children under the age of 18. Number 10 confirmed at lunchtime that the scheme will be extended to cover more groups. The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman told reporters: 'The Home Secretary set out the first phase yesterday. But you can be any nationality. It is not about being a UK citizen, you just need to be settled in the UK. 'The extension will cover adult parents, grandparents, children over 18 and siblings in addition to the immediate family members.' Ms Patel confirmed the extension in the Commons as she said: 'Those joining family in the UK will be granted leave for an initial period of 12 months. They will be able to work and access public funds.' The Home Secretary also said the Government will set up a 'humanitarian sponsorship pathway' which will 'open up a route to the UK for Ukrainians who may not have family ties with the UK'. The scheme will allow individuals, charities, businesses and community groups to offer to sponsor Ukrainian citizens so they can come to Britain. They will initially have leave to remain for 12 months and will be able to work and access public services. Ms Patel said: 'The Home Office will work closely with all our international partners on the ground to ensure that displaced Ukrainians that are in need of a home are supported. 'My colleague, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up (Michael Gove), will work with the devolved administrations to ensure that those who want to sponsor an individual or a family can volunteer and be matched quickly with Ukrainians in need. 'There will be no numerical limit on this scheme and we will welcome as many Ukrainians as wish to come and have matched sponsors. 'Making a success of the new humanitarian sponsorship pathway will require a national effort from the entire country and our country will rise to that challenge.' The Government has stressed it is helping the nations surrounding Ukraine to offer support to refugees. Mr Johnson said 'many people in Britain will of course want to help Ukrainian refugees', with ministers now making it easier for Ukrainians living in the UK to bring their relatives here. A refugee is pictured today at a border checkpoint in Medyka, Poland Speaking today during a visit to Warsaw in Poland, Mr Johnson said: 'When I spoke to President Biden and fellow leaders last night, we focused on the humanitarian emergency that is now beginning. 'Putin's invasion has already forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and we must prepare for an even larger outflow, perhaps numbered in the millions. 'Poland has already welcomed many thousands of refugees with compassion and practical help, and the UK will provide up to 220million of emergency and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and I have placed 1,000 troops on stand-by to help the humanitarian response in neighbouring countries, including in Poland. 'Many people in Britain will of course want to help Ukrainian refugees. So, we will make it easier for Ukrainians already living in the UK to bring their relatives to our country, and though the numbers are hard to calculate they could be more than 200,000. 'And if the worst happens, and President Zelensky's government is no longer able to function in Kyiv, we must prepare to support them whatever happens in the weeks ahead.' Advertisement The fencing around the U.S. Capitol is back up, police are stationed at major intersections and highways in Washington D.C. and the National Guard on standby ahead of President Joe Biden's Tuesday evening State of the Union address - but, undeterred, the People's Convoy is still rallying through the midwest on its way to the capital. Federal authorities beefed up security in the area after dozens of trucker convoys announced plans to gather in the capital city and protest coronavirus restrictions, including one group that threatened to shut down a major interstate. However, after at least two of the announced trucker convoys fizzled due to to a lack of participation, it is unclear if any of the anti-vaccine protesters will arrive in time for the president's annual address to Congress. The largest truck caravan, the eight-mile long, 100-vehicle People's Convoy, rallied in Missouri overnight and continued its trek through Illinois on Tuesday, despite a harsh warning from state police discouraging protesters and threatening legal action for traffic disruptions. Modeled after recent trucker protests in Canada that shut down border crossings to the U.S., the People's Convoy has called on Biden to end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as any remaining coronavirus mandates. The truckers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the mandates. 'This is not a left issue. This not a right issue. This is an American issue,' trucker and Peoples' Convoy co-organizer Brain Brase, 37, of Ohio, told a crowd of supporters in Missouri Monday night. 'Not only have we seen multiple violations of our constitutional rights, but on a global scale we have seen violations of our God-given rights. Governments around the world are violating your human rights.' The People's Convoy - which has raised more than $1.5million in donations made through its own website - has sworn not to disrupt roads or bridges and organizers have promised a '100% safe, lawful and peaceful journey' that will 'terminate in the vicinity of the D.C. area, but will NOT be going into D.C. proper.' The trucker caravan intends to reach the greater D.C. area on Saturday, March 5. A freedom convoy rally was held in D.C. on Tuesday afternoon, however barely a half-a-dozen people turned up. EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS - MARCH 1: The People's Convoy is making its way across the United States towards Washington, D.C. Protesters departed Cuba, Missouri on Tuesday morning and are heading to Monrovia, Indiana. The convoy will travel through Illinois, along the Dan Ryan Expressway, despite a harsh warning from state police discouraging protesters and threatening legal action for traffic disruptions EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS - MARCH 1: A crowd of People's Convoy supporters are pictured on an overpass along Highway 70 waving American flags, as well as Trump and Let's Go Brandon flags EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS - MARCH 1: Truckers are pictured driving along Highway 70 in Effingham, Illinois which is home to America's 2nd largest cross WASHINGTON D.C. - MARCH 1: Federal authorities had prepared for trucker protests ahead of President Joe Biden's Tuesday night State of the Union Address. The fencing around the U.S. Capitol was back up, police were stationed at major intersections and highways in the area and the National Guard was placed on standby. However, the rally that did occur on the National Mall near the Washington Monument was poorly attended The largest group of protesters - The People's Convoy - is not slated to arrive in the capital city until Saturday, March 5 The People's Convoy - which embarked from California last week on an 11-day trek to Washington D.C. - departed Missouri early Tuesday morning and began its route to Indiana, which included traveling along the Dan Ryan Expressway in Illinois. The convoy was met with a wave of support in the Prairie State as citizens were seen cheering for the truckers with flags as signs as they drove along the interstate. The positive response contradicted that of Illinois State Police Division of Patrol Col. Margaret McGreal who, before the convoy's arrival, had warned that officials will take action against any protesters who violate state law and endanger citizens. 'A planned event designed to impede normal traffic flow is dangerous to the innocent motoring public,' McGreal told WGN. 'Those who choose to participate in events that intentionally endanger the public and violate Illinois law will be subject to the enforcement of applicable laws and could potentially be held liable for traffic crashes occurring as a result of their actions.' Kris Young, who is the admin for the People Convoy's Facebook page, reiterated earlier this week that the group would continue it's route through the Prairie State regardless of the warning. 'We encourage the people of this state to come out and show your support and/or join us!!' she wrote. EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS - MARCH 1: The eight-mile long, 100-vehicle People's Convoy, continued its cross-country trek through Illinois on Tuesday. The group will stop in Indiana overnight EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS - MARCH 1: The People's Convoy was met with a wave of support in the Prairie State as citizens were seen cheering for the truckers with flags as signs as they drove along the interstate EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS - MARCH 1: A woman decked out in stars and stripes waves an American flag to show her support for the People's Convoy as it rolls through her Illinois town LEASBURG, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: The People's Convoy is traveling across Missouri and into Illinois as it continues its journey to Washington D.C. on Tuesday. The group will stop Tuesday night in Indiana FENTON, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: A crowd of People's Convoy supporters are seen an over pass cheering and waving flags as the truck caravan nears the Illinois border CUBA, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: Modeled after recent trucker protests in Canada that shut down border crossings into the U.S., the People's Convoy is protesting mask and vaccine mandates, and other COVID-19 restrictions CUBA, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: Convoy co-organizer Brain Brase, 37, of Ohio, (not pictured) told a crowd of supporters in Missouri Monday night: 'This is not a left issue. This not a right issue. This is an American issue. Not only have we seen multiple violations of our constitutional rights, but on a global scale we have seen violations of our God-given rights. Governments around the world are violating your human rights' LEASBURG, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: The People's Convoy is met by waving supporters as it travels along I-44 in route to Indiana Convoy supporters slamming Illinois law enforcement on social media, accusing ISP of being hypocritical in its response to the protest after state troopers shut down the same motorway for a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. 'Illinois is a People's Convoy no-go zone,' tweeted Dan Proft. 'ISP on the #BlackLivesMatter protest in Aug. '20 that shut down the Dan Ryan Xway: "We have been in contact with the protest organizers to set up a safe route of travel...will protect the rights of those seeking to peacefully protest."' 'Welcome to Illinois! The Land of Communism,' echoed Erin Geary. 'Utterly sickening. The rank and file tend to be good. But ISP/CPD leadership is complacent. We support the police and they shut down peaceful protests. No good deed goes unpunished,' added Matt McKeon. The People's Convoy left Adelanto, California, about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, last Wednesday with more than two dozen 18-wheeler trucks and about 50 pickups and recreational vehicles. It has since grown to include about 100 vehicles and spans a distance of eight miles, according to organizers. The group is expected to be joined by more than 20 other truck cavalcades, including ones leaving from Texas and Pennsylvania, when it arrives in D.C. ST. JACOB, ILLINOIS - MARCH 1: The People's Convoy is pictured crossing in to Illinois from Missouri as onlookers cheer CUBA, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: A biker who requested not to be named is pictured at the travel center in Cuba, Missouri, where the People's Convoy held a rally Monday night. The group will continue its cross-country commute on Tuesday FENTON, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: Truckers are pictured driving along Highway 70 near the Missouri-Illinois border CUBA, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: The People's Convoy prepares to leave Cuba, Missouri for Indiana on Tuesday CUBA, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: The convoy left Missouri on Tuesday and headed to Indiana, driving through Illinois. Illinois State Police Division of Patrol Col. Margaret McGreal has warned the protesters officials will take action against any participants who violate state law and endanger citizens CUBA, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: Two different semis sporting anti-vaccine mandate signs CUBA, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: The People's Convoy left Adelanto, California, about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, last Wednesday with m ore than two dozen 18-wheeler trucks and about 50 pickups and recreational vehicles. It has since grown to include about 100 vehicles and spans a distance of eight miles, according to organizers The convoy was met with a wave of support as it rolled through Missouri on Monday. Large crowds of supporters were seen lining the roadways and waving American flags as the trucks drove along the interstate, honking the horns as the onlookers cheered. The group held two rallies in the state on Monday and featured several right-wing speakers, including former Governor Eric Greitens - a Republican who Missouri from January 2017 until June 2018 when he resigned amid sexual misconduct and campaign finance allegations. 'You know what scares the left?' Greitens asked the cheering crowd, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 'You do. You know what scares tyrants? You do. You know what scares the mainstream media with all their lies? We do. Let everybody know that we are here to take our country back.' He accused the left, which he claims extends beyond the Democratic party, of trying to silence American citizens. 'We are talking about leftism as a tyrannical movement,' he said. 'And thats why all these people are here. Its freedom vs. tyranny.' Rally participants echoed Greiten's claims, arguing COVID-19 restrictions have negatively impacted their lives. Leigh Dundas, a California attorney who is assisting the convoy, told the crowd: 'We are all essential and weve got to get back to working and making this capitalist country what it always has been a wonderful, God-loving, God-fearing economy that is just started.' 'I refused to get the jab, and they terminated me,' convoy participant and former Kaiser Foundation Hospitals telehealth nurse, Pedley-McClintick, 69, told the newspaper Monday night when asked why she was rallying. 'I am so overtaken by the experience. I am committed now. I am fully engaged. Its so nice to be around like-minded people. Its really beyond the vaccine. Its really fighting for the soul of democracy, for the soul of America as we knew it.' CUBA, MISSOURI - MARCH 1: A trucker named Dan, of Dallas, who is traveling with the People's Convoy as it heads for Washington D.C. Dan is pictured at a truck stop in Cuba, Missouri Tuesday morning CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: The largest truck caravan, the eight-mile long, 100-vehicle People's Convoy, rallied at a truck stop in Cuba, Missouri Monday night CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: Former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens (right) spoke at the rally. He told the crowd: 'You know what scares the left? You do. You know what scares tyrants? You do. You know what scares the mainstream media with all their lies? We do. Let everybody know that we are here to take our country back' CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: The People's Convoy has already raised more than $1.5million in donations made through its own website CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: The truckers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the COVID-19 era mandates. Leigh Dundas (not pictured), a California attorney who is assisting the convoy, told the crowd at the rally in Cuba, Missouri Monday: 'We are all essential and weve got to get back to working and making this capitalist country what it always has been a wonderful, God-loving, God-fearing economy that is just started' Meanwhile, Washington D.C. remains on high-alert despite there being no specific or credible threats related to Biden's Tuesday night speech. Law enforcement officials have taken extra precautions ahead of the event. citing the trucker convoys and concern for an event similar to that of Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump successfully stormed the Capitol, briefly disrupting the certification of the 2020 election. Federal investigators have been monitoring online chatter surrounding the State of the Union address and the trucker protests. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said Sunday the fencing that was erected around the Capitol grounds was put up 'out of an abundance of caution.' The fencing was last erected after the Capitol insurrection and remained up for several months. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington's non-voting delegate in the House of Representatives, has said she doesn't want the fence to stay up indefinitely this time. 'I will ensure that the fencing comes down as soon as possible to restore freedom of movement for District of Columbia residents and the general public,' Norton penned in a statement last week. Capitol Police have also requested additional assistance from outside law enforcement agencies before Tuesday's address, as well as help from the National Guard. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee said Monday that his department is closely monitoring the shifting information and would be devoting additional policing in a rolling state of heightened alert over the next few weeks. 'We regularly handle peaceful demonstrations and welcome all to the nation's capital to exercise their First Amendment rights,' Contee said. But he warned that the multiple security departments were 'prepared to take swift law-enforcement actions for violations of our local and federal laws, if necessary.' FORT LEONARD, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: A man is seen saluting as the People's Convoy rolls through Missouri on Monday CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: Convoy supporters (pictured at Monday night's rally in Missouri) have accused Illinois law enforcement of being hypocritical in its response to the protest, citing how state troopers shut down the same motorway for a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020 CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: A semi traveling with the People's Convoy is pictured at a truck stop in Missouri. Based on its 'Freedom Convoy 2022' sign, it is probable this truck was originally traveling with the now-disbanded Freedom Convoy USA group. At least one other announced trucker convoys has fizzled due to to a lack of participation CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: A truck displaying a collection of flags, including campaign flags for former President Donald Trump, attended the rally in Missouri CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: A crowd of supporters stood along the interstate waving American flags as the People's Convoy arrived in Cuba, Missouri on Monday A rally was held in D.C. Tuesday in honor of the truckers, however the event was poorly attended. Kyle Sefcik, a small gym owner and independent candidate in the Maryland Gubernatorial race, hosted the Stage of Freedom rally at the Sylvan Theater on the National Mall to protest the national state of emergency and what he considers to be unconstitutional mandates imposed by the Biden administration and other government entities in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Sefcik had been promoting the trucker convoys, as well as his rally, on social media over the past few days. He was a member of the Freedom Convoy USA 2022 campaign that was forced to disband due to lack of participant. He also claims to have been censored by online platforms, specifically Twitter, for speaking out against vaccine mandates. Sefcik is not the only convoyer whose protest was met with a disappointing turnout. Bob Bolus, who led a small convoy out of Scranton, Pennsylvania, had promised to shut down the Beltway and other roads leading into and out of D.C. ahead of the State of the Union speech, but had not disclosed how he intended to do so. When asked about it last week, he told reporters his convoy was 'not going to cause a traffic problem any more than [D.C. residents] live with every single day.' However, his overhyped convoy - which was advertised as having at least 50 participants - only contained eight vehicles, including organizer Bolus' semi. WASHINGTON D.C. - MARCH 1: Kyle Sefcik (left), a small gym owner and independent candidate in the Maryland Gubernatorial race, hosted the Stage of Freedom rally at the Sylvan Theater on the National Mall Tuesday. His poorly attended rally intended to protest the national state of emergency and what he considers to be unconstitutional mandates imposed by the Biden administration and other government entities in response to the coronavirus pandemic WASHINGTON D.C. - MARCH 1: Sefcik had been promoting the trucker convoys, as well as his rally, on social media over the past few days. He was a member of the Freedom Convoy USA 2022 campaign that was forced to disband due to lack of participant WASHINGTON D.C. - MARCH 1: Attendees of a Freedom Convoy USA 2022 rally recite the pledge of allegiance at the start of their poorly attended protest at the Sylvan Theater on the National Mall in D.C. on Tuesday SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 23: Trucker Bob Bolus (pictured) had promised to shut down the D.C. Beltway and roads leading in and out of the city for Biden's SOTU address. After failing to secure substantial participation in his convoy, Bolus has backtracked and claims he will not attempt to interfere with traffic Bolus has since backtracked and says although he still has hopes of disrupting the Beltway someday, he will not attempt to interfere with traffic. 'Were not putting a chokehold on D.C. today,' he told the Daily Beast last Thursday. 'Not to say that it wouldnt happen in the very near future. Its just going to be an idea of whats to come.' The organizer did note his convoy will 'peacefully' sit in Beltway traffic without attempting to cause any backup. 'Were going to go with the flow. Today were going to go with the flow of traffic,' he said. 'If they go at two miles an hour, we will be at two miles an hour.' It remains unclear if Bolus and his convoy are still planning to assemble outside the Capitol Tuesday night or if the group even reached D.C. Multiple reports indicated that Bolus hit many roadblocks along the way, including a flat tire and getting lost along his route. The trucker has not yet responded to DailyMail.com's outreach, nor has he provided any updates about his protest on social media. The anticipated trucker protests comes as nearly every state in America either has lifted mask orders or has scheduled a day to do so in the near future, with the exception of Hawaii. Even the U.S. Capitol, which has had a controversial mask mandate since legislators returned in Summer 2020, lifted mask orders over the weekend. Vaccine mandates, possibly the most controversial COVID-related mandates, are starting to become a thing of the past as well as New York City aims to drop them for businesses like bars and restaurants in the coming week. WASHINGTON D.C. - FEBRUARY 28: Meanwhile, Washington D.C. remains on high-alert Tuesday despite there being no specific or credible threats related to Biden's State of the Union speech WASHINGTON D.C. - FEBRUARY 28: Capitol Police have also requested additional assistance from outside law enforcement agencies before Tuesday's address, as well as help from the National Guard. A Guard vehicle seen along the city streets WASHINGTON D.C. - FEBRUARY 28: Law enforcement officials have taken extra precautions ahead of the event. citing the trucker convoys and concern for an event similar to that of Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump successfully stormed the Capitol, briefly disrupting the certification of the 2020 election VINITA, OKLAHOMA - FEBRUARY 28: However, the People's Convoy has sworn not to disrupt roads or bridges and organizers have promised a '100% safe, lawful and peaceful journey' that will 'terminate in the vicinity of the D.C. area, but will NOT be going into D.C. proper' CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: The People's Convoy is scheduled to arrive in the greater D.C. area on Saturday CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: Convoy supporters are seen waving American and Blue Lives Matter flags as the convoy rolls through Missouri on Monday CUBA, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 28: The People's Convoy holds a rally in Missouri The policy changes are in response to case loads across the country having dropped precipitously since their early January peak, with the omicron variant proving to be less likely than earlier strains to cause death or serious illness, especially in vaccinated and boosted individuals. On Monday, the U.S. recorded 106,018 new coronavirus infections, a 19 percent fall over the past week, and a 86 percent drop since the Omicron surge peaked at 800,000 cases per day in mid-January. Deaths are plummeting as well. On average, 1,961 Americans are dying from COVID daily, a 5 percent increase over the past week and a 21 percent drop from the peak of the Omicrons surge when around 2,500 Americans were succumbing to the virus daily. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also issued new coronavirus guidelines on Friday that resulted in the lifting of mask recommendations for 70 percent of Americans. Under the CDC's newly revised calculations, only 28.2 percent of the American population - living in 37 percent of counties - is still recommended to mask up in indoor, public, settings. These counties are scattered throughout America, but include the entire state of West Virginia and much of its neighbor, Kentucky. Oregon and Montana have large portions of the state classified as 'high' risk as well. The policy changes come as case loads across the country have dropped precipitously since their early January peak, with the omicron variant proving to be less likely than earlier strains to cause death or serious illness, especially in vaccinated and boosted individuals. On Monday, t he U.S. recorded 106,018 new coronavirus infections, a 19 percent fall over the past week Deaths are plummeting as well. On average, 1,961 Americans are dying from COVID daily, a 5 percent increase over the past week and a 21 percent drop from the peak of the Omicrons surge when around 2,500 Americans were succumbing to the virus daily Every US state is also reporting a COVID-19 vaccination rate of over 50% Slide me The revised CDC guidelines - released Friday - moved the number of U.S. counties considered as 'high' or 'substantial' risk down to 30% (right) from 95% (left). The first map is the nation's counties under initial calculations, while the second is the revised version unveiled by the CDC Friday afternoon Children as young as four could be given anti-racism lessons as part of Brighton and Hove City Council's extended plans to 'decolonise' the school curriculum. The Green Party-controlled authority previously approved its 500,000 five year anti-racist education strategy, which proposed racial literary lessons for children aged seven and above, in November 2020. But next week, the council's children, young people and skills committee will vote on whether or not to extend the programme to children in the early years foundation stage and key stage one - children aged four to seven. The strategy cites professor Evan Apfelbaum, and says: 'Children as young as three years old begin to learn the markers of racial categories and hierarchy and yet the widespread view that children, particularly young children, are racially unaware persists.' The extended strategy comes weeks after education secretary Nadhim Zahawi was forced to investigate Brighton and Hove Council over reports that 'concerning' race theories are being taught in schools run by the local authority. More than 5,000 people signed a petition slamming the council for allegedly telling primary school children they are 'racists' or 'victims of their classmates' in lessons. Children as young as four could be given anti-racism lessons as part of Brighton and Hove City Council's extended plans to 'decolonise' the school curriculum. Pictured: Brighton Royal Pavilion The council's recently published education strategy gives a nod to university professor Ibram X Kendi, who is linked with the controversial philosophy critical race theory. The first quote said: 'We are all socialised and conditioned into unequal and racialised societies. All of us have work to do to 'unlearn' the racism we have absorbed from society.' While the second quote said: 'The majority of the people around the globe are not white and yet ideas about white superiority are still deeply influential and prevalent.' Last month, leaked slides from race training given to teachers in Brighton and Hove Schools showed children as young as seven were being taught that they are not 'racially innocent', because they view 'white at the top of the hierarchy', according to the Sunday Telegraph. In response to that report, Mr Zahawi said: 'Every day in schools across the country, brilliant teachers are teaching sensitive issues in a balanced and inclusive way - which is why reports like this one are so concerning. 'These issues can be divisive if covered the wrong way, and I am clear - as is the law in the country - that any contested theories and opinions must not be presented to young people as facts.' The council will extend the programme to children as young as four if proposals are approved by councillors at a meeting next Monday. The draft version of the anti-racist education strategy was agreed by the council in November 2020 and in March 2021, 100,000 of funding for each of the five years of the 500,000 strategy was approved. In a report issued to councillors ahead of next week's meeting, the council said pupil of colour workshop programmes, which supported children to 'articulate their heritage and identity' were piloted in the city's Patcham High and Varndean schools. Cardinal Newman Catholic School, in Hove, piloted a peer mentoring project, according to the report, while St Luke's Primary piloted a similar support group for primary age pupils. The report also said St Luke's Primary and Elm Grove Primary were supported to pilot innovative engagement activities with their BAME parent and carer communities. During the first year of the strategy, around 300 people were asked to provide feedback with the majority being 'very positive', according to the report. In an example of the feedback, one respondent said the project was 'ambitious and wide-ranging' and had a more long-lasting aim than 'one-off or tokenistic work'. The extended strategy comes weeks after education secretary Nadhim Zahawi (pictured) was forced to investigate Brighton and Hove Council over reports that 'concerning' race theories are being taught in schools run by the local authority Last month, more than 4,700 people signed a petition in Brighton and Hove entitled, 'Stop the council teaching our kids that they are racists or victims of their classmates'. The petition accused the council of teaching a 'warped ideology' and alleged that the council refused to release the training materials under the Freedom of Information Act, citing the commercial interests of the training providers. At the same time, the council's 'Anti-Racist Schools' strategy document called parents who object to critical race theory, a controversial racial ideology, as 'potential barriers to implementation'. Brighton council launched its plans in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, when protests swept across the US, UK and many other Western countries. Its chair of children, young people and skills, Hannah Clare, said training has been 'co-developed with people affected by racism, and addresses the urgent need to tackle issues that have historically led to inequalities for people of colour'. She added: 'Education settings have confirmed that there is a need for this strategy and commitment to the work. It includes behaviour management, recruitment and retention of staff and helping young people understand the complex issues of race.' Ms Clare said feedback on the programme had been 'overwhelmingly positive'. Scott Morrison has tested positive to Covid-19 after experiencing flu-like symptoms. The Prime Minister had cancelled an event in Sydney on Tuesday night after falling ill just hours after he tested negative on the self-administered RAT test. He had a noticeable and persistent cough during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Morrison said he is isolating at home in Sydney and following health guidelines. His wife Jenny and their two daughters have tested negative but will also isolate for seven days at home as close contacts. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday night Just after 7.30pm, Mr Morrison's office told journalists he would not be attending a planned event in Sydney to light up the Opera House with Ukraine's colours. The event was planned to start at 8pm and the NSW government was advised he could not attend at 'very' late notice. The Prime Minister's office said he was 'no longer available' to attend but did not specify illness as the reason for his decision to cancel his appearance. At 11.24pm Mr Morrison's office issued a statement confirming that the Prime Minister has tested positive for Covid-19. The statement was a direct communication from Mr Morrison, saying he had tested positive to Covid-19 and is 'experiencing flu-like symptoms'. It went on to say he 'will be recovering over the next week'. Mr Morrison said he had tested himself daily since Sunday, including on Tuesday morning, 'with all tests returning a negative result'. 'I took a further test this evening after developing a fever late today. The test was inconclusive so I took a PCR test tonight which returned a positive result late this evening,' he said. Scott Morrison (right) with his wife Jenny (second left) and their daughters. Mr Morrison has tested positive for Covid-19 Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce also contracted Covid-19, while on a visit to Washington DC, late last year. Defence Minister Peter Dutton also tested positive to Covid early in the pandemic. Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer, who is running for the Senate in Queensland on the United Australia Party ticket, tested positive to Covid and pneumonia last week. Mr Palmer is unvaccinated and an outspoken opponent of Covid-19 vaccinations. Scott Morrison's statement on Twitter that he has tested positive for Covid-19 The Prime Minister said he will continue to carry out his responsibilities while in isolation, 'including virtually chairing meetings of the National Security and Expenditure Review Committees of Cabinet'. He said he would also be focusing on the 'emergency response to the devastating floods in Queensland and New South Wales and ensuring we stand with each and every one of the affected communities both now and as the waters eventually recede'. Mr Morrison also referred to 'our urgent response to the tragedy unfolding in the Ukraine and Russia's senseless aggression'. He said he would be staying in regular contact with Australia's 'security and intelligence officials and our international partners, as well as working with the Treasurer to finalise the Budget'. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is briefed on the flooding disaster in Queensland and NSW in the National Situation Room at Emergency management Australia in Canberra Mr Morrison had been expected to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky on Tuesday night, but it is not known if this phone call went ahead, given Mr Morrison's sudden illness. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Prime Minister's office with a number of questions about the situation. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Morrison called Russia 'a pariah state' as he announced a $105million aid package for Ukraine. Australia will send $70million worth of defensive supplies to Ukraine, the vast majority of which is lethal aid including missiles and bullets to help fend off Russia's invasion. A further $35million will be sent to provide shelter, food and water for hundreds of thousands of women and children who have become refugees after fleeing the warzone. Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny light a candle in support of Ukraine during a vigil at St Andrews Ukrainian Church in Sydney on February 27, 2022 'This will be our opening contribution. We expect over time there will be further requests and we will be addressing those as time goes on,' he said. 'We're talking missiles, ammunition, we are talking about supporting them in their defence of their homeland. The overwhelming majority of that will be in the lethal category.' Is was also announced on Tuesday that Australia will take in thousands of Ukrainian refugees who have escaped their homeland after Russia invaded. Mr Morrison said he is working on a temporary protection scheme similar to the one deployed during the Kosovo War. In April 1999, Australia created 'safe haven' visas for about 4,000 Kosovars. Nearly all of them stayed for less than a year and returned home when the war ended. 'We should not make the mistake thinking that every person who is seeking to leave Ukraine does not want to return to their home country,' Mr Morrison said. Scott Morrison speaks following a service by Reverend Simon Ckuj at St Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Lidcombe on February 27, 2022 'I have no doubt hundreds of thousands, if not more, will want to return to their home country. 'That's where their family is, that's where their lives are and we want to ensure that those things are not taken from them.' Mr Morrison said more than 500,000 Ukrainians have fled their country and 160,000 more are on the move. Alongside the temporary protection programme, Australia will also offer permanent humanitarian visas to some Ukrainians. But Mr Morrison said the number of places available will be worked out later because the demand 'is not very clear' at the moment. 'We will address that in partnership with other agencies when we get to that point. And if that requires supplementing our existing program, just like with the Afghanistan program we're currently working on, then we will,' he said. Vladimir Putin's alleged 18-year-old love child has been trolled online over the Russian war on Ukraine. Luiza Rozova, a student in St Petersburg, has come under siege on Instagram over the invasion with followers asking her: 'Are U sitting in the bunker?? Like a rat?'. Rozova, who has 84,000 followers, stopped publicly posting five months ago, triggering the suspicion that Putin had gagged her - though her account remains visible. It comes amid claims Putin has hidden his family members in a luxury hi-tech bunker in an 'underground city' in Siberia, designed for protection in the event of a nuclear war. In recent days trolls have commented on Rozova's last post, from October 2021, accusing the teen of being the 'daughter of a murderer, war criminal, psychopath and drug addict'. Many posts include the Ukrainian blue-and-yellow flag and one carried the message: 'The Russian nation must rise against this dictator. You don't want to have anything to do with him.' Vladimir Putin's alleged 18-year-old love child Luiza Rozova (left and right) has been trolled online over the Russian war on Ukraine Rozova, who has 84,000 followers, stopped publicly posting five months ago, triggering the suspicion that Putin had gagged her - though her account remains visible Rozova is the daughter of cleaner-turned-multimillionaire Svetlana Krivonogikh, 46, now a part-owner of a major Russian bank. Svetlana - who owns a 3.1 million plush property in Monaco - has not commented on claims that her daughter was fathered by the Kremlin strongman, and nor has Rozova, who is also known as Elizaveta, although she told Russian GQ that she 'probably' looks 'similar' to a young Putin. Putin has not publicly acknowledged her. A troll suspecting she may be in her mother's Mediterranean bolthole said: 'While you're fluffing around in Monaco, people of your generation are dying in Ukraine because of your father. 'Your destiny will be that of Marija Milosevic when your dad gets sent to The Hague. 'SHOW YOUR FACE YOU COWARD!' She was told: 'Young Russian soldiers are being sent to Ukraine without any knowledge about where they are, who they fight and what they do. 'The Russian economy is collapsing, reaching absolute zero. 'Soon, if not already, you won't be able to use Netflix, Spotify, social media apps, pay with Google and Apple Pay, all popular brands and boycotting and exiting Russia.' Rozova was also told: 'Many Ukrainians have forgotten about what sleep is, and even more so in bed. After all, falling asleep, many of us run the risk of not waking up. 'People spend the night in basements like rats because bombs are falling from the sky and rockets are coming. 'All you need is not to be silent, not to stand aside. Tell people the truth about what is happening in Ukraine! 'We want to live in peace and sleep peacefully in our beds, to know that in the morning our relatives and friends will be alive.' In recent days trolls have commented on Rozova's last post, from October 2021, accusing the teen of being the 'daughter of a murderer, war criminal, psychopath and drug addict' Svetlana Krivonogikh (pictured) has not commented on claims that her daughter was fathered by the Kremlin strongman, and nor has Rozova, who is also known as Elizaveta Rozova is the daughter of cleaner-turned-multimillionaire Svetlana Krivonogikh, 46, (pictured) now a part-owner of a major Russian bank But commenters also defended her, with one saying: 'Don't judge her...is not her fault.' Another wrote: 'She cannot do anything for having a crazy father'. One more said: 'Come on guys, she is just a person. She is not guilty.' But a commenter called Martina hit back: 'Yes, she is guilty of passive complicity. It is the same as most of the Germans in the Nazi period.' Another penned: 'Call him - if he loves you ... maybe you can convince him not to kill.' One posted: 'Stop writing she's an innocent. She is the daughter of that devil! She could at least show that she does not agree with what her father is doing, somehow influence him. 'Putin doesn't give a s*** for ordinary people, but maybe his daughters still mean something to him. She stays quiet because she knows if she says one bad word to Daddy, she will be cut off from big money, apartments and expensive things. 'Unfortunately, there are important things - and more important things. Apparently, purses and villas are more important to her than human life.' Luiza earlier showed her life at cafes, on trips to Paris and running her own fashion label. She was also seen working as an in-demand DJ. Luiza earlier showed her life at cafes, on trips to Paris and running her own fashion label. She was also seen working as an in-demand DJ Putin has two daughters by his ex-wife Lyudmila, the former Kremlin first lady. Likewise, neither of them - Dr Maria Vorontsova, 36, a geneticist, and Katerina Tikhonova, 35, a high-kicking 'rock'n'roll' dancer-turned-mathematician, has commented on the war. Meanwhile Ksenia Shoigu, 31, financial whizz-kid and glamorous daughter of Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu, has made her account private in recent days. Shoigu, a married mother-of-one, was previously open in Instagram but her account is now private. She graduated from elite Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) - a training ground for diplomats and spies. She was previously adviser to the Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprombank. In February, she became the managing partner of the Sistema SmartTech investment fund. Ksenia Shoigu, a married mother-of-one, was previously open in Instagram but her account is now private. She graduated from elite Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) - a training ground for diplomats and spies A self-confessed 'scumbag' hotel boss is facing up to five years in jail for sexually assaulting two of his female staff. 'Ex-army' Gary Adam, 35, 'used his power as the boss' to intimidate and sexually assault two women, one of whom he told he would 'snap like a twig'. The father-of-one attacked an 18-year-old university student working as a waitress and a 23-year-old barmaid, Falkirk Sheriff Court was told. The women worked at Waverley and Crags hotels that were both co-owned by Adam and opposite each other in the main street of the Scottish tourist town of Callander, Perthshire. Gary Adam, 35, (pictured) faces up to five years in jail after intimidating and sexually assaulting two women Jurors heard the 18-year-old had been working for Adam for only a week when he made a pass at her while she was in another local pub playing pool. When she went into work on December 8, 2019, she told him she 'didn't want to lose her job, or have sex with him'. Within hours, however, he asked her into the office at the Waverley Hotel on the 'ruse' that she needed a new uniform T-shirt, pushed her against a wall, put his hand 'quite tightly' round her neck, kissed her forcibly on the lips, and tried to put his hand down the front of her jeans. The woman told jurors he was 'growling or grunting' in her ear and said he would 'snap her like a twig'. She said: 'He's quite strong, ex-Army, and I'm five foot three.' She said on an earlier occasion he had snapped a pool cue in front of her. She left 'in shock and disbelief' but later that night Adam sexually assaulted her again, 'touching her bum' in a darkened hotel kitchen as she bent over to get cutlery. The next day she gave her two weeks' notice. The court heard Adam also sexually assaulted a 23-year-old woman repeatedly in January 2020 while she was working at the Crags Hotel. The 'ex-army' father-of-one attacked a university student working as a waitress, 18, and a barmaid, 23 Weeping, she said he had followed her into a walk-in cupboard where she fetching juice, locked the door behind them and pinned her 'forcibly' against the wall with two hands on her shoulders as he tried to kiss her. She said she was 'frozen' and 'scared' and didn't know what to do. She was only able to leave when a customer called from the bar. Later Adam, who had earlier been drinking with friends, returned alone and 'a bit more drunk' and asked her for the key to one of the hotel bedrooms. He then texted a demand that she deliver a Peroni beer to the bedroom. After she left it outside he opened the door, grabbed her wrist, and 'dragged' her in, pushing her back onto the bed. There, he held her arms above her head and tried to kiss her. He also took her phone. She said she 'just kept saying no' and eventually he told her to go back to the bar but refused to return her phone. When he gave it back later, the text message asking her to take beer to his room had been deleted. He described himself in evidence as 'a scumbag' for cheating on his own partner but denied the charges The court heard Adam later told the woman 'it would never happen again'. Just three weeks later after finishing her shift at the Crags she went over to the Waverley to see some friends when Adam asked her if she would give him a lift back to his home on the outskirts of Callander in her Renault Clio. She thought it awkward if she refused but on the short drive he immediately asked her if she would stay with him in one of the hotel rooms. When she turned him down, he demanded she stop and let him out. Before she had even had a chance to turn off the engine he climbed over, sat on top of her, forced her head back, and forced her mouth open with his hand. She said: 'He managed to get it open and put his tongue down my throat. I just sat there. I didn't know what to do. 'He put his hand in my leggings and under my underwear. 'His fingers touched my private area. They didn't go inside, but they were very close to.' 'Scared and disgusted', the woman managed to call a random number on her phone, and when Adam realised he stopped and asked to be driven the rest of the way home. After a three-day trial, the jury found father-of-one Adam, a first offender, of Cambusmore, Callander, guilty of five charges of sexually assaulting the women. After a three-day trial, the jury found father-of-one Adam, a first offender, of Cambusmore, Callander, guilty of five charges of sexually assaulting the women He described himself in evidence as 'a scumbag' for cheating on his own partner, but denied the offences, claiming that in some cases what the women had said did not happen, and when it had happened, it was with consent. Prosecutor Cheryl Clark said Adam had perpetrated 'a pattern of systematic abuse against the two young women, engineered situations to be alone with them, and used fear, intimidation, physical strength, and his powerful role as their employer to manipulate the situation'. Sheriff Christopher Shead continued bail for reports, placed Adam on the sex offenders' register, and warned a custodial sentence would be considered. Adam will appear again on March 31. Advertisement The Russian invasion of Ukraine has seen a build-up of NATO troops deployed across eastern Europe in an effort to further reinforce the region. Thousands of troops, backed by air and naval support, have been sent to protect allies near Russia and Ukraine in response to Vladimir Putin's decision to invade. The size of NATO battlegroups in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, once ruled from Moscow but now part of the European Union, are set to almost double from 3,400 troops at the start of the year to more than 6,000 in the near future. In recent days, British troops have arrived in Estonia while Norwegian soldiers landed in Lithuania as they bolster NATO's eastern flank amid fears Russia will not stop at Ukraine and invade the former Soviet states as well. The United States recently reinforced the region with some 5,000 additional troops deployed to Poland and Romania. Both NATO countries border Ukraine, which is not part of NATO. A number of French troops were traveling to Romania on Tuesday to further strengthen the region, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said. The alliance is to discuss further reinforcement steps at its next summit in June in Madrid. U.S. soldiers line up at an airport in Bavaria, Germany, after they were transferred from Nuremberg, on Tuesday Tanks uploaded on military truck platforms as a part of additional British troops and military equipment arrive at Estonia's NATO Battle Group base in Tapa, Estonia, on Friday Dutch soldiers of the Air Mobile Brigade in Assen arrive at Schiphol Airport for a military exercise which was supposed to take place in Germany, but has been moved to northeast Romania due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on Monday Norwegian soldiers of the NATO enhanced forward presence battalion pose at a military plane as they arrive at an airport in Kaunas, Lithuania, on Sunday It is Nato's responsibility to 'ensure that we don't see a development where a conflict in Ukraine spiralled out of control and becomes a full-fledged confrontation between Nato and Russia in Europe,' Mr Stoltenberg said. He said alliance commanders are insisting that they are 'able to maintain deconfliction (contacts) with Russia'. The alliance today said NATO foreign ministers will hold emergency talks in Brussels on Friday over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. NATO allies have rushed to bolster their eastern flank after Putin ordered the attack, but remain adamant that they will not get involved militarily in the war in non-NATO member Ukraine. Meanwhile, an additional NATO battlegroup is being formed for Slovakia in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which will include 1,500 troops in total. The battlegroup will include 1,200 foreign troops and a Patriot missile defence system manned by German and Dutch personnel, Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said on Saturday. NATO-member Slovakia shares a border with Ukraine and does not currently have foreign soldiers stationed on its territory. NATO pledged to further reinforce its eastern flank after Russia attacked Ukraine this week. Slovakia will provide 300 soldiers to the NATO battlegroup, he said, taking its total size to 1,500. Slovakia was also in talks on providing troops for the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia, he said. German soldiers comprise about half of a 1,100-strong NATO battlegroup in Lithuania that includes troops from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway. French soldiers of the 27th Battalion of Alpine Hunters listen to a speech at French air force base in Istres before their departure to Romania as part of the NATO's military reinforcement following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday Separately, Britain is reinforcing the British-led NATO battlegroup in Estonia with 800 troops. The UK has also sent Challenger 2 tanks and armoured vehicles of the Royal Welsh battlegroup to the country from Germany. After these and expected future reinforcements, NATO forces in the Baltic States - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - will almost double and will reach more than 6,000 troops in three battlegroups in each country, Lithuania's Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas told Reuters. The NATO troops in the three countires numbered about 3,400 at the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, the UK has sent HMS Trent and HMS Diamond, a Type 45 destroyer, to conduct NATO exercises with Merlin helicopters and RAF P8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft in the eastern Mediterranean. Last week, Stoltenberg said NATO will send part of its Response Force and elements of a quickly deployable spearhead unit to the alliance's eastern flank. It's the first time the force has been used to defend NATO allies. Stoltenberg did not say how many troops would be sent or where they might go, but he did confirm that the move would involve land, sea and air power. In response to Europe's biggest security crisis in decades, Stoltenberg said: 'We are now deploying the NATO Response Force for the first time in a collective defense context. We speak about thousands of troops. We speak about air and maritime capabilities.' The NRF can number up to 40,000 troops, but Stoltenberg said that NATO would not be deploying the entire force. Parts of a spearhead unit known in NATO jargon as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, which is currently led by France, will also be sent. The announcement came after NATO members, ranging from Russia's neighbor Estonia in the north down around the west of conflict-hit Ukraine to Bulgaria on the Black Sea coast, triggered urgent consultations Thursday about their security amid concerns from the invasion. 'We will continue to take all measures and decisions required to ensure the security and defense of all allies,' the leaders said in a statement. 'We will make all deployments necessary to ensure strong and credible deterrence and defense across the alliance, now and in the future.' A convoy of British armoured vehicles of the Royal Welsh Battlegroup is on the way to Estonia driving through Liepupe, Latvia, on Friday A convoy of British armoured vehicles of the Royal Welsh Battlegroup is on the way to Estonia driving through Liepupe, Latvia, on Friday The world's biggest security organization previously had around 5,000 troops stationed in the Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and Poland, but has significantly beefed up its defenses over the past three months. Stoltenberg thanked the U.S. and Canada for recent commitments to deploy an extra 7,640 troops, including an armored brigade combat team, artillery units, a naval frigate, and surveillance aircraft. It was not immediately clear whether those troops were part of the NRF deployment. The NATO chief today said that, despite Russia's threats about nuclear weapons, the alliance sees no need to change its own nuclear weapons alert level. Stoltenberg spoke following talks on European security with Polish President Andrzej Duda at an air base in Lask, central Poland, where Nato's Polish and US fighter jets F15 and F16 are based. 'We will always do what is needed to protect and defend our allies, but we don't think there is any need now to change the alert levels of Nato's nuclear forces,' Mr Stoltenberg said. Russia has raised the spectre of nuclear war, reporting on Monday that its land, air and sea nuclear forces were on high alert following President Vladimir Putin's weekend order. Nato itself has no nuclear weapons, but three of its members do, the United States, Britain and France. 'We strongly believe it's reckless and irresponsible the way Russia is speaking about nuclear weapons,' Mr Stoltenberg said, standing in one of the base's hangars, which has been turned into a conference room with Polish and Nato flags and jets around it. Mr Stoltenberg stressed that Russia has signed a number of deals agreeing that nuclear war cannot be won and should not be fought. He called on Russia to 'stop the attacks and withdraw all its forces and engage in good faith in diplomatic efforts' to end the war. Government delegations from Ukraine and Russia met for talks in southeastern Belarus on Monday, but the outcome was not immediately clear. 'This is a horrendous, horrific invasion of an innocent country and we see that civilians are killed. 'It's a brutality that has to stop immediately,' Mr Stoltenberg said. Meanwhile, France said it would deploy jet fighters and other reinforcements to bolster North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces on the alliance's eastern flank. President Emmanuel Macron ordered four jet fighters, along with roughly 100 air-support staff, to be deployed in Estonia beginning by mid-March, according to a Defense Ministry statement. French jet fighters based in France have also stepped up flights over Baltic states, the statement said. Mr. Macron has also ordered a spearhead battalion with 500 troops to Romania as part of what the French said was an acceleration of a planned deployment, and 200 additional troops to supplement French forces on the ground in Estonia. 'Russian aggression in Ukraine has created a new situation that necessitates more than ever the need for solidarity among allies,' France's Defense Ministry said. Some of NATO's 30 member countries are supplying arms, ammunition and other equipment to Ukraine, but NATO as an organization is not. It won't launch any military action in support of Ukraine, which is a close partner but has no prospect of joining. French soldier seen working in a cargo plane as French troops arrive in Constanta, a Black Sea port, eastern Romania, on Monday French soldiers are seen leaving a cargo plane as French troops arrive in Constanta, a Black Sea port, eastern Romania, on Monday The Baltic members, however, have said the West should 'urgently provide Ukrainian people with weapons, ammunition and any other kind of military support to defend itself as well as economic, financial and political assistance and support, humanitarian aid.' NATO began beefing up its defenses in northeastern Europe after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Recently, some members have also sent troops, aircraft and warships to the Black Sea region, near allies Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. Short-term, NATO has also activated an emergency planning system to allow commanders to move forces more quickly. Surveillance aircraft have also begun patrols inside allied territory. Last week, a contingent of American F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters arrived on NATO's eastern flank to fortify allied airspace following Russia's invasion. On Thursday, a total of six F-35s forward deployed east from Germany to bases in Estonia, Lithuania and Romania, as part of a broader shuffling of troops and equipment announced by President Joe Biden. Biden has said that the movement is defensive in nature and that the U.S. has 'no intention of fighting Russia', but vowed to defend 'every inch of NATO territory with a full force of American power.' Ukraine is not a member of NATO. 'We are facing a dynamic environment, and the deployment of F-35s to NATO's eastern flank enhances our defensive posture and amplifies the Alliance's interoperability,' said General Jeffrey L. Harrigian, U.S. Air Force in EuropeAir Forces Africa commander, in a statement. The fighter jets from the 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing had been operating out of Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany. Photos show two of the advanced F-35 fighter jets landing on Thursday at Romania's 86th Air Base, less than 100 miles from where the Danube River forms the border with Ukraine. As well, an undisclosed number of F-35 fighters landed Thursday afternoon at NATO's air base in Amari, near Estonia's capital Tallinn, Estonian media reported. F-35 fighters were reported to have arrived also at NATO's air base in Lithuania. It means some 12,000 U.S. troops, total, have deployed or been ordered to deploy to Europe from the United States, and another 2,000 troops already in Europe who have moved closer to NATO's eastern flank. It brings the total US troop level in Europe to well over 90,000. Biden announced the movement of U.S. troops and equipment eastward in Europe last Tuesday, saying the forces will assist with border reinforcement on NATO's eastern flank and refugee processing, but will not intervene militarily in Ukraine, where Russia launched an all-out invasion early Thursday. The unprecedented deluge hammering down on millions across New South Wales is only expected to get worse over the coming days, with flood warnings issued for 11 rivers and thousands forced to flee their homes. After areas in northern NSW and southern Queensland were devastated by floods and heavy rainfall, Greater Sydney is expected to cop the brunt of the wet weather heading into Wednesday and Thursday. Those in Sydney's north-west have been warned of potential flooding from the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers, with many sandbagging their homes in preparation. Severe weather warnings for damaging winds and heavy rainfall in Sydney, the South Coast and parts of the Hunter coast were issued on Tuesday afternoon as 200mm of rain was predicted to fall over six hours. Houses are seen on the banks of an overflowing Clarence River in Grafton, some 130 kms from the New South Wales town of Lismore on March 1 Those in Sydney's north-west have been warned of potential flooding from the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers, with many sandbagging their homes in preparation Commuters have been warned to stay home if they can on Tuesday as heavy rain is expected to hit Sydney (pictured: A woman walking through Sydney) Thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy to torrential rain may also lead to flash flooding along the length of the coast from the Hunter down to Bega on the south coast, combined with severe warnings of abnormally high tides and damaging surf. Premier Dominic Perrottet asked residents to 'show caution' when making their way into the city on Wednesday. 'Obviously we want people to come back to the Sydney CBD but based on the advice from the Bureau (of Meteorology) it's going to be a difficult week in our city as we see those heavy rains come from the north. 'Ultimately right now we say to people right across our city and our state, look after yourself, follow the advice and stay safe.' The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts as much as 120mm of rain, which could lead to flash flooding, may fall across these areas over a six hour period early on Wednesday morning. A total of 200mm of rainfall is possible in Sydney on Wednesday alone, followed by a further 20 to 45mm on Thursday. Damaging winds of up to 90km/h are also forecast for the NSW coast from Wednesday while damaging surf conditions and abnormally high tides are also on the horizon for areas south of Forster. The Warragamba Dam is likely to spill over on Wednesday, having reached 99 per cent capacity on Tuesday. As of Tuesday night 350,000 NSW residents had been given evacuation orders or warnings, with 1,000 having been rescued. The deluge hammering down on thousands of residents around New South Wales is only expected to get worse for Sydneysiders over the coming days (pictured floods in Cabarita, northern NSW) Northern NSW has been battered by heavy rainfall, with Sydney, the Hunter and South Coast now expected to cop the brunt (pictured, volunteers handing out supplies in Fingal on Tuesday) Damaging winds of up to 90km/h are also forecast for the NSW coast from Wednesday (pictured homes submerged in water in Ballina on Tuesdau) The Ballina Hospital was forced to evacuate its staff and patients to a nearby high school as flood waters rapidly rose higher. Fifty-five patients from the hospital were moved to the Xavier Catholic College where a makeshift emergency department is being set up for any others needing urgent care. All patients have been transported with the help of NSW Ambulance and SES crews. 'The evacuation is taking place on the advice of the local Police Commander and out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and safety of patients and staff,' Northern NSW Local Health District said. An almost completely submerged lamp post is seen in Grafton in NSW on Tuesday (pictured) Ballina Hospital was forced to evacuate its staff and patients to a nearby high school as flood waters rapidly rose higher Those in low-lying areas in Ballina and Lennox Head were earlier on Tuesday evening told to leave amid worsening weather conditions. FLOOD WARNINGS Wilsons River - Major flood warning Clarence River - Major flood warning Tweed River - Minor to major flood warning Orara River - Minor to major flood warning Richmond River - Minor to major flood warning Nepean and Hawkesbury River - Minor to moderate flood warning Manning River - Minor flood warning Bellinger and Kalang Rivers - Minor flood warning Macleay River - Minor flood warning Hastings River - Minor flood warning Nambucca River - Minor flood warning Source: Bureau of Meteorology Advertisement NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet described the downpour as a 'one in 1,000-year' event. 'The worst could be yet to come... the flood rivers remain a real risk to people's lives and we will be doing everything we can to get every person, every family, every business back on their feet as quickly as possible,' Mr Perrottet said. 'I also want to say as well, we know that at the moment this is focused on the north. But very quickly, as we're seeing in metropolitan Sydney now, it will move to the south.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned millions across the length of NSW's east coast that they needed to prepare. 'This rather significant weather system, we will continue to see moving down the east coast of Australia. We will see it come into the Central Coast and Sydney,' he said. 'We are already experiencing elements of that right now, and particularly over the next 24 hours, we will then see that extend further into the South Coast of New South Wales. And we need to be continuing to be preparing ourselves for the impacts in those regions.' South-east Queensland is set to be smashed by yet more storms, bringing days of damaging large hail and even more heavy rainfall, with flood warnings for creeks and streams between now and the weekend. The arrival of the system in Sydney comes just a week after the city was smashed by a severe downpour that turned streets into rivers in the inner-west and saw the Parramatta River break its banks. Sydney and the NSW coast will now bear the brunt of the latest 48-hour weatherbomb explosion (pictured) More than 300,000 residents across NSW have been given evacuation order or warnings (pictured in Grafton) The city has a 80 to 95 per cent chance of rain everyday over the next week until at least Tuesday. It comes as flooded Lismore reports its first death of the crisis - with an 80-year-old woman found dead inside her home about 10.20am. Earlier on Tuesday harrowing footage showed residents and horses and trapped on a bridge at Woodburn, south of Lismore, after being stranded overnight. All were later rescued and brought to safety. South-east Queensland is set to be smashed by yet more storms, bringing days of damaging large hail and even more heavy rainfall NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet earlier described the downpour as a 'one in 1000-year' event and warned Sydney was next in line to cop the brunt of the weather (pictured in Lismore) A convoy of at least 20 cars and several horses are trapped on a bridge at Woodburn near Lismore in northern NSW By Lee Hae-rin Thirteen college students won video contest awards hosted by The Korea Times and the Embassy of India in Korea, Monday. Under the theme of "Diversity and Multiculturalism," the event was held to celebrate India's 75th anniversary of independence. The Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin, Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan and India's Deputy Chief of Mission Surinder Bhagat, Kim Sook-ja, an official from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and nine winners joined the event. In her speech, the Indian envoy underlined the importance and value of diversity and multiculturalism, sharing India's effort to bring its diverse population together in its political and social system. "With this experience, we have been able to reach the understanding that the strength of a nation relies on the ability to welcome diverse people and culture and allow them to explore and fulfill their potential," she said. "We hope that this video contest has encouraged some young minds to think about this one shift and embrace it and make it part of their own lives and practice it in the right ways," the ambassador said. Oh emphasized the values of multiculturalism, introducing the newspaper's efforts to defend these values by holding annual multicultural youth awards with the help of the ministry for 11 years. "Why are we putting so much focus on diversity? I believe it is not a matter of choice, but a matter of survival," he said. Do Minh Hanh, a Vietnamese national attending Yonsei University, won the grand prize for her video that portrayed her experience as an international school student and a foreign national in Korea. In her video, Do narrates, "Diversity is about being open; open to accept that we might be different in some sense, yet similar in others." "Through my video, I wanted to convey my own understanding of what it means to be a diverse society and help raise awareness not only within Korea but internationally as well," said Do in the recorded video of her acceptance speech. Raj Mouli Jujjavarapu, an Indian national from Kyungpook National University, was awarded the excellence award and Kim Min-sun from Dongduk Women's University won the Commendation Award. Ten other students won distinguished entry prizes. They are Lee Se-jin from Gachon University; Kim Jae-young from Kookmin University; Song Meiping, a Chinese student at Kyungpook National University; Lee Sung-hee from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology; Yoo Mi-ri from Dongyang University; Choi Jae-yeong from Chungnam National University; and Ko Byung-hyun, Yoo Jae-won, Yoo Ji-eun and Shim Ye-won, all at Sookmyung Women's University. Below are the presentation videos submitted by the 13 winners of the video contest on diversity and multiculturalism from 2021. Hospital doctors should be permitted to work from home as a 999 call handler one day a week to persuade them not to leave, MPs were told today. Nicola McQueen, chief executive of NHS Professionals which provides temporary staff to the health service said plans were urgently needed to protect the 'burnt-out workforce'. Speaking to the Health and Social Care Committee, she suggested letting staff 'do one day from home'. They could direct 111 and 999 calls from anywhere, Ms McQueen said. The NHS was already short of 100,000 nurses, doctors and other medics before the pandemic struck. Unions say repeated Covid waves have demoralised staff, and that the threat of firing unvaccinated medics a move No10 has since backtracked on would have only exacerbated the workforce crisis. It comes as NHS England today unveiled plans to hire tens of thousands of reservists to help tackle the backlog for routine operations. Currently, 6.1million people in England are stuck on NHS waiting lists, with the figure expected to double by March 2024. Critics say it is essential to hire more staff to have any hope of tackling the backlog. Data from NHS England shows one in nine people in the country were waiting for routine treatment such as joint replacement and cataract surgery or diagnostic tests at the end of December Queues for routine operations are expected to peak in 2024 at around 10.7million in the most pessimistic scenario, modelling from the NHS shows. It is because the health service expects many patients who missed operations to now come forward for care Grilled by MPs about how to solve the workforce crisis, Ms McQueen said: 'There are some things we can start to do that enable flexible working.' She highlighted how they were 'inundated' with frontline nurses applying to roles to work on Test and Trace early on in the pandemic. Nicola McQueen, chief executive officer at NHS Professionals, said hospital doctors should be permitted to work from home as a 999 call handler one day a week to retain staff Ms McQueen said: 'They got to work from home, they had headsets, we trained them to contact trace and our clinicians loved it. 'Except we didn't want them doing that, we wanted them in our hospitals. 'There is some respite for our workforce if we can get this right, where we can mobilise our workforce out of being in hospitals, five days a week, 12 hours a day, to do one day from home, 111 services, 999 services. 'We need clinicians in this country across the board and I think we can do more to move them around.' Around 1.3million people currently work for NHS England, roughly 50,000 more than last year. But the health service still had 40,000 vacancies for nurses before Omicron struck, and 9,000 doctors. The Health Foundation previously said plans to bring down waiting lists and fully recover after the pandemic will continue to be undermined unless staffing problems were addressed. NHS launches war on cancer campaign and urges ANYONE with any concerning symptoms to get checked as soon as possible Anyone with concerning symptoms should see their GP immediately, a new NHS cancer campaign urged today. NHS chiefs are aiming to catch 100,000 more cancer cases early every year, after many services were put on standby during the pandemic. About nine in ten people who go for checks for the illness do not have the disease, medics say. But catching cancer early ensures it is easier to treat. Yet two-fifths of Britons would ignore tell-tale warning signs such as unexplained pain, blood in urine and weight loss rather than seeking help. NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: 'We want to allay people's fear about cancer and encourage them to get checked without delay. 'We know that many people don't want to burden or bother anyone with their health concerns, but we would always prefer to see you sooner with a cancer that is easier to treat, than later with one that isn't.' Advertisement NHS England bosses today launched plans to hire thousands of reservists to help the health service, such as by assisting people who are being discharged from hospital or helping with the Covid vaccination rollout. Britons can register their interest in becoming a reservist through a website being launched today. No previous experience is needed and full training will be provided. But the health service has encouraged people interested in a career in the NHS or former staff to come forward. Their local hospitals and NHS services can then call on the bank of extra workers when needed, depending on staff requirements and pressures in their area. Reservists will be paid in line with the role they are doing and supported by existing staff. The scheme has already seen 17,000 people sign up across five sites as part of a pilot last year. Speaking at the annual Nuffield Trust health summit today, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: 'Reservists will help us in our time of need but also help those who want a rewarding career in the health service the roles are flexible and can fit around your lifestyle. 'The challenges for the NHS are far from over and as we now pull out all the stops to recover services, we once again need the public's support. 'So if you want to help your community by helping your local NHS search NHS Reservists today your NHS needs you.' Frank Shannon, an NHS reservist from Norwich, has been working two to three shifts per week at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. He helps with the vaccination rollout by preparing vaccine doses before they are injected. The RAF veteran and qualified nurse said: 'The support has been excellent and well organised, and we have been provided with all the training required through a combination of online modules and practical life support training in person. 'I was delighted to have the opportunity to support wherever I could. It has been very rewarding to be part of the team and hope to be so for some time yet. 'All health care personnel have an inner drive and motivation to help people. I just wanted to do my bit, help out in any way, not let my clinical skills go to waste, and be part of a team again.' Emma Holmes, a retail worker of 25 years became a reservist after being furloughed, helping with the NHS' vaccination drive at her local vaccine centre. She said: 'I thought it was a really good opportunity to support with the Covid situation while gaining different skills, and hopefully helping me go through to a different route in my career. 'There were lots of opportunities to help in different roles which meant I could try out different areas in the NHS to find out where my skills were most suited.' Russia is issuing a stark warning to America not to build up or maintain nuclear capacities or military facilities in former Soviet bloc nations as Congress prepares to pass a bill next week that would send up to $10 billion more in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Moscow's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said U.S. nuclear weapons should have already been returned to American soil from European states like Romania and Poland. 'It is unacceptable for us that U.S. nuclear weapons still remain in a number of European states in contradiction to the basic points of the Non-Proliferation Treaty,' he was quoted by TASS as saying during a video address Tuesday to the Geneva conference on disarmament. 'The bad practice of joint nuclear missions with the participation of non-nuclear NATO states continues. During such missions, the use of nuclear weapons against Russia is being practiced,' Lavrov continued. 'U.S. nuclear weapons must have long been returned home, and the corresponding infrastructure in Europe must have long been eliminated.' President Biden is poised, according to The New York Times, to take credit during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night for the sweeping global sanctions that hit Russia following its full-scale invasion into Ukraine last week. His address was supposed to focus on his domestic agenda, especially after he failed to get through Congress his Build Back Better plan, but with the waging conflict between Russia and Ukraine, priorities have shifted. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (on screen) said during a video address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday that U.S. nuclear capabilities need to be removed from European countries Diplomats and ambassadors walked out as Lavrov's pre-recorded message played and said: 'It is unacceptable for us that U.S. nuclear weapons still remain in a number of European states in contradiction to the basic points of the Non-Proliferation Treaty' The warning comes as Biden (left) prepares to deliver his first State of the Union address on Tuesday night and take credit for the massive global response to Russia invading Ukraine. Biden also said Monday that Americans should not fear nuclear war with Russia after Putin (right) put his country's nuclear forces on high alert Kyiv endured another night of bombing on Monday before satellite images revealed the huge column of tanks headed for the city, with Putin's men trying to cut off the capital and bomb it into submission A convoy of Russian tanks, artillery pieces, fighting vehicles and support trucks now stretches all the way from Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kyiv, to the village of Prybirs'k some 40 miles away (part of the convoy is seen, right) And while Biden has received praise for his response to Russia's invasion, there are many who still say he isn't doing enough to directly punish President Vladimir Putin for ignoring western warnings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an emotional appeal Tuesday for his country to be admitted to the European Union as it endures an increasingly bloody onslaught by Russia. He raised a one-fisted salute and declared 'glory to Ukraine' as the European parliament gave him a long round of applause. The Ukrainian president addressed parliamentarians in Brussels via video from Kyiv, which is currently facing down a 40-mile convoy of Russian tanks and artillery seemingly intent on surrounding and bombing the city into submission. Zelensky urged the EU to recognize Ukraine as a member - a move sure to infuriate Putin - saying his nation has 'proved that we are your equals' and it is now time to 'prove that you are at our side'. Congress is preparing to pass a bill next week sending up to $10 billion in humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine as it continues to face a full-scale attack from Russia. Ukrainian emergency service personnel gather outside City Hall following shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Tuesday, March 1 'Glory to Ukraine': Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a one-fisted salute to the European parliament as he makes an impassioned plea to join the bloc as his country faces down an increasingly bloody Russian invasion The body gave Zelensky a standing ovation. Pictured: EU Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen applauds the end of Zelensky's speech, after he said that Ukrainians were sacrificing their lives for the freedoms that Europe represents and pleaded for his country to be admitted to the European Union It came as Ukraine claimed that Belarusian troops have now entered the war, as Russia's close ally helps tighten the noose. 'I can no longer say hello or good evening because every day is the last day,' he added. 'Lives are being sacrificed for values, for rights, for freedom, to have the same equality that you enjoy. We will win, I'm sure. I would like to hear you say that Ukraine's choice to be part of Europe is also your choice. We want to be members of the EU. Without you, Ukraine will be alone.' Putin put Russia's nuclear deterrent forces on high alert on Sunday, but Biden assured on Monday that Americans that they should not be worried about nuclear war. Press Secretary Jen Psaki later said the White House sees 'no reason' to change its nuclear posture. 'We think provocative rhetoric like this is dangerous, adds to the risk of miscalculation, should be avoided, and we'll not indulge in it,' Psaki said during her daily press briefing. 'We are assessing President Putin's directive and at this time we see no reason to change our own alert levels,' she continued. Putin reasoned that 'aggressive statements' by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) led him to ratchet up his nuclear defenses, which raised concerns that the invasion of Ukraine could intentionally or mistakenly lead to a global nuclear war. With the March 11 funding deadline quickly approaching, the House and Senate appropriation committees are on track to pass a hugh omnibus spending bill for Fiscal Year 2022 next week that will include billions in aid in Ukraine. The price tag could reach as high as $10 billion for a mix of humanitarian and military aid, lawmakers revealed. In classified congressional briefings with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, lawmakers were warned about Ukraine's weapons shortage. Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova met with senators Monday evening to ask for an immediate shipment of more weapons to Kyiv, including Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. U.S. forces were sent to Romania and Poland as well as other Baltic states to help bolster forces in NATO ally countries in the midst of Russia's attack on Ukraine. U.S. Army paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division unload humanitarian goods in Jasionka, Poland on February 25 in preparation for evacuees from Ukraine 'It's no secret that they need more help,' Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told reporters. 'They've got the weapons they need right now, but they're going to run out soon.' 'We've got to get a supplemental passed quickly,' he urged. Murphy, a senator from Connecticut who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, revealed on Twitter after a 'classified briefing on Ukraine' that the U.S. is working with its allies in order to seize Putin's assets. 'The U.S. and allies are coordinating to not only freeze the assets of Putin and his oligarch allies, but to seize those assets as well. This is likely a further step than Putin's inner circle anticipated,' Murphy wrote on Twitter noting that it was just 'a few takeaways that I can share.' Ge shared a few other nuggets in the Twitter thread, including that Russia has fallen behind on their timeline for invasion due to 'fierce' Ukrainian resistance as well as failure of Moscow's equipment and logistics. 'Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security are pressing hard for Congress to end the continuing resolution and get a budget passed. There is no way for our national security agencies to be nimble enough to support Ukraine if they are operating on the 2020/21 budget,' Murphy added in a follow-up tweet. A woman was arrest for her alleged role in the shocking hammer attack of a New York City Health Department scientist at a city subway stop after the suspect spent $19 with the victim's credit card. Denise Alston, 57, of Queens, was arrested Friday night after police said she used Nina Rothschild's credit card a day after the 58-year-old city employee was kicked down the stairs and bashed in the head with a hammer 13 times at the Queens Plaza station in Long Island City. On Sunday, police had arrest 57-year-old career criminal William Blount, whose criminal record goes back to the 1980s, for the assault, but found Alston in possession of Rothchild's credit cards, store cards and NYC ID. Alston was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, larceny and identify theft and faces up to four years in prison if convicted. Blount - who faces attempted murder, robbery and assault charges - has a lengthy criminal record and had broken his ankles while attempting a prison break in South Carolina after a guard was murdered in 2000, NBC reported. William Blount, pictured center, was arrested on Sunday in connection to the hammer attack of a New York City Health Department scientist last week. Blount is a career criminal who spent more than a decade in prison for back-to-back crimes in NYC and South Carolina Pictured: Nina Rothschild, the 58-year-old NYC Department of Health employee who was kicked down the stairs and had her head repeatedly hit a hammer. A se Blount allegedly kicked Rothchild down the stairs at the Queens Plaza subway station in Long Island City and proceeded to pull out a hammer and attack her Police said Blount had been arrested multiple times in the 1980s for robberies and drug crimes in New York City and South Carolina. Records show Blount served three years in prison for attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in Queens and was paroled in March 1990, the New York Daily News reported. Months later, Blount was arrested for attempted robbery and served two years in jail and was released on June 1993. Blount went on to attempt another robbery was arrested in 1994, serving six years until he was released, again, in March 2000. Four months later, the convict went down to South Carolina and broke into a Bojangles restaurant in Richland County with his brother-in-law and kidnapped two employees, forcing them to open the safe, NBC reported. Blount attempted a prison escape for that sentence on September 17, 2000, after inmates killed a guard as part of a larger jailbreak. He tried to join the escape, but broke both his ankles jumping off the prison roof. He was quickly caught and charged with conspiracy to escape. The career criminal, who now uses a cane to walk, did not appear to have another crime on record until his brutal assault on Rothchild last week. Surveillance footage from outside the station in Queens Plaza, in Long Island City, showed a man, reported to be Blount, walking with a cane as he approached Rothschild, who carefully walked down the stairs to the subway platform last Thursday at 11.22 pm. Blount reportedly began by kicking her in the back and attempting to knock her over, but when Rothschild stays on her feet and appears to try and slowly flee, he pulls out a hammer, according to authorities. Police said he then proceeded to bash her in the head 13 times while she struggled, with the final hit knocking her over. Blount reportedly stole two cellphones, debit cards, credit cards and an unknown amount of money from Rothschild, according to police, who was taken to nearby Weill Cornell Medical in critical condition. The attack comes just one week after Adams announced his Subway Safety Plan initiative and deployed 1,000 additional officers, as well as teams of health workers, to crack down on rising crime in the subways. Surveillance footage from outside the station in Queens Plaza, in Long Island City, showed a man, reported to be Blount, walking with a cane He bashed her head 13 times with the weapon and stole her purse The suspect walks out slowly from the subway, with both cane and hammer in hand Police escort Blount, 57, after his arrest on Sunday for allegedly attacking Nina Rothschild, also 57, at a Queens subway station on Thursday Blount, pictured being taken to the back of a police car, has a half-dozen prior arrests including charges of robbery and criminal possession of a controlled substance The attack is the latest in a string of stabbings and robberies that have occurred in the past week in New York City's subway system, which serves more than 3 million people daily Adams said NYPD officers would be deployed on the A, E, 1, 2, N and R lines to ensure public safety. Both the E and R trains run through the Queens Plaza Station where Thursday night's attack occurred. The station is in the eastern-end of Long Island City, an affluent area home to many young professionals and where Amazon considered opening its second headquarters back in 2019. An MTA worker at the station told the New York Post he was surprised about the attack in the community. 'Look around, they've done a lot with this area, so it's usually pretty safe,' he said. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the new Subway Safety Plan initiative on Friday as a way to crackdown on crime and violence in the city's transit system Under Adams' plan, officers and service workers would be part of 'End of the Line' teams with officers to make sure the trains are cleared during their final stops. The health workers would be there to help the mentally ill and guide them to the city's support services, while the officers are directed to enforce laws against laying down, sleeping, outstretching, littering, drug use and aggressive behavior towards riders. The plan came after a spate of recent crimes committed by homeless individuals, including a break-dancer who was stabbed by a homeless man last Thursday and Michelle Go's murder, where the 40-year-old was pushed beneath a train last month by a homeless man with a history of mental illness. 'Let's be clear on this, [the homeless] are not dangerous,' Adams said. 'The vast majority are not dangerous, but we have to be honest about the number of individuals dealing with mental health crises. They are dangerous to themselves and dangerous to New Yorkers.' The mayor's plan received support from Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said the state would deliver 600 new psychiatric beds and another 500 beds at shelters in the city to try and provide help for those currently living in the subways, many of whom suffer from severe mental illness. 'We will accomplish what new Yorkers deserve, and that is a safe ride on our subway system while also recognizing the very real humanitarian crisis that has been unfolding before our eyes for far too long.' The city has deployed an additional 1,000 officers to patrol the subway system starting Friday Thursday's attack happened at the Queens Plaza Station, which services the E and R lines that were supposed to be enforced better under the Mayor's plan. An MTA worker at the station said he was shocked to learn about the attack because the area is usual safe But despite their efforts, crime continues to plague the city's transit system, which serves more than 3 million people every day. New York City subway stabbings and slashings have spiked 29 percent in the last last year, with 182 incidents compared to 141 a year before in 2020. And 2022 is squaring up to be even worse. So far this year there have been 27 subway attacks on passengers - a 35 percent increase on the 20 reported for the same period of 2021. One of the latest victims, a Trader Joe's employee named Kevin Young, was repeatedly slashed across the face, hand and behind the ear after accidentally bumping into into a disturbed passenger on February 12. The incident occurred around 5:45 am at the Union Square subway station on East 14th street as Young tried to step off a southbound Q train on his way to work to begin his 6 am shift. 'Subway crime is out of control,' fumed Young, 36, to the New York Post. 'He's trying to get on the train and I'm trying to get out and after a shoving match he goes for his blade,' Young recalled. 'I tried to defend myself as much as possible. As soon as I held him down, he got his blade and went to work.' New York City has seen a nearly 50 percent spike in criminal incidents this year when compared to the same span in 2021. Felony assaults have increased by more than 20 percent, while shootings are up by a marked 30 percent 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 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 Young required 25 stitches to close his wounds, and underwent surgery at Bellevue Hospital on Thursday to fix some nerve damage in his left middle finger that he sustained during the attack. 'And I have to get pin plates inserted into my right index finger so the bones could grow back,' he groaned. His assailant, who has yet to be identified or arrested as of Saturday, was last seen wearing a black jacket, black jeans, black Adidas bag and eyeglasses, police said. The attack on Young comes just days after a 39-year-old woman was slashed in the forehead by another woman with a boxcutter while traveling on a 5 train at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue. 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 12.30 a.m. 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, Evelina Rivera, a 30-year-old chef, was struck by a homeless man wielding a metal pole on her way home from her shift. She was on her way home on a No. 4 train heading to the Bronx at 2.39 a.m. 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 seen 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.' San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin has doubled down on his progressive viewpoints, claiming that being tough-on-crime does not work despite soaring offenses in the city. The woke prosecutor, who faces a recall election on June 7, claimed his opposition is driven by police who are 'out to get him' and lashed out at billionaire backer of the recall vote William Oberndorf who he said has a vendetta against him. Speaking to the New York Times, Boudin also falsely stated that the recall signatures weren't verified, despite the election being approved by the San Francisco Department of Elections. 'We have to recognize that the tough-on-crime approach has had lots of opportunities to reduce recidivism rates, and it hasn't worked,' Boudin told the news outlet in an interview. Boudin spent much of the interview claiming that police are to blame for the city's spike in crime for not making more arrests despite his own record of only charging suspects in half of all theft cases in 2020, his first year in office. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin has claimed that a tough-on-crime approach does not work to prevent crime despite soaring offenses in the city Crimes in San Francisco like larceny theft and rape have surged this year in the week leading to February 27, the SFPD's most recent data, as compared to last year. Overall crime has spiked by 0.5% in the same period Boudin's parents belonged to left wing militant group the Weather Underground and served decades-long prison sentences for their roles in a 1981 robbery of a Brink's armored car that killed two police officers and a guard. After his parents' arrests, Boudin was raised by Bill Ayers, an education academic, and Bernardine Dohrn, a lawyer, both of who were former members of the same radical progressive group. Boudin's opposition to cracking down on rampant crime was evident when he went against Mayor London Breed in December for her response to the Tenderloin neighborhood, which has been long-plagued by drug use and homelessness. Breed declared a state of emergency in Tenderloin to bolster its police presence, but faced backlash from people like Boudin who claimed increased law enforcement wouldn't improve conditions. Boudin's opposition to cracking down on rampant crime was evident when he went against Mayor London Breed in December for bolstering police presence in the troubled Tenderloin neighborhood Boudin claimed the his recall is being driven by dissenters like billionaire backer William Oberndorf, who he said has a vendetta against him She argued that Boudin does not understand what the residents of Tenderloin are facing because he did not grow up with 'these unfortunately traumatizing experiences in communities where there's not trust with the police, but also there's a desire to be safe.' Boudin told the New York Times that Breed has an 'incentive' to support the recall because she is responsible for appointing his replacement. He also accused her of shifting the blame to him for issues like the Tenderloin crisis, though she only spoke out about his opposition to her state of emergency declaration. 'She has the budget of a city and a county combined. The resources are immense, and with those resources come high expectations When you have that much power, if people are upset, it's convenient to have a place to shift the blame,' he said. 'If you are someone who believes in a tough-on-crime deterrence model of the justice system or public safety, then that model must begin with the police making arrests in a high percentage of cases,' he said. 'With theft in San Francisco, people believe they can get away with it because only 2% of reported thefts result in arrest. We can hang people in the town square, but the most effective thing at deterring crime is certainty of arrest,' Boudin said, adding that it 'has nothing to do with my policies.' In many theft cases, however, incidents go unreported and suspects are free to go because theft of property worth less than $950 in value was downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor due to the 2014 passage of Proposition 47, a ballot referendum known as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act. Boudin blamed Walgreens for being targeted by shoplifters, saying that security guards don't apprehend suspects. Above, a security guard is attempting to stop a thief during a January 29th incident Boudin also claimed that the San Francisco Police Officers Association has a vendetta against him and is one of the major influencers of support for the recall. 'The police union has been out to get me since before Day 1,' he said, referencing fliers funded by the union calling Boudin 'the #1 choice of criminals and gang members.' 'It is a dereliction of duty by those other members who, instead of doing their job well, tell the victims that they can't do anything because they don't like the district attorney.' Police have reportedly said they don't make arrests in certain cases because they know the district attorney won't prosecute the suspect, not because 'they don't like the district attorney.' The petition to recall Boudin has garnered 83,000 signatures, but the prosecutor denied that the numbers were accurate when asked by the New York Times. 'It's more complicated. It's a self-reported number of signatures. That number has never been audited or validated,' he claimed, though the San Francisco Department of Elections approves a recall by verifying a sample group of signatures, not each signature, and has approved Boudin's recall. The district attorney also tried to discredit the signatures by arguing that those who signed were misled by paid professional signature gatherers, despite not citing any evidence that this took place. Boudin also allegedly mischaracterized an interaction with billionaire recall backer William Oberndorf at a meeting in 2019. 'He said he would support me if I would oppose San Francisco's sanctuary-city policy,' Boudin told the New York Times. 'I said I couldn't do that. He got very angry, and when someone has the kind of money that he has, he can express his anger in a recall context, and that's exactly what he's doing.' Oberndorf recounted a completely different experience when asked about the meeting by the New York Times, saying that he never suggested any kind of quid pro quo over San Francisco's sanctuary-city policy and his opinions of Boudin. Former homicide prosecutor Brooke Jenkins said she supported Boudin's efforts to reduce prison sentences and address racial biases, but recently resigned and supported the recall effort because of what she called 'mismanagement' and 'low morale' caused by Boudin Asked about San Francisco's rampant shoplifting, Boudin claimed it has 'nothing to do with me or my policies' because other cities have similar issues He also said that the recall is not a 'grass-roots movement' and claimed that backers like Oberndorf and national Republican major donors are tilting the scales against him. Supporters of Boudin's recall range also include some Democrats and former progressive prosecutors from his own office. Former homicide prosecutor Brooke Jenkins said she supported Boudin's efforts to reduce prison sentences and address racial biases, but recently resigned and supported the recall effort because of what she called 'mismanagement' and 'low morale' caused by Boudin. 'It's my perception that Chesa lacks a desire to actually and effectively prosecute crime, in any fashion. While he ran on a platform of being progressive and reform focused, his methodology to achieving that is simply to release individuals early or to offer very lenient plea deals,' she told the New York Times. Asked about San Francisco's rampant shoplifting, which Walgreens attributed as the reason for closing five of its Bay Area stores earlier this year, Boudin claimed it has 'nothing to do with me or my policies' because other cities have similar issues. 'The reality is that's a feature of modern American urban life, in large part because of the horrific wealth inequalities, the poverty, the lack of access to housing, the internet marketplaces where people can resell stolen products,' he said. He then blamed Walgreens for being targeted, saying: 'The major change that has happened when it comes to retail theft in particular is that stores like Walgreens have decided it's not in their interest to have their security detain shoplifters.' Walgreens policy advises security guards against apprehending shoplifters and risking injury or litigation. Though even if security guards held a shoplifter long enough for police to make an arrest, the suspect would only be charged with a misdemeanor if the amount stolen was less than $950. James, self-proclaimed' old-school junkie' who moved from Texas to San Francisco because 'it's f*****g easy' to be homeless there, claims he's being paid by the city government to be homeless on the streets, getting $620 in cash per month Homelessness in the Bay Area has become such a problem people are being urged to give their spare rooms over to the homeless A woman is slumped over in a wheelchair, preparing to inject a needle into her thigh, at a new 'linkage center' that opened in San Francisco last month, aimed at connecting homeless street addicts with drug rehab facilities San Francisco's charging rates for weapons-related offenses dropped 10% in Boudin's first year, going from 58% in DA George Gascon's final year to 48%, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He defended his record by saying that he is more concerned with preventative measures in illegal gun offenses rather than punishing suspects. He gave one example and said: 'In San Francisco, instead of waiting for the police to make an arrest in homicides involving a ghost gun and punishing the individual that committed the harm, we are suing the ghost-gun companies and asking the courts to prohibit them from shipping their weapons into our community.' In addition to soaring shoplifting rates, San Francisco has also been plagued by homelessness and rampant, public drug use. A self-proclaimed' old-school junkie' said earlier this month that he moved from Texas to San Francisco because 'it's f*****g easy' to be homeless there, claiming he's being paid $620 in cash per month by the city government to live on the streets. 'This right now is literally by choice, literally by choice. If we're going to be realistic, they pay you to be homeless here,' James, a homeless man with face tattoos who has been living in San Francisco since June, told Michael Shellenberger, author of 'San Fransicko,' a book about how the city's progressive leaders are worsening homelessness, inequality and crime. James said it only took one phone call to receive government assistance, including hundreds in cash and food stamps worth approximately $100, and notes that the 'free money' is motivation to remain homeless. James said the drug crisis in San Francisco has become incredibly 'disgusting,' with dealers providing impure substances to users who then overdose because they take drugs alone. A new 'linkage center' aimed at connecting homeless street addicts with drug rehab facilities opened in San Francisco last month, but distressing images show an open-air illicit drug consumption site that is now littered with needles and crowded with addicts shooting up in broad daylight. The center, which opened on January 18, is part of Breed's Tenderloin Emergency Intervention plan introduced in December, which aims to clean up the crime-ravaged downtown neighborhood. When declaring the state of emergency, Breed also pushed San Francisco officers to get aggressive and 'less tolerant of all the bulls*** that has destroyed our city.' Advertisement Oligarchs are sailing their yachts to international safe havens like the Maldives as the West tightens sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine - as Boris Johnson said: 'I think their silence is inexplicable'. A luxury yacht belonging to a US-sanctioned billionaire reached the Maldives today, according to officials, with more Russian-owned boats reportedly headed to the Indian Ocean archipelago seeking safe haven from possible asset seizures. Multiple international sanctions have been imposed on Russia in the wake of its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, raising the prospect of confiscation of yachts belonging to its billionaires, several of whom are close to President Vladimir Putin. The state-run Maldives Ports Limited confirmed that the pleasure craft Clio, holding the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) registration 9312535, dropped anchor near the capital Male on Monday. The Cayman Islands-registered vessel is owned by aluminum tycoon Oleg Deripaska, who was sanctioned by the United States in 2018. A total of 20,973 Russians visited the Maldives in January, the largest single group, while Ukrainians were sixth with 7,210. A CNBC report said at least two other vessels owned by Russian oligarchs were heading to the Maldives, which has no extradition treaty with the United States. Maldives Ports also confirmed to AFP that the superyacht Titan, holding IMO number 1010478 and owned by steel magnate Alexander Abramov, was anchored in Male. Britain's Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today targeted Russian oligarchs and their opulent yachts by banning all Russian shipping from using UK ports. Mr Shapps made the move amid concern about a Russian oil tanker scheduled to dock in Orkney on Tuesday. Boris Johnson was on Tuesday asked what he thought of the failure of most Russian oligarchs to speak out against the war on Ukraine. In response, he told ITV: 'I think that their silence is inexplicable, and I think that people need to step up and denounce this act of aggression, and those oligarchs who have connections with the Putin regime and who are benefiting from their association with the Russian state, we are going to expose and distrain their assets.' Vladimir Putin today moved to block foreign companies pulling out of Russia and keep their cash to prop up their imploding war economy after BP and Shell pledged to sell up 15billion ($20bn) of joint ventures following the invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced a presidential order had been signed as Western countries stepped up sanctions, the rouble crashed to an all-time low and Russians queued night and day to pull cash from ATMs amid a run on the banks. Below, MailOnline examines nine oligarchs and the super-yachts that they own. These are the locations of yachts owned by major Russian oligarchs based on the latest available information Roman Abramovich Net worth: $14.5billion Yacht(s): Eclipse ($1bn); Solaris ($600m) Who is he? Mr Abramovich is most well-known as being the owner of Premier League football club Chelsea. Mr Abramovich has never held UK citizenship and made his money selling assets purchased from the state when the Soviet Union broke up. He vehemently denies he is close to the Kremlin or has done anything that would merit sanctions being imposed against him. Abramovich is most well-known as being the owner of Premier League football club Chelsea. Mr Abramovich has never held UK citizenship and made his money selling assets purchased from the state when the Soviet Union broke up He arrived at Chelsea in 2003 and transformed the team from outside challengers to a Premier League giant with the help of managers including Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. The bulk of Abramovich's UK wealth is to be found in Evraz, a steel and mining giant listed on the London stock market. As well as a huge property portfolio, he also owns a series of superyachts, including the $600million Solaris - which has a missile detection system - and the $1billion Eclipse. According to the latest information, Solaris is moored in Barcelona and Eclipse is in the Caribbean. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's $1billion Eclipse is believed to be in the Caribbean. This picture shows it off the coast of Turkey in 2014 Abramovich has a second yacht, Solaris, which cost $600m, and is currently in Barcelona. This photo shows it during early sea trials in Germany Abramovich announced on Saturday that 'stewardship and care' of Chelsea was being handed over to trustees of the club's charitable foundation. On Tuesday, an MP claimed that Abramovich was selling his properties in the UK to avoid potential financial sanctions. Labour's Chris Bryant told the House of Commons: 'I think he [Abramovich] is terrified of being sanctioned, which is why he's already going to sell his home tomorrow, and sell another flat as well. 'My anxiety is that we're taking too long about these things.' On Monday, Mr Abramovich was named as an unlikely broker in a deal to end the war in Ukraine and reportedly arrived in Belarus to assist in peace talks that ended without resolution. The Russian-Israeli billionaire is believed to have flown to the eastern European country ahead of the talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials. His role as a broker in the talks has been confirmed by his spokesman, who claimed the mega-rich businessman had become involved after a request from the Jewish community in Kyiv. Alexey Mordashov is worth around 14billion, with business interests in tourism, gold mining and engineering Alexey Mordashov Net worth: $29.1billion Yacht(s): Nord ($500million) Mr Mordashov is worth around 14billion, with business interests in tourism, gold mining and engineering. In 2016, the son of two steel workers was reported to be Russia's richest man. Mr Mordashov is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, one of Russia's largest steelmakers. The married father-of-six also owns a stake in tourism business TUI Group and is a Bolshoi Theatre council member. He also has stakes in gold mining and engineering firms and grew up in Cherepovets, 230 miles north of Moscow. Mr Mordashov is also known to be a friend of Vladimir Putin, with the two previously pictured together. On Monday, Mr Mordashov was among oligarchs added to the EU's sanctions blacklist, along with Igor Sechin, head of state oil giant Rosneft, and Nikolay Tokarev, boss of pipeline mammoth Transneft. Mr Mordashov's $500million superyacht Nord is now moored in the Seychelles in the Caribbean. Alexey Mordashov is the owner of Nord (pictured), a superyacht which is worth around $500million. Mr Mordashov is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, one of Russia's largest steelmakers Mr Molchanov, 50, owns a controlling stake in LSR Group, which is Russia's largest producer of construction materials Andrey Molchanov Net worth: $1.2B Yacht(s): Aurora ($120m) Mr Molchanov, 50, owns a controlling stake in LSR Group, which is Russia's largest producer of construction materials. According to Forbes, his company is also one of Russia's leading real estate developers, with a portfolio of nearly 840million square feet of space. The billionaire is a native of St Petersburg, where his stepfather worked as a vice governor. Mr Molchanov's yacht, Aurora, has the same name as the Russian navy ship which played a role in the 1917 October Revolution. The modern Aurora was built in Germany and delivered to its owner in 2017. It is now moored in Barcleona. Mr Molchanov was awarded Russian honour the Order for Merit to the Fatherland after helping to develop St Petersburg. Mr Molchanov's $120million yacht, Aurora, has the same name as the Russian navy ship which played a role in the 1917 October Revolution Andrey Kostin Net worth: $500million approx Yacht(s): Sea Rhapsody ($65million) Andrey Kostin is president and chairman of VTB Bank, Russia's second-largest bank, which is controlled by the state and has a London-based subsidiary. He was named last year by detained Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny as someone who should be targeted by Western governments in a bid to curb human-rights abuses by the Russian state. Mr Kostin, who has close ties to Putin, has previously said that the West is waging an 'economic war' on Russia. Last month Mr Kostin sailed his superyacht Sea Rhapsody into Barcelona. Andrey Kostin is president and chairman of VTB Bank, Russia's second-largest bank, which is controlled by the state and has a London-based subsidiary In 2018, it emerged the Chelsea Flower show had reportedly struggled to find backers, meaning Mr Kostin's firm was been allowed to sponsor a garden. It was claimed in 2020 that Mr Kostin tried to cover up claims Putin had secretly moved to Sochi during the coronavirus pandemic. It was reported that the president went so far as to have a replica office built to convince Russians he was still in Moscow. The Kremlin said a photographed meeting between Putin and VTB Bank head Andrei Kostin on October 29 2020 happened at Novo-Ogaryovo - Putin's state residence outside Moscow - but critics claimed that the encounter actually took place in Sochi. Alexander Mikheev Net worth: Unknown Yacht(s): Lady Anastasia ($7million) Alexander Mikheev is a former head of the Russian Helicopter Corporation who took over state-owned weapons supplier Rostec six years ago. On Tuesday, images emerged of a Ukrainian sailor who tried to sink Mr Mikheev's $7million yacht the Lady Anastasia following Russia's invasion of his country. The 156ft luxury yacht was moored at Pord Adriano in Mallorca when Taras Ostapchuk, 55, opened valves on the vessel because he claimed his boss sells weapons to Putin that are being used to murder and maim his countrymen. Mr Ostapchuk said he went berserk around midday on Saturday after seeing a helicopter carrying weapons he believes were made by Mr Mikheev's firm attacking an apartment block in Kyiv similar to one where his family live. Alexander Mikheev is a former head of the Russian Helicopter Corporation who took over state-owned weapons supplier Rostec six years ago Mr Mikheev owns this $7million yacht the Lady Anastasia. On Tuesday, images emerged of a Ukrainian sailor who tried to sink the vessel The Lady Anastasia has five luxury cabins (including the onepictured). The damage to the vessel is not yet known Vagit Alekperov Net worth: $19.6billion Yacht(s): Galactica Super Nova ($80million) Mr Alekperov is the billionaire chairman of Russian energy giant Lukoil. He rose to his present position from working on an oil rig in the Caspian Sea. The oligarch set up his firm after taking over three large state-controlled oil fields following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Mr Alekperov owns just under a quarter of Lukoil, which was hit by U.S. sanctions in 2014. Vagit Alekperov is the billionaire chairman of Russian energy giant Lukoil. He rose to his present position from working on an oil rig in the Caspian Sea Lukoil is the the third largest company in Russia after state-owned firms Sberbank and Rosneft. As well as his oil interests, Mr Alekperov co-owns Dutch shipyard Heesen Yachts, which is where his $80million yacht was built in 2016. According to the New York Post, Mr Alekperov has lost more than $14billion of his personal wealth so far this year, more than any other Russian businessman Mr Alekperov's yacht, the $80million Super Nova, is moored in Montenegro Pictured: The Galactica Super Nova $80 million mega-yacht, owned by Russian oil firm CEO Vegit Alekperov Alexander Abramov Net worth: $6.1billion Yacht(s): Titan ($100million) Mr Abramov is chairman of steel company Evraz, which is part-owned by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. According to Forbes, in 2017 Mr Abramov and Mr Abramovich bought a 24.5 per cent stake in Transcontainer, the largest container railway operator in Russia. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Abramov was the head of a research lab. In 1992, he founded a forerunner to Evraz and made a lot of money exporting metals and coal from the Ural mountains and Siberia. In 1998, Mr Abramov cheaply bought steel companies that had been hit hard by the Russian financial crisis. They included U.S. firms Claymont Steel and Oregon Steel. His superyacht, the $100million Titan, is moored in the Maldives. Alexander Abramov is chairman of steel company Evraz, which is part-owned by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich Pictured: The Titan mega-yacht, worth $100 million. It is owned by Alexander Abramov, a steel magnate Oleg Deripaska Net worth: $3billion Yacht(s): Queen K ($65million) 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. The tycoon who is close to Mr Putin quit as a director of Russian energy giant EN+ Group after being targeted by Western sanctions last month. He owns a house in London's Belgrave Square and is a grandson by marriage to the late leader of the Soviet Union Boris Yeltsin. Oleg Deripaska came to prominence in the UK when he entertained Labour grandee Lord Mandelson on his yacht in Corfu. Above: Deripaska (left) with fellow oligarch Andrey Kostin Mr Deripaska's superyacht Clio, which used to be named Queen K, is worth around $65million. It is seen above as Queen K in Bodrum district of Turkey's southwestern province Mugla, Turkey on June 15, 2015 On Tuesday, Mr Deripaska called for an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Along with fellow oligarch Mikhail Fridman, he called for peace talks to take place 'as fast as possible'. The 54-year-old simply said: 'Peace is very important.' Mr Deripaska's superyacht Clio, which used to be named Queen K, is worth around $65million. It is now moored in the Maldives. Advertisement Ousted CNN boss Jeff Zucker has been keeping his romance with long-time lover Allison Gollust alive despite the fallout from their 'secret' relationship. Zucker, 56, and Gollust, 49, have been playing a game of cat and mouse as they pop in and out of blacked-out cars separately to visit their respective homes since they both 'resigned' from CNN, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. DailyMail.com observed the stealthy couple over several days traveling back and forth from their Manhattan apartment buildings for some quality time before finally being spotted together getting into the same SUV. The sightings come after Zucker stepped down as president of CNN in February for failing to disclose his relationship with Gollust when he was being interviewed as part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo. Gollust exited her position as CNN's executive vice president and chief marketing officer after 'violating company policy' for 'unethically aiding' Governor Andrew Cuomo by agreeing to a set of questions before his on-air interviews. Despite the drama, the couple appear to be going strong as Gollust was seen heading to Zucker's place three days in a row last week. Ousted CNN boss Jeff Zucker, 56, has been keeping his romance with staffer Allison Gollust, 49, alive despite the fallout from their relationship DailyMail.com spotted the stealthy couple over several days traveling back and forth from their Manhattan homes for some quality time before finally being spotted together getting into the same blacked-out SUV The sightings come after Zucker stepped down as president of CNN last month for failing to disclose his relationship with Gollust when he was being interviewed as part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo On Wednesday, Gollust was seen leaving Zucker's home around noon and got some fresh air walking around the Central Park reservoir before getting a taxi and heading back to her Upper East Side apartment Zucker took a phone call as he visited Magnolia Bakery. Zucker walked to pick up his pastries before returning straight home where Gollust was photographed arriving later that evening The couple appear to be going to great lengths to keep the relationship lowkey, playing a game of cat and mouse leaving and arriving at their respective homes separately to spend time with each other. DailyMail.com first spotted Gollust last Tuesday arriving to Zucker's Manhattan home where she spent around four hours. She then headed back to her apartment around 3pm before meeting up with her beau again around 4pm. The next day, Gollust was seen leaving Zucker's home at noon and got some fresh air walking around the Central Park reservoir before getting a taxi and heading back to her Upper East Side apartment. The couple appear nearly inseparable as Gollust was seen leaving Zucker's home for a third day in a row last Thursday. She wore flared jeans, a black coat and paired it with a black Chanel purse as she got into a taxi. Zucker and Gollust claim their romance started during the pandemic, but media sources have told DailyMail.com it long predates the pandemic and was an open-secret in the CNN offices. One source told us 'everyone knew' about the affair and it had been an 'open secret for years.' It became so much of an issue that Warner Media separated Zucker and Gollust last year, the source claimed. The couple appear nearly inseparable as Gollust was seen leaving Zucker's home for a third day in a row last Thursday Gollust wore flared jeans, a black coat and paired it with a Chanel tote as she got into a taxi and headed home after leaving her beau's house Gollust was seen arriving at Zucker's apartment yet again. She was she was spotted getting out of car with Citarella grocery bags with white flowers sticking out of bag Zucker is seen arriving to his New York home after running errands. The ex CNN president was wearing a hoodie paired with slippers as he went in to his building On Monday Gollust spent the day with her two daughters visiting a nail salon and grabbing lunch. Later that evening she headed to Zucker's home. She wore a black puffer coat with a small Chanel bag Zucker was spotted solo Friday and Saturday as he ran errands. On Friday Zucker kept it casual in a hoodie and slippers as he went into his apartment building. On Saturday he visited the famous Magnolia Bakery for some treats. Zucker walked to pick up his pastries before returning straight home. Gollust was seen arriving later that evening. It wasn't until Monday February 28, that the couple finally stepped out together. Gollust spent the day with her two daughters and later that evening she headed to Zucker's home. Around 5.30pm Zucker and Gollust left his home together and stepped into his chauffer-driven Lincoln SUV. Both previously married, Gollust and Zucker lived in the same apartment building with their respective families, have worked together at NBC and then CNN for more than 20 years, and had what some called an 'uncomfortably cozy' rapport. 'Jeff took Allison to every job he had - after they left NBC, he tried to get her on Katie Couric's show which failed, then he placed her at his friend Governor Cuomo's office, then took her to CNN as soon as he was he got that job all while failing upward along the way,' a source said. They are both now divorced, and one source told DailyMail.com that their splits were due at least in part to their relationship. Zucker with his ex-wife Caryn in 2011 (left) and Gollust with her ex-husband Billy Hult (right) in 2008. The pair have known each other and worked together for 20 years, starting at ABC, and media sources say their affair was an 'open secret' Zucker quit last month as part of the fallout from the firing of former anchor Chris Cuomo, who blew the whistle on his ex-boss' affair in his fight for $18million severance pay he says he is owed. Chris was fired in December last year after an internal investigation found he had helped his brother Andrew, the former Governor of New York, navigate through a sexual misconduct scandal, while still working as a CNN host. He is still fighting for $18million - the remainder of his contract - but Zucker had refused to pay out, citing the conflict of interest between Chris' relationship with his brother and his on-air reporting for CNN. According to Politico, Cuomo's team said it was hypocritical for Zucker to fire Chris for a conflict of interest when he has one of his own in his relationship with Gollust. 'I acknowledged the relationship evolved in recent years. I was required to disclose it when it began but I didn't. I was wrong,' Zucker said in his statement. 'As a result, I am resigning today.' Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into a fake Instagram profile which impersonated a Reclaim These Streets campaigner and shared pornographic images of another woman. Jamie Klingler was targeted by an unknown person who created a fake Instagram profile which had posted explicit images of an unknown woman purporting to be her. The images had then been sent to her male followers on her authentic Instagram account, including her father. The fake account also appeared to link to a porn site called FanCentro, although this turned out to be a fake webpage. Last month, Miss Klingler reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police, who said at the time that there was no realistic prospect of identifying any suspects and so the crime was closed. But the force has now decided to launch an investigation into the affair, following a reassessment of the case. Jamie Klingler was targeted by an unknown person who created a fake Instagram profile which had posted explicit images of an unknown woman purporting to be her. The fake account also appeared to link to a porn site called FanCentro, although this turned out to be a fake webpage A Met spokesman said: On Tuesday 8 February police received an allegation relating to offensive and indecent images posted on social media. An assessment of the available evidence determined that there was no realistic prospect of identifying any suspects and, as such, the crime was closed. On Friday 18 February the case was reassessed and an investigation has now been started. The complainant has been made aware of the decision. Londons Independent Victims Commissioner, Claire Waxman, welcomed the Mets decision to open an investigation. She said: I am however concerned that it took complaints via social media, pick up from the press, and enquiries from my office for the police to take this action. If we are going to rebuild trust and confidence in the police, victims must be assured that they will receive a positive response and that their complaints will be thoroughly investigated when they report a crime, and not have their reports quickly dismissed. Its clear from this case, and many others I've been made aware of, that the police are still struggling to fully understand and investigate crimes which are committed online, or have an online element. Both the police and the CPS need to urgently improve their expertise in this area, as while there are legislative gaps, there are still offences such as stalking where they fail to recognise the impact online interactions can have on the victim. Last month, Miss Klingler reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police, who said at the time that there was no realistic prospect of identifying any suspects and so the crime was closed Miss Klingler said the case appeared to have fallen into a grey area in the law. As the images were fake, they could not be classed as revenge porn. She told the i: The law needs to catch up in terms of revenge porn and fraudulent behaviour. There is nothing in the law about misogyny. The campaigner also set up a Change.org petition to make Instagram prioritise the victims of impersonation, and have fake accounts taken down first and then investigated. The petition has received more than 64,000 signatures. Reclaim These Streets organised the vigil held in Clapham Common for Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped, raped and murdered by depraved Met cop Wayne Couzens. Scotland Yard officers clashed with people at the event after the force cancelled the vigil due to Covid restrictions in place at the time. Reclaim These Streets is currently seeking a judicial review of the forces handling of the incident. Nuclear engineer Sam Brinton was seen enjoying a relaxing weekend in their Maryland neighborhood amid the buzz surrounding their new role at the Office of Nuclear Energy under the Biden administration. The 34-year-old scientist, who is the first non-binary person to accept a position in federal government leadership, spent most of the weekend running errands with husband Kevin Rieck near their Rockville home. Brinton, who lives just outside of Washington, DC, was spotted returning from work Saturday morning, dropping off a rental car before stopping for groceries with their partner. The pair dressed warmly but casually in puffer jackets and jeans as they picked up some snacks and soft drinks at a local CVS before heading back to their house. The two were seen stepping out again to walk their dog, Muse, around the neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. Brinton made headlines in January after proudly announcing on LinkedIn that they had been appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Department of Energy. Nuclear engineer Sam Brinton was seen hitting the road once again on Monday following a low-key weekend at their Rockville, Maryland home The 34-year-old embraced their science geek side, stepping out in a 'nerdy by nature' graphic t-shirt as they headed to the airport Brinton, who has a masters degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), wore a colorful zip-up hoodie, red jeans, and sneakers as they loaded a suitcase and handbag to their service car Monday In addition to being a science nerd, Brinton is also an avid LGBTQ activist and goes by Sister Ray Dee O'Active - a member of the Order of Perpetual Indulgence - a non-profit group of drag queens who dress up as nuns to raise awareness of sexual intolerance and transphobia An MIT graduate who specializes in nuclear power and energy, Brinton is also an LGBTQ activist who has been open about their advocacy work and unconventional sexual proclivities such as animal role play on social media. Photos shared online show them wearing American flag heels and a sparkly dress while standing over three people role-playing as dogs. They are also known to perform as 'Sister Ray Dee O'Active' while participating in a group called the Order of Perpetual Indulgence - a non-profit group of drag queens who dress up as nuns to raise awareness of sexual intolerance and transphobia. But Brinton dressed down over the weekend, ditching the stilettos and makeup as they spent relaxing, quality time with Rieck and Muse. As Monday morning came around, they were seen hitting the road once again, headed for the airport with their bags. Embracing their science geek side this time, Brinton stepped out in a blue graphic tee emblazoned with an image of an atom and the words 'nerdy by nature.' They matched the shirt with a pair of bright red pants, a colorful patterned zip-up hoodie, and sneakers. They were alone as they loaded their baggage into a service vehicle. Brinton has held various roles in the energy field prior to their latest position, and also served as a nuclear waste adviser in the Trump administration, The Washington Examiner reported. But Brinton appeared to opt for more casual attire over the weekend, ditching the stilettos and makeup as they spent relaxing, quality time with their husband Kevin Rieck (left) The two stepped out for an afternoon stroll around the neighborhood to walk their dog, Muse Brinton, who is the first non-binary person to serve in the federal government, has previously spoken about coming out as a middle school student and then being forced to spend two years having conversion therapy Originally from Iowa, the nuclear engineer now lives in the Maryland-DC area with Rieck. The pair married in 2019 Brinton's past is a colorful one. Born in the 1987, their parents Peggy Jo and Stephen Brinton are Southern Baptists who belong now to the First Baptist Church of Perry, Iowa. The couple have three children - Sam, Rachel and Daniel. Non-binary Brinton, who goes by they/them pronouns, previously revealed their troubled relationship with their parents, both 57 describing how they were forced to take part in conversion therapy as a teen. Brinton also recounted how they were told to leave the family home in Perry, Iowa, after coming out to their parents as bisexual for a second time while at college forcing them to move in with an uncle in New York. But speaking outside her home last week, Brinton's mom Peggy Jo told DailyMail.com the family difficulties are now in the past and told of her pride in her son's high-powered new job. She said: 'I home schooled him for quite a few years because I knew he would excel and this is what he's doing. It's just amazing. He started working on [nuclear] a few years ago.' Peggy Jo added: 'He's said to me before, ''I know you don't understand it'' but I'm like, that's what you do you do it.' Earlier on Saturday, the two were seen at their home after returning a rental car The pair dressed warmly but casually in puffer jackets and jeans as they stepped out to run some errands Brinton made a pit stop at a gas station to refuel during Saturday's outing The 34-year-old made headlines in January after proudly announcing online that they had been appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition under the Department of Energy The couple picked up some soft drinks and snacks at a local CVS before heading back home Brinton, who is the first gender-fluid person to serve in the deputy assistant secretary role, grew up in Sanford, Florida and Perry, Iowa. In a 2018 op-ed, Brinton told how they first came out as a middle school student and then was forced to spend two years having conversion therapy a discredited form of counseling that aims to convert gay people to straight. He described it as 'torture.' As a result, they went on to keep their sexuality hidden through homeschooling and then again while attending Perry High School after the family moved to Iowa in 2002. Brinton's parents still work at the First Baptist Church in Perry a small city of just over 8,000 people 30 miles northwest of Des Moines and continue to live in the modest $166,000 four-bedroom home where Brinton was raised. There, the stiletto-loving 34-year-old lived a radically different existence from their high-powered lifestyle in Washington, D.C. today. Samuel Brinton was tapped as deputy assistant secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy by the Biden Administration in January Non-binary Brinton, 34, has previously told of their troubled relationship with their Southern Baptist parents Stephen and Peggy Jo Brinton (pictured) both 57 describing how they were forced to take part in conversion therapy as a teen Yearbook photos obtained by DailyMail.com show how young Brinton excelled in technology winning the award for outstanding automotive tech student in their senior year. A yearbook photo of Brinton at Perry High School in Iowa Brinton also spent four years on the school wrestling team and was a cross country runner, as well as an enthusiastic member of the school choir. They also appeared in several school plays including The Stuck Pot, which tells the story of how a group of schoolboys established a consolation prize for the boy 'stuck with an awful lemon' for a date at the school prom. Brinton also appeared in a high school production of Grease and in Quiet Summer a comedy play about a man who decides to spend his summer trying to become president of the local country club. They took part in multiple academic decathlons, was a member of the public speaking team and joined the Iowa All-State chorus in their final two years at school. They also proved popular photos show Brinton with friends at their school prom in 2006 and taking part in a quiz in a team named Sam's Super Sweets. This image gained attention, and anti-LGBTQ criticism In a moving 2018 op-ed in the New York Times, Brinton described how they were put through 'torture' during conversion therapy, writing: 'My parents were Southern Baptist missionaries who believed that the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy could 'cure' my sexuality' But according to Brinton, the conversion therapy they endured as a middle schooler left scars and it wasn't until college Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas that they felt able to come out for the second and final time. In a moving 2018 op-ed in the New York Times, Brinton described how they were put through 'torture' during conversion therapy, writing: 'My parents were Southern Baptist missionaries who believed that the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy could 'cure' my sexuality. 'For over two years, I sat on a couch and endured emotionally painful sessions with a counselor. I was told that my faith community rejected my sexuality; that I was the abomination we had heard about in Sunday school; that I was the only gay person in the world; that it was inevitable I would get H.I.V. and AIDS.' No10's scientific advisors have cast doubt over the wisdom of scrapping free Covid lateral flow tests, arguing they take up a tiny fraction of the heavily-publicised 2billion per month figure. The comments, made to MPs in a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, came as Labour accused Health Secretary Sajid Javid of 'pulling a fast one' on patients over Covid funding. Free Covid testing is reportedly costing the country 2bn per month, and the price tag was cited by Boris Johnson as a factor in moving to people having to buy their own if they wanted them. From April 1, most Brits will have to buy lateral flow tests from high street pharmacies for as much a 3 per test, three times what people in France will pay. The tests, which can cost pennies to produce, were a crucial component of how the UK battled through the Omicron wave, with experts and minsters urging people to take them before going out to meet other people. Today two SAGE scientists told MPs that the heavily quoted 2bn per month cost for test is actually driven by the more expensive PCR tests, which require lab analysis. Professor John Edmunds, an infectious disease modelling expert from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and member of SAGE, said cheap lateral flow tests only form a faction of the 2billion per month price tag for providing free testing and should be kept for the nation Fellow SAGE member, Professor Matt Keeling of University of Warwick and part of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M), said lateral flow tests providing a critical way to prevent the infectious meeting the vulnerable and passing Covid on to them Professor Devi Sridhar who has advised the Scottish Government during the pandemic said she had doubts over the 2bn pound per month figure saying she was unsure why the UK was paying so much for its tests Free lateral flow tests for all Britons are set to be scrapped in just a few weeks and will only be restricted to a few groups of key workers and vulnerable people Professor John Edmunds, an infectious disease modelling expert from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and member of SAGE's New and Emerging Respiratory Viruses Technical Advisory Group (NERVTAG), broke down the costs. 'Back at the beginning of January with the Omicron wave, we were testing over 600,000 people a day with PCR tests, that's an enormous number of people,' he said. Health Secretary accused of 'pulling a fast one' on patients over Covid funding Patients will 'pay the price' for the Health Secretary's 'failed negotiations' with the Treasury to cover ongoing Covid costs, Labour has warned. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told MPs it appeared as if the Health Secretary was 'pulling a fast one' with patients, amid concerns that services could be cut to cover the Covid budget. But Mr Javid hit back, and said the 'living with Covid' plan is 'properly funded' and the costs will be picked up by the Department of Health and Social Care. No10's plan includes scaling back free universal testing from April 1 and instead be focused on the most vulnerable people. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Streeting said: 'The Secretary of State asked the Chancellor for 5 billion to cover essential ongoing Covid costs and he came away with nothing. 'So where will the cuts now fall in the NHS budget?' Mr Javid replied: 'We must all learn to live with Covid. 'The Government has been very clear about that, we set out a very detailed plan, and as infections fall, cases fall and hospitalisation rates are falling with Covid, that means we can now have this type of plan. 'It is a properly funded plan that focuses on vaccines, treatments, targeted testing, and builds in resilience should there be future variants of concern. 'It is right that this plan is funded by the Department, because it's our number one health priority.' But Mr Streeting countered: 'One minute the Secretary of State is asking for 5 billion from the Treasury and the next minute he's found the money within the department. 'Either he was trying to pull a fast one on the Treasury because he had the money he needed, or actually he hasn't got the money he wanted and therefore the cuts are going to fall within existing budgets.' Mr Streeting highlighted a newspaper report which suggested Mr Javid had warned investment in social care could be delayed, there could be fewer elective surgeries and also cuts to the hospital building programme. The Labour frontbencher added: 'So having, I think, not tried to pull a fast one on the Chancellor, is it now the case he's pulling a fast one with patients? And isn't it really the case it's the patients who are going to pay the price for his failed negotiations?' Mr Javid replied: 'He shouldn't believe everything he reads in the press, you'd think he'd know that by now. 'When it comes to funding of our living with Covid plan, it's right that it is the number one priority and continues to be the number one priority of my department to keep this virus at bay and that it is funded by the department.' Mr Javid went on to criticise Labour for voting against legislation which provided extra money to the NHS. From April 1 only limited groups of Britons will be able to get a free LFT or PCR test. These include at-risk groups, such as the over-80s and social care staff, who will able to take a test for free if they have symptoms. Further details about these at-risk groups, and what kind of conditions might be included has not been revealed as yet. No10 has said with the less severe Omicron being dominant and high levels of immunity across the country, 'the value for taxpayers' money is now less clear'. Britons can currently buy the tests for 12.99 at some retailers. Advertisement 'That comes out at about 20million a day being spent on just PCR tests, that's where you can get quite rapidly up to the billions of pounds being spent. 'That's not including those that would go on to be sequenced, which costs about between 60 and 100. About 10 per cent were being sequenced, so the costs quickly rack up.' He added that in comparison lateral flows, which do not require sequencing and give a result in as little as 15-to-30 minutes, are far cheaper and thus would a fraction of the total bill. 'With lateral flows, at 2 to 3 a test it's much much cheaper,' he said. The Government has never publicly disclosed how much it paid for the rapid tests but a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Scottish Government last summer revealed it was around 4 per test, excluding VAT. Lateral flows have become more abundant in the past year so the price may have come down since then. Fellow SAGE member, Professor Matt Keeling of University of Warwick and part of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M), said he wanted to see free lateral flow testing continue. He said the decision to scrap free tests entirely will affect poor people. Agreeing with Professor Edmund's breakdown of the cost of testing, Professor Keeling added: 'It's PCR testing that is really expensive, that's the thing that drives the cost up, whereas the lateral flows are relatively cheap. 'We are in a economic squeeze at the moment and that's putting a lot of pressure on people.' Professor Keeling said LFTs were critical in ensuring infectious people did not pass on Covid to potentially vulnerable individuals, and the UK could manage without the more expensive PCR test in most scenarios. 'The whole problem is infected people meeting susceptibles, any other sort of mixing isn't a problem, and so if you can find out when people are infected, and the only way to that is testing, then you can mitigate some of the worst effects,' he said. 'You could get away with doing lateral flow tests for an awful lot of these situations and just do PCRS if you start seeing a lot of cases in a region.' Professor Devi Sridhar, an expert in public health at the University of Edinburgh who has advised the Scottish Government during the pandemic, said people who were struggling to pay for food and heating would not have the luxury of choosing to buy an LFT test kit. 'The costs of the tests are going to be too high, whether they are 6 or 2 we know now that the cost of living has gone up in the UK, people are struggling to pay heating and food bills,' she said. Professor Sridhar said that she had doubts over the 2billion per month figure for testing saying other countries were not paying as much, though she did not cite any examples. 'When I look at other countries that's not how much they are paying for the tests,' she said. 'They shouldn't be costing that much, otherwise I think we are having our own oligarchy happening here as well in terms of who's getting rich off this system.' The comments came as Labour said patients will 'pay the price' for Mr Javid's 'failed negotiations' with the Treasury to cover Covid recovery costs. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told MPs it appeared as if the Health Secretary was 'pulling a fast one' with patients, amid concerns that services could be cut to cover the Covid budget. But Mr Javid hit back, and said the 'living with Covid' plan is 'properly funded' and the costs will be picked up by the Department of Health and Social Care. No10's plan includes scaling back free universal testing from April 1 and instead targeting the most vulnerable people. Mr Javid had reportedly tried to get 5bn extra to cover free routine testing for NHS staff. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Streeting said: 'The Secretary of State asked the Chancellor for 5bn to cover essential ongoing Covid costs and he came away with nothing. 'So where will the cuts now fall in the NHS budget?' Mr Javid replied: 'We must all learn to live with Covid. 'The Government has been very clear about that, we set out a very detailed plan, and as infections fall, cases fall and hospitalisation rates are falling with Covid, that means we can now have this type of plan. In France, people can pick up tests at a third of the UK price (around 3), for as little as 1, while in Germany they can cost just 1.80 and Spain's Government has capped them at roughly 2.45. However, the tests - which experts say can cost just pennies to make - are not as cheap everywhere, with Americans paying $10 (7.35) PCR AND LATERAL FLOW TESTS: THE KEY DIFFERENCES A PCR test can cost upwards of 180 per person, with the swab needing to be processed in a lab. The UK, on the other hand, favours faster tests which are not lab based and give a result within 15 minutes. These rapid coronavirus tests, known as lateral flow tests, are ones that can be done on the spot using portable equipment. They are faster and cheaper than lab-based PCR tests, which the government uses to diagnose people, but are less accurate. Advertisement 'It is a properly funded plan that focuses on vaccines, treatments, targeted testing, and builds in resilience should there be future variants of concern. 'It is right that this plan is funded by the Department, because it's our number one health priority.' But Mr Streeting added: 'One minute the Secretary of State is asking for 5bn from the Treasury and the next minute he's found the money within the department. 'Either he was trying to pull a fast one on the Treasury because he had the money he needed, or actually he hasn't got the money he wanted and therefore the cuts are going to fall within existing budgets.' Mr Streeting highlighted a newspaper report which suggested Mr Javid had warned investment in social care could be delayed, there could be fewer elective surgeries and also cuts to the hospital building programme. The Labour frontbencher added: 'So having, I think, not tried to pull a fast one on the Chancellor, is it now the case he's pulling a fast one with patients? And isn't it really the case it's the patients who are going to pay the price for his failed negotiations?' Mr Javid replied: 'He shouldn't believe everything he reads in the press, you'd think he'd know that by now. 'When it comes to funding of our living with Covid plan, it's right that it is the number one priority and continues to be the number one priority of my department to keep this virus at bay and that it is funded by the department.' Mr Javid went on to criticise Labour for voting against legislation which provided extra money to the NHS. From April 1 only limited groups of Britons will be able to get a free LFT or PCR test. These include at-risk groups, such as the over-80s and social care staff, who will able to take a test for free if they have symptoms. Further details about these at-risk groups, and what kind of conditions might be included has not been revealed as yet. No10 has said with the less severe Omicron being dominant and high levels of immunity across the country, 'the value for taxpayers' money is now less clear'. Britons can currently buy the tests for 12.99 at some retailers. PCR tests are more accurate than LFTs and can provide critical genetic information on the variant of the Covid virus the infected person has if sequenced in a lab. However, LFTs are much cheaper and provide a result in just 15 minutes while a PCR can take days to be processed. The Department of Health was contacted for comment. Russia expert Dr. Fiona Hill has issued a dire warning about Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness to use nuclear weapons as his military seeks to batter Ukraine into submission. The former star witness of the first Trump impeachment speculates that the Russian strongman has been huddled in the basement of the Kremlin during the pandemic poring over old maps of the already expansive Russian state with designs on restoring imperial dominion. 'The thing about Putin is, if he has an instrument, he wants to use it. Why have it if you can't?' she said pointing to his operatives' use of a radioactive polonium and the nerve agent Novochok in assassinations and assassination attempts. 'So if anybody thinks that Putin wouldn't use something that he's got that is unusual and cruel, think again,' she added. 'Every time you think, "No, he wouldn't, would he?" Well, yes, he would,' Hill said in an extensive interview with Politico as the Putin's invasion unfolded. Dr. Fiona Hill, a Russia expert and former member of the National Security Council, said in an interview that Russian President Putin is willing to use nuclear weapons. She served as a key witness in Donald Trump's first impeachment, where she spoke about a campaign by Trump officials to pressure Ukraine to investigate President Biden's son 'And he wants us to know that, of course. It's not that we should be intimidated and scared. We have to prepare for those contingencies and figure out what is it that we're going to do to head them off,' she said. Western nations took notice when Putin appeared to reference nuclear weapons during his rambling speech announcing his attack on Ukraine and warning others not to interfere. 'There should be no doubt for anyone that any potential aggressor will face defeat and ominous consequences should it directly attack our country,' Putin said in his pre-invasion speech last week. 'Basically, what President Putin has said quite explicitly in recent days is that if anybody interferes in Ukraine, they will be met with a response that they've "never had in their history." And he has put Russia's nuclear forces on high alert. So he's making it very clear that nuclear is on the table,' she said. 'Putin's not looking so great, he's been rather puffy-faced. We know that he has complained about having back issues,' said Hill Hill said Putin wants to establish dominance in the Russian "Imperium"' This photo taken from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, shows a Zircon cruise missile being launched from a Russian navy's frigate during military drills Hill, a British-born Harvard Ph.D. in Russian history who served on the National Security Council and testified in 2019 about a 'political errand' where Trump officials sought to pressure Ukraine, also warned about Putin's territorial designs. A number of Russia experts have warned that Putin has long been set on reestablishing some of the old stature and size of the former Soviet Union. But Hill noted that he also may have designs on territory that was part of the earlier Russian empire including a collection of vassal states who were essentially under Russian control. 'It's reestablishing Russian dominance of what Russia sees as the Russian 'Imperium.' I'm saying this very specifically because the lands of the Soviet Union didn't cover all of the territories that were once part of the Russian Empire. So that should give us pause,' she said. 'Im pretty sure that this is not the last item on Mr. Putins menu, unfortunately. Poland will be targeted, the Baltics will be targeted,' Marek Magierowski, the Polish ambassador to the U.S., told CNN Tuesday. Hill's warnings were published Monday, on a day when Ukrainian intelligence official said Belarus was preparing to join in Russia's invasion. 'It doesn't mean that he's going to annex all of them and make them part of the Russian Federation like they've done with Crimea. You can establish dominance by marginalizing regional countries, by making sure that their leaders are completely dependent on Moscow, either by Moscow practically appointing them through rigged elections or ensuring they are tethered to Russian economic and political and security networks,' she said. 'You can see this now across the former Soviet space.' Old maps of the Russian empire, which featured multiple waves of expansion, show modern states such as the Baltic republics under its control. 'I've kind of quipped about this but I also worry about it in all seriousness that Putin's been down in the archives of the Kremlin during Covid looking through old maps and treaties and all the different borders that Russia has had over the centuries. He's said, repeatedly, that Russian and European borders have changed many times,' she said. 'Putin's view is that borders change, and so the borders of the old Russian imperium are still in play for Moscow to dominate now.' With western analysts pondering whether Putin is becoming less rational that his calculated reputation, Ukraine may have special appeal to Putin, not only because of its position on the Russian perimeter with the West. 'But amid all this, Ukraine was the country that got away. And what Putin is saying now is that Ukraine doesn't belong to Ukrainians. It belongs to him and the past. He is going to wipe Ukraine off the map, literally, because it doesn't belong on his map of the 'Russian world,' said Hill. Putin will turn 70 in October, and has in the past timed invasions and military confrontations during critical electoral moments. In addition to his rambling speech where he cast Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an attempt at 'denazification' despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's jewish roots, Putin has made other puzzling moves, including sitting yards away from his advisors at comically long tables. Putin also skewered his intelligence chief on camera. Of Putin's age, Hill said: 'It's old for Russians. And Putin's not looking so great, he's been rather puffy-faced. We know that he has complained about having back issues. Even if it's not something worse than that, it could be that he's taking high doses of steroids, or there may be something else,' speculated Hill. 'There seems to be an urgency for this that may be also driven by personal factors.' She called on nations and individual companies to suspend all business activity with Russia, saying it was not just democracies who benefit from a rules based system where one country is prohibited from swallowing another. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a meeting of ruling Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, Feb. 26, in this photo provided by the North Korean government. AP-Yonhap North Korea blamed the United States' "hegemonic policy" for the Ukrainian crisis Monday in its first official statement on Russia's ongoing invasion of the European country. "The root cause of the Ukraine crisis totally lies in the hegemonic policy of the U.S. and the West, which indulge themselves in high-handedness and arbitrariness towards other countries," the North's Korean Central News Agency quoted an unnamed foreign ministry spokesperson as saying. The comments came as Washington is rallying allies and partners to impose "devastating costs" on Russia, including its isolation from global financial systems to hold Moscow accountable for the invasion. The North Korean spokesperson said the U.S. and the West have "systematically undermined the security environment of Europe by becoming more blatant in their attempts to deploy attack weapon system while defiantly pursuing NATO's eastward expansion" despite "Russia's reasonable and just demand to provide it with legal guarantee for security." The spokesperson also criticized what it calls Washington's "unilateral and double-dealing policy." North Korea has long demanded the U.S. retract "double standards" and "hostile policy" against its regime, especially after their 2019 Hanoi summit collapsed without a deal. In Seoul, Russia's top envoy to South Korea, Andrey Kulik, held a press conference and accused the U.S. of using Ukraine as a "tool" to "suppress Russia's development" and warned of consequences facing countries joining anti-Moscow sanctions. The ambassador expressed regrets over Seoul's decision to join the sanctions regime and said the move will "be of no help" for long-sought three-way cooperative projects involving the two Koreas and Russia. (Yonhap) A drunk woman was charged with killing her boyfriend's pug after she threw the dog off his seventh floor condo balcony in Florida. Eric Adeson, 56, said he was left feeling numb after his now ex-girlfriend Shelley Nicole Vaughn, 46, entered his condo at the Regatta Beach Club, in Clearwater Beach, on Sunday and began throwing his things out of the window and hitting him during an argument. He added that she was drunk and using prescription drugs and smoking marijuana when she attacked him. Adeson, who is suing Vaughn for $30,000, said she then picked up his three-year-old pug, Bucky, smiled, and then threw him to his death. 'I was screaming I went down and Bucky was lying there in a pool of blood,' Adeson told reporters on Tuesday as he cried. 'I never thought anybody could do that. I never thought anybody would have that in them.' Vaughn was arrested on Monday and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, criminal mischief and domestic battery. She faces a maximum of up to two years in prison for the latter two charges with fines of $1,000 each, and a maximum fine of $5,000 for the animal cruelty count. Scroll down for video: Shelley Nicole Vaughn, 46, was arrested on Monday and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, criminal mischief and domestic battery Eric Adeson (pictured) said he was left feeling numb after his now ex-girlfriend threw his three-year-old pug off the seventh-floor balcony of his condo Adeson, of Clearwater Beach, Florida, said he rushed down to hold Bucky (pictured) The small pug was described as a sweet dog who slept beside Adeson and his puggle Adeson got Bucky in 2019 to serve as a companion to Sandy, his 13-year-old puggle who was fighting cancer. Adeson said he never expected Sandy to outlive Bucky Adeson, a math and SAT tutor, told police that Vaughn had been drunk and arguing with him when she grabbed his cellphone and keys and threw them off the balcony. She then allegedly struck him as he kept asking her to leave before she made a grab for Bucky. Adeson said he was screaming in shock and pushed her out his apartment as he made a desperate dash downstairs. 'It's like a blur,' Adeson told reporters as he recalled the incident. 'I'm devastated.' He said he was sobbing as he held his dog in his arms when passersby called the police. Vaughn had allegedly locked her self in her condo, two floors below Adeson's, when officers arrived. Adeson claimed Vaughn had gotten aggressive and physical with him before, telling the New York Post that she allegedly hit him in September when they were in Atlanta. 'The combination of Xanax, marijuana and alcohol makes her snap,' he said. 'She just goes crazy.' He added that Vaughn was 'going through a tough time' because her mother was battling cancer. During the press conference, Adeson broke into tears multiple times as he described Bucky as a sweet pup who was a companion to Adeson's puggle, Sandy, who was going through cancer in 2019. Vaughn allegedly threw Bucky off the seventh floor of the Regatta Beach Club, in Clearwater Beach, Florida on Sunday 'Never thinking in a million-years that Sandy would survive the cancer and still be alive at 13 and actually outlive Bucky. That's the tragedy of it,' Adeson told Fox 13. He said Vaughn was 'evil' and that he now filed a restraining order against her because they live in the same building. Adeson's attorney, Katherine Neal, said in a statement: 'Our client saw this happen, and is absolutely traumatized. 'Several residents of the building witnessed the event as well, and the entire community is extremely upset over what happened.' Furious Ukrainians have been filmed screaming 'invaders, killers' while blocking an army convoy - as a Russian soldier fires warning shots in the air. It comes as a second video showed another group of fearless Ukrainians leaping on a Russian military vehicle while waving blue and yellow flags. The footage emerged as Moscow's forces continued their invasion of the country, where Ukrainian soldiers and citizens alike are putting up a fierce resistance against Vladimir Putins army. The first video shows at least 30 angry Ukrainians confronting a Russian military convoy made up of at least six vehicles in Melitopol in the country's south, halting the column's advance. The brave men and women appear undeterred by a machine gun toting Russian who steps out of the 4x4 heading the convoy and threatens them with the weapon before firing in the air. A second piece of footage from Kupiansk, near Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv, appears to show at least 30 Ukrainians running and jumping on a Russian armoured vehicle - with one man attempting to smash in the windscreen. The 4x4 appears to push through the crowd, accelerating away from the furious protesters, many of whom are waving Ukrainian flags, and pushing several on to the floor. The first video shows at least 30 angry Ukrainians confronting a Russian military convoy made up of at least six vehicles in Melitopol in the country's south, halting the column's advance A second piece of footage from Kupiansk, near Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv, appears to show at least 30 Ukrainians running and jumping on a Russian armoured vehicle - with one man attempting to smash in the windscreen Footage from Melitupol in southern Ukraine shows more than 40 protesters halting a Russian military convoy with their bare hands - and hurling expletives at the invading soldiers. Furious Ukrainians can be heard branding the Russians 'invaders' and 'killers' in the video before a gun toting troop fires in the air in a warning for the protesters to leave the road. But the Ukrainians refuse to back down and instead, the Russian soldier jumps back into his armoured 4x4 vehicle, which is flashing blue lights. One armoured truck then approaches the Ukrainian protesters in what appears to be an attempt to force them to back down but the fearless citizens hold firm. Several can be seen in the footage trying to physically push back against the truck as it edges forward, blaring its horn in a bid to make way for the six Z-marked vehicles waiting behind. The protesters are eventually pushed back by the Russian vehicle, which manages to force them out of the road - though the Ukrainians continue to hurl abuse at Putin's men as they edge forwards. Furious Ukrainians can be heard branding the Russians 'invaders' and 'killers' in the video before a gun toting troop fires in the air in a warning for the protesters to leave the road One armoured truck then approaches the Ukrainian protesters in what appears to be an attempt to force them to back down but the fearless citizens hold firm. Several can be seen in the footage trying to physically push back against the truck as it edges forward A second video shows a group of at least 30 furious Ukrainians attacking what appears to be a lone Russian armoured vehicle in Kupiansk, near Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv in the east of the country. The protesters run at and jump on the Russian vehicle, which is forced to slow down as angry Ukrainians surround it. One man appears to jump on the bonnet and windscreen of the vehicle, trying twice to stamp through the glass even as the driver rolls forwards. The military vehicle pushes through the crowd, many waving Ukrainian flags, and speeds off into the distance. Several of the protesters appeared to fall on the floor while others were pushed to the side by the vehicle's sudden flight. Another video emerged on Tuesday from Kupyansk, eastern Ukraine, which shows defiant locals hurling abuse as a Russian tank and armoured vehicle as Moscow's watch on. A second video shows a group of at least 30 furious Ukrainians attacking what appears to be a lone Russian armoured vehicle in Kupiansk, near Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv in the east of the country One man appears to jump on the bonnet and windscreen of the vehicle, trying twice to stamp through the glass even as the driver rolls forwards. The military vehicle pushes through the crowd, many waving Ukrainian flags, and speeds off into the distance Two brave Ukrainians were last week filmed trying to single-handedly block the advance of a Russian military convoy - in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man' blocking Chinese forces in 1989. Video of the brave face-off showed a column of Russian tanks passing through a junction in a Ukrainian town. As the hulking vehicles rumbled through, one man decided to take a stand, heroically climbing on to the front of one of the tanks. It continued forward a few meters, but then came to a halt, blocking the route of those following. Once the tank was no longer moving, the man can be seen climbing down from the tank and kneeling in the middle of the road, blocking the progress of the Russian convoy. Recognising the futility of the man's protest, onlookers are seen trying to drag the man away from the tank. However, defiant in his protest, the man continues to hold on to the front of the tank. Another brave Ukrainian civilian has been captured on video trying to single-highhandedly block the advance of a Russian military convoy - in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man' blocking Chinese forces in 1989. Pictured: A Ukrainian local kneels in front of a Russian tank as a convoy of military vehicles passed through a town Video of the brave face-off showed a column of Russian tanks passing through a junction in a Ukrainian town. As the hulking vehicles rumbled through, one man decided to take a stand, heroically climbing on to the front of one of the tanks. It continued forward a few meters, but then came to a halt, blocking the route of those following The incident came after a similar confrontation went viral on Friday, which saw another man bravely walk into the middle of the road and into the path of another column of Russian military vehicles passing through Ukraine. The footage, thought to have been filmed in the south of the country close to Crimea, shows the man bravely waving down the convoy in an attempt to block its path. Some military vehicles in the procession swerve around the man, but others are shown stopping for him, bringing those behind them to a complete stop as well. The man has since been dubbed 'Tank Man' on social media, and while his identity is now known, his bravery quickly drew praise from others inspired by his protest which has become emblematic of Ukraine's resistance. FILE - In this June 5, 1989 file photo, a Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing's Changan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square. The man was calling for an end to the violence and bloodshed against pro-democracy protesters A brave Ukrainian citizen has been filmed apparently trying to stop a convoy of Russian Tigr-M fighting vehicles - similar to American Humvees - moving along a highway close to Crimea in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man' Meanwhile a huge crowd of ordinary Ukrainians were seen massing along a road to block the path of a Russian tank convoy on Sunday. The footage, said to have been filmed in Koryukivka, a town just miles from the border with Russia, shows dozens - possibly hundreds - of locals walking calmly towards the armoured column. As the camera pans round, yet more Ukrainians can be seen joining their compatriots in challenging the invaders. Some film, but few raise their voice, with the loudest sound being the rumble of the Russians' engines. Troops can be seen with their heads sticking out of one of the vehicle's turrets, but they do not appear to react to the locals' challenge. The footage, said to have been filmed in Koryukivka, a town just miles from the border with Russia, shows dozens - possibly hundreds - of locals walking calmly towards the armoured column Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador vowed that his government will not be placing economic sanctions on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine. The leftist leader said Tuesday that his decision was solely based on his administration's preference to maintain a positive image with his counterparts across the globe. 'We are not going to take any sort of economic reprisal because we want to have good relations with all the governments in the world,' Lopez Obrador said Tuesday during his daily presidential press briefing. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stopped short of declaring his government will be imposing economic sanctions on Russia five days after President Vladimir Putin ordered his military to invade Ukraine A blast is seen in the TV tower, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday in the capital city of Kyiv Mexico said it will continue to allow Russian airlines to offer service to its country while European countries shut off access to their airspace Lopez Obrador position stands in contrast to the international sanctions imposed on President Vladimir Putin's actions as his military attacked a war-torn Ukraine for a fifth straight day. The Kremlin has built strong links to various governments in Latin America, especially authoritarian administrations in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. However, its bond with the administration of Lopez Obrador is seen as limited due to the strong U.S.-Mexico relations. A view of the square outside the damaged local city hall of Kharkiv following an attack by the Russian military on Tuesday Mothers and children huddle around in the basement of Ohmadyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday While the Mexican and U.S. economies are deeply intertwined, the president has at times had testy relations with the United States and has criticized U.S. foreign policy. Lopez Obrador's comments came in response to a question about the interest in Mexico of Russia's second-largest oil producer, Lukoil, and Russian airline Aeroflot. Lukoil said on Friday it has completed its acquisition of a 50% operator interest in an offshore oil project in Mexico, part of its drive to expand its global reach. Smoke rises from a building following a blast in the Ukraine capital of Kyiv on Tuesday An Ukrainian soldier inspects the aftermath of an explosion near a building in the capital of Kyiv on Tuesday Although the European Union has banned Russian airlines and other Russian-owned airplanes from flying through its airspace, the administration of Lopez Obrador said it would not shut out Aeroflot from providing service to Mexico. Aeroflot, Azur Air and Norwind Airlines provide direct flights to the resort city of Cancun, which expects to receive 78,434 visitors in 2022, according to Mexican Tourism Minister Miguel Torruco Marques. Lopez Obrador also criticized what he characterized as the censorship of Russian state media by social media companies. 'I don't agree with the fact that media from Russia or any country is censored,' Lopez Obrador said. Alphabet Inc's Google barred Russia's state-owned media outlet RT and other channels from receiving money for ads on their websites, apps and YouTube videos, similar to a move by Facebook after the invasion of Ukraine. Mexico on Tuesday also announced it would be providing humanitarian visas to Ukrainian residents. "The (National Institute of Migration and) the Ministry of the Interior endorses its humanistic vocation before those who enter and transit through Mexican territory, without undermining their migratory, social, political and economic status, with special attention to those who are part of vulnerable groups," the immigration enforcement agency said. Immigration data shows that 92,831 migrants from Ukraine entered Mexico since 2018. At least 6,050 Ukrainians entered the country in January and 3,835 were registered in February. The head of the NYPD's hate crimes unit has been reassigned by Mayor Eric Adams after she blamed one victim for filming her attacker, as her division made arrests in fewer than half of all hate incidents that were reported. Jessica Corey has been reassigned to the firearms and tactics unit after concern over mounting racist attacks on Asians-Americans in New York, a gaffe which saw her blame a victim, and her former department's inability to solve most of them. 'We were too slow in investigating [crimes] as possible hate crimes,' Adams said Monday as he commented on Corey's ouster. 'I wanted a new face there, a new vision.' Corey joined the NYPD in 1992, and enjoyed a swift rise through its ranks, becoming a sergeant in 2000, lieutenant in 2002, captain in 2006 and deputy inspector in 2013. She remains listed as commander of the hate crimes, and hasn't commented publicly on her career snafu. The most recent records available show that she earned $167,047 in 2018, and didn't clock any overtime hours. Pressure mounted on Corey after racially-motivated attacks, especially toward Asian-Americans, skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the virus that caused it originating in China. Hate crimes were up 96 percent in 2021. But only 219 people were arrested for hate crimes last year, even though there were 524 hate crime complaints. In comparison, there were 265 hate crime complaints and 93 arrests in 2020, according to the NYPD. In October, a man spit at Esther Lee, a Korean-American woman, and called her a 'carrier' aboard an A-train in Manhattan - only for Corey to then allegedly berate Lee for filming the incident. Adams reassigned Inspector Jessica Corey, who led the Hate Crime Task Force, last month. His office has not clarified where she was placed or who would replace her 'We were too slow in investigating [crimes] as possible hate crimes,' NYC Mayor Eric Adams said during a press conference Monday. Above, Adams at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday Only 219 people were arrested for hate crimes last year, though there were 524 such complaints. In 2020, there were 265 complaints and 93 arrests Asian Americans have experienced a 343 percent increase in hate crimes in 2021 with 133 attacks. Hispanics are also seeing a rise in attacks with eight attacks happening in 2021, compared to one in 2020 'Jessica Corey telling me, "You know you really should not have filmed him, you really should not have taken your phone and started taking footage of him because you probably triggered him,"' Lee said. Adams reassigned Corey a day after WABC informed him about Lee's experience. 'I don't want a leader in that area that starts off with saying why something is not a possible hate crime,' Adams said at the time. An NYPD spokesperson added: 'The incident was looked into by the Hate Crime Task Force and both parties were interviewed. A conferral was made with the NYPD's Legal Bureau as well as the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and a legal determination was made that the facts of the case did not meet current hate crime statutes.' Deputy Inspector Michael King, head of the Special Victims Division, was also reassigned. He was placed in the Patrol Bureau Queens South, according to the NYPD. Both moves were characterized as routine reshufflings, according to WABC, but Corey's controversial tenure has sparked whispers that her removal was performance-related. Hate crimes surged by 96 percent in the Big Apple throughout 2021. Asian hate crimes skyrocketed 343 percent from 2020 to 2021 as the pandemic rattled on, with 133 Asian Americans experiencing terrifying and dangerous experiences of discrimination, according to the data, which was first reported by Fox News. Hispanic hate crimes were also up a staggering 700 percent last year with a total of eight people being harassed or harmed in 2021, up from one in 2020. A total of 538 hate crimes occurred throughout 2021, compared to 275 in 2020. Esther Lee, a Korean-American woman, says Corey tried to pin the blame on her after she was attacked in subway in October In October, a man spit at Lee and called her a 'carrier' aboard an A train in Manhattan as anti-Asian crime was spiking, driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic Korean American woman spit on, called a carrier on A train Oct 5 btwn 34/42nd St. Detective refused to include carrier in report. Head of NYPD Hate Crimes told victim it wasnt hate crime. Now a #HateCrime after civilian hate crime review panel recommendation. #StopAsianHate pic.twitter.com/W0CWjfTx2A CeFaan Kim (@CeFaanKim) January 8, 2022 Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, 48 - who has found himself in hot water after downgrading many crimes and claiming that 'prison is a last resort' - said in January that his office will expand the hate crimes unit, created in 2018, to help address the increase in radically motivated attacks. 'Our [Asian-American and Pacific-Islander] brothers and sisters have been spit upon, coughed at, told to go back home. In my office we are deepening our capacity,' he said. 'We're expanding our hate crimes unit so that we can give these cases the resources that they deserve.' Manhattan's DA Alvin Bragg, 48, said he was will be partnering with local communities and expand resources to address the increase in hate crimes Bragg, the first black man to hold his position, said that he would be expanding resources by partnering with local communities to 'strengthen our community ties,' but commended the existing 'small' hate crimes team for having 'great leadership.' 'What I've heard as I've traveled throughout Manhattan is that there's a reluctance to come forward to law enforcement from some communities, and some people are more willing to go forward through a community group,' Bragg said on Friday. 'We are both focusing on building cases and prosecuting cases and [are] also mindful that we might not be hearing about everything that we want to be, so strengthening our community ties as well.' NHS trusts have been told to firm up their cybersecurity amid fears of a Russian attack in retaliation to Western interference in the war in Ukraine. Health chiefs have written to hospitals telling them to make it their 'focus' to keep their systems secure and make sure backups are in place. There have been widespread concerns about the technological resilience of the NHS which only last year stopped using fax machines. It was famously hacked in 2017 in the WannaCry attack, which brought the whole health service to a standstill for days and cost the UK 92million. Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, told a summit today that cyber- security was being brought to the 'forefront' in the wake of the situation in Ukraine. She added the health service was examining its supply chain resilience in the event of a Kremlin attack here or elsewhere. Security officials fear the NHS, government and business could be prime targets for Moscow, which has one of the world's most sophisticated cyber capabilities. Russia is said to be furious at the British decision to supply Ukraine with defensive weapons systems and impose tough sanctions on Vladimir Putin and his cronies. It comes after it emerged that nearly a dozen trusts paid the Russian government-owned energy supplier Gazprom 4million in the past financial year. NHS trusts have been told to firm up their cybersecurity amid fears of a Russian attack in retaliation to Western interference in the war in Ukraine (stock) Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, told a summit that cyber- security was being brought to the 'forefront' in the wake of the situation in Ukraine Ms Pritchard, speaking at the Nuffield Trust Summit Series virtual conference, also revealed the NHS was looking into sending medical supplies to Ukrainian hospitals. Asked about what the conflict means for the NHS, Ms Pritchard said: 'The first thing is support for our staff who are from the Ukraine. 'But I'm also talking about wider support for all of our staff including anybody from Eastern Europe or Russia. How Putin could attack the West: Online banks and phone reception could be cut out, nations hit by blackouts and NHS hacked The invasion of Ukraine could see the Kremlin try to knock out UK TV, broadband and phone networks as well as online banking and NHS systems in an all-out cyber-conflict with the West at the dawn of a new Cold War, experts told MailOnline. Vladimir Putin could also try to force internet giants such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp offline - although US sources have said that any major Russian global cyber attack could trigger NATO Article 5 and spark World War Three. Ed Arnold, Research Fellow in European Security at RUSI, the UK's leading defence and security think tank, told MailOnline: 'If cyber activities escalate, businesses and people in the UK can expect disruption of websites, communication platforms, networks and in extremis, UK critical national infrastructure'. Home Secretary Priti Patel has said officials and the security services were on alert for cyber warfare and disinformation campaigns from Moscow. Likely targets would be Government websites and key systems such as those used by the NHS, as well as possible disruption of the UK's mobile and broadband network. The 2017 WannaCry cyber-attack cost the NHS 92million and saw 19,000 appointments cancelled after systems collapsed when ransomware was used to lock down hospitals in England. Analysts from the investment bank Goldman Sachs said a conflict could drive gas prices above the record highs seen last month. Advertisement 'We have had an outpouring of support locally for people whose families might be affected by this or who are worried themselves 'So the more that we can do to provide both practical and emotional support for staff who are affected by this, that's got to be top of mind. She added: 'Part of what we have been doing is looking at things like whether we have got any sort of flexibility around supplies, which we can make sure that made available to be provided over to the Ukraine, particularly medical supplies that can be used to for casualties. 'That's something that is being done by Government, so (we are) playing a role in that and that as well.' On cyber security, Ms Pritchard said: 'We have written out to the NHS, a lot of it is just a good practice about what what you should be doing around cybersecurity, but again, this just kind of brings it to the forefront. 'And I think for those organisations who are still just working through some patching and other things, [we're] just encouraging people to make that the focus at the moment.' A bulletin sent out to NHS trusts today ordered them to 'further strengthen cybersecurity resilience'. It states: 'Following Russia's further violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the National Cyber Security Centre has called on organisations in the UK to bolster their online defences. 'Further guidance will be issued to NHS technical teams this week, and we ask that leaders support their teams to undertake priority activities to further strengthen cybersecurity resilience. 'NHS leaders should confirm with their local teams that systems are patched and protected, and that immutable backups are in place. 'The National Cyber Security Centre has issued guidance for organisations to take during periods when the cyber threat is heightened. 'Please ensure your organisation is following this guidance.' It comes after the Health Service Journal reported that at least 11 trusts paid just over 4m to Gazprom in 2021, most of them based in the North West of England. Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust paid 1.78m to Gazprom Marketing & Trading Retail Ltd during the 2021-22 financial year. That was more than triple the amount of any other trust included in the analysis. Bolton NHS Foundation Trust paid the company nearly 470,000 in the same time and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay spent 380,000 on Russian gas. The analysis relies on trusts publishing their data so the actual number supplied by Gazprom could be higher. There are a total of 223 trusts in England and the NHS is thought to spend well over 100m a year on gas. It is unclear if the trusts made the purchases from Gazprom directly or via a national procurement system. Authorities in the Mexican tourist town of Tulum arrested two Americans with a massive cache of weapons. Devan Young, 32, and Natalia Baigorri, 25, were taken into custody by transit police agents Saturday. Mexican network Noticias Televisa reported that authorities identified Young and Baigorri as a couple who are allegedly linked to a string of criminal incidents in the country and also connected to the disappearance of an American individual. Young, a member of the Erie Indian Moundbuilders Tribal Nation in Arizona, and Baigorri, a resident of Mendocino, California, were traveling in a SUV with license plates from the southern Mexico state of Guerrero and were ordered to stop after coming off the Tulum north exit on Federal highway 307. Cops inspected their Jeep Compass and discovered two 9mm Glocks and a .22 caliber rifle along with several rounds of ammunition. Devan Young and Natalia Baigorri were arrested with a massive load of weapons and ammunition during a traffic stop in Tulum, Mexico. Young and Baigotti, both citizens of the United States, have yet to be formally charged Mexican authorities confiscated two 9mm Glocks and .22 caliber rifle from two Americans in Tulum on Saturday Weapons confiscated from two Americans in Tulum in Saturday. A spokesperson with Mexico's Office of the Attorney General told DailyMail.com that the two individuals have not been formally charged Police also confiscated a sensor that detects if security cameras are functioning. While searching the vehicle, cops found a United States passport of another individual. Young and Baigorri are being held by Mexicos Office of the Attorney Generals regional station in Cancun. A spokesperson for the Cancun office told DailyMail.com that Young and Baigorri have yet to be formally charged, but could not say when they are expected to appear in court. SUV used by two Americans to transport two guns and a rifle in Tulum was seized The arrests came just a week after two were shot dead and a third was wounded in Tulum. Authorities believe the attack was connected to feuding criminal organizations battling for the lucrative drug turf in the Caribbean coast resort city. In January, two Canadian drug dealers were executed inside a luxury resort in the neighboring town of Puerto Morelos. In late October, a California travel blogger born in India and the other German - were caught in the apparent crossfire of rival drug dealers and killed while dining at a Tulum restaurant. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador reacted to the shooting by dispatching nearly 1,500 members of the National Guard to reinforce security in the area. The Biden administration has quietly warned American companies with large business interests in Russia that their employees there may be taken hostage in retaliation for sanctions. With the ruble plunging and US and European banks banning all business with Russia while it continues its assault on Ukraine, many American businesses are pulling their money out of the country. Now, Biden administration officials are also warning those companies that unless they extract staff, they may be arrested or taken hostage, according to unnamed sources cited by NBC on Tuesday. There are also growing concerns over the fact that both the EU and Russia have now closed their airspace to each other, making it harder for anyone who wants to leave Russia to get out of the country. Police on patrol in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, 01 March 2022. The world is turning its back on Russia while it continues its assault on Ukraine, putting any Americans who may still be there in an increasingly dangerous position President Biden has imposed strict economic sanctions on Russia. He has not yet shuttered commercial flights to and from Russia and the US but it is a possibility It's unclear how many US citizens are currently living in Russia. At the start of the conflict with Russia, there were 23,000 Americans in Ukraine. A State Department official told DailyMail.com on Tuesday they do not keep numbers of Americans living abroad in any given country. The US Embassy in Moscow is now allowing staff to leave the country on a voluntary basis as a result of the conflict. On Sunday, the State Department issued an alert warning all Americans in the country to leave while they could. 'An increasing number of airlines are cancelling flights into and out of Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines. 'U.S. citizens should consider departing Russia immediately via commercial options still available,' it said. Evelyn Farka, the most senior official for Russia in the Pentagon during the Obama administration, told NBC it is a 'plausible concern' that Americans may be taken hostage or arrested in Moscow or other Russian cities. There is also the concern that American citizens may be arrested on bogus espionage charges and held in the country in prison, like Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan who are both in Russian prisons. The State Department has not confirmed how many Americans are currently living in Russia. The number of ways to get out of Russia is shrinking. EU countries have now ceased commercial flights to and from Russian cities People line up to buy tickets at Moscow Metro station on Tuesday morning after their payments with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Mastercard were declined as a result of the sanctions Russia's assault on Ukraine continued on Tuesday with brutal strikes on heavily populated civilian areas like Kharkiv, where the City Hall building was obliterated Dozens of Americans are fleeing Ukraine on trains, buses and in cars after choosing not to heed warnings from the government about leaving earlier this month. Biden warned on February 10 that the State Department would not be able to collect people to evacuate them as they did in Afghanistan. Many did not listen and stayed behind, now find themselves stuck in the conflict zone. Dozens of European airlines have now canceled all their flights to and from Russia. President Biden is yet to make that commitment. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that it was a possibility but would affect travel to Asia too. 'There are a lot of flights that U.S. airlines fly over Russia to go to Asia and other parts of the world and we factor in a range of factors,' she said on Monday. The US has ruled out imposing a no-fly zone on Russian aircraft over Ukraine after a request from Zelensky. Psaki said it would mean US military planes actively shooting down Russian aircraft and engaging in warfare. Ukraine's government believes that Russia is preparing a mass disinformation campaign to suggest senior military and political figures have surrendered. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov today said that the campaign will include fake documents and doctored footage to shift the narrative around Russia's thus far unsuccessful attempts to topple Ukraine's top brass. 'To ''confirm'' this fake information, seemingly signed ''documents'', as well as fake, edited videos will be distributed,' Reznikov said in an online statement, before posting a similar message on Twitter. Reznikov assured that the Ukrainian leadership remains in Kyiv despite the Russian onslaught, declaring: 'No surrender! Only victory!' It comes as YouTube and Facebook yesterday banned Russian state-owned media outlets RT and Sputnik's channels across Europe, after Facebook and Twitter announced over the weekend that it had blocked a set of pro-Russian fake accounts and hacked profiles sharing anti-Ukrainian messages on social media. The EU has also introduced a ban on RT and Sputnik's channels, and levied targeted sanctions against key individuals thought to be involved in Russia's propaganda machine, including editor-in-chief of RT and Rossiya Segodnya Margarita Simonyan. Meanwhile, Russia's state communications regulator Roskomnadzor hit out at social media giant Meta - parent company of Facebook and Instagram - and Twitter for being complicit in spreading what it said were fake posts about what it described as Russia's 'special operation' in Ukraine. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov today said that the campaign will include fake documents and doctored footage to shift the narrative around Russia's thus far unsuccessful attempts to topple Ukraine's top brass It comes as YouTube and Facebook yesterday banned Russian state-owned media outlets RT and Sputnik's channels across Europe The EU has also levied targeted sanctions against key individuals thought to be involved in Russia's propaganda machine, including editor-in-chief of RT and Rossiya Segodnya Margarita Simonyan (pictured with Putin in 2019) 'To ''confirm'' this fake information, seemingly signed ''documents'', as well as fake, edited videos will be distributed,' Reznikov said in an online statement, before posting a similar message on Twitter (pictured) Russian state authorities exert great power over the nation's media output, and Putin has spent two decades consolidating his control over the information his citizens are fed. Two of Russia's main news agencies - TASS and RIA Novosti - are wholly state-owned, while all three of Russia's largest television news channels - Channel One, Russia One and NTV - are either wholly or partially state-owned. The same is true for international television and news agencies RT and Sputnik, which represent Russia's primary method of distributing news throughout Europe. In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union moved to implement a block on the channels - with RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan singled out as one of Russia's key propagandists. Google-owned video platform YouTube also implemented an immediate ban on the state-owned channels across Europe - though it may take some time for the block to become fully effective. The technology giant had previously limited the ability for RT and other Russian channels to make money for advertisements that appear on videos but has extended its sanctions to fully blocking such channels. Facebook parent company Meta also announced yesterday that it had blocked both media organisations. The change means RT and Sputnik's pages are not visible on Youtube, Facebook or Instagram in the EU, though they remain visible in the UK for now. British media regulator Ofcom yesterday began 15 investigations into the 'due impartiality' of RT, but Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned that a blanket ban on the channel would likely lead to the BBC being banned in Russia. 'We want the Russian population to hear the truth about what Putin is doing,' she said. Over the weekend, Meta said it had also blocked a series of fake profiles and hacked accounts which it said were being controlled by pro-Russian actors. Meta head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher said that the propaganda campaign aimed to 'seed stories across the internet that Ukraine isn't doing well' by 'pretending to be journalists based in Kyiv.' 'The good news is that neither of these campaigns have been that effective, but we do see these actors trying to target Ukraine at this point,' he said. Russian authorities meanwhile have scrambled to regain control of the narrative surrounding events in Ukraine amid the sanctions and widespread bans of its media arms. Russia's Foreign Ministry today said a system should be created to hold western tech giants, including Meta and Google, responsible for 'inciting war', according to Interfax. Meta head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher (pictured) said the tech giant had taken steps to secure accounts they believe had been hacked by pro-Russian actors Simonyan published a storm of tweets in which she defended the Russian 'special operation' as a fight for 'the historical right to remain people of a multinational Russia' and sarcastically declared that 'the dream of a liberal Europe has been realised' in response to the EU's removal of RT from the airwaves Russian state authorities exert great power over the nation's media output, and Putin has spent two decades consolidating his control over the information his citizens are fed. Two of Russia's biggest news agencies - TASS and RIA Novosti are state-owned, while all three of Russia's largest television news channels - Channel One, Russia One and NTV - are either wholly or partially state-owned Roskomnadzor has in recent days implemented partial restrictions on Facebook and Twitter, and called on the tech behemoths to remove posts it said were giving false information about the extent of Russian losses amid the invasion. The regulator also accused foreign internet services of discriminating against Russian media in Europe, while refusing to acknowledge that Russian forces were conducting an invasion. Simonyan herself also published a storm of tweets in which she defended the Russian 'special operation' as a fight for 'the historical right to remain people of a multinational Russia' and sarcastically declared that 'the dream of a liberal Europe has been realised' in response to the EU's removal of RT from the airwaves. Ruptly, a Russian state-owned news agency affiliated with RT that is based in Berlin, saw several top employees hand in their resignations after they were told on an all-staff call that they must not describe the invasion of Ukraine as such, according to Reuters. Russia says its military deployment in Ukraine is a 'special operation' and has cautioned local media to use that terminology. The Kremlin has thus far refused to give details about the casualties its forces have sustained in bitter urban combat with Ukrainian defences. No10's highly-controversial 'no jab, no job' rule in care homes is being revoked in a fortnight, the Government revealed today. Nearly 40,000 unvaccinated staff lost their jobs in England in November when the policy came into effect. Ministers announced their intention to remove the mandate last month pending a consultation. The consultation's results, published today, showed that 90 per cent of respondents supported revoking the policy, which was originally due to be brought into the NHS too. Officials said the rule will be dropped in care homes on March 15, but care bosses slammed the Government for being 'too late'. Tory MPs have called on the Government to bring those who lost their jobs in the care sector back into the fold to help deal with a current staffing crisis in the sector. The consultation's results, published today, showed that 90 per cent of respondents supported revoking the policy, which was originally also due to be brought into the NHS too (stock of a nurse preparing a dose of AstraZeneca's vaccine) The Department of Health and Social Care said the decision was made because of the Omicron variant, which is 'intrinsically less severe' and is much better at infecting vaccinated people. A DHSC spokesperson said: 'We fully recognise the calls for clarity and for quick revocation of the regulations. 'The regulations will come into force on March 15 in order to provide certainty for employers, their staff, patients and people who receive care or support.' The consultation surveyed 90,000 health and social care professionals and members of the public from February 9 to 16. Eighty-seven per cent of respondents said they 'strongly' agree the policy should be revoked, with a further 3 per cent also preferring the rule is abandoned. Some 96 per cent of members of the public said they supported the move to get rid of the policy. But 7 per cent said they strongly opposed the move, with 2 per cent also not wanting to see the change brought in. Some 30 per cent of NHS and care home managers said they opposed the rule being revoked. But DHSC said the overall responses 'showed clearly the strength of feeling about the policy, both through the large number of total responses received and the clear preferences indicated'. Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, told MailOnline: 'The decision to remove vaccination as a condition of employment for residential care staff comes too late for the over 30,000 people who left our services because they did not want to be vaccinated. 'The Government talks endlessly about integrating health and social care, and yet they put this mandate into social care, but not into the NHS. 'In future, anything they do needs to be implemented system-wide because fragmented decision-making has unintended consequences.' Advertisement Previously unseen photographs of people dancing in nightclubs have been published in a book shining a light on London's niche hotspots and the subculture of the late 1990s. The pictures were taken by photographer Ewen Spencer who would travel up from his home in Brighton each weekend between 1998 and 2001 to capture the images for the style magazine Sleazenation, based in Shoreditch. The magazine ceased publication in 2003, but during the first lockdown Spencer came across the images while helping his father rescue a digital archive from a hard drive. The chance encounter inspired him to create a book, and a conversation with his father helped provide the inspiration for its title: While You Were Sleeping. Speaking to the Guardian, Spencer said: 'His eyes upon it made me realise the significance of it. 'He said to me "When were you doing this?" and I said "While you were sleeping.' A graduate from the Brighton School of Art, Spencer said he was inspired by German photographer Wolfgang Tillmans, who he said captured the experience of Berlin nightlife in '360'. He said he chose to visit London's niche hotspots rather than the big glossy venues popular in the 90s in order to capture the subculture at that time. The pictures were taken with a film camera which had just 12 exposures on each, meaning Spencer had to choose his subjects wisely, often choosing people lost in the music or conversation rather than those craving attention. Looking back at the time, Spencer said what he was doing for Sleazenation more than twenty years ago is what people are doing today with unlimited photos taken on their smartphones and documented on their social media accounts. Dancer, Queer Nation Sub Station, South Brixton, in 1999. The photographs were given to Sleazenations photographic director, Steve Lazarides, who chose to publish some of them in black and white to capture what it meant to be young and British Infernos, Clapham High Street, in 1998. Ewen Spencer, a graduate from the Brighton School of Art, said he was inspired by Wolfgang Tillmans, who he said captured the experience of Berlin nightlife in '360' Round Twentys Holiday Reunion, Prestatyn, in 1999. Spencer said he chose to visit London's niche hotspots rather than the big glossy venues popular in the 90s in order to capture the subculture at that time Brixton Trance 2, in 2000. Spencer travelled up from his home in Brighton on each weekend between 1998 and 2001 to capture the images for the style magazine Sleazenation, based in Shoreditch The Cross Coal Drop Yard, in Kings Cross, in 2000. Sleazenation stopped publishing its magazine in 2003, but the photos Spencer took were discovered two decades later Deep Funk, Madame Jo Jos, Soho, in 1999. A conversation Spencer had with his father when they discovered the images helped provide the inspiration for the book's title: While You Were Sleeping Pass the Mic, WKD bar, Kentish Town, in 1999. Spencer was inspired to publish the images in a book after his father discovered the images and asked when he was doing that. 'While you were sleeping', he replied Gumballs, The Cross Coal Drop Yard, in Kings Cross, in 2000. Spencer said he made himself part of the niche nightclub scene in the late 90s to ensure he was photographing something he understood The Lovers, Sonik Mook Experiment, 333 Old Street, in 1998. Spencer said he had just 12 exposures on each roll of film, meaning he had to choose his subjects wisely, often choosing people lost in the music or conversation rather than those craving attention DC, Nottingham Rock City. Spencer, looking back on his photos from the 1990s, said what he was doing for Sleazenation more than twenty years ago is what people are doing with their smartphones and social media now President Moon Jae-in speaks in a speech marking Korea's 1919 nationwide uprising against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule at the National Memorial of the Korean Provisional Government, Seoul, March 1. Yonhap President Moon Jae-in called for Japan to look squarely at history, Tuesday, and show a humble attitude over its wartime past in order for the two countries to overcome historical feuds and move forward for cooperation. In a speech marking Korea's 1919 nationwide uprising against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, Moon said South Korea remains open to dialogue with Japan to work together on various regional and global issues, such as COVID-19 and supply chains. South Korea and Japan "should be able to overcome the 'history of a once unfortunate past' and cooperate toward the future," Moon said, describing the two nations as "close neighbors." "To that end, Japan must look squarely at history and be humble before history." Moon said Japan can become a "trusted nation" only if it "can sympathize with the wounds of the people of its neighboring country." Diplomatic tensions between Seoul and Tokyo have run deep since 2019, when Japan imposed a set of export restrictions against South Korea in a move seen as economic retaliation for South Korean court rulings against Japanese firms involved in forced labor during Japan's colonial rule. Japan's recent heritage bid for a controversial mine added to a litany of thorny issues between the two countries, including Japan's claims to Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, its wartime sexual slavery and its planned discharge of tainted nuclear plant water into the ocean. The latest tussle over the Sado Mine where as many as 2,000 Koreans were thought to have been mobilized to work against their will struck a particularly jarring note as it put a damper on Seoul's hitherto unfruitful fence-mending efforts with Tokyo. Moon's speech came a day after South Korea said it will ban exports of strategic items to Russia and join international sanctions to exclude major Russian financial institutions from a key global payment system to increase pressure over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. In the speech, Moon expressed concerns about a "new Cold War" and a rising "nation-centrism" to take supremacy by force. The remarks were seen as a veiled condemnation against Russia's military action despite international warnings. A lesson from the 1919 nationwide uprising is that South Korea should not be swayed by the international order centered on global powers and must have its own power to lead its history, Moon said. (Yonhap) A Las Vegas judge was blasted for bailing a high-risk registered sex offender who allegedly went on to molesting a 14 year-old boy - with the victim said to have been targeted for being white. Judge Kalani Hoo set bail for Willie Collins, 42, at just $1,500 last September after Collins was accused of robbery, 8NewsNow reported. Hoo did so despite being warned that Collins posed a danger to society, and that the convicted predator was a flight risk. Collins was also ordered into house arrest, but appears to have flouted that order to commit his latest alleged crime. The pervert has prior convictions for child molestation, with one of his victims being a special needs child. Collins is then said to have struck again on February 24, after abducting a 14 year-old boy who was walking to school. Collins, who was wearing a GPS ankle monitor, pretended to be armed, then bundled the youngster into an alleyway, where he molested him, it is alleged. The convicted pervert, who is black, is later said to have told cops that he targeted the boy because he was shite. Collins made his latest court appearance on Friday to face a dozen charges, including sexual assault with a victim under 16, battery with the intent to commit a sexual assault, and kidnapping. He appeared before a different judge, and was finally ordered into custody. Willie Collins, 42, a homeless career criminal and sex offender, has been charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Las Vegas boy Collins, who has a vast criminal history, including a pending armed robbery case, was out of jail after Judge Kalani Hoo (pictured) set his bail at $1,500 last fall, despite his being assessed as high risk Police said Collins ordered the schoolboy to enter an alley and directed him into a dumpster enclosure, where he sexually assaulted him. But the 14-year-old fought back and was eventually able to escape and call for help, while Collins fled on foot. Police who responded to the scene reviewed surveillance video from the area and spotted the suspect with his pants down, revealing the ankle monitor on his leg, reported KTNV. Investigators subsequently determined that the GPS monitor assigned to Collins following his release on bail last fall had been in the area at the time of the sexual assault. Collins made his initially court appearance on Friday, a day after his arrest on a dozen charges Collins was ordered to register as a sex offender after his 2017 conviction for open and gross lewdness, which involved multiple children Detectives then went to Collins' home, located just a quarter-mile from the crime scene, and arrested him at 12.30pm. No weapons were found in his possession. Collins is listed on Nevada's sex offender registry stemming from a 2017 conviction on a charge of open and gross lewdness involving multiple children, one of whom had special needs. His criminal history includes 15 prior arrests and more than a dozen convictions on misdemeanor counts. In September 2021, Collins was picked up on a charge of robbery with a deadly weapon. When he appeared before North Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Kalani Hoo in late September for a pre-trial risk assessment hearing, it was stated that Collins is a high-risk offender and a flight risk. Collins is pictured in some of his old booking photos. His criminal record dates back to 1993 But Judge Hoo set Collins' bail at $1,500 and allowed him to be released on house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor. DailyMail.com on Tuesday reached out to the court seeking comment on the judge's decision and was awaiting a reply. In court on Friday, Collins appeared to be in high spirits, greeting the judge presiding over his case with a friendly 'good morning.' As the appearance drew to a close, the suspect thanked the judge, the district attorney and his public defender, adding: 'thank you, everybody here and I love yall.' A disability activist has slammed a 'creepy stalker' who asked her to set him up with a 'simple-minded and helpless' woman. Monica Albert Still from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was messaged on Facebook by the unnamed man who snooped through her profile and photos hoping to find disabled and vulnerable women he could target for potential dates. He brazenly declared his intentions, saying he was providing a 'humanitarian service' to the women. Monica Albert Still from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has slammed a 'creepy stalker' who asked her to set him up with a 'simple-minded and helpless' woman She was messaged on Facebook by the unnamed man who snooped through her profile and photos In other unsettling messages, the man stated his intentions to 'get acquainted' with disabled women he had spotted while searching the 56-year-old's profile and asked her for 'suggestions'. He also said he had noticed Monica was 'still single' and was a 'very beautiful woman', before saying he wanted to get to know her and suggesting that they 'get involved'. The retired nurse, who has spina bifida and a lower-leg amputation, claims these messages illustrate a wider problem where 'ableist' people assume disabled people can be taken advantage of in dating. After realizing he'd been sifting through her profile, Monica reported him numerous times before finally blocking him after he sent her a pornographic photo. Monica said: 'I work with the Spina Bifida Association, so I get a lot of messages from disabled people. 'I answer messages because sometimes I'm able to help someone. The retired nurse, who has spina bifida and a lower-leg amputation, claims the messages illustrate a wider problem He brazenly declared his intentions, saying he was providing a 'humanitarian service' to the women 'But this guy went off on a weird thing about wanting a disabled woman because they're "simple minded" and "helpless", and I was like "no this isn't how this goes". 'When I saw that he was looking for a helpless woman, it just made me think he was looking for somebody he could control. 'When I said no, he said he'd find somebody through my profile. He'd seen my post sharing his messages. 'I ended up blocking him because he started showing me pictures of my Facebook friends. 'He had started going through my profile to find some of these - I don't have my friend list public. 'He was saying "I could date this one". It was a very creepy stalker vibe. I felt so angry that this person thought he had the right to do this.' Monica, who volunteers with disability rights organisations, is open about her passion for 'disability justice' online and shared the messages to make sure her disabled friends were vigilant about any advances. Monica said: 'It comes along with this ableism that somebody assumes I would be so desperate for a relationship that this would be okay with me. Monica, who volunteers with disability rights organisations, is open about her passion for 'disability justice' online 'That worries me, because there might be women who aren't as comfortable with themselves and a guy like this could do a lot of damage. 'Most of my posts are about disability justice and I'm very open about my life - I have spina bifida and I'm a below-the-knee amputee. I think he was aware of that. 'I shared his messages to my friends because it was about ableism and I wanted to warn my disabled friends, so they didn't have to deal with the nonsense I was receiving. 'I didn't want him to talk to any of my friends and say "I'm friends with Monica". 'I reported his account several times, because he shared a pornographic picture with me that I didn't ask for.' Monica, who has a partner of six years, believes that the messages indicate a wider issue that disabled people face as they try to navigate the dating scene. Monica said: 'There is such a thing within the disability community as a devotee [a person who is sexually attracted to disability]. Monica, who has a partner of six years, believes that the messages indicate a wider issue that disabled people face 'I'm not sure if that's what he was, because there are people who are looking to have a relationship with a disabled person because that's their thing. 'I've never had a message like this before, and I'm a bit older, I've had a computer since 1982. 'I've been in chat rooms and stuff, but never had anything like this. 'I think this is part of a wider problem, dating with a disability is difficult. 'There are people who assume we're asexual and we don't date and have no sex lives. 'Then there's the opposite side where people think 'oh, if I date somebody who's disabled, I can take advantage of them. I can control them'. 'It's an issue of control, as if the disabled person can't do any better than them. 'I've encountered men like this before. 'They'll assume I'm looking for a care-giver and not somebody to be my partner. I've encountered it and it can make life frustrating.' Voters in Texas are heading to the polls Tuesday for the first primary of the midterm season, where an AOC-backed progressive will take on Rep. Henry Cuellar and Trump-backed incumbents will face challenges from the right. At the top of the ticket, Gov. Greg Abbott will likely best two lively right-wing challengers to win a third term. Abbott, who has been endorsed by Trump, has tacked to the right and run an aggressive campaign that included 60 campaign stops throughout the state in the weeks leading up to the primary. Catering to his right-wing base, Abbott signed the Texas abortion law banning the practice after six weeks, told state agencies to investigate treatment for transgender youth as 'child abuse' and deployed Texas National Guard troops to the southern border. Abbott, a prolific fundraiser, entered the final days of the primary with $60 million on hand. He's expected to take on Democrat Beto O'Rourke come November, who is haunted by a failed run for the presidency and for Ted Cruz's Senate seat. O'Rourke, who is not facing a challenger on the Democratic side, entered the primary with only $6.8 million on hand. Abbott is not expected to win with the landslide 90 percent he won in the primary four years ago, and rumors are swirling that some in Trump's orbit encouraged him to yank his endorsement of the governor ahead of the race. In the attorney general's race, incumbent Ken Paxton will face three heavy-weight challengers - Texas land commissioner George P. Bush of the Bush dynasty, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert and Eva Guzman, a former justice on the Texas Supreme Court. At the top of the ticket, Gov. Greg Abbott will likely best two lively right-wing challengers to win a third term In the attorney general's race, incumbent Ken Paxton, above, will face three heavy-weight challengers - Texas land commissioner George P. Bush of the Bush dynasty, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert and Eva Guzman, a former justice on the Texas Supreme Court Rep. Henry Cuellar, above, one of the last anti-abortion Democrats, faces a formidable challenge from progressive Jessica Cisneros Cisneros, above, is endorsed by AOC, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders All three challengers have assailed Paxton for a 2015 securities fraud indictment that he is still fighting. The charges stemmed from his time in the state House when prosecutors said he directed investments to a firm without disclosing he would be compensated for doing so. Paxton denied the charges and had the trial delayed. Then, in 2020, Paxton was accused by some of his own top aides of bribery and abuse of power While Paxton won the Trump endorsement, Gohmert got a shoutout at Trump's rally in Texas. A member of the House Freedom Caucus, Gohmert is a staunch supporter of Trump. Gohmert reportedly posed for a photo with Trump at the rally last month, but Trump's team refused to send it to the congressman because they did not want him to use it in campaign ads, according to the New York Times. 'Louie Gohmert, what a wonderful guy,' Trump told the crowd. 'This is a man who has been a friend of mine from day one.' And as Bush's family name has diminished in value in the Lonestar State, the land commissioner too has tacked himself to Trump, in his campaign calling to 'finish the Trump wall' and talking about 'massive voter fraud.' Guzman, meanwhile has attracted establishment conservative and pro-business backing. While Paxton is still considered the front runner, there is a real chance he could not break the 50 percent threshold to avoid a runoff race between the top two candidates. The runoff race would be in May. Paxton's performance will be the litmus test of whether Trump's hold on the party remains steadfast. And while redistricting in Texas eliminated many of the competitive House seats in the general election, a handful of contested primaries on both sides will be the real test. Rep. Henry Cuellar, one of the last anti-abortion Democrats in Congress who has been critical of President Biden's handling of immigration policy, will take on progressive Jessica Cisneros, who drew in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a campaign appearance. Cisneros, a 28-year-old immigration attorney, received a political blessing with an FBI raid on Cuellar's home in the month leading up to the primary. The raid was tied to a criminal investigation with business people from the former Soviet state of Azerbaijan. It's still not clear whether Cuellar himself is a subject or target of the probe, and he has vowed to cooperate with any investigation. The nine-term Democrat is co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, an obscure group dedicated to furthering relations with the oil-rich nation on the Caspian Sea. In that role, Cuellar is known to have met repeatedly with Azerbaijan officials, including the country's ambassador to the US, Elin Suleymanov. Your browser does not support iframes. Azerbaijan has been harshly criticized in the past for bribing foreign officials and diplomats to secure its foreign policy aims and legitimize dubious election results. The practice is so common in the country that it is known there as 'caviar diplomacy,' but it is unclear whether the FBI is investigating any similar allegations in relation to Cuellar. And in Texas' 34th district former socialist member of Austin City Council Greg Casar will take on three other Democrats - Rep. Vicente Gonzalez who currently represents Texas' 15th district which now leans Republican under the new redistricting map and state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez. Both Casar and Cisneros have been endorsed by AOC and Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The power struggle within the GOP will be on full display in the primary race for retiring Republican Rep. Kevin Brady's seat. A super PAC aligned with Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy has thrown its weight behind Navy SEAL veteran Morgan Luttrell, while a PAC aligned with the House Freedom Caucus has gone all-in for former Cruz aide Christian Collins. Potential jurors selected for the first trial surrounding the January 6 attacks on the US Capitol grew emotional in court Monday upon being questioned about the events of the day, raising concerns regarding their reliability to serve on the historic case. 'I felt like it was an attack on my home.. It was a very scary time,' one potential juror, with his voice shaking, told the DC court Monday according to CNN. The juror had been selected along with 33 others to potentially preside over the case of accused Capitol rioter Guy Reffitt, 48. US District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich excused the candidate - along with nine others - from service, saying he was 'starting from a place where he feels so clearly, visibly impacted from the events', CNN reported. Meanwhile, 24 others - several of whom said they had followed news coverage of the riots and had strong political opinions regarding the case - made the cut, including a lobbyist who boasts connections to Congress, CNN reported. Reffitt's case is the first of more than 700 criminal defendants set to go to trial in the coming weeks. He faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of storming the building and taking a semi-automatic handgun onto the Capitol grounds. Pictured is a courtroom sketch from Monday's proceedings, where potential jurors were questioned about the case surrounding defendant Guy Reffitt (pictured at right in sketch without the mask). One candidate grew emotional when he told Judge Dabney Friedrich of the riots, 'I felt like it was an attack on my home... It was a very scary time,' before being dismissed Refitt, whose trial was expected to start on Wedesday, made headlines last year after he was accused of threatening to kill his teenage son for reporting his alleged part in the attacks to police. At the hearing, Friedrich questioned the potential jurors at length about their familiarity with the defendant's case Monday, along with their consumption of media coverage about the attack and their ability to impartially preside over the important case, according to CNN. Potential jurors that were selected for the trial, the first surrounding the January 6 attacks on the US Capitol (pictured), grew emotional in court Monday upon being questioned about the events of the day, raising concerns regarding their reliability to serve on the historic case Several who survived the judge's first cut slated to return to court Tuesday said they had followed news coverage of the riots and had strong political opinions regarding the case, but would be able to look at the evidence impartially. Nearly all said they had never heard of Reffitt, who faces five felony counts for his alleged part in the protests, according to CNN. The network reported that one prospective juror who met Friedrich's criteria for the first cut identified himself to the court as a lobbyist with close ties to a sitting member of Congress. Previously a congressional page, the juror said he was still in touch with his former boss, who was not identified, and that he had given tours of the Capitol during his time as a congressional aide. 'I have a lot of reverence' for the building, he told the judge Monday, remaining on the pool. During proceedings, defendant Guy Reffitt (at left without the mask), who faces 20 years in prison for storming and bringing a handgun into the Capitol, sat silent with his legal team. Prior to Monday, Reffitt's attorney had expressed concerns about the jury's ability to be impartial Several prospective jurors spoke passionately about their fear during the attack - and their disgust toward its perpetrators. 'Everybody who went in there is already guilty,. They should be prosecuted to the max,' one man who was dismissed from the pool said, according to CNN. Others flatly proclaimed that they could not be impartial toward Reffitt. One man, who did not remain in the jury pool, described to the court of how he ventured toward the Capitol amid reports of revelry on January 6. 'I saw it on the news. And it was so close to my apartment, that I wanted to see what was going on,' a DC was reported as saying on the stand, according to CNN. Judge Friedrich, 54, dismissed nine jurors during the Monday hearing for displaying strong feelings about the Capitol attackers. The judge, however, allowed 24 others who said they had strong political opinions regarding the case onto the next round of cuts, set for Tuesday One woman who was also dismissed said she worked at the Library of Congress, where she had been stationed during the attack, and described how some of her fellow employees were evacuated from the office and others working from home near the Capitol that day. Another potential juror who made it on to second round similarly spoke about how he followed news coverage after the attack. 'I live in this city. I wanted to know what happened,' the juror said. according to CNN. Only a few of the prospective candidates said they did not follow news coverage of the attacks January 6. Images, like this one, from Jan. 6 show Guy Reffitt wearing a helmet with a camera fastened to the front of it while he allegedly stormed the Capitol. He faces up to 20 years in prison for his alleged part in the attack and bringing a handgun with him onto the Capitol terrace Reffitt, a member of the far-right, antigovernment organization The Texas Three-Percenters, is also seen in the images wearing a blue jacket and what appears to be a bulletproof vest. His case is the first of more than 700 criminal defendants set to go to trial in the coming weeks Following Monday's proceedings, the process of seating a jury for the case is more than halfway finished, with prosecutors set to make their opening statement as early as Tuesday. The situation accentuates concerns that some of the more than 700 federal criminal defendants - who stormed and entered the historic site in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from certifying Joe Biden's presidential election victory - are having about the fairness of scheduled court proceedings. Prior to Monday's hearing, Reffitt's attorney had expressed concerns about the prospective jury's ability to be impartial. According to an affidavit obtained by Dallas News, Reffitt told his family that he went to Washington, D.C., to 'to protect the country,' that he brought a gun with him, and that he 'stormed the Capitol' Despite those calls, however, it looks that following Monday's proceedings, the court this week will be able to assemble enough jurors. Reffitt, who is a member of the Texas right-wing anti-government group the Three Percenters, is accused of taking a gun to the Capitol, interfering with two police officers outside the building and threatening his children when he returned home. He is contesting the five felony charges during this week's trial. Images snapped January 6 near the Capitol show Reffitt wearing a helmet with a camera fastened to the front of it. He's also seen in the images wearing a blue jacket and what appears to be a bulletproof vest. Vice News reported that he allegedly charged at police officers with such force that they had to fire projectiles and use pepper spray to hold him back. Reffitt, 48, made headlines in late January following his arrest after he was accused of threatening to kill his teenage son, Jackson (pictured), for calling police Afterwards, he threatened his own wife and kids, telling them he would shoot them if they turned him to the authorities. However, he was later arrested after his son, Jackson, 19, contacted the FBI. According to court documents, he told his family, 'If you turn me in, youre a traitor, and you know what happens to traitors Traitors get shot.' FBI agents found an AR-15 rifle and a pistol during their search of Reffitt's home, according to the affidavit. After turning his dad in, Jackson was forced to leave his family home and is no longer on speaking terms with his mom, Nicole, and his two sisters, Peyton, 18, and Sarah, 24. 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 The top charge he faces is obstructing an official proceeding, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, and waits for trial to begin. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges he faces. In May, prosecutors added new evidence to their case against Reffitt, in the form a recording of a January 10 Zoom meeting between Reffitt and two other Three Percenters. In the clip, Reffitt allegedly said he helped lead the charge on the Capitol with a .40-caliber pistol at his side, at one point telling a U.S. Capitol Police officer who was firing nonlethal rounds at him, 'Sorry, darling. You better get a bigger damn gun,' ProPublica reported. Refitt's case is set to begin as soon as jury selection completes this week. A translator became choked up while covering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech to the European Parliament as he declared that Ukraine 'is fighting for our land and our freedom'. The translator, who has not been named, became emotional and his voice broke as he read out Zelensky's words for MSNBC on Tuesday. He managed to make it through the address but he was forced to pause during Zelensky's speech as he was overcome with emotion. The President addressed the European Parliament remotely from Kyiv and spoke of the 'tragedy' unfolding after 'five days of full-scale invasion' by Russia. A translator became choked up while covering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech to the European Parliament as he declared that Ukraine 'is fighting for our land and our freedom' As Zelensky began describing how Russian shelling has pounded the Freedom square in Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, and killed dozens, the translator became emotional. He began translating the Ukrainian leader's speech into English, saying: 'Can you imagine, this morning, two cruise missiles hit Freedom Square. Dozens killed. This is the price of freedom.' The translator's voice then cracked with emotion and he choked out: 'We are fighting just for our land. And for our freedom.' The man took a deep breath and managed to continue with Zelensky's speech, adding: 'Despite the fact that all of our citizens are now blocked, nobody is going to enter and intervene. Believe you and me, every square, no matter where it is. 'Nobody is going to break us, we are Ukrainians.' He added: 'We want our children to live. It seems to me that this is fair. Yesterday, 16 children died. And again, President Putin will say this is an operation, and we are beating the military infrastructure. Where are our children? What military factories do they work at? ON which rockets? Maybe they ride in tanks? You killed 16 children! 'We are fighting for our rights freedom and life and now we are fighting for survival. And this is our main motivation. But we are also fighting to be equal members of Europe. The EU will be much stronger with us. Without you, Ukraine will be alone. 'Do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. Do prove that you are indeed Europeans, and then life will win over death and light will win over darkness. Glory to Ukraine.' Smoke and flames rise up the side of Kyiv's 1,300ft TV tower after Russia bombed it on Tuesday. The tower remained standing but buildings around it were damaged, with some broadcasts knocked off air Transcript of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's speech This morning was a very tragic one for us. Two cruise missiles hit Kharkiv, the city, which is located to the borders of the Russian federation. There were always many Russians there and they were always friend, there were warm relations there. More than 20 universities are there. It's the city that has the largest number of universities in our country. The youth is bright, smart there. The people who gathered there all the time and was gathering there all the time for celebrating all celebrations in the largest square in our country - the Freedom Square. This is the largest square in Europe and that's true. This is called the Freedom Square. Can you imagine, this morning, two cruise missiles hit this Freedom Square. Dozens killed. This is the price of freedom. We're fighting just for our land and for our freedom. Despite the fact that all the cities of our country are now blocked nobody is going to enter and intervene with our freedom and believe you me, every square from today, no matter what it's called, is going to be called Freedom Square, in every city of our country. Nobody's going to break us, we're strong, we're Ukrainians. We want our children to live. It seems to me that this is fair. Yesterday, 16 children died. And again, President Putin will say this is an operation, and we are beating the military infrastructure. Where are our children? What military factories do they work at? ON which rockets? Maybe they ride in tanks? You killed 16 children! We are fighting for our rights freedom and life and now we are fighting for survival. And this is our main motivation. But we are also fighting to be equal members of Europe. The EU will be much stronger with us. Without you, Ukraine will be alone. Do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. Do prove that you are indeed Europeans, and then life will win over death and light will win over darkness. Glory to Ukraine. Advertisement On Saturday, a German interpreter has burst into tears while translating a speech by Zelensky. The journalist, who has not been named, started crying as she read out Zelenskyy's words for Welt. She made it part-way through the press conference before her words were drowned out by tears through the microphone. The politician had been giving an update on the precarious position Ukraine was in as Russian troops bang at the door to Kyiv overnight. Zelensky's address to the European Parliament on Tuesday came as explosions erupted around Kyiv's 1,300ft TV tower this afternoon, just hours after Russia told civilians to evacuate because it was about to begin bombarding 'strategic' targets in the Ukrainian capital. At least two large blasts were seen near the foot of the tower, around three miles from central Kyiv, around 5.30pm local time. It was not immediately clear whether the tower had been the target of the strikes, or whether they had been targeting nearby buildings. The tower remained standing, but several state broadcasts went off air. It came shortly after Moscow's ministry of defence said it would be launching strikes into the city targeting Ukraine's security service and intelligence agencies with what it called 'precision munitions'. That raised fears that Kyiv was about to come under heavy bombardment after the cities of Kharkiv, Mariupol and Kherson were hit by indiscriminate shelling earlier in the day. A column of Russian artillery units and tanks 40 miles long has been pictured snaking its way towards Kyiv as analysts warned it will likely be tasked with surrounding the city, besieging it and bombing it into submission as Putin resorts to 'medieval' tactics in an attempt to force victory. Meanwhile Ukraine warned that Belarus had also thrown its own soldiers into the fight with an attack on the north eastern city of Chernihiv. Day 6 of the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II has found Russia increasingly isolated by tough economic sanctions that have thrown its economy its disarray and left the country practically friendless, apart from China and Belarus. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, with a population of about 1.5 million, at least six people were killed when the region's Soviet-era administrative building was hit. Explosions tore through residential areas, and a maternity ward was moved to an underground shelter. Kharkiv's Freedom Square - Ukraine's largest plaza, and the nucleus of public life for the city - was struck with what was believed to be a missile, in an attack seen by many Ukrainians as brazen evidence that the Russian invasion wasn't just about hitting military targets but also about breaking their spirits. Smoke rises around Kyiv's main television tower after several explosions near the base of it on Tuesday afternoon A partially-destroyed building and burned-out van are seen in the streets in Brovary, near Kyiv, after attacks by Russian forces A burned-out car and rubble is seen strewn in the streets in Brovary, a city on the outskirts of Kyiv, amid fears the Ukrainian capital is about to come under heavy Russian bombardment The strike blew out windows and walls of buildings that ring the massive central square, which was piled high with debris and dust. Inside one building, chunks of plaster were scattered, and doors, ripped from their hinges, lay across hallways. 'People are under the ruins. We have pulled out bodies,' said Yevhen Vasylenko, representative of the Emergency Situations Ministry in Kharkiv region. In addition to the six killed, 20 were wounded in the strike, he said. Zelenskyy called the attack on Kharkiv's main square 'frank, undisguised terror,' blaming a Russian missile and calling it a war crime. 'This is state terrorism of the Russian Federation,' he said. In an emotional appeal to the European Parliament later, Zelenskyy said: 'We are fighting also to be equal members of Europe. I believe that today we are showing everybody that is what we are.' He said 16 children had been killed on Monday, and he mocked Russia's claim that it is going after only military targets. 'Where are the children, what kind of military factories do they work at? What tanks are they going at, launching cruise missiles?' Zelenskyy said. In a worrying development, Human Rights Watch said it documented a cluster bomb attack outside a hospital in Ukraine's east in recent days. Local residents have also reported the use of the munitions in Kharkiv and the village of Kiyanka, though there was no independent confirmation. If confirmed, that would represent a worrying new level of brutality in the war and could lead to even further isolation in Russia. The Kremlin denied Tuesday that it has used such weapons and insisted again that its forces only have struck military targets - despite evidence documented by Associated Press reporters of shelling of homes, schools and hospitals. The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor said earlier this week that he plans to open an investigation into possible war crimes. Unbowed by Western condemnation, Russian officials upped their threats of escalation, days after raising the specter of a nuclear attack. A top Kremlin official warned that the West's 'economic war' against Russia could turn into a 'real one.' The first talks Monday between Ukraine and Russia yielded no stop in the fighting, though the two sides agreed to another meeting in the coming days. Throughout the country, many Ukrainian civilians spent another night huddled in shelters, basements or corridors. More than a half-million people have fled the country, and the U.N. human rights office said it has recorded the deaths of 136 civilians. The real toll is believed to be far higher. Advertisement Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko appears to have indicated Vladimir Putin's forces have plans to invade Moldova. Putin's war-mongering sidekick addressed security officials today while standing in front of a battle map that seems to show a planned operation from southern Ukraine into its tiny neighbour. The map also showed proposed battle plans for Russian troops across the country. It detailed Russian lines of attack heading into Ukraine, some of which have materialised in the first few days of the invasion - such as forces storming towards Kyiv from the north, and towards Kherson from Crimea. But they also showed off several attacks that have yet to come to pass - with one even appearing to point from the port city of Odessa into Moldova, suggesting Russia plans to march troops into Ukraine's neighbour. Meanwhile Putin's military has suffered an embarrassing string of defeats while trying to carry out precision strikes on key targets in an apparent effort to win the war quickly and convincingly. That has raised fears that he is now about to deploy Russian heavy armour and artillery in an attempt to brute-force his way to victory - a strategy that could cause huge civilian casualties. A 'terrifying' convoy 40 miles long comprised of tanks and artillery is now heading towards the capital Kyiv, apparently in an effort to surround it. Russian forces began bombarding the city today, striking a TV mast and a nearby Holocaust memorial, after warning citizens to leave or risk being killed. Several of the city's neighbourhoods are currently under attack, according to local reports. The Kyiv Independent reported at 23:29 local time (21:29GMT) that Russian bombs have struck Vyshneve, a town outside the capital. It also said the neighbourhoods of Rusanivka, Kurenivka and Boiarka - as well as the area near Kyiv International Airport - were coming under fire. Rusanivka in particular is very central. It also reported a loud explosion was heard at Bila Tserkva, a city in Kyiv Oblast, when a duel depot was attacked, according to the UNIAN news agency. The locations of the reported attacks suggest Russian forces are tonight closing in from multiple sides of the capital, particularly from the west. Alexander Lukashenko has appeared in front of a battle map during a state TV broadcast which appears to detail Russia's attack plans in Ukraine The map seems to suggest that a force will be sent from the Ukrainian city of Odessa to attack neighbouring Moldova, where Russia already has troops Moldova: A brief history The Republic of Moldova has changed its colours many times throughout its history, which dates back to the 1350s. In its early state, it was the precursor to what is today Moldova and Romania, and was known as the Principality of Moldavia. The principality was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire from the 1500s until the 19th century. In 1812, the eastern half of the principality - Bessarabia - was annexed by the Russian Empire. Over 100 years later, Bessarabia briefly became independent as the Moldavian Democratic Republic and united with Romania in 1918, but was occupied by the Soviet Union soon after during the Second World War. When the war ended in 1945, it remained in the Soviet Union as the Moldavian SSR, until the USSR dissolved in 1991, at which point the country declared independence and become the Republic of Moldova as it is known today. However, a small strip of Moldovan territory found on the country's easy bank has been under the control of the breakaway government of Transnistria since 1990, which is one of four post-Soviet 'frozen conflict' zones. Advertisement The map displayed by Lukashenko is split into four sections which align with the command districts of Ukraine's military, showing Russian attacks from Belarus, along Ukraine's eastern border, and from occupied Crimea. A two-pronged pincer movement is shown targeting Kyiv - an attack that is currently playing out - which forces are also shown heading out of occupied Donetsk and Crimea before linking up at Melitopol, which Russia has captured. But attacks are also shown hitting the city of Dnipro, which has yet to take place - possibly because the forces assigned to attack it have been held up by fierce resistance in Kharkiv, which is along the route. Another attack appears to be heading for the city of Cherkasy via the city of Sumy, where Russian forces have also been held up, while a third appears to break off from the Kyiv assault towards Zhytomyr. Perhaps the most baffling shows troops attacking from the Ukrainian port city of Odessa towards Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova that Russia occupies. Nicu Popescu, Moldova's deputy prime minister, admitted today that his country is in a 'very risky zone' with the population feeling 'anxiety and fear'. But, he added, he does not expect to be invaded and instead sees the biggest challenge as handling an influx of refugees. A Ukrainian military official said Belarusian troops joined the war Tuesday in the Chernihiv region in the north, without providing details. But just before that, Lukashenko said his country had no plans to join the fight. The map also pinpoints what appear to be Ukrainian military infrastructure and missile batteries in locations that were struck by Russian missile strikes on the first day of the invasion. Lukashenko used the map while speaking to his security council about what he said were Belarusian missile strikes on Ukraine The map details several attacks that have already taken place, such as a two-pronged assault from Belarus and Russia towards Kyiv (pictured, a Russian convoy heading to Kyiv) In a clip of the meeting posted online, Lukashenko can also be heard talking about missile strikes launched from Belarusian territory at Ukraine in advance of the main Russian assault. 'Missiles in the Mazyr region hit those [Ukrainian] positions, after which we didn't see them again,' Lukashenko tells his top cabinet. 'Once the Russians began their advance, we no longer saw those positions. 'That's why I say that, yes, there were indeed missile launches from Belarusian territory and have shared honestly which targets we attacked.' Perhaps worryingly for the direction the war could take from here, the chart also features a map of the US mainland and Canada. A box on the right-hand side detailing what appear to be military units also features the badge of the US Army Air Cavalry, while below it there is a map of the whole of Europe - perhaps detailing NATO troop positions. Russia is now six days into its invasion of Ukraine, and the battle does not appear to be going to plan. Ukraine's military has put up a stronger-than-expected resistance while ordinary civilians have also come out in force to resist 'the occupiers'. The battle map also shows Russian forces heading through the city of Kharkiv to Dnipro - an attack that may have been held up due to heavy resistance (pictured) Putin propaganda channel Russia Today WILL disappear from British TV screens Russian state-owned media outlet RT will no longer be available on Sky, the culture secretary has said. Nadine Dorries said the move would mean 'Putin's polluting propaganda machine' would be 'severely restricted' in Britain. In a tweet, Ms Dorries said: 'Shortly, the French satellite which broadcasts Russia Today (RT) in both the EU and UK will be switched off. 'This means RT will no longer be available via Sky. 'Putin's polluting propaganda machine will now have severely restricted access into British homes via our TV screens.' It comes after the video-sharing website YouTube blocked channels linked to RT and Sputnik across Europe, including the UK. The Google-owned platform said the ban was effective immediately though it may take some time for the block to become fully effective. The technology giant had previously limited the ability for RT and other Russian channels to make money from advertisements that appear on videos but has extended its sanctions. 'Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we're blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe, effective immediately,' a statement from Google Europe said. 'It'll take time for our systems to fully ramp up. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action.' Fellow social media platform Facebook has also blocked access to RT and Sputnik on its platform having previously also limited those channels' ability to make advertising revenue. The change means the pages of the organisations are not visible on Facebook or Instagram in the EU, but for now, they remain visible in the UK. Former UK deputy prime minister, Sir Nick Clegg, who is now vice president of global affairs at Facebook's parent company, Meta, said the firm had been asked by governments to take further action against Russian state-backed media. 'We have received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media,' he said on Twitter on Monday night. 'Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time.' Advertisement Meanwhile, new blasts rocked Kyiv tonight after Russia was slammed as 'barbaric' for bombing a TV tower near the Babyn Yar holocaust memorial in Kyiv on the site of one of the biggest single massacres of Jews during the Holocaust. According to a British correspondent in the city, a new round of explosions were heard at around 22:50 local time (20:50GMT). 'Sounds of heavy explosions in #Kyiv just now,' journalist Sara Firth tweeted. Earlier, explosions erupted around the capital's 1,300ft TV tower, built by the ravine where nearly 34,000 Jews were killed by SS troops in two days in 1941 during Adolf Hitler's campaign against the Soviet Union. At least two large blasts were seen near the foot of the tower, around three miles from central Kyiv, around 5.30pm local time. The first missile struck the TV tower but the second hit the memorial. At least five people were killed in the latest onslaught which came just hours after Russia told Ukrainian civilians to evacuate because it was about to begin bombarding 'strategic' targets. Footage of the immediate aftermath of the explosions showed bodies in the streets below. It was not immediately clear whether the tower had been the target of the strikes, or whether they had been targeting nearby buildings. The tower remained standing, but several state broadcasts went off air. After attack, Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted: 'To the world: what is the point of saying 'never again' for 80 years, if the world stays silent when a bomb drops on the same site of Babyn Yar? At least 5 killed. History repeating' Meanwhile the Ukrainian foreign ministry said: 'Russian troops fired on the TV tower, near the Memorial complex #BabynYar. Russian criminals do not stop at anything in their barbarism. Russia = barbarian.' It came shortly after Moscow's ministry of defence said it would be launching strikes into the city targeting Ukraine's security service and intelligence agencies with what it called 'precision munitions'. That raised fears that Kyiv was about to come under heavy bombardment after the cities of Kharkiv, Mariupol and Kherson were hit by indiscriminate shelling earlier in the day. A column of Russian artillery units and tanks 40 miles long has been pictured snaking its way towards Kyiv as analysts warned it will likely be tasked with surrounding the city, besieging it and bombing it into submission as Putin resorts to 'medieval' tactics in an attempt to force victory. But the convoy has reportedly stalled as its forces face logistics challenges, including a shortage of food for some units, and Russians appear to be reevaluating how to move forward on the city, a senior U.S. defence official said on Tuesday. 'One reason why things appear to be stalled north of Kyiv is that the Russians themselves are regrouping and rethinking and trying to adjust to the challenges that they've had,' the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said. Another official claimed the Russian advance is 'basically... where it was yesterday'. Mariupol, in the south, has reportedly come under sustained bombardment by land and air while fighting has also been reported in Kherson and Chernihiv. Kharkiv, scene of some of the fiercest fighting in the early days of the war, was hit by cluster munitions on Monday before a large cruise missile landed there Tuesday, killing dozens. President Zelensky has described the attacks as 'war crimes' and called on prosecutors to investigate, with the International Criminal Court at The Hauge already opening a case. Day 6 of the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II has found Russia increasingly isolated by tough economic sanctions that have thrown its economy its disarray and left the country practically friendless, apart from China and Belarus. Smoke rises around Kyiv's main television tower after several explosions near the base of it on Tuesday afternoon Footage shows the missile hitting the TV tower during the airstrike which has killed at least five people in the latest Russian attack Explosions erupted around the capital's 1,300ft TV tower this afternoon, built near the ravine where nearly 34,000 Jews were killed in two days in 1941 The Babyn Yar massacres Babyn Yar is a ravine found in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, and also the site of massacres carried out by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Approximately 33,771 Jews were killed in the first and largest massacre that took place over 80 years ago on 29 to the 30th September, 1941. It came after the Nazis made the decision to kill all Jews in Kyiv, and during Germany's campaign against the Soviet Union. Up until that date, it was considered to be the single largest mass-killing during the Holocaust carried our by Nazi Germany, until the Odessa massacre of more than 50,000 a month later in October 1941. In addition to the thousands of Jewish victims, Soviet prisoners of war, communists, Ukrainian nationalist and Roma were slaughtered at the site. It is estimated that during German occupation, between 100,000 and 150,000 people were killed at Babyn Yar. Pictures from 1941 showed Soviet soldiers were forced by the Nazis to cover the bodies in the mass grave on October 1, while efforts were later made in 1944 to conceal it. Harrowing testimony later revealed that the victims of the September 29 and 30 massacre were ordered to go to the site by 8am, believing they would be resettled. Under threats of beatings, they were ordered to undress and were forced into the ravine where they were killed. One witness said some were killed before they even knew what was happening, while others were made to lie on top of victims who had already been shot, before being killed themselves. After the war, several SS commanders who organised the massacres were put on trial. Paul Blobel, the commander of the SS unit being the massacre, was sentenced to death during Nuremberg Trials. He was hanged on June 7, 1951. Others were convicted in Soviet tribunals and sentenced to death. Due to Soviet Union policies, Jewish commemoration efforts specifically were hindered. It wasn't until after the collapse of the Soviet Union that memorials were built at the site. The memorial is site of pilgrimage for many Jews. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy takes part in a commemoration ceremony for the victims of Babyn Yar (Babiy Yar), one of the biggest single massacres of Jews during the Nazi Holocaust, in Kyiv Ukraine September 29, 2021 Advertisement In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, with a population of about 1.5 million, at least six people were killed when the region's Soviet-era administrative building was hit. Explosions tore through residential areas, and a maternity ward was moved to an underground shelter. Kharkiv's Freedom Square - Ukraine's largest plaza, and the nucleus of public life for the city - was struck with what was believed to be a missile, in an attack seen by many Ukrainians as brazen evidence that the Russian invasion wasn't just about hitting military targets but also about breaking their spirits. The strike blew out windows and walls of buildings that ring the massive central square, which was piled high with debris and dust. Inside one building, chunks of plaster were scattered, and doors, ripped from their hinges, lay across hallways. 'People are under the ruins. We have pulled out bodies,' said Yevhen Vasylenko, representative of the Emergency Situations Ministry in Kharkiv region. In addition to the six killed, 20 were wounded in the strike, he said. Zelenskyy called the attack on Kharkiv's main square 'frank, undisguised terror,' blaming a Russian missile and calling it a war crime. 'This is state terrorism of the Russian Federation,' he said. In an emotional appeal to the European Parliament later, Zelenskyy said: 'We are fighting also to be equal members of Europe. I believe that today we are showing everybody that is what we are.' He said 16 children had been killed on Monday, and he mocked Russia's claim that it is going after only military targets. 'Where are the children, what kind of military factories do they work at? What tanks are they going at, launching cruise missiles?' Zelenskyy said. In a worrying development, Human Rights Watch said it documented a cluster bomb attack outside a hospital in Ukraine's east in recent days. Local residents have also reported the use of the munitions in Kharkiv and the village of Kiyanka, though there was no independent confirmation. If confirmed, that would represent a worrying new level of brutality in the war and could lead to even further isolation in Russia. The Kremlin denied Tuesday that it has used such weapons and insisted again that its forces only have struck military targets - despite evidence documented by Associated Press reporters of shelling of homes, schools and hospitals. The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor said earlier this week that he plans to open an investigation into possible war crimes. Unbowed by Western condemnation, Russian officials upped their threats of escalation, days after raising the specter of a nuclear attack. A top Kremlin official warned that the West's 'economic war' against Russia could turn into a 'real one.' The first talks Monday between Ukraine and Russia yielded no stop in the fighting, though the two sides agreed to another meeting in the coming days. Throughout the country, many Ukrainian civilians spent another night huddled in shelters, basements or corridors. More than a half-million people have fled the country, and the U.N. human rights office said it has recorded the deaths of 136 civilians. The real toll is believed to be far higher. 'It is a nightmare, and it seizes you from the inside very strongly. This cannot be explained with words,' said Kharkiv resident Ekaterina Babenko, taking shelter in a basement with neighbors for a fifth straight day. 'We have small children, elderly people and frankly speaking it is very frightening.' A host of UK bars including one owned by a former Dragon's Den entrepreneur have stopped the sale of Russian vodka due to the continuing invasion of Ukraine. Nightcap Group and Arc Inspirations are among bars that removed vodka and other Russian booze from their venues in a move of solidarity with people in Ukraine. Former dragon Sarah Willingham, founder of Nightcap, described the move as a 'little thing' the business could do in response to the conflict. Russia today launched missiles on Kyiv, with explosions erupting around the Ukrainian capital's 1,300ft TV tower this afternoon. A host of UK bars and hospitality firms have stopped the sale of Russian vodka due to the continuing invasion of Ukraine Sarah Willingham (left), former Dragon's Den entrepreneur and founder of Nightcap, described the move as a 'little thing' the business could do in response to the conflict Nightcap runs 27 bars across its London Cocktail Club, Barrio Bars and Adventure Bar Group businesses in London. Ms Willingham said: 'The devastation in Ukraine is heartbreaking, and I cannot start to comprehend what it must be like for the people of Ukraine. 'It's hard to sit here in our warm safe homes and do nothing. 'We have donated money, but from a business point of view we (the senior team and the staff) wanted to do something, anything, to show our support and so therefore we have removed all Russian vodka and alcohol from our bars across the whole of the Nightcap estate. 'It's a little thing but the more little things we do, the bigger the impact will be.' Meanwhile, Leeds-based bar owner Arc Inspirations also confirmed it would stop serving Russian vodka. The bar business said on Twitter: 'To show our support to the people of Ukraine we will no longer be pouring any Russian vodka in any of our bars standwithukraine.' Elsewhere, the founder of Bundobust, which runs hospitality venues in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, also called on the sector to find alternatives for Russian products. Marko Husak said on Twitter: 'I've had quite a few messages from my colleagues in the restaurant, bar and beer industries asking if there is anything that they can do to help, so I've suggested that they can help by stop stocking Russian products.' Two men working at Evel Pie - a popular pizzeria / bar in Las Vegas - decided to dump out all the Russian Vodka that it owned and replace it with Ukrainian Vodka. They are donating all of the proceeds to help the people of Ukraine The move comes as hundreds of liquor stores and bars across the US and Canada removed Russian vodka from their shelves. Liquor stores in the provinces of Manitoba and Newfoundland said they were removing Russian spirits, while Ontario, Canada's most populous province, also directed the Liquor Control Board Of Ontario to withdraw all Russian products. Meanwhile, in the US, videos circulated on social media of bars and liquor stores emptying their Russian vodka and removing bottles from their shelves in a show of solidarity with Ukraine. More than 700 stores across Ontario removed Russian-imported products, which include Stoli Vodka, Russian Standard Original Vodka, Beluga Noble Russian Vodka, and Zyr Vodka. Smirnoff, while founded in Moscow, is owned and produced by UK company Diageo. President Joe Biden will target social media companies in his State of the Union address on Tuesday night to hold them accountable for their role in children's mental health. Biden will 'call for action to address social media as mental health harms, especially for youth,' a senior administration official said on a briefing call for reporters Tuesday morning. 'The evidence is mounting that social media plays a systemic role in worsening the mental health of countless young people,' the official said. But officials wouldn't say if the president will push for penalities on massive companies like Tiktok, Twitter and Facebook. 'The president believes tech companies should be held accountable for for the harms they cause,' the official said but didn't give more details. Officials also noted that studies show children are behind in math and reading due to school interruptions during the covid pandemic, all of which is affecting their mental health. President Joe Biden will target social media companies in his State of the Union address on Tuesday night to hold them accountable for their role in children's mental health Officials wouldn't say if the president will push for penalities on massive companies like Tiktok, Twitter and Facebook A growing percentage of youth in the U.S. live with major depression, reported the non-profit Mental Health America: 15.08% of youth experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, a 1.24% increase from the year before. And more than 2.5 million youth in the U.S. have severe depression, and multiracial youth are at greatest risk. In his State of the Union address, Biden will call on Congress to strengthen privacy protections, ban targeted advertising to children and demand technology companies stop collecting personal data on children. Additionally, Biden will criticize social media platforms for their addictive nature. 'This youth mental health crisis has been accentuated by large social media platforms, which for years have been conducting a national experiment on our children and using their data to keep them clicking - with enormous consequences,' a White House fact sheet noted. Officials cited one estimate that social media companies can provide advertising firms with 72 million different data points on an average 13-year-old user. In his State of the Union address President Biden will criticize social media companies for their role in mental health problems among kids Biden will also outline a larger mental health strategy that includes $700 million investment in programs around training and supporting clinicians. The administration also plans to launch a crisis hotline in July. A man arrested on suspicion of murder after a mother-of-three was found stabbed to death in her home in one of Britains poshest villages has been released under investigation. The body of Clair Ablewhite, 47, was found after officers were called to a cottage in Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire shortly before 6.30pm on Saturday. A postmortem examination revealed she suffered knife wounds in the attack, which is thought to have happened on Friday night or the early hours of Saturday morning. A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has now been released while enquiries continue. Colston Bassett is based in the picturesque Vale of Belvoir on the Nottinghamshire-Leicestershire border and has a population of around 400. The average house price is around 800,000. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin, of Notts Police, has been in close liaison with detectives leading the investigation and kept abreast of all the lines of enquiry. He said: My instinct and experience tells me that at this stage there is certainly no cause for wider alarm in the community. My thoughts are very much with Clairs family and specially trained officers will continue to work closely with them as the investigation progresses. The body of Clair Ablewhite was found after officers were called to a cottage in Colston Bassett shortly before 6.30pm on Saturday Her body was found at her home in Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire early on Saturday I completely understand how an incident like this will have shocked the local community, which is a very quiet rural area where violent crimes, particularly of this nature, are extremely rare. But I would like to reassure people that the investigation is moving at pace with a team of experienced detectives following up a number of leads. As you would expect we have deployed a huge amount of specialist resources into this from Nottinghamshire and the region. Local residents can expect to see lots of police officers in the area uniformed officers and detectives. The investigation is still in its very early stages but there is lots of activity taking place and many lines of enquiry being pursued, including CCTV, forensic examinations and searches and we are speaking to lots of people who are providing very helpful information. All of this is helping us piece together what happened. ACC Griffin said he believed there may still be people who have not yet come forward who could have information that could help the investigation. Were you in and around the area on Friday night and the early hours of Saturday?, he said. If you knew Clair, did she confide in you or share anything that could be relevant? If you have the slightest bit of information, even if you think it might not be relevant, please let us know because we will leave no stone unturned. In a statement on Monday, Nottinghamshire Police said: The death of a woman at her home in Colston Bassett is being treated as murder, police have confirmed. Mother-of-three Clair Ablewhite was found dead after officers were called to the property in Hall Lane, shortly before 6.30pm on Saturday. Police cordon off Hall Lane in Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire on February 26, 2022 A Home Office post-mortem examination has since been carried out and confirmed the 47-year-old suffered stab wounds. Officers arrested a 48-year-old man on Sunday morning on suspicion of murder in connection with the investigation and he remains in custody as enquiries continue. Police have been carrying out forensic investigations at the property, as well as house-to-house enquiries and checking CCTV in the area. A cordon is likely to remain in place for some time and officers will be in the area as they continue their investigations and provide reassurance to local residents. Family liaison officers are working closely with the family and providing support at this difficult time. Detective Inspector Mel Crutchley of Nottinghamshire Police, who is leading the investigation, added: Our thoughts remain with the family as they deal with the impact of this tragedy. They have been left devastated by her loss. Our investigation is now in the stages of very carefully and painstakingly building up a picture of what happened before, during and after the murder and as people can probably imagine, this process can take time as the evidence we gather makes things clearer and clearer. I understand that in a quiet, close-knit community like this it is shocking for an incident like this to happen and people will be talking but I would urge people not to speculate, respect the family and please trust the judicial process to find the truth in due course. I would also ask anyone who has information that may help the investigation to contact Nottinghamshire Police as soon as possible. Simon Robinson, leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, said: It is very unusual to see this happen. and we send the womans family our condolences. Its a shock for this to happen in such a rural area. The woman who died was very well known in the community. Colston Bassett is the home of traditional Stilton and Shropshire Blue cheeses. Its dairy has been making cheese for over 100 years and is one of only five nationwide that are permitted to name their blue cheese Stilton. Colston Bassetts pub, the Martins Arms, is a frequent award winner renowned for its fine wine and cuisine. Advertisement Ukrainian-American Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz on Tuesday called on Joe Biden to do more to exercise power against Russia during the 'genocide' in Ukraine and warned he could also have the 'blood' of civilians on his hands. 'This president needs to get his act together and exercise his leadership,' Spartz said as Russia continued closing in on Kyiv and President Biden continued preparations for his first State of the Union tonight. During a press conference called 'State of the Union in Crisis', Spartz, a Republican from Indiana, said Russians are 'slaughtering' people in Ukraine 'like animals.' She was born in Nosivika, a city 73 miles to the East of Kyiv, in 1978 while Ukraine was still under Soviet rule and emigrated to the U.S. in 2000. 'This is not a war, this is a genocide of the Ukrainian people by a crazy man,' the tearful representative insisted while flanked by members of her party. Spartz, 43, told Biden that if he doesn't do more to address the crisis in Eastern Europe, the blood of innocent Ukrainians will be on his hands. She demanded that Biden send more weapons to Ukraine as Congress prepares to pass an omnibus bill next week that would include sending up to $10 billion in more military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Putin's war is targeting civilians and continues to take a terrible toll on Ukraine 's youngest and most vulnerable as 16 children have died and 45 were wounded since last Thursday, with the death toll expected to rise as the assault continues Tuesday. Russia issued a stark warning to America on Tuesday not to build up or maintain nuclear capacities or military facilities in former Soviet bloc nations as the U.S. and other NATO partner nations sent troops to Eastern Europe amid invasion. Ukrainian-American GOP Representative Victoria Spartz (pictured) said Joe Biden 'needs to get his act together and exercise his leadership' against Russia to stop the 'genocide' against Ukrainian people Russia continued its assault on Ukraine Tuesday as the conflict displaces thousands of children in a war that takes aim at civilians and military alike Spartz walks hand-in-hand with GOP Representatives Elise Stefanik (left) and Stephanie Bice (right) following a press conference dubbed 'State of the Union in Crisis' Moscow's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said U.S. nuclear weapons should have already been returned to American soil from European states like Romania and Poland. 'It is unacceptable for us that U.S. nuclear weapons still remain in a number of European states in contradiction to the basic points of the Non-Proliferation Treaty,' he was quoted by TASS as saying during a video address Tuesday to the Geneva conference on disarmament. 'The bad practice of joint nuclear missions with the participation of non-nuclear NATO states continues. During such missions, the use of nuclear weapons against Russia is being practiced,' Lavrov continued. 'U.S. nuclear weapons must have long been returned home, and the corresponding infrastructure in Europe must have long been eliminated.' President Biden is poised, according to The New York Times, to take credit during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night for the sweeping global sanctions that hit Russia following its full-scale invasion into Ukraine last week. His address was supposed to focus on his domestic agenda, especially after he failed to get through Congress his Build Back Better plan, but with the waging conflict between Russia and Ukraine, priorities have shifted. Smoke rises around Kyiv's main television tower after several explosions near the base of it on Tuesday afternoon Footage shows the missile hitting the TV tower during the airstrike which has killed at least five people in the latest Russian attack Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (on screen) said during a video address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday that U.S. nuclear capabilities need to be removed from European countries Diplomats and ambassadors walked out as Lavrov's pre-recorded message played and said: 'It is unacceptable for us that U.S. nuclear weapons still remain in a number of European states in contradiction to the basic points of the Non-Proliferation Treaty' The warning comes as Biden (left) prepares to deliver his first State of the Union address on Tuesday night and take credit for the massive global response to Russia invading Ukraine. Biden also said Monday that Americans should not fear nuclear war with Russia after Putin (right) put his country's nuclear forces on high alert Kyiv endured another night of bombing on Monday before satellite images revealed the huge column of tanks headed for the city, with Putin's men trying to cut off the capital and bomb it into submission A convoy of Russian tanks, artillery pieces, fighting vehicles and support trucks now stretches all the way from Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kyiv, to the village of Prybirs'k some 40 miles away (part of the convoy is seen, right) And while Biden has received praise for his response to Russia's invasion, there are many who still say he isn't doing enough to directly punish President Vladimir Putin for ignoring western warnings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an emotional appeal Tuesday for his country to be admitted to the European Union as it endures an increasingly bloody onslaught by Russia. He raised a one-fisted salute and declared 'glory to Ukraine' as the European parliament gave him a long round of applause. The Ukrainian president addressed parliamentarians in Brussels via video from Kyiv, which is currently facing down a 40-mile convoy of Russian tanks and artillery seemingly intent on surrounding and bombing the city into submission. Zelensky urged the EU to recognize Ukraine as a member - a move sure to infuriate Putin - saying his nation has 'proved that we are your equals' and it is now time to 'prove that you are at our side'. Congress is preparing to pass a bill next week sending up to $10 billion in humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine as it continues to face a full-scale attack from Russia. Ukrainian emergency service personnel gather outside City Hall following shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Tuesday, March 1 'Glory to Ukraine': Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a one-fisted salute to the European parliament as he makes an impassioned plea to join the bloc as his country faces down an increasingly bloody Russian invasion The body gave Zelensky a standing ovation. Pictured: EU Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen applauds the end of Zelensky's speech, after he said that Ukrainians were sacrificing their lives for the freedoms that Europe represents and pleaded for his country to be admitted to the European Union It came as Ukraine claimed that Belarusian troops have now entered the war, as Russia's close ally helps tighten the noose. 'I can no longer say hello or good evening because every day is the last day,' he added. 'Lives are being sacrificed for values, for rights, for freedom, to have the same equality that you enjoy. We will win, I'm sure. I would like to hear you say that Ukraine's choice to be part of Europe is also your choice. We want to be members of the EU. Without you, Ukraine will be alone.' Putin put Russia's nuclear deterrent forces on high alert on Sunday, but Biden assured on Monday that Americans that they should not be worried about nuclear war. Press Secretary Jen Psaki later said the White House sees 'no reason' to change its nuclear posture. 'We think provocative rhetoric like this is dangerous, adds to the risk of miscalculation, should be avoided, and we'll not indulge in it,' Psaki said during her daily press briefing. 'We are assessing President Putin's directive and at this time we see no reason to change our own alert levels,' she continued. Putin reasoned that 'aggressive statements' by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) led him to ratchet up his nuclear defenses, which raised concerns that the invasion of Ukraine could intentionally or mistakenly lead to a global nuclear war. With the March 11 funding deadline quickly approaching, the House and Senate appropriation committees are on track to pass a hugh omnibus spending bill for Fiscal Year 2022 next week that will include billions in aid in Ukraine. The price tag could reach as high as $10 billion for a mix of humanitarian and military aid, lawmakers revealed. In classified congressional briefings with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, lawmakers were warned about Ukraine's weapons shortage. Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova met with senators Monday evening to ask for an immediate shipment of more weapons to Kyiv, including Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. U.S. forces were sent to Romania and Poland as well as other Baltic states to help bolster forces in NATO ally countries in the midst of Russia's attack on Ukraine. U.S. Army paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division unload humanitarian goods in Jasionka, Poland on February 25 in preparation for evacuees from Ukraine 'It's no secret that they need more help,' Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told reporters. 'They've got the weapons they need right now, but they're going to run out soon.' 'We've got to get a supplemental passed quickly,' he urged. Murphy, a senator from Connecticut who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, revealed on Twitter after a 'classified briefing on Ukraine' that the U.S. is working with its allies in order to seize Putin's assets. 'The U.S. and allies are coordinating to not only freeze the assets of Putin and his oligarch allies, but to seize those assets as well. This is likely a further step than Putin's inner circle anticipated,' Murphy wrote on Twitter noting that it was just 'a few takeaways that I can share.' Ge shared a few other nuggets in the Twitter thread, including that Russia has fallen behind on their timeline for invasion due to 'fierce' Ukrainian resistance as well as failure of Moscow's equipment and logistics. 'Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security are pressing hard for Congress to end the continuing resolution and get a budget passed. There is no way for our national security agencies to be nimble enough to support Ukraine if they are operating on the 2020/21 budget,' Murphy added in a follow-up tweet. By Brad Curtin The COVID-19 pandemic has presented difficulties for a lot of people. For stand-up comedian Rowan Crabtree and musical comedy artist Ricky O.I., it has been no different. Both have been teaching English in Korea for a number of years, while working hard on the side to develop their careers in what they love most: comedy. Now, with the pandemic hopefully in its closing stages, both are looking to go home to their home countries to further their comedy careers. But before they go, they'll pay tribute to Korea by hosting two nights of comedy this Friday and Saturday at the . Ricky, now a certified artist on Spotify, traces his musical aspirations back to high school in the U.S. when he began playing in a rock band called Brand Name Punk, performing at hundreds of shows, festivals and battle of the bands all across south Florida. However, the roots of his musical comedy style come from elsewhere. "I was really inspired by memorizing lyrics and jamming to comedy music from the likes of Adam Sandler, Tenacious D, Flight of the Conchords and Lonely Island," he told The Korea Times. Eventually with the breakup of his band in 2017, Ricky headed off to Korea to pursue teaching. After two years, he started to go down the musical comedy path. He connected with Rowan and others in Seoul's stand-up community, and hasn't looked back since. Rowan, who first began performing stand-up in 2011 back in the U.K., was eventually signed to an agency and toured all over his country. While enjoying his early success, he was inspired to move abroad though, and came to Korea to teach English in 2016. Soon after the move, he began to perform his comedy in Seoul, and eventually became part of the leadership in the community. He helped to organize an international stand-up comedy festival, but unfortunately it never came to be. "Our hopes of bringing many international acts to Seoul and cementing Korea as a serious contender within the stand-up comedy scene within Asia were dashed by the pandemic," Rowan said. Despite the setbacks, Rowan, Ricky and others continued working hard on their comedy writing, performing and workshopping material whenever COVID-19 restrictions would allow and the community is thriving. Besides the farewell show, there are a number of regular open mics, showcases and even other upcoming stand-up comedy special events. Kristen Pimley is organizing a Ladies' Night Comedy Show fundraiser event at The Studio HBC, with all female performers raising funds to support single moms in need. The show was supposed to be on March 1 but has been delayed to a later date. Arthur Minsu is also organizing a show on March 12 called Made in Korea at Phillies in Haebangchon, featuring English-language stand-up only by comedians born in Korea. Both Rowan and Ricky feel proud to have been part of the development of the community, and are confident it will thrive after they're gone. "It's inspiring to see what we've achieved here," Rowan said. "Yet I'm really looking forward to heading back to the U.K. and picking up where I left off. I will resume my career performing both as an actor and a comedian." He intends to use clips from the farewell shows to help get his career back on track after he returns. Ricky has a similar plan. Currently he has 10 tracks available online, "but nothing compares to a live performance." he quipped. He is planning on using the audio from these farewell shows to mint his first live album. Included in the songs for this endeavor is "Dokdo," his hilarious hit where the audience cheers for all things Korean, and boos an "unmentionable rival." The two nights of the are taking place on March 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. at the Funtastic Theater near Samgakji Station on Seoul Metro lines 4 and 6. They will be joined by other stand-up comedians. Tickets are 10,000 won. Find them on and for more information and to book tickets. Brad Curtin is an actor, voice actor, improviser and stand-up comedian based in Seoul. When not spending time in the arts, you may find him doing some rooftop gardening in Haebangchon. He can be contacted on Instagram @brighter_happier The son of a former police officer accused of strangling six-year-old Rikki Neaves to death admitted a string of offences from the age of 13 at court today - but insisted he did not murder the little boy. James Watson, 40, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of killing Rikki in 1994 and leaving his naked body posed in a 'star shape' in woodland in Peterborough. The defendant, who was 13 at the time, was charged with the schoolboy's murder in 2016 after his DNA was found on discarded clothes more than 20 years later. Watson has claimed he picked up Rikki during a brief encounter in the street with the little boy on the day of his disappearance. On Tuesday, his lawyer Jennifer Dempster QC asked him: 'Have you ever had sexual interest in children?', to which he replied: 'No, never.' Ms Dempster went on: 'Did you have anything to do with the murder of Rikki Neave?' Watson told jurors: 'I wish I could look every one of you 12 times in the eyes. 'But no, I did not kill Rikki Neave, I did not have anything to do with his disappearance.' Watson was living at a children's home at the time of Rikki's death and was regarded by social services as a 'vulnerable' child. James Watson (pictured), 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 He could not stay at home after his father, who had previously been a Cambridgeshire Police officer, was arrested and jailed. While at a children's home in January 1995, Watson stole track signal detonators that gave off a loud noise, and laid them on a railway line. Watson said: 'It was fun. It reads worse than I remember it.' In August 2005, Watson stole uniform items, equipment and car keys from a police station and left in an unmarked car. Asked to explain it, he said that 'a lot' of his crimes had been to get arrested when his life was not going well. He added: 'I went to a police station - that is the only place I have been where people ask: ''Are you OK? Are you Alright?''' His 'warped view' of police was formed from his experience of his father and being taken into care, jurors heard. 'It was the police that took me away so I was very mixed in my emotions in loving the police, but also hating them,' Watson said. In January 2009, Watson broke into a British Transport Police station and stole items including cuffs and batons before setting fire to the property store and making off on a bicycle. Watson told jurors: 'I was very angry at the police, the police station bore the brunt of that.' The defendant was asked about a 2018 conviction for sexual assault on a man who had stayed over. He said: 'He was effectively sleeping beside me. During the night I reached out my hand, it landed on his stomach and briefly - incredibly briefly - my hand touched his penis. I withdrew it straightaway. 'The next morning I was disgusted with myself.' Watson's record also included a number of thefts and burglaries. He said: 'There was a lot of breaking into sheds. There was an amount of burglaries, a lot of cars. 'When I was in the children's home I would go out with other children and steal a car and set fire to it. It was fun at the time.' With one exception, he had always previously admitted the offences. He said: 'I wanted them to know it was me. Some of the crime I have done was to get in trouble. I have never lied to the police.' Earlier Watson denied sexually assaulting a five-year-old boy in his bedroom on 14 April 1993, when he was 12. Rikki Neave, six, was strangled and posed naked in a star shape in woods near his home in Peterborough back in 1994 Watson was interviewed five days later at Thorpewood police station in Peterborough and denied the allegation. His barrister Jenni Dempster, QC, asked: 'You denied touching (the boy) but said you had told him to 'shake his penis after going to the toilet'. 'You said you had gone upstairs to fetch some pyjamas and [the five-year-old] went to the toilet and when he had finished had 'dribbled on the carpet'. 'Can you confirm that that is accurate and true?' Watson replied: 'It is accurate and it is true.' Prosecutor John Price, QC, today accused Watson of trying to 'wriggle out' of admitting that he sexually assaulted the five-year-old boy 18 months before Rikki's death. Mr Price alleged that Watson admitted to the offence in a police interview in April 2016, following his arrest. The prosecutor reminded Watson that he told jurors yesterday of how intimidated he felt during those interviews. The defendant had said: 'I have a history of police station interviews. 'This was awful. The worst I have ever done not because I was under suspicions of murder awful as in it was intimidating. 'The smallest interview room I have been in. The dock is much bigger.' Today Watson told the court: 'It was intense, it was scary, it was threatening.' Mr Price asked: 'Were you threatened?' Watson replied: 'I was not verbally threatened. I felt threatened just as I find this threatening.' The prosecutor went on: 'What is happening sir is that the truth that you are telling is being tested. Do you object to that?' 'No,' insisted Watson. Audio recording from the interview was played and Watson agreed after listening to it that he was treated at all times with 'courtesy and restraint'. Given the opportunity to withdraw his comments, Watson persisted: 'How I felt about that is never going to change because it has happened already.' Mr Price said: 'I am going to suggest to you that it is a lie and it is a dishonest attempt by you to explain why in the seventh interview you admitted that sexual assault on [the five-year-old boy]. 'Not at all,' Watson replied, 'It has nothing to do with [him].' The prosecutor went on: 'You said you were two boys playing with each other's penises and now you say that is not true. What you have come up with is the suggestion that what is happening to you is threatening or intimidating...' Watson responded: 'It is correct to how I felt. I didn't come up with that. 'I didn't say that for anything to do with [the boy] or to be bad to the police or anything. 'My interview was fine...but I still can't change that I felt threatened.' 'Threatened by the truth?' Mr Price asked. 'No,' Watson answered. Asked if he admitted to the sexual assault in 2016, Watson said no. 'We was just two boys playing with each other's penises,' is what he told police those six years ago. Watson accepted that he said that but did not accept that it was the truth. He said did not know why he said it. Watson told the court: 'So in saying that I would have just been...trying to minimise what happened between me and [the boy]. 'Something did happen between me and [him] because it had been spoken about in my family. 'Talking literally word for word here I agree it does say "we was just two boys playing with each other's penises" because that was how I was flippantly trying to minimise it not to talk about it in detail in that room with the police. 'I don't know if we did physically touch each other's penises.' Minutes later he said: 'I do remember saying this. I just don't know in your spin exactly what you are asking me.' Mr Price replied: 'Not spin, it is perfectly simple. 'You are now trying to wriggle out of what you admitted to be true six years ago.' Watson denied this, citing his confusion over what the barrister was asking him. Mr Price continued: 'Bearing in mind the killer of Rikki Neave stripped his dead body naked and then left him posed you want to get out of the fact that in only the previous year you had sexually assaulted a child of exactly the same age as Rikki. 'That is what is going on isn't it?' Watson asserted: 'Definitely not at all. In my mind how you link [the boy] and Rikki is beyond me.' Jurors have heard Watson was on police bail over Rikki's murder in 2016 and living in a hostel as he awaited a charge decision. In June 2016, he travelled by ferry from Dover to the continent, ending up in Portugal in August of that year before returning to the UK. Watson said: 'I left the country because of the stress I was under. 'I did not know my immediate future, I had been in a hostel for months and months. I wanted some control back. 'My intention was always to come back and answer to my police bail.' Wearing a blue shirt and maroon tie, Watson insisted he was not fleeing the country when he left England for Europe. Jurors heard how there were concerns for his safety in the aftermath of his arrest on suspicion of the murder of Rikki. Watson, now 40, was charged with Rikki's murder after his DNA was allegedly found on the youngster's discarded clothes He was put up in a hotel, given a new nameLewis Smithand eventually put up in a bail hostel in Northampton. Watson said he was 'really quite worried' about his safety, adding that he had 'very very limited' contact with his loved ones. He said: 'I was advised not to have contact with my family, my friends. Quite isolating.' He believed that his name had been made public in connection with arrest for Rikki's murder. 'I think it was in the newspaper and had been reported by the media,' he said. Watson described life after bail as 'very isolating, very confusing, very stressful'. Conditions of his bail obliged him to return to the police station at a specific date to be either released or charged. These dates kept getting cancelled and adjourned, jurors heard. 'I had been in the bail hostel for some time,' Watson said. 'Not had any contact with my friends and family and expecting to answer the police bail back at Thorpewood Police Station and to be told what I was going to be charged with. 'It was cancelled the night before.' When the adjourned date was cancelled in the same fashion, Watson told jurors it made him feel 'pissed off'. He added: 'Looking forward to answering and then the anxiety of constantly not knowing whether I was going to be charged with murder. 'I was in constant limbo.' This stress, he said, was the reason he decided to leave the country. 'I left the country because just the stress that I was under. Wanted a change of my immediate situation. 'Didn't know my immediate future. I wanted to control back my life. 'I wanted to do what I wanted to do. My intentions were always to come back and answer the police bail. A map showing the distance between Rikki's home and the wood where his body was found 'I think it turned out to be months and months and months where I was just hanging on a hook so I decided to make a definite decision.' The court heard he left with a fellow bail hostel resident via the Dover ferry without a passport. He had applied for a passport and made a plan with his sister that she would post it to him when he was abroad, it is said. 'I didn't have a plan of going anywhere other than just to go and experience some of Europe,' Watson said. 'France, Holland, Italy, Spain. 'I went to Rotterdam, Amsterdam, France, back up through the Pyrenees and into Portugal.' Jurors have already heard that he contacted his probation officer in July 2016 to seek help to return to the UK and that he was extradited a month later as a result. Ms Dempster asked: 'Was there ever an intention at any stage to stay out of the country? Were you ever planning to flee the country?' 'No, never,' the defendant replied. 'My plan was only always to see a bit of Europe with the other resident and to come back and answer my bail. 'It was always my plan to come back.' Watson, of no fixed address, denies murdering Rikki between 28 and 29 November, 1994. The trial continues. A Tory MP has been criticised by Downing Street for travelling to Ukraine against his own Government's advice. Adam Holloway, a former soldier and MP for Gravesham, Kent, has appeared in television interviews after crossing into the war-struck country from south east Poland. Speaking to GB News, he described 'extraordinary scenes' of refugees queueing at the border to flee Ukraine. The 56-year-old, who serves on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, appears to have gone against the Government's own guidance with the Foreign Office advising against all travel to Ukraine. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said he was not aware of Mr Holloway's trip to Ukraine but 'our advice applies to everyone'. Asked if Mr Holloway should come home, the spokesman said: 'He should certainly not travel to Ukraine.' Adam Holloway, a former soldier and MP for Gravesham, Kent, has appeared in television interviews after crossing into the war-struck country from south east Poland. The 56-year-old, who serves on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, appears to have gone against the Government's own guidance with the Foreign Office advising against all travel to Ukraine. Mr Holloway told the TV channel that he started his day by going to McDonald's near the border which was 'packed with women and children and a few elderly people'. He continued: 'We then went up the road a couple of miles and I crossed over into Ukraine and then really quite extraordinary scenes of thousands of women and children queuing at the border, men separated, foreign men separated, some of them have been living in these corralled areas in the border posts for four days and nights in the cold. Mr Holloway then drove east into Ukraine and described seeing 'the mother of all traffic jams', adding: 'It went on for about 20 miles, I mean thousands and thousands and thousands of cars.' He described volunteers in a children's nursery packing up donated medical supplies into medical kits for soldiers, before he headed to a military conscription site. Mr Holloway, who has previously worked as an investigative reporter for ITN and ITV, said: 'We went round the corner and there was a place where people volunteer to sign up for the military, and we ran into Ukraine's top concert pianist Igor Grubin. 'It was fascinating talking to him, because so many people are volunteering for the military that they're only taking people with actual military experience, there just aren't enough guns. 'I've only been on the ground for just over 12 hours but it seems to me that these people here are absolutely determined to fight. 'If you look at the moral component of warfare, and as you know I used to be a soldier, that is the decisive thing. 'We can't know what's going to happen over the next few days and months but one thing I can absolutely tell you is that these people here, certainly where I am right now and I think right across Ukraine, it does feel to me as if they're going to fight.' A highly-regarded music teacher embroiled in a bitter row with a leading private school was sacked after she sent her pupils 'overly-affectionate' emails, a tribunal has heard. Jo Nicholls told pupils at the 20,000 a year all-girls school they were her 'favourite' and that they had a 'special bond', a hearing was told. 'Inspirational and quite exceptional' Ms Nicholls, who once won a Classic FM competition, also stole sheet music from Putney High School in London to 'sabotage' an upcoming concert. The Putney High assistant director of music, who served the school for 33 years, had fallen out with bosses over a series of disputes to such an extent the relationship was deemed 'irretrievable', the tribunal heard. She was initially dismissed for gross misconduct and was due to serve out her notice. But she was then fired immediately when during her notice period she sent the 'highly inappropriate' emails directly to four girls, telling them 'you know I care about you' and criticising the school. The highly-praised but 'difficult to manage' teacher tried to sue the school for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination. Ms Nicholls had been a teacher at Putney High School (pictured) for 33 years when she was sacked following a series of clashes with management. She was dismissed without notice after 'totally inappropriate' emails sent to students came to light But she has lost her case with the tribunal criticising her for 'blurring the boundary between teacher and student' with her emails. The hearing in Croydon, south London, was told Ms Nicholls worked at Putney High from September 1986 and was 'held in the highest regard by a very many parents, students and colleagues' and had a 'quite astonishing number of testimonials'. Employment Judge Daniel Dyal said of her: 'In short, we are left in no doubt that, whatever else, she was widely regarded as an inspirational and quite exceptional teacher. 'She was the sort of teacher that many students would remember fondly for the rest of their lives. 'She herself had a very keen sense of this status - including during her employment. 'She knew that she was extremely valuable to the school and understood that this gave her a certain amount of security and indeed leverage over management. 'At times it gave her the confidence to do things her own way rather than the school's way because she felt sufficiently confident in her position that she could ride-out any 'push-back'. 'We have no doubt that Ms Nicholls was at times very difficult to manage. She could be utterly single-minded. She was prepared to go to disproportionate and unusual lengths to get her way on matters even where, objectively speaking, the matter was a fairly minor one. 'She an employee with significant gravitas, standing and leverage well beyond her position in the formal hierarchy. 'She was widely regarded as someone who was not to be crossed by either peers or managers.' The tribunal heard Ms Nicholls repeatedly clashed with director of finance and operations, Alistair Gray, who had a military background. Mr Gray gave Ms Nicholls public dressing downs in front of pupils, told her off for not wearing a lanyard, and castigated her for leaving a small salt shaker and crockery on her desk. Mr Gray was the subject of a number of complaints from staff but escaped disciplinary action as the school was 'lenient' to him, it was heard. Tensions between Mr Gray and Ms Nicholls came to a head in July 2018 when he 'chased' her down stairs after she told him she would 'get rid' of him. Ms Nicholls' relationship with the school soured over her running of its school trips and she was called to a disciplinary hearing in September 2019 on three allegations. She was accused of breaching safeguarding rules by giving pupils private piano lessons at her home - despite putting on private lessons for years and being open with the school about it. She was also accused of substituting in her daughter to take a flute exam when a pupil couldn't and over invoice discrepancies relating to a pupil's lessons with her. Judge Dyal did not view these allegations as serious but the school 'treated (them) with the utmost seriousness' and she was fired for gross misconduct but allowed to serve her notice. However, in October 2019 she sent inappropriate emails and took home important sheet music, to 'disrupt' a show and 'sabotage' it. The tribunal report said: 'Having been notified of dismissal, she took home a large amount of sheet music from her office. 'This was music that was needed for various choirs due to sing at open day events scheduled for the following week.' In one email to two students - who can't be named - she said: 'I want you both to know that I will not let the school destroy the relationship I have built up with you or others I feel close to. 'Please don't try to cover for me... The school have made this mess and there will be knock on effects. 'Keep thoughts in your head that that are definitely more nice people than nasty people in the world. Putney High is full of so many nice kids, and you two are two of the best of these - though not really kids any more.' In one to another pupil, she said: 'I am sorry about what has happened from the bottom of my heart. You're the only one in your year who knows at the moment. 'You know I care about you and we have a special bond.' And to another student she wrote: 'I'm ok, but am really quite sad and I am already missing all of you - well not all of the whole school, but the special ones. 'A big hug you and the other special people; you'll know who they are. Miss Nicholls xx' Following the 'deeply concerning emails' she was fired without notice. At the tribunal, Ms Nicholls claimed she was unfairly dismissed and that her treatment over the years amounted to sex discrimination and harassment. However, the panel dismissed her claims. Judge Dyal said: 'The emails with students were totally inappropriate in parts and indeed evidenced a blurring of boundaries that must exist between teachers and pupils. 'It is not appropriate for a teacher to openly designate certain pupils as their favourites, or to tell the students that they have a special relationship with them or to sign emails with kisses. 'Taking the sheet music was, and was understood to be, a calculated effort to make life difficult for [the school] by sabotaging the musical performances at the open days. 'Although she had significant mitigation for her conduct, on the facts of this case in our view it does not take dismissal outside of the band of reasonable responses. 'The conduct was and remained extremely serious.' Ms Nicholls brought claims against The Girls' Day School Trust, which runs the school, and Mr Gray, but lost against both. Ms Nicholls, whose daughters both went to Putney High, now runs a music centre for children in Wimbledon, London. Russians face 15 years in prison for posting 'fake news' about the Ukraine war under a new law. State TV in Russia, controlled by the Kremlin, has said the new measure could be discussed in its parliament, the Federal Assembly, during next week. The news comes as Russian officers detained over 1,000s of people during anti war protests in cities across the country and half of Russians have said they support the war against Ukraine. Both Russians and Ukrainians also protested the war in Trafalgar Square in London yesterday. Along with the 'fake news' measure, media reports will only be able to say the amount of Russian miliatary losses that have been 'verified' by Putin's defence ministry, according to the Times. So far Russia has admitted some of its soldiers have been killed since they began their invasion, which Ukraine estimates totals 5,000 soldiers, but the Kremlin has not issued numbers so far. Vyacheslav Volodin, Russia's parliamentary speaker, allied with the Russian government, supports the measure. Vyacheslav Volodin, Russia's parliamentary speaker, and ally of the president, supports a new 'fake news' law targetting people talking about the war in Ukraine Vasily Piskarev, an MP with the ruling party, controlled by Putin, said: 'These fakes demoralise society and undermine faith in the army and the security services.' He also said Russia is 'maintaining the peace' in Ukraine and 'disinformation' is being promoted by opposition sites and on social media. Russia, where there is little to no indepedent free press, has also had Kremlin-controlled State TV pushing fake claims about the war with Ukraine. According to the BBC's Francis Scarr, Olga Skabeyeva said: 'In Kyiv, the witch hunt is well underway. Ukrainian nationalists are annihilating the locals, and they're doing it extra-judicially Russia has also moved to block an independent TV channel and a liberal radio station over the 'deliberately false information' about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian media reported on Tuesday. The prosecutor general ordered Russia's media watchdog to 'restrict access' to the Dozhd TV channel and Ekho Moskvy radio. Russian talk show host Olga Skabeyeva claimed yesterday Ukrainian nationalists are 'annihilating locals' in a 'witch hunt' after Putin's 'propagandist-in-chief' threatened the West with nuclear destruction in another TV rant. Known as the 'iron doll of Putin TV', Ms Skabeyeva also made the claim that a civil war has broken out in Ukraine and nationalists are killing their own neighbours. According to the BBC's Francis Scarr, she said: 'In Kyiv, the witch hunt is well underway. Ukrainian nationalists are annihilating the locals, and they're doing it extra-judicially. 'The civil war in Ukraine is now more than real. People are starting to realise that they don't need to fear Russian soldiers, but their own neighbours who've got hold of weapons.' Russians and Ukrainians protesting the war in Trafalgar Square in London Dmitry Kiselev, one of the Kremlin's most venomous TV propagandists, also accused German chancellor Olaf Scholz of 'solidarity with the genocide of today' that Kiselev, parroting Putin, claimed was being perpetrated against Russian-speakers in Ukraine. The propaganda has led many Russians to be convinced that the conflict was provoked by the West. There has been no confirmation whether the new fake news law would apply to foreign news agencies. When asked about his plans for tonight, Rubio's office pointed DailyMail.com to a Newsmax clip from last week in which the Florida senator denounces 'COVID theatre' Four Democratic lawmakers are skipping the State of the Union address after announcing they tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday morning, while Republicans like Senator Marco Rubio said they're boycotting the speech over its virus testing requirement. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington and Senator Alex Padilla of California all announced breakthrough virus cases despite being fully vaccinated and boosted. Rep. Pete Aguilar of California added that he tested positive on Tuesday afternoon. And less than four hours before Biden's speech, retiring Rep. Ted Deutch of Florida became the latest lawmaker to test positive. The House of Representatives lifted its mask mandate just days before President Joe Biden's Tuesday evening address to a joint session of Congress. Attendees are still required to show proof of a negative virus test -- something Rubio said he doesn't 'have time' for. 'I dont have time to go take a COVID test today. I only take a test if Im sick,' Rubio told reporters on Monday, according to HuffPost. When reached for confirmation Rubio's office pointed DailyMail.com to a tweet the Florida senator shared last week captioned 'I am done with the #Covid theatre' where he also shared a brief Newsmax interview clip. 'It's just a game, so you know what, I'll watch the replays on television, I don't need to sit there and go through all of that just to make them feel good about, you know, how safe they're being and all that,' Rubio said in the video. 'Honestly I'm just tired of all that COVID theater crap.' Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton is also skipping Tuesday evening's event. Rubio's fellow Florida Senator Rick Scott said he would decide today whether to attend Biden's big speech. 'I havent made a final decision on it,' Scott told radio station News Talk 101, according to Florida Politics. Security fencing surrounds the US Capitol on the morning of President Joe Biden's first State of the Union address, in Washington, DC on March 1 The fences have been erected 'out of an abundance of caution' according to the Capitol Police I am done with the #Covid theatre pic.twitter.com/NNHeL4w6Dz Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2022 Scott, who chairs the Senate's campaign arm, claimed 'nothing good is going to happen' during the president's remarks. 'I dont want to feel so obligated to stand up and say, "Thats a lie." Because thats what you feel like,' he explained. On the House side, five Republicans said they're boycotting: Rep. Chip Roy of Texas; Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia; Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois; Rep. Bob Good of Virginia; and Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana. Miller told DailyMail.com she was not attending 'on behalf of American people who were fired' due to COVID vaccine mandates. 'Americans are outraged that Democrats were polling whether or not to lift COVID restrictions and decided to lift the mask mandate right before the State of the Union for Joe Biden's "political optics." I am boycotting the State of the Union on behalf of the American people who were fired because Joe Biden's White House strong-armed private employers to institute illegal vaccine mandates,' Miller said. News of their boycott was first reported in the Daily Caller. 'Members of Congress should not be subject to COVID-19 tests and social distance when it is not necessary, and the entire nation has ended most, if not all, coronavirus restrictions,' Rosendale told the outlet in a statement. Roy's office confirmed to DailyMail.com that he will not attend. Clyde wrote on Twitter: 'I refuse to participate in Democrats political pandemic theater, which is why I will not attend Bidens State of the Union address tonight.' Meanwhile at least five Democrats are missing out, but not by choice. Deutch became the latest to announce his positive diagnosis, writing on Twitter shortly after 5:30pm Eastern Time: 'Today, I tested positive for COVID-19. I am glad to be vaccinated and boosted, and although I am experiencing mild symptoms, I am still able to work on behalf of my constituents.' 'While I planned to travel to Washington for tonights State of the Union, I will remain home to protect the safety of my community and colleagues until I am fully recovered,' Deutch said. DelBene wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning: 'I tested positive for COVID-19 today. I am fully vaccinated & boosted. I will be isolating & working remotely. My office remains fully operational for WA-01 constituents.' Three Democrats tested positive for COVID-19 the morning of Biden's speech to a joint session of Congress. The House of Representatives, whose chamber the president will speak in tonight, lifted its mask mandate just days ago Aguilar, who announced he tested positive around 1:30 p.m. Eastern, credited the vaccine for his mild illness and said he was 'disappointed' to miss Biden's speech but he was 'looking forward to hearing from POTUS tonight about his vision to build a better America' in a statement posted to Twitter. Raskin and Padilla both said they tested positive on Monday evening. The Maryland Democratic representative said he was experiencing 'mild' symptoms and was disappointed to be missing Biden's speech. 'Yesterday I took a COVID-19 test for Members planning to attend the State of the Union Address and tested positive. Having been fully vaccinated, and having received a booster shot, my flu-like symptoms have been pretty mild so far,' Raskin said in a statement. He said he would continue his work in Congress from home for the next week. 'I am disappointed not to be able to attend President Biden's State of the Union address in person,' Raskin added. But I will follow his speech closely' 'I will be cheering for President Bidens powerful call to the world to continue to reject in every way possible Vladimir Putins illegal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine.' Senator Alex Padilla (left), Rep. Jamie Raskin (center) and Rep. Suzan DelBene (right) all announced breakthrough infections despite being fully vaccinated and boosted. The State of the Union requires all attendees to show proof of a negative COVID test Padilla, a freshman senator appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to fill Vice President Kamala Harris' seat, said he showed no COVID symptoms despite testing positive. 'As I do regularly, I tested yesterday for COVID. Late last night, I received a positive test result with a breakthrough case. Im asymptomatic and grateful to be fully vaccinated and boosted,' Padilla wrote on Twitter. 'In accordance with CDC guidance, I am isolating and working remotely. I will continue consulting with the Capitols Attending Physician and expect to return soon.' Fencing has been erected around the United States Capitol as a security measure ahead of the State of the Union address, which Biden will deliver at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. The Capitol Police said it was done 'out of an abundance of caution' as law enforcement officers make preparations for a possible trucker convoy to disrupt the evening's high-profile events in Washington. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger also requested the assistance of the National Guard and ordered several roads to be closed ahead of tonight. The sole black male juror who served as foreman of the panel that convicted three white men of federal hate crimes in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery marveled at the amount of racial hatred the trio had shown. Marcus Ransom said he found no signs of remorse in father and son Greg and Travis McMichael, nor in their neighbor, William 'Roddie' Bryan, during the trial last month. 'Just seeing that it was so much hatred that they had, not only for Ahmaud, but to other people of the black race,' Ransom said. 'It was a lot to take in.' Ransom said the depths of racism displayed in messages exchanged by the trio - previously convicted of Arbery's murder - made him sob. But the 35-year-old social worker said that the outcome of the case left him feeling hopeful, suggesting that the guilty verdicts signal that while acts of racial violence still occur in the US, 'we're moving in the right direction.' 'Wrong is wrong and right is right,' Ransom told The New York Times in an interview published Tuesday. 'No matter what it is, youve got to have consequences. No one is above laws.' Scroll down for video Marcus Ransom (pictured), a social worker, was the sole black male juror on the federal panel that convicted Greg and Travis McMichael, and William 'Roddie' Bryan of hate crimes in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael and William Roddy Bryan (L-R) were convicted of federal hate crimes on Tuesday after a jury found they targeted Arbery and shot him in February 2020 because he was black. The men were all convicted of murder last year and are already serving life sentences. The McMichaels will not get parole unless they appeal but Bryan is eligible for parole in 15 years. He has not yet been sentenced for the federal hate crime Ransom said he was shocked by the graphic video of his shooting death (pictured) that leaked online two months after the slaying Ransom spent a week serving on the jury in a Brunswick, Georgia, courtroom hearing the hate crimes case in US District Court. Jurors deliberated less than four hours before finding each of the defendants guilty on all counts on February 22. Arbery, 25, died from a shotgun blast fired by Travis McMichael while he was out running The McMichaels armed themselves and used a pickup truck to chase Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, after spotting him running in their neighborhood on February 23, 2020. Bryan joined the pursuit in his own truck and recorded cellphone video of Travis McMichael blasting Arbery with a shotgun. Ransom, who lives about three hours from coastal Glynn County where Arbery was murdered and the trial was held, said he was shocked by the graphic video that leaked online two months after the slaying. Still, he said he did not pay much attention to the case prior to the trial because he had been dealing with the death of his grandmother. During the trial, federal prosecutors walked the jury through roughly two dozen racist text messages and social media posts, mostly by Travis McMichael and Bryan, in which they referred to black people as 'subhuman' and 'savages.' Ransom said he was not shocked by the racist slurs the men used. 'I've experienced racism on different levels,' he said. 'Ive become numb to it almost.' But Ransom said he cried when prosecutors showed a video Travis McMichael had shared online that mocked a young black boy dancing. He also shed tears in the jury box while having to watch police body camera footage of Arbery bleeding on the ground, twitching and gasping, after the shooting. And he wiped tears from his eyes again after the verdicts were read and he was asked to stand in court and confirm them. Attorney Benjamin Crump holds up the arms of Arbery's parents, Wanda Cooper-Jones and Marcus Arbery, after the guilty verdicts on February 22 Ransom said he was disturbed by the indifference the McMichaels showed Arbery as he was dying in the street, and was stunned that Bryan had joined them to pursue a black man whom Bryan later told police he had never seen before and did not know why he was being chased. None of the defendants testified at the hate crimes trial. Ransom said he watched each of the three defendants closely during the trial, looking for signs of remorse. He said he found none. When the case ended and the jury prepared to begin deliberations, Ransom said, the others quickly chose him to serve as foreman. 'No one really voiced exactly why,' he said. He said deliberations were businesslike. No one argued that the McMichaels or Bryan were innocent, he said, and nobody strongly disagreed that the evidence showed Arbery was chased and killed because he was black - a finding necessary to convict the defendants of hate crimes. The jury returned the hate crime convictions not quite three months after the McMichaels and Bryan were found guilty of murdering Arbery by a Georgia state court. All three were sentenced to life in prison in the murder case, with no chance of parole for the McMichaels. US District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood has yet to schedule sentencing in the federal case, where each defendant again faces a potential life sentence. Rep. Ted Deutch of Florida said Monday that he will not seek reelection in the fall, becoming the 31st House Democrat to announce plans to leave the chamber. Deutch's exit puts additional pressure on President Joe Biden to avoid a Republican bloodbath in November. Deutch, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, said in a statement that he has accepted an offer to serve as a CEO for the American Jewish Committee, a New York City-based nonprofit. Rep. Ted Deutch of Florida said Monday that he will not seek reelection in the fall, becoming the 31st House Democrat to announce plans to leave the chamber President Joe Biden's party is facing an uphill battle to keep control of Congress, as 31 House Democrats are now retiring He called it a 'tremendous privilege' to have served in Congress since 2010. The congressman, 55, said he will continue his work in Washington until Congress recesses for the next election. He serves as chair on the House Ethics Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa and Global Counterterrorism. He is also a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Deutch's service, saying his 'great integrity and committed leadership' would especially be missed. She said he would depart the House in October. 'Since his first day in the House, Chairman Ted Deutch has been a devoted champion for his South Florida community, a relentless advocate for the public good and a clarion voice for human rights and justice,' Pelosi said in a statement. Florida's House and Senate are redrawing the state's congressional maps, a once-a-decade redistricting process following the federal census. While each proposal makes changes to Deutch's district because of population changes, the new district should remain safely Democratic. Deutch has strongly pushed for gun control legislation and taken a more active role since 17 students and staff members were killed in a 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, part of his district. He has led the gun violence prevention task force in Congress. Earlier this month he urged Biden to use his State of the Union address to talk about gun control measures, including universal background checks. 'Anything we can do to spare one more community - one more family - the pain that we have experienced in Parkland and Coral Springs and South Florida is what we must do,' Deutch said in a statement honoring the victims on Feb. 14, marking four years since the Parkland tragedy. 'The President may want to do more than that. But I want to get something done. We need to start saving lives and preventing more broken hearts.' Measures to close loopholes in background checks for gun purchases passed in the House last year, but have stalled in the Senate. On the Republican side, Rep. Fred Keller of Pennsylvania said Monday that he also would not seek reelection, citing new congressional maps that would combine his district with one represented by fellow Republican Rep. Dan Meuser. Keller, 56, blamed the 'liberal Pennsylvania Supreme Court,' accusing it of overstepping its authority and selecting a map that favors Democrats. However, the boundaries of his current district and Thompsons current district needed to grow substantially because of shrinking population there. 'Make no mistake, this map - submitted by a national Democrat group - intends to diminish the voices of conservative voters in central and northeast Pennsylvania,' Keller said. 'As I said last week, I am not going to let that happen.' Keller, who has served in Congress since 2019, is the 14th House Republican to announce he's not seeking reelection. The 31 Democratic House retirees are the most since the 1992 elections, when 41 of them stepped away. The body parts of a missing woman have been found discovered concealed inside bags at a country park three months after she disappeared, police have confirmed. Detectives launched a murder enquiry after Ilona Golabek, 27, vanished from her home in Boston, Lincs., on November 9 last year. Kamil Ranoszek, 40, was arrested two weeks later and was charged with murder. He is currently awaiting trial at Lincoln Crown Court. Today Lincolnshire Police revealed that suspected human remains were discovered at Witham Way Country Park in the town on February 19. The body parts of Ilona Golabek, 27, who vanished from her home in Boston, Lincolnshire on November 9 last year, have been found in a nearby country park, murder detectives confirmed today Officers attended and recovered bones which were later confirmed to be human while specialist teams found other body parts in three other areas of the park. The remains were sent off for DNA tests to be carried out which have now confirmed they belonged to Ilona. Detective Inspector Andy McWatt said: 'We have located some body parts concealed in bags in the park since we started searching the area on 19 February. 'We remain in the park and are continuing to search the location. Ilona's family are aware and out our thoughts are with them. 'We are continuing our appeal for witnesses, and we are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in or around the park to contact us'. Officers will remain in the park for the remainder of the week while further examinations of the site are carried out. Officers attended and recovered bones which were later confirmed to be human while specialist teams found other body parts in three other areas of the park. Kamil Ranoszek, 40, is charged with her murder The force had previously released CCTV images of a woman who matched the description of Ilona but they no longer believe that was her. Detective Chief Inspector Richard Myszczyszyn, of East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said at the time: 'Our thoughts are with her family at this very difficult time. 'We arrested Kamil Ranoszek on November 21st on suspicion of murder and he has now been charged. 'The second arrested man, aged 32, has been released under investigation. 'We understand this may be a concern for the people of Boston, and while I am unable to disclose much information at this stage in our investigation, I can say that we believe those involved are known to one another and this is an isolated incident.' Detectives are still appealing for anyone who might have information to contact the force by calling 101 quoting incident 200 of November 11. Alternatively call the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit the dedicated portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM21C82-PO1. Ukraine has claimed it destroyed an elite group of Chechen fighters today that were plotting to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky. Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, said during a televised address today that the unit 'which came to kill our President, was eliminated'. Earlier today, Ramzan Kadyrov - the strongman leader of Chechnya - said that Chechens have been killed in Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The unit was sent into Ukraine by Kadyrov, who is a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine has claimed it has destroyed an elite group of Chechen fighters that were plotting to assassinate Ukrainian President Zelensky, according to a Kyiv official. Pictured: Servicemen take part in a review of the Chechen Republic's troops and military hardware at the residence of Ramzan Kadyrov, February 25. Since the Russian invasion began on February 24, there have been fears that president Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured: could be killed by Russian forces. In an address, he even said that he was target number-one for the Kremlin's assassins. 'We are already aware of the special operation that was to be carried out by Kadyrov forces unit,' Danilov said on Ukraine 24 TV channel, The Mirror reported. 'We received the information from representatives of Russia's Federal Security Service who do not want to take part in this bloody war. 'The Kadyrov forces unit, which came to kill our President, was eliminated.' Danilov said the unit had been split into two groups and its movements were being closely tracked. He said that one of the two groups came under fire from Ukraine's forces in Hostomel - a north-west suburb of Ukraine's Kyiv capital. The other unit was 'in our sights', he said. 'They were divided in two groups, we were tracking them,' Danilov said on television. 'One group was handled near Hostomel, the other one is in our sights.' Danilov continued: 'We will not give our President or our country to anyone. This is our land, get out of here.' Oleksiy Danilov (left), Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council said during a televised address today that the unit 'which came to kill our President, was eliminated'. The unit was sent into Ukraine by Ramzan Kadyrov - the strongman leader of Chechnya, who is staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin Since the Russian invasion began on February 24, there have been fears that president Zelensky could be killed by Russian forces. In an address, he even said that he was target number-one for the Kremlin's assassins. 'I am target number one, my wife and children are number two,' he said last week. However, despite the threat to his life, he has continued to project defiance in the face of danger and become the face of Ukraine's resistance. The 44-year-old has used his eye for modern image management and the skills honed on stage to deliver stirring messages on social media. On February 25, the day after the outbreak of war, he filmed himself standing in the dark near the presidency building with his advisors, saying 'we are all here' in an attempt to counter disinformation that he had abandoned his post. 'Our military is here. Citizens in society are here. We're all here defending our independence, our country, and it will stay this way,' he said. Smoke rises around Kyiv's main television tower after several explosions near the base of it on Tuesday afternoon Kadyrov meanwhile, a former rebel-turned-Kremlin-ally, has given his backing for President Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine, sending his notorious fighters to the country. Earlier, he confirmed some of his fighters had been killed. 'Unfortunately, there are already losses among the natives of the Chechen Republic. Two died, six more were injured to varying degrees,' Kadyrov said on Telegram. Kadyrov, in charge of Russia's Chechnya Republic which he governs de-facto by his own set of rules, has posted videos of Chechen fighters in Ukraine. On Tuesday, he posted one of a Chechen fighter with Russian tanks rolling by. Russia has not said how many of its forces have been killed in the invasion, but also admitted losses last week. Kadyrov said the killed Chechen fighters 'chose to become heroes.' 'Yes, they kill in war and that was their choice of profession,' he said. He claimed that 'they had an order to minimise losses among the civilian population of Ukraine.' Russia denies targeting civilian areas, but residential areas are being shelled. Ukraine says more than 350 civilians have been killed since Putin launched the attack last Thursday. Moscow has invaded from several directions, including from Belarus, Moscow-annexed Crimea and from territory controlled by east Ukraine's separatists. It was reported on February 25 that a squad of Chechen special forces 'hunters' had been unleashed in Ukraine to detain or kill a set of specific Ukrainian officials. Chechen soldiers of the south battalion of the Federal Guard Service are reportedly in a Ukrainian forest with orders to detain or kill Ukrainian officials Each soldier was reportedly given a special 'deck of cards' with Ukrainian officials' photos and descriptions on them, a Moscow Telegram channel with links to the security establishment reported. The list is of officials and security officers suspected of 'crimes' by the Russian Investigative Committee, the report added. The Chechen squad was allegedly given an 'order to kill' if those on the wanted list could not be detained. Comes after dozens of migrants took advantage of narrow break in bad weather conditions Saturday to make crossing Border Force detained at least seven boats - with several small children onboard More migrants battled wet conditions to reach the UK by small boat this afternoon with at least 150 people in total crossing the Channel today. Border Force detained at least seven boats - with small children among those spotted at the Port of Dover. The first of this afternoon's arrivals were brought to shore via Border Force cutter Searcher, while a second group were escorted into the UK on board a rib a short while later. The two groups, which consisted mostly of men, appeared to be suffering as a result of the choppy conditions in the Channel. As they approached the port they could be seen clutching blankets around their shoulders and heads. Border Force detained at least seven boats and 150 people trying to cross the English Channel today - with several small children among those spotted at the Port of Dover The first of this afternoon's arrivals were brought to shore via Border Force cutter Searcher, while a second group were escorted into the UK on board a rib a short while later Several children were seen amongst the arrivals at Dover this morning and into the afternoon It comes after more than 100 people, including small children, are thought to have arrived in Kent across five boats this morning. The first arrivals of the month were escorted to the Port of Dover by the RNLI before sunrise amid heavy fog and rain. A second group set foot on UK soil on board Border Force cutter Searcher after 8am, with more migrants arriving in HMC Hunter a short while later. At least two more groups were accompanied to the port by UK officials before midday via Border Force ship Hurricane and ribs - among them were a toddler and young child. This comes after dozens of migrants were detained by Border Force officials early on Saturday as they took advantage of a narrow break in bad weather conditions to cross reach the UK in inflatable boats. It comes after more than 100 people, including small children, are thought to have arrived in Kent across five boats this morning Home Office officials have warned that this year could see more than 65,000 people arrive in the UK by small boat So far this year 1,341 have made the treacherous crossings in 46 boats A total of 28,381 migrants crossed the Dover Strait last year - dwarfing the 8,410 who arrived in 2020 It was the first migrant crossing since January 26 due to recent strong winds. 132 people in four boats boats were picked up in freezing conditions in the Channel, according to Home Office figures. They are thought to have set off in clear skies and calm conditions on Friday night but as they reached the Kent coast, the weather changed with winds picking up making conditions at sea much choppier. One group, mainly men, were brought in on Border Force cutter Seeker while a second group were picked up by the Border Force vessel Hurricane. So far this year 1,341 have made the treacherous crossings in 46 boats. A total of 28,381 migrants crossed the Dover Strait last year - dwarfing the 8,410 who arrived in 2020. But Home Office officials have warned that this year could see more than 65,000 people arrive in the UK by small boat. The author and his son at Nakhwa-am overlooking the Geum River in 1989 / Courtesy of Steven L. Shields By Steven L. Shields My son was born in Seoul. We moved to the U.S. when he was a few months old, so his first time to get to know Korea firsthand was the summer of his 11th birthday, in 1989. (We deliberately avoided the crowds of the 1988 Olympics). He was young enough to travel at a discount but old enough to understand and appreciate the experience. By then, he was a seasoned traveler; I'd dragged him through England, across Europe, and South Africa two years earlier. In Korea, we roamed around the essential sites in Seoul. No visit to Korea is complete without seeing a couple of palaces. We rode the cable car up Mount Nam, went up in the tower and took in the still-magnificent 360-degree vista. Namdaemun Market was an eye-opener for my son since there were many things he had never seen before. I planned a circular route for our down-country trip. Our first stop was Gongju. We wandered through the old national museum and visited King Muryeong's tomb. The tomb site was somewhat distant from the city in those days, and the site was in the early stages of development as a tourist area. We bounced along a country road to get there but then had to walk quite a way back into the city. There we boarded another bus for Buyeo. Since it was early evening, we wandered around town and found a place for dinner. Bright and early the next day, we took in the national museum (the old building has since been replaced by a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility today) and walked through the forested area of what was once the Baekje Kingdom's principal palace during the kingdom's last decades. Today, the area is forested with scant reminders that the place was once a thriving complex with thousands of people living and working there. One of the most scenic places in Buyeo is Nakhwa-am (falling flower rock), where it is said hundreds of palace women leaped to their deaths to avoid being raped by the invading Tang (Chinese) army. In its conquest to take the entire Korean Peninsula, the kingdom of Silla had allied with the Tang empire. Today, there is much more to see in Buyeo than in 1989. The town is small, and many sites are easily accessible on foot. Traveling primarily by "country" or "outside the city" (shi wae) bus, rather than express bus, we wended our way through what is still some lovely countryside. The highways are bigger and more crowded now, but some small towns retain their old-style, laid-back lives. Kilometer after kilometer, the verdant rice fields evoke images of Korea's long agricultural history. Haein Temple is one of Korea's "Three Jewels" temples. Each temple represents one of the three jewels of Buddhism. Tongdo Temple (between Gyeongju and Busan) represents the Buddha. Songgwang Temple in South Jeolla Province represents the Buddhist community (Sangha). And Haein Temple, not far from Daegu, represents Buddhist teachings (Dharma). Haein Temple was founded in 802, though none of the original buildings exist. Since 1398, in the early years of the Joseon Kingdom, the temple has housed more than 80,000 carved wooden printing blocks of the Tripitaka Koreana, or Korean Buddhist Canon, the most complete Buddhist scripture in existence. The roads and facilities are now much improved over the barely paved road Chris and I traversed by local bus on our visit. The author's son, Chris, in the entryway of the Tripitaka Koreana warehouse at Haein Temple / Courtesy of Steven L. Shields The unique warehouse for the almost 800-year-old printing blocks (carved during the Goryeo Kingdom in the 1200s) is a marvel to see. Access in the old days was less restrictive. When my son and I visited, a kindly monk allowed us to wander through part of the stacks. They also had a sample block that visitors could heft and examine closely. Scholars have examined the blocks and counted more than 52 million Chinese characters. They noted there appear to be no mistakes anywhere to be found. Truly a remarkable treasure. My all-time favorite place to visit is Gyeongju. I dragged my 11-year-old from the top of the mountain where Seokguram resides, through Bulguk Temple and most other major temple sites in the valley. We visited the Flying Horse Tomb (Cheonmachong) downtown and the national museum (which in those days was one building). The Emile Bell could be rung physically (the current recorded ringing, though necessary to preserve the centuries-old piece, is a poor "second"). Road and transport in Gyeongju are vastly improved today, but it is still possible to use the city buses to travel through the valley. No visit to Bulguk Temple is complete without this popular shot. Millions of tourists have such a photo. / Courtesy of Steven L. Shields Our next destination was Beopju Temple, not far from the lovely city of Cheongju. As I have written previously , Beopju Temple is a favorite place to visit. Much older than either Bulguk Temple or Haein Temple, the setting is lovely. The view from the top of the mountain, Mun Jang Dae, is spectacular, but my son was impressed by two items of interest in the temple precinct. First was the giant rice cooker on display in a small pavilion. He loves rice, and loves Korean food in general, too. The second was the tall golden Maitreya. The current statue was then under construction to replace a much-worn-out concrete statue. A booth near the base of the construction site was set up for donations. My son insisted on contributing as a small way to honor his Korean heritage. The giant rice cooker at Beopju Temple. It is said that in its heyday, the temple was home to 3,000 monks. / Courtesy of Steven L. Shields/ A Rhode Island man who faked his death and fled to the UK to evade sex and fraud charges - only to be busted in Scotland after nearly dying of COVID - has insisted he is an Englishman called Arthur Knight in a bizarre TV interview. The suspect - who cops insist is Nicholas Alahverdian, 34 - denied his alleged real identity while dressed in tweed and a baker boy cap - and spoke in a hammy English accent throughout. 'If anyone thinks I am this chap, and have all of these questions, I would love to have them over for a cup of tea,' he told NBC 10. 'But I am not. I am Arthur Knight.' The man calling himself Knight, who appeared sitting next to his English wife Miranda Knight Brown, then added: 'I have never been to the US in my entire life.' Claiming he is still recovering from the COVID infection that saw cops track him down and arrest him in a Scottish hospital, he wore an oxygen mask for the bulk of the interview and said he is too weak to walk. But in a new interview Alahverdian gave while out on bail, he claimed police were mistaken and that he truly is an Englishman named Arthur Knight. He's pictured with wife Miranda When asked to remove his mask briefly so that the reporter could get a good look at his face, Alahverdian acquiesced and appeared to be a dead ringer for the man wanted for raping an ex-girlfriend in 2008 When asked to remove his mask briefly so that the reporter could get a good look at his face, the man claiming to be Knight acquiesced and appeared to be a dead ringer for the man wanted for raping an ex-girlfriend in 2008. And Knight also blustered when asked to show his arms, to prove that he didn't have the multiple distinctive tattoos that Alahverdian has. When asked to expose his arms to prove his tattoo removal scars did not match the markings of Alahverdian, the trickster evaded the question by simply rolling his sleeves up his elbow. 'Absolutely,' he said. 'I will show you that my arm is not tattooed, either.' The scars in question are believed to mostly on his upper arms, which remained concealed during the interview, claiming exposing his arms further would require 'undoing my oxygen mask.' Alahverdian also during the interview claimed to have never been to the US, despite using an American phone number while living in England and scamming Canadian food writer and TV star Nafsika Antypas. Alahverdian - who has assumed several aliases - feigned terminal cancer and faked his own death February 29, 2020 while under investigation for crimes spanning several US states. In an attempt to legitimize the fake death, he wrote and published his own gushing obituary. But the 34-year-old conman's cover was blown after he was ventilated with a life-threatening case of Covid and placed on a ventilator last year. He was arrested December 13 by Interpol, which used tattoo scars to discover his true identity. Alahverdian, who was released on bail while awaiting extradition to face a rape charge in Utah, appeared during the interview via Zoom, where he sat next to his wife Miranda. Nicholas Alahverdian, 34, faked his own death in March 2020 and moved abroad under the aliases Arthur Brown and Arthur Knight to evade sex and fraud charges in the US He was previously convicted for an unrelated sexual assault during the same year at Sinclair Community College in Ohio. He's suspected of committing a string of other assaults in both states, as well as Rhode Island, where at least four women filed police reports against him related to alleged incidents in 2010 and 2011. He was also accused of a $200,000 fraud after allegedly taking out credit cards and loans in his foster mother's husband's name in Ohio. Antypas previously detailed to DailyMail.com how Alahverdian began scamming her out of about $30,000 US in early 2020, around the time of his purported passing. Canadian food personality Nafsika Antypas, 44, told DailyMail.com that after Alahverdian's 'death', he moved abroad under the name Arthur Brown and scammed her out of about $30,000US Antypas, who lives in Montreal, virtually hired Brown as a freelance public relations manager to help grow her eponymous brand, believing he was an international business lawyer with experience working in television. 'I feel really stupid,' she told DailyMail.com this week. 'I knew something was off about him.' She said she believed him to be living in Dublin, Ireland, at the time of their online introduction. When they spoke on the phone, she said he had a British accent and pronounced stutter. Rather than deliver on what he promised, Antypas discovered - after paying him $7,500US a month for four months - that the man she knew as Nicholas Brown was a phony who produced no results. When she demanded to see his work, she said he threatened to extort her unless she gave him an additional $55,000US. Texts, photos and emails Antypas shared with the DailyMail.com show how Alahverdian fabricated two family dogs and a myriad of illnesses - even sending her photos of his 'wife' Miranda in the hospital at one point - in order to avoid doing the work he promised her, based on credentials he never had in the first place. Antypas sent Alahverdian a text in late April, tell him she needed to see his work in order to keep paying him He shot back at her, accusing her of being 'patronizing' and claiming to be on the 'brink of massive sales' He told her that if she did not pay him $70,000 within 'one hour and 17 minutes,' he would set the website live and share the fraud photos When Antypas ended her business relationship with Alahverdian, he allegedly created a fake website about her, using SEO tricks to make it the top Google hit When she realized she was being conned and hired a lawyer, Alahverdian fired back with his own legal threats claiming she was the one damaging him. After demanding she respond within 'one hour and 17 minutes' to settlement negotiations, he then smeared her hard-earned reputation in a brutal revenge campaign branding her a 'fraud.' When she later hired a private investigator to look into Arthur Brown, she realized there was no such man, when even the PI could find no trace of him or his so-called wife. Alahverdian's dodgy reputation preceded his relationship with Antypas. He's suspected of committing a string of assaults in Utah, Ohio, and Rhode Island, where at least four women filed police reports against him related to alleged incidents in 2010 and 2011. He was also accused of a $200,000 fraud after allegedly taking out credit cards and loans in his foster mother's husband's name in Ohio. Since his fake death was exposed, more stories about his allegedly aggressive behavior toward women have emerged. This map shows the trail of havoc and alleged criminal behavior carried out by Nicholas Alahverdian across the US Criminal past of Nicholas Alahverdian Date unknown: Failure to register as a sex offender in Rhode Island. Accused of separate attack which allegedly saw him kidnap and sexually assault a woman Date unknown: Accused of similar abduction and sexual assault attempt in Massachusetts 2008: Convicted of sexual assault in Ohio after an 'encounter' with a fellow student at Sinclair Community College in Dayton. In September 2008, he allegedly raped an ex-girlfriend in Orem, Utah - the allegation that led to his arrest in December 2021. November 2010: Arrested for allegedly assaulting girlfriend in his Rhode Island apartment after they quarreled over a guest's crying child December 2010: A woman called police to report that she went on a dinner date with Alahverdian that turned sour after she rebuffed his advances. He ordered her to give him $200 and took away her phone April 2011: An arrest warrant was issued for Alahverdian for violating a restraining order obtained by his then-wife 2017 : Fraud in Ohio. Former foster mom in same state accused Alahverdian of $200,000 scam which saw him allegedly take out fake credit cards and loans in her husband's name'. Also that year, police in Scotland received a domestic complaint in Essex related to Rossi January 2020: Connects with Canadian businesswoman on an online job board and swindles her out of $30,000US over the course of four months February 2020: Fakes his own death of lymphoma, with unnamed 'widow' claiming Alahverdian had been buried at sea. In July, DNA links him to 2008 sex attack in Orem, Utah - the charge which ultimately led to his discovery in Scotland December 2021: Arrested at hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, while intubated with COVID on suspicion of Utah sex attack January 2022: Set to be extradited back to the US, where Alahverdian is almost certain to face further fraud charges for faking his own death in February 2020 Advertisement One woman told Pawtucket police that Alahverdian became 'enraged' after she rebuked his advances after a dinner date, according to police reports obtained by the Providence Journal. While they were convening in his apartment later that night, he became 'enraged' after she rejected his advances and demanded to be compensated for the meal they shared. After taking away her phone, he drove her to a nearby ATM and instructed her to withdraw $200. She acquiesced because 'she felt she had no choice but to give him the money, in fear of further violence,' the report said. The night got stranger for the woman when Alahverdian ordered her to sign an agreement - while he videotaped - that said 'she could not pursue legal action and that the money she gave him was for therapy for him due to her violent actions and her sexual addiction.' Another accuser told police in July 2010 that Alahverdian lured her to his apartment under the guise that she'd be visiting his art studio. Instead, she told cops, he took away her phone and pressed her for sex. When she refused his advances, he said 'if she left, he would kill himself by stabbing himself in the chest with a knife,' the Journal reported. Alahverdian was taken to hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. Police returned to his apartment that November on a tip, and said they encountered an 'extremely upset' woman with injuries to both eyes. The woman told cops that Alahverdian became angry after their dinner guests' child began crying earlier that night, which led to a violent argument. Alahverdian 'grabbed her and knocked her to the ground and held her down' and 'slapped her on the facial area,' the outlet reported. He resisted arrest, prompting police to physically carry him out of the apartment and into the cruiser, where he repeatedly smashed his head against the metal bars while screaming 'very loudly'. He was pepper sprayed by the arresting officers in an effort to get him to stop self-harming. An arrest warrant was issued for Alahverdian in 2011 for violating a restraining order obtained by his then-wife. DailyMail.com has requested copies of the arrest reports from the Pawtucket police. It's not clear whether Alahverdian was convicted or served jail time for the allegations. Last week, a Scottish court heard that since his arrest received media attention, Police Scotland had received 'a complaint of a domestic nature to police in Essex in 2017' in relation to Rossi. Alahverdian was so cunning that, as a young teenage, he nearly convinced a state representative to adopt him. Former state representative Brian Coogan, 51, previously told DailyMail.com that he met and was charmed by Alahverdian in 2000, while he was working as a politician and Alahverdian was volunteering as an errand boy at the state house. Coogan told DailyMail.com that he was initially enamored by the troubled teen - who claimed to be sexually and physically victimized in foster care - and moved to give him a permanent family after Alahverdian 'begged me to adopt him' shortly after they met. On the day he was in court to begin adoption proceedings, Coogan said he overheard Alahverdian threatening a social worker, saying: 'I'll tell them you abused me, that you hit me.' A judge later talked Coogan and his wife out of it, warning that he was 'manipulative' and prone to stealing peoples' identities. Alahverdians's current partner Miranda Knight says she doesn't believe the accusations being leveled against him are true She described him in the interview as a 'gentleman' who has never frightened her The charge Alahverdian is awaiting extradition for relates to the rape of a woman in Orem, Utah who he befriended on MySpace in 2008 and later attacked, Utah County District Attorney David Leavitt told DailyMail.com. During this week's interview, Miranda - believed to be Alahverdian's third wife - defended her husband's character. 'I know my husband inside out,' she said. 'Since my husband and I have been together, he has been a gentleman, he has been kind, he doesn't show any characteristics which frighten me, make me feel uncomfortable. 'To be in this situation is quite bizarre. We're just a normal, average couple with two dogs doing normal things in our lives.' Texas child welfare agency officials have started investigating parents of transgender children for possible child abuse charges including one of the agencys own employees who has a 16-year-old trans daughter. Republican Governor Greg Abbott ordered the states Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate reports of 'gender-transitioning procedures,' such as puberty-blocking drugs, last Tuesday. It came a day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is also a Republican, issued an opinion declaring that such procedures are child abuse under existing Texas law. One of the agencys employees, who has a transgender daughter, was visited by agency officials on Friday, according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of the woman, identified as Jane Doe, by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and LGBTQ civil rights group Lambda Legal. Texas child welfare agency officials have begun investigating parents of transgender children for possible child abuse charges in accordance with an ordered given last week by Governor Greg Abbott One of the agencys employees, who has a transgender daughter, was among the first to be investigated. Above, a group of health care workers protested the governor's order at the state Capitol building on Tuesday The employee has since sought legal action in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and LGBTQ civil rights group Lambda Legal The court filing seeks to block the agencys request for medical records and challenge the constitutionality of the governors order The employee, who works on the review of reports of abuse and neglect, was placed on administrative leave the day after Abbotts order and has since been asked by agency officials to turn over medical records related to her child, who was identified in the lawsuit as Mary Doe. The court filing seeks to block the agencys request for medical records and challenge the constitutionality of both the investigation and the governors order. We are terrified for Marys health and well-being, and for our family, Jane Doe wrote in a declaration filed with the lawsuit. I feel betrayed by my state and the agency for whom I work. Not providing Mary with the medically necessary health care that she needs is not an option for us. Jane Doe, who refused to voluntarily turn over her daughters medical records, spoke to her supervisor at DFPS the day after Abbott issued his order, the lawsuit reads. It is unclear if she disclosed any information about her transgender child, but that same day she was placed on administrative leave. The issuance of the Paxton Opinion and the Abbott Letter, along with DFPSs implementation of these, has terrorized the Doe family and inflicted ongoing and irreparable harm, her lawsuit reads. Mary Doe has long been under the care of Dr. Megan Mooney, a licensed psychologist in Houston who is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit, the document reads. Mooney diagnosed Mary with gender dysphoria and referred the family to other medical professionals who confirmed the diagnosis, according to the lawsuit. Transgender advocacy groups protested against the governor's order at the Texas Capitol building on Tuesday A group of advocates were seen at the protest showing support for transgender children Gender dysphoria is designated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders as someones "marked incongruence between their experienced or expressed gender and the one they were assigned at birth." It could lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety, substance use disorders, a negative sense of well-being and poor self-esteem, and an increased risk of self-harm and suicidality, and could be treated with psychiatric support, hormonal therapy and surgical therapy, depending on the individual case and patient needs, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Following Marys diagnosis, her doctors recommended that she be provided with medical care that has included prescription puberty-delaying medication and hormone therapy to initiate puberty consistent with her female gender, the lawsuit reads. Mary was worried about having to undergo a puberty that would result in permanent physical characteristics not in alignment with her female gender. Jane and John observed how the prospect of beginning this puberty caused Mary significant distress and exacerbated her dysphoria, the lawsuit reads. Being able to be affirmed as who she is, including through the course of treatment prescribed by her doctors, has brought Mary significant relief and allowed her to thrive, it adds. Abbott issued the order in a letter on Tuesday to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Abbott wrote in his letter that 'it is already against the law to subject Texas children to a wide variety of elective procedures for gender transitioning, including reassignment surgeries that can cause sterilization, mastectomies, removals of otherwise healthy body parts, and administration of puberty-blocking drugs or supraphysiologic doses of testosterone or estrogen.' The order requires DFPS to 'conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures.' The letter notes that doctors, nurses, and teachers are all mandated reporters who must report suspected child abuse, nothing that there are 'criminal penalties for failure to report such child abuse.' It is unclear if Abbotts order would persist under judicial scrutiny and some Texas prosecutors have already rejected the notion of pursuing child abuse cases against parents, while state agencies have remained largely silent on how they interpret the new guidance. Legislation has been introduced in over 20 states seeking to ban gender-affirming procedures for teenagers, according to the New York Times. No such bills have made it through their respective legislative sessions, however, including one in Texas seeking to redefine child abuse to include gender-affirming treatment for transgender children. Last summer, Abbott directed the states protective services agency to investigate whether such medical procedures would constitute child abuse. Around the same time, the agency bowed to pressure from one of Abbotts Republican primary opponents, Don Huffines, by removing a list of LGBTQ resources and a suicide prevention hotline from its website. exas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is also a Republican, issued an opinion last week declaring that certain transitioning procedures are child abuse under existing Texas law The move, first reported by the Houston Chronicle, came when Huffines attacked the governor online for promoting transgender sexual policies to Texas youth. Adri Perez, policy strategist of the Texas ACLU, accused the governor and attorney general of issuing their statements about transgender children to pander to their party ahead of an upcoming primary election. No family should have to fear being torn apart because they are supporting their trans child, Perez said in a statement to the New York Times. A week before an election, Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a partisan political attack that isnt rooted in the needs of families. Paul Castillo, senior counsel at Lambda Legal, told the New York Times that the two Republicans were joining a politically motivated misinformation campaign with no consideration of medical science and seem determined to criminalize parents seeking to care and provide for their kids. He added: Gender-affirming care for the treatment of gender dysphoria is medically necessary care, full stop. The lawsuit quotes a number of child advocacy groups that have spoken out against the governors order, including Prevent Child Abuse America, which said in a statement that providing necessary and adequate medical care to your child is not child abuse. Therefore, PCA America opposes legislation and laws that would deny healthcare access to any child, regardless of their gender identity. Such laws threaten the safety and security of our nations most vulnerable citizenschildren and youth, the statement adds. The Biden administration also responded furiously to the Texas order, with a White House spokesperson calling it needless and dangerous. Conservative officials in Texas and other states across the country should stop inserting themselves into health care decisions that create needless tension between pediatricians and their patients,' White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told the Dallas Morning News. 'No parent should face the agony of a politician standing in the way of accessing life-saving care for their child,' added Jean-Pierre. Admiral Rachel L. Levine, a transgender woman who is Biden's assistant secretary for health also slammed Abbott's move. 'Our nation's leading pediatricians support evidence-based, gender affirming care for transgender young people. HHS stands with transgender youth and their medical providers,' Levine said in a statement to the Morning News. The officials moves have been lauded by other Texas groups. Minors are prohibited from purchasing paint, cigarettes, alcohol, or even getting a tattoo. We cannot allow minors or their parents to make life-altering decisions on body-mutilating procedures and irreversible hormonal treatments, Jonathan Covey, policy director for the group Texas Values, told the New York Times last week. And Abbott's Republican allies in the Texas legislature praised his move. 'This (Paxton) opinion means nothing if it's not enforced,' said Republican state Rep. Matt Schaefer to the Statesman. 'The truth is, though, that we need a special session immediately to address this now that we have the backing of the attorney general's office. We are not going to back down on this this is a hill we are ready to die on,' he added. A Pennsylvania man charged with burglary after he allegedly drove nearly 400 miles to the New Hampshire home of a woman he met online, breaking into her home and taking pictures of her while she slept could face more charges. Mauricio Damian-Guerrero, 20, of Bensalem, was arrested last month after Somersworth police found him climbing out of the woman's attic and onto the roof. Preliminary investigation revealed he had entered the home with the intent to commit theft and invasion of privacy. Court documents made public Monday and obtained by DailyMail.com revealed the suspect entered the 24-year-old victim's house at least four times and admitted to planning to install a tracking device, which has since been seized by police, to the victim's car in an effort to follow her. Investigators, while searching his cell phone, discovered multiple video's of the victim sleeping in the nude which they said 'did not appear to be invited'. The footage reportedly focused on the woman's genitalia. Damian-Guerrero was arrested on February 9 and charged with four counts of burglary. He was released on a $2,500 cash bail last week. Mauricio Damian-Guerrero, 20, was arrested for burglary last month after he allegedly entered a 24-year-old New Hampshire woman's home four times without her consent. Court documents reveal he videotaped the woman's genitalia while she slept 'He was released with pretty strict bail conditions,' said Deputy Strafford County Attorney Emily Garod told WMUR, noting the suspect is required to wear a GPS tracking bracelet and barred from entering the state of New Hampshire. 'But it is an ongoing concern of ours, the safety of the victim during the pendency of this case, so that is why we asked for him to be held pending trial.' He is also forbidden from having any contact the victim. Garod's office told the TV station prosecutors are seeking additional charges against the defendant. Damian-Guerrero met the victim, who is only identified by the initials R.N., on the internet content subscription service OnlyFans in October 2021. Damian-Guerrero is accused of driving 354 miles from his Bensalem home to the victim's house in Somersworth. Police say the drive is 6 hours and 15 minutes Damian-Guerrero (left) met the victim, who is only identified by the initials R.N., on the internet content subscription service OnlyFans in October 2021 According to the court documents, R.N. gave the suspect her address because she wanted him to buy her a new TV and a fireplace. She claims she never wanted to meet in person, but Damian-Guerrero pushed to do so. He was caught at her home on February 9 at 4.43am after R.N. and her housemate called Somersworth police after hearing someone inside her Highland Street residence. R.N. told police she had awoken to Damian-Guerrero, who she identified as her stalker, standing in her doorway just before the pair contacted authorities. She also told police that she had seen Damian-Guerrero drive past her residence before and that he had previously admitted to sleeping in a parking lot outside her old apartment building in Dover, New Hampshire. The 24-year-old also claimed he FaceTime called her from the outside of her mother's home two hours before police found him on her roof. It is unclear exactly how many times Damian-Guerrero made the more than six-hour commute to R.N.'s residence, but evidence on his phone indicates he entered the residence at least four times. A music teacher at Perthshire school who hit teenage girls on the bottoms with drumsticks and groomed a 17-year-old pupil has been removed from the care register. James Clark, former chief drum and pipes instructor in the Army, was removed from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) care register on Sunday after being jailed for offences last year. He was found guilty of common assault, breach of trust and communicating indecency in September last year. He was found sentenced to a year and nine months in prison at Falkirk Sheriff Court in November for the offences. The 56-year-old, from Edinburgh, assaulted seven teenage girls, aged between 13 to 18, over the course of around eight years whilst working as a drumming tutor. He was found to have struck two female students on the buttocks on various occasions between 2011 and 2018 whilst employed at a private Perthshire school. The boarding school drumming instructor was also found to have touched multiple students on their bottoms, cuddled them and made repeated sexual remarks. Clark was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison after attacking seven girls, aged 13 to 18, following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court. James Clark, 56, (Pictured) former chief drum and pipes instructor in the Army, was removed from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) care register on Sunday after being jailed for offences last year During an 'illicit affair' with a 17-year-old pupil, activities ranged from kissing in a cupboard to oral sex in the bagpipe store. In 2019, the girl told her headmaster that Clark had 'abused' her in his car, the band hut, her boarding house, the children's tuck cupboard and the junior common room. One pupil revealed how she had been left feeling 'violated' by Clark after he 6ft 2in man repeatedly struck her on the bottom and once even bruised her. She added that Clark 'smacked her on the bum pretty much all the time' during a band trip to Switzerland in 2015. Another pupil, who was 16 at the time, revealed how Clark told her 'that the two of us should have children together'. Clark, an assistant housemaster at the private school, was also a registered social service worker which enabled him to work in residential school care accommodation. Following his conviction, the SSSC decided to remove Clark from the register after finding his fitness to practise was impaired. Clark (above) was found guilty of common assault by hitting or touching teenage girls backsides and was also convicted of breach of trust by sexual activity with, or directed at, pupils and communicating indecently with a girl They said: 'You have been convicted of a number of very serious sexual offences involving young people who were in your care at the relevant times. 'Behaving in a sexually abusive manner towards young people in your care is conduct that is fundamentally incompatible with professional registration, and violates fundamental tenets of the social services profession. 'It is behaviour that amounts to a fundamental abuse of trust, which may have caused physical and psychological harm to your victims.' The SSSC ruled that the former instructor had not shown any insight or regret into his actions, noting that he hadn't apologised to his victims. On making their decision they said: 'The SSSC considers a removal order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession. Clark was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison after attacking seven girls, aged 13 to 18 following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court (pictured) last year 'It is the only appropriate sanction in this case. 'While you were entitled to maintain not guilty pleas at trial, after your conviction you have not shown any remorse or insight and have not provided any meaningful comments to the SSSC. 'The behaviour in question involves extremely serious abuses of trust in that you engaged in sexual activity with young people under the age of 18 who you were trusted to provide care and support to in the role that you were registered with the SSSC to carry out. 'There are significant public protection risks associated with your conduct. As noted above, you placed young people in your care at a significant risk of physical and emotional harm. 'The risk of repetition appears to be high. It is necessary to take action in this case to protect the public.' Three House Republicans rejected hate crimes legislation named after slain black teen Emmett Till in a Monday evening vote. H.R. 55, dubbed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, passed with an overwhelming 422 'yes' votes in Congress' lower chamber. The bill aims to make lynching a federal hate crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The only 'no' votes on the legislation belonged to Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia. Massie released a statement on Twitter explaining that he voted against the bill over concerns it would impede on states' rights and 'freedom of speech.' 'The Constitution specifies only a handful of federal crimes, and leaves the rest to individual states to prosecute,' Massie wrote on Monday evening. 'This bill expands current federal hate crime laws. A crime is a crime, and all victims deserve equal justice. Adding enhanced penalties for hate tends to endanger other liberties such as freedom of speech.' The Kentucky lawmaker added, 'Lynching a person is already illegal in every state. Passing this legislation falsely implies that lynching someone does not already constitute criminal activity.' Reps. Chip Roy of Texas (left), Thomas Massie of Kentucky (center) and Andrew Clyde of Georgia (right) were the only three lawmakers to vote against the antilynching bill Massie explained in a lengthy Twitter thread that he believed the legislation would impede on states' rights and the first amendment 'The bill creates another federal crime of conspiracy, which Im concerned could be enforced overbroadly on people who are not perpetrators of a crime.' Roy released a statement calling lynching an 'unspeakably heinous crime' but said H.R. 55 'doesn't have anything to do with' it. 'In fact it creates no new federal offenses. It simply raises the punishment for things that are already federal crimes, including those that are unrelated to lynching such as gender identity in an effort to advance a woke agenda under the guise of correcting racial injustice,' Roy said. The Texas Republican implied lawmakers and the media were not being 'honest' in their portrayal of the legislation. 'Congress and the media should be honest with the American people about what bills do and dont do,' he said. It's named after Emmett Till, who was just 14 when he was brutally killed by two white men who were acquitted by an all-white jury 'As much as I favor harsher penalties for violent offenders, this is a matter for the states and I will not vote for legislative deception. I will also not support enhancing the power of a federal government that so often abuses it.' Georgia Rep. Clyde told DailyMail.com the bill 'falsely suggests' lynchings are not already punished. 'Lynching is an evil act of violence that is already against the law at the federal level; it is first-degree murder. Furthermore, my home state of Georgia recently signed hate crime legislation into law this past year,' he said. 'H.R. 55 would create no new federal offense and the current hate crime criminal code already establishes penalties for willful bodily injury to another person. Simply put, we do not need another duplicative federal law. Carving out a separate distinction for lynching may be symbolic, but it falsely suggests that individuals who commit, or attempt to commit, a lynching do not already face criminal charges and consequences. No matter the method or tool used in a horrendous act of violence, all victims of crime deserve equal justice.' The Emmett Till bill was introduced in early January by longtime Illinois Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush. Rush, who is retiring at the end of this year, is a civil rights activist, pastor and Army veteran who helped found his state's chapter of the Black Panthers. He did it alongside his late friend and Illinois Black Panthers Chair Fred Hampton, who was killed by federal law enforcement in a pre-dawn raid while he slept in his bed. The legislation overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives on Monday night 'By passing my Emmett Till Antilynching Act, the House has sent a resounding message that our nation is finally reckoning with one of the darkest and most horrific periods of our history, and that we are morally and legally committed to changing course,' Rush said in a statement after the bill's passage. 'I was eight years old when my mother put the photograph of Emmett Tills brutalized body that ran in Jet magazine on our living room coffee table, pointed to it, and said, "this is why I brought my boys out of Albany, Georgia." That photograph shaped my consciousness as a Black man in America, changed the course of my life, and changed our nation.' Emmett Till was just 14 when he was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of flirting with a white woman. An all white jury acquitted two men who later confessed to killing the teenager in a magazine interview. They beat and mutilated Till before shooting him in the head and dumping his body in the Tallahatchie River. After the bill passed on Monday evening, Rush called out the three Republicans who voted against it. Rep. Bobby Rush, the Illinois Democrat who introduced the bill, took aim at the three nay votes on Monday evening 'Who were the 3 votes against the #AntilynchingAct tonight?' Rush wrote on Twitter. 'Andrew Clyde, GA: Called the 1/6 insurrection a normal tourist visit' 'Thomas Massie, KY: Wrote a bill to allow guns in school zones Chip Roy, TX: Called lynching an example of justice' He finished: 'All Republicans. Surprised?' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi celebrated the legislation's passage while mourning Till's 'brutal murder' decades ago. 'Sadly, hateful attacks are not yet a relic of the past: from the scourge of police violence to assaults on houses of worship. That is why the Democratic Congress is hard at work empowering our legal system with more tools to bring perpetrators to justice,' Pelosi said in a statement. 'Any act of bigoted violence is an attack on the most basic promise of American Democracy: "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." House Democrats will not rest until we guarantee these inalienable rights for every American. We now call on the Senate to take immediate action and send this bill to the Presidents desk.' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tore into House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for what she called a 'toothless' statement of condemnation after Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar appeared at white nationalist events. 'McCarthy has been protecting his little KKK Caucus for years with these toothless statements and meetings. It's how he covers for them,' the New York Democrat tweeted Monday night. 'He's now helped them for so long they've escalated their open antisemitism & collaboration w/ white nationalist groups. He's just as culpable,' she added. Greene was in Orlando, Florida over the weekend to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, but was also a surprise guest at the America First Political Action Conference, which was organized by white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tore into House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for what she called a 'toothless' statement of condemnation after Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar appeared at white nationalist events 'McCarthy has been protecting his little KKK Caucus for years with these toothless statements and meetings. It's how he covers for them,' the New York Democrat tweeted Monday night, adding that the GOP leader is 'culpable' House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Monday that he would talk to Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar for appearing at white nationalist events, telling CNN Greene's appearance over the weekend was 'appalling and wrong' Gosar appeared in-person at AFPAC last year and recorded a message for the event this year. On Monday night McCarthy told CNN it was 'appalling and wrong' that Greene spoke at AFPAC. 'There's no place in our party for any of this,' the California Republican said. 'This is unacceptable.' McCarthy said he would be meeting with Greene and Gosar. Greene defended her appearance by saying she didn't know Fuentes - who is also an anti-Semite and Holocaust denier. He attended the 'Unite the Right' white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017, which turned deadly. 'I do not know Nick Fuentes. I have never heard him speak, I have never seen a video. I do not know what his views are so I am not aligned with anything that is controversial,' Greene told CBS' Robert Costa at CPAC Sunday. 'I went to his event last night to address his very large following because it's a very young following and it's a generation I'm extremely concerned about.' At AFPAC the crowd cheered Russian President Vladimir Putin, who's engaging in a deadly attack on Ukraine, and Fuentes complimented the comparisons between Putin and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. 'Now they're going on about Russia and Vladimir Putin. They say that's not a good thing,' Fuentes said before Greene came onstage. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was in Orlando, Florida this weekend to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference (pictured), but was a surprise guest at the white nationalist confab, the America First Political Action Conference, as well AOC also said McCarthy 'doesn't want to alienate his base' when he refused to condemn Greene's appearance at the conference for a second day in a row. 'You know what, I commented on that yesterday,' he told a reporter Tuesday McCarthy pointed out those comments as he condemned Greene's appearance to Punchbowl News. 'She has personally gone to answer this. But I think with that introduction, you should've walked off stage,' McCarthy said. Instead Greene entered the venue beaming, telling the crowd, 'Well, hello canceled Americans!' McCarthy was done talking about Greene's appearance by Tuesday. 'You know what, I commented on that yesterday. I understand your job, I understand what you're trying to do, I've already commented on that. We've got a war in Europe that we've not had since World War II,' McCarthy said at a press conference. 'You can take my statement that I've said yesterday and play it one more time. Ocasio-Cortez criticized that too. 'Doesnt want to alienate his base,' the New York Democrat tweeted. In November, Gosar was censured and removed from committees by the House for sharing an anime video on Twitter that showed him killing Ocasio-Cortez. In February 2021, Greene was stripped of her committee assignments as well, for her support on social media of right-wing conspiracy theories and violence against Democrats. Three suspected members of the Wolverine Watchmen extremist group charged in a plot to kidnap Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer before the 2020 election were not entrapped by the FBI, a judge ruled on Tuesday. Joseph Morrison, 27; his 44-year-old father-in-law Pete Musico, and Paul Bellar, 23, will face a tentatively-scheduled pretrial examination in August and trial in September, Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson said during a video conference. They are accused of providing materials to support terrorist acts, attempting to commit a felony as an associate or member of gang, and gun charges. They are also accused of aiding six others who are charged in federal court with conspiring to kidnap Whitmer, including two men who pleaded guilty and four who are scheduled to stand trial on March 8 in Grand Rapids. Five more are also charged in state courts. A federal judge has ruled that Joseph Morrison (left), Pete Musico (center) and Paul Bellar (right) were not entrapped by the FBI into taking part in a thwarted plot to kidnap Michigan Gov Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 Whitmer became the target of anti-government extremists who were angry over coronavirus policies and restrictions imposed by the governor at the height of the pandemic 'This ruling makes clear these defendants were not pressured by law enforcement into committing these crimes,' Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. 'These were very serious threats to our elected officials and the public, and the perpetrators of these crimes must be held accountable.' Investigators have described Morrison, Bellar and Musico as anti-government extremists who were angry over coronavirus policies and restrictions imposed by the governor during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a court affidavit, Musico and Morrison are founding members of the Wolverine Watchmen, which authorities described as 'an anti-government, anti-law enforcement militia group.' An FBI informant identified Monday in court only as 'Dan' testified about his communications and conversations with the defendants. Defense attorneys said some of their clients' activities were initiated by the informant who was controlled by the FBI. Wilson said he found no basis for entrapment. Paul Bellar is seen with a stars and stripes face mask inside the Michigan state capitol in Lansing on April 30. Bellar is one of three founders of the Wolverine Watchmen, which has been described as an anti-government militia Joe Morrison (far right), Paul Bellar (second right) and Pete Musico (red checked shirt) are pictured during an April 30, 2020, protest against Whitmer's policies 'I just cannot, in reviewing this matter, (see) that the government ... somehow pressured any one of these individuals to participate in anything, or to get in line with this way of thinking,' Wilson said, referring to ideology espoused by the Wolverine Watchmen. 'That was the very reason that we got the confidential informant in the very beginning was as soon as he had joined the group and learned that they were talking about harming police officers and potentially politicians that he contacted the FBI because of his concern out of what potentially could happen.' Kaleb Franks, 27, pictured with an assault weapon outfitted with a silencer, in February pleaded guilty to kidnapping conspiracy in the plot against Whitmer 'Dan' initially turned down the FBI's request to help, Wilson said. 'They asked him if he would reconsider,' Wilson said. 'He did.' Last month, Kaleb Franks, 27, one of the six suspects accused of conspiring to kidnap Whitmer, became the second person to plead guilty and agreed to testify against his co-conspirators. Others include Adam Fox of Potterville, 40 - the alleged ringleader; truck driver Barry Croft of Bear, Delaware, 44; Daniel Harris of Lake Orion, 24; Brandon Caserta of Canton, 33; and Ty Gerard Garbin of Hartland Township, 25. Garbin was the first of the men to plead guilty to the plot in January of 2021, and has since been the 'star witness' in the trial. Men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (from top left Kaleb Franks, Brandon Caserta, Adam Fox, bottom left Daniel Harris and Barry Croft) have asked that the case be dismissed due to alleged entrapment by the FBI. Ty Garbin pleaded guilt to the plot, as did Kaleb Franks Franks in his plea deal denied that those he knew in the case were directed to act by informants. 'The defendant was not entrapped or induced to commit any crimes by these individuals,' Franks wrote in a signed, 19-page agreement. 'The defendant also knows Fox, Croft, Harris and Caserta were not entrapped, based on personal observation and discussions. 'For instance, Fox proposed assaulting the Capitol the first time the defendant met him, which was also the first time Fox met CHS Dan.' Yet attorneys for the three men have claimed that they were strongly influenced by 'Dan', and have tried to get the case thrown out. 'They were actively training and doing everything,' said Nicholas Somberg, an attorney representing Morrison. 'I think they took advantage of these guys who weren't educated, didn't have the money, were upset with the government and concocted this plot and pushed this whole thing forward and then blamed these three defendants here for providing material support to a plot that didn't exist at the time.' 'Dan' testified that he was trying to de-escalate the group and provide accessibility to the FBI. Men were seen carrying out supposed tactical training exercise after exiting a PT Cruiser In October, the US Attorney's Office released video and text messages which prosecutors say is evidence in their case against the six men who face federal conspiracy to kidnap charges against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Yet Bellar's attorney, Andrew Kirkpatrick, said his client was adamant that 'Dan' was leading them astray. 'If Mr Bellar had not left the state of Michigan on July 27 to go live with his father and go back to school, and he continued on with these individuals, he'd be in federal court sitting right next to them. 'But he's not, because he left and he started realizing the craziness of it. 'I think the record is clear and the I think the recordings are clear,' he said. The role of 'Dan' has been controversial from the moment the group was arrested. He joined the group in March 2020. An army veteran in his mid-30s who was wounded in the Iraq war, he was working at the post office and looking online for ways to practice his military skills. He came across the Wolverine Watchmen on Facebook, but was alarmed by their plans to target law enforcement and reported them to the local police. He eventually agreed to become an F.B.I. informant, he said in state court, and was paid about $54,000 over the course of the roughly six-month investigation. In September 2020, when the group carried out a 'recce' on Whitmer's summer house near Elk Rapids, he was among them, and according to court documents asked: 'Everybody down with what's going on?' Another man responded: 'If you are not down with the thought of kidnapping, don't sit here.' Of the dozen men on that nighttime surveillance mission, four of them including 'Dan' were either government informants or undercover F.B.I. agents, according to court documents. The 'explosives expert' who could topple the bridge leading to Whitmer's home was actually an undercover F.B.I. agent, as was a man in another vehicle. Dan took over the training exercises, introducing a much higher level of military tactics, defense lawyers said. In an unusual move, prosecutors have said they will not call to the witness stand three F.B.I. agents with high-profile roles in the investigation. Authorities said the text messages included images of the conspirators as they carried out surveillance on properties that Whitmer owned The alleged conspirators shared stories about having been stopped by police and how easy it would be to 'tap' them and get away with it at night One agent was fired last summer after being charged with domestic violence, while another - who supervised 'Dan' - tried to build a private security consulting firm based in part on some of his work for the F.B.I. Michael German, a former undercover F.B.I. agent, told The New York Times in January that he disagreed with the tactics, and accused the agency of manufacturing complicated, theatrical scenarios rather than pursuing the more complex task of unearthing actual extremist plots. German, who is now a fellow at the Liberty & National Security Program of the Brennan Center for Justice, said: 'Rather than focus on those crimes and investigating them, there appears to be more interest in this method of manufacturing plots for the F.B.I. to solve.' He said that the questions over the role of 'Dan' and other informants was a gift to the defense. 'There is certainly a lot of lumber that this case seems to have given defense attorneys to build a story about what happened,' he said. One of the lead investigators looking into the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew has said the arrest of her husband for her murder was 'premature,' according to newly-filed court documents. Suzanne's husband Barry, 53, was arrested last May on suspicion of murder following a year-long search for his wife, Suzanne, 49, who disappeared from their home on Mother's Day 2020. Her body has never been found, but police say she is most likely dead because she has never been heard from since, and her bank accounts have never been used. Barry denies the charges, and has submitted court documents to dismiss the case for 'outrageous governmental conduct,' claiming that former Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Joseph Cahill himself had said that Barry's was 'premature' just four months ago, in December 2021. The defense attorneys write in the court documents, obtained by 9 News, that Cahill 'stated the case was not remotely ready for anybody to move the case forward' when he was being interviewed by Internal Affairs on December 2 for accidentally firing his weapon while he was off-duty and at home. They also claim in the documents, which were unsealed on Tuesday, that Cahill and his partner, Agent Derek Graham, had expressed their concerns about the case to their superiors - but they were ultimately ignored. And, they claim, the prosecutors withheld 'exculpatory evidence' from the court during the preliminary hearing charging Barry for Suzanne's murder. Further details on what that evidence is have yet to be shared, although defense previously accused prosecutors of omitting DNA evidence from disclosure. If that evidence had been available at the time, Barry's defense attorneys, Iris Eytan and Hollis Whitson, 'it is certain that probable cause would not have been found.' Barry Morphew, seen walking into court with his two adult daughters in December, is seeking to get the charges against him overturned, with his lawyers claiming that a former had doubts about his arrest Morphew is accused of murdering his wife, Suzanne, right, who went missing on Mother's Day in 2020. Her body has never been found The court documents state that Cahill had repeatedly brought up concerns about Barry Morphew's arrest one year after Suzanne went missing on May 10, 2020. He reportedly told the Internal Affairs investigator that after putting the case together for a year, he saw an 'erosion of framework' while he was at school and off the case from March through May of 2021, KDVR reports. The report said that on August 24, 2021, during the preliminary hearing testimony, Cahill claimed he only read nine pages of the Morphew arrest affidavit. At the time, Internal Affairs requested revisions to the affidavit, documents showed. However, Internal Affairs claimed that multiple requests were made to Cahill for revisions to the affidavit between August 24, 2021 to January 25, 2022. Then when Cahill and Graham's supervisors, CBI Deputy Director Chris Schaefer and an Agent Kemper spoke with Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze about their concerns, Barry's defense attorneys say, they were ultimately ignored. 'Mr. Cahill stated that Sheriff Spezze did not heed CBI's advice or opinions, and moved forward with Mr. Morphew's arrest,' the court documents released on Tuesday claim. 'Mr. Cahill summed up by saying it "is what it is."' In a rebuttal to the filing, the prosecution characterized the call for the dismissal of the case and trial as 'utter nonsense,' saying Cahill has been 'thoroughly discredited.' Prosecutors contend they have produced tens of thousands of pages of discovery and hours of video recordings, and says the defense has 'stopped trying to confer with the People as their last request for discovery was made directly to the Court.' Morphew was arrested last May - one year after Suzanne went missing Authorities claim Barry killed Suzanne (pictured) with a dart gun filled with animal tranquilizer Prosecutors have said Barry had murdered his wife using animal tranquilizer, after investigators found a dart gun near where she went missing. They claimed that the animal tranquilizer killed Suzanne and that Barry had covered his tracks by disposing of her body - possibly in the remote Garfield Mine - and pointed to his phone being placed in airplane mode repeatedly over the weekend of May 9 and 10 as evidence. According to court documents, CBI superiors expressed their concerns about Barry's arrest with Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze, who 'did not heed CBI's advice or opinions' The prosecution also noted that he had left a Holiday Inn hotel room in Broomfield, Colorado, reeking of chlorine a development first reported by DailyMail.com in September 2020. But Barry's defense attorneys claim that when investigators found the dart rifle, it was inoperable and had not been used in a long time. They have also claimed that investigators intentionally omitted evidence of DNA belonging to an alleged sex offender found in Suzanne Morphew's bike, helmet, car and bedsheets. Barry's defense lawyers have now subpoenaed the director of the CBI, the deputy director of the CBI and the head of the major crimes unit for the CBI to appear in court this Friday for a motion's hearing before his trial begins on April 28. They have previously announced they were filing a civil case against 26 individuals associated with the Chaffee Police Department, 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigations and the FBI for intentionally omitting the evidence. Barry's defense team previously filed a lawsuit against 26 individuals in the investigation and prosecution of the case, alleging they intentionally with held evidence found at the crime scene The lawsuit claims investigators and prosecutors withheld evidence of DNA from an alleged sex offender found in Suzanne's property. Pictured, FBI and CBI officials at the scene in 2020 But Cahill's reputation has been called into question in recent months. He resigned from the CBI in December amid an internal affairs investigation into the accidental discharge of a gun while he was off-duty and in his own home. Cahill sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the hand as a result. John Camper, the director of the CBI, called Cahill's actions dealing with his service weapon 'careless or imprudent' in the aftermath, and an Internal Affairs memo obtained by 9 News states that Morphew lied to investigators looking into what happened. 'I find that he was intentionally misleading in his statements,' the Internal Affairs document from December 14 reads. 'I am actually more troubled by the lengths he went to in order to support the falsehood. Eventually, Internal Affairs found that Cahill was attempting to remove a gun light he had bought from his CBI-issued weapon because he was planning to resign from the service that day. They said he bought a new gun light in an attempt to cover up his lie when he was interviewed by another CBI agent, and before admitting the truth 'Cahill initially lied on four occasions upon being specifically asked when he purchased the new gun light before correction.' A serving Metropolitan Police officer has admitted soliciting a prostitute after being caught in a sting operation carried out by his own force. PC Tristan Downing, 38, was arrested by colleagues during an operation in Edmonton, north London, targeting men exploiting sex workers. The officer, attached to the Central North Basic Command Unit, was subsequently charged last month and pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday. Downing was ordered to pay a 450 fine, 85 court costs and 45 witness tax to be paid within 14 days. The court heard he was off-duty at the time of the arrest, before Downing said he was ashamed by his actions. The officer is currently on restricted duties and a misconduct hearing will now take place following his conviction. Commander Andy Carter, in charge of policing in Camden and Islington, said: 'We expect the highest standards of behaviour from our officers both on, and off, duty and this officers actions fell way below these expectations. PC Tristan Downing, attached to the Central North Basic Command Unit, was arrested by colleagues as part of an undercover sting 'He was caught as the result of a proactive operation targeting those who exploit sex workers. The Met is committed to rooting out all officers who break the law or are involved in dishonest or disreputable behaviour.' In a statement, the Met added: 'We cannot and are not waiting for the findings of ongoing inquiries to begin rebuilding the publics trust and confidence that police officers will protect and respect them. We have already taken a number of significant steps to start real change across the organisation. 'These include two independent reviews, an examination of all current investigations of sexual and domestic abuse allegations against Met employees and an increase in the number of investigators in our professional standards directorate. 'The Met is driven by the values of professionalism, integrity, courage and compassion. We only want the best and will always act when our employees fall below the exemplary standards we and the public expect.' A version of this article first appeared on Common Sense A version of this article first appeared on Common Sense How has Vladimir Putina man ruling a country with an economy smaller than that of Texas, with an average life expectancy 10 years lower than that of Francemanaged to launch an unprovoked full-scale assault on Ukraine? There is a deep psychological, political and almost civilizational answer to that question: He wants Ukraine to be part of Russia more than the West wants it to be free. He is willing to risk tremendous loss of life and treasure to get it. There are serious limits to how much the U.S. and Europe are willing to do militarily. And Putin knows it. Missing from that explanation, though, is a story about material reality and basic economicstwo things that Putin seems to understand far better than his counterparts in the free world and especially in Europe. Putin knows that Europe produces 3.6 million barrels of oil a day but uses 15 million barrels of oil a day. Putin knows that Europe produces 230 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year but uses 560 billion cubic meters. He knows that Europe uses 950 million tons of coal a year but produces half that. The former KGB agent knows Russia produces 11 million barrels of oil per day but only uses 3.4 million. He knows Russia now produces over 700 billion cubic meters of gas a year but only uses around 400 billion. The reason Europe didn't have a muscular deterrent threat to prevent Russian aggressionand in fact prevented the U.S. from getting allies to do moreis that it needs Putin's oil and gas. (Above) A boy plays on a swing in front of a damaged residential block hit by an early morning missile strike on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine In service to green ideology, they made the perfect the enemy of the goodand of Ukraine. (Above) Demonstrators gather during a global climate strike demonstration in Munich, Germany on September 20, 2019 Russia mines 800 million tons of coal each year but uses 300. That's how Russia ends up supplying about 20 percent of Europe's oil, 40 percent of its gas, and 20 percent of its coal. The math is simple. A child could do it. The reason Europe didn't have a muscular deterrent threat to prevent Russian aggressionand in fact prevented the U.S. from getting allies to do moreis that it needs Putin's oil and gas. The question is why. How is it possible that European countries, Germany especially, allowed themselves to become so dependent on an authoritarian country over the 30 years since the end of the Cold War? Here's how: These countries are in the grips of a delusional ideology that makes them incapable of understanding the hard realities of energy production. Green ideology insists we don't need nuclear and that we don't need fracking. It insists that it's just a matter of will and money to switch to all-renewablesand fast. It insists that we need 'degrowth' of the economy, and that we face looming human 'extinction.' (I would know. I myself was once a true believer.) John Kerry, the United States' climate envoy, perfectly captured the myopia of this view when he said, in the days before the war, that the Russian invasion of Ukraine 'could have a profound negative impact on the climate, obviously. You have a war, and obviously you're going to have massive emissions consequences to the war. But equally importantly, you're going to lose people's focus.' But it was the West's focus on healing the planet with 'soft energy' renewables, and moving away from natural gas and nuclear, that allowed Putin to gain a stranglehold over Europe's energy supply. As the West fell into a hypnotic trance about healing its relationship with nature, averting climate apocalypse and worshiping a teenager named Greta, Vladimir Putin made his moves. While he expanded nuclear energy at home so Russia could export its precious oil and gas to Europe, Western governments spent their time and energy obsessing over 'carbon footprints,' a term created by an advertising firm working for British Petroleum. They banned plastic straws because of a 9-year-old Canadian child's science homework. They paid for hours of 'climate anxiety' therapy. Europeansled by figures like Greta Thunberg and European Green Party leaders, and supported by Americans like John Kerry (above with Putin in Moscow in 2015) believed that a healthy relationship with the Earth requires making energy scarce. While Putin expanded Russia's oil production, expanded natural gas production, and then doubled nuclear energy production to allow more exports of its precious gas, Europe, led by Germany, shut down its nuclear power plants, closed gas fields, and refused to develop more through advanced methods like fracking. The numbers tell the story best. In 2016, 30 percent of the natural gas consumed by the European Union came from Russia. In 2018, that figure jumped to 40 percent. By 2020, it was nearly 44 percent, and by early 2021, it was nearly 47 percent. For all his fawning over Putin, Donald Trump, back in 2018, defied diplomatic protocol to call out Germany publicly for its dependence on Moscow. 'Germany, as far as I'm concerned, is captive to Russia because it's getting so much of its energy from Russia,' Trump said. This prompted Germany's then-chancellor, Angela Merkel, who had been widely praised in polite circles for being the last serious leader in the West, to say that her country 'can make our own policies and make our own decisions.' The result has been the worst global energy crisis since 1973, driving prices for electricity and gasoline higher around the world. It is a crisis, fundamentally, of inadequate supply. But the scarcity is entirely manufactured. Europeansled by figures like Greta Thunberg and European Green Party leaders, and supported by Americans like John Kerrybelieved that a healthy relationship with the Earth requires making energy scarce. By turning to renewables, they would show the world how to live without harming the planet. But this was a pipe dream. You can't power a whole grid with solar and wind, because the sun and the wind are inconstant, and currently existing batteries aren't even cheap enough to store large quantities of electricity overnight, much less across whole seasons. In service to green ideology, they made the perfect the enemy of the goodand of Ukraine. Take Germany. Green campaigns have succeeded in destroying German energy independencethey call it Energiewende, or 'energy turnaround'by successfully selling policymakers on a peculiar version of environmentalism. Green campaigns have succeeded in destroying German energy independencethey call it Energiewende, or 'energy turnaround'by successfully selling policymakers on a peculiar version of environmentalism. (Above) Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel with Putin in Moscow in January 2020 It calls climate change a near-term apocalyptic threat to human survival while turning up its nose at the technologies that can help address climate change most and soonest: nuclear and natural gas. At the turn of the millennium, Germany's electricity was around 30 percent nuclear-powered. But Germany has been sacking its reliable, inexpensive nuclear plants. (Thunberg called nuclear power 'extremely dangerous, expensive, and time-consuming' despite the UN's International Panel on Climate Change deeming it necessary and every major scientific review deeming nuclear the safest way to make reliable power.) By 2020, Germany had reduced its nuclear share from 30 percent to 11 percent. Then, on the last day of 2021, Germany shut down half of its remaining six nuclear reactors. The other three are slated for shutdown at the end of this year. (Compare this to next door France, which fulfills 70 percent of its electricity needs with carbon-free nuclear plants.) Germany has also spent lavishly on weather-dependent renewablesto the tune of $36 billion a yearmainly solar panels and industrial wind turbines. But those have their problems. Solar panels have to go somewhere, and a solar plant in Europe needs 400 to 800 times more land than natural gas or nuclear plants to make the same amount of power. Farmland has to be cut apart to host solar. And solar energy is getting cheaper these days mainly because Europe's supply of solar panels is produced by slave labor in concentration camps as part of China's genocide against Uighur Muslims. The upshot here is that you can't spend enough on climate initiatives to fix things if you ignore nuclear and gas. Between 2015 and 2025, Germany's efforts to green its energy production will have cost $580 billion. Yet despite this enormous investment, German electricity still costs 50 percent more than nuclear-friendly France's, and generating it produces eight times more carbon emissions per unit. Plus, Germany is getting over a third of its energy from Russia. Germany has trapped itself. It could burn more coal and undermine its commitment to reducing carbon emissions. Or it could use more natural gas, which generates half the carbon emissions of coal, but at the cost of dependence on imported Russian gas. Berlin was faced with a choice between unleashing the wrath of Putin on neighboring countries or inviting the wrath of Greta Thunberg. They chose Putin. Because of these policy choices, Vladimir Putin could turn off the gas flows to Germany, and quickly threaten Germans' ability to cook or stay warm. He or his successor will hold this power for every foreseeable winter barring big changes. It's as if you knew that hackers had stolen your banking details, but you won't change your password. Berlin was faced with a choice between unleashing the wrath of Putin on neighboring countries or inviting the wrath of Greta Thunberg (above in Milan, Italy in 2021) This is why Germany successfully begged the incoming Biden administration not to oppose a contentious new gas pipeline from Russia called Nord Stream 2. This cut against the priorities of green-minded governance: On day one of Biden's presidency, one of the new administration's first acts was to shut down the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the U.S. in service to climate ideology. But Russia's pipeline was too important to get the same treatment given how dependent Germany is on Russian imports. (Once Russia invaded, Germany was finally dragged into nixing Nord Stream 2, for now.) Naturally, when American sanctions on Russia's biggest banks were finally announced in concert with European allies last week, they specifically exempted energy products so Russia and Europe can keep doing that dirty business. A few voices called for what would really hit Russia where it hurts: cutting off energy imports. But what actually happened was that European energy utilities jumped to buy more contracts for the Russian oil and gas that flows through Ukraine. That's because they have no other good options right now, after green activism's attacks on nuclear and importing fracked gas from America. There's no current plan for powering Europe that doesn't involve buying from Putin. We should take Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a wake-up call. Standing up for Western civilization this time requires cheap, abundant, and reliable energy supplies produced at home or in allied nations. National security, economic growth, and sustainability requires greater reliance on nuclear and natural gas, and less on solar panels and wind turbines, which make electricity too expensive. The first and most obvious thing that should be done is for President Biden to call on German Chancellor Scholz to restart the three nuclear reactors that Germany closed in December. A key step in the right direction came on Sunday when Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, the economy and climate minister, announced that Germany would at least consider stopping its phaseout of nuclear. If Germany turns these three on and cancels plans to turn off the three others, those six should produce enough electricity to replace 11 billion cubic meters of natural gas per yearan eighth of Germany's current needs. Second, we need concerted action led by Biden, Congress, and their Canadian counterparts to significantly expand oil and natural gas output from North America to ensure the energy security of our allies in Europe and Asia. North America is more energy-rich than anyone dreamed. Yes, it will be more expensive than Russian gas sent by pipeline. But it would mean Europe could address Putin's war on Ukraine, rather than financing it. Exporting gas by ship requires special terminals at ports to liquify (by cooling) natural gas; environmentalists oppose these terminals because of their ideological objection to any combustible fuel. So it's a good sign that Chancellor Sholz announced plans on Sunday to build two of these terminals to receive North American gas, along with announcing major new military spending to counter Russia. Third, the U.S. must stop shutting down nuclear plants and start building them. Every country should invest in next-generation nuclear fuel technology while recognizing that the current generation of light-water reactors are our best tool for creating energy at home, with no emissions, right now. What you've heard about waste is mostly pseudoscience. Storing used fuel rods is a trivial problem, already solved around the world by keeping them in steel and concrete cans. The more nuclear power we generate, the less oil and gas we have to burn. And the less the West will have to buy from Russia. Putin's relentless focus on energy reality has left him in a stronger position than he should ever have been allowed to find himself. It's not too late for the rest of the West to save the world from tyrannical regimes that have been empowered by our own energy superstitions. Michael Shellenberger is the best-selling author of San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities (HarperCollins 2021), and Apocalypse Never (HarperCollins 2020) Kevin Nickolai / Courtesy of Kevin Nickolai By Jon Dunbar For Kevin Nickolai, puzzles are one of the basic needs of life. "Solving puzzles is my oxygen," he told The Korea Times. "I have happy little fireworks shoot off in my brain when I complete them. I'm a gamer through and through. And I'm always on the hunt for new fun games to play. I think we all are." But he doesn't stop there: he also likes making puzzles of various kinds. "I have a lot more fun making puzzles because I'm just solving it in reverse with my own creative twists," he said. "After a particularly satisfying puzzle design I don't hear the fireworks shoot off, but I do hear a voice say, 'You rascally devil!' I love that voice." He started out at age 9 back in Saint Louis, Missouri, by making mazes, eventually contributing his mazes to his high school newspaper. "But puzzling really kicked up one day when I was staring at the Periodic Table and I was trying to make an anagram out of different elements," he said. "I started barraging my coworkers with these word puzzles and offered prizes to anyone who could solve them." Eventually, he published a book containing 74 of his puzzles through his university press, titled "Chaos and Love: 74 of Kevin's Puzzlers." Then he came up with a new style of puzzle, as seen attached to this article. "While making crossword puzzles for my coworkers I tried to challenge myself and make perfect word squares," he said. "These are crossword puzzles with no black squares in them. A famous example is the Sator Square which is also palindromic. The problem is that construction of a perfect square gets unwieldy the bigger you get. My solution was to literally cut the corners out of the equation. So instead of a Sator Square, I have more of a Sator Cross. Instead of clues, I wanted to guide the solver with symbols and have some sort of payoff at the end with a coded message." One of Kevin Nickolai's word puzzles / Courtesy of Kevin Nickolai Terrifying home security video shows a woman letting out blood-curdling screams while running from an SUV that appears to pursue her across a public park, as cops try to work out if she was abducted. The Pasadena Police Department shared the chilling recording on Monday on social media, appealing to the public for help in identifying the woman and the driver of the vehicle chasing her. According to the time stamp seen in the recording, the incident took place just before 10am on Friday. Police identified the location as Satsuma Park in Pasadena, Texas, which is a suburb of Houston. Police in Pasadena, Texas, are trying to track down this woman who was last seen on home security video screaming in terror while running away from an SUV in a public park A gray SUV that appears to be a Ford Escape is seen in the viral video chasing the fleeing woman in Satsuma Park before 10am on Friday In the video, which as of Tuesday has been viewed more than 20,000 times on Twitter alone, a young woman, who is believed to be in her late teens or 20s, screams in terror while running away from what appears to be a gray Ford Escape. As the vehicle drives around the park, the woman glances behind her shoulder several times. The clip ends with the SUV racing across the lawn towards the woman, who lets out a loud shriek off camera. 'I can't get the sound of her screams out of my head,' the owner of the security camera that captured the chase told kHOU11. 'It was so horrible. To see her running and screaming ... you can tell shes terrified trying to get away.' The camera owner, who did not wish to be identified, said she called the police after watching the video on Friday morning. Pasadena Police Sgt Raul Granados said officers responded to the scene for a report of a disturbance on Friday, but did not learn of the security video until Monday. The woman runs through the lawn, screaming, with the SUV behind her. The owner of the camera that caught the incident handed over the footage to the police on Monday The video ends with the SUV speeding across the lawn towards the woman, who lets out a blood-curdling scream off camera Police want the public's help in identifying the woman and the driver of this SUV Three days after the incident, police say they still do not know what happened to the woman in the video, and they are now working to locate her and the driver of the Ford SUV. 'We want to make sure that shes OK first and foremost,' Granados said. 'We heard the scream at the end. We dont know if he hit her with a vehicle. We dont know if she screamed because he stopped and put her in the vehicle.' Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 713-475-4822 or Pasadena police's main number at 713-477-1221. A California surf instructor accused of killing his two kids with a spearfishing gun at a Mexico resort told FBI agents after his August arrest he believed he was Neo from The Matrix, a recently filed search warrant reveals. In an interview with federal agents last summer, Matthew Taylor Coleman, 40, who had become obsessed with the alt-right conspiracy group QAnon prior to killing kids Kaleo, 2, and Roxy, ten months, 'discussed time travel, teleportation, [his kids] telling him about babies being placed in fireworks, food, and walls,' the filing states. According to the warrant filed in US District Court for the District of California February 17, Coleman ranted to agents after confessing to the double murder, saying he was 'either crazy or the only person left on Earth that is a true man.' Explaining why he killed his two kids, Coleman 'mentioned during the interview that "Q" was actually talking to him' ahead of the murders, the filing states, referring to the eponymous, anonymous online persona that set off the conspiracy movement in 2017. California surf instructor Matthew Coleman, who confessed to killing his two kids with a spearfishing gun at a Mexico resort because they had 'serpent DNA,' told FBI agents after his August arrest he believed he was Neo from The Matrix, a recently filed search warrant reveals In an interview with federal agents, Coleman, 40, who had become obsessed with the alt-right conspiracy group QAnon prior to killing kids Kaleo, 2, and Roxy, ten months, 'discussed time travel, teleportation, [his kids] telling him about babies being placed in fireworks, food, and walls,' the filing states. His wife Abby reported them missing days before the double murder The report then revealed the morning of the murder, 'while he was in Mexico - before killing his children - Coleman laid in bed seeing all the pieces being decoded like "The Matrix"' The group claims, among other things, that a cabal of cannibalistic Democrats is currently leading a global child sex abuse ring, and offers conspiracies on subjects ranging from vaccines and government, child pornography, and the presidency, which family members say snarled Coleman in the buildup to his crimes. The recent filing sheds new light on Coleman's downward spiral before the double murder, revealing never-before-seen texts from the the owner of Santa Barbara's Lovewater Surf Co. the morning of the murder to his wife, Abby Coleman, who had reported him and their two kids missing two days earlier, on August 7. After not returning his wife's texts as to their whereabouts for more than 48 hours, Coleman, while laying in bed with his two kids at City Express Hotel, a Christian resort in Rosarito, Mexico, just after 3 am, sent her a stream of bizarre text offering a glimpse into his shattered mindset, the document reveals 'Hi babe, miss you too,' read one of the texts, sent in the early hours of August 9 - the day of the murder, according to the filing. 'Things have been rough but starting to get some clarity as well. Still confused on a lot of things though and processing through them. 'So many crazy thoughts going through my head right now, hard to explain,' he went on, adding that he was 'getting some clarity through my grandmas [sic] old bibles.' Coleman admitted to FBI that he murdered his son Kaleo (left), two, and daughter Roxy (right), 10 months, in August. Coleman, who had told investigators he killed the tots because they had 'serpent DNA,' continued: 'Anyways, was actually still thinking of burning them in case theres [sic] a chip in them or something. 'Going to keep processing through everything and hope to get some answers.' He then offered his wife of four years an eerie sign-off that seemingly forecasted the horrid acts he would commit late in the day, in the last message he would ever send her. 'Hope all this craziness ends soon. Love you,' Coleman wrote, according to the warrant, before murdering his children just hours later. The document further revealed that after being apprehended by officers upon his return to the US two days later, Coleman told agents that he had started noticing 'strange coincidences' five or six days before committing the murders. According to the warrant, Coleman discussed with investigators 'QAnon and Illuminati conspiracy theories as well as Strong's numbers (an index of every word in the Bible),' before telling them he had experienced 'visions and signs revealed that his wife possessed serpent DNA.' Coleman lived in Santa Barbara, California with his wife and two kids. He left on August 7 and checked into the City Express Hotel in Rosarito, Mexico. Two days later he was arrested after trying to get back in the US at the San Ysidro Point of Entry for the murder of his two children He also told investigators that he suspected his spouse was a shapeshifter, 'and had passed it onto his children and that all things were pointing to the idea that his children have corrupted DNA that will spread if something is not done about it.' The agent who penned the report, Joseph Hamer, noted that 'Coleman explained that he was either crazy or the only person that is left on Earth that is a true man' during the interrogation. The report then revealed 'that while he was in Mexico - before killing his children - Coleman laid in bed seeing all the pieces being decoded like "The Matrix."' He told investigators that his true name 'was Neo. M. Coleman' and discussed time travel, teleportation,' and attested that his kids had warned him 'about babies being placed in fireworks, food, and walls.' Coleman went on to claim that Q - the name of the anonymous account whose 2017 post to image-sharing site 4Chan sparked the QAnon movement- was communicating with him directly, telling agents that he 'eventuallysaw the big picture that he had to kill his children to prevent them from becoming an alien species that would release carnage over the Earth.' Coleman 'said he knew what he did was wrong, but it was the only course of action that would save the world,' according to the filing. Border agents arrested Coleman (right) after he tried to cross from Tijuana into the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Pictured: Coleman with his wife, Abby (left), and their son Kaleo During the interview, Coleman demonstrated a series of hand signals he said proved someone was part of the conspiracy and showed their allegiance, according to the warrant. He said he had scrolled through Instagram and took screenshots of various people making the hand signs, and although he said he no longer used Facebook, he had done a search of a friend's account and saw a picture of him making one of the gestures over his eye. Coleman told agents that he 'knew that the 'whole thing was a setup' and 'they' were using people' to get him. When agents spoke to Abby Coleman, she explained that the two of them had been 'researching QAnon' and that Coleman had become 'significantly more paranoid that people around him were involved in a conspiracy.' She said Coleman 'started doing a lot of research on leaders running 'the church' and found that they may have been part of the conspiracy,' and that he had connected 'the people running "the church" to people in their community and to some of their best friends.' Coleman told officers that Abby, along with the couple's shared friends, were 'all in on this thing together,' the warrant goes on. Two days later, Coleman was taken into custody by federal agents at the San Ysidro, California Port of Entry. as he re-entered the country from Mexico. The day prior, investigators uncovered the remains of his 2-year-old son and 10-month-old daughter, Kaleo and Roxy, found at a ranch in Baja California. In a subsequent interview with the FBI, Coleman confessed to stabbing Kaleo and Roxy to death with the speargun, saying he disposed of their bloody clothes in a trash bin near Tijuana, according to the warrant. A friend of Coleman's, identified in the warrant as 'A.M.,' also spoke to the FBI, and confirmed that Coleman had started seeing 'signs' urging him to do things at almost every turn. There were suspicious Instagram postings by 'musicians, teachers, and friends,' A.M. said Coleman told him, and the people making hand signals in the photos Coleman spotted were 'evil disguised as good.' Coleman, who is currently detained in federal prison without bail, appeared in court on September 9 for the double homicide. He is set to appear again May 19 During the interview, Coleman showed the interviewing agents several hand signals or signs he said 'were an indication that someone was a part of the conspiracy and showing their allegiance.' He told officers 'that he scrolled through Instagram and took screenshots of individuals making these hand signals or signs,' according to the filing. According to the document, 'Coleman showed A.M. a picture from Instagram in which A.M.'s friends were making peace signs, insisting that A.M. was a "loyalist," and "could not see that he was being controlled." The anonymous friend also told agents of 'a call he'd received from Abby a few hours after Coleman took off for Mexico, asking him to come over to their house. 'When he arrived,' the warrant reveals, Abby showed Coleman's friend 'a picture of him with his friends when he was about 13, "making hand gestures."' 'Based, at least in part, on these hand gestures,' the warrant continues, 'A.M. said that [Abby] accused him of "being in on it," spurring her to chase him out of the Coleman family home. The search warrant requests permission from a judge for federal agents to peruse Coleman's private Facebook activity, in hopes of learning additional information on the case. Coleman, who is currently detained in federal prison without bail, is set to appear in court May 19. A number of Sydney primary schools have implemented a sugar ban for students - with parents warned treats in lunch boxes will be confiscated. There are concerns young pupils eating excessive amounts of chocolate, lollies, soft drink, and other unhealthy snacks can trigger rapid mood swings and also result in schoolyard disagreements. But some nutritionists aren't on the same page, stating a ban on sugar-laden food could have a detrimental effect as students will end up craving the snacks even more. Sydney Montessori School in Gymea, in Sydney's south, have imposed a complete ban on any kind of sugar induced snacks. 'We ask that parents not send lollies, chocolate, sugary snacks, fizzy drinks or anything of this nature to school as they may cause allergic or behavioural reactions, disagreements between the children, or raised sugar levels resulting in mood swings,' their school handbook states. A number of Sydney primary schools have implemented a sugar ban for students - with parents warned treats will be confiscated (pictured, a heathy children's lunch box) At some schools - such as the Sydney Montessori School in Gymea, in Sydney's south, sugar of any kind is banned, meaning cans of coke (pictured) are not an option There are concerns young pupils eating excessive amounts of chocolate, lollies, soft drink and other unhealthy snacks can trigger rapid mood swings and also result in schoolyard disagreements (pictured, a healthy lunch box with tortilla wraps, fruits and vegetables) 'If teachers see children with such items, they may be confiscated.' In Sydney's west, the Al Noori Muslim School in Greenacre has been sending compliance letters to parents of students 'caught' with unhealthy lunch box options. At Goulburn South Public in regional NSW, parents have even been requested to avoid sending in cakes on birthdays. Nutritionist Kristen Beck said the extreme food measures don't always result in children eating healthier. 'If you continually demonise sugary foods, kids just want it more so when they do get access (to them) they get overly excited,' she told the Daily Telegraph. 'I can understand why teachers find sugar problematic, but it needs to be judged in the whole context, especially if the kid is a healthy weight and runs around and does lots of exercise.' Childhood obesity numbers increased during the pandemic, with almost 25 per cent of children in Australia currently said to be overweight. Health experts said the solution is simple - less junk food, more water. Deakin's Global Obesity Centre director Steven Allender said the right habits for children start at home. 'Obesity remains a global problem,' he said. 'Leading by example in front of your own children can result in long-lasting changes in lifestyle habits.' 'This Keystone pipeline -- it would take years for that to have an impact on prices,' Psaki said, adding that there's also a 'range of reasons' Biden's against it White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'barbaric tactics' on Tuesday and insisted that energy sanctions are still 'on the table' if Moscow continues its brutal invasion of Ukraine. Hours before President Joe Biden's State of the Union address at the US Capitol, Psaki defended his response to Putin's attack in an interview on Fox News. She would not say the US was prepared to go as far as calling Putin a war criminal but said the administration was 'looking closely' at reports of devastating Russian attacks killing civilians in Ukraine. Meanwhile Republican calls mount for the president to take action to increase domestic oil and gas production as a way to counter Russian influence on the global economy. Late last week Russia's autocratic leader ordered an attack on neighboring Ukraine and disparaged its democratically-elected government as 'Nazis' committing 'genocide.' Since then Kyiv has put up an impressive resistance as the Kremlin's land, air and sea assault inches closer to the nation's capital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia's Monday attack on the city of Kharkiv a 'war crime' and 'state terrorism of the Russian Federation' in a video message recorded Tuesday. Zelensky said Ukraine's second-largest city had 'dozens of victims' after an attack on its Freedom Square. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki defended President Joe Biden's measures against Russia's invasion of Ukraine hours before the State of the Union The civilian attack, which reportedly killed three children, occurred against the backdrop of attempted peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. More recently, Ukrainian officials claim an attack on Kyiv on Tuesday afternoon Eastern time hit a Holocaust memorial. Asked whether the Biden administration shared the view Putin is a war criminal, Psaki said officials have seen a range of reports 'that are horrifying about the use of barbaric tactics whether cluster bombs or other tactics that we've seen that could be classified as a war crime.' 'I don't have any new classification for you from here but we are certainly engaged closely with our partners around the world, the president is and national security team is and we'll be closely watching and assessing that question,' she said. International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan announced the Hague would open an investigation into possible war crimes committed in Ukraine on Monday. Psaki on Tuesday didn't say whether Biden would get the State Department to open its own war crimes probe. 'Again, this is something we would need confirmation of, we would need to assess. Classification of a war crime is obviously a serious -- a serious decision to be made. It goes through lawyers as you noted,' Psaki explained. An armed man stands by the remains of a Russian military vehicle in Bucha, close to the capital Kyiv, Ukraine A blast is seen in the TV tower, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 1. Ukrainian officials have said a Russian strike hit a Kyiv Holocaust memorial 'And we would also be working closely with the international community. So I don't have an update on that at this point in time, but there's no question ... that we're seeing barbaric tactics start to be used. That is horrifying, that is troubling and we will certainly be looking closely at it.' The international community, including the United States, has buried Russia under a mountain of condemnation since the invasion began. A mass walkout of more than 100 diplomats from 40 nations occurred Tuesday during a United Nations speech by Kremlin Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The West has also responded to Putin with a slew of historic economic sanctions, many never levied on an economy the size of Russia's. They include financial blockades on the country's largest banks, central financial institutions, a removal from the SWIFT global banking system and individual sanctions targeting Kremlin officials including Putin himself. However the sanctions against Russian institutions and individuals have largely avoided targeting its oil and gas industry specifically. Russia is the second-largest exporter of oil after Saudi Arabia, and is the largest producer of natural gas in the world. The European Union currently relies on Russia for 40 percent of its natural gas. About 60 percent of Russia's oil exports go to Europe. 'I would say the president shares the concern about the impact on gas prices and energy prices for the American people. That's why a range of options remain on the table,' Psaki said Tuesday. Hours later the US and its 30 fellow International Energy Agency members agreed to release 60 million barrels from their oil reserves to mitigate sky-high prices around the globe. Kansas Senator Roger Marshall urged Biden to go a step further, introducing legislation on Tuesday that would ban the US from purchasing Russian oil. 'First and foremost, President Biden needs to restart Americas energy production and quit financing Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine by continuing to purchase crude oil from Russia,' Marshall said in a statement. 'Under the previous Administration, our nation was energy independent but President Biden reversed course and turned hostile nations like Russia into Americas gas station.' Florida Senator Rick Scott, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called on Biden to 'immediately roll-back its failed Green New Deal policies, take action to boost U.S. energy production and independence, and stop the purchase of, oil and other energy resources from Russia.' Civilians train to throw Molotov cocktails to defend the city, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Zhytomyr, Ukraine Republican lawmakers are urging Biden to do more to increase the US's fossil fuel output as a way to counter Russia's economic influence Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas demanded that Biden reopen the stalled Keystone XL pipeline, which the president shut down last year over environmental concerns. 'How about we impose those sanctions, but we lift all those restrictions on the production of American oil and gas, so we can start drilling on federal lands again and putting out new leases,' Cotton said last week. 'So we can re-open the Keystone Pipeline, which would bring more oil into America every day from Canada than we import every day from Russia.' But the Biden administration has little faith such policies would help, Psaki told Fox on Tuesday. 'This Keystone pipeline -- it would take years for that to have an impact on prices. Obviously there are a range of reasons why the president opposes it but it wasn't functioning, isn't functioning. It would take years,' the press secretary said. 'So yes, we all want to take steps to address any raise in gas prices that impacts the American people, but we should be very clear about what policies will help and what policies will not help. And over time we absolutely need to reduce our dependence and something you are seeing European countries take steps to do as well.' Vice President Kamala Harris laid out the Ukrainian invasion in simple terms on Tuesday, starting with: 'Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia.' Appearing on The Morning Hustle, the vice president was asked to 'break it down in layman's terms for people who don't understand what's going on and how can this directly affect the people of the United States.' Harris broke it down: 'Russia is a bigger country. Russia is a powerful country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine so basically that's wrong.' 'It goes against everything that we stand for there are terms that we use we say we respect the sovereignty the territorial integrity of countries, right? their independence. Russia has gone into Ukraine militarily unprovoked, with no justification other than to exercise its power to take over another country.' Harris said later Tuesday afternoon that she spoke with European leaders on the invasion. 'This afternoon I spoke with European leaders from NATOs eastern flank to discuss our response to Russias invasion of Ukraine and the strength and unity of our Alliance. I made clear we'll continue to support the people of the Ukraine,' she wrote on Twitter. Sen. Ted Cruz posted a math equation meme mocking Harris' response on Twitter. Harris was then asked about the differing viewpoints between herself and Biden on sanctions. 'No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening,' Biden last Thursday. 'The purpose of the sanctions has always been and continues to be deterrence,' Harris said on Sunday. 'Some people did question those sanctions because they said that you had a conflicting opinion against President Joe Biden?' the Morning Hustle host asked. 'We had sanctions before the actual invasion, we threatened sanctions to hopefully deter Russia from going in,' the vice president responded. She compared the strategy of deterrence to disciplining a bad child. 'So you know if you're a parent and you tell your children to do this the punishment is gonna be that right? And we hope that by doing that it will deter our children from doing the wrong thing, right? So that's deterrence, so that's where we started with the sanctions. And when Russia actually went in we are implementing the sanctions.' Harris has had a front-and-center seat to the White House's handling of Vladimir Putin's invasion, ten days ago flying to Germany for the Munich Security Conference with world leaders to discuss their response if Putin were to invade. Harris broke it down: 'Russia is a bigger country. Russia is a powerful country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine so basically that's wrong' A blast is seen in the TV tower, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 1 Smoke billows from the TV tower, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 1 In her interview with Morning Hustle, she failed to mention that Putin believed that Ukraine had no right to sovereignty, and that as a former KGB operative he for years has publicly mourned the fall of the Soviet Union. 'Modern Ukraine was entirely and fully created by Russia,' Putin said in a rambling address last Monday. Ukraine was a part of Russia until 1991, when the Ukrainian people voted to leave the Soviet Union and become independent. Putin in 2014 sent in forces to take over Crimea, which was formerly part of Ukraine. According to a NewsNation poll, 58% of Americans are not confident in Harris' ability to take over as president if needed. Some observers were not impressed by a 'word salad' news briefing she gave last week after her trip to Munich. An armed man stands by the remains of a Russian military vehicle in Bucha, close to the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1 Emergency crews respond after a missile landed near Kyiv's TV Tower in Ukrainian capital, Kyiv on March 'I mean, listen guys, we are talking about the potential for war in Europe,' Harris said at the time. 'I mean, let's really take a moment to understand the significance of what we're talking about.' She continued: 'So our position is for us very clear, which is as a leader as we have been bringing together with allies, working together on our collective and unified position, that we would all not just prefer, we desire, we believe, it is in the best interest of all that there is a diplomatic end to this moment.' One Biden official told the Washington Post that Harris was sent to the Munich conference to bolster her foreign policy credentials and she was not coordinating with Sec. of State Antony Blinken on the trip. 'The vice president and Secretary Blinken have talked to each other here, but they're pursuing separate schedules and their teams are not closely coordinated,' said the official. 'You could argue it's a divide-and-conquer strategy, but that's far-fetched. The Harris stop is about burnishing her political credentials as a leader in the middle of a crisis.' A Channel Seven correspondent reporting from Ukraine has told of the 'terrifying' moment he watched a Russian missile hit a TV tower in Kyiv. Reporter Chris Reason said he was filming on a nearby deserted highway when the missile struck the city's 400m-high main television tower on Tuesday afternoon. At least five people were killed in the latest onslaught, which came just hours after Russia told Ukrainian civilians to evacuate because it was about to begin bombarding 'strategic' targets. 'It was one of the most extraordinary and terrifying things I've ever seen,' he told Sunrise on Wednesday morning. Smoke and flames rise up the side of Kyiv's 400m TV tower after Russia bombed it on Tuesday. The tower remained standing but buildings around it were damaged, with some broadcasts knocked off air Explosions erupted around the capital's 400m TV tower this afternoon, built near the ravine where nearly 34,000 Jews were killed in two days in 1941 Reason said he was filming on a nearby deserted highway when the missile struck the city's 400m-high television tower 'We were doing some filming nearby on a six-lane deserted highway when we heard it and saw it scream through the air and seconds later hit its target.' He said the missile appeared to strike the tower - which exploded into flames on impact - about 100m off the ground. The airstrike was one of two large blasts seen near the foot of the tower, with the other hitting the Babyn Yar holocaust memorial which sits on the site of one of the biggest single Jewish massacres during the Holocaust. The memorial was built by a ravine where nearly 34,000 Jews were killed by SS troops in two days in 1941 during Adolf Hitler's campaign against the Soviet Union. It was not immediately clear whether the tower had been the target of the strikes, or whether they had been targeting nearby buildings. The tower remained standing, but buildings around it were damaged and several state broadcasts went off air. After the latest attack, Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted: 'To the world: what is the point of saying "never again" for 80 years, if the world stays silent when a bomb drops on the same site of Babyn Yar? At least 5 killed. History repeating' Meanwhile the Ukrainian foreign ministry said: 'Russian troops fired on the TV tower, near the Memorial complex #BabynYar. Russian criminals do not stop at anything in their barbarism. Russia = barbarian.' Moscow's ministry of defence on Tuesday said it would be launching strikes into the city targeting Ukraine's security service and intelligence agencies with what it called 'precision munitions'. Russia has been slammed as 'barbaric' for bombing the Babyn Yar holocaust memorial in Kyiv on the site of one of the biggest single massacres of Jews during the Holocaust (file image) Pictured: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy takes part in a commemoration ceremony for the victims of Babyn Yar (Babiy Yar), one of the biggest single massacres of Jews during the Nazi Holocaust, in Kyiv Ukraine September 29, 2021 That raised fears that Kyiv was about to come under heavy bombardment after the cities of Kharkiv, Mariupol and Kherson were hit by indiscriminate shelling earlier in the day. A column of Russian artillery units and tanks 40 miles long has been pictured snaking its way towards Kyiv as analysts warned it will likely be tasked with surrounding the city, besieging it and bombing it into submission as Putin resorts to 'medieval' tactics in an attempt to force victory. But the convoy has reportedly stalled as its forces face logistics challenges, including a shortage of food for some units, and Russians appear to be reevaluating how to move forward on the city, a senior U.S. defence official said on Tuesday. Russian ships have been banned from UK ports, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has announced. A statement said: 'The ban includes any vessels owned or operated by anyone connected to Russia and authorities will also gain new powers to detain Russian vessels.' Additional economic measures introduced by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss ban UK individuals and organisations from providing financial services to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, as well as the Ministry of Finance and National Wealth Fund. Ms Truss said: 'We said Putin and those around him would pay the price for their unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, and we are being true to our word. 'The ban on Russian ships from UK ports, and new economic sanctions against key Russian financial institutions including its central bank, in close co-ordination with our allies, will degrade Russia's economy and help make sure Putin loses. 'We stand with Ukraine, its people and its democracy, and will continue to support them diplomatically, economically, politically and defensively.' The ban on Russian ships came as it was announced a further 80 million in aid is being given to Ukraine from the UK. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: 'We said Putin and those around him would pay the price for their unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, and we are being true to our word.' The latest financial commitment brings the total UK humanitarian aid package for the country to 120 million. The money is being provided in an effort to save lives, protect vulnerable people in Ukraine and the wider region, and to tackle the growing humanitarian crisis, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said. Some 40 million was announced last weekend to help aid agencies respond to the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, giving access to basic necessities and medical supplies. A 100 million economic package of Official Development Assistance funding for Ukraine was announced earlier this month to bolster the economy and reduce its reliance on Russian gas imports. Both the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Liz Truss said there was a duty to help. Mr Johnson said: 'With every hour, the passionate desire of the people of Ukraine to defend their country has become more apparent and millions of people around the world have been stirred and moved by their courage. 'The reality is that whatever happens in the coming days or weeks, the Ukrainian people have shown already that their spirit will not be broken, and they will not be subdued. 'We as the international community have a responsibility to do everything we can to help the Ukrainians.' Ms Truss said: 'We have a moral duty to support Ukrainians affected by Putin's unprovoked aggression. Britain is at the forefront of efforts to supply life-saving humanitarian aid, as well as political, economic and defensive support. 'Our message to the Ukrainian people is simple: we will help you and stand with you in the fight for the freedom and sovereignty of Ukraine.' Mr Johnson, who on Tuesday was visiting Nato members Poland and Estonia to shore up support for the defence alliance, has ruled out British forces fighting in Ukraine. Grant Shapps today told UK ports to turn away Russian-linked ships saying they are 'not welcome' The ban is the latest punishment to hit Vladimir Putin (pictured) after the invasion of Ukraine Grant Shapps yesterday told UK ports to turn away Russian-linked ships saying they are 'not welcome'. The Transport Secretary acted after protests that a Moscow-owned tanker was due to dock in Orkney tomorrow. The NS Champion belongs to shipping company Sovcomflot, a firm that is majority owned by the Russian state, and Orkney Islands Council had said it is powerless to prevent it docking. Mr Shapps said tonight he has written to all UK ports saying they should deny access to Russian flagged, registered or operated vessels. He tweeted: 'Today I've written to all UK ports asking them not to provide access to any Russian flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered or operated vessels. 'Given Putin's action in #Ukraine I've made clear these vessels are NOT welcome here with prohibiting legislation to follow.' In his letter to all UK ports, Mr Shapps said the maritime sector 'must play our part' in sanctioning Russia over Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. He wrote: 'Russia's assault on Ukraine is an unprovoked, premeditated attack against a sovereign democratic state. The UK Government has been clear there would be massive consequences and a severe cost for any Russian military incursion into Ukraine, and, in co-ordination with our international allies and partners, we are developing an unprecedented package of further sanctions. 'The maritime sector is fundamental to international trade and we must play our part in restricting Russia's economic interests and holding the Russian government to account. 'In these circumstances the Department for Transport does not consider it appropriate for Russian vessels to continue to enter UK ports. From this point onwards, UK ports are asked not to provide access to any ship which they have reason to believe is: Owned, controlled, chartered, or operated by any person connected with Russia owned, controlled, chartered or operated by designated persons flying the Russian flag registered in Russia. 'We will seek to support UK ports in identifying Russian ships within scope of the above and will communicate directly with relevant ports when we identify ships bound for UK ports who fall within scope of the above. 'Further detailed sanctions against Russian shipping are being developed and further details will be shared very shortly.' Earlier, Nicola Sturgeon waded into the row saying allowing the tanker to dock would send the wrong message to the people of Ukraine. Earlier, Nicola Sturgeon waded into the row saying allowing the tanker to dock would send the wrong message to the people of Ukraine 'Let me be blunt, I don't want that tanker to dock in Orkney tomorrow, ' Ms Sturgeon told the media during a visit to Aberdeen. She continued: 'This is an issue that is reserved to the UK Government, this tanker is majority owned by a Russian government-controlled company. 'It would go against, if not the letter, then certainly the spirit of the sanctions and I think it would send the wrong message to people in Ukraine and across the world right now. 'It is a matter for the UK Government. I personally had discussions last night with Grant Shapps, the UK Secretary of State for Transport. 'To be fair to him, he agreed with me about how unacceptable it would be for that tanker to dock as planned, and we're continuing discussions with him and his officials over the course of today. 'Hopefully we can find a way of stopping that happening.' A juror who helped sentence Scott Peterson to death admitted in court to sending him 17 letters - including one sent from the psychiatric unit - as a court works to decide whether her behavior should see the killer husband retried. Richelle Nice's participation in Peterson's conviction is at the center of a retrial bid sought by his legal team, who've also contended that she omitted crucial details about her past as a domestic abuse survivor during the jury selection process. Nice revealed Monday in court that she penned more than a dozen letters to Peterson after she helped convict him, while he was on death row for the murder of his wife Laci and their unborn son, Conner, on December 24, 2002. 'What happened that night Scott?' she wrote in an August 2005 letter. 'What pushed you to the limit, where you felt like you had to kill someone who not only loved you so much, but was carrying a part of you inside of her?' Nice, who is testifying with impunity, began writing to Peterson after he was exiled to death row. In one missive, written on December 17, 2005 from a mental hospital, she divulged that she suffered a psychiatric breakdown and had been locked in a 'crazy unit.' 'I never knew how much this trial had an impact on me, plus I never had a great life,' she wrote. 'All the pressure just hit me. I think it has been the time of year. Our verdict, Laci and Conner.' Richelle Nice is pictured outside a California court on February 25. Her behavior during Scott Peterson's trial for murdering his wife could see Peterson granted a retrial Nice, who received eight replies from Peterson, refuted suggestions during questioning that her infatuation with the case might have signaled bias. Prosecutor David Harris asked: 'Miss Nice, did you have a bias against Mr. Peterson?' 'Nope,' she replied. Harris said in a follow-up question: 'Did you decide the case based on just the facts, not preconceived notion?' 'Absolutely,' she said. Scott Peterson, pictured at the San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City, California on March 1, 2022, is seeking a retrial He was initially sentenced to death for killing his wife Laci and their unborn son Conner on December 24, 2002 Peterson's lawyers have claimed that Nice, dubbed 'Strawberry Shortcake' because of her dyed red hair, lied ahead of trial in 2014 when responding to a jury selection question about whether she or her associates had ever witnessed or been victimized by a crime. Peterson was sentenced to death in 2005 for the murders, but was last December re-sentenced to life without parole Although she was once granted a restraining order against a boyfriend convicted of assaulting her - and claimed to be terrorized while pregnant by her boyfriend's ex girlfriend - she failed to disclose her history in the jury questionnaire. While grilled on the stand Friday by Peterson's lawyer Pat Harris, Nice claimed that although her boyfriend was convicted of assaulting her, he never actually did. She said her then-boyfriend Eddie Whiteside called the cops on her in November 2001 after she assaulted him in their bedroom during a fight. When police arrived, she said they noticed a cut on her lip that was caused by her braces and they arrested him for assault. 'Eddie never hit me,' she told court on Friday. 'Now, or any time. Eddie never hit me, so I was not a victim of domestic violence.' However, Nice did admit during testimony that she failed to disclose being victimized by her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend, who slashed his tires, broke into their home and threatened her. In one letter Nice wrote to Peterson in December 2015 from a psychiatric hospital, she divulged that she suffered a mental breakdown and had been locked in a 'crazy unit. She's pictured on March 16, 2005 in Redwood City, California Nice, dubbed 'Strawberry Shortcake' because of her bright red hair, told court last Friday that she has never been the victim of a domestic assault despite obtaining a restraining order against a boyfriend convicted of assaulting her. She's pictured outside court on December 13, 2004 Peterson was sentenced to death in 2005 for the 2002 murder of his wife, Laci, and unborn son, Connor. He was last December re-sentenced to life without parole. Laci vanished from their home in Modesto, California while pregnant on Christmas Eve 2002. Investigators learned that he was secretly dating Amber Frey, who believed him to be a widower during their courtship. The 27-year-old's corpse was found floating in San Francisco Bay in April 2003, with Connor's fetus found to have been mutilated. Investigators said Peterson took the bodies from their home and dumped them from his fishing boat. If he were alive today, Conner would be a 20-year-old man. While Nice's testimony has now concluded, fellow juror Justin Falconer could testify that Nice talked a lot about Conner, referring to him as 'little man.' Peterson's attorneys said he would also testify that Nice said she was having financial problems and that they joked about a post-trial book and movie deals. Peterson's pregnant wife Laci (pictured) vanished on Christmas Eve 2002 and was discovered months later floating in the San Francisco Bay If Peterson gets a new trial, his lawyers said they can present new evidence that burglars were nearby on the day Laci Peterson disappeared They said they could also prove that witnesses saw her alive that day, and that her fetus was 'alive for at least another five to six days' based on an examination of the fetal remains Peterson told his mistress Amber Frey (pictured together) that he was a widower during their courtship. She testified against him during trial To have his conviction thrown out, Peterson's attorneys must prove to the judge that Nice committed misconduct and did so 'based on a bias toward convicting Scott.' She said in a sworn declaration last year that she didn't 'feel `victimized the way the law might define that term,' and didnt think the restraining order was a lawsuit. If Peterson gets a new trial, Harris said they can present new evidence that burglars were nearby on the day Laci Peterson disappeared, that witnesses saw her alive that day, and that her fetus was 'alive for at least another five to six days' based on an examination of the fetal remains. However, prosecutors said Petersons attorneys have presented no evidence to support their assertions that he deserves a new trial because Nice had a 'darker motive' to be on the jury 'and was in essence a stealth juror.' Two filmmakers who worked on the post-trial television documentary 'The Murder of Laci Peterson' are to testify that they noticed on Nices wall a photograph of a child wearing pajamas that said 'Little-man.' A five-year-old boy has been rushed to hospital after he spent a full day smoking a vape at a primary school. The boy was taken to Geelong Hospital south-west of Melbourne vomiting and coughing on Friday after ingesting the dangerous chemicals from a nicotine vape three weeks ago. The boy's father said his son had been struggling to breathe since smoking the vape, and gasped and 'vomited three times' before being rushed to the emergency room. He's now undergoing urgent testing to determine whether he has suffered any long term damage. A five-year-old boy has been rushed to hospital after he spent a full day smoking a vape (file image) The boy was taken to hospital vomiting and coughing on Friday after ingesting the dangerous chemicals from a nicotine vape (file image) The boy is undergoing urgent testing to determine whether he has any long term damage (file image) The vape belonged to the boy's seven-year-old friend who brought it to their Geelong primary school. By the end of the day, the vape was completely empty, according to the Herald Sun. New federal rules came into place last October which banned the sale of nicotine vapes without a prescription. Fruit-flavoured vapes though are readily accessible and fears are growing children as young as 10 are buying them from their peers in the schoolyard. Those products can be bought for as little as $20 at most convenience stores and tobacconists, compared to a packet of cigarettes for $50. The seemingly innocent alternatives often still contain nicotine, which is particularly harmful for young people, Barwon Health emergency department director Dr Belinda Hibble warned. The father said the friend had encouraged his son to suck on the vape because it tasted like grapes. 'The vape was empty by the time we picked them up from school,' he said. 'The innocence about it is so dangerous.' Sydney schoolgirl Dakota Stephenson, 15, spent three days on partial ventilation struggling to breathe after taking up vaping In October, a mother issued a heartbreaking warning after her daughter, 15, took up vaping - only to then be rushed to the ICU with a rare lung illness. Sydney teenager Dakota Stephenson went to hospital with a high temperature and back pain in September 2020, seven months after she first started vaping with friends at school. Dakota was diagnosed with hypoxia within hours - meaning her lungs weren't getting enough air - and spent three days on partial ventilation struggling to breathe. Dakota pictured left. Doctors at Randwick Children's Hospital believe she was suffering from a recently discovered lung condition called EVALI Her doctors at Randwick Children's Hospital believe she was suffering from a lung condition called EVALI that was first reported in the US in 2019. EVALI - which stands for e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury - is thought to be caused by vapes containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive substance also found in marijuana, and the additive vitamin E acetate. Dakota's mother Natasha Stephenson only found out her daughter had started vaping when she was admitted to hospital. Scott Morrison coughed into his elbow during a press conference hours before he tested positive to Covid. The Prime Minister - who is triple jabbed - was filmed spluttering when Defence Minister Peter Dutton was addressing the media shortly after 12.30pm on Tuesday. Mr Morrison had returned a negative rapid test before the presser where he announced Australia would send missiles to help Ukraine fight off Russia's invasion. The Prime Minister (pictured) was filmed spluttering when Defence Minister Peter Dutton was addressing the media shortly after 12.30pm After being seen coughing at a press conference yesterday, Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP has tested positive for COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/S4MHrTV5Zy Sunrise (@sunriseon7) March 1, 2022 Later that afternoon another rapid test was inconclusive so he took a more sensitive PCR test which came back positive. Mr Morrison was meant to be attending an event in Sydney to light up the Opera House with Ukraine's colours at 8pm. At 7.36pm - just 24 minutes before - Mr Morrison's spin doctors told reporters he was pulling out but did not say why. At 11.24pm the PM explained in a statement on his Facebook page that he had Covid and would be isolating with his daughters and wife Jenny, who have tested negative. It is not clear where Mr Morrison caught the illness. The Omicron variant, which is dominant in Australia, normally incubates for about three days before symptoms show up. On Sunday the PM had attended a service at St Andrew's Ukrainian Church in Lidcombe where he met and shook hands with several Ukrainians including 99-year-old Klara Djachenko. On Sunday Mr Morrison had attended a service at St Andrew's Ukrainian Church in Lidcombe where he met with several Ukrainians including 99-year-old Klara Djachenko (left) whose hand he shook The statement said Mr Morrison had tested positive to Covid-19 and is 'experiencing flu-like symptoms'. It went on to say he 'will be recovering over the next week'. Mr Morrison said he had tested himself daily since Sunday, including on Tuesday morning, 'with all tests returning a negative result'. 'I took a further test this evening after developing a fever late today. The test was inconclusive so I took a PCR test tonight which returned a positive result late this evening,' he said. Scott Morrison (right) with his wife Jenny (second left) and their daughters. Mr Morrison has tested positive for Covid-19 Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce also contracted Covid-19, while on a visit to Washington DC, late last year. Defence Minister Peter Dutton tested positive to Covid early in the pandemic. Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer, who is running for the Senate in Queensland on the United Australia Party ticket, tested positive to Covid and pneumonia last week. Mr Palmer is unvaccinated and an outspoken opponent of Covid-19 vaccinations. Scott Morrison's statement on Twitter that he has tested positive for Covid-19 The Prime Minister said he will continue to carry out his responsibilities while in isolation, 'including virtually chairing meetings of the National Security and Expenditure Review Committees of Cabinet'. He said he would also be focusing on the 'emergency response to the devastating floods in Queensland and New South Wales and ensuring we stand with each and every one of the affected communities both now and as the waters eventually recede'. Mr Morrison also referred to 'our urgent response to the tragedy unfolding in the Ukraine and Russia's senseless aggression'. He said he would be staying in regular contact with Australia's 'security and intelligence officials and our international partners, as well as working with the Treasurer to finalise the Budget'. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is briefed on the flooding disaster in Queensland and NSW in the National Situation Room at Emergency management Australia in Canberra Mr Morrison had been expected to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky on Tuesday night, but it is not known if this phone call went ahead, given Mr Morrison's sudden illness. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Prime Minister's office with a number of questions about the situation. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Morrison called Russia 'a pariah state' as he announced a $105million aid package for Ukraine. Australia will send $70million worth of defensive supplies to Ukraine, the vast majority of which is lethal aid including missiles and bullets to help fend off Russia's invasion. A further $35million will be sent to provide shelter, food and water for hundreds of thousands of women and children who have become refugees after fleeing the warzone. Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny light a candle in support of Ukraine during a vigil at St Andrews Ukrainian Church in Sydney on February 27, 2022 'This will be our opening contribution. We expect over time there will be further requests and we will be addressing those as time goes on,' he said. 'We're talking missiles, ammunition, we are talking about supporting them in their defence of their homeland. The overwhelming majority of that will be in the lethal category.' Is was also announced on Tuesday that Australia will take in thousands of Ukrainian refugees who have escaped their homeland after Russia invaded. Mr Morrison said he is working on a temporary protection scheme similar to the one deployed during the Kosovo War. In April 1999, Australia created 'safe haven' visas for about 4,000 Kosovars. Nearly all of them stayed for less than a year and returned home when the war ended. 'We should not make the mistake thinking that every person who is seeking to leave Ukraine does not want to return to their home country,' Mr Morrison said. Scott Morrison speaks following a service by Reverend Simon Ckuj at St Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Lidcombe on February 27, 2022 'I have no doubt hundreds of thousands, if not more, will want to return to their home country. 'That's where their family is, that's where their lives are and we want to ensure that those things are not taken from them.' Mr Morrison said more than 500,000 Ukrainians have fled their country and 160,000 more are on the move. Alongside the temporary protection programme, Australia will also offer permanent humanitarian visas to some Ukrainians. But Mr Morrison said the number of places available will be worked out later because the demand 'is not very clear' at the moment. 'We will address that in partnership with other agencies when we get to that point. And if that requires supplementing our existing program, just like with the Afghanistan program we're currently working on, then we will,' he said. Cherry blossom trees in full bloom in Jinhae, Changwon, about 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in this March 29, 2020 photo. The city decided to call off the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, the biggest of its kind in the country, for the second consecutive year amid the pandemic. Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji Provincial areas are still suffering as dozens of cultural events in spring, such as flower festivals, have been canceled across the country for the third consecutive year amid the fast spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. The governing bodies of affected regions have been hit particularly hard as tourist spending at these events had been their main source for generating public funds. Yangpyeong County Office, Gyeonggi Province, decided not to hold its Sansuyu and Korean Beef Festival, which was scheduled to be held in early March. The county office explained that the cancellation was made to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of visitors. Icheon City Hall in Gyeonggi Province also announced the cancellation of the Sansuyu Flower Festival that had been held every year from the end of March to the beginning of April for the past 20 years. It has not been decided whether the Azalea Festival held every April in the Goryeosan area of Ganghwa, Incheon, will be held as scheduled this year. Ganghwa County canceled the festival last year due to the spread of COVID-19. Visitors look at apricot flowers in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province in this March 10, 2021 photo. The festival was canceled for the second consecutive year amid the pandemic. Yonhap "It is expected that the local economy will suffer due to the cancellation of local festivals again," an official of Gyeonggi Provincial Office. According to Local Finance Integrated Open System, 523 cultural events and festivals were held by local governments in Korea in 2019 just before COVID-19 broke out. In particular in 2020, when COVID-19 began to spread throughout the country, the number decreased to 189. The total amount of direct and indirect investments to promote events and festivals also plummeted to 154.2 billion won ($127 million) from about 500 billion won during the same period. Official data for last year have not yet been released, but the number is projected to have decreased significantly compared to 2020, considering the ongoing virus situation here. Local governments are struggling to come up with countermeasures, but it seems difficult to replace the economic effects. In particular, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Gangwon Province, the biggest ice fishing festival in Korea started in 2003, has been hit hard by its cancellation for a second year. The ice fishing festival, which is held every January, was so huge that 1.8 million people visited in 2019, just before COVID-19 outbreak, and was so popular that more than 100,000 foreigners visited every year. More than 200,000 visitors a day used to visit Hwacheon County to experience the event, and the financial effect to the county is estimated to be around 130 billion won. As such, the economic impact on the county has been significant. This photo shows a number of food products made of Sancheoneo in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, as the county office decided to cancel the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. Yonhap Former President Donald Trump 'barely knew where Ukraine was,' said his former National Security Advisor John Bolton, as he snapped back at a Newsmax anchor for saying the Trump administration was 'very tough' on Russia. 'In almost every case the sanctions were imposed with Trump complaining about it, saying we were being too hard,' Bolton said in a Monday night interview with Newsmax's Rob Schmitt. 'He once asked John Kelly, the second chief of staff, if Finland were a part of Russia.' Bolton continued by telling the anchor 'it's not accurate to say that Trump's behavior somehow deterred the Russians.' Former President Donald Trump 'barely knew where Ukraine was,' said his former National Security Advisor John Bolton (right), as he snapped back at Newsmax anchor Rob Schmitt (left) for saying the Trump administration was 'very tough' on Russia Former President Donald Trump appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference Saturday night in Orlando and insisted that Russian President Vladimir Putin didn't act up on his watch because he was a 'strong president' Bolton instead suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin didn't feel his military was ready to mount a widespread invasion of Ukraine. Schmitt was parroting points Trump made himself Saturday night at the Conservative Political Action Conference. 'I stand as the only president of 21st century on whose watch Russia did not invade,' Trump boasted from the Orlando stage. 'Under Bush, Russia invaded Georgia. Under Obama, Russia took Crimea. Under Biden, Russia invaded Ukraine.' 'The world is always safer when America has a strong president. The world is always in danger with a weak American president,' Trump also argued. Schmitt argued that the is 'something to be said, though, about the simple fact that there was not aggression during the four years.' 'I mean, you were part of that administration as well and there was not aggression from Russia, and they waited him out, it seems, and made a move,' the anchor offered to Bolton, who since leaving the Trump White House has become a critic of the now ex-president. Schmitt pointed to Trump's criticism of NATO members in Europe who utilized Russian energy sources. 'I mean, he took a very tough stance against Russia,' Schmitt said. 'I'm surprised you don't think that he would have handled this better than Joe Biden.' Bolton slapped down Schmitt's assessment that Trump took a tough stance. 'No he didn't,' Bolton said. 'He did not.' Bolton also told Schmitt that it was inaccurate to say the Trump administration sanctioned Nord Stream 2, the Russian-German pipeline project that was officially canceled last week by the German government in the run-up to Putin's invasion of Ukraine. 'We didn't sanction Nord Stream 2,' Bolton said. 'We should have.' Schmitt asked Bolton if he believed Trump was 'soft on Russia' trying to push back on the idea that the ex-president was 'Putin's puppy.' 'I don't think he understood what he was doing,' Bolton replied. 'That's my fundamental point. This is not really a policy argument.' 'This is about Trump's lack of any significant historical knowledge, his lack of strategic thinking, and frankly his lack of thinking about pretty much anything other than what benefitted Donald Trump,' the former Trump White House official continued. 'Why was he concerned about Ukraine in the summer of 2019? Because he wanted that DNC server. Why was he concerned about corruption in Ukraine? Because he was looking for an excuse to cover the reason he was refusing to send $250 million of security assistance to the Ukraine,' Bolton added. Bolton was referring to moves Trump made in 2019 that led to his first impeachment. House Democrats charged Trump with holding up Congressionally-approved military aid to Ukraine as part of a pressure campaign against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce investigations into Joe and Hunter Biden. He was acquitted in the Senate, with only one Republican, Sen. Mitt Romney, siding with Democrats, agreeing with one of the articles of impeachment that Trump abused his power. Schmitt argued that the money to arm Ukraine was sent to the country. 'It was mandated by Congress,' Bolton pointed out. 'He made up the reasons that he did it. He wanted to apply pressure for his own political purposes,' Bolton said of Trump's effort to stop the money from going to Ukraine. Schmitt said it was unfair to say that there weren't 'intelligent' moves made against Putin during Trump's tenure. Bolton said he didn't say that. 'My point was that Trump was not fit to be president, he was not competent to be president,' Bolton argued instead. Schmitt then pointed out that Bolton worked for Trump. 'I did, I did,' the former White House official acknowledged, adding, 'to help protect American national security.' Trump praised Putin throughout his time in the White House and sided with the Russian leader over American intelligence agencies during the July 2018 Helsinki Summit on Russian election meddling during the 2016 campaign. In the run-up to the invasion, Trump called Putin 'genius' and 'smart' for the moves he made against Ukraine. At CPAC Trump leaned into those comments telling the friendly crowd, 'The problem is not that Putin is smart, of course he's smart, but the real problem is that our leaders are dumb.' The Mail's fund for refugees surged past 2million yesterday thanks in no small part to a 250,000 donation from a British firm with business partners trapped in Ukraine. Peak Scientific pledged the astonishing sum as Dame Judi Dench and Sir Michael Palin became the latest big names to back our appeal. The firm's chief executive Jonathan Golby said: 'This is a huge crisis and the people of Ukraine are in a desperate situation.' His Glasgow-based company, which makes gas generators for laboratories, has 650 staff in 24 offices around the world. 'We have close business partners in Ukraine, and our hearts go out to them and all the Ukrainian people under siege,' Mr Golby added. 'We do stay in touch with our friends there and of course their businesses have all shut down as everyone just waits with bated breath to see how the next week plays out. 'Whatever we have going on in our day-to-day business here is irrelevant when you think of the families being separated, newborn babies in underground bunkers rather than being in specialist hospital units, and untold suffering. 'We are a family-owned business, and we just hope this 250,000 will help in some way.' Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi, who has also offered a generous donation, urged others to back the Mail Newspapers crusade to help families caught in the horror. A woman carries her child as she arrives at the Medyka border crossing after fleeing from the Ukraine on Monday Oscar-winning Dame Judy Dench, pictured at the Chelsea Flower Show, has backed the campaign The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL Readers of Mail Newspapers have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis. Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces. As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support. All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services. In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Via bank transfer, please use these details: Account name: Associated Newspapers Account number: 20769512 Sort code: 50-00-00 TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003 Advertisement She said yesterday: 'If, like me, you are appalled by the desperate plight of the people of Ukraine, I urge you to get behind this worthwhile appeal and donate as much or as little as you can.' Immediate help is needed as hundreds of thousands of innocents flee the Kremlin's brutal onslaught. Aid agencies are mobilising to provide shelter, clothes and food to refugees flooding over the borders in freezing conditions with their children and just a handful of belongings. This essential work costs money, and there is no time to waste which is why the Mail launched its appeal within three days of Vladimir Putin's assault on his neighbouring nation. Monty Python star Palin said: 'This war is outrageous. Please support the Daily Mail's campaign and help the people of Ukraine any way you can.' Children's TV presenter Konnie Huq also urged people to help, saying: 'This humanitarian crisis will devastate millions. 'Four million people could be displaced, not to mention the death toll that comes with such conflict. Please help and support this Daily Mail campaign.' Harrowing images from Ukraine have spurred record-breaking generosity, leading our appeal to become the fastest newspaper fundraiser in world history. Since Sunday morning, readers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline have sent in more than 1.25million. At the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere, the Mail's parent company DMGT has donated 500,000. All this money will go to charities helping those most in need. In the town of Przemysl in Poland, near the main border crossing from Ukraine, exhausted refugees expressed their gratitude to the Mail's readers. Viktoriya Luchka, a 29-year-old mother-of-one who fled the city of Lviv on Monday, said: 'I am touched and proud that so many of your readers have mobilised so quickly to help Ukraine. 'When it's a public effort, I feel moved with the support people are providing us with. Both the British and Ukrainians stand for common values, for freedom, for human dignity.' She said her husband, brother and father have all stayed behind in her homeland, where men of fighting age have been ordered to take up arms. One of Poland's top humanitarian organisations also hailed the Mail's readers yesterday. Sir Michael Palin (pictured at the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena) has given his backing to the campaign. He described the war as 'outrageous' People fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine arrive at a border crossing in Vysne Nemecke, Slovakia, on Tuesday A woman pictured with a young child as they arrive at a temporary camp in Przemysl, Poland, on Tuesday Rafal Sakowski, chief rescue coordinator for the Polish Red Cross, said: 'We need to help the Ukrainian people in Poland with food and trying to find a place for them to stay. The money from the Mail will be very useful to help those fleeing Ukraine, so thank you very much. The British people are very generous.' Of course, the cash is not just coming from individuals and yesterday's pledge from Peak Scientific paves the way for other businesses to step forward. The offer of 250,000 follows the same company's generous donation to the Mail's lockdown campaign to fund laptops for schoolchildren. One of the firm's gas generators even played a small but important role in the discovery of a Covid jab. Its machines can produce nitrogen gas literally out of the air saving the need for compressed gas bottles. The nitrogen is then used in mass spectrometers, the devices used to calculate the exact molecular weight of a sample. One of Peak Scientific's gadgets was duly used by Pfizer's partner BioNTech during the creation of its coronavirus vaccine. A quad bike has been pictured hanging from the power lines of a regional Queensland town - a terrifying insight into how high the floodwaters peaked. Shocking images from Gympie, north of the Sunshine Coast, show the all-terrain vehicle hanging from electric wires by its handle bars on Wednesday morning in the aftermath of the severe storms. The quad bike can be seen perched high above the gate to a home, covered in weeds and debris. A cherry picker was called in by the SES to help remove the vehicle. The Mary River in nearby Maryborough saw a record peak of 11metres, with water only just starting to recede. A quad bike has been pictured hanging from the power lines of a regional Queensland town on Wednesday morning Shocking images from Gympie, north of the Sunshine Coast, show the all-terrain vehicle hanging from electricity wires by its handle bars - with a cherry picker attending to remove it The Mary River in nearby Maryborough saw a record peak of 11metres which flooded Gympie - with water only just starting to recede A massive deluge of rain is expected to dump on Sydney and surrounding regions about lunchtime with the Bureau of Meteorology saying the much-anticipated 'rain bomb' has been delayed. An east coast low is crawling down the coast of New South Wales with evacuations ordered in Ballina, on the far north coast of NSW, with warnings issued for 11 river systems across the state, including Sydney. But despite previous forecasts of heavy rain, many Sydneysiders woke up to light showers on Wednesday morning. Meteorologist Jackson Browne said: 'We are still expecting (the storm) to come onto the coast some time today, most likely during the middle of the day.' Mr Browne said rainfall was expected in such volumes - 120mm over a six hour period - that flash flooding was a possibility between from Sydney down to Bega, on the state's south coast. Warragamba Dam has already started to spill, which could continue for up to two weeks, WaterNSW has warned. Large swathes of the NSW coast are bracing for a drenching on Wednesday (pictured Sydneysiders battling the rain on Tuesday) The much-anticipated but delayed 'rain bomb' is expected to hit Sydney lunchtime Wednesday 'There is a severe weather warning which is current, so that's for rainfall of 80-120mm in a six-hour period so flash flooding is definitely on the cards, through Sydney down to about Bega,' Mr Browne said. 'We have flood warnings from the Hunter right down towards the Victorian border,' he said. The warning comes after the body of a second elderly woman was found in Lismore overnight. Police confirmed on Wednesday the body of a woman aged in her 80s was found inside her South Lismore home, hours after another woman's body was found in her home. The flood crisis in northern NSW continues with thousands of Ballina residents forced to evacuate, including hospital patients. The entire town is on evacuation alert after the Richmond River burst its banks. Dangerous weather conditions are expected all the way from south of Newcastle in the Hunter to north of Eden on the South Coast and reach inland as far as the Blue Mountains. Sydneysiders in low lying areas are on high alert after the Bureau of Meteorology issued flood warnings for the city's west, north-west and south-west on Wednesday morning. Flood warnings include the Upper Nepean at Menangle, the Hawkesbury River at Richmond at Windsor and the Colo River at Upper Colo. An initial minor flood warning was also issued for the Georges River at Liverpool and Milperra. Swathes of northern NSW remain flooded, including the town of Ballina (pictured) Those in Sydney's north-west have been warned of potential flooding from the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers, with many sandbagging their homes in preparation Warragamba Dam was at 99 per cent capacity and began spilling 3am Wednesday. The predicted spill rate is 'well below' experienced 12 months ago. 'The spill rate will ultimately be determined by the intensity of the rainfall and the inflow generated,' WaterNSW said. 'Nonetheless downstream river level increases are likely and will also be influenced by the volume of inflows from tributaries downstream of the dam.' The State Emergency Service (SES) has also warned residents in inner-city Marrickville of potential flash flooding for a second time within a week. Several roads have been closed due to overnight rain, including Wakehurst Parkway between Narrabeen and Oxford Falls on the northern beaches and Cambridge Avenue at Glenfield in the city's south-west. There are dangerous surf conditions along the the coast with surfers, swimmers, boaters and rock fishermen urged to stay away. 'River level rises are occurring along the Nepean River at Menangle Bridge where minor flooding is likely Wednesday morning with further rises to the moderate flood level possible Wednesday afternoon,' the bureau. The Nepean River could reach its minor flood level of 5.2m on Wednesday morning and reach its moderate flood level of 9.2m within hours. Hawkesbury River could also experience moderate flooding at North Richmond within hours. Hawkesbury residents are bracing for similar flood devastation experienced 12 months ago. 'We are telling people to put in place their flood plan,' mayor Patrick Conolly told ABC News Breakfast. 'For a lot of people it means livestock needs to be moved, cleaning out your gutters and sandbagging your houses. A lot of people are doing those things. A lot of that is happening around the place. 'No-one has been told to evacuate yet but people in low-lying areas know it wouldn't be unwise to evacuate, if you've got somewhere to go' Thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy to torrential rain may also lead to flash flooding along the length of the coast from the Hunter down to Bega on the south coast, combined with severe warnings of abnormally high tides and damaging surf. Sydneysiders have been urged to stay home and not commute to work. Patients had to be evacuated from Ballina Hospital late on Tuesday night 'Our number one priority is safety. Motorists should exercise extreme caution and never drive through floodwaters,' Transport for NSW boss Howard Collins said. 'We ask our customers to postpone their journey if possible or to allow plenty of additional travel time. We want to ensure everyone arrives at their destination safely.' There have been no issues so far with Sydney Trains during the morning commute. 'The system is holding up reasonably well, so people should feel confident to make the journey if they have to,' transport minister David Elliott told 2GB's Ben Fordham. Premier Dominic Perrottet urged Sydneysiders making their way into the city to show to 'show caution.' 'Obviously we want people to come back to the Sydney CBD but based on the advice from the Bureau (of Meteorology) it's going to be a difficult week in our city as we see those heavy rains come from the north,' he said. 'Ultimately right now we say to people right across our city and our state, look after yourself, follow the advice and stay safe.' The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts as much as 120mm of rain, which could lead to flash flooding, may fall across these areas over a six hour period early on Wednesday morning. A total of 200mm of rainfall is possible in Sydney on Wednesday alone, followed by a further 20 to 45mm on Thursday. Damaging winds of up to 90km/h are also forecast for the NSW coast from Wednesday while damaging surf conditions and abnormally high tides are also on the horizon for areas south of Forster. The Warragamba Dam is likely to spill over on Wednesday, having reached 99 per cent capacity on Tuesday. As of Tuesday night 350,000 NSW residents had been given evacuation orders or warnings, with 1,000 having been rescued. The deluge hammering down on thousands of residents around New South Wales is only expected to get worse for Sydneysiders over the coming days (pictured floods in Cabarita, northern NSW) Northern NSW has been battered by heavy rainfall, with Sydney, the Hunter and South Coast now expected to cop the brunt (pictured, volunteers handing out supplies in Fingal on Tuesday) The Ballina Hospital was forced to evacuate its staff and patients to a nearby high school as flood waters rapidly rose higher. Fifty-five patients from the hospital were moved to the Xavier Catholic College where a makeshift emergency department is being set up for any others needing urgent care. All patients have been transported with the help of NSW Ambulance and SES crews. 'The evacuation is taking place on the advice of the local Police Commander and out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and safety of patients and staff,' Northern NSW Local Health District said. An almost completely submerged lamp post is seen in Grafton in NSW on Tuesday (pictured) Ballina Hospital was forced to evacuate its staff and patients to a nearby high school as flood waters rapidly rose higher Those in low-lying areas in Ballina and Lennox Head were earlier on Tuesday evening told to leave amid worsening weather conditions. FLOOD WARNINGS Wilsons River - Major flood warning Clarence River - Major flood warning Tweed River - Minor to major flood warning Orara River - Minor to major flood warning Richmond River - Minor to major flood warning Nepean and Hawkesbury River - Minor to moderate flood warning Manning River - Minor flood warning Bellinger and Kalang Rivers - Minor flood warning Macleay River - Minor flood warning Hastings River - Minor flood warning Nambucca River - Minor flood warning Source: Bureau of Meteorology Advertisement NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet described the downpour as a 'one in 1,000-year' event. 'The worst could be yet to come... the flood rivers remain a real risk to people's lives and we will be doing everything we can to get every person, every family, every business back on their feet as quickly as possible,' Mr Perrottet said. 'I also want to say as well, we know that at the moment this is focused on the north. But very quickly, as we're seeing in metropolitan Sydney now, it will move to the south.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned millions across the length of NSW's east coast that they needed to prepare. 'This rather significant weather system, we will continue to see moving down the east coast of Australia. We will see it come into the Central Coast and Sydney,' he said. 'We are already experiencing elements of that right now, and particularly over the next 24 hours, we will then see that extend further into the South Coast of New South Wales. And we need to be continuing to be preparing ourselves for the impacts in those regions.' South-east Queensland is set to be smashed by yet more storms, bringing days of damaging large hail and even more heavy rainfall, with flood warnings for creeks and streams between now and the weekend. The arrival of the system in Sydney comes just a week after the city was smashed by a severe downpour that turned streets into rivers in the inner-west and saw the Parramatta River break its banks. Sydney and the NSW coast will now bear the brunt of the latest 48-hour weatherbomb explosion (pictured) More than 300,000 residents across NSW have been given evacuation order or warnings (pictured in Grafton) The city has a 80 to 95 per cent chance of rain everyday over the next week until at least Tuesday. It comes as flooded Lismore reports its first death of the crisis - with an 80-year-old woman found dead inside her home about 10.20am. Earlier on Tuesday harrowing footage showed residents and horses and trapped on a bridge at Woodburn, south of Lismore, after being stranded overnight. All were later rescued and brought to safety. South-east Queensland is set to be smashed by yet more storms, bringing days of damaging large hail and even more heavy rainfall NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet earlier described the downpour as a 'one in 1000-year' event and warned Sydney was next in line to cop the brunt of the weather (pictured in Lismore) A convoy of at least 20 cars and several horses are trapped on a bridge at Woodburn near Lismore in northern NSW Australian police have swooped to free 51 children from the hands of more than 100 alleged paedophiles in a massive international operation to smash their evil network. Addresses across the country were raided as part of Operation Molto to arrest 117 people over child abuse-related matters and allegedly rescue 51 children from their clutches. Police video of the arrests revealed buckets of toys and the latest high end video game consoles at the homes of some accused child molesters. Law enforcement officers, construction workers and truckies were among those caught in the web, according to Australian Federal Police, with ages ranging from 18 to 61. The Australian arrests were part of the global Operation H which saw a total of 153 children being removed from harm, including 79 in the United Kingdom, 12 in Canada, six in New Zealand, four in the United States and one child in Europe. Addresses across the country were raided as part of Operation Molto to arrest 117 people and allegedly rescue 51 children from their clutches Police video of the arrests revealed buckets of toys at the homes of some of the accused child molesters Law enforcement officers, construction workers and truckies were among those caught in the web, according to Australian Federal Police, with ages ranging from 18 to 61 The operation started in 2019 after intelligence from New Zealand that thousands were using a cloud storage platform to distribute sick child abuse material. Police from every state and territory in Australia executed 158 search warrants in Australia, charging 117 men with 1248 charges and removing 51 children from harm. OPERATION MOLTO: STATE-BY-STATE Queensland - 55 alleged offenders facing 466 charges. Sixteen children have been removed from harm in that state. Victoria - 18 alleged offenders facing 370 charges. Eight children have been removed from harm in that state. New South Wales - 17 alleged offenders facing 96 offences. Three children have been removed from harm in that state. South Australia - 12 alleged offenders facing 232 charges. Ten children have been removed from harm in that state. Western Australia - eight alleged offenders facing nine charges, with no children having to be removed from harm in that state. Tasmania - three alleged offenders in facing 54 charges. Two children have been removed from harm in that state. Northern Territory - two alleged offenders facing 16 charges, with no children having to be removed from harm in that jurisdiction. ACT - Three alleged offenders facing 48 charges, with five children removed from harm in that jurisdiction. Advertisement Horrified officers found some of the accused allegedly had child abuse photographs and video produced by a man arrested in 2015 which was classified as the most abhorrent ever made. But they are also accused of producing their own child abuse material and then sharing it online. Victoria Police Cybercrime Division Detective Superintendent Jane Welsh said the number one priority was the rescue and recovery of children from any further harm. 'These types of investigations absolutely remain a priority for police, and on this occasion, to have removed eight children [in Victoria] from further harm is extremely satisfying,' Detective Superintendent Welsh said. 'Victoria Police will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners across Australia and internationally to actively target online predators and to protect children. 'I would urge parents to be vigilant and to proactively have conversations with your children about online safety. 'Children can be groomed in a matter of minutes it's so important that everyone understands the warning signs of unwanted contact, how to protect your or your family's privacy online, and how to report any suspicious activity.' Denzil Clark, of Queensland Police, said it was essential to stamp out these evil networks to stop further attacks. 'The possession of child exploitation material is not a victimless crime,' the Crime and Intelligence Command Acting Assistant Commissioner said. 'Anyone involved in possessing or sharing these images continues the cycle of victimisation and abuse of the children depicted in this material.' Many of those arrested had high end video game consoles like the hard to get Sony PS5 Homes in every state and territory in Australia were raided in Operation Molto A PlayStation videogame and DVD player are seen next to a TV in this gloomy darkened room Police seized laptops, storage cards, hard disks and other electronic devices in the raid Those rescued from the clutches of their abusers would continue to suffer long after the cases go to court, warned Tasmania Police Detective Inspector Craig Joel. 'Once a child is harmed by an online predator, they will be impacted for life,' he said. AFP Assistant Commissioner Lesa Gale added: 'Viewing, distributing or producing child abuse material is a horrific crime. 'Children are not commodities and the AFP and its partner agencies work around-the-clock to identify and prosecute offenders. 'The success of Operation Molto demonstrates the importance of partnerships for law enforcement, at a national level here in Australia, but also at an international level, with our colleagues in New Zealand and around the world.' Specialist sniffer dogs were brought in to assist in searches of the properties Police officers allegedly found sexual paraphernalia by the bedside in at least one home Police from every state and territory in Australia executed 158 search warrants in Australia, charging 117 men with 1248 charges and removing 51 children from harm Horrified officers found some of the accused allegedly had child abuse photographs and video produced by a man arrested in 2015 which was classified as the most abhorrent ever made Tim Houston, Manager Digital Child Exploitation Team for DIA in New Zealand, said the operation, and the prosecutions that would follow, represented a major success in international efforts to dismantle networks that sought to exploit children. 'I commend the ongoing support of our law enforcement partners domestically and across the world for their dedication and hard-work,' he said. 'This operation will have an impact on the global networks that deal in the most horrific and damaging material, and we are extraordinarily proud of the effect it will have on children's lives around the world.' NSW Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty praised the results of Operation Molto and added: 'This shows what can be achieved when all agencies work together for a good cause and there's no better cause than protecting our children.' Police officers will forensically examine countless devices for traces of child abuse material Gaming accessories like headsets and controllers lay alongside vitamin supplements, water biscuit crackers and a laptop at one home Alleged offenders were found in possession of multiple phones and USB memory back ups A baby boy was born in the Ukrainian town of Novovolynsk in the early hours of yesterday morning. Why should that demand even a moment of your attention? Because of the dreadful circumstances in which the child, who has yet to be named, came into this world. Only days before his birth, war had driven his father and heavily pregnant mother to flee Ukraine's capital Kyiv. They had reached within a few miles of the Polish frontier when nature hurried, no doubt, by the stress of their refugee status overtook them. She went into labour. And so it was that their son was born but not in the regular maternity ward of the nearby hospital, but in a makeshift theatre in the unit's bomb shelter basement, a space that is now shared with all other vulnerable patients. To mark his arrival, the hospital yesterday posted this defiant message on its Facebook page: 'Meet our newborn defender, 3.5kg, 55cms. On the fifth day of the war between Russia and Ukraine, a baby appeared at Novovolynsk hospital for a couple of immigrants from Kyiv. Kateryna Suharokova holds her newborn son Makar in the basement of a maternity hospital converted into a medical ward and used as a bomb shelter in Mariupol, Ukraine The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL Readers of Mail Newspapers have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis. Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces. As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support. All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services. In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Via bank transfer, please use these details: Account name: Associated Newspapers Account number: 20769512 Sort code: 50-00-00 TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003 Advertisement 'Alarm sirens are heard all over Ukraine, in Volyn [the district in which the hospital is located] as well. But life does not end even during the shelling. We wish the baby a peaceful sky.' Thanks to Vladimir Putin, there are no peaceful skies in Ukraine today. And the country's children those who were not among the more than 600,000 refugees who had crossed national borders by this evening are now living a bewildering and largely underground existence in cellars and on metro platforms as air-raid sirens wail. The intensely moving and disturbing photographs on these pages show just that. In the besieged Black Sea port of Mariupol, Kateryna Suharokova kisses her newborn son Makar in the basement of a maternity hospital converted into a medical ward and used as a bomb shelter. What will happen to them both? The more heartbreaking image, perhaps, is from a shelter in an orphanage in the city of Kropyvnytskyi. Many of the children there are sick. A tragic life grown worse. And this is playing out across the country. In the besieged southern city of Kherson surrounded by Russian forces which invaded from Crimea two baby boys have been born in the maternity ward, which has also been moved into the hospital's basement. In the eastern city of Dnipro, ten babies have been born in one hospital since the start of the invasion. Are these infants only the first of what could be an entire of generation of Ukrainians to be born either under direct threat of war or as refugees from their homeland? Imagine what fear drove the Novovolynsk parents, particularly the mother, to take to the roads with no certain destination. Knowing that hundreds of thousands of others were also fleeing and the route was jammed with traffic, the hotels full, a Russian assault possibly around the next bend. Novovolynsk lies north of Lviv, 45 miles from Kyiv and only ten miles from the Polish border. It is a former Soviet mining centre of 50,000 people. It is twinned with Britain's own industrial town of Hartlepool. It is also only 50 miles from the border with Belarus, whose military were yesterday reported to have joined the invasion. The National Guard of Ukraine stated: 'This is a shelter in a specialized orphanage in the city of Kropyvnytskyi in Ukraine. All the children there are orphans. Many are sick....' Dr Oleg Shypelyk, senior physician at the Novovolynsk hospital, told the Mail that staff were responding as best they could to the situation. They would not be cowed. 'We are currently organising a 24/7 creche in the hospital basement,' he said. 'It's for the children of our staff so that their parents can work here around the clock without worrying too much about what is happening back at home.' But where will these babies be allowed be safe to grow up? In their home country of Ukraine? Will there even be an independent Ukraine at the end of this barbaric war? Or will it be Poland or one of the many countries that are now opening their doors to the exodus. Why not Hartlepool? A picture posted by Novovolynsk Hospital in Novovolynsk, a city in the North West of Ukraine, near to the Polish border, with the message 'children of war' They have been born into a world stood on its head. Yesterday afternoon, in a side street of the gorgeous old town of Lviv a Unesco world heritage site I came across a queue of civilian men outside a firearms shop. They want to be armed if or when the Russian columns come. Around the corner in Ruska Street, the stained glass windows of the Renaissance Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary have been boarded over to protect them from blasts. As I write, the mournful howl of the warning siren begins again. The indefatigable receptionist in our small hotel is banging on doors and shouting: 'Come on! Quick! Get into the basement!' This is how life begins for an increasing number of new Ukrainians in these catastrophic times. Russian state-owned media outlet RT will no longer be available on Sky as the government moves to shut down the satellite that broadcasts 'Putin propaganda', the culture secretary has said. Nadine Dorries said the move would make RT 'severely restricted' in Britain, with the news channel set to disappear from Sky TV in the UK within the next 24 hours. It comes as media regulator Ofcom yesterday began 15 investigations into the 'due impartiality' of the Russian broadcaster, formerly known as Russia Today. It is understood the investigations mainly centre on reporting from correspondents on the ground - in places like the Donbas region of Ukraine - rather than the handling of stories by presenters in the studio. The move, which increases the likelihood of RT losing its UK licence, relates to 15 editions of its hourly news show aired on Sunday. RT, which has a number of British presenters and reporters, has reportedly referred to the invasion of Ukraine as a 'special military operation'. Nadine Dorries (pictured) said the move would be 'severely restricted' in Britain, with the channel set to disappear from Sky TV in the UK within the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, the video-sharing website YouTube blocked channels linked to RT and Sputnik across Europe, including the UK. The Google-owned platform said the ban was effective immediately though it may take some time for the block to become fully effective. In a tweet, Ms Dorries said: 'Shortly, the French satellite which broadcasts Russia Today (RT) in both the EU and UK will be switched off. 'This means RT will no longer be available via Sky. 'Putin's polluting propaganda machine will now have severely restricted access into British homes via our TV screens.' The technology giant had previously limited the ability for RT and other Russian channels to make money from advertisements that appear on videos but has extended its sanctions. 'Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we're blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe, effective immediately,' a statement from Google Europe said. RT, which has a number of British presenters and reporters, has reportedly referred to the invasion of Ukraine as a 'special military operation' (file image) 'It'll take time for our systems to fully ramp up. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to take swift action.' Fellow social media platform Facebook has also blocked access to RT and Sputnik on its platform having previously also limited those channels' ability to make advertising revenue. The change means the pages of the organisations are not visible on Facebook or Instagram in the EU, but for now, they remain visible in the UK. Former UK deputy prime minister, Sir Nick Clegg, who is now vice president of global affairs at Facebook's parent company, Meta, said the firm had been asked by governments to take further action against Russian state-backed media. 'We have received requests from a number of Governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media,' he said on Twitter on Monday night. 'Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time.' On Sunday, Boris Johnson said the channel had been 'peddling' content that was 'doing a lot of damage to the truth', and called for Ofcom to look at whether it was 'infringing the rules of this country'. Dozens more Britons have vowed to fly out to help Ukrainians defend their country from the Russian invasion. Former Army sniper Shane Matthews is among those answering the call to arms from Ukraines president, who urged foreign fighters to help protect his people. Mr Matthews, who completed multiple tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, plans to fly out to Poland on Monday before crossing the border and meeting a Ukrainian colonel, who he says has agreed to arm him and others. The 34-year-old, who served as a Lance Corporal with the 2nd Battalion Princess of Waless Royal Regiment for six years until 2009, aims to head for Kyiv. Carrying 60kg of donated medical supplies, Mr Matthews will go to the front line to treat wounded Ukrainians, provide training for civilians and, if necessary, fight. Former Army sniper Shane Matthews is among those answering the call to arms from Ukraines president, who urged foreign fighters to help protect his people Mr Matthews, from Chichester, West Sussex, said: What Russia has done is disgusting. It is beyond reprehensible. Russian people dont want to be involved. The Russian military doesnt know why theyre there. As far as Im concerned, if you can fight its your duty to fight. Dozens of volunteers arrived at the Ukrainian embassy in London yesterday hoping to defend the country. Alex Pickett, from Andover, Hampshire, said: I will do whatever I can in whatever way I can. The 32-year-old, who works in private security, added: Im non-military, but Im an Englishman. My heart is in the right place and that is the only reason why Im doing this. Alex Pickett, from Andover, Hampshire, said: I will do whatever I can in whatever way I can Mr Matthews, from Chichester, West Sussex, said: What Russia has done is disgusting. It is beyond reprehensible' Oliver Miller, a 29-year-old mechanical engineering student from Chelmsford, Essex, said he is hoping to go out and help somehow, adding: I know Ill kick myself if I dont do anything about this. Liam Hawkins, 30, also from London, said: I havent slept since this invasion and I just cant stay at home with my babies and my missus and do nothing. Right is right and wrong is wrong... I know its dangerous, people are trying to talk me out of it, but I believe I can make a difference. Advertisement President Joe Biden will use his State of the Union address on Tuesday to say that President Vladimir Putin underestimated NATO and the way the world would rally against his invasion of Ukraine. He is also expected to announce that the US is closing its air space to Russian aircraft, as the US allies act in concert to further tighten the economic noose around Moscow. 'Putin's war was premeditated and unprovoked. He rejected efforts at diplomacy,' he will say, according to excerpts released by the White House. 'He thought the West and NATO wouldn't respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home. 'Putin was wrong. We were ready.' With the world spotlight on him, Biden will refer to the Russian leader as a dictator and say he is paying the price for his aggression. 'Throughout our history we've learned this lesson when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving,' he will say according to excerpts released by the White House. 'And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising. 'Thats why the NATO Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War Two. The United States is a member along with 29 other nations. 'It matters. American diplomacy matters.' With Ukraine battling Russian invaders for the sixth day, Biden will trumpet the united response of allies who have imposed sweeping sanctions and kept arms flowing to Kyiv. And he is expected to announce a ban on Russian-owned and operated planes entering US airspace. An order could follow within the next 24 hours, the Wall Street Journal reported, and follows similar prohibitions by European and Canadian authorities. With the world spotlight on him, President Biden will use his State of the Union speech to refer to the Russian leader as a dictator and say he is paying the price for his aggression, according to excerpts released by the White House Biden is expect to say of Putin: 'He thought the West and NATO wouldn't respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home. Putin was wrong. We were ready.' And he will trumpet the unity of NATO and other partners Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave an interview in his command bunker, during which he demanded that President Joe Biden use his State of the Union address to deliver a strong and 'useful' message about the Russian invasion Smoke rises around Kyiv's main television tower after several explosions near the base of it on Tuesday afternoon The annual speech also gives him a chance to speak directly to the American people about how he plans to lead the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic and tackle inflation. 'We have a choice. One way to fight inflation is to drive down wages and make Americans poorer. I have a better plan to fight inflation,' part of Biden's speech reads. 'Lower your costs, not your wages. 'Make more cars and semiconductors in America. More infrastructure and innovation in America.' White House officials had already teased that part of the speech. 'The president will absolutely use the word inflation tomorrow and he will talk about inflation in his speech of course that is a huge issue on the minds of Americans,' said Press Secretary Jen Psaki a day earlier. Specifically, Biden will call on Congress to increase the maximum Pell Grant award by $2,000, raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and create a national paid family-leave program. But Ukraine will be one of the major themes of the night. Among First Lady Jill Biden's guests will be Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the US. Earlier Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged President Joe Biden to deliver a decisive message. 'It's very serious ... I'm not in a movie,' Zelensky, a former comedy actor, said during an interview in his command bunker. 'I'm not iconic, I think Ukraine is iconic ... Ukraine is the heart of Europe, and now I think Europe sees Ukraine is something special for this world. That's why [the] world can't lose this something special.' He said he wanted a strong and 'useful' message about Russia's invasion of Ukraine from the US president, and later tweeted that he had spoken to Biden by phone. The White House confirmed their conversation and said they had spoken for more than 30 minutes. Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova (center) will be a guest of first lady Jill Biden at the State of the Union There is tight security on Capitol Hill for the State of the Union. Security fences - installed after last year's Jan 6 violence - have been put back in place. The arrival of a trucker protest has heightened concerns of trouble An armed man stands by the remains of a Russian military vehicle in Bucha, close to the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Russia on Tuesday stepped up shelling of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, pounding civilian targets there Biden said in a tweet: 'I just spoke with President Zelensky to discuss our continued support for Ukraine - including security assistance and humanitarian aid - as it defends itself against Russian aggression. 'We will hold Russia accountable, and our sanctions are already having a devastating impact.' It came after Russia warned civilians to leave the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and explosions erupted around the city's 1,300ft TV tower in the afternoon. Several of the city's neighborhoods were under attack, according to local reports. The Kyiv Independent reported at 23:29 local time (21:29GMT) that Russian bombs had struck Vyshneve, a town outside the capital. It also said the residential neighbourhoods of Rusanivka, Kurenivka and Boiarka - as well as the area near Kyiv International Airport - were coming under attack. Rusanivka in particular is very central. But there was good news for the Ukrainian resistance. Some Russian soldiers are surrendering without a fight and Vladimir Putin's armored convoy has stalled amid fuel and supply problems, according to a Pentagon official who briefed reporters on Tuesday. 'A lot of these soldiers are conscripts who have never been in combat before,' the official told reporters, according to CNN. 'Some of them, we believe, weren't even told they were gonna be in combat.' The advance remains 'basicallywhere it was yesterday,' the senior defense official said of the 40-mile armored column that was making its way towards Kyiv. It remains about 17 miles from the city center. The official adding that as well as fuel issues the troops appeared to be running out of food. Two hideous explosions bookended the day in Kharkiv. The first saw a giant fireball erupt after a cruise missile struck an imposing Soviet-era structure at 8.02am yesterday engulfing local government offices and devastating a nearby opera house, concert hall and university buildings. The second, after a horrifying barrage of missiles had rained down for much of the day on the city, saw a massive mushroom of fire detonate last night at a tank training school that contained an ammunition dump. The shocking morning attack condemned by Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky as a 'war crime' killed at least ten people and injured 20 more as ceilings collapsed while all the windows were blown out on to the second-largest city square in Europe. It left a large crater in this celebrated Kharkiv landmark where just a few weeks ago I watched children happily skating as I spoke to people in a cafe about the threat of war. Amid the dust, the debris and the devastation lay the dead. Two bodies were side by side on the cobblestones near an abandoned car. One was barefoot; the other, clad in military-style clothing, had a clenched fist. This latest strike on Ukraine's former capital, which is being battered by a bombardment from Russian forces that have poured over the border less than 30 miles away, was laden with the most grotesque symbolism. A monitor showing a projectile striking the regional state administration building on Tuesday For this city centre plaza, where the country's biggest statue of Lenin once stood, was renamed Freedom Square 31 years ago when the nation shook off the shackles of Kremlin rule following the collapse of the Soviet empire. Now the city's 1.4million population are suffering daily atrocities inflicted by another dictatorial regime in Moscow as Russia ratchets up an assault that yesterday also saw a hospital, school and residential areas shelled. 'This is terror against Ukraine. There were no military targets in the square nor are they in those residential districts of Kharkiv which come under rocket artillery fire,' said Zelensky. The Russian-speaking city in eastern Ukraine has suffered six days of bombardment. After Russian special forces were repelled from an attempt to take the city on Sunday, there are fears their infuriated commanders have resorted to using cluster bombs on residential buildings to spread panic. 'It looks like a horror movie,' said Dmytro Kuzubov, 33, a website editor. 'The Russian occupiers are destroying my hometown, killing civilians. They bring destruction, misery and pain. People hiding in basements and subways have almost forgotten what the sky looks like.' The subsequent explosion as Kharkiv, Ukraine's former capital, faced a sixth day of bombardment from Russia Remarkably, a tent encampment on the square filled with volunteers collecting aid for fighters emerged unscathed. 'There were ten people in the tent just a couple of metres from the spot where the missile hit the square. It's a pure miracle they survived,' said Marina Polyakova, who runs the charity. Olena Znatkova, who fled Luhansk eight years ago with her daughter after Putin stirred up separatists in the area, said food and water supplies were running out fast in the city. 'The bread factory is working but who would deliver the bread? People are hiding in basements so we can't just go out to the store when there are constant shellings,' she said. 'Students are sitting, trapped, in the dormitories without food and water and medical supplies.' The intensity of the attack demolishes Putin's pretence that he is trying to save his fellow Slavs and brother nation. 'This is not a military operation, but a war that is meant to kill the Ukrainian people,' said Ihor Terekhov, Kharkiv's mayor A view of the square outside the damaged local city hall of Kharkiv after the central square of Ukraine's second city was shelled by advancing Russian forces One attack earlier this week killed two parents with their three children after they were burned alive in their car. Another assault slaughtered a family of four who had left their homes in search of water, said the city mayor. 'Kharkiv never experienced such devastating destruction in its modern history this is horrible,' he said. Emergency services put out at least 24 fires in and around the city caused by shelling yesterday including at a hospital in the New Bavaria district named after German migrants who moved there in the 19th century. There were eight deaths and eight injuries in the area, amid claims that one Russian aircraft was shot down during the attacks on Kharkiv that left 25 confirmed dead yesterday. City authorities said more than 87 residential buildings were hit. Other footage from the district showed burning homes. 'The shellings are more intense every day,' said Maksym Bilyk, 26, whom I met weeks ago in a cafe by the square. A computer expert, he is now spending much of his time in shelters engaged in anti-Russia cyber-warfare efforts. Ukrainian volunteers carry a victim out of the City Hall building following shelling on Tuesday Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu has denied targeting civilians and said his forces 'take all measures' to spare lives despite abundant evidence of attacks on residential buildings, kindergartens, schools and hospitals. In 2014, when Russia last invaded Ukraine, there was an attempt by pro-Moscow rebels to take over Kharkiv in similar style to Donetsk and Luhansk, by occupying government buildings. But they were repulsed by forces loyal to Kyiv. Speaking damningly about those who had been pro-Moscow, human rights activist Nataliya Zubar said: 'They have now seen anger and hatred towards Russia rise as if from hell.' Her family has lived in Kharkiv for six generations and she says the city will survive. 'They can destroy the buildings. They can kill all the people. But Kharkiv survived the Second World War; it has survived the great famine; it has survived Stalin's repression. It will survive in memory even if it is destroyed in full now.' As darkness fell last night, the sky was lit up by another constant barrage. Some families have spent five days in basements and bomb shelters reduced to living like troglodytes as they hide for hours in a mixture of boredom and fear. 'We're stuck here we don't know what to do,' said Natasha, who heard yesterday's attack on Freedom Square before rushing to a shelter. 'It's a disaster. We thought it was going to be all sorted out diplomatically.' Although many have fled, she said it felt dangerous to escape with her family. 'There are trains but you have to reach the station. We are afraid of the alternative, going by car, because we risk being bombarded.' One who escaped early was Ekaterina Pereverzeva, 27. It took her four days to get to the other side of Ukraine to find safety. But she finds it impossible to escape the trauma, saying: 'I tried to stay calm but then I looked at the map of the Kharkiv shellings last night and I just lost it. There is at least one person I know living on each street that was shelled and I don't know if they are dead or alive.' Ekaterina, who was born in Russia, said she feels fury against the murderous Moscow regime. 'I hate, simply hate, all the Russians that are killing my friends, bombing my city, destroying everything I love,' she said. These were the heart-rending scenes at a small Polish train station this evening as Ukrainian refugees escaped the horrors of Vladimir Putin's attempt to wipe their country off the map. The tiny station in Przemysl is more accustomed to passengers who make the short jaunt over the border with Ukraine in ordinary times. But now it is overwhelmed on a daily basis by thousands looking for a future away from the horrors of war. Built at the end of the 19th century during the Austrian occupation of this part of Poland, it bustles with refugees from morning to night. A man waiting for his girlfriend from Ukraine, holds her hand and looks at her through the border fence at the train station in Przemysl It believes more than 660,000 have now left Ukraine, most heading west across the Polish border to escape the bloodshed. Ukrainian evacuees Dmytro Stadnyk,36, reunited with his wife Natalia, 27 and son Yegor, 5 at Przemysl Glowny railway station who had just arrived from Ukraine The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL Readers of Mail Newspapers have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis. Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces. As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support. All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services. In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Via bank transfer, please use these details: Account name: Associated Newspapers Account number: 20769512 Sort code: 50-00-00 TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003 Advertisement The mass movement has become what the United Nations is calling the worst refugee crisis since the atrocities of the Second World War. Queues snake out of the train station as desperate refugees hope to land one of the scarce tickets out of here. Those who have a seat huddle down with blankets amid the icy temperatures and receive food from local charities. They are the women and children of Ukraine. All men aged between the age of 18 and 60 must stay behind and defend the country. Lilia Kobylynska, 30, made it here from Kyiv early yesterday with just one bag of possessions and her beloved dog, Sheva. If the future of Ukraine is uncertain, so is the new life that awaits her. She said: 'I hope to make it to Germany, but I don't know where yet. I am worried that I might struggle with the language.' Moments later, she scrambled onto one of the packed local trains heading to Krakow. Most refugees want to stay in Poland, having relatives there. Few talk of heading to Britain. Instead they hold out the hope they will one day be able to return home. Ukrainian children, who are fortunate enough not to understand fully what it is happening, played innocently as the train pulled away from the platform. There is barely room to stand on the four-hour train journey to Poland's second largest city home to one of the country's biggest Ukrainian communities. Viktoriya Luchka, a 29-year-old mother-of-one, cradles her five-month-old daughter, Kvitoslava, as she boards, hoping to reach Austrian capital Vienna eventually. She lavishes praise on Britain for helping the Ukrainian army over the past seven years. She said: 'The United Kingdom has supplied us with a lot of military equipment and we are really grateful for this.' Her husband, Mykola, along with her father and brother, have stayed behind in Ukraine. Dmytro Stadnyk, 36, left Ukraine two years ago and has been working in Przemysl as a gym instructor. His eyes well up as he takes his 29-year-old wife, Natalia, and his five-year-old son into his arms as they arrive from their home city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine. He told the Daily Mail: 'I fear for my country, but I am relieved that my family are now safe here in Poland.' Ukrainian refugees are waved through passport control as volunteers help distribute food, toys and clothes to those in need. Ukrainian refugees on the train to Krakow at Przemysl Glowny railway station A child fleeing Russian invasion of Ukraine is visibly upset as she stands outside a tent at a temporary camp in Przemysl, Poland Couples who have been kept apart by the violence of the past week embrace each other for the first time since the war broke out. Waclaw Bojarski, a 52-year-old teacher and scout master, is helping to co-ordinate volunteers helping the influx of people arriving in the border town. He said: 'This is our army against Vladimir Putin.' Mr Borjarski is also helping to send military kit to Ukrainian soldiers with the help of a Polish entrepreneur. He is trying to raise money to ship them boots and body armour. He told the Mail: 'They don't need food. They need flak jackets.' Hong Kong: CE meets Mainland medical experts Chief Executive Carrie Lam today inspected the first community isolation facility in Tsing Yi and met the Mainlands COVID-19 experts visiting Hong Kong. Mrs Lam said that with the central authorities staunch support, 2,000 employees working day and night finished the Tsing Yi construction project in about a week. Completed by a Mainland contractor under the commissioning of the central authorities, the Tsing Yi venue will provide about 3,900 beds for COVID-19 patients with no or mild symptoms and those who need to be isolated. Separately, the Chief Executive welcomed National Health Commission anti-COVID-19 leading group head Prof Liang Wannian and his team at the Shenzhen Bay Port. She thanked him for coming to Hong Kong, saying that his rich anti-COVID-19 experience would be instrumental to the Hong Kong SAR Governments fight against the severe epidemic. During an interview at the control point, Mrs Lam told reporters that the details of the compulsory universal testing scheme to be launched next month are being worked out, and Hong Kongs circumstances and the publics views would be taken into account during the process. She also stressed that as the supplies of food and goods remain normal and air cargo operations continue, the public need not worry. They should stay vigilant and pay attention to the information disseminated by the Government in order to avoid being misled by rumours. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been working closely with the Guangdong and Shenzhen authorities to devise more means to ensure the stable supply of fresh food, vegetables and other goods from the Mainland to Hong Kong, including the Sea Express service launched recently and the transportation of goods by railway being planned for implementation, she added. Moreover, Mrs Lam met the Mainland medical expert delegation staying in Hong Kong since February 19. The delegation shared the Mainlands experiences in the configuration and clinical management of isolation facilities and their views about the medical arrangements for treating severely ill patients in the city. Mrs Lam expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the experts for calling on a number of medical facilities to understand Hong Kongs situation and conducting in-depth discussions on the diagnosis and treatment of cases. This story has been published on: 2022-03-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Mask requirements lifted at NYS schools, U.S. House Xinhua) 08:45, March 01, 2022 People visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the United States, Feb. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The U.S. House of Representatives is lifting the House floor mask mandate in time for U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Tuesday, "ending a requirement that had allowed some Republicans to express their defiance, but at a personal cost." NEW YORK, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Mask mandate is being dropped this week at the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. and the public schools in New York State, while individual counties and cities with higher transmission rates may still require masks in schools. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance, more than 70 percent of the U.S. population is in a location with low or medium COVID-19 levels, where masking is not necessary unless an individual is at "increased risk" for COVID-19. A growing number of states -- the majority with Democratic governors -- have announced in recent weeks that they would lift their indoor or school mask mandates, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island. A man wearing face mask refuels a cab at a gas station in New York, the United States, Feb. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) STATEWIDE DROP New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Sunday that the statewide mask mandate for schools would be lifted, empowering local officials to assess the need for additional restrictions in their schools. The decision, which is set to take effect on Wednesday, came in consultation with public health and education officials. The mask mandate had been a vital aid in battling the Omicron surge, said the governor. The rollbacks came a day after New York announced a statewide seven-day average positivity rate below 2 percent and hospitalizations under 2,000 for the first time since before the Omicron surge. The drop is part of a national decrease in coronavirus cases. A security guard wearing face mask stands outside a store on Times Square in New York, the United States, Feb. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) NYC MOVE New York City was poised to eliminate school mask mandates and vaccine requirements for restaurants, gyms and movie theaters, by March 7, if case numbers remain low, Mayor Eric Adams announced hours after the state made its decision. "The rollback of pandemic restrictions, which had served as a crucial weapon in the city's battle against the coronavirus, is a milestone that many hope will help to restore a sense of normalcy in the city and boost its economic recovery," reported The New York Times (NYT). Promising a final decision by Friday, the mayor said that he wanted to give business owners time to adapt -- a nod to the toll that the virus and related restrictions have taken on small businesses, according to the report. Photo taken on Feb. 18, 2022 shows the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States, Feb. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) HOUSE POLICY The U.S. House of Representatives is lifting the House floor mask mandate in time for U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Tuesday, "ending a requirement that had allowed some Republicans to express their defiance, but at a personal cost," said NYT. Congress's attending physician, Brian Monahan, delivered the news on Sunday, saying coronavirus cases had dropped so much in Washington that mask wearing should become optional, not mandatory. For months now, compliance with the mandate in the Capitol complex has been spotty and partisan. But on the House floor, the House sergeant-at-arms has diligently enforced the mask mandate and reported scofflaws to the House Ethics Committee, according to the report. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) President Biden will not be wearing a mask to the State of the Union, his first time going bare-faced in a crowded indoor space since the White House dropped its mask requirement on Tuesday. 'The president's not going to wear a mask tonight. But it's different depending on the part of the country,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. Ahead of President Biden's State of the Union, the Centers for Disease Control altered guidelines Friday to say that masks are no longer needed in low- and medium-risk areas, including Washington, D.C. The House of Representatives' attending physician declared Sunday that masks were optional, but the White House waited two more days. Fox News' Bill Hemmer asked Psaki: 'What changed in the science yesterday, Monday, as opposed to a week ago Monday?' 'It wasn't actually yesterday, Bill,' she answered. 'What the CDC did is they put out guidance last Friday that identified recommendations depending on what the hospitalization rates are in your part of the country. 'The president's not going to wear a mask tonight. But it's different depending on the part of the country,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Ahead of President Biden's State of the Union, the Centers for Disease Control altered guidelines Friday to say that masks are no longer needed in low- and medium-risk areas, including Washington, D.C. The State of the Union requires lawmakers to be tested for Covid-19 before attending the address 'We're currently in a part of the country in Washington, DC where it's very low, the rates. So the recommendation is not to wear masks, so we're not wearing masks at the White House.' But after Covid cases remained low in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced before the CDC's new guidance that the city's mask mandate would end March 1. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC on Tuesday that she would not be wearing a mask to the speech either. 'If I had little children or if I were around little grandchildren, I would because some of them would not be vaccinated,' the California Democrat said. The State of the Union requires lawmakers to be tested for Covid-19 before attending the address. Four Democratic lawmakers are skipping out out after they tested positive Tuesday morning, and GOP Sen. Marco Rubio said he would be skipping out on the speech over the testing requirement. 'I dont have time to go take a COVID test today. I only take a test if Im sick,' Rubio told reporters on Monday, according to HuffPost. Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton is also skipping Tuesday evening's event. Rubio's fellow Florida Senator Rick Scott said he would decide today whether to attend Biden's big speech. 'I havent made a final decision on it,' Scott told radio station News Talk 101, according to Florida Politics. On the House side, five Republicans said they're boycotting: Rep. Chip Roy of Texas; Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia; Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois; Rep. Bob Good of Virginia; and Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana. Vladimir Putin faces being tried for war crimes, international prosecutors said last night as global revulsion for his atrocities grows. Lawyers at the International Criminal Court revealed they were preparing for a full inquiry 'as rapidly as possible'. Boris Johnson said: 'There's no doubt that [Putin] is already using barbaric tactics, bombing civilian areas. 'I have seen the reports about cluster bombs and thermobaric weapons.' 'Everybody involved in the Russian onslaught should understand that all this will be collated in evidence to be used at a future time in what could be proceedings before the International Criminal Court.' Vladimir Putin faces being tried for war crimes, international prosecutors said last night as global revulsion for his atrocities grows Speaking during a visit to Poland, yesterday, he added that the Russian president had decided to 'send missiles into tower blocks, to kill children, as we are seeing in increasing numbers'. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab urged Russian commanders to disobey orders that break international law, adding: 'There will be no impunity for war crimes. 'There is a clear determination from the international community to make sure that any war crimes are held to account, whether it is Putin or those around him in Moscow or commanders on the ground. 'They must know that if they carry out those orders, there is a reasonable prospect... that they will end up spending their twilight years behind bars.' Mr Raab, a former Foreign Office lawyer, previously worked at the ICC in the Netherlands, helping to bring war criminals to trial. Asked whether Putin might face trial at the ICC, Mr Raab said: 'We will not allow those responsible just to sit it out and wait and hope international attention will move elsewhere. 'We've just shown that with Radovan Karadzic, one of the butchers of the Balkans. He ended up, after years, in the dock in The Hague, and he's now in a British high security prison where he will see out his days.' The US is also looking at whether Russia has committed war crimes, White House Press secretary Jen Psaki said, citing 'reports that are horrifying about barbaric tactics, whether it's cluster bombs or other tactics we've seen that could be classified as a war crime'. Lawyers at the International Criminal Court revealed they were preparing for a full inquiry 'as rapidly as possible'. Boris Johnson said: 'There's no doubt that [Putin] is already using barbaric tactics, bombing civilian areas. I have seen the reports about cluster bombs and thermobaric weapons' Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney said there was 'indisputable evidence' of war crimes in Ukraine, and Canada is to petition the ICC to act. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: 'Russian forces brutally fired on Kharkiv from jet artillery. It was clearly a war crime. 'Kharkiv is peaceful, there are peaceful residential areas, no military facilities. Dozens of eyewitness accounts prove this is not a single false volley, but deliberate destruction of people. 'The Russians knew where they were shooting. 'There will definitely be an international tribunal for this crime it's a violation of all conventions. No one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people.' The ICC's chief prosecutor, British lawyer Karim Khan, said he expected a full investigation as soon as possible. An ICC report published just over a year ago found 'conduct constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity' relating to Russian acts in Ukraine since 2013. 'There is a reasonable basis to believe war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in relation to events assessed during the preliminary examination,' he said. 'Given the expansion of the conflict, it is my intention that this investigation will encompass any new alleged crimes.' A man who was under a restraining order and not supposed to have a gun fatally shot his three daughters, aged nine, ten and 13, a chaperone and himself during a supervised visit with the girls at a Sacramento church, officials said Tuesday. Investigators were trying to piece together the father's motive and how he got the weapon used in the shooting that occurred at about 5 p.m. Monday. Under California state law, David Fidel Mora-Rojas, 39, was not supposed to have a gun because of the restraining order against him from his wife and was on a supervised visit with his three children at the church on Monday afternoon. Police have identified the chaperone and fourth victim as Nathaniel Kong, a 59-year-old executive with the church who had served with that restraining order. At the time of the killings, Mora was out on bail after being arrested last week on several charges, including assaulting a police officer. Court documents paint a disturbing picture of verbal and physical abuse inflicted by Mora on his estranged girlfriend, who is the mother of their three daughters, one of whom would have turned 11 on Wednesday. Mora 'is a very jealous person,' the woman wrote in her request for the restraining order. 'He threatened to kill me if he ever caught me cheating.' She said he told her he hadn't killed her 'because he would not know where to go with the children.' In the filing, she said he might flee to Mexico, where he had family. 'I am scared and nervous. I am afraid (Mora) is going to hurt me. I do not want to return home,' wrote the woman, whose name was withheld because she is an abuse victim. The horrific attack started at around 5.10pm on Monday when officers were called to the 'The Church in Sacramento' in the Arden Mall area of the city, reported ABC10. The shooting happened in the main room of the small church. Emergency services were alerted after an employee at the church who was upstairs heard gunshots and called 911. David Fidel Mora-Rojas, 39, was not supposed to have a gun because of the restraining order against him from his wife and was on a supervised visit with his three children at the church on Monday afternoon A huge police presence built up outside the church where the shooting took place Multiple people were killed in a shooting on Monday at a church near the California capital of Sacramento, CBS13 television reported, citing the Sacramento Metro Fire department A large police presence could be seen gathered outside the church in the Arden-Arcade area Police vehicle could be seen positioned outside of the church early on Monday evening Residents watch police activity following a shooting at a church in Sacramento, California People look over a fence towards a church following a shooting in Sacramento Police block off Ethan Way and Wyda Way after a shooting at the Church in Sacramento A father killed four, shooting three of his children before killing himself at the church in Sacramento A sheriff's deputy puts up crime scene tape following the shooting A police officer can be seen putting up crime scene tape following the shooting on Monday A five-year order was imposed May 19. It stipulated Mora only have supervised visits with his daughters for up to four hours per week with a mutually agreed-upon chaperone. He also was required to take anger management courses. Authorities have not disclosed what type of weapon was used. Mora, who also was identified as David Fidel Mora Rojas in court papers, was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation last April 17, and nine days later a temporary restraining order was granted. His legal troubles continued recently, as Mora-Rojas was arrested in Merced County on DUI charges by CHP Los Banos on Feb. 22, 2022. He was booked into the Merced County Jail on charges of DUI Alcohol, Driving Under the Influence with a Blood Alcohol over .08, Battery Against a Peace Officer, Obstructing / Resists Public Officer, and Battery on a Peace Officer with Injury. He was bailed out on Feb. 24. Sgt. Rod Grassman from the city's sheriff's office said he did not know if the family members belonged to the the church, which sits on a mostly residential block near a commercial area east of downtown Sacramento, CBS13 reported. It wasn't immediately known how many people were at the church or if there were any services or activities at the time of the shooting. Investigators believe the shooting happened during a supervised visit for the father inside the church with the children and a chaperone who also was killed. The church is known to hold Bible study classes for children and teens, although none were scheduled for Monday. The three girls went to Bannon Creek Elementary School and Leroy Greene Academy in the Natomas Unified School District, which issued a statement. 'There are very few words that can give comfort right now for this unspeakable tragedy,' the district said Tuesday. 'There will be a range of emotions from our students and staff, particularly at the schools where the students attended.' So far, a possible motive for the shooting had not been released but the sheriff's office said it was a case of domestic violence. Police officers investigate the scene of a shooting at the church Police investigate a shooting at the Church in Sacramento near Wyda Way and Ethan Way in Sacramento on Monday Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies stand by police tape that blocks the street leading to a church where a shooting occurred with multiple victims, in Sacramento on Monday Neighbors Samantha Sanchez and Nick Martinez watch as police officers investigate the scene of a shooting at The Church in Sacramento Sgt. Rod Grassman from the city's police force also confirmed there was a fifth person killed, however it is unclear if that person was also a family member 'Another senseless act of gun violence in America this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating,' said California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. 'Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and their communities. We are working closely with local law enforcement. 'Our thoughts are with the community, parishioners, and all those impacted by this horrific event.' The Mayor of Sacramento, Darrell Steinberg, also tweeted about the incident on Monday night. 'This is an unspeakable tragedy. It happens too often, and tonight it happened in our backyard. First thoughts are with the victims and their families. Same to the first responders who have to confront such a horrible scene.' The shooting took place at a church on the outskirts of the California state capital in the Arden Mall area of the city (pictured, file photo) 'Another senseless act of gun violence in America this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating,' said California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement The Mayor of Sacramento, Darrell Steinberg, also tweeted about the tragedy on Monday night BREAKING NEWS: @sacsheriff deputies responding to a shooting a church on Wyda Way in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood. There is a massive sheriff and police presence there right now. @van_tieu is on the scene and photojournalist Miguel Cano pic.twitter.com/VFBCNfe76z Madison Wade (@madisoncwade) March 1, 2022 It wasn't known what connection Mora might have had to the church, which is in a residential area. Neighbors said the shooting occurred quickly and police swarmed the area. Sandi Davis said she was taking her dog outside when she heard a gunshot. She immediately let go of the leash and dropped to the ground to protect herself. Yadira Ortega, who lives across the street from the church, said she heard gunfire while sitting in her car after returning home from picking up takeout dinner for her family. She was with her 9-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. Ortega said there were multiple shots, then a pause before a final shot. Ortega said she knows little about The Church in Sacramento other than it's busy on Sundays but mostly quiet during the week. A man who emerged from the church several times to talk to reporters outside said the church is made up of multiple buildings, including a living space where he and several other members live. The man, who only gave his name as Alfredo, said he was in the churchs main building when the shooting happened and that neighbors called police because he did not have a phone. Ana DeJesus, right, is comforted by her daughter, Lizbeth DeJesus after placing a teddy bear and flowers on a memorial Ana DeJesus, right, places a teddy bear on a growing memorial at The Church in Sacramento, Calif. Flowers are seen outside the The Church in Sacramento Tuesday The entrance to the parking lot at The Church in Sacramento, Calif., is shown on Tuesday, March 1 A teddy bear, balloons and flowers are among the items left at growing memorial at The Church He declined to provide more details, saying church elders planned to issue a statement later. On Tuesday morning, a small memorial with flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, a candle and a piece of paper that read 'Prayers for peace, may your souls rest' was set up outside the church. Faith Whitmore, chief executive of the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center that provides services to victims of domestic abuse, said the girls' mother sought help through the agency last April. A case manager and an attorney worked with her to obtain the restraining order. 'She came in, she needed crisis intervention, she needed resources, she needed help,' said Whitmore, who did not work directly with the woman. Whitmore said their organization will now push for their other clients to have visits supervised by professionals, and they plan to seek out funding to cover the costs. Joyce Bilyeu, deputy director of the center, also did not work directly with the woman. She spoke generally about supervised visitations, saying the specifics can vary widely. Sometimes, a victim will request that a pastor or grandparent be the chaperone in their home or church, she said. Other victims seek professional supervision with a trained mediator in a safe location close to law enforcement, but that option can be costly, Bilyeu said. Bilyeu said visits in places like churches can give victims a false sense of security. 'Generally a lot of people think a church is a safe place,' she said. But 'theres no metal detectors in a church.' A restraining order, while a typical part of the process in domestic violence cases, should not be considered a solution or deterrent to abuse, she said. 'It is not a shield of armor,' Bilyeu said. A Tory MP has used parliamentary privilege to accuse amoral British law firms of working for Vladimir Putins henchmen. Bob Seely told the House of Commons the UK legal system had been corrupted by money from kleptocrats. He accused lawyers of working on behalf of oligarchs to undermine freedom of speech and silence the Press. It is a very serious situation that our legal systems have become so corrupted, he said before listing four lawyers he claimed were working with Putins allies. Mr Seely named Harbottle & Lewis solicitor John Kelly, CMS media lawyer Geraldine Proudler, barrister Hugh Tomlinson QC, and Carter-Ruck partner Nigel Tait. Youve got to wonder about the reputations that these people are going to end up with in a few years, he added. Maybe they are really lovely people but maybe their amorality is going to begin to bite their reputations in a way that will be unfortunate. 'How on earth have we allowed this to happen? Why have we got to a situation in our free society where we have kleptocrats and criminals and oligarchs intimidating a free media? MP Bob Seely used parliamentary privilege to accuse amoral British law firms of working for Vladimir Putins henchmen at the House of Commons on Tuesday We have a coalition not of the willing but of the woeful: Putins henchmen teaming up with amoral lawyers. 'These firms set up a one-stop corruption shop to offer a form of legalised intimidation, to silence their rivals but also journalists and authors and an unregulated private eye business which is collecting kompromat [compromising material] on people in this country. Mr Seely, the member for the Isle of Wight, said he had been told many large firms did not carry out proper client checks. Labour former minister Dame Margaret Hodge also used parliamentary privilege to read out the names of ten Russian oligarchs from a list of 105 she said should be sanctioned. Boris Johnson yesterday said there was more to do on sanctioning Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. He said the West needed to target its access to payment systems, its biggest bank and the assets of regime cronies. Speaking in Poland, he declared: Theres genuine amazement and dismay in Russia about what has happened already but there is more to be done. There could be more severing of sporting links and cracking down on the billionaires associated with Vladimir Putin, he added. Ministers yesterday announced further sanctions against Russian banks. Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis told MPs: Russian banks clear no less than 146billion of sterling payments into and out of the United Kingdoms financial system every year. 'Without the ability to make payments in sterling, designated banks will not be able to pay for trade in sterling, they will not be able to invest in the United Kingdom, they will not be able to access the UKs financial markets. Conservative former Cabinet minister David Davis told the Commons: It shouldnt have taken a war for us to start rooting out dirty Russian money in the UK. 'But we are where we are and we must not wait any longer. British Gas owner Centrica yesterday announced it would exit its gas supply agreements with Russian firms. 'In addition, the first tranche of sanctions against Belarusian individuals and organisations was revealed by ministers in response to the role the country is playing in Russias invasion.' A harrowing helicopter rescue has been called off by Australian soldiers after they were struck by a TV aerial during a dramatic rooftop rescue. Footage shows an Australian Defence Force crew member attempt to winch to safety one of two men stranded on a rooftop in Bungawalbin, south-west of Woodburn in NSW on Tuesday afternoon. But the rescue mission took a dangerous turn after strong winds caused the pair to crash into an overhead television aerial. A rescue mission was swiftly aborted on Tuesday afternoon after a soldier struck a TV aerial while attempting to winch a man to safety in Bungawalbin, south-west of Woodburn in NSW (pictured) The pair were safely lowered back onto the roof top after strong winds hindered the dramatic floodwater rescue (pictured) AUSTRALIAN WEATHER CRISIS: THE LATEST Prime Minister Scott Morrison has branded the floods enveloping Brisbane and north-eastern NSW a 'weather bomb' 200mm of rain is expected to hit Sydney over six hours on Tuesday afternoon, with forecasters predicting the effects of the storm to be hit about 6pm NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says 1,000 rescues have taken place in the state over the past 24 hours The Army has been involved in harrowing helicopter rescues from the roofs of houses across central and northern NSW Dozens of Brisbane suburbs have been inundated again with floodwaters as the Brisbane River peaked once more this mornin g Advertisement The frantic soldier signaled air crew to swiftly abandon the operation before the men were lowered back onto the roof. Moments earlier, another soldier was forced to cling to a small boat during a similar rescue attempt of a woman from the same property. It reportedly took 45 minutes for the woman to be whisked to safety, before the remaining men were rescued in separate operations. A 'one-in-a-thousand-year rain bomb' that flooded southeast Queensland and northern NSW has prompted thousands of dramatic rescues across the regions in last 24 hours. The storm, which is barreling towards Sydney, will bring downpours of up to 200mm over just six hours on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in the wake of a flooding catastrophe in the state's north and in Queensland, where eight lives have already been lost. Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged Australians who live in Sydney and the NSW Central Coast to prepare for the storm. 'This rather significant weather system, we will continue to see moving down the east coast of Australia. We will see it come into the Central Coast and Sydney,' he said. 'We are already experiencing elements of that right now, and particularly over the next 24 hours, we will then see that extend further into the south coast of NSW. It came moments after another soldier was forced to cling to a small boat during a similar rescue attempt of a woman from the same property (pictured) A huge cleanup is underway for residents in Lismore who can reach their homes 'And we need to be continuing to be preparing ourselves for the impacts in those regions.' More than 1,000 residents have already been rescued across NSW, Premier Dominic Perrottet said on Tuesday. A further 40,000 people have been ordered to evacuate - mostly near flood-prone Lismore - and a further 300,000 NSW residents have been warned to get ready to flee their homes. Nine people are unaccounted for in Lismore alone and a massive clean up operation is underway in Brisbane after the river burst its banks and flooded more than 100 suburbs. Aerial footage showed a convoy of at least 20 cars and several horses trapped on a bridge at Woodburn, south of Lismore, on Tuesday morning as they tried to flee the town. Floodwaters have ravaged homes across Lismore as locals begin the mammoth cleanup on Tuesday Lismore residents are pictured dressed in gumboots as they prepare to cleanup the damage left over from floodwaters A woman is pictured hosing down her floorboards after floodwater inundated her home in Lismore Mr Perrottet described the floods as a one-in-1,000-year natural disaster. 'The expectation of the flood waters peaking is now above 16m in Lismore and for context the previous record was just a tick over 12m in 1954,' he told ABC Radio. Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said more fatalities were expected. 'I think that it is unrealistic that a disaster of this magnitude will mean that there are no lives lost,' she told reporters. Mr Perrottet said the cleanup 'and getting communities back on their feet will take weeks, months and years'. 'There's still difficult times to go.' 'The situation is distressing for many and will affect more. The ultimate focus now is saving lives and getting people to safety.' Locals in Ballina, about 30km from Lismore, have been ordered to evacuate. A convoy of at least 20 cars and several horses are trapped on a bridge at Woodburn near Lismore in northern NSW A Ballina resident and his dog anxiously wait on the roof of their home waiting for help to arrive 'If you are under an evacuation order please evacuate immediately unless it is not safe to do so,' the SES said. 'Do not go through dangerous floodwater to get out. Move to higher ground where possible.' The Bureau of Meteorology said the weather system that fuelled the floods was heading south. A severe weather warning was issued for coastal areas from the Central Coast to the South Coast, including Sydney. Wind gusts of up to 125 km/h wind gusts are predicted and the possibility of up to 200mm of rain over six hours from Tuesday night. More than 1,000 residents have already been rescued across NSW. Pictured is Woodburn underwater A flock of cattle are surrounded by floodwaters in Tumblegum in far northern NSW The State Emergency Service put out a flood watch for the whole Sydney region, with the worst predicted for areas around the Upper Nepean River. 'People in Sydney and across the South Coast have time. The time to prepare is now,' Ms Cooke said. Things in northern NSW were not going to get better 'for a little while', she said. Sydneysiders have been urged to stay home amid warnings from authorities of commuter chaos on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the wild weather. Communities from the NSW mid north coast to as far the south coast are bracing for the deluge, with more 'unprecedented' weather to lash the state. 'A number of forecast models suggest that a low pressure system could deepen over the Tasman Sea from Tuesday and approach the central NSW coast on Wednesday,' Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said. 'This will be a system to watch in the coming days as it could bring more severe weather in eastern Australia.' The high rainfall could lead to dangerous conditions in Sydney and the NSW south coast, along with coastal erosion. 'We're likely to see this kind of rainfall potentially lead to again flash and riverine flooding for many of our rivers, creeks and catchments,' BoM forecaster Dean Narramore said. A number of forecast models suggest that a low pressure system could deepen over the Tasman Sea from Tuesday and approach the central NSW coast on Wednesday. This will be a system to watch in the coming days as it could bring more severe weather in eastern Australia. pic.twitter.com/5KRkwCDlRv Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) February 28, 2022 Thousands of Lismore residents remain stranded with the Wilson River not expected to fall below major flood levels until Wednesday Lismore residents woke up on Tuesday morning to find most of the city still underwater Heavy and severe winds are also forecast from Newcastle, through Greater Sydney and south to Bega. 'These damaging winds could be enough to bring down trees and power lines,' Mr Narramore added. Flash flooding is a 'big concern' for SES crews in Sydney's west, the north and parts of NSW's south coast. 'Localised flooding is the biggest concern for us, that's when flood rescues occur we're also watching for any riverine flooding too, particularly around Menangle,' spokesman Phil Campbell said. Tuesday's weather forecast Sydney: 23C Possible heavy falls. Becoming windy. 40-70mm rain Lismore: 29C, 50 per cent of showers Brisbane: 33C, Partly cloudy, 20 per cent of showers Advertisement 'There is also flooding expected in Shoalhaven, and parts of Sydney's west which are prone to it. We will also have crews stationed in Taren Point, Wolli Creek, and on the Northern Beaches near Avalon all the usual suspects are (expected to flood).' 'But the real concern is going to be on Wednesday, commuter roads flood as they are expected to if the rain does intensify, it'll be difficult commute for people tomorrow, people should consider working from home if they can.' NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York warned of further widespread damage. 'There will be storms. There will be trees down. There will be roof damage. There will be power breakages,' she said. 'But I ask the community to be patient, because we will be doing rescue operations first and prioritising that over property damage. 'We're working closely with the bureau in relation to our preparations for the Central Coast, the metropolitan area, the South Coast and into the mountain ranges as well towards the Southern Highlands and southern district.' NSW SES has made a record-breaking number of flood rescues in the past 24 hours, and has responded to almost 950 desperate calls for help across northern NSW. The city of Lismore remains cut off, where more than 1,000 stranded residents are trapped or waiting to be rescued on Tuesday morning, according to local mayor Steve Krieg. The wild weather that has lashed Lismore (pictured) is making its way down the NSW coast It's estimated around 1,000 Lismore residents still needed rescuing on Tuesday More than 4,000 rescues were conducted is Lismore on Monday with civilians pitching in help relieve the emergency demand on emergency services. 'There were civilian water craft out and about, kayaks, jet skis and fishing boats all lending a hand and I know that goes against every protocol but with the sheer volume of people that need saving and rescuing, it is great to see a community like Lismore come together and help each other out,' Mr Krieg told the Today show on Tuesday. Lismore residents will have to wait until Wednesday before the Wilson River falls below major flood levels. Around 300,000 residents are currently subject to evacuation warnings. 'My message to those people is please prepare to leave at very short notice,' Ms Cooke told 2GB. 'Please have your bag packed, please have your supplies your mobile phone and a charger to charge it.' 'Our attention at the moment is firmly on saving lives and keeping people safe,' This aerial shot shows much of Lismore still underwater on Tuesday morning The Mary River at Maryborough (pictured underwater on Monday) is expected to peak on Tuesday morning Residents in the nearby town Ballina in low lying areas were urged to immediately evacuate to higher ground on Tuesday morning. Ballina mayor Sharon Cadwallader says the town is bracing for a one-in-500-year flood amid fears up to 7,000 homes will be inundated with water. Residents in South Ballina were told it's already too late to leave. 'You should immediately move to the highest safe place now, such as higher ground or inside a sturdy multi-storey building to upper levels as high above water levels as possible,' NSW SES posted. 'Do not leave your location unless it is safe to do so.' Around 150km south of Ballina, the town of Grafton is also under threat with a major flood warning for the Clarence River and a major to moderate warning for the Orara River at Glenreagh and Coutts Crossing. Disaster assistance is now available in 17 local government areas in response to severe storms and flooding. They include Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Glen Innes Severn, Hornsby, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Nambucca, Port Macquarie/Hastings, Richmond, Tenterfield, The Hills and Tweed. Many Brisbane suburbs remained underwater on Tuesday morning (pictured, a flooded road in Milton) South-east Queensland residents are also bracing more heavy rain and flooding with dam releases and heavy rain on the way. The Brisbane River is expected to rise to 3.7m at 9am on Tuesday after peaking at 3.85m on Monday. The Logan River was set to exceed the record 2017 flood level of 20.50m when tropical cyclone Debbie hit while Mary River at Maryborough could also reach a peak of 10.5m More than 1200 homes across Brisbane were still without electricity on Monday night after the city copped 795mm in the last seven days, its wettest week since records began in 1840. Emergency services are monitoring a crane on a pontoon that broke free of its moorings near the Story Bridge on Monday afternoon. Queensland Rail's southeast services and Brisbane River ferries remain suspended with a limited bus service available. Gold Coast beaches remain closed on Tuesday while some schools in Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Lockyer Valley will reopen. It comes as the weather crisis heads further south with very high winds and flooding forecast to hit Sydney in the next 48 hours. An ominous map of Queensland and northern NSW (pictured) has revealed the regions hardest hit by the incessant deluge as residents fight to keep their heads above water The rain fell in record-breaking numbers in northern NSW in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday, with 775mm of rain in Dunoon, 537mm in Nimbin, 520mm in Mullumbimby and in 467mm Lismore. Sydney is predicted to get up to 90mm of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, while further south, Kiama is forecast to get up to 80mm on Tuesday and 150mm on Wednesday. The Batemans Bay region will be inundated with similar levels on Wednesday and Thursday. The huge geographic spread of the floods is stretching emergency resources. Ms York said the SES resisted sending more people to northern NSW to ensure there was capacity down south when needed. As the low moves south on Tuesday, communities from the NSW Mid North Coast to the South Coast are bracing for what is coming More than one metre of #rain has fallen across parts of southeast #QLD and northeast #NSW over the past week. What caused the record-breaking rain? Here's a look at some of the influences that have come into play. More at https://t.co/wb88a6VLBo pic.twitter.com/cSx6vk76pK Weatherzone (@weatherzone) February 28, 2022 She added the rain coming to Sydney is unlikely to be as heavy as the storms up north, but could still lead to flash flooding. 'That is affected by the amount of saturation that's in the land at the moment that there is no way for the water to run as it falls onto the ground, which will cause flash flooding and that's a very dangerous situation for any motorists.' Schools will remain closed in Brisbane, Logan and the Gold Coast on Tuesday, and trains are expected to stay offline for several days. The Brisbane River peaked at 3.85m at 8am on Monday, the highest level seen since the devastating floods of 2011 - with authorities warning residents of 140 suburbs. Intense episodes of wild weather will remain a worrying reality prompted by climate change, scientists say. 'Over the past decades we have already seen an increase in the number and intensity of extreme rainfall events and we are expecting this trend to continue into the future,' said Dr Nina Ridder, a research associate at UNSW Climate Change Research Centre. Before-and-after photos of a Lismore McDonald's outlet show why the flooding crisis in NSW's north is so unprecedented. All that remained visible of the northern NSW town's McDonald's outlet as of Tuesday were its golden arches, after record-breaking 16m high waters smashed the town. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has described the flood as a 'one-in-a-thousand year' disaster. An 80-year-old woman was found dead in her home on Tuesday - the first victim in NSW - while eight others remain unaccounted for. Up north, in Brisbane, a further eight people lost their lives in the floods. An east coast low is now barrelling toward Sydney. Only McDonald's iconic golden arches were still visible as the fast food restaurant was inundated by raging floodwaters on Monday This is what the McDonald's store in Lismore NSW looked like before raging 'one-in-a-hundred year' floodwaters raged through the town on Monday Harrowing aerial vision shows a convoy of at least 20 cars and five horses trapped on a bridge at Woodburn, south of Lismore, on Tuesday morning after becoming stranded overnight. They all have since been rescued and made it to safety. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said residents of Sydney need to prepare. "This rather significant weather system, we will continue to see moving down the east coast of Australia. We will see it come into the Central Coast and Sydney. 'We are already experiencing elements of that right now, and particularly over the next 24 hours, we will then see that extend further into the South Coast of New South Wales. And we need to be continuing to be preparing ourselves for the impacts in those regions.' A convoy of at least 20 cars and several horses are trapped on a bridge at Woodburn near Lismore in northern NSW A Ballina resident and his dog anxiously wait on the roof of their home waiting for help to arrive AUSTRALIAN WEATHER CRISIS: THE LATEST Lismore has reported its first death of the flooding crisis Prime Minister Scott Morrison has branded the floods enveloping Brisbane and north-eastern NSW a 'weather bomb' 200mm of rain is expected to hit Sydney over six hours on Tuesday afternoon, with forecasters predicting the effects of the storm to be hit about 6pm NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says 1,000 rescues have taken place in the state over the past 24 hours The Navy has been involved in harrowing helicopter rescues from the roofs of houses across central and northern NSW Dozens of Brisbane suburbs have been inundated again with floodwaters as the Brisbane River peaked once more this mornin g Advertisement NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet described the floods a one-in-1000-year natural disaster, adding he expects waters to peak at about 16metres in Lismore. The previous record was just a tick of 12 metres in 1954. Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said more fatalities were expected. 'I think that it is unrealistic that a disaster of this magnitude will mean that there are no lives lost,' she said. Mr Perrottet said the clean-up 'and getting communities back on their feet will take weeks, months and years'. 'There's still difficult times to go,' he said. 'The situation is distressing for many and will affect more. The ultimate focus now is saving lives and getting people to safety.' Locals in Ballina, about 30km west of Lismore, have been ordered to evacuate. 'If you are under an evacuation order please evacuate immediately unless it is not safe to do so,' an SES spokesman said. 'Do not go through dangerous floodwater to get out. Move to higher ground where possible.' The Bureau of Meteorology said the weather system which fuelled the floods was now heading south. A severe weather warning was issued for coastal areas from the Central Coast to the South Coast, including Sydney. Wind gusts of up to 125 km/h wind gusts are predicted and the possibility of up to 200mm of rain over six hours from Tuesday night. A severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall is already in place for parts of the NSW Central West Slopes and Plains and the Riverina, which could lead to flash flooding on Tuesday afternoon. More than 1,000 residents have already been rescued across NSW. Pictured is Woodburn underwater A flock of cattle are surrounded by floodwaters in Tumblegum in far northern NSW Lismore locals spent Tuesday making a start on the massive clean up as they wait for floodwaters to recede Nine people remain unaccounted for in the Lismore floods (pictured on Tuesday) The State Emergency Service put out a flood watch for the whole Sydney region, with the worst predicted for areas around the Upper Nepean River. 'People in Sydney and across the South Coast have time. The time to prepare is now,' Ms Cooke said. Things in northern NSW were not going to get better 'for a little while', she said. Sydneysiders have been urged to stay home amid warnings from authorities of commuter chaos on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the wild weather. Communities from the NSW mid north coast to as far the south coast are bracing for the deluge, with more 'unprecedented' weather to lash the state. 'A number of forecast models suggest that a low pressure system could deepen over the Tasman Sea from Tuesday and approach the central NSW coast on Wednesday,' Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said. 'This will be a system to watch in the coming days as it could bring more severe weather in eastern Australia.' The high rainfall could lead to dangerous conditions in Sydney and the NSW south coast, along with coastal erosion. 'We're likely to see this kind of rainfall potentially lead to again flash and riverine flooding for many of our rivers, creeks and catchments,' BoM forecaster Dean Narramore said. Heavy and severe winds are also forecast from Newcastle, through Greater Sydney and south to Bega. 'These damaging winds could be enough to bring down trees and power lines,' Mr Narramore added. A number of forecast models suggest that a low pressure system could deepen over the Tasman Sea from Tuesday and approach the central NSW coast on Wednesday. This will be a system to watch in the coming days as it could bring more severe weather in eastern Australia. pic.twitter.com/5KRkwCDlRv Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) February 28, 2022 Thousands of Lismore residents remain stranded with the Wilson River not expected to fall below major flood levels until Wednesday Lismore residents woke up on Tuesday morning to find most of the city still underwater Flash flooding is a 'big concern' for SES crews in Sydney's west, the north and parts of NSW's south coast. 'Localised flooding is the biggest concern for us, that's when flood rescues occur we're also watching for any riverine flooding too, particularly around Menangle,' spokesman Phil Campbell said. Tuesday's weather forecast Sydney: 23C Possible heavy falls. Becoming windy. 40-70mm rain Lismore: 29C, 50 per cent of showers Brisbane: 33C, Partly cloudy, 20 per cent of showers Advertisement 'There is also flooding expected in Shoalhaven, and parts of Sydney's west which are prone to it. We will also have crews stationed in Taren Point, Wolli Creek, and on the Northern Beaches near Avalon all the usual suspects are (expected to flood). 'But the real concern is going to be on Wednesday, commuter roads flood as they are expected to if the rain does intensify, it'll be difficult commute for people tomorrow, people should consider working from home if they can.' NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York warned of further widespread damage. 'There will be storms. There will be trees down. There will be roof damage. There will be power breakages,' she said. 'But I ask the community to be patient, because we will be doing rescue operations first and prioritising that over property damage. 'We're working closely with the bureau in relation to our preparations for the Central Coast, the metropolitan area, the South Coast and into the mountain ranges as well towards the Southern Highlands and southern district.' NSW SES has made a record-breaking number of flood rescues in the past 24 hours, and has responded to almost 950 desperate calls for help across northern NSW. The wild weather that has lashed Lismore (pictured) is making its way down the NSW coast It's estimated around 1,000 Lismore residents still needed rescuing on Tuesday More than 4,000 rescues were conducted in Lismore on Monday with civilians pitching in help relieve the emergency demand on emergency services. 'There were civilian water craft out and about, kayaks, jet skis and fishing boats all lending a hand and I know that goes against every protocol but with the sheer volume of people that need saving and rescuing, it is great to see a community like Lismore come together and help each other out,' Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg told the Today show on Tuesday. Lismore residents will have to wait until Wednesday before the Wilson River falls below major flood levels. This aerial shot shows much of Lismore still underwater on Tuesday morning The Mary River at Maryborough (pictured underwater on Monday) is expected to peak on Tuesday morning The town of Grafton is also under threat with a major flood warning for the Clarence River and a major to moderate warning for the Orara River at Glenreagh and Coutts Crossing. Disaster assistance is now available in 17 local government areas in response to severe storms and flooding. They include Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Glen Innes Severn, Hornsby, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Nambucca, Port Macquarie/Hastings, Richmond, Tenterfield, The Hills and Tweed. Many Brisbane suburbs remained underwater on Tuesday morning (pictured, a flooded road in Milton) An ominous map of Queensland and northern NSW (pictured) has revealed the regions hardest hit by the incessant deluge as residents fight to keep their heads above water As the low moves south on Tuesday, communities from the NSW Mid North Coast to the South Coast are bracing for what is coming More than one metre of #rain has fallen across parts of southeast #QLD and northeast #NSW over the past week. What caused the record-breaking rain? Here's a look at some of the influences that have come into play. More at https://t.co/wb88a6VLBo pic.twitter.com/cSx6vk76pK Weatherzone (@weatherzone) February 28, 2022 Schools will remain closed in Brisbane, Logan and the Gold Coast on Tuesday, and trains are expected to stay offline for several days. Intense episodes of wild weather will remain a worrying reality prompted by climate change, scientists say. 'Over the past decades we have already seen an increase in the number and intensity of extreme rainfall events and we are expecting this trend to continue into the future,' said Dr Nina Ridder, a research associate at UNSW Climate Change Research Centre. A man charged with the gruesome stabbing murder of a young graduate has taken a step closer to avoiding a jail sentence after obtaining a 'second opinion' that has deemed him mentally unfit to stand trial. Luay Nader Sako, 36, of Roxburgh Park, last year pleaded not guilty to the brutal stabbing murder of Celeste Manno in anticipation of securing an assessment from a forensic psychiatrist that supported an assertion he was not capable of committing the crime due to his poor mental health. Daily Mail Australia revealed in October the alleged killer's first attempt failed after a doctor made an 'inconclusive assessment' of his mental state. Celeste Manno, 23, was allegedly murdered in her Melbourne home in November 2020 Luay Sako, 35, handed himself in to local police hours after Ms Manno's death and was taken to hospital under police guard, and was charged with murder Celeste Manno had been in the prime of life when she was stabbed to death in her own bed On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne heard Sako had succeeded in his bid for a more conclusive medical option after high-profile forensic psychiatrist Dr Andrew Carroll came to his rescue. In a 30-page report, Dr Carroll found Sako was not only unfit to stand trial over the alleged murder, but would remain that way for at least the next year. The court heard the psychiatrist, who examined the fitness of Bourke Street killer James 'Dimitrious' Gargasoulas, claimed Sako's was a 'complicated situation'. Crown prosecutor Patrick Bourke was unable to say whether Dr Carroll's claims would be contested, but suggested it would likely seek yet another opinion of its own. If contested, the matter could go to trial to assess whether a jury agreed with the diagnosis. If agreed by the Crown, Sako will be placed into a mental health facility until he is deemed well enough by forensic doctors to be released back into the community. Many killers dealt with this way are released back into the community in secret within years. The assessment will come as a cruel blow to the family of Ms Manno. Sako allegedly smashed through his former colleague's window at her family home in Mernda, in Melbourne's northeast, before repeatedly stabbing her with a knife as she lay in bed in November 2020. He then allegedly fled over a fence that was left stained with blood. Sako handed himself in to local police hours later and was taken to hospital under police guard and treated for a hand injury that required surgery. Ms Manno was Sako's team leader at a Serco call centre before he was fired from the role Heartbroken mum Aggie Di Mauro pictured with her beloved daughter MUM'S PAIN AT STABBING DEATH OF DAUGHTER AT HOME Celeste Manno's mum Aggie Di Mauro wonders if there was more she could have done to save her from being killed. Ms Di Mauro has contemplated whether she could have prevented her daughter's death if Ms Manno had slept in her bed or if the family had purchased a guard dog. The mum has since fought to toughen stalking laws, saying 'I thought we were safe at home'. She wants to see violent perpetrators tracked with GPS monitoring and has met with Victorian State Attorney General Jill Hennessy as part of her campaign. Ms Hennessy said the government would do everything they could to end violence against women and support them to feel safe. 'I cannot begin to understand the pain her family and friends are feeling,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Advertisement In October last year, Sako's barrister Sam Norton, of Stary Norton Halphen, told the Supreme Court of Victoria his client's initial medical assessment was inconclusive. 'This is a very complex situation in terms of Mr Sako's mental health,' he said. 'That assessor has indicated that in his opinion a further opinion ought to be obtained.' Mr Norton told the court he hoped Victorian Legal Aid would finance not only Dr Carroll's services, but his own. At Sako's first court hearing in November - one of many he refused to attend in person - the court heard Sako had no mental health issues and was not on any medication at the time his 23-year old victim was allegedly killed. Sako had been freed to live in the community at the time of the alleged murder after being charged with breaching a restraining order. Ms Manno was Sako's team leader at a Serco call centre in South Morang and comforted him when he left the company a year earlier. Sako's family was devastated by his arrest and said they didn't know much about what he had been doing at the time. He had been unemployed and living at his parent's house. There was an outpouring of grief over the shocking death of Ms Manno, who was supposed to be celebrating her birthday that week. Ms Manno's boyfriend Chris Ridsdale was among many family and friends who mourned the beloved young woman in the days after her death. Ms Manno is pictured with her partner, Chris Ridsdale, who had been looking forward to celebrating her birthday the week she was killed Pictured: The crime scene in Mernda where Ms Manno was found dead 'She was supposed to be having Christmas with our family. Her family. Her mother. Her brothers,' he said at the time. Mr Ridsdale revealed her excitement to upload the first photo of them as a couple to her social media profiles. 'We took this picture on Saturday this week,' he wrote. 'We talked and joked about how this would be the first picture of us together on her social media and she was so excited to share it with everyone. 'I was told, very clearly, that this was to be my new profile picture.' Mr Ridsdale said he rarely uses his social media accounts, but uploaded it on as a special tribute Ms Manno. 'Now it seems like the best thing I can do for her. To show everyone how much she meant to me and how beautiful she was,' he said. Ms Manno's father, Tony Manno, said the justice system had let his girl down. 'It let my daughter down,' he said. 'And it's gotta be changed. It won't bring her back but it has to be changed.' Jayden Manno expressed similar concerns over Victoria's revolving door justice system. 'It's harrowing. Such a senseless act,' Jayden said. 'It should never have happened to our family, not to anyone's family. This can't happen.' Sako will return to court later this month. There has been an outpouring of grief for Ms Manno Advertisement Ukraine has accused Russian of launching cluster and vacuum bomb attacks as part of a terrifying offensive, with the country's president claiming that Vladimir Putin's actions amounted to war crimes. But just what are vacuum bombs, how do they work and what happens to innocent civilians caught in their wake? Vacuum bombs also known as thermobaric weapons are among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever developed, and are banned under the Geneva Conventions. The high-powered explosive weapons, which use the atmosphere itself as part of the explosion, are capable of vaporising bodies, crushing internal organs and reducing cities to rubble, causing huge loss of life. There has been no official confirmation that vacuum bombs have been used in the conflict in Ukraine, but footage from the country has shown thermobaric rocket launchers on Russia's TOS-1 vehicles. Ukraine's ambassador to the US accused Putin's forces of using a banned thermobaric bomb on the capital of Kyiv overnight. Footage has also emerged of the use of cluster bombs, which are banned by an international treaty called the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). Cluster bombs, a type of explosive weapon which scatters 'bomblets' over an area. Russians are now using banned cluster munitions against civilian areas in Kharkiv, experts and activists have warned. Cluster munitions were also to destroy a school in Okhtyrka, activist group Amnesty said, in which three people including a child were killed. Thermobaric explosives apply the principles underlying accidental unconfined vapor cloud explosions, just like those that plagued British flour mills in the 19th century. The weaponry initially releases an aerosol consisting of very fine particles, such as metal, flammable dusts or chemical droplets. An ignition source then ignites the cloud of particles and their rapid combustion causes an explosion and a vacuum in the surrounding vicinity Ukraine has accused Russian of launching cluster and vacuum bomb attacks as part of a terrifying offensive, with the country's president claiming that Vladimir Putin's actions amounted to war crimes The science behind vacuum bombs Thermobaric weapons - also known as vacuum bombs - are high-powered explosive that use the atmosphere itself as part of the explosion. They are among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever developed. The bomb works by using oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion, making it far deadlier than a conventional weapon. A thermobaric bomb dropped by the US on Taliban in Afghanistan in 2017 weighed 21,600 pounds and left a crater more than 300 meters (1,000 feet) wide after it exploded six feet above the ground. Thermobaric weapons were developed by both the US and the Soviet Union in the 1960s. In September 2007, Russia detonated the largest thermobaric weapon ever made, which created an explosion equivalent to 39.9 tons. Last week, it emerged that Russia may use the weapons if their assault in Ukraine became bogged down. A western official said: 'My fear would be that if they don't meet their timescale and objectives they would be indiscriminate in their use of violence. 'They don't adhere to the same principles of necessity and proportionality and rule of law that Western forces do.' Advertisement Thermobaric weapons were developed by both the US and the Soviet Union in the 1960s. In September 2007, Russia detonated the largest thermobaric weapon ever made, which created an explosion equivalent to 39.9 tons. The US version of the weapon reportedly costs more than $16 million each. A vacuum bomb, or thermobaric weapon, sucks in oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion, typically producing a blast wave of a significantly longer duration than that of a conventional explosive and is capable of vaporizing human bodies. The bomb works by using oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion, making it far deadlier than a conventional weapon. Thermobaric explosives apply the principles underlying accidental unconfined vapor cloud explosions, just like those that plagued British flour mills in the 19th century. The weaponry initially releases an aerosol consisting of very fine particles, such as metal, flammable dusts or chemical droplets. According to the Journal of Military and Veterans' Health, this cloud flows around objects and into cavities and structures, and may penetrate small openings, such as openings in buildings, bunkers and engine bays of armoured vehicles. An ignition source then ignites the cloud of particles and their rapid combustion causes and explosion and a vacuum in the surrounding vicinity. According to reports, Russia is already using a thermobaric rocket system called TOS-1 Buratino, also referred to as a flamethrower. Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, told reporters after meeting with members of the US Congress that Russia had used a vacuum bomb. A thermobaric bomb dropped by the US on Taliban in Afghanistan in 2017 weighed 21,600 pounds and left a crater more than 300 meters (1,000 feet) wide after it exploded six feet above the ground A thermobaric bomb explosion during the Caucasus 2016 strategic drills at Opuk range of Russia's Southern Military District Thermobaric weapons were developed by both the U.S. and the Soviet Union in the 1960s. Here, a thermobaric bomb explosion during the Caucasus 2016 strategic drills at Opuk range of Russia's Southern Military District Thermobaric explosives apply the principles underlying accidental unconfined vapor cloud explosions, just like those that plagued British flour mills in the 19th century. Pictured, a volley heavy surface-to-surface missile system with thermobaric weapons in an undisclosed location 'They used the vacuum bomb today,' Markarova said after a meeting with lawmakers. 'The devastation that Russia is trying to inflict on Ukraine is large.' There has been no official confirmation that thermobaric weapons have been used in the conflict in Ukraine, although CNN reported that one of its teams had spotted a Russian thermobaric multiple rocket launcher near the Ukrainian border. According to reports, Russia is already using a thermobaric rocket system called TOS-1 Buratino, also referred to as a flamethrower. A thermobaric bomb dropped by the US on Taliban in Afghanistan in 2017 weighed 21,600 pounds and left a crater more than 300 metres (1,000 feet) wide after it exploded six feet above the ground. The russian army has deployed the TOS-1 heavy flamethrower which shoots thermobaric rockets, the was South of Belgorod. pic.twitter.com/XCxMI3bNB3 Frederik Pleitgen (@fpleitgenCNN) February 26, 2022 The TOS-1 Buratino multiple rocket launcher, pictured here in June 2020 during Moscow's Victory Day military parade, is believed to have been deployed in Ukraine On September 11, 2007, Russia announced to the world that it had successfully tested the world's most powerful nonnuclear bomb.The FOAB, according to RT, is a thermobaric bomb What do vacuum bombs do to the human body? According to the Journal of Military and Veterans' Health, vacuum bombs affect organs where there is a tissue interface of varying densities, such as the lungs, bowel and inner ear. 'It predominandy affects the pulmonary, cardiovascular, auditory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems,' it says. 'General treatment is based on airway; breathing and circulation assessment, in conjunction with oxygen therapy. Prophylactic antibiotics and tetanus vaccine should be considered.' In terms of the pulmonary system, when the blast wave hits, a stress wave causes damage, particularly at the lobes, along the ribs on the side of the blast, mediastinum and alveoli, and, may rupture the more rigid bronchioles. The alveoli, if ruptured, leak fluid into the lungs, which could lead to complete filling or 'shock lung' or 'blast lung'. The cardiovascular system may be affected by an air embolus in the heart or coronary arteries or by diffuse damage to the myocardium - the muscular tissue of the heart. As for auditory damage, the eardrum is ruptured, with mild hearing loss. In more severe cases, the membrane could disintegrate and the ossicles (three bones in either middle ear) dislocate, requiring surgical intervention. In the worst cases, the inner ear is damaged producing 'sensori-neural' deafness and disabling pain, nausea and balance problems. Source: Journal of Military and Veterans' Health Advertisement General Sir Richard Barrons, a former head of the UK's joint forces command, had said on Sunday that it remained unclear whether Putin would order his troops to use the weapons. He added that the consequences would be devastating. 'Unleashing thermobaric weapons and the mass concentrated use of heavy artillery will cause the indiscriminate, unnecessary and unwarranted slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent people,' he told the Mail on Sunday. 'The thing we have never known and nobody knows is the intent behind this, because nobody understands what is in Putin's mind.' Vacuum bombs can have devastating effects for anyone nearby when they are detonated. Those on the fringe are likely to suffer many internal, invisible injuries, including crushed organs, severe concussions and possibly blindness. According to the Journal of Military and Veterans' Health, they affect organs where there is a tissue interface of varying densities, such as the lungs, bowel and inner ear. 'It predominandy affects the pulmonary, cardiovascular, auditory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems,' it says. 'General treatment is based on airway; breathing and circulation assessment, in conjunction with oxygen therapy. Prophylactic antibiotics and tetanus vaccine should be considered.' In terms of the pulmonary system, when the blast wave hits, a stress wave causes damage, particularly at the lobes, along the ribs on the side of the blast, mediastinum and alveoli, and, may rupture the more rigid bronchioles. The alveoli, if ruptured, leak fluid into the lungs, which could lead to complete filling or 'shock lung' or 'blast lung'. The cardiovascular system may be affected by an air embolus in the heart or coronary arteries or by diffuse damage to the myocardium - the muscular tissue of the heart. As for auditory damage, the eardrum is ruptured, with mild hearing loss. In more severe cases, the membrane could disintegrate and the ossicles (three bones in either middle ear) dislocate, requiring surgical intervention. In the worst cases, the inner ear is damaged producing 'sensori-neural' deafness and disabling pain, nausea and balance problems. NASA is exploring ways to keep the International Space Station operational in low Earth orbit without Russian help to maintain the spacecraft's propulsion. It comes after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, prompting a spate of sanctions from the US, including restricting cooperation with its space industry. Last week, the head of the Russian space agency, Dmitry Rogozin, warned the US against introducing sanctions against its space program, threatening to stop maintenance that could see the 500 ton ISS fall out of orbit on to the US. Russian cargo spaceships manage propulsion on the station, and keep it in orbit 253 miles above the Earth. Without their regular adjustments, it would fall back to Earth. NASA says it is exploring ways to keep it in orbit without Russian help, including using commercial cargo vehicles from SpaceX and Northrup Grumman. However, the US space agency says it doesn't see any immediate signs of Moscow withdrawing from the international orbital collaboration. The International Space Station (ISS) is seen on a monitor after a Soyuz MS-20 space craft undocked from the ISS, starting the landing of the International space crew including Japanese space tourists Kathy Lueders, who heads the agency's human spaceflight program, said operations on the research platform were proceeding 'nominally' and 'we're not getting any indications at a working level that our counterparts are not committed.' 'That said, we always look for how do we get more operational flexibility and our cargo providers are looking at how do we add different capabilities,' she continued. While the US side of the ISS supplies power and life support, Russia is responsible for propulsion and keeping the station in its orbit, over 250 miles above the planet. It does this by using docked Progress spacecraft to periodically give the station a boost to maintain its altitude, and stop it falling back to the Earth. Rogozin raised the prospect of pulling out of the partnership in response to US sanctions, warning that without the Progress spacecraft, the 400 ton structure would fall back to Earth without any indication of where it might lands. NASA is exploring ways to keep the International Space Station operational in low Earth orbit without Russian help to maintain propulsion Russia is building its own space station Russia announced in 2020 that it could withdraw from the International Space Station as early as 2025 and launch its own facility. Dmitry Rogozin, chief of the Russian space agency said work has already begun on the first module of a new station, although that could be attached to the ISS if the international facility is still in operation when it is completed in 2025. A top Kremlin official warned that 'disaster' was looming for the ISS, putting the lives of crew members at risk due to its age - by 2025 is will be 27 years old and was originally designed to last between 15 and 30 years, according to NASA. Russia has shared images and video of the first module that will make up a core part of its new hi-tech orbital base, which is expected to include a tourist hotel. NASA has since confirmed plans to de-orbit the ISS in 2031, switching to using commercial stations instead. Russia hasn't revealed its future plans, which could change dramatically after it invaded Ukraine on Wednesday. Advertisement Lueders said: 'Northrop Grumman has been offering up a reboost capability, and you know, our SpaceX folks are looking at can we have additional capability.' The last Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo vessel that arrived at the ISS on February 21 was the first to boast a capacity to 'reboost' the outpost without Russian help. On Friday, SpaceX boss Elon Musk tweeted his company's logo in response to Rogozin's rhetorical question about who would save the ISS. But Lueders stressed that such plans were a contingency measure only, adding 'It would be very difficult for us to be operating on our own -- ISS is an international partnership that was created...with joint dependencies,' she said. 'As a team, we are looking at where we may have operational flexibilities, but... it would be a sad day for international operations if we can't continue to peacefully operate in space,' she concluded. A symbol of post Cold War detente, the ISS has been continuously habited for more than 21 years and has weathered past geopolitical storms, notably Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014, with space exploded from sanctions at the time. But some observers believe the invasion of Ukraine could hasten the demise of US-Russian space cooperation. Currently, seven astronauts four from the US, two from Russia and one from Germany are on the ISS. Rogozin has said that US sanctions could 'destroy our cooperation' and said the research platform would plummet to the Earth without his nation's help. 'If you block cooperation with us, who will save the ISS from uncontrolled deorbiting and falling on US or European territory?' said Rogozin while noting that the station doesn't fly over much of Russia. However, one space expert said this was unlikely, considering Roscosmos has Russian personnel on board. 'Nobody wants to put the lives of astronauts and cosmonauts in danger by political maneuvering,' John Logsdon, a professor and space analyst at George Washington University. Last week, the head of the Russian space agency, Dmitry Rogozin, warned the US against introducing sanctions against its space program, threatening to stop maintenance that could see the 500 ton ISS fall out of orbit on to the US The ISS is a collaboration between the US and Russia, as founding partners, along with Canada, the European Space Agency and Japan. It is split into two main sections, the Russian and US orbital segments, and they depend on each other for operational survival. 'The Russian segment can't function without the electricity on the American side, and the American side can't function without the propulsion systems that are on the Russian side,' former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman told CNN. 'So you can't do an amicable divorce. You can't do a conscious uncoupling.' NASA said in a statement soon after the conflict started, that there were no changes planned to the cooperation between Russia and the US on the ISS, but appear to have begun looking at contingencies, in case the situation further escalates. It isn't just the US looking at contingency operations when it comes to working with Russia in space. The European Space Agency has postponed its ExoMars rover launch, likely until at least 2024 as it was scheduled to go up on a Russian rocket. In a statement posted to its website, ESA said it is 'assessing the consequences on each of our ongoing programmes' that are being conducted in cooperation with Roscosmos, while condemning Russia's actions. 'We deplore the human casualties and tragic consequences of the war in Ukraine,' ESA said. 'We are giving absolute priority to taking proper decisions, not only for the sake of our workforce involved in the programmes, but in full respect of our European values, which have always fundamentally shaped our approach to international cooperation.' A group of three businessmen and a former NASA astronaut shouldn't be considered 'tourists' when they undertake their $55m-a-ticket flight to the ISS, according to the firm taking them because they'll be performing experiments while in orbit. American real estate investor Larry Connor, Canadian businessman Mark Pathy, and Israeli former fighter pilot and entrepreneur Eytan Stibbe are paying to stay on the ISS, and will be joined by former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria. The widely reported ticket price for the three business magnates is $55 million each, a figure that hasn't been disputed by Axiom Space, the company managing the trip. Lopez-Alegria, commander of the Ax-1 missithankon, said: 'We are not space tourists. I think there's an important role for space tourism, but it is not what Axiom is about.' They will be the first commercially funded crew to visit the ISS, when they launch from the Kennedy Space Center on March 30 aboard a SpaceX Dragon. Left to Right: Axiom Space Ax-1 Pilot Larry Connor, Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria, Mission Specialist Mark Pathy, Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe The crew of Ax-1 will fly a SpaceX Dragon to the International Space Station The quartet will carry out 26 experiments in the microgravity environment of the the orbital laboratory, which is about 250 miles above the surface of the Earth. The experiments are in areas including heart and stem cell research, as well as a technology demonstration for a self-assembling spacecraft. Lopez-Alegria said: 'My crewmates have worked very hard....they're busy people and they've taken a lot of time out of their lives to focus on this, and it's definitely not a vacation for them.' The crew have been training at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, and other NASA facilities, since August 2021. This training has allowed them to become familiar with the ISS systems, scientific facilities on board and emergency procedures. As well as training with NASA, the four have been working with the European Space Agency (ESA) and SpaceX at its Hawthorne, California facility. Axiom Space, the private space company developing its own module for the ISS, will operate the trip, including managing and running ground control for the four commercial astronauts MEET WEALTHY TRIO THAT FUNDED THE AX-1 MISSION AND WILL FLY TO THE ISS IN MARCH Three wealthy investors will spend ten days in space, including a week on the International Space Station. They are: Larry Connor Larry Connor, 72, will be the Ax-1 mission pilot for the trip. Connor was born in 1950 in Albany, New York, and graduated from Ohio University in 1972. The investor founded his first firm, the Orlando Computer Corp in 1982. He then founded the Connor Group, a real estate investment firm, in 1992, which has grown to become a $3.5 billion business. Married to wife Christine since 1981, he has three children and leveraged his success with the Connor Group to found a children's charity. Connor is no stranger to adventure, having explored the Challenger Deep and the Sirena Deep in the Mariana Trench, beneath the Pacific Ocean. While on the station, he will carry out projects on behalf of the Mayo Clinic that could provide data on space travels impact on senescent cells. Mark Pathy Mark Pathy, 52, will be a mission specialist on the Ax-1 flight. Canadian born, he is a child of immigrants, his mother from the Netherlands and father born in Egypt to Hungarian parents. He graduated with honours from the University of Toronto in 1993 and achieved a masters in 1998. Pathy is the President of Mavrik Corp, a privately-owned investment, and financing company based in Montreal. Married to wife Jessica, Pathy has raised money for multiple good causes through the Pathy Family Foundation. He is said to have spent most of his life avoiding the spotlight, saying during the announcement of his spaceflight: 'If I could do this trip in anonymity I would'. The investor is also member of the board and Executive Committee of the Montreal Childrens Hospital Foundation, and supporter of climate change protection efforts. He will work with six Canadian universities, as well as two startups on 'proof of concept' ideas while in orbit. This includes the worlds first in-space demonstration of two-way holoportation a mixed reality app for special lenses that receives two-way 3D projections as a hologram to communicate between users remotely. Eytan Stibbe Eytan Stibbe, 64, will be a mission specialist for the Ax-1 mission. Born in Haifa, Israel, he spent the first seven years of his life in the US before returning to Israel with his family. He is a 'social impact investor', philanthropist and former Israeli Air Force fighter pilot. Stibbe served from 1976 until 1984, but continued to serve as a reservist until 2012, obtaining the rank of Colonel. The former fighter ace has been married to Ora Etrog Stibbe since 1985, a psychotherapist. They have three children Amit, Shir and Yoav and four grandchildren. Stibbe is the founding partner of Vital Capital impact investment fund, established in 2010 with the aim of improving the situations of underserved populations in developing countries. He founded social benefit company Anatta with his wife, supporting social and education initiatives. The philanthropist also sits on the board of the Ramon Foundation, started by Israel's first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, and will carry out experiments for them while in orbit. During his mission, he will facilitate scientific experiments and will conduct educational and artistic activities to connect the younger generation in Israel and around the globe on the values of peace, innovation, and social responsibility. Advertisement The SpaceX training has allowed them to become familiar with the operation of the Crew Dragon capsule, that will take them to the station and back. NASA started working with the Axiom mission operations team on simulations in December, to get a feel for how the first all civilian crew on the ISS would operate. This work allowed ground control for NASA and Axiom to familiarize themselves 'with the dynamic phases of the private astronauts' flight to and from the space station.' The mission comes in the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and rising tensions between the US and Russia over the ISS. NASA recently announced it was considering ways it could manage and operate the space station alone, without Russia providing propulsion to keep it in orbit. Most of the crew's activities will take place in the US segment of the ISS, although Lopez-Alegria said they 'would like to go visit' the Russian section. However, this would require a safety escort, as they're not trained on the Russian systems - some of which are older than the US modules. Spanish-American, Lopez-Alegria flew to space four times for NASA before retiring, and has since taken up the role of vice president, and mission commander at Axiom - where is working with paying crew on space missions. It isn't clear exactly what the objectives of the four AX-1 crew will be, as the final proposals won't be approved until closer to flight, NASA confirmed. Axiom previously revealed a microgravity research portfolio the Ax-1 crew intends to undertake in orbit, in partnership with a variety of organizations on Earth. 'The goal for the Ax-1 crew is to set a standard for all future private astronaut missions in terms of our preparation and professionalism,' Lopez-Alegria said. 'As the commander, I am proud of the work these crew members have put in to be ready to conduct meaningful work on the International Space Station and glad to see them meet the standards required of all astronauts flying to station since Expedition 1 - the first crew launch to the ISS in November 2000. 'Ax-1 is focused on a huge amount of science and outreach activities, and we look forward now to finalizing that flight program.' Axiom has also revealed that the astronauts will be taking technology built by Israeli company, Aleph Farms, to the station. This technology involves turning cells taken from a cow into raw meat by growing the cells and turning them into muscle, fat and other components. 'Aleph's general goal is to be able to provide nutritious, tasty, sustainable food anywhere, anytime,' said Zvika Tamari, the head of space research, adding that ' stretching that to its limit is the ability to also provide nutrition in space.' In terms of outreach, an ancient coin minted by Jewish rebels revolting against the Romans 1,900 years ago will accompany former Israeli pilot Etan Stibbe to the ISS. Stibbe, 63, is one of three men who paid $55 million each to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for Axiom's first privately crewed mission. The coin comes from the Bar Kokhba revolt, which took place from 132 to 136 AD and was the final of three Jewish-Roman wars that first began when Romans took control of Jerusalem in 63 AD. It bears etchings of a palm tree on one side and a vine leaf with the inscription 'Year Two of the liberty of Israel' on the other.' The company has partnered for a total of four missions with SpaceX, and NASA has already approved in principle the second of these, known as Ax-2. Axiom sees the voyages as the first steps of a grander goal in the commercialization of low Earth orbit - a shift NASA supports. The firm plans to build its own private space station. The first module is due to launch in September 2024, president and CEO Michael Suffredini said. The plan is for it to initially be attached to the ISS, before eventually flying autonomously when the latter retires and is deorbited sometime after 2030. For more than 21 years, NASA has supported a continuous U.S. human presence in low-Earth orbit aboard the space station. 'The agency's goal is to enable a strong, commercial marketplace in low-Earth orbit with private industry where NASA is one of many customers,' a spokesperson said. A group of three businessmen and a former NASA astronaut shouldn't be considered 'tourists' when they become they travel to the ISS, according to the firm taking them, as they have been training as astronauts, and will carry out experiments and tasks while on the station 'This strategy will provide services the government needs at a lower cost, enabling the agency to focus on its Artemis missions to the Moon in preparation for Mars while continuing to use low-Earth orbit as a training and proving ground for those deep space missions.' The ISS isn't a stranger to commercial visitors, with the first paying astronaut, Dennis Tito, docking with the station in April 2001 on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Last year, Russia also sent private crews to the ISS, though these included active cosmonauts to fly the spacecraft, so wasn't entirely privately funded and operated. The first mission was to shoot a film, while the second involved a Japanese billionaire and his assistant. Axiom is in discussions with a production company over filming a Hollywood movie on the space station, that is expected to star Tom Cruise, and is working with a British firm on a film studio, that would be docked to its own ISS module. Russian residents stage a rally in front of Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno District, Seoul, Sunday, protesting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Yonhap Protests held in Korea lambasting Russian leader By Lee Hyo-jin Anti-government protests in Russia are rare, as the authoritarian regime does not tolerate expression of dissent against the Kremlin. However, President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has immediately provoked strong backlash among Russian citizens. Mass demonstrations erupted across Russia over the weekend, where people protested against what the Russian government called a "special military operation" aimed at the "denazification and demilitarization" of its neighboring country. Joining their brave actions were Russian residents in Korea, who staged an anti-war rally in front of Bosingak Pavilion in Seoul, Sunday. Only 20 people were scheduled to take part in the event, but to the surprise of the rally's organizers, over 100 Russians gathered, holding placards reading, "We say no to the war," "Stand with Ukraine" and "Stop Russian Aggressor Adolf Putin Hands off Ukraine." "This is the first demonstration I've ever participated in in my life. I couldn't just sit and do nothing while innocent people are dying because of my country," said a Russian student living in Seoul. A participant of an anti-war rally organized by Russian residents holds a placard reading, "I am a Russian and I oppose the war." Yonhap She spoke on condition of anonymity as Russian citizens were warned by their government recently that "negative comments" about Putin's invasion of Ukraine would be treated as "treason." "It is unacceptable to launch an attack on another sovereign state and use nuclear threats in the 21st century. I'm ashamed of my country and I can't help but feel responsible for the actions of our government. But at the same time, we are the victims of Putin's war, too," she said, explaining that a wide range of sanctions imposed by Western countries are already affecting daily life for Russian citizens. NASA's crewed mission to put the first woman on the surface of the moon is likely to be pushed back again, with NASA regulators saying it is unlikely before 2026. While in the White House, President Donald Trump pushed NASA to return to the moon by 2024, but that slipped to 2025 last year, and will probably split again. Speaking at the House space subcommittee hearing on the Artemis program, NASA's Inspector General Paul Martin, outlined details of his review into the mission. Reviewing data from NASA, he discovered that each Artemis mission would cost at least $4.1 billion - and that is just the cost of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule, that will ferry the astronauts from Earth to lunar orbit. Mr Martin said: 'We estimate NASA will spend $53 billion on Artemis from 2021 to 2025, moreover we found the first four Artemis missions will cost $4.1 billion per launch, a price tag that strikes us as unsustainable.' NASA says it will be able to launch Artemis III, the first crewed mission to land on the lunar surface since 1972, in 2025, with the first uncrewed mission launching in May. When asked to define the purpose of Artemis, NASA Associate Administrator, Jim Free, said it was all about landing astronauts on Mars and getting them back safely. NASA's crewed mission to put the first woman on the surface of the moon has been pushed back again, with the space agency saying it is unlikely before 2026 Before NASA can return humans to the surface of the moon, it will carry out two missions to orbit the moon, the first without, and the second with a crew. Artemis 1, will be the first in NASA's new generation of moon missions, which itself has been hit by a number of delays, mostly linked to the giant SLS rocket. It won't launch until at least the end of May, and could slip into June, according to the space agency. It was originally due to launch at the end of last year. The subcommittee was aiming to understand how Artemis was operating, and whether NASA was managing its budget effectively. Artemis is the largest crewed mission project for NASA since the Apollo missions, that saw twelve astronauts step foot on the surface of the moon. Although NASA first announced Artemis program in December 2017, work started on the SLS rocket and Orion capsule in 2011. Billions of pounds of research and development investment has gone into these two projects, as well as further funding for the SpaceX Starship lunar lander and the lunar gateway space station - all designed to make moon travel sustainable. Speaking at the House space subcommittee hearing on the Artemis program, NASA's Inspector General Paul Martin, outlined details of his review into the mission, including the Orion capsule (pictured) and SLS megarocket NASA'S SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM ROCKET IS THE LARGEST EVER MADE AND WILL LET HUMANS EXPLORE THE SOLAR SYSTEM Space Launch System, or SLS, is a launch vehicle that NASA hopes will take its astronauts back to the moon and beyond. The rocket will have an initial lift configuration, set to launch in the early-2020's, followed by an upgraded 'evolved lift capability' that can carry heavier payloads. Space Launch System Initial Lift Capability - Maiden flight: Mid-2020's - Height: 311 feet (98 metres) - Lift: 70 metric tons - Weight: 2.5 million kilograms (5.5 million lbs) Space Launch System Evolved Lift Capability - Maiden flight: Unknown - Height: 384 feet (117 metres) - Lift: 130 metric tons - Weight: 2.9 million kilograms (6.5 million lbs) Advertisement The subcommittee hearing was an opportunity for Mr Martin to present his report into Artemis, including findings from seven audit reports over the past two years. 'Apart from its cost, NASA's initial three Artemis missions face varying degrees of technical risk that will push launch schedules from months to years past hte agencies goals,' Mr Martin predicted. The first of these, Artemis I, will launch by July this year, although that has already been pushed back multiple times - the latest to allow for a wet dress rehearsal. Artemis II, which will see a crew of astronauts orbit the moon and return to Earth, NASA is facing delays because of plans to re-use Orion components from Artemis I, so is suffering a knock on of those initial delays. 'For Artemis III, given the time needed to develop and test a human landing system, and NASA's next generation space suits, we estimate the date for a crewed lunar landing likely will slip to 2026 at the earliest,' Mr Martin said. He also expressed concern over a lack of transparency from NASA over Artemis, citing the fact it isn't defined as a formal program under agency policies. This means there is no need for NASA to provide a full lifecycle cost estimate for the entire program, and instead published rough cost estimates up to 2025, excluding $25 billion set aside for key activities beyond Artemis III. 'We project that NASA will spend $93 billion on the Artemis efforts from 2012 through to 2025,' Mr Martin said, adding that without NASA publishing accurate costs of current and future Artemis missions, it will be harder for congress and the administration to make decisions over future funding needs. 'To its credit, NASA is taking steps to help reduce costs and accelerate Artemis mission schedule, including modifying procurement and program management practices,' Mr Martin added. This included leveraging commercial capabilities from firms like SpaceX, to develop the Human Lander System based on Starship. 'As NASA moves forward it must accellerate these efforts, to make Artemis programs more affordable, otherwise relying on a single use rocket systems will inhibit, if not derail, NASA's ability to sustain its long term exploration goals to the moon and Mars,' he explained. Mr Martin also said that part of the problem facing NASA, in terms of the cost of SLS and sustainability, came from contracts with commercial partners that favored the partner, specifically highlighting Boeing's management of SLS. Reviewing data from NASA, he discovered that each Artemis mission would cost at least $4.1 billion - and that is just the cost of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule, that will ferry the astronauts from Earth to lunar orbit Adding that NASA would need to improve its contracts, if the program was to become sustainable in the future. Executive Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Daniel Dumbacher, a former NASA program manager, told the committee space exploration is 'risky business' but needs to move more rapidly. NASA is going to miss its moon landing target date by 'several YEARS,' watchdog report says A report from NASA's inspector general said the U.S. space agency will miss its target for landing humans on the moon in late 2024 by 'several years,' just days after it pushed back its initial target date to 2025, citing cost overruns and lawsuits. 'Given the time needed to develop and fully test the HLS and new spacesuits, we project NASA will exceed its current timetable for landing humans on the Moon in late 2024 by several years,' the IG wrote in its report. The report also notes that NASA is not properly estimating all costs for the Artemis program and could spend as much as $93 billion between fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2025, when taking into account the $25 billion needed for missions beyond Artemis III. 'Without capturing, accurately reporting, and reducing the cost of future [Space Launch System]/Orion missions, the Agency will face significant challenges to sustaining its Artemis program in its current configuration,' the report added. Advertisement He said a 'clear strategy and process, a clear systems engineering approach, a greater tolerance for risk, and development and growth of a talented workforce' were essential features in allowing NASA and commercial partners to achieve the goals set out for returning to the moon, and on to Mars. When quizzed about the goal of Artemis, and whether NASA has a clear strategy, Associate Administrator for NASA's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, Jim Free, said the goal was Mars. 'For me it is very simple, our ultimate goal is putting people on Mars. It is getting two people to Mars, on the surface for 30 days, and getting them back safely. 'Everything we do should be driven by that on the moon. That is how long we need to stay on the moon so we prove the systems out that we need to understand from a partial gravity environment, and is what we use as everything driving how we define our architecture on the moon.' He said the Artemis program setup, through to Artemis III, will be responsible for tracking the hardware through development, and bringing it all together.' Mr Free said Covid had an impact on the running of Artemis, particularly in the supply chain, with the level of impact unlikely to be clear for some time. 'From a supply chain perspective, we still are trying to understand that. We've had impacts before Covid, particularly around the demand for space components and the complexity of those components. From a Covid impact, I think it is TBD. 'You've heard of issues around chips, but for us it is around valves and tanks, issues we have to figure out in weeks and months ahead as we put our next budget together.' When asked to define the purpose of Artemis, NASA Associate Administrator, Jim Free, said it was all about landing astronauts on Mars and getting them back safely Mr Martin explained that the long lead times for NASA projects was likely causing the complexity in determining the level of impact. Legal challenges, from Jeff Bezos suing NASA over awarding the lander contract to SpaceX, was also a major factor in the delay, he added. Not everyone speaking at the committee hearing were as pessimistic as Mr Martin, when it came to the date of the next human landing on the moon slipping to 2026. Mr Free was confident the 2025 date was still possible, and Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel chair Patricia Sanders agreed. William Russell, from the US Government Accountability Office, said 2025 'is not impossible, but seems improbably,' predicting a 2026 launch. Finally Mr Dumbacher said it could slip as far as 2027, although admitted 2025 was still within the realm of possibility. Cristiano Ronaldo's playing time at Manchester United could be dramatically reduced if the Old Trafford side are successful in their pursuit of Victor Osimhen. The 22-year-old has impressed for Napoli this season having scored 11 goals in 22 appearances despite missing two months of action due to a cheekbone injury. Since returning to the side in January, the Nigerian scored two goals in six appearances and is reportedly on Ralf Rangnick's radar. Manchester United have targeted Napoli's Victor Osimhen as a Cristiano Ronaldo replacement According to Rai Sport journalist Ciro Venerato, the 22-year-old is Uniteds primary target to replace Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer but Napoli wants at least 84m for the youngster. Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford last summer and despite hitting the ground running, his form has dried up and he has scored just once in his last 10 games. The Portuguese superstar is under contract until 2023 but is on 480k-a-week, making him the best-paid Premier League player. Ronaldo's form has dramatically dropped but Napoli want 84m for the Nigerian young striker He is also 37 making him 15 years older than Osimhen so it is easy to see why Rangnick is interested in the Nigerian. Despite Ronaldo's slump in form, he remains the top goalscorer at United this season on 15 goals. Bruno Fernandes is in second on nine while Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have only scored a combined nine. Advertisement A brand-new cable car attraction is set to open in Paris by 2025. Billed as the longest cable car system in France, the 'Cable 1' project will stretch for 4.5km (2.7 miles) between the areas of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges and Creteil in the southeastern suburbs of the French capital. Recently released renderings offer a look at the project, which is being constructed with an investment of over 111million (132million) - not including the price of the cabins. A brand-new cable car attraction - 'Cable 1' - is set to open in the southeastern suburbs of Paris by 2025. It's anticipated that it will be a hugely popular addition to the French capital - an estimated 11,000 people will hop on to the cable cars (shown here in a rendering) daily The rendering above shows one of the 'Cable 1' stops in the Limeil-Brevannes area The cable car system will stretch for 4.5km (2.7miles), linking the Villeneuve-Saint-Georges area and Pointe du Lac in Creteil (shown above in a rendering) A rendering of the Emile Zola cable car station in Valenton. The new system is being constructed with an investment of over 111million (132million) - not including the price of the cabins Planning for the project first got underway in 2016 and, according to Le Parisien, construction on the new cable car system will begin later this year. How high will it go? Passengers will rise between 25m (82ft) and 40m (131ft) in the air as 'Cable 1' soars over the suburbs. It's anticipated to be a hugely popular addition to the city - an estimated 11,000 people will hop on to the cable cars daily, with each comfortable and secure cabin accommodating 10 passengers. In total, it will take around 18 minutes for passengers to travel from the first stop to the last and the system will be able to ferry around 1,600 passengers per hour, with just 30 seconds between each cabin at peak times. Passengers will rise between 25m (82ft) and 40m (131ft) in the air as 'Cable 1' soars over the suburbs. The above rendering shows the station at Bois Matar in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges - one terminus on the route It will take around 18 minutes for travellers to travel from the first stop to the last, with room for 10 passengers in each cabin Each station will be just one-storey, making it 100 per cent accessible for all passengers In order to construct the new system, 33 white pylons will be installed throughout the suburbs, designed to blend harmoniously into their surroundings. The development aims to connect Parisians that live in the suburbs of the city by opening them up to the Metro and bus routes. There will be five stops on the cable car system, with the terminus at Pointe du Lac in Creteil a short distance from Metro line 8. A rendering shows the exterior of Emile Zola station. There will be five stops on the cable car system A rendering of the cable car station at Emile Combes. In order to construct the new system, 33 white pylons will be installed throughout the suburbs, designed to blend harmoniously into their surroundings The above rendering shows Bois Matar station. The French transport company Ile-de-France Mobilites and the architecture studio Atelier Schall are leading the project Temps Durables and Emile Combes in Limeil-Brevannes, and Emile Zola in Valenton and Bois Matar in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges make up the other stops on the journey. Each station will be just one-storey, making it 100 per cent accessible for all passengers. The French transport company Ile-de-France Mobilites and the architecture studio Atelier Schall are taking the helm with the project. They will collaborate with cable car manufacturer Doppelmayr France and the Spie Batignolles and Egis Rail construction firms. Though it's a first for Paris, this won't be France's only metropolitan cable car system - there are already similar projects in place in Grenoble and Brest. For more information visit www.cable1.iledefrance-mobilites.fr. Kim Bodnia has said that women make violence 'funnier' as he discussed the feminist stance of Killing Eve. The actor, 56, stars as Konstantin in the BBC series opposite Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri and Jodie Comer as assassin Villanelle. Speaking to Radio Times, the TV star said the series has provided a new way of 'showing women' on screen which he thinks is more 'interesting'. Candid: Kim Bodnia has said that women make violence 'funnier' as he discussed the feminist stance of Killing Eve He said: 'It seems as if women can do a lot of things that men just can't do. Not because we are better, or worse, but because women are just interested in it. 'Violence, for example. Women make it funnier. With men, it always ends up too violent, or unresolved in some way.' Kim also told how his character Konstantin was not supposed to be the series regular he is today. The character, who is the Moscow-based boss of Villanelle, was originally set to be killed off in episode four of the first season. Role: The actor, 56, stars as Konstantin in the BBC series opposite Sandra Oh (right) as Eve Polastri and Jodie Comer (left) as assassin Villanelle But Kim said he had long conversations with executive producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge and it was decided the character would stick around. Originally meant to be a baddie, Kim explained: 'He is surrounded by women as the main actors. So he could have the opportunity to be a more flexible character, show a greater range of emotions.' Interview: The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now The fourth and final season of Killing Eve is currently airing. Speaking on This Morning last year, Jodie told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield how she was about to shoot the last two episodes. Jodie said that she hopes the show will end on a 'good and satisfying' note for viewers while not completely ruling out doing a film based on the series. She said: 'It's very surreal, we are just about to start filming the last 2 episodes. We want to end on a good note and on a satisfying note for the audience. It's been a huge part of all our lives. 'I feel emotional even thinking about it. I want to take a clapper board with me when we wrap up!' 'It will be great to end in a way as if you go on and on with a series the quality can fade, but it will be hard to not see those people every day.' The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now. Rumours shock jock Alan Jones may be headed to 2SM have been slapped down after months of speculation. Any attempt to join the station would be impossible for Jones, 80, due to contractual reasons, The Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday. A restrictive exit clause in the radio veteran's contract with former employer 2GB allegedly prevents him from hosting a show on any rival network before 12pm. Looking for work: Rumours of a move to 2SM for Alan Jones (pictured) have been slapped down after months of speculation. Any attempt to join the station would be impossible for Jones due to his exit contract with 2GB, The Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday The news comes after FM radio giant Kyle Sandilands told listeners of The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday: 'Word in radio land is that he [Jones] is joining 2SM.' Rumours about Jones possibly moving to 2SM began soon after he appeared on the station during John Laws' breakfast show in July 2021. On-air rivals for 30 years, Jones and Laws joked and told listeners they were friends. At one point Laws, 85, jokingly asked Jones whether he wanted a job. Industry gossip: The news comes after FM radio giant Kyle Sandilands (pictured) told listeners of The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday: 'Word in radio land is that he [Jones] is joining 2SM' Jones replied: 'Put a bit of paper in front of me, you know what its like, its the same old rules isnt it?' Later Laws suggested they work as a team, to which Jones responded: 'Why not?' 'We could set the world on fire, you and me,' Laws then said. Old rivals: Rumours about Jones (right) possibly moving to 2SM began soon after he appeared on the station during John Laws' (left) breakfast show in July 2021 Jones hosted a popular breakfast show on 2GB for 18 years before leaving in 2020. At the time, the millionaire Sydney broadcaster told listeners he was quitting due to ill health. His departure came in the wake of controversy over comments he had made about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Jones later apologised for his remarks after sponsors briefly boycotted the Macquarie Network, then owners of 2GB. In 2021, Jones lost his spot on Sky News Australia when his contract wasn't renewed. Brooke Blurton is proudly waving the flag for the bisexual community at Mardi Gras. And the former Bachelorette, 27, flaunted her sensational figure on Monday as she danced around her home in a figure-hugging bodysuit. Brooke, who recently split from ex-boyfriend Darvid Garayeli, carried the pride flag while performing a sexy routine down the stairs. Got the moves: Bisexual Bachelorette Brooke Blurton, 27, (pictured) showcased her sexy dance moves in a figure-hugging bodysuit as she celebrated Mardi Gras week on Monday Brooke wore a pair of white heels for the sizzling performance, opted for minimal makeup, and styled her brunette hair loosely. 'Walking into Mardi Gras like...' she captioned the clip. Brooke will likely attend Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade this week, which celebrates and recognises sexual minorities. Wowsers! Brooke, who recently split from ex-boyfriend Darvid Garayeli, carried the pride flag while performing a sexy routine down the stairs It comes after her break-up with ex Darvid, her winning suitor on The Bachelorette. In an interview with NITV's The Point last month, Brooke claimed Darvid, 27, wanted to 'humiliate' her when he announced on Instagram they'd parted ways. Brooke said she'd been blindsided by his decision to go public with their 'private' split, and said she was 'in a very vulnerable place' when it happened. Celebration: Brooke will likely attend Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade this week, which celebrates and recognises sexual minorities 'It's a lot of pressure and I had no choice in any part of it going public, I would have preferred not to but it did,' she said. 'I feel like it was just to humiliate me, to have one over me, and what else did I have to do?' 'I was silenced. I was defenceless. I just had to cop it. And that's exactly what I did.' Ouch: In a recent interview with NITV's The Point, The Bachelorette star claimed Darvid, 27, wanted to 'humiliate' her when he made a public announcement about their split in January Darvid stunned Brooke and Bachelorette fans alike when he announced their split on Instagram in early January. 'Starting off the New Year with an end to a chapter and hopefully the beginning of another,' he began. 'Unfortunately Brooke and I have parted ways. Whilst we both genuinely thought we were each other's person, things change and that's okay.' Betrayed: Brooke, 27, said she'd been blindsided by Darvid's decision to go public with their 'private' breakup, and said she was 'in a very vulnerable place' when it happened Following Darvid's announcement, Brooke shared a post to Instagram admitting she was 'surprised' he'd shared the news with fans. 'Hey beautiful people before my phone blows up. I just want to say right now I'm finding this really quite overwhelming and just as surprising to me as you guys,' she began. 'I just woke up to the news. It was definitely agreed to part ways. I just wanted to do it privately, amicably and respectfully.' Explanation: 'I feel like it was just to humiliate me, to have one over me, and what else did I have to do?' she insisted She continued: 'This is not how and what I expected to be doing right now so as you can imagine, this is all a lot. 'You will all have your judgements and have your say but there is a lot going on in my world and D's of course. So I again just ask you be kind, we are human.' She ended her post by asking the public to 'respect some part of some what "privacy" we do have right now' and said she'd be 'tuning out' of social media. Simone Holtznagel left SAS Australia after a week on the gruelling show. And following her exit on Monday's episode, the 28-year-old model reflected on her journey in the Special Forces selection course. 'Welp. Thanks for the memories SAS,' she began a lengthy post on Instagram. Memories: Following her week-long stint on SAS Australia, model Simone Holtznagel, 28, shared a post on Instagram reflecting on her journey in the Special Forces selection course 'To the DS [Directing Staff], thank you for not giving up on me when my anxiety caused me give up on myself,' she added. 'In the all the moments when I wanted to VW [voluntarily withdraw], you saw in me what I could no longer see in myself... 'Each of you pushed me in ways that I didn't know I needed in those moments of weakness and self-doubt and gave me rational and (sometimes) harsh words that helped me overcome whatever was in front of me in that moment.' Simone went on to say the experience was well worth the effort. Grateful: 'To the DS [Directing Staff], thank you for not giving up on me when my anxiety caused me give up on myself,' she wrote. Pictured with Chief Instructor Ant Middleton Simone's post was flooded with supportive comments from fans and fellow recruits. 'You should be so proud of yourself - you broke down a lot of barriers and really hung there. Hold your head high,' Barry Hall, 45, wrote. 'You were incredible. You should be so proud!' Anna Heinrich, 35, added. Riana Crehan, 34, said: 'You are the absolute best. Love you. You smashed it.' Supportive words: Simone's post was flooded with comments from fans and fellow recruits Chief Instructor Ant Middleton also responded to her post, commenting: 'Amazing woman Nothing but love and positivity sent your way.' To speak to a Lifeline Crisis Supporter, phone 13 11 14 or visit Lifeline.org.au SAS Australia continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Seven and 7Plus Alessandra Ambrosio and her boyfriend Richard Lee took a romantic walk while vacationing in St. Barts on Thursday. The 40-year-old Brazilian model stunned in a lavender string bikini as she walked hand-in-hand with her fellow model boyfriend. Richard was seen wearing board shorts and a black t-shirt as he carried a brown bag along the Caribbean coast. Happy couple: Alessandra Ambrosio and her boyfriend Richard Lee took a romantic walk while vacationing in St. Barts on Thursday Alessandra took a dip into the crystal clear ocean as she had a huge smile on her face and played in the shallow waters. The mother-of-two has been updating her nearly 11 million Instagram followers of her vacation with her Richard and her nine-year-old son Noah. On Sunday, Alessandra posted a few pictures of herself in a tiny, string orange bikini as she relaxed on the beaches with the crystal clear Caribbean ocean behind her. 'Un petit bout de paradis Ive missed u #stbarth #favoritespotonearth,' Alessandra captioned her post. Brazilian beauty: The 40-year-old Brazilian model stunned in a lavender string bikini as she walked hand-in-hand with her fellow model boyfriend Enjoying vacation: The mother-of-two has been updating her nearly 11 million Instagram followers of her vacation with her Richard and her nine-year-old son Noah Feeling the water: Alessandra took a dip into the crystal clear ocean as she had a huge smile on her face and played in the shallow waters The first half of her message is in French, which translates to 'a little piece of paradise'. The mother-of-two paired a large sunhat with orange glasses to protect her ageless face from the sun. Alessandra had a drink in her hand as she posed for the camera on a turquoise beach towel. On her Instagram story, Alessandra shared some more bikini snaps with her nearly 11 million followers. On Sunday, Alessandra uploaded a few selfies in a burnt-orange bikini while she took a dip in the ocean. In St. Barts: Ambrosio is enjoying her Caribbean getaway with her boyfriend Richard Lee and her nine year-old son Noah Relaxing: On Sunday, Alessandra posted a few pictures of herself in a tiny, string orange bikini as she relaxed on the beaches with the crystal clear Caribbean ocean behind her 'New @galfloripa coming out soon...' she captioned the images, promoting her swimwear line. The supermodel's minimal bikini was part of her Gal Floripa line that she co-founded with her sister Aline Ambrosio and best friend Gisele Coria in 2019. 'Growing up in Brazil, Gisele, Aline and I spent most of our summers together by the beach, immersed in the natural beauty of Florianopolis, known as 'The Magic Island', and spending almost every moment of the day in our swimwear,' Ambrosio reveals on her Gal Floripa webpage, adding, 'It makes sense that swimwear became like a second skin.' Taking a dip: On Sunday, Alessandra uploaded a few selfies in a burnt-orange bikini while she took a dip in the ocean Missing from the documented family fun was Ambrosio's daughter Anja Mazur, 13. She shares her two children with her ex-fiance Jamie Mazur, whom she dated from 2005 to 2018. Ambrosio and her current partner Lee have been romantically linked for one year, after they were first spotted canoodling in February 2021. They have since been captured vacationing together several times, most recently in her native Brazil around the new year. Plastic surgery-obsessed social media star Mary Magdalene has claimed she was assaulted at an airport recently. The 25-year-old, who boasts 'the world's fattest vagina' and size-5000cc breast implants, alleged on Instagram she was groped by a 'butch lesbian' from airport security, who singled her out due to her voluptuous appearance. 'I started crying,' the American model said. 'She was literally laughing, making me take my top off and then began groping me.' Violated: Plastic surgery-obsessed social media star Mary Magdalene (pictured) has claimed she was assaulted at an airport recently Mary said she told the security guard to stop touching her, before another female guard nearby intervened and told the woman to stop, too. 'Just because someone looks sexual does not give you the right to assault them!' she continued. 'It was a butch lesbian. The majority of the time I get assaulted it's by women. So sick! 'Say what the f**k you want about me but don't f**king touch me! Very sick world we live in. People think it's okay to just touch strangers' breasts without consent!' 'I started crying': The model alleged on Instagram she was groped by a 'butch lesbian' from airport security, who singled her out due to her voluptuous appearance 'Absolutely disgusting sick people! But because I look how I do people will say I'm asking for it,' she added. 'That logic is so mentally deranged. If you think like that, please seek help.' Mary then posted a response from a female Instagram follower, who victim-blamed her over the incident. 'Lmao. You look weird so people will act weird towards you, which is very normal. You are the problem,' the troll wrote. Hands off! 'She was literally laughing, making me take my top off and then began groping me,' a distraught Mary said on Instagram 'Oh yeah, because I love getting assaulted by men!' Mary responded sarcastically. 'See how sick people are? But if I dress like a nun only then assault is wrong. Girl, bye,' she added. Mary became a social media sensation in 2018 after she almost died during an operation to enlarge her vagina. 'I almost died during [the] procedure. I had to get two blood transfusions. The doctor said I was losing so much blood, and turning very pale. He thought I was going to die,' she previously told The Sun. Plastic: Mary became a social media sensation in 2018 after she almost died during an operation to enlarge her vagina Her vagina isn't the only enlarged part of her body, with Mary also sporting extreme butt and breast implants. Her implants are currently 5000cc, but she has expanders in her chest to keep her breasts growing bigger. The heavily tattooed model had her first procedure done at the age of 21, when she was working as a stripper. Curves: Her vagina isn't the only enlarged part of her body, with Mary also sporting extreme butt and breast implants Over the years, her surgeries have included a brow lift, fat transfers, multiple nose and boob jobs, veneers, liposuction, butt injections and three Brazilian butt lifts. Earlier this month, she had a fourth nose job to create a 'Barbie nose', along with cat-eye surgery and eyebrow implants. She also had her teeth filed down to get porcelain veneers. Before and after: Over the years, her surgeries have included a brow lift, fat transfers, multiple nose and boob jobs, veneers, liposuction, butt injections and three Brazilian butt lifts The model had her recent surgeries done in Europe after American doctors refused to continue operating on her. Mary, who grew up as a devout Christian, previously had more than one million followers on TikTok before her account was deleted for violating content guidelines. She now works as an OnlyFans performer and professional artist, selling colourful self portraits online to fans and art lovers. She announced she was expecting her first child last month. And Chloe Crowhurst took to Instagram on Monday to show off her pregnancy curves in a black bikini set. The Love Island star, 27, cradled her blossoming baby bump as she posed for a selfie during a spa weekend at Champneys Spas with her friends. Mother-to-be: Chloe Crowhurst took to Instagram on Monday to show off her pregnancy curves in a black bikini set Chloe captioned the shot: 'Just about ready to pop! Had the loveliest weekend with the girls at @champneysspas. Relaxing, massages, lots of food and wonderful company in a beautiful location.' She allowed her loose blonde curls to cascade down her shoulders and opted for a full palette of makeup. Chloe later took to her Stories to share a photo taken in the bathroom and penned: 'Had a lovely weekend with the girlies, who knew relaxing could be so tiring!' Bumping along! The Love Island star, 27, cradled her blossoming baby bump as she posed for a selfie during a spa weekend at Champneys Spas with her friends It comes after Chloe spoke out on why she decided to keep her pregnancy private, revealing she had been placed under specialist care after suffering three miscarriages prior. The television personality surprised fans when she announced she was expecting her first child - a baby girl - in January, after keeping her relationship off social media. Speaking on FUBAR Radio on Thursday, Chloe spoke for the first time about boyfriend, photographer David Houghton and her secret miscarriage heartache Secret heartache: Chloe has revealed she kept her pregnancy private up until recently because she 'had three miscarriages' and was 'under specialist care at first' Chloe said: 'With my pregnancy, I didnt announce it for quite a long time, just because Ive had very bad experiences in the past with pregnancies and stuff like that. 'Ive had three miscarriages before, so I was under quite specialist care at first. It wasnt something I wanted to advertise and cause stress upon.' The reality star stated shes feeling surprisingly calm about giving birth: 'Im not actually worried about it. I dont know why because Im not really a chilled person, but since being pregnant Im very chill.' President Moon Jae-in speaks during a ceremony to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement at the National Memorial for the Provisional Korean Government in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap Calling Japan a close neighbor, president reveals hope for thaw in bilateral ties By Nam Hyun-woo President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that the door remains open for dialogue with Japan. He made the comments during a speech to commemorate the anniversary of an independence movement against Japan's forced occupation of Korea from 1910-1945, as bilateral relations remain at one of the lowest points since the two countries formed diplomatic ties in 1965. "Cooperation between Korea and Japan is the responsibility of the current generation for the sake of future generations," Moon said at a ceremony marking the 103rd anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement. The President made similar remarks last year and the year before as chilly relations between Seoul and Tokyo have continued, hampering economic and security cooperation between the neighboring countries to counter North Korea's missile threats. "In this time of many difficulties, Korea and Japan close neighbors must be able to overcome the history of the once unfortunate past and cooperate for the future." Moon added that he hopes Japan will take a lead role as an advanced country, but also, that the country "faces its history and is humble before it." "Japan will become a trustworthy country only when it is able to empathize with the wounds of the people of neighboring countries, which are sometimes exacerbated by a once unfortunate past," Moon said. "My administration will always keep the door open for dialogue to join forces not only for regional peace and prosperity, but also for responding to global challenges ranging from COVID-19 and the climate crisis, to the supply chain crisis and the new economic order." Relations between Seoul and Tokyo sank to a new low in recent years after Japan restricted exports of key industrial materials to South Korea in apparent retaliation against a 2018 Korean Supreme Court ruling that awarded compensation to laborers forced to work for a Japanese company during World War II. Although the export restrictions themselves did not pose serious damage to the South Korean economy, the icy relations have been impeding security cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington to counter North Korea's increasing missile threats and nuclear programs. Against this backdrop, Moon has been using a strategy of handling historical issues and practical cooperation separately. As his presidency nears its end, the words of Moon's March 1 Independence Movement Day speech this year appear to show a continuation of this strategy without major changes in policy direction. President Moon Jae-in speaks during a ceremony to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement at the National Memorial for the Provisional Korean Government in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap Moon also reiterated the necessity of Seoul's commitment to inter-Korean peace. "Peace on the Korean Peninsula is a must for us to become stronger," Moon said, adding that there was no South or North Korea during the time of the March 1 Independence Movement. "The Korean War and the history of division we have suffered since then have taught us that only dialogue not confrontation and hostility can bring peace." "If we do not lose our determination just as we dreamed of turning the PyeongChang Winter Olympics into a Peace Olympics amid the dark clouds of war it is certainly possible to bring denuclearization and permanent peace to the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy." During the speech, Moon also noted the importance of national strength, in an apparent reference to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "State-centered nationalism, which seeks to gain hegemony by force, is also raising its head again. Concerns over a new Cold War are on the rise as well," Moon said. The lesson that the spirit of the March 1 Independence Movement gives us today is that we should have the power to lead our history without being pushed around by an international order centered on powerful countries." The ceremony was held at the newly established National Memorial for the Provisional Korean Government in Seodaemun District, Seoul. In 2017, Moon had promised to build this national memorial and visited the building of the Provisional Republic of Korea Government in Chongqing. "The March 1 Independence Movement and the Provisional Republic of Korea Government are a great legacy passed on to us by our forebears," Moon said. "Remembering and honoring the history of our democratic republic will make our democratic republic of today stronger," he said. Australian journalist Sarah Williamson has hit back at conspiracy theorists who claim Russia's invasion of Ukraine is fake. The 31-year-old, who is reporting live from the ground in Ukraine for conservative U.S. news network Newsmax, hit back at naysayers on Instagram on Monday. 'I've seen people try and say there's no war going on. "False flags". How true is this statement?' one of her followers asked during a Q&A. Reporter: Australian journalist Sarah Williamson (pictured) has hit back at conspiracy theorists who claim Russia's invasion of Ukraine is fake Sarah fired back: 'Of course there is a war going on. With my own eyes I have [seen] the buildings that have been destroyed. 'I see, and come in contact with, the military constantly. And today I saw a dead body shot up in a car on the side of the road.' She added: 'That's a pretty good indication of war.' Another follower asked Sarah if the conflict was 'really as bad as the pictures on the news and Instagram'. 'Pictures don't lie,' Sarah responded. Response: The 31-year-old, who is reporting live from the ground in Ukraine for conservative U.S. news network Newsmax, hit back at naysayers on Instagram on Monday 'Pictures don't lie': Another follower asked Sarah if the conflict was 'really as bad as the pictures on the news and Instagram' The Melbourne journalist has been wowing American viewers since she joined the right-wing populist Newsmax network last year. Following a live broadcast from Kyiv last week, viewers flocked to social media to praise her professionalism. 'Wow, she needs to be on prime time,' wrote one, while another commented: 'Love your reporting, Sarah. Your stunning beauty goes hand in hand with your intellect!' 'Great job, Sarah, keep it up! And may I say, you look simply amazing,' wrote a third. Hitting back: 'Of course there is a war going on. With my own eyes I have [seen] the buildings that have been destroyed,' she wrote on Instagram The Aussie reporter has become quite the breakout star over at Newsmax thanks to her good looks and impeccable reporting. She's often flooded with comments on social media after her segments air, with many viewers saying she deserves more airtime. Sarah recently left Israeli news channel i24 News and relocated to New York City to begin working for the conservative network. Popular: The Aussie reporter has become quite the breakout star over at Newsmax thanks to her good looks and impeccable reporting The journalist announced her big career move in September, telling her thousands of followers she was leaving Tel Aviv for NYC. Newsmax is known for its right-wing perspective and has gained popularity in recent years due to its unwavering support of former president Donald Trump. Sarah, a political science graduate who previously worked for Channel Nine in Australia, first went viral last year while covering the Israel-Palestine conflict. Jackie Woodburne says Neighbours will leave a 'massive gap' in television. The 66-year-old actress - who had played the iconic role of teacher Susan Kennedy since 1994 - has hailed the cancellation of the classic soap opera the 'loss of an icon'. In an interview with Studio 10, she said: 'It doesn't matter how aware you are of the fans that watch the show and how much they enjoy it; but this week, it's like a floodgate has opened and I've received the most beautiful messages from people. End of an era: Jackie Woodburne, right, said Neighbours will leave a 'massive gap' in television and appeared to confirm there is no chance in saving the soap during an interview with Studio 10. She is pictured here with Margot Robbie 'People are really going to miss the show and it's going to leave a massive gap in the landscape of not just Australian television but internationally and specifically in the UK as well. 'It's the end of an era, it's the loss of an icon and we will never ever see a show like Neighbours again.' UK's Channel 5 acquired the rights to the soap in 2008. However, the broadcaster recently announced that it will stop airing Neighbours. Over: UK's Channel 5 acquired the rights to the soap in 2008. However, the broadcaster recently announced that it will stop airing Neighbours'. Jackie is pictured here with her co-star Alan Fletcher From this summer, the network planning to focus on 'original UK drama' instead. The UK broadcaster largely funded the production costs because it was not commercially viable for Australian broadcaster Network 10 to fund the Freemantle Media-produced show alone. However, a Network 10 spokesperson recently said: 'As outlined in the email to Neighbours cast and crew, it is our intention to continue our association with Neighbours if another broadcast partner comes forward. 'Network 10 has an ongoing commitment to the show, the cast and crew and is hopeful that Fremantle will find a new production partner. We will provide further updates as they become available.' Olivia Palermo cut a stylish figure as she attended the Ferrari show during Paris Fashion Week on Monday. The socialite, 35, wowed as she donned a vibrant colorblocked turtleneck and white skirt alongside her husband Johannes Huebl, 44, at the event. Posing for photos against the Ferrari red backdrop, Olivia looked stunning in the stylish ensemble as she displayed her incredible fashion sense. Vibrant: Olivia Palermo, 35, cut a stylish figure in a colorblocked turtleneck and leather shirt with her husband Johannes Huebl at Ferrari's Paris Fashion Week show on Monday She tucked the long sleeved knitted jumper into her leather skirt that wrapped around her tiny waist. To complete her look she slipped into a pair of knee high lace up boots to add an element of edge to her chic look. Olivia wore her blonde locked pulled back into a sleek low bun and opted for a stunning rich brown eyeshadow with a pop of red lipstick. Striking: Posing for photos against the Ferrari red backdrop, Olivia looked stunning in the stylish ensemble as she displayed her incredible fashion sense Model Johannes, donned a black knitted jumper with a pair of chino trousers as he layered over a charcoal jacquard jacket. To finish off his outfit he added a pair a white leather Gucci trainers and slipped a pair of sunglasses into the neck of his sweater for the ultimate laidback look. Olivia met the German model through friends at a Manhattan film screening while she was still attending The New School back in 2008, they married in 2014. Stylish: Also in attendance was Italian journalist and fashion icon Anna Dello Russo, 59, who put on an incredible display in a skintight catsuit Chic: Elsewhere, fashion blogger Jessica Wang, 30, who posed up a storm in a cropped jacket and relaxed trousers with a Ferrari logo emblazoned belt Fashion forward: She added a pop of colour to her look with a slick of yellow nail polish Perched on the front row at the event was Vogue editor Anna Wintour who sat alongside, Ferrari chairman John Elkann, his wife Lavinia and daughter Vita. Also in attendance was Italian journalist and fashion icon Anna Dello Russo, 59, who put on an incredible display in a skintight catsuit. She layered a bright red boucle jacket with gold buttons over the lycra one piece and completed her look with some black and gold heels. Elsewhere, fashion blogger Jessica Wang, 30, who posed up a storm in a cropped jacket and relaxed trousers with a Ferrari logo emblazoned belt. Katie Holmes bundled up against the cold as she ran errands in Manhattan on Monday. The actress, 43, stepped out in a long brown coat over a purple dress that fell all the way down to her white shoes. She slung a large red bag from Blick Art Materials over her shoulder and accessorized with large square-rimmed sunglasses and a beige face covering that she pulled down around her neck. Keeping warm: Katie Holmes bundled up against the cold as she ran errands in Manhattan on Monday The Batman Begins star also carried a black bag with her as she made her way through the busy New York streets. Her appearance on the New York City streets came just a couple weeks after she attended the Tory Burch show during New York Fashion Week. The Dawson's Creek star, 43, looked sophisticated in a lengthy white coat, which she paired with a classic Tory Burch purse. The actress elevated her elegant look with black stockings and black sandals with unique crystal heels. Fashionable outfit: The actress, 43, stepped out in a long brown coat over a purple dress that fell all the way down to her white shoes Gone shopping: She slung a large red bag from Blick Art Materials over her shoulders and accessorized with large square-rimmed sunglasses Inside the event she removed her chic coat, revealing an oversized brown dress underneath, which had buttons going all the way down and was cinched at the ankles. On top of her public appearances, the star has a number of upcoming film and television projects on the way as well. She recently completed filming on an untitled Fox television movie in which she will play a FBI special agent. Subtle: Holmes recently attended the Tory Burch fashion show in an oversized brown dress underneath, which had buttons going all the way down and was cinched at the ankles Keeping busy: Holmes has multiple films coming out including Rare Objects which she's currently in the process of filming Another one of her untitled projects, set for release later this year, is currently in post-production while she's in the process of filming the movie Rare Objects. The movie is based on the novel about a young woman who tries to rebuild her life by working in an antiques store. Holmes will serve as the lead actress and director. She also co-wrote the script along with Phaedon A. Papadopoulos and the novel's author Kathleen Tessaro. In addition to being a movie star, Holmes is also hard at work as a full-time mother to her daughter Suri, 15, who she shares with her ex-husband Tom Cruise. Dawson's Creek is available only on Stan in Australia. Cate Blanchett stole the show when she stepped onto the red carpet at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. The Oscar-winning actress, 52, showed off her flawless physique in a figure-hugging black gown by Armani - but one detail really caught fans' attention. While the dress featured a plunging neckline that drew attention to Cate's decolletage, it was her tiny waist that drove the conversation on social media. What a waist! Fans have gone wild over Cate Blanchett's tiny waist after she walked the SAG Awards red carpet in LA on Sunday in a figure-hugging Armani dress with a plunging neckline Instagram fan accounts were flooded with comments about how good Cate looked. 'A jaw dropping dress on you,' one fan gushed, while another added, 'No words - shes perfect.' A third said: 'That's one hell of a body... dress is nice too.' Many fans commented hourglass emojis in reference to the Blue Jasmine star's incredible figure. Fan love: Instagram fan accounts were flooded with comments about how good Cate looked Speechless: 'A jaw dropping dress on you,' one gushed, while another added, 'No words.' Many fans commented hourglass emojis in reference to the Blue Jasmine star's incredible figure Cate's Armani dress featured a risque neckline, embellished with large stones to draw attention to her bust, and was cinched in at the waist to highlight her slender midsection. Jewels by Italian fine jeweler Pomellato, including diamond and emerald drop earrings and several cocktail rings, complemented her outfit. The Elizabeth actress opted for a smokey eye and nude lip combination for her makeup, and her blonde locks were styled in soft waves courtesy of celebrity hairstylist Robert Vetica. Stunning: Cate's Armani dress featured a risque neckline, embellished with large stones to draw attention to her bust Hitting the mark: Cate is known for her impeccable sense of style and she didn't disappoint Silhouette: Her gown was cinched in at the waist to highlight the actress' slender midsection It comes after Cate received the Honorary Cesar award during the 47th Cesar Film Awards Ceremony in Paris on Friday. She became emotional as she took to the stage to accept the award. In her early 50s, 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 U.S. The perfect fit! Cate's gown fit the Oscar winner like a glove Flawless: The Elizabeth star opted for a smokey eye and nude lip combination for her makeup, and her blonde locks were styled in soft waves Best dressed? Cate's gown was one of her best red carpet looks to date 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. The prize has been awarded 47 times. Previous winners include Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Robert de Niro and Tom Hanks. Cate has worked tirelessly for the last 25 years racking up dozens of credits in theatre, film and television. 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. Just days before the critically-acclaimed After Yang debuts in theaters and streaming on Showtime, Colin Farrell reunited with his co-stars and director. The 45-year-old Irish actor hit the red carpet with co-stars Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, And Just Like That... star Sarita Choudhury and director Kogonada at a special screening at Village East Cinema in New York City on Monday. The film is slated for release in theaters through A24 and on streaming through Showtime starting March 4. Stepping out: The 45-year-old Irish actor hit the red carpet with co-stars Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, Sarita Choudhury and director Kogonada at a special screening at Village East Cinema in New York City on Monday Farrell stepped out in a turquoise turtleneck under a matching suit coat and pants for the screening. The actor sported the early makings of a mustache and goatee for the screening in the Big Apple. He completed his look for the red carpet event with black dress shoes. Colin's look: Farrell stepped out in a turquoise turtleneck under a matching suit coat and pants for the screening He was joined by Sarita Choudhury, who was most recently seen in HBO's Sex and the City spin-off And Just Like That... The actress wore an off-shoulder black tube maxi dress, along with stylish black pumps for the event. She completed her look with a small black leather clutch. Sarita: He was joined by Sarita Choudhury, who was most recently seen in HBO's Sex and the City spin-off And Just Like That... Sarita's look: The actress wore an off-shoulder black tube maxi dress, along with stylish black pumps for the event 10-year-old Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja also hit the red carpet with a stylish white and gold top, fluffy white skirt, black leggins and white boots. Actor Daniel K. Isaac was also in attendance, wearing a tie-less black-on-black suit for the event. Author Alexander Weinstein, whose short story Saying Goodbye to Yang served as the basis for the film, also stepped out with a tie-less suit. Malea: 10-year-old Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja also hit the red carpet with a stylish white and gold top, fluffy white skirt, black leggins and white boots Daniel's look: Actor Daniel K. Isaac was also in attendance, wearing a tie-less black-on-black suit for the event Author: Author Alexander Weinstein, whose short story Saying Goodbye to Yang served as the basis for the film, also stepped out with a tie-less suit The film is set in a world where robotic children are purchased to serve as babysitters for young kids. The story follows a family (Farrell, Jodie Foster-Smith, Tjandrawidjaja) who try to save their robotic babysitter Yang (Justin H. Min) after he becomes unresponsive. The film also stars Clifton Collins Jr., Haley Lu Richardson, Orlagh Cassidy and Richie Coster, with Kogonada (Columbus) writing the adapted screenplay and directing. Family: The story follows a family (Farrell, Jodie Foster-Smith, Tjandrawidjaja) who try to save their robotic babysitter Yang (Justin H. Min) after he becomes unresponsive Jennifer Garner was the picture of glamour as she attended the New York City premiere of her upcoming Netflix film The Adam Project. The 49-year-old actress looked phenomenal in a sleeveless black dress with a modest side slit. Jennifer wore her dark locks off her face for the event and stunned as she posed for photos on the step-and-repeat's blue carpet. Night out: Jennifer Garner was the picture of glamour as she attended the New York City premiere of her upcoming Netflix film The Adam Project The mother-of-three wowed in the halter-style number, which cinched at the waist, highlighting her trim figure. Garner kept the look minimalistic, opting for understated diamond drop earrings, a diamond Vacheron Constantin watch, and a ring. The longtime performer rounded out the formal attire with a pair of pointed-toe black heels with two straps - one stone-studded and one black. On point fashion: The 49-year-old actress looked phenomenal in a sleeveless black dress with a modest side slit, which she wore with dazzling heels and a Vacheron Constantin watch Jennifer wore her dark locks in a chic updo for the event and stunned as she posed for photos on the step-and-repeat's blue carpet The Alias alum's chocolate-colored locks were styled in a textured look and arranged in a coiffed updo. Her makeup was expertly-applied, accentuating her eyes with fluttery lashes and finishing with a pink lipstick. The Texas-born star wore a vampy burgundy manicure on her nails, adding a look of polished sophistication to her getup. Colleagues: Jen's dress had side pockets, which she used as she tucked her hand into one while posing with her costar Zoe Saldana As she arrived to the event Jennifer bundled up in a long black trench coat, before shedding the layer for photos. Jen's dress had side pockets, which she used as she tucked her hand into one while posing with her costar Zoe Saldana. Zoe matched Jennifer in an all black ensemble and a bold makeup look that consisted of a pink eyeshadow palette. Keeping warm: As she arrived to the event Jennifer bundled up in a long black trench coat, before shedding the layer for photos The 13 Going on 30 actress was joined at the premiere by her other costars Mark Ruffalo, Ryan Reynolds, and Walker Scobell. The cast rubbed elbows with each other, as well as The Adam Project director Shawn Levy and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. In the film Jennifer plays Ellie Reed, mother to Ryan's character and the movie's namesake, Adam. Team: The cast rubbed elbows with each other, as well as The Adam Project director Shawn Levy and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos; L-R Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Jennifer Garner and Ted Sarandos The Adam Project is a science-fiction film that sees an older man go back in time to team up with his younger self and confront his dad's death. It will come to Netflix on March 11. Taking to Instagram on Monday Jennifer said, 'Can't wait for everyone to see this film in 11 days!' Before the premiere on Monday night, the cast stopped by media outlets to promote the film. Zoe Kravitz appears to have confirmed longstanding rumors that her version of Catwoman is bisexual in her upcoming film The Batman. The 33-year-old actress admitted that she 'interpreted' the character as being part of the LGBTQ community in an interview with Australia's Pedestrian.tv that was published Monday. While Kravitz's character appears to have an emotional entanglement with the eponymous Caped Crusader (played by Robert Pattinson), she may have had female lovers as well. New direction? Zoe Kravtiz, 33, said she 'interpreted' her character Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) as being bisexual in her new film The Batwoman, according to an interview published Monday by Pedestrian.tv; seen February 23 in London The Batman features an early scene with Zoe's character Selina Kyle in which she returns to her apartment and calls out for her female friend Anika, calling her 'baby' in the process, suggesting they have a romantic relationship. Although her possible romance with another woman is only hinted at, her attraction for Bruce Wayne/Batman is explicit, as the two kiss later in the film. She also muddles her status by referring to Anika as a 'friend' while speaking with Pattinson's character. Zoe admitted that she took the earlier scene to mean that Selina was bisexual, even if it wasn't explicitly stated as such. Hinting: In an early scene, Selina (Kravitz) goes to her apartment and calls out for another woman named Anika, calling her 'baby,' possibly suggesting they had an intimate relationship; still from The Batman Mixed messages: She's also seen kissing Batman later, and she then refers to Anika as a 'friend'; still from The Batman 'Thats definitely the way I interpreted that, that they had some kind of romantic relationship,' she said. After the interviewer shared her excitement at seeing a bisexual Catwoman on screen, the Big Little Lies actress added, 'I agree!' But the film's director, Matt Reeves, was more equivocal when it came to the question of Selina Kyle's sexuality. '[The film is] very true to the character of Selina Kyle. Shes not yet Catwoman, but all the elements of how shes going to become Catwoman are there,' he explained. Agreed: Asked if Catwoman was bisexual, Zoe replied: 'Thats definitely the way I interpreted that, that they had some kind of romantic relationship'; seen in September in NYC 'And in terms of her relationship with Anika, I spoke to Zoe very early on and one of the things she said which I loved was that: "Shes drawn to strays because she was a stray and so she really wants to care for these strays because she doesnt want to be that way anymore and Anika is like a stray and she loves her. She actually represents this connection that she has to her mother who she lost, who was a stray anymore."' The Cloverfield director clarified that the character wasn't explicitly meant to be bisexual, but he was open to that fan interpretation. 'So I dont think we meant to go directly in that way, but you can interpret it that way for sure. She has an intimacy with that character and its a tremendous and deep caring for that character, more so than a sexual thing, but there was meant to be quite an intimate relationship between them.' Walking it back: But director Matt Reeves was more equivocal and said Catwoman wasn't supposed to be explicitly bisexual, though it was open to fan interpretation; (LR) Dylan Clark, Andy Serkis, Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright and Matt Reeves The Batman is just the latest superhero film to include hints at LGBTQ characters, though many fans have derided past movies for refusing to include more fully developed queer stars. Avengers: Endgame was mocked by some fans after the film was advertised as having Marvel's first openly gay character, though the character in question turned out to be minor character with only seconds on screen who referenced his husband at a support group attended by Captain America (Chris Evans). The character was played by one of the film's directors, Joe Russo, who isn't gay himself, which also irked some fans. Tessa Thompson is also believed to be playing her character Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok and its followups as bisexual, but a scene explicitly confirming her sexuality was cut. Major studios like Disney/Marvel and Warner Bros. may be hesitant to include more explicit LGBTQ characters for fear of offending some fans or getting the films banned in more culturally conservative countries. A pattern: Previous superhero films including Avengers: Endgame and Thor: Ragnarok have been mocked for featuring hints of LGBTQ characters while refusing to make their sexuality explicit; Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth seen in Thor: Ragnarok The question of whether Catwoman is bisexual in The Batman doesn't seem to have concerned most reviewers, as the film currently boasts an impressive 87 percent fresh rating from critics surveyed by Rotten Tomatoes. Although some advance viewers complained that the film is four minutes shy of three hours with credits included and others have derided its dark visual style, the noir-influenced tone has appealed to many critics. Vulture's Bilge Ebiri commended The Batman's dark tone, which he said was appropriate as Batman is the 'saddest of heroes.' NPR critic Glen Weldon saluted the film for ignoring some of the cliched features of Batman films by skipping the death of Bruce Wayne's parents. Slate's Dana Stevens noted the 'emotional power' of how The Batman made its title character a 'Hamlet-like heir unable to move past the primal shock of his parents murder,' and she also praised Zoe as a welcome respite from a parade of male antagonists. Big fans: The question of whether Catwoman is bisexual in The Batman doesn't seem to have concerned most reviewers, as the film currently boasts an impressive 87 percent fresh rating from critics surveyed by Rotten Tomatoes Madonna and comedian Sandra Bernhard were best friends in the '80s and '90s, before dramatically falling out in 1992. And now one of Sandra's closest friends, designer and TV personality Isaac Mizrahi, has revealed his own version of what he believes is behind the Roseanne star's feud with the Queen of Pop. Speaking to the Hot Takes & Deep Dives podcast, Isaac claimed it was Madonna's relationship with Sandra's then-girlfriend Ingrid Casares that tore the pair apart. Speaking out: Sandra Bernhard's (right) best friend, designer and TV personality Isaac Mizrahi (left), has shared his theory on Sandra's falling out with former best pal Madonna in the '90s 'I wasn't sure what Madonna was up to with Sandra,' Isaac said while reflecting on meeting Madonna for the first time in the early '90s. 'I know that Madonna is pansexual... and I guess I couldn't tell what was going on between them. 'I couldn't tell if they were having an affair or whether Madonna was after Sandra's girlfriend, who was beautiful, this girl called Ingrid.' Nightclub owner Ingrid became a minor media staple in the '90s thanks to her circle of celebrity pals, which not only included Madonna and Sandra, but also Donald Trump, Tommy Mottola, and many other A-listers of that era. Flashback: Madonna and comedian Sandra (pictured together circa 1988) were best friends in the '80s and the early '90s, before dramatically falling out in 1992 Ingrid previously claimed Sandra fell out with Madonna because she wasn't asked to be in the pop star's infamous Sex book, but Isaac believes that's not the case. 'That's not true,' he claimed. 'The truth is Sandra was betrayed because Madonna had an affair with Ingrid.' He also said Sandra 'couldn't care less' about Madonna's X-rated Sex book and had no desire to be in it. 'None of us really thought much of that book,' he sniffed. 'That book was, you know, a little bit forced, a little bit contrived.' Trouble: Speaking to the Hot Takes & Deep Dives podcast, Isaac claimed it was Madonna's relationship with Sandra's (left) then-girlfriend Ingrid Casares (right) that tore the pair apart 'The truth was, Madonna and Ingrid had a thing and Ingrid was dating Sandra at the time and that's what hurt Sandra. Not the book,' he claimed. He added: 'I think Madonna has a different idea of what it means to have sex with somebody, what it means to be in a relationship with somebody. 'I don't think she thought she was doing anything terrible. She was just responding to an erotic...' Isaac also repeated his claims about Madonna and Ingrid's relationship on an episode of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live last week. His version: 'The truth was, Madonna and Ingrid had a thing and Ingrid was dating Sandra at the time and that's what hurt Sandra,' claimed Isaac (pictured with Sandra in February 2016) Rumours surrounding Sandra and Madonna's falling out have swirled for years, but the exact cause of their rift has never been confirmed because each party has a different version of events. Several reports over the years have said Sandra and Ingrid split prior to Ingrid's relationship with Madonna, which caused some jealousy on Sandra's part. Back in December, Sandra opened up about the demise of her friendship with the Material Girl during an interview with Hot Takes & Deep Dives. The 66-year-old took a thinly veiled swipe at her former BFF and said she didn't enjoy the intense fame that came with their friendship. Unique: 'I think Madonna has a different idea of what it means to have sex with somebody, what it means to be in a relationship with somebody,' Isaac said of Madonna (pictured) Mystery: Rumours surrounding Sandra and Madonna's falling out have swirled for years, but the exact cause of their rift has never been confirmed because each party has a different version of events (pictured together in 1991) 'I didn't really like that level of visibility and having to work it constantly,' she explained. 'We all as performers work it to a certain degree, but I'm a very improvisational person, on stage and in my life, and I don't like being tied down in having to be a certain way for my image,' she continued. 'What I tried to impart in our friendship is, "I'm really your friend, I'm not just somebody that's passing through." 'And I guess for a while we had a real friendship, but it's hard for somebody like her. She doesn't really want somebody around who reflects too much of who she is.' The comedian then added cryptically: 'Therefore, her relationships just don't last.' Her truth: Sandra opened up about the end of her friendship with Madonna in an interview with the Hot Takes and Deep Dives podcast back in December After the interview made headlines, Ingrid took to Twitter to rubbish Sandra's version of events, stating the Sex book was the reason for Sandra's falling out with Madonna. 'What a liar!! @SandraBernhard!' she tweeted on Christmas Eve. 'She wasnt asked to be in the Sex book and got pi**ed. (Like the girl who didnt get picked on the dodgeball team in high school and still holds a resentment). Madonna has had the same friends for over 30 years!' Honest: 'I guess for a while we had a real friendship, but it's hard for somebody like her. She doesn't really want somebody around who reflects too much of who she is,' Sandra said Firing back: Ingrid rubbished Sandra's claims in a tweet in December, claiming the comedian was jealous that she was snubbed from Madonna's Sex book Madonna's estranged brother Christopher Ciccone has previously said his sister's only true friend throughout her life was Ingrid. 'She was never really a "buddy",' he told the Dallas Voice in 2008. 'Her only real buddy was Ingrid.' Sandra and Madonna became fast friends in the late '80s, and were even rumoured to be lovers at one point. They famously appeared together on a 1988 episode of Late Night with David Letterman, which is widely considered one of the most iconic late-night TV interviews ever. Sandra was also featured in Madonna's 1991 documentary Truth or Dare, but their friendship seemingly imploded shortly after its release. Anderson Cooper is enjoying his time off with his kids. The CNN personality, 54, appeared on Live with Kelly and Ryan on Friday with photos in which his older son Wyatt Morgan, 22 months, received a haircut at a local barbershop he frequents. The New York City native told the show's Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, 'It's his big second haircut. We took him for the first haircut - this is Eric at neighborhood barbers, which is where I get my haircut too.' The latest: Anderson Cooper, 54, appeared on Live with Kelly and Ryan on Friday with photos in which his older son Wyatt Morgan, 22 months, received a haircut at a local barbershop he frequents Cooper said that the haircut 'started off a little rocky,' as 'Wyatt was a little concerned,' but his mood brightened when he received a lollipop. Ripa responded, 'If there's a lollipop involved, I could have gotten my kids to rob a bank - I'm not kidding - there's a magical quality to them.' Cooper, who welcomed his second son Sebastian Luke earlier this month with ex Benjamin Maisani, said he's been refreshed after taking time off from his cable news job to tend to his sons. 'It's great to be able to come home and decompress,' Cooper said. 'Obviously my kids are asleep but I've taken the last couple of weeks off, it's the longest I've been off, almost three weeks. I've never taken three weeks off before and it's just been so amazing.' Cooper said that the haircut 'started off a little rocky,' as 'Wyatt was a little concerned,' but his mood brightened when he received a lollipop The New York City native told the show's Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, 'It's his big second haircut' Cooper went into detail on how he's been able to spend time with his children during his time off. 'Every night to be able to feed Wyatt and give him his milk, he falls asleep on my chest and there's nothing better,' the veteran newsman said. 'I'm usually on the air at nighttime. I miss all the bedtimes. 'So weekends I can do it, but to be able to do it for three weeks in a row, it's just the greatest. Nothing better.' Cooper welcomed his second son Sebastian Luke earlier this month with ex Benjamin Maisani The journalist said he's been refreshed after taking time off from his cable news job to tend to his sons Cooper said in the appearance that his two sons 'seem to be getting along really well' in the early going Cooper said in the appearance that his two sons 'seem to be getting along really well' in the early going. 'I mean, "Getting along well" - Sebastian sleeps. He can't say Sebastian yet, he calls him Luke. So every morning he wants to go say, "Good morning, Luke."' Cooper in April of 2020 announced the birth of his son Wyatt in a segment on CNN. 'As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I'm grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son's birth,' Cooper said at the time. 'He is sweet, and soft and healthy and I am beyond happy.' Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, does the "manse" (cheer) gesture of the March 1 Independence Movement, with two Korean national flags in his hands, during a campaign activity in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps Lee likens Yoon to Japan's right-wingers; Yoon hits back accusing DPK candidate of treason By Kwon Mee-yoo The two leading presidential candidates tried to discredit each other's policies on Korea-Japan relations, Tuesday, as the day marks the 103rd anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement. Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said he wouldn't allow Japan's Self-Defense Forces to enter Korea under any circumstances, noting that Japan does not regret its past invasions of Korea. "I will take a respectable path for the patriotic martyrs who pursued independence for Korea and for the people of Korea," he said during a televised speech on the 103th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement on KBS, Tuesday. Lee's remarks targeted his rival, main opposition People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol. Lee said that Yoon's perceptions of diplomacy and security are flawed, adding that he was stunned when he heard Yoon's remarks that he would allow Japan's Self-Defense Forces to enter Korea. "It is unbelievable that a presidential candidate of Korea could make such careless remarks. He shouldn't have said that even if it was a slip of the tongue," Lee said. During a TV debate last Friday, minor progressive Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung asked Yoon if he would be willing to proceed with forming a trilateral military alliance among South Korea, the United States and Japan, if he gets elected. Yoon replied that Sim was presenting a hypothetical situation, and so he did not think it was the time to think about it. When Sim kept pressuring him to answer if he would consider forming a trilateral military alliance, which would allow Japan's Self-Defense Forces on Korean soil, Yoon evaded the question but stopped short of saying that he would allow Japan's Self-Defense Forces to enter Korea. But the DPK took advantage of Yoon's unclear stance, accusing the PPP candidate of siding with Japan's far right. Lee also condemned Yoon's "preemptive strike" remarks. "His idea of additional THAAD deployment is unrealistic and unnecessary... The North Korean variables in the past elections are appearing in the form of an additional THAAD system." Yoon Suk-yeol, the main opposition People Power Party presidential candidate, pays tribute to independence movement activists at the Seoul National Cemetery, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps Clayton Echard eliminated Serene Russell after meeting her family on Monday's episode of The Bachelor on ABC as the field narrowed to the final three. The 26-year-old elementary school teacher from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sent home during a rose ceremony by Clayton, a 28-year-old medical sales rep from Eureka, Missouri. Clayton during the rose ceremony offered roses that were gladly accepted by Susie Evans, 28, a wedding videographer from Poquoson, Virginia; Gabriella 'Gabby' Windey, 30, a nurse from O'Fallon, Illinois; and Rachel Recchia, 25, a flight instructor from Clermont, Florida. Rose ceremony: Clayton Echard eliminated Serene Russell after meeting her family on Monday's episode of The Bachelor on ABC as the field narrowed to the final three Serene was left empty-handed after show host Jesse Palmer, 43, noted that Clayton was down to his final rose, which went to Rachel. 'Can I walk you out?,' Clayton asked Serene who earlier shared that she had fallen in love with him. Serene agreed to be walked out by Clayton who told her once they were outside that he was sorry. 'Can I ask you, like, what it was? Because you said you had no reservations about me. Was it just, like, what I said to you and you just, like, couldn't feel it back or?,' Serene asked referencing her declaration that she loved him during her hometown date. Going home: The 26-year-old elementary school teacher from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sent home during a rose ceremony by Clayton, a 28-year-old medical sales rep from Eureka, Missouri 'No, it wasn't that at all. It wasn't something you said that, like, changed it, it just came down to I had to look back and reflect and say, ''Where do I stand with my heart?'' And I just have stronger connections,' Clayton told her. 'All right,' Serene said. Clayton thanked her again and Serene got into a vehicle and was driven away. Good question: 'Can I ask you, like, what it was? Because you said you had no reservations about me. Was it just, like, what I said to you and you just, like, couldn't feel it back or?,' Serene asked referencing her declaration that she loved him during her hometown date Final hug: Clayton thanked her again and Serene got into a vehicle and was driven away 'I'm shocked. Confused. I literally told the man I was falling in love with him and in love with him. And if that doesn't do something for him then, like, there's nothing I can do,' Serene said. 'It sucks, it really does. And I wish it were different. Clayton was able to break down my walls. But, like, I gave it my all. So I can feel myself closing back up, and that's why I have, like, nothing else to say to him,' she added. Serene earlier during her hometown date in Oklahoma City introduced Clayton to her mother Sherri, brother Roland and best friend Melanie. Totally shocked: 'I'm shocked. Confused. I literally told the man I was falling in love with him and in love with him. And if that doesn't do something for him then, like, there's nothing I can do,' Serene said Hometown date: Serene earlier during her hometown date in Oklahoma City introduced Clayton to her mother Sherri, brother Roland and best friend Melanie 'It's been at least 10 years since I've introduced somebody to my family, which is crazy to think about. But yeah, I'm ready for it. I'm excited,' Serene said before introducing Clayton. Serene told her loves ones how she opened up to Clayton about the recent deaths of her grandmother and cousin and they were surprised that she displayed such vulnerability. 'The fact that she told you about that is huge, because that's still an open wound for her, for sure. So that lets me know that she sees something special in you,' Roland told Clayton. Open wounds: 'The fact that she told you about that is huge, because that's still an open wound for her, for sure. So that lets me know that she sees something special in you,' Roland told Clayton He also urged Clayton to be 'really careful' with Serene because she's 'really fragile'. Roland also asked Clayton the big question, 'So, do you love her?' 'Um, to tell you the truth, like, I haven't told anybody that I'm in love with them. I'm not there yet,' Clayton admitted. Serene meanwhile was telling her mother Sherri about their relationship. Catching up: Serene meanwhile was telling her mother Sherri about their relationship 'I told him I was falling in love with him. And I definitely am. And when I told him that, by the way, he was like, his face lit up like a little kid,' Serene told her mom. Roland later spoke with Serene and said that he didn't want her to get hurt. 'The real truth of it is as, like, more feelings grow, like, things get scarier. Yeah, it could be, like, what if I fall? But to me, it's like, what if I fly? I'm so here for it,' Serene said. Good times: Clayton and Serene beamed and her family noticed that she was happy 'That's what scares me is that you're here for it. You ain't scared of nothing,' Roland told his sister. Serene after Clayton met her family felt even more comfortable with him and said she was in love with him. Clayton during the two-hour episode also went on hometown dates with Susie, Gabby and Rachel. Final three: Clayton during the rose ceremony offered roses that were gladly accepted by Susie Evans, 28, a wedding videographer from Poquoson, Virginia; Gabriella 'Gabby' Windey, 30, a nurse from O'Fallon, Illinois; and Rachel Recchia, 25, a flight instructor from Clermont, Florida They all told Clayton that they either loved him or had fallen in love with him, but he did not reciprocate. Susie shared her love for judo with Clayton during her hometown date and was determined to find out if he enjoyed being choked. Clayton met her father who has a close relationship with Susie. Judo time: Susie shared her love for judo with Clayton during her hometown date and was determined to find out if he enjoyed being choked Close bond: Clayton met her father who has a close relationship with Susie Gabby's father could not meet Clayton due to his longtime girlfriend suffering from cancer and contact being limited due to the coronavirus pandemic. She got emotional when her father made a surprise visit and held signs with supportive messages for her. Rachel warned Clayton that her father Tony would be tough on him and he sat with his arms crossed after being introduced to him. Held signs: Gabby's father could not meet Clayton due to his longtime girlfriend suffering from cancer and contact being limited due to the coronavirus pandemic, but he surprised her with signs Clayton did not gain approval from Tony to marry his daughter because he wanted to hear from Rachel first if that's what she wanted. Rachel later told her father that she was in love with Clayton and Tony gave him an approving pat on the arm as he left. The Bachelor will return next week on ABC with the Women Tell All episode on Monday followed by the Fantasy Suites episode on Tuesday. Karlie Kloss looked every inch the fashionista as she arrived at the Off-White Womenswear Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show on Monday, as part of Paris Fashion Week. The model, 29, sported an edgy all-orange ensemble, featuring a long coat, bright orange pants, and a zip-up top. She was joined by husband Joshua Kushner, 36, who looked casual cool in a navy jacket, black jeans, and white and red Nike sneakers. Edgy: Karlie Kloss, 29, looked every inch the fashionista as she arrived at the Off-White show on Monday, as part of Paris Fashion Week, with her husband Joshua Kushner, 36 The runway star - born Karlie Elizabeth Kloss - added even more edge to her attire with a pair of sturdy black boots. As for jewelry, the beauty - who is of German, Danish, and Polish ancestry - kept things simple, sporting a delicate pair of gold earrings. Her glam for the night consisted of light brown eyeshadow, a gently illuminating pink blush, a few brushes of black mascara and a touch of pink lipstick. Orange you glad to see me? The model sported an edgy all-orange ensemble, featuring a long coat, bright orange pants, and a zip-up top Her dark blonde tresses were parted in the middle and worn down straight in a sleek hairstyle. The couple - who have been married since October 2018 - tenderly held hands as they entered the Parisian venue. Monday's event was the first Off-White runway show since the death of the label's founder Virgil Abloh in November. Later in the night the beauty took the runway in a purple and white printed top with a cut out at the centre and a matching hat. Sturdy: The runway star added even more edge to her attire with a pair of sturdy black boots Sleek: Her dark blonde tresses were parted in the middle and worn down straight in a sleek hairstyle The model also wore a mauve layered skirt with a pleated detail along with a pair of white trainers. Karlie welcomed her first child, son Levi Joseph, with Kushner on March 11, 2021. The couple were first linked in 2012, getting engaged in 2018 and married in October of that same year. They renewed their vows at a second ceremony in Wyoming in June 2019. Joshua's older brother is Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former President Donald Trump. Sensational: Later in the night the beauty took the runway in a purple and white printed top with a cut out at the centre and a matching hat. Elyse Knowles is lending a helping hand to those affected by Australia's devastating floods. The Block star, 29, took to Instagram on Monday to announce she was heading out to Lismore with a boat to rescue stranded locals. She also provided her phone number and asked anyone requiring help to contact her 'ASAP'. Pitching in: Elyse Knowles (pictured) is lending a helping hand to locals affected by Australia's devastating floods The model then shared a photo of her and her fiance Josh Barker preparing their vehicle to hit the road for the rescue mission. Their one-year-old son Sunny watched on from his stroller. Elyse also posted videos of the couple driving their truck through flood water. A subsequent post advised, 'If your phone is running out of battery and you need rescuing please change your voicemail to your address and current situation'. SOS: The Block star, 29, took to Instagram on Monday to announce she was 'heading out to Lismore with a boat' to rescue stranded locals About 340,000 residents in northern NSW are now under evacuation orders or warnings as unprecedented flooding leaves hundreds unaccounted for in the regional town of Lismore. The flood crisis has engulfed the northeastern part of the state, with major flood warnings in place for the Tweed, Richmond, Wilsons, Brunswick, Bellinger and Clarence rivers. The Bureau of Meteorology is warning NSW is in for more thunderstorms, heavy rain and damaging winds on Tuesday evening as extreme weather moves south. A family affair: She then showed her fiance Josh Barker preparing their vehicle to hit the road for the rescue mission In February 2021, Elyse announced that she had been been engaged to her long-term partner Josh for weeks. She captioned the emotional photo with the date the pair were engaged - January 17, 2021 - almost a month prior. It wasn't long after that the couple welcomed Sunny. Tips: A subsequent post advised, 'If your phone is running out of battery and you need rescuing please change your voicemail to your address and current situation' Elyse chronicled Sunny's first birthday celebrations this week on Instagram when the model posed a montage of intimate family photos. She wrote: 'Our little boy is ONE! Our ray of sunshine, our rock, our everything. 'You make us so proud to be your mummy and daddy. Thank you for being ours,' she went on. 'You came out very twisty. We can't wait to watch you grow into a little dude Lots of love mum and dad xx'. The series of images showed mum and bub enjoying tender moments together shortly after his birth. Paul Bettany addressed a disturbing text message between himself and Johnny Depp in a new interview with The Times of London. The 50-year-old WandaVision star called his text conversations with Depp 'embarrassing,' and described the libel case that the 58-year-old Pirates Of The Caribbean actor launched against his ex-wife Amber Heard, 35, as 'a very surreal moment.' Bettany also claimed that his more jovial responses to Depp's violent messages were due to falling out of touch with his former friend once he got married to Heard. Looking back: Paul Bettany, 50, has said he is embarrassed about his controversial 2013 text messages with his friend Johnny Depp in a new interview with The Times of London; seen in 2019 The Beautiful Mind actor said he 'didnt know Johnny when he was married to' the Aquaman actress. 'I knew him before. But we hadnt spoken for years. During the marriage I didnt know them. So I wasnt around for any of that,' he explained. Despite his statement, the text messages were sent prior to Depp and Heard's marriage, though it was years after they had started dating. 'We live in a world without context,' he added, referencing reports of his connection to Depp that emerged during the libel suit. 'I know how this works. Anything that you say is oxygen for a fire,' he continued. 'And theres just no f***ing fire. Falling apart: The Beautiful Mind actor said he 'didnt know Johnny when he was married to' the Aquaman actress. Depp suggested they 'burn' his then girlfriend Heard, before offering to 'f***' her corpse to 'make sure shes dead'; seen in 2014 in London 'The only real way to deal with this elegantly is to say: Im not sure theres anybody who has [a smartphone] that would feel comfortable having a team of lawyers scour their private text messages.' Depp reportedly wrote 'Lets burn Amber!!!' in a tweet to Bettany sent in 2013. 'Having thought it through I dont think we should burn Amber shes delightful company and easy on the eye, plus Im not sure shes a witch,' the English actor reportedly replied. 'We could of course try the English course of action in these predicaments we do a drowning test. Thoughts?' Depp reportedly escalated the messages into more disturbing, graphic territory, replying, 'Lets drown her before we burn her!!! I will f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure shes dead.' In December, Bettany said anything he had to say about Depp and Heard would 'just pour fuel on the fire' in an interview with The Independent Bettany previously addressed the conversation in an interview with The Independent from December, though he was reticent to discuss it. 'I think thats a really difficult subject to talk about and I think that I just pour fuel on the fire,' he said. Although a publicist tried to give the actor an out, he continued speaking about having years-old communications with Depp made public in the court case. 'It was very strange. It was a strange moment What was strange about it was you suddenly have one of the most scabrous newspapers in London and their lawyers pouring through your texts for the last 10 years,' he wrote. Can you imagine what it would be like, honestly, to have a bunch of lawyers go through every one of your emails and texts for 10 years? All I can tell you was that it was an unpleasant feeling.' In his latest interview, The Times noted that Depp claimed in court that he and Bettany had drank alcohol and consumed drugs together. Losing case: Depp was suing The Sun for libel after it ran a 2018 headline in which it called him a 'wife beater,' though an English court later ruled against him; seen in 2011 Depp was suing The Sun for libel after it ran a 2018 headline in which it called him a 'wife beater.' Heard said that the Dead Man star had physically abused her during their marriage, though Depp denied her claims and instead said he had been abused by her, which she subsequently denied. The two actors met during the filming of their 2011 movie The Rum Diary and began dating shortly afterward. They got married in a civil ceremony in February 2015. But the union was short-lived, and Heard filed for divorce in May of 2016. In November 2020, the High Court of Justice for England and Wales ruled against Depp, determining that the majority of the violent incidents of abuse that Heard had described were 'substantially true.' After the ruling, Depp left the Harry Potter spin-off franchise Fantastic Beasts, where he was replaced by Mads Mikkelsen. Depp's appeal was rejected in March 2021. Never-ending litigation: Depp is also suing Heard for defamation for a Washington Post op-ed she wrote about leaving an abusive relationship. The case is scheduled to go to trial in April; seen in 2016 Depp continued to find legal avenues in the US, as he sued Heard in Virginia in 2019 for writing an op-ed in The Washington Post in 2018 in which she addressed leaving an abusive relationship, though Depp's name wasn't used. The suit is currently set to go to trial in April. Heard followed up by countersuing her ex-husband in 2020 over claims that he had led a campaign to try to get her fired from the Aquaman franchise and some of her sponsorships. She recently quit Married at First Sight following a very messy break-up from her on-screen husband Anthony Cincotta. But Selin Mengu didn't appear to have a care in the world on Sunday when she stepped out for a lunch date with her co-star Al Perkins' sister Leah in Sydney. The genetically blessed duo couldn't stop smiling as they sauntered over to Franca Brasserie in Potts Point, with Selin, 33, opting for a sexy ensemble consisting of leather trousers and a striped shirt. What break-up? Married at First Sight star Selin Mengu (left) didn't appear to have a care in the world on Sunday, as she stepped out for a lunch date with her co-star Al Perkins' sister Leah (right) in Sydney Selin only did one button up on the oversized top, flashing her toned stomach as she linked arms with her new pal. She wore hints of beige makeup to accentuate her striking features, and styled her hair in beach waves. Meanwhile, Leah - who made a cameo appearance on MAFS during her brother Al's wedding to Samantha Moitzi - ensured all eyes were on her in a slinky minidress. The influencer, who has 200,000 Instagram followers, complimented the skintight number with a pair of beige stilettos and a white handbag. She tied her hair into a high ponytail for the outing. All smiles: The genetically blessed duo couldn't stop smiling as they sauntered to Franca Brasserie in Potts Point, with Selin, 33, opting for a sexy ensemble consisting of leather trousers and an oversized shirt Stunner: Meanwhile, Leah - who made a cameo appearance on MAFS during her brother Al's wedding to Samantha Moitzi - ensured all eyes were on her in a slinky beige minidress It comes after Selin and Anthony officially ended their relationship at the commitment ceremony on Sunday, following their dramatic fight at last week's dinner party. 'I need that spark in my life, I need that flare, I need that excitement. I need to be able to connect with somebody and I'm just not feeling that,' Anthony said. 'I was actually smiling today at spending time with my one true love, my daughter, so I wrote leave,' he added. Selin then revealed her decision to leave the experiment, telling the relationship experts: 'The one thing I didn't want to do is lead him on. Over: Selin and Anthony Cincotta officially ended their relationship at the commitment ceremony on Sunday, following their dramatic fight at last week's dinner party 'We stayed on to try and see what this was, but I feel I wouldn't keep going for something I don't feel a spark for, so I'm done.' It came after tensions boiled over between the couple in spectacular fashion at last Wednesday's dinner party. Yelling at each other across the table, jaws dropped when Selin revealed Anthony had sent her an invoice for $16.75 after he bought her a McDonald's meal. When she demanded to know what Anthony was giving her in the relationship, her husband replied he was buying her coffees and dinner. 'I'm done!' Selin then revealed her decision to leave the experiment, telling the relationship experts: 'The one thing I didn't want to do is lead him on' Bickering: It came after tensions boiled over between the couple in spectacular fashion at last Wednesday's dinner party Selin then said that while Anthony had fetched her 'McDonald's in the rain' once, it came with strings attached. 'You sent me that goddamn receipt!' she seethed, leaving the other couples stunned. '$16.75. You sent me the receipt and your account details!' 'You asked for the receipt!' countered Anthony, before telling Selin she was 'clutching onto straws' by outing him for being cheap. Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now She has been working hard after joining the cast of Neighbours earlier this year. And Tammin Sursok appeared exhausted as she filmed scenes alongside Rebekah Elmaloglou in Melbourne on Monday. The 38-year-old actress was unable to stop herself from yawning in between scenes during takes on a bridge in Southbank. Tiring work: Tammin Sursok (right) appeared tired as she filmed scenes for Neighbours alongside Rebekah Elmaloglou (left) in Melbourne on Monday At one stage, the former Home and Away star decided she needed to rest, sitting on the ground as she checked her phone. Tammin sipped from a takeaway cup of coffee in an effort to keep herself awake in between scenes. She appeared engrossed in her phone as she waited for the show's crew to set up the next shot. The Pretty Little Liars star was dressed in business attire, stepping out in a black miniskirt, which was paired with a matching black blazer. Struggling to stay awake: The 38-year-old actress was unable to stop herself from yawning in between scenes as they filmed on a bridge in Southbank Taking a seat: At one stage, the former Home and Away star decided she needed to rest, sitting on the ground as she checked her phone Think pink: Tammin was joined by Rebekah, 48, who was dressed in a magenta shift dress, which she wore under a black coat She wore a white satin camisole top underneath and carried a large black handbag on the crook of her elbow. Her long brunette hair was styled in loose waves, and she injected some colour into her monochrome ensemble with a pop of pink lipstick. In between scenes, Tammin swapped out her black handbag for what appeared to be her own brown designer tote. Caffeine fix: Tammin sipped from a takeaway cup of coffee in an effort to keep herself awake in between scenes Calling it in: She appeared engrossed in her phone as she waited for the show's crew to set up the next shot In black and white: She wore a white satin camisole top underneath and carried a large black handbag on the crook of her elbow She also slipped on a pair of pink-rimmed reading glasses and carried a white folder. Tammin was joined by Rebekah, 48, who was dressed in a magenta shift dress, which she wore under a black coat. She carried a beige and black handbag, and like Tammin, sipped a takeaway coffee in between scenes. Personal belongings: In between scenes, Tammin swapped out her black handbag for what appeared to be her own brown designer tote Mirror, mirror: At one stage, Tammin checked her reflection in a compact mirror as Rebekah smiled alongside her Up in the air: According to a report by TV Tonight last month, production was brought to a halt on the long-running soap and cast were called into a meeting Comfort first: They appeared to have been filming close-up shots, with both Tammin and Rebekah opting for casual and comfortable footwear They appeared to have been filming close-up shots, with both Tammin and Rebekah opting for casual and comfortable footwear. Rebekah wore red and white striped slides, while Tammin donned teal-coloured loafers. At one stage, Tammin checked her reflection in a compact mirror as Rebekah smiled alongside her. Fancy footwear: Rebekah wore red and white striped slides, while Tammin donned teal-coloured loafers 'As outlined in the email to Neighbours cast and crew, it is our intention to continue our association with Neighbours if another broadcast partner comes forward,' a spokesperson for Network 10 told TV Tonight All made up: Tammin touched up her makeup as a series of crew members watched on, chatting with her as she kept focus on her face She touched up her makeup as a series of crew members watched on, chatting with her as she kept focus on her face. The two actresses stood alongside each other as they filmed on the bridge, with a boom operator holding a microphone above them. They appeared to rehearse in between scenes, with Rebekah holding a script in front of her with her lines highlighted. Specs appeal: She also slipped on a pair of pink-rimmed reading glasses and carried a white folder in between takes Practice makes perfect: They appeared to rehearse in between scenes, with Rebekah holding a script in front of her with her lines highlighted Reading lines: Tammin was also spotted leafing through a script during a break from filming, peering down at the white papers in her hand Tammin was also spotted leafing through a script during a break from filming, peering down at the white papers in her hand. Reports emerged last month that Neighbours' future is in jeopardy after British broadcaster Channel 5 announced it would no longer air the show. According to a report by TV Tonight at the time, production was brought to a halt on the long-running soap and cast were called into a meeting. Pretty in pink: Her long brunette hair was styled in loose waves, and she injected some colour into her monochrome ensemble with a pop of pink lipstick Mic'd up: The two actresses stood alongside each other as they filmed on the bridge, with a boom operator holding a microphone above them Taking in the view: Rebekah carried a beige and black handbag, and like Tammin, sipped a takeaway coffee in between scenes 'As outlined in the email to Neighbours cast and crew, it is our intention to continue our association with Neighbours if another broadcast partner comes forward,' a spokesperson for Network 10 told TV Tonight. 'Network 10 has an ongoing commitment to the show, the cast and crew and is hopeful that Fremantle will find a new production partner. We will provide further updates as they become available.' In a statement to Digital Spy last month, a spokesperson for Channel 5 said the network was focused on 'increasing our investment in original UK drama'. Taking a step back: In a statement to Digital Spy last month, a spokesperson for Channel 5 said the network was focused on 'increasing our investment in original UK drama' Coming to an end: Fremantle Media executive producer Jason Herbison said the show would be 'rested', according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald 'Our audience remains steady and Channel 10 would love the show to continue if we could find another broadcast partner to replace Channel 5,' Herbison said in an email to staff last month Meanwhile, Fremantle Media executive producer Jason Herbison said the show would be 'rested', according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald. 'Our audience remains steady and Channel 10 would love the show to continue if we could find another broadcast partner to replace Channel 5,' Herbison said in an email to staff last month. 'These discussions are ongoing, however, there is no new broadcaster at the moment and production must end, effectively resting the show.' While the deadly conflict in Ukraine rages on, three Hollywood studios have cancelled upcoming movie releases in Russia. Warner Bros. announced on Monday that it was cancelling its Russian release of The Batman originally slated for March 2, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Walt Disney Company also issued a statement revealing they are cancelling all of their upcoming theatrical releases in Russia, including the upcoming Turning Red, originally slated for release in Russia on March 10. Canceled: Warner Bros. announced on Monday that it was cancelling its Russian release of The Batman originally slated for March 2, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine Russia: No Red: The Walt Disney Company also issued a statement revealing they are cancelling all of their upcoming theatrical releases in Russia, including the upcoming Turning Red, originally slated for release in Russia on March 10 Sony Pictures also issued a statement that it was cancelling Morbius' release in Russia, originally slated for March 24, along with other future releases. Warner Bros.' statement read, 'In light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing the release of its feature film The Batman in Russia. 'We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to this tragedy,' the Warner statement concluded. No Morbius: Sony Pictures also issued a statement that it was cancelling Morbius' release in Russia, originally slated for March 24, along with other future releases Disney released a statement on Monday afternoon, which read, 'Given the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia, including the upcoming Turning Red from Pixar.' 'We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation. In the meantime, given the scale of the emerging refugee crisis, we are working with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees,' the Disney statement concluded. Sony's statement began, 'Given the ongoing military action in Ukraine and the resulting uncertainty and humanitarian crisis unfolding in that region, we will be pausing our planned theatrical releases in Russia, including the upcoming release of Morbius.' Unprovoked: Disney released a statement on Monday afternoon, which read, 'Given the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia, including the upcoming Turning Red from Pixar' Future: 'We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation. In the meantime, given the scale of the emerging refugee crisis, we are working with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees,' the Disney statement concluded 'Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been impacted and hope this crisis will be resolved quickly,' Sony's statement concluded. Other upcoming Sony movies which could have Russian releases canceled include Father Stu (April 13) with Mark Wahlberg and Bullet Train (July 15) starring Brad Pitt. Disney releases that could be affected include a pair of Marvel sequels, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (May 6) and Thor: Love and Thunder (July 8), along with the animated Lightyear (June 17). Bullet: Other upcoming Sony movies which could have Russian releases canceled include Father Stu (April 13) with Mark Wahlberg and Bullet Train (July 15) starring Brad Pitt While Warner Bros. didn't commit to halting or pausing other Russian releases, it will next be releasing Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (April 15), DC League of Super Pets (May 20) and Elvis (June 24). Russia typically isn't a robust international market, but superhero fare like The Batman does do well there. Spider-Man: No Way Home pulled in $44 million from Russia while Venom: Let There Be Carnage earned $32 million, the biggest international market for the film. They announced their engagement back in January. And Ron Perlman, 71, showed he was still madly in love with his fiancee Allison Dunbar, 49, when he couldn't keep his hands off her as they hit the red carpet for the fifth annual Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Film Awards. The lovebirds both look effortlessly elegant in matching black outfits as they arrived at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood on Monday evening. Loved-up: Ron Pelrman, 71, couldn't keep his hands off his actress fiancee Allison Dunbar, 49, at the fifth annual HCA Film Awards in Hollywood on Monday Allison looked gorgeous in a voluminous black satin dress with a plunging neckline. The outfit included a thick black bow tied over her bust that drooped down to her knees, and the long skirt reached to the ground. She wore her long blond locks in delicate waves cascading down her shoulders, and she accessorized with a sequin-covered black clutch. Ron looked dashing in a classic black suit with a charcoal tie and a white suit. Back in black: Allison looked gorgeous in a voluminous black satin dress with a plunging neckline. The outfit included a thick black bow tied over her bust that drooped down to her knees, and the long skirt reached to the ground Timeless: Ron looked dashing in a classic black suit with a charcoal tie and a white suit The Hellboy star had his short white hair styled in spikes and sported a mustache for the award ceremony. While on the red carpet, Ron also caught up with Nicolas Cage, with whom he costarred in the critically reviled 2011 horrorfantasy film Season Of The Witch. Perlman is featured in one of this year's HCA nominees, Nightmare Alley, which is directed by his longtime friend and collaborator Guillermo del Toro, who helmed the first two Hellboy films that he starred in. Del Toro is nominated in the best director category, and the film is also nominated for Best Production Design for its noirish evocation of the late 1930s and '40s. Costars: While on the red carpet, Ron also caught up with Nicolas Cage, with whom he costarred in the critically reviled 2011 horrorfantasy film Season Of The Witch On screen: Perlman is featured in one of this year's HCA nominees, Nightmare Alley, which is directed by his longtime friend and collaborator Guillermo del Toro, who helmed the first two Hellboy films Perlman's association with del Toro goes all the way back to the Mexican auteurs first film, Cronos, in which he was the only American cast member. The actor has a smaller part in the neo-noir thriller Nightmare Alley as one of the members of a traveling carnival. Perlman and his bride-to-be Dunbar have been together since 2019 and were first spotted together just days after he split from his ex-wife Opal Stone, whom he had been married to for 38 years. Perlman and Dunbar had previously starred in the Crackle series StartUp in 2018, prior to the start of their relationship. He and Opal were married from 1981 until their surprise split in May 2019. They share share two children together, daughter Blake, 37, and son Brandon, 31, who creates music under the stage name Delroy Edwards. Perlman filed for divorce in November 2019, and the actor was grated a 'bifurcation,' which declared him legally 'single' and free to marry Dunbar, even while his divorce proceedings with Stone continue. There is no indication when Perlman and Dunbar plan on tying the knot quite yet, or when the actor's divorce may be finalized. They go way back: Perlman's association with del Toro goes all the way back to the Mexican auteurs first film, Cronos, in which he was the only American cast member Former Married At First Sight star Mishel Karen has been making a lucrative living doing hardcore porn on OnlyFans. And this week, the 51-year-old grandmother teased one of her raciest scenes to date. In a tweet, Mishel previewed a video that she dubbed a 'girls sleepover', which appeared to be a lesbian threesome. Pushing the limits: Former Married At First Sight star Mishel Karen (pictured) has starred in a lesbian threesome after launching a porn career to pay the bills A photo of the scene showed Mishel in bed with two other amateur porn stars, with one cupping the MAFS star's breasts over her bra. 'Want to know what is new on my OnlyFans?' Mishel captioned it. 'Come check out my 'Girls Sleepover' video. Us girls get up to mischief when @aussiebarbie07 and @mollyrosexx sleep over.' The mother of two has been earning more than $20,000 a month performing hardcore porn on OnlyFans. More the merrier? In a tweet, the 51-year-old grandmother previewed a video that she dubbed a 'girls sleepover', which appeared to be a lesbian threesome Despite finding fame and fortune with her new adult venture, there's a heartbreaking reason behind Mishel's move into the porn industry. The former reality star was suspended without pay from her old job after refusing to comply with Covid vaccine mandates. 'I have earned a really nice amount of money to help us through this difficult time. Well, at least I can pay my new mortgage for a few months,' she recently told Daily Mail Australia. Mishel, who used to work as a policy trainer in the police force, recently became a grandmother after her son Sam welcomed a baby boy with his girlfriend. Cashed up: The mother of two has been earning more than $20,000 a month performing hardcore porn on OnlyFans She's also a doting mum to daughter Eva, who featured on a few episodes of Married At First Sight and now works as a curve model in Brisbane. Mishel, a mum of two and grandmother of one, is older than most of her OnlyFans contemporaries at 51, and is known for performing hardcore acts other models aren't prepared to do. She's performed a variety of X-rated acts on the site, including using toys and filming lesbian porn scenes with another woman. 'I just don't want my children to have to struggle to pay bills': The 51-year-old has said that she's doing porn to provide for her family (pictured with daughter Eva and son Sam) Family first: Mishel, who used to work as a policy trainer in the police force, recently became a grandmother after her son Sam welcomed a baby boy with his girlfriend Mishel also sells her used socks and panties on the website, and performs bizarre custom requests for fans. She previously revealed her most-requested sex act from her subscribers was 'oral sex' and that she was once asked to perform an extreme and unhygienic fetish act while doing a handstand, which she refused. The Macedonian stunner shot to fame on Married At First Sight's seventh season in 2020. The ninth season of the reality series is currently airing on Channel Nine. Rebel Wilson is certainly known to live the high life. And the Senior Year actress jetted off Mexico with a slew of pals to party at the One and Only Pamilla resort on Tuesday. In a series of Instagram posts, Rebel, who celebrates turning 42 on March 2, showed herself first boarding a private jet to the pricey Mexican resort. High life! Rebel Wilson (pictured) flew to Mexico via private jet to stay at the AUD $1,800 (USD $1,300) per night One and Only Pamilla resort for her birthday on Tuesday Ocean front rooms can cost upwards of AUD $1,800 (USD $1,300) per night at the stunning destination. 'Spending my one and only birthday this year at One and Only Palmilla,' Rebel captioned the three photos. Rebel, who has lost an incredible 35kg (77lbs), showed off her slender curves in a tailored green blazer along with a white cap which had the hotel's logo on it. Glamazon: Rebel, who has lost an incredible 35kg (77lbs), showed off her slender curves in a tailored green blazer along with a white cap which had the hotel's logo on it Birthday vacation: 'Spending my one and only birthday this year at One and Only Palmilla,' Rebel captioned the photos Elsewhere, she posted video showing her drive to the resort, during which she and her friends enjoyed a number of drinks. The star also shared a number of images showing the ocean view from her luxurious hotel room. In a series of Instagram Stories shared on Saturday, the Pitch Perfect star filmed her pals, including actor Hugh Sheridan, 36, on a private jet. Party! In a series of Instagram Stories shared on Saturday, the Pitch Perfect star filmed her pals, including actor Hugh Sheridan on a private jet 'Just going on a little trip for the weekend!' Rebel said humbly in one the clips, before filming her view out the window Cool gang: She also posed alongside her friends inside the plane, as well as on the staircase before they took off 'Just going on a little trip for the weekend!' Rebel said humbly in one the clips, before filming her view out the window. She also posed alongside her friends inside the plane, as well as on the staircase before they took off. In his own posts from the day, Australian star Hugh revealed that the group had made an early start on celebrating Rebel's birthday. Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, left, holds hands with New Wave Party's Kim Dong-yeon before their meeting in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), is on course to merge campaigns with Kim Dong-yeon, the presidential nominee of the minor New Wave Party, after the two agreed on policy coalitions Tuesday, a move that will help Lee's chances in the March 9 election against his rival Yoon Suk-yeol. Lee and Kim reached an agreement on policy coalitions and operation of a joint government following their meeting in Seoul, which observers see as a de-facto candidacy merger. "We agreed to create politics of unity, a government of unity and people's Cabinet with all political powers who care about people and this country," Lee said. The family of Naya Rivera and her ex-husband Ryan Dorsey have come to a settlement in their wrongful death lawsuit with Ventura County, California in connection with the Glee star's death in 2020. Dorsey, 38, initially filed the suit against the county in November of 2020 for their son Josey, six, about four months after Rivera died at the age of 33 on July 8, 2020 in an accidental drowning while she was out on a pontoon boat ride with Josey in Lake Piru, California. 'Josey will receive just compensation for having to endure the drowning of his beloved mother at Lake Piru,' the family's lawyer Amjad M. Khan of Brown Neri Smith & Khan said in a statement, The Blast reported Monday. 'Though the tragic loss of Josey's mother can never truly be overcome, we are very pleased that the monetary settlement will significantly assist Josey with his life beyond this tragedy.' The latest: The family of Naya Rivera's family and her ex-husband Ryan Dorsey have come to a settlement in their wrongful death lawsuit with Ventura County, California in connection with the Glee star's death in 2020. The late star was snapped in November of 2019 in LA In the suit, Rivera's family and Dorsey said the county, as well as United Water Conservation District and Parks and Recreation Management, did not adequately warn people of the dangers involved in boating and swimming in the area. Rivera's family said that the pontoon boat the Step Up: High Water actress had rented did not have the proper safety equipment onboard, such as a floatation or lifesaver device, rope or anchor to ensure swimmers could stay linked to their boat. Authorities in Ventura County responded in court docs saying that Rivera 'declined to wear' a life vest she was offered 'by Parks Management Companys boat rental agent,' who subsequently 'put the vest in the rental boat.' Lawyers for Rivera's family described the series of events that led to the Hollywood beauty's tragic death. Rivera's family said that the pontoon boat the Step Up: High Water actress had rented did not have the proper safety equipment onboard Rivera died at the age of 33 on July 8, 2020 in an accidental drowning while she was out on a pontoon boat ride with Josey in Lake Piru, California Dorsey, 38, initially filed the suit against the county in November of 2020 for their son Josey, six. The former couple was snapped in January of 2016 in LA 'While Naya and Josey were swimming, the boat started to be carried away - likely by the current and wind, which gusted up to 21 miles per hour that afternoon,' Rivera's family's legal team said in court docs. 'Josey, who was closer, managed to get back on the boat by his own volition and braced himself on the boat, which was rocking back and forth forcefully in the current and wind. 'Josey knew Naya was still in the water and heard her cry, "Help! Help!" in her struggle to get back to the boat and avoid drowning ... Josey yelled for help and cried alone in the boat until he was found more than an hour later by a PMC boat leasing agent.' In the suit, Rivera's family's legal team said that Lake Piru's 'deadly history' included the deaths of at least 26 other people. The late actress was seen with her son Josey at a film screening in February of 2019 in LA Dorsey took to Instagram last fall to celebrate Josey's sixth birthday Rivera's family asked for funeral costs and damages for Josey, citing that he had 'suffered substantial economic and non-economic damages as a result of Nayas death, including financial support that Naya would have contributed to' him. The settlement - of which terms were confidential - 'is subject to approval by the Ventura Superior Court on March 16,' attorneys for Rivera's family said. The star initially disappeared July 8, 2020 and her body was recovered July 13. Her funeral took place July 24, 2020. Dorsey, who was wed to Rivera from 2014 to 2018, took to Instagram in January to mark what would have been her 35th birthday. 'Made the visit today to see you, to spend some time,' he said. 'Up the hill I went, memories flashing through my mind as I drive. Approaching where you rest, bouquet of daisies and baby breath. Trying to hold it together, feeling all I feel, eyes getting wet still can't believe it's real 'Nobody knowswhy. Why you had to leave us behind. I hope it gets easier as time goes by, but forever is forever, and I'll never know why. Able to finally look at a couple videos today, I guess you can say I'm doing betterbut better is just a better word for forever sad, this s*** is unbelievable forever.' Chris 'Willow' Wilson has been identified as the man killed in a helicopter crash in a remote part of West Arnhem Land on Monday. The 34-year-old star of National Geographic's Outback Wrangler leaves behind his wife Danielle and the couple's sons, Ted and Austin. A statement issued on Tuesday from The Fordham Company, which produces the factual series, spoke of the 'heartbreak' suffered by show's cast and crew, including host Matt Wright. Loss: Chris 'Willow' Wilson (pictured) has been identified as the man killed in a helicopter crash in a remote part of West Arnhem Land on Monday 'Matt Wright, his family and team are absolutely devastated by the tragic accident yesterday in Arnhem Land,' it read. '[They] are heartbroken by the loss of their best friend and highly respected colleague Chris 'Willow' Wilson'. 'Matt Wright and his team are assisting authorities with their investigations as to what caused this awful incident.' Host Matt Wright said in his own statement: 'Our love and thoughts are with Chris' wife Danielle and two little boys Ted and Austin as well as the families and friends of Chris and Seb during this incredibly tough time'. Family: The 34-year-old star of National Geographic's Outback Wrangler leaves behind his wife Danielle and the couple's sons, Ted and Austin Tragic: A statement issued on Tuesday from The Fordham Company, which produces the factual series, spoke of the 'heartbreak' suffered by show's cast and crew Northern Territory personality David Connolly, who manages the Tipperary Group of Stations, also added a tribute on social media. 'Willow was a born and bred Territorian and drove and chased and caught most things possible,' he wrote. 'We lost a great man and a good friend in Chris 'Willow' Wilson yesterday in a Heli accident. Our thoughts are with his young family.' Outback Wrangler, which ceased production in 2019, followed the work of helicopter pilot and animal catcher Matt Wright and his adventurous life in the Australian outback. Statement: 'Matt Wright, his family and team are absolutely devastated by the tragic accident yesterday in Arnhem Land,' it read. Host Matt Wright is pictured right Outback Wrangler launched in 2015 and screens in more than 90 countries around the world. Wilson, described as a 'crocodile wrangler' and 'outback adventurer', lent his skills to the program, including filming episodes aboard in Indonesia. Northern Territory police confirmed on Monday that a 34-year-old man was killed and a 28-year-old man was seriously injured in the accident. 'The survivor, a 28-year-old man, was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital,' Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said. Police were advised of the crash shortly before 11am and dispatched the nearest officers at Goulburn Island to attend the location on King River, several hours away by boat. CareFlight also dispatched a rescue helicopter, and the Australian Rescue Coordination Centre, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and NT WorkSafe were also advised. Host Matt Wright said in his own statement: 'Our love and thoughts are with Chris' wife Danielle and two little boys Ted and Austin as well as the families and friends of Chris and Seb during this incredibly tough time' Authorities reached the site on Monday afternoon. The survivor was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital. Investigations into the crash are under way. Debra Lawrance paid tribute to her husband Dennis Coard as they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary together. In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, the 65-year-old actress gave her husband a sweet shoutout after they met and fell in love on the set of Home and Away. She also shared a sweet selfie with Dennis, 71, who wrapped a loving arm around his wife's shoulders as they posed together. Milestone: Debra Lawrance paid tribute to her husband Dennis Coard as they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary together 'Thirty years ago today (on February 29th) this beautiful man and I were married in Avalon,' the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child actress began. 'This is us grabbing a delicious celebratory dinner at @theeuropeanmelbourne between Part One and Part Two of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2020 - our official anniversary date.' She then proceeded to heap praise on her husband, listing all the qualities she loves about him. 'Thirty years ago today (on February 29th) this beautiful man and I were married in Avalon,' the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child actress began Real-life romance: In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, the 65-year-old actress gave her husband a sweet shoutout after they met and fell in love on the set of Home and Away 'My gratitude knows no bounds. Dennis is the kindest, most generous person I know... a truly wonderful father...' she continued. 'Add hardworking, supportive, hilariously funny and extremely attractive and you start to see why we've managed to travel through the last three decades together.' She added: 'Happy Anniversary dearest Dennis. Much love and heartfelt thanks for agreeing to be the father of our two beautiful children.' 'My gratitude knows no bounds. Dennis is the kindest, most generous person I know... a truly wonderful father...' she continued 'If I didn't have a steady job, I don't think I would have had children. I met Dennis, we have two great children, and he's a brilliant father,' she told Woman's Day. Pictured with their children In a 2011 interview with Woman's Day magazine, Debra spoke about meeting Dennis, revealing she'd 'flirted with him and there was chemistry'. 'Home And Away gave me my life,' she added. 'If I didn't have a steady job, I don't think I would have had children. I met Dennis, we have two great children, and he's a brilliant father.' Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner appeared happier than ever in the latest trailer of their upcoming reality series, which hits Hulu and a Disney+ on April 14. Upon learning of Travis Barker's plans to propose to Kourtney Kardashian in October, the 42-year-old reality star's siblings squealed in excitement. 'Guys, it's happening,' momager Kris Jenner cheerfully told daughter Khloe over the phone, who immediately let out an enthusiastic shriek. Excited: Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner appeared happier than ever in the latest trailer of their upcoming reality series, which hits Hulu on April 14 Upon hearing the news, Kendall replied with a happy scream while grinning from ear-to-ear. Later in the preview, fans got a glimpse of the newly-engaged couple as they were surprised with champagne by their closest friends and family. 'Surprise!' Kylie Jenner called out as Kourtney and Barker join a room full of their loved ones just hours after announcing their betrothal to the world. Surprise! Later in the clip, fans get a glimpse of the newly-engaged couple as they are surprised with champagne by their closest friends and family The Poosh founder, 42, can be seen accepting a glass of bubbly with a smile before locking lips with her husband-to-be. After celebrating her sister's engagement, Kim, can be seen getting out of a limo in a pink Balenciaga outfit that she wore to host Saturday Night Live in mid-October. Meanwhile, Khloe appeared to hitting a number of glamorous work events, but made no mention her ex-boyfriend Tristan Thompson's love child. 'Surprise!' Kylie Jenner calls out as Kourtney and Barker join a room full of their loved ones just hours after announcing their betrothal to the world Doing great! Despite a year of radical transformations' in their love lives, Kim Kardashian seemed thrilled to celebrate her sister's engagement Massive opportunity: After celebrating her sister's engagement, Kim, can be seen getting out of a limo in a pink Balenciaga outfit that she wore to host Saturday Night Live in mid-October 'Over the last year, we've seen such transformations from all of us,' Kris can be heard saying. Although the exact content of the show hasn't been spelled out, there's plenty going on in all of the stars' lives from which to draw storylines. 2021 proved to be an eventful year for the family with Kim filing for divorce from Kanye West, Kylie revealing a second pregnancy, and Khloe weathering drama with her on-again, off-again beau. Pushing through: Meanwhile, Khloe appeared to hitting a number of glamorous work events, but made no mention her ex-boyfriend Tristan Thompson's love child 'Over the last year, we've seen such transformations from all of us,' Kris can be heard saying Odd: In an interesting phone conversation, someone can be heard asking Kim: 'Oh my God. Are you dying? Are you dying? I'm dying' Furthermore, Kourtney became engaged to Barker after the two spent the year sharing public displays of affection, and Kim made her SNL hosting debut. Additionally, Kendall launched her 818 Tequila brand and celebrated her first anniversary with Phoenix Suns player Devin Booker over the summer. The end of the year was marked by a somber period, as Kylie's partner Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival was struck by tragedy when ten people perished at the event. 'To us!' Khloe says as she gives a toast in a black and white tracksuit Just getting started: It appears Barker will be heavily featured in the Hulu series In in the first trailer, released last Monday, Kim hilariously poked fun at her many engagements at sister Kourtney's engagement party. At Kourtney and Barker's engagement party, the mom-of-four joked about her complicated love life as their mom shed happy tears. 'This makes me so happy,' Kris gushed over dinner with loved ones after her future son-in-law popped the question to her eldest at sunset on a beach. Big year for the model: In 2021, Kendall launched her 818 Tequila brand and celebrated her first anniversary with Phoenix Suns player Devin Booker over the summer Fabulous as ever: Other moments in the 26-second teaser included Kendall driving Kylie around and Khloe laughing as a woman styled her hair This prompted Kim, who has been married three times, to quip: 'She's never had a reaction like that for me and it's happened a few times.' Barker made several cameos in the preview, indicating he will be a fixture on the new show. The clip featured flashes of Kourtney looking smitten as she watched him play the drums and him sitting across from Khloe Kardashian and on-again, off-again beau, Tristan Thompson, at a lunch with his bride-to-be's family. Staying busy: The trailer comes just over a year after the Kardashian-Jenners finished filming for the 20th and final season of their long-running reality series Keeping Up With The Kardashians Later, Kim could been seen leaving her SNL hosting debut in a a stylish hot pink outfit. Other moments in the 26-second teaser included Kendall driving Kylie around and Khloe laughing as a woman styled her hair. The trailer comes just over a year after the Kardashian-Jenners finished filming for the 20th and final season of their long-running reality series Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Advertisement Kristen Stewart couldn't contain her excitement as she accepted Best Actress for her spot-on portrayal of Princess Diana in Pablo Larrain's Spencer at the fifth annual Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Film Awards on Monday. 'I took more joy into my body doing this than anything. Its been a long run, I f**king appreciate this, seriously,' she told the audience while putting on a dazzling display in a burgundy sequined gown, which highlighted her toned figure. After expressing her gratitude, the 31-year-old Oscar nominee talked about the 'wild storm' of landing her role-of-a-lifetime and how the People's Princess as a 'human being and figure' was so 'completely alone' all the time. Grateful: Kristen Stewart couldn't contain her excitement as she accepted Best Actress for her spot-on portrayal of Princess Diana in Pablo Larrain's Spencer at the fifth annual Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Film Awards on Monday Big gig: Stewart earned the honor for her portrayal of Princess Diana in Spencer (right) 'I could never have made this movie by myself, and that's every movie, but this one, really,' she concluded. 'I was so accompanied. This is so cool, I can't believe we get to do this.' The Hollywood Critics Association is a film critic organization based in Los Angeles and founded in 2016 as they honor achievement in film every year. Less than 24 hours after taking her first Screen Actors Guild award for her role as Anita in West Side Story, Ariana DeBose accepted another prize in front of her peers at the Avalon Hollywood & Bardot in Los Angeles. The triple-threat looked flawless in a chic all-black ensemble as she took the stage to accept the trophy for Best Supporting Actress. 'I took more joy into my body doing this than anything. Its been a long run, I f**king appreciate this, seriously,' she told the audience while putting on a dazzling display in a burgundy sequined gown, which highlighted her toned figure Beaming: The Twilight star was beaming after taking the stage to accept her prize Reflective: After expressing her gratitude, the 31-year-old Oscar nominee talked about the 'wild storm' of landing her role-of-a-lifetime and how the People's Princess as a 'human being and figure' was so 'completely alone' all the time Winner: Stewart accepts the Best Actress Award for her film Spencer, which was released in November Abs-olutely fabulous: Kristen bared her midriff in a ruby red sequined two piece number Good times: She put on a fun pose for the cameras backstage after her crowning moment Gorgeous: She posed for stunning portraits with her shiny new trophy Wow: Less than 24 hours after taking her first Screen Actors Guild award for her role as Anita in West Side Story, Ariana DeBose accepted another prize in front of her peers at the Avalon Hollywood & Bardot in Los Angeles A round of applause! The triple-threat looked flawless in a chic all-black ensemble as she took the stage to accept the trophy for Best Supporting Actress No surprise! Andrew Garfield was also among the honorees to take home one of the night's biggest awards as he accepted the prize for Best Actor for his leading role as Jonathan Larson in 'tick, tick...BOOM! Dynamic duo: Big winners Stewart and Garfield posed for a snap together Dapper: Garfield looked dapper in a portrait as he was honored for his portrayal of Jonathan Larson in 'tick, tick...BOOM! Hollywood Critics Association Awards 2022 WINNERS Best Picture CODA Best Actor Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick Boom! Best Actress Kristen Stewart, Spencer Best Supporting Actor Troy Kotsur, CODA Best Supporting Actress Ariana DeBose, West Side Story Best Cast Ensemble Belfast Best Director *Tie* Denis Villeneuve, Dune and Jane Campion, The Power of The Dog Best Original Screenplay Fran Kranz, Mass Best Adapted Screenplay Sian Heder, CODA Best Animated or VFX Performance Stephanie Beatriz, Encanto Best Action Film The Harder They Fall Best Animated Film The Mitchells vs. The Machines Best Comedy or Musical Tick, Tick Boom! Best Documentary Summer of Soul Best Horror Last Night in Soho Best Indie Film Pig Best International Film Drive My Car Best First Feature Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tick, Tick Boom! Best Short Film Us Again Best Score Hans Zimmer, Dune Best Original Song Be Alive, King Richard Best Cinematography Greig Fraser, Dune Best Production Design Tamara Deverell, Nightmare Alley Best Film Editing Paul Machliss, Last Night in Soho Best Stunts Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings Best Costume Design Jenny Beavan, Cruella Best Hair & Makeup Justin Raleigh, Linda Dowds, and Stephanie Ingram, The Eyes of Tammy Faye Best Visual Effects Brian Connor, Gerd Nefzer, Paul Lambert, and Tristan Myles, Dune Honorary Awards Acting Achievement Award Nicolas Cage Artisan Achievement Award Greig Fraser Artisan on the Rise Alice Brooks Excellence in Artistry Kenneth Branagh Filmmaker on the Rise Natalie Morales Filmmaking Achievement Award Guillermo del Toro Game Changer Award Simu Liu Inspire Award Aunjanue Ellis International Icon Award Javier Bardem Newcomer Award Jude Hill Spotlight Award The Cast of CODA Star on the Rise Saniyya Sidney Advertisement She won honor over Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard), Caitriona Balfe (Belfast), Marlee Matlin (CODA) and Ruth Negga (Passing Netflix). Meanwhile, Javier Bardem, who lost Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role to Will Smith at the SAG Awards, was victorious in his category tonight. Looking pleasantly surprised, the Being the Ricardos actor smiled as he held onto his golden statue with a proud smile across his face. Andrew Garfield was also among the honorees to take home one of the night's biggest awards as he accepted the prize for Best Actor for his leading role as Jonathan Larson in 'tick, tick...BOOM! Astounding: Marlee Matlin, Daniel Durant, Eugenio Derbez, Sian Heder, and Emilia Jones accepted the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for CODA An honor: Nicolas Cage accepts the Best Actor Award for Pig Passionate: The actor starred in the 2021 drama film, written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, about a truffle forager whose beloved truffle-finding pig is stolen Range: Cage kept a straight face before smiling with his new trophy in portraits Winner: Denis Villeneuve accepts the Best Director Award for Dune More to come: Natalie Morales, best known as Lucy on Parks and Recreation, accepts the Filmmaker On The Rise Award Pretty in pink: Saniyya Sidney, who stars as a young Venus Williams in the 2021 film King Richard, got emotional as she took the stage in a beautiful patterned dress During his speech, the Spiderman actor even gushed about getting to be at the event with some of his heroes, which included Stewart. While Nicolas Cage received the Acting Achievement Award, acclaimed Mexican director Guillermo del Toro took home the Filmmaking Achievement Award. Meanwhile, Natalie Morales, best known as Lucy on Parks and Recreation, accepts the Filmmaker On The Rise Award A legend: Acclaimed Mexican director Guillermo del Toro took home the Filmmaking Achievement Award A big deal: The Academy Award-winning director and screenwriter is known for films such as Hellboy, Pacific Rim, The Shape of Water, Crimson Peak, Pan's Labyrinth Another night for the books: Lin-Manuel Miranda accepts the Best First Feature Award for 'tick, tick...BOOM! Just getting started: Jude Hill accepted the Newcomer Award while dressed up in a cobalt blue suit with a matching bow tie Already a pro: The 11-year-old Northern Irish child star is known for his lead role in Kenneth Branagh's film Belfast Saniyya Sidney, who stars as a young Venus Williams in the 2021 film King Richard, got emotional as she took the stage in a beautiful patterned dress. For her big night, she wore a patterned pink dress, hoop earrings and her brown tresses in a sleek ponytail. Winners later posed for professional photographs with their statues. Sweet: Stewart clapped for other honorees as they night went on Mingling: Stewart was seen chatting away with a friend at her table Radiant: Stewart was dressed to win in her eye-catching sequined two-piece dress Captivated: Kristen kept her attention on the stage during the gala Celebrating: Cage looked handsome in a blue pinstriped suit Big smile: Cage appeared to be enjoying the drinks and food during the star-studded dinner Irish: Belfast stars Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dornan pictured on stage DeBose took a handful of photos with her HCA Award, in which she stared directly in the camera with the statue slightly in front of her face. Bardem also made sure to get a snap of himself following his big win. CODA's Troy Kotsur, who recently made history as the first deaf actor to win a SAG Award, tipped his black hat in one photo, before planting a kiss on his trophy in another. Unique: DeBose took a handful of photos with her HCA Award, in which she stared directly in the camera with the statue slightly in front of her face Feeling good! Winners later posed for professional photographs with their statues Lots to smile about: Bardem also made sure to get a snap of himself following his big win Class act: CODA's Troy Kotsur, who recently made history as the first deaf actor to win a SAG Award, tipped his black hat in one photo Content: Later, he planted a kiss on his HCA Award Charming: Jamie Dornan looked handsome as he posed for a portrait Ahead of their Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture win, the cast of CODA looked stylish on the red carpet. Marlee Matlin, Emilia Jones, Daniel Durant, Eugenio Derbez, and Troy Kotsur all showcased their fashionable flare on the red carpet. Emilia, 20, looked stunning in a glittering gold mini dress with matching strappy heels. Not to be outdone fellow Oscar favorites from the cast of Belfast also hit the red carpet including Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Jude Hill, and Kenneth Branagh. Trailblazing: Ahead of their Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture win, the cast of CODA looked stylish on the red carpet, as they are seen from left to right; Daniel Durant, Eugenio Derbez, Marlee Matlin, Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur and writer-filmmaker Sian Heder Golden girl: Emilia, 20, looked stunning in a glittering gold mini dress with matching strappy heels Man of the hour: Troy looked handsome just a day after he became the first ever deaf actor to win an individual SAG Award Icon: Marlee was in good spirits as she donned a black double breasted coat with white buttons and matching trousers Oscar favorites: Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Jude Hill, Kenneth Branagh and Ciaran Hinds (seen from left to right) represented their critically acclaimed film Belfast Looking great: Dornan an Balfe looked amazing at the gathering Action men: Ron Perlman and Nicholas Cage posed for a snap together Wow factor: Alexandra Shipp (left) and Stephanie Beatriz stunned in sexy black numbers Looking ace: Demi Singleton (Left) and Saniyya Sidney (Right) who play tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard were seen at the gala Back in black: Kaitlyn Dever (Left) and Yaya DaCosta donned fashionable black looks Just the two of us: Alessandra Rosaldo and Eugenio Derbez posed for a snap The much-anticipated release of The Batman is just days away, with Robert Pattison set to play the iconic vigilante. But EastEnders fans are set to be surprised by the appearance of a soap icon, as Alex Ferns stars in the film as disgruntled Commissioner Pete Savage. The actor, 53, who played the abusive Trevor Morgan on the soap from 2000 to 2002, looks unrecognisable in the film as he plays the superior to James Gordon who is far-from impressed that he's joined forces with a vigilante. Who is that? Former EastEnders villain Alex Ferns, 53, is set to make a surprise appearance as Commissioner Pete Savage in The Batman Alex will play the Gotham policeman Savage who is leading the operation to find the culprit behind a string of murders. Reluctantly the GCPD have joined forces with The Batman, who by the film's opening has been fighting crime for two years. His role may come as a surprise to many soap fans, 20 years after he played the villainous Trevor, who became known as the 'most hated character in soap' thanks to his abuse of wife Little Mo Slater. Sinister: The actor is best known for his role as the abusive Trevor Morgan on the soap, who tormented his wife Little Mo before she killed him with an iron After months of abusing and tormenting his wife, Trevor finally got his comeuppance when he was killed by Mo with an iron. Alex previously made headlines when he made a small appearance in Sky Atlantic's thrilling five-part drama Chernobyl, based on the nuclear disaster of the same name. He made his debut in the show as grisly crew chief of the miners Glukhov, and stunned viewers by going fully nude for the scene, when his character and crew stripped off whilst digging underneath the Chernobyl nuclear reactor so that a cooling mechanism could by used to cool it. Transformed: Alex previously made headlines when he made a small appearance in Sky Atlantic's thrilling five-part drama Chernobyl, based on the nuclear disaster of the same name Viewers then witness to full frontal nudity, as Alex's character stepped out to speak with chemical engineer Valery Legasov, (Jared Harris) and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgard) in the nude. The Batman is finally set for nationwide release in the UK on Friday, March 4, and has been delayed multiple times due to the Covid pandemic. Alongside starring Robert as the titular hero, Zoe Kravitz appears as Selina Kyle/ Catwoman, while Colin Farrell is unrecognisable as crime lord Oswald 'Oz' Cobblepot / Penguin. TV favourite: Alongside starring in EastEnders, Alex (pictured in 2019) also had a role in the BBC Scotland soap River City It's nearly time! The Batman is finally set for nationwide release in the UK on Friday, March 4, and has been delayed multiple times due to the Covid pandemic Paul Dano also stars as Edward Nashton / Riddler, while Jeffrey Wright plays the role of Jim Gordon. As critics shared their reviews for the film, some criticised for its 'overlong' runtime of nearly three hours and its characters 'bland' performances, while others were somewhat impressed, simply describing it as a 'good film' While theatregoers will have to wait until Friday to judge the action for themselves, they have been warned that some scenes could be a challenge to see due to the extensive rainfall in the movie. Shots showing rain showers take up over a third of the running time of the movie, appearing on screens for 62 minutes and 40 seconds of the screen time of the three hour running time. The Batman will be released in cinemas on March 4. Cameron Merchant stepped out solo on Tuesday to attend the Greatest Butcher Cooking Event in Sydney. The former Married at First Sight star, 38, went along without his wife, Jules Robinson, 39. Also attending was Bachelorette star Elly Miles, 27, who turned heads in a fitted brown top that showed off lots of cleavage. Cooked: Cameron Merchant (pictured) stepped out solo on Tuesday to attend the Greatest Butcher Cooking Event in Sydney She added a pair of distressed blue jeans to the ensemble as well as a simple gold necklace. The beauty had her blonde hair pulled off her face and opted for a soft makeup look with bronzed highlights. Elly and Cameron enjoyed meat dishes prepared during a cooking class on the day, with the blonde star also indulging in a glass of wine. Solo: The former Married at First Sight star went along without his wife, Jules Robinson Star power: Also attending was Bachelorette star Elly Miles (right) A look: She turned heads in a fitted brown top that showed off lots of cleavage The outing comes after Cameron slammed the reality show that gave him a wife and family. Cameron found love with Jules Robinson on Married At First Sight, and the pair are now happily married. Speaking on Jana Hocking's Kinda Sorta Dating podcast on Friday, the pair criticised one of the show's most notorious relationship 'challenges'. Lessons: Elly and Cameron enjoyed meat dishes prepared during a cooking class on the day Details: Elly beamed as she enjoyed a glass of wine along with her meal New tricks: Cameron filmed the lesson for his social media The task in question requires the participants to rank every other person from their season in order of physical attractiveness. 'They didn't have that on our series,' Cameron said. 'You tell me, how does that help a relationship other than a million viewers out there going, "Gosh this is good [television], this is a car crash waiting to happen'"?' All aboard! The group posed for a fun photo at the end of the event 'They found a formula and they ran with it,' he added with a laugh. Jules and Cameron met on season six of MAFS, which was filmed in late 2018 and aired in early 2019. They were legally married in November 2019 and now have a son together. She was nominated for a HCA Award Emilia Jones for her role as Ruby Rossi in coming of age comedy drama film CODA. And less than 24 hours after attending the SAG Awards, Emilia Jones hit the red carpet at the fifth annual Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards in Los Angeles, California, on Monday night. The 20-year-old daughter of Aled Jones posed up a storm in a gold sequin high-neck dress which she paired with an oversized sand blazer draped over her shoulders. Busy: Less than 24 hours after attending the SAG Awards, Emilia Jones hit another red carpet at the fifth annual Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards in Los Angeles on Monday Glitzy: The 20-year-old daughter of Aled Jones posed up a storm in a gold sequin high-neck dress The actress showed off her slender pegs in a pair of strappy gold heels while she accessorised her glamorous attire with a simple selection of silver rings. Emilia flaunted her natural good looks with a bronzed palette of make-up and a slick of coral lipstick and she wore her brunette tresses in a straight sleek bob. She joined an array of A-list stars as she attended the HCA Film Awards at the Avalon Hollywood & Bardot in Los Angeles. Emilia appeared to be in excellent spirits as she attended her second award ceremony in 24 hours - having picked up nominations at both the SAG Awards and the HCA Film Awards for her role as Ruby Rossi in CODA. Chic: The actress paired her glamorous attire with an oversized sand blazer draped over her shoulders Stunning: The actress showed off her slender pegs in a pair of strappy gold heels while she accessorised her glamorous attire with a simple selection of silver rings Joyful: Emilia appeared to be in excellent spirits as she attended her second award ceremony in two days - having picked up nominations at both for her role in CODA 2021 HCA Film Awards winners Best Picture Da 5 Bloods Judas and The Black Messiah Minari Nomadland One Night in Miami Promising Young Woman - WINNER Soul Sound of Metal The Father The Trial of the Chicago 7 Top prize: Promising Young Woman earned the top prize of the evening, the award for Best Picture Best Actor Anthony Hopkins - The Father Chadwick Boseman - Ma Raineys Black Bottom Delroy Lindo - Da 5 Bloods - WINNER Kingsley Ben-Adir - One Night in Miami Riz Ahmed - Sound of Metal Best Actress Carey Mulligan - Promising Young Woman - WINNER Elisabeth Moss - The Invisible Man Frances McDormand - Nomadland Vanessa Kirby - Pieces of a Woman Viola Davis - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Zendaya - Malcolm & Marie Best Supporting Actor Bo Burnham - Promising Young Woman Chadwick Boseman - Da 5 Bloods Daniel Kaluuya - Judas and the Black Messiah Leslie Odom Jr. - One Night in Miami... Paul Raci - Sound of Metal - WINNER Best Actor: Delroy Lindo earned the Best Actor gong for his role in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods Best Supporting Actress Amanda Seyfried - Mank Ellen Burstyn - Pieces of a Woman Glenn Close - Hillbilly Elegy Olivia Colman - The Father Yuh-Jung Youn - Minari - WINNER Best Animated or VFX Performance Ben Schwartz - Sonic the Hedgehog - WINNER Cathy Ang - Over the Moon Honor Kneafsey - Wolfwalkers Jamie Foxx - Soul Tina Fey - Soul Best Male Director Darius Marder - Sound of Metal - WINNER David Fincher - Mank Lee Isaac Chung - Minari Shaka King - Judas and the Black Messiah Spike Lee - Da 5 Bloods Best Adapted Screenplay: The Regina King-directed feature One Night In Miami took home Best Adapted Screenplay, which was penned by Kemp Powers Best Female Director Chloe Zhao - Nomadland - WINNER Eliza Hittman - Never Rarely Sometimes Always Emerald Fennell - Promising Young Woman Regina King - One Night In Miami Sofia Coppola - On the Rocks Best Original Screenplay Aaron Sorkin - The Trial of The Chicago 7 Abraham Marder & Darius Marder - Sound of Metal Andy Siara - Palm Springs Emerald Fennell - Promising Young Woman - WINNER Lee Isaac Chung - Minari Best Adapted Screenplay Chloe Zhao - Nomadland Florian Zeller - The Father Jonathan Raymond & Kelly Reichardt - First Cow Kemp Powers - One Night in Miami - WINNER Ruben Santiago-Hudson - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Best Cast Ensemble Da 5 Bloods - WINNER Ma Rainey's Black Bottom One Night in Miami Promising Young Woman The Prom The Trial of the Chicago 7 Best First Feature Channing Godfrey Peoples - Miss Juneteenth Darius Marder - Sound of Metal Emerald Fennell - Promising Young Woman - WINNER Radha Blank - The 40-Year-Old Version Regina King - One Night In Miami Raking them in: Promising Young Woman would go on to snag the Best Actress, Best First Feature, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actress awards of the night Best Animated Film Onward Over The Moon Soul The Croods: A New Age Wolfwalkers - WINNER Best International Film Another Round Bacurau I'm No Longer Here La Llorona - WINNER Two of Us Best Documentary All In: The Fight For Democracy - WINNER (TIE) Boys State Class Action Park - WINNER (TIE) Dick Johnson is Dead Time Best Action Bad Boys for Life Birds of Prey - WINNER Extraction Tenet The Old Guard Best Score: Disney Pixar's stunning animated flick Soul walked away with the award for Best Score, which was conducted by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Best Blockbuster Birds of Prey - WINNER Sonic the Hedgehog Tenet The Old Guard Wonder Woman 1984 Best Comedy/Musical Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga On the Rocks Palm Springs - WINNER The Personal History of David Copperfield The Prom Best Horror Freaky His House Host Relic The Invisible Man - WINNER Best Indie Film Black Bear First Cow Minari - WINNER Miss Juneteenth Palm Springs Best Horror: The modern retelling of The Invisible Man, starring Elizabeth Moss, took home Best Horror and Best Visual Effects Best Short Film Burrow Canvas Cops And Robbers If Anything Happens, I Love You The Heart Still Hums - WINNER Best Cinematography Erik Messerschmidt - Mank Dariusz Wolski - News of The World Joshua James Richards - Nomadland - WINNER Hoyte van Hoytema - Tenet Martin Ruhe - The Midnight Sky Best Stunts Birds of Prey - WINNER Extraction Tenet The Old Guard Wonder Woman 1984 Best Score Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - Mank Emile Mosseri - Minari James Newton Howard - News of The World Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - Soul - WINNER Alexandre Desplat - The Midnight Sky Countless: Birds Of Prey got the recognition it deserved as it earned the awards for Best Stunts, Best Blockbuster. and Best Action Best Original Song Husavik (My Hometown) - Eurovision Song Contest - WINNER Rocket to the Moon - Over the Moon Speak Now - One Night in Miami Turntables - All In: The Fight for Democracy Wear Your Crown - The Prom Best Hair & Makeup Deborah La Mia Denaver and Adruitha Lee - Birds of Prey Eryn Krueger, Mekash Patricia Dehaney, and Matthew Mungle - Hillbilly Elegy Kimberley Spiteri, Colleen LaBaff, Gigi Williams, and Michelle Audrina Kim - Mank Matiki Anoff, Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal, Larry M. Cherry, Sian Richards, Deidra Dixon and Jamika Wilson - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - WINNER Angela Wells and Daniel Curet - Promising Young Woman Best Costume Design Erin Benach - Birds of Prey Alexandra Byrne - Emma Trish Summerville - Mank Ann Roth - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Suzie Harman - The Personal History of David Copperfield - WINNER Best Cinematography: Nomadland, which features a stellar performance by Frances McDormand, was recognized for its cinematography Best Production Design Kave Quinn - Emma Donald Graham Burt - Mank - WINNER Mark Ricker - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Cristina Casali - The Personal History of David Copperfield Jamie Walker McCall - The Prom Best Film Editing Chloe Zhao - Nomadland Frederic Thoraval - Promising Young Woman Yorgos Lamprinos - The Father Andy Canny - The Invisible Man Alan Baumgarten - The Trial of the Chicago 7 - WINNER Best Visual Effects Kevin Souls and Thrain Shadbolt - Birds of Prey Ged Wright - Sonic the Hedgehog Andrew Jackson - Tenet Jonathan Dearing - The Invisible Man - WINNER Matt Kasmir, Chris Lawrence, Dave Watkins, and Max Solomon - The Midnight Sky Advertisement Other CODA cast members up for nominations included Troy Kotsur for Best Supporting Actor, Marlee Matlin for Best Supporting Actress and Sian Heder for Best Director, while the drama itself was nominated in an array of other categories. The much-anticipated HCA film awards ceremony saw Kristen Stewart take the prize for Best Actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in Pablo Larrain's Spencer. Meanwhile, Ariana DeBose accepted a prize for her role as Anita in West Side Story, less than 24 hours after winning her first ever SAC award. Other winners included Andrew Garfield, who accepted the prize for Best Actor for his role as Jonathan Larson in tick, tick...BOOM!, and Nicolas Cage, who received the Acting Achievement Award. Sparkling: The star showed off her sensational sense of style as she graced the red carpet in her show-stopping attire, making sure all eyes were on her Big night: Other CODA cast members also up for nominations included Troy Kotsur for Best Supporting Actor (pictured with Emilia on the red carpet) Excitement: Emilia also caught up with her CODA co-star Daniel Durant on the red carpet on Monday evening The Hollywood Critics Association is a film critic organization based in Los Angeles and founded in 2016 as they honor achievement in film every year. It has been a busy week for Emilia after she was also nominated for a SAG Award for her much-praised role in CODA. Less than 24 hours before the HCA Awards, she stepped on to the red carpet at The 28th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles. The star wore a stunning one shouldered gown with crystal embellishment with a sheer overlay. Cast: CODA's Eugenio Derbez, Daniel Durant, Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Emilia Jones and Sian Heder attend the fifth Annual HCA Film Awards Nomination: Emilia attended her second award ceremony in 24 hours - having picked up nominations at the SAG Awards and the HCA Film Awards for her role as Ruby Rossi in CODA Stunning: Just one day earlier, Emilia put on a elegant display in a sheer embellished gown at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles The actress looked sensational in the chic ensemble with a thigh-high side split as she posed up a storm. Emilia wore her brunette locks in a soft tousled hair style with a centre parting and curtain bangs. She opted for a soft makeup palette with smoked out brown eyeshadow and a matte nude lipstick to complete her look. Emilia was up for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for the role in CODA alongside her co-stars Eugenio Derbez, Daniel Durant, Troy Kotsur, Marlee Matlin and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo. Pretty: Emilia wore her brunette locks in a soft tousled hair style with a centre parting and curtain bangs Gorgeous: Founded in 1952, the awards recognize outstanding performances in movie and prime time television Happy: Emilia posed up a storm at the awards alongside Lady Gaga (far left) and Marlee Matlin London-born Emilia made her professional stage debut in the musical Shrek at the age of eight, with the show's star Amanda Holden watching over her like a benevolent fairy godmother. In December 2018, she landed her big break when it was announced that she was cast as Kinsey Locke, one of the main characters in the Netflix fantasy drama series Locke & Key. Now, she's generating a buzz with her critically-acclaimed performance in Indie hit CODA. Not only did the teenager have to master American Sign Language (ASL) and an American accent for the role, she also had to skipper a fishing boat and take singing lessons. Her efforts paid off, after she recently won the Verified Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Onscreen performance. Famous family: Emilia's father Aled found fame as a gifted boy soprano and later as a TV presenter, recording artist and concert performer (pictured in 2015 with mum Claire and brother Lucas) Vogue has hailed the actress as '2022s Breakout Star to Watch'. Her incredible talents run in the family; her father happens to be Aled Jones, who found fame as a gifted boy soprano and later as a TV presenter, recording artist and concert performer. Emilia never considered a career in singing like her dad, previously telling the DailyMail's Baz Bamigmoye: 'My heart was always in acting.' She explained: 'My mum is quite shy but I don't think she would ever give up on anything. She was in the circus when she was younger. She did the trapeze she had to be strong to do that. 'And my dad worked from an early age. We have that in common.' The Batman has more than an hour of rainy scenes, with Gotham City deluged in a staggering 62minutes and 40 seconds of rain. With weather that could rival what the U.K faced in Storm Eunice, one third of the three-hour film is shot in wet weather. As critics panned Robert Pattinson's take on the iconic superhero as 'gloomy', the constant showers in the fictional city no doubt add to the depressing atmosphere. Washout: The Batman has more than an hour of rainy scenes, with Gotham City deluged in a staggering 62minutes and 40 seconds of rain The film, which was shot in various locations around the U.K including Liverpool, Lewesden and Glasgow, even has 2 and a half minutes of rain falling indoors. Due for release on March 4, theatregoers will have to be prepared to sit through the three-hour film, which has been described as 'overly-long' by reviewers. Rather than being an origin story, the film, directed by Matt Reeves, begins with Batman having been in the job for just over a year. Gloomy: With weather that could rival what the U.K faced in Storm Eunice, one third of the three-hour film was shot in wet weather The release, based on the DC Comics superhero sees Batman pursue The Riddler in his second year of crime fighting, uncovering corruption that is connected to his own family in the investigation, forcing him to make new allies to bring the supervillain to justice. An all-star cast sees Robert star as Batman while Zoe Kravitz appears as Selina Kyle, or Catwoman. Also appearing is Paul Dano as Edward Nashton / Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, John Turturro as Gotham City crimelord Carmine Falcone, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth and Colin Farrell as Penguin. Reviewed: The Batman has been branded both 'self-important' and 'tiresome' in a mixed bag of reviews of the hotly anticipated Matt Reeves-directed blockbuster However, while the film was criticized for its 'overlong' runtime of nearly three hours and its characters 'bland' performances, others were somewhat impressed, simply describing it as a 'good film'. The New York Post's Johnny Oleksinski questioned why the film was even being made at all. 'Theres an unshakable feeling here of Whats the point? 'Director Matt Reeves downer movie embraces the realism of The Dark Knight the opposite of Tim Burtons purple-hazed funhouse only without the payoff of excellent writing and acting. 'Whereas previous iterations hid their crimefighting alter ego by being charming, tuxedo-clad socialites at parties, Pattinsons billionaire Bruce is a brooding recluse who stays home all the time and whom many residents havent seen since he was a little boy. Zoe Kravitzs Catwoman 'gets the most interaction with Batman' and 'has a woke moment describing Gotham society as 'rich, privileged white people.' Oleksinski describes the film as an 'old-school mystery' which takes views through a 'banal story'. 'With not much to sink his fangs into, Pattinson is wasted here. Normally, hes an electric, funny and unpredictable actor but thats the opposite of Batman, who hides by necessity. He doesnt act conflicted, determined or scared he just seems bored.' Roger Friedman of Showbiz411 says the film 'brings David Fincher-Like darkness to a young, goth Bruce Wayne and a woke Catwoman.' Pattinson's Batman 'does more for Bruce Wayne than it has in the past. And he needs it: Reeves imagines Bruce as a disaffected Kurt Cobain with dark circles under his eyes and nary a comb in sight. Kravitzs Catwoman 'gets the most interaction with Batman' and 'has a woke moment describing Gotham society as 'rich, privileged white people.' Star-studded: An all-star cast sees Robert Pattinson star as Batman while Zoe Kravitz appears as Selina Kyle, or Catwoman Writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, Mick LaSalle describes Robbert Pattinson's performance as 'stiff'. 'Bruce Wayne is a mopey sort of guy who really should wash his hair more often... If you eliminate from The Batman the good-versus-evil struggle, the only grounding point of focus can be on Bruce Wayne/Batmans internal conflict, his woundedness, his confusion, his desire to do good. 'But no, as written by Reeves and his collaborators and as played by Pattinson, hes just a big stiff. His performance doesnt suggest depths, but an actors cramped understanding, hammered over and over for three hours.' 'Gloomy': Robert Pattinson is pictured in a scene from The Batman 'It is tremendously designed, visually spectacular with great set pieces and juddering, sternum-shivering impacts coming at you out of the darkness.' Writing for the Associated Press, Jake Coyle sees The Batman film as having found its dark tone and then wallowing in it. 'There is surprisingly little suspense because the film struggles to find more than one note (powerful though it is) to strike. Pattinson's Bruce Wayne is just as downbeat and grave as his Batman ... He has abandoned nearly all social engagement, instead tortuously writing a diary to document the horrors he witnesses nightly. Pretty much since Adam West put on the cape and cowl, Batman has steadily grown darker. But Pattinsons despondent Dark Knight takes the cake.' 'OK, but does Batman, like, kick some butt, too? What about the Batmobile? Its not all just a seedy slog through the Gotham sewer, is it? Well, almost,' Coyle adds noting that the plot is structured as a detective story and makes for a 'distinctive work separate from previous movie iterations of the character.' 'The Batman is dark, no doubt about it. Even darker than the already dark Christopher Nolandirected trilogy,' writes Bilge Ebiri at Vulture. 'You might have thought Batman couldnt get any darker, but youd be wrong. 'This is a Batman movie reimagined as a grisly serial-killer film, only this time its not just the serial killer who looms in the shadows, watching his prey and waiting to pounce; the hero does, too. Ebiri highlights some positives including car chases and fight scenes. 'Reeves sustains the tense mood throughout, and the procedural elements are mostly absorbing. The action keeps with the austere, grim mood. One nighttime car chase, shot through the blur of heavy rainfall and the delirious dance of car lights reflected in windows, takes your breath away. The fights are often shot in long takes that emphasize both the impressive stunt work and the sheer difficulty of being Batman. And as with the Nolan films, the directorial sensibility matches the form.' It's a view echoed by Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian who gave the film three stars a wrote the 'gloomy reboot' was 'overly' and felt 'like a serial killer chiller such as Saw.' He said the start was 'intriguing', comparing it to a serial killer chiller such as Saw that promises a mystery plot 'for a time'. 'For a time it promises a mystery plot relating to the theme of municipal corruption which is so important to the Batman franchise, and holds out hope of an unmasking with a satisfying narrative resolution. But not really. 'The film is overlong; the Riddlers puzzles arent particularly ingenious or even important to the story and theres a pretty feeble non-ending. The ending is tiresome and shark-jumping in the extreme, with faux-apocalyptic scenes which work better in less solemn superhero adventures.' Writing for the Associated Press , Jake Coyle sees The Batman film as having found its dark tone and then wallowing in it Bradshaw praised Zoe Kravitz in the role of Selina Kyle, or Catwoman, writing that her 'superpower is charisma' and said that Jeffrey Wright and John Turturro both put in good performances. He wrote: 'The ending is tiresome and shark-jumping in the extreme, with faux-apocalyptic scenes which work better in less solemn superhero adventures, and an exasperating non-revelation whose significance is teased for the next film. 'Inevitably, night falls on the latest Batman iteration with the cloudy sense that of course nothing has really been at stake. A classy turn from Pattinson, however, as the crime fighter with an injured soul.' Bradshaw does reserve some praise for the overall look of the production. Empire's John Nugent gave the movie four stars and wrote: 'Matt Reeves arrival in the Bat-verse is a gripping, beautifully shot, neo-noir take on an age-old character. 'Though not a totally radical refit of the Nolan/Snyder era, it establishes a Gotham City we would keenly want a return visit to.' He said the director's approach was 'evolution rather than revolution' and so Pattinson's Bruce Wayne was very different from previous portrayals. 'Where Christian Bale and Ben Affleck embraced the macho side of the character, Pattinson looks like a boyish vampire, his skin tone only a shade warmer than in Twilight,' he wrote 'His is the first screen Batman to be fully seen wearing the eyeshadow... In the suit hes methodical and muscular; out of it, hes racked with insecurity and self-doubt. A repeated needle drop of Nirvanas Something In The Way confirms it: this is emo-Bats.' The Batman: What the critics said 'The moody self-importance... tries to bludgeon the audience into submission and to distract them from how derivative nearly everything on screen is... 'Pattinson, who has delivered so many thrilling turns recently, struggles to elevate his antihero beyond a pouty emo brat.' - The Times critic Kevin Maher Rating: 'The ending is tiresome and shark-jumping in the extreme, with faux-apocalyptic scenes which work better in less solemn superhero adventures, and an exasperating non-revelation whose significance is teased for the next film. 'Inevitably, night falls on the latest Batman iteration with the cloudy sense that of course nothing has really been at stake. A classy turn from Pattinson, however, as the crime fighter with an injured soul.' - The Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw Rating: 'Where Christian Bale and Ben Affleck embraced the macho side of the character, Pattinson looks like a boyish vampire, his skin tone only a shade warmer than in Twilight. 'His is the first screen Batman to be fully seen wearing the eyeshadow... In the suit hes methodical and muscular; out of it, hes racked with insecurity and self-doubt. A repeated needle drop of Nirvanas Something In The Way confirms it: this is emo-Bats.' - Empire critic John Nugent Rating: 'The Batman is a very good Batman film. To think of it as anything more only leads fo delusion or disappointment.' The Independent critic Clarisse Loughrey Rating: 'Pattinson and Kravitz together generate more sensual charge than entire franchises have been known to muster... '(The film brings) a deep bench of tremendous character performances that add enthralling colour and intrigue to the winding underworld mystery plot.' - The Telegraph critic Robbie Collin Rating: Advertisement Tension: This year's release, based on the DC Comics superhero sees Batman pursue The Riddler in his second year of crime fighting The Telegraph's Robbie Collin gave the flick a full five stars, saying Pattinson and Kravitz 'generate an astonishing sensual charge in a brilliant addition to the Batman canon that refuses to behave like a blockbuster'. While he claims the film has no 'star turn' as 'the film doesnt have room for one', telling movie fans to 'dispel all thoughts of Jim Carreys Lycra-sheathed flamboyance (as the Riddler) in Batman Forever', he insists the set up brings 'a deep bench of tremendous character performances that add enthralling colour and intrigue to the winding underworld mystery plot'. He added that 'Pattinson and Kravitz together generate more sensual charge than entire franchises have been known to muster'. Caution: The hotly-anticipated comic book film is said to have a running time of two hours and 55 minutes Kevin Maher of The Times gave the film two stars, lamenting it for its near three-hour length and 'moody self-importance' that 'tries to bludgeon the audience into submission and to distract them from how derivative nearly everything on screen is'. He seemed equally unimpressed with the star performances, writing that 'Pattinson, who has delivered so many thrilling turns recently, struggles to elevate his antihero beyond a pouty emo brat'. However, he praised Colin Farrell in the 'underused' role of the Penguin for 'having a blast throughout'. Mixed bag: While the film was criticised for its 'overlong' runtime of nearly three hours and its characters 'bland' performances, others were somewhat impressed The Independent's Clarisse Loughrey gave the movie four stars and wrote: 'The Batman is a very good Batman film. To think of it as anything more only leads to delusion or disappointment'. She pitched the flick between Christopher Nolan's and Tim Burton's, saying Reeves' version has 'one foot in our reality, and the other planted in a Gothic noir aesthetic and comics'. Clarisse stated that the film seems more 'intimate' than other Batman films but insisted it did not need nearly three hours to tell the story of a 'relatively simple story of its heros moral awakening'. She concluded: 'The Batman has risen but it might be pushing its luck if it decides to return.' The Batman will be released in cinemas on March 4. When you stretch a narrative arc you end up with a flat line, but there's still plenty to relish: BRIAN VINER reviews The Batman for the Daily Mail Rating: Those of us old enough to remember Adam Wests Batman in the Sixties TV series, complete with pop-art Pow! and Thwack! graphics, have since seen the Caped Crusader fly a long way - although not necessarily in the right direction. George Clooney, Val Kilmer, Michael Keaton, Christian Bale and Ben Affleck are among the stars who have subsequently played the scourge of the Gotham City underworld, and now, in the latest big-budget reboot of the DC Comics franchise, The Batman, its the turn of British actor Robert Pattinson. Hes perfectly fine both as billionaire Bruce Wayne and his crime-busting alter ego, although the extravagant length of this movie, at just a Zzzzz! under three hours, made me decidedly nostalgic for the caped capers of Batman and his sidekick Robin in the long-ago telly version. Just when you think the storys all done theres an unwanted added 20 per cent, almost as if The Batman had been crossed with the VAT man. When you stretch a narrative arc you end up with a flat line, but there's still plenty to relish: BRIAN VINER reviews The Batman Director Matt Reeves, who took a whole 36 minutes less to resolve The War for The Planet of the Apes (2017), evidently decided that this time he needed to stretch his narrative arc. After all, the illustrious likes of Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton have already made widely-acclaimed Batman films, so how better to create an even bigger impact - Ker-pow! - than with one that cinema audiences might remember for a nasty onset of cramp? The shame of it is that theres a cracking movie of little more than two hours fighting - biff! - to get out of the near three-hour running-time. Unfortunately, when you stretch a narrative arc, or indeed any arc, you end up with a flat line. So it is here. I enjoyed the films two parallel stories - one in which Batman tangles with the Gotham City mob led by Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and another in which he tries to identify a serial killer known only as the Riddler (Paul Dano) - but they both end up flat-lining long before the 176 minutes are up. Pattinson plays Bruce as a dour, tormented young man, still uncomfortably in thrall to his spiky mentor and father-substitute Alfred (Andy Serkis), and basically too floppy-haired and miserable for anyone to put two and two together and connect him with the masked vigilante who keeps swooping down every time a bat motif appears, illuminated in the night sky. The basic premise of this doggedly cheerless film is that Batman isnt yet a fully-fledged crime-fighter. Hes still finding his feet - not easy in that beefy tunic - and so falls into an alliance with a sexy but embittered waitress, Selina (Zoe Kravitz). She works at the sleazy nightclub run by a scarred mobster called Oswald Cobblepot (an unrecognisable Colin Farrell), and although all comic-book enthusiasts know him better as The Penguin and her as Catwoman, the implication is that those nicknames, even more than Batman, have yet to be earned. Theres a striking dearth of humour throughout but a pleasing wink to the audience when Oswald, his feet bound together, is forced to waddle like a certain flightless aquatic bird. Tormented: Pattinson plays Bruce as a dour, tormented young man, still uncomfortably in thrall to his spiky mentor and father-substitute Alfred Meanwhile, a sadistic psycho is brutally knocking off the high and mighty but irredeemably corrupt of Gotham City, starting with the mayor (Rupert Penry-Jones). He leaves a creepy riddle at every murder scene, one of many reasons why The Batman feels more like a psychological film noir than a superhero movie, borrowing almost as conspicuously from the likes of The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Seven (1995) as it does from its most obvious influence, Nolans The Dark Knight trilogy. But where The Dark Knight (2008) had an unsurpassable baddie in Heath Ledgers Joker, this film creates a problem for itself by keeping its principal fiend from us (brilliant as Dano is) almost until the end. Another self-inflicted issue is Batmans voice, a kind of monotone whisper. When he says of the crime-ridden metropolis that maybe its beyond saving, I heard it as maybe its Beyonce, which seemed like a truly startling guess as to the identity of the killer. Still, once your ears get attuned, and your eyes too, for that matter, since daylight hardly ever encroaches, there is plenty to relish in The Batman. Theres oodles of atmosphere, and for those familiar with the great city of Liverpool, the bonus of realising that it is Gothams stunt double. But none of that can mitigate the challenge to the bladder when - eeek! - you realise that youve been in there over two and a half hours, with 25 minutes still to go. The Batman opens in cinemas on Friday She's never shied away from showing off her impressive figure. And Kourtney Kardashian set pulses racing once again as she slipped into a sexy brown bikini for a fun throwback snap to promote her Poosh lifestyle brand. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, 42, shared the snap of herself posing on a surfboard floating in the ocean, hours after being seen leaving filming for Jimmy Kimmel Live with fiance Travis Barker. Wow! Kourtney Kardashian, 42, set pulses racing once again as she slipped into a sexy brown bikini for a fun throwback snap to promote her Poosh lifestyle brand Kourtney highlighted her incredible figure in the plunging brown bikini top and matching bottoms as she relaxed in the ocean. The snap appeared to have been taken during one of her recent getaways, with a luxurious yacht in full view behind her. Kourtney used the image to promote a piece on the website for her lifestyle brand Poosh, titled Healthy People Do These 10 Things Differently. Heading out: It comes as the star was seen leaving a recording for Jimmy Kimmel Live with her husband-to-be Travis Barker It comes as the star was seen leaving a recording for Jimmy Kimmel's show with her husband-to-be Travis. The mother-of-three covered up in an oversized hoodie, while hitmaker Travis put his full tattooed physique on display by going shirtless after the recording. Kourtney and Travis turned their longtime friendship into a romance last year, after keeping things strictly platonic for over a decade. And on Thursday, the musician penned a tweet urging his 1.5 million followers to 'find something beautiful and fight like hell for it.' Low-key: The mother-of-three covered up in an oversized hoodie, while hitmaker Travis put his full tattooed physique on display by going shirtless after the recording Love is in the air: Kourtney and Travis turned their longtime friendship into a romance last year, after keeping things strictly platonic for over a decade The post did not go unnoticed by his other half, who quickly reposted his love not on her Instagram Story with a red heart emoji for her fans to see. Earlier this month, sources close to the couple revealed the lovebirds may be saying 'I do' in just a few short months. 'It's going to be some time this year and could even be as soon as this spring,' the insider told Us Weekly. 'They're so ready to be husband and wife. They couldn't be more in love.' Rumours: Earlier this month, sources close to Kourtney (pictured) and Scott revealed the lovebirds may be saying 'I do' in just a few short months. The couple reportedly hope to keep the particulars of their imminent nuptials a secret until then. Fans, however, can expect a 'fairy tale' wedding which involves the duo's respective children. The ceremony may also be be filmed for the world. '[Kourtney] doesn't want any details of her wedding getting out as she wants it to be a surprise to guests,' the insider said. 'It's going to be a fairy tale wedding for sure, though.' Kourtney has been busy working on her family's upcoming Hulu series, and earlier this month posted a sneak peek of the program. The beauty posted a photo of her laptop playing a segment of the Hulu show that appeared to include footsteps on a sandy beach. The image was likely from the filming of Travis' ocean side proposal to Kourtney in Montecito, California, in October. Kourtney and Travis shocked fans when they confirmed their romance via an Instagram post in February 2021. It came after weeks of speculation that the two had began dating after years of being in each other's lives as neighbours. By Ricardo Hausmann CAMBRIDGE As I write, Russia's army has entered Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. It is clear now that the threat of sanctions did not dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from launching his invasion. But making good on the threat can still play two other roles: Sanctions can limit Russia's capacity to project power by weakening its economy, and they can create a precedent that might influence Putin's future behavior vis-a-vis other countries such as Georgia, Moldova, and the Baltic states. One reason why the threat of sanctions might not have prevented war is that Russia did not regard them as credible. If imposing a sanction is costly, the political will to do so may be weak or evaporate over time. For example, Western consumers are already upset at the high energy costs. An embargo on Russian oil will reduce the global energy supply and send prices even higher, potentially triggering a backlash against the policy. That may be why Western countries have not imposed it, opting instead for financial sanctions that have, so far, been underwhelming. After all, arguably the most significant sanction to date the suspension of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would have delivered Russian natural gas directly to Germany will strain Europe's already tight natural gas market. Sanctions are more effective and credible if they impose large costs on the intended target but entail small costs or even benefits for those imposing them. Finding such sanctions is easier said than done, as the Nord Stream 2 project shows. So, what instruments does the West have in its arsenal? One that has received surprisingly little attention is punitive taxes on Russian oil and gas. At first sight, imposing a tax on a good must increase its price, making energy even more expensive for Western consumers. Right? Wrong! At issue is something called tax incidence analysis, which is taught in basic microeconomics courses. A tax on a good, such as Russian oil, will affect both supply and demand, changing the good's price. How much the price changes, and who bears the cost of the tax, depends on how sensitive both supply and demand are to the tax, or what economists call elasticity. The more elastic the demand, the more the producer bears the cost of the tax because consumers have more options. The more inelastic the supply, the more the producer again bears the tax, because it has fewer options. Fortunately, this is precisely the situation the West now confronts. Demand for Russian oil is highly elastic, because consumers do not really care if the oil they use comes from Russia, the Gulf, or somewhere else. They are unwilling to pay more for Russian oil if other oil with similar properties is available. Hence, the price of Russian oil after tax is pinned down by the market price of all other oil. At the same time, the supply of Russian oil is very inelastic, meaning that large changes in the price to the producer do not induce changes in supply. Here, the numbers are staggering. According to the Russian energy group Rosneft's financial statements for 2021, the firm's upstream operating costs are $2.70 per barrel. Likewise, Rystad Energy, a business-intelligence company, estimates the total variable cost of production of Russian oil (excluding taxes and capital costs) at $5.67 per barrel. Put differently, even if the oil price fell to $6 per barrel (it's above $100 now), it would still be in Rosneft's interest to keep pumping: Supply is truly inelastic in the short run. Obviously, under those conditions, it would not be profitable to invest in maintaining or expanding production capacity, and oil output would gradually decline as it always does because of exhaustion and loss of pressure. But this will take time, and by then, others may move in to take over Russia's market share. In other words, given very high demand elasticity and very low short-term supply elasticity, a tax on Russian oil would be paid essentially by Russia. Instead of being costly for the world, imposing such a tax would actually be profitable. A punitive global tax on Russian oil at a rate of, say, 90 percent, or $90 per barrel could extract and transfer to the world some $300 billion per year from Putin's war chest, or about 20 percent of Russia's 2021 GDP. And it would be infinitely more convenient than an embargo on Russian oil, which would enrich other producers and impoverish consumers. This logic also applies to Nord Stream 2. A tax equal to 90 percent of the European Union's natural gas price, which is currently around 90 ($101) per megawatt-hour, would keep Russian gas in the market but expropriate the rent. But how feasible would a 90 percent world tax on Russian oil be? In 2019, 55 percent of Russia's exports of mineral fuels (including oil, natural gas, and coal) went to the EU, while a further 13 percent went to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Turkey. China got only 18 percent. If all these countries except China agreed to tax Russian oil at 90 percent, Russia would try to sell all its oil to China. But this would put China in a strong negotiating position. In such a scenario, it would be in China's interest to impose the tax, because such an instrument would extract the rent that it would otherwise have to pay to Russia. In short, a punitive tax on Russian oil would both significantly weaken Russia and benefit consuming countries, making it more credible and sustainable than an embargo. The idea deserves considerably more attention that it has received. Ricardo Hausmann, a former minister of planning of Venezuela and former chief economist at the Inter-American Development Bank, is a professor at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and Director of the Harvard Growth Lab. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Kristen Stewart pulled out all the stops for her big night at the fifth annual Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Film Awards on Monday. The actress, 31, won one of the night's biggest accolades, Best Actress, and chose a chic burgundy two-piece ensemble for the evening ceremony. Kristen showed some skin in the sequin crop top and matching skirt for the event held at Avalon Hollywood. Winning look: Kristen Stewart pulled out all the stops for her big night at the fifth annual Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Film Awards on Monday Kristen flashed a glimpse of her impressive abs as she posed in her shimmering ensemble, which featured a slinky full-length skirt and form-fitting crop top. She styled her dyed blonde locks into loose waves and completed her look with a dash of glam makeup. Kristen couldn't contain her excitement as she accepted Best Actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in Pablo Larrain's Spencer at the ceremony. Abs-olutely fabulous: The actress, 31, won one of the night's biggest accolades, Best Actress, and chose a chic burgundy two-piece ensemble for the evening ceremony Gorgeous: She posed for stunning portraits backstage with her shiny new trophy 'I took more joy into my body doing this than anything. Its been a long run, I f**king appreciate this, seriously,' she told the audience. After expressing her gratitude, the 31-year-old Oscar nominee talked about the 'wild storm' of landing her role-of-a-lifetime and how the People's Princess as a 'human being and figure' was so 'completely alone' all the time. 'I could never have made this movie by myself, and that's every movie, but this one, really,' she concluded. 'I was so accompanied. This is so cool, I can't believe we get to do this.' Big gig: Stewart earned the honor for her portrayal of Princess Diana in Spencer (right) Beaming: The Twilight star was beaming after taking the stage to accept her prize Winner: Stewart has picked up a string of accolades for the movie which was released in November 2021 Reflective: After expressing her gratitude, the 31-year-old Oscar nominee talked about the 'wild storm' of landing her role-of-a-lifetime Joy: 'I took more joy into my body doing this than anything. Its been a long run, I f**king appreciate this, seriously,' she told the audience The Hollywood Critics Association is a film critic organization based in Los Angeles and founded in 2016 as they honor achievement in film every year. Dune led the evening with four awards, including a Best Director tie between Denis Villeneuve and Power of the Dog's Jane Campion. The Oscar contender also picked up Best Score for Hans Zimmer, Best Cinematography for Greig Fraser and Best Visual Effects for Brian Connor, Gerd Nefzer, Paul Lambert and Tristan Myles. Dynamic duo: Big winners Stewart and Best Actor winner Andrew Garfield posed for a snap together backstage Looking fab: She styled her dyed blonde locks into loose waves and completed her look with a dash of glam makeup Sitting pretty: Kristen sat with her team as she watched the other awards being handed out Ready for her closeup: Kristen applauded as she enjoying the evening ceremony Pharrell Williams and his family joined the stars gathering to watch late Virgil Abloh's final Off-White collection hit the catwalk during Paris Fashion Week on Monday. The rapper, 48, was joined by his wife Helen Lasichanh and 12-year-old son Rocket in what was a rare family public appearance. Pharrell and his model wife, 41, tied the knot in 2013, have four children together including Rocket, and a set of three-year-old triplets they welcomed in January 2017 whose names have still not been revealed. Entrance: Pharrell Williams and his family joined the stars gathering to watch late Virgil Abloh's final Off-White collection hit the catwalk during Paris Fashion Week on Monday Firmly making his arrival at the star-studded event, the producer looked dapper in a khaki belted cotton-blend trench coat with a prominent pocket on its sleeve. Sticking with the neutral tones, Pharrell donned a pair of cream wide leg trousers. Making sure to make a statement on the night, the musician matched the look with a pair of black hand-painted shoes from the brand. They were adorned with 'special events' in white font. Family outing: The rapper, 48, was joined by his wife Helen Lasichanh and 12-year-old son Rocket in what was a rare family public appearance Close: Pharrell and his model wife, 41, tied the knot in 2013, have four children together including Rocket, but only brought their eldest to the star-studded event Stylish: Firmly making his arrival to the show, the producer looked dapper in a khaki belted cotton-blend trench coat with a prominent pocket on its sleeve Pharrell also rocked a pair of diamond clad funky sunglasses. Meanwhile, his designer wife Helen looked stunning in a grey asymmetrical pant suit. Keeping it classy, she added a basic black top which she tucked into her trousers while adding some height with a pair of black patent ankle boots. She wore her dark tresses in curly waves while wearing a radiant palette of makeup. Their son Rocket, looked super cool during his rare public appearance as he donned a black and white varsity jacket, baggy jeans and a pair of chunky black trainers. Peace: The musician rocked a pair of diamond clad funky sunglasses Handy: The producer and entrepreneur looked dapper in a khaki belted cotton-blend trench coat with a prominent pocket on its sleeve In 2014, Pharrell told Oprah Winfrey the backstory and meaning of his son's name. 'In the same way the Indians named their children behind a force or animal or element, we named him after a man-made machine that was meant to go up, meant to ascend,' he explained. 'Metaphorically it was because it was because of Stevie Wonder's 'Rocket Love,' Elton John's 'Rocket Man' and Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit' all of my favorite musicians.' Top models: The Off-White show opened with the fashion icon's ready-to-wear collection before 28 couture looks hit the runway (Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber) Trendy: Joan Smalls donned a black sleeveless top with a 'SNITCHIN' print while Karen Elson sported a black suit Virgil created the collection before he tragically passed away in November aged 41 after a two year battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer named cardiac angiosarcoma. The designer founded the Milan-based brand back in 2012 and served as the chief executive officer. The Off-White show opened with the fashion icon's ready-to-wear collection before 28 couture looks hit the runway. Bella Hadid opened the couture show with sister Gigi following up the rear. Supermodels Cindy, Naomi, Helena Christensen also took to the catwalk to pay homage to Vigil's fashion genius. In memory: The Abloh family sat front row to watch Virgil's final Off-White collection hit the catwalk for Paris Fashion Week on Monday (pictured Shannon with children Gray and Lowe) Model Kendall Jenner ensured all eyes were on her as she took to the runway wearing a skintight black mini dress that highlighted her jaw-dropping figure. The garment had 'Little Black Dress' written across the side in white print while Kendall also sported a black cap with horns. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star added height to her frame with a pair of black leather boots while she also sported matching gloves. Bella cut a glamorous figure for her turn on the catwalk, wearing a white off the shoulder gown with a dramatic train. Sean Penn has revealed he has walked miles to the Polish border as he films a VICE documentary on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The actor, 61, said both he and his film crew decided to abandon their car and pursue on foot after seeing the thousands of Ukrainian residents fleeing for safety, with queues stretching for miles. Taking to Twitter on Monday, Sean described how cars were filled with women and children, with their only possession of value being the vehicle they were travelling in. Fleeing: Sean Penn has revealed he has walked miles to the Polish border as he films a VICE documentary on Russia's invasion of Ukraine Harrowing scenes: The actor, 61, said both he and his film crew decided to abandon their car and pursue on foot after seeing the thousands of Ukrainian residents fleeing for safety Sharing a picture dragging a taped up suitcase, Sean wrote: 'Myself & two colleagues walked miles to the Polish border after abandoning our car on the side of the road. 'Almost all the cars in this photo carry women & children only, most without any sign of luggage, and a car their only possession of value.' Sean has been filming the documentary about the escalating tension in Ukraine since November last year. Listening: Sean has been filming the documentary about the escalating tension in Ukraine since November last year, pictured with President Volodymyr Zelensky last week Taking action: Sean travelled to Ukraine in November to film the documentary before jetting to Kyiv last week to document the invasion It comes after Sean called President Vladmir Putin 's war on Ukraine a 'brutal mistake'. He wrote over the weekend: 'Already a brutal mistake of lives taken and hearts broken, and if he doesnt relent, I believe Mr. Putin will have made a most horrible mistake for all of humankind. President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have risen as historic symbols of courage and principle.' He added: 'Ukraine is the tip of the spear for the democratic embrace of dreams. If we allow it to fight alone, our soul as America is lost.' Honest: It comes after Sean called President Vladimir Putin 's war on Ukraine a 'brutal mistake' on Twitter over the weekend Penn flew into the capital of Ukraine last week, Kyiv, and was seen sitting front and center at a government press briefing mere hours into the invasion as he represented VICE for a documentary being filmed about the war, which Putin deemed a 'special military operation.' The documentary is a VICE Studios production, 'in association with VICE World News and Endeavor Content,' according to a spokesman for the media group. In a translated Facebook post, the Ukrainian government said it was grateful for Sean being there and he was lauded as being more courageous than Western leaders. He added: 'Ukraine is the tip of the spear for the democratic embrace of dreams. If we allow it to fight alone, our soul as America is lost' On deck: Penn flew into the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, last week and was seen sitting front and center at a government press briefing mere hours into the invasion In action: The documentary -which has been in the works for months and has focused on the rising tensions in the region- is a VICE Studios production 'An American actor and filmmaker, Oscar winner Sean Penn arrived to Ukraine,' the statement read. 'The director specially came to Kyiv to record all the events that are currently happening in Ukraine and to tell the world the truth about Russia's invasion of our country. 'Sean Penn is among those who support Ukraine in Ukraine today. Our country is grateful to him for such a show of courage and honesty. 'This morning the director visited the Office of the President and visited the press briefing of the advisor of the head of the Office of the Head of State Mikhail Podolak and the Vice Prime Minister - the Minister of the Reintegration of temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine Irina Vere uk. Doing his best: Their conversation was muted but Zelensky, a former comedian and actor himself, wrote in a caption: 'The more people know about the war in the Ukraine' 'He spoke to journalists, to our military, saw how we defend our country. 'Sean Penn demonstrates the courage that many others, especially western politicians lack.' He then met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who posted a video of their meeting on his Instagram account. Their conversation was muted but Zelensky, a former comedian and actor himself, wrote in a caption: 'The more people know about the war in the Ukraine, the higher the likelihood of stopping Russia!' Ukraine's president has accused Russia of war crimes after Vladimir Putin's forces launched what were believed to be cluster and vacuum bomb attacks in an attempt to turn the tide of a conflict that they have so-far been losing. In a late night address directed at Russia, Volodymyr said there would 'definitely be an international tribunal' for what he said was a 'violation of all conventions' and added that 'no one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people.' Prosecutors at The Hague say they intend to open a probe 'as soon as possible.' Zelensky spoke after what appeared to be a cluster bomb attack on the city of Kharkiv on Monday which killed at least 11 people and wounded scores more, and after Ukraine's ambassador to the US accused Putin's forces of using a banned thermobaric bomb on the capital of Kyiv overnight. The bombardment of Kharkiv continued Tuesday morning with a rocket landing just in front of the civilian public administration building, destroying the road outside and blowing the windows out of the building itself. Footage from inside shows the building was heavily damaged, with ceilings collapsing and rubble strewn around. Kanye West's new love interest Chaney Jones has given her 282k Instagram followers a treat, posing naked for her latest social media update. The Instagram model, who is the spitting image of Kanye's estranged wife Kim Kardashian, 41, covered her modesty with her long black hair extensions as she snapped photos in the mirror on Monday. The new pics were shared hours after Chaney, 24, shared her first public selfie with Kanye, 44, as their romance continues to heat up. Baring all: Kanye West's new love interest Chaney Jones has given her 282k Instagram followers a treat, posing naked for her latest social media update Chaney crouched on the floor for one pic, letting her hair fall over her chest as she pouted for the camera. The other snap saw the model standing, concealing her nudity with an arm across her chest. Hours before, Chaney shared a snap of herself on her Instagram Stories, posing with Kanye and adding a black heart emoji. Kanye and Chaney were first linked together in early February, when they were seen smiling and laughing at Soho House in Malibu. Daring: The Instagram model, who is the spitting image of Kanye's estranged wife Kim Kardashian, 41, covered her modesty with her long black hair extensions as she snapped photos in the mirror They were pictured at the exclusive spot while he was still involved with actress Julia Fox. Kanye and Julia dated for six weeks before splitting in early February. In the latest development in their divorce, Kim begged a judge to declare her single and revealed she had been suffering 'emotional distress' from Kanye's social media antics. Yet despite her tirades, Kim is still focused on amicably co-parenting her four children with Kanye. Instagram official: Hours before, Chaney shared a snap of herself on her Instagram Stories, posing with Kanye and adding a black heart emoji 'Her ultimate wish at the end of the day is to have a healthy co-parenting relationship with Kanye and she will continue to make every effort to move things in that direction,' a source close to the star told DailyMail.com on Thursday. Kim, 41, filed for divorce from Kanye after nearly seven years of marriage last February. They share daughters North, eight, Chicago, four, and sons Saint, six, and Psalm, two. The insider noted that Kim is 'concerned' about Kanye continuing to air their private matters on Instagram. 'Kim is concerned about how public everything has been with his social posts and how this will ultimately affect the kids one day when they grow up and might see all of this,' the insider explained. The way they were: In the latest development in their divorce, Kim begged a judge to declare her single and revealed she had been suffering 'emotional distress' from Kanye's social media antics; pictured February 2020 'At the end of the day, no matter how challenging things are between them she always wants the kids to view Kanye in the best light and have the best relationship with him. She was incredibly close to her father growing up and only wants that for her own kids.' As for herself, Kim is coping with the stress caused by her divorce by immersing herself in work and family. 'She is trying their best to stay strong, calm and positive, focusing on her kids and staying busy with her work. She has an incredible support system of family and a small circle of friends around her,' another source close to Kim tells DailyMail.com. Kim recently filed new legal documents informing a judge of her strong 'desire to be divorced.' Her desire: In new documents obtained by TMZ , Kim stated, 'I very much desire to be divorced' In new documents obtained by TMZ, Kim stated, 'I very much desire to be divorced.' She told a judge she had requested Kanye keep their separation private 'but he has not done so'. 'Kanye has been putting a lot of misinformation regarding our private matters and co-parenting on social media which has created emotional distress,' she says in the new documents. The drama between Kardashian and West has been playing out publicly on social media in recent weeks, where the rapper has been posting screenshots of text messages sent to him from his ex and gone to war with her new boyfriend Pete Davidson. Rochelle and Marvin Humes were every inch the picture perfect couple as they prepared to enjoy a date night in loved-up Instagram snaps on Monday. Showing off her slim figure, the presenter sported a black satin mini dress with a leg slit from ASOS as she cosied up to her husband in the images. Rochelle layered the look with a white shirt, accessorising with a mini crochet-style bag and a pair of Prada rubber sandals. Adorable! Rochelle and Marvin Humes donned co-ordinating monochrome outfits in a picture posted to Rochelle's Instagram on Monday Rochelle pulled her wavy brunette tresses into a top knot, with some curls down to frame her face. She accessorised with a gold 'M' necklace, alongside complementing rings and bangles. Meanwhile, Marvin looked suave in an all-black ensemble - which featured a pair of black trousers and a shirt with cargo-style pocket detailing. Chic! Showing off her slim figure, the presenter sported a black satin mini dress with a leg slit from ASOS as she posed in front of her mirror ahead of the date night He sported a pair of yellow and blue high-top trainers as he stood behind his wife for the snap. Rochelle posted the pictures to her 2.2 million followers before enjoying a date night with her husband, captioning: 'Him, always...' The This Morning presenter has been married to presenter and JLS star Marvin since 2012. In the details: she accessorised with a gold 'M' necklace, alongside complementing rings and bangles The pair share their two daughters: eight-year-old Alaia-Mai and four-year-old Valentina Raine, and son son Blake, 17 months. Marvin and Rochelle are back in the UK, after enjoying a family getaway to Dubai during half-term. The couple stayed at luxurious five-star Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa in Dubai with their three children for the sun-soaked holiday. Sun-kissed: Marvin and Rochelle recently returned to the UK, after enjoying a family getaway to Dubai during half-term Martha Kalifatidis has revealed one of her fiance Michael Brunelli's private toilet habits. In an Instagram Stories video shared on Tuesday, the former Married at First Sight star complained that her 31-year-old beau skips the loo roll. 'He never uses toilet paper when he pees,' she said in the clip, which had an amusing filter applied to her face and voice. Confession: Martha Kalifatidis (right) has revealed one of her fiance Michael Brunelli's (left) private toilet habits. In an Instagram Stories video shared on Tuesday, the former Married at First Sight star complained that her 31-year-old beau skips the loo roll 'Yuck,' she added, while nestling her feet in Michael's crotch, adding, 'I don't know why'. In his caption on the video, the personal trainer confessed that he does indeed prefer the 'shake don't wipe' method. It comes just weeks after it was reported that Martha and Michael will televise their real-life nuptials, after their MAFS wedding was watched by over a million Aussies. Loo-nacy: 'He never uses toilet paper when he pees,' she said in the clip, which had an amusing filter applied to her face and voice. 'Yuck,' she added Private business: In his caption on the video, the personal trainer confessed that he does indeed prefer the 'shake don't wipe' method According to Woman's Day, the couple have been inundated with offers from networks to film a TV special, after becoming engaged. 'They were hoping to do a wedding special on a free-to-air channel and they've been overwhelmed by all of the interest,' a source told the magazine. 'There's a bidding war going on to televise what they think will be the wedding of the year.' Happy news: Martha and Michael delighted Married at First Sight fans in December when they announced their engagement Bling! The influencer said her engagement ring is priced 'close to $100,000' Martha and Michael delighted Married at First Sight fans in December when they announced their engagement. During an appearance on the KIIS FM Will & Woody radio show, Martha revealed the eye-watering cost of her stunning diamond engagement ring. The influencer, who 'wed' Michael on the 2019 season of Married At First Sight, said the bling is priced 'close to $100,000'. Adrian Dunbar was spotted on the set of his upcoming police drama, Ridley, on Tuesday. The 63-year-old actor, no stranger to a fast-paced role owing to his portrayal of Superintendent Ted Hastings in BBC's Line Of Duty, cut a laidback figure in a leather jacket and jeans while hitting the streets of Manchester. While the on-set snaps were predominantly shot outside, there was one moment where Adrian was captured browsing a record shop before selecting a vinyl. Shooting: Adrian Dunbar cut a laid-back figure in Manchester on Tuesday as he was spotted on the set of his upcoming police drama Ridley In other filming stills, Adrian maintained a sombre expression, but did, in another shot, grin at the camera while donning a pair of glasses. It was reported in January that the first scenes of the year had been filmed in Lancashire. The Irish actor will play Detective Inspector Alex Ridley, who is retiring from the police after years of dedicated service. New project: The Irish actor will play Detective Inspector Alex Ridley, who is retiring from the police after years of dedicated service Role: The on-set snaps were predominantly shot outside, while Adrian maintained a sombre expression His replacement is DI Carol Farman, played by Bronagh Waugh, a former protegee whom Ridley mentored for many years and is now in charge of investigations. When he's enlisted by Carol as a police consultant on a complex and compelling murder case, the investigation takes a dark and unexpected turn. Turning to her old mentor for support, Carol is keen to access Ridleys unique insight into crime-solving which has served them so well in the past, prompting him to revive their partnership. Intriguing: There was one moment where Adrian was captured browsing a record shop before selecting a vinyl Filming: In another photo, Adrian grinned at the cameras while donning a pair of glasses The upcoming show follows Adrian's enormous success in writer Jed Mercurio's hit Line Of Duty, where he won accolades for his role as hot-headed Ted. Filming will take place at various locations across Northern England with a cast that also includes Terence Maynard as DCI Paul Goodwin, George Bukhari as DC Darren Lakhan and Georgie Glen as pathologist Dr Wendy Newstone. Confirming work on the four two-hour long shows, Adrian previously said: 'Ridley has begun shooting and we really couldnt be off to a better start. Confirming work on the four two-hour long shows, Adrian previously said: 'Ridley has begun shooting and we really couldnt be off to a better start' 'Despite the wintry weather, everything from cast and crew right down to the catering is excellent. 'Bronagh Waugh has stepped into her characters shoes seamlessly and we have been joined by some great actors with more to come.' Co-creator Jonathan Fisher, who also serves as Executive Producer on the new show, added: Its a real thrill for filming to be underway with such a top-rate cast starring alongside Adrian Dunbar and led by a superb production team. 'We cant wait to share this absorbing new detective series with our audience.' Ridley has been commissioned for ITV by Head of Drama, Polly Hill, with Drama Commissioner, Chloe Tucker overseeing production of the drama from the channels perspective. An official release date is yet to be formally announced. Katie Price and fiance Carl Woods enjoyed the sights and sounds of bustling Bangkok on Monday evening after jetting to Thailand for a romantic minibreak. The couple were hand in hand as they made the most of a night out in the sprawling city, famed for its wild, vibrant club scene, following their long-haul flight from England. However the debauchery of its notorious Kao San Road - a popular tourist trap - was dismissed in favour of a quiet moonlit stroll close to the grounds of their luxury hotel. Good times: Katie Price and fiance Carl Woods enjoyed the sights and sounds of bustling Bangkok on Monday evening after jetting to Thailand for a romantic minibreak With Bangkok's balmy weather in mind, Katie opted for a form-fitting sleeveless top that inevitably drew attention to her physique as she walked alongside her fiance. The former glamour model, 43, added to her look with a floral patterned miniskirt, while white trainers and ankle socks rounded things off. Joining Katie, Carl, 32, looked equally relaxed in a casual grey T-shirt, over which he draped a smart Louis Vuitton shoulder bag. New arrivals: The couple were hand in hand as they made the most of a night out in the sprawling city, famed for its wild, vibrant club scene, following their flight from England Peaceful: However the debauchery of its notorious Kao San Road - a popular tourist trap - was dismissed in favour of a quiet moonlit stroll close to the grounds of their luxury hotel Low-key look: With Bangkok's balmy weather in mind, Katie opted for a form-fitting sleeveless top that inevitably drew attention to her physique as she walked alongside her fiance The holiday comes after Katie underwent an eye and brow lift at a clinic in Belgium in January, before cutting off her bandages prematurely because they were 'driving her nuts'. Discussing her recent tweaks during an early morning interview with breakfast show Lorraine, the mother-of-five claimed that she has no plans to stop going under the knife, despite her ailing mother Amy objecting to it. She said: 'I had a brow lift and my mum was like, "what are you doing that for?" I said "mum, Im in my 40s and I had my whole career natural except my boobs and Im going to have surgery." Smitten: Katie couldn't take her eyes off Carl as they walked hand in hand during their appearance in Bangkok Here we go: Katie's cosmetically enhanced assets were evident (L) as she walked alongside Carl, who carried a smart Louis Vuitton shoulder bag (R) Seasonal style: Katie added to her look with a floral patterned miniskirt, while white trainers and ankle socks rounded things off 'Im in my 40s so why not? Everyone knows Im gonna do it and everyone picks on me for it but Ill try these things. Theres so many people who have these tweaks and say "Im natural". Are you joking?' Katie's latest enhancements followed a trip to Turkey, where she underwent full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, and had fat injected into her bum. Katie also revealed plans to have a baby with fiance Carl - despite his recent charge for using 'threatening and abusive behaviour' towards her. Dressing down: Joining Katie, Carl looked equally relaxed in a grey T-shirt and loose fitting black shorts Busy girl: The holiday comes after Katie underwent an eye and brow lift at a clinic in Belgium in January, before cutting off her bandages prematurely because they were 'driving her nuts' Carl issued a public denial on Instagram last week over claims of abuse and accused others of creating a 'storyline' - insisting they only had an argument in public. Katie made no reference to the charges but insisted the pair were stronger than ever as she detailed their plans to expand their family. She explained: 'We're doing the IVF route, it's weird because even though I feel young, each cycle you have you lose eggs and obviously I'm 44 this year. 'We're having to do IVF and we are doing it. I can't wait to have more kids, I've been with Carl for two years, unfortunately for him I broke my feet a month into our relationship, so he became my carer.' Katie is already mother to eldest child Harvey, 19, with Dwight Yorke; son Junior, 16, and daughter Princess, 14, with Peter Andre and son Jett, eight, and daughter Bunny, seven, with her ex Kieran Hayler. Her estranged husband Kanye West has been spending time with Chaney Jones, an Instagram model and a Kim Kardashian clone in Miami. And Kim Kardashian has been focusing on their four children, as seen in her latest Instagram post. The 41-year-old entrepreneur shared a snap of son Psalm, two, and daughter Chicago, four, posing on a mini motorcycle, with the caption: 'Morning ride.' Doting mother: Her estranged husband Kanye West has been spending time with Chaney Jones, an Instagram model and a Kim Kardashian clone in Miami. And Kim Kardashian has been focusing on their four children, as seen in her latest Instagram post Psalm and Chicago both looked adorable while posing for the snap, matching in all black outfits. Kim and Kanye share four children together: Psalm, Chicago and North, eight, and Saint, six. Kim filed for divorce from Kanye, 44, after nearly seven years of marriage last February. The mother of four is in a relationship with actor and SNL star Pete Davidson, after they were first linked in October following her appearance on the show as a host. Family oriented: The 41-year-old entrepreneur shared a snap of son Psalm, two, and daughter Chicago, four, posing on a mini motorcycle, with the caption: 'morning ride' On Monday, Kim shared a series of snaps of herself from her trip to Milan Fashion Week. The brunette beauty wowed in a snakeskin bandeau top with matching trousers, adding a duster coat and her signature gloves and small framed sunglasses. The stunner posed up a storm in the stylish look, with her hair pulled back into a bun; she captioned it as 'just like magic.' Meanwhile, Kanye and Kim K clone Chaney, 24, seen sharing a PDA moment as they hugged in the lobby of their hotel in Miami on Monday following lunch. Just hours earlier, Chaney shared a snap of herself posing with Kanye to her Instagram stories, adding a black heart emoji. 'Just like magic': On Monday, Kim shared a series of snaps of herself from her trip to Milan Fashion Week Kanye's current muse: Meanwhile, Kanye and Kim K clone Chaney seen sharing a PDA moment as they hugged in the lobby of their hotel in Miami on Monday following lunch The Instagram life: Just hours earlier, Chaney shared a snap of herself posing with Kanye to her Instagram stories, adding a black heart emoji Kanye and Chaney were first linked together in early February, when they were seen smiling and laughing at Soho House in Malibu. They were pictured at the exclusive spot while he was still involved with actress Julia Fox. Kanye and Julia dated for six weeks before splitting in early February. Kanye grinned ear to ear as he was caught flirting with the influencer, who bears a resemblance to his estranged wife, as they leaned against the balcony of the venue during the early February meet-up. Last week, the duo partied the night away in Miami together at ZZ Club, where they stayed there until 3:30 am. In the latest development in their divorce, Kim begged a judge to declare her single and revealed she had been suffering 'emotional distress' from Kanye's social media antics. Former flames: Kim, 41, filed for divorce from Kanye after nearly seven years of marriage last February; pictured in February 2020 Yet despite her tirades, Kim is still focused on amicably co-parenting her four children with Kanye. 'Her ultimate wish at the end of the day is to have a healthy co-parenting relationship with Kanye and she will continue to make every effort to move things in that direction,' a source close to the star told DailyMail.com on Thursday. The insider noted that Kim is 'concerned' about Kanye continuing to air their private matters on Instagram. 'Kim is concerned about how public everything has been with his social posts and how this will ultimately affect the kids one day when they grow up and might see all of this,' the insider explained. 'At the end of the day, no matter how challenging things are between them she always wants the kids to view Kanye in the best light and have the best relationship with him. She was incredibly close to her father growing up and only wants that for her own kids.' As for herself, Kim is coping with the stress caused by her divorce by immersing herself in work and family. Work: As for herself, Kim is coping with the stress caused by her divorce by immersing herself in work and family; pictured in a Skims campaign 'She is trying their best to stay strong, calm and positive, focusing on her kids and staying busy with her work. She has an incredible support system of family and a small circle of friends around her,' another source close to Kim tells DailyMail.com. Kim recently filed new legal documents informing a judge of her strong 'desire to be divorced.' In new documents obtained by TMZ, Kim stated, 'I very much desire to be divorced.' She told a judge she had requested Kanye keep their separation private 'but he has not done so'. 'Kanye has been putting a lot of misinformation regarding our private matters and co-parenting on social media which has created emotional distress,' she says in the new documents. The drama between Kardashian and West has been playing out publicly on social media in recent weeks, where the rapper has been posting screenshots of text messages sent to him from his ex and gone to war with her new boyfriend Pete, 28. Newly engaged model Romee Strijd put on a leggy display as she arrived at the Dior Paris Fashion Week show on Tuesday. The former Victoria's Secret Model, 26, wore a nude pinafore-style dress layered over a white sleeveless shirt from Christian Dior, with the brand's distinctive initials stitched into the material. She paired her outfit with cream Dior ankle boots, which also featured a black stamp on the heel. Gorgeous! Newly engaged model Romee Strijd put on a leggy display as she arrived at the Dior Paris Fashion Week show on Tuesday Romee accessorised with some gold bangles, while clutching a pair of black sunglasses. She also donned a grey Dior saddle bag over her shoulder. She beamed for the camera as her blonde tresses fell loose, in a tousled wave - featuring an ashy root with a golden money piece. She posted snaps to her 7.2 million followers as she got ready for the show - after enjoying a Parisian breakfast, which included a range of pastries, baguettes and avocado toast. What a rock! Romee's fashion week appearance comes after she announced her engagement to model and businessman Laurens Van Leeuwen in January Chic: Cristian Dior initials were stitched in the material of Romee's couture outfit Gorgeous! The former Victoria's Secret Model donned a nude pinafore-style dress, layered over a white sleeveless shirt Details: Romee accessorised with some gold bangles and a pair of black sunglasses. She also donned a grey Dior saddle bag over her shoulder Stars such as Rihanna and Anya Taylor-Joy also attended Dior's A/W show alongside Romee. Rihanna showcased her growing baby bump in a racy ensemble - featuring a mesh, frilled dress with leather boots and a long leather coat. Meanwhile, Anya went for a completely different look as she donned a sequin patterned midi dress, with black court heels and a complementing coat resting on her shoulders. Show prep: Romee shared some snaps before the show with pal Pauline Famous faces: Stars such as Rihanna and Anya Taylor-Joy also attended Dior's A/W show alongside Romee Monochrome: Rihanna opted for a deep red lip for the gothic look, contrasting with white nail polish Clean cut: Anya wore a hairband in her sleek blonde locks, with a bright makeup look Romee's fashion week appearance comes after she announced her engagement to model and businessman Laurens Van Leeuwen in January. The 26-year-old beauty said yes as her partner popped the question during a trip to Switzerland with a huge solitaire diamond ring. The pair share 16-month-old daughter Mint and have been together for 12 years. Congrats! The 26-year-old beauty said yes as her partner popped the question during a trip to Switzerland with a huge solitaire diamond ring Happy family: The pair share 16-month-old daughter Mint and have been together for 12 years Putin hit for escalating war with dangerous threat Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to escalate tensions further by putting his nuclear forces on high alert Sunday after invading Ukraine last week. His move has raised fears about a nuclear war although U.S. President Joe Biden played down Putin's threat of nuclear mobilization. Yet no one can totally rule out the possibility of such a threat turning into action. We express grave concerns about Putin's reference to the use of his nuclear arsenal. The Russian leader has drawn strong international condemnation for launching full-scale attacks on Ukraine, a democratic country which gained independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The world should neither tolerate Russia's invasion nor its nuclear threat. Putin already hinted at using nuclear weapons. Announcing the start of the invasion Thursday, he said Russia's response to any country that stood in its way would carry "consequences that you have never encountered in your history." He added that Russia is one of the most powerful nuclear-armed states in the world. Given his hawkish remarks, we cannot and should not take his nuclear threat lightly. Russia has the world's largest stockpile of nuclear warheads estimated at around 6,000. Putin's insinuation of nuclear mobilization was reckless and irresponsible. He was apparently trying to intimidate not only Ukraine but also the U.S. and its Western allies and partners in a bid to turn the situation to Russia's advantage. In fact, Russia is facing strong economic and financial sanctions over its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. More than anything else, the international community cut major Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), the global messaging system connecting some 11,000 financial institutions in nearly 200 countries around the world. Russia has so far failed to win a quick victory in the war due to strong resistance from Ukrainian forces and civilians. It has also faced mounting anti-war and anti-Russia movements around the world. In this situation, Putin was certainly seeking to enhance its bargaining power just before negotiations with Ukraine which ended with no tangible results Monday. He also might have wanted to weaken the U.S.-led international front against Russia by spreading fears about a nuclear war. Putin should realize that his invasion and nuclear blackmail are tantamount to a provocation against the world. He must stop his dangerous attempt to destroy a democratic country and the free world. His aim is to overthrow the pro-Western Ukraine government and set up a pro-Moscow regime. The world should step up its efforts against Russia to safeguard freedom, democracy, peace and security. Putin's nuclear threat should not send the wrong signal to some countries, including North Korea, which are developing nuclear weapons. There are growing fears that the Kim Jong-un regime would never give up its nuclear arsenal on the belief that Ukraine might have avoided an invasion if it had not abandoned nuclear weapons in return for security guarantees and economic aid. The world should prove that the North cannot ensure its survival with nuclear armament. It needs to make more efforts to prod Pyongyang to move toward denuclearization and peace. A stalker was reportedly arrested at Cindy Crawford's doorstep after flying from the UK to tell her about a 'child' they had together. Authorities told TMZ that a man was lurking around one of Cindy's California properties when security members found him 'banging on 'the door and windows.' The suspect, who flew thousands of miles to see Crawford, was trying to get 'Cindy's attention' to tell her about 'the kid' he said they had together. Scary: A stalker was reportedly arrested at Cindy Crawford's doorstep after flying from the UK to tell her about a 'child' they had together; seen in 2018 Cindy was not home at the time and law enforcement officials arrested the man for 'felony stalking.' It's unclear if the man has previously tried contacting Crawford or any of her family members before. DailyMail.com contacted Crawford's representatives for comment. Family forever: The 56-year-old supermodel has two children daughter Kaia, 20, and son Presley, 22 with her husband, Rande Gerber; seen in 2017 True love: Gerber, the founder of Casamigos Tequila, and Crawford were married in the Bahamas in 1998, and will celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary in May; seen in 2018 The 56-year-old supermodel has two children daughter Kaia, 20, and son Presley, 22 with her husband, Rande Gerber. Gerber and Crawford were married in the Bahamas in 1998, and will celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary in May. Just last week, Cindy offered her younger self some advice to mark her birthday, reminding her that 'life is a blessing.' Throwback: The mother-of-two also appeared on Instagram to share a throwback image of her as a little girl ahead of her birthday 'Life is a blessing!' Cindy imparted some wisdom that she would have shared with her younger self in a candid caption She wrote on Instagram: 'On the eve of another birthday, looking back at little Cindy and thinking about what I would tell her. 'I would tell her to be kinder to herself, to treat herself the way she treats her friends. I would tell her everyone feels nervous in new situations and sometimes you just have to fake it 'til you make it. 'I would tell her not to be afraid to make a fool of herself - dance, sing, etc more - even if she isn't good at it. Laugh as much as possible. 'Risk showing her true self to people she loves - the payoff is worth it. Practice gratitude. Keep growing and learning and becoming life is a blessing!' Cindy began ruling the runways in the 80s and 90s, and has been featured on the cover of every major fashion magazine in addition to posing completely nude for Playboy in 1988. Maksim Chmerkovskiy has reached Poland. The Dancing With The Stars pro has been documenting his journey fleeing his native country after the Russian invasion. The star, who also revealed he was arrested in Kyiv, revealed that after a long 'claustrophobic' and 'traumatizing' train ride with women and children out of the war torn country. Maksim, 42, shared a detailed account of his trek to Warsaw, Poland, revealing he was starting his train journey on Monday after he got arrested in Kyiv. The father of one arrived to Warsaw after 31 hours of no sleep. The latest: Maksim Chmerkovskiy has reached Poland. The Dancing With The Stars pro has been documenting his journey fleeing his native country after the Russian invasion He took to his Instagram stories explaining that they stopped to change the wheels off the train on their trek to Poland. 'I'm at a station about 20, 30, 40, I don't actually know where I'm at but like 30 minutes before the Polish border, they stopped to change wheels on the train, I can't make this up and let us out... for fresh air and I went to the bathroom and now we're going back and this is the train,' as he showed train and the crowds. 'So now that I see it, there's... yesterday I didn't see it it was night I had no idea where we were... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 cars about 130-something people each and one cart that is all sicker kids and people... its not as packed but all the others are packed to the brink. Maks said it was a stop about 'thirty minutes from the Polish border' as he walked to the bathroom. Dancing With The Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy timeline in Ukraine FEBRUARY 2 Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who was born in Ukraine but became a US citizen in 2019, flies to Kyiv with plans to stay for a 'few months' film a new Ukrainian show called World of Dance. FEBRUARY 6 The Dancing With The Stars pro, 42, begins filming as a judge on the panel and declares he's 'really happy to be back in Ukraine'. FEBRUARY 24 Maksim shares a tearful clip from Kyiv saying 'I want to go back home' and says he is 'about to go into a bomb shelter because s**t's going down'. His wife Peta Murgatroyd, with whom he has a five-year-old son Shai, pleads for his safe return and asks for prayers. She admits: 'My pain is overwhelming and I'm struggling. Please pray that he has a swift, safe exit.' FEBRUARY 25 He shares another clip filmed in Kyiv and tells fans he is 'safe' but the situation is 'pretty die' and that the 'whole country is being called to go to war. I don't know the answer, I just want the shooting to stop.' FEBRUARY 26 He calls out his former DWTS partner Kirstie Alley for tweeting she doesn't know what's 'real' and 'fake' about Russia invading his home country. He noted: 'No one needs your prayer if you don't know what's real or fake.' FEBRUARY 27 Petra admits she's going through 'hell' but thanks fans for their kindness and support, revealing strangers made her cookies to offer comfort. Maks commented on her post, writing: 'I love you and Ill see you soon! Save me a cookie.' FEBRUARY 28 Maks reveals he was arrested in Kyiv but doesn't reveal why. He said the 'streets are crazy' and the arrest was 'probably the least traumatizing moment' but noted it was a 'reality check.' He reveals he plan to flee, noting 'I'm going to try and make my way out. I'm going to start making my way towards the border. I have options. Just a little nervous but I think it's going to be alright. I know its' going to be okay.' He later boards a train heading to Warsaw alongside women and children, calling the journey 'claustrophobic.' MARCH 1 The dancing pro reaches Warsaw, Poland after 31 hours of no sleep on his 'traumatizing' train ride women and children fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion. The star thanks the 'amazing Polish people.' MARCH 2 Maks boards a plane in Warsaw heading to Los Angeles. He is greeted at the airport by his wife Peta Murgatroyd in an emotional reunion. MARCH 4 In his first interview since fleeing Ukraine, Maks tells GMA that feels 'guilty' for leaving the war-torn country and is dealing with bouts of crying in the wake of the traumatic experience. He also revealed the reason that he was arrested in Kyiv was for breaking curfew. Emotional: Maksim, pictured on February 24, shared a tearful clip from Kyiv and said 'I want to go back home' and says he is 'about to go into a bomb shelter because s**t's going down' Advertisement Made it: The star, who also revealed he was arrested in Kyiv, revealed that after a long 'claustrophobic' and 'traumatizing' train ride with women and children out of the war torn country Speaking out: Maksim, 42, shared a detailed account of his trek to Warsaw, Poland, revealing he was starting his train journey on Monday after he got arrested in Kyiv. The father of one arrived to Warsaw after 31 hours of no sleep His reality: 'I'm at a station about 20, 30, 40, I don't actually know where I'm at but like 30 minutes before the Polish border, they stopped to change wheels on the train, I can't make this up and let us out... for fresh air and I went to the bathroom and now we're going back and this is the train,' as he showed train and the crowds He said there's about 130 people on each of the five cars on the train, noting that one cart is only for sick children and people so its not as packed as the other four. The star then showed off the poor conditions of the bathroom he was forced to use during the train stop. After his arrival to Poland, Maks revealed he's been running on 31 hours no sleep. He took a moment to thank the Polish people: 'I absolutely have to say this: Polish people are amazing!!!! Thank you from the absolute bottom of my heart and soul,' adding a prayer sign, heart and hands in the air emoji. Maksim followed it up with footage from people showing Ukrainians allegedly stealing a tank from the Russian army. Gratitude: He took a moment to thank the Polish people: 'I absolutely have to say this: Polish people are amazing!!!! Thank you from the absolute bottom of my heart and soul,' adding a prayer sign, heart and hands in the air emoji He also posted stories showing expired food the Russian army allegedly issued their militia, with the date of 2015. Maks later wrote: 'Russian state propaganda machine will say my last post is fake. Fundamentally flawed way of governing humans by using propaganda (lies) and fear. Benn there, done that... emigrated.' Maksim lives in California with wife Peta Murgatroyd and their son Shai, five; the dancing pro was born in Ukraine but immigrated to New York with his parents and brother Val in 1994, where they became US citizens. His words: He also posted stories showing expired food the Russian army allegedly issued their militia, with the date of 2015 Speaking to his followers: He was sharing information about the journey as he headed to the bathroom Bathroom: The star then showed off the poor conditions of the bathroom he was forced to use during the train stop He also posted a woman shouting in Ukrainian from her window as the Russian army bombed residential buildings, and not the military structures they have been claiming is their focus. Another clip showed children making camouflage nets to help in their battle, and another was of an elderly woman with graphic injuries, with her foot blown off. The Ukrainian star updated followers in series of social media posts on Monday, detailing his 'traumatizing' attempt to get out of the country amid the Russian invasion. Chmerkovskiy, who has been in Kyiv working as a judge on the Ukrainian version of World of Dance, had planned on staying in his native land when the fighting first broke out, however, after he got a 'reality check' by being arrested he decided to flee. The country announced last week that men of fighting age - between 18-60 - were prohibited from leaving Ukraine but since Maks holds a U.S. passport, he is exempt from the mandate. Real life: Another clip showed children making camouflage nets to help in their battle, and another was of an elderly woman with graphic injuries, with her foot blown off Monday updates: Chmerkovskiy, who has been in Kyiv working as a judge on the Ukrainian version of World of Dance, had planned on staying in his native land when the fighting first broke out, however, after he got a 'reality check' by being arrested he decided to flee 'I made it on the train. We're heading to Warsaw (hopefully). Train to Lviv was not an option,' the choreographer penned. 'The situation at the train station is insane. AT first it feels manageable, but it get A LOT worse when it comes time to actually board the train.' 'Long story but all I can say now is that I'm a big man with nothing but a backpack it's TRAUMATIZING,' he continued. 'Currently I'm in a cabin with 4 adults and 7 kids (ages 2-11) which is usually only occupied by maximum of 3 people.' Maksim revealed that the train car that he's currently traveling in is outfitted for roughly 30 riders but refugees were told they needed to fit 135 people inside. 'Walkways are packed. People everywhere. It's sweaty and claustrophobic,' he said. Photos from a train station in illustrate the reality star's situation. Thousands of people were seen bundled up in freezing temperatures standing practically on top of one another as they attempted to get a train out of the country. Refugees: Chmerkovskiy, who has been in Kyiv working as a judge on the Ukrainian version of World of Dance, had planned on staying in his native land when the fighting first broke out, however, after he got a 'reality check' by being arrested he decided to flee One of the lucky ones: Ukraine announced last week that men of fighting age - between 18-60 - were prohibited from leaving Ukraine but since Maks holds a U.S. passport, he is exempt from the mandate Fighting-aged men are prohibited from leaving Ukraine under a new mandate so the trains are filled primarily with women and children. Back in the 1990s, Maksim and his family emigrated to the United States and thus he holds a U.S. passport, allowing him the rare opportunity to flee for safety. 'What finally broke me is when I was watching an eight-ish year old boy, hysterically crying and not wanting to let go of his father,' he wrote in a heartbreaking post on Instagram. 'Verbatim: "if you stay I want to stay too because if they kill you I won't be able to help".' His wife, Peta Murgatroyd, shared his post on her social media feed saying she was 'so f**king proud' of her husband for helping out the refugee children. Maks' decision to finally leave Kyiv came after he was arrested while in the capital city amid the Russian military assault. Terrifying: Thousands of people were seen bundled up in freezing temperatures standing practically on top of one another as they attempted to get a train out of the country (Pictured: Evacuation train in Kyiv) Getting out: Thousands of Ukrainian residents waiting for hours to board trains into neighboring countries as Russian forces continue to shell cities across the country (Pictured: Lviv train station) 'The streets are crazy,' he said. 'At one point I got arrested but again all good, promise. That was probably the least traumatizing moment in this whole thing as far as Ukraine is concerned, but for me, it was just a reality check.' 'I'm going to try and make my way out. I'm going to start making my way towards the border. I have options.' Adding: 'Just a little nervous but I think it's going to be alright. I know it's going to be okay. Maksim posted graphic videos to his stories and grid throughout Ukraine, as the star says he's tried and stressed out after seeing innocent people being killed. He said on Sunday: 'I'm in a very safe place but this is nuts and I think everybody is going through a lot of emotions and i think it's time I expose mine in a more personal manner. 'This is a war. This is a crazy situation. It's insane and I'm losing my final little things. This is not a cry for help. I'm a big boy. I can handle myself.. but I'm starting to not be able to just sort of keep my head.' Support: His wife, Peta Murgatroyd, shared his post on her social media feed saying she was 'so f**king proud' of her husband for helping out the refugee children 'The reality is, I just want to go home. I'm just hoping for a safe ending to it all.' His wife Peta, 35, took to Instagram on Sunday with an emotional message in which she shared that an empathetic group of strangers had made a kind gesture to her amid the absence of Maksim. 'Although I'm going through hell right now and I want it all to end[there] is light that shines through the darkness,' said Murgatroyd, who is mother to five-year-old son Shai with Chmerkovskiy, who she wed in July of 2017. Murgatroyd, an alum of Dancing With the Stars, remains at the family's home in California amid the uncertain time. She said that strangers baked her cookies 'and proudly brought them to [her] door. 'They stood there with smiles so wide. Let me repeat strangers, whom I don't talk to thought that they should get in their kitchen and bake me cookies,' she said. 'They also took it upon themselves to google if I was allergic to anything, just to make sure they weren't hurting me.' The latest: Maksim Chmerkovskiy revealed he was arrested while in Kyiv, Ukraine but called it the 'least traumatizing moment in this whole thing as far as Ukraine is concerned Chmerkovskiy has also provided frequent social media updates amid the conflict, as he said Thursday he had not attempted to leave the country due to safety concerns around the border of Poland. The professional dancer said he felt his odds for departure from the Ukraine were helped in having an American passport. Chmerkovskiy added that the conflict had taken an emotional toll on him, as he said he 'will never be the same' in the wake of the invasion. 'This is stressful and Im getting old feelings back, like Ive done this before,' he said Thursday. 'This does feel like the way it was when and why we left in the 90s. Like my old PTSD Ive finally fixed is coming back.' On Sunday, Chmerkovskiy took to Instagram Stories with a number of messages, urging people in the dance community in European countries to help take care of refugees if they were able to. He shared a number of links to resources to help people exit safely amid the ongoing military conflict. Chmerkovskiy also wrote, 'Russia needs a revolution!!! Russian people are being lied to!!! Russians! Wake up! It will take you generations to get over this and generations of people around the world will never forgive you!!!' On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to put nuclear weapons on enhanced alert for 'special regime of combat duty' amid heightened tensions with Europe and the United States following the invasion. Putin cited aggression toward Russia from NATO as well as economic sanctions and moves shutting down Russian banking institutions using the banking system SWIFT. The U.N. Security Council is slated to hold an emergency meeting regarding the invasion Monday. Advertisement Toni Garrn, Iris Law and Elle Macpherson commanded attention on Tuesday afternoon as they flaunted their fashion credentials ahead of the prestigious Dior show during Paris Fashion Week. The trio of models were not afraid to present their sartorial uniqueness as they prepared for the luxury fashion house's Womenswear Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show. German model Toni, 29, looked sensational in a skater-inspired black dress, which boasted mesh detailing and a flowy skirt. Here come the girls: (From L-R) Toni Garrn, Iris Law and Elle Macpherson took Paris by storm on Tuesday as they arrived for the prestigious Dior event during Fashion Week The blonde beauty left her hair loose and in a middle parting, while ensuring her makeup was effortlessly applied. In terms of footwear, the runway star kept things comfortable and added a chic handbag to carry her belongings. Elsewhere, Iris, 21, who is fresh from Milan's Fashion Week, displayed her edgy blonde buzz cut alongside a fun netted pinafore, a crisp white shirt and tie as she made her way into the fashion show. Classy: German model Toni, 29, looked sensational in a skater-inspired black dress, which boasted mesh detailing and a flowy skirt Glowing: Toni ensured her makeup was effortlessly applied Statement: Meanwhile, Iris, 21, who is fresh from Milan's Fashion Week, displayed her edgy blonde buzz cut alongside a fun netted pinafore Pose: Iris also donned a crisp white shirt and tie as she made her way into the fashion show Classy: Meanwhile long-time supermodel Elle, 57, wrapped up in a black trench coat and long leather boots Stealing the show: In her classically chic style, Elle threw on a pair of statement shades, occasionally taking them off to fully show off her radiant face The netted pinafore was complemented by socks of the same style, which she slipped into small heels. Meanwhile long-time supermodel Elle, 57, wrapped up in a black trench coat and long leather boots, which were laced the entire length. In her classically chic style, Elle threw on a pair of statement shades, occasionally taking them off to fully show off her radiant face. Wow: Newly engaged model Romee Strijd put on a leggy display as she arrived at the Dior Paris Fashion Week show All smiles: The former Victoria's Secret Model, 26, wore a nude pinafore-style dress layered over a white sleeveless shirt from Christian Dior Looking smart: In an homage to the re-emergence of society following the Covid pandemic, many of the catwalk's biggest looks included chic dresses, smart blazers and flowing skirts Newly engaged model Romee Strijd put on a leggy display as she arrived at the Dior Paris Fashion Week show. The former Victoria's Secret Model, 26, wore a nude pinafore-style dress layered over a white sleeveless shirt from Christian Dior, with the brand's distinctive initials stitched into the material. She paired her outfit with cream Dior ankle boots, which also featured a black stamp on the heel. Her husband was born in Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv. And Motsi Mabuse, 40, has admitted her fears that she'll never see husband Evgenij Voznyuk's hometown after it was attacked by Russian forces. The professional dancer revealed on Twitter that they'd booked flights to visit Kharkiv back in 2020, but had to postpone it because of lockdown. Sadness: Motsi Mabuse, 40, has admitted her fears that she'll never see husband Evgenij Voznyuk's hometown after it was attacked by Russian forces (Pictured together in 2018) Please let this stop! The professional dancer revealed on Twitter that they'd booked flights to visit Kharkiv back in 2020, but had to postpone it because of lockdown On Monday, Motsi tweeted: '2020 we booked our flights to spend Easter in Kharkiv and return a day before my birthday, because of lockdown we cancelled the trip. '2021 we were still on lockdown! 2022 seems I will never see the town my husband was born. He wanted to show me his motherland! #Kharkiv. 'Hopefully one day!! Another day filled with horror! Please let this stop.' Russia stepped up shelling of Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv, and pounded several civilian buildings. More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly killed when Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city of about 50,000 people between Kharkiv and Kyiv. Awful: Russia stepped up shelling of Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv, and pounded several civilian buildings (Rescuers are seen in a building damaged by a missile in Kharkiv) On Tuesday, sharing a video of a Russian airstrike hitting Kharkiv's iconic Freedom Square, Motsi wrote: 'I am just speechless!!!!!!!!!!!' Later in the day, she returned and tweeted: 'Stop saying Ukraine people are inspiring !!!!! It's not inspiring seeing woman and children suffer!!! It's sad' alongside a quote from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 44. His quote read: 'Do prove that you are with us. Do prove that you will not let us go. 'Do prove that you are indeed Europeans, and then life will win over death and light will win over darkness. Glory be to Ukraine.' Speechless: On Tuesday, Motsi shared a video of a Russian airstrike hitting Kharkiv's iconic Freedom Square It comes after Motsi updated concerned fans on the welfare of her husband's parents, who last week she revealed were stranded in Ukraine. The Strictly Come Dancing judge wrote on Twitter that she and her Ukrainian husband were 'in contact' with her in-laws but there is 'nothing they can do.' Motsi's Saturday afternoon update read: 'We are contact with them ! The spend more than half the day yesterday in the bunkers !!! 'In Kharkiv there are heavy battles so we can't get to them ! At the moment there is nothing we can do . We did try to get them earlier in Germany.' Devastated: Later in the day, she returned and tweeted: 'Stop saying Ukraine people are inspiring !!!!! It's not inspiring seeing woman and children suffer!!! It's sad' On Instagram later in the day, the South African-German dancer shared a harrowing image of her mother-in-law in the bunker. 'My mother last few days, they have spent most of their time in the basement! It is winter cold, no heating. 'They tried to buy food but we're not capable to get anything. We are in contact every few hours . They will sleep there tonight,' she explained. Tough: It comes after Motsi updated concerned fans on the welfare of her husband's parents, who last week she revealed were stranded in Ukraine (Her mother-in-law in a bunker) Thought-provoking: Motsi used her Instagram Story to share an impassioned message In another impassioned post shared to her Story, Motsi wrote: 'The question why didn't they leave earlier is not relevant and innocent children & people are suffering for what ??? They have build their homes , their lives. 'They have to build and again it's being destroyed for what ???? Is this what peace looks like ? Is this your Putin bring peace?' She continued on a still-poignant note: 'Every night we sleep not knowing what the news will be the next day !!!!! But to receive a call at 05:00 hearing a mother cry filled with fear telling us she loves us is nothing I wish apon anyone. 'Thank you to all who have taken time to write, I am trying to not make this about me, I am in conflict as to how much I will open my private life but I know many Ukrainian people and it's personal. It's family.' Update: The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 40, wrote on Twitter that she and her Ukrainian husband were 'in contact' with her in-laws but there is 'nothing they can do' Last week, Motsi revealed her husband's parents were unable to reach the Polish border, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. The Strictly star took to Twitter to say she was 'heartbroken' after she had spoken to her 'crying' mother-in-law who has 'no possibility' of fleeing to Poland. A fearful Motsi wrote: 'It's heartbreaking hearing my mother in law crying this morning, afraid and there absolutely nothing we can do! Just Sad honestly.' 'Our parents have been told to go outside and to switch off water &gas ! They have no possibility to get to the polish border.' She had previously tweeted: 'This cannot be happening!!!!!!!!!!!' and asked for 'prayers for Ukraine and the world'. Motsi and Evgenij married in 2017 and share a daughter whose name has never been publicly revealed. Hulk Hogan had to buy his ex-wife a car under the terms of their divorce. The 68-year-old wrestling legend revealed on Monday that his 11-year marriage to Jennifer McDaniel has ended, with it later being confirmed they parted ways last year, and now new details have emerged about the agreement the former couple made when they officially split. According to documents obtained by TMZ, the Suburban Commando actor was ordered to buy Jennifer a new car within 45 days and guarantee she has to make zero payments on the purchase, while the former WWE star got to keep the vehicle they had shared during their marriage. Let's hope it was cheap: Hulk Hogan had to buy his ex-wife a car under the terms of their divorce. Seen in 2010 Did he get her a Rolls? Hulk reportedly owns a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner, 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, a black Chevy Caprice, and a 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cud. He also had at one time a Rolls-Royce, Hummers, and 1952 Ford F1 truck He certainly likes his cars. Hulk reportedly owns a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner, 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, a black Chevy Caprice, and a 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cud. He also had at one time a Rolls-Royce, Hummers, and 1952 Ford F1 truck. Hulk got to keep his mansion in Clearwater, Florida, while his ex-wife took on another property which they had bought together in Palm Isle. The paperwork confirms the grappler paid Jennifer a one-off lump sum but the amount wasn't disclosed, and the pair agreed a non-disparagement clause, which prevents them both from talking about the relationship without the other's consent. Jennifer responded to the petition the same day her former spouse filed it in October, and their divorce was finalized by the end of the year. Terms: The 68-year-old wrestling legend revealed on Monday that his 11-year marriage to Jennifer McDaniel has ended, with it later being confirmed they parted ways last year, and now new details have emerged about the agreement. Seen in 2012 He is done! The star said in this tweet that he was 'officially divorced' Hulk took to Twitter to tell fans that he and Jennifer have 'officially divorced' after he had been spotted with another woman on his social media. He wrote: 'Yo Maniacs just for the record, the Facebook and Instagram posts are of me and my girlfriend Sky, I am officially divorced, sorry I thought everyone already knew,love my Maniacs4Life.' The former 'Hogan Knows Best' star first met make-up artist Jennifer, 48, back in 2008 and they dated for two years before tying the knot in 2010. Hulk - who was also married to Linda Hogan from 1983 until 2007 and has Brooke, 33, and Nick, 31, with her - had been spotted in bars with Sky during recent months and doing karaoke together at his Hogan's Hangout establishment in Clearwater. Molly-Mae Hague set pulses racing as she showed off her toned figure while on a work trip in Mexico. The 22-year-old former Love Island star posed in a pair of white bikini bottoms and an oversized Nike T-shirt in the picture shared on Instagram on Tuesday. The beauty kept her signature blonde locks up in a bun, as she looked out onto the ocean. Toned: Molly-Mae Hague set pulses racing as she showed off her toned figure while on a work trip in Mexico Molly shared the picture to her 6.2 million followers, captioning: 'Fallin into your ocean eyes' (sic) The Influencer and Creative Director is currently in Tulum, Mexico for a work trip as she shoots a campaign. She revealed that she was 'filming something very special' to her fans through Instagram on Tuesday. Busy: The influencer and Creative Director is currently in Tulum, Mexico for a work trip as she shoots a campaign During her trip, she has also been sharing snaps of the beautiful Mexican scenery, alongside her bikini-clad content. However, Molly took to Instagram on Monday to reveal her 'guilt' for posting content during the ongoing Ukraine crisis. Reaching out to fans via her story, Molly admitted she felt it was 'impossible' to go on with life as normal. Unsure: Molly took to Instagram on Monday to reveal her 'guilt' for posting content during the ongoing Ukraine crisis Fan feedback: despite Molly's guilt, 69% of her fans voted for her to continue to post as normal, as she shared a number of messages she had received Sunrise: During her trip, she has also been sharing snaps of the beautiful Mexican scenery, alongside bikini content She created a poll, in which she asked fans whether they thought she should continue posting updated about her life - or whether she should take a break from social media. Despite Molly's guilt, 69% of her fans voted for her to continue to post as normal, as she shared a number of messages she had received. Many of her followers described her content as light relief, offering reassurance for Molly to continue posting. The influencer also offered her support in the series of stories, writing: 'My DM's are always open, I really want to find other ways I can continue using my platform to raise awareness.' Kanye West is set to challenge his prenuptial agreement with Kim Kardashian in an apparent attempt to scuttle her efforts to have herself declared single. The 44-year-old rapper's lawyers have filed legal documents arguing that all prenuptial agreements signed in California after 2002 are presumed to be invalid, TMZ reported on Tuesday. Kardashian, 41, will be asking a judge to declare her legally single on Wednesday, March 2, the outlet reported. Delay tactic: Lawyers for Kanye West, 44, filed documents claiming all prenuptial agreements signed after 2002 including his agreement with Kim Kardashian, 41 are invalid, TMZ reported Tuesday; West and Kardashian seen in 2020 'California premarital agreements entered on or after January 1, 2002, are presumptively invalid,' West's lawyers claimed in his filing. 'The presumption of invalidity exists until rebutted at trial or the parties ratify the agreement. We are in the early stages of the case so no ratification has occurred.' However, West has not previously claimed that his agreement with Kardashian is invalid. According to the outlet, California's law requires one of the spouses to challenge the prenuptial agreement for it to be presumed invalid, but the Monster rapper has not yet done so. If he were to do so, he would need to prove that the agreement was 'unconscionable,' meaning that it was too one-sided, or that either party didn't agree to it voluntarily. Missing pieces: However, West has not previously claimed that his agreement with Kardashian is invalid. The law requires one party to challenge the document, which West hasn't yet done TMZ notes that West had a lawyer representing him when he signed the prenuptial agreement, suggesting that his signature wasn't involuntary. The document is also expected to help him retain much of the massive fortune he amassed during his marriage to Kardashian, which comes from several hit albums and his lucrative fashion deals. West ex previously filed documents claiming that his recent social media posts have been riddled with 'misinformation,' and she claimed their attacks on her and her boyfriend Pete Davidson have caused her 'emotional distress.' 'I believe that the court terminating our marital status will help Kanye to accept that our marital relationship is over and to move forward on a better path which will assist us in peacefully co-parenting our children,' Kardashian wrote in documents filed on February 23, according to Rolling Stone. Mixed messages: The rapper filed to have Kardashian's complaints about his social media posts ruled inadmissible, claiming she hadn't proved he wrote them, but he previously posted on Instagram that his account was 'not hacked' Kardashian is using her estranged husband's social media posts as an argument for speeding up her transition to single status, but West's attorneys said she would need to prove he had personally written the posts, though they didn't appear to explicitly deny that he had written them in their own filings. 'Kim claims she read something online allegedly by Kanye and characterizes the posts in her declaration as misinformation. The social media posts are not attached to the declaration. Kim needed to offer the social media posts into evidence, and show that the posts were written by Kanye,' his lawyers wrote, adding that Kardashian's claims amount to 'double hearsay.' Although West's attorneys appear to be raising doubts about whether he's responsible for posts on his social media account, he seems to have taken steps in his posts to cast himself as their author. In a since-deleted Instagram post, the hitmaker shared a photo of himself holding up a yellow notepad that read, 'My account is not hacked,' and the date, ' 2 13 22.' The posts caption featured the recognizable breathless all-capitals style that many of West's recent posts have adhered to. Distanced: Sources claimed to TMZ that the musician and fashion designer has not been working closely with his legal team; seen in January in NYC 'MY ACCOUNT IS NOT HACKED,' the post repeated int he caption, before noting that West would be taking his children to Sunday Service, followed by the Super Bowl. He also included a not to SNL Weekend Update anchor Michael Che offering to pay him double 'WHATEVER THEY PAYING YOU' to get him away from cast member Pete Davidson. Sources claimed to TMZ that the musician and fashion designer has not been working closely with his legal team. Instead, he made it clear that he didn't want to divorce Kardashian, but left it up to his attorneys to craft a legal strategy for him. Source also said it's unlikely that he'll appear in court for the hearing on Wednesday. Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021, and the couple initially seemed to be on the same page, but in recent weeks West has taken to attacking her boyfriend on social media. Unrelenting: Kardashian pleaded with him over text: 'Why can't you keep any of our conversations private ???' and he replied: ''Cause I got a text from my favorite person in the world' He has also repeatedly posted text conversations that appear to be with his estranged wife, including one conversation in which she appeared to write, 'Why can't you keep any of our conversations private ???' 'Cause I got a text from my favorite person in the world,' he allegedly replied. 'I'm your number one fan. Why wouldn't I tell everyone!!!!' Kardashian doesn't appear to have any desire to slow down her divorce, but her ex has shared multiple times in public that he hopes to win her back. The Late Show host Stephen Colbert's wife of 28 years - Evelyn 'Evie' McGee - praised him for still making fans laugh while 'we've all been on the verge of tears' - calling him TV's 'grief counselor.' 'The hard part of it is, he's trying to make people laugh. It's a comedy show, but he's always been an emotional person,' the 58-year-old daughter of politician Joseph McGee explained in the spring men's fashion edition of WSJ. Magazine, which hits newsstands March 12. 'We've all been on the verge of tears, frankly, a lot. I kind of feel sometimes that Stephen has become a grief counselor for people in real time on television. He didn't seek that task out, and it's hard. But that, I think, is his act of love.' TV's 'grief counselor': The Late Show host Stephen Colbert's wife of 28 years - Evelyn 'Evie' McGee - praised him for still making fans laugh while 'we've all been on the verge of tears' (pictured in 2019) The D.C.-born, South Carolina-raised 57-year-old discussed his unexpected transformation from a macho political satirist on Comedy Central to TV's favorite soulful grief counselor on CBS. 'We often realize we love something as we're losing it,' Stephen told the mag. 'Many things were lost in the last five years: standards, morals, a shared reality, a shared civic engagement, a lot of friends. And Covid, of course, gave it all a special, piquant little zazz.' Many have related to Colbert due to the unbearable losses in his family - his father James and two brothers Peter and Paul died in a 1974 plane crash followed by the 2013 death of his mother Lorna at age 92. The 58-year-old daughter of politician Joseph McGee told WSJ. Magazine: 'The hard part of it is, he's trying to make people laugh. It's a comedy show, but he's always been an emotional person. We've all been on the verge of tears, frankly, a lot' Evie continued: 'I kind of feel sometimes that Stephen has become a grief counselor for people in real time on television. He didn't seek that task out, and it's hard. But that, I think, is his act of love' (pictured June 14) Man of faith: The D.C.-born, South Carolina-raised 57-year-old discussed his unexpected transformation from a macho political satirist on Comedy Central to TV's favorite soulful grief counselor on CBS Stephen told the mag: 'Many things were lost in the last five years: standards, morals, a shared reality, a shared civic engagement, a lot of friends. And Covid, of course, gave it all a special, piquant little zazz' For instance, two-time Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield felt comfortable enough with The Daily Show alum on the November 22nd episode of Late Show to discuss the 2019 death of his mother Lynn from pancreatic cancer. 'The openness and ownership that he has with seemingly culturally taboo subjects, such as grief, allows his guests permission to be in contact and reveal those aspects of their own selves and experiences,' the 38-year-old Englishman wrote in an email. 'In turn, the audience gets to have a genuine, deep, and connected experience. So the show feels like an act of service to people. I think Stephen would have made a great priest.' Stephen had originally envisioned that his time in the late night talk show circuit would be sillier but it ultimately 'did not match the moment we became part of.' 'We often realize we love something as we're losing it': Many have related to Colbert due to the unbearable losses in his family - his father James and two brothers Peter and Paul died in a 1974 plane crash followed by the 2013 death of his mother Lorna at age 92 'I think Stephen would have made a great priest': For instance, two-time Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield (L) felt comfortable enough with The Daily Show alum on the November 22nd episode of Late Show to discuss the 2019 death of his mother Lynn The 38-year-old Englishman (pictured Sunday) said: 'The openness and ownership that he has with seemingly culturally taboo subjects, such as grief, allows his guests permission to be in contact and reveal those aspects of their own selves and experiences. In turn, the audience gets to have a genuine, deep, and connected experience. So the show feels like an act of service to people' 'I thought I could lay down my sword and shield down by the riverside, because that's the part of the old gig I didn't particularly like - anybody thinking, "Hey, what you do is important!"' Colbert said. 'Because that is antithetical to being as silly as you possibly can, and I really love being dumb.' Instead, the 10-time Emmy winner's talk show has become more about love, which he admitted 'sounds a little pretentious.' Quoting the poet E.E. Cummings - whose father was also killed in a crash - Stephen said: '"Love is the every only god / who spoke this earth so glad and big." So, why would you talk about anything else?' 'I really love being dumb': Stephen had originally envisioned that his time in the late night talk show circuit would be sillier but it ultimately 'did not match the moment we became part of' (pictured February 25) 'Why would you talk about anything else?' Instead, Colbert's talk show has become more about love, which he admitted 'sounds a little pretentious' (pictured February 22) 'I know that it's hard for him': The Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste (R, pictured February 1) revealed that the 10-time Emmy winner feels a bit burdened by his newfound title of 'light bearer in a dark time' The Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste revealed that Colbert feels a bit burdened by his newfound title of 'light bearer in a dark time.' 'I know that it's hard for him, so we have a lot of private moments where it just naturally goes to that place,' the 35-year-old Oscar-winning composer told the mag. 'Because my role on the show is to really bring that sense of vibrance and uplift.' The 35-year-old Oscar-winning composer (pictured June 14) told the mag: 'We have a lot of private moments where it just naturally goes to that place, because my role on the show is to really bring that sense of vibrance and uplift' Dapper: Stephen glammed up for the spread with help from stylist Antoni Axereas, hairstylist Jenna Robinson, and make-up artist Jesse Lindholm 'After the State of the Union!' On Tuesday, Colbert will feature Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and musical guest Big Thief on The Late Show And with all the gaslighting going on in the deeply divided political sphere, the two-time Grammy winner - who coined the term 'truthiness' - said he's 'here to say every night that you're not crazy. It's crazy to say you're crazy.' Stephen glammed up for the spread with help from stylist Antoni Axereas, hairstylist Jenna Robinson, and make-up artist Jesse Lindholm. Following President Joe Biden's State of the Union on Tuesday, Colbert will feature Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and musical guest Big Thief on The Late Show. Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic 'regretfully' listed their holiday home in Noosa, Queensland, for sale last week. And it seems the property is already attracting plenty of interest from buyers. The home is located on a street where millionaires and politicians spend their holidays, which means it will likely sell at the higher end of its price guide, or even exceed expectations, reports realestate.com.au. 0n the market: Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic's (pictured) $3.6million holiday home on Noosa's millionaire's row has already attracted plenty of interest from buyers The home, which goes under the hammer on March 24, is predicted to draw plenty of offers before its auction date. Karl, 47, confirmed the listing of the $3.6million property on Saturday, revealing he and Jasmine weren't using it enough to justify ownership. 'The reality though is I can't get away from work in Sydney nearly enough and the logistics of coming in and out of Queensland have been challenging,' the Today show host told The Courier Mail. Ritzy: The home is located on a street where millionaires and politicians spend their holidays, which means it will likely sell at the higher end of its price guide, or even exceed expectations 'Eventually we will come back to Noosa when we have more time. If we can afford it. It's the best beach community anywhere,' he added. Karl said the couple had lovingly renovated the home to suit their needs. 'We've added a teenage retreat, a bathroom and a wine cellar. It's a really beautiful slice of Sunshine Beach paradise,' he said. The property overlooks Sunshine Beach and has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a three-car garage and a swimming pool. Offers: The home, which goes under the hammer on March 24, is predicted to draw plenty of offers before its auction date. (The Stefanovics are pictured on April 4, 2018, in Sydney) There is a spacious living room that connects to an outdoor entertaining area with beach views. All four bedrooms have water views, while the master bedroom also has a large ensuite with a bath and a double-vanity sink. The swimming pool has a waterfall feature and see-through glass, which means the beach is always in sight, even when underwater. The house is just 200 metres away from the dog-friendly Sunshine Beach, where the couple can walk their pooch, Chance the Yapper. Listed: Karl, 47, confirmed the listing of the $3.6million property on Saturday, revealing he and Jasmine weren't using it enough to justify ownership Luxury living: The home features a spacious lounge room (pictured) that connects to an outdoor entertaining area with views of Sunshine Beach The house was last listed for sale in July 2019, and purchased by the Stefanovics for $3.6million in 2020. Karl and Jasmine have strong links to Queensland and often celebrate important holidays with their families in Noosa. Karl studied journalism in the Sunshine State and started his career in Rockhampton. Meanwhile, Jasmine's family still lives in Brisbane. Amelia Gray is clearly enjoying every moment of Milan Fashion Week as she took to Instagram with a sexy snap revealing her bare chest with strategically placed black bars to at least salvage the photo from strict social media sharing guidelines. The 20-year-old supermodel had a feeling her reality star mother, Lisa Rinna, would catch a glimpse of the sultry photo as she captioned the shot: 'Sorry mom!' But there seemed to be no harm, no foul over the photograph shared to Amelia's one million followers as the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star chimed in on the comment section: 'Ha! Love you.' Living the dream: Amelia Gray is clearly enjoying every moment of Milan Fashion Week as she took to Instagram with a sexy snap revealing her bare chest with strategically placed black bars to at least salvage the photo from strict social media sharing guidelines Amelia stood on a balcony wearing a sheer dress with a pair of black briefs which sat high atop her hips as she held on to a railing for the snap. She stayed warm underneath a black leather Aya Muse trench coat, and tagged Your Friends Vintage in the shot taken while in Paris, France. Hamlin's long brunette hair was worn parted down the middle with tendrils cascading across her back, and she wore a pair of thick silver frames with mirrored lenses. Choices: The 20-year-old supermodel had a feeling her reality star mother, Lisa Rinna, would catch a glimpse of the sultry photo as she captioned the shot: 'Sorry mom!' Bold and beautiful: She shared a glimpse of a bubble gum pink latex Versace ensemble in a tagged shot where she credited makeup guru Pat Mcgrath for her expert glam Amelia's skyrocketed to fame as an in-demand supermodel, and has enjoyed the sights and sounds of Europe after walking in multiple shows during Milan Fashion Week. She shared a glimpse of a bubble gum pink latex Versace ensemble in a tagged shot where she credited makeup guru Pat Mcgrath for her expert glam. Hamlin split from ex Scott Disick in September after dating for nearly a year and has since enjoyed the single life. Stunner: Amelia's skyrocketed to fame as an in-demand supermodel, and has enjoyed the sights and sounds of Europe after walking in multiple shows during Milan Fashion Week Gorgeous: She added a towering pair of black platform heels to complete her ensemble Scott, who shares three children with ex Kourtney Kardashian, was rumored to be in a relationship with Brooklyn Beckham's ex-girlfriend Hana Cross. But he seems to have moved on now with a Kardashian look-alike, Holly Scarfone, as the couple has been spotted together recently in Malibu. Kourtney, on the other hand, has certainly moved on as she became engaged to Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker in October. By Troy Stangarone If there was ever any illusion that Russia didn't intend to invade Ukraine, that is gone now. Russian troops have entered into Ukraine with the clear intent to remove its democratically elected government. While Ukraine may seem a world away from the Korean Peninsula, what happens on the plains of Eastern Europe will reverberate all of the way to Korea. Since the end of World War II, the world has worked to put in place institutions such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization in order to maintain the peace, allow for negotiated solutions to disputes, and for commerce to remain uninterrupted. Russia's actions in Ukraine will strain those institutions and norms, if not break them in a way that reshapes how states interact with each other and not for the better. For this reason alone South Korea's signal that it will support sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine is important. It is in the interest of members of the international community to defend international law and their own innate interest not to allow norms of military force or economic coercion outside of international rules to take hold as a means for settling disputes. However, as with the United States and its allies in Europe, the deeper reality is that once this crisis ends Russia will still remain a nuclear-armed state that nations must deal with, even if Moscow faces years of isolation. In this context, sanctions are a balance between ensuring that Russia pays a price for its use of military force to deter other states that would do so, but also in not eliminating the prospect for any cooperation with Russia. Nevertheless, part of that calculation also relates to the factors that drove Russia's actions its claim of threats to its security. In this area, much of the focus has been on Russia's argument that Ukraine's potential membership of NATO was unacceptable. Throughout the crisis Putin has continued to emphasize his grievances with NATO's expansion towards Russia's border and what he perceives to be a threat from Ukraine's mere existence if it is not in Russia's orbit. At times, Putin has gone so far as to suggest that Ukraine is a fictional state that only has the right to exist as part of Russia. In his speech to the Russian people, Putin again emphasized that he believed "it is only a matter of time" before Ukraine would join NATO. He also tried to justify his actions as working to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction. He remarked that "If Ukraine acquires weapons of mass destruction, the situation in the world and in Europe will drastically change, especially for us, for Russia." He went on to state that "We cannot but react to this real danger, all the more so since, let me repeat, Ukraine's Western patrons may help it acquire these weapons to create yet another threat to our country." Of course, Putin failed to note that the former Communist bloc states that have joined NATO did so to ensure that Russia would never again occupy them, something that remains a concern due to Russia's invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, now twice, since the end of the Cold War. Putin also failed to mention that, unlike North Korea, Ukraine had no intention of developing weapons of mass destruction, but gave them up under assurances by Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom that its territorial sovereignty would be protected. Sanctions are important for reinforcing the norms of the U.N. Charter that borders are not changed through force, but for also reinforcing that states should be able to choose their own foreign policy. South Korea has announced that it will join the ban on some Russian banks in the SWIFT banking system and export controls on strategic materials, but similar to many European countries, economic interests will play a factor in sanctions development and energy sanctions are unlikely. One key component of any package would be export controls on hi-technology products. South Korea's decision to enforce U.S. and EU export controls is key to limiting Moscow's access to high-tech products but it could include autonomous controls on these materials. Seoul should also consider autonomous sanctions on Russia in other areas. These could also include financial sanctions, prohibition on imports such as vodka or similar items to many European countries as well as a refusal to engage in sporting events with Russia. Even small sanctions help to send a signal to Moscow that it needs to reverse course or face greater isolation. Sanctions on Russia are also likely to have little effect on talks with North Korea. Pyongyang will take note of how little security assurances mattered for defending Ukraine and cling tighter to its nuclear weapons, though it may not say this as Russia remains a conduit for North Korean sanctions evasion. With Russia likely to be isolated diplomatically in the short to medium term, there is no positive role that Putin could play on the Korean Peninsula. Ultimately, if Russia is able to remove the government of a sovereign nation with little consequence, the world will move closer to a new order that might allow powerful states to do as they wish and international law and norms become increasingly irrelevant. That is an outcome that is in the interest of only Russia and perhaps a few other countries. In the short term, sanctions on Russia will have an impact on South Korean firms, but deeper issues are at play. Troy Stangarone (ts@keia.org) is the senior director of congressional affairs and trade at the Korea Economic Institute. The Batman may well have opened to lukewarm reviews, but Liam Gallagher's two sons were happy to roll with it as they attended a screening on Tuesday evening. Gene and Lennon Gallagher were in attendance at London's Picturehouse Central, where a preview of the new DC epic - featuring Robert Pattinson as the Caped Crusader - was being held. With former Oasis star Liam nowhere in sight, the pair were keen to cast a beady eye on the latest brooding addition to the popular franchise, despite many reviewers branding it a total disappointment. Here they come: The Batman may well have opened to lukewarm reviews, but Liam Gallagher's sons Gene (L) and Lennon (R) were happy to roll with it at a screening on Tuesday Posing for photos on the red carpet, Lennon, 22 - Liam's son with first wife Patsy Kensit - looked somewhat bleary-eyed as he nursed a can of craft beer while standing alongside his younger brother. The young model was dressed down in a loose fitting black T-shirt and matching leather jacket, teamed with grey chinos and battered Adidas Gazelle trainers. Musician Gene, 20 - Liam's son with his second wife, All Saints star Nicole Appleton - looked equally relaxed in a plaid coat and jeans as he sipped from a can of Camden Hells lager. Some might shhhhay: Posing for photos on the red carpet at London's Picturehouse Central, Lennon, 22 - Liam's son with first wife Patsy Kensit - looked somewhat bleary-eyed at Super-tonic: Meanwhile musician Gene - Liam's son with his second wife, All Saints star Nicole Appleton - clutched a can of Camden Hells lager while greeting photographers Low-key: Gene looked relaxed in a plaid coat and jeans as he posed for photos on the red carpet Proud father: As well as Gene and Lennon, Liam is father to daughter Molly Moorish Critics have panned Robert Pattinson's take on iconic superhero Batman as 'gloomy', with the constant rainstorms in fictional Gotham City no doubt adding to the depressing atmosphere. The film, which was shot in various locations around the U.K including Liverpool, Lewesden and Glasgow, even has two and a half minutes of rain falling indoors. Due for release on March 4, theatregoers will have to be prepared to sit through the three-hour film, which has been described as 'overly-long' by reviewers. Casually chic: Also in attendance at the screening were Miquita Oliver (left) and Jessie Ware Delightful duo: Miquita cosied up for snaps alongside Reggie Yates ahead of watching the film Loving life: Love Island's Joe Garratt seemed in high spirits as he made his way into the cinema The release, based on the DC Comics superhero sees Batman pursue The Riddler in his second year of crime fighting, uncovering corruption that is connected to his own family in the investigation, forcing him to make new allies to bring the supervillain to justice. An all-star cast sees Robert star as Batman while Zoe Kravitz appears as Selina Kyle, or Catwoman. Also appearing is Paul Dano as Edward Nashton / Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, John Turturro as Gotham City crimelord Carmine Falcone, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth and Colin Farrell as Penguin. Washout: The Batman has more than an hour of rainy scenes, with Gotham City deluged in a staggering 62minutes and 40 seconds of rain Aussie influencers have been up in arms over a new law allegedly prohibiting them from promoting certain health and skincare products online. But most will still be able to earn money from health and beauty brands, provided they make one adjustment to their sponsored posts, a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. They can still promote therapeutic goods with their social media followers, the TGA explained, but they just can't offer any personal testimonials. Overblown: Aussie influencers have been up in arms over a new law allegedly prohibiting them from promoting certain health and skincare products. Pictured: Abbie Chatfield 'Businesses can continue to engage influencers in their marketing strategies, if the influencer does not provide a personal account of their experience,' said the TGA. The simple workaround means influencers can broadly endorse therapeutic goods, so long as they don't claim to have personally found them effective. The TGA added that 'before and after pictures are also likely to be a testimonial'. The changes were made because 'personal testimonials can be inappropriately persuasive to a vulnerable audience who are seeking products for their health and sometimes very serious health conditions'. Livelihood intact: Most influencers will still be able to earn money from health and beauty brands, provided they make one adjustment to their sponsored posts, a TGA spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. Pictured: Ruby Tuesday Matthews The TGA also addressed the issue of sunscreen being included in the list of products influencers are now prohibited from promoting. Bachelor star Laura Byrne had been particularly vocal in her criticism of its inclusion in the list of 'banned' items. However, the TGA spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'If an influencer was paid by a sunscreen company to be pictured holding that product, without any personal testimony, that would be an endorsement and permitted under the Code.' Easy fix: 'Businesses can continue to engage influencers in their marketing strategies, if the influencer does not provide a personal account of their experience,' said the TGA. Pictured: influencer Laura Byrne When asked if an influencer could circumvent the rules banning personal endorsements by obtaining a medical qualification in skincare, the TGA said this wasn't possible. 'There is not a qualification or accreditation that someone could obtain, for example a skincare qualification, that would vary the rules in the Code. This is because under the Code health professionals are not permitted to publicly endorse therapeutic goods in advertising,' said the governing body. The new rules came into effect on January 1, 2022. Up in arms: Former Bachelor star Byrne had been particularly vocal in her criticism of sunscreen's inclusion in the list of 'banned' products WAG Sarita Holland, 39, was one of many influencers to lash out at the new rules, telling the Herald Sun the regulations on sponsored posts '[take] the mickey out of the general public' by insulting their intelligence. 'People can make up their own minds and this is in a way inferring that people are dumb,' said the wife of former Collingwood and Fremantle player Brodie Holland. Influencer manager Genevieve Day of Day Management added that the new rules put undue responsibility on influencers as opposed to brands. 'I wish the same emphasis was on the brands making the claims as the influencers promoting it,' Ms Day said. Desperate: WAG Sarita Holland, 39, (pictured) told the Herald Sun the regulations on sponsored posts '[take] the mickey out of the general public' by insulting their intelligence Rationale: 'People can make up their own minds and this is in a way inferring that people are dumb,' said the wife of ex-Collingwood and Fremantle player Brodie Holland (both pictured) Ruby Tuesday Matthews also spoke out against the rules. The 27-year-old shared an article about the TGA regulations on Instagram on Sunday, alongside her opinion on the subject. 'Whilst I completely agree the need for more regulation, structure (rules) and accountability by brands and influencers within these industries, it makes me sad to think how many great small businesses/start ups this will affect,' she wrote. Anger: Matthews was another influencer who spoke out against the new rules 'It also blows my mind that we are targeting health and wellness brands encouraging a healthy lifestyle but not alcohol or junk food,' Ruby added. The influencer is known to endorse a number of 'wellness' and beauty brands online. Just last month she endorsed Krumbled Foods, which is touted as a 'functional beauty snack' with five 'clinically proven anti-ageing ingredients'. She has also spruiked Nutra Organics, a superfoods brand, revealing she likes their bone broth and miso ramen chicken. Having her say: 'Whilst I completely agree the need for more regulation, structure (rules) and accountability by brands and influencers within these industries, it makes me sad to think how many great small businesses/start ups this will affect,' she wrote Ruby has likewise thrown her support behind The Daily Co. skincare, which offers 'clean cosmeceuticals', and ran a giveaway featuring the company. On Saturday, The Australian reported influencers are being banned from receiving benefits to spruik health products. The new Therapeutic Goods Administration advertising code only allows influencers to promote products if they receive nothing in return. It applies to sunscreens, protein powers, vitamins, supplements, skincare, medicines and skin lightning products. Advertisement Her husband Maksim Chmerkovskiy reached Poland on Tuesday after fleeing his war-torn native Ukraine amid Russia's invasion. Once he arrived safely at a hotel, he took to Instagram where he shared a lengthy video of himself talking to his followers, in which he needed he would need 'a lot of therapy' and admitted he feels 'guilty' for having escaped. And hours after he made it out of Ukraine, his wife Peta Murgatroyd - with whom he shares five-year-old son Shai - was spotted in her first sighting since Maks' terrifying ordeal. The Dancing With The Stars pro, 35, put on a brave face as she stepped out in Malibu, and at one point, put her hand over her mouth for a somber moment. Somber moment: Her husband Maksim Chmerkovskiy reached Poland on Tuesday after fleeing his war-torn native Ukraine amid Russia's invasion. And hours after he made it out of Ukraine, Peta Murgatroyd was spotted in her first sighting since Maks' terrifying ordeal Candid: Once he arrived safely at a hotel, he took to Instagram where he shared a lengthy video of himself talking to his followers, in which he needed he would need 'a lot of therapy' and admitted he feels 'guilty' for having escaped Peta was seen sitting at an outdoor table with a woman; she cut a casual figure in sweats, opting to go makeup free and pulling her blonde hair back. The mother of one was seen looking serious and somber while looking at her phone with her friend. It is unclear what they were looking at or if it was a Facetime call but at one point Peta covered up her eyes and laughed for a brief lighter moment. Peta was seen heading inside the grocery store as well with her pal after their coffee outing. The New Zealand-born star remained at her and Maks' California home with their son Shai, sharing on Instagram her anguish. Brave: The Dancing With The Stars pro put on a brave face as she stepped out in Malibu, and at one point. put her hand over her mouth for a somber moment Terrifying ordeal: 'I'm scared, I'm confused, I'm terrified' confessed Maksim Focus: Peta looked somber during most of the outing, holding her phone up for her and her friend Heavy: The star looked grim at one point as she took a sip of her beverage amid a very stressful time in her life after Maks was stuck in war-torn Ukraine Trying to keep busy: Peta was seen heading inside the grocery store as well with her pal after their coffee outing Meanwhile, in a lengthy video shared to Instagram, Maksim said: 'I'm scared, I'm confused, I'm terrified and I just lived through some s*** that I'm going to need a lot of therapy for. 'But I know this it's us little guys against the big guy. I don't care how big [Russian President Vladimir Putin] is. I don't care how mean he is. When we're together, I can see what can happen. We can have a little guy finally win and it will be a joint effort and after that, we can figure out how to make sure that there's never again one f****** person, one man, who can do whatever he's doing.' Currently, a mobilisation order reportedly stops men aged 18-60 from leaving Ukraine so it is unclear how Maksim was allowed to do so, and the dancer admitted the experience of getting to Poland was "like out of a movie". He said: 'When the train car got packed and packed and it kept getting more and more packed, I was like, hold on. I'm thinking to myself there's no air. There's no way that we can travel [this way].' And Maxim - who stood at the back of the train so others more in need could have a seat - admitted he feels 'guilty' for having escaped the war-stricken region. Taking it easy: It is unclear what they were looking at but at one point Peta covered up her eyes and laughed Keeping casual: Peta wore a light blue and white sweater with gray sweats, adding fluffy shoes and a Prada handbag Brief: The pretty star shared a small smile as she showed her friend her phone He said: 'I thought about it, my guilt. I started to think about this and I came up with this analogy: In '94, I was put up for adoption and I got adopted by a beautiful, young, vibrant, exciting, forward-thinking country and I fell in love and I left Ukraine in '94 [as] a sad, sad person because I felt like I was getting unrooted. ... I was in this new country. 'But I turned around and said, "You know what? This is what I'm going to do." The 14-year-old Maks, with his family and all the love and support that he had, did stuff and here we are." Maksim explained how he had 'reconnected' with his native country after years of living in the US and had a 'very f****** hard time' leaving this week. He said: 'I'm having a horrible time. I'm having very mixed emotions. I have my friends there, my friends in [the] frontline. ... I can't hear from some of the people. I can't get in touch with them. I don't know if they're dead.' Running errands: Peta seen with her pal on Tuesday morning in Malibu A quick smile: Peta's friend made her laugh for a brief moment during their outing together Keeping strong: The New Zealand-born star remained at her and Maks' California home with their son Shai, sharing on Instagram her anguish On Sunday, Peta thanked everyone for their support in an emotional Instagram post, revealing that received freshly baked cookies from strangers. The kind gesture touched the star, who said she was 'going through hell right now' awaiting her husband's return. Maksim has been documenting his journey fleeing his native country after the Russian invasion; The father of one finally arrived to Warsaw, Poland on Tuesday after 31 hours of no sleep. Maks called his train ride 'claustrophobic' and 'traumatizing,' filled with women and children fleeing the war torn country. He shared a detailed account of his trek to Warsaw, Poland, revealing he was starting his train journey on Monday after he got arrested in Kyiv. A brief smile: Peta had a somber look on her face for most of the outing, however she did manage a smile while looking at her phone. It is unclear if she was on a Facetime call Keeping a low profile: The star did some errands with her friend in the beach city Errands run: The duo seen out together Somber: The star seen out Tuesday 'I cannot wait to be with you again': Peta also shared video of a lit lavender candle sitting beside a family photo Dancing With The Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy timeline in Ukraine FEBRUARY 2 Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who was born in Ukraine but became a US citizen in 2019, flies to Kyiv with plans to stay for a 'few months' film a new Ukrainian show called World of Dance. FEBRUARY 6 The Dancing With The Stars pro, 42, begins filming as a judge on the panel and declares he's 'really happy to be back in Ukraine'. FEBRUARY 24 Maksim shares a tearful clip from Kyiv saying 'I want to go back home' and says he is 'about to go into a bomb shelter because s**t's going down'. His wife Peta Murgatroyd, with whom he has a five-year-old son Shai, pleads for his safe return and asks for prayers. She admits: 'My pain is overwhelming and I'm struggling. Please pray that he has a swift, safe exit.' FEBRUARY 25 He shares another clip filmed in Kyiv and tells fans he is 'safe' but the situation is 'pretty die' and that the 'whole country is being called to go to war. I don't know the answer, I just want the shooting to stop.' FEBRUARY 26 He calls out his former DWTS partner Kirstie Alley for tweeting she doesn't know what's 'real' and 'fake' about Russia invading his home country. He noted: 'No one needs your prayer if you don't know what's real or fake.' FEBRUARY 27 Petra admits she's going through 'hell' but thanks fans for their kindness and support, revealing strangers made her cookies to offer comfort. Maks commented on her post, writing: 'I love you and Ill see you soon! Save me a cookie.' FEBRUARY 28 Maks reveals he was arrested in Kyiv but doesn't reveal why. He said the 'streets are crazy' and the arrest was 'probably the least traumatizing moment' but noted it was a 'reality check.' He reveals he plan to flee, noting 'I'm going to try and make my way out. I'm going to start making my way towards the border. I have options. Just a little nervous but I think it's going to be alright. I know its' going to be okay.' He later boards a train heading to Warsaw alongside women and children, calling the journey 'claustrophobic.' MARCH 1 The dancing pro reaches Warsaw, Poland after 31 hours of no sleep on his 'traumatizing' train ride women and children fleeing Ukraine following the Russian invasion. The star thanks the 'amazing Polish people.' MARCH 2 Maks boards a plane in Warsaw heading to Los Angeles. He is greeted at the airport by his wife Peta Murgatroyd in an emotional reunion. MARCH 4 In his first interview since fleeing Ukraine, Maks tells GMA that feels 'guilty' for leaving the war-torn country and is dealing with bouts of crying in the wake of the traumatic experience. He also revealed the reason that he was arrested in Kyiv was for breaking curfew. Emotional: Maksim, pictured on February 24, shared a tearful clip from Kyiv and said 'I want to go back home' and says he is 'about to go into a bomb shelter because s**t's going down' Advertisement Hours after his arrival to Warsaw, Maks did an Instagram live from his hotel room, thanking everyone for their support and help along the way. 'This is nine pm [local time] so this is my 36th hour of being awake. It's not an exaggeration. I woke up at 9 am... I don't even know... two days ago... yesterday or whatever. I boarded the train to Warsaw last second at whatever... and it took off. We started driving at 7:30/7:20 something like that. And I got to the Warsaw central train station at exactly 6:30 so it was about a 23 hour trip from Kyiv to Warsaw.' 'And right now it's 36 hours since I've been awake. I have a lot of details about this trip. I'm not going to talk about this right now. But I want to say a couple of things. I have a lot to unpack, it's going to take a very long time and the number one priority right now is the fact that the war is just heating up right now. I keep seeing reports and they are going to get worse.' 'I'm telling you, some of the images... and I'm going to say forgive me for posting it, but at the same time, I want to. It has to come out. We've become so sterile with the way we accept news. "Oh, that's too graphic, oh I can't believe they showed that on TV." Well I can't believe you see that on the street. I can't believe that people walking by today, a couple of hours ago, got hit by a rocket and its incinerated the entire family. A mom, dad and two kids. And I have that video. And I have that image. I have that in my head as something that as something that also happened. Right? And it is so close.' Newest update: Hours after his arrival to Warsaw, Maks did an Instagram live from his hotel room, thanking everyone for their support and help along the way 'And it is so real. And it is so traumatic. And it's so crazy. It's not right. I want to say a lot but I promise this isn't the time for me. It's not a good time. I won't be able to express myself. I'm already tearing up and choking and it's not right. I just want to say what I want to say. So the unpacking comes later. Please, as you can see, what has started as a usual for Putin campaign, to take over the government, just pop it... whatever in place. And to extend his regime. Has turned into a David and Goliath of just massive proportions.' 'It's the reality. David and Goliath in reality. And the little guy... you know, I've always had this analogy in my head, I feel like I'm in high school again in Brooklyn. I feel like I'm in a hallway and I feel like I'm watching a little kid get beat up by a big kid and all of the little kids. And this kid happens to be like extra big. All of us are passing by. We think it's wrong but we can't just jump in and that's the reality of life and that's how it happens because we are all so terrified by the big kid, we don't want want to get punched in the face as an innocent bystander or "Hey, stop that!" And then also get beat up.' 'So what happens is we stay and watch... we stand and we watch and you know what we see? We see the little kid get bloody nose, a black eye, get punched and punched repeatedly, and then something happens. And the little kid does something. And maybe the big kid falls down. Or we see that there's a change. And that's the human reaction where everybody joins in. I don't care if its wrong, I don't care if its not the way it should be, but whenever you feel ready to join in, you have to join in. This is a communal situation. We live in a place today... a planet to me looks like a communal living space... in all USSR, we had families bunk and live together and share a kitchen. You're not strangers then.' Speaking out: 'This is nine pm [local time] so this is my 36th hour of being awake. It's not an exaggeration. I woke up at 9 am... I don't even know... two days ago... yesterday or whatever. I boarded the train to Warsaw last second at whatever... and it took off. We started driving at 7:30/7:20 something like that. And I got to the Warsaw central train station at exactly 6:30 so it was about a 23 hour trip from Kyiv to Warsaw' 'You're people that share the same air. Same space. Russia and Ukraine, they have to wear... if you noticed watching the reports, Russians have a white band around their arm, Ukraine has a yellow band. There are different other bands within both sides that signify other things. You know why they have to have bands? Because they look the same. Because it's the same person. It's a cousin, a brother... it's not even a cousin, it's a brother.' 'Two brothers fighting. Moscow and Russia as it is, and this is the history lesson that whatever his name is omitted, because it started a 100 something years ago. But the reality is that Russian came out of Kyiv'ruse... it was originally Kyiv... Kyiv was the place. It was the capital and then the group of people relocated. And they found Moscow. And the reason why they found Moscow is because they kept getting attacked by outside invaders. Genghis Khan. Ottoman Empire. Whatever. Alexander Great. It's not a history lesson.' 'But the reality is, that that was a strategic move. To move Moscow inward, North, inland. And to leave Ukraine as a buffer for attackers. So whenever someone is attacking Russia, they got to go through Ukraine. By the time they get to Russia, Russian forces will be ready. And that's the mindset of this nut job maniac that is running the show. He's insane. Because he's trying to build this empire based on old traditions. We don't live in that world anymore. We don't buy a house and build a f****g moat around it with a drawbridge. This isn't medieval times. You don't buffer your country from an invasion. It's 2022. If somebody wants to do something global, they can use a satellite dish. What's the point of buffering? You got rockets that fly insane territories. You have weapons that do stupid stuff. And you can see it today from these images.' Maksim went on to say that Putin is 'exterminating' people by trying to throw everything at Ukraine, adding that the country will stand. 'We lived through so much down time... so much uncertainty.. I don't mean the pandemic and the previous state of the world... we're still all divided and nonsense among us.. but look how united we are over Ukraine. The world. It's the most beautiful thing ever. And it took a war us to get together at this level.' He added that he has 'lived through some s**t that I'm going to need a lot of therapy for.' From the heart: Maksim went on to say that Putin is 'exterminating' people by trying to throw everything at Ukraine, adding that the country will stand The latest: Maksim has been documenting his journey fleeing his native country after the Russian invasion. The father of one finally arrived to Warsaw, Poland on Tuesday after 31 hours of no sleep Family: Maks and Peta, who married in 2017, are parents to five-year-old son Shai He took to his Instagram stories explaining that they stopped to change the wheels off the train on their trek to Poland. 'I'm at a station about 20, 30, 40, I don't actually know where I'm at but like 30 minutes before the Polish border, they stopped to change wheels on the train, I can't make this up and let us out... for fresh air and I went to the bathroom and now we're going back and this is the train,' as he showed train and the crowds. 'So now that I see it, there's... yesterday I didn't see it it was night I had no idea where we were... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 cars about 130-something people each and one cart that is all sicker kids and people... its not as packed but all the others are packed to the brink. Maks said it was a stop about 'thirty minutes from the Polish border' as he walked to the bathroom. Made it: The star, who also revealed he was arrested in Kyiv, revealed that after a long 'claustrophobic' and 'traumatizing' train ride with women and children out of the war torn country Speaking out: Maksim, 42, shared a detailed account of his trek to Warsaw, Poland, revealing he was starting his train journey on Monday after he got arrested in Kyiv. The father of one arrived to Warsaw after 31 hours of no sleep His reality: 'I'm at a station about 20, 30, 40, I don't actually know where I'm at but like 30 minutes before the Polish border, they stopped to change wheels on the train, I can't make this up and let us out... for fresh air and I went to the bathroom and now we're going back and this is the train,' as he showed train and the crowds He said there's about 130 people on each of the five cars on the train, noting that one cart is only for sick children and people so its not as packed as the other four. The star then showed off the poor conditions of the bathroom he was forced to use during the train stop. After his arrival to Poland, Maks revealed he's been running on 31 hours no sleep. He took a moment to thank the Polish people: 'I absolutely have to say this: Polish people are amazing!!!! Thank you from the absolute bottom of my heart and soul,' adding a prayer sign, heart and hands in the air emoji. Maksim followed it up with footage from people showing Ukrainians allegedly stealing a tank from the Russian army. Gratitude: He took a moment to thank the Polish people: 'I absolutely have to say this: Polish people are amazing!!!! Thank you from the absolute bottom of my heart and soul,' adding a prayer sign, heart and hands in the air emoji He also posted stories showing expired food the Russian army allegedly issued their militia, with the date of 2015. Maks later wrote: 'Russian state propaganda machine will say my last post is fake. Fundamentally flawed way of governing humans by using propaganda (lies) and fear. Benn there, done that... emigrated.' Maksim lives in California with wife Peta and their son Shai, five; the dancing pro was born in Ukraine but immigrated to New York with his parents and brother Val in 1994, where they became US citizens. His words: He also posted stories showing expired food the Russian army allegedly issued their militia, with the date of 2015 Speaking to his followers: He was sharing information about the journey as he headed to the bathroom Bathroom: The star then showed off the poor conditions of the bathroom he was forced to use during the train stop He also posted a woman shouting in Ukrainian from her window as the Russian army bombed residential buildings, and not the military structures they have been claiming is their focus. Another clip showed children making camouflage nets to help in their battle, and another was of an elderly woman with graphic injuries, with her foot blown off. The Ukrainian star updated followers in series of social media posts on Monday, detailing his 'traumatizing' attempt to get out of the country amid the Russian invasion. Chmerkovskiy, who has been in Kyiv working as a judge on the Ukrainian version of World of Dance, had planned on staying in his native land when the fighting first broke out, however, after he got a 'reality check' by being arrested he decided to flee. The country announced last week that men of fighting age - between 18-60 - were prohibited from leaving Ukraine but since Maks holds a U.S. passport, he is exempt from the mandate. Real life: Another clip showed children making camouflage nets to help in their battle, and another was of an elderly woman with graphic injuries, with her foot blown off Monday updates: Chmerkovskiy, who has been in Kyiv working as a judge on the Ukrainian version of World of Dance, had planned on staying in his native land when the fighting first broke out, however, after he got a 'reality check' by being arrested he decided to flee 'I made it on the train. We're heading to Warsaw (hopefully). Train to Lviv was not an option,' the choreographer penned. 'The situation at the train station is insane. AT first it feels manageable, but it get A LOT worse when it comes time to actually board the train.' 'Long story but all I can say now is that I'm a big man with nothing but a backpack it's TRAUMATIZING,' he continued. 'Currently I'm in a cabin with 4 adults and 7 kids (ages 2-11) which is usually only occupied by maximum of 3 people.' Maksim revealed that the train car that he was traveling on was outfitted for roughly 30 riders but refugees were told they needed to fit 135 people inside. 'Walkways are packed. People everywhere. It's sweaty and claustrophobic,' he said. Photos from a train station in illustrate the reality star's situation. Thousands of people were seen bundled up in freezing temperatures standing practically on top of one another as they attempted to get a train out of the country. Refugees: Chmerkovskiy, who has been in Kyiv working as a judge on the Ukrainian version of World of Dance, had planned on staying in his native land when the fighting first broke out, however, after he got a 'reality check' by being arrested he decided to flee One of the lucky ones: Ukraine announced last week that men of fighting age - between 18-60 - were prohibited from leaving Ukraine but since Maks holds a U.S. passport, he is exempt from the mandate Fighting-aged men are prohibited from leaving Ukraine under a new mandate so the trains are filled primarily with women and children. Back in the 1990s, Maksim and his family emigrated to the United States and thus he holds a U.S. passport, allowing him the rare opportunity to flee for safety. 'What finally broke me is when I was watching an eight-ish year old boy, hysterically crying and not wanting to let go of his father,' he wrote in a heartbreaking post on Instagram. 'Verbatim: "if you stay I want to stay too because if they kill you I won't be able to help".' His wife, Peta, shared his post on her social media feed saying she was 'so f**king proud' of her husband for helping out the refugee children. Maks' decision to finally leave Kyiv came after he was arrested while in the capital city amid the Russian military assault. Terrifying: Thousands of people were seen bundled up in freezing temperatures standing practically on top of one another as they attempted to get a train out of the country (Pictured: Evacuation train in Kyiv) Getting out: Thousands of Ukrainian residents waiting for hours to board trains into neighboring countries as Russian forces continue to shell cities across the country (Pictured: Lviv train station) 'The streets are crazy,' he said. 'At one point I got arrested but again all good, promise. That was probably the least traumatizing moment in this whole thing as far as Ukraine is concerned, but for me, it was just a reality check.' 'I'm going to try and make my way out. I'm going to start making my way towards the border. I have options.' Adding: 'Just a little nervous but I think it's going to be alright. I know it's going to be okay. Maksim posted graphic videos to his stories and grid throughout Ukraine, as the star says he's tried and stressed out after seeing innocent people being killed. He said on Sunday: 'I'm in a very safe place but this is nuts and I think everybody is going through a lot of emotions and i think it's time I expose mine in a more personal manner. 'This is a war. This is a crazy situation. It's insane and I'm losing my final little things. This is not a cry for help. I'm a big boy. I can handle myself.. but I'm starting to not be able to just sort of keep my head.' Support: His wife, Peta Murgatroyd, shared his post on her social media feed saying she was 'so f**king proud' of her husband for helping out the refugee children 'The reality is, I just want to go home. I'm just hoping for a safe ending to it all.' His wife Peta took to Instagram on Sunday with an emotional message in which she shared that an empathetic group of strangers had made a kind gesture to her amid the absence of Maksim. 'Although I'm going through hell right now and I want it all to end[there] is light that shines through the darkness,' said Murgatroyd, who is mother to five-year-old son Shai with Chmerkovskiy, who she wed in July of 2017. Murgatroyd, an alum of Dancing With the Stars, remains at the family's home in California amid the uncertain time. She said that strangers baked her cookies 'and proudly brought them to [her] door. 'They stood there with smiles so wide. Let me repeat strangers, whom I don't talk to thought that they should get in their kitchen and bake me cookies,' she said. 'They also took it upon themselves to google if I was allergic to anything, just to make sure they weren't hurting me.' The latest: Maksim Chmerkovskiy revealed he was arrested while in Kyiv, Ukraine but called it the 'least traumatizing moment in this whole thing as far as Ukraine is concerned Chmerkovskiy has also provided frequent social media updates amid the conflict, as he said Thursday he had not attempted to leave the country due to safety concerns around the border of Poland. The professional dancer said he felt his odds for departure from the Ukraine were helped in having an American passport. Chmerkovskiy added that the conflict had taken an emotional toll on him, as he said he 'will never be the same' in the wake of the invasion. 'This is stressful and Im getting old feelings back, like Ive done this before,' he said Thursday. 'This does feel like the way it was when and why we left in the 90s. Like my old PTSD Ive finally fixed is coming back.' On Sunday, Chmerkovskiy took to Instagram Stories with a number of messages, urging people in the dance community in European countries to help take care of refugees if they were able to. He shared a number of links to resources to help people exit safely amid the ongoing military conflict. Chmerkovskiy also wrote, 'Russia needs a revolution!!! Russian people are being lied to!!! Russians! Wake up! It will take you generations to get over this and generations of people around the world will never forgive you!!!' On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to put nuclear weapons on enhanced alert for 'special regime of combat duty' amid heightened tensions with Europe and the United States following the invasion. Putin cited aggression toward Russia from NATO as well as economic sanctions and moves shutting down Russian banking institutions using the banking system SWIFT. The U.N. Security Council is slated to hold an emergency meeting regarding the invasion Monday. Russia officially began the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Ukraine has so far been able to defend its capital Kyiv and the government of Ukraine from falling. But the war and its impact have not been limited to just the two countries, but rather the world over has been forced to pick a side. But where do Ukraines neighbours stand amid the war, so close to home and so close to their own interests? Who are Ukraine's neighbours and where do they stand in the war with Russia? Illustration: Seemon/DailyO FIRST, THE GEOPOLITICS OF THE REGION Ukraine, a former Soviet Union region, is the second largest country in Europe only after Russia (which spans across Europe and Asia both). Ukraine shares its borders with 7 other countries: Russia to its east and northeast Belarus to the north Poland, Slovakia and Hungary in the west Moldova and Romania to its south. Ukraine shares the largest border area with Russia at 2,063 km including sea boundaries. Of course the dynamic is changing fast with the current Russian occupation and the standing occupation of Crimea. WHERE DO UKRAINE'S NEIGHBOURS STAND IN THE WAR WITH RUSSIA? WITH RUSSIA 1. Belarus: Ukraines northern neighbour who also shares its border with Russia, has become an ally of Moscow in the invasion of Ukraine. While Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that the country is not taking part in Ukraines invasion, his governments actions seemed to say otherwise. #Makei: ?? doesnt dodge responsibility as some sources are trying to say. We are ready to make our own contribution to the resolution of the crisis. We are ready to participate in the relevant process if it is acceptable & if we are asked to in order to secure a positive result pic.twitter.com/rarbwfJoBj Belarus MFA ?? (@BelarusMFA) February 28, 2022 Belarus is a long-time ally of Russia and just before the invasion, the two allies held military exercises. Belarus also allowed Russian troops inside its country and near its border with Ukraine, allowing them to enter Ukraine from the north, the closest route to the capital city of Kyiv. The Russians are currently advancing towards the capital Kyiv. On its way, Russia also seized Chernobyl, the site of the worlds biggest nuclear disaster. However, Ukrainian forces have been able to keep Kyiv from falling so far. Now, reports suggest that Belarus is preparing to send its soldiers to join the Russian troops alongside its invasion of Ukraine. On the other hand, talks are also underway between Ukraine and Russia at the Belarus border, the venue arranged by the Belarusian authorities. For its role, Belarus has also been hit by sanctions. WITH UKRAINE 2. Poland: Ukraines neighbour to the west, Poland, is a European Union country and a NATO member. Poland has been bracing for the influx of refugees from Ukraine. It has set up 9 reception centres on its border with Ukraine. Poland claims that it has been the first country to help Ukraine. Attack civilians, inflict suffering on women and children, undermine democratic freedom: that is Putins policy. We're fighting it on every front. Today I spoke about humanitarian aid with EEA ambassadors in Poland and fighting RU disinformation with Google CEO @sundarpichai. pic.twitter.com/rWGwKWFwlm Mateusz Morawiecki (@MorawieckiM) February 28, 2022 The Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has slammed Russia for attacking civilians, inflicting suffering on women and children and undermining democratic freedom. So far, Poland says over 2,00,000 Ukrainians have found refuge in their country. Indias evacuation efforts of its nationals are also being undertaken from Poland and other neighbouring countries. 3. Slovakia: Ukraines western neighbour is also an EU country and a member of NATO. Slovakia has allowed entry to fleeing Ukrainians even without any travel documents. Other than allowing refugees inside the country, Slovakia is also providing military aid to Ukraine by supplying it with artillery ammunition and fuel worth 11 million Euros. Slovakia has also been vocal about supporting Ukraines plea to join the European Union on an immediate basis. 4. Romania: The southern neighbour, also a part of the EU and NATO, has been supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia. Romania is allowing entry to Ukrainian refugees and also sending military aid. Recently, Romania sent a 3 million Euro military aid consisting of fuel, bulletproof vests, combat helmets, ammunition, food, water and medicines to Ukraine. Romania?? fully supports the integration of Ukraine??, as well as of the Republic of Moldova?? and Georgia??, with the European Union??. The place of these partners of the EU is within the European family, and Romania will do its best for this to become reality. Klaus Iohannis (@KlausIohannis) March 1, 2022 WITH UKRAINE, BUT... 5. Hungary: Another western neighbour, Hungary is also part of the EU and NATO. Hungary has also opened up a humanitarian aid corridor to help to flee Ukrainians, but the country has expressed its unhappiness over the situation to Russia saying, It has to adjust everything. PM Orban: We also had to decide whether to allow arms shipments to pass through the Hungarian-Ukrainian border. We decided not to let such shipments through pic.twitter.com/uyKfUfFj6y Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) February 28, 2022 Unlike other NATO members, Hungary has said that it will not be a part of the war and will not send Ukraine any lethal military weapon or allow the transit of any lethal weapons through its territory. Other than that, Hungary has deployed an unspecified number of military personnel at its border with Ukraine for security purposes and also for aid matters. NEUTRAL 6. Moldova: Moldova, a former Soviet country, is also accepting Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. So far, some 26,000 Ukrainians have reached Moldova. A powerful image, Republic of Moldova ?? President @sandumaiamd hugging an arriving refugee from Ukraine at the border. We are stronger together and we have a collective moral imperative to maintain peace @UN_Spokesperson @Refugees pic.twitter.com/I8BxXyW0UP Simon Springett (@sspringett1) February 27, 2022 The country closed its airspace to the world on February 24, 2022 when the invasion began and also announced a state of emergency in the country. Moldova remains a neutral country in the conflict so far. However, even Moldova has expressed interest in the past in joining the European Union. A grain terminal operated by POSCO International in Ukraine Courtesy of POSCO International The 51st Annual Spring Powwow, organized by First Nations @ UW in April, marked the events post-pandemic return. Drawing both Indigenous people and nonnatives from across the country, the powwow is one of the largest student-run events on campus and has been an important event for Pacific N For decades, I have studied economic development, specifically urban redevelopment. I am intrigued by communities making a comeback. Various policies and approaches can revitalize vast projects and neighborhoods. But often an ugly side to economic development is corruption. The recent federal and journalistic investigations into school construction work around Connecticut demonstrate the importance of accountability. West Havens AAIS Corp. has received a majority of contracts for work on state buildings over the last few years. Interestingly, a former officer of the company had pleaded guilty, in 2001, to fraud in a case connected to the first administration of Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, who was convicted in 2003 and served time in prison on corruption charges. Recently, Hearst Connecticuts Dan Haar did a story on AAISs selection for a school job in Bridgeport. Federal investigators are now centering their attention on school construction grants overseen by Konstantinos Kosta Diamantis because he headed the states Office of School Construction Grants and Review and was also a deputy budget director until last year. (Diamantis told Haar he had nothing to do with Bridgeports selection of AAIS for the school job.) Allegations of patronage involving Diamantis daughter were first broken last year by Hartford Courant investigative columnist Kevin Rennie (who had even earlier said that Diamantis appointment at the Office of Policy and Management raised eyebrows). Much investigative legwork on other problems then came from such outlets as CT Mirror and Hearst CT, including Haars recent column. What should be notable are allegations of a state agency steering contracts. What looks like preferential treatment and urging public officials to use contractors on preapproved lists instead of encouraging open bidding suggests a possible seedy side to the business. But this is hardly new. Entering into contracts, especially with the public sector, has been the lifeblood for various construction firms. Competitive contract bidding helps keep costs down, but monitoring who is getting contracts and who is giving them is a necessity. Unfortunately, much of the negotiating and connectivity between construction firms and public officials goes largely unnoticed. And this is not unique to Connecticut. In fact, this has been a pattern in the tristate area because these projects are significant and costly. I have researched and been a part of redevelopment initiatives. From serving on the New Haven City Plan Commission to being a downtown Jersey City community board president, Ive been intrigued to see how municipalities differ in their economic development approaches. I also studied, in Newark, how mayoral administrations faced corruption charges because of preferred contracts for specific developers. Corruption can happen for several reasons. State oversight can be difficult. And state and local officials often rely on federal investigators to uncover problems. But federal investigators are often stretched because they have so many investigations to carry out with little staff across so many municipalities and states. Observers ask what more can be done to address such stuff. Agencies at the state and local levels need the staff and resources to prevent it. But they rarely have the funding and enforcement power to do so. It comes down to outside scrutiny. Journalists play a key role in reporting suspicious activity in Connecticut government, and this school construction contract episode is a reminder why local media are so critical. They are on the ground, they understand the connections, and they can explain the complexities. Ultimately, it comes down to citizens doing due diligence. We need to observe whats taking place and participate accordingly. From attending hearings to voter participation, these small actions remind officials that were following them and advancing needed policy reforms to prevent wrongdoing. Jonathan L. Wharton is associate dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies and teaches political science at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription and are still unable to access our content, please link your digital account to your print subscription If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Ruling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, front row center, bumps fists with French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman David-Pierre Jalicon, during an event at the Conrad Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, told representatives of foreign firms in Korea on Tuesday that he supports economic sanctions against Russia, despite the possibility of the measures affecting Korean companies adversely. "Although Korea has been close to Russia economically and geographically, the government should join the international community in imposing sanctions against Russia, which has harmed the global market economy and violated the U.N. Charter," he said. "The government should join the sanctions, but at the same time, it needs delicate handling for problems related to the safety and profits of Korean companies and Korean nationals overseas." Lee made the remarks during an event, hosted jointly by the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) and the Korea-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) to hear his views on global trade and investment, as well as on challenges of economic and social policy, green growth and innovation in the post-pandemic era. The event was attended by more than 100 representatives of foreign and Korean companies, as well as diplomats from the European Union, France, Germany and Australia. The presidential candidate, who apologized for describing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently as a "novice politician" and blaming him for Russia's invasion, started his keynote speech with a condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "First of all, I hope for an immediate end to the war, which is taking lives, property and peaceful everyday life away from the people," he said. "I respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territory, and strongly condemn Russia's invasion." In addition, Lee proposed his "10 New Economic Strategies" to expand foreign investment, promising to support small- and medium-sized enterprises here and ease unreasonable regulations on foreign firms. "The biggest mission for Korea's next president is to turn the crisis into an opportunity and revitalize the economy," he said. "Foreign investment is contributing tremendously to Korea's economic growth and job creation." FKCCI Chairman David-Pierre Jalicon said in his speech that foreign firms still face issues regarding market access and trade, although he believes there is a promising partnership between Korea and France in the digital, green and healthcare sectors. KGCCI Chairperson Park Hyun-nam said that foreign companies are convinced that much can be done in the coming years to strengthen business cooperation and links with Korea, mentioning a recent survey which showed that being active in the Korean market has become more important for 62 percent of European companies doing business here. Indian nationals, evacuated from war-torn Ukraine, upon their arrival at Kerala House, in Navi Mumbai. (Photo: PTI) Kochi: As many as 36 students hailing from Kerala arrived from Ukraine on Monday evening and 25 of them left for Kochi and the rest for Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala government tweeted on Tuesday, "Kerala students update: Among 36 students arrived from Ukraine to Delhi yesterday evening, 25 left for kochi by Vistara UK 883 at 5.35 (arrival 8.45) and 11 left for Trivandrum by Vistara UK 895 at 8.10 (arrival 11.25)." These students were brought back under 'Operation Ganga'. The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday advised its nationals to leave the capital city Kyiv "urgently today" amid the deteriorating security situation due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict. "Advisory to Indians in Kyiv: All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," the Indian embassy in Ukraine tweeted. A special evacuation flight will depart from New Delhi to Kosice, Slovakia today to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju will be on-board the flight, travelling as a special envoy of the Indian Government to oversee the evacuation. The SpiceJet flight is scheduled to depart at 3:30 PM from New Delhi and is scheduled to arrive in Kosice, Slovakia at 7:50 PM IST. Investments continue to pour into Chittoor district, giving the much-needed stimulus for industrial development in the border district. (Representational Photo: DC) TIRUPATI: Despite the beating that the economy has taken on account of the Covid-19 pandemic-induced crisis, investments continue to pour into Chittoor district, giving the much-needed stimulus for industrial development in the border district. Attending a meeting of industrial exports incentives committee, officials at the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) and the District Industries Centre (DIC) announced that 20 medium industries would be set up in the district, while 171 units including small-scale industries are in the pipeline. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, DIC general manager E. Pratap said, There are 177 major and mega projects in the district with an investment of Rs 24,000 crore which are providing 84,000 jobs. In addition to them, there are 9,271 MSMEs with about Rs 7,000-crore investments, providing 1.17 lakh jobs." Now, the DIC has cleared around 260 applications through the single desk system and of the twenty newly-coming up medium industries, five were reserved for the SC/ST beneficiaries. "Proposals from 20 medium industries to set up plants have been approved and they are expected to generate employment for 6,841 people", the DIC GM added. The APIIC and the DIC want to improve on this ecosystem with supply chain links, technology repository, regulatory reforms, and a pipeline of entrepreneurs. Spread over 15,359 sq. km and having a population of 41.70 lakh, Chittoor has 72.36 per cent literacy rate and the district's domestic product value was estimated to be around $4.96 billion, having industrial infrastructure, especially for IT, automobiles, and food processing units. In AP, the district ranks first in mango, milk and tomato production, second in sericulture and fourth in poultry products. It leads in sectors like agro and food processing, electronics, textiles, automobiles and auto components, and heavy engineering. Over the past few years, the district has been witnessing a decent growth in exports with its proximity to cities like Bengaluru, Chennai and the Krishnapatnam port, and having multiple channels of connectivity like road, rail, and air links, DIC officials said. According to the DIC, in addition to the auto clusters, a world-class automotive supplier's manufacturing centre on a PPP basis dedicated to auto component manufacturers is in the pipeline and an inland container depot to be set up soon in the district. The industries wing also has plans to develop an ultra-mega food park in Kuppam with state-of-art infrastructure and there are proposals to set up a mango development board at Tirupati and a banana development board as well. Haveri: No one from the Indian Embassy reached out to stranded Indian students in Kharkiv in Ukraine, where a Karnataka native pursuing medicine was killed in shelling amid a Russian military offensive, the victim's father alleged on Tuesday. Naveen Shekargouda from the district was killed when he stepped out of his bunker to exchange currency and fetch some food, his uncle Ujjanagouda claimed. Shekaragouda's residence in Chalageri in this district slipped into gloom upon receiving the news of their child killed in the faraway European nation, with a large number of people thronging the house to console the bereaved family. Shekaragouda complained that no one from the Indian embassy reached the students stuck in Kharkiv, which is witnessing hostilities. His family members said Naveen was in the fourth year of his course in the Kharkiv medical college. Ujjanagouda said Naveen along with others from Karnataka was stuck in a bunker in Kharkiv. He had gone out in the morning to exchange currency and to fetch some food when he was caught shelling happened, in which he was killed instantaneously. On Tuesday when he rang up his father, Naveen said there was no food and water in the bunker, Ujjanagouda stated. Learning about the tragedy, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai called up Shekaragouda over phone and expressed his sorrow. Bommai assured Shekaragouda he would make every effort to bring back his son's body to India. He also told him that he is touch with the officials in the external affairs ministry. The bereaved father told Bommai that Naveen had called him in the morning as well. Daily the son used to ring him up at least two to three times, he told the Chief Minister. Vijayawada: Union minister for external affairs S Jaishankar has written to all chief ministers. assuring them all help with regard to evacuation of students and other Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine to safety. The Union minister noted on Monday that the state governments would be getting anxious inquiries from the families of students and other Indian nationals who were still in Ukraine and added that his ministry has set up a helpline for the public. The toll free number is: 1800118797/+91 11-23012113/23014104/23017905. The ministry has also set up separate helplines in our embassies depending on which order the person concerned is moving towards. Romania:+40 732 124309/771 632567/745 161631/740 528123. Poland:+48 225400000/795850877/792712511. Hungary:+36 308517373/13257742/13257743. Slovakia:+421 252631377/252962916/951697560. The Union minister said that if there were any particular concerns or information, the CMs were free to contact his office directly at the email or via the WhatsApp Nos. +91 9871288796 or +91 102229322. He also said that the ministry was taking cognisance of all the enquiries and information and promised that all such enquiries would be attended to by a team of MEA representatives on the ground. Kochi: The Kerala High Court is likely to pronounce on Wednesday its verdict on Malayalam news channel MediaOne's appeal against a single judge order upholding the Centre's decision to stop its telecast by not renewing its licence. Besides the channel, appeals were also moved by some of its employees, including its Editor, as well the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) whose pleas against the Centre's decision were also rejected by the single judge on February 8. According to the cause list uploaded on the high court website, it will pronounce the verdict in all three appeals on Wednesday. Madhyamam Broadcasting Ltd, which operates MediaOne, had claimed in its appeal that it has been "victimised" for fair and genuine news reporting. It had contended that the reason -- of threat to national security -- cited by the Centre to justify the ban, was only a "ruse" and "without any basis". It had also argued that no fresh security clearance was required under the relevant provisions of the uplinking and downlinking guidelines for renewal of license. Senior advocate Jaju Babu, who represented the channel's editor, other employees and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), had argued before the court that the ban on the channel was imposed without hearing it first as is required under the relevant rules. Babu had also contended before the bench that freedom of press, freedom of speech and expression and the right to livelihood, provided under the Constitution, have been violated by the Centre's decision of January 31. The Centre, on the other hand, had argued that where national security was concerned, reasons for denial of security clearance need not be provided and principles of natural justice -- like giving a hearing, do not apply. It had also told the bench that as per the uplinking and downlinking guidelines, security clearance was mandatory even for renewal of license. The single judge had said the denial of security clearance to MediaOne by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was "justified" based on the inputs received from intelligence agencies. The single judge came to that conclusion after perusing the files produced by MHA. The court had also said that according to the downlinking guidelines, even at the time of considering renewal of permission, security clearance was mandatory. This was not the first time the channel has faced such a bar on its operation. MediaOne, along with another Malayalam News channel, Asianet, was briefly suspended for 48 hours over their coverage of communal violence in Delhi in 2020, with the official orders saying they covered the violence in a manner that "highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community". New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday and briefed him on various issues, including the Ukraine crisis, official sources said. The government has launched "Operation Ganga" to evacuate Indian citizens, mostly students, from Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia. Sources said Modi briefed Kovind on the crisis and his government's efforts to bring back the Indian citizens stranded in the country. The government had on Monday decided to send four ministers to several neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate the evacuation exercise. China urges Japan to act prudently on Taiwan question Xinhua) 08:49, March 01, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday that Taiwan is China's internal affair and has nothing to do with Japan, urging the Japanese side to act prudently on the Taiwan question and stop making provocations. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks when asked to comment on recent remarks by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concerning Taiwan. Wang said recently, certain Japanese politicians have been making wild talks repeatedly on the Taiwan question and irresponsible remarks about China's internal affairs. "China is firmly opposed to this." Wang said Japan committed countless crimes during its aggression against China and the colonial rule in Taiwan for half a century, and thus bears grave historical responsibilities to the Chinese people. "During the Second World War, Japan was defeated and Taiwan returned to the motherland. But some forces in Japan still covet Taiwan. They fail to face up to and reflect upon Japan's track record of belligerence, unhinged aggression and expansion, and brutal colonialism and enslavement. Worse still, they attempt to exploit and hype up the situation in the neighborhood for a military breakthrough." Japanese politicians recently made absurd remarks about Taiwan, and even wild comments that openly violate its own Three Non-Nuclear Principles and the obligations of a party to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). Besides, by raising nuclear sharing with the U.S., Japan has fully exposed the dangerous tendency that militarism still lingers in the country, Wang noted. "Taiwan is China's internal affair and has nothing to do with Japan," Wang said, adding "we strongly urge the Japanese side to have a deep reflection on the history, earnestly abide by the principles stipulated in the four political documents between China and Japan and its commitments made so far, act prudently on the Taiwan question and stop making provocations." (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Samsung Electronics flagship Galaxy S22 / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Kim Hyun-bin Samsung Electronics sales stands to face a great loss in sales as strengthening U.S. sanctions could block exports of its smartphones to Russia, according to company officials and industry analysts Tuesday. If the Biden administration decides to regulate smartphone technologies like those used in semiconductors and aerospace parts, the Korean company will face an uncertain business future in Russia, where more than 30 million phones were sold in 2021. Such business risks have emerged since the Moon Jae-in administration was late to enter the U.S.-led sanctions against Russia, and Korean firms are expected to pay a hefty price for the delay. Due to the measures, there are concerns that not only semiconductors, which are Korea's largest export item, but also smartphones may not be able to cross Russian borders without prior approval from the U.S. government. Korea is the only U.S. ally subject to the Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR) regulation due to the Korean government's late response to U.S. calls for Russia sanctions. The European Union, Japan, the U.K., Canada and New Zealand, which announced sanctions against Russia together with the U.S. at the beginning of the crisis, did not fall under the FDPR regulation. Korea is subject to the regulation along with China and India. According to the FDPR, countries that have used U.S. technology and software in 57 items and technologies, including semiconductors, information and communications, sensors, lasers and aerospace, can only export those products to Russia after obtaining permission from the U.S. Department of Commerce. It has not been decided whether or not to regulate smartphones. However, industry officials believe that since the latest smartphones are equipped with semiconductors and cutting-edge mobile applications there is a possibility they could be considered as strategic items. If restricted, it will become difficult for Samsung Electronics to access the Russian smartphone market. Samsung phones accounted for a major portion of the total smartphone sales in the Russian market last year. According to industry officials, Samsung Electronics is preparing for the worst-case scenario in which smartphones, its main export product, cannot enter Russia. The country's leading conglomerate has been collecting information about the possibility of additional economic sanctions to be imposed on Russia. "We are waiting for the U.S. Department of Commerce to make an announcement on the detailed items to be restricted. We are monitoring the situation closely now," a Samsung Electronics official said. Samsung Electronics introduced a new series of smartphones including its flagship Galaxy S22 to major Russian markets in early February, and it would come as a devastating blow if the U.S. Department of Commerce bans exports of the devices that utilize U.S. technologies. On Feb. 24 (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and announced sanctions against Russia, including export controls and blockades of large banks. The export controls include the FDPR. Samsung Electronics has already experienced the bitterness of the FDPR. In 2020, then U.S. President Donald Trump exercised FDPR on exports of Korean semiconductors, targeting Huawei in China. This resulted in Huawei dropping off the list of Samsung Electronics' top 5 customers. PR/Ambassador of India to United Nations TS Tirumurti speaks during the UNSC meeting, in New York. (PTI Photo) United Nations: India voiced concern over the urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine and told the UN Security Council that apart from evacuating its own citizens, New Delhi stands ready to help those from neighbouring and developing countries stranded in Ukraine and in need of assistance. There is an urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine. In such times of conflict, India attaches the highest priority to safety and well-being of civilians, in particular women, children and elderly. We are of the view that core principles of humanitarian assistance should be fully honoured, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said at the Security Council meeting Monday on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Tirumurti voiced deep concern for the safety and security of thousands of Indian citizens, including students, stranded in Ukraine. Our evacuation efforts have been adversely impacted by the developments on ground at the border crossings, Tirumurti said. Underlining that the safety of Indian nationals is of paramount importance to the Indian Government, Tirumurti told the Council that senior Ministers from the Government of India are being deployed as Special Envoys to Ukraine's neighbouring countries. We thank them for their cooperation at this difficult time. We stand ready to help those from neighbours and developing countries who are also stranded in Ukraine and may seek assistance, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting that reviewed ongoing efforts to bring back Indians from Ukraine. India has decided to send four senior ministers as the prime minister's special envoys to Ukraine's neighbouring countries to oversee the evacuation of Indians. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in New Delhi that Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri will go to Hungary, Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia will oversee the evacuation process in Romania and Moldova, Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju will travel to Slovakia and Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation General (retd) V K Singh is leaving for Poland. Tirumurti said that taking into account the humanitarian requirements in Ukraine, the Indian government has also decided to provide urgent relief supplies, including medicines and these are expected to be dispatched Tuesday. India on Monday decided to send relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian situation along its bordering areas arising out of tens of thousands of people attempting to flee the Russian invasion. Tirumurti told the Council that India remains deeply concerned at the unfolding developments in Ukraine, where the situation continues to deteriorate. Our considered call for immediate cessation of violence and an end to all hostilities is an urgent imperative, Tirumurti said, reiterating that there is no other option but to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue, as the only way ahead. He underlined that Modi has advocated strongly for the immediate cessation of violence and end to all hostilities in his recent conversations with the Russian and Ukrainian leadership. We welcome their commencement of direct talks. We reiterate our conviction that differences can only be bridged through sustained dialogue and diplomacy. In his conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Modi reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue, and expressed New Delhi's willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts. In the telephonic call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue. He appealed for an immediate cessation of violence, and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue. India also underlined that all member states have agreed on the principles in UN Charter, international law and on the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. Tirumurti said India notes the appointment by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres of Amin Awad of Sudan as United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine, to lead the coordination of all UN efforts, including the humanitarian response, on both sides of the contact line. We support and welcome the UN's efforts in this direction. France requested the meeting of the 15-nation Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The Council meeting was running parallel to a rare emergency special session of the 193-member UN General Assembly on Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Last week, the students had approached the Deputy Director of Pre University requesting to postpone the examination till the High Court gave its final judgment. (Representational image: PTI) Mangaluru: Three girl students of the pre-university Womens college at Udupi, who came to the institution wearing hijab, were not allowed to attend the science practical examination. The college principal denied entry quoting the Karnataka High Court's interim order. The three girls were among the students who had approached the High Court seeking permission to wear Hijab inside the class. Last week, the students had approached the Deputy Director of Pre University requesting to postpone the examination till the High Court gave its final judgment. The request was turned down and the exams were held as per the schedule on Monday. Today was the final practical exam. We had completed the record books and reached the college to attend the practical exam. It was so disheartening when our principal threatened us saying Youve five minutes to leave, if u dont, I will file a police complaint, Almas, one of the students, tweeted. Since they were stopped by the principal from entering the class, the girls returned home. College sources said that the Principal tried to convince the students to remove their Hijab and attend the examination to which the girls did not agree. Meanwhile, the Principal clarified that he spoke to the students about the High Court interim order and the need to follow it. The girls, however, opted to return home. In order to scale up the ongoing evacuation efforts under Operational Ganga, PM Modi has called for the IAF to join the exercise. (Twitter) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive against that country, sources said on Tuesday. The IAF is likely to deploy several C-17 aircraft as part of Operation Ganga from Tuesday, they said. Till now, only private Indian carriers were evacuating Indians from Romania and Hungary, countries with land borders with Ukraine on the western side, as the Ukrainian airspace had been shut since February 24. India began evacuation of around 14,000 of its stranded citizens on February 26. In order to scale up the ongoing evacuation efforts under Operational Ganga, PM Modi has called for the IAF to join the exercise, the sources said. Leveraging the capacities of the IAF will ensure that more people can be evacuated in a shorter time frame, they noted. The large C-17 aircraft will also help deliver humanitarian aid to war-hit Ukraine more efficiently, they mentioned. Taking into account the humanitarian requirements in Ukraine, Ambassador of India to United Nations, T S Tirumurti, on Monday, had said that India has decided to provide urgent relief supplies, including medicines to Ukraine, which is expected to be despatched tomorrow. Tirumurti made these remarks at the UNSC meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. He said that there is an urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine. PM Modi briefs President Kovind on Ukraine crisis Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday and briefed him on various issues, including the Ukraine crisis, official sources said. Sources said Modi briefed Kovind on the crisis and his government's efforts to bring back the Indian citizens stranded in the country. Meanwhile, An Air India Express flight carrying 182 Indians nationals from war-torn Ukraine landed in Mumbai from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday morning, an airline spokesperson said. The AI Express flight IX-1202 from Bucharest via Kuwait touched down the runway at 7.40 am, he said. This is the second evacuation flight operated to Mumbai from Bucharest to bring back Indians from war-hit Ukraine since February 27. Changes in migrant rules in Kuwait have forced a section of Indian workers to return to their homes. (Representational Photo: AFP) HYDERABAD: Changes in migrant rules in Kuwait have forced a section of Indian workers to return to their homes. As per new guidelines, the non-graduate migrants who completed 60 years of age cannot remain in Kuwait. They must return to their native places. Around 1.75 lakh people from Telangana state have been working in oil companies, construction companies, malls and other organisations in Kuwait. Of these, around 30,000 persons may return from Kuwait on this basis. The foreign ministry of Kuwait had decided to repatriate these people from December 2020. There was mixed opinion on the decision and a fear was aired that Kuwait will lose its professional workforce. Hence, the authorities gave exemptions in the migrant rules. Earlier, the authorities had said migrants who attained the 60 years of age could renew their visas in Kuwait itself if they paid 250 dinars (`60,000). This came as a relief to the migrant workers. Now, the changed migrant rules forced them to leave Kuwait. Migrant workers will reach India from March onwards. Earlier, responding to similar PILs questioning the legality of the guidelines fixed for selecting candidates to the posts of member secretary and chairperson of the board, the state high court, too, had ruled that the state government cannot decide to appoint only an officer from the IAS or IFoS to these posts. (Representational Image/ PTI) A division bench of the Telangana high court has agreed to hear a plea filed by a social worker seeking directions to the state government to remove IAS officer Neetu Kumari Prasad from the post of member secretary, Telangana Pollution Control Board, for allegedly not possessing the mandatory qualifications in subjects of environment, forests and science, which are statutory requirements according to the Supreme Court. Earlier, responding to similar PILs questioning the legality of the guidelines fixed for selecting candidates to the posts of member secretary and chairperson of the board, the state high court, too, had ruled that the state government cannot decide to appoint only an officer from the IAS or IFoS to these posts. Further, the court had pointed out that appointing IAS or IFoS officers would affect the functioning of the board since the government would transfer these officers frequently whereas the post of member secretary requires a minimum tenure of two to three years. Babu watchers say that, given the Supreme Courts directive and the high courts earlier ruling, it is unlikely that the current petition challenging Mr Prasads appointment will have a different outcome. Commerce babus set to work on ambitious export target Indias flagging exports have necessitated the restructuring of the department of commerce. Sources have told DKB that at a recent meeting with senior officials, commerce minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the need to revamp the department to take advantage of opportunities in global trade due to the rapid growth of services and disruptive potential of climate change. The minister has given secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam and his team an ambitious target of facilitating exports worth $2 trillion by 2027. Those aware of these developments say that after the revamp the directorate general of foreign trade and other organisations in the ministry that promote investment and trade will be given a freer hand to achieve the export targets. They also see a stronger role of overseas missions in trade promotion and market intelligence. Apparently, Mr Goyal has also indicated that a dedicated trade remedies review committee of specialists will be created, which will also include the ministry of finance and line ministries to ensure transparency in investigation outcomes. Clearly, this is yet another push to strengthen Brand India and Mr Subrahmanyam and his colleagues have their work cut out. Gujarat tightens screws on corrupt cops, officers Besides the recent avalanche of scams that have been unearthed in Gujarat, the state chief minister Bhupendra Patel faces another problem. Of late there have been several allegations of bribery and corruption against police officers. Most recently, there have been allegations of bribery against the police commissioner of Rajkot, Manoj Agarwal. The complainant is reportedly a BJP MLA, and thus cannot be overlooked. Sources have informed DKB that the Patel government has received several named and anonymous complaints alleging extortion and misuse of the land grabbing law by cops. Apparently, it is becoming a serious issue, and not just in Rajkot. Now the government is believed to be preparing guidelines to keep police officers away from cases where land deals are involved. Among the new rules will be an instruction that police officials cannot take up an investigation of any complaint in a land matter without the governments permission. The government is planning to set up a high-powered committee to investigate all major allegations of corruption in land matters against senior IPS and IAS officers. The government will consider the recommendations of the panel and take necessary action. Share a babu experience! Follow dilipthecherian@Twitter.com . Lets multiply the effect. The debate on electoral reforms focuses almost entirely on the funding of political parties and expenses incurred in campaigning as if just taking care of these will ensure the cleaning up of the nations polity. We are as usual barking up the wrong tree. Funding is a problem, but its the lesser of the problems. The question of inner party democracy and the constitutional functioning of political parties almost never figures in any discussion. We never seem to consider whether many of our parties are in fact political parties or just disorganised assemblies driven by primitive impulses. When Rajiv Gandhi introduced the anti-defection bill in Parliament soon after his huge 1984 electoral victory, Madhu Dandavate welcomed it, exclaiming in the Lok Sabha that he felt he was hearing the voice of Jawaharlal Nehru again! He soon realised the bill was only meant to keep the party under the jackboots of a coterie. It prompted him to append his name to a petition challenging the law. His switch provoked many to acidly comment the poor man thought he was hearing Nehrus voice when in fact it was that of Indira Gandhi! He justified it by saying it was not the right time to oppose the bill then as public sentiment was in favour. Only Chandra She-khar and Madhu Limaye had the vision and courage to attack the bill for what it was an attempt to institutionalise the illegitimate power of undemocratically installed party leaderships over the peoples elected representatives. The original bill was then somewhat modified to distinguish between a split and a defection, though it didnt address the main reasons for opposing the bill. Unlike some others, Indias Constitution doesnt recognise the institution of political parties. Its the same in other serious and major democracies. The term political party doesnt appear even once in any of them. Political parties are therefore extra or non-constitutional arrangements to organise people on the basis of shared ideas, interests or philosophies. Members of Parliament or legislatures are the peoples representatives. That they are or arent members of a political party is only incidental. The elected members are meant to represent and protect the interests those who elect them and not that of a handful of leaders. It follows that if a representative defies a party whip, the most the party must be allowed to do is remove the member from the party. Expulsion of the member from the House can only be the right of the House or the people. Each time that power is invoked it must be for a specific reason, such as receiving a bribe, that may be seen as unbecoming of a member, or bringing disrespect to the institution. In India, we dont give people the right of recall, possibly as it's not practical. Even if a mechanism and a set of conditionalities is codified to set the process of recall into action, who among the present crop of MPs would be willing to legislate this? The argument that most members are elected because of the party has some validity, but only if its a properly constituted and functioning party. If the political party is to be incorporated in our Constitution as a constitutional institution, it must first be so legislated. Besides a few parties like the BJP and the CPI(M), which have a somewhat strained system of inner democracy assured by intermittent party elections, and passably collective decision-making, most other parties are very poor examples of democracy at work. We know how the Congress conducts its elections or takes decisions by deferring them to the high command. Leaders like the Badals, Thackeray, Lalu Yadav, KCR, Stalin, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati consider these niceties to be sheer hypocrisy, and dont have even a single-page constitution to legitimise the workings of their outfits. Yet these fuhrers have the authority and legitimacy to issue diktats or whips to suit their private interests and whims. Remember how a nominated Congress president, Sitaram Kesri, issued a directive to the CPPs elected leader, P.V. Narasimha Rao, ordering him to send his resignation within 24 hours. Consider the implications. A leader chosen by elected representatives is dismissed by a handpicked courtiers coup? There are other implications to consider as well. What if a member of a party promising people the nationalisation of all property is directed to vote for a rich mans dream budget? Suppose the member was to vote as per the partys commitment to the people and not as per the convenience of its leaders? Who is more important? The people who elect them or the people who select them for party tickets? The argument that if members arent restrained by law, anarchy will prevail, may have some validity to it. This can be met by ensuring whips are restricted to confidence votes alone, with the rider that representatives voting against a whip must seek the peoples confidence within a stipulated period, say six months. To deny a ministership to a defecting member is silly as it implies that a ministership is somehow a reward to enjoy, and not a call to service or recognition of ability. Not all ministers are corrupt. Also, all this hair-splitting about what percentage constitutes a defection is equally silly. That the Election Commission recognises these parties and recognises their leaders authority is a matter of shame and evidence of its utter helplessness, indifference or ignorance, or all these basic issues. To give the anti-defection laws even the thinnest veneer of political and philosophical legitimacy, it is first essential that inner-party workings conform to the letter and spirit of democracy. Par-ties have shown they are incapable of doing this by themselves. The EC had earlier made some noises in this regard. But adding to the cacophony isn't enough. It must speak out loudly and insist Parliament empowers it to oversee regular party elections and their compliance with the provisions of their constitutions. Thats why Narendra Modi has placed flunkies there. State funding of parties has often been discussed as another solution. But can we allow the State to fund all these parties, which dont have any inner-party democracy or democratic structures, most with husband-and-wife high commands, if not father-son or mother-son high commands? No Indian party has anything like fair and free inner-party elections. Giving them state funding will only enable public money to serve private purposes. With our democracy now preferring cobbled-up coalitions to single-party dominance, the issue of defections will always loom large. But will anyone now speak up? Of course not. Kissa kursi ka hai! Nellore: A team of scientists from different units of ISRO used S-band radio signals from Mangalyaan, the Indian Mars orbiter, to study the solar corona the layer of the Sun that extends millions of kilometres into space and located the area of the sun where the temperature rises abruptly. The scientists utilised the solar conjunction event, when the Earth and Mars are on the opposite sides of the Sun, that occurred in May-June 2015 for the study. The Sun's activity was low at that time. During conjunction events, which happens once in two years for Mars, the radio signals from Mangalyaan pass through the solar corona about 10 solar radii or about 69,57,000 km from the centre of the Sun. This provides scientists a unique opportunity to study solar dynamics. Each solar radii is about 6,95,700 km. The scientists involved in the study were from Space Physics Laboratory of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram; Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad; and ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bengaluru. The results were published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society by the authors of the study Richa N. Jain, R.K. Choudhary, Anil Bhardwaj, Umang Parikh, Bijoy K. Dai, and Roopa M.V. According to the study, the scientists found that the transition of solar wind charged particles released from the upper atmosphere of the Sun from slower speeds to higher velocities (technically sub-alfvenic to super-alfvenic flow) occurs in a region that is 10 to 15 times the solar radii (69.6 lakh km to about 104.4 lakh km) from the centre of the Sun. The Suns surface is a few thousand degree Kelvin (a unit of measurement of temperature, like the Celsius) while in the outer atmosphere, the solar corona, the temperature rises to several million degrees Kelvin. Why this happens is not known. It is important to study the corona since it passes through the interplanetary spaces, and affects the near-Earth space environment through a phenomenon known as space weather. The Mangalyaan radio signals that crossed through the plasma (ionised medium) in the solar corona during the conjunction event experienced dispersive effects. The turbulence was recorded at the Indian Deep Space Network for Mangalyaan, at Isrtrac (Isro Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network). Analysing the signals, the scientists reported that they obtained coronal turbulence spectrum at between four and 20 solar radii (27.8 lakh km to 139.1 lakh km from the centre of the Sun. This is the region where the solar wind primarily gets accelerated. The scientists found that the turbulence power spectrum at a smaller distance from the Suns centre of less than 10 solar radii had flattened at shorter frequencies, which corresponds to the solar wind acceleration region. For larger distances from the Suns centre more than 10 solar radii the curve becomes much steeper. The scientists reported that this finding is consistent with theoretical models of solar wind turbulence. The scientists said the finding was also supported by the first direct observation of solar corona by the Parker Probe, Nasa's first-ever mission to "touch the Sun, recently. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. US cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global Inc will continue to block accounts and transactions of Russian clients targeted by sanctions, but it stopped short of banning all users from the country. "At this time, we will not institute a blanket ban on all Coinbase transactions involving Russian addresses," a Coinbase spokesperson said. Binance, the world's biggest crypto exchange, has also said it would not freeze all Russian accounts, after Ukraine requested major crypto exchanges for a complete ban. Western countries including the United States and Britain have imposed sweeping financial sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, with major Russian banks shut out of the SWIFT international payments system. Trading volumes between the Russian rouble and the Tether cryptocurrency spiked sharply on Monday, indicating rising interest in crypto among Russians after the Western sanctions took a toll on the local currency. Check out latest DH videos here The increase in OPEC's oil output in February exceeded the rise planned under a deal with allies for the first time since September, a Reuters survey found, as higher Saudi Arabian and Iraqi supply combined with fewer outages in smaller producers. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pumped 28.39 million barrels per day (bpd) in February, the survey found, up 420,000 bpd from the previous month and above the 254,000 bpd increase called for under the supply deal. OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, are gradually relaxing 2020 output cuts as demand recovers from the pandemic. OPEC+ meets on Wednesday and is expected to confirm previously agreed plans despite the surge in oil prices to a seven-year high above $105 a barrel after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Also Read | Oil market hits 2014 peak on Ukraine crisis "It looks like sticking to the plan," an OPEC+ delegate said of Wednesday's meeting, adding that Russia's action in Ukraine had not so far affected the functioning of OPEC+. Saudi Arabia's cabinet reaffirmed on Tuesday its commitment to the OPEC+ agreement. The deal calls for a 400,000 bpd increase in February from all OPEC+ members, of which 254,000 bpd is shared by the 10 OPEC producers the agreement covers. Output undershot the pledged hikes from October to January, according to Reuters surveys. While the 10 OPEC members raised output by more than this in February, they are still pumping less than called for under the deal. OPEC compliance with pledged cuts was 136 per cent, the survey found, versus 132 per cent in January. Saudi, Iraq boost The biggest rise in February of 90,000 bpd came from Saudi Arabia, OPEC's top producer, the survey found. No. 2 OPEC producer Iraq managed to boost exports, despite some field shutdowns. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait followed through on their higher quotas, and Nigerian output edged higher after recovering from outages. Output also rose in each of the three producers exempt from making output cuts under the OPEC+ deal, the survey found. Iran has been shipping more oil to China in recent months and pumped an extra 60,000 bpd in February. The rise comes amid talks between Tehran and world powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal. Libya boosted output although bad weather still hampered shipments, the survey found, while Venezuelan production rose. Production fell or did not increase in Algeria, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, the survey found, in many cases owing to a lack of capacity to produce more. The Reuters survey aims to track supply to the market. It is based on shipping data provided by external sources, Refinitiv Eikon flows data, information from tanker trackers such as Petro-Logistics, as well as information provided by sources at oil companies, OPEC and consultants. Check out latest DH videos here A fortnight after Tata Sons announced his appointment, former Turkish Airlines chairman Ilker Ayci on Tuesday said he has declined the offer to be the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India as it was not "feasible or honourable" to take up the position when "some sections of Indian media" was attempting to picturise it in "undesirable colours". Ayci's statement comes days after RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch urging the Narendra Modi government not to give security clearance to his appointment and media reporting that the Tata Son's move could run into trouble due to his links with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an ally of Pakistan. For any foreign national to be CEO or Chief Financial Officer in the aviation industry, the company needs to get a security clearance from On February 14, Tata Sons had announced Ayci's appointment to the top post of Air India, which was privatised by the Modi government. Ayci was to take over on April one after security clearance. "Since the announcement, I have been carefully following news in some sections of the Indian media attempting to colour my appointment with undesirable colours. As a business leader who has always prioritised professional credo and more importantly, the happiness and well being of my family above all else, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be a feasible or an honourable decision to accept the position in the shadow of such a narrative," he said. He said he remains grateful to the Tata Group and its chairman N Chandrasekaran for extending to him the honour and the opportunity to lead Air India. "However, at a recent meeting with Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, I regretfully informed him and I wish to inform the public, as well, that I will decline the position. It is with a heavy heart that I make this decision...," he said, wishing Air India and the Tata Group "every success". "I will continue my career by pursuing alternative opportunities with the objective of creating value and building world-class businesses," Ayci added. Sources said Ayci was chosen by the Tatas after a three-month search with the help of a headhunting firm. The government had handed over Air India to the Tatas on January 27, a little over three months after the salt-to-software conglomerate was announced as the winner of the bid. The Tatas acquired debt-laden state-run Air India by offering Rs 18,000 crore. Last week, Swadeshi Jagran Manch Co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan had said that the government should not give its permission to Ayci's appointment keeping in view national security. Check out latest videos from DH: Rescue workers and residents search for victims in an area affected by landslides in Petropolis, Brazil, Feb. 16. AP-Yonhap Scientists have long been warning that extreme weather would cause calamity in the future. But in South America which in just the last month has had deadly landslides in Brazil, wildfires in Argentine wetlands and flooding in the Amazon so severe it ruined harvests that future is already here. In just three hours on Feb. 15, the city of Petropolis, nestled in the forested mountains above Rio de Janeiro, received over 10 inches of rainfall more than ever registered in a single day since the authorities began keeping records in 1932. The ensuing landslides swallowed the lives of more than 200 people, and left nearly 1,000 homeless. A report published Monday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) corroborates what many on the ground are witnessing with their own eyes. Global warming is altering the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, such as El Nino and La Nina, the natural heating and cooling of parts of the Pacific that alters weather patterns around the globe. These events have also become more difficult to predict, causing additional damage, the report said. ''Climate change is projected to convert existing risks in the region into severe key risks,'' the report said. Until 2020, there was plenty of water, swamps, stagnant lakes and lagoons in Argentina's Ibera Wetlands, one of the largest such ecosystems in the world. But an historic drought of the Parana River dried much of it out; its waters are in the lowest level since 1944. Since January it has been the stage of raging fires. And this week, 70 percent of the remote city of Jordao in Brazil's Amazon rainforest was submerged by the overflow of two rivers. It has shattered the lives of thousands of people in the region, including in 32 indigenous communities. Central and South America is the second most urbanized region in the world after North America with 81 percent of its population residing within cities. In this context, forests are playing a vital role to stabilize local climates and to help the world meet the ambitious temperature goals set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, experts say. An aerial view of area that was consumed by a man-made fire to clear land near Novo Progresso in Para State, Brazil, Aug. 18, 2020. AP-Yonhap The entire Amazon rainforest stores between 150 and 200 billion tons of carbon in the vegetation and soil, according to Carlos Nobre, a prominent Brazilian climate scientist who has studied the biome for several decades. ''It's a huge reservoir,'' Nobre told The Associated Press in a phone interview. ''If you lose the forest, this carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, goes into the atmosphere. It is very important to maintain the forest.'' But most governments across the region have failed to heed the IPCC's warnings and stop the destruction. Many South American leaders have remained silent about illegal logging and mining activities in sensitive regions. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has gone further, outright encouraging it both with his words and by weakening environmental agencies and regulation. Even in Colombia, where President Ivan Duque has attempted to rein in illegal logging, a recent increase in forest fires led more than 150 international academics and activists last week to send a letter urging the government to take a more aggressive stance. Indeed, local prosecutors and police have said the region is more and more dependent on activists for preservation, either to prevent deforestation that leads to drastic changes in climate or to deal with the consequences of environmental degradation. Flames from a forest fire in Paraje Villegas, Rio Negro Province, 70 kilometers south of Bariloche, Argentina, are seen in this file photograph taken Dec. 29, 2021. AFP-Yonhap Alejandra Boloqui, 54, manages a private natural reserve in Argentina's Ibera Wetlands, and has been helping firefighters wage their desperate fight against the flames. Last week, she recorded a scene on her phone that overwhelmed her with sadness: a dozen alligators fleeing the flames and walking down a dirt track in search of water. ''When I started filming them, I cried. I felt they were saying to me: 'I've been left without a home, I'm leaving,''' Boloqui told the AP. ''It got my attention seeing so many alligators moving together during the day. ... They are very slow reptiles who move at night to avoid heat.'' They, along with many other animals, found temporary refuge in a nearby lagoon that had dried up due to lack of rain and has since been artificially refilled with solar water pumps. Local authorities attributed the fires to the burning of pastures for cattle ranching, which has been prohibited since December. IPCC experts stress in the report that droughts lay the groundwork for blazes that spread rapidly. Brazil's south and southeast regions last year faced their worst droughts in nine decades, raising the specter of possible power rationing given the grid's dependence on hydroelectric plants. Simultaneously, in Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon, rivers swelled to levels unseen in over a century of record-keeping, flooding streets and houses and affecting some 450,000 people in the region. This week, with most of the Amazonian city of Jordao plunged underwater, Indigenous leader and forest guard Josias Kaxinawa is working to bring any support he can to dozens of communities. He spent all day Wednesday rescuing people and their belongings using his small boat equipped with an outboard motor. The Jordao and Tarauaca rivers join during the rainy season, which Kaxinawa and his neighbors didn't expect for several more weeks. But this time, unlike last year, showers arrived not just too early, but also brutally, he told the AP. ''We are living our worst moment. Flood, rains, winds. Climate change is creating more problems for us. We are losing a lot of stuff, boats, household appliances, every crop we grew last year,'' Kaxinawa said by phone from Jordao, adding he had never had seen so much rain in his area. ''We worry about the future,'' he said. He added that the small city's agricultural production is ''virtually all destroyed.'' A slide is pictured behind members of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) during a news conference on the Special Report on Climate Change and Land after IPCC's 50th session in Geneva, Switzerland, Aug. 8, 2019. Reuters-Yonhap This jibes with the IPCC report, which says changes in the timing and magnitude of precipitation along with extreme temperatures are impacting agricultural production across Central and South America. ''Impacts on rural livelihoods and food security, particularly for small and medium-sized farmers and Indigenous Peoples in the mountains, are projected to worsen,'' the report read. Acre state's government said at least 76 families, most of them indigenous, have lost their homes in Jordao and the surrounding area, and are now living in a local shelter. But Mayor Naudo Ribeiro admitted the count was underestimated. ''This was too fast, there's no way to prepare when it happens like this,'' Ribeiro told local media. More than 3,400 kilometers (2,100 miles) away in Petropolis, the Brazilian city ravaged by landslides last week, Mayor Rubens Bomtempo provided journalists with a similar comment just days before. ''This was totally unpredictable,'' Bomtempo said. ''No one could predict rain as hard as this.'' The IPCC report suggests events like these will continue to shake the region. (AP) In Punjab Assembly Election 2022, Ghanaur Assembly Constituency (AC No. 113) in Patiala district goes to polls on February 14, 2022. Punjab Election Result 2022: Ghanaur Assembly constituency result will be declared on March 10, 2022. In Punjab Assembly Election 2017, INC candidate Thekedar Madan Lal Jalalpur won Ghanaur constituency seat securing 65,965 votes, beating SAD candidate Harpreet Kaur Mukhmailpur by a margin of 36,557 votes. In 2017, the total voters in Ghanaur constituency were 1,55,927. Of that, 1,24,650 voters cast their ballot visiting polling booths or exercising their voting franchise through postal ballots. Use the map below to get the latest updates, winners and losers in Ghanaur assembly constituency. In Punjab Assembly Election 2022, Ludhiana South Assembly Constituency (AC No. 61) in Ludhiana district goes to polls on February 14, 2022. Punjab Election Result 2022: Ludhiana South Assembly constituency result will be declared on March 10, 2022. In Punjab Assembly Election 2017, LIP candidate Balvinder Singh Bains won Ludhiana South constituency seat securing 53,955 votes, beating INC candidate Bhupinder Singh Sidhu by a margin of 30,917 votes. In 2017, the total voters in Ludhiana South constituency were 1,49,582. Of that, 1,00,769 voters cast their ballot visiting polling booths or exercising their voting franchise through postal ballots. Use the map below to get the latest updates, winners and losers in Ludhiana South assembly constituency. In Punjab Assembly Election 2022, Payal Assembly Constituency (AC No. 67) in Ludhiana district goes to polls on February 14, 2022. Punjab Election Result 2022: Payal Assembly constituency result will be declared on March 10, 2022. In Punjab Assembly Election 2017, INC candidate Lakhvir Singh Lakha won Payal constituency seat securing 57,776 votes, beating AAP candidate Gurpreet Singh Lapran by a margin of 21,496 votes. In 2017, the total voters in Payal constituency were 1,59,662. Of that, 1,30,744 voters cast their ballot visiting polling booths or exercising their voting franchise through postal ballots. Use the map below to get the latest updates, winners and losers in Payal assembly constituency. In Punjab Assembly Election 2022, Raikot Assembly Constituency (AC No. 69) in Ludhiana district goes to polls on February 14, 2022. Punjab Election Result 2022: Raikot Assembly constituency result will be declared on March 10, 2022. In Punjab Assembly Election 2017, AAP candidate Jagtar Singh Jagga Hissowal won Raikot constituency seat securing 48,245 votes, beating INC candidate Amar Singh by a margin of 10,614 votes. In 2017, the total voters in Raikot constituency were 1,50,418. Of that, 1,17,046 voters cast their ballot visiting polling booths or exercising their voting franchise through postal ballots. Use the map below to get the latest updates, winners and losers in Raikot assembly constituency. With the desertion of some leaders throwing up new challenges for the BJP in the Gorakhpur region, thousands of village-level workers of RSS have fanned out in 62 assembly constituencies urging people to exercise their franchise to ensure the party does not suffer due to the splitting of votes. In 2017, the BJP had won 44 of the 62 assembly seats in the 10 districts of the Gorakhpur region, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has considerable influence, while the SP and the BSP got seven each, and Congress and an Independent one each. Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), which was then allying with the BJP, and Apna Dal (Sonelal) had also won one seat each in this area. However, this time the SBSP, led by Om Prakash Rajbhar, an influential leader of the backward classes in Purvanchal and the first to quit the post of minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, has allied with the Samajwadi Party (SP). Also Read | Akhilesh Yadav doesnt have the strength to stop BJP, says Owaisi Also, the then minister's Swami Prasad Maurya and Dara Singh Chauhan resigned and switched to the SP just before the elections. They are now contesting from Fazilnagar in Kushinagar and Ghosi seat in Mau, respectively, on SP ticket. With changed political equations, there is apprehension about the splitting of votes among most backward castes Rajbhar, Maurya-Kushwaha and Chauhan (Nonia) fraternity, according to political analysts. About 15,000 'Gram Pramukhs (or village heads) of the RSS, ideological fountainhead of the BJP, are out on the ground with their groups in a bid to keep voters together in the region, which goes to polls in the last two phases of elections in the state. Over 240 village heads in each assembly constituency are active with their teams (groups of 5-10 people) to ensure the victory of BJP candidates, although RSS functionaries say the exercise 'Janjagran Abhiyan' -- is for voter awareness. Also Read | Yogi Adityanath sitting pretty but BJP may not repeat performance in Gorakhpur In UP, the BJP has divided its organisational structure into six parts -- West Zone, Braj, Kanpur-Bundelkhand, Awadh, Kashi and the Gorakhpur region. The Gorakhpur region comprises 10 districts of Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Deoria, Kushinagar, Basti, Sant Kabirnagar, Siddharthnagar, Azamgarh, Ballia and Mau and has a total of 62 assembly constituencies. The activities of RSS village heads and their teams have increased on the 27,647 booths in the region. During the RSS' 'Prabhat Shakha', the volunteers are making people aware about increasing voter turnout. In the morning we take out Prabhat Pheri in the wards after the Shakha and also distribute leaflets among them, RSS' Mau Nagar Prachar Pramukh Dr Madhukar Anand told PTI. Also Read -- UP polls: How diminished are BJP's returns after phase five However, he added that the group works for the nation and not for any party. The leaflets being distributed by Lok Jagran Manch in the Goraksha Province appeals to voters to carefully choose if they want to vote for someone who stood in favour of building a Ram temple or those who talked about building a mosque or a hospital instead of a temple. The leaflets also mention issues like the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, casteism in government jobs and removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. On the role of RSS in the elections, its Provincial Pracharak Subhash said the Election Commission makes efforts to increase voter turnout and the Sangh was doing public awareness for that. Also Read | UP polls seem to be of 'chhalia' versus Ballia: Akhilesh The 'janjagran abhiyan' is aimed at public awareness and when people go to vote, they should evaluate the work of governments during their tenure, consider all parameters to form a good government and select good people, Subhash told PTI. Subhash said that about 15,000 RSS village heads have been engaged in this public awareness campaign and apart from this, more people of the organisation are involved. The alliance of the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and other smaller parties is also weighing on the mind of the BJP and its supporters. According to sources, RSS field pracharak Anil held a coordination meeting with the BJP at 'Rajasthan Bhawan' in Mau on Sunday to chalk out a victory strategy for candidates of the saffron party. During the Ram Mandir construction fund collection campaign, RSS had made 'Gram Pramukhs' in all the villages and in this election they are active in booth-wise campaigning by forming 'Gram Pramukh' teams, a worker involved in the meeting told PTI on condition of anonymity. Also Read | Battle for UP: BSP rebels pose problems for BSP Earlier, BJP's National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh held a meeting of the Assembly Election Steering Committee with an RSS functionary in Dohrighat. Gorakhpur is the home turf of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is contesting assembly polls for the first time. The SP has intensified the mobilisation of Muslims and backward classes in the region, political observers say. Don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, a five-time MLA from Mau who is lodged in Banda jail and has been targeted by top BJP leaders during poll campaigns, has fielded son Abbas Ansari from the seat in the SP alliance. While RSS has upped its campaign, the BJP has entrusted the responsibility of the region to Bihar's Rajya Sabha member Vivek Thakur, making him co-in-charge of the assembly elections. In an interaction with PTI, Thakur, who is constantly on the ground activating the booth presidents of the party, exuded confidence that BJP will perform better than it did in 2017. According to observers, the region has over 50 per cent backward castes voters and 20 per cent Scheduled Castes. Apart from Brahmins and Kshatriyas, Kayasthas are also present in almost all the districts. Muslim voters to influence about 15 assembly constituencies including Mau, Azamgarh and Padrauna. Mau-based political observer Vinay Jaiswal said RSS and BJP office-bearers are asking voters to consider the development and future of UP '' while voting. Majority voters who were split on grounds of caste have been united by the RSS under the umbrella of 'Hindutva'. RSS groups are also trying to pacify any voter who is unhappy with the BJP candidate in their area, Jaiswal said. The sixth and seventh phase of UP polls is scheduled for March 3 and March 7 respectively. Election results would be declared on March 10. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) insiders have started conceding that the ruling party's tally is bound to fall in the current election compared to where it stood in 2017. The big question is whether the numbers could come so drastically down that it will give way to its key rival, the Samajwadi Party (SP). The BJP and SP agree the battle is brutal. Just as it is not easy for the BJP to retain its all-time high 2017 tally of 312 in the 403-member UP assembly, so is it no mean task for the SP to swing an increase from its low count of 47 (in 2017) to the majority mark of 202 to form the government in Lucknow. "You can only come down after climbing Mount Everest," the BJP's state general secretary Vijay Pathak said. He is, however, confident. "It could turn out to be a tight finish, but we will form the government." According to Pathak, "Yogi Adotyanath will break the old jinx that no chief minister of the state has ever repeated a term in office." Also Read | BJP faces tough battle in eastern Uttar Pradesh as OBC votes dwindle Chief Minister Adityanath has proclaimed this vociferously during the poll campaign even as it is widely believed there is anti-incumbency against his government. However, the anti-incumbency is perceived to be not so much against the BJP as it is against Adityanath. There is a view that it would have been easier for the BJP to sail through if it had fought exclusively on prime minister Narendra Modi's face. No wonder after the fifth phase concluded on February 27, with 292 seats having already polled, UP is busy debating whether the BJP will rewrite history or the SP will decide the political destiny of the country's most populous state. It is, therefore, no surprise that Modi has finally decided to camp in Varanasi for three days to try and turn the tide now. The SP's visibly rising response at the ground level might be a pleasant surprise to its leader, former chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, who was perhaps some months back not that hopeful of putting up a fight against the might of the BJP. But what appears apparent is the jolt that the BJP seems to be getting with every election phase. It has brought to the fore the desperation of its top leaders, which could be discerned from their changing utterances over the past few weeks. Also Read -- In Ayodhya and elsewhere in UP, desertion in BJP's Dalit-OBC support The BJP did play its masterstrokes the Hindutva card to stoke the Hindu-Muslim divide; Ayodhya temple to impress its Hindu vote bank; free rations to win the poor and its half-truth narratives on law and order or women's security. To top it all, the party's battery of star campaigners led by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi left no stone unturned to throw a super challenge to Akhilesh Yadav, who had to run his campaign single-handedly for the first time in his political career. Yet, there is little doubt that from the early stages of the poll campaign, with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary alongside him in West UP to the ongoing final phases in East UP, the SP chief has grown in stature, maturity and confidence. The BJP's strategy to stir the communal divide in West UP failed because of the overriding effect of the year-long farmers' movement that brought the earlier warring Jats and Muslims under a common umbrella. The ploy failed even in central UP and Avadh regions. So the BJP sought to play up the "law and order", and "women security" issues, which they alleged were under serious threat during the previous SP regime. Although he began a tad late in the day, Akhilesh Yadav aggressively countered the two issues and was joined by SP Rajya Sabha MP, Hindi movies actor Jaya Bachchan, and his wife, former Lok Sabha MP, Dimple Yadav. Also Read | In UP, women voters hold the cards, and political parties know it The BJP did its best to switch its focus on "free rations" in the poverty-ridden Purvanchal region of UP, where it hopes to turn the tide that seems to have gone against it in the previous four phases. But here, the saffron brigade found a formidable wall built by Akhilesh Yadav through the multiple alliances he successfully stitched with smaller non-Yadav OBC groups. Significantly, some of these very non-Yadav OBCs were wooed by Modi right from 2014, and they paid rich political dividends to the BJP in 2017 and 2019. But Adityanath's blatant pro-Thakur attitude left several leaders of these very non-Yadav OBCs disillusioned with the party. The exit of three prominent OBC ministers Swami Prasad Maurya, Dara Singh Chauhan and Dharam Singh Saini from the Adityanath cabinet and their instant entry into the SP at the beginning of the elections dealt the BJP its most significant blow. Along with the three, as many as a dozen BJP MLAs also switched parties to the SP. This force of non-Yadav OBCs has added much strength to the SP in the heavily caste-oriented politics of the Purvanchal region, where the battle began in the fifth phase. The remaining two phases of polling, primarily limited to this region, are unlikely to enable the BJP any giant leap without which it may lag in the final race to power. Actor Harsh Chhaya, who played the fierce 'Papaji' in the web series Undekhi, says that he is excited about its upcoming second season as it shows his character in a new light. "The character is still the same person but the other part of his life will also be shown this time. It is always exciting to return to something that worked. The excitement during the shoot was as high as it was back in the first season," he told DH. Undekhi, which premiered on SonyLiv in 2020, was set in Manali and revolved around what happens when a policeman from West Bengal tries to track down those responsible for two gruesome murders. It received rave reviews for its chilling screenplay and hard-hitting theme. Undekhi 2 takes the story forward and is likely to be more gripping than the first season. Surya Sharma and Dibyendu Bhattacharya reprise their roles from the first season. Meiyang Chang and Nandish Sandhu are new additions to the cast. Chhaya had a good time working on the show as it features a young team. "The best part about working with a young crowd is that these people keep you on your toes. The atmosphere was light (fun)," said the actor. OTT has emerged as a force to reckon with in India over the past few years. Sacred Games, which premiered in 2018, is widely regarded as a gamechanger in this regard. Shows such as Mirzapur and Jamtara garnered attention, emerging as the choice of those familiar with the Hindi heartland. The Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown in 2020 benefitted the digital space as productions such as Illegal, The Gone Game, Scam 1992 and The Raikar Case found wide patronage. "The thing here is that a show has a finite duration and does not go on," said Chhaya It remains to be seen whether Undekhi 2 adds a new dimension to the 'OTT revolution' when it releases on March 4. By Jeffrey Veidlinger for The Conversation Russian President Vladimir Putin justifies his war on Ukraine as a peacekeeping mission, a denazification of the country. In his address to the Russian people on Feb. 24, 2022, Putin said the purpose was to protect people who had been subjected to bullying and genocide for the last eight years. And for this we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. The victims of the genocide claimed by Putin are Russian speakers; the Nazis he referenced are the elected representatives of the Ukrainian people. While Ukraines new language laws have upset some minorities, independent news media have uncovered no evidence of genocide against Russian speakers. In fact, as the historian Timothy Snyder has pointed out, Russian speakers have more freedom in Ukraine than they have in Russia, where Putins authoritarian government routinely suppresses political dissent. And while far right groups have been growing in Ukraine, their electoral power is limited. As the author of a recently published book on anti-Jewish violence in Ukraine and a historian of the Holocaust, I know why the accusations of Nazism and genocide have resonance in Ukraine. But I also understand that despite episodic violence, Ukrainian history offers a model of tolerance and democratic government. Also read: Govt asks Indians to leave Kyiv immediately Ukraines Jewish leadership First, it is worth pointing out that Ukraine today is a vibrant, pluralistic democracy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky won a five-year term in the 2019 presidential election with a landslide majority, defeating 39 candidates. His Servant of the People party then swept the parliamentary elections in July 2019, winning 254 seats in the 450-seat chamber, becoming the first majority government in the history of the modern Ukrainian state. Zelensky was well-known as a comedian and star of the popular sitcom Servant of the People, from which his partys name was derived. The fact that Zelensky is the grandson of a Holocaust survivor and was raised in what he told The Times of Israel was an ordinary Soviet Jewish family was barely noted during the election. Nobody cares. Nobody asks about it, he remarked in the same interview. Nor did Ukrainians seem to mind that the prime minister at the time of Zelenskys election, Volodymyr Groysman, also had a Jewish background. For a brief period of time, Ukraine was the only state outside of Israel to have both a Jewish head of state and a Jewish head of government. How could I be a Nazi? Zelensky asked in a public address after the Russian invasion began. Explain it to my grandfather. Also read: India to ship record wheat as Ukraine crisis upends trade flows The pogroms against Jews Sporadic episodes of violence against Jews, or pogroms, began well before the Holocaust. In 1881, for instance, after the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, ordinary churchgoers, laborers, railway workers and soldiers attacked Jewish-owned shops, mills and canteens, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Jews in what was then considered the south of Russia, but is now Ukraine. During another wave of violence following the Revolution of 1905, workers, peasants and soldiers, egged on by Russian right-wing paramilitary groups, murdered 5,000 Jews in the region. During the unrest that followed the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, about 100,000 Jews died as a result of attacks perpetrated against them by soldiers fighting to restore a united Russia, as well as by the armies of the newly established Ukrainian and Polish states. Finally, during the Second World War, German soldiers murdered 1.5 million Jews in the areas that are now Ukraine, often with the collaboration of Ukrainian militias established in the diaspora and with the help of local auxiliary police. The role of ethnic Ukrainians in the Holocaust remains contentious in Ukraine today, where nationalist heroes who collaborated with the Nazis continue to be honored. Yet at the same time, millions of non-Jewish Ukrainians lost their lives under the Nazis or were exploited as slave laborers. The occupiers treated Ukrainian lands as little more than Lebensraum, living space for ethnic Germans. Also read: Russia's isolation intensifies as Ukraine fighting rages A pluralistic state Forgotten in this history is the period between 1917 and 1919 when an independent Ukrainian state offered a different model of multiculturalism and pluralism. The Ukrainian state that declared its independence from Russia in the aftermath of the 1917 Revolutions, envisioned a Ukraine for all ethnicities and religious groups living within its territory. One of its first acts was passing the Law on National Autonomy in January 1918, which allowed each of the major ethnic minority groups Russians, Jews, and Poles broad autonomous rights, including the right to use their own language. The cabinet included a Secretariat of National Affairs, with vice-secretariats for Russians, Jews and Poles, and, briefly in 1919, even a Ministry of Jewish Affairs. The legislative body, as well, included proportional representation from each of the national minorities. The state issued declarations and currency printed in four languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Polish and Yiddish. Also Read | Isolated Russia defends Ukraine war at UN General Assembly However, this state, hailed by Jews around the world as a model for the new nation-states then emerging in eastern and central Europe, never managed to hold the capital for more than a few months at a time. By April of 1919, the government was being run from a moving train and could barely claim more land than the tracks beneath it. From its inauguration in January 1918, Ukraine found itself enmeshed in a bloody war on multiple fronts. The Soviet Red Army attacked it from the east, while Moscow sought to ignite Bolshevik revolutions throughout Ukraine. A Russian White Army led by officers from the old tsarist army attacked from the south, hoping to reestablish a version of the Russian Empire. From the west, the army of the newly established Polish Republic attacked with the goal of restoring historic Polands borders. At the same time, a range of insurgent fighters and anarchists formed militias to seize land for themselves. In the midst of this chaos, the dream of a pluralistic state devolved into inter-ethnic violence. In March 1921, the war ended with the Treaty of Riga, incorporating much of the territory claimed by the independent Ukrainian state into the Soviet Union. Putins selective telling of the past exaggerates the legacy of Nazism in Ukraine while ignoring the states historic struggle for pluralism and democracy. There is a good reason for this: he fears democracy more than he fears Nazism. (The author is with the University of Michigan) Check out latest videos from DH: If Russian President Vladimir Putin achieves his goal of ousting the government in Kyiv, the humanitarian and rights crises in Ukraine "will only get worse", the top US diplomat warned Tuesday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned the UN Human Rights Council that Russia's "premeditated, unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine" was creating a dire human rights and humanitarian crisis there. In a pre-recorded video, he also questioned whether Russia should be allowed to hold onto its seat on the Geneva-based council after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. He said Moscow's "violations of international humanitarian law mount by the hour", with Russian strikes "hitting schools, hospitals and residential buildings", and destroying critical infrastructure. Also Read -- Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities "Civilian buses, cars, and even ambulances have been shelled," he said, slamming the "monstrous rocket strike that hit an apartment complex" in Ukraine's second city Kharkiv on Monday. More than 350 civilians have been killed since the Russian invasion began, including 16 children, according to Ukrainian authorities. Nearly 680,000 people have already fled abroad, the UN refugee agency said, estimating that a million people are displaced within Ukraine. Blinken warned that "if President Putin succeeds in his stated goal of toppling Ukraine's democratically-elected government, the human rights and humanitarian crises will only get worse". He pointed to the situation on the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. There, he charged, "Russia's occupation has come with extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary detention, the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities, and the brutal repression of dissent. "The Kremlin is also ramping up its repression within Russia," Blinken warned. He said that "even before the invasion, it was shuttering human rights organisations and harassing, poisoning, and imprisoning anti-corruption activists and political opponents". Also Read -- Russian column bears down on Kyiv, more rockets hit centre of Kharkiv And since the invasion began just six days ago, "authorities reportedly have detained thousands of Russians peacefully protesting the invasions, as well as journalists covering the demonstrations", he added. The top US diplomat called on the council to "send a united message that President Putin should unconditionally stop this unprovoked attack... and immediately withdraw Russian forces from Ukraine". He also demanded "steps to hold the perpetrators accountable". Blinken voiced outrage that a member of the top UN rights body would carry out such a "flagrant assault on Ukraine's sovereignty. "One can reasonably ask whether a UN member state that tries to take over another UN member state, while committing horrific human rights abuses and causing massive humanitarian suffering, should be allowed to remain on this council," he said. Suspending one of the council's 47 members requires a majority vote in the UN General Assembly in New York, something that has only happened once before, with Libya in 2011. Also Read -- Not being allowed to board train from Kharkiv: Indian students Earlier Tuesday, diplomats from a wide range of countries staged a walkout from the rights council as a video statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov played. They followed Ukrainian Ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko out of the room and gathered around a large Ukrainian flag to show their support for the Ukrainian people. In his speech before a nearly empty room, Lavrov meanwhile blamed Kyiv for the crisis, accusing Ukraine's government of pursuing "a course of aggressive derusification" and increasing "criminal actions". He also slammed the West for the "unilateral illegitimate sanctions" imposed on his country, blaming them for preventing him from travelling to Geneva in person as planned and thus "evading the direct honest face-to-face dialogue they clearly fear." The broad and massive sanctions, he said, show that "the West has clearly lost control of itself in its desire to vent its anger on Russia and has gone to the extent of destroying all the institutions and rules it has created." Watch the latest DH Videos here: Ukraine said Tuesday eight people had been killed in a Russian air strike on a residential building in the eastern city of Kharkiv, where Russian missiles destroyed an administrative building earlier. "As a result of an air strike... eight people were killed and six injured in Kharkiv," Ukraine's emergency service said. Rescue workers had recovered two people alive from the debris, they added. Also Read -- Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city and located close to the Russian border, has witnessed fierce fighting between the Ukrainian army and Russian troops, which last week launched an invasion of its neighbour. On Tuesday morning, Ukraine said Russian forces had fired on its local administration building and central square with missiles, killing at least 10 people and wounding 20. Russian shelling killed at least 11 civilians in the city on Monday. Watch the latest DH Videos here: People walk by a damaged vehicle and an armored car at a checkpoint outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday. AP-Yonhap Like much of the world, Arabs were stunned by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but shock quickly gave way to indignation over media commentary seen by many as racist against people from the Middle East. "This isn't a place with all due respect, you know like Iraq or Afghanistan that has seen conflict raging for decades," said Charlie D'Agata of US network CBS News. "This is a relatively civilized, relatively European I have to choose those words carefully too city where you wouldn't expect that or hope it is going to happen." A day later, after much online furore, D'Agata apologized for his "poor choice of words." This was just one of many remarks on reputable media outlets drawing a line between the conflict unfolding in Ukraine and those in other parts of the world. But Arabs were quick to point out the double standard, noting that while the toll of war may be similar in the respective conflicts, the media treatment is not. Many also drew a comparison between Europe's welcoming of Ukrainian refugees and the influx of Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans, which was declared a "migrant crisis." Political scientist Ziad Majed said that, while there was "magnificent solidarity" from the world over the Ukraine conflict, it also revealed a "shocking distinction." The discrepancies in media treatment revealed the "dehumanization of refugees from the Middle East," said Majed, a professor at the American University of Paris. "When we hear some commentators speaking about 'people like us', this suggests that those coming from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan or Africa are not (like them)." 'Racist coverage' The Qatari channel Al Jazeera English was also not immune to the controversy. "These are not, obviously, refugees trying to get away from areas in the Middle East that are still in a big state of war," said one of its anchors. "They look like any European family that you would live next door to." The network later issued an apology, describing the remarks as "insensitive and irresponsible." Salem Barahmeh, director of the pro-Palestinian platform Rabet, was quick to point out seeming discrepancies in the commentary. "First we discover that international law still exists. Refugees are welcome depending where they come from. Resistance to occupation is not only legitimate but a right," he wrote on Twitter. The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists' Association condemned "examples of racist news coverage that ascribes more importance to some victims of war than others." "This type of commentary reflects the pervasive mentality in Western journalism of normalising tragedy in parts of the world such as the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Latin America." 'Civilized' For Syrians, the disparity in media treatment is particularly striking as Russia launched a bloody intervention to prop up Bashar al-Assad's regime more than six years ago. Before the war in Ukraine, Majed said, Syrian territory served as a "laboratory" for the Russian army, on which it "tested its arsenal and tactics." Journalist Philippe Corbe referenced that conflict when he spoke about the Ukraine refugee flow on French broadcaster BFM TV. "We are not talking about Syrians fleeing the bombardment of the Syrian regime, supported by Vladimir Putin," he said. "We are talking about Europeans who are leaving in their cars, that look like our cars... and who are just trying to save their lives." Contacted by AFP, the broadcaster said Corbe's remarks were "clumsy but taken out of context... (and) led to the mistaken belief that he was defending a position opposite to the one he wanted to emphasize, and he regrets this." Some Arabs have poked fun at what they see as double standards. A popular meme shows a scene from US sitcom Family Guy, where the main character stands behind a skin tone chart with a line in the middle that indicates who is considered "civilized" and "uncivilized." But for others, the issue is no laughing matter. AdeelaOfficial, an Instagram account dedicated to offering humorous commentary on celebrity news, took a break from the jokes to decry media "racism." "The Western media claims to protect human rights and defend democracy, when in reality it is ignorant, racist and cannot see beyond its own nose," it charged. Majed said that "we can understand that the Ukrainians are Europeans and that the memory of war in Europe can revive a lot of emotions." But he argued that the discourse also illustrates an extreme shift to the right in public debate, saying that "certain political elites don't have any problem expressing themselves as though racist speech has now been permitted." (AFP) Keerthana is on a train to Rakhiv, a city located on the western side of Ukraine. Her destination is Romania. The train had just reached Ivano-Frankivsk. "It is packed," Keerthana told DH. A medical student in Kyiv, Keerthana has been surviving on chips and water on the 19-hour journey from Kyiv. All through the journey, she has been on her feet like many other Indian students. On the train, there are around 190 to 200 Indian students. "We are just hoping to reach any safe border," she said. On Monday, some students, including Keerthana, had sent SOS messages saying they were not allowed to board the train at Kyiv. Read | Govt asks Indians to leave Kyiv immediately "Yesterday we were told by the embassy that we will be shifted safely if we reach the station. So we packed our bags and reached the station in the morning. We changed three platforms at the station and finally while we were trying to get into the train, we were pushed out and most of us fell down. We tried boarding three trains, but only Ukrainians were allowed to board,'' she said on Monday. Around 4.15 on Monday evening, they were finally allowed to board a train. "We hope we will have a safer welcome at the borders," she said. As the battle in Kharkiv intensifies, Sreehari, a medical student, who had been surviving in the bunker with rationed food and water along with other students, continues to be in Kharkiv. "We are planning to travel to the western border by taking any train," he told DH on Tuesday. "Evacuation via Belgorod (Russia) will be the easiest route," said his uncle whose daughter is also in Kharkiv. "Hope it works out." Watch latest videos by DH here: The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he plans to open an investigation as rapidly as possible into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. Prosecutor Karim Khan said in a statement that the investigation will look at alleged crimes committed before the Russian invasion, but added that given the expansion of the conflict in recent days, it is my intention that this investigation will also encompass any new alleged crimes falling within the jurisdiction of my office that are committed by any party to the conflict on any part of the territory of Ukraine. The court already has conducted a preliminary probe into crimes linked to the violent suppression of pro-European protests in Kyiv in 2013-2014 by a pro-Russian Ukrainian administration and allegations of crimes in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and eastern Ukraine, where Russia has backed rebels since 2014. In December 2020, then-ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said the probe uncovered indications that a broad range of conduct constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the Court have been committed in Ukraine. Also read: Over 5 lakh refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia waged war However, the court's prosecutors had not yet sought permission from judges to open a full-scale investigation. Khan says he now wants to open the investigation envisaged by his predecessor and broaden it to include crimes committed in fighting since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last week. Khan said he would continue to monitor developments in Ukraine, where there have been reports of civilian casualties, and he called for "restraint and strict adherence to the applicable rules of international humanitarian law. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet says her office has confirmed that 102 civilians, including seven children, have been killed in the Russian invasion and 304 others wounded in Ukraine since Thursday. She cautioned that the tally was likely a vast undercount. Also read: Russia's attack slowing down? Not so fast, experts say Neither Russia nor Ukraine is among the court's 123 member states, but Ukraine has accepted the court's jurisdiction, which empowers Khan to investigate. Khan has told his team to explore how to preserve evidence of crimes and said that the next step is to seek authorisation from the court's judges to open an investigation. However, he added that the process would be speeded up if a member nation of the court were to ask for an investigation in what is known as a referral. That would allow us to actively and immediately proceed with the (prosecution) Office's independent and objective investigations, Khan said. He said he also would seek support from the court's member states and the international community to fund the investigation. I will be calling for additional budgetary support, for voluntary contributions to support all our situations, and for the loan of gratis personnel, he said. The importance and urgency of our mission is too serious to be held hostage to lack of means. Facing deepening isolation on the world stage, Russia faced a crucial test of support Monday as the 193 members of the UN General Assembly held an extraordinary debate on a resolution condemning Moscow's "unprovoked armed aggression" in Ukraine. During the rare emergency special session -- just the 11th the Assembly has held in the United Nations' 77-year history -- Russia defended its decision to invade its neighbor as member state after member state made a plea for peace. "The fighting in Ukraine must stop," warned UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, after the session began with a minute of silence for the victims of the conflict. "Enough is enough. Soldiers need to move back to their barracks. Leaders need to move to peace. Civilians must be protected," he pleaded. Also read: Centre exempts Ukraine evacuees from Covid protocols More than 100 countries were expected to speak as the global body decides if it will support the resolution that demands Russia immediately withdraws its troops from Ukraine. The resolution is non-binding but will serve as marker of how isolated Russia is. A vote may not come until Tuesday. Its authors hope they may exceed 100 votes in favor -- though countries including Syria, China, Cuba and India are expected to either support Russia or abstain. It will be seen as a barometer of democracy in a world where autocratic sentiment has been on the rise, diplomats said, pointing to such regimes in Myanmar, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, Nicaragua -- and, of course, Russia. "If Ukraine does not survive, the United Nations will not survive. Have no illusions," said Ukraine's ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, imploring countries to support the resolution. "We can save Ukraine, save the United Nations, save democracy and defend the values we believe in," he added. Follow live Ukraine-Russia crisis updates here Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia reiterated Moscow's stance -- flatly rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies -- that its military operation was launched to protect residents of breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. "The hostilities were unleashed by Ukraine against its own residents," he said from the podium. "Russia is seeking to end this war," he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Moscow has pleaded "self-defense" under Article 51 of the UN Charter. But that has been roundly rejected by Western countries and the UN, which accuse Moscow of violating Article 2 of the Charter, requiring its members to refrain from the threat or use of force to resolve a crisis. Addressing the General Assembly, British ambassador Barbara Woodward said countries "must stand together to defend the rules and enforce the accountability that we have built together." "If we do not stand up for them now, then the safety of every nation's borders and independence are at risk," she said. The move to hold the emergency session was sparked by Russia on Friday using its veto to block a Security Council resolution that condemned Moscow's invasion and called for the immediate withdrawal of its troops. Explained | Can NATO or UN send troops to help Ukraine amid Russia invasion? Russia voted against the resolution, but it did not have veto power to derail the referral of the war to the General Assembly, allowed under a 1950 resolution called "Uniting for Peace." It allows for members of the Security Council to seize the General Assembly for a special session if the five permanent members -- Russia, the United States, Britain, France and China -- fail to agree to act together to maintain peace. There is no right of veto at the General Assembly, which held a similar vote in 2014 condemning Russia's seizure of Crimea and obtained 100 votes in support. Separately Monday, the Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, where up to seven million people are expected to flee the fighting. Check out the latest DH videos here: The Ukrainian special forces commander inspected the remains of a bridge his teams had blown up at the gates of Kyiv and explained his strategy for fighting Russian "saboteurs". "We have our agents living with the locals," Spear unit commander Viktor Chelovan said. "If strangers come into our villages, people send us signals, call us, and we go out and take care of these saboteurs." A fear of Russians disguised as locals is gradually gripping Ukraine. Also Read | India summons Russia, Ukraine envoys after student killed in Kharkiv It crept into Kyiv when Russian paratroopers dropped into a local airfield on the northwestern edge of the city in the first hours of their invasion of Ukraine last Thursday. The precise number of who landed -- or who survived the Ukrainian counter-offensive -- is unclear. But residents of the neighbouring village of Irpin have been reporting strange things in their woods ever since. "We have people who look like locals shooting at other locals," said Irpin resident Andriy Levanchuk. The 39-year-old financial adviser was using a perilous-looking crossing made of pipes and wires to get to the other side of the small but surprisingly rapid Irpin River. Also Read | Indian embassy did not reach out to students stuck in Ukraine, alleges father of boy killed in shelling The regular bridge above him was blown up by Ukrainian forces to halt the Russian advance. "These are Russian paratroopers who hide in the woods, enter people's apartments, take their clothes, change and try to walk around in civilian clothes," Levanchuk said. Military analysts believe Levanchuk's hunch about strangers in the woods might be right. Mykola Beleskov of Kyiv's National Institute for Strategic Studies said Russia was "employing special forces of different kinds en masse" to try and capture the Ukrainian capital. "They are trying to combine airstrikes, artillery and infiltration commandos, who basically provide support for a very gradual advance," he said. Also read | Russia to continue Ukraine operation until goals achieved, says minister The Russian advance on the historic city seemed imminent when the paratroopers arrived. But Ukrainian forces put up stiff resistance at the city's northern entrance and then recaptured the airfield. They then started blowing up bridges and setting up barricades across the city to stall the invasion by any means possible. Kyiv residents such as 19-year-old student Ibrahim Shelia further took matters into their own hands. Shelia and his friends began digging a trench in front of their building to lob Molotov cocktails at the Russian tanks. Also Read | Russia warns Kyiv residents ahead of attacks on intel sites Yet they also decided to keep a close eye out for people who look like they do not belong. "The other day, with my guys, we stopped a car that some local people had tipped us off about," Shelia said a few minutes before Kyiv entered its nightly curfew -- another measure aimed at better fighting intruders. "There were four people inside with two maps of Ukraine, two laptops and every one had two Ukrainian passports: the first was the new version, the second the old one," he said. "We immediately called the police. Everyone was arrested and taken away." The mayor of Irpin also said his men had picked up some Russians after a tip from one of the local villagers. Also Read | The Azov Sea, symbolic prize of Russia-Ukraine war "Of course there are saboteurs," mayor Oleksandr Markushin said while inspecting the remains of his town's main bridge. A few policemen nearby argued about how long it might take to repair their town's crossing to Kyiv once the war ends. But the commander of the special forces had no time for idle chitchat and tried to steer the conversation toward the threat at hand. "There are three types of saboteurs," he said. "There are the Russian special forces and GRU (military intelligence) planted here before the war. Their main job was to assist the Russian invasion," he said. Follow live Ukraine-Russia crisis updates here Chelovan said the second group was sent in "to destabilise daily life" with various attacks. "The third group are intelligence agents whose only goal is to kill various Ukrainian leaders," said the commander. A group of volunteer soldiers were trying to manoeuvre a new shipment of Kalashnikovs across the makeshift river crossing as he spoke. "But most importantly, they are trying to kill the leaders of the people's resistance movement," Chelovan said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Queen Elizabeth II held two virtual audiences on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace said, after she was forced to cancel engagements last week due to Covid. Concerns have mounted for the 95-year-old monarch's health since she tested positive on February 20, overshadowing the start of her record-breaking 70th year on the throne. But a palace statement indicated she was now well enough to hold engagements, hosting the new ambassadors of Andorra and Chad from her home at Windsor Castle. The Queen last week cancelled similar scheduled engagements with new ambassadors as she was suffering from what were described as "mild" Covid symptoms. A diplomatic reception she was also due to attend on Wednesday this week was cancelled on the advice of Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Buckingham Palace has said it will not give a running commentary on the head of state's health, but confirmation she is undertaking duties again will be seen as a positive. She was forced to slow down on medical advice after spending a night in hospital following unspecified tests in October last year. She has rarely been seen in public since. The Queen became the first monarch in British history to reign for 70 years on February 6, and public celebrations are planned to mark the event in early June. Senior members of the royal family are due to visit eight of the 14 Commonwealth countries outside the UK where she is also queen and head of state in the coming weeks. Her grandson Prince William and his wife Catherine are due to tour Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas in a visit likely to be keenly watched for republican sentiment. Barbados became the world's newest republic in November last year, ending its three centuries of association with the UK and the queen as head of state. Both main political parties in Jamaica back the idea of becoming a republic, and could be spurred into emulating their Caribbean counterparts, royal experts say. The Platinum Jubilee year has also been overshadowed by the Queen's second son, Prince Andrew, who settled a US civil case for sexual assault. Her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, is meanwhile under scrutiny after police in London announced a probe into "cash for honours" claims connected to one his charities. Watch the latest DH videos: Russia's foreign minister told a Geneva disarmament meeting on Tuesday that Kyiv has been seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, calling this a real danger that it needed to prevent. "Ukraine still has Soviet technologies and the means of delivery of such weapons," Sergei Lavrov told the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament in a pre-recorded address. "We cannot fail to respond to this real danger." He delivered the speech to a thin crowd since many diplomats including France and Britain staged a walk-out to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Follow live Ukraine Russia crisis updates They stood in a circle outside the meeting for the duration of Lavrov's speech, holding a Ukrainian flag. Lavrov was supposed to attend the session in person but the visit was cancelled, with Russia accusing unidentified EU states of blocking his flight path. At the same meeting, Ukraine's foreign minister accused Russia of war crimes through its shelling of his country and called for a special meeting to address Russian aggression and weapons of mass destruction. Earlier in the session, the president organised a minute of silence for the victims of fighting in Ukraine. Check out latest DH videos here Russian troops and pro-Moscow rebels have linked up in a key region along the Azov Sea coast in eastern Ukraine, a defence ministry spokesman said Tuesday, on the sixth day of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and have used the region to launch attacks since Thursday when Moscow began its invasion. The rebels had "joined the military units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which took control of the regions of Ukraine along the coast of the Sea of Azov," Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. Pro-Kremlin separatist fighters in east Ukraine have been pushing west as part of the offensive. A defence official in the Donetsk breakaway region earlier Tuesday said forces intended to surround a key port city separating the annexed peninsula and rebel territory. Electricity has been cut off in the key southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol on the Azov Sea following attacks from advancing Russian forces, the head of the region Pavlo Kyrylenko said earlier in the day. Konashenkov said that on Tuesday, "the Russian army carried out strikes with long-range high-precision weapons from the sea," without specifying the targeted area. He said that "two airfields and three air defence radars were hit" in Ukraine, adding that no civilian infrastructure was targeted. Watch latest videos by DH here: Kharkiv region head Oleg Synegubov said on Tuesday that Russian missile attacks hit the centre of Ukraine's second-largest city, including residential areas and the regional administration building, as Moscow started day six of its invasion. Synegubov said Russia launched GRAD and cruise missiles on Kharkiv but that the city defence was holding. "Such attacks are genocide of the Ukrainian people, a war crime against the civilian population!" he said. Russia is waging war in violation of international humanitarian law. Kills civilians, destroys civilian infrastructure. Russias main target is large cities that now fired at by its missiles. Kharkiv, Administration building pic.twitter.com/BJgyNnDp1h MFA of Ukraine (@MFA_Ukraine) March 1, 2022 Wearing a flak jacket and a helmet, Synegubov said in a video posted on social media on Tuesday morning that it was too early to know the number of casualties. He shared a video showing Kharkiv regional administration building being hit by a missile and exploding. Dmytro Kulebam, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, tweeted "Barbaric Russian missile strikes on the central Freedom Square and residential districts of Kharkiv. Putin is unable to break Ukraine down. He commits more war crimes out of fury, murders innocent civilians. The world can and must do more. INCREASE PRESSURE, ISOLATE RUSSIA FULLY!" Barbaric Russian missile strikes on the central Freedom Square and residential districts of Kharkiv. Putin is unable to break Ukraine down. He commits more war crimes out of fury, murders innocent civilians. The world can and must do more. INCREASE PRESSURE, ISOLATE RUSSIA FULLY! pic.twitter.com/tN4VHF1A9n Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 1, 2022 Reuters was not immediately able to verify that video independently. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a special operation that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its southern neighbour's military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists. The Russian army may have advanced less fast than planned in five days of war in Ukraine, but experts on Monday warned against jumping to conclusions from the apparent slowdown. The army is preparing strikes on Ukraine's capital Kyiv and other cities and, at the same time, trying to link together its attack forces in the south of the country. Both strategies are certain to put many more civilians in harm's way. The US defence department has said that Russia was "frustrated" by stiff Ukrainian resistance, saying half of Moscow's troops previously massed at the border were now inside Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Russian soldiers to lay down their arms, telling them to "just save your lives". But experts say the Russian war effort is far from running out of steam. Also read: Ukraine's EU dream: The long road to Brussels "They're not bogged down," said Olivier Kempf, head of La Vigie, a strategy consultancy. "This is war, so there are difficulties. They may have logistics issues. But regardless of what we're told, they are making progress," he told AFP. "Only in video games do you conquer a country in two days." Russia's overall superiority, especially in the skies, gives it "a significant degree of freedom of movement across the country", said Nick Brown at Janes, a British defence intelligence service. "Satellite imagery of long columns of vehicles in the open suggests that they remain confident of their own positions and Ukraine's inability to roll them up," he said. Battles are raging in southern Ukraine where Russian troops have pushed forward from Crimea, with now a gap of only a few dozen kilometres (miles) left between the Russian army's southwestern and southeastern flanks. Ukrainian forces are fighting hard to prevent a link-up of the two Russian attack wings, which experts say would be a game changer. The strategic port cities of Odessa to the west and Mariupol -- still held by Ukraine -- in the east are the region's prime targets for Russia. A fall of Mariupol "would allow territorial continuity between the Rostov-on-Don region and Crimea", said one French military source, who declined to be named. This would give Russia an opportunity to "absorb or annex" Ukraine's entire east, the source said. Also read: Ukraine talks yield no breakthrough as Russians close in Russia could also engage in a pincer movement against Ukrainian forces in the breakaway Donbas region -- even if it could be a challenge to "seize, hold and dominate the territory that they have covered to ensure their own security", Brown cautioned. Civilian casualties have remained contained at several hundred on the Ukrainian side, and Russia has told Kyiv residents that they are free to leave the city to the south. Moscow has also accused Ukraine of using civilians as human shields. "Ukraine is not like Syria for the Russians," said one European diplomatic source. "It's much more difficult for them to justify carpet-bombing." Aware that many Russians have friends and family in Ukraine, Putin deliberately labelled the leadership in Kyiv "Nazis", the source said, because "Russians don't start out by thinking of Ukrainians as enemies". The call to the population to leave Kyiv may well prepare the ground for more intense air strikes on the capital, the French military source said. In Kharkiv, meanwhile, Russian troops are firing rockets in the intense struggle for Ukraine's second-biggest city, the source said. "That means that the Russians are hitting hard, and more and more indiscriminately," the source said. "The coming days will be much tougher." This view was shared elsewhere, with one security source telling AFP that a second Russian attack wave was "imminent". "They are preparing something truly massive," added a diplomatic source. President Vladimir Putin's order to place Russia's strategic forces on high alert has served as a stark reminder that he commands what experts agree is the world's biggest nuclear arsenal. Here is a snapshot of Russia's nuclear capabilities, and how a strike might be launched. Russia owns the greatest number of nuclear warheads of any country, although the United States has more deployed, or immediately usable, warheads. The SIPRI peace research institute in Stockholm has counted 6,255 Russian warheads against 5,550 for the US. China follows far behind with 350 and France with 290. These figures, although widely accepted, are nevertheless estimates, notably because not all nuclear-capable weapons systems actually carry nuclear warheads. Also read: Ukraine talks yield no breakthrough as Russians close in According to the Nobel peace prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Russia spent $8.0 billion in 2020 on the building and maintenance of its nuclear arsenal. The Russian constitution gives the president control over nuclear weapons, but the transmission of any order to use them, and the authentification of that order, also involve the defence minister and the armed forces' chief-of-staff. How such a scenario would play out exactly "we don't know", said Pavel Podvig, a Russian independent military expert. The two subordinates have "no right to veto, but there is still some kind of deliberation process," he said, adding: "It's not like there is a button on the president's table, there is a procedure." Even if a nuclear strike order should come down, there is still the question of whether the armed forces would comply. "They are not mad and they are not sectarians," said Pavel Luzin, a Russian military expert based in Moscow at Riddle, a think tank. Many Russian government officials may well agree with western analysts who say that Russia would have much more to lose than to gain if it unleashed nuclear war. "I personally don't think the Russian military elite will cheer at the idea of limited nuclear use in or about Ukraine," tweeted Kristin Ven Bruusgaard at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation. "But who will break the news to Putin that this may in fact not work?", she added. Putin in 2020 adopted a doctrine for the possible use of nuclear weapons, experts Hans Kristensen and Matt Korda recalled in last week's issue of the "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists". According to the doctrine, there are four acceptable justifications for going nuclear: A ballistic missile attack against Russia or an ally, the use of a nuclear weapon by an enemy, an attack on a Russian nuclear weapons site, or any attack threatening the existence of the state. They quoted Putin as saying that Russia -- which claims it has modernised close to 90 percent of its nuclear arsenal -- could never allow itself to "stand idle" in the face of potential enemies. "You stop for one second and you start falling behind immediately," they quoted Putin as saying. They added that Russian thinking may already have gone beyond the published doctrine. "For example, officials explicitly threatened to use nuclear weapons against ballistic missile defense facilities, and in regional scenarios that do not threaten Russia's survival or involve attacks with weapons of mass destruction," they said. "The real doctrine," they added, "goes beyond basic deterrence and toward regional war fighting strategies, or even weapons aimed at causing terror." Ukrainians get ready to board a bus to Poland at Lviv bus main station in western Ukraine, Tuesday. AP-Yonhap Western sanctions will never make Russia change its position on Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. Responding to a barrage of Western sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "They are counting on forcing us to change our position. This is out of the question." Peskov told reporters that President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on a first round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials on Monday but it was too early to judge the outcome. There were no plans for talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, he said, adding that Moscow still recognized Zelenskiy as Ukraine's leader. Zelenskiy, he said, could prevent further casualties if he gave the command to lay down arms. Ukraine has refused to surrender and its forces have put up strong resistance to Russia's assault from the north, east and south, which Moscow describes as a special operation to demilitarize and "denazify" the country a justification dismissed by Kyiv and the West as war propaganda. Peskov dismissed allegations of Russian strikes on civilian targets and the use of cluster bombs and vacuum bombs as fakes. He categorically denied that Russia had committed war crimes. Ukraine says large numbers of civilians have been killed. Peskov said, without providing evidence, that Ukrainian nationalist groups were using people as human shields. Peskov declined to comment on whether the Kremlin considers the capital Kyiv to be under the control of Nazis, referring the question to the Russian military. (Reuters) Last Wednesday, a few hours before Russian tanks began rolling into Ukraine, alarms went off inside Microsofts Threat Intelligence Center, warning of a never-before-seen piece of wiper malware that appeared aimed at the countrys government ministries and financial institutions. Within three hours, Microsoft threw itself into the middle of a ground war in Europe from 5,500 miles away. The threat center, north of Seattle, had been on high alert, and it quickly picked apart the malware, named it FoxBlade and notified Ukraines top cyberdefense authority. Within three hours, Microsofts virus detection systems had been updated to block the code, which erases wipes data on computers in a network. Follow live updates on Russia-Ukraine crisis here Then Tom Burt, the senior Microsoft executive who oversees the companys effort to counter major cyberattacks, contacted Anne Neuberger, the White Houses deputy national security adviser for cyber- and emerging technologies. Neuberger asked if Microsoft would consider sharing details of the code with the Baltics, Poland and other European nations, out of fear that the malware would spread beyond Ukraines borders, crippling the military alliance or hitting West European banks. Before midnight in Washington, Neuberger had made introductions and Microsoft had begun playing the role that Ford Motor Co. did in World War II, when the company converted automobile production lines to make Sherman tanks. After years of discussions in Washington and in tech circles about the need for public-private partnerships to combat destructive cyberattacks, the war in Ukraine is stress-testing the system. The White House, armed with intelligence from the National Security Agency and United States Cyber Command, is overseeing classified briefings on Russias cyberoffensive plans. Even if US intelligence agencies picked up on the kind of crippling cyberattacks that someone presumably Russian intelligence agencies or hackers threw at Ukraines government, they do not have the infrastructure to move that fast to block them. Also Read | Who are the Anonymous group and why they are censoring Russian state media We are a company and not a government or a country, Brad Smith, Microsofts president, noted in a blog post issued by the company Monday, describing the threats it was seeing. But the role it is playing, he made clear, is not a neutral one. He wrote about constant and close coordination with the Ukrainian government, as well as federal officials, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. Ive never seen it work quite this way, or nearly this fast, Burt said. We are doing in hours now what, even a few years ago, would have taken weeks or months. The intelligence is flowing in many directions. Company executives, some newly armed with security clearances, are joining secure calls to hear an array of briefings organized by the National Security Agency and US Cyber Command, along with British authorities, among others. But much of the actionable intelligence is being found by companies like Microsoft and Google, which can see what is flowing across their vast networks. Also Read | Cyberwarfare and countries involved: Ukraine among 3 most affected by Russian cyber activity President Joe Bidens aides often note that it was a private firm Mandiant that found the SolarWinds attack 15 months ago, in which one of Russias most cybersavvy intelligence agencies, the SVR, infiltrated network management software used by thousands of US government agencies and private businesses. That gave the Russian government unfettered access. Such attacks have given Russia a reputation as one of the most aggressive, and skilled, cyberpowers. But the surprise of recent days is that Russias activity in that realm has been more muted than expected, researchers said. Most early tabletop exercises about a Russian invasion started with overwhelming cyberattacks, taking out the internet in Ukraine and perhaps the power grid. So far, that hasnt happened. Many people are quite surprised that there isnt significant integration of cyberattacks into the overall campaign that Russia is undertaking in Ukraine, said Shane Huntley, director of Googles threat analysis group. This is mostly business as normal as to the levels of Russian targeting. Huntley said Google regularly observes some Russian attempts to hack accounts of people in Ukraine. The normal level is actually never zero, he said. But those attempts have not markedly increased in the past several days, as Russia has invaded Ukraine. We have seen some Russian activity targeting Ukraine; it just hasnt been the big sets, said Ben Read, a director at the security firm Mandiant. It is not clear to US or European officials why Russia held off. Also Read | Ukrainian govt websites hit by cyberattacks amid Russia's military operation It could be that they tried but defenses were stronger than they anticipated, or that the Russians wanted to reduce the risk of attacking civilian infrastructure, so that a puppet government they installed would not struggle to rule the country. But US officials said a massive cyberattack by Russia on Ukraine or beyond, in retaliation for the economic and technology sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe is hardly off the table. Some speculate that just as Moscow steps up its indiscriminate bombing, it will seek to cause as much economic disruption as it can muster. The longer and more effectively the Ukrainian resistance holds out against Russias army, the more Moscow could be tempted to begin using the armada of Russian cyberforces, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, said last week. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, disclosed Sunday that it had discovered hackers taking over accounts belonging to Ukrainian military officials and public figures. The hackers tried to use their access to these accounts to spread disinformation, posting videos that purported to show the Ukrainian military surrendering. Meta responded by locking down the accounts and alerting the users who had been targeted. Twitter said it had found signs that hackers attempted to compromise accounts on its platform, and YouTube said it had removed five channels that posted videos used in the disinformation campaign. Also Read | Ukraine under 'continuous' cyberattack: Kyiv Meta executives said the Facebook hackers were affiliated with a group known as Ghostwriter, which security researchers believe to be associated with Belarus. Ghostwriter is known for its strategy of hacking public figures email accounts, then using that access to compromise their social media accounts as well. The group has been heavily active in Ukraine during the past two months, said Read, who researches the group. While US officials do not assess any direct threat to the United States from stepped-up Russian cyberoperations, that calculation could change. US and European sanctions are biting harder than expected. Warner said that Russia could respond with either direct cyberattacks against NATO countries or, more likely, in effect unleashing all of the Russian cybercriminals on ransomware attacks at a massive level that still allows them some deniability of responsibility. Russian ransomware criminal groups conducted a devastating series of attacks in the US last year against hospitals, a meat-processing company and most notably, the company that operates gasoline pipelines along the East Coast. While Russia has taken steps to rein in those groups in recent months after months of meetings between Neuberger and her Russian counterpart, Moscow conducted some high-profile arrests in January it could easily reverse its crackdown efforts. But Biden has stepped up his warnings to Russia against any sort of cyberattack on the United States. If Russia pursues cyberattacks against our companies, our critical infrastructure, we are prepared to respond, Biden said Thursday. It was the third time Biden had issued such a warning since winning the election. While any Russian attack on the US seems like it would be a reckless escalation, Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., who leads the House Intelligence Committee, noted that Putins decision-making so far has proved poor. Theres a risk that whatever cybertools Russia uses in Ukraine dont stay in Ukraine, he said last week. Weve seen this before, where malware directed to a certain target gets released in the wild and then takes on a life of its own. So we could be the victim of Russian malware that has gone beyond its intended target. Check out DH's latest videos: With Ukraine pleading to be allowed to join the European Union as Russia invades, we look at the bloc's history of expansion and its crowded waiting room. The European bloc, which began with six countries in 1957, has expanded several times with some of the most geopolitically sensitive additions coming since 1995. That year Austria, Sweden and Finland joined, giving the bloc a border with Russia for the first time. Then in an historic 2004 expansion, the EU embraced eight former communist countries including Poland, the Baltic states, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, as well the Mediterranean islands of Cyprus and Malta. In 2007 former Eastern Bloc stalwarts Bulgaria and Romania also joined, followed by Croatia in 2013. Then in 2016 came the shock of the Brexit referendum when the United Kingdom narrowly voted to leave. The acrimonious divorce was finalised in 2020. The EU now has 27 members. Also read: Zelenskyyy signs formal request to join the European Union Four western Balkan countries are officially candidates for membership, but have been in the EU's waiting room for several years. North Macedonia has been waiting since 2005, Montenegro since 2010, Serbia since 2012 and Albania since 2014. "We are one European family... and I'm deeply convinced we share the same destiny," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told them in October. Turkey, a candidate since 1999, finally launched membership negotiations in 2005. But its relationship with the EU degenerated from 2013 and has never recovered from a harsh crackdown by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his opponents after a failed coup in 2016. In 2019 EU governments declared the talks dead. Two other members of the former Yugoslavia -- Bosnia and Kosovo -- are considered as potential candidates, but do not yet meet the EU's criteria for membership. Brussels launched an Eastern Partnership with a raft of former Soviet republics in 2009 including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It held out closer economic and political relations in exchange for reforms. Also read: Russia's nuclear force, the world's biggest Some of these countries, notably Ukraine and Georgia, consider the accords as a stepping stone to full membership, but have been offered no guarantees by EU leaders. Authoritarian Belarus suspended its participation last year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for "immediate" membership of the EU on Monday. However, EU membership is a long and complicated process, and negotiations generally take several years. While it took just four years to admit Finland, the three Baltic ex-Soviet republics went through nine years of talks and reforms. The first step to membership is being recognised as a candidate country. Then lengthy negotiations start, during which it has to prove that it meets the EU's democratic, economic and political standards. Stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, respect of human rights and minorities and a viable market economy are musts. Zelenskyy called for a new "special procedure" to speed up Ukraine's membership, saying "I'm sure it's fair. I'm sure it's possible." Ukrainians arriving into the European Union on Tuesday described their frantic journeys to the border after leaving behind husbands and fathers to fight a Russian invasion and escaping their homes to the sound of shelling. As a massive Russian convoy rumbles toward the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, the United Nations said more than 500,000 refugees had fled to neighbouring countries since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he has called "a special military operation" last Thursday. At the Hungarian border crossing Tiszabecs, a young mother cradled a baby in her arms as she and her son recounted watching rockets stream through the air before they drove for four days from the capital Kyiv. Read more: Zelenskyy says Russian shelling of Kharkiv a 'war crime' "I saw war, I saw rockets," said 15-year-old Ivan, who looked exhausted and pale after the journey. The family, whose father stayed behind to fight, travelled in two cars carrying Ivan's three sisters, two aunts and grandmother. New arrivals continued to pour across central European border crossings, with news of fierce fighting, civilian deaths and the massive Russian convoy stoking worries of those fleeing the war. Across central Europe, authorities set up makeshift reception centres in tents where people could get medical aid and process asylum papers, while thousands of volunteers have driven to the borders with donations of food, blankets and clothes. Most of the refugees escaping the war have crossed into the European Union from borders in eastern Poland, Slovakia and Hungary and in northern and northeastern Romania. Poland, whose Ukrainian community of around 1 million is the region's largest, has welcomed a big chunk of the arrivals. The Polish Border Guard said that over 377,400 people had so far entered from Ukraine , with around 24,000 arriving on Tuesday since 7 am local time. At the Medyka crossing, Poland's busiest along its roughly 500-kilometre (310 miles) border with Ukraine, people huddled around a bonfire in freezing temperatures as they waited for buses to take them to reception centres. Discarded bottles, clothes and other items littered the road, and a few hundred people gathered near a local grocery store. Also at the crossing was Ibrahima Sory Keita, who had arrived in Meliptopol three weeks ago from Guinea to begin studies. Cities under siege across Ukraine are home to tens of thousands of African students studying medicine, engineering and military affairs. Thousands of Indian students are also trying to flee. Keita and a few friends raced to the border when fighting broke out, walking the final 45 kilometres on foot. "Everything hurts right now," he said after crossing the border. "I haven't had a chance to lie down for 4 days. I am shaking (from cold) and I need to sleep in a warm place." Some refugees were met by family members already working in the European Union who waited at the many border crossings, while local residents and officials across the region offered apartments and set up reception centres for temporary lodging. Hungarian police reported that more than 60,000 people have arrived in the country since the Russian invasion while nearly 90,000 have entered Romania. At some border crossing, queues on the Ukrainian side stretched back for kilometres. At the Budapest train station a newly-arrived Ukrainian man in his 60s met by volunteer workers worried about his sons who stayed behind in Kyiv and wondered whether he would ever return to his home. "I think this war will be very long in time," said Amir, who did not want to give his last name. "I left my house, my car, all of my profit in my life, I left all. We have nothing now." Watch the latest DH videos: By Anton Oleinik for The Conversation Ukrainian resistance to Russias invasion has been fierce since Vladimir Putin attacked the country, raising questions about whether he would be able to rule Ukrainians as he pleases if he is ultimately successful in winning the war in military terms. There are good reasons to believe that he would not. Even if victorious, Putin wont be able to achieve what he wants because to ultimately win, he will need to govern a country conquered against its will. How well a country is governed depends on its culture more precisely, on how compatible its culture is with the model of the government put in place. The late American political scientist Harry Eckstein, an expert in political culture, once argued that governments perform well if their authority patterns are similar to the authority patterns of the governed society. Also read: Putin stripped of taekwondo black belt over Ukraine invasion In stable democracies, all organisations including households have some elements of democratic rule. Conversely, in autocracies, power tends to be centralised at all levels of social organisation. The father of the nation, a popular concept in Russia, is expected to act very much like the father of a family. Power distance The concept of power distance, originally proposed by the late Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede, helps measure to what extent inequality in the distribution of power is socially accepted. The bigger the value of the power distance index, the more inequality is accepted, although Hofstede was interested mostly in the distribution of power within companies. An in-depth comparative study of the perception of power conducted in Russia and Ukraine in 2015-16 shows Ukrainians and Russians regard power differently. The value of power distance index is 100.9 in Ukraine compared to 110.7 in Russia. Educated and well-off Ukrainians have a particularly low tolerance for inequality in the distribution of power. Putins potential rule in Ukraine is therefore problematic because it would not match the model of power that Ukrainians are prepared to accept. Suspicion and rejection of autocratic power is deeply rooted in Ukrainian culture. Also read: Ukraine crisis to test RBI inflation goal The impact of the Cossacks Ukraines most renowned historian, Mykhailo Hrushevsky, considers the Cossacks of the 15th and 16th centuries the predecessors of modern-day Ukraine. The Cossacks border militia hired by the Polish and Russian governments to protect against raids by the Tatars had a reputation for being trouble-makers for any rulers, including the Poles, the Tatars and the Russians. Hrushevsky described the Cossacks as people knowing no authority over them. Even the Poles, who had their own problems with the concept of centralised power, called the Cossacks unruly. Cossack military leaders, or starshina, were elected and easily replaceable. After a military loss, the Cossacks usually gathered and elected a new leader. No one among them possessed power permanently and with no strings attached. Does the Cossack heritage still influence Ukraines culture, at least as far as the perception of power and those who possess it are concerned? The fierce resistance Ukrainian forces are showing against their Russian invaders suggest it might. Ukrainian national culture was suppressed during the Soviet Union era and denigrated by Russia. That could explain Putins allegations that Ukrainians are ruled by nationalists and neo-Nazis. Elements of Cossack culture were revived during the mass protests in 2013-14 against the former Ukrainian presidents efforts to replicate Putins style of governance. The protesters organised their tent camp in the centre of Kyiv along the organisational and spatial lines of Cossack military camps. War creates nations War often serves a trigger for the revival of a nations consciousness. British historical sociologist Anthony D Smith, an authority on nations and nationalism who died in 2016, wrote that warfare is one of the most powerful factors in the creation of both nations and ethnic communities in every period of history. The 2014-15 military confrontation in eastern Ukraine and Crimea had precisely this effect. Todays full-fledged war waged by Putin will hardly be an exception. It will likely lead to an outcome clearly unanticipated by Putin the further rejection by Ukrainians of autocratic rule. If one placed Ukraine and Russia on a continuum from anarchy to autocracy, Ukraine would be closer to anarchy whereas Russia is an autocracy. Russia has always been a power-centred society where all key decisions are expected to be taken by a few ideally, by one. The alignment of Putins rule with the perception of power rooted in Russian culture explains its exemplary stability, at least so far mass protests against the Ukrainian invasion in several Russian cities suggest growing dissent. Nonetheless, Russia and Ukraine appear to be almost perfect opposites, reducing the chance that Ukraine could be governed in a friendly manner by Putins Russia even if it wins the war. The war in Ukraine confirms that power is about force in the Russian mindset. For Putin to transfer that mentality to Ukrainians would be a very difficult, if not impossible task. (The author is from Memorial University of Newfoundland) Check out DH's latest videos: After an Indian Student died in Ukraine, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that the government needs a strategic plan to evacuate stranded Indians. He also offered condolences on the demise of the student. Gandhi tweeted, "Received the tragic news of an Indian student Naveen losing his life in Ukraine. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. I reiterate, GOI needs a strategic plan for safe evacuation. Every minute is precious." Received the tragic news of an Indian student Naveen losing his life in Ukraine. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. I reiterate, GOI needs a strategic plan for safe evacuation. Every minute is precious. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 1, 2022 Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family." Also Read | Opposition steps up attack on Modi govt over Ukraine evacuation after student's killing He also said: "We convey our deepest condolences to the family." India's foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate India's demand for urgent safe passage of the Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and other cities in conflict zones. "Similar action is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine," Bagchi said. Russia shelled the Ukrainian city of the second largest city Kharkiv on Tuesday damaging various installations over there. The Russian troops have also surrounded Ukraine capital city Kiev on Tuesday and asked civilians to leave the city on the urgent note. "All civilians in the city can freely leave the Ukrainian capital along the Kiev-Vasylkiv highway. This direction is open and safe," Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. Immediately thereafter, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine asked the stranded nationals to leave Kiev immediately by any means. Check out latest DH videos here The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday asked the stranded nationals to leave Kyiv immediately by any means as fighting has reached the Ukrainian capital city. "All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," Indian embassy said in an advisory. It is stated that Russian troops have reached Kyiv streets and aerial attacks are to begin. Early this morning, the embassy stated that the 400 students housed near the embassy since February 24 have successfully left Kyiv by train through Mission's efforts. "Ensured movement of more than 1,000 Indian students from Kyiv towards Western borders," the embassy had stated. Also read: Indian student in Ukraine killed in Kharkiv shelling However, a few students were left in Kyiv. Now the embassy directed all Indian citizens to leave the city on an urgent basis. On Monday, the Indian embassy in Ukraine had informed stranded nationals that weekend curfew had been lifted in Kyiv and advised them to move towards the railway station. "All students are advised to make their way to the railway station for onward journey to the western parts," said the embassy in a statement adding that for students stranded on the left side of Dnipro, there are metros and buses functioning which can be used to move to the train station for onward movement. Ukraine Railways is putting special trains for evacuations. "We sincerely request all Indian nationals/students to remain calm, peaceful and united," the embassy stated. A large crowd can be expected at the railway stations, therefore, it is advised that all Indian students remain patient, composed and especially not to exhibit aggressive behaviours while at the railway stations. The embassy stated that stranded citizens could expect delays in trains' schedule, even cancellation at times and long queues. Indian students are requested to carry their passports, sufficient cash, ready to eat meals, easy accessible winter clothing and only essential items, to ensure easy mobility. "Be mindful of your belongings at all times," the embassy stated. After the advisory, many students left Kyiv through trains. Check out the latest DH videos here: India has decided to send humanitarian assistance to Ukraine even as it once again tacitly sent out a message to Russia by expressing regret at the United Nations Security Council over the deteriorating situation in the East European nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi told officials during a meeting in the evening that the first consignment of relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian situation on the borders of the country should be dispatched on Tuesday. He also once again expressed 'anguish' at the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. There is no other choice, but to return back to the path of diplomacy and dialogue, New Delhi's envoy to the UN, T S Tirumurti, said, even as India once again abstained from voting at the Security Council on a procedural resolution to convene a rare emergency special session of the General Assembly of the international organisation on Russia's aggression against Ukraine. He reiterated New Delhi's call for an immediate cessation of violence and an end to hostilities, thus nudging Moscow to stop military operations against the East European nation. Follow live Ukraine-Russia crisis updates here New Delhi has also decided to send humanitarian assistance to war-torn Ukraine, which has been resisting an invasion by Russia since February 24. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), told journalists on Monday that the Government of India would send medicines and other essentials to the East European nation following a request Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla received from Kyiv's envoy to New Delhi, Igor Polikha, for humanitarian assistance. Polikha earlier on the day told journalists that he had conveyed Ukraine's request for humanitarian assistance from India during a meeting on Sunday. New Delhi has been cautiously avoiding siding with the US and other Western nations on the issue of Russia's military build-up around Ukraine. It has been calling for resolving the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue. After President Vladimir Putin ordered launch of the military offensives against Ukraine, India subtly changed tone and tacitly conveyed its disapproval to Russia. But New Delhi's decades-old friendly ties with Moscow stopped it from directly condemning Russia for invasion of Ukraine. Not only India, but China and the United Arab Emirates also abstained from voting on the latest resolution at the UN Security Council early on Sunday. It was of course opposed by Russia, but finally adopted by the council, with 11 members three permanent members and eight non-permanent members voting in support of it. India is currently a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Also Read | Do sanctions ever work? Could they stop Russias invasion of Ukraine? The resolution adopted by the Security Council cleared the way for the UN General Assembly to hold an emergency session for the 11th time since 1950 to discuss Russia's offensive against Ukraine. Since the draft text of the resolution calling for the UN General Assembly session was procedural, Russia a permanent member like China, France, the United Kingdom and the United States could not exercise veto, like it did to block a Security Council resolution a couple of days ago. India, China and the UAE had also abstained from voting on the resolution, which had not been adopted by the Security Council on February 25. Watch the latest DH Videos here: India on Tuesday summoned the envoys of Russia and Ukraine after a medical student from Karnataka was killed in shelling by Russian Army in Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. Naveen, a resident of Haveri in Karnataka, was killed near a grocery store when he was preparing to make an attempt to leave Kharkiv, which has been witnessing intense fight between Russian and Ukrainian forces for Lviv. India's envoys to Russia and Ukraine, Pawan Kapoor and Partha Sathpathy, have also taken up the matter with their respective governments, demanding safe passage for the stranded Indians. With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family, Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted. We convey our deepest condolences to the family. Shringla called in Russias newly-appointed ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, and the deputy ambassador, Roman Babushkin, to his office in South Block soon after news of Naveens death arrived in New Delhi. India conveyed to Russia and Ukraine that the deteriorating situation in Kharkiv was a matter of grave concern for the government. A source in New Delhi said that the Embassy of India in Moscow had already stationed a team of officials at Belgorod, a town close to Russias border with Ukraine. It had been tasked to make arrangements for evacuation of citizens of Indians from Kharkiv and other places in war-torn eastern Ukraine through Russia. The evacuation route however could not be opened so far due to intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces in and around Kharkiv and nearby cities, said the source. The Foreign Secretary also called in Kyivs envoy to New Delhi, Igor Polikha, to request assistance from the Ukrainian government in evacuation of citizens of India. Polikha had on Monday said that the Ukrainian government was trying its best to help citizens of India stranded in the war-torn East European nation, but only Russian President Vladimir Putin could ensure their safety by withdrawing his invading army and stopping the war. India has a large number of citizens mostly students stranded in Kharkiv, Sumy and other places in eastern, south-eastern and north-eastern Ukraine the areas, which have been witnessing intense fighting ever since the launch of military operations by Russia early on February 24. New Delhi has been able to start evacuation of Indians from western Ukraine through neighbouring Romania, Poland, Slovak Republic and Hungary and is trying to do the same with Poland. But it has not been able to help the Indians in eastern Ukraine even as many of them have already spent three days in bunkers and underground metro stations, which are being used as shelters amid bombing by Russia. Watch latest videos by DH here: India has decided to send humanitarian assistance to Ukraine even as it once again tacitly sent out a message to Russia by expressing regret at the United Nations Security Council over the deteriorating situation in the East European nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi told officials during a meeting in the evening that the first consignment of relief supplies to Ukraine should be dispatched on Tuesday. He also again expressed anguish at the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. There is no other choice, but to return back to the path of diplomacy and dialogue, New Delhis envoy to the UN, T S Tirumurti, said, even as India once again abstained from voting at the Security Council on a procedural resolution to convene a rare emergency special session of the General Assembly of the international organisation on Russias aggression against Ukraine. Also read: SBI stops handling trade with sanctioned Russian entities He reiterated New Delhis call for an immediate cessation of violence and an end to hostilities, thus nudging Moscow to stop military operations against Ukraine. New Delhi has also decided to send humanitarian assistance to war-torn Ukraine, which has been resisting an invasion by Russia since February 24. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), told journalists on Monday that the Government of India would send medicines and other essentials to the East European nation following a request Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla received from Kyivs envoy to New Delhi, Igor Polikha, for humanitarian assistance. Polikha told journalists that he had conveyed Ukraines request for humanitarian assistance from India during a meeting on Sunday. New Delhi has been cautiously avoiding siding with the US and other western nations on the issue of Russias military build-up around Ukraine. It has been calling for resolving the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue. Check out latest videos from DH: Elderly men wearing face masks take a rest on a street in Hong Kong, Feb. 26. AP-Yonhap The number of births in Hong Kong hit a record low last year, falling below 40,000 for the first time in more than five decades, with experts warning of wide-reaching implications for the city's aging population. They said the trend would result in shrinking enrolment at every level of education, eventually affecting manpower supply in future. The early education sector was already feeling the effects, with seven kindergartens closing by the end of the current academic year. A spokesman for the Education Bureau said one of the kindergartens would merge with another school. Latest data from the Census and Statistics Department showed that only 38,684 babies were born last year, sliding 8 percent from 2020. That not only marked the seventh consecutive year of decline, but also the lowest point since official figures became available in 1966. Chow Wai-chun, president of the Early Childhood Educators Association, said there was little chance of the birthrate improving until the Covid-19 pandemic ended. She said the current situation was worse than in 2003, when the SARS epidemic hit the city. There were 47,687 babies that year, only slightly lower than 48,119 in 2002. Pedestrians walk past a government public notice banner for the National Security Law in Hong Kong in this file photo taken July 15, 2020. AFP-Yonhap Compounding the situation was the ongoing wave of emigration sparked by Beijing's imposition of the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 and its tightening grip on the city's political affairs. The Post reported last December that Hong Kong's primary and secondary schools lost about 6,200 students in the first four months after the summer holidays, according to official data. Most were likely to have withdrawn to migrate with their families. Chow said: "We used to handle withdrawal applications when the second term ended, but now we're receiving applications every month, something not seen in the past." With fewer babies born, kindergartens paying high rents for their campuses faced a greater risk of closing down, she noted. The birthrate might turn around if the government increased tax allowances for newborn babies and children, Chow argued. It might also help if the current half-day subsidy to cover kindergarten fees was changed to a whole-day subsidy, to ease the burden on working parents. Population expert Paul Yip Siu-fai has sounded the alarm over the birth numbers for years now, and especially since 2020, when Hong Kong began recording more deaths than births. Official figures showed about 8,700 more deaths than births in 2020, widening by almost 50 percent to 12,900 more deaths last year. "The lowest number of births last year only deepened the situation the year before but going below 40,000 is really low," said Yip, chair professor in social work and social administration at the University of Hong Kong and a former adviser to the government on population issues. He did not expect the city's birth numbers to be promising in the next three years and said the prolonged pandemic also discouraged couples from having babies. Agreeing that the wave of emigration had worsened the baby situation, he said: "The people who moved out from Hong Kong last year were mainly young couples and professionals and therefore the downward trend is going to continue." Yip said the pandemic had also resulted in a drop in the number of Hong Kongers marrying mainland Chinese, who prefer having a baby soon after marriage. Children accompanied with their parents wearing face masks line up to receive China's Sinovac COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine at a community vaccination center in Hong Kong, Feb. 27. AP-Yonhap The number of all marriages in Hong Kong fell from about 44,000 in 2019 to almost 28,000 in 2020, before slipping further to a record low of 27,000 last year. Cross-border marriages, with either partner from the mainland, plummeted from 13,262 in 2019 to 3,266 in 2020. Yip warned that the declining number of births would have a domino effect first affecting kindergartens, then primary and secondary schools and universities, before ultimately hitting the labor force. For several years early this century, Hong Kong's baby numbers received a big boost from mainland Chinese women who chose to give birth in the city as their children could then enjoy the benefits of being residents. Thanks largely to them, births in Hong Kong shot up between 2005 and 2012, peaking at about 95,000 babies in 2011. But there were growing complaints that Hong Kong women were finding it hard to book hospital beds to give birth, and concerns that the mainlanders' children would put pressure on the city's health care, education and welfare services. Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying put a stop to mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong from 2013, unless they were married to residents. The move was reflected in the baby data right away, with the number of births plunging from 91,343 in 2012 to 57,623 in 2013. Four years later, the pro-Beijing think tank Hong Kong Vision Project, led by former Legislative Council President Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, called for the ban to be scrapped, estimating that the city would benefit by having 25,000 more babies a year. The government rejected the suggestion. People queue on a street for COVID-19 test kits in Hong Kong's Sham Shui Po area, Feb. 27, as yet another record high number of new infections were recorded in the city. AFP-Yonhap The war on Ukraine claimed an Indian youths life on Tuesday as a 21-year-old medical student from Haveri district in Karnataka was killed in Russian shelling in Kharkiv city. According to officials from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre (KSNDMC) -- the nodal agency coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs for the safe evacuation of Karnataka students -- the deceased, Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, was killed during early morning shelling by Russian forces. Naveen was a fourth-year student of the Kharkiv National Medical University in Kharkiv. He went out to buy food and was in a queue in front of a grocery store, when he was killed, apparently as a result shelling by Russian Armed Forces targeting an administrative building in the city. Also read | Russia to continue Ukraine operation until goals achieved, says minister A local woman picked up his mobile phone and conveyed to his friends that he had been killed and his body had been taken to the morgue of the Kharkiv National Medical University. Sudden blast in city centre Kharkiv with casualties. We lost an Indian student who was nearby & (and) was in queue to buy food stuffs, Pooja Praharaj, a student coordinator, tweeted from Kharkiv. With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family. Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 1, 2022 She also posted a video of an explosion in the city. Kharkiv has been witnessing intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces over the past few days. Naveen, a native of Chalageri in Haveri district died during the shelling. His friends revealed that he had ventured out of the bunker to visit a nearby store to buy essentials, said Manoj Rajan, Nodal Officer and Commissioner, KSNDMC. Even as the state government led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was making efforts by coordinating with the MEA for the safe evacuation of Kannadiga students, Rajan appealed to students not to lose courage and stay safely in the bunkers. It (the death) is a matter of grief. But we would like to tell all the other parents to have courage. We will put all our efforts to safely bring our students back. Bommai and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Naveens father Shekar and offered condolences to the family. Also read | 55 Karnataka students have returned safely so far under Operation Ganga Rajan also explained that the state government has been making all possible arrangements to bring Naveens body back and said Bommai has personally spoken to the External Affairs minister and is in constant touch with embassy officials through the MEA to bring Naveens body home soon. In New Delhi, the envoys of Moscow and Kyiv to New Delhi were summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs and asked to urgently ensure safe passage for all Indians. Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla told journalists in New Delhi late in the evening that the Government of India was in touch with local authorities and would try to bring back his mortal remains. Modi had yet another meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other senior officials to review the progress of Operation Ganga, which was launched to evacuate the citizens of India from war-torn Ukraine. He expressed anguish over death of Naveen and also spoke to the deceased students father Shekarappa Gyanagouda. Though the Modi government has been evacuating citizens of India from western Ukraine through neighbouring Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovak Republic, it could not yet help nearly 4,000 mostly students stranded in Kharkiv, Sumy and other eastern cities of the country, due to intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Its been 6 (six) days we are begging our Indian govt (Government) @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar to help us, they didnt even make a single move. Today one died, tomorrow 100 and day after 1000. Are you waiting to take our 4000 bodies by your evacuation plan? Praharaj, herself a medical graduate, posted on Twitter, drawing attention of the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to the plight of the Indians, spending days and nights in bunkers and other shelters. Check out the latest DH videos here: Uzaif Rabbani is spending his days in a bunker in Ukraine's Kharkiv amid a fierce Russian offensive, hoping for evacuation, but as the fourth-year medical student waits, he like many from India, is worried if he will ever be able to complete his education. However, government officials said a meeting will soon be held to discuss the issue with all stakeholders, keeping in view the extraordinary situation in Ukraine. The matter will be looked into "sympathetically", they said. Rabbani's situation is shared by many Indian students enrolled in medical courses in institutes in the war-torn country. Also Read: Not being allowed to board train from Kharkiv: Indian students "I have to complete four years to get my medical degree. Once I am evacuated, I will have to think of what happens next. I hope the government allows a special provision to migrate to any Indian college and continue my education there," Rabbani told PTI over phone from Kharkiv, where a student from Karnataka was killed in shelling on Tuesday morning. Though his daughter is back home from Ukraine, Nidhi Yadav's father worries whether she will be able to resume her studies in Kiev. "I don't know what will happen next. I took a huge loan to send her to Ukraine in hope that she will become a doctor, but now things have worsened. There is no clarity on whether the situation will return to normal, whether she will be able to resume her education, will she have to explore other options here," the father of the first-year medical student said. The new rules of the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate regulations state that MBBS aspirants can take up to 10 years to complete the programme. They also state that besides the minimum course work tenure of 4.5 years, candidates need to intern for two years, including 12 months in the foreign medical institute where they are studying and another year of supervised internship in India. The MBBS programme in Ukraine lasts for six years, and being much affordable in comparison to that in private medical colleges in India, it is a popular choice among Indian students. "As of now, there are no norms and regulations under the National Medical Commission to accommodate medical students, who were studying abroad and had to return to India midway, in Indian medical colleges in between an academic session," a health ministry official told PTI, on the condition of anonymity. "However, keeping in view such extraordinary situations, the Indian government will look into the matter sympathetically. A meeting to discuss this issue with all stakeholders is likely to take place soon," he said. Sahil, a medical student at the Poltava State Medical University in Ukraine, is one of those who has returned after spending four years there. "Getting out of a war zone was the first thing on my mind but what happens next? I hope the government gives us some clarity on this and our years of effort and money doesn't go waste," he said. Also Read: Study medicine in India, not smaller foreign nations, PM Modi says amid Ukraine crisis Depleting food stock and long queues for water are adding to the trauma of stranded Indian students in the war-hit nation, while they await evacuation amid reports of some being roughed up by security personnel and spending freezing nights out in the open. As Indian and Ukrainian authorities on Monday described the situation as "complex" and "very difficult" in terms of evacuation of people, the students, joined by their parents, appealed to the Indian government to expedite efforts to evacuate them. Russia launched its attack on Ukraine last Thursday. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, it said a total of 1,396 Indians were brought back home in six flights as part of the evacuation mission and the total number of Indians who have left Ukraine since India issued the first advisory earlier this month is around 8,000. An estimated 20,000 Indian nationals, mainly medical students, reside in Ukraine. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Against the backdrop of a recent meeting with political strategist Prashant Kishor and ongoing efforts to bring together different parties against the BJP's alleged anti-people policies, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday left for Delhi. Rao left for Delhi on a visit, an official release said. However, it did not provide further details. It is expected that Rao may confer with leaders of like-minded parties during his stay in the national capital. The TRS chief is likely to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday. He is also likely to call on leaders of other national parties. Also read: Ready to shed last drop of blood for country's sake: Chandrasekhar Rao Rao's visit comes against the backdrop of a meeting here with Kishor during the last couple of days and also his recent meetings with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai. Rao, who has been critical of the BJP and the Centre on a number of issues, had said he will hold meetings with his Maharashtra and West Bengal counterparts as part of efforts to unite various political parties against the BJP and the NDA government. Addressing a public meeting in Siddipet district on February 23, Rao had said he is moving in the direction of influencing national politics and that he would use all his abilities to set the things right in the country, "even by shedding the last drop of blood". Check out latest videos from DH: Rally around to defeat the BJP and protect the founding principles of the nation was the loud and clear message sent out by leaders, at an event led in Chennai on Monday by DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, to like-minded parties across the country. After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi released the DMK chief's autobiography in Tamil, 'Ungalil Oruvan,' (One among you, the first part), Stalin in his address made an appeal to parties across the nation to come together. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Bihar leader of opposition, Tejashwi Yadav and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah participated. "I wish to make an appeal, not just to the leaders on this stage, but to everyone who believes in secular values. Our Indian Union is facing a big threat from divisive forces. We all need to come together to defeat them and protect the founding principles of India," the TN CM said. Also read: M K Stalin wants Constitution to be amended to grant 'more powers' to states Stalin who would turn 69 on March 1, thanked all leaders taking part in the event and said he had always dedicated himself to public life and assured that he would remain so forever. The message of the event also made it clear that the DMK is poised to make concerted attempts to work towards a larger role for the party and its chief Stalin as well at the national level, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Stalin lauded Rahul Gandhi for his recent "BJP can never ever rule over the people of Tamil Nadu," comment and said that it showed that the Congress leader has imbibed the 'Dravidian model' principle. It includes inclusive growth, social justice and more powers to states. The Constitution should be amended to give more powers to states and for that the Congress, Left parties and all regional parties should lend their support, Stalin said. The TN Chief Minister said the rights of people belonging to a state also were usurped as rights of states were being taken away one by one and all parties have realised this. The DMK's slogan of 'Manilathil Suyatchi, Mathiyil Kootatchi,' has now become a pan Indian slogan and this was echoed by Gandhi in Parliament, he said. The slogan could be roughly translated as autonomy for states and a share in power at the Centre as well for regional parties. Also read: When Sonia Gandhi did a Google search to find out Stalins age States being deprived of their powers including in the domain of finance should be halted, the DMK chief said and wanted parties across India to join forces and work together. Pinarayi Vijayan also hit out at the BJP and underscored the unity mantra to defend democracy. He lauded Stalin for standing up in 'defense of federalism,' whenever it came under attack. When the rights and powers of states are sought to be trampled upon, Stalin stood unflinchingly to secure them, the Kerala CM said. When India's different cultures, languages and faiths are belittled and sidelined, Stalin had always been unequivocal in championing such causes. Such is his deep sense of commitment to pluralism, federalism, secularism and constitution, Vijayan said. "We are in times when we should stand united for them, and in defense of our democracy. Only then can we ensure that the communal and authoritarian powers that hold sway in our country today, give way to the progressive, secular and democratic powers that ought to hold sway, if India is to remain free and fair, for all its citizens," the Kerala CM said. Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Modi for trying to impose his 'ideas' on the people of Tamil Nadu. When he does not understand that Tamil Nadu is not mere two words, and that it is a 3,000 year old civilisation, then he insults the state and the country also, he claimed. Modi merely stating that he respected Tamil people would not suffice. "When the people of TN repeatedly ask you and want to talk to you about NEET and you don't answer them, what type of respect is that," the Congress MP demanded to know. He also hit out at the BJP-led Centre over abrogation of Article 370 that revoked the special status for Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and said it was a move that has not happened ever before in the country. National Conference top leader Omar Abdullah too called upon like-minded secular parties to join forces to take on the BJP and continue the 'struggle' against steps taken by the Centre like the abrogation of Article 370. Tejashwi Yadav said the nation witnessed attacks on the Constitutional values like freedom equality and justice and more so on social justice. While history shall name the perpetrators of such attacks it shall also not spare others if we "do not fight, resist collectively." He further said, "let us go back from here with this solemn resolve and pledge." He also batted for caste based census and redetermine the ceiling of reservation on the lines of the 69 per cent quota in Tamil Nadu. Pointing to 'sufferings' including that of his father Lalu Prasad Yadav who fought for social justice even now, one of the reasons for such suffering is that important independent institutions are compromised and pressurised to function for political ends. "Particularly, the collegium based judiciary absolutely lacks comprehensive social representation and diversity." Several parties committed to social justice are keen to fight for reservation in judiciary but it is time to come on streets and make sure that it happens soon, he said. Indigenous Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit, which dominated the militancy landscape in Kashmir for three decades, has now been relegated to number three as Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad have taken centre stage in the Valley now. Out of 168 active militants in Kashmir at the beginning of this year, 82 belonged to the LeT, followed by 41 with the Jaish, 38 with Hizbul, four with The Resistance Front (TRF), and three belonging to the Al-Badr outfit, sources told DH. Founded in early 1990, the Hizbul quickly came under the control of Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir and played an important role to evolve the narrative of the Kashmir conflict from nationalism to jihad. The Hizbul was supported, since its inception, by the Pakistan spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to counter the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), a nationalist and nominally secular group that seeks independence of Kashmir from both India and Pakistan. In 2020, reports started emerging that the Hizbul cadres in Pakistan were not being provided adequate training, weapons and ammunition, thus allowing major fallout between its chief Syed Salahuddin and the ISI. Unconfirmed reports had emerged in the same year that Hizbul chief was attacked in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir at the behest of the ISI. After a 1991 merger with Tehreek-e-Jihad-e-Islami (TJI), which was backed by Jamaat, the Hizbul gained significant military might and its strength had reached about 10000 fighters, a senior police officer said. By the mid-1990s, the Hizbul was the sole militant group operating in the valley, he said. However, afterwards, the ISI started sending Pakistan and Afghan militants to Kashmir to keep control over the insurgency. But despite that, the Hizbul was regarded as one of the most influential outfits involved in the Kashmir conflict. When new-age militancy surfaced with Burhan Wani as an icon, Hizbul again came to limelight. However, after the killing of Burhan in 2016, as most of its commanders, including Riyaz Naikoo were eliminated by security forces, the Hizbul started to lose steam. It also fell from the ISIs favour, he revealed. The Hizbul leadership in PoK believe that ISI may have planned to attack Salahuddin in a bid to send a strong signal to other outfit cadres to toe their line, the officer added. Check out DH's latest videos: 21-year-old Swathi, a medical graduate at a university in Ukraines second-largest city of Kharkiv, stood hours together at a railway station to board a train to reach the border from where she hoped to be evacuated by officials from the Indian Government. Swathi (name changed) was terrified after she heard the death of Naveen, another medical student who hailed from Karnataka, while he was in a grocery line in Kharkiv on Tuesday morning. I am standing here for hours together. The train has come, and they are not allowing Indians to board the train. There is a huge crowd at the station, but none of us has so far been allowed to enter the train, she said in a voice message. Also read | Indian embassy did not reach out to students stuck in Ukraine, alleges father of boy killed in shelling The medical graduate is among thousands of Indian students stranded in Ukraine due to the war. While 2,000 persons have been evacuated so far, the remaining are still stuck some of them have sought refuge in bunkers while others are making their own arrangements to travel to the border where they can reach out to Indian authorities. In a video sent by a group of students who hail from Madurai, Coimbatore, and Chennai, they said all they hear from inside their bunker is the sound of explosions. We were stuck inside a bunker for two days and we stepped out only today to buy essential supplies. Though the queue outside a store was long, we thought of taking a chance and stood in the line. Within minutes, we heard explosions and we ran to safety. Being here is just unsafe and we hope to be evacuated as early as possible, one of the girls said. Also Read | India summons Russia, Ukraine envoys after student killed in Kharkiv Another girl added that the situation was getting difficult for them as they are not even able to get sanitary napkins. We are at least in a bunker but some of our friends are stuck inside metro stations where they do not have water and food, she added. However, Selvan, another medical student, told DH that he has been evacuated and is currently in Romania from where he is expected to be flown to India at the earliest. Luckily, our group was evacuated. We came to the border on our own and then Indian Embassy officials brought us to Romania. Hopefully, we will leave Romania on Wednesday, he said. He added that he heard from his friends that Indian students are not being allowed to board trains and are attacked. Another teary-eyed woman student sent a video in which she sought to know whether they came all the way to Ukraine to die. We are all inside a bunker in Kharkiv. We have already run out of food and water. We have not been able to reach Indian authorities. We make a fervent appeal to the authorities to evacuate us. We came here to study, not to die, the student, who did not wish to be named, said. She also said universities did not allow Indian students to leave the premises till Russian forces began bombing Ukraine. We just want to get out of Ukraine, she added. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Condoling the death of an Indian student in Ukraine's Kharkiv during ongoing Russian invasion, the Opposition on Tuesday stepped up attack on the Narendra Modi government over evacuation from the war-hit country, with the Congress saying the dispensation does "only photo ops, no action". Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he has received the "tragic news" of an Indian student Naveen losing his life in Ukraine. Also Read | Indian student in Ukraine killed in Kharkiv shelling: MEA "My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. I reiterate, the Government of India needs a strategic plan for safe evacuation. Every minute is precious," he tweeted. Received the tragic news of an Indian student Naveen losing his life in Ukraine. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. I reiterate, GOI needs a strategic plan for safe evacuation. Every minute is precious. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 1, 2022 Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted on the killing of Naveen SG, "our deepest condolences to the family of a student from Karnataka, who has been shot dead." Also read | Russia to continue Ukraine operation until goals achieved, says minister "This is the tragedy where - BJP government has no evacuation plan; Modi government has abandoned our young; Prahlad Joshi decries and insults our students in Ukraine; Only photo ops, no action." Our deepest condolences to family of Student from #Karnataka ,who has been shot dead. This is the tragedy where - BJP Govt has no evacuation plan; Modi Govt has abandoned our young; Prahlad Joshi decries & insults our students in #Ukraine ; Only Photo Ops, no action. https://t.co/JXwYGFWeuH Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 1, 2022 Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had said that 90% of Indians who study MBBS abroad fail to clear qualifying exams here. In another tweet, Surjewala asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi what he would say to the family who lost their child due to the "insensitivity of your government". "Between 20000 thousand Indians life is in danger every moment and you are engaged in doing all this?" Surjewala said tagging a media report about Modi's election campaign. Our deepest condolences to family of Student from #Karnataka ,who has been shot dead. This is the tragedy where - BJP Govt has no evacuation plan; Modi Govt has abandoned our young; Prahlad Joshi decries & insults our students in #Ukraine ; Only Photo Ops, no action. https://t.co/JXwYGFWeuH Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 1, 2022 CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury described Naveen's death as tragic loss of life. "Deepest condolences. Urge the Government of India to further step up efforts to urgently ensure evacuation of all Indians. Further loss of young lives caught in crossfire must be prevented," he tweeted. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra described Naveen's death as "very sad". "My deepest condolences to their families. May God give them courage in this time of sorrow. I request the government to make every effort to bring back all our students as soon as possible," she tweeted. Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted, "this is an awful tragedy. My heart goes out to the family of the victim and the anxious families of all those still stuck in Ukraine. We must do everything possible to get them home." This is an awful tragedy. My heart goes out to the family of the victim and the anxious families of all those still stuck in Ukraine. We must do everything possible to get them home. https://t.co/nmwAu9jL6F Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 1, 2022 Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Covid-19 year 2020-21 saw people filing less RTI queries seeking information from central and union territory offices, showing an overall decline of 2.94% though ministries and offices linked to pandemic related work like Health, Labour and Home registering an overwhelming increase. The Annual Report 2020-21 of the Central Information Commission showed that 13,33,802 RTIs have filed with public authorities -- a decline of 40,513 from 13,74,315 in 2019-20 when the record number of queries were filed in a fiscal since the enforcement of the transparency law in 2005. According to transparency activist Venkatesh Nayak, the number of RTI queries to central offices barring Union Territory administration will be 12.08 lakh and if one takes this into account, the decrease would be only 2.48%. Also Read | Over 1.59 lakh RTI applications filed online in 8 years, 11,376 by women: Personnel ministry "This is significant in itself, that the pandemic did not prove to be a dampener. Instead, people continued to seek information from various Ministries much like before," he said. An analysis of the annual report by Nayak showed that the Ministry of Finance recorded the sharpest fall of 21,657 from 1,92,204 to 1,70,547 RTI queries followed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs by 20,269 from 83,602 to 63,333. On the contrary, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare witnessed a 79.09% rise in RTI queries -- from 33,738 to 60,423. Besides Health, the ministries directly linked to pandemic related work like the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Labour and Employment also saw a substantial rise in RTI queries Also Read | SC notice to Centre on mandatory compliance of RTI law The Ministry of Labour and Employment saw a 46.90% rise -- from 80,978 to 1,18,957 -- while the MHA saw a 33.36% rise -- 44,453 to 59,286. The public authorities which huge rise in RTI queries also include the Ministry of Steel (149.40%), Ministry of Textiles (54.64%), Ministry of External Affairs (48.11%), Ministry of Rural Development (41.18%), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (39.61%) and Ministry of Civil Aviation (33.94%), "What is interesting from the above figures is that both line Ministries which were involved in coordinating relief efforts like Health, Labour, Home and several ministries looking after infrastructure reported a hike," Nayak said. Also Read | Karnataka: 50% drop in RTI case hearings, pending cases breach 30,000-mark The annual report also showed that 3,48,410 RTI applications were pending from 2019-20 at the beginning of 2020-21, which is 12.35% higher than the backlog figure of 3,10,110 reported in 2019-20 pending from 2018-29. The Ministry of Defence has the highest backlog with 1,19,474 RTIs -- Indian Army accounted for the bulk at 1,07,601 RTIs pending from 2019-20 at the start of the pandemic year. "Interestingly a similar figure is mentioned for the backlog for the previous year i.e, pending from 2018-29 raising doubts as to whether or not the 2020-21 figure is accurate," Nayak said. The Ministry of Human Resource Development came second with 62,682 pending cases in 2020-21 much higher than 50,887 reported in 2019-20. Also read: Mahiti Kanaja, an endeavour to enhance Right to Information "The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions which is the nodal agency for implementing the RTI Act across the Central Government reported a more than four-fold increase in pendency of RTI applications in 2020-21 at 5,589. It was only 1,915 at the start of 2029-20," Nayak said. "The increasing backlog RTIs across several ministries and public authorities is a major cause for concern as they appear to have been pending from much before the onset of the first phase of the pandemic. The CIC has not bothered to address this issue in the narrative portion of its annual report," Nayak added. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive against that country, sources said on Tuesday. The IAF is likely to deploy several C-17 aircraft as part of Operation Ganga from Tuesday, they said. The sources said the IAF is keeping its aircraft on standby to launch the evacuation operation at short notice. In order to scale up the ongoing evacuation efforts under Operational Ganga, Modi has called for the IAF to join the exercise, the sources said. Leveraging the capacities of the IAF will ensure that more people can be evacuated in a shorter time frame, they noted. The large C-17 aircraft will also help deliver humanitarian aid to war-hit Ukraine more efficiently, they said. C-17 is IAF's largest transport aircraft and it has the capacity to carry approximately 300 passengers in it during a humanitarian relief mission. Track updates on Russia, Ukraine here Till now, only private Indian carriers have been evacuating Indians from Romania and Hungary, countries with land borders with Ukraine on the western side, as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24. India began evacuation of around 14,000 of its stranded citizens on February 26. In a statement on Tuesday, the IAF said it is geared up for any requirements of evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine. Indians are travelling by road to Ukraine's borders with Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland etc, from where they are being taken by the Indian government officials to the airports for the evacuation flights. The Indian Embassy in Ukraine on Twitter advised all Indian nationals -- including students -- to leave Kyiv urgently on Friday itself, preferably by available trains or through any other means available. Check out the latest DH videos here: India has said that it was deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and reiterated its call for an immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities, saying all differences can only be bridged through honest, sincere and sustained dialogue. Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told a rare emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine convened on Monday that New Delhi is doing whatever it can to undertake immediate and urgent evacuation efforts of Indian nationals still stranded in Ukraine. "India is deeply concerned that the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate. We reiterate our call for an immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities, Tirumurti said. Follow Russia-Ukraine crisis live updates here "My government firmly believes that there is no other choice but to return to the path of diplomacy, he said. Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advocated this strongly in his recent conversations with the leadership of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, Tirumurti said, "We reiterate our firm conviction that all differences can only be bridged through honest, sincere and sustained dialogue. He said there is an urgent and pressing humanitarian situation developing in Ukraine. India is doing whatever it can to undertake immediate and urgent evacuation efforts of Indian nationals who are still stranded in Ukraine. The safety and security of Indian nationals, including a large number of students, remains our top priority, he said. He noted that the complex and uncertain situation at the border crossings is adversely impacting the uninterrupted and predictable movement of people. This important humanitarian necessity must be immediately addressed, he said. Also Read | Isolated Russia defends Ukraine war at UN General Assembly India on Monday decided to send relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian situation along its bordering areas arising out of tens of thousands of people attempting to flee the Russian invasion. India thanked all neighbouring countries of Ukraine who have opened their borders for Indian citizens and given all facilities to Indian missions and their personnel to evacuate Indian nationals to their homeland. "We stand ready to help those from our neighbours and developing countries who are also stranded in Ukraine and may seek assistance, he said. In his conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Modi reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue and expressed Indias willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts. In the telephonic call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi said his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue. Also Read | India to send relief supplies to Ukraine on March 1 He appealed for an immediate cessation of violence and called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue. The 193-member UN General Assembly convened the rare and unprecedented emergency special session on Russias aggression against Ukraine Monday after the 15-nation Security Council voted Sunday on a resolution to refer the crisis to the most representative body of the world organisation. India had abstained on the resolution, along with China and the UAE while Russia voted against and 11 Council members in favour. It was the second time in as many days that India abstained on a Security Council resolution on Ukraine. India had on Friday abstained on a UN Security Council resolution by the US that deplores in the strongest terms Russias aggression" against Ukraine. India, China and the UAE abstained on the resolution, which received 11 votes in favour by Albania, Brazil, France, Gabon, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, United Kingdom and the United States. The resolution on Friday was blocked since permanent member Russia, and President of the Security Council for the month of February used its veto. This led to a procedural resolution in the Council to refer the matter to an emergency special session of the General Assembly. President of the 76th session of the General Assembly Abdulla Shahid presided over the unprecedented session, only the 11th such emergency session of the General Assembly since 1950. With the adoption of the UNSC resolution Sunday, it was for the first time in 40 years that the Council decided to call for an emergency special session in the General Assembly. Following the debate in the session, the General Assembly is expected to vote on a resolution that would condemn Russias aggression against Ukraine. While a UNSC resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine would have been legally binding and General Assembly resolutions are not, voting in the 193-member UN body is symbolic of world opinion on the crisis and carry political weight as they represent the will of the entire UN membership. Check out DH's latest videos: China's digital currency, known as the e-yuan, has undergone several pilot programs, including at the Winter Olympics. South China Morning Post Simon Song Despite tech crackdown, experts say China's fintech sector looks to remain competitive By Kim Bo-eun HONG KONG China carved out a lead in fintech services over the past decade, with big tech firms having taken the lead on the back of deregulated government policies and surging public demand for electronic payment options. As a result, the world's second-largest economy is largely cashless, and mobile payments via private-sector platforms are ubiquitous in commerce. Meanwhile, Beijing has been rolling out a central bank digital currency that has undergone several pilot programs throughout the country, including being used by foreign visitors during the recent Winter Olympics. And China has become a magnet for fintech investments, with the total growing from $900 million in the second half of 2020 to more than $1.3 billion in the first half of 2021, according to an analysis by accounting firm KPMG. However, uncertainties have arisen as Beijing stepped up its crackdowns on big tech companies such as Alibaba, particularly in the past year, but analysts expect China's fintech sector to remain competitive. In China, mobile payments are not only used by the relatively tech-savvy urban population, but also increasingly by people in rural areas. Data from audit firm Ernst & Young, published in June, showed that mainland China had the highest penetration rate of fintech services among major economies, at 87 percent, according to its 2019 index. The rate was about 67 percent in Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea. China also leads in terms of small and medium-sized enterprises adopting fintech services, among major and emerging economies. Experts attribute this, for the most part, to China's economy skipping the credit card phase between cash and digital payments. "China has all the ingredients for high fintech penetration: network infrastructure, high smartphone penetration, and an analogue financial system that provided poor service, allowing it to leapfrog to purely digital payments on smartphones," said Martin Chorzempa, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Richard Turrin, author of Cashless: China's Digital Currency Revolution, said China's high penetration of fintech services resulted from the central bank's decision to allow big tech companies Alibaba and Tencent to enter the payment space in 2014. "The People's Bank of China correctly decided that China needed to further digitize its financial system, and that big tech could do this better than the banks. This resulted in Alipay and WeChat Pay launching in 2014 and fundamentally changing payment in China," he said. Shanghai is considered one of the world's top fintech centers. gettyimagesbank The US has discussed its concerns with India in the aftermath of its abstaining from the United Nations Security Council vote censuring Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, according to State Department Spokesperson Ned Price. Asked at his daily briefing on Monday about India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining from the Council vote, Price said, "We have regular engagement with our Indian partners. We have regular engagement with our Emirati partners. We have regular engagement with our European allies and our European partners. So at every level in multiple fora we have had discussions about this." Also read: SBI stops handling trade with sanctioned Russian entities "Of course we have a very close relationship with India. We have discussed our concerns, our shared concerns," Price said. Earlier when another reporter tried to get Price to speak specifically about countries that did not vote for the resolution or co-sponsor it, he skirted the question focusing instead on the support it got: "We are comfortable, we are heartened, we are gratified by the fact that the world, the international community, has stood up to speak loudly and clearly in defense of Ukraine's sovereignty, its independence, its territorial integrity." Check out latest videos from DH: An Air India Express flight carrying 182 Indian nationals evacuated from war-torn Ukraine landed here from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday morning, an airline spokesperson said. Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane received them at the Mumbai airport, the spokesperson said. The AI Express flight IX-1202 from Bucharest via Kuwait touched down the runway at 7:40 am, he said. Read more: PM Modi calls on Indian Air Force to join Ukraine evacuation efforts An aircraft to bring back Indian nationals from Ukraine had left from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) for Bucharest on Monday. This is the second evacuation flight operated to Mumbai from Bucharest to bring back Indians from war-hit Ukraine since February 27. The Air India Express is the international budget arm of Air India, which is now owned by the Tata Group. On Saturday, the Air India had operated the first chartered flight to CSMIA from Bucharest with 219 Indian evacuees from Ukraine. India began the evacuation of its citizens from Romania and Hungary - western neighbours of Ukraine - on Saturday after Russia launched a military offensive there. Around 14,000 Indians, mainly college students, were stranded in Ukraine. As the Covid-19 situation eased, the Maharashtra government has opened tourist spots and is currently hosting 20 mini festivals covering various aspects of attractions in the state. With a slogan you name it, we have it, the Maharashtra governments Directorate of Tourism (DoT) is aggressively promoting the state - as national and international borders opened for tourists. During the last two years, the hospitality and travel industry suffered badly due to Covid-19. From February 18-20, the DoT hosted a grape festival in Junnar in Pune district. Surrounded by the Malshej Ghats, Junnar is also the base for visiting many forts, including the famous Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. All the remaining ones will be held in March - and these include Nandur Bird Festival in Nashik, Vengurla (Sagareshwar) Mahatsov in Sindhudurg, Fishing Village Paryatan Mahotsav, Vengurla, Shrivardhan Paryatan Mahotsav in Raigad, Katalshilp Paryatan Mahotsav in Ratnagiri, Wai Mahatsov in Satara, Panhala Mahotsav in Kolhapur, Ramtek Mahatsov in Nagpur, Bodalkasa Bird Festival in Gondia, Bordharan Mango Festival and others. Through these mini festivals, apart from promoting these districts, Maharashtra Tourism is also creating opportunities for the locals to earn an extra income, DoT officials said. Road shows will be conducted in nine cities/states starting from March 7. Guide-training programs are also being conducted at 14 destinations. Check out DH's latest videos: He (M K Stalin) should write another book on how he manages to look so young, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi complimenting the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on his fitness after releasing the formers autobiography here. Wishing Stalin, who turns 69 on Tuesday, a very happy birthday, Gandhi told him to eat properly the cake tomorrow as he has trimmed down a lot. These are some of the lighter moments at the book release event which turned into an anti-BJP conclave with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former J & K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and RJDs Tejashwi Yadav criticising the attempts to dilute principles of federalism. Beginning his speech by complimenting Stalin for being fit and looking young, Gandhi recalled a conversation between him and his mother Sonia Gandhi on Sunday on the DMK chiefs age. My mother told me yesterday that March 1 is Stalin jis birthday. She has sent a letter to him. I asked her do you know how old Stalin ji is? She said no and I replied he is going to be 69 years old. My mother said it is impossible. When I asked how old you think he is, my mother told me he must be 60, Gandhi told the meeting. After a while, Gandhi said, his mother did a Google search on Stalins age. She googles these days. And she messaged me saying you are right. I dont know whether he has written about this in his book. If not, he has to write another book on how he manages to look so young, Gandhi said. Also read: M K Stalin wants Constitution to be amended to grant 'more powers' to states Besides attacking the BJP on a host of issues, the Congress MP turned emotional when he referred to his speech in Parliament early this month in which he spoke about Tamil Nadu. Gandhi said he realised that he had mentioned Tamil Nadu several times in his speech only when a journalist asked him the reason. I replied to the journalist I did because I am a Tamil. I thought about why I uttered those words while driving back home. I told myself you were not born in Tamil Nadu, and you don't speak Tamil. Why did I say so? Because my blood is mixed with your soil, Gandhi said recalling his fathers assassination here. It was a sad experience for me losing my father. Very difficult experience but also an experience I learnt from. And so, I realised that I do have the right to call myself Tamil," Gandhi said. He also spoke about India being a Union of States and asked where a state comes from. It starts from the land, from the land, comes the people, from the people comes the voice, from the voice comes the language, from a language, comes the culture, from the culture, comes the history, and from our history comes our state," he said. Check out latest videos from DH: Indias abstention on a UN Security Council resolution that deplored in the strongest terms Russias aggression on Ukraine does not come as a surprise. New Delhi abstained from two previous resolutions relating to the Ukraine crisis; the first being a procedural vote, and the second against Russian President Vladimir Putins decree recognising the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. Indias abstention was irrelevant to the outcome of the vote. As in the case of all UNSC resolutions condemning aggression by a permanent member, this one too was vetoed; Russia vetoed the resolution. Indias decision to abstain stems from its longstanding friendship with Moscow. There is its military dependence on Russia, too, as a large part of its weaponry and military platforms are of Russian origin. At a time when tensions between India and China are running high and the possibility of an armed conflict along our disputed border looms, India is apprehensive of the implications of criticising Russia for Indias military preparedness vis-a-vis China. While India continues to abstain in the UNSC, there are small but significant changes in its position, which is increasingly nuanced, as Delhi takes into full account Russias egregious violations. Earlier, India had mentioned the legitimate security interests of parties, which had given its position a pro-Russia tilt. In his statement, Indias Permanent Representative at the UN, T S Trimurti stressed respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and dialogue as the only answer to settling disputes. The non-violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of another country is not just a UN principle but one that India is committed to, has upheld robustly, and which it has raised repeatedly in its own context when its neighbours have acted aggressively. While Indias own vulnerabilities may be restricting the positions it takes in the UNSC, there is much it can do through quiet diplomacy and push Russia and Ukraine to the talks table using its close relations with both countries. Thousands of Indian students are trapped in Ukraine and the government is focused now on bringing them home. Simultaneously, it should step up support for people in the warzone. India must also be ready and willing to adapt to changing circumstances. Putins order putting Russian nuclear forces on alert has qualitatively changed the scenario, given that US and NATO forces would likely feel the need to react to it, and there is always a danger of catastrophic miscalculation in nuclearised conflict environments. While Delhi has taken a finely balanced position, it must be ready to shift its stance should the situation on the ground worsen. Is communal cleaving still the weapon of choice for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win an election? The poll process underway in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur suggests so, as does the 'build up' going on in states due for polls next - Gujarat in December 2022 and Karnataka mid-2023. What is common between Gujarat and Karnataka? Both are BJP ruled states, and both are currently the 'staging' areas for the cleaving forays in the election-bound states. Emanating from Karnataka, 'hijab' has hogged headlines nationwide, while in Gujarat, civic bodies targeting street food carts selling non-vegetarian fare made news in November. Similarly, if the murder of a Bajrang Dal activist in Shivamogga, Karnataka, this month was a "jihadist conspiracy" by an "Islamist" organisation which led to statewide protests by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), so was an inter-religion shooting and death in Dhandhuka town in Gujarat in January, a trigger for similar Gujarat-wide demonstrations by sister outfits of the Sangh Parivar. Interspersed are many incidents that include charges of conversion against The Missionaries of Charity, Vadodara, and numerous Muslims for similar activities towards their faith. Cops routinely 'unearth' links to subversive organisations, ensuring headlines. Conversion to Hinduism is labelled 'home-coming' while from it to another faith, an offence. Discriminatory use of the Disturbed Areas Act, the anti-love jihad laws enacted in 2003, amended in 2021 with some of its sections struck down by the Gujarat High Court subsequently, keeps the judiciary busy and the news pages occupied. Also Read -- UP polls: How diminished are BJP's returns after phase five Is it a mere coincidence that in an era of over-arching media reach, these two states, which themselves will be going to polls soon, were witnessing communally cleaving follow-up of events in the run-up to as well as during the present elections? Uttarakhand, part of the current poll process, already had a hate-spewing 'Dharma Sansad' at Haridwar last December. If the BJP is a radically altered outfit today and has enjoyed its longest-ever continuous stint in power at the Centre, the credit goes singularly to Narendra Modi. But it was Gujarat that nurtured this one time Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak on deputation to the BJP, who had never even contested a panchayat election before he was appointed chief minister. It assented to his leadership with a record 13 year plus stint and saw him off as prime minister in 2014. He, in turn, cradled Amit Shah, who, past his ordeal behind bars, is the country's Home Minister today. Much of what is being implemented countrywide was experimented with in Gujarat and evolved as the Gujarat Model. And that includes the theory of 'how to influence people and win elections' through a cut, cleave and conjoin process. Karnataka remains the uneasy but the only BJP gateway to the South. The BJP is stuck at the gates where the pendulum has been oscillating between the Congress, the Janata Dal and itself. The 2018 Vidhan Sabha elections saw the BJP secure the highest seats but stood outnumbered by the Congress-JD combined tally, so did what it is now best doing - poaching through muscle, might and money. It thus has a government there. Elsewhere, Puducherry is a sleight of the hand which will slip the day BJP loses its central perch. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana remain distant dreams. The March 10, 2022 results to Uttar Pradesh and four other states are a critically vital barometer to test the prime minister's timbre for the all-important 2024 Indian election orchestra. But more importantly, it will prove how many strings of Modi's mandolin stand soiled by over-use. A quarter-century of ruling Gujarat and a quarter of this quarter in the national saddle, the Narendra Modi-led BJP has yet to develop a surefire solution other than this incendiary mix. Appointed Gujarat chief minister in 2001, Modi first evolved this poll potion in the aftermath of the Godhra train carnage and the communal violence that followed, leaving over a thousand people dead, predominantly minority community members. The polarising experiment began with his statewide Gujarat Gaurav yatra of 2002 and has been a constant part of the BJP poll battle plans in election after election in Gujarat thereon. After Modi's elevation to lead India, its national replication began post the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. His backroom boys have worked out numerous permutations and combinations of this nationally destructive but electorally productive theme. Nevertheless, what was once a potent force multiplier, no longer seems to carry the element of surprise in poll warfare. At least, that is what appears to be the biggest takeaway from the frenzied poll campaigning underway in Uttar Pradesh so far. Its overuse seems to have made it predictable, even jaded, allowing the opposition to devise effective counter-measures as the Akhilesh Yadav-Jayant Chaudhary combine has done in Western Uttar Pradesh where the BJP had swept the region in the 2017 elections through pure polarisation after the communal violence of Muzaffarnagar. Union Home Minister Amit Shah's desperate cleaving effort when he initiated his door to door campaign with a visit to the displaced Hindus of Kairana or Chief minister Yogi Adityanath's 80-20 per cent talk hinting at the Muslim minority and alluding to the opposition siding with terrorist elements remain some of many cogent examples. Interspersed are recorded and reported speeches of his party MLAs threatening to turn beards into chotis and skull caps into tilaks, even seeking disenfranchisement of Muslims. The prime minister wasn't found wanting either. Addressing a rally in Kanpur Dehat, he charged the opposition with preventing Hindu consolidation. "Is this democracy? You are openly saying you want to divide Hindu votes. Then whose votes are you trying to gather," he questioned. The intention of all these remarks is evident, and the Election Commission's response expectedly juiceless, a far cry from the times of chief election commissioner (CEC) T N Seshan, who made the most powerful of politicians shiver in their boots. Gujarat has been termed the laboratory of political experiments from the times of the Mahatma to Modi. Ironically, it was then chief minister Narendra Modi's Gujarat Gaurav Yatra of 2002 where hawking of hatred was turned into a fused art of obfuscation. His speeches would be littered with references to "Miyan Musharaff", though the identified target was minorities. The speeches carried references galore to "hum panch, hamare pachees" or the one which said, "Should we run relief camps? Open child producing centres?" Modi's own police intelligence chief R B Sreekumar wanted polls postponed and was sidelined. The then CEC, James Michael Lyngdoh, was pronounced with an extended drawl to underline his Christian identity and linkage to "Italian' Sonia Gandhi" and her Congress party's conspiracy to defame Gujarat. The elections that followed in a polarised Gujarat provided him with a steamroller majority and a confirmed conviction that the formula works, so the unhindered replication to this day. And so, when hate hangs heavy, be sure, it is election time in present-day India. (The writer is a veteran Ahmedabad-based journalist.) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH . Check out latest videos from DH: A six-time legislator, Revenue Minister R Ashoka is widely seen as number two in Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommais cabinet. Ashoka talks to Bharath Joshi on some policy reforms, the upcoming Bengaluru civic polls, and the 2023 Assembly showdown. Excerpts: You oversaw a contentious reform that allowed non-agriculturists to own farmlands. Has this met its objective of attracting youngsters to agriculture? Yes, people are heading to the villages. Some 12-13 lakh acres of land were not under cultivation. This is due to many reasons, such as people migrating to cities. When an educated person returns to ones village, he or she also brings knowledge. Due to Covid, many returned to their villages and took up agriculture. Of them, 2-3% haven't returned to the cities. The law was necessary when it was made all those years ago. Unauthorised sale of agricultural land was happening anyway, causing losses worth crores in stamp duties to the government. Now, the government will get revenue. Also, this will attract industries that were going to Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. They can get land wherever they want. What about land conversion? In Bengaluru, land conversion for non-agricultural purposes takes 4-5 months. In other places, it is 1-2 months. This is leading to corruption and delays that are torturing people. We want to simplify this. Conversion orders should be issued within 1-2 days. We will get people to file an affidavit saying their land is not in violation of any law. If any illegality is found, the conversion order is revoked, and money forfeited. This will deter people from submitting bogus documents. You said once that the land mafia is so powerful that even the government cant control them. Our laws are like that. If there's a lake encroachment and we move to recover (it), a stay order is brought immediately. To have that cleared, it takes many years. The land-grabbers hire expensive lawyers whereas our attorneys get just Rs 5,000-10,000. I've requested the CM to give us a separate litigation team. Now, were winning just 10% of cases. If we have our own legal team, we can win 60-70%. When will the BBMP elections be held? We wanted to hold elections in December. But it didnt happen then. Theres a case already before the Supreme Court. Based on whatever order comes, we will hold the elections. The government's intention is to hold the polls as soon as possible, keeping in mind the 2023 Assembly and 2024 Parliament elections. Is the BJP afraid of facing elections in Bengaluru? No, we're not. Delimitation of wards is being done to set right a huge disparity. There's no hidden agenda. In some city wards, the population is 22,000. Elsewhere, it is as high as 1.5 lakh. This led to disparity in allocation of funds. Also, councillors faced difficulty in managing such huge wards. Your own MLAs seem wary of Congress momentum, especially DK Shivakumars. Normally, the Opposition becomes active a year before elections. Theres nothing special about this. However, the BJP started preparation before Congress. We are in government. We want to go to polls on the development plank and thats our focus. What do you think will be the issues for 2023 polls? Or, would you say itll be an issue-less election? No election happens without an issue. Karnataka, especially. We won an election once solely on the issue of 'a broken promise'. Our party faced elections with Hindutva and Ayodhya as the plank. Now, there's the hijab issue. Will the hijab issue be a plus for the BJP? I don't know. We don't have a 'plus or minus' mindset. But it will be a major issue after having made headlines globally. So, the hijab issue coupled with the Shivamogga violence gives the BJP a Hindutva narrative for 2023. That's how the current atmosphere is. If an election happens today, we will win a majority easily. Congress' divided stand [on hijab] and the infighting between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah...we will sweep the election. Was the hijab controversy needed at all? When six Muslim girls started protesting, within one hour, foreign media picked it up even before local media. This makes it clear that there are foreign hands involved. It looks like a fallout of the fight between the Congress and PFI. The PFI wants to take Congress out of the equation. The PFI has started winning some local body polls, which has emboldened them to take on bigger political issues. The PFI will be a big threat to the Congress. In the previous Assembly session, Congress raised KS Eshwarappas issue (saffron flag) to prevent the hijab controversy from coming up. Siddaramaiah wanted hijab to be discussed, but Shivakumar did not, keeping Hindu votes in mind. They're confused. Isn't it wrong to drag students into a political fight? The Bommai-led BJP government may have to bear this cross. Such issues concerning students shouldnt have been raised. But you see, nobody is wearing saffron stoles now whereas the hijab continues to be worn. Clearly, we can understand that there are organisations working behind the scenes. Could there be attempts within the BJP to destabilise Bommai by raking up controversies despite his disapproval? Those trying to destabilise Bommai are mad. The high command has already put such things to rest. Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself in Davangere said Bommai is the CM who will lead the party into the next election. That hasnt stopped the bickering. So, if such things are continuing, then people are mad. There's no question of changing Bommai. No party, especially BJP, will do that so close to an election. Everything is under control now. Everyone is supportive of Bommai. It is said that Bommai's inexperience shows sometimes. He comes from a family where his father was CM and a central minister. Bommai, too, has been a legislator multiple times and a minister in the past. Bommai is intelligent in that he knows how to handle people without creating confusion. He is treating everybody in a balanced way. By Michelle Goldberg I met Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher and the chief editor of UkraineWorld, an English-language news site, in Kyiv in 2019. Id gone there to report on how Ukrainians felt about Donald Trumps attempts to extort their president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and on the American rights demonisation of Ukrainians whod worked against corruption. Yermolenko spoke, then, of Ukraine as a front line in the global battle between democracy and authoritarianism, with Europe on one side and Vladimir Putins Russia on the other and the role of the United States under Trump confusing and ambiguous. Its about whether democracy, rule of law, are spreading farther to the east, he said of the conflict over Ukraines future. Its a long story how it spread to Eastern Europe first it was Eastern Europe, Central Europe, then there was Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova. We hope it will someday reach Russia. Also Read Isolated Russia defends Ukraine war at UN General Assembly But it was possible that the ideological tide would go the other way. There is a new authoritarianism going westward, said Yermolenko. In this view, the fate of Ukraines nascent democracy was a sort of weather vane for the world. I spoke to Yermolenko again Sunday, as Russian troops besieged his country. The spirit is very strong, he said. There is no fatalism, no willingness to negotiate on Russias terms. There is decisiveness. Ukrainian self-defence, he said, was chiefly a matter of patriotism, of people defending their home and way of life against a cruel foreign power. But he also saw it as part of the great ideological contest wed discussed 2 1/2 years ago. There is a strong feeling that if Ukraine wins and Im sure it wins that can bring the end of both Putins and Lukashenkos regimes, he said, referring to Alexander Lukashenko, the strongman president of Belarus, who is reportedly preparing to send troops to Ukraine to fight alongside Russia. His confidence amazed me, but it appears to be widely shared across the country: According to a recent poll, 70 per cent of Ukrainians outside of Russian-occupied territories think they will prevail against Russia. Oleksandra Ustinova, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament who is in Washington working on diplomatic outreach, said that Putin thought he could easily seize control of her country. Ukrainians have proved that were not going to go down, and we do believe that we will win this war, she said. Also Read FIFA and UEFA suspend Russia from all competitions until further notice I have no idea if shes right, though obviously, I hope she is. Russia appears to have stumbled in the opening days of the invasion, but Ukraines army is still enormously overmatched, and Putin has the power to rain hell on the country. The Ukrainians stalwart faith in their ability to resist Russia, however, is an important political fact, one that people who predicted a quick Russian victory didnt fully account for. Its a faith that has stirred much of the world to unite against Russia, reinvigorating a liberal internationalism that until recently seemed spent and flaccid. As inspiring as Ukrainian determination has been, its perhaps not that surprising. Anyone whos visited Kyiv in recent years could see how much pride people took in the 2014 revolution that forced Viktor Yanukovych, the Kremlin-backed kleptocratic president, to flee to Russia. In Kyivs Independence Square, a monument to the revolution included photos, mounted on giant copper-colored plinths, of demonstrators burning tires to repel a crackdown and getting ready to pelt the riot police with cobblestones. Nearby, a vendor sold toilet paper with Putins face on it. Not all Ukrainians welcomed the revolution Yanukovych had a real base of support in the countrys south and east. But there was a culture of reverence for citizens whod stood up to Russian domination. Also Read Ukraine talks yield no breakthrough as Russians close in Ukraine has had two revolutions in less than two decades; there was also the Orange Revolution, which erupted after Yanukovych was accused of trying to steal the election in 2004. Nataliya Gumenyuk, a Ukrainian journalist and author of Lost Island: Tales From the Occupied Crimea, told me these revolutions have instilled in Ukrainians a strong sense of their own agency. Ukraine has a positive case of toppling a dictator, doing something that used to be unthinkable, she said, speaking from Kyiv in the middle of the night. She noted that Zelenskyy has directly appealed to the public in Russia and Belarus. We seriously believe that if people, independent people, stand up, they can force their leaders to bend. Because with us its like that, she said. This means that even if a democratic Ukraine wasnt an existential threat to Putin before, it is now, since its survival would mean his humiliation. In 2019, I was intrigued by how earnestly Ukrainians I met spoke of liberal democracy. Perhaps theyd won it so recently that they hadnt had time to grow cynical. Their idealism has turned out to be a powerful weapon. Theyve shown older democracies what it means to fight for their own putative values, leading to an almost ecstatic global outpouring of support. The odds remain against the Ukrainians. But their conviction has given them a chance. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A group of researchers is proposing that Tyrannosaurus, the most famous of all dinosaurs and the ultimate apex predator, actually includes three species and not just the single T. rex, based on thighbone and tooth variations among dozens of its fossils. T. rex, meaning "tyrant lizard king," has been the sole species of the genus Tyrannosaurus recognized since the dinosaur was first described in 1905. A genus is a broader grouping of related organisms than a species. A team of three researchers led by Baltimore-based independent palaeontologist and paleoartist Gregory Paul on Monday said variations they spotted in an examination of about three dozen Tyrannosaurus fossils warranted the recognition of two additional species: T. imperator, meaning "tyrant lizard emperor," and T. regina, meaning "tyrant lizard queen." "After over a century of all specimens being placed into one species without the issue being carefully examined, the first and only analysis finds that the variation in Tyrannosaurus is beyond the norms for dinosaurs, and is distributed over time in a manner that indicates that Darwinian speciation from one (species) to two new species had occurred before the final dinosaur extinction cut off further evolution," Paul said. Tyrannosaurus prowled western North America during the Cretaceous Period at the twilight of the dinosaur age before an asteroid struck Mexico's Yucatan peninsula 66 million years ago, dooming the dinosaurs. Paul and his colleagues cited differences in the robustness - some larger and others more lightly built - of the thighbone or femur, and differences in the number of the small teeth at the lower jaw tip among the examined fossils. "It is a concern that this will be controversial because of the charismatic status of T. rex, but on the other hand the study would not be getting so much attention otherwise," said Paul, whose study was published in the journal Evolutionary Biology. Paul was correct about the controversy. Some palaeontologists not part of the study disagreed with its conclusions. "Ultimately, to me, this variation is very minor and not indicative of meaningful biological separation of distinct species that can be defined based on clear, explicit, consistent differences," University of Edinburgh palaeontologist Steve Brusatte said. "It's hard to define a species, even for animals today, and these fossils have no genetic evidence that can test whether there were truly separate populations. Until I see much stronger evidence, these are all still T. rex to me, and that's what I'll be calling them," Brusatte added. Paul did not rule out that differences among individuals or differences between Tyrannosaurus males and females were at play, but called this unlikely. Tyrannosaurus had a massive head and tremendous bite strength walked on two strong legs and had puny arms with just two fingers. Perhaps the largest-known Tyrannosaurus is a specimen named Sue at the Field Museum in Chicago, at 40-1/2 feet (12.3-meters) long and an estimated 9 tons. The new study concluded that Sue is not a T. rex but rather a T. imperator. The scale of the differences among the three proposed Tyrannosaurus species, Paul said, is akin to the differences between a lion - scientific name Panthera leo - and a tiger, scientific name Panthera tigris. Lions and tigers are members of the same genus, Panthera, but have enough differences that they are recognized as separate species. Palaeontologist Thomas Carr of Carthage College in Wisconsin, whose 2020 study of variation https://peerj.com/articles/9192 in T. rex found no evidence of multiple species, also differed with the new study. "Perhaps most damning is the fact that the authors were unable to refer several excellent skulls to any of the three species," Carr said. "If their species are valid, then more than just two features should identify them: nearly every detail - especially in the head - should be different." Check out DH's latest videos: The students satellite, which will be designed by the government school kids in the state, has been named after late actor Puneeth Rajkumar. The state government is selecting over 100 students from 20 government schools to design the students satellite to be launched by September. Higher Education and Science and Technology Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan announced this in Bengaluru on Monday during the inauguration of an event to mark National Science Day. The Department of Science and Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Technological Congress Association (ITCA) for the implementation of the project. This will be one among the 75 satellites to be launched in the country to celebrate 75 years of independence. Also read: 12-km stretch of ORR to be named after actor Puneeth Rajkumar The ground station of the project will be set up at the premises of the government Pre-University college in Malleshwaram and the schools and students for this project have been selected based on their performance in various competitions. The proposed satellite will weigh 1.5 kg and the project cost will be Rs 1.90 crore, said the minister. The classes regarding the design of satellites will commence from April 22 and students will also get online and offline introductory programmes and also web links for the required content. As part of the project, the students will be visiting various scientific institutions located in Bengaluru, and interact with scientists. MP D V Sadananda Gowda, Prof S Ayyappan chairman Karnataka Science and Technological Academy and others were present. Check out latest videos from DH: A woman wearing a face mask looks at shelves of rice as residents worry about a shortage of food, at a market in Hong Kong, Feb. 28. AP-Yonhap Hong Kong residents stripped supermarket shelves bare Tuesday as panic buying set in following mixed messaging from the government over whether it plans to impose a lockdown this month. Uncertainty over COVID-19 rules has sent the city's residents flocking to supermarkets, chemists and vegetable stores to stock up, leaving shelves empty across the city. Photos circulating on social media showed people had trouble finding a variety of items including meat, vegetables, frozen foods, noodles, paracetamol and testing kits. The financial hub is currently in the grips of its worst coronavirus outbreak, registering tens of thousands of new cases each day, overwhelming hospitals and shattering the city's zero-COVID strategy. Authorities plan to test all 7.4 million residents this month and isolate all infections either at home or in a series of camps that are still being constructed with the help of mainland China. City leader Carrie Lam had initially ruled out a mainland style lockdown where people are confined to their homes during the testing period. But on Monday, health chief Sophia Chan confirmed it was still on the table, a day after a senior Chinese health official described it as the best option. On Tuesday multiple pro-government Hong Kong media citing official sources also said authorities were looking at a variety of lockdown options for the test period. One of the most densely populated cities on earth, Hong Kong's supermarkets have limited backroom storage space and saw waves of panic buying at the start of the pandemic two years ago. The vast majority of its food is imported from mainland China and the current supply crunch has been worsened by cross border truckers getting infected by the high transmissible Omicron variant. More than 190,000 infections have been recorded in the last two months compared to just 12,000 for the rest of the pandemic. The government released a statement late Monday saying food supplies remained constant and that there was no need for panic buying. But analysts said uncertainty and distrust were fuelling consumer habits. "We have so many questions but all answers are 'to be confirmed'," Chan Ka-lok, an international politics scholar at Baptist University, wrote on social media. "Rush to buy and stock up, let the people decide how to live their life." Tom Grundy, editor of the Hong Kong Free Press news website, described the latest panic buying as "a massive failure of gov't communications." "Rules changing every few days, u-turns, botched stats, poor data disclosure," he wrote on Twitter. Faith in government assurances is low in Hong Kong, where authorities have carried out a two year crackdown on dissent after huge democracy protests. The decision to mass test residents was also itself a policy u-turn Lam had previously ruled out such a step before backing it last month. (AFP) Writer K Bhairavamurthy (77) died due to age-related illness at a private hospital in Mysuru on Monday night. Bhairavamurthy served at the Maharajas Evening College in Mysuru for 36 years and retired as a professor. A resident of Vidyaranyapuram in Mysuru, he was born at Santhekasalagere village under Kothatti hobli in Mandya taluk on May 30, 1945 to K N Krishnamurthy and Gowramma. After his primary education in his native place, he did his BA from Maharajas College, MA in Kannada Studies Centre from Manasagangotri campus of University of Mysore (UoM) and joined the Maharajas Evening College in 1969. During his college days, he was inspired by his teachers De Javaregowda, C P Krishnakumar and H Tipperudraswamy. He has penned over 3,000 'vachanas' and over 400 newspaper columns on various issues, mainly literature. He wrote poetry, childrens literature, limericks, criticism, social issues, and other genres. He has edited over 15 books, including felicitation volumes. 'Shivamaya' and 'Akshaya' are two felicitation books on him. 'Bhairava Deepti', a collection of 300 limericks on Bhairavamurthy, is expected to be released shortly. He was once the president of the Mandya District Kannada Literary Meet (Mandya Jilla Kannada Sahitya Sammelana). He is survived by his son Manoj, a software professional in the USA. Check out latest videos from DH: Dear Madam, I am a PU student. I would like to study nanotechnology for my post-graduation abroad. Please suggest which branch in engineering I should opt for at the undergraduate level. Also, what are the career prospects for nanotechnology? Rishabh Dear Rishabh, Nanotechnology engineering programmes use principles from biology, chemistry, electronics, and quantum physics. To be able to pursue your Masters in nanotechnology, you need to complete your Bachelors degree in any one of these fields: Physics, math, electrical engineering, materials science, chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, biomedical, biotechnology, electronics, life sciences etc. Career options could be in areas of biotechnology, agriculture, food, genetics, space research, aviation and aerospace engineering companies, defence companies, electronic and electrical companies, medicine, manufacturing industries, universities, research laboratories and pharmaceutical companies. Nanotechnology is one of the fastest-growing industry sectors worldwide with tremendous potential and is offered as a specialisation in most of the top universities across the world. Dear Madam, I am studying MBBS, I would like to pursue a masters degree in medicine abroad. Can you please recommend some good universities which are recognised by the medical council of India? Can I come and practice back in India? Dhyan Dear Dhyan, After MBBS, I would suggest you go to the UK for your masters. To study in UK you need to write the IELTS exam which is a very simple English language test. To be able to practice in UK, you have to write the PLAB exam. While most universities accept an MBBS for an MRes, MPhil or MSc in an area of specialisation, some universities ask for two years clinical experience. Some of the best UK Universities for masters in medicine are Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, Kings College, Liverpool University, Glasgow University, Newcastle, Anglia Ruskin, Queen Mary and Edinburgh. To pursue your studies in US or Canada, you need to take the MCAT and USMLE exams. You could also consider an MD or PhD in areas such as cancer biology, cardiovascular biology, neuropharmacology and structural biology, immunology, microbiology etc among others. Admission would be based on your previous academic performance, graduate record examination score (general test), letters of recommendation and interviews with members of the department. The best medical schools in the US are Harvard, MIT, Dartmouth University, Duke University, John Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania and University of Southern California. In Canada, I would recommend McGill, University of Toronto and University of British Columbia. You can certainly come back to India and practice if you study at a reputed university. Dear Madam, I want to do a masters in biotechnology in a university abroad. I have no idea where to start. Could you tell me what I should consider before making the decision to study abroad? How do I choose a university? Devaki Dear Devaki, First decide on the country you want to go to. If it is the UK, take the IELTS academic test. If it is the US, Canada, or European countries like Germany, Netherlands or Sweden, please take the GRE too. Keep in mind the reputation of the university: pick a university that is known for its quality of education, faculty, research facilities, student satisfaction and placement opportunities. While most universities will offer most subjects, choose the one that offers what you want. Also, pick a university that is reasonably priced and offers merit based scholarships and financial assistance. Some countries allow you to work for 20 hours per week during weekdays and 40 hours per week during weekends and holidays. With your study visa, you are expected to stay in their country until the completion of your course after which you are given a limited time depending on the country to find yourself a job. Some countries offer two to three years post-study work visas. The duration of your course matters too and will vary from country to country. For instance, most masters programmes are for a duration of one year in UK while they take two years in the US, Canada and some other countries. The shorter the duration, the lesser you spend. You not only save on your tuition fee for one year but also on your living expenses. Most universities in the UK and Canada offer a placement year with your course. This increases the duration of the course by one year and hence a longer study visa, you get a paid placement and there is no tuition fee (for the placement year. This option not only gives you hands-on work experience in a global environment but also allows you additional time to network with potential employers. Location, weather, campus size, facilities like resource centres, sports, clubs, housing options both on-campus and off-campus are other aspects you should consider. A Coleraine man who sent emails to news outlets making 'false and scurrilous' allegations about a former co-worker has come within a 'hair's breadth' of going to prison, a court has heard. Geoffrey Brian Moffett, of Redwood Park, Coleraine, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court last week and entered guilty pleas to two charges of improper use of public communications. The injured party was present in court as 34-year-old Moffett appeared in the dock in relation to the charges, which dated back to offences committed between October 9 and October 12 2020. The court heard how the injured party's wife was made aware of an email sent to a number of news outlets about her husband, who was seriously ill in hospital at the time. The email made claims of a 'scurrilous and totally unfounded' nature about her husband. Police seized a copy of the email, which had been sent from a Gmail address bearing a woman's name and made an application to trace the origins of the email. After taking statements from the news outlets to which the email was sent, they discovered the original had been sent on October 10 2020, with a reply received on October 11. The defendant, who runs the Causeway Coast Community website and social media networks, had responded to the reply from the news outlet which asked questions relating to the original email. The internet provider address was traced to the defendant, and Moffett was interviewed about the offending on February 4 2021. During interview, he stated that he had used the email address, and told police he sometimes used fake email addresses in his line of IT work. Geoffrey Brian Moffett. He explained he knew the injured party as they had worked together in the past, but had 'had issues' and were no longer working together. When asked if he had sent the email on October 10, he said he had done so 'accidentally' and that he had meant to send it to a friend. He said he did not compose the original email and could not say who had sent to him. Police said they did not believe his account as the news outlets had received two replies from the defendant. Moffett could not explain how the replies had occurred, telling police he had received an email from an unknown source and accidentally sent it to the news outlets. Defence for Moffett said the defendant had made it clear he had sent the email accidentally and had not sent it to the injured party. Judge King indicated that the 'to and fro' of emails belied Moffett's suggestion that he had sent the email in error. Defence conceded that Moffett had been the 'author of his own downfall', but drew the judge's attention to references showing 'how much Mr Moffett does in his community'. He told the court he spreads police pleas for information regularly and would be up to 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning at weekends to promote community material. Judge King said anyone who is involved in social media had to be aware of the potential 'devastating' impact it can have on those negatively affected by it. He drew the defendant's attention to cases highlighted in the media of younger people who suffer cyber bullying and go on to self-harm. In this day and age, there is nobody especially with your business background who can claim ignorance of the damage and danger of online activity, he told Moffett. There is always the danger of the recipient of the false, scurrilous and outrageous allegations being the subject of adverse community attention. Judge King said the defendant had placed the injured party's reputation, family life and physical safety in danger with his 'completely obnoxious' allegations. He said the potential for harm to a completely innocent member of the community meant that the custody threshold had been crossed. Stressing that Moffett's guilty plea was an acknowledgement that the allegations he made were 'completely false', he sentenced the defendant to a period of four month's imprisonment, suspended for a period of three years. A restraining order was also imposed on Moffett, prohibiting him from contacting, or encouraging others to contact the injured party for three years. I am so appalled at the potential damage you could have caused, you came within a hair's breadth of prison today, Judge King told the defendant. Statement by Ambassador Kelly at the UNSC Briefing on the Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine Statement Mr. President, I would like to thank Under Secretary General Griffiths and High Commissioner Grandi for their sobering briefings and urgent calls to action today. The Russian Federations unprovoked and unjustified further invasion of Ukraine continues to visit death and destruction upon the country and its people, inflicting enormous hardship and suffering. Ireland stands in unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine. They have shown extraordinary courage and resilience. This fresh onslaught comes on the heels of eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine, which had already displaced over 1.4 million people who relied on assistance to meet their daily needs. The Russian Federations invasion has created a humanitarian catastrophe, compounding the suffering of millions with a rapidly rising toll of internally displaced persons and refugees in need of humanitarian assistance. Millions of people in Ukraine are grappling with the humanitarian consequences of a war not of their making. Innocent civilians, including children, are paying the terrible price of conflict. In Kharkiv, Kherson, and elsewhere, we have seen significant damage to essential infrastructure. This damage has left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity and water. It has deprived them of vital medical facilities, transportation services, and means of communications. This is unacceptable. Mr President, The parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law, including the obligation to attack only military objectives, the prohibitions against indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, and the obligation to take all feasible precautions in attack. Ireland is gravely concerned by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, which carries a particular risk of causing civilian harm in violation of these fundamental legal obligations. We are particularly concerned by reports today of indiscriminate Russian attacks and shelling in Kharkiv, causing death and destruction amongst the civilian population. The use of prohibited cluster munitions by Russian forces has been reported. If confirmed, this is a further damning indictment of its military aggression. Cluster munitions are by nature indiscriminate and we condemn all use of these weapons in all circumstances. Ireland urges against attacks on infrastructure and installations including nuclear power plants. Such attacks would have profound effects on the health of millions and render the surrounding environment uninhabitable for generations to come. Any armed attack on and threat against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of international law, including the principles of the United Nations Charter, Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions and the IAEA Statute. We also expresses our great concern at the deployment of weapons and armaments, or conducting missile strikes directly from the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Mr President, The Russian Federation must protect all civilians in Ukraine. We recall its obligations to respect international humanitarian law and human rights law. The safety of all humanitarian and medical workers must be ensured. Humanitarians must not be prevented from ensuring principled assistance is delivered where it is most needed, when it is most needed. Ireland and its EU partners are providing significant humanitarian support and we stand ready to do more. We commend our EU partners and Moldova for their generosity and solidarity in providing shelter to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the war. They are deserving of our support in providing timely humanitarian assistance, especially to the most vulnerable the elderly, the young and the sick. We appeal to all countries in the region to keep their borders open to all of those seeking safety and protection. Ireland is already providing humanitarian support, including core funding to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, as well as announcing a 10 million humanitarian package in recent days. When conflicts rage, unpredictable, even barely conceivable outcomes can become all too real. Threats to unleash forces that cannot be controlled, including threats of nuclear weapons are utterly unacceptable. Ireland has long argued that nuclear weapons offer no security. Their use would cause devastation in the region and beyond, bringing a new blight on humanity for generations to come. That is not a prospect that any of us should be willing to contemplate. Mr. President, we urge the Russian Federation to immediately cease hostilities, unconditionally withdraw from the entire territory of Ukraine, and refrain from further threats or the use of force of any kind against Ukraine or any other Member State. In sum, we urge Russia to turn away from war and choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy. This is the right path, and the time to take it is now, before any more lives are ruined or lost. Thank you. Previous Item | Next Item OxygenOS will use the ColorOS codebase under the hood. OnePlus had announced it will be merging its OxygenOS and its sister concern Oppos ColorOS for an unnamed Unified OS. This was all part of its OnePlus 2.0 vision and something tech media started calling as Oppofication of OnePlus and OxygenOS. There was a lot of backlash from the OnePlus community and the larger tech media and Android fans. Well, probably owing to the mounting pressure from these social groups, the company has decided to call off its plans for this Unified OS. In other words, OxygenOS and ColorOS will retain their individuality, even though the internal codebase between the two OSes will be the same. Now, thats a major development, albeit a bit nebulous, not gonna lie. So, lets try to read into what OnePlus has disclosed recently. OxygenOS 13: What to expect At a recent media roundtable, OnePlus c-suite said, Our software philosophy for Oxygen OS has always been to offer users a light and clean experience that is close to stock Android and oriented towards usage globally. With Oxygen OS 13, we want to deliver an experience that long-time OnePlus users will be familiar with while ensuring it upholds hallmarks of Oxygen OS, like a fast and smooth experience, burdenless design, and ease of use. Oxygen OS 13 will retain its unique visual design and a range of exclusive customization features. Now, there are a few mixed signals here. As in, on one hand, they are talking about going back to their vanilla Android roots but also plans of continuing the customization features. Now, we are not sure if they are referring to the core OxygenOS features like Shelf, or the new thingies like the ColorOS launcher. Also, one other thing that we came to know is the involvement of Google in the cooking of this new software. However, whether this is just the usual role it plays in guiding Android updates, we aren't sure. We will have to wait and see how this would materialize. For more news, buying guides, features, reviews, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in. Subscriber content preview By STAN CHOE and ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writers NEW YORK (AP) Markets quivered Monday amid worries about how high oil prices will go and how badly the global economy will get hit after the U.S. and allies upped the financial pressure on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Stocks swung up and down several times, leaving the major indexes mixed. Investors herded into bonds in search of safety, pushing yields sharply lower, and the value of the Russian ruble plunged to a record low. . . . Subscriber content preview By JOCELYN GECKER and ADAM BEAM Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. Schoolchildren in California, Oregon and Washington will no longer be required to wear masks as part of new indoor mask policies the Democratic governors of all three states announced jointly on Monday. With declining case rates and hospitalizations across the West, California, Oregon and Washington are moving together to update their masking guidance, the governors said in a statement. . . . Subscriber content preview INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A 54-year-old man died after he fell into a newly excavated trench and was buried beneath mud and debris at a suburban Indianapolis construction site, authorities said. Workers with HIS Contractors told first responders the man was standing on the edge of a trench that was 6 feet wide and 40 feet long Sunday afternoon when the ground gave way. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An apartment building at 4529 44th Ave. S.W. sold last month for almost $4.2 million, according to King County records. The seller was 1405 State Street Investors LLC, which acquired the property in 2017 for about $3.6 million. . . . For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website at ladowntownnews.com/site/privacy.html By clicking to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. Duncan, OK (73533) Today Thunderstorms likely - a few may become strong. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 62F. Winds SE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely - a few may become strong. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 62F. Winds SE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch. Some of the best years of my life I miss those people. Good times and memories, but I have moved on. Not my best days, but I have made peace with them. Glad to be away from those people I dont miss the high school experience. Vote View Results Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Independent Councillor Maeve Yore, a member of the HSE Louth Disability Forum, welcomed the news that a new respite house is due to be opened by the end of April in Dundalk, that will provide 4bed/7night/48week respite, to a greater group of people availing of respite including those with complex needs. Cllr Yore attended a meeting on Monday with HSE management and Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Anne Rabbitte, where she highlighted with Minister Rabbitte, the lack of communication and information from the HSE to those availing of respite, the staff of Struthan House, the residents of Ashbrook and the Louth HSE Disability Forum Members. She asked the HSE Management who attended the meeting whether the staff from Struthan House will be offered the opportunity to redeploy to the new respite facility and the reply received was if staff were willing, had a preference all options would be explored. The Independent Councillor queried whether a busy housing estate was suitable for the person who now resides in Struthan and urged the Minister and the HSE to provide every possible suitable support and service to help them on their path to recovery. Councillor Yore requested that Minister Rabbitte met with respite users as her predecessor Finian McGrath had and the Minister agreed too stating she hopes to be back in Louth for the opening. After the meeting Councillor Yore introduced the Minister to Struthan staff members and John Morgan, an advocate for people with disabilities, who also sought clarification from the Minister in relation to their employment options. Mr Morgan highlighted to the Minister that Staff and those who avail of respite are like family and want to continue building on that excellent relationship. Cllr Yore also took the opportunity to raise with the Minister, what she called the apparent inaction and lack of ownership of successive Governments, to bring before the Courts those responsible for the sexual abuse of people with Intellectual disabilities across residential care and foster settings in Ireland and highlighted the anger, frustration and disgust felt by families of people with Disabilities in Ireland. Workers who have spent over 15 years working at National Pen in Dundalk and are now facing redundancy, are said to be very disappointed, following the final redundancy offer made to them by the company. Around 100 workers are facing redundancy over the coming months as the company, owned by parent company Cimpress plc, moves part of its operation to the Czech Republic. The final offer made to workers by management last week, is for statutory redundancy, along with 1.65 weeks pay for each year worked up to 15 years, and 0.65 of a weeks pay for every year worked over 15. The offer was revealed to the Dundalk Democrat by Louth TD, Ruairi O Murchu who said the workers, particularly those with over 15 years loyalty to the firm, were very disappointed. The Sinn Fein TD hit out at Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, who said following National Pens redundancy announcement last month that the company would offer an attractive redundancy package, but this was, Deputy O Murchu said, an ugly offer. Deputy O Murchu said that the workers representatives had engaged with management at all stages and had hoped for a more generous offer, particularly as the company is in a robust financial position and the move to the Czech Republic would save millions of euro every year. The past number of weeks have been very stressful for the employees, said Deputy O Murchu, with intensive negotiations going on with management on two days each week. He continued, Ultimately, the offer was made last week and there is widespread disappointment at what is on the table, particularly in light of the fact that Tanaiste Leo Varadkar had assured them that the offer from the company would be attractive. However, the ex-gratia payment, which is paid on top of the two weeks statutory redundancy, is anything but attractive. Just over half a week for each year over 15 years service is very, very disappointing. The local TD added, there are around 60% of the workers are in the position where they have over 15 years of loyalty, working hard to bring the company to the position it is in now, and half a week is all that is offered to them. Communities in Louth are being called on to register for National Spring Clean 2022, Irelands largest and longest anti-litter campaign, to help make a tangible impact on the environment. National Spring Clean is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce in partnership with Local Authorities and supported by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Mars Wrigley Ireland. In 2021 2,500 Louth volunteers participated in organised clean-ups to show their support to the National Spring Clean. The National Spring Clean traditionally takes part in the month of April. For the past 23 years 85,000 clean-ups have been organised with volunteers dedicating a total of 12 million hours to remove around 42,000 tonnes of litter across the country. National Spring Clean 2021 was the biggest and the longest campaign so far, taking place between March and August, and despite the current situation and restrictions at the start of the year, 5,543 groups registered to carry out clean-ups throughout the country and collected an estimated 3,000 tonnes of litter around Ireland. This year, building on the success of previous years, the hope is to make the National Spring Clean campaign the biggest yet. The National Spring Clean is also an opportunity for volunteers to take local actions to make a change at a global scale. Over the last couple of years, the National Spring Clean has also been trying to raise awareness about the link between litter and climate change the biggest environmental challenge of our time and highlight how combined local actions can have a global effect. Our consumption patterns and how we dispose and treat our waste has a substantial impact on the levels of emissions of several greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. National Spring Clean, Chairperson, Michael John OMahony, commented: We have all been through some unprecedented times over the last two years. We all became more aware than ever before of our local areas. Participants continued to undertake great work for National Spring Clean in family bubbles or as individuals during these times. However, we can now look forward to working together again as larger groups and communities and celebrate the success together. The National Spring Clean programme is inviting people to visit the website at www.nationalspringclean.org to request a free clean-up kit. While waiting for the National Spring Clean to officially kick off, the programme is also inviting communities around Ireland to join other initiatives. For example, volunteers are invited to take part in the #2minutestreetclean campaign and join the conversation on social media (details in the editors note). Furthermore, to celebrate Womens Day, the National Spring Clean programme will be sharing on social media stories of women who have made a positive impact on our environment and is calling people in county Louth to share their own stories about women volunteers. Carlingford Heritage Centre have announced an afternoon of street theatre due to take place at The Tholsel Gate, Carlingford, Co.Louth on 12th March: Performance times:11 am. 12:30 pm & 2pm. ( Weather permitting) The theme of our event is bullying and exclusion. Through workshops with primary and secondary schools we will explore history, heritage, and exclusion. The event will present an exhibition of children's stories based on our theme of bullying and exclusion and inclusion in Carlingford Heritage Centre. This project is part of the St. Patricks Festival. We were lucky enough to be one of ten recipients of a Tiktok sponsored fund. The audience will experience a fun interactive piece of immersive street theatre! Where they will be transported back in time to 1422, to experience Medieval Carlingford. Walk down memory lane in Ireland's Ancient East, to explore the sights, and scenes of an Anglo-Norman town and experience the harsh times of living under the Statutes of Kilkenny. Will you make it through the Tholsel gate? Get your Free ticket online: www.carlingfordheritagecentre.com Dundalk Institute of Technology have been shortlisted in conjunction with Louth LEADER Partnership for an AONTAS STAR 2022 Award. AONTAS is an organisation whose core mission is to support and transform lives through adult learning and their Annual Awards are a celebration of this objective. DkIT were shortlisted for both their Pathways & Headstart Programmes that are a collaboration between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Louth LEADER Partnership through funding received under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). The programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered by the Louth Local Community Development Committee. The programmes aim is to provide access routes into Third Level Education for groups that have previously struggled to gain entry or assistance to Higher Education. Johdi Quinn (DkIT Pathways & Headstart Co-ordinator and Community Development and Spanish Lecturer) said: The biggest impact for me is that learners who are now studying at DkIT are telling me that going to college was beyond their wildest dreams before they did Pathways and Headstart. We have reached people and communities who have always thought that education wasnt for them. But its not just about people returning to education. I believe it has given people confidence, resilience, the courage to dream again and more than anything, hope. These supportive courses have run for the last 5 years and offer a clearly defined route starting with a 14-week Third-Level taster programme which includes 3 modules from DkIT; Psychology, Community Development and Creative Media. The Pathways Programme is delivered on an outreach basis in participants own community venues. It is intended for community members to build their confidence and get a feeling of what college would be like in a safe and non-intimidating space. The follow-on programme, Headstart, is aimed at those with an interest in pursuing Higher Education and comprises of a 9- week exploration of study skills, including, academic writing, presentation skills, group work, time management, learning to learn, career guidance and assignment feedback. Maeve Harkin (Social Inclusion Manager with Louth LEADER Partnerships SICAP Programme) said: Our collaborative Back to Education access courses with DkIT have supported people living in socially disadvantaged communities, unemployed people, one-parent families, ethnic minorities, refugees and asylum seekers, people with disabilities, people with mental health issues and people on low incomes. The focus and mission of these programmes is to build self-confidence and remove as many obstacles as possible to allow access to life changing education for all. The number of Pathways graduates over the 5-year life span has totalled 142 and to date we are delighted to report that 58 people have graduated from the Headstart Programme. DkIT are thrilled that Headstart graduates are in all 4 years of their DkIT Degrees including programmes such as Social Care, Community Youth Work, Arts, Audio & Music Production, Creative Media, Hospitality Management, General Nursing and Mental Health Nursing. Many graduates have also secured employment because of having completed both programmes. Lawyers acting for Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier who denies membership of Islamic State, are objecting to evidence that allegedly shows Facebook messages between the accused and various people including a convicted terrorist. Ms Smith (40) from Dundalk, Co Louth is on trial at the Special Criminal Court where she has pleaded not not guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019. She has also pleaded not not guilty to financing terrorism by sending 800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6th, 2015. During legal argument before the three-judge, non-jury court, Detective Sergeant Carrie O'Connor told prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC that she received a warrant in December 2019 for access to Facebook messages dating back as far as 2013. She said she believed Ms Smith had been in contact with various known people including John Georgelas, an American convert to Islam who was wanted in the United States to face charges of providing support for a terrorist organisation and conspiring to support a terrorist organisation. Georgelas is believed to have died fighting for Isis. The detective also believed Ms Smith had used Facebook to communicate with an Australian man named Robert Edward Cerantonio who pleaded guilty in Australia in 2016 to taking part in preparations for an incursion into the Philippines to promote hostile activities. Michael O'Higgins SC, for Ms Smith, will submit arguments objecting to the evidence contained in the Facebook messages tomorrow Wednesday. Mr Justice Tony Hunt is presiding with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne. It's just a month away until a group of people from Louth and Meath are to climb Slieve Foy in north Louth, for two men suffering from Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and to help raise funds to support Research Motor Neurone at Trinity College Dublin, where they are working on better understanding the causes of MND. Paula Lavin, Senior Manager of St Colmcilles Ladies GFC and teacher in Colaiste Ris, along with Cllr Maeve Yore and Garda Lisa Smith, are calling on the people of Louth and Meath to come out and climb the saddle of Slieve Foy for Sean Woods and Roy Taylor on Saturday 2 April. Sean Woods and Roy Taylor are both living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and are well-known figures within the community of Louth and further afield. Sean Woods is known for his brilliance as a mechanic for over forty years and is much loved in motor racing circles. The Dundalk man is an accomplished racing driver and former team owner, a role in which he was equally as successful. Roy Taylor is no stranger to the limelight either, having represented Ireland in the Eurovision song contest in 1988 with his band Jump the Gun. He also released the song, My New Dream with his son Terence, which reached number one in the iTunes charts in Ireland. The song was aimed at raising awareness for MND and funds to aid research into the condition. Paula told the Dundalk Democrat that there are around 30 to 40 people in the Louth/Meath/North East with MND. She explains that funds raised from the climb will go to support Research Motor Neurone at Trinity College Dublin, where they are working on better understanding the causes of MND; finding better ways to diagnose patients more quickly, and more effectively; and delivering new effective treatments. Paula says that a new, prestigious research programme called Precision ALS, fronted by Professor Orla Hardiman at Trinity College, will now focus on delivering these goals as an end to MND is sought, once and for all. She adds that with the publics amazing support, we will be able to fund this world class research. One day soon, we will be able to get the right drug to the right patient at the right time and give much needed hope to those suffering from MND and their families. Lisa, wife of Roy Taylor says of MND that, its a life changing disease, it can only be described as a horror story from hell. It changes life completely not only for the sufferer, but also for the entire family. Every minute of every day is consumed by the incredible pain and suffering it causes. For the sufferer there is unimaginable pain being trapped in a body that doesnt function anymore, and for their loved one the deepest sadness and stress knowing with all the help you can give, this disease keeps pushing you further, she adds Paula says that it is Sean and Roys wish that all funds from this event go directly into research. We hope we can achieve this by selling 500 tickets at 20 each, and raise 10k for Research Motor Neurone. All tickets are available online: sean-roy-climb-for-rmn.eventbrite.ie A committee of Paula Lavin, Cllr Maeve Yore and Garda Lisa Mc Cabe has been set up to organise the event and Paula says that great work has been done already to ensure this day is a success for all involved. Jock Mc Ardle has also got involved and is a great addition, for he is an experienced guide and will be out with all his crew on the day leading us in the right direction, says Paula. Thanks to all those who have registered and donated to the event so far, and to Seamus at Anchor Tours who will provide free shuttle buses on the day, and to Richard and Jamie at print express for their kind donations of free posters, she adds. Cllr Maeve Yore also adds that the families want to thank the HSE for their ongoing support and are overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of their local community and friends. "They want to also acknowledge with gratitude the help of Garda Lisa McCabe, Carlingford Garda Station; Jock McArdle and his Leaders; Louth Civil Defence; and the Order of Malta in volunteering for this Research Motor Neurone Fundraising Walk on behalf of Sean and Roy. Paula ends by asking that people and their communities sign up and register for the event. Whether you end up going on the day or not, please buy a ticket as we all can make a difference here, she asks. "This climb is about awareness of Research Motor Neurone, no level of fitness is required so lets come together on Saturday April 2nd and make this a memorable day for Sean, Roy and their families. The Government has hailed the 20 billion euro national service plan budget as the largest ever, as senior officials warned that urgent reforms were still at the mercy of Covid-19 uncertainties. The National Service Plan, published on Tuesday, pledges to cut waiting lists and continue Ireland on the path to universal healthcare. But Health Service Executive (HSE) chief executive Paul Reid admitted that reaching the targets would pose a challenge to a health system buffeted by the pandemic and still experiencing recruitment difficulties. HSE chief executive Paul Reid said measures contained in the plan posed a challenge to the health service On Tuesday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: This is the largest financial allocation ever received by the health and social care services and it comes at a time when we are continuing to deliver reforms and improvements based on the recommendations of the Slaintecare report towards the delivery of universal healthcare. Mr Donnelly pledged that the plan would improve outcomes for people who need to engage with our public health service, continue to see capacity increased, build on the reforms and improve timely access. Under the plan, it is hoped the maximum time a patient will need to wait for a hospital consultant will be cut to 18 months by the end of 2022. With promises of an extra 210,000 inpatient and daycare procedures, the plan also pledges a further 297 acute beds, as well as nearly 20 more critical care beds. It comes amid plans to recruit an extra 5,500 to 10,000 staff. Mr Reid said: We will build on what happened in the past two years, in terms of increasing capacity in the community services, so particularly for older persons. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the plan would improve outcomes for people who need to engage with our public health service He pointed to new specialist teams on chronic health management, as well as more primary care services in the community. He said the plan has continued the investment in the community services to give people treatment outside of an acute hospital system. Along with that, some further investment in our acute hospital system for increased bed capacity and ICU capacity, he added. Discussing the plans to cut Irelands lengthy waiting lists, he described the plan as containing targeted measures. But he admitted that the measures contained in the plan posed a challenge to the health service. The risks are obvious in terms of some of the challenges around recruitment and some of the challenges around Covid that we can never fully predict, he said. But thats the plan that weve set out to mitigate some of those risks and address priorities, Mr Reid told reporters during an online briefing. Every day we get out of bed, were all uncomfortable because you never know what challenges health brings on any given day. I think the nature of our service plan each year, theres obvious risks in it. The last two years we were dealing with the risk of Covid and we are still living with the impact of Covid this year. But theres no doubt, across the whole of healthcare, the demands that come at us in terms of demographics that were experiencing, that cant be predicted but we know are going to increase, do put daily, weekly and annual pressures on our health service. Ultimately, every aspect of the service plan is always challenging. We said we aim to mitigate many risks on an ongoing basis. The plan also contained pledges to improve mental health services in Ireland, with the promise of the opening later this year of the new 110-bed National Forensic Mental Health Service in Portrane, Co Dublin. Mr Reid said there were uncertainties around future vaccination programmes Theres a promise of three new teams and cafes to open for mental health patients by the end of the year. Yet questions remain about what level of Covid-19 infrastructure will be required as part of the plan. On Tuesday, Mr Reid said that the extent of testing, tracing and public health infrastructure to remain in place was yet to be decided. He said: Theres two uncertainties around all of that. Number one will there be an annual booster programme for vaccinations and when might that kick in? Or is it a targeted vaccination programme around vulnerable groups? That was something we dont have confirmation on just now, the HSE boss added. Mr Reid added that the HSE was working on moving to a transitioning environment, which he said would be followed by a shift towards a system that was both sustainable but could shift immediately to an emergency model. He promised further clarity on the next steps in the coming weeks, but warned: We werent match ready in terms of pandemic workforce capacity and capability. We did scale the scale-up very well and scale up very well at pace, but we need to go into the next important phase knowing that we can keep some capacity and capability. Mr Reid rejected the idea that the reforms and the healthcare targets were contingent on the HSE recruiting a sufficient number of staff a recurring issue in Ireland. Were a high-dependency-on-people service. Thats the reality of the health services, he said. Many of the targets do relate to recruitment. However, its not a like-for-like correlation, if you dont get 10,000 well, heres what falls off in proportion. Some impact more than others, he said. We have to recruit 9,500 people just to stand still. Claremont, NH (03743) Today Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. How to Clip Click and hold your mouse button on the page to select the area you wish to save or print. You can click and drag the clipping box to move it or click and drag in the bottom right corner to resize it. When you're happy with your selection, click the checkmark icon next to the clipping area to continue. Cambodia police say blood-slave case faked By ZHAO RUINAN (China Daily) 08:49, March 01, 2022 The so-called blood slave case, in which a Chinese national had been reported to be detained illegally in Cambodia and had large quantities of blood taken from him, was fabricated, the Chinese embassy in Cambodia said on Monday, quoting local police. The Cambodian police informed the embassy of the preliminary results of an investigation and issued a police notice saying that the case was fabricated, the embassy said in a message on its WeChat account. On Feb 12, a hospital in Phnom Penh reported to the embassy that a Chinese man was admitted in a critical condition due to large quantities of blood having been drawn from him. The man was duped by a false job advertisement and was coerced by criminals into being smuggled into Cambodia, before he was illegally detained and had large quantities of his blood drawn, media reports earlier said. According to local police cited by the embassy, that's not the case. Li Yayuanlun, the Chinese national in question, was smuggled into the country, had a serious liver disease and later contacted a local social organization for help, the police said. But three people then assisted Li for different purposes to make and publicize the lie that Li had been detained illegally and had blood drawn from him multiple times, the police said, without giving more details. Cambodian police said they will transfer the case to Cambodian judicial authorities. The Chinese embassy said that it is still highly concerned about the case and will keep following up on it, protect the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties under the legal framework of China and Cambodia, and support and cooperate with local law enforcement authorities. The Chinese embassy also called on Chinese in Cambodia to abide by the laws of both countries and said they must not fabricate rumors and deceive the public. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has agreed with a management proposal to take steps in responding to the Russian-led invasion in Ukraine. They voted in large numbers to ask Governors to approve firm action against both Russia and Belarus. If approved by the Governors, the access of Russia and Belarus to EBRD finance and expertise would be suspended open-endedly. Governors will have thirty days to vote on this resolution under Article 8.3 of the Articles Establishing the Bank, the constitution of the EBRD, which makes provision for the suspension of access by a member to Bank resources in 'exceptional circumstances'. To pass the resolution under Article 8.3 requires the support of a majority of not less than two thirds of the Governors, representing not less than three fourths of the total voting power of members. Separately, the EBRD is also exploring, in cooperation with our partners, an emergency financing package for the region. Included could be liquidity support for the private and public sector, and municipalities affected by an influx of refugees. It would be a tangible symbol of support for Ukraine and other Countries of Operations caught up in the crisis. The Bank has made clear its condemnation of the invasion and its unwavering support for Ukraine. A 42-YEAR-old woman who carried out an aggravated burglary while armed with a knife was so delusional at the time she believed she was at home and she screamed at others to get out. Garda Anthony Garvey said he responded to the call to an apartment at Lancaster Quay off Western Road in Cork city. I was informed that a female entered with a knife. Rosemarie OSullivan was present. She was shouting and acting in an erratic manner. A window of the apartment was damaged and there was broken glass on the floor. She was not invited to the property, Garda Garvey said. Rosemarie OSullivan, of Ballybough Road, Dublin, and otherwise of no fixed address faced sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Prosecution barrister Dermot Sheehan put it to the guard: When you met her she was patently unwell and was dealt with under the Mental Health Act. She has been in prison or the Central Mental Hospital since that date March 9, 2020. Garda Garvey agreed with that suggestion. Defence senior counsel Ray Boland said: She was under the delusion that it was her apartment and she was telling people who were legitimately living there to get out, telling them to get out, that it was her property and of course it was not. Mr Boland said that after a long period at the Central Mental Hospital it was found that she was fit to plead. As soon as this finding was made she pleaded guilty to the aggravated burglary. In effect she has served more than two years in respect of this matter, if we take the CMH to be custody, which it basically is, Mr Boland said. More recently she has been remanded in prison custody. Judge Dara Hayes said: It is in her interests to have the matter put back for a probation report and I will remand her in custody for that purpose. The judge put the matter back until April 25. Radiation at the Chernobyl nuclear plant spiked above control levels, Ukraine warned on Friday. The announcement came the day after Russian forces captured the infamous plant on Thursday during the countrys invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported Thursday. The control levels of gamma radiation dose rate in the Exclusion zone were exceeded, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine said in a statement early Friday reported by The Washington Post. Data from the automated radiation monitoring system of the exclusion zone, which is available online, indicate that the control levels of gamma radiation dose rate (red dots) have been exceeded at a significant number of observation points. pic.twitter.com/G4WEGgkMcT Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (@ua_parliament) February 25, 2022 The nuclear facilities and other facilities at the site were not damaged, the statement said. Instead, the raised levels likely had to do with the military presence itself. Experts of the Ecocenter connect this with disturbance of the top layer of soil from movement of a large number of radio heavy military machinery through the Exclusion zone and increase of air pollution, an updated statement from the inspectorate said. Chernobyl was the site of the worst nuclear disaster in history in 1986 when explosions and fires at the plant let a radioactive cloud loose over parts of Europe, The Washington Post explained. Contaminated soil and other fallout remains at the so-called Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, a 1,000-square mile stretch of forest surrounding the doomed plant. The plant itself is around 62 miles from Kyiv, according to Reuters. Readings close to the reactor on Thursday rose by about 20 times, from the standard three microsieverts per hour to 65, BBC News reported. If the dose rates recorded correspond to real values, the situation is extremely worrying, French nuclear watchdog CRIIRAD told Reuters. However, the group said it was conducting its own research, and that the higher readings could have many causes, including interference from cyberattacks. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the public was not in danger because of the higher readings. Sheffield University nuclear materials expert professor Claire Corkhill agreed that the spike was likely caused by the movement of military vehicles kicking up radiation. These buildings are designed for containment, to keep radioactive materials inside, but theyre not necessarily armoured: theyre not designed to operate in a war zone, Corkhill told BBC News. However, she thought a new nuclear disaster at the site was extremely unlikely. Instead, a greater danger is posed by fighting near Ukraines working nuclear power plants. Chernobyl is inside a large exclusion zone, and the uninhabited space would mitigate the consequences of a second nuclear accident there. Ukraines other reactors are not similarly isolated, James Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote. Moreover, much of the fuel in these other reactors is substantially more radioactive than the fuel at Chernobyl. To put it simply, nuclear power plants are not designed for war zones. CRIIRAD said the country could enhance safety by shutting down working reactors, but this is difficult because Ukraine gets 50 percent of its power from nuclear energy, according to Reuters. Ukraine told IAEA Friday that its reactors were working safely and securely, BBC News reported. In another example of how the climate crisis is impacting Australian wildlife, the animal emblem of its capital territory will be listed as a threatened species. Australias Environment Minister Sussan Ley emailed Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti to tell her that the gang-gang cockatoo should be reclassified as endangered according to the threatened species list, as Australias ABC News reported. Gang-gangs are a much-loved species in Canberra, and so, obviously, we are saddened by the announcement, Vassarotti told ABC News. But we do welcome the announcement because what this does, is it provides us with the opportunity to increase focus on the species and it means that we will be able to work with other jurisdictions in terms of understanding what the health of this species is. Gang-gang cockatoos are a small cockatoo that lives only in southeastern Australia, according to eBird. They are gray-green in color, but the males have bright red heads and fluffy crests. Their call sounds like a squeaky door hinge. They are especially popular in Australias capital of Canberra, where they frequent both suburban backyards and nature reserves, The Guardian reported. The bird is just one Australian species whose conservation status had to be reconsidered after the extreme bushfires of 2019 and 2020. Most famously, koalas were listed as an endangered species last month after the bushfires precipitated their decline. Overall, their numbers had fallen by about half between 2001 and 2021. Gang-gang cockatoos were also struggling before the bushfires impacted 36 percent of the species range. We think that they were declining before the fires already as a result of climate change-related factors, professor Sarah Legge told ABC News in August 2021. Were quite sure that the bird has declined possibly by as much as 69 percent. Legge sat on the Threatened Species Scientific Committee that recommended the bird be considered endangered. The 2019 and 2020 wildfires really brought this bird to the attention of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee but it was in decline even prior to the fires, and the fires sort of made it worse, she told ABC News this week. Scientists think the fires caused the birds population to decline a further 21 percent, The Guardian reported. And the rising temperatures and increased fire risk caused by climate change are likely to threaten their habitat in the future as well. Their new status will mean developments that could impact them will need to be considered by the government. With climate change only going to make things harder for this cold-climate bird, the government needs to step in and better protect this amazing bird and the native forests that provide essential nesting hollows in old growth trees, BirdLifes urban bird project manager Holly Parsons told The Guardian. Malaysia opens subsidy applications for poultry farmers Malaysia's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries has opened subsidy applications for poultry farmers until June 5, 2022, Bernama Malaysia reported. The ministry said the subsidy rate is MYR 0.60 (~US$0.14; MYR 1 = US$0.24) per kg for poultry farmers and MYR 0.05 (~US$0.012) for eggs grades A, B, and C. MYR 528.52 million (~US$126 million) has been allocated for the subsidies that aims to benefit 2,255 breeders. Payment will be channelled directly to the farmers' accounts through Agrobank. The ministry said the subsidy will ease farmers' burdens especially for rising feed costs, which accounts for 70% of production costs. Other costs include logistics, labour, utilities and medicines. The ministry hopes the government's intervention will be able stabilise supply and ensure consumers can purchase chicken and eggs at an affordable price. Farmers can apply for the subsidies at any Department of Veterinary Services office, or visit the Department of Veterinary Services website to download the form and application guidelines. - Bernama Malaysia Effingham, IL (62401) Today Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. When I was growing up, if the Peru Tigers lost to the Marion Giants or the Logansport Berries, we accepted the verdict on the court. Those who didnt were labeled poor sports or bad losers. Chief Minister visits Isle of Man Ferry Terminal to see progress Progress is continuing on the construction of the Isle of Man Ferry Terminal in Liverpool. The Chief Minister and Infrastructure Minister made a recent visit to assess progress and meet the teams delivering the project. Crucially, the visit was an opportunity to understand fully the work undertaken to date, and what is required to ensure completion next year. Alfred Cannan said he looked forward to further visible progress being made over the coming months as things really start to take shape. Chief Minister sets out support for those fleeing Russian invasion of Ukraine The Chief Minister has announced support for the people of Ukraine as well as setting out further action against Russia. Alfred Cannan MHK said: The Isle of Man Government condemns the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and deplores the ongoing military invasion of Ukraine. I want to make it clear that the Isle of Man Government stands unreservedly in support of our friends in Ukraine. Their courage and resolve in the face of the advancing Russian forces has been remarkable. We also stand full-square with the actions by world leaders to bring sanctions against Russia and we will ensure that sanctions are enforced whenever they are requested. Funding for refugees Making a statement in the House of Keys, the Chief Minister said that half a million pounds (500,000) is being made available to support those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. The government is currently in discussions with the Disasters Emergency Committee which is expected to launch an appeal in the coming days to support Ukrainian refugees. Alternatively, the funding may instead be made available to UN agencies working in the region. Closure of Islands ports and airspace In his statement, the Chief Minister made clear that the Isle of Mans airspace and ports have now been closed to Russian aircraft and vessels until further notice. Visa applications The Isle of Man is mirroring the UKs approach in relaxing visa rules to support family members of British nationals who usually live in Ukraine. It means immediate family members are able to apply for a free family migration visa. A dedicated email address for those who need urgent support and guidance is available at UkraineGuidance@gov.im. The UK government has indicated this visa pathway is the first step in a wider range of measures to support those fleeing conflict. The Chief Minister said that the government will monitor the situation closely and if there are opportunities for the Isle of Man Government to offer additional support, it will do so. Sanctions On sanctions, the Chief Minister made it clear that the Isle of Man mirrors UK sanctions, including those recently introduced against Russia. This means that when a person or body is added to the UK sanctions list that person or body is automatically subject to equivalent measures in the Island. If, or when, the UK widens its sanctions for example, in respect of trade with Russia the Isle of Man Government will work to ensure that the Island has the same measures in place as quickly as possible. Work is underway to understand any Isle of Man links to Russian persons and entities, and the impact possible further UK sanctions measures may have. This includes but is not limited to the Islands aircraft, shipping and general registries. The Chief Minister added: We will work to ensure that we are not a weak link in international pressure on the Putin regime. We will continue to play our part in international efforts to bring about peace and support those affected by the conflict. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Athens, AL (35611) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Major crypto exchanges including Coinbase and Binance are refusing a request by Ukraine to freeze all Russian accounts, saying that doing so would harm civilians and be counter to their ideals. "To unilaterally decide to ban peoples access to their crypto would fly in the face of the reason why crypto exists, a Binance spokesperson told CNBC. In a tweet, Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Federov asked major crypto exchanges to freeze all Russian and Belarus accounts, not just the accounts of sanctioned oligarchs. "It's crucial to freeze not only the addresses linked to Russian and Belarusian politicians, but also to sabotage ordinary users," he said. Such a move would be in line with US and European Union sanctions against Russian banks and leadership designed to cripple the nation's economy. However, freezing crypto holdings could directly impact regular Russian citizens. Coinbase said it's already sanctioning any persons or entities in Russia as required by law, but won't go any further. "A unilateral and total ban would punish ordinary Russian citizens who are enduring historic currency destabilization as a result of their governments aggression against a democratic neighbor," it told Motherboard. Binance similarly stated that it wouldn't "unilaterally freeze millions of innocent users accounts." Binance, on the flip side, said it has committed to donate at least $10 million in humanitarian aide to Ukraine and launched a fundraiser with the goal of raising $20 million. The company is also currently under investigation by the US government for alleged money laundering and insider trading. Other exchanges including KuCoin also said they wouldn't go beyond anything required by law. Kraken exchange CEO Jesse Powell said that such a move would violate the company's "libertarian values." One exception is Dmarket, a Ukraine-based platform that allows people to trade NFTs and virtual in-game items. The company said in a tweet that it had cut "all relationships with Russia and Belarus due to the invasion of Ukraine." Toyota has reportedly halted vehicle production at all its plants in Japan following a cyberattack against a major supplier, Nikkei has reported. "Due to a system failure at a domestic supplier (Kojima Industries Corporation), we have decided to suspend the operation of 28 lines at 14 plants in Japan on Tuesday, March 1st," Toyota wrote on its global website. Kojima supplies both exterior and interior parts, including components used in its air-conditioning system and steering wheel. The parts weren't affected but Kojima was reportedly unable to communicate with Toyota or monitor production. The issue affected Toyota's "just in time" manufacturing system that requires parts be delivered just before they're installed so they don't have to be stocked. Toyota didn't mention a cyberattack on its website, but Kojima confirmed the issue. "It is true that we have been hit by some kind of cyberattack. We are still confirming the damage and we are hurrying to respond, with the top priority of resuming Toyota's production system as soon as possible," a Kojima official told Nikkei. Two other Toyota partners were reportedly hit, including truck manufacturer Hino Motors and Daihatsu Motor. The origins of the cyberattack, type of malware and other details have not been revealed. Toyota didn't say when it expects to restart the manufacturing lines, but the Japanese government is reportedly involved in the investigation. The American Council of the Blind, National Disability Rights Network, National Federation of the Blind and more than 170 other disability organizations signed a letter published today, calling for the Department of Justice to finalize rules for online accessibility. According to the letter, the rulemaking process began in 2010 "under Titles II and III of the ADA" but was withdrawn in 2017. Last year, US representative Ted Budd (R-NC) led the re-introduction of a bill proposing an Online Accessibility Act, which was initially introduced in October 2020. In today's letter, addressed to assistant attorney general Kristen Clarke, the signees urged "the Department of Justice to maintain this rulemaking process as a priority and finalize a rule by the end of the current administration." It states that while the DoJ has held that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) includes websites and other technologies critical to accessing a business' services, it has "failed to define when and how they should be accessible." Director of advocacy and government affairs for the American Council of the Blind Clark Rachfal told Engadget that at the moment, the DoJ enforces accessibility online "on a case-by-case basis." "This is equivalent to enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act for the physical build environment by going door-to-door along main street," he said. The signatories of this letter want the DOJ to create enforceable accessibility standards "to ensure equal access to telehealth, distance learning, remote work, and online commerce for all people with disabilities," he added. Efforts to come up with these rules have ebbed and flowed. The letter noted that "In 2018, the Department reconfirmed its position that the ADA applies to the internet but never completed rulemakings that were begun in 2010 under Titles II and III of the ADA and withdrawn in 2017." The result is an online world where people with disabilities struggle to get their needs met. According to WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind), about 97 percent of the 1 million pages evaluated had WCAG 2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) failures. These issues ranged from using low contrast text and missing form input labels to empty buttons and missing alt text for images. zlikovec via Getty Images "The absence of digital accessibility regulations in the intervening time period has resulted in persistent exclusion of people with disabilities from digital spaces covered by the ADA," the letter notes. It also highlights issues like "persistent barriers in telehealth accessibility," particularly for deaf users. While there haven't been quantitative studies on intersectional disabilities and how they relate to online accessibility, the letter states "anecdotal reports suggest that the vast majority of DeafBlind people are completely unable to utilize telehealth as it currently exists." An American Foundation for the Blind study that's cited in the letter found that almost 60 percent of educators surveyed in Fall 2020 reported "their blind and low vision students could not access one or more of the digital learning tools they were expected to use in class." As the world increasingly lives and conducts business online, it's crucial that the digital world is accessible by design. The letter points out that "These findings are neither exhaustive of all website-related issues nor comprehensive of the entire disability community." There's a lot of work and research still to be done. "The disability community is large and diverse, facing access issues that continue to grow and evolve with the ever-changing landscape of websites and applications." Having a set of rules in place will help enable clearer communication and implementation of the tools that will make websites (and apps) accessible to all. You didn't think Disney+ would only offer Marvel's Netflix shows in Canada, did you? Sure enough, Disney+ has confirmed it will carry Daredevil, Jessica Jones and other former Netflix exclusives in the US starting March 16th. Agents of SHIELD will be available, too. As you might imagine, though, Disney isn't about to release that decidedly darker content without a heads-up to parents used to more family-friendly material it's going to make everyone reconsider their content settings. The first time you use Disney+ from March 16th onward, you'll be asked to update your parental controls. You'll have the option of setting per-profile content rating levels, PIN codes for more mature accounts and "Kid-Proof Exit" questions for child profiles. You'll remain at the usual TV-14 rating if you stick with the existing settings. The service has used strategies like this in places like Africa, Europe and the Middle East, but is now expanding that approach to the US. Disney wasn't shy about the reasons for bringing the Netflix shows to Disney+ instead of Hulu, where mature shows are more expected. It "made the most logical sense" to serve Marvel fans by streaming more content in one place and reach a "broader audience," the company said. The parental controls will help Disney+ preserve both its trust and its reputation. The Marvel productions were slated to leave Netflix as of today (March 1st). Disney telegraphed its attention for years, warning as early as 2017 that it would drop Netflix in favor of its own services. Netflix cancelled all of its Marvel shows by 2019, and Disney has given former Netflix characters limited roles in Hawkeye and Spider-Man: No Way Home. The US additions reflect the careful balance Disney+ has tried to strike since launch. While it's eager to maintain the stereotypically clean Disney image, it's also determined to attract subscribers drawn to content that doesn't quite fit that mold, whether it's Star's wider selection in some countries or exceptions like Hamilton. This latest expansion appears to continue the strategy Disney+ isn't about to sacrifice viewers to avoid an inconsistency between the Netflix productions and its 'safer' Marvel fare. Facebook is taking new steps to curb the influence of Russian state media outlets on its platform. The company, which has already blocked access to RT and Sputnik within the European Union and Ukraine, now says it will demote all Russian state media across Facebook and Instagram around the world. Calling the move unprecedented, Metas president of Global Affairs Nick Clegg, said the company was making Russian state media harder to find on Facebook and Instagram. We are demoting content from Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts for Russian state controlled media outlets, Clegg said during a call with reporters. We have also begun to demote posts that contain links to Russian state controlled media websites on Facebook over the past few days. While Facebook has in the past down-ranked certain types of content, like vaccine misinformation, its unusual for the company to demote a wide swath of content entirely. RT in particular is prolific on social media, and has millions of followers on Facebook alone. On the call, Clegg called the move unprecedented, and noted that Meta has received requests from a number of governments to suppress Russian state media. So far, the company has only blocked the pages entirely in the European Union following a ban from lawmakers and inside of Ukraine. Facebook In addition to demoting content, Clegg said Facebook will also add labels to all links to Russian state media websites that are shared on its platforms in order to provide more information to people before they share them or to let them know that they lead to state controlled media websites. Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts controlled by state media will also have labels. The labels, which are expected to roll out in the coming days, will appear on any link to Russian state media and will warn that Facebook believes the publisher is "partially or wholly under the editorial control of the Russian government." Facebook's head os Security Policy Nathaniel Gleicher added that the company will be on the lookout for new websites or links created to evade the policy. Facebooks latest update comes after several days of crackdowns on Russian state media from major tech companies. Twitter has also added new labels to state media outlets, and taken steps to reduce their visibility on its platform. TikTok has also blocked access to the content within the EU, and Microsoft has removed Russian state media from many of its platforms as well. Clegg also confirmed that the companys services are being throttled within Russia, a move the countrys regulators announced after Facebook declined to stop fact-checking state media accounts. We see the effect most particularly on video and other multimedia content the degradation of the service is definitely discernible, he said. Facebook has also enabled its "lock profile" tool for users in Russia and Ukraine, a step that locks down privacy settings and hides friends lists and prevents profile photos from being downloaded. Clegg said the company was also making "encrypted onto-to-one chats available on Instagram for all adults" in the countries. Instagram users there will also see notifications alerting them they can enable encryption in the app's messaging feature. Finnish software outfit Jolla has announced that it is attempting to disentangle itself from the Russian state interests that hold a significant stake in its business. Samuli Simojoki, current chair of Jollas board, posted (in Finnish) on LinkedIn, saying that Jolla is currently 45-percent owned by Rostelecom. The Russian telecommunications giant is itself 45-percent owned by the Russian government, and so while its not a majority stake, it is significant. Simojoki added that Jolla has been actively driving down its Russian business through 2021 and, at this point, does not make any money from the nation. But, until it can find a way of buying Rostelecom out, or somehow otherwise arranging a separation, the thorny issue remains. Jollas Chairman of the Board, Samuli Simojoki, opens Jollas current situation on LinkedIn. Original text in Finnish. https://t.co/osRqeeDNQ0 Jolla (@JollaHQ) March 1, 2022 Those with short memories might not recall that Jolla was the company that rose from the ashes of Nokias homegrown smartphone OS, MeeGo. Jolla, itself formed by former Nokia engineers, developed MeeGo into Sailfish, which was intended to offer a second alternative to Android in the then-burgeoning mobile world. After a not-too-successful attempt at launching its own handset in 2013, Sailfish pivoted to supporting Android devices as a replacement operating system for those tired of Google. By early 2015, having failed to make much of a dent in the world with that strategy, Jolla received positive overtures from the Russian government. Russias interest in Sailfish was, broadly speaking, part of a trend back then reflecting a wariness on behalf of other major nations of western technology. Both China and Russia, concerned that computers, tablets, smartphones and industrial applications were becoming entirely dependent on American-owned hardware and software, looked for alternative platforms to adopt. In late 2016, the Russian government approved Sailfish as a platform that could be used by government departments and officials. It subsequently signed similar deals in China and Latin America, where Jolla licensed its source code to a local partner. This was sufficient to help it avoid a second bankruptcy, although its financial woes have always been an issue. Its not clear, and we have emailed Jolla for further comment, what this will mean for Jollas future as a standalone business. In his LinkedIn post, Simojoki said that the company has received plenty of positive interest from European companies, but they will only sign up after Rostelecoms stake is gone. That, for now, leaves the company stuck in something of a Catch-22. Netflix isn't bowing to Russian pressure to carry state-owned TV channels. The streaming service confirmed to Variety that it wouldn't carry the 20 free state channels required under a Russian law, including Channel One, NTV and Spa. The company has "no plans" to offer the programming in light of the "current situation," a spokesperson said that is, it's not about to support Russian state media while the country invades Ukraine. The law, known in the country as the Vitrina TV law, requires audiovisual services with more than 100,000 subscribers to carry the channels. National regulator Roskomnadzor labeled Netflix as one of those services in December. The measure has yet to be enforced, but there have been concerns Netflix would soon have to comply. We've asked Netflix what it might do if the law takes effect. It might not be afraid to withdraw from Russia, however. Netflix only localized its service roughly a year ago, and it doesn't have employees in the country. It only started work on its first Russian original (an adaptation of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina) in May 2021, and a source for The Wall Street Journal claims Netflix has fewer than 1 million Russian subscribers. This may be more of a symbolic move than a major sacrifice. Nonetheless, it adds to a growing technology industry backlash to Russian state media. Companies like Meta, Microsoft and Google have heavily restricted Russian outlets like RT and Sputnik due to a European Union ban and general policies against disinformation. Western tech firms aren't willing to spread Russia's official message after the invasion of Ukraine, and they're increasingly unafraid of retaliation from Russian President Vladimir Putin's administration. The Ministry of Health and Wellness informs the public that the administration of the Covid-19 Vaccine (Pfizer Vaccine) which is scheduled at the Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium, Reduit will now be re-scheduled to Raised Plaza, University of Mauritius from Wednesday 02 to Saturday 05 March 2022 from 09 00 hrs to 15 00 hrs in alphabetical order. A to F Monday and Thursday G to N Tuesday and Friday O to Z Wednesday and Saturday The vaccination programme will resume normally at the Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium, Reduit as from Monday 07 March 2022. All those persons wishing to get vaccinated are kindly requested to bring their National Identity Card and their vaccination card along with them for the administration of the Booster Dose. Adolescents aged 12 17 years, attending the Vaccination Centre for their First Dose of Pfizer vaccine should bring along their recent birth certificate and should be accompanied by their parents. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Reddit has made r/Russia harder to find and stumble across in a move meant to minimize misinformation on the website. It has added the group to the list of "quarantined subreddits," which means it won't show up in search and recommendations, as well as in non-subscription-based feeds. Also, anyone who loads an r/Russia URL it will go through a portal where they'll have explicitly agree to visit the subreddit before seeing its content. Those who do choose to visit will see a warning at the top of the page that says "This Community contains a high volume of information not supported by credible sources." Engadget According to Mashable, the Russia subreddit mostly contained posts that justified or supported the country's invasion of Ukraine. Some accused Ukraine of being the one to spread misinformation, and some reportedly likened Ukrainian soldiers to Nazis. While there were some verifiable posts in the group, it also had a lot of content that could be quickly debunked. "We are clear in our policies that moderators and users may not attempt to manipulate and interfere with the conversations or communities on our platform," a Reddit spokesperson told the publication. Over the past few days, a number of tech companies have blocked access to Russian state-owned media in Europe following the EU's decision to ban them so they could "no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin's war." Facebook restricted access to RT's and Sputnik's pages across EU territories in addition to blocking them in Ukraine. Microsoft banned them from its ad network and de-ranked them in Bing search results. YouTube blocked access to their channels across Europe, and even TikTok made their accounts inaccessible within the EU. Mobile World Congress, best known for phones, next-gen mobile networks and everything related is having a laptop moment. Sure, Honor revealed its latest high-end phone, with the full-fat Android experience, but a lot of the headline devices have been laptops or hybrids or two-in-ones. Thats true of Samsung (Galaxy Book 2 Pro), Huawei (laptops, tablets and a hybrid) and now, Lenovo. Its revealed its first ThinkPad running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip the processor family usually used in smartphones. The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 chip is made for these kinds of devices. Its got some exciting specs: 5G support built-in, a heady 28 hours of battery life and a red ThinkPad tracker nub. Well wait on a full review to decide whether it lives up to the full ThinkPadTrackPad experience, but the wait wont be long: The ThinkPad X13s is slated to go on sale sometime in May, starting at $1,100. Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed The next OnePlus phone can fully charge in 15 minutes Qualcomm's X70 5G modem has an AI processor to improve signal strength Panasonic will start making Tesla's higher-capacity EV batteries by March 2024 ASUS Zephyrus G14 review: Still a solid 14-inch gaming laptop Lenovo's latest tablets include a Windows 11 detachable Lenovo's new ThinkPad X1 Extreme runs on 12th-gen Intel chips Crypto exchanges refuse to freeze all Russian accounts as Ukraine requested But when can I buy one? Honor The once-Huawei subsidiary is, unlike its former owner, able to combine high-specced devices with, thankfully, all the Android and Google features we demand. Its latest flagship family, the Magic 4 and Magic 4 Pro are, once again, stylish, competitively priced phones with some notable tricks. Honors Eye of Muse-branded camera setup (dont ask) features two 50-megapixel cameras on both phones, with the Pro packing a 64-megapixel telephoto camera with a 3.5x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom. (The vanilla Magic 4 gets a more humble 8MP periscope camera.) The Magic 4 Pro also gets a direct time-of-flight (DTOF) sensor to help with focusing and improving image quality. The Magic 4 Pro will cost 1,099 ($1,230) in Europe when it launches. The Magic 4 will cost 899 ($1,006). Continue reading. Both are available now. LG is once again updating its CineBeam 4K projectors, and the upgrades are good news if you tend to watch during the day. Both the HU715Q Ultra Short Throw laser projector and the HU710P laser-LED hybrid promise better daytime viewing, with a new auto-brightness feature on the HU715Q. The HU710Ps move to a wheel-free hybrid offers brighter overall pictures than its predecessor. LG is already shipping both CineBeam projectors , starting at $2,499 for the HU710P and $2,999 for the HU715Q. Continue reading. The country has also dropped US involvement in a Venus probe. Russia is cutting some of its cooperation with international space programs in response to sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. Roscosmos is "suspending" cooperation with European partners on launches from the Guiana Space Centre in retaliation for EU sanctions. The Russian space agency also announced it's pulling staff from the French Guiana-based Spaceport. Continue reading. The device will also stick with OxygenOS instead of shifting to a unified OS. While most OnePlus phones had been available globally before "reaching" China, that wasn't the case with the OnePlus 10 Pro, which has so far been China-exclusive since its January launch. That's about to change. The company announced at MWC that its latest flagship phone will finally head to the US, Europe and India "by the end of March." Continue reading. Adam Mosseri says there aren't enough people using iPads to justify fast-tracking an app. Godong via Getty Images It's been more than 11 years since Instagram launched, and there's still no native iPad app. According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, that's not going to change any time soon. In a series of tweets between Mosseri and prolific tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Mosseri said there weren't enough iPad users to justify making a dedicated app. Continue reading. TikTok has joined Facebook in blocking access to two Russian state media outlets in the European Union. Sputnik and RT are no longer able to post to audiences within the EU, and their pages and content will no longer be accessible to users in the bloc, a TikTok spokesperson confirmed. TikToks move comes as Facebook , Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft have also cracked down on the outlets, which have large followings on social media platforms. Facebook also said Monday that it was blocking access to the publications, and Twitter said it would label all tweets from Russian state media accounts.Those actions come after a broader order from EU officials to ban RT and Sputnik. Uber hopes to accelerate a planned sale of its remaining holdings in Yandex.Taxi, the Russian-owned ride-hailing platform, reported The New York Times. Uber owns a 29% stake in the service, which was roughly equivalent to $800 million at the end of 2021. While speeding up the sale is directly in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, Uber has been looking to exit the Russian market for a while. Last year Uber announced it would sell its stake of Yandexs autonomous vehicle and food delivery divisions back to the Russian internet company for a total of $1 billion. In the wake of Mondays decision, three Uber executives resigned from the board of Yandex.Taxi. In light of recent events, we are actively looking for opportunities to accelerate the sale of our remaining holdings and, in the meantime, will remove our executives from the board of the joint venture, Uber said in a statement to the Times. The decision aligns with similar moves made by private US companies like Google, Apple, Meta, Netflix and others to cut ties with Russia in light of its invasion of Ukraine. It will also mark the end of what has been a very rocky ride for Uber in Russia, since it first launched in the country in 2014. The ride-hailing and food delivery market in Russia was already dominated by Yandex.Taxi, which is partly owned by Russias largest tech company, Yandex. Both companies entered in a $3.7 billion dollar deal in 2017, with Uber owning 37 percent of Yandex.Taxi. Customers in Russia can use either the Yandex or Uber app to hail a ride. Concerns that Yandex.Taxi is illegally harvesting user data prompted Lithuanias transport and economy minister on Monday to ask Google and Apple to remove the app from their respective app stores, citing national security concerns. Back in 2018, the head of Lithuanias cybersecurity center noted that the Yandex.Taxi app requests access to your camera, microphone and local data network, and urged locals not to use the platform. Yandex has denied the allegations and stated that the app complies with EU data regulations. Weather Alert ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM CDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be 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 6 AM CDT this 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. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible. * 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 will last much of Wednesday night before ending Thursday morning. Storm total amounts of 2 to 5 inches are expected. Given recent rainfall, these additional amounts may cause flooding. - 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. && Most people try to do good most of the time. That good, however, is not always met with the desired or anticipated response. As the old adage goes, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." Hollywood's elite definitely do not sit above the truth of this phrase. In fact, often, celebrities activate this saying in a much larger way than any layperson would be able to. As the world goes through its highs and its lows, the most famous among us will often try to help - and frequently, it does not work. Here are eight times that celebrities really tried to help, but it simply did not go as planed. 1. AnnaLynne McCord Poem Dear Mister President Vladimir Putin pic.twitter.com/LbDFBHVWJf AnnaLynne McCord (@IAMannalynnemcc) February 24, 2022 In light of Russia's attack on Ukraine, AnnaLynne McCord posted a video of herself reciting a poem in which she states she wishes she had been Putin's mother, had shown him life, and had, therefore, been able to prevent the current crisis the world is in right now. Others on the web sprung on the post, criticising her for both ill-timing and for propegating the problematic narrative that men's actions are women's responsibility. Yikes. 2. Gal Gadot 'Imagine' Cover The star of Death on the Nile, Red Notice, and Wonder Woman had a bunch of different celebrities record themselves singing "Imagine" in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. The video was edited together. The goal of the video was to show everyone that the world was united. However, the song just didn't hit the right note. Gadot has since apologized for it, saying, "It wasn't the right timing, and it wasn't the right thing. It was in poor taste. All pure intentions, but sometimes you don't hit the bull's eye, right?" 3. Kylie Jenner Pepsi Commercial I mean, we all remember this one, right? For those that need a quick catch-up, here's the moral of the story: suggesting through a commercial that you can solve racial relations with a can of soda is not a great plan. 4. Kanye West During the Hurricane Katrina Benefit I feel like a lot of the things that Kanye West does could go on this list, but this is a throwback which needs no explanation. You just have to watch this one. 5. Michael Jackson Hanging His Baby Over the Balcony Michael Jackson was just trying to show his baby to the world, but I feel like any parenting book or even basic common sense would dictate that maybe you shouldn't dangle a baby off of the balcony of a multi-story building for any length of time. There are several reasons one should not do this, namely that HUMANS OFTEN DROP THINGS! 6. Zac Efron Martin Luther King Jr. Day Post I am a MASSIVE Zac Efron fan, but this...was not great. He took to Instagram to post for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. He captioned the photo: "I'm greatful for a couple things today: Martin Luther King Jr. & 10 million followers on IG." Yeah...that's bad. Like, really bad. The actor later apologize for the, "completely insensitive," post. The original post has since been taken down, but the apology post is still there! 7. Katy Perry 'Roar' A whole neighborhood in Italy is singing Roar by Katy Perry while theyre on lockdown and self-quarantined. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/QCehrWHWg5 j (@suddenlyistan_) March 14, 2020 We know that in the earlier days of the pandemic, people in Italy were going outside on their balconies to sing together. Katy Perry was especially moved by a video of everyone singing Roar. She reposted the video with the caption, "You cannot break the human spirit. We are one in this." However, what she didn't know was that this video had been edited to make it sound like everyone was singing Roar. They were not. Awww, Katy! 8. Burger King UK We hear you. We got our initial tweet wrong and were sorry. Our aim was to draw attention to the fact that only 20% of professional chefs in UK kitchens are women and to help change that by awarding culinary scholarships. We will do better next time. Burger King (@BurgerKingUK) March 8, 2021 *sighs* I mean...they were...trying? In the UK, it was pointed out that only 20% of chefs are women. The company said, "We're on a mission to change the gender ratio in the restaurant industry by empowering female employees with the opportunity to pursue a culinary career." They even announced plans to start a scholarship program for female employees who want to work towards becoming a chef. While this all sounds like an incredible step in the right direction, the company, in order to promote the program, tweeted out "Women Belong in the kitchen." ....................DID NO ONE READ THIS TO ANYONE FIRST? Everyone is flawed. Most of the time, the worst things we see are actually just good intentions that went awry. However, it is pretty funny to look back on them now! There's an intriguing reason why Golda Rosheuvel's portrayal of Queen Charlotte on Bridgerton was almost too believable - as if she's part of such world in real life. According to her, she is. Rosheuvel claimed in an interview with Tatler that her mother was close with the Royal family, which made it easy for her to step into her character's shoes. To be precise, beautiful and expensive heels. She said she did not have to do much study because she was already familiar with the society in which this figure existed. She added that It was her mother's world and this makes it easy for her to play a queen. "Every time I dress up as Queen Charlotte, I pay homage to my mother," the actress continued. "Before the war, they had butlers; their world was very public school. My grandfather was the headmaster of Colet Court [St Paul's prep school], my great-uncle was Bishop of Barbados, later Archbishop of Jamaica, and when my mother visited him there, she had dinner with Princess Margaret," she added. The Regency Era drama returns to Netflix for season two on March 25 and fans can certainly see how regal she is once more. READ NOW: With A Big Win At SAG For 'King Richard,' Will Smith Thanks Everyone Who Made It Possible, Including Denzel Washington. The Shonda Rhimes-produced series will focus on Lord Anthony Bridgerton's [Jonathan Bailey] quest for love and, of course, lots of hot scenes this season. Meanwhile, another cast member of the famous program, Nicola Coughlan, discusses what viewers may anticipate from the show's future season. The actor was frank about everything during her most recent BBC Radio 2 interview with Claudia Winkleman, especially about what fans can expect of her character. "We see how she gets away with the things that she gets away with. And for me, it was so much fun because in series one she's a shy, retiring wallflower, and then series two you go, 'oh, she's got all this new stuff going on' and it was extremely fun to film," she shared of her character. Naturally, Netflix chose to surprise the show's fans on Valentine's Day with a sneak peek at the newest season of "Bridgerton." It certainly made people impatient for March 25 to roll around. It begins with a voiceover by Julie Andrews, who is known as the voice for "Lady Whistledown." "Dearest gentle reader," she asks. "Did you miss me?" Some fans would have certainly uttered yes in their minds while watching the trailer. READ ALSO: Legendary Actor Samuel L. Jackson Takes Joe Rogan To Task On The Context Of Using The N-Word. The continuing nationwide cooling of the coronavirus pandemic prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ease its mask guidance, now recommending them only in areas of high risk, with some exceptions. In areas where the COVID-19 risk is high, the CDC is still recommending people to wear masks indoors. The new recommendations do not change federal mask mandates on public transportation and inside bus stations, train stations or airports. Advertisement To give people better guidance on COVID precautions they should take, the CDC has also unveiled a new tool. The COVID-19 Community Levels guide is a variation on a previous tool that showed virus transmission levels for each of the nations 3,200 counties, but did not weigh other factors such as hospital capacity and recent COVID-19 hospital admissions. The new tool takes both factors into account, resulting in many more counties falling into low and medium categories where indoor masking is recommended only for high-risk people. Advertisement The map above, based on the most recent data, shows that only 15 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties are classified as having high COVID-19 community levels where indoor masking is still recommended. Those counties have a combined population of about 830,000 people, or 6.5% of the states total. Another 35 counties with more than 8 million people, or 63% of the states population including both Lehigh and Northampton counties are in the medium classification. Lehigh County has substantial virus transmission and Northampton County has high transmission, but hospital utilization and admissions are low enough that the current level of disease is not considered a threat to health care systems or a rise in serious illness. The final 17 counties, with 3.9 million people, or 30% of Pennsylvanias population, are in the low COVID-19 community level, meaning the CDC suggests simply keeping up with recommended vaccinations, getting tested if symptomatic and taking stricter precautions if in close contact with someone who has active virus. The CDC explains its rationale for the new tool on its web site: With current high levels of vaccination and high levels of population immunity from both vaccination and infections, the risk of medically significant disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 is greatly reduced for most people. At the same time, we know that some people and communities, such as our oldest citizens, people who are immunocompromised, and people with disabilities, are at higher risk for serious illness and face challenging decisions navigating a world with COVID-19. The shifting emphasis from preventing infection to preventing hospitalizations and deaths coincides with a similar announcement from the state Health Departments Friday that it is transitioning away from pandemic precautions and focusing on increasing vaccinations and shoring up beleaguered health care infrastructure. Johnny Depp's name conquered the internet again after "Fantastic Beasts 3" dropped its new trailer and poster. "Fantastic Beasts 3," officially titled "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore," earned attention after the franchise released its latest posters and trailer. On Monday, Warner Bros. hyped fans again with a trailer focusing on the characters' return to Hogwarts and a closer look at Mads Mikkelsen's Gellert Grindelwald. The three-minute clip showed the untold backstory of Dumbledore before showing familiar "Harry Potter" locations, including the Room of Requirement. While the new marketing materials unveiled what to expect in the upcoming flick, #JusticeForJohnnyDepp outshined it and took over Twitter's trending list again. Some fans still could not accept the fact that Depp has already been replaced, especially since they continuously fight for the actor's rights. As the franchise moved forward with Mikkelsen, Deppheads reminded everyone of the things Depp deserves. One said, "This is b*******!!! People can say whatever they want, but Johnny Depp will always be Grindelwald, and he did absolutely NOTHING to lose this role... #JohnnyDepp #JusticeForJohnnyDepp." "Last time a Fantastic Beasts trailer dropped, it was Johnny Depp who trended. This time, we have a new trailer AND film poster: Guess what happens? #JusticeForJohnnyDepp," another wrote. The hashtag keeps on resurfacing whenever an update related to Depp's former movies becomes available, and it was not the first time #JusticeForJohnnyDepp appeared. #JusticeForJohnnyDepp: Fans Want Best For Actor Before the recent "Fantastic Beasts" trailer and poster release, the same hashtag trended when Amber Heard scored a major role in "In The Fire." Variety confirmed that the "Aquaman" star would appear in the supernatural thriller film and that the recording would be held in Italy. The principal photography, meanwhile, happened on February 21. READ ALSO: Prince Charles Replaced? Prince William Prepares For New Royal Title As Future King Because of this, fans could not help but question the development since Depp lost his major roles after losing the libel case against The Sun. But amid all these, Depp still found hope as Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic previously awarded him a medal of honor for his "outstanding merits in public and cultural activities, especially in the field of film art and the promotion of the Republic of Serbia in the world." He might also reclaim his glory through a potential Oscar nod for "Minamata." READ MORE: 'Rust' Crew Member Shares Update After Suffering Spider Bite on Film's Set The Ukrainian people deserve EU membership, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a defiant and emotional address on Saturday (26 February), as at least 150,000 citizens of the country undergoing a Russian invasion are reported to have sought refuge in neighboring Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Intense fighting over the weekend appeared to stem some of the Russian advance towards the capital, Kyiv, after another night of explosions and gunfire, with reports of hundreds of casualties in the fighting. Ukrainian forces are battling Russian troops on the streets of Ukraines second largest city Kharkiv, according to local officials. The advance came after missiles rained down overnight (26-27 February), prompting the authorities to urge its 1.4 million residents to stay indoors. Ukrainians fighting to fend off Russian forces closing in on Kyiv are asking for weapons shipments including anti-tank weapons, as EU countries showed signs they are willing to cut themselves off from Russia financially. Meanwhile, in what is widely hailed as a historic reversal in Berlins long standing policy of never sending weapons to the conflict zone, Germany said it will supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks so it can defend itself against Russian aggression. The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It is our duty to do our best to support Ukraine in defending itself against Putins invading army, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday. The Ukrainian president welcomed Germanys decision. Before Saturdays turnaround, senior Ukrainian officials had been complaining bitterly for weeks about Berlins refusal to allow arms shipments to bolster Ukraines defenses. The details of Ukraines requests to NATO are classified so as not to expose gaps in Kyivs military capabilities but they reportedly include anti-tank and anti-aircraft rockets, small arms and ammunition. The Dutch government also announced it will send 50 Panzerfaust-3 anti-tank weapons and 400 rockets to Ukraine. The Netherlands is also jointly considering with Germany sending a Patriot air defense system to a NATO battle group in Slovakia. The EU, US and UK also finally reached an agreement Saturday to cut selected Russian banks out of the SWIFT global payment system and also to impose restrictive measures on Russias Central Bank. The measures were announced jointly and mark a major escalation of sanctions targeting Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. All of these measures will significantly harm Putins ability to finance his war and they will have a severely eroding impact on his economy, she said. Putin embarked on a path aiming to destroy Ukraine, but what he is also doing in fact is destroying the future of his own country. This comes after the former Polish Polish President of the EU Council, Donald Tusk, broke with normal diplomatic niceties on Friday (25 February) and launched a blistering attack on Germany, Hungary and Italy, saying they have disgraced themselves, voicing his disgust at the pretend strength of overnight European sanctions on Russia. You should be ashamed of yourselves for the rest of your lives that you left us all alone at this moment to face Russian aggression, Ukraines former ambassador to the EU, Kostiantyn Yelisieiev, lambasted the EU leaders who added to these voices. Yesterday I evacuated my family from the city and if anything was to happen to them, you should feel ashamed for the rest of your lives, he added, voicing raw emotion. Faced with what could be the biggest inflow of refugees in its history as a result of fighting in Ukraine, the EU still seems reluctant to go into its highest response mode to accommodate what could potentially be millions of frightened and hungry people. At least 150,000 people have so far fled Ukraine into Poland and other neighboring countries, some having walked many miles through the night while others fled by train, car or bus, forming lines kilometers long at border crossings. Those arriving were primarily women, children and the elderly after the Ukrainian president prohibited men of military age from 18 to 60 from leaving. Meanwhile, thousands of people took to the streets in cities across Europe, and all around the world over the weekend to protest against Russias invasion of Ukraine. In Georgia, a country that was the victim of a Russian invasion in 2008, some 30,000 people turned out in the capital Tbilisi. In Tallinn and Helsinki, several thousand people congregated at several anti-war protests, while at the Place de la Republique in Paris, several hundred demonstrators chanted Putin assassin, Putin terrorist. In Rome, thousands of people marched in a torchlight procession to the Colosseum, carrying banners with slogans such as Putin, assassin!, Yes to peace, no to war, Banish Swifts Russia. U.S. President Joe Biden will send a delegation of former senior defense and security officials to Taiwan on Monday, a senior official of his administration said, a sign of support for the island claimed by China after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The visit, led by one-time chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, comes at a time when Taiwan has stepped up its alert level, wary of China taking advantage of a distracted West to move against it. Beijing claims the democratically governed island as its own and has vowed to bring it under Chinese control, by force if necessary. Mullen, a retired Navy admiral who served as the top U.S. military officer under former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, will be accompanied by Meghan O'Sullivan, a former deputy national security advisor under Bush, and Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense under Obama, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Two former National Security Council senior directors for Asia, Mike Green and Evan Medeiros, will also make the trip, which is intended to "demonstrate our continued robust support for Taiwan," the official told Reuters. The delegation is expected to arrive in Taiwan on Tuesday afternoon and stay until Wednesday evening, during which time they plan to meet Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng and other senior officials. Taiwan's presidential office confirmed the visit and meeting with Tsai, saying that its timing during the Ukraine crisis showed Taiwan-U.S. ties were "rock solid". The U.S. official declined to say whether the timing of the visit was influenced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Taiwan said last week that former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who served under former President Donald Trump, would visit from March 2-5 and meet Tsai. The Biden administration has declined to comment on Pompeo's visit, calling him a private citizen. Referring to the delegation led by Mullen, the senior administration official said: "The selection of these five individuals sends an important signal about the bipartisan U.S. commitment to Taiwan and its democracy, and demonstrates that the Biden administration's broader commitment to Taiwan remains rock solid." The official added that Washington would regard "any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific." "The United States will maintain the capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan," the official said. Mullen's delegation marks the first public visit of a group of former officials to Taiwan at Biden's behest since April 2021, when former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd and former Deputy Secretaries of State Richard Armitage and James Steinberg traveled there and met with Tsai, who Beijing accuses of seeking independence. read more The latest trip comes days after a U.S. warship sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, the waterway between China and Taiwan. The U.S. military described its passage as routine but Beijing said it was "provocative." read more The White House on Sunday called on China to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. read more But Beijing has largely steered clear of criticizing Moscow after Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's leader Xi Jinping announced an enhanced strategic partnership aimed at countering U.S. influence just weeks before the invasion. Under long-standing U.S. policy, Washington has only unofficial relations with Taipei and recognizes Beijing diplomatically. However, U.S. law requires it to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and the Biden administration has vowed to continue Trump's and Pompeo's policy of stepping up engagement with the island. Russia's attack on Ukraine has given added impetus to a growing debate about the longstanding and controversial U.S. policy of "strategic ambiguity," under which Washington refuses to say explicitly whether it will defend Taiwan militarily in the event of Chinese attack. Some U.S. lawmakers, including the Democratic chairman of the influential House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff, have urged greater clarity about the U.S. "obligation" to defend Taiwan amid stepped up Chinese military pressure, but proponents of existing policy say this could worsen the risk of conflict. China's ambassador to Washington said in January the two super powers could end up in a military conflict if Washington encourages Taiwan's independence. source:reuters.com 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) There are other things that employees would rather do than attend virtual or in-person meetings. Going to a doctor's appointment leads the list at 58%, followed by sitting in traffic (25%) and performing jury duty (17%). That's according to a new survey of U.S. workers by Deputy, a meeting scheduling software company. Leading The Pack Although the average time spent each week in meetings last year was 4.48 hours, the survey found that the actual time varied by the states where the meetings were held. Georgia reported spending the most time, averaging 8.39 hours in work meetings per week. Massachusetts came in second with 7.67 hours per week. Kentucky and Maine rounded out the top five spots at 6.14 and 6.00 hours per week respectively. The states that reported spending the fewest hours per week in a meeting were Nebraska (2.84), Texas (2.49) and Nevada (2.28). Deputy surveyed a total of 3,280 respondents, including 2,280 workers across the U.S. with questions pertaining to work meetings and related to the associated stress, duration and preferences, and a supplemental survey of 1,000 respondents. This study ran for two weeks in November 2021 and has a margin of error of 1.8%. Military Efficiency Deputy said the industry that claimed to spend the least amount of time per meeting was the military 100.0% of respondents said meetings averaged 15 minutes or less. Those in agriculture also don't spend much time in an average meeting, either. Actually, 70.0% said they spent less than an hour. Beating them, though, were food service workers, 80.0% of which said they spend no more than 30 minutes per meeting. Nearly 45% of legal services workers reported that their meetings can easily last from one to two hours, and a third of law enforcement employees said their average meeting can last over two hours. Stressful Meetings Deputy noted that, "Unfortunately, the stress of meetings is real. For many, the dread related to attending work meetings wasn't just whether or not the meeting was interesting, or how much work was being interrupted. It was actually heavily due to timing, performance anxiety, and social anxiety." Americans said these were their top five work meeting stressors: Preparing reports (28.6%) Delivering bad news (23.8%) Participating in discussion (23.7%) Scheduling (13.7%) Making it on time (10.4%) Meeting Bloat According to Financial Times, "As employees complain about burnout and grapple with navigating hybrid (a mix of remote and office) work, some employers are trying to cut back on meeting bloat. "Microsoft reported a 150% t rise in the amount of time an average U.S. worker spent on its Teams platform between September 2019 and September 2020, with a slight uptick the following year. The number of meetings per person also rose, as did meetings outside conventional 9-5 office hours, leading the tech company to conclude that more people have settled into a longer workday." Commuting To Work As much as people would rather do something else than go to meetings, an earlier survey found they also had other preferences than commuting to work. According to a report released in December by RingCentral, 40% would rather clean their toilet at home than commute to their brick-and-mortar or other pre-pandemic workplace. Commuting notwithstanding, U.S. workers put other tasks ahead of going to the office full time. More than half of Americans (52%) said they would prefer to wash dishes, visit the dentist (33%), do taxes (30%) or host in-laws (27%). A third said they would leave their jobs if they were forced to return to their offices. Gunjan Aggarwal is RingCentral's executive vice president and chief people officer. She observed that, "Although there is a push to get folks back in the office, if organizations are not careful and rock the boat beyond what is acceptable to their employee base, employees are likely to leave their organizations in drovesleading to a massive talent deficit. "There is no doubt that the future of work will be hybrid but what's becoming clear is that employees will have a bigger say, than ever before, on what that flexibility and hybrid work means to them and suits their needs. It's important to listen to them and have an open dialogue," she advised. ### El Paso, TXRichard Sones, author of The Covenant Names of God, won an Bronze Medal Illumination Book Award in the Digital Media Category. The Illumination Book Awards are designed to 'shine a light' on the best of these new titles written and published with a Christian worldview. A portion of the Illumination Awards entry fees are donated to a worthy charitable organization each year. An Army Chaplain for 28 years, including tours in Germany, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Sones holds a Master's degree in Divinity from Southwestern Seminary. He currently serves as pastor of a small church and chaplain at a major medical center. His seminary background, Army leadership training, and pastoral teaching experience have shaped him into a teacher with a knack for making complicated biblical themes easy to understand. The Covenant Names of God displays both his academic ability and pastoral heart, explaining intricate details of the biblical text in simple ways that clarify and help the reader understand why it matters. Each Covenant has a name, such as 'Jehovah Nissi: The Lord is My Banner' or 'Jehovah Jireh: The Lord Our Provider,' which are taken apart by Sones to explain Hebrew and Greek translations and reveal the true meaning. Even though the chronology might bounce around a bit, it is all for a solid reason as one journeys through the wonder, tragedy and majesty of humanity's spiritual progression. In The Covenant Names of God one learns that each Covenant name reveals "an aspect of who He is" and another a simple fact: "I am the God sanctifying you, I am the God consecrating you." Through the prophets the people were told their duty, with failure meaning a stern reminder to never "forget how powerfully God broke the yoke of their Egyptian masters and delivered them." Watch The Covenant Names of God book trailer at https://bit.ly/CovenantNamesOfGodTrailer "Over the past 40 years, I have come across lists and short descriptions of the covenant names but couldn't find anything in-depth," relates Sones. "I decided to explore each name, using exegesis of the original Hebrew and Greek, which led to insights that I felt needed to be shared by writing a thorough and detailed book about the meaning and significance of covenant and the names associated with it." "Sharing stories from the Bible like a master story weaver, Sones makes the covenant names understandableEach name is thoroughly discussed with not only biblical references, but also illustrated by Sone's inimitable gift for relating current times and experiences to enhance understanding. This is a completely fascinating book by a fine scholar and humanitarian." Grady Harp, Amazon Top 50 Hall of Fame Reviewer, 5-Stars In this book, you'll find instructional and inspirational teaching about: Covenants, specifically God's covenant with Israel and with believers through Jesus The meaning and origin of Jehovah as God's name and its connection to covenant The eight other biblical Jehovah names and the background stories in which they are found Deep insight drawn from the meanings of these names and application to the reader's spiritual life How the use of these Old Testament names and themes continues in the New Testament God's unwavering compassion and faithfulness to his people Old Testament descriptions and predictions of Jesus as divine, clarifying passages in the New Testament concerning his resurrection "We, in our finite minds, take a while to begin to comprehend who God is," says Sones. "A baby Christian hardly knows God at all. They know of his goodness and forgiveness but not much beyond that. We see a pattern in studying the covenant names that as God has revealed himself in covenant -- knowing as we do that God does not change -- that Jesus is all that God is. I wrote this book to teach and help people understand God better and provide the awareness to deepen their relationship with him." "In a way, this book is a self-help book on the most fundamental level," says Sones. "I hope that by learning more about God's covenant names, readers will understand that God is there, is and has always been reaching out to us, is aware of every aspect of our life (good and bad), and is in the business of making us whole and successful." The Covenant Names of God (ebook) $7.60, ISBN: 979-8456206817, (Paperback) $13.49, 2021, 153 pages, available at Amazon. Richard Sones, the son of an Army Signal Corps officer, was born in El Paso, TX and spent his childhood living in many locations around the world. He graduated from Southwestern Seminary with a Master's of Divinity and eventually served as a U.S. Army chaplain for nearly 28 years. His childhood experiences and his own deployments have given him deep knowledge and appreciation of a variety of people, customs, and cultures. Having retired from the Army, he continues to minister as pastor of a Baptist church and chaplain at El Paso's Del Sol Medical Center. Happily married for more than 40 years, Richard is a proud father of four grown children and grandfather to several grandchildren. He and his wife reside just outside El Paso, TX, where he raises chickens, plays guitar, and builds things in his wood shop. Media Contact: For a review copy of The Covenant Names of God or to arrange an interview with Richard Sones, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on twitter @abookpublicist A San Antonio man who admitted to scamming investors out of more than $600,000 received an 18-month federal prison sentence Tuesday. Edward C. Wagner, 60, also must serve three years of supervised release and pay just under $77,000 in restitution to victims. Wagner reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors in October, admitting to one count of wire fraud in connection with the investment scheme and one count of tax evasion. He must pay almost $1.1 million in taxes and penalties to the Internal Revenue Service, or any lesser amount he and the agency agree to, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez said in delivering the sentence. A federal grand jury had indicted Wagner almost three years ago on 11 counts of wire fraud, six counts of tax evasion and two counts of money laundering. All but two of the counts were dropped under the plea agreement. Wagner raised money from investors by promoting pharmaceutical-related companies Pharmacogenetics, EcoChem, Leaf24 and Nutrecs. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio businessman who defrauded Houston oil company, Texas bank sentenced to 15 months in prison He presented the companies as actual operating businesses, but he never took the necessary steps to get any of the ventures off the ground, the plea agreement stated. They never engaged in any significant business operations and they didnt have any physical locations other than Wagners residence. This was intentional deception to investors, Rodriguez said. Wagners lawyer, Molly Lizbeth Roth, asked that he be sentenced to a long term of probation, meet with the IRS to resolve the unpaid taxes and perform community service. Wagner told the judge he has a very nice job related to the roll out of a Medicare expansion program, adding that whether he kept the job depended on the outcome of the court proceeding. The job would allow him to make restitution to his victims and the IRS, he said. My concern is for my family, Wagner said before expressing remorse for his crimes. I want to make sure theyre all right. Prosecutor William Harris opposed Roths request, asking the judge to sentence Wagner to 30 months the low end of the sentencing guidelines. Time after time after time after time after time, Mr. Wagner presents business opportunities to people, Harris said. He then converts the money to his own use. Minimal (work) has been done to ever try and make these profit-generating ventures. Hes done it previously and skated prosecution. This time he got caught up in prosecution. Wagner instructed investors to wire money to bank accounts he controlled, and then spent it for his own personal use, the plea agreement said. He was initially very communicative with the victims, including sending them lulling emails about the imminent success of the business, the document added. That would morph into excuses, and ultimately a cessation of communication. All of Wagners victims lived outside of Texas and wired money to banks in Texas, resulting in the wire fraud charges. The one count of wire fraud that Wagner pleaded guilty to involved an investor identified as only BW who wired $160,000 to EcoChems Chase Bank account in 2014. It was the single largest investment from any individual, according to the indictment. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox Not all of Wagners victims apparently sought restitution. For that reason, hes only required to make a combined $76,733 in restitution to three victims. Wagner never reported any of the income he received from investors to the IRS. He didnt file income taxes for himself or any of the four companies. An audit of Wagner and his wife found they had more than $2.8 million in taxable income from 2007 through 2010. They were assessed more than $1 million in taxes, penalties and interest. More than $1.4 million of the taxable income and $744,000 of the unpaid taxes and penalties were attributed to Wagner. Wagner took steps to hide his income, using nominee accounts, dealing extensively in cash and cashiers checks, and avoiding making financial records, the plea agreement said. Rodriguez sentenced Wagner to 18 months in prison on each count, to run concurrently. Wagner must report for prison by Sept. 1. pdanner@express-news.net Toyota and other U.S. automakers saw a downturn in sales in February amid persistent hiccups in production including a cyberattack that forced Toyota to shut down all of its Japanese factories earlier this week. Toyotas San Antonio-built Tundra pickup was a bright spot for the Japanese automaker, with sales of the full-size truck 15 percent higher than a year ago. Toyota has accelerated production of the new 2022 model after winding down production of its old version last fall. On ExpressNews.com: Production of new Sequoia, Tundra comes to South Side, marking a new era for Toyota in San Antonio Toyota dealers sold 6,731 Tundras in February, the best sales month for the truck since October. Toyota plans to start building the Sequoia full-size SUV in San Antonio this summer, but hasnt start yet. The company sold just more than 100 Sequoia models last month. Overall, Toyotas North American sales fell 11 percent in February compared with the same month a year ago, in line with the sales downturn felt throughout the industry, according to data from Cox Automotive. The omicron wave of COVID has receded and economic activity is picking up as a result. But retail vehicle sales have been disappointing in February, said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist with Cox. Problems such as coronavirus outbreaks and shortages of semiconductors have translated to lower output at Toyotas factories so far this year. In Japan, Toyotas factories saw a 32 percent decline in output in January. Earlier this week, a cyberattack on one of Toyotas parts suppliers affected production at all of Toyotas 14 Japanese factories before it said operations would resume Wednesday. Japans prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said the country was investigating whether Russia was involved in the attack. In the U.S., Toyotas production in January fell 18 percent from the same month last year. The production cuts hit the companys plant on the South Side, where Toyota slashed production in half in late January because of COVID-19 cases and parts shortages. Similar issues have plagued other automakers and a trucker-led blockade of a key trade passage on the U.S.-Canada border hit domestic car producers last month. Overall, the inventory of new cars for sales in the U.S. was 1.08 million as of Jan. 31 a 60 percent decline from a year earlier, when there were nearly 2.7 million new vehicles on dealers lots, according to Cox. But car shoppers got some relief last month, when the price paid for a new vehicle fell to $46,400. The average price was slightly lower than December, when the average price paid for a new vehicle in the U.S. surged past $47,000 for the first time. Before January, the price for a new car had increased for nine consecutive months. On ExpressNews.com: Toyota cuts San Antonio production in half in response to COVID-19 cases, supply shortages Smoke also attributed part of the sales decline last month to this years abnormal tax return season. Just 17 percent of projected tax refunds had been issued as of Feb. 18, when closer to 40 percent of refunds have usually been distributed by that date, Cox reported. On the flip side, the average refund issued has been higher so far this year, suggesting auto sales may pick up in March when consumers are more flush with cash, Smoke said. Tax refunds will come, he said. So were expecting a very strong tax refund season, its just going to start in March this year rather than February. diego.mendoza-moyers@ express-news.net University Health will close its COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Wonderland of the Americas this week amid a decline in demand, officials announced Tuesday. The mall vaccination center will cease operations at 6 p.m. Friday after 14 months of giving shots. While its been open, the vaccination center has administered more than 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. As of Monday, 75.2 percent of Bexar County residents who are 5 or older about 1.4 million people are fully vaccinated, while 92.2 percent have received at least one dose. We appreciate our incredible Wonderland staff who have served with great skill and compassion, University Health officials said in a statement. We also want to thank everyone in the community who came to the mall and rolled up their sleeves to protect themselves, their families and those around them. On ExpressNews.com: Its a terrible, terrible idea: Planning a COVID-19 party in San Antonio? The recent spikes in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations that accompanied the emergence of the omicron variant and followed the winter holidays has passed, with the numbers trending downward since late January, according to data from the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. On Tuesday, Metro Health reported 253 new COVID-19 cases and 318 COVID-19-positive patients in area hospitals down from nearly 9,000 new cases reported on Jan. 17 and more than 1,300 hospitalizations on Jan. 26. The seven-day moving average of new daily cases 209 on Tuesday has fallen in each of the last 15 days and in 31 of the past 32 days. University Healths pharmacies will continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines, including booster doses. Hours and locations may be found at universityhealthsystem.com/Health-Wellness/Coronavirus-COVID19/Vaccine. In a similar but unrelated move, Community Labs has closed the COVID-19 testing site at Divine Providence Catholic Church, 5667 Old Pearsall Road, citing a decline in testing numbers, according to a joint news release from Community Labs and the city of San Antonio. Community Labs has two locations remaining in operation: one at Wonderland of the Americas and one at the Alamo Colleges District Support Operations Building, 2222 N. Alamo St. Both are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Two testing sites are available in the vicinity of the one that Community Labs closed: one at Edgewood Square, 1135 S. General McMullen Drive, open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday; and one at the Salvation Army at 3802 SW Military Drive, open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. More than 25 no-cost COVID-19 testing sites remain open, according to the joint news release; they can be found at covid19.sanantonio.gov. jbeltran@express-news.net After being turned on to the Beatles when their dad, Tejano star Emilio Navaira, took them to see a screening of A Hard Days Night, Diego and Emilio Navaira IV started collecting the Fab Fours albums. Instead of buying all the records at once, we would do one at a time and learn the whole thing with acoustics and kind of sing through them, said Emilio Navaira IV, 32, who plays with his brother in the Tex-Mex band The Last Bandoleros. It was something they did for themselves, he said. They have never covered Beatles songs for an audience. That changes Monday, when the Navaira brothers form half of the band that will play all the songs from the Beatles iconic 1967 album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band alongside the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Philharmonic. The concert is part of YOSAs Classic Albums Live series, in which musicians have played such albums as Princes Purple Rain and Radioheads OK Computer. On ExpressNews.com: Striking SA Symphony musicians play first concert since September YOSA Presents Sgt. Peppers Live When: 8 p.m. Monday Where: Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditoriu Circle. Tickets: $22-50-$60, tobincenter.org See More Collapse The other half of the band is Joe Reyes, who currently plays with Buttercup, Demitasse and Mitch Webb and the Swindles; and Chris Maddin, who made a name for himself fronting the indie group Blowing Trees. I think of it like all-stars of San Antonio indie music, said Troy Peters, YOSAs music director. And for me, I just think its kind of cool to have several of these musicians be folks who grew up steeped in Mexican American culture and Tejano music, but are also 100 percent fluent with the language of the Beatles and that confluence of cultures, which is what this city is all about. Like the Navaira brothers, Reyes first got to know some of the Beatles music as a kid, though his introduction to it didnt come from John, Paul, George and Ringo themselves. Reyes family had a copy of The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles Hits, a 1964 novelty album that included high-pitched takes on such tunes as Please Please Me, All My Loving and Twist and Shout. I was like, huh. I bet these songs sound pretty good if we could ever find the real guys, Reyes, 58, recalled. I was around 5 or 6 when Help was shown on CBS or something, and I was transfixed, not just by the sound but by how they looked, how they hung out, they were friends, they were this little gang and they were cute, and I was like, this is exactly what I want in life! By the time Im 10, I think my cousin and I have collected all the records, so were just sitting around listening to them, singing along. Nicholas Hunt /Getty Images Mondays concert marks the second time that YOSA has dipped into the Beatles discography for the Classic Albums series. The young musicians joined forces with several San Antonio bands to play Abbey Road in 2016. For that concert, Buttercup played Something, joined by Emilio Navaira IV on drums. Reyes expects playing the Sgt. Pepper concert to be just as special, even on songs that dont prominently feature the band. Shes Leaving Home doesnt really have the band in it, he said. But I cant wait to hear it and us doing the refrains together, its just going to be magic, I know it. Because weve had these magical feelings before with YOSA. When Buttercup performed Something, at the very end, I played that little guitar lick that George plays, and I swear, Im not a very ostentatious player, but by the end, the neck of my guitar just started going up. And it just buoyed up with the sound and oh, my God, its special. Peters had planned to focus on a different artist this time around, but the band he had hoped to work with on the concert had a scheduling conflict and had to bow out. Peters still wanted to do an album concert, and a return to the Beatles seemed like a no-brainer, especially since Peter Jacksons documentary The Beatles: Get Back came out in November, shining a renewed spotlight on the band. In the pantheon of Beatles albums, Sgt. Pepper is special. Its a concept album that blends a range of styles, including music hall, rock and traditional Indian music. It also was the first album the band made after they decided they wouldnt tour any more, which gave them the time and the freedom to experiment. On ExpressNews.com: Polka king Alex Meixners move to New Braunfels may be transformative Peters, 52, said that Sgt. Pepper was the first album he owned, a gift from a neighbor when he was 13. Part of the experience of the album was the distinctive cover, in which the band appeared in the guise of the Lonely Hearts Club Band front and center in a sea of cultural figures. Some were readily recognizable, such as Hollywood legends Mae West, Shirley Temple and W.C. Fields. Some were not, including 19th century yoga guru Sri Lahiri Mahasaya, American sculptor H.C. Westermann and German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. Its pre-internet, so you couldnt just go on Google and figure out who everybody was, Peters said. You had to go get a book out of the library. Navaira first heard Sgt. Pepper on CD, and he remembers listening to it over and over in his moms Windstar. Its an album hes bought several times over the years, snapping it up in different formats and with different mixes, included the 2017 remastered edition. His little Sgt. Pepper library has come in handy as they rehearse for the concert. Last night, we were going over Lovely Rita and we were trying to figure out some harmony parts and we couldnt hear in one of the mixes, so luckily, theres another mix we went to, and boom, you could hear it, he said. One of the things that strikes Peters about the album now is that it didnt produce a lot of hits, though it is one of the best-selling albums of all time. Part of why this is so special is that it is like going to this weird, hilarious, charming theater event it feels like a musical, Peters said. It feels like a story. I cant put my finger on what the story is, but its got a musical theater vibe. Its so many different styles, and so it has this thing of feeling like it encompasses the whole world. Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News Its perfect for the kind of show we do, of what happens if you put a rock band and an orchestra together. We can explore all these different colors and sounds, and this album has so many colors and sounds baked into it. Theres also a special energy in the concert series. The orchestra, its not just any orchestra. Its 16-, 17-, 18-year-old kids who are literally falling in love with this music at the same age that Joe and Emilio and Diego and I fell in love with this music, Peters said. Theyre going on that same journey. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN YOSAs Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band concert is at 8 p.m. Monday in the H-E-B Performance Hall of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle. Tickets range from $22.50 to $60 at tobincenter.org. Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ residents are being encouraged to fill out a biannual health needs survey. The 2022 PA LGBTQ Health Needs Assessment, led by the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, aims to evaluate health needs, disparities and barriers to care affecting LGBTQ+ residents, according to the centers spokesperson, Stephen Jiwanmall. Advertisement [ As the push for full legal protection continues, Pennsylvania finds itself in the middle of the pack nationally in LGBTQ acceptance, protection ] The goal of this survey is to gather information to better understand the health status and health care experience of you and your community, according to the surveys description. We will summarize the results so your feedback can be used to start conversations, inspire action and bring attention to community needs. The survey, funded by the state Department of Health and open to residents 13 and older, is available in English and Spanish. The deadline to participate is March 21. Advertisement All responses are kept confidential, and participants will not be asked for their name, address or phone number, according to the surveys description. The last assessment, released in 2020, included 6,582 respondents from 64 of the states 67 counties, ranging in age from 8 to 92 years old. The survey showed that LGBTQ people in northeast Pennsylvania including the Lehigh Valley had a number of high-risk factors that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list as increasing the severity of COVID-19, namely, cigarette and alcohol use. And in some categories, people in the region engaged in high-risk activities more than people in the rest of the state. [ Pennsylvania LGBTQ survey shows health issues that also increase coronavirus risk ] The survey was launched by Adrian Shanker, the founder and executive director of the center, who said it has the largest and most consequential state-level LGBTQ health data in the nation. Shanker is resigning from the center at the end of March, leaving the area for the West Coast. First piloted in 2015, the assessment will be disseminated to LGBTQ+ community leaders, public health professionals, healthcare providers and policymakers to ensure that programs, practices and policies that support LGBTQ+ health are implemented throughout the state of Pennsylvania, according to the centers website. For more information, go to bradburysullivancenter.org. Morning Call reporter Molly Bilinski can be reached at mbilinski@mcall.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Update, March 2 In two videos posted on Instagram Wednesday, Laika Cheesecake and Espresso owner Anna Afanasieva said her dessert shop raised $72,405 in three days to help support the Ukrainian army following Russia's invasion of the country. She said the total includes every dollar spent at the shop and another $25,000 in donations. The money will be donated to Ukraine's army, Afanasieva said. "We are still accepting donations and we are still gonna keep doing that until the war ends," she said in one of the videos. Original, Feb. 28 Cheesecake has emerged as an unlikely hero in San Antonio, becoming a rallying point for support of Ukraine as that nation of 44 million people enters its second week of war with invading Russian forces. Over the weekend, Laika Cheesecake & Espresso, a petite dessert shop tucked into an Alamo Heights shopping center, became ground zero for San Antonios efforts to support military and humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Ukraine native Anna Afanasieva, who co-owns Laika with her husband, Viktor Krizma, announced Thursday on Instagram that the business would donate all of its weekend profits to support the Ukrainian army. Many innocent lives are being affected- including personal friends and family, the post read. This donation will go to help secure not only our friends and family but an entire peaceful country being confronted with needless violence. Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer San Antonio got the message. Throngs of customers queued up in lines that stretched half a block around the building Friday through Sunday, many waiting two hours or more to make a purchase. Laika sold out well ahead of its closing time each day, although most would-be customers who were denied sweet treats still donated money. On ExpressNews.com: Ukrainian community rallies to support home country with downtown demonstration Weve sold over 1,500 cheesecakes today alone, Laika employee Melissa Jiang said Sunday evening. It was long after the stores supply was exhausted, but about two dozen people still remained in line to donate money. The support of San Antonio has been amazing. A manager at Laika said Monday afternoon that proceeds and donated funds were still being calculated, and a total would be announced by the end of the week. Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer Nicole Dufault and her daughter were among the many who weathered the long line Sunday but were unable to secure a cheesecake. So they came back Monday morning, queuing up with almost two dozen others 20 minutes before the shop opened to make a donation and finally get a sweet taste of cheesecake. My fiance is in the military. He heard about this and said it would be a good way to show support, Dufault said. Also in line Monday was Chloe Akers, whose fiance trains military working dogs at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Early on we saw news coverage of the Ukrainian military parading with their working dogs, and it really hit home, Akers said. I wanted to do my part. Laika employee Ricardo Perez hefted 300 pounds of cream cheese into the bakerys refrigerators Monday morning but warned the supply would last only for a day or two at the current rate of sales. He said Laikas owners have scrambled to find alternative sources for cream cheese as demand ramps up amid a U.S. shortage. Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer A cyber attack in October against Schreiber Foods, the nations largest cheese manufacturer, shut down production for several days. Combined with lingering supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, the schmear shortage has been felt by businesses and consumers alike, who are frequently faced with empty shelves in the dairy department of their grocery stores. But while San Antonio showed up to support this local business, some residents have called for a boycott of another. The war in Ukraine has brought different challenges to Web House Cafe & Bar owner Mischka Timofayev. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios best barbecue plate deal has two Russian side dishes at Beacon Hill restaurant Web House Cafe & Bar Timofayev, who moved to the United States from his native Moscow in 1996, said he started receiving vague threats and calls for a boycott of his Beacon Hill business via social media messages over the weekend. Web House, which he opened in 2006, is mostly a neighborhood bar with the usual pub grub, but Timofayev serves a number of Russian dishes, including pelmeni, vareniki and borscht. Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer Timofayev believes most of the threats are coming from prankster kids with fake accounts, but he is concerned by increasingly anti-Russian sentiment in Texas. On Saturday, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted a request that Texas restaurants, bars and retailers remove Russian products from their shelves. Donate to Ukrainian military and humanitarian efforts Want to donate to military and humanitarian efforts in Ukraine? Here are the two groups Laika Cheesecake & Espresso is supporting. Come Back Alive Foundation: This organization raises money to support the Ukrainian military. More at comebackalive.in.ua. United Help Ukraine: This nonprofit is donating money, food and medical supplies to Ukrainians affected by the war with Russia. More at unitedhelpukraine.org. See More Collapse Im kind of surprised by what Abbott did, Timofayev said. All these dishes come from all over. My Russian mixed veggie salad is the same salad they make in Georgia. Its the same salad in Poland. And its the same salad in Ukraine. Timofayev said he has no plans to pull the Russian vodka or beer from his bar or the Russian dishes from his menu. But he does plan to follow through on installing several community pantry shelves in Beacon Hill-area businesses to provide free food for those in need an effort in the works for months. Ive been (in the U.S.) for 26 years. Im more concentrated on the community, he said. There are lots of people in need right here. pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen Express-News staff writer Malak Silmi contributed to this story. Catholic leaders are trying to stop the scheduled April 27 execution of a Hispanic mother convicted of capital murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter. The Catholic Mobilizing Network, a national organization opposed to the death penalty, is partnering with the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops in urging Gov. Greg Abbott and the the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to grant mercy to Melissa Lucio, who they said has a strong claim of innocence. The groups are also urging people to take part in a letter-writing campaign. Lucio was charged with capital murder in the 2007 death of her then-youngest daughter, Mariah, at the familys Harlingen home. She was pregnant with twins at the time. Lucio, a 52-year-old mother of 14, would be the first Latina put to death in Texas in the modern era and the first woman in nearly a decade in the state. ALSO READ: Melissa Lucio could be the first Latina executed in Texas. The Catholic network said that Lucio was convicted of killing her daughter despite significant evidence suggesting her death wasnt a homicide, but rather an accidental head injury sustained in a fall down rickety stairs. She was convicted of capital murder in 2008 after turning down a plea offer that carried a 30-year prison term, saying she was innocent. Denise Cathey, MBI / Associated Press The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops said in a statement that Lucio was sentenced to die by a flawed process with no evidence and no witnesses. They said the sentence was based instead on a coerced, passive admission of guilt given after a rigorous interrogation on the night of her daughters death, suggesting that it was a false confession. Death is not the answer to death. One tragedy is not somehow made better by killing someone else, said the Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores, the bishop of Brownsville, in a statement. Justice is not suddenly restored because another person dies (and) executing Melissa (Lucio) will not bring peace to her surviving children. Several family members spoke in Houston on Feb. 18 as part of a statewide tour to promote a 2020 Hulu documentary, The State of Texas vs. Melissa, that makes a case that the state is on the brink of executing an innocent woman. Lucios family is divided over her culpability in Mariahs death, with two of her daughters saying that the mother abused and neglected the child and is responsible for her death. ALSO READ: Mother sentenced to death for toddlers fatal beating Miguel Roberts, MBI / Associated Press Mariahs cause of death was determined to be blunt force head trauma. According to court records, the physician who attended to Mariah when she was transported to an emergency room declared that the girl had signs of severe physical abuse, including bruises in various stages of healing covering her body and bite marks on her back. She also had one of her arms broken weeks before her death and was missing patches of hair where it had been pulled out by the roots. Lucio and her defense have insisted that Mariahs death was accidental. We are created in Gods image and as such we must commit to protecting every human being and caring for their soul, said Austin Bishop Joe S. Vasquez. People of goodwill understand that an act of violence cannot be overcome with another act of violence. People interested in signing the petition can find it on the Catholic Mobilizing Network website. olivia.tallet@chron.com CASTLE HILLS A 300-unit apartment complex proposed for the city with a population of nearly 4,500 has residents worrying about the traffic it would bring and the citys participation in the project. Residents voiced concerns and questions about the project, Lofts at Castle Hills, during a recent special meeting of the Castle Hills City Council. At the meeting, officials from Vaquero Multifamily Inc., the project developer, presented their plans for the proposed $63 million, multifamily apartment complex. It would include 300 residential units within a four-story building, a parking garage containing 451 spaces, and amenities on a 4.7-acre tract bounded by Northwest Military Highway, Winston Lane and Lockhill-Selma Road. The project also would add sidewalks and lighting along Winston Lane and Lockhill-Selma Road. There would be a main entrance into the complex, off Winston Lane, with a secondary entrance for emergency vehicles. Vaquero is requesting that the city create a public facility corporation, or PFC, as part of the project. State law gives cities the right to create PFCs for public facilities, including housing, with a ruling from the Texas Attorney Generals Office requiring independent authority for a city to participate in housing through a PFC. The development which would be financed, owned and operated by the PFC would be managed by a third-party firm, said Jarrad Thierath, Vaquero senior vice president. As part of the project, the developer would be granted a 75-year tax abatement from the city. Thierath said the property tax abatement would be needed for the project to obtain debt and equity financing. In turn, Thierath said Vaquero would pay Castle Hills 25 percent of the taxes that would have been assessed on the property if it would have been on the citys tax rolls, about $250,000 a year. Establishing a PFC for the project would provide much needed workforce housing for Castle Hills and the surrounding area, Thierath said. The hope is to draw middle-class workers like firefighters, nurses and recent college graduates. Vaquero said half the units would be set aside for residents earning 80 percent of the areas median income. The complex would include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, averaging 800 square feet. One-bedroom units would rent for $1,100 to $1,585. Two- and three-bedroom units would rent for $1,725 and $2,100, respectively. By creating a PFC, City Council would have considerable control over the development of the project, including being able to review the project plans and financing, said Jim Plummer, an attorney with Bracewell law firm, which represents the city. Plummer said the developer would be responsible for raising the money for the project, as no city funds would be going into it. Besides owning the project, the PFC would enter into a 75-year lease with Vaquero, Plummer said. At the end of the lease, the city would own the complex. He said the city could terminate the lease if, for example, the developer failed to maintain the complex. Residents concerns At the special meeting held Feb. 22, resident Robert Wynn said he was concerned the small city, with 4,480 residents, wouldnt be able to handle the financial fallout should the city have to enforce the lease and litigate it. To say the city is going to become a landlord makes me nervous, Wynn said. The risk is not worth it. Wynns wife, Kim, said having only one main entrance into the multifamily residential complex which would have a parking garage with 451 spaces would cause traffic congestion, leading some drivers to look at alternate routes through surrounding neighborhoods. I cant believe whoever is developing this planned one entrance, Kim Wynn said. Thats going to be such a nightmare. According to a traffic impact analysis conducted at the site by Kimley-Horn, an engineering consulting firm, a multifamily complex would generate less traffic than if the site were to become a commercial or medical office development. Amy Avery of Kimley-Horn said additional data collected from three residential streets South Winston, West Castle and Fox Hall lanes will be included in the traffic study. The site is zoned as a general business district, so Vaquero has filed for a special use permit from the city. Such applications must go before the citys zoning commission, which offers a recommendation for the City Council: Approve the request or deny it. City Council then holds a public hearing before making its decision. Vaquero President Scott Brymer said the project will benefit Castle Hills economically and bring in a diverse workforce. Youre really going to have great residents here, Brymer said. It will provide a solid neighbor for you all. I think its going to activate your retailers. City Manager Ryan Rapelye said the project is still in the feasibility stage, and the city will release a timeline of the steps that will be needed for the project to be approved. A second townhall meeting on the project will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Castle Hills City Hall, 209 Lemonwood Drive. ddekunder@express-news.net San Antonio police are investigating a deadly shooting that happened early Tuesday morning in the Medical Center area. Police said they responded to reports of a shooting in the 5500 block of Fredericksburg Road at around 1:40 a.m. to find an individual suffering from a gunshot wound in a parking lot. The street where the incident happened is filled with mostly apartment complexes and some medical facilities. On ExpressNews.com: Man in critical condition after argument at downtown bus stop ends in shooting The individual was taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Police did not divulge many details about the incident and have not identified a suspect. Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net A former employee of contractor Booz Allen Hamilton pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy for helping a San Antonio man rig lucrative contracts for Air Force flight simulators that allowed her company to collect tens of millions of dollars for work it did not do. Karen Paulsen, 57, is among a handful of co-defendants charged with Keith Seguin, a civilian who worked for 28 years with the 502nd Trainer Development Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Paulsen, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from England now living in Ohio, admitted that she was instrumental in Seguin using Booz Allen Hamilton to steer contracts to a fledgling company in the Washington, D.C., area called QuantaDyn Corp. In turn, a QuantaDyn principal provided more than $1.5 million in kickbacks to Seguin, who expected to collect much more in bribes before the scheme was discovered. Ive looked back at my actions and realized they were inappropriate and wrong, Paulsen told U.S. District Judge Fred Biery. Paulsen faces up to five years in prison, a $25,000 fine and more than $8 million in restitution when Biery sentences her in October. Seguin, 55, is awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty in June to wire fraud conspiracy and other charges. He admitted he conspired with contractor David Bolduc Jr., Paulsen and others to rig contracts so QuantaDyn, which Bolduc co-owned, would land much of the work and give Seguin bribes. The kickback scheme, which began in 2006 and continued after Seguin retired in 2017 from the government and went to work at QuantaDyn, is the largest military graft case to come out of San Antonio in more than a decade. Seguin ensured Booz Allen Hamilton and its subsidiary would be the prime contractor on lucrative contracts, but made it so that it would subcontract the work to QuantaDyn. As the prime contractor, Booz Allen Hamilton and its subsidiary earned millions of dollars in profits even though it did not do any of the end products, technology or services, a summary of facts filed in court states. Booz Allen Hamilton spokeswoman Jessica Klenk said the company has zero tolerance for violations of law or procurement rules. This wrongdoing violated the companys ethics policies and supported corrupt individuals conspiring to defraud the government for their own gain. A five-year contract that Seguin rigged was awarded to Booz Allen Hamilton for more than $413 million in 2013, according to the factual summary. Seguin had estimated it would have a ceiling $495 million over five years. By 2019, when the feds learned of the cheating, the government had paid more than $440 million to Booz Allen Hamilton, and QuantaDyn had collected nearly $100 million for its subcontract work. Seguin leaked a confidential bid proposal from a competitor to Paulsen and her supervisor, John Hancock, who were based at some of Booz Allen Hamiltons offices in Ohio. The pair used the information to help ensure that Booz Allen Hamilton would be the prime contractor and be in a position to subcontract the work to QuantaDyn, records show. Seguin also gave them and QuantaDyn confidential budget information from the government, which enabled Paulsen and Hancock to maximize the profits that Booz Allen Hamilton could make in the deal and so they could formulate bids that were unlikely to be challenged or rejected by the government, the summary said. Seguin sent some of the leaked information to Paulsens personal email account. Paulsen told Biery that Hancock instructed her to receive it and use it in their proposals. Seguin and Bolduc also gave inflated quotes to Booz Allen Hamilton that would take into account bribes he would pay Seguin. When Booz Allen Hamilton bid on the 2013 contract, its proposal was more than $58 million higher than its nearest competitor, Biery said, reading from the factual summary. So Competitor 1 is playing by the rules, and come in at (a certain) level, Biery said. But Prime Contractor B, using this inside information, is able to ... get this contract, and $58 million in excess. After landing the $413 million contract, Paulsen emailed Hancock and said they should go to a local tavern in Ohio to celebrate over a beer. In October 2020, QuantaDyns majority owner, William Dunn Jr., entered a guilty plea on behalf of the company to charges that it participated in the graft. Biery sentenced QuantaDyn to five years probation, and the company agreed to pay a $6.3 million fine and $37 million in restitution. Bolduc, Hancock and a man accused of helping Seguin launder his bribes, Rubens Wilson Fiuza Lima of Atlanta, await trial. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A 36-year-old man pleaded guilty to murder Monday, drawing a 50-year prison sentence for a Feb. 21, 2020, killing in a deal with prosecutors that dropped charges stemming from his subsequent shooting at police. Greg Anthony Delgado, then 34, exchanged gunfire with the San Antonio police officers who were pursuing him after finding a body in a crashed truck he had abandoned in the 200 block of Darby Boulevard, just off U.S. 90 southwest of downtown. The body was later identified as 35-year-old Luis Guerrero, a friend of Delgados who died from a gunshot to the abdomen that morning, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office. Delgado methodically responded guilty to more than a dozen charges read by 226th District Judge Velia Meza, including aggravated assault of a public servant, attempted capital murder of a police officer, use of a deadly weapon in prison and felon in possession of a handgun. In return for a guilty plea and no chance of appealing the case, the heavily tattooed felon will do five decades in prison. The two men had known each other for several years, and their altercation came as Delgado was attempting to rob Guerrero, the district attorneys office said. Guerreros sister, Belkis Guerrero, in her victim impact statement delivered in front of Delgado on Monday, tearfully told him he had taken the life of an uncle, brother, friend and only son. You have left us with a forever heartache that will never go away, she said. I truly hope you use this time in prison to influence other young men to do better in life. On the day of the incident, witnesses who heard the pickup crash ran outside to find Delgado attempting to take several items from the vehicle. Delgado told one witness, I need to hide these, before running away, a San Antonio police report stated. Police caught up with him moments later on the other side of U.S. 90 near Brady Boulevard. Police said Delgado began firing at officer Gabrial Sanchez, who had driven up while he was running, and two bullets struck the patrol vehicle. Sanchez fired back, but Delgado fled once more. SAPD called for its EAGLE helicopter to search for Delgado, who later aimed his weapon at officer Michael Oliva before other officers subdued him. Delgado was taken into custody in the back yard of a residence near Waze and Lansing. Police at the time said Delgado had one weapon on him and that they believed he had a second one that he dropped while fleeing, though it was unclear if it was ever recovered. bselcraig@express-news.net John Raoux /Associated Press A Texas company pleaded guilty to fraud last week, having been accused of delivering potentially tainted rocket fuel to NASA and the Department of Defense for contracts involving rocket launches, including ones by SpaceX, the Department of Justice said. On Feb. 23, corporate representatives Gary Monteau and Brant Charpiot from Anahuac Transport Inc. entered the plea, agreeing to a two-year ban from federal government contracting and forfeiting more than $250,000 in gross proceeds traceable to the fraud, officials said. A 2-year-old girl who was critically wounded in a shooting this month has died from her injuries. Julez Emily Gonzalez, who had been in the hospital after being shot in the face on Feb. 18, was pronounced dead Sunday night, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office. Family members have identified her as Juelz Gonzalez in a GoFundMe campaign organized to raise money for her funeral. Her cause and manner of death remain pending as of Monday, officials said. On Feb. 18, San Antonio police were told that Juelz had shot herself at a home around 7:55 p.m. in the 100 block of Dublin Avenue, a police report states. On ExpressNews.com: Police report two overnight shootings, one involving a toddler When officers arrived, they found Juelz and her mother at the home. The mothers boyfriend left the home before officers arrived, according to the report. Police said they attempted to find him and that a firearm was found outside the home. Juelz was taken to University Hospital with life threatening injuries, police said. Doctors attempted to treat the gunshot wound to her head up until her death this weekend, her family said. She was a month shy of her third birthday. Her father told KENS 5 that she was an organ donor. Police have not released additional details of the shooting, nor have they said whether anyone will face charges as a result of the incident as of Monday. jbeltran@express-news.net Staff writer Taylor Pettaway contributed to this report. A local bar and grill is joining hundreds of establishments across the country in boycotting Russian products. Gary Skinner, owner of Conroy's Bar & Grill in Stone Oak and Conroy's Irish Pub in Boerne, said he made the decision in support of Ukraine and its people after Russia invaded the country last Thursday in what has been one of the biggest attacks on a European nation since World War II. "It's not right what Russia is doing," the 55-year-old said. "We decided to go through every liquor at both of our restaurants to get rid of any items that are affiliated with Russia." On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio rallies to support Ukraine through cheesecake at Laika Cheesecake & Espresso He said the bars pulled all of the Stoli Vodka they had from the shelves because the alcohol is owned by a Russian company. In a statement to CNN Business, Stoli Group said it "unequivocally condemns the military action in Ukraine and stands ready to support the Ukrainian people, our teams and partners." According to a report by USA Today, most vodka brands imported into the United States aren't Russian, although some may have "Russian-sounding" names. Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted on Thursday that "Texas stands with Ukraine." He said that he asked the members of the Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Package Stores Association and all Texas retailers to "voluntarily" remove Russian products from their stores. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine both ordered their state agencies to halt the sales of some Russian products and vodka, according to Axios. To further support Ukraine, Skinner said his establishments will donate $5 from every pizza they sell until the end of the year to Ukraine. They have not chosen a specific fund yet, but Skinner said it's important to do this. Skinner also shared several Facebook posts urging other restaurant owners to join in on the boycotts. "I'm usually not a vocal person, but I felt like I needed to say something," he said. Malak.Silmi@express-news.net University Health has acquired a minority stake in three San Antonio rehabilitation hospitals, which could expand options for patients discharged from the hospital who need long-term care for recovery. Through a joint venture with PAM Health, University Healths inpatient rehabilitation footprint will expand from one location inside University Hospital to three specialized rehabilitation hospitals: a 35-bed facility in the South Texas Medical Center, a facility on Interstate 35 near Live Oak and another off Texas 151. Bexar County Hospital Districts board of managers, during a meeting in July, authorized staff to move forward with the deal, University Health spokeswoman Elizabeth Allen said. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio long-term acute care hospital changes ownership On Jan. 13, a subsidiary of University Health paid $16.7 million for a 31.03 percent interest in Post Acute Medical at San Antonio LLC, which comes with representation on its board. Under terms of the agreement, PAM Health will continue to manage day-to-day operations of PAM Health Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital of San Antonio, PAM Health Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital Westover Hills, and PAM Health Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital Northeast San Antonio. Eight inpatient beds will remain in University Hospitals Reeves Rehabilitation Center for patients who are ready to begin rehab but require additional acute care services. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio specialty hospital to close This agreement enables us to offer our patients more options and, at the same time, to open up more medical and surgical beds within the hospital to address continually increasing demand, said George Hernandez, University Health president and CEO. If patients need inpatient rehabilitation but not in-hospital care, they now have more choices closer to home. Hernandez said the agreement also connects University Health with Warm Springs, a long-trusted, familiar name in the community. PAM Health based in Enola, Pa. provides health care services in 17 states through more than 70 long-term acute care hospitals and inpatient medical rehabilitation hospitals, as well as wound care clinics and outpatient therapy locations. laura.garcia@express-news.net Michelle Kott, Bethlehem Police Departments newest and first woman police chief, stands in front of the memorial for fallen Bethlehem police officers Wednesday. Council voted on her approval at their virtual meeting Tuesday night. (Rick Kintzel/The Morning Call) Bethlehem police Chief Michelle Kott was the virtual Hometown Hero guest of U.S. Rep. Susan Wild for President Joe Bidens State of the Union address. Kott became Bethlehems first female police chief in 2020. She joined the department in 2004 after graduating from DeSales University with a degree in criminal justice. Advertisement In a news release Tuesday, Wild said Kott is an inspiration for young girls looking to pursue a career in law enforcement. Chief Michelle Kott has been an exemplary local leader dedicating her career and work to the safety and well-being of the people of Bethlehem, Wild said. She has met the challenges of our community with empathy and compassion and has worked tirelessly to connect the police force to the people they protect. Advertisement Only members of Congress were invited to attend Bidens address in person, so Kott was not in Washington for the speech. First Call Daily Leading local stories delivered on weekday mornings > During a Tuesday afternoon news conference with Wild, Kott said she hoped to hear Biden discuss public safety issues and mental health. She said Bethlehem police officers suffered an incredible loss last year when officer Matthew Ragusa died by suicide, and wants to see more mental health resources allocated to police and other first responders. [ FROM 2021: GoFundMe started for family of Bethlehem police officer who died July 4 ] The organizational and occupational stress that is put on all of our front-line workers has been extremely difficult, and its something we as a nation have to invest in, Kott said. We have to invest in our mental health and wellness. Kott said the police department has seen more resignations and retirements recently than in the past because officers are burned out. She said she plans to form a health and wellness committee to better address officers mental health. Wild said she is impressed with Kotts emphasis on community policing as chief, and said that police departments in the Lehigh Valley have not seen some of the real crises weve seen across the country. As a former lawyer and now as a politician, I can tell you the good guys get lumped in with the few bad ones, Wild said. Wild told Kott to reach out to her office should she need help with federal funding for police initiatives. Morning Call reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at 610-820-6681 and liweber@mcall.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Veterans dont hold back their true thoughts and feelings when it comes to taking care of sisters and brothers in arms. That adage rang true last week, when Donald M. Remy, deputy secretary of veterans affairs, met with about 25 area veterans and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg at the Wounded Warrior Projects office near I-10 and De Zavala Road. On the day before the largest European conflict since World War II exploded with Russias invasion of Ukraine, the group sat at a U-shaped table under a large sign with the words I command my future and peppered Remy with wide-ranging questions about how the U.S. cares for its veterans. On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: As invasion looms, lessons go unlearned The full effects of war take years to comprehend, let alone care for. Our nation tends to forget this lesson after each military intervention. The conversation with Remy quickly focused on one such long-term and complicated impact of military service toxic exposure injuries and the ways forward for thousands of vets suffering from these ailments. Exposure to hazardous materials during military service is linked to dozens of health conditions including cancers, cardiovascular, neurological and gastrointestinal problems, chronic pain and unexplained symptoms and, as it did with the problems caused by Vietnam-era Agent Orange, it has taken the government years to start acknowledging the links. Remy, an Army vet who came to the VA after serving as the NCAAs chief operating and legal officer, said toxic exposure and mental health care have most of the agencys attention. On ExpressNews.com: Just like Agent Orange: Vets exposed to burn pits face slew of health issues. The Supreme Court is taking notice. The topic has Congress attention, too. A scaled-down bill addressing toxic exposure, known as the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act, passed unanimously in the Senate on Feb. 16. A House bill called Honoring Our Promise To Address Comprehensive Toxics Act is expected to go to vote soon. House Republicans, however, have argued its too costly. Advocates say even if the House bill passes, theres much work to do. For Kenny Sutton, an ex-Air Force combat weatherman, the topic is personal. The former airman, who was among the first U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, has survived two bouts with cancer over the last few years and was diagnosed with leukemia four months ago. When I look at whats happening on Capitol Hill, what I dont see is the VA advocacy, said the 46-year-old who left the military in 2005. I feel greater advocacy from Jon (expletive) Stewart. On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: An Air Force senior general just got candid about mental health in the military Stewart, the comedian whos done much to help 9/11 first responders, is also a powerful voice lobbying Congress to do more to support the estimated 3.5 million vets exposed to toxins during their military service. Im the tip of the iceberg, Sutton said. Hundreds of thousands came after me. I might be the first wave. Along the way, hes met other vets whove missed out on critical months of treatment due to the slow-moving VA bureaucracy. Somebody couldnt get their (expletive) together and get them the best medication and the best treatment possible, he said. Its terrifying. I want to survive. Remy acknowledged the slow pace of change and said hes seen progress in his time at the department. Were working like hell to get there, he said. We recognize that there are people getting sick and people dying, while theyre (expletive) waiting excuse my French for the solutions. On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: Vets unaccompanied, yet theyre not alone For Marine veteran Tim Jensen, chief strategy officer at the San Antonio-based patriotic apparel brand Grunt Style, health impacts from toxic exposure have plagued him and at least 40 others from his battalion, which fought in Iraqs Triangle of Death southwest of Baghdad in 2004 and 2005. Jensen, whos also the president of the nonprofit Grunt Style Foundation, is another leading voice in the fight to create new laws and support for vets enduring the ravages of toxins and pollutants. When it comes to the livelihood and the lives of our brothers and sisters, theres absolutely no time for waiting, the 43-year-old said. Beside being the right thing to do, taking care of vets is critical in maintaining an all-volunteer military, according to Jensen, because the kids are watching. Remy fielded each question with empathy and acknowledged that the tough conversation didnt surprise him. I dont want the benefit of the doubt, but I want you to hold us accountable, he said. If you let us know how we as your VA can do better we can respond to that. You can bet that the veteran community will do all it can to hold the VA accountable. The real challenge will be getting Congress to pass comprehensive laws to care for all veterans. brandon.lingle@express-news.net February was Black History Month, a time for remembering. Alas, the 2022 edition has been so dreadful that it is worth forgetting. I blame white folks. Having always run the show in America, white people are finally feeling othered and they dont like it. So they spoiled the celebration. A lot of white Americans are tired of anything that is seen as accommodating to Black people. The newest target is Black History Month. Since Im neither Black nor white, I can see clearly when one of Americas primary colors trashes a party intended for the other. Having 20/20 vision on racial issues is one of the benefits of being Hispanic American. I chose the phrase Hispanic American to rankle both the right and the left, neither of which cares for the modifier. Some conservatives try to bully me into calling myself a plain ol American. Meanwhile, some liberals despise the word Hispanic because it was coined by the administration of Republican President Richard Nixon. In 1976, another Republican president, Gerald Ford, decreed Black History Month a national observance. In celebrating Black History Month, Ford said in his official message, we can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history. But in 2022, many Republicans are fine with neglect. GOP-controlled legislatures in several states are worried that snowflake-ish white students might feel awkward sitting through lectures about slavery, lynchings and rapes, systemic racism, discrimination and violence against Black people. So lawmakers actually passed restrictions on what can, and cannot, be taught during Black History Month. I remember when Republicans used to support local control in education. As someone who majored in U.S. history in college, I spent years studying America blemishes and all. Back then, we just called it truth. I bet it never occurred to my professors to encase students in bubble wrap. While America is not perfect, she is so much stronger than those who want to sanitize history believe her to be. Another thing that marred Black History Month this year is the continued mistreatment of African Americans. On Feb. 2, Minneapolis police killed a Black man, Amir Locke. The 22-year-old was lying on the couch, under a blanket, when he was shot seconds after SWAT officers burst into his apartment to serve a no-knock warrant intended for someone else. Video footage from an officers bodycam shows that Locke was holding a gun, but its not clear if the young man realized it was police officers and not armed intruders who busted into his residence. On Feb. 15, New York City Mayor Eric Adams caused a stir in the Big Apple when he claimed that a press corps made up mostly of white liberals was covering him unfairly because they cant relate to a Black man. Much of the New York media snidely dismissed Adams criticism as a rant. The New York Post Editorial Board twisted the whole episode into a soft pretzel: On top of everything else, Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday insulted the Black members of the city press corps by claiming theyd go easy on him. Adams did no such thing. He merely demanded better from the same media that often demands better from him and other elected officials. On Feb. 18, in Brooklyn Center, Minn., near Minneapolis, former police officer Kim Potter who was convicted by a jury of first- and second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting 20-year-old African American Daunte Wright in April 2021 after she said she mistook her gun for a Taser was sentenced to just two years in prison. Potter, who is White, could get supervised release in 16 months. On Feb. 22, three White men convicted in state court of chasing and killing 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020 outside Brunswick, Ga., were found guilty of committing federal hate crimes. The tragic story suggests that, in some respects, America hasnt come nearly as far as it likes to think. Lastly, before the month was over, on Feb. 25, President Joe Biden nominated the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. The historic event has been tainted by the snarky accusation, from assorted White men in politics and media, that Biden is making an affirmative action pick to a body that, ironically, is expected, later this year, to end affirmative action. Thank goodness February is the shortest month. Cmon, March. Save us. During a news conference in December, Russian President Vladimir Putin evoked the Lone Star State to defend his countrys annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. What, he said, like Mexico and the U.S. never had territorial disputes? Who did California used to belong to? And Texas? Although few people question that Texas is part of the United States, Putin said that most countries still recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine. Texas comes up in the Kremlin more often than one might expect (last years frozen wind turbines, for example). Texans are grappling with urgent problems close to home, so why should we care about Russias invasion of Ukraine? For one, Putins actions, unprecedented since World War II, have broader implications that should concern all of us. And though geographically distant, this war will have concrete impacts on Texans. The most obvious example is that many Texans are Ukrainian, or have Ukrainian ties, and have asked for support. This war is an escalation from Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the partial occupation of eastern Ukraine it has maintained, though denied, ever since. After massing an estimated 190,000 troops around three sides of Ukraine, Putin moved to recognize Russian-backed separatist regions the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics and green-lit military action abroad. And now, Russia has brought a full-fledged war of aggression to the European continent. One of Putins main justifications for military action should give us particular pause. In an hourlong speech recently, he made a factually inaccurate historical argument, claiming that Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin invented Ukraine and that the country has no right to exist within its internationally recognized borders. Russian state media have aired maps of Ukraine cut into pieces labeled as gifts from Russian czars and Soviet rulers. But hes wrong. Ukraine has its own rich national history that dates back more than 1,100 years. It has its own language, culture and traditions, not to mention its own national security interests. In his speech, Putin expressed bitterness that Ukrainians in recent years have toppled statues of Lenin in avowed acts of decommunization. He then issued what was clearly intended as a threat to Ukraines territorial integrity: 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. If Putin truly believes this version of history, and there are many indications that he does, then he sees the annexation of further Ukrainian territory as the correction of a historical wrong. Under that rationale, Spain, France and Mexico would be justified in launching wars to reclaim Texas. To most, this proposition sounds absurd. And it is. But as residents of a state whose iconography commemorates a history of sovereignty under six different flags, Texans are in a unique position to appreciate the grim implications of its logic. Ukrainians are facing this distorted logic backed by the full force of the Russian military. Texans should be appalled that a world leader is weaponizing false historical grievances to deny self-determination to the people of an independent country. Putin is trying to use this narrative to sell this war mostly to his own people but also to the international community. We must reject that it has any basis in reality. There is much for us to read and learn from to help us in that endeavor. It is too soon to say how or when this war will end. There is a significant bipartisan consensus behind strong sanctions against Russia, although they are unlikely to change the situation on the ground. In reality, there is not much most of us can practically do. But we can and must educate ourselves so that no one can ever use the abuse of history as justification for bloodshed. Rebecca Adeline Johnston is a doctoral candidate in the Department of History at the University of Texas at Austin. More openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer candidates are on the Texas primary ballot than ever before, according to a new report from the LGBTQ Victory Fund, a group that trains, supports and advocates for queer candidates. According to the Victory Fund, there are 54 openly LGBTQ candidates running for public office in the Lone Star State, nearly double the number in 2020, when 28 candidates ran for office. On ExpressNews.com: Voter Guide: What to know for the Texas primary election The increase comes as anti-LGBTQ laws and proposals have advanced in the Lone Star State. Last week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a nonbinding legal opinion, stating certain gender-affirming care for children, such as gender reassignment surgery and puberty-blocking medications, constitutes child abuse under the law. On ExpressNews.com: 2022 Texas Primary Election Results Gov. Greg Abbott followed the letter by directing state agencies to conduct prompt and thorough investigations into the use of gender-affirming care for transgender youth. He said doctors, nurses and teachers must report instances of child abuse and that the law provides criminal penalties for failing to report them. Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker now the Victory Funds president and CEO said Tuesdays election was pivotal in protecting LGBTQ rights in Texas. I am deeply concerned about the onslaught of attacks on LGBTQ people, and especially trans people, here in Texas, Parker said. However, I remain optimistic and inspired by the qualified out LGBTQ candidates running to represent our community and stand up against this hate. On ExpressNews.com: South Texas judge dismisses $20M lawsuit against SpaceX after fatal crash near Boca Chica facility There are 31 openly LGBTQ elected officials in Texas, six of whom serve in the Texas state legislature, according to the Victory Fund. With 20 openly LGBTQ people running for state House and Senate seats this cycle, LGBTQ representation in the Texas state legislature could more than double this year, the organization said. Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net Mail ballot usage during early voting has dropped precipitously since 2018, with tens of thousands of voters especially Republicans ditching the forms after two years of the GOPs baseless claims that absentee voting facilitates fraud. By the end of early voting on Friday, about 76,000 mail ballots had been processed in Texas 15 most populous counties, representing .7 percent of registered voters there. Four years ago, the total was 126,000 about 1.3 percent of voters in those counties. (The Secretary of State does not provide statewide early voting totals for the 2018 election.) Its a roughly 40 percent drop in raw numbers, but the gap grows wider when considering that Texas has added roughly 2 million people to its voter rolls since 2018 nearly 1.4 million of them in the most populous counties. The drop-off is most dramatic among Republicans, whose party has repeatedly alleged, without evidence, that state-approved expansions of mail ballots during the pandemic led to widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election. I think that you have a whole bunch of Republican primary voters that have taken that to heart and decided, Well, I think Im going to either vote early in person or wait until Election Day so that I can make sure that nothing happens to my mail-in ballot, said Derek Ryan, a GOP elections analyst based in Austin. During the last midterm primary election in 2018, more than 67,000 Republicans in the states most populous counties filled out a mail ballot by the close of early voting. This year, the total is just more than 27,000. While mail ballot usage has also dipped slightly on the Democratic side, those differences are more easily attributable to difficulties with Texas new voting law, said Mark P. Jones, a political science professor at Rice University. Nearly 50,000 Democratic voters in those counties have cast an absentee ballot this year, compared to 59,000 in 2018. The sweeping voting legislation made it more difficult to vote absentee, he said, by instituting extra ID requirements for mail-in ballots and the applications for them. Thousands of voters have been thrown off by the additional mandate, either forgetting to add their ID or writing down one that doesnt match what their local elections office has on file. BACKGROUND: Mail ballot rejection rates still high as Texas early voting kicks off The confusion has led to record rejection rates for both ballots and applications ahead of the March 1 primary election. By the time the application deadline passed on Feb. 18, Dallas County had rejected about 15.7 percent of all forms, the majority of them for a missing or incorrect ID. In Travis County, the rejection rate was 9 percent. Now, county officials are dealing with the same problem for the actual ballots, which must be submitted by Tuesday. As of Friday, 30 percent of mail ballots were rejected over the new ID law in Harris County. In Dallas, it was 27 percent. Political experts say the troubles stem from the lack of a state-led education campaign on the new ID requirements. Local elections officials and nonprofit groups have attempted to fill the gaps, but I just dont think theres been enough time or resources in order to overcome some of the ambiguities in the law, said Renee Cross, the senior director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston. We have a lot of new election laws in place without a lot of voter outreach, she said. Specifically, on the vote-by-mail aspect, I think anybody that glanced at the news last fall may have known that there was discussion about all these changes. I dont know that the state government really went all-out in educating the public about how these changes are going to be implemented. Even if the Secretary of States office wanted to roll out a more robust education campaign, the Texas Legislature hasnt funded such an effort, Jones added. Plus, given GOP reluctance to use the method, any education effort would help Democrats to a greater extent than Republicans, he said. Still, early voting turnout was almost exactly on par with 2018 totals in the states most populous counties. That year, 8.93 percent of registered voters cast ballots in-person or by mail during the early voting period. State data show that number at 8.95 percent this year. Statewide, roughly 9.6 percent of Texas 17.2 million registered voters have cast a ballot so far. More than 1 million of them voted in the Republican Primary, and another 630,000 voted for Democrats. Almost 120,000 Texans have voted by mail. Some expected turnout to increase this year just because people are getting more engaged and more energized about politics in general, said Ryan, the elections analyst. That doesnt seem to be the case so far. In the 2018 primary elections, about 17.2 percent of voters turned out overall. If the numbers stay on trend, Texas can expect another 1.3 million people to cast a ballot by Tuesday. cayla.harris@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Three civil rights groups are swinging back at Gov. Greg Abbotts latest offensive against transgender children with a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Republican incumbent accusing him of inflicting terror and anxiety among vulnerable children through discrimination and harassment. On HoustonChronicle.com: Meet the Houston 8-year-old standing up to Abbott, for trans kids, at Biden's State of the Union The suit follows Abbotts edict, the week before a contentious primary election, stating that parents who allow their teenagers to seek gender-affirming care should be investigated as child abusers. The Travis County civil rights case was brought on behalf of a state employee who was put on leave from her job and had investigators show up at her home because she and her husband are supporting their 16-year-old daughters care for gender dysphoria. The suit targets the governor as well as the mothers employer, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, seeking to halt the agency from treating parents as abusive if they support gender-affirming medical care for their teens. The suit also targets the protective services commissioner, Jaime Masters. A state judge set a hearing for an injunction in the case for Wednesday morning. The issue of penalizing parents and medical providers who help teenagers access interventions that are considered best practices by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Texas Pediatric Society came up in four back-to-back legislative sessions. Each time, families of transgender children rallied, carpooled and missed school to testify in Austin about their own experiences and pleaded with lawmakers to vote down laws targeting their basic rights. In each session, the bills were defeated. On HoustonChronicle.com: 'I finally feel right in my body': Houston kids confront anti-trans legislation that targets them But Abbott, who faced a primary challenge Tuesday, issued a nonbinding legal opinion last week through his attorney general, Ken Paxton, stating that the agency charged with protecting children will pursue child abuse investigations against adults who help their teenagers navigate the lengthy process of seeking access to puberty blockers and hormones through their doctors. Paxton issued a previous opinion labeling gender-affirming care as genital mutilation, an allegation experts have repeatedly highlighted as inaccurate. No state in the country considers it a crime for a parent to provide medically recommended treatment for gender dysphoria, according to the lawsuit. The family of the 16-year-old says the governors legal directives were improper and violated the Texas Administrative Procedures Act, the separation of powers requirements of the Texas Constitution and the constitutional rights of transgender youth and their parents. No family should have to fear being torn apart because they are supporting their trans child, Adri Perez, policy and advocacy strategist at the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement, calling Abbott and Paxtons declaration a partisan political attack that isnt rooted in the needs of families, the evidence from doctors and the expertise from child welfare professionals. Families with trans kids in Texas have been under attack for too long, the statement said. Gender-affirming health care saved my life, and other trans Texans should be able to access medically necessary, lifesaving care. The ACLU of Texas brought the action along with Lambda Legal and the national ACLU. The governors spokesperson and the spokesperson for the DFPS commissioner did not respond to requests for comment. Mayor Sylvester Turner on Tuesday joined other local leaders who have opposed the edicts, including Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and District Attorney Kim Ogg. Turner announced that he opposed officials taking punitive measures that could endanger transgender children. In Houston, we dont bully our transgender neighbors, we watch them make history like Municipal Judge Phyllis Frye, he said, referring to a well-known transgender attorney and jurist. The stigma the governor and attorney general work to create is part of the reason the late TransGriot journalist and activist Monica Roberts had too many stories of violence faced by trans women of color to report, the mayor said in a statement. The unnamed plaintiffs in the lawsuit said that after the mother was put on leave, an investigator visited their house. The family has filed the lawsuit anonymously. Also suing the governor and DFPS is Megan Mooney, a Houston psychologist who treats children with gender dysphoria. She is a mandatory reporter and does not want to comply with the governors legal opinion because she believes it would harm her clients and violate her ethical obligations as a professional counselor. gabrielle.banks@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIDDLETOWN The cause of a Route 66 motel blaze that displaced about 20 people staying at the winter shelter Saturday afternoon is still under investigation. No one was injured in the blaze at the Wesley Inn & Suites, 988 Washington St., fire officials said. When crews arrived just after 4 p.m., heavy fire was coming from the rear of the building, Middletown Fire Battalion Chief Drew France said Saturday. One room had extensive fire damage and those surrounding it suffered extensive smoke damage, he said. Power to the building was shut off and the front area was condemned, according to Acting Health Director Kevin Elak, whose department helps coordinate the shelter that is operational until the end of March. The Columbus House of New Haven, which has housed people at its winter shelter at the motel for two years, moved the individuals to the Eddy Shelter at 1 LaBella Circle, on the grounds of Connecticut Valley Hospital, Elak said. A couple with two children were relocated to an undamaged room at the back of the motel, and the American Red Cross helped another couple with monetary assistance and supplies, he added. St. Vincent dePaul Middletown Executive Director Maryellen Shuckerow and her staff dropped off toilet paper, blankets, food and other items, Elak said. Everybody has been pitching in, he said. The Columbus House is accepting donations of all types, including mens clothing and coats, in medium and large sizes; womens apparel, including undergarments and feminine products; and hair products, toilet paper, blankets, pillows, disinfectant spray, gift cards, snacks, water, juice and more. Middletown Planning and Zoning Board Commissioner Shanay Fulton, the residential supervisor at The Connection, posted a video Monday on her Facebook page detailing other needs, such as prepared food and water bottles. There is also a need for bedding, and gift cards to supermarkets, coffee shops and other businesses, she said. Please support Columbus House in any way you can, Fulton said. Were working to make sure they all have a home to go to. The plan is to eventually send people back to the Wesley Inn when it reopens, Fulton said. Westfield Fire District Deputy Fire Marshal Scott Kotowski said Monday morning that the investigation is ongoing. Hearst Media Connecticut reporter Adam Hushin contributed to this report. A man who caused a crash that killed a 5-year-old girl on the Pennsylvania Turnpikes Northeast Extension pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and reckless endangerment Monday, authorities said. Evan Griffiths, 46, of Pittston, Luzerne County, was texting before the June 20, 2019, crash that killed Esther Park, 5, of Montgomery County, and injured her parents and two siblings in Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martins office said in a news release. Advertisement An investigation determined Griffiths was driving a delivery box truck southbound in the left lane and failed to slow down for stalled traffic in front of him. He rear-ended the Park familys car, which then hit a pickup truck that flipped on its side and hit an SUV and tractor-trailer. Esther Park died on scene. The 4 p.m. chain-reaction crash at milepost 46.4, between the Lehigh Valley and Quakertown exits, also injured 12 people including Chiho Park, the senior pastor at Philadelphia Korean Methodist Church in Upper Dublin Township, his wife, Suhee Park, and their two surviving children. Advertisement Witnesses told police Griffiths was driving erratically before the crash. An analysis of two cellphones he had showed he was using the phones to send and receive text messages minutes before the crash. The Parks at the time described their daughter as a bright and happy child who had just finished kindergarten and was excited about losing a tooth. A GoFundMe started for the family raised nearly $22,000. Griffiths is awaiting sentencing. Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com. Growing up in the 1980s, my early impression of international affairs was formed through the lens of the Cold War. Films such as The Day After Testament and War Games portended the potential for a cataclysmic end to the struggle between Western Democracy and Soviet Communism. The specter of nuclear war was real and the implausibility of MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction) was a powerful incentive to avoid conflict. The Cold War also had an important corollary effect acting as a ballast for our national political parties. It provided a common ground on which Republicans and Democrats could stand together, no matter their other political differences. From Harry Truman to George H.W. Bush, whatever differences Republicans and Democrats had (and there were many), they were united when it came to prosecuting the strategy of containment and fighting the Cold War. The existence of a powerful and dangerous adversary, prevented both political parties from drifting too far apart, because each had a shared stake in ensuring we prevailed in this epic struggle. For 45 years the Cold War was a common thread of red and blue, woven through the fabric of our democracy. The vacuum created by the absence of this shared sense of purpose is a contributing factor to the divisiveness we see in our national government today. Perhaps with the actions of Russia in Ukraine, that may now change for the better. Russias brazen assault on Ukraine has captured the focus of the world. For perspective, the last time Ukraine was invaded was by Germany in 1941. How did we get here? One can make a cogent argument that since the end of the Cold War, American foreign policy has suffered from a lack of focus, which has led it adrift. Following the Cold War, the absence of an common adversary led to a sense of complacency that the western, democratic model that had prevailed would continue to do so. In the 1990s, the West invested heavily in the former Soviet satellite states, hoping to provide assistance to the fledgling democracies. However, in the first decade of the new century, our foreign policy became driven by the events of 9/11, with mostly questionable long-term results. Since then, we have seen a feckless foreign policy during the Obama years followed by the chaotic impulsiveness of the Trump administration. Now, on the heels of a mismanaged withdrawal from Afghanistan, our potential adversaries feel emboldened and view Western democracies (led by America) as being in precipitous decline. From a U.S. perspective, what makes the current state of the world so daunting is that while we deal with an emboldened Russia, lurching to expand and recapture its former empire, China looms in the distance. Alas, all hope is not lost. The silver lining to all of this is that perhaps this realization will provide Republicans and Democrats with a reason around which to coalesce and find sustainable common ground. Party politics certainly continued throughout the Cold War, but the bipartisan consensus with regard to its prosecution was something that both sides could agree on. In its absence, our political discourse broke down. In 1940, when Winston Churchill was named prime minister, as Great Britain stood on the precipice of facing Hitlers war machine alone, he saw the wisdom in forming a coalition government. Churchill, a Conservative Tory, brought liberal leaders from the Labour Party such as Clement Attlee into his government, and also included members of his own party who had supported appeasement with Germany (Chamberlain and Lord Halifax). These were men with whom Churchill had had great political disagreements, but, when faced with an implacable foe they worked together with the best interests of their country, not their political party at heart. Although the threat to America is not as acute as what Churchill and his coalition government faced in 1940, we can hope that the events in Ukraine, and the growing geopolitical uncertainty of the moment will act as a wakeup call to both of our national political parties. Now is the time for our leaders to make their best effort to put national interests above party politics. Let us hope that if anything good is to come from the present autocratic threats to Western democracy it serves as a unifying moment for Republicans and Democrats. Our own history teaches us there is no better motivation for finding common ground than that of a shared existential threat to our and our allies way of life. Dan Quigley is a Greenwich resident. State departments of agriculture in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia are urging poultry owners to step up biosecurity after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in several states in January and February. The recent cases are in states including Indiana, Michigan, Virginia, Kentucky and New York, in wild birds, commercial flocks and backyard flocks. The virus doesnt appear to be spreading from farm to farm, and is likely coming from wild birds, officials said. While no cases have been found in Ohio, West Virginia or Pennsylvania so far, all three states are at risk. We are just as susceptible to wild birds here as any other state along those migratory flyways, Dennis Summers, Ohios state veterinarian, told Farm and Dairy. Were a really big poultry state, so were really monitoring and being extra vigilant. Avian influenza HPAI is a type of bird flu that is very contagious among poultry and often fatal to chickens. The U.S. has had outbreaks of it in the past, including a major one in 2015 that cost the industry a total of about $2 billion and saw many states shut down poultry shows at fairs and other events that year. While bird flu can infect humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Feb. 14 human infections are rare and no human cases of these viruses have been detected in the U.S. The CDC said the general public health risk remains low. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, warning signs of avian influenza include sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs, lack of energy and appetite, decrease in egg production, soft- or thin-shelled or misshapen eggs, swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles and hocks, purple discoloration of the wattles, comb and legs, gasping for air, coughing, sneezing or nasal discharge, stumbling or falling down and diarrhea. Bird owners in Ohio who suspect highly pathogenic avian influenza in their flock should call the department of agricultures animal health division at 614-728-6220. In Pennsylvania, contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostics at 717-772-2852 or ra-ahds@pa.gov. In West Virginia, contact the animal health division at 304-558-2214. For more information about biosecurity and avian influenza, visit aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program. Spread Cases so far have been popping up in different areas, with no clear farm-to-farm spread between them. That means systems put in place to test sick birds, and to depopulate flocks that test positive, are working, Summers said. I remain hopefully optimistic in Pennsylvania, said Kevin Brightbill, Pennsylvanias state veterinarian. Were always hoping for the best, but planning for the worst. It also means the disease is likely spreading when wild birds land on or fly over property with domestic poultry on it. Brightbill said one of the biggest risks on farms is fecal material from wild waterfowl. The virus can spread through both direct contact and indirect contact through surfaces infected birds have touched, infected feces and the air. Thats our concern, said Crescent Gallagher, communications director for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. That potentially this disease just drops out of the sky. Response An outbreak of HPAI could have serious consequences. Ohio is the No. 2 table egg producing state. In West Virginia, poultry is the top agricultural commodity. Pennsylvania has a $7.1 billion poultry industry and ranks eighth in the nation for poultry and egg sales. And even outside of commercial operations, many people have backyard flocks or 4-H poultry projects. Anybody in Ohio could have backyard operations, Summers said. Theyre just as susceptible. While larger poultry and egg farmers are typically connected with industry groups and hear a lot of information about avian influenza, some with backyard chickens or 4-H projects might not be as in the know, Summers said. State agriculture departments are working with extension and poultry industry groups to encourage biosecurity and make sure poultry owners know what to watch for. Jim Chakeres, executive vice president for the Ohio Poultry Association, said biosecurity is an important first line of defense for small and large poultry flocks alike. Its a very concerning time for poultry farmers, he added. But, yet, were going to continue to do what we do, and do our best. Biosecurity can include things as simple as washing hands, using disposable boot covers, limiting and keeping track of visitors and documenting where feed comes from. Its important for poultry farms at any time, but now that there are HPAI cases in the U.S., its time for poultry owners to start enhancing biosecurity, Chakeres said. Bird owners should also keep their flocks away from wild birds. State animal health officials are encouraging poultry owners to keep their birds indoors, if possible. If you can keep birds in the barn right now, thats the right thing to do, Chakeres said. Monitoring Its also important for bird owners to closely monitor their animals health. Anyone who sees signs of avian influenza in their poultry should contact their department of agriculture to report possible sick birds. That allows the department to test and quarantine, and depopulate flocks that test positive. For several months now, state and national officials have been watching for HPAI as it circulated in Europe and Canada. The Ohio Department of Agriculture has increased its testing capacity for avian influenza, both so it can do more testing in the state, and so it can help adjacent states if necessary, Summers said. Pennsylvania has also been preparing its diagnostic lab in case it needs to do more testing. Events In 2015, poultry were not allowed at fairs in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and many other states, due to an outbreak at the time. Gallagher said shutting down events is on West Virginias radar if there are more cases in the U.S., but right now, things havent gotten that far yet. For now, Ohio is not considering shutting down shows or limiting poultry movement, Summers said. Were letting the system do its job theres no justification yet to engage in conversations about further restrictions within Ohio for poultry movement, he said. Currently since cases found so far in other states are not linked, it looks like the system is working. If that system fails to work then you start talking about further restrictions. If the disease becomes more prevalent, especially in states bordering Ohio or in Ohio, the department might consider those types of restrictions. Brightbill said its still too early to know what things will look like in the summer, and Pennsylvania would think seriously about how to handle things like poultry shows if the virus is found in the state. Since the virus is likely spreading through migratory birds, he anticipates the risk continuing through at least the end of April, and likely into the summer. Government focus on food security should be of 'critical importance' in times of war, Copa and Cogeca has said following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Copa and Cogeca, the EU farmers' organisation, said the European farming community was watching the worsening conflict with 'deep sorrow'. At last week's Copa and Cogeca Praesidia meetings, members expressed their solidarity with the Ukrainian people, with particular thoughts going to farmers there. Russians and Ukrainians are key international agricultural exporters. Ukraine is the EU's fourth biggest external food supplier and provides the EU with a quarter of its cereal and vegetable oil imports, including nearly half of its maize. Copa and Cogeca said in a statement: "Our solidarity doesnt stop at words, Copa and Cogeca will put in place concrete actions in the coming days and weeks following the evolution of the conflict." In times of war, the group said the focus on food security becomes 'of critical importance', and that it was 'essential' to take steps to ensure that food supplies continued reaching those most affected, in the Ukraine and globally. As the invasion enters its sixth day, the co-op pointed out that the destabilisation of Ukraine by Russian forces had already triggered important global consequences. "While the issue of energy supply is now clearly on everyone's mind and lips, agriculture is just as strategically important," Copa and Cogeca's statement added. "For the EUs farming community, which has demonstrated both a key role and resilience during the pandemic, this crisis comes on top of the Covid one and the sharp price increases of all major agricultural inputs in recent months." The EU farmers' group added that in order to keep a strong and peaceful Europe, safeguarding food security and supply chains was 'fundamental'. "In the coming days and weeks, while primarily focusing on the ongoing conflict resolution, the EU decisions makers must also consider its impact on key economic sectors. "European agriculture is a central pillar of our strategic autonomy. EU decision makers must act decisively and swiftly to preserve it," the cooperative said. HMRC has backtracked over changes to rules on the use of red diesel which threatened the continuation of ploughing matches and charity tractor runs. The legislation change, which was set to be introduced by the Treasury from 1 April, would have forbid the use of red diesel in vehicles for such purposes. In his 2020 Budget speech, Rishi Sunak said the government would abolish the red diesel exemption for most sectors as it 'funds pollution'. However, the Chancellor announced that it would be retained solely for agriculture, a strict definition which excluded ploughing matches or charity tractor runs. The announcement was part of wider measures to ensure the UK reaches its net zero ambitions by 2050. But organisers of ploughing matches and tractor runs had raised fears for the continued existence of their events due to the move. Now the government has confirmed it will back down over the changes following pressure by farming industry groups. SNP MP for Gordon Richard Thomson welcomed the decision, calling it a 'humiliating climbdown' for the government. This is excellent news for the organisers and participants in ploughing matches and other activities affected by the original ruling," he said. "In reality things should never have got to this stage because we have been here before in 2008 when the UK government was forced to back down over a threat to agricultural shows using red diesel. It seems no lessons were learned from that time and a lot of needless concern has been caused to event organisers which was entirely avoidable." He added: "Not to mention the costs involved as UK government now needs to go back and clarify the regulations being used by HMRC." In 2008, the government tried to ban the use of red diesel in tractors which were being used to help with setting up agricultural shows but relented under pressure. The UK has signed a trade deal with New Zealand which could increase bilateral trade by 60% by eliminating tariffs, but the NFU has warned there is 'extremely little' in the agreement that will be of benefit to farmers. The UK-New Zealand trade relationship was worth 2.3 billion in 2020 and is now expected to increase by almost 60%, according to the government. The trade minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said the free trade agreement (FTA) would add 800m to the British economy over the next ten years. This deal will slash red tape, remove all tariffs and make it easier for our services companies to set up and prosper in New Zealand," she added. Our trade with New Zealand will soar, benefiting businesses and consumers throughout the UK and helping level up the whole country." The deal takes the same approach as the UK-Australia FTA, finalised in December 2021, in eliminating tariffs for agricultural products. Even for sensitive sectors like beef and lamb, dairy and horticulture, in time there will be no limit to the amount of goods New Zealand can export to the UK. Farming groups fear that this will open the doors to potentially significant extra volumes of imported food, whether or not produced to the UK's own standards, while securing little in return for British producers. NFU President Minette Batters responded to the UK-New Zealand trade deal by saying there was 'extremely little of benefit to British farmers'. "This deal today shows I was right to be concerned," she said, "The government is now asking British farmers to go toe-to-toe with some of the most export-orientated farmers in the world. I have consistently pointed out that the real risk to UK farmers from the governments approach to trade deals is not the individual deals themselves but the cumulative impact of each deal when added together." She added: "UK farm businesses face significantly higher costs of production than farmers in New Zealand, and margins are likely to tighten further in the face of rising input costs, higher energy bills and labour shortages." NFU Cymru also expressed concern, warning that the deal would grant 'generous' tariff free UK market access for NZ producers, whilst securing 'virtually zero reciprocal benefits' for Wales farmers. The union's president, Aled Jones said: I see very little in this deal to benefit Welsh farmers and there are significant downside risks for the red meat and dairy sectors, both of which characterise traditional Welsh family farming. This latest deal with New Zealand closely mirrors the UK/Australia deal, confirming the precedent which we feared had been set, leading to full tariff liberalisation across a range of sectors over the next few years." Mr Jones called for Wales-specific impact assessments for FTAs, as Welsh farming and rural communities could be among the most affected by them. "It is only through such an impact assessment that we can fully understand the impact of these deals on Welsh farming, rural communities, our culture and language and how some of the adverse impacts can potentially be mitigated." Environmental and animal welfare groups have also criticised the deal as they fear it sends a signal to others that the UK is willing to sign away its higher welfare standards. The RSPCA highlighted that without a built-in conditional tariff system giving preference to imports produced to high welfare standards, a 'dangerous precedent' had been set for future FTAs. Conditional liberalisation allows tariff reductions on imports from overseas produced to the UKs standards, but keeps tariffs high on imports of products with low welfare standards. Including that mechanism in international trade agreements would allow the government to meet its promises to maintain animal welfare standards, the RSPCA explained. The charity's chief executive, Chris Sherwood said: Government has once again failed to build in a mechanism to ensure that any food imports are of an equivalent or higher welfare standard than our own. "Failing to draw this line in the sand sends a message to other countries that we are willing to accept cheaper, lower standard imports for the sake of a deal. A Welsh farming family have today hosted Prince William and Kate Middleton on their farm near Abergavenny as part of St David's Day celebrations. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Pant Farm, located in Llanvetherine, Monmouthshire, home of farmers Gary and Jess Yeomans and their family. The family showcased PGI Welsh Black beef and goats cheese production, both of which are produced on the Yeomans farm. They have built up the goat herd after securing a local goat cheese contract and now milk 600 goats, supplying Abergavenny Fine Foods. The Yeomans also have Welsh Black beef cattle and have recently added a holiday let to the business. They have taken part in agri-environment schemes and are moving towards more regenerative practices where sustainability is key. The farm employs one full time member of staff and four part-time relief milkers as well as relying on a host of local businesses to help with the running of the farm. Gary is a former NFU Cymru County Chairman and Jess is a previous winner of the NFU Cymru Wales Woman Farmer of the Year Award. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Pant Farm, located in Llanvetherine, Monmouthshire Gary said his family was 'honoured' to have hosted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the farm during St David's Day celebrations. "It was a pleasure to be able to show them around the stock and discuss with them the issues we are currently facing as farmers here in Wales," he said. "Farming is at the heart of rural communities all over Wales, and the support we give to and receive from local businesses in the area all mean we can continue producing high quality, affordable food." He added: "Without the services and expertise of these wider businesses, I would not be able to maximise efficiency on this farm. Without our staff, we would not be able to devote time and energy to all we do for food production and the environment to such a high standard." David Edwards, NFU Cymru County Chairman for Monmouthshire, said Pant Farm was a 'perfect example' of a Welsh family farm. "Seeing Pant Farm championing its very own PGI Welsh Black beef and goats cheese that is manufactured in Abergavenny, illustrates the perfect supply chain that is fully functional. "It is really important that the primary food producers are treated fairly so this works all the way through to the consumer whilst ensuring provenance is championed. AHDB has analysed what the newly announced UK and New Zealand free trade agreement means for British agriculture. A 'far-reaching' free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and the UK has been finalised, according to the Department of International Trade (DIT). It is the latest deal signed by the UK following Brexit, and will end tariffs on goods between the two countries. Sarah Baker, AHDB's senior strategic insight manager, looks at what it means for British farming sectors. In headline news, this has seen NZ agree to eliminate all tariffs on UK products entering the country from day 1 of the agreement entering into force. In return, the UK has agreed to eliminate 96.7% of tariffs for NZ products entering the UK from day 1. Importantly, the exceptions are the UKs sensitive agricultural products, including beef, sheepmeat and cheese. For these products, a transitional tariff rate quota (TRQ) will be applied. For beef, tariffs will be eliminated over a period of ten years. During this time, a TRQ of 12,000 MT in year 1, rising in equal increments to a TRQ of 38,820 MT in year 10, will be applied. Any product exceeding the TRQ will be subject to the World Trade Organisations (WTO) most favoured nation tariff rate (MFN). Between years 11 and 15, a product-specific safeguard will be in place, limiting beef imports into the UK to 43,056MT in year 11 and rising in equal increments to 60,000 MT in year 15. Any product exceeding this safeguard will be subject to a 20% tariff. This safeguard will be removed after year 15, at which time beef trade will be fully liberalised. For sheepmeat, the UK will liberalise trade after 20 years. As for beef, a transitional TRQ starting at 35,000 MT for years one to four, rising to a TRQ of 50,000 MT for years five to 15 will be implemented. Any product exceeding these quantities in any given year will be subject to WTO MFN tariffs. This TRQ is for any given year and will only be triggered once the WTO country-specific TRQ of 114,000 t has been filled by 90%. Between years 16 and 20 a product specific safeguard will be in place, as for beef, meaning the UK sheepmeat sector will have some protection for 20 years, after which trade will be fully liberalised. Again, the TRQs have been expressed in volume terms, not carcase weight equivalent (CWE) which is an important consideration for the UK market, in particular for the beef sector. In the dairy sector, butter tariffs will be eliminated over five years in six equal reductions. The transitional quota will open at 7,000 MT and increase in equal instalments to 15,000MT in year five. Similarly, cheese will become tariff free over five years, with the transitional quota starting at 24,000 MT and rising in equal instalments to 48,000 MT by year five. Trade in both butter and cheese will be fully liberalised by year six onwards. There is no recognition of products of geographical indication (GIs) within the FTA, but there is a commitment that if NZ were to implement such a scheme domestically, that the UK would also benefit from similar protection. Like the Australian FTA, rules of origin (RoO) are designed to facilitate trade between the two parties and make is easier for traders and customs authorities to prove country of origin. For agricultural products, country of origin will be determined by change of tariff classification and specific processing rules, reflecting where the majority of the processing has taken place. There will also be a 15 percent tolerance threshold for non-originating materials by value. New Zealand and the UK already benefit from a world-leading sanitary agreement that recognises the equivalence of sanitary measures maintained by both countries for the protection of public and animal health. The FTA will build on this, alongside each countrys WTO commitments. Importantly there is a commitment that sets out the understanding that low-risk food products within the scope of the chapter will not require health certification, other than for phytosanitary purposes. The agreement also includes a commitment to enhance cooperation on antimicrobial resistance. On animal welfare, there is a non-regression and non-derogation clause not to weaken animal welfare for farmed animals in order to encourage trade. There is recognition that New Zealand and the UKs farming practices are substantively different, but each country accords a high priority to animal welfare in those practices and that the different systems provide comparable outcomes. The agreement also stipulates that NZ will not seek any further market access that may result from the UKs accession to CPTPP. Next steps will require scrutiny of the agreement by the Trade and Agriculture Commission for a three-month period, then scrutiny by government and select committees before the process of ratification is triggered. This is likely to take until the middle of 2023 to allow time for the necessary legislation to be in place ahead of ratification of the deal. The UK Pig Industry Welfare Training platform has launched today, with the first module focusing on the moving and handling of pigs. Everyone involved in the care, moving, and handling of pigs on farm needs to complete the training by 31 August 2022 as part of Red Tractor standards. Upon successful completion of the training, a certificate will be issued that can be saved for Red Tractor audits and on PigPro, the industrys online training record. The moving and handling module takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete, though delegates will be able to pause and save their progress as they go along. The course is the first module to be released on the platform, with further subjects likely to be released over future years. Georgina McDowell, technical manager for pigs at Red Tractor said: Having a professional workforce across UK farms underpins everything that we stand for. "Ultimately this training is about reassuring consumers that Red Tractor pork has been farmed with care. We have long required producers to maintain training records, but this platform represents a step forward in terms of providing a unified and consistent standard of pig care across the industry. Rob Beckett, a pig producer from Yorkshire who has been involved in testing the training with his team, said the feedback received from farmers had all been positive. "Every one of them has admitted that they have learnt something, including a couple who have more than 25 years experience in the industry. "And they have all said that the software is straightforward to navigate and is laid out in a simple format. There will be a 10 fee per person per year to complete the training, which will fund the upkeep of the website and any revisions required to the course in the future. However, the cost has been waived for the first 8,000 people who register or for the first six months (whichever is reached first) post-launch. Zoe Davies, National Pig Association (NPA) chief executive, said the module was a critical part of demonstrating that high standards were being met by pig keepers. "We know we have many competent stockpeople out there who know exactly what they are doing, and for them, it will be a way of reassuring their supply chain, customers and the public that pigs are being treated in the way they would expect. The online training was developed by AHDB, Red Tractor, the NPA, the Pig Veterinary Society, the Pig Health and Welfare Council, and pig producers. Parsons, KS (67357) Today Thunderstorms this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 52F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 52F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Allentown taxpayers could take a big hit if city officials dont fix a mistake they made last month. On Feb. 16, City Council passed a law that will restrict competition for the citys largest construction projects. Less competition never is good. Advertisement If fewer firms are eligible to bid, prices could rise. The bill could have cost taxpayers nearly $900,000 if it had been in place in recent years. The deceptively named Responsible Contractor ordinance is nothing more than the all-Democratic council pushing the national Democratic pro-union agenda. Advertisement Mayor Matt Tuerk was asked last week to veto it. Instead, he returned the legislation to council without his signature and suggested it be amended. Council is expected to consider an amended version on Wednesday, though the problematic part would remain. If council does not approve new legislation, the previously approved bill would take effect in about a month. Tuerk, a Democrat, should have vetoed the legislation. It will not be good for Allentown taxpayers. It will not be fair for construction companies that have a rich history of partnering with the city to complete important work. The bad part of the ordinance is that it requires contractors to have a formal apprenticeship program to be eligible to bid on jobs of more than $100,000. Most contractors that have those programs are union shops. The law implies that companies without apprenticeships non-union companies arent responsible, dont have well-trained employees and dont perform safe, quality work. Thats insulting. Apprenticeships are important. The construction industry needs more manpower, and apprenticeships are a great path into a profession that pays family-sustaining wages. Advertisement But they should not be a condition of doing big jobs for a government, in Allentown or elsewhere. Thats going to expose taxpayers to additional costs. Their money may not go as far. The price of five recent construction projects in Allentown would have risen by about $883,000 in total if this law had been in place when they were bid, according to data presented to council. Those projects included the Second Street bridge, sidewalk work and demolition of the Irving Pool. Sadly, there was little discussion about cost during the public meeting where council approved the law. Debates about the value of unions, apprenticeships and workforce development dominated. Councilman Joshua Siegel, one of the ordinances sponsors, said the city had a moral obligation to use city tax dollars to stand with workers, to stand with workforce investment. If were not going to stand with workers, especially in a working-class city, then we have no business being up here. Advertisement If that sounded like a campaign speech, it was. Siegel is running for state representative this year. Need that union vote! Job training and creation programs are important. But not at the expense of city taxpayers. There already are federal and state programs that fund them. Supporters said that by contracting with firms that have apprenticeships, the city would be investing in its residents. Its unrealistic to believe that every company that would land a contract under the ordinance would be based in Allentown and have a workforce primarily of city residents. Many companies and workers would hail from elsewhere. They probably would spend some money while working in town. But theyd take the bulk of their wages home with them. [ New Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk is already doing something better than his predecessors ] Supporters pointed out that other local governments, including Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties, have similar responsible contractor laws. One has been proposed in Bethlehem. Advertisement Federal courts have ruled they are legal, dismissing a lawsuit that challenged Northampton Countys law. I wasnt able to find much recent analysis of how these laws have impacted costs. A study of projects in Indiana and Illinois in 2018 and 2019 found negligible differences. Building projects cost slightly less on average in locations with the law in place; road and highway projects cost slightly more on average. Allentown should have requested data for every project done in Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties to see if costs were affected. The limited local data is a cause for concern, at a time when Allentown will be starting a lot of construction projects as funding becomes available from the federal infrastructure bill. Not all of City Council liked the idea. It squeaked by with a 4-3 vote. Council members Cynthia Mota, Candida Affa and Daryl Hendricks asked for a delay to do a cost analysis, but lost that fight. They voted against the legislation. Siegel, co-sponsor Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach and Natalie Santos voted for it. Advertisement Last week, the Allentown Parking Authority asked Tuerk to veto the ordinance, which also applies to the authority and other independent city government agencies. The authority cited grave impacts on its projects because of limited competition for the work. The Allentown Economic Development Corp. also has raised concerns with the mayor. In response, Siegel and Zucal intend to ask council to vote on an amended version of the legislation Wednesday. It would exempt independent city authorities and agencies from the requirements, The Morning Calls Lindsay Weber reported Friday. If its bad for them, its bad for the city, too. Morning Call columnist Paul Muschick can be reached at 610-820-6582 or paul.muschick@mcall.com [ Thank you, Mayor Tuerk, for ticketing lazy bums who dont shovel their Allentown sidewalks ] Only subscribers with PAID Print or E-Edition subscriptions please enter here to gain access. If you are not already a Paid subscriber do not go through this portal. Please return to the subscription page to purchase one of our offers. Thank you! Recently, Bill White wrote a column in which he eloquently condemned greed and selfishness as undermining the public good. Who can disagree that selfishness is bad and the public good is, well, good? Alas, people have been self-interested since our ancestors roamed the Serengeti many thousands of years ago. Were not likely to stamp out selfishness. The trick is to embrace institutions that channel self-interest in ways that enhance the public good. Advertisement Here are two related ways to control the bad effects of selfishness: 1) Rely on the market to produce most goods and services, and 2) limit the role of government in our lives. First with respect to markets: Economists often hear the criticism that because we believe in markets, were elevating greed even the particularly detestable corporate greed over the public good. Advertisement Anthony O'Brien (HUBWILLSON / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Michael Douglas portrayed Wall Street titan Gordon Gekko in the movie 'Wall Street' (1987). Douglas won an Academy Award for uttering the line that summed up the late Reagan era: 'Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.' (Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox) Its certainly true that Adam Smith, the granddaddy of economics, wrote in The Wealth of Nations that: It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. But Smith also wrote a second, much less well known, book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, in which he discussed what makes for a virtuous life. In that book, he wrote that: The wise and virtuous man is at all times willing that his own private interest should be sacrificed to the public interest. A contradiction? No. In The Wealth of Nations, Smith wasnt advocating that people be self-interested; he was recognizing that in practice most people are more selfish than they are benevolent. One of Smiths key insights was the market channels individual selfishness in ways that work for the public good. What keeps the selfish baker from charging high prices and using inferior ingredients? Competition from other bakers. Thats the beauty of the market: Dont like what one firm is selling? Go buy from a competitor. Competition disciplines firms much more thoroughly then even the most intrusive government bureaucrats ever could. The market allows us the freedom to choose; the government restricts that freedom. Bill White thinks its selfish of parents to oppose their kids being taught critical race theory or being forced to wear masks in school. I would say the teachers unions and the local pols who kowtow to them have been the selfish ones. Persisting with remote learning did terrible damage to disadvantaged kids. Maybe Bill Whites right about how the schools should be run, or maybe Im right. With the government running the schools, parents are forced to abide by policies they may strongly disagree with. Advertisement Each year, Pennsylvania spends about $19,000 per pupil on public schools. If we gave that money to parents to spend on whatever schools they liked, we would inject much-needed competition into the school system. We would also drain the acrimony from education policy because parents could send their kids to schools run the way the parents would like. Think of it this way: Suppose only the government sold cars and the cars all had to be the same model. Can you imagine the fights over whether that model should be gas or electric, or whether it should have all the latest safety gizmos, however expensive they made the car? We avoid those conflicts by relying on the market to provide a variety of cars that fit consumers differing tastes and incomes. Theres no good reason we cant also let the market provide education. Politicians and bureaucrats are, regrettably, at least as selfish as businesspeople. But unlike businesspeople, the selfishness of bureaucrats is unchecked by competition. As such, were better off when government activity occurs at the local level. Policy preferences are different in Allentown than in Manhattan or rural Georgia. The Allentown City Council is in a better position to respond to the views of local voters than is the federal government. And its easier for voters to keep an eye on local politicians. The Founding Fathers knew the desire to accumulate political power is itself a type of greed and, if left unchecked, politicians would continually expand the powers of the federal government. Thats why they included the Tenth Amendment in the Bill of Rights: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. Advertisement That is, the federal government has only those powers expressly granted to it in the Constitution. Over the years, self-interested politicians flouted the Tenth Amendment and extended the reach of the federal government into nearly every aspect of our lives. The courts could lower the temperature on political debates by enforcing the Tenth Amendment, which would allow more political decisions to be made at the local level. Anthony OBrien is a professor emeritus of economics at Lehigh University. Views expressed are of the author, not the university. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Swastika Mukherjee can be said to be controversys favourite child. The Bengali film industry is known for people who have danced to a distant drum and Swastika is one such person. Her affairs are as much talked about as her bold choice in roles. Hindi viewers know her through her femme fatale role in Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015) and the hit series Paatal Lok (2020). Shes a natural in front of the camera and is known to get under the skin of complicated characters with consummate ease. She calls herself an uncomplicated person in real life though and looks upon herself as a person who just goes with the flow. Shes also a single mother and has successfully balanced motherhood and career. Excerpts from a crackling interview with the fiery actress What are your Filmfare memories like? Full of nostalgia because we have grown up watching Filmfare Awards. It has been a special part of our lives. Whenever it was telecast, we, me my family and friends, used to look forward to watching it. We got to know about new kinds of hairstyles, makeup, clothes and jewellery. And the focus was on specific people like Rekha ji, Sridevi ji and Madhuri Dixit, all the icons of our time. I have two Black Ladies with me. Unfortunately, I was shooting abroad and wasnt able to collect the first one in person. What did you feel when you realised you had won the Best Actor award for Shaheb Bibi Golaam? It was in 2017. I was shooting for a Marathi film in Budapest. I knew the award function was happening that day. Id told everyone that if my phone were to ring or if some message was coming in, to make sure it reached me. I didnt check my phone for half an hour because I was in the shot and then when I checked the phone, there were so many notifications. So I understood that people were calling me to inform me that Id won. The characters you have played have been dark, and have been melancholic. How much of you is there in the characters that you play? As an actor, you give a lot to characters and you also take back something. You are living somebody elses life at a stretch and you are giving so much of your emotions. I just keep going back and thinking why dont I know whats going on with their lives now. I mean I want to know what happened to them after the film ended. So, just at odd hours, they come into my thoughts and I am like did she stay back? Did she leave? Is she living a better life? Is she happy? It sounds kind of crazy Give us a specific instance. I would definitely like to mention a film called Asamapta. It was on Netflix and the character I played was that of a housewife. Her name was Tuki and she was in a troubled phase with her marriage and she was not able to pull out from life. While she was not able to live with that man, she was not able to leave him either. Even when the film ended, she was in that space where she didnt know what to do. Ive just thought about her a lot and I was really hoping that she leaves but I couldnt convince the writer and the director to make the film my way. And the same happened with Paatal Lok also. I kept asking Sudip (Sharma, creator) that if we do season 2, are you bringing the characters back? I would just love to see Dolly having a dog creche and I dont want to see her staying with her husband. So the complexities of the characters stay with you? Im a no jhanjhat person. I dont like complexities. I am not a complicated human being at all. Im straightforward with what I speak and what I think and how I live my life but I think as an actor, I really love going to those areas in my mind and living in those phases. This melancholy and their sadness stays with me. I think we all have our own dark places and we dont want to revisit them at any point of time. For actors I think, its kind of a blessing that we can use everything that is going on in our mind space. We put it all into characters and just make them come alive. And give performances that people will remember. What are the pros and cons of being a single mother, who is also an actor? Its unfortunate that if your relationships dont work out, they fall under the bracket of controversy. If youve fallen in love with somebody and it has not materialised into something more substantial like marriage, then as per society, you are doomed. And then it falls under the controversy category, which I feel is pretty funny. We just think a single parent matlab it has to be a woman. Whereas there are so many single dads around as well. And if youre an actress on top of that, its just too much khichdi. You get written about in the media and you think your child is going to read that and you hope she sees the reality and not believe in whats being fed by the media. I fall into the your mom is very cool category. So, you know, I have managed, I have sailed through. Do you feel societys stereotypes have straight-jacketed actors? (Laughs) I have stopped giving, you know the word I want to use but wont use. Because that will again be a problem na. A woman using cuss words is not taken lightly by our society. I dont think people can differentiate between the reel and the real and its not possible to be vocal about everything or project every bit of your life and lifestyle. But thanks to social media, I think perceptions have changed a bit. I hope theyll change more because so much of our personal space and lives are on Instagram. Before social media happened, I experienced this. I did a film called Take One, where I played an actor, a single mother and also a widow and she was an alcoholic. It was a pretty dark film. And the poster really made a lot of noise. So all that was happening and my relatives called my mother up and told her that she is so miserable, she drinks from the morning, why arent you taking care of her? And that was one of the few times that my mom actually lost it and she was so angry with me for not doing lighthearted stuff. She didnt talk to me for some days and she said that I am not going to go and watch this film and I am not going to go watch any film which gets an A certificate. She said you should give it a break and do some childrens film. Do you feel that the industry is more judgemental of you than the outside world? I dont think so. See if people love to gossip, they will do it. You are doing something for fun, you are joking or some khichdi youve heard somewhere, in a fun space, its fine. But targeting someone and then making a mountain of a molehill is problematic. The camaraderie is there, so you know, things have changed. People nowadays, if they are really fans and followers, they keep a track of your life and your work. They can understand what can be gossip and what can be the truth and what can be something that is completely over the top. What did the pandemic teach you? I lost my father in March 2020 and the lockdown started in March itself. I was in Mumbai during the entire lockdown. But my daughter Anwesha was also there so thankfully, we were together and then Paatal Lok, Dil Bechara and Black Widows happened. Tasher Ghawr too was released, which was talked about so much by the critics. So workwise, it has been quite a big year for me, but loss-wise also quite a pathetic year. The pandemic has taught me to be more grounded and humble and not make a big deal out of either your success or your failure. I have learnt how to cook, I am a pro at washing dishes, I can actually take it up as a profession. Jab kuch nahi rahega, I can do that. I am completely in love with washing dishes, jharhu, pocha, bartan, and cooking. All those experiences nourish you as an actor because the more you experience good, bad and the ugly, in my head Im always like let me store it, I am going to use it somewhere. -Pre-roll equipment installation complete, preparing product launch, -Revenue ramps up, operating costs decline for the nine-month period. Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 28, 2022) - Radient Technologies Inc. (TSXV: RTI) ("Radient" or the "Company"), a commercial manufacturer of diverse, novel, and high-quality cannabis extracts and packaged products, reports its financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021. Recent key achievements: Completed the acquisition of Tunaaaaroom Xtracts Inc. ("TRX"), for the development and sales of premium cannabis products, which are now sold through provincially licensed retailers in seven Canadian provinces and territories; Announced partnership agreement with All Good Collective Corp. ("All Good") to produce unique cannabis pre-roll products; Successfully completed first phase build out of the 10 million unit cannabis pre-roll production facility and the Company expects to introduce its brand of pre-roll products in March 2022; Completed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1,252,843 and completed shares for debt settlement of $281,500; Received from Health Canada a dried cannabis sales licence and sale for medical purposes licence, allowing the Company to offer a comprehensive suite of cannabis products. Revenue for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2021, was $1,576,616 and $3,422,985, which compares to $1,811,476 and $1,956,613 respectively in the same period in the prior year, representing a 75% increase in nine-month revenue. Gross Profit also increased to $522,920 for the nine months ended December 31, 2021, which compares to $310,259 in the same period in the prior year. In keeping with the Company's restructuring plan, operating expenses continued to decline, decreasing by 46% to $6,336,872 for the nine months ended December 31, 2021, which compares to $11,684,470 in the same period in the prior year. Cash used in operating activities was significantly reduced to $596,753 for the nine months ended December 31, 2021, which compares to $6,229,690 in the same period in the prior year. Management Commentary Radient continues to execute on its restructuring plan, which is bringing in new partnerships and developing new business lines to position the Company as a meaningful player in the cannabis industry. Radient recently completed the acquisition of TRX, which is the Company's most significant acquisition to date and is expected to enable significant revenue growth for the Company. Radient has worked together with the TRX principals for over a year on the development and sales of premium cannabis products, which are now sold through provincially licensed retailers in seven Canadian provinces and territories. In conjunction with the TRX acquisition the TRX principals are now working for the benefit of Radient, and the Company is optimistic on this future potential. Radient recently announced a partnership agreement with All Good to produce unique cannabis pre-roll products, to design and supply a modular-designed assembly and packaging facility to produce cannabis pre-roll products. The facility will operate in Radient's existing Edmonton II licenced plant, and first phase installation has been completed. All Good has designed the facility to scale production capacity to at least 10 million cannabis pre-roll units (1 million packages) per month once full-scale modular build out is reached, and All Good has already secured the supply of the equipment required to reach full-scale build out. Radient now plans to produce and sell cannabis pre-roll products to licenced retailers in Canada. The pre-roll design parameters include a cigarette-style cylinder format and craft grown, terpene rich, high THC, non-irradiated cannabis. Pre-roll units will be packaged in a high quality 10-unit humidity protected box and will be marketed to discerning cannabis users. Staffing for the pre-roll production facility is in place and initial pre-roll production and sales to licenced retailers is expected in subsequent quarters. Radient recently received from Health Canada an amendment to its Standard Processing Licence for the sale of dried and fresh cannabis products to authorized cannabis retailers and Sale for Medical Purposes licence holders. The Company has also received from Health Canada a Sale for Medical Purposes licence, allowing the Company to supply and sell cannabis products to patients who hold prescriptions from authorized healthcare providers. These licence amendments represent a significant milestone for the Company and allow the Company to expand its offerings and bring quality craft dried and fresh cannabis to the regulated market. With these licence approvals, the Company is now able to sell high-quality products to the entire Canadian cannabis market for both medical and non-medical use. Complete details of the Company's financial and operating results are available under the Company's profile at www.SEDAR.com. About Radient Radient Technologies is a commercial manufacturer of diverse, novel and high-quality cannabis extracts and packaged products. Radient develops specialty products and ingredients that contain a broad range of cannabinoid and terpene profiles while meeting the highest standards of quality and safety. Radient is focused on innovation with expertise in formulations and technologies offering unique solutions in the cannabis and wellness space. RadientInc.com Contact Information: Harry Kaura, CEO & Director ir@radientinc.com Ph: 780 465 1318 Forward Looking Information: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the growth of the Company's business operations. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Radient, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; risks associated with operation in the cannabis sector; and other risks inherent in the cannabis industry. Although Radient has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Radient does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities 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 RELEASE. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115157 Gross Revenue of US$5.05 Million and Cash Cost of US$1,810/Oz VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 28, 2022for full financial results). President and CEO Cathy Zhai commented, "I am glad that the second quarter progressed the Selinsing Flotation Plant Project to 37% completion and awarded all major equipment suppliers and construction contractors successfully. Purchase orders for major long lead items of equipment were issued, and fabrication of the flotation cell went well, and the civil work has completed the earth work. We stay on schedule anticipating the dry commissioning completion by June 2022. At the Murchison Gold Project, the Phase 1 drill program assays were highly encouraging and highlighted a new high-grade mineralization at the Junction Target in an area where there is significant room to extend mineralization with further drill programs. The Murchison Phase 2 drilling program commenced targeting down dip and down plunge of known high grade deposits aimed at testing the potential expansion of the underground resource." Second Quarter Highlights: Murchison Phase 1 drilling results confirm discovery of new high-grade mineralization at the Junction Target; Murchison Phase 2 drilling started with 2,918 meters (12 RC holes) drilled; Peranggih RC drilling and channel sampling confirms the extension of oxide mineralization and potential supplies to the mill; Selinsing Flotation Plant Project is progressing as planned with 37% completion to date; Selinsing Gold Mine's Q2 production impacted by heavy monsoon rains: 1,683oz of gold produced in Q2, FY2022 (Q2, FY2021: 2,963oz); 2,873 ounces ("oz") of gold sold for $5.05 million in Q2, FY2022 (Q2, FY2021: 3,754oz for $6.84million); Average quarterly gold price realized at $1,828/oz in Q2, FY2022 (Q2, FY2021: $1,889/oz); Cash cost per ounce sold was $1,810/oz in Q2, FY2022 (Q2, FY2021: $1,103/oz); Gross margin decreased by 106% to negative $0.15 million in Q2, FY2022 (Q2, FY2021: $2.69 million); All-in sustaining cost ("AISC") increased to $2,146/oz in Q2, FY2022 (Q2, FY2021: $1,501/oz) (section 15 "Non-IFRS Performance Measures" of Q2 Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"). Second Quarter and Six Months Production and Financial Highlights Three months ended December31, Six months ended December 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Production Ore mined (t) 85,209 112,073 160,181 193,649 Ore processed (t) 1,770,975 963,863 3,713,309 2,022,019 Average mill feed grade (g/t) 129,000 152,836 285,611 319,268 Processing recovery rate (%) 0.56 0.89 0.55 0.94 Gold recovery (oz) 63 % 58 % 64 % 61 % Gold production (1) (oz) 1,683 2,963 2,726 6,467 Gold sold (oz) 2,873 3,754 4,296 6,854 Three months ended December 31, Six months ended December 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Financial (expressed in thousands of US$) $ $ $ $ Revenue 5,046 6,835 7,429 12,754 Gross margin from mining operations (153 ) 2,694 195 5,753 Income before other items (2,124 ) 1,159 (2,879 ) 3,102 Net loss (2,502 ) (649 ) (3,769 ) (511 ) Cash flows (used in) provided by operations (4,023 ) 796 (4,000 ) 1,543 Working capital 38,605 20,384 38,605 20,384 Loss per share - basic and diluted (US$/share) (0.01 ) (0.00 ) (0.01 ) (0.00 ) Other US$/oz US$/oz US$/oz US$/oz Average realized gold price per ounce sold (2) 1,828 1,889 1,823 1,899 Cash cost per ounce sold: Mining 728 365 660 323 Processing 897 552 838 520 Royalties 164 172 165 168 Operations, net of silver recovery 21 14 20 10 Total cash cost per ounce sold 1,810 1,103 1,683 1,021 By-product silver recovery 0 1 0 1 Operation expenses 0 40 11 26 Corporate expenses 9 6 7 7 Accretion of asset retirement obligation 13 9 16 10 Exploration and evaluation expenditures 47 19 35 16 Sustaining capital expenditures 267 323 361 219 Total all-in sustaining costs per ounce sold 2,146 1,501 2,114 1,300 (1) Defined as good delivery gold bullion according to London Bullion Market Association ("LBMA"), net of gold dore in transit and refinery adjustment. (2) Monument realized US$1,828/oz for the three months ended December 31, 2021 which excludes gold prepaid delivered of 723oz for comparison purposes. (3) Total cash cost per ounce includes production costs such as mining, processing, tailing facility maintenance and camp administration, royalties and operating costs such as storage, temporary mine production closure, community development cost and property fees, net of by-product credits. Cash cost excludes amortization, depletion, accretion expenses, idle production costs, capital costs, exploration costs and corporate administration costs. Readers should refer to section 15 "Non-GAAP Performance Measures" of Q2 MD&A. (4) All-in sustaining cost per ounce includes total cash costs and adds sustaining capital expenditures, corporate administrative expenses for the Selinsing Gold Mine including share-based compensation, exploration and evaluation costs, and accretion of asset retirement obligations. Certain other cash expenditures, including tax payments and acquisition costs, are not included. Readers should refer to section 15 "Non-GAAP Performance Measures" of Q2 MD&A. Q2 FY2022 Production Analysis Q2 FY2022 gold production was 1,683oz, a 43% decrease as compared to 2,963oz for Q2 FY2021. The decrease resulted from heavy rain and a large quantity of super low-grade ore being fed into the mill although gold recovery was slightly higher. Q2 FY2022 ore processed decreased to 129,000t from 152,836t for Q2 FY2021. The decreased mill feed was mainly due to less oxide ore and old tailings being fed into plant. Average mill feed grade was 0.56g/t Au in Q2 FY2022 as compared to 0.89g/t Au of Q2 FY2021. Q2 FY2022 processing recovery rate increased to 63.2% from 58.4% for Q2 FY2021. The slight increase in processing recovery rate was mainly due to significant increase in Peranggih oxide materials being processed. Q2 FY2022 cash cost per ounce increased by 64% to $1,810/oz from $1,103/oz for Q2 FY2021. This increase was primarily due to a significant reduction in the mill feed grade from 0.89g/t Au to 0.56g/t Au and significantly more low-grade leachable sulphide ore and low-grade Peranggih materials being processed. Ore stockpile has reduced mainly as a result of lower mining rate primarily due to heavy rain in both Selinsing pit and Peranggih pit especially towards to the end of the quarter. Q2 FY2022 Financial Analysis Q2 FY2022 gold sales generated revenue was $5.05 million as compared to $6.84 million from Q2 FY2021. Gold sales revenue was derived from the sale of 2,150oz (Q2 FY2021: 3,050oz) of gold at an average realized gold price of $1,828 per ounce (Q2 FY2021: $1,889 per ounce) and the delivery of 723oz (Q2 FY2021: 704 oz at $1,525 per ounce gold equivalent) in fulfilling gold prepaid sale obligations. Q2 FY2022 total production costs increased by 26% to $5.20 million as compared to $4.14 million from Q1 FY2021. Cash cost per ounce increased by 64% to $1,810/oz as compared to $1,103/oz of the same period last year. The increase was attributable to a 45% decrease in the mill feed grade from 0.89g/t to 0.56g/t, heavy rain, offset by an increase in recovery to 63.2% (Q2 FY2021: 58.4%), as a result of processing significantly more leachable sulphide ore and other low grade ores. Gross margin for Q2 FY2022 was negative $0.15 million before operation expenses and non-cash amortization and accretion. That represented an 106% decrease as compared to $2.69million from Q2 FY2021. The decrease in gross margin was attributable to significant lower grade ore feed, much lower volume of gold sold, and increased cash costs. Net loss for Q2 FY2022 was $2.50 million, or ($0.01) per share as compared to net loss of $0.65 million or ($0.00) per share from Q2 FY2021. The net loss was mainly caused by lower operating margins impacted by heavy rain. Cash and cash equivalents balance as at December 31, 2021 was $27.79 million, a decrease of $10.83 million from the balance at June 30, 2021 of $38.62 million due to $4 million used in operation activities, $5.5 million development cost in Selinsing including $3.8 million spent in sulphide project development, and $1.3 million spent in Murchison exploration and maintenance activities . As at December 31, 2021, the Company had positive working capital of $38.61 million as compared to that at June 30, 2021 of $48.54 million. Development Selinsing Gold Mine The Sulphide project development comprises the Stage 1 Flotation plant project and Stage 2 BIOX leaching plant. The flotation plant construction includes project management, project validation, flotation design and engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. Mine development included upgrading of tailing storage facilities, pit push backs, and river diversion. The flotation plant is expected to be completed by June 2022 with an estimated cost of up to $20 million. As of December 31, 2021, 37% of overall project has been completed. During Q2 FY2022 Mincore Pty Ltd. ("Mincore") completed the detailed engineering design of the flotation plant. Equipment specifications and data sheets were completed, and material take-offs and bills of material were issued for concrete, structural steel, piping, valves and electric cables instrumentation. All civil and structural, mechanical and piping drawings were issued for construction. Purchase orders for major long lead items of equipment were sent to the selected manufacturers. During the quarter the construction contract has been awarded to Seong Henng Engineering Works Sdn Bhd, an experienced Malaysian contractor which carried out the Selinsing Oxide Plant construction over 10 years ago. During Q2 FY2022, R&D work produced the sample of flotation concentrate for pressure filtration testwork by the filter press supplier McLanahan. It is also achieved a key milestone that the pilot plant was successfully commissioned into operation, comprised ball mill and classifier, rougher / scavenger flotation cells and three stages of cleaner flotation. Samples of flotation concentrate was produced and a sample of this was sent to McLanahan for filter press testwork. Antimony leaching tests was carried out to support gold concentrates marketing effort. The Tail Storage Facility expansion progressed 91.9% as of December 31, 2021, reached the 537m RL, which provides adequate capacity till May 2023. Murchison Gold Project No mine development was planned during the second quarter of fiscal year 2022, with the focus on exploration at Murchison. Murchison Project development is put on hold. The processing plant and other facilities are under care and maintenance and in good condition. Site accommodations and catering are fully functional to host administrative, exploration and mining activities. Exploration Progress Malaysia Peranggih is currently the focus for identifying additional mineable material to extend production from the oxide plant at Selinsing. In the Phase 1 and 2 Reverse Circulation ("RC") drilling programs at Peranggih approximately 70% of holes have hit gold mineralization above an oxide cut-off (>0.35g/t Au) at less than 50m below the surface, defining a mineralized zone 830m long and 60m wide. Exploration in the second quarter of FY2022 comprised of 396 channel samples, which tested extensions to known mineralization at Peranggih, where follow-up RC drilling is planned in Q3 FY2022, and a new prospect at Mentique, where further mapping and sampling are to be undertaken. Western Australia At the Murchison Gold Project, the Phase 1 RC and Air Core ("AC") drill program completion was announced and comprised 3,465m in 46 RC holes and 10,484m in 349 AC holes, which were designed to test new targets away from known resources. All assays from the Phase 1 drilling were received in January 2022, subsequent to the end of the second quarter, and significant intercepts include 5m at 1.53 g/t Au from 31m (21BNRC037), 2m at 0.81 g/t Au from 111m and 3m at 1.91 g/t Au from 119m (21BNRC038) and 2m at 1.56 g/t Au from 60m and 2m at 3.70g/t Au from 106m (21BNRC039) at Munro Bore, 8m at 0.97g/t Au from 5m (21BNRC008) and 7m at 0.82g/t Au from 18m (21BNRC026) at FLC2, and 3m at 10.2g/t Au from 22m (21BNAC213) at the newly discovered Junction Target. A Phase 2 RC and diamond drilling (DD) program commenced in November 2021, and a total of 2,918m in 12 RC holes were completed during the second quarter of FY2022, testing for extensions to known mineralization and resources at the NOA1, NOA2, NOA78 and Alliance target areas. 1,406 RC samples from the Phase 2 drilling were dispatched to ALS Geochemistry in Perth during the quarter. DD drilling was rearranged and postponed to March 2022 due to availability of the drill rigs. The Phase 2 drilling program is expected to be completed by the end of March 2022. About Monument Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY, FSE: D7Q1) is an established Canadian gold producer that 100% owns and operates the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia and the Murchison Gold Project in the Murchison area of Western Australia. It has 20% interest in Tuckanarra Gold Project jointly owned with Odyssey Gold Ltd in the same region. The Company employs approximately 200 people in both regions and is committed to the highest standards of environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities. Cathy Zhai, President and CEO Monument Mining Limited Suite 1580 -1100 Melville Street Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web site at www.monumentmining.com or contact: Richard Cushing, MMY Vancouver T: +1-604-638-1661 x102 rcushing@monumentmining.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 Statement This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information about Monument, its business and future plans ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or future events that are not historical facts and include the Company's plans with respect to its mineral projects and the timing and results of proposed programs and events referred to in this news release. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation: risks related to general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the results of current exploration activities; uncertainties in the progress and timing of development activities; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Material factors and assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements in this news release include: expectations regarding the estimated cash cost per ounce of gold production and the estimated cash flows which may be generated from the operations, general economic factors and other factors that may be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations regarding the results of exploration on the Company's projects; assumptions regarding the future price of gold of other minerals; the timing and amount of estimated future production; the expected timing and results of development and exploration activities; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; exchange rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Deal deepens iCapital's relationship with one of the fastest growing Asian private banks and accelerates fintech firm's growth across the APAC region iCapital,1 the leading global fintech platform driving access and efficiency in alternative investing for the asset and wealth management industries, today announced that iCapital has acquired Bank of Singapore's in-house private market feeder fund platform. With the deal, iCapital takes over the management and operation of the bank's private market feeder funds while Bank of Singapore retains client servicing responsibilities. Following the close of the transaction, iCapital services approximately US$114 billion in global private assets, of which more than US$27 billion are from international investors (non-US Domestic), across more than 940 funds. The deal builds on a long-standing partnership between the two companies. Bank of Singapore previously tapped iCapital to build out a technology and feeder fund solution to offer the bank's advisors a seamless, intuitive platform for selecting private market investments for inclusion in client portfolios including private equity, private credit, and real assets. "This transaction is the culmination of a highly collaborative relationship with iCapital," said Leong Guan Lim, Global Head of Products at Bank of Singapore. "By partnering with the iCapital team on the management of our private market feeder funds business, we can ensure that our relationship managers and their clients have access to the industry's leading technology and education offerings within the private market investing space." "We are excited to forge a deeper relationship with Bank of Singapore as we expand our offering to a growing base of clients and investors throughout Asia," said Lawrence Calcano, Chairman and CEO of iCapital. "Our team works tirelessly to evolve with the investor demands of the international marketplace and we are grateful for the support of Bank of Singapore as we work together to further our mission." Bank of Singapore will continue to source and monitor private market investments for its clients and provide ongoing advice to its clients on private market investments within a diversified investment strategy. iCapital will become the provider of custom private market funds for the bank's high-net-worth clients. As part of the transaction, the bank's wealth managers also gain access to AltsEdge, the comprehensive educational platform sponsored by the iCapital Foundation and CAIA, designed to help wealth managers better understand alternative investments and how they can leverage them to improve client outcomes. The program consists of ten guided modules covering the private markets, various types of strategies and product structures and portfolio construction. Asia is expected to grow its ultra-high-net-worth-investor (UHNWI) population by close to 40 percent over the next five years, significantly above the global average of 27 percent2, and interest in alternative investments by Asian UHNWIs has steadily increased in recent years. "This deal is a key milestone in iCapital's expansion strategy in APAC and attests to our ability to be a partner of choice for Wealth Managers as they make private markets a strategic priority and a more accessible component of a diversified portfolio," said Marco Bizzozero, Head of International at iCapital. "Bank of Singapore is a recognized leader, and this partnership strengthens iCapital's leadership in providing the global wealth management community with a best-in-class digital experience when accessing the private markets." The transaction with Bank of Singapore was completed on February 28, 2022. About iCapital Founded in 2013 in NYC, iCapital is the leading global fintech company powering the world's alternative investment marketplace. It has transformed the way the wealth management, banking, and asset management industries facilitate access to private markets investments for their high-net-worth clients by providing intuitive, end-to-end technology and service solutions. Wealth management firms use iCapital's solutions to provide clients with quality funds at lower minimums and simplified digital workflows. Asset managers, RIAs and banks leverage iCapital's technology to streamline and scale their alternative investments operational infrastructure. Additionally, the iCapital 'flagship' platform offers wealth advisors and their high-net-worth clients access to a curated menu of private equity, private credit, hedge funds, structured notes, and other alternative investments to help meet their investing needs for return and diversification. iCapital's research and diligence team offers robust analysis alongside the firm's extensive suite of advisor education, compliance, portfolio management, and portfolio analytics tools and services. iCapital was recognized on the Forbes FinTech 50 list in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, the Forbes America's Best Startup Employers in 2021, and MMI/Barron's Industry Awards as Solutions Provider of the Year in 2020 and 2021. As of January 31, 2022, iCapital services $112 billion in global client assets, of which more than $25 billion are from international investors (non-US Domestic), across more than 940 funds. Employing more than 750 people globally, iCapital is headquartered in NYC and has offices in Zurich, London, Lisbon, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Toronto. For additional information, please visit the iCapital website at www.icapitalnetwork.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icapital-network-inc Twitter: @icapitalnetwork See disclosures here. About Bank of Singapore Bank of Singapore is the dedicated private banking subsidiary of OCBC Bank. It has a strong Aa1 credit rating from Moody's and offers a unique value proposition as a safe Singapore-registered private bank. It operates on an open-architecture product platform and has strong research capabilities, especially in emerging market research, to help its clients make the right decisions for fixed income, equities and money market investments as well as portfolio management, trust and insurance services. Over the years, it has built Managed Investments capabilities and premium trust and advisory services, supported by one of the largest research teams in Asia. Beyond private banking services, clients of Bank of Singapore have access to personal and business banking services, as well as investment opportunities offered by OCBC Bank or its subsidiaries. It is able to leverage OCBC Bank's commercial banking capabilities to extend its clients a broad array of consumer and corporate banking, corporate finance and treasury services across the OCBC Bank's regional and international network. Bank of Singapore serves high net worth individuals and wealthy families in its key markets of Southeast Asia, Greater China, Philippines, India Sub-Continent and other International markets. Headquartered in Singapore, Bank of Singapore has branches in Hong Kong and Dubai International Financial Centre, with a representative office in Manila. It offers wealth management services in the European Economic Area under the BOS Wealth Management Europe brand name. In Malaysia, it serves its clients through BOS Wealth Management Malaysia. Its strong performance has won it numerous industry recognitions. Bank of Singapore was most recently named the Best Private Bank for Digital Innovation and Services by Asian Private Banker and Best Asia-based Private Bank Active in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by WealthBriefing in 2021. For more information, please visit www.bankofsingapore.com. ___________________________ 1 Institutional Capital Network, Inc., and its affiliates including iCapital Securities LLC (together, "iCapital Network" or "iCapital") 2 Knight Frank 2021 Wealth Report View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220228006092/en/ Contacts: iCapital Media Asia Marylene Guernier icapital@secnewgate.hk +852 5225 7820 North America Emma Murphy +1 347-968-6800 icapital@neibartgroup.com Switzerland Tanja Kocher tanja.kocher@holisticom.ch +41 31 311 43 48 United Kingdom Gabriel Huntley icapital@headlandconsultancy.com +44 (0)7890 626 099 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 28, 2022) - Earl Resources Limited (TSXV: ERL.H) ("Earl Resources"), further to its press release dated November 26, 2021, announces that, it has entered into certain Definitive Agreements (as defined herein) in respect of Earl Resources' proposed "Change of Business" (the "Proposed COB") as such term is defined in TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") Policy 5.2 ("Policy 5.2"). The Definitive Agreements Sierra Leone Transaction On February 25, 2022, Earl Resources entered into a deed of assignment with Rewilding Maforki Ltd. ("RML") and Aristeus Projects Limited ("APL") (the "Sierra Leone COB Agreement") and a prepayment agreement with RML and APL (the "Sierra Leone Prepayment Agreement"), whereby Earl Resources will acquire by assignment 51% of carbon credits to be generated by RML from its planned project being developed on approximately 25,000 hectares of land with the Maforki Chiefdom in Sierra Leone located at the Malal, Rokon, Gbonkohyeni and Maforay communities (together referred to as the "Maforki Project"), for aggregate consideration consisting of 7,500,000 common shares of Earl Resources ("Earl Shares") issuable at a deemed value of $0.45 per Earl Share (which implies a consideration in the amount of $3,375,000). Pursuant to the Sierra Leone COB Agreement and for further consideration of the assignment of the future carbon credits, Earl Resources has also entered into the Sierra Leone Prepayment Agreement pursuant to which it will advance aggregate funds of up to USD $750,000 to RML in order to assist RML in the initial setup works and costs associated with the Maforki Project together with funding EcoSecurities baseline and PDD reports required in assessing project viability. Earl Resources, in its discretion, may also make one or more further advances for aggregate funds of up to USD $350,000 to RML to further the Maforki Project. RML is in the process of completing the land title formalities over 25,000 ha of land in Sierra Leone designated for re-wilding. The Sierra Leone Transaction constitutes an Arm's Length Transaction pursuant to the policies of the TSXV and no new Control Person will be created upon completion of the Sierra Leone Transaction. Further information regarding RML, APL and the Sierra Leone Transaction are set out in Earl Resources' press release dated November 26, 2021. Copies of the Sierra Leone COB Agreement and Sierra Leone Prepayment Agreement are available for review under Earl Resource's profile at www.sedar.com. Guyana Transaction On February 25, 2022, Earl Resources entered into a share purchase agreement with Pomeroon Trading (Holdings) Ltd. ("PTHL") and certain minority shareholders of PTHL (the "Guyana COB Agreement") that together hold the majority of the issued shares of PTHL (the "PTHL Shares") and concurrently issued an offer to purchase to all of the other shareholders of PTHL (the "Guyana Short Offers to Purchase"), to purchase, in the aggregate, up to 887,703 PTHL Shares, in exchange for the issuance of that number of Earl Shares equal to an aggregate price of USD$3,550,812, at a price per Earl Share of CAD$0.45. In addition, Earl Resources agreed to concurrently subscribe for an additional 187,000 PTHL Shares for cash, at an implied price per PTHL Share of USD$4.00 (providing for an aggregate subscription price of USD$748,000), which, with the aforementioned purchase of PTHL Shares, is expected to result in Earl Resources holding (upon closing) a circa. 60% ownership interest in PTHL. The Guyana COB Agreement also provides that Earl Resources shall commit for a period of 12 months following closing of the transactions pursuant to the Guyana COB Agreement, that subject to PTHL initiating one or more qualifying carbon credit project(s) (to the satisfaction of Earl Resources), Earl Resources will make an offer to all remaining shareholders of PTHL to acquire all of their PTHL Shares at a price to be agreed, accepting that the consideration to be paid pursuant to any such acquisition shall be settled through the issuance of additional Earl Shares (at a price calculated as the 30 day volume weighted average price of the Earl Shares and subject to approval of the TSXV) unless otherwise mutually agreed between Earl Resources and a remaining PTHL shareholder. The Guyana Transaction is considered a Related Party Transaction on the basis that Mr. Ford Nicholson, a director and insider of the Corporation, owns 16,667 PTHL Shares representing 1.7% of the PTHL Shares. However, due to the minimal holdings of PTHL Shares by Mr. Ford Nicholson (among other things), the Guyana Transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. No new Control Person will be created upon completion of the Guyana Transaction. Further information regarding PTHL and the Guyana Transaction are set out in Earl Resources' press release dated November 26, 2021. Copies of the Guyana COB Agreement and Guyana Short Offers to Purchase are available for review under Earl Resource's profile at www.sedar.com. Yucatan Transaction Earl Resources previously announced on November 26, 2021 that it entered into an assignment agreement with Compania Mexicana de Captacion de Carbono ("CMCC") (the "Yucatan COB Agreement") to acquire all of CMCC's rights and interests under a consulting services agreement dated May 11, 2021 between CMCC and the Government of the State of Yucatan, Mexico (the "Yucatan Contract"), as well as that it entered into an agreement with CMCC dated November 25, 2021 wherein CCMC assigned a certain commission to Earl Resources (the "Commission Agreement"). Further information regarding CMCC and the Yucatan Transaction are set out in Earl Resources' press release dated November 26, 2021. The Yucatan Transaction constitutes an Arm's Length Transaction pursuant to the policies of the TSXV and no new Control Person will be created upon completion of the Yucatan Transaction. Copies of the Yucatan COB Agreement, Yucatan Contract and Commission Agreement are available for review under Earl Resource's profile at www.sedar.com. Proposed COB It is intended that the Proposed COB will constitute Earl Resources' "reactivation" under the policies of the TSXV and that upon completion of the Proposed COB ("Closing") and satisfaction of all conditions of the TSXV, Earl Resources will have its listing transferred from the NEX board of the TSXV ("NEX") to the TSXV. It is anticipated that Earl Resources will carry on the business of developing validated and verified carbon credits from afforestation and reforestation of degraded land areas for sale into international voluntary carbon markets (the "Business") and will meet the Tier 2 Initial Listing Requirements for an Industrial Issuer, such that Earl Resources will be graduated from the NEX to the TSXV. In connection with the Closing, it is anticipated that Earl Resources will change its name to "Klimat X Development Inc.", or such other name as the directors of Earl Resources may chose (subject to applicable regulatory approvals and approval of the TSXV), in order to more accurately reflect its operations and the Business. Completion of the Proposed COB is subject to a number of conditions, including the conditions to closing set forth in the Sierra Leone COB Agreement, the Sierra Leone Prepayment Agreement, the Yucatan COB Agreement, the Commission Agreement, the Guyana COB Agreement and the Guyana Short Offers to Purchase (collectively, the "Definitive Agreements") and acceptance by the TSXV. There can be no assurance the Proposed COB will be completed as proposed or at all. "The timely execution of definitive agreements with our partners represents a big and foundational step forward. I believe it was Henry Ford who said 'Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.' The carbon credit industry is evolving and the foundation of it is grounded in a social contract amongst people with a shared ambition of improving the environment around the world. People are what will determine success. Success in our pursuits will impact people, for generations to come. People matter. period." - said Dr. James Tansey, the proposed incoming CEO of Earl Resources upon the Closing. Shares for Debt Settlement In connection with the Proposed COB, Earl Resources intends to settle certain outstanding accounts payable in the aggregate amount of CAD$153,415 (the "Debt") owing to certain consultants of the Corporation ("Consultants") through the issuance of 340,922 common shares of Earl Resources (the "Settlement Shares"), at a deemed price of CAD$0.45 per Settlement Share (the "Shares for Debt Transaction"). The Debt was accrued pursuant to certain consultant services agreements (the "Consulting Agreements") entered into: (i) between the Corporation and 1LS Consulting, for aggregate consulting services payable to 1LS Consulting of CAD$50,000; (ii) between the Corporation and Park Energy Law UK Ltd., for aggregate consulting services payable to Park Energy Law UK Ltd. of USD$50,000; (iii) between the Corporation and Guy Bertin, for aggregate consulting services payable to 1LS Consulting of CAD$25,000; and (iv) between the Corporation and Clarus Securities Inc., for aggregate consulting services payable to Clarus Securities Inc. of CAD$225,000. No new control person of the Corporation will be created pursuant to the Shares for Debt Transaction and the Shares for Debt Transaction is an arm's length transaction within the policies of the TSXV. All Settlement Shares will be subject to a four-month and one-day hold period from the date of issuance, being the date of closing of the Proposed COB. Final approval of the Shares for Debt Transaction remains subject to approval of the TSXV. Trading Halt In accordance with Policy 5.2, the Common Shares of Earl Resources are currently halted from trading and are expected to remain halted pending the requirements of Section 2.5 of Policy 5.2 being met. Additional Information For further information: Earl Resources Limited Christopher Colborne Suite 390, 1050 Homer Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 2W9 Phone: 1-778-373-3736 Reader Advisory Completion of the Proposed Transactions is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Proposed Transactions cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transactions will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing 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 Earl Resources should be considered highly speculative. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transactions and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of 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. This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward looking statements and information concerning: the approval of the assignment of the Yucatan Contract by the applicable governmental authorities; the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Definitive Agreements; the proposed change of name of Earl Resources; and that the Proposed COB will constitute the "reactivation" of Earl Resources under the policies of the TSXV. Earl Resources cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of Earl Resources, including expectations and assumptions concerning Earl Resources, the Proposed Transactions, the timely receipt of all required TSXV and regulatory approvals and exemptions (as applicable) and the satisfaction of other closing conditions in accordance with the terms of the Definitive Agreements. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Earl Resources. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Earl Resources does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by securities law. THIS PRESS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT 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 U.S. PERSONS UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115200 Mainland medical experts arrive in Hong Kong in fighting COVID-19 Xinhua) 08:56, March 01, 2022 The third team of mainland health experts and personnel are welcomed by Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), upon arrival at south China's Shenzhen Bay Port on Feb. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Gang) HONG KONG, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The third team of mainland health experts and personnel arrived in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday to work with the HKSAR government in fighting the latest COVID-19 outbreak. The team consists of five experts, with Liang Wannian, head of the COVID-19 response expert panel under China's National Health Commission (NHC), as the team leader. The experts will give advice and share their experiences with clinical medical experts in Hong Kong on critical care of COVID-19 patients and ways to reduce the number of infections and mortality rate of the epidemic. Liang said that the team will maintain close contact with their Hong Kong counterparts and share their experiences in combating the epidemic. The expert delegation was welcomed by the HKSAR's Chief Executive Carrie Lam and officials of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR upon their arrival at the Shenzhen Bay Port on Monday afternoon. "I hope that macro-viewed advice from the new team of experts will build a solid foundation for Hong Kong's anti-epidemic work," Lam said, noting that suggestions from the previous two mainland medical teams have already been adopted in Hong Kong's daily anti-epidemic work. The first and second teams of medical experts from the mainland have arrived in Hong Kong on Feb. 17 and Feb. 19, respectively, to aid the HKSAR in curbing the COVID-19 epidemic. The two groups of medical experts have exchanged views with relevant departments of the HKSAR government and medical workers. They conducted field visits to communities, isolation facilities, medical institutions and some other organizations, and learned about the treatment of COVID-19 patients with mild and severe symptoms. Hong Kong reported 34,466 new COVID-19 cases and 87 deaths on Monday, official data showed. The third team of mainland health experts and personnel depart for Hong Kong from Shenzhen Bay Port, south China, Feb. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) The third team of mainland health experts and personnel arrive at south China's Shenzhen Bay Port, Feb. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) The third team of mainland health experts and personnel are welcomed by Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), upon arrival at south China's Shenzhen Bay Port on Feb. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Gang) The third team of mainland health experts and personnel depart for Hong Kong from Shenzhen Bay Port, south China, Feb. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) The third team of mainland health experts and personnel are welcomed by Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), upon arrival at south China's Shenzhen Bay Port on Feb. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Gang) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - The manufacturing sector in China moved back into expansion territory in February, the latest survey from Caixin showed on Tuesday with a manufacturing PMI score of 50.4. That's up from 49.1 and it moves above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction. Supporting the higher headline index reading was a renewed increase in total new business placed with Chinese goods producers. Though modest, the rate of new order growth was the quickest seen for eight months, with a number of firms commenting on a relative improvement in market conditions and firmer customer demand. The increase in total sales was despite a further drop in new export business, which was often linked to the pandemic and difficulties in shipping items to clients. The improvement in overall demand conditions helped to drive a fresh increase in output in February. Production has now risen in three of the past four months, though the latest expansion was only slight. 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. TOKYO, Mar 1, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited today announced the following new graduate recruitment plans for fiscal 2023, as well as its mid-career recruitment plans for fiscal 2022.For its new graduate recruitment plan for fiscal 2023, Fujitsu plans to hire approx. 750 new graduates as in the previous year. In fiscal 2022, Fujitsu plans to further increase the number of career recruits without specifying a target number. In doing so, Fujitsu aims to acquire talent to drive the five technology sectors to support Fujitsu's seven "Key Focus Areas" within the Uvance brand, as well as realize Fujitsu's Purpose to "make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation."Fujitsu will continue to conduct year-round recruitment, accepting applications from final-year university and graduate students, as well as those that have already graduated throughout the year.Under its job-based human resources management system, Fujitsu will recruit global talent to assign the right people to the right jobs. In addition, Fujitsu will offer appropriate compensation (including individual compensation) based on the level of responsibility and expertise.The Fujitsu Group aims to be a company in which talented, passionate people with a strong sense of purpose can contribute to the resolution of issues facing society and customers on a global scale, and all employees can continue to take on challenges and grow toward the realization of their own purpose.Moreover, Fujitsu will conduct fair recruitment in accordance with the "Request for Employment and Recruitment Activity for University Students who are Graduating in FY2022" issued by the Japanese government.(1) Key Focus Areas :Based on its vision of society in the year 2030, Fujitsu formulated seven Key Focus Areas that are comprised of the four cross-industry areas ("Vertical Areas") "Sustainable Manufacturing," "Consumer Experience," "Healthy Living," "Trusted Society," and the three technology platforms ("Horizontal Areas") "Digital Shifts," "Business Applications," and "Hybrid IT," based on Fujitsu's vision of society in the year 2030(2) Key Technologies :Fujitsu's technology strategy centers on five technology areas: "Computing," "Network," "AI," "Data & Security," and "Converging Technologies."About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. SHENZHEN, China, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the mobile internet, today has released a series of new 5G products and solutions at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The new products and solutions showcase ZTE's great commitment to building the simplest 5G network with energy efficiency, boosting the digital transformation of the industries with all-in-one private network and operating the complex network with ease. ZTE's UniSite NEO, among the new solutions, is the industry's simplest site solution. Powered by the integrated radio unit OmniUBR Series, it is capable of reducing the radio units from 18 to 5, and supporting a 6-band 3-sector site with only 5 units, thus significantly decreasing site rental cost by up to 57% and delivering 40% lower power consumption. Also, ZTE has updated its 5G RAN portfolio with the new-generation Massive MIMO product series. It includes 32TR and 64TR AAUs, up to 192 antenna elements and 320 watt, and introduces the industry's lightest Massive MIMO product weighing 9kg for high traffic site with limited space. ZTE's full scenario product portfolio update wraps up the radio network enhancement and improves the ROI for its operators. At MWC 2022, ZTE presents an all-in-one 5G private network solution based on the new model of 5G network as a service. This is a one-stop order-to-service package with the pre-integrated software and hardware, as well as converged 4G and 5G networks. The package has the tailor-made network features to empower the digital society. ZTE introduces three major types of 5G private network, including the compact cabinet for smart factories with dozens of enterprise applications to be launched on the cloud, single server i5GC for comprehensive campus where applications are more diversified and data security and self-service are mandatory, and embedded MEC for a very limited equipment room and simple application scenarios. In additon, ZTE has launched VMAX, the accelerator of digital transformation at MWC 2022, to satisfy the increasing complexity of the network O&M, which is regarded as one of the biggest issues for operators.ZTE's VMAX can help improve customer experiences, reduce costs and enhance operating performance. VMAX is a part of uSmartNet, ZTE's Autonomous Network solution, and changes single-domain operation into all-domain and end-to-end perspective providing One-stop Insight. When network errors occur, VMAX supports cross-domain service self-healing. It gets to the root cause of service problem and customer complaint in minutes with more than 80% location accuracy and efficiency increase by 30%. In addition, VMAX can interpret the service intent, output network planning suggestion accurately with minimal intervention. Meanwhile, it provides end-to-end security for different scenarios to protect personal privacy. "Performance enhancement, boundary extension and efficiency improvement are three keys to ZTE's '5G Growing' strategy," said Zhang Wanchun, SVP of ZTE Corporation. "ZTE hopes to work together with its industry partners to build the simplest and strongest public network, the tailored private network and the smartest business network." Click for the full version of ZTE 2022 new launch: https://topicsen.zte.com.cn/Online-Events/5G_Growing_Part.html Media Contacts: Margaret Ma ZTE Corporation Tel: +86 755 26775189 Email: ma.gaili@zte.com.cn Amway is a global entrepreneur-led health and wellness company that has been recognized multiple times by Frost & Sullivan for its outstanding and disruptive products in numerous industries SANTA CLARA, Calif., Mar.1 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the Asia-Pacific home water treatment (HWT) industry, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Amway with the 2021 Competitive Strategy Leadership Award for its sustainable, cost-effective, and cutting-edge products that dramatically improve accessibility to clean water. Amway is a well-known leader in the HWT industry in the region, having been recognized a dozen times in various ways by Frost & Sullivan for its outstanding work. The company regularly implements innovative marketing strategies to meet evolving customer needs with a strong focus on improving the customer experience. The company stands out from its competitors by delivering innovative and environmentally sustainable filtered water products and services that increase its dominance in the HWT industry. Amway addresses the growing demand for filtered water in the region with its leading product, eSpring, which comprises an innovating and visionary home water purification system that improves clean water accessibility and decreases water bottle consumption. "Amway sets itself apart in the market with eSpring by capitalizing on its robust brand reputation and 20 years of experience and research and development. It is one of the top-selling brands of home water purification systems in the Asia-Pacific region and the world with more than 6.2 million units sold in 48 countries and territories," said Iqra Azam, best practices research analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "Every eSpring unit accommodates the equivalent of 10,000 500-milliliter water bottles, decreasing plastic water bottle use on a large scale." Despite the challenging times that the pandemic brought to the HWT industry, Amway successfully modified its marketing strategy by offering significant discounts on individual products and strengthening its digital presence and social networks. It enabled the company to reach more customers and solidify its customer-centric approach to provide optimal customer experiences based on the exhaustive analysis of feedback. In addition, Amway's advanced HWT with carbon filter and ultralight technology significantly reduces the environmental footprint while providing clean, fresh-tasting water at home with the highest standard of the industry. As a result, the company is expected to steadily grow with new products and solutions for its already established consumer base in the Asia-Pacific region. "The eSpring unit's distinctive features make it appealing to customers. Its high-quality filtration system has a 0.2-micron filter that can remove almost 140 contaminants, such as organic and inorganic compounds, pesticides, industrial chemicals, fine particles, and biological hazards," noted Azam. "Frost & Sullivan recognizes Amway for significantly contributing to the environment through its innovative and comprehensive product." Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has leveraged competitive intelligence to successfully execute a strategy that results in stronger market share, competitive brand positioning, and customer satisfaction. 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: Kala Mani. S. Phone: +603-2023 2037 Email: kala.manis@frost.com About Amway Amway is an entrepreneur-led health and wellness company based in Ada, Michigan. It is committed to helping people live better, healthier lives - across more than 100 markets worldwide. According to Forbes?magazine, it is among the Top 50 privately held, family-owned companies in the United States. Top-selling brands for Amway are Nutrilite, Artistry?and XS?energy drinks - all sold exclusively by entrepreneurs who are known as Amway Business Owners. Amway is the No. 1 direct selling business in the world, according to the 2021 Direct Selling News Global 100. For company news, visit www.amwayglobal.com/newsroom. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1756529/Frost_Sullivan_2021_Award_Amway.jpg New Delhi, India, Mar 1, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda India Power Products Limited (HIPP), a leading manufacturer of power products in India, successfully crossed 5 million units accumulated production milestone in February 2022. HIPP has been consistently introducing latest technology prouducts with global standards and bringing joy to its customers since 1985. The company has been a trusted partner in progress for its valued customers in line with its vision of "Empower People, To Do Better".HIPP launched its first product namely Portable Generator Model EM650 manufactured at its Rudrapur factory in 1988. Buoyed by a strong demand from the customers, the company soon launched other well differentiated Generator models catering to the varying demands from a vast and well diversified market. HIPP made foray into the export markets in 1989 and its products were very well received in the competitive overseas markets. After having enlightened lives of many customers in domestic and overseas markets, HIPP made foray into agriculture by starting production of Engine range in 1991 followed by Water Pump range in 1992. Farmers across India immensely appreciated portable, reliable, and efficient Engines and Water Pumps meeting their timely irrigation, spraying and mechanisation needs. In the year 1995, HIPP established its second manufacturing plant at Puducherry to meet the ever-growing demand. HIPP undertook a major reconsolidation exercise in 2000 and amalgamated its production plants into its present "State-of-the-art" manufacturing facility at Greater Noida thereby achieving economies of scale while pursuing its mission of "Helping people get things done" by manufacturing products that have successfully established themselves as a benchmark for their performance and quality.Takahiro Ueda, Chairman & Management Director, President & CEO, Honda India Power Products Limited said, "We were able to reach 5 million production units thanks to the support and the cooperation of all the people in India and the local society. Our suppliers and partners stood by us and believed in our common vision - delivering continuously even in acute times such as pandemic and I am grateful for their efforts all along. Our network of dealers, channel partners played excellent role as our extended arms in providing 3S - Sales, Service and Spare Parts support ensuring delightful experience of our customers all along. HIPP will continue to contribute to India and its society as a company that is expected to exist".About Honda India Power Products LimitedHIPP is one of the first Japanese companies to enter the Indian market in 1985 and thereby contribute to strengthen economic relations between India and Japan. Since inception, the company has been providing innovative, eco-friendly & best-in-class products to its customers across India in the field of power backup, agriculture & construction.As a conscious corporate, the company has participated in community development programs and helped create employment opportunities at its Greater Noida factory. HIPP has regularly supported disaster relief operations across various regions of India, including recently, extending assistance for combating the Covid-19 pandemic.Source: HondaCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. ZERVIATE (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24 % was non-inferior to comparator emedastine di fumarate ophthalmic solution, 0.05% A llergic conjunctivitis market in China worth almost $0.5 billion by 2030 March 1st, 2022 - release at 7:30 am CET Sophia Antipolis, France Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today announced positive results in a Chinese Phase 3 clinical trial of ZERVIATE (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24%, run by its Chinese partner, Ocumension Therapeutics. ZERVIATE was compared to emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution, 0.05%, an antihistamine marketed under the brand name EMADINE. ZERVIATE was found to be non-inferior to emedastine difumarate in the primary efficacy endpoint of change from baseline in the itching score in the 24 hours prior to the Day 14 visit. ZERVIATE was safe and well-tolerated with no difference in the proportion of patients with adverse events compared to emedastine difumarate. This clinical trial is required for Ocumension to be able to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for approval to commercialize ZERVIATE in China. "The successful completion of this clinical trial is an important step towards commercialization of ZERVIATE in China and we congratulate our partner, Ocumension, on its swift execution. Ocumension is able to use Nicox'sdata previously generated on ZERVIATE in the United States, supplemented with this clinical trial, to support their application for approval of ZERVIATE" said Gavin Spencer, Chief Business Officer of Nicox."We look forward to seeing ZERVIATE on the market in China, as well as the territories in the Far East where Ocumension has licensed the rights, and we continue to collaborate with our other partners to obtain approval for ZERVIATE in multiple geographies." ZERVIATE is the first and only eye drop formulation of the antihistamine cetirizine, the active ingredient in ZYRTEC, and is currently commercialized in the U.S. for ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. The prescription market for allergic conjunctivitis products in China is expected to grow to almost $0.5 billion by 2030. Clinical Trial Design This was a randomized, observer-masked, Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ZERVIATE (cetirizine ophthalmic solution), 0.24% dosed twice daily compared to emedastine difumarate ophthalmic solution, 0.05% dosed twice daily in Chinese patients with allergic conjunctivitis. The treatment period was 14 days and the primary efficacy endpoint was a non-inferiority analysis of the change from baseline in the itching score within the 24 hours prior to the Day 14 visit. A total of 296 patients were randomized across multiple clinical sites in China. ZERVIATE Partnerships ZERVIATE is exclusively licensed to Ocumension Therapeutics for development and commercialization in the Chinese and the majority of the Southeast Asian markets. Nicox may potentially receive sales milestones of up to US$17.2 million together with royalties of between 5% and 9% of net sales of ZERVIATE by Ocumension. ZERVIATE is commercialized in the U.S. by our exclusive U.S. partner Eyevance Pharmaceuticals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd of Japan, and is also exclusively licensed to Samil Pharmaceutical in South Korea, to ITROM Pharmaceutical Group in certain Gulf and Arab markets, and to Laboratorios Grin in Mexico. 1 March 2022 XP Power Limited ("XP Power", "the Group" or "the Company") Board Changes XP Power announces that James Peters, Chair of the Board, has informed the Group of his intention to retire from the Board at the conclusion of the Company's AGM in April 2023, at which point he will have completed 35 years of service with the Group and its predecessor companies. James will be succeeded as Chair at that time by Jamie Pike who is being appointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director, and designate chair, with immediate effect. Jamie brings a wealth of relevant experience to the Board having held the role of a chief executive and chair at a number of mid and large cap public companies. Following an early career in strategy and management consulting at Bain & Company, he joined Burmah Castrol in 1991, becoming Chief Executive of Burmah Castrol Chemicals, before leading the buy-out of Foseco in 2001 and its subsequent IPO in 2005. Jamie has been Chair of the Board of Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc since 2018, having joined the Board in 2014. He has previously held the role of Chair at Cobham, RPC Group, Ibstock and Tyman. Jamie is a Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. James Peters, Chair said: "After more than three decades with the Group, I believe the time is now right to begin the process of handing over the role of Chair to a successor who will steer the Board through XP Power's next phase of growth. Jamie is a highly experienced Board Chair, having had operational and board level experience across the industrial products and services, energy and manufacturing sectors, and I am confident he will make a significant contribution to the Board and to the Group's future success." Jamie Pike said: "XP Power is a high quality business with a bright future ahead of it and I'm delighted to be joining the Board at this exciting time in its development." There are no other disclosures to be made pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13. Enquiries: XP Power Gavin Griggs, Chief Executive Officer +44 (0)118 984 5515 Oskar Zahn, Chief Financial Officer +44 (0)118 984 5515 Citigate Dewe Rogerson Kevin Smith/Jos Bieneman +44 (0)207 638 9571 Note to editors XP Power designs and manufactures power convertors, the essential hardware component in every piece of electrical equipment that converts power from the electricity grid into the right form for equipment to function. XP Power has invested in research and development and its own manufacturing facilities in China, Vietnam and North America, to develop a range of tailored products based on its own intellectual property that provide its customers with significantly improved functionality and efficiency. Headquartered in Singapore and listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange since 2000, XP Power is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. XP Power serves a global blue-chip customer base from 29 locations in Europe, North America, and Asia. For further information, please visit xppower.com NOTIFICATION OF TOTAL VOTING RIGHTS AND CAPITAL IN THE COMPANY WOKINGHAM, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Ferguson PLC (The Company) in accordance with DTR 5.6.1, the Company hereby notifies the following: The Company's issued share capital as of February 28, 2022, consisted of 232,171,182 ordinary shares of 10 pence each ("Ordinary Shares"), of which 13,490,257 Ordinary Shares were held in treasury as at the date of this disclosure. The voting rights of treasury shares are automatically suspended. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company is 218,680,925. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which to determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the Company's Articles of Association. Enquiries: Graham Middlemiss, Group Company Secretary (0118 927 3800) This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Ferguson PLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690807/Ferguson-PLC-Announces-Total-Voting-Rights ZURICH (dpa-AFX) - Swiss Life Holding AG (SZLMY.PK), a Swiss life insurance provider, on Tuesday posted a rise in earnings for the fiscal 2021, helped by an increase in fee income. For the financial year 2021, the company reported an increase in net profit by 20 percent, to CHF 1.25 billion, where as adjusted earnings from operations moved up by 15 percent, to CHF 1.81 billion, compared with the fiscal 2020. Fee income of the company was registered at CHF2.29 billion as against CHF1.95 billion, on year-on-year basis. Premiums were reported at CHF 20.2 billion in 2021, roughly at the previous year's level of CHF 20 billion. For 2021, the company said it will propose a dividend of CHF25 per share, to be distributed on April 28. 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. HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - Evotec AG (EVTCY.PK), a German drug discovery and development company, Tuesday said that it has entered into a collaboration with the University of Bristol or UoB to expand molecular patient database in the field of kidney diseases with a focus on nephrotic syndrome. The company noted that the nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms like proteinuria and oedema that indicate kidneys are not working properly. Diagnosis remains challenging and current treatment regimens are mostly symptomatic. Under the collaboration, Evotec receives access to longitudinal samples from an international cohort which includes several hundreds of patients from Asia, India and Africa linked to anonymised clinical records. Evotec will analyse the samples using its proprietary multi-omics platform EVOpanOmics. Evotec and the UoB will leverage Evotec's data analytics and prediction platform EVOpanHunter to jointly identify key drivers of nephrotic syndrome disease progression, potential molecular targets for intervention as well as molecular markers for diagnosis. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, said, 'This unusual longitudinal study of nephrotic syndrome patients provides a unique basis to identify molecular markers for proper diagnosis as well novel molecular targets to develop disease-modifying therapeutics.' 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. The University of Montanas removal of the mask mandate in February was seen by many as a symbolic end to the COVID-19 pandemic thats ravaged campus for the last two years. But the struggle and the resilience weve seen at UM over these years wasnt for nothing. Weve learned what it me HOLZMINDEN (dpa-AFX) - Symrise AG (SYIEY.PK), a German maker of flavors and fragrances, on Tuesday posted a sharp rise in earnings for the fiscal 2021, amidst a recovery in sales, driven by the waning impact of Covid-19 pandemic. For the fiscal 2021, the Holzminden-headquartered firm reported a net profit of 374.9 million euros or 2.74 euros per share, compared with 306.9 million euros or 2.27 euros per share, reported for the financial year 2020. German firm posted a pre-tax income of 516.2 million euros as against 423.6 million euros, on year-on-year basis. EBIT of the firm was also moved up by 14.7 percent, to 559 million euros. For the 12-month period, Symrise registered its EBITDA at 813.6 million euros, compared with 742.1 million euros, reported for the fiscal 2020. For the fiscal 2021, the company has proposed an increased dividend of 1.02 per share. For 2021, the Group reported a rise in sales by 8.7 percent, to 3.82 billion euros, compared with the previous year. Looking ahead, for the fiscal 2022, Symrise expects report its sales growth to be in the range of 5 percent -7 percent, with an EBITDA margin of around 21 percent. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX SYMRISE-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de XIAMEN, China, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Yeastar (www.yeastar.com), the world's leading provider of Unified Communications solutions and Digital Workplace innovator, today reveals its new brand positioning with the new tagline "Digital Value, Delivered". From an updated mission statement to an enriched portfolio, Yeastar is looking to develop itself as a trusted provider for digital transformation in a broader sense. The new tagline is grounded in the understanding that digital transformation does not have to be complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Yeastar believes that the key to a straightforward digital future is the right technology, which should be easily accessible, open and integrated, and future-proof, regardless of particular challenges and needs of every business. With a portfolio ranging from unified communications to workplace scheduling and hybrid workplace, Yeastar makes it a mission to remove the barriers to a connected and collaborative digital workplace. Through its easy-to-adopt, easy-to-use, and easy-to-manage solutions, Yeastar is geared to embark its customers on an easy and pleasant digital transformation journey. "For over a decade, we have strengthened our business across lines of business, partnership, global presence, and our people. Now is a pivotal moment for us to step up as a stronger brand," said Prince Cai, Vice President of Yeastar. "At Yeastar, we are value-driven and focus on delivering real results. This 'Digital Value, Delivered' campaign signals our ambition to play as the backbone for our customers through digital transformation and our dedication to creating shared success with our partners." There will be a live stream at 9:00 a.m. (GMT) on April 1, 2022, Yeastar's 16th anniversary, featuring the story behind Yeastar's new tagline and why the digital value matters to every business and channel player. To learn more about Yeastar's refreshed brand positioning, visit its website for details. About Yeastar Yeastar helps businesses realize digital values by making communications and workplace solutions easily accessible from ownership and adoption to daily usage and management. Yeastar has established itself as a leading provider of UC solutions with a global partner network and over 350,000 customers worldwide. Committed to delivering the right technology to value-oriented businesses, Yeastar offers products and services for UC&C, workplace scheduling, and hybrid workplace to enable them to win in the modern digital world. For more information about Yeastar or to become a Yeastar partner, please visit https://www.yeastar.com/. Aviva Li +86-592-5503309 marketing@yeastar.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1312520/Yeastar_Logo.jpg The World's Largest and Most Trusted Software Marketplace Also Recognizes Foxit as a Top Global Seller FREMONT, Calif., March 1, 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 Document accessibility through assistive technology To learn more about Foxit PDF Editor, please visit: https://www.foxit.com/pdf-editor/ About G2 G2 is the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace, helping more than 60 million people every year make smarter software decisions based on authentic peer reviews. Thousands of companies partner with G2 to build their reputation, manage their software spend, and grow their business -- including Salesforce, Hubspot, Zoom, Adobe and more. For more information, visit www.g2.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn . About Foxit Foxit is a leading provider of innovative PDF products and services, helping knowledge workers to increase their productivity and do more with documents. Foxit addresses the needs of three distinct market segments. For End-User Productivity, Foxit delivers easy to use desktop software, mobile apps, and cloud services to make knowledge workers more productive. Foxit's Developer Solutions enable developers to incorporate powerful PDF technology into their applications. For Enterprise Automation, Foxit provides server software for large scale PDF document management and data capture. 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. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0)(OTCQX:CMRZF) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce assay results received for the final two (2) holes completed at the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit ("Ashram Deposit") as part of the 2021 drill program. The field program, completed in July-August 2021 in support of the Ashram Project's Prefeasibility Study, included twelve (12) drill holes totaling 2,814 m focused on resource infill within the planned open-pit shell. Results for the first ten (10) drill holes were announced December 22nd, 2021, and January 17 and February 7, 2022 (Table 1 and Figure 1) with the results for the final two (2) drill holes reported herein. Highlights include: 1.82% rare earth oxide ("REO") over 225.4 m (EC21-192), including, 2.07% REO over 129.5 m 1.71% REO over 147.8 m (EC21-189), including, 2.14% REO over 60.5 m The primary objective of the 2021 drill program at Ashram was to improve the confidence of the mineral resource (inferred -> indicated -> measured) in support of an updated mineral resource estimate to be completed as part of the ongoing Prefeasibility Study, which will also determine the initial mineral reserve estimate for the Ashram Project. Based on the drilling to date, the Company anticipates a large portion of Ashram's current inferred and indicated resources will be converted to indicated and measured resources. Company President Chris Grove states "We are excited to finally have all of these drill results returned to us, as they are excellent and are indicative of the huge and well mineralized deposit that the Ashram is. With the REE industry being more focused on monazite dominant mineralogy, as the Ashram is, we look forward to releasing more results from the other programs that are currently underway." Both drill holes (EC21-189 and 192) were collared in the south-central portions of the deposit, and intersected grades consistent with previous drilling, remaining mineralized over their entire length. Strong NdPr distributions (i.e. % of Nd+Pr oxide of the total REO) continue to be returned in excess of 20-21%, including drill hole EC21-192 with 129.5 m of 2.07% REO at an NdPr distribution of 21.5%. Core sample assays for all twelve (12) drill holes completed during the 2021 drill program have now been received, with grade over width and corresponding NdPr oxide distributions presented in Table 1, and drill hole highlights and locations presented in Figure 1. Table 1: 2021 assay results for infill drill holes at the Ashram Deposit As the Ashram Deposit is known to continue for more than 600 m in depth, and remains open, the 2021 drill holes were ended at pre-determined depths below the anticipated pit shell, and therefore, most holes completed as part of the infill drilling at Ashram ended in mineralization. The results of the 2021 drill program continue to highlight the size of the Ashram Deposit as well as continuity of the REE mineralization, extending from surface to considerable depth. The Company is planning to complete an approximate 2,500 m drill program this summer at Ashram and will focus on continued infill to improve the confidence of the mineral resource (inferred -> indicated -> measured), as well as on the southern portion of the deposit where limited drilling has been completed by comparison and the deposit remains open. The Company notes that it carried out its field programs while adhering to all federal, provincial, and regional restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company successfully navigated the process to obtain authorization to enter Nunavik, and no cases of COVID-19 were documented relating to its 2021 mineral exploration programs. Mineral exploration has been recognized as an essential service in Canada and the Province of Quebec. Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC) A quality assurance / quality control protocol following industry best practices was incorporated into the program and included systematic insertion of quartz blanks and certified reference materials into sample batches, as well as collection of quarter-core duplicates, at a rate of approximately 5%. Drill holes were sampled from top to bottom and shipped to Activation Laboratories in Ancaster, ON, for analysis. Lab analysis included major oxides and multi-element, including the rare earth elements, by ICP-OES/MS following a lithium borate fusion (package 8-REE) and fluorine by Fusion Specific Ion Electrode-ISE (Code 4F-F). Standard drill core sample preparation was completed and comprised of crushing to 80% passing 10 mesh, followed by a 250 g riffle split and pulverizing to 95% passing 105 (package RX1). Figure 1: 2021 drill assay highlights - Ashram Deposit About the Ashram Deposit The Ashram Deposit ranks as one of the largest REE (and fluorspar) deposits globally, consisting of a monazite dominated, single mineralized body outcropping at surface, and has a footprint approximately 600 m along strike, over 300 m across, and 600 m deep, remaining open in several directions. The deposit hosts a measured resource of 1.6 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.77% rare earth oxide (REO) and 3.8% F, an indicated resource of 27.7 Mt at 1.90% REO and 2.9% F, and an inferred resource of 219.8 Mt at 1.88% REO and 2.2% F, at a cut-off grade of 1.25% REO (Effective Date July 5th, 2012). Note, mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 Disclosure Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Permit holder with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and 'Qualified Person' as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. About Commerce Resources Corp. Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (>70%) in line with active global producers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets. For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP. " Chris Grove " Chris Grove President and Director Tel: 604.484.2700 Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com Web: https://www.commerceresources.com 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 This news release contains forward-looking statements, which includes any information about activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include that we expect to complete an updated mineral resource estimate and a prefeasibility study for the Ashram Project, that we anticipate that certain of Ashram's inferred and indicated resources will be converted to indicate and measured resources; that an open-pit shell is planned for the Ashram Project; and that the Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally. These forward-looking statements are 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. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include: that we may not be able to fully finance any additional exploration on the Ashram Project; that even if we are able raise capital, costs for exploration activities may increase such that we may not have sufficient funds to pay for such exploration or processing activities; the timing and content of any future work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumptions based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that, with further test work, may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful and even if such tests are successful, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of labour and equipment to undertake future exploration work and testing activities; the required permits to build and operate the envisaged open-pit shell may not be obtained in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all; and despite the current expected viability of the Ashram Project, conditions changing such that even if metals or minerals are discovered on the Ashram Project, the project may not be commercially viable; The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690806/Commerce-Resources-Intersects-207-REO-over-1295-m-at-the-Ashram-REE-Fluorspar-Deposit-Quebec THE HAGUE (dpa-AFX) - Shell plc (SHEL) on Tuesday announced the appointment of Sinead Gorman as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective April 1, 2022 in place of Jessica Uhl who would be stepping down from her role as CFO on March 31. The company said, 'Jessica was a key architect of recent strategic changes, including the simplification of the company's share structure and the relocation of the corporate headquarters, along with the roles of chief executive officer and chief financial officer, from The Netherlands to the UK. However, due to family circumstances a long-term relocation to the UK is not sustainable, and therefore she will step down from her role.' The new finance chief Sinead is currently Executive Vice President, Finance in Shell's global Upstream business. Since joining Shell in 1999, she has held several increasingly senior finance roles in all Shell's major businesses, in Europe, North America and latterly globally. Jessica would be available to assist Sinead and the Board with transition until June 30, 2022, after which she would be leaving the group. Shares of Shell plc closed Monday's trading at $52.10, down $0.29 or 0.55 percent from previous close. 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - Cross River Ventures Corp. (CSE: CRVC) (OTCQB: CSRVF) (FSE: C6R) (the "Company") is pleased to report that two diamond drill rigs have been mobilized to the Company's 12,000-hecatre McVicar Gold Project, located in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Crews have been on site over the last two weeks preparing the McVicar Camp, an exploration drill camp located along kilometer 125 of the Cat Lake Winter Road, in Northern Ontario, approximately 150 km east of Red Lake, and 80 km west of Pickle Lake. The McVicar gold project is situated in the Superior Province of northern Ontario, Canada. The greenstone belts within the Superior Province contain some of the largest economic gold deposits in the world. McVicar encompasses the geologically significant structural components of the Lang Lake greenstone belt (see Figure 1 below), an underexplored belt located approximately 40 km north of the historic Golden Patricia Mine (619,796 oz at 15.2 g/t Au)*. Cross River Ventures has initiated a planned 5,000-meter diamond drill program at McVicar, designed to test the Altered Zone and Bear Head Trend, two of several gold target zones on the property. Diamond drilling will be conducted by Major Drilling utilizing two Duralite 1000N Fly configuration diamond drill rigs. Drilling will commence shortly with two rigs focused on the Altered Zone (Target 2, Figure 2) and conclude with both drill rigs in the Bear Head Trend (Target 1, Figure 2). "After conducting a methodical, detailed exploration approach at McVicar over the last year the technical team has identified several priority drill targets. We're excited to begin drilling and move project development forward in a meaningful way," said CEO, Alex Klenman. "This round of exploration drilling will build on historical drill intercepts at the Altered Zone, where we intend to drill test along strike, down-dip and down-plunge gold targets." "In addition to the Altered Zone target, we're also conducting a maiden drill program at the newly discovered 700-meter long Bear Head gold trend, where surface sampling recently returned assay values up to 19.75 grams-per-tonne gold. McVicar is large, it's extensive, and is full of favorable geology, historic occurrences, and multiple target zones. It's exciting to begin drilling our flagship project," continued Mr. Klenman. About The Altered Zone The Altered Zone is a complex zone of deformation and intense alteration composed of sheared mafic volcanics, abundant green mica, intermediate intrusive rocks, massive to semi-massive quartz, and a quartz-carbonate-sericite schist. New geologic modelling by Cross River in 2021 utilizes historic drilling data and suggests that the high-grade gold bearing structure continues at depth, coincident with lithologic breaks and a broader damage zone corridor characterized by an intense hydrothermal alteration overprint. The gold bearing structure at the Altered Zone is open in all directions. The upcoming drill program is designed to test the gold grade and continuity of the structure along strike, down-dip, and down-plunge. The program and will also test for new high-grade gold shoots at several locations along the broader Altered Zone structural trend. About The Bear Head Trend Cross River Ventures field crews discovered the Bear Head Trend during the summer 2021 fieldwork. It is located approximately 600 meters south of the historic Chellow Vein at the southern contact between mafic volcanics and granite along the Bear Head Fault Zone (Figure 1). This geological environment is considered prospective for Archean greenstone gold deposits and contains favorable structural and lithological sites for gold deposition. The Bear Head Trend is an undrilled, minimum 700m, high-grade gold corridor that is nested within a WNW trending multi-km braided damage zone structure. Key samples collected in 2021 include sheared and silicified mafic metavolcanic rocks with 1-10cm wide smoky blue quartz veins which returned gold values of 19.75 grams-per-tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") and 1.415 g/t Au (News Release October 5th, 2021) . About the McVicar Project Cross River's McVicar Gold Project is a district-scale (approximately 12,000 hectares) gold exploration project that contains gold prospective structure and host rocks that transect the entire Lang Lake greenstone belt, located in the Patricia Mining Division, approximately 150 km east of Red Lake, and 80 km west of Pickle Lake, in NW Ontario, Canada. The McVicar project covers all the major fertile structural and lithostratigraphic elements of the greenstone belt, which is bound to the south by the major NW trending Bear Head Fault zone (within which the historic Golden Patricia Mine is situated). Historic drilling at McVicar Lake in the Altered and North Flexure Zones include: 6.46 g/t Au over 10.09 m including 29.86 g/t Au over 1.86 meters i 5.5 g/t Au over 3.6 m including 12.2 g/t Au over 0.98 metersii The McVicar Lake claims also host the Chellow Vein zone, which is a narrow quartz vein that consists of smoky grey to white quartz mineralized with minor pyrite and visible gold. The vein system yielded high grade gold at surface including grab samplesiii that assayed 827.4 g/t Au and 578.1 g/t Auiv. The 2022 winter drill program is fully funded, and the Company has received all relevant permits. Figure 1: McVicar Gold Project, location of nearby deposits and historical mines, NW Ontario To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7276/115196_e2ba42f6c41f1ae1_002full.jpg Figure 2: Drill target zones, winter 2022 drill program, McVicar Gold Project, NW Ontario To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7276/115196_e2ba42f6c41f1ae1_003full.jpg Qualified Person Daniel MacNeil, P.Geo., M.Sc., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, reviewed, and approved the technical content disclosed in this press release. Historical assay results contained in this press release were not verified by the Company. However, the historical reports referenced were authored by experienced geoscientists and copies of laboratory assay sheets were commonly inserted in the reports. About Cross River Ventures Cross River is a gold exploration company focused on the development of top tier exploration properties located in emerging Greenstone Districts of NW Ontario, Canada. The Company controls a 28,000-ha, multiple project portfolio with highly prospective ground in and among prolific, gold bearing greenstone belts. Cross River's common shares trade in Canada under the symbol "CRVC" on the CSE, and in the US under the symbol "CSRVF" on the OTCQB. Please visit www.crossriverventures.com for more information. On behalf of the Board of Directors of CROSS RIVER VENTURES CORP. Alex Klenman CEO 604-227-6610 aklenman@crossriverventures.com www.crossriverventures.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the Canadian Securities Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. *https://www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/mdi/data/records/MDI52O06SE00005.html i McKay D.B, 2004. Report on the 2003 Overburden Stripping, Geologic Mapping and Sampling Program conducted on the McVicar Lake Property: Continuum Resources Ltd and Prospector Consolidated Resources Inc. www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/afri/data/imaging/52O11SW2003/52O11SW2003.pdf ii McKay D.B, 2004. Report on the 2003 Overburden Stripping, Geologic Mapping and Sampling Program conducted on the McVicar Lake Property: Continuum Resources Ltd and Prospector Consolidated Resources Inc. www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/afri/data/imaging/52O11SW2003/52O11SW2003.pdf iii Grab samples are selective by nature and may not represent the true grade or style of mineralization across the property. iv Waldie C.J. Report of Diamond Drilling McVicar Lake Area Patricia Mining Division: BHP Minerals Canada Ltd. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115196 Dawex Data Exchange technology contributes to fostering a more sustainable and efficient European agriculture. Dawex, the leading technology company for data exchange, data marketplace and data hub, has been at the forefront of innovation and value creation by facilitating data circulation. This is illustrated by the selection of its customer Agdatahub, a European operator of consent and data exchange platform, as one of the seven Gaia-X lighthouse European pilot projects, aiming at creating a data exchange platform built on transparency, trust, and openness. With the arrival of two new regulations, the Data Governance Act and the Data Act, Europe is once again demonstrating its leadership in driving impactful data strategic initiatives. Technological innovations are transforming the daily lives of farmers as they capitalize on the digital tools and data-driven applications. The generated data hold powerful information that are extremely valuable for the whole agriculture ecosystem. Relying on Dawex Data Exchange technology, Agdatahub accelerates the flow of these data between the different players in the agriculture sector and the agri-food chain. "Agriculture has been identified by Gaia-X as a priority sector to engage in. Its ambition is to create the next generation of trusted data infrastructures to strengthen the ability to access, share and exchange data securely and confidently." says Laurent Lafaye, Dawex co-CEO. "As a Day-1 member, Dawex has been engaged in Gaia-X initiatives. Seeing Agdatahub appointed by Gaia-X as one of the seven lighthouse projects demonstrates the alignment of Dawex Data Exchange technology with the Gaia-X vision." Dawex Data Exchange Platform technology powers a safe, compliant data circulation thanks to a trusted and secure environment enabling economic stakeholders to source, distribute and exchange data. Dawex Data hubs, Data Marketplaces and Data Exchange Platforms contribute to improving productivity and efficiency, mitigating risks, fostering innovation and maximizing the value of data. "Agdatahub acts in support of a sustainable and efficient European agriculture by facilitating access to agriculture data thanks to Dawex technology, and empowering farmers to take back control of the use of their data." says Sebastien Picardat, Agdatahub CEO. "Being appointed as one of the European pilot projects by Gaia-X is a great honor and highlights our continued commitment to supporting the EU agri-environmental transition for the benefit of farmers and consumers." "The agriculture revolution requires harnessing the power of data exchange in order to build a stronger and more sustainable agriculture. By selecting Agdatahub as one of their lighthouse projects, Gaia-X reinforces the benefits of building strong cross-border, cross-sector data ecosystems." says Fabrice Tocco, co-CEO at Dawex. "Thanks to Dawex Data Exchange technology, Agdatahub contributes to solving the economic and environmental challenges of the sector by harnessing the power of data circulation." About Dawex Dawex is the leading technology company for data exchange, data marketplace and data hub. Dawex mission is to facilitate and accelerate secure data circulation between economic stakeholders, institutions and private organizations, contributing to the development of the data economy. Awarded Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, Dawex is a member of Gaia-X and a co-founding member of the Data Exchange Association. Created in 2015, Dawex has offices in France and Canada, expanding business operations to Asia, North America and the Middle East. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220228006273/en/ Contacts: Press contact: Isabelle Joulot press@dawex.com 01 March 2022 Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank /ISIN TBD Pre-stabilisation Period Announcement Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg (contact: Torsten Zittlau; telephone: +49 711 74640) hereby gives notice, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilisation Manager(s) 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/596/2014). Securities Issuer: Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank (AAA (S&P), Aaa (Moody's), AAA (Fitch)) Guarantor(s) (if any): Federal Republic of Germany Aggregate nominal amount: EUR Benchmark Description: []% March-2027 EUR BMK, Reg S Bearer Bonds, TEFRA C, New Global note listing: Luxembourg Green Exchange, Regulated Market Offer price: [XX.XXX] Other offer terms: NA Stabilisation: Stabilisation Manager(s): Danske Bank, Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE, J.P. Morgan and LBBW Stabilisation period expected to start on: 01 March 2022 Stabilisation period expected to end 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 Stabilisation Manager(s) may over?allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law Stabilisation trading venue(s): Over the counter (OTC) 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 during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time. Any stabilisation action or over?allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. This announcement and the offer of the securities to which it relates are only addressed to and directed at persons outside the United Kingdom and persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters related to investments or who are high net worth persons within Article 12(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the United Kingdom. If and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation") (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States. JAGGAER has announced the immediate appointment of Justin-Sadler-Smith as its new Senior Vice President Sales, Europe. The company simultaneously announced the departure of Mario Messuri, who has given the company more than 20 years of service, most recently as SVP Sales, Southern Europe. He will be replaced as Regional Vice President in Italy by Fabrizio Fassone, who joins from SAP. In a further appointment to JAGGAER's European leadership team, Jyoti Mangar joins as Director, Partner Alliance Management. JAGGAER CEO Jim Bureau commented, "Justin did a phenomenal job of stabilizing, maturing and growing Northern Europe throughout 2021, all the time guided by his laser focus on customer success. Under his watch, we have added some outstanding people to the organization, effective processes and disciplines have been put in place, and we achieved significant revenue growth, including some major sales wins. His consistent approach and strong leadership have given me the confidence to appoint Justin our leader across the entire continent of Europe." Justin Sadler-Smith said, "The opportunities for JAGGAER in Europe are infinite. Customers and prospective customers have warmed to our vision of Autonomous Commerce, which makes me very excited to be working with organizations across the continent to deliver successful solutions to their procurement challenges." Commenting on Mario Messuri's contribution to JAGGAER's growth in Italy and Southern Europe, Jim Bureau said, "On behalf of all of JAGGAER and specifically the Italian team, I would personally like to thank Mario for all his years of service. Thanks to his leadership and mentorship, we acquired more than 240 customers in Italy alone. In 2021 Mario also supported business development in France and Spain. Mario has been helping Justin and his team to ensure a smooth transition. We wish him all the best as he pursues his own business interests." Fabrizio Fassone joins as Regional Vice President, Italy, from SAP where he was Head of Intelligent Spend Management for Italy and Greece. He previously occupied leadership positions with Microsoft and worked with IBM early in his career. Jyoti Mangar will start at JAGGAER on March 1. She joins from Basware, where she led professional services and customer success for Central Europe. Jyoti previously worked for consultants PWC, KPMG and IBM in a variety of procurement technology and engagement roles. "Europe is a vitally important continent for JAGGAER now and in the future, which is why we have taken action to strengthen the leadership team. Many of our clients there are technologically advanced and will be at the center of the Autonomous Commerce revolution that we are now leading," Bureau concluded. About JAGGAER: Procurement Simplified JAGGAER is leading the Autonomous Commerce revolution, a self-governing B2B commerce experience between buyers, suppliers, things (IoT) and partners. Over $500 billion worth of goods flow frictionlessly through our Enterprise Commerce Network every year. Leveraging AI and machine learning, our intelligent procurement solutions provide enterprise buyers and suppliers smart-match recommendations that align buyer needs with supplier capabilities. Our solutions autonomously execute many of the repetitive, behind-the-scenes tasks required to facilitate enterprise commerce. We are Networked, Intelligent, Comprehensive and Extensible. We are over 1,100 employees strong, all focused on customer success. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005118/en/ Contacts: Joey Lai Head of Corporate Marketing t +447583 001200 e jlai@jaggaer.com Jaggaer.com SINGAPORE, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has taken a strategic stake in HeveaConnect (HC) on 3 March 2021. SGX as the provider of the global pricing benchmark for natural rubber, aims to strengthen its role as a price discovery centre through collaborating with HC to provide pricing granularity of various grades and origins of rubber traded in the physical market, by publishing basis indices over the SICOM benchmark . Trade Data Governance and Independence Transactions on the HC Platform are bilateral and provides assurance to users that their confidential trade data is only accessible to the two parties of the transaction. SGX also provides market neutrality by providing confidentiality, guardianship and performs a custodian role by being the sole and independent owner of trade data on HC . As the sole owner of trade data on the HC Platform, SGX will maintain the complete set of trade data on the HC Platform for a minimum of 7 years as per the SGX's data retention policy. HC will transfer all trade data to SGX on a daily basis, and this data will be available on the HC Platform for a limited period of 13 months for the purpose of allowing participants to complete transactions and review their own historical data before it is entirely removed from the HC Platform. Parties outside of the trade and other HC shareholders will not have access to the trade data. While the data exists on the HC Platform, access to this data by HC staff is strictly limited to authorised persons, and any such access is logged. HC will undertake an independent security audit annually to ensure that the systems, controls, and agreed processes in protecting data while it remains on the HC Platform are robust and in compliance with the data-related agreement with SGX. HC is also in the process of obtaining the internationally recognised ISO 27001 certification for information security management and is expected to complete this process by end of Q2 2022. Trade Index Creation SGX, as the provider of the global pricing benchmark for natural rubber, will work with the industry to provide greater transparency of robust pricing for various grades and origins of rubber. The digitalisation drive through the use of HC's trading platform allows participants to express their physical rubber trading views reflecting prevailing physical prices and market conditions. The aim of the indices is to enable granularity in rubber pricing that is integral to the management of basis risks in physical rubber trading. SGX is working closely with HC to explore the creation of pricing indices based off the benchmark SICOM prices to reflect a range of origins and grades of rubber. Broadly, the index methodology will incorporate data from anonymised trades registered on the HC Platform that cannot be reverse-engineered to a specific participant or trade. SGX will publicly release the methodology alongside the publication of the indices. For the index to be robust and fit for purpose, a diverse range of participants along the rubber value chain, coupled with acceptable levels of transacted volume will be needed to provide an accurate and representative reflection of market prices. The price index may allow players to gain insights to market pricing and to more accurately price long-term contracts (LTCs). Background HeveaConnect (HC) is a Singapore-based technology provider founded in 2018 with the aim to digitalise the natural rubber supply chain while providing data-backed services for the industry. HC pioneers a sustainability dashboard, providing the global marketplace with transparency through vital data on supply chain flows. HC provides a full suite of solutions for the natural rubber industry that include factory management systems, traceability solutions, smallholder educational content and a secure B2B platform for the trading of physical rubber. Through its suite of solutions and data integrated from its users, customers are able to link key information regarding quality, traceability and sustainability to the physical rubber that is traded on the platform. The data-backed rubber generated through this process allows users of the platform to access the information up to the individual lot level. As of end 2021, 15 unique participants comprising of producers, traders and consumers have transacted over 450,000 MT of natural rubber of Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai origin on the platform. This group includes seven of the top 15 tiremakers in the world and three of the top five Indonesian rubber exporters. https://heveaconnect.com/sgx-to-develop-price-index-for-physical-natural-rubber-with-heveaconnect-platform/ WOKINGHAM, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Ferguson plc will issue its second quarter and half year results for the three and six months to January 31, 2022 on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. The results will be available on the Company's website, www.fergusonplc.com , from 0700hrs GMT/0300hrs ET, following release to the London Stock Exchange. A video webcast of the analyst and investor presentation will be broadcast from 1100hrs GMT/0700hrs ET on the day via the Company's website. You can register for the webcast at www.fergusonplc.com. For further information please contact: Ferguson plc Brian Lantz, Vice President IR and Communications Pete Kennedy, Director of Investor Relations Mobile: Mobile: +1 224 285 2410 +1 757 603 0111 Media Enquiries Mike Ward, Head of Corporate Communications Nina Coad, David Litterick (Brunswick) Jonathan Doorley (Brunswick) Mobile: Tel: Tel: +44 (0) 7894 417060 +44 (0) 20 7404 5959 +1 (917) 459 0419 Notes to editors Ferguson is a $23B value-added distributor in North America providing expertise, solutions, and products from infrastructure, plumbing and appliances to HVAC, fire, fabrication and more. We make our customers' complex projects simple, successful and sustainable. Ferguson plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:FERG) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:FERG) and the company is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. For more information, please visit www.fergusonplc.com or follow us on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ferguson-enterprises . This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Ferguson PLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690811/Ferguson-PLC-Announces-Notice-of-Results Largest ever I&T Career Expo and three-track skills training programmes set to meet surging demand for tech talent as opportunities multiply for local and global talent Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) presents T2 the city's first ever Innovation Tech x Talent month to showcase the fast-growing wealth of I&T opportunities emerging from the city's vibrant innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. HKSTP is scaling up the mission for talent as demand reaches new levels with more startups than ever setting up in Hong Kong and continued funding into the I&T sector. As a debut event, the T2 month-long talent drive features the city's largest ever I&T Career Expo with over 2,800 career opportunities from over 270 tech companies. Combined with an expanded programme across three key tracks, namely "Deep Tech Training", "Innovative Thinking Workshops and Idea Pitching" and "Upskilling Series (Fintech)", the talent drive promises new career paths for local and global talent at all stages of their careers, professionals from other sectors, as well young students from all backgrounds. Albert Wong, CEO at HKSTP said: "HKSTP is committed to propelling Hong Kong I&T into a global force and is prioritising talent as the city's most critical innovation imperative. With our partners, we are creating a wealth of opportunities for local and global technology specialists to entrepreneurs, investors to seasoned industry experts, to cement the city's status as global magnet for diverse talent from all sectors and backgrounds. Over the past five years, we have witnessed a rapid growth in the total number and amount of fundings attracted by park companies, indicating a growing appetite to invest in local I&T startups. The surging interest and growth in I&T is proof of the sector's growing importance and its appeal as an in-demand career path for today and tomorrow." In its 20th year of driving innovation for Hong Kong, HKSTP has helped forge a thriving fast-growing I&T ecosystem which has seen 68.5% growth in startups in the city between 2017 and 2021, according to government research. This dramatic growth has sparked an urgent demand for the required talent to realise the city's innovation vision. The T2 series of activities enables promising talent to realise their full potential with an array of possible career paths and future skills training, capturing the unparalleled regional I&T opportunities ahead. The growing status of I&T has established the sector as a key pillar of the new economy and provides a platform for diverse talents from all backgrounds to bring together different minds to make the biggest differences in the future. T2 Hong Kong's Innovation Tech x Talent Month Highlights: Hong Kong I&T Career Expo 2022 (10 16 March 2022) Register for the week-long T2 Hong Kong I&T Career Expo 2022 a highlight of the city's first-ever Innovation Tech x Talent Month (T2) and connect with fellow innovators, industry leaders, and career opportunities. Deep Tech Training (12, 19 26 March 2022) T2 Deep Tech Training (DTT) offers a series of industry-recognised training to equip you with hands-on Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning skills. Outstanding participants will be entitled internship and work opportunities at HKSTP's partner companies. Innovative Thinking Workshops and Idea Pitching (11 18 March 2022) Join our Innovative Thinking Workshops Idea Pitching to achieve the long-term goal of Carbon Net-Zero or promote SilverCare in the community using innovation and technology (I&T) to win up to HK$10,000 cash prizes. Upskilling Series (Fintech) 18 March 2022: The Evolution of Credit Risk Management in HK the GBA Learn how to use alternative data from experienced speaker to upskill FinTech knowledge. 14 April 2022: Demystifying NFT Metaverse The Business Opportunities and Challenges Seasoned industry leader will give an introduction of NFT and Metaverse in business language with an elaboration on potential business application and challenges that draw everyone interest. For registration and more information about T2, please visit: https://bit.ly/3JSN1uq T2's event details are subject to change as indicated by updates on the HKSTP website. About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has for 20 continuous years committed to building up Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub to propel success for local and global pioneers today and tomorrow. HKSTP has established a thriving I&T ecosystem that is home to three unicorns and Hong Kong's leading R&D hub with over 11,000 research professionals and over 1,000 technology companies focused on healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies. Established in 2001, we attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation and technology for entrepreneurs on their journey of growth in Hong Kong, to the Greater Bay Area, Asia and beyond. Our growing innovation ecosystem is built around our key locations of the Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long. The three InnoParks are realizing a vision of re-industrialisation for Hong Kong. The goal is sectors like advanced manufacturing, electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined for a new generation of industry. Through our infrastructure, services, expertise and network of partnerships, HKSTP will help establish innovation and technology as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong, while reinforcing Hong Kong's international I&T hub status as a launchpad for global growth at the heart of the GBA innovation powerhouse. More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005598/en/ Contacts: Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Julia Cheung Tel: +852 2629 6891 Email: julia.cheung@hkstp.org Edelman Public Relations Christina Sin Tel: +852 3756 8626 6685 1075 Email: Christina.Sin@edelman.com Edelmanhkstppr@edelman.com Premium online brokerage ThinkMarkets is officially entering the Japanese FX trading market with an innovative offering specifically tailored for the local market. LONDON and TOKYO, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After celebrating its ten-year anniversary as a multi asset online trading firm, ThinkMarkets continues to excite traders worldwide with yet another new milestone. The award-winning premium online brokerage is officially launching trading in Japan via its proprietary mobile app ThinkTrader. With an existing user-base in Japan that has been using the ThinkTrader app for charting and analysis, the firm's foray into the world's largest FX market can play a transformative role for the local industry. Earlier this year, ThinkMarkets announced the acquisition of a Japanese financial services entity, awarding the firm with a license to operate in Japan by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA). With over 500,000 downloads worldwide, the ThinkTrader app, enables ThinkMarkets' clients to use powerful analytics on mobile and tablet devices. The official launch in Japan marks yet another achievement for the rapidly growing globally regulated online brokerage firm. The milestone sets out ThinkMarkets as one of the very few international brokers to attempt penetrating the largest retail FX market in the world by volume. "Our trading app ThinkTrader is a unique proposition for the Japanese market. With its streamlined user interface, sophisticated charting capabilities and ultrafast execution speeds, we are confident we will meet the high expectations of clients in Japan." Commented CEO and co-founder, Nauman Anees. "Coupled with our exceptional customer support, our proprietary technology enables us to scale our offering into new markets quickly and efficiently. We couldn't be more excited to welcome new our new clients in Japan to the ThinkMarkets trading family" added Mr. Anees. ThinkMarkets Japanese office CEO, Koike Kazuhiro, added: "We are very proud to start our business in the Japanese market, which has one of the most rigorous and well-regulated financial systems in the world. I hope that we can contribute to the revitalization of the Japanese capital market by leveraging the strengths of our group." About ThinkMarkets ThinkMarkets is a premium, multi-asset, online brokerage established in 2010 with offices in London, Melbourne, and Tokyo and hubs in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and South Africa. As a regulated company, ThinkMarkets operates with several financial licenses around the globe and delivers some of the industry's most recognized trading solutions, including its award-winning platform, ThinkTrader. ThinkMarkets provides quick and easy access to a wide range of markets including forex, equities, CFDs on equities, cryptocurrencies, commodities, indices, futures and more. For more information please visit: https://www.thinkmarkets.com/jp Contact Victor Golovtchenko +44 20 3514 2374 pr@thinkmarkets.com PRESS RELEASE La Garde (France), March 1st 2022 CIOA announces a 165 million euro financing to accelerate its development CIOA Group, an engineering and development company, announces a 165m financing from Landes Finance, a financing and investment company based in Montreal, Canada. This is a partially convertible bond with a 10-year maturity, an early redemption clause, a 4.5% coupon and a 2-year grace period. This funding will allow the CIOA Group to: Expand and promote its sales and marketing efforts, To develop housing programmes in France, French overseas departments and Africa (individual and collective houses with its off-site building process) and residential leisure parks (to accommodate its Tiny Houses), To deploy a network of house-builders, to offer quality, low-carbon, affordable homes. Develop innovative and scalable business applications to diversify its SaaS offerings, Organize a network of licensees to distribute its business solutions on the domestic and international markets. With these combined devices, CIOA Group is aiming for a turnover of 100 millions euros within 48 months. We are enthusiastic about the idea of strengthening the industrial tool and enabling CIOA to provide increased support to its new licensees, both in France and internationally. With its new production facilities, the BATIR subsidiary will be able to manufacture low-carbon buildings up to R+10 and serve the institutional markets . In addition to meeting the group's financial needs, this new tailor-made financing provided by Landes Finance will enable us to accelerate our growth and take a significant place in the field of collaborative development ; Thank you to the LANDES FINANCE team for taking the time to understand the efficiency of CIOA's atypical model declared Mr. Lionel LUCIDE, General Manager of the CIOA Group. ABOUT US About Landes Finance Landes Finance (dba JD Euroway) is an international investment and finance company based in Canada, with assets under management in excess of USD 2 billion as at 30 March 2021. Founded in 2000, the company works closely with its clients to provide them with tailored, alternative and innovative financing to support their current and future capital needs. Landes Finance focuses on an opportunistic, value-driven and risk-controlled approach to financing in the areas of credit, debt-equity, real assets, special situations and equity. The company is a source of private funds for public and private companies and focuses on long-term value creation through active and collaborative partnerships." For more information on Landes Finance, visit: www.landesfinance.ca About CIOA : Founded in 1994, CIOA is a business engineering group listed on Euronext ACESS (MLCIO) that develops an original system for pooling professional resources to provide its members - public and private organisations of all sizes and sectors - with innovative solutions to adapt to disruptions, create value and carry out complex projects. To recruit and support users for its platform, CIOA runs a network of co-developers - service providers and value-added resellers - who provide intellectual and non-intellectual services to members and assist them in their use of the open access resources, to : Doing business internationally, Integrate digital into their business strategies, Industrialising production processes, Carrying out unitary real estate projects or volume building programs. The CIOA platform is unique in meeting the key needs of our changing society: Increasing the resilience of economic operators Create diverse work opportunities and a motivating environment for the self-employed, Builds residential, recreational, professional, economical and low-carbon buildings everywhere For more information on the CIOA Group, please visit: www.cioa.com GROUPE CIOA 106, impasse Edouard Branly - 83130 LA GARDE - FRANCE Tel: 33(0)4 94 14 12 40 - Email: presse@cioa.com ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: m3BwYMluZZzJyZ5wYseamGiZaZdnxpHKbmmbnJZwa5rHb22RnGlimJrLZnBkmWVm - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-73400-annonce_levee_de_fonds_landes_bpd_uk.pdf 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. KYOTO, Japan, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art will offer visitors a unique museum experience in Kyoto by planning the following lineup for fiscal year 2022. Held in the main building, Ornate Meiji Period Art: Shining Kyoto Artists of the Imperial Court (provisional title) introduces nineteen Imperial Court artists with ties to Kyoto with a focus on the Meiji Period. The Imperial Court artist system was established in 1890 by the Ministry of the Imperial Household to honor and protect outstanding artists and craftsmen. In addition to encouraging art, the purpose behind the system's establishment was to help painters and craftspeople facing hardship after losing the protection of the shogunate and other fiefdoms following the Meiji Restoration, while also preserving their exceptional skills. The Imperial Court artists were bestowed the highest honor and authority in the art world of their time, and many artists with ties to Kyoto were selected to join the system throughout its duration until 1944. Visitors are invited to experience the skill and beauty of Meiji Period Kyoto through masterpieces that have been celebrated as the greatest of their kind. Higashiyama Cube, a new building for contemporary art exhibitions, presents Visionaries (provisional title) under the supervision of Kawakami Noriko, who has been researching and speculating in the field of design. This exhibition will focus on the proposals and expressions of about twenty up-and-coming artists and designers who boldly transcend the status quo to present new perspectives. The Museum Collection currently consists of approximately 3,800 works of Kyoto modern art which includes masterpieces representative of Japanese painting made by Kyoto artists between the Meiji and Showa periods, making it one of the leading collections of such works in Japan. Newly built at the time of the Museum's renewal, the Collection Room will introduce masterpieces by popular artists representative of Kyoto and feature exhibits on various themes to provide visitors with a full experience of the fascination of Kyoto art. Since the first year of the Museum's renewal opening, The Triangle -- its newly created space -- has introduced new talents centered on artists associated with Kyoto, providing an opportunity for citizens and visitors to experience contemporary art. In 2022, three emerging artists Hikosaka Toshiaki, Fujita Sae, Yahata Aki will be introduced. For events other than exhibitions organized by the Museum, please refer to the press release. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1755641/image.jpg Research explores 21 cutting-edge concepts, such as conscious aircraft, trajectory based operations, artificial intelligence and digital trust technology, set to define future of aviation LONDON, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With a rebound in air travel now underway, a new report published today by Cranfield University and Inmarsat highlights the critical role that digital connectivity will play in accelerating aviation's long-term recovery. Titled 'Why the future of aviation starts with connectivity', the study offers insights and direction for key aviation stakeholders and governments as they reconsider their priorities for the industry's future. This will be fuelled largely by a monumental shift in passenger behaviour and expectations following the pandemic, as well as increased consumer awareness of their impact on the climate. The report highlights a number of transformative changes ahead for the aviation industry and examines how airlines can take advantage of the enormous opportunities created as a result. As part of their research, experts from Cranfield University have developed a Digital Connectivity Timeline, which outlines when 21 of the industry's most critical technological innovations can be expected to reach adoption. It focuses on three distinct timeframes: five years (technologies at advanced stages of development and in some cases are being piloted by organisations ahead of market adoption), between five to ten years (technologies under early development with potential to be trialled in some sectors), and beyond the next decade (concepts under consideration for product or service offering development). These technologies will enable a range of innovative concepts to make their way onto aircraft and airspace, helping to define the future of aviation while leading to important step changes in passenger experience and sustainability efforts. Amongst the concepts explored are: How the 'Conscious Aircraft' uses sensing and communication technologies to create an integrated aircraft health, maintenance, and performance management system that is capable of a fully aware state, with the ability to either take or suggest appropriate action. For example, it can accurately predict the health of aircraft components and automatically reconfigure them to optimise their lifecycle. In addition, it can sense changes in the external environment, like weather or a volcanic ash cloud. With the reduced need for planned maintenance, as well as anticipating the potential for component failures, maintenance costs would be cut by an estimated 30%. How the 'Connected Journey' will enhance a passenger's experience with more efficient and personalised wayfinding through airports, more intelligent and response baggage tracking, real-time updates on flight disruptions, and seamless high-speed inflight connectivity. How Trajectory Based Operations are a critical step towards the future management of air traffic, allowing more efficient traffic sequencing and routine deployment of so-called fuel efficient 'green descents' to airport terminal areas. How Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital trust technologies have enormous potential to be applied across all aviation sectors. AI can provide intelligent advice on aircraft management issues and make informed decisions under pressure - when there is the need to make a diversion, for example - with camera-based traffic detection, or helping crew to anticipate and prevent critical situations. Machine Learning (ML) can improve accuracy of any application involving optimisation, from sensor calibration to fuel tank checks to icing detection. The report also examines how the complexity and interoperability of future ecosystems are significant challenges for technology providers, regulators and airlines alike. Philippe Carette, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: "Our new report with Cranfield University has considered how the role of digital connectivity, in all its forms, can enable and accelerate meeting the rapidly changing needs of air travellers and of the aviation sector itself. It has identified specific challenges and opportunities that, if addressed, will have a direct beneficial effect on the sector's resilience, its contribution to reducing climate change, and to new customer service offerings that will enhance passengers' willingness to travel in the post-pandemic world. "Harnessing the technological innovations explored in this report will be nothing short of revolutionary for our industry, and at Inmarsat, we can't wait to play our part in bringing them to life through our global connectivity and world-leading ORCHESTRA network of networks." Professor Karen Holford CBE FREng, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor, Cranfield University: "While this is a time of great challenge for the aviation industry, reports such as this one show the path that technology can put us on towards a brighter and more sustainable future. 'Digital aviation' and the foundation of connectivity needs to stop being just a concept of tomorrow, and become the reality of today. This report sets out the many technological possibilities and what can be achieved in the short to medium term. What is needed now is for us all to redouble our efforts to make them a reality." The full report, executive summary and Digital Connectivity Timeline are available here. Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, recently unveiled plans for ORCHESTRA, the communications network of the future, which will bring existing geosynchronous (GEO) satellites together with low earth orbit satellites (LEO) and terrestrial 5G to form an integrated, high-performance solution, unmatched by any existing or planned competitor offering. ORCHESTRA allows capacity to be boosted in high-density areas such as at airports, eliminating congested network 'hot spots' and ensuring the connectivity needs of aviation customers continue to be met well into the future, with capacity scaled directly to match their requirements. ABOUT INMARSAT Inmarsat is the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications. It owns and operates the world's most diverse global portfolio of mobile telecommunications satellite networks, and holds a multi-layered, global spectrum portfolio, covering L-band, Ka-band and S-band, enabling unparalleled breadth and diversity in the solutions it provides. Inmarsat's long-established global distribution network includes not only the world's leading channel partners but also its own strong direct retail capabilities, enabling end to end customer service assurance. The company has an unrivalled track record of operating the world's most reliable global mobile satellite telecommunications networks, sustaining business and mission critical safety & operational applications for more than 40 years. It is also a major driving force behind technological innovation in mobile satellite communications, sustaining its leadership through a substantial investment and a powerful network of technology and manufacturing partners. Inmarsat operates across a diversified portfolio of sectors with the financial resources to fund its business strategy and holds leading positions in the Maritime, Government, Aviation and Enterprise satcoms markets, operating consistently as a trusted, responsive and high-quality partner to its customers across the globe. For further information, follow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram. "Amrop and JM Search can now say their coverage, scale and depth of expertise rivals the largest corporate executive search firms in the world." Annika Farin, Amrop Chairperson HAMBURG, Germany and NEW YORK, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In February 2021, global search company Amrop and USA-based firm JM Search formed an exclusive strategic alliance allowing both companies to expand their offerings and respective global reach to their clients. A year into the partnership, this model has shown itself to be a great success and both organizations are committed to further strengthen their relationship. Amrop, which was established in 1977, has grown into one of the largest leadership advisory consultancies in the world, with 65 offices in 53 countries. JM Search was the ideal partner, with its more than 40-year track record as a top-tier independent U.S. executive search firm, with clients spanning every major market in North America. Since being formed in 1980 by John Marshall, JM Search has grown organically to include over 130 employees. The team brings together former operating and financial executives, investors and experienced search professionals with deep industry specialization, functional expertise and proven access to talent spanning multiple industry sectors. JM Search clients include private equity firms and portfolio companies, venture capital-backed businesses, and publicly held companies across North America. Through the partnership with Amrop, JM Search is now also able to offer global search capabilities to its clients. "A global partnership was overdue for us," says Marshall, who acts as CEO, "especially given the growing number of clients that operate businesses in multiple geographies." For Amrop, the increased focus on the U.S. market offers its own opportunities, says the company's Chair Annika Farin. She highlights how both firms bring an entrepreneurial spirit to the market. "This makes the partnership a truly alternative choice for clients, with an offering that holds depth and is delivered with quality," Farin says. "The ability to assess talent and make the right recommendations to our clients comes down to an in-depth knowledge of our markets and the context of each placement, and our teams being able to work together fluidly on the same assignment" says Farin. "We're able to help each other achieve more than what would have been possible alone." Marshall agrees: "Through our partnership with Amrop, we have been able to solve client challenges in multiple regions, which is additional value that we can bring to our services. And we have been able to connect our regional networks between more than a dozen private-equity funds in a coordinated, global manner." Together, the two organizations maintain the independent edge they have both forged in their markets, while expanding their reach and deepening their specialist expertise and skills. The result is a comprehensive suite of talent sourcing that prides itself on speed and agility, and the ability to view talent through both a hyper-local and visionary global lens. This affords the opportunity for more rigorous searches for highly attractive leaders. Amrop GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS The Amrop Partnership SCRL Rue Abbe Cuypers 3 1040 Brussels, Belgium T. +32 471 733 825 E. contact@amrop.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1755576/Amrop_Logo.jpg BARCELONA, Spain, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- During the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022, Huawei commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a study about the autonomous driving network thought leadership paper - "Building Leading Digital Business Competitiveness with A Highly Autonomous Driven Data Center Network (DCN)". The paper discusses how enterprise data centers are transforming to modern cloud data centers represented by "multi-cloud and hybrid deployment", while DCNs are shifting from Level 3 to Level 4. The paper urges automation growth, along with suggesting ways enterprise data center networks can evolve towards a higher level of autonomy. Forrester surveyed IT leaders and technical decision-makers of 197 large and midsize enterprises/organizations worldwide on the current status, challenges, and transformation goals of their data center networks. New Technologies and Business Models Drive Data Center Networks Towards High Autonomy According to the paper, 61.9% of enterprises are building data centers using private and hybrid clouds. Data centers deployed on the cloud provide enterprises with on-demand self-service, ubiquitous access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measurable standard service capabilities. All this demands highly autonomous driving networks. At the same time, increasingly fierce market competition and fast business model innovation pose more stringent requirements on service continuity and real-time performance. These rising business demands also require more autonomy for fast network deployment and service provisioning, as well as to guarantee service continuity and prevent business interruptions. Increasingly Complex Networks and Outdated Network Facilities and Technologies Are Key Challenges on the Way to Autonomous Driving Networks After self-assessment, 64% of the surveyed enterprises believe that their data centers are in the L3 phase - conditional autonomous driving network. Technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and SDN help data center networks improve automation and intelligent O&M. However, enterprises still face many challenges in automatic deployment and implementation. Especially, the construction and O&M phases still heavily rely on experts' advice and employee skills, which is inefficient and error-prone. In fact, most enterprises rely on vendors' solutions (covering automated implementation plans, processes, and related tools) to achieve a certain degree of automation for the single-cloud and single-DC network. As enterprise data centers develop rapidly, multi-DC, multi-cloud, and heterogeneous networks are becoming the new norm, exponentially increasing network complexity. As a result, the existing solutions, tools, and skills cannot meet the requirements. Data centers are not built in one go. 50.8% of the surveyed enterprises said that they still utilize many old networks and devices while expanding and building their data center infrastructure. However, traditional network architecture is not flexible and evolves slowly. As such, it's hard to automate older networks. This signals another key issue - finding ways to rebuild outdated infrastructure and technologies to protect past investments. Best Practices and Partnerships Can Accelerate Evolution Forrester suggests that enterprises formulate clear data center network automation goals and evolution paths based on their current status and strategies. They can also learn from industry best practices. Network automation involves all aspects of technology - including network devices, hybrid cloud architecture, and automation - so it is difficult for enterprises to accomplish by themselves. The solution is to draw on the strengths of partners to accelerate automation, staying ahead of the competition. Huawei CloudFabric 3.0 Comes Top in L3.5 Autonomous Driving Data Center Networks Recently, Tolly Group - a global provider of testing and third-party validation and certification services - compared Huawei CloudFabric 3.0 Hyper-Converged Data Center Network Solution and a mainstream data center SDN solution. The report rated Huawei's solution with 3.51 points - far higher than the 2.8 points received by the mainstream solution. It is also the only L3.5 data center autonomous driving network solution that has been verified by Tolly. Huawei CloudFabric 3.0 Hyper-Converged Data Center Network Solution provides full-lifecycle automation and intelligent O&M capabilities for data center networks. It draws on several innovative technologies, such as the open programmability framework, service orchestration platform, digital twin, and knowledge graph. These allow Huawei CloudFabric 3.0 to centrally manage multi-DC, multi-cloud, heterogeneous networks, provision services in seconds, perform simulation and verification, as well as locate faults between applications and networks. The solution facilitates agile service innovation and enables real-time service provisioning. Huawei CloudFabric 3.0 has been widely used across industries such as finance, government, large enterprises, and carriers, accelerating enterprises' digital transformation and helping customers achieve business success. MWC Barcelona 2022 runs from February 28 to March 3 in Barcelona, Spain. Huawei showcases its products and solutions at stand 1H50 in Fira Gran Via Hall 1. Together with global operators, industry professionals, and opinion leaders, we dive into topics such as industry trends, GUIDE for the future, and green development to envision the future of digital networks. For more information, please visit: https://e.huawei.com/en/events/huawei-enterprise-mwc-2022 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1756743/Autonomous_driving_network_thought_leadership_paper_release.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1756744/image_986294_26377390.jpg Yieldstreet Joins Spotify, VICE, and Phillips as Participating Sponsors Opens April 9, 2022 at RXR's Starrett-Lehigh Building, the NYC Landmark in West Chelsea NEW YORK, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The family of Jean-Michel Basquiat has announced that tickets for Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure are on sale beginning today, February 28th. Tickets can be purchased at the exhibition website, https://kingpleasure.basquiat.com/ .The highly anticipated exhibition will feature over 200 never before and rarely seen paintings, drawings, ephemera and artifacts to give an intimate and multidimensional portrait of Jean-Michel that can only be told by his family. All of the work comes from the family's collection with the vast majority never having been exhibited previously. Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure also features recreations of his NYC artist studio on Great Jones St. and the Michael Todd VIP Room of NYC's iconic Palladium nightclub for which Jean-Michel created two paintings. Opening April 9th, the exhibition will span over 15,000-square-feet at RXR's Starrett-Lehigh Building . Leading New York-based alternative investment platform Yieldstreet has joined as a participating sponsor for the exhibition. Yieldstreet is committed to democratizing access to investing in art and provides investors with exclusive private market opportunities including their recently launched "The Artists of Harlem" fund. Yieldstreet joins Spotify , VICE , and Phillips as a participating sponsor of Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure. Renowned design brand Arper will outfit the exhibition space to recreate the original feeling of the Michael Todd VIP Room at the Palladium. The family commissioned internationally acclaimed architect David Adjayeto be the exhibition's designer. The exhibition's identity has been created by Abbott Miller of visionary design firm Pentagram . Rizzoli Electa will release the accompanying book, also titled Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure, to coincide with the exhibition. The book was authored by Jean-Michel's sisters Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux and his stepmother Nora Fitzpatrick. Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure is divided into the following themes: 1960 - INTRODUCTION- This section of the exhibition introduces audiences to Jean-Michel, his family and his heritage with several self-portraits on display. KINGS COUNTY- This section provides an overview of Jean-Michel's childhood in Brooklyn and Puerto Rico. It will include an environmental evocation of Jean-Michel's childhood home, ephemera and works by Jean-Michel including newsletters from City-as-School, sketchbooks, personal notes and effects, home movies, interviews with family members, early drawings and sculptures. WORLD FAMOUS- This section details Jean-Michel's meteoric early success and includes paintings and other ephemera. IDEAL- 57 Great Jones Street Studio (August 1983)Studio Recreation- Jean-Michel's Great Jones Street studio will be recreated and include paintings, drawings, sketches, personal effects, his furniture, bicycle (his main method of transportation since he had trouble catching a cab), and his videotape and book collections. ART GALLERY- This section will consist of several thematically arranged galleries with approximately 100 paintings and drawings. All works are owned by the Estate and most of them have never been seen before. PALLADIUM- In 1985, Jean-Michel created two paintings, Nu-Nile and Untitled, for iconic NYC nightclub Palladium's VIP area, the Michael Todd Room. The exhibition will recreate this space including video and soundtrack. PLACE JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT- This gallery will contain oral histories from members of Jean-Michel's family and a close circle of friends as well as posthumous awards and exhibitions. Tickets for Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure are on sale now Purchase tickets here . Media Contact for Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure: Felice Ecker: felice@girlieaction.com Aleix Martinez: aleix@girlieaction.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1756480/210921_Basquiat_Exhibition_Identity_Poster_Lee_Jaffe.jpg Company to Refocus Sales Efforts from National Roofing Segments to Address Significant Near-Term EV Charging Opportunity; Sales Run Rate Expected to Exceed $400 Million Annually After Closing Announced Acquisitions LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. (OTC PINK:SIRC), an integrated, single-source solar power, roofing systems installation and EV charging company, today announced a strategic shift towards prioritizing its over $30 million electric vehicle (EV) charging project pipeline and $20.2 million EV charging project backlog given the immense near-term revenue opportunity, better aligning with the Company's planned corporate name change to 'SolarEV'. In conjunction with the strategy shift and to bolster its national EV charging business line, Solar Integrated Roofing has signed an LOI for an acquisition of three complementary Los Angeles-based EV charging installers with over $100 million of contracts in their sales pipeline. "Electric vehicle charging is the next massive opportunity in our market, and this calculated alignment of our near-term focus will help to position SIRC as a clear national player in the space," said David Massey, Chief Executive Officer of Solar Integrated Roofing. "The expanding EV charging market is being driven by the rapid the adoption of electric vehicles nationwide - for example, the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts there will be 7.5 million EVs on American roads by 2025. "To meet this expected surge in demand, just last week the Biden administration announced a plan to allocate $5.0 billion to states to fund electric vehicle chargers over five years as part of the bipartisan infrastructure package. This creates an absolutely immense opportunity for our family of companies nationwide. Grand View Research reports that the U.S electric vehicle charging infrastructure market size will increase from $2.1 billion in 2020 to $28.4 billion in 2028, a compound annual growth rate of 38.9%. With our proven success in solar, the EV charging market is opening the door for our company to capture dual-industry, synergistic avenues of growth. "We are currently leveraging our vast network of nationwide installers to ramp sales efforts and capitalize on the exponential increase in demand. As of today, we have over $20.2 million in EV charging projects in our backlog with a further $30 million in the pipeline. I expect to further grow this through a recent LOI to acquire three complementary Los Angeles-based EV charging installers with over $100 million of contracts in their sales pipeline and the potential for significant additional growth in the quarters to come. After we close our announced acquisitions, I believe our sales run rate is likely to exceed $400 million annually. "These strategic shifts, paired with our planned rebranding to 'SolarEV', better reflects our increased emphasis on solar and EV charging, with a tempered focus on roofing. We expect this corporate name change to take effect upon FINRA approval, for which we have already applied. I look forward to sharing our accomplishments in these exciting new markets in the months to come, as we continue to strive to create sustainable value for our shareholders and their communities," concluded Massey. Closing of any potential acquisition is subject to final due diligence, negotiation and execution of a definitive purchase agreement and all necessary approvals. About Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. (OTC:SIRC), is an integrated, single-source solar power, roofing systems installation and EV charging company specializing in commercial and residential properties throughout the United States. The Company serves communities by delivering the best experience through constant innovation & legacy-focused leadership. The Company's broad array of solutions include sales and installation of solar energy systems, battery backup and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to roofing, HVAC and related electrical contracting work. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.solarintegratedroofing.com . Forward-Looking Statements Any statements made in this press release which are not historical facts contain certain forward-looking statements; as such term is defined in the Private Security Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning potential developments affecting the business, prospects, financial condition and other aspects of the company to which this release pertains. The actual results of the specific items described in this release, and the company's operations generally, may differ materially from what is projected in such forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based upon the best judgments of management of the company as of the date of this release, significant deviations in magnitude, timing and other factors may result from business risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the company's dependence on third parties, general market and economic conditions, technical factors, the availability of outside capital, receipt of revenues and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the company. The company disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in any forward-looking statement. This press release shall not be deemed a general solicitation. Investor Relations Contact: Lucas A. Zimmerman Director MZ North America Main: 949-259-4987 SIRC@mzgroup.us www.mzgroup.us SOURCE: Solar Integrated Roof Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690595/Solar-Integrated-Roofing-Corp-to-Form-Dominant-Player-in-EV-Charging-Market-with-Planned-Acquisition-of-Charging-Installer-with-100-Million-Order-Pipeline-Buoyed-by-5-Billion-in-Federal-Stimulus The strategic cooperation will help support sustainable cryptocurrency growth in South-East Asia, and create opportunities for future partnerships in the region PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MX Global Sdn. Bhd. (MX Global) today announced an equity investment into the company from Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency and blockchain ecosystem. In addition, MX Global also landed another investment for Redeemable Convertible Preference Shares (RCPS) into the company by Cuscapi Berhad, a pioneer digital business solutions provider in Malaysia. These new capital injections will allow MX Global, a licensed fintech company, to build brand awareness, hire more high-quality talent and develop new features within Malaysia's regulatory framework. MX Global is one of the four Recognized Market Operator-Digital Asset Exchange (RMO-DAX) that has been granted full approval by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) in July 2021 and complies with the standards and practices to uphold investor protection in conducting safe and secure trading of cryptocurrencies in the country. MX Global offers solutions for users to store and trade cryptocurrencies under compliant and safe cyber-security environments including a regulated local cryptocurrency exchange at www.mxglobal.com.my. CEO of MX Global, Dato' Fadzli Shah said, "MX Global aspires to be the preferred liquidity platform for digital asset or cryptocurrency investors and token issuers locally and internationally. The cooperation of Binance will not only support us in achieving this goal but should also provide the most capital-efficient opportunity for us to align and compete with other global players in the industry. We will continue building a safe, easy and real digital asset ecosystem for our customers." With this initial effort to support sustainable growth in the cryptocurrency market in Southeast Asia, Binance hopes to work with regional and local partners to drive further collaborations. Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Founder and CEO of Binance, said, "We see potential in Malaysia given its respected and innovative crypto and blockchain community. We believe that partnering with MX Global will be a springboard to new opportunities, both in Malaysia and the region as a whole as well as across the entire crypto and blockchain ecosystem." Speaking on the investment from Cuscapi Berhad, Dato' Fadzli Shah expressed his excitement in working together with the major digital business solutions provider that holds an extensive list of well-known clients. "I believe that this cooperation will not only expand the potential services that MX Global can offer in the future, but it will also allow the company to innovate and revolutionize the payment system in Malaysia," commented Dato' Fadzli Shah. Cuscapi Berhad Executive Chairman, Datuk Jayakumar Panneer Selvam stated, "this historic collaboration between digital assets and payment systems will create integration and synergy that will bring together the high potential of the use of cryptocurrency to conduct commerce. With blockchain and smart contracts being increasingly incorporated into our lives, the potential for this will be massive." The strategic cooperation further demonstrates the continuous growth and development of the digital assets industry, which will bolster the cryptocurrency market in Malaysia and South-East Asia. The investments from two major players, Binance and Cuscapi Berhad, will allow MX Global to venture into a much bigger clientele pool. This will also no doubt propel MX Global to become the major player in the industry. ABOUT MX GLOBAL MX Global is a Kuala Lumpur-based fintech company with a mission to create a highly accessible and secure cryptocurrency trading platform that allows merchants, consumers, and traders to transact cryptocurrencies. MX Global envisions the MX Global trading platform to be the preferred liquidity platform for cryptocurrency investors and token issuers in Malaysia. In light of the demand for cryptocurrencies, MX Global has created a user-friendly platform for users to begin trading in Bitcoin and Ethereum. MX Global offers end-to-end solutions in storing, buying and selling cryptocurrencies within its exchange and MX Global's compliance management system reflects strong integration of cyber-security controls, giving you peace of mind. Aside from that, MX Global has also appointed leading professional advisory and legal firms to provide support in the areas of advisory, legal, compliance, business operations and risk management design to continuously strive to be the leading example of best practices in the industry. ABOUT BINANCE Binance is the world's leading blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider with a financial product suite that includes the largest digital asset exchange by volume. Trusted by millions worldwide, the Binance platform is dedicated to increasing the freedom of money for users and features an unmatched portfolio of crypto products and offerings, including trading and finance, education, data and research, social good, investment and incubation, decentralisation and infrastructure solutions, and more. For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com ABOUT CUSCAPI BERHAD Cuscapi Berhad is a public listed company on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange. Established in 1978 as DTS (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Cuscapi is recognized as a pioneer supplier in digital business solutions in Malaysia. It was listed on the ACE Market in 2004 and changed its name to Datascan Berhad and subsequently in 2007 to Cuscapi Berhad, as a public company. Cuscapi offers business management solutions, information technology security solutions, consulting services and contact center outsourcing services for businesses across a variety of industries, including retail, hospitality, automotive, telecommunications, finance and public services. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1756725/Dato_Fadzli_Shah_CEO_MX_Global.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1756726/Datuk_Jayakumar_Panneer_Selvam_Cuscapi_Executive_Chairman.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1756727/Changpeng_Zhao_Founder_Binance.jpg HONG KONG, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co., Ltd. ("CPIC" or the "Company"; Stock Code: 2601.HK, 601601.SH, CPIC.LSE) recently informed that China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission officially approved the application of China Pacific Insurance to establish CPIC Technology Co., Ltd. ("CPIC Technology") on 21 January, 2022, marking that CPIC Technology became one of the first approved technology subsidiaries focusing on rendering information technology services to insurance groups after the promulgation of the Administrative Measures for the Supervision of Insurance Group Companies. In the context of insurance industry digitalisation, technology has become a new battlefield of changes and competitions for insurance industry as technology is gradually interacting with the industry in all aspects. As a top insurance company, CPIC always regards technology as the core element to drive business development, and regards shaping the future-oriented technology advantage as the inevitable requirement to achieve high-quality development. In July 2020, the board of directors of CPIC resolved to push forward the establishment of CPIC Technology as a significant strategic decision on "Strengthen Technology", a component of CPIC Transformation 2.0. During its subsequent trial running for more than one year, CPIC Technology developed a data lake for universal business-related data across CPIC for the first time as a part of its efforts to create data governance system, and it extended its presence to several regions by relocating Luojing Data Centre for "second-level response time for 100 million-level user base, and real-time computing for full data", putting Greater Bay Area Science and Technology Innovation Centre into operation, and advancing the progress of Wuhan R&D Centre. It has successively entered into market-oriented technological cooperation projects with the Group and its subsidiaries, further improving the technology governance system of CPIC. The company has received aggregate 15 copyright patents from National Copyright Administration of China, and more than 20 domestic and foreign industry awards for its digital product matrix represented by Intelligent Platform for Compliance, Intelligent Contract Review, Family, and AI Open Platform, and for its self-developed "Cat" series automatic test platform, which has been selected as the top ten technological achievements in digital transformation of state-owned enterprises. CPIC establishes CPIC Technology to respond to the new requirements of industry development, and open up a new track for the insurance industry. CPIC Technology will provide new momentum for high-quality development of CPIC, bringing about new advantages for CPIC. Responding to the New Requirements of Industry Development. China's insurance market is in a critical stage of development with shifting cycles and reshaping of growth engines. CPIC Technology will actively respond to the developing requirements set out in Guiding Opinions on the Digital Transformation of the Banking and Insurance Industry and China'sInsurance Technology 14th Five-Year Development Plan. It will focus on top-level design, strengthen overall planning, give full play to the role of new strategic entity, so as to help CPIC maintain its strategic focus on protection-oriented products, support the construction of the financial technology industry, improve the quality and efficiency in serving the real economy, and strengthen the ability to serve the society and people's wellbeing. Opening New Development Paths in Insurance Technology. Nowadays, with the accelerated evolution of a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation, CPIC Technology will implement cutting-edge technology research and technological engineering projects, overcome the challenges and grasp the opportunities in the new era of technological development, and focus on independent research and development, data services, platform collaboration, innovation transformation, and other long-term develop of technology capability. Also, it will promote innovative breakthroughs in key technology fields such as blockchain platforms, trusted computing platforms, big data risk control platforms, AI service capabilities, and IoT solutions, and continue to put efforts into "big health", "big data", "big regions" and "metaverse" and other key areas, to promote the core transformation from "digital" to "digital intelligence", and boost the business transformation and upgrading and conversion. Becoming a New Driver for High-quality Development. In the critical year of further promoting the "14th Five-Year Plan" and CPIC's new 30-year development, as the main force of CPIC's technology empowerment, CPIC Technology will promote CPIC to establish technology capabilities that match CPIC's industry status, and enhance the display of technological empowerment, to empower the management and CPIC to give full play to the advantages of the system and mechanism and the role of the platform window, in order to promote the deep integration of business and technology, cultivate new momentum for high-quality business development with technology, and make insurance technology a powerful driver of high-quality development of our group on its new journey. In the future, CPIC Technology's mission will be "achieving growth in insurance business using technology and creating value with expertise", with the vision of "becoming a leader of the new era of insurance technology", and adhere to "be open-minded to innovation, be customer-oriented, efficiently promoting new strategies, creating synergy and symbiosis, and emphasis on steady growth and systematisation", it will serve the main business, empower the main business, and play a greater role in promoting the development of China's insurance industry. About China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co., Ltd China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "CPIC", or the "Company"; Stock Code: 2601.HK, 601601.SH, CPIC.LSE) is an insurance holding company incorporated on the basis of China Pacific Insurance Company, which was established on May 13, 1991. It is a leading insurance group headquartered in Shanghai, which is the first insurance group simultaneously listed on Shanghai, Hong Kong and London Stock Exchanges. CPIC is a leading comprehensive insurance group; the Company provides a broad range of risk solutions, financial planning and asset management services to over 100 million customers via its nationwide network of distribution and diversified services platforms. This press release is distributed by Wonderful Sky Financial Group for China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co. Ltd. For further information, please contact: Wonderful Sky Financial Group Holdings Limited Ms. Skye Shum / Cecilia Xiong Tel: (852) 3970 2199 / (852) 3641 1300 Fax: (852) 3102 0210 Email: CPIC@wsfg.hk Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - Pancontinental Resources Corporation (TSXV: PUC) (OTCQB: PUCCF) ("Pancon" or the "Company") will be presenting at the Red Cloud's Very Pre-PDAC Mining Showcase that will be held virtually from March 2 - 4, 2022. Layton Croft, President and CEO, will be presenting live on Thursday, March 3rd at 11:20 am ET. Layton will discuss the recently refreshed data-driven Discovery Model for Pancon's flagship Brewer Gold and Copper project. For more information and/or to register for the conference, please visit: https://redcloudfs.com/prepdac2022/. About Pancon Pancontinental Resources Corp. (TSXV: PUC) (OTCQB: PUCCF), or Pancon, is a Canadian junior mining company exploring the rich, underexplored Carolina Slate Belt in the southeastern USA. In January 2020, Pancon won the exclusive right to explore and purchase the former Brewer Gold Mine property, with an option period through October 2023. Between 1987-1995, Brewer produced 178,000 ounces of oxide gold from open pits that extended to 65-meter depths, where gold (Au) and copper (Cu) sulphides were exposed but could not be processed by the oxide heap leach operation. Pancon's 100%-owned, 1,960-acre Jefferson Gold Project nearly completely surrounds the 1,000-acre Brewer property. The Brewer-Jefferson area of interest, in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, is 12 kilometers along trend from the producing Haile Gold Mine, which produced 190,000 ounces of gold in 2021 (www.oceanagold.com). Brewer is a large, epithermal, high sulphidation gold-copper system driven by a sub-volcanic intrusive, possibly connected to a large copper-gold porphyry system at depth. For further information, please contact: Jeanny So, External Relations Manager E: info@panconresources.com T: +1.647.202.0994 For additional information please visit our new website at http://www.panconresources.com/ and our Twitter feed: @PanconResources. 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 information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114868 OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Molson Coors Beverage Co. (TAP) announced Tuesday it is set to invest $85 million to enable Coors Light to begin the transition to fully recyclable and sustainably sourced cardboard-wrap carriers later this year. Coors Light will eliminate plastic rings from packaging globally, where Molson Coors owns brewing operations, and is set to become the largest beer brand in North America to move away from plastic rings. The Molson Coors investment will upgrade packaging machinery, which will also allow the company's entire North American portfolio of brands to advance to cardboard wrap carriers by the end of 2025. In total, the move by Molson Coors will save 1.7 million pounds of plastic waste annually. In 2021, Molson Coors removed plastic rings across all major brands sold in the U.K., including Coors and Carling. It now commits to eliminate plastic rings entirely. Coors Light will debut the new packaging at the 'Plastic-Free Future Mart by Coors Light,' a super sustainable pop-up concept store in NYC. The Plastic-Free Future Mart will be open* March 2 to 6 and is located at 603 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, NY to adults 21+. The 'Plastic Free Future Mart by Coors Light' will model as inspiration and a vision for a world with no single-use plastics. The Coors Light announcement today pushes Molson Coors closer to its goal of ensuring packaging is 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable, and consumer-facing plastic packaging is made from at least 30% recycled content by the end of 2025. 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. GOTO GLOBAL SIGNS STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AGREEMENT WITH AUTOMOTIVE MOBILITY GROUP ASTARA GoTo Global, an international multimodal shared mobility company, today announced that it has signed a strategic investment agreement with the global mobility group, ASTARA. This investment comes as part of a pre-IPO Round and will see ASTARA invest $5 million in the company. This follows an investment of $6M that could raised from its existing investors. GoTo, which currently operates in Israel, Germany, Spain and Malta, offers users an array of vehicles including cars, bikes, electric scooters and mopeds via a single app. To date, GoTo's 5,800 vehicles have been accessed by over 450,000 users, with nearly 3 million rides and $22 million in revenues reported in 2021. ASTARA is one of the largest automotive mobility groups in the world, present in three continents, 16 countries, with over 200,000 vehicle sales per year and hitting an annual turnover in 2021 of 4 billion. Having international expertise and a broad understanding of the mobility sector, ASTARA delivers innovative tailor-made solutions for every brand and market by addressing major technology shifts and the changing mobility needs, where customers can access any kind of affordable and sustainable transport solutions. It offers a diversified portfolio of mobility products and services as ownership, subscription, B2B/B2C, and new digital channels. This investment is part of the Pre-IPO round which GoTo Global is raising following its announcement of a planned merger with NeraTech Media, a company traded at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. ASTARA will join an international group of existing shareholders: DBSI Group, led by Yossi Ben Shalom via Shagrir (Israel); Adam Neumann's family office Nazare Capital Management (US); the Ungar Family, one of Israel's leading automotive importers; DQuadrat Equity Partner (Germany); IBB Ventures (Germany); and Bonventure (Germany). "Today is big step on our journey to making shared multimodal mobility accessible to all," comments Gil Laser, CEO of GoTo Global. "The arrival of a group with the scale, experience, and track record of ASTARA as an investor in GoTo really demonstrates that we are on the right road. Automotive players are acknowledging the changing needs and wants of users and are looking to be part of this change. At GoTo we continue to evolve our offering, allowing more and more users to access the right vehicle at the right time be it a car, a moped or a bike or kickscooter. This investment brings us closer to completing our planned merger and to converting GoTo into a public company." "It is with great satisfaction that ASTARA signs a strategic investment agreement with a leading company like GoTo," comments Jorge Navea, CEO of ASTARA. "It will undoubtedly increase the scope of our business in today's highly competitive market. With the contribution of our extensive experience in digital transformation and the new mobility ecosystem, we are attached to drive long-term growth." Last October, GoTo Global acquired Emmy, the leading German moped sharing company, present in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, with over 300,000 users and 3,000 mopeds. Following the completion of the merger with Neratech, GoTo Global plans to bring its multimodal offering to these German cities adding cars and micromobility vehicles to the mix and increasing its B2B activity alongside other innovative product solutions. About GoTo Global: Founded in 2008 in Israel, GoTo Global is the world's leading provider of multimodal mobility services. The company offers users access to shared mobility solutions through its proprietary technology-driven application that enables them to reserve cars, mopeds, scooters, and bikes. The company currently operates in Israel, Germany, Malta and Spain, powering millions of trips via a fleet of thousands of diverse assets. About ASTARA: ASTARA is one of the largest automotive and mobility services groups in the world, with presence in three continents, 16 countries, with a turnover of 4 billion in 2021 and over 200,000 vehicle sales last year. Astara is present in Spain, Germany, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Philippines, representing 30 car brands. Astara provides a distribution and mobility ecosystem, encompassing all markets in which the group operates, including all options of ownership, subscription, use, and connectivity that bring along the latest technology. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005640/en/ Contacts: GoTo Global: Liliya Miringof, CMO liliyami@gotoglobal.com Astara: Belen Valero, Brand and Communications Manager belen.valero.a@astara.com LITTLETON, CO / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE American:URG)(TSX:URE) (the "Company" or "Ur-Energy") announces that Jeffrey T. Klenda, the Company's Chairman, CEO and President is resigning as chief executive officer, effective on March 1, 2022. John W. Cash, the Company's current Vice President Regulatory Affairs, has been named as the new Chief Executive Officer and has been appointed to serve as a member of the Board of Directors effective on the same date. Mr. Klenda will remain as Chairman and President at this time. Mr. Klenda is a co-founder of Ur-Energy and has led the Company since its inception, to public listings in Canada (TSX, 2005) and the United States (NYSE American, 2008), the acquisition of the Company's flagship Lost Creek Project through to its first eight years of production operations and bringing the Shirley Basin project back onto the ISR map where it premiered in situ uranium recovery nearly 60 years ago. After nearly two decades at the helm of Ur-Energy, Mr. Klenda has decided for personal reasons to step back from the day-to-day chief executive role, while continuing to serve as the Company's Chairman and President. The Company anticipates that Mr. Klenda's continuing role as Chairman and President will provide a valuable transition period and will conclude with his retirement following the Company's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held in June 2022. At that time, Mr. Cash will also assume the role of President of the Company. Thomas Parker, the Lead Independent Director of the Company, said, "Our Board, and I personally, would like to express our sincere gratitude to Jeff for his leadership in building and sustaining our Company. His tireless efforts have placed Ur-Energy in its leadership role in the uranium recovery industry. Jeff has built and led a management team, including his successor John Cash, which guided us to production operations at Lost Creek and the full permitting of our Shirley Basin Project, which stands construction ready." Mr. Cash joined Ur-Energy in 2007 and has led the permitting and licensure of both the Lost Creek and Shirley Basin uranium mines, while managing the environmental, health and safety ("EHS") and geology departments and contributing to the development and growth of the Company. Mr. Cash was appointed as Vice President Regulatory Affairs in 2011. During his tenure with Ur-Energy, Mr. Cash has gained a well-deserved reputation for developing impactful solutions for industry related to water management, EPA aquifer exemptions, technical design, and environmental matters. He is a respected industry leader and has served as a past president of the Uranium Producers of America. Mr. Cash said, "I wish to thank Mr. Klenda and the Board of Directors for the confidence they have placed in me, and I commit to continue working for every success of the Company and to ensure their confidence is well placed. Over the past 14 years I have consistently found that Ur-Energy's management and staff are exceptional, and I am excited to continue working with them to advance the Company in my new role. Our operating Lost Creek mine, licensed at 2.2 million pounds per year, has proven to be a prolific producer and we are actively installing wells and the next header house to facilitate a quick ramp up as market conditions continue to improve and for when our go-decision is made. Ur-Energy is staffed with miners, from top to bottom, and we are excited about the future of our Company and our industry." Mr. Cash has nearly 30 years of diverse experience in the uranium industry, from which he has acquired broad-reaching expertise in exploration, EHS including radiation safety, regulatory and legislative affairs, and uranium recovery operations, as well as extensive management experience. Prior to joining Ur-Energy, Mr. Cash worked for established uranium mining companies, including BHP, Rio Algom Mining, and Crow Butte Resources, a subsidiary of Cameco, in various roles in mineral exploration, as Operations Superintendent and EHS Manager. As Operations Superintendent, Mr. Cash managed all aspects of wellfield production and plant processing at the 800,000 lbs. U3O8 per year Crow Butte ISR facility. Mr. Cash is a Fellow of the inaugural World Nuclear Summer Institute. Mr. Cash received B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Missouri-Rolla. Mr. Klenda said of Mr. Cash, "We believe that John is the leadership of the future: for our industry, our Company and our shareholders. He is widely known and well respected for his industry knowledge and integrity. John brings vision, ingenuity and pragmatism to our challenging yet exciting industry which is critical to our nation's security and economic and climate future. I couldn't be more pleased and confident to be passing the reigns of our Company to his capable guiding hand." "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Board, my executive management team and our long-serving staff, all of whom are so dedicated to Ur-Energy. I am confident that the commitment they have demonstrated to produce the many achievements of our Company to date will continue and, with John in his new roles, Ur-Energy will continue to grow and be successful. I thank each of you for your dedication and service to Ur-Energy." About Ur-Energy Ur-Energy is a uranium mining company operating the Lost Creek in-situ recovery uranium facility in south-central Wyoming. We have produced, packaged, and shipped approximately 2.6 million pounds U3O8 from Lost Creek since the commencement of operations. Ur-Energy now has all major permits and authorizations to begin construction at Shirley Basin, the Company's second in situ recovery uranium facility in Wyoming and is in the process of obtaining remaining amendments to Lost Creek authorizations for expansion of Lost Creek. Ur-Energy is engaged in uranium mining, recovery and processing activities, including the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of uranium mineral properties in the United States. The primary trading market for Ur-Energy's common shares is on the NYSE American under the symbol "URG." Ur-Energy's common shares also trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "URE." Ur-Energy's corporate office is located in Littleton, Colorado and its registered office is located in Ottawa, Ontario. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT John W. Cash, Chief Executive Officer 866-981-4588 (ext. 303) John.Cash@Ur-Energy.com SOURCE: Ur-Energy Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690837/Ur-Energy-Announces-Senior-Leadership-Changes VANCOUVER, BC / A CCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Graphite One Inc. (TSXV:GPH)(OTCQX:GPHOF) ("Graphite One" or the "Company") announces that W. Alan Ahlgren, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, is retiring after 7 years with the Company. Gordon Jang has been appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer by the Board of Directors while the Company seeks a permanent replacement. Mr. Ahlgren will continue on with the Company in a consulting role to assist with the transition. "Alan has made an immense contribution to the Company. We thank him for his years of dedication, guidance and friendship and wish him well in his retirement. The Company is fortunate to retain Gordon Jang to step in on an interim basis. He brings significant experience and expertise. We also appreciate that Alan has agreed to assist with the transition for an extended period." Gordon Jang, CPA, CMA has over 25 years of experience in senior management roles with mid-to-large mining companies. He brings a wealth of expertise in capital markets, M&A, SOX compliance, external financial reporting, corporate restructuring, cost analysis and process improvements. Mr. Jang was previously the Vice-President of Finance and Accounting at Fortuna Silver Mines, and prior to that, has held senior positions at Augusta Resources, Lundin Mining and Pan American Silver. About Graphite One Inc. GRAPHITE ONE INC. (GPH:TSX-V; GPHOF:OTCQB) continues to develop its Graphite One Project (the "Project"), whereby the Company could potentially become an American producer of high grade anode materials that is integrated with a domestic graphite resource. The Project is proposed as a vertically integrated enterprise to mine, process and manufacture high grade anode materials primarily for the lithium-ion electric vehicle battery market. As set forth in the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment, potential graphite mineralization mined from the Company's Graphite Creek Property, is expected to be processed into concentrate at a graphite processing plant. The proposed processing plant would be located on the Graphite Creek Property situated on the Seward Peninsula about 60 kilometers north of Nome, Alaska. Graphite anodes and other value-added graphite products would be manufactured from the concentrate and other materials at the Company's proposed advanced graphite materials manufacturing facility, the location of which is the subject of further study and analysis. The Company intends to make a production decision on the Project once a feasibility study is completed. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Anthony Huston" (signed) For more information on Graphite One Inc., please visit the Company's website, www.GraphiteOneInc.com or contact: Anthony Huston CEO, President & Director Tel: (604) 889-4251 Email: AHuston@GraphiteOneInc.com Investor Relations Contact Tel: (604) 684-6730 GPH@kincommunications.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. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, including those related to the timing and completion of the anticipated Pre-Feasibility Study, future production, establishment of a processing plant and a graphite manufacturing plant, and events or developments that the Company intends, expects, plans, or proposes are forward-looking statements Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "proposes", "expects", or "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "intends", "assumes", "believes", "indicates" or variations of such words and phrases that state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The Company cautions that there is no certainty that tests of the Company's material will be successful or that such tests will result in the development of successful products. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: Graphite One Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690786/Graphite-One-CFO-Retires-Interim-CFO-Appointed Highlands Ranch, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - Foremost Lithium Resource & Technology Ltd. (CSE: FAT) (OTCQB: FRRSF) (FSE: F0R0) (WKN: A3DCC8) ("Foremost" or the "Company") (www.foremostlithium.com), is pleased to report initial data from the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, ("UAV") magnetic survey over the Jean Lake property first announced on December 9th, 2021. Jean Lake is the 100% owned 1,002-hectare (2,476-acre) property which connects with Snow Lake Lithium's Thompson Brothers lithium project within the Snow Lake pegmatite field (Snow Lake, Manitoba, Canada). Images from EarthEx Geophysical Solutions Inc. ("EarthEx") magnetic data identified several highly prospective targets which correlate with the previously identified Beryl pegmatite dykes (B and B-2) which assayed between 3.89% - 5.17% Li2O. The locations of the B and B-2 Beryl pegmatite dykes are annotated with the magnetic data in Figure 1. The black lines are the preliminary interpretation of the magnetic low lineaments from a Centre for Exploration Targeting ("CET") analysis and overly the magnetic "low" picks layer. The coincidence of the trends of magnetic lows with the Beryl pegmatites and their extension along a trend recognized for its association with high-grade lithium pegmatites is highly encouraging. Figure 1 - Magnetic image covering the Jean Lake project. The blue square is 500m by 500m to provide a sense of scale. The gap in the image is due to the location of Hydroelectric power lines crossing the property. Location B (orange circle) assayed 3.89% Li2O; and Location B2 (red circle) assayed 5.17% Li2O. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4689/115225_foremostenhanced1.jpg Figure 2 builds upon Figure 1 now showing Snow Lake Lithium's Sherritt Gordon (SG) claims with an overlay of their disclosed magnetic survey results from February 15th, 2020. The data are of the same resolution and were both acquired and processed by EarthEx. There is a noticeable correlation between magnetic lows observed on both properties. There is a prospective "Lithium Lane" which connects the known pegmatite dykes and interpreted lineaments on both properties. Figure 2 - Foremost Lithium's Jean Lake magnetic survey results with overlays of Snow Lake Lithium and 1911 Gold's land positions. Also included are the preliminary results from Snow Lake's magnetic survey over their SG claims. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4689/115225_foremostenhanced2.jpg Lindsay Bottomer, Co-founder and Geoscience Advisor of Foremost states: "The Jean Lake results are tremendous with regards to the trends of magnetic lows. They correspond with the locations of the B and B-2 Beryl pegmatites on Jean Lake and are on trend with the Sherritt Gordon and Grass River pegmatites on Snow Lake Lithium's ground. One can now see several high-quality drill targets. There are two domains identified by the Jean Lake survey. The magnetic lows in the northern sector of the property that correspond to pegmatites and potential pegmatites and the southern/southwest sector which documents the magnetic highs that correspond to our gold assays and to the magnetic anomalies being drilled by 1911 Gold Corp on their ground to the west of Foremost." Scott Taylor, President and CEO of Foremost Lithium states: "It is encouraging to see a regional thesis of a prospective Snow Lake "Lithium Lane" emerging from the data. We will continue to advance this prospective Lithium Lane thesis in similar fashion as Frontier Lithium's Electric Avenue, a premium lithium mineral district located in Northern Ontario. Further, we look forward to building a de-risked pipeline of high value drill targets at Jean Lake so we can drill in the Winter of 2022 and deliver more resource and enterprise value for our shareholders." Technical information contained in the press release has been approved by the Company's Co-Founder and Geoscience Advisor, Lindsay Bottomer, P.Geo, who is a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About EarthEx Geophysical Solutions Inc. EarthEx Geophysical Solutions Inc is a Manitoba company, founded in 2014 in Selkirk, Manitoba. The President and Chief Geophysicist, Daniel Card, P.Geo, RPGeo, holds a BSc. Hons degree from the University of Manitoba (2007). EarthEx is highly specialized in geophysical prospecting for hard-rock minerals, and works with cutting edge technologies and data analysis methodology. Since its inception in 2014, EarthEx has quickly become a household name in the Canadian mineral exploration industry, with rapid and continued growth expected in the coming years. About Foremost Lithium Resource & Technology Ltd. Foremost Lithium is an energy technology company focused and committed to become one of the first North American Companies to produce high quality battery-grade lithium hydroxide. Lithium hydroxide is a strategic battery mineral mainly consumed in the production of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Lithium based batteries power the daily use of consumer electronics, enable electrification of the transportation sector, and provide stationary grid storage, critical to developing a clean-energy economy. The Company is prudently and systematically exploring and building tonnage on its four lithium properties, Jean Lake, Grass River, and Zoro located in Snow Lake, Manitoba, and Hidden Lake in the Northwest Territories. Foremost Lithium also holds assets in precious commodities with its Winston Gold/Silver Project in New Mexico, USA. For further information please contact: Scott Taylor President and CEO Foremost Lithium Resource &Technology Ltd. Email: scott.taylor@foremostlithium.com Phone: +1 (604) 330-8067 Twitter: @lithiumlane Follow us and contact us on social media: Twitter: @foremostlithium Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/company/foremost-lithium-resource-technology/mycompany Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForemostLithium Forward Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Foremost within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Foremost provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to market conditions, exploration findings, results, and recommendations, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in Foremost's public filings under Foremost's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Foremost has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Foremost disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as lithium as result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115225 SEOUL, March 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged Japan Tuesday to squarely face the colonial history, saying the door remained open to dialogue between the two countries. "(South) Korea and Japan, close neighbors, must be able to overcome the history of the once unfortunate past and cooperate for the future," Moon said in a speech marking the 103rd anniversary of Korea's 1919 nationwide uprising against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. Diplomatic ties between Seoul and Tokyo have soured since 2019, when Japan imposed export restrictions on South Korea in apparent retaliation against the South Korean court rulings that ordered some Japanese firms to give compensation to South Korean victims who were forced by the Imperial Japan into hard labor. Japan has refused to acknowledge the forced sexual slavery of Korean women during the colonization of the Korean Peninsula, repeating its territorial claims to South Korea's easternmost Dokdo islets, called Takeshima in Japan. "Japan will become a trustworthy country only when it is able to empathize with the wounds of the people of neighboring countries, which are sometimes exacerbated by a once unfortunate past," Moon said. "My administration will always keep the door open for dialogue to join forces not only for regional peace and prosperity but also in responding to global challenges that range from the COVID-19 and the climate crisis to the supply chain crisis and the new economic order," Moon added. EP Global Opportunities Trust plc (the "Company") Total Voting Rights Following the completion of the tender offer, and in conformity with Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 5.6.1, the issued share capital and voting rights of the Company as at 28 February 2022 were as follows: Class of share Total number of shares in circulation Number of voting rights attached to each share Total number of voting rights of shares in circulation Number of shares held in treasury (carrying no voting rights attached until issued) Total number of shares in issue Ordinary 1p Shares 29,222,180 1 29,222,180 35,287,462 64,509,642 The above total voting rights figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine whether they are required to notify their interest in EP Global Opportunities Trust plc under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. 1 March 2022 LEI: 2138005T5CT5ITZ7ZX58 Enquiries: Kenneth Greig Franklin Templeton Investment Trust Management Limited Tel: 0131 270 3800 The Company's registered office address is: 27-31 Melville Street Edinburgh EH3 7JF WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - (Adds Outlook) International Game Technology PLC (IGT) on Tuesday said it expects first-quarter revenue to be in the range of $1 billion- $1.1 billion. The consensus estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters stands at $1.04 billion. Further, the company reaffirmed its full-year revenue outlook of $4.1 billion-$4.3 billion. Analysts' expectation stands at $4.21 billion. Below are the fourth-quarter earnings highlights for International Game Technology Earnings: $19 million in Q4 vs. -$242 million in the same period last year. EPS: $0.09 in Q4 vs. -$1.18 in the same period last year. Revenue: $1.05 billion in Q4 vs. $0.89 billion in the same period last year. -Guidance : Next quarter revenue guidance: $1.0 - $1.1 Bln 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. Company reaffirms its commitment to transparent reporting standards, annual verification, and other quality measures to reach more investors. DOVER, DE / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Hero Technologies (OTC PINK:HENC; Twitter: @heroicmindtech), an early-stage cannabis company focused on a vertically integrated business model, today announced that it has applied to the OTC Markets Group to list its common stock on the OTCQB marketplace. OTCQB is the mid-tier OTC equity market for U.S. stocks, less speculative than Pink Sheets, designed primarily for early-stage developing companies. To qualify for the OTCQB, companies must meet reporting standards, undergo annual verification and certification, meet a $0.01 bid test, and have a public float in excess of 10% of the total shares outstanding, with at least 50 beneficial shareholders, each owning at least 100 shares. The OTCQB marketplace is run through OTC Link, an inter-dealer quotation and trading system registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a broker-dealer and as an alternative trading system. Accordingly, OTCQB-listed companies must report to a U.S. regulator, such as the SEC, and follow standards for transparency. "As we continue reporting on the progress of our company and engage in marketing and stock awareness campaigns, it is essential that our shareholders and other investors understand that we are committed to sharing information transparently," said Hero Technologies' CEO, Gina Serkasevich. "We fully embrace our obligation as a public company to provide accurate, timely disclosures of any information that could affect the trading market for our common stock." The company expects to engage several entities, individuals, and influencers to post on social media sites such as Twitter, Stocktwits, GETTR, and Facebook and to post videos on YouTube, as well as post information regarding the company on stock forums such as Investor's Hub, also known as iHub, and in chat rooms or chat platforms such as Discord and Telegram. The company also expects to hire newsletters and media groups that will disseminate emails or text messages. "For example," continued Serkasevich, "we will keep investors closely aware of further developments in the Michigan cannabis market, where our subsidiary, BlackBox Systems and Technologies LLC, has received pre-qualification approval for a license to produce both recreational and medicinal cannabis. Michigan is one of the fastest-growing cannabis markets in the U.S., with monthly sales approaching $150 million, so it represents a significant opportunity for potential growth for our company." OTCQB rules about public availability of current information reflect the OTC Markets Group's core principal of transparent disclosure. An OTCQB-listed company is expected to release quickly and publicly any information likely to materially affect the market for its securities. Company management also has the responsibility to dispel misinformation that results in unusual market activity. In addition, an OTCQB company must ensure that any marketing or promotion of its stock reflects accurate information, without misleading or speculative "hype," and that it clearly discloses its relationships with marketers and promoters. "Hero Technologies will abide strictly by the accuracy and transparency rules required of all OTCQB companies as we conduct any stock awareness campaigns through investor relations firms and on various communication channels, such as InvestorsHub, Discord, Telegram, Twitter, and email," said Serkasevich. About Hero Technologies Hero Technologies Inc. is a cannabis company working toward a vertically-integrated business model. The company owns a majority stake in BlackBox Systems and Technologies LLC, an aeroponic cannabis cultivation system that provides optimal growing conditions to enhance photosynthesis and cultivation of large flowering plants, creating increased harvest efficiencies. The company's strategic business plan includes cannabis genetic engineering, farmland for both medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production licenses, distribution licenses, consumer packaging, and retail and dispensary operations that make the company a multi-state operator (MSO). Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may include: management plans relating to the proposed project; the expected timing of the completion of the proposed project; the ability to complete the proposed project; any statements of the plans and objectives of management for future operations, products or services, including the execution of plans proposed project; any statements of expectation or belief; projections related to certain financial metrics; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "outlook," "plan," "project," "seek," "should," "target," "will," "would" and other similar words and expressions or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time and are beyond our control. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Neither Hero Technologies Inc. nor its holding company or subsidiaries assumes any duty and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements. Because forward-looking statements, by their nature, are uncertain or assumptive to varying degrees, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those that Hero Technologies Inc., its holding company or subsidiaries anticipated in the forward-looking statements, and future results could differ materially from historical performance. Hero Technologies Contact: Ms. Gina Serkasevich, CEO (302) 538-4165 | info@herotechnologiesinc.com SOURCE: Hero Technologies Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690791/Hero-Technologies-Applies-for-OTCQB-Market-Status-for-Its-Common-Stock-Expects-to-Engage-New-Groups-for-Investor-Relations-and-Company-Awareness 19.9 Metres 0.7% Ni, 0.61% Cu, 0.04% Co, 0.81gPd, 0.39g Pt TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Power Nickel Inc. (the "Company" or "Power Nickel") (TSX-V:PNPN) (OTCQB:CMETF) (FSE:IVVI) and Critical Elements Lithium Corporation ("Critical Elements") (TSX-V:CRE) (OTCQX:CRECF) (FSE:F12) are pleased to announce initial results have been received from its recent drill program at its "NISK" Nickel Sulphate project near James Bay. These initial drill results confirm the presence of high-grade Nickel Mineralization in the north-eastern portion of the Nisk Main mineralized lens. Compared to the historical results, the results obtained also suggest that, within this portion of the Nisk Main lens, higher grade mineralization extends by an additional 150 m at depth and to the northeast. Hole ID UTM E UTM N Length (m) Azimuth () Dip () From (m) To (m) Length (m) Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) Pd (g/t) Pt (g/t) PN-21-001 459784 5728538 303 264 170 Pending PN-21-002 459626 5728600 308 396 160 Pending PN-21-003A 459691 5728576 309 333 161 Pending PN-21-004 459913 5728703 305 360 163 Pending PN-21-005 459998 5728721 306 325.5 164 272.8 292.7 19.9 0.7 0.61 0.04 0.81 0.39 PN-21-006 460100 5728782 308 399 160 374.3 384 9.7 0.77 0.38 0.04 0.79 0.06 PN-21-007 460216 5728802 315 318 161 294.2 312 17.8 0.36 0.1 0.02 0.38 0.08 Including 296.9 302.3 5.4 0.57 0.17 0.03 0.8 0.06 This is the first of two press releases presenting the results of the 2021 drilling campaign. The illustration below details the current location of drill holes covered in this release and also the remaining drill holes which are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. "We are very excited to begin to deliver our initial drill results at Nisk. The results showcase Nisk's potential to have a commercial high-grade Nickel Sulphate deposit. Our objectives in this initial drill program conducted by Power Nickel were to conduct enough drilling to allow us to establish a new NI 43-101 compliant resource to confirm and replace the historical resource, and to extend the known Nickel mineralization. We believe we have established the latter and expect to be able to deliver a NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource Estimate in Q2", commented Power Nickel's CEO Terry Lynch. The existing resource estimates at the Nisk project are of historic nature and the Company's geology team has not completed sufficient work to confirm a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource. Therefore, caution is appropriate since these historic estimates cannot, and should not be relied on. For merely informational purposes see Table 1. Table -1: Historical Resource Estimate figures for respective confidence categories at the NISK-1 deposit, After RSW Inc 2009: Resource Estimate for the NISK-1 Deposit, Lac Levac Property, Nemiscau, Quebec. The information regarding the NISK-1 deposit was derived from the technical report titled "Resource Estimate for the NISK-1 Deposit, Lac Levac Property, Nemiscau, Quebec" dated December 2009. The key assumptions, parameters and methods used to prepare the mineral resource estimates described above are set out in the technical report. The 3D geological model developed by 3DGeo Solution Inc. ("3DGS") identified a prospective set of targets that the Company feels will give the best potential to expand the Nisk historical deposit. The Image below is a view of the mineralization projected from the surface at the area we refer to as Nisk Main. "Nisk has four distinct target areas covering over 7 Kilometres of strike length. Our focus this round was on the Nisk Main target. Historically we know globally these types of deposits typically have multiple pods. We are encouraged by what we see on Nisk Main and feel we can continue to build commercial tonnage there but we are also looking forward to exploring Nisk West and the two wildcat targets in subsequent drilling in Q2", commented Power Nickel's CEO Terry Lynch. ABOUT NISK Nisk is located south of James Bay as illustrated in the area map below. This region is the site of a number of mining projects and improving infrastructure. Nisk has historically had some very high-grade Nickel intercepts as shown below. The Grade-Thickness iso-contours are representative of the nickel distribution only. Analysis and QAQC Procedures All samples were submitted to and analyzed at ALS Global (ALS), an independent commercial laboratory located in Val D'Or, Quebec for both the sample preparation and assaying. ALS is a commercial laboratory independent of Power Nickel with no interest in the Project. ALS is an ISO 9001 and 17025 certified and accredited laboratory. Samples submitted through ALS are run through standard preparation methods and analyzed using ME-ICP61a (33 element Suite; 0.4g sample; Intermediate Level Four Acid Digestion) and PGM-ICP27 (Pt, Pd, and Au; 30g fire assay and ICP-AES Finish) methods. ALS also undertake their own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. Power Nickel's QA/QC program includes the regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results. Historic holes were assayed by various accredited laboratories. About Power Nickel Inc. Power Nickel is a Canadian junior exploration company focusing on high-potential copper, gold and battery metal prospects in Canada and Chile. On February 1, 2021, Power Nickel (then called Chilean Metals) completed the acquisition of its option to acquire up to 80% of the Nisk project from Critical Elements Lithium Corp. (TSX-V:CRE) The NISK property comprises a large land position (20 kilometers of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts. Power Nickel, formerly Chilean Metals is focused on confirming and expanding its current high-grade nickel-copper PGE mineralization historical resource by preparing a new Mineral Resource Estimate in accordance with NI 43-101, identifying additional high-grade mineralization, and developing a process to potentially produce nickel sulphates responsibly for batteries to be used in the electric vehicles industry. Power Nickel (then called Chilean Metals) announced on June 8th, 2021 that an agreement has been made to complete the 100% acquisition of its Golden Ivan project in the heart of the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle has reported mineral resources (past production and current resources) in a total of 67 million ounces of gold, 569 million ounces of silver, and 27 billion pounds of copper. This property hosts two known mineral showings (gold ore and magee), and a portion of the past-producing Silverado mine, which was reportedly exploited between 1921 and 1939. These mineral showings are described to be Polymetallic veins that contain quantities of silver, lead, zinc, plus/minus gold, and plus/minus copper. Power Nickel is the 100-per-cent owner of five properties comprising over 50,000 acres strategically located in the prolific iron-oxide-copper-gold belt of northern Chile. It also owns a 3-per-cent NSR royalty interest on any future production from the Copaquire copper-molybdenum deposit, recently sold to a subsidiary of Teck resources Inc. Under the terms of the sale agreement, Teck has the right to acquire one-third of the 3-per-cent NSR for $3-million at any time. The Copaquire property borders Teck's producing Quebrada Blanca copper mine in Chile's first region. About Critical Elements Lithium Corporation Critical Elements aspires to become a large, responsible supplier of lithium to the flourishing electric vehicle and energy storage system industries. To this end, Critical Elements is advancing the wholly owned, high purity Rose lithium project in Quebec. Rose is the Corporation's first lithium project to be advanced within a land portfolio of over 700 square kilometers. In 2017, the Corporation completed a feasibility study on Rose for the production of spodumene concentrate. The internal rate of return for the Project is estimated at 34.9% after tax, with a net present value estimated at C$726 million at an 8% discount rate. In the Corporation's view, Quebec is strategically well-positioned for US and EU markets and boasts good infrastructure including a low-cost, low-carbon power grid featuring 93% hydroelectricity. The project has received approval from the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the recommendation of the Joint Assessment Committee, comprised of representatives from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Cree Nation Government; The Corporation is working to obtain similar approval under the Quebec environmental assessment process. The Corporation also has a good, formalized relationship with the Cree Nation. For further information on Power Nickel Inc., please contact: Mr. Terry Lynch, CEO 647-448-8044 For further information, readers are encouraged to contact: Power Nickel Inc. The Canadian Venture Building 82 Richmond St East, Suite 202 Toronto, ON For further information on Critical Elements, please contact: Patrick Laperriere Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Development 514-817-1119 plaperriere@cecorp.ca www.cecorp.ca or Jean-Sebastien Lavallee, P. Geo. Chief Executive Officer 819-354-5146 jslavallee@cecorp.ca www.cecorp.ca ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Terry Lynch & CEO terry@powernickel.com Qualified Person Kenneth Williamson, Geo (OGQ #1490), M.Sc., Senior Consulting Geologist, and Matthew DeGasperis, Geo (OGQ #2261), B.Sc., Consulting Geologist, from 3DGeo Solution Inc. are the independent qualified persons pursuant to the requirements of NI 43-101, and have reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement This news release may contain certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that PNPN expects to occur, including details related to the proposed spin-out transactions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "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 document include statements regarding current and future exploration programs, activities, and results. Although PNPN believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration success, continued availability of capital and financing, inability to obtain required regulatory or governmental approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Power Nickel Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690835/Power-Nickel-Extends-Mineralization-at-Nisk-and-Continues-Preparation-for-an-Updated-NI-43-101-Mineral-Resource-Estimate LONDON, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Brandessence Market Research, The On-Board Charger Market size reached USD 1800.83 Million in 2020. The Cryptocurrency Mining Market is growing at robust CAGR of 15.8%, and reach size of USD 6001.91 Million by end of Forecast 2027. The on-board charger market growth has been aided by the fact that there is a growing movement to adopt electric technologies which is a major boost to the fight against climate change. The on-board chargers which are being deployed in order to ease the pressure on petrol vehicles and make sure that charging infrastructure is being made available to people so they are comfortable in changing over to the electric vehicles. Many electric vehicles such as Nissan Leaf have also committed to using this on-board charger in their vehicles. Further, there are other on-board charger forecast report which suggest that there is going to be a fast increase in the adoption as companies such as Shell have also been working on the use of the charger. Get Sample of Report@ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestSample/PostId/1412 Scope of The On-Board Charger Market Report: On-board charger market is a market that is expected to register a significant amount of growth in the coming years. The biggest reason for this growth has to be the fact that electric vehicle demand is increasing and the public charging station cost of chargers is extremely high. The chargers which are there near workplaces, malls, and highways are going to be subjected to the commercial electric rates which are a lot higher than the rates for residential electricity. This has therefore led to a situation where people are looking for a solution through which they can charge their electric vehicles through on-board chargers and that is leading the growth juggernaut of the global on-board charger market. The on-board charger is a device which is used in the electric vehicle to charge its traction battery. This is done by the conversion of AC input that is received from grid to the DC input which is required for charging batteries. The increasing number of charging stations, both private and public, is among the biggest factors which is driving the global market growth. The AC level 1 product has the ability to be plugged in any of the ordinary outlets of power. Key Players for On-Board Charger: The following companies have been doing their best to get a sizable market share in the on-board charger market: Panasonic Lear Corporation Anoma Exide Technologies Flextronics International HindlePower Jackson Electronics Lester Electrical Minwa Electronics Accutronics Minn Kota Delphi NOCO Mando Market Trends of on-board charger market This is a charger which has been seeing a greater demand in the users as this does not require any further electric work; this can minimize the cost of installation as a whole. Further, the approvals which have been received for AC level 2 stations is another major reason why the market growth is being accentuated. The use of silicon carbide technology in semiconductors has increased in magnitude and this provides a higher power density. The efficiency rate is going to be close to perfect. A lot of companies are therefore now increasing their focus on the provision of efficient chargers and also providing a high level of power. The effect of that has been extremely positive on the opportunities which the market is seeing in terms of growth. The on-board charger market trends also are seeing a 22kW charger as a new trend that is being built. This as a charger has been developed with many companies who are sharing their technologies which has been another positive trend for the global market. Get Methodology @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestMethodology/PostId/1412 In terms of segmentation, the segmentation is done on the basis of power output. In this segment, the fastest growing sub-segment is going to be the segment of less than 11 kW. Most of the electric vehicles are expected to have specifications of 6 to 11 kW on-board chargers in the recent future. Studies suggest that almost all the cars are going to be in the same category. This is a change from the 3kW to 5kW range and will be implemented rather soon. The coming days are going to show us the benefits of the less than 11kW charger types. On the basis of vehicle type, the segmentation is going to be dominated by passenger car. With many major vehicle manufacturers now opting for electric vehicle technology, the adoption of electric vehicles is also increasing among the people. People are also trying to reduce their carbon footprint on the world and reduce the consumption of fuel. Global On-Board Charger Market Segmentation: By Product Type: Lower than 3 kilowatts 3 - 3.7 kilowatts Higher than 3.7 kilowatts By Application: Electric Vehicles Boats Electric vehicles are therefore a better alternative which people are resorting to and many other companies are now making the move from conventional cars to electric vehicles. They have been further aided by the electric vehicle policies of governments which are in favor of betterment of the environment. Among the key on-board charger developments, the adoption of electric vehicles in the public vehicles has been helping in the development. Segmenting the global on-board charger market in terms of propulsion type, we see that the BEV segment has been the prominent one in the market which has been accounting for a larger portion of revenue. The battery electric vehicle takes place where the propulsion is provided by a plug-in battery. The region which has dominated the global market has been the Asia Pacific region which has been accounting for over a third of the share. This has been aided primarily because of the government efforts which have been taking place. The regions such as China and India have been making sure that laws are passed in favor of the electric vehicle policies, that is, the process of compliance with the environmental laws. The chargers which are on-board in models such as Tesla in China are really driving the global market. Get Purchase of this Report: https://brandessenceresearch.com/Checkout?report_id=1412 Reginal Analysis: North America is expected to dominate the global on-board charger market with the highest market share in terms of profits in the overall market owing to the increasing adoption of onboard chargers in this region. The U.S. has been adopting onboard chargers with a power output between 3 to 3.7 kilowatts (kW). Now, the EV manufacturers are moving towards onboard chargers with a power output greater than 6.6 kW to reduce charging time. Among the countries which are growing, the European countries are expected to drive their growth as the European Union and a lot of governments have been making their efforts for the expansion of the offerings of electric vehicles which has been the biggest driver of on-board charger market. As per the recent expectations, companies like BMW have been planning to electrify most of the offerings it has by the end of this decade. That will surely be a big market driver. On Special Requirement On-Board Charger Market Report is also available for below region: North America U.S, Canada Europe Germany, France,U.K., Italy, Spain, Sweden, Netherland, Turkey, Switzerland, Belgium, Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific South_Korea, Japan, China, India, Australia, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Rest Of APAC Latin America Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia , UAE, Egypt, South Africa, Rest Of MEA Get Full Access of all Report: https://brandessenceresearch.com/technology-and-media/d-scanner-markethttps://brandessenceresearch.com/automotive-and-transport/on-board-charger-market-share Related Reports At Bellow: EV Charger Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Vehicle Type (Charger Electric Vehicle (BEV), Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)), By End User (Residential, Commercial), By Charging Type (On-Board Chargers, Off-Board Chargers) Based On Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2028 Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Market to hit $135.90 Billion by 2028 by 2028 Radiopharmaceuticals Market to hit USD 8832.7 Mn to 2028 to 2028 Energy Management System Market to Reach USD 223.26 Billion to 2028 to 2028 3D Scanner Market Size is Expected to Reach USD 1618.5 Million by 2028 by 2028 Data Monetization Market to hit USD 1703.61 Billion to 2028 i-Factor: Live Market intelligence platform I-Factor is our guaranteed seal to keep our clients ahead of the competition, always. This knowledge platform delivers real-time updates on key economic indicators, competitive landscape, changing demand, trends, customized regional insights, and more. The platform visualizes key data points to help make decision making agile, trustworthy, and holistic. Register for free trail here @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/i-factor/login/userRegister Brandessence Market Research & Consulting Pvt ltd. Brandessence market research publishes market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students. We have a delivery center in Pune, India and our sales office is in London. Website: https://brandessenceresearch.com Blog: Renewable Energy Top Companieshttps://brandessenceresearch.com/blog/top-5-automotive-aftermarket-companies-in-global-market-2021 Follow Us: Linkedin Mr. Vishal Sawant Email: vishal@brandessenceresearch.com Email: Sales@brandessenceresearch.com Corporate Sales: +44-2038074155 Asia Office: +917447409162 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1392316/BEMR_Logo.jpg NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Pfizer Inc. (PFE) said Tuesday that the CLOVER trial, a pivotal Phase 3 study evaluating its Clostridioides difficile vaccine candidate (PF-06425090) in the prevention of C. difficile infection, did not meet its pre-specified primary endpoint of prevention of primary C. difficile infection. According to the company, Initial analyses of two protocol defined secondary endpoints indicated a highly favorable benefit in reducing C. difficile infection severity and 100% vaccine efficacy in preventing medically attended C. difficile infection. Safety reviews indicated that the investigational vaccine was safe and well tolerated. Pfizer noted that it will further evaluate data from the trial and determine next steps for its C. difficile vaccine program. The company plans to submit for presentation of the Phase 3 CLOVER trial results, including all secondary endpoints, at a future medical congress and for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. CLOVER enrolled approximately 17,500 adults, 50 years and older. The study was expected to accrue 66 cases of CDI within two years of the primary vaccination series. Due to significant operational challenges created in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, the final analysis was performed at 42 cases within four years after agreement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to amend the protocol. 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. MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Russia attacked Ukraine's second biggest city of Kharkiv near the Russian border Tuesday. A missile sent by its forces hit the regional government's headquarters in Freedom Square, causing a huge explosion. There are conflicting reports about civilian casualties. Ukraine's President Zelensky condemned the bombing of Kharkiv as a war crime and said civilians were being deliberately targeted. 'We call on all countries of the world to respond immediately and effectively to this criminal tactic of the aggressor and to declare that Russia is committing state terrorism. We demand full responsibility for terrorists in international courts,' he said in a Facebook message Tuesday. Russia is continuing its relentless attack on major Ukrainian cities despite the UN General Assembly's call for an immediate ceasefire and full return to diplomacy and dialogue. Satellite images show a massive convoy of Russian military vehicles is closing in on Kyiv, media outlets reported. The Pentagon says the move is to capture Kyiv. How the Russians plan to capture Kyiv once the convoy reaches its destination is unknown right now, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said during a media briefing. 'Whether it's encirclement, or bombardment, or street-to-street fighting, I mean, I just don't think we have that level of dexterity now to give you that kind of detail in terms of Russian planning,' he told reporters. Addressing a rare emergency session of the General Assembly, Russia's permanent representative Vasily Nebenzya said Russia doesn't intend to occupy Kiev. 'The purpose of this special operation is to protect people who have been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years. For this, it is necessary to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine,' he told the 163-nation body in New York Monday. On the same day, nearly 5 hours-long talks between Ukraine and Russia at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border returned no palpable results but the two sides agreed to hold another round of talks 'in the near future.' More than half a million refugees have fled Ukraine during Russia's invasion, the UN said Monday. In a video message posted to Facebook, Ukrainian defense spokesperson claimed that more than 5,700 Russian troops have been killed and more than 200 others were taken into custody. The official also claimed that 198 Russian tanks, 29 planes, 846 armored vehicles and 29 helicopters were destroyed in stiff resistance offered by Ukrainian forces in the six-days-old war. The Moscow Stock Exchange will remain closed on Tuesday after the value of the ruble plunged. Western sanctions have crippled the Russian economy, and long queues have formed at banks as people desperately try to access their money. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - (Adds Outlook) Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) on Tuesday said it expects adjusted EPS in the range of $2.10 to $2.30 for 2022, that is below the Street view. Further, the company sees net sales to grow 3.5% to 4.5% for the year. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $2.67 per share. The consensus estimate for revenue growth stands at 8.5%. Below are the fourth-quarter earnings highlights of the company: Earnings: $32.1 million in Q4 vs. -$52.2 million in the same period last year. EPS: $0.24 in Q4 vs. -$0.39 in the same period last year. Excluding items, Perrigo Company plc reported adjusted earnings of $82.0 million or $0.60 per share for the period. Revenue: $1.10 billion in Q4 vs. $1.05 billion in the same period last year. 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. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Sassy Resources Corporation ("Sassy" or the "Company") (CSE:SASY)(FSE:4E7)(OTCQB:SSYRF) is pleased to announce that diamond drilling has commenced at the Highrock Uranium Project in the Key Lake region of Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. Sassy signed a staged option agreement with Forum Energy Metals ("Forum") in January 2022 under which Sassy may acquire up to a 100% interest in Highrock (refer to Sassy news releases February 10, January 24 and January 6, 2022). Sassy is funding the 2022 diamond drill program while Forum is acting as project operator. The Highrock Uranium Project is located just south and on trend of Cameco's Key Lake mine and mill site where over 200 million pounds of uranium was produced at an average grade of 2.3% U3O8 during Key Lake's mine life. The 2022 exploration is focused on the discovery of basement hosted mineralization similar to NexGen's Arrow deposit and Cameco's Eagle Point mine. Gravity surveys previously conducted by Forum at Highrock identified numerous gravity lows along a 10-kilometre-long graphitic conductor. These may be zones of alteration associated with uranium mineral deposits. Eight widely spaced drill holes by Forum in 2016 tested only six kilometres of the conductor while four kilometres at the southern end of the property remain untested as well as the strongest gravity low at the north end of the project. Zones of chloritization, bleaching, elevated boron and other pathfinder elements in the north and central areas of the conductor were detected by this initial drill campaign. Mr. Mark Scott, Sassy Resources CEO, commented: "We're very excited to give Sassy shareholders exposure to the uranium sector and a project in the follow-up drilling stage that offers strong discovery potential. Highrock also provides a seasonal complement to Sassy's Foremore Gold-Silver Project in Northwest B.C.'s prolific Eskay Camp. Mr. Mark Scott continued, "The release of 2021 diamond drilling results from the Company's Westmore Discovery Zone at Foremore is imminent. Meanwhile, the public listing of spinout Gander Gold Corporation, with its eight highly prospective exploration projects in the Central Newfoundland Gold Belt, is expected in March while MAX Power Mining Corporation, to which Sassy optioned its Nicobat claims in Northwestern Ontario, started trading on the CSE February 16. The Sassy shareholder value proposition is stronger than ever and we are very pleased with the manner in which we have positioned the Company for exploration success, year-round news flow, financial strength and market capitalization growth." 2022 Highrock Drill Program Initial drilling will focus on the North target immediately south of Cameco's Key Lake mine claim boundary. Only one drill hole in 2016 (DDH HR-08) tested the south end of a very strong gravity low where the main conductor trends to the northeast. Weak alteration along a strong conductor was encountered in this hole, plus elevated uranium (8 ppm), vanadium (442 ppm), copper (421ppm), nickel (125 ppm), lead (46 ppm) and boron (116 ppm). Over one kilometre of this conductive trend and gravity anomaly to the northeast will be drilled (Figure 2). Targets have also been identified in the central and south areas of the property from DDH HR-06 to HR-07 and continuing four kilometres further to the southwest border of the property. Drill target selection will be refined as the program progresses until spring breakup or until the $1 million budget is spent under terms of the Sassy option agreement. Figure 1: Highrock Project Location Map. The Highrock Project is located just south of the Key Lake uranium deposit along the graphitic conductive trend that hosts Key Lake. Figure 2: Gravity Survey, Historic Drill Hole Locations and Conductor on the Highrock Project. Gravity lows are shown in blue, the EM conductor is in red. The first target area is the combination of the conductor and strong gravity low (north of HR-08) at the north end of the property, bordering Cameco's Key Lake mine project. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Ian Fraser, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for Sassy Resources. Mr. Fraser is the Qualified Person responsible for the scientific and technical information contained herein under National Instrument 43-101 standards. Subscribe for Updates Visit SassyResources.com and sign up for news alerts to stay informed as exploration continues year-round. About Sassy Resources Corporation Sassy Resources is an exploration stage resource company currently engaged in the identification, acquisition and exploration of high-grade precious metal, base metal and uranium projects in North America. Its focus is the Foremore Project located in the Eskay Camp, Liard Mining Division, in the heart of Northwest B.C.'s prolific Golden Triangle, the Central Newfoundland Gold Belt where Sassy is one of the district's largest landowners, and the recently acquired Highrock Uranium Project in the Key Lake region of Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements Investors are cautioned that, except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained in this document includes "forward looking information", with respect to a performance expectation for Sassy Resources Corporation. Such forward looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections formulated using assumptions believed to be reasonable and involving a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such factors include, without limitation, fluctuations in foreign exchange markets, the price of commodities in both the cash market and futures market, changes in legislation, taxation, controls and regulation of national and local governments and political and economic developments in Canada and other countries where Sassy carries out or may carry out business in the future, the availability of future business opportunities and the ability to successfully integrate acquisitions or operational difficulties related to technical activities of mining and reclamation, the speculative nature of exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks obtaining necessary licenses and permits, reducing the quantity or grade of reserves, adverse changes in credit ratings, and the challenge of title. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update publicly or revise forward looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Some of the results reported are historical and may not have been verified by the Company. Contact Info: Mark Scott Chief Executive Officer & Director info@sassyresources.ca Terry Bramhall Sassy Resources - Corporate Communications/IR 1.604.833.6999 (mobile) 1.604.675.9985 (office) terry.bramhall@sassyresources.ca In Europe: Michael Adams Managing Director - Star Finance GmbH info@star-finance.eu The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Sassy Resources Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690782/Sassy-Commences-Diamond-Drilling-at-Highrock-Uranium-Project-in-Saskatchewan Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC) (OTCQB: FDCFF) ("Forum" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced drilling at the Highrock Uranium Project (Figure 1). Forum is the Operator of the drill program under option to and funded by Sassy Resources Corporation (see News Release dated January 6, 2022). The property is located just south and on trend of Cameco's Key Lake mine and mill site where over 200 million pounds of uranium was produced at an average grade of 2.3% U3O8 during its mine life. The exploration will focus on the discovery of basement hosted mineralization similar to NexGen's Arrow deposit and Cameco's Eagle Point mine. Gravity surveys conducted by Forum at Highrock identified numerous gravity lows along a 10 kilometre long graphitic conductor: these may be zones of alteration associated with uranium mineral deposits. Eight widely spaced drillholes by Forum in 2016 tested only six kilometres of the conductor while four kilometres at the southern end of the property remain untested as well as the strongest gravity low at the north end of the project. Zones of chloritization, bleaching, elevated boron and other pathfinder elements in the north and central areas of the conductor were detected by this initial drill campaign (see Forum News Release dated June 1, 2016). 2022 Drill Program Initial drilling will focus on the North target immediately south of Cameco's Key Lake mine claim boundary. Only one drillhole in 2016 (DDH HR-08) tested the south end of a very strong gravity low where the main conductor trends to the northeast. Weak alteration along a strong conductor was encountered in this hole, plus elevated uranium (8ppm), vanadium (442ppm), copper (421ppm), nickel (125ppm), lead (46ppm) and boron (116ppm). Over one kilometre of this conductive trend and gravity anomaly to the northeast will be drilled (Figure 2). Targets have also been identified in the central and south areas of the property from DDH HR-06 to HR-07 and continuing four kilometres further to the southwest border of the property. Drill target selection will be determined as the program progresses until spring breakup or until the $1 million budget is spent under terms of the Sassy Option Agreement. Figure 1 Highrock Project Location Map. The Highrock project is located just south of the Key Lake uranium deposit along the graphitic conductive trend that hosts Key Lake. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4908/115171_a99a35cf040db83c_003full.jpg FIGURE 2: Gravity Survey, Historic Drill Hole Locations and Conductor on the Highrock Project.Gravity lows are shown in blue, the EM conductor is in red. The first target area is the combination of the conductor and strong gravity low (north of HR-08) at the north end of the property, bordering Cameco's Key Lake mine project. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4908/115171_a99a35cf040db83c_004full.jpg Ken Wheatley, P.Geo., Forum's Vice President, Exploration and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. About Forum Energy Metals Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC) (OTCQB: FDCFF) is a diversified energy metal company with uranium, copper, nickel, and cobalt projects in Saskatchewan, Canada's Number One Rated mining province for exploration and development, a strategic uranium land position in Nunavut and a strategic cobalt land position in the Idaho Cobalt Belt. For further information: www.forumenergymetals.com This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Forum's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to: uncertainties related to the historical data, the work expenditure commitments; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund future exploration or development programs; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; changes commodity prices, litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or an inability to obtain permits required in connection with maintaining or advancing its exploration projects. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Richard J. Mazur, P.Geo. President & CEO 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. For further information contact: Rick Mazur, P.Geo., President & CEO mazur@forumenergymetals.com Tel: 604-630-1585 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115171 BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday China is going to provide emergency food aid to countries affected by drought in the Horn of Africa. Wang made the announcement during his telephone conversation with Somali Foreign Minister Abdisaid Muse Ali. To help Somalia and other countries in the Horn of Africa cope with drought, China will provide a batch of emergency food aid to Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti, he said, adding that the aid is another practical action taken by the Chinese side to implement the "Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa." Wang noted that China put forward this outlook at the beginning of the year to support regional countries, as their own masters, in jointly tackling the triple challenges of security, development and governance, and achieve lasting peace, stability, development and prosperity. In order to strengthen communication and coordination with relevant countries, and jointly push forward the implementation of the outlook, China appointed a special envoy for the Horn of Africa affairs last week and now announces the emergency food aid to relevant countries in the Horn of Africa, Wang said. He added that the Chinese side is taking concrete actions to implement the outlook and support the development of the Horn of Africa. Global Risk Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of a diverse range of P&C claims adjusting, complex/large loss and environmental risk management solutions, has continued its growth by announcing that two of the Middle East's most respected companies have joined its Global Partners Network: Elsheikh Elite Experts andUrgent Loss Adjusters. These partnerships will see Elsheikh and Urgent work closely with GRS' Middle East regional head office based in Dubai. The move follows GRS' partnership announced in January with the Spanish firm, Addvalora, which has an extensive Latin American presence and a strong presence in the Middle East, with successful operations in Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Cairo-based Elsheikh Elite Experts becomes a GRS partner as it builds its global presence to enhance its ability to deliver expert regional response capabilities on complex risks. The announcement comes as Egypt undergoes a period of investment and rapid construction, with Elsheikh Elite Experts having built a reputation in construction and engineering. Bahrain-based Urgent Loss Adjusters ("Urgent LA") also becomes a GRS Network Partner. It offers a complete loss adjusting service in Bahrain, an important regional hub for financial services. Urgent LA specializes in adjusting property, liability, and engineering claims plus inland and marine claims and appraisal of real estate properties, forensic engineering and forensic accounting. Adam Humphrey, CEO of GRS International, welcomed Elsheikh Elite Experts and Urgent LA to the network, adding that the timing could not have been better for the loss adjusters' clients across the region. He said: "The Egyptian market has been growing in scale for many of our international clients, and we are delighted to be able to welcome Ahmed and the Elsheikh Elite Experts to our Global Partner Network. Egypt is delivering on a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure development initiative called Egypt Vision 2030, including constructing a new capital city. This has seen both local and international insurers working with construction firms from across the globe on various projects." Ahmed Elsheikh, CEO of Elsheikh Elite Experts, said: "Egypt is currently experiencing a period of prosperity and renaissance due to political stability, which is reflected in the economic recovery. The state is currently carrying out many mega projects in infrastructure, roads and means of transportation, and new urban communities. The mega-project boom has led to significant growth in engineering insurance and other insurance lines, property, accidents and liabilities. This has led to a growing need for the expertise of international companies that provide expert services to insurance companies in the field of loss adjusting. Our partnership aims to engage this expertise to enrich this kind of service required by the local insurance market. This agreement marks an important stage in the growth of Elsheikh Elite Experts. We are committed to providing the market with such expertise. The agreement places us in a strong position to handle the claims of our local clients." Adam also commented that"The addition of Bahrain through our partnership with Urgent LA is key to servicing this market and expanding our regional capabilities. We choose our partners carefully as we seek to ensure that we have a shared vision for delivering the experience required for complex claims and putting clients at the heart of everything we do. GRS fosters strong personal connections with all its Network Partners to give clients confidence that they are working with empowered, passionate and experienced claims professionals, wherever we operate." Urgent LA's Managing Director, Aqeel Dhaif, said: "We are very excited to partner with GRS in Bahrain as we can offer local and regional market assistance and a high level of professional adjusting services through our collaboration. Working with Jim Pittman and his team in Dubai will build close working relationships with highly experienced specialist adjusting businesses that have deep knowledge of local markets throughout the Middle East." Finally, Jim Pittman, GRS' Regional Director based in our Dubai hub, added that: "We are delighted to be working with Ahmed and Aqeel and their teams. They bring extensive experience in energy, construction, and other technical risks and already have strong and established relationships with insurers that work with the Egyptian and Bahrain markets. Our partnership will enable GRS to be able to support our clients should any claims or major losses arise." About Global Risk Solutions Global Risk Solutions, Inc., enables corporate and insurance industry clients to respond to property casualty claims, natural catastrophes, and environmental pollution events quickly and effectively by delivering people, process, and technology to manage risk and contain cost. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, with global reach and offices located in London, Dubai and throughout the USA, we offer a diverse range of claims adjusting and environmental risk management services. For more information, visit www.globalrisksolutions.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005121/en/ Contacts: MEDIA CONTACT: Adam Humphrey CEO GRS International +44 7545 166210 ahumphrey@globalrisksolutions.com TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / AurCrest Gold Inc. (the "Company" or "AurCrest") (TSX:AGO) is pleased to announce that Big Tree Carbon Corp. ("BigTree"), the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, has assisted Agoke Development Limited Partnership ("ADLP") in the authoring of an ADLP business plan for submission to the Ontario government to secure renewal of a management license for the Ogoki Forest management unit. Big Tree, in furtherance of its business arrangement with ADPL, has provided, amongst other input, a letter of support to develop the Carbon Offsetting as a segment of the forest management and revenue generation. This is the first time ADLP has proposed including Carbon Offsetting as a component of their business plan. Big Tree entered into an arrangement with ADLP in November of 2021 (see press release dated November 8, 2021). Big Tree has together with ADLP (representing a business venture of the Aroland, Eabametoong, and Marten Falls First Nations) advanced the process to recognize and develop the inherent benefit of modern forest management and utilization of the sequestration benefits of the Great Boreal Forest. This plan will be in keeping with more traditional Anishinaabe understanding of healthy forest management practices and will develop this exciting new segment of the forest resource management business. ABOUT AURCREST GOLD INC. AurCrest is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold properties. AurCrest has a portfolio of properties in Ontario, which include the Richardson Lake, Ranger Lake and Bridget Lake gold properties. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: AurCrest Gold Inc. Christopher Angeconeb President and C.E.O. (807) 737-5353 christopherangeconeb@gmail.com Ian Brodie-Brown Director of Business Development (416) 844-9969 bigtree007@icloud.com Forward Looking Statement: 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, and future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause the Company'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, the uncertainty of future profitability 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. AurCrest 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 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. SOURCE: AurCrest Gold Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690864/AurCrests-Subsidiary-Big-Tree-Carbon-Assists-ADLP-with-Development-of-Carbon-Offsetting-as-Part-of-Forest-Management-Plan Record high revenue of $2,452,540, +32% over the previous quarter Opened new outpatient clinic located in downtown Salt Lake City Strong pipeline of clinical trials for psychedelics and mental health treatments In January 2022, successfully closed the acquisition of an Arizona-based mental health practice, adding two additional clinics, and closed a $5,000,000 institutional private placement TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Novamind Inc. (CNSX:NM)(OTCQB:NVMDF)(FSE:HN2) ("Novamind" or the "Company"), a leading mental health company specialized in psychedelic medicine, reported its financial results for the three and six months ended December 31, 2021 ("Fiscal Q2 2022"). All results are reported under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified. Novamind CEO, Yaron Conforti, commented, "We're pleased to report record high revenue this quarter driven by continued revenue growth from existing and new clinics. Novamind is focused on providing clinical research services to leading drug developers, meeting patient demand by delivering innovative, evidence-based mental healthcare and bringing to market new treatment programs such as Psychedelic Palliative Care by Novamind and Frontline KAP." Fiscal Q2 2022 Operating Highlights and Subsequent Events Announced a strategic investment and advisory agreement with Bienstar Wellness to develop Latin America's first network of integrative mental health clinics Unveiled a new clinic design concept to accommodate the unique requirements of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy Opened a new outpatient clinic located in downtown Salt Lake City, specialized in integrative behavioural health and services for adults with substance use disorders In January 2022, closed the acquisition of Arizona-based Foundations for Change, a mental health practice specialized in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with two clinic locations in the Phoenix area Enrolled final cohorts and advanced to final stages of the Frontline KAP clinical pilot, a candidate for commercialization at Novamind's clinics Appointed Prakash Gowd, MBA, BSc Pharm, C Dir as Chief Operating Officer Contracted to provide clinical research services for the following clinical trials: A phase I clinical trial examining ketamine-assisted therapy combined with Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement therapy to treat opioid use disorder, led by investigator Eric Garland, PhD at the University of Utah A phase II clinical trial investigating ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for adults with life-threatening illness, sponsored by the Ketamine Research Foundation A phase II clinical trial investigating an antidepressant medication for adults with major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, sponsored by Alto Neuroscience Fiscal Q2 2022 Financial Highlights Total revenue of $2,452,540, +32% over the previous quarter Total working capital of $3,141,437 to fund operations Subsequent to quarter-end, closed a $5,000,000 private placement with an institutional investor on January 26, 2022 The following table presents selected financial information from Novamind's reviewed condensed interim financial statements for the three and six months ended December 31, 2021. The following information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and management's discussion and analysis, which are available under Novamind's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 ($) Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 ($) Revenue 2,452,540 1,288,828 Cost of services 1,973,201 701,447 Gross margin 479,339 587,381 Operating expenses 3,391,988 2,945,953 Other income (Expense) RTO transaction cost (1,379,144 ) Foreign exchange (32,338 ) (19,551 ) Unrealized (loss) gain of marketable securities and convertible debentures (315,212 ) 156,694 Realized gain on settlement of convertible debenture Realized gain on disposition of marketable securities Interest income 32,339 Loss before income taxes (3,260,199 ) (3,568,234 ) Income tax recovery (11,000 ) (351 ) Foreign currency translation adjustment (27,768 ) (126,606 ) Net loss and comprehensive loss for the period (3,276,967 ) (3,694,489 ) Basic and diluted net loss per share (0.08 ) (0.11 ) As at December 31, 2021 As at June 30, 2021 Cash 2,732,503 5,426,286 Total current assets 5,161,844 11,003,449 Total non-current assets 8,964,610 6,147,819 Total assets 14,126,454 17,151,268 Total current liabilities 2,020,407 1,322,018 Total non-current liabilities 5,207,793 3,568,668 Total liabilities 7,228,200 4,890,686 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. SOURCE: Novamind Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690813/Novamind-Reports-Fiscal-Q2-2022-Financial-Results-and-Operating-Highlights Multiagent and multichannel support are now the new norm of modern-day communications and business activity MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / B2Chat is building the most intuitive and robust communication channel to connect with its customers. In this, the company intends to leverage the power of live agents and artificial intelligence-enabled interfaces. Pamela Richter, the Cofounder of B2Chat said, "Communication is the binding pillar for customer service and retention". She reckons that timely and effective communication forms the basis for rendering quality services. In this regard, the platform shall resolve the perennial whine among the customer community, which is time-consuming and wasteful back-and-forth messaging. In sharpening the saw of communications, B2Chat implements a multi-chat, multi-agent platform. Using this unified portal, messages coming from the varied avenues get consolidated. These include IMs, social media and webchat. Effectively, a one-stop-shop for engaging in effective communication. From left to right: B2Chat Founders: Jaime Gutierrez, Victor Saldarriaga, Pedro Jaramillo, Pamela Richter The unique selling proposition is B2Chat provides a series of prebuilt chatbots that integrate seamlessly with the customers' preferred messaging channel. This serves two purposes. Number one is personalization. Number two - self-service experience for answering FAQs, creating support tickets and launching surveys and questionnaires. Additionally, B2Chat helps companies increase sales by bringing them closer to their customers. It does so by leveraging IMs, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook primarily. The strongest suits for B2Chat are its onboarding, setup, support, infrastructure and system. Delving deeper, enterprises can fulfil the following: Sell: The timely and effective chatbots reduce delays. In this way, enterprises can stay on top of sales and conversions opportunities Centralize: Communication now gets redirected to a single place. No longer do companies need to log into each platform. Automate: Be it ratings, answering FAQs, or sending greetings or farewells, the system does it automatically Optimize: The platform enables enterprises to export advanced performance reports and statistics. The data is streamlined and easy to understand. Corporations can now make well-informed decisions and improve operational strategies. Here, businesses can audit and assess their teams' performances in real-time. Route: Chats get rerouted to the appropriate departments and personnel. This saves ample time by eliminating the need to transfer calls. And the best part? Enterprises can now monitor and analyze the conversations of all their agents in real-time. Streamline: In this, predetermined messaging helps save valuable time for businesses and customers alike. Effective communication is the most integral factor in running a business. Businesses do not happen in a vacuum. They occur from resolving customer queries and issues. In this stead, Cofounder and CEO Jamie Gutierrez states, "Your business bottom line is as good as your customer satisfaction levels". Seamless and uninterrupted communication is the stairway to success. No matter how pronounced the product or service is, if it does not solve the customers' problems in time, your business will lose goodwill and reputation. B2Chat thrives upon capturing the most direct point of contact between business and customers. B2Chat is also working on a robust infrastructure that captures data that can get deployed in analytics. This analytical lens of businesses covers areas such as customer discovery, satisfaction assessment, understanding of the customer journey, detection of malice and fraud. And lastly, user experience. The business objective of B2Chat is to become a holistic and sophisticated communication medium between businesses and brands. About B2Chat B2Chat excels in automating sales processes with plug-n play bots. As for specialties, B2Chat renders eCommerce Bots, FAQ Bots, IM, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and SMS Chat. Long story short, B2Chat puts forth a multichannel and omnichannel communication interface for enterprises and customers. The communication and messaging systems align with the hyper-connected business ecosystem of today. Customers prefer communicating via instant messaging. And that's where B2Chat delivers by making communications controlled and professional. Contact Details: Name: Pamela Richter Title: Cofounder Company: B2Chat.io Email: pamela@b2chat.io SOURCE: B2Chat View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690460/B2CHAT-Becomes-the-Change-Agent-For-Online-Commerce-Selling-in-Latin-America-And-Expansion-To-Other-Countries NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Sparta Commercial Services, Inc. (OTC PINK:SRCO) ("Sparta" or "the Company") announces that the Town of Candor, North Carolina has again turned to Sparta to obtain the equipment their town needs. The Company has funded multiple contracts for the Town of Candor, who has utilized the Company's Municipal Finance Program 11 separate times since 2014, for a variety of essential-use equipment such as police cruisers, fire equipment, industrial vacuums, and maintenance equipment. Candor is one of twenty North Carolina jurisdictions that has used Sparta's Municipal Lease Program, including the cities of Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro. Tammy Kellis, Town Clerk and Finance Officer of the Town of Candor, said, "Working with Sparta's municipal department is a very smooth process, which is why we continue to look to Sparta when we source our options. We would highly recommend Sparta to any municipality looking to finance their essential equipment." Sparta's Municipal Program gives jurisdictions greater flexibility with their budgeting and allocation, allowing their tax revenues to go further. Enabling municipal and government agencies to spread the cost of high-ticket equipment over time, rather than having to pay the full amount up-front, Sparta is able to work with jurisdictions of all sizes to maximize their budgets. Anthony Havens, Sparta's CEO, says "Being able to help municipalities with a program that continues to fit their needs is very gratifying." Havens continues, "We look forward to offering our services to the Town of Candor for years to come." About Sparta Commercial Services Inc. Sparta Commercial Services, Inc., ( www.spartacommercial.com ), was founded in 2004 and is the parent company of three subsidiaries: iMobile Solutions, Inc., New World Health Brands, Inc. and Sparta Crypto, Inc., offering a variety of products and services. Sparta's Municipal Financing Division ( www.spartamunicipal.com ) offers and administers a specialized municipal financing program for local and state agencies with jurisdictions seeking a better way to finance their growing essential equipment needs such as police motorcycles and cruisers, EMS equipment and busses, and any type of equipment a municipality requires. iMobile Solutions, Inc., via its iMobileApp product ( www.imobileapp.com ), develops and services custom mobile apps for a wide range of businesses including restaurants, liquor stores, racetracks, and clubs; as well as vehicle dealerships including Harley-Davidson and John Deere. Other mobile communications products offered include website design, development, hosting and SEO services, and a text messaging and alert service. Other products offerings of iMobile Solutions, Inc. include comprehensive vehicle title history reports for motorcycles (www.cyclechex.com), recreational vehicles (www.rvchex.com) and heavy duty trucks (www.truckchex.com). The reports have been purchased in all 50 states and 61 other countries, and viewed by potential customers in over 125 countries. New World Health Brands, Inc. offers offer a full array of wellness products such as supplements including Zinc, Magnesium, Boron, Iodine, Beetroot Extract, and more on its B to C website ( www.newworldhealthbrands.com ) as well as hemp-derived CBD products that include oils, topicals, capsules, tablets, and pet tinctures ( www.newworldhealthcbd.com ). Sparta Crypto, Inc. has products in development and will announce as they are formally launched. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains 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. Such statements are valid only as of today and we disclaim any obligation to update this information. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to potential future losses, competition, financing and commercial agreements and strategic alliances, seasonality, potential fluctuations in operating results and rate of growth, management of potential growth, system interruption, consumer and industry trends, limited operating history, and government regulation. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. Further information regarding these and other risks is described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available on its website at: http://www.sec.gov. Company Contact: Sandra L. Ahman Corporate Secretary Sparta Commercial Services, Inc. sandy@spartacommercial.com SOURCE: Sparta Commercial Services, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690799/Candor-NC-Returns-to-Sparta-Commercial-For-Its-Equipment-Needs Klondike Gold Drills 3.36 g/t Au over 21.3 meters at Stander Zone VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Klondike Gold Corp. (TSX.V:KG; FRA:LBDP; OTCQB:KDKGF) ("Klondike Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to report results of 2021 Phase 3 diamond drilling at its Klondike District Property, located in the Dawson Mining District, Yukon, Canada. Highlights from Phase 3 Stander Zone drilling include: 3.36 g/t Au over 21.34 meters from 32.0 meters to 53.34 meters within 1.55 g/t Au over 48 meters from 32.0 meters to 80.0 meters in EC21-424 1.57 g/t Au over 26.0 meters from 70.0 meters to 96.0 meters within 0.61 g/t Au over 73.14 meters from 22.86 meters to 96.0 meters in EC21-425 Gold intersections in EC21-424 and EC21-425 are the furthest southeast to date at the Stander Zone, which remains open in all directions. In 2021 the Company's geology team made key advances in understanding local controls to gold mineralization, with Phase 2 (Lone Star Zone) and now Phase 3 (Stander Zone) drilling assays yielding positive outcomes as result. The Company is receiving final assays from the Company's Phase 3 and Phase 4 2021 drill programs which concluded in October. The full Phase 3 results are reported here and Phase 4 will be forthcoming in the days ahead. Results continue to show the Stander Zone discovery hosts significant near-surface gold mineralization which is expandable and remains open in all directions. Upcoming corporate milestones include near-term completion and release of a Geology technical report followed thereafter in 2022 by completion of a mineral resource at Lone Star Zone. Peter Tallman, Klondike Gold's CEO states "The Company is well positioned to rapidly advance the Lone Star Zone as one among a number of 'pipeline' targets within our district-spanning 586 square kilometer claim package that has excellent access to existing highway, power, communications, commercial airport and town infrastructure." STANDER ZONE PHASE 3 DRILLING The Phase 3 drill program targeted the Stander Zone in two subareas; the "main" and "east", separated by ~2,500 meters along strike. Twenty (20) holes totalling 2,651 meters were completed divided equally between the two. See Figure 1 for Stander Zone "main" drill hole locations, Figure 2 for Stander Zone "east" drill hole locations, and Table 1 for significant assay results. The Phase 3 drill program was an equivalent test at Stander Zone targeting across strike for potential persistence of gold-bearing sheeted veins and disseminations similar to their disposition at Lone Star Zone. Mineralization at Stander Zone, like at Lone Star Zone, is comprised of gold-bearing sheeted veins and disseminations with highest gold grades found where sheeted veins are concentrated. Work in 2021 at Lone Star Zone recognized across-strike persistence of gold veining which greatly expanded the Zone's mineralized envelope and size potential, as shown by Phase 2 drilling results (see NR May 26, 2021 and September 27, 2021). These latest significant positive results at the Stander Zone demonstrate continuity of mineralization across strike, and along strike into new areas. Nearly all Phase 3 holes in both subareas of the Stander Zone intersected broad intervals of 0.15 g/t Au to 0.60 g/t Au gold mineralization considered to be a mineralized halo around the central core of intense quartz veining and higher-grade gold deposition at the core of the Zone. Table 1: 2021 Stander Zone (Phase 3) Significant Results: Hole ID From (m) To (m) Grade (g/t Au) Length (m) Subarea EC21-414 112.00 115.00 0.83 3.00 main EC21-414 152.00 169.00 0.15 17.00 main EC21-416 47.75 64.00 0.43 16.25 main EC21-416 47.75 100.50 0.17 52.75 main EC21-417 18.00 31.00 0.28 13.00 main EC21-418 26.00 35.00 0.29 9.00 main EC21-419 55.50 56.00 12.59 0.50 main EC21-420 17.00 18.00 1.22 1.00 main EC21-421 67.00 87.00 0.18 20.00 main EC21-422 1.52 8.00 1.35 6.48 main EC21-423 71.00 77.00 0.60 6.00 main EC21-423 71.00 92.00 0.32 21.00 east EC21-424 32.00 80.00 1.55 48.00 east including 32.00 53.34 3.36 21.34 east EC21-425 22.86 96.00 0.61 73.14 east including 70.00 96.00 1.57 26.00 east EC21-426 110.80 123.00 0.31 12.20 east EC21-427 16.00 23.00 0.84 7.00 east EC21-427 86.00 117.00 0.21 31.00 east EC21-428 4.57 13.00 0.59 8.43 east EC21-428 110.00 111.00 5.02 1.00 east EC21-430 6.90 43.00 0.31 36.10 east EC21-430 117.00 147.00 0.33 30.00 east EC21-431 66.00 111.00 0.21 45.00 east EC21-432 8.50 50.50 0.14 42.00 east Figure 1: Phase 3 drill holes at the Stander Zone 'main' subarea. Figure 2: Phase 3 drill holes at the Stander Zone 'east' subarea. EXPLORATION UPDATE Phase 4 drilling testing along the Eldorado Fault in Eldorado Creek. A total of 13 holes were completed testing various targets. Results will be forthcoming in the days ahead. Klondike Gold contracted GeoCloud Analytics of Melbourne, Australia to complete a detailed re-interpretation of the 2019 LiDAR survey data (see NR September 23, 2021). The work is in progress with the goal of completing re-interpretation of the dataset covering the entirety of the Company's claims prior to the 2022 field season. SRK Consulting of Toronto is preparing a NI 43-101 Technical Report summarizing geology and exploration on the Company's Klondike District Project. The report is nearing completion and will be released when received. Klondike Gold has filed a placer mining permit for renewal of its Upper Eldorado Creek operation, and a quartz exploration permit for renewal of exploration activities in the southeast end of the Company's Klondike District Property. UPCOMING EVENTS Klondike Gold Corp will be participating in the following upcoming events: Red Cloud Pre-PDAC Mining Showcase - March 3 to March 4, 2022 (online) Metals Investor Forum - March 10 to March 11, 2022 Vancouver Resource Investment Conference - May 16 to May 17, 2022 All events are subject to change. 2021 ASSAY PROTOCOLS All 2021 drill holes referenced in this release produced NTW (5.71 cm dia.) drill core. Assay samples from drill core are cut using a diamond saw. Half the core sample interval is bagged, tagged, and sealed; the other half is returned to the core box with a corresponding tag retained for reference. Two gold reference standards, two blank samples (a coarse and a fine), and a coarse sample duplicate per 100 samples, are routinely inserted as part of Klondike Gold's quality assurance / quality control ("QA/QC") program, independent of and additional to the laboratory QA/QC program. Sample bags are aggregated into rice bags, sealed, and submitted by Klondike Gold personnel to Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories ("BV Labs") preparation facility in Whitehorse, YT with chemical analysis of sample pulps completed in Vancouver, British Columbia. Bureau Veritas Labs is an accredited ISO 9001:2008 full-service commercial laboratory. At BV Labs each drill core sample is crushed to 80% passing 2 mm size. A 500 g subsample is pulverized to >85% passing -75 microns size (200 mesh; code PRP70-500). All samples of 500 g are sieved to 106 microns (140 mesh) for "metallic screen" assaying. The +140 mesh fraction is weighed and assayed for gold by fire assay ("FA") fusion with a gravimetric finish (code FS631). A 30 g subsample of the -140 mesh fraction is assayed for gold by fire assay ("FA") fusion with an atomic absorption ("AA") finish (code FA430). All over-limit results in excess of 10 ppm (10 g/t) for both silver and gold are re-assayed using a 30 g subsample and assayed by FA with a gravimetric finish (code FA530-Au/Ag). Total gold grade is then calculated using a weighted average of the plus and minus fraction assay results. QUALIFIED PERSONS REVIEW The technical and scientific information contained within this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Tallman, P.Geo., President of Klondike Gold Corp. and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 policy. Detailed technical information, specifications, analytical information and procedures can be found on the Company's website. COVID-19 UPDATE Klondike Gold continues to take proactive measures to protect the health and safety of our local host community, our contractors and our employees from COVID 19. Exploration activities in 2021 continue to have additional safety measures in place, following and exceeding all the recommendations made by the Yukon's Chief Medical Officer. ABOUT KLONDIKE GOLD CORP. Klondike Gold Corp. is a Vancouver based gold exploration company advancing its 100%-owned Klondike District Gold Project located at Dawson City, Yukon Territory, one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world. The Klondike District Gold Project targets gold associated with district scale orogenic faults along the 55-kilometer length of the famous Klondike Goldfields placer district. To date, multi-kilometer gold mineralization has been identified at both the Lone Star Zone and Stander Zone, among other targets. The Company is focused on exploration and development of its 586 square kilometer property accessible by scheduled airline and government-maintained roads located on the outskirts of Dawson City, YT within the Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation traditional territory. ON BEHALF OF KLONDIKE GOLD CORP. "Peter Tallman" President and CEO (604) 609-6138 E-mail: info@klondikegoldcorp.com Website: www.klondikegoldcorp.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. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information "This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This information and statements address future activities, events, plans, developments and projections. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information and statements are frequently identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and similar terminology, and reflect assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management of Klondike in light of its experience, current conditions, expectations of future developments and other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking information and statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Klondike's actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information and statements and accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed thereon. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary include but are not limited to the availability of financing; fluctuations in commodity prices; changes to and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental laws and obtaining requisite permits; political, economic and other risks; as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in our annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other filings made by us with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Klondike disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements except as may be required." SOURCE: Klondike Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690800/Klondike-Gold-Drills-336-GT-Au-Over-213-Meters-at-Stander-Zone Ann Arbor SPARK and Detroit Regional Partnership Providing Business Development and Talent Assistance to Accelerate Growth ADASTEC has chosen to locate its U.S. headquarters at the SPARK Central Innovation Center as the company looks for a permanent location in the region. ADASTEC chose Ann Arbor because of the incredible amount of mobility innovation happening here and the support for future growth available throughout its robust tech ecosystem. "Having a permanent headquarter location here in the Ann Arbor region is a benefit to ADASTEC because of its proximity to U-M and MSU," explained Ann Arbor SPARK's director of mobility programs, Komal Doshi. "The company's future growth is dependent on access to business development opportunities and finding talent, so there's no better place than Ann Arbor for it to grow its roots. What's particularly exciting for our ecosystem here is that ADASTEC joins a growing list of foreign companies that recognize the assets this region offers and want to be part of it all." ADASTEC CEO Dr. Ali Peker added, "We believe that Michigan is one of the best locations to be for mobility and automotive industry. There are excellent opportunities in Michigan as economic development corporations, associations, and chambers. Michiganders greet us warmly at all times and have always supported us without any expectations. We are happy to be in Ann Arbor and to take our place in the heart of the automotive industry innovations." ADASTEC has developed flowride.ai, a SAE Level-4 automated driving software platform for commercial vehicles. The company has deployed a test of its technology on Michigan State University's (MSU) campus in East Lansing, made possible through a collaboration with the state of Michigan and bus manufacturer Karsan. MSU will officially deploy the bus after completing intense on-campus testing and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration validation of the bus, route and infrastructure. Ann Arbor SPARK and its partners at the Detroit Regional Partnership have also connected ADASTEC to University of Michigan's Mcity Tech Lab Program where a four-member student team will be working with them to create a sensor fusion architecture for enhanced perception in adverse weather conditions. Their work will also incorporate new and existing multiple sensors designed to improve safety and the overall capabilities of the autonomous bus in all environments. ADASTEC is also planning to leverage testing and validation opportunities through the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti, Mich. and capture the performance of the system in different scenarios. Ann Arbor SPARK, the Detroit Regional Partnership, and ADASTEC are aggressively pursuing additional partnerships to help further the company's operations in the region. Ann Arbor SPARK will host ADASTEC at the virtual A2Mobility Tech Meetup on April 21, where they will share more about their technology and their growth plans. The company currently has five employees locally with plans to double their team here in the next year. About Ann Arbor SPARK Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is advancing the region by encouraging and supporting business acceleration, attraction and retention. The organization identifies and meets the needs of business at every stage, from start-ups to large organizations. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners. For more information, please call (734) 761-9317 or visit www.AnnArborUSA.org. About ADASTEC ADASTEC delivers SAE Level-4 Automated Driving Software Platform for commercial vehicles to enable OEMs to develop modern, automated, shared, and connected commercial vehicles. ADASTEC flowride.ai SAE Level-4 Automated Driving Software Platform integrated buses are on public roads in 5 countries in Europe North America. flowride.ai is designed with the fusion of different high-precision sensors available in the global market and complies with safety standards and regulations. ADASTEC has technology and operation offices in the US plus an R&D and EU Operations office in Turkey. For more information, visit www.adastec.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005257/en/ Contacts: Ann Arbor SPARK Jenn Cornell Queen, 734-765-0174 jenn@jenncornell.com - Increase in use of security-based products, rise in awareness, unique and easy-to-use technology, low battery requirements, increase in adoption of cloud-based mobile application, and device efficiency drive the growth of the global smart locks market. PORTLAND, Ore., March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Smart Locks Market by Product Type (Deadbolts, Lever Handles, Padlocks, and Others), Technology (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), and End User (Residential and Commercial) Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030." According to the report, the global smart locks industry was pegged at $2.36 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach $14.97 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 20.1% from 2021 to 2030. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities Increase in use of security-based products, rise in awareness, unique and easy-to-use technology, low battery requirements, increase in adoption of cloud-based mobile application, and device efficiency drive the growth of the global smart locks market. On the contrary, high initial cost and fear of privacy intrusion impede the growth of the market. However, geographic expansion of businesses and rapid changing business model are anticipated to pave the way for multiple opportunities in the industry. Download Report Sample (171 Pages PDF with Insights) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2261 COVID-19 scenario Increase in adoption of smart locks during the pandemic affected the global smart locks market positively. Commercial and government sectors have adopted smart locks to overcome concerns regarding safety and security of the public and enterprises. As the world is getting back to normalcy, organizations are focusing on advanced technology such as machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), and cloud computing across residential and commercial sectors to perform contactless operations. This is expected to boost the demand for smart locks in the market. Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the smart locks market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/2261 The deadbolts segment to dominate by 2030 By product, the deadbolts segment accounted for more thanhalf of the global smart locks market share in 2020, and is anticipated to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is owing to the increase in the need to address connectivity, which compels various users to adopt smart deadbolt locks. The padlocks segment, however, would showcase the fastest CAGR of 21.3% by 2030. The report also includes an analysis of lever handles segments. The Wi-Fi segment held the lion's share in 2020 Based on technology, the Wi-Fi segment held the lion's share in 2020, contributing to more than three-fifths of the global smart locks market, and is expected to continue its lead during the forecast period. Advanced and reliable features of Wi-Fi-enabled systems such as a locking mechanism in the door which can be activated and deactivated automatically by smartphone using Wi-Fi technology within a specific range. This factor isexpected to drive the growth of this segment. However, Bluetooth segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR of 20.7% by 2030. This is attributed due to rise in awareness, reduction in costs of installing smart locks, low battery requirements, and device efficiency which accelerates the adoption of Bluetooth-enabled smart locks. North America to lead the trail in terms of revenue By geography, North America garnered the major share in 2020, contributing to more than two-fifths of the global smart locks industry. This is attributed to increase penetration of IoT, rise in trend for smart homes, and rise in real estate, and hospitality areas. Simultaneously, the Asia-Pacific region would manifest the fastest CAGR of 21.8% throughout the estimated period. This is owing to the increase in use of the internet, growing security concerns in government offices & research centers, and rise in construction activities in India and China which are likely to expand the smart locks market growth at the fastest rate. For Purchase Enquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2261 Leading market players Honeywell International Inc. Schlage UniKey Technologies August Home Samsung SDS Co., Ltd. Panasonic Corporations SALTO Systems HAVEN Lock, Inc. SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. VIVINT, INC. 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Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on: LinkedIn Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg Hostilities overseas, Canadian trucker protests accelerating the pace of potential orders. Additional growth prospects through pending OEM engagements. Company launches international sales and marketing program. Company files FY 2022 Q1 financials. Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - KWESST Micro Systems Inc. (TSXV: KWE) (OTCQB: KWEMF) ("KWESST" or "the Company") today provided a comprehensive corporate update on progress and developments, including a stronger outlook for Company products in the face of a changing operating environment. Operating environment "In the past days and weeks, we've witnessed a fundamental re-set in the operating environment," said David Luxton, Executive Chairman of KWESST. "Hostilities overseas and the spread of trucker protests domestically are accelerating requests and potential orders for virtually all products and services across our three business segments." The Company said it expects this re-set to be enduring, with long-term effects and increased demand for the kind of next-generation tactical systems KWESST provides. Three business segments To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7366/115210_1d9191cb04d5e81e_002full.jpg Non-lethal The immediate effect of events like the trucker protests has been a pronounced increase in demand by law enforcement agencies for non-lethal equipment. As announced February 22, the Company's ARWEN TM anti-riot equipment was used at the trucker protest in Ottawa, Canada to help bring a safe conclusion to the incident. The Company is now processing numerous quote requests for replenishment and expansion of anti-riot equipment. The Company's new non-lethal PARA OPSTM unveiled at the 2022 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Jan 18-21, will see first production samples commencing mid-March for customer demonstrations and evaluations, and full production commencing by late summer through outsourced third-party contractors with facilities in the U.S. and Canada. As well, in order to accelerate the time to market for its PARA OPS products and begin taking orders, KWESST has initiated an interim self-classification process in parallel with a formal classification application to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with outside assistance from expert professionals. Digitization Following the establishment of KWESST's Center of Excellence for digitization of soldier systems , several OEMs initiated discussions with KWESST for other requirements, including integration of systems for military as well as public security applications. Some of these discussions are at an advanced stage, with announcements expected in the near future. These discussions are in addition to the already announced signing of a master professional services agreement with General Dynamics General Dynamics Mission Systems - Canada ("GDMS") to support the development of digitization solutions for future Canadian land C4ISR programs under Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada's defence policy, with government procurements estimated at $3-billion to $5-billion over five years. Under the master agreement with an initial order estimated at approximately $1 million, KWESST will assist in the development of an initial prototype system that networks soldiers with information from various sources in real time, including location of friendly forces and adversaries, and facilitates more effective, coordinated fire. Recent articles in military magazines on the future of soldier digitization and KWESST's capabilities can be found here: https://canadianarmytoday.com/collaborative-app/ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mKecZ4Omrl1qgjLZJomukBmoP48v6DlE/view?usp=sharing Counter-Threat The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has been a major recent catalyst for KWESST's PhantomTM electronic decoy, with several pending requests and price quotations to fill Urgent Operational Requirements ("UOR") for NATO forces. The level of interest and the urgency encourages the Company to believe that it is highly likely it could receive NATO country orders throughout its 2022 fiscal year and beyond. This is in addition to the decision by General Dynamics Land Systems ("GDLS") to select PhantomTM for a new vehicle program submission to the U.S. military as announced on November 12, 2021. Over the next 15 months, the KWESST engineering team will be working in close collaboration with GDLS to support readying a prototype vehicle with Phantom on board for trials by its U.S. military customer in the first part of 2023. The Phantom capability will be designed to meet evolving electro-magnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) tactics, techniques and procedures to be employed by vehicle operators in an RF contested environment. Should GDLS be the successful bidder for the planned follow-on production program, and include the Phantom, the potential value to KWESST could be USD $40-million or more, depending on the number of Phantom units per vehicle. Hostilities are creating similar interest in the Company's Battlefield Laser Defense System ("BLDS") that detects and locates lasers, including weaponized lasers, with first orders from two overseas NATO countries pending. Domestic protests have intensified law enforcement requirements for Counter-UAS ("CUAS") against drones used by protesters. The Company is currently in discussions with potential industry partners and customers to partner and adapt its confidential GhostNet TM system for domestic public security requirements. Expanded OEM engagement As stated on many occasions, a key part of KWESST's go-to-market plan is to partner with major defense contractors, as it has done with GDMS and GDLS. Similar agreements are in progress with other OEMs that KWESST believes could result in expansion into other products and markets internationally. The first such announcements are expected early in our third quarter starting April 1st, 2022. International market development With the easing of pandemic travel restrictions, the defense industry is resuming trade shows, and KWESST is once again able to exhibit and meet with customers, OEMs and international sales representatives. This includes the following major international events for 2022: World Defense, Riyadh Saudi Arabia 6-9 March; UK Security & Policing Farnham, UK 15-17 March; SOFIC Special Operations Expo, Tampa FL 16-19 May; CANSEC, Ottawa 1-2 June; Eurosatory, Paris 13-17 June; AUSA, Washington DC 10-12 Oct; and SOFEX, Amman, Jordan 31 Oct-31-4 Nov. In conjunction, the Company is launching an outreach program to its extensive network of international sales reps and agents, commencing March 2022. New web site, videos The Company said it expects to launch a new web site by mid-March and meanwhile has posted some short product video clips here: Phantom Tactical Electro-Magnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kwesst_phantom-tactical-electro-magnetic-spectrum-activity-6899745578998472704-PKII Battlefield Laser Detection Systems https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kwesst_battlefield-laser-detection-systems-activity-6902651213670612992-es4L More videos will follow so that customers and investors have the benefit of visualizing what KWESST means with its promise of "Next-Generation Tactical Systems". Filing of Fiscal 2022 Q1 financials The Company reported that it has filed its financial statements for its first quarter period ending 31 December, 2021 and those are available at www.sedar.com About PARA OPS The patent-pending PARA OPS technology is a breakthrough in non-lethal systems. It combines the reliability of a cartridge with a polymer projectile in a low-energy self-stabilizing configuration for accuracy. There is no gunpowder, compressed air or CO2. Projectiles come in a choice of payloads appropriate to the mission, whether personal defense, public order or realistic tactical simulation. Cartridges fire from a low-cost dedicated launcher that can look like a firearm, a TV remote control, a flashlight, or any hybrid or custom design. Launchers fire only PARA OPS cartridges and will not accept live ammunition. Projectile payloads include incapacitating pepper powder, inert colored powder for training, and solid slugs for practice or pain compliance. About KWESST KWESST develops and commercializes breakthrough next-generation tactical systems that meet the requirements of security forces and personal defense for overmatch capability against adversaries. The company's current portfolio of unique proprietary offerings include its unique non-lethal Low Energy Cartridge (LEC) system with application across all segments of the non-lethal market, including law enforcement and personal defence. KWESST is also engaged in the digitization of tactical forces for shared situational awareness and targeting with its signature TASCSTM (Tactical Awareness and Situational Control System) for real-time awareness and targeting information from any source (including drones) streamed directly to users' smart devices and weapons. Other KWESST products include counter-measures against threats such as drones, lasers and electronic detection. These include the autonomous GreyGhostTM 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. These systems can operate stand-alone or integrate seamlessly with OEM products and battlefield management systems. The Company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with operations in Stafford, VA and representative offices in London, UK and Abu Dhabi, UAE. KWESST trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol KWE and on the U.S. OTCQB under the symbol KWEMF. Contact: Jason Frame, Investor Relations: frame@kwesst.com For more information, please visit https://kwesst.com/ Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. 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/115210 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - Minaurum Gold, Inc (TSXV: MGG) (OTCQX: MMRGF) ("Minaurum") is pleased to announce it has returned high-grade silver intercepts from the final Phase II holes drilled in 2021 at its flagship Alamos silver project in Sonora, Mexico. In 2021, Minaurum drilled 9,386.50 m in 22 holes focusing on sizable step-outs at the Ana, Europa, San Jose, Alessandra, Cotera, and Minas Nuevas vein zones. The best results obtained in the Minas Nuevas, Cotera and San Jose vein zones are as follows. Highlights include: Minas Nuevas vein zone Hole AL21-099 returned 9.90 m @ 609 g/t Ag; including 0.90 m @ 1,145 g/t Ag, 0.50 m @ 2,260 g/t Ag, and 0.50 m @ 2,360 g/t Ag Cotera vein zone Hole AL21-094 returned 1.05 m @ 411 g/t Ag and 2.66% Zn; and 0.95 m @ 763 g/t Ag and 2.14% Cu; and 0.30 m @ 2,310 g/t Ag and 6.52% Cu San Jose vein zone Hole AL21-091 returned 21.70 m @ 93 g/t Ag; including 4.85 m @ 159 g/t Ag including Hole AL21-092A returned 7.35 m @ 184 g/t Ag; including 4.05 m @ 289 g/t Ag "Our Phase II drill program of aggressive step-outs has yielded high-grade silver results at the Cotera, Minas Nuevas and San Jose veins, significantly expanding the known mineralized footprint of each target," stated Darrell Rader, Minaurum President and CEO. "We are now planning to transition to more closely-spaced drilling as we advance the Alamos project. We will be providing an update shortly on our plans for 2022." Figure 1. Alamos project vein zones and drill-hole collars. Click on image to enlarge. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3455/115128_5a658c1ae4b76bf7_003full.jpg Minas Nuevas vein zone Minas Nuevas consists of a group of veins located in the NE of the Alamos concession block. In its northern-most section, the vein bends sharply to the northwest encompassing the Zambona vein, where historical records and reports indicate that mine workings followed a northwest-plunging silver shoot. Holes AL21-098 and -099 are the first ever holes to test the Zambona vein zone (Figures 2 and 3). Hole AL21-099 intersected strong silver mineralization of 609 g/t Ag over 9.90 m, including 0.90 m @ 1,145 g/t Ag, 0.50 m @ 2,260 g/t Ag, and 0.50 m @ 2,360 g/t Ag, intersecting the shoot near the NW-most extent of the workings, leaving prospective ground further to the northwest along strike and down-plunge. Hole AL21-098 intersected several metres of quartz-carbonate veining with trace silver mineralization in the hanging wall of the fault contact with granodiorite, and appears to have been drilled underneath the silver shoot. Highlights of Minas Nuevas vein zone drilling are shown in Table 1. Table 1. Highlights of hole AL21-099, Minas Nuevas vein zone. Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Ag g/t Au g/t Cu % Pb % Zn % AL21-099 185.60 196.50 9.90 609 0.01 0.18 0.27 0.47 including 187.15 188.05 0.90 1145 0.05 0.12 1.23 2.48 and 189.10 195.50 6.40 753 0.03 0.23 0.2 0.27 which includes 192.20 192.70 0.50 2260 0.03 0.24 0.47 0.54 and 195.00 195.50 0.50 2360 0.03 0.2 0.3 0.54 Figure 2. Minas Nuevas zone, showing Minaurum drilling and intercepts. Click on image to enlarge. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3455/115128_5a658c1ae4b76bf7_004full.jpg Figure 3. Cross section of holes AL21-098 and AL21-099. Click on image to enlarge. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3455/115128_5a658c1ae4b76bf7_005full.jpg San Jose Vein zone Stepping out to the north from previous drilling, hole AL21-091 intersected a wide zone of 21.90 m @ 93 g/t Ag in the highest part of the hole (Figures 4 and 5). Hole AL21-092A expanded the vein zone 250 m to the southwest of -091 (Figures 4 and 5), intersecting continuous silver mineralization of 7.35 m @ 184 g/t Ag including 1.30 m @ 649 g/t Ag (Figure 5). Mineralization in both intercepts occurs in fractured and veined andesite immediately above the fault contact with granodiorite. Highlights of San Jose vein zone drilling are shown in Table 2. Table 2. Highlights of holes AL21-089, -091, -092A, and -092, San Jose vein zone. Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Ag g/t Au g/t Cu% Pb % Zn % AL21-089 98.00 108.70 10.70 50 0.004 0.03 0.06 0.14 including 99.45 101.05 1.60 124 0.02 0.09 0.19 0.48 AL21-091 40.25 61.95 21.70 93 0.01 0.1 0.19 0.24 including 46.05 53.65 7.60 135 0.02 0.18 0.38 0.38 which includes 48.80 53.65 4.85 159 0.02 0.22 0.44 0.41 AL21-092A 131.50 138.85 7.35 184 0.02 0.22 0.21 0.27 including 131.90 135.95 4.05 289 0.03 0.38 0.34 0.43 which includes 133.65 134.70 1.05 746 0.06 0.99 0.92 0.93 AL21-092 130.90 136.45 5.55 148 0.02 0.15 0.2 0.49 including 130.90 134.65 3.75 196 0.02 0.17 0.15 0.35 which includes 132.70 133.40 0.70 321 0.03 0.23 0.13 0.79 Figure 4. Northern part of San Jose zone. Click on image to enlarge. To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3455/115128_5a658c1ae4b76bf7_006full.jpg Figure 5. San Jose cross section showing holes AL21-092 and AL21-092A. Click image to enlarge. To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3455/115128_5a658c1ae4b76bf7_007full.jpg Cotera Vein Zone The north-south-striking, steeply dipping Cotera zone extends for a kilometre to the north and 300 m to the south of the drilled area. Holes AL21-094 and -095 cut the Cotera zone approximately 80 metres south of Hole AL19-035 intercept (Figures 6 and 7). AL21-094 intersected high-grade silver and copper of 0.30 m @ 2,310 g/t Ag and 6.52% Cu within an interval of 2.10 m @ 360 g/t Ag and 1.00% Cu and 2.95 m @ 232 g/t Ag, including 1.05 m @ 411 g/t. Hole AL21-095, drilled from the same pad as AL21-094, cut intervals of anomalous base metals and silver mineralization. Approximately 80 m to the north of the AL19-035 intercept, hole AL21-096 drilled two mineralized intervals of 2.40 m @ 115 g/t Ag including 0.45 m @ 399 g/t Ag; and 1.50 m @ 106 g/t Ag including 0.60 m @ 212 g/t Ag. Highlights of Cotera vein zone drilling are presented in Table 3. Table 3. Highlights of holes AL21-094, -095, and -096, Cotera vein zone. Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Ag g/t Au g/t Cu % Pb % Zn % AL21-094 146.35 155.50 9.15 101 0.01 0.12 0.13 0.46 including 151.65 154.60 2.95 232 0.02 0.16 0.27 1.15 which includes 151.65 152.70 1.05 411 0.02 0.22 0.36 2.66 219.25 220.20 0.95 763 0.25 2.14 0.24 0.25 including 219.90 220.20 0.30 2310 0.43 6.52 0.12 0.37 AL21-095 206.00 206.25 0.25 18 0.001 0.53 0.03 0.2 264.75 265.90 1.15 25 0.02 0 0.05 0.08 316.60 317.05 0.45 12 0.01 0 1.33 0.12 AL21-096 190.70 193.10 2.40 115 0.01 0.14 0.28 0.49 including 192.65 193.10 0.45 399 0.02 0.53 0.93 1.69 269.60 271.10 1.50 106 0.19 0.18 2.31 0.69 including 270.50 271.10 0.60 212 0.24 0.39 4.32 0.90 Figure 6. Plan map of the Cotera vein zone, showing geology and drilling. Click on image to enlarge. To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3455/115128_5a658c1ae4b76bf7_008full.jpg Figure 7. Cross section of holes AL21-094 and AL21-095, Cotera zone. Click on image to enlarge. To view an enhanced version of Figure 7, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3455/115128_5a658c1ae4b76bf7_009full.jpg Alessandra Skarn and Vein Zone Hole AL21-090 was drilled to cut the up-dip projection of the mineralized zone cut by hole AL21-085 (see News Release dated November 9, 2021) and intersected 13.50 m with an average grade of 0.28% Cu. Drilled approximately 250 m up-dip of the AL21-085, the hole indicates that the grade and width of mineralization increases at depth at the target area. Holes AL21-093 and AL21-097 were aimed to intersect the mineralized zone about 125 and 250 m north of the AL21-085 intercept, and at approximately the same elevation. These holes returned anomalous mineralization with the zone remaining open at depth and along strike. Minaurum Gold Inc. (TSXV: MGG) (OTCQX: MMRGF) (FSE: 78M) is a Mexico-focused explorer concentrating on the high-grade Alamos silver project in southern Sonora. With a property portfolio encompassing multiple additional district-scale projects, Minaurum is managed by one of the strongest technical and finance teams in Mexico. Minaurum's goal is to continue its founders' legacy of creating shareholder value by making district-scale mineral discoveries and executing accretive mining transactions. For more information, please visit our website at www.minaurum.com and follow us on YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Darrell A. Rader" Darrell A. Rader President and CEO For more information, please contact: Sunny Pannu - Investor Relations and Corporate Development Manager (778) 330 0994 or via email at pannu@minaurum.com The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. 2710 - 200 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1S4 Telephone 778 330-0994 www.minaurum.com info@minaurum.com Stephen R. Maynard, Vice President of Exploration of Minaurum and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, reviewed and verified the assay data, and has approved the disclosure in this News Release. Historical data reported in this news release has not been verified. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain disclosures in this release constitute forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking statements in this release, Minaurum has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on Minaurum' s current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Minaurum. Although Minaurum considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Minaurum does not intend, 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 required by law. Quality Assurance/Quality Control: Preparation and assaying of drilling samples from Minaurum's Alamos project are done with strict adherence to a Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) protocol. Core samples are sawed in half and then bagged in a secure facility near the site, and then shipped by a licensed courier to ALS Minerals' preparation facility in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. ALS prepares the samples, crushing them to 70% less than 2mm, splitting off 250g, and pulverizing the split to more than 85% passing 75 microns. The resulting sample pulps are prepared in Hermosillo, and then shipped to Vancouver for chemical analysis by ALS Minerals. In Vancouver, the pulps are analyzed for gold by fire assay and ICP/AES on a 50-gram charge. In addition, analyses are done for a 48- element suite using 4-acid digestion and ICP analysis. Samples with silver values greater than 100 g/t; and copper, lead, or zinc values greater than 10,000 ppm (1%) are re-analyzed using 4-acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Quality-control (QC) samples are inserted in the sample stream every 20 samples, and thus represent 5% of the total samples. QC samples include standards, blanks, and duplicate samples. Standards are pulps that have been prepared by a third-party laboratory; they have gold, silver, and base-metal values that are established by an extensive analytical process in which several commercial labs (including ALS Minerals) participate. Standards test the calibration of the analytical equipment. Blanks are rock material known from prior sampling to contain less than 0.005 ppm gold; they test the sample preparation procedure for cross-sample contamination. In the case of duplicates, the sample interval is cut in half, and then quartered. The first quarter is the original sample, the second becomes the duplicate. Duplicate samples provide a test of the reproducibility of assays in the same drilled interval. When final assays are received, QC sample results are inspected for deviation from accepted values. To date, QC sample analytical results have fallen in acceptable ranges on the Alamos project. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115128 Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends the opening meeting of the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee convened in Beijing on Tuesday to prepare for the upcoming annual session of the top political advisory body. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended Tuesday's opening meeting of the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee. A decision to convene the fifth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee starting from March 4 in Beijing was reviewed and adopted at the meeting. The decision also included a proposed agenda for the annual session. The session heard explanations on the drafting of the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and a report on how the Standing Committee has handled proposals put forward by political advisors, among others. It also heard reports on the work of the special committees of the CPPCC National Committee and reports on the political advisory body's personnel issues. Enditem Highlights: Teuton Resources Corp. (TSXV: TUO), the project generator behind the approximately $560 million Treaty Creek project, has agreed to subscribe for a $600,000 private placement ("PP") in Sanatana. The PP will consist of 4,000,000 units priced at $0.15 per unit comprising one share and one-half of a share purchase warrant exercisable at $0.20 for two years. The evaluation of Oweegee and the investment by Teuton provides a strong endorsement of Sanatana's Oweegee Dome project. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - Sanatana Resources Inc. (TSXV: STA) ("Sanatana" or the "Company") is pleased to report that Teuton Resources Corp. ("Teuton") has agreed to purchase 4,000,000 units of the Company for $600,000 and priced at $0.15 per unit. Each unit will consist of one share and one-half of a share purchase warrant, each full warrant exercisable at $0.20 for two years. The funds will be used for upcoming drilling and exploration of Sanatana's Oweegee Dome project scheduled to start in June 2022. Peter Miles, CEO, stated, "We are extremely pleased to welcome Teuton, headed by Dino Cremonese, as an important Sanatana shareholder. Dino has over 40 years of exploration experience in the Golden Triangle of BC and notably Teuton is the project generator for Tudor Gold's Treaty Creek project (located approximately 40 kms west of Oweegee) with a combined market capitalization in excess of $560,000,000. We are confident that Dino's demonstrated knowledge, leadership and experience in vetting Golden Triangle projects, combined with Teuton's investment in Sanatana, provide a strong endorsement of Sanatana's Oweegee Dome project." Dino Cremonese, President and CEO of Teuton, commented: "This investment was made because of the merit of Sanatana's Oweegee Dome property located east of Highway 37 and north of Meziadin Lake in the Golden Triangle region of northwestern British Columbia. The Oweegee Dome property is similar to Teuton's Treaty Creek property in that both are very large and host extensive gossans indicating pervasive hydrothermal activity. When I first staked Treaty Creek in 1984, the general consensus was that it was a separate system from the Sulphurets region to the south, an area now controlled by Seabridge Gold's KSM property (host to some of the largest reserves of copper and gold in the world) and the Brucejack property (recently acquired by Newcrest for $3.5 billion from owner Pretium Resources). Although five different companies optioned Treaty Creek from 1990 to 2007, it was not until the sixth optionee, Tudor Gold, took on the property and hired Ken Konkin in 2019 that its promise was realized. A re-interpretation of geology and a re-orientation of drilling led to a maiden resource of 19.4 million gold equiv. ounces in early 2021*. The main deposit, the Goldstorm, is still being explored for further expansion and three satellite zones hold promise for further resources to be developed. One might say that the Oweegee Dome property is at an earlier stage of its evolution, nevertheless, the new mineralized zones discovered in surface outcrop in 2021 do suggest potential for the discovery of a future porphyry copper-gold deposit. The property is scheduled for drilling at the beginning of the 2022 field season and Teuton's private placement investment insures it will have a substantial stake in this venture." *815.7 million tonnes grading 0.74 g/t gold equiv. at a 0.30 g/t gold equiv. cut-off. For detailed results refer to the Teuton news release dated March 9, 2021, available on SEDAR. Closing of the PP is subject to prescribed conditions, including, without limitations, approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.The securities to be issued under the PP will be offered by way of private placement pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws. Securities issued under the PP will be subject to a four-month hold period which will expire four months and one day from the date of closing of the PP. Teuton may be an insider of Sanatana after closing of the PP. About the Oweegee Dome Project In July 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with ArcWest Exploration Inc. ("ArcWest") to option up to 80% of ArcWest's 31,077-hectre Oweegee Dome porphyry copper-gold project in British Columbia's Golden Triangle. The Oweegee Dome project is situated 45 km east of Seabridge Gold Corp's KSM-Iron Cap porphyry Cu-Au project. The agreement is subject to TSX-V approval. The Company can earn an initial 60% interest in the Oweegee Dome project by funding, over a four-year period, cumulative exploration expenditures of $6,600,000 and by making staged cash and share payments totaling $500,000 and 2,000,000 shares, respectively. Upon completion of the first option and receipt of the initial interest notice from Sanatana, Sanatana will have a 60-day period to elect to earn an additional 20% interest, for an aggregate 80% interest, or form a joint venture. The technical information in this news release was prepared under the supervision of Buddy Doyle B.App Sc Geology, MAUSIMM. Mr. Doyle is a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release. About the Company Sanatana Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on high-impact properties in Canada. With an award-winning technical team and experienced management and board of directors, Sanatana is based in Vancouver and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: STA). SANATANA RESOURCES INC. (signed) "Peter Miles " Peter Miles Chief Executive Officer For additional information on the Company, please contact Mr. Peter Miles, Chief Executive Officer at (604) 408-6680 or email investor@sanatanaresources.com . To be added to the email distribution list, please email ir@sanatanaresources.com with "Sanatana" in the subject line. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information Some of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond Sanatana's control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115191 SHENZHEN, China, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the mobile internet, today has announced the release of a carbon neutrality white paper and a green end-to-end future-oriented solution GreenPilot at the MWC 2022, strengthening its commitment to carbon reduction to accelerate progress towards the sustainable development goals. Jointly released by ZTE and Frost & Sullivan, a research & consulting firm, the white paper Pathways to Carbon Neutrality: The Transformative Role of Digitalization illustrates the climate changes ahead and the global commitment to carbon reduction. It also explores the decarbonization impact of digital technologies in four sectors of telecommunications, electricity, transportation, and manufacturing, with a focus on telecommunications for its excellence and potential in creating a transformational acceleration of decarbonization efforts. To cope with climate challenges, ZTE adds GreenPilot to its green solution portfolio to help reduce mobile network energy consumption to make green networks. "The newly-released GreenPilot solution is applicable for various scenarios, offering full-process energy-saving solutions to maximize the energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions," said Ms. Chen Zhiping, Vice President at ZTE. "GreenPilot incorporates solutions of RuralPilot, SolarMaster, SmartLi, PowerPilot and GreenDC, which are designed to satisfy requirements of different scenarios." ZTE RuralPilot: Featuring Lego design, ZTE RuralPilot can be assembled, detached and expanded easily. All the devices are installed on the pole, making transportation and construction easier, thereby leading to a decrease of the engineering cost by 50%. Moreover, solar panels and intelligent lithium batteries provide 100% clean power supply without mains and diesel generator electricity. And as the total power consumption of a site can be controlled within 150 Watts, the power consumption can be reduced by 59% and the CAPEX by 35%. Featuring Lego design, ZTE RuralPilot can be assembled, detached and expanded easily. All the devices are installed on the pole, making transportation and construction easier, thereby leading to a decrease of the engineering cost by 50%. Moreover, solar panels and intelligent lithium batteries provide 100% clean power supply without mains and diesel generator electricity. And as the total power consumption of a site can be controlled within 150 Watts, the power consumption can be reduced by 59% and the CAPEX by 35%. SolarMaster: ZTE SolarMaster supports a smooth upgrade to solar power with innovative technologies, and maximizes the solar power conversion efficiency while increasing the power generation efficiency by over 10%. ZTE SolarMaster supports a smooth upgrade to solar power with innovative technologies, and maximizes the solar power conversion efficiency while increasing the power generation efficiency by over 10%. SmartLi: ZTE SmartLi battery solution allows the direct hybrid use of intelligent lithium batteries and legacy batteries, to achieve smooth capacity expansion and protect existing site investment. In the AAU remote power supply scenario, Voltage Boosting function of SmartLi can reduce the cable loss, saving 30% additional mains electricity cost. Thanks to this function, the battery capacity can be released by 100%. In this way, site power storage system CAPEX can be saved greatly. ZTE SmartLi battery solution allows the direct hybrid use of intelligent lithium batteries and legacy batteries, to achieve smooth capacity expansion and protect existing site investment. In the AAU remote power supply scenario, Voltage Boosting function of SmartLi can reduce the cable loss, saving 30% additional mains electricity cost. Thanks to this function, the battery capacity can be released by 100%. In this way, site power storage system CAPEX can be saved greatly. PowerPilot : Based on AI and big data, ZTE PowerPilot2.0 solution, the most important part of GreenPilot, can dynamically match network resources through real-time monitoring and load prediction. Without affecting user experiences, the power consumption is reduced by shutting down redundant resources to save power intelligently. The overall network power consumption is reduced by more than 30%. : Based on AI and big data, ZTE PowerPilot2.0 solution, the most important part of GreenPilot, can dynamically match network resources through real-time monitoring and load prediction. Without affecting user experiences, the power consumption is reduced by shutting down redundant resources to save power intelligently. The overall network power consumption is reduced by more than 30%. GreenDC: ZTE GreenDC solution employs innovative technologies in aspects of air conditioner, power distribution, and management and control to achieve power saving and emission reduction. In China , ZTE has worked closely with Tencent to deploy the prefabricated fully-modular data center. By applying multiple power saving technologies on a large scale, the power consumption is reduced by 30%, and PUE is reduced to 1.25. ZTE has just been rewarded with the 2022 Global Telecom DC Power Product Leadership Award, according to the Frost & Sullivan's assessment of the global telecom DC power industry, in recognition of the company's highly efficient, modular, intelligent and green telecom power solutions addressing the current customer pain points and evolving future 5G requirements. ZTE has always been taking "green and low carbon" as one of the company's core strategies. To date, ZTE has deployed more than 500 green innovation patents. Moving forward, the company will keep strengthening its research efforts to achieve breakthroughs in key technologies, expecting to build a zero-carbon society together with its global partners. Click here to download the white paper: Pathways to Carbon Neutrality: The Transformative Role of Digitalization https://res-www.zte.com.cn/mediares/zte/Files/PDF/white_book/202203011424.pdf Media Contact: Margaret Ma ZTE Corporation Tel: +86 755 26775189 Email: ma.gaili@zte.com.cn New Categories for 2022 Recognize Thought Leadership FAIRFAX, Va., March 01, 2022and sales awards, were announced today. Stevie Award winners will be celebrated during a virtual awards ceremony on May 11. The complete list of Stevie Winners by category is available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Sales. More than 2,300 nominations from organizations in 51 nations were considered in this year's competition. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 150 professionals on eight specialized judging committees. Entries were considered in more than 90 categories for customer service and contact center achievements, including Contact Center of the Year, Award for Innovation in Customer Service, and Customer Service Department of the Year; more than 60 categories for sales and business development achievements, ranging from Senior Sales Executive of the Year to Sales Training or Business Development Executive of the Year to Sales Department of the Year; and categories to recognize new products and services, solution providers, and organizations' and individuals' response to the COVID-19 pandemic. New categories this year honor excellence in thought leadership in customer service and sales. IBM of Armonk, NY USA and DP DHL, worldwide both won 11 Gold Stevie Awards, the most of any organization in the competition. Other Stevie winners with three of more Golds include Sales Partnerships, Inc., Broomfield, CO USA (eight), ValueSelling Associates, Carlsbad, CA USA (six), HP, Inc. Boise, ID USA (four), The Biz Dojo Inc, Calgary, Canada (four), UPMC Health Plan, Pittsburgh, PA USA (four), Allianz Services Pvt Ltd, Kerala, India (three), Nutrisystem, Fort Washington, PA USA (three), TransPerfect, New York, NY USA (three), and Voya Financial, Chandler, AZ USA (three). Winners of two Gold Stevie Awards include Contact Lens King Inc., Chaplain, NY USA; Datasite, Minneapolis, MN USA; Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Empolis Group, Kaiserslautern, Germany; Future Generali India Insurance Company Ltd., Mumbai, India; Michael Kors, New York, NY USA; Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA USA; Municipality and Planning Department, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Optima Tax Relief, LLC, Santa Ana, CA USA; POWERHOME SOLAR, Mooresville, NC USA; PowerSchool Group LLC, Folsom, CA USA; Ruby, Portland, OR USA; SAP, Newtown Square, PA USA; Sber, Moscow, Russia; SoftPro, Raleigh, NC USA; Spinnaker Support, Greenwood Village, CO USA; Support Services Group, Lewis Center, OH USA; Talkdesk, San Francisco, CA USA; Templeton & Partners, London, United Kingdom; VakifBank, Istanbul, Turkey; and VMware, Palo Alto, CA USA. Other organizations winning a combination of four or more Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Awards include Abrigo, Austin, TX USA; Arise Virtual Solutions, Miramar, FL USA; Blackhawk Network, Pleasanton CA USA; CarrefourSA, Istanbul, Turkey; Clubspeed, Irvine, CA USA; EFG Companies, Irving, TX USA; Element Electronics, Winnsboro, SC USA; HireVue, South Jordan, UT USA; Intuit, Mississauga, Ontario Canada; Nuance Communications, Boston, MA USA; OpenGov, San Jose, CA USA; Optum Eden Prairie, MN USA; Princess Polly, Los Angeles CA USA; Pushpay, Redmond, WA USA; QNB Finansbank, Istanbul, Turkey; RAIN Group, Boston, MA USA; Toco Warranty, Los Angeles, CA USA; TTEC, Englewood, CO USA; Visualize, Birmingham, MI USA; VIZIO Inc., Irvine, CA USA; and WNS (Holdings) Limited, Mumbai, India. The 10 most-honored organizations in the competition will receive Grand Stevie Award trophies. Those winners will be announced the week of March 14. Beginning today through April 1, the public may vote for their favorite providers of customer service in the People's Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Customer Service, an annual feature of the awards. Voting is open at http://peopleschoice.stevieawards.com. Winners of the People's Choice Stevie Awards in multiple industries will be announced the week of April 4. One category in the awards will continue to accept entries through March 11. It is the Sales Partnerships Award for Ethics in Sales, which will recognize organizations for best practices and achievements in demonstrating the highest ethical standards in the sales industry. Entry requirements for this category are outlined at https://stevieawards.com/sales/nominate-2022-sales-partnerships-ethics-sales-award. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com. Sponsors of the 16th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service include Sales Partnerships, Inc., Thought Leadership Leverage, and ValueSelling Associates, Inc. Marketing Contact: Nina Moore Nina@StevieAwards.com +1 (703) 547-8389 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8a7c18c-40b4-4999-9a72-ee6afaecb74d The No. 2 beer brand in the U.S.1 expands its Mexican beer portfolio to bring more Chelada offerings and test three new beverages CHICAGO, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Modelo announced today the introduction of new product offerings, including expansions on their popular flavor-forward Cheladas and new test offerings such as a premium light beer, Modelo Oro. As the No. 2 beer brand in the U.S.1, Modelo Especial is bolstering its leadership in the high-end beverage category with an expanded portfolio that addresses the flavors and varieties fans look for in an authentic Mexican beer brand. The new offerings include: Modelo Chelada Naranja Picosa - available nationally Modelo Chelada Limon y Sal, 12 oz. 12-pack - available nationally Modelo Oro - available in Charlotte, NC; Fresno, CA and Houston, TX Modelo Cantarito-Style Cerveza - available in Atlanta, GA; San Diego, CA and Arizona Modelo Ranch Water - available in Texas and New Mexico "In addition to being the No. 2 beer brand in the country1, Modelo Especial is the best-selling beer in nine key markets throughout the U.S.2, with plenty of room to grow. While we will continue to drive our flagship offering, we hope these innovations will continue our momentum and bring new opportunities for drinkers to enjoy Modelo products," said Greg Gallagher, Vice President of Brand Marketing, Modelo. "We are the No. 1 line-up of Cheladas in the U.S.1 and the brand driving all category growth3, so we are committed to investing in new flavorful options and delivering sizes that consumers want." Available nationally, the brand is releasing a 12oz 12-pack of the popular Modelo Chelada Limon y Sal flavor to make it easier to share when celebrating the Fighting Spirit with friends. The newest, vibrant flavor in the Chelada lineup is Modelo Chelada Naranja Picosa - a fun and zesty blend of refreshing flavors including orange, lime, salt, and a hint of spice. Modelo's innovations will bolster the brand's continued growth, as evidenced by its sales: as of January 2022, Modelo is the No. 1 growth beer brand, up 13 percent in extra sales compared to the same period in 20214. "When developing our regional product innovations, we aimed to test new offerings that consumers are asking for in key markets - with the authenticity that only Modelo can bring," said Saul Trejo, Senior Brand Manager, Modelo. "We know that consumers are increasingly reaching for lighter, more premium sessionable offerings5, so we developed Modelo Oro, a light cerveza that seals in Modelo's golden flavor. Meanwhile Modelo Cantarito-Style Cerveza is inspired by the vibrant cantarito cocktail from Jalisco, Mexico - a drink to celebrate the strong Mexican culture and heritage we see throughout the U.S." Modelo's new premium light beer offering is Modelo Oro, a time-crafted and premium light beer with an exceptionally smooth, crisp clean finish. Modelo Ranch Water is a crisp spiked sparkling water crafted with real flavor and Mexican ingredients - with a splash of real Mexican lime juice and a hint of 100% blue agave. Modelo Cantarito-Style Cerveza is a light lager made with a hint of real grapefruit, orange and lime juices. For more information on these innovations and other Casa Modelo products, visit www.modelousa.com. 1 IRi Last 52 Weeks Ending 01.02.22, Dollar Sales 2 2021 IRi Dollar Sales Total MULO + C 3 IRi, Total US MULO + C, $ sales, L52 weeks ending 1-2-22 4 IRi Total US MULO + C, CBI FY22 ending 2.13.22 5 Modelo Chelada Multi-Pack Assessment & Qual Validation Research 2019 ABOUT MODELO Born in 1925 in the small town of Tacuba, Mexico, Modelo has been bringing distinctive high-quality beer to people ever since, including Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, and a flavorful lineup of Modelo Cheladas. Modelo Especial is a golden, full-flavored Pilsner-style Lager with a clean, crisp finish. As the #1 imported beer in the U.S., Modelo Especial recently surpassed 150MM cases sold in 2021. The Modelo family of beers are exclusively brewed, imported and marketed for the U.S. by Constellation Brands. Media Contact: Stephanie McGuane Stephanie.mcguane@cbrands.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9beb31df-02db-48ea-a0af-3d04d40687fe https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aaf19497-fac6-4ed4-95a5-6a380a5d301b https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/52aa45bb-5588-47b3-b97a-6673b0b8ebbe https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/872b3592-dfdf-4c10-94a7-084e09fd3645 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a3518bc8-7a02-424d-8d93-742c548b1b91 U.S. Bank announced today that it will leverage Sustainalytics, a Morningstar Company and a leading global provider of ESG research and ratings, to offer environmental, social and governance (ESG) data solutions to U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (GFS) clients where independent ESG analytics and reporting services are required. With this relationship, clients will have access to a wide range of market standard-based sustainable investment datapoints applicable to their portfolio. U.S. Bank has integrated Sustainalytics' research and ratings to support portfolio analysis which enables regulatory compliance solutions and investor and financial reporting capabilities to address emerging regulatory and investor reporting demands. The sustainable investment data integration will also include a depositary oversight solution: U.S. Bank will use Sustainalytics' ESG research and ratings to ensure qualifying EU depositary clients are compliant with Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) requirements. "New regulatory requirements often introduce a level of uncertainty on how to address the requirements," said Breda Sullivan, U.S. Bank head of Depositary Services Europe. "U.S. Bank brings a wealth of resources and industry expertise that not every fund service provider can claim. We're excited to work with Sustainalytics to offer this new level of customized oversight to clients with sustainable investment strategies." Sustainalytics has a team of more than 500 in-house research analysts dedicated to producing its ESG research and ratings. In addition, the company relies on public disclosures and artificial intelligence to mine and report on meta-datasets. The resulting data library accessible to U.S. Bank clients provides coverage on approximately 15,000 companies and is structured in a manner that allows GFS to extend this data to bonds and derivatives issued by the companies in scope. Global Fund Services joins U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, which already utilizes Sustainalytics to implement ESG investing strategies. U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, along with U.S. Bank Global Corporate Trust and Custody and U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, comprise the Investment Services division, which holds $9.5 trillion in assets under custody and administration as of Dec. 31, 2021. U.S. Bank offers Investment Services solutions from three European locations in Ireland, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit usbank.com/investmentservices. About U.S. Bank U.S. Bancorp, with nearly 70,000 employees and $573 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2021, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association. The Minneapolis-based company serves millions of customers locally, nationally and globally through a diversified mix of businesses: Consumer and Business Banking; Payment Services; Corporate Commercial Banking; and Wealth Management and Investment Services. The company has been recognized for its approach to digital innovation, social responsibility, and customer service, including being named one of the 2021 World's Most Ethical Companies and Fortune's most admired superregional bank. Learn more at usbank.com/about. U.S. Bank Global Fund Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Bank, N. A. Custody and lending services are offered by U.S. Bank, N.A. U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Ireland) Limited is registered in Ireland, Company Number 413707. Registered Office at 24 26 City Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland. Directors: Linda Gorman, Brett Meili (USA), Joe Neuberger (USA), Padraic O'Connor, Rose Clear, Christine Waldron (USA). U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Ireland) Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited is licensed under the Protection of Investors Law (Bailiwick of Guernsey), 1987, as amended by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission to conduct controlled investment business in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Directors: Richard Bray, Wayne Bulpitt, Brett Meili, David Sload. U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l. is registered in Luxembourg with RCS number B238278 and Registered Office: Floor 3, K2 Ballade, 4, rue Albert Borschette, L-1246 Luxembourg. Directors: Michael Renner, Hugh Sheridan, David Sload, Christine Waldron. U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l. is authorised and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. Elavon Financial Services DAC, trading as U.S. Bank Depositary Services, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and is registered in Ireland with the Companies Registration Office Reg. No. 418442. The registered office is Block F1, Cherrywood Business Park, Cherrywood, Dublin 18, Ireland D18 W2X7. U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. is a registered investment adviser, a direct subsidiary of U.S. Bank National Association and an indirect subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp. U.S. Bank is not responsible for and does not guarantee the products, services, or performance of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. Investment products and services are: NOT A DEPOSIT NOT FDIC INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NOT BANK GUARANTEED NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY U.S. Bank does not guarantee products, services or performance of its affiliates and third-party providers View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005550/en/ Contacts: Kimberly Mikrot, U.S. Bank Public Affairs Communications kimberly.mikrot@usbank.com 612.206.2553 CHEYENNE, WY / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Marketing Worldwide Corporation, (OTC PINK:MWWC), 'the Company', is pleased announce its newest partnership with Doxed, LLC, the creators of the $DOX (BEP20/ BSC) token. DOX and $MWWC Partnership: Marketing Worldwide Corporation ('MWWC'), has partnered with Doxed, LLC., a Florida corporation. The Doxed team have developed and successfully launched the $DOXed token; this token is on the Binance Smart Chain, the same standard that the Minosis $MNS Token will be launched on in the near future. 'MWWC' has acquired a significant stake in the Liquidity Pool of $DOX, which will remain restricted for a period of 6 months, per the partnership agreement that was executed; at the end of the restriction period, Doxed, LLC. will have the first right of refusal to purchase the liquidity pool tokens back from Marketing Worldwide at market value. The Liquidity Pool tokens have already been transferred into a secure wallet as of today's press release; and are held in trust by the CEO, Jason Schlenk. "Some of the more popular tokens currently available; such as, $SHIB, SAITAMA, TARP, SHIBNOBI and TERAREUM have seen increases of over 320,000% in value over the past year and a half. If $DOX is as successful as the company believes it can be, the Liquidity Pool could be worth tens of millions of dollars to over a hundred million dollars in a short period of time," stated CEO Jason Schlenk. $DOX Token: More information regarding the DOX Token can be found on their website at www.doxedtoken.com, or from their official Twitter account @DoxedOfficial_. The $DOX tokenomics are as follows: 1% Burn - currently the 'DEAD' wallet address has 9.3618% removed from the circulating supply. 1% Reflection - rewards from every transaction to token holders as a bonus. 2% Marketing - for future advertising, influence and public involvement; this includes, giveaways and random burn events. 1% Development - to maintain ongoing support and resources for updating and enhancement of the entire ecosystem. 2% Liquidity - allowing buy and sell transactions to execute, providing confidence and legitimacy for investors. 2% Give-back wallet - Every time this wallet triggers at 5 BNB, a random selection of 5 wallet holders will receive 1 BNB each until the proceeds are exhausted. This wallet can trigger multiple times a day depending on volume. Doxed token can be viewed on the BSCSCAN network at the link below: https://bscscan.com/token/0xEDA3eB7A5494443beb800cD4cc70388228CEe84e What is the Doxed Token Utility?: Doxed is a BSC/ BEP20 token focusing on security and identity verification through their web-based platform. A token development team would utilize the DOX system through the proprietary "KYD" ( K now Y our D eveloper) protocol. The "KYD" process will factcheck data provided by a developer (or development team) and issue a $DOX KYD/NFT Stamp of approval; which can offer a higher level of transparency for investors to confirm that a project has been vetted. As a result, this type of validation could decrease the investors exposure to scam projects or "rug pulls" (A 'rug pull', is the elimination of all liquidity in a project that removes the ability for investors to sell, hence rendering the token worthless). What Exchange is DOX on?: 'MWWC' and DOXED are proud to announce that $DOX has officially been listed on the SAFEMOON (https://safemoon.net/) exchange, making it the first major exchange for the DOX token since its inception. Follow the link below to the SAFEMOON exchange: https://swap.safemoon.net/#/swap?inputCurrency=0x8076C74C5e3F5852037F31Ff0093Eeb8c8ADd8D3&outputCurrency=0x42981d0bfbAf196529376EE702F2a9Eb9092fcB5 Follow $DOX on Telegram: https://t.me/Doxed_Token Follow $DOX on Discord: https://discord.gg/K7H2frq7 Contact Information Twitter: @MWWCOfficial Email: LetsConnect@marketingworldwide.co Website: www.marketingworldwide.co Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words 'believe,' 'may,' 'estimate,' 'continue,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'should,' 'plan,' 'could,' 'target,' 'potential,' 'is likely,' 'will,' 'expect' and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Some or all of the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not be achieved. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. SOURCE: Marketing Worldwide Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690868/Marketing-Worldwide-Corporation-Completes-NEW-Strategic-Partnership-with-DOXed-LLC Registration for purchases started at 9 a.m. (Japan local time) on Monday, February 21, 2022 Press conference held at Museo Ferrari at 8 a.m. (Japan local time) on Monday, February 21 The archive video of the press conference is available on the RENASCENCE YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHnn2iShaac RADIOBOOK Co., Ltd., a company based in Tokyo, Japan which has several businesses based on the philosophy of "recycle, reuse, repair, respect, rebranding," launched the RENASCENCE project in cooperation with Scuderia Ferrari. Materials used at Scuderia Ferrari will be reused and transformed into art products through traditional Japanese craftsmanship. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005163/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) In conjunction with the announcement of the project at a press conference that was held at 8:00 AM (JST) on February 21 (Monday), registration began at 9 a.m. (Japan local time) on February 21, 2022 for the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind art products that transform the Scuderia Ferrari DNA using traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Fans are encouraged to follow this exciting project as it unfolds around the world. What is RENASCENCE? The brand concept for RENASCENCE is "reborn". Materials that carry on traditions and history will be reborn as one-of-a-kind art products, bringing new value. Materials from Scuderia Ferrari, which would otherwise be thrown away, will continue to carry on the DNA while being transformed into art products by fusing traditional Japanese craftsmanship. The brand concept for RENASCENCE is "reborn". Materials that carry on traditions and history will be reborn as one-of-a-kind art products, bringing new value. Materials from Scuderia Ferrari, which would otherwise be thrown away, will continue to carry on the DNA while being transformed into art products by fusing traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Project background and concept In the official partnership contract, which was signed in 2020 with Scuderia Ferrari, the two companies agreed to focus their attention on reuse products as part of their sustainable actions. Upon learning about the large volume of waste materials that result every year during their visit to the Scuderia Ferrari head office, RADIOBOOK suggested the idea for the RENASCENCE project, combining the materials with traditional Japanese culture to transform them into art products. RADIOBOOK has adopted a corporate philosophy to "create a world where everyone does only what they want to do," and by utilizing revitalized components through RENASCENCE, there is great hope that it will become a world-class brand much like the small automotive brands in Italy. In the official partnership contract, which was signed in 2020 with Scuderia Ferrari, the two companies agreed to focus their attention on reuse products as part of their sustainable actions. Upon learning about the large volume of waste materials that result every year during their visit to the Scuderia Ferrari head office, RADIOBOOK suggested the idea for the RENASCENCE project, combining the materials with traditional Japanese culture to transform them into art products. RADIOBOOK has adopted a corporate philosophy to "create a world where everyone does only what they want to do," and by utilizing revitalized components through RENASCENCE, there is great hope that it will become a world-class brand much like the small automotive brands in Italy. How to register Registration opened: 1 a.m. (Japan local time) on Monday, February 21, 2022 8 a.m. (Italy local time) on Monday, February 21, 2022 Website URL: https://renascence.jp/ How to purchase: Please register at the above site Details of the Art Products Each art product has been carefully developed on the concept of "tactile feeling," which means "to be able to sense by touching". For instance when using the keyboard, there is a distinct sensation of pressing down on the key which is achieved by fusing the unique characteristics of the Scuderia Ferrari materials with traditional Japanese culture. The products are finished using Wajima-nuri lacquer, one of the most popular lacquerware techniques in Japan and feature motifs such as "Patapata", a traditional Japanese toy, or car engine, integrating the cultures and traditions of Italy and Japan as art products. In the first stage, practical art products such as iPhone cases and cardholders will be developed based on the key words of "renaissance and rejuvenation." Highly skilled artisans carefully create each piece by hand, making every art product precious and unique. Each item becomes more unique with use, and the subtle changes can be enjoyed over the years. Attache Case (Hard) This attache case is designed to last a lifetime. A clean and simple shape is elegantly integrated with delicate details created through the finest Japanese craftsmanship. This is the first time ever that traditional Japanese Wajima-nuri lacquerware techniques have been combined with Scuderia Ferrari's materials. This piece is a strong expression of the Scuderia Ferrari message subtle and yet elegant down to the finest detail. Model: 1 type Color: 2 colors Surface: Wajima (lacquer) coating Price: 7,000,000 yen (tax included) Quantity: red 50/black 50 (made to order) iPhone Case (Frame/Engine) Frame: The design consists only of three-dimensional surfaces that seem to encompass a Scuderia Ferrari. The frame has been coated with red lacquer to give your mobile phone a beautiful and sophisticated appearance. Engine: Bold styling has been used to attach a plate that gives the impression of Scuderia Ferrari engine components. The metal frame has been coated with black lacquer. The contrast of the polished plate and black lacquer create a contemporary and delicate design. Model: 2 types Color: 2 colors Surface: Wajima (lacquer) coating Price: 1,000,000 yen (tax included) Quantity: red 250/black 250 (made to order) Business Card Holder (Slide/Flip) Slide: Conceived to give the feeling of drawing a sword from its sheath, the design creates a premium feeling by covering the entire piece with a deep matte red lacquer. Flip: The stylish function allows one to open the card holder with a swift single hand movement. The top and bottom surfaces have been carefully shaved and hand polished to create a plate with a rouge pattern. Lacquer has been painstakingly applied by a lacquerware craftsman. The feeling and sound given off when it is opened and closed convey the wonder of a hand-crafted piece. Model: 2 types Color: 2 colors Surface: Wajima (lacquer) coating Price: 500,000 yen (tax included) Quantity: red 250/black 250 (made to order) Money Clip (Fun/Flip/Ortho) Fun: This piece was designed with a view to simultaneously expressing fun, surprise and luxury. The intent of the design is to create a product for daily use that imparts a beautiful and simple sense of luxury. Flip: Part of the Flip lineup of business card holder products. Designed to ensure that the motion and sound give off a sense of luxury. As with the business card holder Flip, the top and bottom rouge plates have been carefully shaven and processed with precision by hand by craftsmen. Ortho: The simple design was achieved with polished materials layered multiple times in the Wajima-nuri lacquerware tradition to give it a deep texture. Simple and yet finely crafted down to the last detail at every stage of production. Model: 3 types Color: 2 colors Surface: Wajima (lacquer) coating Price: 500,000 yen (tax included) Quantity: red 250/black 250 (made to order) Comments by RENASCENCE Creative Director/RADIOBOOK CEO YUGO "I am extremely pleased to be able to announce RENASCENCE to everyone in the world," said RADIOBOOK CEO Yugo Itagaki. I send my gratitude and respect to all of the people who participated in this project, including Scuderia Ferrari, which provided the materials that prompted this project, the designers who created the wonderful designs, the artisans who delicately handcrafted the products using Wajima-nuri, plus many others." "When I saw the Scuderia Ferrari materials, which prompted us to start the project, I was excited about the huge potential," Itagaki continued. Based on the spirit of mottainai (not letting things go to waste), a unique Japanese way of thinking, and the idea of "creating a world where everyone does only what they want to do," i.e., "changing unneeded objects into needed objects," I continued to think about how wonderful it would be to be able to utilize these materials and transform them into something that would be appreciated. This led to us creating these wonderful products combining the cultures of Italy and Japan. RENASCENCE is only just getting started. This announcement is just a starting point for our ongoing efforts to turn art products that some may want into items that everyone wants." "I am extremely pleased to be able to announce RENASCENCE to everyone in the world," said RADIOBOOK CEO Yugo Itagaki. I send my gratitude and respect to all of the people who participated in this project, including Scuderia Ferrari, which provided the materials that prompted this project, the designers who created the wonderful designs, the artisans who delicately handcrafted the products using Wajima-nuri, plus many others." "When I saw the Scuderia Ferrari materials, which prompted us to start the project, I was excited about the huge potential," Itagaki continued. Based on the spirit of (not letting things go to waste), a unique Japanese way of thinking, and the idea of "creating a world where everyone does only what they want to do," i.e., "changing unneeded objects into needed objects," I continued to think about how wonderful it would be to be able to utilize these materials and transform them into something that would be appreciated. This led to us creating these wonderful products combining the cultures of Italy and Japan. RENASCENCE is only just getting started. This announcement is just a starting point for our ongoing efforts to turn art products that some may want into items that everyone wants." Logo Concept The silver "RENASCENCE" letters have been overlaid in gold with the letters for "RENASCENCE" which have been turned upside down and inverted. The silver letters are the "face" and is a symbol of the products which are a physical expression of Shindate's goals for the project. The silver exudes a chiseled sense of sophistication that is sharp and encompasses a sense of fulfillment and pride. The inverted gold overlay expresses the materials of Scuderia Ferrari that are reborn in these products. It represents the background of the art products which are reborn. The brilliance of gold is said to sooth the hearts of people symbolizing vitality and rebirth overlaid with the brand concept of rebuild and revive. By integrating these two colors Shindate created a design that expresses the very essence of the brand's value as the reincarnation of the reusable materials of Scuderia Ferrari, which until now had been discarded, into stylish art products. The letter "S" has been curated to resemble a vertical infinity sign (8). This is meant as a symbol of the infinite value of these art products and the infinite cycle of using reusable materials. The silver "RENASCENCE" letters have been overlaid in gold with the letters for "RENASCENCE" which have been turned upside down and inverted. The silver letters are the "face" and is a symbol of the products which are a physical expression of Shindate's goals for the project. The silver exudes a chiseled sense of sophistication that is sharp and encompasses a sense of fulfillment and pride. The inverted gold overlay expresses the materials of Scuderia Ferrari that are reborn in these products. It represents the background of the art products which are reborn. The brilliance of gold is said to sooth the hearts of people symbolizing vitality and rebirth overlaid with the brand concept of rebuild and revive. By integrating these two colors Shindate created a design that expresses the very essence of the brand's value as the reincarnation of the reusable materials of Scuderia Ferrari, which until now had been discarded, into stylish art products. The letter "S" has been curated to resemble a vertical infinity sign (8). This is meant as a symbol of the infinite value of these art products and the infinite cycle of using reusable materials. Press Conference Overview Event Name: Press Conference in Maranello Date and Time: 24:00 to 25:00 on Sunday, February 20, 2022 (Italy time) 08:00 to 09:00 on Monday, February 21, 2022 (Japan time) Broadcast Method: Broadcast via YouTube Live from project's YouTube channel Viewing URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHnn2iShaac (Archived video now available.) Presenters: MC Federica Masolin Creative Director YUGO Product Designer Akio Shindate Advisor Hiroyuki journalist Mario Miyakawa Website and Social Media for the New Project Website: https://renascence.jp/ Facebook: Renascence (https://www.facebook.com/Renascence-103580705572926) Twitter: @renascence_jp (https://twitter.com/renascence_jp) Instagram: @renascence_jp (https://www.instagram.com/renascence_jp/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtMXuDM2P75SZZV_dSKrHZw About RADIOBOOK Co., Ltd. Founded in 2014, RADIOBOOK is a business focused on focuses on smart on-demand services businesses which undertake including the purchases, sales, repairs, rentals, and data erasure of mobile devices such as smartphones, etc. in bulk. It is also involved in branding business and community management, and in March 2020, Shintaro Tabata, who had served as an executive officer at Livedoor, LINE, ZOZO" and Takashi Maeda, who had served as a design team leader in the PR department at Nintendo PR department before becoming independent, joined the company. In May 2021, Hiroyuki, the founder of 2channel, joined the company as an advisor. In 2020, the company became the only official partnership for Scuderia Ferrari in Japan. RADIOBOOK is made up of professionals with backgrounds across a variety of fields who develop new business. Company name: RADIOBOOK Co., Ltd. Address: Shibuya South Building 7F, 3-21-11, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Established: July 1, 2014 Capital: 20.1 million yen Officer: Representative Director/CEO Yugo Itagaki Website: https://radiobook.co.jp/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005163/en/ Contacts: Inquiries concerning this press release RADIOBOOK PR Mayuko Hachisuka Office E-mail: release@radiobook.co.jp In a first-of-its-kind move for the tech industry, abillion rewards it's members for contributing to its growth and success through shares in the company NEW YORK, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- abillion, the fastest growing platform designed to help people and businesses be more sustainable, is disrupting the concept of ownership and handing shares in the company to its members. This is a first in the social media and technology industry. Since 2018, abillion has run a unique and successful rewards program. Every time an abillion member chooses to eat or shop sustainably and shares their experiences on the abillion app, abillion credits them US$1. Members cannot withdraw the funds from their wallet but are able to use the credits to donate to any of the 60 plus non-profit organizations supported by the company. The company supports animal welfare projects from Argentina to Australia, and international organizations like Sea Shepherd and One Tree Planted. Through this program, abillion has donated over US$1.4 million. The program creates a direct link between consumer choices and the impact of those choices on the natural environment. Through the new abillion community equity program, members can now use their donation credits to own a stake in abillion. Each dollar will convert to a dollar's worth of shares when the company goes public. Founder & CEO Vikas Garg says, "We're uniquely positioned as a social media and technology company that's built around shared values that extend beyond our staff and offices and embody the values of our members. As a community built around a mission, we want to break the mold of Silicon Valley founders that own and control companies without bearing any responsibility to their users and society at large. Companies like Facebook and Twitter take no responsibility for the damage their platforms have done, from spreading hate, violence and misinformation to helping dictators and disrupting elections." Members will now see an "abillion Community Equity" badge alongside the 60 plus charities the company supports. To participate in the equity program, abillion members click on the icon and allocate credits to ownership. In doing so, they are promised the amount in shares upon the company's IPO. The company will not impose any limitations on how much of the company it's members can own. abillion was founded by Garg, a former hedge fund manager, in 2017, with the app launching in 2018. Garg has raised a total of US$17 million to fund the company, including a US$10m Series A in December 2021. The abillion app has been downloaded by over a million people in 166 countries. The app helps its members choose sustainable options when they eat or shop, and the company has donated US$1.4 million to sustainability and social impact projects worldwide since its launch. In 2022, abillion will be launching the world's first peer-to-peer marketplace fostering entrepreneurship in sustainability on a global scale. For images of abillion in use and a portrait of CEO & Founder Vikas Garg , here . For media enquiries, please send an email to: pr@abillion.com Our Mission: Through technology, we are connecting and helping people live, shop and eat more sustainably. Website: www.abillion.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1693437/Abillion_Logo.jpg CHICAGO, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a research report "Mass Notification Systems Market by Component (Solutions & Services), Type (In-Building, Distributed Recipient), Application (Public Alert & Warning, Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery), Deployment Mode, Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market for Mass Notification System is projected to grow from USD 10.8 billion in 2021 to USD 27.3 billion by 2026; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.4 % during 2021-2026. Browse in-depth TOC on "Mass Notification Systems Market" 273 - Tables 69 - Figures 299 - Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1248 MNS is designed to deliver crucial information to a group of people. Owing to the increasing number of disasters and emergency situations, such as health crisis, natural calamities (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and tornados) or other threats, including terrorist activities, public shootings, and bombings, the deployment of MNS solutions and services is becoming crucial. As emergencies happen at any time, anywhere, the best solution is to be proactive. Having a complete crisis communication solution such as MNS in place, ensures whatever situations may arise, organizations can reach out to panicked masses and help in the ongoing rescue and relief operations. These systems, being a subset of emergency communication systems, and a vital means of communications used to alert the masses before, during, or after an emergency or incident, act as a key bridging component in reaching out to panicked masses. The COVID-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on facility safety once again. Organizations cannot afford further disruptions but need to put the well-being of the people that use their facilities at the forefront of their plans. New guidelines and recommendations are being announced on a daily basis, which requires flexibility so that facilities can reopen safely. Doing so requires strong communication that helps keep everyone on the same page about new expectations, processes, and procedures. Every facility has distinct needs, but without the right tools in place, organizations' leaders may be putting their people and facilities at risk. This is the reason that various facilities are turning to MNS during this pandemic to help send messages that reach all stakeholders with timely updates. As facilities reopen, it is important to be able to send health and safety alerts and reminders to reduce the risk of spreading the disease. MNS can connect to the technology that various organizations already have in place to add value to the existing investments. IP phones, IP speakers, desktop computers, and digital signage are among the devices that can be used to communicate with people within a facility. MNS can be used to connect to these devices and activate them simultaneously to share messages that reach everyone with text and audio alerts. The more channels that an organization uses, the more likely it is that everyone within a facility receives the message. The MNS market is expected to gain growth opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic era. As several organizations face the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to offer quick and mass communication with updates and guidelines has gained momentum. Governments across the world realize the importance of broadcasting health and safety information messages that reach people on-premises or mobile devices. Several enterprises are adopting MNS solutions to share critical information to resources in a timely manner. As some organizations are still operating remotely, they often utilize MNS to connect with remote workers through SMSs, push notifications, emails, as well as recorded audio messages helping the organizations to keep a check on the health of their employees. There has been a mandate in Ontario, Canada wherein MNS help companies collect information related to COVID-19 symptoms before returning to the workplace. In the state of California, US, employers are utilizing MNS to alert potentially COVID-19 exposed employees and others who have been working in the same shift. These are some important factors that are expected to drive the growth of the MNS market post-COVID-19 era. Subway was able to test millions of customers using their digital channels, identifying opportunities to grow their remote ordering revenue at a pace to exceed a half-million dollars in the first year. The services segment to hold higher CAGR during the forecast period Based on components, The solutions segment is expected to hold a larger market share in 2021, while the services segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the need for determining the time and cost required to install the solution that requires fully managed mass notification services. Enterprises are becoming more aware of the benefits of a robust emergency and disaster management plan. Most organizations are inclined to adopt the services of MNS as they are not prone to hardware failures, and are reliable, robust, and scalable. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=1248 The in-building type segment holds the largest market size during the forecast period Based on Type, the in-building type segment is estimated to hold the largest market share in 2021. The in-building emergency communications system can function as a voice evacuation, mass notification, paging, and background music system. In-building mass notification system provides full control of building notification appliances such as loudspeakers and strobes. The distributed recipient segment is expected to have the highest growth rate during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the increasing need to send alert messages to end-users (recipients) via multiple delivery methods. The business continuity and disaster recovery application segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period, Based on applications, the business continuity and disaster recovery application segment is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, due to the demand for MNS solutions by business continuity and management teams of SMEs or large enterprises to help conduct business as usual. Mass notification systems offer business continuity management workflows that automatically send targeted notifications and engage the right teams when an incident occurs. The on-premises segment is to hold a larger market size during the forecast period Based on Deployment mode, the market size of the on-premises segment is estimated to have larger market share in 2021 whereas the cloud segment is expected to have a higher CAGR during the forecast period. The cloud technology benefits of easy deployment and minimal capital requirement facilitates the adoption of the cloud deployment mode. The increasing demand for scalable, easy to use, and cost-effective mass notification system solutions is expected to accelerate the growth of the cloud segment in the MNS market. Moreover, cloud-based mass notification solutions enable business operations to improve employee productivity and save OPEX. Hence, the deployment of the cloud-based deployment mode is gaining traction. The large enterprises segment is estimated to hold a larger market share during the forecast period The large enterprises segment is estimated to hold a larger market share in 2021. The growth of the segment is due to the increased competition in large enterprises from budding SMEs. Large enterprises need complex and highly scalable security systems and services as compared to SMEs. These customers operate across multiple locations in different geographies; hence, they require a solution, which offers elevated integration capabilities and is capable of large-scale seamless integration of security operations. The SMEs segment is projected to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period due to the rising demand to automate voice broadcasts, text messaging, and email communications to allow the authorities to communicate with people during emergencies. The education segment is estimated to hold a larger market share during the forecast period The education segment is expected to hold the largest market share in 2021. The growth is attributed to increased adoption of mass notification systems to handle any emergency in the campus and alert students, faculty, and staff in any scenario with speed and ease and manage the situation with responses and reporting. The transportation and logistics segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. As this sector is prone to threats such as terror activities, plane hijacks, smuggling, weather-related situations, and accidents, it is very crucial to have reliable and integrated MNS solutions for the transportation sector. Speak to Analyst: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=1248 North America to hold the largest market share during the forecast period North America is expected to hold the largest market share in 2021 and APAC is expected to hold the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The increased awareness of MNS after the 9/11 terrorist attack and occurrences of campus shootouts are the major factors driving the MNS adoption across North America. The growth in APAC is attributed to the acceptance of mass notification technologies by end users present in the region, due to dynamic environmental conditions. The demand for cloud-based mass notification solutions by business enterprises is expected to enhance their product offerings in APAC. Key players offering Mass Notification Systems Market. The major vendors covered Siemens (Germany), Everbridge (US), Honeywell (US), Eaton (Irelands), Motorola Solutions (US), Blackboard (US), IBM (US), Google (US), BlackBerry (Canada), Johnson Controls (US), Singlewire Software (US), Rave Mobile Safety (US), American Signal Corporation (ASC) (US), ATI Systems (US), Regroup Mass Notification (US), AlertMedia (US), KONEXUS (US), CrisisGo (US), Netpresenter (Netherlands), Omnilert (US), Ruvna (US), F24 (Germany), Alertus (US), Mircom (Canada), Iluminar (US), Omingo (US), Klaxon Technologies (UK), OnSolve(US), Crises Control(UK), Voyent Alert! (Canada), and Squadcast (US). Browse Adjacent Markets: Software and Services Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Predictive Analytics Market with Covid-19 Impact Analysis by Solution (Financial Analytics, Risk Analytics, Marketing Analytics, Web & Social Media Analytics), Service, Deployment Mode, Organization Size, Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 Incident and Emergency Management Market by Component, (Solutions (Emergency/Mass Notification System, Perimeter Intrusion Detection, and Fire and HAZMAT), Services, and Communication Systems), Simulation, Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/mass-notification-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/mass-notification.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg A sailboat puts out of bay amid rain in Sydney, Australia, on March 1, 2022. The torrential rainfall, which began in the nation's most populous city Sydney last week and has since moved north into southern Queensland, has already claimed eight lives and seen thousands stranded. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) SYDNEY, March 1 (Xinhua) -- As Australia's east coast experiences some of its worst rainfall and flooding in recorded history, scientists have flagged the extreme weather may be the nation's new reality amid climate change. The torrential rainfall, which began in the nation's most populous city Sydney last week and has since moved north into southern Queensland, has already claimed eight lives and seen thousands stranded. Local resident from one of the worst hit towns, Lismore in northern New South Wales (NSW), Harvey Nelson told Xinhua that people across his town have been stranded on roofs and unable to contact emergency services due to a backlog of requests. "Every year we get warned and told to evacuate and it's never been this bad," said Nelson. "Even people who have never had floods are now being caught." The Bureau of Meteorology recorded that the Wilsons River, which runs through Lismore, rose to a historical high of 14.4 meters on Monday afternoon. The second worst flood event saw the river reach 12.3 meters in 1954. A rain gauge near the town registered a staggering 775 mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning. Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg told local news outlet ABC on Monday that as many as 1,000 people could still be trapped and awaiting rescue in the town, with around 400 calls for help yet to be answered. Kimberley Reid, PhD researcher from the University of Melbourne's School of Earth Sciences, told Xinhua that the catastrophic downpour is the result of a build-up of "atmospheric rivers". "An 'atmospheric river' is just a region of really strong moisture transport. It's like a highway of moisture," said Reid. When the "river" hits a low-pressure system, it is lifted into the air before dumping huge amounts of water in a short period of time; the longer the moisture has been building, the more water that is released. Reid said another important factor when it comes to assessing flooding is the amount of moisture in the soil. Australia's uncharacteristically wet summer due to a La Nina weather event in the Pacific Ocean has meant that soil has been unable to absorb any more rainfall, further exacerbating flash flooding. "Since October last year, southeast Queensland has had above average soil moisture. So, when these heavy rains come in, all that rainfall just goes on to the surface," said Reid. She added that these weather events may become up to 80 percent more likely by the end of the century if global warming is not curbed, citing the common approximation that the atmosphere can hold 7 percent more water vapor for every degree of temperature increase. "Climate change is really affecting how much moisture the atmosphere can hold, and there is a lot more uncertainty regarding the setup of the weather system," said Reid. Expert in urban design and planning, Professor Elizabeth Mossop from the University of Technology Sydney, told Xinhua that as climate change increases the frequency and severity of severe weather, Australia would need to treat the mitigation of floods as part of its "business as usual" and not just a one-off disaster. "Where we are doing new development, we have to do that in such a way that we are not going to aggravate or make the flood conditions even worse," she noted. She said this would likely mean building houses away from flood plains and using less concrete in areas where soil is needed to soak up flood waters. She added that the most important thing was controlling the flow of water, and redirecting it away from humans. "We need more green space, more floodable space around these major drainage areas, so that the water can rise without causing damage," Mossop said. She said that while it was important to provide immediate help to people impacted by the floods, it was also important to provide ongoing, direct support through existing community programs. According to her, displacement amid floods is one of the most damaging things socially, because people lose their networks and they lose their social support. "People are often worried about sandbags, and rebuilding houses and things like that, but the social and psychological impacts are often incredibly important," she added. People walk past the Sydney Opera House amid rain in Sydney, Australia, on March 1, 2022. The torrential rainfall, which began in the nation's most populous city Sydney last week and has since moved north into southern Queensland, has already claimed eight lives and seen thousands stranded. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) People walk amid rain in Sydney, Australia, on March 1, 2022. The torrential rainfall, which began in the nation's most populous city Sydney last week and has since moved north into southern Queensland, has already claimed eight lives and seen thousands stranded. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) A woman walks amid rain in Sydney, Australia, on March 1, 2022. The torrential rainfall, which began in the nation's most populous city Sydney last week and has since moved north into southern Queensland, has already claimed eight lives and seen thousands stranded. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua) A man walks amid rain in Sydney, Australia, on March 1, 2022. The torrential rainfall, which began in the nation's most populous city Sydney last week and has since moved north into southern Queensland, has already claimed eight lives and seen thousands stranded. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua) The Sydney Opera House is seen amid rain in Sydney, Australia, on March 1, 2022. The torrential rainfall, which began in the nation's most populous city Sydney last week and has since moved north into southern Queensland, has already claimed eight lives and seen thousands stranded. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) Joining forces with Shift 4 allows both companies to expand their services and provide global merchants a complete offering and a multi-dimensional processing experience unlike any other. Finaro (formerly Credorax), global cross-border payment provider and fully licensed bank empowering international commerce through brilliantly simple payment solutions, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Shift4 for its acquisition in a deal worth $575 M USD. The combined offering of both companies creates complimentary synergy of a global payments powerhouse with significant card-present and card-not-present expertise across a range of verticals serving large, complex merchants with unique solutions. Together, Finaro and Shift4 will be better positioned to provide merchants with the best-in-class global omni-channel payment solution and stand alongside some of the biggest players in the payments industry, including Adyen, Nuvei and WorldPay. "This acquisition underscores our aggressive efforts to deliver a unified commerce experience across the world. This deal clearly shows our ability to support existing transformational and global customers like SpaceX Starlink St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," said Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman. Finaro will provide the global infrastructure and cutting-edge technology needed to drive Shift4's international ambitions to deliver a unified commerce experience. By integrating Finaro's capabilities, Shift4 will be able to expand the company's current services around the world, including its next-generation SkyTab POS solution, Shift4Shop eCommerce platform, and VenueNext stadium offering. Shift4 also has more than 425 software integrations and over 200,000 merchant customers, many of which have a multinational presence and provide immediate international opportunities that can now be unlocked as a result of this acquisition. "This acquisition emphasizes that we have accomplished what we set out to achieve building reliable payment processing capabilities that are truly limitless in reach and scale. Being able to apply this technology to SpaceX's Starlink program and others similar in scope, while also offering our merchants and partners around the world a broader range of products and services, is the realization of this goal in the most concrete manner, and we are thrilled to join the Shift 4 team," said Igal Rotem, CEO, Finaro. For additional information on this acquisition, please visit the presentations section of Shift4's Investor Relations website here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005870/en/ Contacts: Jenna Walker 07591 382 856 Jenna@skyparlour.com GURNEE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Brightrock Gold Corp. (OTC Markets:BRGC) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Red Beryl Mining Company, Inc. to obtain 100% ownership of the "Midnight Owl Mine", previously known as "The Lithium King Mine", located approximately 13 miles east of Wickenburg, Arizona. Mr. Mac Shahsavar President of the Company is quoted in saying, "that the execution of this acquisition agreement allows for a completely new corporate vision and direction for Brightrock Gold Corp., while remaining in the mining and exploration industry, with the corporate goal of becoming a 100% domestically sourced and focused Lithium mining company." The Midnight Owl Mine, Deposit 10027532 in the Mineral Resource Data System of the USGS is a 20.66 acre claim and past producer in Yavapai County, Arizona. Past Production records with the USGS indicate high grade Lithium and Beryllium recovery from this site. According to the USGS, reserves are still present at this location and are expected to be deeper than the previously mined ore. The consideration for this property is 30,000,000 restricted common shares and no cash consideration to be paid. Transfer of ownership of this property is expected to be completed and recorded under the Brightrock Gold corporate name within the next 90 days. Historical References : https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/show-mrds.php?dep_id=10027532 https://tucson.com/news/local/mine-tales-midnight-owl-mine-known-for-its-lithium-deposits/article_0fd23987-3763-55a6-b3da-af2bc9ac03a5.html Contact: BrightRock Gold Corporation Phone 866-600-5444 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc. Our public filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the OTC Markets at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BRGC/disclosure SOURCE: BrightRock Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690898/Brightrock-Gold-Corp-Announces-Acquisition-Agreement-with-Red-Beryl-Mining-Company-Inc Jointly organized by the World Water Council and the Senegalese government, the 9th edition of the World Water Forum will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from March 21 to 26, 2022 with the theme "Water Security for Peace and Development". This is the first time that this international event will be held in sub-Saharan Africa. Conceived as a catalyst for engagement and action, the World Water Forum aims to strengthen the world's capacity to respond to contemporary water-related challenges. This 9th edition of the event is structured around four priorities: water security and sanitation; water for rural development; cooperation; "Tools and Means" including the crucial issues of financing, governance, knowledge management and innovation. Dubbed the "Forum of Answers", the 9th World Water Forum aims to achieve meaningful results and solutions for communities around the world. It will bring together a high-level audience from all continents, including representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, major corporations, humanitarian foundations and associations, researchers and academics, and politicians. The 9th World Water Forum is also intended to be a platform of expression for all stakeholders (including women's groups, youth, farmers, herders and fishermen) and will thus contribute to the qualitative transformation of people's daily lives and to the improvement of the performance of productive sectors. "We are very proud to bring together governments, the private sector and civil society organizations to strengthen the implementation of actions needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals" said Abdoulaye Sene, the Executive Secretary of the 9th World Water Forum. To participate in the Forum: https://signup.worldwaterforum.org/en/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005821/en/ Contacts: Press contact Keshia Dupros kd@35nord.com +33(0)628342562 Virtual Care and Remote Monitoring Leader Cloud DX sign new contracts, contract renewals, and delivers industry firsts, making Q1 a record-setting quarter News in Summary Cloud DX books over $1.2 Million in new contracts and renewals so far in Q1 Multiple 3 rd party surveys show patient satisfaction with Cloud DX at over 95% First contract under the Canada-wide Medtronic partnership is signed in Ontario KITCHENER, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Cloud DX (TSXV:CDX) (OTC:CDXFF), Cloud DX, digital health innovator delivering leading Virtual Care and Remote Monitoring solutions across North America, is pleased to share an update on its partnerships, new contracts, and contract renewals. Cloud DX's recently signed partnerships with Medtronic Canada, Prizm Media, and Maxwell Telecare and have provided opportunities to accelerate deployments of its chronic care management and post-surgical patient monitoring programs in North America. As of March 1, 2022, Cloud DX has booked $1.2 Million CAD in new business, notably including its first Medtronic partner contract for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) therapy support at St. Mary's General Hospital. This past month's success also includes a new contract with another Pulmonary Rehabilitation program in Canada, a renewal and expansion of a Canadian provincial/territorial remote patient monitoring contract for 24 months, the launch of an innovative new critical illness benefit with Equitable Life (a first in Canadian insurance) , and a new primary care Remote Monitoring contract with a large clinic in Massachusetts, USA1. This revenue will flow in 2022 and 2023 with a majority flowing this year due to purchases of new Connected Health kits. On the company's traction, Cloud DX lead independent board director Brad Miller, commented: "In 2021, Cloud DX set the basis, through contracts and partnership agreements, to grow aggressively in 2022. Patients and healthcare staff alike love virtual care with Cloud DX's Connected Health. Expertise in deployment, innovation, and outstanding customer service are all key reasons why Cloud DX continues to secure exclusive partnerships with leaders such as Medtronic Canada and Equitable Life. With the traction achieved so far in 2022, this quarter is shaping into a record quarter for the company. With remote patient monitoring set to grow to over 70M patients by 2025, Cloud DX expects continuing and accelerating growth in 2022." Cloud DX currently has access to over 2 million patients and projects to approach positive cash flow once approximately 10,000 patients are enrolled. The second tranche of the company's previously announced Convertible Debenture Brokered Private Placement is currently open. Term sheets are available upon request, please email: investor.relations@CloudDX.com . Footnotes: Cloud DX and Medtronic announced their contract with St. Mary's General Hospital on February 23, 2022. Equitable Life of Canada and Cloud DX announced their partnership and Critical Illness benefit on February 14, 2022. Cloud Dx announced their contract with an Ontario Pulmonary Rehabilitation clinic on December 21, 2021. Cloud DX signed a contract with a clinic in Massachusetts, USA in February 2022. About Cloud DX Accelerating virtual healthcare, Cloud DX is on a mission to make healthcare better for everyone. Our Connected Health TM remote patient monitoring platform is used by healthcare enterprises and care teams across North America to virtually manage chronic disease, enable aging in place, and deliver hospital-quality post-surgical care in the home. Our partners achieve better healthcare and patient outcomes, reduce the need for hospitalization or re-admission, and reduce healthcare delivery costs through more efficient use of resources. Cloud DX is a winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, a 2021 Edison Award winner, a Fast Company "World Changing Idea" finalist, and one of "Canada's Ten Most Prominent Telehealth Providers. In 2021, Cloud DX became an exclusive partner to Medtronic Canada. Cloud DX Investor Site https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx 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. Social Links Twitter https://twitter.com/CloudDX Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clouddxinc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-dx/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cloud.dx/ For media inquiries please contact: Janine Scott Marketing Lead 888-543-0944 janine.scott@CloudDX.com For investor inquiries please contact: Jay Bedard Cloud DX Investor Relations 647-881-8418 jay.bedard@CloudDX.com Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements or information 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 the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. In particular, this news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the Offering, including the expected proceeds, the expected closing date, and the use of the net proceeds, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, information concerning the closing of the Offering, the receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange, the use of proceeds and the Company's marketing and research and development strategies and the expected benefits thereof. 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 statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such 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 and forward-looking information. The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " U.S. Securities Act ") or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there by any sale of the securities referenced in this press release, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. SOURCE: Cloud DX Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690916/Cloud-DX-Provides-Update-on-Contracts-Partnerships-and-Virtual-Care-Platform-Deployments-so-Far-in-2022 Now known as Convera, the business had a record year of $170 billion in global payments volume is poised for further growth under new ownership Goldfinch Partners LLC and The Baupost Group, LLC announced they reached a major milestone today with its initial closing in the acquisition of Western Union Business Solutions (WUBS) for $910 million. WUBS, which will be renamed Convera as a new standalone B2B global payments company, had a record 2021 with over 20 percent revenue growth and payments volume of $170 billion. Patrick Gauthier, who was most recently the Global Head of Amazon Pay, will serve as Convera's CEO. Mr. Gauthier commented: "At Convera, our purpose is to make global payments so easy that every business around the world can grow with confidence. Convera combines the agility of a fintech with the scale, sophistication, and breadth of capabilities of a global financial institution. We intend to bring innovation, value, and exceptional service to our customers with focused investments in our product offerings, technology, and people." Convera is the largest non-bank fintech in global B2B payments and makes cross-border money transfers simple and stress-free, allowing its customers to scale globally with ease. The business has an exceptional global reach with capabilities in 140+ currencies across 200+ countries and territories, and 60+ global banking partners. Convera's customers include more than 30,000 small and medium-sized businesses, educational institutions, financial institutions, law firms and NGOs. "We are excited to reach this important milestone in Convera's next chapter", said Bill McNichols, managing partner and co-founder of Goldfinch Partners. "We're especially excited to be bringing Patrick on board, who we have known and admired for years. We have full confidence in his ability to further position Convera for significant growth, with its unparalleled scale, diverse and loyal customer base, and breadth of solutions." Convera will add several veteran fintech professionals to its leadership team with experience at companies including Amazon, BCG, BCG Digital Ventures, PayPal and Visa. These include Jodi Krause (Chief People Officer), Dharmesh Syal (Chief Technology Officer), Jody Visser (Chief Transformation Officer) and Drew Weinstein (Chief Commercial Officer). They are joining the existing WUBS leadership team including Michel Foricher (Head of Operations), Andrew Summerill (Chief Financial Officer) and Tristan van der Vijver (Chief Compliance and Risk Officer). "We believe that investment in Convera's talent, technology and product will help accelerate the company's leading position in an attractive and growing end-market," said Ryan Duffy, managing director, The Baupost Group. "We are thrilled to be a part of Convera's evolution, as it enhances the experience for employees, customers and partners." Mr Gauthier paid tribute to the work of this team: "Our main focus over the past few months has been to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for our customers and our employees. I would like to particularly thank the WUBS and Western Union employees who have worked so hard to get us to this milestone. While today is an important day for Convera, we look to the future with renewed ambition." As previously announced, the transaction is closing in two stages, with the second closing, representing the business that is operated through Western Union International Bank in the European Union and the United Kingdom, expected later this year, subject to receipt of regulatory licenses and approvals. About Patrick Gauthier: Patrick Gauthier is the Chief Executive Officer of Convera. Patrick is a long-time fintech specialist with senior leadership roles at Amazon, PayPal and Visa along with early and mid-stage payments and eCommerce startups, where he has developed high performance teams and built high growth businesses. Patrick is a recognized thought leader on the future of commerce and payments, with recurring appearances on CNBC, as well as leading industry trades and conferences. He has held positions on the board of directors of multiple venture backed startups in mobile, security, ecommerce and identity domains. Patrick lives in Seattle, Washington and holds a master's degree in Computer Science from Telecom SudParis in France. About Goldfinch Partners: Headquartered in Seattle, and with investment professionals in the Bay Area and New York City, Goldfinch Partners is a financial sponsor with approximately $1 billion of committed equity invested in software and technology-enabled services businesses against the broad theme of digital transformation across industry verticals. Launched in 2018, Goldfinch investment professionals have decades of experience investing and serving in senior operating roles at leading global companies. Founders Sean Collins (formerly of BCG) and Bill McNichols (formerly of Starbucks and Vulcan Capital) have worked and invested together since 2015, and with the Investment Team, have led over $100 billion in aggregate transactions. About The Baupost Group, LLC: The Baupost Group is a Boston-based investment manager with a long-term, collaborative approach. Since 1982, the firm has been thoughtfully stewarding and compounding capital on behalf of families, foundations and endowments, as well as employees who collectively are the firm's largest client. Today Baupost manages roughly $29 billion. With a broad and flexible charter, and depth of experience across all asset classes and market environments, Baupost is strongly positioned to evaluate and pursue longer-duration and highly complex opportunities, and to structure transactions flexibly to meet the requirements of sellers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005856/en/ Contacts: Sarah Meade sarah@150bond.com 50 Best, the organization behind The World's 50 Best Bars, launches brand-new list and awards program in North America for the first time NEW YORK, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 50 Best will be landing in North America with a list for the first time in its history, with the launch of North America's 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier. The awards will be held in New York City on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 and the launch of North America's 50 Best Bars will mark the first time since 2016 that 50 Best unveils a new bars list and awards program. Mark Sansom, Content Editor for 50 Best, says: "We couldn't be more excited to launch a new 50 Best list in North America. The bar scene and extensive talent across this region sets the tone for the rest of the world and we are confident that this new list will be a vital addition to the local and international bar landscape as bar-goers plan their next cocktail-led adventures." This launch marks a critical step in 50 Best's drive to put the spotlight on superb existing and up-and-coming bar talent in specific regions, showcasing the subtlety and complexity of bar craft from around the world. The inaugural North America's 50 Best Bars awards ceremony and unveiling of the list provides a unique opportunity to unite bartenders, bar owners, cocktail aficionados and drinks media from all over the region, while also promoting the strength and diversity of the region's bar scene to a global audience. The awards ceremony brings together the best bartending talent from the region, with a live countdown of the list, culminating in the first-ever announcement of North America's Best Bar, sponsored by Perrier. The live awards ceremony on June 7, 2022 will be preceded by a number of special award announcements and a number of unique award announcements will also take place on the evening itself. The inaugural ranking for North America's 50 Best Bars will reflect the best bar experiences based on the votes of more than 250 gender-balanced voters, made up of anonymous North American bar industry experts from the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Bars cannot apply to be on the list and no sponsors have any influence on the list. Further information on how the voting works is available here. Media centre access: https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1753738/North_America_50_Best_Logo.jpg CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / ApartmentAdvisor (www.apartmentadvisor.com), the apartment search platform, today revealed its list of Best Foodie Cities, with Louisville, KY, Albuquerque, NM, and Tulsa, OK earning the top three spots. The list highlights cities with culinary offerings that rival better-known food capitals, but with budget-friendly rent prices that allow for more frequent dining out. The company's top ten picks were determined by a variety of factors, including the number of restaurants per capita with at least a four-star rating on Yelp, diversity of cuisine, and access to food halls or specialty markets. In addition, ApartmentAdvisor editors factored rent prices, targeting cities with a median rent to median income ratio of 25% or lower to accommodate a dining out budget. Top Ten Best Foodie Cities for Renters: Louisville, KY Albuquerque, NM Tulsa, OK Portland, OR Columbus, OH Kansas City, MO Indianapolis, IN Virginia Beach, VA Jacksonville, FL Raleigh, NC More information on each of these cities and their exciting food scenes can be found in the Best Foodie Cities report. "Living in a city with a vibrant food scene can be amazing, but not when your rent expenses are too high to enjoy it," said Adeeva Fritz, Editorial Director at ApartmentAdvisor. "With our Best Foodie Cities list, we've identified cities where both the culinary offerings and rent prices are equally appetizing for the average renter. Even if you don't consider yourself a bona fide foodie, these places are worth checking out." Louisville, KY earned the number one spot on the list and was lauded by ApartmentAdvisor for its extensive dining options ranging from award-winning fine dining to delightful cozy-casual restaurants. And while many local chefs offer a modern take on Southern cooking, editors noted that there's no shortage of globally inspired menus to choose from, providing food enthusiasts ample opportunity to explore new tastes. Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Louisville averages around $760 per month. Albuquerque, NM, second on the list, was celebrated for a local food and dining culture shaped by Native American, Mexican, and Spanish influences. Resident foodies enjoy plentiful options for the very best New Mexican fare as well as other globally-inspired cuisine, contributing to a vibrant, diverse culinary landscape. The average rent price for a 1-bedroom apartment in Albuquerque is $800 per month. Tulsa, OK, in third place, was called out for its burgeoning food scene that is being fueled by a new generation of creative chefs and restauranteurs, many taking advantage of the region's agrarian bounty to inform their modern menus. Tulsa's iconic BBQ and steakhouses still endure too, providing local foodies with a wide range of choices both familiar and new. The average price for a 1-bedroom apartment in Tulsa averages $761 per month. Methodology To determine the list of Best Foodie Cities, ApartmentAdvisor editors evaluated hundreds of cities by the following criteria: the number of restaurants per capita with at least a four-star rating on Yelp, diversity of restaurant cuisine, access to food halls and specialty markets, the proximity of dining options to popular rental neighborhoods, and median rent prices as compared to median household incomes for each city. ApartmentAdvisor used data from the US Census Bureau, Yelp, and its proprietary rent price data in its analysis. About ApartmentAdvisor? ApartmentAdvisor (www.apartmentadvisor.com) helps renters easily find the right apartment. The platform combines rigorous rent price analytics and neighborhood insights, empowering renters with a more transparent way to compare prices, features, and locations of available apartments.? ApartmentAdvisor was founded in 2020 by a team of founders and engineers from TripAdvisor and CarGurus, including Langley Steinert (co-founder of TripAdvisor and founder and executive chairman at CarGurus); Tom Gilmore (founder and CEO of VacationHomeRentals, sold to TripAdvisor); Josh Arnold (engineering at TripAdvisor and director of data science for MineralTree); and Oliver Chrzan (former chief technology officer at CarGurus). The company is based in Cambridge, MA.? ?PR Contact: ?Amy Mueller 617-216-2900 ? pr@apartmentadvisor.com https://www.apartmentadvisor.com/ SOURCE: ApartmentAdvisor View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690744/ApartmentAdvisor-Reveals-Americas-Best-Foodie-Cities-Amazing-Cuisine-and-Palatable-Rent-Prices-Make-These-Ten-Cities-Perfect-for-Food-Lovers Expanded Vision and Business Offering, New Leadership Team and Strategic Fintech Partnerships Set the Foundation to Lead the Commercial Digital Banking Industry NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Grasshopper , the client-first digital business bank, today announced the relaunch of its digital banking platform to meet the shifting demands of small businesses and innovators across the country. With needs unmet by the traditional banking system, small businesses are eager to find services and technology that will help them grow. Grasshopper has the capabilities to help these businesses exceed their potential and is set to lead in the innovation economy by building tools specifically designed for small businesses, startups and the venture community. The revamped management team is led by former Radius Bank CEO, Mike Butler, and the bank has entered into new lines of business and developed partnerships with industry-leading fintech companies. All of this has been done as a way to expand Grasshopper's mission of providing a superior digital banking experience for the business and innovation economy. The new direction is buoyed by substantial growth over the past year with total loans increasing by 19 percent, total deposits increasing by 75 percent and total assets increasing by 32 percent. "Grasshopper is in its best position yet to help small businesses address the key challenge of taking advantage of digital tools to control their finances and deliver value to their customers," said Mike Butler, CEO of Grasshopper. "The past two years have underscored the fact that the small business market has been traditionally underserved by banks, causing many business owners to seek digital solutions to fit their needs - a trend that will continue beyond the pandemic. As serving small businesses is core to our business, and with our leadership and technology, we are uniquely positioned to solve this problem." Beginning with Butler's hiring in May 2021, Grasshopper has strategically expanded on its mission to serve new businesses and the innovation economy. Grasshopper is unveiling several new technologies today, all developed by examining client pain points and working inward to develop innovative solutions. These technologies include: BaaS APIs - An application programming interface (API) layer for both direct use and in conjunction with a Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform for fintechs. - An application programming interface (API) layer for both direct use and in conjunction with a Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform for fintechs. New technology - Digital deposit account opening, online and mobile banking platforms for small business and venture clients, and a new core banking system were implemented to allow for scalable growth and provide flexibility with the new API tools. - Digital deposit account opening, online and mobile banking platforms for small business and venture clients, and a new core banking system were implemented to allow for scalable growth and provide flexibility with the new API tools. Innovator Business Checking - A new digital checking account with a Visa debit card designed for startups and small businesses. - A new digital checking account with a Visa debit card designed for startups and small businesses. Redesigned website - Grasshopper's new public website and client-facing online and mobile banking platforms; access it here . Following Butler's hire as CEO, Grasshopper set into motion a strategy of broadening its range of clients. The digital bank now operates in the fields of the tech and innovation economy, small and midsize business (SMB), fintechs via a Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Commercial API Banking platform, with additional solutions for SBA, commercial real estate and yacht lending. Key hires and promotions to deploy this strategy include: Chris Tremont as Chief Digital Officer to lead SMB, Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), product, marketing and client services. Stephanie Dunn as Head of SBA Lending. Arthur Birenbaum as Head of Commercial Real Estate. Jeremy Shure and Barbara Fleming remain Co-Heads of Technology Banking, working closely with venture capital, private equity and their portfolio companies. Jim Velez as Head of Yacht Lending. Mike Lenahan as Chief Financial Officer to lead finance, accounting and operations. Pete Chapman as Chief Technology Officer to lead technology and product management. Grant Skeens as Chief Risk Officer to lead credit, risk, information security and compliance. Lynn Gibson being promoted to Head of Human Resources to lead all employee recruitment, retention and engagement efforts. "Expanding into new business lines required us to bring in experts in each field, as well as proven leaders to oversee our daily operations," said Butler. "Great people make great companies, and in line with our goal of operating like a tech company with a banking charter, we've established a team that understands technology in addition to banking - a critical benefit for our clients. Whether it's small business, tech banking, or anything in between, our clients can be confident that they're being guided by experienced leaders with deep knowledge of their industry and the challenges they're facing." Grasshopper has also engaged in strategic partnerships with a number of industry-leading fintechs, including FIS , Treasury Prime , Narmi , Alloy , Hummingbird and Autobooks to provide a best-in-class banking experience for its clients across all lines of business. These partnerships play a critical role in rounding out the Grasshopper product line, and ensuring that unique solutions exist for any problem a client may present. Butler added: "Grasshopper's new leadership, technology and partnerships have the bank well positioned to reassert itself at the forefront of the business-to-business digital banking field. Each addition to Grasshopper's platform was designed with clients in mind - to meet the needs of a new generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders who require a nimble and forward-thinking banking partner to match their ambitions." About Grasshopper Bank With total assets of approximately $300 million, Grasshopper is a client-first digital bank serving founders, their companies, and the investors supporting them across the innovation economy. Grasshopper replaces the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to banking with a suite of products and services tailored to specific industries, and a passionate team of experts with deep expertise in their fields. Grasshopper's banking solutions cover small business, venture-backed companies, fintech-focused Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and commercial API banking platforms, SBA lending, commercial real estate lending, and yacht financing. Headquartered in New York City, the bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and is an Equal Housing/Equal Opportunity Lender. For more information, visit the bank's website at www.grasshopper.bank or follow on LinkedIn and Twitter . Media Contact: Stephen Sumner, Caliber Corporate Advisers stephen@calibercorporateadvisers.com 845.489.0612 SOURCE: Grasshopper View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690797/Grasshopper-Relaunches-with-New-Leadership-and-Technology-to-Address-Increasing-Demand-from-Underserved-Small-Businesses TORONTO, March 01, 2022, today announced the acquisition of Century Logistics, a longstanding third-party logistics provider based in Suffolk, UK. "We welcome Century Logistics to the Metro Supply Chain team. Century's wide capabilities and customer-focused culture complement Metro Supply Chain's strengths as a strategic supply chain solutions partner to some of the world's fastest-growing and most reputable brands," explains Martin Graham, Group President of Metro Supply Chain. "This acquisition deepens our operations in the UK and Europe and broadens our service offerings for UK-based customers looking to expand into the United States or Canada." For decades, Century Logistics has been integral to helping local and multinational consumer packaged goods brands scale through warehousing, co-packing, ecommerce fulfillment, product repairs and product returns. Managing seven distribution sites, Century Logistics is strategically located along the A14 corridor between the bustling Golden Triangle and the port of Felixstowe, the UK's biggest and busiest container port. "Since opening our first commercial warehouse in 1998, Century Logistics' driving focus has been to invest where our customers need us most, which, in recent years, has meant supporting their significant ecommerce growth," says Stephen Basey-Fisher, founder and chairman of Century Logistics. "We're thrilled to join Metro Supply Chain and be able to offer customers here and abroad a true end-to-end, harmonized experience that will delight their consumers wherever and whenever they shop." Metro Supply Chain has been operating in the UK since 2016 when it acquired Evolution Time Critical, a premium provider of 24-hour emergency logistics for companies around the world, with offices in Derby, UK, the United States, Portugal, Germany and China. In 2021, the company expanded operations to include five facilities in Wales dedicated to defence sector logistics. With the acquisition of Century Logistics, Metro Supply Chain manages more than 12 million square feet in over 80 distribution centres across North America and Europe. "Century Logistics founders Stephen and Ann Basey-Fisher have built an impressive customer-focused operation and we are excited to welcome the full Century team to Metro Supply Chain," says Chiko Nanji, founder and CEO of Metro Supply Chain. "We look forward to providing greater synergies and opportunities for our UK-based customers who are looking to grow their operations in new geographies and capabilities." About Metro Supply Chain Metro Supply Chain is a strategic supply chain solutions partner for some of the world's fastest growing and most recognizable organizations. Managing more than 12 million square feet in over 80 sites across North America and Europe with a team of 6,000, it is the largest privately-owned supply chain solutions company based in Canada. For more than 40 years, Metro Supply Chain's scale, wide capabilities and entrepreneurial structure has enabled it to meet its customers' most challenging supply chain needs, including the creation of complex e-commerce fulfillment and last-mile delivery networks.? About Century Logistics Based in Suffolk, United Kingdom, Century Logistics provides consumer packaged goods companies with everything from warehousing and co-packing services to ecommerce fulfillment, product repairs and returns management. It operates seven facilities strategically located between the UK's Golden Triangle and busy port of Felixstowe. For more information, contact: Alison Wood, Head of Marketing and Communications awood@metroscg.com Tel: +1 437 332-4361 Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - Champion Bear Resources Ltd. (TSXV: CBA) ("Champion Bear" or the "Company") announces today the resignation of BDO Canada LLP (the "Former Auditor") as auditor of the Company and the appointment of Kenway Mack Slusarchuk Stewart LLP (the "Successor Auditor") of Calgary, Alberta as auditor for the Company effective February 23, 2022 until the close of the next annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Company. There were no reservations in the Former Auditor's reports in connection with the financial statements of the Company since the Former Auditor's appointment; and any periods subsequent for which an audit report was issued and preceding the effective date of expiry of the Former Auditor's term of office. The Company confirms that there have been no reportable events as defined in the National Instrument 51-102 and, in its opinion, there are no reportable events pending. The Company and the Board of Directors would like to extend their thanks to BDO Canada LLP for their auditing services to date. About Champion Bear Champion Bear is a mineral exploration company focused exclusively on the historically prospective regions of Ontario. The Company's primary targets are platinum group metals, precious metals, and polymetallic base metals deposits. The Company has assembled a large land position in the Dryden and Sudbury areas, totaling over 16,000 hectares. Additional information about Champion Bear can be found on the Company's website at www.championbear.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For further information, please contact: Richard D. Kantor, Chairman and President of Champion Bear at phone: (403) 229-9522. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115243 HANOI, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam attracted an estimated foreign investment of nearly 5 billion U.S. dollars in the first two months of this year, down 8.5 percent year on year, according to the country's General Statistics Office on Tuesday. Specifically, Vietnam licensed 183 new foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with total registered capital of 631.8 million U.S. dollars, up 45.2 percent in quantity but down 80.9 percent in capital year on year. Among countries and regions with newly licensed investment projects in Vietnam in the period, Singapore was the largest source of registered capital with 222.8 million U.S. dollars, accounting for 35.3 percent of the total, followed by China's Hong Kong with 112.7 million U.S. dollars, accounting for 17.8 percent, said the office. During the period, Vietnam also saw 142 operational FDI projects raise capital by 3.59 billion U.S. dollars in total, up 123.8 percent year on year. Between January and February, disbursed FDI capital totaled 2.68 billion U.S. dollars, up 7.2 percent year on year, with 75.4 percent for the processing and manufacturing sector. In 2021, Vietnam attracted a total foreign investment of 31.15 billion U.S. dollars, up 9.2 percent on a yearly basis, according to the office. Strong performance improvements as foundation for the Group OneESI 2024 strategic plan for higher growth and profitability Full year revenues at 136.6m: +4.6% YoY at constant exchange rate (cer), +3.0% at current exchange rate, at the top end of the Group's shared guidance (133.5m to 136.5m) Doubling Adjusted EBIT 1 margin from 4.5% to 9.6% Healthy financial situation Gearing improved from 28.4% in 2020 to 17.2% in 2021 Regulatory News: ESI Group, Rungis, France, (ISIN Code: FR0004110310, Symbol: ESI) (Paris:ESI), today releases its sales and results for the full year 2021 (period from January 1st to December 31st) approved by the Board of Directors on February 28th, 2022. Cristel de Rouvray, Chief Executive Officer of ESI Group, comments: "In 2021 we successfully steered our company through a governance change, announced our redefining 3-year strategic plan and demonstrated considerable performance improvements. We reignited growth and more than doubled our Adjusted EBIT margin. On this excellent foundation we now enter the 1st year of our "OneESI 2024 focus to grow" plan. Across the globe, all our stakeholders are now experiencing the early benefits of this significant change in our ability to focus and drive results. I am confident in our ability to deliver our communicated multi-year objectives and long-term value to our shareholders by repositioning our Group." 2021, a foundational year for ESI Group 2021 results show that ESI Group continues delivering on its commitments. FY21 marks the first significant improvement in profitability, the result of actions initiated over a year ago while reigniting growth. ESI Group generated revenues at the top end of the range communicated to the market (between 133.5m and 136.5m) at 136.6m in 2021, up 4.6% at constant exchange rate (cer). For licenses, repeat business (Renewals Add-ons) grew by 3.7% (cer) to 99.1m and new business grew by 8.6% (cer). For services, consulting activity revenues increased by 9.6% cer at 24.8m. Q4 revenues amounted to 30.6m (vs 29.9m in 2020), up 2.2% cer, for an H2 growth of 5.8% cer. The geographical breakdown of full-year revenues showed that all regions grew: the EMEA region +4.5% (cer), Asia +2.7% (cer) and the Americas +10% (cer). Asia and Americas were negatively impacted by Forex (-3.5% for Asia and -3.7% for Americas). In 2021, led by a renewed leadership team, ESI Group embarked on its 3-year strategic plan "OneESI 24 Focus to grow" (more info HERE) by initiating parallel and complementary projects aiming to transform its operating model and practices. The Group continued investing in talent, in its offerings, and its products within a healthy run-rate framework to help drive cost reductions (headcount 6%, costs to adjusted Ebit -2,3%). The growth of the topline of 4,0m, combined with costs reduction, led to an increase in Adjusted EBIT1 of 6,9m. Gross margin rate increased to 75.3% vs 74.5% in 2020 due to higher licensing and consulting gross margins. In 2021, staff costs decreased to 91.3 m vs 93.4m last year. The Group reduced its headcount as announced during its 2021 Investor's conference from 1,217 (end of December 2020) to 1,144 (end of December 2021). Impact of strategic plan on figures: Restructuring impact To increase its competitiveness, ESI implemented a transformation of its management and a reduction in headcount in the various regions of the Group in accordance with the legal rules applicable to each of them. ESI also decided to disengage from non-core software development projects or non-strategic research projects outside the Group's three offerings. The impacts of this restructuring and transforming plan are estimated to costs 27.6m, in line with plan, comprising mainly: Provisions for reduction in headcount already notified: 6.7m (Cash impact). This is in line with the headcount reduction that the Group announced to the market. The Group is passed the mid-point and on track to complete this initiative by end of December 2022. Impairment of intangibles as related to products services deemed non-core: 20.7m (no cash impact) Financial highlights (m) 12/31/2021 12m2 12/31/2020 12m Change Change Constant exchange rate (cer) Revenue 136.6 132.6 +3.0% +4.6% Licenses 111.4 109.2 +2.0% +3.7% Services 25.2 23.4 +8.0% +9.2% Gross margin 102.9 98.7 +4.2% +6.0% % revenue 75.3% 74.5% Adjusted EBIT3 12.7 5.8 +120% +134.1% Adjusted EBIT margin4 9.6% 4.5% Restructuring costs -27.6 EBIT -16.4 4,0 Net result -18.5 1.4 % revenue -13.5% 1.1% Cash 30.3 22.5 +35% A healthy financial situation In 2021, ESI Group demonstrated its capacity to improve its financial situation. ESI Group controlled its costs, reduced its debt (from 24.9m in 2020 to 12.5m in 2021) and significantly improved its gearing (net debt5/Equity) from 28.4% in 2020 to 17.2% in 2021. The Group has significantly increased its cash position end of year from 22.5m to 30.3m thanks to a substantial free cash flow6 of 10.9m. All teams mobilized to deliver on OneESI 2024 plan The Group is confident in its strategic plan: Industry continues to accelerate the transformation of their production to a faster, more profitable, and more environmentally friendly model. The pandemic has accelerated this process and shifting from physical to virtual test and prototypes became a priority. ESI Group's core offering packaging focuses on product performance simulation, smart manufacturing process simulation and human workflows simulation. As announced during its strategic plan presentation, the Group is redeploying significant software development resources and innovation efforts on offer priorities. In that context, ESI's solutions are mission-critical for its customer base. ESI's customers continuously give credits to ESI's added value: Ford Leverages Virtual Prototyping to Propel Lightweighting Capabilities to the Next Level HERE SEAT S.A. Technical Center and ESI Group set new car development standards towards 100% digital with the brand-new CUPRA Formentor HERE Volvo Trucks unleashes the possibilities of Virtual Prototyping for optimizing acoustic performance HERE Kone anticipates elevator breakdowns and optimizes product design using Digital Twins for predictive/ prescriptive maintenance HERE To align with best practices, the Group is working to re-align its pricing practices. This critical workstream will impact the Group's performance more visibly in FY23 and beyond. As in the past two years, a proactive cost control policy has been implemented. Many of the restructuring costs have been charged to the year 2021 without reducing the R&D costs. There will certainly be more investments to support growth, but the foundations are solid with clear strategy of focus. Forward-looking statement Q1 FY22 perspectives excluding special projects Q1 FY22 Growth excl. forex 4% 6% Long-term perspectives At constant exchange rate 2022 2023 2024 Revenue (excluding special projects7 4% 6% 6% 8% 7% 9% Adjusted EBIT8 10% 12% 15% 17% 20% 22% The Group will organize an investor's conference in early Fall 2022 and will give an update on the plan and extend its guidance to 2025. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those related to the COVID-19 virus and associated further economic and market disruptions; further adverse changes or fluctuations in the global economy; further adverse fluctuations in our industry, foreign exchange fluctuations, changes in the current global trade regulatory environment; fluctuations in customer demands and markets; fluctuations in demand for our products including orders from our large customers; cyber-attacks; expense overruns; and adverse effects of price changes or effective tax rates. The company directs readers to its Universal Registration Document Chapter 3 presenting the risks associated with the company's future performance. Upcoming events Q1 revenues May 2 nd , 2022 , 2022 Annual General Meeting June 28th, 2022 About ESI Group Founded in 1973, ESI Group envisions a world where Industry commits to bold outcomes, addressing high stakes concerns environmental impact, safety comfort for consumers and workers, adaptable and sustainable business models. ESI provides reliable and customized solutions anchored on predictive physics modeling and virtual prototyping expertise to allow industries to make the right decisions at the right time, while managing their complexity. Acting principally in automotive land transportation, aerospace, defense naval and heavy industry, ESI is present in more than 20 countries, employs 1200 people around the world and reported 2021 sales of 136.6 million. ESI is headquartered in France and is listed on compartment B of Euronext Paris. For further information, go to www.esi-group.com. APPENDIX ADJUSTED EBIT The Board of Directors of ESI Group reviewed and closed, on February 28, 2022, the Group's consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Audit procedures performed by the Group statutory auditors are being finalized. Adjusted EBIT definition: operational income (EBIT) adjusted for: Stock-based compensation expenses, Acquisition, integration and restructuring charges, Impairment amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions (including goodwill and revalued assets), The application of IFRS 16 (leases), and other special items not related to current operations. Adjusted EBIT has been presented for the 1st time during Strategic plan presentation on Oct 5th, 2021. Adjusted EBIT margin is calculated on revenue excluding special projects. It is not only existing for financial communication. It's not a change of accounting method in IFRS P&L in FY21. m 2021 2020 EBIT -16.4 4.0 application of IFRS 16 -0.5 -0.3 restructuring charges 27.6 0.0 stock-based compensation expenses 0.9 0.8 impairment amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions 1.3 1.2 other non-recurring items -0.2 0.0 Adjusted EBIT 12.7 5.8 In of revenue excluding Special projects 9.6% 4.5% Disclaimer: Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBIT are non-GAAP indicators used by the management to monitor performance, as presented in the strategic 3-year plan. They do not represent a substitute to GAAP indicators. 1 Adjusted EBIT is a non-GAAP indicator based on EBIT (IFRS). Adjusted EBIT corresponds to EBIT before stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring charges, impairment and amortization of intangibles related to acquisition, IFRS 16 standard on leases and other non-recurring items. Adjusted EBIT margin is calculated based on revenue excluding special projects (public grant for R&D projects). 2 Ongoing audit of 2021 financial statements 3 Adjusted EBIT is a non-GAAP indicator based on EBIT (IFRS). Adjusted EBIT corresponds to EBIT before stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring charges, impairment and amortization of intangibles related to acquisition, IFRS 16 standard on leases and other non-recurring items. 4 Adjusted EBIT margin is calculated based on revenue excluding special projects (public grant for R&D projects). 5 Gross financial debt retreated from available cash 6 Free cash flow is composed of net cash margin generated from operating activities, change in working capital and capital expenditures 7 For the 3-year plan, the growth of revenue excludes special projects (public grant for R&D projects) 8 Adjusted EBIT is a non-GAAP indicator based on EBIT (IFRS). Adjusted EBIT corresponds to EBIT before stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring charges, impairment and amortization of intangibles related to acquisition, IFRS 16 standard on leases and other non-recurring items. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005900/en/ Contacts: ESI Group Florence Barre investors@esi-group.com +33 1 49 78 28 28 Verbatee Press Shareholder Relations JJerome Goaer, j.goaer@verbatee.com, +33 6 61 61 79 34 Aline Besselievre, a.besselievre@verbatee.com, +33 6 61 85 10 05 HBM Healthcare Investments AG / Key word(s): Monthly Figures Key Figures 28.02.2022 01.03.2022 / 17:46 in CHF Performance in % 28.02.2022 MTD FYTD CYTD NAV 299.50 -3.6 0.9 -10.9 Share Price 288.00 -2.5 -9.6 -15.0 Total Net Assets (in million) 2'084 HBM Healthcare Investments AG Bundesplatz 1 CH-6300 Zug - Switzerland Tel. +41 41 710 75 77 Fax +41 41 710 75 78 E-Mail: hbm@hbmhealthcare.com Web: www.hbmhealthcare.com Wenn Sie keine Mitteilungen von HBM Healthcare Investments mehr wunschen, konnen Sie diese hier abbestellen. Should you wish to unsubscribe from all HBM Healthcare Investments news, please unsubscribe here. 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HBM cannot guarantee the adequacy, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of or be held responsible or liable for errors of fact regarding such data and information obtained from third parties, and this data may change with market conditions. If the email looks unformatted, please use this alternative link. End of Media Release The Prize has selected nine outstanding scholars and practitioners of history to receive $300,000 each TEL AVIV, Israel, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dan David Prize, the world's largest history prize, announced its first cohort of winners, which includes a historian who investigates the environmental impact of big business, a researcher who uncovers Jewish hiding places during the Holocaust and the founder of a mobile museum of African heritage. The Prize recognizes early and mid-career scholars and practitioners who illuminate the human past in bold and creative ways, and awards nine winners $300,000 each to help further their work. The 2022 winners are listed below. Mirjam Brusius , A cultural historian who studies visual and material culture in global and colonial contexts , A cultural historian who studies visual and material culture in global and colonial contexts Bart Elmore , An environmental historian who investigates global capitalism and its impact on the environment , An environmental historian who investigates global capitalism and its impact on the environment Tyrone Freeman , A historian of philanthropy who looks at the long story of African-American community giving , A historian of philanthropy who looks at the long story of African-American community giving Verena Krebs , A historian of medieval Ethiopia who studies cross-cultural interactions between Africa and Europe , A historian of medieval who studies cross-cultural interactions between and Efthymia Nikita , A bioarchaeologist using human skeletal remains to explore questions of demography and migration , A bioarchaeologist using human skeletal remains to explore questions of demography and migration Nana Oforiatta Ayim , A curator and art historian whose work centers African narratives in museums and heritage , A curator and art historian whose work centers African narratives in museums and heritage Kristina Richardson , A historian of the medieval Islamic world and the Romani people in the pre-modern Middle East , A historian of the medieval Islamic world and the Romani people in the pre-modern Natalia Romik , A public historian and architect who works to preserve and commemorate lost Jewish lives in Eastern Europe , A public historian and architect who works to preserve and commemorate lost Jewish lives in Kimberly Welch , A legal historian who studies the roles of Black litigants and moneylenders in the Antebellum South The recently redesigned prize attracted hundreds of nominations and the nine winners were chosen following a rigorous selection process. The Prize is endowed by the Dan David Foundation and headquartered at Tel Aviv University. "We live in a world in which the humanities, and particularly history, are devalued, even as it remains clear that only by deepening our knowledge of the past we can gain a better understanding of the present," said Ariel David, board member of the Prize. "For this reason we have chosen to focus on supporting emerging scholars and practitioners, within and beyond the academy, at a stage in their career when the Prize can make a bigger impact." The winners will be honored at the Dan David Prize Award Ceremony in Tel Aviv in May. To learn more, visit www.dandavidprize.org. CONTACT: DanDavidPrize@berlinrosen.com Press Release Nokia adds Liquid Cooling technology to latest AirScale Base Station portfolio outlining commitment to sustainability MWC22 Nokia's unique Liquid Cooling baseband solution is now commercially available in latest Nokia AirScale product line-up AT&T is piloting the solution in a live customer trial in Philadelphia, U.S Liquid Cooling technology underlines Nokia's commitment to sustainability and combatting climate change 1 March 2022 Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced the commercial availability of its innovative Liquid Cooling AirScale portfolio. Nokia's first-of-its-kind solution is designed to make radio networks more sustainable and cost-efficient by reducing the energy required to cool a base station.Cooling system energy consumption can be reduced up to 90 percent and base station CO2 emissions up to 80 percent compared to traditional active air-cooling systems1. The move supports Nokia's ambitions to have the most energy-efficient, zero-emission 5G product portfolio in the industry. Commercial products will be available from Q3 2022. Nokia also announced that AT&T is piloting the solution in a live network trial in Philadelphia, U.S. Nokia's liquid-cooled AirScale baseband solution can accommodate any liquid-cooled common or capacity plug-in unit and supports all radio access technologies from 2G to 5G. It supports the reduction of base station-related CO2 emissions by up to 80 percent. Nokia's Liquid Cooling solution is also almost completely silent and maintenance-free making it ideal for apartment buildings, whereas more traditional air-cooling systems are typically noisy and require regular maintenance. Liquid is much more efficient in the transmission and transfer of heat. Nokia's solution carries the captured waste heat produced by the base station during operation. This can then be circulated and reused for other purposes, for example, it can be redirected to a building's heating system for free, at a price, or even traded. Nokia is committed to leading the decarbonization of the telecommunications industry and helping other industries and communities to decarbonize and dematerialize through digitalization. Digitalization is critical for making industries more sustainable resulting in less waste, more resource-efficient, and more productive. Nokia has set a science-based target to reduce its emissions by 50 percent by 2030 across its value chain, including its operations, products in use, logistics, and final assembly supplier factories. Nokia has also been increasing its share of renewable electricity and is committed to reaching 100 percent by 2025. Experience Liquid Cooling at MWC22 Barcelona At MWC22, Nokia will showcase how its products and services can reduce CO2 emissions and the cost of energy and help its customers to take control of their sustainability targets. Nokia will demonstrate its AirScale Radios with energy-efficient software features as well as its ?Liquid-cooled AirScale Baseband and Wavence microwave radio energy innovations. Joe Taylor, VP Implementation, Provisioning & Optimization at AT&T, said: "AT&T is committed to tackling climate change, enhancing the efficiency of our network, and reducing our operational carbon footprint. We're pleased to work with Nokia as we take a more sustainable path and to trial its liquid-cooled base station in our network. We firmly believe that sustainability is one of the biggest factors impacting the world right now and is a key differentiator in business. We're eager to continue aligning with like-minded, innovative companies like Nokia that are developing ground-breaking solutions to combat climate change." Daryl Schoolar, Research Director at IDC, said: "Controlling total cost of network ownership remains an important priority for mobile operators. A significant portion of that total cost of ownership comes from operating expenses. Network solutions that can lower those operating expenses, which includes cost of energy, are certainly welcomed by mobile operators. Also, if those solutions can help an operator achieve its green energy goals, that is just another added plus." Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: "There is no green without digital and the commercial availability of Nokia's liquid cooling technology across our AirScale portfolio highlights our commitment to leading the industry to become more sustainable through digitalization. Our innovative, game-changing solution reduces energy consumption, costs, and carbon emissions and helps mobile operators become more environmentally responsible. 5G networks and technologies will play a critical role in making other industries more sustainable and we must all play our part to minimize our footprint and accelerate the use of green electricity." Notes to Editors 1.) Figures based on Nokia pilots across several networks Resources: Nokia Zero Emission Nokia Sustainability Nokia and Elisa see sustainability leap in world-first 5G liquid cooling deployment Nokia's sustainability report highlights a 1.5-degree climate commitment Nokia calls for accelerated digitalization and green energy uptake, sets sights on 100% green electricity by 2025 Nokia joins RE100 as part of target to move to 100% renewable electricity by 2025 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. Media Inquiries: Nokia Communications Notice of an Ordinary General Meeting and an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on 31 March 2022 The Annual Ordinary General Meeting of Econocom Group SE will be held on 31 March 2022 to approve the financial statements for the financial year which ended on 31 December 2021. The agenda also includes a proposal to appoint Mr Laurent Roudil as Director. He would be appointed for a four-year-term, ending immediately after the Ordinary General Meeting of 2026. Considering the executive management powers granted to him, Mr. Laurent Roudil would become Executive Managing Director of Econocom Group SE. The Extraordinary General Meeting will follow the annual Ordinary General Meeting on 31 March 2022. The Board of Directors proposes to such Meeting to proceed with a reimbursement of the issue premium, considered as paid-up capital, including the treasury shares held by Econocom Group SE, by debit from the non-distributable "issue premium" account, for an amount of 0.14 euro per outstanding share existing at the date of the coupon detachment. The coupon detachment entitling to the reimbursement of the issue premium will take place at the end of a two-month period starting on the date of publication of this resolution in the Belgian State Gazette. Payment shall occur after coupon detachment. All information and documents in relation to the Extraordinary General Meeting will be available on the website (https://www.econocom.com/en/investors/general-meetings) or upon request at the Company's headquarters. In view of the health crisis and related measured to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the board of directors encourages shareholders to participle in the Meetings (i) by voting by correspondence, or (ii) by giving a proxy to a person designated by the board of directors in accordance with the rules set out in this notice. Security holders who have completed the necessary formalities for participating to the Meetings and who have expressed their wish to attend the Meetings will be notified of the precise procedures for holding the Meetings in due course. Depending on the evolution of the health situation and the applicable rules in the coming weeks, the Company reserves itself the right to modify these participation modalities through a press release and on the Company's website. ABOUT ECONOCOM As a digital general contractor, Econocom conceives, finances and facilitates the digital transformation of large firms and public organizations. With 49 years' experience, it is the only market player offering versatile expertise through a combination of project financing, equipment distribution and digital services. The group operates in 16 countries, with over 8,200 employees, and generated 2,505m in revenues in 2021. Econocom is listed on Euronext in Brussels, on the BEL Mid and Family Business indexes. FOR MORE INFORMATION www.econocom.com Follow us Twitter Investor and shareholder relations contact: nathalie.etzenbach-huguenin@econocom.com Press relations contact: david.molins@econocom.com Agency contact: info@capvalue.fr +33 1 80 81 50 01 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: l5hxYJ1oaGnKyGxxk8aYbGdkmGxkk5PJmWPLxWVwapjJmZ+RmZuSm53IZnBkmWVt - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-73407-pr_notice-of-a-gm-01032022.pdf Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares For immediate release 1 March 2022 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 13,672 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 822.00p per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 9 February 2022. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 1,060,621; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 223,930,682. The figure of 223,930,682 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 With more than half of phase two funds committed, Burford crosses historic milestone in cumulative commitments to promote diversity in law GUERNSEY / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Burford Capital-the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law-today announces that it has crossed a significant milestone in its groundbreaking initiative designed to increase diversity in the business of law, with more than $100 million in cumulative Equity Project commitments made to back commercial litigation and arbitration led by female and racially diverse lawyers. The Equity Project earmarks legal finance capital to promote diversity by giving historically underrepresented lawyers an edge as they pursue leadership positions in significant commercial litigations and arbitrations. The Equity Project also augments companies' ESG and DEI initiatives by providing incentives for the firms that represent them to appoint historically underrepresented lawyers and to award them origination credit. The Equity Project first launched in October 2018 with $50 million earmarked to back commercial matters led by women. After having committed more than that amount by December 2020, Burford announced an expansion of The Equity Project in October 2021, earmarking a further $100 million, broadening The Equity Project's mission to promote both racial and gender diversity in law, and pledging to contribute a portion of its profits from successfully resolved phase two Equity Project matters to organizations that promote development for female and racially diverse lawyers on its clients' behalf. As of February 28, with more than half of phase two funds committed, Burford has now made more than $100 million in cumulative commitments to Equity Project matters. Matters funded to date in this phase of The Equity Project include contract disputes, antitrust, federal statutory, IP/patent and treaty arbitration matters, with female and racially diverse litigators in leadership roles (first or second chair) as well as women-owned firms. Clients include large corporations and large litigation boutiques. Aviva Will, Co-COO of Burford Capital and leader of The Equity Project initiative, said: "We are delighted by the overwhelming response to phase two of The Equity Project, particularly from corporate clients, and that's reflected in the fact that we have crossed this significant milestone in a short period of time. The Equity Project is core to Burford's culture and a part of our daily work, and we look forward to committing the remaining funding soon." David Perla, Co-COO of Burford Capital, said: "I'm very pleased to see the rapid commitment of our capital in phase two of The Equity Project. As the industry leader, we recognize that we may be the only commercial legal finance company with the resources to make such a significant financial commitment to increasing diversity in law. We are aware of our unique position and take seriously the significant impact Burford can have on the legal market in all the work we do." The Equity Project is supported by 26 Champions from leading companies, law firms and organizations. A list of Champions and more information about The Equity Project can be found on Burford's website. Contact: David Helfenbein Vice President, Public Relations dhelfenbein@burfordcapital.com, +1 212 235 6824 About Burford Capital Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE:BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world from its principal offices in New York, London, Chicago, Washington, DC, Singapore and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.burfordcapital.com. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any ordinary shares or other securities of Burford. This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Burford Capital Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690936/Burford-Capital--100m-Equity-Project-Commitments Regulatory News: During Elior Group's (Paris:ELIOR) Board of Directors meeting on March 1, 2022, Philippe Guillemot resigned for personal reasons from his position as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. The Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Bernard Gault, an independent director for the past four years, as interim Chief Executive Officer, pending the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer. Gilles Cojan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, stated: "The Board acknowledges Philippe Guillemot's decision and appreciates his contribution over the past four years, during a particularly challenging environment for the past two years. The Board would like to thank Bernard Gault for his commitment to Elior's strategic plan. Together, with the strength of Elior's decentralized organization in each of our countries, and the support of our customers, employees and all stakeholders, we will raise to the challenges as we exit the Covid-19 pandemic. Bernard Gault, interim CEO, stated "I know I can trust Elior's excellent teams, and I am fully committed to ensuring the continued development of a first-class company that I have known for a long time and to which I am very attached. The Board of Directors is now composed of ten members, 50% of whom are independent, and includes five women. The nomination and remuneration committees are merged during the interim period. Bernard Gault is the founding partner of the investment firm Barville Co, founded in 2016, and co-founder of the financial advisory and asset management firm Perella Weinberg Partners, formed in 2006. He began his career in 1982 at Compagnie Financiere de Suez before joining Morgan Stanley in 1988, where he was a Managing Director until 2006. He is a graduate of Centrale Paris and of the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris. Bernard Gault has been an independent director of Elior Group since March 9, 2018. In accordance with the AFEP-MEDEF and AMF recommendations, it is specified that no severance, non-competition or other compensation is due or paid to Philippe Guillemot on the occasion of his departure. He also loses all rights to all of his long-term compensation packages that were awarded to him. For 2021-2022, only his fixed compensation has been paid pro rata temporis. Elior will host a conference call at 2:30pm Paris time. Details will be provided tomorrow via Elior's website, https://www.eliorgroup.com/finance/finance-hub About Elior Group Founded in 1991, Elior Group has grown into one of the world's leading operators in contract catering and support services and has become a benchmark player in the business industry, education, health welfare and leisure markets. With strong positions in 5 countries, the Group generated 3.690 billion in revenue in fiscal 2020-2021. Our 99,000 employees feed over 3.6 million people on a daily basis in 22,700 restaurants on three continents, and offer services on 2,400 sites in France. Innovation and social responsibility are at the core of our business model. Elior Group has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact since 2004, reaching the GC Advanced Level in 2015. For further information please visit our website http://www.eliorgroup.com or follow us on Twitter at @Elior_GroupFR View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301006020/en/ Contacts: Press contact Anne-Laure Descleves anne-laure.descleves@eliorgroup.com +33 (0) 1 71 06 70 61 Investor relations Kimberly Stewart, kimberly.stewart@eliorgroup.com +33 (0)1 71 06 70 13 1 March 2022 Rightmove plc Share buy-back programme Rightmove plc - Transaction in own shares Rightmove plc ('Rightmove') announces that today it purchased 136,711of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 665.061p. The highest price paid per share was 665.400p and the lowest price paid per share was 661.200p. Rightmove purchased these shares through UBS AG London Branch. The number of shares purchased represented 0.0161% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled. Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 459,512,559 ordinary shares. The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 847,061,049. Rightmove holds 12,480,472 shares in treasury. In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "UK MAR"), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by UBS AG London Branch on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme. Contact: Michelle Palmer, Assistant Company Secretary CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions Recent sanctions against Russia's banking and political community necessitate thorough screening of all cross-border financial transactions by international businesses BOSTON, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TIS, a global leader in enterprise B2B payments, today announced a new initiative to help international businesses mitigate the impact of recent sanctions levied against Russia's banking community and political elite. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the political leadership of many NATO, European, and North American nations have agreed upon and implemented unprecedented sanctions against selected Russian individuals, businesses, and the financial infrastructure of the country. In addition, some Russian financial institutions will be excluded from the global SWIFT network, making cross-border financial transactions with these selected banks impossible through the SWIFT channel. In order to maintain compliance with these new restrictions, businesses that operate internationally are not permitted to conduct business or participate in financial operations with any of the sanctioned parties, which includes the Russian Central Bank, Sberbank, VTB, Otkritie, among others. While the sanctions list is evolving, businesses and individuals are also restricted from transacting with prominent Russian leaders and oligarchs, many of whom have had their foreign assets frozen. "What is happening in Ukraine is difficult and heartbreaking on a humanitarian level. As we all try to determine how we can best support the people of Ukraine, we have also been asked by our customers for guidance on the rapidly evolving situation. As an international business, the complexity and evolving nature of sanctions coupled with the responsibility to remain compliant is creating a new set of challenges that need to be met. We want to communicate that we will support our customers while also providing free advisory services to other businesses who may have questions or concerns surrounding sanction screening." - Erik Masing, CEO TIS Sanction Screening: TIS Sanction Screening assists in preventing accidental payment to a sanctioned party by businesses, and covers six global sanction lists, including OFAC and sanction lists from the United Nations, European Union and United Kingdom. The sanction lists are updated automatically by TIS daily and on demand. Through TIS Sanction Screening, TIS aims to support its customers through this uncertain and complex time by offering Sanction Screening for free to its customers through Q2 2022. TIS and SWIFT: TIS's SWIFT connectivity channel will automatically manage the implications resulting from the exclusion of Russian banks from SWIFT and will assist organizations with identifying impacted transactions. TIS recognizes the gravity and complexity of the situation for many involved parties and aims to support global organizations through these difficult times. Customers have been encouraged to contact TIS with any questions or concerns regarding compliance implications, or in case of specific failed transactions. TIS also offers organizations that are not current customers the opportunity to discuss best practices with our team of payments experts and will look to assist organizations as they navigate this uncertain global payments environment. For more information, please click HERE. About TIS: TIS is reimagining the world of enterprise payments through a cloud-based platform uniquely designed to help global organizations optimize outbound payments. Corporations, banks, and business vendors leverage TIS to transform how they connect global accounts, collaborate on payment processes, execute outbound payments, analyze cash flow and compliance data, and improve critical outbound payment functions. The TIS corporate payments SaaS solution helps businesses improve operational efficiency, lower risk, manage liquidity, gain a strategic advantage -and ultimately achieve enterprise payment optimization. Visit us for more information at: www.tispayments.com Contact: Jennifer Knutel, VP Marketing +1 978-875-2085 jennifer.knutel@tispayments.com Related Images Image 1: TIS Company Logo TIS Company Logo This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment A principal public prosecutor with the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA) yesterday appeared in court on allegations of unscrupulously preparing and facilitating bail application for an armed robber resulting in the court releasing him on two occasions. Henry Mugove Muringani appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court charged with criminal abuse of office and alternatively defeating the course of justice. Muringani, who is represented by lawyer Mr Moses Nyatsoma, was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared before regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje, who remanded him in custody to today for continuation of bail application. He is accused of preparing a bail application for suspected armed robber Tatenda Tawanda Mutengo, who was being charged with armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. The State led by Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti opposed to granting of Muringanis bail saying he was likely to commit similar offences. Mr Mutsokoti called the investigating officer Detective Assistant Inspector Simbarashe Maruziva to testify in opposing bail for Muringani. Det Asst Insp Maruziva told the court that they established that Muringani had prepared other bail applications, which are already on the roll at High Court, for seven other suspects. He said they were in possession of copies of bail applications that Muringani had prepared. It is the States case that on December 20 last year detectives from CID Homicide arrested Mutengo, who had been on the run for armed robbery. Upon arrest Mutengo was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Mutengo was then taken court on the following day where he was advised to apply for bail at the High Court. On January 17 this year, Mutengo applied for bail at the High Court and his application was dismissed. The court heard that Mutengo while in remand prison heard that there was someone from the NPA, who was assisting suspects facing armed robbery and other serious crimes to get bail. On January 29 this year, Mutengo was visited by his uncle at Chikurubi Maximum prison where he gave him a note with his CRB and Muringanis contact. Mutengo allegedly instructed his uncle Eliah Tatenda Murenzvi to call Muringani and hand him the note. Muringani allegedly promised Murenzvi that his nephew would be freed on bail and asked him to meet at Whitehouse Shops in Harare where he demanded US$500 facilitation fees. Murenzvi is said to have paid the money in instalments of US$20, US$380 and US$100. On February 6, Muringani allegedly called Murenzvi to meet him at Whitehouse to collect papers, which he was supposed to hand over to Mutengo to use during his bail application. The bail hearing was heard on February 8, according to the State. It is said that Muringani altered the armed robbery charge to attempted murder with CRB 12195/21 which related to Mutengos unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition charge. Mutengo then appeared at the High Court, as a self-actor, using papers that had been prepared by Muringani. He then allegedly defended his bail application using the altered documents and was granted $5 000 bail coupled with other reporting conditions. It is said that the other CRB 12196/21 relating to armed robbery charge was not captured on the bail release order resulting in him failing to be released from prison. On February 17, Muringani allegedly facilitated another bail application using CRB 12196/21 while using rape charges. He allegedly charged US$200 facilitation fees. The court heard that on February 20, Muringani phoned Murenzvi and gave him bail application papers which he delivered to Mutengo. Mutengo went to apply for bail February 23 and was released on $10 000 bail. Detectives got wind of Muringanis acts and went to arrest him on February 26 and police retrieved communication between him and Murenzvi and other prison inmates relatives whom he had assisted. Mutengo also appeared before the same court facing allegations of defeating the course of justice. He is expected back in court today for bail application. Herald Regulatory News: Latecoere (Paris:LAT) shareholders are invited to attend the Combined Shareholders' Meeting to be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. at the Company's registered office 135 rue de Periole 31500 Toulouse (France). However, in view of the uncertainties resulting from the context of COVID-19, the Company may have to modify the arrangements for this Combined Shareholders' Meeting, depending on health and/or legal requirements. In this context, the Company invites its shareholders to vote by mail and to consult regularly the Company's website www.latecoere.aero. The information and documents referred to in Article R. 22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code, including the notice of meeting published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) No.19 of February 14, 2022, and the terms and conditions of participation and voting at this meeting, are available on the Latecoere website under the heading "Finance", section "Regulated information", "Documents relating to the General Meeting" at www.latecoere.aero. These documents are also available to shareholders under the legal and regulatory conditions at Latecoere's registered office. A notice of meeting will soon be published in the BALO. _________________________________________________________________________________ About Latecoere: As a leading partner of the world's major aerospace manufacturers serving the aerospace industry with innovative solutions for a sustainable world, Latecoere is active in all segments of the aeronautics industry (commercial, regional, business, and military aircraft), in two areas of activity: Aerostructures (46% of turnover): fuselage sections and doors, Interconnection Systems (54% of turnover): wiring, electrical furniture and on-board equipment. As of December 31, 2020, the Group employed 4 764 people in 14 different countries. Latecoere, a French limited company capitalised at 132,745,925 divided into 530,983,700 shares with a par value of 0.25, is listed on Euronext Paris Compartment B, ISIN Codes: FR0000032278 Reuters: LAEP.PA Bloomberg: LAT.FP. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220301005768/en/ Contacts: Taddeo Antoine Denry Investor Relations +33 (0)6 18 07 83 27 Marie Gesquiere Media Relations +33 (0)6 26 48 97 98 teamlatecoere@taddeo.fr VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE/ March 1, 2022 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Silver Bullet Mines, Callinex Mines, Baroyeca, and Cardiol Therapeutics on their latest news. The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives. Silver Bullet Mines (TSXV:SBMI) breaks into the historic Treasure Room Silver Bullet Mines has entered the "Treasure Room", a historical zone at its Buckeye Silver Mine near Globe, Arizona that hasn't been mined since 1873. The company will spend approximately three weeks undertaking timbering and other structural safety measures. The company's on-site mill will be operational in time to begin processing material from the Treasure Room. Director and VP Capital Markets Peter Clausi spoke with Shoran Devi about the exciting discovery. For the full interview with Peter Clausi and to learn more about Silver Bullet Mines' discovery, click here. Callinex Mines (TSXV:CNX) announces additional drilling results from the Rainbow Deposit Callinex Mines (CNX) is pleased to announce additional results from the 2021 exploration campaign at the Rainbow Deposit. The Rainbow is located at the 100 percent owned Pine Bay Project in Flin Flon, Manitoba and The project hosts a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit with significant gold, copper and zinc mineralization. Max Porterfield, President and CEO of Callinex Mines sat down with Shoran Devi to highlight the results. For the full interview with Max Porterfield and to learn more about Callinex Mines' results, click here. Baroyeca (TSXV:BGS) receives assays from the Atocha Project in Tolima, Colombia Baroyeca (BGS) has received assay results from additional drill holes at the Atocha Project in Tolima, Colombia. Information obtained from the first 13 holes drilled at La Ye will be applied to additional targets in other areas of the Atocha property. CEO Raul Sanabria sat down with Shoran Devi to highlight the results. For the full interview with Raul Sanabria and to learn more about Baroyeca's results, click here. Cardiol Therapeutics (TSX:CDRL) receives clearance to expedite enrollment in the LANCER trial Cardiol Therapeutics (CDRL) has received clearance from the FDA and regulatory agencies in Brazil and Mexico to modify the inclusion criteria for the LANCER trial. The amendments will broaden the population of patients eligible for enrollment in the trial LANCER is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx. Cardiol CEO David Elsley sat down with Shoran Devi to discuss the news. For the full interview with David Elsley and to learn more about Cardiol Therapeutics' news, click here. Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald. About The Market Herald The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets. DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. 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Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information. CONTACT: The Market Herald Brianna Anthony brianna.anthony@themarketherald.ca themarketherald.ca SOURCE: The Market Herald View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690974/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-Interviews-with-Silver-Bullet-Mines-Callinex-Mines-Baroyeca-and-Cardiol-Therapeutics Penang, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - Duesenberg Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: DUSYF) (the "Company" or "Duesenberg"), an OTCQB-listed issuer, announced today that on February 24, 2022, the Company closed a private placement financing by issuing 2,511,962 shares of its common stock (the "Shares") at a price of USD$0.20 per Share for total proceeds of USD$502,392.40 (the "Financing"). The Shares were issued pursuant to the provisions of Regulation S of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") to the person who is not a resident of the United States and is otherwise not a "U.S. Person" as that term is defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S of the Act. The proceeds of the Financing will be used to support development of Duesenberg Electric and Heritage Vehicles, as well as for day-to-day operations. On February 24, 2022, the Company entered into debt settlement agreements with Mr. Lim Hun Beng, the Company's CEO, President and the majority shareholder, and Mr. Ong See Ming, the Company's director, (together referred to here as the "Debt Holders "), to convert a total of $132,628 owed to the Debt Holders into 663,140 restricted Shares of the Company at $0.20 per share. The securities issued pursuant to the debt settlement agreements have not been registered under the Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless an exemption from such registration is available. In addition, on February 24, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company resolved to issue to Mr. Chee Wai Hong and Mr. Barth, Carl Jurgen, the Company's directors, a total of 240,000 Shares (120,000 Shares each), as fully paid and non-assessable. The Shares were issued in recognition of the services provided to the Company by Mr. Chee and Mr. Barth. The Board of Directors also approved the issuance of 150,000 Shares to an arms-length party for services provided. The Shares will not be registered under the Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless an exemption from such registration is available. For additional information regarding the Financing, debt settlements and the Shares issued for services please refer to the Current Report on Form 8-K the Company filed with the SEC on March 1, 2022. The above does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities in the United States. The securities have not been registered under the Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless an exemption from such registration is available. About Duesenberg Technologies Inc. Duesenberg Technologies Inc. was established out of the collective ambition of investors experienced in the online business and marketing. Our goal was to help entrepreneurs and businesses turn their own ideas and visions into successful companies. The Company's business strategy relies heavily on environmentally friendly technologies. Duesenberg Technologies' goal is to be climate neutral across its full value chain, in line with the goals set by the Paris Agreement. The Company is committed to energy resiliency through Development in Energy Transition Goal. This strategy identifies an immediate and urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce energy use, and improve air quality. The Company is posed to play a vital role in supporting all three of these objectives by reducing the environmental impact through manufacturing a new type of luxury electric vehicles. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Lim, Hun Beng (Joe), President CONTACT INFORMATION Duesenberg Technologies Inc. +1-236-304-0299 contactus@duesenbergtech.com Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals and research and development of an Electric Vehicle. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for the Company as described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings, which are available at www.SEC.gov. We seek safe harbour. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115283 NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - A new study has revealed that Pfizer (PFE) and BioNTech's Covid vaccine did not offer children between 5 and 11 years any protection during the Omicron wave in New York. The New York State Department of Health found that the effectiveness of Pfizer's vaccine against Covid infection fell to 12 percent from 68 percent among kids of that age group during the omicron surge from December 13 till Jan 24. The safety net against hospitalization dropped from 100 percent to 48 percent during the period. The study has not gone through any peer review and due to the public health urgency of the pandemic, scientists have been publishing their study results without any such review. The public health officials' team, which conducted the study said that the drop in vaccine efficiency can be attributed to the low dosage received by children aged between 5 and 11 years. Kids in this age group are given two 10-microgram shots, while children aged 12 to 17 receive 30-microgram shots. The researchers also compared 11 and 12-year-olds during the weekend ended January 30. They found the vaccine effectiveness went down to 1% for the low-dosage group but offered 67 percent protection to the group with higher dose. The study report said, 'Given rapid loss of protection against infections, these results highlight the continued importance of layered protections, including mask wearing, for children to prevent infection and transmission.' For children between 12 to 17 years old, vaccine effectiveness against infection dropped from 66 percent to 51 percent from December through the end of January. Protection against hospitalization dropped from 85% to 73% for teenagers during the same period. The data comes as New York plans to end its school mask mandate by March 7, with California doing the same four days later. State governments are lifting mandates and restrictions as Covid infections declined after the Omicron wave in December and January The US saw a spike in hospitalizations of children with Covid during the omicron wave. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX PFIZER-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / Fortitude Gold Corporation (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") today reported its year-end 2021 results including record gold production, net income of $17.9 million, or $0.75 per share, and a strong balance sheet including $40 million cash and no debt. The Company confirmed both its previously announced 2021 annual production of 46,459 gold ounces, which exceeded the initial 2021 gold production target by 16%, and its 2022 Production Outlook targeting 40,000 ounces of gold (a range of 36,000 to 40,000 ounces). The Production Outlook assumes no disruptions from the COVID-19 global pandemic or unforeseen operational challenges. The Company also filed its year-end 2021 S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary of Isabella Pearl Mine Reserves and Resources. In addition to the updated Reserves and Resources, the Company disclosed an estimated 30,755 recoverable gold ounces on the heap leach pad at December 31, 2021. Reconciliation of ore tonnes mined to date has shown higher grades of gold in the Isabella Pearl Mine compared to the reserve model which has resulted in an increased mine life now of over 3 years at the current 40,000 annual gold ounce run rate. The Company is also aggressively moving its Golden Mile property forward towards a development decision that could extend the Company's gold production an additional 3 1/3 years for a combined 7-year mine life through 2028. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. offering investors exposure to both gold production and dividend yield. 2021 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS $0.75 net income per share; $17.9 million net income; $40.0 million cash balance at December 31, 2021; $82.1 million net sales; 46,459 annual gold production; 3.76 grams per tonne average gold grade mined; $76.0 million working capital; $40.6 million mine gross profit; $24.7 million cash flows from operating activities; $705 total all-in sustaining cost per ounce; Updated 2021 Reserves and Resources; and Initial Golden Mile mineral resource added to Company's gold ounces "Management of Fortitude Gold delivered strong operational results beating our increased annual gold outlook with record production, delivered strong financial results increasing cash to $40 million and delivered strong shareholder value distributing monthly dividends and outperforming our market peers," stated Fortitude Gold CEO and President, Mr. Jason Reid. "The Company exceeded its initial 2021 gold production guidance by 16% while boosting year-over-year gold production by more than 56%. Operations delivered over 46,000 gold ounces a low all-in sustaining cost of $705 per ounce. With $82.1 million in net sales, $17.9 million in net income, and a cash balance increase of $12.2 million to $40 million, the Company is in a very strong financial position with no debt. In April we initiated a monthly dividend and subsequently increased the dividend twice to its current $0.48 per share paid monthly at $0.04 per share. Our Isabella Pearl open pit mine overperformed with a mined average gold grade of 3.76 grams per tonne gold." Mr. Reid stated, "In January of 2021 we estimated the Isabella Pearl Mine would be depleted by mid-2024; however, between the higher grades coming from the tonnes mine to date, the updated Reserve and Resources, and 30,755 gold ounces awaiting recovery on the heap leach pad, we have extended our mine life estimate at the current run rate of 40,000 gold ounces beyond the end of full year 2024. We also target the same production profile and to be able to continue at least the same dividend per share from a second mine at Golden Mile, that we are aggressively moving forwards towards a development decision and eventual production." Mr. Reid continued, "For 2022 we have a clear vision of where we are going and expect Fortitude Gold to generate record free cash flow as we transition into the open pit phase two by the second quarter of this year, allowing access to higher grade ore while moving significantly less waste rock. We also expect to heavily invest in exploration and continue to move our Golden Mile property towards a development decision and construction to be paid for with our strong treasury. Fortitude Gold remains a unique investment in the precious metal space offering investors exposure to gold production, district scale exploration potential in arguably the premier mining jurisdictions in the world, Nevada, U.S.A., and a very attractive dividend yield, currently at over 7.5%. During 2021, we transcended being just a gold equity, separating Fortitude from our peers in the junior gold space, by providing our shareholders a substantial yield and attractive monthly dividend income." 2021 Overview For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company sold 45,891 gold ounces at a total cash cost of $587 per gold ounce, and a realized 2021 average sales price for gold of $1,795 per ounce. The Company recorded revenues of $82.1 million, and net income of $17.9 million, or $0.75 per share. The calculation of our cash cost per ounce contained in this press release is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please see "Management's Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations" contained in the Company's recently filed Form 10-K for a complete discussion and reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures. The following Production Statistics table summarize certain information about our operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020: Year ended December 31, 2021 2020 Ore mined Ore (tonnes) 598,345 643,518 Gold grade (g/t) 3.76 2.42 Low-grade stockpile Ore (tonnes) 8,600 160,739 Gold grade (g/t) 0.33 0.52 Pre-strip waste - 1,346,316 Waste (tonnes) 7,159,740 4,930,262 Metal production (before payable metal deductions)(1) Gold (ozs.) 46,459 29,479 Silver (ozs.) 44,553 28,359 The difference between what we report as "metal production" and "metal sold" is attributable to the difference between the quantities of metals contained in the dore we produce versus the portion of those metals actually paid for according to the terms of our sales contracts. Differences can also arise from inventory changes incidental to shipping schedules, or variances in ore grades and recoveries which impact the amount of metals contained in dore produced and sold. The following Sales Statistics table summarizes certain information about our operations for years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020: Year ended December 31, 2021 2020 Metal sold Gold (ozs.) 45,891 29,929 Silver (ozs.) 43,189 29,129 Average metal prices realized (1) Gold ($per oz.) 1,795 1,813 Silver ($per oz.) 24.74 21.12 Precious metal gold equivalent ounces sold Gold Ounces 45,891 29,929 Gold Equivalent Ounces from Silver 595 339 46,486 30,268 Total cash cost before by-product credits per gold ounce sold $ 610 $ 949 Total cash cost after by-product credits per gold ounce sold $ 587 $ 928 Total all-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold $ 705 $ 952 Average metal prices realized vary from the market metal prices due to final settlement adjustments from our provisional invoices when they are settled. Our average metal prices realized will therefore differ from the market average metal prices in most cases. Year-End 2021 S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary The Company filed its 2021 year-end S-K Technical Report Summary pursuant to Item 1300 of SEC Regulation S-K for the Isabella Pearl mine. Year-end 2021 proven and probable reserves at the Isabella Pearl Mine totaled 908,800 tonnes grading 3.75 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, or 109,700 gold ounces. In addition, the Company reported high-grade stockpile reserves of 14,000 tonnes grading 10.09 g/t gold and low-grade stockpile reserves of 435,000 tonnes grading 0.53 g/t gold. As of December 31, 2021, our estimate of Proven and Probable ("P&P") reserves, all of which pertain to the Isabella Pearl Mine, were: Gold Silver Precious Metal Gold Equivalent Gold Silver Precious Metal Gold Equivalent Description Tonnes g/t g/t g/t Ounces Ounces Ounces Isabella Pearl Mine Proven 483,300 5.26 47 5.89 81,800 733,100 91,600 Probable 425,500 2.04 16 2.26 27,900 221,000 30,900 Proven and Probable Total 908,800 3.75 33 4.19 109,700 954,100 122,500 High-Grade Stockpile 14,000 10.09 88 11.26 4,500 39,600 5,000 Low-Grade Stockpile 435,000 0.53 5 0.59 7,300 63,900 8,200 Isabella Pearl Mine Total 1,357,800 2.78 24 3.11 121,500 1,057,600 135,700 Notes to the 2021 P&P reserves: Metal prices used for P&P reserves were $1,738 per ounce of gold and $23.22 per ounce of silver. These prices reflect the consensus 2022-2024 average prices for gold and silver (CIBC Global Mining Group, Analyst Consensus Commodity Price Forecasts, November 30, 2021). Precious metal gold equivalent is 74.85:1 determined by taking gold ounces produced or sold, plus silver ounces produced or sold converted to precious metal gold equivalent ounces using the gold to silver average price ratio for the period. For the Isabella Pearl Mine, the quantities of material within the designed pits were calculated using a cutoff grade of 0.33 Au g/t. Mining, processing, energy, administrative and smelting/refining costs were based on 2021 actual costs for the Isabella Pearl Mine. Metallurgical gold recovery assumptions used for the Isabella Pearl Mine were 81% for all ore which is currently being crushed. These recoveries reflect predicted average recoveries from metallurgical test programs. Isabella Pearl P&P reserves are diluted and factored for expected mining recovery. Figures in tables are rounded to reflect estimate precision and small differences generated by rounding are not material estimates. The new SEC S-K Technical Report Summary now allows for disclosure of mineral resource estimates (exclusive of mineral reserves). Year-end 2021 mineral resource estimates for the Isabella Pearl mine totaled 446,600 tonnes grading 1.26 g/t gold, or 18,100 gold ounces in the oxide measured and indicated category, and 259,400 tonnes grading 1.30 g/t gold, or 10,900 gold ounces in the oxide inferred category. As of December 31, 2021, our Mineral Resource estimate (exclusive of Mineral Reserves), all of which pertain to the Isabella Pearl Mine, were: Gold Silver Precious Metal Gold Equivalent Gold Silver Precious Metal Gold Equivalent Description Tonnes g/t g/t g/t Ounces Ounces Ounces Measured and Indicated Resources Isabella Pearl Mine Oxide Measured 89,000 2.38 55 3.11 6,800 157,600 8,900 Indicated 357,600 0.99 9 1.10 11,300 96,200 12,600 Measured and Indicated Oxide Total Sulfide 446,600 1.26 18 1.50 18,100 253,800 21,500 Measured 110,600 4.98 57 3.11 17,700 180,100 20,100 Indicated 40,800 3.79 48 1.10 5,000 62,700 5,800 Measured and Indicated Sulfide Total 151,400 4.66 50 5.32 22,700 242,800 25,900 Isabella Pearl Mine Measured and Indicated Total 598,000 2.12 26 2.47 40,800 496,600 47,400 Inferred Resources Isabella Pearl Mine Oxide Inferred 259,400 1.30 12 1.46 10,900 102,800 12,300 Sulfide Inferred 28,800 3.77 56 4.52 3,500 51,600 4,200 Isabella Pearl Mine Inferred Total 288,200 1.55 17 1.78 14,400 154,400 16,500 Notes to the 2021 Mineral Resources: Reported at cutoffs of 0.33 g/t Au for Isabella Pearl Mine Oxide and 2.0 g/t Au for Isabella Pearl Mine Sulfide. Whole block diluted estimates are reported within an optimized pit shell. Mineral Resources do not have demonstrated economic viability. Totals may not sum exactly due to rounding. Mineral resources reported are exclusive of mineral reserves. The Company also disclosed in the S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary that in addition to the reserves, resources and various ore stockpiles, it estimates the eventual recovery of 30,755 gold ounces from crushed ore already placed on the heap leach pad. The Qualified Persons ("QP") who prepared this report are specialists in the fields of geology, exploration, and Mineral Resources and Reserves estimation and classification. The following individuals, by virtue of their education, experience and professional association, are considered QPs for this report and are members in good standing of appropriate professional institutions. The QPs are consultants, independent of FGC. The qualified persons who prepared this report are Donald E. Hulse, P.E., SME-RM, Christopher Emanuel, SME-RM, and Ian H. Crundwell, P. Geo. The Year-End 2021 S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary will be available on the Company's website in the near future. Projects Update Fortitude Gold successfully ramped up gold production to targeted levels at its Isabella Pearl Mine in 2021. The Company is targeting 40,000 ounces of gold (a range of 36,000 to 40,000 gold ounces) during the 2022 production year, assuming no disruptions from the COVID-19 global pandemic or unforeseen operational challenges. In July 2021, the Company received permits to expand the Isabella Pearl heap leach pad and pad construction was completed in December 2021. The expanded heap leach pad can now accommodate additional ore reserve tonnes defined during exploration drill campaigns in 2019 and 2020. The newly permitted area for pad expansion is larger than the recently completed phase two expansion heap leach pad, so the Company may expand the pad further in the future if needed under the existing permits. The Company began placing ore on the new heap leach pad in February 2022. The Company began the permitting process in 2021 to connect the Isabella Pearl Mine to the electrical power grid, a shift that is expected to reduce energy costs by approximately $80,000 per month once complete. The capital cost to switch from diesel power generation to the electric grid is budgeted at approximately $1.6 million and is expected to be completed in 2022, subject to NV Energy timeframes. In November 2021, the Company announced its maiden resource estimate for its Golden Mile Property in Mineral County, Nevada. The Company's Initial Assessment Technical Report Summary on Golden Mile estimates in-situ ounces consisting of 78,500 Indicated gold ounces at 1.13 g/t and 84,500 Inferred gold ounces at 1.10 g/t. The mineralization at Golden Mile remains open along strike and at depth, and the current resource is confined solely to patented claims. Company management is moving towards a development decision and eventual production based on this initial project resource and is currently finalizing estimates for project capital expenditures, sustaining project capital, as well as overall project economics. In January of 2022 the Company filed its Plan of Operations with the Bureau of Land Management, the first step in permitting the Golden Mile project. The Company targets an official board level development decision for Golden Mile in the first half of 2022 based off the project's initial resource. Exploration Program The 2021 exploration drill programs focused on targets along the Isabella Pearl Mineralized trend, completed its initial drill campaign on its East Camp Douglas property and delineated an initial resource at Golden Mile. During 2021, the Company acquired 100% interest in a prospective property in west central Nevada called Ripper. Ripper has high-grade gold surface samples in a favorable geologic setting for a potential open pit heap leach operation. Ripper becomes the sixth property in the Company's portfolio. In 2022, the Company anticipates spending approximately $5.7 million for exploration activities at its Nevada Mining Unit. Exploration expenses may be modified depending on drill rig and crew availability, exploration results, metal market conditions and available capital. The primary focus in 2022 for exploration drill programs include testing targets along the mineralized trend and structural corridor where our Isabella Pearl mine is located, planned delineation and expansion drilling of the known mineralized zones at Golden Mile and exploration drilling at our County Line and East Camp Douglas properties. See Accompanying Tables The following information summarizes the results of operations for Fortitude Gold Corporation for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, its financial condition at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The summary data as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is derived from its audited financial statements contained in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, but do not include the footnotes and other information that is included in the complete financial statements. Readers are urged to review the Company's Form 10-K in its entirety, which can be found on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The calculation of its cash cost before by-product credits per gold ounce sold, total cash cost after by-product credits per gold ounce sold and total all-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold contained in this press release are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see "Management's Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations" contained in the Company's most recent Form 10-K for a complete discussion and reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures. FORTITUDE GOLD CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts) December 31, December 31, 2021 2020 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 40,017 $ 27,774 Accounts receivable 238 145 Inventories 37,550 23,051 Prepaid taxes 1,289 - Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,228 1,962 Total current assets 81,322 52,932 Property, plant and mine development, net 37,226 50,990 Operating lease assets, net 463 6,198 Deferred tax assets 509 959 Other non-current assets 2,909 1,946 Total assets $ 122,429 $ 113,025 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 2,127 $ 1,715 Loans payable, current 87 665 Finance lease liabilities, current 23 398 Operating lease liabilities, current 463 6,198 Mining taxes payable 1,699 1,001 Other current liabilities 912 1,092 Total current liabilities 5,311 11,069 Asset retirement obligations 4,725 3,844 Loans payable, long-term 30 117 Finance lease liabilities, long-term 15 27 Total liabilities 10,081 15,057 Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock - $0.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized and nil outstanding at December 31, 2021 and nil shares authorized and outstanding at December 31, 2020 - - Common stock - $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized and 23,961,208 shares outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 21,211,208 shares outstanding at December 31, 2020 240 212 Additional paid-in capital 103,476 99,682 Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 8,632 (1,926 ) Total shareholders' equity 112,348 97,968 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 122,429 $ 113,025 FORTITUDE GOLD CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts) Year ended December 31, 2021 2020 Sales, net $ 82,109 $ 53,967 Mine cost of sales: Production costs 26,661 27,495 Depreciation and amortization 14,728 10,241 Reclamation and remediation 156 48 Total mine cost of sales 41,545 37,784 Mine gross profit 40,564 16,183 Costs and expenses: General and administrative expenses 11,443 2,882 Exploration expenses 5,396 2,648 Other expense, net 190 233 Total costs and expenses 17,029 5,763 Income before income and mining taxes 23,535 10,420 Mining and income tax expense 5,669 203 Net income $ 17,866 $ 10,217 Net income per common share: Basic $ 0.75 $ 0.48 Diluted $ 0.74 $ 0.48 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 23,875,631 21,211,208 Diluted 24,108,365 21,211,208 FORTITUDE GOLD CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (U.S. dollars in thousands) Year ended December 31, 2021 2020 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 17,866 $ 10,217 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 14,859 10,377 Stock-based compensation 3,405 - Deferred taxes 450 (959 ) Reclamation and remediation accretion 156 48 Other operating adjustments (303 ) - Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (93 ) (145 ) Inventories (10,866 ) (2,300 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (266 ) (1,643 ) Other non-current assets 19 (2,085 ) Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities 29 (1,508 ) Income and mining taxes payable (591 ) 1,001 Net cash provided by operating activities 24,665 13,003 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (4,546 ) (6,488 ) Net cash used in investing activities (4,546 ) (6,488 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Contributions from GRC - 21,711 Dividends paid (7,308 ) - Issuance of common stock 500 - Repayment of loans payable (665 ) (879 ) Repayment of capital leases (403 ) (439 ) Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (7,876 ) 20,393 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 12,243 26,908 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 27,774 866 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 40,017 $ 27,774 Supplemental Cash Flow Information Interest expense paid $ 26 $ 86 Income and mining taxes paid $ 5,893 $ - Non-cash investing and financing activities: Change in capital expenditures in accounts payable $ 503 $ (1,544 ) Change in estimate for asset retirement costs $ 794 $ 1,159 Stock contributed from Parent $ - $ 100 Equipment purchased under finance lease $ 16 $ - Right-of-Use assets acquired through operating lease $ 1,820 $ 7,265 About Fortitude Gold Corporation Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of five high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and a sixth high-grade gold property in west central Nevada. The Isabella Pearl gold mine, located on the Isabella Pearl mineralized trend, is currently in production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions. Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical 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. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, the scope, duration, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mining operations, Company employees, and supply chains as well as the scope, duration and impact of government action aimed at mitigating the pandemic may cause future actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. Also, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Contact: Greg Patterson 719-717-9825 greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com www.Fortitudegold.com SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/690939/Fortitude-Gold-Reports-2021-Record-Gold-Production-075-Net-Income-Per-Share-And-40-Million-Cash Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - Britannia Life Sciences Inc. (CSE: BLAB) ("Britannia" or the "Company") is pleased to provide its unaudited financial results for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2021. These filings and additional information regarding Britannia are available for review on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All amounts are Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Q3 2022 Highlights: The Company reports Adjusted EBITDA of$2.9m for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2021. On November 12, 2021, Britannia completed its transaction with Rise Life Science Corp ("RISE"). RISE has changed its name to Britannia Life Sciences Inc. and continues as the reporting issuer (BLAB: CSE). The transaction with RISE has been accounted for as a reverse takeover ("RTO") by Britannia, such that these condensed interim consolidated financial statements reflect the accounts of Britannia acquiring RISE. As a result, the comparative information for prior periods provided in the financial statements represents the results of Britannia Bud Holdings Co. ("BBCH"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Britannia, and is therefore not directly comparable to current periods. In the nine-month period ended December 31, 2021, Britannia made principal and interest payments of $3.4m on the note representing amounts due to the vendors (the "Sellers' Loan") of Advanced Development & Safety Laboratory Limited ("ADSL"), Britannia's largest operating subsidiary. "Britannia is pleased to present its first set of financial results as a public company, after the successful completion of the reverse takeover transaction with RISE. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our shareholders as well as the vendors and our advisors, as we finalize our debt refinancing." On behalf of the Board Sarah Zilik, CFO Operational Update: As of March 1st, 2022, the Company has made a number of productive operational developments: On January 17th 2022, Britannia entered into a supply agreement to import CBD Isolate and Distillate for the UK market. The company has begun to negotiate supply agreements with licensed producers of other cannabinoid products, including CBG, CBC, and THC. On February 22nd, 2022 Britannia launched its first CBD consumer trial with the objective of establishing the efficacy of using CBD as an active ingredient in products stimulating hair growth. Britannia is actively seeking acquisitions to expand its operational footprint and also evaluating opportunities to expand its range of services. The Company continues to expand its industry coverage, recently executing service contracts with material customers in the household goods and household accessories industries. "Britannia is pleased with the continued momentum of its growth initiatives. We look forward to expanding our services and geographic presence throughout 2022, to deliver meaningful shareholder value." On behalf of the Board Peter Shippen, CEO Subsequent Events: Subsequent to the end of the quarter, Britannia executed a term sheet for a 5,000,000 loan facility with an external lender (the "Loan Facility"). The proceeds of the Loan Facility will be used to repay the remaining Sellers' Loan in full and to fund the acquisition of an additional 10% of ADSL's share capital. The Company expects to close the Loan Facility before its year-end of March 31, 2022. About Britannia Life Sciences Inc. Britannia Life Sciences Inc. is a global platform offering an integrated suite of services to assist companies along their product development journey. Britannia's services, including product formulations, safety assessments, analytical and microbiological testing, global compliance and consumer evaluations are offered to companies ranging from multinationals to startups particularly in the cosmetics, food and wellness industries. Britannia has garnered significant expertise in the development and regulatory approval of topical and edible cannabis products, including preparation and support for novel food authorizations. Britannia's head office is located at 120 Adelaide Street West, Suite 2400, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1T1. For further information contact: Britannia Life Sciences Inc. Email: investors@britannia.life Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited) As at December 31, 2021 March 31, 2021 $ $ Assets Current assets: Cash 1,533,778 828,321 Accounts receivable 1,723,018 1,686,152 Prepaid expenses 90,830 - Total current assets 3,347,626 2,514,473 Non-current assets: Property and equipment 612,722 702,684 Goodwill and intangible assets 17,479,369 18,234,344 Total non-current assets 18,092,091 18,937,028 Total assets 21,439,717 21,451,501 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 3,415,040 2,031,506 Interest payable - 163,076 Current portion of lease liability 49,663 42,906 Director's loan - 225,000 Sellers' loan 4,978,182 7,726,776 Total current liabilities 8,442,885 10,189,264 Non-current liabilities: Lease liability 151,394 188,173 Convertible notes - 2,363,154 Embedded derivative - 2,982,172 Warrant liability 645,705 543,124 Put option liability 1,677,592 2,435,100 Other debt 126,284 - Deferred income taxes 76,677 87,904 Total non-current liabilities 2,679,652 8,599,627 Total liabilities 11,122,537 18,788,891 Shareholders' equity: Share capital 16,492,175 441,204 Contributed surplus 157,101 157,101 Non-controlling interest 3,975,388 2,864,935 Warrant reserve 1,272,445 - Options reserve 149,622 - Accumulated other comprehensive loss (846,586 ) (61,579 ) Deficit (10,882,965 ) (739,051 ) Total shareholders' equity 10,317,180 2,662,610 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 21,439,717 21,451,501 Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) Three months Nine months Periods ended December 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 $ $ $ $ Product sales and other income 1,658,611 - 5,553,178 - Cost of sales 434,221 - 1,297,410 - Gross Margin 1,224,390 - 4,255,768 - Expenses Selling, general and administration 453,548 84,821 1,905,864 245,034 Finance 279,326 - 1,047,908 - Share-based compensation 149,622 149,622 882,496 84,821 3,103,394 245,034 Income (loss) from operations 341,894 (84,821 ) 1,152,374 (245,034 ) Other income (expense) Change in fair value of embedded derivative 236,201 - 598,722 - Foreign currency translation gain (loss) 39,263 - 167,152 - Change in fair value of put option liability 211,895 - 757,507 - Change in fair value of warrant liability (78,953 ) - 55,842 - Accretion expense (237,422 ) - (1,077,164 ) - Listing fees (9,933,566 ) - (9,933,566 ) - (9,762,582 ) - (9,431,507 ) - Loss before income taxes (9,420,688 ) (84,821 ) (8,279,133 ) (245,034 ) Provision for (recovery of) income taxes Current income taxes 232,152 - 728,315 - Deferred income taxes (3,807 ) - (9,227 ) - Total income taxes 228,345 - 719,088 - Net loss (9,649,033 ) (84,821 ) (8,998,221 ) (245,034 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) Currency translation differences 34,319 11,848 (820,247 ) 25 Comprehensive loss for the period (9,614,714 ) (72,973 ) (9,818,468 ) (245,009 ) Net income (loss) for the period attributable to: Non-controlling interest 317,898 - 1,145,693 - Equity shareholders of the Company (9,966,931 ) (84,821 ) (10,143,914 ) (245,034 ) Total (9,649,033 ) (84,821 ) (8,998,221 ) (244,855 ) Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) For the nine months ended December 31, 2021 For the nine months ended December 31, 2020 $ $ OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net Income (loss) (8,998,221 ) (245,034 ) Adjustments for items not involving cash Depreciation and amortization 143,581 - Non-cash listing fees 10,078,561 - Share-based compensation 149,622 - Interest on lease liability 26,767 - Foreign currency translation gain (415,650 ) (25 ) Change in fair value of embedded derivative (598,722 ) - Change in fair value of put liability (757,507 ) - Change in fair of warrant liability (55,842 ) - Accretion expense 1,077,164 - Deferred income tax (9,227 ) - Allocation to non-controlling interest 1,110,453 - 1,750,979 (245,059 ) Changes in non-cash working capital items Accounts receivable 52,181 393 Prepaid expenses (84,020 ) - Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 788,420 (107,789 ) Total changes in non-cash working capital items 756,581 (107,396 ) NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 2,507,560 (352,455 ) INVESTING ACTIVITIES Cash acquired on reverse takeover 741,032 Purchase of equipment (73,162 ) - NET CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 667,870 - FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds on issuance of convertible debt 1,628,855 - Director's loan - 225,000 Share issuance costs - (777 ) Principal and interest payment on Sellers' loan (3,439,102 ) Costs incurred related to reverse takeover (596,037 ) Lease payments (57,217 ) - NET CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES (2,463,501 ) 224,223 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (6,472 ) - Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 705,457 (128,232 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 828,321 140,894 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 1,533,778 12,662 Adjusted EBITDA (Non-IFRS Financial Measurement) Adjusted EBITDA represents net loss or income adjusted to exclude amortization, depreciation, interest expense and finance costs, foreign exchange gains and losses, income tax expense, listing expense and other charges. Other expenses consist primarily of other income and expenses related to the accounting treatment for the Britannia convertible debenture financing and adjustments in the fair value of certain liabilities. Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized, defined or standardized measure under IFRS. The Company's definition of Adjusted EBITDA will likely differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for or in isolation from measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's financial statements and disclosures in their entirety and are cautioned not to put undue reliance on non-IFRS measures and view them in conjunction with the most comparable IFRS financial measures. The Company has reconciled Adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable IFRS financial measure as follows: For the three months ended December 31, For the nine months ended December 31, 2021 2020 2021 2020 $ $ $ $ Loss before income taxes (9,420,688 ) 84,821 (8,279,133 ) (245,034 ) Finance expense 279,326 - 1,047,908 - Share based compensation expense 149,622 - 149,622 - Depreciation and amortization 53,106 - 143,581 - Foreign exchange loss (gain) (39,263 ) - (167,152 ) - Listing expense 9,933,566 - 9.933.566 - Other expenses (131,721 ) - 115,433 - Adjusted EBITDA 823,948 (84,821 ) 2,943,825 (245,034 ) Forward Looking Information This press release may contain certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation regarding Britannia and its business. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected" "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts". "estimates", "believes" or intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could, "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. 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. Except as required by law, Britannia assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a detailed description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's filings statement available on SEDAR under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115296 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - SPARQ Corp. (TSXV: SPRQ) (formerly MJ Innovation Capital Corp.) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Arul Shanmugasundaram to the Company's board of directors (the "Board"). Dr. Arul Shanmugasundaram is currently the Executive Director of Ayana Renewable Power Private Limited, India, where he is responsible for business development, technology and asset management functions. Previously, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Tata Power Solar Systems and lead the EPC for utility scale, rooftops and pumps projects. In the nearly one decade at Tata group, he was part of the leadership team that transformed Tata Power Solar from revenues of US$100 million to US$450 million. Dr. Shanmugasundaram started his career at Applied Materials in Silicon Valley for 15 years where he was involved in the development and launch of several new products and process controls. Dr. Shanmugasundaram has a Bachelor degree from Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and Master and Doctorate degrees from Cornell University. He has more than 40 US patents and several international publications. "We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Shanmugasundaram to the Board at this pivotal time in the Company's growth," said Dr. Praveen Jain, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Company has granted Dr. Shanmugasundaram options to purchase up to 275,000 common shares pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. Each option is exercisable at $0.50 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant, subject to certain vesting provisions. Dr. Shanmugasundaram's appointment is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. ABOUT SPARQ SPARQ's head office is located at 945 Princess Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 0E9. SPARQ originated from the advanced research conducted at ePOWER, the Centre for Energy and Power Electronics Research at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. SPARQ was founded at Queen's University in 2009 by Canada Research Chair in Power Electronics, Dr. Praveen Jain, Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Royal Society of Canada. SPARQ designs and manufactures next generation single-phase microinverters for residential and commercial solar electric applications. SPARQ has developed a proprietary photovoltaic ("PV") solution called the Quad; the Quad inverter optimizes four PV modules with a single microinverter, simplifying design and installation, and lowering cost for solar power installations when compared to existing market offerings. 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: SPARQ Corp. Dr. Praveen Jain Chief Executive Officer Email: pjain@sparqsys.com Tel: 343.477.1158 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115269 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2022 / New Destiny Mining Corp. (TSXV:NED), (the "Company" or "NED") announces that it has been advised that pursuant to the Exchange's review of the Company's financial statements and disclosure documents, it has determined that the Company does not meet Tier 2 Continued Listing Requirements ("CLR") relating to the requirements of working capital and activity. In December 2021 and February 2022, the Company responded to the Exchanges notice and advised that the Company was in good standing regarding its option agreement to acquire 100% of the Treasure Mountain Silver Property near Hope, BC. From 2017 to 2021 the Company has incurred approximately $650,000 in property exploration expenses, however in the year 2021 the Company did not spend the minimum expenditures of $50,000 required pursuant to the Exchange Policy 2.5 which is the reason the Company does not meet Tier 2 CLR with regards to the activity criteria. The project is currently fully permitted and ready for drilling and trenching. Archeology reports and environmental studies were completed in 2019. An exploration plan for the project has been completed with a budget of approximately $200,000 and a tentative start date to begin work at the beginning of June 2022. The field work will entail trenching, rock sampling and drilling, and is scheduled to take approximately 45 days. In December of 2021 the Company completed a $80,000 flow through private placement for continued exploration on the Treasure Mountain Silver property. The Company will endeavour over the next 2 months to raise an additional $300,000 to meet its working capital obligations and fund it's 2022 exploration program at the Treasure Mountain project. The Exchange has requested that the Company issue a press release updating its progress towards meeting Tier 2 CLR. The Exchange has advised New Destiny Mining Corp. that it will continue to monitor the Company's future financial statements to ensure it meets Tier 2 CLR, until such time, the notice to transfer to NEX will be withdrawn. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Al Beaton" Director 604-488-3900 Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, the Company's information and statements regarding or inferring the future business, operations, financial performance, prospects, and other plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Such statements include statements regarding the completion of the proposed transactions. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved), and variations of such words, and similar expressions are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statement are necessarily based upon several factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements express or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of gold and other metals, anticipated costs and the ability to achieve goals, and the Company will be able to obtain required licenses and permits. 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 that resource exploration and development is a speculative business; that environmental laws and regulations may become more onerous; that the Company may not be able to raise additional funds when necessary; fluctuating prices of metals; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; operating hazards and risks; and competition. There can be no assurance that economic resources will be discovered or developed. Accordingly, 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 continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants, equipment failures, litigation, competition, fees charged by service providers and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. 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. 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 SOURCE: New Destiny Mining Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/691016/New-Destiny-Mining-Corp-Corporate-Update Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2022) - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) (OTCQB: ALVLF) ("Big Ridge") announces the closing of the sale of its 100% owned Ontario mining properties to Caprock Mining Corp. ("Caprock") pursuant to a sale agreement dated March 11, 2021. As consideration, Caprock issued a total of 10,000,000 common shares (the "Caprock Shares") to Big Ridge from treasury at a deemed price of $0.10 per Caprock Share for aggregate deemed consideration of $1,000,000. Immediately prior to closing of this transaction, Big Ridge did not own or control any Caprock Shares. Following closing, Big Ridge owns 10,000,000 Caprock Shares, representing approximately 24.77% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Caprock. These Caprock Shares were issued under a prospectus exemption and are also subject to an escrow agreement providing for a three-year escrow, and become free-trading according to the following schedule: Date Number of shares June 29, 2022* 1,000,000 July 26, 2022 1,500,000 January 26, 2023 1,500,000 July 26, 2023 1,500,000 January 26, 2024 1,500,000 July 26, 2024 1,500,000 January 26, 2025 1,500,000 *Released from escrow upon issuance, but subject to a hold period of four months and one day under applicable securities laws. Big Ridge will continue to monitor the business, prospects, financial condition and potential capital requirements of Caprock. Depending on its evaluation of these and other factors Big Ridge may from time to time in the future increase or decrease its direct or indirect ownership, control or direction over the Common Shares or other securities of Caprock through market transactions, private agreements, subscriptions from treasury or otherwise, and may from time to time engage in discussions with, or make proposals to, Caprock or other third parties regarding any of the matters listed in paragraphs (a) through (k) of Item 5 of Form NI 62-103F1 - Required Disclosure under the Early Warning Requirements of the Canadian Securities Administrators. About Big Ridge Gold Corp. Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company managed by a disciplined and experienced team of officers and directors. The Company is committed to the development of advanced stage mining projects using industry best practices combined with strong social license from our local communities. Big Ridge owns a 100% interest in the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba and the Destiny Gold Project in Quebec. Big Ridge is the operator of the Hope Brook Gold Project located in Newfoundland and Labrador. For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit our website at www.bigridgegold.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, Mike Bandrowski, President & CEO For further information, including a copy of the corresponding report filed with Canadian securities regulators, please visit www.sedar.com or contact: Mike Bandrowski, President & CEO BIG RIDGE GOLD CORP. 18 King St. East, Suite 1400 Toronto, ON, M5C 1C4 Tel: 416-540-5480 Email: Mike@bigridgegold.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. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events, and include, without limitation, statements with respect to Big Ridge's intentions with respect to Caprock's shares. All forward-looking statements are based on Big Ridge's and its employees' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. 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 on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, 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. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Big Ridge, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Big Ridge does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115309 TSX and OTCQX: MPVD TORONTO and NEW YORK, March 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province" or the "Company") (TSX: MPVD) (OTCQX: MPVD) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a supply agreement with one of the world's largest and most respected jewellery retailers, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (Chow Tai Fook). Under the terms of the supply agreement with Chow Tai Fook, Mountain Province will provide a select range of diamonds over a one-year, renewable term. The Company also announces today the results of its most recent diamond sale which closed on February 25, 2022 in Antwerp, Belgium. Total sales of 322,547 carats were achieved for total proceeds of $52.7 million (US$41.4 million) resulting in an average value of $163 per carat (US$128 per carat). Adjusting for mix of goods sold, this result represents a run-of-mine price of $160 per carat (US$126 per carat), a new high-water mark for the Company since the inception of sales of Gahcho Kue goods, and which incorporates a 13% indicative market price increase relative to the Company's first sale of the year which closed on January 21, 2022. Reid Mackie, the Company's Vice President & Head of Diamond Sales and Marketing, commented: "We are extremely proud to announce the formalisation of a supply agreement with Chow Tai Fook. This is an exciting opportunity for us to partner with a recognised industry leader, known for its discerning approach to diamond sourcing, unwavering focus on production excellence, and extensive retail network across Asia and the United States. Mountain Province looks forward to building a strong and successful relationship with Chow Tai Fook. We are also pleased with the results from our February diamond sale. We achieved a new price milestone and saw strong demand in the market for our unique profile of Canadian origin diamonds." About Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kue diamond mine located in Canada'sNorthwest Territories. The Gahcho Kue Joint Venture property consists of several kimberlites that are actively being mined, developed, and explored for future development. The Company also controls 107,373 hectares of highly prospective mineral claims and leases surrounding the Gahcho Kue Mine that include an Indicated mineral resource for the Kelvin kimberlite and Inferred mineral resources for the Faraday kimberlites. Kelvin is estimated to contain 13.62 million carats (Mct) in 8.50 million tonnes (Mt) at a grade of 1.60 carats/tonne and value of US$63/carat. Faraday 2 is estimated to contain 5.45Mct in 2.07Mt at a grade of 2.63 carats/tonne and value of US$140/ct. Faraday 1-3 is estimated to contain 1.90Mct in 1.87Mt at a grade of 1.04 carats/tonne and value of US$75/carat. All resource estimations are based on a 1mm diamond size bottom cut-off. For further information on Mountain Province Diamonds and to receive news releases by email, visit the Company's website at www.mountainprovince.com. Qualified Person The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding Mountain Province's mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Tom E. McCandless, Ph.D., P.Geo., and Matthew MacPhail, P.Eng, MBA, both employees of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. and Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and United States securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, operational hazards, including possible disruption due to pandemic such as COVID-19, its impact on travel, self-isolation protocols and business and operations, estimated production and mine life of the project of Mountain Province; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; the future price of diamonds; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the ability to manage debt; capital expenditures; the ability to obtain permits for operations; liquidity; tax rates; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Mountain Province, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be", "potential" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and 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 statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Mountain Province and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include the development of operation hazards which could arise in relation to COVID-19, including, but not limited to protocols which may be adopted to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and any impact of such protocols on Mountain Province's business and operations, variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in market conditions, changes in project parameters, mine sequencing; production rates; cash flow; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; supply of, and demand for, diamonds; fluctuating commodity prices and currency exchange rates, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. These factors are discussed in greater detail in Mountain Province's most recent Annual Information Form and in the most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR, which also provide additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Mountain Province cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Mountain Province believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Although Mountain Province 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 anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Mountain Province undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Further, Mountain Province may make changes to its business plans that could affect its results. The principal assets of Mountain Province are administered pursuant to a joint venture under which Mountain Province is not the operator. Mountain Province is exposed to actions taken or omissions made by the operator within its prerogative and/or determinations made by the joint venture under its terms. Such actions or omissions may impact the future performance of Mountain Province. Under its current note and revolving credit facilities Mountain Province is subject to certain limitations on its ability to pay dividends on common stock. The declaration of dividends is at the discretion of Mountain Province's Board of Directors, subject to the limitations under the Company's debt facilities, and will depend on Mountain Province's financial results, cash requirements, future prospects, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board. Mark Wall, President and CEO, 161 Bay Street, Suite 1410, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1, Phone: (416) 361-3562, E-mail: info@mountainprovince.com; Matthew MacPhail, Chief Technical Officer, 161 Bay Street, Suite 1410, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1, Phone: (416) 361-3562, E-mail: info@mountainprovince.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1757452/Mountain_Province_Diamonds_Inc__Mountain_Province_Diamonds_Annou.jpg Hosting U.S. nuclear weapons "completely unacceptable": Japan's PM Xinhua) 08:57, March 01, 2022 Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, on Oct. 4, 2021. (Toru Hanai/Pool via Xinhua) "It is unacceptable given our country's stance of maintaining the three non-nuclear principles," Kishida said. TOKYO, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday said it is completely "unacceptable" for Japan to make a nuclear sharing deal with the United States, spurning the notion of Japan hosting U.S. nuclear weapons. After a call by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a day earlier to discuss the option of nuclear sharing, Kishida said in parliament, "it is unacceptable given our country's stance of maintaining the three non-nuclear principles." Japan has abided by its three principles of not producing, possessing or allowing nuclear arms on its territory, with the principles inspired by the devastating atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. Paper lanterns float in the river at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, Aug. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) Kishida, whose constituency is in Hiroshima, is a proponent of non-nuclear proliferation and has vocally made his hope for a world free of nuclear weapons known. On a TV program on Sunday about Japan's security environment as it relates to Russia's military moves in Ukraine, Abe was quoted as saying that "it is necessary to understand how the world's security is maintained. We should not put a taboo on discussions about the reality we face." The former prime minister, who heads the largest faction of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, added, "as a country that experienced atomic bombings, we must uphold the goal of abolishing nuclear weapons." Under their nuclear sharing arrangements, some non-nuclear members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization host U.S. nuclear weapons. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) A ZIMBABWE Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) investigating officer in the matter of former Public Service minister Petronella Kagonye on Tuesday said there was insufficient evidence against her in one of her cases of fraud. Kagonye, who is represented by Rungano Mahuni, is being accused of swindling Shingiriro Housing Co-operative of some money after promising to deliver residential stands. But Zacc officer Gilbert Manyore said he had encountered a challenge in investigating another count of fraud as an unnamed bookkeeper was outside the country. He said the availability of the bookkeeper was critical in the investigations. The officer also said the documents of the co-operative were not enough. Kagonye, who was facing three counts of fraud had, one case withdrawn after witnesses claimed that they were coerced to lie against the former minister. She also faces charges of converting government computers to own use. Manyore, however, failed to state the number of computers received by Kagonye. The defence filed a notice for discharge at the close of the State case. Magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro will deliver her ruling on March 18. The ex-minister is also being accused of converting US$18 000 meant for residential stands for a housing co-operative to personal use, a charge she denies. Newsday Standard Bariatrics, Inc., Cincinnati, OH-based leader in the bariatric surgery medical device field, closed a $35m Series B funding round. The launch of the Titan SGS surgical stapler completed the final milestones needed to realize the second of two tranches. The company received the remaining $9m in funds to accelerate commercialization efforts. Standard Bariatrics is supported through early investment from Queen City Angels and CincyTech, Series A lead investors RiverVest, Hatteras Venture Partners and Emergent Medical Partners, and Series B investors U.S. Venture Partners (USVP) and River Cities Capital. Standard Bariatrics is a surgical procedure company focused on the innovative development and commercialization of medical devices. The Titan SGS surgical stapler design received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April 2021, allowing it to be used in bariatric surgery requiring the creation of sleeve pouch anatomy (sleeve gastrectomy). The completion of a 62-patient study supported the submission. The design ensures more consistent staple formation across the entire 23-centimeter cutline for improved staple-line strength and fewer malformed staples than competitive staplers that offer short cartridges for more general surgical use. Following FDA clearance, it was first used clinically in August 2021 and sales recently reached approximately $3 million. Since then, Titan SGS has been used in over 1600 clinical cases performed in more than 35 hospital facilities across 12 states. The community of bariatric surgeons using Titan SGS is growing as they share their clinical experiences with the device. FinSMEs 28/02/2022 Sitting Left to right: Nadav Eichler, CTO; Danny Farin, executive chairman; Oren Dror, CEO. Standing: Dr. Rotem Sivan-Hoffman, Medical Director; Dr. Shmuel Raz Photographer: Shani Nahmias Studio Koteret CVAid Medical, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based digital health company, raised $4M in funding. The round was led by Rad Biomed investment fund with participation form Philips, Sanara Capital. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and accelerate its business reach. Led by CEO Oren Dror, CVAid Medical has developed a platform based on artificial intelligence for diagnosing and treating cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs, or strokes). The system allows medical teams to perform a neurological examination based on a video recording and recording of the patients voice using a smartphone, and to process the image and voice data sent to its cloud server. Using algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) developed in house, the technology enables analysis of the data in real time, and comparison with the medical records stored by the company. This provides the triage clinician with a tool for immediate diagnosis, with a high degree of accuracy, of whether the patient has had a stroke and definition of its severity. In addition, analysis of the data also gives the clinician a set of tools for making quick decisions regarding the actions required to treat the stroke, improving the speed and quality of providing treatment. The platform also allows non-professional staff, such as in retirement homes, nursing homes, or family members, to film the patient when there is fear of a stroke and in the event of a positive diagnosis, to perform a rapid evacuation process and put the medical staff on alert. This enables remote diagnosis, control and management of patients suspected of suffering a stroke at a very early stage, and coordination of the evacuation and transfer of the patient to the appropriate medical center, as well as preparing and readying the medical staff in advance immediately upon arrival of the ambulance to the hospital. To date, the company has conducted clinical trials at a number of hospitals in Israel and Europe, and examined hundreds of patients. CVAid Medical was established in 2018 by CEO Oren Dror, Executive Chairman Danny Farin, CTO Nadav Eichler, Dr. Rotem Sivan-Hoffman, senior physician and director of the radiology department at Meir Medical Center, and Dr. Shmuel Raz, a scientist and inventor. FinSMEs 01/03/2022 Mizar, a Warsaw, Poland-based trading platform provider, raised $3M in Seed funding. The round was led by Nexo, with participation from Huobi Ventures, KuCoin Ventures, Gate Labs, MEXC, WOO Ventures, Spark Digital Capital, Shima Capital, Stakely VC, Evolve Capital, Kairon Labs, AU21 Capital, Tenzor Capital, NFT Tech, David Post, and Dean Thomas. The company intends to use the funds to further develop and increase the reach of their smart trading tools. Led by CEO Francesco Ciuci, Mizar is a trading platform where traders can search for strategies to securely allocate capital or get access to a wide range of trading tools to put their assets in motion. The companys smart trading tools require no prior trading knowledge. As Mizar continues to grow their product, they focus on strengthening their current core community and partnerships, while simultaneously continuing to add high-quality talents to their team. FinSMEs 01/03/2022 Payhawk co-founders Konstantin Djengozov CFO (left), Hristo Borisov, CEO (center), Boyko Karadzhov CTO (right) Payhawk, a London, UK-based payment and expense solution provider, raised $100M in Series B funding at a valuation of $1bn. The round, which extends Payhawks Series B round to $215m, was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation Sprints Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, HubSpot Ventures and Jigsaw VC. The company intends to use the funds to further grow its product team, double down on its efforts to build enterprise features, and expand the sales and marketing team for new market penetration in 2022. The capital will be used to further grow Payhawks product team by adding 60 additional senior software engineers in Sofia, add new features like mileage tracking and per diem, and expand existing features for enterprise customers, including Oracle Netsuite integration, Subscription Management and Budgets. Founded in 2018 by Hristo Borisov and Boyko Karadzhov and later joined by Konstantin Dzhengozov, Payhawk is a financial platform that combines expense management, payments and invoice management in one solution and works as a one-stop-shop for finance teams. Its customer base consists of a mix of fast-growing and mature multinational companies like LuxAir, Lotto24, Viking Life, Gtmhub, Flink, MacPaw and By Miles. The company has offices in Sofia, Bulgaria, Berlin, Germany and Barcelona, Spain, and is set to open offices in Amsterdam and Paris in March, and in New York in September. FinSMEs 01/03/2022 New York City students and educators reacted with a mix of anxiety and relief to news that Mayor Adams is likely to scrap a school mask mandate in less than a week. Word of Adams promise to make masks optional in city schools starting Monday, March 7, barring a surge in cases, spread quickly among kids and teachers returning from mid-winter break Monday. Advertisement Teachers line up their students before entering PS 179 elementary school in Kensington, Brooklyn. (Mark Lennihan/AP) I think its a good signnot just for the masks but what the mask symbolizes in the world and how hard the past few years have been, said Joaquin Garcia-Klossner, a freshman at Brooklyn Technical High School. Its kind of like the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Other city students were less enthusiastic. Advertisement If you really think about it, its kind of like letting COVID win, said Elijah Chapman, a sophomore at Brooklyn Community Arts and Media High School. Chapman said he heard some classmates saying we finally [dont] have to worry about these masks bothering us, but took a different view. Theyre saving our lives, he said. Gov. Hochul cited rapidly falling COVID-19 case numbers, and specifically pediatric cases which have dropped to their lowest point since last July in her decision to end the statewide mandate on Wednesday. The expiration of the statewide mandate shifts the decision about face-coverings to individual districts. The New York Archdiocese, which oversees Catholic schools in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island, announced Monday that students can shed masks starting Wednesday. The diocese had previously promised to lift the mask mandate as soon as the state gave the go-ahead, Students sport masks as they arrive for class in the Bronx. (John Minchillo/AP) Many districts across Westchester and Long Island said they would make masks optional starting Wednesday, though other district leaders said they needed more time to decide. Adams, who has been broadcasting his desire to scale back COVID-19 restrictions for days, said Sunday that the city would evaluate the results of student coronavirus tests this week and make a final decision Friday. But he expected to lift the mandate next week. He vowed schools will protect the rights of kids who choose to continued wearing masks. Advertisement Were continuing to say to parents if you dont want your child to remove his or her mask, you can allow them to keep it on, he said. Were not going to have bullying. Were not going to be treating children differently. So were giving parents that option. Mayor Adams has vowed that students will be able to continue wearing masks if they wish. (GREGG VIGLIOTTI/for New York Daily News) City teachers, like students and parents, are still deeply split over the mask requirements. Liat Olenick, a pre-K teacher in Brooklyn, called lifting the mandate premature. I understand people are tired of the pandemic and I am too but that doesnt make it go away, she said. Olenick pointed to the fact that just 59% of city students ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with some schools recording vaccination rates as low as 12%, according to recently-released city data. She called for a sustained effort to increase student vaccination rates before removing the mask rule. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Michael Frank, a history teacher at the High School for Environmental Studies in Hells Kitchen, said he thinks lifting the mask requirement is a good move. Advertisement Frank said hes looking forward to no longer have to cover his mouth while delivering lectures but beyond that, is excited to help kids reacclimate to a sense of normalcy. Michael Mulgrew, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, said that the union believes were now at the point where we can start loosening restrictions. He said the UFT is pushing the DOE to make high-quality masks available for educators who want to continue wearing face-coverings, and for clear policies that dont force teachers or principals to mediate mask disputes. Some students said theyll take their cues on whether to continue wearing masks in school from their classmates and teachers. I think kids are going to see what other kids are doing I feel like thats what Im going to do, said Victoria Shulman, a Brooklyn Tech freshman. See who takes their mask off and whether teachers are encouraging it or not or if the schools encouraging it. With Michael Gartland This is our best offer! You get home delivery Monday through Saturday plus full digital access any time, on any device with our six-day subscription delivery membership. This membership plan includes member-only benefits like our popular ticket giveaways, all of our email newsletters and access to the daily digital replica of the printed paper. Also, you can share digital access with up to four other household members at no additional cost. Subscriptions renew automatically every 30 days. Call 240-215-8600 to cancel auto-renewal. Most subscribers are served by News-Post carriers; households in some outlying areas receive same-day delivery through the US Postal Service. If your household falls in a postal delivery area, you will be notified by our customer service team. A duo of scheming wine aficionados turned their passion for Ports into a Ponzi scheme, tricking investors into giving them nearly $100 million backed by fancy bottles that didnt actually exist, prosecutors said Tuesday. The accused vino villains Stephen Burton, 57, and James Wellesley, 55 created a company, Bordeaux Cellars, in 2011 that claimed to connect high-net worth individuals who had pricey wine collections but were in need of quick cash with investors who would give them loans. Advertisement The loans were supposedly secured by the value of the wines in the business possession. The cash-strapped loan receivers who were liquid in liquor would receive the money from investors through Bordeaux Cellars and then pay off the loan with interest over a 12-month period. Advertisement But in reality neither the loan recipients nor their wine collections existed, prosecutors claimed. Instead, between 2017 and 2019, Bordeaux Cellars merely paid fake interest to the investors using the $99.4 million they got from them, the feds said. Bordeaux Cellars had thousands fewer bottles of wine in its custody than the loan documents reflected, prosecutors said. They also did not have bottles of wine specifically referred to in loan documents, the feds said. The duo was indicted in Brooklyn Federal Court on Tuesday. Some of their alleged victims are based in the New York area. These defendants duped investors by offering them an intoxicating investment opportunity collateralized by valuable bottles of fine wine that turned out to be too good to be true, Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. The scheme went undetected until the company ceased making payments to investors in February 2019, prosecutors said. Wellesley was arrested on Feb. 4 in England while Burton is on the lam. Both are U.K. citizens. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Both are charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering and face up to 20 years in prison. I have been a passionate fine wine lover for most of my life. Having received a case of 1961 Latour for my 21st (which I still have!) my private collection has grown to over 5,000 cases today, Burton, a Stanford Business School graduate, claims on his LinkedIn profile. Advertisement In a 2013 interview, Burton claimed the business helped rich people who could not get traditional loans because of bad credit or other issues with banks. Its proving a point that over here the banks are not lending at the moment, or if they are lending, compliance is very difficult, he told CNBC. Burton and Wellesley traveled to the United States, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom to promote Bordeaux Cellars. Burton said the idea for Bordeaux Cellars came to him when he read an article after the 2008 financial crash about rich people selling their fancy car collections. There was a picture showing a garage filled with Ferrari, Lamborghini, and many of those expensive cars for sale at low prices. Looking at that, I thought how about wine collection? There is value in it that could bring liquidity to people who are in immediate need of cash. And they do not have to sell the wines; they can get a loan with wines as collateral, he told the interviewer. 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. These community newsletters are open to all; you do not need to be a member to sign up. (Although we hope you do join us!) Eligibility This call is open to Indigenous visual artists, or artist teams, who are 18 years of age or older and are residents of Washington state, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon or Wyoming. The selected artists must be able to provide a tax identification number or social security number. Artists who work in a variety of visual media will be considered. Examples of media include, but are not limited to, traditional art, digital art, collage, graphic art and textiles. Fred Hutch and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance employees and staff are not eligible to apply at this time. Final Exhibit Format One piece will be commissioned by the selected artist (or artist team) and will be translated into a high-quality digital file and featured in various print and digital forms. Additionally, the artist and artwork will be featured on fredhutch.org and across our various social platforms. The final forms of the artwork include: A large 18-by-14-foot mesh banner on top of the Fred Hutch Yale building. This location faces a high-traffic roadway at Valley St and N. Yale Ave. in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle A 6-by-10-foot flag flown on campus Digital and print signage across our campus In educational materials the Hutch shares with the community Final Artwork Criteria Artists are encouraged to consider the criteria for the final commissioned artwork as they prepare their artist submission: Relevent to your community The final artwork should visually convey the themes, emotions, expressions, history, culture, and aspirations of your community as represented through your experience and the dialogues held throughout this program. Relevent to the themes of this program The final artwork should honor and affirm the humanity and equal human dignity of people who have been marginalized and excluded. Suitable for large public display The final artwork artwork should work well at a large scale and be suitable for all ages. Selection Process The Fred Hutch Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has intentionally created selection committees who will: Advise on requirements of the artist submission process Review application submissions Select the final artist, or artist team, and guide the final creative pieces of art to be displayed on the Fred Hutch campus and shared with our broader community Each artist selection panel consists of representatives from the Fred Hutch Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortiums Office of Community Outreach & Engagement; Fred Hutch Government & Community Relations; Fred Hutch Communications & Marketing; and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. The selected artist or artist team will receive $5,000 for their work and participation in the program. Artists are expected to cover the cost of materials associated with the creation of the piece. Fred Hutch will cover the cost of final production. Timeline April 3, 11:59 p.m. PDT: Artist call closes. Artist call closes. Mid-April: Finalists are notified and interview with selection committee. Finalists are notified and interview with selection committee. Late April: Final artist is notified. Final artist is notified. August - September: Artist develops commissioned piece and engages in the dialogue portion of the program. Note: Artists are encouraged but not required to engage in the Dialogue portion of the program leading up to their commission period. Artist develops commissioned piece and engages in the dialogue portion of the program. Note: Artists are encouraged but not required to engage in the Dialogue portion of the program leading up to their commission period. October 10, 2022: On-campus signage is unveiled. On-campus signage is unveiled. February 2023: Commissioned piece is archived for future rotation. Artists are encouraged, but not required, to participate in dialogue with the Hutch until the programs anticipated close in 2024. How to Apply There is no fee for entry. Eligible artists interested in this program must prepare and submit the following: Statement of interest Please explain your interest in the program and, if relevant, your connection to Fred Hutch and our mission. Please limit your response to 2500 characters. Artist statement Please share a brief artist bio, including your personal commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Please limit your response to 1500 characters. 3-5 pieces of work These pieces can be submitted in these formats: .jpg, .pdf, .png. The size of the files should not exceed 25MB. Please label your files in this format: lastname-firstname-title-medium-yearcreated. Submissions for Indigenous artists are due Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Gainesville, TX (76240) Today Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 64F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 64F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected. A homeless man accused in a vicious Queens subway hammer attack of a research scientist is no stranger to the criminal justice system, with four prison convictions and an attempted escape from behind bars, police sources said Monday. William Blount, 57, was charged Sunday with attempted murder for allegedly ambushing Nina Rothschild last Thursday night inside a Queens Plaza subway station, and striking her 13 times in the head with a hammer before robbing her tote bag. Advertisement Rothschild, also 57, is a research scientist with the city Health Department. She suffered a fractured skull in the unprovoked beatdown and is recovering at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell. Blount was arrested after a woman was caught using Rothschilds stolen credit card, and she picked the man who gave her the card out of a photo array, according to prosecutors. Advertisement A New York City Department of Health research scientist was attacked with a hammer in a caught-on-camera mugging at a Queens subway station. (NYPD / DCPI) Blount, who was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court Monday, has four arrests in the city dating to a petty larceny case in the 1980s. Three arrests in Queens resulted in state prison sentences. Records show Blount did three years for drugs and was paroled March 1, 1990, then served two years for attempted robbery and was conditionally released June 20, 1993. He then served six years for robbery and was conditionally released again, on March 23, 2000. At that point, Blount apparently headed to South Carolina, where less than four months later, on July 1, 2000, he and his brother-in-law were busted for breaking into a Bojangles restaurant in Richland County, S.C., and forcing two workers to open up a safe, according to records. Police released an image of a suspected mugger who authorities said attacked woman on subway stairs with a hammer. (NYPD) That September, Blount was one of eight inmates charged with trying to escape a detention center. According to a published report, Blount jumped from a roof, broke both ankles and was quickly arrested. Four of the other inmates were charged with murdering a correction officer during the attempted escape. It wasnt immediately clear when Blount, who was convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary and gun possession in the restaurant incident, was released from prison in South Carolina. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Blount found himself back on the radar of investigators when a woman used the victims Chase card to make a $19 purchase at a Queens strip mall on Friday, the night after the hammer assault, according to a criminal complaint. Police arrested the woman, Denise Alston, 57, and she also had Rothschilds Macys rewards card, Talbots credit card and a NYC identification card, all tucked into the victims wallet, the complaint alleges. Advertisement She told detectives she got the card from someone named William, and on Saturday, she picked Blounts face out of a photo array. Cops learned that Blount bragged to an uncle after the attack, I just did a lick. I needed to get some things, the complaint alleges. A lick is slang for a successful theft. When police arrested Blount, he was wearing the same blue jeans and black jacket he was seen wearing on the surveillance video. This was a brutal, gratuitous attack, Queens D.A. Melinda Katz said Monday. The subways are too integral to the lifeblood of our City for riders to be terrorized when using them. The violence has to stop. Judge Edwin Novillo ordered Blount held without bail until his next appearance Thursday. Adorable home in a central area of town! Close to schools/shops with easy access to Hwy 34. This home has been completely remodeled; updated kitchen with SS appliances and lots of storage, updated bathroom & master bedroom, new flooring throughout, new siding, fresh paint, custom cabinets and much more! Call today! Burn season has officially started in Linn County and is set to run through June 15, according to a news release from the Albany Fire Department. However, burn season is subject to change depending on current fire conditions. The Linn County Fire Defense Board will monitor and administer any changes to burn season. The board asks that Linn County residents follow Oregon Department of Environmental Quality open and agricultural burning guidelines. Anyone with questions can contact the Linn County Burn Line at 541-451-1904. According to the news release, unless there is an immediate threat to life or property, burn complaints will be reported to DEQ at 1-888-997-7888, not the Linn County Sheriffs Office. Last year, the Lebanon Fire District responded to 144 burn complaint calls, according to the news release. Of these, 93 were unauthorized burns. AFD responded to 136 calls related to burn complaints. Reporting nonemergency burn calls to DEQ instead of law enforcement will lessen the burden to emergency systems in the area, according to AFD. For more information, go to the Linn County Fire Defense Board website at www.linncountyfiredefense.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As the need for emergency crisis response grows, an intervention program is taking root locally. At the halfway point of the pilot, officials say some success can already be seen. Known as CORE, the Crisis Outreach Response and Engage team is currently composed of Corvallis police Officer Trevor Anderson and mental health professional Alyssa Giesbrecht of the Health Department. CORE launched this past summer and aims to resolve tense situations without jail or the emergency room by drawing on crisis-intervention techniques. COREs mission focuses on collaboration between law enforcement and mental health to provide trauma-informed care to those experiencing a mental health crisis while ensuring the safety of responders, the person in crisis and the community. One goal is reducing repeated calls for service regarding the same individuals. Its been six months since the Corvallis Police Department and the Benton County Health Department teamed up on the crisis intervention pilot program. Last week, city officials were briefed on the yearlong programs progress, and the county is slated for an update at its meeting Tuesday, March 1. At the Feb. 22 City Council meeting, CPD Chief Nick Hurley said crisis response is more than a buzzword its a real issue locally and nationally. Calling himself and Dannielle Brown, county behavioral health deputy director, a dynamic duo, Hurley applauded the partnership between the police and the Health Department. We wanted to be really thoughtful about how we were responding, who we were responding to, and how we were engaging with people in the community, Brown said at the meeting. While also supporting community members that felt like they were unsafe. Giesbrecht comes from Benton County Behavioral Health. Along with her experience in mental health, she has a criminal justice bachelors degree and a counseling masters degree. Anderson is a longtime law enforcement professional who coordinates crisis intervention training and teaches crisis response at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. During the past four years, Corvallis PD calls for service involving or related to mental health increased significantly from 951 in 2018 to 1,512 in 2021, according to Hurley. From July to December 2021, the department responded to 777 calls with a mental health aspect, 268 of which were reviewed by CORE for opportunities to offer assistance. Hurley said of the 268 mental health calls reviewed, 55% were resolved on scene with services or resources provided. He said 26% of people refused services or resources, and 14% couldnt be located. Only 3% were taken to the hospital and 1% were arrested, according to Hurley. I think part of the challenge with mental health services is they really are voluntary by nature, Brown said. Even when someone rises to the level of harming themselves or someone else and gets placed on a hold of any version, they still have the capacity to refuse care and treatment. With only two team members, CORE is not the primary responder to calls for service. However, Hurley said CORE responded to 27% of mental health calls in its first six months. He added Corvallis police officers are well-versed in crisis intervention training already, calling CORE a new resource for diverting people in crisis from jail or the hospital. The CORE team has the ability to spend more time on a call for service, specific to the individual, and theyre not attached to the radio for calls for service, Hurley said. They have done a lot of warm handoffs to other groups and been able to share time with the person sometimes thats all thats needed. Answering a question about the potential role of Benton Countys planned crisis center, Brown said that future piece of the local system would fill a crucial gap. She said in many cases, law enforcement takes people in crisis to the hospital because there are no other options. The crisis center will be a possible intermediary. Our goal is to keep people out of the hospital who dont need to be in the hospital, Brown said. Hurley said CPD is working toward having all of its officers trained for crisis intervention. To date, he said 130 officers in the region have attended the training, including 66% of CPD officers who are certified in Crisis Intervention Training, which is a 40-hour mental health crisis response program. Hurley added CPD is working on a grant for an advanced crisis de-escalation training the agency will be hosting on behalf of Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. He said its the first run of the new model, which is designed for those who already completed basic CIT. I think were seeing a difference nationally when officers have the training and the understanding of why we do something different, Hurley said. Cody Mann covers Benton County and the cities of Corvallis and Philomath. He can be contacted at 541-812-6113 or Cody.Mann@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @News_Mann_. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission on Monday, Feb. 28 directed operators of the state's independently owned liquor stores to stop selling all Russian manufactured distilled spirits. Meanwhile, the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission has sequestered the remaining supply of Russian spirits in its Portland warehouse. The following Russian manufactured liquor products below are no longer available for purchase: Russian standard vodka, Gold vodka, standard with 2-shot Beluga Gold Line vodka Hammer + Sickle vodka Beluga Noble vodka and Noble Celebration Jewel of Russia Classic, Jewel of Russia Ultra and Ultra Black Jewel of Russia Ultra and Ultra Black Imperia vodka Mamont vodka ZYR Russian vodka Forty Degrees Russian Green Mark vodka Kutscova Russian vodka Russian Ice vodka St. Petersburg Russian vodka Across the state, about 5,000 bottles of Russian-made liquor are currently for sale in 281 liquor stores, according to a news release. More than 6,200 bottles remain in the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission warehouse distribution center. Effective immediately, liquor stores have started removing all bottles of Russian-made liquor from their store shelves, and the Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission has stopped fulfilling orders for those products from its warehouse, the news release states. Customers will not be able to fulfill special orders, the release adds. The actions of the Russian Government are not the actions of the Russian people," Gov. Kate Brown said in a statement. "We value our Russian community here in Oregon, and many Russian families are being impacted by this conflict. The commission noted that consumers can still find all other brands of vodka, including brands that look Russian but are not purchased from Russian distilleries, for sale in Oregon liquor stores. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. The OLCC understands that there are times when we must respond to a higher calling in the interest of humanity, and this is a but a small step the OLCC and the State of Oregon can take, Paul Rosenbaum, chair of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, said in a statement. Love 6 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. Harlem gang lord Alberto Alpo Martinez wasnt executed for his betrayal of fellow drug dealers he got shot because he drove like a jerk, the Daily News has learned. Accused gunman Shakeem Parker, 27, nursed a monthslong grudge against the well-known kingpin following a road rage confrontation over the summer, according to an NYPD source with knowledge of the case. Martinez, who had a habit of aggressively driving close to pedestrians, struck Parker with his motorcycle, the source said. Advertisement Parker, who was on foot at the time of the minor crash, was still seething about the incident on Halloween at around 3:20 a.m. when he saw Martinez drive by in a red Dodge Ram pickup truck in Harlem, according to the source. Alberto Alpo Martinez was shot dead Halloween morning in Harlem. (Handout) Theres no indication that this was anything other than a crime of opportunity, said the source. Advertisement Martinezs wild past as a gangster-turned-cooperator had nothing to do with his demise, the source said. Martinez had daringly flouted the rules of the witness protection program by returning to his old stomping grounds, where many Harlem residents had not forgotten his testimony against underlings to avoid a life sentence. The source added that in his final moments, Martinez, 55, tossed bags of heroin out of his truck, a sign that he was not quietly living life under a new identity as Abraham Rodriguez, of Lewiston, Maine. Parker was so bitter that he kept pictures of Martinez and crime scene photos from news reports on his phone, prosecutors said. The motive for the slaying was almost disappointing given Martinezs history, the source said. The drug dealer was so famous that the rapper Camron portrayed him in the 2002 film, Paid in Full. Its just unfortunate, said Thomas Abbenante, Martinezs lawyer when he was a cooperating witness in the 1990s. What can you say about a situation like this? I dont think he should have been in Harlem in the first place. I am very sorry for him and his son. Police investigate Martinez's red Dodge RAM pickup truck after his fatal shooting. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Investigators were able to track Martinez and Parkers movements prior to the shooting. Martinez had been partying that night at the Legends Lounge nearby, prosecutors said. Parker, who is known as Boonkie, visited a deli in Harlem at 2:49 a.m., where he met up with his brother. He was captured on surveillance video chatting with friends before happening to notice Martinez driving by in the truck, the source said. Advertisement It looks like they were standing there in front, like, There he is, the source said. Parker fired three shots into the drivers side window of the truck, turned away, and then turned back and fired twice more, prosecutor Jung Park said at the suspects arraignment Friday. Bullets struck Martinezs arm, with one driving into his chest, piercing his heart. Advertisement Photos show Martinezs bullet-riddled pickup truck with five bullet holes in the window. Martinez lurched forward, throwing packets of heroin out of the window as he drove before crashing into another car and falling unconscious on Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. near W. 145th St., the police source said. He leaves a string of heroin packages behind, a few feet apart, as if presumably he knows, Im shot, the cops are going to come, I dont want to be caught with all that heroin, the source said. The crime scene was strewn with .40 caliber shell casings. The motorist in the car struck by Martinez called 911, sources said. Advertisement Cops and medics tried to revive Martinez, but he died just after reaching Harlem Hospital. Authorities initially struggled to confirm Martinezs identity. His truck had temporary Texas plates that could not be traced, and he was carrying a Maine drivers license identifying him as Abraham Rodriguez. An informant tipped off a detective that the victim was actually Martinez. A fingerprint check confirmed his identity. By then, word had got around Harlem. The afternoon following the shooting, The News came upon residents drinking champagne and celebrating the snitchs end. Cops ruled out drugs as a motive after examining Parkers movements hours prior to the killing, the source said. Detectives reviewed Parkers cell phone and found it matched his movements on the night of Martinezs murder, Park said in court. Advertisement Cops with the Manhattan North public safety team arrested Parker on Nov. 6 after catching him with a loaded gun hidden in his jacket about 11:30 p.m. at Seventh Ave. and W. 149th St., not far from where Martinez was killed, according to a criminal complaint. Parker was charged with gun possession. Taken to the 32nd Precinct stationhouse, Parker clammed up and asked for a lawyer. At one point, Parker asked a cop why he was being an as---le, court records show. Advertisement Parker was held on $1 million cash bond while authorities tried to link him to the murder. A Manhattan grand jury indicted Parker for Martinezs murder Feb. 7, but he refused to appear for the court hearing. Prosecutors then obtained an order forcing his appearance. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Parker was remanded to Rikers Island on Friday after pleading not guilty to murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Parker also faces a separate gun charge stemming from a Feb. 16, 2020, arrest in upper Manhattan after cops spotted him with a pistol in his waistband, according to a criminal complaint. Advertisement His lawyer, Robert Harold of Legal Aid, declined comment. Hes a good kid from the neighborhood. Theyre just trying to put dirt on his name, a family friend of Parkers said. With Kerry Burke Four owners who preserved their properties through the Land Conservancy of Adams County (LCAC) are to be honored during the organizations annual meeting. The free online event is set for 7 p.m. March 10. To attend, members and anyone interested in learning about the LCAC and local rural land conservation must register in advance through the conservancys website, PreserveAdams.org. In 2021, the organization worked with four local landowners to preserve 278 acres of Adams County farmland, woodland, open spaces, and freshwater streams. Since its founding in 1995, the conservancy has partnered with Adams County landowners to preserve 12,198 acres, according to the release. The owners worked with LCAC to protect their land by crafting conservation easements, which are voluntary legal agreements attached to the property deed that spell out the kind and amount of development the landowner wishes to allow on his or her property now and in the future, the release reads. Also during the annual meeting, LCAC Land Conservation Coordinator Sarah Kipp is to offer a presentation about the organizations work over the past year. Other plans include a trivia contest focusing on some of our local sponsors with prizes in the form of $50 gift certificates from area restaurants and markets, including Hollabaugh Bros., Food 101, Shultzs Deli, the Appalachian Brewing Company, and more, according to the release. The annual meeting will kick off a period traditionally recognized by the Adams County Commissioners as Land Conservancy Month, according to the release. The month is to end with the LCACs 25th annual Art Auction. An art show is to begin at 5 p.m. April 1 at the Adams County Arts Councils Arts Education Center at 125 South Washington St. in Gettysburg. The auction is to be online again this year, with bidding to open the week of April 10 and close April 24 at BiddingOwl.com/LCAC, according to the release. LCAC is an accredited, member-supported nonprofit land trust that works to preserve the rural lands and character of Adams County, according to the release. Information is available at PreserveAdams.org or 717-334-2828. Braden Manning, Gettysburg baseball: Braden went 9-for-13 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 7 RBI over 4 games. He also struck out 11 batters in a win over South Western. Amy Anderson, Delone Catholic softball: Amy went 5-for-12 with 6 RBI, 3 runs scored and a triple over 3 games. She also struck out 17 batters and went 2-1 in those games. Parker Sanders, Bermudian Springs Tennis: Parker won 3 matches on his way to a fourth-place finish in the YAIAA Class 2A Singles Tournament. Andrew Koons, Fairfield baseball: Andrew went 5-for-11 with 8 RBI, 4 runs scored and 2 home runs over 3 games, including a grand slam. He was also the winning pitcher against Biglerville. Ben Angstadt, Biglerville baseball: Ben went 8-for-17 with 7 RBI, 4 runs scored, a double and a home run over 4 games for the Canners. Vote View Results Gillette, WY (82718) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 37F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 37F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. A New Jersey man accused of murder in a Hells Kitchen lounge stabbing was brought back to the city Monday, police said. Kegwin Clarke, 26, was busted Feb. 5 in Bayonne, where he lives, police said. He was charged with murder, assault and weapons possession in the Jan. 29 shooting of Miles Gibson, 22, at the Harbor New York City Rooftop Terrace & Lounge on W. 46th St. near 11th Ave. Advertisement Clarke bolted from the bloody scene, but police sources said detectives tracked him on video to New Jersey, where they learned his name and location. He was extradited Monday. Miles Gibson, 22, was fatally shot inside the Harbor NYC Rooftop Terrace & Lounge on W. 46th St. near 11th Ave. in Manhattan on Jan. 29. (Google) According to police, Clarke and Gibson had gotten into an argument at the Hells Kitchen bar, and Clarke allegedly stabbed Gibson in the back. Police said the men had no previous contact with one another. Advertisement The victim was out on $500,000 bail while awaiting trial for a Nov. 30, 2019, Bronx slaying in which he and an accomplice were accused of fatally shooting Oliver Askia, 26, during a clash outside Krystal Bar & Lounge on University Ave. near Featherbed Lane in Morris Heights. CENTREVILLE, Va., Feb. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) will feature capabilities critical to the U.S. Air Forces evolving mission requirements at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium on March 2-4, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. The company will highlight its all-domain command and control solutions, electronic warfare and laser neutralization systems that keep deployed airmen safe, and revolutionary solutions that advance the Air Forces joint all-domain command and control (JADC2) vision. Parsons has supported the Air Force for decades in conflicts worldwide by protecting global airbases from incoming threats, delivering actionable intelligence to defend global interests, and eliminating weapons of mass destruction. The companys capabilities and products accelerate the decision chain by rapidly collecting and distributing actionable intelligence and connecting the all-domain battlespace through advanced software and data fusion. The company will highlight: C2Core: Battle-tested command and control for air, space, cyber, and all-domain applications. Parsons C2Core suite of products enables operators across domains to assess, plan, and execute faster and more accurately than ever before: https://www.parsons.com/products/c2core/ Transformation of data from aggregate to actionable in support of near-real-time decision making an asset critical to mission success and staying one step ahead of the enemy. National technical data management for the warfighter, using automated processing rules to support theater-specific information requirements. ZEUS Recovery of Airbase Denied by Ordnance (RADBO): Laser Neutralization System offering critical force protection in any operational theater: https://www.parsons.com/products/zeus/ Best-in-class joint all-domain command and control solutions delivering maximum value and capability to the Department of Defense: https://www.parsons.com/markets/jadc2/ Parsons digital engineering framework, including model-based systems engineering in a model-driven, simulation-based environment. Increased capacity for satellite operations through OrbitXchange, offering customers a commercial antenna service in a cyber secure cloud environment, partnering with globally distributed commercial antennas. https://www.parsons.com/products/orbitxchange/ With four decades of support to the Department of Defense and Federal Agencies, Parsons combines proven experience with innovative technology to face the toughest and most critical challenges with the smartest solutions delivering value and mission success to our customers. Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and critical infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cybersecurity, missile defense, space, connected infrastructure, and smart cities. Please visit parsons.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how were making an impact. Media Contact: Crystalyn Koch + 1 719.309.7304 Crystalyn.Koch@parsons.com Investor Relations Contact: Dave Spille + 1 571.655.8264 Dave.Spille@parsons.com Pune, India, Feb. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global statcom market size is likely to gain momentum backed by increasing demand for renewable energy and technological advancements in electronics, automation, and robotics. Fortune Business Insights, publish this information, in its latest report, titled Statcom Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Low voltage STATCOM (less than 20 Mvar), Medium voltage STATCOM (20 100 Mvar), High voltage STATCOM (greater than 100 Mvar)), By End-User (Power Transmission & Distribution, Mining, Steel Manufacturing, Automobile Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Others) Others and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026. Request to Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/statcom-market-102160 The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic. We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future. Satcom stands for the static synchronous compensator. An electronic device, Statcom involves use of force-commutated devices such as GTO and IGBT to regulate the reactive power flow through a powerful network. In addition to this, it increases the stability of power network largely. Furthermore, it efficiently supports electrical networks in improving poor power factor and poor voltage regulation. Moreover, statcoms are primarily used in heavy industries, large power sub stations, and long-distance transmission systems that face constant problems of voltage stability. Adoption of technology to improve renewable energy systems is expected to propel the growth of the market during the forecast period. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market. Please Visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/statcom-market-102160 What does the Report Offer? The market report offers a detailed assessment of the various market drivers and restraints, opportunities, and challenges that the market will face during the projected horizon. Furthermore, the report provides comprehensive research into the regional developments of the market, affecting the market growth during the forecast period. Moreover, the report includes information sourced from advice of expert professionals from the industry by our research analyst using several research methodologies for the market. The competitive landscape offers further detailed insights into the strategies such as product launches, partnerships, merger and acquisitions, and collaborations adopted by the companies to maintain the market stronghold between 2019 and 2026. Drivers and Restraints: Product Innovations to Bode Well for Growth In December 2019, GE Renewable Energy, a leading grid solutions provider, created history by energizing the Bolney substation. The substation is a part of three substations believed to be the largest Statcom scheme for Europe. Fabrice Jullien, Global FACTS Business Leader for GE Grid Solutions business, says The improved network stability that is furnished by GES statcom solution forges confidence in customers to plan or integrate more renewable energy in their grids. At National Grids Bolney substation, the solution is expected to propel HVDC interconnection reliability along with resilience for fault occurrences. Furthermore, it will support the European Unions strategy for achieving a competitive edge and better integration of European energy market place globally. Product innovations along with increasing demand for renewable energy is expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. Ask For Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/statcom-market-102160 Regional Analysis: Increasing Investment for Renewable Sector in North America to Aid Growth Among the regions, North America is expected to remain dominant during the forecast period. This is ascribable to factors such as increasing investment in the renewable energy sector from countries such as the US, and Canada. Furthermore, presence of steel manufacturing and oil & gas companies in North America will contribute to the growth of the market during the projected horizon. Europe, on the other hand, will register promising growth during the forecast period. This is attributable to factors such as the adoption of technological advancements in manufacturing sectors and the growing demand for renewable energy in the region between 2019 and 2026. Competitive Landscape: Procuring Orders for Product Development to Fuel Demand In November 2019, AMSC, a leading energy solutions provider, received orders worth $20 million for the D-VAR STATCOM system from the renewable energy sector in the U.S. The D-VAR systems provide able voltage regulation by responding dynamically to fluctuating load conditions and further successfully connects the wind power plants to the electric grid. According to Daniel P. McGahn, Chairman, CEO OF AMSC, the new D-VAR systems will strengthen the companys backlog and extend the grid visibility into fiscal 2020. Adoption of strategies such as expansion of product offering, and product development by the companies to cement market presence and gain maximum statcom market revenue will surge the demand for the market during the forecast period. Inquire Before Buying: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/statcom-market-102160 Companies Proliferating in the Satcom Market : GE ABB Ingeteam S.A. Siemens Toshiba Corporation S&C Electric Company Schneider Electric Jema Energy CG Power Industrial Solutions Limited Mitsubishi Electric Pre Book - Statcom Market: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/102160 Have a Look at Related Research Insights: Industrial Gases Market Size, Share and COVID-19 impact Analysis, By Gas Type (Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen, Argon, and Others), By Application (Packaging, Coolant, Carbonation, Cryogenic, Cutting & Welding, Laboratory, Air Separation, and Others), By End User (Metallurgy, Healthcare, Chemical, Food and Beverages, Oil & Gas, Power, Pulp and Paper, Electronics, Water Treatment, Mining, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028 District Cooling Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Technology (Electric Chillers, Absorption Chillers, and Others), By End User (Residential, Industrial, and Commercial), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028 Solar Power Market Size, Share and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Technology (Solar Photovoltaic {Mono-Si, Thin Film, Multi-Si, and Others}, and Concentrated Solar Power {Parabolic Trough, Power Tower, and Linear Fresnel}), By Application (Residential, Non-Residential and Utility) and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028 Alkaline Battery Market Size, Share and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (Primary and Secondary), By Size (AA, AAA, 9 Volt, and Others), By Application (Remote Control, Consumer Electronics, Toys & Radios, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028 Middle East and CIS Power Generator Rental Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Power Rating (Below 75 kVA, 75-375 kVA, 375-750 kVA and Above 750 kVA), By Fuel Type (Diesel, Gas, and Others), By Application (Continuous Load, Standby Load, and Peak Load), By End-user (Telecom, Banking, Mining, Datacenter, Construction, Manufacturing, Tourism, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028 About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 9th Floor, Icon Tower, Baner - Mahalunge Road, Baner, Pune-411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fortune-business-insights JOHANNESBURG, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VALR, a cryptocurrency exchange headquartered in South Africa, today announced that it has raised $50 million (over R750 million) in Africa's largest ever crypto funding round. This values the company at $240 million (R3.7 billion). VALR's oversubscribed Series B equity funding round was led by Pantera Capital with participation from Alameda Research, Cadenza, CMT Digital, Coinbase Ventures, Distributed Global, GSR, Third Prime, Avon Ventures, a venture capital fund affiliated with the parent company of Fidelity Investments, along with existing investors Bittrex and 4Di Capital, and others. VALR offers its customers the ability to safely buy, sell and store Bitcoin and 60 other cryptocurrenciesthe widest selection of any platform in Africaat some of the lowest fees in the world. VALR has processed over $7.5 billion (R115 billion) in trading volume since its launch in 2019 and now serves over 250,000 retail customers and 500 institutional clients from across the globe. The proceeds of the raise will be used primarily to expand across Africa and into other emerging markets such as India, and to bring more products and services to its growing base of global customers. VALR is also hiring extensively across all areas of its team. "Society's financial tools should unite us, not divide us. That's why I'm very excited that VALR is helping to build a financial system that recognizes the oneness of the human race. There is no longer any room for doubt regarding the impact crypto assets are having on our global financial system," says Farzam Ehsani, VALR CEO and co-founder. "We already help VALR's customers enter this new world of crypto from the traditional financial system using their USD or ZAR, and I'm very excited that this round of funding will allow us to serve so many more across Africa and the world." VALR has seen its valuation grow by more than 10X since it raised its $3.4 million Series A round of funding in July 2020. "Pantera is extremely excited to be leading the Series B round for VALR, as we believe that Africa's future is bright for the adoption of cryptocurrencies for both asset diversification and payments," says Paul Veradittakit, Partner at Pantera Capital. "VALR brings an amazing product and service to onboard both retail customers and institutions." "We're very impressed with what VALR has built for retail and institutional traders over the past few years," says Kumar Dandapani, Founder and Managing Partner at Cadenza Capital Management. "VALR is extremely well-positioned to emerge as an enduring financial institution that provides its clients asset allocation abilities in crypto and other global markets." VALR plans to onboard many more institutions from the traditional financial system, including the largest banks, insurers and hedge funds, to assist them with the infrastructure needed to enter the crypto asset market. "The world is on the precipice of huge financial change. Crypto assets will become more and more pivotal to all our lives. VALR is here to help bridge our customers from the old financial system to the new. Whether you're an individual or an institution, we look forward to serving you," Ehsani concludes. ENDS About VALR VALR is a digital-asset platform headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, that allows customers to buy, sell, store and transfer Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies seamlessly and securely. It offers a vast selection of digital assets. VALR's mission is to help build a financial system that recognizes the oneness of humanity. Learn more at www.VALR.com. Press Contacts: VALR - press@valr.com Related Images Image 1: Farzam Ehsani, CEO & co-founder of VALR.com Farzam Ehsani, CEO & co-founder of VALR.com This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Central, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Central, Hong Kong - Maple Tree Counselling, a boutique counselling and therapy practice, offers psychotherapy services focusing on individuals, one-on-one therapy for adults and teenagers, group therapy for adults and teenagers, and corporate counselling and wellness. Therapy is delivered in person in the heart of Central or online via video call. More about this can be found on https://www.mapletreecounselling.com Individual therapy includes one-on-one counselling for clients suffering from anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, grief and loss, addiction, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, codependency, divorce, IVF and infertility, covid-related struggles, and more. Group therapy is for counselling of small groups and peer support for various kinds of groups, such as LGBTQ+, grief, mens mental health, caregivers, menopause, divorce, parents and teenagers, fertility issues, Dungeons and Dragons game therapy and more. Corporate counselling and wellness is for group workshops and employee assistance targeting various issues, including burnout prevention, anxiety and stress reduction, employee retention, cross-cultural sensitivity, mindfulness, mental health first aid, productivity and performance, psychoeducation and more. Counselling and psychotherapy are usually applied interchangeably and refer to talk therapy with the goal of helping clients develop a better understanding of themselves and facilitate change for improvement. Shorter terms of therapy may also be used to focus on specific immediate issues and well-being. The counsellors at Maple Tree Counselling are all trained and experienced in several evidence-based psychotherapies. These evidence-based therapies used include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT); Schema Therapy; Psychodynamic Therapy; Narrative Therapy; and Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT). More about these therapy approaches can be gleaned from https://www.mapletreecounselling.com/therapy-approaches In ACT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, the psychotherapy sessions are designed to teach clients to accept what is beyond their control and instead focus on committed actions for achieving a more meaningful existence. Clients realize that negative thoughts and feelings cant be avoided, but they can establish a healthy space between themselves and any unwanted experiences through the use of targeted cognitive and behavioural techniques, such as mindfulness. Clients are able to develop psychological flexibility that enables them to remain present during hard times. The CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, sessions are focused on the connections between emotions, thoughts, behaviours, and physical sensations. Clients learn to identify the presence of any unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that usually lead to troubling emotions and symptoms. This is an active form of psychotherapy where clients are encouraged to practice their skills in between sessions. MBCT or mindfulness-based psychotherapy employs a combination of mindfulness practices and cognitive methods. Breathing and meditation exercises are also used to relieve overwhelming emotions and help calm down the nervous system. Clients learn to accept and observe what is happening, including adverse events, without judgement. MBCT is often used to interrupt automatic stress responses and break cycles of depression and anxiety. Schema therapy integrates the elements of psychodynamic therapy and CBT with the goal of helping clients modify their long-standing maladaptive behaviour and thought patterns. Schemas are deep, self-defeating belief systems that usually originate in childhood causing certain behaviours throughout a persons life. The sessions are focused on replacing schemas with healthier behavioural patterns to meet emotional needs, such as finding self-worth and nurturing relationships. In the psychodynamic therapy sessions, there is an in-depth exploration of how past emotions and experiences affect current behaviours, relationships, and decision-making. This kind of therapy is based on the concept that a better understanding of the past will provide more clarity and encourage healthy behaviours for the future. Founded in 2022, Maple Tree Counselling is a boutique counselling and therapy practice in Hong Kong with a vision of providing assistance to individuals to prosper and provide them with a caring, empathic and safe space where they can explore lifes challenges and opportunities to heal and grow. Their team of counsellors are a diverse and multicultural group with extensive life experience and worldwide accreditation and qualifications. The operation of the practice is guided by the key professional values of ongoing professional development, expert individual and group supervision, and absolute confidentiality. Therapy is delivered in person in the heart of Central, Hong Kong or online via video call and can be provided in English, Mandarin, or Cantonese. Those who are interested in learning more about the counselling and therapy practice can check out the Maple Tree Counselling website at https://www.mapletreecounselling.com/about-us/, or contact them on the phone or through email. ### For more information about Maple Tree Counselling, contact the company here: Maple Tree Counselling Anjali Nihalchand +852 6375 6098 info@mapletreecounselling.com 27th floor, World Wide House, 19 Des Voeux Rd Central, Central, Hong Kong Beverly Hills , March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In this recent interview with Adam Torres, Tehron Jaqui Bush talks about his book, Drawn to Leadership, and Stizo Collection, his clothing brand. Listen to the full interview of Tehron Jaqui Bush with Adam Torres on the Mission Matters Innovation Podcast. What mission matters to you? Bush says he believes that when a community joins together and works hard, it can empower everyone. As for his clothing companys mission: We recognize and we trust our fabrics, labels and fabric brand with you, whom collectively understands love, provision, and optimacy are successive and Godly, he says. How did you start your journey as an entrepreneur and writer? Buss had a strong and respected point of view, which added to group conversations and group work, he recalls. It made me feel like someone could appreciate a shared message contributed by me. He says his first book, From My Mind, From My Voice, was a challenge for him, but that it also allowed him to shed light on contemporary topics and share philosophies from a Christian point of view. For his second book, he says he wanted to focus on a topic thats relevant today, hence the subject of leadership. Leadership is like a craft in my life, he says. Everyone can adopt leadership skills. As for entrepreneurship, Bush says he was influenced by fashion at a young age and used to brainstorm about it with his best friend in high school, which led to the creation of his clothing brand, Stizo Collection. h says he knew he wanted to be a writer in 12th grade, when his English Honors teacher sowed the seeds of the basics of writing. As an African-American Christian, I alway What inspired you to write a new book? I was always drawn to leadership, Bush says. I had all the tools in my toolbox since the time I was pursuing my education. As he puts it, Drawn to Leadership traces his development from a place of passive leadership to one of formal leadership. What is your writing process like? Bush says he considers writing to be a gift from God; when he writes, he wants to feel that connection. While drafting a manuscript, he notes that he likes to walk away from it from time to time, to gain perspective to channel back into his written work. Another crucial element in writing, he says, is to be clear about the message you wish to communicate. Once you are clear about it, the story fills itself, and everything comes together like a puzzle, he advises. As for his own growth as a writer between his first and second book, he says of his latest effort, I am now able to organize and focus on my ideas a little better. What can readers expect from your book, Drawn to Leadership? Drawn to Leadership explores how good and strong leaders can be resourceful to the community. He stresses the value of incorporating honesty, fairness, and responsibility into any leadership style. He says that marketing anything should do good, not just look good, and stresses the importance of being responsible and thoughtful about how an organization can truly help the community. Tell us more about Stizo Collection. Stizo Collection, a Christian clothing brand founded in 2008, is dedicated to selling organic products in the Christian clothing industry. We set ourselves apart because we offer commemorative and symbolic products that reinforce our branding, to make Stizo a collection of American luxury, Bush explains. Social responsibility is a key ingredient of his formula, he says, mentioning that a part customers can choose up to four donor levels, supplementing the purchase of merchandise with a gift to the National Association for Gifted Childrens annual fund. Whats next for you? Bush says hes busy ramping up online marketing for his upcoming book, Drawn to Leadership, and as for Stizo Collection, he says the team is looking to increase organizational equity as it grows. To learn more, visit Stizo Collection online. Media Communications Inquiries: adamtorres@missionmatters.com Publicist for Adam Torres and Mission Matters Media KISS PR Brand Story PressWire Brand Publicity Partners KissPR.com KISS PR Digital PR & Marketing powers the Mission Matters Business podcast with brand storytelling. T: 972.437.8942 Media Contact az@kisspr.com Attachment Sydney, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Proactive, provider of real-time news and video interviews on growth companies listed in Australia, has covered the following companies: Suvo Strategic Minerals Ltd (ASX:SUV) has completed a maiden JORC-compliant kaolinised granite resource for its producing Pittong Operations in Victoria, returning 3.74 million indicated tonnes and 1.97 million inferred tonnes for a total of 5.69 million tonnes. Click here Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE, OTCQB:LLKKF) is buoyed by new research from Orior Capital that says the company offers "incredible value and is in pole position to benefit from the start of the lithium "super-cycle". Click here Queensland Pacific Metals Ltd (ASX:QPM) traded higher on entering into a binding supply agreement with Societe Le Nickel (SLN), a subsidiary of Eramet group, for the supply of 1 million wet metric tonnes of nickel ore per annum from New Caledonia. Click here KGL Resources Ltd (ASX:KGL) has recapped its 2021 exploration program and results from the Jervois Copper Project in the Northern Territory. Click here Pantoro Ltd (ASX:PNR) continues to demonstrate large zones of platinum group elements (PGE) and nickel mineralisation in results of a drilling program completed late last year on the prospective Lamboo deposit within the Halls Creek Project in Western Australia. Click here Antilles Gold Ltd (ASX:AAU, OTCQB:ANTMF)s Los Llanos Project in Cuba will act as an incubator for mining projects that may follow the near-term development of the La Demajagua gold/silver mine. Click here Blue Star Helium Ltd (ASX:BNL, OTC:BSNLF) continues to make strong progress at the fully owned maiden helium exploration well, Enterprise 16#1, in Las Animas County, Colorado. Click here Valor Resources Ltd (ASX:VAL) is planning a 5,000-metre diamond drill program targeting multiple induced polarisation (IP) and geophysical targets at the Picha Project in Peru, especially a large IP anomaly with potential to host a porphyry copper system. Click here Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) will collaborate with leading European research organisations to advance its Ivittut Project in Greenalnd. Click here White Rock Minerals Ltd (ASX:WRM, OTCQX:WRMCF) has intersected notable gold mineralisation from drilling at Dickenson South target within the Morning Star underground gold mine in Victoria, Australia, indicating there may be strong potential for an additional mining area within the underground complex. Click here Hiremii Ltd (ASX:HMI) has outlined strong revenue growth in a half year report to December 31, 2021, that details financial and business highlights. Click here Alice Queen Ltd (ASX:AQX) has kickstarted drilling at the first target generated during a Dipole Dipole Induced Polarisation (DDIP) survey at Horn Island Gold Project in Queenslands Torres Strait. Click here Danakali Ltd (ASX:DNK, LSE:DNK, OTC:SBMSF) has appointed Greg MacPherson as chief financial officer, effective immediately. Click here Hartshead Resources NL (ASX:HHR) is progressing activity at Seaward Licence P2607 in the Southern Gas Basin.on the United Kingdom continental shelf. Click here PNX Metals Ltd (ASX:PNX) will divest the non-core Moline project in the Northern Territory to Sovereign Metallurgical Pty Ltd for total consideration of up to $3.0 million. Click here Buru Energy Ltd (ASX:BRU)s Rafael 1 well in the Canning Basin in northwest Western Australia has had a successful initial flow test with gas flows to the surface. Click here Golden Rim Resources Ltd (ASX:GMR) has encountered more oxide gold during exploratory drilling at its Kada Gold Project in Guinea. Click here Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX:PLL, NASDAQ:PLL, XETRA:) has unveiled two senior management changes following the decision by its chief operating officer David Klanecky to take up a position with another company. Click here Newfield Resources Ltd (ASX:NWF) is moving closer to production as it progresses work on its Tongo diamond mine development in Sierra Leone. Click here Matador Mining Ltd (ASX:MZZ, OTCQX:MZZMF) has received better than expected mineral intercepts in resource infill drilling at the Window Glass Hill (WGH) resource within the Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland, Canada, confirming grade continuity and demonstrating the robustness of the companys resource model. Click here Sipa Resources Ltd (ASX:SRI) is encouraged by early indications from its first-ever drill program at the 100% owned Skeleton Rocks Project in the Western Australian Goldfields with highly prospected greenstones intersected. Click here AuTECO Minerals Ltd (ASX:AUT, OTC:MNXMF) recently increased its resource at Pickle Crow by 514,000 ounces to 2.23 million ounces at 7.8 g/t (inferred), easily beating Canaccord Genuity (TSX:CF, LSE:CF)s expectation of ~2 million ounces. Click here About Proactive Proactive is a unique tech-enabled platform providing companies globally with a comprehensive investor engagement solution across their business lifecycle. With six offices on three continents, Proactive works with innovative growth companies quoted on the worlds major stock exchanges, helping executives to engage intelligently with investors. In 2020, Proactive featured in 809 million search results, our content was viewed over 165 million times and our readers spent over 10 million hours on our websites. Proactive has produced over 300,000 articles and 20,000 executive interviews since it was established in 2006. For more information on how Proactive can help you make a difference, email us at action@proactiveinvestors.com New York, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boyden, a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 75 offices in over 45 countries, is delighted to welcome the team from FPIA Partners, top performing asset management specialists in executive search. Trina D. Gordon, President & CEO of Boyden shares, The addition of our New York team is a cornerstone of our global growth strategy that emphasizes deep sector expertise in this key market and across the firm. Their premier position in financial services, both nationally and internationally, allows us to significantly expand our capabilities in serving clients. Importantly, their values and client/candidate integrity are a seamless fit within our global partnership. The team of six, Dominic Freud, Stephan Pizenberg, Sowbagya Gokulram, Jeremy Hardisty, Veronica Moran and Jessica Rodriguez join Boydens global financial services practice delivering executive search in asset management, fintech, global equities and private equity in financial centers worldwide. We are delighted to join Boyden, broadening our services to deliver functional and country leaders as well as investment specialists to clients, explains Dominic Freud, Managing Partner, Boyden New York. We are distinctive in the market in having long-term, senior investment careers with leading financial institutions. This means we have long term relationships as well as significant institutional and market intelligence. We speak our candidates language, we have walked in the shoes of our candidates and clients and we are keen to leverage our collective resources for them both. The asset management industry is evolving in keeping with global trends and its investor demographic, adds Stephan Pizenberg. As global citizens ourselves, we are committed to helping our clients to achieve their diversity and environmental, social and governance goals, as well as maintaining our own ethical standards in nurturing an equitable society. FPIA Partners was established 10 years ago, becoming the number one franchise in its specialist area and one of the leading teams in asset management. Co-founder Dominic Freud held leadership roles at Oppenheimer, SLS Capital, Societe Generale, (then) Paribas, Sheppards & Chase and James Capel. Co-founder Jeremy Hardisty held leadership roles at UBS and Royal Bank of Scotland, Co-founder Stephan Pizenberg held leadership roles at Societe Generale and (then) Paribas. Through their focus on excellence, they achieve retention rates significantly above industry average; 98% first year and 91% five year retention. About Boyden Boyden is a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 75 offices in over 45 countries. Our global reach enables us to serve client needs anywhere they conduct business. We connect great companies with great leaders through executive search, interim management and leadership consulting solutions. Boyden is ranked amongst the top companies on Forbes Americas Best Executive Recruiting Firms for 2021. For further information, visit www.boyden.com. Attachment English Finnish Press Release 1 March 2022, 10:00 am eQ has launched its second residential property fund - eQ Finnish Residential Fund II. The fund has raised 27 MEUR in the first closing held on February 18, 2022, enabling close to 100 MEUR investment capacity. Investment activities have started and fund raising will continue in the spring. The target commitment size for the fund is similar to the first eQ Finnish Residential Fund 100 MEUR, which enables over 300 MEUR in investments. eQ Finnish Residential Fund II will invest in residential real estate in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, in Tampere and in Turku. The fund targets complete residential buildings and aims to manage approximately 1,500 rental units in total. The fund is restricted to professional investors only in a closed end fund structure. Tero Estovirta, Head of Real Estate Investments at eQ, comments: eQs first residential fund, launched in 2020 is now fully invested and five buildings have already been completed. The now launched eQ Finnish Residential Fund II has a good pipeline of projects and investment activities have commenced immediately upon first closing. The fund will hold its next closing on April 29, 2022. In residential we focus more on building and developing than in our other funds. With higher leverage, this model works best in a closed end fund structure. eQ is one of the largest property investors in Finland. Our transaction volume was 850 MEUR in 2021. As our business grows, we have grown our team to 15 real estate professionals. Helsinki 1 March 2022 eQ Asset Management Ltd Further information: Tero Estovirta, Head of Real Estate Investments, eQ Asset Management Ltd, +358 50 593 6194, tero.estovirta@eQ.fi eQ Group is a Finnish group of companies specialising in asset management and corporate finance business. eQ Asset Management offers a wide range of asset management services (including private equity funds and real estate asset management) for institutions and individuals. The assets managed by the Group total approximately EUR 11.6 billion. Advium Corporate Finance, which is part of the Group, offers services related to mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions and equity capital markets. eQ Finnish Residential Fund II is a feeder fund to the master fund Oivat Kaupunkikodit II Ky that is engaged in the actual residential investment activities. Neither fund is a real estate fund within the meaning of the Finnish Act on Real Estate Investment Funds nor are they subject to investment restrictions of the Act. More information about the Group is available on our website at www.eQ.fi. Pune, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Baby Products Market size is expected to gain momentum owing to the rising urbanization and spending capacity during the forecast period. This information is published in this latest report, titled, Global Baby Products Market, 2022-2027 . Baby Products will boost market expansion by raising awareness about baby nutrition and hygiene in metropolitan areas. Government programs and schemes aimed at improving child health are also projected to boost Baby Products market growth. In the forecast future, technological advancements in packaging and Baby Products will generate new prospects that will benefit the growth of the Baby Products market. List of Key Players Profiled in the Global Market for Baby Products: Procter & Gamble Company Kimberly-Clark Corporation Johnson & Johnson Plc. Unilever Plc. Nestle S. A. Abbott Nutrition Get a Sample PDF of report @ https://proficientmarketinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample/19602394?utm_source=GV COVID-19 Impact- COVID-19 had a mixed impact on the sales of baby care items. During the pandemic, the baby care items market was driven by large-scale purchases of diapers and baby food. However, in some regions, such as India, where baby care goods were not considered an essential commodity, distribution of these products was impeded. Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest Global Baby Products Market share during the forecast period. The two major drivers to regional market growth are China and India. As the region's population grows significantly in the near future, demand for infant personal care products is expected to rise in Asia Pacific. Have a query before purchasing this report https://proficientmarketinsights.com/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/19602394?utm_source=GV Segment by Type Cosmetic & Toiletries Baby Food Baby Safety & Convenience Segment by Application 0-3 Months 3-6 Months 6-9 Months 9-12 Months 12-18 Months 18-24 Months Producers have been forced to focus on product differentiation, innovation, and a cost-effective pricing structure as a result of intense competition. Therefore, corporations have been spending in R&D to maintain market share and achieve long-term growth. Johnson & Johnson Private Limited said in February 2019 that it had resumed production of baby powder in India after gaining a clean chit from the government over the asbestos lawsuit. The corporation would be able to grow manufacturing in India thanks to the regulatory green light. Buy this report (Price 2900 USD for a single-user license) https://proficientmarketinsights.com/purchase/19602394?utm_source=GV Detailed TOC of Global Baby Products Market Outlook 2022 1 Baby Products Market Overview 1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Baby Products 1.2 Baby Products Segment by Type 1.2.1 Global Baby Products Sales Growth Rate Comparison by Type (2021-2027) 1.2.2 Cosmetic & Toiletries 1.2.3 Baby Food 1.2.4 Baby Safety & Convenience 1.3 Baby Products Segment by Application 1.3.1 Global Baby Products Sales Comparison by Application: (2021-2027) 1.3.2 0-3 Months 1.3.3 3-6 Months 1.3.4 6-9 Months 1.3.5 9-12 Months 1.3.6 12-18 Months 1.3.7 18-24 Months 1.4 Global Baby Products Market Size Estimates and Forecasts 1.4.1 Global Baby Products Revenue 2016-2027 1.4.2 Global Baby Products Sales 2016-2027 1.4.3 Baby Products Market Size by Region: 2016 Versus 2021 Versus 2027 2 Baby Products Market Competition by Manufacturers 2.1 Global Baby Products Sales Market Share by Manufacturers (2016-2021) 2.2 Global Baby Products Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2016-2021) 2.3 Global Baby Products Average Price by Manufacturers (2016-2021) 2.4 Manufacturers Baby Products Manufacturing Sites, Area Served, Product Type 2.5 Baby Products Market Competitive Situation and Trends 2.5.1 Baby Products Market Concentration Rate 2.5.2 The Global Top 5 and Top 10 Largest Baby Products Players Market Share by Revenue 2.5.3 Global Baby Products Market Share by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3) 2.6 Manufacturers Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans 3 Baby Products Retrospective Market Scenario by Region 3.1 Global Baby Products Retrospective Market Scenario in Sales by Region: 2016-2021 3.2 Global Baby Products Retrospective Market Scenario in Revenue by Region: 2016-2021 3.3 North America Baby Products Market Facts & Figures by Country 3.3.1 North America Baby Products Sales by Country 3.3.2 North America Baby Products Revenue by Country 3.3.3 U.S. 3.3.4 Canada 3.4 Europe Baby Products Market Facts & Figures by Country 3.4.1 Europe Baby Products Sales by Country 3.4.2 Europe Baby Products Revenue by Country 3.4.3 Germany 3.4.4 France 3.4.5 U.K. 3.4.6 Italy 3.4.7 Russia 3.5 Asia Pacific Baby Products Market Facts & Figures by Region 3.5.1 Asia Pacific Baby Products Sales by Region 3.5.2 Asia Pacific Baby Products Revenue by Region 3.5.3 China 3.5.4 Japan 3.5.5 South Korea 3.5.6 India 3.5.7 Australia 3.5.8 Taiwan 3.5.9 Indonesia 3.5.10 Thailand 3.5.11 Malaysia 3.5.12 Philippines 3.5.13 Vietnam 3.6 Latin America Baby Products Market Facts & Figures by Country 3.6.1 Latin America Baby Products Sales by Country 3.6.2 Latin America Baby Products Revenue by Country 3.6.3 Mexico 3.6.4 Brazil 3.6.5 Argentina 3.7 Middle East and Africa Baby Products Market Facts & Figures by Country 3.7.1 Middle East and Africa Baby Products Sales by Country 3.7.2 Middle East and Africa Baby Products Revenue by Country 3.7.3 Turkey 3.7.4 Saudi Arabia 3.7.5 U.A.E 4 Global Baby Products Historic Market Analysis by Type 4.1 Global Baby Products Sales Market Share by Type (2016-2021) 4.2 Global Baby Products Revenue Market Share by Type (2016-2021) 4.3 Global Baby Products Price by Type (2016-2021) Continued About Us: Proficient Market Insights is the credible source for gaining the market reports that will provide you with the lead your business needs. Our aim is to provide the best solution that matches the exact customer requirements. This drives us to provide you with custom or syndicated research reports. New York, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Canned Meat Market By Distribution Channel, By Meat type, By Regional Outlook, Industry Analysis Report and Forecast, 2021 - 2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06240973/?utm_source=GNW There are various types of meat that come in the packaged can such as chicken, pork, fish, rabbit, and beef, etc. Canned meat consists of diverse seasoned and cooked meats, minced meat, grounded meat, and pureed meat. The canned meat products are processed through heat which eliminates all the microorganisms along with the bacteria that exist on the meat before processing and then seal packed into cans or other containers. The size of the container totally depends on the amount of meat it is supposed to carry. Canned meat items are majorly processed through retort cooking. Retort cooking is a process in which the low acid food items, which are fragile toward microbial organisms, are heated hermetically or completely airtight, intending to increase the expiry duration of the product. The retort cookers are utilized at a pressure ranging from 12 psi to 15 psi. In addition, the release of retort pouches for packaging the canned meat food items is a new trend that is becoming an alternate of the metal cans which are traditionally used containers for preserving the food items. Retort pouches are flexible containers that are laminated with multiple layers which comprises endurance toward high temperature and pressure processing. These pouches prevent moisture and harmful gases to come in contact with the meat kept inside. These pouches are witnessing high demand due to their cost-efficiency and low weight. COVID-19 Impact Analysis The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the businesses, governments, and lives of the common people in a brutal way wherein nobody could predict what comes next. In addition, the pandemic brought the world to a state where the administration of all the countries had to impose lockdown. Due to the government protocols, various industries had to shut down complete or some business operations. COVID-19 turned the tables for various industries across the world and even impacted a few robust companies of the market. Due to the global lockdown, the import and export activities of all the goods including the canned meat items were completely paused. It caused a significant downfall to companies and vendors that were operating in the market. All the means of distribution of the canned meat products were closed which caused a great reduction in the supply of canned meat. Market Growth Factors: Extended shelf-life of the preserved canned meat The canned meat during the preservation is processed under a complex procedure to offer the best possible quality to the consumer when they open the seal of the container. Containers that are used for carrying the canned meat are packed air-tight with the purpose to restrict the moisture to enter the container and damaging the food. The complicated procedure of packaging and sealing the meat into containers provides an extended store life to the product within the container. In some cases, such as canning of processed raw beef, the life of the preserved product can be extended for 2-5 years. Rising number of commercial meat food-based chains and restaurants A huge number of restaurants and meat food franchises are entering the market nowadays. Also, a lot of the current market players such as KFC, chick-fil-a, Wendys, and Louisiana kitchen are catering to the needs of a large number of consumers of canned meat products. The restaurants and outlets of numerous franchises witness a significant demand for processed preserved meat products. This high demand is a result of their requirements of the bulk of meat to immediately serve or deliver it to their customers on orders. These brands and restaurants buy huge stocks of canned meat and store them in their pantries with the purpose to store it for a long duration. Market Restraining Factors: Frequently increasing vegan population Canned meat is a good source of healthy vitamins, minerals, and other essentials for the mental and physical development of a person. On the other hand, canned meat plays a major role in promoting animal cruelty. A huge number of animals get slaughtered and packed to be served on the plates of the customers. The awareness toward animal cruelty is constantly increasing which is instigating the emergence of a new trend named veganism. In veganism, a person boycotts all the products that are attained through animal abuse. Distribution Channel Outlook Based on Distribution channel, Canned meat market is segregated into Supermarket & Hypermarket, Specialty Store, Online, and Others. In 2020, the supermarket and hypermarket segment held the maximum revenue share of the canned meat market and is expected to showcase the similar trend during the forecast years. Supermarkets and hypermarkets are the major distributors of canned meat. Hypermarkets and supermarkets offer a broad range of canned meat products to their customers at a single stop. Meat Type Outlook Based on the Type, Canned meat market is segmented in Beef, Seafood, Poultry, Pork, and Others. The poultry meat segment held the highest revenue share of the canned meat market in 2020 and would continue to show the similar trend even during the forecasting period. The poultry food refers to the meat items that are achieved by poultry farms such as chicken. Poultry meat items are high in protein as well as they are highly demanded meat items due to the variety they offer in terms of recipes. Regional Outlook Based on the Region, Canned meat market is analyzed across North America, Europe, APAC, and LAMEA. In 2020, North America emerged as the leading region of the overall canned meat market and would display the same kind of trend over the forecasting period. This is attributed to the significant scale of developments across the region toward the food processing and preservation sector. Moreover, the increasing number of people with poultry farms as a medium of their livelihood would further expedite the supply of canned meat food across the region. The market research report covers the analysis of key stake holders of the market. Key companies profiled in the report include Hormel Foods Corporation, Bolton Group S.r.l, Survivalcave, Inc., Fujian Zishan Group Co., Ltd., Meat Maniac, Bright Food (Group) Co., Ltd., Key Food Stores Co-Operative, Inc., Conagra Brands, Inc. (Libbys Canned Meat), Campbell Soup Company, and Vion Holding N.V. Strategies deployed in Canned Meat Market Aug-2021: Bolton Group took over Wild Planet Foods, a leader in the sustainable canned meat market of the US. With this acquisition, the company aimed to strengthen its portfolio in international development and sustainability. Feb-2021: Vion Food Group completed its acquisition of Adriaens, a Belgium-based beef utility. Through this acquisition, the company aimed to form a robust supply chain to ensure quality and transparency in the beef market. Moreover, this acquisition would accelerate Vions position across the Western European market, Germany, and the Netherlands. Sep-2020: Conagra Brands rolled out canned soups, the first canned soup made with plant-based meat. Under this launch, the company released a broad line of vegan soups comprising Plant-Based Bef & Vegetable, Plant-Based Chickn Noodl, Plant-Based Chickn & Rice, Plant-Based Sausge Gumbo, and Plant-Based Minestrone & Sausge in stores. Jul-2019: Bolton Group acquired Tri Marine, a USA-based tuna company. Through this acquisition, the company aimed to offer the best-quality sustainably caught tuna. Moreover, the company would increase its focus on sustaining Tri marines legacy in the industry. Jul-2018: Hormel Foods launched canned chili, a canned meat product made with 100% angus beef, and hence expanded its meat product portfolio. Through this expansion, the company aimed to offer canned chili which includes tender chunks, rumbled with a combination of various spices. The product would be available with or without beans and does not have artificial ingredients, preservatives, and other fillers. Furthermore, the company made improvements in ingredients, comprising bigger vegetables to fulfill the demand of its customers. Nov-2017: Hormel Foods took over Columbus Manufacturing, an authentic, premium deli meat, and salami company, from Chicago-based Arbor Investments. Through this acquisition, the company aimed to strengthen its offerings of total deli solutions. Moreover, the company would focus on improving its other brands including Jennie-O, Di Lusso, Applegate, and Hormel. Scope of the Study Market Segments covered in the Report: By Distribution Channel Supermarket & Hypermarket Specialty Store Online Other By Meat Type Poultry Beef Sea Food Pork Others By Geography North America o US o Canada o Mexico o Rest of North America Europe o Germany o UK o France o Russia o Spain o Italy o Rest of Europe Asia Pacific o China o Japan o India o South Korea o Singapore o Malaysia o Rest of Asia Pacific LAMEA o Brazil o Argentina o UAE o Saudi Arabia o South Africa o Nigeria o Rest of LAMEA Companies Profiled Hormel Foods Corporation Bolton Group S.r.l Survivalcave, Inc. Fujian Zishan Group Co., Ltd. Meat Maniac Bright Food (Group) Co., Ltd. Key Food Stores Co-Operative, Inc. Conagra Brands, Inc. (Libbys Canned Meat) Campbell Soup Company Vion Holding N.V. Unique Offerings Exhaustive coverage Highest number of market tables and figures Subscription based model available Guaranteed best price Assured post sales research support with 10% customization free Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06240973/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ An NYPD police officer faced a departmental trial Tuesday for allegedly working as unpaid security for Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone alongside members of the far right Oath Keepers militia. The disciplinary proceeding against Officer Salvatore Greco pits free speech against a rule barring cops from hanging out with convicted felons. Advertisement Greco faces a range of charges for associating with Stone from July 2019 through March 2021, in particular in Washington, D.C., during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. To make their case against Greco, NYPD prosecutors said they will submit a recorded statement from Joshua James, an Oath Keeper from Alabama facing federal charges of seditious conspiracy in connection with the D.C. riot. Advertisement Joshua James told us how he and Sal Greco worked security for Stone on Jan. 5 and 6, NYPD prosecutor Samuel Yee told Assistant Deputy Trials Commissioner Paul Gamble. [James] said Greco had nothing to do with the insurrection. Salvatore Greco (@NYPDChiefofDept / Twitter) Greco attended Stones February 2020 sentencing to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress and their friendship continued well after that. The cop is also charged with evading investigators questions and associating with Stones friend Manhattan Madam Kristin Davis, who was convicted of prostitution-related activities and selling prescription drugs. Greco had a penchant for right-wing social media posts, once promoting the untrue theory that it was actually Antifa that stormed the Capitol. He previously slammed tyrannical government leaders, and liked a photo of the judge in Stones case next to crosshairs. James was supposed to testify in person, but the terms of his bail in the federal case bar him from leaving Alabama or communicating via video link, Yee said. Greco and James were linked via Venmo accounts, the Daily News previously reported. But phone records obtained by NYPD investigators show the relationship was more extensive than previously known. James and Greco communicated by phone and text 49 times, according to Yee. One phone call from Greco to James lasted 6 minutes and 15 seconds, Yee said. Greco carried a gun as he worked uncompensated security for Stone and Davis during the Jan. 6 riot, and was with Stones Oath Keepers security team that included James, Yee said. James has pleaded not guilty to storming the Capitol with fellow Oath Keepers while sporting tactical gear and using military-style formations. Yee also alleged Greco had repeated contacts with the Proud Boys, another right wing group. And he was evasive under police questioning. Advertisement He showed an unwillingness to answer questions, even simple ones, Yee said. Protesters supporting then-President Donald Trump gather near the east front door of the U.S. Capitol after groups breached the building's security on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Grecos lawyer Stuart London countered that Greco merely picked Stone up at the airport and took him to the Willard hotel, then accompanied him on various outings to the mall and even to get his hair cut. Greco didnt leave the hotel during the riot, he said. The evidence will show that Officer Greco was friendly with Roger Stone and Kristin Davis, and there was no doubt he was considered part of the family, London said. He was not security. There was no contract and no pay. The Washington Post reported in October that the Willard hotel became a command center for members of Trumps inner circle who were plotting to undermine President Bidens election victory. Dressed in a blue suit, pocket square and tie, his black hair slicked back and his ponytail tied in a knot, Greco appeared solemn throughout Tuesdays hearing. London said the NYPDs case has no meat on the bone. He contended Greco has rights to his political views. His friendships and mere association or presence was not proof of misconduct, London said, adding that Greco met James just once in person. Advertisement Officer Greco is a New York City police officer and he understands the difference in terms of politicizing his job, London said. Roger Stone (Julio Cortez/AP) London added that Mayor Adams talks about being friends with people who have criminal convictions. He has dinner with them, and it doesnt make him a bad mayor. As a matter of fact, Eric Adams will probably do a good job for the city. Trump commuted Stones sentence in July 2020 and then pardoned him that December. After the riot, someone sent an anonymous letter to the Internal Affairs Bureau about Greco. He was formally interviewed in 2021 on Jan. 25 and March 22. Charges were filed against him on April 19, 2021 something the department didnt reveal publicly until 10 months later on Feb. 3. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > The Greco case may be the NYPDs first disciplinary proceeding in which a presidential pardon figures into the disciplinary calculus. The pardon in many ways eradicates the conviction, London argued. Officer Greco believed once [Stone] was pardoned he was no longer a criminal and criminal association would not apply. The trial was unexpectedly adjourned after the judge overseeing the case fell ill. It was unclear when the proceeding would resume. Advertisement For his part, Stone questioned in a text to The News why he was never interviewed about Greco. Supporters of then-President Donald Trump protest inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (bstirton/Getty Images) How very odd that in their almost two-year investigation I was never contacted nor was my attorney, the political trickster wrote. If you want to know what Sal Greco did you would think that they would simply ask me. Alteration zone tracked over 800 meters in the K-Zone Extensive hydrothermal hematite alteration over 100m thick in hole EP-035 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP. (Azincourt or the Company) (TSX.V: AAZ, OTCQB: AZURF), is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing 2022 exploration program at the East Preston uranium project, located in the western Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada. Drilling at the East Preston Project commenced on January 24th, and to date, 3,208 meters has been completed in 13 drill holes. Despite a period of extreme cold weather and its associated problems, two drill rigs are operational on the project. Ten drill holes are complete, one was abandoned, and two are in progress on the G- and K- Zones. Initial progress was reported in a previous press release dated February 14th, 2022. Drilling continues on the northeast trending G-Zone (Figure 3) where eight holes have been completed and one hole is in progress. Extensive alteration and evidence of east-west cross-cutting structures have been intersected along the southern portion of the zone. EP0030 shows the best alteration on the G-Zone, with an extensive interval of hydrothermal hematite alteration and significant evidence for a steep east-west fault cross-cutting the main northeast trending structure and graphitic lithologies. Additional drilling will be undertaken to evaluate the significance of this alteration and associated cross cutting structure. On the north-south trending K-Zone (Figure 2), two holes have been completed and one is in progress, with one hole lost in a sand filled fault zone at the north end of the zone. Drilling on the K-Zone has intersected extensive hydrothermal hematite alteration in all holes, indicating this alteration zone is at least 800 meters long. Drill hole EP0035 intersected an extensive zone of hydrothermal hematite more than 100 meters thick. Within this zone localized elevated radioactivity identified from both hand-held scintillometers and a downhole gamma probe was also encountered. Analysis of samples from this zone will be sent to the lab to evaluate the significance of the elevated radioactivity in this area. Additional drilling is underway to evaluate the significance of this alteration zone and to follow-up the elevated radioactivity identified. The Company considers the drilling results to date to be significant, as major uranium discoveries in the Athabasca Basin such as McArthur River, Key Lake, and Millennium were primarily the result of drill testing of strong alteration zones related to conductor features. The identification of strong alteration zones is an important and meaningful step in locating key areas along the conductor trends where more attention is required. As a consequence of the promising developments many holes have been drilled considerably deeper (to get through alteration and structure intersected) than initially planned and additional holes are being drilled to follow up key results. This means that while the planned overall meterage is expected to be achieved, fewer total holes may be completed and not all zones targeted for this program may be evaluated. We are very excited by the results coming in so far said VP, Exploration, Trevor Perkins. Both the G- and K-Zones are responding incredibly well, and the team is very excited by what they are seeing in the core. The results show that there is still a good deal of work to be completed in these areas and I cant wait to see what the follow-up drilling reveals, continued Mr. Perkins. Finding this broad zone of strong alteration is a significant development, said president and CEO, Alex Klenman. Alteration features are a crucial guide to locating uranium mineralization. Given what we know about alteration zones and their relationship to some very well-known discoveries, finding this at East Preston is certainly an encouraging development. We will continue to focus on the K-Zone for the time being to get a better idea of the extent of the alteration and the type and level of mineralization present, continued Mr. Klenman. The first shipment of core samples from the current drill program is scheduled to be delivered later this week to the SRC Geoanalytical Lab in Saskatoon. The Company expects to receive full suite assay results in early April. Results will be reported once received, reviewed, and verified. About the Winter 2021-2022 Drill Program TerraLogic Exploration Inc. is executing the winter 2022 diamond drilling program under the guidance and supervision of Azincourts Vice President, Exploration, Trevor Perkins, P.Geo, and Jarrod Brown, M.Sc., P.Geo, Chief Geologist and Project Manager with TerraLogic Exploration. The program is planned for approximately 6,000m of drilling in 30-35 drill holes. Drilling is focused on the A-G and K-H-Q trends, after having commenced in the G-Zone where the 2021 drill program ended. The program continues to evaluate the G-Zone and the K-H-Q trend (Figure 2). East Preston Targets The primary target area for the 2022 program continues to be the conductive corridors from the A-Zone through to the G-Zone (A-G Trend) and the K-Zone through to the H and Q-Zones (K-H-Q Trend) (Figures 1 and 2). The selection of these trends is based on a compilation of results from the 2018 through 2020 ground-based EM and gravity surveys, property wide VTEM and magnetic surveys, and the 2019 through 2021 drill programs, the 2020 HLEM survey indicates multiple prospective conductors and structural complexity along these corridors. The 2019-2021 drilling programs on the A-G Trend confirmed that geophysical conductors comprise structurally disrupted zones that are host to accumulations of graphite, sulphides, and carbonates. Anomalous radioactivity has been demonstrated to exist within these structurally disrupted conductor zones. The 2022 drilling program will target similar structurally disrupted zones prioritized on the presence and strength of corresponding electromagnetic, magnetic and gravity geophysical anomalies. Permitting and Community Engagement Permits are in place to complete all the planned work through the winter of 2022. Azincourt Energy continues to be engaged in regular meetings with the Clearwater River Dene Nation and other rights holders to ensure that concerns of the local communities are addressed. Azincourt looks forward to a continued close working relationship with CRDN and other rights holders to ensure that any potential impacts and concerns are addressed and that the communities can benefit from activities in the area through support of local business, employment opportunities, and sponsorship of select community programs and initiatives. Several members of the Clearwater River Dene Nation are directly employed on site or provide support and services to keep the camp and program running. Figure 1: Target corridors at the East Preston Uranium Project, Western Athabasca Basin Saskatchewan https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f63bd5d-c106-46ba-b325-55e098237ecd Figure 2: 2022 Drill progress and Target areas at the East Preston Uranium Project https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c863bda2-7df0-4b95-a578-5e49c75316d0 Figure 3: Project Location Western Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cda88075-9a0e-4430-a34d-2d27ae2785c8 About East Preston Azincourt controls a majority >70% interest in the 25,000+ hectare East Preston project as part of a joint venture agreement with Skyharbour Resources (TSX.V: SYH), and Dixie Gold. Three prospective conductive, low magnetic signature corridors have been discovered on the property. The three distinct corridors have a total strike length of over 25 km, each with multiple EM conductor trends identified. Ground prospecting and sampling work completed to date has identified outcrop, soil, biogeochemical and radon anomalies, which are key pathfinder elements for unconformity uranium deposit discovery. The East Preston Project has multiple long linear conductors with flexural changes in orientation and offset breaks in the vicinity of interpreted fault lineaments classic targets for basement-hosted unconformity uranium deposits. These are not just simple basement conductors; they are clearly upgraded/enhanced prospectivity targets because of the structural complexity. The targets are basement-hosted unconformity related uranium deposits similar to NexGens Arrow deposit and Camecos Eagle Point mine. East Preston is near the southern edge of the western Athabasca Basin, where targets are in a near surface environment without Athabasca sandstone cover therefore they are relatively shallow targets but can have great depth extent when discovered. The project ground is located along a parallel conductive trend between the PLS-Arrow trend and Camecos Centennial deposit (Virgin River-Dufferin Lake trend). Debt Settlement Revision The Company also announces that it has revised the terms of the agreement with an arms-length creditor, announced on January 13, 2022, in which the Company proposed to settle outstanding indebtedness totaling $250,000. The Company will now settle the indebtedness through the issuance of 4,166,666 common shares at a deemed price of $0.06 per share. The indebtedness relates to professional services rendered to the Company. The shares issued in connection with the settlement will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by C. Trevor Perkins, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of Azincourt Energy, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Azincourt Energy Corp. Azincourt Energy is a Canadian-based resource company specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration, and development of alternative energy/fuel projects, including uranium, lithium, and other critical clean energy elements. The Company is currently active at its joint venture East Preston uranium project in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada, and the Escalera Group uranium-lithium project located on the Picotani Plateau in southeastern Peru. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP. Alex Klenman Alex Klenman, President & CEO 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 press release includes forward-looking statements, including forecasts, estimates, expectations and objectives for future operations that are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Azincourt. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information represents managements best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. For further information please contact: Alex Klenman, President & CEO Tel: 604-638-8063 info@azincourtenergy.com Azincourt Energy Corp. 1430 800 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC V6C 2V6 www.azincourtenergy.com Dublin, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Medical Power Supply Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global medical power supply market reached a value of US$ 1.47 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 2.18 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.30% 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. Medical power supply refers to the equipment used for delivering current to medical devices. They are used with conductors and electronic components to provide isolation between the alternating current (AC) input, internal high voltage systems and the direct current (DC) output. Some of the commonly used medical power supply systems include enclosed, open frame, external, configurable, U-bracket and encapsulated devices. They utilize reinforced insulation materials and AC-DC and DC-DC power supplies. They are used in diagnostic, medical monitoring, home patient care, dental and surgical equipment. These devices reduce electromagnetic interference and minimize the risks of electric shocks and current leakages. As a result, they are widely used in diagnostic centers, hospitals, clinics and research laboratories. Medical Power Supply Market Trends: Significant growth in the medical industry across the globe is one of the key factors creating a positive outlook for the market. Moreover, rising concerns regarding patient safety is providing a thrust to the market growth. With the increasing adoption of portable, smaller and lightweight medical equipment, healthcare organizations are widely utilizing medical power supply systems to provide effective care to the patient. Additionally, due to the onset of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, medical power supply systems are being extensively used to operate advanced equipment, such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scan, electrocardiograph (ECG) and multiparameter patient monitoring devices. In line with this, the increasing preference for in-home patient care among the masses is also contributing to the market growth. Other factors, including the widespread adoption of data centers to maintain electronic health records (EHRs), along with extensive improvements in the healthcare infrastructure, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth. Key Market Segmentation: The publisher provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global medical power supply market, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2022-2027. Our report has categorized the market based on type, converter type and application. Breakup by Type: Open Frame Power Supply Enclosed Power Supply Adapter Power Supply Converters Breakup by Converter Type: AC-DC Power Supply DC-DC Power Supply Breakup by Application: Diagnostic, Imaging and Monitoring Equipment Surgical Equipment Home Medical Equipment Others Breakup by Region: North America United States Canada Asia-Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Indonesia Others Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Others Latin America Brazil Mexico Others Middle East and Africa Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Advanced Energy Industries Inc., Cosel Co. Ltd., CUI Inc., Delta Electronics Inc., FRIWO Geratebau GmbH, GlobTek Inc., MEAN WELL Enterprises Co. Ltd., SL Power Electronics Corp., SynQor Inc., TDK-Lambda Corporation (TDK Corporation), Wall Industries Inc. (Continental Resources Inc.) and XP Power. Key Questions Answered in this Report: How has the global medical power supply market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global medical power supply 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 converter type? What is the breakup of the market based on the application? 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 medical power supply 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 Medical Power Supply 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 Open Frame Power Supply 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Enclosed Power Supply 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Adapter Power Supply 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 6.4 Converters 6.4.1 Market Trends 6.4.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Converter Type 7.1 AC-DC Power Supply 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 DC-DC Power Supply 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Application 8.1 Diagnostic, Imaging and Monitoring Equipment 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Surgical Equipment 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Home Medical Equipment 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Others 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 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 Advanced Energy Industries Inc. 14.3.1.1 Company Overview 14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.1.3 Financials 14.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.2 Cosel Co. Ltd. 14.3.2.1 Company Overview 14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.2.3 Financials 14.3.3 CUI Inc. 14.3.3.1 Company Overview 14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.4 Delta Electronics Inc. 14.3.4.1 Company Overview 14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.4.3 Financials 14.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.5 FRIWO Geratebau GmbH 14.3.5.1 Company Overview 14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.6 GlobTek Inc. 14.3.6.1 Company Overview 14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.7 MEAN WELL Enterprises Co. Ltd. 14.3.7.1 Company Overview 14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.8 SL Power Electronics Corp. 14.3.8.1 Company Overview 14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.9 SynQor Inc. 14.3.9.1 Company Overview 14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.10 TDK-Lambda Corporation (TDK Corporation) 14.3.10.1 Company Overview 14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.11 Wall Industries Inc. (Continental Resources Inc.) 14.3.11.1 Company Overview 14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.12 XP Power 14.3.12.1 Company Overview 14.3.12.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.12.3 Financials For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1qeko Attachment Dublin, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Remote Patient Monitoring Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global remote patient monitoring market reached a value of US$ 1.1 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 2.7 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 16.1% 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. The global remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a subset of telehealth that utilizes digital technologies to collect medical and other forms of data about the patient outside the healthcare setting. This data generally comprises weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood oxygen levels, heart rate and electrocardiograms, which are transmitted to healthcare providers using a telehealth computer system and software that can be installed on a computer, smartphone and tablet. RPM aids health professionals in monitoring the condition and improving the quality of care given to patients from anywhere around the world. One of the leading factors driving the RPM market is the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. On account of the highly infectious nature of the virus, healthcare providers across the globe are utilizing RPM services for monitoring patients with mild symptoms of COVID-19 and providing hospital-based care on a timely basis. This will aid in freeing up hospital resources for treating existing and more critical patients. Additionally, the rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, in confluence with the growing geriatric population, which is more susceptible to chronic conditions, represents another key factor fueling the RPM market growth. In addition to this, improving healthcare infrastructure and rapid advancements in wireless technologies, along with the increasing penetration of smartphones, are shifting healthcare services from clinic-centric to patient-centric delivery models, such as RPM. This is escalating the demand for RPM systems across the globe. Other than this, several key players are offering RPM that allows real-time video interaction between the patient and the healthcare provider. They are also introducing product innovations, which are projected to drive the market in the upcoming years. For instance, Dexcom, Inc., a US-based medical device company, launched a G6 CGM device, which is a small sensor that measures glucose levels and sends the data wirelessly to a display device through a transmitter. Key Market Segmentation: The publisher provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global remote patient monitoring market, along with forecasts at the global, regional and country level from 2022-2027. Our report has categorized the market based on device type, application and end-use. Breakup by Device Type: Blood Pressure Monitor Glucose Monitor Heart Rate Monitor Pulse Oximeters Respiratory Monitor Others Breakup by Application: Cancer Treatment Cardiovascular Diseases Treatment and Monitoring Diabetes Treatment Sleep Disorder Treatment Weight Management and Fitness Monitoring Others Breakup by End-Use: Hospitals and Clinics Homecare Settings Others Breakup by Region: North America United States Canada Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Indonesia Others Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Others Latin America Brazil Mexico Others Middle East and Africa Competitive Landscape: The report has also analysed the competitive landscape of the market with some of the key players being Abbott Laboratories, AMD Global Telemedicine Inc., BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG, Boston Scientific Corporation, Dexcom, Inc., GE Healthcare Inc. (Danaher Corporation), Honeywell International Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Medtronic Inc., Nihon Kohden Corporation, OSI Systems Inc., Roche Holding AG, etc. Key Questions Answered in this Report 1. What is the market size for global remote patient monitoring market? 2. What is the global remote patient monitoring market growth? 3. What are the global remote patient monitoring market drivers? 4. What are the key industry trends in the global remote patient monitoring market? 5. What is the impact of COVID-19 on the global remote patient monitoring market? 6. What is the global remote patient monitoring market breakup by device type? 7. What is the global remote patient monitoring market breakup by application? 8. What is the global remote patient monitoring market breakup by end use? 9. What are the major regions in the global remote patient monitoring market? 10. Who are the key companies/players in the global remote patient monitoring 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 Remote Patient Monitoring Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Device Type 6.1 Blood Pressure Monitor 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Glucose Monitor 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Heart Rate Monitor 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 6.4 Pulse Oximeters 6.4.1 Market Trends 6.4.2 Market Forecast 6.5 Respiratory Monitor 6.5.1 Market Trends 6.5.2 Market Forecast 6.6 Others 6.6.1 Market Trends 6.6.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Application 7.1 Cancer Treatment 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Cardiovascular Diseases Treatment and Monitoring 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 Diabetes Treatment 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 7.4 Sleep Disorder Treatment 7.4.1 Market Trends 7.4.2 Market Forecast 7.5 Weight Management and Fitness Monitoring 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 End-Use 8.1 Hospitals and Clinics 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Homecare Settings 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Others 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Region 10 SWOT Analysis 11 Value Chain Analysis 12 Porters Five Forces Analysis 13 Price Indicators 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Structure 14.2 Key Players 14.3 Profiles of Key Players 14.3.1 Abbott Laboratories 14.3.1.1 Company Overview 14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.1.3 Financials 14.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.2 AMD Global Telemedicine Inc. 14.3.2.1 Company Overview 14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.3 BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG 14.3.3.1 Company Overview 14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.3.3 Financials 14.3.3.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.4 Boston Scientific Corporation 14.3.4.1 Company Overview 14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.4.3 Financials 14.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.5 Dexcom Inc. 14.3.5.1 Company Overview 14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.5.3 Financials 14.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.6 GE Healthcare Inc. (Danaher Corporation) 14.3.6.1 Company Overview 14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.7 Honeywell International Inc. 14.3.7.1 Company Overview 14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.7.3 Financials 14.3.7.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.8 Koninklijke Philips N.V. 14.3.8.1 Company Overview 14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.8.3 Financials 14.3.8.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.9 Medtronic Inc. 14.3.9.1 Company Overview 14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.10 Nihon Kohden Corporation 14.3.10.1 Company Overview 14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.10.3 Financials 14.3.10.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.11 OSI Systems Inc. 14.3.11.1 Company Overview 14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.11.3 Financials 14.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.12 Roche Holding AG 14.3.12.1 Company Overview 14.3.12.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.12.3 Financials 14.3.12.4 SWOT Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7g9wr6 Attachment LOS ANGELES, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Foothills Exploration, Inc. (OTC: FTXP), including its direct and indirect subsidiaries, ("Foothills," or the "Company"), an oil and gas exploration company, is pleased to provide an operations update. Illinois Basin Rework operations have commenced on the Charles Bland #2 for stimulation operation targeting the Upper McClosky Lime and Aux Vases formation. The workover operations in the Cinse area encompass a total of 3 wells for acid stimulation procedures to increase production. The wells involved are the Charles Bland #1, Charles Bland #2, and the Johnson Trust #3. The Bland #1 and Johnson Trust #3 will be stimulated by acidizing the Lower McClosky, Middle McClosky and Aux Vases formations. These rework operations are expected to add 10-15 barrels of oil per day of gross production to the properties overall production profile. Estimated payback for these rework operations is 90 days. These marginal well improvements are the most cost-effective way of adding production. On February 28th the Company through its direct subsidiary Anaconda Energy, LLC, entered into a participation agreement with Benchmark Properties, Ltd., for 50% working interest to stimulate and workover the Mark Heat #4 well, located in Jasper County, Illinois. Rockies and Mid-Continent Expansion The return-to-production and well stimulation program has been extremely successful so far and as such the Company plans to continue to aggressively seek similar partnerships with other established operators in the Rockies and midcontinent, where the Company can provide its expertise and capital in exchange for up to 75% working interest in the properties and wells. These types of rework operations significantly reduce the Companys cost of production acquisition. The Company has two strategic partnership agreements to pursue lands and return-to-production opportunities in the Illinois and Williston basins. The Company is also now targeting marginal and stripper well production to optimize in Oklahoma and seeking similar underdeveloped and underexploited properties with upside potential. Oklahoma The Company, through its direct subsidiary, Anaconda Energy, LLC, recently entered in to a letter of intent with LBM53, LLC to explore return-to-production opportunities in Southern Oklahoma. The parties plan to jointly acquire leases with or without producing wells and engage in workover operations to return to production, optimize and/or stimulate existing wells on the acquired leaseholds. The initial agreement covers rework operations on 3 leases: Harley, Hutchinson, and Isaac. The projected production from these work-over operations is estimated to be up to 25 barrels of oil per day with payback expected in than 180 days. About the Company Foothills Exploration, Inc. (FTXP or the Company), is an oil and gas exploration and development company focused on delivering the energy needs of today and tomorrow. The Companys strategy is to build a balanced portfolio of assets through two core initiatives. The first initiative is to generate high-impact oil and gas exploration projects. The second is to invest in hydrogen and geothermal projects for a low carbon future through its New Energy Ventures division by identifying areas where the Company can contribute to a viable, realistic, and balanced future energy mix. For additional information please visit the Companys website at www.foothillspetro.com. Forward-Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions we made based on management's experience, perception of historical trends and technical analyses, current conditions, capital plans, drilling plans, production expectations, our ability to raise adequate additional capital, or enter into other financing arrangements to support our acquisition, development and drilling activities, anticipated future developments, and other factors believed to be appropriate and reasonable by management. When used in this release, words such as "will," possible, "potential," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "anticipate," "could," "plan," "predict," "project," "profile," "model," "strategy," "future" or their negatives or the statements that include these words or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning our future operating results and returns or our ability to acquire or develop proven or probable reserves, our ability to replace or increase reserves, increase production, or generate income or cash flows are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. While forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by us that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depend on a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results, performance, and financial condition to differ materially from our expectations. As a result, no assurance can be given that these assumptions are accurate or that any of these expectations will be achieved (in full or at all) or will prove to have been correct. We have had sporadic and limited revenue and our securities are subject to considerable risk. Investors are cautioned to review FTXPs filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risk and other factors that affect our business. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this news release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future development or otherwise, except as may be required by law. The Company intends that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investor Contact Christopher Jarvis EVP of Finance (800) 204-5510 ir@foothillspetro.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nabati Foods Global Inc. ( CSE: MEAL ) ( FSE:7UW ) (Nabati Foods or the Company), a plant-based food technology company offering whole, natural, plant-based foods for health conscious consumers, is providing the following operations update: Nabati Plant Eggz, its proprietary, plant-based liquid egg alternative, are now available at select Costco locations in Ontario and Quebec. Executed a national distribution agreement in Canada, partnering with Sysco to better serve foodservice establishments. We are excited to introduce more people to our products and to be working closely with such respected grocery brands and distributors, said Ahmad Yehya, COO. We are ready and able to scale to meet the growing demand for our products, said Michael Aucoin, Interim CEO. As previously announced, Nabati had reached certain milestones/achievements: On January 10, 2022, announced that Nabatis Chick'n Burger named the best plant-based burger by Eat This, Not That!'s fifth annual Food Awards. On February 14, 2022, announced that Nabati has attained Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards (BRCGS) certification for meeting the Global Standard for Food Safety at its Edmonton manufacturing facility. The certification recognizes that Nabati Foods meets the highest level of food safety standards and is a safe global supplier of plant-based products. Additionally, over the past year, Nabati had signed several new contracts to expand distribution of its products globally including: COBs Bread Bakery utilizing Nabati Cheeze as a key ingredient in COBS Breads plant-based Mini Pizzas. Nabati Cheeze is available at Mucho Burrito locations across Canada. Walmart.com has listed Nabati Dessertz dairy-free cheesecakes and Nabati Plant Eggz for sale throughout the United States. Nabati Plant Eggz, are available at all Whole Foods locations throughout British Columbia and Ontario. Nabati Plant Eggz are available at 231 Sobeys and IGA grocery stores across Quebec. Nabati Cheeze shreds, both cheddar and mozzarella style, are available at Petes Fresh Market stores. Petes Fresh Market has been an established grocery chain in the Chicago area for over 50 years and stocks a wide range of gluten free and organic products. Nabati Plant Eggz are now for sale in 28 Metro grocery locations in Quebec. Metro is the third largest grocery retailer in Canada. Nabati Plant Eggz and Nabati Cheeze are now for sale in 189 The Grocery Outlet locations across California. Vejii has listed Nabati Dessertz dairy-free cheesecakes and plant-based meats for sale in Canada and has listed its entire product line in the U.S. including its plant-based Nabati Cheeze and Nabati Plant Eggz. Leading eCommerce retailer Plant X is now carrying Nabati Plant Eggz and Nabati Cheeze shreds on its platform. Nabati Plant Eggz are available in all Quality Foods locations across British Columbia. Nanum Foods, a distributor based in South Korea has signed on to distribute Nabati Plant Eggz and Nabati Dessertz dairy-free cheesecakes under the brand ITABAN in Vietnam and South Korea. GTFO It's Vegan, a leading eCommerce retailer has listed Nabati Cheeze shreds, Nabati Plant Eggz, and Nabati Foods' plant-based Chick'n and F'sh Burgers on its platform. KeHE, a major natural organic grocery distributor, distributes Nabati Cheese, plant-based meats and Nabati Dessertz dairy-free cheesecakes to 433 stores in the United States. Satau-Taze, a trusted supplier to health food and grocery stores distributes Nabati Plant Eggz in Quebec. All Nabati Foods products are kosher, vegan, egg-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Find Nabati Foods products at a location near you here: https://www.nabati.ca/a/store-locator About Nabati Foods Global Inc. Nabati Foods Global Inc. is the owner of Nabati Foods Inc. (Nabati Foods), a family-founded food technology company offering whole, natural, plant-based, gluten, and soy-free foods for health-conscious consumers. Nabati Foods was founded in 2014 and has four signature product lines including dairy-free cheesecakes, cheese alternatives, plant-based meats, and a plant-based liquid egg alternative. Nabati Foods products are distributed throughout Canada, the U.S., and internationally through eCommerce, grocery, foodservice, and industrial channels. Learn more: https://invest.nabatifoods.com/ ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Michael Aucoin Interim CEO For investor or media inquiries or further information, please contact: Greg Foofat Director, Investor Relations Email: ir@nabatifoods.com Telephone: 780-800-6624 Find Nabati on Social Media: on Instagram , Facebook , Twitter and LinkedIn No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Nabati in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. 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. Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or sold within the U.S. or to U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. The use of any of the words expect, anticipate, continue, estimate, objective, may, will, project, should, believe, plans, intends and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements concerning the Companys general business plans. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Factors that could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Final Prospectus, and the schedules attached thereto, that are available on the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws. NEW YORK, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alberto Lopez-Valenzuela, CEO and founder of stakeholder intelligence firm alva, is named as one of 2022's 25 most influential people in communications technology by PRWeek. PRWeek launched its Dashboard 25 in 2020. It is a prestigious annual list of the primary movers, shakers and innovators in the communication tech space. It celebrates visionaries and risk-takers driving the PR industry forward, from media monitoring services, newswires, private equity, social media management, in-house client teams and PR agencies. Entrepreneur Alberto Lopez-Valenzuela founded alva in 2010 - a stakeholder intelligence firm that combines AI with sector analysts to provide public companies with an intelligence solution that encompasses ESG, risk, reputation and media profiles. The platform uses natural language processing to analyze millions of pieces of content daily from over 500,000 publications across 100 languages and 150 countries. Alberto is also the author of The Connecting Leader. The book examines how corporate leaders connect businesses with society, especially in this age of hyper-transparency, interconnectivity and media anarchy. Thanks to Alberto's vision of Stakeholder Intelligence and its potential value to the communications sector, alva helps more than 100 blue-chip companies directly and via partnerships with strategic consultancy firms. Stakeholder Intelligence informs the way these companies communicate and deliver more sustainable success. Alberto Lopez-Valenzuela commented: "I am deeply honored to feature in the prestigious PRWeek Dashboard 25. It is a privilege to stand beside the other honorees on the list. "I believe that 2022 will be a game-changing year, not just for alva but for the whole communications technology space. The relationship between business and society is changing rapidly. Business is expected to do more than generate profit - it must be a force for good. That means the communications challenges for business are also transforming. This is being driven by stakeholders, whose impact spells the difference between success and failure. Business can no longer simply broadcast communications to its audiences - it needs to engage with empathy, be authentic, and be transparent. "Our technology and platform enable us to deliver the most up-to-date and accurate insights for companies, and we believe this will be a real growth year for alva as more firms see the importance and value of this crucial information when it comes to enhancing and protecting their reputations." alva is now in the process of expanding its offerings. In July 2021, the company announced a new partnership with Ballast Research and Hamilton Place Strategies, which will generate an integrated business intelligence platform and consulting services that combine primary research, reputational findings, advisory services and monitoring capabilities. alva has also won recognition from the Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards and the AI & Machine Learning Awards in 2021 for its technology. Contact: Matt Cartmell Carta Communications matt.cartmell@cartacomms.com +44(0)7930485333 Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Brooklyn, New York, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brooklyn-based hair care brand amika announces the debut of Love All Your Hair Days, its latest campaign launching today that emphasizes individuality, self-expression and the power of great hair transforming the everyday. The brand partnered with RXM Creative, a Brooklyn-based agency for concept and production. Love All Your Hair Days will launch with 360 digital marketing and advertising initiatives, as well as OOH with a series of static and video billboards in Los Angelesa first for the brand outside of its native New York City. Love All Your Hair Days follows amikas 2020 All Hair Is Welcome campaign, which amplified the brands prevailing values of celebrating inclusion, diversity and friendship. Love All Your Hair Days launches with bold videos and imagery featuring a diverse collective of personalities. The campaign aims to convey a relatable approach to the emotional aspect of hair care and styling as it spotlights individuals paired with messaging of a relatable hair day scenario. One concept shares the message 3 Days No Wash Hair Day, citing the brands award-winning Perk Up Dry Shampoo, while another references amikas planet-friendly mission toward sustainabilityemployed by its partnership with TerraCycle, use of 90%+ post-consumer recycled materials in its packaging, and sustainably sourced ingredients that are always cruelty-free. What inspired us to create this campaign was amikas wide range of products, the overwhelming reviews coming from their community and their commitment to inclusion and diversity. The insight was simple: we all have great hair days once in a blue moon, but with the right care, we can learn to love all our hair days. says Andrea Erali, Senior Art Director at RXM Creative. The campaign was shot on film by photographer/director Anisha Sisodia in tandem with director of photography Steven Mastorelli. Some of the featured talent includes model and disability advocate Bri Scalesse, 26, as well as Elizabeth Sweetheart, 74, known as the Green Lady of Brooklyn, among many other unique individuals. Love All Your Hair Days carries on amikas fierce commitment to inclusivity, representing people of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities and more. The name amika means friend, and like a friend, our products are straightforward and dependable, while also being fun, shares Vita Raykhman, creative director for amika. Both the brand and Love All Your Hair Days are so relatablethere are no unattainable ideals. The campaign empowers people to have fun and accept their hair, no matter what sort of hair day they are having. The introduction of Love All Your Hair Days underscores amikas commitment to its digital-first strategyaccelerating its investment and efforts behind brand awareness and acquisition. During the second half of 2021, the brand doubled its marketing team as it focuses on digital marketing expansion. amika additionally contracted Assembly, the global omnichannel media agency, as the brands new agency of record to lead its integrated media efforts. "Love All Your Hair Days will be the first campaign in partnership with Assembly. "As a digitally-driven brand, we're excited to amplify our brand awareness through our brand equity campaign, supported by digital-first paid acquisition, to share with consumers not only our incredible product range, but also continue towards our purposeprogressing the beauty industry to make a positive impact on people and the planet, says Chelsea Riggs, amikas Brand President. Our Love All Your Hair Days campaign aligns with the explosive growth happening in prestige hair care right now, with over 90% of consumers planning to purchase some type of hair product in the next six months according to NPD. To meet its customers where they're consuming content, amikas digital strategy leans heavily into TikTok, where the brand saw over 500% growth in impressions in the last year. This includes plans for its first paid TikTok campaign to support the March 2022 launch of limited-edition Jumbo Perk Up Dry Shampoo. The jumbo, which is 38% larger than its full-size counterpart, will launch in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of Perk Up Dry Shampoo, amikas bestselling product. To coincide with the launch, amika will introduce a comprehensive digital marketing strategy centering around the #perksofperkupa 360 approach to sharing the benefits of this beloved product. Additional strategy support includes the brands largest influencer and media seeding to date, as well as broad sampling efforts with Influenster and Conde Nast. About amika A friend to hair, hairstylists, to her, him, them and you.The name amika means friend in the language Esperanto & represents our belief in the power of community and the beauty of diversity. Straight out of Brooklyn, where creativity and hustle are a way of life, were a collective of creatives, hairstylists, chemists, and product enthusiasts. We only make products that make us proud. 10 collections for every hair type, texture and style. Visit www.loveamika.com for more information, and follow @amika on Instagram. About RXM Creative RXM Creative is an award-winning creative agency based in Brooklyn working with brands such as Ray-Ban, Under Armour, Harrys, Tabasco and Loro Piana. It was founded in 2013 by Raul Mandru & Mihai Botarel, two 360i veterans with over 17 years experience in major agency networks. Starting off as a social media agency focused on branded content, RXM expanded as a reliable strategic partner, launching integrated global campaigns and having their work recognized in international festivals like Clio, Webby's and Cannes. www.rxmcreative.com Attachment New York, NY, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Sophie Jacobi-Parisi has joined the firms nationally recognized Matrimonial & Family Law practice group as a partner in the New York office, which continues to strategically expand with talented attorneys across key areas of law. Sophie focuses her practice on a wide range of matrimonial and family law matters, with notable experience in navigating complex custody cases. Prior to joining Blank Rome, Sophie was a partner at Warshaw Burstein LLP. Sophie is a well-known and respected family law attorney who serves as a steadfast advocate for her clients and utilizes her significant legal experience to skillfully counsel on divorce and custody proceedings, said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Romes Managing Partner and CEO. Sophie is an excellent addition to our East Coast team of matrimonial and family law attorneys and growing New York office, which recently welcomed Leslie Marlow, Hank Gracin, and Patrick Egan, a respected corporate and securities law team, as well as leading real estate and hospitality partners, Christy L. Reuter and Sonia Kaur Bain. Sophies practice focuses on helping families going through separations as well as divorces with a particular emphasis on navigating complex custody cases. For example, Sophie has in-depth experience navigating custody matters involving children with special needs, including Individualized Education Programs. She also has litigation and trial experience in New Yorks Family and Supreme Courts and frequently negotiates prenuptial, separation, and settlement agreements. The marriage, divorce, and child custody landscape is changing drastically in this modern age as new social and economic issues continue to arise, said Brett S. Ward, Partner and Co-Chair of the firms Matrimonial & Family Law practice group. Sophies strong legal talent and fresh perspective will complement our national practice as we rise to meet these multifaceted challenges and further support the high-level service that we provide to our clients on both coasts. As a thought leader, Sophie is often called upon to speak at events, author articles, and appear as a guest on podcasts to share her knowledge of matrimonial law and related issues, including how to have a healthy and transparent marriage, raise children, negotiate pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and undergo a divorce. I am excited to join Blank Rome, which has a stellar client network, broad service offerings, and an equally impressive matrimonial practice, all of which are integral to my growing practice, added Sophie. It is a privilege to be in the company of so many skilled practitioners in the matrimonial space who also share a dedication to this type of work, and I look forward to growing my practice in New York as well as Connecticut and collaborating with the firms West Coast matrimonial and family law team based in Los Angeles to accomplish great successes for our clients and their families. Sophie serves as a co-chair and executive committee member of the New York State Bar Association, Family Law Section. She previously served as a member of the board of directors of Promise Project, a nonprofit organization associated with Columbia University that supports and works with underserved children with learning disabilities. She started her career as a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society, Juvenile Rights Practice, where she represented children in legal proceedings in the Bronx Family Court. Sophie earned her J.D. from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, her M.A. from the Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work, and her B.A. from Bucknell University. Since January 1, 2022, Blank Rome has welcomed the following leading partners across its U.S. offices, enhancing the firms services and capabilities throughout its various practices: About Blank Rome Blank Rome is an Am Law 100 firm with 13 offices and more than 600 attorneys and principals who provide comprehensive legal and advocacy services to clients operating in the United States and around the world. Our professionals have built a reputation for their leading knowledge and experience across a spectrum of industries and are recognized for their commitment to pro bono work in their communities. Since our inception in 1946, Blank Romes culture has been dedicated to providing top-level service to all of our clients and has been rooted in the strength of our diversity and inclusion initiatives. For more information, please visit blankrome.com. ### Attachment SALISBURY, N.C., March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During March, Food Lion customers can once again help the omnichannel grocer fight hunger in their community while shopping in-store or online through Food Lion To Go. For every bag of specially marked Food Lion oranges purchased from March 2 22, 2022, Food Lion Feeds will help provide five meals* to local Feeding America member food banks. Additionally, customers can make a cash donation of any amount at the register to support Feeding America and local food banks. In 2021, the Food Lion Feeds Orange Bag campaign provided 1 million meals to neighbors in need across Food Lions 10-state footprint. The total amount donated to each local food bank will be based on the number of eligible bagged oranges sold in each food banks service area, along with customer donations at the register. For the fourth year in a row, Food Lion Feeds is partnering with customers to support our neighbors in need through the annual Orange Bag campaign, said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. Every orange bag purchase helps support local food banks and nourishes customers in the towns and cities Food Lion serves. Since 2014, Food Lion Feeds has provided more than 900 million meals to neighbors in need. The company has committed to providing 1.5 billion meals to individuals and families in need by the end of 2025. Part of this commitment includes hosting retail campaigns, like the Orange Bag, as well as providing meals through the 20-year-old Food Lion Food Rescue program where near-date fresh produce and pantry staples are donated to a network of local feeding agencies. Hunger is an issue in every county of our country. Feeding America is thankful to Food Lion and its customers for continuing to support communities facing hunger through the Food Lion Feeds Orange Bag initiative, said Lauren Biedron, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Feeding America. Over the years, the campaign has helped to provide millions of meals to families in need in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions. For more information on Food Lion Feeds, visit www.foodlion.com/feeds. *$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Through the Orange Bag campaign, $0.50 (monetary equivalent of 5 meals) from each bag purchased will be donated to Feeding America and member food banks. Food Lion guarantees a minimum donation of $100,000 (monetary equivalent of 1 million meals.) from March 2 22, 2022. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com/feeds. 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. About Feeding America Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 6.6 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter 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/6986f36f-fd3a-4af7-ab8e-fd694162b022 NEW YORK, NY -, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berkeley College announces the launch of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management degree program through the Colleges Larry L. Luing School of Business in Manhattan, NY. The program, approved by the New York State Board of Regents and Middle States Commission on Higher Education, will be Berkeley Colleges first graduate program in New York State. It will be offered on-site at the Midtown Manhattan campus in the spring 2022 semester, which begins on April 25. The program will be conducted online, and through hybrid modalities at a future date. The Berkeley College MBA in Management program prepares students for leadership positions through a specialized curriculum with optional concentrations in Financial Management, Human Resources Management, Healthcare Management, and Supply Chain Management. The MBA program is designed to prepare students for management growth in high-demand fields through a flexible approach that meets the needs of working professionals, said Diane Recinos, EdD, Interim President of Berkeley College. One of our primary objectives is to accelerate pathways to career advancement for current students, alumni and prospective students, Recinos added. We are delighted that the Middle States Commission on Higher Education has approved Berkeley College, New York to exceed its institutional mission to offer the Master of Business Administration in Management degree at our New York City campus, said Marsha A. Pollard, PhD, Provost, Berkeley College. This program approval is a testament to the caliber of the Berkeley College faculty, who are responsive and reflective educators and industry experts within their respective fields. New York City is getting back to work and Berkeley Colleges MBA in Management program is arriving at the right time to help professionals take advantage of the New York renaissance, said Joseph Scuralli, DPS, Dean of the Larry L. Luing School of Business. On-site classes in the MBA program will begin on April 25 at Berkeley Colleges Midtown Manhattan campus located at 3 East 43rd Street. The Berkeley College MBA in Management supports New York States emphasis on diversity and inclusion in the workforce and economy through its mission of empowering diverse graduate students who are traditionally underrepresented in middle management and upper management, to move up the career ladder. Berkeley Colleges MBA in Management has been offered at the Colleges Woodland Park, NJ, campus since fall 2015 and online since spring 2016. The New York State Board of Regents approved Berkeley Colleges application to offer the MBA program in New York State on January 10, 2022. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education issued its approval of this program in February 2022. For more information on the Berkeley College MBA program, visit: https://berkeleycollege.edu/academics/graduate-degree-program/index.html Read about Berkeley College MBA Highlights in the News Archives: Two years after entering into a Corporate Learning Partnership (CLP) with Berkeley College, 20 Affinity Federal Credit Union employees have earned their Master of Business Administration in Management degrees from the Colleges Larry L. Luing School of Business: https://bit.ly/3r3TJ92 Affinity Federal Credit Union partners with Berkeley College to offer its employees an MBA program: https://youtu.be/m94kjhhBtbA Students from the first Berkeley College MBA graduating class share their experiences: https://youtu.be/aWYgqjcNk-k About Berkeley College Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Masters, Bachelors, and Associates degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers continuing education programs to enhance career credentials. Berkeley College has campuses in Midtown Manhattan, NY, and in Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelors Programs and among the Best Online Bachelors Programs for Veterans, for nine consecutive years. U.S. News & World Report name Berkeley College (NJ) one of the Best Regional Colleges in the North in its 2022 and 2021 editions of the Best Colleges Survey. In 2021 Berkeley College (NJ) was also recognized for the first time as a Top Performer on Social Mobility among colleges in the region. The website address is http://www.BerkeleyCollege.edu. The mission of Berkeley College is to empower students to achieve lifelong success in dynamic careers. Attachment A pair of suspects accused of murdering a Seattle woman during a 2020 visit to Texas were discovered hiding out in Cambodia, months after they cut their GPS ankle trackers while out on bond. Nina Marano, 50, and her wife, 58-year-old Lisa Dykes were arrested in April 2021 in connection with the death of 23-year-old Marisela Botello-Valadez. She was last seen alive in Dallas on Oct. 4, 2020. She was in the area to visit a friend and went out to several nightclubs alone before her disappearance, according to investigators. Advertisement Police in Dallas on Monday confirmed both suspects have again been taken into custody by the FBI, WFAA reported. No further details were released. Lisa Dykes and Nina Marano (Dallas County Sheriff's Office) Botello-Valadezs body was discovered in a wooded area in Wilmer on March 24, 2021. Advertisement Authorities arrested the couple a month, later alongside a third suspect, Charles Anthony Beltran. Traces of the victims blood was discovered inside a home Dykes and Marano shared with Beltran, according to investigators. Both Marano and Dykes were released on house arrest after posting $500,000 bond, but disappeared on Christmas Day, shortly after they cut off their ankle monitors. Authorities launched a widespread manhunt for the couple after they could not contact them on Dec. 27. Beltran remains behind bars on $500,000 bond. Dallas, Texas, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Puration, Inc. (OTC Pink: PURA) today announced the company is on track to seal-the-deal on their first partnership in the $1.2 billion Asia Pacific hemp region . We are making steady progress and improving the certainty of closing, said Brian Shibley, CEO of PURA in regard to the hemp partnership in the Asia Pacific region currently under development. PURA has introduced its Farmersville Hemp Brand strategy to usher industrial hemp solutions into the market. Part of the Farmersville Hemp Brand strategy is targeted at disrupting the $600 billion global lumber market . The Asia Pacific partnership is part of the companys plan to disrupt the lumber market. Hemp is a textile and lumber industry disruptor. Hemp fiber is an alternative to cotton and traditional construction lumber that in fact has many characteristics superior to cotton and traditional lumber before considering the environmental benefits of using hemp. Hemp grows faster than cotton and hard wood forests, uses less water and absorbs more carbon. Hemp can be used in the production of bioplastics and has even been tested for use in supercapacitors which hold the potential to outperform batteries and do so with far less detriment to the environment. PURA has initiated construction on a facility in Farmersville, Texas where the company will conduct consultative education customized for each corporate customer to hands on demonstrate how hemp can be utilized to improve the efficiency of existing products and services and meet 2050 sustainability targets. The facility will be constructed using hemp composite construction materials as a first step in PURAs strategy to begin disrupting the lumber industry. PURA will soon be releasing design details on the facility. Read the companys latest comprehensive update on PURAs Farmersville Hemp Brand rollout . For more information on Puration, visit http://www.purationinc.com Disclaimer: This News Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from any these statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any those forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this news release. None of such forward-looking statements should be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the objectives and plans set forth in this News Release will be achieved or be executed. Vancouver, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading Asian food delivery app Fantuan Delivery has announced its launch in Australia, kicking off its operation in Sydney and Melbourne. Starting March 1st, Australian foodies will be able to enjoy fast and convenient delivery and pickup services through the Fantuan Delivery App, available on Android and iOS. Fantuan Delivery will initially be available in CBD, Boxhill in Melbourne, and Eastwood in Sydney, with plans to rapidly expand to other areas in the following months. To celebrate its launch, Fantuan Delivery will be offering $8 off on the first eight orders. Users will also be able to unlock 30 percent discount coupons for all restaurants on Fantuan Deliverys platform throughout March. Fantuan Deliverys user-friendly platform and advanced order fulfillment system ensure rapid delivery and exceptional customer experience. Fantuan Delivery has always placed exceptional quality and customer experience at the forefront. Having established an expansive presence in North America, were now in the optimal position to enter the Australian market and allocate significant investments to the market said Randy Wu, Founder and CEO of Fantuan Delivery. The launch in Australia is a milestone for Fantuan Deliverys global expansion. Founded in 2014, Fantuan Delivery has footprints in over 40 cities across North America. Fantuan Delivery partners with more than 10,000 couriers to deliver a variety of dishes to your door. In addition, the Fantuan Delivery app now offers services in English in the U.S. and Canada to increase accessibility for local food lovers. Having achieved a nearly 200 percent YoY growth in 2021, Fantuan Delivery is now a leading food delivery platform in the Asian food segment in the U.S. and Canada. Furthermore, Fantuan Deliverys series B funding round in January and series C funding round in December concluded in rousing success. Upon launch in Australia, Fantuan Delivery customers will be able to select from over 300 stores and restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne. The service is ready to expand to more cities in Australia in the near future. Australia has always been a hot spot for multicultural cuisine, especially for Asian restaurants. Research agency Roy Morgan has shown that Chinese food remains the most popular choice for food delivery. According to Roy Morgan, food delivery services thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, over 5 million Australians chose food delivery, leading to a 40 percent annual growth rate. Amid stringent social distancing measures, Fantuan Delivery provides no-contact delivery to ensure the safety of customers and carriers. About Fantuan Fantuan was founded in Vancouver, Canada, in 2014, currently operating in major cities across Canada, the United States, and Australia. With the mission of "life made easier", Fantuan is a technology company that provides a one-stop platform providing services such as food delivery, fresh grocery, and more. As one of the world's leading life-service platforms, Fantuan enables users to easily access the richness of resources in their neighborhood and the city. Fantuan's cutting-edge technology closely connects business owners with customers and provides convenient, innovative, and efficient services to make people's lives easier. Attachment GARRISON, N.Y., March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement will host their Atonement Franciscan Assembly, March 7-11, at Graymoor, their motherhouse in Garrison, N.Y., convening experts in ecumenical, pastoral and social ministries and members of their global religious community to discuss the future of the Society of the Atonement and its charism of "At-One-Ment." The assembly comes in response to Pope Francis' call for a "Synod on Synodality," a two-year process of listening and dialogue exploring the life and the mission of the Catholic Church, and it will culminate with a formal presentation of the meeting's conclusions to His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, for submission to the Office of the Synod at the Vatican in Rome. "The Atonement Franciscan Assembly will celebrate the Friars, Sisters, Tertiaries and lay collaborators that form the Society of the Atonement and embody our charism of 'At-One-Ment' by bringing hope, healing and harmony to the world," said V. Rev. Father Brian F. Terry, SA, Minister General of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. "It is also our community's response to the Holy Father's call for synods 'allowing people to talk so that the wisdom of God will come forth,' and we welcome the many respected leaders in our core areas of ministry that will join with us to contemplate our future and who God is calling us to be." The Future of Ecumenical Ministry, March 7-8 Servant of God Father Paul Wattson, SA, and Mother Lurana White, SA, founded the Society of the Atonement in 1898 to help bring about "At-One-Ment" - the reconciliation of Christians and their churches and unity in fulfillment of Jesus' prayer "that all may be one" - and have been called New York's own Francis and Clare for their efforts. In January 1908, they observed the first Church Unity Octave, now celebrated annually as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by Christians worldwide. Today the Friars continue to promote Christian unity and interreligious dialogue through their global ministries, which include Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute in New York City and Centro Pro Unione in Rome. An ecumenical worship service will herald the start of the assembly on Monday, March 7, at 4 p.m., and on Tuesday, March 8, the work of the assembly will begin by exploring the future of the Society's ecumenical ministry. The day will feature a keynote address from Father David Couturier, OFM Cap., a noted Franciscan scholar and author and Dean of the School of Franciscan Studies at St. Bonaventure University. A panel discussion will follow, led by Aaron Hollander, Ph.D., Associate Director of Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute and Vice President of the North American Academy of Ecumenists. Panelists will include Father Walter Kedjierski, Executive Director of the Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Margaret Rose, Deputy to the Presiding Bishop for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations, The Episcopal Church; and Nathan Smith, Director of Catholic-Evangelical Relations at Glenmary Home Missioners. The Future of Social Ministry, March 9 The morning of Wednesday, March 9, will focus on the future of the Society's social ministry in the area of addiction treatment and recovery, in particular the role of spirituality, innovative treatment models, critical gaps in treatment and the role and impact of community-based agencies. The discussion will be co-moderated by James Schiller, Ph.D., Executive Director of St. Christopher's Inn, the Society's addiction recovery ministry at Graymoor, and Connie Wille, Chief Executive Officer of Champlain Valley Family Center. Panelists include Robert A. Kent, General Counsel of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; John A. Darin, President and CEO of NADAP (National Association for Drug Abuse Problems); Wilfredo Morel, Vice President of Immigrant Health at Sun River Health; and Tom Caracciola, Housing Program Supervisor at Champlain Valley Family Center. The Future of Pastoral Ministry, March 9 The afternoon of March 9 will focus on the future of the Society's pastoral ministry and will begin with a message from Father James Mallon, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, founder of the Divine Renovation Ministry and author of the best-selling book Divine Renovation: Bringing Your Parish from Maintenance to Mission. The session will feature a forum led by Andrew D'Angelo, Executive Director of the Holy Mountain Franciscan Retreat Center at Graymoor. Panelists will include Deacon Thomas Rich, TSA, Vocation Director of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement; Joy Pellegrino, Spiritual Director and Art Therapist at the Holy Mountain Franciscan Retreat Center; and Brother Paul Roach, a professed Tertiary candidate in the Society of the Atonement, who ministers at the Chapel of Our Savior, the Friars' parish in Brockton, Mass. The Future and Formation, March 10 On Thursday, March 10, Sister Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., former President of St. Bonaventure University and a noted scholar on Franciscan history and spirituality, will give a keynote address on formation and the future of religious life. A panel discussion will follow, led by Deacon Thomas Rich, TSA, Vocation Director of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, and Paul Lipowski, Ed.D., Vice President and Special Advisor of the Partners in Franciscan Ministries. Statement and Presentation of the "Mind of the Meeting" to Cardinal Dolan, March 11 On Friday, March 11, the "mind of the meeting" - the fruit of the week's discussion and reflection - will be presented to His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, for submission to the Office of the Synod at the Vatican in Rome on behalf of the Archdiocese of New York. The assembly then will conclude with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Dolan. The 2022 Atonement Franciscan Assembly will take place at Our Lady of the Atonement Chapel, also known as Pilgrim Hall, located on the 400-acre campus of Graymoor in Garrison, N.Y. To register, please visit atonementfriars.org/2022-atonement-franciscan-assembly. About the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a Catholic religious community dedicated to bringing reconciliation and healing to a broken world by living, embracing and fostering the Franciscan spirit of "At-One-Ment" unity with God, others and self - while seeking to promote dialogue among Christians and all people of faith. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, Servant of God Father Paul Wattson, SA, founded the Friars of the Atonement in 1898 to walk as brothers alongside those in need of God's love and healing. We do this through ministries like St. Christopher's Inn, Do Not Fear to Hope HIV/AIDS Support Group, the Holy Mountain Franciscan Retreat Center and various ecumenical centers and parish ministries throughout the world. His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, opened Father Paul's cause for canonization on Sept. 22, 2015, in New York City. More at atonementfriars.org. Contact: Jonathan Hotz Director of Communications (845) 424-2122 jhotz@atonementfriars.org Related Images Image 1: Atonement Franciscan Assembly This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Toronto, ON, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadians concerned about political divisions will find solace in season five of TVO Original series Political Blind Date. Premiering on TVO Tuesdays starting March 15, 2022 at 9 pm ET and streaming across Canada on TVO.org, YouTube and smart TV services like Apple TV and Roku, the final season of this innovative TVO series demonstrates the value and necessity of building bridges in hard times. Political Blind Date bridges partisan differences, creating memorable, human moments of understanding on the issues that matter most to people, says John Ferri, VP of Programming and Content at TVO. We are very proud of the impact made by this show over five incredible seasons. The topics covered in this season not only reflect the concerns of the day, but also chart a path forward during this challenging moment in history. "We are so proud of this series and the dialogue it has fostered around the important issues impacting Ontarians and Canadians every day, says Tom Powers, creator and executive producer. This final season on TVO is no different, and we look forward to exploring a new host of relevant and timely topics through a uniquely Canadian lens. New and longtime viewers alike will make fresh discoveries in this season of debate, diversity and understanding. These six episodes of Political Blind Date feature discussions between leaders from multiple levels of government and a spectrum of political parties. A typical date starts with two politicians getting to know each other before heading out to explore the issue of the day. Each participant chooses where they will take the other and keeps it a secret. TVO Original Political Blind Date balances light-hearted fun and heated exchanges to help humanize political discourse, while also providing an outlet for viewers who want to see past partisan divisions and build something together. "The conversations we dive into this season are some of our most meaningful yet and we know viewers will find something they can relate to, no matter what side of the issue they stand on," adds Mark Johnston, executive producer, director and writer. "Now more than ever, it's so important that we understand each other as human beings first and come together to tackle these issues, and not each other, says Amanda Handy, producer and executive producer. Season 5 of TVO Original Political Blind Date includes the following episodes, airing weekly: March 15 Systemic Racism Liberal MP Greg Fergus and Toronto City Councillor Michael Thompson delve into possible ways to tackle anti-Black racism. From organizations encouraging Black Canadians to seek public office, to federal government programs providing financial assistance to Black-owned businesses, Fergus and Thompson debate their visions on how to address systemic racism. March 22 Veterans Conservative MP John Brassard and Liberal MP Darrell Samson discuss the state of veteran affairs in Canada. Brassard takes Samson to meet veterans in Barrie who are fighting for their claims to be resolved due to a significant backlog. In Nova Scotia, Samson takes Brassard to talk to former service members and families who have benefited from the Liberal governments latest programs to help veterans. March 29 The Real History of Canada Sol Mamakwa, Member of the Kingfisher First Nation and NDP MPP (Kiiwetinoong, Ontario), and Kingston City Councillor Jeff McLaren speak about what to do with the statues and symbols of some of Canadas early political leaders whose policies harmed Indigenous Peoples. McClaren is opposed to removing Sir John A. Macdonalds statue but is in favour of telling a more complete history. Mamakwa takes McClaren to Sioux Lookout to meet Indigenous leaders who have a different perspective about how to remember Canadas real history. April 5 The Future of Unionism Conservative MPP Monte McNaughton and UNIFOR president Jerry Dias examine the state of labour relations in Ontario and the future of unions in Canada. In London, McNaughton takes Dias to visit people who are benefitting from training programs and initiatives supported by the provincial government to fill thousands of vacancies in the skilled trade sector. Dias takes McNaughton to meet workers from the retail and long-term care industries who face wage freezes and have no guaranteed sick days under new legislation in Ontario. April 12 Homelessness Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter (who was homeless for 14 years) discuss solutions to the growing homelessness crisis in their cities and across Canada. Carter takes Brown to Oshawa to examine solutions that include an integrated health care and social services hub for the homeless, and a micro-home prototype made from storage containers. In Brampton, Brown demonstrates the power of large, diverse cities to harness faith communities to help combat homelessness and poverty. April 19 The Opioid Crisis Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and Conservative MP Garnett Genuis reunite to debate what needs to be done to address the opioid drug crisis in Canada. Erskine-Smith believes that the government needs to legalize and regulate all illicit drugs, since a poisoned supply laced with the synthetic opioid fentanyl is killing thousands of unsuspecting drug users. Garnett Genuis believes that the threat of criminal charges may encourage those with substance use disorders to seek treatment services and recovery, and that these services need to be expanded across Canada. Watch season five of TVO Original series Political Blind Date on Tuesdays, starting March 15 at 9 pm ET on TVO and streaming on TVO.org, YouTube and smart TV channels. Stay current on the latest TVO documentary news and insights by signing up for the new TVO Docs Newsletter at TVO.org/newsletters. -30- ABOUT TVO TVO inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through video, audio, games, courses, newsletters and articles, were investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. Funded primarily by the Province of Ontario, TVO is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. For more information, visit TVO.org and TVOkids.com. TVO streaming channels: LG: TVO, TVOkids Apple TV: TVO, TVOkids Amazon Fire TV: TVO, TVOkids Roku: TVO, TVOkids Android: TVOkids ABOUT OPEN DOOR CO. Open Door Co. is in the business of producing, distributing and acquiring Content That Matters for broadcasters that include HBO, A&E, Sundance, CBC/Doc, TVO, Bell Media, Corus/Shaw, SVT, SBS, NHK and Discovery, among others. Credits include TVO Original Margin of Error, feature documentary Cracked Not Broken for HBO, Black Nation for SVT, Pure Intentions for CBC documentary and docuseries Intervention Canada (67x1) for A&E and Blue Ant Media. Visit: OpenDoorCo.com. ABOUT NOMAD FILMS Nomad Films develops and produces documentary programming for film and television that focuses on a wide range of compelling stories about social and political change, science, the environment, and the arts. We are passionate about social-political films. Known for its international treaty co-production work, Nomad has successfully produced films such as the award-winning In the Shadow of a Saint (CBC, BBC, IKON, and SBS Australia). Director/Writer/Executive Producer Mark Johnston is the Founder of Nomad Films which is run by his partner Amanda Handy. Thirty years in the documentary business, Mark and Amanda have worked in a producer or director capacity on over ninety films. Visit NomadFilms.ca. Media: Sonya William Manager, Brand and Content Activation TVO swilliam@tvo.org Stephanie Perron Unit Publicist BAE Communications steph@baecommunications.ca Social: twitter.com/Political_BD twitter.com/tvodocs facebook.com/PoliticalBlindDate facebook.com/tvodocs instagram.com/political_bd #DebateWithoutHate HONOLULU, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Embassy Suites by Hilton Oahu Kapolei has partnered with the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) and Legacy Carbon LLC to provide its guests with a carbon neutral guest experience that is uniquely Hawaiian. Through the planting and sponsorship of Hawaiian Legacy Trees, guests will enjoy their Embassy Suites experience knowing that they have left no carbon footprint in the islands. The entire guest stay is carbon neutral through the planting and electronic tracking of more than 550,000 native and endemic Hawaiian trees. This Gold Standard Certified carbon project has produced some of the highest-quality carbon offsets in the world and is the first Gold Standard certified reforestation project in North America and the only certified carbon project of any kind in the state of Hawaii. A recently released video by tree planting partners, HEI Foundations Project Footprint, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtQEsUAwWIQ provides a better perspective of how big this forest has grown in just a few years. It is so important that we malama the aina and this partnership has helped our guests to connect to the land and the culture of Hawaii, said Reid Yoshida, General Manager of Embassy Suites. Guests now have the opportunity to become part of Hawaiis rich cultural history by giving back to the islands and planting their own Legacy Tree. Perhaps the greatest memento of their visit to Hawaii wont be what they take with them, but what they leave behinda living legacy. We see an unmistakable trend in the hospitality industry to support this movement. Perhaps one day, we will all be able to say that when you stay in Hawaii, the only footprints you leave will be on the beach. HLRI has already planted more than 1,200 acres of forest (endemic koa, ohia, milo, kou, wiliwili, sandalwood, and other species) in the first-of-its-kind Hawaiian Legacy Forest that will sequester more than a quarter million tons of CO2 over the next 50 years. Each tree is RFID geo-tagged and can be individually tracked throughout its lifetime by the tree sponsor on HLRIs TreeTracker. Often, it is the small changes enacted by many which have the greatest impact. Together, with the help of many individuals and organizations, we have created a new economic engine, which restores forests, creates permanent green jobs, is carbon negative, and supports the Hawaiian culture, said Jeff Dunster, Executive Director of HLRI. Embassy Suites is setting an example for the hospitality industry and showing us how people can use the power of business and innovation to solve real world problems and create solutions that are extremely effective in real world application. About HLRI: Through state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies, HLRI works with landowners and conservation partners to establish and preserve economically viable and sustainable endemic Hawaiian forests, protect endangered species, sequester carbon, and recharge watersheds. HLRIs Legacy Trees are sponsored by businesses and individuals, with a portion of proceeds donated to other charities worldwide. For more, visit LegacyTrees.org. MEDIA CONTACT Teddi Anderson President, TLC PR (808) 535-9099 teddi@tlcpr.com Springfield, Mo., March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Feb. 28, 2022, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and First Lady Jill Biden, EdD, sent out a national statement declaring March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, urging the public to get screened. The statement comes just in time as Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC), the nations leading advocacy organization, kicks off a month filled with colorectal cancer awareness activities. All month long, Fight CRC advocates will be pushing for more colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, more awareness, more funding, and more research. March 2, the Cleveland Cavaliers will host their annual Colon Cancer Awareness Night. In partnership with Fight CRC, the evening aims to bring awareness to and support the fight against colon and rectal cancers. March 2, Colorado advocates will gather at the Denver Capitol to celebrate recent legislative successes and press lawmakers for more. March 13-18, Fight CRC will host United in Blue, the first-ever installation spotlighting CRC on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. More than 27,000 flags will be installed, representing people under the age of 50 projected to be diagnosed with CRC in 2030. March 16, 9am to 12pm EST, Fight CRC will host a rally on the National Mall with members of Congress, leaders in the CRC community, survivors, and advocates. March 17, advocates from across the country will attend Call-on Congress, both virtually and in person. They will be urging members of Congress to require the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to develop a strategic action plan for CRC, create a Colorectal Cancer Research Program within the Department of Defense (DoD), increase funding for CRC screening, and increase funding for CRC research. Throughout the month of March, Fight CRC ambassador stories will be featured by local media, putting a face to the disease. We relentlessly raise awareness each March, but this year its different because there are even more lives at stake if we dont act now, said Fight CRC President Anjee Davis. We need scientists, healthcare providers, and patient organizations to push for more research. The data compels us to find a way to chart a new course because young lives are counting on us to find answers. Throughout the entire month of March, Fight CRC will share stories of survivors, caregivers, and loved ones on their blog, social media channels, and podcast, and ask advocates to post #StrongArmSelfie(s) on social media; for each #StrongArmSelfie, $1 is donated to the cause. The 2022 March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign is sponsored by Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi-Sankyo, Einstein Medical Center, Exact Sciences, Genentech, Guardant Health, Intuitive, Merck, Natera, No-Shave November, Seagen, and Taiho Oncology. Join the fight at FightCRC.org. Santa Clara, CA and Kyoto, Japan, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ROHM Semiconductor today announced that it has developed a new digital-to-analog converter IC (DAC), BD34352EKV, and corresponding evaluation board, BD34352EKV-EVK-001, supporting playback of high-resolution sound sources in high-fidelity audio equipment. Designed to maximally extract and convert high resolution digital audio data to analog audio signals, audio DAC chips are one of the most important components for determining the quality in audio equipment. Leveraging 50 years of expertise in developing audio ICs has allowed ROHM to establish sound quality design technology capable of extracting the full amount of information from sound sources and offer products that deliver superior sound quality, including sound processor and power management ICs. Among these is the BD34301EKV, the flagship DAC chip of ROHMs MUS-IC series which has been highly evaluated for its sound quality since its release in February 2021. The BD34301EKV continues to see worldwide adoption; however, to meet the growing demand from manufacturers for a DAC chip that can be used in a wider range of audio equipment, ROHM developed the BD34352EKV. The new BD34352EKV DAC chip is specially tuned to powerfully express the energy of sound sources while maintaining the natural flat sound characteristics of ROHMs DAC chip design concept. At the same time, an advanced digital filter is included the same as used for the BD34301EKV. This leads to superior numerical performance (S/N ratio: 126dB, THD+N: -112dB) of the DAC chip, making it ideal for high-end audio equipment. In addition, the BD34352EKV features pin compatibility with the BD34301EKV. It has the same customizable filter as the BD34301EKV. This enables different sound quality tunings for each audio device, reducing development load while contributing to the creation of ideal sound sought by audio manufacturers. DAC Chip BD34352EKV Availability Pricing: $16/unit (samples, excluding tax) Availability: Now (samples and mass production) Evaluation Board Information Sales Launch Date: February 2022 Evaluation Board Part No: BD34352EKV-EVK-001 Online Distributors: Digi-Key, Mouser, and Farnell Support Page: https://www.rohm.com/products/audio-video/audio-converters/audio-dacs/bd34352ekv-product#evaluationBoard MUS-IC: ROHMs Highest Grade of Audio ICs Created by combining the sound quality design technology with ROHMs company mission of quality first, vertically integrated production system, and contribution to the musical culture, MUS-IC (official name: ROHM Musical Device MUS-IC) is an audio device brand that represents the ultimate IC solutions developed by ROHMs team of experienced and dedicated engineers. For more information, please visit ROHMs Musical Device MUS-IC web page: https://www.rohm.com/mus-ic/ * MUS-IC is a trademark or registered trademark of ROHM Co., Ltd. ROHMs Contribution to Music Culture ROHM has contributed to popularizing and developing music cultures centering on classic music for more than 30 years with the Rohm Music Foundation. As for scholarship assistance, ROHM supported 507 young musicians through November 2021. "Rohm Music Friends" are active around the world, have won prizes in international competitions, and served as principal orchestra players. ROHM also organizes the Kyoto International Music Students Festival to promote international exchange among young musicians and the ROHM Music Seminar to foster professional musicians. The company also offers financial support for music-related performances, research and more. In addition, ROHM hosts and cooperates for concerts and operas, supporting the comprehensive theatre ROHM Theatre Kyoto representing Japan. For more information, visit www.rohm.com. Attachments Irvine, March 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Origence, a CU Direct brand, a leader in lending technology solutions, today announced that it had delivered a record amount in credit union loans through its lending platforms in 2021. Credit unions funded 2.2 million loans through the Origence Lending 360 and CUDL lending platforms, generating a record $57.4 billion in credit union loans in 2021, surpassing the companys record $43.5 billion in loans funded in 2020. The company has grown from nine shareholders in 1998 to 115 shareholders in 2021. The CUDL auto lending network helped credit unions fund a record $46.9 billion in auto loans in 2021, while CUDL credit unions, as an aggregate, were the largest auto lender in the nation in 2021, experiencing 13 percent loan growth according to data from AutoCount. The CUDL Network expanded to include 16,000 auto dealers nationwide in 2021. Origence signed new agreements with 38 credit unions in 2021. At years end, 1,157 credit unions, serving 64 million members were utilizing Origences industry-leading lending technology solutions, including its CUDL and Lending 360 lending platforms, Origence marketing automation platform, and AutoSMART auto shopping program. Credit unions continue to demonstrate their ability to excel at member service efficiency to compete and win in the lending marketplace, said Tony Boutelle, president and CEO of Origence. Our commitment to the success of our credit union partners and their members remains front and center. We remain focused on delivering innovative lending technology that helps our credit union partners make more loans and create a better member experience. # # # About Origence Origence, a CU Direct brand, provides lending technology that elevates the origination experience to increase loan volume, create efficiencies, and grow accounts. With Origence, financial institutions can originate consumer and indirect loans with greater levels of productivity and increased scale, while also delivering a convenient and personalized borrower experience. Solutions also include marketing automation, auto shopping, outsourced loan processing, and more. Origence is headquartered in Irvine, California. For more information, visit www.origence.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. A Florida man has been charged with murder after he fatally shot his girlfriend at a gun range as part of what he said was a botched suicide pact. The deadly incident unfolded at the Hot Shot Shooting Range in Holly Hill on Oct. 7, police said. That afternoon, Alec Almanzar fatally shot Ayadalis Chalas with a 9 mm Glock handgun he rented at the facility, Holly Hill police Lt. Chris Yates told The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Advertisement Basically, they just put their heads together and he shot into her head, Yates said. The bullet went through her head into his head. Surveillance video from inside the shooting range shows the couple requesting a pair of targets and then receiving eye and ear protection before asking for a box of ammunition and heading to the shooting lanes. Once there, Almanzar can be seen loading the gun and then firing at each of the targets a single time. Advertisement Alec Almanzar (Volusia County Division of Corrections) Police said Almanzar then stood alongside Chalas, positioning himself so the right side of his head was touching his girlfriends. He pulled the trigger, but the weapon misfired. He shot off three more rounds at the targets before again shooting Chalas in the head as it was pressed against his own. The round went through Chalas head and then entered into the right side of Almanzars head, police said. When first responders arrived on the scene, she was already dead. A suicide note has not been found, though Chalas did seem to hint at the tragic event in a social media post. Thank you for all those who were in my life I will never forget you guys, it read. I appreciate those who checked on me you dont have to worry about us anymore we are going to a safe place away from this world we love you all. Almanzar was hospitalized after the shooting and then stayed with family in New York in the weeks following his release in December. He has since been extradited back to Florida. They knew that the charges were coming down, Yates told the newspaper. Now he is back in our custody and will be facing the charges. Gov. Charlie Baker, center, and state Senate President Karen Spilka, left, both said Monday that the state will do what it can to aid Ukrainian refugees. House Speaker Ron Mariano is at right. Troopers lead a man through the Ashburton Park entrance and down a State House corridor Tuesday afternoon. The State Police said two people were arrested after trying to rush past the security checkpoint. Actor Kather Sei, who has credits on several television and Netflix shows, has been charged with providing fentanyl-laced pills that resulted in a fatal overdose. The 36-year-old performer, whose real name is Mucktarr Kather Sei, was arrested on Saturday in Los Angeles. He was arraigned Monday on charges including one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, and one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, according to a press release from the Justice Department. Advertisement Mirela Mimi Todorova was also charged in connection with the case, according to the Los Angeles Times. She was taken into custody on charges of intent to distribute cocaine and ecstasy from last year. The 33-year-old suspect is accused of running a drug ring in Los Angeles, using Sei and several others as delivery drivers to distribute her counterfeit oxycodone pills. According to prosecutors, Todorova provided Sei keys to her apartment so that he could access the drug stash while she was in Mexico. On Nov. 15 and 16, 2020, the victim, identified as 37-year-old Ray Mascolo, reached out to the dealers seeking drugs. Advertisement Kather Sei His parents are Bruno and Kyara Mascolo, co-founders of Bed Head hair care products. He was listed in Todorovas phone as Ray Client Rich Kid and had been struggling with addiction for years. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Sei allegedly delivered pills laced with fentanyl that caused the mans fatal overdose in his Beverly Hills home, according to documents obtained by People. Prior to Mascolos death, several customers expressed concern about the pills allegedly provided by Todorova and Sei. Yo mimi the oxys are dirty, one person wrote. Authorities were able to connect Mascolos fatal overdose to the pair of suspects after his parents were interviewed by DEA agents, who also seized his phones. Unaware hed died, Todorova continued to text the victim and offer him drugs, according to authorities. Investigators were ultimately able to track her cell phone and she was arrested at a gas station. If convicted, both Sei and Todorova face 20 years to life in prison. Sei, an actor, has appeared on shows like S.W.A.T and Netflixs Lucifer. Alan Permane argues that Alpine is on the right track. The British sporting director states that there are enough leads towards the second week of testing in Bahrain. He even states that a lap time of Fernando Alonso at the Barcelona circuit is comparable to what Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen did. Permane told Autosport.com that he doesn't want to sound like he's making excuses, but according to the top executive Alpine is in a pretty good position. He does not want to suggest that the French formation will immediately beat top teams such as Mercedes and Red Bull Racing, but there is at least some confidence within Alpine. Alonso comparable to Verstappen On Friday morning Alonso came to a 1:21.242. That time is an sich not very impressive to call, because it went over two seconds faster during the test week by other teams, but still there is optimism. According to Permane, Alonso's time was comparable to what Max Verstappen was doing at the time. The only difference is that Verstappen was driving with DRS and Alonso was not. Read more Ecclestone would let Russia GP go ahead even without Verstappen Alpine took a good look at Alonso's and Verstappen's GPS using FIA systems and it showed that the data was almost identical. Verstappen was only faster on the straights, but that makes sense since Alonso was driving without an open rear wing. However, how much this says about the proportions in three weeks is unknown. How good is Alpine? It is known that Red Bull did not show everything during the first three test days in Spain. At Alpine, however, they are very pleased with the steps made. Where it will take the team from Viry in 2022 remains to be seen. Craig Scarborough, the Formula 1 tech expert, for example, let it be known that he was not impressed at all by Alpine's A522. Does Alpine know that Red Bull has been sandbagging? There are an awful lot of circuits that could replace the Russian Grand Prix on paper, but judging by the rumour mill, it looks like it will be a battle between Portimao and a circuit in the Middle East. The usually very well-informed De Telegraaf reported on Tuesday afternoon that Formula 1 is likely to travel to the Middle East, but Paulo Pinheiro hopes to put a stop to that with Portimao. Read more Verstappen's girlfriend organises fundraiser for Ukrainians Portimao in talks The circuit director tells the Correio da Manha that talks are being held with the pinnacle of motorsport. "We are in talks with the organization of F1 to organize the replacement race," he said. According to Pinheiro, ultimately "logistical issues" are going to be the deciding factor. A week after the weekend in which the Russian GP was to take place (September 23-25), the race is already being held at Singapore. To get all the cargo from Portugal to Singapore within just over half a week is going to be very difficult. To advance the Grand Prix one week to 16-18 September does not seem an option because then we would have four GP's in a row. Still more candidates? Surprisingly the Portuguese newspaper names Germany and Turkey as places where the Portuguese Grand Prix competes. Chinese, ROK FMs hold video meeting on bilateral ties Xinhua) 08:59, March 01, 2022 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds a video meeting with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on Feb. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Monday held a video meeting with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong. Noting this year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK, Wang said China and the ROK should uphold and revisit the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic ties and jointly plan for the future development of bilateral relations. China wishes the general election of the ROK to go smoothly and hopes that the relations between the two countries will achieve a steady transition after the election and continuously advance to a higher level, Wang said. China appreciates the efforts made by the ROK to promote the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and is willing to continue to provide assistance within its capacity, Wang said. Wang added China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the ROK on the Korean Peninsula affairs. Chung Eui-yong said the ROK appreciates and believes that China will continue to play a significant and constructive role on the Korean Peninsula issue. The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) A Maryland man shared a heartbreaking story about two panhandlers killing his wife after the pair spent a joyous evening at a relatives birthday party. Now, hell spend the rest of his life in prison for her murder. Keith Smith, 55, was sentenced Monday to life in prison plus three years for the 2018 stabbing death of his wife, Jacquelyn Smith. Advertisement Just after midnight on Dec. 1, 2018, Smith brought his wife, an engineer at an Army facility to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she was pronounced dead from multiple stab wounds, according to prosecutors. Her death was ruled a homicide by sharp force injuries, five stab wounds to the chest and one to the arm. In Smiths telling, he and his wife were driving home with his daughter, Valeria, when they saw a Black woman panhandling while holding a baby. Smith claimed he stopped and the woman approached the front passenger side window, through which Jacquelyn handed her $10. Thats when, Smith told police, a man walked up and asked if he could thank Jacquelyn, then stabbed her repeatedly, grabbed her necklace and wallet and fled on foot with the woman. Advertisement Keith Smith (AP) But as investigators dug in, Smiths story fell apart as he and Valeria told detectives a different story and cell phone data placed the incident in a different part of town, a quiet corner where panhandlers were unlikely to be found. While tapping Smiths phones, detectives found two calls he made trying to book one-way plane tickets to Cuba and Canada, which he was unable to do without a U.S. passport. He also asked about traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands without a passport and searched online about going to Mexico or Jamaica. Eventually, detectives figured out the true story, later confirmed by Valeria Smith during the trial: Smith drove them to the park with Jacquelyn asleep in the front passenger seat, then stabbed her. Prosecutors alleged that it was an insurance scam. Smith was found guilty of first-degree murder in December. Keith Smith will now justly serve a life sentence in prison for violently stabbing his wife to death and then creating an elaborate cover-up plan to cowardly blame panhandlers for his horrific attack. Today, the public can rest assured that justice was served in a case that manipulated the hearts and minds of our country, States Attorney Marilyn Mosby said in a statement Monday. I applaud my Assistant States Attorney Shaundria Hanna for her skillful prosecution of an exceedingly hard-fought case. Her around-the-clock preparation during the weeks leading up to the trial, and close-knit collaboration with BPD, ensured Mr. Smith deservedly spends the rest of his natural life in prison for his heinous and reprehensible actions. My victim advocates will continue to support Ms. Jacquelyn Smiths family as they mourn the devastating loss of their loved one. Valeria Smith was sentenced to five years in prison in December after pleading guilty to acting as an accessory by ditching Jacquelyns purse at a bus stop to make the panhandler story more believable. A Wisconsin school superintendent who allegedly confined six students in a school bathroom and forced them to strip to their underwear to search for vapes has been charged with false imprisonment. Suring Superintendent Kelly Casper, 51, was arrested Monday for the Jan. 18 searches, according to online jail records. Advertisement All six girls, all between 15 and 17, told detectives a similar story: Casper told them to get undressed in the Suring High School bathroom, then checked their legs, bottoms and bras. Two of the girls were allowed to keep their leggings on because they said they werent wearing underwear, according to the criminal complaint. The school nurse, who started at her job that day and helped in the search, said Casper told each student that they were better than this and making bad choices and that she really cared about them. Advertisement (Shutterstock) Oconto County District Attorney Edward Burke Jr. initially declined to press charges, saying that the incident did not constitute strip searches by law, but then changed his mind. Upon their review, the state found that Casper lacked legal authority to confine the students in a small restroom in the school complex, he said in a statement Monday. The state also found that the students did not consent to being confined, nor were they given the opportunity to leave or contact their parents. If convicted, Casper faces up to six years in prison on each charge. The Suring School District has scheduled a public meeting for Wednesday. CoFlow Jet, LLC, an engineering and technology company specializing in active flow control using coflow jet (CFJ) technology for aerospace applications, has entered a Joint Ownership Agreement (JOA) with NASA to commercialize the deflected slip-stream (DSS) technology enabled by co-flow jet flow control. Jointly developed between NASA and CoFlow Jet, LLC., the technology would allow aircraft to take-off vertically, hover, smoothly transition to cruise and land vertically without using tiltrotors, tiltwings, or lift plus configuration. This would substantially simplify the vehicle system, reduce weight, increase range, save energy, and decrease noise. It would also combine vertical and short takeoff-landing (V/STOL), which facilitates aircraft to operate vertically within confined urban settings and further saves energy where there is a short runway space. The basic concept of the proposed co-flow jet airfoil developed by the company is an active-flow control airfoil actuated by micro-compressors embedded inside the airfoil. A small amount of mass flow is drawn into the airfoil at the trailing edge, pressurized by the micro-compressor actuators and then injected near the leading edge tangential to the main flow. The result is a high lift system that can achieve a super-lift co-efficient at extremely low energy expenditure. Source: CoFlow Jet We are developing advanced fully electric vertical and short takeoff and landing (eV/STOL) vehicles using DSS enabled by CFJ, which will make urban transportation and eCommerce economically viable. Tiltrotors, tiltwings, and lift plus may soon be part of history. Such a vehicle could also be used on Mars as it could generate nearly 10 times higher cruise lift coefficient compared to existing fixed wing aircraft, making it the most effective vehicle not only here on Earth but also on Mars where the air density is one-hundredth that of earth. Dr. Gecheng Zha, CEO of CoFlow Jet, and professor at the University of Miami Concept vehicle. The vehicle is shown above hovering with its flaps pointing downward and its propellers facing forward. The airflow from the propellers is turned vertically downward (see right inset) converting the entire thrust from the propellers to vertical lift. Unlike most of the current VTOL vehicles, the lift is generated without rotating the propellers upward. The 90 degree turn in the airflow is enabled by the coflow jet micro-compressors embedded in the flaps of all four wings (see left inset). Once airborne, the flaps are rotated to align flush with the wings to provide smooth cruise flight. The figure above hows the tandem wing tailless eV/STOL vehicle at cruise. The figure is a simulated Mach contour plot from a NSF-funded project using the companys high order scheme CFD (computational fluid dynamics) software. The picture above shows the micro-compressors embedded inside a CFJ wing that was recently tested in a DARPA funded wind tunnel experiment. Overall a CFJ-enabled vehicle would enjoy high safety, long range, high efficiency, and low noise. Currently, the eV/STOL air vehicle preliminary design is complete and the company is seeking investors to join them in prototype manufacturing and flight demonstration. Morgan Stanley projects the eVTOL market to be $1 trillion by 2040 and $9 trillion by 2050. The Board of Shell announced its intention to exit its joint ventures with Gazprom and related entities, including its 27.5% stake in the Sakhalin-II liquefied natural gas facility, its 50% stake in the Salym Petroleum Development and the Gydan energy venture. Shell also intends to end its involvement in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore, resulting from a senseless act of military aggression which threatens European security. Our decision to exit is one we take with conviction. We cannotand we will notstand by. Our immediate focus is the safety of our people in Ukraine and supporting our people in Russia. In discussion with governments around the world, we will also work through the detailed business implications, including the importance of secure energy supplies to Europe and other markets, in compliance with relevant sanctions. Shells CEO, Ben van Beurden Shells staff in Ukraine and other countries has been working together to manage the companys response to the crisis locally. Shell will also work with aid partners and humanitarian agencies to help in the relief effort. At the end of 2021, Shell had around $3 billion in non-current assets in these ventures in Russia. The decision to start the process of exiting joint ventures with Gazprom and related entities will impact the book value of Shells Russia assets and lead to impairments. California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the top Republican in the House of Representatives, described his colleagues speaking at a white nationalist conference appalling and wrong on Monday. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar have been criticized for several days after speaking at the America First Political Action Conference in Orlando. The event was organized by white-nationalist firebrand Nick Fuentes, a prominent attendee of the deadly 2017 Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville. Advertisement Greene spoke at the event in person. Gosar, who attended the event last year, spoke in a prerecorded video, according to reports. Prior to Greenes speech, Fuentes led a crowd in some pro-Putin chanting. Advertisement Now theyre going on about Russia and Vladimir Putin is Hitler they say thats not a good thing, Fuentes said. According to CNN, McCarthy said that introduction should have clued Greene into what was happening, if her claims of not knowing Fuentes background is accurate. House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks, Thursday, Jan., 20, 2022, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) With that introduction, you should have walked off stage, McCarthy said. The party should not be associated, any time, any place, with somebody who is anti-Semitic. Greene defended herself to CBS News on Sunday, describing the attacks against her as identity politics and an attempt to cancel her. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > In the past, Greene has described the deadly 2018 Parkland school shooting as a hoax and compared measures to slow the spread of coronavirus to the Holocaust. McCarthys comments echoed ones made earlier Monday by Sen. Mitch McConnell. Theres no place in the Republican Party for white supremacists or anti-Semitism, the Kentucky senator said in a statement. Utah Sen Mitt Romney was even more direct in his assessment of Greene and Gosar. Advertisement Morons. I have morons on my team, Romney said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union. Theres no place in either political party for this white nationalism or racism. Its simply wrong, the Republican senator added. The two House members are becoming increasingly isolated in the GOP, according to Politico. Support local journalism We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The founder of the worlds largest hedge fund has been closely following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and his concerns are likely shared by many of his counterparts in the Connecticut investment community. Westport-based Bridgewater Associates founder and co-chief investment officer Ray Dalios commentary on the war suggests that a large number of investors are examining the impact of sanctions imposed on Russia and other economic repercussions of the invasion. But how the fallout from the conflict will affect investment firms such as Bridgewater will depend heavily on their respective strategies. The sanctions that have been announced so far have been designed to minimize economic harm to Europe and (the) U.S. and not hit Russia hard enough to cause big retaliations e.g., they have not yet curbed Russian energy exports or removed Russias access to the SWIFT network. In other words, thus far the economic war has not been very costly to NATO countries, Dalio wrote in a LinkedIn post. If these are the only responses, they wont have significant effects on the markets and Russia will likely eventually gain control of Ukraine by paying the price of tolerably painful sanctions. At the NATO/Russia level, this war will be more like a negotiated exchange than an out-of-control war, so it wont disrupt much of anything beyond Ukraine and Russia, Dalio added. He noted, however, that the more the war extends beyond these boundaries, the more significant its impacts will be on other things, including the markets. Dalio did not comment in the post on how he thought Bridgewaters assets under management, whose total ranks No. 1 among hedge funds, would be affected by the markets response to the war. Bridgewater manages about $150 billion in assets for institutional investors, including public and corporate pension funds, university endowments, charitable foundations, foreign governments and central banks. A message left for a Bridgewater spokesperson inquiring about the firms investment strategy in response to war-related developments such as sanctions was not immediately returned. Among other Connecticut-based investment firms contacted by Hearst Connecticut Media, Greenwich-based AQR Capital declined to comment, while Stamfords Point72 did not immediately return a message. Investment firms positions related to oil-and-gas holdings and foreign-exchange markets could produce major gains, depending on how they anticipated the wars economic impact, according to some experts. Increased uncertainty, variability and gyrations can benefit a hedge fund, which is able to forecast and anticipate. They dont make money in stable markets because there isnt much to anticipate, Lawrence J. White, a professor of economics at New York University, said in an interview. I can imagine a hedge fund saying, I hate all the human costs and turmoil, but this is an environment where I can make money. Having dealt with the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and numerous other global crises in earlier years, investment firms are accustomed to turbulent markets. Last year, the world's 20 best-performing hedge funds set a record by earning more than $65 billion for clients, Reuters reported in January. Bridgewater bounced back after losses in 2020 by recording a $5.7 billion gain in 2021, according to data cited by Reuters. At the same time, some financial-services advocates said they had more pressing concerns about the war than investment returns. Im concerned about the Ukraine situation from a humanitarian standpoint and from the standpoint that dangerous authoritarian regimes should not be allowed to bully and invade their neighbors, especially peaceful democracies, Connecticut Hedge Fund Association President Bruce McGuire said. Am I concerned for hedge funds no, not really. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott The campaign over the states need for affordable housing and the power of mostly white suburban enclaves in one of the countrys most-segregated states was renewed in the General Assembly on Tuesday, when lawmakers heard public testimony on a variety of bills, including legislation that would allow housing authorities to purchase properties in adjacent towns. During an afternoon-long virtual hearing of the legislative Housing Committee, property owners and managers said that state regulations are hurting them and costing them money, while tenants warned that they are becoming victims at a time when landlords can force out those who pay lower rents because the owners can bring in new tenants wholl pay sharply higher amounts. And in reviving last years battle over persuading suburbs to site more-affordable dwellings, Alexis Harrison of Fairfield, who won election last year to the Fairfield Town Plan and Zoning Commission, warned lawmakers to leave alone towns that want to maintain their local character. Our zoning commission has been very committed to creating affordable housing and has consistently worked to encourage more diversity of housing stock, said Harrison, who as a member of the group CT169 Strong successfully defeated legislative attempts last year to force towns to build more-dense, affordable housing units. Basically, we want to avoid using a blunt instrument in order to achieve a laudable goal, Harrison said. Helping seniors, the disadvantaged and the disabled state residents is a very good thing. But unduly burdening landlords could result in decreased rental stock, which would diminish the goal: providing a diverse housing stock to all. Harrison spoke against legislation that would force towns of more than 14,000 residents to create fair rent commissions. Generally rent control in cities has not been successful at providing lower rents to the broader community, Harrison said during the virtual hearing. On the expansion of housing authorities to develop affordable dwellings outside their local boundaries, Harrison said This would further erode the local control of each zoning commission in making permanent decisions in the best interests of individual towns. It would end up both regionalizing and politicizing what is inherently a local job, making permanent decisions in governing the land use within each municipality. But Karen Dubois-Walton, president of the Elm City Communities/The Housing Authority of New Haven, said that allowing agencies like hers to purchase and develop affordable properties in neighboring towns would be an important way to allow more people to live in high-quality, affordable and market-rate dwellings. Housing authorities, as originally contemplated, were not in the business of development, and the laws on the books, currently, in Connecticut reflect the original housing authorities, not necessarily the housing authorities of today, Dubois-Walton said. Out of necessity, we have moved away from your old-style public housing into becoming much-more developers of mixed-income, mixed-finance type of communities. She said current laws limit housing authorities to work only within the borders of their municipalities. At the same time, we all know, and this committee has been really great at looking at the issues of the lack of affordable housing in our community and trying to find pathways to expand that, she said. I believe this bill is a no-nonsense, easy opportunity to add another tool to our box about how we can create affordable housing. Kathy Flaherty, executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, a non-profit agency that offers representation to low-income adults with serious mental health conditions, said in submitted testimony that while state law allows for towns and cities to create fair rent commissions, only 25 municipalities have them. We have observed significant rent increases that has made finding new housing extraordinarily difficult for tenants who need to relocate, even tenants who are fortunate enough to have a rental subsidy; many landlords are asking for rents above the fair market rents set by HUD or the Department of Housing, Flaherty wrote. Increasing the number of fair rent commissions around the state would enable more tenants in more towns to have a way to challenge unfair rent increases. The committee deadline is March 17. State Sen. Rick Lopes, D-New Britain, co-chairman, said the goal this session is to assure housing stability. A persons ability to work, go to school, or provide for their loved ones is all at risk if they are facing the possibility of losing their home or are unable to find long-term housing, Lopes said in a statement before the hearing. We have a chance to take a bold step forward in addressing housing loss and homelessness, which impacts cities and towns across Connecticut. Even more, we can affirm that every person should be afforded the security and stability that comes from having a home. State Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, vice chairman of the committee, said combating homelessness in particular is a laudable goal for the panel. I have championed this cause for years because I know it will have a transformative effect on how we experience and consider housing in Connecticut and beyond, Anwar, a physician, said in a joint statement with Lopes. Homelessness is not a personal issue but a societal one, and we must respond to it the same way we respond to other crises, with a targeted and thorough response. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH More than 200 people came to Greenwich Town Hall Tuesday afternoon to rally in support for Ukraine and urge swift action to stop the fighting after the Russian attack began last week. Attendees waved the Ukraine national flag, held up signs, sang the national anthem and shouted Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes! in the the Ukrainian language. State and local leaders at the rally pledged their support to the embattled eastern European nation locked in a deadly conflict with Russian armed forces. The rally-goers said they felt an obligation to provide humanitarian assistance and public support for Ukraine. I cant be there, so this is the least I can do, said Tania Priatka, a Cos Cob resident of Ukrainian ancestry. We need to be giving them a voice when theyre fighting for their lives. George Lencyk said the events unfolding in Ukraine would have an impact far beyond the region where the fighting has taken place. Its so important that we stop Russian aggression now, he said, and prevent the possibility of Russian aggression spreading. A Stamford resident, he said he was happy to take part in a rally in southern Connecticut to provide a visible show of solidarity. We can show support here, and they can see it there, he said. Like others, Lencyk said the U.S. and Europe should be doing more to isolate Russia and impose severe penalties. Greater urgency in bringing the conflict to an end was crucial, said Iryna Lencik, a sister-in-law of George Lencyk, since every hour brought more death and destruction to Ukraine. The situation is dire. We are trying to do everything we can. Its urgent. We need to act immediately, said Lencyk, a Stamford resident. Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo called on the public to donate to Ukrainian relief organizations. Anything you can do to help these people will be greatly appreciated, he said. And when you go to sleep at night, remember what theyre going though in Ukraine, not knowing what tomorrow is going to bring. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., joined the group via teleconference. He spoke of his visit to Ukraine six weeks ago, and how he came away impressed with what he saw. I knew they were determined and courageous, Blumenthal said. And they are giving the world a lesson in courage and conviction. Blumenthal spoke of the efforts in Washington, D.C., to impose crippling sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle, as well to force penalties on the Russian state, noting we need to do more. The senator earned loud applause when he called Putin a thug and in effect, a war criminal. An organizer of the local demonstration, Dr. Inna Lazar of Greenwich, said of the assault on Ukraine, It is escalating. Ukraine needs us, and I know we can do it. Tears came to her eyes as she described the notes and messages she has been receiving from family members there. Another organizer, Greenwich resident and former Miss Connecticut Olga Litvinenko, said, The situation has been devastating, and were asking, what can we do? She also urged participants to provide humanitarian assistance. Organizers said the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America; Revived Soldiers Ukraine; and Razom were reputable organizations providing assistance. Lenovo Legion Y700 Released 2022, March 10 Android 12, ZUI 13 128GB/256GB storage, microSDXC 2.9% 104,717 hits 65 Become a fan 8.8" 1600x2560 pixels 13 MP 1080p 8/12 GB RAM Snapdragon 870 5G 6550 mAh Li-Po Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. Read more Authorities in Minnesota are investigating a house explosion that killed a 20-year-old college student who was dog-sitting. Kailey Mach, who attended Augsburg University and dreamed of being a kindergarten teacher, was found dead in the basement of a home in rural Lexington Township after police received a call of a house fire and explosion. They arrived to find not much more than a smoking pit, with Machs body in it. The dogs died, too. Advertisement Kailey Mach (Facebook) Homeowner Aric Holicky and his family were away when police responded to a report at 11:25 p.m. Saturday of an explosion and fire in the township, 6 miles northeast of Le Center, in southern Minnesota. The Le Center Fire Department and sheriffs office deputies determined that the house had collapsed from the explosion, then caught fire. Advertisement After the fire was extinguished, Fire Department Personal located the deceased body of a female subject in the basement, Le Sueur County Sheriff Brett Mason said in a statement Sunday. Her body was removed from the scene and transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiners Office in St. Paul for an Autopsy and positive identification. Family identified the woman as Mach, and her uncle, Tim Siebsen, told KARE-TV that his niece had planned to teach kindergarten. She worked so hard to be a teacher; she was going to graduate almost a year early, Siebsen told KARE, adding that she worked as a preschool aide in her district. She was so loved by all of her kiddos. She was so loved by anyone that met her. She did all this while taking more than a full-time class load at Augsburg. Proud of her Czech heritage, Mach also loved to dance, her friend Shelby told KARE. She always talked about how she was going to change the world by teaching the next generation, Shelby said. She didnt care if she was having a bad day, if you told her you were upset she wouldnt rest until she got you to smile. Friends and family described Mach as someone who saw the good in everyone, according to WCCO-TV. The Augsburg University community is deeply saddened by Kaileys tragic passing this weekend, Machs school said in a statement obtained by KARE. We offer our profound condolences to her family, friends, professors, classmates, and all who were close to her. The Guam Contractors Licensing Board Tuesday motioned to rescind two previous actions taken by Cecil Buddy Orsini, resigned board executive director, but the board still faces unresolved issues about the licensing of government contractors. The Office of Public Accountability last month found that Orsini was involved in fraud in a dispute between two companies over a contract to deliver a baggage handling system for the Guam International Airport Authority. The airport awarded the project to Menzies Aviation. Competitor JMI-Edison, a local equipment supplier, argued Menzies didnt have a license with the Contractors Board and brought the matter to the OPA. Orsini on Dec. 22, 2021, issued a findings and decisions document supporting JMI. But Public Auditor Benjamin J. Cruz dismissed JMIs appeal because Orsinis document was a verbatim copy of a document sent to Orsini by JMI president Ed Ilao. The document was issued without the approval of the Contractors Board, the OPA found. JMI filed a lawsuit against the airport, Menzies and the OPA over the dismissed award protest. According to a letter sent by JMIs attorney to the Contractors Board, the documents Ilao sent to Orsini were based upon publicly available templates used by the (Contractors Board) in the past on other matters. Cruz dismissed a separate case over a project to install Wi-Fi in schools, in part because of another findings and decisions document issued by Orsini. The document affirmed G4S Security Systems claim that Technologies for Tomorrow, awarded the Wi-Fi project by the Guam Department of Education, didnt have a license from the Contractors Board. The findings and decisions, as I understand, relate to two and possibly more (cases), because Im not certain exactly how many of these decisions were issued by Mr. Orsini, said Assistant Attorney General Thomas Keeler, the boards counsel. In any event, those items should have been presented to the board for action, not taken independently by him. Board Vice Chair Bernard Benavente agreed with Keeler. It was brought up in several board meetings that if there is an issue that comes about and (were) unsure what to do, its best to bring it up to the board. ... I guess that was not the case, Benavente said. Board members voted unanimously to rescind both documents. No license The question of whether a government contractor needed a license from the Contractors Board remains unresolved. Keeler said the board needed to address whether it had ever formally adopted the need for specialty contractors licenses, the issues raised with both Technologies for Tomorrow and Menzies. Department of Public Works Director Vince Arriola, who sits on the board, said it was his understanding that Menzies has been contracted with the airport since 2015. According to Contractors Board investigators, there had been a review of the boards records prior to Orsini issuing both findings and decisions documents. It was discovered that Technologies for Tomorrow and Menzies didnt have licenses with the board. The Office of the Attorney General was notified of that, investigator supervisor Nida Bailey said. A big part of the issue is the label findings and decisions, Arriola told Bailey. Its got to be just findings. Because the decision hasnt been made by the board. Technologies for Tomorrow and Menzies also had the right to an appeal of the boards findings, Keeler said. The Guam Department of Education asked the Legislature to waive requirements for 180 instructional days and service learning for this school year. By law, at the end of each school year, 180 days of instructional time must be completed and each student must complete 75 hours of service learning. Both are graduation requirements. When schools went into cohort learning, Guam DOE calculated students lost 24 instructional days, and service-learning opportunities were limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. Service-learning requirementa usually are met by volunteering at nonprofit organizations and events We just dont want it to be a formal hindrance to graduation if they dont meet the full 75 hours, Fernandez told senators Tuesday. For the past couple of years, it hasnt been easy to offer those types of opportunities outside of school. If schools or organizations are shut down, we cant endorse students to go out and we take responsibility for students who show up for those activities outside of school. Juniors and seniors are already exempt from the 75-hour requirement. The waiver hasnt been not extended to freshmen and sophomores. Although schools have returned to five days of face-to-face instruction, Fernandez said waivers will give the department more flexibility. Very difficult According to high school principals, students are doing service-learning activities within their schools. Parents are still hesitant about having their children go to different parts of the community to earn service-learning hours. The teachers are working hard to accommodate and make it easier, but its very difficult at this point. Were struggling to meet those expectations at this point, said Southern High Principal Michael Meno. Though no formal decision has been made yet, senators had concerns about how the education department will address the loss of instructional time and if its necessary to waive the service-learning requirement. As policymakers, as administrators, certainly as board members, we want to know that every effort has been made and that we dont use it as a reason as to why were not maximizing the opportunity, said Sen. Joanne Brown. I am a little concerned about the fact that DOE cannot make the adjusts needed, especially when I see private schools, I see charter schools, able to do that. Sen. Amanda Shelton said whether the waivers are absolutely necessary, 24 days of instructional time has been lost and needs to be addressed. Were happy that students are feeling that they are still receiving the education that they are entitled to and their teachers are doing an excellent job. Hats off to them and thank them for all of that service, she said. But we want to ensure that no one is left behind in this process and that we are doing what we need to do on our end. Guam should begin receiving its $11.9 million share of an opioid settlement with pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson this summer, according to a news release from the Office of the Attorney General. Final approval of the $26 billion agreement was announced Monday, Attorney General Leevin Camacho said. Defendants Johnson & Johnson and the nations three major pharmaceutical distributors Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen will start releasing funds to a national administrator on April 2. We are delivering on our commitment to secure more resources to address Guams drug problem, Camacho stated in the release. Through yet another historic settlement, we will receive $11.9 million to help our people who are struggling with opioid use disorder and co-occurring disorders. The agreement marks the culmination of three years of negotiations to resolve more than 4,000 claims of state and local governments across the United States and its territories. It is the second-largest multistate agreement in U.S. and Guam history, second only to the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. A total of 52 states and territories have signed on to the agreement. Last year, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed the Opioid Prevention and Treatment Act into law, which set up an opioid recovery trust fund to receive settlement proceeds. Camacho previously announced that Guam would receive $280,000 from a settlement with consulting firm McKinsey & Company for its role in helping Purdue Pharma and other opioid companies promote their drugs. In addition to paying settlement proceeds, Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen must: Establish a centralized independent clearinghouse to provide all three distributors and state regulators with aggregated data and analytics about where drugs are going and how often, eliminating blind spots in the current systems used by distributors. Use data-driven systems to detect suspicious opioid orders from customer pharmacies. Terminate customer pharmacies ability to receive shipments, and report those companies to state regulators, when they show certain signs of diversion. Prohibit shipping of and report suspicious opioid orders. Prohibit sales staff from influencing decisions related to identifying suspicious opioid orders. Require senior corporate officials to engage in regular oversight of anti-diversion efforts. Johnson & Johnson must: A man found sleeping in a bus with a shotgun was charged in connection with a stolen van. On Sunday a reported stolen van led officers to John Michael Aquiningoc, who was sleeping in a bus nearby, according to a magistrates complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam. Aquiningoc was sleeping beside a woman, and on the other side of him was a shotgun, the complaint stated. The woman said they were asleep when Aquiningocs friend asked if he could park the stolen van on the property. When Aquiningoc asked his friend if the van was stolen, the friend said he didnt know, according to the complaint. Aquiningoc allowed the van to be parked on his property, and his friend said hed be back later to paint it, the complaint stated. Aquiningoc told police he knew he would be blamed if the van turned out to be stolen. He also admitted to possessing the shotgun without a firearms ID or registering the weapon, the complaint stated. Aquiningoc was charged with: Theft by receiving as a second-degree felony. Possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card as a third-degree felony. Possession of an unregistered firearm as a third-degree felony. 2019 Aquiningoc was charged with drug possession in 2019 after being pulled over for an inoperable rear license plate lamp, according PDN files. When officers asked for Aquiningocs license, they observed a wooden buttstock of a rifle wedged between the drivers seat and the center console. Aquiningoc said he did not have a firearms license and the gun was a .22 caliber rifle, PDN files state. Methamphetamine, a digital scale and another rifle with different types of ammo was found in the car. Bay Zhang was getting ready to go to sleep last Wednesday night when he got a call from an unknown number. So they were saying, Hey are you the owner of Oriental Kitchen? and I said yes. They replied, Just letting you know your restaurant is on fire, said Zhang. After the phone call, Zhang tried to check the security cameras on his phone, but they werent working. He drove to the restaurant. I was just kind of collapsed, said Zhang. He said it makes him uncomfortable thinking about it. Investigation After the fire and explosion, the Guam Fire Department launched an investigation at first light Thursday morning. Almost a week later, Zhang still doesnt know what happened. He said he was brought in for questioning. So theyre asking what happened and for my closing procedure. But I told them for the past however many years, we were closing the same procedure, as we do every single day. Even on that day, it was not any different, Zhang said. So we also dont know whats going on. In addition to not knowing about the investigation, Zhang has had to deal with the other obligations that come with running a business. Its crazy. ... Not just only emotionally, but as the owner, I have so many obligations. Were processing our last payroll for staff who worked the week before, but unfortunately most of our time cards were burned in the fire, Zhang said. Next steps Although he doesnt know the cause of the fire, Zhang said GFD has concluded its investigation and should be releasing results shortly. GFD spokesman firefighter Kevin Reilly said the investigation hasnt wrapped up yet. The owner does not dictate whether the case remains open or closed, Reilly said. Our investigators are looking into a few more evidentiary items and will release their findings when complete, hopefully by the end of the week. In the meantime, Zhang has gotten clearance to demolish the building and determine what he wants to do next with the restaurant, which has been a landmark in Mangilao. Weve been in the community ... for almost 40 years, so I believe our people here, in their heart, they have a place for Oriental Kitchen. Otherwise we wouldnt (have) survived until now, Zhang said. But at this moment I dont know, because were still grappling with all the things and even if we were to come back, its going to be different. Find out where and how you can get mAb therapy and vaccines and testing for COVID-19 this week, based on information provided by Joint Information Center. Jon Fernandez, Guam Department of Education superintendent, attends a walk-through of Pedro C. Lujan Elementary School April 27, 2021. The Department of Education is requesting a waiver of the 180-day instruction requirement and the service-learning requirement. The family of the late Glee star Naya Rivera has settled a wrongful death lawsuit over the actress tragic drowning in a Southern California lake nearly two years ago. Attorney Amjad Khan, who represents Riveras estate and her 6-year-old, Josey, told the Daily News Tuesday that all parties have entered into a global settlement and that Josey will receive just compensation for having to endure the drowning of his beloved mother at Lake Piru. Advertisement The Grammy-nominated singer and actress was reported missing on July 8, 2020, after she took her then-4-year-old son on a boat ride at Lake Piru in the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County, Calif. Her body was discovered five days later. An autopsy ruled the cause of death as an accidental drowning. Advertisement In November 2020, Riveras ex-husband, Ryan Dorsey filed a lawsuit against Ventura County on behalf of their son claiming that her death was preventable. Ventura County, its Parks and Recreation Management department and the United Water Conservation District were named as defendants in the suit, which alleged both wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Naya Rivera (Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images) The lawsuit stated that the rented boat lacked proper safety equipment in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard safety standards, citing Lake Pirus deadly history and the lack of proper signage of its strong currents, low visibility, high winds, changing water depths, underwater caves, ledges and drop-offs, or the trees, brush and other debris that congest its waters due to the vastly changing water levels and winds. The boat was not equipped with a safely accessible ladder, adequate rope, an anchor, a radio or any security mechanisms to prevent swimmers from being separated from their boats, nor any flotation or lifesaving devices, the complaint stated. According to Khan, Though the tragic loss of Joseys mother can never truly be overcome, we are very pleased that the monetary settlement will significantly assist Josey with his life beyond this tragedy. Haiti - Insecurity : The Administrator of RTVC and his wife kidnapped Radio Television Caraibes (RTVC) is again the target of kidnappings, a few days after the release of the host of the program SOS solitude Caelle Edmond, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35977-haiti-news-zapping.html kidnapped for the second time on February 6. Monday between around 10:00 a.m., armed individuals in a black vehicle kidnapped under threat, at the corner of Marcelin and Waag streets, in downtown Port-au-Prince, Marc Theagene the Administrator of RTVC and his wife. It is not known until now the conditions of the kidnappers for the release of the two hostages. S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #711 GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022: Epidemiological situation: Tuesday March 1, 2022 the number of people infected worldwide with the Covid-19 coronavirus and its variants since the start of the pandemic (March 11, 2020) amounts to 437,378,113 cases (+1,365,204 in 24 hours ), the day before (+1,334,797) Number of infected countries: 224 *Healings: 368,896,531 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+2,320,080 in 24 hours), the day before (+1,385,817) *Deaths: 5,975,797 people died of Covid-19 worldwide (+7,464 in 24 hours), the day before (+3,545) *Active cases (less deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 62,505,785 cases (-962,340 in 24 hours), the day before (-476,352) Average cure rate in the world: 84.34% (+) Average mortality rate in the world: 1.36% (=) World: Number of daily confirmed cases (Day-1) Vaccination: 10.80 billion doses of vaccine injected (+20 million doses injected in 24 hours. Updated March 1, 2022 (latest data available). HAITI: Epidemiological situation: Warning: The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) did not make available after February 24, 2022 daily data on the Covid-19 situation in Haiti. Accordingly, the data below on the situation in Haiti are the latest available. According to the Ministry of Public Health, +6 new in 48 hours of Covid-19 and its variants have been confirmed in Haiti as of February 24, 2022 (latest partial data available) for a total of 30,342 confirmed cases throughout the national territory (48.7% women and 51.3% men), since the first case (March 19, 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html ). Previous update (+37 cases on February 22, 2022). Heals: 25,210 (+4) Cure rate: 83.08% (=) Deaths: 820 deaths (+0) Death rate: 2.70% (=) 5th Wave (Omicron Dominant): Total of the 5th wave (starting December 27, 2021) amounts to 4,341 confirmed cases and 54 deaths Haiti: Active Cases Trend: (less recoveries and deaths) (Day-1) Screening since the start of the pandemic: 179,117 tests (+646 in 48 hours) since March 19, 2020, latest data available. Note that the very small number of people screened every day at the national level out of a population estimated at 11.6 million citizens, does not statistically allow us to make a representative estimate of the situation in Haiti, which translates into a < B>number of daily confirmed cases largely underestimated. TOP 5 of the most affected municipalities in the West (2022): Delmas: 725 (+2); Petion-ville 612 (+0); Port-au-Prince 404 (+0); Tabarre 278 (+0); Cross-Bouquets 224 (+0) Confirmed cases by department (2022 / 2021 / 2020): West: 2022: 2,486 cases; (2021: 9.890); (2020: 6,945 cases) North: 2022: 261 cases; (2021: 664); (2020: 677 cases) Center: 2022: 211 cases; (2021: 1.001); (2020: 508 cases) Artibonitis: 2022: 162 cases; (2021: 855); (2020: 593 cases) Northeast: 2022: 147 cases; (2021: 404); (2020: 314 cases) Southeast: 2022: 229 cases; (2021: 768); (2020: 274 cases) South: 2022: 211 cases; (2021: 891); (2020: 262 cases) North West: 2022: 241 cases; (2021: 383); (2020: 229 cases) Grand'Anse: 2022: 136 cases; (2021: 861); (2020: 176 cases) Nippes: 2022: 33 cases; (2021: 249) (2020: 149 cases) Cumulative deaths by department (2022-2021): West: 292 deaths (2020: 104 deaths) North: 53 deaths (2020: 34 deaths) Center: 74 deaths (2020: 13 deaths) Artibonite: 39 deaths (2020: 39 deaths) North East: 7 deaths (2020: 6 deaths) South: 51 deaths (2020: 6 deaths) Southeast: 14 deaths (2020: 9 deaths) North West: 15 deaths (2020: 12 deaths) Grand'Anse: 7 deaths (2020: 13 deaths) Nippes: 27 deaths (2020: 5 deaths) Distribution of deaths by age (since the start of the epidemic): 0-9 years: 15 deaths 10-19 years: 10 deaths 20-29 years: 29 deaths 30-39 years: 54 deaths 40-49 years: 78 deaths 50-59 years: 133 deaths 60-69 years: 186 deaths 70-79 years: 181 deaths 80 years and over: 134 deaths Vaccination: 150,734 Haitians (1.29% of the population) +920 in 24 hours have received a 1st dose of vaccine since July 16, 2021, date of the first injection through 149 open vaccination centers https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35051-haiti-covid-19-list-of-149-vaccination-centers-open-in-the-country.html and 100,126 Haitians are fully vaccinated (2 doses, 0.86% of the population) +889 in 24h. Update February 15, 2022 latest information available (source MSPP). List of 149 vaccination centers open in Haiti (and times) by department: (updated October 20, 2021, latest information available) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35051-haiti-covid-19-list-of-149-vaccination-centers-open-in-the-country.html DIASPORA: Epidemiological situation: USA: *Cases since the first case (February 29, 2020): 80,647,343 cases (+79,586 in 24 hours), the day before (+7,464) *Healings: 53,500,262 healings (+307,272 in 24 hours), the day before (+155,945) National Cure Rate: 66.33% (+) *Deaths: 975,150 deaths (+2,031 in 24 hours), the day before (+189) National mortality rate: 1.20% (=) *Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 26,171,931 (-229,717 in 24 hours), the day before (-148,670) Tests: 950,519,402 last data available. USA: Number of daily confirmed cases (Day-1) Vaccination: 553.39 million doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, the date of the first injection in the United States (+340,000 doses in 24 hours). Update March 1, 2022 (latest data available). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 574,556 cases (+485 in 48 hours) the day before (+295 in 24 hours). First case (March 1, 2020) Healings: 568,322 healings (+291 in 48 hours), the day before (+282 in 24 hours) National Cure Rate: 98.99% (+) Deaths: 4,368 deaths (+0 in 48 hours), the day before (+0 in 24 hours) Death rate: 0.76% (=) Positive rate over 4 epidemiological weeks: 5.4% (-) Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 1,866 cases (+194 in 48 hours) the day before (+10 in 24 hours) Dominican Republic: Trend of active cases: (minus recoveries and deaths) (Day-1) TOP 5 Provinces with the most new cases in the last 24 hours: National District: +66 new cases in 48 hours (-22 in 48 hours) La Altagraia: +57 new cases in 48 hours () Santo Domingo: +44 new cases in 48 hours (-43 in 48 hours) Puerto Plata: + 31 new cases in 48 hours () Santiago: +28 new cases in 48 hours (-2 in 48 hours) Tests (since the 1st case): 3,115,197 tests (+12,109 in 48), the day before (+7,179) Vaccination: 15.26 million doses of vaccine injected since February 16, 2021, date of the first injection in the Dominican Republic (+10,000 doses injected in 24 hours). Update February 27, 2022 (latest data available). QUEBEC: Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 921,981 (+3,160 in 72 hours), previous (+1,542 in 24 hours) Healings: 893,780 people (+7,059 in 72 hours), previous (+2,298 in 24 hours) Cure rate: 96.94% (+) Deaths: 13,982 deaths (+27 in 72 hours), previous (+24 in 24 hours) Death rate: 1.51% (=) Active cases: (excluding death and recovery) 18,145 cases (-3,926 in 72 hours), previous (-780 in 24 hours) Quebec: Confirmed case trend: Test: 16,703,680 people tested since the first case (+45,000 in 72 hours) Vaccination: 18,422,302 doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection (+40,040 doses in 72 hours), latest data available - MSSS as of February 28, 2022) FRANCE: *Confirmed cases since the first case (January 24, 2020): 22,702,815 cases (+56,083 cases in 24 hours), previous (+42,600) *Healings: 20,901,272 healings (+280,960 in 24h), previous (+45,925) National Cure Rate: 92.06% (=) Deaths: 138,367 deaths (+232 in 24 hours), previous (+76) Death rate: 0.60% (=) Active Cases: 1,663,176 (-221,784 in 24h), previous (-3,401) Test: 246,629,975 (last data available February 27, 2022) France: Trend of active cases: (minus recoveries and deaths) (day-1) Vaccination: 140.87 million doses of vaccine injected since December 27, 2020, date of the first injection in France (+90,000 doses injected in 24 hours. Update March 1, 2022 (latest data available) Previous bulletin : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36070-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-710.html See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30165-haiti-flash-first-case-of-covid-19-in-the-dominican-republic.html HL/ HaitiLibre By William Schwartz | Published on 2022/02/28 On February 28th the agency Clumped Projects announced that the entertainer Jung Hyung-don, who is represented by the agency, has contracted COVID-19. Jung Hyung-don is only the latest celebrity to have been hit by the virus as South Korean cases have exploded in recent weeks. Like many of his fellows, Jung Hyung-don was vaccinated and also had taken a booster shot to protect against the disease. Advertisement The news capped off a bad month for Jung Hyung-don. His mother had died this past February 14th and on February 23rd he had to announce plans to turn himself into police after posting a video online showing him using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. Jung Hyung-don is best known for his work in variety shows. His most recent appearance in a scripted television drama was a cameo in "Please Don't Date Him" last year. Written by William Schwartz Quincy, IL (62301) Today A few showers early becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight A few showers early becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Nevada State Police are investigating after two men accosted Gov. Steve Sisolak and his wife in a Las Vegas restaurant Sunday evening, getting in his face and hurling taunts, expletives and anti-government rhetoric in a rant caught on cellphone video. Democrat Sisolak, who is running for reelection, characterized the incident as racist threats against himself and his wife, Kathy, who was born in Ely, Nev., and is of Chinese heritage. Advertisement Taking credit for the attack was Justin Andersch, who calls himself a digital creator as he promotes far-right, anti-government conspiracy theories on his blog, Cannabis and Combat, local media reported. The encounter lasted more than a minute and started when a man wearing a red T-shirt emblazoned with Cannabis and Combat rose from a table approached Sisolak for a photo. After they posed together, the man turned around and started cursing, according to cellphone video posted online. At some point another man joined him. Advertisement Steve Sisolak and wife Kathy were the subject of verbal abuse. (Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Ali) We should string you up on a lamp post. You are running into a patriot now, one of them shouted, while another noted that they were at the restaurant without security. The men followed the governor and his wife all the way out to the parking lot, where their daughter Ashley was arriving for the dinner the three had planned together. Because your daughters with you, Im going to leave you alone now, the man who had followed them said, turning away. State police are investigating the incident. Sisolak released an official statement through spokeswoman Meghin Delaney, which noted that greeting constituents in public is one of his favorite job duties. He is deeply disappointed in how this incident unfolded, particularly with the language used to talk about First Lady Kathy Sisolaks heritage, the statement said. We can disagree about the issues, but the personal attacks and threats are unwarranted, unwelcome and unbecoming behavior for Nevadans. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > He emphasized that he represents all Nevadans, whether they agree with him or not. The encounter took place at Lindo Michoacan, just west of the Las Vegas Strip, and owner Javier Barajas said the men were immediately booted. Advertisement In the 32 years Ive been in business, Ive never once told any client to get out of here, " Barajas told the Las Vegas Sun. Regardless of your political stance, I believe everyone should be treated with respect. People are allowed to disagree. With everything going on in the world right now, we should all strive to be better Nevadans and respect one another. Restaurant manager Ninfa Magana said she had witnessed the shocking encounter, as had numerous families with children in the crowded restaurant. It was something very shocking to see and witness, Magana told The Associated Press. We respect everyones opinion. He was with his family, and they attacked him. I felt so bad for everyone who witnessed that. A former prosecutor said a case could certainly be made for criminal harassment. Based upon my review of the video, it appears the individuals threats to Governor Sisolak rise to the level of criminal conduct, former Clark County District Attorney David Roger told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, since the harassment statute prohibits a person from threatening to cause bodily injury to a person if the victim reasonably believes that the threat will be carried out. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit We couldnt help but notice the number of articles in recent editions of this news After midnight on Monday-Tuesday, Damascus government forces fired rocket shells on areas in Kfar Ta'al in western Aleppo countryside, and Al-Fatera, Flayfel, Sfuhin and Benen in Jabal al-Zawiya in southern Idlib countryside, without information about casualties, according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. SOHR had documented the day before yesterday, the killing of 2 people and wounding of 2 others, as a result of missile shelling carried out by Damascus government forces on Afas village, east of Idlib, where there are bases and points of Turkish occupation army within the so-called "De-escalation" zone. Sh-S ANHA Henderson, NC (27536) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. The Department of Justice argued Tuesday that a Capitol rioter who stormed the building while out on bail on attempted murder charges should remain in custody until his trial. Matthew Beddingfield, of North Carolina, was photographed and appeared in videos of the Jan. 6 insurrection and was quickly identified by social media users. He allegedly used a flagpole as a weapon and threw it at police officers before he entered the Capitol. Advertisement The Statement of Facts supporting the arrest warrant for Matthew Jason Beddingfield on charges stemming from last year's riot at the U.S. Capitol, is seen. (Jon Elswick/AP) He was arrested last month in North Carolina. At the time of the riot, he was out on bail after shooting a 17-year-old boy at a Walmart parking lot. He later pleaded guilty to felonious assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflicting serious injury, and was sentenced to 24 months probation. The Justice Departments court filing also outlines Beddingfields white nationalist social media posts which included praise for Adolf Hitler. Advertisement According to earlier FBI statements, Beddingfield appeared to make a gesture that is commonly associated with the Nazis during the insurrection. In the DOJs latest public filings, Beddingfields alleged views are made even clearer. Violent insurrectionists loyal to then President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021. (John Minchillo/AP) Hispanic, Native American and LGBTQ+ communities while glorifying white supremacist figures, beliefs, language, and ideologies, the filing states. Beddingfield unabashedly expresses his wish that members of those groups meet a violent end and in others he expresses a desire to inflict said violence or death on the same. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Beddingfields cellphone had images associated with the Nazis, including swastikas, SS symbols, Hitler memes, and other anti-Semitic, anti-Black, and anti-LGBTQ+ memes and caricatures. Beddingfield harassed others on social media with slurs and pro-Nazi phrases, according to the memo. Id like to reclaim America and it is fine if a few of my peoples enemies are hurt in the process, Beddingfield wrote in one post. The only tragedy that happened was that Hitler didnt finish the job, he wrote in another. Following his arrest in February, FBI agents who searched the Beddingfield home later found ammunition, four long guns and four hand guns. Advertisement There is a connection in Beddingfields white supremacist views and the physical manifestations thereof and his violent acts, the DOJ wrote, arguing Beddingfield should remain in detention. A hearing for Beddingfield is scheduled for March 10. Free access for current print subscribers As a home delivery subscriber, you get free unlimited digital access to premium content on HenryHerald.com, including local news, local sports, obituaries, legal notices, local features, and the e-edition. All you need is your print subscription account number and your last name. Don't know your subscription number? Email access@henryherald.com with your delivery address. Activate your account now. Five people are dead after a man shot his three children and another person, and then killed himself in a church in Sacramento Monday evening, according to police. Police responded to the gunfire reports just after 5 p.m. and arrived at the church to find five people dead, including the gunman. The victims included three girls aged 9, 10 and 13, Sgt. Rod Grassmann with the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said in a briefing. Advertisement The gunman had been estranged from his childrens mother, who had a restraining order against him, Sheriff Scott Jones said. The alleged shooter was identified as David Fidel Mora-Rojas, 39, reported KXTV-TV. Advertisement Law enforcement vehicles from several agencies block a street near the scene of a shooting in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP) Grassmann said the shooting happened in a room off the main sanctuary and the shots were heard by a worker upstairs, one of various people who were in the building. The employee left the building and called 911, he said. He was not sure of the genders of the victims and said their relationship to the church was still being investigated. A Sacramento Police officer stands behind police tape blocking the street near the scene of a shooting in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP) The sheriffs office is calling the shooting a domestic violence-related incident. Officers from the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office and the California Highway Patrol descended on the scene at the church on Wyda Way in Arden-Arcade, a community on the edge of Sacramento, KXTV reported. Authorities also appealed to the public for information. BREAKING NEWS: @sacsheriff deputies responding to a shooting a church on Wyda Way in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood. There is a massive sheriff and police presence there right now. @van_tieu is on the scene and photojournalist Miguel Cano pic.twitter.com/VFBCNfe76z Madison Wade (@madisoncwade) March 1, 2022 California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Twitter: Another senseless act of gun violence in America this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating. With News Wire Services Greenville, TX (75401) Today Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. 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 Vladimir Putin may want to invest in a pair of suspenders because hes losing his belts. World Taekwondo announced Monday that it was rescinding an honorary ninth-degree black belt it bestowed upon the Russian president nearly a decade ago. Advertisement World Taekwondo Federation President Choue Chung-won, left, gives an honorary taekwondo black belt and uniform to Russian President Vladimir Putin at Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, in 2013. (Alexei Nikolsky/AP) World Taekwondo strongly condemns the brutal attacks on innocent lives in Ukraine, which go against the World Taekwondo vision of Peace is More Precious than Triumph and the World Taekwondo values of respect and tolerance, the martial arts organization wrote on its social media Monday. That news came one day after the International Judo Federation announced the suspension of Putins status as its honorary president and ambassador. Last week, that federation cancelled its 2022 Grand Slam, which was to have began in Kazan, Russia, on May 20. Advertisement World Taekwondo strongly condemns the brutal attacks on innocent lives in Ukraine, which go against the World Taekwondo vision of Peace is More Precious than Triumph and the World Taekwondo values of respect and tolerance.#PeaceIsMorePreciousThanTriumphhttps://t.co/nVTdxDdl2I World Taekwondo (@worldtaekwondo) February 28, 2022 The Russian president still holds a blackbelt in Judo and an 8th dan black belt in in the kyokushin-kan form of karate from Russias Kyokushin-kan International Honbu. Aikido expert and Putin pal Steven Seagal told Fox News Digital Monday that he sees Russians and Ukrainians as one family and hopes the warring nations will come to a positive, peaceful resolution. When Seagal became a Russian citizen in 2016, Putin personally handed him his new passport. The Under Siege actor approved of Putins 2014 annexation of Crimea and praised the former KGB agent as one of the greatest world leaders. Putins unprovoked attack on Ukraine rolled into its sixth day of bloodshed Tuesday as civilian and military casualties continue to rise. You may not need proof of vaccination to eat inside a New York City restaurant, but Mayor Adams said Monday youll still need it to work. During a news conference in the Bronx, Adams vowed to keep in place requirements that public and private employees be vaccinated for COVID despite his earlier announcement that restaurant and bar patrons will soon no longer have to provide proof of vaccination status. Advertisement The Key to NYC requirements surrounding restaurants, bars, and gyms are set to expire on March 7 under Adams most recent COVID-related directive. On Monday, Adams was asked to provide the scientific underpinning behind ending that Key to NYC requirement while keeping in place the vaccine mandates. He responded that he wants to continue the trend toward the citys primary COVID goal: encouraging New Yorkers to get vaccinated. Advertisement New York City Mayor Eric Adams spoke inside NeON, in the South Bronx, New York on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. (GREGG VIGLIOTTI/for New York Daily News) When we talk about the employee mandates, it is imperative for the businesses to continue to create a safe environment for their employees, he said during an unrelated news conference in the Bronx. When I sat down with the doctors because Ive always stated were going to go based on the science they were clear. They said, Eric, we could remove the Key to NYC that allowed gyms, restaurants, and others, but we need to keep in place the mandate for those who are in professional [settings], employees or workers. And that includes city workers as well. Hizzoner also suggested he isnt concerned about the spread of COVID from tourists traveling from out of town once restaurant requirements are lifted, predicting that testing requirements outside the city will do the trick despite lower vax rates in other parts of the country. [ NYC to end school mask mandate, proof of vaccination at indoor venues as soon as March 7: Mayor Adams ] The March 7 lifting of requirements is partly due to low COVID positivity rates and high vaccination rates in the Big Apple. But vaccination rates in other parts of the U.S. and worldwide lag behind New Yorks. When asked how the city will account for tourists once the lifting of requirements takes effect, Adams cited the provision in some foreign countries that travelers be tested before boarding flights. We want tourism back. Tourism is a major economic boost for us, the mayor said. Many people are leaving their countries to get on airlines, and they have to be tested or vaccinated upon boarding those airlines. Such rules dont exist as blanket policy in the U.S., though. When asked specifically about the COVID travel requirements in other American cities, Adams didnt specify which ones he believes have strong requirements, saying only that many do. Many of these locales have good rules in place that will ensure that we are not being reckless, but were being responsible, he said. Feature: Zimbabwean students chase their dreams by learning Chinese Xinhua) 09:01, March 01, 2022 HARARE, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- For 18-year-old Nyasha Silver Kusedyo, a Chinese language learner, to master the language, dedication is not just enough, a certain level of "craziness" is also needed. "When my teacher found out that I was struggling in learning Chinese, she actually advised that to learn Chinese, to understand Chinese, you actually have to be a bit crazy, to understand the tones, the culture, whatever, you have to change your thinking," he told Xinhua. Kusedyo, an intermediate Chinese language learner at Zimgro Language Consultancy in Harare, is one of many young Zimbabweans chasing their dreams by learning Chinese. But for many students, the learning process can be daunting. Unlike local Zimbabwean languages which use the phonetic Latin alphabet, Chinese is composed of pictograms and semi-phonetic ideograms. Prosper Marindiko, another Chinese language learner at Zimgro, believes that motivation is an important factor in determining one's success in the long and often tedious process of learning a second language as an adult. "Sometimes it gets so frustrating trying to learn the language because you think I have mastered this word, then when you meet a Chinese (person) out there you try to say the word, they totally don't understand you," he said. Kusedyo, who recently finished high school, said his dream of becoming an entrepreneur keeps him soldering on. "I am learning Chinese so that I can actually gain a competitive advantage in the entrepreneurship pool, basically in any kind of business, mainly bridging China and Zimbabwe," he said. Della Makina, a Translation and Interpretation graduate, also believes that learning Chinese is a pathway towards achieving her dreams. "By learning Chinese, I dream that one day I will be one of the UN interpreters because Chinese is one of the UN languages, so I want to be one of the interpreters from Zimbabwe," she said. Tawanda Zimhindo, founder of Zimgro Language Consultancy and Chinese lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe Confucius Institute, is helping Chinese language learners achieve their dreams. "I have a great passion for teaching the Chinese language. I always assist my students out of my personal will, and when I do it, I do it out of my heart, and I feel it's my obligation as a teacher to assist them," he said. Last year Zimhindo was recognized as one of the best 20 Chinese language teachers worldwide by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), a non-profit educational institution for international Chinese language education affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education. As a passionate teacher, Zimhindo knows best how to motivate his students. "The trick is on making the classes interesting. As a teacher, you have to understand your students. You have to know them well. Above all, you have to create a relationship with the students. It has to be a family," he remarked. Zimhindo said learning Chinese has become popular among youngsters in Zimbabwe as they seek to be more competitive in the job market. Chinese investments have seen a large number of Chinese nationals moving to the country, thereby increasing interaction between Zimbabweans and the Chinese. "The reason why I am learning Chinese is because at work we interact a lot with the Chinese, and usually we have some misunderstandings just because of the language barrier," said Mandiriko. In Zimbabwe, China has become a competitive study destination, surpassing some traditional English-speaking destinations. Given China's status as a manufacturing giant, the Asian country is also the most preferred destination for traders and business people. "Initially what motivated me to learn Chinese was the good economic relationship between Zimbabwe and China," said Rebokile Setoboli, an Economics graduate from the University of Zimbabwe. Due to the lack of people who can speak both Chinese and local languages, there is a huge demand for those with Chinese language skills. Chinese translators with a good command of the language can earn more than 500 U.S. dollars a month, a huge amount considering that public servants such as teachers are currently earning less than 250 dollars a month. Setoboli, who is now a Chinese teacher at Zimgro, said knowing Chinese opens doors to vast job opportunities. "Studying Chinese has a lot of opportunities here in Zimbabwe. And for me one of the opportunities it has given me is that I am teaching Chinese right now," she said. While learning Chinese is arguably a formidable task, technology and the internet is making it less difficult to learn the language, even for those with no opportunities to interact with native speakers of the language. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) New York Citys police pension fund began the process of divesting from its Russian investments Tuesday after its trustees approved what amounts to yet another sanction against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The funds trustees voted to instruct city Comptroller Brad Lander to execute the divestment from any companies the U.S. has identified as financing, supporting or enabling Russian leader Vladimir Putins regime. Advertisement Lander, who, as comptroller, oversees the citys pension funds, said Tuesday he hopes the funds divestment will accelerate an end to aggression and a swift resolution that saves lives. New Yorkers, including current and retired police officers, stand in solidarity with Ukraine and are proud to play a role in contributing to cutting President Putin and his enablers off from global financial markets, Lander said. Advertisement Detectives Endowment Association Inc President Paul DiGiacomo (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The funds trustees include Lander, Mayor Adams, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, PBA President Patrick Lynch, and Detectives Endowment Association President Paul DiGiacomo. As a union comprised of every race, religion and creed who strongly believe in and protect democracy, we will do whatever we can to aide Ukraine, DiGiacomo said. As of Feb. 25, the New York City Police Pension Fund held $42.2 million in Russian securities. The fund has more than 85,000 members and retirees, and is one of the largest city retirement funds in the U.S. This is not about penalizing the Russian people, but about holding President Putin and his government accountable, Adams said in a written statement. Our administration is committed to standing with Ukrainians and refugees here and abroad while doing all we can to advance peace. Compared to other sanctions the U.S. and Europe have leveraged against Russia, $42.2 million is a relatively small amount. Those much bigger sanctions bar Americans and people within the European Union from trading with Russias central bank and other banking restrictions aimed at blocking billions of dollars in Russian financial reserves held in banks across the globe. The police pension fund probably wont be the only New York City pension to get in on the act of punishing Russia, though. According to a spokeswoman from Landers office, the citys four other pension funds will meet later this month. Lander plans to propose divestment from Russian assets to all four. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) has rejected a push for Florida to sell investments in Russian-owned companies in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. The Republican governor pushed back after state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the Sunshine States top elected Democrat, called on the state move to divest itself of assets tied to Russia. Advertisement The letter lacks necessary clarity, said Christine Pushaw, a spokeswoman for DeSantis. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (John Raoux/AP) She also claimed confusion over Frieds demand that the state moves to seize real estate owned by Russian oligarchs. Advertisement To the extent, Russian citizens purchase South Florida real estate, for example, that has nothing to do with the state of Florida investing in or divesting from a list of Russian-headquartered entities, Pushaw said. DeSantis and two allies, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody control the State Board of Administration. The SBA manages an estimated $195 billion in state-owned holdings, including about $300 million in Russian-based entities. Even as he rebuffed the calls from Fried and a similar call from fellow GOP Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) for tougher action, DeSantis portrayed himself as urging a hard line against Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. DeSantis called on President Biden to take steps to expand U.S. energy production, suggesting that would hurt oil-producing Russia, although he did not elaborate. Hit (Putin) where it counts, DeSantis said in his first public remarks about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The problem .... with Biden is that he has stepped on the neck of our domestic energy here in the United States. Since the shocking invasion, DeSantis had failed to mention the Russian invasion in the first few days. He was silent on the topic at his high-profile speech at the CPAC convention last week, even though he denounced China and even U.S. allies Canada and Australia in it. [ DeSantis keeps quiet on Russian invasion of Ukraine in CPAC speech ] He appears to be isolated among governors from both parties and across the political spectrum in refusing to take any concrete actions against Russia. Democrats and Republicans alike have taken steps like refusing to sell Russian-made alcohol in state-run liquor stores to protest Putins invasion. Advertisement A potential 2024 White House hopeful, DeSantis may be wary of getting too far ahead of former President Trump, who has praised Putin as very savvy and a genius. DeSantis finished a solid second to Trump in a presidential straw poll of CPAC attendees, the latest sign of his rising political star on the right-wing of American politics. Luxury hotel brand, The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts has confirmed the reopening of its newly extended all-suite sustainable resort The Pavilions Anana Krabi in Thailand from 1 March 2022, following the addition of 20 brand new Pool Access Suites. First opened in February 2021 on the southern west coast of Thailand's famous Phang Nga Bay, the 79-suite ecological resort puts sustainability, nature and wellbeing centre stage, from the on-site permaculture 'farm' supplying its kitchens to silken swimming pools of uniquely mineral-rich water sourced from the neighbouring limestone mountains - now directly accessible from the new 68sqm Pool Access Suites - the resort is truly rooted in its destination. Framed by views of the towering green-clad limestone cliffs and serene forest valleys of Krabi, the 10- ground floor and 10-first floor Pool Access Suites are peaceful oases centred around a shared lava stone pool, just a few short steps away via private terrace or private balcony and spiral staircase respectively. Featuring king size beds; 57" LED TVs; espresso machines; and complimentary arrival minibar and wifi, the contemporary new rooms are a luxurious addition to the all-suite hotel's range of accommodation. The 32sqm Thai Studios, 34sqm Spa Studios and spacious 55sqm Spa Suites all benefit from private outdoor space from which to soak up the verdant surroundings; whilst the Family & Friends rooms, with their two-plus-two queens and bunkbeds configuration, provide a versatile retreat for families or groups of friends. The resort has also added a new restaurant, Botanica, specialising in Thai and Indian cuisine whilst continuing its healthy emphasis on plant-based cuisine. All ingredients are sourced from local artisan producers or the resort's on-site organic permaculture plantation, 'The Farm'. Powered by the regenerative principles of composting and water conservation, this one acre 'art farm' and oyster mushroom nursery provides a memorable, sustainable farm-to-fork experience. Alfresco dining overlooking the main 35-metre lava stone infinity pool is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, whilst up on the roof the iconic ANANA Sky Lounge serves up sundowners and magical sunset chilling, with green-hued, 360-degree views of the mountains and forests of Aonang and the Andaman Sea beyond. The Asana Spa by The Pavilions meanwhile invites guests to 'Revive, Refresh and Restore' through naturally inspired wellness experiences, including carefully balanced hot and cold treatments in the Himalayan Salt Spa; a yoga shala set amidst the permaculture farm; open air gym; panoramic outdoor sauna; and a herbal steam room. Therapies and treatments blend traditional Thai healing techniques with organic essential Thai oils and herbs to create a unique all-natural spa experience. The Pavilions Anana Krabi offers three Curated Journeys - The Pavilions' signature brand experiences - and a range of bespoke excursions and activities designed to celebrate the resort's unique natural environment. Memorable ways to discover the destination include exploring the local mangroves by solar-powered longtail boat; visiting Aonang's only ethical elephant sanctuary; and biking or hiking the challenging 3.7km trail up Khao Ngon Nak National Park's Dragon Crest Mountain to witness one of Thailand's most epic viewpoints. Guests also benefit from privileged access to the nearby private Aqua Beach Club, offering watersports; beach weddings and events; and authentic local Thai cuisine. With the reopening of The Pavilions Anana Krabi, The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts now has a total of 10 owned or managed hotels and resorts in operation across Asia and Europe, with a further three in the pipeline. Hotel website The Wayfarer DTLA, a Pacifica Hotels property, is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Carl Hubbard as General Manager of the flagship boutique hotel. Hubbard will lead and oversee all departments within the hotel including the property's restaurants. Hubbard began his career at the iconic Chateau Marmont Hotel where he served as Hotel Manager for many years. He then became General Manager at Sunset Beach Hotel & Restaurant, before taking on the dual role of General Manager and Corporate Director of Operations at Paligroup Management. Following that, Hubbard helmed the Standard, Hollywood as General Manager, before most recently joining Petit Ermitage in West Hollywood, where he oversaw the portfolio as Regional Director. Dr. Jennifer Cronin, President, Wharf Hotels announced her resignation yesterday, effective 30 April 2022, to return to Australia. Her successor is Mr. Thomas Salg who has served in the role of Wharf Hotels, Vice President Operations for four years. During Dr. Cronin's eight years with the group, starting as Vice President Sales & Marketing, her remit was to strengthen the foundation of Marco Polo Hotels, and introduce an additional and luxury brand - Niccolo Hotels. Having completed this assignment, Wharf Hotels has now built a solid framework for future growth and is poised for expansion. As the global travel sector prepares to emerge from its most challenging period in living history, and after more than 20 years working in Asia's gateway cities, Dr. Cronin believes that the timing is right for a seamless transition to the next chapter in Wharf Hotels management evolution. She stated, "Together with an inspiring group of hoteliers across our group, we have punched above our weight and built an organisation by adopting best practices that are comparable with larger international hotel groups. At the heart of Wharf Hotels are dynamic, hard-working and passionate leaders who have prepared their hotels for the post-pandemic travel environment, and will most certainly be ahead of the curve. I could not be more proud of their efforts especially over the past two years and I am confident that the long term future is bright for travel and tourism." On her successor, Dr Cronin said, "Thomas has clearly demonstrated his commitment, leadership and professionalism since joining Marco Polo Hotels in 2013 as General Manager, Marco Polo Shenzhen, followed by Area General Manager of Marco Polo Hotels Hong Kong, before becoming Vice President Operations in 2017. I am confident that Thomas will further strengthen the group's solid foundation, as well as strategically drive new initiatives and developments for the hotel management company, while rebuilding the hotel's priority business streams." The Jekyll Island Club Resort is proud to welcome Steve Grainger as Director of Finance. Grainger brings more than 20 years of success in planning and executing strategic financial and operational initiatives for hospitality and real estate development organizations. Grainger started in the hospitality industry as a bellman and subsequently worked his way up through Operations in Rooms and Food & Beverage for several years before joining Hilton Corporation in Accounting. After joining Orient-Express Hotels in 1995, he served as Director of Finance for North America. Since then, Grainger has worked in multiple corporate roles for various development companies building and purchasing hotels, including roles as COO and Senior Vice President of Finance for a resort developer in Florida. Grainger most recently served as Corporate Controller for CUSA LLC, a third party property management company in Kennesaw, Ga. A highly analytical leader with an aptitude for aligning tactics with long-term financial strategies, Grainger will oversee the finance department at the Jekyll Island Club Resort, while strategizing and identifying solutions. Bram Gallagher is an Economist for CBRE Hotels' Americas Research. He maintains performance forecasting models for 60 major U.S. hotel markets, performs consulting work for a destination marketing organization, creates tools for hotel developers, and examines the effects natural disasters have on hotel occupancy. His background in statistical modeling and understanding of how markets operate have allowed him to reveal powerful, new insight into the future of the lodging industry. Mr. Gallagher has worked as a professor at Middle Tennessee State University and Berry College. He left Academia for a research position in the lodging industry in 2015 to better learn how economics is practiced. Mr. Gallagher can be contacted at 404-812-5189 or [email protected] Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for American unity on Tuesday in his first floor speech since Russia invaded Ukraine, and condemned the brutality and sheer evil of President Vladimir Putins bloody war on his democratic neighbor. Divisions within the United States or amongst our allies will only strengthen Vladimir Putin, and strengthen his resolve, Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned as Russia escalated its attacks despite global condemnation and unprecedented Western sanctions. We must be united in this moment. Advertisement Schumer is working to fulfill a White House request for $6.4 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine, a nation of 44 million people that has staged a resolute defense against Russian aggression. Schumer expects bipartisan support, said his spokesman, Angelo Roefaro. But in his appeal in the Senate, Schumer sought to shore up cross-aisle support for Ukraine, invoking the bipartisan reaction that followed the Sept. 11 attacks two decades ago. Advertisement Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) (Andrew Harnik/AP) Americans banded together, Democrat and Republican, to defend our nation and our democracy, Schumer said. Today, as democracy faces its greatest crisis in Europe since the end of the Cold War, we must likewise band together in support of our friends in Ukraine. He urged Republicans as well as Democrats to work with Senate leadership and the Biden administration to stay unified with a strong aid package. And he praised President Biden, whose predictions last month about the Russian assault of Ukraine proved prescient, and who worked closely with Americas European allies to line up sanctions on Russia. Our unity has precisely been our greatest asset in resisting Putins aggression from unity amongst the American people, in solidarity with Ukraine, to Americas unity with our European allies, Schumer said. Schumer made his appeal as the Russian invasion, which is apparently several days behind schedule, took an even darker tenor on its sixth day. The main square of Kharkiv, a Ukrainian metropolis of more than 1 million people, was decimated by a deadly missile strike on Tuesday morning. And in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, Russian strikes damaged a 1,263-foot-tall TV tower and a Holocaust memorial, according to authorities. Russian forces are evidently starting to engage in siege tactics, Schumer said. Civilian casualties, tragically, are mounting. BANGKOK, THAILAND - More than 500 delegates, including many of Thai tourism and hospitalitys most senior figures, came together at the 11th Thailand Tourism Forum (TTF 2022) on 1st March 2022, with the aim of charting a strong and sustainable path out of the global pandemic. TTF 2022, Thailands largest annual tourism and hospitality event, taking place as the industry grapples with an unprecedented period of crisis, opportunity, threat and disruption, ran under the theme #ThaiTourismUnited and kicked off with the Thailand Tourism Leadership Summit, which saw influential CEOs set out their joint vision for the future and jointly sign the Thailand Tourism Pledge. Together, these leaders committed to forging a new strategic direction for Thailand, including placing tourism at the forefront of the national economy, putting the service sector back to work, achieving sustainable growth, and making international visitors feel safe and secure. The Thailand Tourism Pledge will lay the foundations upon which Thai tourism can be rebuilt from the ground up, following the devastation of the global pandemic. Key to the discussion and among the excitement of the opportunity to create a better tourism future for Thailand, was a clear call by all leaders that it was time the country fully opened up. See opening remarks on the Thailand Tourism Pledge here: https://youtu.be/ZA25RC_EXyw. Ms. Proudputh Liptapanlop, Executive Director of Proud Group, which owns numerous tourism assets including two InterContinental branded hotels in Hua Hin and Phuket, said: In Thailand we need to open up. We need everyone to understand that we need to open up the country for their good and for the benefit of the country. Mr. Bill Heinecke, Chairman/Founder Minor International, added: If we dont open up we cant be competitive. Currently the rules are just too complicated. We are not even 10% of where we were pre-Covid and Thailand will not reach its target of 10 million arrivals in 2022. We are falling behind. We are not even keeping up with our neighbours. Theres no choice anymore, commented Marisa Sukosol, President of Thailand Hotels Association. Thailand must open up and stop Test & Go. In fact, it must Let It Go! We need to move our mentality from a pandemic to an endemic. TTF 2022 kicked off with a series of addresses, debates and discussions to help attendees devise strategies to survive and thrive in the post-pandemic era. Jesper Palmqvist, STRs Area Director for Asia Pacific, presented the latest critical data, while Clarence Tan of Hilton and Charles Blocker, CEO of IC Partners, discussed Why Hotel Operators Must Change, Jakkrapong Chinkrathok, CEO & founder of Find Folk, focused on environmental issues with his Green Thailand session, and Wimintra Raj, Editor-in-Chief at Hotel Intel, went Behind the Mask to discuss new travel experiences. Other hot topics on the quickfire agenda included cryptocurrencies, hybrid spaces, hotel transactions and more. Mr. Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, concluded: The reason we are here in-person is that this is where it starts. Travelling again starts today. We have to open the country and be competitive with Vietnam and the Maldives and put our service sector back to work. (from left) Bill Heinecke, Chairman/Founder Minor International; Proudputh Liptapanlop, Executive Director, Proud Group; Marisa Sukosol, President of the Thailand Hotel Association. Photo by C9 Hotelworks Ltd. TTF 2022 was hosted in compliance with all necessary health and safety regulations. The host venue, Conrad Bangkok, is SHA+ certified and all attendees will be required show proof of two vaccinations. For more information, please visit www.thailandtourismforum.com. About C9 Hotelworks C9 Hotelworks is led by founder and Managing Director Bill Barnett, who brings over 35 years' experience in the Asian hospitality and real estate sectors. Prior to founding C9 in 2003, Bill held senior executive roles in hotel operations, development and asset management. He is considered to be a leading global authority on hotel residences, and has sat at almost every seat around the hospitality and real estate table. Bill promotes industry insight through regular conference presentations at key events and contributes to numerous industry publications. For more information contact www.c9hotelworks.com. ORLANDO, Fla. - Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: XHR) ("Xenia" or the "Company") today announced it has agreed to acquire the 346-key W Nashville for a purchase price of $328.7 million or $950,000 per key. "We are thrilled to have reached an agreement to acquire W Nashville, an outstanding newly constructed luxury lifestyle hotel located in the desirable Gulch neighborhood in the heart of Nashville," commented Marcel Verbaas, Xenia's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The addition of W Nashville will mark the 14th property acquired since our listing on the NYSE in 2015 and aligns perfectly with our strategy of owning a portfolio of uniquely positioned premium hotels and resorts located in Top 25 markets and key leisure destinations that we expect to drive superior earnings growth. W Nashville is extremely well-designed and perfectly situated to attract year-round leisure, corporate and group demand." "We are excited about the earnings potential for W Nashville given its unique attributes, its status as one of the premier hotels in Nashville, the strong outlook for the market, and our belief that we are in the early stages of a multi-year recovery in demand for luxury lodging." Having opened in October 2021, the 14-story W Nashville features: six food and beverage venues including two destination restaurants by Chef Andrew Carmellini, as well as rooftop and pool bars, 18,000 square feet of differentiated indoor meeting and pre-function space with state-of-the-art technology to attract the most discerning groups, 26,000 square feet of finished outdoor space, including a rooftop with 360-degree views, a 10,000 square foot pool deck, and terraces contiguous with meeting, food and beverage and event spaces, six street level entrances to maximize accessibility and revenue generation across its multiple venues, 60 suites, more than any other luxury hotel in the market, representing over 17% of keys, providing for the ability to capture premium leisure and corporate demand, and 200 parking spaces Nashville is one of the most dynamic growth markets in the country and economic activity has accelerated in the last 18 months, as more companies increase their presence in the market. W Nashville's location in the LEED-certified Gulch neighborhood is proximate to booming corporate demand from sectors such as healthcare, the music recording industry, technology, finance, education, and consulting firms. Nashville CBD/West End has been one of the strongest performing lodging markets over the past few decades, with a RevPAR CAGR of 5.4% between 1987-2019 and 8.7% between 2009-2019, and demand has rebounded strongly after the initial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. "We look forward to deepening our relationship with Marriott International by acquiring our first W-branded property just as the W brand is being evolved and refreshed. This asset will be our 14th Marriott-affiliated hotel across six luxury and upper upscale brands in the Marriott brand family" continued Mr. Verbaas. "We expect W Nashville to be immediately accretive to our portfolio, as reflected by indicators such as RevPAR and Hotel EBITDA/key, and believe it will be one of our top performing assets over the years ahead. We expect W Nashville to generate between $25 million and $30 million of Hotel EBITDA upon stabilization." The Company expects to close the transaction by the end of the first quarter and fund the acquisition with available cash. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. Please refer to the Company's March 2022 Investor Presentation at www.xeniareit.com for additional information and images. About Xenia Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Imagine a couple who wants to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in Carmel, California. Both have been busy with work and family; they realize they have a limited window to get away. Looking to book so close to their stay date, they know that such a milestone celebration in a place with high demand is going to be costly. OTA websites are showing almost everything as sold out, however, and the few available rooms are either out of town and/or well into the four figures (for a couple of nights stay at ultra-premium resorts). Websites for their three preferred properties (by customer ratings + proximity to quaint and hilly downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea) confirm their worst fears. Indeed, even a two-night weekday stay isnt going to happen at any of them. Two hotels display sold out, but the third one has contact hotel for availability. Aware that OTAs have the knack of overstating bookings and underreporting availability (Hurry! One room left at this price!), the couple heads to the third hotels website, hoping for a glimmer of light. Indeed they have no regular rooms showing, but they do have an Anniversary special package still available, if the couple would consider a three-night stay. Although pricey, it does include a resort credit for spa, food, and a bottle of wine through a winery partner in Carmel Valley, a 15-minute drive from the hotel. An extra night. And it will be their most expensive stay in a long time, but its still a fraction of the cost of paying thousands for a couple of nights of luxury down the coast. They quickly book and celebrate that they scored the last possible deal based on their criteria. Who made out the best? While our happy couple has scored a great room in a period of high demand, on short notice, how did our three properties fare? Lets take a look. P1 (denial): sell to 100% capacity; 0 rooms left to sell as of last week. ADR for two denial dates: $425 P2 (denial): sell to 100% capacity, 0 rooms left to sell as of three months ago. ADR for two denial dates: $395 P3 (booked): target 90% capacity, booking limit set at 80% until a week before arrival, when a promotional inventory of premium suites in a package deal is released and then quickly sells out. ADR for two stay dates (after factoring in last-minute premium bookings): $600 - PLUS they get the third night at $600 as well. By holding inventory until their competitors had sold out, P3 was able to secure a higher rated booking (plus an extra less compressed night), while P1 and P2 sold out at $425 and $395 ADRs, respectively. The resort credit is a great tactic to further monetize guest value. Not only is P3 getting the customer at a price that boosts their profit margin AND delights customers that are running out of options, but theyre also able to acquaint new guests with their restaurant and additional services. Dont forget the partner winery - if that bottle of wine is memorable, the happy couple might just make the short trip to Carmel Valley to buy more, and check out some areas they usually dont get to. This is an additional win for everyone: P3: They get premium wines at a discounted price from the winery, helping boost profits and delighting guests. Winery: They get additional traffic from Carmel-by-the-Sea and other local areas, with guests already excited about the wine they have in their rooms. Guests: They get to visit an area they dont usually see, taste (and possibly buy) some great wines theyve experienced at the hotel, and keep finding amazing places to visit for future celebrations. Occupancy and labor force One detail about P3 that you may have noticed is that even in periods of high demand, theyre holding occupancy rates below 100%, at 80% (floating based on their RMS strategies + algorithms), and then flexing as high as 90% for last-minute bookings. By saving highly profitable bookings for that +/- 10% window, P3 is out-earning their competitors by a good margin, and saving on labor costs during the new normal where finding good, local talent is harder than ever. They could opt for full occupancy all the time and find creative ways to staff and clean rooms, but the team is already stretched, and P3s unwavering commitment to customer service AND their staff helps maintain their high standard on review sites. During high demand periods (where 90% occupancy is desired), staff that work extra hours are paid at a much higher rate for those hours, which doesnt impact hotel profits as much as you might think - remember, their rates for those days more than cover the incremental labor costs. Theres more than meets the eye here, however, in terms of how P3 maintains a strong competitive edge in ADR. In our next RMS Re-think series, were going to introduce a concept that is well known in banking, insurance, and other industries, but we havent talked about much in hospitality - and its a potential hidden goldmine for hotels that understand how to harness its power. Cant wait that long? Download the series here: https://www.duettocloud.com/special-reports/key-revenue-success-decision-management About Duetto Duetto delivers a suite of cloud applications to simplify hospitality revenue decisions and allow hoteliers to work smarter, increasing organizational efficiency, revenue, and profitability. The unique combination of hospitality experience and technology leadership drives Duetto to look for innovative solutions to industry challenges. The software as a service platform allows hotels and casino resorts to leverage real-time dynamic data sources and actionable insights into pricing and demand across the enterprise. More than 4,000 hotel and casino resort properties in more than 60 countries have partnered to use Duetto's applications, which include GameChanger for pricing, ScoreBoard for intelligent reporting, and BlockBuster for contracted-business optimization. Duetto is backed by investors Warburg Pincus, Icon Ventures, Accel Partners, Battery Ventures, and Spectrum 28. In January 2022, Duetto was voted as the Best Revenue Management System in the HotelTechAwards 2022. View source C9 Hotelworks is led by founder and Managing Director Bill Barnett, who brings over 30 years' experience in the Asian hospitality and real estate sectors. Prior to founding C9 in 2003, Bill held senior executive roles in hotel operations, development and asset management. He is considered to be a leading global authority on hotel residences, and has sat at almost every seat around the hospitality and real estate table. Bill promotes industry insight through regular conference presentations at key events and contributes to numerous industry publications. builds, develops and markets innovative lifestyle residences and hotels, introducing new concepts and reinventing industry standards. The boutique hotel was invented in 1984 by visionary Ian Schrager and his longtime partner and friend Steve Rubell. His formative 25+ year career revolutionized and impacted both nightlife (Studio 54 and Palladium) and hospitality (Morgans, Royalton, Paramount, Hudson, Mondrian, Delano, Shore Club, Clift, St. Martin's Lane, Sanderson and Gramercy Park Hotel). He was the largest private hotelier in New York until he sold his company. Schrager's recent projects include the transformation of the fabled Gramercy Park Hotel in New York, residential projects 50 Gramercy Park North in collaboration with world-renowned architect John Pawson, and 40 Bond in collaboration with Pritzker Prize winning architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron. He is now, for the fourth time in his career, starting all over again by launching a new hotel company, SCHRAGER HOTELS. This new company will include two new hotel brands, one luxury lifestyle brand and one that will be reasonably priced. Both new brands will be rolled out in 24 international gateway cities around the world with the first opening in Chicago in 2011. The single biggest opportunity in digital marketing for hotels in 2022 is hospitality's old friend Google! STR just released some troubling data, clearly showing that marketing spending in U.S. hospitality during the pandemic shrank significantly compared to 2019, dropping to as low as 50% in 2020 and rebounding slightly to 54% in 2021 of the pre-pandemic level. Equally troublesome is the drop in payroll (wages and benefits) to hotel sales and marketing staff throughout the pandemic, ending 2021 at 58% of the 2019 levels. Marketing spending in Europe and APAC is even worse than in North America. With all the lingering repercussions in hospitality from the pandemic, I do not expect hoteliers, all of a sudden, to double their marketing spend in 2022. I believe hospitality's old friend Google is the single biggest opportunity in digital marketing this year, and here is why: Fish where the fish are: Today the average travel consumer spends almost 7 hours on digital media a day vs 19 minutes on print media (newspapers and magazines). Overall consumers spend more time with digital media than with TV, radio and print media combined (Hootsuite). So forget about spending your precious marketing dollars on print brochures and collateral, print ads, direct snail mail, etc. Google controls 91.42% global search engine market share (January 2022, Hootsuite) Google now owns the travel consumer and has become the shepherd of the digital customer journey by positioning itself at and making money in the form of referral, CPC, CPM, CPA and CPS fees from each of the five phases of the Digital Customer Journey: Dreaming, Planning, Booking, Experiencing and Sharing Phases. Google has become a fully integrated advertising ecosystem, where all advertising formats are intertwined and work in concert. User engagements in the upper funnel (SEO, content marketing, YouTube TrueView, Gmail Ads, etc.) influences conversions in the lower funnel (Google Ads, Google Hotel Ads, Google Display Network, RLSA, Customer Match, etc.), and a campaign in one advertising format directly influences the results from all other formats. So what should smart hotel marketers do in 2022 with their limited budgets? Overhaul your website SEO Google has frequently stated that it is using more than 200 major ranking "signals" with many thousands of sub-signals and variations. Make sure your website features unique, relevant and editorial-level copy that is significantly different than the one you have used in the property descriptions on the OTAs, travel guides and directories, etc. and is fully optimized for the three main SEO categories: on-page SEO, inbound linking, technical SEO. Make sure your SEO agency can handle very complex Google-specific technical SEO requirements including automated schema markup, Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), Google Sitemap XML, Google Search Console dashboard management, etc. Improve your website download speed Make sure the download speed of your website on mobile devices is below 2.5 seconds to avoid your site being penalized by Google and reduce its bounce and abandonment rates. Google's Core Web Vitals now uses a load speed of under 2.5 seconds as one of the primary measurements of indexing a website, stricter requirement from the 3 second benchmark just a few years back. Invest in content marketing Content marketing elevates your hotel website importance in the eyes of Google via the inbound links and citations it creates. An equally important benefit of content marketing is that it engages and entices the travel consumer in the Dreaming and Planning Phases and creates ready-to-book customers for the Booking Phase. Content marketing is neither new nor free and has ways been an integral part of the digital marketer's toolbox. All segments of content marketing cost marketing dollars since someone has to create the content and creative, set up and manage the campaigns, monitor analytics and prepare reports: SEO, website content, social media posts, corporate group B2B marketing initiatives via LinkedIn, PR, blog articles and posts, white papers, webinars, case studies, influencer marketing, panel discussion participations, award and new amenity/service announcements, etc. Naturally, content marketing, when done well, could be cheaper than performance marketing like paid search, metasearch and paid media. When done well, content marketing is much cheaper than performance marketing. Update your Google Business Profile (GBP) Google Business Profile is free an easy-to-use tool to manage your property's online presence across Google, including Search and Maps that helps customers find your hotel and help you tell them your story. Make sure your GBP is fully optimized and updated, including your property information, amenity and services descriptions, business hours, your COVID preparedness and cleanliness programs, hotel images and videos, etc. GBP p,SHS another important to,e - it serves as the management dashboard for Google Reviews, where you can monitor and respond to customer reviews. Google now has more hotel customer reviews than all of the review and OTA websites combined! GBP directly influences travelers in the Planning Phase and creates powerful word-of-mouth effect in the Sharing Phase. Google Hotel Ads (GHA) GHA is Google's metasearch marketing format, which offers two distinct marketing opportunities: free GHA listings and sponsored/paid listings that provide better visibility, both featuring the property ARI (Availability, Rates, Inventory). Make sure you work through your CRS or Channel Manager provider to join the free GHA listings. If your property is in a competitive location, join Google's paid GHA program as well, which uses the pay-per-stay model. Google launched this program understanding well that a) hoteliers do not have much advertising dollars and b) travel consumers often cancel their hotel reservations due to the volatile COVID-19 situation. Google Ads (GA) Launch hotel-branded keyword terms GA campaign to target past guests in the short-haul and drive-in feeder markets, and level the playing field with the OTAs who are indiscriminately bidding in your branded keywords. Your past guests already know your hotel brand name, they know your hotel product, all you need to do now is to convince them that your property is safe to stay at and that you have packages and promotions that address their current needs. Google Ads is perfect as a deal closer ad format to convert past guests as well as new customers already exposed to GDN ads and for customers who know exactly where they want to stay. Google Display Network (GDN) Launch a GDN Retargeting campaign, which will help communicate your property's value proposition to users who have visited your website and are already familiar with your product, offerings and location. GDN Retargeting serves as a great reservation abandonment recovery and brand reminder tool. Based on your budget, launch a GDN Targeting campaign, focusing on your most important short-haul and drive-in feeder markets. GDN offers great targeting capabilities: Location, Keywords, Audiences, Similar Users, etc. GDN Targeting is the perfect solution to expand your hotel marketing reach and attract new customers from your important feeder markets. Midway, the Houston-based developer behind CityCentre, GreenStreet and East River, is setting its sights on a roughly 68-acre property in the west Houston after buying the former ConocoPhillips office property from Howard Hughes. Houston real estate heavyweight Howard Hughes sold the 1.3 million square foot campus for $25 million on Dec. 22, according to a Feb.28 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Howard Hughes reported a $7.4 million loss on the sale, according to its earnings. Howard Hughes described the property as a roughly 63-acre campus, although deed records show the company sold nearly 68 acres to Midway. The acqusition gives Midway a stronger foothold in the growing west Houston. The vacant office property on North Dairy Ashford is located about 3.5 miles west of its upscale mixed-use development CityCentre and 17 miles west of downtown Houston. In line with Midways track record of developing uniquely transformational real estate projects, plans are underway to create a sustainable environment, connecting and energizing the area through innovative design. Additional details will be announced at a later date, a Midway spokesman said in an email. Its not clear how quickly Midway could move to redevelop the site. The real estate developer previously held onto a large tract in Houstons East End for about five years before finally breaking ground on the 150-acre East River mixed-use development in 2021. The North Dairy Ashford campus formerly housed the offices for oil exploration and production company ConocoPhillips, which relocated its offices across Interstate 10. ConocoPhillips then the sold its former offices to Occidental Petroleum in 2019 for $90 million, or about $72.86 per a square foot, according to commercial real estate data firm CoStar. Occidental had planned to renovate and relocate its headquarters to the 17-building campus, but its plans changed after it bought Anadarko Petroleum for $38 billion in 2019. Instead of moving to the Energy Corridor campus, Occidental opted to maintain its longtime home in Greenway Plaza in addition to keeping a portion of Anadarkos former office space in The Woodlands through a sale-leaseback with Howard Hughes. Occidental sold two office towers in The Woodlands plus the 17-building former ConocoPhillips campus to Howard Hughes for $565 million in December 2019. Occidental then leased back 808,000 square feet at the tower located at 1201 Lake Robbins Drive. Howard Hughes never intended to hold onto the Energy Corridor campus and immediately began marketing it for sale, enlisting real estate brokerage CBRE for the effort. Built between 1984 and 2007, the campus encompasses 17, three-story buildings with interconnecting walkways and bridges, nine acres of lakes and 24 acres of extensive landscaping. The campus did not flood during Hurricane Harvey, according to marketing materials from CBRE. Former owners poured more than $170 million in capital improvements have been invested in the campus since 2007, according to CBRE marketing materials. A $78 million wellness center and reception building was completed in 2007 and in 2016, a $42 million Central Plant was built, according to CBRE. The campus also has a 6-level parking garage plus additional parking to accommodate more than 3,100 vehicles, according to CBREs marketing materials. The appraised value of the campus has stumbled by about $40 million since 2019, settling at roughly $47 million in appraised value last year, according to Harris County records. Strong year ahead for Howard Hughes master-planned communities The West Houston campus sale was part of Howard Hughes ongoing effort to shed what it considers to be non-core properties. Last year, Howard Hughes also sold three hotels in The Woodlands for $252 million, even as it continues to invest heavily in expanding its interest in The Woodlands with new medical office building construction and other projects. Overall, Howard Hughes posted profits of $56.1 million last year compared to a loss of $26.1 million when the pandemic hit in 2020. A recovering retail sector and strong residential housing market has helped to Howard Hughes revenues once again. As demand for houses in its Houston and Las Vegas-area communities soared, Howard Hughes saw earnings from land sales in its master-planned communities jump by a record 51 percent in 2021. "Lot supply is at all-time lows in the Houston and Las Vegas regions while demand continues to accelerate due to the influx of residents leaving high-density cities. This imbalance leaves [Howard Hughes Corp.] well-positioned to continue its delivery of strong land sales in 2022, said David OReilly, Howard Hughes CEO in a statement. New home sales within its communities a leading indicator of future land sales increased to 2,761 homes in 2021, eclipsing a record year seen in 2020. One of its busiest communities for sales in Bridgeland, the Cypress-area community that also ranked 15th in the nation for best selling master-planned community in 2021 by the consultancy RCLCO. Howard Hughes is building off demand for homes in Bridgeland with additional apartment construction and a new single-family for rent community. "Our performance over the past year is a clear indication that the walkable, amenity-rich communities we are creating are where today's families and educated workforce want to live, work, and play, and where leading corporations want to locate. All of our segments met or exceeded guidance for the full year, and we expect this momentum to carry into 2022 due to the strong market dynamics that exist in our communities, OReilly said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Its heartening to know that in an age where complex and perfectly groomed foods get all the social media love, something as simple as a baked potato, a corn dog and a caramel apple can create powerful memories. And be considered the top foods at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. RodeoHoustons 2022 Gold Buckle Food Awards proved to be a showcase for these beloved midway treats and other deep-fried, sugar-dusted, stuffed and sauced goodies. The Gold Buckle awards program, recognizing the best carnival food at the rodeo, was judged Tuesday minting a new season of gut-busting, take-no-prisoners rodeo fare. Harlons BBQ, a longtime Houston and rodeo favorite, found itself in the winners circle again this year, taking first place for Classic Fair Food for its monster-size baked potato choked with chopped brisket, ribs, sausage and turkey and drizzled with barbecue sauce. People love a baked potato when they come to the rodeo, said Harlons owner Candace Brooks who added that parents Harlon and Alfreddie Brooks were the first black barbecue owners featured at the rodeo in 1989. Im very proud of my parents and this business and serving the community, she said. Other first-place winners included a deep-fried jambalaya roll, a berry-flavored caramel apple, a toasty funnel cake (it was lit on fire for the judges), bacon macaroni and cheese egg roll, and red velvet cupcake. There were six award categories this year as the Gold Buckle process was streamlined from years past. Instead of judges evaluating as many as 60 samples, only 18 dishes were presented: the top three from each six categories. Those contenders were the top vote-getters from a new social media outreach involving public interaction on carnival food before the rodeo began. We wanted to bring the public into it and make them feel part of the process, said Brooks Bradford, chairman of the commercial exhibits committee that oversees the rodeos retail and food vendors. It helped generate buzz. The new process also helped weed out some of the more questionable and outrageous carnival foods that were part of Gold Buckle in years past. Gone were foods such as scorpion- and worm-topped pizza, pickles coated with Flamin Hot Cheetos, unicorn floats, and Cheetos cotton candy. While those foods may have captured intense social media attention, some were not exactly the foods that were classic midway fare. Which brings us back to the simple pleasures of something like a candy apple, baked potato, or a funnel cake. And those, folks, are what won this years Gold Buckle Foodie Awards. The 2022 Gold Buckle Foodie Awards Winners Best Fried Food 1st: Deep Fried Jambalaya Roll (Cajun Cowboy) 2nd: Funnel Cake Monte Cristo Basket (Sills concessions) 3rd: Chicken Tender Basket (Holmes Smokehouse) Best Food on a Stick 1st: The Berry Racer Caramel Apple (Munch-oes Bakery) 2nd: Beef K-Bob on a Stick (Saltgrass Steak House) 3rd: The Spice Corn Dog (CornDog with No Name) Classic Fair Food 1st: Harlons All Meat Stuffed Potato (Harlons BBQ) 2nd: Pulled Pork Baked Potato (Saltgrass Steak House) 3rd: Brisket Cheese Fries (Spring Country Kitchen) Most Creative Food 1st: The Bonfire Funnel Cake (CornDog with No Name) 2nd: Harlons Stuffed Turkey Leg (Harlons BBQ) 3rd: Steak Salad (Saltgrass Steak House) Best New Flavor 1st: Bacon Mac & Cheese Egg Roll (The Finer Diner) 2nd: Brisket Bacon Melt (Spring Country Kitchen) 3rd: Island Slaw (Island Noodles) Best Dessert 1st: Fried Red Velvet Cupcake (Sills Funnel Cakes) 2nd: Chocolate Turtle Cookie Sandwich (Munch-oes Bakery) 3rd: The Yellow Rose Funnel Cake (CornDog with No Name) greg.morago@chron.com How you wear your hat the size of the brim, the shape of the creases and the height of the crown says a lot about who you are. A cowboy hat lets everyone know youre Western. Its the crowning glory to a Western outfit, said Rick Bishop, whose Western Tradition boots, hats and accessories will be for sale in NRG Center at the 2022 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. If Im outside, Ive got a hat on. Living in Wyoming, at that elevation, the sun is pretty harsh. Hes one of dozens of vendors inside NRG Center as well as a handful more in NRG Arena selling everything from saltwater taffy to Western-style clothing and accessories, chandeliers made of animal antlers, embroidered pillows, cars, trucks and even mattresses. For 43 years, Bishop and his staff have been preparing hats for rodeogoers, shaping them to each buyers head, then adding creases or indentations in the crown and sides, and finishing them off with decorative hatbands or other accessories. The hats sell for $200 to $795. Bishop explained that a Cattlemans-style hat has a center crease and two indentations in the side and crown, while a buckaroo hat is more basic, with a round top. Ask for a Cool Hand Luke and youll get a hat with a square front rim and collar crown. Bull riders and bareback riders have their own styles, too, and if youre good at reading hat shapes, youll know who they are just by looking at their hats, Bishop said. Rodeo is about Western activities such as calf-roping, barrel racing, bull riding and showing animals, but its also a big site for commerce, with vendors setting up booths the past several days, hoping for a better year than they had in 2020. That year, the rodeo was canceled after just eight days because of the coronavirus pandemic, which in the same month shut down much of America, with workers shifting to home-based offices and children attending school via laptops. Michael Wyke / Contributor Michael Wyke / Contributor Michael Wyke / Contributor Michael Wyke / Contributor Michael Wyke / Contributor The 2021 event was completely canceled, with COVID-19 still raging. So Bishop and other vendors are hoping for a good run this year. Paul Hotzes Houston-based Paris Texas shop will have a booth, mostly selling novelty T-shirts with sayings such as El Jefe, Folsom Prison and Mama Tried. Crystal Cummings is back with all kinds of casual Western wear for women at her Accessorize In Style space, and Mark Hollars Sombero Brands cowboy hat and boot shop expects to be busy there, too. Hats are our claim to fame, but just about anything you need in the horse industry, we can provide. If we dont have it, we can have it made, Hollar said. His Sombero Brands is based in Brenham, but hes been bringing his Rod Patrick boots and custom, made-to-measure shirts and custom saddles and tack to the rodeo each year since February 2006, just a couple of months after going into business. Hollars booth is in NRG Arena, closer to the cutting horse shows, but he said his clientele knows exactly where to find him. People who come over here are the cowboys and cowgirls who come over here to get a cowboy hat. Im not knocking anybody else, but (shoppers) are not going to go wrong coming to this side, Hollar said of his out-of-the-way location. When you walk away, youve got what you need to take care of your hat. They come with a lifetime of friendly service, and well never charge to clean and reshape it. You don't have to limit yourself to just looking for silver jewelry or cowboy hats and boots in the shopping area at NRG Center. At his Karma Living booth, Leo Kraidelman sells heavily embroidered chairs, benches and pillows in lively colors and at reasonable prices. If you dont need anything that big, you can buy tea towels or cosmetics bags with the image of Frida Kahlo. Kraidelman said the pillows are handmade in India and beaded belts are made in Peru. If you miss him at the rodeo, youll be able to catch him at the Arbors and Venue during the spring antique shows in Round Top in late March and early April. Michael Wyke / Contributor Michael Wyke / Contributor Michael Wyke / Contributor Michael Wyke / Contributor Michael Wyke / Contributor Raymond Woodrows Creekside Country Enterprises doesnt sell anything off the floor at his small booth space in NRG Center, but he has plenty of examples of antler chandeliers and mirrors framed with antlers for inspiration. All of his work is custom made, using any kind of antlers elk, moose, white deer or mule deer you want on any object you can come up with, he said. And over the weekend, Jenni Wheeler and her daughter, Lexi, were setting up their family business, Crafty Canine. She does shows around the city and this is her 16th year at Houstons rodeo. Youll find Western-style dog accessories, mostly leashes and collars, but the Wheelers do get out a few things for cats, because at every show, someone inevitably asks for it. diane.cowen@chron.com Courtesy of Thames & Hudson Louis Cartiers fascination with Islamic arts, especially Persian geometric shapes, motifs and color combinations, is celebrated in Cartier and Islamic Art (Thames & Hudson; $70; 320 pages), on sale April 12. It accompanies a major exhibition that recently finished at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris and will reopen May 14-Sept. 18 at the Dallas Museum of Art. The book dives into the Cartier family history, but it also shows the influence of Islamic art and decorative objects on the Cartier brothers. The pattern in a ceramic tile could become an earring or brooch, the flourish of an elaborate drawing in a wallcovering could translate to a beautifully decorated cigarette case or pen box. Thames & Hudson William Morris, By Anna Mason Perhaps no other designer and maker has had the profound impact on British culture as William Morris, creator of the still popular Strawberry Thief and other floral and botanical patterns for textiles. Morris was a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts Movement in England, designing furniture, stained glass and interior decor, democratizing art along the way. Now, hes the subject of a new book, William Morris, (Thames & Hudson; $75; 432 pages), that marks the 125th anniversary of his death while examining his creations in painstaking detail. V&A Sourcebook of Pattern and Ornament, by Amelia Calver Thames & Hudson In the more than a century and a half it has existed, Londons Victoria & Albert Museum has cultivated one of the best collections of pattern and ornament two themes that date to the beginning of time in the world. V&A Sourcebook of Pattern and Ornament, (Thames & Hudson; $50; 400 pages) is organized into four categories, Plants, Animals, Earth and the Universe and Abstract Patterns and looks at how they can evolve from one generation to the next, including ceramics and clothing to furniture, textiles, jewelry and art. A Life in Pattern, by Anna Spiro Courtesy of Thames & Hudson Australian designer Anna Spiros new book, A Life in Pattern (Thames & Hudson; $60; 256 pages), is a devotion to maximalism and creating rooms with color palettes that run both deep and wide. There are pages of gorgeous studies in calm blue and white and others with vivid combinations. Fans of mix-and-match style will enjoy this book, and others might be inspired to try changing it up just a little. Spiro writes of her experience decorating Halcyon House, a beachside hotel in New South Wales, and her own inspirations, then lets the photos of her many finished projects prompt you to dream in color, too. Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect, by Victoria Kastner Chronicle Books Back when women could barely get into architecture schools, let alone get a job after they graduated, Californian architect Julia Morgan blazed a trail as she designed some 700 structures in her 50-year career. Morgan certainly had talent and drive; she also had a fortuitous meeting and friendship with Phoebe Apperson Hearst when Morgan was a student and Hearst was a benefactor at the University of California at Berkeley. Hearst introduced Morgan to her son, William Randolph Hearst for whom she designed several homes, including the famed Hearst Castle, which took nearly 30 years to complete. This biography (Chronicle Books; $32.50; 240 pages) shows the brilliant mark that Morgan made on the countrys architecture before her death in 1957 at the age of 85. Homes for Nomads: Interiors of the Well-Travelled, by Thijs Demeulemeester Lanoo Publishers Homes for Nomads (Lanoo Publishers; $55; 208 pages) combines the work of Belgian journalist Thijs Demeulemeester and photographer Jan Verlinde and visits 19 chic homes in Belgium. Theyre a mix of new and old, traditional and contemporary, and every single one is filled with furniture, art and accessories that represent the planet as a whole. They might also inspire you to purchase something interesting on your next trip and find a place for it in your own home. Ukraine continued its determined defense against the Russian invasion Monday, enduring intense rocket attacks on its second-largest city as a 40-mile convoy of tanks closed in on the capital Kyiv, and leaders in Washington sought to calm concerns generated by the Kremlins nerve-rattling nuclear threats. The fifth day of Russias ruthless war on its neighbor began with long-shot hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough, but an hours-long meeting between Russian and Ukrainian delegates near the border with Belarus appeared fruitless. Advertisement President Vladimir Putin of Russia has shown little interest in changing course despite the ferocious resistance his soldiers have faced from Ukrainians, and widespread Western condemnation. Sanctions from the U.S. and Europe have decimated the Russian economy, tanked its currency and emptied the countrys ATMs as Russians rush to shore up their pocketbooks. Russian President Vladimir Putin (SERGEI GUNEYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) Putin has responded by ratcheting up his rhetoric hinting at nuclear war while his troops wage an increasingly violent assault on Ukraine, a democratic nation that declared independence 30 years ago after the fall of the Soviet Union. Advertisement Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city after Kyiv, faced intense shelling on Monday. The sky above the city of more than 1 million people transformed into a sea of smoke. A factory was reduced to rubble. Anton Herashchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, said dozens of people died and hundreds were wounded in Kharkiv. Igor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, said a family with three children burned to death in their auto. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, said the attack on the city was clearly a war crime. A member of the Ukrainian territorial defense directs cars in a traffic jam ahead of a military checkpoint outside Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. (VADIM GHIRDA/AP) In a video address late Monday, the Ukrainian president declined to give details about talks held earlier between Ukrainian and Russian representatives, adding that Kyiv was not prepared to make concessions when one side is hitting each other with rocket artillery. Overall, at least 352 Ukrainian civilians including 14 children had died in the war through Sunday, according to the Ukrainian government. The conflict, Europes largest since World War II, has unleashed a refugee crisis, and some 520,000 people have fled Ukraine, according to the UN. Russias invasion plans seem to have already been delayed by several days, with troops bottlenecked and the key capital city of Kyiv presenting fierce opposition. Ukrainian soldiers take positions on a bridge inside the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP) Still, the million-strong Russian army has Ukraine vastly out-gunned, and the U.S. and other Western powers have ruled out sending their own troops into the chaos, fearing a third world war. A convoy of Russian military vehicles stretches some 40 miles outside Kyiv, CNN reported. Russia has sent about three-quarters of the troops its massed around Ukraine this winter, according to estimates, indicating that more than 100,000 Russian soldiers are now within their neighbors borders. Advertisement It is not clear how far Putin is willing to go to seize Ukraine, and he has shocked analysts by dragging his country into a war that threatens to level the Russian economy and produce mass protest in Moscow. President Biden, who warned of the invasion for weeks and has marshaled crippling economic sanctions, has pledged to turn Putin into a pariah on the world stage. Concerns about Putins state of mind have increased with each perplexing claim the 69-year-old makes including a pledge to complete the denazification of Ukraine, which is led by a Jewish president and with each hint of atomic Armageddon he dispenses. On Sunday, Putin ordered Russias nuclear forces into special alert, apparently in response to the U.K. governments since-shelved support of Britons traveling to Ukraine to fight the Russians. The U.S. responded to the Russian escalation by mostly ignoring it, and did not heighten its own nuclear alert. Putin has spent most of the pandemic entirely isolated, and he sat down at the other end of an extremely long table opposite his defense minister as he ordered the nuclear escalation on Sunday. He also sat a comically long distance from President Emmanuel Macron of France during a last-ditch diplomatic meeting before the war. Though Putins behavior and speeches have grown increasingly unhinged in the eyes of the West, his mindset has been the subject of Western concern for years. In 2014, Germanys then-chancellor, Angela Merkel, was said to have told President Barack Obama that Putin was in another world during a phone call. Advertisement Some have also suggested that Putin may be deliberately creating an impression of madness to deter American interference in his bid to snatch Ukraine, which he has long hungered to return to Russias control. Asked Monday if Americans should be worried about the possibility of nuclear warfare, Biden responded with a single word, No, without elaborating. Biden also brushed off an implied nuclear threat from Putin last week as he delivered a tough-talking speech reminiscent of the Cold War, saying he had no idea what the Russian president was threatening. And earlier this month, Biden responded to Russian nuclear drills by stressing that he did not think Putin was remotely contemplating using nuclear weapons. I do think hes focused on trying to convince the world that he has the ability to change the dynamics in Europe in a way that he cannot, Biden said 10 days ago, before the war began. Ukrainian police gesture during an airstrike alarm outside the railway station in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. (VADIM GHIRDA/AP) At the UN on Monday, Canadas ambassador, Bob Rae, demanded that Putin stop the war and end his frightening threats. Take your finger away from the nuclear button, Rae said. And never put it back for as long as you live. John Kirby, the Pentagons press secretary, said Monday that he could not confirm a Kremlin claim that staffing has been increased at Russian nuclear sites. Were reviewing and analyzing that announcement, Kirby said. Advertisement Matthew Bunn, a nuclear expert and professor at Harvard Universitys school of government, said that the White House is right to respond calmly, and that the nuclear threat will remain low as long as the conflict does not spill into a broader European war. But Bunn said the situation should be a wakeup call, noting that the U.S. and Russia avoided a nuclear conflict during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 by sheer luck. I think Putin is rattling his nuclear saber to deter the West from intervening not because he actually intends to use nuclear weapons any time soon, Bunn said. But he cautioned: This war will create a deep-freeze in Russia-Western relations. That intense hostility itself carries risk of conflict over the long haul, Bunn added, and will make it more difficult to reduce the dangers. Boots, bandannas, bolos and hats get modern-day updates by Texan-friendly female designers with a distinct point of view and a fondness for heritage pieces. Here, timeless accessories for Rodeo season and beyond. Teressa Foglia Malibu-based self-trained milliner Teressa Foglia says she quickly noticed that Houston women wear her bespoke hats in a way that is distinct from clients at her shops in Laguna Beach, New Yorks Nolita, Palm Beach and elsewhere. With confidence, Foglia says. Texans favor tall crowns, stiff brims and a lot of color, she says and they position their hats with authority, super straight on their forehead, not tilted back. Men and women on the coasts might need to be convinced that hats are part of an everyday wardrobe, she says Texans step up for another one to add to their collection. We realized there was a really unique taste for hats here and our clients were creating some of the coolest designs weve made. It was wildly-successful pop-ups at Katia boutique and La Colombe dOr Hotel, followed by chance encounters with vacationing Houstonians at her Malibu atelier, that convinced Foglia that Houston was the right place for her first Texas store. The River Oaks District boutique opened its doors in January with the most minimalist design of all her shops, she says, of the bone-white walls, wood furniture plucked from Round Top, and fine art by her life partner and business partner Tyler Hays Wild displayed behind stacks of hat boxes. Available in dusty pinks, deep blues, mustards and a range of neutrals, beaver fur hats that are ready to wear out the door might be adorned with hand-stitched flower petals, artfully-splattered inkblots, patterns of constellations on the underbrim, feathers or frayed silk bands. But most men and women spend time in the store, changing out the vintage silk scarf each hat is lined with, adding charms or a wood-burned personal mantra, switching grosgrain ribbon to build a new band, or watching staff wield a blowtorch for additional distressing. A customer might bring in an Hermes scarf that was her grandmothers to become the hat lining They get to take the scarf with them every day, Foglia says or a locket or other heirloom. Other very heartfelt requests include hand-embroidery of lyrics from a poem, the wings of a bird, or an Astros flag. Once at a pop-up at Rancho Pillow in Round Top, a customer asked for the words Mama tried. Custom additions continue with a cowhide or leather underbrim this other element of luxury, Foglia says or initials or an important date on the sweatband. From-scratch hats take about six weeks, beginning with raw felt blocking in Foglias Brooklyn studio, brim cutting on a rounding jack, and other Old World practicing. When theyre not in person at a shop for custom design, Foliga or Wild will consult via video. The River Oaks District boutique stocks a limited amount of Dallas-based hand-lasted Miron Crosby boots and fine jewelry from a Los Angeles designer, along with rotating brand pop-ups such as custom suiting out of Nashville. Foglia is working on special-edition Rodeo hats using pink-spotted leathers, cowhides, metallic leathers, fringe and lots of sparkle. Texas hospitality might have already worked on her the couple is shopping for an apartment to use as a pied-a-terre. Straw hats starting at $600; felt hats start at $1,350. River Oaks District, 4444 Westheimer, Ste. E135; teressafoglia.com Fraulein Boots Fraulein Boots / Fraulein Boots Reared in Kingwood attending the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at the Astroworld, sisters Margaret Walker and Sarah Caruth are now residents of San Antonio, where they frequent that citys rodeo, preferring the seats where you get dirt in your beer, Walker says. Every year at the rodeo, the pair says strangers stop to complement their vintage boots from collections theyve culled from garage sales and eBay. It was the pandemic and a joint midlife crisis, Caruth laughs, that ultimately inspired them to launch Fraulein Boots, their new collection inspired by those hard-to-find 60s and 70s era styles. With five styles anchoring their debut collection, Walker and Caruth say each was selected for timeless detailing, such as butterflies, daisies and other boots designs they call iconic. Designed with comfort in mind, the boots are handmade by venerable bootmaker Rios of Mercedes. At the first Zoom meeting that patched them into Rios staff in the Valley, We thought we were interviewing them, and they were definitely interviewing us, says Caruth. Accepted as a client, the pair visited the factory to select leathers before passing sketches back and forth to finalize the designs. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Fraulein Boots / Fraulein Boots Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Fraulein Boots / Fraulein Boots Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Fraulein Boots / Fraulein Boots Show More Show Less The deep turquoise San Antonio Rose adorned with white blooms is a showstopper, Walker says. For another, they chose honey brown, a versatile color of the 1970s they say is rarely seen in todays boots. Ankle-height versions answer the call for an everyday boot. One day they might incorporate a thunderbird as they grow their brand. Theyll return to Round Top in the spring with the collection, which they say was well-received this winter at holiday markets at Houston country clubs. Boots are really having a moment, theyre not just for rodeo anymore, says Walker. Western wear is not going away anytime soon and its appeal extends to customers far beyond Texas, theyve learned. The brand is named for the favorite country-western song of their father, who died when the sisters were adolescents. While they were considering more than a dozen other brand names, Walker heard the 1950s tune on the radio and called her sister to say she had found their new companys name. Serendipitous, says Caruth. $750-$850, frauleinboots.com Gather Goods Gather Goods / Gather Goods It was stomping through fields in Round Top that Fort Worth-based Megan Clifton first scoured for vintage sterling silver bolos to add to her Southwestern-inspired collection of statement jewelry, Gather Goods. Clifton shines and cleans the bolos before changing out the cords to bright turquoise, clementine, mustard, fucshia or pale pink more modern, a little bit of a fresher look, says Clifton of the one-of-a-kind pieces. Canvassing small Texas towns, with a few friends keeping an eye out for her, Clifton says shes particularly delighted when she unearths a thunderbird bolo accented with real turquoise or a Zuni bird made of mosaic glass. The hunt is just as much fun as the gather, if you will. Clifton launched her brand in 2019 with fetish bird necklaces inspired by a sentimental strand she received after the passing of her grandmother, an Albuquerque resident with a memorable collection of squash blossom necklaces and other turquoise jewelry. Gather Goods / Gather Goods Gather Goods / Gather Goods Gather Goods / Gather Goods Gather Goods / Gather Goods Megan Clifton's Gather Goods is a Southwestern-inspired collection of statement jewelry. / Gather Goods Those are the types of pieces Clifton says her peers are drawn to, but with a more attainable price point. For her updated spin on the past-era accessory a fetish animal is a Native American carving believed to have a special power Clifton hand-strings vintage birds with brightly-colored beads made from melted vinyl records that she sources from Ghana. At pop-ups, like ones she held recently in Fort Worth and Houston in conjunction with the rodeos, customers sometimes tell her, I just dont know if Im a bolo person. Clifton replies that one can wear a bolo like a necklace, with shorts and a T-shirt, a dress or with anything. Its not just zip it up to your top button that you remember your grandpa wearing, she laughs. They just needed an update Limited selection of African bead jewelry available at Kind Collective, 1020 Studewood. Fetish bird necklaces, $98; bolos, $158-$188; gathergoodsatx.com Arloom Arloom / Arloom Rich in hand embroidery, no two snap bandannas from Wimberley-based Arloom are alike. The bandannas, backed in microsuede, are fashioned using scraps from the vintage huipil blouses that Arloom re-sews and re-cuts to make into more modern silhouettes. Huipil blouses are traditionally worn by women in Guatemala, where Arloom employs artisans to help source the blouses which have been collected by families and traded for years at markets, causing a soft, well-worn effect then to hand-dye, repair and re-make the blouses. Theyre beautiful, says Arlooms founder Robin Hewes, who travels to South America to hand-select each garment. Arloom / Arloom Arloom / Arloom Arloom / Arloom No two snap bandannas from Wimberley-based Arloom are alike. / Arloom If theres a tear, the team might cover it with embroidered flowers or birds or put our little spin on them, she says. Arloom launched in 2012 with leather goods framed with the same textiles. In recent years, Hewes has shifted focus to the blouses and now, using the excess elaborate textiles, the bandannas a fun take on a traditional accessory, she says. Her collection is available at her teeny little shop in Wimberley, each season in Round Top at The Arbors and at Marburger Farms, and at Houston pop-ups at boutiques such as Abejas and Frock Shop. Her customers treat the reimagined vintage huipil blouses like an everyday top, she says. The people that get it can see it as this art piece really unique and not everybodys going to have it. Huipil blouses, $158-198; Snap bandannas, $118; arloom.com. Sissy Light Sissy Light / Sissy Light In Round Top everyone calls me Sissy, at home everyone calls me Kristin, says Uvalde-based Kristin Light, the designer behind hat brand Sissy Light. Sissy is her husbands nickname for her, and their ranching-and-Rodeo lifestyle has heavily influenced the hats she sells at Round Top, where Light is a fixture. Along with designing The Frenchie boutique hotel and other interiors projects in Round Top, Light has manned a seasonal hat shop inside Bader Ranch since 2015, where she has amassed a cult following first for her curation of designer labels such as Lola Hats, now for her very own designs. During last falls Round Top show, Light launched her first collection of her own designs, simultaneous with an e-commerce site. It took about two years to perfect the crown and the fit of her hats, handmade in Ecuador of toquilla straw and free of over-embellishment, which is very different from everyone else, Light says. Sissy Light / Sissy Light Sissy Light / Sissy Light Sissy Light / Sissy Light Uvalde-based Kristin Light, the designer behind hat brand Sissy Light, is a fixture at Round Top. 16 of 17 Uvalde-based Kristin Light, the designer behind hat brand Sissy Light, is a fixture at Round Top. / Sissy Light Fit and function has been the root of all of the styles, says Light of the versatile, year-round hats in modern shapes with clean lines. At each show, designers such as HGTVs Kim Wolfe make Sissy Light, housed inside Bader Ranchs open-air style barn filled with European antiques, a perennial stop. Fall was a record-breaking show. They came back for more and sent all their friends, she says of long-time customers who, this time, were shopping her own silhouettes. Moving forward, Light will launch her seasonal collections with each of the three major shows in Round Top, where Light and her team clock about 17 days straight each time. I dont want to miss anyone. she says, and I like to style everyone, too, when they come in Round Top has been the center of the brand from the get-go, says Light, adding that her collection fits as well on a California beach vacation as in city life and back home on her ranch, where her husband works cattle and the family farms. Im not the most Western person, laughs Light, who studied at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, but I feel like we live that lifestyle, and its really influenced a lot of the design. This spring in Round Top, Light will unveil straw, botanical-shaped earrings that speak to her breezy-cool aesthetic, all the more reason to stay awhile at Bader Ranch for the chef-driven pop-up restaurant and Airstreams offering cocktails. I think the big appeal is its wide, open spaces, the hayfield. People come to watch the sunset. and they just dont leave. $225-$245 at Sissy Light inside Bader Ranch during seasonal shows, 470 S. Washington, Round Top; sissylight.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Alzheimers Foundation of America is hitting the road and Texas is the second stop on a national tour. The Educating America Tour was launched five years ago and recently completed its outreach to all 50 states. Now, were continuing on with this initiative, said foundation president and CEO Charles Fuschillo Jr. We have 10 dates scheduled throughout this year. In Texas, a virtual Alzheimers conference, free and open to the public, is scheduled March 9. The event is designed to be educational, giving participants the opportunity to learn from health experts and caregivers. George Perry will present Alzheimers Disease: In Search of a Cure, an overview of the disease, update on research and clinical trials and prospects for the future. Perry is professor of biology and the Semmes Foundation Distinguished University Chair in Neurobiology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a member of the Foundations Medical, Scientific and Memory Screening Advisory Board. Educating America Tour What: Virtual Alzheimer's conference When: 10 a.m.-12:45 p.m. March 9 Details: Free and open to the public. To register, visit alzfdn.org/tour. See More Collapse Another key presenter will be Laura Novak, an occupational therapist specializing in gerontology. She serves as assistant professor, Department of Occupational Therapy at UT Health San Antonio. Her talk, Navigating Challenging Behaviors Associated With Dementia, will give caregivers insight into underlying causes of dementia. She will offer targeted strategies to navigate challenging behaviors. Catherine Stansbury, a social worker and therapist with Divine Mercy Counseling in Austin, will lead Healing Trauma in Caregivers of Persons With Advanced Dementia. Her discussion will focus on Alzheimers effects on caregivers. She will focus on trauma therapy and how to support the brains natural healing process. The conference will include a photo slideshow, presented by retired nurse practitioner Carmen Davailus, founder and president of Doggies for Dementia Foundation. Fuschillo said that 400,000 people are currently living with Alzheimers in Texas. In the absence of a cure, that number is expected to increase 25 to 30 percent in just three years, he said. Thats almost half a million, 490,000, by 2025. Thats right around the corner. The Alzheimers Foundation of America funds research for better treatment and a cure. The nonprofit also provides support, services and education. We were founded by a caregiver, Fuschillo said. Bert Brodsky was caring for his mother, Anne, who lived with Alzheimers for more than a decade. He had no place to turn for guidance and support, Fuschillo said. He wanted to make sure no one had to go on this journey alone. After establishing the organization in 2002, he continues to serve as board chairman. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Alzheimers Foundation of America. The organization provides a national toll-free helpline, staffed by licensed social workers. There is also a web chat feature, available in more than 90 languages. The foundation also offers a screening program and dementia care training for healthcare professionals. After receiving an Alzheimers diagnosis, life is never the same, Fuschillo said. We want to make sure people know our services are out there. The virtual conference is one way to spread awareness, he added. Since the pandemic, the event has become virtual. Our attendance and participation has increased three to four times what it was in person, he said. Everyone is welcome to attend, Fuschillo added, from caregivers to members of the general public who simply want to learn more about Alzheimers. Connecting individuals with useful, practical information and support can be beneficial now and help them prepare for the future. Deborah Banerjee, bureau chief of the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Research for Effectiveness at the Houston Health Department, pointed to rising numbers of Alzheimers diagnoses in Harris County. Recent data from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shows that 12.4 percent of the Medicare population in the county has been diagnosed with Alzheimers disease or dementia. The toll that Alzheimers is taking on our community is soaring, Banerjee said. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the age-adjusted death rate in Harris County in the 2012-2014 period was 17.1 deaths per 100,000 population among those with Alzheimers disease and dementia, which nearly doubled to 30.9 deaths per 100,000 population in 2017 to 2019. In a 2019 report on disparities from the Houston Health Department, Alzheimers is listed as the fifth-leading cause of death in Harris County, after heart disease, cancer, stroke and accidents. It is also the only disease that affects females more than males. The report also states that after age 65, the likelihood of developing the disease doubles every five years, making the risk nearly 50 percent after age 85. This increasing impact represents a growing need to help residents recognize Alzheimers symptoms and inform them of how to best manage their illness, including available treatments that slow the progression of the illness, Banerjee said. She added, It also results in a critical need to raise awareness among caregivers about the skills they will need to adequately support their loved ones and the care challenges they will likely face. Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based writer. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate March 4 Houston Port Authority topic at chamber lunch The Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce presents its First Friday Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on March 4 at Lone Star College-Tomball Beckendorf Conference Center. This months guest speaker is Houston Port Authority Community Relations Manager Garret Berg. Admission is $20. On HoustonChronicle.com: Lone Star College students earn scholarships with essays Bergs position at the port authority focuses on the maritime industry and stakeholder engagement near and within the Houston region. Lone Star College-Tomball Beckendorf Conference Center is located at 30555 Tomball Parkway. Learn more at www.tomballchamber.org. 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 CyFair. 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 5 Runkind meets weekly to run, give back Runkind is a family-friendly running club which meets in parks throughout The Woodlands, Tomball and Magnolia every Saturday including March 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Burroughs Park in Tomball. Following a run and walk, the group travels to The Wheel Kitchen in Tomball at around 9:45 a.m. to participate in a service project with the Stronger to Serve organization. On HoustonChronicle.com: Sam Houston Trail Riders welcomed in Tomball on way to Houston Rodeo Burroughs Park is located at 9738 Hufsmith Road in Tomball. Learn more at www.facebook.com/strongertoserve. Farmers Market held weekly in Tomball The Tomball Farmers Market is open each Saturday including March 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market was created by farmers more than 10 years ago and is still operated by local farmers but also features vendors offering baked goods, desserts, raw juices, handcrafted jewelry, local coffee and wine. The market is the largest year-round weekly farmers market in Harris County. Learn more at www.tomballfarmersmarket.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 Vince King performs tribute to Elvis Houston performing artist Vince King will pay tribute to Elvis Presley at 7 p.m. on March 10 at Main Street Crossing in Tomball. Tickets start at $27. King, who grew up in Fort Bend County and who frequently performs as Elvis Presley, has a commanding stage presence and a faithful delivery. As Elvis Presley, King will perform Suspicious Minds, Power of My Love and Thats All Right Mama. Main Street Crossing is located at 111 W. Main Street in Tomball. Learn more at https://www.reverbnation.com/venue/mainstreetcrossing or call 281-290-0431. 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. March 12 Classic, custom car swap meet at Traders Village Jason Earhart Productions presents the 33rd Annual Auto Swap Meet at Traders Village March 12-13. Admission is free. Parking is $5. Vendors and car enthusiasts will participate in selling and showing off custom, classic and unique car parts, accessories and more. Traders Village is located at 7979 N. Eldridge Road in Houston. Learn more at www.tradersvillage.com. March 13 Art studio gives tours every month The Bella Bottega art studio in Magnolia presents its monthly Champagne and Chocolate Art Gala from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 13. Admission is free. Once a month the art studio opens its doors to the public to see the collaborative working artist studio with 8 studios. Works will be for sale, demonstrations will be given and champagne and chocolate will be offered. The Bella Bottega is located at 903 Honea Egypt Road in Magnolia. Learn more at www.thebellabottega.com. Bridgeland market open this Sunday Bridgeland Farmers Market is every second and fourth Sunday of the month including March 13 from 10:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Cypress. Local food producers and artisans are offering fresh gulf shrimp, pasta, vegetables and fruit, grass fed meats, handcrafted jewelry and candles, soaps and lotion and more. The event is produced by Your Neighborhood Farmers Market, which produces similar events at eleven different Houston-area locations. Bridgeland Farmers Market is located at 10519 Fry Road in Cypress. Learn more at www.ynfma.org. March 15 CyFair business group meets for breakfast The BNI CyFair Business Connectors group will host a Cy-Fair business networking meeting for young professionals at 9 a.m. on March 15 at The Toasted Yolk Cafe in Cypress. Currently, there are 13 members in the BNI CyFair Business Connectors group, a part of the international BNI organization which aims to increase members networking skills and referral opportunities. The Toasted Yolk Cafe in Cypress is located at 27008 Northwest Freeway Suite 100. Learn more at www.bnihouston.com. Entertainment roundup is a weekly feature compiled by freelance writer Brandon Moeller. Send entertainment submissions to Brandon at moellerbrandon@gmail.com . FBI James Smith will serve as the special agent in charge of the FBI's field office in Houston, the federal agency announced Monday. Smith who recently worked in Washington, D.C., at the agencys headquarters as the associate deputy directors chief of staff began his time with the FBI in the mid-2000s when he was a special agent at the field office in Los Angeles, according to an FBI release. Catholic leaders are trying to stop the scheduled April 27 execution of a Hispanic mother convicted of capital murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter. The Catholic Mobilizing Network, a national organization opposed to the death penalty, is partnering with the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops in urging Gov. Greg Abbott and the the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to grant mercy to Melissa Lucio, who they said has a strong claim of innocence. The groups are also urging people to take part in a letter-writing campaign. Lucio was charged with capital murder in the 2007 death of her then-youngest daughter, Mariah, at the familys Harlingen home. She was pregnant with twins at the time. Lucio, a 52-year-old mother of 14, would be the first Latina put to death in Texas in the modern era and the first woman in nearly a decade in the state. On HoustonChronicle.com: Melissa Lucio could be the first Latina executed in Texas. The Catholic network said that Lucio was convicted of killing her daughter despite significant evidence suggesting her death wasnt a homicide, but rather an accidental head injury sustained in a fall down rickety stairs. She was convicted of capital murder in 2008 after turning down a plea offer that carried a 30-year prison term, saying she was innocent. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops said in a statement that Lucio was sentenced to die by a flawed process with no evidence and no witnesses. They said the sentence was based instead on a coerced, passive admission of guilt given after a rigorous interrogation on the night of her daughters death, suggesting that it was a false confession. Death is not the answer to death. One tragedy is not somehow made better by killing someone else, said the Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores, the bishop of Brownsville, in a statement. Justice is not suddenly restored because another person dies (and) executing Melissa (Lucio) will not bring peace to her surviving children. Several family members spoke in Houston on Feb. 18 as part of a statewide tour to promote a 2020 Hulu documentary, The State of Texas vs. Melissa, that makes a case that the state is on the brink of executing an innocent woman. Lucios family is divided over her culpability in Mariahs death, with two of her daughters saying that the mother abused and neglected the child and is responsible for her death. Related: Mother sentenced to death for toddlers fatal beating Mariahs cause of death was determined to be blunt force head trauma. According to court records, the physician who attended to Mariah when she was transported to an emergency room declared that the girl had signs of severe physical abuse, including bruises in various stages of healing covering her body and bite marks on her back. She also had one of her arms broken weeks before her death and was missing patches of hair where it had been pulled out by the roots. Lucio and her defense have insisted that Mariahs death was accidental. We are created in Gods image and as such we must commit to protecting every human being and caring for their soul, said Austin Bishop Joe S. Vasquez. People of goodwill understand that an act of violence cannot be overcome with another act of violence. People interested in signing the petition can find it on the Catholic Mobilizing Network website. olivia.tallet@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Dozens of people gathered Monday night in the Galleria-area to show their support for Ukraine, holding up or wearing flags for the country and chanting opposition to the war. Members of the group called out chants such as stop Putin, stop the war or peace for Ukraine at the corner of Post Oak Boulevard and Westheimer Road, where drivers of passing cars honked . Russia last week invaded the neighboring European country, prompting hundreds of thousands of people to flee Ukraine as the deadly conflict wages. For now, Ukraine has been able to hold onto its control over critical cities, including its capital of Kyiv, the Associated Press reported Monday. On HoustonChronicle.com: What will Russia's invasion in Ukraine mean for Houston? The European Union and others, including the United States, have lodged sanctions aimed at Russia in response to the invasion. I spoke today with Allies and partners to discuss Russias unprovoked war on Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter Monday. We are continuing our support for the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and affirmed our readiness to keep imposing severe costs on Russia if they do not de-escalate. Vanda Sovinska, a 16-year-old exchange student from Ukraine who attends high school in League City, said her family lives in the suburbs of Kyiv. She came out to support her country and raise awareness of the war. Sovinska said her friends from Ukraine recently texted her, and she called her mom and woke her up at night to tell her there were explosions. Then her mom heard them, she said. The teenage student said shes been feeling anxiety because she doesnt know what will happen next. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston Ukrainians monitor news, fear for friends and family following Russian invasion Another protest attendee, 63-year-old Houston resident Liudmyla Vereshchagina, said her daughter and grandson are living in Kyiv. She said she wanted people to know the truth: Russia was the aggressor, and Putin was the number one aggressor in the world, she said. Her country needs help and protection, she later said, adding that Ukrainians are brave and special people. We are winning. We will win, Vereshchagina said, saying she believed it from the bottom of her heart. Protesters are expected to gather again Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Post Oak Boulevard and Westheimer Road. Editor's note: This correction reflects Vanda Sovinska on Tuesday clarified that friends from Ukraine texted her after which she called her mother and awakened her mother to tell her about the explosions. leah.brennan@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Donna Casasanta picked through the brush in an overgrown patch of woods in northeast Harris County, looking. The 80-year-old mother had spent 40 years wondering. She had traveled 980 miles, driven with her grown children for three days from her home in Florida, to be here. Casasanta is not as sturdy as she once was. Navigating through the brush and brambles wouldnt have been difficult 40 years ago, but now she walks with a cane. But she needed to reach the spot where police finally found her sons body, a small piece of land next to Wallisville Road in northeast Harris County. The spot was sprinkled with palmettos, fallen trees, and a bed of leaves that crunched and rustled at every step. She needed to see it. Forty-two years ago, her son, Harold Dean Clouse and his young wife, Tina Gail Linn, moved to Texas from New Smyrna, Fla. Hed been promised a job building houses, a job that would help him provide for Tina and their infant daughter, Hollie Marie. They exchanged letters all throughout 1980, but that October, Dean stopped writing. COLD CASE: After 40 years, a murdered Houston couple has finally been identified. Where is their missing baby? As the months passed, Casasanta became more and more worried. What had happened to her son? Now Playing: Harold Dean Clouse and his wife, Tina Gail Linn, were murdered in late 1980 or early 1981. Their bodies were discovered in a wooded patch of land in northeast Harris County in January, 1981, but not identified until late last year. Family members traveled from across the U.S. to visit the site where the bodies were discovered and then pay their respects at the cemetery where they are buried. Video: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle The only clue she had was an anonymous call, a few months after his disappearance, from people who claimed to have found the couples car in California. Three women dressed in white robes drove it back to Casasanta, telling her Dean had joined a cult, renounced his worldly possessions, and wanted nothing to do with his family or his past. Months turned to years, years to decades. Worry turned to panic, then that faded to grief. The questions never ceased, however. For years, when she met new people, she occasionally spoke of her other children, but she tried to avoid mentioning Dean. I just didnt want to bring all that pain up, she said Tuesday. Id be upset for days. Unbeknownst to Casasanta or her family, police discovered a pair of mangled, badly decomposed bodies off Wallisville Road in early 1981. They belonged to a young man, beaten to death, and a woman, who was strangled. Both were 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and had "beautiful teeth," a forensic investigator told the Chronicle in a subsequent article from 2011. It would take four decades for the bodies to be identified, aided by the detective work of two genetic genealogists. In October, Casasanta got a phone call a genealogist was looking for her. She listened as her daughter told her that they finally knew what had happened to Dean, that he and Tina had been murdered; that authorities had had found their bodies years ago; that Hollies body was never found. On Sunday, Casasanta and her children departed from Florida in a rented RV. With them also was Les Linn, Tinas brother. They drove first to Baton Rouge, then on to Houston. It was the first time theyd all been together for decades, a moment of bittersweet reckoning overshadowed by the mission of their trip. We knew this would be a hard day, Casasanta said. As she picked through the brush, a family member on each arm, she couldnt help but wonder about the day Dean died. UNSOLVED: DNA testing puts cold cases in the spotlight. But in Houston, hundreds of the dead remain unidentified. What had this area looked like, 40 years ago? What was her son thinking that day? Was he already dead when his murderers brought him to this patch of land? Even now, she could hardly believe it was true, could hardly believe Dean wasnt about to turn the corner, and tell her Here I am! He was a searcher, a rascal, a bit of a vagabond. She laughed, recalling him disappearing for a week at a time, then calling her from an airport, asking her to send flight money. She remembered a birthday party attended by deputies and police officers she knew from her work at a restaurant and their surprise at seeing a full-grown marijuana plant in her living room. Dean had left it asking her to take care of it. I had no idea!, she protested. I gave him hell for that. She remembered chewing him out when, one day, he had picked up his little sisters from school only to stop for a hitchhiker on the way home. Mom, theyre just down on their luck! he protested. Now, she cant help but wonder if maybe a similar encounter in Texas led to his death. Plummeting clearance rates: Houston's rate of unsolved murders is soaring. Experts say the police department is to blame. Tess Welch, Deans younger sister, thought of the terror her brother and Tina must have felt during those last moments. Amid the brush, Donna embraced her daughters Tess, Cheryl and Debbie, and her son, Chris and wept. Being there brought it all back, said Linn, Tinas brother. They certainly didnt deserve to go like this, he said, voice catching. This is almost too raw, too much information. After a few minutes, they filed out of the woods, back onto the muddy track and out to the road. They had one more stop to make: a trip to the paupers cemetery. It sits on Oates Road, on a desolate stretch dotted with trucking yards, radiator repair shops and other industrial businesses. The sun was bright; the sky clear. They found the graves in Section G, amid recently mowed grass turned brown beneath bare-limbed live oaks. The graves were side by side, each marked with a small, green, plastic flag. Amid the unmarked rows, the families embraced once again. Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The family of Tina Gail Linn and her husband Harold Dean Clouse mourn at their Houston gravesite. (Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer) The family of Tina Gail Linn and her husband Harold Dean Clouse mourn at their Houston gravesite. (Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer) It was hard standing out there, grieving again the fact theyd never gotten to say goodbye. Forty years later, Donna has grown old, Les has sprouted gray hair and a full beard, but memories of Dean and Tina bring them back to 1980, when the couple were still 21 and 17, a young couple with an infant baby. I still cant believe it, said Chris Casasanta, Deans younger brother, before sadness overcame him. Id like to know a lot more, he said. We all do, Linn said. The emotions rolled in waves, moments of grief and togetherness, relief and pain. I hope they know were here, said Linn. They sang a hymn and prayed together. Casasanta thought of the promise shed made, after Dean went missing that shed do everything she could to find out what happened to him; to Hollie, and to figure out who visited this crime upon them. She took comfort knowing that with Clouse and Linn identified, the Harris County Sheriffs Office has assigned a new investigator to the case. She hoped that they might yet find her granddaughter. Theyd planned to bring flowers to the unmarked graves, but the delivery hadnt arrived in time. They had a marker, which theyd brought with them from Florida, but were told they couldnt leave it at the gravesite. As they stood by the graves, they wondered about bringing the bodies back to Florida, or moving them to another memorial. There would be time to think about that in the future. But one thing was certain, Linn said. They definitely need to stay together, he said. No matter what. st.john.smith@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Four months after the deadly Astroworld Festival, lawyers on Tuesday morning packed a Harris County civil courtroom as the first step in consolidating lawsuits involving the deaths of 10 concertgoers and injuries of scores more. The appearance marked the first time lawyers for some of the plaintiffs and defendants had set foot in a courtroom as a collective for the Astroworld case since the Nov. 5 tragedy, when nearly a dozen concert-goers, including children, died from compression asphyxia as a crowd surge pushed people together at the NRG Park festival. Our first cattle call is how Houston personal injury lawyer Brent Coon described the hearing an attempt to organize how the more than 300 lawsuits tied to the deadly show will proceed through the courts. Of the more than 2,500 plaintiffs, most are survivors from the concert but also include employees who worked the event and families of those killed. Some lawyers were ushered into an overflow room as the ceremonial courtroom reached capacity. The Board of Judges of the Civil Trial Division of the Harris County District Courts decided in December to consolidate the suits into one filing, with 11th District Court Judge Kristen Hawkins tapped to oversee the proceedings. The civil judge in February issued a gag order preventing the parties involved from discussing the case outside of what happens in open court and relevant motions. She said the case should be tried in the courtroom and not social media. Coon, who last year requested the consolidation, expressed hopes that Hawkins lightens the gag order in the coming months. Its a case of public import, he said, adding that the litigation will determine what happened at the concert and what needs to happen for future live performances. The meeting identified lawyer Jason Itkin to speak for the plaintiffs in the mass of lawsuits, and Neal Manne for the defendants which include Live Nation, rapper and headliner Travis Scott, Scoremore and others responsible for planning and promoting the annual event. More than two dozen defendants have yet to respond to the litigation, Coon said, adding that the next gathering in four weeks will likely be crowded with more lawyers. Among the motions that Hawkins may face is sensitivity regarding the autopsy reports and how theyre shared into the public record. The reviews by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences are being withheld pending the completion of the Houston Police Departments probe for possible criminality. That investigation continues. The family of the youngest victim, 9-year-old Ezra Blount, sat alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump in the courtroom. He had Ezras father stand up in the courtroom. The majority of the victims in this tragedy were African American, Crump said. I am concerned as I look at the room There seems to be not much representation of those African American voices. The judge was well aware and noted that plaintiffs have the right to choose their counsel, she said. That has not gone unnoticed by the court, Hawkins said. The lawyers do not look like the people who they are representing. I ask everyone to be mindful of that as we move forward, she continued. The 10 killed in the concert chaos include: Mirza Baig, 27; Rodolfo Pena, 23; Madison Dubiski, 23; Bharti Shahani, 22; Franco Patino, 21; Jacob Jurinek, 20; John Hilgert, 14; Axel Acosta, 21; and Brianna Rodriguez, 16. Shahani and the youngest victim, Ezra, died days after the concert. More than 300 people were injured during the show, and 25 others were taken to hospitals. nicole.hensley@chron.com twitter.com/nkhensley WASHINGTON (AP) The Justice Department launched one of the largest and most complex criminal investigations in its history after a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol over a year ago. Now its time for a jury to hear some of the governments evidence about the unparalleled attack on American democracy. Violent insurrectionists, loyal to then-President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. (John Minchillo/AP) The first trial for one of the hundreds of Capitol riot prosecutions begins this week, with jury selection started Monday in the case against Guy Wesley Reffitt. The Texas man is charged with bringing a gun onto Capitol grounds, interfering with police officers guarding the building, and threatening his teenage children if they reported him to authorities. Jurors could hear attorneys opening statements as soon as Tuesday. Advertisement Reffitts trial may be a bellwether for many other Capitol riot cases. A conviction would give prosecutors more leverage in plea talks with rioters facing the most serious charges. An acquittal may lead others to wait for their own day in court. Reffitt truly is the canary in the coal mine, said Gregg Sofer, a former federal prosecutor who served as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas from October 2020 to February 2021. Advertisement This artist sketch depicts Guy Wesley Reffitt, joined by his lawyer William Welch, right, in Federal Court, in Washington, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. (Dana Verkourteren/AP) Itll really be interesting to see how strong a case the government has and whether or not theyre relying on evidence that, when pushed and tested, stands up. Its going to have a huge impact going forward, added Sofer, now a partner at the law firm Husch Blackwell. Reffitt is a member of a militia-style group called the Texas Three Percenters, according to prosecutors. The Three Percenters militia movement refers to the myth that only 3% of Americans fought in the Revolutionary War against the British. On Jan. 6, 2021, Reffitt was armed with a handgun in a holster on his waist, carrying zip-tie handcuffs and wearing body armor and a helmet equipped with a video camera when he and others charged at police officers on the west side of the Capitol, according to prosecutors. This action caused the police line guarding the building to retreat closer to the building itself; soon after this, law enforcement was overwhelmed, and rioters flooded the building, prosecutors wrote in a court filing. Reffitt retreated only after an officer pepper-sprayed him in the face, prosecutors said. This artist sketch depicts Judge Dabney Friedrich looking out from the bench during jury selection for Guy Wesley Reffitt, joined by his lawyer William Welch, top right, in Federal Court, in Washington, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. (Dana Verkourteren/AP) Prosecutors believe Reffitt took at least two firearms with him to Washington: an AR-15 rifle and a Smith & Wesson pistol. When FBI agents searched Reffitts home in Wylie, Texas, they found a handgun in a holster on a nightstand in the defendants bedroom. Prosecutors say photos and video of Reffitt during the riot show a handgun holster on his right hip, with what appears to be a silver object inside the holster. On the morning of Jan. 6, Reffitt said he planned to do the recon and then come back for weapons hot and sent messages about meeting at a rendezvous point, according to prosecutors. These messages, along with the weapons that Reffitt carried and the gear he wore, make clear that the defendant did not come to D.C. with the intention to engage in peaceful activity, prosecutors wrote. Advertisement The siege resulted in the deaths of five people, including a police officer. The Justice Department says more than 235 rioters have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, injuring over 100 officers. Rioters caused over $1 million in damage to the Capitol. The Justice Department says its investigation has generated an unprecedented volume of evidence, with hundreds of thousands of documents and thousands of hours of videos to share with defense attorneys. Shared files total more than nine terabytes of information and would take over 100 days to view, the department says. More than 750 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the riot. Over 200 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors carrying a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment. More than 100 riot defendants have been sentenced. And at least 90 others have trial dates this year. Philadelphia-based defense attorney Justin Danilewitz, who was a federal prosecutor in New Jersey from 2012 to 2017, said a conviction in Reffitts case may lead to a flurry of guilty pleas by other riot defendants. And that can benefit defendants on occasion because its better than the alternative if the alternative is a conviction following a trial, Danilewitz added. An acquittal could inspire other defendants to dig in their heels and either push for a better plea offer from prosecutors or gamble a trial of their own, he said. Advertisement Defense attorney William Welch has said there is no evidence that Reffitt damaged property, used force or physically harmed anybody. In a May 2021 court filing, Welch said none of the videos or photos shows a gun in Reffitts possession at the Capitol. In fact, neither of the police officers interviewed by the government said anything about a firearm, he wrote. Reffitt has been jailed since his arrest in Texas less than a week after the riot. He faces five counts: obstruction of an official proceeding, being unlawfully present on Capitol grounds while armed with a firearm, transporting firearms during a civil disorder, interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, and obstruction of justice. The obstructing justice charge stems from threats that he allegedly made against his son, then 18, and daughter, then 16, after returning home from Washington. Reffett told his children to choose a side or die and said they would be traitors if they reported him to law enforcement, prosecutors said. He predicted future political violence in statements both to his family and to fellow militia members, bragged to fellow militia members about his involvement in the riot, recruited other rioters into the militia, and ordered bear spray and riot shields to his home to prepare for further violence, prosecutors wrote. Messages recovered from Reffitts cellphone indicate he planned to join an armed insurrection on Jan. 6 and intended to occupy the Capitol, prosecutors said. Advertisement We had thousands of weapons and fired no rounds yet showed numbers. The next time we will not be so cordial, he wrote, according to prosecutors. Presiding over Reffitts trial is U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, who was nominated by President Donald Trump in 2017. Friedrich already has sentenced nine rioters who pleaded guilty. Jury selection is scheduled to resume Tuesday. The judge said she hopes to impanel a jury to hear opening statements later in the day. Prosecutors expect to call about a dozen witnesses, including three Capitol police officers who interacted with Reffitt and an officer who was in charge of the U.S. Capitol Police command center. Jurors will see videos that captured Reffitts confrontation with police. Prosecutors also have audio recordings of Reffitt talking about the riot inside his home after returning home. We made a point. That was a historic day, Refffitt said during one of the recorded conversations, according to prosecutors. And guess what? Im not done yet. I got a lot more to do. Thats the beginning. I met Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher and the chief editor of UkraineWorld, an English-language news site, in Kyiv in 2019. Id gone there to report on how Ukrainians felt about Donald Trumps attempts to extort their president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and on the American rights demonization of Ukrainians whod worked against corruption. Yermolenko spoke, then, of Ukraine as a front line in the global battle between democracy and authoritarianism, with Europe on one side and Vladimir Putins Russia on the other and the role of the United States under Trump confusing and ambiguous. Its about whether democracy, rule of law, are spreading farther to the east, he said of the conflict over Ukraines future. Its a long story how it spread to Eastern Europe first it was Eastern Europe, Central Europe, then there was Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova. We hope it will someday reach Russia. But it was possible that the ideological tide would go the other way. There is a new authoritarianism going westward, said Yermolenko. In this view, the fate of Ukraines nascent democracy was a sort of weather vane for the world. I spoke to Yermolenko again Sunday, as Russian troops besieged his country. The spirit is very strong, he said. There is no fatalism, no willingness to negotiate on Russias terms. There is decisiveness. Ukrainian self-defense, he said, was chiefly a matter of patriotism, of people defending their home and way of life against a cruel foreign power. But he also saw it as part of the great ideological contest wed discussed 2 1/2 years ago. There is a strong feeling that if Ukraine wins and Im sure it wins that can bring the end of both Putins and Lukashenkos regimes, he said, referring to Alexander Lukashenko, the strongman president of Belarus, who is reportedly preparing to send troops to Ukraine to fight alongside Russia. His confidence amazed me, but it appears to be widely shared across the country: According to a recent poll, 70 percent of Ukrainians outside of Russian-occupied territories think they will prevail against Russia. Oleksandra Ustinova, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament who is in Washington working on diplomatic outreach, said that Putin thought he could easily seize control of her country. Ukrainians have proved that were not going to go down, and we do believe that we will win this war, she said. I have no idea if shes right, though obviously I hope she is. Russia appears to have stumbled in the opening days of the invasion, but Ukraines army is still enormously overmatched, and Putin has the power to rain hell on the country. The Ukrainians stalwart faith in their ability to resist Russia, however, is an important political fact, one that people who predicted a quick Russian victory didnt fully account for. Its a faith that has stirred much of the world to unite against Russia, reinvigorating a liberal internationalism that until recently seemed spent and flaccid. As inspiring as Ukrainian determination has been, its perhaps not that surprising. Anyone whos visited Kyiv in recent years could see how much pride people took in the 2014 revolution that forced Viktor Yanukovych, the Kremlin-backed kleptocratic president, to flee to Russia. In Kyivs Independence Square, a monument to the revolution included photos, mounted on giant copper-colored plinths, of demonstrators burning tires to repel a crackdown and getting ready to pelt the riot police with cobblestones. Nearby, a vendor sold toilet paper with Putins face on it. Not all Ukrainians welcomed the revolution Yanukovych had a real base of support in the countrys south and east. But there was a culture of reverence for citizens whod stood up to Russian domination. Ukraine has had two revolutions in less than two decades; there was also the Orange Revolution, which erupted after Yanukovych was accused of trying to steal the election in 2004. Nataliya Gumenyuk, a Ukrainian journalist and author of Lost Island: Tales From the Occupied Crimea, told me these revolutions have instilled in Ukrainians a strong sense of their own agency. Ukraine has a positive case of toppling a dictator, doing something that used to be unthinkable, she said, speaking from Kyiv in the middle of the night. She noted that Zelenskyy has directly appealed to the public in Russia and Belarus. We seriously believe that if people, independent people, stand up, they can force their leaders to bend. Because with us its like that, she said. This means that even if a democratic Ukraine wasnt an existential threat to Putin before, it is now, since its survival would mean his humiliation. In 2019, I was intrigued by how earnestly Ukrainians I met spoke of liberal democracy. Perhaps theyd won it so recently that they hadnt had time to grow cynical. Their idealism has turned out to be a powerful weapon. Theyve shown older democracies what it means to fight for their own putative values, leading to an almost ecstatic global outpouring of support. The odds remain against the Ukrainians. But their conviction has given them a chance. Michelle Goldberg is a columnist for the New York Times. Tuesdays primary elections include many high-profile statewide offices, congressional campaigns and legislative contests, but Harris County voters also will vote in a slew of local races. They include nominations for county judge, a pair of county commissioners, administrative offices such as the county clerk and treasurer, and dozens of judicial posts. LOCAL AND STATE RACES: 2022 Texas Voter Guide In November, Democrats will seek to maintain their grip on countywide offices and potentially pick up another seat on the five-member Commissioners Court, where the Democratic majority redrew precinct maps to advantage their party. Republicans hope a favorable midterm environment nationally will help them flip some of those local seats. Republicans outvoted Democrats in the early voting period, a departure from recent cycles. About 106,000 people have cast ballots in the Republican primaries, compared to 96,000 for Democrats. Democratic enthusiasm is lower than it was in 2020 and 2018, so that drop-off might hurt down-ballot Democrats who need that enthusiasm, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor of political science at the University of Houston. LIVE UPDATES: 2022 Texas Primary Election Results The marquee local races feature a crowded field eager to challenge County Judge Lina Hidalgo nine Republicans and five fellow Democrats and a hotly contested open primary for Democrats in Precinct 4, the newly blue-leaning seat on Commissioners Court. Here is what you need to know: When are the polls open? The polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where can I vote? There are 375 voting sites in the county, which has a list and interactive map of the locations on its elections administration website, harrisvotes.com. Voters can cast their ballots at any polling location. What do I need to bring? Voters must bring photo identification. The seven acceptable forms of photo ID are a Texas drivers license, Texas identification card, Texas election certificate, Texas handgun license, U.S. military identification card, U.S. passport or U.S. citizenship certificate containing you photograph. The ID is acceptable as long as it has not been expired for more than four years. For voters over 70, it does not matter how long the ID has been expired. Residents who do not possess one of the qualifying IDs can submit a so-called reasonable impediment form at the polls if they bring another supporting document to confirm their identity, such as a voter registration certificate, current utility bill or bank statement. On HoustonChronicle.com: 40% fewer mail ballots cast in Texas early voting amid confusion, delays caused by new law Can I still register to vote? No, the registration deadline to vote in the primary elections has passed. Residents still can register for the runoffs, though. When no candidate in a race gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers proceed to a runoff. Those runoff elections will be May 24, and the deadline to register to vote in them is April 25. You can vote in the runoffs even if you did not vote in the initial primary elections. Who is on the ballot? The general Republican and Democratic ballots are available online. Voters also can pull their personalized sample ballots on the countys website, as well. Texas is an open primary state, meaning voters do not register under a party. Voters select the party for which they would like to vote at the polls. You cannot switch parties for the runoffs in May. County Judge Nine GOP candidates have trained their eyes on Hidalgo, who will have to beat five Democrats before proceeding to the general election in November. Hidalgos primary opponents include Erica Davis, the former chief of staff for the Precinct 1 Constables Office; real estate broker AR Hassan; photographer Georgia Provost; Maria Garcia; and attorney Kevin Howard. On the GOP side, the crowded field includes attorney Vidal Martinez, former Army Capt. Alexandra del Moral Mealer, Humble Independent School District board president Martina Lemond Dixon, and Randy Kubosh, the brother of Houston City Councilman Michael Kubosh, along with Oscar Gonzales, George Harry Zoes, Robert Dorris, Warren Howell and HQ Bolanos. The Republican side is interesting, that should be pretty telling, Rottinhaus said. Can Republicans find a candidate who can appeal to moderate voters in Harris County? County commissioners Seven Democrats are vying for the opportunity to flip a newly-drawn precinct on Commissioners Court. They include former state Rep. Gina Calanni, County Court at Law Judge Lesley Briones, former Harris County elections staffer Benjamin Chou, Clarence Miller, Ann Williams, Sandra Pelmore, and Jeff Stauber. That should be a hot race, in part because whoever wins that is going to be in a good position to win in November, Rottinghaus said. Commissioner Jack Cagle, the incumbent, is unopposed on the Republican side. A more congested field of Republicans is running in Precinct 2, which until 2018 was a GOP stronghold. Jack Morman, Richard Vega, Daniel N. Jason, Jerry Mouton, and John Manlove are running for the chance to take on incumbent Democratic Commissioner Adrian Garcia, who faces two opponents George Risner and Gary Harrison in his own primary. PAY TO PLAY: Harris County commissioners hide where their campaign cash comes from: Donors they award no-bid contracts County administration Three incumbent administrators District Clerk Marilyn Burgess, County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth and Treasurer Dylan Osborne are seeking re-election to their posts. Burgess and Osborne each drew one opponent in the primaries: Desiree Broadnax and Carla Wyatt, respectively. Two Republicans are running unopposed in the primaries to try to take back their previous jobs. Stan Stanart, a former county clerk, and Chris Daniel, former district clerk, are once again running for those posts. The GOP treasurer race includes two candidates, Eric Dick and Kyle Scott. Judicial elections About three dozen district state judges, two dozen county judges and six justices of the peace also are on the ballot. Democrats have swept these posts in the last few cycles. All but three of the races feature an unopposed candidate on the GOP side. dylan.mcguinness@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Sunny Bryant can do tricks on her roller skates, crochet and play violin, and if she could be famous for something, she would like it to be for her jokes. Why was 6 afraid of 7? shell ask you. Because 7 8 9. But at least for now, the 8-year-old is better known as an utterly upbeat and outspoken advocate for equality and justice for transgender children like herself. She took multiple trips with her mother to Austin to address lawmakers during the repeatedly extended Texas legislative session. More from Gabrielle Banks: In election day showdown, family of trans Texas teen suing Abbott, DFPS over governor's directive On Tuesday, the Houston third-grader squealed when she was introduced by name during a session of U.S. House of Representatives and was very happy the topic of trans kids came up when she and her family virtually attended the State of the Union as honored guests of U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia. The Houston Democrat, who represents the area where Sunny and her family live, said such young leaders inspire us all. Garcia said she was proud to invite Sunny to attend what is generally considered the presidents most important speech of the year. The congresswoman told the Houston Chronicle, Even through politically-charged attacks on Texas trans youth by Governor Greg Abbott, she remains a bright and strong voice for Houston children. Abbott, a Republican incumbent battling conservative primary challengers, has made it clear amid a series of formal opinions by Attorney General Ken Paxton that he thinks parents who support gender-affirming care for transgender children should be treated as child abusers. Paxtons non-binding opinion last week followed multiple failed attempts by Republicans state lawmakers to pass measures that would punish parents and health care providers who support gender-affirming care for transgender children. Although medical associations support such interventions, the governor has said he considers it child abuse to allow transgender children access to medicine that slows the onset of puberty or hormone treatments that help older children develop into bodies that match their identities. Abbott and Paxton both refer to these parents as supporting genital mutilation, a notion many experts in LGBT health care have said indicates a gross misunderstanding of what medical procedures are actually offered to children. On HoustonChronicle.com: 'I finally feel right in my body': Houston kids confront anti-trans legislation that targets them Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Sunny and her family are among a group of families around the state who have spent hours trekking back and forth to the state capitol to share their stories about why they want to be free to grow up as the people they know themselves to be. And to play on teams with kids of their true gender. For kids Sunnys age, transitions are about new clothes and pronouns, not medical interventions. Adri Perez, a policy and advocacy strategist for the ACLU of Texas, said some of the outspoken transgender children have spent most of their childhood going to Austin to try and defend their humanity. These discussions are especially trying for parents who support their childrens transition and want to protect them from harm, Perez said. One of the most terrifying things about attacking parents who love and support trans youth is by attacking those parents youre attacking trans youth. We are disgusted and distraught that our governor and attorney general have chosen to attack Texas children and their loving families, said Sunnys mom, Rebekah Bryant. Many families like ours are in a panic, suddenly feeling unsafe in our homes and scrambling to know our legal rights. She said not only parents but teachers, doctors, and friends who are mandated reporters feel that they could be targeted or lose their licenses. Many families have made plans to leave the state, but Rebekah said her family plans to stay and fight. Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Avoiding pronouns Sunny, a self-proclaimed chatterbox, was early to hit developmental milestones, her mother Rebekah said. Assigned male at birth, Sunny talked before she could walk, and by 18 months she was speaking in full sentences, Rebekah recalled. When she was four, Sunny asked her mom as she was unbuckling her seatbelt, Why did you make me a boy? I wanted to be a girl. Rebekah, now a scene shop supervisor for the Alley Theater, was surprised. She explained it was just biology. Neither parent had contemplated having a transgender child. Sunnys father Chet asked his 4-year-old if she thought there were things girls could do that boys couldnt. Wear girls clothes, the child said. Rebekah showed her images of Jaden Smith and Brad Pitt in dresses. The kid broke into an ear-to-ear smile, Rebekah said. She took her child that week to buy a dress: Sunny picked a white sleeveless one with pineapples on it. The dress put her at ease. But she only wore it to sleep. Sunnys father thought it was just a phase. His eldest loved to act and being a girl seemed like a part the kid was trying out. Chet was a former Navy submariner who had grown up in a conservative town in South Carolina where people said racist things and flew Confederate flags and used epithets when they talked about gay people. Hed strayed far from that world. He wanted to raise his two sons differently, to be a different kind of dad than his own father had been. The question about really being a girl kept coming up. Sunny didnt know what pronouns were, her mom said, but she articulated at 4 she wanted her parents to call her her not him. Rebekah switched. The Bryants found an online support group, since there was none they could find in the conservative town they were living in at the time, in Australia. They found a pediatrician who provided some concrete feedback: she seemed happy as a girl. From Erica Grieder: Targeting trans kids, again? Harris County has other priorities 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. The child suggested to her parents she go by the name Rainbow. No, they said. Rainbow Dash? No. Sunny? Yes, great, they said. Chet was happy shed found a name they all could agree on. Rebekah privately cried over a sink full of dishes. Her child would no longer have her grandfathers name. She cried at night thinking about whether Sunny would find a partner, whether her partner would hurt her. Or a stranger or police officer would lash out. Chet also cried when he thought about his child being transgender. He avoided using any pronouns for months. That was a big step to start using those pronouns, he said. Sunnys little brother Bodhi didnt think anything of it. The long-haired boy told the people at the next table at a sushi restaurant that his sister was transgender. His parents explained that was Sunnys information to share. When the family moved from Australia to Houston, the kids in kindergarten didnt know Sunny had ever been anyone but Sunny. Rebekah, a seventh generation Texan, was happy to be back. But as Sunny grew up, Rebekah was horrified to learn some state leaders were directing their ire at families like theirs. Many people in Houston had their back. After Sunny missed school to testify in Austin, Rebekah got supportive calls from several classmates parents saying they had no idea what Sunny had been through and they were amazed at how courageous she was. Teachers and administrators at her school offered to make calls to legislators. During the Austin trips, Sunny developed friendships with other transgender kids. Sunny, of course, is far more than a transgender girl. I always tell people its the least interesting thing about her, Rebekah said. She loves Sponge Bob and waffles. She loves the Magic Treehouse books and the Wimpy Kid series. She paints canvases, does Mad Libs and worships Lady Gaga. She also imagines what it would be like to live in the future, with flying cars and robots. In her own imaginary trip through time, she pictures people of different races and backgrounds, boys and girls, LGBT people and everyone would all be treated equally. gabrielle.banks@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Three civil rights groups are swinging back at Gov. Greg Abbotts latest offensive against transgender children with a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Republican incumbent accusing him of inflicting terror and anxiety among vulnerable children through discrimination and harassment. On HoustonChronicle.com: Meet the Houston 8-year-old standing up to Abbott, for trans kids, at Biden's State of the Union The suit follows Abbotts edict, the week before a contentious primary election, stating that parents who allow their teenagers to seek gender-affirming care should be investigated as child abusers. The Travis County civil rights case was brought on behalf of a state employee who was put on leave from her job and had investigators show up at her home because she and her husband are supporting their 16-year-old daughters care for gender dysphoria. The suit targets the governor as well as the mothers employer, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, seeking to halt the agency from treating parents as abusive if they support gender-affirming medical care for their teens. The suit also targets the protective services commissioner, Jaime Masters. A state judge set a hearing for an injunction in the case for Wednesday morning. 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. The issue of penalizing parents and medical providers who help teenagers access interventions that are considered best practices by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Texas Pediatric Society came up in four back-to-back legislative sessions. Each time, families of transgender children rallied, carpooled and missed school to testify in Austin about their own experiences and pleaded with lawmakers to vote down laws targeting their basic rights. In each session, the bills were defeated. On HoustonChronicle.com: 'I finally feel right in my body': Houston kids confront anti-trans legislation that targets them But Abbott, who faced a primary challenge Tuesday, issued a nonbinding legal opinion last week through his attorney general, Ken Paxton, stating that the agency charged with protecting children will pursue child abuse investigations against adults who help their teenagers navigate the lengthy process of seeking access to puberty blockers and hormones through their doctors. Paxton issued a previous opinion labeling gender-affirming care as genital mutilation, an allegation experts have repeatedly highlighted as inaccurate. No state in the country considers it a crime for a parent to provide medically recommended treatment for gender dysphoria, according to the lawsuit. The family of the 16-year-old says the governors legal directives were improper and violated the Texas Administrative Procedures Act, the separation of powers requirements of the Texas Constitution and the constitutional rights of transgender youth and their parents. No family should have to fear being torn apart because they are supporting their trans child, Adri Perez, policy and advocacy strategist at the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement, calling Abbott and Paxtons declaration a partisan political attack that isnt rooted in the needs of families, the evidence from doctors and the expertise from child welfare professionals. Families with trans kids in Texas have been under attack for too long, the statement said. Gender-affirming health care saved my life, and other trans Texans should be able to access medically necessary, lifesaving care. The ACLU of Texas brought the action along with Lambda Legal and the national ACLU. The governors spokesperson and the spokesperson for the DFPS commissioner did not respond to requests for comment. Mayor Sylvester Turner on Tuesday joined other local leaders who have opposed the edicts, including Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and District Attorney Kim Ogg. Turner announced that he opposed officials taking punitive measures that could endanger transgender children. In Houston, we dont bully our transgender neighbors, we watch them make history like Municipal Judge Phyllis Frye, he said, referring to a well-known transgender attorney and jurist. The stigma the governor and attorney general work to create is part of the reason the late TransGriot journalist and activist Monica Roberts had too many stories of violence faced by trans women of color to report, the mayor said in a statement. The unnamed plaintiffs in the lawsuit said that after the mother was put on leave, an investigator visited their house. The family has filed the lawsuit anonymously. Also suing the governor and DFPS is Megan Mooney, a Houston psychologist who treats children with gender dysphoria. She is a mandatory reporter and does not want to comply with the governors legal opinion because she believes it would harm her clients and violate her ethical obligations as a professional counselor. gabrielle.banks@chron.com Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. 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Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. After two busy years, two participants were sworn in as court appointed special advocates for Children, or CASA, in St. Croix County. With leadership from various individuals, the past few years have been a whirlwind of meetings, paperwork and passion. On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Yvonne Larsen and Dawn Lane took an oath with Judge Scott R. Needham with a promise to fulfill the role of an advocate. Neeham and his fellow St. Croix County Judge R. Michael Waterman were essential in establishing CASA of St. Croix County. Get involved or donate to CASA of St. Croix Visit the website, casastcroix.org/, for more information. Call, 715-245-9773, or email, dhaider@casastcroix.org, Executive Director Dustin Haider if youd like to donate. CASA is a national nonprofit, present in 49 out of 50 states, that brings qualified and compassionate adults into a childs life, particularly children facing the court system. This adult fights and protects the safety of the child, while simultaneously providing them with a continual, reliable relationship. The Wisconsin Court Appointed Special Advocates Association champions the needs of abused and neglected children by providing trained volunteers who advocate for the childs best interest in court, Wisconsin CASA states. Children who have a CASA volunteer in their corner are shown to be more likely to pass school classes, have a plan for permanency and will spend less time in foster care. There are seemingly no downsides. The positive impact on children explains itself. Its also a financial investment. One year of CASA advocacy costs less than one month of foster care. In April 2018, Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill allocating funding for Wisconsin CASA to expand. As it expands, CASA needs more volunteers. Each advocate in St. Croix County is paired with just one child, fostering the commitment to their wellbeing. There are just a few requirements to become an advocate. Advocates must: Be 21 years of age or older. Pass a criminal background check. Participate in 30 hours of training. Dedicate one hour a week to the child an advocate is paired with. As an advocate, you have the opportunity to change a child's life, President of the CASA of St. Croix County Corporation and Chair of the Board Roy Sjoberg said. Right now, more than 90 children in St. Croix County are in need of a court-appointed advocate. Because of Larsen and Lane, two children will be provided one. Larsen was determined, not only to be an advocate with CASA, but to be the first volunteer. Two years ago, she caught wind of an attempt to bring CASA to St. Croix County. She joined the board of directors and attended every meeting. Larsen had just one stipulation. The minute the organization began recruiting and training volunteers, she would step down from the board. Since its not allowed for a board member to be an advocate, Larsen chose the work with children over the organizational leadership of CASA. I grew up in a family with generational alcoholism, Larsen said. Knowing the feeling of being alone as a child, Larsen has dedicated much of her life to advocating for children. After spending hours reading and on training calls, Larsen and Lane were sworn in. I feel well prepared to serve as an advocate, Larsen said, though she admits she has areas of strength and areas shell continue to work on. Part of the advocate program ensures accessibility to training each year, which is individualized to the advocates points of potential growth. There are about six more advocates in the program with the intention of finishing training and beginning to work with children. With a goal of having 50-60 advocates, CASA of St. Croix County could use your help to serve the greatest number of children. CASA of St. Croix County Executive Director Dustin Haider will continue to train new volunteers and organize the program. Im kind of trying to work myself out of a job, Haider joked. He and the rest of the CASA volunteers are on their way to making significant changes in the lives of children in the county. Heavy rains brought record flooding to the east coast of Australia Monday, plunging part of the city of Brisbane underwater and leaving at least nine people dead. Queensland police said one of the fatalities was a man, and his dog, who had become trapped in his car after driving into floodwater. Brisbane is the capital of the state of Queensland, where of the fatalities have occurred. The other death occurred in New South Wales. Advertisement In this photo provided by the Fraser Coast Regional Council, water floods streets and houses in Maryborough, Australia, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. (AP) Emergency crews made more than 130 swift-water rescues in 24 hours, Queensland officials said. Floating through Milton. Usually one of Brisbanes busiest thoroughfares on a Monday morning. @ACurrentAffair9 #bneflood pic.twitter.com/knu13fvOE2 Pippa Bradshaw (@pippabradshaw) February 27, 2022 Rescuers are still searching for a man in his 70s who was sailing on the Brisbane River when he fell overboard. Advertisement At least two other men are missing as well. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > According to the city of Brisbane, more than 15,000 buildings were at least partially flooded. People use a small boat to travel through flood water in Lismore, Australia, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. (Jason O'Brien/AP) Queensland transport minister Mark Bailey said major roads were close and train and ferry services was halted. Were going to have localized flooding in a lot of areas for a couple of days yet, Bailey said. In nearby Lismore, in neighboring New South Wales, 15,000 were evacuated as the rain continued to pummel the region. Annastacia Palaszczuk, the premier of Queensland, described the flooding as a rain bomb. Its just coming down in buckets, she said at a news conference. Its not a waterfall, its like waves of water just coming down. With News Wire Services Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Indie Spotlight: CCS Rights Management Global independent music company ccs rights management provides exceptional administration and creative services for artists, songwriters, producers, publishers, labels, film/tv production and media companies, brands, and more. CCS Rights Management posted by A2IM. CCS Rights Management is a global independent music company with exceptional administration and creative services tailored to the needs of artists, songwriters, producers, publishers and record labels, as well as film/TV production and media companies, production music libraries, corporate brands and more. Founded in 2011 by industry veteran Jodie Ferneyhough, the fast-growing international company is dedicated to empowering the entrepreneurial music sector by maximizing income, developing and nurturing talent, and providing innovative creative opportunities that impact. A leader in rights administration. CCS provides robust rights administration by an experienced team with the highest level of expertise and deep relationships around the globe. It offers accurate, transparent and efficient rights administration, royalty collections of every revenue stream plus quarterly reporting. CCS administers over 150,000 copyrights. Additionally, it is the sub-publisher for many leading independents such as Angry Mob Music, Kassner Music Publishing, Galileo Music, Alondra Music, and Bardis Music Company, to name a few. We partner with major international production companies, studios, music libraries, and brands to monetize the ownership of music catalogs. CCS is well-known for its ability to monetize and add value to music catalogs and their musical and audiovisual intellectual properties. The company represents the hugely successful Spin Master Ltd., administering ancillary rights worldwide for numerous productions airing in 190 countries, most notably the PAW Patrol and Abby Hatcherfranchises. Other production company partners include Blue Ant Media, Aircraft Pictures, and the award-winning Schitts Creek series. CCS also represents the library music of award-winning production house ScoreKeepers with music by Emmy Award-winning composers and emerging indie artists with all genres, moods, and instrumentations represented. Daytripper Music Publishing: A Creator-first approach. Home to artists and songwriters creating music with impact. CCS international creative roster features award-winning and up-and-coming artists, songwriters, producers from around the world in all genres. Its new Daytripper Music Publishing division is musically agnostic and focuses on a creator-first approach, specializing in discovery and development, and fostering great talent with the best creative, marketing, synch, and administration. The diverse roster includes CARYS, Hill Kourkoutis, Tribe Friday, Featurette, POESY, Nuela Charles, Yukon Blonde, Laurent Bourque, Mikhail Laxton, Olivia Wendel, Laureli, and Daniel Blake. While expanding further into the U.S. and territories abroad, Daytripper has formed joint venture partnerships with legendary KCRW radio host, global tastemaker, and two-time Grammy-nominated music supervisor Chris Douridas, as well as Made with Pencil Crayons, the publishing division of Canadian label Unfit Records which has a roster featuring the Grammy-nominated Telmary Y Habanasana, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Battle of Santiago, among others. Visit our website: daytrippersongs.com CCS Neighbouring Rights: Experienced. Deep relationships. Direct Collections. Maximum Income. As the only Canadian-based company providing neighbouring rights services, CCS is uniquely positioned to collect royalties and remunerate record labels and recording artists for their public performances on sound recordings. With over than 40 clients including rising superstar artist Tate McRae and Rezz, CCS Neighbouring Rights division is managed by Lee-Anne Wielonda, one of the most respected neighbouring rights executives with well-established relationships worldwide. The division is unparalleled in finding new income from radio performances, digital income, and other sources. By uniquely going direct to collect from rights organizations in 30+ territories, CCS delivers more income with lower costs by taking out multiple layers of fees from among the maze of societies. With the recent changes to Canadian law, many labels and artists in the U.S. are also now entitled to neighbouring rights income from the territory. Our Team Pictured (L to R): Jordan Howard, A&R/Creative Director; Casey Grace, Publishing and Artist Coordinator; Lee-Anne Wielonda, Neighbouring Rights Manager; Jodie Ferneyhough, Founder and President of CCS; and Diana Medeiros, Sync Manager. Not pictured: Katharine Perak, Copyright and Royalty Director and Abbey Donnelly, Copyright and Royalty Coordinator.Learn More About A2IM: A2IM is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit trade organization headquartered in New York City that exists to support and strengthen the independent recorded music sector. Membership currently includes a broad coalition of more than 700 Independently-owned American music labels. A2IM represents these independently owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. In doing so, it supports a key segment of Americas creative class that represents Americas diverse musical cultural heritage. Billboard Magazine identified the Independent music label sector as 37.32 percent of the music industrys U.S. recorded music sales market in 2016 based on copyright ownership, making Independent labels collectively the largest music industry sector. Share on: North Adams Administrator Taking Job in Fairhaven NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The city's administrative officer has been offered a post in the eastern end of the state. The Fairhaven Select Board on Monday night voted unanimously to appoint Angeline Lopes Ellison its town administrator with a start date of March 23 and an annual salary of $163,000. Lopes Ellison has been with the city just over a year. She started in North Adams in mid-November of 2020 , replacing Michael Canales, who became town administrator in Stockbridge. Mayor Jennifer Macksey said she was aware that Lopes Ellison had been named the finalist in Fairhaven and had wished her luck. The mayor said Fairhaven is closer to where she now resides and that Lopes Ellison told her she had family in that area. Macksey said she could not start any hiring process because, as of Monday afternoon, she only knew that Lopes Ellison was in the process of negotiating a contract so nothing had been settled yet. "I don't have a resignation," she said, but added she had started to transition some of her responsibilities with the hiring of Katherine Eade, the city's former administrative officer, as interim airport manager. "There's a lot going on here," Macksey said. "So depending on what happens with the Angie, I needed to at least get that component taken care of." The Fairhaven board voted to appoint Lopes Ellison and then voted on the contract, "subject to the final approval by labor counsel." Lopes Ellison previously had been town manager of Uxbridge and town administrator of Blandford. She also had been a dean of student affairs for the University of Massachusetts at Boston and assistant dean at Framingham University. Fairhaven offered her the job on Feb. 10 at the conclusion of her interview and after two other finalists had dropped out. There were 39 applicants for the post. The town of more than 16,000 on Buzzard's Bay has been seeking a new administrator for the past year. This was the third attempt after the first search ended in controversy and the second also saw two of three finalists withdraw. The board determined to grant Lopes Ellison an interview rather than start over again. This search apparently caused some consternation. Chair Robert J. Espindola said it had been brought to his attention that one of the finalists had withdrawn his candidacy after being told by someone at Town Hall that the "Select Board was looking for a candidate of a certain gender, not theirs." "I know my criteria for the next town administrator was about finding the best candidate for the town without bias or discrimination of any sort," he said, a point that was echoed by fellow board members Stasia Powers and Keith Silvia. "It's unfair to Ms. Ellison if anyone thinks that that's why she got the job, that's absolutely false. And it's not fair to her. ... "Even when she was the last one standing, we all felt comfortable enough to make a very, very lucrative offer to her." Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. It never made sense for an indoor mask mandate for schoolchildren to outlive an indoor mask mandate for adults. Kids are far less likely than adults to be seriously harmed by COVID, and all other things being equal masks make things a bit harder on teachers and kids alike, straining the ability of children (particularly those with special needs) to learn and connect socially and emotionally. No, face coverings arent some kind of terrible scourge, as some grinding a reflexively anti-mask ax insist. They are effective, and have an important role to play in a serious public health crisis. The point is that, when the viral climate is safe enough for adults to be nakedfaced, its definitely safe enough for the kids. Advertisement Given that New York City is way, way, way down from its most recent COVID peak, Mayor Adams is right that nows the time to loosen things up. Hospitalizations from the virus averaged just 30 per day over the past seven days. The Centers for Disease Controls new community COVID assessment tool renders all five boroughs low risk. COVID remains a public health threat here but, seeing the forest for the trees, were out of this patch of woods. There may come a time when another version of this virus or a new virus altogether spreads and masks become essential again for adults and kids alike, or just for adults. So too, there may come a time when immunity wanes, a new variant rages and its essential to get vaccination rates back up arguing for a return to rules that allow only New Yorkers whove had their shots to eat in restaurants or go to movie theaters. Advertisement But anyone who supports such restrictions when necessary should support easing them when unnecessary. Otherwise, those who purport to follow science will beclown themselves and public trust will be shredded. Moms and dads: You can keep sending your son or daughter to school in a mask, but you cant continue to make everyone else do it. President Biden will address the nation Tuesday night, laying out his vision for the future amid Russias bloody invasion of its neighbor. With death and destruction mounting across Ukraine, Biden will understandably focus his State of the Union address on Moscows unprovoked attack and U.S. efforts to counter the threat it poses to the United States and its allies in Europe. This is a security emergency. Its a humanitarian emergency. It must be addressed with the greatest of urgency. Advertisement And yet, even as he confronts Russian aggression abroad, touts his first-year achievements at home and calls for renewed unity in an election year, Biden must make good on his promise to take the boldest action possible to fight the climate crisis. FILE - President Joe Biden speaks during the "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment" event at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit, Nov. 2, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Evan Vucci/AP) The state of the union depends on it as does the fate of hundreds of millions across this country and around the world. Advertisement A landmark United Nations report released Monday documents the mounting toll inflicted on people, ecosystems and critical infrastructure by rising seas, loss of croplands, species collapse, deadly heat waves and raging wildfires, storms and floods. The report shows that the climate crisis is forcing millions of people from their homes, stunting social progress, curbing economic growth, putting crops, livestock and clean water at growing risk and threatening to overwhelm the capacity of nations to cope. Its speeding species collapse and damaging coral reefs, forests and other essential habitats. This is a high-definition map of global misery, as reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN body responsible for assessing climate science. It shows that the climate crisis is inflicting rising costs and mounting dangers on people worldwide. And those suffering most are the low-income populations as many as 3.6 billion people on the jagged frontlines of climate hazard and harm. The consequences are ripping through frontline communities so fast that they threaten to derail progress on the Sustainable Development Goals the United States and every other UN member adopted just seven years ago. Those goals reflect the kind of world every nation has committed to creating, by, for example, ending extreme poverty and hunger, seeing to it that people, everywhere, have access to clean water, a quality education and the right to live free from fear and violence. Climate change is threatening our ability to care for each other as fellow human beings. The United States has the opportunity, and the responsibility, to take immediate action to address this crisis. For Biden, this, too, is a moment to lead. Advertisement Hes called for $550 billion in strategic investment, over the next ten years, to help speed the shift away from the fossil fuels that are driving climate change and toward cleaner, smarter ways to power our future. Already passed by the House, this investment, if enacted by the Senate, will include powerful tax incentives to help us get more clean power from the wind and sun. It will help make electric cars new and used more affordable for middle-class and lower-income families. It will boost energy efficiency. All of this, along with strong carbon pollution rules, will help cut household energy costs by $500 a year, on average. The package includes funding to help expand clean energy in low-income communities and areas traditionally dependent on fossil fuel production. It will strengthen the economy, creating hundreds of thousands of high-quality jobs across the country, in states as varied as Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey and West Virginia. And it will be paid for by making sure profitable corporations and wealthy individuals pay their fair share. This is strategic investment we cant afford not to make. Climate change and fossil fuels production and use inflict a staggering $820 billion in health costs on the United States each year. That doesnt include the damage from floods, storms, wildfires and other disasters related to extreme weather and climate change that cost the country $145 billion in 2021 alone and killed nearly 700 people nationwide. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > These natural disasters further compound existing vulnerabilities and inequities experienced by businesses owned by women, veterans and people of color. Bidens plan calls for making sure at least 40% of the benefits of national clean energy investment accrue to disadvantaged communities, a good and necessary start toward addressing systemic environmental injustice. Advertisement The investments Biden has called for are critical to meeting his goal of cutting carbon pollution and other climate-wrecking greenhouse gases 50-52%, compared to 2005 levels, by 2030. Getting there will also require new and ambitious carbon pollution standards at the federal, state and local levels. And it will mean making sure every branch of the federal government is part of the climate fix, and not the problem. The world has become a more dangerous place in the wake of Russias aggression. We wont make it safer by increasing our dependence on fossil fuels at home or abroad. As the climate assault tightens its grip worldwide, acting now to cut carbon pollution will help to foster a more peaceful and equitable world where people everywhere are healthier, more prosperous and more secure. Thats what the United States is called to do. Were counting on Biden to lead. Bapna is president and CEO of NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council. Name: Johanna Baum Company: Strategic Security Solutions (S3) Consulting Job Title: CEO and Founder Location: Georgia, USA Johanna Baum, CPA, CISA has over 25 years of advisory experience in IGA, Security, and eGRC. She is the founder and CEO of Strategic Security Solutions (S3) focused on providing professional services expertise related to programmatic Cyber initiatives. Baum is a recognised expert and is an active influencer in the Cyber community. She serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Accounting/InfoSys Department, several technology vendor advisory boards, Ambassador/Mentor for SPJ Capital, and a mentor for multiple Entrepreneur and Women in Leadership Organizations. What was the most valuable piece of career advice that you received? Trust your instincts. By nature, I overanalyse everything. Every. Little. Thing. Learning to truly understand my own patterns and trust my gut was an extremely valuable lesson. Its not always a quick trigger - it might involve a lot of detailed analysis or require a trusted advisor to walk through scenarios to truly solidify my position. Setting boundaries and trusting my instincts has proven to guide me through many tough times where others didnt fare so well. What was the worst piece of business advice that you received? Quit. Women dont belong in technology. A safer or more family-oriented career might suit me because of my gender. Sadly, I have heard it all but Im stubborn. I used these pieces of bad advice to fuel the start of an organisation that is the antithesis of standard industry Tech Consulting. What advice would you give to someone starting their career in IT/tech? Take every opportunity to learn and grow from experiences presented to you. Each experience can and will serve a purpose. Find mentors - those relationships will be critical to your overall success. Did you always want to work in IT/tech? No! Working in IT was not even on my radar when I initially joined the working world.I was fascinated with computers but wasnt quite sure how to parlay that into a career. I began my career in public accounting, however, I was constantly told that I didnt fit the traditional accountant mould. I was a boundary pusher then and I still am. What was your first job in IT/tech? I started my career in the IS audit group for a public accounting firm. I was one of the first employees in the group and the firm didnt have much expertise in the space yet so I was able to expand quickly. I truly wanted to move into strategic technical consulting, so I started building relationships in other areas of the business to exit quickly. At the time, consulting firms didnt recruit accountants, although our skills are prime for the career, so my first consulting role was selling myself and it took some strong convincing! What are some common misconceptions about working in IT/tech? You must be highly technical to be successful. There are many paths to success in technology and not all of them start or end in coding! You can still make a profound impact in IT even when your hands arent writing the code. Non-techies, rejoice! Theres still vast space for you to thrive. What tips would you give to someone aiming for a c-level position? Watch, listen, learn, and find mentors! Throughout my career, I sought out those that were high performers or executing at a level I wanted to emulate. I found them at every step of the journey so I could see how to make the transition and level up. As I climbed, I continued to seek out new mentors or amazing individuals to learn from. If youre chasing a goal without visualising what success looks like at every pit-stop, its really hard to get to the end successfully, or have the tools to operate once you get there. Every single step on the journey hones the skills necessary to execute. Pay respect to the journey, the mentors, and the lessons as you make the climb. Youll also have an army of advocates cheering you on your way. What are your career ambitions and have you reached them yet? I wouldn't say I have reached them yet because my career ambitions are always evolving! Through my years in accounting, then consulting, to finally founding S3, my ambitions have always focused on strategy. I love to solve problems and reframe business issues to develop solutions that combine technology and operations. Because the digital age is constantly evolving, with more consumers prioritising speed over security, there will always be new problems and opportunities to create solutions. Within cybersecurity you can never be content with your current defenses, and I think that mentality translates to my personal and career ambitions. Aside from business and technology, I will always be passionate about women mentorship, especially in STEM, and it will always be a driving force in my life. Do you have a good work life balance in your current role? I dont think anyone has found the perfect work-life balance, but if they have found nirvana, they can call me! All things considered; I do have reasonable harmony. While I can continuously be found working off hours early or very late in the evening, I am able to take a step back frequently. I prioritise my children and focus our quality time on the activities that are meaningful to us. I also take time to incorporate exercise into my daily routine, taking care of my health is vital in taking care of everything else. That might sound rosy, but its a constant internal battle of the single working parent. Its extremely difficult. What, if anything, would you change about the route your career path has taken? Hindsight is always 20:20. If I had a mulligan, I might have more fun along the way! I was extremely driven and while I enjoyed the journey, I could have certainly taken more opportunities to play. Otherwise...nothing! Even the setbacks have contributed to where I am today. We would all love to change something, but the butterfly effect changes the entire outcome. Which would you recommend: A coding bootcamp or a computer science degree? Ive seen amazing candidates that are self-taught and those that have prestigious university degrees. From my perspective, any way you can land the knowledge, exposure, practice, and experience is worthwhile. The experience may be different but serves the candidate, nonetheless. How important are specific certifications? I may have multiple degrees, certifications, and licenses, but that is the path my education and diversions took me on. Based on your specific goals and position, certifications may be extremely beneficial. Review the industry expectation for your desired position and goals. Is it mandatory? Does it provide extra monetary potential? Promotion potential? Credibility within the community? What are the three skills or abilities you look for in prospective candidates? Intellectual curiosity, attention to detail, and collaborative spirit. They are so critical to us, they are our core values and we ask questions to attempt to determine if each candidate embodies them or will end up as a resume in the circular file. What would put you off a candidate? Lack of respect, failure to research the position/organisation/interviewer, and apathy or lack of interest in the opportunity. All of which seem logical but are consistent failure points with many candidates! If you dont have interest in the opportunity, dont apply! Neither party should waste their time. What are the most common mistakes made by candidates in an interview? How can those mistakes be avoided? Similar to the comment above, many candidates have no idea about the interviewer or the organisation where they are applying. Research your interviewer and the company. If you dont have the ambition to know who youre talking to, I have little faith youll be ambitious in your role. A little research goes a long way to revealing your interest and showcasing your skills alignment with the organisation. Do you think it is better to have technical or business skills or a mix of both? Both! There are many successful individuals with extremely strong skills on one side of the coin or the other, but the ability to navigate and effectively communicate through both technical and business terrain is where many leaders emerge. It will become increasingly important to understand the drivers and value behind each set of skills as you advance, and both are critical to success. Where you have weaknesses, make sure you have trusted team members and leaders to supplement your skills. Umesh Shrestha, editor of Nepal Fact Check, was summoned and harassed by officers from Nepal Police's Cyber Bureau after publishing a report on the dissemination of fake news regarding the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact fund. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and its Nepal affiliate, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), condemn the arbitrary harassment of journalists for their work and call for an investigation into the incident. According to a blog post published by Shrestha, on February 22, officials from the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau in Kathmandu summoned Shrestha under the pretense of a 'discussion' . Upon his arrival on February 23, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pradin Tamrakar harassed him and accused him of spreading misinformation regarding the MCC fund, a United States subsidised fund aimed at improving infrastructure in Nepal. Shrestha, who is the founder of independent blog MySansar and an editor of Nepal Fact Check, a platform that investigates the content of Nepali media for false or misleading information, alleged that DSP Tamrakar threatened him with arrest. According to Shresthas blog, the journalist was summoned by the Cyber Bureau following an article he published which documented a number of YouTube channels, news sites, and social media users in Nepal who spread misinformation regarding the MCC fund. The report also suggested measures to curb the spread of fake news. It is unfortunate that police harassed me even without knowing the content of my article. They asked me who provided the authority to write such an article. They treated me like a criminal. They were not ready to listen to me. They even threatened me with an arrest and tried to snatch my mobile phone when I tried making a call seeking help, Shrestha said. Shrestha was eventually released from the Bureau on February 23 after a one and half hour inquiry. The MCC, an United States grant signed in September 2017 aimed at enhancing infrastructure in Nepal including electricity transmission lines and railroads, fell into recent controversy following multiple interpretations of some the agreements provisions. According to the FNJ, a total of 32 cases of harassment and threatening of journalists from both state and non-state actors were documented in 2021. FNJ General Secretary, Roshan Puri, said: The polices summons, harassment and threatening of a journalist without knowing the core content of the article is an absolute violation of freedom of the press and expression. FNJ urges authorities to respect the constitutionally enshrined rights of journalists. The IFJ said: The Nepali authorities unjustified summoning of Umesh Shrestha is concerning and indicates police incompetence in dealing with fake news and misinformation. 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That's the case for Cue Health, a San Diego-based health care technology company that develops portable diagnostic tests for institutional and at-home use. Founded in 2010, the company's main product, a molecular Covid-19 test, is now the go-to option for Google, Salesforce, the NBA, MLB, Netflix, NASA, and other organizations. The product boasts the speed of rapid antigen tests with the lab-quality accuracy of PCR tests, the company says, meaning it can detect both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, including the Omicron variant, in just 20 minutes. Cue's tests work by targeting a region of the nucleocapsid gene ("N gene") that is highly conserved, which the company says allows the test's accuracy to remain unaffected by the mutations in the Covid-19 variants. Cue's product was also built to be modular and flexible to adapt to future care offerings that will work with the Cue Reader. Cue's overnight success was a decade in the making. Co-founder and CEO Ayub Khattak was inspired to start Cue during the H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak in spring of 2009. The CDC estimates that from April 2009 to April 2010, there were approximately 60.8 million cases. Khattak realized that if customers could test themselves using at-home diagnostics, and communicate those results to a doctor through an app, individuals could be diagnosed faster, get proper care, and reduce the potential spread of infection. "All these people were flooding into emergency rooms and urgent cares, where they'd have to fight 100 other people to be seen and given a diagnosis," Khattak remembers. "People should be able to find out this information easily at home, especially those without symptoms." He was thinking about this problem when he met co-founder Clint Sever, a product designer and his neighbor in Santa Monica, at the time where they were both finishing up school. Something immediately clicked. They procured more than $1 million in seed funding for research and development and continued to raise funds over the years: $7.5 million in Series A in 2014, over $45 million in Series B in 2018, and a $100 million Series C in 2020. By the time Covid-19 hit, they were almost done developing the product. Cue had just started its clinical study to test for the flu, which the company was conducting in partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (Barda), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services office responsible for procuring and developing medical countermeasures. Cue's Covid-19 test was given emergency use authorization (EAU) for professional use in June 2020. That year, the company generated approximately $23 million in revenue, including $15.4 million from product sales. It then became the first molecular test to win EAU on March 5, 2021, from the Food and Drug Administration for at-home and over-the-counter use without a prescription. The company reported preliminary full year 2021 revenue of $613 million to $618 million. While the company has not yet publicly reported its outlook for 2022, Cue has delivered millions of tests to date, which are being used in schools, nursing homes, correctional facilities, hospitals, community health clinics, and private companies. "Businesses around the globe are looking for the best ways for their employees, customers, and partners to get together, safely," Bret Taylor, co-CEO of Salesforce, said in a press release about the company's partnership with Cue. "Testing is the path forward, and Safety Cloud (a subset of Salesforce that helps with Covid-19 testing and health and safety protocols) enables organizations of all types to take the complexity out of events, and bring people together again with confidence." The test's boosted accuracy and speed come at a cost. The test reader alone is $249, and the tests cost $65. The company also offers two subscription tiers that range from $39.99 to $74.99 that include 10 or 20 test cartridges, respectively (and discounts on additional ones), free same- or next-day delivery, and a discount on the reader device. That compares with the BinaxNOW Covid-19 Antigen Self Test, which costs $23.99, and the Ellume Covid-19 Home Test, which costs $38.99. While equally as fast as Cue's, other antigen tests aren't as accurate, and some have been recalled over the past year for false positives and inaccurate results. Ramping up and expanding out Cue went public last September, with a valuation of nearly $2.3 billion. But as the pandemic has waned, not to mention stocks in general, the company's market cap has retreated to a recent $1.22 billion. Khattak attributes the company's success in part to the development of its supply chain, which Cue created from scratch, a move necessary for the more integrated product it wanted to create. The company had to develop a more complex manufacturing and product design, making its own enzymes and primers and cartridge assembly -- processes he says that are commonly outsourced. "We developed a whole network here in the U.S., so that we could have a protected, domestic supply chain," says Khattak. "We embraced a much larger scope than most younger companies from the start, and now it's a huge advantage." Cue currently has roughly 1,600 employees and eight facilities nationally. Cue was never designed around a single disease, and continuing success will mean diversifying as the pandemic transitions to an endemic. The global Covid-19 diagnostics market is projected to drop from $20.05 billion in 2021 to $9.20 billion by 2028, according to a study by Fortune Business Insights. Khattak says while Cue will continue to provide Covid-19 tests, especially as more variants pop up, the goal is to offer an easy testing solution for a variety of illnesses. This entails more products and services across categories such as respiratory health, sexual health, cardiac and metabolic health, and chronic disease management. When there isnt a global catastrophe hanging over it, the State of the Union is typically an opportunity for a president to do two things in front of a very large audience: tout his administrations accomplishments and make big, bold promises for the year ahead. Unfortunately for President Biden, this is not the time to do either of those things. Advertisement For one, on a practical level, Biden doesnt have too many domestic policy wins to tout, not ones that most Americans can see or feel anyway. Nor is he able to make big promises for an agenda thats been stymied by members of his own party, fellow Democrats who have no apparent plans of changing course. Instead, Biden should acknowledge the real pain many Americans are feeling right now pain at the pump, at the grocery store, and still due to COVID. He should encourage Congress to come up with important legislative solutions, which is, after all, their job. Advertisement President Joe Biden (Patrick Semansky/AP) But the most important thing Biden can do tonight, with both the world watching and American audiences in mind, is draw a correlation between whats happening in Ukraine and whats happening here in America. And theres no denying it: Russian President Vladimir Putins war of aggression in Ukraine is mirrored by an unwieldy, unsolved, in fact growing problem in the United States. Fascism is winning. Putins war for Ukraine isnt just a land grab. It isnt just about territory, resources or money. Its about suppressing, defeating and extinguishing democracy altogether. That idea, unimaginably, has already won hearts and minds in America the hearts and minds of people I used to know. These are people who used to fetishize Ronald Reagan for standing up to Russia; once, they sent out memes of the former president riding a dinosaur, carrying a machine gun and a rocket launcher. These are people who believed there was no greater enemy of democracy than fascism, the kind we saw during WWII and thats creeping back now in populist presidencies and dictatorships all over the world. These are people who call themselves Republicans, conservatives even, and pound their chests for freedom and the flag. Advertisement And yet, these people now support a former president who declared Putins hostile move on a democratic nation to be genius. They flock to a news outlet where the most popular host flippantly said he was rooting for Russia. They insist Putins violent invasion pales in comparison to wokeness in America. And according to new polls, they believe Biden is somehow worse than Putin. How did we go from Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall, to Putin is a genius in just a few short decades? Donald Trump, the Republican Party and right-wing media manipulated and misled millions and millions of American voters, convincing them not only to believe lies about an election, conspiracy theories about a pandemic and smears about opposing political leaders, but to abandon long-held orthodoxies about what democracy, patriotism and America mean and stand for. Advertisement The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Some of them were convinced to violently break into the U.S. Capitol in an effort to overthrow a democratic election. They are now being told not just to vote Republican but that they need to destroy the Democratic Party as an institution. Theyre supporting autocratic and fascist solutions to non-existent problems, solutions like book bans and voter suppression. Theyre actively looking for ways to thwart the will of voters, to make elections untrustworthy or even irrelevant, a hallmark of fascist regimes. This all pleases no one more than Putin, who desperately wanted Trump to win the presidency and encouraged him to sow seeds of distrust in government. He knew how to turn a populist wave in America into a political advantage for Russia, and he played Trump like the insecure, narcissistic fool that he is. Now, years later, as Putins tanks roll into a sovereign nation with a democratically elected president, his hard work has paid off: Trump and his supporters parrot Russian talking points and blame the U.S. for Putins war. With the world watching America and tonights State of the Union address, Biden must make these correlations clear to remind everyone that Putins war on democracy isnt just happening over there. He must seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand up for democracy everywhere, and nowhere more importantly than here at home, where authoritarianism and fascism are winning and no tanks were needed. Advertisement secuppdailynews@gmail.com Sometimes the smartest way to deal with extreme aggression is to keep calm and say nothing. That emotional intelligence was on full display this week in President Joe Biden's non-response to Russian president Vladimir Putin's order to transfer its nuclear arsenal to "a special mode of combat duty." Biden stayed silent in the face of the most overt threat of a nuclear attack to the United States or its allies since the Cold War. To some, that might look like weakness. In fact, it was true leadership. If you're like most leaders, when a malevolent bully issues an open threat, your first instinct is to react swiftly and decisively. The president of the United States might respond by announcing an equivalent increase in our own nuclear readiness. Former president Donald Trump once responded to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's nuclear testing by saying that "they would be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen." There are lots of situations when a quick show of force like that is exactly the right thing to do. But leaders with real emotional intelligence also recognize that sometimes, anything you say will make matters worse, and your best option is to say nothing at all. Here's why this is one of those times. 1. The less I say, the crazier you sound. Have you ever watched an argument where one person yelled, screamed, jumped up and down, and threatened violence, and the other person just stood and faced them without reacting at all? Which of the two seemed more reasonable to you? Who seemed most in command of the situation? If the United States, or any Western nation, responded to Putin's threats of nuclear war with threats of their own, it would give those threats more legitimacy. And, it would confirm that nuclear war between the two great nuclear superpowers would be a reasonable result of the current conflict in Ukraine. Instead, Biden's silence just underscores how irrational Putin is being in both words and actions. 2. Sometimes it's better to let others do the talking. Taking a seat and letting others speak up can be challenging for most leaders. But there are many times when that's the most effective approach. Biden's low profile thus far has left the spotlight to others, particularly Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has become an international symbol of resolve and bravery. It also makes it clear that--despite Putin's repeated claims that Ukraine is a puppet of the United States--this is truly a European conflict, and European voices should be heard. Biden, who is well aware that the office of president comes with an outsize megaphone, has let those who work for him speak for his administration. For example, on January 3, less than two months ago, the five nuclear states issued a joint declaration that said this in part: We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. The nations that signed this statement included the United States, France, the U.K., China -- and Russia. Biden must have been sorely tempted to point out this flip-flop himself, but instead, that reminder came from an unnamed defense department source. If Biden had said it, he would in essence be calling Putin a liar. That would escalate the war of words even further. 3. Smart leaders focus on facts, not rhetoric. Biden's non-response has also given the world plenty of time to ask what Putin's threats actually mean, exactly. If you haven't watched the video of Putin giving the order, it's well worth the 48 seconds of your time. The first thing you'll notice is that it's clearly intended as a made-for-TV moment, with the generals sitting off to the side as Putin faces the camera to give the order. The second thing you'll notice is that he says the nuclear alert is a response to sanctions and "aggressive statements" from Western leaders, as opposed to any immediate military threat. What you might not notice, unless you're an expert in geopolitics, is that the wording he uses is "deliberately ambiguous," as one analyst put it. It's been translated as a command to put Russia's nuclear arsenal in "a special mode of combat duty." No one seems to know what that phrase means beyond the obvious intention to make nuclear weapons readier than they were before. Whatever Russia actually does with its nuclear weapons, the U.S., and many other nations, will almost certainly get a bird's-eye view from the many satellites that surround the Earth. Defense experts note that all these observers know exactly what standard readiness exercises look like, and will immediately recognize anything that deviates from that norm. Your workplace doesn't exist in a vacuum. Amid global tragedy, anxiety and other emotions are bound to trickle (or even flood) in--and that's OK. The current crisis in Ukraine may be a particularly triggering event for employees, especially those with connections to the country or wider region. Even if you don't know exactly the right thing to say, you should at least broadcast your support, says Melissa Doman, organizational psychologist and the author of Yes, You Can Talk About Mental Health at Work. It's not just the right thing to do; it also fosters a psychologically safe work environment where individuals are positioned to succeed, adds Doman. "To not have a discussion about potential fluctuations of the organ that is literally required to do your job--your brain--is complete and utter nonsense," she says. "I don't see how people can function in today's world of work without having some modicum of discussion about mental health." It doesn't have to be a hard discussion, Doman says, and leaders don't have to provide all the answers to a highly uncertain situation. Here are four ways to ensure employees feel supported in a tumultuous time. 1. Acknowledge what's happening Even if current events, like the crisis in Ukraine, don't seem to impact your business, you should still be open to talking about them. A simple acknowledgement is the sympathetic thing to do. Doman recommends a statement along these lines: "We're conscious of the fact that this might be impacting people in different ways throughout our company, and we want you to know that it's OK to talk about this." 2. Start a conversation In times of unrest, you may feel pressure to have all the answers, and that can lead to silence and inaction. But it's better to admit you don't know everything than to stay silent, Doman says: "We look to our leaders for permission because they sit in a position of authority and influence." Ultimately, this creates a space for conversation. That way, employees can feel comfortable to voice any of their concerns (especially if they are personally affected by the crisis), and so that the doors are opened for action--if employees want to band together to raise money for a charitable organization, for instance. 3. Create an environment of self-advocacy While you should try creating a workplace where employees feel comfortable advocating for their needs, it's OK to set boundaries. It's not your job to "bubble wrap" workers, Doman says. That said, employee-employer trust is something that's built over time, and when employees see that their leaders have a history of responding positively to their concerns, they're more likely to speak up, says Angie Balfour, chief people officer of the Lehi, Utah, small business communication platform Weave. "It's everyday actions where you build trust, and you see that your managers really care about you as a person." This kind of "people-first" environment that Weave has cultivated recently enabled the company to assist an employee whose family has been directly impacted by the crisis in Ukraine. 4. Do what you can to help Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Mahashivratri is one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva. Devotees who worship Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati eagerly wait for Mahashivratri. This festival is celebrated on the occasion of the marriage of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. This year Mahashivratri is being celebrated today and millions of devotees around the country shall be keep a fast and offers prayers in the temple. The noise of Om Namah Shivaya and Har Har Mahadev resonates in every temple and every house. Devotees of Lord Shiva who assembled at temples across the nation on the auspicious occasion offered prayers to Lord Shiva. Here are some pictures: Russia seems to be unstoppable despite international sanctions and protests across the world. Its forces may begin an all out attacks on Kiev any time. Meanwhile, people are gathering in many parts of the world to register their protests against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Even a section of Russian are clearly not happy with what President Vladimir Putin is up to. They are protesting, despite threats, against what they feel in unjust violence against a sovereign neighbouring country. A group of people supporting Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has called for civil disobedience as a way to protest. EPA/BBC "Putin declared war on Ukraine and is trying to make everyone think that Ukraine was attacked by Russia, that is, by all of us. But that's not right," Reuters cited what Navalny team wrote on its Twitter account. "We must show that we do not support the war. We call on Russians to show civil disobedience. Do not be silent." Who Is Alexei Navalny? Navalny is an anti-corruption activist who is considered to be the most prominent opponent of Vladimir Putin in Russia. He was jailed in 2021 when he returned to Russia from Germany, where he was recovering from what was said to be poisoning him with a nerve agent in Siberia. His supporters alleged that the Russian authorities want him dead because of his anti-Putin activism. Government however denied all the allegations. Navalny has millions of Russian followers on social media, mostly millennials. In his videos and posts, Navalny calls Putin's party "crooks and thieves". He believes that Putin is running a feudal state in Russia and is on the way to once again become a Tsarist state. Twitter Russian authorities have branded his organisation as "extremist". He was given a jail term in February 2021. The European Court of Human Rights, however, said that he should be freed immediately because of the risk to his life, but Russia rejected the decision. According to a BBC report, Navalny went on hunger strike, protesting that authorities at the penal colony in Vladimir, 100km (60 miles) east of Moscow, were refusing to give him proper treatment for leg and back problems. What is civil disobedience? John Rawl, in his book, A Theory of Justice defines civil disobedience as a public, non-violent and conscientious breach of law undertaken with the aim of bringing about a change in laws or government policies. People who engage in civil disobedience operate at the boundary of fidelity to law, have general respect for their regime, and are willing to accept the legal consequences of their actions, as evidence of their fidelity to the rule of law. Civil disobedience, given its place at the boundary of fidelity to law, is said on this view to fall between legal protest, on the one hand, and conscientious refusal, uncivil disobedience, militant protest, organised forcible resistance, and revolutionary action, on the other hand. AFP Mahatma Gandhi, who professed non-violence in all circumstances used civil disobedience or non cooperation against the British rule in India quite effectively. Gandhi called it Satyagrah and asked his followers to continue striving with their demands in a non violent manner. Navalny's supporters in Russia clearly know that the might of a state can't be taken on with violence and if there is any possible way to garner international support against the brutality of the state, it is non violent non cooperation. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. The universe is full of unexplainable coincides, and this incident is an example of the same - a man had placed an online order from a restaurant but accidentally put in the wrong address. Unsplash Sha Davis took to Facebook to share this experience he had with the delivery man who was on his way to deliver his order. According to his post, which has now gone viral, he had ordered some food and later realised that he had forgotten to change his address. He posted a screenshot of the chat on the social media platform with the food delivery man who was out to deliver his food to the address that he previously lived at. The screenshot shows Davis explaining to the driver that he longer lives in Iowa, where his address was saved as. To make up for his mistake, and wasting the delivery driver's time, he then asked the driver to take the food with him and enjoy it since he couldn't. In the screenshot, we can see the driver thanking Davis and revealing an emotional angle to the story. The chat shows Davis saying, So I forgot to change my address on my chipotle app so I told the driver to keep it because the old address is back in Iowa. I was deadass mad at first but after reading this Im happy this happened! The viral post showed the driver's response which read, "Umm..Ok thanks." "I wanted to thank you again. It's my brother's birthday today and he is laid to rest not far from where you had me take this delivery," he said. "I'm having lunch with him today because of you. You have no idea how much that means to me, I truly appreciate it," the delivery driver's response read. The post has been shared 86,000 times, and people took to the comments section to express how heartwarming the story was. "Love this! Never know whats going on in people lives. Just beautiful!" wrote one user. Another commented, "This pierced my heart." Facebook For more trending stories, click here. BharatPe founder and managing editor Ashneer Grover resigned from his position today after he lost an arbitration that he had filed against the company. This decision came after his wife Madhuri Jain was terminated from the company. So, where did it all go wrong? What series of events led to this? Let's find out. Twitter On February 4, reports emerged that an independent audit of BharatPe ordered by its board had found evidence of fraudulent transactions in recruitment and payments to non-existent vendors. Hours later, a letter the companys embattled cofounder Ashneer Grover sent to the board, in which he asked for CEO Suhail Sameers ouster, was leaked. Grover went on voluntary leave until the end of March over an audio clip posted online in early January in which he allegedly abused and threatened a Kotak Mahindra Bank employee after missing out on Nykaas initial public offering last year. According to Grover, the clip is fake. On January 9, Grover and his wife Madhuri sent a legal notice to Kotak Mahindra Bank on Oct 31, 2021, for failing to provide financing in Nykaas IPO. The bank says it will take appropriate legal action against Grover over the contents of the audio clip. Business Standard After the legal notice, on January 17, an email exchange between Grover and Sequoia Indias Harshjit Sethi from August 2020 surfaces, in which the BharatPe cofounder allegedly used expletives over the course of the conversation. A few days later on January 19, Grover goes on 'voluntary' leave. On January 29, the board announces an independent audit of BharatPe's internal processes and systems. The next day on January 30, Grover says he expects an amicable resolution with the board, even as he hires a Delhi-based law firm amid mounting pressure on him to leave the company permanently. On February 4, reports emerged that a preliminary audit report, dated Jan 24, found evidence of fraudulent transactions in recruitment and payments to non-existent vendors. Hours after this news, it is revealed that Grover had written to board members on February 2 to remove CEO Suhail Sameer from the board. On February 10, Madhuri, controller at BharatPe, writes to Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), questioning the consulting firm about recent media leaks. In her letter, she also questions the manner in which a probe into alleged irregularities at the fintech firm is being conducted. Her letter emphasizes that she was considering legal action against the firm, and has demanded an internal investigation on how the contents of the probe undertaken by A&M were allegedly leaked. On February 11, BharatPe chief executive Suhail Sameer tells employees that findings of an ongoing governance review of the Delhi-based firm will be shared with the board in a couple of weeks while assuring them that the fintech firm has sufficient funds to tide over the crisis. Sameer also said that the company is under constant scrutiny and spotlight and what is being written is nothing but unsubstantiated rumours, in an attempt to assuage widespread concerns among the employees. According to a report by ET, Grover sought protection from any future action against him as part of his settlement. He also filed an arbitration plea in Singapore, in order to protect his 9.5% stake in the company. Outlook India He wrote to the board, informing it of an alleged expletive-laden communication between himself and group product head Bhavik Koladiya that took place in the presence of board chairman Rajnish Kumar, who is a former chairman of SBI. On February 23, the company terminates Madhuri Jain as the companys controller on charges of misappropriating funds. Jain had been in charge of BharatPes finances since October 2018. Kumar responded to Grovers allegations and said they would have no impact on his reputation or the companys. Ashneer is being immature. There will be no impact of this on the company or myself. Everyone knows my credibility and these comments won't change that, he said. For more trending stories, click here. A British student has travelled to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion and is prepared to lose a "limb or two". Miles Routledge, who had to be evacuated from Afghanistan when the Taliban seized control of Kabul last year, has now made the trip down to Ukraine. Twitter/@real_lord_miles Routledge, a self-confessed 'disaster tourist', said he began his trip to the war-torn country on Friday, February 25, less than a day after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, Daily Star reported. He entered Ukraine via the last train from Poland and claims his documents were not checked, instantly being allowed entry to the country. "If I want to be cynical, I'm quite religious, I'm a Catholic if I die, hopefully, I'll go to heaven and if I'm wrong and it's blackness, that's not my issue anymore. If that doesn't happen and I'm alive, that's good stuff, if I lose a limb or two I can claim benefits, I guess," he told Daily Star, from a bomb shelter underneath a hotel. Refresher: Last week when I was in Donetsk, Ukraine, I befriended some soldiers, got a free uniform, wore a Putin mask yelling at the Russians and went to an abandoned old airforce base pic.twitter.com/QSca5nPueS Lord Miles Routledge (@real_lord_miles) February 25, 2022 Routledge claims he was worried ahead of his visit to the European war zone as he wasn't sure he would be allowed to enter the country. "I got worried they wouldn't let me in, there was a rumour that any male may be forcefully conscripted, so I thought I'd be thrown into the army. If something went wrong and I landed in Ukraine and suddenly everything popped off at once, that would have been the worst-case scenario," he said. He went on to explain the situation in the country, saying: "I've seen a dog with basically half its head missing but that was in the northern bit when I went exploring. I'm not sure what happened there, if something had popped off or if it was Russian soldiers." Stopped and interrogated by Ukrainian forces, took photos of me and my passport. The press badge worked lol pic.twitter.com/n0h6XSt4vf Lord Miles Routledge (@real_lord_miles) February 28, 2022 Despite finding shelter in a hotel, he says: "The streets are completely empty, you only get the occasional person, there's a curfew of 5pm, so it's very difficult, it's the first curfew through till Monday so people are not too sure what to make of it." "People are being very friendly in the shelter, they're transporting mattresses around, people are handing out water, it's very nice, very good people," he continued. Routledge has set up online donation websites and said he will use the funds raised to help locals get supplies. He also claims there are veterans setting up field hospitals in safe houses in case the city becomes completely occupied. For the latest from trending, click here. A Ukrainian sailor in Spain was arrested and later released for partially sinking a yacht owned by a Russian tycoon, in protest over the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine. Taras Ostapchuk, 55, was taken into custody on Saturday in Mallorca after he allegedly opened several valves to intentionally flood the yacht named the Lady Anastasia, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported. yachtharbour.com The vessel is owned by Alexander Mikheev, who is the CEO of Rosoboronexport, the weapons export arm of Russia's state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec. According to the brief biography on the company's website, Mikheev was formerly head of defense contractor JSC Russian Helicopters. When the Civil Guard turned up to arrest him, the man is reported to have been waiting by the boat, telling authorities: I don't regret anything I've done and I would do it again', adding: 'My boss is a criminal who sells weapons that kill the Ukrainian people." Russian Helicopters His actions led to him being arrested, but he was later released on bail. All Ukrainian citizens must be defenders of our fatherland because it is being subject to Russian aggression, he told the Associated Press after being released from detention and just before boarding a flight to the Polish capital, Warsaw. We must stop this war, Ostapchuk said. FleetMon He said he was going to fight for his country. "I'm going to fight. As soon as I reach the first Ukrainian city I will look for a military commander and ask him if they need me. I told myself: 'Why do I need a job if I have my country. I had a good job as a head mechanic on the boat and a good salary but I am going to fight for my nation." he was quoted as saying by Spanish media. "I am not going to lose my country. I am not a hero, I'm a middle-aged man, but I have a lot of experience as a mechanic. I've never held a weapon but if necessary I will. Why not," he added. Meanwhile, more than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed after Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kyiv, Associated Press reported. This follows Moscows shelling of Ukraines second-largest city on Monday, rocking a residential neighbourhood, as Russian troops closed in on the capital, Kyiv, as talks aimed at stopping the fighting yielded only an agreement to keep talking. For the latest from trending, click here. Woodbridge, VA (22192) Today Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. During his term, former Mayor de Blasio repeatedly ignored science and justice. We watched NYCs infrastructure crumble from extreme flooding. We heard our calls for racial justice fall on deaf ears as the city increased the NYPDs budget. We saw the city let systemic racism play out in full force as our Black and Brown communities bore the most risk as essential workers denied proper protections and through an unequal access to vaccination sites. A new mayor sits in City Hall now, but nothing has changed. The election of Eric Adams has only further emphasized the need to organize for science-based policies. While Adams campaigned on following the science, his poor policies regarding COVID-19 have shown that he has no intention to do so. He has ignored the guidance of scientists, despite our deep toolbox of layered protections against the virus. Instead of leading the biggest school system in the country with an eye to increasing equity, the Adams administration has only exacerbated injustice. Advertisement The damage that Adams has done is evident from the stories of students, teachers and staff in our schools. Adams has championed a resistance to remote-learning despite the risks of forcing students, staff and faculty into crowded, poorly ventilated classrooms. His plan, Stay safe, stay open, had dramatic consequences as roughly 134,000 students and 39,000 staff have contracted the virus over the course of the delta and omicron waves a staggering number that could have been mitigated. By not providing sufficient infrastructure to support safety in schools, Adams has subjected an estimated 200,000 students to major educational disruptions, as teacher shortages and empty classrooms have ravaged the school system. Throughout the pandemic, teacher dropout and negativity towards the profession of education reached an all-time high, with the National Education Association citing that three out of 10 educators felt that the pandemic made them more likely to leave their jobs. When pressed about the idea of a remote option, Adams belittled the severity of the problem, stating we cannot feed into the hysteria. Students walked out last month demanding safety in their schools, and parents and educators have been organizing as well. Advertisement Adams has done no better for both public and private city employees. He has called on employers to demand a return to office despite a growing movement towards flexible work policies and has ignored calls for a remote option from city workers. His beloved NYPD have walked the subway platforms maskless, and he plans to increase their presence. Over the weekend, Adams announced his plans to soon remove many of these critical protections from infection, namely a removal of the citywide Key to NYC, requiring proof of vaccination for entry to many indoor spaces. Gov. Hochul made a similar decision to lift the statewide mask mandate in schools this week. As science advocates, we cannot sit idly by as our leadership fails to leverage the expertise of trained scientists to design and implement equitable policies that prioritize the well-being of New Yorkers. Masks and mask mandates work. Remote learning and flexible work policies work. All of these policies work when we take the time and money to invest in creating and supporting their infrastructure. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > We call on Adams to listen to the demands of students, teachers and school staff to support remote learning, provide students with necessary equipment for equitable remote learning, increase ventilation in schools, and improve the transparency of data. He should implement a citywide mask mandate in response to Hochuls preemptive lift on the statewide mask mandate. He should maintain a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for public and private employees and continue to require proof of vaccination for use of indoor spaces. And he should support remote work policies for both public and private employees in the city. While omicron cases are decreasing in NYC, we must prepare for another surge, and long-term, for future pandemics. Scientists warn that pandemics like COVID-19 will only increase in frequency and severity as the globe continues to warm. The primary source of pandemic pathogens is from zoonoses transmission events between animal species and humans. Rising tides, global temperatures, frequent wildfires and rapid deforestation will only disrupt local ecosystems, increasing the frequency of human contact with other species. We call on the scientific community of the city to join us in the fight for evidence-based policies to protect our communities. We must hold Adams accountable for the promises he has made to NYC, for now and for the future. We must fight to use science as a tool for justice, regardless of who is in office. Advertisement Acklin is a viral immunologist pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and is the co-chair of March for Science NYC. Shearer is a Ph.D. candidate in nutritional and metabolic biology at Columbia University and a programming director of March for Science NYC. Sapit is a software engineer and the creative director of March for Science NYC. Paredes is a STEM educator and co-chair of March for Science NYC. A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed by demonstrators who were tear-gassed by Richmond police during a protest in June 2020. Six people who were among a crowd protesting at the former Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee monument alleged that their constitutional rights were violated and that the unleashing of chemical irritants on them amounted to assault and battery and gross negligence by the police officers. The demonstration in Richmond was part of a wave of nightly protests held around the country after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The Richmond Times-Dispatch quoted attorney Andrew Bodoh as saying that his clients reached an agreement with the city earlier this month. Bodoh said the agreement opens the same possibility for others who were also at the protest. He said he could not release the terms of the confidential settlement. With this settlement, we are now positioned to take on the claims of other protesters who were in Lee Circle at the time the police officers engaged the crowd, Bodoh said. We expect the city to offer fair and prompt settlements to these individuals in order to avoid the expenses of additional lawsuits against the city. Thousands of people, including families with children, were in the crowd on June 1, 2020. The tear-gassing happened about 20 minutes ahead of an 8 p.m. curfew. The police department tweeted an apology nearly two hours later, describing the gassing as an unwarranted action. Mayor Levar Stoney and Police Chief William Smith, who resigned days later, apologized the next day and promised to discipline the officers. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Law Enforcement Civil Unrest Global insurance intermediary Howden Group Holdings has agreed to acquire a major Italian insurance broker, Assiteca. Howden plans to acquire 86.965% of the outstanding share capital of Assiteca S.p.A. held by Assitecas founder, Luciano Lucca, and Chaise S.p.A., a company 100%-owned indirectly by Tikehau Growth Equity fund. Howden said the total price is equal to approximately 208.7 million and values each share of the company at 5.624. Howden said it will pay the total price in cash in a single payment at closing, which is expected to occur around May 2022. Assiteca is the largest Italian-headquartered broker with 750 employees operating across 19 cities in Italy, as well as operations in Spain and Switzerland, with a turnover of brokerage commissions of approximately 90 million, according to the announcement Howden Group is headquartered in the UK and has operations in 45 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the U.S. and Latin America. With 10,500 employees, 1.4 billion in revenues and more than $17 billion premiums managed it is one of the largest international insurance intermediary groups in the world. Howden said Assiteca is highly complementary to Howdens existing broking business in Italy and the partnership will create a major force in the Italian broking market as well as further opportunities for all employees. The transaction will combine Assitecas regional and mid-market business with Howdens international and larger corporate accounts, specialty segments and reinsurance. Europe, and Italy in particular, has been a focus for investment for Howden, with the recent completion of the acquisitions of Andrea Scagliarini S.p.A. in July 2021 and Tower S.p.A. in January 2022. Upon completion of the transaction, various members of Assitecas management will retain key positions in the management of the Assitecas. In particular, Luciano Lucca will remain as chairman of the board of directors, Gabriele Giacoma will remain as chief executive officer, and Nicola Girelli will remain as finance director. The transaction will result in the delisting of Assiteca shares from the Euronext Growth Milan market. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies A number of big investors on Monday filed to end their lawsuits against Allianz after a settlement was reached over their losses in a multibillion-dollar trading debacle at the German asset managers funds arm. The move marks an important milestone in the downfall of the $15 billion Structured Alpha funds, a saga that has dogged the German insurer and asset manager for two years. But it isnt over yet. Allianz is still bracing for the outcome of U.S. regulatory investigations by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Allianz said earlier this month that it had settled with a number of investors, but didnt provide details about who. At the time, it said that it set aside 3.7 billion euros ($4.15 billion) to deal with the lawsuits and investigations. The sum pushed Allianz into a fourth-quarter loss and resulted in a cut in pay for its chief executive and other board members. Mondays filings in a New York court were from pension funds for various Blue Cross and Blue Shield entities and Raytheon Technologies Corp The filings and Sean Gallagher, a lawyer for some of the plaintiffs with the firm Bartlit Beck, didnt disclose financial details. We are happy to say that we reached a settlement with Allianz, which is good for our clients, he said. The Allianz funds used complex options strategies to generate returns but when the coronavirus pandemic sent stock markets into a tailspin in February and March 2020, they plummeted in value, in some cases by 80% or more. Investors in the funds, which were predominantly U.S. public pension funds, then sued Allianz for a total of $6 billion in damages. In their lawsuits, investors alleged Allianz had strayed from its stated investment strategy of hedging to limit potential losses. Other pension funds that invested in the funds included those for laborers in Alaska, teachers in Arkansas and subway workers in New York. Allianz declined to comment. ($1 = 0.8920 euro) (Reporting by Tom Sims and Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis) Topics Lawsuits Profit Loss Allianz Illinois is expected to receive $760 million as part of a settlement with pharmaceutical distributors sued for their role in the opioid crisis, the state attorney general announced Feb. 25. Attorney General Kwame Raouls office said the states share of a $26 billion opioid settlement agreement is the result of three years of talks. The majority of the states award will be used for programs around the state aimed at prevention and recovery from opioid addiction. Money is expected to begin flowing to states and local governments as soon as April. Raouls office said nearly all Illinois counties have signed onto the agreement, along with 104 municipalities. Individual payments for those local governments will be determined by a state panel, which will consider population, overdose deaths, opioid usage rates and the amount of opioids shipped to a region. I am committed to ensuring the money we secured through the settlement is distributed equitably to fund critical recovery and treatment programs in the counties and municipalities with the most urgent need, Raoul said in a statement. Most of the money is required to be used to address the nations opioid addiction and overdose epidemic, which has been linked to more than 500,000 deaths over the last two decades. The crisis has deepened during the coronavirus pandemic, with U.S. opioid-related deaths reaching a high of more than 76,000 in the 12 months that ended in April 2021, largely because of the spread of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Illinois Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices on Monday appeared skeptical of the federal governments authority to issue sweeping regulations to reduce carbon emissions from power plants in a case that could undermine President Joe Bidens plans to tackle climate change. The court, whose 6-3 conservative majority has shown wariness toward broad federal agency actions, was weighing the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal- and gas-fired power plants under the landmark Clean Air Act. Although some justices questioned the EPAs power in an abstract sense, it remained unclear how they would rule, as lawyers representing the EPA and power companies pushed back against a decision that would prevent the agency from issuing any regulation that went outside the fenceline meaning beyond restrictions on individual plants. An eventual ruling restricting the EPAs authority could hamstring the administrations ability to curb the power sectors emissions representing about a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gases. The United States, behind only China in greenhouse gas emissions, is a pivotal player in efforts to combat climate change on a global basis. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito indicated that any broad assertion of authority sought by the EPA would constitute a major question that under court precedent requires Congress to have expressly authorized it. You are claiming that the interpretation gives you the authority to set industrial policy and energy policy and balance such things as jobs, economic impact, the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change as well as costs, Alito told U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing Bidens administration. The Supreme Court is reviewing the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuits 2021 decision striking down Republican former President Donald Trumps Affordable Clean Energy rule. That regulation would have imposed limits on a Clean Air Act provision called Section 111 that provides the EPA authority to regulate emissions from existing power plants. The United Nations earlier in the day released a 3,675-page report urging global action to combat climate change. Outside the Supreme Court, a small group of demonstrators carried signs reading Protect the Clean Air Act. The case was pursued by Republican-led states led by coal producer West Virginia. Other challengers include coal companies and coal-friendly industry groups. Coal is among the most greenhouse gas-intensive fuels. Democratic-led states and major power companies including Consolidated Edison Inc., Exelon Corp., and PG&E Corp. sided with Bidens administration, as did the Edison Electric Institute, an investor-owned utility trade group. During the argument, their lawyer Beth Brinkmann, stressed the value of flexibility that would allow for some outside the fenceline regulation, including authorization of emissions trading between plants. That argument seemed to draw some interest from the bench, including conservative Justice Clarence Thomas. I dont know how you can draw such clean distinctions, Thomas told Yaakov Roth, a lawyer representing coal companies. Liberal Justice Elena Kagan said that inside the fenceline regulations can be just as onerous on coal plants as a more industry-wide rule. Reform can be very small or can be catastrophic. There are inside the fence technological fixes that could drive the entire coal industry out of business tomorrow, and an outside the fence rule could be very small, or it could be very large, Kagan said. The rule proposed by Trump, a supporter of the U.S. coal industry who also questioned climate change science, was meant to supplant Democratic former President Barack Obamas Clean Power Plan mandating major reductions in carbon emissions from the power industry. The Supreme Court blocked Clean Power Plan implementation in 2016 without ruling on its lawfulness. Coal-aligned groups want the justices to rule that Bidens administration cannot take a sweeping approach to regulating carbon emissions under Section 111. Such a decision would prevent the EPA from enforcing industry-wide changes, limiting it to actions targeting individual plants. That would be a blow for the administration, which wants the U.S. power sector decarbonized by 2035. If Bidens administration loses the case, Congress would need to pass new legislation for the government to impose sweeping climate-related regulations unlikely given congressional divisions. Prelogar said the EPA will unveil a proposed new regulation by the end of the year, which would likely come after the Supreme Courts ruling expected by the end of June. Topics Legislation USA Climate Change Pollution The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition by a Massachusetts Christian college seeking a religious ministerial exception to help it avoid a discrimination lawsuit brought by a professor denied a promotion. However, the denial of certiorari, due to a procedural matter, was sympathetic to Gordon College and left the door open for it to come back to the high court if it loses at trial in Massachusetts. The ministerial exception protects churches and other religious institutions from discrimination claims in the selection of employees who play certain key roles. Gordon College requires all of its faculty to sign a Christian statement of faith. The schools handbook also states that the most important task of the Christian educator is the integration of faith and learning. Margaret DeWeese-Boyd was hired as a faculty member in Gordon Colleges department of social work in 1998. DeWeese-Boyds employment application acknowledged personal agreement with Gordons Statement of Faith, stated her Christian beliefs, described her pilgrimage as a Christian, [and] explained how her Christian commitment affected her scholarship, according to the court. In 2009, when DeWeese-Boyd applied for tenure, she submitted a paper that discussed her integration of the Christian faith into her work. In 2016, when DeWeese-Boyd applied for promotion to full professor, she explained that she thought the work of integration required pursuing scholarship that is faithful to the mandates of Scripture, the vocational call of Christ, and the dictates of conscience. Student evaluations, also included in the 2016 application, stated that she did a great job of connecting class materials with Christian faith. Gordon College denied her a promotion, citing lack of scholarly productivity, among other things. DeWeese-Boyd sued, alleging that the college had actually denied her a promotion because of her vocal opposition to [the colleges] policies and practices regarding individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. The parties sought summary judgment on whether the ministerial exception barred DeWeese-Boyds claims. The trial court ruled in favor of DeWeese-Boyd, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court later affirmed that the ministerial exception did not shield the college in this case because it found DeWeese-Boyd did not qualify as a minister under the U.S. Supreme Courts decisions. The state court reasoned that DeWeese-Boyd did not undergo formal religious training, pray with her students, participate in or lead religious services, take her students to chapel services, or teach a religious curriculum. Though the court recognized that she was required to integrate the Christian faith into her teaching, scholarship, and advising, the court reasoned that this integrated teaching was different in kind from religious instruction. After the states highest court found it was not entitled to avoid trial, Gordon College petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court. In his statement of denial of certiorari, Associate Justice Samuel Alito criticized the Massachusetts high court for its understanding of the ministerial exception. That conclusion reflects a troubling and narrow view of religious education, Alito wrote. What many faiths conceive of as religious education includes much more than instruction in explicitly religious doctrine or theology. Citing a brief supporting the college, Alioto added that many religious schools ask their teachers to show students how to view the world through a faith-based lens, even when teaching nominally secular subjects. Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney-Barrett joined in Alitos statement. The high court denied certiorari because it said ruling before the state trial was completed would complicate the review. But in an appropriate future case, this Court may be required to resolve this important question of religious liberty, Alito wrote. Also, the statement notes that if Gordon College loses and DeWeese-Boyd prevails in the trial court, there is nothing that would preclude Gordon [College] from appealing at that time, including seeking review in this Court when the decision is actually final. Topics Lawsuits USA Massachusetts Education Training Development Universities Brokerage Hub International and insurtech Bold Penguin have agreed to acquire digital agency Insureon Holdings. Chicago-based Insureon calls itself the top independent marketplace for online delivery of small-business insurance. It was one of the original insurtechs launched to serve small businessowners who wanted to buy coverage online. Pending the closings of two separate transactions, Hub, also based in Chicago, will acquire the Insureon digital insurance agency and brand. Bold Penguin will acquire the Insureon technology platform. Hub said it will then enter into an enterprise agreement with Columbus, Ohio-based Bold Penguin to license Insureons technology platform. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Hub was No. 1 on Insurance Journals list of Top 100 Independent Property/Casualty Agencies in 2021. Insureon is also on the list at No. 80. Annually, Insureon has 350,000 customers in 50 states, and has broad insurance-company partners serving the U.S. small business market. Marc Cohen, Hub president and CEO, said the acquisition substantially increases the scale and depth of Hubs digital capabilities. The addition of Insureon and our partnership with Bold Penguin leaders in insurtech innovation not only strengthens our unique market position but accelerates our digital capabilities, Cohen continued, in a statement. The one constant in our ever-changing climate is that customers want choice. We are positioned to deliver omnichannel solutions that will continue to evolve and keep pace with our clients needs. This is just the beginning. Beyond the Portal: P/C Carriers Vie to Create Better Agency Digital Experiences Insureon CEO Dan Kazan will join both companies. He said: By combining Insureons leading technology, Hubs investment and pulse on customer expectations, and Bold Penguins commitment to serving small businesses, we are helping to create the future of the small commercial marketplace. Jeff Kroeger, chief commercial officer at Insureon, will join Hub along with the digital agency and front-end ecommerce technology and product teams. Last year during a podcast, Kroeger told Insurance Journal that the market size for online sales of small business could grow to $12 billion by the end of 2025. Hub said Insureons digital agency will enable the broker to service its association and affinity group clients more efficiently and expand its network to develop and distribute insurance products in collaboration with carriers. At Hub, the Insureon operations will be part of Hub holding company Specialty Program Group. The team will report to SPG CEO Chris Treanor. Bold Penguin, a subsidiary of American Family Insurance, will acquire Insureons cloud-based technology platform with 24/7 monitoring and flexible API integration to connect to carriers. Bold Penguin will continue to serve Insureons enterprise software and SaaS clients, expanding Bold Penguins depth of products, carriers, and clients. Insureons platform technology, carrier integration and enterprise/SaaS teams will join Bold Penguin. We have a tremendous future together delivering a digitally transformative experience for Hubs clients and prospects as we leverage Insureons innovative solutions to extend the market-leading capabilities of Bold Penguins commercial insurance exchange, said Ben Clarke, chief data officer and co-founder of Bold Penguin. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Tech Russia's nuclear triad put on high alert: defense ministry Xinhua) 09:01, March 01, 2022 Photo taken on Feb. 19, 2022 shows a view of the Russian-Belarusian exercises, dubbed Allied Resolve 2022, in Belarus. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua) MOSCOW, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin on Monday that the country's nuclear deterrence forces have begun combat duty with reinforced staff. Shoigu informed Putin that "the duty shifts of control units of the strategic rocket forces, the Northern and Pacific fleets, and the long-range aviation command have started to carry out the combat duty with increased capacity," Russia's RIA Novosti news agency cited the ministry as reporting. Putin ordered the country's deterrence forces to be placed on "a special mode of combat duty" in a Sunday meeting with top defense officials. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) The late Robert M. Morgenthau was a legendary prosecutor. He served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and Manhattan district attorney for 34 years. Fiercely independent and dedicated to the public interest, he relished high-profile cases and did not shrink from prosecuting public officials or well-heeled business figures, even when the illegality was not so flagrant. It appears that, over many years, former President Trump knowingly submitted false financial statements to banks and insurers to induce them to lend. But Alvin Bragg, the newly elected Manhattan DA, seems to have put the brakes on the case against Trump for financial fraud. Last week, Braggs two top prosecutors on the case, Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, abruptly resigned as they seemingly saw Braggs action to be contrary to the public interest. Pomerantz and Dunne, both of whom have impeccable reputations, had been investigating Trump for some time. Advertisement Based only on what has come out in the press (and doubtless more evidence was available to the grand jury), there appears enough of a case against Trump to take him to trial. The valuations Trump placed on business assets for purposes of obtaining bank loans were grossly inflated, and varied widely from valuations he placed on the same assets in tax returns. New Yorks larceny law requires deprivation of property, and some cases say that the deprivation must be permanent. This would indicate that intent to repay a fraudulently induced loan might be a defense. There is no way, however, that Trump could repay all or some of his loans. In fact, he has a record of fleecing his creditors, suppliers and even his lawyers. In Atlantic City, his casinos went bankrupt six times. Protesting that he had an intent to repay will ring hollow when his history has been to roll over the loans without paying down principal. Advertisement Although the penal law provision regarding scheme to defraud might cover fraudulent inducement of a loan, the issue is legally complicated. New York does not have an analog to the federal law which makes it a crime to submit a knowingly false financial statement or an overvaluation of property to influence action by a bank or insurance company. Intent to repay would not be a defense. Nevertheless, Bragg should have let a jury wrestle with that one. A criminal fraud case is like a mosaic; the full picture is more important than the individual tiles. The fact that we have a decade of false financial statements in itself may be quite sufficient to convince a jury that Trump had actual knowledge of the falsity of the financial statements and deliberately sought to defraud his lenders. As the iconic Judge Learned Hand put it: the cumulation of instances, each explicable only by extreme credulity or professional inexpertness, may have a probative force immensely greater than any one of them alone. The key badge of fraud is that Trumps long-time accountants, the Mazars Group, pulled their opinions on the Trump financials, and said that, despite the elaborate boilerplate disclaimers, they should no longer be relied upon. Would the banks have made the loans had they known that the financials were false, and could not be relied upon? Auditors do not pull their opinions on 10 years of financial statements unless they have a real issue. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Auditors normally do not render an opinion covering financial statements unless they receive a representation letter from the client that the financials are presented fairly, and are true and correct. It is not clear that Trump personally signed such a letter to Mazars, since he is known not to leave his fingerprints on anything. But it is inconceivable that his employees would have signed the letters unless Trump directed them to do it. In the celebrated Rothko case in the 1980s, the stock book of the Marlborough Gallery was doctored to backdate Rothko painting sales. Frank Lloyd, owner of the gallery, tried to shift the blame to underlings who physically altered the records. Morgenthau prosecuted Lloyd for uttering false records, and he was convicted after a jury trial. Bragg may have hesitated because of the problem of proving Trumps criminal intent. Trumps convicted lawyer Michael Cohen testified before Congress that Trump inflated his total assets when it served his purposesand deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes, but this may not have been enough. Cohen was not viewed by Bill Barrs Justice Department as a reliable witness. Bragg should not have been equally skeptical. But, to prove criminal intent, you dont need Michael Cohen or anyone else on the inside to say Trump knew everything. That is gathered from all the facts and circumstances. There is evidence of all the similar acts of Trumps lying in sworn statements or in statements filed with government agencies, and that would have independent probative force. Advertisement Unlike in the Jan. 6 or Georgia cases, Trump has no credible counter-attack against the New York case by claiming his political enemies are out to get him. Anyway, it was Bob Morgenthau who famously said: A man is not immune from prosecution just because a [prosecutor] happens not to like him. I do not know Bragg, and ascribe no improper motive to him. But I do know that Bob Morgenthau would most certainly have indicted Trump on the publicly known facts. Zirin is a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. He was appointed by Robert M. Morgenthau. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a district courts denial of class certification to a group of Louisiana GEICO customers who allege the insurers proprietary valuation system violated state law. Plaintiffs Eric Prudhomme and Elvin Jack failed to show want of commonality, adequacy, and predominance among the proposed class, the district court said. In rejecting the appellants proposed class, the district court questioned whether the appellants theory of liability would benefit all members of the class. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that the representative parties in a class-action will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class. Indeed, a portion of the proposed class members received payments above (that is, benefitted from) the allegedly unlawful valuation, summarized Circuit Judges Carolyn Dineen King, Gregg J. Costa and Don R. Willett. This undermined Appellants class-wide theory of liability and thereby doomed adequacy. Topics Lawsuits Louisiana A rescue bill that aims to cut losses and litigation expenses for Florida property insurers passed a state Senate committee Monday, its last stop before a floor vote in the full Senate. But with just 11 days remaining in the 2022 session, and significant differences between Senate and House measures, its far from certain that SB 1728 will make it into the law books. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 18-2 on Monday to approve the bill, which insurance industry advocates have said is the best hope to stem losses from aggressive roofing contractors and a continuing surge of lawsuits over claims and to help prevent more carriers from becoming insolvent and raising premiums. Weve got to get our arms around this problem. Its costing our constituents sums that most of them cannot afford to pay, said Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, the sponsor of SB 1728. The meeting came a few days after regulators announced that St. Johns Insurance Co. had become insolvent. Six other Florida carriers have announced they will stop writing new business or non-renew some policies. The debate in the committee meeting Monday focused largely on a section of the bill that would allow more policies to cover the actual cash value of roofs when they are damaged, as opposed to full-replacement value now required for most policies. The measure also would let insurers offer policies with deductibles just for roofs, up to 2% of the policy limits. After the deductible is paid, the homeowner would receive full-replacement value for the roof, Boyd explained. Sen. Daryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, objected to the idea that homeowners would have to pay thousands to meet a deductible before they could see any insurance benefits paid to a contractor. But the committee voted down his amendment. Hollywood, Florida, attorney Hillary Cassel testified that the bill provides full replacement value for roofs only when damaged by named hurricanes. She suggested allowing that coverage for tornado and other storms. Boyd said that if a home is hit by a tornado, it will likely suffer heavy losses. If its more than 50% damaged, thats a total loss and it will get full replacement, he said. Cassel, whose firm represents policyholders, also said the bill does not outline insurers responsibilities. Homeowners could face months-long delays before they see any payout on policies, she said. Others urged swift action on the bill. Were probably in a property insurance crisis larger than weve seen since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, said Gary Guzzo, a lobbyist for Floridian Partners and a former state insurance regulator. He noted that previous Legislatures have made statutory changes that have resulted in significant improvements in the insurance field, including lowered workers compensation costs after 2003 changes, and reduced losses after sinkhole insurance reforms in 2016. Guzzo told lawmakers they can save the day again with SB 1728. A similar bill in the House, HB 1307, has made its way through two House committees and is awaiting a vote on the floor. But that measure differs from SB 1728 in some key areas, and its not clear if the two chambers would be able to iron out differences before the session ends. Florida law limits the session to 60 days, which will make March 11 the final day. Also Monday, the Appropriations Committee approved SB 1874, which would require insurance agencies to notify customers ahead of time when an agency is to be closed; and it would reduce penalties for small businesses for workers compensation violations. The panel also passed SB 1292, which increases penalties on unlicensed public adjusters who violate the law, among other provisions. Top photo: Lobbyist Gary Guzzo at Mondays Senate committee hearing. Topics Legislation Florida The latest climate report from the UN has been described as "an atlas of human suffering". Here are answers to some key questions about the report. What is the report? It is the second part of a global assessment of climate science by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the sixth such assessment the UN body has conducted, with the most recent one back in 2013/14. This second report looks at the impacts of and vulnerabilities to climate change, and adaptation to global warming. The first part, labelled a "code red for humanity" when it was published last August, examined the physical basis of climate change, and a third part will set out solutions to the crisis when it is published later this year. What is the IPCC? It is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change. It was established in 1988 to provide political leaders with scientific assessments on climate change, to help them make policy. Some 195 countries are members of the IPCC. There always seems to be another climate report coming out. What is different about this one? The IPCC reports are an assessment of all the available science on climate change. This latest study references more than 34,000 published papers and has involved 270 authors from around the world, who have received tens of thousands of comments on earlier drafts from scientists and governments. Most importantly, the 35-page summary of the report has been subject to a line-by-line approval process involving scientists and representatives of the 195 governments before it is published - which has taken place online over the last two weeks. That means that governments have signed off on the findings. What does the report say? It says climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health, with around 3.3-3.6 billion people living in situations where they are highly vulnerable to global warming. Human-induced climate change, including more frequent and intense extreme events, has caused widespread adverse impacts to people and nature, including death, physical and mental health impacts, and damage to livelihoods, infrastructure and habitats. Some of these impacts are irreversible, as humans and nature are pushed beyond their ability to adapt, with glaciers melting, permafrost thawing and species going extinct. There will be "unavoidable increases" in many climate hazards in the next two decades. Read More Children will have to emit 10 times less than grandparents to meet climate targets Keeping temperature rises to close to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels will substantially reduce the losses and damages caused by climate change compared to higher temperatures, but does not eliminate all dangers. The report warns that any further delay in concerted global action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changes will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all. What impact will it have? While the first part of the assessment came out in the run-up to the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, which aimed - and just about managed - to keep limiting global warming to 1.5C within reach, this one lands just over 100 days after the talks concluded. It might be hoped the new findings keep up the pressure on governments, who agreed to take more action to cut emissions this year, and increase climate finance and the focus on helping countries adapt to the crisis, as part of the Glasgow Pact agreed at the talks. Cop26 President Alok Sharma has said there is hope, with a window of opportunity in the crucial next decade to "cut emissions, adapt to a more dangerous climate and build for a secure and clean future which turns the commitments made at Cop26 into transformative action". However, the report has landed just days after the world was plunged into a geopolitical crisis with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This had immediate impacts for the IPCC's approval process, as the Ukrainian team had to warn on Thursday morning that they might not be able to continue as they were not sure they would have electricity, internet and safety. On an international scale, there is a danger that governments are once again, as with Covid-19, focused on a crisis other than climate change and unable to work in concert to fix a problem that requires action from everyone, together. A Ukrainian team in Ireland has developed interactive maps with real-time information for emergency services across the embattled country. The team of five are constantly updating the maps with data on services such as blood centre locations, metro shelters and emergency trains to evacuate the elderly and children from the country. Vladislav Zhdanko is one of the small team working in an international IT company with an office based in Dublin who are monitoring services on an ongoing basis and updating the detailed maps region-by-region. Vladislav (27) is originally from Zaporizhzhia and has been living in Navan, Co. Meath, for the last 13 years. "My company, which can't be named, has been very good in accommodating us to provide this interactive assistance for people in Ukraine," he said. "There are five of us originally from Ukraine who are constantly monitoring the official Government websites and updating the maps accordingly region-by-region. At present, there is a huge need for blood in the country so we are inputting all blood donation centres on the map with contact information and directions. "Information on metro stations providing shelter and emergency trains running to evacuate the elderly and children are also uploaded and changed as we get details. "It's just one way that we can help our country. I still have my elderly grandparents, my aunt, my dad and a lot of friends over there. We are trying to persuade my grandparents who are 73 and 70 to leave for a safer place but they don't think they will be able for the long journey. Vladislav Zhdanko is one of the small team working in an international IT company with an office based in Dublin who are monitoring services on an ongoing basis. Photo: Seamus Farrelly "There have been three explosions near the airport in my city and my auntie, who I'm in contact with, said the sky was orange from all the bombing last night. "Some of the shelters are hard to find in the dark because all the lights in the city are turned off and some are in terrible condition and not safe at all so my relations are hoping to find somewhere else to go to." There can be no Irish neutrality in relation to Ukraine. There can be no constructive abstention from the fight to stop Vladimir Putin. If it cannot be argued that a country such as Ireland can take a case-by-case attitude to neutrality (and that argument has never been made effectively), then our policy of military neutrality must end. We must be prepared to do whatever is asked of us, to send whatever is needed, to help Ukraine and to seek to defeat Putin in whatever way is necessary. We must be ready to join whatever alliance is necessary. Because there is only one choice now. There is evil in the world, and no country can absolve itself from the struggle against it. If it isnt stopped, it can only spread. Of course, were a small country, and we dont have an awful lot in the way of military resources. But whatever we have, we have to be prepared to give. Since Hitler, the world has never faced an autocratic tyrant with so malign a set of intentions. And Hitler didnt have the unthinkable weaponry that Putin has at his command. If the world including us isnt resolved to stand against it, there is no future. Russian president Vladimir Putin. Picture: Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP Just so theres no misunderstanding I dont believe its enough for us to say that while we remain aloof from any military alliance, we are, of course, on the side of democracy. That might have cut it once, but its no longer enough. My late father hated violence of any kind. As a proud Irishman, he never argued against his countrys policy of neutrality in the Second World War. But he also believed that everyone had a moral duty where Hitler was concerned. So he joined the British Army for the duration of the war. Like him, I have always hated war and violence, even the thought of it. Right now, I think of children terrified in the face of bombs, families being torn apart by this war, fathers leaving their families at borders and going back to be killed or injured in the defence of their freedoms. Every time I think of them, I think of my daughters and my grandchildren. What if it were them? How would they cope? How much pain can people endure? But apart from a hatred of violence, Im also someone who always believed in Irish neutrality. In the 1990s, I was one of a group of people who worked hard to see it written into Irelands first, and so far only, white paper on foreign policy. To make it official government policy. Neutrality was written into the document as the cornerstone of our security policy and a core value of our foreign policy. In some of the later referenda on European treaties, we went further. We put language into our Constitution, in Article 29, saying that we would not join a European common defence agreement. I look at some of the sentences in that white paper now, that I was so proud of at the time, and I can only wonder at how woefully inadequate they are in the face of evil: Successive Irish governments have taken the view that in the event of a major international or European conflict, the security of the State could best be preserved by the adoption of an attitude of neutrality. And: Neutrality represents an attitude of impartiality adopted by a state towards the participants in a conflict and recognised as such by the belligerents. If we had said at the time that, in the event of an authoritarian dictator willing to go to war with much smaller neighbours in pursuit of selfish and ego-driven purposes, we could best preserve our security by turning our backs and if necessary being ready to surrender all our values it would have been just as meaningful. We must change our position. For as long as a dictator like Putin is allowed to hold sway and to use any fascistic tactic he chooses, we have to be ready to join whatever alliance is necessary to defeat him. We see already that there are elements in the US willing to turn a blind eye to Putins wanton cruelty. Rather than confronting his evil, theyd prefer to attack and undermine their own president. They are led, of course, by the charlatan Donald Trump, who spent every day of his presidency when he wasnt trying to blackmail and bully the president of Ukraine behaving like a complete lickspittle to Putin. Nobody and it should never be forgotten did more to empower and enable Putin than Trump did. US president Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit, Friday, July 7, 2017, in Hamburg. Picture: Evan Vucci/AP At the same time nobody else, it seems, believes that it is right at this time to go to war in Ukraine to send troops to fight on the ground because nobody can predict where such escalation would bring us. Even without escalation, Putin is willing to drop dark hints and suggestions about the deployment of nuclear weapons. But Finland shares a border with Russia that is more than 1,000km long; Estonia and Latvia have long Russian borders; Lithuania has Russian territory to the south and is completely surrounded to its east by Belarus, now firmly established as little more than a large Russian military base; Poland too has Belarus as its next-door neighbour. If Ukraine is subjugated and itself becomes a base for further Russian expansion its immediately neighbouring states include Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania all with land borders to Ukraine. With the exception of little Moldova perhaps the poorest country in Europe all of these ancient nations are part of the EU. As are we. A threat to one of them is a threat to all of us. We cannot ever again say, if one of them is attacked: What a terrible shame. But you do understand, dont you, that were neutral. Those days are over. In the months and years ahead, we must be prepared to accept responsibility for at least our share of the humanitarian tasks that will accumulate from this terrible war. The support that families will need will be immense, the rebuilding may well take years. In some ways, though, thats the easy bit. The harder bit is sanctions and protest. We need to be proactive if, for example, Aughinish Alumina needs to be taken into State ownership and out of the hands of a Russian oligarch; we cannot hesitate. If no one else is prepared to name Putin as a war criminal, and demand that he be investigated by the International Criminal Court, we must. If others do it, we must support them. We need to do whatever we can to ensure no safe havens for Putin and his henchmen. Of course, we should be suspending diplomatic relations with Russia and sending the ambassador home. Anyone who saw Sergei Lavrovs interview with David McCullough on RTE saw only a liar and a propagandist brilliantly exposed for what he was. The hardest part might yet be to come. It may ultimately be necessary for Ireland to be part of something that will confront this madness with arms. I never in my life thought I would say this, but if it happens, we cannot shy away. A senior Russian official has launched a new stark warning over its sanctions against his country for its war in Ukraine. Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of Russias Security Council, was retorting to a comment by French finance minister Bruno Le Maire on Tuesday that the European Union was going to unleash an all-out economic and financial war against Russia. Burma Myanmar Junta Jails Ousted NLD Chief Minister for 21 Years Over Alleged Corruption Ousted Sagaing Region's Chief Minister Dr. Myint Naing. A junta court sentenced Sagaing Regions ousted chief minister, Dr. Myitn Naing, on Monday to a further 21 years in prison in addition to an earlier sentence of two years. The 71-year-old was convicted by the junta court on seven charges of alleged corruption which each carried three years under Article 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law. The junta accused the chief minister, who gained in popularity while in office, of accepting gifts, mismanaging government tenders and failing to collect taxes from gold mining companies, which lost government revenue. The junta previously sentenced him to two years imprisonment in December under alleged incitement charges for issuing statements calling the public to resist the regime. The central executive committee member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) has been detained in Monywa Prison since shortly after the February coup. He is in good health. We are not sure yet whether he will appeal to the court, a court source said. Dr. Myint Naing won seats at the 1990, 2015 and 2020 general elections and in the 2012 by-elections and became Sagaing chief minister in 2016 under the NLD-led government which was toppled by the military coup. Of the 14 state and regional chief ministers appointed by the NLD, 13 were detained on Feb. 1, 2021, and are still in military custody, prison or under house arrest. The Chin State chief minister was reported to have fled across the border into India. Almost all the chief ministers have been charged under Article 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law and face tough jail terms. Many of them also face other charges. Yangon Region chief minister U Phyo Min Thein is the only one who has not been hit with any legal charges by the junta. Karen State chief minister Daw Nan Khin Htwe Myint was sentenced to 80 years in prison on corruption and incitement charges, which was halved on February 12. Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, the detained Mandalay chief minister and NLD deputy chairman, was sentenced for allegedly breaching COVID-19 rules and incitement. You may also like these stories: Russia-Ukraine Crisis Prompts Myanmar Junta Emergency Meeting Isolated Russia Defends Ukraine Invasion at UN General Assembly Myanmar Junta Planes Bomb Village Sheltering Displaced Karenni Civilians Burma Russia-Ukraine Crisis Prompts Myanmar Junta Emergency Meeting Coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (right) and Russian deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin during the latter's visit to Naypyitaw in March 2021. Myanmars military regime held an emergency meeting on the Russia-Ukraine crisis in the capital Naypyitaw on February 26, to discuss how the conflict in Eastern Europe might affect Myanmar, sources told The Irrawaddy. At the meeting, the regime assumed that Myanmar faces the risk of invasion by its neighbor China, just as Ukraine has been invaded by its neighbor Russia. While the junta is convinced that Beijing would not invade Myanmar in normal times, it is concerned that the superpower would take matters into its own hand if and when Myanmars military is incapable of protecting Chinese interests in the country. The regime believes that Chinese investments are increasingly being targeted by resistance groups. Beijing has numerous existing and planned projects in Myanmar including an oil and gas pipelines project, which is thus far the biggest Chinese project in the country. The project spans nearly 800 kilometers, comprising twin pipelines running in parallel from the port of Kyaukphyu in western Myanmars Rakhine State through Magwe and Mandalay regions and northern Shan State before entering Chinas Yunnan Province. China is also working to establish the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, which is part of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative. The estimated 1,700 kilometre-long corridor will connect Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, to Mandalay, Yangon and the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone in Rakhine. Beijing also has influence over ethnic armed groups based in Shan State. Last month, an off-take station of the China-backed oil and gas pipelines in Mandalay Regions Natogyi Township was damaged when a resistance group attacked regime forces guarding the facility. China has urged Myanmars parallel National Unity Government to ensure its resistance movement does not harm Chinese investments in Myanmar, following a January attack on electricity pylons supplying the China-backed Tagaung Taung nickel-processing plant in Sagaing Regions Tigyaing Township. At the February 26 meeting, the regime decided to tighten security at the sites of Chinas special interests in Myanmar, including along the oil and gas pipelines, a source who asked for anonymity told The Irrawaddy. Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Regime spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun has told the Voice of America radio network that the junta supports the invasion. Number one is that Russia has worked to consolidate its sovereignty. I think this is the right thing to do. Number two is to show the world that Russia is a world power, the regime spokesman was quoted by VOA as saying. On February 25, China, along with India and the United Arab Emirates, abstained in a vote on a United Nations draft resolution condemning Russias attack on Ukraine. Russia, which is one of the largest arms suppliers to the Myanmar military, is now facing sanctions from Western countries because of its invasion. The European Union has closed its airspace to Russian aircraft since Sunday. The United States, European allies and Canada agreed on Saturday to remove key Russian banks from the interbank messaging system, SWIFT, meaning targeted Russian banks will not be able to communicate securely with banks beyond its borders. As a result, the Russian ruble has fallen significantly against the US dollar. Myanmar generals who have bank accounts in Russia and Myanmar cronies who act as intermediaries between Russian arms manufacturers and the military regime are extremely concerned about the latest developments in Russia, sources told The Irrawaddy. You may also like these stories: Isolated Russia Defends Ukraine Invasion at UN General Assembly Myanmar Junta Planes Bomb Village Sheltering Displaced Karenni Civilians Myanmar Junta Chief Hands Golden Triangle Resorts to Associates Burma Villagers Die in Myanmar Junta's Airstrike and Arson Attack Thabye Aye village burns. / Supplied Two Sagaing Region villagers were killed by a junta airstrike and an arson attack on Monday in one of Myanmars resistance strongholds. Villagers said the air raid on Thabye Aye village was launched by four military helicopters in the morning before soldiers were dropped to torch the village which has nearly 200 houses. A villager riding away on a motorcycle was hit in the head. An elderly person was trapped in the fire, a resident told The Irrawaddy. He said nearly 150 houses were burned by the troops. Earlier regime forces killed at least nine people during a raid on nearby Chin Pone village and detained over 80 primary schoolchildren as potential human shields for 36 hours. The troops then moved to Thabye Aye by helicopter. Yoma Peoples Defense Force said about 60 soldiers were deployed in the village from two helicopters and are stationed at the village monastery. Before the soldiers were deployed, the helicopters dropped bombs and there was also a fighter jet in the sky, said a resistance fighter. He said attempts to shoot the helicopters with homemade weapons were unsuccessful. Thabye Aye villagers took up arms to fight the regime last year when troops came to arrest the villages abbot for alleged anti-junta activism. Villagers fought them with hunting rifles, killing three troops and leading to seven arrests. Junta forces have burned at least 4,571 civilian homes across Myanmar since last years coup, including 2,567 in Sagaing Region alone, according to the independent research group Data for Myanmar. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Jails Ousted NLD Chief Minister for 21 Years Over Alleged Corruption Russia-Ukraine Crisis Prompts Myanmar Junta Emergency Meeting Isolated Russia Defends Ukraine Invasion at UN General Assembly Commentary Myanmars Min Aung Hlaing, Russias Putin and Their Ilk Must Not Prevail Myanmar coup leader Min Aung Hlaing inspects troops during the Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyitaw in March 2017. / AFP via Myawady The generals who have engaged in brutal atrocities and applied a scorched earth strategy in Myanmar will surely be following the news from Ukraine closely. The immediate question that arises is, do they want Russian President Vladimir Putin and his invading army to succeed? Perhaps. As the invasion of Ukraine was beginning, Myanmar, a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), sounded decidedly out of step with the rest of the world when a spokesperson for Myanmars military council voiced support for Putins aggression, offering two reasons. No. 1 is that Russia has worked to consolidate its sovereignty, he said. I think this is the right thing to do. No. 2 is to show the world that Russia is a world power. Of course, this is garbage. The juntas quick show of support for Russias aggression is hardly surprising; Russia is a major supplier of military hardware to the regime, and enhanced military-to-military ties have been cemented since the coup. Moscow sent a high-level military delegation led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Myanmar two weeks before last years coup. Moscow knew of the coup in advance and promised to supply arms, training, hardware and surveillance technology to the regime. Since the coup, the two sides have exchanged numerous visits. Indeed, the relationship has grown worryingly warm. However, this Russia-Myanmar friendship doesnt include the Myanmar people. For their part, the oppressed people of Myanmar loathe both Russia and China, and whoever else supports the regime. On March 27 last year, the regime celebrated Armed Forces Day, which historically has marked the day the people took up arms against the occupying Japanese in the 1940s. On the same day, the regimes forces slaughtered more than 100 people across the country, making it the bloodiest single day since the generals seized power less than two months earlier. By that point, the international community including most Western nations had long since condemned the military regime, but Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin chose to travel to Naypyitaw to attend the 76th annual Armed Forces Day commemorations. Soon citizens, farmers, schoolteachers and children were bearing the brunt as Russian-made jet fighters and helicopters were deployed to drop bombs and fire missiles and machine guns at them. Many have died since the regime launched a brutal war against its own people. Not only Russian but also Chinese-made weapons have killed many innocent people in Myanmar. They, too, are implicated in the post-coup human tragedy in Myanmar. Like Putin and his army, Min Aung Hlaing and his soldiers behave like foreign invaders, but they do so in their own country. The regime faces strong resistance, encountering many form of protest as well as armed rebellion across the country. A year after attempting to stage a coup, the Myanmar regime still does not control the country or the people. Did Min Aung Hlaing underestimate the Myanmar people? Since Russia launched its invasion, Ukraines people have displayed great bravery. This has been well noted in the international community; the reaction from the West has been tough and Russia is being cut out of the global financial system. Both Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Putin have underestimated the people they seek to subdue, and the resistance to their aggression. Should Putin fail to assert control over Ukraine, Min Aung Hlaings grand strategy of bringing Russia into Myanmars political landscape after the takeover will seem as delusional as his coup plan itself. He must be worried. Days after the invasion of Ukraine, after the spokesman expressed the regimes stance in support of Moscow, top brass in Myanmar held a meeting to discuss the crisis in Ukraine and its impact on and consequences for Myanmar. The generals are worried about the Wests financial sanctionsMyanmars arms dealers have bank accounts in Russiaand the supply of hardware will slow. Since the coup, the West, including the US and the EU, has imposed stiff sanctions on the Myanmar military, state-owned companies and business cronies of the regime, but more needs to be done. At the meeting, it is understood that the generals were also curious about Chinas position on Russias invasion of Ukraine. Details are sketchy but it seems they were mostly interested in Chinas strategic goals, and how theyand future China-Myanmar relationsmight be impacted if Russia botches its invasion of Ukraine. In its public pronouncements, the Chinese government has urged all sides to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine. Since the military takeover in Myanmar on Feb. 1, China has repeatedly insisted that the armed forces seizure of power from the democratically elected government is Myanmars internal affair, including at the UN Security Council (UNSC) and at Human Rights Council meetings. The Myanmar people dislike China and its stance toward the coup, just as they dislike Russia for the same reason. Since the coup, China has faced massive anti-China protests in Myanmar and boycotts of Chinese products. China-backed factories in Myanmar have been torched and threats against China-backed gas pipelines issued. Beijing has voiced serious concern over the security of its pipelines; anti-junta groups in Myanmar have countered by saying that whether or not they are blown up is an internal affair, mocking Chinas own rationale for blocking other nations attempts at the UN to condemn the military takeover. In the meantime, the generals are likely to beef up security for Chinese interests and projects in Myanmar, and Min Aung Hlaing will do whatever is necessary to accommodate both Russia and China. At the end of the day, his aim is to rule the country with his blood-soaked hands, and he will make friends with either Russia or China in order to achieve this. There is some pride at stake for Min Aung Hlaing in Putins invasion of Ukraine: The general wants to show the people of Myanmar, and especially his opponents, that his allies are winners. If things go badly for Putin, the Myanmar people will feel vindicated and Min Aung Hlaing and his hardline thugs will feel they have attached themselves to the losing side. Since the coup, Myanmar has quickly descended into chaos. As the human and economic costs of the long and bloody coup attempt mount it will only become more difficult for the regime to exert control and consolidate its grip on the country. Min Aung Hlaings regime sees Myanmars citizens as enemies; therefore, its coup has failed. Lacking legitimacy, the regime in Myanmar today is a pariah. If murderer-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and his military are allowed to win, the Myanmar people will forever remain slaves, subject to tyranny. Dark days lie ahead for both Ukraine and Myanmar. The resistance in Ukraine has already earned the admiration of the entire world, just as the efforts of Myanmars various resistance forces, including groups engaged in armed rebellion, have surprised many at home and abroad. Knowing they would be fired upon, a group of Ukrainian soldiers guarding a military facility on Snake Island in the Black Sea told a Russian warship to go fuck yourself. In Myanmar last year, protesters, faced with rows of soldiers and tanks, exclaimed: Fuck the coup! We cannot allow Min Aung Hlaing or Putin to succeed, or let one feel vindication in the success of the other. You may also like these stories: Myanmar in Revolt as People Choose to Fight the Brutal Regime Will ASEAN Invite Myanmars War Criminals to Its Summit? Myanmar Junta Boss Min Aung Hlaings Delusions of Grandeur Actor Ned Eisenberg, known for playing Detective Hauser in HBOs Mare of Easttown and defense attorney Roger Kressler in Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has died after a two-year, private battle with cancer. He was 65. His wife, Patricia Eisenberg, confirmed to TMZ that her husband had died over the weekend of two types of cancer, bile duct cancer and melanoma of the eye. Advertisement Ned Eisenberg attends "Rocket To The Moon" Opening Night - After Party at Out Hotel on February 23, 2015 in New York City. (Rob Kim/Getty Images) As Ned would say, he was attacked by two very rare assassins cholangiocarcinoma and ocular melanoma, Patricia Eisenberg told TMZ. Over the course of two years, he bravely fought the cancers in private while continuing to work in show business to ensure that his medical coverage paid for himself and his family. While he was a fixture on the small screen in the two prominent series, Eisenberg also appeared in Million Dollar Baby as Sally Mendoza, the first manager of Hilary Swanks character Maggie Fitzgerald. The 2004 movie won best picture at the Oscars. He also played photographer Joe Rosenthal in Flags of Our Fathers, in 2006. Advertisement Numerous other roles followed, including his 24 episodes of Law & Order: SVU from 1999-2019. He also played Lou Rabinowitz, the manager on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. His early career was on the stage, The Hollywood Reporter noted. And on television he guested in series including Elementary, Bull, The Good Wife, Madam Secretary, 30Rock and numerous others. Guest Column The 60th Anniversary of the Myanmar Militarys First Coup is a Sad and Singular Occasion General Ne Win, the leader of the 1958 and 1962 military coups. Sixty years is considered an auspicious life cycle in many countries in East Asia. After weathering five rounds of 12 zodiac signs, one enters a state of revered age, with the social respect and wisdom those advanced years are supposed to bestow. It is a happy event. On March 2, Myanmar may commemorate, but not celebrate, the 60th anniversary of the 1962 military coup that brought the Myanmar military into power it has never relinquished. The completion of that life cycle is supposed to be a celebratory event. On this occasion it is not. Through direct rule by decree, by inventing three political parties under its authority, by writing a constitution and then coercing its acceptance, by empowering itself through legal procedures under the 2008 constitution, and by manipulating electoral results, the military has remained in effective control over those societal elements it regards as essential to its interests. On the cusp of its 60th anniversary, it extended its domination through last years disastrous February 1 coup. The perpetuation of its influence and authority, however much disputed by the populace, will continue, forcing the state into further decline. Six decades of military control, three generations, may set some sort of sad regional or world record for military-controlled governance. When not enforcing its self-determined mandate by direct authority, it founded three political parties to do its bidding: the Burma Socialist Programme Party, the National Unity Party, and the Union Solidarity and Development Party. None of them had even the semblance of democratic authority. All had very substantial active duty or retired military personnel in positions not only of leadership but among the ranks as well. The year 1962, however, was not the origin of military power in Burma. It came with independence in 1948 and countering ethnic and political rebellions. The first constitutional coup in 1958, in which the military took power with the forced approval of the civilian government that was facing civil war within the ruling party, lasted 18 months. It was autocratic in its control but generally well-regarded, as it stemmed political and economic decline. At the close of that period, the military stepped down and allowed free elections in which its favored party lost, and U Nu ruled for about two years until the 1962 coup. That may be a unique instance of military-induced unmanaged elections. But military rule does not mean stasis. Deterioration of the state began shortly after the 1962 coup when the Burmese Way to Socialism failed, as did a 1988 peoples revolution against the military. Even the military, while in control, from about 2010 began to realize the need for change and reform, and the efforts by President and former general U Thein Sein were well received both domestically and internationally. He did little, however, to placate ethnic minority rebellions and calls for a federal administrative structure, but progress was evident including broader rights for its citizens and the sharing of some power in 2016 with the elected opposition, the civilian-led National League for Democracy (NLD). The international media has called attention to the recent worldwide waves of military coups, especially in Africa, citing Myanmar as one of a group. But to attribute Myanmars fourth coup in 2021, following those of 1958, 1962 and 1988, as simply an example of a worldwide trend is to misunderstand the nature of the internal problems facing the state. History tempers and shapes current dilemmas and requires analysis. Myanmar has unique issues that must be addressed. Ethnically diverse Myanmar has been held together by the military tenaciously, and often crudely and unthinkingly, trying to control the country against the vociferous tendencies of various ethnic peoples with justified beliefs that they have been maltreated and denigrated by the ethnic Bamar majority government. The articulated primary objective of the military has always been national unity. Yet their inept actions have weakened the chance of achieving the very goals that it set for the state. There is no indication that they have changed their approach. Ironically, the present coup has forced the NLD civilian opposition that won the November 2020 elections to expand what observers regard as their previous reluctance to pursue federal minority power. Its National Unity Government has brought more ethnic representation into its tentative opposition organization, but even if it were to assume power, how much of that would remain is questionable. Although the military has promised a return to multi-party politics in 2023, most observers believe that whatever electoral system evolves, it will be manipulated, and whatever parties are permitted to run, it will not be a true democratic state; the military will assure that its control would continue to protect its, and what it regards as the states, interests. Elections alone do not a democracy make. Foreign observers should recognize that the amelioration or solution to Myanmars governance problems will not come from external interventions. Humanitarian aid should be forthcoming at this dire time. But they should understand that this coup has historical roots that will affect the future, and whatever that future may be, the military will play some important role. But the Burmese peoples, including the military, must ensure that this role is appropriate for a modern state in which the people and their rights are the basis on which government and authority must be built. David I. Steinberg is distinguished professor of Asian studies emeritus, Georgetown University. He was resident in Burma during the first and second military coups. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Denies Medical Treatment to Political Prisoners Both Sides Sustain Casualties as Fighting Rages Between PDFs and Myanmar Junta New ASEAN Envoy to Myanmar Says He Wants to Meet Junta Opponents Trinity, TX (77320) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Trinity, TX (77320) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Ithaca, NY (14850) Today Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia shows the highest customer satisfaction levels for branch visits and internet banking when used on app on a mobile phone or tablet among the big four banks, according to the Roy Morgan Satisfaction with Banking Channels Report. The report also revealed that mobile banking and internet banking as the service channels with highest customer satisfaction. As of December 2021, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) recorded the highest customer satisfaction across three of the service channels including mobile banking (90.8%), internet banking (87.8%) and branch banking (83.5%). The CBA had customer satisfaction of 76.3% for phone banking. There was little to split with their three competitors: Australia and New Zealand Bank came in second overall with 89.2% (mobile), 86.6% (internet), 83.2% (branch) and 76.6% (phone). Westpac followed with 87.9% (mobile), 86.1% (internet), 82.1% (branch) and the highest of the big four for phone banking (79.4%). NAB rounded out the big four with 89.8% (mobile), 86.5% (internet), 81.5% (branch) and 77.3% (phone). Mobile banking (via a mobile or tablet app) proved to be the banking channel with the highest customer satisfaction, with an average rating among the big four banks of 89.4%. Internet banking, which is visiting a banks website, received the second highest average satisfaction rating with 86.8%. Branch banking followed with 82.6%, and phone banking, which involves calling the bank directly, came in fourth with 77.4%. Mobile banking has now overtaken internet banking as the most used banking service channel. The high customer satisfaction for mobile banking is good news as it is the preferred method for customers to access their banking accounts overtaking usage of internet banking for the first time during 2021. Nearly two-thirds of Australians, 63.6%, now use mobile banking apps on a mobile phone or tablet to access their bank accounts, up seven percentage points on a year ago. Internet banking, which is conducting banking through an institutions website, remains as the second most used channel with a bare majority of 50.3% using this service, but down 9.1% points on a year ago. Visiting a branch is clearly the third preferred service channel used by 47.4% of people, down 6.2 percentage points on a year ago while phone banking is used by only 22.8% of people, virtually unchanged on a year ago. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says mobile banking apps continue to grow in popularity. Customer satisfaction is over 2.5 percentage points higher for mobile banking apps than any other service channel. For the first time in 2021 more Australians used a mobile banking app: 63.6% (up seven percentage points on 2020) than internet banking: 50.3% (down 9.1 percentage points), to conduct their banking a swing of 16.1 percentage points on a year earlier. The rise of mobile banking apps is also coming at the expense of visiting a branch which fell 6.2 percentage points to 47.4%, Levine says. The good news for the big four banks is that customer satisfaction with mobile banking apps is higher for customers of the big four banks (89.4%) than the industry average for all banks (89%) the only banking service channel the big four banks have an advantage. The higher customer satisfaction ratings of the automated banking channels give an extra incentive to banks and other financial services firms to increasingly move as many of their services online as possible, Levine adds. An added benefit for the banks of moving customers online is the reduced labour costs associated with these frictionless banking channels and its easy to see why the trends of recent years are set to continue with even greater technological integration and less face-to-face interaction with staff in an increasingly connected world, Levine concludes. Rod Sims: "Now is the time to consider whether further reforms are needed to supplement the important tools in Australias competition and consumer law..." Australia's consumer watchdog is seeking input from consumers, businesses and others as it examines legislative options to address the dominance of digital platforms. In a statement issued on Monday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said a discussion paper, released on the same day, looked at possible ways of tackling issues in social media, search app marketplaces, online retail and ad technology. Last year, news media laws drafted by the ACCC were put in place so that big digital firms could negotiate monetary deals with media organisations. While some organisations have reached agreement on payment, others SBS and The Conversation are two prominent examples have not been able to reach satisfactory deals. Commenting on the call for input, ACCC chairman Rod Sims said: The upcoming fifth report will mark the halfway point of the Digital Platform Services Inquiry. Now is the time to consider whether further reforms are needed to supplement the important tools in Australias competition and consumer law to maintain a vibrant digital economy that drives innovation and enhances productivity. There is momentum building internationally, with authorities and lawmakers around the world taking action to address the competition and consumer harms arising on digital platforms. These platforms hold powerful positions in the economy and society and can often dictate terms to businesses that use their services. This in turn can harm consumers and the small businesses that rely on them, including through higher prices, greater use of personal data, reduced choice, less innovation or lower quality products. The discussion paper lists measures that could form part of a new regulatory setup to increase competition and increase consumer welfare. Since the ACCC began examining digital platform services in 2017, large digital platforms such as Google, Apple and Meta (Facebook's parent company) have continued to grow and expand their impact and influence on the economy and our day-to-day lives, Sims said. It is clear that large digital platforms are often protected by high barriers to entry and expansion, and in some cases, they have become gatekeepers, acting as critical intermediaries between businesses and consumers, and controlling access to consumers. We are looking at whether we need additional laws or reform to make the online environment fairer for businesses and safer for consumers." It's all over the news - Tasmania is experiencing severe Internet problems via fixed and mobile internet, and while the island state isn't completely cut off, there are definitely major issues. 7.01pm UPDATE: One final update all services have now been restored. 6.58pm UPDATE: Thanks to the work of our teams on the ground, restoration is progressing well and were beginning to see services come back online across Tasmania. We expect all services to be back shortly. Previous updates and original story: 5.16pm UPDATE from a Telstra spokesperson: Work is progressing to restore fixed and mobile services in Tasmania, following third party cuts to our two main cables between the mainland and the state. We have crews at the separate sites to repair the cable and get traffic back online. There was massive damage to the cable in Melbourne caused by third party civil works . The team is in the process of hauling and connecting nearly one kilometre of fibre. We anticipate services starting to come back online early this evening. There is an impact to ADSL and nbn internet services, some free to air TV and radio stations and mobile data services are quite congested. Triple Zero calls can continue to be made and were prioritising voice calls. Our network across the Bass Strait is configured with multiple redundancies, with the two main links providing back up for each other, and a third smaller link being available for priority traffic (such as Triple Zero and voice) on the very rare chance both main links go down. Unfortunately this is what has occurred. Original story continues: According to the TasNetworks Facebook page, "We are experiencing a major statewide internet outage caused by upstream provider issues. TasNetworks external website has been impacted and is currently unavailable as a result. For major outage information, please stay up-to-date via our Facebook page. Thanks for your patience while this issue is investigated. "Update: 2.25pm: Services are now being progressively restored across the state. Some connectivity is back, but some ISPs are still down, so some customers will still not be able to access our external website. Please stay up-to-date on outages via Facebook and we will advise when our external website is fully accessible." The TasNetworks home page is also down, as it is hosted in Tasmania, which is, of course, largely offline. iTWire has reached out to NBN Co, and while they've acknowledged via Twitter "We are aware of an outage in Tasmania, which may be impacting some of our services. We will provide an update as soon as we have more information", there no additional information from them yet at time of publication. Initially, a Telstra spokesperson supplied the following info: We are urgently investigating an issue impacting Telstra mobile and fixed connectivity in Tasmania. We believe it is the result of two separate cable cuts on the main routes into Tasmania. One cable has been cut during civil works and the other cable is fairly remote and techs have just arrived on site to assess the impact. There is an impact to fixed and mobile data, some voice calls will be getting through and there is no impact to Triple Zero services. We are urgently working to resolve the issue and assessing restoration times. Well provide further updates as soon as we can. The cables in question are the undersea cables that connect Tasmia to the mainland, but the cable cuts have occured on land, not in the Bass Strait, so we can't blame rogue Russian submarines or other undersea activity for this outage. The Telstra spokesperson also noted to me there are three cables going to Tasmania, of which two are now down, with that single cable carrying all the traffic that can get through, and of course, it is saturated with traffic, and thus slow. The Downdetector site shows lots of people listing NBN outages in Tassie. Being Multicultural is Not a Luxury: A Strategy for Teaching and Learning in a Racist Society Ralph Ahn, a longtime movie actor who later had a standout recurring role on the sitcom New Girl, has died at age 95. The film and TV performer died last Saturday, Variety reported, citing the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles. Advertisement Ahn appeared on seven episodes of New Girl as the character Tran, who rarely spoke but was a friend and confidant of Jake Johnsons Nick Miller. Tran only had two lines over the course of series, once calling Nick a huge baby and another time telling the character Russell to drive. Advertisement Jake Johnson and Ralph Ahn (right) on "New Girl." (FOX/FOX Image Collection via Getty I) Johnson, 43, mourned the loss of Ahn in an Instagram post Monday, calling the actor was so much fun to work with. He gave so much with literally no lines, Johnson said. I loved when he was on set. I was always expecting to somehow work with him again. Condolences to his family/friends. Zooey Deschanel, who played the lead character of Jessica Day on New Girl, commented on Johnsons post, Noooooo. Fellow New Girl actor Lamorne Morris also paid tribute to Ahn. Always the funniest scenes in the episode, Morris wrote on Instagram. This man lived a lot of life, keep his friends and family in yall thoughts and prayers. Ahns acting career began during the 1950s and spanned more than six decades, with roles in movies such as 1963s The Hook starring Kirk Douglas and the John Travolta-led Eyes of an Angel in 1991. His TV gigs included appearances on Golden Girls in the late 1980s and Gilmore Girls during the mid-2000s. Compiling reviews from IMDb and Metacritic, Stacker composed a list of the 50 best space movies of all time, from classic hits to new releases. Click for more. Jacksonville, TX (75766) Today Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Queen Elizabeth is back in action. The British monarch took part in a pair of virtual engagements on Tuesday for the first time since testing positive for COVID-19 more than a week ago. Advertisement The 95-year-old queen canceled multiple virtual audiences last week following her coronavirus diagnosis. She spoke with Chad and Andorra ambassadors on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace said. Queen Elizabeth is fully vaccinated and has received a booster shot against the virus. The palace confirmed last month that her positive test came on Feb. 20. Advertisement Queen Elizabeth takes part in a virtual call on Tuesday. (WPA Pool/Getty Images) Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold-like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week, Buckingham Palace said. She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines. In an update two days later, the palace confirmed the Queen was still dealing with mild symptoms. She most recently canceled virtual engagements last Thursday. Her eldest son, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, had COVID-19 earlier in February. Queen Elizabeth was believed to have seen the 73-year-old Charles, who is next in line for the British throne, a few days before he got the virus. Earlier last month, the queen celebrated the 70th anniversary of her reign, which began following the death of her father in 1952. Queen Elizabeth was hospitalized for one night last October for what were described as preliminary investigations, with doctors encouraging her to rest following her release. With News Wire Services Donate Now As a public service during this pandemic, the Jewish News is providing free, unlimited access to all articles. Jewish News is a nonprofit publication that is owned by the community and relies on community support. Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Generally clear skies. Low near 50F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Generally clear skies. Low near 50F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Vanessa Williams is heading back to Broadway. The former Miss America will take on the role of first lady of the United States in a new comedy this spring. Advertisement Vanessa Williams (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive by Selina Fillinger is a female-centric farce about a White House public relations scandal and the circle of women including Williams as his wife who rally round the president. Advertisement A derogatory comment, a summit gone awry, an anal abscess its a bad day at the White House, the logline for the show reads. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Williams, 58, has described the play as a raucously wild comedy with some kick-ass girl power. The Bronx-born entertainers previous Broadway shows include Kiss of the Spider Woman, Into the Woods and The Trip to Bountiful. Directed by five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman, POTUS marks Fillingers Broadway debut. The 28-year-old Los Angeles-based playwrights previous work Something Clean had its world premiere at Roundabout Underground in New York City, and she was the 2019 recipient of the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award. I hope the show offers joy, folly, and the strength to keep fighting at a time when the world needs all three, she said in a statement. Stroman, who helmed hit Broadway productions of The Producers, Show Boat and Oklahoma, said Selinas wickedly funny satire questions how complicit we really are in the woes of the world and what would happen if we simply stood back instead of continuing to empower the leaders who got us to where we are in the first place. Advertisement Rounding out the all-female cast are Broadway newcomers Rachel Dratch of Saturday Night Live, Julianne Hough and comedian Suzy Nakamura, along with Tony winner Julie White (The Little Dog Laughed), recent Tony nominee Lilli Cooper (for Tootsie) and Lea DeLaria of Orange is the New Black. POTUS begins performances at the Shubert Theatre on April 14 and is scheduled for a limited engagement through Aug. 14. Joplin, MO (64801) Today Showers and thundershowers this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 54F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Showers and thundershowers this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 54F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. A judge sentenced three former correctional officers on Tuesday after they violated an incarcerated persons civil rights during an assault, according to the Department of Justice. Coty Michael Wiltgen, Ethan Burkett and William Shackelford were previously correctional officers at the Hamilton Correctional Institution Annex in Jasper near the border between Florida and Georgia. Wiltgen, of Live Oak, and Shackelford, of Valdosta, Ga., pleaded guilty in June 2021 to the violations. Burkett, also from Valdosta, pleaded guilty in July 2021. Court documents said all three men were on duty on March 3, 2020, when they attacked an incarcerated person who was handcuffed and lying on the floor. Advertisement The assault happened after the victim, while chasing another incarcerated person, pushed Burkett off his path. After pushing Burkett, the victim walked away but Wiltgen sprayed him with pepper spray. The victim laid down on the floor, offering no resistance while Wiltgen cuffed him. Wiltgen and Shackelford escorted the cooperative and compliant victim outside of the facility and outside of the cameras viewpoint, according to the DOJ. Advertisement They made the handcuffed victim fall on the ground, and Wiltgen kicked him in the face 15 times, the DOJ reported. He also used a racial epithet and spat on the victim. Shackelford put a knee in the victims back to keep him from moving and hit him twice. Burkett joined the assault later, striking the victim twice with an open hand before punching the victim. The victim was screaming during the assault before Wiltgen kicked him in the face and rendered him unconscious. Wiltgen received 37 months in prison for the assault and two years of supervised release. Burkett received 31 months and one year of supervised release. Shackelford received 25 months and one year of supervised release. The past two years have been challenging ones, to put it lightly. Making it through is an accomplishment in itself. But if you reflect on how the pandemic pushed you to evolve, you might uncover some lessons that could help improve your life and career going forward. "The pandemic was an inflection point for everyone, and reflection is good for growth no matter where you are in your career," said Annie M. Yoder, CPA/CFF, principal at Rea & Associates Inc., a public accounting firm with offices throughout Ohio. "We can learn from the past, including the last two years, and change our behavior to have more fulfilling careers and impact those around us." Regardless of how long the pandemic lasts, it's worthwhile to take a moment to pinpoint how you have grown or adapted to the difficulties it brought about. Here, accounting professionals consider how they plan to apply what they learned to improve their personal and professional lives. YOU'RE MORE ADAPTABLE THAN YOU THOUGHT Times of crisis tend to test our limits, and this pandemic has surprised many of us with how adaptable we can be. "Sometimes you have to be pushed against a wall to really figure out how much power you have," said Bridget Kaigler, CPA, CGMA, president at Bringing Leadership Back LLC, a leadership consulting firm based in Baton Rouge, La. "We are stronger than we think, and we have so many talents and gifts we didn't even realize we possessed." Many accounting and finance professionals have had to make a rapid shift to remote work, figure out how to present and network virtually, and balance the increased demands of their personal and professional lives. Take a moment to acknowledge that you survived a very difficult couple of years and consider how you can build on that adaptability going forward. Charles E. Davis, CPA, CGMA, Ph.D., professor of accounting at Baylor University in Texas, recommends making a habit of stepping outside of your comfort zone, even during times of "normalcy." For example, you could volunteer to be involved in the implementation of a new program or system at work, raise your hand to lead a project, or request a stretch assignment outside your normal scope anything that takes a bit of courage and forces you to become more adaptable. BUSINESS AS USUAL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEST WAY During times of relative calm, we are less likely to challenge assumptions or question whether our current processes could be improved, according to Davis. The pandemic has made many things worse, but it has also revealed a few advantages to remote and flexible work that might be worth carrying over into a post-pandemic workplace. Kaigler and Yoder pointed out that remote or hybrid workplaces can allow organizations to access a larger talent pool and client base, reduce travel and rental costs, increase autonomy for employees, and allow for more seamless work/life integration. "Things don't have to be the same as they were pre-pandemic," Kaigler said. "Use this to your advantage, and create something that is going to benefit everyone." As organizations consider how they want to operate post-pandemic, Kaigler recommends gathering input from all levels of the organization and deciding which aspects of remote and in-person work to keep or discard. "Let's throw all of the ideas out there nothing is too far-fetched," she said. "This is a great opportunity to reduce your turnover and not only retain your employees, but make sure they're happy." THE PROFESSION IS EVOLVING FASTER THAN EVER The pandemic accelerated change for the accounting profession, simultaneously highlighting the importance of technological innovation and advisory services, according to Yoder. "For public accounting, what impacts our clients ultimately impacts firms," she said. "We were all forced to implement technology at a faster rate, as well as analyze our processes, procedures, and systems to ensure they were effective in a remote/hybrid environment. The pandemic also continued to separate those that are investing in innovation from those that are not." At the same time, clients increasingly turned to practitioners for support throughout the pandemic, as they navigated emergency relief funding, tax changes, and economic uncertainty. "Accountants were well positioned to help clients through the pandemic, including supporting them through the multiple layers of funding and credits," Yoder said. "The pandemic confirmed that trust is imperative to our profession and, in many cases, helped practitioners build deeper levels of trust with their clients." Kaigler recommends firms and practitioners embrace cloud-based storage, automation, and other technologies so they can concentrate on value-added services, such as helping clients make smart business decisions, mitigate risk, and navigate change. IT COULD BE TIME TO REASSESS YOUR PRIORITIES On a more holistic level, the pandemic has forced many of us to rethink our priorities and the way we live our lives. "In certain ways we have had to rediscover our basic values, what we want in life, what makes us happy, and how we relate to our loved ones," said Georg Kell, chairman of the board at Arabesque, an Anglo-German investment management firm, and founding director of the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. "Cultivating your inner core is very helpful and gives you the backbone, the stability, and strength you need." Kaigler recommends setting aside time for a "discovery session," which can involve reflecting on your current strengths and weaknesses, your values, the things you enjoy doing, and which direction you want your career path to go in the coming years. After this discovery session, she advises putting together a road map with "mile markers" in order to figure out the next step you need to take to align your career path with your passions, values, and priorities. During this time of reflection, you might realize that you simply don't have the bandwidth to continue doing everything that's on your plate, and you may have to opt out of a few things to focus on what matters most to you. For example, Kaigler decided to let go of some of her board appointments, not because she didn't believe in their missions but because she simply didn't have the time. "There are some things I just had to let go of because I just didn't have the time to devote to [them] anymore," Kaigler said. "I think the virus made us reassess our priorities and gave a lot of people the 'out' they needed to align their purpose with their careers." VULNERABILITY AND EMPATHY ARE STRENGTHS, NOT WEAKNESSES Although many of us experienced increased isolation over the course of the pandemic, we also caught unvarnished glimpses into the lives of our colleagues and clients and, perhaps, connected with them on a deeper level than before. "Our profession tends to be very analytical, and that's OK, but to connect with people you have to be vulnerable in some way," Yoder said. "You have to be willing to say, 'I don't know,' or 'This is where I failed,' and that's often not easy, but I think vulnerability allows the folks around us to relate and connect with us, which ultimately builds trust." Yoder argued that the ability to empathize with others and a willingness to express vulnerability are positive traits that we should continue to develop beyond the pandemic. She recommends making an effort to reach out and help colleagues more often, and, when someone asks how you're doing, consider being a bit more honest and admitting when you're having a difficult time. "The past two years affirmed that we are in a people business, and skills such as trust, empathy, clarity in communication, and connection are needed in crisis and moving forward," Yoder said. About the author Hannah Pitstick is a freelance writer based in Pennsylvania. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Andrew Adamek at Andrew.Adamek@aicpa-cima.com . AICPA RESOURCES Articles " Say 'Yes' to Saying 'No ,'" JofA, Nov. 2, 2021 " How CPAs and Employers Can Support Mental Health ," JofA, Nov. 1, 2021 " The Pandemic Pushed Us Forward. Let's Keep Evolving ," CPA Insider, April 26, 2021 " Promoting Resilience Helps Firms and People in Turbulent Times ," JofA, Aug. 20, 2020 LEARNING RESOURCE For more information or to make a purchase, go to aicpa.org/cpe-learning or call the Institute at 888-777-7077. Building Personal Resilience This CPE self-study course provides you with a better understanding of your current level of resilience so you can be your best self at work. CPE SELF-STUDY Imagine boarding a flight from Orlando to Los Angeles and instead of languishing on the plane for five and half hours, you arrive in about an hour, ready to enjoy the palm trees on the Pacific Coast six times faster. That may be decades away but the hypersonic propulsion technology that could make it possible is currently being developed in a University of Central Florida lab. UCF has been researching hypersonic propulsion for six years, funded by $7.86 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Air Force, and other sources. A team of 33 students led by four faculty researchers is exploring and experimenting with this new technology. Advertisement Hypersonic propulsion aims to send a yet-to-be-designed aircraft out of the atmosphere to travel at hypersonic speed, which is about six times faster than the speed of a commercial airplane. But this research goes beyond commercial travel and has become a competitive field among developed nations, said Subith Vasu, a professor in UCFs department of mechanical and aerospace engineering. Russia is working on it, China is working on it, and then other countries in the European Union, Japan, India, he said. It is very difficult, so nobody really has a real hypersonic vehicle. Some people claim that they have but it is only pretending they do because there are a lot of technical challenges. Advertisement One of those challenges could be the effect of rain droplets on a vehicle traveling at hypersonic speeds, and its become a focus of study for the researchers. Michael Kinzel, project co-investigator and assistant professor in UCFs department of mechanical and aerospace engineering, said that every time speed is doubled, the impact force from a raindrop quadruples. With hypersonic speed, they are going six times faster. Researchers are trying to figure out how to design a vehicle that can withstand that kind of pressure as it travels through the rain. You can imagine the loads we have to worry about with rain, he said. When we do some real quick calcs, each raindrop actually has a load that is equivalent to the weight of an elephant. UCF students Nicolas Berube (left) and Sydney Briggs (right) working with the detonation tube model on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Both are working with Subith Vasu on raindrop effect research for hypersonic propulsion. (Daniela Vivas Labrador / Orlando Sentinel) Research assistant Reed Forehand found his passion for the hypersonic field during his undergraduate study. Now, he is working with Kinzel on an Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded project to help advance the countrys knowledge in this area. This project kind of fell onto my lap actually, Forehand said. I had done previous research into multiphase flows, and shock waves, and hypersonics, so all of that kind of combined together and led me to being able to take on this project and being a good candidate for it. Together they are challenging the U.S. Navys hypothesis of raindrops instantly boiling due to the high temperatures of the hypersonic vehicle, Kinzel said. In fact, other research at UCF focuses on designing high-temperature coatings and materials. Yet so far the rain droplets research shows boiling is a relatively slow process, and hypersonic speed does not allow enough time for it. Meanwhile, cavitation is a fast enough mechanism. This phenomenon happens when the waters pressure is lowered below the vapor pressure of the liquid in movement, acting as an alternate and quicker boiling mechanism. Water can cavitate, said Vasu, research lead co-investigator for this study. These are kind of like microexplosions that will happen because of how the fluid moves and when that happens, it can cause significant physical damage because it is like a real explosion, so it can actually dent steel and so on. Advertisement Vasu emphasized that everything about this topic is new. This kind of vehicle did not exist before, Vasu said. Flying at that speed is new, and even if you were able to fly, how do you deal with water droplets? Kinzel said the applicant pool was full of prospective students like Forehand for this research assistant position. I think a lot of UCF students are really engaged in hypersonic vehicle design and research, Kinzel said. UCF students interest in this topic could be attributed to associate professor of engineering Kareem Ahmeds journey in the field. Ahmed has been researching hypersonic propulsion for over six years at the university. It started with passion. From a young age, I was fascinated with speed, and the only way to get you there is propulsion, that engine that propels you from one point to another, Ahmed said. Advertisement Last year, during the pandemic, UCFs hypersonic propulsion project won a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense. Since 2016, the group has received about $6 million. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > It was exhilarating, Ahmed said. Now we are accelerating towards developing an engine prototype for the Department of Defense. Ahmeds success and achievements are also offering a unique experience to 16 students who work with him, like UCF mechanical engineering graduate student Adam Kotler. This was a very exciting new hypersonics project that came in and we needed all hands on deck for this and I was very fortunate to be selected to work on this, Kotler said. This is an opportunity for me to make a name for myself in academia and also to prepare myself for the industry, to be one of the leading experts in this particular type of hypersonic propulsion after I leave UCF. Vasu said the main goal of hypersonic research overall is commercial travel, but that still is about 100 years away. Yet the progress and promise of the research are attracting more students to work in this field after finishing their undergraduate degrees. Sydney Briggs, a UCF graduate student in mechanical engineering, started working with Vasu a year ago and said the recent Air Force funding gave her that feeling of a major breakthrough. Advertisement It is something that definitely feels important like we are actually doing something that is valuable, she said. There is still so much we dont know, but there is a lot we have learned along the way. This story is part of a partnership between the Orlando Sentinel and UCFs Nicholson School of Communication and Media. International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan said Monday he was launching an investigation on the situation in Ukraine following Russias invasion. Today I wish to announce that I have decided to proceed with opening an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, as rapidly as possible, Khan said in a statement. I am satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine since 2014, he said. Given the expansion of the conflict in recent days, it is my intention that this investigation will also encompass any new alleged crimes falling within the jurisdiction of my office that are committed by any party to the conflict on any part of the territory of Ukraine. Khan had said last week that The Hague-based court had received many queries with respect to the crime of aggression but could not exercise jurisdiction over this alleged crime as neither Russia nor Ukraine were signatories to ICCs founding Rome Statute. The UK government warned Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his commanders in Ukraine could face prosecution for war crimes, as indiscriminate shelling hit one city under invasion. The shelling of Kharkiv has destroyed a school and, according to its mayor, killed at least 11 civilians. The front pages of British newspapers carried photographs of two young girls killed by Russian attacks in Ukraine and the words of a doctor as he tried to save one of them: Show this to Putin. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, a former war crimes prosecutor, said Britain and its allies would wait as long as it takes to bring any violators to heel, pointing to the 1990s wars in the former Yugoslavia. Thats why were making it clear both to Putin but also to commanders in Moscow, on the ground in Ukraine, that they will be held accountable for any violations of the laws of war, he told Sky News. The International Criminal Court in The Hague said Monday it was investigating after finding a reasonable basis to suspect alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine since Russia seized the Crimea peninsula in 2014. For Putin, Russian generals and soldiers, theres a very real risk that theyll end up in the dock of a court in The Hague, Raab added on BBC television. If and when the ICC decides to take action, Im sure the UK and allies will want to support them practically, logistically. Amnesty International said Russian cluster bombs hit a preschool in northeastern Ukraine last Friday that was being used to shelter civilians, killing three people including a child. Amnesty chief Agnes Callamard said the stomach-turning attack in the town of Okhtyrka should be investigated as a war crime. JUSTICE INFO: We remember that during the Russian aggression in 2008, Georgia took action before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and that only the ECHR ended up giving a ruling, many years later. Is this really useful for a state in the situation of Ukraine? FREDERIC MEGRET: I think that there is a historic opportunity to assert the prohibition of the use of force. There are also differences from Georgia, and from the invasion of Crimea in 2014. In Ukraine, it seems that we are indeed in what is, potentially, the invasion of a state as a whole. This new situation implies that we must rise to the occasion and learn from the mistakes of past legal strategies. The Georgian application was based on the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and the International Court of Justice got away with a procedural dodge. Ukraine, on the other hand, based its application on a separate claim, which is a violation of the Genocide Convention. It suggests that there may be something genocidal about the invasion of Russia, which in itself at this stage does not make much sense. What is interesting, however, is that it says Russia is violating the Genocide Convention by alleging without proof that genocide was committed in eastern Ukraine. This would allow the ICJ to consider the aggression as such. Why not file a complaint against the aggression directly? This is because neither Ukraine nor Russia recognizes the ICJs compulsory jurisdiction. So you have to go looking for so-called arbitration clauses in, if you like, the mess of international law. Ideally, it would have been possible to invoke the United Nations Charter and have a trial on what seems to be the central issue, the commission of a crime of aggression. But one does not always have a choice of tools. The Genocide Convention has the merit of being ratified by both Ukraine and Russia and of opening up a judicial path that would otherwise be lacking. The ICJ immediately recognized that it has jurisdiction. What can Ukraine hope for? The ICJ can initially pronounce so-called provisional measures, ordering the parties to cease any action that might impede the resolution of the dispute [as in the case of Myanmar in 2020]. But we must look at the substantive issue at stake. The Ukrainian request is a bit like a defamation suit, in the sense that Ukraine is suing Russia, but the purpose of the suit is partly to defend itself from the accusations. It is Ukraine that will have to prove its innocence. This would confirm that the justification of the Russian attack is non-existent. The ICJ could also go as far as underlining the prohibition of the use of force in international relations. At best, this will probably not go any further. And no one is under any illusion that this could stop the Russian forces in their tracks. But Ukraine is playing a long-term game and it is a question of reinforcing its legitimacy and being on the right side of the law and history. Ukraine has submitted its application against Russia to the ICJ. Russia must be held accountable for manipulating the notion of genocide to justify aggression. We request an urgent decision ordering Russia to cease military activity now and expect trials to start next week. (@ZelenskyyUa) February 27, 2022 On what other legal grounds can Ukraine act? Aggression is above all a violation of human rights. Of course it is the sovereignty of Ukraine that is violated, but it is also the rights of all Ukrainians. This human rights angle is powerful. For this, there is the European Convention on Human Rights, thus the possibility of an appeal in Strasbourg, before the European Court of Human Rights. This application has not yet been filed, but there is no reason to believe that Ukraine will not try its luck, especially since it is a plaintiff in no less than four cases already before the ECHR against Russia. A fundamental question remains very disturbing: In 2022, despite the whole arsenal of international law, is there no possible condemnation if one State invades another? In reality, the condemnation exists. It is the condemnation of dozens of states that have unanimously and unambiguously condemned Russias action, and that are expressing a legal judgment. They are subjects and actors of international law, basing their action on the rule of law, speaking out in real time and condemning Russia. This is very important, and it is very effective. The judgment of the peers is immediate and it is without appeal. It can be seen as a gradation. We start with the judgment of the peers, then come the judgment of the institutions and eventually a full judicial judgment. But the supreme institution, the United Nations, seems to be blocked. Certainly in the Security Council. Russia can use, once again, its veto right, which I recall is due to the role that the Soviet Union played in the resistance to the Nazi regime. Its seat in the Security Council was won with great suffering. But using its veto power has a political cost: it shows you as taking advantage of a privilege. That means one can call on the UN General Assembly, which has jurisdiction over peace and security, especially when the Security Council is paralyzed. It could very well adopt resolutions condemning Russia, and this with stratospheric majorities, which would nevertheless show that there is a central, institutionalized and solemn responsibility, beyond the condemnations of all the foreign ministries. What can we expect from the UN Human Rights Council, which is meeting this week in Geneva? In the international system, there is a taboo against attacking another state. What you do at home, even if it is very serious, many look the other way. To attack a sovereign state, however, is to attack a population and somewhere the shield [the state] that allows the protection of human rights on a territory. In this case, it is not certain that the States that normally serve as automatic supporters of Russia are as eager to do so. So yes, we can imagine a condemnation at the Human Rights Council. If one reads the [1945] Nuremberg judgment carefully, one realizes that the Allies understood that crimes against peace were an inescapable part of the crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the Germans, that there was a strong correlation between the Reichs project of discrimination and the project of external aggression. In reality, today, who is on the side of the genocidal logic? Basically, it is Russia, which by claiming that its Russian-speaking minorities cannot live in peace and security outside Russian sovereignty has committed itself to a logic of expulsion of Ukrainians in the Donbass and invasion. This is an old logic of the 20th century, strongly correlated with the desire to create ethnically homogeneous states. Yet the crime of aggression, newly included in the Rome Statute, is not applicable to the situation, according to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan who has just announced his decision, on Monday 28 February, to open an investigation into the situation in Ukraine. Yes. There is really nothing to do. Because it is necessary that both states, the attacking state and the state attacked, are parties to the Rome Statute. For other crimes under international law, it is sufficient that the crimes were committed on the territory of a State Party or a State that has recognized the jurisdiction of the Court. This is the case of Ukraine. The conditions are much more restrictive for the crime of aggression than for other crimes. For other crimes under international law, it is sufficient that the crimes were committed on the territory of a State Party to the Rome Statute or which has recognised the Courts jurisdiction on an ad hoc basis. Ukraine fits the second scenario as it has recognised it twice, in 2014 and 2015, and the second time without time limit. This gives the ICC prosecutor jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and possibly acts of genocide. So which jurisdiction could make the most effective decision in this case? Each one allows you to look at what is going on in a different way. The ICJ is the place to make a high-profile argument about Russias responsibility for what it is doing. The problem, as we have seen, is that Ukraine is forced to do this through the back door. The International Criminal Court is the place to go for convictions for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is not [for] aggression. Here there is a risk of focusing on the effects of the use of force, but not on the use of force itself. The European Court of Human Rights is a regional court. We are in a regional story with a whole range of rights that could be violated. If I had to choose, it would be the one to go to. Ukraines ambassador and diplomats from a wide number of countries staged a walkout on Tuesday as Russias foreign minister addressed the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. The diplomats stood up and left the room when Sergei Lavrovs pre-recorded video message began to play, in protest at Moscows invasion of Ukraine, according to an AFP journalist in the room. Ukrainian Ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko was among the numerous diplomats who filed out as the video began playing, leaving the room almost empty. Outside they gathered in front of a Ukrainian flag and broke into strong applause that could be heard in the chamber where Lavrovs speech continued, with only a handful of ambassadors from countries including Yemen, Syria, Venezuela and Tunisia remaining to hear him. It is important to show a gesture of solidarity with our Ukrainian friends, said French ambassador Yann Hwang. Russias top diplomat had been scheduled to go to Geneva to address both the UN-linked disarmament body and the UN Human Rights Council in person Tuesday, but cancelled at the last minute, with Moscow blaming anti-Russian sanctions imposed by EU countries. Russia has become an international pariah since launching a full-scale invasion six days ago. Russian indiscriminate attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure are war crimes and violations of the Rome Statute, Ukraines foreign minister told the disarmament meeting before Lavrov spoke. Russian aggression is a global threat, he warned, insisting that the response too must be global. In his speech, Lavrov blamed Kyiv for the crisis, warning it was trying to assemble nuclear weapons. I can assure you, Russia as a responsible member of the international community is taking all necessary measures to prevent the emergence of nuclear weapons and related technologies in Ukraine, he said. Numerous diplomats walked out on Tuesday when Russias foreign minister addressed the UN Human Rights Council, after a similar boycott of his speech at the nearby Conference on Disarmament. The diplomats filed out of the room when Sergei Lavrovs pre-recorded video message began to play, in protest against Moscows invasion of Ukraine, according to an AFP journalist in the room. Thank you very much for this wonderful show of support to Ukrainians who are fighting for their independence, Ukrainian Ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko, who led the walkout, told the crowd gathered around a large Ukrainian flag outside the chamber. Any invasion constitutes a violation of human rights massive violations and civilian losses, French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont said. It is important that the Human Rights Council shows with this walkout that it is united with Ukraine and with the people of Ukraine. The fresh walkout came less than an hour after diplomats all but emptied a nearby room at the UNs European headquarters in Geneva when Lavrovs video speech aired to the Conference on Disarmament, a body created in 1979 to try to stem the Cold War arms race. Outside that chamber, diplomats also gathered in front of a Ukrainian flag and applauded loudly. The applause could be heard in the chamber where Lavrovs speech continued, with only a handful of ambassadors from countries including Yemen, Syria, Venezuela and Tunisia there to hear it. War crimes Russias top diplomat had been scheduled to come to Geneva to address both the UN-linked disarmament body and the UN Human Rights Council in person on Tuesday. But he cancelled at the last minute, with Moscow blaming anti-Russian sanctions imposed by EU countries. Russia has become an international pariah since it launched a full-scale invasion six days ago, with its forces killing dozens on the streets of Ukraines cities and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee. The morning meeting of the disarmament conference kicked off with a minute of silence for the victims in Ukraine. Russian indiscriminate attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure are war crimes and violations of the Rome Statute, Ukraines foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba told the meeting. The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. Russian aggression is a global threat, Kuleba warned. The response too must be global. He said Ukraine had called for a special plenary meeting on the crisis at the Conference for Disarmament but it remained unclear whether this would go ahead. Kyiv meanwhile succeeded on Monday to secure support for an urgent debate at the UN human rights council later this week. It will seek the creation of a high-level investigation into violations committed in the conflict, dating back to Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014. In his speech at the Conference on Disarmament, Lavrov meanwhile blamed Kyiv for the crisis and said Ukraine was trying to assemble nuclear weapons. I can assure you, Russia as a responsible member of the international community is taking all necessary measures to prevent the emergence of nuclear weapons and related technologies in Ukraine, he said. Russian shelling on Ukraines second largest city Kharkiv killed at least 10 people and left many more injured on Tuesday, emergency services said. The attack targeted the citys central square and the main administration building. At least 10 people were killed and more than 20 were injured, the regional emergency services said in a statement, adding that 10 people had been discovered alive under rubble as rescue workers cleared debris. It added that stairwells and corridors of the main administration building on the central square were completely destroyed. Video released by the emergency services showed rescue workers in hard hats carrying an injured person from the building on a stretcher and the floors of the building strewn with bricks, with natural light pouring in from the wrecked roof. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier described the attack on the city of 1.4 million people near Russias border as a war crime. Kyiv has filed an application before the UNs top International Court of Justice at The Hague, accusing Russia of planning acts of genocide in Ukraine as the invasion reaches a sixth day. At the International Criminal Court, also in The Hague, chief prosecutor Karim Khan has launched an investigation, saying: There is a reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed. Here are five key questions about Russia, Ukraine and international law: Has Russia broken international law? Yes. Russia has broken article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which forbids the use of force internationally, said Geoff Gordon, senior researcher at the Hague-based Asser Institute for International and European Law. The use of Russian military force is not unfamiliar in Ukraine, added British-based international law professor Philippe Sands. One of the differences between before and today is that rules exist to protect us from such actions, reflected in the Charter of the United Nations, the closest thing we have to an international constitution, Sands wrote in the Financial Times. It is the Charters most significant commitments that Mr. Putin has shredded, said Sands. Which courts can try Ukraine-related cases? Ukraine has applied to bring a case to the ICJ, which certainly will hear arguments over jurisdiction, said Gordon. National courts may also try cases related to the violation of international law, he added. Russia may also be brought before the European Court of Human Rights for human rights violations. The International Criminal Court is empowered to investigate war crimes committed by individuals on the territory of the Ukraine. Ukraine is not a member, but in 2014 accepted the jurisdiction of the Court. Russia, however withdrew from the ICC, so the court will only be able to reach Russians if they are arrested on the territory of a state that respects the jurisdiction of the court. Can individuals be held accountable? Yes. The ICC prosecutes individuals accused of the worlds worst crimes including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Individuals could also be tried in national courts. However, not even the ICC can prosecute the crime of aggression the attack of one state on another planned by a political or military leader if that country did not ratify the courts Rome Statute, which neither Russia nor Ukraine has done. Sands however suggested setting up a dedicated international criminal tribunal focusing on Russian crimes of aggression in regards to Ukraine. What happens next? The Hague-based ICJ which rules in disputes between countries will first decide whether it has jurisdiction to hear the substance of the case. I would bet that well see hearings in the next couple weeks, and a decision within a couple weeks thereafter or maybe a quicker timeline given the level of this emergency, said Cecily Rose, an assistant professor of public international law at Leiden University. At the ICC, should its judges agree the court has jurisdiction and evidence in support, an investigation could lead to chief prosecutor Khan issuing indictments and prosecution. However, the ICC process could be speeded up should a member state refer the case to the court, thereby bypassing the need to obtain the judges permission. What effect will it have? Experts agree the question is difficult to answer. The ICJ, whose decisions are final and cannot be appealed lacks a classic enforcement mechanism to make its judgments effective, said Gordon. Similarly, the ICC does not have its own police force and relies on member states to make arrests. On the other hand, we are seeing the mobilisation of a number of more or less coordinated mechanisms designed to punish Russia for waging an illegal war, Gordon said. This included economic sanctions, travel restrictions, and the cancellation of sporting events. A judgment by the ICJ might play a role in any such actions in the future, whether as part of a specific legal argument or a public argument about legitimacy, said Gordon. The UK government warned Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his commanders in Ukraine could face prosecution for war crimes, comparing the sickening onslaught to the darkest days of the Yugoslav conflicts. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Russias bombardment of Ukraines second city Kharkiv was absolutely sickening and reminiscent of massacres of civilians in Sarajevo in the 1990s, vowing that Western sanctions would remain for as long as it takes. It has that feel to me of an atrocity deliberately committed against a civilian centre, he told journalists during a visit to a NATO base in Estonia. Two shellings of a marketplace during the siege of Sarajevo in 1994 killed over 100 civilians, one of the bloodiest days in the Bosnian War following the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. Moscow on Tuesday intensified its six-day offensive against Ukraine, killing at least 18 civilians with missiles and artillery strikes in Kharkiv alone. Visiting Poland earlier, Johnson had condemned Putins barbaric, indiscriminate tactics as the civilian death toll around the country rose. He said Russia had underestimated the passionate desire of Ukraines people to defend themselves, as well as the unity and resolve of the West and of the rest of the world. And we will keep up the economic pressure, he said, after Britain on Tuesday joined the European Union and United States in sanctioning Russias biggest lender Sberbank. The move came after the government on Monday said it would freeze the UK assets of all Russian banks and ordered British ports to turn away Russian ships. It is plainly already having a dramatic effect, Johnson said, with the Russian ruble and stock market in freefall, and customers queueing to withdraw their savings from banks. We are ready to intensify and to keep going for as long as it takes. Cluster bombs Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, a former war crimes prosecutor, also recalled the Yugoslav conflicts, saying Britain and its allies would be patient in bringing any violators to heel. Thats why were making it clear both to Putin but also to commanders in Moscow, on the ground in Ukraine, that they will be held accountable for any violations of the laws of war, he told Sky News. The International Criminal Court in The Hague said Monday it was investigating after finding a reasonable basis to suspect alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine since Russia seized the Crimea peninsula in 2014. For Putin, Russian generals and soldiers, theres a very real risk that theyll end up in the dock of a court in The Hague, Raab added on BBC television. Amnesty International said Russian cluster bombs hit a pre-school in northeastern Ukraine last Friday that was being used to shelter civilians, killing three people including a child. Agnes Callamard, who heads the global rights monitor, said the stomach-turning attack in the town of Okhtyrka should be investigated as a war crime. With hundreds of thousands fleeing the violence, the UK said it would relax its immigration requirements for Ukrainians, after criticism it was not going far enough to accommodate refugees. Home Secretary Priti Patel said some 100,000 Ukrainians could enter the country for 12 months as a result of changes to criteria for close family members. All applicants will still, however, have to pass security checks, she added, given that Russian troops are seeking to infiltrate and merge with Ukrainian forces. bur-cjo/phz/ach SBERBANK ROSSII OAO An Indian student was killed on Tuesday in shelling in Ukraine, New Delhi said, as it urged Moscow and Kyiv to secure safe passage for around 12,000 of its stranded nationals. With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter. He added that the foreign secretary the ministrys top civil servant was calling in the Russian and Ukrainian ambassadors to reiterate our demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones. Kharkiv, Ukraines second city, has been a target for Russian forces since President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of the eastern European country last week. On Tuesday, the central square of the city near the Russian border was shelled by advancing forces who hit the building of the local administration, regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the shelling as a war crime, adding in a video statement: This is state terrorism on the part of Russia. But Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla did not criticise Russia. Naming the student as Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, he told reporters: From what we understand from his friends, he had come out to buy some groceries, he was at a shop in a line when he was hit, I dont know how. The circumstances are not absolutely clear, he added. It is a conflict zone and its a very unfortunate situation. In the southern Indian state of Karnataka, the students father pleaded to Indian authorities and representatives in Ukraine: Bring back my sons dead body. Before Russias invasion, there were around 20,000 Indians in Ukraine. Around 8,000 have since managed to leave the country, of whom some 1,400 have been flown back to India, according to officials. According to Indian media, some Indian students are being prevented from crossing into neighbouring countries, with border guards reportedly refusing to let them pass and demanding money. Aruj Raj, a student in Kharkiv, told the Hindustan Times that he had been in a hostel bunker with 400 other Indian students since Thursday. There is so much bombing happening outside, he said. We can see street fighting through our windows. The city is still under curfew. It is impossible for us to step outside. We hardly have anything left to eat or drink. New Delhi has long walked a tightrope in its relations with Moscow and the West, while getting most of its arms from Russia. Last week it abstained in a vote on the UN Security Council resolution deploring Russias aggression. burs-stu/slb/sst Floridians dont often expect their elected leaders to rise above partisanship, in part because they know its unlikely to happen. But as the U.S. Senate considers the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, Floridians should demand that senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio deal with her nomination fairly and honestly and that they hold their fellow senators to the same standard. It wont be easy. President Joe Biden announced Jacksons nomination during the opening days of CPAC, the annual event that has evolved into a four-day tent revival for the radical wing of the Republican Party that still appears to be firmly in the grip of former President Donald Trump and his acolytes. Conference attendees quickly turned the nomination into red meat to sharpen their knives on, flinging muddy innuendos and making barely veiled appeals to racism. One common theme insists that Biden only chose Jackson for her race and gender ignoring her exceptional qualifications to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Associate Justice Stephen Breyer. Advertisement Jackson, who grew up in Miami, will certainly make history on the high court but not only as the first Black female ever to serve. Her reputation for thoughtful, insightful legal analysis defies the liberal firebrand tag that some politicians are already seeking to brand her with. And her qualifications are unique and valuable, making her well-suited to evaluate the big questions before the court. Several media outlets have pointed out that she would also be the first ex-public defender to serve on the nations high court. That sets her apart from the courts current members, most of whom worked as prosecutors before being named to the bench. Her nomination doesnt mean she will be soft on defendants; in fact, her record at the trial and appellate level has been remarkably balanced, and her reputation is that of a jurist who seeks to build consensus while respecting the reality that laws have boundaries that the judiciary is obligated to follow. Advertisement Her background does give her knowledge that has been in short supply on the bench and thats important, because public defenders are often the first line of defense for rights that many of us take for granted. Unfortunately, many of the attacks on Jackson have come from the kinds of cases she handled as a public defender, including her representation of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Its disheartening to hear prominent members of the GOP who certainly know better acting as if Jackson somehow endorsed her clients actions. Leaders can also expect the kind of Im-rubber-youre-glue innuendo meant to smear Jacksons reputation without context Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already ventured into that territory: I also understand Judge Jackson was the favored choice of far-left dark money groups that have spent years attacking the legitimacy and structure of the Court itself, he said in a statement ignoring the likelihood that Jacksons nomination is almost certain to trigger floods of clandestine cash from both ends of the political spectrum. Rubio and Scott who have watched dark-money drama play out in Florida legislative races should urge their fellow senators to rise above such political chicanery. They may not have supported Browns confirmation, in June, to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. (Scott voted no; Rubio was one of three senators who did not vote.) But they should insist that her nomination be evaluated on Browns record, and her answers to questions about the law not on rumors, innuendo and outright falsehoods. And Floridians should make it clear thats what they expect. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio, Jay Reddick and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com. The International Court of Justice said Tuesday it would hold hearings on March 7 and 8 over the war in Ukraine as fighting intensifies. The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, will hold public hearings in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation) on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 March 2022,, the court said in a statement. More than 660,000 people have already fled abroad, the UN refugee agency said, estimating that a million people are displaced within ex-Soviet Ukraine, which has a population of 44 million. The UN said that up to four million refugees may need help in the coming months and 12 million more will need assistance within the country. International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan already announced he was launching an investigation on the situation in Ukraine following Russias invasion. I am satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine since 2014, Khan said in a statement Monday. Russia has defied international bans, boycotts and sanctions to press ahead with an offensive it says is aimed at defending Ukraines Russian speakers and toppling the leadership. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) enforces the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the nations fundamental labor law that guarantees most private-sector workers the right to organize and the right to collective bargaining. Years of static funding has undermined the Boards ability to fulfill its statutory mission, to the detriment of workers and the economy. The chronic under-resourcing of the Board has created challenges in its enforcement capacity amid the surge of union interestand unfair labor practices. As Congress debates upcoming budget and spending legislation , it is critical that lawmakers boost NLRB funding to protect workers well-being. NLRB funding has remained flat The Boards staffing level has not kept up with the growth in the national private-sector workforce. The number of full-time employees at the NLRB dropped by nearly 31% from 1,789 to 1,320 between 2006 and 2019. During the same period, the number of covered workers per NLRB staff increased by 50%, from one full-time employee per 74,809 workers to one full-time employee per 112,201 workers, as shown in the figure below. Further, staffing levels at regional offices, which typically handle the intake of complaints filed by workers, dropped by 33% between 2010 and 2019. The National Labor Relations Board is now responsible for far more workers than it was a decade ago : Number of private-sector workers per NLRB full-time employee, 20062019 Fiscal year Private-sector workers per NLRB full-time employee 2006 74809 2007 78292 2008 82804 2009 80784 2010 78321 2011 77076 2012 80303 2013 83888 2014 84853 2015 87896 2016 92969 2017 98064 2018 110790 2019 112201 Chart Data Download data The data below can be saved or copied directly into Excel. The data underlying the figure. Source: EPI calculations from the National Labor Relations Boards data on full-time employees from 20062019 and Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data on the total number of employees covered by unemployment insurance programs in the United States from 20062019. These cuts have put a strain on the remaining staff, forcing them to stretch already-thin resources. According to the Government Accountability Officeonly about one-third of employees agree that the Board has sufficient resources, while nearly half admit to having an unreasonable workload. Although Congress has mandated the Board to address this understaffing, it has failed to allocate adequate resources to do so and has instead allowed funding to remain flat since 2014. Congresss continued reliance on continuing resolutions in place of annual appropriations prevents the Board from backfilling staffing needs that predate the previous fiscal year. Further, funding levels have not kept up with inflation in the last decade, which translates to an effective 20% funding cut. NLRB officials associate this decline in staffing with a decrease in case numbers; this decline in cases has been further attributed to to a hostile environment for organizing unions and filing unfair labor practice charges created by the previous administration. In sharp contrast, the Biden administration has publicly supported collective bargaining efforts and touted the benefits of unions. Collective action is crucial and must be protected Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the NLRBs mandate of protecting workers fundamental right to collective action is as important as ever. We have seen a surge in protests by workers fighting for basic rights, better working conditions, personal protective equipment, and better pay . Where workers have been able to act collectively and through their union, they have been able to secure enhanced safety measures, additional premium pay, and paid sick time. Workers are recognizing the critical role that unions play in securing workplace rights, and they are banding together to establish unions in major employers like Starbucks and Amazon as well as independent bookstores and college campuses. NLRB petitions for union elections have shot up by more than 30% so far in 2022. This, in turn, requires the Board to allocate more resources toward addressing these petitions and ensuring fair and timely representation proceedings. Still, there is a significant mismatch in the number of workers who want to join unions and those who are represented by one. A recent survey showed that a large and growing number of workers want union representation, with nearly 50% of workers polled saying they would vote to create a union in their workplace tomorrow if they could. However, the share of workers represented by unions has declined. The decline in union membership comes amid sustained attacks on unionization efforts. Our research has shown that employers are charged with violating federal law in 41.5% of all union election campaigns, and one out of five union election campaigns involves a charge that a worker was illegally fired for union activity. Consequently, union elections today are characterized by employer intimidation and in no way reflect the democratic process guaranteed by the National Labor Relations Act. For example, Starbucks organizers have accused the company of retaliation by firing workers for their unionization efforts, and Amazon unlawfully interfered in a union vote in its Bessemer, Alabama warehouse. In both instances, the NLRB played a critical role in protecting workers rights to collective action and in identifying employees unlawful actions. However, many employers continue to pursue creative and heavy-handed tactics both legal and illegalto threaten and intimidate their workers in the hopes of stopping them from exercising their right to collective bargaining. More robust funding will be needed to remedy these attacks on the NLRA, combat illegal and unfair workplace practices, and strengthen the NLRBs investigative and enforcement abilities. Despite challenges, the NLRB continues to deliver results Despite limited resources, NLRB staff have worked to improve performance and deliver results. In 2021, the Board recovered $56 millionor 44% more than the previous yearon behalf of workers whose rights were violated, and worked to increase reinstatement offers by 545%. The NLRB also reduced the median age of pending cases by 15%. In order to build on this momentum and continue to protect the nations fundamental labor law, it is critical that Congress allocate adequate resources to the NLRB. Congress must move beyond flat funding for the Board, which has undermined its enforcement capabilities. Instead, the Board requires greater funding in order to meet the challenges and complexities of todays workforce. Wabaunsee County, KS (KCTV) Shawn Parcells was scheduled to be sentenced for criminal charges of felony theft and criminal desecration in Wabaunsee County, KS this morning, but he was a no-show at the county courthouse. Parcells faces numerous county, state and federal charges for his autopsy work. Prosecutors say he lacks the credentials to perform them and even pretended to be a doctor in some cases. Hes been the focus of more than a dozen KCTV5 investigative reports. But while people waiting for proceedings at the Wabaunsee County courthouse, Parcells sat in federal custody for violating the terms of his bond. Among those waiting this morning was Roger Boltz. He lost his wife, Melody, seven years ago. At the time, Parcells worked for the county. An autopsy was order, but never completed. Im tired of it, you know, Roger Boltz told us. Hes a sleazeball and a liar. Thats just the way it is. Boltz calls the entire process frustrating, starting with Parcells lab. Parcells allowed KCTV5 inside the lab three years ago. He thought it would help prove his lab was a legitimate business. But Roger Boltz wasnt convinced. I thought, Dr. Jekyll- Hyde type of guy, you know? said Boltz. It was like Frankensteins laboratory. Stuff in jars. People in the back room laying on tables. You know, this ought to be the first clue right here that youre not legitimate, you know. Boltz has watched as charges piled up against Parcells. Parcells is expected to plead guilty to 10 federal charges later in March. And those Consumer Protection Act violations in Kansas involve 82 consumers. After his lab was shut down, all the samples Parcells had collected were returned to families. Boltz believes Parcells doesnt understand the trauma hes caused families. Every time he walks in the courtroom, he wants to wave (at us), said Boltz. Who both look at each other, like Are you serious? Information KCTV5 uncovered was shocking and heartbreaking. Family after family told us they would never get answers. At one point, Shawn Parcells even sat down with us to try to explain his actions. I tell people all the time I almost became a neurosurgeon, Parcells told us in 2019. That doesnt mean Im a doctor. That doesnt mean that I was in medical school. I really did almost do that. Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved. Things just get more intense in the second half of the riveting legal drama "Juvenile Justice." Apart from its entertaining and informative elements, it takes viewers to resonate with the drama's characters. Keep on reading to know what happened to Kim Hye Soo, Kim Moo Yeol and Lee Sung Min in "Juvenile Justice" episode 6 to 10. 'Juvenile Justice' Episode 6: To Protect Family and Honor In episode 6, Shim Eun Seok tries to ignore her past, even when it visited her right in front of her doorstep. On the other hand, Kang Won Jung is torn between protecting his name and pushing forward to achieve his lifelong goals. His son, Sin U (Kim Joon Ho), who is involved in the Moonkwang High School Exam Paper Leak Case attempts to take the easy way out. It doesn't take long for Shim Eun Seok to find out the truth. 'Juvenile Justice' Episode 7: The Beginning and the End Episode 7 depicts the end of an era. However, an end is just the beginning for some. After digging deeper into the Moonkwang High School Exam Paper Leak Case, Shim Eun Seok provides evidentiary support to back up her accusations against Kang Won Jung. The episode also reveals Cha Tae Joo and Kang Won Jung's affiliation in the past. In addition to that, it was also revealed how the latter worked hard to change the law to protect juveniles from society, which pushed Kang Won Jung to step down from the court and run for the upcoming elections. Kang Won Jung's son, on the other hand, confesses about his involvement in the exam paper leak case. At the end of the episode, Yeonhwa District Court welcomes Na Geun Hee (Lee Jung Eun), the new presiding judge. 'Juvenile Justice' Episode 8: Is Justice Served? Shim Eun Seok and Cha Tae Joo don't seem to get along well with the new presiding judge Na Geun Hee. In episode 8, Kwak Do Seok (Song Deok Ho), a juvenile who had been sent to a reformatory by Cha Tae Joo, along with four juveniles gets involved in a car accident. It was then revealed that Kwak Do Seok has been beaten up and bullied for over a long time by the same juveniles he thought of as friends. While he suffers from bruises and powerful impact from the accident that led him to a vegetative state, the other four juveniles were set free from the microscopic eyes of the law. The ruling was made by the presiding judge, who believes in closing a case quickly rather than looking into them deeper. Meanwhile, a new cold case messes with Shim Eun Seok's mind and well-being. 'Juvenile Justice' Episode 9: The Past Haunts Shim Eun Seok Down The ninth episode highlights Shim Eun Seok's weakness, breaking down the walls she'd built around her. Yeonhwa District Court is shaken by a gang rape case that's assigned to Cha Tae Joo. However, Shim Eun Seok is adamant to handle the case despite her hatred for juveniles. After convincing the presiding judge, Shim Eun Seok faces Hwang In Jun, a young boy who's involved in the new rape case. Little did everyone know, he and Shim Eun Seok had a dark history. The episode ends as it reveals that Shim Eun Seok isn't just a judge; she was a mother who lost her son to manslaughter by the same boy standing trial before her. 'Juvenile Justice' Episode 10: Shim Eun Seok Ends Things With Conviction In episode 10, the juveniles who were the reason behind Shim Eun Seok's son's death stand before her. However, due to her relations to the accused, Shim Eun Seok was subject to recusal. Shim Eun Seok convinces Na Geun Hee to do the right thing after questioning her principles as a presiding judge. Moreover, Shim Eun Seok began her own investigation and teamed up with the police. Because of this, substantial evidence was provided. Hwang In Jun and Baek Do Hyeon, along with their accomplices, were given just ruling at the court, closing the cold gang rape case and many other crimes. YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: 'Pachinko' Teaser: Lee Min Ho, Youn Yuh Jung's New Drama Unveils Cinematic Trailer At home, Shim Eun Seok cries her heart out for her poor son whose life was taken so soon. After five long years, she gathers all the courage to start anew. She still detests juvenile offenders the most, but she has rational, lawful and just convictions that make her a true agent of the law. "Juvenile Justice" depicts that every grave conduct has its own equal consequences, regardless of gender, family background and age, and how the law protects and helps the victims. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Romance series "Queen In Hyun's Man," starring Yoo In Na and Ji Hyun Woo, is a classic K-drama that captured the viewers' hearts during its run in 2012. As it turns ten years this year, let us know where the cast is now! Yoo In Na After she starred in "Queen In Hyun's Man," Yoo In Na appeared in "My Love From the Star," alongside Jun Ji Hyun and Kim Soo Hyun, in 2013 and worked with Namgoong Min and 2014 series "My Secret Hotel." She became known for her role in the phenomenal K-Drama "Goblin" in 2016 where she was partnered with Lee Dong Wook. Since many enjoyed their chemistry, they reunited again for a drama where they were finally the main cast. Yoo In Na recently appeared in JTBC's "Snowdrop" along with Jung Hae In and BLACKPINK's Jisoo. The actress also starred in the 2021 movie "New Year Blues." Since she just finished a drama, Yoo In Na is on hiatus and is expected to return to primetime soon. Ji Hyun Woo He currently appears in KBS' drama "Young Lady and Gentleman." It is one of the highest series in the said broadcasting station. Due to its popularity, Ji Hyun Woo gained more recognition from the audience. He won the Daesang and Best Couple Award alongside on screen partner Lee Se Hee at the 2021 KBS Drama Awards. Ji Hyun Woo is also active in acting every year. He is open to new roles and other opportunities to showcase and enhance his skills. Kim Jin Woo He is a brilliant actor who already graced the weekdays and weekend primetime with his numerous drama roles. After "Queen In Hyun's Man," Kim Jin Woo received new offers to star in "The Birth of a Family" in 2013, "My Lovely Girl" in 2014, "Just Between Lovers," "Left-Handed Wife," and more. His most recent drama was "Graceful Family" in 2019. Kim Jin Woo also keeps in touch with his fans and updates them about his personal life, where he spends most of his free time with family. Ga Deuk Hi She played the character of Jo Soo Gyung. Like her drama co-stars, Ga Deuk Hi also had a simultaneous career opportunity through the years. Some of the dramas she appeared in were in "The King's Daughter, Soo Baek Hyang," "My Blooming Days," "My Sweet Family," "Person Who Gives Happiness," "The Bride of Habaek," and "My Unfamiliar Family." 'Queen In Hyun's Man' Synopsis tvN's fantasy-romance series tells the story of a noble man Kim Bong Do (Ji Hyun Woo) from the Joseon Dynasty, which is approximately 300 years ago. Due to an unexpected twist of fate, he happens to travel through time and ends up in present day Seoul. He then meets Choi Hee Jin (Yoo In Na), an actress who has been trying hard to maintain her career, and develop a romantic relationship. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Yoo In Na Successfully Delivers Impressive Acting in 'Snowdrop' With BLACKPINK Jisoo, Jung Hae In For more Korean drama and celebrity updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Shai Collins wrote this. Kdramastars owns this article. Ahn Hyo Seop, Kim Sejeong, Kim Min Gyu and Seol In Ah's much awaited rom-com drama "A Business Proposal" finally released its pilot episode! In episode 1, Ahn Hyo Seop goes on a blind date with Kim Sejeong, and becomes eager to marry her. Read to know more! 'A Business Proposal' Episode 1: Shin Ha Ri Goes to Another Blind Date Shin Ha Ri (Kim Sejeong) finds herself going on another blind date in place of Jin Young Seo (Seol In Ah) in order to scare away her best friend's new prospect. With her complete transformation, Ha Ri is confident in driving the new date away after she mastered all the things men hate in women and relationships. Kang Tae Mu Grants His Grandfather's Only Wish GoFood's new president Kang Tae Mu (Ahn Hyo Seop) returns to South Korea after his trip abroad. He's a good-looking gentleman who doesn't intend to date and only thinks about work. When his grandfather created a list of eligible bachelorette for him to date, he immediately disagreed. However, Tae Mu with a wife and children is the only thing that his grandfather wishes to see while he's alive. To appease his old man, Tae Mu agrees to meet one of his candidates and get to know her better. Tae Mu and Young Seo, in the form of Ha Ri, finally meet for the first time. Shin Ha Ri and Kang Tae Mu's First Romantic Meeting Ha Ri couldn't believe her eyes when her company's new president sat across from her as her "blind date." Ha Ri and Young Seo already had a concrete plan on her to scare away all the men presented to the young heiress. Acting as Young Seo, Ha Ri would display callousness and rude manners in front of her date. She would also sometimes pretend to be possessed by an evil spirit. Unfortunately, these wouldn't work on Tae Mu. Because the man prefers women who are honest, he didn't mind Ha Ri's endless TMI bombs. Thinking it was a success, Ha Ri and Young Seo celebrate after driving another prospective husband. Their celebration is cut short after Young Seo receives a call from her father. Ha Ri prays she wouldn't run into Tae Mu at work. Kang Tae Mu Eagerly Wants to Marry Shin Ha Ri Tae Mu finally thinks of a solution in order to grant his old grandfather's wish. Because he isn't interested in dating, he'd marry Young Seo, who's Ha Ri in real life, in order to solve his problem. Tae Mu and Ha Ri once again meet up to talk about their upcoming marriage, but because of her pretense, Ha Ri turned down Tae Mu's offer without second thoughts. To make things work for the both of them, Tae Mu suggests going on 10 dates to get to know one another more. On the other hand, Young Seo falls for Cha Sung Hoon (Kim Min Gyu) at first sight. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. HB 1355/SB 1808 is among the most controversial bills this legislative session. It creates economic hardship and legal liability for transportation businesses bringing immigrants into Florida. The bill forms part of a series of anti-immigrant measures by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies. Proponents of these efforts have one thing in common: a minimal understanding of the complex body of immigration laws, regulations, and policies. Any way this proposed law is implemented will violate the U.S. Constitution. Yet, despite confusion and uncertainty surrounding the laws meaning and consequences, the House and Senate versions are on their way to the floor. Advertisement Mark Prada is the co-founder of Prada Urizar, PLLC. John Patrick Pratt is a Partner at Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli & Pratt, P.A. - Original Credit: Courtesy photos (Courtesy photo) HB 1355/SB 1808 will prohibit businesses that transport unauthorized aliens into Florida from contracting with local or state government agencies. However, the majority of legislators during the committee hearings failed to accept that unauthorized alien is a legal term with a legal definition contained in immigration law. Undocumented persons cannot board flights without REAL IDs anyway. So, what is the true issue? This proposed bill impacts millions of people who have permission from the federal government to be in the U.S., but bill sponsors dont seem to care. Legislators heard ad nauseam that the definition of unauthorized alien in the original bill text is found in immigration laws covering employment authorization. Advertisement Their solution an amendment incorporating all federal immigration laws into the bill to avoid analyzing who is unlawfully present, although that term requires a nuanced understanding of immigration regulations. This mess leaves transportation companies with no clear way to decipher who can travel to Florida and avoid violating this poorly written proposed law. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > Transportation companies will need to become immigration law experts to grant or deny service to dozens of categories of people prohibited from traveling to Florida, even though the federal law gives them permission to be here. For example, Afghan evacuees, unaccompanied children, family members of active U.S. military servicemembers, asylum-seekers, trafficking victims, and TPS holders could be prevented from boarding a plane to Florida. Another interpretation of the bill deems tourists who cannot get work authorization to be unauthorized aliens, even with a valid visa and in valid status. Alarmingly, this bill will absolutely impact unaccompanied children. The bill sponsors wrongly believe children are protected by the proposed amendment. Unaccompanied children are placed in removal proceedings and can be deported despite protections under the Flores Settlement Agreement, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, and other federal laws. HB 1355/SB 1808 places these children squarely within the bills definition of unauthorized alien due to the maze of statutes and regulations governing their admissibility in federal immigration law. The purpose of HB 1355/SB 1808 is clear to prevent children escaping wars and abuse from being in Florida. SB 1808/HB 1355 follows anti-immigrant administrative efforts targeting unaccompanied children seeking refuge in the U.S. The governor and the Department of Children and Families have characterized these children as a danger to Florida to justify eliminating licenses for agencies caring for them (EO 221-223; Rule 65C-9.004). The bill sponsors falsely claimed these children would not be harmed by the bill and then rejected every amendment explicitly exempting them. The net result is that these children will never reach the many faith-based organizations dedicated to placing them with family, such as Bethany Christian Services and Catholic Charities. According to Republican legislators, these measures are necessary to stop flights taking place under the cover of darkness, on which immigrant children, like those who may soon arrive from Ukraine, are transported to be reunited with their families or taken to child-care agencies. These alleged secret flights are a false narrative. For over 20 years, under both Republican and Democratic presidential administrations, these flights have been well-documented, and require flight-plans complying with federal aviation laws. Ultimately, the consequences of SB 1808/HB 1355 will harm commerce and the integrity of federal immigration laws. If every state implements similar legislation, we will have 50 formulations of immigration laws with disastrous outcomes. Passengers will need to ensure they have no layovers in Florida and Uber drivers who cross the Florida border will be de facto ICE officials determining the immigration status of their customers. This is unconstitutional, would result in serious costs, and is simply absurd. Mark Prada is the co-founder of Prada Urizar, PLLC. He is the First Vice President for South Florida Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). John Patrick Pratt is a Partner at Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli & Pratt, P.A. He served in the Board of Governors of AILA National from 2017-2020 and President of AILA South Florida from 2010-2011. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. A Ukrainian government official tells CNN that Ukrainian intelligence indicates Belarusian "readiness to maybe participate directly" in the invasion of Ukraine, "in addition to allowing Russians to use their territory as well as letting them cross the border." The United States has asked 12 Russian United Nations diplomats to leave the US, accusing them of "espionage activities." White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to put Russia's deterrence forces, which includes nuclear arms, on high alert are part of a wider pattern of unprovoked escalation and "manufactured threats" from the Kremlin. Psychiatric nurses were only able to accompany Kelowna police to about one-third of the 3,100 calls last year where the suspect was believed to be suffering mental health problems, RCMP Supt. Kara Triance told city councillors on Monday. Utility companies in the state of Florida are at it again, and your health is at risk. State Sen. Jennifer Bradley filed Senate Bill 1024 late last year, which press reports show was written by the largest power company in the state, Florida Power and Light. SB 1024 along with companion House Bill 741 face only a few steps left to pass. If Florida utilities are successful, SB 1024 would essentially end the only solar-friendly policy the Sunshine State has: net metering. Advertisement Shauna Junco, a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases practicing in Orlando, is a member of Florida Clinicians for Climate Action. - Original Credit: Courtesy photo (Courtesy photo) Net metering allows electricity customers to generate power with rooftop solar and receive a credit for any excess solar power they dont use, which is sent back through the power lines directly to neighbors. Because of this excess solar power provided to the grid, fewer fossil fuels are burned and less pollution is created. Florida voters rejected a similar attack on net metering in 2016 by voting down constitutional ballot initiative Amendment 1, which was promoted with over $26 million, primarily from utility companies. In writing SB 1024, utilities in Florida are going around voters, to the detriment of our health and our wallets. Advertisement I stand with health-care clinicians across the state who strongly oppose SB 1024 which, if passed, will result in increased air pollution in Florida. It is well established that air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels causes heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and multiple other diseases, making fossil fuel combustion the fourth leading cause of avoidable death worldwide for both men and women, according to the Global Burden of Disease study published in The Lancet in 2019. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > One study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences estimated that the burning of fossil fuels causes approximately 200,000 deaths in the U.S. every year, making it one of the highest causes of avoidable deaths here. These estimates of pollutions effects on mortality are likely an underestimate as we are learning more with each new study. For example, a recent study by the Harvard Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment also found an association between long-term exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality. Burning fossil fuels is also the main driver of climate change. The changing climate is negatively impacting human health in Florida and, unless we act, will worsen. This is truly an all-hands-on-deck situation to avoid the worst implications of a warming world. Net metering decreases air pollution and slows down climate change. Children, seniors, pregnant women, those below the poverty line, and minorities are all disproportionately affected by pollution, and thus stand to benefit the most from the rapid deployment of rooftop solar. That said, air pollution and climate change affect all of us, and so rooftop solar benefits us all. Net metering and rooftop solar also save everyone money. While prices for solar systems dropped dramatically in the last decade, prices for methane gas burned at power plants are sky-high. Currently, Floridians spend close to the equivalent of two-thirds of our states budget around $60 billion annually on fossil fuels imported from outside the state. Imagine what would happen to our states economy if Floridians could keep that money in their pockets by reaping the benefits of renewable energy. To get there, we need solar-friendly policies like net metering, which has helped lead to the creation of 40,000 solar jobs in Florida. These same jobs are now at risk should SB 1024 pass. All of Floridas big power companies just got massive rate increases, and are passing on billions of dollars in additional costs for fossil gas to Floridians because they invested in expensive power plants fueled by polluting fossil fuels instead of promoting policies to advance renewables. Now they are doubling down to prevent Floridians from being able to choose whether to implement solar on our own rooftops. How can you help? Tell your state representatives to put the interests of Florida citizens health front and center by protecting solar, and please tell them before its too late. Shauna Junco, a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases practicing in Orlando, is a member of Florida Clinicians for Climate Action. Hate crime legislation will be filed in memory of two victims who were killed at the Kroger parking lot in Jeffersontown. (AP photo) Ketchikan, AK (99901) Today Cloudy with showers. High 49F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy. Some light rain is likely. Low 39F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. 13 Shares Share Timothy Hoff is a professor of management and author of Searching for the Family Doctor: Primary Care on the Brink. Copyright 2022. Published with permission of Johns Hopkins University Press. There is a fight going on for the soul of not only American health care but health care everywhere. Primary care and family medicine are at the center of this struggle, the essence of which is the unresolved tension between two different goals. One goal is a fair, empathic, and highly relational care delivery system, built around primary care and trusting relationships between doctors and patients. Another goal is a more efficient, convenient, and highly transactional care delivery system, impersonal and built on algorithms, health care corporations, and technology. The former needs family doctors to succeed. The latter probably does not, relying instead on business thinking, scale, cheap labor, and technology. Make no mistake, this is an escalating war with combatants joining both sides. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated it by providing further rationales for minimizing the imperfect equation of using humans in health care delivery and embracing the transition to technological solutions instead. One combatant fighting on the side of relational primary care and the role of doctors, particularly general doctors, is the specialty of family medicine. For over fifty years, it has been selling us the idea that a comprehensive physician who can manage care and who sees all patients as unique, whole individuals has immense value. One important thing the specialty of family medicine has been effective at doing over five decades is using the image of the comprehensive family doctor to draw in medical students and young physicians. Compared to other medical specialties, it has always had a large number self-select into it who convince themselves that family practice is the right way to be a physician, and a great career choice for helping society. These true believers have given family practice hope. They have been the frontline foot soldiers seeking to spread the comprehensive doctor mantra. Many have owned practices. Many have stayed in the same community seeing the same patients for years. They face challenges now. Their army has been battered and whittled down in numbers as the surrounding health care system grows hostile to their interests. The job of a family medicine true believer is getting harder. Yet, as these true believers go, so goes the specialtys vision of itself as something truly unique in medicine. Orrin is a family medicine true believer. He has been one throughout this decades-long career. Hes worn out from the hard work of trying to remain co-owner of a small, independent practice not yet swallowed up by one of the larger hospital-based corporations looming in his geographic area; worn out from trying to meet all the demands of insurance companies, the government, and his patients; worn out from trying to make ends meet in a reimbursement world where seeing more patients quicker determines how much one can get paid as a family doctor. He comes across as a bit scared of the future, and quietly upset about how the existing health care system has gone out of its way to take out small guys like him. He is a true believer because he has stayed put in one community for over three decades. He has had the same patients for years, is friends with many of those patients, and has done a lot of varied and complex work. Owen is Orrins son, and he has followed in his fathers footsteps. He is a new partner in his fathers practice. Being a partner means he has had to invest money and take a salary cut as he builds his own panel of patients. He is in his early thirties, only a few years removed from his residency. Owen was immersed in the small-town physician experience growing up and watching his dad. He is a younger true believer, and that carries with it unique burdens compared to his father. He is taking personal, financial, and professional risks most other family doctors his age choose not to take, risks most family doctors of any age seem not to be taking anymore. He owes a couple hundred thousand dollars for his medical training. In other words, a mortgage for a house he does not have. He is only a few years removed from residency. He earns $120,000 a year, well below the mean salary for a family doctor, because right now he only eats what he kills as a newly minted practice partner. He has experienced a highly concentrated dose of the things his father has increasingly dealt with in his workthe struggle and uphill battle to be a comprehensive family physician in a small independently owned practice. There are other family doctors I spoke with that, while not business owners, are still trying to be true believers and comprehensive physicians while working for someone else. It is also not easy for them. Most family doctors now work as employees. More are joining the employee ranks each daynarrowing their scope of work, reducing their autonomy, adopting a nine-to-five mentality, and avoiding long-term relationships with patients. It moves them further away from the generalist physician definition. Overall, the health system in the United States is still not tilting its axes in favor of either primary care or family doctor. What is worse, family doctors as a collective are more balkanized and less cohesive than ever. There is a sense among those in the field that something is not right about the specialty. Some feel there is a bait-and-switch aspect to becoming a family doctor. It ends up being something much different than what they were initially told. Others feel it is an impossible job to do well. The ask is too big for them. Still others believe sincerely in the ideal definition of the role, that of the generalist or comprehensive doctor, but find themselves working too hard or sacrificing too much to get it done. They find other niche-oriented ways to convince themselves they are doing true family medicine work. Family doctors everywhere are searching out more sustainable career paths for themselves, leading to so much career variety that the very label family doctor starts losing its preferred connotation. Timothy Hoff is a professor of management and author of Searching for the Family Doctor: Primary Care on the Brink. Image credit: Shutterstock.com UN rights body to hold emergency debate on Ukraine situation Xinhua) 09:02, March 01, 2022 This image grabbed from a screen shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaking via a video at the opening of the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), held at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 28, 2022. The ongoing 49th session of the UNHRC has decided to hold an emergency debate on the situation in Ukraine later this week. (Xinhua) GENEVA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has decided to hold an emergency debate on the situation in Ukraine later this week. The decision was made following a roll-call vote of 29 votes in favor, five against and 13 abstentions. At the opening of the session, Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), said via video link that the escalation of "military operations" by Russia in Ukraine was leading to escalating human rights violations. The Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine is continuing its work and UN humanitarian agencies will step up their operations in the country, said the UN chief. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet told the session that during the period from Thursday morning to Sunday night, her office had recorded 406 civilian casualties, namely 102 deaths and 304 injured. The 49th session of the UNHRC, which kicked off on Monday, will last until April 1. This image grabbed from a screen shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaking via a video at the opening of the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), held at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 28, 2022. The ongoing 49th session of the UNHRC has decided to hold an emergency debate on the situation in Ukraine later this week. (Xinhua) This image grabbed from a screen shows Yevheniia Filipenko, permanent representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Office in Geneva, speaking at the opening of the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), held at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 28, 2022. The ongoing 49th session of the UNHRC has decided to hold an emergency debate on the situation in Ukraine later this week. (Xinhua) This image grabbed from a screen shows Federico Villegas, president of UN Human Rights Council, announcing the voting results on an emergency debate at the opening of the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), held at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 28, 2022. The ongoing 49th session of the UNHRC has decided to hold an emergency debate on the situation in Ukraine later this week. (Xinhua) This image grabbed from a screen shows Gennady Gatilov, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, speaking at the opening of the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), held at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 28, 2022. The ongoing 49th session of the UNHRC has decided to hold an emergency debate on the situation in Ukraine later this week. (Xinhua) This image grabbed from a screen shows UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet speaking at the opening of the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), held at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 28, 2022. The ongoing 49th session of the UNHRC has decided to hold an emergency debate on the situation in Ukraine later this week. (Xinhua) This image grabbed from a screen shows delegates attending the opening of the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), held at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 28, 2022. The ongoing 49th session of the UNHRC has decided to hold an emergency debate on the situation in Ukraine later this week. (Xinhua) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) U.S. Rep. Ted Deutchs announcement Monday that he wouldnt seek re-election has set off a scramble among politicians in Broward and Palm Beach counties who might succeed him. The calculations are changing rapidly. Broward County Commissioner Mark Bogen, who said Monday afternoon he was considering a candidacy, said Tuesday afternoon he would run for re-election instead. Advertisement Im happy staying as a county commissioner. Its not the right time for me, he said. One political strategist said it would be a free-for-all a very different scenario than in 2010, when Deutch was elected. Advertisement He was the clear successor to then-U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, whose retirement announcement was timed as part of a plan with Deutch announcing his candidacy. Thats not the case with Deutchs decision to leave office. He said Monday he would take over Oct. 1 as CEO of the American Jewish Committee. [ RELATED: Second Republican, George Moraitis, may run for congressional seat Democrat Ted Deutch is vacating ] The potential candidates all have a range of pluses and minuses. Several have shown they share a key attribute: an ability to raise money for an expensive campaign. Among the leading potential candidates: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Nov. 23, 2021, announces his appointment of Democrat Jared Moskowitz to the Broward County Commission. Moskowitz's wife, Leah, and children Sam, 8, and Max, 5, accompany him. Moskowitz is seen as an all-but-certain candidate for Congress after U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch announced he won't seek re-election in 2022. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Jared Moskowitz: He is currently serving as an appointed member of the Broward County Commission, for a term that ends with the November election. Hes a former director of the state Emergency Management Agency, a former state representative from northwest Broward, and a former Parkland city commissioner. Moskowitz is all but certain to run, but didnt say so on Monday. Today is about Ted. So I dont want to say too much because at the end of the day it really is about Ted, Moskowitz said. This just broke. Ive got to obviously get with my family. There are decisions that have to be made and Ill be making my announcement in coming days. [ RELATED: Congressman Ted Deutch will resign and not seek re-election. Hes becoming CEO of major Jewish organization. ] One thing that could rankle some in his party: the man who appointed Moskowitz as emergency chief in 2019 and to the County Commission in 2021 is Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is despised by many Democratic voters. There is a bittersweet note for Moskowitz running. He and his late father, Mike Moskowitz, had talked over a decade [about my] running when Ted was finished. And I was hoping my Dad and I could do this together. Advertisement Mike Moskowitz, a prominent lawyer-lobbyist, former Broward state Democratic committeeman and major party fundraiser, died in January of pancreatic cancer. The reason Moskowitz left his previous job as state emergency chief was so he could spend time with his father during his illness. Broward Mayor Mark Bogen discusses Hurricane Dorian with reporters at the Broward Emergency Operations Center on Sept. 2, 2019. Bogen considered a candidacy for Congress, to replace U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, who isn't seeking re-election in 2022, but opted not to run. (Anthony Man / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Gary Farmer: A state senator, Farmer represents a Broward district in Tallahassee. Asked if hes considering running, Farmer responded via text: Yes, I am giving it strong consideration. Farmer is facing a challenging re-election campaign because the state Senate redistricting maps which have passed and are awaiting approval form the Florida Supreme Court significantly change the boundaries of the current district he represents, likely forcing him into a primary with one or two other incumbent senators. State Sen. Gary Farmer is considering a candidacy to succeed Congressman Ted Deutch, who isn't running for re-election in 2022. (Steve Cannon/AP) Dean Trantalis: The Fort Lauderdale mayor said via text, It would be an honor to follow in the footsteps of Congressman Deutch and I will soon make a decision. Advertisement Trantalis, the most prominent LGBT elected official in Broward or Palm Beach counties, could raise money from the national LGBT community. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > Several people whose names came up as potential candidates among political insiders on Monday said they werent running: Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book of Plantation is not considering a run for Congress. She intends to run for re-election in November and looks forward to leading the Senate Democratic caucus in the state Senate for another two years, said aide Claire VanSusteren. State Sen. Tina Polsky, whose Broward-Palm Beach County district includes territory Deutch represents, said via text she was extremely grateful for the calls she received Monday encouraging her to run. But I fully intend to run for and remain in the Florida Senate as I still have much here to do. Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was killed in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre, said he would not run for Congress. I am honored by the outreach today, but Ive made a life decision that my career and my life and my future is not in politics. I will be continuing to hold people accountable, but not running for anything. Guttenberg said there are other really terrific people, and I look forward to supporting one of them. He has been a supporter of Moskowitz, a Stoneman Douglas graduate who was the state representative from Parkland at the time of the massacre. Asked if he was referring to a possible Moskowitz candidacy, Guttenberg said, I need to let him speak for himself. But Ill leave it at this: Hes a really dear friend and I think the world of him. Deutch said he didnt expect hed endorse any of the candidates. Republicans Even though the district is likely to lean Democratic even after boundaries are redrawn for this years election, Republicans are considering running. Advertisement Possible candidates: State Rep. Chip LaMarca of Lighthouse Point, a former Broward County Commissioner, former Lighthouse Point commissioner, and former Broward Republican Party chairman. We all see what has happened to discourse in D.C. If Eileen and I decide that we want to take this journey for the people of Florida, I would be the only candidate that actually has a proven record of working across the aisle and finding solutions for every Floridian, he said. Eileen LaMarca is his wife. Former state Rep. George Moraitis of Fort Lauderdale and former Broward Republican Party chairman. He is definitely, strongly considering running. I wasnt planning to run against Ted. When ever an incumbent goes into another line of work, theres an opportunity for people in the other party to give a fresh look at it, and perhaps bring over some voters who have voted Democratic. Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @browardpolitics At least 20 individuals and organizations connected with former state Sen. Frank Artiles, who is accused of bribing a friend to run as an independent candidate in a South Florida state senate race in 2020, are asking a judge to shield texts, emails and other files held on Artiless laptops from public view. The files, obtained by the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office, typically would become public, as state law requires when prosecutors provide evidence to a defendants attorneys during a criminal case. Advertisement But Artiles attorneys objected to their public release, saying the communications arent related to the states case against their client and would violate the right to privacy of people Artiles interacted with personally and professionally. The judge overseeing the case agreed in January that people whose messages and personal information were found on Artiles computers should have the chance to object to the public release of those files, setting a March 1 deadline for objections to be submitted. Advertisement The Miami-Dade Circuit Court provided the written requests for confidentiality to the Orlando Sentinel on Monday, but the names of most of the people and organizations objecting to the public release of their files were redacted. A nonprofit organization called Lets Preserve the American Dream has also objected to the public release of bank records, collected as part of the states case against Artiles, that would reveal its donors. The dark-money group, which has close ties to big business industry lobbying firm Associated Industries of Florida, is also under investigation for potential violations of elections and campaign finance laws. Circuit Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan is scheduled to rule on the requests from Lets Preserve the American Dream and others who objected to the release of their files during a hearing Wednesday afternoon. Attorneys representing the Sentinel and other media organizations have argued the documents should be available to the public. Artiles has been accused of paying a friend nearly $45,000 to file as an independent candidate in a South Florida Senate race in 2020 to siphon votes from his Democratic opponent. Though Alex Rodriguez did no campaigning, he received more than 6,000 votes, while Republican Ileana Garcia defeated Jose Javier Rodriguez by 32 votes. The South Florida election was one of three key state Senate races that year including one in Central Florida won by Republican Sen. Jason Brodeur of Sanford in which so-called ghost candidates filed to run as independents but did no campaigning. Two political committees that received all of their funding from a dark money nonprofit called Grow United sent ads promoting the independent candidates, portraying them as progressives in an apparent attempt to undermine the Democrats in those races. Lets Preserve the American Dream gave Grow United funding that was used to pay for the ads. Artiles attorneys argued that other documents, including Artiles bank and phone records, should also be withheld from the public, but Fajardo Orshan ruled that redacted versions of those documents should be released. Advertisement One of the organizations that objected to the release of its records that was identified in a public court filing is Rogar Management and Consulting, for whom Artiles is registered to lobby. Rogars work includes open-bid projects for the Florida Department of Transportation, according to the written objection submitted to the court. The company is registered to Javier Rodriguez of Miami. Attorneys representing Rogar said the files on Artiles computers have no relevance either to election activity generally or to the specific conduct that is the subject of this case, with the possible exception of an email forwarding a flier for a fundraising reception supporting the candidacy of Esteban Bovo, who ran for Miami-Dade mayor in 2020. But others who objected to the public release of their communications with Artiles werent identified. One person, who described themselves as a retired U.S. Navy officer and professor, attached to their objection copies of contracts signed in March and August of 2020 for budget consulting and marketing consulting with Atlas Consultants, Artiles consulting firm. I do not want unwanted scrutiny or media attention for any issue the museum has no involvement in, they wrote in an email to Fajardo Orshans judicial assistant. The name of the museum was redacted from the email and the contracts, which stipulated Artiles should be paid $7,500 per month. Advertisement Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > Atlas Consultants has a key role in the states case against Artiles. The State Attorneys Office has subpoenaed bank records, tax documents and communications from the firm. During the same period Artiles is accused of bribing Alex Rodriguez, Lets Preserve the American Dream was paying Artiles $5,000 per month for consulting services through Atlas Consultants. Artiles also was paid by Data Targeting, a top GOP consulting firm, through Atlas. Several of the people who requested that their messages not be disclosed noted they served in the U.S. Marine Corps with Artiles, whose Florida House of Representatives page says he was a sergeant from 1998 to 2006. I currently hold a high position in a local police department, one such requestor wrote to Orshans assistant. My family or I do not want unwanted scrutiny or media attention for any issue I have no involvement in. They added that they believed Artiles should have a fair trial free from public view and inquiries from the media that involves his friends, family and veteran comrades, and noted their request to shield their communications with Artiles from public disclosure involves my familys reputation and mine. anmartin@orlandosentinel.com Advertisement Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the person to whom Rogar Management and Consulting is registered. The company is registered to Javier Rodriguez of Miami. Looking to update your home? Watch the KHQ Spring Home Design Guide featuring the areas top home improvement businesses on Sat, May 7 at 4:30pm on KHQ. And click here to win a $500 VISA gift card, courtesy of our presenting partner - VPC Electric! Kilgore, TX (75662) Today Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. To subscribe, click here. Already a subscriber? Click here. Kilkenny Archaeological Societys recent online lecture by Dr Ciaran Wallace, Deputy Director of Beyond2022, has yielded a very interesting and rare document in Co Kilkenny. Beyond2022 is an all-island and international collaborative research project working to create a virtual reconstruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland, which was destroyed, with the Four Courts on the same campus, in the opening engagement of the Civil War on June 30th, 1922. The Record Treasury at the Public Record Office of Ireland stored seven centuries of Irish records dating back to the time of the Normans. National census documents from the 19th century were a particular loss. Inistioge resident, Carmel Cummins, was aware of the existence of an copy of the 1831 Census for the area, based on the Tighe estate, the original of which had been lost in the 1922 fire. In 2021, as a heritage project on behalf of Inistioge Tidy Towns, Carmel had worked with Daphne Coad, the owner of the document, and Declan Macauley, Executive Librarian, to have it digitised by Kilkenny County Library Local Studies, with a view to making it available online. After Januarys KAS lecture Carmel enquired as to making it known to the Virtual Treasury and was introduced to Dr Brian Gurrin, census expert. Brian was very excited to hear about the document and visited City Library in Kilkenny last week, to examine and photograph it. He explained, This is a transcription of the 1831 Census of the Tighe Estate in Inistioge. The estate must have put in a request to the Public Records Office to get a copy and this is what was provided to them. It looks to me as if the transcription was made on an original Census book that the enumerators would have received to conduct the 1831 Census. That being the case, this is the only surviving 1831 Census Book. It is a really, really exciting discovery. Its remarkable that it survived in the condition it has. Daphne Coad, owner of this rare document, told him about its provenance , This document came into my hands though my late father who was a Land Agent in the area from 1900 to about 1960. This was found among papers when he passed away. It has been sitting in a drawer in my house, with only a few outings in the last 50 years. Im delighted that people who know about it are now able to look at it. It has gone up in my estimation! Ann Tierney, President of Kilkenny Archaeological Society, was equally excited about the discovery How great is it that Daphne and Carmel, and the people of Inistioge have seen the value of this and have preserved it, and made it available. Its so important because there were others like this throughout the country, and they have been lost. Brian expanded on what it reveals, This Census has got an enormous amount of information about the families in the area, breaking them down by occupation, household structure, family structure, religion. Its a remarkable document and the best surviving transcript from the 1831 Census to exist, as far as I know. Well do some image processing on the images, look into transcription and if time permits, wed like to make it available, in time for the launch of the Virtual Treasury on June 30 this year. Carmel Cummins noted, These centenary years have encouraged us to reflect on the events leading to, and surrounding, the foundation of the State. In Inistioge, Woodstock House was the base for the Auxiliaries in the southeast during the War of Independence, the house was burned during the Civil War. Its a dark history but that Inistioge is able to offer this phoenix census to Beyond 2022, one of the most positive, exciting and creative projects emerging from the centenary years, is a joy. Read more about Beyond2022, the Virtual Treasury: www.beyond2022.ie The United Nations nuclear watchdog says missiles have hit a radioactive waste disposal site in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. In a statement late last night (Sunday February 27), International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Grossi said Ukrainian authorities informed his office about the overnight strike, but there are no reports of damage to the buildings or indications of a release of radioactive material. He said his agency expects to soon receive the results of on-site radioactive monitoring. The report came a day after an electrical transformer at a similar disposal facility in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv was damaged. Such facilities typically hold low-level radioactive materials such as waste from hospitals and industry, but Mr Grossi said the two incidents highlight a very real risk. He said if the sites are damaged there could be potentially severe consequences for human health and the environment. It comes as Russian troops drew closer to the Ukrainian capital whose mayor warned the city was encircled, and President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear forces to be put on high alert In an interview with the Associated Press (AP) on Sunday, after a gruelling night of Russian attacks on the outskirts of the city, mayor Vitali Klitschko was silent for several seconds when asked if there were plans to evacuate civilians if Russian troops managed to take Kyiv. We cant do that, because all ways are blocked, he finally said. Right now we are encircled. Meanwhile, in the port city of Mariupol, Ukrainians are trying to fend off a Russian advance. An ambulance raced into a city hospital on Sunday, carrying a six-year-old girl who was mortally injured in Russian shelling. She was pale. Her brown hair was pulled back with a rubber band. Her bloody pyjama pants were decorated with cartoon unicorns. She was brought in with her wounded father, his head bloodied and bandaged. A medical team pumped her chest, fighting desperately to revive her. Her mother stood outside the ambulance, weeping. Take her out! Take her out! We can make it! a hospital worker shouted, pushing a gurney to the ambulance. The girl was raced inside and doctors and nurses huddled around her. One gave her an injection. Another tried to revive her with a defibrillator. A nurse wept. A doctor in blue medical scrubs, pumping oxygen into her, looked straight at the camera of an Associated Press video journalist who had been allowed inside. Show this to Putin, he said angrily. The eyes of this child, and crying doctors. The girl, whose name was not immediately known, could not be saved. The doctor reached gently over her face to close her eyes. Her body was left alone in the room, covered by her brightly coloured polyester jacket, now spattered with blood. Earlier, Mr Putin ordered Russian nuclear forces to be put on high alert in response to what he called aggressive statements by leading Nato powers. The order to put Russias nuclear weapons in an increased state of readiness for launch raised fears that the crisis could boil over into nuclear warfare, whether by design or miscalculation. Amid the mounting tensions, Ukraine announced that a delegation would meet with Russian officials for talks. But the Kremlins ultimate intentions towards Ukraine and what steps might be enough to satisfy Moscow remained unclear. Hours after Mr Putins announcement, the top official in the European Union said the 27-nation bloc will close its airspace to Russian airlines and fund the purchase of weapons for Ukraine and ban some pro-Kremlin media outlets, she said. Street fighting also broke out in Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv, and strategic ports in the countrys south came under pressure from the invading forces. Micheal Martin branded Vladimir Putin a bully and a thug in the Dail today, accusing him of war crimes following his "Unprovoked and unjustifiable war" on Ukraine. The Taoiseach said Ireland must be very generous in helping Ukrainian refugees fleeing the fighting. He also told the Dail Putin has fundamentally altered the multilateral rules-based order since the end of the Cold War. Taoiseach Micheal Martin meets people attending a demonstration outside Leinster House in Dublin to protest the Russian invasion of their country No one in this House or anywhere else should be under any illusions about the seriousness of the situation that Europe and the world faces right now this afternoon, Mr Martin said. Vladimir Putin, a bully and a thug, has unleashed an unprovoked and unjustifiable war on the people of Ukraine, committing war crimes in the process as we are witnessing. As (Ukrainian ) President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy said, most movingly to the European Parliament this morning, every day now in Ukraine is someones last day. I was very struck by both the contribution he made there and indeed to the European heads of state last Thursday at the EU council. He added: The biggest challenge facing us as a country, I believe, is that we must be very, very generous in terms of the refugee crisis that will undoubtedly flow as a result of this war. It will be beyond anything that weve comprehended before. Ive said to my colleagues in government and to the departments: we must put to one side what we might have considered to be the norms in terms of responding in a humanitarian way to the plight of the Ukrainian people. I believe Putin has fundamentally altered the multilateral rules-based order that characterized international behaviour since the end of the cold war, its that fundamental. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald condemned unreservedly the Russian invasion and offered Ukrainians her partys total and unwavering solidarity at this deeply disturbing and traumatic time for their country. The invasion of Ukraine is a criminal affront to the world. Ireland understands the impact of occupation and imperialist aggression and we must use our seat on the UN Security Council to be a voice for peace, justice and freedom, says Sinn Fein President @MaryLouMcDonald pic.twitter.com/0h0l10M57S Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) March 1, 2022 She said the invasion is a criminal affront to the civilized world and a threat to the peace and security of people everywhere. She added: The Irish people have been appalled at the heart-breaking scenes of civilians being killed, being injured and fleeing their homes for their lives. We are united in our condemnation of the actions of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Any attempt by Putin or his regime to justify his actions as a response to NATO are without foundation and are merely a means of distraction from his own culpability. Co-leader of the Social Democrats Catherine Murphy said Ireland has been slow to act against the Russians in the past. Flowers and candles at a vigil outside the Ukrainian embassy in Dublin over the Russian invasion of Ukraine Referring to a Government decision to block planning permission for an extension to the Russian Embassy in 2020, she added: It has long been reported in relation to the Russian Embassy in Dublin, which have been used as a base for espionage operations across Europe. This was confirmed when the Government used legislation to block a proposed expansion of the Embassy on security grounds in 2020. Yesterday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney suggested that the Russian diplomats or some operatives that are in Ireland, who may not be diplomats, could be expelled in coming days. Can you confirm to the House whether this means that the Government have identified spies among the Russian embassy staff that are about to be expelled? Mr Martin did not directly answer, instead saying no country is proposing to expel any Russian ambassador. Our view is that it is important, from a practical point of view, in looking after our citizens, either in Russia or Ukraine, that we keep our channels open, he said. We have a limited presence in the embassy in Moscow six individuals in total and they have a fundamental function to look after Irish citizens in Russia and also to articulate our views, and to keep abreast of whats happening within that jurisdiction, and different jurisdictions. TALLAHASSEE Gov. Ron DeSantis has rejected the Biden Administrations request to send the state National Guard to the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. DeSantis tweeted the announcement Monday morning but gave no reason for the decision. Advertisement Last week, the Biden Administration requested the assistance of State National Guards to deploy to Washington D.C. I have rejected this request there will be no @FLGuard sent to D.C. for Bidens State of the Union, the tweet read. The president and DeSantis have clashed repeatedly over COVID restrictions, immigration and other issues. At a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday, DeSantis claimed Biden hates Florida. Advertisement As a result, the Florida National Guard will not be a part of the hundreds of members who were activated as part of a request from the D.C. Emergency Management Agency to provide traffic control and enhanced security in anticipation of the protests surrounding President Joe Bidens speech. Guard members will not carry firearms or take part in law enforcement or domestic-surveillance activities, the Pentagon said. While there are no specific or credible threats related to Bidens speech, law enforcement officials are taking no chances following the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob caught Washington by surprise and successfully stormed the U.S. Capitol, briefly disrupting the certification of Bidens 2020 presidential victory. Since then, the U.S. Capitol Police has beefed up security for planned protests in the area. And this time, officials are also preparing for trucker convoys that are planning protests against pandemic restrictions beginning this week, though officials arent concerned about serious security issues with the possible protests. TALLAHASSEE Florida is evaluating its investments in Russian companies as governors in other states seek to cut financial ties with the country over its invasion of Ukraine. Gov. Ron DeSantis hasnt publicly called for Florida to halt investments and business with Russia. Advertisement U.S. and international sanctions are far more consequential than state actions, but governors and state lawmakers across the country say they want to show solidarity with Ukraine and add to the financial pressure Russia is facing. Floridas $195 billion in assets include about $300 million in holdings in Russian-domiciled investments, said Dennis MacKee, a spokesman for the State Board of Administration, which manages state retirement funds. Advertisement Florida will comply with applicable laws and any sanctions required by the U.S. government, he said. We are in discussions with our managers and in the process of evaluating the ever-evolving regulatory and economic landscape regarding any holdings in Russia and will adjust our holdings accordingly, MacKee said in a prepared statement. DeSantis said Monday the United States should hit Russian President Vladimir Putin where it counts by establishing energy independence, while not addressing what he is doing at the state level. If you want to hit him, hit him at the gas pump. Hit him with energy, DeSantis told reporters Monday in Vero Beach. He called Putin an authoritarian gas station attendant with some legacy nuclear weapons and praised Ukrainian resistance in his first public remarks on the crisis since Russia launched its invasion Thursday. Russia exports a small amount of petroleum products to the United States, and America sells six times as much oil worldwide, according to a report in Forbes. Sanctions are under the purview of the federal government, spokeswoman Christina Pushaw said in an email Monday when asked whether DeSantis supports ending state investments with Russian firms. DeSantis has called for Florida to pull its investments in response to other world events. In December, DeSantis vowed to take on Communist China and asked for a review of the states investments in Chinese companies. Hes also called for the state to stop investing in Ben & Jerrys parent company over its decision to stop selling ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and contested east Jerusalem. Advertisement DeSantis is one of three trustees overseeing the State Board of Administration, along with Floridas Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody. Patronis is receiving updates on federal sanctions and how they could affect investments, spokesman Frank Collins III said in a prepared statement, suggesting that politics might be playing a role in questioning the states investments. The CFO believes that Putin is an evil dictator and that he will reap what he sows, Collins said. The CFO also believes that when buildings are being bombed, families are being killed, the international geopolitical order is being disrupted, and a humanitarian crisis is unfolding before our very eyes, now may not be the right time for clever hot takes. Kylie Mason, a spokeswoman for Moody, said the State Board of Administration is evaluating investments and referred questions to that agency. Democrats running for governor are urging DeSantis to be more forceful. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried sent a letter to DeSantis, Patronis and Moody and urged them to immediately divest from Russian-back entities. Advertisement It is imperative that we not only speak out against these attacks on democracy but that we ensure Florida taxpayer dollars are not propping up the autocratic regime in Russia, Fried wrote. State Sen. Annette Taddeo, another Democrat running for governor, said shell draft legislation to require the state to divest its Russian holdings. At the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday in Orlando, DeSantis blasted COVID restrictions that he described as authoritarian rule in Canada and Australia, both strong U.S. allies, but he did not mention Russia. On Monday, DeSantis criticized President Joe Bidens domestic energy policy, saying Biden should reactivate the Keystone pipeline and allow oil drilling on public lands. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > In the past, DeSantis has opposed oil drilling off Floridas coast, an issue that has riled both Democrats and Republican politicians in Florida. Elsewhere, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order preventing her state from doing business or investing in any Russian entities. She said New York is prepared to welcome Ukrainian refugees. The governors of Virginia, Colorado and Georgia moved to block Russia from doing business with their states. Advertisement Governors in Utah, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania ordered government-run liquor stores to remove Russian-made vodka. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asked retailers and restaurants to voluntarily remove all Russian products from their shelves. Texas stands with Ukraine, he wrote in a tweet. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. sswisher@orlandosentinel.com TALLAHASSEE The Florida Senate is poised to consider a measure that would prohibit school instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grade levels, as one Republican called on lawmakers to soften the bill when it is heard on the Senate floor. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill (HB 1557) in a 12-8 vote along almost straight party lines. Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, voted with Democrats against the measure. Advertisement The House passed the bill last week in a 69-47 vote, with six Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. The bill says classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through third-grade. Advertisement For higher grade levels, the proposal calls for such instruction to be age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate as determined by state academic standards. The committee approved the bill after rejecting a change proposed by Brandes. The change sought to prohibit school instruction on human sexuality or sexual activity in kindergarten through third grade, rather than lessons on sexual orientation or gender identity. Florida Sen. Jeff Brandes, center, watches during a legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP) The measure, dubbed dont say gay by detractors, has drawn heavy opposition from groups that have repeatedly argued it singles out LGBTQ people. Dozens of people spoke in opposition to the bill Monday during an at-times tense committee meeting. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > I am deeply concerned about the mental health and the physical health of the adolescents and kids that could be affected by this. I do agree that conversations should be age-appropriate, but I do not agree that we should be adopting into law any discriminatory language that would single out specific people, said Joseph Knoll, CEO of SPEKTRUM Health, an Orlando clinic that serves LGBTQ people. The measure also aims to prevent school districts from adopting policies that could prohibit school district personnel from notifying a parent about his or her students mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being or changes to a students services. Opponents of the bill also have argued that the changes would remove schools and teachers as a lifeline for vulnerable LGBTQ students. But Senate bill sponsor Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, argued that children are not wards of the state and that parents should have control over decisions that impact their kids. We are moving, and have been moving, in a direction of empowerment of parents. That theyre supposed to be in charge, Baxley said. Advertisement After the panel rejected his amendment, Brandes again petitioned his colleagues to consider revising the measure when it reaches the Senate floor. Can we find a way to modify the language in such a way that our neighbors in this room dont feel harmed? I have to believe the answer to that question is yes. The language could be broadened, Brandes said. Jasper, TX (75951) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low around 50F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low around 50F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Support local journalism Local news, sports and entertainment when you want it. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the best local news, sports and entertainment coverage. TALLAHASSEE Legislation named in honor of a slain Orlando college student that seeks to improve apartment safety is now ready for final votes. The Florida Senate is set to pass Miyas Law on Wednesday, state Sen. Linda Stewart said. The legislation is named for Miya Marcano, who police say was murdered by a maintenance worker who had a key to her apartment. Advertisement I am hopeful that we may soon carry this important legislation across the finish line in these final weeks of session, the Orlando Democrat said. The passage of this bill would represent a major win for the safety of all tenants. [ RELATED: Miya Marcanos death heaps scrutiny on apartment safety ] If the Senate approves, Miyas Law would head to the House, where it has met more resistance. Advertisement The Senate version would require landlords with five or more units to conduct a national background check on employees and maintain a log of keys. Senators are expected to amend the bill to limit background checks to criminal offenses committed within the past five years, Stewart said. It also would require landlords to provide 24-hour notice, instead of 12 hours, for non-emergency maintenance and repairs. Yma Scarbriel, mother of Miya Marcano, attends her daughter's funeral service on Thursday Oct. 14, 2021 at Cooper City Church of God in Cooper City, Fl. Marcano, a 19-year-old college sophomore from Pembroke Pines, was found murdered in a wooded area near her apartment complex in Orlando on Oct. 2. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > The Houses version of Miyas Law is different. It doesnt mandate background checks. Instead, apartment complexes catering to students would be required to notify tenants of their background check procedures. That requirement would apply to landlords with 15 or more units who market to students or have at least 60% of their tenants enrolled in a university or college. Landlords would need to notify tenants whether they do background checks and also post a list of employees and contractors that have access to units. Marcano, a 19-year-old student at Valencia College, was reported missing on Sept. 24 from her apartment at Arden Villas. Police suspect 27-year-old Armando Caballero, an Arden Villas maintenance worker, killed her and dumped her body. Caballero was found dead by suicide at a Seminole County apartment complex just days before Marcanos body was discovered. Advertisement State lawmakers are scheduled to wrap up their 60-day legislative session on March 11. sswisher@orlandosentinel.com William Woods University has placed one of its student's academic responsibilities on hold as she reports on Russia's invasion while stationed in Ukraine's capital city. Asami Terajima is a student at WWU but is currently working as a reporter for The Kyiv Independent. This school was destroyed as a result of a fight not far from Kharkiv's city center on February 28. The "People's Convoy" is one of the several trucker-led protests happening across the country right now. They claim their freedoms are being run over by COVID-19 mandates and mitigations. All of these truckers are working to make their way to Washington D.C. by this weekend. The thousands of Central Florida residents who have received letters asking them to update their voter registrations for the first time in 16 years will still be able to cast ballots even if they dont respond, county elections supervisors say. But they would need to update their registration information if they want to make any changes to their registrations in the future, including switching parties or signing up to vote by mail. Advertisement This does not affect their ability to vote in person, either early voting or Election Day, said Lake County elections supervisor Alan Hays. It only affects them if they want to make any changes. The new ID requirements are part of last years election law pushed by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republicans in the Legislature. Advertisement New Florida voters have already been required since 2006 to provide either their drivers license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering. But anyone who registered before 2006 had been grandfathered in. They werent required to update their registration with that information, even if they made any other changes to their registration in the past 17 years. Youre talking about people that [registered] before the Florida voter registration system was even put in place, said Chris Anderson, the Seminole County elections supervisor. Now, though, that grandfather clause has ended, and longtime Florida voters are being asked to eventually provide that ID information as well. Its another layer of security, so that we cant have some prankster calling and saying, Change my address to so and so, or, change my party, Hays said. This is just to protect the integrity of that voters record in our documents. In Lake County, about 11,000 letters went out asking county voters who hadnt provided their ID information to fill out the state voter registration application form, available online at registertovoteflorida.gov or at the county elections office. There is no online way to update the information. The form has to be returned to the office either by mail or in person. So far, Hays said, about 5,000 have complied and another 6,000 have yet to do it. Advertisement We would like for the voters to be proactive and give us that number now, Hays said. And we will protect that number. And when they do want to make any changes, it will be a smooth process. In Orange County, supervisor Bill Cowles has sent out about 13,000 letters to voters, and he included copies of the state voter registration application forms in the same envelopes. Whether downloaded from the state or county website or received in the mail, affected voters must return the form, Cowles said. It has to be written, Cowles said. And it has to be on that Florida voter registration application. Thats why we included an application in the letter so that they didnt have to go search for it. You can mail the form back, you can hand-deliver the form back. But we have to have that form. In Osceola County, 4,500 voters are affected by the changes, said Kari Ewalt, the community relations manager for the county elections office. But many of those affected voters are resisting the change, she said. There are some people we heard from that really just dont want to provide that information to us, Ewalt said. They dont feel comfortable giving it to us. It was interesting to hear the phone calls. Advertisement In the end, she said, If you still live in the same house, are the same party, the names are the same, and you dont want to change anything, you never have to provide it to us. You just arent going to be able to request a mail ballot. But if you need to change anything, youre going to have to provide it. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > Seminole County has about 7,500 voters affected, Anderson said. Anderson chose not to inform all of those voters by letter, instead choosing to wait until a voter wants to make any changes and requesting the updated ID info at that point. I just made the call to say, You know what, lets just not do it right now, Anderson said. If those people come in, or if they want to request a mail ballot, were going to get that information anyway. Otherwise, those folks can just continue to vote [as normal]. Supervisors were happy, however, that another proposed change in the new election law being debated this year has been dropped. A provision would have required anyone voting by mail to provide either their drivers license number or last four Social Security digits on a separate envelope, every time they voted, starting in 2024. But that was scrapped, for now. Hays said he told lawmakers that it was a very bad idea. Advertisement The latest version doesnt kill the idea entirely but instead directs the state to work with local supervisors. And I think thats by far the best option for now, Hays said. So well just have to see how it rolls out. Russia's Ambassador to U.N. Vassily Nebenzia addresses an emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly called to consider a resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine at United Nations headquarters in New York, Feb. 28. EPA-Yonhap Encountering deepening global isolation, Russia faced urgent calls Monday to end its "unprovoked" and "unjustified" assault on Ukraine as the U.N. General Assembly's 193 members held an extraordinary debate on the invasion of the ex-Soviet state. During the rare emergency special session, just the 11th the Assembly has held in its history, Russia defended its decision to invade its neighbor as nation after nation urged peace from the podium. On the sidelines, the United States said it was expelling from the country 12 "intelligence operatives" at Russia's United Nations mission for "engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security." Inside the General Assembly hall, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, pleaded: "The fighting in Ukraine must stop. Enough is enough." Representatives of more than 100 countries are expected to speak over three days as the global body decides if it will support a resolution that demands Russia immediately withdraws its troops from Ukraine. A vote is expected Wednesday, and it must reach a two-thirds threshold to pass. The resolution is non-binding but will serve as a marker of how isolated Russia is. Its authors hope they may exceed 100 votes in favor though countries including Syria, China, Cuba and India are expected to either support Russia or abstain. "We do not feel isolated," Russia's U.N. ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters. He reiterated Moscow's stance, flatly rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies, that its military operation was launched to protect residents of breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. "The hostilities were unleashed by Ukraine against its own residents," he said during his address. The vote is also being seen as a barometer of democracy in a world where autocratic sentiment has been on the rise, diplomats said, pointing to such regimes in Myanmar, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, Nicaragua and of course Russia. "If Ukraine does not survive, the United Nations will not survive. Have no illusions," said Ukraine's ambassador to the U.N., Sergiy Kyslytsya. Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya addresses the emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Feb. 28. AP-Yonhap If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit An Ashley man did not report any injuries after the van he was driving hit a pothole and left the roadway in the 200 block of C.R. 35 just after 5 p.m. Monday. Police said the van was a total loss. NMIXX has now beaten Kep1er's record for highest first-week sales on Hanteo for a Korean female artist in 2022. Learn how many copies the new JYP girl group has sold. NMIXX Overtakes Kep1er as Korean Female Act with Highest First-Week Sales in 2022 On March 1, Hanteo Chart announced that NMIXX's "AD MARE" had sold an impressive total of 227,399 copies in the first week of its release (Feb. 22 to 28), marking a promising start for a rookie girl group. On the first day of sales, the debut single album sold 20,300 copies. The highest daily sale figure was recorded on the fourth day (Feb. 25) when a whopping 138,526 copies were sold. The album's second-highest daily sale amount was on the seventh day (Feb. 28) when an additional 60,758 copies were sold. With over 227,000 copies, NMIXX's "AD MARE" now has the highest first-week sales on Hanteo of any Korean female artist that released albums this 2022. They overtook the previous record of 206,554 copies sold by Kep1er with their debut mini-album "FIRST IMPACT." What's more, NMIXX has broken Kep1er's record for the second-highest first-week sales of any girl group debut album in Hanteo history (bested only by aespa with "Savage"). Only four other girl groups have ever successfully surpassed 100,000 first-week sales with their debut album: BLACKPINK ("SQUARE UP" - 102,001 copies), aespa ("Savage" - 276,877 copies), Kep1er ("FIRST IMPACT" - 206,569 copies), and IVE ("ELEVEN" - 152,229 copies). Further, NMIXX's "AD MARE" now falls at No. 11 on the list of highest first-week sales by a K-pop girl group album overall and lands at No. 97 on Top 100 first-week sales of K-pop albums of all time. The debut single album of the new JYP girl group initially went on sale as a limited edition "Blind Package" in July of last year for a total of 10 days. The agency advertised the package as an exclusive item ahead of releasing details about its new girl group. It can be recalled that a total of 61,667 pre-orders for the "Blind Package" were tallied from July 16 to 25. Meanwhile, NMIXX will hold a debut showcase called "New Frontier: AD MARE" later today, March 1, at 8 p.m. KST. NMIXX's Debut Song 'O.O' Enters Spotify Daily Charts in Various Countries In other news, the title track of NMIXX's "AD MARE," titled "O.O," is also showing great popularity on Spotify. On Feb. 27, the debut song was charting in 10 different countries around the world, eight of which where it ranked inside the top 100. "O.O" ranked No. 30 in South Korea, No. 51 both in Singapore and Malaysia, No. 62 in Thailand, No. 75 in Indonesia, No. 81 in the Philippines, No. 86 in Vietnam, and No. 95 in Taiwan. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: NMIXX Kyujin Draws Attention for Having Similar Features as These Two JYP Artists While it was charting at No. 101 in Hong Kong, the "MIXX POP" genre song placed No. 104 in Japan. When it comes to streams, NMIXX's "O.O" has more than 3.1 million streams as of Feb. 27. The B-side song "TANK," meanwhile, has over 1.6 million streams. For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article Written by Mhaliya Scott Jackson is gaining attention after a stranger shared their experience with the idol taking care of their baby. Keep on reading to know more. GOT7 Jackson Spotted Playing and Taking Care of a Stranger's Baby During Travel Recently on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, one user took to the platform to share an experience they had when meeting with GOT7's Chinese member, Jackson, in a high-speed train heading from Beijing to Wuxi in China. According to the user who shared the experience back on February 25, they were traveling with their son by train and had an assigned seat that was in front of Jackson, who was accompanied by his assistant and a guitarist. "When I carried my son up on the high-speed train, my seat was in front of Jackson's. I thought I was really lucky when I saw him and that there were three handsome men (Jackson, his assistant, and guitarist)," the Weibo user said. They continued to share how their son was only less than two years old, and that he was very mischievous and kept wanting to go play with Jackson, and his assistant. "At first, I was worried that my son would bother them, but they were very nice and were not bothered at all," they said. They continued to talk about how Jackson and his assistant played and took care of their son, "Whenever my son went to Jackson, he would play along with him every time, shared his nuts with him, and played the prying fingers game with him. I felt really apologetic because Jackson looked like he was busy, because throughout the entire trip from Beijing to Wuxi, he didn't stop working." GOT7 Praised for Work Ethic and Consideration They added that Jackson's assistant and guitarist were resting while the GOT7 member himself was on the phone talking about work. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'I just need to be better': GOT7 Jackson Worries Many Following Cryptic Posts The Weibo user then proceeded to praise Jackson for his work ethics and how considerate he was. "Sometime later, when most of the passengers were asleep in the carriage, he walked to the section where the carriage connects to talk on the phone. Because of his absolute earnestness towards his work, I believe that Jackson is a very upright artist, and isn't someone who is two-faced with a fake persona," they concluded. After hearing about how Jackson treated the young boy, numerous fans could not help but have their hearts warmed at the idol's kind and caring nature. Some have even commented how he is setting the standard for others! For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Robyn Joan A ULA Atlas-V rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., carrying a GOES-T weather satellite, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Operated by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the next-gen satellite will provide advanced meteorological forecasting through 2036 as a part of NOAAs $11.7 billion GOES satellite program. (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel) An Atlas V rocket roared off the launch pad Tuesday afternoon from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station carrying an advanced weather satellite high above the Earth. The rocket successfully lifted off at 4:38 p.m. out of Space Launch Complex 41 blazing a fiery tail through mostly clear and blue skies and marking the second ULA Atlas launch of the year, the 149th flight in United Launch Alliance history and the 92nd overall for that companys workhorse rocket. Advertisement The payload atop the 196-foot tall rocket was the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, or GOES-T the culmination of multiple organizations laboring over the next generation of weather predictions. We do a number of missions here and launch a number of spacecrafts, but this is the one that will most protect lives on Earth. Especially in the U.S. and provide value to so many for its weather forecasts and fire forecasts, said Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, NASAs associate administrator for the science mission directorate. Advertisement GOES-Ts launch comes on the heels of a record-breaking year for weather disasters observed in the U.S. Last year, the nation experienced 20 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The record puts 2021 in second place for the most disasters in a calendar year behind 2020. The NOAA is hoping the GOES-T satellite will be able to give Americans more life-saving information in a climate changing world. The GOES-T satellite is the third in the GOES-R series of four advanced weather satellites, costing a total of $11.7 billion. GOES-T will move to a geostationary position over the western hemisphere where it will collect data on Pacific hurricanes, atmospheric rivers, severe lightning, mudslides, floods and wildfires. The satellite will monitor weather phenomena in the western half of the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America and surrounding Pacific Ocean waters. At launch, Atlas Vs core stage and its four solid rocket boosters produced more than 2.25 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. Almost 2 minutes later, the boosters were jettisoned. Nearly 5 minutes after liftoff, one of Atlas three Centaur engines began thrusting the rocket through the atmosphere. Once it separates from Atlas third Centaur engine over the eastern hemisphere, GOES-T will begin its journey into geosynchronous orbit over the western hemisphere where it is planned to operate 22,300 miles above the Earth. The 11,500 pound, school bus-sized satellite is a collaborative effort by NASA, the NOAA, ULA, L3Harris and Lockheed Martin. At the heart of GOES-T is a powerful camera known as the Advanced Baseline Imager; also known as the ABI, which offers more embedded data at higher resolution taken in quicker intervals than previous generations of GOES satellites. GOES-Ts predecessor, GOES-17, experienced degradation in its ABI due to a thermal disruption blocking a flow of coolant. Despite technical issues, GOES-17 is still providing scientists with 90% of potential data, only missing some infrared channels during certain times of the year and certain times of night, said Dan Lindsey, a GOES-R program scientist with the NOAA. Advertisement Once GOES-T moves into orbit, it will take on the moniker GOES-18. GOES-18 will have a 100% functioning ABI. We wont have any outages, he said. After GOES-T takes its place, GOES-17 will move into orbit storage, roughly above Colorado, between GOES west and GOES east, Lindsey said. That way if we have future problems with 16 or 18, GOES-17 is sitting there and ready to back up any outages that may happen, he said. On Friday, Lindsey and a panel of scientists held a press conference discussing GOES-18s technological advancements allowing it to deliver 60 times more imagery than the previous generation. Among its many tools, the ABI has16 different kinds of spectral bands including two visible channels, four near-infrared channels, and 10 infrared channels. The previous generation of GOES could only view five different bands. The new ABI is so powerful, one ABI image would require 60 4K televisions to show the picture in full resolution, said Daniel Gall, the ABI chief systems engineer at L3Harris Technologies. GOES-18 will be capturing storm and climate data every 30 seconds and putting it into the hands of meteorologists, 30 seconds after its taken. Advertisement Collectively, all of GOES-Ts tools should help meteorologists get a better idea of what weather dangers lie ahead, said NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad. If you have multiple views of the planet you have a much better idea of when hurricanes are forming, where theyre forming, how intense they are, Spinrad said. Having these multiple ways of looking at the Earth gives us a lot more information for these critical forecasts to save lives, protect property and protect the American public from natural phenomena. Once in geosynchronous orbit over the western United States, GOES-T will be renamed GOES-18, taking over monitoring duties of GOES-17 sometime in early 2023. (United Launch Alliance) While GOES-18 will be stationed over western America and studying weather phenomena in the Pacific, the U.S. East Coast will still benefit, as most weather starts in the west and makes its way east, said James Yoe, chief administrator of the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation. The exception being African hurricanes, Yoe said. We measure conditions over the west today and those are the weather systems that will impact downstream (eastern) weather several days or a week later. In addition to the new ABI, GOES-Ts utility belt of tools include a geostationary lightning mapper, a particle flux sensor, a solar irradiance monitor and a magnetometer. The latter three tools would give scientists an extra eye in monitoring solar storms that could potentially harm Earths power grids. These data, along with the five other instruments on board the spacecraft, are sent out to users, also provided by L3Harris combined with the ground systems three-and-a-half terabytes worth of data are processed every day, Gall said. Advertisement GOES-T will spend the majority of the year getting ready to become operational. In October, NOAA scientists will take operational reins. It should start sending images by 2023, by which point it would be known as GOES-18. From there, scientists hope the satellite will provide data for agencies and models all over the world until the 2030s when a new generation is planned to take over. In the meantime, weather researchers and meteorologists are looking forward to the advance strides in weather data that will be aiding Americans next year, said Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore, who gushed with excitement over the GOES-T launch in a video aired by NASA. Meteorologists and weather anchors, like me, across the country depend on GOES data to bring you your daily weather forecasts but also to keep you and first responders safe during severe weather events. Accurate and timely forecasts are crucial, and thats not possible without satellites like this one, Cantore said. God speed GOES-T. Jpedersen@orlandosentinel.com Advertisement . Advertisement Advertisement Go For Launch - Space News Weekly Fix your telescope on all space-related news, from rocket launches to space-industry advancements. > (ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) On Friday, the CDC released a new set of metrics for communities to decide what local prevention steps should be taken, like wearing masks. Counties across the U.S. are categorized as Low, Medium or High risk that are determined by the number of hospitalizations, and new COVID-19 cases in the area. According to the CDC, Buchanan County falls into the high transmission risk, so we asked the St. Joseph Health Department what that means for residents here. So it's still recommended that people get vaccinated, it's still recommended that if people are immunocompromised, or in high risk, or live with somebody, or have regular contact with somebody who's at high risk, that you wear a mask around them, and that they wear a mask as well. So they're not completely taking masks away, Theyre still recommended for some people," Debra Bradley, Director of the St. Joseph Health Department said. Bradley added that while there are no community-wide mask mandates, there are some businesses who have chosen to require masks indoors. For more information about the new CDC guidelines, click the link below. FILE: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The governor has told agencies to review whether the state has any business contracts with Russia as he condemned its war with Ukraine. (Photo by KATV) (The Center Square) Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is leading a coalition of 25 states in opposition to a proposed federal rule to ban natural gas transport by rail car, arguing the decision drives up energy costs and threatens national security. Landry wrote a letter to Tristan Brown, acting administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), targeting a rule proposed by the Biden administration in November that would suspend authorization to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail tank cars. The authorization, granted in a final rule in August 2020, permits specifically designed tank cars to transport LNG, but the proposed rule in November would negate that permission over concerns about increased greenhouse gases, worker safety, environmental risks and environmental justice. "Biden's war on energy is a war on America's poor and working-class," Landry said Monday. "It is high time the Biden Administration to put America first. Biden's environmental virtue-signaling is burdening American families and jeopardizing the safety and security of our homeland." The attorneys general argued the proposed rule creates regulatory uncertainty, chills capital investment in the special tank cars and negatively affects national security and energy costs for consumers. The Biden administrations focus on greenhouse gas emissions also is an attenuated and speculative concern untethered to the scope of PHMSAs regulatory purpose, the letter read. The letter argued the Russian invasion of Ukraine demonstrates why it is important for the U.S. to maintain energy independence. Current geopolitical events involving Russias unprovoked attack on Ukraine show with painful clarity the need for the United States to maintain its energy independence through multiple distribution points throughout our country, the letter read. The agency should not move forward with suspension of a rule that serves that important objective. The attorneys general cite the countrys reliance on natural gas, which currently generates 41% of electricity in the U.S., as well as figures that show significant decreases in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. The growth in U.S. gas production is a geopolitical and economic asset, contributing to our national and global energy security, according to the letter. The proposed rule to halt LNG by rail stems from Bidens Executive Order 13990, directing federal agencies to review Trump administration era rules to suspend or rescind over conflicts with the new administrations focus on environmental justice and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The letter noted the proposed rule prevents LNG by rail until at least June 30, 2024, without providing the detailed justification and reasoned explanation of new facts required by law to change PHMSA rules. Attorneys general likened PHMSAs proposed rule to similar executive actions to halt new oil and gas leases that are hurting Louisiana and other states, and argued the PHMSA ignored evidence of LNG by rails positive impacts on the environment. The letter pointed to LNG prices that have increased 61% since Biden took office a cost to American households of about $1,000 more in energy costs than last year and how the administrations restrictions on oil and gas will continue to hurt U.S. consumers while benefiting Russia. "President Biden has made it clear he will do anything to destroy American energy," Landry said. "Once again, 24 of my colleagues and I are pushing back against Biden's senseless and short-minded stance. The American economy and way of life hinge on affordable and reliable energy sources; I will continue fighting to defend both." The letter was signed by attorneys general from Alabama, Montana, Alaska, Nebraska, Arizona, New Hampshire, Arkansas, Ohio, Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, South Carolina, Idaho, South Dakota, Indiana, Texas, Kansas, Utah, Kentucky, Virginia, Mississippi, West Virginia, Missouri and Wyoming. Official voyages have begun for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Walt Disney Worlds two-day, two-night immersion experience. As many people have noted, this is not a cheap ticket. Customers will spend thousands of dollars to mingle with interplanetary species and get involved in intrigue pitting the First Order against the Resistance and their allied camps. On Halcyon, considered a luxury liner starship, there also is fine dining, a lounge, lightsaber training and other shipboard activities. For Earthlings who commit to Starcruising, there are preflight preparations some free, some inexpensive that can be made to increase bang-for-buck ratios. They arent required moves, but they can put future travelers in the right mindset and relieve some of the What just happened? syndrome. Advertisement Starcruiser passengers Datapads to scan containers in the cargo hold of the Halcyon. The app also holds the day's itineraries and messages from characters and crew. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Get to know Play Disney Much of the onboard activity is steered via the Star Wars: Datapad located on the Play Disney smartphone app, which is used for other Disney games. Its available before boarding. Key information about the aforementioned intrigue is relayed there as well as the individualized itineraries, which are frequently updated. Downloading and fooling around on the app is a worthy familiarization idea, especially if theres time and the access to try it out on activities at Star Wars: Galaxys Edge, the land within Disneys Hollywood Studios theme park (and site of the excursion out of Starcruiser.) Advertisement Sublight Lounge is on Deck 6, just off the atrium, on Halcyon, the luxury liner that's the centerpiece of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Whats up, Deck? The Halcyon is presented as a 13-deck vessel, but visitors only use four decks. Once visitors take the launch pod from the ground-level terminal up onto the ship, they exit onto Deck 6, home of the atrium, bridge, Sublight Lounge, the Chandrila Collection store and service desk. Decks 5 and 7 are exclusively cabins for passengers. Deck 4 includes the dining room, lightsaber training pod, the climate simulator (translation: fresh air), engineering room, cargo hold, more cabins and the transport dock, where travelers go to be taken to Batuu for the Galaxys Edge excursion. Decks 4 through 7 are connected by a staircase and elevators. Graphics aboard Halcyon indicate that Deck 8 is the atrium mezzanine and crew quarters, and although characters and crew use those stairs, customers do not. Other alleged decks of interest: Escape pods, trash compactors and creature holding bays on 2, upper airlock and crew turbolifts on 12 and comms deck and navigation deck on 13, which doesnt sound lucky. Cruise director Lenka Mok (left) talks with First Order Lieutenant Harman Croy in the atrium during a Halcyon voyage that's part of the new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience at Walt Disney World. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Face time Among the Starcruiser crowd are familiar Star Wars characters (Hello, Chewbacca) and lesser-known types, including some developed for the Disney World project. Their bios have been sprinkled about and that background can enhance the experience. On a November post on the official Disney Parks Blog, the public learned that cruise director Lenka Mok is optimistic and has a joyful soul; Sammie the mechanic is eager to prove himself; First Order Lt. Harman Croy is ambitious and intimidating and SK-620, an astromech, is devoted to Lenka and Captain Riyola Keevan, who is described as cool under pressure. Advertisement Since then, more info has been distributed by Disney, including that Gaya is a singing superstar (and Twilek); her manager Raithe Kole is a rule bender; and aspiring musician Sandro is trying to get Gayas attention. Theres also going to be a comic book series dubbed Halcyon Legacy. The first issue includes some Starcruiser names and sights, including the D3-09 droid, Keevan, the hyperspace compass, scenes from the atrium and windows out to space shaped like todays cabin views. (Theres also a flashback to 265 years earlier, so theres a lot of ground to cover.) Costumes are encouraged for children and adults during Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Layers for players Theme Park Rangers Weekly The latest happenings at Disney, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and other Central Florida attractions. > Theres an onboard store off the atrium with official Halcyon gear, but clothes from the home planet are OK, too. Packing basics and layers, especially scarves and tunics, is a way to get into the spirit. Brown vests remain a Han Solo classic. Sensible shoes are recommended. The adventure includes standing on hard surfaces, the climbing of stairsand lurking about, plus theme park time. More traditional souvenir fare such as T-shirts with STARCRUISER on them are sold after checkout, outside at the terminal, back on Earth, if you will. The description of the hyperspace compass on display in the atrium of Halcyon is presented in aurebesh. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Brush up your aurebesh Signs aboard Halcyon are most typically presented in aurebesh, the Star Wars type of code directly from English. Its not an actual language. Some areas dont have an English translation at all, and while the app features a translator, it didnt work on everything during the media preview. Advertisement Hunting down an aurebesh guide on the internet and saving it to the phone would be helpful. One might print it out on paper, which is old-school, but, hey, its a long time ago, right? More vital info such as RESTROOMS are presented in a stylized aurebesh-ish looking font for English thats more recognizable. And EXIT signs are in standard USA format as the fire marshal has a very long arm of law in this Star Wars story. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Want more theme park news? Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters or the Theme Park Rangers podcast at orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-podcast. Have a news tip or would like to report a typo? Email Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@kvoa.com. Walworth County officials are hosting two public involvement meetings to discuss the revised Park and Open Space Plan. Developed in coordination with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, the five-year plan addresses all aspects of outdoor planning, including preservation, restoration and recreation. The public involvement meetings will take place: from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., March 3 at Lake Geneva City Hall, council chambers, 626 Geneva St., Lake Geneva from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., March 8 at Walworth County Public Works, Conference Room 117, W4097 County Rd. NN, Elkhorn We know the Countys open spaces and parks are really important to our residents, Matthew Mortwedt, Walworth County deputy director, asset management, said in a news release. We want to ensure that everyone who is interested in doing so has the opportunity to share their thoughts, concerns, and questions about the revised Park and Open Space Plan. The purpose of the countys Park and Open Space Plan is to protect existing natural resources and guide the acquisition and development of lands and facilities needed to meet the outdoor recreation needs of current and future residents. Key proposals from the revised plan include: The protection of a total of 77,999 acres of open space lands, or about 21 percent of Walworth County, through a combination of public or nonprofit conservation organization ownership or the application of protective zoning. The preservation of eight new critical species habitat sites through protective ownership: Mallard Habitat Area, Turtle Creek Wetland, Sheridan Springs Road Habitat Area, Clover Valley State Wildlife Area, Scout Road Tract, Ebner Woods, Section 28 Wetlands, and Lake Beulah Woodlands. The acquisition and development by Walworth County of a new, major county park, about 100 acres, in the southwestern or west-central portion of the county. The maintenance and expansion of the five current major county parks. The county would acquire additional lands and develop new facilities at Price Park Conservancy and Natureland Park, and develop new facilities at White River County Park. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources would continue to maintain Whitewater Lake Recreation Area and acquire lands at Big Foot Beach State Park. Feedback from the public involvement meetings will be incorporated into the final plan revision before being formally presented for adoption by the Walworth County Park Committee and the Board of Supervisors. The plan will tentatively go before the Park Committee for approval at its April meeting, followed by final approval by the County Board of Supervisors in May. A draft of the Walworth County Park and Open Space Plan is available on the Walworth County Public Works website. Registration is not required to attend. People who want to submit comments remotely may contact Matthew Mortwedt, deputy director, asset management, at mmortwedt@co.walworth.wi.us or 262-741-3725. Former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gablemans GOP-ordered review of the 2020 election is set to be made public Tuesday, according to Gablemans team. Gablemans eight-month review of the 2020 election has been marred by a slew of legal challenges to multiple subpoenas issued by the former justice, who previously declared without evidence that the election had been stolen. The review, for which Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has allocated $676,000 in taxpayer money, was originally planned to be completed last fall but failed to meet several deadlines, which Republican leaders attributed to ongoing court battles. Gableman staffer Zak Niemierowicz told The Associated Press that the final report will be provided to Vos and the state Assemblys elections committee on Tuesday. A staffer for Rep. Janel Brandtjen, chairperson of the Assembly committee, said the report is expected to be released to the public. Vos office did not respond to requests for comment Monday. Vos spokesperson Angela Joyce told The Associated Press that Gableman, not Vos, would release the report. The Assemblys GOP-led Committee on Campaigns and Elections is scheduled to hear testimony from Gableman on Tuesday. The committee will also hear from Erick Kaardal, a Republican attorney for the conservative Thomas More Society who has challenged the use of private election grants provided to the states five largest cities to help administer last years election during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of Gablemans review has focused on election grants provided to Wisconsin cities by the Chicago-based Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to help administer the 2020 election. Republicans, including Gableman, have targeted CTCL funds as unfairly increasing 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 solidly won by Trump. Nor did CTCL turn down grant requests from any of the Wisconsin municipalities that made them. Legislative action The Republican-controlled Legislature last week sent a package of election bills to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is all but certain to veto most, if not all, of them. The proposals would give the Legislature more control over guidance issued by the Wisconsin Elections Commission, limit which absentee voters could claim indefinitely confined status and allow lawmakers to cut funding for the state Elections Commission when its deemed not to have complied with state election laws. Another bill added late in the Assemblys final session would allow election officials to begin counting absentee ballots on the Monday before an election, but Democratic lawmakers ultimately opposed the measure because it also shortened the window that clerks have to send out absentee ballots for federal races. 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. Democratic legislators, Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul have lambasted the Gableman review as a waste of taxpayer dollars and an attempt to undermine faith in state elections. Republican scrutiny of the 2020 election continues to grow as part of a nationwide GOP effort to make changes to election procedures following baseless claims by some Republicans, including Trump, of widespread fraud in the presidential election. Vos had planned to use Gablemans report to craft election-related legislation leading up to the 2022 midterms, but the Assembly held its final session of the year last week. Vos said future bills will be drafted but that obstruction had slowed the election reviews progress. Subpoenas, lawsuits Gableman has previously demanded documents, interviews or both with the mayors of Wisconsins five largest cities, the states top elections official, the chair of the state Elections Commission and members of Evers administration, as well as two companies that make vote-counting systems, Election Systems & Software and Dominion Voting Systems. Attorneys for Nebraska-based Election Systems & Software told Gableman in January the organization would not comply with the subpoena, which they called a quintessential fishing expedition. In mid-February, Gableman withdrew his subpoena seeking emails and financial documents from immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera Action. He also called for several officials, including Racine Mayor Cory Mason and Wisconsin Elections Commission chair Ann Jacobs, to be jailed for refusing to sit for the behind-closed-doors interviews for which they have been subpoenaed. In December, Gableman demanded that Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway be jailed. He later rescinded the demand, only to reinstate the demand last week. There are also three pending lawsuits related to liberal watchdog group American Oversights public records requests to Vos and Gableman for documents related to the election review. Vos last week asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to take up one of the cases. Gableman made a baseless claim at a pro-Donald Trump rally in 2020 that the election in Wisconsin had been stolen by bureaucrats, and he has met with and hired people for his investigation who formerly worked for Trump and espoused conspiracy theories about the election. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Most Venerable Maha Sangha, Other Religious Dignitaries, Hon. Prime Minister, Hon. Speaker, Hon. Chief Justice, Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Ministers and Hon Governors, Hon. State Ministers, Hon. Members of Parliament, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Secretary to the President and all Government Officials, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, Commander of the Navy, Commander of the Air Force and Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Civil Security Department, Distinguished Guests, War Heroes, All Sri Lankan Brothers and Sisters, Beloved Children, Throughout history, people of various nations have struggled, fought and made great sacrifices for their right to live as dignified citizens in a free country. In Sri Lanka too, Great Kings such as Dutugemunu, Walagamba, Maha Parakumba, Vijayabahu and Parakumba the Sixth fought against foreign invaders at various periods during a 2,500 year history, liberated the country from foreigners and united it. It is now 74 years since our country finally gained freedom from 450 years of European colonial rule. Even after independence, we had to fight for nearly three decades against an attempt to divide this country through terrorism. Today Sri Lanka is a free, sovereign, democratic country. We are its proud citizens. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to all patriots who dedicated themselves to gain full freedom for our country facing various obstacles throughout the history, and continue to secure the freedom so gained. Every Sri Lankan citizen, irrespective of any community or religion, has the right to live freely and safely anywhere in the country today. There is freedom to practice the religion of their choice. There is freedom to hold independent opinions and express ideas. There is full media freedom in the country. Sri Lankan citizens have the freedom to elect their representatives through a fully democratic mechanism, and for those interested, to engage in the political process and governance. This is a cause for joy and pride for all of us. As people of a free and democratic country, all of us have rights as well as responsibilities. The greatest benefit from freedom is when everyone fulfils their duty to the country. It is not appropriate to speak of rights only, whilst forgetting responsibilities. The freedom of a country is most meaningful when it is strong in social, political and economic spheres. As much as a government, the people too have the right to actively contribute towards this. When steering the country in the right direction, we know that the support of each and every person in the country cannot be expected. We are not ready to abandon our plans for the countrys future prosperity by looking upon those who will not change. Our objective is to do what is right by the country, and not to please everyone. We can make our way forward successful only with a positive attitude that looks optimistically towards the future. We can surmount the challenges we meet only if we dedicate ourselves to a victorious journey. Pessimists do not change the world. They do not even have the capacity for it. Those who habitually criticize without proposing a solution to a problem do not have a vision for the future. A nations leader has to constantly face many difficulties, calamities, problems and challenges. Leading a team towards a vision is not easy. Changing the existing ways, no matter how good the intention is not easy either. On certain matters, both local and foreign forces organise against us. Sometimes it may seem that everything that happens around you is conspiring against you. What the people expect from leaders is to manage all these crises and take the country forward, but not to escape from problems. We have the positive mindset needed for that. I am always ready to provide the necessary leadership to overcome any challenge facing the country. The world has been changed, and will be changed by those people with positive ideas, who dream of a future with optimism and strive to make it a reality. We see this throughout the history. Social progress in all developed nations has been possible due to the positive thoughts of their leaders and the people. Our own kings in the past built vast stupas such as Ruwanweliseya, Jethavanaramaya and Abhayagiriya in this same positive attitude. We had an excellent irrigation technology that created Minneriya Tank, Kala Wewa, Parakrama Samudraya and Yoda Ela. Cities such as Sigiriya still mesmerize the world. Sri Lanka was a famed naval hub in the ancient world. If we were able to accomplish such feats then, we ought to be able to compete with the world in the future as well. The most important criterion for this is the belief in ourselves. Difficult times do not last forever. People of great resolve are needed to face difficult times. Anyone who demoralizes another is not doing any good to the society at this moment. Therefore all of us have an enormous responsibility to build a positive attitude in the country to face these crises successfully. We have faced critical problems in the recent history as well, and found solutions. When pessimists maintained that terrorism could never be defeated in war, brave military leaders like General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and General Vijaya Wimalaratne instilled the positive attitude in their men that terrorism can in fact be defeated. Later, under the right political leadership, we were able to vanquish terrorism in as little as 3 years because we had belief in our own capabilities.None of the crises we experience today are long-term problems. We can find solutions to them with an optimistic approach. There is a role that each of us can play to expedite this process. We must all endeavour to do our utmost for the country by fulfilling our responsibilities in a proper manner. We realized early on that the only solution to control of Covid-19 pandemic was vaccination. Hence we have been able to provide both vaccine doses to over 85% of the targeted population, control the disease and resume normal community life. By now, all vaccine doses required to administer the booster to the people have been imported to Sri Lanka. Rather than go back many years into the past searching for reasons for the economic problems that the country faces today, what is more relevant is to find both short and long-term solutions for such. This is what we as a government is focused on. We need to improve all three sectors of agriculture, industry and services in order to strengthen the economy of Sri Lanka. Special attention must be paid on ways and means to enhance export revenue whilst encouraging local production. While our national policies are very clear on this stance, there should be more active participation in all sectors in implementing them. Investment is an essential factor in the development process of our country. While the government is constantly working to encourage investments, we need both local investments as well as foreign investments. Foreign investment is especially important for large scale projects, industries requiring modern technological know-how and new ventures that open up global market opportunities for us. People need to be more vigilant of those who attempt to propagate incorrect public opinion against foreign investments, based on political motives. We cannot accelerate economic development without encouraging entrepreneurship and removing obstacles faced by entrepreneurs. We have a responsibility to be more respectful and friendly to entrepreneurs who start their own businesses amidst various vulnerabilities and provide employment and income opportunities for others as well. Government officials should fully understand the contribution of entrepreneurs to the countrys development and provide all assistance they require expeditiously within the legal framework. By preventing major delays in business registration and investment approvals, we can mobilize the entire economic process in the country. A number of education reforms are taking place in the country to create a more productive citizen. Every child completing school education must strive to develop a skill or industry that can contribute to the countrys economic process. One must try to enhance knowledge in the chosen sector and also acquire professional qualifications if possible. In this manner, you have the opportunity to directly contribute to the countrys economic process. The people who shed their sweat in farmlands, factories and workplaces make an active contribution to the countrys economy. I pay my respects to all of them. Expatriate Sri Lankans who provide foreign exchange to the country are a major resource to us. We have not forgotten how they came forward for the country in the recent past and supported us making great sacrifices. We greatly appreciate their regular contribution to energize our economy. I invite all expatriate Sri Lankans to invest in their homeland. This will enable you to continue to actively contribute to building the future of the country. If we are to win over the challenges before us and accomplish our future goals successfully, then all of us have to make a change. We all have to make some sacrifices towards it. As the President of the country, I am ready to set the necessary example for it. I am already doing this to the best of my ability. I ask all Ministers, Parliamentarians and other politicians to act in an exemplary manner for the country at all times. If you set this example to the people, then the majority of the people will follow you. Forces against a national leadership that values our indigenousness and protects the countrys sovereignty are subtly misleading the people through various false propaganda. I urge the people of this country to always act prudently. No one can mislead the people if they make inquiries based on fact, ascertain the truth and make decisions. I have pledged as the Head of State to always protect the freedom won for the future generations, and to safeguard the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of this country. We will always abide by that pledge. Cultural freedom is important to all communities. We consider it our prime responsibility to preserve our thousands of years of indigenous traditions and customs, values and identity. Steps have been taken to preserve and develop places of archaeological value that have been subject to various threats and destroyed in the recent past. We are a nation that safeguards the rule of law and respects international conventions. Although some parties have attempted to make various allegations against Sri Lanka for narrow motives, the government has not condoned any type of human rights violations, and will not leave room for such incidents in future either. Under no circumstances shall we allow extremism to raise its head in this country. Today we have secured national security as promised by the government to the people. The people have given the opportunity for the current government to implement the Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour Policy Statement presented by us. There have been no changes in the policy framework we presented in regard to identified priorities such as green agriculture, promotion of renewable energy use, education reforms compatible with the modern world, encouragement of local entrepreneurship, export diversification and value addition, and promotion of technology use for a new leap in the economy. We are committed to achieving the basic goals of a productive citizen, a happy family, a disciplined, virtuous society and a prosperous country. I was given the leadership of the country at a very difficult time. In the last two years we have had to find solutions to a number of unanticipated problems. Despite all these difficulties, our government was able to carry out many development activities. All the plans required for the sustainable development of the country, during my remaining tenure are being implemented. No matter what the obstacles are, if the majority of the people in our country are optimistic about the future and give their due contribution, we will be able to achieve those goals. I heartily invite all patriotic Sri Lankans to unite to build a proud nation that has achieved the true meaning of freedom. I thank you all. Theruvan Saranai. View PDF Actor Benedict Cumberbatch used his stage time to express solidarity with Ukraine after being honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday. He said, "I can't speak today at this amazing moment in my life, on this extraordinary platform, without acknowledging the obvious of what's happening in Ukraine and to show my support for the people of Ukraine, my support for the people of Russia who are opposing the Kleptocracy and the idiocy of their rulers to try and halt the progression of this atrocity." Benedict Cumberbatch Dedicates His Hollywood Walk of Fame Star to Late Sister Tracy Peacock. The 'Sherlock' star also urged people to do their bit for Ukraine in whatever way they can, Variety reported. He continued, "But it's more now for all of us to do than just have thoughts and prayers. We need to act, we need to go on to embassy websites, we need to see what we can do as citizens of the world, citizens of Europe and people who want a better place and a better outcome for this horrendous moment for these people with children, with families who are struggling to survive as rockets rain down on their cities." Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Teaser Featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen Leaked on Social Media Post Spider-Man: No Way Home Release. "We can't stand back anymore. This is no longer a time for avarice or sloth or inactiveness or ineptitude. We need to act, and there are things you can do.You can support organizations. You can support those who help refugees on the ground. You can support human rights organizations. You can pressure your politicians, your bank, your industries to recognize anything that you can do to help. It is possible, so I urge people to do that on this day," Benedict emphasized. For the unversed, last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences they have never seen." (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], March 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training, the World's No. 1 Air Hostess Training Institute again made history today. At the 13th International Conference cum Awards - Civil Aviation & Cargo - 2022 organised by ASSOCHAM on Monday, February 28, 2022 at Hotel Le Meridien, New-Delhi, Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training received the prestigious award for the 'Best Air Hostess Training Institute - 2021'. The award was handed over by the Honourable Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M Scindia to KS Kohli, Founder & Non-Executive Chairman, Frankfinn Group. Also Read | Jensen Ackles Birthday: Did You Know The Actors Brewery In Texas Has A Supernatural Connection?. Some of the other winners were Delhi International Airport Limited for Best International Airport, SpiceJet for Best Cargo Carrier, Airbus for Best Aviation Company, and more. Also gracing the occasion were Ajay Singh, VP, SpiceJet, Vinay Dubey, Founder and MD, Akasa Air, Salil Gupte, President, Boeing, K Narayan Rao, Chairman, ASSOCHAM, India, and other important dignitaries from industry & media. The Award is instituted to acknowledge and honour the selected organisations who have worked incessantly and have taken leadership in their services and quality achievements. This award is in recognition of the best quality training being provided by the Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training through its Institutes spread Pan India including the smaller cities. Also Read | National Pancake Day 2022: From Banana Oatmeal to Chocolate Pancakes, 4 Easy Pancake Recipes To Try at Home. Quality Training & Excellent Placements Track Record has always been the hallmark for Frankfinn. Earlier the award of 'Best Air Hostess Training Institute' has been awarded to Frankfinn for nine years in a row (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and in 2019), which is the testimony of Frankfinn's Quality Training delivery and Highest Placements Track record. Frankfinn has also been awarded the Gold Award for 'Best Higher Vocational Institute for Skill Development' in 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019, received the 'Best Aviation Training Institute' award in 2021 and received the 'Best Institute in Placement' award in 2022. Frankfinn is an approved Training Partner of NSDC & THSC. Frankfinn has also received the award for the 'Best Training Partner for 2017- 2018' & '2018-19' from the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC). Pioneers in Air Hostess training, Frankfinn provides Skill training to aspirants for jobs of Air Hostesses, Flight Stewards and Ground Hostesses, Air Ticketing Executives and Guest Relation Executives, Front Office Executives in Hotels, Travel Industry and Customer Service Industries, empowering them with world-class opportunities across India and the world. Frankfinn has tied up with Air India for detailed Cabin Service Familiarisation for its students. At the end of this training, Frankfinn students receive a co-branded certificate from Air India. Frankfinn students have touched the pinnacle of success and have an excellent track record of its placements across Domestic Airlines, International Airlines, Hospitality, Travel and Customer Service Industry. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 1 (ANI/NewsVoir): The students and staff of International Village School (IVS) celebrated International Week 2022 to honour global cultures through cuisine, language appreciation, geography and attire. International Village School is one of the top IGCSE schools in Chennai. The academic institution provides an outstanding international educational experience to students from near and far. The prime objective is to shape students into global citizens and future leaders by sharpening their intellect, character, and overall wellbeing. The school imparts the International Baccalaureate syllabus in a world-class ambience, thereby making it one of the best and famous schools in Chennai. Also Read | Washington is Expected to Lean on Major Chinese Companies to Join U.S.-led Sanctions Latest Tweet by Bloomberg. The International Village School recently celebrated International Week 2022. The student and staff communities enjoyed and benefited from a week full of fun and informative events. The International Week unified the international and domestic students and showcased their diversely rich cultures. "At IVS, the International Week celebrations allowed our students to learn about and embrace the various cultures on campus. Being an International School, we at IVS believe in embedding a truly international perspective that embraces a global community. This week-long celebration of the international community was an ideal platform for students to broaden their perspective and knowledge," said a spokesperson for IVS. Also Read | OnePlus 10 Pro Likely To Debut in India This Month, Company Working on 150W SuperVOOC Fast Charging. When questioned about the students' participation in International Week 2022, the spokesperson said, "We had planned many fun activities and games. Our itinerary included an art competition, cooking demos, trivia and cultural food dish videos, and many more activities. We had also arranged informative sessions with senior alumni. It was a great opportunity for our students to interact with seniors and gain useful information. Our students and staff had been eagerly looking forward to International Week 2022. They had been preparing and planning events with much fanfare. Students participated with full enthusiasm and made it a week to cherish and remember for a lifetime," the spokesperson concluded. The International Week 2022 celebrations also provided IVS students and teachers a break from the usual school routine. It gave them invaluable exposure to various cultural differences and global resources. It also helped foster a sense of community and camaraderie among students. International Village School is one of the few IB schools in Chennai that boasts of a truly international teaching community. The school has an elite team of hand-picked, highly qualified professionals from diverse global communities. The school is a member of the IB World Schools. The educational approach at IVS is student-centred, holistic, and inquiry-based, which puts it at par with international educational institutions. International Village School is a world-class academic institution that prepares students with global perspectives and cross-cultural understanding. The school is located in a calm and serene locality in Chennai and shares its boundary with over a hundred acres of pristine bird sanctuary. As a top school with an IB framework, IVS imparts well-rounded education to students from kindergarten to higher secondary. For more details, please swing by here: www.internationalvillage.org. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], March 1 (ANI): Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday said that he is constantly in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and so far 24 students of Uttarakhand have been evacuated from Ukraine. "We are constantly in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs. So far 24 students of Uttarakhand have been evacuated from Ukraine. We are trying to bring all Indian students back to India I have also met parents of many students in my area," said Dhami during his visit to Delhi. Also Read | WhatsApp Bans Over 1.8 Million Bad Accounts in India in January 2022. He further said that the stranded students of Uttarakhand are more than 200 in Ukraine. "I have come to Delhi only in relation to these students that they should be brought back safely. I will contact all the officials and ministers I need to meet in this regard," he said. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Speaks to Father of Naveen Shekarappa, Who Died in Shelling in Ukraine. The Chief Minister said that he had have talked with students in Ukraine, "They are reaching neighbouring countries and we are doing arrangements to bring them from there," he added. Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the eighth flight carrying 216 stranded Indian nationals has departed from Hungary's capital Budapest for New Delhi while the ninth flight carrying 218 Indians took off from the Romanian capital Bucharest for New Delhi as part of Operation Ganga. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while presiding over a high-level meeting over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all stranded Indians in Ukraine are safe and secure, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. This was the second high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister during the day over the prevailing situation in Ukraine. Government sources on Monday said that the 'Special Envoys' including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and Gen (Retd) VK Singh will be travelling to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. The union government has launched Operation Ganga to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India as part of the mission. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gorakhpur (UP), Mar 1 (PTI) Former Uttar Pradesh Minister Swami Prasad Maurya, who is fighting the state assembly elections from Fazilnagar constituency in the Kushinagar district after quitting the BJP, on Tuesday accused the saffron party workers of attacking his convoy during electioneering. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Speaks to Father of Naveen Shekarappa, Who Died in Shelling in Ukraine. Maurya's daughter Sanghmitra Maurya who is a BJP MP too supported her father's allegation as the Samajwadi Party condemned the alleged attack by power-protected miscreants. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav too condemned the attack and vowed to "reduce the BJP to zero in the remaining two phases of the elections". Also Read | Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai Reaches Out to Family of Indian Student Naveen Shekharappa Killed in Ukraine. Maurya alleged that the BJP workers, armed with lathis and stones attacked his convoy near Vishupura Khanwa Patti village in Fazilnagar assembly constituency during his roadshow, injuring many of his workers and damaging several vehicles. He said his driver's ear got damaged in the attack. The former minister said he escaped unharmed as he was sitting in a different vehicle which managed to get past the miscreants' mob. "The attack was the part of a planned conspiracy. The BJP people attacked us armed with sticks, arms and stones in a systematic manner, Maurya said. My driver's ear got damaged. Many vehicles were damaged and hundreds of our workers were beaten up. I was sitting in another vehicle, hence it moved ahead," he said. Fazilnagar constituency goes to the polls on March 3 during the sixth phase of the seven-phase UP assembly elections and Tuesday was the last day for the campaigning. Sanghmitra Maurya who, sources say, has been campaigning for her father for the last three to four days, too supported his allegation. The damaged vehicles are proof of the attack. Not only this. When I was coming to Fazilnagar after hearing about the attack, the BJP workers surrounded my car too even though I am a BJP MP," she said, accusing the BJP candidate of being behind the attack. She also appealed to the people of the constituency to vote for her father. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the attack. He said in a tweet, "The attack on Swami Prasad Mauryaji is a very condemnable act of the people who are losing. This attack is similar to the attack on the workers and the leaders of every party of the SP alliance. Together we will answer this by reducing the BJP to zero in the remaining two phases. It is meaningless to expect any action from this government," he added. Condemning the attack, the Samajwadi Party too said in a tweet, "Battered by the unprecedented public support to the SP, the attack on the convoy of the dalit-backward leader, former minister Swami Prasad Maurya by power-protected miscreants in Fazilnagaris highly condemnable and sad! The Election Commission should take action and get the attackers arrested. People will answer with their votes. "PTI CORR SAB NAV (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], March 1 (ANI): In a step towards digital enhancement, Delhi Police launched its revamped website, Anubhuti-QR Code Based Feedback System, and e-Chittha portal on Monday. Speaking at the occasion, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said these three initiatives have added a new dimension in the digitization and modernization of the Delhi Police. The maximum utilization of technology with an objective to improve the service delivery system and ensure the safety and security of people is essential in the present environment. Also Read | India To Face Severe Economic Damage if Emissions Not Eliminated Rapidly, Says IPCC Report. According to Delhi Police, Anubhuti - Feedback Management System will establish two-way communication with the public and improve the police working through the analysis of feedback received. It is a paperless feedback system. The citizens visiting the police station have to scan the QR code of the police station and mark the feedback responses. The response database will be utilized to analyse and take corrective steps for improvement in the police-public interface. The identity of the user will not be disclosed. Asthana said e-Chittha is the backbone of duty deployment. Implementation of e-Chittha will not only ensure optimal use of manpower resources but also increase efficiency and transparency in working. Thus, the staff will get sufficient time for family and their own health and wellbeing and would work with more zeal and enthusiasm. Also Read | Arya Aldrin, Indian Medical Student in Ukraine, Refuses To Leave Behind Her 5-Year-Old Siberian Husky Zairaa. The merging of PCR into districts has resulted in the availability of more manpower and patrol vehicles at beat and Police stations. For the optimal use of resources and manpower, the need for a digital duty roster was emphasized. Further, separation of law and order and investigation at all police stations had also necessitated equal distribution of work to bring about the desired results. The e-Chittha has been operative in all 178 territorial police stations from Monday. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) China releases information on new lunar samples Xinhua) 09:08, March 01, 2022 The lunar samples No. 001 brought back by China's Chang'e-5 probe is displayed at the National Museum of China in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai) BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- China has released the information on the fourth batch of lunar samples brought back by the country's Chang'e-5 mission, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Monday. Public users can log on to the website of China's Lunar and Deep Space Exploration (www.clep.org.cn) to view information related to the new samples and submit applications for research. The Chang'e-5 probe returned to Earth on Dec. 17, 2020, retrieving a total of 1,731 grams of lunar samples, mainly rocks and soil from the moon's surface. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], March 1 (ANI): The Divisional Administration Kashmir on Tuesday established a helpline for stranded residents or students of Kashmir in Ukraine to provide them assistance from the government. According to the administration, the concerned and their family members can contact on phone numbers---01942457312 and 01942473135 in case of any help from the government. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Speaks to Father of Naveen Shekarappa, Who Died in Shelling in Ukraine. India has been ramping up its efforts to evacuate Indian nationals stuck in Ukraine. The government has deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Also Read | Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai Reaches Out to Family of Indian Student Naveen Shekharappa Killed in Ukraine. "Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia will be going to Romania, Kiren Rijiju to Slovak Republic, Hardeep Puri to Hungary, VK Singh to Poland... to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Monday. The union government has also launched "Operation Ganga" to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Farmer leaders on Tuesday welcomed the Delhi government's move to withdraw cases lodged against farmers during the anti-farm law stir and urged the Centre to fulfil other promises too, including the formation of a committee on MSP. They said the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) an umbrella body of 40 farm unions will hold a meeting in Delhi on March 14 to decide the future course of action if the remaining promises made to the farmers by the Centre are not met. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Speaks to Father of Naveen Shekarappa, Who Died in Shelling in Ukraine. Farmer leader and SKM core committee member Shiv Kumar Kakka hailed Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and the city government for withdrawing cases lodged against farmers during the movement. "It is a good move, and we thank the Delhi government and the L-G for this effort. This move has given us hope that other promises such as formation of a committee on MSP will also be met," Kakka told PTI. Also Read | Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai Reaches Out to Family of Indian Student Naveen Shekharappa Killed in Ukraine. He demanded that the Centre should also issue instructions to other state governments such as Madhya Pradesh to withdraw cases lodged against farmers during the movement. The Delhi government has approved the withdrawal of 17 cases registered during the anti-farm law stir, including one involving last year's Republic Day violence, a senior official said on Tuesday. He said the file related to the cases was sent by Lt Governor Anil Baijal's office to Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain on January 31. It was approved by Jain and sent to the Chief Minister's Office on February 25. The CMO sent the file to the L-G office on February 28 and it was approved the same day, the officer said. Kakka said other promises made by the central government to the farmers are still not met. The Centre is yet to act on its promise of forming a committee on MSP, granting compensation to farmers who died during the stir and others, he said. "We are waiting for elections to get over, and then on March 14, the SKM will hold a meeting to pressure the central government to fulfil other promises as well. Future course of the action will also be decided in the meeting," Kakka added. Another farmer leader and SKM member Abhimanyu Kohar said withdrawing cases lodged against farmers was a welcome step. "Though it came a little late but it is a commendable move. This will help in bridging the trust deficit between the government and the farmers," Kohar said. He said the Centre should also make efforts to consider other demands of the farmers which include a legal guarantee on MSP, land for a memorial for farmers and expulsion of Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni from the Cabinet. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, laid siege at Delhi borders in November 2020 demanding that the Centre withdraw the three farm laws. The protest ended in December 2021 after the Narendra Modi government withdrew the farm laws. The protesting farmers had refused to clear the protest sites as they demanded the withdrawal of cases lodged against them, legal guarantee on MSP, and a compensation to the kin of farmers who died during the course of the protest among others. The Centre, on December 9 last year, agreed to consider their other demands, and after that, the SKM announced the suspension of its agitation. The farmers had started leaving for home from December 11, 2021. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Devising their own strategems to get out of Kyiv, about 100 Indian students stranded at the train station split into groups of 10 to board a train from the Ukrainian capital to city of Lviv where they would be safer, one of the students said on Tuesday. We realised no one is going to come to help us and it is up to us now, 20-year-old Ashna Pandita told PTI over the phone as the train took them to the western city of Ukraine, about 80 km from the Poland border, where the fighting has been relatively less. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Speaks to Father of Naveen Shekarappa, Who Died in Shelling in Ukraine. We split into smaller groups and somehow managed to board the train," she added a day after the students from Taras Shevchenko National Medical University in Kyiv managed to escape from the back gate of their hostel and reach the Vokzal station, the capital's main train hub. Though they responded to an advisory from the Indian mission asking all students to make their way to the railway station for onward journey to the western part", the students alleged that officials had failed to provide any transportation to shift them to a safer location. The advisory said Ukrainian railways is putting up special trains for evacuation" but the reality on ground was quite different, Ashna and her brother Ansh, who studies in the same college, said. The twins are from Ghaziabad. The group of 100 odd youths, including many women, were not allowed to board a train and Ukrainian guards thrashed some of them, they alleged. Also Read | Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai Reaches Out to Family of Indian Student Naveen Shekharappa Killed in Ukraine. After they were pushed away from many trains, the students split into smaller groups and somehow managed to get on to the train to Lviv, where the officials of many embassies are stationed. The train was crowded and they could manage only standing space during the nine-hour journey. At least let us reach Kyiv, Ashna said tearfully, recounting their struggles to reach the station from a city that had run out of food and cash in ATMs and then the many hurdles to get on to a train. Left to their own devices, the students said they would either try to cross over to Poland or to the Hungary border, about 570 km from Lviv. On Monday, the train station was teeming with people. The Indian students sat huddled together, holding a large tricolour aloft so they could be recognised in the crowd and also so no one from the group gets lost. The students had also issued a video appeal. "Indian embassy, we request you to evacuate us as soon as possible," Ansh Pandita said in the video as his friends looked on. Ashna, too, sent videos to family and friends at home. One showed a train with closed doors and shuttered windows. "This train didn't let us in. They closed the door on our faces. They pushed us out," she said. In another, students can be seen being pushed and chased away by guards. Back home in Ghaziabad, Ansh and Ashna's parents Anil and Sunita are frantic with worry. "My children are suffering. They have nothing to eat and the irony is that we can't do anything sitting here other than to appeal to the government to bring everyone back," Sunita said. Their worries have escalated after an Indian student from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Kharkiv city on Tuesday morning. "With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning," the External Affairs Ministry said. The government is sending four Union ministers as the prime minister's envoys to Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova to oversee the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine through its border crossings with these countries. (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], March 1 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday arrested one terrorist associate from the Santnagar area of Srinagar. Ten magazines of AK-47 rifle and other ammunition have been recovered from him. Also Read | OnePlus 10 Pro Likely To Debut in India This Month, Company Working on 150W SuperVOOC Fast Charging. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 1 (ANI): Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik on Tuesday approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash a money laundering case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Malik in his plea says his arrest was illegal and has sought to be released immediately. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Elon Musk's Promised Starlink Terminals Reach Ukraine. The ED has also summoned Faraz Malik, son of Nawab Malik in the case. Earlier, Malik's brother Kaptan Malik was also been summoned by the agency. Also Read | OnePlus 10 Pro Likely To Debut in India This Month, Company Working on 150W SuperVOOC Fast Charging. Malik has been remanded to ED custody till March 3. He was sent to ED custody for seven days by a court in Mumbai in connection with the money laundering case. Earlier in February, the ED conducted raids at the residence of Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar in Mumbai in connection with the money laundering case. Searches were carried out by the ED at several places linked to people associated with the underworld in Mumbai, informed sources said. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party had demanded the resignation of the State Minister but the Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA-- comprising Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP) government has rejected the demand for Nawab Malik's resignation. (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, Mar 1 (PTI) LIC Mutual Fund has appointed T S Ramakrishnan as its managing director and chief executive, succeeding Dinesh Pangtey. Ramakrishnan has over 34 years of experience at LIC and its subsidiaries/associate companies. Also Read | Vivo Y33s 5G With MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC Launched. He joined LIC Mutual Fund in April 2021. At LIC, he was the regional manager for the pension group and scheme at south central zone in Hyderabad and senior divisional manager in charge in Delhi region. Also Read | Tesla Offers Free EV Charging in Several Countries Around Ukraine Following Russian Invasion: Report. Before joining LIC Mutual Fund, Ramakrishnan was the regional manager for western region at LIC Housing Finance. ******* SaaS-based training platform Engg Online raises USD 3.5 mn from angel investors Mumbai: SaaS-based training platform Engg Online has secured equity financing of around USD 3.5 million (around Rs 26 crore) in a pre-series-A round led by HNIs, professionals, and founders. Engg Online is an incubate of the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of IIT-Bombay. The city-based company said it will use the funds towards manpower, content development, delivery, and infrastructure required for the expansion of operations. The SaaS-based platform for tutors/trainers has a pedagogy of experiential learning using augmented reality and virtual reality. The group of investors includes Madhu Kela, Paresh Shah, Ketan Sheth, Arun Nahar, Kirti Doshi, Sanjay Dangi, P S Jayakumar, among others. ********* Govt invites applications for National Startup Awards New Delhi: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on Tuesday said it has launched the third edition of the National Startup Awards 2022. The awards will acknowledge startups and enablers that have been instrumental in revolutionising the development story of India, it said. The awards will be given in 17 sectors, classified into 50 sub-sectors. The sectors include agriculture, construction, drinking water, energy, and FinTech, among others. The applications for the awards are open till March 15. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kyiv [Ukraine], March 1 (ANI): At least 10 people were killed and 35 others were injured after a rocket hit Ukraine's second-biggest city Kharkiv on Tuesday, according to Kyiv's Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko. "Freedom Square was hit by a cruise missile. There was a second hit by a similar rocket that hit the building after the rescuers arrived (in 5-7 minutes). One-third of the administration building fell," Herashchenko said in a post on Telegram, according to CNN. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Missile Damages Regional Govt Building in Ukraines Kharkiv (Watch Video). Ukrainian State Emergency Services also confirmed the death toll in a social media post today. "Rescuers are working on the scene. The stairs and partial corridors on all floors are completely destroyed," the post read further. Also Read | Naveen Shekharappa, Indian Student From Karnataka, Killed in Shelling in Ukraines Kharkiv. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov today denied the reports of attacking infrastructure, residential areas in Ukraine. "During the course of the special operation, Russian troops do not carry out any strikes on civilian infrastructure facilities and on a residential complex. This is out of the question. We are talking only about the demilitarization of Ukraine and military facilities. We must not forget that in a large number of cases, we are talking about the fire of nationalist groups that use living objects as a shield," Peskov said, according to Sputnik. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jerusalem, Mar 1 (AP) Israeli police fired stun grenades, rubber bullets and wastewater canons Monday to disperse Palestinian stone-throwers at a gate to Jerusalem's Old City, a frequent flashpoint from which tensions rapidly escalated in the past. Palestinian medics said 33 Palestinians were injured, including an 11-year-old girl hit in the face by a stun grenade. Police detained 20 Palestinians and said four police officers were also hurt. Also Read | 'Russia Putting Nuclear Forces on High Alert Chilling Development', Says UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The confrontation erupted at the Damascus Gate as large crowds streamed through the arched passage toward the Old City's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest shrine. Worshippers marked what Muslim faithful believe is Prophet Mohammad's ascension to heaven. It was not immediately clear what sparked Monday's clashes. The area around the Damascus Gate has been a scene of confrontations in the past, including during last year's holy month of Ramadan when devout Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian Towns Authorise Officers To Shoot Looters on the Spot. At the time, police prevented Palestinians from gathering at Damascus Gate after breaking their daily fast, as was customary. Nightly clashes erupted, with tensions rapidly spreading and triggering a two-week war between Israel and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers. Ramadan, a time of heightened religious fervour, is to start this year at the beginning of April. Muslim religious officers administering the Al-Aqsa Mosque area estimated that about 90,000 worshippers attended Monday's holiday. The raised platform is revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, site of their biblical temple. The compound's Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews can pray. The Old City is located in east Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the West Bank. Some 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the two areas. The Palestinians seek both areas as parts of a future independent state. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Taipei (Taiwan), Mar 1 (AP) A delegation of former US defence officials is visiting Taiwan this week in a sign of stepped-up communication between the sides amid the looming threat from China. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen is leading the five-person delegation that is due to arrive later Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other top officials during the two-day visit. Also Read | Google Turns Off Maps' Live Traffic Data in Ukraine to Protect Users Amid Russian Invasion. Separately, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to arrive in Taiwan on Wednesday. Pompeo, who also formerly led the Central Intelligence Agency, will also meet with Tsai and address a forum prior to his departure Saturday, according to the Foreign Ministry. Former secretary of state Pompeo's visit displays fully US bipartisan backing for its rock solid' support" for Taiwan, the ministry said. Also Read | Vacuum Bomb Used by Russia in Ukraine? Heres All About The Explosive That Has Allegedly Been Used by Russian Forces. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has drawn fresh attention to China's threat to use force to annex self-governing democratic Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory. Circumstances are very different, however: Taiwan lies 160 kilometers (100 miles) across the turbulent Taiwan Strait from mainland China and enjoys strong support from the U.S., which is legally bound to ensure the island can defend itself and treat all threats to it as matters of grave concern." China has been sending military aircraft into Taiwan's air defence identification zone on a near-daily basis, and on Saturday, its Defense Ministry protested as provocative the passage of the guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson through the Taiwan Strait. The Strait is in international waters and the U.S. Navy said the ship's passage demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific." China routinely protests U.S. contacts with Taiwan's government and in November, announced that its military conducted air and naval readiness patrols in the direction of the Taiwan Strait after five U.S. lawmakers met with Tsai on a surprise one-day visit. President Joe Biden has followed his predecessors in stepping up contacts between Taiwan and both serving and retired administration officials, along with selling defensive military equipment. The other members of Mullen's delegation are former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy, former White House Deputy National Security Adviser Meghan O'Sullivan, former Senior Director for Asia at the White House National Security Council Michael Green, and Evan Medeiros, former senior director of Asian affairs at the White House National Security Council. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], March 1 (ANI): India on Tuesday sent the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine through Poland, informed Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The consignment comprised medicines, medical equipment and other relief material. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Troops Attacking Only Military Targets, Claims Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Mentioning humanitarian assistance to Ukraine at the request of the Ukrainian Government, Shringla said, "A flight left this morning having the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine through Poland. The consignment comprised of medicines, medical equipment and other relief materials." "Another flight tomorrow will carry the second consignment also through Poland and besides medicines, a number of other items are also there for humanitarian use in Ukraine," he said in a special briefing on 'Operation Ganga' to bring back Indian citizens from the conflict zone of Ukraine by the Ministry of External Affairs. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Military Warns To Hit Facilities in Kyiv, Asks Civilians To Leave. As per MEA sources, two tonnes of humanitarian aid including tents, blankets, surgical gloves, protective eye gear, water storage tanks, sleeping mats, tarpaulin and medicines have been sent to Ukraine today. The meeting began with an expression of deep regret and condolences on the tragic death of Naveen Shekharappa, an Indian student who was studying at Kharkiv National Medical University "Earlier this afternoon I separately called in the Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine. I reiterated strongly our demand for urgent safe passage for all Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and other cities in the conflict area," said Shringla. He also informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yesterday spoken to his counterparts from the Slovak Republic and Romania to seek their assistance in continued support to our evacuation efforts. "Yesterday PM Modi talked to the Slovak Republic Prime Minister Eduard Heger and Romanian counterpart Nicolae Ciuca and also spoke to the President of Poland Andrzej Duda to seek their assistance in the evacuation of Indians from the conflict zones," said Shringla. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the efforts to bring back stranded Indians in Ukraine. The meeting is being attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and senior officials. "PM Modi has also received calls. This happened as we were at the meeting, from the President of France Emmanuel Macron and the President of the European Union Commission, Charles Michel. We are certainly reaching out diplomatically to all concerned to ensure the safety, security and protection of our citizens in Ukraine," said the Foreign Secretary. Detailing about the evacuation process, Shringla said that the ministry has examined every possible option for safe passage, adding that he had emphasized to both Russian and Ukrainian officials the importance of providing a corridor to enable Indian citizens to get out of the conflict zone. "Earlier this afternoon I separately called in the Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine. I reiterated strongly our demand for urgent safe passage for all Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and other cities in the conflict area," said Shringla. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - The international network, Environment and Development in the Third World (ENDA Tiers Monde), has called for a better involvement of the gender concept in the implementation of Africa's 2030 and 2063 agendas Jerusalem, Mar 1 (AP) A Palestinian militant died early Tuesday during clashes with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, a few hours after Israeli police dispersed Palestinian stone-throwers at a gate to Jerusalem's Old City that has been a frequent flashpoint for rapidly escalating tensions. The Islamic Jihad group said Abdullah al-Hossari was killed during clashes that erupted when Israeli special forces entered Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank. The Health Ministry said another man was seriously wounded. Also Read | 'Russia Putting Nuclear Forces on High Alert Chilling Development', Says UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which often carries out nighttime incursions into areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority to arrested wanted Palestinians or demolish homes of militants involved in attacks against Israel. Local Palestinian media said the dead man was a member of the Jenin Brigade, a newly formed group affiliated with Islamic Jihad. In August, Israel released al-Hossari from its custody after 26 months. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian Towns Authorise Officers To Shoot Looters on the Spot. Islamic Jihad is a pro-Iran Palestinian group. Its top political leaders are based in Syria and Lebanon, with some prominent officials in Gaza, where it is the second largest armed group after Gaza's ruling Hamas'. In Jerusalem on Monday, Israeli police fired stun grenades, rubber bullets and wastewater cannons to disperse stone-throwers. Palestinian medics said 33 Palestinians were injured, including an 11-year-old girl hit in the face by a stun grenade. Police detained 20 Palestinians and said four police officers were also hurt. The confrontation erupted at the Damascus Gate as large crowds streamed through the arched passage toward the Old City's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest shrine. Worshippers marked what Muslim faithful believe is Prophet Mohammad's ascension to heaven. It was not immediately clear what sparked Monday's clashes. The area around the Damascus Gate has been a scene of confrontations in the past, including during last year's holy month of Ramadan when devout Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. At the time, police prevented Palestinians from gathering at Damascus Gate after breaking their daily fast, as was customary. Nightly clashes erupted, with tensions rapidly spreading and triggering a two-week war between Israel and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers. Ramadan, a time of heightened religious fervour, is to start this year at the beginning of April. Muslim religious officers administering the Al-Aqsa Mosque area estimated that about 90,000 worshippers attended Monday's holiday. The raised platform is revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, site of their biblical temple. The compound's Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews can pray. The Old City is located in east Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the West Bank. Some 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the two areas. The Palestinians seek both areas as parts of a future independent state. (AP) VM (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tel Aviv [Israel], March 1 (ANI/Sputnik): The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Monday confirmed that Israeli national Roman Brodsky had been killed in Ukraine while driving to the border with Moldova. "His car, which was a part of a convoy on its way to the Moldovan border, came under fire resulting in his death," the statement read. Also Read | 'Russia Putting Nuclear Forces on High Alert Chilling Development', Says UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The ministry added that it remained in touch with the deceased's wife who was staying in Ukraine with her children. The ministry also added that Brodsky's parents have already been informed of his death. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett expressed his condolences to Brodsky's family and added that Israel continues "to do everything possible to help the Israelis return home." Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian Towns Authorise Officers To Shoot Looters on the Spot. On Thursday, Russia launched a special operation in Ukraine, acting in response to calls for help from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics against the intensifying aggression of Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation was targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only, stressing that the civilian population is not in danger. Since then, hostilities have been taking place on the territory of Ukraine and the breakaway republics. (ANI/Sputnik) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Baltimore, Mar 1 (AP) A 68-year-old man was sentenced Monday to 41 years for the murder of his daughter, whose dismembered remains were left at a dumpster. Malik Samartaney, previously known as Lawrence Banks, was convicted in October of second-degree murder and unauthorised disposal of a body in the May 2019 slaying of Dominique Foster. Prosecutors said the Baltimore man killed his 43-year-old daughter after expressing outrage at her drug addiction, The Baltimore Sun reported. Also Read | Instagram, YouTube Block Russian News Outlets RT and Sputnik Across Europe. Circuit Judge Jennifer Schiffer handed down the maximum punishments, saying it's unfathomable to think of how Foster suffered. When she got into her father's van that day, she had no way of knowing that she would end up in pieces in a shopping cart, Schiffer said. Also Read | Pakistan Sees Major Surge in Offences Against Women in 2021, Says Report. Defense lawyer Deborah Levi presented a theory that Foster may have been killed by members of the notorious street gang MS-13. Levi said her client maintains his innocence and plans to appeal. Some of Foster's remains were found stuffed inside trash bags in a shopping cart after a suspicious package was reported near a dumpster, but her head, hands and feet were never found. Police couldn't link Samartaney to the crime with DNA evidence or a murder weapon. Prosecutors based their case largely on circumstantial evidence, such as Samartaney's ex-fiancee's testimony of having an unusually hard time reaching him the day Foster was killed. Assistant State's Attorney Elizabeth Stock focused on Samartaney's violent history. He had two previous murder convictions, pleading guilty in the 1990s to killing a friend and no contest to killing his teenage son. He received simultaneous 20-year prison sentences, and was released in 2002. Samartaney also was convicted of assault after throwing Foster, then just 7 months old, through a glass door during an argument with her mother in 1975. Samartaney asked the judge for mercy, saying that he had promised God after his son's death that he wouldn't kill again. Your honour, I'm very sorry for the death of my daughter, but I did not do that, Samartaney said. I dream every night that I find the person who would do that. Victim impact statements describe Foster as a loving mother, grandmother and sister. Your honour, I'm asking for the longest sentence possible, Foster's daughter wrote in her statement. I ask this not for revenge but for everyone's safety. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Naypyidaw [Myanmar], March 1 (ANI): Myanmar's military has extended its ceasefire agreements with ethnic armed groups until the end of 2022, local media reported on Tuesday. The nationwide ceasefire agreement was initiated in October 2015, Xinhua news agency reported. Also Read | Warner Bros Halts The Batman Release in Russia Due to the Country's Military Operation in Ukraine. The military extended the ceasefire to boost the peace process in the country and to enable effective efforts to combat COVID-19 nationwide, the statement released by the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services on Monday. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council, had earlier announced the decision during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen in Nay Pyi Taw in January, the statement said. Also Read | Google Turns Off Maps' Live Traffic Data in Ukraine to Protect Users Amid Russian Invasion. The military had announced extending the suspension of military operations 20 times from December 21, 2018, till February 28 this year, it said. Last week, the UN independent expert said that weapons exports to the military rulers in Myanmar by the UN Member States must stop. In a report to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews insisted that these arms had been used against civilians. He also called for the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session to vote on a resolution to ban this trade. "It should be incontrovertible that weapons used to kill civilians should no longer be transferred to Myanmar. These transfers truly shock the conscience," Andrews said in a statement. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tallinn [Estonia], March 1 (ANI): NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Tapa Military Base in Estonia to meet the soldiers that are defending Estonia and the alliance. "These soldiers are keeping our nations safe and free. And we owe them a debt of gratitude. Thank you to Estonia for hosting our battlegroup so well. And being such a staunch NATO ally," said NATO chief. Also Read | Pakistan Sees Major Surge in Offences Against Women in 2021, Says Report. Talking of the NATO deterrence, he emphasized, "Allies are imposing severe costs on Russia through sanctions. We are increasing NATO presence across the Alliance, to deter and defend. And we are stepping up our support to help Ukraine defend itself." He thanked Boris Johnson for doubling UK's contribution over the last few weeks, with more British troops sent to Estonia. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: France Pledges To Wage Total Economic and Financial War on Russia. "NATO Allies are sending Ukraine anti-tank weapons, air-defence missiles, and ammunition. Allies are also providing millions of euros worth of financial help and humanitarian aid. I commend Estonia and the United Kingdom for the assistance you are providing to Ukraine," he added. Stoltenberg condemned Russia saying, "The people of Ukraine are fighting bravely against a brutal and unprovoked Russian invasion. We utterly condemn the Kremlin's war." Talking of the increased NATO defensive presence he said, "In the air, on land, and at sea. With over 100 jets at high alert operating from 30 different locations. And over 120 ships from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean." Reiterating NATO's commitment to Article 5 Stoltenberg said, "The UK, the US, and other Allies are deploying thousands more troops to the eastern part of the Alliance. For the first time in our history, we are deploying the NATO Response Force. Because there must be no doubt, no room for miscalculation or misunderstanding. Our commitment to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is iron-clad. We will protect and defend every inch of NATO territory. Credible deterrence prevents conflict and preserves peace." He stressed that NATO is a defensive force saying, "NATO is a defensive Alliance. We do not seek conflict with Russia. Our message to President Putin is: stop the war, pull out all your forces from Ukraine, and engage in good faith in diplomatic efforts. The world stands with Ukraine in calling for peace." Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas talked of Ukraine's will to fight against Russia and said, "I think we underestimate the Ukrainians' motivation and will to protect their cities. Of course, we also know that the forces are not really equal. So one is to really conquer the cities and the other one is to keep those cities under control. So I think there is going to be a lot of resistance from Ukrainians." "I think what we have seen is that all Ukrainians have really surprised everybody by their motivation to fight for their country, to fight for freedom," she added. Echoing the same sentiments, UK PM Boris Johnson said, "With every day that goes by, as they watch the heroism of the Ukrainian resistance and they see what is happening in Ukraine, and they see episodes like the shedding, like the missile in Kharkiv and the destruction of civilian populations. I think peoples' stomachs are being turned by what is happening and they are seeing that it is necessary to stand up against Russian aggression to support the Ukrainians and to endorse our strategy, which is that President Putin must not be allowed to succeed, he must fail in Ukraine." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bucharest (Romania) [India], March 1 (ANI): The Indian embassy in Romania on Tuesday said that no visa is required for Indian students sheltered here to exit Bucharest by special flights. Taking to Twitter, the embassy has said that it has getting queries from the students evacuated from Ukraine that they may not be able to leave after some days due to visa requirements. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Missile Damages Regional Govt Building in Ukraines Kharkiv (Watch Video). "We have received queries from Indian students evacuated from Ukraine and presently in shelters in Romania that they may not be able to leave after some days due to visa requirements. We want to assure that no visa is required to exit Romania by special flights," the embassy said on Twitter. Meanwhile, the seventh flight carrying 182 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine reached Mumbai from Romania's Bucharest as part of Operation Ganga on Tuesday. Also Read | Naveen Shekharappa, Indian Student From Karnataka, Killed in Shelling in Ukraines Kharkiv. Union Minister Narayan Rane received the evacuated Indian nationals at the Mumbai airport. Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the eighth flight carrying 216 stranded Indian nationals has departed from Hungary's capital Budapest for New Delhi while the ninth flight carrying 218 Indians took off from the Romanian capital Bucharest for New Delhi as part of Operation Ganga. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while presiding over a high-level meeting on Monday evening over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all stranded Indians in Ukraine are safe and secure, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. This was the second high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister during the day over the prevailing situation in Ukraine. Government sources on Monday said that the 'Special Envoys' including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and Gen (Retd) VK Singh will be travelling to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. The union government has launched Operation Ganga to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India as part of the mission. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kabul [Afghanistan], March 1 (ANI): Taliban, as part of its home search operations have detained several civilians close to the former security forces in recent days in Daykundi province and are asking for weapons. According to sources of Reporterly, Afghanistan's online portal, these people are detained and tortured in prison after a search of their homes. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Missile Damages Regional Govt Building in Ukraines Kharkiv (Watch Video). Taliban is using force and witnesses say that it is looking for weapons, military vehicles, equipment and former government officials. Taking to Twitter, Reporterly says, "Afghanistan International reported that #Taliban house to house searches in #Kabul has increased and there were reports of the use of force during the searches. Witnesses say Taliban are looking for weapons, military vehicles, equipment and former government officials." Also Read | Naveen Shekharappa, Indian Student From Karnataka, Killed in Shelling in Ukraines Kharkiv. The portal's sources confirmed the reports of detention of several civilians close to the former security forces. This comes as the Taliban have launched comprehensive home search operations in Kabul since last week. The move has been widely criticized in the media and on social media platforms by the citizens, journalists, and civil society members watching Afghanistan from outside. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ankara, Mar 1 (AP) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for an immediate cease-fire between the Russian and Ukrainian forces. Our call to both Russia and Ukraine is: let the firing stop as soon as possible, let Russia and Ukraine make a beautiful contribution to peace, Erdogan said Tuesday during a joint news conference with Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, on Tuesday. Also Read | Instagram, YouTube Block Russian News Outlets RT and Sputnik Across Europe. The Turkish leader said on Turkey welcomes overtures by European Union officials toward Ukraine after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an application to join the bloc. He however, urged the EU to show the same sensitivity toward Turkey. Also Read | Pakistan Sees Major Surge in Offences Against Women in 2021, Says Report. The country is a candidate to join the EU but its accession talks have been stalled over a number of issues, including the country's democratic backtracking. Are you going to bring Turkey's (application) on the agenda when someone declares war on it and attacks? Erdogan said. Erdogan reiterated that Turkey, which has the second largest army within the alliance, supports NATO's expansion. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) State government officials welcomed the students arriving from Ukraine under Operation Ganga at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad New Delhi [India], March 1 (ANI): State government officials welcomed students arriving from Ukraine under 'Operation Ganga' at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Over the last few days, Indian nationals are being evacuated on flights from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, countries which share borders with Ukraine. The students are being facilitated to reach their homes from the airports by the respective state governments Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Updates: Indian Embassy Urges Citizens to Leave Kyiv Immediately; Battles Rage for Ukraine's Cities. The Union government has launched 'Operation Ganga' to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine. Special flights are being operated by Air India, SpiceJet and Indigo as part of the 'Operation Ganga' mission. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presiding over a high-level meeting over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all stranded Indians in Ukraine are safe and secure. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Leave Kyiv Urgently by Any Means, Says Indian Embassy in Ukraine to Stranded Students. Four Union Ministers were also deputed to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. On Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India has evacuated over 8,000 nationals since the initial advisories were issued by the country. Earlier today, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya received Indian nationals who arrived by a special Indigo evacuation flight from Hungary. "Many of your friends are still stuck in Ukraine, tell them that efforts are being made to bring them back home. Efforts will continue till all of them are brought back," he said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, March 1: The West is preparing further restrictive measures against Moscow, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, US Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said after a classified briefing from US President Joe Biden's top national security officials on the Ukraine situation. "The U.S. and allies are coordinating to not only freeze the assets of Putin and his oligarch allies, but to seize those assets as well. This is likely a further step than Putin's inner circle anticipated," Murphy said on Twitter on Monday. He claimed that "Russians have fallen behind their timeline" in what concerns the special military operation in Ukraine and were preparing to "cut off Kiev in the next several weeks." Americans Should Not Worry About Nuclear War, Says US President Joe Biden. The White House has asked Congress to allocate $6.4 billion to assist Kiev in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The funds could be attached to a broader government spending package expected to pass next week. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter that he told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call that Kiev needs more weapons amid Russia's ongoing military operation in Ukraine and is also insisting on further restrictions against Moscow. On Sunday, G7 foreign ministers discussed with Kuleba further steps to support Kiev, including in cybersecurity and the fight against disinformation, and expressed their commitment to increasing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The ministers once again condemned Russia's operation in Ukraine and demanded the withdrawal of all troops. Western nations have increased sanctions pressure on Russia after it launched a military operation in Ukraine following requests for help from the people's republics in Donbas. The Russian Defense Ministry has said that the operation is targeting the military infrastructure of Ukraine only and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine and that the purpose of its operation is to save the civilian population from genocide and liberate the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), including through the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. On Sunday, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to supply 450 million euros ($500 million) worth of arms to the Kiev forces. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters after a virtual EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting late on Sunday that the aid would also include 50 million euros for non-lethal supplies, such as fuel and protective equipment, and the EU was also going to provide fighter jets to Kiev. Google Turns Off Maps Live Traffic Data in Ukraine to Protect Users Amid Russian Invasion. The US, Canada and Australia have also approved lethal defensive assistance to Ukraine. On Friday, the Biden administration unlocked a $350 million package of military assistance to Kiev, including more Javelin anti-tank missiles. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The answers to some of the worlds most pressing problems are rooted in human rights, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirmed on Monday New York [US], March 1 (ANI): The United States on Monday expelled 12 Russian diplomats charging them with "engaging in espionage activities". "The US has informed the Russian Mission that we are beginning the process of expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have abused their privileges of residency in the US by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security," said Olivia Dalton, spokeswoman for the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Updates: Indian Embassy Urges Citizens to Leave Kyiv Immediately; Battles Rage for Ukraine's Cities. The diplomats have been given time until March 7 to leave the US. Russia's United Nations (UN) ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, reportedly said that Russia could reply to the expulsions with a "tit for tat" move, the New York Times reported. "It's not our choice," he added. "We didn't initiate it." Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Leave Kyiv Urgently by Any Means, Says Indian Embassy in Ukraine to Stranded Students. The development comes after Russia expelled the US's Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) earlier this month ahead of the conflict in Ukraine. Earlier in December, Russia had ordered all US Embassy staff that had been in the country for more than three years to leave after the US removed privileges for 27 Russian diplomats and their families after imposing a three-year timeline for diplomats, The Hill reported. The expulsions of diplomats from both sides come amidst the high tensions between Russia and the Western countries, over Russia's actions in Ukraine. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is presently holding a special session on the conflict in Ukraine. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Mar 1 (PTI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday spoke with Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba during which the top American diplomat discussed Russia's attack on Ukraine and the importance of respecting the UN Charter's principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. During the telephonic call Blinken also emphasised on the strong diplomatic ties between Nepal and the US. Also Read | Instagram, YouTube Block Russian News Outlets RT and Sputnik Across Europe. "US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Prime Minister Deuba during which the top American diplomat discussed Russia attack on Ukraine and the importance of respecting the UN Charter's principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states," said an official statement. Blinken highlighted that this year marks 75 years of the United States and Nepal's diplomatic relations. Also Read | Pakistan Sees Major Surge in Offences Against Women in 2021, Says Report. He highlighted that this marks 75 years of the United States and Nepal's diplomatic relations and noted that Nepal's decision to move forward with the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) would allow the electricity transmission and roads project to create jobs, infrastructure, and improve the lives of the Nepali people," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a readout of the call. Blinken agreed to strengthen efforts to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic and work toward addressing the climate crisis, Price said. Nepal's Parliament last week ratified the contentious US-funded USD 500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact along with an Interpretive Declaration a day ahead of the February 28 deadline set by Washington, ending months of debates, protests and polarisation in the Himalayan nation. The MCC is a bilateral United States foreign aid agency established by the US Congress in 2004. It is an independent agency separate from the State Department and USAID. Nepal's political parties were sharply divided on whether to accept the US grant assistance under the MCC agreement. The MCC also dragged Nepal into a geopolitical game, with Beijing taking a jibe at Washington for providing a "gift" to Nepal with an ultimatum, for a second time in a week, firstly warning the US against using coercive diplomacy in Nepal. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, March 1: Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on February 23 in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case involving underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim, has moved to the Bombay High Court against his arrest. Malik in his plea has urged the Court to quash the PMLA case lodged by the central probe agency. He has also mentioned his plea that his arrest was illegal and sought to be released immediately. Malik is in the ED custody till March 3. The ED had on February 18 arrested Dawood's brother Iqbal Kaskar in the matter. Salim Qureshi, an aide of Chhota Shakeel, was also interrogated in the matter. Maha Minister Nawab Malik Moves HC for Quashing of ED Case, Says His Arrest Illegal. On February 3 the NIA had received an information that Dawood Ibrahim was raising terror funds and was working with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Al Qaeda (AQ). He was controlling criminal activities in India through his close aides. The ED filed a PMLA case against Dawood. Another case was lodged against his brother Iqbal Kaskar, Iqbal Mirchi and 19 others. Later both the cases were merged by the ED. The Central probe agency conducted nine raids and recovered incriminating documents from the premises of Dawood's aides. Chhota Shakeel's relative Salim Fruit told the probe agency that in 2006 he met Chhota Shakeel three to four times during his Pakistan visit. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2022 11:03 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Maha Shivaratri is the annual festival honours Lord Shiva and is celebrated on the Chaturdashi Tithi in the dark phase of Magha month. Maha Shivaratri 2022 will be celebrated on March 1 and is sure to be filled with great festivities and observances. People often observe the stringent Maha Shivaratri fast, visit Shiv temples and offer flowers, milk and prayers to Lord Shiva. As we prepare to celebrate Maha Shivaratri 2022, here is everything you need to know about this celebration, Maha Shivaratri 2022 Date, How to celebrate Maha Shivaratri and its significance. Maha Shivratri 2022 Dos And Donts: From Vrat Rituals & Bhog to Mahamrityunjaya Mantra & Temple Visits, Auspicious Things to Do for Good Luck by Pleasing Lord Shiva. When is Maha Shivaratri 2022? Maha Shivaratri 2022 will be celebrated on March 1. This observance falls towards the end of winter and the beginning of spring every year. While each month has a Shivratri festival, Maha Shivaratri is considered to be the most important and biggest celebration of the year. Maha Shivratri is observed on the Krishan Paksha Chaturdashi of Magha month. Maha Shivratri 2022 Chaturdashi Tithi Begins at 03:16 AM on Mar 01, 2022, and will go on till 01:00 AM on Mar 02, 2022. Maha Shivaratri 2022 Puja Timings On the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri, people often observe a stringent fast and stay up all night praying to Lord Shiva and singing songs and aartis to appease him. The most important Puja to be conducted during Maha Shivratri is the Nishita Kaal Puja. Nishita Kaal Puja Time - 12:26 AM to 01:00 AM, Mar 02 Ratri First Prahar Puja Time - 06:44 PM to 09:47 PM Ratri Second Prahar Puja Time - 09:47 PM to 12:51 AM, Mar 02 Ratri Third Prahar Puja Time - 12:51 AM to 03:54 AM, Mar 02 Ratri Fourth Prahar Puja Time - 03:54 AM to 06:57 AM, Mar 02 How to Celebrate Maha Shivratri Maha Shivratri celebrations are filled with various rituals and traditions. In addition to observing the stringent Maha Shivratri fast and staying up all night singing songs and aartis of Lord Shiva, devotees also visit popular Shiva temples on this day. Many people believe that showing Lord Shiva with milk on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri will help them appease Lord Shiva. The 12 Jyotirlings across India are often flooded with devotees annually on Maha Shivratri. Maha Shivratri celebration also differs in different parts of the country. In Kashmir Shaivism, the festival is called Har-Ratri or phonetically simpler Haerath or Herath by Shiva devotees of the Kashmir region. It is interesting to note that in addition to grand celebrations in India, Maha Shivratri is also observed in various other parts of the world. In Nepal, it is a national holiday, and devotees often visit various well-known Shiva temples on this day. Hindus in various other parts of the world also celebrate Shivratri with great enthusiasm. Heres wishing everyone a Happy Maha Shivratri 2022. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2022 10:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Russian troops in Ukraine are attacking only military targets, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Tuesday, commenting on the news that the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, would launch a probe into possible war crimes in Ukraine, RT reported. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that British troops would not engage against Russian forces in Ukraine, and that recent military reinforcements were taking place within the territories of NATO members. The measures are simply defensive and have been a part of NATO for over 70 years, he said in Estonia, where more British troops are deployed. Check Tweet: "We will not fight Russian forces in Ukraine," reports Reuters quoting British PM Boris Johnson pic.twitter.com/50jbLSzhiH ANI (@ANI) March 1, 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.) OnePlus, the Chinese phone maker, reportedly announced at MWC 2022 event that it will launch the OnePlus 10 Pro smartphone in India and global markets this month. Though the company has not revealed the exact date of the launch, reports have claimed that it might debut by the end of March 2022. The Chinese phone maker also revealed that it plans to launch the most affordable smartphone in India and Europe later this year. OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G First Online Sale Today in India at 12 Noon, Check Offers Here. In addition to this, OnePlus is also working on a smartphone that will support 150W SuperVOOC fast charging support. The device is likely to be launched by the second quarter of 2022. The 150W SuperVOOC fast charging technology will be developed by the Oppo Research Institute. The company claims that the upcoming charging technology will charge a 4,500mAh battery from 1 percent to 50 percent in just five minutes. Moreover, the company will introduce a new retail model in the Indian market that will allow customers to order a product online and let them pick it up at retail stores. With the help of this new retail model, OnePlus aims to deliver the products to its Indian customers faster. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2022 11:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, March 1: The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday asked the stranded nationals to leave Kyiv immediately by any means as fighting has reached the Ukrainian capital city. "All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," Indian embassy said in an advisory. It is stated that Russian troops have reached Kyiv streets and aerial attacks are to begin. Early this morning, the embassy stated that the 400 students housed near the embassy since February 24 have successfully left Kyiv by train through Mission's efforts. "Ensured movement of more than 1,000 Indian students from Kyiv towards Western borders," the embassy had stated. However, a few students were left in Kyiv. Now the embassy directed all Indian citizens to leave the city on an urgent basis. Indian Embassy in Ukraine Asks Citizens to Leave Kyiv Urgently As Conflict Escalates. On Monday, the Indian embassy in Ukraine had informed stranded nationals that weekend curfew had been lifted in Kyiv and advised them to move towards the railway station. "All students are advised to make their way to the railway station for onward journey to the western parts," said the embassy in a statement adding that for students stranded on the left side of Dnipro, there are metros and buses functioning which can be used to move to the train station for onward movement. Ukraine Railways is putting special trains for evacuations. "We sincerely request all Indian nationals/students to remain calm, peaceful and united," the embassy stated. A large crowd can be expected at the railway stations, therefore, it is advised that all Indian students remain patient, composed and especially not to exhibit aggressive behaviours while at the railway stations. The embassy stated that stranded citizens could expect delays in trains' schedule, even cancellation at times and long queues. Russia-Ukraine War: Canada to Ban Import of Russian Crude Oil, Says PM Justin Trudeau. Indian students are requested to carry their passports, sufficient cash, ready to eat meals, easy accessible winter clothing and only essential items, to ensure easy mobility. "Be mindful of your belongings at all times," the embassy stated. After the advisory, many students left Kyiv through trains. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2022 12:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, March 1: A Russian military convoy travelling towards the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv has grown from being 17 miles long earlier on Monday to 40 miles, a satellite company has said, Daily Mail reported. Maxar Technologies, a private US satellite company, also said additional ground forces deployments and ground attack helicopter units were seen in southern Belarus, less than 20 miles north of the Ukraine border. Maxar said the convoy stretches from the Antonov airbase, 17 miles north of Kyiv's city center, to just north of the Ukrainian town of Pribyrsk. Pribyrsk is closer to the Ukraine-Belarus border and the failed nuclear reactor at Chernobyl than to Kyiv. On Sunday, Maxar had measured the convoy -- then near Ivankiv, Ukraine -- at roughly 3.5 miles long, Daily Mail reported. Russia-Ukraine War: US Coordinating with Allies to Seize Vladimir Putin's Assets, Says Senator Chris Murphy. US intelligence officials told members of Congress on Monday that they expect a second overwhelming wave of attacks to engulf Kyiv. Two people told CNN that the briefing detailed how they expect the sheer numbers of Russian troops to flatten the Ukrainian resistance, the report said. Another source told the channel that Russia was likely to lay siege to Kyiv, and predicted ugly scenes of urban warfare, Daily Mail reported. The line of vehicles is so extensive that it was not entirely captured in Monday's satellite imagery. In some areas, the vehicles are two to three rows deep. It was not clear whether all vehicles in the convoy were headed for the same final destination, or whether the military forces would split up and encircle the capital. US intelligence believes around 75 per cent of Russian forces positioned on the borders with Ukraine are now inside the country. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2022 12:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). California school mask mandate will no longer be required for children as California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the end of mask mandates, along with governors of Oregon and Washington. The mask mandate will be turned into a recommendation instead of a requirement at most indoor places in California and at schools on March 12, regardless of vaccination status, according to The Press Democrat News report. However, federal mask requirements will still apply in high-risk indoor settings such as public transportation, airport, and taxis. California Playbook writer for POLITICO Jeremy B. White tweeted about the new developments in the COVID-19 mask mandate, while also mentioning that the school mask rule ends the same day as the midterm candidate filing deadline. BREAKING: California's school mask mandate ends March 11. Unvaccinated people no longer need to mask inside starting tomorrow. In both cases, masks still recommended. BTW: Highlighting the political stakes, school mask rule ends same day as midterm candidate filing deadline. Jeremy B. White (@JeremyBWhite) February 28, 2022 Almost two years ago, California was the first state to announce a shutdown with stay-at-home orders in March 2020. The state's move was soon followed by other states. READ NEXT: SNAP Benefits 2022: Schedule of March Benefits in California, EBT Cardholders Gets New Online Options California School Mask Mandate California officials highlighted that masks will be strongly recommended. However, it will no longer be required. Mostly, the mask recommendation will be covering unvaccinated individuals in most indoor settings starting Tuesday. Dr. Mark Ghaly, California's health, and human services secretary, said that today is an important date for California, with the decision driven by data and the science, according to the Los Angeles Times report. He added during a press briefing that the new guidance may "be received with some trepidation." Ghaly said that they are acknowledging and giving communities time and space to make decisions based on thoughtful listening. Lara Korte of The Sacramento Bee said that the parent-led group CA Parent Power thinks the March 12 date "is too late for schools to unmask." Parent group @CAParentPower says the March 12 date is too late for schools to unmask. "The statewide indoor mask mandate was lifted on February 15th, so it defies reason that California students have to wait an additional month to remove their masks if they choose." Lara Korte (@lara_korte) February 28, 2022 The state's largest school system, Los Angeles Unified, will have to require masking at least through the end of the current school year, with its teacher union agreement in mind. However, district officials could bring the matter back to negotiations if they wish. Author Steve Hilton tweeted that Santa Clara County public health director Sara Cody is extending the mask mandate despite California deciding to drop the requirement. Santa Clara County public health director Sara Cody imposed the nation's first lockdown. now she's EXTENDING her mask mandate even though California dropped it we're sick and tired of these unaccountable bureaucrats' unjustified, anti-science corona law. NEVER AGAIN steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) February 22, 2022 Newsom said in a statement that California continues to adjust its policies based on the latest data and science while applying what they have learned over the past two years. The California governor added that people cannot predict the future of the virus, but said that the state is better prepared for it and will continue to take measures founded by science, according to an ABC 7 News report. COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in California Last month, the state of California announced Sen. Richard Pan's introduction of a bill that would supersede Newsom's student COVID-19 vaccine mandate by removing the personal belief exemption, according to a Cal Matters news release. The bill will require all children in kindergarten to 12th grade to get the shot by Jan. 1, 2023, with only students with rare medical exemptions could be excluded. Lawmakers are also weighing introducing bills that would remove religious exemptions for health care workers and require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter almost all public spaces such as workplaces, schools, malls, museums, and restaurants. California has given 71.6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 27.8 million being fully vaccinated and 70.4 percent of the population being fully vaccinated. READ MORE: California Gov. Gavin Newsom OKs New Bill Allowing Residents to Sue Gun Makers, Citing Texas Abortion Law As Its Blueprint This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: California's School Mask Mandate To Be Lifted - from CBS Los Angeles Lome, Togo (PANA) - Lome will host a summit on cybersecurity from 23-24 March, PANA learned on Tuesday from official sources in the Togolese capital President Joe Biden and the White House assured on Monday that Americans should not worry about a nuclear war emerging amid the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Biden made his comments when he was asked during a White House briefing if the U.S. citizens should be concerned about a nuclear war breaking out, Reuters reported. However, the U.S. chief executive blatantly answered "no" to the question raised at the end of the briefing. Pres. Joe Biden's comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin placed his country's nuclear deterrent on high alert on Sunday as tension in the west escalates after they attacked Ukraine, per The Daily Mail. The move from Russia was confirmed by its defense ministry on Monday to Interfax News Agency, claiming that their nuclear missile forces and Northern and Pacific fleets were placed on "enhanced combat duty," following the orders from President Putin, per Reuters. READ NEXT: Pres. Joe Biden's Administration Handed China Intelligence on Russia's Invasion; China Told Russia the U.S. Intel: Report White House Sees 'No Reason' to Change U.S. Nuclear Alert Level: Jen Psaki On Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki seconded what President Joe Biden said about the nuclear war, as the U.S. has not yet changed its nuclear alert level despite Russia's move with their nuclear weapons. Psaki underscored that they see "no reasons" to change U.S. alert levels at this time, adding that they are still "assessing President Putin's directive" as of the moment. "We think provocative rhetoric like this is dangerous adds to the risk of miscalculation, should be avoided, and we'll not indulge in it," Psaki underscored. Psaki also stressed that the U.S. and the other 30 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have no "appetite or desire" in having a conflict with Russia. Meanwhile, an unnamed White House official also informed Reuters on Monday that the United States and Russia have "long agreed" that the use of nuclear weapons has "devastating consequences." The concerns about the nuclear war eruption came after President Putin agreed on peace talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. On Monday, Defense Department Spokesperson John Kirby said that Putin dispatched 120,000 to 160,000 troops amassed at the border to deploy to Ukraine, aside from putting his country's nuclear weapons on "enhanced combat duty." DSA Calls on U.S. to Leave NATO Pres. Joe Biden's assurance about a nuclear war not happening came days after the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) called on the United States to withdraw from NATO amid the Russia Ukraine conflict. "DSA reaffirms our calls for the US to withdraw from NATO and to end the imperialist, expansionism that set the stage for this conflict," DSA said in a statement, per New York Post. DSA also pointed out that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will not be concluded by a war of "further intervention," adding that the tension needs an "anti-war response," including de-escalation, international cooperation, and opposition to unilateral coercive measures, per The Daily Mail. Several politicians reacted to DSA's statement, demanding the U.S. to retract its alliance with NATO countries. Staten Island Democratic Congressman Max Rose said in a tweet that he was "concerned" about DSA's plea. Now is the time to double down on our alliances, particularly NATO, to send economic and military aid to Ukraine, and to comprehensively punish Russia with crippling and unprecedented sanctions. Max Rose (@MaxRose4NY) February 27, 2022 "Now is the time to double down on our alliances, particularly NATO, to send economic and military aid to Ukraine," Rose noted, adding that Russia should be "comprehensively punished" with "crippling and unprecedented sanctions." Well said, @MaxRose4NY! I adamantly oppose the DSA's statement calling on the US to leave NATO. We must stand by NATO, stand with Ukraine, and stand up against Putin's bullying. https://t.co/L4GPiTEZo3 Tom Suozzi (@Tom_Suozzi) February 27, 2022 Meanwhile, Long Island Representative Tom Suozzi seconded Rose's statement saying that he "adamantly" oppose the DSA's plea. READ NEXT: Bill Barr Slams Donald Trump in His New Book; Questions the Former President's Leadership, Credibility This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Russia-Ukraine conflict: Biden says he won't start another World War - From Global News Mexican drug cartels have found a new source for procuring their new weapons from Central America as Mexico continues its effort on its lawsuit against top U.S. gun manufacturers. A Sinaloa Cartel insider said that cartels are increasingly sourcing their weapons from Central America, adding that recent attempts by the Mexican government to stop the illegal routing of firearms to the country from the U.S. are "somewhat" affecting his business and cartel's ability to arm themselves, according to a Business Insider report. The trafficker, known as El Guero, said that the government's actions are "slowing down our job." However, the Sinaloa Cartel insider said that they have not stopped at all. The insider then said that they are finding new ways, such as the route from Central America. El Guero said that it is now more common for sicarios or hitmen to use the Galil ACE, which is an Israeli rifle that is manufactured in Colombia. Sicarios were associated with using foreign-made weapons such as the AK-47 and M16. El Guero said that the Galil is not the best one, but that it does the job. The weapon is also known as the official arms for Mexican and Colombian law enforcement. The cartel member said that they still get requests for AK-47s. Meanwhile, Galil is the only rifle in Mexico that is not officially restricted to use by the army, which means that it is not automatically illegal to own one. READ NEXT: El Chapo's Wife Emma Coronel Aispuro Moved to Texas Prison to Serve out Rest of Sentence for Taking Part in Sinaloa Cartel's Operation Mexican Drug Cartels' Weapon Source A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 2016 noted that 70 percent of guns seized in Mexico and traced by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives came from the U.S., from year 2009 to 2014. The GAO noted that many guns are trafficked as different weapon parts that are put together once they are in Mexico, which made guns much more difficult to track, sometimes impossible, according to a Vox News report. Groups such as the Jalisco Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel are arming themselves with military-grade weapons as shown in their propaganda videos. A Washington Post report in 2020 noted that roughly 2.5 million illegal American guns have crossed the border in the past decade based on a Mexican government study. Mexican officials are now pinning the blame on the U.S., saying it is America's failure to stop the flow of .50 caliber rifles across the border. Mexico's Lawsuit Against Top U.S. Gun Manufacturers Last August, Mexico filed a lawsuit claiming that the U.S. gun manufacturers undermined its strict gun laws by designing, marketing, and distributing military-style assault weapons in ways "they knew would arm drug cartels," drive up murder rates, as well as extortions, and kidnappings, according to a U.S. News report. The companies argued that Mexico has failed to establish its harms were attributed to them and that a U.S. law protected gun makers from lawsuits over their product's misuse. The companies were referring to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. Other defendants of the case include Beretta USA, Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Colt's Manufacturing Co., and Glock Inc. READ MORE: Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador 'New Era' of Politics, Family Scandal and Wealth This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Illegal firearms flowing into Mexico are made in the U.S. - from CGTN America Authorities from Mexico started searching for bodies on Monday after reports of as many as 17 people who attended a wake in the Michoacan state were gunned down by an unknown Mexican drug cartel on Sunday. According to Reuters, the shooting occurred in the town of San Jose de Gracia, a town located around 200 kilometers west of Morelia, the capital of Michoacan, Mexico. Michoacan's Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) said that they sent a team composed of the National Guard and Mexican Army personnel upon receiving the reports of the shooting incident, per The Daily Mail. However, authorities from the prosecutor's office noted that they only found bullet casings and cleaning materials, and the bodies were not found, BBC reported. Local officials mentioned that as many as 17 people were gunned down by unknown cartel members, but the prosecutor's office has not yet confirmed any deaths. READ NEXT: Mexico: Jalisco Cartel, Los Mezcales Cartel Engage in Bloody Spree That Saw Human Remains Left in Garbage Bag Mexico Shooting: Probe Underway After 17 Reportedly Gunned Down by Mexican Drug Cartel The investigation for the reported shooting in Mexico was also underway on Monday, aside from the search of the possible victims of the unknown members of the Mexican drug cartel in Michoacan state. Forensic experts added that the scene appeared to "have just been cleaned" before their arrival, but the bullet casing they found, indicate that a shooting had taken place. Furthermore, the authorities also discovered two cars and a motorcycle with multiple bullet holes, BBC noted. In addition, the Michoacan Chief Prosecutor's Office (FGE) said that the cleaning products were found inside a bag saying "site had recently been washed," per Reuters. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday urged the public to lengthen the patience as the FGE continue their investigation in "unearthing" the facts surrounding the shooting incident. "We still don't have information," Lopez Obrador said during his daily morning press conference on Monday. The Mexican president also expressed his hopes, saying that the alleged number of deaths during "was not true." As of date, it is still unclear which Mexican drug cartel was responsible for the shooting. However, The Daily Mail noted that the incident took place in an area where the Nueva Familia Michoacana gang, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and elements of the Knights Templar Cartel, carry out their illegal activities and engage in turf wars. Mexico Shooting: Video Shows Fatal Incident that Reportedly Killed Wake Goers in Michoacan The investigation and search for possible victims of the shooting came after a video surfaced online, showing the fatal incident involving the unknown Mexican Drug Cartel. According to reports, the video showed the moment where the drug cartel pulled around 17 people from a wake in Michoacan, Mexico, and lined them up against the wall with their hands above their heads. The video, which was recorded from a high vantage point, also showed several gunmen pointing their rifles at the mourners until the gunfire erupted. Reuters noted that the video also showed the same spot on the street, however, the mourners can no longer be seen and there is only dust and smoke is rising in the air. It is not the first time that mourners were taken as victims by Mexican drug cartels. BBC mentioned that earlier this month, at least nine mourners were killed in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The said wake was for a man who had died in prison. READ NEXT: Gulf Cartel Boss 'El Contador' Arrested in Mexico Near Texas Border, Warnings of Possible Retaliation From Members Issued This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Horrifying moment Mexican drug cartel thugs pull mourners from a wake - From The Daily Mail Richelle Nice, one of the 12 jurors who convicted Scott Peterson in 2004, broke down in tears on the witness stand Monday while being grilled over whether she profited from the infamous murder case and purposely lied on a questionnaire to become a juror. In their demand for a new trial, the New York Post reported that defense lawyers claimed that Nice has been biased against Peterson and lied to get on the jury. Nice wrote several prison letters to Peterson while in San Quentin State Prison in California as a death row inmate. She also has co-written a book about the case with other jurors. On her second day on the stand at San Mateo Superior Court in California, Nice became emotional when Peterson's lawyer, Pat Harris, asked her about one of the 17 letters she wrote to the convicted killer. In that letter, Harris noted that Nice said she was upset that "others got rich" after the trial. However, it was not clear who the "others" were. When asked about her alleged profiteering, Nice said: "I didn't get rich!" Two journalists, who covered the trial, reportedly wrote the book, and Nice noted that her participation was limited to answering the journalists' questions, and she has never read the book. Nice's attorney, Geoff Carr, admitted that his client was sorry she sent those letters to Peterson, adding that Nice regretted doing that, ABC 7 News reported. Nice then confirmed that she did write Peterson a letter, asking him "why men cheat," and told him about a boyfriend she had who had cheated on her. Harris then probed Nice about her ex-boyfriends who cheated on her with other women. Nice said she punched the father of her children after she found out he was cheating. Harris then told the judge that "Miss Nice seemed to be obsessed with Connor... Now, from her testimony about her ex cheating on her, this appears to be yet another thing that Miss Nice was obsessed (with)," Kron4 reported. When Stanislaus County Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Harris asked her why she started writing letters to Peterson, Nice said her therapist suggested it. Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager noted that Nice was traumatized from seeing grisly evidence shown during Peterson's trial. According to Mercury News, the exchange of letters with Nice, which were copied into court files, appeared to begin about six months after the trial ended, and Peterson wrote back eight times. After some letters were printed in a magazine article, Peterson reportedly stopped responding to Nice's letters. Nice has denied selling those letters to "People" magazine. READ NEXT: Scott Peterson Retrial Battle: Defense Attorneys Start Grilling Juror Richelle Nice Who Denies Bias During 2004 Trial Scott Peterson Retrial Hearing Last Friday, Richelle Nice maintained that she was not biased and did not lie about her past to become a juror on the case. Nice testified that she had never been a victim of domestic violence as she was the one who had been the aggressor in a fight with her ex-boyfriend a couple of years ago before she even filled out a jury questionnaire and was picked to become a juror. Nice is accused of "prejudicial misconduct" for not disclosing that she was the victim of domestic violence and had sought a restraining order in 2000 for fears that her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend would be a threat to her unborn baby. Peterson's lawyers claimed that Nice had kept the details of her personal life that could have been a conflict during his initial trial. Nice testified under a grant of immunity from prosecutors so she could testify on the stand without fear of self-incrimination after she had threatened to plead the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer questions. In seeking a restraining order against her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend while she was pregnant in 2000, Nice wrote that she "really fears for her unborn child" due to threats from the woman. Nice on Friday tried to clarify that her fears were about the potential for a fight that could result in losing her child and not a "genuine fear" that someone would actually hurt her child with any specific intent aimed toward the kid. "She didn't threaten my baby," Nice noted, referring to her former boyfriend's ex-girlfriend. On the other hand, Peterson's lawyers said the 2000 case is relevant to whether Nice was accurate when she filled out the juror questionnaire. Peterson's lawyers questioned Nice about stating "no" in the questionnaire whether she had "ever been involved in a lawsuit." They reminded her that the 2000 matter, in technicality, was a lawsuit. The former juror said she did not know her request for a protection order qualified as a lawsuit, and she "made amends" with the woman she accused and dropped her appeal. In sworn testimony on Friday and Monday, Nice insisted that she was truthful on the jury questionnaire despite answering improperly. Scott Peterson Murder Case Scott Peterson was first convicted in 2004 of first-degree murder concerning his wife and of second-degree murder of their unborn son, Conner. He was sentenced to death in 2005. The 49-year-old suspect remained on death row until 2020, when the California Supreme Court had overturned his death sentence after finding that Peterson's jury was improperly screened for bias against the death penalty. In its ruling, the California Supreme Court said a judge would decide the matter in San Mateo County Superior Court. Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo now has the authority to overturn the suspect's conviction and grant him a retrial. She will reportedly base her decision on testimony from several witnesses at the hearing. After the conclusion of the hearing, the judge will have 90 days to decide if she will grant Peterson's request for a new trial. Peterson was arrested in La Jolla, California on April 18, 2003 - the same day the two decomposed bodies washed ashore in the San Francisco Bay were identified as Laci Peterson and Conner. Investigators discovered that Peterson was having an affair with massage therapist Amber Frey at the time of his wife's disappearance. Frey told investigators that Scott Peterson told her that he was not married, and she admitted that they had a romantic relationship. Prosecutors argued that the affair was Peterson's motive to kill his wife, allowing him to be with Frey. READ MORE: Scott Peterson Retrial Update: Here Are the Key Witnesses Who Have Been Called to Testify at Evidentiary Hearing This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Scott Peterson's Retrial Hearing Continues Monday - From CBS Sacramento Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement after Joe President Biden announced his nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, following Justice Stephen Breyer's retirement at the end of this term: "Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is extremely qualified, with a strong record of being evenhanded and fair. I am proud to support her to be our next Supreme Court Justice." READ NEXT: Sen. Martin Heinrich Statement on Russian Invasion of Ukraine "As a well-respected public servant, Judge Jackson has authored hundreds of legal opinions addressing everything from national security and government transparency to civil rights. She has over ten years of experience on the federal bench and, before that, practicing law in the criminal justice system. Judge Jackson has received bipartisan support in the Senate confirmation process three times, and is the first nominee with significant defense experience since Thurgood Marshall. "Filling this vacancy on the Supreme Court comes at a pivotal moment for our country, with fundamental constitutional rights and freedoms on the line. I take my duty to consider President Biden's nominee very seriously and I hope all of my colleagues in the Senate will too." Read the White House's biography for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson by clicking here. About Martin Heinrich Elected in 2012, Martin Heinrich is a United States Senator for New Mexico. Heinrich serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources, Armed Services, Intelligence, and Joint Economic Committees. He is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. READ MORE: Sen. Martin Heinrich Offers Well Wishes to Sen. Ben Ray Lujan Who Suffered a Stroke A father killed his three children and another person before he committed suicide inside a church in California on Monday, authorities said. Fox News reported that the shooting incident happened at around 5 p.m. at a church in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood of Sacramento. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said David Fidel Mora-Rojas shot his three daughters, ages 9, 10 and 13, and their chaperone before he killed himself during a supervised visit. Police noted that other congregants or church employees were also on the scene when the shooting took place. The Independent reported that officials did not disclose the fourth victim's identity. Sgt. Rod Grassmann of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office told Associated Press that an employee of The Church In Sacramento called 911 after hearing the gunshots. READ NEXT: California School Mask Mandate: When Will Mask Requirements Officially End? California Church Shooting: Victims Dead on the Scene Officers from the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, and the California Highway Patrol were reportedly on the scene of the shooting. A SWAT team was also present. Officers said the shooting was contained inside a church. However, details about how many were present in the church were not specified. Authorities said those killed were pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators believe the incident was domestic violence-related. Grassmann noted that the type of gun used in the shooting was still not known at this time. According to reports, the father was estranged from the children's mother, who had a restraining order against him. Police said they would send a chaplain to deliver the news once the mother was located. According to its online calendar on its website, The Church In Sacramento has no listed events for Monday. Authorities still did not know if the family members belonged to the church. Several officials commented after the shooting inside the church in California. In a tweet, California Governor Gavin Newsom called the incident a "senseless act of gun violence." "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and their communities," Newsom said, adding that they are working "closely" with local law enforcement. Another senseless act of gun violence in America - this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and their communities. We are working closely with local law enforcement. Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 1, 2022 Sacramento Councilman Eric Guerra called the incident a "mass casualty shooting event." Guerra warned the public to be on "alert while in the area as local law enforcement responds." Please be aware and on the look out. Local law enforcement are responding to a mass casualty shooting event in the county at a church on 2041 Wyda way. Please be alert while in the area as local law enforcement responds. Eric Guerra (@EricZGuerra) March 1, 2022 Another Murder-Suicide Incident in California Late last month, a man and a woman were found dead inside a home located on the 400 block of East E Street in Benicia, California, Times Herald reported. According to the Solano County Coroners Office and the Benicia Police Department, Thomas Hartnett, 55, shot Gina Downing, 54, and killed her instantly. Four minutes later, Hartnett shot himself in the head. The case remains under investigation. This murder-suicide incident marked the first homicide for Benicia in more than a decade. READ MORE: Mexico Shooting: Search for Bodies Underway After Reports of 17 People from Michoacan State Were Gunned Down by Mexican Drug Cartel This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: 5 Dead After Shooting at Church in Arden-Arcade - From ABC 10 The government of Mexico on Monday demanded an "ample and expedited" investigation into the killing of three Mexican nationals in Arizona. The Hill reported that the bodies of two men and one teen boy were found in an empty lot near a residential neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona on February 20 with apparent signs of trauma. Mexico Condemns Deaths of 3 Mexican Nationals in Arizona In a statement, Mexico's Foreign Ministry has condemned the deaths of Abimael Jimenez Morenos, 16, Isauro Martinez Dominguez, 21, and Herminio Perez Ramirez, 28, which Phoenix Police is investigating as homicides. Phoenix Police and the Mexican consulate said the three victims were originally from Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca. According to Phoenix Police Sgt. Philip Krynsky, the investigation remains active. The Consulate of Mexico in Phoenix was already in contact with the victims' families to assist them in repatriating the bodies to Mexico. Police said the cause of death and if the deaths were related have yet to be determined. READ NEXT: Russia Threatens to Drop International Space Station on America, Europe Over Ukraine War Sanctions Phoenix Residents Admit Concerns After Deaths of 3 Mexican Nationals According to KTAR, police were called about an injured person in a vacant lot near 99th Avenue and Mobile Lane in Phoenix, Arizona at around 1:35 p.m. on February 20. Officers discovered the remains of the three Mexican nationals when they arrived and said they bore "obvious signs of trauma." The incident alarmed residents in the area, who admitted to being concerned. Only one street separates the field, where the remains were found, to a subdivision where many families reside with small children. Resident George Zak told ABC15 Tuesday that they moved to Phoenix's Estrella Village for the view, and it used to be a really quiet place. He walked the ABC15 crew along a dirt path to the area where investigators discovered the bodies of three men. However, he did not want to get too close, saying that this "kind of stuff just kind of gets to you." Another resident, Ray Castaneda, also told the outlet that it was a scary situation since they live in a family community. "We have a lot of children playing in the area and, all of a sudden less than 100 feet away, finding bodies is kind of scary," he noted. Castaneda continued that his family would now be looking into buying and installing security cameras. Officers previously spoke to residents in the area and told them that the homicide was not connected to the neighborhood, Arizona's Family reported. Homeowners' Associations president Sue Smith expressed relief after hearing it. "It's scary, no one wants this to happen around their community," Smith said. "I'm thankful it didn't have anything to do with our community specifically." The Phoenix Police Department asked anyone with information to contact them or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS/480-TESTIGO. READ MORE: Ukraine Vice PM Asks Elon Musk for Starlink Help Amid Russia Crisis, SpaceX Boss Gives Perfect Response! This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: Teenager, 2 Men Found Dead in Vacant Phoenix Lot, Police Say - From Fox 10 Phoenix On February 28, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a seminal report presenting the most comprehensive scientific overview to date of the climate impacts that communities around the world are suffering, due to the ongoing exploitation of fossil fuels. READ NEXT: 350.org Urges Senate to Confirm Biden's Slate of Federal Reserve Nominees May Boeve, Executive Director of 350.org, said: "This IPCC report proves the cause of the problem; fossil fuels did this. But there is also good news, we know precisely how to reclaim our futures from the fossil fuel industry: by pushing financial institutions to cut off funding, and closing the doors for Big Oil. Now is the time to support community-led solutions that are sprouting up the world over." The IPCC's findings, signed off by 195 governments, will show that the most marginalized and vulnerable people are already being hit hardest by a range of devastating climate impacts from wildfires to flooding. In response, 350.org and climate activists around the world are taking action to reclaim their future by launching a series of offline and online actions to keep fossil fuels in the ground and build a sustainable future for all. Climate Actions Climate actions begin on February 27 and run until March 25 with a global climate strike organized by Fridays for Future. These actions will include*: Indonesia : campaigners will paint a mural outside of Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) with the message #FossilFuelsDidThis and images of climate impacts caused by BNI financing of Fossil Fuel projects : campaigners will paint a mural outside of Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) with the message #FossilFuelsDidThis and images of climate impacts caused by BNI financing of Fossil Fuel projects Africa : across many African countries activists will hold actions to highlight the need for urgency on adaptation and mitigation against climate change. Key targeted actions will include governments, financial institutions and the fossil fuel industry, and will call for a just transition away from fossil fuels. : across many African countries activists will hold actions to highlight the need for urgency on adaptation and mitigation against climate change. Key targeted actions will include governments, financial institutions and the fossil fuel industry, and will call for a just transition away from fossil fuels. Brazil : students and environmental activists will challenge the fossil fuel lobby by marching to demand climate action in the capital city of the state that is in the heart of the country's coal extraction region. : students and environmental activists will challenge the fossil fuel lobby by marching to demand climate action in the capital city of the state that is in the heart of the country's coal extraction region. Pacific : Pacific Climate Warriors are building "Solar TekPaks", providing emergency energy to communities across the region. : Pacific Climate Warriors are building "Solar TekPaks", providing emergency energy to communities across the region. Germany : climate activists will stage actions targeting Deutsche Bank, putting a spotlight on the bank's financing of fossil fuel projects like the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, and 'presenting' the bank with the IPCC report. : climate activists will stage actions targeting Deutsche Bank, putting a spotlight on the bank's financing of fossil fuel projects like the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, and 'presenting' the bank with the IPCC report. France : there will be a march for Climate Justice with Ugandan campaigners targeting TotalEnergies and their support for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. : there will be a march for Climate Justice with Ugandan campaigners targeting TotalEnergies and their support for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. Canada : a Day of Action for a Just Transition Act will highlight the urgent need for this Act as first pledged by Justin Trudeau three years ago, to support workers as we accelerate the shift to away from fossil fuels. : a Day of Action for a Just Transition Act will highlight the urgent need for this Act as first pledged by Justin Trudeau three years ago, to support workers as we accelerate the shift to away from fossil fuels. U.S.: Online social media actions using hashtag #fossilfuelsdidthis. Online social media actions using hashtag #fossilfuelsdidthis. Online: Launch of the International People's platform for Climate Justice (IPCJ) - a space to gather and highlight stories of resistance and people powered solutions in the face of climate impacts (launching 2nd of March). Series of webinars to build and strengthen the movement targeting Deutsche Bank and its continued financing of destructive fossil fuel projects around the world, like the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. Online actions to build power for the cross-regional climate coalition tackling TotalEnergies and its support for fossil fuel projects like fracking in Vaca Muerta (Argentina) and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. Across the Globe 350.org is helping to build a movement to tackle dirty fossil fuel financiers like Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Mitsubishi UFG, or Standard Chartered that continue to fund projects like the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline and fracking in Vaca Muerta, Argentina. READ MORE: 350.org Responds to Powell Confirmation Hearing, Climate Stress Tests News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. A powerful new Gay Pride street mural has been unveiled in a Laois town. The mural depicts a fist holding a multicoloured flag to depict solidarity and strength for the LGBT community, and was painted by Portarlington based graffiti artist ADW. Installed to mark the first birthday of the Midlands LGBT+ Project support group, it is located in Portlaoise on the gable end of a launderette in Lyster Square, at the entrance to Meehan Court. It was officially unveiled on Monday, February 28 by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman. "I was delighted to visit Portlaoise to officially unveil a stunning mural in celebration of the first year of the Midlands LGBT+ Project. I want to congratulate the work of the Midlands LGBT+ Project over the past 12 months in supporting members of the LGBT+ community through the pandemic. "My Department is supporting the expansion of the Project into Offaly and Kildare, and Im delighted that many more people will be able to enjoy the welcoming sense of belonging and acceptance that is encouraged by the Midlands LGBT+ Project," the Green Party Minister said. Christina Fitzharris is the Coordinator of the Midlands LGBT+ Project. There is no doubt that this service is vital to support isolated LGBT+ people in the Midlands and this mural is a beautiful depiction of how strong and proud we are of our LGBT+ Community in Laois, she said. The Youth Work Ireland Laois Regional Director is Clive Davis. We are delighted to see a visual representation of the LGBT+ Community within Laois and we are so proud of The Midlands LGBT+ Project for the work they have done to maximise awareness within the region since their inception last year, Clive said. ADW's stunning large scale artwork is popping up all over Laois with other works commissioned including the 'into the West' mural in Portarlington, and a huge community mural in Rathdowney. Midlands LGBT+ Project is helping to reduce isolation among LGBT+ people in the Midlands. It was established in February 2021 as a support and advocacy service for LGBT+ people in Laois and has grown in that time from one support group to almost ten monthly groups and over 100 service users in Laois, Offaly and Kildare. Minister O'Gorman's Green Party colleague, Minister Pippa Hackett also attended the launch. "On what is such a positive day for the Midlands LGBT+ community, collaboration was very much at the centre of the celebrations. We were told that today is about collaboration within a community, and for people who have for too long experienced isolation and exclusion, it is so important to have a place like Midlands LGBT+. It is clear that this project is changing lives for the better," she said. The mural was funded by Healthy Ireland Laois to promote LGBT+ awareness and visibility. Emma OConnor is the Healthy Laois Coordinator. The Healthy Ireland Framework introduces a vision where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and wellbeing to their full potential, where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of society and is everyones responsibility. This Mural captures this vision and as the Healthy Laois Co-Ordinator I welcome the opportunity to be involved in this Project, she said. Laois County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Conor Bergin visited the mural. I welcome this important health and wellbeing initiative, that supports our local LGBT+ citizens. One of the key objectives of the Healthy Laois Plan is that all people are supported to develop and maintain their mental and physical health. Art and especially public art has an important role to play in supporting positive mental health. Mural art can be the first point of contact for someone who is struggling. It is important that we value it and I am delighted to support this initiative, he said. Joe Thompson was there on behalf of Laois Local Community Development Committee. Since Healthy Laois commenced in 2018, actions have been devised to target specific and diverse groups in the promotion of health and physical activity. This Mural is the result of working with our local LGBT+ Citizens and key service providers and I congratulate all involved, he said. Russian media sites appeared to have been hacked in a cyber attack by Anonymous, with a message warning readers of certain death for troops in Ukraine. The home page for Fontanka, a news outlet based in St Petersburg, was replaced with text reading Putin makes us lie and urging citizens to stop this madness. The apparent attack also temporarily brought down other sites including state-owned news agency Tass and daily newspaper Kommersant. Fontanka and Tass were running normally again shortly after midday while Kommersant appeared to remain offline. The message on Fontaka read in full: Dear citizens. We urge you to stop this madness, do not send your sons and husbands to certain death. Putin makes us lie and puts us in danger. We were isolated from the whole world, they stopped buying oil and gas. In a few years we will live like in North Korea. What is it for us? To put Putin in the textbooks? This is not our war, lets stop it! This message will be deleted, and some of us will be fired or even jailed. But we cant take it anymore. Indifferent journalists of Russia. It bore the mark of Anonymous, the activist collective known for cyber attacks against some governments and corporations. It came after a post on the groups Twitter page declared cyber war against the Russian government following its invasion of Ukraine. Other posts on Saturday evening announced the collective had taken down the Russian government website and hacked Russian state TV to broadcast the reality of what is happening in Ukraine. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: A referendum on inserting a right to housing into the Constitution could be held next year, the housing minister has said. Darragh OBrien said that it is important to hold a referendum as it would underpin peoples housing rights. It comes as members of the Housing Commission held their first in-person meeting on Tuesday. John OConnor, chairman of the commission, said it has established a referendum subcommittee to consider the constitutional issues and to propose appropriate wording which would be put to the public. Minister @DarraghOBrienTD met with @HouCommission this morning and has welcomed the establishment of a subcommittee to consider constitutional issues and propose appropriate wording to be put to the people in a referendum. Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (@DeptHousingIRL) March 1, 2022 The commission has been given a budget of 700,000. The subcommittee is chaired by Alibhe ONeill, a barrister and constitutional expert, and include members Patricia King, the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Pat Doyle, the chief executive of the Peter McVerry Trust and former chief justice Frank Clarke, among others. The Commission aims to submit its proposals on a referendum by the end of the year. Mr OBrien said that the commission is undertaking important work. Weve appointed, in my view, a very diverse commission, and people with lots of experience in different areas of housing, he added. This was a key commitment in the Programme for Government. I want this government to be the one that looks longer term on housing. Were dealing with the short and medium term issues around affordability, homelessness, and social housing through Housing For All, but we need to look further about what should a stable housing sector in Ireland look like. How it should serve its people, and how we should look at the regulations and the laws that underpin it. A very important step forward that the Commission has taken is to establish the subcommittee to look at the referendum on housing. As someone who was involved in the negotiations on the Programme for Government, a key commitment there is that this government will hold a referendum on housing. Under the chairpersonship of Alibhe, with a very good subcommittee, the Commission is going to work through our options and report back to government before the end of the year. Mr OConnor said: The Commission on housing is looking at the future of housing and creating a long term, sustainable housing housing system. Twelve members have been appointed to the commission and they have an independent mandate to look at what we need to do. Welcome to the The Housing Commission In this video our Chair @JohnOConnr introduces who we are and what we aim to achieve Visit our website to learn more https://t.co/aCVUxWZNMThttps://t.co/5da6SNhhBJ@DeptHousingIRL @merrionstreet#HousingCommission #HousingIreland The Housing Commission (@HouCommission) March 1, 2022 Housing is a home for people and a place where people take part in their community and we really need a sustainable system where we have affordable housing, both for renting and purchasing. Everybody in society can be part of our society and have affordable homes. The Commission will be looking at the long-term housing system in the country and how do we get to that sustainable system. One thing we announced is the setting up of a subcommittee on the referendum on housing in relation to housing rights. Mr OConnor said inserting a constitutional right to housing puts an obligation on politicians to address the rights of Irish people, and Governments are held accountable to meeting those rights. It doesnt mean that people will get keys in the morning and everybody is to be provided with a home, but it means theres an actual obligation for us to do that, he added. Ireland can become a significant player in global hydrogen energy, a German official has told an Oireachtas committee. However, politicians also heard that the country could not afford to miss climate targets if it wanted to meet this potential. The Oireachtas Environment and Climate Action Committee met today (Tuesday March 1) to discuss the future of energy policy in Ireland, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine raises serious questions about the supply of oil and gas in Europe. The conflict was referenced at the opening of the committee, as Kate Dempsey from the Irish-German Hydrogen Council warned: Only last week conflict raised the cost of oil to over $105 a barrel. The energy crisis is worsening not just environmentally but economically and socially. Politicians heard of the major potential for a future German-Irish partnership on sustainable energy, particularly in the growing green hydrogen industry. Green hydrogen is an energy source generated using renewable or low-carbon means. Dr Stefan Kaufmann, from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, told TDs and senators that his recent visit to Ireland proved to him that the country has the potential to be a significant player in the world of hydrogen. Pointing to the energy potential from Irelands position on the edge of the Atlantic, he said: It is my belief that hydrogen could herald a new era of German-Irish partnership in the energy sector. As an island nation, one of Irelands greatest challenges is delivering the excess hydrogen it will produce to markets in mainland Europe. My department is currently preparing a proposal to conduct a study in partnership with Ireland on an end-to-end study on delivering Irish green hydrogen from Irelands producers to German ports or the European mainland. Last year, three new hydrogen-powered zero emissions buses were launched by the Government. It was the first scheme of its kind in Ireland. Yet the committee also heard that it could not be guaranteed that Ireland would reach its ambitious carbon targets. Noel Cunniffe, from Wind Energy Ireland, warned: Our Climate Action Plan targets are at serious risk. We must cut our carbon emissions by 30 million tonnes per annum by 2030. We cannot I say again we cannot achieve this without 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy connected to the system. He said that the problem was not the lack of projects being developed. We have the projects. We have the investment. We have the teams who can deliver. But he said that politicians needed to focus on delivery. We are losing time. We can and will develop offshore wind farms. But whether we will develop enough to meet our 5,000 megawatt target by 2030, and to cut carbon emissions in the power sector to under two million tonnes, depends on what our political leaders both in Government and in Opposition do next. Dr James Carton, an expert in sustainable energy and hydrogen at Dublin City University, called for a new hydrogen strategy. Decarbonising can support rural & coastal development and jobs, it can enhance our energy security and keep our homes warm and cities clean. To accelerate and achieve the full potential of Irelands offshore wind resource we need green hydrogen sooner rather than later, he said. Jim Dollard, from ESB, said he was speaking as a generator of electricity. He agreed that Ireland has a rare opportunity to create a global offshore wind industry. Seizing this opportunity, he said, could be transformational. The capability to create and store green hydrogen is a critical step in delivering a net zero society the ability to store clean energy from renewables which can be used when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. It has the potential to also create a domestic and export green hydrogen industry. In seizing this opportunity, it will require a series of concerted actions from the wider energy industry and the state both now and progressively over the coming decade. Politicians also heard repeated concerns about whether the Irish planning system was capable of coping with applications for off-shore wind farms. The committee heard that people have been left waiting nearly two years for a survey of off-shore sites. Justin Moran, the Director of External Affairs at Wind Energy Ireland, told the committee: We are not going to deliver the on-shore projects, the off-shore projects, we are not going to deliver the green hydrogen projects, unless we have a planning system that enables us to do so. It takes about 18 to 24 months just to get a survey licence, just to carry out surveys for environmental data and research that I can use to put together a planning permission. The equivalent in Britain is about 18 to 24 weeks. Mr Dollard also told politicians that the moment is ripe to invest in the industry, with no country clearly leading the field in hydrogen. He also said warned that Scotland will be a key competitor for Ireland, with both natural and industrial advantages. But he said: I think we have a vast resource off the west and south coast. That is a huge competitive position for us. Adding to this, Mr Carton said that Germany and the Netherlands would be countries that Ireland should aspire to in terms of a hydrogen strategy. But he warned that, amid all the talk of exports, that the Irish economy should focus on the domestic market first. First and foremost, we need to think of export as something that we can do, we should build up to, we should develop our strategy to enable that, but we need to decarbonise our economy and our industry first. Registrations are now open for National Spring Clean 2022, calling all communities in county Laois to register for Irelands largest and longest anti-litter campaign and make a tangible impact on our environment. National Spring Clean is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce in partnership with Local Authorities and supported by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Mars Wrigley Ireland. The National Spring Clean traditionally takes part in the month of April. For the past 23 years 85,000 clean-ups have been organised with volunteers dedicating a total of 12 million hours to remove around 42,000 tonnes of litter across the country. National Spring Clean 2021 was the biggest and the longest campaign so far, taking place between March and August, and despite the current situation and restrictions at the start of the year, 5,543 groups registered to carry out clean-ups throughout the country and collected an estimated 3,000 tonnes of litter around Ireland. In 2021 700 Laois volunteers participated in organised clean-ups to show their support to the National Spring Clean. This year, building on the success of previous years, the hope is to make the National Spring Clean campaign the biggest yet. The National Spring Clean programme is inviting people to visit the website at www.nationalspringclean.org to request a free clean-up kit. While waiting for the National Spring Clean to officially kick off, the programme is also inviting communities around Ireland to join other initiatives. For example, volunteers are invited to take part in the #2minutestreetclean campaign and join the conversation on social media (details in the editors note). Furthermore, to celebrate Womens Day, the National Spring Clean programme will be sharing on social media stories of women who have made a positive impact on our environment and is calling people in county Laois to share their own stories about women volunteers. The National Spring Clean is also an opportunity for volunteers to take local actions to make a change at a global scale. As a matter of fact, over the last couple of years, the National Spring Clean has also been trying to raise awareness about another crucial issue: the link between litter and climate change the biggest environmental challenge of our time and highlight how combined local actions can have a global effect. Our consumption patterns and how we dispose and treat our waste has a substantial impact on the levels of emissions of several greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, said: An Taisces National Spring Clean is a real testament to the work of volunteers all over the country. These volunteers continue to organise local clean-ups every year. The past two years have proven difficult because of the necessary Covid restrictions, but this year represents a real opportunity for people to get together and help clean up our countryside. I would urge people to get involved and I would like to acknowledge the key role played by An Taisce in overseeing the campaign. My Department will continue to provide support to the campaign and I look forward to the many events that will be held countrywide. National Spring Clean, Chairperson, Michael John OMahony, commented: We have all been through some unprecedented times over the last two years. We all became more aware than ever before of our local areas. Participants continued to undertake great work for National Spring Clean in family bubbles or as individuals during these times. However, we can now look forward to working together again as larger groups and communities and celebrate the success together. Mars Wrigley Ireland Corporate Affairs Manager, Nicola Forde stated: Mars Wrigley Ireland are delighted to once again support National Spring Clean 2022. We have been working on litter reduction in Ireland for over fifteen years and while great progress has been made in that time there is a need for constant vigilance to ensure old habits dont return. National Spring Clean is a great way to raise awareness and reinforce positive behaviours. ABOUT NATIONAL SPRING CLEAN The National Spring Clean campaign Ireland is largest and longest running anti-litter campaign. It is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and sponsored by the Mars Wrigley Company. It is supported by Local Authorities who help co-ordinate clean-up activities for communities within their counties and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Local authorities also provide for the disposal of all rubbish and waste materials collected. Over the past 23 years, through the National Spring Clean: Over 85,000 clean-ups have been organised 42,000 tonnes of litter have been removed 12 million hours of work have been put in by volunteers What we can do outside the month of April While the National Spring Clean usually runs through the month of April, please remember that personal actions throughout the year are very important too. Here are some choices we can make daily to make a positive change: When you are out for a walk, visiting a park or a beach, do a quick #2minutestreetclean or a #2minutebeachclean Avoid single-use plastic when possible, by choosing more sustainable alternatives, such as reusable bottles and coffee cups, cotton bags, metal straws, etc Avoid single-use plastic when possible, by choosing more sustainable alternatives, such as reusable bottles and coffee cups, cotton bags, metal straws, etc Dont litter and if a bin is overflowing, keep your waste until you find a waste to dispose of it properly If you cant reduce or reuse, recycle; know where and how to recycle all types of waste. Recent statistics show that, in Ireland, discarded cigarette butts make up for 60% of litter on the streets. Always bin your butt! Make sure to bin your chewing gum when youre done to avoid a 150 gum littering fine and keep our streets clean! More on SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: @ NationalSpringClean Twitter: @NationalSpringC Instagram: @nationalspringclean YouTube: National Spring Clean HASHTAGS #SpringClean22 #2minutestreetclean A collection of Top 25 Dementia Books, as compiled by Irelands librarians is being made available in libraries across Laois. The development of the specially curated selection offers a range of perspectives on life with the disease and follows on a need identified by people with dementia and their loved ones for greater information and support. It has been created in partnership with colleagues from the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre, Dublin (DSIDC). Through an initiative of the Healthy Ireland at Your Library programme, and supported by the Dementia: Understand Together campaign, led by the HSE, the books are now available in libraries across Laois, including Abbeyleix, Ballylinan, Borris-in-Ossory, Durrow, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Portarlington, Portlaoise, Rathdowney and Stradbally. The collection features an eclectic mix of titles on the subject of dementia, from slowing the onset of the disease to ways to improve our brain health, from first-hand accounts of people living with dementia to ways to improve life through nutrition, music, the arts, and more. The introduction of the collection has been supported by the delivery of dementia awareness training. The training, delivered by the DSIDC, provided information on the different types of dementia and their symptoms. It also gave information and advice on creating a supportive environment and how best to assist and communicate with the person with dementia when visiting the library. On behalf of public libraries, Colette Byrne, Chair of the Libraries Development Committee of the Local Government Management Agency, said: We are delighted to announce details of this list of Top 25 Dementia Books which we hope readers will find both useful and engaging. It wasnt easy to settle on our final 25 and, with new books arriving all the time, we will continue to review and add to our listing as appropriate. These books speak to the experiences not only of doctors, psychologists, carers, but, most importantly, of people with dementia. We look forward to sharing our insights on the different books and to pointing readers in the right direction of the most suitable titles depending on the particular interest they might have. Its all part of the Healthy Ireland at Your Library programme which is about providing enhanced health and well-being book collections, and a range of programmes and events, to support people in managing their own health. For Fiona Foley, National Co-ordinator, Dementia: Understand Together in the Communities, libraries offer a key resource in supporting people with dementia to live full and active lives: If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it is that we are social creatures and that social interaction is a vital part of our health and well-being. It is no different for people with dementia. Unfortunately, people with the condition may experience stigma and retreat from social interaction as a result of this. "This can lead to isolation and feelings of loneliness for the person with dementia, their families and supporters. While this predates the pandemic, it is nowadays a feeling that we can all perhaps relate to. That is why this new initiative by Irelands libraries is so fantastic in extending a warm welcome to people with dementia to their local library as part of an inclusive community, and in providing training to staff to make the service as supportive and accessible as possible. Finding out as much as possible about dementia, the supports available, the importance of staying socially active and keeping your brain exercised, can all help your health, well-being, and quality of life. The development of this Top 25 Dementia Book listing offers people who want to find out more about dementia a treasure trove of insights and suggestions, she said. If you or a loved one is worried about symptoms of dementia, you can speak to a dementia adviser at The Alzheimer Society of Ireland on Freefone 1800 341 341 (Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm). For details of the Top 25 Dementia Books, as well as information on supports available, including a county-by-county service-finder, visit www.understandtogether.ie. There is an estimated 962 people living with dementia in Laois and each year more than 11,000 people develop the disease across the country thats around 30 people every day. Approximately 64,000 people are living with dementia in Ireland today and this number is expected to more than double to over 150,000 by 2045. There are many forms of dementia, with the most common being Alzheimers disease, vascular dementia, mixed Alzheimers disease/vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia and Lewy body disease. Top 25 Dementia Books, as collated by Irelands Librarians and DSIDC 100 Days to a Younger Brain by Dr Sabina Brennan: features details of 100 programmes aimed at improving brain health, including information needed to empower you to make informed choices every day about your sleeping, eating and lifestyle habits. A Pocket Guide to Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias by Dr James Warner and Dr Nori Graham: this book helps to demystify these conditions and gives practical advice on how those with dementia and those supporting them can be better placed to cope. Adaptive Interaction and Dementia by Dr Maggie Ellis and Prof. Arlene Astell: how non-verbal techniques can help the person with dementia to remain in touch with the social world. And Still the Music Plays Stories of People with Dementia, by Graham Stokes: featuring 22 compelling stories, this book draws on his memories of people with dementia whom he has met in his work as a clinical psychologist to bring us all a greater understanding of the condition and why some behave in the way that they do. The Caregiver's Encyclopedia by Muriel R Gillick: provides the reader with all of the information needed to take the best care of the person you support, from making major medical decisions to making sure you don't burn out. Communication Skills for Effective Dementia Care by Ian A. James and Laura Gibbons: this insightful book teaches the skills needed by healthcare staff in their day-to-day interactions with people with dementia and their families. Contented Dementia by Oliver James: features a ground-breaking and practical method for supporting the person with dementia that will allow them to maintain the highest possible quality of life by creating links between past memories and the routine activities of daily life in the present. Coping with Mild Cognitive Impairment by Mary Jordan: offers strategies for concerned individuals to help slow the onset of dementia with self-help measures such as memory aids, health and lifestyle changes, activities, therapies and technological aids. Creative Engagement A Handbook of Activities for People with Dementia by Rachael Wonderlin with Geri M Lotze: an activity book to help caregivers improve the quality of life of people who have dementia with dozens of creative, hands-on ways to engage with people living with cognitive loss. Dancing with Dementia: My Story of Living Positively with Dementia by Christine Bryden: this book offers a vivid account of the author's experiences of living with dementia, and is a thoughtful exploration of how dementia challenges our ideas of personal identity and of the process of self-discovery it can bring about. Christine is also author of Who Will I be when I Die? which offers rare first-hand insights into how it feels to gradually lose the ability to undertake tasks most people take for granted. Dear Alzheimer's: A Diary of Living with Dementia by Keith Oliver: the author tells his story of Alzheimers disease through a diary format, giving an unparalleled insight into what day-to-day life with dementia is like, and how he continues to live a full life since diagnosis. Dementia Essentials by Jan Hall: written by a carer, this is a practical, realistic and reassuring guide to help you and the person with dementia on the journey ahead with lots of essential advice, personal insights and helpful strategies. Dementia Reconsidered, Revisited The Person Still Comes First by Tom Kitwood: this book brings to a new generation the insight and vision of the author and highlights the importance of the person behind the dementia thereby acknowledging the rights of people with dementia and their family care-givers. Dementia, Sex and Wellbeing by Danuta Lipinska: this book offers a unique model for person-centred conversations about sex and sexuality that we have not seen before. Dementia: Everything Your Doctor Doesn't Have Time to Tell You by Dr Matt Piccaver: this book helps the reader to understand what happens to the brain when it develops Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia and what the treatment possibilities are. It also covers such practicalities as driving and making your home safe. Dementia: Support for Family and Friends by Dave Pulsford and Rachel Thompson: this book explores how dementia unfolds and explains not only how it will affect the person, but also those around them, and how best to offer support and where to get professional and informal assistance. Finding the Light in Dementia by Jane M Mullins: this essential self-help book explains common changes that can occur in those living with dementia. By offering valuable approaches, tips and suggestions, the reader can learn to care for, and maintain, a connection with the individual with dementia. I'm Still Here A New Philosophy of Alzheimers Care by John Zeisel: focuses on how to maintain a connection with individuals with Alzheimers disease using their retained abilities such as their understanding of music, art, their facial expressions and touch. Life at Home for People with a Dementia by Ruth Bartlett and Tula Brannelly: this book provides an evidence-based and readable account of how to improve life at home for people with dementia and their families. Living Well with Dementia through Music edited by Catherine Richards: this accessible guide embraces ways in which music can enhance the daily lives of those with dementia and how this can extend to inspire dance, movement, poetry and imagery. Practical Nutrition and Hydration for Dementia-Friendly Mealtimes by Lee Martin: this research-informed book explains how to make the most of mealtimes, increasing nutritional intake, social contact and food enjoyment. The Creative Arts in Dementia Care by Jill Hayes with Sarah Povey: this resource details the use of meditation, singing, movement and storytelling for groups or individuals, outlining the underpinning therapeutic benefits and offering practical examples of how they can be used. Understanding Behaviour in Dementia that Challenges by Ian Andrew James and Louisa Jackman: this book provides theory and practical guidance on the assessment and treatment of behaviours that challenge in dementia, with a particular emphasis on non-pharmacological approaches. What Dementia Teaches Us About Love by Nicci Gerrard: this truthful, humane book is filled with stories, both moving and optimistic, from those living with dementia to those planning the end of life, from the scientists unlocking the mysteries of the brain to the therapists using art and music to enrich the lives of people with dementia. Young Onset Dementia by Hilda Hayo, Alison Ward & Jacqueline Parkes: explores the experiences of people living with a diagnosis of young onset dementia. Key issues are considered, including at-risk groups, work and dealing with potential loss of employment, changes in personal and family relationships, readjusting life expectations and plans, and the potential social isolation. About the HSEs Dementia: Understand Together campaign The Dementia: Understand Together campaign is a public support, awareness and information campaign that aims to inspire people from all sections of society to stand together with the 500,000 Irish people whose families have been affected by dementia. Led by the HSE in partnership with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Age Friendly Ireland, Age and Opportunity, and the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre, it is one of six key priorities of the Irish National Dementia Strategy. Dementia: Understand Together is now supported by over 40 partner organisations across Ireland, including in the retail, transport, banking, health, voluntary and community sectors. These organisations, together with over 400 community champions from all over Ireland, are leading the way in creating communities that actively embrace and include those living with dementia and their families. Tusla is seeking foster parents in County Kildare to care for vulnerable children and teenagers. The appeal follows just after the Child and Family Agency launched its National Fostering Week for 2022. Gerry Murphy, a Kildare resident and experienced foster parent, spoke to the Leinster Leader to discuss why foster care is so important. The 62-year-old, who is originally from Santry but lives in Naas, was first asked to consider fostering children by his wife some 22 years ago. "My wife wanted to give something back; she has so much love and empathy in her that way," he explained. Gerry added that while he was initially was reluctant, especially as their own children were younger at the time, he eventually came around to the idea. "I just never thought of fostering children, but I knew that my wife could handle anything," he added. LIASING WITH TUSLA Commenting on his relationship with Tusla over the years, he described it as mostly positive: "Weve had certain differences about whats in the best interest for the child in foster care; after all, were the ones who are with the child 24/7. "However, the thing you must always remember is that the child is the most important part, as their future is at stake." Gerry also revealed that he meets regularly with different foster families, for both social events and workshops, and that he and his wife have taken in different age groups and from different cultural backgrounds. He elaborated: "You get to love the kids... you build up a relationship with them, and they become part of your family, I still keep in touch with many of them. "I dont think theres anything better than helping them build their confidence and self-esteem up, and to give them the security of a good home... you feel like you have made a difference. "After all, from day one, you are sussing that kid out, and theyre sussing you out, and a lot of the time, kids from difficult backgrounds have been so used to a different way of life. "Kindness doesnt always come first to them, kindness is as hard to accept as abuse, in that sense, so you have to flip it," he explained. "You do get attached with the kids, and you do miss them when they go: it can be hard, especially for young children." He relayed one touching story of fostering two young brothers who hoarded items, ranging from jewellery to slices of bread and biscuits. It later turned out that the two boys wanted to give them as gifts to their mother for the next time they would see her. "I remember bringing the two boys to Dublin Zoo, and they were covered in the jewellery... they were like Mr T!" he said. ADVICE As for advice he would give those considering into taking up foster care, Gerry said: "Youve got to want to do it, and try to get as much information about it as you can, and talk it over with your partner. "At the end of the day, the social worker can only do so much, you have to know how properly deal with a crisis. He continued: "You also have to introduce your children to the concept, too... some cases didnt work out positively, but on the most part it was, and many times weve been told that we have made these children more tolerant and empathetic people. "Its about using your head and your heart... if you are a couple who have time and empathy and love to give, youre perfect for it, but I will add, go in with your eyes open. "Dont think it will be a stroll in the park, because it can be challenging, but I can tell you one thing, I have learned from it as a person, and so has my wife and children." He concluded: "When the foster children grow up and become successful and fulfilled people in their own right... I cant think of anything better, I really cant." TUSLA PERSPECTIVE Sean Edmunds, a social worker with Tusla for the Kildare and West Wicklow area (KE/WW) based in Naas, also spoke to the Leader, and appealed for people 'who have time and space' to help vulnerable children and teenagers. He explained: "We have referrals every week; some stay for short periods of time, others stay for longer periods of time. "However, the emphasis right now is on finding foster parents for teenagers, especially those who are at risk of potentially becoming homeless." Sean also said that Tusla is open to same-sex couples and those from different ethnic backgrounds as foster parents. Sean Edmunds of Tusla said that the foster parents the organisation has are fantastic but they need more of them He explained: "Tusla is looking for safe, loving homes; its not about having a 'traditional' nuclear family." Sean also revealed that Tuslas Kildare and West Wicklow region has three support teams, in addition to an out of hours service. There are around 120 foster parents in Kildare, with a total of 4,000 foster parents and 5,500 children and teenagers in foster care nationwide. MORE PARENTS NEEDED Commenting on the Fostering Week, which took place last week, Sean said: "The foster parents that we have at Tusla fantastic, but we need more of them. "We are struggling to find foster parents, and there is a general increase across the board, especially for babies and teenagers. He continued: Training can be arranged for those who wish to foster children or teens with disabilities. "I would also advice those interested to seek supports wherever necessary from the three support teams. "Seek as much information as possible, talk to fellow foster parents and to the KE/WW team." He added: "Thankfully, we have had lots of positive cases and great correspondence between foster parents and social workers. "What matters is providing that warmth in your heart and the space in your home in order to make these children and teenagers feel secure." Sean echoed Gerrys sentiments of the importance of the foster childs welfare, saying: "A good foster parent will always put the child first." "It always makes me happy to see a foster child smile and succeed in life," he concluded. Further information about fostering children and teenagers with Tusla can be found by visit tusla.ie. In addition, you can also freephone1800 226 771 or email tusla.fostering@tusla.ie. A man protested outside Gael-Cholaiste Chill Dara in Naas on Monday, claiming that the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB) owes him over 87,000. Niall Healy started protesting outside the school at 5am on Monday, February 28, holding a sign that said he was engaged in a 'peaceful protest'. He is the managing director of NHC Construction Ltd, which he said specialises in educational and healthcare fit out works working across Ireland for ETBs, Boards of management, OPW, the HSE and the Department of Education. Mr Healy claims that the KWETB owes him a total of 87,311 for works involving ventilation, flooring and drainage that his company completed at the building occupied by Gael-Cholaiste Chill Dara in summer 2020. Gael-Cholaiste Chill Dara is located in the former St Patrick's Community College building on the Limerick Road in Naas, and is under the patronage of An Foras Patrunachta. However, KWETB, under whose patronage St Patrick's operated, was responsible for contracting the works on the building. In a statement, a Gael-Cholaiste Chill Dara representative emphasised: "It is important to note, however, that Gael-Cholaiste Chill Dara is an independent school under the patronage of An Foras Patrunachta and is only the current occupier of the building having been sited there by the Department of Education. The school has absolutely no links with KWETB, is not the contractee, is not a party regarding the payment process and indeed enjoys a positive relationship with the builder in question." Mr Healy was paid a sum of 143,569 in October 2020 on his first claim to the KWETB concerning the project, although this was over 8,600 less than the amount he had invoiced for on that occasion. The Tipperary native went on to say that the works were substantially complete after the Halloween break of 2020, with the remaining small items cleared in January 2021. He continued: "The school has never missed a day over our works since or during the construction period. Mr Healy also criticised the KWETBs system in terms of payment: "Your works should be certified within 10 days of a claim, and it should be paid 10 days afterwards under a short, formal contract, but they just ignore the contract on a continuous basis. "I have told the KWETB in writing that I have no issue in going back to the school to amend any issues, but I wont do it when I am owed nearly 90,000." As for further actions he is taking, Mr Healy said that he has been in touch with his solicitor regarding the issue, in addition to his local TD, Mattie McGrath. CONCILIATOR APPOINTED When contacted by the Leinster Leader regarding the allegations, the KWETB issued the following statement: "A dispute has arisen with a contractor in relation to works carried out at Gael-Cholaiste Chill Dara. "As both parties are not in agreement, in line with Section 15 of the Short Public Works Contract dealing with disputes, a suitably qualified conciliator is being appointed to work to support the resolution of the issue with both parties," the organisation added. Residents in Sallins are being asked to support a petition calling on Kildare County Council to provide more burial spaces in the town. The issue was raised a year ago by local councillor Carmel Kelly, who expressed concern about the impending lack of space. Where our loved ones are buried is a sensitive, personal and highly emotional decision. We Irish are admired for how we deal with death, funerals and burials. A funeral with a burial service allows us to mourn the loss of a loved one and get closure. Afterwards, visiting the grave of a loved one often affords comfort and peace that cannot be got anywhere else. That is why in Ireland, you will find graveyards in every village and town, they are local, they are within walking distance; visiting the grave is sacrosanct and in better weather people love to be able to walk to visit the graveyard, said Cllr Kelly. Read more Kildare news The online petition, which is supported by written versions placed in local businesses, calls for the existing cemetery at Bodenstown to be expanded. However there are a number of options that could be explored. Planning permission exists for a privately developed cemetery on land adjacent to the existing one.Amendoeira Developments, which is associated with local businessman Seamus McCarthy got permission to develop a cemetery comprising 1,448 plots adjoining the side of Bodenstown Church and Graveyard. It includes permission for 30 car park spaces, an overflow parking area with gates, a new entrance for vehicles, a maintenance yard, on a 3.75 acre site. Another option could be to use a portion of the lands that have been acquired for the development of sporting and recreation facilities in Sallins and up to 25 acres could be available here. And another option would be for KCC to attempt to purchase land in the area adjacent to the Bodenstown burial place. In the meantime KCC is exploring the possibility of creating some 15 burial places in the existing cemetery by removing a number of trees. However according to Cllr Kelly this could be problematic because approval would need to be forthcoming form a number of agencies for this to proceed. Right now it is full and there is no more room apart from those holding family plots. We are at an impasse and it is a very difficult citation for families or individuals who wish to be buried there, said Cllr Kelly. Cllr Bill Clear says he is genuinely shocked that weve ended up in this situation. He said it is a basic human right for people to be allowed to be buried in their local community so people have a nearby place to visit their deceased relatives and friends. He added: We need to get this sorted and Im confident we will get this resolved in a positive way. Kildare County Council are working hard to ensure that this happens. Investigations are continuing into the savage attack on a lone unarmed garda at Blacklion, Co Cavan in the early hours of Monday morning, February 28. It is understood from Garda and local sources that the 29-year-old Garda was on patrol and just after 2am came upon a suspicious vehicle. He followed the vehicle and it stopped. Gardai believe one of the occupants of the car had a gun, the Garda was beaten and doused in petrol along with his patrol car. Locals say a farmer may have disturbed the activity by shining lamps in the direction of the noise, but this has yet to be confirmed. The Garda was found on a road beside Loughan House prison in a quiet park area known as White Fathers cave. The Garda did call for back up but could not give exact details, a location Garda AVPLS system was used to find injured member. The Armed Response Unit and gardai responded, but they came from the district headquarters in Cavan Town, some 60kms away - Blacklion lies on the edge of a very large Cavan Garda District. Blacklion previously came under the Manorhamilton Sligo/ Leitrim District. The Garda was rushed to Sligo Hospital and his injuries were treated, it is understood he has since been released to recover at home. The area outside of Loughan House was sealed off for forensics Monday. Chief Superintendent McGovern, Cavan Monaghan Garda Division said, The exact motive for this attack is yet to be determined but it is extremely concerning that a member of An Garda Siochana appears to have been targeted and doused in some form of accelerant, the exact intent of this attack is unknown at this time. They have appealed for information from the public and would like to speak to any person driving on the N16, Cavan, passing Loughan House Prison, or the R206 and R207 at their junction with the N16, between 7pm Sunday 27th February 2022 and 3am Monday 28th February 2022, Call Cavan Garda Station on (049) 4368800, the Garda Confidential Phone Number 1800 666 111 or contact any Garda Station. The incident has raised serious concerns about rural policing and the risks faced by gardai patrolling alone in rural areas, which is common. Response Leitrim TD Martin Kenny and Sinn Fein Spokesperson for Justice expressed his outrage at the incident. He stated, This is very sinister and alarming for the police service working in rural areas, often alone. I have called for more resources and front line Gardai for rural areas, to protect the community and for the overall safety of the Gardai themselves. Local Fianna Fail Councillor John Paul Feeley said the community was in shock at this attack and despite the proximity of the prison, the area sees rarely any trouble. He said the garda was well liked in the area and wished him a speedy recovery. He said Gardai often work alone in the locality which sits on the border with Northern Ireland, and this practice should be looked at for the future. Garda Representative Association representative James Morrisroe said: Unfortunately this horrific and vicious assault once again highlights the dangers faced by our membership while on duty on a daily basis. In recent years we have seen increases in the number of assaults and the viciousness of such attacks. The circumstances of this incident are disturbing and highlight the need to protect the gardai that society relies on to keep them safe. The injured garda, 29-year-old Padraig Scott from Tulsk, Co Roscommon is understood to have been released form hospital and recovering at home. Tulsk GAA Tulsk GAA has described Padraig as a "highly valued and highly respected member " of their club. He captained the club's intermediate team to win the Roscommon County title in 2019. His club wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back in action for Tulsk in the weeks ahead. For updates on this story keep an eye on www.leitrimobserver.ie Registrations are now open for National Spring Clean 2022, calling all communities in county Leitrim to register for Irelands largest and longest anti-litter campaign and make a tangible impact on our environment. National Spring Clean is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce in partnership with Local Authorities and supported by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Mars Wrigley Ireland. The National Spring Clean traditionally takes part in the month of April. For the past 23 years 85,000 clean-ups have been organised with volunteers dedicating a total of 12 million hours to remove around 42,000 tonnes of litter across the country. National Spring Clean 2021 was the biggest and the longest campaign so far, taking place between March and August, and despite the current situation and restrictions at the start of the year, 5,543 groups registered to carry out clean-ups throughout the country and collected an estimated 3,000 tonnes of litter around Ireland. In 2021 600 Leitrim volunteers participated in organised clean-ups to show their support to the National Spring Clean. This year, building on the success of previous years, the hope is to make the National Spring Clean campaign the biggest yet. The National Spring Clean is also an opportunity for volunteers to take local actions to make a change at a global scale. As a matter of fact, over the last couple of years, the National Spring Clean has also been trying to raise awareness about another crucial issue: the link between litter and climate change the biggest environmental challenge of our time and highlight how combined local actions can have a global effect. Our consumption patterns and how we dispose and treat our waste has a substantial impact on the levels of emissions of several greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, said: An Taisces National Spring Clean is a real testament to the work of volunteers all over the country. These volunteers continue to organise local clean-ups every year. The past two years have proven difficult because of the necessary Covid restrictions, but this year represents a real opportunity for people to get together and help clean up our countryside. I would urge people to get involved and I would like to acknowledge the key role played by An Taisce in overseeing the campaign. My Department will continue to provide support to the campaign and I look forward to the many events that will be held countrywide. National Spring Clean, Chairperson, Michael John OMahony, commented: We have all been through some unprecedented times over the last two years. We all became more aware than ever before of our local areas. Participants continued to undertake great work for National Spring Clean in family bubbles or as individuals during these times. However, we can now look forward to working together again as larger groups and communities and celebrate the success together. Mars Wrigley Ireland Corporate Affairs Manager, Nicola Forde stated: Mars Wrigley Ireland are delighted to once again support National Spring Clean 2022. We have been working on litter reduction in Ireland for over fifteen years and while great progress has been made in that time there is a need for constant vigilance to ensure old habits dont return. National Spring Clean is a great way to raise awareness and reinforce positive behaviours. The National Spring Clean programme is inviting people to visit the website at www.nationalspringclean.org to request a free clean-up kit. While waiting for the National Spring Clean to officially kick off, the programme is also inviting communities around Ireland to join other initiatives. For example, volunteers are invited to take part in the #2minutestreetclean campaign and join the conversation on social media (details in the editors note). Furthermore, to celebrate Womens Day, the National Spring Clean programme will be sharing on social media stories of women who have made a positive impact on our environment and is calling people in county Leitrim to share their own stories about women volunteers. Volunteers collecting supplies for shipping to Ukraine have praised the generosity of the public in Ireland. Dale Johnson is among those helping co-ordinate the collection effort in Dublin. He said that they are struggling to keep up with the large amount of donations of food, medical supplies and bed linen in recent days. Working out of Donnybrook Bikes in Dublin, Mr Johnson has been busy organising donations for Ukrainian refugees. The shop is owned by a Ukrainian family working with Green Speed delivery service, who are transporting the goods to Poland and on to Kyiv. One shipment of donations from the Irish public has already arrived in the Ukrainian capital. We filled four or five cars on that first delivery, Mr Johnson said. The shop filled up again and we had to look for somewhere to empty the goods and now we are looking for more storage. We filled a few more cars. Its been a great support from everyone. Loads of people are bringing food for babies, nappies, medical supplies, bed linens, and stuff like that. When you fill up the car it doesnt make a difference because the donations are coming as fast as filling up the cars. There is a list online of what the Ukrainians need. They said they have enough clothing at the moment but they need the miscellaneous items which is stuff like batteries, power banks, and bed linens. They really need medical supplies because that stuff is hard to get your hands on. If you find that stuff in your house, they are in real need of that. The collection effort has been repeated right across Ireland in dozens of locations. THE LIMERICK Literary Festival have announced the winner of the 7th annual Kate OBrien Award. The award is given to the best novel or short story collection by an Irish female writer and comes with a 2000 prize. This year's winner is Una Mannion who was given the award for her tender and compelling novel A Crooked Tree. Other works that were shortlisted for the award include: Dinner Party by Sarah Gilmartin, The End of the World is a Cul de Sac by Louise Kennedy, Mother Mother by Annie Macmanus, Holding her Breath by Eimear Ryan and Boys Dont Cry by Fiona Scarlett. The winner was decided by judges Marie Hackett, Vivienne McKechnie, Grainne OBrien, Donal Ryan and Niall MacMonagle. The annual Limerick Literary Festival usually takes place at the end of February however it has now been moved to June 18 and 19 in the hope it will be able to be held in person. The festival, formerly known as The Kate OBrien Weekend, began in 1984 to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of the Limerick-born author. The event continues to celebrate her life and works while attracting prominent participants from all over the world. LIMERICK locals are rallying their support for Ukraine as several collection points for supplies destined to the war-torn sovereign state are being established across the county and city. One campaign, launched in Limerick city by three Polish friends working on High Street, has enlisted the help of both UL and the Mayor, as well as linking up with local pharmaceutical companies. Anna Mazeika, one of the chief organisers, told the Limerick Leader: Weve had a huge response, its absolutely brilliant to see the people of Limerick getting their hands on this. Her Help for Ukraine campaign has now organised three collection days at the Old Cleeves Factory in Limerick city, taking place on March 1, 2, 3 and 4, from 5pm to 7pm each evening. She is calling for medical supplies only, which will be transported to the Ukrainian-Polish border and then onto the Medical Battalion Hospitals and other similar units, to be distributed as required. A personal friend of Jarek the Polish soldier, Anna stressed that transparency and trust were key factors in ensuring that the people of Limericks provisions will reach the front line in Ukraine. Anna and Jarek previously linked up for a similar transport in 2014, during the Russian annexation of Crimea. Our transport is leaving on Saturday and will reach its destination on Monday at noon. It goes to the organisation that looks after Ukraines hospitals, she stated. Power banks, walkie-talkies, dressing items, medical supplies and painkillers are the main items required. Food and clothes will not be accepted at this collection, sha has confirmed. Further afield, in Abbeyfeale, one local shop owner has linked up with a collection point in Killarney, also organised by a Polish man, Pawel Rosa, who is working and living locally. An Siopa Milsean in Abbeyfeale, is one of several County Limerick collection points. Noreen Cotter and colleagues will be distributing these items to Killarney, where they will be shipped by container to Ukrainian refugees who have moved across the border into Poland. Already, Noreen Cotter has said that Limerick people are desperate to help. The amount of stuff that people have dropped into us is extraordinary, she told the Limerick Leader from her Main Street shopfront. Blankets, nappies and even money, from those who do not have the time to buy something to help, have been left into the store. Collections will continue indefinitely as the war wages on, she said. People feel at a loss as to what to do to help the situation in Ukraine, but any donations made, will make a difference, Noreen added. The French community, in addition to many others in Limerick, are also rallying around support for Ukraine, through a collection point established at No 7 Pery Square. Collections will take place this Tuesday to Friday, from 9.30am to 2pm and from 5pm to 6.30pm. A SPECIAL non-political vigil is to be held in City Hall to mark the humanitarian crisis as war wages on in Ukraine. Local representatives in Limericks Labour Party have organised the event, which will feature several keynote figures, and will be attended by Ukrainian nationals living within the county. I will be speaking at this non-political #VigilForUkraine tomorrow along with members of the local Ukrainian community being led by @ElenaSecas a native of Moldova a neighbouring country. Let's stand for peace. Let's stand for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/1FGw4GxOkr February 28, 2022 The vigil, which takes place Tuesday March 1 at 7pm was organised as an effort to stand with the people of Ukraine. Labour Party representative Cllr Conor Sheehan called Putin a despot, who refuses to accept the statehood of Ukraine. It is incumbent upon us as democrats to take a stand against this evil act of imperialism and offer our support to the Ukrainian community in Limerick. We are asking people to attend this vigil and to join us in stating our unequivocal opposition to this violence, he voiced. A special full meeting of Limerick City and County Council has also been organised by the party for Thursday, March 3. The vigil will be led by local representative Cllr Elena Secas, a national of Moldova, which neighbours Ukraine. She has been liaising with the Ukrainian community in Limerick. We have decided to call a special meeting so say that we can stand together as one Council in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and that we reject President Putins illegal attack, she said. Terms of use Data provision Real time data is provided for information purposes only, it is not intended for making trading decisions. Real time data on this site is not actual exchange data it is CFD and broker data, it is supplied by TradingView.com (Terms) a leading chart service provider and Dukascopy.com who are market makers and is only a reflection of actual market prices at any given time. Please refer to Dukascopy terms and conditions for data use. For end of day Futures, Stocks and Index data neither livecharts.co.uk nor its data providers shall be liable for any errors in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. End of day data for indices and futures are from TradingView.com and broker data at Dukascopy, and is not actual exchange data. 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You can unsubscribe to our emails at any time using the unsubscribe link found at the bottom of each email, or by sending us a request to remove you via our contact form. This will not affect your ability to use our members area, this will only stop you receiving our emails. British energy giant Shell PLC became the latest big Western company to sever ties with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, saying it would pull back from joint projects in the country and quit its role financing the now-halted Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Shells decision Monday came a day after BP PLC said it would exit its nearly 20% stake in Russian oil producer Rosneft, under pressure from the U.K. government, and as international condemnation of Russia increasingly strained its economy. The moves are part of a broader re-evaluation by Western companies of their businesses in Russia, with some curtailing their operations there or deciding to leave entirely, following the attack on Ukraine and escalating sanctions by the West. Elsewhere Monday, Norwegian energy company Equinor ASA said it would exit its Russian investments, Daimler Truck Holding AG said it would stop sending components to its Russian joint-venture partner, and Volvo Car AB said it would halt business in Russia. Separately, Renault SA shut down a factory near Moscow because it cant get enough parts, and Volkswagen AGs Audi brand paused sales of cars already in Russia to adjust for the drop in the ruble. The retrenchments are a dramatic change from a few decades ago when the fall of the Soviet Union made Russia a promising new market for Western businesses. Big energy companies, car makers and brewers, among others, have set down deep roots in Russia, expanding their operations there and buying or partnering with local businesses in an effort to tap millions of new consumers, as well as vast natural resources. Now, following the aggression in Ukraineand the retaliatory measures by the Westcompanies operating in Russia are grappling with new challenges spanning logistics to reputation. Still, it isnt clear how permanent any move away from Russia might be. If the geopolitical and sanctions situation evolves, companies thinking about disengaging from Russia might, too. Sanctions against Russian individuals and banks, for now, are set to make it much harder for international companies to operate there, lawyers said. It is going to be incredibly difficult with regulatory restrictions, and regulatory uncertainty, because the sanctions are changing rapidly," said David Savage, head of financial crime at London-based law firm Stewarts Law LLP. Rachel Alpert, a partner at law firm Jenner & Block, said Western companies would now need to check whether export controls used to curtail Russias access to technology dont affect anything they bring into the country. They also would have to ensure any individual or businesses they deal with arent sanctioned, she said, adding that sanctions against banks would likely make it harder to pay suppliers and workers. Shells decision to pull back from its role in a consortium of five Western energy companies financing Nord Stream 2 marks a major symbolic decision against a project that has sparked controversy since inception. The U.S. last week said it would impose sanctions on the pipelines construction company, following Germanys announcement that it wouldnt proceed with certifying the pipeline for use. Shell and its financing partners each agreed in 2017 to lend up to 950 million (around $1 billion) to fund the pipeline. Nord Stream 2 AG, the Switzerland-based company behind the project, is owned by Russias Gazprom PJSC. The operating company didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Shell said it would also exit other joint ventures with Gazprom, including its 27.5% stake in an offshore gas project in Russias far east that supplies around 4% of the worlds liquefied-natural gas market. Shell said it has around $3 billion in non-current assets in its Russian ventures and that it expects to book impairments. The London-listed company said it was prompted to act by Russias offensive. We are shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine, which we deplore, resulting from a senseless act of military aggression which threatens European security," Shells chief executive, Ben van Beurden, said. BP relies on Rosneft for roughly one-third of its oil-and-gas production and faces a potential financial hit of as much as $25 billion on the move. It isnt yet clear how BP will exit its stake. BP said Chief Executive Bernard Looney and former CEO Bob Dudley resigned from Rosnefts board. BP shares closed down 4% in London on Monday. Other energy companies are also pulling back from Russia. Equinor, which is majority owned by the Norwegian state, said it would stop new investments in Russia and start exiting its joint ventures there. In the current situation, we regard our position as untenable," said CEO Anders Opedal. Separately, Norways huge sovereign-wealth fund said it would divest its Russian holdings. Norges Bank Investment Management, the arm of the Norwegian central bank that operates the $1.3 trillion fund, is freezing investments in Russia while it works on a plan to divest from the Russian market. Aside from energy, Russia has also become a big market for Western automotive companies. Daimler Truck said Monday that it would suspend deliveries of components to its Russian partner Kamaz. In view of the events of the last few days, we have decided to discontinue our business activities in Russia with immediate effect until further notice," Daimler Truck CEO Martin Daum said. Daimler AG in December split into Daimler Truck and car maker Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Mercedes holds the companys 15% stake in Kamaz. Daimler Trucks decision to suspend its business in Russia comes after media reports that it was providing components to Kamaz that could be used to produce armored military vehicles. Mr. Daum dismissed the reports, saying the components were strictly civilian. Asked whether Mercedes could look to divest the stake in Kamaz altogether, a spokeswoman said: In the light of current events, it is of course now necessary to reassess business activities. This is currently happeningin close consultation with German authorities." Volvo Car and truck maker Volvo AB both said Monday that they would halt business in Russia until further notice. The Swedish car brand said its decision was based on the potential risks associated with trading material with Russia, including the sanctions imposed by the EU and U.S." The truck maker, which isnt connected to the car brand, cited a similar rationale. Other car companies flagged different complications Monday. Volkswagen said its luxury car unit Audi has stopped selling cars that are already with dealers in Russia so it can adjust the price of the vehicles to reflect the decline in the value of the ruble. A VW spokesman declined to comment on the companys future in Russia more broadly. Renault said it was shutting its plant near Moscow this week due to logistics issues stemming from Western measures against Russia. The country has become one of the French car makers largest markets after it struck a 2014 deal to take a controlling stakealongside its partner Nissan Motor Co.in AvtoVAZ, the former state-owned Lada manufacturer. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia was seen by auto makers as a potential gold mine. By 2015, new car sales there had risen to about 2.8 million vehicles, nearly as big as the German market. But since then, Russias political and economic woes after its first invasion of Crimea in 2014 have led the market to decline steadily. Last year, about 1.67 million new cars were sold in Russia, according to Stefan Bratzel, director of the Center of Automotive Management. He said Russian automotive exportsvehicles and partshad a total value of $3.3 billion before the pandemic, compared with $20 billion for imports. Other large western companies with sizable footprints in Russia include Carlsberg A/S. The Danish brewer generates around 10% of its sales in Russia, where it operates several breweries and has about 8,400 staff. The company said it was staying in Russia and that while it was difficult to estimate the full consequences of sanctions at this point, it expected the local nature of its production, suppliers and customers to limit their direct impact. Another with a big presence in Russia is Frances Danone SA, which said it was monitoring the situation and taking action to ensure the safety of its employees, as well as business continuity. The yogurt maker employs about 8,000 people in Russia at more than a dozen sites, mostly making products for the local market. Some sanctions may not apply to Western companies Russian incorporated subsidiaries, which could, for instance, pay wages into staffs accounts in sanctioned banks, said Ross Denton who heads the international trade team at U.K.-based law firm Ashurst LLP. MUMBAI : Tata Sons Ltd is faced with a fresh crisis at Air India Ltd, with the airlines newly appointed chief executive turning down the role before even taking charge. Ilker Ayci, former chairman of Turkish Airlines, cited political controversies, in a statement, for declining the assignment. His decision leaves the new owner of Air India with the fresh challenge of hunting for a new leader of the recently privatized airline. Known as a turnaround expert, Aycis appointment, announced soon after Tata Sons took over Air India in January, sparked hopes of fast recovery of the airline grappling with an ageing aircraft fleet, mounting debt and several legacy issues arising from its workers unions. But just a fortnight into his appointment, Ayci declined to take up the role on Tuesday. His decision may hurt Tatas ambition to quickly turn around Air Indias fortunes and help the company regain the market share it ceded to rivals. Aycis appointment faced opposition from certain political corners due to his association with allegedly questionable entities in his past avatar as Turkeys flag carrier chief. A right-wing group close to the Bharatiya Janata Party asked the government to block the appointment, citing Aycis previous political connections in Turkey. The economic wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideologue of the BJP, demanded background checks for Ayci before he assumed charge at Air India since Ayci before the stint at Turkish Airlines was an adviser to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan when he was the mayor of Istanbul in the mid- 1990s. Erdogan, a close Pakistan ally, had earlier raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in the United Nations, leading to strong objections from the Indian government. I have come to the conclusion that it would not be feasible or an honourable decision to accept the position in the shadow of such a narrative," Ayci said in his statement. Tata Sons declined to comment on the development. Ayci, who led Turkish Airlines for over six years from 2015, was to assume charge of Air India from 1 April. However, the appointment was pending regulatory approvals. His selection announced on 14 February by Tata Sons ushered in a ray of hope for Air Indias employees and thousands of flyers. At the time, Ayci said his ambition was to make Air India one of the best airlines in the world". If he accepted the role, Ayci would have faced the monumental task of reviving a legacy-laden, cash-strapped and ageing carrier. Tata took control of Indias flag carrier for $2.4 billion in January, ending decades of attempts by the government to privatize the airline to stop the flow of public money to run the airline. Losing Ayci could be a setback for both the government and the Tata groups common dream to see Air India back in form to compete with the glamour of other private carriers and protect its market share. This is especially true because of how Ayci reversed the fortunes for Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines struggled like many other carriers in the first year of the coronavirus outbreak, with air traffic revenues vanishing due to a global lockdown. Ayci helped Turkish Airlines recover quickly by reducing staff costs and capitalizing on the thriving air freight business. Bloomberg contributed to the copy. Netflix Inc. said it has no plans to add any Russian channels to its service in Russia despite a regulation that would require the streaming giant to carry several state-run broadcasters. Given the current situation, we have no plans to add these channels to our service," a Netflix spokesman said Monday, referring to Russias invasion of Ukraine. The spokesman declined to comment on whether it had informed Russian authorities that it wouldnt be adding the channels. Netflix, which launched in Russia just over a year ago, was told in December that it would have to comply with a new rule requiring the company to distribute as many as 20 local news, sports and entertainment channels, according to a person familiar with the matter. The law applies to all audio and visual services available in Russia that reach more than 100,000 subscribers. Netflix is the only international programmer that has enough subscribers to require compliance with the rule, the person said. Netflix doesnt disclose subscriber numbers in specific countries, but it has under one million customers in Russia, the person familiar with the matter said. Russian state-run media outlets have sought to advance President Vladimir Putins narrative that Ukraine is an aggressor that threatens Russia and have presented disinformation to support those claims. The Russian channels have adhered to the Kremlins line that its military action isnt striking civilian targets and have played up the argument that Ukraine could revive its nuclear arsenal, a point meant to convey that Russia is acting out of self-defense. On Saturday, Russias communications regulator ordered the removal of reports from media that describe Moscows attack on Ukraine as an assault, invasion or declaration of war," or face being fined or blocked. The rapidly unfolding events in Ukraine are forcing many companies to make quick calculations on whether to curtail their business operations in Russia. Netflix has no plans to shut down its service in Russia, the person familiar with the matter said. Elsewhere in the entertainment business, Warner Bros. said late Monday that it wouldnt release its much-anticipated new movie The Batman" in Russia as planned for later this week. Walt Disney Co. said it wouldnt release its latest Pixar movie Turning Red" in Russia. From energy to autos to sports, companies have been pulling back on Russian ventures. BP PLC said it would exit its nearly 20% stake in Russian oil producer Rosneft. Norwegian energy giant Equinor ASA said it would exit its Russian investments. Daimler Truck Holding AG said it would stop sending components to its Russian joint-venture partner. Formula One canceled the 2022 Russian Grand Prix. For Netflix, Russia is one of many markets where it is aggressively seeking to expand its footprint. With its growth in the U.S. peaking, the streaming giant is investing heavily in content and distribution abroad, particularly as it faces greater competition from rivals such as Walt Disney Co.s Disney+ and AT&T Inc.s HBOMax. Netflixs presence in Russia is still relatively small. It has no offices or full-time employees in the country, the person familiar with the matter said. Of Netflixs 8.3 million subscriber additions in the fourth quarter of 2021, some 3.5 million came from Europe, the Middle East and Africathe grouping where the company currently accounts for its Russia business. In the U.S. and Canada, Netflix added 1.2 million subscribers. Netflix had 222 million subscribers globally at the end of 2021. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been granted permission to question former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh , in connection with the 100 crore alleged extortion case, by a special court, according to news agency ANI report. The former state home minister is facing probe by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for corruption and money laundering. He is currently lodged in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai. Deshmukh was taken into custody after hours of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 2 November, 2021. The ED launched a probe against Deshmukh after the CBI registered an FIR against him on 21 April, 2021 on the charges of corruption. The ED alleged that Deshmukh, while serving as Maharashtra home minister, collected 4.70 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai through then police officer Sachin Waze. Allegedly, the money was laundered and channelized to Nagpur-based Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha, an education trust controlled by Deshmukh's family, as per the financial investigation agency. The CBI filed its case after former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh wrote an explosive letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray stating that Deshmukh had directed two police officials to collect 100 crore monthly from bars and restaurants operating in Mumbai. In the same case, the ED arrested Deshmukh's two aides- Sanjeev Palande (additional collector rank official who was working as Deshmukh's private secretary) and Kundan Shinde (Deshmukh's personal assistant). A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The Ukraine-Russia war intensified on Tuesday, after the talks between the two nations at Belarus on Monday was inconclusive. On Tuesday Russia shelled the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, defying mounting global pressure that saw a war crimes probe opened against Moscow, sanctions smash its economy and FIFA ban it from the World Cup. In an interesting incidence of rebellion, a Ukrainian man Taras Ostapchuk, 55, was arrested for attempting to sink his Russian boss' $7.7 million luxury super yacht in Spain in protest over the Kremlins invasion, according to a news report in New York Post. The 55-year old man was taken into custody in Mallorca. He had allegedly opened several valves to intentionally flood the 156-foot-long vessel, the news report stated. He told the judge he didnt regret his actions and would do it again." The superyacht belongs to a Alexander Mijeev, the CEO of Russian military weapons company, Rosoboronexport. The superyacht is called Lady Anastasia. I watched the news about the war. There was a video of a helicopter attack on a building in Kyiv. The armaments used are produced by the yacht owners company. They were attacking innocents," Ostapchuk said as he faced court. He mentioned that he was spurred to sabotage the vessel when he watched in news that Russia had invaded Ukraine and dozens lost their lives to it. The article also mentioned that Ostapchuk said, My boss is a criminal who sells weapons that kill the Ukrainian people", when the Mallorca police arrived to arrest him. The yacht reportedly suffered severe damage to its engine room. Ostapchuk expressed his intention to return to his Ukraine to help fight the war against Russians. Im going to fight. As soon as I reach the first Ukrainian city I will look for a military commander and ask him if they need me," Ostapchuk told the local outlet. I told myself: Why do I need a job if I have my country. I had a good job as a head mechanic on the boat and a good salary but I am going to fight for my nation. I am not going to lose my country. I am not a hero, Im a middle-aged man, but I have a lot of experience as a mechanic." Ive never held a weapon but if necessary I will. Why not!" Ostapchuk, who had worked on the yacht as a mechanic for a decade, was later released from custody and has since left Spain. Russias central bank has raised its key policy rate from 9.5% to 20%. We had to increase rates to compensate citizens for increased inflationary risks, explained Russias central bank governor Elvira Nabuillina. Russia has imposed controls on residents moving capital out of the country. All this has implications within Russia and not a great deal outside the country in the short term. Rouble-denominated exports would be less cheap than these would be in the absence of measures to prop up the rouble. Kalashnikovs, wheat and Aluminium are notable Russian exports besides gas and oil, and their export price goes south as the rouble falls. Higher interest rates in Russia will prevent their prices from plummeting and Russian supplies flooding world markets. Certain features of the financial sanctions imposed on Russia need to be understood. Unlike in the case of sanctions against Iran, for example, there are no secondary sanctions with regard to Russia. While certain banks and other entities have been sanctioned, no sanctions have been announced against entities that transact with these sanctioned entities. What this means is that the sanctioned entities will have difficulty transacting with foreign entities directly and would have to transact through Russian banks that have not been sanctioned or cut off from Swift, the financial messaging platform for interbank fund transfers. What explains the absence of secondary sanctions? A soft corner in Western hearts towards Russia prevents them from hardening themselves against Russians the way they had hardened against the people of Iran and against all those who used to buy Iranian oil, such as India and China? Reverberations of former US President Donald Trumps admiring description of President Putins special military operation against Ukraine as genius? The reason is fairly straightforward. Europe cannot do without Russian gas, except by inflicting extreme pain on itself and the global economy. It sources 40% of its gas imports from Russia. Removing all Russian banks from the worlds dollar networks would make it impossible for Europe to pay for the gas they buy from Russia. That would result in the cessation of the gas flows into Europe through multiple pipelines. Europe could try to replace Russian gas with gas from elsewhere in the world. That means not just mopping up all the gas traded in spot markets and ratcheting up the price of gas for all consumers across the globe but also expanding the capacity for liquefaction and regasification of natural gas worldwide. Such capacity cannot be added in a jiffy. All gas reserves would have to be used up to avoid shortages, and prices would zoom. Secondary sanctions on entities that transact with sanctioned entities would have the self-same effect. The sanctioned Russian banks would route their international financial transactions through the few Russian banks that still stay within Swift to receive payments from Europe, and if secondary sanctions are announced, these banks would also face sanctions, and then Europeans would be unable to pay for the gas they source from Russia, the gas flows would cease, gas prices would shoot through the roof all over the world. Even if just one Russian bank remains within the Swift framework, all export and import transactions can occur through that unsanctioned bank. Money is fungible. It will move around and find the unblocked outlet when most outlets are blocked. Freezing the assets of the Russian central bank and Russias sovereign wealth fund has more serious consequences. Russia would not use its assets held in the West or Japan to prop up the rouble domestically. However, it would not be a herculean task to borrow some funds in dollars from friend China, whose forex reserves, at $3.25 trillion, exceed the GDP of France or Britain. Moreover, China could make advance payments for stepped up gas supplies. Raising domestic interest rates is meant to deter resident Russians from taking money out of their bank accounts and deter capital flight. It will, of course, impede Russian economic growth if interest rates remain high. A swift end to the war is the best way out for Russia and the global economy. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. A C-section, or Caesarean section (also spelled Cesarean section), is a type of surgery used to deliver a baby . The baby is surgically removed through an incision in the mother's abdomen and then a second incision in the uterus. Nearly one third of pregnant women in the United States gave birth by Caesarean section in 2020, according to the most recent birth statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . Worldwide, 21 percent of babies are born by C-section, but in around 1990 only 7 percent were delivered this way, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) . These increased rates of Caesarean deliveries have been linked with a variety of different factors from rising rates of obesity and diabetes to multiple births and increased maternal age, according to the BBC . Other reasons for high C-section rates include the use of epidurals and techniques that induce labor , which may cause complications that could result in the need to perform a surgical delivery, according to the Journal of Perinatal Education . Although Caesarean births can be life saving for both mother and baby, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has expressed concern that C-section deliveries might be overused, and they have recommended ways to reduce the national rate. C-sections usually leave a horizontal scar about 48 inches (1020cm) long. (Image credit: Getty Images) These new guidelines call for allowing most women with low-risk pregnancies to spend more time in the first-stage of labor, as well as encouraging women to avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy (a larger baby may be harder to safely pass through a woman's pelvis.) The key to reducing high C-section rates in the United States is preventing unnecessary first C-sections, said Dr. Allison Bryant, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. These days, the majority of women who have delivered their first baby by C-section will wind up having a repeat C-section somewhere down the road, she said. A woman who has already had a C section for a previous birth may be advised to do so again if they have another baby, according to the National Health Service UK ( NHS) website. However, studies have found that women who have had C-sections and attempt to deliver their next children vaginally, which researchers call a VBAC ( vaginal birth after Caesarean ), may have a relatively low rate of complications afterward, such as needing blood transfusions or unplanned hysterectomies, compared with women who scheduled a C-section. It's important to understand why one-third of American babies are being delivered by Caesarean, Bryant said. We need to figure out which babies really need to be delivered by C-section to protect their health and which of these surgeries may be unnecessary, she explained. One way to possibly reduce C-section rates in this country is to educate women about the benefits of vaginal delivery, Bryant said. The following information will explain what is involved in a C-section, and how a woman may feel before, during and after this surgery. Before surgery To prepare for the operation, an IV will be placed in a woman's arm or hand to give her the fluids and medications she'll need during surgery. Her abdomen will be washed and her pubic hair may be clipped or trimmed. A catheter (tube) is placed into a woman's bladder to remove urine , and it will remain there for 12-18 hours after the surgery, according to the NHS. Women are usually given regional anesthesia , either an epidural block or a spinal block, which both numb the lower half of her body but will allow the mother to be awake when her baby is born. This tends to be safer than general anesthesia, where a woman would be totally asleep during the delivery, Bryant said. How a C-section is done Regional anesthesia allows mothers to remain conscious during a caesarean birth. (Image credit: Getty Images) The obstetrician will use a knife to make a horizontal incision in the skin and the abdominal wall, usually along the bikini line, meaning that it's low enough down on the pelvis that it would be covered up by underwear or a bikini bottom, Bryant said. Some women may get a vertical, or up-and-down cut, she said. After the abdomen is opened, an incision is made in the uterus. Typically, a side-to-side (horizontal) cut is made, which ruptures the amniotic sac surrounding the baby, Bryant said. Once this protective membrane is ruptured, the baby is removed from the uterus, the umbilical cord is cut , and the placenta is removed. The baby is examined then given back to the mother for skin-to-skin contact. Bryant explained that the cut made to a woman's uterine wall is an important one because the way this uterine scar heals can affect her ability to have a vaginal birth in the future. Once the delivery and afterbirth are completed, the cuts made to the mother's uterus are repaired with stitches, which will eventually dissolve under the skin, according to the Research Journal of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Technology . The abdominal skin is closed with stitches or with staples, which will be removed before a woman leaves the hospital. A woman typically spends 60 to 120 minutes in the operating room for a C-section, depending upon whether any complications arise during the delivery, Bryant said. After the surgery, a woman will be taken to the hospital's maternity ward to recover. Recovering from a C-section After a C-section , a woman may spend between 2 to 4 days in the hospital, but it may take her up to 6 weeks to feel more like herself again, Bryant said. Her abdomen will feel sore from the surgery and the skin and nerves in this area will need time to heal. Women will be given pain medications to take the edge off any post-surgical pain, and most women use these medications for about 2 weeks afterward, Bryant said. A woman may also experience bleeding for about 4 to 6 weeks after a surgical birth. She is also advised to not have sex for a few weeks after her C-section and to also avoid strenuous activities, such as lifting heavy objects, according to the Victoria State Government Department of Health . Additional resources You can read more about C-sections and related studies at the National Library of Medicine website . For answers to some commonly-asked questions about C-sections, read this document from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist . Bibliography "Epidurals: Do They or Dont They Increase Cesareans?". The Journal of Perinatal Education (2015). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4718011 . "Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery". American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2019). https://www.acog.org/clinical While tonsil stones may seem like a bad medical hoax, they can be a real problem. Tonsil stones, also known as tonsilloliths or tonsilliths, are benign accumulations of bacteria and debris in the crypts of some people's tonsils. Though this problem may cause discomfort, it is not dangerous and is usually easily treatable. Causes The tonsils are part of a protection system that keeps foreign objects from slipping into the lungs . They are also lymph nodes that filter for bacteria and viruses while producing white blood cells and antibodies , according to the Mayo Clinic. Objects such as food, dirt and other particles can get stuck in the groves on the surface of the tonsils. The grooves, called crypts, also collect old cells and bacteria. The body's white blood cells proceed to attack the foreign objects stuck in the tonsils. When the white blood cells are finished, hard particles remain on the tonsils. Most people simply swallow what is left behind and never know that it was there in the first place. If the particles are lodged into the crypts, though, the particles will continue to grow. These growing objects are tonsil stones, which are also called tonsil calculi, according to the Cleveland Clinic. According to a study published by the journal OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery , tonsil stones are more alive than actual stones. Researchers found that tonsils stones are a living biofilm that breathes oxygen. A biofilm is a collection of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and protists, that form a robust layer. According to Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician and author, tonsil stones are most common in teens and those with large tonsils. Those with poor dental hygiene may also experience tonsil stones. Symptoms According to Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician and author, tonsil stones are most common in teens and those with large tonsils. Those with poor dental hygiene may also experience tonsil stones. People with throat stones can also feel like they have something stuck in their throats, according to Dr. Erich P. Voigt, an associate professor of otolaryngology at NYU-Langone Medical Center. Other symptoms can include chronic, mild sore throat and reoccurring tonsillitis. Tonsil stones can often be seen in the mirror. The tonsils won't seem smooth. "Instead, they look like prunes, with crevices where bacteria can accumulate," said Chetan Kaher, a dentist in London. Typically, tonsil stones can be seen as white, yellow or grey nodes on the tonsils. This isn't always the case, though. Many tonsil stones aren't visible because they are burrowed down inside of the tonsil, said Dr. Ileana Showalter, an otolaryngologist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Tonsil stones can grow to 1 to 2 millimeters across. But they can be up to 1 centimeters across, according to the Australian Government Department of Health. A tonsil stone in a patients mouth. (Image credit: Getty Images) Treatment One of most common treatments to cure tonsil stones is simply scraping them off with a toothbrush. If that doesn't work, there are several other at-home options which are recommended by the Cleveland Clinic. "Gargling with salt water can help dislodge them. Using a cotton swab to express them from the little small cavities that are visible is another option," said Showalter. A water flossing device such as a Waterpik can also be used to power wash the debris out of the tonsils. Sometimes the tonsil stones are so deeply embedded that they cannot be removed at home. In this case, an ear, nose and throat specialist can often remove the stones. If a person gets tonsil stones often, then the patient and doctor may discuss removing the tonsils. "A last resort cure of this problem is tonsillectomy. However, this surgery carries risks of anesthesia, pain and bleeding, as well as other risks, thus a decision of this type must be balanced by a risk/benefit discussion," said Voigt. Prevention Preventing the formation of tonsil stones is as simple as good dental hygiene. The Mayo Clinic suggests brushing teeth and tongue after meals, at bedtime and first thing in the morning. Flossing teeth daily can also help by cleaning out bacteria. Voigt also suggested gargling daily suing commercial gargles, or a homemade solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. The Mayo Clinic advises against using a mouthwash that contains alcohol. Additional resources Check out the Mayo Clinic's s elf-care steps may help prevent tonsil stones from returning and The American Academy of Otolaryngology's webpage " Tonsils and Adenoids Patient Health Information ", for advise on tonsil stones. Bibliography Paul Stoodley, et al, "Tonsillolith: not just a stone but a living biofilm", Otolaryngology, Volume 141, September 2009. Matthew Ferguson, et al, "Halitosis and the Tonsils: A Review of Management", Otolaryngology, Volume 151, August 2014, https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599814544881 Balaji Babu, et al, "Tonsillolith: A Panoramic Radiograph Presentation", Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research, Volume 7, October 2013. "Surgical treatments for tonsil stones", NHS: Kent and Medway Policy Recommendation and Guidance Committee, March 2020. On the eve of Election Day, Rep. Henry Cuellar announced that he will be bringing one of the areas foremost medical leaders to President Joe Bidens State of the Union Address to Congress Tuesday. Cuellar announed that Dr. Ricardo Ricky Cigarroa will be his his Hometown Hero virtual guest for the event. He said that Cigarroas presence would be an important way to honor the people of Texas-28 and uplift their stories. Our country has made tremendous strides this past year thanks to the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Law. However, we could not have succeeded without the help of our hometown heroes, Cuellar said. For this years State of the Union Address, I wanted to highlight one of the millions of hardworking Americans whose perseverance in the face of adversity fueled our nations historic recovery. People like Dr. Cigarroa are the true heroes behind Americas progress over the past year. I am proud to uplift him as my virtual guest to the State of the Union Address. Cigarroa was one of the citys outspoken voices during the pandemic, bringing information regarding COVID-19 to the public consistently. Cigarroa rallied against incorrect information, such as stating significant cases early in the pandemic were from Laredo Medical Center workers after original reports stated those cases were not high. He also criticized the state government in January of 2021 during the height of the third wave as Laredo led the nation in average daily cases over a previous two-week period, stating the city government, state officials and governor were failing us in a big way due to a lack of assistance being sent to the area and precautionary measures not being allowed to be utilized. Cigarroa spoke frequently to the public through videos on Facebook through the Laredo Contra COVID 19 Facebook page run by his daughter, now District VIII Councilmember Alyssa Cigarroa. The page was considered by many as the foremost location to stay up to date on COVID news locally. Cigarroa was also heralded for his frequent home visits to locals residences during the height of the pandemic and prior to the COVID vaccine, leading to Texas Monthly labeling him the Dr. Fauci of South Texas. He struggled with his own battle with COVID in July 2020, later receiving treatment in San Antonio before beating the disease. Thank you to Congressman Cuellar for this honor, Cigarroa said. I am humbled by the gesture and will continue to serve our community as we recover from the pandemic. Cigarroa, however, is in the midst of a legal battle as Doctors Hospital and the Laredo Physicians Group filed on Oct. 29 an anticompetitive conduct lawsuit against Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa, The Cigarroa Heart and Vascular Institute, Laredo Medical Center and more. The complaint alleged that Cigarroa has the city in a cardiology stranglehold and is unwilling to let go. Cigarroa has denied any wrongdoing. Considering the allegations, it is interesting that Cuellar is choosing to honor Cigarroa on Election Day when he is also facing potential legal problems. The FBI raided Cuellars home and office in January reportedly over ties to Azerbaijan. The congressman who has represented the area since 2004 also denied any wrongdoing. With the March primary election landing on Tuesday, Webb County citizens will have the chance to vote for their representatives for the following years. Many have already done so during the early voting period, but it is still a far cry from the approximately 267,114 county residents. As Tuesday is the last day to vote for the upcoming elections, each voter will be required to visit their precinct to vote. There are 59 precincts, and by law voters will have to find the one they are registered to and vote there. They can find their respective precinct through the county elections office website. So far, only 15,020 local citizens have voted, over 90% of which voted with Democratic ballots. According to Jose Luis Castillo, Webb County Elections Administrator, the turnout started out slow at the beginning of the early voting period. One of the early benefits of early voting is that one can vote wherever, but for Election Day, they will be limited to one location. Castillo said these are usually close to ones residence. It picked up after a while, but he noted that the challenge during this election period was short time given for implementing the new Texas changes, some of which were approved in December. One of these changes was the addition of surveillance cameras at ballot sites. Ten indoor mini-dome cameras were installed wherever ballots are as mandated by the state, Castillo said. During a February Commissioners Court meeting, he admitted that the county was in violation of the mandate as the cameras were supposed to be installed by the time it received the first mail-in ballot. This measure was mandated for all counties with populations over 100,000. Castillo said that making the changes necessary in an approximate three-to-four-month period proved to be frustrating, but it is done. Now those curious or interested in monitoring the election process can go through the Webb County Election Office website and find a livestream of the ballots on the left side tabs. As previously reported, the Senate Bill 1 states that it works to improve election integrity and security by preventing fraud in the conduct of elections, increasing criminal penalties, creating criminal offenses and providing civil penalties. One offense the bill adds is if a person serving in an official election capacity knowingly prevents a poll watcher from observing an activity that the official knows they are entitled to observe. This could be by obstructing their view or distancing the watcher to a point where it is not effective. Castillo also clarified that the use of only ballot markers should not deter anyone from voting, specifically those that prefer to vote using paper ballots. Its a different system, but your vote is on a paper ballot; at the end of the day, there is a paper ballot. Now you are not marking it, you have a machine that marks it for you. But at the end of the day, you grab the ballot, you verify it and then you submit it for it to count, Castillo said. He said that he understands that there is a little hesitancy in using a type of computer system or machine, but he sees the systems not as computers but as ballot markers. This distinction, he said, means that voters have a clean ballot to turn in and reduces the risk of accidental errors or mark ups on the ballot. Any marks that would throw your ballot out, Castillo said. In the past, there were a lot of pencil marks all over the ballot, and if the tabulator read one of those marks that wasnt supposed to be there in a certain location or close to a barcode, it would spit out your ballot, recheck it and then we would have to manually confirm and try to decide sometimes what the voter intent was. This system it makes it basically safe-proof or fail-proof, where your ballot will count without anyone having to touch your ballot, try to decipher or determine voter intent. And in the case where some may be hesitant due to the perhaps their perceived complications with using a computer system, Castillo ensured that the machines are simple to navigate, and their touch screens should make it as easy as using a smart phone. Appointed in Fall 2021, Castillo said that he feels confident about the upcoming election and has fully reviewed the system to make sure they are secure, but he believes that they are more secure than the older system. As for future election dates, Castillo encouraged all mail-in qualified voters to add both drivers license number and the last four numbers of their social security numbers to the ballot. While he acknowledged that the mail-in ballot states can states a voter can add one or the other, Castillo said that there may be cases where the Secretary of State Records only has one of the two recorded and if the voter inserts the number that is missing, the mail-in ballot will not be verified. That is why I am asking to fill out both numbers, he said. On the next election, Ive asked my staff that everything that is required to be fill, to highlight on the forms or envelope, so if anything is highlighted, dont ignore it, just fill it out. cocampo@lmtonline.com 956-728-2567 The U.S. Border Patrol announced that a felony sex offender was recently arrested. The USBP stated Friday evening that Laredo South Station agents were patrolling the border when the individual was discovered among a group of six undocumented individuals. The man was identified as Moises Loyola-Garcia during the intake process. A 45-year-old citizen of Mexico, Loyola-Garcia had a prior felony conviction back in August of 2012 for Sexual Assault 2nd Degree out of Bentonville, Arkansas. He received a 10-year sentence. USBP stated that he will be prosecuted for immigration violations and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. US Border Patrol Laredo Sector agents work diligently to prevent dangerous criminals from illegally entering our country, the USBP said in a statement. Border security is essential to increase the safety of our country, and our communities. Significant arrests such as these reflect the tremendous efforts being made to keep criminals from entering our country illegally. Early voting in Webb County concluded this weekend with one major party having a significant advantage in total ballots filed. The Webb County Elections Administration announced that a total of 15,020 ballots were filed by local residents. And of those, over 90% were Democratic ballots. Overall, a total of 13,551 Democratic ballots were filed during the early voting period, including 7,001 over Week 1 and 6,550 in Week 2. Republican ballots featured 680 filed during Week 1 and 789 in Week 2. Early voting consisted of seven different sites: Billy Hall Jr. Administrative Building; Finley Elementary School; Laredo Fire Department Administrative Center; City Hall Annex Building; McKendrick, Ochoa, Salinas Library; and Mobile Branches 1 and 2. Of those seven sites, Democratic ballots accounted for more than 90% of the ballots filed at four of them including Mobile Branch 1 (96.1%); McKendrick, Ochoa, Salinas Library (95.4%); Billy Hall Jr. Administrative Building (92.9%) and Mobile Branch 2 (91.5%). Republican ballots topped over 10% of the total ballots filed at three sites including the Laredo Fire Department Administrative Center (14.5%), Finley Elementary School (13.7%) and the City Hall Annex Building (11.9%). In total, the Laredo Fire Department was the primary voting site with nearly 32% of Webb County's early voting ballots filed there. That includes nearly half of the filed Republican ballots (47.6%), while 30.3% of the total Democratic ballots were filed in that location. Democrats also took advantage of mailing in their ballots at a significantly higher rate than their Republican counterparts. A total of 604 Democratic ballots were mailed in during Webb County's early voting period as opposed to just 15 Republican ballots. The official number of early voting ballots filed is down from this time two years ago. Ahead of the 2020 primary elections, a total of 20,253 people cast a ballot. This accounted for 15.2% of the area's roughly 133,000 voters who were registered at the time. Similar to that last election, Laredo's congressional seat will have its longtime incumbent tested as Rep. Henry Cuellar -- who has been in the position since 2004 -- is facing off against Jessica Cisneros, who gave him a run for the spot in 2020 getting 48.2% of the vote. Tannya Benavides also joins the race on the Democrats side. Cuellar also faces potential legal issues currently after the FBI raided his home and office in January reportedly over ties to Azerbaijan. The congressman denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Republicans' low early voting turnout may come as a surprise with a staggering seven individuals running in the primary election for the right to face the Dems' representative in November's general election. That's a significant jump, as 2020 and 2016 saw only one Republican run while none ran in both 2018 and 2014. The lone candidate in 2020 was Sandra Whitten -- who took 39% of the vote in the general election then refused to concede citing "reports of fraud" -- who returns to the race in 2022. She will face off against Ed Cabrera, Steven Fowler, Cassy Garcia, Eric Hohman, Rolando Rodriguez and Willie Vasquez Ng for the nomination. Other major races feature incumbent State Rep. Richard Pena Raymond set to take on Jorge "JD" Delgado for the Democratic nomination with Republican Joe Brennan running unopposed; State Board of Education, District 1 incumbent Melissa N. Ortega challenging two fellow Democrats in Laura Marquez and Omar Yanar while two Republicans square off for their nomination in Michael "Travis" Stevens and Lani Popp; and the Webb County Republican Party Chair being decided between current leader Luis Felipe De La Garza Jr. and Xavier Cantu. TPWD Brodey Davis, an angler from Oklahoma, recently caught one of the largest Texas ShareLunkers largemouth bass in the past 30 years while fishing on O.H. Ivie Lake on February 24. His bass weighed 17.06 pounds, making it the seventh largest in the program in Texas history and the new pending lake record for O.H. Ivie, according to the Toyota ShareLunker program with Texas Parks and Wildlife. The last largest bass caught in Texas was set in 1992 when Barry StClair reeled in an 18.18 pounds bass from Lake Fork. Heres what the Ohio contingent had to say at CPAC In the Midlands area, which includes Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath there are currently 305 children in foster care. This week, February 21 - 27, is Tusla National Fostering Week 2022. Now in its third year, the campaign focuses on the need to recruit carers for older children in communities across Ireland. Foster carers play a critical role in the child protection system and ultimately a key role in the wellbeing of young people. A local placement will ensure a young person can maintain important connections with their friends, sports, school, and community, and reach their full potential. Speaking at the launch of Tusla National Fostering Week 2022 Kate Duggan, National Director of Services and Integration, Tusla said: Tusla foster carers provide a safe, secure and stable home environment for the most vulnerable in our society. Right now, there are children and young people in your community who may need a safe place to live. A local placement will ensure they can maintain connections with their friends, sports, school and community. If you have been considering fostering, we would urge you to have another think about the positive difference you would make in the life of children and young people in your community. Tusla Care Leaver, Shannon Joyce said: I first went into relative foster care with my younger brother and sister when I was seven years old. I stayed with my family until summer 2021. My whole experience of foster care has been a rollercoaster to say the least. I've met so many people and heard so many stories throughout the years. I wouldn't change a thing! I'm so happy that I can take all the experiences I have had and all the lessons I have learned and use them to be the best role model and mentor I can be for the young people I teach. Fostering can be an amazingly positive experience for the carers, and children. If its something you are feeling drawn to you can learn more about it on fostering.ie Catherine Bond, CEO, Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA) said: The Irish Foster Care Association is delighted to support Tuslas National Fostering Week. "Fostering provides a loving and stable environment in which a child or young person can reach their full potential. The transition to foster care can be challenging for any child, but older children and teenagers are at a particularly important time in their development. "An increase in local foster carers across Ireland will enable a young person to maintain their connections with their friends, sports, school and community, all of which provide comfort in difficult times. We would encourage anyone thinking about fostering to get in touch and learn more. Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Roderic O'Gorman TD said: I would encourage anyone who is considering becoming a foster carer to contact Tusla on the details provided and to make that first step in improving the wellbeing and happiness of some of our most vulnerable children. To find out more about becoming a foster carer, see fostering.ie, call freephone 1800 226 771 or email tusla.fostering@tusla.ie. Young Roscommon and Longford farmers have three options available to them by which they can complete their Green Cert. All three options lead to similar results and benefits for the Young Trained Farmer. Two of these three options will be available locally in the Roscommon/ Longford Teagasc Unit this Spring and Autumn and the third option can be accessed from our two nearest Agricultural Colleges, i.e. Mountbellew, Co. Galway and Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan. Which Green Cert Option is best for me? The three options are outlined below starting with the choices most suitable to a young school leaver, right up to the choices facing aspiring students in their thirties, forties and beyond. The most important thing to remember is that there is a route for everyone and the Education staff in the Roscommon / Longford Teagasc Unit are always available to guide you in your choices. Green Cert Route 1 This option is offered on a full time basis in Agricultural colleges. Students must be 17 years of age or over on 1st January following entry to the course. This course is most suitable for school leavers and it would be desirable but not essential to have completed the Leaving Cert cycle in secondary school. The course runs over two years with a combination of formal course work and a period of practical learning experience. This course is also suitable for young people seeking employment on farms. Applications can be made directly to the Colleges or by using the online application via www.teagasc.ie. If applying online you can apply for a number of colleges using the preference system. There is a Means Tested Teagasc Grant Scheme associated with this option, for more information on this, check directly with the College in question. Green Cert Route 2 This option is called The Teagasc Part Time Green Cert and will on offer in the Roscommon / Longford Teagasc Unit this autumn 2022 applicants must be over 23 years of age when starting this course, there is no upper age limit applicable. It is desirable but not essential to have completed the Leaving Cert cycle in secondary school. Students must have access to a working farm including the financial details of the same farm. The course duration will be approximately 2 years on a part time basis, generally 1 day per week from September to April. The course work is split between practical / skills training and classroom sessions. The course consists of a range of modules such as Farm Business, Principles of Agriculture, Farm Safety, Farm Enterprise Production, Safe Use of Pesticides etc. Students interested in taking Green Cert Route 2 should contact Therese Hilliard in the Longford Teagasc Office (043-3341021) to put their name on the expression of interest list. Green Cert Route 3 This option is called The Teagasc Distance Education Green Cert (for Non-Agricultural Award Holders). This option will also be available in the Roscommon / Longford Teagasc Unit commencing on May 6th 2022. Applicants for this course must have obtained a Level 6 or higher major award in a non agricultural discipline. In recent years, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, nurses and engineers have all been able to avail of this express option. This part time option extends over a period of 15-18 months incorporating at least 27 contact days, roughly 2 per month. The course work covered is the same as that in Route 1 and 2 above, the main difference is that Green Cert Route 3 students will be doing a fast forwardtype of course. The shorter time span for this Route is based on the assumption that students with previous college experience are capable of working on their own initiative to meet the tighter deadlines. Students interested in taking Green Cert Route 3 should contact Caitriona Corcoran or Catherine Divilly in the Roscommon Teagasc Office (090-6626166) for an application pack as soon as possible. What benefit is the Green Cert to Young Farmers? The Teagasc Green Cert is well known as the course many people starting up in farming complete. While young people are not prohibited from entering farming without it or its equivalent, there are a number of attractive benefits that can be obtained by the young trained farmer. So what are these benefits and why is there such a demand for the Teagasc Green Cert? There are Educational Requirements for certain Department of Agriculture and Revenue Schemes; more often than not these Schemes will be of financial benefit to the young trained farmer. Some of these schemes are outlined below. Revenue Stamp Duty Relief Revenue Agricultural Stock Relief DAFM New Entrant in a Registered Farm Partnership. DAFM TAMS Scheme (60% grant) DAFM National Reserve DAFM Young Farmers Scheme (25% top up) The QQI Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farm Administration (Teagasc Green Cert) is the minimum requirement for all of the above schemes. The DAFM trend in recent years requires applicants to have the course completed at the time of application for the various incentives. With a new CAP package presently being negotiated in Brussels for 2023, it would be a shrewd move for young farmers to start planning their training now so they will be in a position to maximise their benefits under whatever CAP 2023 has to offer this cohort. Registrations are now open for National Spring Clean 2022, calling all communities in county Longford to register for Irelands largest and longest anti-litter campaign and make a tangible impact on our environment. National Spring Clean is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce in partnership with Local Authorities and supported by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Mars Wrigley Ireland. Mercy Ballymahon scoops top European award for digital education practices Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon, has become one of the first schools in Europe to achieve European Digital Schools Awards status. The National Spring Clean traditionally takes part in the month of April. For the past 23 years 85,000 clean-ups have been organised with volunteers dedicating a total of 12 million hours to remove around 42,000 tonnes of litter across the country. National Spring Clean 2021 was the biggest and the longest campaign so far, taking place between March and August, and despite the current situation and restrictions at the start of the year, 5,543 groups registered to carry out clean-ups throughout the country and collected an estimated 3,000 tonnes of litter around Ireland. In 2021 900 Longford volunteers participated in organised clean-ups to show their support to the National Spring Clean. This year, building on the success of previous years, the hope is to make the National Spring Clean campaign the biggest yet. The National Spring Clean is also an opportunity for volunteers to take local actions to make a change at a global scale. As a matter of fact, over the last couple of years, the National Spring Clean has also been trying to raise awareness about another crucial issue: the link between litter and climate change the biggest environmental challenge of our time and highlight how combined local actions can have a global effect. Our consumption patterns and how we dispose and treat our waste has a substantial impact on the levels of emissions of several greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. Longford entries sought for .IE Digital Town Awards People and towns across Longford are being called on to enter the annual .IE Digital Town Awards 2022, an initiative of .IE, the managers of Irelands trusted online .ie address which celebrate the digital achievements of local towns and citizens across the country. Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, said: An Taisces National Spring Clean is a real testament to the work of volunteers all over the country. These volunteers continue to organise local clean-ups every year. The past two years have proven difficult because of the necessary Covid restrictions, but this year represents a real opportunity for people to get together and help clean up our countryside. I would urge people to get involved and I would like to acknowledge the key role played by An Taisce in overseeing the campaign. My Department will continue to provide support to the campaign and I look forward to the many events that will be held countrywide. National Spring Clean, Chairperson, Michael John OMahony, commented: We have all been through some unprecedented times over the last two years. We all became more aware than ever before of our local areas. Participants continued to undertake great work for National Spring Clean in family bubbles or as individuals during these times. However, we can now look forward to working together again as larger groups and communities and celebrate the success together. Mars Wrigley Ireland Corporate Affairs Manager, Nicola Forde stated: Mars Wrigley Ireland are delighted to once again support National Spring Clean 2022. We have been working on litter reduction in Ireland for over fifteen years and while great progress has been made in that time there is a need for constant vigilance to ensure old habits dont return. National Spring Clean is a great way to raise awareness and reinforce positive behaviours. The National Spring Clean programme is inviting people to visit the website at www.nationalspringclean.org to request a free clean-up kit. While waiting for the National Spring Clean to officially kick off, the programme is also inviting communities around Ireland to join other initiatives. For example, volunteers are invited to take part in the #2minutestreetclean campaign and join the conversation on social media (details in the editors note). Furthermore, to celebrate Womens Day, the National Spring Clean programme will be sharing on social media stories of women who have made a positive impact on our environment and is calling people in county Longford to share their own stories about women volunteers. Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon, has become one of the first schools in Europe to achieve European Digital Schools Awards status. Launched last year, the Digital Schools Awards European programme was created to encourage and recognise innovation, collaboration and skills development in digital technology amongst schools. It is backed by the European Commissions Erasmus+ programme, national government bodies and leading technology companies led by HP. Only 90 secondary schools across the continent were selected to take part in the initiative which is being piloted in five European countries namely Ireland, Lithuania, Scotland, Serbia and Slovenia and it is the first of its kind to be available across the continent. Mercy Ballymahon is among the first schools in Ireland to receive the award which recognises and celebrates best practice in digital education. The school was awarded for its excellence in the areas of Leadership, Collaboration and Networking, Infrastructure and Equipment, Continuing Professional Development, Teaching and Learning, Assessment, Student Digital Competence and the digital self-reflection tool SELFIE. The school has also been invited to be a mentor school in the areas of Teaching and Learning, Assessment and Student Digital Competence specifically. To achieve European Digital Schools status, the Longford based school had to demonstrate strong leadership in digital education and provide sufficient access to resources and infrastructure. Their school culture, professional development strategies and teaching practices were also assessed as part of the submission. The European Digital Schools Awards requires schools to use the European Commissions SELFIE self-reflection tool to assess their digital learning and teaching practices and identify areas where improvements can be made. As part of the programme, teachers were given access to expert support and resources to help them develop their digital curriculum and ensure pupils are given the skills they need to navigate the modern world. The European Digital Schools Awards programme also intends to open up dialogue across borders and create a growing community of digitally competent schools, where teachers can share learnings from different education systems. Ms Josephine Donohue, Principal at Mercy Ballymahon said: To be one of the first schools in Europe to receive this award is such an achievement, and our whole school community is very excited by it. Both our teachers and students have worked incredibly hard to develop and embed digital learning into the curriculum. Ensuring that our students have access to the equipment, resources and support to develop their skills and literacy in this area has been top of our agenda for the last ten years, but the European Digital Schools Award programme has given us the momentum to drive forward new strategies. "I thank our parents and guardians who have supported our initiatives over the years. A special thanks to our Board of Management for their support and confidence in our digital curriculum. "I thank our Digital team of Gary Kenny deputy principal, Fiona Noone, Michaela McGovern and Ryan Jones who have worked tirelessly to achieve the Digital Schools Award. The European Digital Schools Award has opened up channels for collaboration, both within our school community and with counterparts in other countries, and we have built close working relationships with educational professionals across Europe. We are very proud of the achievements of our school, and we will continue to share best practices with our friends across the continent. Anna Doody from Digital Schools Awards said: We know that schools across Europe have taken great strides in recent years to integrate digital practices into their teaching, and one of the most important and valuable aspects of the European Digital Schools Awards is the ability to network with counterparts in other parts of the world. By connecting schools, we hope to bring attention to innovations happening elsewhere in the continent and encourage collaboration by opening more channels for knowledge sharing across borders. To find out more, schools are encouraged to visit awards4selfie.eu Two Irish MEPS have voted against a European Parliament resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Mick Wallace and Clare Daly have today (Tuesday March 1) released a statement explaining their reasoning for voting against the resolution. Both members of the European Parliament posted the statement and accompanying caption through their Twitter pages, stating: "Our position on today's Resolution on Russian aggression against Ukraine, and why we must vote against. There is no military solution. No to Russia's war in Ukraine; no to military escalation on the European continent. Dialogue and peace is the only way forward..." In the joint statement, they condemned Russia's act of aggression against Ukraine, as well as his use of a nuclear deterrent, which they stated could lead to "runaway nuclear escalation" with fatal consequences for all life on the planet. They called this the sole responsibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, they expressed disagreement with aspects of the resolution put forward, stating: "The resolution also calls to accelerate the provision of military equipment and weapons to Ukraine, to strengthen NATO's forward presence, to dramatically increase defence spending, and to activate European common and joint defence efforts." They also mentioned what they called the opportunistic call for opening the European energy market to fracked American liquified natural gas. They stated: "We are now asked to vote on the text as a whole, which includes these provisions. We are opposed to war, and we are opposed to this resolution." Mr Wallace and Ms Daly received mass criticism on Twitter for their decision, with one person stating, "Dialogue and peace is all well and good to hope for, but what happens if Russia don't want to stop??" and another saying, "You must be living in another world". Although they appeared to receive very little support from Irish social media users, one person stated, "Respect to you and Mick for your integrity, standing for peace is the only human response, thank you." Our position on today's Resolution on Russian aggression against Ukraine, and why we must vote against. There is no military solution. No to Russia's war in Ukraine; no to military escalation on the European continent. Dialogue and peace is the only way forward... pic.twitter.com/oKzKsBv2mt Mick Wallace (@wallacemick) March 1, 2022 According to the text of the motion - which contains a total of 46 calls and demands - the European Parliament reiterates that NATO is the "foundation of collective defence" for member states who are NATO allies. It also welcomes the unity between the EU, NATO and other "likeminded democratic partners in facing the Russian aggression". However, the text also makes mention of an underlining need to "increase its collective deterrence posture, preparedness and resilience", as well as to strengthen NATO's enhanced forward presence in EU member states "geographically closest to the Russian aggressor and to the conflict". It also calls for common military exercises to be launched and the need for the EU, NATO and international partners to "step up" their cybersecurity assistance to Ukraine. Six mentions of gas are made in the document, with calls for the import of the "most important" Russian export goods (including oil and gas) to be restricted. The resolution included a call to "significantly reduce energy dependence, in particular on Russian gas, oil and coal, by, inter alia, diversifying energy sources, including expanding liquefied natural gas terminals and supply routes, unbundling gas storage, and increasing energy efficiency and the speed of the clean energy transition". It also encourages the use of "all possible gas depositories" but does not recommend any particular company or country. Today the EU and Ukraine are already closer than ever. There is still a long path ahead. We have to end this war. And we should talk about the next steps. But nobody can doubt that a people that stands up so bravely for our European values belongs in our European family. pic.twitter.com/AeZBy0gvw5 Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 1, 2022 The vote follows an impassioned plea from Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who opened the parliamentary discussion with a request to accelerate Ukraine's accession to the European Union. He stated, "We are fighting for our rights, for our freedom, for our lives, and now we are fighting for our survival." Update 1/3/22 5:01pm: The resolution has passed with 637 votes in favour, 13 against and 26 abstentions. Local News, Business & Finance By Chris Boyle Published: March 01 2022 Located at 1000 Park Boulevard, Once Bitten Donuts is co-owned by Catherine Logozzo of Oceanside and her sister-in-law Claire. When it comes to a tasty bit of confectionary goodness, few treats stand up to the popularity of the good ol donut. And an eatery in Massapequa Park, NY Once Bitten Donuts has really gotten local residents talking and eating since opening their doors for business in October 2020. Located at 1000 Park Boulevard, Once Bitten Donuts is co-owned by Catherine Logozzo of Oceanside and her sister-in-law Claire, and while both come from families with extensive backgrounds in the restaurant and food industries, neither had direct experience in retail baking up until that point. The two had previously co-owned a children's party place in Great Neck called Pump It Up, Catherine said, but had since sold it and were looking to move on to other endeavors. That's how we came to owning a donut shop...we were taking note of all the different desserts that people were bringing in for parties at Pump It Up, and decided that would be a great way to go, she said. We were both into the banking and desserts, and we felt that donuts were something that we could make unique and have something different that other places didn't have. Not having a background specifically in donuts, Catherine said that it took lots and lots of practice to get their unique and successful formula right. We dove in, she said. We're self-taught, but again we both come from food backgrounds so it's kind of second nature to us. We just got in there and did our thing, to be honest, and everything just seemed to click. What didnt click, unfortunately, was their timing; Catherine and her sister-in-law first leased the Massapequa Park establishment in January of 2020 with plans to be opened by Mother's Day. However, the COVID-19 pandemic ended up having other ideas. We started construction and then sat and looked at an empty store for several months during the lockdown until construction opened up once again, she said. We really got stuck in the middle of COVID, but thankfully our landlord was very understanding and worked with us. Thank goodness for that. Once lockdown measures eased, construction was allowed to resume and Once Bitten Donuts finally opened their doors in October 2020; however, Catherine noted that it was nonetheless quite unnerving opening a small, independent business in the middle of a once-in-a-century pandemic. In one word, it was scary. We were caught in a spot where we had already gutted our store and had an empty shell, so we didn't really have a choice, she said. We knew we had to follow through with our process, but there was so much uncertainty surrounding the investment. It was very challenging, challenging to find workers, performing health checks on them every time they came in for a shift...everything seems a little bit easier now, but at the time it was chaotic. However, when Once Bitten Donuts finally opened, Catherine said that the surrounding community came out in droves to support them. This town is so wonderful. Everybody was so welcoming and so supportive, she said. We were shocked at the response on our opening day, when we literally had a line of people down the blockwe sold out our entire stock twice in one day. It was great. But since then, now we're waiting for more of the pandemic-related restrictions to be lifted so more people can go back to work. Since we're located right by the Massapequa Park train station, and so many people are working from home instead of commuting into the city, things were a little slower right now than they normally would be. What sets the fare at Once Bitten Donuts apart from competition, Catherine said, is hard work, a personal touch, and delicious homemade taste. Our donuts are cooked fresh each and every day, and we offer a variety of both cake and yeast-based donuts, whereas most places only offer one or the other, she said. And we really try to satisfy everyone's palate. Our number one seller is our Devil Made Me Do It donut, which is a chocolate cake donut with brownies, chocolate, fudge...if you're a chocolate lover, that's the donut for you. Another one of our top-sellers is our Sour Cream Old-Fashioned glazed donut, which happens to be my personal favorite. We make donuts with all sorts of crazy toppings, but we make all of the classic favorites as well, Catherine added. One especially exciting aspect of opening Once Bitten Donuts, Catherine said, is that it's already in the process of expanding, with a second location slated to open in a few months. We actually took on some partners and we have a second location opening up in Red Bank, New Jersey, she said. Right now they're expecting to be opening up in March...everything will be the same donut-wise, but their shop is going to be a little bit bigger and they're also going to have an ice cream shop inside as well. As far as opening up a second location on Long Island at some point in the future, Catherine noted that it's something that she and her sister-in-law regularly think about. Once Bitten Donuts is also available for catering jobs, pumping out scrumptious custom donuts for any occasion at all, be it a wedding, birthday party, anniversary, or any other occasion. We do all sorts of custom donuts for parties for any occasion, Catherine said. Birthday parties, bridal showers, gender reveal celebrations, anything at all. South Africa: Pension fund of former Public Works Chief inspector frozen The Special Tribunal has granted an order freezing the pension benefits of former Department of Public Works and Infrastructure chief works inspector, Clive Charlton. According to Special Investigating Unit (SIU) spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, the order is related to alleged wrongdoing on the part of Charlton, where allegedly fraudulent contractor invoices were paid out leading to financial losses for the department. Kganyago said Charlton was responsible for verifying invoices and supporting documents as they carried a 20% mark-up to be paid to the contractor. Between 2014 and 2018, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) had appointed NECS [Electrical Consulting] as a service provider to render electrical maintenance and repair services in respect of buildings owned by the [department]. NECS allegedly submitted various falsified/and or fraudulent supplier invoices to the DPWI and overcharged the DPWI, for which it suffered financial losses to the value of R510 042.60. The SIU investigation revealed that Mr. Charlton allegedly failed to perform his duties with due diligence and failed to verify with the subcontractors whether invoices were correct and authentic, Kganyago said on Tuesday. The Special Tribunal order interdicts the Government Employee Pension Fund from paying out at least R510 000 in benefits due to Charlton. The order will operate as an interim interdict, pending the final determination of an action to be instituted by the SIU in the Special Tribunal against Mr. Charlton and NECS Electrical Consulting (NECS) within 30 days, Kganyago said. He explained that the corruption busting unit applies for freezing orders to ensure that the State is able to recover any monies lost through corrupt or fraudulent activities in government departments. The SIU applies for preservation orders to freeze assets, bank accounts and pension benefits early in its investigations when it identifies evidence pointing to wrongdoing against officials and service providers. This is to ensure that implicated parties do not dissipate assets and make it difficult for the SIU to recover financial losses suffered by the State when the matter is finalised, Kganyago said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-03-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong puts on united front against worst COVID-19 wave Xinhua) 09:09, March 01, 2022 People wearing face masks walk in Tsuen Wan, south China's Hong Kong, Feb. 28, 2022. Hong Kong recorded 34,466 new COVID-19 cases and 87 deaths on Monday. In the past week, 117,033 confirmed cases were recorded, bringing the total number of cases since the latest wave began on Dec. 30 last year to 158,683, which is 12 times the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong in the previous two years. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai) HONG KONG, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Winning the battle against the raging fifth wave of COVID-19 infections has become the most answered rallying cry in Hong Kong, which shows unprecedented unity to weather the trying times, all for one and one for all. The global financial hub recorded 34,466 new COVID-19 cases and 87 deaths on Monday. In the past week, 117,033 confirmed cases were recorded, bringing the total number of cases since the latest wave began on Dec. 30 last year to 158,683, which is 12 times the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong in the previous two years. As the epidemic situation has been rapidly escalating in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and various sectors of Hong Kong are racing against time. HKSAR GOV'T TAKES UP MAIN RESPONSIBILITY The HKSAR government, which shoulders the main responsibility in taking measures necessary to contain the epidemic, is making concerted and all-out efforts. In a video speech to Hong Kong's 7.5 million residents, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Monday that the HKSAR government will continue to mobilize all the manpower and resources it can and take all necessary measures against the epidemic. The chief executive has directed HKSAR government departments to pull together against COVID-19. "At this critical time, all bureaux and departments, regardless of their purview, shall continue to work in concert to take up and undertake their assigned operations and tasks, bringing into full play the whole-of-government spirit to fight the epidemic," said Lam during a virtual meeting attended by over 100 officials of the HKSAR government on Feb. 23. As an important force in the fight against the epidemic, the work of the civil service is of paramount importance. Secretary for the Civil Service of the HKSAR government Patrick Nip said the civil service team must do their best to meet the challenge with determination. The HKSAR government will step up its efforts in response to the epidemic and work with medical staff, chambers of commerce, and the general public, among others, to unite and organize a solid team to fight the epidemic in pursuit of the goal of "dynamic zero infection," he said in a blog urging action of the civil service team. VARIOUS SECTORS JOIN BATTLE Representatives of Hong Kong's industrial, commercial, cultural, real estate, social organizations, and various sectors have expressed their full support for Hong Kong's fight against the epidemic. At a meeting to leverage cross-sector resources on Feb. 18, a slew of anti-epidemic measures was rolled out. Local businesses and Chinese-funded enterprises pledge to vacate hotels for quarantine needs, some shopping malls and office buildings will set aside space for vaccination stations, while others donate land use to build isolation and medical facilities. Over the past few days, these initiatives are being implemented one after another. Sun Hung Kai Properties has lent two sites in Yuen Long and San Tin to the HKSAR government for the construction of isolation and treatment facilities, which are expected to provide about 8,000 to 10,000 beds. Donations are also pouring in. The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced that it had allocated an additional 100 million Hong Kong dollars (about 12.8 million U.S. dollars) to its anti-epidemic fund to support the Hong Kong community to deal with the latest resurgence. Chinese enterprises in Hong Kong are doing their best to ensure food and other necessities supply to the region. For example, China Resources Vanguard (Hong Kong) is ensuring a stable supply and price of vegetables by all means, putting the business costs on the back burner. Sinopec (Hong Kong) set up green channels dozens of gas stations to provide customized services for an anti-epidemic fleet of 300 taxis, and other dedicated vehicles in Hong Kong. "Now Hong Kong's only enemy is the virus, and all sectors of Hong Kong are in full combat mode," said John Lee, the chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government. "The whole community is determined to win the war against the epidemic." MILLIONS-STRONG FORCE Hong Kong's over 7 million residents are helping each other, radiating warmth amid the epidemic gloom. Joseph Chan, a leader of two local volunteer groups, said in the first place, he had worries that his team members would be scared and that no one would want to keep coming out to volunteer amid the raging epidemic. But when he sent tasks to the volunteer chat group, the enthusiasm of the volunteers swept away his concerns, helping hands always outnumber assignment needs. A volunteer group named "18-District Anti-epidemic Team," referring to HKSAR's 18 administrative divisions, has attracted more than 2,000 people to sign up not long after its establishment. They started operations in all districts, distributing masks, hand sanitizers, rapid test kits and traditional Chinese medicines. Retirees are also actively engaged. More than 1,000 retired members of the disciplined forces are reportedly supporting the front line in the fifth wave. "As a member of Hong Kong, I love Hong Kong profoundly as my home," said a volunteer. "It is the duty of every Hong Kong person to fight against the epidemic." People wearing face masks walk in Tsuen Wan, south China's Hong Kong, Feb. 28, 2022. Hong Kong recorded 34,466 new COVID-19 cases and 87 deaths on Monday. In the past week, 117,033 confirmed cases were recorded, bringing the total number of cases since the latest wave began on Dec. 30 last year to 158,683, which is 12 times the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong in the previous two years. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai) People wearing face masks walk in Tsuen Wan, south China's Hong Kong, Feb. 28, 2022. Hong Kong recorded 34,466 new COVID-19 cases and 87 deaths on Monday. In the past week, 117,033 confirmed cases were recorded, bringing the total number of cases since the latest wave began on Dec. 30 last year to 158,683, which is 12 times the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong in the previous two years. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai) People wearing face masks are seen in Tsuen Wan, south China's Hong Kong, Feb. 28, 2022. Hong Kong recorded 34,466 new COVID-19 cases and 87 deaths on Monday. In the past week, 117,033 confirmed cases were recorded, bringing the total number of cases since the latest wave began on Dec. 30 last year to 158,683, which is 12 times the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong in the previous two years. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai) People wearing face masks walk in Tsuen Wan, south China's Hong Kong, Feb. 28, 2022. Hong Kong recorded 34,466 new COVID-19 cases and 87 deaths on Monday. In the past week, 117,033 confirmed cases were recorded, bringing the total number of cases since the latest wave began on Dec. 30 last year to 158,683, which is 12 times the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong in the previous two years. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met President Ram Nath Kovind and briefed him on various issues, including the situation in Ukraine. According to the government sources, Modi updated him about the government's efforts to evacuate Indian nationals from the war-torn country under the recently launched 'Operation Ganga'. He also updated him that over 1,600 Indian students have been evacuated from Ukraine till this morning as the seventh Air India Express flight landed in Mumbai with 182 Indians, mostly students, who departed from Budapest (Hungary) at midnight Monday. Modi further updated him that he had directed the Ministry of External Affairs officials to make proper arrangements for the students who will be coming to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania till they depart for India. Detailing the initiatives, the Prime Minister also apprised the President that four senior Cabinet Ministers are departing to the neighbouring countries Poland, Hungary Slovakia and Romania as his 'Special Envoy' to oversee the evacuation mission and with the visit of four senior ministers to various nations will energise the evacuation efforts, the sources said. He also updated Kovind that India will extend help to people from the neighbouring countries and developing countries who are stranded in Ukraine under India's motto of the world being one family. The first consignment of relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian situation on Ukraine's borders would be dispatched Tuesday, the Prime Minister informed the President. Prime Minister Modi is personally monitoring the situation and he has already chaired three high-level meetings till Monday evening. The Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is leaving for Romania and Moldova, Kiren Rijiju to Slovakia, Hardeep Singh Puri to Hungary and Gen VK Singh (Retd) will be going to Poland to oversee the evacuation of Indian nationals. NEW YORK, March 1 (Reuters) - Two British men have been charged by federal prosecutors in New York with defrauding people into investing nearly $100 million in loans supposedly backed by an inventory of expensive wine that did not actually exist. According to a grand jury indictment announced on Tuesday, Stephen Burton and James Wellesley induced people to invest in loans supposedly brokered by their company Bordeaux Cellars and collateralized by wine they stored for wealthy collectors. Bordeaux Cellars allegedly had custody of thousands fewer wines than loan documents reflected, including wine from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti in Burgundy and Chateau Lafleur in Bordeaux, court papers showed. Prosecutors said Burton and Wellesley both used multiple aliases, and used loan proceeds to make fraudulent interest payments to investors or for personal expenses, in a scheme running from June 2017 to February 2019. "These defendants duped investors by offering them an intoxicating investment opportunity collateralized by valuable bottles of fine wine that turned out to be too good to be true," U.S. Attorney Breon Peace in Brooklyn said in a statement. Burton, 55, and Wellesley, 57, were each charged with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, and could face up to 20 years in prison. Lawyers for the defendants could not immediately be identified. Wellesley was arrested on Feb. 4 in the United Kingdom, and Burton is a fugitive, prosecutors said. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Will Dunham) LondonMetric Property PLC - invests in distribution and long-income properties across UK - announces three grocery lettings across its long income and retail park assets in Ashford, Totton and Tonbridge. At Ashford, LondonMetric has signed a new 25 year lease with Lidl on the form 32,000 square feet Hitchcock & King unit, at a rent of GBP600,000 per annum. At Totton, Southampton, company agrees with Lidl to extend its representation to 21,000 square feet on a new 20 year lease at a rent of GBP300,000 per annum. Finally at Tonbridge, LondonMetric lets a 14,000 square feet unit to Food Warehouse on a new 15-year lease at a rent of GBP300,000 per annum. Current stock price: 256.20 pence 12-month change: up 18% By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Scholium Group PLC - London-based rare books, arts and collectibles - Promotes Bernard Shapero to chief executive officer and board director. Shapero is founder & managing director of Shapero Rare Books Ltd, the core trading division of Scholium. Also hires Philip Tansey to be part-time chief financial officer, replacing the retiring Peter Floyd. Tansey was CFO of brokers WH Ireland and Panmure Gordon. Both appointments are effective from Tuesday. David Harland remains chair, having taken on the role back in November, replacing Jasper Allen. Current stock price: 38.21 pence 12-month change: up 7.6% By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. XP Power Ltd - FTSE-250 listed Singapore-based maker of power controllers - Revenue is up 33% year-on-year to GBP343.4 million in 2021, from GBP258.0 million. Profit before tax dropped 20% to GBP28.4 million from GBP35.7 million in 2020. Adjusted pretax profit is GBP43.8 million, down 1% year-on-year from GBP46.0 million, with the key adjusting item being an ongoing legal case in North America. Gross margin decreases by 210 basis points to 45%, due to increased freight costs and higher production costs at Vietnamese factory due to Covid. Declares final dividend of 36.0p, unchanged from the prior year. Total dividend is up 27% to 94.0p from 74.0p in 2020. Order book at December 31 is at a record high of GBP217.0 million, up from GBP124.1 million a year before. "The clear highlight of the year was our record order book which underlines the strength of demand for XP Power's products. Revenues were above those achieved for 2020 and we delivered robust profitability and strong cash conversion despite the difficult global backdrop," said Chair James Peters. Peters announces he will resign after company's annual general meeting in April 2023. Jamie Pike succeeds him, and is appointed as chair designate and non-executive director. Pike has been chair at Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC since 2019. Current stock price: 4,040.00 pence, down 6.9% on Tuesday 12-month change: down 25% By Elizabeth Winter; elizabethwinter@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Sharecast News) - London stocks were set to edge lower at the open on Tuesday as the crisis in Ukraine continues to weigh on sentiment. The FTSE 100 was called to open around 19 points lower at 7,439.00. Swissquote senior analyst Ipek Ozkardeskay said: "Just a week ago, we were living in a united world, where there were tensions. But now, the world is divided between the Russians and the rest. The economic implications are as severe as the real world impacts and the risk appetite is limited. "Yesterday's talks in Belarus between the Ukrainian and Russian committees were overshadowed by the intensifying military fight in Ukraine. Putin, who seems frustrated with the Ukrainian resistance, and the Westerns sanctions imposed sanctions to the West on his turn by closing its airspace to 36 countries and banning its residents from transferring hard currency abroad. "The direct implication of Russian sanctions was a surge in cryptocurrency prices, and especially Bitcoin. The coin, which was moving along with the risk assets less than a couple of days ago is now The Asset that Russians and Ukrainians rely on to get their funds out of the traditional system which has become very hostile to them. It is reported that Bitcoin purchases using Rubles and Hryvnias soared as Russia imposed sanctions on its citizens." In UK corporate news, Abrdn's annual profit rose as the asset manager posted higher full-year revenue for the first time since the it was formed from a merger in 2017. Adjusted operating profit for the year to the end of December rose 47% to 323m as revenue increased to 1.52bn from 1.43bn. Pre-tax profit under IFRS accounting rules rose to 1.12bn from 838m. Net outflows were 3.2bn compared with 12.3bn a year earlier. Abrdn kept its annual dividend unchanged at 14.6p a share. GlaxoSmithKline said the European Medicines Agency has accepted a marketing authorisation application (MAA) for its daprodustat treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The MAA includes positive data from the ASCEND Phase III clinical trial programme, which included five pivotal studies assessing the efficacy and safety of daprodustat for the treatment of anaemia across the course of CKD. Critical power control solutions manufacturer XP Power saw reported profits slump in 2021 despite improved order intake and a modest uptick in revenues. XP Power said full-year operating profits had fallen 21% to 29.7m and pre-tax profits had sunk 20% to 28.4m as a 210 basis point decrease in gross margins to 45.1% offset a 33% improvement in order intake 343.4m and 3% revenue growth to 240.3m. BEIRUT, March 1 (Reuters) - A London court has ordered two Lebanese banks to pay a depositor $4 million of his money locked in Lebanon's crippled banking system by informal capital controls in place since a financial meltdown in 2019, the first such ruling in Britain. The High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, ordered Bank Audi and SGBL to make the payments, amounting to about $1.1 million and $2.9 million respectively, to claimant Vatche Manoukian by March 4, a copy of the ruling seen by Reuters said. "Bank Audi will abide by the ruling of the British court," a Bank Audi official told Reuters. SGBL did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lebanon's financial system collapsed in 2019 after years of unsustainable financial policies, corruption and waste. Banks imposed tight controls on accounts, including a de facto ban on withdrawals of dollar-denominated deposits and limits on withdrawals in local currency. These controls were never formalised with legislation and have been challenged in local and international courts, with mixed results. A UK court in December ruled in favour of a Lebanese bank in a case brought by a depositor, considering the bank had discharged its debt to the plaintiff by issuing checks for the value of his deposits. Many Lebanese banks have resorted to discharging dollar-denominated funds via banker's cheques which cannot be cashed out in dollars and are instead sold on the market at about a quarter of their value. Just a week prior, a French court had ruled in favour of a saver residing in France in a case she brought against a bank which had also issued checks for her account balance, saying the unilateral move by the bank, opposed by the claimant, meant the bank had not fulfilled its obligations. (Reporting by Timour Azhari and Tom Perry Editing by Mark Potter) Groundbreaking document paved way for normalization of Sino-US relations Cui Tiankai, 70, the longest-serving Chinese ambassador to the United States, little knew 50 years ago the extent to which US President Richard Nixons ice-breaking trip to China would affect the world in coming decades. The same applied to Cuis thoughts on the China-US joint communique, also known as the Shanghai Communique, which was issued during the visit. When Nixon arrived in Beijing on Feb 21, 1972, Cui was working as a tractor driver in a rural area of Heilongjiang province, helping grow wheat and soybeans. It was big news for us that the president of the United States was coming to China. We had a sense that something might happen and that there could be some changes in the relations between China and the United States, but we did not know exactly what those changes might be, Cui said. We were certainly not aware of the broader, more fundamental changes, that might be taking place in the world. We were certainly not aware of the changes that would affect our personal lives in the coming decades. The senior diplomat engaged with three US administrations during his time in Washington as ambassador from April 2013 to June last year, and watched as Sino-US relations plunged to historical lows, marred by a trade war, escalating tensions and a highly politicized pandemic. The Shanghai Communique was something new in diplomacy, as the two countries agreed to state different views in the same document. As a political document signed by two sovereign states, it should be honored and implemented, Cui added. However, there are very dangerous things coming up, he said, and over the years, there has been a clear violation by the US of the letter and spirit of the Shanghai Communique, causing concern for China. With a view to working toward the normalization of joint relations, the Shanghai Communique was issued by China and the US hours before Nixon ended his week-long China visit on Feb 28, 1972. Together with the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the Joint Communique on Arms Sales to Taiwan, the Shanghai Communique constitutes the foundation for the development of China-US relations. The US acknowledges in the Shanghai Communique that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Straits maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The Taiwan question has been the most sensitive in China-US relations. China and the US also acknowledged their differences in the Shanghai Communique, but agreed on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, including non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. Throughout the last five years, I set out in an attempt to pay heed to Womens History Month by researching the lives of some of the lesser known women from Manistees past women whose names were not as locally well-known as people like the Ramsdells or the Filers are today. As the museum is filled with photo after photo of people who we dont know much about but are a part of the countys history I thought it might be interesting to pick a random album or folder, flip through it and with my index finger land on the first photograph of a woman that it willed and attempt to write an article about that woman employing the museums various research resources. So with that in mind, I am continuing that same process once again this year. For this first article in the sixth volume of the series, I picked a folder from the museums collection titled, Vault Files - N and picked out a photograph of Matilda Nelson. Whenever one attempts to research an individual it often helps if the last name of said person is somewhat less commonplace. Many times this will, in essence, provide one with a quicker and more easygoing search. To this end, when a visitor comes into the museum and wants to search through our genealogy files, I will, of course, ask them what the name of the person is that they are looking for. Most times the name can be found without too much of a hassle but there are times when the researcher replies with something like, John Smith. After hearing this name or something similarly commonplace I attempt to keep my composure, but if a thought balloon were to, by chance, escape from my mind it would probably illustrate me burying my head into my hands. Regardless, something similar happened to me last week when attempting to figure out an individual to write about for this particular series of articles. As I picked out the aforementioned photo of Matilda Nelson and read her handwritten name and the year 1899 on the back of the photo, my line of thinking was, Even though her last name is somewhat common in Manistee, this shouldnt be too difficult This of course, led me to our genealogy files where I came across not one, not two, but three different Matilda Nelsons. Making the search for information about the Matilda Nelson from the photo a little more challenging is the spelling of the first name, as it is often spelled Matilda or Mathilda and there are times when names are documented incorrectly leading to extra confusion. While a theory but not an exact confirmation can be formed as to who the Matilda Nelson is in the accompanying photo, I will list the information of each Matilda Nelson found in the museums files and explain said possible theory. Matilda Nelson #1 Dated 1899, the accompanying photo shows what looks to be a teenage Matilda Nelson with the surname Nelson being her maiden name as she presumably hadnt married at the time the photo was taken. In addition, a card showing cemetery information shows that a Matilda Nelson was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery in 1951. Along with the date of her death, Oct. 27, 1951 the headstone also tells her birthdate, April 28, 1886. This would line up with her age as being roughly 13 at the time the photo was taken. Further information on a Miss Matilda Nelson can be found in an issue of the Manistee News Advocate from Dec., 1914. The brief mention is as follows: Miss Matilda Nelson, kindergarten teacher of the Third Ward School, entertained the kindergarten teachers of the different buildings at the Congregational church supper Tuesday evening. The only other reference to a Miss Matilda Nelson found in the museums files is a very brief death notice published in the News Advocate on November 2, 1951: Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Hanson, 341 Fourth St., have received word of the death of Miss Matilda Nelson of Baltimore, Maryland. Miss Nelson was a former resident of Manistee and taught kindergarten here recently had been employed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Internment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery. So taking into account that this Matilda Nelson was never married, she would presumably have to be the Matilda Nelson from the photo as her name seemingly never changed and in her death notice, she was still referred to as a Miss. Mathilda Nelson #2 Records show that the second Mathilda Nelson (maiden name Peterson) was born in Sweden in 1863 and arrived in the United States when she was 12 years old. She married Nicholas Nelson and resided in Ludington for several decades. In 1931, she moved from Ludington to Manistee and made her home with her son at 309 Third St. where she passed away at the age of 90. She was later laid to rest in Lakeview Cemetery in Ludington. At the time of her death she was survived by three daughters, three sons, 14 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. While she may not be the Matilda Nelson pictured in the photograph, she does have an interesting connection to the first Matilda Nelson mentioned in this article in that she passed away on Oct. 25, 1951, just two days before Matilda Nelson #1 passed away. File graphic Mathilda Nelson #3 The third Matilda Nelson was also born in Sweden and arrived in Manistee in 1904. Listed as the wife of George Nelson, she was a homemaker and was a member of the Mission Covenant Church and of the church Ladies Aid Society. She passed away at the age of 60 on Jan. 29, 1943 at her home located at 320 River St. With the third Matilda Nelson not arriving in Manistee until 1904, the timeline of when the photo was taken doesnt match up thus taking her out of the running as the Matilda Nelson. So, with all of this brought to light, the question somewhat remains is the woman pictured in this photo one of the previously mentioned Matilda Nelsons signs point to Matilda Nelson #1 or could it be yet another Matilda Nelson that the museum does not have any information about. Unless someone comes forth with another theory or yet another Matilda Nelson, well never really fully know. One thing is for certain: attempting to find out information on who the pictured Matilda Nelson is, is still a lot less complicated than attempting to figure out information on a John Smith. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has condoled the death of Naveen Gyangoudar, an Indian student who was killed in Ukraine's Kharkiv on Tuesday morning. Naveen hails from Haveri in Karnataka, and is the first Indian casualty of the deadly face-off between Ukraine and Russia. The Chief Minister called up Naveen's father, Shekhar Gouda and consoled him. Terming the development as a real tragedy, the Chief Minister assured the family of all support for bringing back Naveen's mortal remains to India. He said that the state government is following up on the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs. Recounting his son's last phone call to him earlier Tuesday morning, an emotional Shekhar Gouda said that Naveen used to telephone him at least two or three times a day. Naveen was studying in Ukraine for the last 4 years. According to family sources, the tragedy occurred when he went out to have his breakfast. Mankatos City Council coalesced around this proposed new ward map Monday night. Current council members live in the proposed new Ward 1 (Karen Foreman), Ward 2 (Dennis Dieken), Ward 4 (Jenn Melby-Kelley) and Ward 5 (Jessica Hatanpa and Mark Frost). No incumbents live in proposed Ward 3. The wards in place for the past decade are shown in the inset map on the upper left. Roman Abramovich has reportedly accepted Ukraine's offer to participate in peace talks and try to bring an end to Russia's invasion of the neighbouring country. Many eyebrows were raised after the Russian businessman announced his decision to step down from his duties in charge of Chelsea, following Vladimir Putin's decision to launch a military operation in Ukraine. According to Jewish News, Ukraine made contact with Abramovich to ask him to mediate in their bid to negotiate a peaceful settlement with Russia. "I can confirm that the Ukrainian side have been trying to find someone in Russian willing to help them in finding a peaceful resolution," said a spokesperson for the Russian billionaire. "They are connected to Mr Abramovich through the Jewish community and reached out to him for help. Mr Abramovich has been trying to mobilise support for a peaceful resolution ever since. "Although Mr Abramovich's influence is limited, he is the only one who responded and taken it upon himself to try. If this will have an impact or not, I don't know, but I am in contact with [Ukraine president Volodymyr] Zelenskiy's staff myself, and know that they are grateful for his genuine efforts." The conflict in Ukraine is continuing this Tuesday, with several Russian attacks having taken place over the course of Monday night. Monday was a big day in terms of sanctions against Russia and more developments are expected this Tuesday, so we'll keep you up to date on this live blog with all the latest news from Kyiv and from across Ukraine. Russia Ukraine Live Blog 06:45 GMT/ 00:45 CST: Despite all the bombings, Ukraine remains in power. Despite all the bombs dropped all over the country, Ukraine remains in of the entire nation. Russian trs have attempted to take over through various means but they haven't succeeded yet. Good morning from Ukraine We're still standing! ? Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) March 2, 2022 06:18 GMT/ 00:18 CST: Russia drops a vacuum bomb in the city of Kharkov. A vacuum bomb that turns night into day is dropped in the city of Kharvkov, it's a vacuum bomb, one of the most lethal in the world just below a nuclear bomb. The images are terrifying. It was a blow to the tank school in Kharkov Vacuum bomb - the most powerful non-nuclear... 01.03.2022#Kharkivpic.twitter.com/KlwIPPiOWZ ? _ua (@vladyslava111) March 2, 2022 06:06 GMT/ 00:06 CST: Air Raid Sirens go off on multiple cities in Ukraine. Right after the speech from Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin started ordering more missile strikes and shelling throughout the entire country of Ukraine. Kyiv, Dnipro, Chernihiv, Poltava and Sumy all get warnings. The Times cartoon after just 6 days of Putin's Ukraine War pic.twitter.com/YrWZRQzcFS ? Business Ukraine mag (@Biz_Ukraine_Mag) March 1, 2022 05:58 GMT/ 23:58 CST: Russians hit the memorial to the massacre at Babi Yar During last night's bombardments, the Russians hit the site outside Kyiv where the Nazis massacred most of Kyiv's Jewish population in WW2. The Russians have hit the memorial to the massacre at Babi Yar. The site outside Kyiv where the Nazis massacred most of Kyiv's Jewish population in WW2. Pics of new memorial taken there in January. pic.twitter.com/zvtWVJdvmH ? Eleanor Beardsley (@ElBeardsley) March 2, 2022 05:50 GMT/ 23:50 CST: Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA grateful after receiving an ovation during Biden's SOTU address Oksana Markarova said it was a "historic honor to accept rounds of applauds" during theState of the Union. Historic honor to accept rounds of applauds at US President's #SOTU to people, military and President @ZelenskyyUa. I am deeply grateful to @POTUS, @FLOTUS and all Americans for strong support. Ukraine stood up to evil and the whole civilized world needs to #StopPutin now https://t.co/vkgO4TbG88 ? Oksana Markarova (@OMarkarova) March 2, 2022 05:45 GMT/ 23:45 CST: Images after overnights' bombardment at Kharkiv Kharkiv, after the overnights bombardment. https://t.co/KueAINjVTI ? Gregor Martin (@Guderian_Xaba) March 2, 2022 05:40 GMT/ 23:40 CST: Drones in Kyiv recreate "Russian warship, go f*ck yourself" Drones in Kyiv recreate now-proverbial answer of Ukrainian border guards on Zmiyinyi Island after Russians sent surrender request before bombing it. "Russian warship, go f*ck yourself" Drones in Kyiv recreate now-proverbial answer of Ukrainian border guards on Zmiyinyi Island after Russians sent surrender request before bombing it. Monument is "Mother Motherland," commemorates resistance to Nazis in WWII, faces Moscow pic.twitter.com/d53THrB2df ? Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) March 2, 2022 05:23 GMT/ 23:23 CST: Bank if Russia decided not to resume trading today at the Moscow Stock Exchange Bank of #Russia decided not to resume trading today at the Moscow Stock Exchange. ? Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) March 2, 2022 05:05 GMT/ 2305 CST: The U.S. Department of Justice is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of Russian oligarchs .@POTUS: "The U.S. Department of Justice is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of Russian oligarchs. We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets." pic.twitter.com/IgtLBWGVDz ? The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 2, 2022 04:34 GMT/22:34 CST: The International Court of Justice will hold public hearings on Crimes of Genocide in Russia's war in Ukraine The International Court of Justice will hold public hearings on Crimes of Genocide in Russia's war in Ukraine.#StopRussia#RussiaInvadedUkraine ? Stratcom Centre UA (@StratcomCentre) March 1, 2022 03:45 GMT/ 21:45 CST: Russian Colonel Viktor Isaikin died on a military assignment Artem Zdunov, who heads Russias Mordovian Republic, reported the death of Russian Colonel Viktor Isaikin. Zdunov said that Colonel Isaikin was sent to Ukraine on a "military assignment." ? The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 2, 2022 03: 40 GMT/ 21:40 CST: US has closed its airspace to Russian airlines US has closed its airspace to Russian aircraft https://t.co/6zG4k0A0IA ? Olga Lautman (@OlgaNYC1211) March 2, 2022 03:32 GMT/ 21: 32 CST: Vladimir Putin signs decree to prohibiting Russians from leaving the country with more than $10,000 in foreign currency Vladimir Putin signs decree to prohibiting Russians from leaving the country with more than $10,000 in foreign currency. The move follows the sanctions the U.S. and allies have imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. ? The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 2, 2022 03: 26 GMT/ 21:26 CST: Geolocation of video showing massive explosion at or near Chuhuiv Airbase 02:20 GMT/ 20:20 CST: Joe Biden said US troops won't engage in Ukraine Joe Biden said US troops won't be part of the war happening in Ukraine. However, he sent US troops to protect NATO allied countries. 02:16 GMT/ 20:16: Russian opposition figures ask to exclude Russia from INTERPOL Russian opposition figures ask to exclude Russia from INTERPOLhttps://t.co/SRZc0IacFs ? Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) March 2, 2022 02:11 GMT/ 20:11 CST: Joe Biden says: Putin "miscalculated" his invasion and sub estimated the Ukrainian people Joe Biden invited Ukranian ambassador in the US to his State if the Union speech. 01:50 GMT/ 19:50 CST: Biden addresses Russia's invasion during SOTU Joe Biden will address the Russian invasion at the State of the Union address. WATCH LIVE 01:12 GMT/ 19:12 CST: Russian column accumulating in the direction of Melitopol was destroyed According to european Zaporizhia, 200 technical vehicles of the invaders were smashed by Ukrainian artillery. According to (European Zaporizhia) a Russian column accumulating in the direction of Melitopol was destroyed. Near Vasylivka, on the east bank of the Dnipro River, about 200 technical vehicles of the invaders were smashed by Ukrainian artillery. pic.twitter.com/kfHBCGgkaY ? Michael MacKay (@mhmck) March 2, 2022 00:35 GMT/ 18:35 CST: Belarussian army is put on alert - it is expected to join Russian invaders for war against Ukraine According to Ukranian Defense Ministry, the Belarussian army is expected to join Russian invaders in Ukraine. They concentrated armed forces, supplies, and ammo in close proximity to Ukraine's state border. Belarussian army is put on alert - it is expected to join Russian invaders for war against Ukraine, says Defense Ministry in Kyiv. Infantry, rangers, aircraft, supplies of food and ammunition - all concentrated in close proximity to Ukraines state border: Baranovichi, Pinsk. ? Ivan Verstyuk (@VerstyukIvan) March 2, 2022 00:12 GMT/ 18:12 CST: UK closes ports to ships from Russia and extends financial sanctions UK closes ports to ships from Russia and extends financial sanctions. Faces when Russians read the news pic.twitter.com/UEEuWKFB8M ? Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) March 2, 2022 23:40 GMT / 17:40 CST: Missile hits maternity clinic in Kiev A maternity clinic in Kiev was hit by a missile, according to a social media post by the head of the Adonis maternity clinic, Vitaliy Gyrin. "A missile hit the maternity clinic. There was a lot of damage, but the building is standing. Everyone has been evacuated," Gyrin wrote on his Facebook page. 23:30 GMT / 17:30 CST: Missile attack on Zhitomir and Kiev leaves at least two dead The city of Zhitomir, northwest of Kiev, has come under missile attack, leaving at least two dead, three injured, damage to 10 homes, three of them set on fire, and broken glass at a nearby hospital, according to Ukrainian emergency services. Bombs have also hit several neighborhoods in Kiev and its suburbs, especially the one surrounding the capital's international airport, according to The Kyiv Independent. 22:50 GMT / 16:50 CST: Biden to accuse Putin of 'premeditated and unprovoked' invasion of Ukraine President Joe Biden in his first State of the Union address tonight will strongly single out Russian President Vladimir Putin for a "premeditated and unprovoked" war, according to excerpts released by the White House. "He rejected attempts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO would not respond, and he thought he could divide us here at home. Putin was wrong. We were ready," some excerpts read. Tomorrow at 9 PM ET, @POTUS will speak directly to the American people about the historic progress weve made, the work that lies ahead, and his optimism for the future. Watch the State of the Union live on @WhiteHouse and @POTUS social media or visit https://t.co/NBwmb75mb3. ? The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 28, 2022 22:30 GMT / 16:30 CST: Donors pledge $1.5 billion for Ukraine Different organizations and countries have pledged the UN $1.5 billion to immediately support the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine. "This is one of the fastest and most generous responses to an urgent humanitarian request received to date," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. 21:50 GMT / 15:50 CST: Two Ukrainian footballers die in combat The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) has announced the death of two Ukrainian players as a result of Russia's military operation in Ukraine. Vitalii Sapylo (21) and Dmytro Martynenko (25) lost their lives in combat. Sapylo was part of Karpaty Lviv's youth team and, as his club has made public, died last Friday. Martynenko, who played for FC Gostomel, died after Russian bombs hit his home during one of the attacks. 21:20 GMT / 15:20 CST: Apple also reacts against Russia Renowned technology brand Apple has announced the suspension of online sales of its products to Russia. This stance by the U.S. company comes after Mykhailo Fedorov, deputy prime minister of Ukraine, sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook requesting to reduce the supply of products and services in Russia. In addition, Apple announced the removal of state-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik from its App Store in other countries. Apple confirms it has paused all product sales in Russia. RT News and Sputnik News apps also no longer available outside Russia pic.twitter.com/5E1lXC8ffs ? Ian Sherr (@iansherr) March 1, 2022 21:10 GMT / 15:10 CST: Gazprom subsidiary company declares bankruptcy Collateral damage from the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to mount. Now Nord Stream 2 AG, a company owned by Russian gas giant Gazprom filed for bankruptcy, according to the Ministry of Economy in Zug, the Swiss city where it is based. Nord Stream 2 AG, which was in charge of building and operating the gas pipeline bearing the same name, could no longer afford to make payments. 20:20 GMT / 14:20 CST: EU excludes Russian banks from SWIFT system At the request of the European Union, a total of seven Russian banks will be suspended from the SWIFT interbank communications system, according to Bloomberg. The excluded banks are VTB, Rossiya, Otkritie, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Sovcombank and VEB, although Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, and Gazprombank, related to gas giant Gazprom, were not included. The SWIFT platform connects more than 11,000 organizations (financial and non-financial) in more than 200 countries. 19:40 GMT / 13:40 CST: Zelenskyy condemns attack on Holocaust memorial Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned in a social media post the destruction of a Holocaust memorial during the Russian attack on a TV antenna. "To the world: what is the point of saying never again for 80 years, if the world stays silent when a bomb drops on the same site of Babyn Yar? At least 5 killed. History repeating..." Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter. The death toll from this attack would have amounted to at least 8 victims. To the world: what is the point of saying never again for 80 years, if the world stays silent when a bomb drops on the same site of Babyn Yar? At least 5 killed. History repeating... ? (@ZelenskyyUa) March 1, 2022 19:00 GMT / 13:00 CST: International Court of Justice calls for hearing A hearing has been convened for March 7-8 by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which will focus on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The court is expected to expand on the charges of genocide against Russia carried out on Ukrainian territory. 17:00 GMT / 11:00 CST: What is the 'Z' on Russian army vehicles? A letter 'Z' is displayed on tanks, trucks and other army vehicles of the Russian army, which at times appears framed within rectangles and even triangles, although no official explanation has been given. One of the hypotheses is that they serve to avoid 'friendly fire' between other Russian combat vehicles, as the Russian and Ukrainian tanks are of the same model. Read the full story here. 16:00 GMT / 10:00 CST: Share prices fall Share prices across Europe and the US fell drastically on Tuesday as an extended consequence of the war in Ukraine. US, Europe and UK markets have plummeted amid fears about the wider impact of the conflict. 15:30 GMT / 09:30 CST: Snake Island soldiers may still be alive A group of Ukrainian soldiers who were feared dead after their defiant response to a Russian warship may still be alive, according to Ukrainian officials. The soldiers rose to fame last week after a Russian warship had told them to surrender on the first day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last Thursday. A group of Ukrainian border guards were stationed on Snake Island, in the Black Sea south of Odessa, when a Russian warship ordered them to surrender under threat of attack. Their response: "Russian warship, go fuck yourself." They held their ground. All 13 were killed. pic.twitter.com/GMRsXQRSX0 ? Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) February 25, 2022 "We sincerely hope that the boys will return home as soon as possible and the information received at the time of the attack on the death will not be confirmed," read a statement by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The statement went on to add that, according to media reports in Russia, the captured soldiers were sent to Sevastopol, a city in Crimea. 14:45 GMT / 08:45 CST: Explosions in Kyiv Following the reports of an imminent attack on Kyiv, explosions have been heard in the capital city. Air raid sirens have now sounded, with people rushing to their nearest shelter. Explosion heard in Kyiv. Air raid sirens went off a minute later, reminding residents to head to the nearest shelter. ? The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 1, 2022 14:30 GMT / 08:30 CST: Russia Today to be blacked out in Europe It is expected that Russia Today's European broadcasts will be blacked out this Tuesday evening. The channel distributing the signal is based in Luxembourg and has been finalising the details that would allow it to legally cut the signal. 14:10 GMT / 08:10 CST: More talks scheduled for Wednesday According to the Russian state news agency Tass, a second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine's leaders has been scheduled for Wednesday. They already met for negotiations near the Belarus-Ukraine border on Monday, but without much progress. 13:50 GMT / 07:50 CST: Russia defence ministry warns Kyiv residents to leave their homes Russia's defence ministry has announced that it will launch an imminent attack on buildings in the centre of Kyiv and has urged local residents to leave the area. "In order to thwart informational attacks against Russia, [Russian forces] will strike technological objects of the SBU and the 72nd Main PSO Center in Kiev," a statement from the Russian defence ministry started. "We urge Ukrainian citizens involved by Ukrainian nationalists in provocations against Russia, as well as Kiev residents living near relay stations, to leave their homes." 13:30 GMT / 07:30 CST: Ursula von der Leyen speaks Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, has spoken about the situation in Ukraine. "This is a watershed moment for our union," she said. "We cannot take our security and the protection of people for granted. We have to stand up for it. Ukraine is facing the darkest hour. At the same time, the Ukrainian people are holding up the torch of freedom for all of us, they are showing immense courage. They are defending their lives, but they are also fighting for universal values and they are willing to die for them. President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people are our true inspiration." 13:10 GMT / 07:10 CST: Diplomats stage walk-out at the UN Human Rights Council As Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov started to speak to the UN Human Rights Council, diplomats from several countries walked out of the room. Ukrainian ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko thanked colleagues for this gesture. HRC members walk out once Lavrov's video began to play in the session of the Council. Enough of exposure to the deranged lunacy of war criminals. We will listen to you at International Tribunal for War Crimes of Putin's Regime pic.twitter.com/neDqBYccxk ? Sergiy Kyslytsya (@SergiyKyslytsya) March 1, 2022 12:40 GMT / 06:40 CST: Zelenskiy speaks to the EU parliament Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken to the EU parliament and urged European leaders to support Ukraine. "Nobody is going to enter and intervene with our freedom and country, nobody is going to break us, we are strong, we are Ukrainians," he said. "Prove that you are with us. Prove that you will not let us go. Prove that you indeed are Europeans and that life will win over death, and light will win over darkness." 12:10 GMT / 06:10 CST: Zelensky labels Russia a "terrorist state" Following the Russian attack on the main square in Kharkiv, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken and he has said that Russia is now "a terrorist state". Zelensky calls it exactly like it is after Russian shelling devastates central Kharkiv. He describes the attack as a terrorist act and says Russia is a terrorist state. pic.twitter.com/qX7AuLPZtQ ? Tim OBrien (@TimOBrien) March 1, 2022 11:50 GMT / 05:50 CST: An update from United Nations human rights office The United Nations human rights office has provided an update on casualties, stating that at least 136 civilians have been killed, including 13 children, and 400 civilians have been injured since Russia started its invasion. 11:30 GMT / 05:30 CST: Investigation into possible war crimes Karim Khan, a prosecutor of the international criminal court (ICC) in The Hague, has announced that they will look into possible war crimes against humanity in Ukraine. 11:00 GMT / 05:00 CST: Russia insist sanctions won't work Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Western sanctions won't make Russia change its position on Ukraine. Even though several countries have tried to hit Russia economically and politically, they are continuing with their invasion of Ukraine. 10:30 GMT / 04:30 CST: Boris Johnson hits out at "barbaric" tactics Boris Johnson has held a press conference in Warsaw alongside Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki. "It is clear Putin is prepared to use barbaric and indiscriminate tactics against innocent civilians to bomb tower blocks, to send missiles into tower blocks to kill children," Johnson said during his speech. 10:05 GMT / 04:05 CST: Belarusian troops enter Ukraine According to the Ukrainian parliament, via the Kyiv Independent, Belarusian soldiers have crossed into Ukraine's Chernihiv Oblast to join Russia in its invasion of the country. Belarusian troops have entered Ukraine. According to parliament, Belarusian troops have entered Ukraine's Chernihiv Oblast to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. ? The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 1, 2022 09:50 GMT / 03:50 CST: Separatists aim to encircle Mariupol Denis Pushilin, a Donetsk separatist leader, is aiming for his forces to encircle the port of Mariupol by the end of this Tuesday. "That is today's task," he has said in a television interview. Mariupol is in the south-east of Ukraine. 09:20 GMT / 03:20 CST: Russian forces hit Independence Square in Kharkiv Independence Square in central Kharkiv has reportedly been hit by a blast from Russian forces. The State Emergency Service is also reporting that six people have been injured, including one child. Russian forces have struck Independence Square in central Kharkiv with a powerful explosion. According to a video of the event, the blast detonated right in front of the headquarters of the Kharkiv Oblast government. Video: Ukraine NOW/Telegram pic.twitter.com/poZjYcjRjD ? The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 1, 2022 08:35 GMT / 02:35 CST: Russian convoy approaches Kyiv Satellite images show that a large Russian military convoy is north of Kyiv and advancing to the capital. When the images were captured by Maxar, the convoy was said to be around 60km away from Kyiv. Maxar/AFP 08:00 GMT / 02:00 CST: Boris Johnson prepares to fly out UK prime minister will fly out to meet other leaders in in Poland and Estonia this Tuesday, as well as to spend time with British troops in the region. "We speak with one voice when we say Putin must fail," Johnson said ahead of the trip. 07:15 GMT / 01:15 CST: Russian forces enter Kherson There were reports during the night of the city of Kherson being surrounded by Russian troops, while video footage has also emerged showing Russian soldiers marching through the Kherson streets early this morning. A video shared by the UNIAN news agency on Telegram shows dozens of Russian soldiers walking though streets of Kherson early on March 1. ? The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 1, 2022 06:45 GMT / 00:45 CST: At least 70 Ukrainian soldiers killed Monday night was a tough one for the Ukrainian army, as at least 70 soldiers were killed when Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, according to the head of Sumy Regional State Administration Dmytro Zhyvytskyi. What steps does Ukraine still have to take to join the EU and NATO? What steps does Ukraine still have to take to join the EU and NATO? Ukraine is relying on help from the European Union and NATO in order to fend off the Russian invasion of the country. They have received aid from the European Peace Fund, but president Volodymyr Zelensky is taking the next step and has signed a petition to become a member of the EU, but it's a process that can't be done quickly Firstly, there are requirements drawn up by the EU for any country that wants to be part of it. The 27 EU-member countries must unanimously agree to allow Ukraine to join, which is likely to be the case given the situation in Ukraine. Once the application for membership has been signed, it goes to the Commission, which must give its approval. The European Council then have a vote and it's only then when Ukraine can officially become a member of the EU. It's a process which will take at least 12 months. However, the European Parliament will ask in an extraordinary plenary session to speed up this process. "Ukraine is s one of our own and we want them in the EU," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. What EU requirements must Ukraine meet? In short, Ukraine must demonstrate to the EU that it is a strong democracy, with a powerful economy, in order to meet the expectations set by the organisation. All these aspects are studied according to the Copenhagen criteria, which encompass aspects of democracy, economy and politics. Ukraine must guarantee stable institutions to maintain democracy, a healthy economy capable of meeting the EU's requests and to obey EU laws and obligations. Up to seven countries are waiting to join the EU Another problem for Ukraine is there is a waiting list to join the EU. These countries are split into two groups: potential candidates and accession candidates. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are in the potential candidates group, whilst Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Montenegro are in the accession category. Ukraine's poor economic capacity, due to the conflict, puts them in a difficult position, so Zelensky's government may be an EU membership candidate but the process can only be sped up at the request of the European Council. Will Ukraine join NATO? To be part of the 30-member NATO, you have to be invited so a candidate country will receive an action plan that it must comply with. Ukraine received this invitation in 2008, but it came to nothing. In its previous attempt to join NATO, Ukraine was more aligned with Russia's policies, but that has changed over the last decade. However, NATO is an organisation that defends its member countries and Ukraine might not contribute as much in this sense. After an Indian Student died in Ukraine, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that the government needs a strategic plan to evacuate stranded Indians. He also offered condolences on the demise of the student. Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Received the tragic news of an Indian student Naveen losing his life in Ukraine. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. I reiterate, GOI needs a strategic plan for safe evacuation. Every minute is precious." Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family." He also said: "We convey our deepest condolences to the family." India's foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate India's demand for urgent safe passage of the Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and other cities in conflict zones. "Similar action is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine," Bagchi said. Russia shelled the Ukrainian city of the second largest city Kharkiv on Tuesday damaging various installations over there. The Russian troops have also surrounded Ukraine capital city Kiev on Tuesday and asked civilians to leave the city on the urgent note. "All civilians in the city can freely leave the Ukrainian capital along the Kiev-Vasylkiv highway. This direction is open and safe," Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. Immediately thereafter, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine asked the stranded nationals to leave Kiev immediately by any means. Weather Alert ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be 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...Through Thursday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Main-stem river flooding is expected in several locations. Extensive low land flooding will be likely in some areas, especially where the heavier rain has already occurred. Many low-water crossings will likely become flooded. Area creeks and streams are already running high and will likely flood with more heavy rain. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Additional rounds of thunderstorms with very heavy rain are expected this evening through the overnight hours. 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 Thursday afternoon. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor the latest forecast and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action quickly should flooding develop. Be especially cautious while driving at night. Do not drive through water of unknown depth. && The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday asked the stranded nationals to leave Kyiv immediately by any means as fighting has reached the Ukrainian capital city. "All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," Indian embassy said in an advisory. It is stated that Russian troops have reached Kyiv streets and aerial attacks are to begin. Early this morning, the embassy stated that the 400 students housed near the embassy since February 24 have successfully left Kyiv by train through Mission's efforts. "Ensured movement of more than 1,000 Indian students from Kyiv towards Western borders," the embassy had stated. However, a few students were left in Kyiv. Now the embassy directed all Indian citizens to leave the city on an urgent basis. On Monday, the Indian embassy in Ukraine had informed stranded nationals that weekend curfew had been lifted in Kyiv and advised them to move towards the railway station. "All students are advised to make their way to the railway station for onward journey to the western parts," said the embassy in a statement adding that for students stranded on the left side of Dnipro, there are metros and buses functioning which can be used to move to the train station for onward movement. Ukraine Railways is putting special trains for evacuations. "We sincerely request all Indian nationals/students to remain calm, peaceful and united," the embassy stated. A large crowd can be expected at the railway stations, therefore, it is advised that all Indian students remain patient, composed and especially not to exhibit aggressive behaviours while at the railway stations. The embassy stated that stranded citizens could expect delays in trains' schedule, even cancellation at times and long queues. Indian students are requested to carry their passports, sufficient cash, ready to eat meals, easy accessible winter clothing and only essential items, to ensure easy mobility. "Be mindful of your belongings at all times," the embassy stated. After the advisory, many students left Kyiv through trains. An Indian student was killed in Ukraine's Kharkiv on Tuesday morning in shelling as the war between Russia and Ukraine reached big cities' streets. India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family." He also said: "We convey our deepest condolences to the family." India's foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate India's demand for urgent safe passage for the Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones. "Similar action is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine," Bagchi said. Russia shelled the Ukrainian city of the second largest city Kharkiv on Tuesday damaging various installations over there. The Russian troops have also surrounded Ukraine capital city Kyiv on Tuesday and asked civilians to leave the city on the urgent note. "All civilians in the city can freely leave the Ukrainian capital along the Kyiv-Vasylkiv highway. This direction is open and safe," Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. Immediately thereafter, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine asked the stranded nationals to leave Kyiv immediately by any means. "All Indian nationals, including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available," Indian Embassy said in an advisory. Moscow continues to recognise Volodymyr Zelensky as the legitimate President of Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The Ukrainian leader "could order troops to lay down arms, and there would be no casualties", he suggested, RT reported. Asked about the post-invasion status of Ukraine and what Russia would expect from its future elections, Peskov said the issue had nothing to do with the Russian government. "The Kremlin cannot play a role in holding elections in Ukraine. It's a foreign country," he said. Peskov lamented Western attempts to put pressure on Russia over its attack on Ukraine, claiming that the US had induced on its European allies Washington's long-held taste for illegal restrictions. The practice "spread through Europe like an infection", he remarked, RT reported. Moscow will not submit to pressure, he said, adding that Russia perceived the retaliatory policies to be temporary. "With time, leaders will arise in the EU, who will have a broad vision and realise that they need to be developing together with our nation. We will be working with that potential in mind," he said. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR SERVICES February 28th ,2022 UNITED NATIONS CHILDRENS FUND (UNICEF) Wishes to invite you to submit a proposal for LRPS-2022-9173244 Conducting a comprehensive Joint Education Needs Assessment (JENA) in conflict-affected areas in DRC Offers should be sent by: E-mail to: rdctenders@unicef.org IMPORTANT ESSENTIAL INFORMATION The reference LRPS-2022-9173244 must be indicated in the offer in accordance with the instructions provided in this document. The Request for Proposal for Services (RFPS) Form on page 2 must be used when replying to this RFPS. Offers must be received at the above E-mail by latest 10:00 hours (GMT) on Thursday, March 22nd, 2022. Offers received after the stipulated date and time will be invalidated. It is important that you read all the provisions of the RFPS, to ensure that you understand UNICEFs requirements and can submit an offer in compliance with them. Note that failure to provide compliant offers may result in invalidation of your bid. Tenderers are invited to confirm their intention to participate by e-mail to rdcinfoprocurement@unicef.org to enable sharing any information/clarifications/amendment to tender documents. Clarifications will also be posted on the UNICEF DRC website at the following link: https://www.unicef.org/drcongo/agir/devenir-fournisseur, UNICEF will not be held responsible for misplaced of submission that have not followed the instructions given 01. Click here to download the complete document - PDF format 02. Click here to download the Annex - MS Word Using the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the Victor M. Blanco 4-m Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, astronomers have captured this image of the grand design spiral galaxy NGC 1566. NGC 1566 is located approximately 70 million light-years away in the constellation of Dorado. Colloquially nicknamed the Spanish Dancer, this grand-design spiral galaxy was discovered on May 28, 1826 by the Scottish astronomer James Dunlop. Two spiral arms of NGC 1566 appear to wind around the galactic core, just like the arms of a dancer as they spin around and around in a furious twirl. NGC 1566 is home to stars at all stages of stellar evolution, said Dr. Janice Lee, an astronomer with Gemini Observatory and NOIRLab, and her colleagues. In this image, the bright blue color that outlines the arms of the galaxy arises from young, brightly burning stars. Darker spots within these arms are dust lanes. The arms are rich in gas, and form large-scale areas that provide the perfect environment for new stars to form. Closer to the center of the galaxy are cooler, older stars and dust, all evident by the redder color in the image. At the center of NGC 1566 lies a supermassive black hole whose mass is estimated to be nearly 13 million solar masses. The distinct and highly luminous nucleus of the galaxy is known as an active galactic nucleus, the astronomers said. The light from the nucleus changes on timescales of only hundreds of days, making its exact classification difficult for us. NGC 1566 is the brightest member of the Dorado Group, a loose group comprised of at least 46 galaxies. NGC 1566 itself is so dominant that it has its own group, the NGC 1566 Group, the researchers said. The commanding role of this galaxy in the Dorado Group has made it a key target for scientists aiming to determine the distance to the group itself, thereby improving our understanding of large-scale structures within the Universe. Advertisement Patient preferences for overnight stays; Surgeon preferences for overnight stays; Late scheduling on theatre lists; Distances between patient home and hospital; Inadequate outpatient or primary care support; Lack of adequate social support; Private hospital-insurer financial arrangements; and, Lack of access to an appropriate day surgery facility. Media Release "The same-day inguinal hernia repair rate rose from 22.4% in 2004-05 to 24.6% in 2017-18," they reported. "By way of comparison, it increased in New Zealand from 42.7% to 46.5%, and in the United Kingdom from 45.8% to 67.8%.""We found that 23.1% of inguinal hernia repair procedures in Australia during 2000-19 were same-day procedures. The recent RACS 70-80% target was realised only for patients under 15 years of age who underwent unilateral repair."The benefits of same-day repair include out-of-pocket savings for patients, lower risk of procedure cancellation because of unavailable inpatient beds, lower risk of hospital infections, better patient-rated outcomes, better surgeon outcomes through standardized care, improved patient flow and resource allocation, and reduced cost to the health care system.Of the 875,111 hospital admissions (783,623, 89.5% for male patients) for correcting inguinal hernia, 202,018 (23.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 23.0%-23.2%) were same-day procedures; the rates were higher for unilateral repair (24.4%; 95% CI, 24.3%-24.5%), for female patients (28.6%; 95% CI, 28.3%-28.9%), and for patients under 15 years of age (69.5%; 95% CI, 69.2%-69.9%). The same-day hernia repair rate increased from 20.0% (95% CI, 19.6%-20.3%) in 2000-01 to 25.1% (95% CI, 24.7%-25.5%) in 2018-2019; for unilateral repairs it increased from 20.1% (95% CI, 19.7%-20.5%) to 26.7% (95% CI, 26.2%-27.1%), but the ratio for bilateral repairs remained unchanged (2000-2001: 19.2%; 95% CI, 18.2%-20.2%; 2018-19: 19.6%; 95% CI, 18.8%-20.3%). The rate decreased with the patient's age and exceeded 70% for patients under 15 years of age who underwent unilateral repair.The same-day inguinal hernia repair rate rose from 22.4% (22.0%-22.8%) in 2004-2005 to 24.6% (24.2%-25.0%) in 2017-18. By way of comparison, it increased in New Zealand from 42.7% (41.6%-43.9%) to 46.5% (45.4%-47.6%), and in the United Kingdom from 45.8% (45.5%-46.2%) to 67.8% (67.5%-68.2%). The mean rate for this period was substantially lower in Australia (23.3%; 23.2%-23.4%) than in New Zealand (46.1%; 45.7%-46.4%) or the United Kingdom (58.9%; 58.8%-60.0%). In New Zealand, the same-day rate was lower in private (41.8%; 41.2%-42.3%) than in public hospitals (47.8%; 47.5%-48.2%).It was found that 23.1% of inguinal hernia repair procedures in Australia in 2000-2019 were done in a same-day procedures. The latest RACS target of 70%-80% was realized only in patients under 15 years of age who were unilaterally repaired. Contrary to relatively stable, low rates in Australia, same-day rates were also higher in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The rise in the United Kingdom is partly explained by the fact that National Health Service Hospitals have received 200-250 (approximately $358-$447) for a same-day inguinal hernia repair procedure since the 1990s. Higher rates in New Zealand suggest that restrictions on same-day procedures may be related more to variations in surgical practice than to the health care system (public or private hospital).Most people who have a inguinal hernia repair in Australia may have multiple explanations for staying inpatient. The patient's report after same-day surgery is as good as the effects after staying overnight, but other factors may usually be a barrier to granting this option. Increasing the rates of same-day inguinal hernia repair involves the complex intervention of pre- and post-operative decisions by hospitals, surgeons and patients.Mills and colleagues listed some perceived barriers to same-day repair as:"Patient-reported outcomes following same-day surgery are at least as good as those after overnight stays, but other factors may be barriers to routinely providing this option," they concluded."Increasing same-day inguinal hernia repair rates will consequently involve a complex interplay of pre- and post-operative decisions by hospitals, surgeons, and patients."This study was supported by a Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and also formed a part of Joanna Mills' doctoral research at the Sydney Medical School. The authors received a project grant funding from the HCF Research Foundation and they acknowledge the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for providing the hospital admissions data.The study was also granted exemption from formal ethics review by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee.Source: Medindia Soon after the trailer of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was dropped online, fans and pop culture nerds around the world had gone crazy wondering if the voice that they heard for a few seconds was actually of Sir Patrick Stewart who played the iconic Professor X in the X-Men film series. It has been reported that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will feature around 25 different superhero cameos. This includes the X-Men, Fantastic Four and an Iron Man variant played by Tom Cruise. And the trailer teased Patrick Stewarts Professor Xs return. However, in the interviews for Season Two of his series Star Trek: Picard, the legendary actor kept playing coy. 20th Century Studios But, recently, it seems like he finally confirmed his return to the fan-favourite character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Or rather, he was tricked into confirming. It so happened that in an interview with Jake Hamilton for his YouTube channel Jakes Takes, he asked Sir Patrick Stewart a hypothetical What If? question about Professor Xs potential meeting with Doctor Strange and how will he react. Stewart replied, Professor X would be extraordinarily cautious and watchful, and perhaps feel a little insecure. Because there is something that is potentially dangerous about this man. I think that would put Professor Xavier on guard. When further asked about his reaction on hearing a voice in the trailer that says, We should tell him the truth. that fans think is his. He replied, I had my phone turned off as it happened, so I didn't hear anything. It wasn't until the next morning when I woke up and looked at my phone and found that I had been bombarded with responses. My PR people had sent me reactions that they had detailed and passed onto me. I actually didn't recognize my own voice. It sounded different. Whether I had a cold or something at the time, I don't know. I was astonished and all they saw was the back of my shoulder and I think my earlobe, nothing else that there would have been so many connections made. But it pleased me [to see the reactions]. 20th Century Studios Check out the interview below: Marvel Studios Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is slated for a May 6 release. Love, hate, spite, all are heavy emotions, but one that Ive realized is greater than any and all of them, is patriotism. People say that the kind of possessiveness you feel for your family is unparalleled, and it might also be true. But when it comes to ones home country and their motherland, then nothing - not even the slight chance of being convicted gets in the way of defending it. Recently, a Ukrainian sailor was reportedly arrested by the police for trying to sink his Russian bosss luxury yacht, in light of recent events and developments between the two nations. istock Ever since Russia declared an invasion into Ukraine, the world has been witnessing what can quite easily turn into a potential World War, as some concerned people are saying. As citizens of Ukraine unite and pick up arms to defend themselves against Russian soldiers, a Ukrainian sailor miles in Spain, felt the need to protect his country right from where he was. And he did so by choosing to sink a 156-foot yacht that belongs to Alexander Mijeev, the CEO of Rosoboronexport, for he alleged that his boss was a criminal who sells weapons that kill the Ukrainian people. A Ukrainian sailor in Mallorca opened the valves & "partially sank" a 7m yacht belonging to the director of Russia's arms exporter. After he explained it was in retaliation for Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, a judge released him pending trial. https://t.co/yCYkOEY6Mw pic.twitter.com/aOgwaAxLng Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) February 27, 2022 Yacht Lady Anastasia belonged to Alexander whose company exports Russian defence products like weapons, ships, tanks and fighting vehicles. Mr Ostapchuk, the Ukrainian sailor claimed, I watched the news about the war. There was a video of a helicopter attack on a building in Kyiv. The armaments used are produced by the yacht owner's company. They were attacking innocents." Twitter And that is what, according to him, drove him to open valves in the engine room of the yacht in an attempt to flood it and support his country in times of need. I don't regret anything I've done and I would do it again," said Mr Ostapchuk. He was not just a sailor. He was the chief engineer of the vessel and a Ukrainian National. He opened all of the sea cocks, opened that fuel valves in order to contaminate the fuel with water and flood the engines. pic.twitter.com/8FPVCmgOfc Paul J Pinel (@AbscanJ) February 28, 2022 He was subsequently arrested by Spain's Civil Guard on Saturday and appeared in court on Sunday where he admitted to not having regretted his actions. After the attempt to sink the $7.7 million yacht, Mr Ostapchuk is currently out on bail and plans on going to Ukraine to join the fight against Russia. One of the easiest ways to tell whether a picture is from India or not, would be to check for two things - chaos and traffic. As long as there is some sort of a rush in the pictures, whether it is in terms of people crowding in a market or cars crowding on a road to the point that it creates hour-long traffic jams, one could safely assume that it would be an Indian road. However, much to everyones surprise, and especially, Anand Mahindras, things are changing. Twitter Recently a Twitter user shared an uncanny and rare picture of a road from one of the Indian cities and guess what? There was not even a single person trying to scoot their vehicle from the sidelines or cross over a red light. I have seen this kind of discipline only in Mizoram. There are no fancy cars, no big egos, no road rage, no honking and no .... no one is in a tearing hurry...there is calm and serenity all around... pic.twitter.com/ZAkXNNcES4 Sandeep Ahlawat (@SandyAhlawat89) March 1, 2022 User Sandy Ahlawat took to the microblogging site just a few hours ago to share a picture from Mizoram where people were actually following traffic rules, and honestly, more than a rare sight, it was a pleasant one. He wrote in the caption, I have seen this kind of discipline only in Mizoram. There are no fancy cars, no big egos, no road rage, no honking and no .... no one is in a tearing hurry...there is calm and serenity all around I have seen this kind of discipline only in Mizoram. There are no fancy cars, no big egos, no road rage, no honking and no .... no one is in a tearing hurry...there is calm and serenity all around... pic.twitter.com/ZAkXNNcES4 Sandeep Ahlawat (@SandyAhlawat89) March 1, 2022 And acknowledging it was industrialist Anand Mahindra who agreed with the user and he wrote, What a terrific pic; Not even one vehicle straying over the road marker. Inspirational, with a strong message: its up to US to improve the quality of our lives. Play by the rules A big shoutout to Mizoram. With not even a foot out of line, it was indeed something to applaud, for in a country where the population is increasing by the second, to see that people are beginning to resort to the rules is but a great step forward. Beach road , Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh pic.twitter.com/h6DhhVGGJh Nitish Gupta (@Palukurinitish) March 1, 2022 For the first time seeing such traffic discipline in India. Bows to the people of Mizoram. Hope this propagates everywhere in our country. iVeeRaM (@iVeeRaM) March 1, 2022 Experienced the same in Meghalaya too.. Sumit Garg (@sumit_garg_) March 1, 2022 In Assam too trafic is discplined Rakesh Tiwari (@RakeshT92440168) March 1, 2022 Uttarakhand also pic.twitter.com/Enic5CpvpZ Arjun Bir Sahi (@arjunbirsahi) March 1, 2022 Several other users then ended up sharing similar pictures from their cities, where too, people were all in line, with no sign of road rage or accidents. One user even wrote, For the first time seeing such traffic discipline in India. Bows to the people of Mizoram. Hope this propagates everywhere in our country. And we wholeheartedly hope for the same! Meridian, MS (39302) Today Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Instead of reacting like rogue states, Bangladesh handled the US sanction on RAB professionally with much emphasis on diplomatic maneuvers. by Emilia Fernandez On December 10, 2021, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Bangladeshs elite paramilitary force, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and seven of its current and former officialsaccusing of human rights abuses and abductions. Even though US-Bangladesh has been enjoying a cozy relationship since the birth of Bangladesh, this sudden human-rights related sanctions have raised concern in the South Asian Nation especially as it has been imposed "unilaterally" without any "prior information". Sanction, an instrument of foreign policy, can be used to create pressure on a state or non-state actor to influence those decisions and actions that are being perceived as threatening to security or violating international behavioral conducts. The US government normally slaps sanction, using it as a carrot and stick policy,on those countries that US thinks as enemies, e.g., rogue states, and threatening to its national interest or to coerce the target to do something. As Bangladesh is neither a rogue state nor a threat to the US interest, the recent US sanction on Bangladesh, one of the most trusted US allies in South Asia, surprised the political analysts across the world. Generally, when the US imposes sanctions, the opponent states react in way that worsen the situation further. As a friendly country, how Bangladesh responded to the US sanction deserves analysis since it will help to understand how the US ally reacts to such sanctions compared to that of the US enemies. The Bangladeshs Responses Initially, Bangladesh followed the diplomatic way to communicate with the US government to explain its stance against the allegations. Diplomatic efforts, on the part of Bangladesh, was mainly focused on convincing the US government by conveying the message that Bangladesh has been misrepresented by vested groups. This is how Bangladesh differentiated itself from other countries on which the US has imposed sanctions so far. For example- the North Korea fires fresh missiles in response to US sanctions. Instead of accepting the criticism, the rogue states just react negatively against any sanctions. But Bangladesh showed positive attitude and welcomed constructive suggestions from the US government. In response to human rights violations, the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh has established ahuman rights cell under the United Nations (UN) to look into human rights issues and abuses with required importance and attention.Besides, the cell will present the facts and figures of the human rights situation of Bangladesh before the international community by analyzing the situation properly. As it has been established under the UN, it can be expected that the situation will be monitored properly and the real data will be presented. According to Bangladesh government, theyhave alreadysent data on the country human rights situation and its progress in rescuing the people, who allegedly fell victim to enforced disappearances. The law enforcing agencies of Bangladesh have also rescued several people which was also mentioned in the report. It was also mentioned that government is working relentlessly to find the whereabouts of the rest of the people. The US Reactions Gregory W Meeks, the chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and an influential US Congressman, in one of his speeches, delivered at fundraising luncheon function in New York, said that there is no plan of the USA to impose further sanctions against security forces of Bangladesh.Also, Meeks hinted about certain vested groups who are strongly lobbying with the Biden Administration for slapping further sanctions against more Bangladeshi officers and politicians. Though he clearly mentioned that he supports the Biden administrations stance onRAB, he also made it clear that wholesale sanction against Bangladesh is currently unwarranted by the US government. The April 4, 2022 will mark the golden jubilee of US-Bangladesh relations. In order to celebrate the 50 years of the establishment of their diplomatic ties, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken invited Bangladeshs Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen to Washington. This also indicates that the Biden administration has taken Bangladeshs responsesto the US sanction in a positive light. And, the relations of these two countries still intact and friendly as before. Instead of reacting like rogue states, Bangladesh handled the US sanction on RAB professionally with much emphasis on diplomatic maneuvers. The crisis may be resolved soon, but Bangladesh should decode the hidden motive of Washington behind such sanction. What does the US actually expect from Bangladesh? TheQuadrilateral Security Dialogue(QUAD), a strategic security dialogue between the United States, India, Japan and Australia, may be a relevant issue to be considered in this context. May be, the US is trying to create pressure on Bangladesh to join its Indo-Pacific military pact to contain China.Probably, Biden administration may slap more sanctions, in future, if Bangladesh fails to meet the US expectation on Indo-pacific which is to join the QUAD. Bangladeshs economy is now at take-off stage with its potential of graduating from LDC by 2026 and has an aspiration to be a developed economy by 2041. Considering Bangladeshs economic conditions, the global powers should not involve the country into any geopolitical tug-of-war. Neither Bangladesh can ignore the US and India nor China considering the current global geopolitical situation. Also, it does not comply with Bangladeshs balancing foreign policy which emphasizes on Friendship Towards All, Malice Towards None. Now, Bangladesh has to ensure neutrality and strike a fine diplomatic balance among the major global powers for its development discourse. Otherwise, the country is going to face more sanctions which will worsen the US-Bangladesh relations and will ultimately push Bangladesh towards the strategic orbits of China. Writers Bio: Emilia Fernandez, a security and political analyst with a particular focus on South Asian geopolitics, is a Ph.D. researcher at the University of Lucerne, Switzerland. She can be reached at: emiliafernandez.ul@gmail.com Buildings across Europe and the United States are turning their spotlights to blue and gold in solidarity with Ukraine as the country battles an invading Russian Army. Last week, New York Citys Empire State Building, Paris Eiffel Tower, the London Eye in England, the Colosseum in Rome and everything from state capitols to convention centers across the United States were going blue and gold, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Locally, Daviess Judge-Executive Al Mattingly said the courthouse here will be lighted blue and gold in a show of local solidarity. He said blue and gold filters will be put over the spotlights that shine on the courthouse at night to create the effect. The city is considering turning the lights on the Glover H. Cary Bridge downtown to blue and gold to show solidarity as well. City Manager Nate Pagan said Monday that an announcement will likely be made at the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, March 1. The battle was continuing to rage in Ukraine on Monday. And the United Nations said that more than 500,000 refugees have fled the country since fighting began last week. The colors in the Ukrainian flag are said to represent the blue skies and the yellow wheat fields that characterize the country. Keith Lawrence, 270-691-7301, klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com Owensboro Transit System will include a bus route into MidAmerica Airpark when it upgrades bus routes in the near future. OTS Director Pamela Canary said officials are preparing an action plan based on recommendations from the Florida firm of Tindale Oliver, which studied the transit system last year. The citys closest bus route stops near the Airpark property. Canary said the Tindale Oliver study recommended the route be extended into the industrial park. After the route study, the routes that are proposed would actually go into the Airpark, Canary said. When asked if the closest stop to the Airpark was used by workers, Canary said OTS statistics show the three to five people use the stop daily on the average weekday. We make an assumption based on the hours they are riding that they are working at the Airpark, Canary said. More riders might use the service once the bus line is extended into the Airpark, she said. The transit system is currently creating an action plan based on the Tindale study. Along with adding the Airpark property to the bus line, the study recommended changing some routes to make bus service more efficient for riders in the Kentucky 54 area, by keeping buses servicing the area on a 45-minute schedule. The survey also recommended adding transfer points, so people could switch buses without having to ride all the way to the bus terminal downtown. We are in the first stage of implementation,and that is coming up with an action plan on how to implement the changes, Canary said. At a Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting last week, Candance Castlen Brake, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, said the Airpark needs bus service through the second shift, so people working nights could ride the bus home. Canary said the Tinsdale Oliver study recommended buses run later, so buses would be doing their final pickups of the evening at 8 p.m. The study recommended the city continue not providing bus services on Sundays. Operating until 8 p.m. would be much different from what we are doing right now, Canary said. When asked the feasibility of running through second shift hours, Canary said staffing would be an issue. The problem is we are short drivers and are constantly looking for additional drivers, she said. If we extend our hours, that means more drivers. James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse The reason for the uncertainty was that market participants did not know which direction prices would be heading up or down. Some believed that prices would increase because the conflict... This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIDDLETOWN Police are investigating a letter allegedly containing death threats and racist language that was mailed to the Middletown Public Schools superintendent. Middletown Police Lt. Brian Hubbs said Superintendent of Schools Michael Conner, who has been on leave from his job since mid-October, filed a police report Thursday night. Hubbs declined to provide information about the case because its an ongoing investigation. Since no charges have been filed, Hearst Connecticut Media Group is withholding the identity of the person whose name and signature appeared on the cover letter to the packet mailed to Conner. Phone and email messages to the person have not been returned. Michael Conners wife, Viviana Conner, said her husband is unable to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct by top school district administrators. Conner remains out of work on paid leave. The call for the school investigation came after unions representing district employees asked for city assistance in dealing with allegations of harassment, intimidation and retaliation. Viviana Conner said her husband is innocent until proven guilty in the schools investigation. Yes, racism [exists] in Middletown, Michael Conner wrote on Twitter Friday morning, and included four screenshots of the letter that his wife Viviana Conner said consisted of more than 15 pages. Hearst Connecticut Media has only seen the four pages posted on Twitter. The Conners have not provided the rest of the documents they said they received. On Twitter, the superintendent included a picture of the cover letter, which had the persons name at the top and signature at the bottom. The letter was dated Jan. 28, but Viviana Conner said the family received it Thursday. Viviana Conner described the material as racist, hateful and threatening. She believes media coverage of the school board probe has emboldened and enabled the individual. In the screenshots Conner posted, the individual highlighted passages, including the beginning lyrics to Simon & Garfunkels Sounds of Silence. Hello darkness, my old friend / Ive come to talk with you again, the letter reads, quoting the song. The other pages Conner posted include what the writer said are inspirational quotes by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. I apologize for having to send this to your home address. But rumor has it that you are spending very little time at Hunting Hill Avenue, the letter reads, referencing the location of the school districts central office. Quite amusing how the tables have turned! Mayor Ben Florsheim posted about the incident Monday afternoon on his Facebook page, saying the correspondence contained language and references that were interpreted as threatening and hateful. Florsheim said police are investigating the origin and intent of the mailing. While I cannot comment on the status of that investigation while it is ongoing, I want to reassure this community, as I have assured all parties involved, that we are taking this matter extremely seriously. I have full confidence in the investigative process underway by the Middletown police department and the states attorney, which will determine the appropriate next steps as a criminal matter, Florsheim said. Police Chief Erik Costa, the mayor and members of the Middletown Ministerial Alliance have met to discuss the letter, the investigation, and the path forward not just as a criminal matter, but as a community matter as well, the mayor added. Middletown does not tolerate any signs of hate, intimidation, harassment or attempts at the same: When we have problems, we solve them through collaboration. Our residents, our public servants, and anyone who visits our city all have a right to feel safe and secure, he wrote on Facebook. We arent as ignorant to believe racism and biases dont live in our community, but, at the first sign, we will work to address them, thanks to the many strong leaders and partners working to make Middletown a better place, Florsheim said. Since the school investigation began, Viviana Conner said, she and her husband have reserved comment, but this has gotten way out of hand. Weve been very quiet, but I cant live like this. I deserve to be protected like everybody else, she said. [The person] crossed the line by somehow finding our home address and mailing it to our home. She and her husband can handle criticism, however, she added, upsetting their son goes too far. When you put somebodys child at risk. You can throw tomatoes at me and my husband were fine, were grownups well wipe it off. Dont cross the line. That is unacceptable, Viviana Conner said. She said the person has sent previous letters to her husband, but the latest communication was extremely different in tone and context and how in depth this gentleman went into, and what he wanted our family to go through. He made an analogy of a slow death like cancer, Viviana Conner said. I was truly saddened to hear about your ongoing health issues, the person wrote in the letter. As a cancer survivor myself, I know first-hand the value of ones health. Obviously, my cancer was not as severe as yours. How could one overcome such hurdles of size, color and power? Its no wonder you needed to take a leave of absence. The person highlighted in yellow Kings words dealing with prophecy of his assassination to analyze how Mikes going to die and us, Viviana Conner said. That is not OK. It should have never gone this far. Viviana Conner said shes hopeful police will make an arrest. We gave ourselves for four years to this community both of us. .. To be harassed, death threats, racism it hasnt ended, she said. Theres no shame in it. Its almost like theyre proud that they sent the packet and were living in fear. The well known fact is that is that Hitler lost the war after this gamble in Russia. And will the same fate happen to Putin also ? by N.S.Venkataraman There is a general perception around the world that Putin invaded Ukraine , expecting that Ukraine would surrender in a day or two unable to withstand his powerful army. Obviously, Putin must have expected that before USA and other NATO countries could react to his invasion, he could finish the job and then face the criticism and opposition from others suitably. But, this has not happened . Putin is now in an awkward situation , as Ukraine has stood against his onslaught with tremendous determination, with millions of people around the world applauding Ukraine and in equal measure condemning Putin. What is even more embarrassing for Putin is that his own countrymen are not supporting the war, as is clearly evident from the protests by the Russian citizens who eloquently shout no war at Putins face. The mass protest has not been toned down, inspite of the warning issued by Putin to the protesters and arresting the protesters. Looking at Putins adventure in Ukraine, one is reminded about Hitlers historic mistake in invading Russia during the II world war. Hitler expected that his forces could enter Russia in a very quick time and his troops advanced into Russia for sometime. Later on, the Russian forces defended the territory with determination to the utter surprise of Hitler and Hitler lost heavily in the process. Putins gamble in Ukraine is almost similar to the gamble by Hitler against Russia in II World war. The well known fact is that is that Hitler lost the war after this gamble in Russia. And will the same fate happen to Putin also ? People around the world are extremely angry at Putin for his merciless bombing of Ukraine , a comparatively small country and destroying the buildings and infrastructure facilities , killing innocent people and forcing more than half a million women, children and aged people to run away from Ukraine to take refuge in other countries. Putin started the war and he now stands as a villain in the eyes of the world. While it is a fact that USA and NATO countries do not want to send the forces to Ukraine to save Ukraine from Russias invasion, their voice of support to Ukraine in this hour of crisis the sanctions against Russia and so many other measures keep the morale of the Ukranians high. At the same time, have left the entire Russian country is facing a humiliating condition as it is being despised by people almost all over the world Speaking in German parliament, German chancellor correctly said that this is Putins war and not a war waged by Russian people. Certainly, millions of Russians living in Russia will appreciate this statement of German Chancellor. Of course, the world should always be striving to achieve peaceful conditions , even if it would not be happening. Now that peace talks have inevitably started between Ukraine and Russia . Given the world pressure on Putin and his unpopularity in Russia due to his war decision , possibly Putin would try to stop the war with some face saving formula that he would strive to make Ukraine agree during the peace talks. Whatever may happen, certainly the Ukraine as a country would remain and people of Ukraine has gained huge respect around the world for their determination to defend the country and the President of Ukraine would be hailed for the dignity with which he faced the attack from Russia and his moving and convincing appeal for support to other countries. To the extent that Ukraine and its President would gain acclaim in the world forum, Putin would lose his image and remain condemned as a man who brought enormous havoc to a neighbouring country and killed innocent people. In the history, Putin would get the same place as Hitler and would remain as an example as to how a leader of a country should not be. It is now upto the citizens of Russia to rebuild the image of the country and how they would do would be watched keenly around the world. SEYMOUR A wrong-way driver was charged with driving while intoxicated on Route 8 in Seymour early Saturday morning, according to state police. The arrest came around the same time that two separate fatal crashes involving wrong-way drivers on Interstate 84 in Hartford and Interstate 91 in Meriden killed six people. State police were dispatched about 3 a.m. Saturday to Route 8 on reports of a wrong-way driver on the southbound lanes near Exit 20. When they arrived, Seymour Police had stopped the car on the Exit 22 entrance ramp, state police said in a press release Saturday morning. Police noticed the driver, identified as 54-year-old Manchester resident Michael Brown, appeared to have glassy and bloodshot eyes. Police also said they could smell alcohol on his breath as he spoke, according to state police. Troopers administered field sobriety tests which Brown failed to perform to standard, police said. Brown was charged with operating under the influence, driving the wrong way on a divided highway and failure to carry a license. He was released on a $1,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court in Derby on March 18. Fatal wrong-way crashes have increased across highways nationwide in recent years. However, from 2015 to 2018, Connecticut saw a decline, according to an AAA analysis using data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administrations Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Between 2010 to 2014, the state had 29 fatal wrong-way crashes, and 20 wrong-way crashes from 2015 to 2018, the analysis stated. AAAs study found that alcohol impairment was the single most significant factor in the majority of wrong-way driving crashes, according to Fran Mayko, a spokeswoman for AAA Northeast. The study said alcohol played a role in 60 percent of the crashes where drivers had a blood alcohol concentration over the .08 legal limit. The study also identified advanced age and driving without a passenger as prime causes of fatalities in wrong-way crashes. NEW BRITAIN What do you do when you or a loved one cant get through a day without help? Its a problem most families face sooner or later, and its a thorny one. One option is to have an adult child move in with the care recipient or vice versa, so that theres always someone on hand to run errands and provide companionship. But, sometimes, a move isnt feasible. Another choice is a retirement home that provides services on site, but moving out of ones own home and into an institution can be a hard sell. In-home caregiving can be a perfect middle ground. For an average of $25 per hour, you can hire a caregiver to provide aid in the care recipients own home. Caregivers can provide a wide range of services. Some people only need help with errands that require heavy lifting, while others need aid with daily activities, such as bathing and dressing, or medical care. What are the types of caregivers, and how do you find one who is qualified? Skilled care and custodial care If you need caretakers to change an IV or a catheter, you will have to hire someone with a medical license. Look for the words skilled care or home health care. If you dont need any assistance that requires medical training, you need custodial care, home care, personal care or attendant care. These attendants will help the individual with activities of daily living, known in the trade as ADLs, like cooking, cleaning, bathing and dressing. Types of licenses It is best to find a licensed caregiver. A home health aide license is a qualification for a custodial caregiver; however, HHAs cannot perform clinical tasks, but can manage a patients medication and help with activities of daily living. A certified nursing assistant, who reports to a nurse, is qualified to care for a patient who is ill, even if the patient needs to go to a hospital or other medical facility. CNAs are qualified to change wound dressings and help patients by bathing them or changing sheets. Companion care Most caregivers, whether medical or custodial, are purely professional with their patients. However, a companions duties include socializing with the care recipient. For some elderly people who feel isolated in the home, a few hours a week spent chatting or playing cards with a companion can feel essential. When it comes to choosing a caregiver, there are plenty of decisions to make. However, knowing the right terminology can make the choice as painless as possible. Some consider hiring a caregiver under the table. We recommend against this practice. You could be liable if they get injured (and your homeowners insurance probably will not cover the claim) or could be liable for unemployment benefits if they are terminated. We have worked with many agencies in the state and can refer you to a quality agency. Robert A. Scalise Jr. is an elder law attorney at Ericson, Scalise & Mangan in New Britain. For information, visit esmlaw.com. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: %method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: %perl> 28: